The reason Lanfear appears to be so incredibly powerful, is because you insist on placing Cyndane above the average female Forsaken. In doing so you are saying that even a reduced strength Lanfear is STILL stronger than Semirhage, Mesaana and Nynaeve.
I place Cyndane above Graendal, and Graendal's own statement applies that she's not merely strong but very rare in her strength. This is in contrast to nothing we have on Semirhage except that she's weaker than Nynaeve. Now suddenly you make her second...?
If instead, you go with Sanderson's second, rectified quote, which places Cyndane significantly weaker, and which does not refute that Cyndane is below Nynaeve, then the female Forsaken are all much closer together.
This is his revised quote... I believed that there were some issues with her Power level—the Dark One playing tricks to keep everyone guessing—but Maria convinced me her Power really is what it seems. So you can disregard my comment about her being really, really weak and stick with the word I used earlier—"weakened."
That certainly backs up my list that she's gone down a level. His statement actually refutes that she's fallen as far as you suggest.
You will now have the following:
Lanfear
Alivia, Sharina
Nynaeve, Semirhage
Cyndane
Graendal
Mesaana
Moghedien
Suddenly, Lanfear is not greatly above Semirhage, and is not farther above Graendal than she was above Mesaana or Semirhage on your list.
Personally, I think this makes much more sense.
Lanfear
Alivia, Sharina
Nynaeve, Semirhage
Cyndane
Graendal
Mesaana
Moghedien
Suddenly, Lanfear is not greatly above Semirhage, and is not farther above Graendal than she was above Mesaana or Semirhage on your list.
Personally, I think this makes much more sense.
A day ago maybe. But Maria told BS about Cyndane and he changed his mind.
The entire strong Graendal argument is based largely on one quote by Moridin, which was made casually, without much interest, and does not really tell us anything other than that Graendal could beat Sammael if she struck first and beat him to the draw.
After all, he had no doubt never seen Sammael and Graendal fight it out before, so he had no idea what tricks either might have up their sleeve.
After all, he had no doubt never seen Sammael and Graendal fight it out before, so he had no idea what tricks either might have up their sleeve.
No, it's based on Graendal's statement about herself, Moridin's statement about her, her interaction with Lanfear, and Sammael's comments about her and her comments about him.
Anyway, that's my list. But I suspect Sanderson will clarify everything before long in any case, if the current trend continues.
I have doubts.
Why go to the trouble of reducing the strongest channeler in strength - through some convoluted and as yet unknown means - if she still ends up being stronger than all remaining channelers? What's the point of the strength reduction from a plot perspective if it doesn't change her position compared to other channelers?
Surely the point of reducing her strength is to bring her down to a level of humility or vulnerability where she cannot use her superior strength as her automatic advantage over everyone else.
In my view, the only purpose of reducing Lanfear in strength would be to make her weaker than some of the other female Forsaken. Else it serves no purpose.
Female Forsaken strength : a new post
- 19/11/2009 04:12:35 PM
1639 Views
Except...
- 19/11/2009 04:26:32 PM
680 Views
There's no evidence for that
- 19/11/2009 04:31:17 PM
639 Views
I agree with Sidious - we have no evidence at this time, so she should remain off the list
- 19/11/2009 04:38:31 PM
637 Views
It's common sense
- 19/11/2009 04:40:01 PM
619 Views
No, it's based on absolutely nothing
- 19/11/2009 04:50:30 PM
653 Views
If you agree that there are stronger damane than Alivia...
- 19/11/2009 05:00:05 PM
570 Views
Glad to have you back. Now for the arguments to start!
- 19/11/2009 04:29:01 PM
698 Views
Hmm...
- 19/11/2009 04:47:12 PM
691 Views
Actually, you are the one placing Lanfear immensely high, my list reduced the strength difference...
- 19/11/2009 05:05:18 PM
764 Views
But I'm not
- 19/11/2009 05:17:05 PM
673 Views
Let me ask you this...
- 19/11/2009 10:13:12 PM
715 Views
All assumption
- 20/11/2009 04:11:20 AM
568 Views
Why introduce that concept, if it is just of academic importance?
- 20/11/2009 07:41:54 AM
544 Views
You don't know the significance of it at all
- 20/11/2009 03:14:46 PM
657 Views
Why?
- 20/11/2009 03:17:51 PM
1183 Views
Re: Why?
- 20/11/2009 04:30:50 PM
534 Views
How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)...
- 20/11/2009 05:07:39 PM
571 Views
Re: How can you argue in such a way and still keep a straight face (presumably)...
- 21/11/2009 10:55:47 AM
553 Views
Is Graendal the only Forsaken NOT to overstate her own ability then?
- 21/11/2009 01:53:28 PM
665 Views
Your rankings hinge ENTIRELY on whether you have Graendal correctly placed.
- 20/11/2009 03:24:22 PM
504 Views
Yeah... entirely 
- 20/11/2009 04:33:45 PM
526 Views
- 20/11/2009 04:33:45 PM
526 Views
What ever happened to all teh info from wotmania? Especially the FAQs? *NM*
- 19/11/2009 05:01:45 PM
388 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post
- 19/11/2009 05:39:10 PM
651 Views
Re: Female Forsaken strength : a new post -- What about Dexterity??
- 19/11/2009 06:44:31 PM
661 Views
Seems good, except I'd bunch up the upper levels and place Nynaeve a little higher. *NM*
- 19/11/2009 09:46:16 PM
345 Views
Too many levels
- 20/11/2009 01:48:24 AM
654 Views
21 levels is largely a myth
- 20/11/2009 04:27:27 AM
537 Views
I have to disagree for a couple of reasons.
- 20/11/2009 04:14:40 AM
645 Views
I thought of something else to support my upper limit theory on gateways
- 20/11/2009 01:53:05 PM
642 Views
Talaan is not stronger than Nynaeve
- 28/11/2009 08:27:22 PM
672 Views
more hopefully to come
- 20/11/2009 08:15:00 PM
518 Views
Thanks KCF, that's a great question to ask.
- 20/11/2009 08:28:32 PM
740 Views
I'm the same way. I should be studying for law school finals, but I'm distracted. *NM*
- 20/11/2009 09:45:46 PM
266 Views
I agree that Graendal is the 2nd most powerful woman Forsaken
- 29/11/2009 04:07:00 PM
507 Views