thetntm Posted June 21, 2023 Posted June 21, 2023 Man this was a fun journey, but it's kind of sad that I caught up so quickly having started stormlight only a few months ago. That said I love it, it's my favorite sanderson series and I look forward to book 5 immensely. I read the audiobooks, listening to them at work. I think Michael Kramer is absolutely killing it, I understand some people love him and others don't like him but I really like him, although it always feels weird to hear him voicing characters Kate Reading normally voices, such as pattern. Kate's pattern voice is just perfect, sells the comedy of the character a lot. Here's some wild shot predictions: Prediction 1: Shallan I don't know how, I don't know what caused it, but somehow Shallan has been invested with breaths of life from warbreaker. There was a scene, I think it was in either RoW or Oathbringer, where Veil notes that Shallan sees colors with more detail than her, and the way it was phrased was exactly like the warbreaker breaths. There's also the way that Shallan's drawing powers only work for her and not her other personalities, as well as the similar ways that her drawing power works to things like perfect pitch or sight from warbreaker, makes me so confident this is the case. It also explains why a cryptic like pattern was willing to bond with her, even though she'd already killed her previous cryptic. It makes the fact that Wit reacted so strongly as soon as he saw her as a child make more sense as well. It makes me wonder if maybe Shallan's whole family isn't actually from Roshar, and maybe they were brought there from the Warbreaker world after some big conflict there. My gut feeling is that they may in fact be a royal family from there, just because Shallan's father reminds me of Siri's father for some reason. This would also explain why BS has said he can't write the Warbreaker sequel until after stormlight book 5. I think Shallan's Mother was almost certainly a member of the ghostbloods, and tried to kill Shallan, after which Shallan responded by summoning Testament to defend herself. There's still a lot about Shallan that doesn't add up and after the Testament reveal I want to re-read way of kings because there's a lot about what happens to her in that book that still doesn't make sense to me. In particular the line "what are you" that I believe one of the cryptic spren said to her back then feels off now. Prediction 2: Kaladin I think we'll definitely go to the horneater peaks in book 5 for sure. I don't know how book 5 is going to end, or how different "part 2" of stormlight archive is going to be from "part 1," but BS has been promising the horneater peaks since book 1, it's clear that whatever's going on with Rock is a BIG deal in the narrative and I am certain Kal hasn't seen the last of Rock yet, despite what was said in RoW. Kal has come a long way in swearing the 4th ideal, and while I once thought he would swear the 5th for sure in book 5 after finishing RoW I no longer think this. The 5th ideal definitely needs to span at least 2 books of buildup because otherwise it wouldn't feel like as big and important a deal as the 4th. As for bridge 4, I don't know where they stand to go as characters. It feels sad how lately a lot of them seemed to be killed off in order to help kal come to terms with the 4th ideal, maybe now we won't have to worry about so many of them dying off since he's come to terms with it, as unrealistic as that sounds. I really just want a scene of the remaining members of bridge 4 getting together and hanging out, having fun. They deserve it. Prediction 3: Dalinar I have a feeling, a sinking feeling, that Dalinar is going to lose the contest of champions. It just doesn't feel right, it wouldn't work for a big climax for this massive story with so many key characters to be a battle between only two, especially when one of the champions was only introduced at the end of book 4. I think he'll fully realize his powers as a bondsmith but lose the contest somehow. Anyways, those are my predictions! I don't know if the community as a whole has already predicted similar things, or if people feel I am wayyyy off base with these, just wanted to get my thoughts out since the story is fresh out of my mind. really glad I can finally discuss this series now that I've hit the current end. 1
alder24 Posted June 21, 2023 Posted June 21, 2023 Welcome to the Shard if you're interested you can read/listen to SA 5 prologue here on on Brandon's YT channel: https://wob.coppermind.net/events/495-prologue-to-stormlight-book-five/ 1 hour ago, thetntm said: Prediction 1: Shallan I don't know how, I don't know what caused it, but somehow Shallan has been invested with breaths of life from warbreaker. There was a scene, I think it was in either RoW or Oathbringer, where Veil notes that Shallan sees colors with more detail than her, and the way it was phrased was exactly like the warbreaker breaths. There's also the way that Shallan's drawing powers only work for her and not her other personalities, as well as the similar ways that her drawing power works to things like perfect pitch or sight from warbreaker, makes me so confident this is the case. It also explains why a cryptic like pattern was willing to bond with her, even though she'd already killed her previous cryptic. It makes the fact that Wit reacted so strongly as soon as he saw her as a child make more sense as well. It makes me wonder if maybe Shallan's whole family isn't actually from Roshar, and maybe they were brought there from the Warbreaker world after some big conflict there. My gut feeling is that they may in fact be a royal family from there, just because Shallan's father reminds me of Siri's father for some reason. This would also explain why BS has said he can't write the Warbreaker sequel until after stormlight book 5. I think Shallan's Mother was almost certainly a member of the ghostbloods, and tried to kill Shallan, after which Shallan responded by summoning Testament to defend herself. There's still a lot about Shallan that doesn't add up and after the Testament reveal I want to re-read way of kings because there's a lot about what happens to her in that book that still doesn't make sense to me. In particular the line "what are you" that I believe one of the cryptic spren said to her back then feels off now. Those are very good observations that you've made. There is this very popular theory a about Shallan's mother, which I highly recommend you reading it, you've already noticed some important details: 1 hour ago, thetntm said: Prediction 2: Kaladin I think we'll definitely go to the horneater peaks in book 5 for sure. Possible, but unlikely. The novella in between RoW and SA 5 is meant to be from Rock's PoV and set on Horneater Peaks. I don't think we will get the same again in SA 5. We also know Kaladin is going to Shinovar with Szeth. 2 hours ago, thetntm said: Prediction 3: Dalinar I have a feeling, a sinking feeling, that Dalinar is going to lose the contest of champions. It just doesn't feel right, it wouldn't work for a big climax for this massive story with so many key characters to be a battle between only two, especially when one of the champions was only introduced at the end of book 4. I think he'll fully realize his powers as a bondsmith but lose the contest somehow. Yup, I feel the same way.
