r/WoT

Less Secret Wheel of Time Status! (Someone has noticed me!)

Prior to the current timeline, when gentling was the only appropriate way to deal with men who channel, why did the White Tower not use the oath rod to deal with men who can channel?

One of the problems with men who can channel is them going mad and being destructive with the one power. Wouldn’t making them swear an oath to say, not use the one power to be destructive, not have restricted them even once they’re mad? Or there could be other oaths that make them more safe to be around etc. And then later they would also be easier to deal with if they need to be gentled.

My thoughts are that the world lost a lot when men and women couldn’t channel together anymore. Not to mention men go mad at different rates, so for some other White Tower might get years of use out of the channeling men. Verin also mentions Sheriam’s theory that the world doesn’t have as many women who can channel because they have culled men who can, so this could be another reason not to gentle men.

Just a thought, I’m sure this has been debunked or discussed at some stage but it struck me as a missed opportunity for the Aes Sedai.

Hey.

I think the Shaido storyline is one of those instances where readers would especially like to see it cut, or at least shortened.

However, that storyline continued until Knife of Dreams.

What did it bring?

Perrin learned about leadership (which had already happened before) and persevered in his love for Faile when she wasn't there and Berelain was there. He also gained the respect of the Seanchan.

Faile tried to save herself, but it didn't work out, and Perrin had to save her. She also became more of a leader—though here, she didn't necessarily have to acquire those traits as a slave.

We got Rolan and his companions as... well, not good Shaido, but better Shaido.

They all died.

Galina received a lot of punishment from Therava and Sevanna (mainly Therava) as part of her karma and ended up in eternal slavery to Therava, which... Well, that was an exaggeration, but in my headcanon, Therava didn't live long after escaping with the remnants of the Shaido, so I accept it. I mean, let Galina suffer, but let's not call that suffering Therava, because I hated her to the same extent.

Sevanna ended up naked, tied up, and thrown over Tylee's horse as a war trophy, and probably a da'covale, perhaps the dancer Shea, due to her beauty. We got a small glimpse of what awaited her when Tylee placed her helmet on her buttocks, and then, when Sevanna tried to fall off her horse, Tylee slapped her on the buttocks.

This sight of a humiliated Sevanna (with jewelry falling from her golden hair) was supposed to give us the satisfaction of knowing she got what she deserved. After all, how many times have Faile and her companions been in such a humiliating state because of Sevanna? Although bidding farewell to a female antagonist while naked, tied up, and thrown over a horse as a war trophy is certainly an odd choice, even if also oddly fitting for this series.

In any case, this arc forced Perrin into cooperation with the Seanchan, where Tylee's respect for him was crucial later in the story regarding the Seanchan and their relationship with the Final Battle.

Faile and her companions had to endure a great deal of humiliation.

Galina and Sevanna got what they deserved, though readers would have preferred to see them die.

So, what are your thoughts on the Shaido arc and what it brought to the story? Do you see any reasons why it was good that it happened, or would you have cut/shortened it? Or maybe you don't mind this plot, but you would change something? For example, Rolan survive and Sevanna, Galina and Therava are killed.