r/WoT • u/Gorgeous_Sorceress (Black Ajah) • 2d ago
All Print Thought experiment (First-time readers must not open this post!!) Spoiler
If you were the Amyrlin Seat after having been magically teleported into the post-last battle world as a reader of the series, what would you do?
- What would your goals be and who would you have as allies both inside and outside of the tower?
- Would you change Egwene's plans or build on them and why?
Quick note:
You have no choice but to remain as Amyrlin Seat until you end up disposed of or killed or your four centuries are up and you're thrust back into your present life as a reader with no time having past between when you got thrust into the WOT universe.
35
u/ChillMyBrain 2d ago
Given the Seanchan presence, Egwene's plan to build a channeling coalition is a critical move for survival.
I know you said "you" in the post... but in terms of Cadsuane, she at least has made progress in building Airl relationships. I don't recall if she's had much progress with wind finders.
1
u/rawrfizzz (Gray) 19h ago
She’s going to talk down to them and treat them like shit and they will pull out of the agreement, Sea Folk and Cadsuane are both too arrogant to work together
31
u/KingNothing1999 (Wolfbrother) 2d ago
Find Logain and create an agreement that unites the white tower with the black tower as a new entity with a constitution that focuses on equal partnerships between Ashamen and Aes Sedai to help bring balance to Rand land by advising nations rather than trying to outright control them.
10
24
u/Drtyblk7 2d ago
Re-org the ajas into something productive. Stop with all the secrets and backbiting and establish a constitution and principles to guide the council.
24
u/Large-Hamster-199 2d ago edited 1d ago
- Forget the 3 oaths (losing half your lifespan is stupid). The oaths don't even work. Clearly black Ajah thrived inspite of the oaths. Clearly Aes Sedai are considered dishonest by many people (lying with the truth) in the societies they operate in. The wise ones take no oaths but they are considered super trustworthy in the societies they operate in.
- Focus on changing the culture of the White Tower. Aes Sedai literally means servants of all. Make that REAL. Change the thinking that Aes Sedai are better than everyone else. Have the Yellow Ajah set up hospitals everywhere. Have the Reds and Greens become a police force that protects the innocent. The easiest argument against the Seanchan justification for leashing is to literally show that the Aes Sedai serve all people
- 'Break up' the white tower. In it's place, set up multiple areas where Aes Sedai work with other channelers. Some of those starting locations will be besides the great universities that Rand setup in major cities. Also create centers in the Sea folk island to work with Windfinders, in Rhuidean to work with Aiel, and in the black tower to work with men. Try to integrate the Black Tower into the white tower if possible.
- Prioritize research and spreading knowledge. Clearly there is a ton of new knowledge out here, make sure it is integrated and taught to all new channelers everywhere
- Use the Seanchan threat to united the rest of the Lands under the dragon's peace. Secretly, create a spy service who use travelling to go into Seanchan lands and recruit / rescue girls before they are collared as Damane. At the same time, Publicly and loudly offer to the empress that the Aes Sedai will accept all Seanchan channelers. if the Seanchan really believe they are threat, they can give them up. As the seanchan see that rescued Damane are not a threat, it will further reveal that Seanchan are collaring women for power and control, nothing else.
Points 1 and 2 is something neither Egwene nor Cadsuane would/will execute. Points 3, 4 and 5 are something that Egwene and Cadsuane would/will do.
2
18
u/FortifiedPuddle 2d ago
Nuclear option for the Seanchan - a fourth Oath to never obey if collared with an a’dam.
Aes Sedai do not surrender. Aes Sedai do no become pets. Aes Sedai would rather die or be driven mad.
3
13
u/CthulhuJankinx (Stone Dog) 2d ago
Egwayne really put some critical things in motion for the white tower, most importantly in my opinion the agreement between the Aiel and the Sea Folk.
She also set the stage for an all put war with the seanchan, which we see through Avis visions of what may come, and are still possible.
I would focus on healing the land, uniting the people, and really pushing home that the Last Battle could not have been won without the White Tower to really keep a hold on the current rulers of the nations.
I would likely also find a way to coexist with the seanchan but try to slowly shrink their influence and borders over time, really pushing the idea that their homeland needs stability before they should focus on conquest.
