Leaderboard

Here is a nice gif for all of you who feel sad today. It's not much, but hopefully it'll make your day a bit better.

*Yawn Appears to be upside down hrm. Sorry. *shrugs. I is tired.

So I have wondered for a while what "The Evil" on Threnody is that ravages the Homeland and first banished the people of that world to the so-called "Forests of Hell". Even in Arcanum Unbounded, Khriss (who seems to know a LOT about the Cosmere and the Shards) states that very little is known of it by anyone. But then, after reading the other things mentioned in Arcanum Unbounded related to Threnody, a theory formed in my head that seems completely logical to me but is very likely a RAFO kind of thing to ask. So here's the backstory: According to the essay written by Khriss/Sanderson in Arcanum Unbounded, Ambition inhabited the Threnodite System shortly after the Shattering, but was eventually found there by Odium, who was on his vendetta to become the most powerful being in the Cosmere. The two Shards clashed violently throughout the three Realms, and their epic battle resulted in the Splintering of Ambition and the death of its vessel. The entire system was affected by it, particularly on the planet Threnody, which has two main continents. The smaller one consists of the Forests of Hell, the normal people, and ghostly creatures called the "shades" while the larger one (the Homeland) is dominated by the Evil. The theory: As seen in the form of the shades, Cognitive Shadows of people exist on Threnody due to the way their world works. What I wonder is if people come back as shades after death, why not a Shard of Adonalsium itself as well? My theory, to put it plain and simple, is that the Evil is the Cognitive Shadow, or shade, of Ambition itself. A Cognitive Shadow made from an entire Shard is not unprecedented, mind you. Take the Stormfather on Roshar, for example. After Odium Splintered the Shard Honor and killed its vessel as he had done to Ambition (and others), an enormously powerful Cognitive Shadow formed out of Honor in the form of its spren, the Stormfather. I believe that the Evil on Threnody is the same thing in regard to Ambition as the Stormfather is to Honor: a really big, really dangerous Cognitive Shadow. After all, what do the shades do on Threnody? They attack those who break the Simple Rules, devouring their souls and dissolving their bodies. Who's to say that the Evil, as a Cognitive Shadow of Ambition, isn't just a shade like all the others? It was a person who died, and on Threnody, those come back as the shades. But seeing as this one was so powerful (a storming Shard of Adonalsium), then wouldn't that make it an immensely powerful and really huge shade that can consume an entire continent and feast upon the souls of men in multitudes (as as it is described doing in Arcanum Unbounded)? So there's my theory. The Evil is Ambition's shade. What do all of you think?

Patrick Rothfuss IT WAS NIGHT AGAIN. Shinovar lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts. The most obvious part was a hollow, echoing quiet, made by things that were lacking. If there had been a wind it would have sighed through the grass, set the chickens crowing for the sun and brushed the silence down the road like trailing autumn leaves. If there had been a crowd, even a handful of Shin left alive, they would have filled the silence with prayers, the clatter and clamor one expects from a religious people. If there had been music…but no, of course there was no music. In fact there were none of these things, and so the silence remained. Inside the burnt out house a pair of men huddled at one corner of the bar. They drank with quiet determination, avoiding serious discussions of what they had just seen, why they had been spared. In doing this they added a small, sullen silence to the larger, hollow one. It made an alloy of sorts, a counterpoint. The third silence was not an easy thing to notice. If you listened for an hour, you might begin to feel it in the smouldering wooden floor underfoot and in the rough, sacred stone surrounding the ruins. It was in the weight of the silver sheath that held the black blade leaking dark smoke. It was in the slow back and forth of a shattered Oathstone rubbing along the blade of a dead Herald. And it was in the hands of the man who stood there, sharpening ancient weapons with noone left to kill. The man had no hair, his head shining in the flames. His eyes were black and distant, and he moved with the subtle certainty that comes from hearing many things, seeing things no man should. Shinovar was now his, just as the third silence was his. This was appropriate, as it was the greatest silence of the three, wrapping the others inside itself. It was deep and wide as autumn’s ending. It was heavy as a great river-smooth stone. It was the patient, cut-flower sound of a man who is waiting to die.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. And then the murders began. (And please, to my American friends, no offense is intended :))

