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Your search for the tag 'oaths' yielded 48 results
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1
Interview: Jan 25th, 2005
TOR Questions of the Week Part II (Verbatim)Week 21 Question
Just how can an Aes Sedai be a damane? Aren't they bound by the Third Oath: to not use the One Power as a weapon except to defend their lives, their Warder's life, or another sister's life? Wouldn't they be useless as damane to the Seanchan?Robert Jordan
The Aes Sedai captured by the Seanchan are indeed useless as weapons, except against Shadowspawn or Darkfriends, because they are bound by the Three Oaths, and that limits their value considerably since being weapons is a major use for damane. Damane are used for other tasks, however, including finding ores for mining (Egwene was tested for this, remember; it's a very valuable, and fairly rare, ability), for some mining operations where it would be too dangerous or uneconomical to use human miners (bringing ores out of the ground and refining them using the Power), and in some construction projects, especially where something very large or with a need for added strength is envisioned. The first two both require a high ability in Earth, which has faded considerably on "this" side of the Aryth Ocean and to a smaller degree of the other side, but construction projects and others things, such as producing Sky Lights, are well within the abilities of collared Aes Sedai. The Three Oaths don't inhibit them there at all.Tags
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2
Interview: 2010
Twitter 2009-2010 (WoT) (Verbatim)yoniy0 (29 July 2010)
Did you consult Maria before deciding Egwene shall attempt to fall fleeing raken? Would she be able to do so Bounded?Brandon Sanderson (30 July 2010)
I'm a little confused at what you're asking. Do you mean "Fell?" And what do you mean by Bounded?yoniy0
Sorry. There has been some discussion around the Third Oath and Egwene attacking retreating raken...yoniy0
I was asking if you think she could have done the same now, after taking the Oaths (and whether you asked Maria to weigh in).BRANDON SANDERSON
We did talk about this. I think it's iffy. Depends on Egwene's mindset. I don't think most Aes Sedai could have done it.BRANDON SANDERSON
In fact, it's good her circle was with those who hadn't taken the Oaths yet...LUCKERS
I think Yoniy0 meant 'would Egwene be able to kill (fell) fleeing to'raken were she bound by the Oaths?'BRANDON SANDERSON
I don't know that she would have been able to. Depends. The Oaths depend on how you view what you're doing.BRANDON SANDERSON
Elaida got around them (or to the side of them) by convincing herself Egwene was a Darkfriend.Tags
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3
Interview: 2010
Twitter 2009-2010 (WoT) (Verbatim)Leth Filorn (12 August 2010)
How does the Oath Rod work? Does it accelerate the aging irreversibly, or add years that you get back upon Oath removal?Brandon Sanderson (13 August 2010)
A good question that people in world don't know the answer to yet, and only time will tell.Tags
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4
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)jwiedow (7 January 2011)
I have been thinking about the Aes Sedai First Oath on the oath road "Speak no word that is not true"...JWIEDOW
How do they get around that oath when telling others a different name; Moraine=Mistress Alys?JWIEDOW
Has anyone done a theory or a blog on the use of names and the oaths?TEREZ
They say 'you may call me Mistress Alys'. It's not a lie unless she says 'My name is...' which she doesn't.JWIEDOW
I am trying to remember if they are all that way which is why I brought it up.Brandon Sanderson (7 January 2011)
I don't know. If you really name yourself that, then you might be able to say it. Depends on internal rationalization.BRANDON SANDERSON
It's easy to say "I'm called Alys" because she is. You can even say "My name is Alys" if you have named yourself that.BRANDON SANDERSON
Otherwise, a Sister could never go by a nickname, a different name than she'd chosen for herself, etc.Tags
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5
Interview: 2011
Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)Aaron Oster (17 January 2011)
How could Verin write that note if she hadn't taken poison yet?Brandon Sanderson (17 January 2011)
An excellent question, one I'm surprised I haven't seen talked about yet. (Though I'm sure it has been.)BRANDON SANDERSON
Basically, it's for the same reason that an Aes Sedai can kill if she puts herself into a situation where she's in danger.BRANDON SANDERSON
It involves mental gymnastics and lots of requirements. In the end, she put so many on that the note didn't get read.MAX (19 JANUARY)
What would have happened if someone were to balefire Verin's cup of poison to remove its existence when it was consumed?BRANDON SANDERSON
So far, I believe we've only see balefire used to remove living things from the Pattern that way. Am I wrong? @Terez27TEREZ
