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Your search for the tag 'ter'angreal' yielded 91 results

  • 1

    Interview: Apr 20th, 2004

    Week 6 Question

    How do the Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah "find" men who can channel?

    Robert Jordan

    We're told throughout the books that the male channelers get goose bumps whenever the females are channeling or embracing the source. However, it is continuously mentioned that the women don't know if the male Asha'man and Rand are embracing or channeling saidin. So how does the Red Ajah and Cadsuane, find male channelers and then gentle them?

    There are various ways that the effects of male channeling can be found, weaves that find the resonance of the residues of saidin. Check in Crossroads of Twilight. They do not detect the actual weaves, though, only the residues left after the weave is released. After that, it becomes a matter of detective work. Though perhaps stalking a leopard might be a better metaphor. As for Cadsuane, she has a few more tools at her disposal than other Aes Sedai, the reason for her extremely high success rate. Check Winter's Heart, and a few earlier mentions, for this one.

    Tags

  • 2

    Interview: Apr 20th, 2004

    Week 12 Question

    You stated in another interview that Mat's memories came from adventurers who traveled through the ter'angreal. However several of Mat's memories end with the adventurer dying. Since adventurers probably didn't go through the ter'angreal after they died, how could the 'Finns have obtained these memories?

    Robert Jordan

    A good question. I was wondering when someone would ask that. I expected it as soon as Mat started revealing those old memories. At least a partial answer will be coming up in the next main sequence book, so I guess you could say this is a RAFO. But I will say that if I said those adventurers all entered through the two ter'angreal, I misspoke. A good many entered through the Tower of Ghenjei, which was more widely known in earlier years, if never exactly a household name.

    Footnote

    The misstatement in question comes from the Crossroads of Twilight prologue ebook interview.

    Tags

  • 3

    Interview: Nov 21st, 1998

    Question

    The Bowl: Someone asked him whether, if men had helped the Aes Sedai and Windfinders and Kin channel through the Bowl, the One Power would still have been screwed up.

    Robert Jordan

    His implicit assumption was that the Bowl screwed things up. I expected this to be a sheer RAFO. I was surprised. He went into a relatively detailed explanation to the effect that the Bowl was stressed far, far beyond its original design parameters because of the advanced knowledge of the Windfinders. It was affecting a global pattern, when it was designed for only a small region. Men helping would not have changed anything, and the effects linger most strongly near Ebou Dar, but also along the "spokes" which radiated from that place. (I should have asked if a spoke went out over Tear.)

    Footnote

    The 'relatively detailed explanation' can be found in TPOD 2, Moridin's POV. Moridin noted that the Bowl was originally a ter'angreal designed to control the weather in small areas, and that the Sea Folk were likely capable of stretching its abilities far beyond its intended capacity (since they could do unaided what should have required the Bowl, by Age of Legends standards).

    Tags

  • 4

    Interview: Jul, 2002

    Question

    Are all of Mat’s memories from his past lives?

    Robert Jordan

    No, Mat’s “old” memories are not from his past lives at all. The “sickness” he got from the Shadar Logoth dagger resulted in holes in his memory. He found whole stretches of his life that seemed to be missing. When he passed through the “doorframe” ter’angreal in Rhuidean, one of the things he said – not knowing that the rules here were different than in the other ter’angreal he had used – was that he wanted the holes in his memory filled up, meaning that he wanted to recover his own memories. In this place, however, it was not a matter of asking questions and receiving answers, but of striking bargains for what you want. What he received for that particular demand was memories gathered by the people on that side of the ter’angreal, memories from many men, all long dead, from many cultures. And since not everyone passing by has the nerve to journey through a ter’angreal to some other world, the memories he received were those of adventurers and soldiers and men of daring.

    Footnote

    RJ is obviously talking about the memories Mat received from the Eelfinn, so this quote does not rule out past life memories as an explanation for the Aemon memories in The Dragon Reborn Chapter 19 (before Mat ever visited the Aelfinn or the Eelfinn), nor does the Dromen and Demonen chat rule out the Old Blood as an explanation. Also, RJ meant to say that most of the men who provided the memories went through the Tower of Ghenjei; he corrected himself later in the TOR Questions of the Week.

    Tags

  • 5

    Interview: Jul, 2002

    Question

    In the scene during which the taint is cleansed, Cadsuane uses a ter’angreal that detects the One Power being channeled and the direction it is coming from. She watches the ter’angreal, and when the enemy channels, she points, and someone attacks. Why doesn’t it point to the huge amounts of the One Power that Rand and Nynaeve are channeling – far more than the Forsaken are being pegged for?

    Robert Jordan

    Cadsuane’s ter’angreal was made during the Breaking of the World, at a time when men and women no longer linked, or at least very rarely, since male channelers were going mad at a rate of knots. What the maker was particularly interested in detecting was men channeling, but a man channeling in combination with a woman was, by definition, safe, because no woman was going to link with a man unless she knew absolutely that he was sane and not going to go over the edge into insanity while they were linked. Thus, saidin and saidar being worked in combination could be ignored, and in fact would be a distraction, since this was and is a warning device. Cadsuane’s ter’angreal won’t point to the two halves of the Power being wielded in combination.

    Tags

  • 6

    Interview: Jul, 2002

    Question

    Rhuarc indicates that an Aiel in Rhuidean sees the past through the eyes of one of his ancestors. Is this true for the women as well? What would a non-Aiel see, if anything?

    Robert Jordan

    Yes, a woman would also see through the eyes of her ancestors, at least in the "forest of crystal spires" ter'angreal, and she, too, would live the history of the Aiel, in effect. Someone who wasn't Aiel could wander through those spires forever and never see a thing except the spires. He or she might think it was a monument, or maybe a work of art. Just for a reminder, women who are chosen out to be Wise Ones have to go to Rhuidean twice, the second time for the spires and the first for another ter'angreal, one that makes her see all of the possible paths her life could take all the way to their conclusion. She can't possibly remember all of them, of course, but some things she will remember and know that it would be very bad for her to make that particular choice when it comes, or alternatively, very good. This is the ter'angreal that Moiraine went through.

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  • 7

    Interview: Jan 25th, 2005

    Week 23 Question

    In The Path of Daggers, Unweaving, Elayne discovers a ter'angreal that looks like: 'A stout, bearded man with a jolly smile, holding a book.' Was this a sneaky cameo appearance by yourself?

    Robert Jordan

    Well, I may not be Alfred Hitchcock, but I do like to show up now and then.

    Tags

  • 8

    Interview: Jul 19th, 2005

    Week 3 Question

    After Moiraine fought Lanfear in Cairhien, what happened to the wagons full of ter'angreal and such that came out of the Aiel Waste? Are they just in some storeroom there? And what happened to Moiraine's horse Aldieb?

    Robert Jordan

    The ter'angreal and so forth that came from Rhuidean are still in Cairhien for the moment, warded by Rand so they aren't accessible to anyone but him. Aldieb is in the stables at the Sun Palace.

    Tags

  • 9

    Interview: Oct 19th, 1994

    Compuserve Chat (Verbatim)

    Joe Rosenman

    Greetings! From Rand's Rhuidean vision: If the Sharom is the Dark One's prison, why would it be floating in on place above a city and not in some transcendent plain? Why didn't Rand see it there?

    Robert Jordan

    But it isn't. The Sharom and the Collam Daan are a university/research center. Or were.

    Joe Rosenman

    Also, did Mierin intend to create the Bore?

    Robert Jordan

    In part, yes. Not alone.

    Tags

  • 10

    Interview: Oct 11th, 2005

    Question

    Someone asked if someone who was stilled can use a Well.

    Robert Jordan

    No.

    Tags

  • 11

    Interview: 2010

    Shivam Bhatt (8 November 2010)

    [Towers of Midnight] Chapters 48-49.—was that all in Jordan's notes? So so sad and dark!

    Brandon Sanderson (8 November 2010)

    I'm avoiding answering questions about what was specifically in the notes and what wasn't, for now.