This is in Cosmere! The Musical, but more people will see it here. Enjoy, like, and feel free to comment! The Cosmere Rhapsody Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in the mists No escape from the Cognitive. See those lighteyes Standing proud for All to see! I'm just a skaa, I need no sympathy. Because I'm Lashing up, Lashing down. Lashing here and all around. Anywhere that Hoid goes, Doesn't really matter to me. To me... (Piano) Shallan, you killed a man, Put a necklace round his throat Pulled it tight and now he's croaked. Szeth, you had just begun. Then you grabbed the Blade and threw your life away. Tien, ooooh, didn't mean to make you die, It looks like I'm coming back home alone! Carry on, carry on, as if bridgemen do not matter... (Piano) Too late, the God King's come, Sends shivers down my spine, back is aching all the time. Goodbye, Kelsier, Vin's got to go. She's gonna leave you all behind and join Elend! Vasher, ooooh, why did you stab my sister through I'll make you wish you'd never recieved a Breath! (First epic guitar solo) I see a silhouetto of a little spren Shaod, Shaod, the Shaod has claimed me! Everstorm and lightning, very, very fright'ning me! Elhokar, Aesudan, Elhokar, Aesudan, he's a really crappy king. Gallado-o--o-o-on! I'm just a poor skaa, nobody loves me. She's just a poor skaa never with a family! Spare her her life from this monstrosity! Patji, Patji, will you let me free? Aviar! Nooo! I will not let you go! (Let me go!) Aviar! I will not let you go! (Let me go!) Aviar! I will not let you go! (Let me go!) Will not let you go! (Let me go!) Will not let you go! (Let me go-o-o-o-o!) No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! Oh, Preservation, Preservation, Preservation let me go! The Lord Ruler has Ruin put aside for me, for me, for meeeeeeee! (Feel free to head bang) So you think you can run and you think you can hide! So you think that the White Fox will just step aside! Oooh, Silence, give me some ale, would you Silence? Just gotta get out, just gotta leave Threnody! (Other epic solo) Bridgemen do not matter, but Sadeas cannot see Bridgemen actually matter Bridgemen actually matter to me... (Piano) Anywhere that Hoid goes (Whoosh)

And it feels, yeah it feels like the world has grown cold, now that you've Gyorn away. Edit: wait, this isn't the bad puns thread. Look what I've gyorn and done. Edit 2: I'll stop now.

Today is my birthday, and also Einstein's birthday, and Pi Day. Yay.

Find out why. Point out the disparity. Get an adult on your side, if you can. Teachers and staff can be even bigger bullies than students. Hold them accountable.

Writer's block? This comic can be really helpful in overcoming it.

I hope the next time that creeper tries this, the woman on the phone can answer his questions with "I'm not sure, but I can teach you the words for 'I'm an undercover cop and you're going to prison.'"

The vending machine zaps you with a beam! After a moment, you feel very irrational. *inserts fairy*

Brandon confirmed in a WoB (here) that Hoid's storytelling method in Warbreaker doesn't have any connection to Taldain. So we don't need Liar's sample chapters (dubious as they are) to know that. That said, Hoid has been to Taldain because Brandon confirmed he'll appear in White Sand. Though that means he's been there before Autonomy interdicted the world and we don't know if he's been back since.

As I obsessively read everything to leave Brandon's pen, the more I notice elements of his personality and writing habits peeking through consistently through all of his work. When I come across them, it momentarily breaks the fourth wall, but in an endearing way. I only notice these things because I'm familiar with his writing. Examples: When Joel eats a really salty sandwich in The Rithmatist, that's a sandwich Brandon would love. Frowning signifying contemplation. "Elend frowned" could be it's own sub-genre. Interesting, that. Good points, those. Pretty gowns and sharp, buttoned-up military uniforms The 1920s. Oh goodness the 1920s. And I am among the least of these, the Sharders. What are some other things others have noticed?

In honor of March Madness, it is my idea that we should create a tournament of our favorite Cosmere characters and then put them to the test against each other. Right now, I need help with picking the 64 characters that would be put in the tournament, so far I have... Kaladin Shallan Szeth Dalinar Navani Adolin Jasnah Elhokar Sylphrena Taravangian Eshonai Kabsal Sadeas Talenel Lift Vin Kelsier Sazed Elend venture Marsh Spook Breeze Ham Clubs Dockson Straff Venture Zane Ashweather Cett Tindwyl Allrianne Cett TenSoon Yomen Quellion The Lord Ruler Alendi Kwaan Waxillium Ladrian Wayne Marasi Colms Miles Dagouter Steris Harms Ranette Edwarn Ladrian MeLaan Bleeder Claude Aradel Telsin Ladrian Raoden Sarene Hrathen Dilaf Kiin Galladon Siri Vivenna Lightsong Vasher Kenton Khrissalla Baon Ais Aarik Hoid And last, but definitely not least the stick. That is just my idea, if anyone has a suggestion for a character, or potential seedings of the bracket, then your help will be welcomed. Thank you. Also we can do it based off of whoever would win in a battle or the characters that we like the most.

There I was, tied to an altar built of outdated encyclopedias, about to be sacrificed to the dark powers by a cult of evil librarians. And then the murders began.

Should I make this into 32 different polls where I randomly assign each of these characters into a bracket?

