Here we go... I've drawn a lot of conclusions using various threads on the message board. If I've used anyone's idea and not credited - let me know!

But here it is... The Finns: Uncensored.

The first order of business is to clear up any misunderstanding about the Finns hopping to and from Mirror Worlds. It is simply not possible. From what we know of the Finns, assuming they could travel to and fro mirror worlds, why wouldn't they just use that as a means of getting their sensations and emotions? Why have any need for the ter'angreal at all? They could just pick a world with people, suck 'em dry, make a new suit or two and head back to their pedastals in their freaky little world.

This being said, anyone who knew of the Finns (Moiranne, other Aes Sedai) would have to be wary about people accidentally traveling to either Finnland (I assume then, that the Finns cannot gain access to Randland). I believe that the ter'angreal were created entirely for the above purpose: to prevent Randlanders from stumbling upon Finnland.

It is entirely possible that there was once a much easier way to gain access to Finnland - the Tower of Ghenji comes to mind. But we know from Birgitte that it is not easily accessed in the current age. This leads to the conclusion that someone, somehow must have warded it, or done something to block of unsuspecting "treasure hunters," which is what Mat wanted to do when he first saw it.

Also, the ter'angreal to the Snakes was in a basement in Tear, but the ter'angreal to the Foxes was sealed up in Rhuidean. This tells us something: 1.) Either the Foxes are more dangerous then the Snakes or 2.)the Aes Sedai couldn't find the Ael Finn when they sent everything with the Aiel. Both of these shows, however, that the Finns are not to be taken lightly and that the safegaurds, including the number of questions and setting prices are in place for a reason. I believe that the Snakes were able to answer Mat, Rand, Moiranne's questions by siimply reading the pattern. They possibly have a concentrated form of what Min has. They can read the future, and know what it means, but they cannot do it indefinitely. Meaning that they can only ascertain the answers to the three most pressing questions in a person's life.

The Foxes, on the other hand, are a different story. We know that both groups of Finns feed off of their visitors emotions. The Foxes, in granting their wishes are able to take a bit more emotion then the Snakes can. I think that the Aes Sedai may have included this has a price in order to deter people from entering. The means, therefore, are not worth the ends. Especially concerning the fact that not very many people come out. We know what the Foxes wear, and I don't think anyone believes someone offered up their skin willingly because the Finns old outfits were getting ratty.

This said, anyone who doesn't come out forfeits their possesions to the Finns.

Another part of the theory, or a completely different theory, involves the iron, music and fire. We know they are a no-no in Finnland, however, I believe it is only if you have all three at once. Granted, Rand held off the Finn's with his fire sword, but they still managed to herd him out the door. If he had had all three pieces of the puzzle at once, he could have run rampant over Finnland.

Also, everyone is pondering how Mat has gotten his memories. (I haven't seen concensus anywhere on this board :) ). What do we know about the Finns? The rumage through people's memories and emotions. It is entirely probably that they stuck the memorie's in Mat's head the same way they took them out.

Phew... I think I'm done now. I know you guys will have questions and I'm sure I forgot a great deal. But for now... Post on!