2015 Re-Readalong: Eye of the World and The Great Hunt

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

I bet there are a lot of Darkfriends that joined thinking they'd just get something cool out of it and never actually be called upon by a higher-up to do anything.
Yes! And I guess they never got it ...
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Notes from last week...

Chapter 24
Egwene meets everyone Rand has met! I love her realization that he wasn't making up stories about Elayne :laugh:

Chapter 25
Thom is alive! :joy Also after everything that's happened to him, so impressive that Rand still has the harp and flute.

Chapter 26
I was surprised and disappointed by Thom refusing to help Rand. He was so concerned before that I expected him to jump right back in, especially with Rand's accidental involvement deep in Daes Dae'mar.

Chapter 27
Of all things, it amused me that the Illuminators call them "punks" too, just like we would. It seems like the type of thing that's unusual enough that they would have their own name for it rather than using the "real" name, though I don't know I think that, since they use the same names for most other things. It just jumped out at me. Aaaand Selene is back, ugh.

Chapter 28
Aiel! People have called Rand an Aiel before, but when even Perrin and Mat think that the Aielman looks like Rand, I think this is when I started to really believe it. And also the idea that everyone might have their own end-of-the-world prophecy rather than the Dragon Reborn being in all of them, though Rand might still fill all of the pivotal roles.

Chapter 29
It's hard to believe this Eageanin is the same woman from later in the series. Originally, I don't think I really grasped what the Seanchan were at this point. I think I might've thought they were a type of evil group like Trollocs or Fades or Black Ajah, not an actual people like the Aiel or the Atha'an Miere.

Chapter 30
Hurin acting overly servant-like really annoyed me. I kinda liked Hurin before he started doing all of that. At least he gets over it later. I already mentioned my thoughts on the invitations from Lord Barthanes and King Galldrian.

This weeks comments coming later...
 

Wil Cambrae

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

I never realized on my other read-throughs that Rand had darkfriends guiding him through this initial bit of his finding the OP :look:
Verin, Ignitar, and Barthanes. Although he did know Barthanes was a df from the beginning.
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

I was wondering if the three of them revealed anything to each other at the party, or if any of them knew what the others was. We know Verin spoke to each of them privately, warning Hurin away from interrupting her with Barthanes and saying something to Ingtar to make him look pretty unsteady. Hmm hmm.
 

Imzadi Hopewind

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Did we ever get to know why the Black Wind were at the gateways (or what it's called again, I'm reading in norwegian now ye know :shifty) Did it get ordered to do it, or did it follow Rand?
 

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

I always assumed it was Fain's doing.
 

Kassina Tendar

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Yeah, I'm not sure if the characters ever find out for sure, but I just figured it was Fain.
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Isn't Fain an odd mixture of Darkfriend(Hunter)/Mashadar/Machin Shin? He was at least caught by the Black Wind when following the crew to Fal Dara...
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Yeah if the Black Wind caught Fain and then fled, it makes sense that he'd be able to boss is around a little.
 

Imzadi Hopewind

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Could be that way Adui and Meg?

It's bit funny to read about Lindarin and her way to boss the girls around and saying "The Black Ajah is in the Tower", when she's actually black herself :D

I wish I could read about what Perrin and Mat did see at the "trip" to Tomans Head... :cheeseeni: Since we saw all of the lives to Rand.
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Getting up to date!

Chapter 31
I like how everyone is thinking that "Lord Rand" fits now. Rand always grows into the role of being a leader so subtly that I don't even notice it until the moment he apologizes to Ingtar for taking control. Also liked Perring defending Rand and wanting to share his secret, since Rand knew his. Much better than Mat's approach.
tongue.gif


Chapter 32
I cackle madly every time I think of what poor Barthanes must have got from that conversation with Rand. From his perspective, we've got an unknown Andoran lord who is a blade master, who spies for Galldrian (who he says he's never met), looks like Gawyn (who he HAS met) and also looks Aiel, travels with Aes Sedai and Ogier and trained with Borderlanders. Bahahaha!

Chapter 33
Already mentioned, I was wondering if Verin, Ingtar and Barthanes exchanged Darkfriend notes while they were all in the same place.

Chapter 34
So...who killed Barthanes?
look.gif


Chapter 35
Fain thinks he's so smart. I was so hoping his games with the Seanchan would backfire on him.

Chapter 36
I had forgotten that Portal Stones come up again. Why didn't they use them more later in the books?

Chapter 37
...oh that's why. I agree with Imz, I would have loved to see what happened in some of the other characters' heads, especially Perrin and Mat.
 
