New chapter unlocked for Steelhunt: WoR Ch. 2

[Shardlet he/him]

It's up.  And it is a Kaladin chapter titled: "Bridge Four"

Edited November 7, 2013 by Shardlet

[ADIMORTIS he/him]

Thanks for notifying...

Now off to read it

[cem he/him]

More interesting than the chapter is, I think, the epigraph:

 

Our first clue was the Parshendi. Even weeks before they abandoned their pursuit of the gemhearts, their patterns of fighting changed. They lingered on the plateaus after battles, as if waiting for something.

From the personal journal of Navani Kholin

So, things are changing. Is this because they discovered the storm form or because they've seen a Surgebinder? Or something else.

[Shardlet he/him]

I liked the chapter.  It wasn't particularly plot rich, but a lot of good character development.  Moash is rapidly becoming a character whom I will be watching closely.  He's got an important history it seems.  I liked Rind.  He seems to be of good character and did not appear to resent Kaladin's high rank despite being a darkeye.  I agree cem that the epilogue is very interesting.  It apears that at some point in time following the Battle of the Tower that the Parshendi are no longer fussed about gemhearts.  I suspect they are now looking for Kaladin.

Edited November 7, 2013 by Shardlet

[cem he/him]

Or maybe Eshonai is looking for Dalinar hoping to end the war.

[The Rooster he/him]

It's also worth noting that the Herald in the chapter heading was Chach, divine attributes Bravery and obedience.   She represents both spots, she didn't occupy both spots in any chapter in WoK.  She's associated with the number 3.

Edited November 7, 2013 by agrooster

[Gamma Fiend he/him]

Awesome. Dalinar's elite new Cobalt Guard: Bridge Four.

I have a feeling Moash is about to start shining in this next book.

[name_here]

Hm, so apparently Radiants charged with Stormlight become lighteyed with or without Shardblades. I don't really know what to make of that, especially since Szeth's temporary eye color change is tied to his sword regardless of Stormlight charge.

[Argent he/him]

It was refreshing to read some Words of Radiance just for the sake of reading it - not watching every word, trying to wring the secrets of the cosmere out of it. Two things of note (other than the character development):

• The epigraph, it feels off. Either the timeline is off (the battle for the Tower was only a couple of days before Kaladin's chapter), or the excerpt from the journal is actually from a future viewpoint. Either way, I believe this is all because Eshonai wants to talk to Dalinar. Fat chance with that one now...
• Kaladin's Stormlight expelling the ink tattoo. I don't actually know how tattoos work exactly, but it sounds like Stormlight has some purification properties on top of everything else. It could probably be used as a universal antidote or something.

[Riceloft he/him]

I'm far more interested in Shen's development than Moash or Teft.  He's obviously loyal to Kaladin and/or the Bridge Four crew.  What happens when (if) he learns how to take other forms?  Will he be able to give insight to the rest of the crew on what the Parshendi can do?  What secrets does he hold?  It seems to me that there's an awful lot of development possibilities for him.

[Argent he/him]

That's kind of what I am hoping for. Having him stay like this, or even run away and join the Parshendi would be weaker, I think.

[Shardlet he/him]

It appears that since not much time has apparently passed, that the journal entry is from a future time.  It smacks of looking reasonably far back.  Looking forward to more of Navani's journal entries.

 

I forgot about Shen.  Thanks, Riceloft.  It definitely looks like Shen will become very important.

[Bloodfalcon he/him]

 

It was refreshing to read some Words of Radiance just for the sake of reading it - not watching every word, trying to wring the secrets of the cosmere out of it. Two things of note (other than the character development):

• The epigraph, it feels off. Either the timeline is off (the battle for the Tower was only a couple of days before Kaladin's chapter), or the excerpt from the journal is actually from a future viewpoint. Either way, I believe this is all because Eshonai wants to talk to Dalinar. Fat chance with that one now...
• Kaladin's Stormlight expelling the ink tattoo. I don't actually know how tattoos work exactly, but it sounds like Stormlight has some purification properties on top of everything else. It could probably be used as a universal antidote or something.

 

To me the epigraph had a very Mistborn feeling to it. Hero of Ages style, I'll say so I don't give away spoilers by being more specific. Pretty clearly a "looking back" entry from the distant future.

[Shardlet he/him]

I just thought of something that the chapter does confirm.  No Alethi highprinces or anyone else of note has been killed by Szeth (excepting of course Gavilar).  Dalinar is the first Alethi on Taravangian's hit list.

[Moogle]

I just thought of something that the chapter does confirm.  No Alethi highprinces or anyone else of note has been killed by Szeth (excepting of course Gavilar).  Dalinar is the first Alethi on Taravangian's hit list.

 

That makes perfect sense. The Alethi as a whole are already fractured enough, so Taravangian doesn't need to bother with them. Of course, with Dalinar starting his unification efforts, he has to be taken out. It really does make me wonder if Brandon has been playing with timelines. If Szeth got his orders just after Dalinar's rescue, then how did Taravangian know what Dalinar was going to do? I suppose there might have been a spy watching when Dalinar had his conversation with Elhokar, but that seems odd. I don't suppose Brandon's confirmed at what time Szeth received his orders relative to Kaladin/Dalinar's plot?

