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out of the 6 people in my new appartment at least 3 of us have read Stormlight this is so hype

I have a minor problem. I didn't check my notifications for so long that they now exceed the seven pages available for viewing by a few months. That's what I get, I suppose. If there's anything that someone wants me to respond to or thinks I may have missed that I don't get in the next flurry of posting, or that you just want me to see anyway, link it to me here. Deeply sorry to anyone who I missed completely!

i want to be a pirate. again. pirates of the caribbean is a criminally underrated movie and it’s very well rated already can i switch my major from computer engineering to piracy

Excited to potentially meet people haha!

One of my mother's favourite songs.

Today's work: neon

Not me forgetting the Shard is a thing that exists for a good three weeks… Hey! I’m back, I think. Also I do YouTube kinda.

I am trying to post a theory to the Cosmere discussion board and im being prohibited because it contains links. After seeing that message I removed the links and put them on a separate document and yet I still get the message. How do i resolve this?

President Nelson is 98 years old. The Queen was 96. Why does he look so much younger, yet is almost a century old. Also why was he still actively skiing up until a few years ago when he became Prophet and they forced him to stop for security reasons.

Dear Readers, Some days I think of the fact that I am a reader and think that I must be among the luckiest people on earth. For being a reader is surely the best thing that could have happened to me. Some days I think of the fact that I am a reader and I want to cry because of just how much I feel for these people of ink and paper. And some days I want to yelp in joy because of how much I feel for these people of ink and paper. I want a life spent with books. I want to read by the candlelight. I want to peruse abandoned libraries and old bookstores. I want to read The Haunting of Hill house curled up in a chair while a storm rages outside. I want to drink tea and read all of Dostoevsky. Most of my life I’ve felt like a stray jigsaw piece that doesn’t fit anywhere, but when I think of such a life I feel as if I’ve found my picture. The best part, for me, about being a reader is those books that completely take up your heart and soul. You know the ones I’m talking about. The ones you can’t stop think off; those special characters that live rent free in your heart. The books, that once you’ve finished them, give you this feeling of peace, of contentment, of pure joy. Reading is a contant reminder, "You are not alone." Everytime I come across a passage in a book that makes me want to cry because I didn't think anyone else felt this way; thought this way, those words beat like a second heartbeat in me. Because an author, maybe across the world from you, felt so strongly about this that they wrote a book about it. Because someone who has never even met you, captured your most intimate feelings so perfectly, you feel known and you feel seen. And people, people don't understand. Most people who aren’t readers can’t understand. That’s okay too. Because the reading committee is a very special committee and you will always have people here who understand; who care; who share your obsessions and feelings. You are not alone, not only because of the characters and authors that have you reading just one more chapter, but also the people who are probably sacrificing their sleep right along with you. I would like to quote a line from Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, now “The books we love, they love us back. And just as we mark our places in the pages, those pages leave their marks on us.” Books are responsible for most of the beliefs I hold today, and not because they told me those beliefs. Because they showed me how to think on my own, and formulate my own worldview. I will always be grateful to them for that. I like books more than people. I prefer monsters and dark magic over going out and parties. I’m not throwing shade on the people who like those things. We are all free to chose our own path in life and no one road is better than the other. All I’m saying is that a life filled with classical music and fantasy and teas and coffees is…still a life. Just because it doesn’t meet anyone else’s expectations of what a life should be does not make it any less valid. Sometimes I need to remember that, and if you need to too, then I am here to tell you. I love each and every one of you (and this includes every reader out there) and I am eternally grateful for all you. Yours lovingly, Elf

Jasnah because, well, she’s just awesome. And ridiculously clever. And incredibly brave. And a literal queen of one of the most powerful countries on Roshar (pre-desolation at least.) And a storming Knight Radiant… I could go on

I was considering how seriously Hallendren takes its art, to the point that they've even got things like the synchronized gardening orchestra, and a realization struck me. The fifth heightening makes you completely immune to most toxins, and in real life we have an example of food that's fancy by virtue of narrowly avoiding being deadly poisonous in the form of fugu. So what if Hallendren has chefs specially trained in preparing delicious food using poisonous ingredients that can't be safely eaten by people with too little Breath. Poison ivy salads and deadly nightshade berry sorbets and so on. Actually, expanding upon that now that I'm thinking about it, people of the fifth heightening are immune to diseases too. So while you almost certainly wouldn't want to consume rotten meat, because it's going to taste bad and I'd be willing to bet Breath affects your ability to taste just like your other senses, there's really no risk to you if you want to try eating raw meats or dairy or so on. At any rate, I doubt there's enough potential customers of the fifth heightening or above to sustain a chef even if they charge extravagant prices of every poisonous meal, so it's probably something that certain master chefs learn above and beyond their other culinary expertise.