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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

That's right, who killed King Galldrian? Thom?
Yes, Thom did it and got away with it!:p

As to who killed Barthanes, we will never know for sure. Plausible speculation points to either Galldrian or to some DFs on orders by Fain.
 

Ryu Shadowborn

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

TGH : 8

This is really the beginning of the plot proper now, sure the first book was the start of the story but now the Hero has been called, even if he fully and outright denies the call, for now.

I do think Siuan makes a mistake here with telling Rand he is the Dragon Reborn, I think in the longer run it would have been better to explain that as a Tav'eren he is important to the pattern and that risking him dying after being gentile is a greater risk than letting him channel and that they will have to trust into the pattern to protect him from the Madness.

Then send him on with Mat, and let events play out as they will, since at this point the plan is to have Rand get declared as Dragon in Illian with the horn regardless of him wanting it or not.

No real comments on Nynaeve and Lan here, was there a person who thought that they would not end up as a couple? Subtlety is not exactly in play.

TGH : 9

Arrow is shot, there is lots of discussion on who it is aimed at...is it really relevant who the arrow is aimed at? Hitting either Rand or the Amyrlin screws the forces of light in a major major way.

So a messenger was sent to Almoth Plain, did this ever come back to matter again?

TGH : 10

We find out more about the Aiel, and that there were various confrontations between the Aiel and the Shienarians. I am curious on how that happened since the Aiel were generally confined to the three fold lands, and I do not think Masema is quite old enough to have fought in the Aiel war.

Aaannnd Lanfear is stalking Rand, have you ever thought how outright creepy Lanfear would be if the genders were reversed? Like serious psycho stalking activities are happening here and nobody I have seen has really commented on it, she watches him sleep and later invades his dreams.

So, were Changu and Nidao ever trully confirmed as Dark Friends? We know that Ingtar was one, and we know he was the one who freed Fain, couldn't Ingtar have been the one to let the Darkspawn in the night of the Amyrlin's visit?

The speech Ingtar made here is the part that made me absolutely love the dude, he understands what is at steak in the war against the shadow, he has seen humanity slowly die off, which is interesting to me from a setting standpoint. One would think the White Tower would do what it can to promote stability and aid nations in keeping borders from shrinking as much as they have, Of course the Tower's strength has shrunk as well so they might not have the ability to do it anymore.

I wonder how much of this was part of Ishamael's plan to weaken humanity,

And Fain is the first person who is not Lan to get a kill on a Fade, poor Fain gets screwed so badly as a villain later on.

TGH : 11
Ingtar tells Rand he is second in command, which is totally a plot by Moraine to push Rand towards being Dragon, or maybe not, With the rumors of him being a lord going about in the Keep, I wonder if Agalmar did not do this on his own as part of the pattern forcing Rand into his role as Dragon.

Perrin shows that he is the smartest of the 3 boys by piecing together all of the little bits and figuring out that Rand can channel, I wonder if Perrin thought for a moment that Rand would be a false dragon.

TGH: 12

Not much to talk about here, I do love the description of the various tents from the Ajahs with the Red tents being lonely and the green ones being a party, I wonder how the Reds became the most numerous Ajah, in the story proper we don't exactly see the Reds being nice to anyone including other Aes Sedai.

That can not be good for PR.

TGH: 13

I love Hurin here, the whole Rand acting like a Lord is just awesome to me simply because I always felt that real leaders are the kind that are aboslutely forced into the role against their will because people will follow them regardless of their desire to have people following them.

The stones themselves are huge mysteries in the series to me, they are older than the age of legends, and seem to predate Channeling itself but can only be activated by the one power, how and why were these things made, and if they predate even our time then are they a thing that has always been there?

TGH: 14

Hello again Verin, I wonder if Verin and Ingtar know they are both Dark Friends, I always thought it was unfortunate that we never really found out about the workings of the Dark Forces outside of the Forsaken, and the Forsaken themselves were not always interesting in terms of interaction since it was always “Plotting against each other and waiting to stab each other in the back” I wonder how many other Dark Friends there were like Verin and Ingtar who were good people who turned to the shadow for what is very good reason in the end.

TGH: 15

Ishamael makes an intersting claim here, to know every name that Rand(Lews therin) has ever used, I wonder if at some point Ishamael had some sort of reverse revelation as Rand has at the end of The Gathering Storm and syncs with his past lives.

TGH: 16

STALKER, CREEPY STALKER LADY, Just let the Grolm eat her Rand the world will be better for it.

