Predictions for Stones Unhallowed

[Windrunner he/him]

We don't know. It could be there won't be a flashback character from this order... Sad as it may seem. My theory on the matter is that Adolin will indeed turn out to be our Dustbringer, but we will see his progression live, in the present time, as opposed to in the past for all of the others. I feel his story would be more poignant if we see him struggle without knowing the ending, without knowing if he'll make it or not. I think Adolin is the perfect opportunity to write the "journey to Radianhood", which would explain why he does not get a flashback and why his order is treated differently.

Have we not been watching Kaladin struggle towards becoming a full Radiant these past few books?

[Guest]

Have we not been watching Kaladin struggle towards becoming a full Radiant these past few books?

 

Not the same... Kaladin was a Radiant since the beginning. We had his back story, but we already knew how it ended. Same with Shallan. Same with Dalinar. Same with any other. Their backstory just tells us how they get to become Radiants at first, how they were broken, how they moved past it while becoming more protective, more creative, more pious. It's all happened in the past. Sure, we had the oaths and the discovery of their powers, but it is not the same.

 

Adolin is a different matter: we don't even know if he will become one at all... That's more what I mean.

[Windrunner he/him]

I guess we define Radiant differently. Kal is not a Radiant, as per the way characters in-world define it. He had attracted the interest of an honorspren, but not sworn any oaths, so I see it as us viewing his whole journey.

[Guest]

I guess we define Radiant differently. Kal is not a Radiant, as per the way characters in-world define it. He had attracted the interest of an honorspren, but not sworn any oaths, so I see it as us viewing his whole journey.

 

He is a Radiant... perhaps not a full one, but he has had Syl with him on page 1 of WoK. He has more than attracted the interest of a honorspren, he bonded it. Sure he still needs to say two more oaths, but I call him a Radiant nonetheless and knew from early on in WoK this is where the story was going.

 

But we have not seen him going through the process of attracting Syl. Imagine if the story had started when Kal left to join the army with Tien. We would not have known Tien would die. We would not have known how Kal would end up broken. We would not have known Kal would turn out being a Radiant.

 

But the story started at a later time and we knew Kal would become a Radiant, even if he struggled, we knew he would succeed. Just like we knew Shallan would succeed. Just like we knew she had killed her parents or at least we strongly suspected it. Imagine if the story had started before Shallan did it...

 

All the back story we have read so far had this in common... They took the proto-radiant at present time, well on its way to become a Radiant and they showed us how it came to start walking on that path. That is the story we have not seen happening live: the spren being attracted, the choosing, the breaking.

[Windrunner he/him]

We'll probably have to agree to disagree on this one. I don't know how you knew for sure that Kal would become a Radiant, but I for one did not. We saw the very start of the significant part of Kaladin and Syl's relationship. Before that, she was barely distinguishable from the typical windspren. We discovered with him what was happening, what he could do, and why. With Adolin, the second I see a spren nosing about him, I'll be suspicious, and so will he, now that the return of the Radiants has come into more common knowledge. I'll grant you that we didn't see firsthand Tien dying, but I view that as less significant. Perhaps it made the bonding possible, (although we don't really understand the whole "broken soul" mechanism) but people experience tragedy every day. The important part, for me at least, began when Syl and Kaladin first spoke to one another. But feel free to view it differently, and I'm sure if that's what Adolin has in store, it will be fun to watch.

[Guest]

We'll probably have to agree to disagree on this one. I don't know how you knew for sure that Kal would become a Radiant, but I for one did not. We saw the very start of the significant part of Kaladin and Syl's relationship. Before that, she was barely distinguishable from the typical windspren. We discovered with him what was happening, what he could do, and why. With Adolin, the second I see a spren nosing about him, I'll be suspicious, and so will he, now that the return of the Radiants has come into more common knowledge. I'll grant you that we didn't see firsthand Tien dying, but I view that as less significant. Perhaps it made the bonding possible, (although we don't really understand the whole "broken soul" mechanism) but people experience tragedy every day. The important part, for me at least, began when Syl and Kaladin first spoke to one another. But feel free to view it differently, and I'm sure if that's what Adolin has in store, it will be fun to watch.

 

Well, it was heavily hinted all through WoK he was becoming one... Perhaps not from the first pages, but as soon as we learned a bit more, we could see this is where he was going. I agree we saw the bond develop. I was referring to the part where the spren arrives and the events that prompts it to manifest itself. I think Tien's death is very significant to Kaladin's character arc and I feel the story would have had a different color if we had see him go through the grieving process not knowing if he'll even manage to pull through.

 

I guess Kaladin is a bad example for what I am trying to convey as he is the main character... I always sorta expect him to succeed, so I never really feared for him. It may be why I am viewing his journey differently.

 

Adolin however, half the people think he'll end up dead in the next three books... He is one of the least safe character... so whatever happens to him, I'll fear he won't make it. If he breaks down, I won't know for sure he'll get back up on his feet or if he'll do it in a way that would attract a spren. Brandon could decide to kill him of anytime or to turn him into Darth Vader, but he certainly won't do it to Kaladin. Not now anyway. Maybe in the last book, on the last page As for sprens... well if Adolin gets one, we will see him going through the steps of attracting one which we have not seen yet. Afterwards, I agree, we fall back to a similar growth path we have had with the others.

 

Anyway, I was just rambling... It could be I am not having a global enough vision of this. It could be I am naming an apple a fruit This book order and flashback characters thing has been at the back of my head for a while and I have been trying to figure out a plausible explanation as to why... Why are you playing with my mid Brandon? Why?

