The Long Trail (theory)

[SeekerOfTheOne she/her]

I'm new here but desperate to talk about the Iriali and 'The Long Trail' and see if I've lost my mind entirely  here is my theory

What is the Long Trail?
The Iriali are unlike any other people in the Cosmere. They do not settle. They do not stay. Instead, they follow what they call the Long Trail—a migration that leads them across seven different lands before they will finally "become One" again.

But what exactly is this trail? Why do they follow it?

We know from The Stormlight Archive that the Fourth Land was Roshar, and that they left shortly before the Night of Sorrows. But that means three lands came before it—and three remain after.

I believe the Long Trail is not just a migration—but a path through the fragments of Adonalsium itself. If the Iriali are following a set course, then the sequence of the seven lands matters just as much as their reason for traveling.

The Core Idea:
The Iriali are moving through worlds where Investiture is disrupted, self-sustaining, or behaving in ways that hint at Adonalsium’s remnants. Each land may represent a different stage of fragmentation or transformation.

Since only Roshar is confirmed, this theory aims to reconstruct the full sequence based on patterns of Investiture across the Cosmere.

The Seven Lands: A Proposed Order
The biggest challenge in mapping the Long Trail is that we only have confirmation of Roshar as the Fourth Land. That leaves us with six other locations to identify. However, if we assume their journey follows a pattern related to Adonalsium’s Investiture, we can begin reconstructing a reasonable order.

Here’s my proposed sequence of the seven lands, along with why they might fit.

1. Yolen – The Beginning of the Trail
The Iriali are searching for Oneness. What could be more fitting than starting from the place where Adonalsium itself was whole?

Why Yolen Might Be the First Land:

• Yolen is the original world, home of Adonalsium before the Shattering.
• If the Iriali were once part of something unified, the Shattering may have broken them as well, forcing them into this migration.
• If they are trying to follow Adonalsium’s remnants, it makes sense to start from where it all began.

This is, of course, highly speculative. But if the Iriali’s journey is about returning to unity, the first step should logically be from a place of original wholeness.

2. Sel – The First Example of Shardic Fragmentation
If the first stop was about leaving unity, then the second should be where they first witness the consequences of fragmentation.

Why Sel Might Be the Second Land:

• Sel is where two Shards (Devotion & Dominion) were killed and left unclaimed.
• The Dor is Investiture that is broken, unstable, and trapped in the Cognitive Realm.
• This could be where the Iriali first learned that mere Investiture without a guiding force is chaotic and incomplete.

If the Long Trail follows a pattern of studying Investiture fragmentation, Sel is a logical early stop.

3. Threnody – The Aftermath of a Shardic War
The Iriali’s next step may have been to study a world scarred by a different kind of Shardic destruction.

Why Threnody Might Be the Third Land:

• Unlike Sel, where Investiture was trapped, Threnody shows what happens when a Shard is mortally wounded but not fully Splintered.
• Shades are Cognitive Shadows—evidence that Investiture can persist unnaturally.
• The Evil may be an example of Investiture corruption, showing another way Investiture can go wrong.

If the Iriali were trying to understand what happens to fragmented power, Threnody would be a key step.

4. Roshar – The Only Confirmed Land
We know from The Stormlight Archive that Roshar is the Fourth Land.

Why Roshar Fits Into This Sequence:

• Roshar still has active Shards, meaning this may have been where the Iriali studied how Investiture functions when it is structured and controlled.
• Spren are fragments of Shards, showing how Investiture can gain sentience.
• Wind, Stone, and Night are considered "Old Magic," possibly predating the Shattering.

We also know they left Roshar shortly before the Night of Sorrows, and that Cusicesh played a role in telling them it was time to leave.

So where did they go next?

5. Scadrial – The Experiment of Harmony
The next step in the Long Trail could have been Scadrial, where two Shards attempted to merge.

Why Scadrial Might Be the Fifth Land:

• Scadrial is the only place in the Cosmere where two Shards (Ruin & Preservation) were combined into one (Harmony).
• Hemalurgy is a method of Investiture transfer, possibly relevant to their study of reuniting Investiture.
• Yet, Harmony remains incomplete, proving that mere combination is not the same as true unity.

This may have taught the Iriali that merging Investiture does not automatically restore Oneness.

6. Lumar – The Legacy of the Aethers
The final stop before the end of the Trail could have been Lumar, where Investiture behaves in a self-sustaining, natural way.

Why Lumar Might Be the Sixth Land:

• Lumar’s spores are linked to Aethers, a form of Investiture that predates the Shattering.
• The moons appear to be Invested and naturally cycle Investiture, which might have been key to the Iriali’s study.
• This could have been their last experiment—seeing if Investiture could sustain itself without Shardic control.

Then, suddenly, they left.

We know that Xisis the Dragon arrived shortly after, but why they vanished is unclear.

7. Vax – The Final Step
We know almost nothing about Vax—except that it exists and that it has deep Realmatic significance.

Why Vax Might Be the Seventh Land:

• Vax is referenced in connection to the afterlife, suggesting a deep link to the Spiritual Realm.
• If the Iriali are searching for "becoming One," this could be where they transcend.
• It remains hidden, implying it is not just another planet, but something more.

Vax may not be a physical location at all but a Realmatic transformation. Perhaps, when the Iriali finally reach it, they will cease to exist as separate beings—and become One.

___________________________________________________

So those are my thoughts - I have a lot of them and needed to get these out  I also made a map because there isn't enough paper in the world for me to visualise what Brandon has created!

 

Edited March 14, 2025 by SeekerOfTheOne

[The flying spider he/him]

There's a mention of golden hair people in TLM so very likely scadrial is the 5th land. Lumar is probably the 6th, also regarding Sel there was a theory that the iriali are the ones that built Elantris which would work somewhat with your theory which would be pretty cool. Overall good theorizing.

[SeekerOfTheOne she/her]

Thank you every time I read the word blonde in any cosmere book I have my tinfoil hat on