Dragonmount News

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Research and Dev...

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:42:51 +0000

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Ta'veren Tees' New Challenge Coin Benef...

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:18:13 +0000

To honor Robert Jordan's military service, Ta'veren Tees is donating 10% of its new Challenge Coin proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Along with several other new products, Ta’veren Tees has released The Wheel of Time® Challenge Coin. The bronze plated coin, measuring 2” in diameter, features the iconic snake and wheel symbol on one side and the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai on the other. Each is packaged individually and sold for $12.00 at www.TaverenTees.com/wotcoin.

In honor of Robert Jordan’s military service in Vietnam, Ta’veren Tees will donate 10% of proceeds from coin sales to the Wounded Warrior Project. A portion of the proceeds from all Mat Cauthon related shirts will also be donated, as he is, after all, the Son of Battles. Those include the ladies’ and men’s styles of the “Toss the Dice” and “Ravens” tees, as well as the “Mat Cauthon by Seamas” tee available at www.TaverenTees.com.

Challenge coins in general have a militaristic background. Among soldiers, a challenger would ask a fellow to see the medallion. If the challenged could not show his, he had to buy a drink for the one who challenged him. For Memorial Day, Ta’veren Tees would like to honor Jim Rigney and the countless others willing to serve, and would like to thank customers in advance for being a part of the donation when they purchase these items.

In addition to the coin, new items also include six vinyl stickers, bookmarks, and five character posters by Ariel Burgess. To see these products visit www.TaverenTees.com/novelties.

About Wounded Warriors Project

Wounded Warriors Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that raises awareness and enlists the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members. To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project visit: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Robert Jordan’s (Jim Rigney) Military Background

Many WoT fans might not realize that before Jim Rigney was a writer, he was a soldier in the U.S. Army and fought in Vietnam – an experience that affected his life, and eventually the story he would tell.

Rigney grew up wanting to attend West Point, but at sixteen learned his eyes were too bad for admission. He instead went to Clemson University, but ran into trouble because he was on a football scholarship, had chosen a major in electrical engineering, and was discovering girls and beer. He then joined the army “because that is what men do in my family. That is simply the way it has always been done . . . the Rigneys have joined the U.S. Army to go where the shooting takes place.” He went on to complete two tours in Vietnam, serving as a helicopter door gunner. It affected him profoundly. In his blog, he wrote:

“I have, or used to have, a photo of a young man sitting on a log eating C-rations with a pair of chopsticks. There are three dead NVA laid out in a line just beside him. He didn't kill them. He didn't choose to sit there because of the bodies. It was just the most convenient place to sit. The bodies don't bother him. He doesn't care. They're just part of the landscape. The young man is glancing at the camera, and you know in one look that you aren't going to take this guy home to meet your parents. Back in the world, you wouldn't want him in your neighborhood, because he is cold, cold, cold. I strangled that SOB, drove a stake through his heart, and buried him face down under a crossroad outside Saigon before coming home, because I knew that guy wasn't made to survive in a civilian environment. I think he's gone. All of him. I hope so.”

Jim came home with a number of decorations, and went on to become a best-selling fantasy writer. He always had a great deal of appreciation and respect for every man and woman who was willing to serve his or her country.

Jim Rigney (Robert Jordan), Soldier in uniform

Wheel of Time costumes by Aradani Studios and D...

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:15:06 +0000

Paul Bielaczyc, co-owner of Aradani Studios and well-known within the fandom for his Rand al'Thor costume, recently had another photoshoot featuring a new Trolloc costume. These photos were taken by Dim Horizon Studio.

The entire gallery can be viewed here. And last year's photoshoot can be found here.

Paul has also added a tutorial on how to make the Trolloc helmet on Aradani Studios' website.

WoT If...Rand Uses Seed Singing?

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:55:24 +0000

Hello, and welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog. Today's topic is the Talent of Singing. There's an interesting phrase used by Lews Therin in The Eye of the World prologue about "the Voice," and I wonder what its connection is to Rand and some of his abilities in A Memory of Light. But before we start:

SPOILER WARNING. This will include content from A Memory of Light. Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.

In The Eye of the World, after Lews Therin has killed his whole family, Elan Morin arrives to try and bargain with the Dragon. Driven insane by the Dark One's backlash, Lews Therin doesn't recognize Elan Morin and instead treats him as a causal visitor. Here's where it gets interesting. Lews Therin says, "Ah, a guest. Have you the Voice, stranger? It will soon be time for the Singing, and here all are welcome to take part."

