Eshonai’s Shardplate

[TheGirlWhoLookedUp she/her]

So, I was thinking about Eshonai in WoK and WoR, and I remembered it mentioning her Shardplate to be a gleaming silver color. This seems  out of place since Shardplate’s natural color is a slate gray.

It got me thinking about the reasons her Plate wouldn’t be it’s natural color. The obvious answer would be paint, but I don’t think that’s it. The Listeners can hardly mix colors to make anything but brown let alone a metallic silver.

Another answer is that it was originally silver and has just stayed that way since they got it. However, when Shardplate regrows it’s self, I assume it grows back in its natural color. Eshonai’s Plate has been broken and cracked many times, yet is still silver.

I doubt the Plate is naturally silver, but I can come up with no other conclusions than what I’ve said above. I don’t know if its been mentioned any where else or even if it’s that relevant, but I’d like to hear what your opinions and ideas are.

[galendo]

I'd have to check to be sure, but weren't the listeners trying to attract creationspren by (very bad) attempts at painting?  That means they must have had several different colors available.

[+Extesian he/him]

It's an interesting observation. 

Quote

Standing behind them was a tall figure in silvery Shardplate, a red cloak billowing out behind. The armor had peaked joints, ridges rising like the points on a crab’s shell.

I really am inclined to think it's just normal unpainted shardplate, slate grey could be described as silvery in sunlight, and that observation was made from quite a distance. I don't think there's any significance. But it is interesting so maybe other have ideas. 

[earthexile]

I suppose it could still be painted from the last time it belonged to a human. 

[Karger he/him]

1 hour ago, earthexile said:

I suppose it could still be painted from the last time it belonged to a human. 

I doubt it shadeplate regrows paint does not.

Perhaps this set is more alive then other sets?

[Kelsier'sGodComplex she/her]

Maybe the Shardplate held more Stormlight. Or maybe Voidlight makes Shardplate silver? 

[Aminar]

Or most Shardplate is natively Slate but not all. 10 orders could give 10 shades of gray/metallic. It's... Always struck me as odd that like, Helaran would paint his plate. Given the expense involved when using it, it just seems bizarre. 

[Lidolas he/him]

If I remember the interlude correctly, when Eshonai visits the 'artists' they had different colors.  One of them asked why mixing three different, pleasing, colors would make brown, an ugly color.  I think they had at least some access to paint.  They just couldn't create art with it.