Why Aren't the Knights Radiant Mounted?

[Duxredux he/him]

For lack of a better term, perhaps the potential squire has to feel like they belong in the same group as the nuclear (as in nucleus) Radiant to be sufficiently Connected? If subconsciously they don't believe they really belong that might be as fundamental a barrier as Kaladin healing his slave brands. Lyn doesn't draw Stormlight while feeling like she doesn't belong and she may have felt like she had ulterior motives like breaking feminine Vorin roles, getting to fly, and maybe even dating Stormblessed (as we see actually happens). Skar doesn't draw Stormlight while he also doesn't feel like he belongs - until he comes to the conclusion that he would be at peace remaining in Bridge Four even if only as a facilitator helping the others fly. Dabbid is tricky without his viewpoint in front of me, but Rlain definitely felt ostracized and a bit of a mascot for Bridge Four - even if he felt that Kaladin was a good man and at least tried to listen while the rest patted themselves on the backs for being inclusive.

Full Cosmere spoilers:

Spoiler

I'm reminded of Secret History, with Kelsier observing the crew and noting that of all of them he has the strongest Connection to Spook because of how hard he believed in him allowing him to communicate like he couldn't with the others, though undoubtedly Spook's cracked soul helped.

Then in TSM Nomad formally is adopted into Beacon where the whole group made the choice to accept him as one of their own, granting access to their style of Investiture absorption and gifting - and we see Nomad accept it even as he accepts the name Zellion, altering his identity and likely his Identity. This even allowed the Cinder King to forcibly absorb Investiture from him as a member of Beacon.

Then we see that Seons bonded to a Reod Elantrian fall themselves and the proximity and perhaps sense of belonging necessary to be taken by the Shaod. Connection seems to be both an avenue of power and an avenue of external attack from external sources, and it might matter a great deal the way they view those relationships. Huh. Maybe Design was similarly mentally crippled when Hoid opened himself to Riina's curse as part of their bet and contest for Hoid's adoption as an Elantrian.

Last thought here (for now) is how a hijo was able to Connect Yumi to Painter despite Yumi being an incredibly powerful holder of Investiture - because she accepted the invitation to help them, as was her perceived duty as the yoki-hijo.

Invitations, acceptance of those Invitations, and the way people view relationships is a fundamental aspect of how power enters the soul. Basically a potential squire needs to be extended an explicit or implicit invitation and they have to accept - really accept, to have Light flood their soul.

This probably should go in a different thread... but it really needs to go with the above paragraph. If people want to discuss it I'll spin up a new thread. Idea for a potential climax to Moash's character arc.

Spoiler

I know it's a divisive topic, but if Moash actually gets a redemption arc (big if), the climax might be finally being adopted back into Bridge Four and drawing Stormlight as Kaladin's squire, his soul healed as much as he believes he deserves. The prodigal who left and sought a counterfeit power and peace among Odium's "Heavenly Ones" with Jezrien's Blade stolen from Eth's corpse from Bridge Four that could heal his body but not his soul... and in the end found it lacking. Perhaps he would never forgive himself for killing Teft and remain blind. Again, big if, and he would have to make some huge soul-wrenching changes, but I could see that being a powerful moment and I think Brandon could write it and probably have approximately the same proportion of readers as Rosharans accept it.  I feel like there's enough elements there that this could be where Brandon is taking it, but it might simply be giving Moash the chance to take the better road - only for him to take the wrong one yet again. Two roads diverged in a wood and Moash takes the wrong one, every time.

Edited March 29, 2024 by Duxredux
removed repeated paragraph

[Fanerdinag]

On 3/20/2024 at 4:25 PM, alder24 said:

It's because you don't find and get Ryshadium, you are chosen by them. Most won't be that lucky. WoR ch 81:

Historically speaking horses weren't really used for fighting on Roshar. They are especially expensive, require special care and aren't well adapted to the Rosharan environment. The first nation to use cavalry as a fighting formation was Shinovar during their numerous invasions of Roshar, which most likely happened after Recreance, thus after the Radiant era. Therefore most Radiant would not use horses like the classical medieval knights. Even now cavalry is still very rare because of how rare and expensive horses are. In WoR ch 67 Dalinar remarks that loosing on a plateau run could easily cost more than what won gemstone would be worth.

I'm uncertain how useful Ryshadium would be for most Orders. Two of them can fly, so horses for them would be pointless and other Radiants would be Lashed by them to arrive quickly to their destination - as seen in the Starfalls vision. On a battlefield their horses would be extremely vulnerable and could expose their rider to enemy strikes when killed.. In general, knights here are not in the usual sense. This is not about aristrocards on horses. It’s more like the Chivalry essay on https://papersowl.com/examples/chivalry/ about personal qualities. About fortitude, nobility, loyalty and so on. Moreover Surges are a devastating weapon to wield - Jasnah soulcasted air all around her into oil and set it on fire, which would kill her horse. Unless they somehow get a Shardplate for their horses (which should exist after Recreance if that was practiced, the lack of such horse Shardplates implies it wasn't), Radiants should not bring horses to a Surge-fight. Adolin learned this lesson the hard way. 

So while Ryshadium are called a Third Shard, I wouldn't necessarily assume that they were called that during the Radiant era. For me it seems like a modern development, rather than something carried from ancient times. I think spren fill the role of "a knight's horse" - it's not just about riding on a horse, it's about companionship, that's what spren are to their knights. 

And Kaladin hates horses. He would rather ride on a Chull than on a horse. Imagine, a graceful knight in a glowing full plate riding on an oversized crab.

A knight riding a crab, now that's something I'd pay to see!  I remember reading about the idea of using a giant centipede as a mount in a book by another author. The rider and centipede had a mental connection, which was pretty cool. Unfortunately, I can't remember which book it was from

Edited June 27, 2024 by Fanerdinag