At JordanCon earlier this month, I got to talk with Maria and a few other fans—including Matt Hatch of Theoryland—and one of the things we discussed was Rand's ability to make plants grow. Rand demonstrates this skill several times throughout A Memory of Light. In Chapter 7, he makes a dozen trees grow that are "towering, healthy, huge-limbed, beautiful trees, hundreds of feet tall with massive trunks" ("Into the Thick of It"). And Rand did this within a couple of minutes. But when he meets with Empress Fortuona, we actually see him singing.

Chapter 17, "Older, More Weathered"

Green grass spread around Rand’s feet. The guards nearby jumped back, hands to swords, as a swath of life extended from Rand. The brown and yellow blades colored, as if paint had been poured on them, then came upright—stretching as if after long slumber.

The greenness filled the entire garden clearing. “He’s still shielded!” the sul’dam cried. “Honored One, he is still shielded!”

Mat shivered, and then noticed something. Very soft, so easy to miss.

“Are you singing?” Mat whispered to Rand.

Yes … it was unmistakable. Rand was singing, under his breath, very softly. Mat tapped his foot. “I swear I’ve heard that tune somewhere, once … Is it ‘Two Maids at the Water’s Edge’?”

“You’re not helping,” Rand whispered. “Quiet.”

Rand continued his song. The green spread to the trees, the firs strengthening their limbs. The other trees began to shoot out leaves—they were indeed peach trees—growing at great speed, life flooding into them.

Here, we see that the growth is associated with singing, that Rand has to sing in order for the plants to grow. Our discussion at JordanCon brought up the idea that Rand may have been singing to make things grow since his epiphany on Dragonmount (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 50, "Veins of Gold"). For example, when Rand makes the apple trees bloom in Towers of Midnight, he could have been using his singing abilities even then (Chapter 1, "Apples First"). Or when he made the grain the Sea Folk brought to Arad Doman become unspoiled (Chapter 14, "Return to Bandar Eban").

This brings me back to Lews Therin and his talk of "the Voice." We know seed singing was used in the Age of Legends to help the crops grow faster, larger, and to be inherently insect free. This is done only by Aiel, Ogier, and the Nym, according to The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, Chapter 3, "The Age of Legends."

And Ogier, in the current Age, have Treesinging. Loial is a Treesinger, and is able to fashion items from tree trunks by singing to them—we see this happen in The Great Hunt, Chapter 15, "Kinslayer." During that event, Rand even thinks, "It seemed so familiar, that song, as if he should know it."

Loial also talks of the Tinkers' desire to learn the Treesongs, and says, "I taught the Tuatha'an what they could learn, but the trees never listen to humans" (The Eye of the World, Chapter 42, "Remembrance of Dreams"). Yet, in direct contradiction to that, Rand seems to be able to sing to the trees. They do listen to him. The question is do the trees listen because he knows the right songs, or do they listen because he is the Dragon Reborn?

In the Age of Legends, Lews Therin speaks of the Singing, and in his house, "all are welcome to take part." This implies that in other places, not everyone is welcome. Which would suggest that Singing is something similar to a Talent, that only certain people are gifted with the ability. And is this Singing different from seed singing? It must be. Albeit, Lews Therin is so insane at this point in The Eye of the World's prologue, but he must have some grasp on the way the world works. And what would be the purpose of seed singing at his estate? Only Aiel, Ogier, and Nym do that.

That must mean that Singing would be for some other purpose. Could it be used on any living thing, or only plants? What about non-living things? Could Singing be used on sacks of grain to make them become unspoiled? Could Singing be what gave life to the Nym during the Age of Legends? Could Singing change more of the world, like lighting a pipe?

Our discussion at JordanCon didn't provide any answers, only more questions. Robert Jordan's world is so large and encompassing that no one can say for certain how all of these abilities work. Either way, I think all of these Talents are so similar they are probably just different names for the same things. Loial's use of Treesinging in the Blight had seed singing effects—he said, "The Blight will not have Treebrother" (The Eye of the World, Chapter 53, "The Wheel Turns"), showing the tree that marked the Green Man's grave will be strengthened and not give in to the poison of the Blight. And Ogier, in an uncharacteristic display of pride, assumed they were the only ones who could do Treesinging, though humans can too—Rand is proof of that—they just forgot how.

