*double sigh* - Edit 2
Before modification by darius_sedai at 19/10/2012 05:28:57 PM
Delana said there were signals known to all DF. Some are just for emergency identification, others are signals used by leaders to make themselves known as such to lower standing DF and force them to obey. One such sign specificially identify yourself as Black Ajah.
There's no reason to believe Talene didn't give this away. They said they got tons of information like this out of Talene.
Talene was oath bound to them, and ordered to spill all she knew. They would have questionned her about anything which could help identify BA.
They never discussed using the signs because in their situation using a plan like this made no sense. When we left them in KOD, they were about to plan something for Talene's summons to the SC.
There's no reason to believe Talene didn't give this away. They said they got tons of information like this out of Talene.
Talene was oath bound to them, and ordered to spill all she knew. They would have questionned her about anything which could help identify BA.
They never discussed using the signs because in their situation using a plan like this made no sense. When we left them in KOD, they were about to plan something for Talene's summons to the SC.
Where does Delana note that? She says:
True, she would have obeyed that hypothetical beggar if he had the proper signs and said the right things, but Halima’s hands had identified her as Black Ajah, which she clearly was not. Perhaps the woman thought that was the only way to make Delana acknowledge her, and perhaps she wanted to show off her forbidden knowledge as well. Delana did not like this Halima.
There is no mention of "all BA knowing these signs" only that Halima had forbidden knowledge. Even the signs the beggar would give her may be completely different things than the BA signals.
I agree that Talene gave up every scrap she knew, but they make no mention of a sign that would help them identify a woman who was BA. In fact they state that they were at a dead end because the women who's names they knew were not in the Tower. No comment that they could have tried using some secret signals or leave messages in Talene's hidden spots and watch ... Alviarin would have likely moved those around every time anyway.
Speaking of Alviarin, your own arguments about her paranoia support that only a select few would know these signs. An easily identifiable sign would throw the entire Heart system out the window and would give Alviarin FITS