Will Szeth survive Words of Radiance

[+eveorjoy she/her]

All the speculation of Dalinar dying - I extremely doubt it. Brandon said Dalinar is the first character he ever wrote (when he was like 13/14) and his favorite. I don't see Brandon killing off his favorite character....

Slightly off topic, but an author will kill their darlings if it serves the story. Dalinar isn't safe even if Brandon thinks he is awesomeness personified.

Okay, back to the topic.

Edited January 27, 2014 by eveorjoy

[Macen he/him]

Slightly off topic, but an author will kill their darlings if it serves the story. Dalinar isn't safe even if Brandon thinks he is awesomeness personified.

Okay, back to the topic.

Aye, sorry about that.

On Topic:

I don't think Szeth will die. He has too much background and insight into the Shin (who I think we all agree will be a major factor in this series).

Brandon has stated that a flashback book COULD be of a dead character, but I don't buy it. It sounds more like something Brandon would say just to mess with us.

The exception would be if he could be brought back somehow, which almost seems too cliche (not that Brandon couldn't pull it off amazingly).

[Daishi5]

On Roshar, we already have at least one example of people coming back from the dead, the Heralds.  However, we don't know how it works.  

 

I am a fan of Szeth carrying an Honorblade, and Honorblades are somehow related to the Heralds.  I think Szeth may die and that he could come back somehow through the blade.

 

If he dies, it could give us a lot more information about the Cosmere and what is going on around Roshar.  It also might allow Szeth to atone for his sins and gain perspective.  

[Fistsofrage]

Poor Szeth is being used to hype up Kaladin's status. After defeating him, his reputation will skyrocket, and his name will be known in all the kingdoms. Kaladin Stormblessed!

Edited January 27, 2014 by Fistsofrage

[QuantumHarmonix he/him]

Here is another thought. Ghosts are apparently a thing in the Cosmere, so what if Szeth becomes a ghost? That would let him be killed but still give his flashbacks. 

[11thorderknight]

My theory is that Shallan tricks Szeth into thinking she has his oathstone now, and makes him her b#$%h.

[Delightful]

Here is another thought. Ghosts are apparently a thing in the Cosmere, so what if Szeth becomes a ghost? That would let him be killed but still give his flashbacks. 

Brandon has said he doesn't mind doing flashbacks for a character who's already dead so that's no an issue. However, Szeth as a ghost is likely just as creepy as Szeth alive...

[skavoovee]

Not super related, but I thought the implication of doing a flashback book for a dead character was that Dalinar was going to die before his book came out? I don't have any quotes handy, but I always thought that's what he was referring to.

[Bloodfalcon he/him]

Not super related, but I thought the implication of doing a flashback book for a dead character was that Dalinar was going to die before his book came out? I don't have any quotes handy, but I always thought that's what he was referring to.

Nope. He just said it would be possible for that sort of thing to happen. 

[skavoovee]

Nope. He just said it would be possible for that sort of thing to happen. 

Ah ok, I must've just made the assumption however long ago and forget it wasn't fact.

[Bloodfalcon he/him]

Not super related, but I thought the implication of doing a flashback book for a dead character was that Dalinar was going to die before his book came out? I don't have any quotes handy, but I always thought that's what he was referring to.

Clarification: I understand the quote you were thinking of. The character in question was indeed Dalinar, but the answer was stated to include everyone:

 

 

 

WoB- Now, I’m not promising that characters all survive that long. It’s entirely possible, just so you know, that I would kill someone off and still show their flashback sequence. Because the flashbacks aren’t them having a flashback, the flashbacks are- it’s not them sitting there and remembering that, it is simply a non-linear way of telling their story. So just so you know, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Dalinar survives til book five.

 

You might be thinking that because he specifically says Dalinar's name, but that is only because he was specifically asked about Dalinar.

[skavoovee]

Clarification: I understand the quote you were thinking of. The character in question was indeed Dalinar, but the answer was stated to include everyone:

 

 

You might be thinking that because he specifically says Dalinar's name, but that is only because he was specifically asked about Dalinar.

Yeah, that is absolutely what threw me off, thanks for finding that.

 

EDIT: Just for relevance to the thread, I wouldn't be bummed if Szeth ended up dying at the end of WoR. He definitely deserves it (both because of his heinous actions and the fact that he's obviously in a lot of psychic pain committing those acts) and I think him passing away after some epic fight would be appropriate.

 

Also, I know there's a WoB around that says magics from other books will be involved in the climax of WoR, and I'm kind of hoping it'll be Galladon, Demoux, and the 3rd traveler from the Purelake interlude throwing down some Aons and Allomancy.

Edited January 28, 2014 by skavoovee

[Bloodfalcon he/him]

Yeah, that is absolutely what threw me off, thanks for finding that.

 

EDIT: Just for relevance to the thread, I wouldn't be bummed if Szeth ended up dying at the end of WoR. He definitely deserves it (both because of his heinous actions and the fact that he's obviously in a lot of psychic pain committing those acts) and I think him passing away after some epic fight would be appropriate.

 

Also, I know there's a WoB around that says magics from other books will be involved in the climax of WoR, and I'm kind of hoping it'll be Galladon, Demoux, and the 3rd traveler from the Purelake interlude throwing down some Aons and Allomancy.

