Brandon's Foreshadowing

[Flywinged he/him]

Normally I'm incredibly against rereading books. But with anything written by Sanderson, my opinion changes. There is just something about the way he writes that allows me to enjoy rereads as much, if not more than the first time. It might be the way he makes characters so believable and human, it might be the way every world he makes seems so real. It might be the way I can find a way to connect with almost all of his characters. Or maybe I just like the mystery of knowing he has the entire Cosmere planned out, and know close to nothing about it.
 
But what I want to focus on here, is just a collection of all the excellent foreshadowing Sanderson does in his works. I'm currently almost done with my fifth reread of Warbreaker, and I still am finding things he foreshadowed that I had never picked up on before. So as you find foreshadowed events, or reveals in your rereads, please post them here and I'll keep updating this post so there can be a collection. I wish I had more quotes to start this with, but I'm sure everyone on the forums will be eager to contribute   . I hope everyone finds this aspect of Sanderson's writing as intriguing as I do and hopefully this can turn into a pretty exhaustive list!
 
 
Basically I'm just looking for quotes or specific situations that help the reader find out what is going to happen later in the books. Not so much things that hint towards the greater Cosmere, but the outcome of the specific book or series. Please give a chapter + quote or situation so I can put them in order!
 
 
Warbreaker  

• Chapter 46: "He sits on the floor, she thought, eating a dry piece of squid, not having shaven in weeks and wearing clothing that looks like it’s about to fall off. Yet he talks like a scholar giving a lecture"  (Vivenna reflecting on how Vasher looks when he teaches her about BioChroma, Foreshadowing him being a scholar.
• Chapter 49: "He's been doing this a long time, and the way he spoke before - like a scholar - indicates he's studied Awakening very seriously"  (Vivenna thinking of Vasher. Vasher being one of the Scholars being the foreshadowed event)

 
 

Elantris 

•  

 
Stormlight Archive
 

WoK

• Chapter 7: "Memories attacked her. Nan Balat bruised, his coat torn, A long, silvery sword in her hand, sharp enough to cut stones as if they were water." (Shallan's Shardblade/Pattern)
• Chapter 8: "She raised her freehand to her head, suddenly overwhelmed by the weight of House Davar's situation, her part in it, and the secret she now carried, hidden ten heartbeats away."  (Shallan's Shardblade/Pattern)
• Chapter 19: "He turned back to Taffa. She stood on the trail beside him, eyes looking oddly distracted.
  “Taffa?” he asked.
  “I miss these times,” Taffa said.
  Dalinar jumped. That voice wasn’t hers. It was a man’s voice, deep and powerful. It was the voice that spoke to him during every vision.
  “Who are you?” Dalinar asked.
  “They were one, once,” Taffa—or whatever it was—said. “The orders. Men. Not without problems or strife, of course. But focused.”
  Dalinar felt a chill. Something about that voice always seemed faintly familiar to him. It had even in the first vision. “Please. You have to tell me what this is, why you are showing me these things. Who are you? Some servant of the Almighty?”
  “I wish I could help you,” Taffa said, looking at Dalinar but ignoring his questions. “You have to unite them.”
  “As you’ve said before! But I need help. The things the knight said about Alethkar. Are they true? Can we really be that way again?”
  “To speak of what might be is forbidden,” the voice said. “To speak of what was depends on perspective. But I will try to help.”
  “Then give me more than vague answers!”
  Taffa regarded him, somber. Somehow, by starlight alone, he could make out her brown eyes. There was something deep, something daunting, hiding behind them. “At least tell me this,” Dalinar said, grasping for a specific question to ask. “I have trusted Highprince Sadeas, but my son—Adolin—thinks I am a fool to do so. Should I continue to trust Sadeas?”
  “Yes,” the being said. “This is important. Do not let strife consume you. Be strong. Act with honor, and honor will aid you.”
  Finally, Dalinar thought. Something concrete.
  He heard voices. The dark landscape around Dalinar grew vague. “No!” He reached for the woman. “Don’t send me back yet. What should I do about Elhokar, and the war?”
  “I will give you what I can.” The voice was growing indistinct. “I am sorry for not giving more.” (Tanavast speech seems very disconnected, hinting that he is not actually answering Dalinar's questions.)
• Chapter 39: "Of course, there was one other aspect of that night that Shallan had to think of. She carried a concealed weapon that she hadn't used. She felt foolish for not even thinking of getting it out that night." (Shallan's Shardblade/Pattern)
• Chapter 45: "She began the process anyway. Ten heartbeats, to bring forth the fruit of her sin, the proceeds of her most horrific act."  (Shallan's Shardblade/Pattern)