[Marmota he/him]

We don't know what Brandon would or would not do. He has never stated the flashback characters would always belong to the featured order. He even mentioned he may do the flashback of a dead character...

 

 

Well of course we dont. But i am using logic as a guide to try to predict what i think could happen.

 

If a specific radiant order is going to be the focus of one book, and the flashback character is the cornerstone of it, It REALLY doesnt make sense the flashback character not being the same order focused on the book.

 

Even on the example you have given, of the flashbacks being of a dead character, it wouldnt skip the rule. Like, if Dalinar dies before the last book, it will still count as the Bondsmith book. 

For what i get from Brandon books is that he values this kind of logic and patterns. If this is working on 9 out of 10, something is off...

 

 

They are not regular people.... For one, they are immortal, for second, they are tied to the Oathpact. Someone correct me if I forgot a WoB here, but we don't know if they can even bond a spren, let alone become a Radiant. However, Shalash becoming a Dustbringer is a possibility, even if an unlikely one.

 

Yeah i know i said they are "kind" of regular people. I meant that they dont have Surges, and they have human emotion (probably they were normal guys before Tanavast gave them their honorblades). As spren are atracted to emotions, i dont see why they cannot bond with spren. Of curse Brandon could make up some explaition prohibiting the Nahel Bond between sprens and heralds, but so far i think it is a free path.

 

Maybe the Dustbringer turn out to be the false Taln, and Shalash the Stoneward? hehe

 

 With Adolin, the second I see a spren nosing about him, I'll be suspicious, and so will he, now that the return of the Radiants has come into more common knowledge.

 

You know what, i thought the same! It occurred in my mind that maybe his spren will come "disguised" for not letting the readers know straight away whats gonna happen. I was thiking that it would be cool if perhaps his spren has a humanoid form maybe, and Adolin starts to interact with a new character without knowing it is a spren, and only realizing later on, when his identity becomes more directed to a Dustbringer one. 

Edited October 12, 2014 by Marmota

[Guest]

Well of course we dont. But i am using logic as a guide to try to predict what i think could happen.

 

If a specific radiant order is going to be the focus of one book, and the flashback character is the cornerstone of it, It REALLY doesnt make sense the flashback character not being the same order focused on the book.

 

Even on the example you have given, of the flashbacks being of a dead character, it wouldnt skip the rule. Like, if Dalinar dies before the last book, it will still count as the Bondsmith book. 

For what i get from Brandon books is that he values this kind of logic and patterns. If this is working on 9 out of 10, something is off...

 

That's the issue... If we use logic to predict what we'll happen, we are falling back to the "Shalash becomes a Dustbringer" theory which is not logical to me. I believe the "Shalash is Shshshshsh" theory is more sound. There is something weird going on between Adolin and his mother, so if she turns out not being quite so dead, it could make this flashback interesting.

 

Brandon also has the tendency to do the unpredictable, so I am not surprised one of the book would fall outside the pattern, but why, that is the question.

 

 

 

Maybe the Dustbringer turn out to be the false Taln, and Shalash the Stoneward? hehe

Yeah i know i said they are "kind" of regular people. I meant that they dont have Surges, and they have human emotion (probably they were normal guys before Tanavast gave them their honorblades). As spren are atracted to emotions, i dont see why they cannot bond with spren. Of curse Brandon could make up some explaition prohibiting the Nahel Bond between sprens and heralds, but so far i think it is a free path.

 

Yeah but Herald are still different... And the emotions they are currently displaying are not very Radian-like. I just so hate this idea... but you know I don't think Brandon cares what I like or not when he decides how his story will play out

 

 

You know what, i thought the same! It occurred in my mind that maybe his spren will come "disguised" for not letting the readers know straight away whats gonna happen. I was thiking that it would be cool if perhaps his spren has a humanoid form maybe, and Adolin starts to interact with a new character without knowing it is a spren, and only realizing later on, when his identity becomes more directed to a Dustbringer one. 

 

If his spren turns out being his blade, then it won't be so obvious.... I can frankly see Adolin being stubborn and refusing to say any words claiming he is no Radiant and never likely to be one, ever.

[Marmota he/him]

That's the issue... If we use logic to predict what we'll happen, we are falling back to the "Shalash becomes a Dustbringer" theory which is not logical to me. I believe the "Shalash is Shshshshsh" theory is more sound. There is something weird going on between Adolin and his mother, so if she turns out not being quite so dead, it could make this flashback interesting.

 

 

Wow i had never heard this theory before...hats quite interesting. Does this theory say that Shalash is Dalinars wife, or that Shshsh is gona be a flashback character? (btw, WoB says that Ash or Shalash is gona be in the back half?)

 

Anyway, the logic doesnt necessarily leads that Shalash = Dustbringer...its just one possibility with the almost zero info that we have so far. I am just saying that logic does kind say that a dustbringer will have flashbacks. You say that Brandon can be umpredictable and i respect that. But my mind kind places this as not a "twist" but simple lack of logic, and i just dont think as likely...

 

Edited October 12, 2014 by Marmota

[Marmota he/him]

What the heck? Eshonai already is a voidbringer. Stormform, rememember? And she's dead.

 

You really belieave that Eshonai is dead?