    SHIVAM BHATT

    Ok, well, can you comment on your own feelings of those chapters, as a fan?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Awesome but very disturbing. As a fan, they're discomforting.

    Tags

  • 12

    Interview: 2011

    Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Luckers (2 June 2011)

    Heya. So. Kind of harsh question—you are reported to have inferred recently that the Black Ajah and Nynaeve etc. ability to...

    LUCKERS

    ...to be solid and channel properly during the Dream Battle in Towers of Midnight has an explanation. Is this true? I struggle...

    LUCKERS

    ... to believe that given the text and my communications with Maria, and was wondering if it was misquoted?

    LUCKERS

    Aight. Literally as I posted the above to Brandon, Maria replied with that this whole issue is a Read and Find Out issue. I'm a douche.

    PETER AHLSTROM

    Did anyone check out the ebook to see if any changes have been made to that scene?

    LUCKERS

    Don't think so... been chatting with Maria about it and she's not indicated any changes.

    MARIA SIMONS

    Look for an email soon; there were changes. I'm having a difficult day; I didn't think that you might not have seen an ebook.

    FOOTNOTE

    The differences were found and posted at Theoryland.

    Brandon Sanderson (3 June 2011)

    I need to do more #wotrr posts. I've been doing most of reading away from the computer these days; flying or working out. No Twitter handy.

    TEREZ

    It's okay; we still love you. ;)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Whew. Good to know. :)

    FOOTNOTE—TEREZ

    I found the bit with Luckers after I'd done the 2011 Tweets. By date, it fits here best, but the context is not necessarily significant; I can't insert entries anywhere but at the end of an 'interview' page, but I can edit previous entries, so here it is.

    Tags

  • 13

    Interview: Jun 16th, 1995

    Robert Jordan

    On the amount of ter'angreal enabling entry into Tel'aran'rhiod in the White Tower and if entry into Tel'aran'rhiod could be learned he answered "Read and Find Out".

    Tags

  • 14

    Interview: Apr 5th, 1996

    Robert Jordan

    Mat's Foxy Medallion: As we surmised, it works by blocking direct channeling of both saidin and saidar, and its weakness is that it doesn't protect against indirect effects, like lightning.

    Tags

  • 15

    Interview: Jun 26th, 1996

    Compuserve Chat (Verbatim)

    Searles O'Dubhain

    The initiation rituals for raising an Accepted to Aes Sedai seem to be based upon some sort of real-life ceremonies. Where did you get the idea for the three passes through the ter'angreal?

    Robert Jordan

    Trinities and threes and multiples of three or seven turn up again and again in mythologies and legends throughout the world and in ceremonies throughout the world. That part is hardly original. It's something that speaks to us on some deeper level. It's so prevalent, it must. It's all pervasive.

    Footnote

    The 'three passes through the ter'angreal' corresponds to the way in which a novice is raised to Accepted, not how an Accepted is raised Aes Sedai.

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  • 16

    Interview: Jun 16th, 1995

    Robert Jordan

    The invasion of iron-clad men into the Aiel Waste as reflected on in the ancestor-memory ter'angreal he said did not refer to Artur Hawkwing, but to a much earlier event.

    Tags

  • 17

    Interview: Oct 9th, 1996

    Question

    Can weaves be inverted in a way that prevents them being detected even while they are being woven, i.e. so you could draw and weave with saidin, and no one would detect it, or can the weaves only be hidden after they have been tied off?

    Robert Jordan

    No answer. [Stupid woman and "how do you get your ideas" question.]

    Footnote

    RJ addressed this in the text at the Cleansing, when Demandred 'reversed' his gateways so as to avoid being detected. (Cadsuane's ter'angreal, which can apparently detect reversed/inverted weaves, foiled his plan.)

    Tags

  • 18

    Interview: Jan 14th, 1997

    Thomas Howard

    Why did Mat think that someone was "holding" the True Source when his medallion grew cold? (That is I thought it only did this when he came in contact with an actual flow. This occurred on page 595 of A Crown of Swords, for reference.)

    I'm going to quote the whole response again.

    Robert Jordan

    "Mat's medallion gets icy cold if someone directs the One Power at him, but it would be cool if the Power was being used near him, and almost cold if it were being used very near him."

    Tags

  • 19

    Interview: Oct 24th, 1998

    Robert Jordan

    Then I asked about Elayne's Rod of Pleasure, and got a RAFO with the explicit warning that we might not ever get to the FO part.

    Footnote

    RJ managed to slip the 'FO' into the next book. A careful reading of 'A Lily in Winter' answers the question of what Elayne was doing when she was blacked out.

    Tags

  • 20

    Interview: Oct 31st, 1998

    Lara Beaton

    I asked at the signing on Saturday. The exchange went something like this:

    What happened with Elayne and that warm ter'angreal?

    Robert Jordan

    (laughs) What do you think happened?

    LARA BEATON

    We figured it must be some sort of One Power sex toy.

    ROBERT JORDAN

    (laughing harder) I may write something about that in a later book.

    LARA BEATON

    RAFO, right?

    Robert Jordan

    Exactly.

    Footnote

    This was clarified further in Winter's Heart, 'A Lily in Winter'.

    Tags

  • 21

    Interview: Nov 1st, 1998

    SciFi.com Chat (Verbatim)

    Rothaar

    The general consensus seems to be that the Bowl of Winds caused the weirdness in the Power around Ebou Dar. Do we know enough at this time to determine the true cause or do we have to RAFO more info?

    Robert Jordan

    I think you know enough by this point. It is intuitively obvious to the most casual observer. I always hated it when my math professors said that.

    Footnote

    RJ explained further here.

    Tags

  • 22

    Interview: Mar, 2000

    Paul Ward

    Possible question: Why did the ter'angreal doorway burn down when Lanfear and Moiraine passed through?

    Robert Jordan

    When Moiraine and Lanfear went through the ter'angreal, it burned in part because both were channeling, and the world on the other side of the doorway has a radically different set of natural laws. The odd optical effects witnessed in that other world are not artificially produced artifacts. (complete answer)

    Paul Ward

    The laws for channeling are different on the other side of the doorway...interesting.

    Tags

  • 23

    Interview: Mar, 2000

    Paul Ward

    Possible question: What's up with the Accepted test ter'angreal?

    Robert Jordan

    Anyone being tested is merely a visitor, or rider, on whoever she is in [another reality.]

    Paul Ward

    Therefore, though Sharina may be a real person, it doesn't mean anything in terms of her future advising to the Malkier throne.

    Addendum

    The full text of the response from RJ was provided in a later post:

    Robert Jordan

    The places that novices visit while testing for Accepted are other realities, but it's not quite that simple. Anyone being tested is merely a visitor, or rider, on whoever she is in that world. Some of those who have not come back have died, and some have become absorbed in the different reality, but that is not to say that they are still alive in any sense that we would recognize. You really don't want to stay in the other reality, no matter how terrific it might seem.

    [Verbatim. Everything he said about the Accepted test ter'angreal.]

    Tags

  • 24

    Interview: Nov 10th, 2000

    Question

    What was the use of Elayne's "rod" in The Path of Daggers?

    Robert Jordan

    RAFO and he's surprised at the imaginations of some of the female fans who mail him—their imaginations are quite vivid.

    Footnote

    This was explained in Winter's Heart, 'A Lily in Winter'.

    Tags

  • 25

    Interview: Nov 11th, 2000

    Pam Korda from Chicago

    What exactly is the "hot" ter'angreal played with so enthusiastically by Elayne and when will we see it actually put into use?

    Robert Jordan

    Read and find out, Pam. You're experienced enough at this to know that I wouldn't give that answer, I think!

    Footnote

    This was explained in Winter's Heart, 'A Lily in Winter'.

    Tags

  • 26

    Interview: Nov 27th, 2000

    Robert Jordan

    He confirmed that the Crystal Throne is a ter'angreal (as the Big Book of Bad Art says), but that it does not require channeling.