We've started collecting them as best we can each month on reddit: /r/cosmere/wiki/archive (see "monthly WoB roundup")

It's just a generic term for anything he's told us outside the books themselves. The biggest and most organized source you can dive into is Theoryland which started out as a collection of interviews and signing reports for Robert Jordan and the Wheel of Time series. Once Brandon was tapped to finish the series it became a collection of things he's said as well. You can also check out the Events and Signings board here for immediate postings and reactions to specific events before they get compiled and put up on Theoryland. Other WoBs sometimes make their first appearance on individual boards where someone's gotten a book personalization with interesting information, or spotted Brandon saying something on Reddit or other things of that nature. But Theoryland is the best place to start.

According to the sample chapters of Liar, Yolish Lightweaving uses dust/sand that he pulls from his pockets. Liar isn't Canon so that may not work, but I think it's a good possibility here.

A couple more articles and studies to think about: Fiyah Magazine's poll of African American sf writers -- No, it's not scientific, but it does add some personal context to all the numbers you can find elsewhere. Of note are the authors that report their rejections say their stories are "unrealistic" or "not really black" when in fact they are based on real events or actual experiences the author has had. CNN's report on a new study that shows people believe black men are larger, stronger, and more dangerous than white men, even when they're the same size. Also mentioned is a study that shows people believe black boys are less innocent than white boys of the same age. The stereotypes we perpetuate in our writing, even unconsciously, can have real world impacts.

Sure it's not a book, but I found this amusing anyway: Very crazy vacations 0_o

Sunbird approves! I just played "Bohemian Rhapsody" on my laptop while reading your lyrics and it's SO EPIC.

LG31: Day Two - Much Comical Death Magestar was killed (twice)! He was a Noble Iron Ferring and Metallurgist! Ecthelion was killed! He was a Skaa Gold Ferring! Randuir was killed! He was a Noble Copper Misting and Kandra! All credit and upvotes go to DA for the writeup. Day 2 has begun. You have 48 hours to decide who to lynch. Player List

The Bugger Shard?

This theory is unlikely. I explain myself Better: - Ambition & Odium fighted also on Therenody's system. But the actual killing blow happened somewhere else. - Indeed It's possible Ambition's Vessel could remain as Cognitive Shadow but: (1) Probabily Odium Will Simply crush him/her (2) this Shadow Will be not a relevant entity. Just someone Ghost, unable to influence directly the physical...If you read SH. Our Ambition's Vessel Shadow Will be like the SH's Main character (at least for half of the book) Don't make your knowledge of the Stormfather tricks you. Tanavast's Shadow merged with an already present "powerful spren" (the rider of the storm). He maybe gained some margin from the Shadow but the actual Power was already there. Little recap: In the end if Ambition's Vessel remained as Cognitive Shadow It would be not in Therenody and He Will be not a powerful entity at all.

Robert Jordan Adonalsium shatters, and the Shards turn into fragments, and the fragments turn into slivers, and even slivers fade to dust when the Shattering comes again. In a time of trial, a time yet to come, a time far past, a wind blew through the Northern Roughs. The wind was not a beginning. There are no beginnings and no ends to the Shattering of Adonalsium. But it was a beginning.

Hello, I am Witless. This is the first fandom online forum thingy that I've joined, so I'm not very sure how this whole thing works. I've read all of Sanderson's books (except for Mitosis, Firefight,and Calamity), and am currently annotating Elantris, WoK, and WoR. I still only kindofish get how the shards and everything fit together, but I'm excited to watch his world coalesce. Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians and The Stormlight Archive is where most of my knowledge and interest lies, so I'll probably be found on those boards. Quick question, how do you set a profile picture and a tagline? Thanks!

Watching GoT (I'm on the last episode!!!) and

Sorry on my phone. I'm reading Warbreaker right now and page 374 when Hoid appears. He starts his story by using a handful of sand and slowly dripping it out of his hand. As he does it changes from black to white, the opposite of sand mastery. I can see few options he's using sand mastery and the color change is different because of the change in shard world. Or the used sand is getting reInvested some how, or lastly he is draining it of color and some how wakening - perhaps using color to lightweave like his story to Kaladin.

D'awww thanks man currently dealing via choc wafers and roommates whisky. Cannot vouch for the healthiness but it seems to be working.

In the audio books it is pronounced Smeh-dree.

I don't have a whole lot of specific things to say, just generalities. I found the beginning very difficult to get into. about 4 pages in and I started to get more invested and once I figured out what was going on, it carried me to the end, but it was a rough start. C & R's sections I found to be confusing just as a baseline. Something I can't quite point to and say "this is what is difficult," just more of a generalized "Huh?" when reading their bits. The police and the girl both were fine. I like the police officer! I also feel like this could maybe use a bit of tightening up or evening out? There were places where everything snapped and was really rolling along, and then there were parts where the characters or narration got a bit too rambly. overall though, I enjoyed it!

Dirt, because I at least know what it is. Would you rather be a Lurcher or a Skimmer?

