Stormform is dead

[jefftucker0525]

So its my opinion that now that the Everstorm is going strong, Stormform will no longer be used. I mean its really just a form used to start the Everstorm. While there are some other practical uses such as being able to go out in a Highstorm or Everstorm without being harmed and obvious strength (Warform required a running start to leap chasms and Stormfor doesn't) now it is kind of useless.

 

So my  question is what new forms will we see? I know Stormform might still be used, but probably not a lot. So have we heard of any other Parshendi Voidforms or just Stormform? Because they will definetly play the biggest role in the next Stormlight books.

 

Also, emi unrelated, but if all of Roshar sent their Parshmen to Shinovar wouldn't they be safe, assuming that

 

a) The Shin would accept them all, which I don't see as a problem because they are obviously more aware of Desolations, KR, Heralds, etc.

 

 b)That that Everstorm doesn't hit Shinovar, because I know Highstorms don't, but an Everstorm blows in the opposite direction of a Highstorm so maybe Shinovar isn't protected from them.

 

Anyways those are my random thoughts, feel free to tear them apart, accept them, or allow them to change your life as you feel necessary, however be warned that if you attempt to tear them apart I will debate with you until one party concedes defeat or I get bored. 

Edited June 21, 2014 by jefftucker0525

[Shaggai]

Stormform can shoot lightning. I think that justifies the continued use of it.

[Topomouse he/him]

The problem is that the second assumption is false. The reason Shinovar is protected from Higstorms is because they get weaker by traversing the rest of the continent. Since the Everstorm blows in the opposite direction, it will actually be full force on Shinovar, and will get very weak once it get back to the Shattered Planes.

Also, when I read the book I got the impression that the Everstorm was going to hit the continent fairly soon, so some large scalde mobilization of the Parshmen is going to be hard anyway, but I think I may be wrong. Does someone who analized the book better then me know if we have some kind of ETA for the arrivarl of the storm?

[The Ja he/him]

The epilogue of WoR is the day before the Everstorm will hit the continent.

[Argent he/him]

Furthermore, Adolin's Shardplate looked designed to counter the powers of Stormform specifically. This suggests that the Radiants of old considered Stormform - or something very similar to it - a more persistent threat.

[jefftucker0525]

What everyone is saying makers sense, however im sure that Shardplate is made to counter, atleast to some extent, evry kind of attack that Voidbringers can through at it. This isn't to say its invincible as it obviously isn't, but just because it adapts immediately to what Stormform is throwing at it doesn't mean its specifically designed to defend against just Stormform, because any Voidbringer is a threat and to have a defense against just one is retarded. But that is a good point.

 

Also I guess being able to shoot lightning is a pretty good point in Stormforms favor but still doesn't justify continued use of it if another form can serve a better use.

 

And thank you Topomouse for the clarification about the Everstorm/Highstorm deal because I wasn't sure it just kinda made sense in my mind.

[Argent he/him]

Also I guess being able to shoot lightning is a pretty good point in Stormforms favor but still doesn't justify continued use of it if another form can serve a better use.

 

How would you define "better" though? Stormform seems specifically suited for battle - listeners who embrace this form are faster and stronger than any other form we've seen, including warform (though they lack its armor). Their ability to shoot lightning is probably best suited for combat too. So, judging by the few voidforms we've seen the songs of, stormform would the default battle form - which suggests it was designed (by Odium?) to do just that. The other forms are better at different things - scholarship, disguise, concealment, confusion, hiding - but none of them have the same battle feel. If stormform was indeed meant to only allow the listeners to summon the Everstorm, its combat capabilities would've been unnecessary.

 

Moreover, it is strongly suggested that the Everstorm is linked specifically to the Last Desolation. For this to be true, stormform must have been unavailable to the listeners during past Desolations, otherwise they would've summoned an anti-highstorm before every Desolation. Eshonai and Venli, however, do recognize Eshonai's new form, they have knowledge of it, so it must have been present in the past. Which leads me to believe that there is something else that made the Everstorm possible during Words of Radiance, it's not just about the form.

[Shaggai]

How would you define "better" though? Stormform seems specifically suited for battle - listeners who embrace this form are faster and stronger than any other form we've seen, including warform (though they lack its armor). Their ability to shoot lightning is probably best suited for combat too. So, judging by the few voidforms we've seen the songs of, stormform would the default battle form - which suggests it was designed (by Odium?) to do just that. The other forms are better at different things - scholarship, disguise, concealment, confusion, hiding - but none of them have the same battle feel. If stormform was indeed meant to only allow the listeners to summon the Everstorm, its combat capabilities would've been unnecessary.

 

Moreover, it is strongly suggested that the Everstorm is linked specifically to the Last Desolation. For this to be true, stormform must have been unavailable to the listeners during past Desolations, otherwise they would've summoned an anti-highstorm before every Desolation. Eshonai and Venli, however, do recognize Eshonai's new form, they have knowledge of it, so it must have been present in the past. Which leads me to believe that there is something else that made the Everstorm possible during Words of Radiance, it's not just about the form.