There has been some serious debate over Nynaeve and her boat. Some think the rowers caused...TEREZ
...the temporal anomaly, while some think it had to be the boat itself. I forget the arguments...TEREZ
I remember the argument now. The boat was filled with water at the moment of balefire, which rowers don't explain.FOOTNOTE—TEREZ
Over a month later sleepinghour discovered an old letter from RJ to a fan in which RJ confirms that inanimate objects do get burned back just like living things. I suspect now that Brandon knew this from the notes, though, and that's why he used the words 'so far' and redirected the question to me. This was probably one of those things that Brandon and Maria had to piece together from the notes, and from the wording of his following tweets I'd be willing to bet that Maria won an argument.TEREZ (27 FEBRUARY)
We just found an old letter from RJ to a fan in which he confirms that balefire DOES burn back inanimate objects in time.TEREZ
Thanks to @sleepinghour for that. Though I know this probably drives you crazy, lol. It's almost like retcon!BRANDON SANDERSON
Well, good to know. You'd think he'd mention some of these things in the notes...TEREZ
I know, right? lol. Wasn't it you that said that he didn't put many things in the notes because he kept it all in his head?TEREZ
We observed @Theoryland that your descriptions fit his claim better than his own descriptions re: inanimate objects.TEREZ
And your assumption about living things only fit his descriptions perfectly...aside from the stupid boat!BRANDON SANDERSON
Yeah. We get lots of fragments of things he jotted down, but they are more notes to himself, so he leaves things out.Tags
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6
Interview: Oct 30th, 1994
LOC Signing Report - Matthew Hunter (Paraphrased)Question
About Aes Sedai and their oaths:
Robert Jordan
"Rand is in control, one way or the other—depending on exact oaths, who was Black Ajah, and how willing they are to hold to those oaths."
MATTHEW HUNTER
Given that most were from Arafel, where they have 'strange ideas about honor', and the first clause in that sentence, I'd say that the non-Black Aes Sedai who swore will be inclined to support him (mostly) honestly.Tags
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7
Interview: Apr 5th, 1996
Balticon XXX - Bill Garrett (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
The Aes Sedai who beat Rand in Lord of Chaos did not necessarily violate the Three Oaths. Jordan explained that the Three Oaths are bound by literal intent and perception. He said that the Aes Sedai could have considered the beatings a just punishment rather than the use of a weapon. He also suggested that not everything that harms you need be considered a weapon. I think he gave the example of a whip used lightly not considered a weapon, versus a whip used to flay skin being considered a weapon. On the subject of the first Oath ("to speak no word that is untrue"), Jordan said that Aes Sedai can say something they believe to be true or something they don't mean literally. As an example of the latter, an Aes Sedai can employ hyperbole and say something like, "I'm going to tie your ears over your head," when she means to do no such thing.
FOOTNOTE—BILL GARRETT
My Comment: I should also point out that at least two of the women who beat Rand are people we know to belong to the Black Ajah. On page 683hb (in Lord of Chaos), it is said that only Galina, Erian, and Katerine beat Rand more than once. We know that Galina and Katerine are Black Ajah, so they aren't bound by the Oaths anyway. Erian is the Aes Sedai whose two Warders Rand killed, so maybe she found some way to justify her punishment of Rand under the Three Oaths. I don't know who else beat Rand (i.e., who beat him only once); the book may say, but I can't find a quote.
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8
Interview: Apr 5th, 1996
BaltiCon XXX - Pam Korda (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
The oaths: They are quite subjective; if an Aes Sedai believes she is not lying, then the Oath doesn't stop her. So, that is what was going on in the torturing part of Lord of Chaos. It depends on the psychology of the individual. It's like spanking a naughty child. Some people regard that as child abuse; some people regard it as reasonable punishment.Tags
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9
Interview: Apr 5th, 1996
BaltiCon XXX - Pam Korda (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
Verin: Considerably older than anyone expects. (I presume he was talking about the characters, not the fans, considering that our guesses range up to 3000 years old.) He also said that Age of Legends lifespans are not known in modern Randland. (Thus, I presume that Verin is NOT 300 years old.) He said something about "the effects of the Oath Rod," I don't know whether this was with reference to aging, or effects on something totally unrelated.
