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The general consensus is that the southern part of Scadrial is only slightly more advanced than the north we've seen. But weren't they free from TLR's thousand years of technological stasis? If Scadrial was about to develop guns before the staid, shouldn't the south be at least beyond our technological level, possibly even in the ftl age?

In honor of Shdows of Self being released, I made a video inspired by the scene in Alloy of Law where Wax chases the train. Enjoy!

This is a theory that is based on the parshendi and parshmen and the way that parshmen man bond common spren to become parshendi. Now we know that a mist wraith becomes a kandra because of hemalurgy and there is a word of Brandon saying a parshmen could do something similar. So what about the other way, could a mist wraith somehow bond a spren and become a kandra, or a hemalurgicly charged kandra bond a spren (Luke creation spren or glory spren, weaker emotion spren aswell) and the no longer need it's spikes?

Hi all, I was rereading The Alloy of Law prior to Shadows of Self, and I noticed something interesting (at least I found it interesting). During a conversation between Miles and Mister Suit (Ch. 15) they talk about the following: Suit snorted. “And it’s said that the Roughs are the place where honor goes to be murdered.” “It’s the place honor goes to be strung up, flayed within an inch of its life, then cut down and left in a desert. If it survives something like that, it’ll be stronger than hell. Certainly stronger than anything you have at your Elendel dinner parties.” Kaladin being a child of Tanavast/Honor, was strung up to be flayed by the storm, cut down by bridge 4, and became stronger from it (e.g., Teft noticing Kaladin feeding upon the light, which set Kaladin down the path). The desert could be referencing the shattered plains due to the high storms. Do you think this was a coincidence or a nod from Brandon to those who follow the Cosmere?

Note: I haven't read White Sand. If someone who's read it considers it plausible / impossible, please mention it below. Spoilers: Part for length, and part for SoS major spoilers (even though I don't have to).

This was the 'invitation' being sent out to all of those who have earned notice or been deemed worthy. Only half of the invited are expected to return willingly, Grim knew. The ones that didn't would just be used in the required initiation rituals. Game Rules: Sign-ups will last a week, until sometime on Sunday, October 18th! Quick Links:

I don't see a thread on this yet. Ebook version Chapter 6, paragraph 3, second line: "To begin with he paid their wages..." There should be a comma after "with."

EDIT #1: Event is over, you can find my write-up and recordings in this post. EDIT #2: Here's a [link] to the transcript. In case you've missed the news, Brandon will be in the Oak Brook Barnes & Noble on October 12. For quick reference, here's the snippet from his website: The important bit is that the event will have two parts (as is usual for Brandon's signings), each one with different admission rules. The first part (which will likely consist of a story, a Q&A, and a reading) is free and open to anyone and everyone, while the second part (the signing & personalization) requires a purchase of Shadows of Self on the spot. Which, I believe, is more than a little annoying, but their store, their rules (also, guess who is never preordering from B&N ever again). Come back to the Old Orchard Barnes & Noble, Brandon, they are nicer there! They are 10 minutes away from my house, not hour and a half... Anyway, I'll be there. I'll probably show up a little earlier (around 6, if I can), bother the personnel, and try to ambush Brandon if he makes the mistake of showing up early. For the event itself, I try to ask a non-spoilery Cosmere question during the general Q&A (you have me to thank for extracting the knowledge that unicorns do not exist in the Cosmere, thankyouverymuch), 2-3 juicy questions when it's my turn for signing & personalization, and a dozen or two after the event, if Brandon has time for 10 minutes of lightning Q&A. All of the events I've been to, he's been able to stay for a bit after and suffer my pestering, but there are no guarantees. So in this context, I'll be thinking about interesting questions in the next few days (feel free to post yours - obviously I can't promise I'll ask them for you, but if I like something I'll try to put it on my list). I'll also try to post a final list before the event, as well as an audio recording after. Kurk EDIT: Text of transcript as of 12/2016 for word-searching:

So my friend told me Brandon Sanderson has gone on record saying how hemalurgy is the most important mist born metal art, and i didn't believe him. Honestly, the hemalurgy table is sort of bland except for stealing feruchimal and allomantic powers. even figuring out what spikes the Kandra have (blessing of potency-Steel, blessing of one ness, zinc, etc) got old. UNTIL he said that hemalurgy could steal more than just mist born magic. We could use it with breath and awakened metal, or one of the knight radiant surges essences, etc. etc. Ive heard that it is based on blood, as is one of the essences in WoR so if another splintered shard picked up ruins/harmonys hemalurgy tricks, that could explain the honor blades and such. The fact that brandon sanderson actually said this is really the only leg this has to stand on but i want to see what you guys think. BTW what metal is in Waxilliums earing when he speaks to harmony? And who did he kill to get it through harmony? Can harmony change the laws of hemalurgy now that he is a double shard? Btw also excuse my spelling