Hi Im Ant I'm someone that got into Stormlight a few years ago and now I've read the rest of the Cosmere. Both Stormlight and Mistborn are two of my favorite fictional series. And I'm a big fan of Hoid.

Reviving this thread to say I got a haircut and it makes my gender happy

The vibes were just so impeccable

The Discord often goes faster but is easier to get into than the forums, and it's usually pretty chill! I'd highly recommend joining it The friends I've made here, for sure. Favorite moment...some of the RP I've done has been very satisfying, but it's hard to pick out something specific! Becoming a mod was pretty monumental, I'll sometimes look back at that when I'm feeling down. The first wedding that didn't happen was pretty legendary. TLT and TST had some fun moments, and same with TLPW, chatting with @The Awakened Salad it's time for your yearly Shard visit, Salad. Covert Operations back in the days of TUBA was also some serious fun. ...I think I have to answer that I don't have a specific moment, there are too many to choose from and that's not even counting Discord! No real opinion. It's fine. Tastes like crunchy chips. I think my dad used to be really into it before he found his true obsession in country music.

Welcome to the shard! Of Stormlight and Mistborn, which is your favorite magic system?

It seems that putting enough Investiture into something will produce similar effects. Look at Nightblood and Azure's blade, both made from a completely different Shard from Honor, yet both sharing traditional Shardblade characteristics such as indestructibility and magically enhanced cutting, as well as appearance in the case of Azure's Blade.

I just finished watching the two towers (extended edition) (spoilers ahead) and can I say the music???? Rohan??? The whole battle of helms deep scene was like??? The best??? and sir Christopher lee’s portrayal of Saruman was perrrrfect and the lead up to Merry and Pippen’s big moment? and the visible way Legolas and Gimli’s dynamic changes? and Gandalf at Helm’s deep like that was perfectly foreshadowed now I understand what Sanderson was talking and in his lecture and merry and pippin finding Saruman’s private food store lmao AND THERE WAS A MAP! WHOOOO and the conlangs? Chef’s kiss I loved how the world building just showed through sooooo well! and every time they talked about the shire the theme was therrrrre ahhhhhh so good I would watch the whole helms deep/ents sequence a million times over what is it about the second movie in the trilogy being my favorite? Empire strikes back is also my favorite of the OT, and the OT is my favorite of all the main Star Wars movies (but rouge one and clone wars-) and the way the traveling seems so cool and how Aragorn gets a very clear character arc of him figuring himself out that’s a lot more pronounced than the books

Damn, on one hand if I wanted the cool powers I'd go with being a Mistborn, but It'd be really expensive getting Bendalloy and such. With Feruchemy you just need one piece of each and your good, no need to spend more. But the storing thing would be kind of annoying but at least all of the metals would have some use, unlike Allomancy where half of the metals would be borderline useless in 'the real world', but the other half would be really fun. But Feruchemy would be a lot more useful if your just trying to live life, so I'd choose to be a Feruchemist just for convivence and for quality of life improvements. Plus I might be able to figure out Unsealed Metalminds and make myself rich by selling MAGIC.

I don't think that would be possible, when Pulling or Pushing, they always 'brace' against themselves, i.e. if you pull on something much heavier than yourself, you get pulled closer not the object. Hence flight like this would be literally like trying to lift yourself up by your bootstraps.

Well, that was an awesome game! I think I'm officially in love with SE now. Now I'm genuinely terrified of Devo after the last two games, but what else is new? Had so much fun- it was really an amazing time. Can't wait for the next one.

Kind of Witty Title

Here's my veined sword. It turned out pretty simple, don't know what the veins are made of, but this is pretty much what pops into my head when I think of rock veins.

If anything, I think that’s circumstantial evidence in favor of your idea… Taln never broke, therefore he doesn’t get that kind of madness.

This song is beautiful, so beautiful.

