LiftisaDragon

He could be playing a not dissimilar (sorry) game to Taravangian - a behind-the-scenes identity swap that substantially increases his agency. May allow him to put all these “threats” to Scandrial on their heels for once

Yeah- there is also something to “nal” in the cosmere. Nale, Nalthis, Nalt, Nahel (I’m stretching it with that one), & of course AdoNALsium. Questioner In the ancient religion with Trell, the god, he had a brother Nalt. Is Nalt in any relation to Nalthis, the planet? Brandon Sanderson Hehe, that’s a good question. Hmmm. I’m going to RAFO that for now. WOB: Calamity Chicago signing (Feb. 22, 2016)

Also in Gavilar’s Prologue: “Gavilar Kholin was not a man accustomed to losing. That was how the greatest men lived their lives. They didn’t accept failure or loss. People got what they expected.” Dalinar writing in world Oathbringer, after (seemingly) internalizing WoKs: “The most important words a man can say are: ‘I will do better’…. A journey will have pain and failure. It is not only the steps forward that we must accept. It is the stumbles. The trials. The knowledge that we will fail”

This may be a bit of a stretch, but hear me out: it seems at least somewhat plausible that Mercy had a pre-existing relationship with Ambition. Mercy is forced to “mercy kill” the mortally wounded Ambition, and in the process somehow transforms its intent into Anguish/Despair/Sorrow. Might correlate to harmony being so worried about their conversations, and perhaps why the Threnody planets are named after Eulogies.

There are some interesting similarities between the way radiant/pre-radiant readers on Roshar (specifically Dalinar, with Gavilar serving as a nice contrast) interpret the in-world WoK, and how Returned (+Kaladin) interpret Nathalian Invested Art. 1) It appears that both the WoK and Invested Art hold special meaning for Returned and/or Radiants. This WoB explains the mechanics of Invested Art- essentially the artist is placing a piece of their soul into the Art, and a sufficiently Invested person is able to see a piece of their soul. Lightsong truly is seeing something different than your average joe- what looks like random strokes to Llarimar resolve into an almost premonitory visions for a returned. I think this parallels well with Dalinar’s reading of the WoK. He truly does seem to be getting “more” out of the book, and Connects (capital C) with it on a deeper level. Chapter 26 of Oathbringer, where Dalinar begins his Journey (Gavilars funeral) is chock full of semi-mystic allusions. Dalinar, moments from drinking himself to oblivion, hears Jasnah read the introduction, and asks himself “If words can give off light?” After Jasnah finishes reading, he [understood the words, but misses what the book says]. This short chapter is among the most pivotal in Dalinar’s life, as it sets him on the path to the Nightwatcher. This is a nice juxtaposition to the Gavilar prologue- he has read and memorized the entire book, quoting lines at random looking for the most important words a man can say. It’s reasonably clear it’s just not clicking with him- those on the path to Radiance are experiencing something on a deeper level. Gavilar’s view on the book: [the words were sheltered among the self righteous moralizing like a whitespine in the brambles] Dalinar, at the end of Book 1, as he has begun to understand WoK, supports this supposition: “The book was written to embody an ideal. It was given to people who already had momentum in doing what was right”. (Wok ch 69- nice) 2) Dalinar feels the book, despite being unable to read it. Words “emanate from the page”, and the same paragraph explicitly notes visions started after he begins listening to the readings. (Wok ch 26) The obvious rebuttal: it’s not actually the Way of Kings, it’s been translated and diluted through Rosharan history. However, I am not certain it matters- it’s pointed out again and again how important this book was as a “guide” for the Knights Radiant. Also, I think Brandon is drawing some real world inspiration from the Bible- the abundance of parables, divine inspiration, & vastly different interpretations from readers. Does it matter? Not sure- Brandon has been pretty clear something interesting is going on with Nohadon WOB WOB WOB , so perhaps it has some impact in the next book. Its interesting to me that Dalinar started hearing UNITE ME (all caps) after odium bolted his copy of WoK. Very symbolic.

Nice touch on the broadsheet- editor missing for 8 days, and then a small redaction under “Flight of the Ornisaur” walking back said editor absolutely flaming the Mayor 2 weeks ago. I wonder where she went…..

At some point in the future cosmere, it seems likely Roshar and Scadrial will come into either direct conflict, or at least the cosmere equivalent of the Cold War. It’s my belief that, in order to avoid bestowing overt advantages to either side, Brandon will “give” each of these planets 3 shards. Roshar: Odium, Cultivation, Honor Scadrial: Autonomy, Ruin, Preservation I’ve been theorizing as to what the names/intents of these tri-shardic entities could be. My thoughts are below… let me know what you think. I could see Odium and Cultivation forming something along the lines of Vendetta or Enmity (Count of Monte Cristo-esq). Maybe the light is something like RageLight or Strifelight…. Brandon definitely prefers the less interpretive names for the lights. Perhaps all 3 merge into something like Fervor or Ardor…. Trying to find words that capture strong passion growing from deep seated roots, with the positive tint of honor. In my mind Fevor or Zeal would represent a lessened honor, whereas Ardor or perhaps Vehemence is a lessened Odium. On Scadrial, I could see the 3 (Ruin, Preservation, Autonomy) merging into something like Hegemony or Empire. This one is tough… you want to capture the destructive aspects of ruin, the almost crystallized preservation, but at the same time independence and self sufficiency.

yumiya I can’t quote you bc I’m new, but I agree completely with what you’re saying; I think shard opposites are a reasonable fleshed out part of the cosmere. I’m trying to go at it from the other way: how are they similar. As a bit of background, this stemmed from the similarity between Rosharian and Selish magics. I actually wasn’t aware of SP3, but I think it still works. Invention seems like a natural pair to virtuosity, and Autonomy & Whimsy may not be a horrible pairing. To me, whimsy connotates an “blind to the outside world” sort of etheric (not in the cosmere sense) independence, a la Luna Lovegood or the Chershire Cat. So: invention - virtuosity autonomy - whimsy

Hi first post: I am playing with a theory that 8 of the shards are simple “actions” (for lack of a better word), and each share an emotionally tinted counterpart. I’m not sure how this related to a theory I view as essentially guaranteed, that the 16 shards are split into 4 groups along the intents of the dawnshards. Ruin: Odium Invention: Whimsy Valor: Ambition Honor: Devotion Preservation: Survival (not confirmed) Cultivation: Dominion Autonomy: ??? Endowment: Mercy One note on endowment/mercy… I think this may be a case of a shard(s) having a slightly “broader” Intent than the specific name would imply. I believe this is supported by the mechanics of Returned being brought back to life for specific purposes…. Perhaps something more along the lines of Legacy etc. additionally if you really wanted to stretch it, Mercy is holistically something along the lines of Blessing, Grace, or Compassion, which I think tracks with emotionally charged components of Endowment. Of course, could just be a mercy-killing pyscho… we will see. Let me know what y’all think. One edit note: this also might support why Roshar Spren are so similar to Sel Seon/Skaze. The Roshar Shards & Sel Shards are in some ways mirrors of each other, and that might be reflected in the magic manifestation.