Predicting the structure of the rest of Wind and Truth

[Wanguu He/Him]

I am writing this after the release of chapters 31 and 32, and we currently only have two chapter releases until the book releases. I predict that the next chapters will end Day 2, and we will not hear from our spiritual realm adventurers until Day 4. Day 3 will mainly be Kaladin and Szeth, and we will also jump between Jasnah, Sigzil and Venli, and Adolin (and Yanagawn the First, formerly a thief known as Gawx, is the Prime Aqasix, king of Azir, and emperor of Makabak). I think the structure will be similar to TWoK or RoW where we have finished our first arc and now we are moving on to the several parallel arcs where we will switch between PoV characters.
 

 Back of the book blurb from the Wind and Truth coppermind page for evidence:
 

Spoiler

“

Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare―and the sudden ascension of the crafty and ruthless Taravangian to take Odium’s place has thrown everything into disarray.

Desperate fighting continues simultaneously worldwide―Adolin in Azimir, Sigzil and Venli at the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah at Thaylen City. The former assassin, Szeth, must cleanse his homeland of Shinovar from the dark influence of the Unmade. He is accompanied by Kaladin, who faces a new battle helping Szeth fight his own demons . . . and who must do the same for the insane Herald of the Almighty, Ishar.

At the same time, Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain work to unravel the mystery behind the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram and her involvement in the enslavement of the singer race and in the ancient Knights Radiants killing their spren. And Dalinar and Navani seek an edge against Odium’s champion that can be found only in the Spiritual Realm, where memory and possibility combine in chaos. The fate of the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

”

—Macmillan pre-order page^[6]

 

Since the book is very parallel instead of sequential (as in we are always on the same day, going in chronological order), it could be more like oathbringer/WoR where everything is happening in series. However, since half of our cast is (likely) stuck in the spiritual realm where time is all wibbley wobbley, it would not be a stretch narratively for them to miss an entire real-world day. This would also allow the story space for our three main war fronts to take center stage next to Kaladin and Szeth in Shinovar (which we didn't get much of in Day 2). After their first days there, the three fronts may step back as there is simply a day of fighting, or something similar that doesn't need to be center stage.

As for the rest of the previews, I predict that next week we will get the end of Day 2 with chapters 33 and 34 (or just 33, or 33 - 35, no predicting how that will shake out) and the last previews will be another batch of interludes. However, I don't think we will get 9 batches of interludes (between every day) so I think it is likely some of the days will be grouped together, such as 'Days 4 & 5' being next. Imagine watching Dalinar, Navani, Shallan, Renarin, Rlain, and maybe even Lift and Gavinor (who I think was hiding in the vent with her) being sucked into the spiritual realm, and getting to the next day and seeing Days 4-5, with their names missing! It would add a lot of suspense.

I don't think any of Brandon's other works have had a similar narrative structure, so please feel free to cite other works for evidence for / against this.

TL;DR: Day 3 will NOT include the spiritual realm characters, and will instead focus on Shinovar and the three singer invasions. The rest of the book will have a similar structure to TWoK or WoR where story lines are not present in certain parts because nothing of note is going on at the moment.

[+Oltux72 he/him]

I guess the next thing we will have to see is the people of Urithiru understanding that they have no way of mounting a rescue mission, because that would require a perpendiculaity. In addition, the fight between Shallan and the Ghostbloods is not over. Nor does it seem to be in the Ghostblood's interest to see Odium set free.

And there are two elephants in the room.

1. Why doesn't Dalinar just reopen the perpendicularity? The original mission has become moot, hasn't it? Or, worse, he does open it and there is a complication.
2. Lift and Gavinor. They were not bound to the stone. Is there any reason they would end up in the same place as Navani and Dalinar?

Rampant speculation: What happens if Dalinar does open the perpendicularity and they end up on Ashyn?

[Stark he/him]

I mean, we might get nine batches of interludes, nine being the number of Odium, which would be subtle structural change to indicate Odium wins.

 

Sorry, Odium Reigns.

[Wanguu He/Him]

2 hours ago, Oltux72 said:

I guess the next thing we will have to see is the people of Urithiru understanding that they have no way of mounting a rescue mission, because that would require a perpendiculaity.

Maybe they make an expedition to the Horneater / cultivation's perpindicularity? Or perhaps they can elsecall there?
 

2 hours ago, Oltux72 said:

In addition, the fight between Shallan and the Ghostbloods is not over. Nor does it seem to be in the Ghostblood's interest to see Odium set free.

I believe that they will be in the SR as well. Dalinar and Navani seeking Honor's power, and the others seeking BAM.

 

2 hours ago, Oltux72 said:

• Why doesn't Dalinar just reopen the perpendicularity? The original mission has become moot, hasn't it? Or, worse, he does open it and there is a complication.

