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So I was thinking about other Radiantspren and what we learned about them in Oathbringer, and then I remebered this little line from Edgedancer: So Keenspren, I believe, are one of the radiantspren that we don't yet. There are five types of spren: Object Spren: The voices of the spheres in Shadesmar Emotion/Condition/Nature Spren: Like Anticipationspren, Hungerspren, and Windspren. These spren are bascailly the animals of Shadesmar, and behave as such. Radiantspren: These are the spren of radiants. They populate the cities of Shadesmar and is its civilization. Voidspren: Spren of Odium Unique Spren: Spren of immense power, that also have consciousness, and all have unique names: Stormfather, Nightwatcher, and the Sibling. Wyndle says he made a garden for keenspren, just like he also says he made gardens for honorspren and Cryptics. Which probably means that keenspren are probably radiant spren, unless he made them for animal-like spren. Keenspren are probably not voidspren because voidspren don't mingle with other conscience spren, and they aren't unique spren because unique spren are one of there type. That leaves Keenspren to only be Radiantspren making them the spren of a Radiant order.

So, as far as I can remember we have three viewpoint characters that have sought the Old Magic: Dalinar, Taravangian, and Lift. Did any of them actually wind up dealing with the Nightwatcher instead of Cultivation herself? I'm leaning no, given how far what they each got was from what they asked for, and the difficulty of nailing down a discrete boon/curse for any of them. (Taravangian is closest in both these metrics, so I suppose he's most likely to have dealt with the Nightwatcher directly, but the outsize role the Diagram is playing in events makes me suspect Cultivation would have wanted to handle it personally.) The relevant Dalinar flashback implies that Cultivation steps in for some but not all supplicants, so it makes sense that these three, all of whom are going to have a huge role in this Desolation, would merit her attention. It's also possible that the lore we have about the Nightwatcher is unreliable, and even "standard" boons/curses are more complicated than we've been led to believe. It would be nice to have a PoV from somebody with a more standard experience, or even a scene where we see the Nightwatcher do her thing without intervention from the boss. Maybe Baxil will change his mind and be back for an interlude.

I had considered putting this in the Edgedancer forum, but this post is far more about Lift's role in Oathbringer and if I had put it in that board I'd need add a Tag for Oathbringer anyway. I just finished my latest reread of Edgedancer and some thoughts came to me in comparing it to what we have so far of part one of Oathbringer. First, when Prime Aqasix (Gawx) talks with Dalinar in Oathbringer and speaks of considering negotiating with the Voidbringers has Lift returned to Azimir yet? When the Everstorm came to Azir, she was in the country next door, Tashikk. She isn't as proficient in her power as Kaladin, so she is still mostly walking as opposed gliding back to Azimir. I think it is odd considering everything Lift learned in Edgedancer that the Emperor of Azir and his councilors wouldn't at least listen to Dalinar a bit more. Maybe they are ignoring her or maybe she doesn't know how to convince them to listen to Dalinar. Still, I would not be surprised if Lift's interlude begins with her walking back into Azimir. The next Thought that occurred to me was Lift's third oath. "I will listen to those who have been ignored." As of chapter 24 who in Roshar is being ignored at the worst possible time more than Dalinar? Lift might be instrumental in getting Azimir listens to Dalinar. Finally, and this an obvious one, but it is still interesting, Lift will open Azimir's Oathgate in Oathbringer. You see I don't think all of Roshar will unite, nor all the Oathgates will be available by the end of Oathbringer. But Azimir will be because Wyndle became a Shardfork. Now I think Wyndle was not shown in Edgedancer as a blade not only because a sword is not natural for Lift, but also because Wyndle's sword appearance was held back for Oathbringer. Still, Brandon wanted to get Lift her shardblade quickly so she could open that Oathgate and so gave her shardweapon to her in her novella. Those were the thoughts that came to me. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Where do you think our awesome little Edgedancer will be in Oathbringer? Will she get to Urithru by the end of the book? Will we get to see her mouthing off at Dalinar or bantering with Shallan? Tell me what you think.

