Why Bent Nale “Went Bad”

[Levian]

This is a slight tangent, but I thought of this while reading through the thread and wanted to put it out there:

 

The ardents are secretive about Soulcasting and don't let anyone see what they're doing. Have we ever actually seen someone use a fabrial to Soulcast? Perhaps something happens to ardents during Soulcasting that they don't want others to see, something that has to do with them crystallizing . 

 

I think something does actually happen to the ardents who use the Soulcasters. I can't remember the exact part but it's in the last 1/4 of the book I'm pretty sure. I think Adolin ducks into a Soulcaster tent to speak with one of the Ardents and I think he makes mental note about the soulcasting ardents looking strange in some way.

 

Also later on there's a part (I think during the Everstorm/Highstorm clash) where the ardents lose their tents they normally hide in, and I believe Dalinar comments on how they'll just have to do it without the tents.

 

Not 100% sure of any of this of course, I've read so many books since WoR 

[Kasimir he/him]

The KR are described as arrogant and maleficent, but I don't remember them being described as having a monstrous appearance as well. I suppose "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence", but I think the Nahel Bond would protect them from these effects.

 

For some reason, this makes me think of what Syl says about Jezrien's Honorblade:

 

“No. But Kaladin, you have to understand. With this sword, someone can do what you can, but without the . . . checks a spren requires.” She touched it, then shivered visibly, her form blurring for a second. “This sword gave the assassin power to use Lashings, but it also fed upon his Stormlight. A person who uses this will need far, far more Light than you will. Dangerous levels of it.”

 

I wonder what the checks she refers to are. We know that at least Nahel-bonded Surgebinders are kept in check by the oaths, and one possible read is that this limits the kind of actions they are permitted to take. But I'm also minded to think--given the context, that the Nahel bond with a spren does in fact provide some sort of protection agaisnt drawing on 'dangerous levels' of Stormlight. What those levels do though, is unclear. But maybe a closer look at Szeth will give us some idea.

Also, here is the quote that P4thf1n3r and Levian have referred to:

 

Quote

That included the five Soulcasters. Each stood with right hand to breast, displaying a sparkling fabrial across the back of the palm. One of the ardents glanced at Adolin. Stormfather—that gaze wasn’t completely human, not any longer. Prolonged use of the Soulcaster had transformed the eyes so that they sparkled like gemstones themselves. The woman’s skin had hardened to something like stone, smooth, with fine cracks. It was as if the person were a living statue.

--This is in Chapter 35 of my copy.

 

ETA: I've done a quick scan through WoR but I can't locate anything specifically that refers to Soulcasters (the people) needing to retire at a certain point or die. Maybe someone else can?

Edited May 1, 2014 by Kasimir

[Levian]

Thanks for providing that quote Kasimir, I knew I wasn't imagining things that hadn't happened!