I think it's unclear in the text for how they are to return.

 

2 hours ago, Oltux72 said:

Lift and Gavinor. They were not bound to the stone. Is there any reason they would end up in the same place as Navani and Dalinar?

Proximity? Or everyone might end up there. Truthfully, there's no knowing.

 

2 hours ago, Oltux72 said:

Rampant speculation: What happens if Dalinar does open the perpendicularity and they end up on Ashyn?

I'm not sure if that's possible, but this is the spiritual realm, so who knows.
 

 

1 hour ago, Stark said:

I mean, we might get nine batches of interludes, nine being the number of Odium, which would be subtle structural change to indicate Odium wins.

 

Good point, we did only get two interludes last time. We usually get 12, so maybe we get 18?

[+Oltux72 he/him]

14 hours ago, Wanguu said:

Maybe they make an expedition to the Horneater / cultivation's perpindicularity? Or perhaps they can elsecall there?

That perpendiculariry is held by Odium's forces. They'd observe what the Radiants are doing there. Indirectly telling Odium that you are looking for a Shard, which he believes to have splintered, is not a good idea.

[Wanguu He/Him]

On 11/21/2024 at 10:19 AM, Wanguu said:

I predict that the next chapters will end Day 2

So far so good! Although, it's not like this was a hard thing to predict.

[Calten_Gnomercy]

Spoiler

Being trapped in the SR actually feels a lot like The Nowhere that Spensa goes to in the Skyward series. Issues with time and such.

Thats how it feels to me anyway.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2024 by Calten_Gnomercy

[Wanguu He/Him]

1 hour ago, Calten_Gnomercy said:

Being trapped in the SR actually feels a lot like The Nowhere that Spensa goes to in the Skyward series. Issues with time and such.

Thats how it feels to me anyway.

(You mighty want to spoiler this - I don't think this board allows Skyward spoilers, however mild)

Yes, I can absolutely see that. 

[IcaroRibeiro he/him]

Sanderson likes structure, so he will keep the groups divided into 10 parts.

It doesn't mean we need all groups of characters to be presented in all parts. I believe only Kaladin and Szeth will be permanent characters across all 10 days. The others can take a backseat, and some of their narratives can happen in the background and only be quickly mentioned.

Day 2 had the absence of all three groups responsible for the war, i.e., Adolin, Sigzil, and Jasnah, since chapter 22, I think. I believe all those characters will be POV characters in day 3.

Eventually, there will be some Lift chapters in Urithiru, but I don't think this will be a focal point of the story either.

An Azimir (i.e., Adolin) chapter is certainly happening on day 8 because it was already stated that there is an alliance army marching to get there in 6 days, but the first clash is happening sooner than that:

Quote

“The largest group of coalition forces—with many of our Stonewards and Edgedancers—are here. They were fighting near the border with Tukar and Marat, and have been moving home for three days now. Some of those—our rear guard, forty thousand strong—are a six-day march from Azimir.”

“Too far,” Yanagawn said. “The enemy will arrive before then, and my forces are down to only a few thousand. We’ll need reinforcement.”

 

El's interlude released today gives me the impression that the Shattered Plains will be a focal point, while Azimir and Thaylen City will be more like side conflicts. The Shattered Plains also require Venli, who is a main POV character, so I guess we will see more of her and the union between humans and Listeners against the Fused. My guess is that the definitive battle for the Shattered Plains will happen on day 9

Quote

“Very well,” Odium said. “I name you ruler, with no title. You will take leadership of my armies to assault the Shattered Plains. Travel to the Peaks via shanay-im, and I shall send Dai-Gonarthis to you. Use her… particular talents to take the garrison at the Peaks, and claim the Shattered Plains in my name. I will pay her price another time.”

This left many things unsaid. Why Odium was so interested in the Shattered Plains. How he knew that there would be enough power to Connect them to the well at the Horneater Peaks.

A solid argument for that is Sigzil being the face of this conflict, since he is there the existence of (Sunlit Man spoilers)

Spoiler

a Dawnshard

...in the Shattared Plains is likely, which is why Taravangian-Odium is so desperate to claim that lands even at high cost

There is also an unmentioned POV that needs to be addressed, which is... Lopen. He's flying with the Minsc to Herdaz. According to them, the Windrunners can get there in a day, so maybe he will have a POV on day 4?

Quote

“Windrunners, then,” the Mink said. “They can get a person across the continent in under a day.”

“But an entire army?” Navani said.

“We’d need a few hundred at most,” the Mink said. “The members of my personal army, which we have rescued. If you drop us at the border on the western side, we will assault the capital a little inland, reclaiming my homeland.” He placed the tattered remnant before Dalinar on the food table. “Your oath, Blackthorn.”

