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It seems to be the consensus that Kaladin cares too much. That he needs to forgive himself for his failures. That he needs to learn the advice his father always tried to teach him to "choose when to care" and to grow calluses... I disagree. Caring is fine. Grieving is fine. Kaladin's issue, in my mind, has never been about caring too much. And it's not about forgiving himself either. His biggest issue, to me, is summed up by Syl when Kal finds Eth's body shortly after Szeth's first attack in Dalinar. I underlined that last bit because that's it. Kaladin doesn't just want to protect people from harm. He wants to protect them from their own choices. He blames himself for the things other people choose to do. It's why he was scared of Bridge Four forming romantic relationships because it would be harder to protect them. Whether it's the slaves that died in revolts he lead. Or Sah and the other singers he knew, or Moash... He has to respect other people's choices. Whether that means that they go into battle for the same reasons as him and die doing what they believe is right, or that puts them at odds with him and results in them fighting, and even dying by his hand... They made their own choices and that isn't his fault. Kaladin doesn't need to let go of the past, or learn when to care. He doesn't need to forgive himself for his failures. Kaladin needs to recognize that doing his best and failing requires no forgiveness, and that he can't protect people from themselves. He needs to recognize that there's nothing to forgive himself for.

Reforging Arelon Welcome to LG 70! This game is designed with the concept of the rules changing as you play the game. As the game progresses certain conditions will be met which will trigger new rules to come into play. Things may get a little confusing at times, so I will be working hard to make sure that everything is clear and new rules are announced when new turns are posted. Follow this link to find a document with the complete rules You play as members of the merchant guild of Kae (the capital of Arelon) directly after the Reod. Since the elantrians fell, there is a very very loose ruling structure that could collapse at any time. The new laws and policies are still being put into place, and as they form the game itself will change. When certain conditions are met, rules will be added, removed, or changed. There are those among you who think that Arelon has outstayed its welcome and that the people or Arelon would be better off integrating with Fjorden; it is the job of the loyal merchants to root them out and remove them from power - and remove them from life. The guillotines will be busy. In this volatile state of change, will the merchant guild be able to reforge Arelon into a great nation once more? Factions: Actions: Roles: Lynch Rules: PM Rules: Currency Rules: Item Market: Contract Market: Cycles: Order of Actions: Sign-ups for this game will close in about one week on Friday, September 25th, at 2000 (8:00 PM) MST (UTC-6) I will be running this game as the GM and Zillah will be my co-GM. Elbereth will be the IM. Player List: Clarifications: Quick Links:

The day I won Is GONE I know this happened to Fadran already, but that's fine cause he already had like 10 others. I didn't, I won that one fair and square with a meme for my 1,000th post! And it's gone! (Does anyone else see it? Is it a temporary glitch? Am I gonna be dayless until I happen to post another thing that's funny?)

Yes, and only yes.

Is it, how would one tell wombats apart without looking at their genitalia? The fact that Kaladin didnt remark on Leshwins stubble when it is not a defining characteristic of them during a fight scene is not Brandon taking a stance. It would be weird if he did as it would break up the pacing (out of wolrd) and would also not be something someone thinks while fighting for their life (in world).

Vanisher Someone made a post listing all the ranks (they got about 200 upvotes)

Can you explain it to the pet store? They keep giving people the wrong gendered gerbils (usually discovered when two ‘males’ or two ‘females’ have babies... LOTS of babies.)

He's okay he's alive he's okay!!! I emailed him using my Powers™ and he answered and he's okay Ap is okay Ap is okay I can't stop saying it He said I can tell you guys and I can't even grammar right AP IS OKAYAYAHYS&&YYYYYYYy On a note so different I almost get mental whiplash, rest in peace to my rat Vivenna, she was a good old girl and I hope she wasn't in much pain. Also yum, someone brought doughnuts to Criminal Justice.