Here's the preview for Venli: https://cosmere.es/stormlight-premium-miniatures-venli-english/ They've also revealed there that the four larger, pre-painted miniatures will be Windrunner Kaladin, Elsecaller Jasnah, Skybreaker Szeth, and Shardbearer Adolin (you can see them all at the bottom of the page) There's also Dalinar's miniature: https://www.dicebreaker.com/topics/the-stormlight-archive/news/stormlight-archive-dalinar-kholin-miniature As described in this post on Reddit, we'll get both Blackthorn Dalinar and Bondsmith Dalinar, the one shown is presumably Blackthorn Also, some news from this post: Official preview will be shown on Friday on r/Stormlight_Archive There will be a special 11-pack "Starter Set" of official Stormlight paints (including Kholin Blue to Carapace Red) available on The Army Painter Kenny Boucher (Next Level Painting) will start painting some of the miniatures on his Youtube channel on Friday Update: Full preview for Shardbearer Adolin miniature: https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/52100/brandon-sanderson-brotherwise-games-partner-stormlight-miniatures-figurines Also, this Reddit thread mentions some additional miniatures as confirmed (Kaladin (Parshendi Armour), Szeth (Assassin in White), Navani, Eshonai and Leshwi), but I can't find the exact source for that Update 2: Here's the miniature preview recap video (in Spanish, but with English subtitles): https://youtu.be/p4xFObbiYb4 They mostly show what was already available through the links above, but you can find some interesting stuff starting around 5:20 There's a screenshot of Brandon ad Isaac with a rather big chasmfiend mini in the background! Kenny Boucher will be painting Blackthorn Dalinar & Shardbearer Adolin minis, starting today (Friday 9th) The lowest tier for the Kickstarter will be 30$, with add-ons for 10-15$ International shipping will be done through centers in US, UK, Canada & EU If the Kickstarter goes well (which is, I mean, pretty much given) we can expect more miniatures in the future, potentially including antagonists, monsters, other characters and a book 5 set The quality of the 3D models is apparently so good that Dragonsteel plans to use them for future merchandise as well. Maybe even for the Year of Sanderson swag boxes? Update 3: Preview of Shadesmar Adolin miniature: https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/xbx1v2/creating_the_official_model_for_adolin_kholin/ Update 4: Chasmfiend miniature (145 mm!): https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/xcy9wr/a_first_look_at_our_not_so_miniature_chasmfiend/ Bridge Leader Kaladin miniature (a.k.a the Parshendi Armour version): https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/xd09iu/first_look_at_bridge_leader_kaladin_miniature/ And storms, there will be a showpiece 1:10 scale resin statue of Kaladin and Szeth, specifically requested by Brandon (already painted, 300 mm / 11.8 inch!): https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/xd1dft/surprise_a_highend_statue_will_be_part_of_the/

I think another thing to keep in mind about the honorblades is that honor was granting power to the heralds that was in the same realm as the power they just used to destroy their old planet. The planet they fled and in the process brought Odium. It's very possible that the limitations in the honorblades were a direct result of trying to limit the power that these people could manifest. Then, when the nahel bonds with the different spren started to manifest, there was a system in place to allow more power to come out because it required this bond that has the limiting factors built in. Instead of limiting the power available the same way, the bonds limit the intent that the power can be used for. A windrunner couldn't do what Szeth did in TWOK.Kaladin almost lost his powers just by standing by while an assassination plot was happening. I think the limitations of power based on intent is a far more limiting thing than needing a little more stormlight.

I made a Home Screen for 4 different orders of night radiant. Row spoiler

Kaladin speaks the 3rd ideal "I will protect even those I hate, as long as it is right", but he doesn't define what is "right". In fact, not knowing who is "right" or "wrong" is an underlying theme for Kaladin throughout the books. He has long discussions with Syl on the topic and mostly Kaladin follow's Syl's lead, even though she says she doesn't know who is right and who is wrong. She just "feels" it. Is it right to kill Parshmen? Is it right to kill a friend? It is a basic moral issue and Kaladin must resolve it in order to fully achieve the highest status as Knight Radiant, similar to the Skybreakers' need to define the law. As others have said, Kaladin needs to have a leadership oath. Therefore I think the 5th ideal for Kaladin will be "I will take the responsibility to define what is right and what is wrong".

