Lift in Book 6

[Ripheus23]

5 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

Have you read the Isles of the Emberdark preview chapter?

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At least the original Ones Above seem to be Scadrian.

 

It's been so long since I read AU, so I don't know anymore what made me think it was Rosharans who showed up on First of the Sun. Scadrians/Ghostbloods would have a reason to look for Aviar aside from any apocalyptic shenanigans, or maybe they look for the birds because they know those're Invested through Autonomy and they're still looking for information about Autonomy, owing to the whole Trell crisis.

EDIT: well I'm reading it (the Emberdark thing) now, and I think I remember what it was, because I'm getting the same impression again. It's their armor, I keep reading it like it's Shardplate (all three aliens, not just the third). Or the gun forming out of mist, that makes me think of Shardblades. IDK 

EDIT 2: OK, this line is getting at me:

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An alien monster, with features like something that emerged from the deepest part of the ocean, was somehow more knowable than these smiling humans.

This seems like a subtle joke about crustacean-like entities compared to humans, like on Roshar. And it's w.r.t. the first two aliens, so IDK.

Maybe there are aggressive offworld Rosharans who serve Retribution and peaceable(ish) offworld Rosharans who try to mitigate the influence of Retribution. Maybe that's part of a future compromise: Retribution gets to try to conquer the cosmere but only if he can outmaneuver the other Rosharan class on a world-by-world basis or something. So the first two aliens are his, the third is a singer/listener among the dissidents, maybe?

Edited January 5, 2025 by Ripheus23

[JPGU]

6 hours ago, Ripheus23 said:

well I'm reading it (the Emberdark thing) now, and I think I remember what it was, because I'm getting the same impression again. It's their armor, I keep reading it like it's Shardplate (all three aliens, not just the third). Or the gun forming out of mist, that makes me think of Shardblades. IDK 

Just the third Alien is Rosharan, the first two who are the Ones Above are clearly from Scadrial.

[Ripheus23]

31 minutes ago, JPGU said:

Just the third Alien is Rosharan, the first two who are the Ones Above are clearly from Scadrial.

Hmm... So, maybe the Scadrians have a long-term interest in Aviar because of Mraize/the Ghostbloods/Autonomy, but the Rosharans have their own long-term interest because of Lift? Otherwise, we would suppose that a Rosharan faction noticed that a Scadrian one was involved on First of the Sun and tried to intervene, but why? Why would Rosharans have a mission in the interplanetary conflict, where they sent a team/resources to FotS? I guess it could be like micro-managing of smaller nations in geopolitics, though.

I guess I'm gonna weigh my opinion towards Lift doing a miracle involving Aviar that makes Rosharans keen on finding out, one day, where those are from. She's got this whole medley of special powers that is going to be put to a lot of tests in the back half, so having one invoke Aviar powers as a key aspect seems possible. During the time until the Heralds return, she might have a chance to be a powerful symbol of healing and resistance to Retribution's tyranny, too, then. So maybe common people will be saved by her using Aviar power in a precise way, like she can engage with the oracular magic to maneuver a delicate situation or something, and it will become common knowledge that Lift used the power of a strange bird to save the day, etc.

[WordsInProgress]

On 12/31/2024 at 12:48 PM, Isilel said:

 

In Tanavast's PoV we learned that all Radiant spren, except for the Stormfather had some Cultivation in them. Even honorspren. All Radiants should be able to use Lifelight, though we don't really know how volatile it is at this time. I assume that in the past the Nightwatcher used to supply  Radiants with it and until she is found and bonded Lift is going to jump in for her. And/or until the scholars in Urithiru learn to split Towerlight, where she could also be instrumental in a supporting role and by convincing Vasher to get involved.

Lift should be in her mid-twenties in the second arc and nicely weighed down by guilt over Gavinor and possibly Dalinar's "defeat" and death too. But even if she were older, there could be lots of directions her story could go, apart from parenthood. Like, whatever Cultivation has planned for her, for example. There would be a lot of stuff for an Edgedancer to do in the sunless, perpetually rainy post-Retribution world as well.