I mean, The last thing we see of Eshonai is she falling into a chasm (wearing shardplate). It is really different than signing her death sentence. She just started her part in the history, it is really unlikely that she is dead

 

EDIT: Also, having stormform is different than being a Voidbringer. We still dont know exactly in what the Voidbringers consist of

Edited October 12, 2014 by Marmota

[Guest]

Wow i had never heard this theory before...hats quite interesting. Does this theory say that Shalash is Dalinars wife, or that Shshsh is gona be a flashback character? (btw, WoB says that Ash or Shalash is gona be in the back half?)

 

 

This is a wild guess.... Ash has been announced as being one the flashback characters... The last spot, the one we never had a firm name for, but Brandon did also say he was not sure... Based on evidence we have so far, this spot would be the Dustbringer spot. So Shalash as a flashback breaks the pattern, unless she turns out being one, which is unlikely and completely anti-climatic. I think most readers would be very frustrated if Brandon choses to use this plot.

 

My other guess was she'll turn out being Dalinar's not quite so dead wife. Shalash is the herald of Lightweavers, so no doubt she could have fake her death, creating the illusion she is dead. She did draw the sketches of Adolin's plate and Shallan thought them well made, which indicates artistic talents inline with Lightweaving. At the beginning of WoR, the other heralds mentioned they were worried about her, worried she had gone completely insane... It could be from the pain of being forced to leave her sons behind combined with the pain of seeing them, at the feast. It could be Shalash really did fall in love with Dalinar a few years back. Dalinar did say he courted her for 3 years, it could it took Shalash 3 years to accept to give this life a try. It could be she was happy having a normal life with a family of her own, until 10 years ago, until the first signs of the upcoming Desolation started to manifest themselves. It could be she felt she had to leave to protect her children, sons of a herald, she must have been afraid they would be drawn into it. After all, isn't she the child of a herald? It could be Adolin's inheritance of a Dustbringer's plate is not a complete hazard, it could his mother planed it this way, to protect him. Adolin did mention having Navani fret over him before his duels was like having his mother back, so I'll hazard Shshshshsh did not like seeing her elder son taking up sword fighting. It could she gave him a plate for protection. It could be she purposely did not gave him a blade in an attempt to steer him away from important bouts.

 

There is a lot "it could" in there, but I do think the Shalash is Shshshsh theory has potential, much more then Shalash will become a Dustbringer. And it would create conflict within the Dalinar/Navani union if she did come back from the dead, not to mention the shock for the boys.

 

 

What the heck? Eshonai already is a voidbringer. Stormform, rememember? And she's dead.

 

She is not dead. She was wearing plate and she was in stormform. Chances of her surviving the fall are quite high.

[Moogle]

Brandon's previously changed the PoV characters around. I expect he will continue that trend in the future, so I wouldn't go too crazy speculating now about the lack of the orders matching up.

 

And the book can still focus on an order's themes without focusing on an actual member of that order. I expect a flashback book Taravangian could fit into a Dustbringer book, for example, and he was in the running for a PoV character for a while. I was kinda sad he was dropped, honestly.

[Guest]

Brandon's previously changed the PoV characters around. I expect he will continue that trend in the future, so I wouldn't go too crazy speculating now about the lack of the orders matching up.

 

It is true he had been changing his mind a few times, but the fact remains he was always firm on Taln, Jasnah, Lift and Renarin getting a book. There has always been one spot open for which he has changed his mind a few times... He mentioned Taravangian and another herald (which turns out being Shalash). I don't recall him ever mentioning any other characters.

 

The fact remains he never gave us a flat out cast until this one time he mentioned Shalash for book 7.......... which sort of confirms he does not intend on having a Dustbringer's flashback. Sad.

[Windrunner he/him]

Eh, he really hasn't been all that firm. Lift, Renarin, and Eshonai are actually relatively recent reveals. Taravangian and Navani used to have books and now they don't. He even talked about a second Kaladin book. Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Jasnah and Taln have been the same for a while. All the others have been in flux, and I'd be surprised if we didn't get at least one more switch before all is said and done.

[Guest]

Eh, he really hasn't been all that firm. Lift, Renarin, and Eshonai are actually relatively recent reveals. Taravangian and Navani used to have books and now they don't. He even talked about a second Kaladin book. Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Jasnah and Taln have been the same for a while. All the others have been in flux, and I'd be surprised if we didn't get at least one more switch before all is said and done.

 

Yeah I know he did mentioned doing a second Kaladin's book and a Navani one, but that was a while back. Since then, he has been quite firm on Taln, Jasnah, Lift and Renarin.

 

Eshonai is confirmed for book 4, so no chances of change there.

 

The one switch we could get is the Shalash book..... it is the one spot we never had any solid name for...  and consequently it is the one spot most of us have associated to the Dustbringers.

[WeiryWriter he/him]

Things are always subject to change.  Right now the plan is for book 3 to be Szeth's but at SLC Comic-Con mentioned a couple times that that could change when he actually starts writing.

 

Regardless wait for the transcription, there is something very relevant coming.

[Windrunner he/him]

Yeah I know he did mentioned doing a second Kaladin's book and a Navani one, but that was a while back. Since then, he has been quite firm on Taln, Jasnah, Lift and Renarin.

 

Eshonai is confirmed for book 4, so no chances of change there.

 

The one switch we could get is the Shalash book..... it is the one spot we never had any solid name for...  and consequently it is the one spot most of us have associated to the Dustbringers.

