New chapter unlocked for Steelhunt: WoR Ch. 2

[Draconis he/him]

I'm thinking Shen could become some sort of liason between Dalinar/Kaladin and Eshonai

[FeatherWriter she/her]

I'm thinking Shen could become some sort of liason between Dalinar/Kaladin and Eshonai

 

Ooooh, Shen as a cultural mediator? YES PLEASE. That would be awesome! What a cool idea!

[Looter he/him]

One thing about Shen in this is that it is almost normal human interaction and more personality then we have ever seen from a Parshman, all other times parshmen have acted like robots that do not make decisions.  Even if this is the same level as Parshmen Nannies it brings the whole group up to a more independent level of humanity.  I Love that. 

 

Now I have an interesting thought what if the group bonding we are seeing with the Kholin's works like that with Kaladin and members of bridge 4 become Spren bonded like him just for some other orders, and what if one of these others is Shen?  Would he interact like a Parshendi or would it be some other interaction that to be honest would be pretty cool in itself.

[Draconis he/him]

With the Parshendi's reliance on Spren to change forms, it would definitely be interesting to see what would happen if Shen attracted an honour/cultivation type Spren. 

 

It's really corny but I can just imagine Bridge 4 being caught out in a Highstorm.  Stormlight surrounds Shen, and a voiceover saying, "Shen has evolved into . . . . UberShen."  storming pokemon

[marianmi]

Ooooh, Shen as a cultural mediator? YES PLEASE. That would be awesome! What a cool idea!

 

Shen is as far from the Parshendi as much as humans are.

Plus, Eshonai and Dalinar don't need a mediator.

With the Parshendi's reliance on Spren to change forms, it would definitely be interesting to see what would happen if Shen attracted an honour/cultivation type Spren. 

 

It's really corny but I can just imagine Bridge 4 being caught out in a Highstorm.  Stormlight surrounds Shen, and a voiceover saying, "Shen has evolved into . . . . UberShen."  storming pokemon

 

I don't think the bond works the same way for humans and parshmen/parshendi. Why did Dalinar not see any parshmen in the KR ranks?

Edited November 10, 2013 by Windrunner
Please don't double post. You can just edit your old post. :)

[FeatherWriter she/her]

Shen is as far from the Parshendi as much as humans are.

Plus, Eshonai and Dalinar don't need a mediator.

 

Marianmi, speaking as someone who has intercultural studies as a college major, trust me, any intercultural exchange is greatly improved by the presence and "translation" of a mediator. Without one, even if both people are good people who want the best, they are going to misunderstand and misinterpret each other, because that's what happens when you speak into a culture that you don't understand. A cultural mediator can make certain that the intention of both sides is made clear to the other.

 

So if Dalinar accidentally acts in a way that is offensive to the Parshendi, Shen can tell Eshonai, "he's human, they don't think like us and that's not what he meant by that, he was trying to convey: xxxxxxxx" Which Esh will probably think that that's a really dumb way to do things and "humans are so stupid, why would they think that's what that means" but her cultural mediator tells her otherwise so she trusts him. Or if the Parshendi way to greet a fellow warrior is really aggressive or something, Shen can tell Dalinar "no, she's not trying to attack you, this is a respectful greeting and here's how you should respond correctly."

 

Maybe Shen's not going to be the best mediator here, but there should definitely be someone mediating if possible. Cultural misunderstandings happen even among human cultures. The cultural differences against a completely different race of people, stacked upon the prejudices of the fact that these two cultures have been at war for years, makes it nearly impossible that they would be able to speak to each other without something unintentionally going wrong.

[Windrunner he/him]

Shen is as far from the Parshendi as much as humans are.

Plus, Eshonai and Dalinar don't need a mediator.

I would disagree that Shen is as far from the Parshendi as the humans. He has certain instincts in common, such as the reverence for corpses.

[marianmi]

Marianmi, speaking as someone who has intercultural studies as a college major, trust me, any intercultural exchange is greatly improved by the presence and "translation" of a mediator. Without one, even if both people are good people who want the best, they are going to misunderstand and misinterpret each other, because that's what happens when you speak into a culture that you don't understand. A cultural mediator can make certain that the intention of both sides is made clear to the other.