And I think it is this forgotten Talent that let Rand manipulate the world around him. There is the idea that "the Dragon is one with the land," which could have aided Rand in certain situations—but he had to have the ability born inside him to use it whenever he wanted for the ultimate effect on the world. He needed this Talent to convince Tuon to side with him. He needed it several times throughout the last few books. It might even be something that is free of the One Power, something that lets his will become one with the land—because even though the Last Battle is done, Rand is still the Dragon, tied to the land.

That's all for this week. Next time we'll discuss the possibility of Rand being immortal. Thanks for reading!

The Wheel Turns: Blademasters and Heron Marked...

Wed, 08 May 2013 01:35:28 +0000

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

For many readers of The Wheel of Time, the Blademasters are some of the most interesting characters in the books. Sure, we may fantasize about what it would be like to wield the awesome power and the fine subtleties of saidin or saidar, but skill with the sword, a master of the blade, is something very relatable, something we can cross reference with history and other fantasy series, and even something we can experiment with in real life.

The whole notion of being a Blademaster is a fascinating one. The sword forms are, I think, one of the most interesting concepts that Robert Jordan introduced into the series, and one I can't off the top of my head think of something similar to in another work of fantasy fiction (feel free to leave a comment below if you can think of a parallel idea in another book or series). And the sword forms, it should be noted, whilst possibly learned and of some use to an experienced fighter, are actually the Blademaster's forms, designed to be learned by those seeking to reach mastery of sword fighting, duelists and purists in the use of the the katana-like curved swords of Jordan's world.

One only becomes a Blademaster if they either defeat in single combat another known Blademaster or are judged on their skill by a panel of five Blademasters, being declared as one only by unanimous vote. There are said to be fewer than 100 Blademasters within the Westlands.

A big part of the fantastical desire to earn this title for myself (and, I am confident, many other readers) is being able to carry a Heron-marked sword, one which is designed to proclaim to all your skill as a weapon, a wielder of the sword. You can imagine that to carry one would be the kind of thing to cause a room to fall silent as you enter, to cause your opponents to reassess you with a vague uncertainty, to strike fear into the hearts of your foes. "He carries a Heron-marked sword. Blademaster! Blademaster!" The whispers would almost certainly go along in your wake wherever you passed. Sublime.

So. Where can I get me one of those?

I have selected a link for you to take a look at. I have chosen one from Amazon because it is an officially licensed replica, seems to be at a saving, and of course Amazon is an international supplier. Leave a comment below if you know of a better place to find one or a wider selection online.

If you want to own your very own Heron-marked sword, then have a look online, there are plenty out there. Not only will you look and feel like a total boss, but it would be great for meets and conventions, and in general, anyone who recognized the significance of it would be another Wheel of Time fan, and that would be a great way to meet new fans.

If you do get one, or have one already, please be sure to sign up here at Dragonmount to the forums and spread pictures of you with your gorgeous blade! I would certainly like to see it over at the Warder's Guild! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

The Lighter Side of the Taint: And How Does Tha...

Wed, 08 May 2013 01:20:13 +0000

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WoT If…A Cour'souvra Survives?

Mon, 06 May 2013 23:50:30 +0000

Welcome back to another exciting edition of "WoT If?". This week's topic is Lanfear/Cyndane, but before we jump into the theory:

SPOILER WARNING. This will include content from A Memory of Light. Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.

As I said last week, the idea for this theory came from the Looney Theories panel at JordanCon. It was proposed by Jenson, a member of the audience, and immediately struck down as too plausible.

He said that Lanfear is still alive. We know that Perrin overcame her Compulsion and killed her before she could attack Rand, Nynaeve, and Moiraine. However, Jenson pointed out that her cour'souvra is still intact. That means her soul is still in the world.

We've talked before about the nature of the soul; rebirth is a major theme throughout the series. But we don't know exactly what happens to a soul after a person dies. We see the Heroes of the Horn go to Tel'aran'rhiod to wait, but what of normal souls? We also know there is only a short time that the Dark One has access to a soul. But if the soul is still in the world, the Dark One wouldn't be able to touch it or reclaim it—plus, he's cut off from the world now, so he couldn't even if it were possible. Perhaps the Creator could take the soul from the cour'souvra and place it with the other waiting souls.

Most likely, I think Lanfear's soul would be stuck in the cour'souvra until someone comes along and releases it. She wouldn't be able to be reborn at all until she was released. There's no way her soul could be woven back into the Pattern if it's still alive in one form or another.

