The Restaurant at the End of the Cosmere

[Doc12]

This is a little story inspired by this discussion over here. I found it and couldn't resist playing with it for a while. All credit where its due, yes, I got the idea from that thread and the discussions there. Hope you enjoy it! I have no fixed plans for this, but perhaps an anthology of the worldhoppers swapping stories and stuff. Also, this story won't be purely mine, for I encourage you guys to freely throw in ideas and even write sections for yourself! Let's have fun imagining what those worldhoppers get up to between books.

Story premise: Worldhoppers have to congregate somewhere, don't they? WoB says that the place where they congregate isn't in the Physical Realm, so consensus is that its in the Cognitive Realm. Imagine, a restaurant at the end of the cosmere, possibly owned by a Shard, where all the worldhoppers gather to unwind, relax, network and basically have a drink. 

[Doc12]

Today was a relatively quiet day in the Restaurant at the End of the Cosmere.

 

Most of the usual people were here, nursing their drinks, talking in quiet tones. They were all worldhoppers, of course. Drawn from all the corners of the Cosmere: Sel, Scadrial, Roshar, Nalthis, Taldain and Threnody.

 

Rosharan heat fabrials warmed the restaurant, while the walls had been tastefully decorated by a native of Nalthis with the Fifth Heightening, so it looked aesthetically pleasing from almost any angle. The floors were plain tile, and at a corner was a Scadrialian machine that played music, operated by a sleepy Scadrilian armed with a bandolier of medallions. The machine only played Scadrilian music, which often annoyed the Nalthis worldhoppers with the second Heightening, but it was tolerated. There was a shining pool outside the entrance, which many worldhoppers used to get here from the Physical Realm. The bartender was always there, greeting newcomers, catching up on news, serving drinks. Only very few of the patrons knew who he truly was, and they weren’t telling. (Yes of course Khriss knows).

 

A sign on the wall stated the rules of the Restaurant.

 

Brawling of any kind is prohibited, either with Awakened Objects, Allomancy, Feruchemy, Hemalurgy, Surgebinding, AonDor, Soulforging, Sand Mastery or plain physical brawling

 

No interplanetary warmongering

 

Be nice to each other.

 

No Hoid.

At one table, some of the Seventeenth Shard were grumbling over their drinks about their long drawn-out and futile search for that impossible, thrice-cursed Hoid. They had been joined by a new member, Wan ShaiLu from Sel, whom Galladon had apparently recruited when she showed up in Elantris. She was cursing his name very creatively indeed. They had just come from Roshar, intending to go to Nalthis next. (The King’s Wit was probably laughing very hard indeed all the way in Roshar.)

Kelsier sat in a far corner, (Without Marsh today, thankfully) nursing his metal-sprinkled ale. (You had to specify which world’s ale you were ordering, or you might end up with Selish Connection drinks, which made you want to draw for hours, or Rosharan Horneater Ale, which could melt cups.)  Being a Cognitive Shadow rather than a physical being inside the Cognitive Realm, he didn’t actually need to drink, but he liked to keep up the pretense. Besides, he liked having Demoux worship him whenever he walked in, which often caused Seventeenth Shard meetings to be delayed. Mostly he sat, absorbing the gossip from all around the Cosmere, always grinning at people at seeming like he was formulating some dark, deep plot.

At another end, Khriss was scribbling down her latest thoughts on life, the universe, and everything. Alternately, she could be writing her next Ars Arcana, having just visited Sel. Kenton half dozed beside her. Nazh was doodling Aons on a piece of parchment, thankful for the break. There had been a particularly hasty escape when Nazh had tried to study a naked Dakhor monk at Khriss’ request. She owed him a drink for that one.

And there were the Kandra, of course. Mysterious group, they tended to keep to themselves when they visited the restaurant. They never stayed long, only coming in for a short drink before going to whatever Shardworld Harmony was currently showing an interest in. They tended to switch back to their natural forms inside the restaurant, which freaked people out, of course. That’s probably why no one knew their names yet despite them  having frequented the bar for years.

Vasher had dropped in for another visit in between his trips from Nalthis to Roshar. As per usual, he had a large pile of empty mugs beside him and was currently holding another pint of ale. Vivenna sat beside him, primly reading a book. Blessedly, Nightblood was nowhere to be seen.

Iyatil was back, taking Mraize for another spot of Worldhopping. They had just visited Scadrial, and apparently were due for a visit to Threnody, seeing as how Mraize had been bartering for silver knives at the restuarant’s small merchandise stall. Silver was always in good stock in the restaurant, seeing as how nobody wanted their drinks interrupted by a bunch of red-eyed cognitive shadows.

The restaurant filled with a quiet, content hum. News flashed relatively quickly through the Worldhopper community. A plot on Scadrial, Harmony facing a red mist. Kandra quietly inquiring after ‘Trell’. Roshar was a dangerous place to be in, currently, due to the Everstorm coming. Business as usual in Sel and Nalthis. On another note, Joshin and Mi’chelle were settling in nicely at Scadrial. Congratulations all around.

The bell rang hesitantly, and a ragged figure entered. Her dress was tattered, and hemmed at the knees. She had a glove made of the same material as her dress on her left hand. She was tall, regal, although looking much the worse for wear. She had violet eyes and was currently holding a rather large Shardblade. Rosharian. She blinked, taking in the scene before her.

The other worldhoppers barely spared her a glance before returning to their respective conversations. The bartender smiled and waved her over to an empty table.

Jasnah Kholin blinked again. “I’m at a bar,” she stated in her flattest voice, “In the middle of the Shadesmar.”

Only Vivenna stood to welcome her, shooting an exasperated glance at an inebriated Vasher. “Hello, stranger. You would best leave your weapon outside. Welcome to the Restaurant at the End of the Cosmere!”

 

Edited July 14, 2016 by Doctor12

[Landis963 he/him]

Nice!  Upvote for you!  What do you think your plan will be once further magics come out?  (Because there are several Shards still unaccounted for)

[Doc12]

Newcomers to the restaurant are always welcome XD

[Shadeshadow227]

On 7/11/2016 at 10:46 PM, Doctor12 said:

A sign on the wall stated the rules of the Restaurant.

 

Brawling of any kind is prohibited, either with Awakened Objects, Allomancy, Feruchemy, Hemalurgy, Surgebinding, AonDor, Soulforging, Sand Mastery or plain physical brawling

 

No interplanetary warmongering

 

Be nice to each other.

 

No Hoid.

 

...Hoid is just annoying. Glad that there's a place where no one has to hear him.

Here, have an upvote.

[Eccentric Hero he/him]

On 8/7/2016 at 3:42 PM, Shadeshadow227 said:

...Hoid is just annoying. Glad that there's a place where no one has to hear him.

Here, have an upvote.

I can imagine Hoid playing a flute outside of the restaurant just for fun.

[Shadeshadow227]

12 hours ago, Eccentric Hero said:

I can imagine Hoid playing a flute outside of the restaurant just for fun.

...RUST AND RUIN! HOID, GO AWAY!!! AND TAKE YOUR MAGIC STORY-FLUTE WITH YOU!!!

Edited August 17, 2016 by Shadeshadow227

[Doc12]

9 hours ago, Eccentric Hero said:

I can imagine Hoid playing a flute outside of the restaurant just for fun.

 

3 hours ago, Shadeshadow227 said:

...RUST AND RUIN! HOID, GO AWAY!!!

Ohhhhhh I can imagine that ALL TOO WELL