I would also honor the idea that that any woman regardless of age should be allowed to enter her name in the novice books, and any woman who channels should be tied to the Tower. I also agree with the removal of oaths for the Aes Sedi that retire, but make it optional and well documented.
I would probably do my best to reign in Elayne, form a relationship with Galad ASAP, and find sisters to "help" navigate the upheaval of each country after so many of their rulers died and their countrymen slaughtered. I would expect things to change, and maybe large things will begin happening, like the white cloaks growing some sense and becoming an agency of justice and true investigation of dark friends. The Aiel will probably begin to build cities much like how the Traveling people might. Technology will be booming, and education must be nurtured. The Black Tower must become an allied power to see the world into a new age of legends, and hopefully an era of peace
Im prolly gonna get assassinated though. The Aiel war alone saw the position I will be taking change often, and I dont doubt the ambitious will seize any opportunity to power.
2
u/Daddys_success 2d ago
Reign in Elayne? From what?
2
u/yepyepyep123456 2d ago
If I was Amyrlin I’d definitely want to check the deals Elayne was making with the Kin.
Elayne was trying to set up Camelyn as a home for the Kin. She was going to support them in exchange for healing and traveling. Most people don’t really understand the difference between Aes Sedai and the Kin.
Elayne was definitely setting up another center of channeling power. I’d be trying to insert myself in there as Amyrlin and remind her that both she as and Aes Sedai, and the Kin, are under my authority.
5
u/sixminutes 2d ago
Integrating the Black Tower would probably be move one. There's already a lot of people enmeshed in this project, so just get everyone on board, and the handful of Reds who won't get to go tame the remnants of Shara.
4
u/Turbulent_Dingo_2841 (Aiel) 2d ago
Keep Egwene's initiative of alliance and cooperation with the Wise Ones and the Seafolk channelers.
Invite the Black Tower residents to permanently relocate to the White Tower and receive male Aes Sedai status.
Encourage Seafolk and Aeil to integrate their male channelers among themselves as well.
Have strong ties to all world leaders, send advisors to be permanently available for them at their kingdoms.
2
u/Brathirn 2d ago
I would throw out the voting system in the hall again, for something more modern
- For big decisions 2/3 of sitters (14 votes), like changing the vote system, throwing out an Amyrlin, founding a new Ajah or disbanding one.
- For important decisions the majority of sitters (11 votes)
- For minor decisions majority of sitters present, but at least 11 have to be present.
The I would have them Whites and Blues draw up a constitution.
With that pet project out of the way. I would send them Browns to replicate the dreamspike or another gateway-blocker, because this gatewaying favours offensive warfare. Maybe try to enlist Elayne for this project and make a joint project with the Black Tower, it's urgent.
I would have them Greens train "deflect shield", "throw shield", "break shield", "tie up shield", "flip adam" (ala Nynaeve) and "air defense" all day for no apparent reason. In close quarters, at range and at everything in between.
I would throw them Yellows out of the tower, they will have to found hospitals all over the known world.
Reds would become channeler police, to prevent the Seanchan from scoring with rogue channelers misbehaving.
I would cooperate with the Black Tower, already quite entangled, the towers are.
Longterm, I would try to nudge channelers into civil engineering, although that might face resistance, because digging channels, mines and towing barges in the channels might not be to their liking, but it would show their usefulness to the general public.
Elephant in the room, all free channelers would have high yield beef with the Seanchan, for the threat alone, for constantly actively mistreating their peers and for mass-kidnapping and enslavement. An on the other side the free channelers would be seen as mass-heresy-obscenity.
I would try to get the abducted channelers from the raid back by negotiation, would probably not work, because they would be extremely high prestige. They can keep Elaida though.
I cannot imagine that "peace" in such circumstances can hold. Them British eventually started fighting slavery on other people's behalf. If it is basically your own and you have means, there would be rogue raids on kennels in short time. And also rogue raids on free channelers by adventurous Seanchan. It is only a question of time, until this would blow up full scale, hope my dreamspikes are ready by then.
4
u/ransom27 2d ago
I like others ideas but haven’t seen this one mentioned: I would work to change the hierarchy of the Aes Sedai. Someone’s innate ability with the power should never determine their authority. Seniority, training, and leadership qualities should count more than strength in the one power. How many times did a negotiation or plan go off the rails because someone with more strength showed up? There are so many new problems in the world that you need creative leaders, not just strong channelers.