That opens up a lot of possibilities. First, how long can a cour'souvra survive? Perhaps Lanfear's soul inside would die eventually, after her normal lifespan was used up—another 600 years or so? Or, would it be stuck in a state of limbo for the rest of existence? Or, if we want to take this into the crazy theory category, maybe Lanfear's soul could be used in a construct—like the Nym.

At JordanCon, I asked Maria about the Nym's souls. We talked about it in a blog last year, and I was wondering if she knew where the souls came from and how the ancient Aes Sedai got them into the construct. She didn't have an answer. Maybe this is where Aes Sedai got the souls. Perhaps Aes Sedai who went to the Shadow could use this as a last resort to come back to the Light? If they had their cour'souvra they could give it to the Light Aes Sedai and have it transplanted into a Nym's body.

Even I'll admit that's a bit of a stretch. Regardless, I think it's quite possible for Lanfear to still be "alive" through her cour'souvra. And there's even more of a twist when you think of where Lanfear's soul might be. The last time we saw it…

A Memory of Light

Prologue

Moghedien had not failed to notice that Moridin still wore Cyndane’s mindtrap.

So, if it was still around Moridin's neck, that means Moridin likely had it with him in Shayol Ghul. Which means it was there when Rand and Moridin switched bodies. Which means it was around Rand's neck when he woke up and rode off. Which means Rand has access to Lanfear's soul!

The irony of this makes me grin. What would Rand do with it? I think he forgave her—or at least let go of his anger—so that he would be willing to release the soul, either into a construct, or out of the cour'souvra and let it die. Rand might see releasing it as a mercy, instead of allowing it to be stuck for eternity in the mindtrap.

That's all for this week. Don't forget to post your comments below about your thoughts on Lanfear's fate. Next time we'll talk about something along the same lines—or at least with a connection to the Nym: seed singing and the Voice. Thanks for reading!

Tor holds sweepstakes for advanced copies of Th...

Sun, 05 May 2013 21:41:30 +0000

Along with its newly launched Epic Fantasy mobile alerts, Tor is currently running a sweepstakes to win advanced copies of Brandon Sanderson's soon-to-be-released YA novel, The Rithmatist.

Join Tor's Epic Fantasy mobile alert list and enter a sweepstakes to win a Rithmatist prize pack and a Memory of Light messenger bag!
New York, NY - May 1, 2013 - Last month, Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC-the largest publisher of science fiction in the world-announced a new mobile campaign for fans of the Wheel of Time® series and Tor author Brandon Sanderson.

Tor's Epic Fantasy mobile alert list is still going strong. Fans can sign up to receive The Wheel of Time®, Rithmatist chalkling drawings, and special Brandon Sanderson content sent right to their phones.
In order to promote the Epic Fantasy mobile campaign, Tor is sponsoring a sweepstakes for a Brandon Sanderson prize package. Three grand prize winners will receive one advance reading copy of The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson's YA debut - a Rithmatist chalk bag, and a Memory of Light messenger bag. Quantities of these bags are limited, so it's a very special sweepstakes.

To sign up for mobile trivia alerts and to enter the sweepstakes (and for full details and official rules) visit www.tor-forge.com/epicrithmatist beginning May 1, 2013. Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. ET May 15th, 2013. No purchase necessary to win. Message and data rates may apply. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 or older. Void outside of the 50 US, and DC where prohibited by law. Sponsor: Tor Books, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.

And for those of you who still haven't signed up for Tor's Epic Fantasy mobile alerts, it's not too late.

Join the Tor Mobile Elite

Brandon Sanderson and Wheel of Time® fans can participate in this mobile campaign by texting "EPIC" to 555111 to receive facts, trivia, and more. Message & Data Rates May Apply. To enter online, visit epicmobilealerts.com. For SMS terms and conditions, visit http://us.macmillan.com/smshelp.

Alternative cover art for A Memory of Light

Thu, 02 May 2013 23:16:59 +0000

At JordanCon V, I had the distinct privilege to purchase one of Michael Whelan's original concept paintings for A Memory of Light.

The story behind is this image is that it’s one of several concepts that Michael provided to Tor Books. From what I understand, this particular painting was one of the top choices to become the actual book cover, but the publisher wanted an image which included the lunar eclipse. If this image had been selected, Michael would have re-painted it, and added a significant amount of more detail.

The painting depicts Rand, holding Callandor, outside the cave at Shayol Ghul, right before he descends to face the Dark One.

Detail:

More images and details about how I acquired the painting can be found on my personal website. Also, be sure to look at Tor.com's behind-the-scenes feature at how the AMOL cover was designed.

What do you think?