Tyranny, you say? Do you or do you not have a choice in being on this thread? Can't you just post non-questions on other threads? Do you not hear the screams of pain as this thread is ruined?

Killer Orcas... Why tho?

I’ve been thinking, and RoW made Syladin (Syl Kaladin) ship more of a possibility. I am a huge fan, but I don’t typically go and do research. The closest to research I do is watch Shardcasts. Well, basically what I want to know are your guy’s opinions on Syladin.

I'm not done yet! So long as this is my thread that I've started and double-posting or even triple-posting is allowed, I'm going to keep on sharing these songs in the desperate hope that anyone will notice them! And here's a big brain moment... it's not a double post if people respond... So here is a compilation of the past three songs I've shared on here... And then for the REAL new song... This one! This one is very different from any other Mistborn song I've done, since I wanted to go for an ethereal, out of this world sound for the Cognitive Realm. I really hope you guys enjoy this one!

I was worried no one would notice this, so thank you for that. For your kind words and the fact that you said anything at all. It means a lot to me. And now that I'm back and have a new video released since the last post, here is the next and newest track in the series, set during the prologue of The Final Empire! Featuring amazing artwork by the fabulously talented Deandra Scicluna, this is Visit From the Survivor!

Rhythm of War confirmed for me that Adolin is purely a foil. I do not think that is a bad thing. I just think that is all he is. Any view point, big moment or plot of his is either to serve a main character's arc, or is another main character's arc that was stretched to include him. I have included what I believe to be all the arcs below: 1. Dalinar questioning his sanity. We have confirmation via WoB that Adolin was used to make this inner conflict external 2. The Tower. Kaladin and Dalinar's moment. Adolin was the means to connect the two 3. The four shardbearer duel. The lead up was to serve Dalinar's plot of uniting the highprinces and place suspicion on Amaram. The fight itself was to give Kaladin a moment to challenge Amaram and further his plot to nearly break his oath with Syl when he was locked away as result. 4. Relationship with Shallan served to develop Shallan further, give her access to the Kholins (since if Jasnah was there as originally intended, Brandon felt would suffocate Shallan's character and prevent her from growing), and provide her a vehicle (literally and figuratively) to Urithiru. 5. Killing Sadeas. The inciting moment served Dalinar's (facing now the world threat), and Shallan's (Ghostbloods) arc. 6. Revelation about the Rift and Evi, totally and absolutely about Dalinar and his arc. Adolin was just to make it external like the insanity in WoK. 7. Infiltration of Kholinar. Kaladin's arc about his conflict with seeing enemies as people, and freezing up. Shallan's arc about facing her deeper secrets. Adolin was an excuse for them to be there. (oh yeah almost forgot, and Elhokar bonding a radiant spren and getting killed) 8. Travel through shadesmar, Kaladin's arc about working towards his fourth oath, and Shallan coming to terms with what happened in Kholinar. Adolin was there to drive them forward And now we reach Rhythm of War which for me proved all of the above. All of the plots regarding Adolin, save one, were a rehash of all the plot moments he was apart of in the first three books 1. Adolin's issues with Dalinar is a plot rehash of Adolin's issues with Dalinar in Way of Kings with insanity. 2. Travel through Shadesmar is a rehash of the travel through Shadesmar during Oathbringer. 3. Adolin's fight is a rehash of the four shardbearer duel during Words of Radiance 4. The time in Lasting Integrity is a rehash of the infiltration of Kholinar during Oathbringer Here is the big one. Maya! The deadeye plot was originally only Shallan's. Testament was seeded since Way of Kings. That was the original deadeye plot. Maya and Adolin were never originally a thing, because in the original format, Adolin was already dead. So Adolin and Maya were to make the hints more obvious, and give him something to do along side Shallan. But Testament proves this was originally only Shallan's story all along. edit: Oh I forgot! There is also the WoB where Brandon was originally going to have Lift go on the trip with Shallan. So Lift would have been the individual exhibiting Edgedancerness remembering those who were forgotten, and might have been originally meant to be the one to argue in the trial. So as I said, my unpopular opinion is that Adolin is a foil character period, and for myself Rhythm of War proved it. Not here to argue over Adolin. Just stating that is my personal understanding of the character.