    Tags

  • 27

    Interview: Jan 23rd, 2003

    Sonia Ibarra

    So the Eye of the World is a Well, right?

    Robert Jordan

    [pauses] Yes and no. It's in the same class of objects as a Well, but on a different scale.

    SONIA IBARRA

    So could it be refilled by a male channeler?

    ROBERT JORDAN

    No. Remember, lots of Aes Sedai died to make it.

    SONIA IBARRA

    To keep it pure.

    ROBERT JORDAN

    That, among other things. Look, a normal Well is like this water glass. [he gestures] The Eye is like a liquid nitrogen canister.

    SONIA IBARRA

    So are Wells made with the opposite half of the Power that they were meant to contain, like Rand did at Shadar Logoth?

    ROBERT JORDAN

    [sly smile] No, they don't work like that.

    Tags

  • 28

    Interview: Jan 23rd, 2003

    Sonia Ibarra

    Are stedding natural, or were they created with the Power like the Far Madding ter'angreal?

    Robert Jordan

    Read and find out.

    Tags

  • 29

    Interview: Feb 26th, 2003

    tarvalon.net Q&A (Verbatim)

    Question

    Can someone channel from a Well while they are shielded?

    Robert Jordan

    Yes, they could. If they had the Well.

    Tags

  • 30

    Interview: Jul 22nd, 2004

    Jason Denzel

    Earlier that weekend, Melissa had been amazed when Brad and I told her what the "warm" ter'angreal really was. If you don't know what I'm talking about...go look around on the Internet. If you're over 18 that is. Anyway, Melissa was so shocked by this that she asked RJ flat out if it was true. (*Smacks forehead* So much for being dignified with our VIP guests!)

    Robert Jordan

    I was sitting right next to RJ and I saw his tiny smile behind his beard. He just said "Read and Find Out".

    Jason Denzel

    In my mind that translates to: "Go do a search on one of those WoT sites and they'll tell ya".

    Tags

  • 31

    Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005

    Aubrey

    During the raising tests for Accepted and Aes Sedai, are the ladies taking the tests actually inside of the World of Dreams?

    Robert Jordan

    No the...well, I am not going to say where they are for the tests for Accepted, that might be a RAFO, probably not, but it might be.

    For the test for Aes Sedai, they are in effect inside what you might call an uber-virtual reality device where what happens is entirely controlled in this case by the sisters controlling the device, but it is a virtual reality that is so terrific that it is reality for you. You die, you are dead. No game over, start again. You are dead.

    Tags

  • 32

    Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005

    Matt Hatch

    Can you explain the reasoning behind Verin's decision to break Tower Law and give a ter'angreal to a novice, especially considering the fact that she did so with little or no guidance?

    Robert Jordan

    RAFO, sorry.

    Tags

  • 33

    Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005

    Question

    In The Dragon Reborn, Lanfear visits Mat as he is recuperating from his One Power surgery over the dagger. At one point she stretches out her hand towards him and he feels a tingle going over him, somebody interrupts them, and she turns her head and sobs, at about the same time a member of Black Ajah stole angreal and ter'angreal out of the Tower cache, one of which was a ter'angreal that was known to have some effect on chance. So it was about this time that Mat's really really really weird luck and the dice rolling in his head began, is this a connection or coincidence?

    Robert Jordan

    That is a coincidence. When they say that Mat has the Dark One's own luck, he can get as mad as he wants to, but in a way it is true. It wasn't a gift from Lanfear, though.

    Isabel

    [Hehe, another theory busted, and a very interesting answer. I am going for Shadar Logoth now.]

    Question

    In that case, what was Lanfear doing?

    Robert Jordan

    She was checking his health. She doesn't care very much, except that he is important to Rand, to Lews Therin, him and Perrin both, so she is interested in, the one she wants mainly is Lews Therin, or wanted anyway, and uh, so she is interested in these other two ta'veren, who seemed to be tied in with him, because they might be important to him.

    Tags

  • 34

    Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005

    Question

    Does Mat's amulet work against the male side of the power, and if so will Elayne's research of it develop into something that can be used in the conflict between Aes Sedai?

    Robert Jordan

    Read and Find Out.

    Tags

  • 35

    Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005

    Question

    In the Age of Legends, the soldiers used shocklances. Were they projectile or energy weapons?

    Robert Jordan

    Think of it as an energy weapon. Remember, by the time we get to the Breaking, shocklances are actually in fairly short supply and other devices of that sort. Long before we get to the breaking the industrial base has been enough destroyed that soldiers are once again using bows and spears and swords because there simply aren't enough shocklances to go around, nor jo-cars and there is no industrial base to provide replacement for them.

    Tags

  • 36

    Interview: Oct 2nd, 2005

    Robert Jordan

    For HotW-Moiraine, yes, the bearded man ter'angreal could be said to be my Alfred Hitchcock moment. In Knife of Dreams, you'll learn what it does.

    Tags

  • 37

    Interview: Oct 4th, 2005

    Robert Jordan

    For Krassos, yes, a channeler could still channel wearing Mat's amulet. Cadsuane has one much like it. And I think that I will complete "Trust" eventually. I think about doing so every now and then.

    Tags

  • 38

    Interview: Oct 6th, 2005

    Robert Jordan

    For Lord of Salvation, I'm sorry to hear that you had to become a refugee. I hope you plan on returning to help rebuild. My brother teaches at West Jefferson High School.

    Also, Moiraine did enter the Rhuidean doorframe ter'angreal. That's the one that caught fire and melted after she and Lanfear passed through together. Berelain certainly knows of the Tear doorframe, but she has never entered it.

    Tags

  • 39

    Interview: Oct 17th, 2005

    Mad Cao

    I then asked if Semirhage was somehow immune to the effects of the Crystal Throne.

    Robert Jordan

    He said that she certainly was.

    Tags

  • 40

    Interview: Oct 20th, 2005

    Robert Jordan

    The Book of Translation (Ogier thing) was RAFO'd when asked if it was a ter'angreal or a dictionary/map.

    Tags

  • 41

    Interview: Oct 21st, 2005

    Question

    Was the gizmo used to capture Elayne a shocklance?

    Robert Jordan

    It was a variation. A shocklance is more like a rifle, and this was more like a pistol.

    Tags

  • 42

    Interview: Oct 28th, 2005

    Jason Wolfbrother

    Was Callandor constructed during the War of Power?

    Robert Jordan

    Yes.

    Jason Wolfbrother

    Was it used in the War of Power?

    Robert Jordan

    Yes, that is how the flaw was discovered.

    Jason Wolfbrother

    Why didn't they ward/buffer Callandor?

    Robert Jordan

    The flaw with Callandor is simply a manufacturing flaw. He went on to talk about how they were at the end of their tech age with only a few sho-wings and jo-cars left. A couple of shocklances were still around but they were not as prevalent as they had been. Anyway they had been mass producing ter'angreal, angreal, and sa'angreal, and there are bound to be flaws with the products. The flaw with Callandor is simply one such flaw.

    Footnote

    This is specifically referring to the lack of a buffer.

    Tags

  • 43

    Interview: Dec 19th, 2005

    Robert Jordan

    For kcf, one of Cadsuane's ornaments is a ter'angreal that can interfere with weaves. That is how she was able to disrupt Semirhage's use of Illusion.

    Tags

  • 44

    Interview: Oct 27th, 2009

    Matt Hatch

    Is it an assumption that we haven’t seen the last of these individuals right here (I was pointing at the Seanchan assassins)?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There were five sent. We know one is dead. The other four, they may have lived or died through the assault, it was pretty chaotic, but they are expert warriors with ter’angreal focused on letting them hide.

    QUESTION

    How long does that affect last? Days?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    That effect can be stretched if they take it off, for several weeks. It is going to kill them eventually. If they are wearing it straight, it’s not going to last long, a matter of days, but if they take it off they can hide for a matter of weeks. So, there are four unaccounted for, who have orders to kill as many Aes Sedai as they can.

