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Your search for the tag 'moridin' yielded 82 results
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1
Interview: Apr 20th, 2004
TOR Questions of the Week Part I (Verbatim)Week 3 Question (Matt Hatch)
There are many theories that attempt to create a connection of time duration to the transmigration of the dead Forsaken. Are there time and/or power constraints on the Dark One's ability to transmigrate souls?Robert Jordan
There are definitely time constraints on the Dark One's power to transmigrate a soul. The soul doesn't have to be secured immediately—that is, the Dark One doesn't have to be ready to snatch the soul at the instant of death—but the longer that passes after the death, the less chance that the Dark One will be able to secure the soul. Someone who has been killed with balefire in actuality died before the apparent time of his or her death, and thus the window of opportunity for the Dark One to secure that soul for transmigration is gone before the Dark One can know that the soul must be secured unless the amount of balefire used is very small. Remember that the more balefire is used, the further back the target's thread is burned out of the Pattern.
After the soul is secured, then a suitable body must be acquired and stripped of the (former) owner's memory and soul to make way for the favored one. By the way, what constitutes a suitable body from the Dark One's perspective is not that of the recipient. Certainly Aginor would never have chosen to be reincarnated in his, shall we say, less than imposing body, nor would the womanizing Balthamel have chosen to be reincarnated as a beautiful woman. It was only chance that Moridin ended up in a body that is young, fairly good looking and physically imposing. Those things simply don't matter to the Dark One. But the body has to be basically healthy and sound, and neither too young nor too old. After all, the Dark One wants his servants to be effective, and a body that meets those basic requirements is more desirable than one that doesn't. Since there is no stockpile of such bodies, the only way for someone to die and immediately be reincarnated would be a matter of pure chance. That is, the death occurred when a suitable body was on hand for some other reason.
There are a few other limits and constraints, but I won't go into them here, since I may want to use them in the books, and I would rather they come as a surprise if I do.
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2
Interview: Jan 25th, 2005
TOR Questions of the Week Part II (Verbatim)Week 15 Question
At the risk of being RAFO'd: Mesaana was punished for ignoring her orders to go to stop Rand from cleansing saidin. Was Semirhage also punished for ignoring orders, or did she have special exemption? (If you're going to RAFO us, consider giving us some other little tidbit instead?)Robert Jordan
Semirhage was present at Shadar Logoth, though not seen. You didn't see Graendal, either, though admittedly Moghedien thought of her, thinking it would be good if she or Cyndane died. If I always tried to show everyone who was present at a battle or the like, the books would be a LOT longer than they are now. And those battles would get rather boring, a list of names. Go down the checklist and make sure everyone gets mentioned. Boring. Anyway, Mesaana was the only one who tried to sit it out. By the way, Moridin also was not present, for reasons that will become self-evident as you read on.
By the by, Rand and his companions very likely would have been killed or captured if the Forsaken were not who they are, if they had been willing to form links and coordinate their attacks. But they suffer from a combination of arrogance toward the "ignorant peasants" of the current Age and distrust of one another. Forming a link is all very well, but who leads? Which of them would be willing to give up control over their own ability and put it completely under the control of another of them? Who are you willing to let get behind your back in a fight? Moghedien? Semirhage? I didn't think so.
Footnote
We did see Graendal at the Cleansing, actually; Verin's group encountered her. As for the 'self-evident' reasons why Moridin was not there, it likely has to do with the sickness caused by his link with Rand (we saw in Knife of Dreams that Moridin also suffers from it). Short of that, it almost surely has something to do with the link between them.Tags
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3
Interview: 2010
Twitter 2009-2010 (WoT) (Verbatim)HBFFerreira (18 July 2010)
Was the attempt on Rand at the end of The Path of Daggers caused by Torval learning his plan to cleanse the taint? Did Moridin order it?Brandon Sanderson (19 July 2010)
RAFO, though that is the best theory I read before I became involved in this. It's very credible.Tags
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4
Interview: 2010
Twitter 2009-2010 (WoT) (Verbatim)Austin Moore (30 July 2010)
Who would you say is your favorite Forsaken? And that's coming from you as a fan more than you as the writer.Brandon Sanderson (30 July 2010)
Hmm... Ishamael/Moridin.AUSTIN MOORE
Who's second strongest Forsaken after Moridin? Some say Demandred some say Aginor. Did RJ say in his notes?BRANDON SANDERSON (1 AUGUST)
It IS in the notes, very explicitly. As for your answer...I'll see if we can get that in the Encyclopedia.Footnote
The BWB says that Aginor was second-strongest of the male Forsaken. It also implies that Demandred is somewhat lower on the list than some fans expect, but since the Forsaken are all very close, it probably doesn't make as big a difference as some imagine.Tags
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5
Interview: 2010
Twitter 2009-2010 (WoT) (Verbatim)Azral Hanan (11 August 2010)
Is Elan Morin a Dreamer/Dreamwalker?Brandon Sanderson (12 August 2010)
That's an excellent question. But I don't know if I'm allowed to answer. Remind me again when the deadline is past, and I'll see.Footnote
Brandon indicated later that there is one male Forsaken who is a Dreamer, which most likely means Moridin.Tags
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6
Interview: 2010
Twitter 2009-2010 (WoT) (Verbatim)Ernie (11 August 2010)
What is your favorite color?Brandon Sanderson (11 August 2010)
Oh, it depends. I do like deep reds and blacks a lot.Tags
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7
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Brandon Sanderson (3 January 2011)
Man, I love the prologue of The Eye of the World. Some of my favorite writing in the entire series. Great insight into Ishamael's personality pre-madness.BRANDON SANDERSON
People like to talk of Rand's character development. Elan -> Ishamael -> Moridin is almost as interesting to me. His outlook has evolved so much.JUSTIN LEE
Has it really evolved? he's still the megalomanical favorite/topdog he's always seen himself to be.BRANDON SANDERSON
No, he's really changed a lot. He's a fatalist now, as I mentioned to @dragonmount. He knows far more.JASON DENZEL
How would you compare Ishamael's motivations from when he was Elan vs when he was Moridin?BRANDON SANDERSON
Elan is actually more selfish. He still thinks he will rule, that the Dark One will take over the world and create a new one.BRANDON SANDERSON
Moridin has been through madness and touched the mind of the Dark One. He is far more fatalistic, and actually less selfish.TEREZ
And therefore...less predictable? :)BRANDON SANDERSON
I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that quote in relation to my tweet.FOOTNOTE—TEREZ
In TGS 39, Verin tells Egwene that the Dark One looks for selfishness more than any other trait in his leaders—namely, the Chosen—because it makes them predictable.AUSTIN MOORE
Is it wrong for me to have been under the impression that Moridin isn't "mad?" I've thought he was less mad than he was...AUSTIN MOORE
...as Ishamael. Mad being crazy not mad being evil because obviously he's evil.BRANDON SANDERSON
Moridin is less insane than Ishamael was. Much as Rand is less insane than Lews Therin was.AZRAL HANAN
You say Moridin is less selfish. Is he now a Dark Buddha wanting to end the suffering of existence in the nirvana of oblivion?BRANDON SANDERSON
It's not that he's unselfish. But compare his lines in The Eye of the World and Knife of Dreams and Towers of Midnight to see the difference.Tags
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8
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Omar Subedar (4 January 2011)
Who is your favorite member of the Chosen?Brandon Sanderson (4 January 2011)
Moridin. Followed by Demandred. Followed by Lanfear.OMAR SUBEDAR
As for Moridin, I never liked the fact that he thought that Dark One winning would be THE end. I mean, according to...OMAR SUBEDAR
Robert Jordan, there are no beginnings or endings to the turning of the Wheel right? Only relative beginnings and endings.BRANDON SANDERSON
Moridin believes that if the Dark One wins, there will BE no Wheel. It will be broken. So in that way, there are still...BRANDON SANDERSON
...no beginnings or endings. There is nothing. Some, including Cadsuane, believe this is a very real possibility.Tags
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9
Interview: 2010
Twitter 2009-2010 (WoT) (Verbatim)Matt Hatch (8 November 2010)
Is Logain working for Demandred?Brandon Sanderson (8 November 2010)
Oh, you KNEW I was going to RAFO that one. :)MATT HATCH
How often does Demandred contemplate killing Moridin?BRANDON SANDERSON
Less than the other Chosen. He is focused on Rand. He contemplates Moridin, but mostly he wants Rand.Tags
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10
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Brandon Sanderson (10 January 2011)
