How did Rand Light the Pipe?? All The Wheel of Time Fan Theories!

SPOILER FULL LIVESTREAM! Come discuss the mystery behind the lighting of the Pipe! We are covering all Fan Theories behind how this could be, and you will help us pick the most likely of all theories. Which theories make sense? Which theories have been rejected? Which of them all has the most hope? And, when will we learn the answer? We'll tell you! Join us this #WoTWednesday at 9pm ET for a live theory discussion, where we'll cover all of the facts and all of the speculation. We promise you'll be surprised at what you don't know! We'll chat with our expert panelists, and you'll have the opportunity to share your own theories both in chat and by giving us a call.
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EPISODE OUTLINE
Starting Shortly (0:00)
Show Begins with Announcements (2:21)
Welcome Special Guests (3:22)
Wheel of Time TV Show News (4:06)
Theory Introduction: How did Rand light the pipe? (11:40)
1st Theory: T'A'R Pocket - T'A'R like Bubble around Rand (17:58)
2nd Theory: AvaT'A'R - Rand is a creature of T'A'R (20:46)
3rd Theory: Flicker Flicker - Its all a dream (23:47)
4th Theory: Dreamshard - The Dark One Won (26:22)
5th Theory: Creator's Power - Weaving Reality, limited power (29:49)
6th Theory: Rand is the Creator - Full Power (33:25)
7th Theory: The Dragon - One with the Land (36:53)
8th Theory: Ta'veren - Rand still has Ta'veren powers (41:31)
9th Theory: 1st Magic User - 4th Age Birth of New Power (47:33)
10th Theory: Ter'angreal - The pipe is a Ter'angreal (52:02)
11th Theory: A Helping Hand - Rand had nothing to do with it (55:57)
12th Theory: A Warped Bond - Rand can channel through the bond (59:54)
Sidebar on the Bond and channeling in general (1:02:14)
13th Theory: Moridin's Gift - Something Remained (1:04:17)
14th Theory: For Harriet - Breaking the 4th Wall in memoriam to Harriet (1:08:05)
Most Likely Theory Voting (1:16:38)
Vote Results (1:29:42)
Next Deep Dive into Theories (1:30:55)
End Credits (1:35:06)
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[@cletusjones1631]

I always figured that Rand was OUTSIDE the pattern during the fight with the DO. Then when he came back he had a greater understanding of the pattern, so he could literally manipulate it.

[@cletusjones1631]

Like being outside the pattern, even for a limited time, gives you power over the pattern.

[@roolenoir3183]

Ooop good answer

[@HeronKij]

This is my takeaway as well.

[@robertdarnell3690]

.

[@TheLizardKing752]

It's my takeaway too, but my objection is that Rand didn't seem to want to remain in a position of great power, he was so exhausted from the burdens of power, and seemed glad to have saidin/true power gone. So why would he have smiled upon realizing he had even more power than before?

[@clintdogg01]

My take on this is that it was a 4th wall breaking ending. Robert Jordan wrote the ending. He was an avid pipe collector. He knew he was dying and it was time for him, like Rand, to depart because he had played his part. Rand did not light the pipe. The Creator did not light the pipe. Robert Jordan lit the pipe. In a sense, we all got to be there for RJ’s last pipe.

[@TheDustyWheel]

This works as another interpretation of the 4th Wall Breaking! The pipe connection is too in line with Jordan to not believe that he was winking at us.

[@clintdogg01]

@@TheDustyWheel And I really like the idea that every time someone finishes their WoT journey for the first time, Jordan gets to light another pipe to mark the milestone with another fan. It’s a way for him to live on forever, in a sense. Because there are neither beginnings nor endings to the lighting of the pipe. But it is A ending.

[@Ayeshteni]

Yup, also the books begin with 'For Harriet', there was no way it wasn't going to be 'For Harriet' at the end either. Call me an old romantic.

[@thomasc9036]

There are few hints at the end of the 14th book. First is that Rand gets burnt out from both saidin and True Power. The “burnt out” from saidin or saidar is like an overdose that severes one’s ability to channel. However, his case is different in that he is burnt out from saidin, saidar, and True Power, so breaks the barrier that limits the abilities and understanding (read the section about how he finally understands powers). Second is that there is a new power called the “Light itself”. Both saidar and saidin are an incomplete understanding of the True Source which is “Light” and “Purity”. It says “he wove something majestic, a pattern of interlaced saidar and saidin in their pure forms. Not Fire, not Spirit, not Water, not Earth, not Air. Purity.” Third is that he has a stationary “saa” shaped like the dragon’s fang in his right eye indicating that he has mastered the darkness, but he is still the Dragon Reborn. All prophecies have been fulfilled, so he is no longer bound to prophecies any more. That does not mean the Dragon Reborn status disappeared. Basically, he has discovered a new source of power that can only be tapped by breaking the barrier of saidin, saidar, and True Power called “Purity Light”. Others cannot tap this power because only ones that pushed beyond limitations of all three powers can achieve this state and we are given the confirmation by “saa” in his right eye. It's a unique power similar to Nakomi if not the same.

[@shauntempley9757]

This could then explain why the show says there is no separation between saidin and saidar. They may use Nakomi to show Rand will use the same source of power she does.

[@svendragon8139]

@@shauntempley9757 don't bring that abomination into this. They don't know these books at all.

[@shauntempley9757]

@@svendragon8139 Well, they knew enough to piss me off that Rand did not read the freaking book of prophecies about him, or talk to Loial in the same scene, all the same dumb stuff that book Rand did, so they know enough for me.

[@Sir_TophamHatt]

I’m attracted to this theory in a thematic sense because it fits in very well with the harriet-backed theory of the new age being driven by a new power, making the fourth age as different from the third as the third was from the second. That said, one problem i see with it is that the body switch happened after Rand was burned out, meaning it happened to Rand in his original body, not Moridin’s. Are we meant to infer that “burning out” (and thus “transcending”, by your theory) is something that happens to the soul, unrelated to the body?

[@metalmechanic6664]

I finished A Memory of Light today and my immediate thought when Rand lit the pipe was, "Oh shit Rand is God now"

[@alexisdumas84]

That's what I thought. He became the Creator somehow. After all, the saying is that rhe creator imprisoned the Dark One at the beginning of time. There can't be any beginning of time, time is a wheel, but there can be a beginning to the *cycle*. So maybe the cycle repeats every third age: dark one is permanently sealed away, society becomes more technologically and magically advanced, eventually forgets, opens the bore, imprisons the DO imperfectly, then the third age happens, etc. But that makes Rand the Creator, since he's standing in the Creators stead in properly sealing the DO away. It also makes sense in that he wielded all three powers.

[@rfresa]

@@alexisdumas84 Yes. The books make it clear that the Creator is not out there, watching over everything. Nobody prays to him. He set the Wheel in motion and let it run. Where then did he go? There's nothing outside the Pattern, so he had to become part of it somehow. If there ever was a Creator, he has to be the Dragon.

[@ijustwanttolikecomments4677]

@@alexisdumas84 on my next re-read, I am most definitely going to pay way more attention to references to the creator, and try to see if they all fit in with Rand by the end...either technically or metaphorically...