I think you're missing the point I was trying to make here. He was as you say, quite firm on Navani and Taravangian a couple years ago. Just as he is seemingly quite firm on Lift and Renarin. I'm sure he has a better idea the further he gets into the series, but the bottom line is that at its core, the creative process will always be somewhat fluid. Who knows what we could be looking at a few years from now?

[Marmota he/him]

This is a wild guess.... Ash has been announced as being one the flashback characters... The last spot, the one we never had a firm name for, but Brandon did also say he was not sure... Based on evidence we have so far, this spot would be the Dustbringer spot. So Shalash as a flashback breaks the pattern, unless she turns out being one, which is unlikely and completely anti-climatic. I think most readers would be very frustrated if Brandon choses to use this plot.

 

My other guess was she'll turn out being Dalinar's not quite so dead wife. Shalash is the herald of Lightweavers, so no doubt she could have fake her death, creating the illusion she is dead. She did draw the sketches of Adolin's plate and Shallan thought them well made, which indicates artistic talents inline with Lightweaving. At the beginning of WoR, the other heralds mentioned they were worried about her, worried she had gone completely insane... It could be from the pain of being forced to leave her sons behind combined with the pain of seeing them, at the feast. It could be Shalash really did fall in love with Dalinar a few years back. Dalinar did say he courted her for 3 years, it could it took Shalash 3 years to accept to give this life a try. It could be she was happy having a normal life with a family of her own, until 10 years ago, until the first signs of the upcoming Desolation started to manifest themselves. It could be she felt she had to leave to protect her children, sons of a herald, she must have been afraid they would be drawn into it. After all, isn't she the child of a herald? It could be Adolin's inheritance of a Dustbringer's plate is not a complete hazard, it could his mother planed it this way, to protect him. Adolin did mention having Navani fret over him before his duels was like having his mother back, so I'll hazard Shshshshsh did not like seeing her elder son taking up sword fighting. It could she gave him a plate for protection. It could be she purposely did not gave him a blade in an attempt to steer him away from important bouts.

 

I think thats a very interresting theory.

 

But the herals dont surge without honorblade, right?

And correct me if i am wrong, but this theory implies that the Shshsh sound that Dalinar hears is actually the twisted sound of the word Shalash, right? Therefore Shalash would be using her divine name with everyone around, which doesnt make quite sense.

[Guest]

I think you're missing the point I was trying to make here. He was as you say, quite firm on Navani and Taravangian a couple years ago. Just as he is seemingly quite firm on Lift and Renarin. I'm sure he has a better idea the further he gets into the series, but the bottom line is that at its core, the creative process will always be somewhat fluid. Who knows what we could be looking at a few years from now?

 

Oh... I was not around at the time where he mentioned Navani and Taravangian.... I know about it from browsing through old WoB.... I didn't get he was quite firm on them as well... I thought it always these two always were speculative whereas the others were more firm...

 

I indeed misunderstood your point. I'm glad though, because it means the story still have the power to morph and it usually is good news this early into one.

 

 

Things are always subject to change.  Right now the plan is for book 3 to be Szeth's but at SLC Comic-Con mentioned a couple times that that could change when he actually starts writing.

 

Regardless wait for the transcription, there is something very relevant coming.

 

Really???? Where are you going to publish the transcription? In the Events thread? If he thinks he may change the focus of book 3, then this is MAJOR with a capital M!!!!

 

 

I think thats a very interresting theory.

 

But the herals dont surge without honorblade, right?

And correct me if i am wrong, but this theory implies that the Shshsh sound that Dalinar hears is actually the twisted sound of the word Shalash, right? Therefore Shalash would be using her divine name with everyone around, which doesnt make quite sense.

 

Well, there a few things that do not quite add up into this theory, I'll grant you that There is also the fact we don't know what Heralds can and cannot do without their honorblade.

 

Regardless of this theory, I think the name "Shshshsh" is supposed to be akin to wind or to "sush" not Shalash.

[WeiryWriter he/him]

Really???? Where are you going to publish the transcription? In the Events thread? If he thinks he may change the focus of book 3, then this is MAJOR with a capital M!!!!

 

I don't know when or where it is going to be posted that is out of my hands (and it's not 100% done yet).  Also that isn't currently part of the transcription it was an off-hand comment and it isn't as major as you are making it out to be.  He didn't say "I'm thinking of making Book 3 not Szeth's" he said something more along the lines of "Book 3 is going to be Szeth's, unless I decide otherwise when I start writing it" which has theoretically always been an option.  He didn't know whether WoR was going to be Shallan's or Dalinar's until he started it.

[Guest]

I don't know when or where it is going to be posted that is out of my hands (and it's not 100% done yet).  Also that isn't currently part of the transcription it was an off-hand comment and it isn't as major as you are making it out to be.  He didn't say "I'm thinking of making Book 3 not Szeth's" he said something more along the lines of "Book 3 is going to be Szeth's, unless I decide otherwise when I start writing it" which has theoretically always been an option.  He didn't know whether WoR was going to be Shallan's or Dalinar's until he started it.

 

That's still major! I have always (perhaps naively ) assumed book 3 was Szeth and there was no going back from there. I have always been under the impression books 3 to 5 were completely firm and solid, so to find out I am completely wrong in this assumption is major, well to me at least

 

I recalled he hesitated between Shallan and Dalinar for book 2, but I don't recall him ever pushing forward another name then Szeth for the next book.

 

Could it be there is a possibility we could get the Dalinar book earlier? That would be awesome It is the one flashback I am most anxious to read.