Curious: First mention of the Fisher King concept happens when Rand is dreaming, still half-sick, in the back of Bunt's wagon.BRANDON SANDERSON
Is this our first Lews Therin moment? Bunt wouldn't have mentioned it, and neither would have Ishamael. Unless it's actually something Thom said.TEREZ
I assumed was a True Dream, including Thom's connection to the queen, and Rand & Tam with the sword.TEREZ
But the first Lews Therin moment was in chapter nine when Rand recognized Shayol Ghul (and maybe Ishamael too).MATT HATCH
I'd say Ishamael recognition is a fact in chapter nine. There are some nice comparisons with the prologue.BRANDON SANDERSON
Well, you probably have a point there. Though you might argue that this is a shade of Lews Therin speaking to him, for the first time.TEREZ
I might, but I wouldn't. :D It's more interesting to me the other way, and Rand didn't dream Lews Therin's dreams much.TEREZ
He remarked on the strangeness of it in The Path of Daggers before Lews Therin came back (after having been chased away by Cadsuane).BRANDON SANDERSON
Wait. What?TEREZ
I remembered it wrong. Lord of Chaos 19: 'Lews Therin's dreams. That had never happened before, not dreaming the man's dreams.'TEREZ
In A Crown of Swords 41 while Lews Therin is gone, Rand still hears the voice in a dream.BRANDON SANDERSON
Oh, I see what you're saying. (I think.) Is your argument this: "Lews Therin doesn't talk to Rand in dreams. Therefore, this isn't Lews Therin?"LUCKERS
I think deep down her argument is probably more 'Lews Therin doesn't talk to Rand at all'. ;)TEREZ
Whether Lews Therin really talks to Rand at all or not, this would be quite atypical & strange. As Thom? Why?LUCKERS
Why would Lews Therin speak as Thom? The moustaches baby, the moustaches.BRANDON SANDERSON
Curious. So who do you think is speaking to Rand the Fisher King words, if it's not a Lews Therin memory?TEREZ
It's a dream. Why does there have to be a 'real' ;) person involved?TEREZ
But I do appreciate the hint. :) [That is, the hint that Lews Therin was also one with the land, and was aware of it. This might be what Brandon was getting at with his Easter egg thing.]BRANDON SANDERSON
I don't normally dream things that happen to be word-for-word true prophecies. Rand's not a Dreamer. He got the info somewhere.TEREZ
Now I'm going to cry. :( Why can't Rand be a Dreamer?? So chapter nine was completely fabricated by Ishamael? That is weird.TEREZ
None of the other dreams influenced by Ishamael were anything like that. How did he create all of those people in Tar Valon?TEREZ
Why would Ishamael first prevent Rand from reaching Tar Valon, and then force him to go to the Tower? Makes no sense. :(BRANDON SANDERSON
Lol. I'm not sure if you're being serious or not. Is there some theory on Rand being a Dreamer that I should know?TEREZ
I'm being serious. There's a hint Asmodean's warding might prevent True Dreams. Also...TEREZ
Egwene was guided to it, but Rand had no one to guide him if he was a Dreamer. And everything in The Eye of the World nine was true.BRANDON SANDERSON
Either it's Lews Therin, it's something someone told him in the real world, or it's Ishamael giving him the info.TEREZ
Maybe he had heard The Karaethon Cycle from Thom at fireside on the way to Baerlon, though. Would make sense.TEREZ
Well, not on the way to Baerlon, since he mentions them for the first time in Baerlon. But maybe on the Spray.BRANDON SANDERSON
I'll entertain an argument that it's basically 'known' information, or that Thom mentioned it.LUCKERS
Did you see my cultural idea? That it might be Rand's subconscious—like the way everyone knows the Dark One's name?BRANDON SANDERSON
But it really seems like a memory, and we've never seen people mentioning it, while naming the Dark One we see.BRANDON SANDERSON
I'll look up answers on this one for sure; right now, I'm just speaking by instinct. But I read the Fisher King concept as...BRANDON SANDERSON
...coming from Lews Therin/Rand's subconscious and being fed through Thom's mouth as Rand's mind fit it into the dream.BRANDON SANDERSON
I'm also pretty sure Rand's not a Dreamer, though he does have uncommon power over his dreams.BRANDON SANDERSON
But he does not see specific prophecies in his dreams (other than a few debatable moments) nor enter Tel'aran'rhiod spontaneously.BRANDON SANDERSON
But I'll look into it. I rebel against it because Dreaming is basically Egwene's thing.TEREZ
Also, didn't Perrin pretty much just show her that it wasn't HER thing any more? :pTEREZ
And yeah, I know his prophetic dreams only happen in Tel'aran'rhiod. But I just want a male Dreamer dangit!BRANDON SANDERSON
Perrin does something different. Also, Egwene was caught off guard and had been spending a lot of time lately doing other things.BRANDON SANDERSON
It would be unwise to assume that Perrin is better at Tel'aran'rhiod than she is because of that moment. He had just spent weeks training...BRANDON SANDERSON
...specifically to fight like that in Tel'aran'rhiod, while Egwene has been forced to fight other fights and let herself get a tad rusty.TEREZ
haha, yeah I know. I have argued much the same against Egwene-haters. I did enjoy that moment though.TEREZ
Why do all the prophets have to be female? Foretelling I can see because of the taint, but the rest? Except Perrin.TEREZ
The Thom dream used to make me think I was missing something, or maybe a deleted scene. Very odd.TEREZ
Also, even with the taint seems like we should have had a male Foretelling by now, or a dreamer. Something.BRANDON SANDERSON
Well, out of fondness, I'll let you know that I DO know of at least one male (other than Perrin) who can see the future.TEREZ
lol. The male Aelfinn?BRANDON SANDERSON
Dang. You're too clever. Okay, then, I promise you there's actually a man—human—who meets your requirements.Footnote
In retrospect, it seems most likely that RJ did in fact pare down Thom's earlier conversation about the prophecies (in The Eye of the World Chapter 13, or in another place), not wanting to give too much away. The dream in Chapter 34 should have been a recollection of what Thom had told him. It's possible that Brandon was correct and it had something to do with Lews Therin, but I find it unlikely for many reasons (some covered in the conversation). Also worth noting is that in the previous chapter, during Rand's fever dreams, Thom mentioned the Black Ajah, which had not previously been mentioned to Rand on screen. Also, this hint from Brandon was the first of many concerning the male prophet; the other clues make it pretty clear that Moridin is a Dreamer.Tags
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11
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Luckers (10 January 2011)
By the way about my question re: Moridin's sexuality, my friend now thinks Moridin is in love with the Dark One... :SBrandon Sanderson (10 January 2011)
I didn't catch the Moridin question first time around. Would you ask again?TEREZ
He asked if Moridin was gay since he's evil but doesn't appear to be interested in taking advantage of his pets.LUCKERS
What she said. He seems very asexual in general. The thought came after reading the Moghedien/Shaidar Haran/Moridin scene.LUCKERS
It's also not just that I think he should be raping them because he's evil, it's just there is a complete lack of interest.BRANDON SANDERSON
As for your Moridin question, it is a good one. I'll look into it as well. I haven't seen anything either way in the notes.Tags
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12
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Brandon Sanderson (19 January 2011)
Some very telling moments in the conversation between Ishamael and Rand in the Portal world of The Great Hunt.Tags
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13
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Luthvian (26 February 2011)
If all of the Forsaken were sealed in the Bore, and the Madness came after that, how can the prologue of The Eye of the World happen?LUTHVIAN
I mean, Ishamael is walking around and talking and channeling, shouldn't he not be able to do so?LUTHVIAN
...unless the whole thing is a vision of Lews Therin's madness?Brandon Sanderson (28 February 2011)
That was really Ishamael, not madness. He wasn't sealed in as strongly as the others, remember.Tags
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14
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Brandon Sanderson (8 April 2011)
This might be old news, but people keep asking me about it. Yes there ARE Dreamers among the Forsaken. Male and female.AUSTIN MOORE
One male AND one female Forsaken are Dreamers?BRANDON SANDERSON
There are multiple Dreamers. At least one male and at least one female.Footnote
This might have been in response to the previous conversation about Moghedien. She and Lanfear are the top candidates for the female Dreamers, and Moridin is the obvious choice for the men, since skill in Tel'aran'rhiod and skill in invading others' dreams seem to be concurrent with the Talent of prophetic dreams. See here for more details.Tags
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15
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Andrew J. Parker (25 April 2011)
Can you settle a debate? Will Rand's soul be the Light's champion in every Age, or could it ever be someone else?Brandon Sanderson (25 April 2011)
I believe that Ishamael implies in the books he and Lews Therin have fought thousands of times.BRANDON SANDERSON
So at least one major character seems to believe it's always Rand. Whether he's right or not is another question.Footnote
Brandon is reported as having said on tour that Ishamael's and Rand's souls are often woven together in the Pattern, somewhat like Birgitte and Gaidal.Tags
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16
Interview: Nov 21st, 1994
Letter on the Old Tongue (Verbatim)Robert Jordan
Ye means "I." He is "sin," she is "sar," you is "asa," and it is "aso."