teknopathetic he/him Posted June 21, 2023 Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, thetntm said: Man this was a fun journey, but it's kind of sad that I caught up so quickly having started stormlight only a few months ago. That said I love it, it's my favorite sanderson series and I look forward to book 5 immensely. I read the audiobooks, listening to them at work. I think Michael Kramer is absolutely killing it, I understand some people love him and others don't like him but I really like him, although it always feels weird to hear him voicing characters Kate Reading normally voices, such as pattern. Kate's pattern voice is just perfect, sells the comedy of the character a lot. Here's some wild shot predictions: Prediction 1: Shallan I don't know how, I don't know what caused it, but somehow Shallan has been invested with breaths of life from warbreaker. There was a scene, I think it was in either RoW or Oathbringer, where Veil notes that Shallan sees colors with more detail than her, and the way it was phrased was exactly like the warbreaker breaths. There's also the way that Shallan's drawing powers only work for her and not her other personalities, as well as the similar ways that her drawing power works to things like perfect pitch or sight from warbreaker, makes me so confident this is the case. It also explains why a cryptic like pattern was willing to bond with her, even though she'd already killed her previous cryptic. It makes the fact that Wit reacted so strongly as soon as he saw her as a child make more sense as well. I wonder if you are in-fact correct about the breaths. I am not sure if you have read the Shallan's Mither theory that someone else posted to you, butmaybe Shallan's mother utilized breaths in some way to create Shallan? Especially considering some info from Warbreaker. Breaths is an easy solution to the question of how a Herald might be able to procreate. Who knows what this means for Shallan's brothers though. Very Mild Warbreaker Spoiler Spoiler In Warbreaker, we know that the Godking could possibly procreate somehow, and this is implied to involve breaths in some way. It makes sense that a Returned and a Herald might both be able to utilize that breath trick to make a child. Edited June 21, 2023 by teknopathetic
Marabout Posted June 22, 2023 Posted June 22, 2023 My theory is that Heralds procreate by infusing a chrysalis and that Shallan pupated and has a gem heart. (It’s I bit more involved … I also think the heralds return to Roshar in chrysalis and pupate for about a year before emerging). As to why she sees colors better it is hard to say … we really don’t know what effects having bonded two Spren will give. It’s suggested that Shallan retained some of her abilities even after breaking her first bond. But whether it was breaths or stormlight I think you are right that some form of Investiture went into the making of Shallan.