    Tags

  • 45

    Interview: Oct 27th, 2009

    Matt Hatch

    I don’t think Jordan ever, maybe somebody asked, in his notes does he ever say what the treaties were between the 'Finns and the people with whom they made them? Are those treaties actually written down somewhere?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Um—I think that you may see some of this in the encyclopedia. How is that for a Robert Jordan answer for you? The encyclopedia is coming. [Stuff about the Big White Book]. It is actually going to be an encyclopedia...Harriet, Maria and Alan are working on that. A Memory of Light comes first so they have to keep dividing their time. My guess would be 2012, but if we’re really on the ball, I would think releasing it the same year of the last volume would be a smart thing to do...Peter will you take a note to let Maria know that I told them that that might happen so she is not blind sided by it. She and Harriet will have to decide if that goes in if anything regarding that goes in. The original treaty between the Aelfinn and Eelfinn and mankind. Just remind me to talk to Harriet to talk to Maria about it.

    MATT HATCH

    Are the treaties different?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Different from what?

    MATT HATCH

    There are two treaties...(hard to hear what I ask next, but I’m clarifying Snakes and Foxes).

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    They are similar, how about that. They are similar enough that they could be considered functionally identical but there are little differences.

    Tags

  • 46

    Interview: Nov 15th, 2009

    Question

    Mr. Jordan stated that the Seanchan only know how to make one kind of ter'angreal. Then there are the Bloodknives' rings. Is this a departure from Jordan's notes, or a discrepancy in a past answer?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Neither. The Seanchan only know how to make a'dam.

    Tags

  • 47

    Interview: Nov 15th, 2009

    Question

    Is the ter'angreal which Aviendha identifies as related to holes, and requiring a song to activate, the Talisman of Growing for the Ways?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (Huge grin) RAFO.

    Tags

  • 48

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2010

    Matt Hatch

    Is the Horn an object of the Power?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO, but I will tell you something about the Horn. People always ask why the inscription on the Horn is in the Old Tongue, if it's so old. It was added in the Age of Legends.

    Terez

    It should also be noted that, when a panel moderator asked the audience if we wanted to see the Heroes of the Horn come back before the end, Maria raised her hand high.

    Tags

  • 49

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2010

    Question

    In Book 5, we have all of those wagons filled with ter'angreal from the Waste. Are we ever going to see that again?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 50

    Interview: Jun 10th, 2010

    Luckers

    What was the item that could help tie the Aes Sedai to Rand and help Rand that Nynaeve and Elayne found in the Tower via Need in Tel'aran'rhiod (just prior to finding the Bowl of the Winds).

    Maria Simons

    You don't really think I'm going to answer every single question, do you?

    Tags

  • 51

    Interview: Nov 2nd, 2010

    Matt Hatch

    Can someone without the Talent for Dreamwalking or Dreaming, but with access to Tel'aran'rhiod through a ter'angreal be taught to find dreams?

    Brandon Sanderson

    As far as I know, no. That's an 80%.

    The question they should be asking is could Perrin (be taught to find dreams)?

    Matt Hatch

    Can he?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I don't think so.

    Matt Hatch

    Well, what he can do is similar to Dreaming and Dreamwalking.

    Brandon Sanderson

    But the wolves don't know about them.

    Matt Hatch

    Well...

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'm not sure, but that's what I would be asking (paraphrased).

    Tags

  • 52

    Interview: Nov 2nd, 2010

    Matt Hatch

    We are told that the mindtrap is somehow connected to the soul. Is it possible to create ter'angreal that can hold a soul, or be tied to a soul in such a way as to capture it at death?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Many things are possible, but are improbable.

    Matt Hatch

    Was such a ter'angreal created during the Age of Legends?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Many things are possible, but are improbable.

    Tags

  • 53

    Interview: Nov 8th, 2010

    Question

    Is Aviendha the only one to go forward in time through the ter'angreal?

    Brandon Sanderson

    As far as we know, yes.

    Tags

  • 54

    Interview: Dec, 2010

    Lordjuss

    Aviendha's scene in the columns at Rhuidean was wonderful. Will the columns always do that now, or has Aviendha broken them for good?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 55

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2011

    Question

    Verin makes many statements throughout the books that are suspect now that we know she was not bound by the Oaths. In regards to the ter'angreal dream ring, Verin tells Egwene, "I tried it myself, once, some years ago. Anaiya's Healing did not work as well as it should have. Remember that."

    During the time Verin gave Egwene the ring she mentioned going to Anaiya to be healed. She didn't go to a Yellow for Healing—does Verin hold something over Anaiya? Were they pillow friends? Or was this simply a case of asking a friend to do a minor healing because she knew she would keep it quiet?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Was Anaiya Black Ajah?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 56

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2011

    Question

    How long before giving Egwene the ter'angreal ring did Verin have it in her possession?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Did Verin visit Tel'aran'rhiod more than once? If so, generally speaking, how many times did Verin visit Tel'aran'rhiod prior to her discussion of it with Egwene?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Compared to Egwene and the Wise Ones, how experienced in Tel'aran'rhiod was Verin?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Did Verin ever meet with one or more Black Ajah in Tel'aran'rhiod?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Did Verin ever meet with one or more Forsaken in Tel'aran'rhiod?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Did Verin have other ways/means, other than through the ter'angreal dream ring, to get into Tel'aran'rhiod? If so, how did Verin enter Tel'aran'rhiod?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Was Verin ever in Tel'aran'rhiod after giving Egwene the ring?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 57

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2011

    Question

    Verin tells Egwene she wasn't supposed to give Egwene the ter'angreal ring. Was Verin speaking about Tower Law in regards to an Accepted possessing ter'angreal? If not, was Verin speaking about the Black Ajah not wanting Verin to give Egwene the ring? If not, what did Verin mean?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Did the Black Ajah know of the existence of the ter'angreal ring that Verin gave to Egwene?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Did the Black Ajah know Verin gave Egwene the ring? If so, when did they find that out?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Question

    Did any of the Forsaken know that Verin gave Egwene the ter'angreal ring? If so, how long after giving Egwene the ring did one or more of the Forsaken know Verin gave it to her?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 58

    Interview: May 30th, 2011

    Isabel

    Oh yeah, I also asked about the Tel'aran'rhiod fight (that was actually during the walk to the restaurant) and if the Black Ajah shouldn't have been more blurred out. See discussion at Readandfindout.com.

    Brandon Sanderson

    He told me that someone sent him a theory about it. He was thinking if he would post that theory and tell what parts are wrong and right (if i remember correctly). Or he was thinking of keeping the answer a secret.

    Footnote

    The fight in Tel'aran'rhiod took place in Towers of Midnight Chapters 37-38. This Q&A led to a Twitter conversation which cleared up the issue somewhat.

    Tags

  • 59

    Interview: Apr 17th, 2011

    Terez

    Demandred mentions that the sleepweavers are used to train beginners in Tel'aran'rhiod. Can any channeler be trained to enter without a ter'angreal (eventually) or is a certain amount of Talent required?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (long silence) I believe...I'll give you a percentage on these. If I say, "I believe", it means, "this is my understanding, but, um..."

    Terez

    Right, the asterisk.

    Brandon Sanderson

    There's an asterisk on it. And most of my understanding is informed by the notes and what I've read, but I often get things mixed up. So, I'm going to say on a 75% surety, not everybody can be trained to enter without a ter'angreal eventually, and some talent is required, but there are some who can...there is a middle ground between, for instance, Egwene, and somebody who can't at all.

    Terez

    Like Aran'gar, who obviously has hardly any talent at all, but she can get into people's dreams.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. So, there is a middle ground. But I don't believe everybody can.

    Terez

    Have all of the Forsaken been trained to do this or do some of them have to use gateways to get there?

    Brandon Sanderson

    In choosing the Forsaken—and this one is actually, um...I am quoting sources that you don't have access to, but I do...

    Terez

    Right.

    Brandon Sanderson

    In choosing the Forsaken, the Dark One was careful...um, the very nature of it led to people with great talent in many areas being chosen. They are extraordinary in many areas, and having talents that others do not have, beyond being powerful channelers.

