Spoolofwhool Posted December 8, 2016 Posted December 8, 2016 19 minutes ago, DarkJester said: Ok. I have another gem stone related question. I can't remember where in the first book it was but there was a part where after a soul casting, the gem cracked and it was stated that the gem would no longer hold stormlight. Does that mean the gem has been burnt out like a light bulb, because cut stones obviously hold light. It's stated they actually hold light better if they have been cut. So why does a crack in the gem really matter? This was discussed in another thread, but the conclusion was that the ability of a gem to hold stormlight is likely related to the brilliance. As such, only specific cuts increase the holding ability, but improper cuts, breaks, and flaws diminish the brilliance and the ability to hold stormlight.
Landis963 he/him Posted December 8, 2016 Posted December 8, 2016 41 minutes ago, Spoolofwhool said: This was discussed in another thread, but the conclusion was that the ability of a gem to hold stormlight is likely related to the brilliance. As such, only specific cuts increase the holding ability, but improper cuts, breaks, and flaws diminish the brilliance and the ability to hold stormlight. Another thing to consider, especially with fabrials such as Soulcasters, is that cracks make the gems less able to hold the necessary spren.
Eki Posted December 8, 2016 Posted December 8, 2016 41 minutes ago, Landis963 said: Another thing to consider, especially with fabrials such as Soulcasters, is that cracks make the gems less able to hold the necessary spren. Soulcasters don't hold spren, do they? All other fabrials do, but I was under the impression that Soulcasters were an exception.
Jondesu he/him Posted December 8, 2016 Posted December 8, 2016 2 minutes ago, Eki said: Soulcasters don't hold spren, do they? All other fabrials do, but I was under the impression that Soulcasters were an exception. I think you're right. They're an "ancient fabrial" and no one knows how to make one now. All the ancient ones we see (not that there's many, but I feel like others were mentioned) work on different principles, like the elevators at Urithiru.
Landis963 he/him Posted December 8, 2016 Posted December 8, 2016 3 minutes ago, Eki said: Soulcasters don't hold spren, do they? All other fabrials do, but I was under the impression that Soulcasters were an exception. ...I forget. I assumed it followed the rules of other fabrials. Although if it didn't, we should probably take another look at that description of Nalan's Regrowth fabrial to see if it had a spren of its own.
Eki Posted December 8, 2016 Posted December 8, 2016 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Landis963 said: ...I forget. I assumed it followed the rules of other fabrials. Although if it didn't, we should probably take another look at that description of Nalan's Regrowth fabrial to see if it had a spren of its own. I have the "old" version so I can't check, but iirc the actual fabrial is never shown or described... not sure. Edit: I misremembered exactly what was changed; the fabrial is mentioned in my version. However, it is only described as "glowing brightly". Szeth never gets a proper look at it before Nale tucks it away. Edited December 8, 2016 by Eki
Inquisitor #5 Posted December 9, 2016 Posted December 9, 2016 21 hours ago, DarkJester said: Ok. I have another gem stone related question. I can't remember where in the first book it was but there was a part where after a soul casting, the gem cracked and it was stated that the gem would no longer hold stormlight. Does that mean the gem has been burnt out like a light bulb, because cut stones obviously hold light. It's stated they actually hold light better if they have been cut. So why does a crack in the gem really matter? I'm assuming that a cracked stone is a bit more messed up than just fine cracks running through it, more like there's a great honkin' gash down it or something. Also, I think (basing myself on the cracked stones in Elhokar's Plate) that a cracked stone is just functionally useless, in that it bleeds Light far too fast, seeing as Plate still functions if powered by cracked gems. In addition, the stone's ability to hold Light would probably be adversely affected by even very fine cracks, because of refraction and... possibly something else... ¤_¤
Ironeyes Posted December 9, 2016 Posted December 9, 2016 23 hours ago, Spoolofwhool said: This was discussed in another thread, but the conclusion was that the ability of a gem to hold stormlight is likely related to the brilliance. As such, only specific cuts increase the holding ability, but improper cuts, breaks, and flaws diminish the brilliance and the ability to hold stormlight. That makes a lot of sense. I was assuming that it had to do with the cognitive aspect of the gem--i.e. if the gem is thought of as more perfect by people around it, it holds stormlight more perfectly. But seeing as this is light we're talking about, it's completely reasonable that the gem's capacity to "hold" light (regular kind) affects it's capacity to hold Light (the storm kind).
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