[@shauntempley9757]

@@rfresa They actually do not. It is just that everyone assumes he is not out there. The main counterpoint to that is the all caps voice that appears in book 1 and book 14 that clearly does not belong to the Dark One. That voice being there hints at the fact that the Creator is in fact out there.

[@javierruizferrandis9076]

Same

[@LordMichaelRahl]

It always seemed clear to me that he simply learned how to manipulate the very threads of the Pattern while fighting the DO, and he kept the skill even after leaving the metaphysical space of the DO's prison. I do like the story about the real world tribute/RJ wink though.

[@didsain]

When Perrin investigated learning how slayer existed in both realities, he was told “two souls must become one”. I think this is possibly one of the biggest hints to me that Rand potentially exists in both worlds now. But I think a more plausible explanation is that given the context that we as the reader just witnessed Rand fight the dark one by stepping completely outside reality and having a world-thread duel, I like to think that the reality as we see it is reality as Rand wove it, meaning that he exists now primarily outside of the world and resides there by desire. This would explain why he can no longer “reach out” to touch the power that turns the wheel that weaves, he’s one layer above that so to speak, he needs only feed threads of reality to the wheel via his willpower and they are woven into being by the one power. It’s like the avatar theory but he’s not projecting from the world of dreams.

[@smaug1234]

If the pattern/ book reality is akin to a super computer, Rand was granted "Root/super user" access so he could have the confrontation with the Dark one, and when someone is given root access they can choose to give it up but it cant be taken away after its granted. So Rand is capable of rewriting or reformatting the pattern, but there are consequences to big changes as he saw in the battle with the Dark One. He can get away with lighting a pipe with little consequence, or changing the way his dinner tastes, but say he decided that the Seanchan needed to be rewritten to not collar women who could channel, he would fundamentally change who/what the Seanchan are. So Rand has god lvl power, but he really cant use it for anything world changing and is smart enough to know why he cant.

[@knuckle12356]

Rand is Tom Bombadil. Super powerful (maybe?) But more interested in doing his own thing.

[@christineoakley6768]

The next Deep Dive should be Doomseer - Min's Visions and the one after that should be The Ogier's Origins.

[@TheDustyWheel]

Min's Visions is a Deep Dive we need to do. It has that Deep Dive & Theories mix that could be fun.

[@damiank7107]

moridan’s body was infused with all the powers so rand, in this new body, doesn’t need to “touch” the source because the body is basically now part of the source. alternatively, rand as the chosen one now after going through his journey can directly tap the creator’s light similar to the way moridan could tap the dark power from shaitan

[@Mido-128]

I've written a theory before on Reddit about the world being the Creator's Dream, and Rand having learned to manipulate it at the end. But I've gotta say... I got chills hearing the story about Harriet and the pipe. I 100% believe that it's a meta reference to her, regardless of whether it means something else in-world.

[@TheDustyWheel]

It was really touching to find both of those quotes. In the end, it's tough to imagine it wasn't layered with RJ winking at us from Tel'aran'rhiod, or beyond.

[@jonnekallu1627]

I got the impression that Rand learned to manipulate possibilities. To manipulate the pattern itself. There was a possibility that Rand had something to light the pipe with so there was a possibility that the pipe was lit so he just chose the reality that the pipe was lit.

[@user-nu7eb1et3k]

If rand is tge creator why cant he use the one power

[@MrJballn]

Or, Alivia was **SO** committed to her mission to help Rand die, she acquired or crafted a Ter'Angreal pipe that lights on thought so his Two Rivers tabac habit accellerates body #2's journey to the grave lol

[@TheDustyWheel]

Helping rand die...lolololol.

[@MrJballn]

"Helping Rand Die" is the official theory name.

[@TheDustyWheel]

@@MrJballn Alivia used to be a huge fail from a payoff perspective...but this pipe theory is giving me life.

[@MrJballn]

Alivia's just a Tuon pawn biding her time, leave it to a Seanchan to take shit way too literally.

[@knuckle12356]

"Bahahaha!!! Premature wrinkles!!" - Alivia, apparently.

[@g2024_]

I always thought it was related to how he made the grass grow and the trees blossom after he became zen rand. He’s singing to make things happen when he meets Tuon with Mat. Plus the grass growing was stated to not be anything that the power could do, as stated by Egwene

[@MrJahvah]

Ok, I watched this specifically to see if anyone else picked up on what I did on my second read. When I saw the section "new power" I got excited only to realize that you hadn't noticed what I had. This IS set up in the story line. It is hammered out in the prophecy that Min is obsessed with about the 3 becoming one. Cadsuane insists that it is simply about the sword that isn't a sword needing three channelers in order to use it safely, yet Min isn't convinced. Then we jump forward to the Sharan prophecy of Bao the Wyld, a man who can channel without weaves. Bao is said to have an imposter. Damandred can successfully imitate this character (he is the imposter) because his weaves are invisible to those touching Saidar or Saidin. He weaves the Dark Ones power. When Rand defeated the Dark one using all three power combined, they fused together. Rand wields a new power that is essentially Saidin, Saidar, and the True Source fused together. He is now Bao the Wyld and will spend time in Shara thus nullifying the issues that a new power being in 'Rand land' would bring up.

[@rianfelando7496]

You're right, except that the new combination power he has is the power of creation... Or, the power to change the pattern in the same way one would in TAR. I like your point about the Bao prophesy. I guess I'm in for yet another reread lol

[@MrJahvah]

@@rianfelando7496 I did have that same thought, and I do believe that RJ left some hints to that in the story. In Dragon Reborn, when Rand tries to revive the dead girl, Moiraine tells him that he’s NOT the Creator. She also said that stilling was un healable, that the madness was un healable and that Saidin could never be cleansed…. 🤔 These points were hit sooo hard that I wondered from the beginning what RJ was setting up. And because in the last battle, Rand decides NOT to try and kill the Dark One because he is necessary for choice to remain. It makes me wonder if the Dark One and the Light are two sides of another larger wheel just as Saidin and Saidar are two halves of the Light, making the combination of the three equivalent to all of creation. And also simply looking at the catechism that everyone says: ‘the Dark One and the Forsaken are bound by the CREATOR at Shayal Ghul….’ The Dark One was bound by the Dragon, both times…. These only hint that Rand/ the Dragon is the Creator, however. Not sure I’m going to run with it. Nor that he now simply has the power of creation. He may very well, but I don’t know.

[@Sir_TophamHatt]

⁠@@MrJahvahSo Lews Therin was the creator as well? Because he’s the one who bound the forsaken in the bore together with their master. Rand re-sealed the bore completely instead of just putting a few rough patches on it, but he certainly didn’t seal any forsaken in there. I think the point of the catechism is to make the forsaken into some kind of mythical, eternal force of evil like the dark one himself. Which in truth they are not, as the story clearly shows us.

[@MrJahvah]

I'm not advocating that he is the creator... I said that Jordan put some hints to that effect, but that I'm not convinced.