I just hope you'll be able to pull through this.

Given that Surgebinding was originally only possible with the Honourblades, they seem likely to me to be involved with the original Focus. Then the Spren set out to replicate the effect (I forget exactly why, but presumably they thought it would be neat). The fact Honour is involved means that this is all mediated through the lens of Bonds - you bond with the Honourblade, you bond a Spren, you make a bond between two things with Gravity, etc. Bonds are the focus in my mind.

I know the feels. I literally just had a panic attack. That sucks We're here for you. Suicide is not a fun idea. *hugs

I believe @Spoolofwhool is referring to this one from the Boskone signing.

TAIG: I’m going to do an analysis on the symbols, for fun. Later. The flow in the last paragraph on page 1 can use some work, I think. I’m getting a clear sense of panic from S though, which I assume that is what you’re going for. Wait. If S never studied alchemy under a master, how does S know the basics? “Or did you lay the to trail following them?” – I’m assuming that you forgot to name the fungus in this sentence. Is this the first time S’s age has been mentioned? Because I don’t recall S being that old, and I wasn’t getting the sense that S was 27. This got long, so I reorganized my thoughts into comments. Comments: Symbols: So, salt is a circle with a line to represent the base/acid components, I guess. A triangle pointing down for water, because that’s kind of what a water molecule looks like? Libra for sublimation? I’m drawing a blank here. Libra may be the odd Zodiac out, but I can’t connect the Scales to sublimation. Royal Alchemist R: I have a negative impression from this guy. R is shown to make highly unreasonable assumption (like assuming fungi cannot be bioluminescent) without evidence and doesn’t believe in poly-specialization which is (insert curse of choice here). When developing new ideas and exploring new fields, people who have a hand in a massive amount of skills (instead of just one) are just as important as pure specialists. And he compromises on principles to avoid thanking someone for his incompetence. His personality does offset the impression, but not enough. “What was the purpose of a birthright, if not to give one control over one’s future?” To my understanding, the whole concept of a birthright runs contrary to the concept of ‘control over the future’. Now, if S wants to throw off the birthright, that is understandable, but, generally speaking, ‘birthright’ implies responsibility to a certain goal or cause. ‘Elves are utter nonsense’. Negatives are very difficult to prove, and it’s kind of a downer to see any believer in the scientific method make a negative absolute statement, especially since magic and walking trees have been established. I mean, for all we know, elves could be an alchemically-altered human species in this world. Walking Palm: Yay, an Ent! Moving trees are always something I like to see, though we get precious little about it save for a brief fight scene, which is resolved using pigments. Pigments, by the way, are cool, but if they get used every fight as a one-shot win, the fights will get boring. (Harsh) Criticism: I’ve been debating about writing this bit for a while, but it’s probably something you’d rather be told and it reached a peak in this chapter, so I’m going to say it, but please read to the end. At this point, I’d probably close the novel. The problem is that I don't see S as a compelling alchemist protagonist. Compelling protagonist – yes. Alchemist protagonist - not especially. This chapter actually had a very nice bit a development in terms of that, I appreciate a protagonist who has the resolve to stand for beliefs. The problem, again, is in the alchemical aspect. This is kind of important. There are certain tropes and goals that get attached to genre protagonists. Fantasy protagonists need to be on an epic quest of a sort, Sci-Fi protagonists have a problem that needs to be solved. I expect an alchemical protagonist to want to break Laws. Not legal laws, the Laws of Nature themselves, like G = 6.67x10^-11, and the like. S does not have this, in fact S believes the reverse. S is anti-transmutation, and complains that alchemy reeks of magic, which I assume means S is going to work within the rules as much as possible. Now, I have to empathize (because I’d really hate for this to be taken the wrong way) that S is a good protagonist. However, S clearly mentions the desire to become an alchemist multiple times, possess an incredible amount of practical alchemical knowledge, yet has no goals or desires of a classic alchemist, which means that I don’t find S compelling as alchemist protagonist, which I identify S as. The nearest we get is the desire for the universal solvent, but that’s not even so useful on a practical level, certainly nowhere near lead-to-gold or the unlimited youth. To end on a positive note, (as mentioned previously) I found S's development to be good. S is realizing what S's goals and that S should stand for them.

Crem Facial

They haven't been through it yet, have they? It started out on the plains and headed East. I don't expect anything to happen to them, just pointing this out.

Hiiii! *Obligatory Leonard was Jewish comment*

Humanity will never reach the techno-utopian existence we see in Star Trek. Seriously. There are teachers who can't print (and get snitty with the librarian trying to help them), people who ignore three separate signs outlining printing instructions, and people who stand at the copier for minutes until informed that they need to press the START button, a big green thing outlined in glowing blue light. What makes us think we'll ever figure out Warp Cores?

