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

[Murun]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

The strange repeating may have something to do with Fain, as he does something similar after killing the two Asha'man in Far Madding

Well,maybe. I didn't remember the episode in WH. I rather followed a practical line of thinking: Lanfear could have watched from a hiding place, and seeing into which house Rand went, set the weave up on the fly. Fain, absent, would have had to booby-trap every likely house in the village.

@ Megana Vallentin: Yes, I share that assumption - whenever Rand concetrates, "is in the void", it obliterates certain traits that Fain looks out for.

@Kassina Tendar:

Why would that bother the Reds in particular if Egwene's can Fortell?

Because Elaida seems to be the most widely recognized foreteller the Tower has at the moment.

 

[Imzadi Hopewind]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

Is it just me? But ain't the chapter now very short?

 

[Wil Cambrae]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

Chapter 12:

At this point in my first few read-throughs, I always thought Moiraine must be a Dreamer. That's why they say she should be there to train Egwene and that's why she was always asking the boys about their dreams. But then they also say there hasn't been a Dreamer in a long time, which was confusing to me at first.

I think that this was Moiraine just hearing lots of rumors about TDO and the Forsaken messing about in Dreams and that her presence would help it. Which may or may not have been true. Aes Sedai were often working with half rumor half fact, remembrances in old books from people who read older. "Fragments of fragments" RJ has said often that they just didn't know all the facts.

Chapter 15:

What ARE those lines in the sky?

After we heard about stories where Balefire being used in the War of Power and both sides agreeing to stop using it. I though this was a world where they didn't, and the black lines are the scars on the world where Balefire wiped out cities, people, animals, mountains and the like, but for some reason the world held in one piece, but broken.

Chapter 11:

What was Rand's 'vanishing trick' that Fain referred to? My guess was that it had something to do with Aes Sedai being around? Or did he go somewhere regularly that would mask Fain from seeing him?

Chapter 12:

Why would that bother the Reds in particular if Egwene's can Fortell? :scratch

Depending on the theory Rand's vanishing could be his time spent in the World of Dreams, and spent Traveling/Skimming during the end battle of Eye of the World and also depending on the Timeline, when Rand is on the Portal Stone world.

Red's were haughty that they had found a new novice strong in the One Power, now along comes Moiraine finding two, one stronger than the other, seeming in the middle of a plot, and now the weaker of the two has found a Talent not seen in ages? I think I could understand their displeasure

 

[Maibella ni Rhoiden t'al'Varrak]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

Good question...I had assumed it was whenever he was "in the void", but now that you point it out I don't know why I would assume it to be that. :scratch

I assumed the same thing. It makes sense.

Also - are we moving ahead or did we put it on pause for a week because of Anni?

 

[Wil Cambrae]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

While I'm at it, some more reading notes:

Ch. 9: Who was the arrow for?
Dominic at the 13th Depository has developed quite a convincing argument that the arrow was meant for Siuan, not for Rand (read the article).

I wonder if this is true, how it would have affected his aversion to having women hurt, or has Jordan not brought this up yet?

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

Also - are we moving ahead or did we put it on pause for a week because of Anni?

My guess is moving ahead but no one has been around to update the thread title yet.

 

[Maibella ni Rhoiden t'al'Varrak]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

Good point. Ok I'll keep reading.

 

[Murun]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

@Wil Cambrae: In the books, both Siuan and Rand are convinced the arrow was for Rand (and the text suggests that a sudden movement of his horse made the arrow fail). You will remember how he used this event as a conversation opener in ToM: "You caught an arrow for me, did I ever thank you for that?"
That women should be protected and not hurt is a common sentiment among Randland men, perhaps more sharply followed in the borderlands, as we learn somewhere. One may see it in action in TEotW with the darkfriend (later identified as Milli Skane) with the magic dagger - why did Mat not simply cut her throat? One can of course see it in how Rand treats Selene /Lanfear. And the next opportunity I can see is when they are in the Stedding and the three Far Dareis Mai attack, Rand being torn between "they are women - but I want to stay alive".
That Rand feels a special responsibility / guilt as far as I can see only turns up in TFoH; in the same book Mat kills Melindhra ("I really liked your eyes, but ...") in self-defense and is so shaken by it that he won't do it ever again.

@Maibella Rhoiden: Obviously we are moving ahead - but I feel the following chapters do not really invite comment - it's like driving on a straight, smooth road, at least until Eg meets Elayne and Nyn gets tested, breaking the rules (did we really expect less from her?).

 

[Imzadi Hopewind]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

*nods to Murun* Not much to comment right now really...

But why didn't Rand understand that Selene were using power to heal his burn?

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 10-16

*nods to Murun* Not much to comment right now really...

But why didn't Rand understand that Selene were using power to heal his burn?

16-18 Year old boy, most beautiful girl he had ever seen taking his hand, To use DnD Terms the Penalty for that perception check would probably be somewhere about -50 at the least.

 

[Imzadi Hopewind]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

Dunno what you're talking about But I get it, he was totally lost into Selene

 

[Ashlyn Sindal]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

Given how Rand mentally compares the efficacy of Selene's healing to Nynaeve's, I think Rand may not have clued in yet that Nynaeve has been unconsciously using the Power to heal people all these years. So, he parses Selene's healing as just being really skilled with herbs, because that's what he's always believed of Nynaeve.

 

[Imzadi Hopewind]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

Right, forgot that he is used to Nynaeve already!