 

So if Dalinar accidentally acts in a way that is offensive to the Parshendi, Shen can tell Eshonai, "he's human, they don't think like us and that's not what he meant by that, he was trying to convey: xxxxxxxx" Which Esh will probably think that that's a really dumb way to do things and "humans are so stupid, why would they think that's what that means" but her cultural mediator tells her otherwise so she trusts him. Or if the Parshendi way to greet a fellow warrior is really aggressive or something, Shen can tell Dalinar "no, she's not trying to attack you, this is a respectful greeting and here's how you should respond correctly."

 

Maybe Shen's not going to be the best mediator here, but there should definitely be someone mediating if possible. Cultural misunderstandings happen even among human cultures. The cultural differences against a completely different race of people, stacked upon the prejudices of the fact that these two cultures have been at war for years, makes it nearly impossible that they would be able to speak to each other without something unintentionally going wrong.

 

What I'm saying is that Shen would not necessary know how Parshendi would interpret a human reaction, or if a Parshendi gesture was meant to be offensive or just looked offensive. Except the reverence for corpses, which Winrunner was quick to point out, I can't see that many cultural similarities between Parshendi and Parshmen, at least not something that would be explained by Shen as a mediator. They have no song, and I am not sure that Parshendi would even accept a Parshman "mediator".

 

He does not need to explain that Parshendi rever their corpses, since every human is aware of the Parshmen doing that. So the "similarities" would be known to humans, being accustomed to Parshmen, but the differences would not be known by Parshmen and thus they could not explain them to humans. Or, even of they would be aware of some things that humans are not, as I am sure they are, they have kept them secret from humans for thousands of years, no matter how many Parshmen have died for these "misunderstandings" - and  thus unlikely to discuss them now, no matter how many Parshendi would die. As a whole, their race would survive, as they had until now, as Parshmen. With their secrets.

[FeatherWriter she/her]

Yeah, Marianmi, I was more responding to your assertation that Dalinar and Eshonai wouldn't need a mediator. I don't think Shen is necessarily a great choice for it though, because of the reasons you stated.

[marianmi]

I think Kaladin would be a much much better mediator than Shen.

Nevertheless, I think neither Dalinar or Kaladin need a mediator if meeting Eshonai (possibly his sister too, but Jasnah and Navani would be way more excited in meeting her).

Eshonai has experience with humans, Dalinar has honour, and Kaladin respects parshendi, and we've seen how quick was to understand Shen's behaviour.

[Ozyara he/him]

Ok i wanted to add something on an early part of the discussion the part where Kaladin tell Dalinar about his Surgebinding. my guess is that he will face off with Szeth and when Szeth sees him allso using Stormlight and much better than himself he will ???escape??? Dalinar sees Kaladin use Stormlight and Kaladin will have to fess up

[Daishi5]

It is interesting that Kaladin seems to be holding small amounts of stormlight most of the time now.  

[Shardlet he/him]

I figured it was more like he took a significant breath in prep for the tattoo needle.

[Argent he/him]

No, I am pretty sure he is trying to hold onto a little Stormlight at all times now. I imagine it's rather exhilarating, the feeling of power and energy, constantly flowing through your body. With enough spheres, Stormlight, and self-control, I fully expect Kaladin to try to Invest himself at least a little at all times. 

 

I wonder whether there are side effects to this...

[Scott]

Debatable whether it's subconcious or intentional.  Quote below makes it seem like he's doing it without noticing, but I think you could argue either way.

 

Kaladin sighed, realizing he had a little Stormlight raging in his veins. He hadn’t even noticed drawing it in, but he seemed to be getting better and better at holding it. He frequently took in a little these days while walking about. Holding Stormlight was like filling a wineskin—if you filled it to bursting and unstopped it, it would squirt out quickly, then slow to a trickle. Same with the Light.

[Shardlet he/him]

That quote indicates that, though he frequently and intentionally holds stormlight during day-to-day activities, he does not try to keep a charge at all times.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Shardlet

[Meg]

That quote indicates that, though he frequently and intentionally holds stormlight during day-to-day activities, he does not try to keep a charge at all times.

 

Kaladin sighed, realizing he had a little Stormlight raging in his veins. He hadn’t even noticed drawing it in, but he seemed to be getting better and better at holding it. He frequently took in a little these days while walking about.