Technically she's not saying "awesomeness", she's saying something in her native language that happens to translate into "awesomeness" in english as the books are translated from their original Cosmere languages.

Minor correction here, as Rosharan years are only 1.1 the length of Earth years, but for a Rosharan the 50-60 age range would correspond to 55-66, so not quite to the seventies. Also keep in mind that he has kept himself in good shape, he hasn't "let himself go" so to speak, and it isn't that unusual for even Earth people to remain fit into that age range (I Have an uncle who biked across the US on a pennyfarthing bicycle a couple years ago, when he was right around 60 years old). He also has had Shardplate, which is part of the reason he's still in combat in WoK. There's even a part at the end where Dalinar comments that Adolin had given him a gauntlet to replace his that had been destroyed and Dalinar thinks: So obviously there has been some diminished in his ability while outside of Shardplate, he isn't as capable as he was when he was in his forties. Then as Yata pointed out Rosharans are generally healthier because of the Investiture going around.

They woke up to find the world on fire. The shelter they had constructed to keep them safe from the Deepness opened, and one brave soul looked out. The mists had gone. There was not a single trace of them. The volunteer let off a grin and opened the door fully, stepping out into the world, into the heat. He did not get far before collapsing, letting out choking, gasping breaths. The naked sun burnt down unrelentingly, searing his flesh and scorching his spirit away. In a final act of strength, he tried to push himself around, his eyes turning to his companions, hand reaching out as if to grasp them, begging them for help. But none was forthcoming; they had already closed the door again, the great stone barrier wedged tight to shield them from the heat. The man died, cursing his friends with the breath he could not even take. Hours later, there was a knock on the door from the outside. One of the occupants declared it to be the ghost of the dead man, come to tempt them to their deaths. There was little dissent, and the door remained closed. A second knock. This time, more insistent. The terrified refugees once again ignored it, though some clutched anything they could use as a weapon, their hands whitening as their grip tightened. They had few weapons, and no trained soldiers to wield them effectively. It was a gathering of the elite of the world, of nobility and priests, and Alendi had insisted it was a peaceful gathering, a shelter of equals with none able to intimidate the rest in the new world with a show of force. Neither did they have the strange magic of the Terris people to defend them, for the Worldbringers of Tathingdwen were safe in their own shelter under the city, and could not help them now. Three knocks. This one dislodged some of the earth at the top of the portal to their sanctuary. The group as one took a step back, their collective gasp drawing them together in their trepidation. No-one spoke. On the fourth knock, a crack appeared in the stone slab. It spread outwards radially, forking into tens and then hundreds of small breaks as it spread across the door. It reached the edge, and it held, briefly. Then it shattered into a myriad of pebbles and dust, a dull light bursting in from the outside. It was hidden slightly by a shadow in the doorway; a man. “R-Rashek?” One of them asked, incredulous. “It’s… It’s you! But how? What happened? Where is Alendi?” A scowl flittered across the man’s face, but before long it was replaced with a sigh. “Alendi failed,” He said. “That is the truth of it. The prophecy was a lie, as Kwaan said. My uncle saw far more than any other Worldbringer ever did.” “Then we are doomed. You’ve let the outside world in and now we will burn, like that poor fool.” “Poor fool? Ah, that explains the bones outside…” Rashek nodded to himself, dismissing their worries, and indeed the death of a person he most likely knew. “Yes, he was unfortunate indeed. He left while I was making… minor adjustments… to the world.” “Minor adjustments? What are you talking about?” “The Hero of Ages has failed,” Rashek nodded. “But I did not. For a brief moment, I touched infinity, I held a sliver of the power of god.” He shivered a little. “I moved the world closer to the sun.” He said, every syllable holding enormous weight behind it. “I left it too close; I have fixed that problem.” There was silence in the cave as each digested the meaning behind his words. Rashek had saved them, but apparently at a terrible cost. He had then fixed that, but all of them remembered Rashek’s impulsive behaviour, his arrogance. What price did the world pay to fix his mistake? Eventually, Rashek spoke again. “Come. We have much rebuilding to do, and a world to forge.” “A world to forge?” “Yes…” Rashek smiled. It was not a particularly nice smile, but nor was it malicious. It was grim, and foreboding, but it appeared he was far more harrowed by his experience than he would like to let on. He was less brash than usual, that was certain. More mature. “Consequences must be dealt with. We must bring the people of this world together under a single banner if we are to have any hope of surviving.” “You’re talking about conquest. Of war! The Worldbringers will never agree to this! We will never agree to this!” Rashek spread his hands, almost apologetically. “We are in a new world. Each of us must evolve to face it, or die with the old one. The Worldbringers have already made their choice.” He put his hands into his pockets as a new silence descended, before being shattered once again in an instant. “You’re insane!” Someone exclaimed. “You destroy our world, and hope to bend us to your will. Well, I'm not going to be your slave! I’m going to bring an end to your madness here and now!” they declared. A sword was drawn from its scabbard, and then they rushed at him with a sword in his hand. He swung it at Rashek’s