The Wheel Turns: Features of Dragonmount

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:35:46 +0000

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

This week, I thought I would begin a series of articles I plan on continuing from time to time in this blog. It will highlight some of the different areas of Dragonmount which you may not yet have begun enjoying, just to see if we can tease you into that direction...

We begin by appealing to you hardcore Wheel of Time enthusiasts out there. First, I'll highlight something which you may enjoy if you have perhaps finished reading the series now, maybe even more than once, and then we will look at something that will appeal to all fans of the series, even if they are on their first incomplete read through.

One of the sections of our Dragonmount forums is the Wheel of Time Discussion area, and within that you can find the Full Spoiler Discussion board for A Memory of Light, the final book in The Wheel of Time series. Now, I won't highlight any of the articles on this board to you in case I spoil something you haven't read yet (and also because I haven't read A Memory of Light myself yet...Shhh...Don't tell!), but if you have completed the series and the final book, or if you are adventurous enough not to mind being told about things you haven't read in the series, then dive right in and see what everyone is discussing! The series may have ended, but the crazy theories from the minds of fans everywhere certainly have not!

Within the same section of Dragonmount, you can also find the General Wheel of Time Discussion forum. This has all sorts of interesting discussions ongoing, and is spoiler friendly to those who may not have finished the series yet. For example, right now, there is an engrossing debate about who the deadliest Blademasters in Randland may be, an interesting discussion on the way Brandon Sanderson wrote compared to Robert Jordan, and a great thread that has been going strong for some years where you can ask a simple question, get a simple answer to anything you have come across in the series you found confusing, and that's just a brief selection of the topics on offer.

There really is plenty to get involved in on these Dragonmount boards and they are one of the most popular features of the site, so feel free to join in and have your say or benefit from hearing other people's opinions.

As a final note, be sure to read the pinned topics at the top of each board to familiarize yourself with any of the posting rules that may apply. Other than that--have fun!

Until next time, friends!

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Arnold Schwarze...

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:19:56 +0000

(Deep Voiced Movie Announcer)

In a time when trouble was spreading across the land

(pan across a field of dying wheat being marched across by an army)

A simple blacksmith had his own problems

(Arnold) "Sometimes, especially in the dream, I forget I'm a man, not a wolf. If one of these times I don't remember quickly enough, I'll lose hold, I'll be a wolf. In my head, at least. A sort of half-wrong image of a wolf. There won't be anything of me left."

He stood against the tides of darkness for the love of his life

(scene outside village square with armed villagers standing around a wolf's head banner)

(Faile) I'll not have you bleeding to death on me. That would be just like you, to die and leave me the work of burying you. You have no consideration.

(Arnold) Faile. My falcon.

But then they took her

(Arnold) Faile! Nooooooo!!

He will make them pay

(Arnold) "A Warder once told me Trollocs call the Aiel Waste 'the Dying Ground.' I mean to make them give that name to the Two Rivers."

Wherever they go

(pan across the ruined city of Malden, cut to Sevanna scolding Faile)

(Sevanna) You will do as I say or I will have you beaten again and again.

With any weapon that comes to hand

(Sam Elliot as Elyas) "You'll use it, boy, and as long as you hate using it, you will use it more wisely than most men would. Wait. If ever you don't hate it any longer, then will be the time to throw it as far as you can and run the other way."

And with a ragtag band of misfits to help him find her

(scenes of wolves running through a snowy forest, then cut to Aiel and Two Rivers bowmen marching over a hill)

(Gaul) Get on a horse? Me? Must be wetlander humor. What'll you think of next, Perrin?

Arnold Schwarzenegger

"The Wolf King"

(Arnold) Tell her I love her. Tell her I’m coming.

WoT If...We Still Have Looney Theories?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:55:18 +0000

Welcome back to "WoT If?", Dragonmount's weekly theory blog. I've come back with renewed vigor, thanks to a wonderful weekend at JordanCon. It was an incredible experience, talking with Brandon, Harriet, Maria, and Alan, as well as other fans who love the series as much as I do. I also sat through several of the theories/spoiler panels, letting ideas grow in my mind of topics to explore. For this edition, I want to look at the comical side of The Wheel of Time fandom and talk about "The Grave is No Bar to My Looney Theories" panel at JordanCon. But first:

SPOILER WARNING. This will include content from A Memory of Light. Please DO NOT read this if you have not completed the book.