EDIT: Death by WoB. RIP. It was fun while it lasted. The Cognitive Realm is round. You heard me right. The "flat Shadesmar theory" was good enough for the worldhoppers of ancient times, but we know better. I'm here to prove it. Okay, okay. Hyperbole aside, I'm actually not completely joking here. Apparently @Quantumplation made a "#RoundShadesmarSociety" joke in the livestream on YouTube tonight. After a brief chucke, I had to pause and say, "hol up a minute." Turns out I think the Cognitive Realm is round. Some of you are probably actively opening up your books or loading up Arcanum in the next tab, looking for some reference amid the mountains of evidence that the Cognitive Realm is very much flat. For example: But I think Dirigible's sister was on to something here and Brandon just wasn't quite following... If you look at some of the other WoBs like this, what you see is Brandon explaining that each planet's subastral doesn't map to a globe like it does in the Physical Realm. The POINT is that you can just walk off the edge of the planet in the Cognitive Realm, which we've seen happen in the books. And of course we've seen the implications of that all over the place. Shadesmar is how worldhoppers get around, and they very well aren't climbing ladders from one planet to the next. But we're talking about the scale of the ENTIRE Cognitive Realm here, not just local observations at the subastral scale. Earth seems flat when you're standing in an empty field. Shadesmar seems flat when you're a person sailing the bead oceans. One of the interesting questions about the cosmere and Adonalsium is how they fit into the larger universe. I THINK we can assume that a larger universe exists. I think when you look up on the sky of Darkside on Taldain you can see a whole universe out there, galaxies and all. We know that "the cosmere" is actually just a star cluster (not even a full dwarf galaxy as Brandon previously figured) What lies beyond it? Does magic exist outside "the cosmere"? This is purely my own speculation... I don't think it does. Note these two exchanges: I think these SUGGEST that leaving the cosmere is difficult, if possible at all. Why would that be? It seems rather similar, in my opinion, to the way Invested things in the cosmere have a hard time escaping places that they are Invested in. We know that spren have an incredibly difficult time leaving Roshar, for example. And I think the exact same thing would happen with the cosmere as a whole... While the power of the Shards may be infinite, I think it is bounded, and I think Invested matter has a hard time pulling away from ALL of the other Investiture. I think there's a boundary to the cosmere, whether it be a hard cutoff or a gradual shift, where the "magical cosmere" shifts to a more mundane, magic-less universe. This belief is reinforced when I consider the nature of Adonalsium and the Realms. I do not think the being called Adonalsium was a capital-G God. Some creator of the entire universe. Adonalsium existed inside of the universe, just as the power does even now--though it's divided into smaller chunks than it once was. With the Shards so concentrated in a relatively small area, I don't think it makes much sense for their power to reach out into the entire universe. And the existence of the Cognitive Realm is, in my opinion, a direct consequence of Investiture. It exists because of Investiture. I think you can only have a Cognitive Realm where Investiture exists. So I think the Cognitive Realm is finite in size. This means it cannot be an infinite plane. If the Cognitive Realm is finite, we have to ask whether it has an edge or not. A globe is a finite area with no edges while a disc is a finite area with edges. In other words... Is the Cognitive Realm round, or can you sail off the edge of it? Personally, I think a "boundary" of some kind to the "edge" of the Cognitive Realm is a rather bizarre concept. What's "beyond" the edge of it? What would that even mean? It's not impossible, but I think the idea is problematic. Much simpler if the Cognitive Realm is round, wouldn't you say? There's a bit of poetry to the idea as well. Take a look at this description of the Realms in Secret History: Here Leras explains the Realms to Kelsier and he claims the ground below is the Physical Realm and the sun above is the Spiritual Realm. Personally, I like the idea that some finite space in the Physical Realm (the ground below) maps some finite space in the Cognitive Realm (the space directly above that surface) while the infinite heavens above corresponds to the Spiritual. What would it MEAN for the Cognitive Realm to be round? Not much. Am I super committed to this idea? Okay, maybe not. But it's fun to suppose, if nothing else!

Hi ya'll! I was perusing the shard today and I thought I would just let you all know that I'm doing fine, still alive and all that. I was quoted a few times, so it's good to know that I haven't been forgotten . Life is still busy. School/homework has always taken up a lot of my time, and I think it'll be a while before things smooth out. I finally introduced my aunt Cassy to the cosmere though, and I've been meaning to make a thread about the experience, I just haven't found the time. To give you all a little preview, here's my favorite part of the whole conversation (I was very proud of myself for using this quote): Me: Now here's the big question. You take the blue pill, and you can go back to blissfully reading through Brandon's books. You wake up in your bed, and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill... you stay in Wonderland. And I show you just how deep this rabbit hole goes. Cassy: RED PILL!! I want the RED!!! Anyway, I really miss you all! I hope I can be on more often, even just to peruse. I'm really grateful for all of the friends I've made on here. You all are amazing. AC out!

@Ark1002 I eagerly await your next meme

You are all fools for believing anything is more adorable than my gifs.

Would you say 'graceful' is a word that would describe Lift very well? That seems to be more of a historical association with them, not necessarily some requirement for someone to be and Edgedancer. See also: his duels have been described by various characters as 'graceful', so in-world characters seem to disagree with you there.

...How come Lknik gets to be eliminated by public humiliation and departure from politics while Faleast gets eliminated by being hurled off of a cliff in a fistfight? And don't say because he'd survive the landing.

Yeah, it would be pretty hard to tell. I don't know, I'm imagining seeing a raccoon in the woods. How would I tell? I'm not gonna pick it up and inspect it. Or, like a bear. Wouldn't know. A deer I'd be able to tell - by antlers. And a Parshendi in a form besides mateform - well, sounds like "Beard" is the best way to tell. So if Leshwi has always appeared beardless, maybe that's why Kaladin always assumes female. Kal would probably not notice "a bit of stubble", so wouldn't even notice that this body is particularly different from others.