I just started a re-read of The Final Empire, and FORESHADOWING. I mean, everywhere. So, I thought it would be fun to make a thread about the various hints I'm finally picking up on. I haven't seen anything similar in searches; hopefully I'm not missing anything. Basically this will demonstrate how blind I was to foreshadowing on the first read-through. I will only include long-arc foreshadowing, I think, perhaps with a few exceptions. Though, I'll note that names of significance were dropped much earlier than I thought -- Kelsier references Lord Renoux in the prologue, for instance. Henceforth there shall be spoilers for The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. I'll be re-reading the whole trilogy, and intend to update the original post as I go. References to page numbers are for the paperback editions, and as there will be a section for each book, unspecified page numbers are for the book of the section they're in. Mistborn: The Final Empire Page 1, Epigraph to the Prologue: They say I will hold the future of the entire world on my arms. Page 29, Chapter 2: If all went well, there would come a time when Kelsier would want to be seen and recognized. Page 32, Chapter 2: Sometimes, Kelsier felt that a skaa Misting's life wasn't so much about surviving as it was about picking the right time to die. Page 48, Chapter 3: In her mind, she thought she heard a voice whispering to her. Reen's voice. Page 65, Chapter 4: "The mistwraiths are out there. They'll grab a man and take his face, sure as the Lord Ruler." Page 77, Chapter 4: "And the koloss?" Ham asked quietly. Kelsier paused. "If he marches those creatures on his own capital city, the destruction it would cause could be even more dangerous than financial instability. In the chaos, the provincial noblemen will rebel and set themselves up as kings [...]" Page 85, Chapter 5: Yet, overthrowing the Final Empire? They'd sooner stop the mists from flowing or the sun from rising. Page 92, Chapter 5: As he stood, the mists curled slightly around his body. They twisted and spun, running in a slight, barely noticeable current beside him. The mists knew him; they claimed him. They could sense Allomancy Page 92, Chapter 5: And you can't change how much you weigh -- you're an Allomancer, not some northern mystic. Page 104, Epigraph to Chapter 6: I can feel our goal now, can sense it, though the others cannot. It . . . pulses, in my mind, far off in the mountains.

What Is This? This is a custom variety of RPG that I learned on the Crowfall forums, and have modified to fit the Mistborn setting. Rather than rolling dice, success are based on drawing cards, with the different faces meaning different results. I will be your GM. How Do We Play? Players make posts on the topic and then wait for a response from me or another player. Once you have attempted an action, you must wait for me to respond, but you are free to have your characters interact with each other for as long as you want without me intervening (unless you're holding up gameplay). Making Actions (Drawing): If you want your character to perform an action, you must pick a colour of card and a number (or paint) that could appear on a card. I will draw a card from my deck that will determine the outcome based on what you chose. Actions include things like sneaking past an Obligitor, Soothing a politician, performing an Ironpull, etc. If you are unsure whether something requires a draw, choose a card anyway, and I simply won't draw if you don't need one. Successes: If the card I draw is the same colour as the one you chose, your action is successful. If the card is an ace of that colour, it is very successful. If the number is within 1 of the number you chose, your action is critically successful. Failures: If the card that I draw is not the same colour as the one you chose, your action fails. If the card is an ace of that colour, you fail badly. If the number is within 1 of the number you chose, you fail critically. The Joker: In this deck, there is one Joker. No matter what it is that you're doing, if it is drawn, you die (and trust me, I'm creative enough to follow through on that threat). If another player is close enough, they can perform a draw to save you. That draw works the same as any other action. How Do I Make a Character? Your character can be either a Skaa, or noble, based upon your faction (which you will learn about momentarily). You can be one of the 8 types of Mistings listed in the original Mistborn book, or if you really want, you can be a normal person. You cannot be a Mistborn. The Factions Karalel is affected by 3 factions that you must choose between. All of the factions have advantages and disadvantages that you will discover as the game progresses. -The Skaa Rebellion Lead by Bilg, The Rebellion seeks to establish a government, similar to Elend's, in Karalel. Players that join the Rebellion must play as a Skaa. -The Restoration Party Lead by Salmen Tekiel, The Restoration Party seeks to establish a government in Karalel that mirrors the one previously in Luthadel, with Salmen in the position of the Lord Ruler. Members of The Restoration Party must be Nobles. -The Karalel Establishment Lead by Roshin Theriss, The Establishment is currently in control of the city, and has created a government system where Roshin has absolute power, though daily administration is handled by a council. In The Establishment, Skaa are free men, though still generally impoverished. They can even hold positions in government. Establishment players can be either Skaa or Noble. How Do We Know What's Going On? I will not be playing a character. I control the general narrative, terrain, and NPCs. My posts will be about these things, as well as reactions to your actions (or failures). You can talk to NPCs for information, or say something in your post to ask for info from me (like, "Vin looked around). To some degree, I will allow you to invent your surroundings, but remember, I DO have a vague narrative planned out, so don't go putting an Ashmount in my city. Combat? Yes there is combat. Occasionally, you may run into aggressive animals, bloodthirsty NPCs, or maybe even a Koloss if you've been really bad. Often times, these encounters can only be solved through battle. In combat, you draw 2 cards, opposed to the normal 1. One will be your attack, and one will be to defend. The order depends on who holds the advantage in the battle. PVP I will not stop you from player killing; you're in opposing factions after all. Remember though, the game isn't fun if you're alone. Also, news has a habit of travelling quickly in a city like Karalel, particularly when it involves murder. If you kill another player, you may find that your reputation precedes you in future encounters. To PVP someone, you draw two cards as well, but in this case, one is to hit and the other is to wound. If you fail to hit, nothing happens. If you hit, but fail to wound, I will describe how you hewed valiantly at your opponent, but he was protected by his pewter strengthened body. Health All players start with 5 health, but you can buff this by wearing armour, flaring pewter (which can only be done for about the length of a skirmish), or some similar plot point. Every time you are wounded, you lose 1 health. Wounds can be sustained through combat, but also through environmental scenarios. If you fail critically, you almost always take damage. Allomancy For the purposes of the game, we will assume that you always have enough metal to use your abilities. This makes it a lot easier for me. Starting Items Nobles start with 100 gold boxings. Skaa start with 20. You may have family heirlooms, or other character items if you wish. Each faction has a salary for its members, but they differ. The Rebellion gives its members food and equipment, The Establishment gives its members 5 gold boxings a day, and The Restoration Party gives its members 10. The Story! Okay, you know how to play, so let's tell you what the hell is going on. It is now several months after the Lord Ruler's death, and the Empire is splintered. Karalel is a city on the coast of the Southern Dominance, embroiled in political turmoil. With the death of their god, the populace was thrown into chaos for weeks. Eventually a government was established by some of the city nobles. It wasn't all that different from the original, but change is difficult in large amounts. One major change made by this government was the full citizenship rights of the Skaa. They no longer belong to their masters, and are free to do as they please. However, they still do not live an easy life. Just because they can now quit their jobs doesn't mean they are treated well. Nobles still whip their Skaa workers, and the Skaa still starve. The right to leave an employer doesn't mean much when the only other employment options are much the same. The death of the Lord Ruler has heartened the Skaa, and some believe that still more change is in order. There are rumours of Skaa being incited to disobedience by a Skaa from the Luthadel rebellion. As if this wasn't enough to worry the city's inhabitance already, a force has appeared in Henaly, a suburb outside Karalel. The force is lead by a noble that fled Luthadel before the Lord Ruler's fall, and now wishes to establish himself as the ruler of this new southern city. His rule would guarantee the city's nobles a place of stable prominence once again, as well as the Skaa's return to true slavery. The city fears the chance of an all out siege from the soldiers outside it. If you're interested in joining, post your character's starting profile below! The game starts 2 days after we acquire a sufficient number of players.