[Maverick]

:DIts nice to know that despite all the things we may know for certain about the Stormlight Archive, there are still about five more things we speculate about and won't know until the next book.

[Kyats Rani she/her]

Here's a thread for discussing anything you think will happen in the next Stormlight Archive book.  

 

 

Jezrien's Honorblade: 

 

The Kholins are in Urithiru and now have Jezrien's honorblade.  Since Dalinar, Renarin, and Shallan all have surges of their own to practice, and Navani is busy making fabrials, I think they will let Adolin use the honorblade.  

 

The Stone Shamans are supposed to get the honorblade back.  I doubt they expect anyone to freely give up an honorblade.  My guess: they will come armed with at least one other honorblade.  

 

 

I believe they'll rather keep the honorblade away from everyone - as in locked away not to be used out of fear of it getting in wrong hands. As for the Stone Shamans - I think that their arrival to reclaim the blade could be the climax of the book, them coming armed in other honorblades (or any other possible means of mass destruction - who knows what Shin can do? ) and the new Radiants fighting them in an epic battle.

 

 

Adolin's Fate:

 

Since killing Sadeas in cold blood, Adolin will attempt to keep it a secret for a while.  Whether he eventually admits to it or someone else uncovers the truth, it will eventually come out into the open.  His father won't be happy with him, but he will defend his actions, and the little voice in his head will agree with him.  

 

He will begin to manifest traits of becoming a Releaser.  

 

 

I think that Adolin will try his best to keep it secret, but his guilt will influence his behaviour so much that the truth will be uncovered (Macbeth, anyone?). Before this he will talk more and more with his blade and asking it for its name, knowing that it's a spren. He may or may not offer to set said spren free (which he won't do as he doesn't know how). Dalinar will be forced to fulfill the expectations of Alethkar royalty regarding the punishment for a murderer and he will punish his son, though not with death as others (Ialai) would want. My theory is that he won't be executed or exiled (as Dalinar wants unity), but rather disowned - he will lose his rank, position (go down to 10th dahn) and Shards, as well as kind of thrown out of the family (with Renarin becoming Dalinar's heir). Having lost everything he will want to stay close to his family and protect them, so he'll join Bridge Four (fully as a regular soldier, not like Renarin did), accepting Kaladin's leadership over him and most likely deepening their friendship. Then, after being broken, he'll be on his way to becoming a Releaser (by attracting a spren or awakening the one from his blade - like the bond between them started to form before he had to give up his shards and then the spren comes back to him when he really needs it).

 

 

Roshone:

 

After watching Kaladin's long struggle to trust lighteyes, I'm ready to see him forgive the heck out of somebody.  

 

 

Forgive? That depends on what he sees in Hearthstone upon returning. If Roshone kept bullying his parents then I doubt Kaladin will forgive him, unless he somehow redeems himself (which I doubt). But I hope that Kal's past the phase of taking revenge on everyone and won't go against Roshone. Maybe against his authority - something like Kaladin returns to Hearthstone and finds chaos there so he takes charge of everything, Roshone gets angry at the fact that a darkeye is bossing around in his city so Kal tells him that since he's completely incompetent at ruling the village someone else has to do it and if he minds then he can write a complaint to the king (and we know that Elhokar likes his captain of guard so he maybe won't really react, especially if dalinar has any say). You know - Kaladin confronts Roshone but in a civilized way (no duel challenges or demanding justice against him). Or maybe, depending on Roshone's behaviour, Kaladin CAN forgive him, in a forgive-but-never-forget kind of way.

 

 

Interludes:

 

I expect to see another Rysn interlude, showing off another part of the world we know nothing about.  Maybe New Natanatan or Rall Elorim.  (Actually, we probably won't learn about Rall Elorim until Lift's flashbacks in the back half of the series.)

 

Speaking of Lift, in the recent interview with buzzy mag, Brandon said we can expect more awesomeness in the next Stormlight Archive book.  Yay, Lift!

 

I'm hopeful for a Rock viewpoint.

 

When Axies hears about the strange spren surrounding the Voidbringers, I doubt he will be able to keep his curiosity at bay.  

 

Rysn - yes, please! I'm very curious about her fate and about that larkin of hers.

 

Lift - even more yes, please! We need more awesomness and maybe something that foreshadows her meeting with the rest of the Radiant crew (her going to Alethkar, maybe? hoping to steal Elhokar's lunch).

 

Axies - well, he IS interesting. Investigating stormspren is definitely something he would do.

 

Rock - his viewpoint from the time that Kal's away and how the Bridge Four does without him. Or maybe we could get some other bridgeman, like Drehy or Skar? Or maybe Sigzil? Personally, I'd like to see Hobber - struggling with his lack of legs. We could also use Rlain's viewpoint, but with him staying with Bridge Four (I believe him to be one of Kaladin's future squires).

 

 

Besides:

 

Szeth - I hope we can see his redemption, but he won't achieve that with Naln. But maybe he'll give up on getting revenge on the Stone Shamans and try to do something good instead. My favourite scenario is him meeting Kaladin somewhere (Kholinar?) and warning him about the Shamans. And Kal could go all "what the heck?! I killed you already!" but in the end understand Szeth's position and get along somehow (to a certain extent - as in parting on good terms with no physical damage on both parts).

 

Jasnah - While I'd love to see her going on a Bonnie and Clyde style adventure with Hoid, I think we will see some of her journey to Urithiru in the Interludes, along with her research. And the big reveal at the end of the book - she arrives before her family and shows them she's still alive. And if she arrives earlier than the end of the book, I expect some tension between her and Shallan concerning Ghostbloods (come on, Jasnah WILL know somehow, it's Jasnah we're talking about).