 

 

(emphasizes mine)

 

The bold type tells us that he does it unconsciously as well as wittingly. I want to say: he doesn't try "to keep a charge at all times", but he draws Stormlight in even if he doesn't want to.

 

As a side note: More interesting is the italicized part, I think. He gets better and better at holding it. We already knew he was better in holding Stormlight than Szeth, but he gets better. I'm quite sure this is an effect of his bond with Syl and -- probably -- too of his "level up" by speaking the Second Ideal.

[Swimmingly he/him]

No, I am pretty sure he is trying to hold onto a little Stormlight at all times now. I imagine it's rather exhilarating, the feeling of power and energy, constantly flowing through your body. With enough spheres, Stormlight, and self-control, I fully expect Kaladin to try to Invest himself at least a little at all times. 

 

I wonder whether there are side effects to this...

Stormlight seems to have many of the same effects as Allomantic pewter. I wonder if it can have the same less-than-pleasant side effects?

[Shardlet he/him]

I agree that, at least in this case, it happened inadvertantly.  My chief point was that Kaladin is not actively trying to maintain a minimum level of Stormlight in his body.  Regardless of that, though, a single instance should not be relied upon to affirm that it happens constantly.  Especially since during this particular instance something significant is happening, i.e., getting a tattoo, which is at least an uncomfortable process to begin with, along with the people he is most emotionally invested with.  Seems logical to me that inadvertant infusion would be more likely in times of elevated emotional levels (like on a bridgerun or when injured).

[Mailliw73 he/him]

I think he is inhaling it somewhat unconsciously, but not trying to maintain a minimum level of Stormlight in himself. I think it's just beginning to become a habit and he just breathes it in when he walks around. Kind of like how Pewterarms and mistborn can burn pewter unconsciously.

[Meg]

Stormlight seems to have many of the same effects as Allomantic pewter. I wonder if it can have the same less-than-pleasant side effects?

 

A Stormlight-savant? I'm not sure whether this to things can be compared, though I agree with Argent, that holding Stormlight surely makes Kaladin feel good.

 

@Shardlet: I can agree (mostly) with you at this point of "knowledge" .

 

@all: Do you really believe that all "magics" on all Shardworlds will be the same at the end of the day? I'd be really disappointed (though I don't say there are no similarities).

[Argent he/him]

I think he is inhaling it somewhat unconsciously, but not trying to maintain a minimum level of Stormlight in himself. I think it's just beginning to become a habit and he just breathes it in when he walks around. Kind of like how Pewterarms and mistborn can burn pewter unconsciously.

 

That's what I meant, more or less.

[Shardlet he/him]

I doubt they will be the same at the end of the day.  I think that because they all come from the same power source (the power of creation) that we will see some very similar (perhaps even identical in some cases) abilities manifest in more than one system.  But the mechanics of how these powers will work in each case will be different (at the very least until Humpty Dumpty is put back together again) since each system is determined by the Shard and its governing intent in conjunction with the world where the investment occurred. 

[Mailliw73 he/him]

I didn't mean a savant. In TFE, after the Kredik Shaw attack, Vin is bedridden and either Sazed or Kelsier remarks that luckily, she is able to burn pewter while unconscious. She was not a pewter-savant though.

[Kurkistan he/him]

So far as all the magics being the same: if you squint and in certain cases, yes, I think they will be.

 

Here's Brandon on the subject:

BRANDON SANDERSON

 

[...] Thing is, some of the magic systems do cross worlds, and have before. And that has not happened obviously; you haven't really seen it. Right now Liar of Partinel [an unpublished book —ed] and Stormlight Archive share a magic system, because with the unifying theory of magic there's a certain number of things that magic can do, and there's a lot of different ones, but when they get similar they tend to work in the same way. So Lightweaving shows up in both books. I may change that for Liar of Partinel, but it's kind of integral to that book and it's kind of integral to Stormlight Archive right now too. This is one of the reasons why I had to decide to do either Dragonsteel or Stormlight Archive as the big epic.

 

Some of the magic systems have been discovered on different planets, and some of them do work. A lot of them don't, but some of them do. It depends on your spiritual DNA, what people are able to do, and things like that. But, if you find a way to do illusion magic in one of my worlds it's going to work pretty much like Lightweaving, regardless of which planet you're on. If that makes sense.