Well, that's that.
—Pam
Tags
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10
Interview: Jun 26th, 1996
Compuserve Chat (Verbatim)Bill Powers
One of the Forsaken once said of the current Aes Sedai, "They bind themselves like criminals." Was the Forsaken referring to the Oath Rod?Robert Jordan
Read and find out! (He twirls his moustache maniacally.)Tags
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11
Interview: Jun 16th, 1995
East of the Sun Con - Karl-Johan Norén (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
On if Aes Sedai damane can use the One Power in battle he said that [OBS! secondary source, I didn't hear him say this myself] it is theoretically possible, basically by forcing the Aes Sedai to think that she does not use the One Power as damane. It is though very hard to achieve. In the book next after A Crown of Swords, this might become a factor.Tags
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12
Interview: Jun 16th, 1995
East of the Sun Con - Karl-Johan Norén (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
On the subject if the Oath Rod shortens lifespan or causes infertility he answered, not surprisingly, "Read and Find Out".Tags
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13
Interview: Aug 23rd, 1996
ACOS Signing Report - Lara Beaton (Paraphrased)Robert Jordan
Ageless look and Oath Rod—RAFO. (I thought Greebs was going to explode when he didn't answer that one directly.)Tags
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14
Interview: Oct 9th, 1996
ACOS Signing Report - Erica Sadun (Paraphrased)Question
Once and for all end the ageless look thing. Is it obvious that it is tied to the Oath Rod?Robert Jordan
RAFO.Tags
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15
Interview: Jun 28th, 1997
DragonCon SciFi Channel Chat (Verbatim)Kjell
Would making all Aes Sedai reswear the Three Oaths on an Oath Rod, and then asking them, reveal if they are Black Ajah? (It should...)Robert Jordan
There are certain difficulties with this. It might answer the question but how many sisters do you think will meekly submit to being asked to do such a thing? Being asked to do it is in effect an accusation.Tags
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16
Interview: Nov 21st, 1998
TPOD Signing Report - John Hamby (Verbatim)John Hamby
There was something about Black Ajah and the oaths. I am not sure if this was part of the Warder question or not.Tags
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17
Interview: Dec 9th, 2002
Question
How is it possible for Aes Sedai who have taken the Three Oaths to become damane and use the One Power as a weapon?
Robert Jordan
They can't use the One Power as a weapon, not in any conventional sense. This presents some problems for the Seanchan, but then, damane are used for more than just weapons. And from the Seanchan point of view, at worst, an Aes Sedai who has been collared is one less marath'damane running around loose and doing the horrible things that their history tells them such women inevitably do. Remember, Seanchan history records a time under Aes Sedai rule, when no one could go to sleep at night with the certainty they would wake in the morning and Aes Sedai took whatever they wanted and killed anyone who crossed or opposed them. To the Seanchan, just removing these horrors from the board is a win.
