Uh oh for Vasher

[Nitpicking]

From the Arcanum:

 

Spoiler

Lightning

*written* How will the everstorm affect Vasher?

Brandon Sanderson

*written* "Vasher will probably just hide, but it signals something bad for him...

Brandon Sanderson

That'll probably make sense to you in a long time.

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/31/#e1719

I think we've reached "a long time" since the Arcanum Unbounded release party, because Brandon has to be referring to Vasher no longer being able to live on Stormlight. He can't get Warlight, because Retribution limits it. Does he have to consume his Breaths to stay alive? Roshar's calendar is 100 weeks per year. Assume that he needs one Breath per week, the way he did on Nalthis, and Vasher will have to eat 1000 or more Breaths to stay alive through the time jump.

One of Vasher's many names is "Warbreaker". Will he break the Rhythm of War, and Retribution (source of Warlight)?

[Isilel]

1 hour ago, Nitpicking said:

Vasher no longer being able to live on Stormligh

 

He is in Urithiru and all other people, who  use stormlight, have no problem with switching to Towerlight. It just isn't transportable. We have no reason to think that Vasher can't do the same. 

[king of nowhere]

additionally, i am pretty sure with his knowledge he can find workarounds to use other sources of investiture.

also, he probably has enough breath to last a long time, enough to leave roshar for somewhere else if needed. 

 

[Jult]

14 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

From the Arcanum:

 

  Hide contents

Lightning

*written* How will the everstorm affect Vasher?

Brandon Sanderson

*written* "Vasher will probably just hide, but it signals something bad for him...

Brandon Sanderson

That'll probably make sense to you in a long time.

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/31/#e1719

I think we've reached "a long time" since the Arcanum Unbounded release party, because Brandon has to be referring to Vasher no longer being able to live on Stormlight. He can't get Warlight, because Retribution limits it. Does he have to consume his Breaths to stay alive? Roshar's calendar is 100 weeks per year. Assume that he needs one Breath per week, the way he did on Nalthis, and Vasher will have to eat 1000 or more Breaths to stay alive through the time jump.

One of Vasher's many names is "Warbreaker". Will he break the Rhythm of War, and Retribution (source of Warlight)?

 

A fun thing to keep in mind about Vasher is that this isn't his first time on Roshar. WoB:

Quote

Questioner

So was Vasher, or the lady that created-- that was part of the process creating Nightblood a worldhopper, then?

Brandon Sanderson

Vasher had been to Roshar before he created Nightblood, yes.

JordanCon 2016 (April 23, 2016)

We don't have much info at all about his previous visit(s). Or even about his current one. So, there could be many reasons why the Everstorm signals something bad for him. I'm not particularly convinced that the loss of Stormlight was what Brandon was referencing though. If Vasher saw that coming from the presence of the Everstorm alone, then he must have some crazy future sight.

I think an easier thing to see coming from the Everstorm's arrival is that the Fused would be arriving. Perhaps Vasher has a history with one of them? I really hope it's El if that's the case.

[Nitpicking]

11 hours ago, Jult said:

 

A fun thing to keep in mind about Vasher is that this isn't his first time on Roshar. WoB:

We don't have much info at all about his previous visit(s). Or even about his current one. So, there could be many reasons why the Everstorm signals something bad for him. I'm not particularly convinced that the loss of Stormlight was what Brandon was referencing though. If Vasher saw that coming from the presence of the Everstorm alone, then he must have some crazy future sight.

I think an easier thing to see coming from the Everstorm's arrival is that the Fused would be arriving. Perhaps Vasher has a history with one of them? I really hope it's El if that's the case.

Who says that Vasher foresaw this? Brandon doesn't say it.

[Jult]

23 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

Who says that Vasher foresaw this? Brandon doesn't say it.

Yeah, for some reason, I interpreted the WoB you referenced as "Vasher knows bad things are coming his way" instead of "Bad things are coming Vasher's way". You're right though. It does not imply that Vasher is aware that something bad is coming. My mistake. It was late at night.

I do still suspect that Brandon was referring to something besides the disappearance of Stormlight. If Vasher can use Towerlight instead, then he'll be fine. Or he could maybe even use Lifelight from Lift if he can get her to infuse spheres for him.

I have trouble believing that the 5 Scholars' previous visit(s) to Roshar were as unimpactful as Vasher's current visit appears to be. This is pure speculation, but I think there's a bigger story there that we haven't heard yet. One that we'll probably learn about in Stormlight Era 2.

Another bit of my own ignorance to correct: based on some WoBs about Vasher, it seems likely that he didn't visit Roshar until after the Recreance. Which would mean there's not really a window where he could have met any Fused. Whoopsie

[Groovydude2]

On 7/7/2025 at 10:46 AM, Jult said:

I have trouble believing that the 5 Scholars' previous visit(s) to Roshar were as unimpactful as Vasher's current visit appears to be. 

Brought the weapon that killed Rayse, indirectly led Navani to discovering the method to create anti-light, trained Adolin who saved Azir from being controlled by Retribution, helped guide Kaladin who is the only new Herald in Roshar's history. His current visit sounds very impactful and I'm most likely forgetting more. 

[Jult]

40 minutes ago, Groovydude2 said:

Brought the weapon that killed Rayse, indirectly led Navani to discovering the method to create anti-light, trained Adolin who saved Azir from being controlled by Retribution, helped guide Kaladin who is the only new Herald in Roshar's history. His current visit sounds very impactful and I'm most likely forgetting more. 

Ha. All fair points. And that's all while Vasher is trying to stay out of the spotlight. I don't think he had that same mentality when he was with the 5 Scholars.

[Nitpicking]

On 7/8/2025 at 1:33 PM, Groovydude2 said:

Brought the weapon that killed Rayse, indirectly led Navani to discovering the method to create anti-light, trained Adolin who saved Azir from being controlled by Retribution, helped guide Kaladin who is the only new Herald in Roshar's history. His current visit sounds very impactful and I'm most likely forgetting more. 

Didn't Zahel also train Dalinar?