    Terez

    We're talking about the thirteen that were at Shayol Ghul...

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. ...This is what led to them being at the top of the heap. That said, I do believe that, among the Forsaken, there are some who had to use gateways to get there...but the majority of the Forsaken are very talented in many areas.

    Tags

  • 60

    Interview: Apr 17th, 2011

    Terez (sleepinghour)

    Is the weave used in the shawl testing a form of Compulsion?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They’re definitely cousins. Whether they would consider it a form of Compulsion...to them, Compulsion is complete evil, so they will not view it at all like that...

    Terez

    Yeah, I thought that might be part of what Verin used to cobble together her own Compulsion weave.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. They’re definitely cousins.

    Footnote—Terez

    This question came out of a thread I started on Theoryland, which in turn came out of a response Brandon made to someone on Twitter. I thought that Nynaeve remembering she could channel at all in her Accepted test might be related to her ability to resist Compulsion as she did with Moghedien (which, as we know from Rahvin, is a fairly rare ability possessed by only the most strong-willed, such as Morgase). Egwene's Accepted test is a whole different ballgame because of her Dreaming talent and the interference with the stone ring ter'angreal that Verin had just given her.

    Terez (sleepinghour)

    Do you know what the original use for the testing ter'angreal was?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The notes do. I don’t have it off the top of my head.

    Tags

  • 61

    Interview: Apr 17th, 2011

    Terez

    Is the area of a dreamspike adjustable?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The area it covers? Yes, it is.

    Terez

    Yay!

    Brandon Sanderson

    That’s a good question.

    Terez

    Thank you.

    Tags

  • 62

    Interview: Apr 17th, 2011

    Terez

    Has Moridin/Ishamael been collecting 'angreal for 3500 years or only recently?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I would say more than collecting—'keeping tabs on'.

    Tags

  • 63

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2011

    Reddit AMA 2011 (Verbatim)

    Ted Herman ()

    Does the a'dam only work when the collar is worn around the neck?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, so far as I know.

    Tags

  • 64

    Interview: Oct 15th, 2011

    Ted Herman

    Was Norla in the Kin and where did she get her paralis-net?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Footnote

    Norla is the 'toothless wilder' in the Black Hills from who Cadsuane earned her hair ornament ter'angreal [WH34, COT23].

    Tags

  • 65

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2011

    Reddit AMA 2011 (Verbatim)

    lamguin ()

    Back in books 4-6, I forget exactly where, Elayne and Nynaeve did a dreamworld need walk to find something to tie the rebel Aes Sedai to Rand. They eventually found the Bowl of the Winds, but before they did, they were taken to the 'angreal storeroom in the White Tower. I ask with every intention of getting a RAFO; is this going to be brought up?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO! :)

    Tags

  • 66

    Interview: Nov 30th, 2000

    Question

    Was the Eye of the World a Well/variant of a Well?

    Robert Jordan

    He said that it was similar, but different. Similar in the sense that it it held the One Power, but it's not a ter'angreal. They are also created in different ways. The Eye was a one-time use, where a well can be refilled. He went on a little further, but I forget a little of his explanation. But no earth-shakers here, just a little clarification of what we already knew.

    Tags

  • 67

    Interview: 2001

    Thus Spake the Creator (Paraphrased)

    Signing Report (The One Power, the True Power, and channeling)

    I personally have specifically asked Robert Jordan about this issue. (during a book launch in Sydney late 1999)

    Robert Jordan

    He confirmed that Cadsuane's hairpiece IS a ter'angreal, and that we should have enough information to know what it does. Whether this means that it acts similar to Mat's foxhead medallion, or senses male channeling, or both, is still unknown.

    Tags

  • 68

    Interview: 2001

    Thus Spake the Creator (Paraphrased)

    Signing Report (The Black Ajah)

    Does the Black Ajah still have the dice they stole, when the first thirteen left the Tower?

    Robert Jordan

    Read and find out.

    Reporter

    The only time these dice are mentioned is when Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne are reading the lists of stolen ter'angreal they got from Verin. I first thought that maybe they had something to do with Mat but I couldn't find any evidence for it.

    Tags

  • 69

    Interview: Dec 2nd, 2010

    Virginia

    Okay, so...my pet peeve is the famous library ter'angreal that was uncovered in Ebou Dar. Why is it that….is all that non-fictional knowledge ever going to come into play, and what's wrong with Elayne that she's not using it to find out some things that they probably desperately need to know? Or I guess she's using it as a doorstop.

    Maria Simons

    Well, 1) we haven't seen Elayne in a whole book; we don't really know what she's doing, and 2) she has problems channeling because of this pregnancy deal, and 3) everything's going to be in the Old Tongue and she's a little busy to sit down and translate documents.

    VIRGINIA

    That's true.

    ALAN ROMANCZUK

    But you don't understand the significance of that ter'angreal: Jim foreshadowed the creation of the Kindle. [laughter]

    VIRGINIA

    Oh, no!

    ALAN ROMANCZUK

    Mmhmm, he did. And actually, Elayne—right now as we speak—is in her bed reading fiction on that.

    JENNIFER LIANG

    I bet they're dirty romance novels.

    SPENCER POWELL

    I was going to peg her for an urban fantasy fan.

    MARK

    No, no, no, no, no. She loves the Harlequins. Case closed.

    VIRGINIA

    Oh, the Harlequins. Yeah.

    JENNIFER LIANG

    Yes, totally.

    MARK

    Either her or Aviendha, but one of those two is definitely into the Harlequin super-romance.

    VIRGINIA

    How can she get all excited about the cover art of Fabio when she's got Rand? [laughter]

    ANDREW GELOS

    Have you seen the cover of Lord of Chaos?

    VIRGINIA

    Yeah, I'm telling you! No comparison.

    JENNIFER LIANG

    Yeah, that one was nicknamed at our house 'Passion of the Aes Sedai'. I actually had to take the dust jacket off of that one when I would take it to school, when I was in high school, because I was like, "I do not want people to think I'm reading some kind of filthy romance novel in class."

    VIRGINIA

    Well, I'm thinking more of, what was it? A Crown of Swords? Where he's got the, uh…all he needs is some baby oil and a little less clothes and he looks like he's posing…

    JENNIFER LIANG

    We love fist-pumping, body-building Rand.

    MARK

    Don't make me get out the water bottle to squirt you ladies. Jeez… [laughter]

    JENNIFER LIANG

    I have a big cardboard cut-out of fist-pumping, baby-oil Rand in my garage right now. I use it as a [decoration] at conventions. [Amusingly, it was stolen at JordanCon 2011, a few months after this interview.]

    VIRGINIA

    Oh, cool.

    SPENCER POWELL

    Is that cool, or is that creepy?

    JENNIFER LIANG

    Well, it's a little insane I think.

    Tags

  • 70

    Interview: Nov 14th, 2009

    Question

    Do the Seanchan know how to make cuendillar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You're trying to figure out if the collar Semirhage put on Rand is cuendillar. (this was a long convo so I can't remember all of it... I THINK he said the original had been made of cuendillar, and that the Seanchan had copies of it, but would not answer whether those were made of cuendillar as well. He wouldn't say if Rand was wearing a copy or the original, he said it didn't matter. And that he knew of at least two ways to destroy cuendillar—The True Power and one other way. He looked thoughtful when Muirenn mentioned the theory that women make white cuendillar and men make black cuendillar, but wouldn't confirm or deny.)

    Tags

  • 71

    Interview: Dec 17th, 2011

    Loialson

    Aviendha told Rand in Lord of Chaos that ji'e'toh was who the Aiel were, at their core. Do the Aiel need to find some other purpose/faith besides ji'e'toh to avoid the calamitous future that Aviendha saw in the Way-forward ter'angreal?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I would say that...a half yes. They don't need to abandon ji'e'toh or find a new ji'e'toh but they may have to adapt ji'e'toh to certain other things....

