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Hello all, I have invested some stake in the idea that Cusicesh the Protector is the third Sibling, referred to as a sleeping "they" by the Stormfather in Oathbringer. The Stormfather refuses to divulge more information than their existence and their relation to himself and the Nightwatcher. Cusicesh is described in Interlude I-5 of the Way of Kings as a spren of great size (over 100 feet tall) with four arms and a body with a deep blue center. It* rises out of the ocean at the same time every day (7:46am, though I won't pretend to know what that means,) and looks toward the Origin for the full ten minutes of its "performance". While doing so, it rapidly changes between human faces--male and female. Axies cannot tell if there are any repetitions of the faces shown. People who have watched Cusicesh have reported feeling drained afterwards. From Oathbringer's exploration of the Cognitive Realm, there is mention of a link between humanity and the spren. If the Sibling is "sleeping" as the Stormfather said, I believe they would still need to sustain that interaction with humanity. So, everyday, Cusicesh wakes up from its pseudo-hibernation, drains some energy from onlookers to sustain itself, and looks toward the Origin with longing, bearing the faces of those it bonded with in the past, then goes back to sleep. *Though I believe Cusicesh to be the Sibling in question, my belief does not constitute as evidence for sentience in said spren, so I will use the pronouns given to me from the book for Cusicesh until I am proven correct or other pronouns are given.

If this has already been done and pinned, please feel free to move this discussion to its appropriate place. I've now read the whole Stormlight Archive series currently published, and I can't help but think how amazing it could potentially be if made into either a film or better yet a high-budget series. Who does everyone think would be good to play the various characters? In my opinion, Manu Bennett would be hands down the best actor to play Dalinar. And I think Matt Smith would make a pretty good Wit/Hoid, and Aidan Gillen as Sadeas, but I'm not sure about the rest. I kind of think the guy who played Ander in the Shannara Chronicles would make a decent Adolin, and I generally picture Kaladin as being a younger Craig Horner.

Ahoy, Thought I'd make my first foray into Cosmere forums with an actual topic as well as a general greeting. My interest below will concern at least the Stormlight Archive up to the end of Oathbringer, so spoiler warning?

Hello and welcome, I don't post theories or interpretations very often but this is one that I wanted to get off my chest. Ashyn isn't the Tranquiline Halls, Roshar is. Now, very quickly, I want to make sure that I am not misinterpreted: I am not claiming that humans did not come from Ashyn, the vast majority of humans on Roshar are descended from Ashynites that fled their self-caused cataclysm. What I am claiming is that the Vorin mythology of humanities fight for the Tranquiline Halls is originally a singer tale, co-opted by humanity and twisted into their own theology. So, I just want to establish the mixing of cultures that has occurred between humans and singers on Roshar. I only have 2 (Maybe 2.5) examples of this. I wish I had more but I feel we don't know enough about old singer culture to say what came from them other than what we have been told directly. 1. Human use of the term Voidbringers This ones an easy one, Eila Stele shows that singers were the first to refer to humanity as Voidbringers during the first Desolation. We actually also have a little of the opposite happening, with Listener songs describing humanity in a very similar way to the way Midnight Essence are described. Eshonai mentions this in the prologue: 2. Humans took the singer names From Leshwi and Moash's conversation: So what we see here is humanity on Roshar seems to have adopted some of singer culture, intentionally or not. The Tranquiline Halls So, the tale of the Tranquiline Halls has the following as it's main points of belief: Humanity is not native to Roshar Humanity was forced out of their old home by an invading force of Voidbringers When a human dies, their soul sticks around, they are given super powers and get sent to fight for the Tranquiline Halls The Heralds are leading the fight Now, points 1 and 4 we can trace in human culture. We know humans are not native to Roshar, we see Jezrien telling the people this lie in Oathbringer: But where do points 2 and 3 come from in Vorinism? What are the origins of these parts of their belief? Humans weren't pushed out of their homeland by Voidbringers. Humans don't die, get given super powers and get to continue the fight against said Voidbringers. But you know who does? Singers were pushed out of their homeland by Voidbringers. When singers die, they do get given super powers and get to continue the fight against said Voidbringers. Humanity took the singers world, their god, their names and even their religions. In Vorin myth, Ashyn would be the Tranquiline Halls. In reality, it's Roshar. Thank you for reading.