[Shardlet he/him]

It depends on what events motivated Taravangian.  I am inclined to think it was Dalinar's joint assault efforts and the implications of that.  I think Taravangian made this choice before Sadeas's betrayal.  No, there is no timeline confirmation yet that I know of.

[dionysus]

I've so missed a Kaladin viewpoint. In terms of character growth maybe this book will be more about learning to trust others.

 

In terms of potential cosmer/magic system stuff, is this the first time Syl has been so humanlike? Wasn't she pretty human like when Kaladin was out in the highstorm but otherwise not. Is she going to end up being a fairy perched on his shoulder 24/7 as the bond progresses?

Edited November 7, 2013 by dionysus

[deddinty]

 

It was refreshing to read some Words of Radiance just for the sake of reading it - not watching every word, trying to wring the secrets of the cosmere out of it. Two things of note (other than the character development):

• The epigraph, it feels off. Either the timeline is off (the battle for the Tower was only a couple of days before Kaladin's chapter), or the excerpt from the journal is actually from a future viewpoint. Either way, I believe this is all because Eshonai wants to talk to Dalinar. Fat chance with that one now...
• Kaladin's Stormlight expelling the ink tattoo. I don't actually know how tattoos work exactly, but it sounds like Stormlight has some purification properties on top of everything else. It could probably be used as a universal antidote or something.

 

Mostly an aside, but some people's bodies do reject ink.  It happens occasionally when they've gotten too many tattoos in a short period of time, so his body rejecting the ink is just an enhancement of a natural process (you can search for "ink rejection" if you want to learn about that).  Tattoos require the skin to heal slowly, essentially trapping the ink below the outer layer of skin, and I'm guessing in Kaladin's case it's just healing too quickly so the ink is being forced out rather than the skin healing over it.

 

I liked the insight into Kaladin's fears about his powers and lighteyes, and the fact Teft knows enough to call it "surgebinding".  Anyone else want to just lock all the main characters in a room until they all talk to each other about their abilities/knowledge/goals and then start the actual work of saving Roshar?

Edited November 7, 2013 by deddinty

[Argent he/him]

Nah, Syl is no different - or if she is, this scene doesn't reveal it. I finished a reread a week ago, I should know

 

 

Anyone else want to just lock all the main characters in a room until they all talk to each other about their abilities/knowledge/goals and then start the actual work of saving Roshar?

 

Haha, yes! In some ways I feel like this about every interesting book I read, but SA is a prime example. It's such a childish (not to mention fangirly...) thing to do, but I just want to grab Kaladin, shake him, and yell "Dalinar is one of the best men alive, go talk to him!" in his face.

Edited November 7, 2013 by Argent

[bartbug he/him]

Uggh. Yeah, that was one of the problems of Wheel of Time. EVERY main character would never tell anyone else what they knew. It kind of got old after a while. I don't want to see that happen to SA.

[PeterAhlstrom he/him]

 

• the excerpt from the journal is actually from a future viewpoint

 

This. We haven't put the date in yet.

[hoser he/him]

Mostly ...

  Anyone else want to just lock all the main characters in a room until they all talk to each other about their abilities/knowledge/goals and then start the actual work of saving Roshar?

Yes!

 

 

It's such a childish (not to mention fangirly...) thing to do, but I just want to grab Kaladin, shake him, and yell "Dalinar is one of the best men alive, go talk to him!" in his face.

 

And yes!

 

Just out of a sense of responsibility, I want Kaladin to learn about the Assassin in White, particularly since he saw him in the Highstorm dream.  I want him to be figuring out how to restrict access to Stormlight and plan a defense given his knowledge.  Instead he is going to hide his knowledge and hope the assassin won't come. 

 

I suppose he could change his mind in a planning meeting w/Dalinar, but that seems like a slim hope.

 

If they are totally unprepared for Szeth, it will certainly be dramatic when he shows, but it is painful to watch characters make obviously wrong choices in the meantime. 

[dionysus]

Wheel of Time is really egregious. I don't want to talk about the stupidity of the protagonists. SA is not that bad. We see Navani, Adolin, Renarin, and Dalinar working together and sharing information. Same with whats-her-name sharing info with Shallan. Same with Kaladin and Bridge 4.

 

Dalinar is a high prince and Kaladin is a heroic commoner he met 3 days ago, it makes perfect sense for them to build trust slowly. We all just are a little sensitive because this a common stupidity seen in high fantasy.

Edited November 7, 2013 by dionysus

[marianmi]

Upvoted what I think are the main things to take from the chapter:

 

* the epigram is def. of most interest. No, it has nothing to to with Eshonai. The parshendi are changing.... the chasmfiends are going on those plains to pupate, now the parshendi linger there...

 

* Shen's attitude, very unparshmen-like

[Argent he/him]

Oh, of course. My reaction is about as rational as my going "they are all gone!" the first time somebody mentioned the Heralds. Just a way for a reader to react to the story.