Daniel Ramirez > Recent Status Updates

Egwene has learned Moiraine’s spying trick. She runs into Gawyn, they confess their love for each other, Ewgene assures him Elayne is alive and safe, and promises to provide proof that Rand did not kill Morgase. Gawyn promises to protect her, and even betray the Tower for her if he must. The tower aes Sedai politic with the Tairen and Cairhienin lords against Rand. Six Aes Sedai are present, but more trickle in.

The Aes Sedai sent by Elaida arrive in Cairhien.

Mat and the band come across the remains of Tinkers who were slaughtered. Then they are attacked by Aiel trying to assassinate Mat. Aes Sedai travel on the other side of the Erinin. Sammael manipulates Graendal into telling him that Mesaana is in the White Tower.

Loial’s mother, bride-to-be, and Elder shaman have come from the stedding to bring him home. If he stays outside any longer he may die. They show Rand locations of steddings across the world, and Rand asks them if they can show him the waygate in Aridhol, or Shadar Logoth, if he takes them there.

Rand learns he’s the son of Tigraine after she left Caemlyn and became a Maiden. Young Cairhienin men and women are trying to adopt ji’e’toh, but Rhuarc says they don’t understand it. An Aiel that has followed Rand since the Stone of Tear admits to murder, and says he owes toh to Rand.

In Tel’aran’rhiod Nynaeve and Elayne find a blue bowl with clouds on it, a ter’angreal that affects weather. They suspect it’s in Ebou Dar. Egwene travels through the infinity between dreams and reality. She gets trapped in Gawyn’s dream where he saves her from Rand then professes his love. Nynaeve and Elayne link with Aes Sedai for the first time to fight bubbles of evil.

Verin and Alanna bring the Two Rivers girls to train at Tar Valon, stopping at Caemlyn, where they all see Rand. Alanna bonds Rand as her Warder, and he lashes out, scaring the girls with his power. Taim will set out looking for men who can channel. Nynaeve spies on the Little Tower meeting with the Red Ajah, unaware someone spies on her too. Theodrin also sees her but says nothing. Nynaeve plans to leave.

Pedron Niall plans to spread a rumor that the black Ajah controls the tower and that the Aes Sedai in Salidar want to renounce their position. He learns of Logain, Ogier steddings gather, and the Sea Folk dock in the south. He believes Murandy and Altara will be his. Morgase believes she must defeat Rand to gain the Lion throne back. She learns that Galad is a whitecloak.

A red Ajah sent by Elaida arrives in Salidar. Logain speaks to Altaran nobles of the intel he received by the red Ajah that helped him wreak havoc in Altara as a false dragon. Elayne teaches novices. Nynaeve studies how to detect men’s channeling with Moghedien. Theodrin tries to help Nynaeve break the self imposed block that only lets her channel when angry. Gareth Bryne wants to get his army moving

The band of the red hand moved towards Illian. Sammael wants to be Naeblis and is under orders to not kill Rand. Graendal is likely in Arad Doman. Semirhage tortures Aes Sedai in Shayol Ghul. In Telehranrhiod, the salidar Aes Sedai learn about emissaries sent by Elaida to Rand. She also orders the return of Elayne and a Yellow Ajah has been lowered to accepted, breaking tower law. Demandred spies on Elayne.

“The Woodfelling” begins with Nikolay Petrovich receiving orders to take his platoon to chop trees. He outlines the three types of Russian soldiers with their respective subdivisions. 1. a) the coolly submissive b) the fussily submissive, 2. a) the sternly domineering b) the diplomatically domineering, and 3. a) the reckless humorists b) the reckless libertines

The Raid - Set during the Caucasian War in Chechnya, the narrator observes fighting between the various Caucasian peoples (mostly Muslim) and Russia with their allies - some of whom were Muslim caucasians themselves. A young ensign excited for his first battle dies due to his brave stupidity and the narrator idolizes an old steadfast captain who represents wordless Russian valor as a contrast to French chivalry.

“Can it be that there is not enough space for man in this beautiful world, under those immeasurable, starry heavens? Is it possible that a man’s heart can harbor, amid such ravishing natural beauty, feelings of hatred, vengeance, or the desire to destroy his fellows? All the evil in man, one would think, should disappear on contact with Nature, the most spontaneous expression of beauty and goodness” (17).

Bashere and Mat plan an attack against Illian. Mazrim Taim swears himself to Rand, says he can test men’s ability to channel and teach them. He also gives Rand cuendillar, meaning he has three unbroken seals with only one missing, since he knows the other three are broken. This makes Lews Therin usurp Rand’s mind, causing him to mutter “break it break it break it.” other men have come to learn to channel.

Timeline and Introduction: “deathbed agony awaits the educated sophisticates of modern society who have left nature behind”

Leo Tolstoy based the Death of Ivan Ilyich on a real man. Each story in this collection revolves around death. Tolstoy had a mid life crisis and once, while traveling, felt so randomly terrified that it seemed like he faced death. The first story, The Raid, will be about a young soldier.

Pedron Niall plans to plague Altara and Murandy with “Dragonsworn.” Demandred plans with Messana, Graendal, and Semirhage. Lanfear and Ishamael (I think) are somehow revived by The Dark One and given new bodies.

Demandred is called to Shayol Ghul and the Dark One speaks to him about possibly leading the Forsaken. Min will head towards Rand with an honor escort of Aes Sedai. Gawyn hears of his mother’s supposed death and the Tower Aes Sedai meet with the Shaido. Perrin decides he must return to Rand and Faile governs the Two rivers. Nynaeve continues to study stilling. At least two black ajah are in the tower.

Mat is leader of the Band of the Red Hand. He tells that Morgase is dead. Rand plans to head for Caemlyn to defeat Rahvin. Moiraine takes him to the docks where Lanfear attacks. Rand cannot kill a woman, so Moiraine sacrifices herself, a future she had somehow foreseen. She tackles Lanfear into the doorframe. The maidens convince Rand that he dishonors them by not letting them die, so he finally accepts their help.

Elayne and Nynaeve reach Salidar. They are allowed to continue studying to be Aes Sedai but receive no warm welcome. Nynaeve convinces Siuan to help her study a cure for stilling, and Nynaeve will help Siuan learn to use the dream terangreal. Min reveals to Elayne that they are fated to share Rand with another woman. Gareth Bryne convinces the Shienarans to help train cavalry and wants to speak to Thom about the Game

A riot breaks out in Samara due to the Whitecloaks, the prophet, and the people all trying to secure a ship. Valan Luca professes his love to Nynaeve, the Shienarans and Galad slaughter a mob in order to reach the docks, and finally the party reach the ship.

Mat earns the loyalty of his Cairhienen and Tairen troops after slaying Couladin and displaying prowess as a general. Rand holds off Sammael but nearly destroys himself from overusing saidin. The battle is won, but many shaido escape across the river gaelin. Melian plans a parade, but Rand suspects it’s a plot to make himself King. The Cairhein also plot, but some may want Rand as King.

Egwene, and Aviendha begin the battle against Shaido by channeling from a tower, conjuring lightning and strong winds. Rand melts hilltops. Matt plans to leave before the fighting starts, but spots an Aiel ambush on the Tairen and Cairhienen. He warns them and executes a plan. The Tairen nobles inside Cairhienen spears in a “hedgehog” formation draw enemies in, then 2 parties from North and South pinch.