Pretty much agree with all of this, except maybe the last part. Kaladin and Syl we're just completely beside themselves after seeing Moash had killed Teft. It was maybe a 2 minute span where Kaladin became a suicidal killer, it wasn't an extended sequence. Plus, Syl was unable to recall the words of the 4th ideal, so perhaps that is the repercussion

I think that RoW was a good book. But...it felt lacking after the massive buildup of Oathbringer, and the huge world-wide events that occurred there. And I cared about all the stuff going on because of the world building that happened in the previous two books. RoW, in comparison, felt a bit like a let down after what I had expected from Oathbringer. Plus, both Kaladin and Shallan, in my opinion, felt like they had regressed since the last book, and that felt a little frustrating to me.

First of all, I feel I have to state that Kaladin is my favorite character. Secondly, I want to say that I myself have struggled with depression for years and Kaladin in Rhythm of War was very hard for me to read due to Depression feedback loops I was having with Kaladin. I feel like Kaladin has come to the point in his story where he has finally realized that he cannot just be a surgeon, and he can't just be a soldier. He needs to be something else, something that successfully synthesizes his two identities, his two dueling sides. I don't think being a therapist is all he's going to do. That is just being a surgeon, a different, more fulfilling kind of surgeon, but still just a surgeon. Kaladin loves fighting (but not killing), he's a great leader, and soon he will likely be a 5th ideal Windrunner. What does that make him? I also don't think book 5 will just be Kaladin's end. From a story perspective, Kaladin's arc has been about learning to live with himself and accepting responsibility for the decisions he's made. I don't think it's narratively the right thing to do to have a character who's struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide to die a heroic, self-sacrificing death. I think it's narratively better if Kaladin can find some way to live his life in a fulfilling, satisfying way where he can combine the two conflicting sides of himself. It's also the harder thing for Kaladin to do. Dying heroically would be easy for Kaladin. Living happily is a better end for his character. As far as Syladin goes... it didn't seem like a Romantic relationship was even possible so I never thought about it. Syl was written believably as a nonhuman character. Then Rhythm of War happened and, suddenly, it did seem possible. I don't know how I feel about it and it would depend, heavily, on how Brandon executed it. I'm not flat opposed to it, but I'd need to be convinced and Brandon couldn't skip any steps.

1. Rlain should’ve been a Bondsmith or just a regular Truthwatcher. Navani being the Sibling’s Bondsmith made sense, I know. I just didn’t like that Rlain was made into a corrupted Truthwatcher. He was made more of an outcast than he already is. He saw and he “sees” both sides now. A very important requirement for the Thruthwatchers, understanding humans and Parshendi, with or without prejudice and all. A regular Truthwatcher, Brandon, from a semi-main character’s POV, is what I’m asking for, since Renarin’s too different and you want him to stay that way. Sighing heavily* 2. Dalinar-Kaladin climax scene is a bit too convenient for me. I know that the Kaladin-superhero comeback was something Brandon had been cooking in the back of his cosmere-vast and marvelous brain for a long time. Dont’t get me wrong, the scene was epic and one of the most awaited from Kaladin - his fourth Ideal. It was expected, we all saw it coming and we loved Brandon for it. But Dalinar’s involvement was a tad unnecessary and off, I don’t know, one moment he was flying to the other side of the world, the next he was forcing the Stormfather to do what he wants and help the poor boy. Boo-hoo. It was…easy? I was hoping that Kaladin resolved it with Syl and Tien (his intervention could be something he makes up in his mind from seeing his father falling?), on their own. 3. Shallan’s arc just got messier and messier with every book. With the addition of a new Cryptic (would it be more appropriate to call Testament old?) all the calculations of how further along Shallan was with her oaths just went out of all my windows. I love my puzzles but the Davar heroine is testing my patience. I used to hate her in the first book, loved her in the second and third but by the fourth, I’m worried that Brandon may have overdone it. 4. Just kill Moash! I don’t want any redemption arc or even a possibility of him having one.

Responding to OP: This was the worst SA book, and one of my least favorite cosmere books. There, I said it. I read it. I've tried rereading it, and I give up each time because I just can't.

