How long will it take for Shallan to get back?

[DSCrankshaw]

22 hours ago, Keitea said:

Would she do this with a child, though ? Depriving them further from a relationship with their father ? Although you might argue than raising a child in Shadesmare is worse and she would prefer to have them actually experience the Physical world.

I don't expect her to do this on a whim. She was seriously considering looking for help off- world. If someone off-world could help her return to Roshar's physical realm or help in some other significant way, I could see her looking for help. Or if the Fused were seriously hunting her in Shadesmar.  Whether she would bring her child with her, or leave them in the care of people she trusted (Maya, Testament, Pattern, and/or the other Lightweavers who were at Lasting Integrity when the Contest happened), might depend on how risky she thought her trip would be vs how risky it was for her child to remain in Shadesmar. The fact that time passes slower for the people left behind makes it easier to leave them for what would be, from their perspective, a relatively short time. 

[DSCrankshaw]

7 hours ago, DSCrankshaw said:

I don't expect her to do this on a whim. She was seriously considering looking for help off-world. If someone off-world could help her return to Roshar's physical realm or help in some other significant way, I could see her looking for help. Or if the Fused were seriously hunting her in Shadesmar.  Whether she would bring her child with her, or leave them in the care of people she trusted (Maya, Testament, Pattern, and/or the other Lightweavers who were at Lasting Integrity when the Contest happened), might depend on how risky she thought her trip would be vs how risky it was for her child to remain in Shadesmar. The fact that time passes slower for the people left behind makes it easier to leave them for what would be, from their perspective, a relatively short time. 

I should clarify that I'm not hoping she does this or arguing that she should. I'd be quite happy if she's settled down near Azimir and is communicating regularly with Adolin through Maya and the seons when arc 2 begins. I'm just saying that it is possible, given the right circumstances.

Edited December 19, 2024 by DSCrankshaw
Clarified time frame.

[Hoids Imaginary Friend]

Odiums Shard pool is located underground, under a plateau isnt it? Which would be under a sea of spheres in the CR.

I think the Listeners will be a neutral faction and can see the new God using it as a transport hub from the CR. A Shard could easily make a city out of the beads.

But I reckon there's a hidden reason for the Shard pools location...

We were told that a 4th moon crashed on the planet, Tanavast also found an interesting metal... also, the chasmfiends who are supposedly drawn to the Shard pool don't sound very Odium like do they? 

Regarding Jasna's elsecalling, from what I gathered she can do it fine but can only bring herself, she also thinks she should be able to elsecall within the same realm - e.g. teleporting.

[Tonio811]

Everyone is talking about whether or not Jasnah is Elsecalling, but could she Elsecall after Retribution and the Night of Sorrows? I understand she can Elsecall within Urithiru, but if she went to Shinovar she wouldn’t be able to Elsecall back, right?

[ign__o male, 24]

8 hours ago, Tonio811 said:

Everyone is talking about whether or not Jasnah is Elsecalling, but could she Elsecall after Retribution and the Night of Sorrows? I understand she can Elsecall within Urithiru, but if she went to Shinovar she wouldn’t be able to Elsecall back, right?

Theoretically if she found any Warlight I assume she’d be able to use it to Elsecall back, but I’m not sure how readily accessible it would be for her. Is there a reason she couldn’t store Towerlight in a gemstone and take it with her if she were to Elsecall out of Urithiru?

[DSCrankshaw]

It's stated that Towerlight doesn't last outside the tower, even in gemstones. We don't yet know whether Radiants can use Warlight, but I suspect they can. 

[ign__o male, 24]

10 hours ago, DSCrankshaw said:

It's stated that Towerlight doesn't last outside the tower, even in gemstones. We don't yet know whether Radiants can use Warlight, but I suspect they can. 

iirc the reason Towerlight doesn’t last outside the tower is that humans and most gemstones are too porous to retain it. Theoretically this means Towerlight could be transported out of Urithiru in a perfect gemstone, although it doesn’t seem like the Radiants have access to any...

[bmcclure7]

On 12/12/2024 at 12:17 PM, Atlas333 said:

The question is in the title. Obviously, Shallan being trapped in Shadesmar should be a huge deal; combined with our knowledge about a time skip the easy assumption to make is that Shallan will spend that time skip trapped in the cognitive realm. However, I'm feeling less sure that's the case because getting back to the physical realm isn't impossible.

All she has to do is go to Retribution's shardpool. While it's only recently been discovered/created I don't think it will stay a secret for long. Once back in the physical realm she just has to travel to Azir. While Retribution's forces could be looking for her she's a lightweaver and is good at remaining undetected. Even without her powers, she should be able to get there unless the fused/singers are specifically looking for her (something I imagine they're too occupied to do).

I could see it taking a year, maybe two but not the whole time jump (unless she chooses to stay in the cognitive realm for some other purpose).

What do y'all think?

Probably the end of book one or book 2 that’s where I would put it. 

[Nitpicking]

I have a proven history of being terrible at outguessing Brandon. That said: Shallan can meet Khriss, who has her own ways to Elsecall. She could trade her secret knowledge to Khriss in exchange for being dropped off in Azir.

Or Azure. 

Or ....

[Determination]

Don't forget, the Listeners of Narak are bonding Willshaper spren by the end of SA5. That's a bunch of more or less neutrally-aligned Surge of Transportation users with easy access to Warlight and a literal perpedicularity in their basement.

Honestly, if anyone is ferrying people in and out of Urithiru and/or Shadesmar, it's probably going to be a Willshaper for the foreseeable future.

[Jult]

16 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

Or Azure. 

I do kind of wonder if she'll go this route. Almost entirely because of this WoB (spoilers for Warbreaker):

Spoiler

Quote

Questioner

Do you think we'll get to see Shallan worldhop onto Nalthis?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO. RAFO. Such a big RAFO. Enormous RAFOs!

Oathbringer Chicago signing (Nov. 21, 2017)

 

Shallan on Nalthis always sounded fun to me. The way she almost unconsciously swaps hair colors when she changes personalities would get some interesting reactions over there. Granted, she would need to find a way to make Lightweaving work on Nalthis.

[Nitpicking]

Quote

Shallan on Nalthis always sounded fun to me. The way she almost unconsciously swaps hair colors when she changes personalities would get some interesting reactions over there. Granted, she would need to find a way to make Lightweaving work on Nalthis.

@Jult, we saw that Hoid could use Yolen lightweaving on Nalthis. It would only be fair for him to teach that to Shallan, since he can now use Rosharan Lightweaving ....

[bmcclure7]

On 9/24/2025 at 2:46 PM, Nitpicking said:

I have a proven history of being terrible at outguessing Brandon. That said: Shallan can meet Khriss, who has her own ways to Elsecall. She could trade her secret knowledge to Khriss in exchange for being dropped off in Azir.

Or Azure. 

Or ....

Maybe but I don’t Brand would make it that easy 

[DSCrankshaw]

I've said from the beginning that it won't happen off-screen, so it will only happen before the back 5 if Shallan makes an appearance in other books. It's been hinted that she might do some world-hopping before, and this seems to be the ideal time for it.