thetntm Posted June 22, 2023 Author Posted June 22, 2023 (edited) 8 hours ago, alder24 said: Those are very good observations that you've made. There is this very popular theory a about Shallan's mother, which I highly recommend you reading it, you've already noticed some important details: I haven't read through this whole thing quite yet, but one big thing that stands out to me is the quote "The world ended, and Shallan was to blame." from Words of Radiance, Chapter 10. In that theory, they seem to attribute this quote to shallan's memory being overwritten, but I wonder if instead it may refer to the ending of, or at least being forced to leave, an actual world, before arriving at Roshar. The more I think on it the more certain I am that Shallan was not born on Roshar, because we've seen her draw things in the past that were not of Roshar, which could be repressed memories. There's also the fact that Mraize has been heavily pushing the concept of alternate worlds towards shallan for a while, and the greater nature of the cosmere has factored into shallan's chapters much more heavily than any other character. I also think that the "soul" shallan's mother places in the safe could likely be the warbreaker god's equivalent of stormlight. Breaths, stored in a gemstone as light. Perhaps at some point shallan took in those breaths, and that is why she sees more vibrant colors. Edited June 22, 2023 by thetntm
alder24 Posted June 22, 2023 Posted June 22, 2023 11 hours ago, teknopathetic said: I wonder if you are in-fact correct about the breaths. I am not sure if you have read the Shallan's Mither theory that someone else posted to you, butmaybe Shallan's mother utilized breaths in some way to create Shallan? Especially considering some info from Warbreaker. Breaths is an easy solution to the question of how a Herald might be able to procreate. Who knows what this means for Shallan's brothers though. Very Mild Warbreaker Spoiler Hide contents In Warbreaker, we know that the Godking could possibly procreate somehow, and this is implied to involve breaths in some way. It makes sense that a Returned and a Herald might both be able to utilize that breath trick to make a child. I don't think Heralds need Breath to make a child, but this might work in a similar way as with Returned, Warbreaker spoilers: Spoiler For Returned it likely has to do with splitting a tiny bit of their Divine Breath and passing it to their child, something similar to how the kid was using her Breath for storing memories that Vasher taught her. Spoiler Graendal A question that's been on my mind for a while. If Returned can't have children, how are Siri and Vivenna descended from one? Brandon Sanderson Excellent question. One I have to RAFO. When I was writing WRBRKR, I was planning on two books. I seeded two questions to be answered in the next book. One was the origin of the royal family.. The second was how Vasher was able to survive while hiding his divine Breath. I will answer these questions. Eventually. (It has to do with restoring Breath and life to the child while still in the womb.). #tweettheauthor 2009 (July 8, 2009) Heralds likely can do the same, they split part of their soul, part of their innate investiture and pass it into their child. This would make Shallan more invested than normal Rosharan, with more innate investiture than normally, manifesting similar to Heightening-like effects (which we know aren't exclusive to Breaths but that’s the nature of investiture). Spoiler tskyeguye From Rysn's observations in the epilogue, it seems like she has a lot of the same aspects of a Fifth Heightening/Returned at the least. Is this because her Dawnshard is particularly connected to Endowment or because the effects of a certain level of Investment result in similar effects? Brandon Sanderson The latter. Skrimyt Interesting. So are actively Surgebinding Radiants or metal-burning Allomancers just not Invested enough to gain those passive effects, or do they not experience perfect pitch/color/etc. because their Investiture is just not as tightly bound to their Spiritweb as Endowment's Breaths or a Dawnshard would be? Brandon Sanderson Be aware that the two groups you mention don't generally hold much Investiture themselves, at least not in large quantities over time. More in Surgebinding. Almost none in Allomancy. But RAFO to specifics. Dawnshard Annotations Reddit Q&A (Nov. 6, 2020) But searching for more WoBs I stumbled upon this one. Different CS have different ways to procreate, Breaths are for sure not needed for Heralds (and likely it's not like I described it): Spoiler OddBen11 Is the secret way that the God King in Warbreaker can have children the same way that the Heralds can? Brandon Sanderson *long series of uncertain sounds* No...? But there could be... I'm just gonna say no. But interesting theorizing, and it's possible that I could change my mind. YouTube Spoiler Stream 4 (June 16, 2022) 5 hours ago, thetntm said: I haven't read through this whole thing quite yet, but one big thing that stands out to me is the quote "The world ended, and Shallan was to blame." from Words of Radiance, Chapter 10. In that theory, they seem to attribute this quote to shallan's memory being overwritten, but I wonder if instead it may refer to the ending of, or at least being forced to leave, an actual world, before arriving at Roshar. The more I think on it the more certain I am that Shallan was not born on Roshar, It's possible. Shallan's mother or Shallan having Breaths or originating from Nalthis is another theory, which seems quite possible. However I don't think "the world ended, and Shallan was to blade" sounds like something somebody would say if they just left their home world. 5 hours ago, thetntm said: because we've seen her draw things in the past that were not of Roshar, which could be repressed memories. I don't remember that at all. Do you remember where in books those drawings were? 5 hours ago, thetntm said: There's also the fact that Mraize has been heavily pushing the concept of alternate worlds towards shallan for a while, and the greater nature of the cosmere has factored into shallan's chapters much more heavily than any other character. Ghostbloods were involved in Shallan's past, but also keep in mind that Ghostbloods are a worldhoping organization, many of their members aren't native to Roshar. Shallan was getting deeper in their ranks, and Mraize wanted to intrigue her enough so Shallan would finally join them fully. And the best way to do that was to tell her about Cosmere and other planets. 5 hours ago, thetntm said: I also think that the "soul" shallan's mother places in the safe could likely be the warbreaker god's equivalent of stormlight. Breaths, stored in a gemstone as light. Perhaps at some point shallan took in those breaths, and that is why she sees more vibrant colors. Very minor Warbreaker spoiilers: Spoiler Awakened objects, or objects holding Breaths, don't glow. And Shallan's mother had no time to pass her Breaths, she was killed by a Shardblade, no time to say any Command. Her Breaths would be all lost with her death, as only a person holding Breaths can pass them on. Breaths can't be forcefully taken away from the person holding them. And there is more to Breaths. Breaths stored in an object are keyed to the person which stored them there, so no other person can retrieve them. Shallan would be unable to get those Breaths back, because she wasn't the one that stored them there, it was her father.
Recommended Posts