 

WoR

•  

 

Mistborn
 
Final Empire

• Chapter 10: "Jaism was founded by a single man," Sazed said. "His true name is lost, though his followers simply called him 'the Ja.' He was murdered by a local king for preaching discord—something he was apparently very good at—but that only made his following larger." (The religion Kelier eventually founds)
• Chapter 10: "Are there any religions on your list that include the slaughter of noblemen as a holy duty?"
  Sazed frowned disapprovingly. "I do not believe so, Master Kelsier."
  "Maybe I should found one," Kelsier said with an idle smile." (Kelsier's Religion)
• Chapter 29: "Oh, they had leaders, Master Kelsier," Sazed said. "Dead ones, true, but leaders nonetheless." 
  "Some men would say that their devotion didn't make much sense," Kelsier said. "The loss of the Vallan leaders should have broken the people, not made them more determined to keep going."
  Sazed shook his head. "Men are more resilient than that, I think. Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope." (More allusion to Kelsier's religion)

 

Well of Ascension

•  

 

Hero of Ages

• Vin tells Sazed something like "At the Well I held power you will never know" (If someone could find this quote, that would be awesome!)

Edited March 15, 2015 by Flywinged

[Mailliw73 he/him]

I don't have specific quotes if that's what you want, but on a reread, I remember specifically noting that Kelsier repeatedly talks with Sazed about martyrs and sacrifice.

[Flywinged he/him]

If I find it on my next reread, or someone else finds it, I'll put it in. I also remember earlier in warbreaker, before I decided to actually do this (It's been a long time coming now), that scholar was mentioned in reference to Denth. There were also many small things in WoK. Or big thing like Shallan's shardblade. And once I get the quotes, either from myself or others, I'm going to put them in. Ahhh, this is so cool. I'm getting really excited just thinking about looking at all the quotes when this is done. If anyone finds anymore quotes, or knows the quote Mailliw73 is talking about, please don't hesitate to post it!

[natc]

EDIT:Should we be spoiler tagging according to book of origin so people can just read the ones from books they've read?

WoR spoilers

Shallan being unable to lightweave from long range after giving her blade to Kaladin to hold off the chasmfiend and was hiding right next to Kaladin with a shadow and a boulder to cover her. She can only use either herself or Pattern to as a stormlight source, and the latter was the blade.

Edited March 7, 2015 by natc

[Curiosity he/him]

EDIT:Should we be spoiler tagging according to book of origin so people can just read the ones from books they've read?

WoR spoilers

Shallan being unable to lightweave from long range after giving her blade to Kaladin to hold off the chasmfiend and was hiding right next to Kaladin with a shadow and a boulder to cover her. She can only use either herself or Pattern to as a stormlight source, and the latter was the blade.

 

 

Good one! Yeah, tagging spoilers is always appreciated.

[Flywinged he/him]

@ Curiosity and natc: Added spoilers.

 

@natc: I'm looking for more specific situation that affect the outcome of books, as opposed to something that is more technical in nature, such as the situation you described. I'm thinking more along the lines of in WoK (If I had the book with me (I only have warbreaker on me for the next couple days), I'd go find the exact quote and put it in, so if someone could find this that would make me a happy camper) when Shallan is reflecting on her past, she something alluding to her shardblade. It is in one of her first chapters and she basically describes a shardblade exactly. Saying its long and silvery, and something about being a terrible a weapon. These are more along the foreshadowing lines I'm looking for. (Not to discount the fact that he also gives a bunch of clues about the Cosmere as a whole, just if I were to include those, this list would get really long, really fast)

 

Anyway, thanks everyone for suggestions so far, keep them coming!

