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anfear

by Minch: 1999-04-09 | 6.69 out of 10 (16 votes)

Before Winter's Heart - Archive Only: Who is Cyndane?

First of all, let's postulate that she actually IS one of the Forsaken. The evidence for this is clearly her very name: Last Chance, implying earlier failure. This would seem to suggest one of the dead or failed forsaken. Also, the game of Sha rah which is mentioned later.

So, eliminating Forsaken currently at large, it can't be any of the following:

Demandred
Mesaana
Semirhage
Graendal
Moghedien

As these are all alive. Likewise we can eliminate Aginor and Balthamel, as they are already reincarnated as the 'gars.

So this leaves:
Ishamael
Sammael
Lanfear
Asmodean
Rahvin
Be'lal

Of these, Rahvin and Be'lal can be eliminated, as they were Balefired, and we've already established that the DO cannot ressurect Balefired forsaken. Which leaves Ishy, Sammael, Lanfear and Asmodean.

Now comes the evidence that points at Lanfear. First of all, when Aginor was reincarnated as Aran'gar, he/she still channeled Saidin, which would indicate that the DO can put a soul into any new body, but can't change the implicit gender of that soul, and it is the soul that does the channeling, hence Arangar channeling Saidin. Since Cyndane channels Saidar, that hints at a dead female forsaken, of which there is only one: Lanfear.

Further evidence can be found in her relationship with Moghedien. In PoD, she is claimed as being stronger than moghedien, which would account for the apparent hatred between the two women. Lanfear was always stronger than Moggy, but Moggy was better in T'A'R, even though Lanfear claimed it as hers.

Of the remaining characters it could be, well all the Forsaken believe Sammael to be dead, even though RJ gives a hugh hint that he's not in the WOT guide: "Sammaels present whereabouts cannot be determined.". Asmodean is still dead, as he's too weak a character to bring back, and Ishamael is almost definately Moridin. And this is the telling point: Moridin knows the game of Sha'Rah which is ancient, and he says only nine people living know it. One is himself, then the 5 living Forsaken and the two gars. That leaves one more. So assuming Moridin thinks Sammael is dead, that only really leaves Cyndane, who must be Lanfear.

If this is true, it would also give her a route out of Finnland, and the chance to kill Asmodean (which she might done a) before she was put into her new body, or b) in her new body but appearing as she was.

Alternatively, she might actually be the old Lanfear who is using the identity of Cyndane and is working with Moridin (she and Ishy have been known to work together in the past). This would explain how she killed Asmodean but not the mindtrap, so I think it's unlikely.

Any Rebuttals?
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Comments

1

Tamyrlin: 1999-04-09

My rebuttal would only include one major point. Explain to me: why is Lanfear/Cyndane in a mind trap?