 

Shallan - she's going to have a hard time juggling her double-life. Very hard time. Possibly going to fall apart with Adolin (fault on both sides), but hopefully stay away from Kaladin as well.

[Guest]

I believe they'll rather keep the honorblade away from everyone - as in locked away not to be used out of fear of it getting in wrong hands. As for the Stone Shamans - I think that their arrival to reclaim the blade could be the climax of the book, them coming armed in other honorblades (or any other possible means of mass destruction - who knows what Shin can do? ) and the new Radiants fighting them in an epic battle.

 

I believe the Honorblade will go to Elhokar and it will bring disaster

 

 

I think that Adolin will try his best to keep it secret, but his guilt will influence his behaviour so much that the truth will be uncovered (Macbeth, anyone?). Before this he will talk more and more with his blade and asking it for its name, knowing that it's a spren. He may or may not offer to set said spren free (which he won't do as he doesn't know how). Dalinar will be forced to fulfill the expectations of Alethkar royalty regarding the punishment for a murderer and he will punish his son, though not with death as others (Ialai) would want. My theory is that he won't be executed or exiled (as Dalinar wants unity), but rather disowned - he will lose his rank, position (go down to 10th dahn) and Shards, as well as kind of thrown out of the family (with Renarin becoming Dalinar's heir). Having lost everything he will want to stay close to his family and protect them, so he'll join Bridge Four (fully as a regular soldier, not like Renarin did), accepting Kaladin's leadership over him and most likely deepening their friendship. Then, after being broken, he'll be on his way to becoming a Releaser (by attracting a spren or awakening the one from his blade - like the bond between them started to form before he had to give up his shards and then the spren comes back to him when he really needs it).

 

Considering Adolin's first impulse after committing the deed was to hide all traces of him ever being there, it is highly probable he will first try to keep it a secret and it will eat him alive. I do agree the guilt will make him change his behavior together with the fact everyone he loves is now a Radiant. I will drift away from them, disconnect himself from his father and brother more specifically. Dalinar being densed at best will never catch one something is amiss, but Renarin might. Although I suspect Renarin will go through a self-pity arc where he'll think his brother is rejecting him because of his powers. However, I do think there is a very strong probability Renarin will ultimately be the one to uncover the truth as he is, after all, a Truthwatcher

 

By then, Adolin will have learn his Blade is a dead spren and he is torturing it each time he summons it. This will affect him greatly as he does care for his Blade. Knowing it probably hates him will be a hard one to swallow. I doubt he'll ask for its name, not now, but he may feel he needs to free it.

 

Dalinar will punish Adolin. I am thinking too that he will take his shards away, probably as a payment to the Sadeas. I don't see him joining Bridge 4 though. We already have Renarin joining them, so I doubt Adolin would do the same. He'll probably remain in charge of the Kohlin army, but without shards, he'll be severely limited in what he can do on the battle field. This will be very hard for him as he will be forced to watch his soldiers die without being able to make a difference. He'll get more and more reckless up until he'll end up in real trouble.

 

There will be a breaking point eventually. My guess is he'll end up badly injured and Renarin will be the one to save him (Progression surge, yeah). Renarin's story arc will be tied with his brother's. Through the ordeal, he'll come to understand his older, bigger, stronger and healtier brother does need him. On his side, Dalinar will go ballistic as he will consider it is his fault. Adolin will start to realize his family does care about him, despite all. Father and son will talk. Dalinar will tell his son about his years as the Blackthorn.

 

He will be able to start to rebuilt on this.

 

He will thus decide to reclaim his Blade as it feels like the right thing to do. Everyone will think he has gone mad, they'll be worried all this is a side effect from his previously healed injuries, but Adolin will not bulged from this. And thus will go the arc where Adolin the badass will find a way to get his Blade back and unlock the spren inside, but that may take more then one book

 

 

Forgive? That depends on what he sees in Hearthstone upon returning. If Roshone kept bullying his parents then I doubt Kaladin will forgive him, unless he somehow redeems himself (which I doubt). But I hope that Kal's past the phase of taking revenge on everyone and won't go against Roshone. Maybe against his authority - something like Kaladin returns to Hearthstone and finds chaos there so he takes charge of everything, Roshone gets angry at the fact that a darkeye is bossing around in his city so Kal tells him that since he's completely incompetent at ruling the village someone else has to do it and if he minds then he can write a complaint to the king (and we know that Elhokar likes his captain of guard so he maybe won't really react, especially if dalinar has any say). You know - Kaladin confronts Roshone but in a civilized way (no duel challenges or demanding justice against him). Or maybe, depending on Roshone's behaviour, Kaladin CAN forgive him, in a forgive-but-never-forget kind of way.

 

I think we are going to see another side of Roshone... He'll be broken by the events: his son is dead, his wife hates him, his town has been rampaged and he was powerless to stop it. We'll get to learn about his back story and he won't come out as such a villain anymore as we will hear his side of the story. Kaladin will come to realize everyone makes mistakes, even grave ones, but the ability to forgive one person may be sufficient to propel them towards doing good again.

 

Kaladin will forgive Roshone and Roshone will start to learn how to not be a scumbag. He won't be in charge anymore, but he'll find himself some use. By forgiving Roshone, Kaladin will discover his fouth ideal.