In Wind and Truth, it states explicitly that honorspren are explicitly honor, and cultivationspren are explicitly cultivation. The only two types to not involve both shards. It says this outright. Lift is also totally unable to expel her lifelight like normal stormlight. I don't think she can supply it for anyone unless someone can forcibly remove it from her body which uh- sounds like torture. She, Rysn, Sigzil, the heralds, and the unoathed are going to play a much more important role in the next arc though, likely as main characters. I wouldn't be surprised if Shallan, Jasnah, Szeth, and some others play less of an important role, or at least spend MUCH less time in focus. We're probably going to see some other shards, at least one, probably two or three, coming to Roshar. If not, they probably will be directly involved through the second half. We'll definitely see more expansion on the fragments of adonalsium left on Roshar, such as the wind, and very likely a rebellion of the fused, or a significant portion, against Retribution. They're not gonna like being in perpetual darkness and will see it as a betrayal, an injustice for their sacrifices. In my heart I want to see Harmony lay the smackdown on Taravangian but it's not to be, and Saze was always more lover than fighter anyway. But yeah, it's gonna be crazy.

[ParaTulip fae/faer (declines as she/her)]

On 12/31/2024 at 3:38 PM, Treamayne said:

Warlight is the same (Stormlight + Voidlight) and is likely to behave the same way, as soon as they learn how to access it (prayer) or find a source.

Yeah, a weird thing on folks acting like Radiants are stuck operating on the level of Shardbearers if they are lucky: They can just barter for spheres that have Warlight in them. Sure, figuring out how to form relations with the people who just won their epic liberation struggle against the a force which was calling itself the leadership of the Radiants will make this a little tricky, but Jasnah can Soulcast, Renarin and Lift can heal people. Radiants with abilities like that who are walking around probably won't have too hard of a time finding people willing to pay them in lighted gems for services rendered.

[DSCrankshaw]

5 minutes ago, ParaTulip said:

Yeah, a weird thing on folks acting like Radiants are stuck operating on the level of Shardbearers if they are lucky: They can just barter for spheres that have Warlight in them. Sure, figuring out how to form relations with the people who just won their epic liberation struggle against the a force which was calling itself the leadership of the Radiants will make this a little tricky, but Jasnah can Soulcast, Renarin and Lift can heal people. Radiants with abilities like that who are walking around probably won't have too hard of a time finding people willing to pay them in lighted gems for services rendered.

I agree, somewhat. I think Warlight will be usable by Radiants, but it will be hard to come by. Retribution won't like his people trading it to the Radiants, and I expect there to be numerous attempts to crack down on smuggling. So it won't be impossible to get Warlight, but it will be difficult. 

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

On 12/30/2024 at 2:29 PM, The Stick said:

Obviously, her use of Lifelight makes her the singular radiant* who can function during the True Desolation.

When Cultivation fled, I was under the impression that Lifelight would no longer exist on Roshar. This means that only the two hybrid lights, Warlight and Towerlight, would be left.

This means that, unless people figure out how to use Warlight, Radiants are only viable in Urithiru.

Edited April 18, 2025 by SprenOfKaladinSenseOfHumor

[Nitpicking]

1 hour ago, SprenOfKaladinSenseOfHumor said:

When Cultivation fled, I was under the impression that Lifelight would no longer exist on Roshar. This means that only the two hybrid lights, Warlight and Towerlight, would be left.

I don't see it that way. Autonomy has never been Invested on Scadrial, but her servants sure seem to be able to use at least some of her power.

The Nightwatcher didn't flee, and she's directly equivalent to the Stormfather in terms of power. If he could open a Perpendicularity, why couldn't she? For that matter, their Sibling seems to have all of their own Light despite both parents abandoning them.

[QuantumAce]

20 hours ago, DSCrankshaw said:

I agree, somewhat. I think Warlight will be usable by Radiants, but it will be hard to come by. Retribution won't like his people trading it to the Radiants, and I expect there to be numerous attempts to crack down on smuggling. So it won't be impossible to get Warlight, but it will be difficult. 

 

This is the direction I am leaning. Radiant powers will still exist and be available, just greatly restricted. We could see something similar to Mistborn era 2, with the elimination of Mistborn and Full Feruchemists. 

[Isilel]

On 4/17/2025 at 7:36 PM, WordsInProgress said:

In Wind and Truth, it states explicitly that honorspren are explicitly honor, and cultivationspren are explicitly cultivation.

You are mistaken. What it states is:

 

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"We started with the first seven, then one variety was born of Kor alone. In counterpoint, and at her urging, I created one variety almost entirely on my own. My angels of Honor"

"Almost" means that there is a little bit of Cultivation in honorspren, they are not wholly of Honor.

And I would hate it if Jasnah is not a proper main character and I really don't see why Sigzil or Rysn should take that spot instead. I agree that Shallan will step back and Szeth won't become more prominent than he was in the first arc.