You're correct that there's nothing in the Companion on this, and it is entirely possible Brandon came up with the Seed idea, but he does seem to have left the door open for a manufacturing heavy, highly technical second stage to making angreal.
And while Brandon may entirely have come up with the Seed himself, it does seem to have some basis in the series mythology. Assuming RJ wrote that the Finns can drain your OP strength (which I think is true, since Lanfear lost her ability, as did Moiraine, in the notes), there's already some basis for this. For another, the making of the Eye of the World also hints at spirit-y soul-y stuff, not advanced manufacturing. RJ even had Elayne feel a personal bond with her "wise woman" angreal, and speculate that it was a personal angreal.
So if it is a Brandon creation, it is a much more clever one than some other stuff he came up with for WoT.
I agree it's more clever, but I think it's got nothing to do with what the Finns do, which I rather suspect is similar to what a gholam does to channelers, draining them until they die. I still believe Aginor used Finn DNA in the making of some Shadowspawn.
I didn't get the impression that BS was hinting at complex manufacturing: what would have been the point for Rand to even give a Seed to Elayne if that were the case and she would pretty much end up stuck at the end of the process. I rather got the impression that BS intended us to think Elayne would figure out the end process by studying and copying other angreal.
Well indeed, and as I was saying to Darius I think Rand would have made sure that his conversation with her was sufficient for her to come right, which is why I disagree that it's very complex and requires circles etc. His only warning was that it weakens you for months afterwards, so I thought it might be worth exploring a few theories on how this works.
I recall reading somewhere that the Finns and AS exchanged technology and I do find it odd that the Finns can create ter'angreal. It's possible they have a whole hoard for items that they didn't make but "won" or gambled, but the fox on Mat's medallion is rather specific, unless they asked ancient AS to make them as prices? Bit of chicken and egg stuff I guess we'll never know.
I didn't know that Brandon was allowed to make up anything in the series. I find that rather disturbing and I would never allow that as an original author, but if he did make that up then I must agree too that I also like it. The idea of making an angreal through a seed and it weakens you is a nice new idea, and much more original than 'here are the plans, you have the Talent, go forth...".
Fan of Lanfear