The Looney Theories discussion included Kristy Lussier, Sarah Nakamura, Billy Todd, Matt Hatch, and Alan Romanczuk on the panel. This discussion wasn't meant to be taken seriously, so any idea someone presented that could likely be true was marked with a "Too Plausible" stamp and pushed away. We'll talk about one of those for next week, but I'm jumping ahead of myself. I just want to give fair warning that these theories will be a bit on the crazy side.

My favorite of the bunch involved Berelain and Rhuarc. Here's the theory: In A Memory of Light, romantic couples seemed to live or die together: Siuan and Bryne, Gawyn and Egwene, etc. But the only couple that didn't fit this criteria was Amys and Rhuarc. The theorist claims that this proves that Rhuarc was not really in love with Amys, and that he was gay. This is further collaborated by his relationship with Berelain, that she is one of those young women who liked to hang out with gay men. It may be a stretch, but I could see it happening.

The next one comes from the idea that peach pits are poisonous in Randland. The theory says that peach pits are actually saidin, and they are poisonous because of the taint. So, with the cleansing of the source, peaches won't be poisonous anymore. It's plausible.

Another suggested that Rand is really Charlie Sheen. I think some part of this theory derives from Charlie Sheen's sudden descent into madness, but mostly it was because it would mean Tam is Martin Sheen—which seemed to make many of the women attendees sigh. Charlie Sheen as the Dragon Reborn is hard to swallow, though.

This may be the looniest, in my opinion. Rand didn't die during his fight with the Dark One because Rand didn't have a soul. The theorist pointed out that Rand is a ginger—someone who has red hair—and everyone knows gingers don't have souls. (I must point out, once again, that this is all in jest. There is no offense meant to anyone with red hair.)

And our own ed2funy submitted one for the panel's consideration. He said that Rand wasn't the Dragon Reborn from the start. His powers only came to him the night they were fleeing the Two Rivers. On that night, Bela was in danger, and so she—who was really the Creator—searched for a way to save herself. She released the Power into Rand, allowing him to become the Dragon and channel to save herself. Also, at the end of A Memory of Light, Bela did not die. Rather, she allowed her Power to go into the Horn of Valere and caused Olver to sound it. She lost her body, but the Creator doesn't need it. Everyone knew from the start that Bela was either the Dark One or the Creator, so this makes sense to me.

Ed came up with another one, though not in time for the Looney Theories panel. He said that the Ogier will use Seed Singing on people before they use the Book of Translation to flee the land. When they Sing to the people, the humans will grow into giants, creating another one of our modern world's legends. Harriet was sitting at the table next to us, though, and when Ed asked her if it was possible, she said flat out, "No." Sorry, Ed!

I think the tradition of looney theories will still continue, even with the conclusion of the series. There are so many ways to analyze and evaluate all the characters and their interactions with each other. Plus, it's a lot of fun thinking outside of the box, and just enjoying the silliness that can come from friends talking together.

That's all for this week. Next week we'll examine another "looney theory" that sounds really plausible to me: Lanfear is still alive. So, join us then, and don't forget to post your own looney theories in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Fan Art Friday: Architecture and Scenery (Part 1)

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:19:09 +0000

It is said that the Ogier are great builders. The cities they build seem to have a life of their own. Among the Ogier built cities, Tar Valon is said to be the most beautiful. Tar Valon is followed by Caemlyn in terms of beauty. People of Caemlyn say that Tar Valon could not be more beautiful than Caemlyn, but that is so because they have not seen Tar Valon.

In honor of these two cities, this week's fan art is focused on Caemlyn, Tar Valon, and places in and around them.

The White Tower by humite

Caemlyn from Tar Valon Gate by artguyjoe

Dragonmount by NuttyMonk

That's it for Part 1 of Architecture and Scenery. Part 2 will be here next week, and you are free to guess what will be in store for you.

Rotating Features: WoT now?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:58:58 +0000

Hello, friends! It's Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

This week, we are taking a look at another form of Wheel of Time media, for those of you addicted to The Wheel of Time but with no way to get your fix now that the series has ended...

This particular website holds a special place in my memory because it was something I read avidly in the years I first joined Dragonmount way back when I was in school. It is an unofficial, tongue-in-cheek comic series called WoT now?, which is an especially apt name now that the series has been completed. Its author is known as Burnout, an avid fan of the Wheel of Time series.

The artwork is fairly basic and based on the old Megaman gifs. It can be a little irreverent and as stated, tongue-in-cheek, but it should provide a good giggle to its readers once you get into it. It was definitely done with the best of intentions by a fan who loved The Wheel of Time and Robert Jordan as much as we all do.

