Measuring Stormlight

[Pathfinder]

There's the bit where Sigzail is trying to work out how to measure Stormlight in Words of Radiance

I will definitely check that spot out. To give an idea, here are some of the notes I just started taking so far. As i progress I hope to refine the descriptions and such. 

 

Way of Kings Page 24 Prologue: To Kill, keywords: “Szeth breathed in deeply, drawing forth the Stormlight”– inhale, smoky illumination (two lanterns), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of another person’s gravity for a duration), release slight excess.

 

Way of Kings Page 26 Prologue: To Kill, keywords: “He took a deep breath as he ran, drawing in Stormlight from the lanterns.” – inhale, no mention of personal illumination (multiple lanterns) Full Lashing (bonding two items with strength of 100 arms for duration), basic lashing large square block, no stormlight left over

 

edit: something poignant I read while doing this. Szeth states stormlight cannot heal limbs from shardblade wounds, yet in book two that is exactly what Kaladin was able to do with a massive amount of stormlight. That would lend creedence to the possibility that radiants can hold more stormlight to begin with, and possibly Szeth just wouldn't be able to hold enough stormlight to fully heal a limb. So using artbitrary numbers, it requires 15 stormlight to heal a shardblade damaged limb. Kaladin can breath in to a maximum of 16 stormlight, while Szeth can breath in a maximum of 14, which is what prevents him from healing them. Just a thought

Edited December 17, 2014 by Pathfinder

[Oudeis he/him]

So far the color is occasionally mentioned, but I do not recall, besides soulcasting, does the type of gem matter with how much stormlight it can hold?

 

This is an excellent question which will need to be answered at some point.

 

EDIT: Recall that when Kaladin healed his limb, he had barely any Stormlight, and he still had some left over. Certainly not the "near to bursting" Szeth had before he did all the Lashings. So it doesn't seem like the ability to heal shardsevered limbs is a matter of raw power so much as a specific ability granted by the Nahel bond but not by however Szeth was joined to his Honorblade.

Edited December 17, 2014 by Ooklalhoo'Elin

[Pathfinder]

This is an excellent question which will need to be answered at some point.

 

EDIT: Recall that when Kaladin healed his limb, he had barely any Stormlight, and he still had some left over. Certainly not the "near to bursting" Szeth had before he did all the Lashings. So it doesn't seem like the ability to heal shardsevered limbs is a matter of raw power so much as a specific ability granted by the Nahel bond but not by however Szeth was joined to his Honorblade.

So far the prevalent color is sapphire in the beginning, so it is something I will keep in the back of my mind till an aberration comes up, or new info is provided

 

Ah, excellent point. This is why I feel even if a piece of information pops up that negates the main goal of my work, that it would still be worth it. Hopefully as a by product of zeroing in on those scenes, I could inadvertently notice something missed before. I personally did not know there was a difference in healing shardblade wounds. I do not know if that was common knowledge on the board, but I certainly learned something new as result 

 

Edit: Ok here is all my notes from the prologue. After this I will not post my notes till I finish The Way of Kings. 

 

Way of Kings Page 24 Prologue: To Kill, keywords: “Szeth breathed in deeply, drawing forth the Stormlight”– inhale, smoky illumination (two lanterns), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of another person’s gravity for a duration), release slight excess.

 

Way of Kings Page 26 Prologue: To Kill, keywords: “He took a deep breath as he ran, drawing in Stormlight from the lanterns.” – inhale, no mention of personal illumination (multiple lanterns), Full Lashing (strength of 100 arms for duration), basic lashing large square block, no stormlight left over

 

Way of Kings Page 27 Prologue: To Kill, keywords: “He walked slowly, drawing Stormlight from the lamps he passed, siphoning it to him and stoking anew the tempest within.” – inhale, no mention of personal illumination (multiple lanterns), reverse lashing (pulled two spears), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), statement that stormlight would not restore limbs killed by shardblades, basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), stormlight enhanced kick. At this point Szeth is concerned about running out, so recharges by inhaling more stormlight

 

Way of Kings Page 30 Prologue: To Kill, keywords: “Energy blazed within him again, and he sped up.” – inhale, no mention of personal illumination (multiple lanterns), Multiple Basic Lashings (to change direction of objects gravity couches, chairs, tables), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), two basic lashings stacked (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), shard gauntleted fist punch to face, scream in pain releasing stormlight, slammed into balcony doors, blow would have killed ordinary man, jaw broken, five basic lashings (wooden balcony), jaw is still broken, basic lashing (to change direction of personal gravity), stormlight expended.