[@davehudson1478]

As far as the Warped Bond theory. I want people to remember that Pevara created a gateway while Androl had the lead.

[@NotQuiteGuru]

I'm surprised that Creator's Power was ONLY 44% Especially since most of the other theories are "subsets" of the Creator's Power theory. The Creator's Power (CP), or the power of creation, is exactly the same as the power one has in TAR, except that it can be applied to the real world. When we dream, we create "dream reality", we have the power of creation over our dreams. Once Rand was granted the power to shape reality in his little jaunt with the Dark One outside the pattern, and given the fact that his mere existence was physically pulling and manipulating the pattern around him as a Ta'veren throughout the series, he could absolutely manipulate the pattern himself in real life. Plain and simple, what extent these powers go is another question. The TAR pocket and AvaTAR theories are essentially the same, Rand has access to TAR powers in the real world. These theories are technically correct. But he has access to far more than TAR, he has power over reality. The flicker theory can be true at the same time as any of the others. Any of the turnings of the wheel can be called a flicker as well. But the flicker theory doesn't explain how he lit the pipe. The Dreamshard theory is interesting, and one of the few that contradicts the CP theory. But... Rand smiled as he appeared to understand how the pipe was lit. (Maybe he was mistaken?) He wouldn't have smiled if he suspected the light had lost, and of course, why would the Dark One trap him in an idyllic version of reality where he's finally at peace? This one is plausible, but unlikely, and certainly no fun. Rand is the Creator? Well, if Rand has the power of the creator, maybe he could be called as such. But knowing that the desire to recreate the pattern in a way different from the creator's intention would cause him to become another Dark One, He's probably content to be this turning's champion. This one is plausible and doesn't contradict the CP theory. The Dragon is One with the Land IS technically correct too. Rand has the power of creation and therefore IS one with the land, how many times did he create whole worlds on a whim. He has a more fundamental understanding of the pattern and the land that is weaved within it than any other besides the creator and any previous champions. The Ta'veren theory connects back to CP theory as well, all a Ta'veren is is someone who pulls and tugs at the pattern unintentionally by virtue of some "quality" they possess. Rand has graduated from Ta'veren to someone who can directly access the pattern. So this one is technically correct too. 1st Magic User. 1st Magic user of the new age in that particular turning of the wheel. And this is technically true too. He is the first human to wield the creator's power in this turning. Ter'Angreal. Well I cannot argue against this one. I guess it's plausible and does contradict the CP theory. But it's boring too. Most Ter'Angreals require channeling to use and where would have someone gotten it from and brought it to the battlefield? Seems pretty unlikely, but not impossible. A Helping Hand. This one got me. I had never heard it and it seems plausible, and a direct contradiction of the CP theory. But a good point was mentioned in the video that the girls would have never openly channeled like that to point every remaining channeler right in Rand's direction. Possible, but improbable. Warped bond is too big a leap, and given Rand's history, he'd never knowingly use someone else's ability without their consent. He smiled, indicating he knew what was happening, so this is extremely unlikely. Moridin's gift. No way, if this is some NEW ability that Moridin possessed, Rand wouldn't be able to use it so easily... he'd need some practice time, and there was no mention of abilities Moridin had that would follow logically. Harriet's Pipe - This one is also probably totally true, but doesn't contradict any other theory. The ONLY theory that is both highly likely and conforms with most of the others is the Creator's Power theory. Pretty straight forward if you ask me... why are we debating this one??

[@rianfelando7496]

Long read, but I couldn't agree more.

[@ebertenor]

I mean AvaT'A'R kinda falls apart when you consider there is a character in the series, Birgitte,, who literally is a person of T'A'R existing in the real world, and she couldn't affect the real world in that way.

[@TheWilbon]

I thought all of the theories other than "Rand can now weave the Pattern" were very weak.

[@user-zl7sv6go3p]

it could be that because his original body died but his soul lived on in the real world. Rand was half in the world of dreams, whereas Birgitte was 100% in the real world, explaining how Rand could manipulate things, while Birgitte couldn't.

[@Dragonsworn864]

Well she never was inside the pattern itself

[@bobok5566]

Can we get another prequel? The full backstory of Rand/Galad family... and how Verin engineered it all...

[@robertbryce3225]

As long as we substitute Verin with Gitara, and a good author, then I am on board with this. Hints are dropped throughout the series that Gitara, or the pattern working through her foretelling to engineer his birth. But then I do not think fans will ever be sated when it comes to WoT content

[@TheDustyWheel]

@@robertbryce3225 Never be sated. For sure. I'm hopeful, in the distant future, we get more writing in the world of The Wheel of Time. But I don't think we'll see it, other than on screen, for many many years.

[@vacaraluenus1979]

He did unlock the full mind potential in fight against the dark one, to such a extend that he can materialise his ideas and thinking into reality.

[@SquareOneHandyman]

During the last battle, Rand learned how to weave the great pattern itself. Wouldn't lightingbhis pipe be the simplest use of that ability?

[@LezbiNerdy]

I think a fun deep dive might be into "post book head canon" -- I know I have a fairly elaborate system that includes characters like (of course) Mat and Tuon, also Min, Elaida, Moghedian... I could throw Graendal in there, and Nynaeve and Lan, some Elayne... etc...

[@TheDustyWheel]

Interesting. What would the angle be as far as where the discussion would go?

[@armandog3335]

What happens to shara or land of insane people? Does tuon become even more tyrannical? Is she assassinated? Does 100 year peace last? I really hope we get more books down the road.....one can dream.

[@MrDarchangelomni]

I always have thought, since the moment the final book first gave us the last pieces of missing information, That Rand can now touch the wheel, and is "WHEEL WEAVING", able to weave the pattern itself objectively at will, rather than subjectively as a function of Ta'Veren luck. When Rand held the Dark One in his hand, he was able to Weave literal Reality, after witnessing the Dark one do so, Rand reached out and seized the pattern threads, then began crafting alternate worlds. Since Time literally had no meaning inside the prison, Rand literally spent eternity mastering the ability to such an extent he was even able to change the "physical characteristics of the Dark one, Rand began to see him as small an weak, and The Dark One was, being a harmless nothing in Rands Palm. After Rand determined that he wanted the universe to have balance, he infinitely divided his flows from all the of the % powers he was holding, 1. Saidin 2. Saidar 3. True Power 4. The Wheel, and 5. The Pattern.... Rand the casually cleared the pattern and old prison. Using the infinite threads of all the powers wrapped in the True power, Outside of time Rand crafted the new Prison, then wove the pattern to bind it, then wove the wheel, to spin again and again, spinning out fresh threads, to maintain the walls of the Dark One's prison, once linear time begins to weaken it as the dark one searches for weak points... and The place where Rand steps back into the pattern as it weaves itself close, will be the thin area, the focal point of where the next bore will be drilled in ages to come. Since Rand was holding the wheel and pattern as he re-entered the pattern, He formed a conduit between himself and that Focal Point, that keeps him connected to the Wheel and Pattern, able to modify both at will from inside the weave now in real time. Rand was using the powers to weave everything and everyone who will ever live into existence, Chicken A' La Egg style. Infinite people over infinite lifetime, being wound round and round the 5 powers, using the Dark Ones own power, to shield creation from his touch, Every life of every person as a thread, spun out endlessly. It is sublimely beautiful actually, because for the first time in the story, we are getting to see Rand Rewarded with true freedom the polar opposite of Shai Tan, in that Rand is no longer beholden to the Pattern, He is living as its author, able to head any direction he wants and live life in any means he chooses. Being able to take off his "Dragon Reborn's Pattern Repair Service" hat, and live as Rannidin, for the rest of the years he wove into the wheel for his current lifetime. Essentially resting on his Seventh Day with not a worry or care. Having shrugged the mountain with a heart light as a feather. Anyways after many re=reads, this is what I can gather, from every relevant word, that gives insight into the wheel, Rands linked soul, The lore of the bore, Rands monologue as he trains in the Wheel and weave power... Remember basically Rand did, exactly what the Dark one has always wished to do, Touch the wheel and weave, destroy it, then make it in his own image, while being inside the pattern, Walking around in a world of his own making. In the Dark Ones Desire, he overlooked the Fact that he was showing Rand how to do it, nd The Rand DID IT, how else do you explain what happened inside the Dark Ones prison and it is exactly what people in the age of legends said "The Creator" had done in the beginning, ages ago, in an age yet to come.