The book was kind of a mess. Too little focus on any one story means none of them were well-served. The 'backstory character' got completely shafted and the whole book would have been better if it were skipped completely. Jasnah's POVs were also useless, and it would have been better to skip them and keep Jasnah as mysterious as possible for the back 5. Especially the scenes with Ruthar, which were among the worst I've read in any of Sanderson's novels. Some have complained about her relationship with Hoid, as if Hoid has been chaste since he was 50 years old, but I think the real problem is showing too much of what should be mysterious characters. The entire plot at Urithiru was poorly executed, and while there was an attempt to make it seem urgent, it ended up feeling contrived. The stakes just never seemed real to me. Kaladin's arc should be more than simply rehashing what he did in book 1. The first time he contemplated suicide and chose life it was powerful. The tenth time it was boring, and cheapens everything. Teft got done dirty. I'm OK with him dying, I'm OK with Moash killing him, I'm not OK with him being helpless the entire book just to die in order to make Kaladin go super saiyan like he's Goku on Namek. Now, for the real unpopular ones: The entire series would be much, much better if it had simply focused on Kaladin and Dalinar, instead of trying to shoehorn 10 'main' characters into it. Each book has been worse than the one that came before. The Way of Kings is still the best book he's ever written, but the more he expands the series, the worse it gets. Obviously, this isn't unique to Sanderson, bad books don't get sequels and all, but it doesn't leave me hopeful for book 5.

