We learn in WH, prologue, that there are around 500 Asha'man at the BT.
In KoD, ch.18, Logain reports to Rand that: "More than half the Black Tower is in Arad Doman and Illian. I sent all the men with bonded Aes Sedai except those here, as you ordered."
That means around 250 Asha'man are in Arad Doman and Illian, especially to guard the lands against the Seanchan.
After Rand brings Ituralde and his troops to Saldaea in TGS, ch.22, to guard the Blight, it's said:
"You shall have a hundred Asha'man by the end of the week," Rand said, speaking to Ituralde. "I suspect you will make good use of them."
"Yes, I think I can do just that."
"I want daily reports, even if nothing happens," Rand replied. "Send the messengers through a gateway. I'll be breaking camp and moving to Bandar Eban in four days."
Since the AM in Arad Doman and Illian are still needed there, it makes sense that Rand ordered 100 additional AM from the BT to join Ituralde. With those AM with Rand, probably a few in Tear, Cairhien and at some other places (e.g. with Perrin), it seems that around 400 AM are busy somewhere in Randland. That means only around 100 AM are still in the BT.
From KoD, prologue we know that Taim's cronies are around 100 men.
So does that mean that the epilogue of KoD plays after Rand ordered 100 additional AM to join Ituralde in TGS? Are there now more or less only Taim's cronies still at the BT? The BT seems somewhat deserted, when the Red AS go there in KoD, but I'm not sure if it fits with the chronology. It would make sense, however, that Taim wanted to keep his men nearby. Plus, it would make the idea that the BA might flee to the BT and that the AS eventually attack it more plausible, if there are basically only people of the Shadow left at the BT.
Or do you think that maybe the 100 AM sent to Ituralde will be revealed to be (mainly) Taim's cronies and eventually turn on Ituralde's troops themselves to allow a Shadowspawn invasion?
Would also be a nice twist.
In KoD, ch.18, Logain reports to Rand that: "More than half the Black Tower is in Arad Doman and Illian. I sent all the men with bonded Aes Sedai except those here, as you ordered."
That means around 250 Asha'man are in Arad Doman and Illian, especially to guard the lands against the Seanchan.
After Rand brings Ituralde and his troops to Saldaea in TGS, ch.22, to guard the Blight, it's said:
"You shall have a hundred Asha'man by the end of the week," Rand said, speaking to Ituralde. "I suspect you will make good use of them."
"Yes, I think I can do just that."
"I want daily reports, even if nothing happens," Rand replied. "Send the messengers through a gateway. I'll be breaking camp and moving to Bandar Eban in four days."
Since the AM in Arad Doman and Illian are still needed there, it makes sense that Rand ordered 100 additional AM from the BT to join Ituralde. With those AM with Rand, probably a few in Tear, Cairhien and at some other places (e.g. with Perrin), it seems that around 400 AM are busy somewhere in Randland. That means only around 100 AM are still in the BT.
From KoD, prologue we know that Taim's cronies are around 100 men.
So does that mean that the epilogue of KoD plays after Rand ordered 100 additional AM to join Ituralde in TGS? Are there now more or less only Taim's cronies still at the BT? The BT seems somewhat deserted, when the Red AS go there in KoD, but I'm not sure if it fits with the chronology. It would make sense, however, that Taim wanted to keep his men nearby. Plus, it would make the idea that the BA might flee to the BT and that the AS eventually attack it more plausible, if there are basically only people of the Shadow left at the BT.
Or do you think that maybe the 100 AM sent to Ituralde will be revealed to be (mainly) Taim's cronies and eventually turn on Ituralde's troops themselves to allow a Shadowspawn invasion?
Would also be a nice twist.
There's no evidence that Rand didn't order some of the Asha'man that were in Tear and Arad Doman to join Ituralde. He pretty much abandons Bandar Eban and concedes that the Seachan will be at his back when he attacks the blight. He seems to be pulling out his armies in various countries to prepare for Tarmon Gaidon. Why not also pull out the Asha'man? They're even more important.
Question on the Asha'man
- 01/12/2009 10:27:36 AM
953 Views
Info on the BT has been eerily missing
- 01/12/2009 10:50:46 AM
610 Views
I really do think there are a lot of missed opportunities for interesting characters overall.
- 01/12/2009 03:31:15 PM
546 Views
I'd love, just once, to have a PoV from a wolf (Hopper). Is that too much to ask for in 14 books? 
*NM*
- 02/12/2009 01:02:02 AM
220 Views
*NM*
- 02/12/2009 01:02:02 AM
220 Views
How much time passed between Winter's Heart and Knife of Dreams? *NM*
- 01/12/2009 11:06:30 AM
214 Views
Not necessarily...
- 01/12/2009 04:07:17 PM
707 Views
Who says the 500 number is/was accurate?
- 02/12/2009 01:54:34 PM
547 Views
It's stated by Toveine
- 02/12/2009 02:31:48 PM
508 Views
This was in CoT? The Asha'man were already in other places by then. *NM*
- 02/12/2009 05:50:11 PM
343 Views