[@drewlovs]

Everyone gets SOOO obsessed with that pipe-but what has always “bothered” (see also:blows my mind) is that he reaches for the one power and finds.. nothing. Like he has been severed? And it doesn’t bother him... AT ALL? Nothing? We have seen every male Aei Sedai thru false dragons in Randland slowly lose the will to live because they cannot channel anymore, and Rand feels... relief?

[@GeraltSavior]

Channelers who have been severed can still feel the One Power, they just can not touch it and use it. It is the fact that they can still feel its presence but not embrace it that makes them lose the will to live. For Rand, the Power is simply gone.

[@drewlovs]

@@GeraltSavior I can see that, and thought it thru... but think of the reasons we get from the POVs of those individuals. They do not describe the power “just out of reach”.... they describe the feeling of the power washing thru them, the euphoria, the feeling of being powerful, etc. kind of like an addict describing their favorite drug-sure, being severed means the “drug” is sitting right in front of you just out of reach, but the addicting part is the power in you. And don’t flirt me wrong, I do not think this was a mistake on Jordan’s part-he did this intentionally, and with purpose IMO. Of course, I’m often wrong...

[@lesliekilgore648]

various theories on being inside a Stedding, Terangreal, Severed/Gentled and Burning Out differ. read the section where Lolial talks about how writings of the Ogier state that some of the Steddings sheltered male Aes Sedai during the Breaking. some of those Ogier posited that both the sheltering extended the Breaking for many years, and that sheltering also MITIGATED the spread of the Madness of the Taint. if EVERY Male had gone mad IMMEDIATELY (within months) of the counterblow the world would have been entirely destroyed. so, even the Stedding can't mitigate the longing to channel. but many male Aes Sedai during the Breaking lasted year upon year living inside the Stedding. Rand's own Ashaman (ashamen? how do you conjugate the Old Tongue? hah!) show how the Madness differs from man to man. Rand himself describes both the Stedding and... that city that is a Terangreal... made him feel 'lost' and how he reached through the Void and found nothing, like when he was shielded in the box. the two Stilled/Severed Aes Sedai, the Amyrillin and her Keeper of Chronicles describe not only the anguish of losing the Bonds with their Warders but trying to keep their sanity after being Stilled. they, and Logain had to find 'SOMETHING' to take the place of Channeling. but it was possible. the lady Innkeeper who was Mat's friend and helped him negotiate his 'relationship' with Tuon had been Burned Out during her career as an Aes Sedai. she found a life, a husband, had a family, ran her inn and suchforth. Rand already has THREE somethings, he has his bonds with his 'wives'. he also has his desire to travel, to see the world that he didn't have time to explore. Rand wants to live a life no longer bound by 'destiny' or 'prophecy'. he wants a life not unlike what Lews Therin had before the Bore or the Foresaken and the War. he's just a wool-headed sheepherder that had all that Dragon stuff thrust upon him.

[@pskarnaq73]

It would have been awesome if the very last word of AMoL was *flicker*

[@auroramariealmeara8622]

The answer is simple, he was able to do it "Because he is the kwisatz haderach!"

[@SedaiMaster]

Another great concept for a show! You guys keep smashing them out. Look forward to the next one. Thanks for all the work you put in!!

[@Adam_okaay]

Alright that last theory is so touching it almost brought tears to my eyes.

[@BOBBOBBOBBOBBOBBOB69]

Rands true power clearly goes above Ta'veren or channeling, he is special in some other way. I think it's because his journey leads him to true enlightenment and thus transcends the pattern.

[@TheDustyWheel]

Starts at 2:21! Which theory did you like best? Which theories did you think we missed? What Theory topic should we cover next?

[@RickTCPB]

In my WoT head canon, the truth has always been something close to the T'A'R pocket theory. There was a ton of buildup, new discoveries, and key moments towards the end of the series that were related to T'A'R so I admit that it may have tainted my opinion. However, the way it was described as he "thought of the pipe being lit. And it was" seemed very much in tune with the dream world. Since leaning in this theory's direction, I have also often thought that perhaps this was in some way how Rand was manipulating plants, food, etc. in Zen Rand mode. Unfortunately, we may never know the truth - but even as far back as The Dragon Reborn (Chapter 21, Verin) Jordan was establishing a seemingly significant overlap between the worlds and T'A'R: "There is one Creator, who exists everywhere at once for all of these worlds. In the same way, there is only one Dark One, who also exists in all of these worlds at once. If he is freed from the prison the Creator made in one world, he is freed on all. So long as he is kept prisoner in one, he remains imprisoned on all. [...] There is a world that lies within each of these others, inside all of them at the same time. Or perhaps surrounding them. Writers in the Age of Legends called it Tel'aran'rhiod." Anyway, thank you for the video/topic - always a fun one!

[@ebertenor]

The only other theory I'd suggest is perhaps the veil between worlds was still weak around Shayol Ghul. It was pretty clearly established with Perrin that the lines were blurred between T'A'R and the real world in that area, and that may not have gone away with the closing of the bore since that's why the bore could be sensed there in the first place. Maybe the pattern is still thin there, maybe someone with enough insight can affect it enough to light a pipe like they would in T'A'R while they're in the area. It's not super satisfying since Rand would then walk away powerless, but it would make for a nice tease.

[@TheDustyWheel]

@@ebertenor Nice! I did forget to include the idea of the blurred lines between worlds, which is a mix of a few of the ideas, though could stand on its own.

