Lanfear and Semirhage

[Ekho 52]

Its been mentioned a number of times in the WoT series that Semi only wears black because Lanfear wears white, but have we ever been given any reason why these two are rivals? If not does anyone have any Ideas:P

[Kaitlin 22]

I'm not sure why, but their personalities show themselves to be totally different. They are both prideful to a fault, and incredibly egotistical. Semmy wants to be the top Forsaken, but perhaps is annoyed at Lanfear because she's seen as the DO's favorite child in a way.

[Mea 0]

Anyone who had to work with Lanfear would be annoyed at her. It's bad enugh to have to read about her.

[Ishmael Moridin 0]

Yep, its probably due to the one-upwomanship that's always existed b/n the two. Semmi is probably the most powerful female forsaken after lanfear. She is jealous of lanfear.

[Ekho 52]

I thought Graendal was the next most powerfull...although I'm most probably wrong, I was just hoping there could be an interesting story between the two

[Cerendrallion 32]

Jealously. Don't we ever meet someone and we instantly dislike them and simply must do better than them? The Forsaken are probably more prone to this little niggling things than most people, given their outlook on life.

[Sivart Reborn 7]

All of the Forsaken but crazy are rivals and have bad blood, and crazy is only omitted from that because he's crazy!

[Ekho 52]

But no other rivalries are really mentioned in the books, there are more alliances described than anything else

[Marie 73]

By default they are all rivals. I think the one between Semi and Lanfear is more obvious because they are color coded. I.E. white vs. black.

[Kaitlin 22]

None of them really like each other. That alliance that was formed wasn't done too happily. Each one seemed to think that the other was out to get them (and they were! ).

[Ishmael Moridin 0]

By default they are all rivals. I think the one between Semi and Lanfear is more obvious because they are color coded. I.E. white vs. black.

 

I don't think that is the case. Its just the case of two really powerful channelers competing with each other. Or there may be a history there, when they were still students or something.

 

We don't see any discrimiation on those grounds anywhere in WOT. If it does not exist in the current age .... I don't think it would have existed in the very advanced social structure of AOL.

[Marie 73]

I think you misunderstood! I meant their clothes Semi wears black and Lanfear wears white.

[Ishmael Moridin 0]

I think you misunderstood! I meant their clothes Semi wears black and Lanfear wears white.

Hah

[Kaitlin 22]

Lanfear went willingly to the Shadow because of her outrageous emotional extremes, as Semmy might see it, whereas Sem chose the Shadow out of an intellectual need to torture the crap out of people. Strangely, inside each of them their emotions are probably the opposite of what they appear on the outside.

 

Lanfear seems actually very cold when we get down to seeing her true desire, which is to be better than everyone and rule with more power than the DO and the Creator.

 

Semirhage tortures because of a developed sadism that craves the physical and emotional pleasure received from breaking another human being and controlling them utterly. It shows the deep flaw of her own failed control, really.