One of the difficulties is context and flexibility: for example, al can mean "the" or "of the." The word cuebiyar can mean simply "heart," or "my heart," or when capitalized, "the heart" as in the heart of a people or nation. The word moridin means "grave" or "tomb," but when capitalized it means "the grave," standing for "death." It is intended to be a language of subtlety, where the meanings of words can change to a great extent according to context. Remember Moiraine's comments on the difficulty of translation.
The Fourth Age titles are not Old Tongue, though influenced by it. Some common names are from the Old Tongue, and some aren't. Sorry I can't go into more detail, but we're talking a treatise.
Well. I am going to have to cut this off, now. Thanks for writing. Keep me posted on your deductions. One of these days, maybe I'll have time to give congratulations on the hits and point out the misses. One clue to some: sometimes when words are combined and the end of the first word is the same as the beginning of the second, they overlap.
With best wishes, I am,
Etc, etc.
Tags
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17
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Austin Moore (6 September 2011)
If Demandred knew about Moridin's link to Rand, would he try and kill Moridin if he knew it'd affect Rand?Brandon Sanderson (6 September 2011)
If Demandred thought he could get away with it, do you really think he wouldn't try to kill Moridin anyway?Tags
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18
Interview: Jun 27th, 1996
AOL Chat 1 (Verbatim)Rog in CT
There is a mystery man who helps Rand in the last chapter of A Crown of Swords, my question is this: a new character, or have we seen him elsewhere?Robert Jordan
Well, we've certainly seen him earlier in A Crown of Swords. Otherwise, read and find out. :)Tags
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19
Interview: Aug 23rd, 1996
ACOS Signing Report - Lara Beaton (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
Ishamael/Moridin/Shaidar Haran—RAFO.Tags
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20
Interview: Jan 14th, 1997
Letter to Thomas Howard (Paraphrased)Thomas Howard
Would you please state for the record that Rand's helper at the end (of A Crown of Swords) was not Lews Therin?Robert Jordan
To quote (and God do I like to hear this): "Lews Therin Telamon is dead, not walking around Shadar Logoth."THOMAS HOWARD
I'm quite sure it's a safe assumption that he isn't walking around anywhere else either.Footnote
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21
Interview: Nov 11th, 1997
Barnes and Noble Chat (Verbatim)Sam from Sacramento
When it says at the end of The Fires of Heaven "death took him," in Asmodean's last scene, do you mean that he died? There has been much speculation as to whether or not "death" refers to Moridin, whose name in the Old Tongue means "death." Many think that Moridin's second Mindtrap is for Asmodean, but "death" was not capitalized in the scene where Asmodean made his last appearance. Can you tell me whether or not he was taken by Moridin?Robert Jordan
Asmodean went for the long jump in that scene.Tags
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22
Interview: Oct 20th, 1998
TPOD Signing Report - Aaron Bergman (Paraphrased)Aaron Bergman
Anyways, after scaring the people around me for a little bit, I went up to the books and decided to ask Jordan about Asmodean. In particular, I asked whether "death" was just a pun on "Moridin".Robert Jordan
He said "oh, god no" quite disgustedly. This made me feel much better and should hopefully put the issue to rest. He also said that by the end of this book, it should be obvious who killed Asmodean and that it is definitely possible to figure it out the instant he dies.Tags
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23
Interview: Nov 20th, 1998
TPOD Signing Report - John Nowacki (Paraphrased)John Nowacki
One of the regular contributors to the group—I don't recall whom—suggested asking whether Moridin came into existence before or after the 'gars.Robert Jordan
That one earned a quick glance and a RAFO.Tags
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24
Interview: Nov 14th, 1998
TPOD Signing Report - Matthew Hunter (Paraphrased)Matthew Hunter
The second was mine: "Do you consider the identities of Moridin and Cyndane to be intuitively obvious?"Robert Jordan
He said yes, they should be fairly obvious by now, in many more words. To me, this means Ishamael and Lanfear, respectively.Tags
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25
Interview: Aug 27th, 1999
Melbourne Film Festival - Mark Erikson (Paraphrased)Mark Erikson
I also bounced the theory that was floating around here a while back that the Dark One is a creation of Ishamael/Moridin, like the Wizard of Oz, just to see what he thought. He then said:Robert Jordan
'If I was asked that, I wouldn't even bother saying RAFO, I'd just say no.'Tags
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26
Interview: Sep 20th, 1999
Brisbane Signing Report - Joel Gilmore (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
I asked about Ishamael's bit in the book 8 prologue, but got two RAFOs so we won't know whether it is set before hand, or (the first question I asked) if the nine mentioned were all Forsaken.Tags
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27
Interview: Nov 11th, 2000
Barnes and Noble Chat (Verbatim)Jeremy from Long Island NY
For any of the mysteries, i.e. Moridin's identity and Asmodean's death, would you tell us where to look for clues we probably missed? Or just mention some clues that we all probably didn't see?Robert Jordan
(laughs) Well, Moridin's identity is pretty much an open secret—and especially if you read Winter's Heart, I think it's increasingly clear who he is, if there was any doubt. As for the other—read and find out!Tags
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28
Interview: Nov 14th, 2000
SciFi.com Chat (Verbatim)Mormegil
In Winter's Heart, Lews Therin says, "We are not builders, not you, or I, or the other one." Now I know if I ask who the other one is, I know I'll just get a RAFO, but should we be able to figure out who the 'other one' is?Robert Jordan
You should have some hints. Follow your hunches.Tags
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29
Interview: Nov 14th, 2000
SciFi.com Chat (Verbatim)Monkeyman
Nobody who can channel saidin or saidar can sense the True Power. And, since the Forsaken don't seem to notice Moridin channeling the True Power, is it detectable at all (besides by a gholam)? That is, can someone already holding the True Power sense another using it?Robert Jordan
No. Not by any method we've seen yet.Tags
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30
Interview: Dec 5th, 2000
WH Signing Report - Br00se (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
Someone asked if Moridin is Ba'alzamon. Jordan laughed and almost fell out of his chair. He then told her to RAFO, and not what was forthcoming, but what was already written. He seemed to really enjoy answering that question. I wonder if there are two types of RAFO answers.Tags
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31
Interview: Apr 4th, 2001
Leiden Signing Report - Aan'allein (Verbatim)Kurafire
KuraFire asked about... I don't precisely remember what Kura asked. Oh, but I do. Doing Nogling a favor, he talked about Ishamael's belief that Rand had fought him for time without end, and asked if it was perhaps not Rand's goal to take on the Dark One, but to only take on the Dark One's Nae'blis.Robert Jordan
Jordan gleefully answered "Read And Find Out."Tags
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32
Interview: Apr 8th, 2001
Elf Fantasy Fair - Gonzo (Paraphrased)Dragon Theif [sic]
Is it possible for two souls to inhabit one body at the same time without the aid of the Dark One's powers?Robert Jordan
RAFO.GONZO THE GREAT
Obvious :D .Footnote
This question was asked because some people at Theoryland believed that Rand and Lews Therin were separate souls.Tags
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33
Interview: Apr 27th, 2004
Wotmania Interview (Verbatim)Wotmania
Can Moridin use a male angreal if he channels the True Power?Robert Jordan
No.Tags
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34
Interview: Apr, 2003
Budapest Q&A (Verbatim)Wood Sun
What about the saa? You wrote in a chapter, that there is a black hole before Moridin's eyes.Robert Jordan
No, no, in the eyes. It is not before. In the eyes, inside the eyes.Wood Sun
And can see through? (-?- unsure about this sentence. -?-)Robert Jordan
It depends. When you are using the True Power. At first, when you begin using the True Power, there's nothing there. Nothing in the eyes. After you've used it for a while, you begin to have a black speck floating across your eyes, when you're using it.Wood Sun