[@RickTCPB]

@@ebertenor For sure - the book definitely indicates that the line between Dream/Waking worlds is thinner there so it could be just something left over after the bore is sealed up again. However, at least for my own sanity and closure, I equate that thinness to the DO's presence. I believe it is stated/implied that the DO granted Luc/Slayer enhanced abilities in T'A'R, not to mention the ability to come in and out, that don't require channeling. Couple that with some other "evil" T'A'R things like the ability to pull people in against their will - it keeps leading me down the path that there was more to the overlap between then two worlds than was covered in the books and the DO did his best to take advantage. The 'light side' was limited in this area by what the Aiel dreamwalkers deemed acceptable and what folks like Perrin and Egwene were able to reason out on their own.

[@TheDustyWheel]

@@RickTCPB Thanks! The truth is likely a mix of many. I like to think it could be the hook Jordan said he wanted to add that would make us wonder what the 4th Age held. T'A'R and the Dragon are my favorite in-world explanations, though the the Champion of the Light discovering new abilities, talents, access to powers, is appealing, too. Jordan certainly gave us a lot of canon to hang our theories on!

[@TheWilbon]

As far as we know gentling doesn't break the bond if the 'Warder' is gentled, only if the 'bondholder' is gentled. Warders are almost exclusively non-channelers.

[@Adam_okaay]

I always took it as the last vestiges of his ta'verenness as it faded away and he became a regular person, and that's why he smiles.

[@anaiyasgarden]

I always try and like and comment, because I know every interaction helps the algorithm to push videos out in recommended, but sometimes I forget. One theory I’d never heard before was the Harriet one. DEFINITELY my new head canon. Love these episodes about theories!!!!!!

[@kristinebutler3971]

I love the idea of Rand being still connected to the land… As the dragon

[@abj136]

I feel most attached to this: After his period of darkness broke, he walked through a field and it bloomed. He was exercising this power to light the pipe. I guess that's The Dragon, but I don't see it as tying him down as the commenters thought it was a limitation. He IS the dragon, eternally. But his work is complete, so he doesn't have to suffer the weight of it any more. Until the next Turn of course.

[@phil817]

More of these! Thank you for the excellent content.

[@nathlack6170]

I always related it to the 'tricks' he thought about while he was explaining about being an outlet for the patterns balance - as well as him singing softly in the meeting with fortuna in order to make the cherries bloom

[@MrJballn]

The Harriet Pipe theory is definitely the absolute best, he wrote absolute ambiguity for the person closest to him and second closest to the work?! If she was never meant to know, the allegory is that love is the abounding mystery.

[@jaime6400]

1. T’A’R Pocket: I find that really interesting. 2. AvaT’A’R: ooohhhh that and/or the first really would make sense. Damn. It would makes sense for Tel’aran’rhiod to be a part of it…. 3. Flicker Flicker: I don’t like it I winced 4. Dreamshard: That makes me want to vomit. That would be bloody awful 5. Creator’s Power: I like this quite a bit. I can see this being the case, even over T’A’R. It’s beyond the Dream World. 6. Rand is the Creator: I mean…it feels a little too “Mistborn” or “Stormlight Archive” to me LOL. It’s better than Dreamshard and Flicker Flicker, but that’s now how I see Rand. Him having a bit of the power, sure. Him BEING that power, nah. 7. The Dragon: Huh. IMO this is aligned with Creator’s Power. Aradia’s argument makes loads of sense, but I feel like his soul may still be the Dragon. Hm, and its possible relation to other realities would fit in with Jordan’s physics background… 8. Ta’veren: I agree with you, I don’t like it. The ta’veren nature would have dissipated by now as it doesn’t relate to the soul like the Dragon would. 9. 1st Magic User: Eh. Not awful but it’s not something I am feeling. It is neat that Harriet feels this way (and that she doesn’t know either)! 10. Ter’angreal: *laughs* well…that WOULD make things work nicely. I like your argument against this. 11. A Helping Hand: awwww that would be an adorable reason and would actually make more sense than him being the Dragon or having the Creator’s Power. It’s a fun idea, especially, as Drew said, there is so much of an unreliable narrator in the series that this would ice the cake. 12. Warped Bond: That sounds a bit like how the a’dam works. This sounds shifty [[Side note: Drew broke my brain]] 13. Moridin’s Gift: It’s not the worst but it’s not the greatest. 14. For Harriet: This makes me tear up. OK I don’t fully buy into it but I love it! I loved this episode!

[@MalkierTalks]

I loved this episode so much! A lot of fun discussion and excellent guests! I'm considering my Dreamshard came 6th after you didn't put it through innkeeper ;) haha

[@EvenGodsDie]

Everything is TAR, and Rand has woken up to that fact.

[@silverodin9606]

I kind of think that he somehow merged his being with Saidin. That's why he couldn't feel the source when he reached out to it but when he thought of the pipe being lit he kind of just reached into himself.

[@pipsqeak7104]

Ohhh that's neat

[@SYFMCameron]

I disagree, he has the power of the creator. he has a power outside the true source? so, I dont know, what the heck else does he have but the power of God essentially? He has the power of the creator, but obviously hes not the creator. He's the avatar of the creator at the end.

[@obi-dawnpenobi1510]

One (or all) of the "Time-Share Gals" lit it for him. After all, it coincides with Rand locking eyes with the Three while they're at the bier. He wouldn't have sensed Saidar. 🙂 That's what I thought at first when I read it. Like a sort of 'wink' from them - the ones who know exactly who he is and what's going on.

[@jakedunnegan]

It's #9 all the way. New age, new magic, and a hint at the end of the book to signal that the world was already changing. And that Rand, for all his work and effort, wasn't left powerless in this new age, not by a long shot. Also, very much a nod to Tolkien (4th age) - and even walking away from the Last Battle has a bit of symbolism with how LOTR had something of a "new age beginning" to it at the end of the story, despite there being some wrap up. It's even a pipe that's lit, which is also both something Tolkien himself used a lot, but also how much pipeweed and pipes were prominent in the LOTR. (Jordan famously based his first 100 pages right off of the Fellowship of the Ring, and he'd written the last seen, and knew what was going to be in it, long before he passed away.)

[@shadowkahn13]

As it is written "He thought about that, and found himself laughing, riding on south and smoking his impossible pipe.". It becomes pretty obvious. It is a terangreal.

[@Drashika]

I'm confused as to what is meant by him being part of tel'aran'rhiod. Birgitte was literally ripped directly out from there and essentially became a normal person. I don't know how this would be different from the pocket Theory. If he is fully in this world, how is he able to do what he did with the pipe without a little pocket of the dream world around him? What makes him different than Birgitte? I like the idea that he may have brought a new type of power into the world. To counter the idea that it seems weird that a new power would emerge when the old Power is there, I would argue that there are still Wolf brothers and they were almost completely extinct. There was a time in the past when they were much more plentiful. The ogier, though sentient beings, have found their numbers dwindling. With the exception of a few main characters from the books, the one power has gotten substantially weaker in channelers on average than it was even a few hundred years beforehand. Also, they are less plentiful than they once were as well. However, my personal theory is kind of a combination a couple. The Creator powers, the Zen Dragon, and the Ta'veren. I think that while he was out of the pattern and was able to see everything, kind of became like Neo. He was able to, from that point, see the pattern in everything. I think that it wasn't necessarily a gift from the Creator, but maybe the results of who and what he is coming in contact with the pattern itself. Where Ta'veren are definitely passive with what happens around them, I believe he became a more active version of that. Whether he still technically is one or not. And as to whether or not he still is one, just because he thinks he's not, and the last battle is over, doesn't mean he's done. There may still be work that he is intended to be doing. Or maybe he can't stop being Ta'veren because he touched the pattern. Also, I don't really see much difference between Zen Dragon and Ta'veren. Isn't the whole idea that he's the most powerful one of all time? At the very least, of this age. It would make sense to me that since the pattern warps around him it can also be affected by him in otherwise unknown ways. He just knows how to control it now. At least that's what I believe.