Sadly, the series has not been continued for a while now, but there are plenty of panels to read in the meantime.

Have fun!

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Bad Boys, Bad Boys

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:56:51 +0000

Announcer

Reader discretion is advised.

Children

Announcer

Children is filmed on location with the men of the Children of the Light.

All Darkfriends will be brought to trial for their crimes.

Chioal

Honestly, the best thing about this job is that you get to help the people of the world. I mean, just think of what would happen if these fools went on with their killing and destruction? We can't allow the Shadow to spread, so we go where the Light wills and bring peace and justice.

Rodhor

Right, and you get to travel to all sorts of different places. I've personally never been to this area of Amadicia, but it's a beautiful country, and they understand that, even if it doesn't seem pleasant, your duty is yours to do, so they've been pretty helpful to us.

Chioal

And respectful too. That's the nice thing about wearing the sunburst; it allows people to see you're someone to be respected, and feared a little. But you have my word that we're out to help the people.

Rodhor

Indeed. That's why we're out here. We've heard reports of Darkfriends gathering in the local countryside and we can't be having with that. So, we're traveling the roadways, stopping here and there and seeing if anyone has heard any news.

(Horses pull up outside of an inn)

Rodhor

Now, we're heading in to this inn because we've heard rumors that a Darkfriend was seen in the area, and may have stayed here plotting his foul deeds.

(Inside)

Chioal

Morning, sir! I and my companions here are seeking out the enemies of the Light. We wish to ask you a few simple questions about a traveler that may have passed through here about a week ago.

Innkeeper

Yes, yes, of course. I'll tell you anything you wish to know, gentlemen.

Rodhor

We'd expect nothing less from one who walks in the Light. Now, sir, was there or was there not a gentleman with a beard and a slight scar on his right cheek?

Innkeeper

(Cowering)

Yes, sir...I saw him. He came in asking for a room and I noticed the shadows seemed to follow him. I sent him packing on his way, sir. No help for the

Shadow here, sir. Honest, sir.

Chioal

That's good. Did he mention which way he was headed?

Innkeeper

No, sir. Saw him shake his head and head off that way down the road.

Rodhor

Thank you, sir. If you don't mind, though, I'll have Inquisitor Vareyn come in here and double check what you've told us, and then we'll leave you to your business.

(Children head back out as a man with a shepherd's crook on his robe enters. Cameraman quickly exits.)

Chioal

Well, we'll know by tonight if this man's story can be corroborated, and whether or not he may have been our Darkfriend's contact in this town. Either way, this town may have fallen under the Shadow, so we'll be sending back a messenger to the Fortress of the Light and ask for a banner to be sent here to make sure that these fine folks walk under the Light.

(Distant cries of pain)

Special Honors for Dragonmount's Jason Denz...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:13:26 +0000

Dragonmount's very own Co-Webmasters, Jason Denzel and Jennifer Liang, have been honored recently for their tireless contributions to the Wheel of Time fandom. Both are extremely deserving of this recognition, and we are proud to have them at the helm of this website.

Jason will be a Guest of Honor at Penguicon this year. Penguicon is a science fiction convention that has a strong focus on computer-related topics. It will be held in Pontiac, Michigan from April 26-28, 2013. When he is not on Dragonmount or engaging in other hobbies, Jason works on Linux projects for a network technology company. He will be the first notable Wheel of Time fan to be a Guest of Honor at a convention.

Jennifer was elected President of the Southern Fandom Confederation last weekend at JordanCon. The Southern Fandom Confederation is an organization dedicated to celebrating science fiction and fantasy fandom in the Southern United States. It is affiliated with DeepSouthCon, which is a traveling Southern convention that JordanCon hosted this year. Jennifer's work as both the Chair of JordanCon and Director of the former Wheel of Time track at Dragon*Con made her an ideal candidate for the position. When she is not working on conventions or on Dragonmount, Jennifer works as a special education teacher.

Fan Art Friday: Shadowspawn

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:38:59 +0000

Trollocs. Fades. Draghkar. Myrddraal. Twisted Ones. Neverborn. The Shadowspawn have names that differ from region to region. They were created by Aginor during the Age of Legends for the fight against the forces of Light. They are the forces of the Dark One whose numbers are so large that the forces of Light cannot compare. They were formed from twisting humans and animals with the True Power.

Every fantasy needs the kinds of creatures it can throw against the good guys (and not mind dozens of them being killed in the process). The Wheel of Time has the Shadowspawn. The Shadowspawn are a varied bunch, including Trollocs, Fades, Draghkar, and gholam.

