Sel's cognitive

[Elsecaller_17.5]

It's been aptly described as a plasma storm but I'm wondering what it looks like from a distance. In the cognitive realm it's rather simple to walk from Scadrial to Roshar and presumably Sel but how would it work? Would you just cross a line and vaporize? Is there an gradient of increasingly violent investure? Is just a massive storm cloud and its like driving into a tornado?

And while were here how in the world did Hoid get to and from Sel?

Edited March 10, 2020 by Elsecaller_17.5

[Weltall]

We know there's a region of emptiness that's still considered within a world's Cognitive zone before you hit interplanetary/stellar space and start traversing huge distances with a step (see Mistborn Secret History) so there probably is some sort of gradient as you get closer to Sel meaning that you'd have time to see the storm before you walk right into it.

As for how Hoid gets to and from Sel, we know that it's really dangerous but it can be done with preparation. Khriss and Nazh have been there at least once for example. Meanwhile Hoid finds it worthwhile enough that he's made the trip multiple times.

Quote

Questioner

Exactly how turbulent is the Cognitive Realm around Sel? Khriss seems to think it's rather difficult [to travel] but how difficult would it be for Hoid to get through?

Brandon Sanderson

How difficult would it be to get through to Sel, how difficult would it be for Hoid. I would say straining his resources and capacity. It is difficult for him. So take that as you will. But it is worth his effort and he has done it numerous times.

JordanCon 2018 (April 21, 2018)

Brandon has said that you can make it through with proper preparation. Relatedly the Ire 'conduit' is in some way a safe passage but perhaps not in terms of a direct route you could walk through and in the future, FTL could get you there by bypassing the Cognitive entirely.

Edited March 10, 2020 by Weltall