We know Hoid has a confrontation in the Epiliogue, right? I don't think the epilogue will be the climax, but he's got other-worldly magic, so you never know. I haven't seen that WoB though. Time to hunt.

[SpringWarmCold he/him]

wouldn't it be awesome for Szeth to confront Kal and realize that he has Honor as well and similar abilities. Thus all of his beliefs that he has barely been hanging onto are just destroyed. Szeth realizes that he can make his own choices and decides to align with Kal and teach him how to surgebind, etc. (hey it is a fantasy novel after all....)

[Mr Horrible]

Is it just me or was Brandon really pushing the whole 'train against someone equally powerful' with Kaladin in the new chapters? The only person we know to fit that description currently would be Szeth.

 

I guess Andolin could give him a run for his money at the moment, but a shardblade isn't exactly the sort of thing you want to spar with/against and without it I imagine the fight wouldn't be too hard for Kaladin.

[Delightful]

We know Hoid has a confrontation in the Epiliogue, right? I don't think the epilogue will be the climax, but he's got other-worldly magic, so you never know. I haven't seen that WoB though. Time to hunt.

I've seen this referenced as a Nalthis crossover, speculated to be Hoid with Nightblood vs someone with a shardblade. not sure how much of that is confirmed.

 

 

Is it just me or was Brandon really pushing the whole 'train against someone equally powerful' with Kaladin in the new chapters? The only person we know to fit that description currently would be Szeth.

 

I guess Andolin could give him a run for his money at the moment, but a shardblade isn't exactly the sort of thing you want to spar with/against and without it I imagine the fight wouldn't be too hard for Kaladin.

Good point! Hadn't thought of that! That would require someone getting hold of Szeth's oathstone off Taravangian though, or otherwise break his Truthlessness/slavery. not sure I could see that happening, but we can always rely on Brandon to surprise us

[+eveorjoy she/her]

I've seen this referenced as a Nalthis crossover, speculated to be Hoid with Nightblood vs someone with a shardblade. not sure how much of that is confirmed.

 

I'm hoping it's Sadeas who tries to attack Hoid. That would be a fun scene to see. Sadeas gleefully summoning Oathbringer, planning to finally do Wit in. As the Shardblade comes close to Hoid, he blocks it with Nightblood. The look on Sadeas face would be priceless.

Edited January 29, 2014 by eveorjoy

[WeiryWriter he/him]

Keep in mind the theory is not that Hoid has Nightblood but that he has an awakened sword like Nightblood.  (I want to say there is a WoB that disproves Hoid's sword being Nightblood, but I'm not finding it so...)

[Morsk he/him]

I found them last night but was too tired to post them. I seem to remember finding it in two places, but right now I can only find this one:

http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/3722-theory-hoid-nightblood-roshar/?p=65325

When I asked this of Brandon he got really excited and said it was a good question, but it wasn't Nightblood.

This leads me to think it's a different Awakened sword.

[Aleksiel]

Awakened swords? Nightblood? You lost me, guys. What book is this?

[Speaker4thDead he/him]

I notice one outcome nobody is willing to mention... Szeth kills Kaladin.

After all Kaladin's internal battle is almost won and BS will have an entire book to tie up any other loose ends.

Mind you this is my worst case outcome

[Morsk he/him]

Awakened swords? Nightblood? You lost me, guys. What book is this?

Nightblood is a magic sword in Warbreaker. Since Shardblades are another kind of magic sword, people have asked Brandon a few times what would happen if two people fought with the different kinds of weapons. He always RAFOed it, so we were hoping Wit's sword would be one of them and we'd get to see it.

edit: I know there's another thread with this that I read last night; I don't want to derail this one. But I can't find it!

Edited January 29, 2014 by Morsk

[Aleksiel]

Nightblood is a magic sword in Warbreaker. Since Shardblades are another kind of magic sword, people have asked Brandon a few times what would happen if two people fought with the different kinds of weapons. He always RAFOed it, so we were hoping Wit's sword would be one of them and we'd get to see it.

 

Oooh, cool! Thanks!

 

 

I notice one outcome nobody is willing to mention... Szeth kills Kaladin.

After all Kaladin's internal battle is almost won and BS will have an entire book to tie up any other loose ends.

Mind you this is my worst case outcome

 

What? What?! No. No way. Worst case scenario ever! This would be the worst thing that could happen. Kaladin's story can't end yet!

[vikorr]

I notice one outcome nobody is willing to mention... Szeth kills Kaladin.

After all Kaladin's internal battle is almost won and BS will have an entire book to tie up any other loose ends.

Mind you this is my worst case outcome 

Brandon somewhere, apologised for the first book in the series, WoK, having to be split into two books, but said it was necessary in order to set up the series for what was to come.

 

I doubt that it was necessary to set up the series by immediately killing the main character in book 2. And you can't make Szeth a main character with a dead Kaladin (if you wish Szeth to become a main character)

[The Rooster he/him]

I notice one outcome nobody is willing to mention... Szeth kills Kaladin.

After all Kaladin's internal battle is almost won and BS will have an entire book to tie up any other loose ends.

Mind you this is my worst case outcome

Infidel! Blasphemer! The words you speak are Words of Recreance!