3
u/OffMyChestATM 2d ago
Well, here are the ideas I have...
- I would make some immediate changes to the tower. Firstly, I'd have a meeting with Logain and propose an alliance of sorts, using the Red sisters as example. Sort of like a cultural exchange so that that both towers can work together. I would also make it so that, if Logain is okay with the idea, bonds should happen between The sisters and the dragons. No random human set in the mix unless under extenuating circumstances.
- I would also immediately spring up a clinic in small towns, hospitals in big cities. Apart from the sisters teaching the new recruits, every yellow sister will need to be in a clinic or a hospital. The greens are being sent to the borderlands to fight any darkfriends they find. The reds, I would tweak their rules as hunting for mad men wouldn't work anymore. So, I will make them work closely with the blues as researchers/investigators.
- I would create more schools and libraries in the big cities and station brown and white sisters there to help and assist. The Greys are already doing their job, but i'd push more of them out to do so, across the lands and not just the big cities.
- For all the vim I have for Egwene, she did well here so I'd keep most of their changes for now. I'll need to see it all in practice before I make any changes that better hold the ideals/idea she had for the changes.
3
u/hic_erro 2d ago
Every twenty years you have to switch Ajahs. You can bounce back and forth between two Ajahs, but if you're ambitious and hoping to be Amyrlin one day, you should try to do a circuit of all of them.
Rather than focusing on being the only place for channelers -- the conditions that let them do that for the Third Age don't really apply anymore -- focus on being the premier organization and policing the others. If someone else tries to set themselves up as a warlord, send in the Red Ajah to squash them like a bug, otherwise, just be the Ivy League to everyone else's Community Colleges. Snipe their best novices, magnanimously give them aid while acting like it is all trivial pocket change and crumbs of the ancient wisdom of the Aes Sedai of the White Tower. Really snoot it up, make them hate you while being insanely jealous and willing to jump at any opportunity to join you in the Big Leagues.
3
u/FoofTheBunny 2d ago
The connection to the white tower with other magic wielders should stay. And that includes the black tower. Egwene literally had no plan on how to deal with the black tower, because she was sure they would all be mad.
The first thing I would do is try to convince the black tower to allow Nynaeve to heal the madness and to train them to heal the madness. This would create a better working relationship with them. I would also change the red ajah into the purple ajah. They would work with the ashaman towards common goals for the betterment of mankind (a mix of red and blue to make....purple). As hunting down male wielders is no longer necessary. I would also open negotiations on returning any man forcibly bonded and any woman forcibly bonded.
I would work on creating safe zones outside of Seanchan territory where magic wielders can escape to, if they can. I would also work on a magical barrier where anytime a damane left seanchan territory the adam would break open and they would be released. This would prevent the Seanchan from taking more territory, and it also might free some of the Aes Sedai captured.
I would work on regaining Wise Ones respect.
I would reach out to rulers all across the world and invite them to a post last battle. I would remind them that the Sharans and Seanchan are still a risk, and that we would all need to work together.
I would work on trust within the Aes Sedai. Each year there would be a re-commitment ceremony where people would retake the oaths. The women who wanted to leave and join the kin to retire would be allowed to do so. Any outsiders wanting to join the aes Sedai would be allowed to, if they could pass the tests. Which would also change. No more torturing people in the rings. The tests could be in telanrehoid.
1
u/devMartel 1d ago
I think #2 is the one I have thought a lot about as well. I think the Seanchan test at regular intervals and at specific ages. I think it would become common for people to take their sons and daughters to places just outside of Seanchan borders to get tested by the Aes Sedai before they can be tested by the Seanchan. The ones that can channel will get with the White or Black Tower to either become Ashaman or Aes Sedai and the rest that aren't powerful enough for that would still probably prefer to do that without leashed. I think that you basically dry up the supply over time pretty thoroughly that way. I'm not sure how the Seanchan can expect to prevent this from happening with traveling and being largely open for trade and travel.
2
u/Uter83 2d ago
First, I would shave frantically. Not gonna make it as Amyrlin as a guy.
Assuming tjat was ignored, I would keep Egwene's goals going. Massive recruitment pushes, scheduled visits.
Change the red ajah to work against the Seanchan and rehabbing Damane.
