CogitoErgoArclo he/him Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 (edited) So in chatting on another thread I’ve realized we have two unanswered questions that are vital for Roshar as it moves into the larger Cosmere: 1. Does aluminum/ralkalest occur naturally on Roshar? 2. Can soulcasters turn other things into Aluminum? I can’t find any clear answers either way, only assumptions made by in world, non-expert, characters. But the answers are crucial for Rosharans as they move toward their technological/industrial revolution. Personally, I think it does not occur naturally, and cannot be made by soulcasters. And that it may only occur naturally on Scadrial. I feel that makes for really interesting dynamics between Scadrial and Roshar moving forward. However these questions are answered though, it’s going to change our understanding of the economy of Shadesmar, and our understanding of the conflicts between Shards/Shardworlds in the future. Edit: Quote Aaronator17 On the topic of aluminum, will we hear soon about how Rosharans know how to soulcast it? Was it natural on the planet and the source was depleted? Or was it brought over at some point in history? Brandon Sanderson Those are excellent questions, and a RAFO, unfortunately. Stormlight Three Update #5 (Nov. 20, 2016) Edited December 4, 2020 by CogitoErgoArclo Adding pertinent WoB
Honorless he/him Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 10 minutes ago, CogitoErgoArclo said: 1. Does aluminum/ralkalest occur naturally on Roshar? Quote Questioner So, I'm intrigued by aluminum, especially the fact that it can only be found by Soulcasting on Roshar. So, how was it discovered in the first place? Brandon Sanderson ...Did I say you can only get it through Soulcasting? Questioner In the Shallan flashbacks, she has the pendant. Brandon Sanderson Don't take what she says at 100% truth. Oathbringer release party (Nov. 13, 2017) 10 minutes ago, CogitoErgoArclo said: 2. Can soulcasters turn other things into Aluminum? Quote Questioner So, we know that things can be Soulcast into aluminum. But can aluminum itself be Soulcast into something else? Brandon Sanderson It resists all forms of Investiture trying to change it to things. Oathbringer release party (Nov. 13, 2017)
CogitoErgoArclo he/him Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 @Honorless We’ve been that hashing out on a different thread, and both of those are non-answers. Part of my point is that all the WoBs about Aluminum on Roshar are deliberately phrased to allow our assumptions to get the better of us.
Honorless he/him Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 10 minutes ago, CogitoErgoArclo said: @Honorless We’ve been that hashing out on a different thread, and both of those are non-answers. Part of my point is that all the WoBs about Aluminum on Roshar are deliberately phrased to allow our assumptions to get the better of us. We do know that you can Soulcast things into aluminium, confirmed in-book multiple times.
CogitoErgoArclo he/him Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Honorless said: We do know that you can Soulcast things into aluminium, confirmed in-book multiple times. Where though? I’m genuinely curious. It is stated in the books multiple times, but like I said before: by non-expert characters. To Rosharans, Before RoW, aluminum was just a shiny, rare metal that was pretty much useless. Much of WoK and WoR, characters are repeating lies they’ve been told, or assumptions they hold personally or culturally. And much of OB and RoW are about shattering those assumptions. We have no “on screen” proof of a soulcaster making aluminum, the only confirmed source of aluminum we have is (Dawnshard spoiler) Spoiler The Horneaters. Who are confirmed to be trading it in Shadesmar, and know of it’s effects on spren. So they could be importing or exporting it. So still, no true answer either way, but I feel it lends weight to the argument that they have to get it from offworld. Regardless, it’s abundance on Roshar has been kept deliberately obscured, And I think the more interesting discussion lies in extrapolating the effects of its abundance/scarcity on the Rosharan/Shadesmar economy. Edited December 4, 2020 by CogitoErgoArclo
ftl Posted December 4, 2020 Posted December 4, 2020 4 hours ago, CogitoErgoArclo said: And that it may only occur naturally on Scadrial. What would it mean for it to occur "naturally" on Scadrial, since the whole planet of Scadrial was created artificially? I'd say anything that can't be created via Investiture wouldn't be able to exist on Scadrial at all. 1
CogitoErgoArclo he/him Posted December 4, 2020 Author Posted December 4, 2020 8 minutes ago, ftl said: What would it mean for it to occur "naturally" on Scadrial, since the whole planet of Scadrial was created artificially? I'd say anything that can't be created via Investiture wouldn't be able to exist on Scadrial at all. I’m not a geologist, so I’m defining “naturally” in my head as being chemically available in the planets crust, but needing a technical process to extract, except in very specific circumstances. And we know the Lord Ruler had it harvested from the Ashmounts, so this leads me to believe it occurs like it does on Earth. Good point about the creation of Scadrial though, definitely lends weight to the argument that you can soulcast other things into it, and that it only resists investiture when it is refined. Not entirely convinced though, on account of this WoB: Quote ChickenBites Can you Soulcast aluminum into other materials? Brandon Sanderson Aluminum would strongly resist any sort of Soulcasting. Billy Todd Would that resistance be overcome? Could be overcome? Brandon Sanderson This is the question. Everything can be, right? Aluminum, in the cosmere, was created. And can be created. So, people ask me this, "Can? Cannot?" Like, with a powerful enough magnet in our world, what can you do? Like, is water magnetic? ...But, could you make water respond to a magnet? Yes! You can make anything if you really try hard enough... It's, like, this idea, that when people are like, "Can you, yes or no?" Well... yes! Would it take the power of six Shards of Adonalsium working together? Maybe! Can you? Yes, you probably can. Like, we're talking about a fantasy universe where almost anything is possible, and the impossibilities are contradictions, it's "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" sort of questions when you get into "can you?" Now, could you Soulcast aluminum using a reasonable amount of energy that an individual could conceivably have in a normal setting and situation? No. If that's what you're looking for. JordanCon 2018 (April 21, 2018)
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