[@anthonyhayden4826]

The 5th one is what I immediately thought of as I read it the first time. I've seen no reason to change my conclusion on that. Cool discussion.

[@jonnekallu1627]

There seems to be no mention here about how the Dark One was able to change the world just by "touching" it and how it would have bent everything to it's will if it had broken out of it's prison. Rand got outside of the pattern, learned to bend the pattern like the Dark One while fighting it, returned to the world from the prison and locked it behind him this time forever. And then Rand is just somehow able to light a pipe just by willing it... hell... maybe Rand IS the Dark One?

[@judgehelbig2347]

Love to see more deep dive into Matt and how many lives ad type of lives he led

[@jakebohn435]

I always thought Rand just willed it like he was weaving the pattern. When Rand and the darkone were showing each other different worlds, he was using the same thing as he was doing to light the pipe..

[@lololo4809]

Creator's Power is the one that resonates with me the most. During the fight with the DO, Rand chanelled Saidine and Saidar (both aspects of the Creator) as pure light, along with the True Power, the essence of the DO, meaning he combined both primordial forces of creation and destruction to weave the pattern itself and imprison the DO. So I think that as a reward for his service, the Creator endowed Rand's soul with the ability to keep shaping reality through thought as happens in the world of dreams

[@mharjharjarauct]

Ta’ veren! Since Rand fought for the light? And closed the breach, the absence of the Dark one essence, Rand melded with the light of the pattern of the wheel, having his Ta’veren abilities (since he was the strongest ever to start with) has been boosted a thousand fold. Hence the singing, lighting the pipe, bend people to his will, etc. How do you think he WOVE scenarios in responses with the Dark One?

[@ssj002]

I think the Creator rewarded Rand for saving that Era with...just the ability to always keep his pipe lit =D

[@lesliekilgore648]

personally, i like A Helping Hand... like the host said... inverted weaves wouldn't draw attention. that close, The Bond can provide perfect knowledge of where their Warder was at. otherwise, any Aes Sedai that wove any attacks to support their Warder would run the risk of hitting him in battle. so, why would a Bond, designed for battle, be in any way inaccurate at close enough range? Elayne or Avi could have woven fire immensely accurately. all three turned to look away from 'his' body on the pyre and watched him ride away. all three of them had seen and/or felt him reach for saidin before to light his pipe many many times. it's like us today reaching for a lighter for our cigs or pipes. so Elayne and Avi both could have easily remembered 'Rand tried to light his pipe but he couldn't.' share a smile between the girls, Avi defers to Elayne as her 'senior sister-wife' (if you want to debate this one go ahead and do it amongst yourselves, i don't personally care who'll be Rand's #1, 2, or 3 in the pecking order), fire is woven and the pipe is lit. Terangreal Pipe. i like it and i also don't like it. 1 Elayne had learned basic terangreal construction and was close to making her first angreal. she could figure out basically how to make new ones too, if the purpose she tried to make them for was simple. 2 Avi had a Talent for identifying what terangreal did. 3 if Elayne made him a self-lighting pipe or Avi found him one amongst the stash is not too far fetched. 4 but there's a problem. terangreal made to be used by non-Channelers hardly work anymore. one of the Female Forsaken explained it. there was a (i hate to use the word Tesla Field) of One Power energy flowing around the world using man-made terangreal projectors. those non-Channeler terangreal grabbed some of that One Power Field and utilized it. without that network of One Power Fields those specific terangreal wouldn't work properly.

[@jonathanhall6426]

Everything else aside he is on Nakomis level. Whatever she was doing in the desert with Aviendha, he is now capable of. She was there at the end with him.

[@dark_ones_taint5993]

I just thought of one. I think Egwene became a Hero of the Horn that existed in TAR and lit it for him. As a Dreamer, maybe she found out how to touch the world before being spun out again.

[@devilsluck3987]

Egwene not showing up after Olver blew the horn was heart breaking. It was such a wasted opportunity in my mind. She easily could have (and should have imo) been written in to save Aviendha in her fight against the forsaken. Besides Rand (and one could argue, more than Rand) she had been through the most suffering, and triumph, and ultately self sacrifice; than anyone in the series.

[@ThatKidsChannel]

My personal theory is a bit convoluted, but I think it's convincing. We know that there are many worlds, and many of them are unfinished or incomplete, and we know that TAR is another world that is closely tied to what we consider to be the mainline reality. It is, in fact, closely linked to many worlds (my opinion is its linked to every world). Not only do I think its linked to them, I believe that the other worlds exist WITHIN tel'aran'rhiod. I think that the power of creation is dreaming and that by extension, the creator's power is the power of the dream; the power to exert free will. We know that TDO is the opposite; he represents control and wants to strip free will from people. He's eventually defeated by Rand's willpower. Rand simply retained either access to this power or the knowledge of how to exert his willpower and use the power of creation. It could be argued that willpower IS the power of creation as well and that being in TAR simply weakens the tendency for the waking world to resist that power.

[@ramspencer5492]

It's so reminiscent of how things work in Tel'aran'rhiod.... Then the was what he weaved the Bore with pure Saidin, pure Sadar and the "true power". All he realized about the dark one never really having been the enemy..... He woke up from the dream and came back. I think he discovered that this world works like Tel'aran'rhiod.... Because he believes that... Really believes it now... I think it works how Perrin discovered that the wolf dream works. I think Rand is more powerful now than he ever was. But much, much, much less likely to use power for almost anything . His mission is done. It's time to live. It's time to play.

[@dueschemcgee4569]

I'm sold on AVATAR after hearing it out. But upon finishing the series, my first thought or instinct, told me that Rand became linked with the Creator in some way. That by weaving patterns I'm the Wheel while fighting Shai'tan. Rand became endowed with this new ability to create by sheer will without channeling.

[@kungfupanda9228]

Rand is the creator "the dark one and all the forsaken are sealed in shaolgul, sealed sealed by the creator sealed at the moment of creation" duh

[@jennywilliams1455]

I disagree with this theory but this quote does fit it spectacularly!

[@LagMasterSam]

When I read it, I assumed it was actually The Dark One's power Rand had gained because reality shaping was what they did in their battle with each other. As I understood the books, the Creator never shapes the pattern directly but The Dark One does. The Creator put the wheel in motion, but The Dark One is explicitly trying to stop that motion. In that case, Rand's power is actually something he either stole or learned from The Dark One. EDIT: A disturbing possiblity to consider is that maybe The Dark One saw his loss coming and granted Rand this power. If saidin and saidar keep the wheel turning, maybe direct manipulation actually slows it down.

