One could argue that the Myddraal were real: either they were Myddraal souls that the DO/Ishy used, or real physical Myddraal were able to shadow-teleport. And because Myddraal are mentioned as "slightly out of phase with time and reality" they can affect Kari's soul.

Of course, that argument is fairly stupid weak.





This is a good point, but the real question is, did Robert Jordan have all this transmigration business and limitations worked out when he wrote TEOTW? There are numerous examples of One Power mechanics that are slightly different in the first few books, before RJ had rules established. Perhaps he originally let the DO have power over all souls that swear to him (or even some power over those who don't) and then later realized he had to have a way to kill Forsaken permanently (for this Age, not all turnings) and invented the transmigration limitations.



And how does Shai'tan (or Ishy) know what Kari al'Thor looks like? He isn't shown to be able to read minds, even in TAR, so he couldn't get Kari's image from Rand.

And yes, I do realize that my first argument could very well be used to explain this point. At the time RJ wrote TEOTW, he hadn't established the rules of Tel'aran'rhiod, so Ishy was able to get a glimpse at Rand's memory of his Mother, or he created a 'template', a generic figure that Rand's mind filled in, etc.

There are other weird things, like Kari thanking Rand for hitting her with Light. If Ishy was trying to get Rand to despair, why not have her cry out, "It's no use, nothing can break the chains that bind me to my master" when he hit her with the bar of light? Why give Rand that victory? Why let Rand think he can thwart the DO in anything?

Maybe RJ meant to leave the question open, and debatable. He apparently intended to let readers form their own opinions on whether Rand is insane or not. Maybe he meant to leave all the mysteries open. Maybe that's the answer to who killed Asmodean. It was any of the suspects mentioned, not just one in particular.