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ashadar and the Souls

by Kantuna: 2005-06-05 | 3.05 out of 10 (21 votes)

Previous Categories: So Habor

OK, these may seem unrelated at first but bear with me.

1. At the end of Winter's Heart Shadar Logoth and Mashadar were destroyed.

"All we've learned, really, is that Shadar Logoth is gone, and of that I can only say, the world is better off without that sinkhole of the Shadow."

2. On the other side of the World, souls rise up from the ground and become the living dead.

"But fear of the dead only explained so much. Maybe people were too frightened to think of washing, but it seemed unlikely that fear would take everyone that way. They just did not seem to care anymore. And weevils thriving in winter, in freezing cold? There was worse wrong in So Habor than spirits walking, and every instinct told him to leave at a dead run, without looking back. He purely wished that he could."

Doesn't sound related does it? Right, here goes with the theory.

Once upon a time a big group of people left So Habor in search of help, or on an adventure or something. Either way, this group of people stumbles across a city a long long way away from home. Maybe this city was still called Aridhol, all those years ago, or maybe it was Shadar Logoth, a place where even the Shadow fears to go. These people go in and find the city deserted, but they also find buildings in which to shelter for the night.

Nightfall comes...

Just imagine the scenario: One man wakes up in the night, thirsty or something. He stumbles out into the street looking for a fountain to fill up his waterskin. He turns a corner and sees a giant wall of fog coming towards him. Curious, he goes to investigate...and nobody ever sees him or his companions again...

Hundreds of years later, Shadar Logoth is destroyed by Rand and Nynaeve. So is Mashadar. And where do all these souls go? Back to where they were born. All over the world souls are being returned from the dead. Most of the people had nowhere to go - their cities were long dead and lost, so they move on. but some stay here and Linger - after all, thinks the group from So Habor, our town is still here. Let's go.

And miles away, the dead start rising...

Sorry it was a bit long, but it was effective, right?

Anyway, the souls released by Mashadar's destruction are free to wreak havok on the world.
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Comments

1

Tamyrlin: 2005-06-11

While there may be a connection to Mashadar, considering we do not kno what affects might have been had in its destruction. Why wouldn't such souls return to the soul pool? Once the soul is stopped from returning, will it return when that impediment is removed? I still don't think Mashadar's destruction, or the destruction of Shadar Logoth, explains the many walking dead, nor why only certain people seem to be able to see them. I think Mashadar could be one reason, but I think there is much more involved in the spirits showing up everywhere. In essence, because there are other sightings, Mashadar would have to be the explanation for those too.

2

Yaga Shura: 2005-06-11

Tam:

~ essence, because there are other sightings, Mashadar would have to be the explanation for those too. ~

Ghosts were being seen before Shadar Logoth was destroyed.

CoT, ch10, A Blazing Beacon

~"What is it, Elsie? And don't tell me it was nothing. You look as if you have you'd seen a ghost."

The girl flinched. "I did," she said unsteadily. That she gave ELayne no title showed just how unsteady she was. "Lady Nelein, as was Lord Aedmun's grandmother.~

Later, in the same chapter, Elayne feels the start of the Cleansing.

~She could feel someone channeling saidar. ... She could not imagine how much of the One Power was needed for her to feel channeling at that distance.~

3

JakOShadows: 2005-06-11

Kantuna: I did think your theory was a good idea. But the evidence in the book don't back it up. At So Harbor, Perrin clearly thinks that its more than just the dead walking again that scares them. And Else seeing that ghost(good find Yaga Shura) also nixes that connection. But it's not a bad idea. It just needs a little more debating.

4

Tristin: 2005-06-12

I think that the dead could be walking due to the DO transmigrating souls. He's weakened a boundary somewhere and now their boundary to the world is thinner. It seems like Ta'veren could draw ghosts, DO can draw ghosts and so can Fain probably (that would put him somewhere close to So Harbor and near the Darkhounds).

5

bigjellybeans: 2005-06-12

Mashadar isnt the spirits of arhidol all rolled into one fog but it is a tangible residue left behind by their reslove to be as evil as the dark. with this I do not see how Mashadar is related to the walking dead.

6

matoyak: 2005-06-18

whut abaut the black wind thing in the paths that (i cant remember teh names of them) our hero people had to go through a lot in the early books? didnt it keep souls? whatever happened to that thing?

7

Yaga Shura: 2005-06-18

"whut abaut the black wind thing in the paths that (i cant remember teh names of them) our hero people had to go through a lot in the early books? didnt it keep souls? whatever happened to that thing? "

Machin Shin was last seen in TSR, and there is no reason to believe it has gone anywhere.

I don't think it actually keeps the souls of those it captures, but I can't prove that. According to the www.encyclopedia-wot.org, it destroys them.

8

Callandor: 2005-06-19

**whut abaut the black wind thing in the paths that (i cant remember teh names of them) our hero people had to go through a lot in the early books? didnt it keep souls? whatever happened to that thing?**

Machin Shin is the Black Wind along the ways. It does steal souls. However, as far as we know, nothing happened to the Ways at all, save that the waygate at Shadar Logoth is more than likely toast ;) As far as we know, Machin Shin is perfectly fine and coasting through the Ways looking for prey.

9

RedHandedFool: 2007-02-27

I don't think Mashadar has much to do with this. I can't see all the souls going back to him, not to mention how did any of these people come in contact with him in the first place?

I am wondering though, does this have anything to do with towards the end of ToC Mat Cauthon dancing around random people on the street and no one being there?