[@jeffreywebb2692]

Createrbs power has been my thought.

[@Tijuanabill]

Rand didn't light the pipe, the author did. The ultimate power beyond all others, is the power of the author.

[@JackofDaShadows]

Y’all are great

[@Haxerous]

I don't think that Rand needs to be completely devoid of all powers for him to be on his own/do his own thing post epilogue. During the last battle and right before closes the bore, he has this epiphany of letting people have their own choice, letting them take responsibility for what they want to do and so on. His job was to defeat the Dark one and I suppose you can add the Dragon's Peace to it as well. Which he did. Now the rest of the world has to do their own thing. He doesn't believe he has the right to force them or coddle them to do as he wishes. So I believe he can have these reality warping and simply chose to not exercise them to directly intervene in everything that the world and it's people do.

[@ChrisCharlescole]

Just finished up WOT after 20 glorious months - can finally hunt for other opinions without being afraid of spoilers! Wanted to throw my thoughts in here after hearing the theories.. I really like the idea of ‘Helping Hand’ where Rand is pulling from Aviendha/Elayne from the bond. -Supporting theories to this which pulls me is that the bond has been changed to something like a circle formation, where Rand can manipulate the flows without being in control. There was a hint to this with Pevara forming the gateway when in a circle but Androl leading it during the Last Battle .. -Also, this could lead up the next big change in the 4th Age, where non-channellers can gain channeling abilities, through bonding with an Aes Sedai/Asha’man.. You can argue that Rand should still have a ‘feel’ of the flows since he’s a conduit for Saidar, but some food for thought! :)

[@TheDustyWheel]

Glad you made it! And thanks for sharing this thought. You might want to check out our Nakomi video next! :)

[@Dragonsworn864]

But pevara and androl both bonded one another rand and the girls didnt

[@evelynparmley6043]

I think Moridin’s body is in the physical realm, but since Rand died his soul is tied to T.A.R. because he’s a hero of the horn. So he has gained the abilities of T.A.R. Basically he exists in both “dimensions” simultaneously.

[@liatrd]

Just getting to know your channel, love it so far! Q: Doesn't Birgitte answer the AvaTAR theory? She's a being from TAR living in the real world, but doesn't posses any magical powers because of it..

[@Taveren]

The thing that really does it for me is the black speck that doesn't move in his eye

[@TheJcornell08]

Well I haven't seen this yet but at the end of the books Rand is the soul of the dragon and he is reborn in the body of the dark ones champion. He is a soul of light in the body of darkness. Which is a complete being he is outside of the pattern and living in one of the worlds he created in his battle against the dark one. The endless battle of two threads in the pattern ended for good and combined. The lighting of the pipe symbolized that he won and his version of the world is what carried on.

[@lokdog257]

Rand is ALWAYS the Dragon, he is ALWAYS ta'verin. He is THE strongest soul

[@artanastacio1569]

This series is very influential. One IP I constantly see influences from Wheel of Time is definitely the Dragon Age video games. There are many including character names and places on maps but their magic system is definitely interesting and this relates to my theory of how Rand lights that pipe. I suppose this categorizes me as being in the First Magic User camp, but my take is that it's a combination of several theories. In Dragon Age there isn't much elaboration about how magic works specifically, but the gist of it is that mages tap into a dimension of dreams called "The Fade" where spirits and the dreams of all people roam together. In that realm, reality is very malleable. Demons roam there as well. In between the world of the living and this other realm is a metaphysical barrier called "The Veil". Those talented in magic use a number of means to part this veil or thin its presence enough to manipulate the power of this dream world by either twisting reality or entreating spirits who can alter reality. I believe something similar has happened to Rand. By fighting the last battle and inhabiting the body of a being built to harness the Dark Ones reality warping powers, something has thinned the barrier between reality in Rand's world and the dimensions overlaying it, such as Tel'aran'rhiod. In Morridin's body Rand is able to warp reality, but not just malevolently as the Dark One did. He's essentially a walking bubble of evil, but stable and he can do whatever he focuses on.

[@damanOts]

I always did think the Grey Wardens were a little too similar to Warders to be coincidence

[@ahtreh]

@@damanOts I disagree. Wardens drink tainted blood to become something half dead, to kill archdemons. That is their entire purpose in life. To defend from the "undead". While Warders don't drink any weird blood nor are bound to one specific goal (other than protecting their aes sedai). Warders are able to have children, and able to leave the bond. While a Grey Warden is never again able to change anything.

[@damanOts]

@@ahtreh I was thinking about the abilities they get from becomeing a warden. I was replaying it not too long ago and the description of their abilities made me immediately think of Warders. Obviously it is a pretty loose connection but is not hard to believe one of the writers drew a little inspiration from a very well known fantasy series.

[@ahtreh]

@@damanOts yeah i guess that could be.

[@artanastacio1569]

Zdx

[@Dragonsworn864]

I finished wot tomorrow and for me it seems like rand can control the world as he was in the world of dreams

[@ryanodom6101]

I think it's leftover creator power. The dark one has been sealed away, so the "True Power" is no longer accessible. He can't touch Saidin either, so the only thing that remains is some small ability to still directly change the pattern. I always felt that that was what his eye indicated.

[@MrBuubtube]

Perrin was still able to enter the Wolf Dream to find Faile after the Last Battle, so why wouldn't Rand still be Ta'veren?

[@Dragonsworn864]

Perrin wolf powers inst related to taveren

[@MrJballn]

Ta'veren, and I'd argue "Dragon-hood" itself, is a function of the extra dimensional nature of the Pattern. It implies that people are bodily occupied by forces unknowable to them, shaping their perceivable worlds in projects and campaigns larger than themselves, only to later reflect on the ways in which they operated as part of a larger whole under a passionate fervor that has largely subsided.

[@lauraswinton8458]

Innnnnteresting.... Rand as the creator makes sense if you think about the philosophies RJ drew from. We are all the creator, but most of us don’t reach that level of consciousness, think there are aspects of Daoism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc along with Gnosticism and pantheism in there.... Rand has the creators power is also very Buddhist, the Bodhisatvas were humans who reached Nirvana but turned it down to help humanity and stay connected with the world.

[@jawbreaker9240]

I choose to think that the Creator gifted Rand with some of his power as a reward for his sacrifices throughout the series. It’s common knowledge that once the Creator finished creating the world he moved on to make other worlds and left the world to his own devices when in actual fact they were integral in weaving the pattern to direct events in such a way that no one really knows their touch. I see it as an easter egg/ ah ha moment at the end signifying that he was present all along.

[@TernesNick]

Isn't the dream world the "Most real" version of the wheel, that connects with all the other versions? So the idea that Rand can manipulate probability plays into the dream world theories as well.