And then you see, other observers can see it.Robert Jordan
No, you don't see it. You don't actually see it.Wood Sun
I think it was the chapter when Moridin was observing with a cloak of fancloth. His vision was blurred by a rain of black spots.Harriet
But it didn't affect his vision.Robert Jordan
It didn't affect his vision. You're aware of it, but it's not like there is blackness between you, because it gets thicker and thicker and thicker and you get to a point where if you've used it long enough you get a steady stream even if you're not connected. And you are then on the road, at that point, inevitably, to becoming what Ishamael was. Because these are stigmata, if you will. These saa are stigmata caused by a linkage to the Dark One. And eventually the effect is to become all fire eyes. You no longer have eyes visible to other people. If they're looking into your eyes, they seem to be looking into caverns of flame that stretch to infinity. And when you open your mouth they see another cavern of flame that stretches to infinity. Because you've reached at that point the ultimate level of this usage and quite possibly, if you've at this point not been granted immortality, you're on your way to death. Not madness, but you're on your way to death. So it's sort of a race. The Dark One has given you this boon, but if you use it very much, then you'd better hope he is willing to give you another boon, because if he doesn't give you the second boon then you're dead. Some of the Forsaken have expressed discomfort with the fact that Ishamael and Moridin are so free with using the One Power.Wood Sun
And is it addictive?Robert Jordan
Yes.Wood Sun
Entirely.Robert Jordan
So is the One Power. That's one of the things that I intended from the beginning. The One Power has at least the potential for good, and it is something used by those on the side of good. And it is addictive, physically and psychologically addictive and also potentially very dangerous, even deadly to those who are using it.Wood Sun
And so the other Forsaken seem to be afraid of using the True Power?Robert Jordan
Well, they are, because they know this; they will use it when they have to, but they limit it, because they know that if you use it enough to let the saa begin to appear, then you are on a spiral and once they begin appearing, they begin appearing more often. And eventually, unless you are given immortality by the Dark One, you are dead. Now, the thing is, they don't wanna die. This is really great, it is a really great honor to be given the ability to tap into the True Power. Which is not inherently stronger than the One Power. It's not that it is stronger in any way. It is just something that does not have some of the limitations of the One Power. Other people can't feel you embracing it, or using it, like the One Power.Question
-?-Robert Jordan
Yeah, you could.Question
-?-Robert Jordan
Yeah, you could burn out with the True Power.Wood Sun
Only True Power, or One Power too?Robert Jordan
With the True Power as well as the One Power you can burn out.Tags
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35
Interview: Oct 11th, 2005
KOD Signing Report - NaClH2O (Paraphrased)NaClH2O
When I finally got up to the desk I asked, "After Moghedien was mindtrapped, Moridin said that had she not managed to do some good by accident, she would have been dead. What good was Moridin referring to?"Robert Jordan
His answer, "I RAFO'd that on the blog".NaClH2O
So the three direct questions I asked him all got RAFO'd.Tags
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36
Interview: Oct 21st, 2005
KOD Signing Report - Scott Carlson (Paraphrased)Scott Carlson
On my second trip up, I went for what I figured was the longer-shot. I asked "Rand has been having the dizzy spells and sick sensations when channeling, despite having cleansed saidin. Is this an lasting effect of the taint, like having built up some taint in male channelers that won't go away?"Robert Jordan
And the answer was "No, it's completely unrelated to the taint."Scott Carlson
In retrospect, I should have gone for an either/or on the second question, posing Lews Therin trying to seize control of saidin as a second option, and maybe gotten a positive confirmation on my top two contenders, instead of just a negative confirmation on one.Tags
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37
Interview: Dec 17th, 2008
Question
And now, just for fun:
Who's nastier: Moridin, or Padan Fain?Brandon Sanderson
Still Moridin, by a long shot.Tags
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38
Interview: Nov 11th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Tim Kington (Paraphrased)Question
It's pretty clear now that Moridin and Rand are linked because of the balefire incident. Since Rand used saidin to create the balefire, and now he gets sick when channeling saidin, does that mean Moridin gets sick when he tries to use the True Power?Brandon Sanderson
You're assuming that Rand's channeling sickness comes from crossing the streams.Footnote
From Knife of Dreams Chapter 21, "Within the Stone":
The face of the man from Shadar Logoth floated in his head for a moment. He looked furious. And near to sicking up.
Tags
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39
Interview: Nov 14th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Matoyak (Paraphrased)Matoyak
Did the meeting between Rand and Moridin for sure happen in Tel'aran'rhiod or could it have happened in a vacuole?Brandon Sanderson
I...well. I'm going to partially RAFO this. I will not say it for sure happened in Tel'aran'rhiod, and I'm not sure whether the other instances of this were Tel'aran'rhiod either.Footnote
The referenced meeting between Rand and Moridin occurred in The Gathering Storm 15, and Brandon later clarified that this meeting took place in Moridin's dream.Tags
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40
Interview: Nov 19th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Matrimony Cauthon (Paraphrased)Question
I didn't hear the question but someone asked something about Rand and Moridin's souls being intertwined.Brandon Sanderson
Sanderson said that many souls' threads are frequently woven together in the Pattern such as Birgitte and Gaidal. He said that Rand and Moridin are also frequently woven together in the Pattern.Tags
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41
Interview: Nov 19th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Samadai (Paraphrased)Nightbaron
Was Moridin aware of Shaidar Haran's plans with Semirhage?Brandon Sanderson
His answer was, word for word: The Dark One trusts Moridin more than any other Forsaken.Tags
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42
Interview: Nov 21st, 2009
Matt Hatch
There was some confusion about Rand and the Dark One’s permission, so for clarification’s sake, did Rand have the Dark One’s permission to use the True Power?
Brandon Sanderson
I have not answered that. If anyone says that I have, I have not. What I have said specifically is, this is recording: generally one must have the Dark One’s permission to use the True Power. Semirhage believed that the Dark One had betrayed her by letting Rand use it. [...] It is good that you have asked this so I can make sure on the record that is the answer I have given.
Tags
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43
Interview: Nov 19th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Samadai (Paraphrased)Freelancer
Did Moridin sense when Rand channeled the True Power through him?Brandon Sanderson
Our 7th RAFO. But he did say, "We don't know if that is what happened or not, and that might or might not have been Moridin's plan all along. We don't have enough info to decide that yet."Tags
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44
Interview: Nov 19th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Samadai (Paraphrased)Question
Did Shaidar Haran know Moridin had forbidden the Forsaken from rescuing Semirhage?Brandon Sanderson
Yes he did, no further comment.Tags
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45
Interview: Nov 19th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Samadai (Paraphrased)Question
Moridin vs. Shaidar Haran, who is the boss?Brandon Sanderson
He again stated that Moridin is the Forsaken the Dark One trusts the most and not enough information is known about Shaidar Haran.Tags
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46
Interview: Nov 19th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - forkroot (Paraphrased)forkroot
Brandon Sanderson
Lastly I want to mention that in general conversation at the end, Brandon was very careful to state that we cannot assume that Rand drew the True Power through the link with Moridin; nor may we assume the opposite. (In other words, we're not supposed to have enough evidence yet to draw a conclusion.)