So I was reading Alloy of Law, and the part where Marasi is discussing how Vin is the role model for women, but she doesn't fit into that. I then wondered, is it possible that in Scadrial, women are expected to be self-actualized? We don't see that many women in the book, and aside from Marasi, Steris is the only other female character I can think of that's remotely girlish, in the most positive use of the word. I just thought this was interesting and could lead to some very intelligent conversations. Discuss. Is it possible that this role model could be expanded over future trilogies?

I thought I'd better post some Mistborn theories before Shadows of Self/ Bands of Mourning came out, in case they were confirmed or debunked. The first of these: MECHANICAL HEMALURGY. These are some separate facts in my head which caused me to believe that Hemalurgy can somehow be transferred to machines. While I haven't exactly worked out how, I am fairly confident it can be done. Here are some of the things that caused me to start thinking about this. Exhibit A: The machine built by the Ones Above in Sixth of the Dusk. Sharders seem increasingly certain that the Ones Above in Sixth of the Dusk are the Scadrians, who have gained access to space travel. We do know that it is set shortly prior to the sci-fi Mistborn Trilogy. One of the only things we know about them is that they built a machine that detects Avian (or the Investiture inside the Avian). This sounds almost like the capabilities of bronze, being able to detect the metals inside someones bodies. We have WoB that bronze can detect non-Scadrian magic in it's radar as well. So, I believe that this is one such machine that can convert Hemalurgy from a human into a mechanical operation. Exhibit B: The Southern Continent of Scadrial. We have WoB that they have magic there, but he has said it is used 'quite differently'. I believe that this is due to the presence of mechanical objects. They would have discovered it long before the northern continent, because they didn't have a stagnant 1000 years when the Lord Ruler took over. This means they would have had 1000 extra years to tinker around with this, and see how it works, as I believe they have done. Why Hemalurgy? Well, we know that inanimate objects don't have Investiture by natural means (Brandon has stressed quite strongly that metals don't contain Investiture, they merely 'unlock' the ability to access the Investiture inside yourself). Therefore, it must be 'given' to the machine somehow. So... Hemalurgy. What do you guys (and girls) think? Have I finally gone stark-raving mad? Or is there something salvageable to this theory? I'll get sources for the WoB's mentioned as soon as I can be bothered.

I can't remember if this was covered in the books or not, but where did feruchamy come from? We know that the Terris people had it long before Allomancy and Hemalurgy became some what common in the Mistborn world, but I don't think we know anything else. The only thing that I can think of is that it is a magic system that combines the elements of Ruin and Preservation, although why it was only given to the Terris people is beyond me.