Hello All As the wait for Book Four continues, I’ve begun to formulate various thoughts and expectations for how the rest of Stormlight should progress. Now, I have been a lover of the fantasy genre for quite some time, (ASoIaF, LotR, etc.). That being said, I’ve grown tired of the altruistic “good v. evil” fantasy that comes up time and again. Thus far ASoIaF has not really fallen prey to that, but it might depending on the course of the last two books. The show Game of Thrones looks to be heading in that direction based on the ending of Season Seven. One of the main drawbacks I have had with Stormlight is the predictability factor. I am certain that the series (in its current state) will end with Roshar emerging victorious in the brutal struggle against Odium. But Sanderson could subvert all of that, in some ways… End the First Arc (Books 1-5) with a “Last Battle” of sorts between Roshar and Odium. At the end of Book Five, Odium has either been destroyed or incapacitated in such a manner that he is no longer a viable threat to anyone. I believe that there is enough time for this to be accomplished. For one thing, via Venli and the other parshmen, discord, doubt, and anger has already been forged against Odium. With a focus of Venli and Eshonai in Book Four (I’ll call it The Rhythm of Storms. It works well on an ominous note while staying true to Parshendi communication), the “Voidbringers” will slowly start to join the Radiants as the Unmade and Sleepless come into full view. Book Five (Skybreaker) will be critical as it covers a battle that sweeps the entire continent. As Szeth is the focus character for Five, the core of conduct with the Radiants and the war against Odium will come to a head and be called into question. Book Five ends in such a regard. Dalinar dies and becomes a new Herald, and is visibly shaken as to where this will lead him. Hoid welcomes him to the Tranquiline Halls. Granted, this is a significant risk, both from a publisher and author standpoint. Tor may have issues with a large ending in the middle of the series, and the lack of readership and interest that may result. The Second Arc (Books 6-10) is set 30-45 years after the end of Five. The characters who are alive, (most likely Kaladin, Shallan, Lift, not Adolin) are insanely corrupt, and a shadow of the young heroes we once knew. The seek out the destruction of all who cannot stand against supernatural forces. Honor, aka the Almighty, was resurrected by the Radiants in between Five and Six, in an attempt to secure everlasting peace. A war begins to brew, this time with the Three Realms: Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual. We saw this for a bit at the end of Oathbringer, but now the melding is permanent. It is absolute chaos in what should have been a happily ever after. The Second Arc will follow a conflict between Honor, Cultivation, and other Cosmere forces: Braize, the Tranquiline Halls, etc. It’s hard to map out the exact details, but this second half must show the fallacy and corruption of the true power the young foolhardy heroes were given. Sanderson could end the predictability halfway through! Thanks!

I'm about half way through Oathbringer. There is one thing that's nagging at me. It seems that the only thing that cultivation has done through out the entire story is be the night watcher and give an edge dancer a neat trick. Wouldn't it have been in cultivation the best interest to keep honor from shattering? Am I giving shards too much credit. Did I miss something along the way? Please help me=noob

I was wondering what some of the Radiant ideals would be for general occupations, social groups or hobbyists. Take the example of the Order of the Sanderfan First Ideal: Bands before Secret History, Warbreaker before Words of Radiance, read before finding out Second Ideal: *beep* Moash Third Ideal: Reckoners is not Cosmere Fourth Ideal: Follow the Word of Brandon as your one true religion Fifth Ideal: Upon reading, re-read until you die or until the inevitable hear death of the universe What orders/ideals can you come up with? Please discuss!