Furthermore, it seemed that he wanted to make it clear that we cannot discount the idea that the Dark One did indeed "set up" Semirhage (pretty much per Isilel's scenario). I'm not saying he's telling us that that is what happened, but he was almost insistent that we did not close the door on that line of speculation. Take it for what you will.
Footnote
Tags
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47
Interview: Nov 16th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - kcf (Paraphrased)Question
Did Rand directly have the Dark One's permission to channel the True Power?Brandon Sanderson
It's very difficult (but not impossible) to channel the True Power without the Dark One's direct permission.
This led to lots of discussion about the whole Semirhage death scene. Basically, she felt betrayed by the Dark One, and Brandon says she's a very astute person. Brandon also said that Moridin and the Dark One are on the same page with most things, and that Moridin is the most trustworthy Forsaken for the Dark One.
kcf
My interpretation is that Rand channeled the True Power through the link with Moridin, but this was not discussed. Also it was strongly implied that the idea that the Dark One served Semirhage up on a platter for Rand to balefire is true.Footnote
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48
Interview: Nov 21st, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Frenzy (Paraphrased)Brandon Sanderson
Biggest story-related bombshell (IMHO): Don't assume Rand and Moridin are linked.Tags
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49
Interview: Nov 15th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Freelancer (Paraphrased)Question
Is Rand's access to the True Power via his link with Moridin, created at Shadar Logoth?Brandon Sanderson
No one may channel the True Power without the Dark One's permission, and Rand doesn't have that.
Footnote—Terez
This answer was challenged by another person who was at the Q&A, though Freelancer said later his question was asked at the signing table. Link broken.
Writo
Oy,
I was at that signing, I was literally right next to Brandon as he answered this question, and that is far from his exact wording.
The response was more accurately something like: So far as we know, no one may channel the True Power without the Dark One's permission. Semirhage certainly seemed to think she was betrayed.
There was never a comment about Rand not having permission.
Footnote—Terez
After this came to light, Matt Hatch asked Brandon about it, and he said that he never said Rand didn't have permission. Later I asked him if one normally has to visit Shayol Ghul to get permission, and he said yes. Freelancer responded thus:
Freelancer
Brandon's later answer has to take precedence. He says that he didn't specify directly whether Rand did or did not have the Dark One's permission. That is what everyone must operate by, as his word is now canon. That does not change what I wrote down as my questions were being answered.
As to Writo's comments, I can only offer this. The comment by Brandon about Semirhage believing she had been betrayed was definitely in response to someone else's question. It did not come up with mine, but I do remember hearing it.
Tags
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50
Interview: Feb 17th, 2011
ConDFW Report - James E. Jones (Paraphrased)Tektonica
Does Moridin know that Rand drew the True Power through their connection?Brandon Sanderson
(Paraphrase) It's always best to assume that Moridin knows a lot more than he's revealed.Tags
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51
Interview: Apr 17th, 2011
Driving Mr. Sanderson - Terez (Verbatim)Terez (herid)
When you said some Forsaken are Dreamers, you meant they have prophetic dreams, right? Or are they just Dreamwalkers?Brandon Sanderson
I did mean Dreamers. People have been trying to pin me down on that one.
Terez
Yeah, everybody has been like convinced that you were just confused...
Brandon Sanderson
...that I was just confused. No. I meant Dreamers. I DID INDEED MEAN DREAMERS.
Terez
I know you did, but...just verifying.
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah. And I’m like 95% on that one. We’ll put an asterisk on it. I actually sent Maria deeper into the notes, but I know at least one is, and I’m pretty sure one of each gender is.
Footnote
The most likely candidates seem to be Moridin, Cyndane, and Moghedien, who are undeniably the most skilled at getting into people's dreams and using Tel'aran'rhiod. These talents seem to go together, and all three of them are still alive as of Towers of Midnight (out of five remaining Forsaken).Tags
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52
Interview: Apr 17th, 2011
Driving Mr. Sanderson - Terez (Verbatim)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
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53
Interview: Apr 17th, 2011
Driving Mr. Sanderson - Terez (Verbatim)Terez
Was Moridin in his own dream when Rand visited him in The Gathering Storm? If so, did he pull the boys into his own dreams in The Eye of the World, or did he invade and control theirs?Brandon Sanderson
I believe Moridin was...okay, in The Gathering Storm, he was in his own dream. He at least believes he was in his own dream, and he is usually right on things like that. And in The Eye of the World, he...I believe it was their dreams that he was controlling. But...
Terez
That's difficult to do.
Brandon Sanderson
That's very difficult to do....so I could be wrong on that. It's easier to pull someone into your own dreams, but it's easier to influence multiple dreams from the outside. So...does that make sense?
Terez
Yes.
Brandon Sanderson
So, since he's doing it to all three of them, that makes me believe he was actually controlling their dreams. I'm pretty sure on that one, Terez. [Cut discussion of the pronunciation of Terez.] I could be wrong...but my understanding of the mechanics is that since they're all dreaming the same thing, that it's external, much as a lot of the Forsaken have been not warding their dreams through the early parts of the books, and causing people to dream lots of weird things, and share dreams. Ishamael was doing that intentionally...doing something similar. Does that make sense?
Terez
Right, and it also has to do with his ability to find ta'veren.
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah.
Footnote—Terez
In my reread I noticed in A Crown of Swords Chapter 10, "Unseen Eyes", that Egwene says it's possible for a Dreamer to pull someone out of their dreams into a dream of her own making in Tel'aran'rhiod; this is something the Wise Ones won't do, but Ishamael wouldn't have a problem with it; I had forgotten that detail for some reason, and the Moridin dream confused the issue. It can be assumed that Lanfear did the same thing; Moghedien has shown no sign of having the ability (or perhaps the desire) to reach others' dreams, but she can trap Dreamwalkers in their own dreams in Tel'aran'rhiod. Aran'gar can do it weakly, and then only if she is sleeping right next to the person. Brandon has a point about the fact that all three of them dreamed the same dream apparently at once, but in once instance, after Perrin found the wolves, it seemed to Rand and Mat that they fell asleep, had the dream, and immediately woke up, when Moiraine says they were asleep for four hours.
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54
Interview: Apr 17th, 2011
Driving Mr. Sanderson - Terez (Verbatim)Terez
When Perrin and Egwene saw Rand in Tel'aran'rhiod in The Dragon Reborn, had he been pulled there by someone?Brandon Sanderson
(pause) I'm a little bit out on a limb on this one, but I don't believe he was. We have seen places where Rand manifests in Tel'aran'rhiod when he's in the real world, and this is something that happens with Rand that we haven't seen with other people...
Terez
Are you talking about like when...
Brandon Sanderson
Well, there's the Perrin sequence, for one...
Terez
Right, and when Ishamael visits him in The Great Hunt...
Brandon Sanderson
Mmmhmm.
Terez
Right. Cool.
Brandon Sanderson
So, I believe Rand has got something a little unique going on there...
Terez
Oh, okay. That's interesting.
Brandon Sanderson
...but, I'm a little on a limb on that one.
Tags
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55
Interview: Apr 17th, 2011
Driving Mr. Sanderson - Terez (Verbatim)Terez
Does one typically (emphasized in the list he was reading) have to visit Shayol Ghul to be granted permission to use the True Power?Brandon Sanderson
Um...(pause) Yes. I see what you're fishing for there.
Terez
Well, I mean...obviously. I didn't think I would slip that one past you.
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah.
Footnote—Terez
I was mainly following up on Freelancer's question. Despite the confusion, most fans believe that Rand accessed the True Power through his link with Moridin (and most also believe the Dark One is okay with this, despite not having granted explicit permission). Brandon's answer to Freelancer seemed to confirm that, but then Brandon denied he had actually said that.
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56
Interview: Apr 17th, 2011
Driving Mr. Sanderson - Terez (Verbatim)Terez
How does Demandred compare in strength to Moridin and Aginor? Sammael?Brandon Sanderson
Um...I have to have the list in front of me for that one.