The three major schools of thought that emerged in China during the warring states period were Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. Interestingly these conform almost exactly to the three godspren. The idea behind Legalism is that the state should act as a sort of automatic karma. Bad actions should be punished and good actions should be rewarded in predictable ways by and independent machine like bureaucracy. This corresponds to the Sibling. Taoists on the other hand state that structures are artificial. Instead acting spontaneously accordingly with the overall natural order of things that can only be experienced directly leads to the greatest human happiness. This corresponds to the NW. A natural spirit of growth and change renowned for its unpredictability. Finally Confucianism states that acting correctly with good rituals and paying homage to those socially or politically superior to you is important as is those individual's benevolence toward their lessors. This corresponds to the Stormfather. A great being that cares deeply for his children and must maintain proper relationships. Am I on to something or am I just reading way to much well stuck in quarantine?

Ok in the last two months I have listened to the Stormlight books three or four times, and I noticed something interesting. This is kind of a two part thought. Radient powers, specifically soulcasting, appear to be tied to the type of gemstone the light came from, just like their fabrial counterparts But this changes if the radiant breathes in the power. It can then be used for anything. Jasnah requires a garnet to soul cast the poison from Shallan's blood ( presumably to avoid revealing herself) but at the battle of Thaylan Fields she is soul casting stone fire and oil without a care. Sure there are other things to take account of there but I don't think those circumstances would remove the rules just catalyze the process. Personally I think Jasnah is swearing oaths off screen allowing her to be less restricted. (In WoK she had to use the right stones, but by the time of the Oathbringer she had progressed to be able to use her own light.)

I'll join as Oreo. His name has two aons in it.

why am I still laughing at this it's been an entire day Edit: I found out today that @Matrim's Dice is 6'4" and that scares me

Any tips... alright... If you happen to wake up with the ability to fly DONT start with the highest building you can find (contrary to popular belief you do want to ease into it) When trying to sabotage alien spacecraft filling the exhaust pipe with gummy bears is quite effective (just only use the RED gummy bears, anything else will disintegrate immediately) If you get captured my magical unicorn-monkeys bribe them with fried marshmallows and fruit snacks (AND if you really need backup they LOVE ice cream) When practicing your telepathy, pick.... Ok wait maybe Shard tips would be more useful You can get the little line of text under your name by going to your Profile. Clicking Edit Profile and then writing something in the Member Title box You can make a signature which is the text that appears at the bottom of some peoples posts by going to Account Settings and clicking on the Signature option then writing something in the box and pressing save Welcome to the Shard! Happy to have you join us!

I don't know. This is pretty funny.

I'm going to run out of them soon.

Good job @Illwei! Great game as an elim. @Matrim's Dice was our best player and @The Young Pyromancer came good after I died. I had fun while it lasted. Thanks @Zillah for running the game!

Illwei and Lknik were fighting, a fiery debate that eventually devolved into accusations and name calling. Illwei struck the final blow by calling Lknik a "diseased feeling smeared on the bottom of an old shoe". That was the last straw for Lknik, he had the support of the spectators who had gathered around to watch the jeering. Lknik stormed off in a huff, with jeers and jabs following after him. Later that day Illwei gave a speech denouncing Yasdv, exposing supposed embezzlement and intentions to go back on her word regarding promised policy. There were no longer any other advisors to go against his word, nobody to oppose his accusations. Yasdv worked to deny these new accusations but the damage was done. The next day the election results came. Yasdv was done for. Tyedls spies had done their work wonderfully, and Tyedl walked away from the election with a new position, new power, new ambition. Yasdv had lost. Elkanah has been lynched, they were a member of the Loyal Campaign Staff. The game is over, the Undercover Emissaries have won. Vote Count Elkanah (1): Illwei Illwei (0): Elkanah Players List Dead Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G5RF5PXsesnnicXVNiKXF9eggh0UKBbSkBAloyRXkpQ/edit?usp=sharing Elim Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DcwLdsi9KRnd6YF2H6Vl8H3M7ltC__OO7k_aRKlzcik/edit?usp=sharing GM Master Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1slJNRnOFfZcFRUYT5R8p8q78y418Ifi5cirwef_wz0k/edit?usp=sharing

I found the passages I was looking for, in TWoK and OB. Turns out it was Dalinar who reflected on sexual dimorphism in Parshendi (chapter 56 of TWoK): And from chapter 54 of Oathbringer, first the part where Moash recognizes Leshwi's patterns: Note that Leshwi’s colors and patterns are apparently quite striking, as earlier in this chapter, Moash notices:

I enjoy the meme, but as a fast reader I disagree, reading fast is a curse. I always run out of books ;-;

During WoK...

There are many others reasons against this, but to me the most compelling is this: Kaladin is the most loved character of all. If Brandon kills him off, a lot of readers will have had it. It would be exactly what turned off so many (including me) from Game of Thrones, only worse, because so far Brandon has avoided this sort of reader-betrayal. At least GRRM showed his colors pretty early in the series. I think I'm pretty much a typical BS reader in this aspect, that the death of a main hero is acceptable as long as it accomplishes something great and 'makes sense' on a higher level, best of all with the hero being quite content to die while accomplishing their goal. Mistborn Spoiler: If not that, at lest it will have to become clear later that this death had an important meaning to subsequent events and was like a seed for ultimate victory. I can't see any early death of Kaladin in any such light. So: NO, I would take up any bet against this! :-)