head, an untrained but heavy-handed blow. Rashek did not move, did not even acknowledge the man. As his assailant drew close, the sword he held was flung from his grasp, soaring across the room to embed itself in the wall, still oscillating from the sheer force behind it. “I’m insane?” Rashek asked, looking at the man finally. “You attacked someone who was very recently an avatar of god. That makes you the mad one from where I am standing. No, not even that - It makes you treasonous and heretical.” Rashek drew his hand back and struck the man across his face. There was a crack as the neck snapped and the man hit the floor. As did a small metal bead. “Ah yes.” Rashek put his hand out, and the metal bead willingly obeyed his command, raising itself into the palm of his hand as though it had a mind of its own. He closed his fist around it, then turned his hand out so his palm was facing the roof when he opened it again. Within were eight more similar beads as well as the ninth he had dropped. “I know that not all of you feel the same way. We have new opportunities here, a chance to rechart the course of the world according to what we desire,” he sneered, “not what some philosophers prattle on about in their pathetic dotage. There is power here, and glory and wealth, for those of you who want to seize it. Allomancy is a strength beyond Feruchemy, beyond anything you could ever dream of. I offer you this gift if you help me.”” “I count many of you here as my friends, and so I trust you will make the right decision. Know that I say the truth when I say that the only way for humanity to survive is together, as one people. You followed Alendi when he said the same thing. Will you follow me?” Fluff The game starts just after the Ascension of The Lord Ruler, in the year 0 of his reign, and will end in the year 1020 - about two years before the events of Mistborn: The Final Empire. Players begin as one of Rashek’s closest companions, directly after the events of his Ascension. The game is designed as a 'free-form' RPG, inspired by a variety of sources - mostly city-builders and simulation games. Your actions will not only affect your House, but also those of other Houses, and perhaps even the very course of The Final Empire in the long-run. For the sake of roleplaying, it should be noted that your starting characters have no experience of Allomancy, and that if something hasn't been explicitly introduced, it probably does not exist (or is not known of) yet. Nor are any of the secrets of the books yours to exploit, at least at the start. The Final Empire's most (in)famous aspects will slowly unfold before you over Generations, and it's up to you to capitalise on that gradual roll-out. Any number of players can play this game - It is effectively drop-in/drop-out, in many ways. Whenever a player signs up, they will be added to the game at the beginning of the next Generation with a new House to govern. Players who sign up after the game starts will have a slighter weaker House than most players, as they cannot govern how it has developed over the years (and so it will be a bit randomly generated) - but that won't stop you from competing with entrenched players. Rules How to Play the Game At the start of the game, up to nine lerasium beads will be given out to random players - If there are nine or less players, each player will be given one. If you wish to sign up for the start, then go ahead! RP away (or don't. While RP is highly encouraged in the thread, it's not necessary before the game starts). If you need help with name(s) for either Terrismen or Nobles, I can provide the name tables from the Mistborn Adventure Game, with a bit of effort. I also need the name of your House. There's no restrictions on this as to whether it's an official one or not, just as long as another player hasn't picked the same House name already. The game will take place over eleven Generations, one per century (in order to make it not last four years...), and each Generation lasts a total of four Turns. Each Turn lasts a week. Thus the game will last a total of 44 weeks. There is no 'win' condition for the game, as such (nor is there a loss condition). How can you compare the strength of one House to another, after all? This is more-or-less an evolving roleplaying setting, with statistics used to take measures of things. At the end of the game, such information will become public knowledge, and I may make a judgement on the 'winning' House, if such a thing can be seen easily. Players may discuss in private conversations as well as on the main thread, though I would like both to be in on such conversations, and for them to be on a Google doc so they can be posted at the end of the game for general perusal. These conversations may not be edited in any way except for spelling and grammar. Some rules may be added or changed depending on the course of the game - This is as much an experiment as it is a game. If so, they’ll be added here. A link to all the rules and writeups, including this one, can be found in my signature for relatively quick reference. Actions During each Turn, players may choose up to three Actions for their House to take. These are taken by messaging the GM to inform him of what you are doing. One of these must be stated publicly in the thread as well. If this is not done, none of the Actions will have any effect. There is no set list of Actions for players to take - It is a game of exploration. I will be converting any Actions taken into effects on numerical Statistics. Usually actions will succeed, unless they are opposed by another player (such as assassinations), or your House is in dire circumstances (such as being utterly broke). In that case, I will use a combination of the data and RNG to decide the outcome. Whenever you take an action, as it relies on my interpretation, it's always best to be as clear as possible about it. In most cases, try to answer the following questions: Who? - Who is performing the Action, and in what manner? Lord Heron is performing this