Terez
Ahh.
Brandon Sanderson
Sorry, Terez.
Terez
That's okay.
Brandon Sanderson
I really want to just post that for people, because so many people ask about it...
Terez
Right, they're like really obsessed with it at rafo.com....
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah, they're very obsessed with it, and the thing is, a lot of them are really close, and so it's a matter of a few points on Jim's scale...
Terez
Yeah, I figured, like what you were saying earlier about how they were Chosen because their talents...
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah.
Terez
...obviously they're all within...
Brandon Sanderson
...yeah. They're all awesome. And so, you know, you couldn't be a Forsaken simply for being awesome in the Power. It's like you had to be awesome at the Power, and be awesome at other stuff.
Terez
Well, I mean...that's what they said about Balthamel, that that was the only reason he was one of them, was that he was so strong...
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah....
Terez
But, you know, obviously there was something else going on there...
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah. [I think he was already looking at the next (last) question at this point because we were nearing the airport terminal.]
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57
Interview: 2006
Forsaken Events
Robert Jordan
None of the Forsaken know that Osan'gar (Corlan Dashiva) is dead, but they know he's vanished. They are pretty much sure that Sammael is dead, because he isn't the type to remain in hiding, but think Asmodean might well be hiding out until he can figure a way to return safely. They know that Rahvin and Be'lal are dead, though some at least suspect reincarnation as Aran'gar and Osan'gar. Most have worked out that Moridin is Ishamael.Footnote
Aran'gar and Osan'gar are Balthamel and Aginor transmigrated, respectively. Most of the Forsaken we've had in POV seem to have figured that out.Tags
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Interview: 2001
Thus Spake the Creator (Paraphrased)Signing Report (The Forsaken)
Robert Jordan
Next, I believe, was the aforementioned big mouth. In the interests of not getting banned, we will simply call him Cranially Undernourished Bozo. He was asking something about Ishamael and about him being the only one to use the True Power therefore he is Mordin. RJ started explaining that he didn't necessarily have to be Mordin to which CUB declared that he was avoiding the question. RJ then gives a complicated explanation about the Watcher watching the events unfurling (this is all from memory and unfortunately I can't remember everything) which ended in a question if that is what he meant. CUB with a confused look on his face was obviously in over his head, and started planning how he could become a bigger nuisance.
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59
Interview: Nov 14th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Claireducky (Paraphrased)Claire
The dream sequence where Rand sees Moridin, and he thinks about having been there "long ago"—is he simply remembering his dreams there with Ishamael from The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt?Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal Rigney
Yes.Tags
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Interview: Dec 8th, 2007
Dragonmount Interview with Brandon Sanderson (Verbatim)Jason Denzel
And now, just for fun:
Who's nastier: Moridin, or Padan Fain?
Brandon Sanderson
No contest: Moridin. You can't really top Ishamael when it comes to nastiness, particularly if his opponent is just a little Darkfriend weasel. Yeah, Padan Fain facilitated the attack on Emond's Field and all that, but he's still just a weasel.Tags
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61
Interview: Dec 17th, 2011
Alloy of Law Signing Report - Loialson (Verbatim)Loialson
Can Rand still access the True Power through Moridin?Brandon Sanderson
That's a Read and Find Out. A big one.Footnote
Brandon has said that Rand can still sense it, but he is resisting using it. So the 'big' RAFO was for the idea that Rand channels the True Power via Moridin.Tags
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Interview: Nov 14th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Aubree Pham (Paraphrased)Brandon Sanderson
The True Power is usually not able to be used without the Dark One's consent. Semirhage certainly thought that the Dark One intentionally betrayed her.Tags
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63
Interview: Apr, 2012
Gold Coast SupaNova - Eleanor Chandler-Temple (Paraphrased)Terez
Is Taim's palace made of [Shayol Ghul rock]?Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
ELEANOR
Brandon looked a bit uncomfortable/hesitant answering this one. Not sure I should have warned him it was a Terez one, but he answered all the same. Theories, anyone? ALSO: Followup question asked Sun 22. Can someone ask how the stone got there? Was it dragged by teams to where it was safe to gateway?
FOOTNOTE—TEREZ
This question was also asked by another person. I was going to ask about the stone that Taim used as his podium, a symbol of his office, beginning in Lord of Chaos, but I figured the description was too complicated for a question I had to pass on to be asked by someone else. I was thinking everything at the Black Tower was made with that same rock, so I said to ask about Taim's palace. Turns out only the walls are made out of that rock, and the original podium is still used as a podium in the palace. The palace is white marble, though it has black stone columns. Brandon probably knew the walls were made out of Shayol Ghul rock, and assumed I knew what I was talking about with the palace. (I didn't.) I didn't expect him to answer the question with a 'yes', or I might have put more effort into looking it up first. So we can probably assume that the podium and the walls are made of Shayol Ghul rock, and possibly also Moridin's Blightfortress and the Towers of Midnight in Imfaral. The significance is probably mostly symbolic, like the red-and-black floor tiles in Taim's palace.
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64
Interview: Apr, 2012
Gold Coast SupaNova - Eleanor Chandler-Temple (Paraphrased)Zombie Sammael
We know access to the True Power is a matter of wanting it and the Dark One letting you. Are there any other conditions?Brandon Sanderson
Well... (This is not quite verbatim.) You have to be human of course, and all the other things as with the One Power. I don't believe so, but I am not sure. (Don't take this last sentence as gospel as I may not recall it correctly.)
ELEANOR
I think we need to clarify what sort of conditions so he can say yes or no to them. Maybe MAFO?
Tags
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65
Interview: 2012
Twitter 2012 (WoT) (Verbatim)Terez (21 April 2012)
OMG Taim's palace is made of Shayol Ghul rock! According to a report on @BrandSanderson in Australia. (That was my question. :p)Brandon Sanderson (21 April 2012)
I spent a long time trying to figure out if you had secret motives for asking that.Footnote
It's actually the walls and the podium that are made out of Shayol Ghul rock. See clarification.Tags
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66
Interview: 2013
Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)Dennis (23 January 2013)
I notice that Rand referred to Moridin as "Elan," not "Elan Morin." Why that stylistic choice?Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)
Rand didn't think he deserved the third name.
Dennis
But Elan Morin were his two names, like Lews Therin. Tedronai was his third name.
Brandon Sanderson
Speaking as Rand does was an intentional insult, as per my understanding via the notes.
Terez
I saw it as a familiarity, since he calls Ilyena by her first name only. Well, so does everyone...(she has three).
Brandon Sanderson
I view it this way, but it might be colored by my own personal experience. In Korea, using a very familial tone...
Brandon Sanderson
...is either endearing or incredibly offensive, depending on your relationship to the person. That's how I see it here.
Brandon Sanderson
At times, honestly, I don't know if Rand is intending insult or familiarity—perhaps both.
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67
Interview: 2013
Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)Indigo Kae (23 January 2013)
Is the woman who told Rand at the end that he was right to bring Moridin, Nakomi?Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)
I have been advised to RAFO questions regarding most everything from there on.
Brandon Sanderson
It's funny to say RAFO when there is no more to read, but what that term means is "This is supposed to be ambiguous."
David Catherine
With all of the homages to global myths/legends, is Nakomi the Wandering Jew/Jenn?
Brandon Sanderson
That's a very clever question that nobody has yet asked me. I'm not going to say more, however.
Ryan Lee
I gotta ask, is Nakomi / the Woman at the End a Shard of Adonalsium? Perhaps Balance?
Brandon Sanderson
No. There is not crossover between my shared world and the Wheel of Time. (Sorry.)
kcf
Who helped Rand out of the Shayol Ghul after the fight with the Dark One and told him he knew what he needed to do?
Brandon Sanderson
Hi, Neth. This is one I'm not answering, but if you track me down in person, you might be able to beat it out of me.
Terez
Is Nakomi the avatar of the Creator?
Werthead
SIFADFOE (Scream In Frustration And Don't Find Out, Ever) :-)
Terez
Yay, that means I can officially not give a shit about Nakomi. :)
Brandon Sanderson
You are allowed that right officially. She's becoming the Asmodean kill of this sequence of books.