[luckat she/her]

I'm thinking more along the lines of in WoK (If I had the book with me (I only have warbreaker on me for the next couple days), I'd go find the exact quote and put it in, so if someone could find this that would make me a happy camper) when Shallan is reflecting on her past, she something alluding to her shardblade. It is in one of her first chapters and she basically describes a shardblade exactly. Saying its long and silvery, and something about being a terrible a weapon.

 

WoK and maybe WoR spoilers:

Here are some quotes from WoK that refer to Shallan having a Shardblade. I don't know if it's all of them.

 

Chapter 7: Memories attacked her. Nan Balat bruised, his coat torn, A long, silvery sword in her hand, sharp enough to cut stones as if they were water.

 

Chapter 8: She raised her freehand to her head, suddenly overwhelmed by the weight of House Davar's situation, her part in it, and the secret she now carried, hidden ten heartbeats away.

 

Chapter 39: Of course, there was one other aspect of that night that Shallan had to think of. She carried a concealed weapon that she hadn't used. She felt foolish for not even thinking of getting it out that night. But she wasn't accustomed to—

 

Chapter 45: She began the process anyway. Ten heartbeats, to bring forth the fruit of her sin, the proceeds of her most horrific act.

 

 

 

I don't have specific quotes if that's what you want, but on a reread, I remember specifically noting that Kelsier repeatedly talks with Sazed about martyrs and sacrifice.

 

 

Mistborn 1 spoilers:

Some of the religions Sazed tells Kelsier about have an aspect of martyrdom in them.

 

Jaism is mentioned in Chapter 10:

"Jaism was founded by a single man," Sazed said. "His true name is lost, though his followers simply called him 'the Ja.' He was murdered by a local king for preaching discord—something he was apparently very good at—but that only made his following larger."

 

There's also this statement in the same chapter:

"Are there any religions on your list that include the slaughter of noblemen as a holy duty?"

Sazed frowned disapprovingly. "I do not believe so, Master Kelsier."

"Maybe I should found one," Kelsier said with an idle smile.

 

There's also the Valla mentioned at the end of chapter 29:

"But they didn't have any leaders," Kelsier said. "The Lord Ruler had slaughtered the entire Vallan religious council as part of his first conquest."

"Oh, they had leaders, Master Kelsier," Sazed said. "Dead ones, true, but leaders nonetheless."

 

By the end, it's clear why Kelsier was particularly interested in these religions.

Edited March 8, 2015 by luckat

[Flywinged he/him]

Could you clarify the "Valla" mentioned? I do not remember how that impacted the plot?

Edited March 7, 2015 by Flywinged

[luckat she/her]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. They are one of the religions Sazed tells Kelsier about. Their leaders were killed, but the religion survived. More of the quote describing them is in the spoiler below.
 
Mistborn 1

Kelsier looked up, staring at the ceiling. "Could you...tell me about the Valla again?"
 
"Of course," Sazed said.... "The Valla lasted longer into the Lord Ruler's dominion than any other religion."
 
"That's why I ask," Kelsier said. "I...need to understand what kept them going for so long, Saze. What made them keep fighting?"
 
"They were the most determined, I think."
 
"But they didn't have any leaders," Kelsier said. "The Lord Ruler had slaughtered the entire Vallan religious council as part of his first conquest."
 
"Oh, they had leaders, Master Kelsier," Sazed said. "Dead ones, true, but leaders nonetheless."
 
"Some men would say that their devotion didn't make much sense," Kelsier said. "The loss of the Vallan leaders should have broken the people, not made them more determined to keep going."
 
Sazed shook his head. "Men are more resilient than that, I think. Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope."