 

[Kassina Tendar]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

And he does ask Selene if she's Aes Sedai at least twice, so he obviously suspects something is up with her.

Also totally unrelated, but I love your Reading is Magic sig, Ashlyn!

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

And he does ask Selene if she's Aes Sedai at least twice, so he obviously suspects something is up with her.

Also totally unrelated, but I love your Reading is Magic sig, Ashlyn!

Well it is completely obvious Selene is a Channeler, she used a portal stone to get there didn't she. I pegged her as Lanfear from the first moment she showed up.

 

[Kassina Tendar]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

Yeah, it's super obvious she can channel. Even Rand thinks so, though her denial that she's Aes Sedai confuses him. Does he think she used the portal stone unconsciously in her sleep and doesn't know she can channel?? :scratch

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

Yeah, I think he asks her that when it comes to them leaving that world again, but she insists that she doesn't know how, and he ends up doing it to protect her...

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

Phew. These last few weeks have been crazy!

Prologue
It makes me sad to see a Darkfriend Tinker.
How does Bors, a Whitecloak, reconcile the Forsaken channeling? He hates Aes Sedai. The Whitecloak line is that the Power is of the Creator and therefore no one should be using it, ever...but (A) he serves the Dark One and therefore should want people to do things that defile things from the Creator; and (B) he should, hating channeling, therefore hate and not want to serve the Forsaken. Serious cognitive dissonance there, bro.
I found it interesting that Jordan always referred to Bors not as Bors, but as "the man who called himself Bors."
Funny: All of a sudden the Darkfriends are faced with the reality of being Darkfriends, and they're terrified.
Does the Dark One really want to break time? He's obviously already planning for failure. [I'm not quite sure what this note I wrote means. I think that TDO referred to Ages to come, therefore knew he couldn't actually win and break time and creation.]

Chapter 1
Do we ever find out who did the wind thing to Rand?
The crew was in the Borderlands long enough for Rand to pick up 'peace' as a curse.
Rand starts trying to redefine himself as not a shepherd.

Chapter 2
Oh hey Rand's new bow is unstrung. Good job, Rand.
What is the Pact?

Chapter 3
If it weren't for Masema, things may have turned out differently. Rand may have been allowed to leave the city.
Unseen eyes -- I don't think it's Rand going mad. I think it's a combo of him trying to escape and feeling trapped and paranoid, and Fain watching him. Plus, there's a Grey Man about, right? Maybe the GM was following Rand.
"All the stories are real."
Mat's luck is already showing.
Perrin doesn't laugh as much as he did in the Two Rivers. That makes me sad for him.
Fain is creeeeeeepy!

Chapter 4
Moiraine's point of view! Yay!
Why does Moiraine have her shawl? It means she's had that extra weight all this time. She knew she was in for hard travel, so why did she pack it when she left the Tower?
Moiraine thinks Egwene could be Amyrlin, but she also worries about the Tower falling or maybe breaking -- "If there is an Amyrlin Seat left on which to sit."
And the prejudice against the Red Ajah begins: "Moiraine was not sure Liandrin saw much difference between men and Trollocs. She was not sure any of the Red Ajah did."
There are Sisters with the Atha'an Miere? I thought the Sea Folk Sedai tended to stay in the Tower?
Suian foresees her own deposing.

Chapter 5
Moiraine is convinced she and Suian are part of the prophecies.
Suian has Talent of seeing ta'veren.
Oh Moiraine. All your planning is for naught. You Blues. [Yes, I actually had that thought. ]
I like that we get more than just Rand's POV in TGH.
Childhood tricks can be telling about the person they belong to. Moirain = eavesdropping. Liandrin = pain.
Liandrin also feels eyes on her, like Rand did. From Fain, for her too?

Chapter 6
Ingtar is an asshole and a good actor. Perhaps he's angry about the failure of the attack? (Then again, Fain did escape with the Horn, so maybe he's just an actor.)

Chapter 7
"He is not necessary with the Horn gone..." Is it just the plan to have Mat and Perrin take the Horn to Illian? [not sure what I was actually asking here.]
Verin out of nowhere figures out one of the boys is a channeler. She's way more observant than people think.
"Fly to the moon like Lenn." Lenn = John Glenn?

 

[Toral Delvar]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

I think it has been suggested the wind thing was a minor bubble of evil

 

[Murun]

Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: TGH Chapters 17-23

Glad to have you back!

Funny: All of a sudden the Darkfriends are faced with the reality of being Darkfriends, and they're terrified.

Yes, and this also holds for Ingtar.

Does the Dark One really want to break time? He's obviously already planning for failure.

It's Baal'amom / Ishmael speaking, and he says "this age or one to come" (some plan B, "it's never done"), which makes Bors angry - he wants power and immortality NOW.

Do we ever find out who did the wind thing to Rand?

No, but as Toral wrote, a bubble of evil seems the most fitting explanation.

Why does Moiraine have her shawl? It means she's had that extra weight all this time. She knew she was in for hard travel, so why did she pack it when she left the Tower?

Yes

Ingtar is an asshole and a good actor. Perhaps he's angry about the failure of the attack? (Then again, Fain did escape with the Horn, so maybe he's just an actor.)

Dunno, like him somewhat better. Just to make Imzadi Hopewind angry, lets compare him to Vidkun Quisling, who also wanted to do something good for his country, but was cheated from the first day on and found no honorable exit like Ingtar.

"Fly to the moon like Lenn." Lenn = John Glenn?

Yes.