Why does Szeth still wear white robes? It makes him kinda noticeable- even Lift was able to identify him right away. And does he have extras, or has he been wearing the same outfit since WoR? Because that's just nasty.

(Sitting in a tree....) Serious Theory Time: Szeth is rebuilding a moral code based on Nightblood, and that will seriously affect all of his future interactions. Spoilers for Oathbringer, Edgedancer and Warbreaker. When Szeth ‘died’ and was revived by Our Friend Nale he admired Szeth’s dedication to his law, and tried to recruit him to the Skybreakers. And then he introduced him to Nightblood. Nightblood, destroyer of evil and sword of terrifying hilarity. Would you like to kill some evil today? Nightblood is a super sword created to destroy evil, and it’s pretty darn good at it - well, the destroying part anyway. Most interestingly, however, is that Nightblood has a resonance with people. If someone is good/innocent/relatively moral, they will feel profoundly nauseated by Nightblood. If someone is evil/selfish/relatively immoral they will be filled with lust to claim and use Nightblood; all but inevitably ending in their death. Where does this leave us? Well, Szeth is starting to dedicate himself to, or at least live by the precepts of, the Sword. He will go about ‘destroying evil’ - but only those who are nauseated by Nightblood. This will create extremely interesting conflicts as he uses the ‘Nightblood Litmus Test’ to determine who he should kill, and if he should kill. This will especially be interesting when he runs into our ‘voidbringers’ the freed Parsh-people. It will be even more interesting when we run into ‘possessed’ parsh-people like Eshonai. Would they qualify as evil to be destroyed? But that’s an aside. Evidence for this theory: this mostly comes from Edgedancer. It’s pretty clear that Our Friend Nale was trying to recruit Szeth, and Szeth was hanging around, but he was not buying into the Skybreaker motto, and did not drink their kool-aid as it were. He’s openly questioning the man he believes to be the Herald of Justice. Interestingly too they have a discussion about being unable/unwilling to trust their own minds. Most strikingly, when Szeth notices Lift, he doesn’t turn her over to Nale’s ‘justice’. Instead, he uses the Nightblood Litmus Test. Lift is nauseated, passing the test, after which Szeth talks to her and helps her, instead of killing her or turning her in. So, I think Szeth, not trusting the minds or manners of feeble Men or their laws, is instead trusting himself and his behaviour to the Nightblood Litmus Test. Of course, there’s a lot left open - where will he go? To whom will he apply the test? But there we are!