[Shattered he/him]

I think that there's a specific reason that Brandon mentions that Captain Teleb was an Oldblood in both WoK and WoR. In WoK, he mentions that there's a marking on his face that gives him away, and in WoR he reveals that the Oldbloods are those who are related to the old royal line of Alethkar (possibly Alethela at that time). I assume he is going to make use of these tidbits later, as a plotline later in the Stormlight Archive. It may even have to do with the riots in Kholinar sparked by Pai. Could the Oldbloods attempt to seize control of Alethkar again?

Edited March 8, 2015 by Shattered Logic

[hoidhunter he/him]

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for...but I really liked it when I found it...

 

Final Empire, kindle location 2366, Chapter 7 - When Vin is training with Kel for the first time...

 

"The nail attacked me!"  Did that metal bring objects to life? That would be an incredible power indeed.

 

-I didn't notice this until rereading mistborn for like the 3rd time...but the first time after having read warbreaker...neat huh?

[natc]

For plot ones, the fact that Dalinar's visions have a tendency to just go on and on at a pace that makes you feel like the speaker is monologing?

WoK spoilers

Especially when Dalinar tries to ask about Sadeas. On one hand it could be interpreted as an answer, on the other hand it's not exactly worded in a way that people usually speak in. And if you cut out Dalinar's questions from the text and read Tanavast's lines only it still makes a coherent speech.

[Flywinged he/him]

@Natc, I don't have my WoK copy on me at the moment. Is there anyway you could find a chapter where this occurs, and give me Tanavast's lines and chapter so I can use that? I know exactly what you're talking about, I just would like to keep the exact wording when I put it in. Thanks!

[Curiosity he/him]

@Natc, I don't have my WoK copy on me at the moment. Is there anyway you could find a chapter where this occurs, and give me Tanavast's lines and chapter so I can use that? I know exactly what you're talking about, I just would like to keep the exact wording when I put it in. Thanks!

 

Part II, Chapter 19, Tanavast in bold

 

“He turned back to Taffa. She stood on the trail beside him, eyes looking oddly distracted.

“Taffa?” he asked.

“I miss these times,” Taffa said.

Dalinar jumped. That voice wasn’t hers. It was a man’s voice, deep and powerful. It was the voice that spoke to him during every vision.

“Who are you?” Dalinar asked.

“They were one, once,” Taffa—or whatever it was—said. “The orders. Men. Not without problems or strife, of course. But focused.”

Dalinar felt a chill. Something about that voice always seemed faintly familiar to him. It had even in the first vision. “Please. You have to tell me what this is, why you are showing me these things. Who are you? Some servant of the Almighty?”

“I wish I could help you,” Taffa said, looking at Dalinar but ignoring his questions. “You have to unite them.”

“As you’ve said before! But I need help. The things the knight said about Alethkar. Are they true? Can we really be that way again?”

“To speak of what might be is forbidden,” the voice said. “To speak of what was depends on perspective. But I will try to help.”

“Then give me more than vague answers!”

Taffa regarded him, somber. Somehow, by starlight alone, he could make out her brown eyes. There was something deep, something daunting, hiding behind them. “At least tell me this,” Dalinar said, grasping for a specific question to ask. “I have trusted Highprince Sadeas, but my son—Adolin—thinks I am a fool to do so. Should I continue to trust Sadeas?”

“Yes,” the being said. “This is important. Do not let strife consume you. Be strong. Act with honor, and honor will aid you.”

Finally, Dalinar thought. Something concrete.

He heard voices. The dark landscape around Dalinar grew vague. “No!” He reached for the woman. “Don’t send me back yet. What should I do about Elhokar, and the war?”

“I will give you what I can.” The voice was growing indistinct. “I am sorry for not giving more.”

Excerpt From: Sanderson, Brandon. “The Way of Kings.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/T6mBw.l

[Flywinged he/him]

So I read this in another thread and it would fit perfectly here.

Kaladin: “Have you ever had to choose between two equally distasteful choices?”

Vasher (zahel):  “Every day I choose to keep breathing.”