 

Kaladin has struggled for books as to which came first: honor or revenge. With Amaram, he learned Honor came first. With Elhokar, he learned he could not kill to protect unless the threat is direct, but he could certainly not kill for future unannounced actions. With Roshone, he will learn the ability to forgive is a requisite to any good leader.

 

Kaladin will eventually head for Kohlinar where he will get entangled within the rebellion. He will meet up again with Tarah who would have joined their movement..............................................................................

 

 

Shallan - she's going to have a hard time juggling her double-life. Very hard time. Possibly going to fall apart with Adolin (fault on both sides), but hopefully stay away from Kaladin as well.

 

She'll drift away from Adolin... She does not need him anymore and her double life won't leave her much time. Adolin will take it as a sign she does not want to be with him anymore as it happened with every single other girl. He'll break up, but she won't really take note of it, being entangled in her plots.

 

When Adolin ends up near dead, she'll realize how much she cares about him. By that time, she may have started some unofficial union with Kaladin, but it will make her realize it is not him she loves. She will be very troubled over this fact as she has never taken any decision regarding her future directly. She will dwindle on this for a while, but real life will catch up to her.

 

She'll end up in very tight spot and Adolin will pop to the rescue with his newly reclaimed Blade. Shallan will appreciate having someone that cares for her. The two of them will elope and get married through an intimate ceremony away from their family, surrounded by bridgemen Adolin will marry Shallan as a disowned lighteye of the fourth or fifth (or even tenth) dahn following his punishment for murdering Sadeas.... He'll thus marry a women way above his station. He won't swear the first oath until much later.

 

Book five will end with Adolin and Shallan "official" wedding following the Alethi tradition, Kaladin will be Adolin's best man together with Renarin. Second half of SA will see them happily married surrounded by many kids, including at least one pair of twins Adolin's eldest daughter will take after him and will be more interested into the art of war in general and swordfighting in particular than in any topic generally reserved for women.

 

I know this a lot of ramblings, but this is fun

[Kyats Rani she/her]

I believe the Honorblade will go to Elhokar and it will bring disaster

 

 

Oh dear, that's a horrifying prospect He would start by accidentially sticking himself to the ceiling with no-one being able to get him down (with Kaladin absent in Urithiru) or lashing himself in the middle of a whole army of Voidbringers. Or worse - he could lash someone else in the middle of the Voidbringers.

 

 

Considering Adolin's first impulse after committing the deed was to hide all traces of him ever being there, it is highly probable he will first try to keep it a secret and it will eat him alive. I do agree the guilt will make him change his behavior together with the fact everyone he loves is now a Radiant. I will drift away from them, disconnect himself from his father and brother more specifically. Dalinar being densed at best will never catch one something is amiss, but Renarin might. Although I suspect Renarin will go through a self-pity arc where he'll think his brother is rejecting him because of his powers. However, I do think there is a very strong probability Renarin will ultimately be the one to uncover the truth as he is, after all, a Truthwatcher

 

By then, Adolin will have learn his Blade is a dead spren and he is torturing it each time he summons it. This will affect him greatly as he does care for his Blade. Knowing it probably hates him will be a hard one to swallow. I doubt he'll ask for its name, not now, but he may feel he needs to free it.

 

Dalinar will punish Adolin. I am thinking too that he will take his shards away, probably as a payment to the Sadeas. I don't see him joining Bridge 4 though. We already have Renarin joining them, so I doubt Adolin would do the same. He'll probably remain in charge of the Kohlin army, but without shards, he'll be severely limited in what he can do on the battle field. This will be very hard for him as he will be forced to watch his soldiers die without being able to make a difference. He'll get more and more reckless up until he'll end up in real trouble.

 

There will be a breaking point eventually. My guess is he'll end up badly injured and Renarin will be the one to save him (Progression surge, yeah). Renarin's story arc will be tied with his brother's. Through the ordeal, he'll come to understand his older, bigger, stronger and healtier brother does need him. On his side, Dalinar will go ballistic as he will consider it is his fault. Adolin will start to realize his family does care about him, despite all. Father and son will talk. Dalinar will tell his son about his years as the Blackthorn.

 

He will be able to start to rebuilt on this.

 

He will thus decide to reclaim his Blade as it feels like the right thing to do. Everyone will think he has gone mad, they'll be worried all this is a side effect from his previously healed injuries, but Adolin will not bulged from this. And thus will go the arc where Adolin the badass will find a way to get his Blade back and unlock the spren inside, but that may take more then one book

 

He may feel so bad for the poor spren that he will have issues with summoning the blade and therefore put himself into dangerous situations. And yes, he propably will drift away from Renarin and they both will think it's their fault and mope over this (with Kaladin hopefully improving we will need someone to take his part in moping ). Renarin will find out the truth and propably confront his brother about it but ultimately he'll keep quiet to protect Adolin and somebody else will reveal the truth. And Dalinar will be so focused on the Desolation, Radiants and other things (*cough*Navani*cough*) that he won't realise something's going on with his sons until it's too late.

 

As for the Bridge 4 - I don't think Renarin truly joined it, I mean he spends time with them and everything but he doesn't partake in their duties (except from washing dishes). Besides if Adolin is disowned Renarin will be Dalinar's heir and therefore Dalinar will want to teach him how to be a highprince as quickly as he can, which propably won't leave him time to hang out with the bridgemen. I see Adolin really joining them and going on the guard duty to protect his family. Not a highprince's son who tags along but a soldier on the same grounds as the others. I can see him going to Kaladin (who hopefully will be back at the time) and asking him to join his men. At first other bridgemen will be very uncomfortable with him but with time they'll start accepting a lighteye as one of them.