There's been a lot of speculation about what the secret was that destroyed the Knights Radiant, as well as speculation into the causes or mechanics of the Desolations and the Oathpact. I have a wild theory that connects the two. There's probably a thousand things wrong with it, and even I see a bunch of holes and leaps in logic, but hopefully it will at least be entertaining. It starts with a WoB exchange I saw posted in another topic earlier today by Steeldancer, so credit goes to them for finding this quote: So we know that the Heralds all being present on Roshar causes another Desolation to occur. The question is, why? Well let's consider what we know of Worldhopping, because that is essentially what is happening. Spren (and perhaps originally the Listeners themselves) come from Braize to Roshar. Other worldhoppers transition between the Cognitive realm and the Physical realm using Perpendicularities. Other WoB have confirmed that perpendicularities could be caused by a massive amount of Investiture. I believe it was confirmed that Jasnah essentially did a miniature version of this to return to the physical world. My theory is that the Heralds act like Investiture lodestones. If they stay long enough in the world, there is a kind of critical mass that occurs, creating enough of a perpendicularity for Odium's forces to transition en masse into Roshar. This is basically how the new Everstorm worked. Once a critical mass of Fused Listeners was reached, they were able to call the storm. I believe the Everstorm itself is Odium’s perpendicularity on Roshar, at least this time around. We know it carries Voidspren with it, and could be what allows them to come into the Physical realm in large numbers. We also know that it was created by a large number of Fused (ie, Invested) Listeners pooling their energies. That sounds like a recipe for a perpendicularity to me. Now what if the Highstorm works in the exact opposite way (which would make sense, since they are reversed in every other way). The Highstorm is described by (suspiciously colour-obsessed and oddly familiar) “Zahel” as “invested to the hilt and looking for somewhere to stick it.” (As an aside: god bless “Zahel”). The Highstorm disperses Investiture. It takes a huge amount, maybe enough to form a perpendicularity, but then spreads it out across literally the entire world. I submit that this was its primary purpose (because remember, the Stormfather has been tasked with keeping the Highstorms coming, and presumably Honor would have some reason for unleashing these things periodically upon the world). My theory is that there are other ways to enable (or hasten) a Desolation. Perhaps with sufficiently concentrated Investiture, Odium can create a workaround, or at least speed things up, with less time between Desolations. The Highstorm is a check against this by dispersing Investiture, whereas the Everstorm keeps it concentrated (which is which it doesn’t infuse gems with Stormlight). So Honor works to prevent (large) perpendicularities from forming, and Odium tries to create more. Smaller perpendicularities ensure that the two worlds will never be entirely isolated, but might not facilitate a lare-scale invasion. The Oathpact, then , could be an agreement. Honor creates a bargain by which Odium has a shot at Roshar every once and a while. Honor essentially creates the Honorblades as a controlled means of opening a path between worlds by way of highly concentrated Investitute (which could be why Syl refers to Szeth using a dangerous amount of Stormlight with the Honorblade). At the same time though, he makes them double as a means of fighting against the very invasion they facilitate. Odium, in turn, agrees not to just come over to Roshar and destroy it himself, an agreement that binds him even after Honor's death. So how do the Knights Radiant fit in? Well we already know that they were not intended by Honor. They were the result of the spren taking it upon themselves to mimic what he had done. They mimic the Honorblades, which are presumably involved with the Oathpact (see above). What if, unintentionally, they have re-created certain aspects of the Oathpact as well, as a side effect of the nahel bond? The Heralds, when concentrated on Roshar, kicked off Desolations. The Fused, when concentrated on Roshar, kicked off the Everstorm. And for however many centuries, human beings, Invested to the hilt, as it were, were concentrating themselves in a specific location: Urithiru. What if this was enough to, if not cause the Desolations, at least exacerbate them in some way? What if it created enough of a perpedicularity to allow some of Odium's forces onto Roshar in a consistent manner, like a door propped open even between the Desolations. Spoilers from Edgedancer: To me, this seems like the kind of revelation that would utterly crush a group dedicated to sacrificing for the good of all. To learn that they and their spren had in fact been causing or at least hastening/worsening the Desolations, that all of their efforts and sacrifice were only perpetuating a cycle of endless violence, I could see that breaking them, and causing the Recreance.

Just continuing my reread of Way of Kings, getting prepared for Oathbringer and I have came across an interesting death rattle. Now this is interesting considering that in chapter 18 of Edgedancer we find out that the Everstorm does not, in fact, have a stormwall. As far as I have read the death rattles are visions of the future granted by one of the Unmade. While some may be inaccurate due to the multiple possible futures, but I would imagine that the Everstorm would be a consistent phenomenon. So why then does a vision show the Everstorm with a stormwall but the actual one appears to not have one? Any ideas on this inconsistency?

After rereading Secret History and starting the standalone Edgedancer, I'm wondering, if Kelsier happened to be able to worldhop to Roshar, would Lift be able to see him? Kel mentioned that Spook is crazy enough to be able to partially see into the Cognitive Realm and as such is able to see him. Wyndle also mentioned that Lift must be partially in the Cognitive Realm, else she wouldn't be able to use him for climbing. So would Lift be able to interact with Kel in the Cognitive Realm, since she herself appears to be partially in it?

