priceless Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 so we have armies that soulcast stuff into lumber, metal, food etc. We have bridgemen searching for large rocks to soulcast from. We have massive armies that must dig several massive latrines in order to keep the men from contracting disentary and dying on the Oregon Trail. Why don't they simply use the muck from the latrines to soulcast into other metal/food/lumber? Yes it's gross, but it would remove a large portion of the logistics required for extended warcamps and beseiging the shattered plains. Instead of searching for large heavy rocks, which will become more scarce over time, they simply shape the muck from the latrines into the desired shape and then soulcast that conglomerate shape into the desired material. I know it's said that larger rocks are better, I assume it's either less difficult to soulcast a single piece than multiple smaller pieces. similar to sympathy bindings in name of the wind. However if you stir the muck sufficiently, it'll break up the clumps and basically make it a homogenous mixture, you then take the muck and leave it exposed to air for a day or two it'll harder into what is basically poop ceramic. What do you think? 6
Scott Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) I think I'd prefer to remove this thought from my head.... thanks e/ also I can't stop laughing as I think of more ridiculous things. Elhokar's throne soulcast from dung! Edited February 12, 2014 by Scott 5
Shardlet he/him Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 Eww. You try it first, then talk to me. 1
Moogle Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 Bridgemen are given busy-work. Your idea would work, but you've got a bunch of unskilled slaves sitting around, you have to keep them occupied somehow.
+eveorjoy she/her Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I think the raw material soulcasted into something effects what the product will be. Chapter 5 "Heretic" pg 91 Nine out of ten Soulcasters were capable of a few limited transformations: creating water or grain from stone; forming bland, single-roomed rock buildings out of air or cloth. If you could just soulcast anything into anything, then why not make food out of thin air? We don't know very much about soulcasting yet. I think when we learn more, hopefully in WoR as Jasnah trains Shallan, we will find out what dung can be soulcast into. Besides it does state in Chapter 28 "Decision" on pg 417 what happens to latrine muck. A latrine house would be set at the high end, and the contents could be Soulcast to smoke once every few months. Maybe smoke is the only thing dung can be soulcasted into, or maybe it's the only thing they would want to soulcast it into. 3
laeelin Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 It's soulcasting is considered holy. I don't think they would even consider it. 1
Peng the Just he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 I'm not sure how much crap would be a single object for a single soulcasting. It think it depend on the cognitive aspect of the turd and how it views itself. This is partially a realmatics question.
Gloom he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Even without soulcasting, a latrine trench could be dug to drain into the chasms. With the large number of highstorms that come every year this would not be a serious issue. Even during the weeping there would be enough rainfall to continuously deplete the build up of excrement and slaves could be used to remove any blockages. Soulcasting said refuse into a usable substance should be possible, but I believe that soulcasting organic materials is limited to the more robust fabrials and surgebinders with strong stomachs. 2
Alice Rose she/her Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Regardless of whether soul casting would allow it, I see the problem as the 1-2 day hardening process. If you leave the "muck" outside to harden and your stormwardens are wrong about their predictions just once... I cannot see risking a literal "muck" storm if there is any other option. 1
Kadrok she/her Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Similar issue: Why are people unsettled by the prospect of drinking recycled water? I think it would take a bit of adjustment for people to warm to the idea that their food and shelter were once the community's sewage. 1
Cromptj he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 If they ever needed more rocks, they could just dig some out of the ground, Roshar is basically just rock. Besides, the latrines themselves produce suitable rocks in their construction.
DocHoliday he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 I think the major issue is the cognitive aspect of it. You can stir the latrine, but I have a feeling that the muck might still view itself as: " I'm a slaves poop." And: "Well I'm Elohkar' s poop! " I don't think the latrine contents have been together long enough for the cognitive aspect to change into "we're just poop". I evidence that the Ardents require specific individual stones to make food. On the other hand, the latrine is Soul-casted into something, so perhaps it's a material issue. On another note, why don't they use dead bodies for food? The rich get their bodies turned into tombstones, so it's possible to Transform them. Why not recycle the dead? 2
Havon Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 If you tried to soulcast air into something, you would probably pass out in the process due to making a empty pocket around yourself. And... There isn't a lot of mass in air so it'd take a ridiculous amount of it to make a small object.
Swimmingly he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 I'm betting that the ardents already pull lots to see who has to do a quick-and-dirty crap -> smoke soulcasting. Anything requiring more concentration would require for some dedicated holy men indeed. 2
Two McMillion he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Simple answer: Soulcasting requires touching the object in question. 7
Havon Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Everyone is touching air, always. And the air particles touch other air particles.
PorridgeBrick he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Simple answer: Soulcasting requires touching the object in question.If Jasnah can Soulcast from a distance, and fabrials are able to emulate the Surges, then it is entirely plausible that you could form fabrials to do the same. They probably don't have any now, though.And actually, they must be touching it anyways in the first place, since they do soulcast the waste into smoke already. Just change the essence, and then voila, Roshar has achieved the ultimate in recycling. If you can stomach it, that is.
11thorderknight Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 It's a fantasy novel, and no one wants to read about that sh&t. But in all seriousness, if one has a high-end soulcaster (like Jasnah's is supposed to be) it would actually be a good idea. Organic waste is just that....organic. And I'm sure it takes far less stormlight to soulcast things within the same essence than it does to change them to another one. For instance, changing rock to smoke and people to smoke cracks smokestone pretty regularly. But Jasnah was able to soulcast Shallan's blood multiple times with the light in a single garnet broam, and that was after that broam had already been used once to soulcast a goblet. And it still didn't drain it all the way!
Havon Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Skar: This stew tastes like dung... Rock: That's because it was dung! Air sick lowlander! 7
Delightful Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Maybe also because the original material affects what it's soulcast into. I dont have the exact quote, but the banisters in the Palaneum have the graininess of wood but the coolness of marble because it's made of soulcast wood. So dung-textured anything would be gross - especially when anything else would do. Edited February 13, 2014 by Delightful 3
Quiver he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) I have nothing to add to this discussion beyond the fact my first reaction to the suggestion was "ew" and the second was "but, then again, why not?"I can't help but wonder, when we begin discussing the cognitive and realmantic aspects of human waste, if we've gone too far. Edited February 13, 2014 by Quiver 3
Swimmingly he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Maybe also because the original material affects what it's soulcast into. I dont have the exact quote, but the banisters in the Palaneum have the graininess of wood but the coolness of marble because it's made of soulcast wood. So dung-textured anything would be gross - especially when anything else would do.Your username is hilarious when discussing in this context. 2
Delightful Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Your username is hilarious when discussing in this context.I.....didn't consider that.
The Rooster he/him Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Gross, I love it. I think the biggest problem is that lighteyes are the ones with soulcaster tech. Lighteyed Vorin priests specifically, they're too haughty to soulcast crap.
Aminar Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Has anyone ever tried to sculpt human feces? I haven't but I would think it would have some severe structural issues given the variety of textures and consistencies. Building it into even a single viable structure would be... Complicated beyond its merit. That said, I can see a burgeoning trade with the Shin for unmined metal. They don't care if it's all lumpy and turdshaped. Just imagine how worthless you could call it... "Oh no, it's worthless. Came straight from the latrine pit. You're doing me a favor taking it. They're filled with air pockets you don't want to smell anyway. And make sure your blacksmith's are careful. The pockets are highly flammable." Edited February 13, 2014 by Aminar 4
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