 

I love the idea of Renarin saving Adolin from deadly wound - it's just something those two need. Dalinar could try to patch the cracks (chasms) between him and his firstborn and it will work to an extent but going with my idea of Adolin joining Bridge 4 I think he would insist on staying there. I just can't see how would Adolin reclaim his blade if it was given to Sades (Ialai) as a retribution without causing a civil war or any major arguments. That's why I like the idea of him proclaiming one of the ideals (the second one - kind of like he never spoke the first one aloud but embraced it anyway, I think Brandon suggest somewhere that it's what Dalinar did as he proclaimed only one ideal at the end of WoR) and the Blade coming to him on itself. It would be epic and just imagine Ialai's face when she founds out

 

 

I think we are going to see another side of Roshone... He'll be broken by the events: his son is dead, his wife hates him, his town has been rampaged and he was powerless to stop it. We'll get to learn about his back story and he won't come out as such a villain anymore as we will hear his side of the story. Kaladin will come to realize everyone makes mistakes, even grave ones, but the ability to forgive one person may be sufficient to propel them towards doing good again.

 

Kaladin will forgive Roshone and Roshone will start to learn how to not be a scumbag. He won't be in charge anymore, but he'll find himself some use. By forgiving Roshone, Kaladin will discover his fouth ideal.

 

Kaladin has struggled for books as to which came first: honor or revenge. With Amaram, he learned Honor came first. With Elhokar, he learned he could not kill to protect unless the threat is direct, but he could certainly not kill for future unannounced actions. With Roshone, he will learn the ability to forgive is a requisite to any good leader.

 

Kaladin will eventually head for Kohlinar where he will get entangled within the rebellion. He will meet up again with Tarah who would have joined their movement..............................................................................

 

Well, if we see Roshone as a different kind of person (not a silversmiths'-murderer or surgeon-opressor) then maybe it will make sense... I just can't really imagine Kaladin forgiving him if Roshone doesn't feel at least some remorse over what he did to his family. And even if, Kaladin will struggle to forgive him as it would be very hard for him.

 

And I don't see the fourth ideal as having anything to do with forgiving - I expect it to be connected to the Windrunners' attribute of leading (as the previous two were about protecting). Something along the lines of "I will take the lead when no-one else does" or similair... It could happen in Kholinar while dealing with the riots. I see it kind of like this: Kaladin arrives and tries to find and contact someone connected to Dalinar. He tries to talk to the queen, but we know how she is - she won't listen (even considering that Kal will surgebind his eyes to be blue to have more credibility with high ranked Alethi). Rebellion will be getting worse and worse and there will be no-one to deal with it so Kaladin will have to take charge of them (kind of like he did to Adolin and the officers on the Tower) and try to solve the matter, even though it'll seem impossible or a sure death. Somebody may ask him why he's risking so much to try to save the situation even if the capitol is already in complete chaos and then he will proclaim the fourth ideal.

 

As for Tarah - she may or may not appear. And not necessarily as Kal's love interest but maybe as a trusted friend. We know nothing of her or her personality so I can't say if she fits into my vision or not.

 

 

She'll drift away from Adolin... She does not need him anymore and her double life won't leave her much time. Adolin will take it as a sign she does not want to be with him anymore as it happened with every single other girl. He'll break up, but she won't really take note of it, being entangled in her plots.

 

When Adolin ends up near dead, she'll realize how much she cares about him. By that time, she may have started some unofficial union with Kaladin, but it will make her realize it is not him she loves. She will be very troubled over this fact as she has never taken any decision regarding her future directly. She will dwindle on this for a while, but real life will catch up to her.

 

She'll end up in very tight spot and Adolin will pop to the rescue with his newly reclaimed Blade. Shallan will appreciate having someone that cares for her. The two of them will elope and get married through an intimate ceremony away from their family, surrounded by bridgemen Adolin will marry Shallan as a disowned lighteye of the fourth or fifth (or even tenth) dahn following his punishment for murdering Sadeas.... He'll thus marry a women way above his station. He won't swear the first oath until much later.

 

Book five will end with Adolin and Shallan "official" wedding following the Alethi tradition, Kaladin will be Adolin's best man together with Renarin. Second half of SA will see them happily married surrounded by many kids, including at least one pair of twins Adolin's eldest daughter will take after him and will be more interested into the art of war in general and swordfighting in particular than in any topic generally reserved for women.

 

I know this a lot of ramblings, but this is fun

 

I like this scenario Especially the ceremony away from the family but with bridgemen around. But who will do the job of a priest (assuming that the vorin culture needs this kind of person for weddings)? My guess is Sigzil And I already like this daughter. But out of curiosity: why twins? Did I forget something important concernig Adolin/Shallan/both and twins? Is there any potential significance?

 

And the bridgemen will have to babysit those kids

 

By the second half of SA I'd like to also see Kaladin happily married (my current candidate for his wife is Jenet, but it can change possibly when we learn more about Tarah) and having at least one son (who could remind him of Tien... but in a good, happy way not a gloomy way). That kid would have a life... So many doting "uncles" Excuse me while I curl into a ball from laughter imagining Rock tossing Kal's child up and catching them (little kids like this...) while the kid's mother looks at it with horror...

 

And yes, rambling on the possible future of our favourite characters is very fun