Sanderson's first attempt at portraying the Forsaken based on character summaries in RJ's notes... - Edit 1
Before modification by Shannow at 10/12/2009 05:31:13 PM
Time to admire some rather intelligent thinking from two of the Forsaken in the Prologue...
Mesaana
1. "But think of what Semirhage might reveal!... she is one of the Chosen. It is our duty to aid her."
Mesaana doesn't really get this whole Forsaken thing, does she? How did she last so long? The other Forsaken relish a fallen comrade, but Mesaana acts more like one of Rand's allies than a person sworn to the Dark One.
2. "You saw the wisdom is agreeing to meet with us. Surely that was because you are as shocked as we are. We do not have the resources to help her ourselves; she is bound to be well guarded by Aes Sedai and those Ash'aman. You need to help us free her."
It must have been truly shocking for Mesaana and Demandred that Semirhage failed to capture a live Dragon Reborn, when all her allies failed trying to kill him. Not only that, but she took a few damane along against him, and a collection of the most powerful channelers in the world. Semirhage's tactical brilliance seems to be common to her little trio of evil.
Secondly, we saw what an awesome guard Semirhage had, and most of the rescuing was left to Elza. I can see how it would be difficult for two channelers of their skill and power to rescue her, especially since these so called Aes Sedai and Ash'aman only have a fraction of their ability and knowledge. It's obvious that they're being cowards and are afraid - Mesaana hasn't learned from the Cleansing, and Demandred is just a bag of hot air no matter what he says.
3. "The White Tower and those fools who rule it will shortly be mine. I will deliver not just a broken White Tower to our Great Lord but an entire brood of channelers..."
This one worked out well.
Demandred
1. "I want Lews Therin... Semirhage knows that. She also knows that if she'd killed him, I would have found her and claimed her life in retribution."
I'm sure Semirhage couldn't give a rat's ass. Everyone knows he wants to kill Lews Therin, but Aginor, Be'lal, Ishamael, Sammael, Rahvin, Lanfear and Asmodean tried anyway. I wonder if this threat carries to them too. Hell, we can even add Fain, the Black ajah and the Whitecloaks.
2. "Nobody kills al'Thor. Nobody but me."
Yawn. Seven years in the War of Power, and three since he was reborn and no results yet. And let's not forget that Rand was untrained for a large part of that. During the Cleansing, the pinnacle of AOL knowledge was released as a bolt of lightning blocked by Cadsuane. Is this the most impotent threat ever? It's high up on my list - after Lanfear's desire to get married to Rand and give each other Choedan Kal keys for wedding gifts, and then usurp the Creator (she should have usurped Moiraine first if you ask me).
Sanderson has to try and do a lot of things while getting his stamp in right from the word go.
He has to portray Graendal as a psychological analyst. He does so by having her analyse each of the Forsaken as best she can.
He has to portray the Demandred, Semirhage, Mesaana alliance, and does so with an obvious error by showing Graendal's pride at having seen through their non-existent "secret". This despite Graendal and Arangar previously openly discussing the alliances among the Forsaken in KoD.
He has to try and portray Demandred's arrogance and sense of mystery and lethality, and he has to demonstrate Demandred's obvious hatred for Lews therin.
He does this by having Graendal articulate every reader's obvious vexation at Demandred's mysterious location. And then he has Demandred make a rather uncharacteristically direct statement which shows his hatred for Rand and portrays his arrogance and a hint of lethality all in one.
To conclude: Is this how RJ would have written it? No.
Is it a particularly good Forsaken scene? Not really.
In truth, it was not necessary for Sanderson to re-emphasize the key personality traits of all the Forsaken so starkly. But for him it was probably something new and fresh, even if it is old news for us.
Anyway, your original post was a bit tongue in the cheek in any case, so a serious analysis of this chapter was probably not what you were looking for.