 

So my guess is the book will be divided in:

 

Day 3: Kaladin&Szeth, Adolin, Sigzil, Jasnah

Day 4: Kaladin&Szeth, Venli&Sigzil, Dalinar&Navani, maybe Lopen

Day 5: Kaladin&Szeth, Shallan/Renarin/Rlain, maybe Lift/Lopen

Day 6: Kaladin&Szeth, Adolin, Dalinar&Navani

Day 7: Kaladin&Szeth, Venli&Sigzil, Jasnah, Shallan/Renarin/Rlain

Day 8: Kaladin&Szeth, Adolin, Dalinar&Navani, maybe Lift/Lopen

Day 9: Kaladin&Szeth, Venli&Sigzil, Shallan/Renarin/Rlain

Day 10: Every whose POV was not solved by day 9

 

Edited December 2, 2024 by IcaroRibeiro

[Wanguu He/Him]

11 hours ago, IcaroRibeiro said:

Sanderson likes structure, so he will keep the groups divided into 10 parts.

It doesn't mean we need all groups of characters to be presented in all parts. I believe only Kaladin and Szeth will be permanent characters across all 10 days. The others can take a backseat, and some of their narratives can happen in the background and only be quickly mentioned.

Day 2 had the absence of all three groups responsible for the war, i.e., Adolin, Sigzil, and Jasnah, since chapter 22, I think. I believe all those characters will be POV characters in day 3.

Eventually, there will be some Lift chapters in Urithiru, but I don't think this will be a focal point of the story either.

An Azimir (i.e., Adolin) chapter is certainly happening on day 8 because it was already stated that there is an alliance army marching to get there in 6 days, but the first clash is happening sooner than that:

 

El's interlude released today gives me the impression that the Shattered Plains will be a focal point, while Azimir and Thaylen City will be more like side conflicts. The Shattered Plains also require Venli, who is a main POV character, so I guess we will see more of her and the union between humans and Listeners against the Fused. My guess is that the definitive battle for the Shattered Plains will happen on day 9

A solid argument for that is Sigzil being the face of this conflict, since he is there the existence of (Sunlit Man spoilers)

  Reveal hidden contents

a Dawnshard

...in the Shattared Plains is likely, which is why Taravangian-Odium is so desperate to claim that lands even at high cost

There is also an unmentioned POV that needs to be addressed, which is... Lopen. He's flying with the Minsc to Herdaz. According to them, the Windrunners can get there in a day, so maybe he will have a POV on day 4?

 

So my guess is the book will be divided in:

 

Day 3: Kaladin&Szeth, Adolin, Sigzil, Jasnah

Day 4: Kaladin&Szeth, Venli&Sigzil, Dalinar&Navani, maybe Lopen

Day 5: Kaladin&Szeth, Shallan/Renarin/Rlain, maybe Lift/Lopen

Day 6: Kaladin&Szeth, Adolin, Dalinar&Navani

Day 7: Kaladin&Szeth, Venli&Sigzil, Jasnah, Shallan/Renarin/Rlain

Day 8: Kaladin&Szeth, Adolin, Dalinar&Navani, maybe Lift/Lopen

Day 9: Kaladin&Szeth, Venli&Sigzil, Shallan/Renarin/Rlain

Day 10: Every whose POV was not solved by day 9

 

Hey, all good points! I forgot about the herdaz invasion - and it seems maybe Odiun did too! So perhaps Dalinar doing something Honorable will really help in his plan. We saw from the last interludes that he has plans to take everything that's supporting honor (except Aimia and Reshi, but maybe he considers them unimportant?)

I think Adolin and Yanagawn will have a few POVs together in Aizimir, and while Brandon likes to hold Jasnah close, I think we will be getting some of her as well. 

So far we've gotten two interludes between each day, with one belonging to Odium - do you think this will continue?

[IcaroRibeiro he/him]

On 12/3/2024 at 2:25 AM, Wanguu said:

Hey, all good points! I forgot about the herdaz invasion - and it seems maybe Odiun did too! So perhaps Dalinar doing something Honorable will really help in his plan. We saw from the last interludes that he has plans to take everything that's supporting honor (except Aimia and Reshi, but maybe he considers them unimportant?)

I think Adolin and Yanagawn will have a few POVs together in Aizimir, and while Brandon likes to hold Jasnah close, I think we will be getting some of her as well. 

So far we've gotten two interludes between each day, with one belonging to Odium - do you think this will continue?

The book was released to day and it's confirmed we have

Spoiler

18 interludes. I don't know how many belongs to Taravangian-Odium, but I do believe half makes a good number

As for POV, I was right, we have 10 days = 10 parts

Day 3 POVs are

Spoiler

Adolin, Szeth and Kaladin