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18
Interview: Apr 27th, 2004
Wotmania Interview (Verbatim)Wotmania
What happens to objects left in Tel'aran'rhiod? Could an Aes Sedai free herself from the Three Oaths in Tel'aran'rhiod by creating an Oath Rod?Robert Jordan
The only way for an object to enter Tel'aran'rhiod would be for it to be carried there by someone who entered physically rather than through a dream state. If left there, it would remain until it was retrieved by someone else who entered physically. And, yes, an Aes Sedai could free herself of the Three Oaths with an Oath Rod created in Tel'aran'rhiod, but remember that relatively few sisters actually have access to the World of Dreams, and for those who do want to remove the Three Oaths—sisters joining the Black Ajah—there is the Oath Rod in the White Tower to serve that purpose.Tags
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19
Interview: Apr, 2003
Budapest Q&A (Verbatim)Question
Are gholam immortal?Robert Jordan
No.Question
Because they were in...a box?Robert Jordan
Stasis box. A stasis box is an artifact of the Age of Legends, and is in effect an artificial vacuole. Time does not move inside a stasis box. It is a thing devised for storing things that are fragile or that might decay in some way.Question
So the gholam can die by a natural death?Robert Jordan
I don’t know if you’d call it a natural death, but yeah, they can decay. You saw what happened with Mat’s medallion—it just fell on the gholam’s cheek and branded it.Question
But do they die of old age?Robert Jordan
Yeah, they do, but they live a little longer than you’d like them to, let me tell you (laughter)—not as long as an Aes Sedai, but...not as long as an Aes Sedai that hasn’t sworn the Three Oaths, anyway...not as long as a strong Aes Sedai that hasn’t sworn the Three Oaths.Tags
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20
Interview: Apr, 2003
Budapest Q&A (Verbatim)Question
Is it true that the Three Oaths is why Aes Sedai [mumble mumble] I thought it might be because, when you try to avoid the Three Oaths, you get a lot of dangerous situation [mumble mumble]...Robert Jordan
No...now you have to be careful with this, because this is a kind of spoiler for people that haven’t read far enough, but the Oath Rod is what was in the Age of Legends called a binder. It was used on criminals. If you committed a violent act, or some sort of criminal act, with a binder, someone who could channel could be constrained from ever doing that again, and the result of having three of the Oaths, is the ageless appearance. One would not produce agelessness, but even one would shorten life, and three of them put a cap on Aes Sedai’s lives, on how long they could live.
Question
Does this mean that the Black Ajah has also at least three oaths sworn on the Oath Rod?
Robert Jordan
Yeah, they do. Just not the same ones. [laughter]
Question
Of course. Does this imply that the Oath Rod is definitely not one of the Nine Rods of Dominion?
Robert Jordan
Oh yes, definitely. No. I don't think it was. No, the Oath Rods are not the Nine Rods of Dominion, no. There were a fair number of binders available around the world.
Question
Were they numbered?
Robert Jordan
Yes, they were numbered.
Question
Because we've seen two so far and they had numbers on them . . .
Robert Jordan
Yeah, they were numbered.
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21
Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005
DragonCon Report - Isabel (Verbatim)Question
Quoting from Tamra in New Spring, "You will tell no one about this, not for any reason, if necessary lie, even to a sister, Gitara died without speaking, do you understand me?" How is it that Tamra can tell Moiraine and Siuan that Gitara died without speaking, when she knows full well that she did speak?Robert Jordan
It's simple. It is part of her instructions. There are a lot, thousands of loop holes, about that thou will speak no word that is not true. This is part of her instructions, she is telling them what they are to say. She is not saying something she believes, and thus she was able to say it.Question
I have a follow up to a question you just answered. Based on the Oaths, if a sister asked them, if they were instructed, as to what they have to say, would they be able to say it after taking the Oaths?Robert Jordan
After taking the Oaths they would find it hard to say, even with instructions, they might not be able to say it at all, because they know it is a lie. That is the key you can't knowingly tell a lie.Tags
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22
Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005
DragonCon Report - Isabel (Verbatim)Question
Are the Aes Sedai ever going to try to use cuendillar to make it into armor? Since they can't make weapons, does that restriction extend to making armor?Robert Jordan
Read and Find Out.Tags
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23
Interview: Oct 21st, 2005
KOD Signing Report - Shannan Lieb (Paraphrased)Question
One question was for a role-playing group, and they asked, "Would an Aes Sedai who has sworn the Three Oaths be able to link into a circle, but not lead it, that would be used to kill someone (not Shadowsworn or attacking)?"Robert Jordan
He answered that no, an Aes Sedai wouldn't be able to join the circle or participate in any way with anything that was against the Oaths.Tags
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24
Interview: Jan 20th, 2006
Robert Jordan's Blog: IT'S BEEN AWHILE (Verbatim)Robert Jordan
For Majsju, the oath against lying does leave room for sarcasm. It is intent and result that matter. No sister can intentionally speak an untruth either with the intent of passing on false information or with the belief that false information might be passed on. Thus the careful slicing and dicing of words. But if someone were to hold up a piece of white cloth and ask whether it was black or white, someone who had sworn the Three Oaths would be capable of saying that it was black as a matter of sarcasm. But not if, for example, the person asking the question was blind and thus might well take the statement for truth rather than sarcasm.Tags
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25
Interview: Oct 27th, 2009
TGS Midnight Release - Matt Hatch (Verbatim)Question
Was Ishamael partially, or was he responsible for the initiation of the Three Oaths? Was he a part of what brought them about?Brandon Sanderson
That’s a MAFO. Type that one out. That’s a MAFO.