Brandon Sanderson
I, of course, should have realized she'd become so big a thing as she did—but that wasn't the intention.
Melissa Houghton
I want to know what the heck was with Nakomi—who/what she is. Also was that her at the end of A Memory of Light?
Brandon Sanderson
Just answered this. Have a look below. (Sorry. It's a RAFO, I'm afraid.)
Peter Wikberg
Who/What is Nakomi?
Brandon Sanderson
That is a good question, but not one I'm planning to answer any time soon. (sorry.)
Arran Cook
Who was Nakomi? How did the body swap happen? How did Rand light the pipe?
Brandon Sanderson
You've asked all three of the big questions I'm not allowed or unable to answer, I'm afraid.
Lachie Stoller
Who was the old Aiel lady at the end of Rand's battle?
James Starke
Is Nakomi the person that Rand encountered at the mouth of Shayol Ghul? And is she the embodiment of The Creator?
Brandon Sanderson
This is one that I'm not answering, I'm afraid. RJ wanted some things about the ending to remain ambiguous.
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68
Interview: 2013
Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)Aaron Oster (23 January 2013)
If, hypothetically, there was a body switch in WoT, how would it happen? Would it be an actual switch or illusion?Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)
There are far more reasons, worldbuilding wise, to believe it was real than to believe it was illusion.
TJ
Is Rand's soul in Moridin's body?
Brandon Sanderson
Ha. Right to the point, are you? Let's just say that trickery is not likely in this case.
TJ
Can you confirm that Rand's body was burned at the end of A Memory of Light?
Brandon Sanderson
Okay, fine. Yes, I will confirm that Rand's body was indeed the one that was burned. :)
Jonathan MacAlpine
Why didn't anybody notice when a supposedly-dead Moridin got up and walked away?
Brandon Sanderson
I'd say coincidence. But there aren't many of those in the WoT world.
Siraaj
Seems like a conversation between the Creator and Rand was missing where "switch" and Alivia's role in it are laid out—thoughts?
Brandon Sanderson
I believe that RJ included everything he wanted in this sequence.
Jason Cassidy
Why did Rand switch bodies at the end and why is he going incognito now? Did not understand that part.
Brandon Sanderson
RJ wrote these scenes, and intended to leave them as is. I don't think me delving into explanations is what he'd want.
El Brian
Did the bonding between Rand, Nynaeve, Elayne, and Min transfer over to the new body?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes, though I don't know how or why.
Kamarile Sedai
Why did the bond survive the body switch at the end of A Memory of Light?
Brandon Sanderson
I don't know. RJ did not explain this one to me.
J Crosby
How were Rand/Elan able to switch bodies?
Sean Duffy
How did Rand wind up with Moridin's body?
James Starke
Could you explain further about the body switch and how it was possible?
Brandon Sanderson
This is one that I'm not answering, I'm afraid. RJ wanted some things about the ending to remain ambiguous.
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69
Interview: Feb 7th, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - Robert Moreau (Paraphrased)Robert Moreau
Also after everyone was done, I hung out with the Memory Keepers (as i had won a shirt in SLC and blended in) and there were some questions asked about Moridin wanting to die forever.Brandon Sanderson
Sanderson said that no he did not get his wish.
Robert Moreau
I asked if Moridin had been on Dragonmount and had the opportunity that Rand had to end it all, would he.
Brandon Sanderson
Sanderson said yes he would have.
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70
Interview: Feb 16th, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - Mageen (Paraphrased)Mageen
Can you shed any light on how the Rand/Elan body swap happened? I'm wondering whether it was like the Dark One's transmigration of souls, if it's tied to Rand's apparent new abilities, or something else.
Brandon Sanderson
It's not outlined in the notes, but I think of it as the soul that wanted to live found a body, and the one that wanted to die, did.
Mageen
I knew going in that Brandon has said RJ didn't explain how it happened, but a friend wanted me to ask and I'm glad I did! It was a much better answer than the shoulder shrug I expected based on the torchat.
Speaking of torchat, I noticed Brandon told someone that if they ask him on a tour stop, he might tell them who it was that helped Rand out of the cave. I'd be interested in knowing that and I would have asked that too if I'd remembered.
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71
Interview: Feb 11th, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - Anna Hornbostel (Verbatim)Anna Hornbostel
Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)
A fan asked him if Alivia's role in the epilogue was her fulfillment of Min's viewing and he said that it was very clear that that was all that that viewing meant. He said that fans are speculating that she played a part in the body swap but she did not.
Brandon went in to little detail about the body swap, saying he knows as much about it as we do and the notes just didn't give more. He asserted that he has to do with the balefire streams touching and the fact that Moridin no longer wanted to continue to exist but that Rand very much wanted to continue to exist.
Footnote
The viewing was almost certain a "riding into the sunset" metaphor, which we know is idiomatic to the WoT world from The Great Hunt Chapter 49, where Loial reads To Sail Beyond the Sunset (which is also a reference to Heinlein) as Rand accepts the oaths of the Shienarans, the first Dragonsworn.Tags
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Interview: Feb 19th, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - AndrewB (Paraphrased)AndrewB
How do Egwene, Nynaeve and Moiraine know Moridin's name? (Egwene mentions Moridin by name when talking to Rand at the meeting of the Field of Merrilor; Nynaeve and Moiraine each mention Moridin by name in respective POV while in Shayol Ghul.)
Brandon Sanderson
BWS paused for at least 10 seconds before answering. He said that he thought he remembered answering this question before and did not want to give me a misleading answer. BWS said Rand told each of the 3 women Moridin's name in an off-screen conversation.
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73
Interview: Feb 20th, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - JaimieKrycho (Paraphrased)Question
And of course, Ishamael was obliterated, just like he wanted. Finally. We think. Was his soul destroyed?
Brandon Sanderson
It does not actually say.
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Interview: Feb 22nd, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - J. Dauro (Verbatim)Question
And the decision to exchange the bodies at the end?
Brandon Sanderson
That was his (Robert Jordan). And it began with the crossing of the balefire streams, way back when, and continued on through the series up to here. He actually wrote those scenes at the end himself.
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75
Interview: Feb 22nd, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - J. Dauro (Verbatim)Question
Is the Town, the only human settlement in the Blight?
Brandon Sanderson
I believe so.
Question
And was the Town the same cluster of building that was seen by Graendal in Towers of Midnight from Moridin's...
Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
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76
Interview: Feb 22nd, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - J. Dauro (Verbatim)Question
Do we know what Moridin was doing in the Town?
Brandon Sanderson
Umm, Define we.
Question
Will we know what Moridin was doing in the town?
QBrandon Sanderson
That depends on how good you are at guessing.
Harriet McDougal
I think he was building a new Westin Hotel.
QBrandon Sanderson
That's right.
(laughter)
Question
Sounds reasonable to me.
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Interview: Nov 6th, 2012
Weller Book Works Signing - Josh & Mi'ch (Verbatim)Question
Do you mind if I ask a Wheel of Time question?Brandon Sanderson
No, I don't mind at all.
QUESTION
The group that I'm a part of on Facebook has a list going of things we want to ask you.
BRANDON SANDERSON
Ooooh, okay!
QUESTION
So I'm trying to ask one that's not gonna get a Read And Find Out.
BRANDON SANDERSON
Okay.
QUESTION
Do the women in Randland shave?
BRANDON SANDERSON
[Laughter] Wow, I've never been asked that. Oh wow, I don't know. I honestly don't know.
QUESTION
It's been bothering me since I started the series.
BRANDON SANDERSON
Wow. That's an excellent question. Ask Maria, she might actually know. That's the sort of thing that's probably buried in the notes somewhere. You can ask another one since I didn't know. You can go down a few and if I have to RAFO, then I will but is there another one you can ask that might get an answer?
QUESTION
Maybe, you're going to have to forgive me if I mispronounce...
BRANDON SANDERSON
That's all right.
QUESTION
What did Moridin mean by the Fisher King being a dim remnant of a memory of Rand al'Thor?