Okay, one more time, Arcanum Unbound. I have read "Listened to on Audible", The first two Mistborn books, working on the 3rd right now of the first trilogy. From what I've gathered so far, there are spoilers both directions, and the spoilers for the Mistborn aren't as bad as they would be if I read era 2 THEN reading Arcanum Unbound. I have read both Stormlight Archive books, and they are my preferred novel, I have also read Warbreaker. My buddy introduced me to Sanderson before we came to Iraq, They have been an awesome distraction from the suck, and I love listening to them as I drift off to sleep, I've found that in a often darkly lit room listening is far superior to reading, Especially when I'm just a few nods from a full snooze, These make the Novels come to life in my head. I have not read Elantris yet, though I will have in when I get my Audible Credit in a day or two, after I finish Mistborn Hero of Ages. I have already pre ordered Oathbringer, and will have one more credit in November. In November, Is there any book I need to read, either before I read Arcanum Unbound? Or, to help bring more context to Arcanum unbound? Having assumed I've read all Stormlight Novels, The first Mistborn Trilogy, Elantris, Warbreaker. What beyond those books are in the Cosmere that will be required reading for putting the whole Cosmere together?

There are many times where cremlings are noticed specifically in SA. After the reveal from Edgedancer that the Dysian Aimians are made up of cremlings (or creatures that are classified as cremlings by the general public) I am beginning to wonder if these cremling sightings are more than world-building and scene-setting. What if when a Radiant or proto-Radiant notices a cremling offhand it's actually a Sleepless keeping tabs on the ones who might save or destroy them? I would like to know what exactly is a Dysian Aimian's range. We know that Arclo can watch an entire city. Can they spread even further? What is required to keep communication among the parts of the whole viable? And have we seen any others like him hanging around and just not known they were Sleepless? The whole reason I thought of this was when I remembered J. K. Rowling foreshadowing Rita Skeeter's (Spoilered in case any of you haven't read HP 4 yet.) Anyway, not a mind-blowing theory, but it could be Sanderson's way of showing how the Sleepless really are living up to their claims on the dust jackets.

Question about Szeth's abilities going into Oathbringer: How does he still have access to the Gravitation surge? We (the reader) see him flying/falling in Edgedancer. Since he no longer has Jezrien's honorblade and does not have a bond with a spren, how is he accessing the surges? Does it have something to do with Nightblood? Or how Nale resurrected him? Or maybe even the cognitive shadow/aftereffect he has going on?

Darkness/Nale refers to Ishar in Edgedancer a great deal. It really makes me question what he's been doing and who he's really aligned with. Emphasis mine Seems to me like Ishar has instructed Nale and the Skybreakers to kill all other surgebinders. Worse, it wasn't a one time thing, He's been instructing Darkness all along and is a desolation denier even now.

The Everstorm has arrived. Parshmen who come in contact with it will turn into Voidbringers. From what we know about the previous desolations, we can anticipate much death and destruction. Despite this obvious danger, Rosharan governments don't seem like they intend to do something proactive to prevent the ubiquitous Parshmen from becoming Voidbringers. Take for example the Azish imperial decree: In my opinion, this decree will actually speed up the transformation process. I mean, the Parshmen are practically being offered up to the Everstorm. According to some of Jasnah's Philosophy schools of thought, killing all the Parshmen before they turn will be the right thing to do. On the other hand, the Knights Radiant, who have great influence on Roshar, have contrary opinions on matters of this nature. This is well shown in their First Ideal: So, what do you think?

While rereading Edgedancer, I noticed Darkness said this while talking to one of his sky breakers. Could it be possible that the voidbringers are actually the Odium spren and not the Parshendi? I know it doesn't make a lot of sense but it would be interesting if true. EDIT: My reasoning for this is that as far as we know the parshmen never left Roshar after the most recent desolation, yet Nale talks as if they did. Also, wouldn't Nale recognize the parshmen or were the true voidbringer forms so different from dull form that he couldn't see the similarities.