action, in his capacity as House Lord. What? - What is the Action itself? Lord Heron is buying mines and smelters. Where? - Where does this Action take place? Near the mountains of the Northern Dominance. When? - Not just the general sort of time in-RP you are performing the action, but what numbered action is this (in case of conflict)? This is my 2nd Action for the Turn. Why? - What do you hope to achieve if all goes perfectly? I want to buy the mines so I can sell Allomantic metals for long-term benefit at a short-term cost. There are a few things that can also affect the outcome of a Turn other than your Statistics and your Actions. For example, how many other people have attempted something similar this Generation may have a strong effect on the cost and benefits of your actions (say, if lots of property was bought at the same time). Sometimes the RP you perform may grant you an additional bonus. Statistics Statistics are simply a measure of your House and how strong it is. These will change over the course of the game by quite a bit, and all are directly affected by you using Actions. Allomantic Strength - A measure of the number of Mistings and Mistborn your House has, and their general strength. This will globally tend to decrease over time, and it can also decrease by marrying with Houses with lower Allomantic Strength. All players starting as Mistborn in the First Generation have an Allomantic Strength of 10000 (with just a single Mistborn, of course). Other players have a starting Allomantic Strength of 0 and no Allomancers. Martial Prowess - This basically counts the strength and skill of your guardsmen and so on. Martial Prowess is used for military action, assassinations, and defending yourself from attacks. This begins at 10. Wealth - This is a measure of how many Imperials (Boxings) you have access to at any immediate time. It is used to purchase Goods, Properties and services (or perhaps bribes). Most Actions will either have a Wealth cost or generate Wealth. A low Wealth value may lead to actions failing. This begins at 10. Goods - Goods keeps track of how much you have for trade deals and the like. Certain Properties will help generate Goods. Goods provide minor benefits and may have other uses as well. You do not begin with any Goods. Property - Properties can be used to gain additional Wealth or Goods over time. They cost Wealth to purchase, and can include housing and businesses. Property has a beneficial effect on your House or their statistics. You begin with just your House Keep in the city of Luthadel. Respect - This is a measure of how known you are for good business dealings and impressive feats to NPC Nobles and, to a lesser extent, other players. Any Action which gains or loses you Respect will be public knowledge, as is the value of the statistic itself. This begins at 0. Infamy - This statistic is a measure of how good your House is at repaying insults and slights, and also of how ruthless you are. Any Action which gains or loses you Infamy will be public knowledge, as is the value of the statistic itself. This begins at 0. Reputation Reputation is a statistic that is not known to you, and generally you are not informed of when it changes (though you may be able to make an educated guess). Reputation is a measure of how well liked you and the family in charge of your House are. There are five different Reputations, and each begins at 50%: Reputation (House) - This is a measure of how well liked the family in charge of your House is liked by the other members of your House. If it becomes too low, you are in danger of facing attacks from the inside. Reputation (The Lord Ruler) - Obviously you want to remain on The Lord Ruler's good side. Reputation (The Steel Ministry) - This covers all non-Inquisition Cantons. There is no Steel Ministry at the start of the game. Reputation (The Inquisition) - You want to remain on their good side too. There is no Inquisition at the start of the game. Reputation (Skaa) - Too low, and you risk a rebellion. Too high, and questions may be asked. The Generation Game As was previously mentioned, you as a player are the Lord or Lady in charge of your House for each of the eleven generations we play. Not only do you have to take command of your House and what it does, but you also have a duty to create the next Lord or Lady. During each Generation, you can Try For An Heir as an Action (assuming you have a wife/husband). This may be done once per Turn for a Lady or the wife of a Lord. If you have no Heirs yet, this Action is automatically successful. The chance is halved for each Heir you already have. There is an equal chance that the child will be male or female. It would be helpful if you had names in mind for the Heir. You may choose a Designated Heir at any time - If you do not, then the eldest male inherits. Children being born and Heirs being Designated are both public knowledge. If a character has no Heirs at the end of the Generation, Designated or otherwise, then the line is traced back up their family tree to give them a randomly-generated Heir, one not of their choice. Their House will also suffer slightly for it. Before the end of the Generation, you are advised to Marry your Heirs off to the children of other players or NPCs. Your first character automatically begins married. Female Heirs tend to marry into other families, and cease being your Heirs (in special circumstances, this may not be true for either). If your Designated Heir is not married at the end of the Generation, they will be quickly married off in less favourable circumstances. Players may make their own arrangements when marrying their Heirs off to each other. A player who receives a Marriage request (via an Action from another player) has one Turn to accept to it. This does not use an Action. In the case of NPC marriages, the husband of the pairing will pay a dowry. This dowry will be dependant on various factors to do with the player's statistics. You may spend additional Actions finding a more favourable match-up (or