BRANDON SANDERSON
There are lots of ways to interpret that I will give you one interpretation. And that is that it is a memory from the last time that Rand al'Thor did what he did. And that those stories were passed on and passed on and so now he is following legends about himself. Does that make sense?
QUESTION
Yeah.
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Interview: 2013
poesian (March 2013)
I'll bite:
We had some discussion about whether or not the scene in AMOL in which Rand thinks Roedran is Demandred was intended as a bit of a dig at all the fan theories assuming that to be true. Or was Rand really just supposed to be convinced of that same theory? (And how did Shara never occur to anyone in the books?)
Balefire question: If balefire isn't tearing someone's soul out of the pattern, why is it so destructive? Why, in AMOL is it literally tearing the world apart when Darkfriends are using it?
Thanks! I will try and remember to ask more questions on 15 April!
Brandon Sanderson
1. The item you discuss was not intended as a dig against fans. You could read it, potentially, as an acknowledgement of fans—though really, all it comes from is the fact that you have a fan writing these books. I'm aware of many of the theories, and even spent years thinking about them and talking of them. In constructing this scene, it was my impression that if we'd spent all of this time working on these theories, how much more effort would those in world have expended?
And so, my impression was that this would be genuinely what the character thought. I thought it would be very strange if he HADN'T considered it. Therefore, I put a note of it in the text—to indicate that the characters had been working through these same issues, and come to some of the same conclusions. It wasn't meant to break the fourth wall, though I can see how it stands out to some readers.
2. I was under the impression that to be killed by balefire meant dying forever. However, Maria and the notes showed me I was wrong about this fact. Balefire does weaken the Pattern, but it can't destroy souls, which are (you might say) the substance of the Pattern. Just like you can take a hammer to a cup and shatter it, but the pieces of glass will still be there. The Pattern can (theoretically) be unraveled, the world end, but the souls still exist.
It should be note that Moridin believed strongly that the soul CAN be ended by other means, and the implication of wolves (at least) being killed with no rebirth means it can happen.
So, in final answer to your question, it is so destructive because it leaves the Pattern in a mess, strained, and more easily subjected to the Dark One's will. His goal is to shatter the cup, so to speak, and then rebuilt it into a cup more to his liking.
poesian
Oh man, I am so happy (a) that you answered my questions and (b) that you answered them well. Thank you for all you've done with the series, Brandon!
(I pointed out the Demandred scene because it is fun on all of those levels. I've thought about the "fourth wall" comment and it doesn't make sense; there's no moment where Rand looks at us. Just at Roedran, in a way that actually is entirely sensical.)
TheBB
And so, my impression was that this would be genuinely what the character thought.
This was a bit jarring for me, because most of the reasons for the Demandred=Roedran theory came from hints given by Robert Jordan, that Rand wouldn't have access to.
Brandon Sanderson
Ah, but Rand would have a whole LOT of information in-world that we don't have. Spy reports, rumors, his knowledge of how the Forsaken like to work. If you remove the places where one of the Forsaken had already set up shop, remove the monarchs that Rand has already met and interacted with, and look for a place that has been suspiciously quiet, you end up with very few options.
poesian
One of which just happens to be as we now know Shara.
NruJaC
It's funny, it was an RJ quote that pushed people away from that particular theory. It turned out to be an extremely Aes Sedai answer.
poesian
I would love to read that quote.
And of course RJ would give Aes Sedai answers. That makes a lot of sense.
NruJaC
I'll try to find it, but he basically said that we'd never see Shara "on-screen".
poesian
Oh right! Yeah. That's a very Aes Sedai answer. Heh. 'You'll never see their country, but they'll see ours!'
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Interview: Feb 1st, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - craiye (Paraphrased)craiye
While Brandon was signing my book(s) I asked him about Alivia and if she had a role in the body swap. I assumed it was Nakomi but the others I was reading the book with all decided it HAD to be Alivia and that's how she fulfilled Min's viewing.
Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)
Brandon confirmed that Alivia had NOTHING to do with the body swap but wouldn't go into it further.
TsorovanSaidin
Nothing is popping up man, but what did you ask? We had someone actually ask who killed Asmodean, literally THE ENTIRE CROWD booed this guy. Alivia helped him die by disappearing. It was quite anticlimactic.
craiye
Huh, not sure why the spoiler isn't working right. Anyways, I was having a debate with the 5 other people I'd been reading with and felt like I was taking crazy pills—all the others thought Alivia is the one who found Rand outside Shayol Ghul after the battle and did the swap. I asked Brandon to confirm that it wasn't Alivia and was in fact Nakomi and he said he wouldn't answer anything about Nakomi, but vehemently denied Alivia had anything to do with the swap.
TsorovanSaidin
The body swap was a result of the crossed balefire stream.
craiye
Sure, it's clear that was what triggered the whole event but the end of A Memory of Light heavily implies that the woman outside Shayol Ghul finalized the deal. I'd assume that was Nakomi.
Anyways, BS has made it clear he can't/won't answer any questions about Nakomi so I was just hoping for a solid confirmation that Alivia wasn't involved in anything at Shayol Ghul, and he confirmed that. That was good enough for me.
TsorovanSaidin
Ohhhh you're talking the old woman in the tent with Alivia? I'm almost positive it was Caddy and Alivia was referring to her as an old woman. You're talking about "The wise ones and the old woman with them" line correct? It's not Verin, we know that much. Nakomi, I'm convinced is no one, and everyone is just assuming there's something special about her. Though I found that old woman line suspicious.
craiye
Nah, I'm talking about the first page of the epilogue—892. The figure outside Shayol Ghul that says "Yes, that's good. That is what you need to do" as he brings Moridin's body out. For some reason a fair amount of people I've talked too (including the group I read with) thought that was Alivia, since it's suggested this person starts the body swap at that point (or finishes it I suppose). BS confirmed it was NOT Alivia though. I assume it's Nakomi. Who Nakomi actually is is an entirely different story.
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Interview: Mar 17th, 2012
Writing for Charity Signing (Verbatim)Zas
This one is from Terez, about WoT. It says "Does Moridin have anything to do with the Knife of Dreams?"
Peter
She thinks that his name "Tedronai" translates into Knife of Dreams in WoT.
BRANDON SANDERSON
(slightly surprised) Oh. If that is the case Terez,which it very well may be, I don’t know. I don’t know. That’s mostly because I don’t do anything with the Old Tongue- I let Alan handle it, because he’s so good at it, I pretty much just refer to him. The only thing I tried to name on my own was Perrin’s hammer. And even that, he had to fix a few little things to make it work right.
So I won’t kill that theory, but I can’t confirm it either.
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81
Interview: Sep 30th, 2014
archaeonaga (1 October 2014)
Did the body swap take place before Rand stumbled out of the cave, or during the period of time in which Rand and Moridin were in the tent? That first paragraph of the epilogue is quite ambiguous.Brandon Sanderson (1 October 2014)
This is one of those that I don't actually know. My instincts say that it happened after, as I believe the idea from RJ was "the soul that wants to live finds the body that lives, and the soul that wants to die finds the body that dies." But I can't honestly remember if that's his explanation for why (he wrote most of the epilogue, so this event was done and written before he died) or if it's Team Jordan's explanation after the fact. But it's the one I embraced.
Footnote—Terez
I'm fairly certain that this did not come directly from RJ based on conversations I have had with Maria about this at the "Unanswered Questions" panels at JordanCon 2017 and 2018. Just to be certain, I will ask her at the same panel at JordanCon 2019; she loves this panel and we're going to do it every year.
MatrimRivers (16 October 2014)
Sorry, very late to this party as I just finished AMOL today. So many feels. Just on this topic, as Min, Elayne, Aviendha and Alivia are the only ones who know that Rand still lives, wouldn't Nynaeve etc return to the tent after Rands funeral, see Moridin is gone and be like "oh fuck, the Nae'blis is on the loose. We better hunt him down". Or should we just sort of assume that the important characters are brought in on the secret by those who know?
Brandon Sanderson (16 October 2014)
I am amused imagining Nynaeve's reaction, both to what you just described and to her discovery that Rand is alive. But I DO think she's got an inkling of what's happening, and will bully it out of someone before too long.
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