 

Way of Kings Page 33 Prologue: To kill, keywords: “Numb, Szeth Breathed in sharply, absorbing the Light.” – inhale, three gemstones, statement that stormlight healing far from instantaneous, recovery would take hours, jaw still broken, scene ends. 

Edited December 17, 2014 by Pathfinder

[Oudeis he/him]

I personally did not know there was a difference in healing shardblade wounds. I do not know if that was common knowledge on the board, but I certainly learned something new as result  . 

 

To be clear (which I admit I was not at the start) I do not know and I did not mean to claim to know what if any difference there is in a shard-severed limb (apart from WoB which says that a Shardblade severs the soul or spiritweb of your arm first). I'm simply trying to state the facts as I see them.

 

Both Taravangian and Szeth, two people I'd suspect would know, both seem to be under the impression that a person inhaling Stormlight through the graces of an Honorblade cannot directly use that Stormlight to heal shardsevered limbs.

 

Kaladin, evidently, can.

 

You had posited that it might be a matter of simply requiring more Stormlight than Szeth can hold at once. I don't know that this is false, but I pointed out relevant facts from the text. There are several possible reasons Kaladin can heal what Szeth (apparently) cannot.

 

Barely apropos, is it worth noting that both the Regrowth fabrial (presumably what Nale had) and the Regrowth Surge as granted by the Honorblades can heal Shardsevered limbs. (Again, we simply have Taravangian and Szeth's words on it, but I personally credit them as people who would know).

[Pathfinder]

To be clear (which I admit I was not at the start) I do not know and I did not mean to claim to know what if any difference there is in a shard-severed limb (apart from WoB which says that a Shardblade severs the soul or spiritweb of your arm first). I'm simply trying to state the facts as I see them.

 

Both Taravangian and Szeth, two people I'd suspect would know, both seem to be under the impression that a person inhaling Stormlight through the graces of an Honorblade cannot directly use that Stormlight to heal shardsevered limbs.

 

Kaladin, evidently, can.

 

You had posited that it might be a matter of simply requiring more Stormlight than Szeth can hold at once. I don't know that this is false, but I pointed out relevant facts from the text. There are several possible reasons Kaladin can heal what Szeth (apparently) cannot.

 

Barely apropos, is it worth noting that both the Regrowth fabrial (presumably what Nale had) and the Regrowth Surge as granted by the Honorblades can heal Shardsevered limbs. (Again, we simply have Taravangian and Szeth's words on it, but I personally credit them as people who would know).

I understand, and genuinely did not know that Szeth couldn't while Kal could. It had been so long since I read the first book, the last fresh thing in my mind was that Kaladin could, and from what I recall it was during his fight with Szeth, so I assumed large amounts of stormlight being used. I understand what you state is not conclusive, but it is certainly logical, and makes sense to me. When I reach that point in the book during my research, I would be interested if I notice anything additional in that scene in comparison. 

Edited December 17, 2014 by Pathfinder

[Patrick Star]

Also, my theories aren't really meant for practical use this early in the series, but I think that understanding what stormlight is will help down the road, especially with larkins.

 

Looking at the books, I really don't see how Stormlight could actually be light.  Here's why.  Multiple times (Szeth in the prologue: "wisps of it curling from his skin like luminescent smoke"), we've seen Stormlight take on a shape.  A.  Shape.  If it were merely light, this would be impossible.  Light is light.  To see it, it has to travel into your eye (quite literally), and it moves far too fast to take on ANY sort of shape.  This, along with the constant comparisons to storms, wind, and smoke, is why I think that Stormlight is a light emitting gas.

 

Edit: Oh wow, theories are theoretical.  I didn't even realize I said that .  

Edited December 30, 2014 by Patrick Star

[natc]

Won't be the first time we see gaseous, wispy investiture with translucent coloring.

*glares at HOA and Preservation

[Patrick Star]

*glares at HOA and Preservation