currying favour) if you wish. In a staggering coincidence, it turns out that the child of the character of a Generation is exactly the same as the next Generation's character. Your Designated Heir will be your next character during the following Generation. Between Generations, a few other things will occur as well - A small randomisation of parameters to represent the passing years. In addition to this, at the start of the Second Generation, Houses still without Allomancy will obtain some Allomantic Strength, and their character will be granted Allomancy. This will be weaker than if they married the descendant of one of the original nine Mistborn. Events Events can occur which may demand a response from the players it affects. The response locks up an Action for that Turn, but generally has a more powerful effect than a normal Action would. There are two type of Events that may occur in the game: A Global Event is something that happens in the world at large. Generally speaking, this will tend to occur at the beginning of each Generation. A House Event is something that only affects your House, due to the Actions you or other players have taken, such responding to a Skaa rebellion. This may happen during any Turn. Rollover Each Turn finishes at 6PM on Sunday, and new turns will start three hours later at 9PM, all according to my clock (which is the GMT timezone, currently in British Summer Time), after I have posted any public information in the writeup. It is handy if I have Actions in before then, but not too vital; you can change your mind about what you’re doing right up to the last minute, and I’ll curse you for it, but I won’t complain about it. There is no preferential treatment for Actions based on when they are sent in or anything like that. Sign-ups end at 6PM on Saturday the 6th of June, and the game will start at 9PM. Trading With regards to trades/contracts/marriages between players, there are two ways in which this can now occur. The player initiating the trade sends in an Action to the GM, either publicly or privately, as before. If the other player sends in an Action to respond to that trade on that Turn with exactly the same terms, then the trade will be carried out. Otherwise, the responding player will be notified they have a player requesting a trade at the start of the next Turn, and can respond to it during that Turn. The initiating player cannot cancel that trade or make use of what they are trading that Turn. If the responding player does not send in an Action to confirm the trade, then it is cancelled. Conveniently, if trading with an NPC House, you will always get the trade on that same Turn. Alternatively, contracts may be made between players over multiple turns. All details of the contract should be kept within it. Modifying or cancelling a contract requires both players to agree to the change and message the GM, but doesn't use an action. Cancelling a contract before it is finished may (or rather, ideally should) inflict penalties on the canceller. Properties When you buy a Property, you will be informed of how much it cost you, what it requires (if anything), and what it produces (whether Goods, Wealth or something else) each Turn. What it produces should be what you asked it to produce. If you do not have the raw materials required for the Property, it will automatically purchase the materials using your Wealth. Properties do not produce anything or cost any Upkeep on the turn they are purchased. You can temporarily shut down a Property without using an Action. Properties will cost 2 Wealth in Generation 1. Some Properties may produce multiple things (such as a blacksmith). If so, then you may designate what it creates each Turn. You may also choose to change production as a free Action (such as switching from swords to armour), though this will not take effect until the following Turn. You may choose to have your Property immediately sell what it produces. During the first Generation, assuming there are no extenuating circumstances, a basic Property of some kind will cost you 2 of your Wealth. If a property is unique (such as a trade route), then it cannot be bought from the GM if someone else owns it, and if multiple people attempt to purchase the same property at once, then the winner will be randomly selected or based on purchase order. The winner will also be charged slightly more than normal for having the winning 'bid'. Each Property you purchase will have a cost to keep it in good condition, to hire/feed workers and all that. This Upkeep cost will increase the more Properties you have. During the First Generation, each Property will add an Upkeep cost equal to half the number of Properties you own, rounded up (so 1-2 costs 1 each, 3-4 costs 2 each, etc). Your Luthadel Keep does not cost Upkeep itself, nor does it add to Upkeep. At some point, it may become economically unviable to purchase more Properties, though you may decide that you can take the hit for a while to produce Goods, etc. You are informed of what your Upkeep cost is at the beginning of each Turn. Upkeep costs will decrease over time to allow for a larger business empire. Can you survive the sinister and deadly world of the high society of The Final Empire? Will your descendants rule at The Lord Ruler's side, or be swept away like worthless skaa in his wake? Will your actions change the very nature of the Final Empire over the course of a thousand years? Will your House stand the test of time, and prove itself to be worthy of being an Heir to the Final Empire? Player List Winter Cloud - Cleo Venture little wilson - Kyara Wilson spencer12347 - Walin Walin Lord Pifferdoo - Primus Pifferdoo The Only Joe - Joel Tormander Gamma Fiend - Gamic Urbain Unodus - Turukseed Uethorn Adamir - Mennet Farrsolin Blank Fate - Cyrus Artorius Venture Mistborn - Ven Orielle OrlokTsubodai - Locke Tekiel Comatose - Lutha Elariel Aonar Faileas - Aodhan Izenry Quiver - Tydan Queade wblk - Sen Wair phattemer - Cofal Erikell Araris Valerian - Hadrian Penrod Renegade - Renea Garde