Poor bargain? (spoilers for up to book 8)

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Just read the part where nynaeve and elayne agree to let 20 sisters teach the sea folks whatever they want in exchange for their help in using the bowl of the wind. I thought that was an example of poor bargaining.

Giving the bowl of the wind to the sea folks after they use the bowl of the wind should be enough, in my opinion.
 
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Two things:

1) Nyn and co were in the lower position in that bargain, they wanted something, so they had to pay the set price from the person who has it.

2) They weren't able to think of something in exchange that reversed the power position. Or worse they did think of something, but failed to realise how much their bargaining chip of teachers was worth.

However...... getting Aes Sedai into the Atha'an Miere society, (where quite often they were even refused travel on a vessel) and actually getting their hands on their channellers and close enough to them to be teaching them.

There's a lot of be said for that, the windfinders may find they have more on their hands than they bargained for.
 
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Yeah I really have to agree with Axis on that one. The windfinders may be in trouble :P
 

Keelinnea Isyne

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I think they will learn a lot from each other. Each is going to find this "trouble" no matter which side they are on.
 

Ealandrelle Melyma

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Having just read this scene (and from having read the rest of the series before), I do agree with Axis Gaidin. Although, on the face of it, the Sea Folk have walked away with the fat end of the deal, in the longterm, the Aes Sedai have just gained access to a huge number of channellers who are extremely skilled in manipulating the weather. Given that one of Egwene's express goals is to have every woman who can channel connected to the White Tower in some way, the bargain struck by Nynaeve and Elayne goes a long way to meeting that goal in terms of the Windfinders (even if that wasn't part of the plan on Nynaeve and Elayne's part!)
 
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I agree with Ealandrelle Melyma. Even Egwene in book 7 does not doubt that even Aes Edai could have made a better bargain.

Having just read this scene (and from having read the rest of the series before), I do agree with Axis Gaidin. Although, on the face of it, the Sea Folk have walked away with the fat end of the deal, in the longterm, the Aes Sedai have just gained access to a huge number of channellers who are extremely skilled in manipulating the weather. Given that one of Egwene's express goals is to have every woman who can channel connected to the White Tower in some way, the bargain struck by Nynaeve and Elayne goes a long way to meeting that goal in terms of the Windfinders (even if that wasn't part of the plan on Nynaeve and Elayne's part!)
 
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Bargaining with Sea Folk could leave you penniless and they would get you to throw in your last pair of breeches to seal the deal. :laugh: On the serious side, I agree with the comments above. It seems a bad deal for the Aes Sedai at the moment, but in the long term it will help solidify a connection with a potentially powerful ally that had escaped the giant all-seeing red eye at the top of the Tower for centuries:D. Eventually the Sea Folk will not be able to break Aes Sedai composure at the classes, and Aes Sedai will go to the Sea Folk with a battle plan in mind that will turn the SF upside down on their heads. Remember, rumor says Aes Sedai started The Game of Houses.
 
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Would you not say that there are certain similarities between the game of houses and commercial negotiations? even battle tactics for that matter
 

Wil Cambrae

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If only the Carhienen had read Sun Tzu's The Art of War, because I don't think 99% of them have :look:
 
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It was not a poor bargain. They needed the help of the Sea Folk to use the bowl, and their "lending" of twenty sisters was just a beggining in their alliance and it was also helpful to find new powerful women.
 

Almira ni'Caldazare

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I get discouraged reading that part. Fixing the weather helps every one. Shouldn't everyone want to help make it happen quicker?
 
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The Sea Folk are illogical that way. For them, bargaining is the first priority, and screw the impending apocalypse.

Sometimes Randland just doesn't make sense to me. I think that RJ used aliens in place of women around half of the time - from the planet Contrary.
 

Aran Cherubim

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The Sea Folk are illogical that way. For them, bargaining is the first priority, and screw the impending apocalypse.

You mean like states tend to do in real life? :laugh:
 
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They should have let Matt go with them when they bargained! Mistake one for Nynaeve and Elayne! I love the scene where he handles the Sea Folk. Mat Rules!
 
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