    Tags

  • 72

    Interview: Nov 14th, 2009

    Brandon Sanderson

    He would not confirm the Seanchan have the tech necessary to make cuendillar, or if ter'angreal copying would skip the need to also make the copied item into cuendillar. He did say: "If the Seanchan had the knowledge of how to make cuendillar, don't you think we would have seen it by now?"

    Tags

  • 73

    Interview: May, 2012

    MRJackson@218 (7 May 2012)

    Not sure why there's still confusion. It's Nynaeve and Moiraine on the back cover. The yellow and blue dresses should make that apparent. Nynaeve's hair is obviously shorter than it used to be.

    I spoke to Michael about the cover as he was finishing it. Since he didn't have the opportunity to read all fourteen books for the assignment, I was one of the people he leaned on to fact check his work.

    Michael mentioned there are details the readers (like me) wouldn't be privy to yet. For example, Nynaeve takes the bulk of her jewelry off before this scene.

    Callandor is a sword that isn't a sword, right? He's not holding it for defense. It's a source of power as well as his source of light (there's a clue about that in the lighting on his face). He's shielding his eyes as he stares in to the pit. Apparently, the deeper he goes into Shayol Ghul, the brighter it shines.

    A little background that some might not know... Michael has studied martial arts, including Filipino Kali and Arnis. The forearm slash position actually has some utility in fights with bladed weapons.

    Compositionally, the line of the sword is another element that draws you into the intensity of Rand's stare. Further, the opening of the cave is the shape of an eye; the eclipse suggests an iris. It's as if the gaze of the Dark One is falling on Rand. We see his strength and determination in response. How many illustrators can convey that kind of depth in a scene?

    Say what you will, but I think Michael brought a lot to the plate on what was a very difficult cover assignment. He put his stamp on Rand while producing a cover that fits well with the first thirteen that DKS painted.

    analiese@222 (8 May 2012)

    Thanks for confirming that. However, Nynaeve's hair is still the wrong color and, while it's shorter after the Aes Sedai testing in Towers of Midnight, it should still be in a shoulder-length braid. She never gave up her signature braid. That's why many people don't think it looks like Nynaeve—the braid is the main thing that would identify her as Nynaeve to the readers.

    The loose light hair makes the woman on the cover look more like Alivia, who many fans believe is the woman in yellow. So I'm still of the opinion that Whelan did not do a good job with Nynaeve if longtime fans don't even recognize her. I think it's a beautiful cover, but as a reader, the main thing I care about is seeing the characters—who we have been reading about for twenty years—done right, not so much whether the cave looks realistic or happens to symbolize the Dark One spying on Rand. So it's disappointing that Nynaeve ended up virtually unrecognizable. She doesn't even wear yellow dresses in the books, despite being Yellow Ajah (she makes a point of wearing green or blue since that's what Lan likes), so that's not something that makes the woman's identity apparent either.

    If you don't mind me asking (not trying to be rude here, it just strikes me as a bit strange), why did Whelan rely on fans to check his work instead of Team Jordan? I'm assuming you work for Tor, but you refer to yourself as a reader who hasn't read the book. To what extent were Brandon Sanderson and Team Jordan involved with the creative process behind this cover?

    MRJackson@223

    I was just one of the people helping with the details. Obviously Michael had Irene Gallo's art direction and was in contact with editors including Harriet.

    Michael's wife Audrey usually serves as his sounding board, but she hadn't read the books. (For the record, I'm not affiliated with TOR. I've worked with Michael since the mid 90s, primarily on his website.) I'm a WoT fan and that's the kind of feedback Michael was looking for... someone he knew who had read the previous thirteen books.

    Michael and I did discuss Nynaeve's dress color. I mentioned that she catered to Lan's color preference of green and blue. The yellow of her Ajah usually came in slashes of color, accents if I recall correctly.

    Like I said, I haven't read the manuscript for A Memory of Light and Michael couldn't talk about it. But I distinctly recall Nynaeve taking pride in being a true Aes Sedai finally. Going into the Last Battle, I don't think it's a stretch that she would choose yellow. I suppose we'll have to RAFO on that.

    In the background information I provided, I described Nynaeve's hair color as darker brown and referenced previous covers (among them the Melanie Delon's cover for A Crown of Swords that drew criticism for being too red).

    I'd have to ask him why he chose lighter highlights. Just my speculation here, but Callandor is a light source. There's also illumination from the eclipse filtering in from the mouth of the cave to consider.

    Michael got the length of Nynaeve's hair right, and this isn't simply opinion. Hopefully Brandon or Harriet will confirm at some point that her shoulder length hair was too short to braid.

    Interestingly, Michael and I spoke about the challenge of pulling character descriptions from the text. If you're familiar with his illustration, he's known as a stickler for details. But it isn't always easy to translate text literally, especially when Jordan and Sanderson contradict in their description.

    In correspondence, Michael wrote,

    Michael Whelan

    "Major characters are described as diminutive in size, yet 'commanding' in presence. Faces are youthful, yet ageless. Or young but having eyes full of wisdom of the ages. Rand is tall and manly, yet has an almost "feminine" beauty in his eyes or mouth. It's a bit confusing how one is supposed to render such conflicting elements."

    MRJackson

    Honestly, I don't mind the nitpicking. Criticism comes with the territory. My point in responding is to state that Michael was mindful of details here. There's evidence of it in the painting. I can tell you that he had Moiraine's kesiera and Nynaeve's ki'sain accounted for before I even spoke to him.

    On a personal note, I had the privilege of meeting Robert Jordan before a signing on the Knife of Dreams tour. One of the things we talked about was the cover art for the series. I think Mr. Jordan would be pleased with this one. Obviously Harriet was when she said, "that is the Rand I have waited to see for twenty years."

    analiese@224

    Firstly, thank you very much for the thorough answer. It answered many of my questions, and it was also interesting to hear more about the creative process behind the cover.

    [Nynaeve's hair] got singed off "a handspan below her shoulders" (Towers of Midnight ch 20), and she wore a shoulder-length braid in every scene she was in after the Aes Sedai testing. That's why it seemed odd for her signature braid to be missing on the cover. I don't really care about the dress or even much about the hair color, but Nynaeve isn't Nynaeve without her braid—it's part of who she is. It's like Mat showing up without his hat and ashandarei. And the ki'sain is too small to be visible, so it doesn't do anything to make the woman on the cover look more like Nynaeve.

    I also wish Nynaeve and Moiraine hadn't been delegated to the background/back cover—since they're going to be linked with him, they deserve to stand at his side. But that's not an error, just something I wish were different.

    However, while the cover isn't what I hoped for, I understand and deeply appreciate that you and Whelan both worked incredibly hard on it, and Whelan remains one of my favorite illustrators. I think he did a wonderful job with Rand.

    MRJackson@228

    I appreciate the sentiment but Michael did the actual work. He pushed his calendar aside this spring to make the cover happen. I was just support. But I will admit it took a lot of restraint on my part not to inundate him with questions that I knew he couldn't answer, so there is that.

    As readers, we all have so much invested in this series that I completely understand what you're saying. I love Brandon's work, but I felt Towers of Midnight was a bit of a letdown, especially the resolution with Moiraine.

    Moiraine has always been a favorite of mine. I would have liked to see her on the front cover as well. Thankfully Dan Dos Santos gave us that in his brilliant cover for The Fires of Heaven.

    Wetlandernw@227

    I think MRJackson & Mr. Whelan made a very good point, in that we have not yet read this book. By the time this scene happens, we may see several other events that make sense of the seeming discrepancies. Specifically, there are only two scenes after Nynaeve's testing which mention her braid, and in both cases it is specifically noted that it is too short and she finds it quite annoying. Quite possibly she'll meet up with Lan and find out that he likes it loose, or she'll simply decide that it's too irritating to fuss with a too-short braid, and we'll see her with loose hair in several scenes before this.

