Regarding God Metals

[OverlordBob999]

Presumably, Retribution has or will have a god metal somewhere at some point. I can't imagine that it is immediately formed, as his perpendicularity takes time to fill, but I would assume that it starts naturally forming at some point somewhere. I was wondering what the possible qualities of this would be. We know that the only other metal of a dual Shard can be split into its two Shardic component counterparts, as we see trace amounts of lerasium and atium being made after the trellium (which repels Investiture) is used to split harmonium. I assume then that taravangium (?) can be split into tanavastium and raysium, but that it will also have its own unique effects. 

Also, with regards to Shardblades potentially being made of spren formed by the Investiture of Retribution, would these have different qualities to a standard Shardblade? Technically, I think one could make the case that all non-Honorblades are made of Siblingium (?), because spren are usually a combination of Honor and Cultivation, like the Sibling and its Towerlight are, so what would a Retribution-Blade look like?

To my knowledge, there isn't any actual difference in either Towerlight, Warlight, or Lifelight when being actively used, other than who specifically can use them and where they come from (please correct me if this is wrong), so I have no idea if the solidified versions of these would be any different, but I am curious nonetheless. 

[Roscoe Any Pronouns]

I'd have to imagine the splitting of Harmonium is a trait unique to that metal specifically due to its unstable nature, though I'm not certain (and not even there in my reading).

Harmonium is split, explodes, and causes trace amounts of Lerasium and Atium, but Harmonium is innately very explodey.

Honor and Odium aren't opposites in the way P and R were, so the Taravangium-whatever it'll be called-likely won't be able to be made in the same mechanical process. 

10 hours ago, OverlordBob999 said:

To my knowledge, there isn't any actual difference in either Towerlight, Warlight, or Lifelight when being actively used, other than who specifically can use them and where they come from

The efficiency; Towerlight is far more efficient than Stormlight, though only works in Urithiru. Lifelight is likely now forever limited to a single person (LIft) due to Cultivation fleeing, and people tend to assume Warlight would be powerful but deplete quickly.

Edited March 26, 2025 by Roscoe

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

On 3/25/2025 at 10:44 PM, OverlordBob999 said:

Also, with regards to Shardblades potentially being made of spren formed by the Investiture of Retribution, would these have different qualities to a standard Shardblade?

Have we seen any of the Enlightened Spren take on the form of a blade? They should be composed of something that is a blend that includes Tanavastium while having some other properties.

19 hours ago, Roscoe said:

and people tend to assume Warlight would be powerful but deplete quickly.

I haven't thought about this before, but my instinct is to suggest it could be a terribly opposite effect. I wonder if it might be the opposite: Warlight might have some horrible tendency to cling to a person like the traumas of battle. Especially with the way it is being distributed, Taravangian is personally willing that the power be granted into vessels, blessing the person by choice rather than by accident of nature. Maybe using Warlight is comparably inefficient to expend, but holding it is easy?

I could also imagine that using Warlight has some weird dynamic where it flows into people, friend and foe, around the user instead of just dissipating into the air. This would work really well for Taravangian's desire to become The God to all peoples, since then fighting his soldiers would mean tasting their blessings. We know that the mechanics for stuff like this can change with a new shard vessel, in addition to the forming of a dishard, based on the stuff about how the souls of Scandrians got changed in time between eras 1 and era 2.

[AsherCrane]

8 hours ago, ParaTulip said:

Have we seen any of the Enlightened Spren take on the form of a blade?

Not sure if we have onscreen, but Glys took the form of a blade offscreen to operate the Oathgates.

Edited March 27, 2025 by AsherCrane

[OverlordBob999]

On 3/26/2025 at 9:10 AM, Roscoe said:

I'd have to imagine the splitting of Harmonium is a trait unique to that metal specifically due to its unstable nature, though I'm not certain (and not even there in my reading).

Harmonium is split, explodes, and causes trace amounts of Lerasium and Atium, but Harmonium is innately very explodey.

Honor and Odium aren't opposites in the way P and R were, so the Taravangium-whatever it'll be called-likely won't be able to be made in the same mechanical process. 

I think that its reactivity is a specific result of the instability of Harmony, but it makes sense to me, both lore-wise and mechanically, that any multi-Shard metal would be able to be split back into its component metals. Since the metal, and the new Shard, are literally two other metals/Shards squished (imagine I used a fancy word there) together, I think it would be reasonable that they be allowed to split. After all, the Warlight (and Towerlight) is able to do so in RoW, and taravangium is a solidified version of that. Also, I think it would be a bit lame if raysium and tanavastium never appeared on-screen again aside from the few bits that are currently in existence. 

That said, with the natural focus of much of the magic and natural processes on Roshar being on math and science, including the tones, I would imagine that the method of splitting the metal would not be turning it into a nuke. 

