Colateralwar Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 I was re-reading both WoK and WoR and started to wonder about Sigzil. We know that Sigzil is definitely native to Roshar and that he is a trained Worldsinger. This is interesting in itself, but we have to remember that he was trained by Hoid/Wit. Given that, exactly how much does Sigzil know about what is going on in the Cosmere? Does he know about Odium, about Hoid's plan and the other worlds? About what is going on with Kaladin? There are places in WoK (I can't recall exactly where at the moment) where Sigzil looks at Kaladin or says something to him and seems to know A LOT more than he is letting on. Hoid is a very enigmatic character that is hard to get to know, and I think that Sanderson might be setting Sigzil up as our means of getting to know him--and his motives--better. What do you all think? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamEternal Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 I was re-reading both WoK and WoR and started to wonder about Sigzil. We know that Sigzil is definitely native to Roshar and that he is a trained Worldsinger. This is interesting in itself, but we have to remember that he was trained by Hoid/Wit. Given that, exactly how much does Sigzil know about what is going on in the Cosmere? Does he know about Odium, about Hoid's plan and the other worlds? About what is going on with Kaladin? There are places in WoK (I can't recall exactly where at the moment) where Sigzil looks at Kaladin or says something to him and seems to know A LOT more than he is letting on. Hoid is a very enigmatic character that is hard to get to know, and I think that Sanderson might be setting Sigzil up as our means of getting to know him--and his motives--better. What do you all think? When Tock says he saw a white haired god coming out of the Horneater pools, Sigzil seems to have realized it was Hoid, so this at least lets us know that he knows Hoid has white hair and that he isn't a regular human. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natc Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 Or just the white hair part along with the other features brought up. I'd react too if someone says he met a god once, and the profile and description perfectly matched this guy I've known for years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetLift Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 I don't know how much he knows. When we first met him, he seemed resigned to his life on bridge four. So maybe that is an indication that he didn't feel there was much hope for Roshar... He did seem very disturbed by Rock's story of their meeting. I agree that we can get an idea of Hoid by listening to what Hoid taught Sigzil. Originally I thought perhaps Sig did some world hopping with Hoid b/c of the mysterious nature of their relationship and him refusing to talk with Kal about Hoid. But I don't see any solid evidence for that theory. If Sig knew more about things, would he not have made some sort of effort to notify Hoid he was alive? And how the heck did he become a bridgeman in the first place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yata Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 Well If Hoid trained Sig for many years, probably Sig noticed that Hoid aren't getting old, not humans indeed. But on Roshar are Human-like creatures with a very long lifetime, therefore maybe It's a strange fact to him but not unique. This without think to the things, he learned from Hoid (is a scholar after all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natc Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Hoid has faked his age before though. Well, more than usual, since he's already older than he looks by a longshot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juanaton Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 I was just listening to this part again in the audiobook and it hit me that Rock had met Hoid as he was arriving on Roshar, finishing a worldhop if you will. So Rock's claim that the water-of-life in the horneater peaks isn't water is pretty spot on. Sigzil's claim that they are just hotsprings was probably actually misinformation he got from Hoid and he started realizing some (more) things about Hoid because of Rock's story...at least that's what I think now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yata Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 In SA (on Roshar) there are two reference to the water-of-life. The first are speaking about the Horneater peaks the other about the Purelake. Many thought to the link, two-shards --->two Shardpools and probably they have right. But something same missing to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AerionBFII Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 I think he has at least a basic knowledge of the Cosmere or is at least aware of it's existence and is aware of Hoids white hair since he obviously recognized him from Rocks drunken story but i think it's much more likely that Hoid trained him in Worldsinger studies... I think he might have picked up a few odd things from Hoid but Hoid doesn't seem the type to confide in anybody really.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamEternal Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 (edited) Well, Hoid does love to draw attention by acting misterious and make people feel awe at his wisdow and wit, so it would be no wonder if anyone who spent a significant amount of time with him learned a few things about the cosmere and had a hint of what he is. The question is not if Sigzil knows something, but how much he knows. I'd wager he knows Hoid has some kind of magic and knows more about the cosmere than everyone else he ever heard about. Perhaps he also knows Hoid is a worldhopper, considering worldsingers learn and teach about different cultures and this would add many opportunities for Hoid to let some secrets slip... or just tease him with enough knowledge to interest him and not enough for it to be a threat. Edited September 12, 2015 by CognitivePulsePattern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cemci Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 I'm not sure if he's acting mysterious on purpose or if he's just refusing to adapt to Alethi social customs and being a bit of an idiot regarding blending in, therefore seeming odd and mysterious to the Alethi. Hoid comes from a different culture, and he multiple times remarks how strange he finds Roshar. He's not exactly being subtle about not being from Roshar, but because he doesn't say 'I'm not from around here' and because nobody has ever heard of a Worldhopper (except maybe those who suspect that Hoid may not be what he seems, like Sigzil, and the suspected Worldhoppers Mraize, Zahel and Demoux and his companions) or even entertains the idea that Hoid could be one, he seems mysterious to Dalinar and Kaladin (for example), and odd to everyone else. I also wouldn't say that anybody is in awe of Hoid's wit, because the reaction he provokes is either resignation, anger or bafflement. Almost everyone Hoid ever makes a comment towards is either angry or annoyed that Wit chose them to be snarky to. The times when Hoid inspires awe would seem to me to be the times he uses his flute and zither for Kaladin, and each time Kaladin isn't sure what to think of the encounter. So mysterious? On very rare occasions. But Hoid certainly isn't trying to be mysterious and odd, he just knows that the Rosharans have no idea what he can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamEternal Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 True. I have forgot that there is little need for subtlety when only about two dozen people in the planet will be able to pick the most obvious clues because everyone else lacks the context. But that still means Sigzil had enough opportunities to learn there is a lot of things of about this "Hoid" fellow and he may not be simply eccentric, but something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cemci Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 Well, Sigzil is probably aware that Hoid is a little bit special if nothing else. He did react shocked when Rock told the story of meeting the god of mischief, and Rock's story included a description of Hoid with white hair. Kaladin has only known Hoid with black hair. It's hardly unusual for people to dye their hair in Roshar, as many women do so, but it could be worth noting that Hoid may have only started dyeing his hair black after losing Sigzil as an apprentice. The people looking for Hoid on Roshar are looking for someone with white hair. Wild speculation incoming: Sigzil's apprenticeship with Hoid ended when Hoid was made aware that he was wanted by people from another Shard. Not wanting Sigzil to become involved in something he had no idea about and since it could become dangerous, Hoid left Sigzil and Sigzil....somehow...ended up with the bridgecrews. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b4dave Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 Just a thought...but perhaps the Purelake and the Horneater Peaks are called the water of life due to the fact that they are major sources of fresh, drinkable water. On a continent surrounded by salt water, any source of drinkable water would be seen as life giving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamEternal Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) Just a thought...but perhaps the Purelake and the Horneater Peaks are called the water of life due to the fact that they are major sources of fresh, drinkable water. On a continent surrounded by salt water, any source of drinkable water would be seen as life giving. You know... there aren't many continents surrounded by drinkable water. And if there were superhurricanes every five days dying of thirst wouldn't be a major worry for most communities. Edited September 14, 2015 by CognitivePulsePattern 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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