    Someone was bothered earlier by the missing jewelry—but now we know that she specifically and deliberately removed the jewelry before this scene, probably so that someone else could use them. (That's what happened during the Cleansing; why not here as well?) Seems to me that we should make the assumption that the same kind of thing might happen with The Braid, instead of insisting that she should look like she did in the previous book, and claiming any discrepancies as mistakes. Such claims are not only rude, they are unfounded. Once the book is out and we've read the whole thing, we might have grounds for nitpicking; until then, not so much.

    MRJackson—Thank you for your contributions, both to this thread and to Mr. Whelan.

    MRJackson@230 (9 May 2012)

    Glad to be of help. Maybe someday we'll find closure in the great braid debate...

    Seriously though, Michael painted Nynaeve's hair at that length (without a braid) for a reason. I wasn't trying to sidestep debate. I was expressing certainty. Michael was aware that the braid was an identifying feature of her character. The painting turned out the way it did through a long process that involved editorial input. I'll leave it at that.

    I look at it this way (and this is my opinion)... Nynaeve has grown enormously through the books. She was always uniquely powerful, but it took time for her to grow into that power. More so, it took a dozen books to accept herself and decide who she wanted to be.

    Nynaeve worked through enormous difficulty to channel reliably. Remember how she used to tug on that braid? It really was a symbol of who she used to be. Kind of fitting that the symbol is gone.

    Old habits die hard, of course, but she isn't that girl tugging on her braid any more. She's a woman who fought to gain acceptance as an Aes Sedai, and she's going to stand at Rand side to face the Dark One. It's impressive how far she's come as a character.

    analiese@

    The Fires of Heaven ebook cover was definitely one of the best, though there were a few things the artist got wrong (Moiraine does not have blue eyes). The New Spring cover was great too, especially Lan. It's mostly Nynaeve who has suffered bad luck with the ebook covers. There's A Crown of Swords where she got red hair and Lan looked like an underwater zombie, Winter's Heart where she didn't appear at all despite being linked with Rand for the Cleansing, The Path of Daggers where she got a Saldaean nose and Elayne looked suspiciously like Jean Grey...

    I think much of my disappointment with the A Memory of Light cover stems from the fact that there's already an earlier cover (Winter's Heart) where Rand claimed the stage and his female linking partner was left out. "Hero poses manfully brandishing some kind of phallic object" is a pretty tired concept, especially on WoT covers. Rand does the same on Sweet's The Dragon Reborn and The Path of Daggers, the ebook covers for The Dragon Reborn, Winter's Heart, Knife of Dreams... Winter's Heart is probably the worst offender, if you look at the placement of the Choedan Kal. ;)

    Sweet's A Memory of Light cover was a welcome break from that—I'm not usually a fan of Sweet's covers, but I liked that he gave Elayne, Min, and Aviendha a prominent role and added some emotion to the cover. So I really would have liked to see something different on the final cover, like Rand having the two women from the Callandor circle at his side. Here, Nynaeve and Moiraine are present, but only in the background, and not at all on the ebook cover.

    MRJackson@236

    The only female lead who held the cover spotlight on par with the men was Moiraine, and that is a shame.

    There was definitely opportunity to feature Nynaeve linked with Rand on Winter's Heart. Despite the hair, I liked Nynaeve on the cover of A Crown of Swords. Lan not so much. The Path of Daggers was another miss, mostly because the colors were a distraction. I thought I was looking at an X-Men cover. Even if that was intentional, it didn't work for me.

    I can only assume Rand was intended to stand at center stage alone on the last cover, but I think what you suggest would have been great too. Moiraine and Nynaeve definitely earned their place at Rand's side on the front.

    ViciousCircle@264

    That was a beautiful description of why Nynaeve is one of the most compelling characters in the series. She and Moiraine kept me invested during some dark years of almost giving up on WOT. I always hoped they would be the other Callandor channelers, as I could not imagine Rand putting himself in such a vulnerable position with anyone else. Aviendha, Min and Elayne included, though I do love Aviendha! So thank you for shedding light on why some things are portrayed as they are on this excellent new cover. Just don't think that it will put a dent in the debate. ;)

    MRJackson@266

    Thanks. I feel much the same way about those characters, and I'm sure the debate will keep going on well after the publication of A Memory of Light.

    Tags

  • 74

    Interview: Apr, 2012

    JordanCon 2012 - Terez (Paraphrased)

    Terez

    Can you confirm that there is only one Talisman of Growing? Because it looks like they found one in Ebou Dar.

    Maria Simons

    No, I can't confirm that. (Her expression etc. seemed to suggest that there was definitely more than one.)

    Footnote

    She was fighting a smile, specifically. I had con-head at the time; not sure why I didn't impart that detail.

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  • 75

    Interview: Apr, 2012

    JordanCon 2012 - Terez (Paraphrased)

    yks

    Was Aviendha's usage of the crystal columns to see the future something only she could do, or something anyone could do?

    Maria Simons

    RAFO.

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  • 76

    Interview: Nov 27th, 2000

    Fairfax McCandlish

    This was my first RJ signing, at a Tower Books. While I was getting The Path of Daggers and Winter's Heart signed, I asked RJ how Narishma could have channeled inside Far Madding to set off their alarms (or was he outside but within the range of the detection ter'angreal)?

    Robert Jordan

    He corrected me that it was Flinn who channeled (I haven't reread that part of the book yet, and was taking the Seafolk channeler's word on it, as I recalled it), and that he did indeed do so outside the range of the blocking field, but inside the detection range.

    Footnote

    It was Narishma who channeled outside the city. Flinn pretended to channel in the scene where Cadsuane used her Well and Nynaeve's to get Rand out of prison.

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  • 77

    Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005

    Matt Hatch (Reported later)

    Did Lanfear and Verin have any contact, and if not did Verin give Egwene the ter'angreal of her own free will?

    Robert Jordan

    Yeah she gave it with her own free will and choice. And no contact between Lanfear and Verin.

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  • 78

    Interview: Nov 24th, 2012

    PrncRny

    I was thinking about the Bloodknives' rings. What are the stones that they have? Are they Shayol Ghul rocks or something else?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *long pause* Finding Shayol Ghul rocks in Seanchan hands would be a very difficult thing.

    PrncRny

    So that's a no.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I didn't say no. I just said it would be a very difficult thing.

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  • 79

    Interview: Jan 9th, 2013

    Question

    Did Brandon insert a character in the story based on himself?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No. He did however mention two items, one for Robert Jordan, one for him. In the ter'angreal cache found in Ebou Dar, there is a man with a beard statue. The power of the item is to be like an easily movable library. [MY NOTE: We see this in A Memory of Light.] This was Robert Jordan. Brandon then told the story of how he got his sword, with the dragon scabbard, while in Mr. Jordan's home in South Carolina, and meeting with Wilson. That sword appears in the book, and is the one which Rand gives to Tam in A Memory of Light. So Brandon's sword is in the book, but not Brandon himself.

    Footnote

    RJ referred to his appearance in the form of the bearded man ter'angreal as his "Alfred Hitchcock moment". Aviendha first discovered the use of the bearded man ter'angreal in Knife of Dreams 15. Brandon's sword appears in A Memory of Light 15.

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  • 80

    Interview: Jan 9th, 2013

    Question

    We know the Aes Sedai don't use a lot of the ter'angreal they have in their possession in the manner in which they are meant to be used. Specifically, what are the correct uses for the ter'angreal used to raise a novice to Accepted and an Accepted to Aes Sedai?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I have no idea.

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  • 81

    Interview: Jan 9th, 2013

    Question

    With the Oath Rod, the Aes Sedai obviously were not using it for its intended purpose. Let's talk about those two ter'angreal that they had in the White Tower, the one that they raise the Aes Sedai with, and the one that the Accepted use. And I'm curious, what was the intended purpose back in the Age of Legends for those?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay, excellent question; I'll repeat it just for those who might not have been able to hear it. We know that the Aes Sedai are using certain ter'angreal for things other than their original intended purpose, such as the Oath Rod and the ones they use in the raising ceremonies. (to Maria) What were their intended purposes? [laughter]

    Maria Simons

    I don't know. [laughter, applause]

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sorry. Robert Jordan could answer that. Sometimes we can't.