These creatures have been fascinating for me (or I just chose this topic because I call my brother a Trolloc).

Now, without further ado, I present to you the Shadowspawn.

Goat-horned Trolloc by t-biddy

Myrddraal by BloodRedFullMoon

Draghkar by cadavis3

I suppose my teachers could count as Shadowspawn, but I cannot post pictures of them here since they are not from the Wheel of Time series.

That's all for today!

(Artworks have been used with permission.)

JordanCon Preview

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:58:18 +0000

Hello, friends! It's Thursday, which means two things--the weekend is not too far away and it's time for our Thursday blog!

This week, we are looking ahead to JordanCon, which will be held in Roswell, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. In case you aren't too sure what JordanCon is, it is a convention held in honor of our late, beloved Robert Jordan, which means of course that it will feature a lot about the Wheel of Time books, among other things.

Things like what, you ask? Well, if you want the full rundown, here is a link to the Schedule of Events. Let me mention a few highlights for you...

This year, JordanCon will be hosting DeepSouthCon. Click on their name if you want to follow a link explaining all about DeepSouthCon, but essentially it is another convention which moves location each year, and this year it is joining up with JordanCon. It's all about Science Fiction, so there will likely be many common interests for those already heading to JordanCon. In particular, it is well known for the Hearts Tournament and the DSC (DeepSouthCon) awards ceremony.

There are a whole host of exciting guests, including Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal, who will be doing book signings. Imagine having your books signed by them both! Artist Michael Whelan, who created a masterpiece for A Memory of Light, the final Wheel of Time book, and award winning author Seanan McGuire will also be on the roll of honor, along with many others. Check out the Special Guests list in the link to the schedule provided above for more information on these Guests and on the rest who will be attending.

Did you have a crazy theory since reading A Memory of Light? Well, it's your lucky day! There will be several, spoiler-permitted panels throughout the day where the books will be discussed and dissected for as long as time allows.

And finally, a nice new feature which will certainly be of use to those of us who are members here at Dragonmount--and to those who haven't joined up yet (hint, hint!)--is the Wheel of Time Speed Friending Service! It's just like speed dating, but instead of looking for romance, you'll be looking for new friends who ALSO love the Wheel of Time series! What more could you ask for? Have your email addresses at the ready.

We really hope everyone who is able to attend fully enjoys JordanCon this year. If you haven't been able to attend this year, fear not. Every year gets better than the last, so start planning now!

The Lighter Side of the Taint: Springtime Planting

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:39:42 +0000

Ready for Springtime Planting?

Disgusted by those unsightly weeds?

Are your neighbors slowly being eaten by the plants in your garden?

Try New

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Listen to some of our satisfied customers:

"I used to have to worry about the dog being poisoned and then exploding before my eyes. Now, thanks to Blight-B-Gone, I'm no longer having to explain to the kids where Spot has disappeared to!"

"First it was those unsightly brown spots. Then we had an outbreak of jumera. Thanks to Blight-B-Gone, we can now leave the house safely!"

Yes, look for

BLIGHT-B-GONE

Now available in your local hardware and home repair stores.

David Farland Book Bomb

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:27:56 +0000

Earlier this month we posted on Facebook about 16-year-old Ben Wolverton, son of fantasy author David Wolverton (aka David Farland). Ben was in a terrible long boarding accident which left him with severe brain trauma and other serious injuries. Unfortunately his family doesn't have health insurance and the medical bills are stacking up.

Dragonmount, along with several other websites and authors, are trying to spread the word about ways you can help Ben and his family. Please join us in contributing in one or more ways.

Book Bomb

A "book bomb" is where we encourage as many people as possible to buy a specific book in a short period of time. Not only does this provide money via direct sales, but it also helps push the book up the charts, thereby increasing exposure to as many people as possible. The authors and fans organizing this event have chosen David Farland's Nightingale. Please go to Amazon and purchase a copy. Not only will you help the Wolverton family, but you'll get a fantastic novel.

Direct Donation

If you would prefer to make a direct donation to Ben's recovery, you can do so here.

Spread the Word

Whether you're able to help financially or not, we ask that you consider sharing news about Ben's accident on your Facebook, twitter, email, or just word of mouth.

The Wheel of Time community is large and has always proven to be generous. By helping the Wolverton family, you will be upholding Robert Jodan's legacy of charity and kindness.

Thank you for joining us to help.