Perhaps the existence of all ten Heralds prevented the Everstorm? Or maybe it was the number of bonded spren. Hmmm... What if there's a war going on among the spren at the same time as the Desolation? During past Desolations, the Recreance hadn't happened, so there were plenty of bonded spren who were able to prevent large enough numbers of stormform from being created. Or perhaps there were enough Radiants to disrupt the ceremony and block the Everstorm each time it happened. If Adolin had been a Radiant, for example, especially if he had enough backup, he would have been able to block the ritual. The Heralds might also have told them how dangerous the completion of the Everstorm would be, in which case they would have gone straight for the singing Voidbringers and broken it up.

 

Another possibility is that the Everstorm requires a vast amount of Investiture, so if Odium loses he'll fail permanently. An all-or-nothing measure, which he's kept in reserve until now. That would explain why it's linked with the Last Desolation, because if he uses it then by definition it is the Last Desolation. If he's chosen to unleash it now, it's because he's certain that he'll win. That's somewhat ominous.

[jefftucker0525]

Where does it say that the Everstorm is only part of the Last Desolation because I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere in RoD that the Everstorm would be stronger than ever before because of how long it had been since it was last released which implies that it has been released before.

[hoser he/him]

from ch. 89:

THE EVERSTORM.  IT IS A NEW THING, BUT OLD OF DESIGN.  IT ROUNDS THE WORLD NOW, AND CARRIES WITH IT HIS SPREN.  ANY OF THE OLD PEOPLE IT TOUCHES WILL TAKE ON THEIR NEW FORMS.

I interpret this to be saying:

1. The Everstorm is new.  It has never occurred before.
2. Parshendi will take on multiple different voidbringer forms. 

 

The epigraphs include references to other forms related to the "Old gods." Nightform (ch 23), decayform (ch. 24) and smokeform (ch 25) are referred to.   I believe these forms are also voidbringer forms. Mediationform (ch. 21) is used by the gods for "lies and desolation."  I believe that we will see these forms in smaller numbers.  Stormform seems at least as effective as warform and maintains Odium's dominance, so I think it will still predominate.

[jefftucker0525]

ok that makes sense  now and so does what Shaggai was saying about it being Odiums last resort/end game.

[Pathfinder]

I would also argue that perhaps we have not seen all that stormform can do. Afterall during the battle, half the lightning bolts shoot off in random places. It is clear that they are new to this form, and do not know how to fully utilize it. It would be like seeing Kaladin using the surge that draws the arrows to his shield and assuming that that is all Windrunners can do. Sure its handy, but if thats all windrunners could do, I think you would react the same way, by stating they were useless when compared to what you imagine the other knights radiants could do. But we do in fact see windrunners can do A LOT more, and I think the same will stand for stormform. 

[Shardlet he/him]

The problem is that the second assumption is false. The reason Shinovar is protected from Higstorms is because they get weaker by traversing the rest of the continent. Since the Everstorm blows in the opposite direction, it will actually be full force on Shinovar, and will get very weak once it get back to the Shattered Planes.

 

That is assuming that the Everstorm is powered-up by the same mechanism that regular highstorms are.  It is possible that the Everstorm becomes weaker over water and gains energy over land.  Since it travels in the opposite direction of a highstorm, it may very well operate via completely different atmospheric mechanisms.  If that were the case, then Shinovar would still be a nicer (not necessarily nice) place to be.  Alternatively, the strength of the Everstorm may be constant.

[Shaggai]

That is assuming that the Everstorm is powered-up by the same mechanism that regular highstorms are.  It is possible that the Everstorm becomes weaker over water and gains energy over land.  Since it travels in the opposite direction of a highstorm, it may very well operate via completely different atmospheric mechanisms.  If that were the case, then Shinovar would still be a nicer (not necessarily nice) place to be.  Alternatively, the strength of the Everstorm may be constant.

I doubt that the Everstorm is that different from normal highstorms. What I got from WoR was that the Everstorm was a highstorm that went the wrong way and had Voidlight instead of Stormlight. The Everstorm causes destruction because it's a giant highstorm going the wrong way. If it gains power as it goes across the continent and loses it over water, it would be weaker than a highstorm, which would be a bit of a cop-out. Also, it's implied that we're going to see Shinovar in the aftermath of the Everstorm. Shinovar is in no way going to be fine.

[Kelek's Breath he/him]

In light of the damage done to Shinovar, we might see the disappearance of many Shinovar fawna and flora, like grass and dirt, chickens and horses. The Rysn's grass pet might become very valuable.

[Patrick Star]

Stormform could easily be the "standard infantry" form of the voidbringers, if that.  No way it's the most powerful, having appeared in the second book.

 

Think vehicons from Transformers Prime.  They may look scary, and can probably do a lot of damage, but are nowhere near the largest threats or the best soldiers (and outside of a few cases, can't really do too much).