I don't think this information has come out before, but I accidentally got Peter to own up to the canon carat values for spheres. Broam: 2 carat Mark: .5 carat Chip: .1 carat

Because this is the closest I'll ever get to skill at art, I present to you good people of the shard... Stormlight Archive, as told by legos! (only characters right now, I may do some other things in the future... In order: Szeth - (assassin in white), Blackthorn, Eshonai, Elhokar, Sadeas - (grandbow), Shallan, Kaladin - (Radiant), Renarin - (bonding a Blade), Renarin - (Radiant). I just realized these belong in a gallery, all my new ones will be there

So I love Brandon. I think he is a very good writer in general and great in some areas. He's especially good at connecting theme to story and world. He's on Pixar's level of connecting the world he's built, the story, and the characters to the theme he is exploring. (Seriously, Pixar is amazing at connecting theme to character and story, except The Incredibles which struggles to nail down a theme, but is still great.) But Brandon does have a flaw. A flaw that finally became clear to me after finishing another reread of Stormlight and rereading MIstborn (both eras): Brandon is bad at writing convincing romantic relationships. I acknowledge that my personal taste does not match everyone else' s. Romances I think work (they are narratively satisfying, I like both characters, I think they work well together, Brandon has done the legwork to set the up together) Vin and Elend: Brandon's most successful romantic plot. He successfully ties it into Vin's main theme of learning to trust people and learning to be her real self. Dalinar and Navani: Brandon cheats on this one and skips all the setup and we start at; they both like each other, but Dalinar doesn't think he can be with her. They work well together as two people who have both decided to be above the judgement of society and it's nice to see an older couple done well. Those are the two. Romances I'm ok with, but fail for one reason or another: Siri and Susebron: I debated bumping this one up. It mostly works I think, but it just seems too unbalanced. Siri, who is the only one we get to see, spend the whole first half thinking she is his prisoner. Then we find out they're both prisoners. Then Siri has to teach Susebron how to read and Siri is the one in power over Susebron. 2/4 of arranged marriages. Spook and Beldre almost work, but it's too rushed, and we don't know Beldre well enough. It's well implied but too far from the main events of the story. Beldre is a tertiary character at best and Spook is a strong secondary character. Raoden and Serene: Mostly good.They both work well as individual characters and I buy them liking each other, but they just don't spend enough time together. This is also the beginning of Brandon's troubling trend of arranged marriages working out. Vivenna and Vasher: It works on all levels... except, I'm not sure if we're supposed to think of the romantically. Are they a couple? Sazed and Tindwyl: This one mostly works, but it's a little rushed, and seems a little like Fridging, introducing a romantic plot for Sazed just to kill her off to give him a crises of faith. The ones that just don't work (either I don't buy them together, Brandon hasn't done the legwork, or one side is not set up enough) Wax and Steris: My main issue with this is the main issue I will be discussing later with another controversial opinion I have about a couple, is Brandon doing all the legwork to show us that Marasi is a better fit, Marasi works better with the eventual lessie reveal, Marasi has better chemistry with Wax, and then Brandon completely runs away from it in the later books. Wax had a "great love" and it was Lessie, Steris would work fine if there was no Marasi and Marasi and Steris would work with no Lessie. Brandon also runs away from the dynamic he set up a bit (he does this much worse in Oathbringer) but he spends a lot of time setting up a love triangle in book one, only to run away from it, and try to pretend he never did in later books. And another arranged marriage that works out... And we've reached my largest issue with Brandon's romance plots, the one that combines all my issues together... Adolin and Shallan: First of all, I will acknowledge that Brandon could make this work later through soom reveal in future books or by really selling me on them together in the future, but... My issues are: I feel like Brandon changed course between Words of Radiance and Oathbringer, and tried to hand-wave away the set-up he did there. The main event of all of Words of Radiance before the climax was Shallan and Kaladin in the Shattered Plains. I can buy that Shallan didn't really like Kaladin, that she just thinks he's handsome and that his intensity and absurdness of righteousness is more frightening to her than Adolin's simple loyalty and good-naturedness, but I don't buy that, no, it was really Veil who liked him, there is no mention of Veil in the cravaces, in fact it was the only time in WoR that Shallan was honest and open with another person. Kaladin is the only person she has ever told about her life and her father, up to this point no one else other than her brothers know anything about her life before she arrived in Kharbranth, I don't buy Kaladin's decision that he doesn't really like her, that he just thinks of her like Tien. Shallan is that only person that Kaladin has told about his past, she is the only one he tells the full story of Amaram to. It seems like Brandon changed his mind (which is fine) but decided to just undo everything he set up in WoR in OB by just declaring that Shallan is like Tien to Kaladin, and it was really Veil who liked Kaladin. I also don't feel like Shallan had reached the point in her arc to get married and resolve her romantic issues permanently. It is treated as a casual decision that she can make along the way to figuring out everything else about herself. Brandon handles this so well in Mistborn wit Vin and completely botches the same situation with Shallan. Shallan ends OB in a much worse state than Vin was ever in, but decides that getting married will help solve all her identity problems. If someone did that in the real world we would consider it a panic move that was doomed to fail. I think Shallan and Adolin's relationship is shallow, they think each other are pretty and Adolin knows nothing about Shallan's past, her family, or her dark secrets. Another arranged marriage. I know that all of these are culturally appropriate for the characters, but it just grates against everything I expect in a novel. Undermining expectations is good, unless you develop a pattern of undermining them in the same way four times in a row. My issue isn't that Shallan picked Adolin and Kaladin has moved on. I just don't think Brandon did the legwork to get us to the point we were at at the end of OB and I think he casually dismissed some things he set up in WoR. Maybe he knows this and Shallan and Adolin's marriage will not be the end of this issue, but it seemed like Brandon was tying everything up in a neat little bow.