On 3/26/2025 at 9:10 AM, Roscoe said:

The efficiency; Towerlight is far more efficient than Stormlight, though only works in Urithiru. Lifelight is likely now forever limited to a single person (LIft) due to Cultivation fleeing

That is true; I had forgotten about the comments Kaladin makes about it. Thank you.

Also, where does Lifelight normally come from when it isn't Lift? Raboniel has some in RoW, but Cultivation doesn't have a storm, and I find it unlikely that she would have granted it as Retribution does, via prayer. Given her Intent, maybe it is somehow grown? 

[Cosmer]

1 hour ago, OverlordBob999 said:

Also, where does Lifelight normally come from when it isn't Lift? Raboniel has some in RoW, but Cultivation doesn't have a storm, and I find it unlikely that she would have granted it as Retribution does, via prayer. Given her Intent, maybe it is somehow grown? 

Believe they got that Lifelight from Lift when Mraize had her captured in the tower...

[Treamayne]

3 hours ago, AsherCrane said:

Not sure if we have onscreen, but Glys took the form of a blade offscreen to operate the Oathgates.

Glys was onscreen as a Shardblade in OB Ch 10:

Spoiler

He nodded. “We can’t use the dead Blades. It’s not right.”

“Well, I suppose I could find someone else to use it,” Adolin said, running through options. “Though you should really be the one to choose. By right of bestowal, the Blade is yours, and you should pick the successor.”

“I’d rather you do it. I’ve given it to the ardents already, for safekeeping.”

“Which means you’ll be unarmed,” Adolin said.

Renarin glanced away.

“Or not,” Adolin said, then poked Renarin in the shoulder. “You’ve got a replacement already, don’t you.”

Renarin blushed again.

“You mink!” Adolin said. “You’ve managed to create a Radiant Blade? Why didn’t you tell us?”

“It just happened. Glys wasn’t certain he could do it … but we need more people to work the Oathgate … so…”

He took a deep breath, then stretched his hand to the side and summoned a long glowing Shardblade. Thin, with almost no crossguard, it had waving folds to the metal, like it had been forged.

“Gorgeous,” Adolin said. “Renarin, it’s fantastic!”

 

On 3/26/2025 at 9:10 AM, Roscoe said:

The efficiency; Towerlight is far more efficient than Stormlight, though only works in Urithiru.

Towerlight is not more efficient - it is simply omnipresent while in the Tower. It's less efficient and drains from Radiants faster than Stormlight.

Spoiler

WaT Ch 2:

Quote

A block floated past, steaming with Towerlight. Hesina tapped it with a hesitant finger, sending it spinning through the room. “Shouldn’t those … fall?”

“Eventually, maybe?” He shrugged. “Navani has done something odd to the place. It’s warm now, the pressure equalized, and the entire city is … infused. Like a sphere.”

WaT Ch 6:

Quote

As they drew close, the Towerlight he’d taken failed him, and he had to rely on Stormlight from his pouch. It seemed the human body couldn’t hold Towerlight unless it was right by Urithiru. 

WaT Ch 14:

Quote

With that, she hoped her home—now an extension of her very self—would be safe from any further attacks by the enemy.

It should be, the Sibling said in her mind. They rarely dared infiltrate me before. My Light not only knocks Fused unconscious, it makes the Radiants here virtually invincible.

We need to learn how to send that Light with them, Navani thought back, trailing through the room, resting her fingers on each fabrial she could reach. Spren of a half dozen varieties followed like a cloak made of light.

It cannot be done, the Sibling said. Humans cannot hold my Light; they are too full of holes.

WaT Ch 119:

Quote

She hesitated. “Adolin, your aunt has returned, but not your father. Brightness Navani can’t infuse spheres with Stormlight, and her Towerlight escapes too quickly from both people and gemstones. There’s only enough to send a few Windrunners—and it will take hours for them to get here on a single Lashing.”

 

Which is part of the Warlight Theory - that since it's only partly connected (Enlightened Radiants possibly excepted) to their Spen, Radiants should be able to use Warlight, but it will be less efficient and drain more quickly. 

Edited March 27, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Roscoe Any Pronouns]

8 hours ago, Treamayne said:

Towerlight is not more efficient - it is simply omnipresent while in the Tower. It's less efficient and drains from Radiants faster than Stormlight.

Ah; thank you that makes more sense, don't know why I didn't piece that together

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

1 hour ago, Roscoe said:

don't know why I didn't piece that together

Kaladin remarks to himself about feeling his light usage being more efficient near the start of the book, while he is using tower light, but it is explicitly because he has attained his 4th ideal. That is probably where you got confused?

[Roscoe Any Pronouns]

8 hours ago, ParaTulip said:

Kaladin remarks to himself about feeling his light usage being more efficient near the start of the book, while he is using tower light, but it is explicitly because he has attained his 4th ideal. That is probably where you got confused?

Maybe. I just assumed it was extremely efficient but completely null and void outside of the tower, though I guess it constantly fueling every inch of the tower at all times makes way more sense than what I was picturing, though that line may have held some weight