This is something I came up with at 3 am, so let me know if it gets too crazy Here it goes: We know that Ashyn doesn't currently have any Shard (WoB), but a question if there was ever a Shard there is considered a spoiler (WoB). Ashyn magic wasn't always disease-based (WoB), but used to similar to surgebinding (WoB). Given that Ashyn people used Dawnshards “known to bind any creature voidish or mortal” (Poem of Ista) to destroy their planet and were able to escape it using powers “of spren and Surges” (Eila Stele), it seems certain that there were spren (and therefore probably a Shard) there. Could that Shard be Odium? That seems very unlikely – it would mean that sometime during his Shard killing spree he decided to make a stop (next to a dishardic planet!), Invest there and give people weapons potentially able to harm him (Dawnshards). No, Odium would make a detour to Ashyn only if there was a real threat to him there that needed to be neutralized before taking care of Roshar. That leaves Cultivation and Honor, but as far as we know they've Invested in Roshar before the arrival of humans, so it's unlikely that any of them is responsible for Ashyn magic. My theory is that this Shard was a child of Cultivation and Honor – Unity. It was confirmed that Shards Vessels could have children (WoB) and that being a Shard affects pregnancy (WoB). I assume here that a Shardic child would be considered a Shard with a big asterisk (using terminology from this WoB on Patji), but would still count as two Shards together with their parents (Tanavast + Slammer + Unity = Honor + Cultivation). This way, we still have three Shards overall in the Rosharan system, even though the number of Vessels may not match. Unity would probably have a very atypical childhood (to say the least), so many human concepts (such as gender) could be foreign to them – and this attitude would be shared with their godspren, the Sibling (WoB). It's hard to say if Unity would have their own type of Investiture, but if they used Cultivationlight (WoB) instead, it would explain why we see so little of it compared to Stormlight. Finally, Unity would explain why we see two mixed (Cultivation + Honor) magic systems – Surgebinding was created directly by their Investment in Roshar and fabrials (part of the another magic system per this WoB) were originally developed on Ashyn by Unity and then brought to Roshar by humans. The latter is corroborated by the fact that humans left Ashyn using a type of Oathgate before there were any fabrials on Roshar at all (this WoB, though it's technically not canonized yet due to Spiritual Realm mechanics issues). At the beginning Unity would be underpowered as a Shard, but nothing stops them from travelling across Cosmere. gathering unclaimed Honor/Cultivation Investiture and growing stronger. This would also explain Unity's apparent effect on some of Cosmere's religions (Shu-Keseg concept of unity on Sel, “The One” worshipped by Iriali who later travel to Roshar). This sounds a lot like Autonomy, doesn't it? I think this might set up a future (post–Stormlight) conflict between both Shards, which can be seen as opposing forces. I also believe that at some point during their Cosmere journey, Unity recruited Dysian Aimians (whom we know to be worldhoppers present on many worlds: WoB here and here) as their agents, possibly because of their nature being an actual embodiment of Unity's intent. Anyway, Unity finally brings some humans to the Rosharan system, settles on Ashyn and Invests there, creating a fabrial–based magic system using Dawnshards (probably Unity's splinters, analogically to Honor and Honorblades). What are Dawnshards? I think they're tools for capturing, storing and transforming spren of any kind. The first two are kind of obvious, but what about transformation? We know that in many ways spren behave like wave–functions in quantum mechanics (flamespren study in one of interludes in The Way Of Kings). If so, we should theoretically see things like quantum superposition or Bose–Einstein condensates. In Cosmere terms, it would mean that spren could be merged with each other to create something new. Merging lesser spren associated with a given order of Knights Radiant is already believed by many to be the source of Shardplates. I believe that a similar process, merging of one or many inkspren and lighspren, leads to the creation of unique Oathgate spren (the same mechanism applies to other Surge fabrial spren as well). This could also explain the origin of the Unmade, who were “made, then unmade”. Not created or born. Made – created from other spren by Dawnshards, only to be later corrupted by Odium. For example, Yelig–nar might have originally been an attempt to create a spren able to form Nahel Bond giving all the surges (Rosharan version of lerasium, basically). Re–Shephir seems like a supercharged version of creationspren, Chemoarish – ashspren etc. We know that one Dawnshard is different from the rest (WoB) and that at least one of them is “known to bind any creature voidish or mortal” (Poem of Ista). I believe they're one and the same, and that binding a mortal creature means creating a Cognitive Shadow copy of a person, providing exactly the same form of immortality that the Heralds and the Fused would later use. What is more, this particular Dawnshard seems to be still active on Roshar. That's why Dalinar can be forgiven by Evi during the Battle of Thaylen Field and that's why his second vision of Nohadon is so strange – they are both Cognitive Shadows. The Tranquiline Halls myth in Vorinism is not just a tale of how people left Ashyn – it has additional hidden meaning. Some chosen people don't just go Beyond, they are given some sort of immortality to join the fight with Odium (or be useful to Unity in other ways). I think that's the reason Odium created Moelach. His power seems useless to Odium at first, but he can “seeps into a soul as it breaks apart from the body” (Diagram) and works “at the transition point between realms. When a soul was nearing the Tranquiline Halls” (Hessi's Mythica). He can prevent a person from being captured by a Dawnshard and extract information from them (something the Sleepless of Aimia are afraid in Kaza's interlude in Oathbringer). Moelach's purpose is to search for Dawnshards and interfere with their activity. It's hard to tell if Cognitive Shadows can be merged just as spren, but if they do, that might potentially explain the weird nature of Cusicesh the Protector with it's multitude of rapidly changing human faces. The special Dawnshard also provides an explanation for another question – how Unity could survive their fight with Odium. Before Ashyn was destroyed, Unity's followers (the Sleepless) escaped to Roshar with two Dawnshards. One of them, used for creating Surge fabrials, ended up in Aimia (WoB). The other one, storing a copy of Unity's mind, was hidden by Cultivation (we know that her magic can hide things from Odium – Lift hides from Odium in one of Dalinar's visions). Where such a thing could be stored? My best bet is the Origin of Storms. This place is clearly important, as indicated by Puuli's interlude and Wandersail story (also, Cusicesh always looks in that direction). If the Highstorm really originates there (or, more likely, simply recharges there), the place must be full of Investiture to power a device storing Cognitive Shadows of a Shard and a great number of people. Also, as Investiture resists Investiture, the Origin would be very hard to spy on by Odium's forces. As a result, Odium isn't aware that Unity is alive until the Thaylen Field (his future sight is useless here, as Cultivation and Unity are together equally good at it, or even better) and ends up screaming "No, we killed you. We killed you!". tl;dr version: Unity is the child of Cultivation of Honor and the original Shard on Ashyn. They created the first fabrial–based magic system utilizing Dawnshards that can (A) bind and merge spren into more powerful, unique spren (e.g. Surge fabrial spren) and (B) create Cognitive Shadow copies of people. Using the latter, a Cognitive Shadow of Unity survived the fight with Odium and was hiding with Cultivation's help, planning to strike Odium and finally revealing themselves during the Battle of Thaylen Field.

Well of Ascension Spoilers: Words of Radiance Spoilers:

I've been wondering this for a while now. I think he's really just transcribing his visits to other planets, then returning and torturing us with his devilish weapon known as RAFO.

When the Day Met the Night by Panic at the Disco. They've got some good stuff.