I was thinking much the same thing as point 1, but I am not so sure after further considering. If Rand used the TP to defeat the Dark One it would seem like a kind of betrayal of himself and the light, much like the Shadar Logothesque "victory at any cost" that was so plaguing him through this book. Is it possible that the TP is not inherently evil?

But as you point out below, Callandor seems rather significant. Now, we know (or at least I thought we did) that Callandor is flawed in that it can't be properly controlled by a single man AND (correct me if I'm wrong) it amplifies the effect of the taint. After tGS I wasn't sure if the taint amplification was revealed to have been a misinterpretation of the flaw, but if not, then perhaps it could be used as a TP sa'angreal? If it amplifies the taint, which most believe was the TP in some form, then perhaps it would amplify the TP even more. If this is true, then perhaps Rand in channelling the TP will surrender the actual weaving to the two women with him (Alivia and someone else, I am guessing) so that the overwhelming temptation and evil of the TP will be properly controlled. This is the kind of selflessness that the DO wouldn't think of, the kind of loophole that Verin found to turn the DO's own power back against him. I do believe that so much TP will kill Rand and so Alivia will help Rand die. I wonder who the other woman would be.

Of course, it also occurred to me that Elayne and Aviendha would be good candidates for channelers rand would trust to surrender to.



About the destruction of the Choedan Kal, btw that scene had an amazingly powerful visual and cinematic energy for me, I am still mulling things over. Why destroy an obviously potent weapon? With it gone there are only two sa'angreal remaining that we know of (IIRC), Callandor and Vora's flute. The Light clearly has the overwhelming advantage in channelers and so angreal and sa'angreal may in some ways be more dangerous than helpful if the Shadow should obtain any, ESPECIALLY one such as the Choedan Kal, which we know they have lusted after. But I do wonder, is it more than that? The final moment describes the actual sa'angreal as even more powerful than anything being channeled through the access key, so perhaps it was actually too powerful for the pattern to deal with. Much to think about and thanks for your post!!

LoialT