TGH: 17

Back to the main timeline, Rand is starting to want to hold onto Saidin now. The addictive properties of the One Power (and the True power) are something I would like to learn more about, it is odd that something “natural” like the One Power would be an addictive thing, especially since drawing too much on it can sever you from the source, and also harm you physically I think. Isn't there somewhere that they mention that drawing too much can be harmful to you in more ways than just being severed?

TGH: 18

Siuan is wrong in this chapter, sure you can wrap someone in weaves of air and hold the strongest hairiest man ever at the wave of a hand, however what happens when you are in a Stedding? Or a Place like Far Madding, or someone creates a weave that protects someone from weaves.

*drags out his soapbox*

Sure lightning bolts from a clear sky, gigantic balls of fire and a bar of purifying light are flashy, but there are much more subtle weaves that could be used in combat that would be far more effective in turning a battle than fireballs, sure the blade of air would not make a good sword, but you know what an invisible razor sharp blade of air would be REALLY REALLY good at? Setting up in the middle of a charging trolloc horde and slicing half the armies legs off at the knees.
 

Kassina Tendar

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Random thoughts in no particular order:
-More hinting at Rand's ancestry:
Barthanes's eyes narrowed, studying Rand. "I understand Morgase has only one son. Named Gawyn, I have heard. You must be much like him in age.

-
Nynaeve said:
I suppose Liandrin has arranged permission from Sheriam for us to go
Black Ajah everywhere! D:

-It's frustrating knowing Liandrin's a darkfriend this time around...

-Conversely, knowing about Verin makes it even more awesome reading about her this time around! :D Although I feel so bad for everyone who had to go to Barthanes's party and deal with all that great game crap. :facepalm

-Poor Thom. :(

-I love Loial! :pleased-1: And he meets Erith for the first time! When I first read the books, I didn't really remember meeting Erith (since it is very brief) when she comes back later.

-Verin would love to meet Selene or the book she used to learn about the portal stones, since she believes none of the copies of Mirrors of the Wheel survived the Breaking... well, she may be right about that. 'Selene' has been around for longer than that.

-
Verin said:
"Now, Rand, you have been transported by a Portal Stone more recently than I.
[...]
"I have never used a Stone; that is why your use is more recent than mine.
Even though she's Black Ajah, Verin's still speaking like an Aes Sedai, probably both due to habit and to avoid being caught.

-I have to agree that I'd love to know what Perrin and Mat saw. We do get a hint of what happened with Mat when he hurries to assure Rand that he'll never tell anyone about him. And Ingtar's probably related a lot to his being a darkfriend considering the first thing he said to Verin was "I walk in the light"

I also thought it was interesting that Rand saw Egwene as the Amyrlin Seat in one of the alternate realities.

Ryu said:
I wonder how many other Dark Friends there were like Verin and Ingtar who were good people who turned to the shadow for what is very good reason in the end.
I always imagined there were quite a few darkfriends who didn't really want to be darkfriends. I mean, if something happens like what happened with Verin where you're approached by the Shadow and given a choice, then your only choice is between becoming a darkfriend and death. So I'm sure there are a lot of people who don't really have any sympathies with the Dark One, but were just coerced into joining. Or joined of their own will and then regretted it.
 

Toral Delvar

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Does Liandrin actually lie when smuggling the girls out
It was interesting that in one of the other realities, Egwene was a talented Healer - in the main world she could barely Heal a bruise, and we learn later that many of the former Wise Women who became novices were very talented healers, often with the 5 Power weave
The Seanchan behavior with the Seal is also odd. Later, they seem quite against stealing, but they happily commandeered all of Domon's possessions and gave the interesting ones to Turak
So, were Changu and Nidao ever trully confirmed as Dark Friends?
I suspect they were not Darkfriends, but were corrupted by Fain. We see other people in the dungeons who were corrupted, though not to that extent
 

Imzadi Hopewind

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Well, Turak was a Darkfriend, so perhaps he have given orders about this?
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Wasn't Changu and Nidao the ones guarding the dungeon? If so, they were the ones getting worse and worse every day, according to Egwene... I suspect they were influenced by Fain, not really DF...
 

Imzadi Hopewind

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 31-37

Wasn't Changu and Nidao the ones guarding the dungeon? If so, they were the ones getting worse and worse every day, according to Egwene... I suspect they were influenced by Fain, not really DF...

*nodnods* I would just think that they got the "sickness" from Fain, they were pretty grumpy last day we saw them.
 

Toral Delvar

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 38-44

Also, I wonder why the Seanchan killed the Watchers? What were they doing wrong that offended them so much they didn't just make them swear the oaths?
 
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