MARIA SIMONS (VIA LUCKERS)
No. What is now the second oath (To make no weapon with which one man may kill another) was the first one that the Aes Sedai adopted. “It grew from an impulse within the Aes Sedai themselves coming from tales passed down regarding the War of the Shadow. The other two oaths certainly grew out of the suspicion of ordinary people towards these Aes Sedai.” (That’s a quote from the notes, btw). Sometimes things happen without an agent of the Dark One’s involvement, and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
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26
Interview: Nov 11th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Tim Kington (Paraphrased)Question
Is Mesaana still in the Tower?Brandon Sanderson
Egwene makes some deductions about this at the end of the book. Egwene is not incorrect.Question
She could swear that she's not a Darkfriend on the Oath Rod, right?Brandon Sanderson
As long as she believed it to be true. Every remaining Aes Sedai in the Tower has retaken the Three Oaths. You should be thinking about ways to defeat the Oath Rod. There is a way to do it.Tags
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27
Interview: Dec 19th, 2009
TGS Signing Report - Stephanie Reese (Paraphrased)Question
Moiraine words the Third Oath, "I vow that I will never use the One Power as a weapon except against Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme of defending my life or that of my Warder or another sister." (New Spring 11) This ...wording of the Oath is supported by the reswearing of the Oaths by Pevara and Seaine (The Path of Daggers 26), and the BWB (24), among other sources.
Egwene words the Oath, "I vow that I will never use the One Power as a weapon except against Darkfriends and Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme of defending my life or that of my Warder or of another sister." (The Gathering Storm 43) The 'Darkfriend clause' is supported by Sheriam (The Great Hunt 23), Alanna (The Shadow Rising 31), Niall (The Dragon Reborn Prologue), Rand (The Fires of Heaven 2, 41), and also implications by Moiraine (New Srping 2) and the BWB (14).
RAFO, or error? And, if error, which is the correct wording?
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon said he had to make sure he got the wording right for the oaths, so he went back and copied it word for word from the previous books. Maria was the one that changed it, saying RJ decided that Darkfriends should have always been included in the oaths.Tags
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28
Interview: Jun 10th, 2010
Luckers
When were the Oaths implemented? Were they all done at the same time? If not, when were each put in place?Maria Simons
From the BBoBA: "These oaths were not always required, but various events before and since the Breaking caused them to be necessary. The Second Oath was the first adopted after the War of the Shadow."
And according to Sheriam, "Once, Aes Sedai were not required to swear oaths. It was known what Aes Sedai were and what they stood for, and there was no need for more. Many of us wish it were so still. But the Wheel turns, and the times change. That we swear these oaths, that we are known to be bound, allows the nations to deal with us without fearing that we will throw up our own power, the One Power, against them. Between the Trolloc Wars and the War of the Hundred Years we made these choices, and because of them the White Tower still stands, and we can still do what we can against the Shadow."
So we have the Second Oath was adopted first, and the other two added between the Trolloc Wars and the War of a Hundred Years (if we believe Sheriam, anyway, and I can see no reason for a lie on this one).