Is it just me that sees a similarity between the vine-like growth of Lift's spren Wyndle and the vines of the Verdant Aether? There are little bits of crystal that grow out of Wyndle, and he decays to dust when his trails disappear - I seem to remember a similar property for Verdant?

I posted this on r/stormlight_archive but didn't get many responses and was wondering if someone knew of a WOB or something that could confirm or deny this theory, and let us be honest you guys are where I should have started anyways. I submit, though I have little proof, that Knights Radiant progress their abilities in a clockwise formation from the Knights Radiant Symbol. Kaladin (Windrunners): Gains control over Adhesion before Gravitation. Shallan (Lightweavers): Illumination and soon to be Transformation. Jasnah (Elsecallers): Performs Transformation before Transportation (though we don't know yet which she gained more control over before the other). Lyft (Edgedancers): Abrasion then Progression. Skybreaker Journeymen: Have control over Gravitation first... at least as I don't think we have seen Division yet. This does not mean that they don't have some control over the "second" ability initially as we saw Kaladin use gravitation to attract arrows to his hands and away from him in bridge runs unconsciously and Shallan used Transformation before she works Illumination at end of TWOK. I only postulate that they gain more control over the first before the second. Additionally, as someone pointed out to me, each order has one main surge. The second surge in my clockwise theory, Dalinar purpose is to unite and his second surge is Adhesion; Kaladin is one with the wind and Sylphrena is a cousin to the windsprens, Gravitation; Jasnah wants to gain true knowledge and to do so one must be willing to travel to new places, Transportation; Renarin sees into the future, Illuminating it; Shallan has to admit deep personal truths forcing her to change how she sees things (eh this one might need to be rethought), Transformation; Lyft, though she doesn't want to change herself, brings change to those around her (sidenote: I think that this is her curse) making those around her Progress and accept changes in the world. Until I know what Division entails I can't really make a guess for the Skybreakers yet, though obviously something to do with upholding the law. (This part has nothing to do with this post but if someone could point me in the right direction... Just re-listened to TWOK and noticed that when Hoid is speaking about what people view as important he mentions that he asked scholars once, are these the 5 Scholars from Warbreaker?)

I am surprised I have not seen anything about this here. Maybe everyone thought it was too obvious. Here goes though: Lifespren are to Edgedancers as windspren are to Windrunners. We see in WOR that Kaladin draws windspren to him and we see in ED that Lift draws lifespren to her. That's it, no crazy WildSpeculation, just an observation. I thought it might be fun however, to WildlySpeculate the 'minor' spren of the other KR Orders. My speculations are in parentheses. BondSmiths: Major: Various Mega Spren i.e. Stormfather. Minor ? Windrunners: Honorspren/windspren Skybreakers: Highspren/? Dustbringers: ?/? Edgedancers: Cultivationspren/lifespren Truthwatchers: ?/? Lightweavers: liespren(cryptics) /? (creationspren?) Elsecallers: Inkspren/? (logicspren) Willshapers: ?/? Stonewards: ?/? Looking at the two 'confirmed' (by that I mean I see it as canon, so there :P) sets of Major/Minor spren, we see an emotion/idea spren and a nature spren. I wonder if that, admittedly, small sample size sets the pattern for us to follow. If it does then it throws my guesses out the window into the highstorm. Any educated guess or non-educated guesses?

Is it just be, or was using the fork one of single most dangerous, and possibly stupid things that could be done? I mean the stabby-bits of the fork went clear through the table, what could it have done if she slipped? Unless you cannot be injured by your own utensils, as long as they are constructed using the proper bonding-agent. Which would be all kinds of interesting.

So, Stump is either a Truthwatcher, or an Edgedancer. How important do you guys think she will be in the future? For example, will she be in Oathbringer?