[@danielleduran4213]

Love this theory (one with the land)

[@lokdog257]

Silverbow was born again into the world, which means the Pattern needs her, which means war and conflict. Perrin and Mat are still ta'verin, the Pattern still needs them. Rand MAY be separated from the Pattern, and fade away

[@chuckmarkley3324]

I think like Aviendha said that Rand had woke from the dream. This meaning that he died in the final confrontation, as the prophecy states he would. He did however recreate the initial prison for the Dark One. However, everything after the final battle is from Rand's perspective as he lives out the rest of his time in his own created reality, in his personal dream shard of Tel'aran'rhiod.

[@aDifferentJT]

My view is a variation on First Magic User, I think that this is Robert Jordan letting go of his world, it’s something new. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the Wheel of Time, this is an ending, but it also a beginning. Robert Jordan wanted readers to believe the world continued beyond the books, and I think Robert Jordan wanted to believe that himself too, so he wrote a reference to something new, something he hadn’t really worked out himself, it’s no longer his world but has been set free.

[@JudasBrennan]

I like to think that Rand lost. The Dark One was trying to trick him into accepting a fake reality to trap him. If he accepted one of these realities and got stuck in the Dream, he would have the ability to alter reality and light his pipe. Rand is stuck in the Dream and the Dark One won in this turning of the wheel.

[@user-nu7eb1et3k]

This is the one and only big q i have left with. How did she not lead with this? How did she run out of time?

[@stephenjudge4356]

In the Orient the dragon is a symbol of supernatural power, wisdom, strength, AND "hidden knowledge". In most traditions, it is the embodiment of "chaos and untamed nature". I love the theory of the pipe being for Harriet but failing that I like the Dragon, one with the land. I especially like it because of the connection with fire and that `dragons' are NEVER discussed in the books (I'm referring to a creature that is used by Jordan to represent our hero). In WoT, what is a dragon? Rand lighting a pipe?

[@thenightangel6533]

He understands the power in all forms. If your talking about the ending.

[@lokdog257]

When the Red sister and the Asha'man bond each other, she can use his talent for Traveling. So maybe Rand can channel from Elaine

[@PixelatedEpiphany]

I like this idea but don’t honk it’s correct because rand never bonds them in return. Which is why the red sister and asha’man can hear each other’s thoughts and use each other’s powers.

[@scott4482]

My theory about the chapter drop, would place it in TDR, specificly the place where Rand likes to hide out in the mountains, in the Rand causes the earthquake setting.

[@jamescompton5780]

2:20 - Start / News / Intro 4:06 - Season 2 Tweet 11:40 - Topic Intro - How did Rand light the pipe? Theory List: 1. T'A'R Pocket (17:58) - T'A'R like Bubble around Rand 2. AvaT'A'R (20:46) - Rand is a creature of T'A'R 3. Flicker Flicker (23:47) - Its all a dream 4. Dreamshard (26:22) - The Dark One Won 5. Creator's Power (29:49) - Weaving Reality (limited power) 6. Rand is the Creator (33:25) - Full Power 7. The Dragon (36:53) - One with the Land 8. Ta'veren (41:31) - Rand still has Ta'veren powers 9. 1st Magic User (47:33) - 4th Age Birth of New Power 10. Ter'angreal (52:02) - The pipe is a Ter'angreal 11. A Helping Hand (55:57) - Rand had nothing to do with it 12. A Warped Bond (59:54) - Rand can channel through the bond (1:02:14) - Sidebar on the Bond and channeling in general 13. Moridin's Gift (1:04:17) - Something Remained 14. For Harriet (1:08:05) - Breaking the 4th Wall in memoriam to Harriet. 1:16:38 - Voting 1:29:42 - Results

[@TheDustyWheel]

Thank you!! I just converted this list and added it. So helpful!

[@anitareasontobelieve378]

Rand's dreamworld is the other characters' reality.

[@saralee4thewin]

Aludra created a pipe with a flint and steel button on side.

[@frenchh0rnftw]

So i know this is an old stream, but i really like the new power theory. The first age ended with the one power, the second ended with the true power. Why wouldnt the third end with a new power?

[@katfly6562]

Moridan taught Rand, Moridan remembered being around before One Power. which was different than Nargs source of Power, if the powers aren't fighting each other, then they are loose in the land. Menetheren- we go into the land so that our children can hold us- If reality says the pipe isn't lit, then you make reality a lit pipe. He is pretending to have died.

[@VHBEngines]

Creator's Power To make a matrix reference I'd consider it akin to dodging the bullets vs stopping ✋ them with a thought. Channeling is hyper performance of the code vs manipulating the code with a thought

[@davidwilson6577]

My thinking was that by confronting the big evil, Rand was able to marry the True Source with the True Power in himself. He can no longer access the True Source through saidin, and the True Power is greatly diminished, but he is able to access the True Source through the True Power (which was shown to be a much more versatile ability) and in so doing gained an equivalent to the creator's power, a complete control over the True Source, which is pretty much identical to tel'aran'rhiod. The biggest hint to this is the single spec in his eye, IMO any answer has to account for the presence of the True Power. But then the idea of Alivia walking around Tear's basement nonplussed, scratching her head, picking up a balefire rod and considering it for a second. Too good.

[@ShafiqaIdris]

This was a very illuminating discussion. I just finished the books and didn't realize that there were so many theories about the pipe! I don't like any theories that this was a dream/mirror world/DO won. :( I don't follow the magic user theory.. does that mean that people who use that magic can just think things into existence? Same with the Ter'angreal.. are there ter'angreals that are powered only by thought? The ones I remember need channeling or for someone to do an action for them for work (such as stepping through the columns in Ruidhean). Warped bond implies weaving saidar which Rand would have realized he was doing Did Moridin have this sort of power? I don't remember. The discussion about fire fingers made me laugh :) I like the Helping Hand theory but Rand calling it an impossible pipe is throwing me off. I guess it could work if he didn't realize that Elayne or Aveindha lit it (unreliable narrator). I like the idea that Robert Jordan added a pipe to the ending for Harriet and I don't think it contradicts the other theories. When first reading the scene it did strongly remind me of T'AR as similar things can be done there. It could be because the veil between the worlds was thinner there so he could use T'AR 'powers'. I do wonder how far that would go. I'm mostly leaning toward a combo of the Dragon/Ta'veren/Creator theories. Rand was able to consciously alter the world around him after coming down from the mountain (mainly through making the land thrive and sunshine) and after weaving the threads in the Last Battle gained more understanding on how to make other (minor) changes with little effort or the awareness that he could do so.

[@TheDustyWheel]

Glad you liked this one. It's definitely one of my favorites!

[@magnus_cockstrong]

imo, Rand lit the pipe because the Aiel are right and life is a dream. Reality is firmer than Tel'Aran'Rhiod but still a dream world, and so Rand can enforce his will on reality through thought as he would in TAR. Rand gains this unique perspective, and therefore capability, through his trials and direct interaction with the fabric of the pattern.

[@ReubenXR]

I just finished book 6 and saw this get recommended. I hope the "pipe" isn't a big spiler.

[@saralee4thewin]

Rand is a young Gandalf (Randalf) said with pipe if his teeth.

[@demortred]

Was I the only one who just assumed it was a cigarette lighter type device from the 2nd age? They had so many science based devices..