Re: You take two points too far. - Edit 1
Before modification by darius_sedai at 28/11/2009 03:53:49 PM
As I described in a post above, what motivation does Demandred have to strike at Elayne?
Three reasons:
1. Andor is the single most powerful nation in the Westlands, being in a position to take out Elayne is a powerful place for one of the Forsaken.
2. Rand clearly has a relationship with her and part of the ongoing "break his spirit" plan could easily involve killing off those he loves (Semirhage went after Min, her being able to watch was a fringe benefit).
3. Demandred pursued Ilyena back in the AoL ... and Elayne is the closest thing to Ilyena reborn as we have.
Also, why would he want to rule just to have the Seanchan "swoop in and take the entire region with little resistance?" His "treaty" with Semirhage and Mesaana is that they won't kill each other until the other foresaken are dead. They don't actively seek to share power with one another. Demandred was one of the best generals in the War of Power. He wouldn't be stupid enough (hopefully) to build a power base for others who he knows will kill him when they get the chance.
As part of the "Let the Lord of Chaos Reign" motif. I propose he's doing much the same thing in the region as Graendal has done in AD. He's clearly not leading a military campaign anywhere, unless he's masquerading as Chubain or has somehow managed to replace a Borderlander (which I think is far too difficult since they are all well known). I will say that if he's not in Murrandy, I think the Borderlanders are the next most likely place for him.
Demandred (or any of the FS really) don't give a crap about the individual nations, if they did Semirhage wouldn't have killed off the Royal family in Seanchan to create Civil War... she would have used them to destroy everyone and set herself up as Empress! The Seanchan are merely a tool to the FS.