Sure, it works in English, because we've got weird, illogical rules about which vowels get pronounced and which don't and which get changed depending on which other vowels they're next to. But going by just the sounds? Unless Alethi just happens to have the same exact vowel idiosyncrasies, Ialai's blasphemous parents should have called her something like "Ilalai". For that matter, what about SA's overseas translations? Do the versions in, say, Polish, just say "trust us, this name is symmetrical in Brandon's native language", or do they change it?

Throughout the Stormlight Archive, we see that Honorblades give a person Radiant powers— the ability to surgebind. Also, we know that one of the metals, nicrosil, stores investiture. Are Honorblades made of nicrosil, and is that how they give abilities to people? It would explain how people gained powers, and why they no longer have them after losing possession of the Honorblade. I don’t know if Sanderson has already answered this in a WoB, or if this is already a forum. If someone could please let me know, that would be great. If not, then... let the theories begin, I guess.

Hello there, i am new here and i need your help to solv a problem we (me and my gf) have. It´s about the Kaladin-Shallan-Relationship in Words of Radiance. The Situation: At the first meeting of Shallan and Kaladin, Kaladin thinks she is an imposter because the real Shallan has drowned. The Question: How did Kaladin knew this? The Problem: We can´t find a valid answer how Kaladin knew Shallan should have drowned. A few charpters earlier Navani mused that Jasna and Shallan hadn´t arrived yet because Jasna probably made another detour. There are no witnesses that have seen the ship sink. There are no other known survivers. We really don´t know how Kaladin got to this conclusion. Why is this important: This situation defines a lot over the early Shallan-Kaladin-Relationship and explains Kaladins distrust of Shallan .. Till now we have re-read Word of Radiance twice and bought the audible audiobook. I listent trought the audiobook twice now (45 hours), but i still can not find a valid answer how he came to this conclusion!! Sorry if this question was already answered or if there is a simpel paragraph that gives a good answer. We are no nativ-english-speakers, but we read and listen every Sandersons-Book in it´s o-tone. Too much of the athmosphere is lost in during the translation process .. . I have Oathbringer since the release. But i can´t get myself to really read the book because this question troubles me and i am stuck at Words of Radiance