Amph [Wheel of Time] A Memory of Light (HTR spoilers allowed)

And there's no reason she couldn't have sworn on the Oath Rod. There's no way she would consider herself part of ANY Ajah. She doesn't even consider the others as Aes Sedai.

She could also be Laras, the cook...

 

That would kind of be a shame, though. And I don't think she's humble enough to do that.

 

I've actually thought about Laras a few times as a possibility, but I'm pretty sure it can't be her. At least, I'm pretty sure that there are references indicating that she's been in the Tower a while, longer than Mesaana could possibly have been there. Also, I seem to recall Alviarin getting a glimpse of the hem of a nice dress, better than something Laras would wear.

 

It'll be disappointing if it's someone that has barely been mentioned. Ditto with Damandred.

 

Yeah, me too, I think.

 

I don't know... those two are clearly more about keeping a low profile (like Graendel) than Rahvin or Sammael or Be'lal. So I'm ok if its someone we've barely seen.

EDIT: though Demandred is definitely someone we've seen - Jordan said as much, I believe.

 

Could Demandred perhaps be one of the Aiel? Rhuarc, maybe?

 

I don't think Demandred would do that - though maybe. As for Mesaana - it could be someone we don't know about, but I have a feeling that when she's revealed, we'll have known her at least a bit.

 

I don't think it could be Rhuarc, for basically the same reasons I don't think Laras is Mesaana. Rhuarc has to have been pretty prominent among his sect of the Aiel for a while before the Forsaken were released. Though I suppose Demandred could have killed the real Rhuarc and disguised himself as him... but I think that's pretty unlikely. Asunawa's probably the best suggestion I've seen for Demandred.

 

Thanks

 

I'm personally leaning towards Demandred being Captain-General Lunal Galgan. He seems to fit the bill pretty well, and I can't really think of a reason why it wouldn't be him.

Evil.

 

Hmmm... Galgan is a possibility, but I'd still lean towards Asunawa. I don't think Demandred is going to be one of the Seanchan. I don't think he's Aiel, either, but I think Aiel is more likely than Seanchan for him.

 

I don't think it is Asunawa. Remember that Demandred is on record saying:that his rule is secure and he gathers his troops for war. in TGS. This likely means that his rule wasn't secure for awhile, so it must be someone who recently regained a stable rule. I still haven't finished TGS yet, so I'm not completely up to date. But it really only leaves a couple of possibilities. Remember that one of the chosen thought that Demandred was active in the south because the patterns going on seemed like his work.

Another possibility is Charlz Guybon, who like Demandred never smiles. But Guybon is in Andor, and really just recently became active.

Evil.

 

Well, there's infighting with the White Cloaks, so Asunawa might have been having a tough time keeping control of those who sided against Galad.

Is he the man Elayne is pretending fathered her children?

 

Nope, that was the guy planted in the Queen's Guard. Guybon is the guy that came to Caemlyn with thousands of soldiers during the seige. Elayne made him a Captain and Birgitte made him second in command, after her. He led the troops against the escaping Black Ajah sisters, which is where I think the best proof occurs for him NOT being Damandred. He leads a charge against tons of balefire.....which there's no way Damandred would do.

 

I don't remember him But I agree, he seems unlikely to be Demandred. I think Demandred would send his troops to do something like that, but not risk himself.

 

It would be fairly shocking if Demandred was one of the Aiel.

I really can't see it, particularly because the Aiel have such a complicated social structure, they'd easily be able to spot a faker.

What about somebody like Darlin? Doesn't seem right, but...


The whole thing with Mesaana, it would just be nice for it to be cleared up. I don't think it's going to be a shocking revelation.

 

I'm actually surprised that any of the Forsaken would go undercover at all. I mean, why wouldn't they just use a minion instead? I wouldn't want to be this cray powerful channeler...always having to be somewhere because I have to kep up my secret identity.

 

Just as someone wheighing in here, I'd have to go with two reasons. The first is that they simply don't trust anyone else to do the job at all, or do it right (Graendal being the exception, here, because of her uncanny ability with Compulsion), and the second being ego, pure and simple. They want to be able to say that they, (insert Forsaken of choice here), not some faceless darkfriend, were the ones responsible for subverting a kingdom/dividing the Tower/etc. Probably looks better in front of the Dark One that way too. Is it the smartest move? No, but it is consistent with their characterization as a bunch of psychotic, paranoid egomaniacs.

 

Exactly what Ghandalf said - they don't trust others to do the job for them.

And they don't want to broadcast who they are to the world because then they become a target for all the forces of Light out there - sure, they could deal with most of them easily, but I think they recognize on some level that if they give Rand the time to prepare before coming after each of them, he gets a significant advantage.

 

And of course, it doesn't matter how much One Power you can draw at the drop of a hat if someone poisons you. Assassination, always a viable option for getting rid of the competition.

 

Yep. They're taking the smart route, generally.

 

But this is exactly what some of them did. Rahvin just sat in Caemlyn waiting for Rand. Bad move. Sammael sat in Illian. Bad move. Graendal waited in Arad Doman. Bad move.

I do agree with the trust idea though. Most of the Forsaken veiw everyone else as an inferior. I guess to them it would be like sending your dog to pick up your drycleaning.

 

Right, but Rahvin didn't go "hey everybody, I'm Rahvin and I'm taking over Caemlyn now! Come get me!" Graendel sure as heck didn't do that in Arad Doman. Sammael comes the closest... but even he was a lot more subtle than just letting everybody know where he is and invite attacks.

 

They didn't see Rand al'Thor as the reincarnation of their chief foe, Lews Therin.

They saw a young, inexperienced farm boy who had Chosen One levels of Force power...wait, wrong thread.

But I don't think any of the Forsaken, other than Ishmael and Lanfear, really understood who/what Rand is.