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  • 82

    Interview: Jan 9th, 2013

    Mike Cockrum

    During book 6 or 7, I forget which, one of the supergirls did a Need walk in Tel'aran'rhiod to find something to do with The One Power that would help Rand. The end result of this was them discovering the Bowl of the Winds. First, though, she went to the Objects of Power storeroom of the White Tower. What was the thing in the Tower?

    Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

    He passed the question to Maria, who didn't know. I asked if it was The Horn of Valere. He said he wasn't sure, but he always thought it was The Horn.

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  • 83

    Interview: Nov 4th, 2012

    Rebecca Lovatt

    Mat Cauthon's foxhead medallion is described as having only one eye, and that's in the shape of the ancient symbol for Aes Sedai. Was this foreshadowing the events that happened the Mat in Towers of Midnight?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I believe it was probably foreshadowing. Jim knew since book one what was going to happen, so I would say yes. My instincts say yes, but there's nothing in his notes which said so one way or another. I've always felt that it was.

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  • 84

    Interview: Feb 6th, 2013

    Question

    Regarding the cache of ter'angreal recovered from Ebou Dar, and identified by Aviendha, were no more of them employed than we'd seen due to space or continuity constraints, or were they never intended to be used?

    Brandon Sanderson

    We used what was given to be used in Robert Jordan's outline and notes. It may be that he would have found a use for more of them, but we stuck to what he had prepared.

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  • 85

    Interview: Feb 6th, 2013

    Freelancer

    Among the items from the cache of ter'angreal from Ebou Dar which were identified by Aviendha, where there more intended to be used according to Jordan's notes, but which you had to drop due to space or continuity reasons? Several were mentioned as facilitating long-distance communication.

    Brandon Sanderson

    What was used in the story were all of the items referenced in the notes. This is not to say that Robert Jordan would not have decided to use more, but we decided to stick with what was outlined by him.

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  • 86

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    stagfury ()

    I'm also wondering about the several duel with Demandred. Isn't Gawyn a bit too weak in this book? From the previous books, Gawyn was said to be able to easily take down other Warders and even win in a practice against two Warders together. Then with a single Bloodknife ring, the wearer is supposed to have superhuman strength/speed that can't really be matched, and he was using not one but three rings. While Galad has been established throughout the series to be better than Gawyn, I find it strange that Galad was able to hurt Demandred with nothing but a imperfect foxhead medallion copy, while Gawyn with three Bloodknives rings and Warder bond didn't remotely stand a chance against Demandred?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Gawyn is good, but not really, really good. In addition, he has an inflated sense of HOW good he is. He doesn't have the inner control and understanding to be a fully capable swordsman. Beyond that, he mistakes power for ability, and lets himself grow too reckless. Finally, having enhanced abilities, such as the rings grant him, doesn't immediately give you the skill to make full use of those abilities. Gawyn tried, and deserves credit for that, but in the end he had not spent years preparing himself properly to win that particular contest.

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  • 87

    Interview: Apr, 2013

    Question

    What was the Ring of Tamyrlin—could it have been the twisted stone ter’angreal?

    Maria Simons

    The Ring of Tamyrlin was defined in the expanded glossary included in To the Blight (the second half of The Eye of the World repacked for YA readers); it was a legendary ring, believed mythical by most people, worn by the leader of the Aes Sedai during the Age of Legends. Stories about the Ring of Tamyrlin include that it was an angreal or sa’angreal or ter’angreal of immense power. It supposedly was named after the first person to learn how to tap into the Source and channel the One Power, and in some tales, was actually made by that man or woman. It was definitely not the twisted stone ter’angreal.

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  • 88

    Interview: Feb 13th, 2013

    Question

    Yes. Many authors tend the write themselves into their books. I was just wondering if Robert Jordan had done that, and in particular, if he had written himself in as Rand's ter'angreal.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Had he written himself into the book? Robert Jordan did write himself in, but it's not—I think you're thinking of Rand's angreal. It's actually something else. It's the ter'angreal that they find in the Ebou Dar cache, which is a man—a jolly man statue that is full of stories. And that was Robert Jordan's cameo that he wrote himself in.

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  • 89

    Interview: Apr 10th, 2014

    Molly Weiss

    All right, so there’s this lady, she rules the people who came from over the sea, married a gambler—kind of a big deal. There’s this dude who appeared when a musical instrument was blown, perhaps the leader of them, perhaps the ancestor of this lady. And they had a conversation at the end. What might have happened in that conversation? What did they discuss?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So, a lot of people are very curious about this conversation, rightfully so. They had many interesting things to say to one another. And I didn’t put that on-screen on purpose because I think that there are . . . Number one, I feel like it was the wrong place, narrative-wise, to have a break for something like that. And it’s also one of these things that I feel is going to work better in your mind than it might have worked on the page because there are so many places that conversation could have gone, that locking it down into to one of them would not have . . . I don’t think would have fully accomplished what we needed to accomplish there.

    Beyond that, the conversation that they have would be directly tied to the sequel series, which is not going to be written. And, you know, I feel that if Robert Jordan were still with us and were going to write that sequel series, that scene would have appeared. He would have had them talk, because that would be important then for character motivation, or at least would have been referenced in the sequel trilogy. But since we’re not doing the sequel trilogy, doing that makes promises, also, that you’re not going to get fulfilled as a reader. And so, leaving that off-screen, I felt, was very much the right move.

    That said, a lot of people make the assumption that Artur Hawkwing would be—and I’m not sure why they make this assumption, but I do get this from people—that he would be upset, that he would quote/unquote set her straight, or things like that. I think the conversation would have gone in a very different direction. In a, “You're doing a good job. There are certain things that I would suggest to you, but you need to conquer the work. That’s what your job would be. And here’s some advice on going about it.” Rather than a setting her straight, I think personally he would be proud of her. Granted, you know, now that he has all of his memories back, and he’s no longer under the dark influence that he was under during certain parts of his recent mortal existence, he will not be the exact same person he was back then. But he still is a conqueror, and that’s part of who his make-up is. And so, just keep that in mind as you imagine that scene however you want it to go. And I am still adamant about the fact that I think he would not like Aes Sedai even without the influence upon him. They are not his . . . yeah, he would not want to be involved with them.

    Amanda McTaggart

    This is a follow-up to that. We have a certain tall red-headed lady who goes through a magical object that shows what the future is. Does that future take into account the conversation that would have been had between the leader and her ancestor? Or is that something outside of the overall scheme of the world, and therefore would not have been taken into account in the future that was presented in that magical object?

    Brandon

    So the future that was presented is—I think people are clear about the idea that this is a possible future. And that is not . . . You know, some of the things that we get as glimpses of the future in the Wheel of Time are set in stone, and some of them are not. And this is one that is not. And so that conversation could have been part of that, but could also not have been part of that.

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  • 90

    Interview: Sep 30th, 2014

    yahasgaruna (1 October 2014)

    Who wrote the scene in which Aviendha flash-forwards to the future in the glass towers? The scene was beautifully epic because of how it shows the transition of the post–Last Battle Randland, and every time I read it, I feel well and truly sad that I will never see stories set in that time.

    (Having said that, what you did with the Mistborn series and the Wax/Wayne novels is a pretty good substitute for reading Fourth Age stories, so there is that. Thanks a lot!)

    Brandon Sanderson (1 October 2014)

    The glass pillars was me, as I believe some fans have already figured out. One of my big pitches to Harriet and company was that we needed to take risks and chances with these stories, because that's what RJ would have done. If we played it exactly safe, we would have a bland ending to the story.

    We couldn't always take the same risks that RJ would have, but we needed to have a dynamic plot where characters, and the world, grew and became something different. They were very scared of this sequence during my pitch, but it's one that—when they read it—they were sold on it very quickly.

    As for Wax and Wayne, just wait until we get the Mistborn space opera books.

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