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fionwe1987 Send a noteboard - 13/11/2009 09:53:39 AM
I suspect we have three people with three ideas set in stone. But the arguments are still fun!

1. I place Sharina at the same level as Alivia - when she reaches her full potential. I see no problem with that whatsoever.

Agreed then.
2. In fact, the way Graendal speaks of Semirhage, possibly being the most POWERFUL member of the trio - makes me suspect that Semirhage is STRONGER than Graendal. After all, if Demandred is only a hair behind Lews Therin, how powerful must Semirhage be for Graendal to even briefly consider her more powerful than Demandred?

And yet, Graendal casually threatens Demmy in WH, and doesn't mind challenging Lanfear to an OP duel.
And it was the other way around, by the way. She assumed Semirhage was the strongest of the three, and then reconsidered that it might be Demandred.
Then she coolly thinks of defeating either.
I think an ant would be squished in the actual difference in overall ability in the Power these three have.
3. There is no evidence in either way on this matter, so let's leave this one for now.

Okay!
4. Thematically, Nynaeve and Semirhage have no connection whatsoever. This has been a false suggestion, based solely on the Healer issue. In truth, Nynaeve's arch foe is Moghedien.

Thematic link need not mean arch foe. And Moggy as Nynaeve's arch foe is laughable, currently. With her strength, her angreal, her ter'angreal and the fact that she has defeated her twice before, all combine to make it inevitable that Nyn will wipe the floor with Moggy.
The thematic link between Nynaeve and Semirhage has been broken once and for all in tGS. Despite them both being in the same vicinity, with ample opportunity to interact and possibly even confront one another, there is zero interaction between them. Right up to the point of Semirhage's death, Nynaeve and Semirhage have no link whatsoever.

But the contrasts between the two were being emphasized even more! In one chapter, we have Semirhage talking about the cruelest pain she can give. In the next, Nynaeve realizes that sometimes, pain is needed, and should not be healed away.
In one chapter Cadsuane realizes that the way to break Semi is to hurt her pride, show her she is nothing special. A few chapters later, Nynaeve, who sees Cadsuane as her enemy, swallows her own pride and accepts her leadership in fighting for Rand. Difficult as it is, Nynaeve is not ruled by her pride. Her will power is not bound up in projecting an aura of invincibility. It comes from a core of principles, and this sets her up as Semirhage's true antithesis again.
There is no thematic link between Nynaeve and Semirhage. There never has been, and now that Semirhage's dead, there never can be.

I'm afraid this is plainly wrong. The thematic connection are very strong.
Here are some more:
Semi embroiders often. Nynaeve sucks at it.
Semi always wears unrelieved black. Nynaeve wears a variety of styles and colors.
Semi has an motherly exterior with a hard core. Nynaeve acts tough, but is motherly inside.
Yet, they both work by bludgeoning away their opposition. They can play political games if needed, but prefer not to.
Lastly, my view of Semirhage has always been that she is the no.2 female Forsaken. Thematically, there are some links between her and Lanfear. She has a special hate for Lanfear, for some reason.

She always wears black because Lanfear always wears white. She hopes that time will give her Lanfear, to torture at leisure.

Bottomline, I think Semirhage enjoyed being respected and feared by all, and in her view, Lanfear was the only one who had greater stature than herself. And we know Lanfear's stature was based purely on her excpetional strength in the Power.

All valid points. I don't see how Semirhage and Graendal being equal with Nynaeve and below only Lanfear among the FS contradicts this.
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Semirhage's strength in the Power... - 12/11/2009 06:57:37 AM 1085 Views
No you did not... - 12/11/2009 07:27:06 AM 704 Views
I'll look again tonight, but I'm sure Nynaeve made a comment... - 12/11/2009 07:33:29 AM 709 Views
Actually, Nynaeave is far stronger than Moghedian now - 12/11/2009 12:30:29 PM 662 Views
Wasn't that rather meaningless? - 12/11/2009 03:26:22 PM 715 Views
Inconsistency? - 12/11/2009 08:53:39 AM 636 Views
Holding a shield vs. making one... - 12/11/2009 03:19:09 PM 601 Views
Don't they clearly say one single would suffice but they used 2 for - 13/11/2009 04:57:15 AM 537 Views
To HOLD her. Didn't I make the distinction clear? - 13/11/2009 05:04:58 AM 519 Views
Reducing the number of people holding the shield, reduces the strength of the shield correspondingly - 13/11/2009 07:15:24 AM 506 Views
Not necessarily true (Plus, another possibility)... - 13/11/2009 07:43:37 AM 502 Views
I agree about the angreal, but not the 1 woman shield part... - 13/11/2009 07:50:26 AM 530 Views
Agree to disagree? - 13/11/2009 08:07:59 AM 504 Views
Sure, just a couple of points... - 13/11/2009 08:18:15 AM 590 Views
Re: Sure, just a couple of points... - 13/11/2009 08:51:28 AM 572 Views
Interesting concept... - 13/11/2009 08:59:53 AM 603 Views
Yeah, I posted on this - 12/11/2009 08:53:26 PM 562 Views
Hmmm.... - 13/11/2009 12:42:37 AM 609 Views
Mesaana thought she matched Semirhage - 13/11/2009 01:45:09 AM 743 Views
Agree with many points - 13/11/2009 05:07:53 AM 590 Views
Re: Agree with many points - 13/11/2009 05:16:12 AM 505 Views
And that means nothing... - 13/11/2009 05:08:44 AM 608 Views
Re: Hmmm.... - 13/11/2009 06:56:56 AM 539 Views
Re: Hmmm.... - 13/11/2009 07:59:57 AM 596 Views
The reason behind our (certainly MY) hesitance to place Nynaeve too high, is Alivia... - 13/11/2009 08:04:51 AM 618 Views
There is a simple answer... skill... - 13/11/2009 08:21:25 AM 615 Views
Except that... - 13/11/2009 08:49:15 AM 607 Views
We only assume that... - 13/11/2009 09:08:56 AM 628 Views
Well... - 13/11/2009 09:25:08 AM 598 Views
- 13/11/2009 09:53:39 AM 511 Views
What about Sharina? - 13/11/2009 09:17:20 AM 517 Views
No evidence either way, but you leave a massive gap between Lanfear and the average Forsaken... - 13/11/2009 09:31:27 AM 622 Views
I don't think it's massive - 13/11/2009 09:46:27 AM 588 Views
I disagree with your last comment - 13/11/2009 09:58:03 AM 623 Views
Hmm... - 13/11/2009 03:57:48 PM 618 Views
Re: Hmm... - 13/11/2009 07:54:23 PM 603 Views

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