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29
Interview: Jun 10th, 2010
Luckers
Was Egwene's one-eighty on the issue of the Oath Rod a natural change of mind, or was she influenced to it by Halima?Maria Simons
That was Egwene, influenced by Siuan, doing her best to be the best Aes Sedai EVAR.Tags
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30
Interview: Mar 11th, 2011
Verin Q&A with Maria Simons (Verbatim)Question
As far as Verin's recruitment and this statement, "I found myself in a position where I could either take the oaths to the Dark One, or I could reveal that I had actually never wanted—or intended—to do so, whereupon I would have been executed," how long after Verin was in contact with the Black Ajah for the first time, did this moment she describes occur?Maria Simons
RAFO.Question
Does swearing oaths constitute becoming a member of the Black Ajah?Maria Simons
RAFO.Question
How many Black Ajah are present when a sister swears her new oaths?Maria Simons
RAFO.Question
Where is the swearing of oaths to become Black Ajah performed?Maria Simons
RAFO.Tags
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31
Interview: Mar 11th, 2011
Verin Q&A with Maria Simons (Verbatim)Question
After becoming Black Ajah, was Verin ever caught by a non Black Ajah Aes Sedai unmistakably breaking her original Oaths sworn when becoming Aes Sedai?Maria Simons
RAFO.Tags
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32
Interview: Nov 21st, 2011
Alloy of Law Signing Report - Lord Juss (Paraphrased)Question
Does the Oath Rod limit Aes Sedai age by using their life force to power the Oaths?Brandon Sanderson
I’m 85% sure on this and you’ll have to ask Maria for confirmation, but no, the effect is not caused by draining the Aes Sedai’s life force. I’m not going to tell you what is causing the effect.Tags
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33
Interview: 2012
Twitter 2012 (WoT) (Verbatim)Andrew Harrington (23 January 2012)
How do the a'dam circumvent the Aes Sedai oaths to force them to channel against non-Shadow, i.e. Whitecloaks?Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2012)
I don't think the a'dam can. However, if the Aes Sedai believes that the person is a Darkfriend, they can channel against them.
BRANDON SANDERSON
So conditioning their mind right, can do it. (The oaths have a provision for Darkfriends, though some editions left this out.)
Tags
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34
Interview: Apr, 2012
Afternoon Tea with Brandon Sanderson - Luckers (Paraphrased)Luckers
Are the negative effects of the Oath Rod cumulative? Like the diminished life...Brandon Sanderson
As far as I know, no.Footnote
RJ said it takes three to get the ageless look, so from that and the descriptions of the tightening of the skin, it seems that at least is cumulative.Tags
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35
Interview: 2013
Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)Kamarile Sedai (23 January 2013)
Brandon, does the Oath Rod continue to be used in the Fourth Age? If so, for what purpose?Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)
So far as I know, yes. And for the same purpose.
Raj Iyer
Do other groups start using the Rod too?
Brandon Sanderson
Do you think the Aes Sedai are likely to let others manhandle one of their ter'angreal?
Kamarile Sedai
Did men start to use the Oath Rod too, or did it continue to be only women?
Brandon Sanderson
No men. Neither group would like that. The Asha'man are NOT male Aes Sedai. RJ was clear about this in the notes.
Keith Martin
Will the White and Black Towers reunite to form one Aes Sedai again?
Brandon Sanderson
RJ was clear to me that the Asha'man were not Aes Sedai, and were not going to become them.
Brandon Sanderson
That said, a united male/female Aes Sedai will come again someday.
Footnote
Brandon is probably not referring to the 4th Age in his last tweet; more likely he's talking about the next turning of the Wheel.Tags
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36
Interview: Feb 22nd, 2013
AMOL Signing Report - J. Dauro (Verbatim)Question
What about Cadsuane being summoned to become Amyrlin?
Brandon Sanderson
Cadsuane was going to give up the three Oaths, and go live forever. Cadsuane's fate was not my idea.