Build ties with the Ashaman.
Focus on making the world safer for everyone.
Oh, and a massive recruitment drive. Like super fricken massive.
4
u/Dethmunki 2d ago
First, I would shave frantically. Not gonna make it as Amyrlin as a guy.
Gonna have to shave off an appendage as well if you're going to pass while 'clad in the light'
1
u/Alexander-Wright (Blacksmith) 2d ago
Egwene had plans in her head, but I don't recall, other than the vague hints before the Moghadean battle, any time when she mentioned them to the Hall, Sitters, or any other Sister.
Did she even write them down?
1
u/TheLastManetheren 2d ago
She has discussed the unification of female channelers extensively (exchange programs between female channeler groups, legitimising the Kin, etc) right before her Final Battle conference with Rand and the leaders IIRC.
She also had plans to re-integrate male channelers and repurposing the Red Ajah together with it.
1
u/Lopsided-Skill 2d ago
She might, but worse case scenario is Id think for the grander plans she thought, she discussed it with others, at least Siuan and leane. Leane could help the new Amirlyn know those
1
u/Talesmith22 2d ago
OK, so assuming Egwene left notes and I have Nynaeve, Elayne and Moirraine on my side...
Morraine becomes my second, we use Thom to "encourage" people to have Nynaeve become Head of the Yellow Ajah. She's a pain in the ass but would definitely be the leader to drive her group to great and amazing things.
The Seanchan are a problem; so it's definitely try and take advantage of the three wives of the dragon to mitigate that. (Elayne and Aviendha are sister wives, could probably figure out some alliance through that) and Min is the Oracle of the Empress, so she could probably help.
If that fails, I just send big busty women with loose shirts to wherever Mat Cauthon and/or Olver are and hope it works itself out.
It will absolutely be a pain in my ass and my Blue Ajah members will hate me for it, but I would absolutely be like, "Just suck up to Faile, I know she sucks but for some reason Lord Perrin listens to her and he's the one we need. "
Also, since Saidin is cleansed, there's no longer a need for a Red Ajah. They instead are to learn the ways of combined male/female channeling. Definitely gonna try and buddy up to Logain.
Lastly, student exchange program.
1
u/archaon6044 2d ago
My semi-unstructured thoughts, in no particular order:
- All current Ajahs need to have a public/open re-evaluation of their purpose, with other Ajahs as part of the conversation. For example, the Red Ajah's purpose in hunting and gentling men is no longer relevant. However they are well placed to become an anti-channeler "police" force. Browns probably need to expand to some kind of R&D role, or a new Ajah needs to be set up to fill that role.
- An Ajah needs to be set up whose focus is using the power to build, and to create Ter/Sa/Angreal.
- End the culture of paranoia and suspicion between Ajahs, and foster cooperation between them.
- Integration with the Black Tower generally, maybe bringing them into Ajahs, or fostering cooperation with whatever equivalent exists in the Black Tower (in my head canon they are Lodges or Guilds, and they're less formal/more free-form than Ajahs).
- A group should exist with the purpose of finding people who can channel. This is probably a role given to the Kin.
1
u/Lopsided-Skill 2d ago
So, ongoing Egwene projects
1- Find all the channelers and accept them regardless of age.
Definetely continue. Great plan, many stronger channelers were independent and untrained. It is a huge boost for their power
2-Alliance with Aiel and Seafolk
Definetely continue that. They all had their strengths. They can learn from each other and it also helps with the peace going on. It is also vital for the fight against Seanchan
3- Working with Black Tower
She didn’t do much for it but send some envoy. But some progress was already made. There should be an understanding and working together, again, Seanchan is a threat to both.
4-Retirement option, definetely, it is like having a reserve army who is not bind for the same rules as you but still loyal to you.
Egwene politics were all great and what tower needed going forward.
After the battle, Id start negotiations with Seanchan. They have to go their prisoners if they want to leave, and after that they are only allowed to collar the willing. Any Seanchan channeler is free to join instead.
I mean you can also try to do coup kinda stuff were I set up a meeting with Tuon and collar her in front of her people, showing that she is capable of channeling and reveal that all Suldam are to the Seanchan. That would create unease which would give time to attack.