I don't have my copy of WoR on me because I'm on vacation. If anyone could find the whole sequence for me, it would be greatly appreciated. This is kind of like that little hidden Easter Egg that also foreshadows the arrival of Nightblood in the end of WoR. (Along with Zahel mentioning he is missing someone who used to talk in his head. Or something like that. I can't remember the exact wording here either.)

Edited March 9, 2015 by Flywinged

[Bort he/him]

That was at the end of the chapter in WoR where Kaladin goes and wakes Zahel asking to be trained against a Shardblade. Possibly with another hint at Zahel being Vasher, he replies that 'there are two people that live here. The grumpy Swordmaster who comes out during the day, and the grumpier Swordmaster who...' and I forget the rest." The very end of that chapter, as Zahel is going to sleep, there is some comment about hearing voices, and the chapter ends with something along the lines of 'Of course, that voice hadn't been there in years.'

[Shattered he/him]

So I read this in another thread and it would fit perfectly here.

I don't have my copy of WoR on me because I'm on vacation. If anyone could find the whole sequence for me, it would be greatly appreciated. This is kind of like that little hidden Easter Egg that also foreshadows the arrival of Nightblood in the end of WoR. (Along with Zahel mentioning he is missing someone who used to talk in his head. Or something like that. I can't remember the exact wording here either.)

WHAT? Zahel is Vasher? Is this confirmed, or just an espoused theory? If so, what's the basis? This is the first I've heard of this. Though it would sure explain the Damnation out of Nightblood's appearance on Roshar.

[Flywinged he/him]

http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/20511-question-about-vasherzahel/?hl=%2Bzahel+%2Bvasher

 

Check out this topic. It might help!

[natc]

WHAT? Zahel is Vasher? Is this confirmed, or just an espoused theory? If so, what's the basis? This is the first I've heard of this. Though it would sure explain the Damnation out of Nightblood's appearance on Roshar.

We've been discussing the identity of our favorite color-swearing life-sensing swordmaster with the rope belt and beard (who used to hear voices in his head and uses the word "Investiture") for months now. Where were you?

He even plays a game with colored rocks thrown into circles and tells the bridgemen to not touch his rocks.

Edited March 13, 2015 by natc

[Xaladin he/him]

I don't know if this counts as foreshadowing, but it's fun. Somewhere early in The Hero of Ages

Vin tells Sazed something like "At the Well I held power you will never know"

[Curiosity he/him]

I don't know if this counts as foreshadowing, but it's fun. Somewhere early in The Hero of Ages

Vin tells Sazed something like "At the Well I held power you will never know"

If anything, it's powerful irony.

[Triasmus]

Hero of Ages

Ham and Elend are talking about snapping in the scene before all the soldiers are ordered to stay in the mists (it might be the scene after).

also, the mist spirit trying to tell Elend that the mist is snapping people.

 

Sazed thinks at one point "I am, unfortunately, the ambassador." (or it might be, "I am, unfortunately, in charge.") I believe it's shortly after arriving in Urteau.

 

[BreathTaker he/him]

If you pay attention to the prophecies of the Hero of Ages, it points right at Saze. At one point he says that the Terris word used isn't actually "he" but "it", Saze doesn't consider himself a man. Other parts of the metal plate say, "He will not come from royalty, but will eventually rise to it." He was a Steward and outcast from the keepers. He eventually became the Ambassador for Elend and the Default leader of the Keepers. In the Epigraphs, the person writing has such intimate knowledge of the prophecies and what has happened. After you reread it, it's hard to not realize early on who it is.

 

[Curious Anamaximder he/him]

Here is another foreshadowing: Praise the Ja=Praise the Survivor

[lookingglass she/her]

Spoiler for Hero of Ages:

 

I think one of the most obvious ones was at the very beginning of the Hero of Ages where the "note" says that "I am, unfortunately, the Hero of Ages". We knew that the HoA was writing the notes at the beginning of the chapter and if you paid enough attention he sounds a lot like Sazed. The penny dropped for me when he said "In some ways, having such power was too overwhelming, I think." the I think was how Sazed spoke so he was the Hero of Ages!