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37
Interview: Apr, 2013
Waygate Foundation Q&A (Verbatim)Question
What are the three oaths which bind Darkfriends?Maria Simons
1) I shall obey all commands given by those placed above me in service to the Great Lord. 2) I shall prepare for the day of the Great Lord's return. 3) I swear not to betray the Great Lord, to keep my secrets until the hour of my death. It should be noted that these were taken straight from Robert Jordan's notes, where he had added "May vary the wording a little."Footnote
Verin says "You can double-cross other Darkfriends, you can turn against the Chosen if you can justify it." To justify turning against the Chosen, you could argue that a specific Chosen was not placed above you by the Great Lord himself.Tags
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38
Interview: Mar 8th, 2014
WOR-University Bookstore (Paraphrased)Jerich ()
Is it possible then to reawaken a shard blade if that blade is wielded by someone who speaks the oaths of a Knights Radiant?Brandon Sanderson ()
(Thinking)...Yes, but it would be extremely difficult. The spren in a shardblade are not trapped in a state of mid-transformation like the Elantrians. They are stuck in an agony cycle after having a significant portion of their consciousnesses ripped out of them. The Nahel bond is what allows Spren to think on material plane and that has been torn away. It would be like having a data jack installed and then having someone come up to your head and rip it out of your head.Tags
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39
Interview: Mar 13th, 2014
Kythis
Is there a specific # of Ideals that they have to do before they can get the Shardblade?Brandon Sanderson
It depends on the Order.Footnote
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40
Interview: Mar 18th, 2014
tganchero
How many oaths can a Radiant swear?Brandon Sanderson
There is an upper-limit/threshold to the number of oaths a Radiant may make. By the end of WoR, Shallan is a step higher than Kaladin.Tags
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41
Interview: Mar 18th, 2014
tganchero
No specific question.Brandon Sanderson
Not completely sure on this one: He said that at one point Shallan may have said all the oaths for her order (or may have been capable of saying all of the oaths by the end of the book) but has since regressed due to "memory loss/repression." Regarding Dalinar: He said that Dalinar has had a bond with the Stormfather "for a while." He also only said one oath at the top of the Urithiru tower, not two. Dalinar conveyed a single idea in that particular oath. Brandon also clarified that the oaths, with the exception of the first ideal, are not restricted to specific words. Rather, a specific idea must be conveyed for the oath to be accepted.Tags
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42
Interview: Mar 20th, 2014
WOR Signing Report - IronCaf (Paraphrased)Outis
Can spren be resurrected? Because ideas can never really die.Brandon Sanderson
This is theoretically possible but very difficult without the people who originally betrayed their oaths.Tags
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43
Interview: Mar 20th, 2014
WOR Signing Report - IronCaf (Paraphrased)Outis
If after speaking the Third Ideal, Kaladin were to betray his oaths, would Syl turn into a Shardblade?Brandon Sanderson
Yes.Tags
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44
Interview: Jan 17th, 2015
Firefight Tour - El Cerrito, CA (Paraphrased)Question
Cool. I’m not going to bother asking who did right now. With Syl being able to be revived, is Adolin ever going to be able to revive his own blade, or-Brandon Sanderson
Ah, that would be very difficult, as the orig-, in most cases, the original person who broke the oaths has to be the one.
Question
Ok. Do you have to have done the third oath before you can convert your spren into a Blade?
Brandon Sanderson
Uh, in most orders, yes.
Question
What about Shallan then? Did she do it, cause she was a kid when she first-
Brandon Sanderson
Um… You will find out more.
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Interview: Feb 17th, 2016
Question
For spren, when the Oaths are broken I’m kind of envisioning the mind of the spren gets trapped in that person’s Spiritweb somehow. Is that along the right lines or not along the right lines?Brandon Sanderson
*long pause* Ehhh, in between those two answers.Tags
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46
Interview: Apr 8th, 2016
Blightsong
Were the oaths of the Knights radiant consciously chosen, or did they happen naturally.Brandon Sanderson
*apprehension*. This is one of those vague ones in that yes and no. They are a natural outgrowth of the spren, but the spren are a natural outgrowth of human's perception of natural forces, but the spren are sentient, so I would say it's a little more by instinct than not. For example to Knights Radiant in the same order might speak the words differently, but the concept is the same. You will see this happen in a future book, where a Windrunner will speak the oaths. It's a slightly different take on the same concept. Some are moreso, like Shallan's oaths are very individualized truths, so.Tags
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Interview: Dec 6th, 2016
Harold Washington Library Center-AU Tour (Paraphrased)Argent
When Kaladin speaks his oath, there’s always a very visual explosion of power, like a glyph.Brandon Sanderson
That doesn’t necessarily happen with them all, and you’ll find out why.Tags