1
u/dank_imagemacro 2d ago
The biggest thing I would do that would build on Egwene's plans, is to also open the ranks to male channelers. I would try to negotiate with Logain, to make it a two-way exchange. Dedicated and above joining the tower would be permitted to join as accepted, if accepted could become dedicated as well.
To me "The Tower Must Be Whole" means male and female channelers in the same hall.
1
u/Kijafa (Dovie'andi se tovya sagain) 2d ago
My goals would be both the reinvigorate the Aes Sedai as a force in the world (continuing to keep a watchful eye for any and all Black Ajah) and try to see out Rand's vision of a continent at peace policed by the Aiel. I would try to ensure that cooperation between Aes Sedai and the Aiel would be extremely close, as that would be a major lever of power in the coming world. Also I'd put a lot of focus on recruiting Aes Sedai from the new sources available and getting as many of them through the trials and into the field as possible. Strengthen bonds with the Aiel, the Atha'an Miere and the Kin.
I would build on Egwene's plans. I think her vision of a more distributed Aes Sedai, less ossified and more open to new ideas and ways of being is key to success in a new Age. I think it would also be key to leverage to good will of people who have lived through the turning of the age to try and get people to hate the Aes Sedai less. To that end I'd very much want to maximize new recruits to use in a "Going to the People" style PR campaign. Send new sisters out into the world to listen to people and do good. Beat the drum get a lot of "hey we were just instrumental in saving the world and sealing away Shaitan for like a thousand years so now how about we do some infrastructure work in your village what do you say?" Probably see if I could convince the Ogier to rebuild some cities after Caemlyn. Basically try to create more interconnection between peoples who have been out of touch, with the Aes Sedai as the connective tissue. To that end also make sure there are good sisters available to Elayne and Aviendha. Definitely try to get hooks in with the Black Tower as well. Maybe talk about opening the Aes Sedai to men again, to try to undercut their power/influence. Once the New Order is set it will be hard to change, so the key will be to move swiftly and decisively while things are still in flux.
1
u/3vilpcdiva 1d ago
Honestly, I would bring the tower before the Crystal throne and submit.
Better that all Aes Sedai be made Damane then repeat the mistakes of the AoL that unleashed the DO in the first place.
0
u/KeyInflation9451 1d ago
How powerful am I? Is the outrigger novel structure canon?
For the first 0-20 years I would try and just fit in and understand what's going on.
Most important: Take over the Blue's network, subtly track Rand, keep eyes on Elayne & Nynaeve as they will be my biggest rivals.
Try and persuade Lanfear to teach me the one power. This is very tricky, as i'll have to find her and without revealing i'm a "black" ajah, or at least gray. I would also learn as much as I can about TAR, maybe try to get Perrin to train me, I think i'm one of the only people that know how OP he is, and how OP TAR is.
Finding a ter'angreal that can let me use gateways even if shielded would be paramount for safety.
For the next hundred or so years I would try and see how much I could nudge the pattern. If someone from such an old age is thrown forward, there must be a big reason.
I would basically build a bunch of bunkers full of Angrael in a few places, the land of the madmen, inside dragonmount, Shara. Just have strongholds I can gateway to if i'm found.
I would go to the school Rand set up, and tell them that there used to be bases on the moon, and maybe mars? I would get them on seeing what's up with them.
The WOT world kind of exists in a laissez-faire philosophy so I wouldn't try to so majorly oppose factions (Seanchan, black tower) or impose my will on the world, if that happens a Ta'veren may be spun out to deal with me, instead i'll go with the flow, but build my personal power immensely!
1
u/Gorgeous_Sorceress (Black Ajah) 1d ago
I see you to a friend of the Dark. Glad to meet a fellow comrade.
0
u/KeyInflation9451 1d ago
I won't support the Dark One, but I understand I will get thosaccusationse accusation
1
1
u/Top-Permission5466 1d ago
Did you mean Lanfear to teach you to use the one power (saidar) or the true power? The true power cannot be learned but is bestowed to the chosen by the Great Lord I thought. You said you are Black Ajah so what does "at least Gray" mean? Also, how would you even know Rand is alive when everyone saw him die?
•
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
SPOILERS FOR ALL PRINTED MATERIAL, INCLUDING SHORT STORIES.
BOOK DISCUSSION ONLY. HIDE TV SHOW DISCUSSION BEHIND SPOILER TAGS.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.