Shardcast: Stormlight 4 Prologue Reading and Update

I think it is more interesting if Gavilar knows he is talking to Heralds. We've seen that Gavilar played things very close to the vest. He didn't tell Navani, Elhokar or Jasnah anything. He probably didn't tell Amaram everything so his ignorance isn't necessarily proof Gavilar's ignorance. 

I don't know who Gavilar thinks he is talking to otherwise. He knows Braize is where Odium's forces are bottled up and he knows these people have a Connection that can be used to go back and forth. We have seen that the Stormfather is willing to talk about the Oathpact to Dalinar and how the Heralds never left. 

These two Heralds seem to be looking for a way to leave the system. Maybe Nale is OK with Gavilar bringing back the Fused as long as he is not around. Nale knows it was their planet to begin with and even thinks the Singers are the rightful rulers who he must follow now. 

Really great episode, both interesting and entertaining!

I heard the idea of Shallan and Renarin being together in one plot, and now I can’t get it out of my head. I need this now...

Note: During WTCC David makes a comment that general Aradel retired. However, this is incorrect. Aradel became the governor. General Bretten is the one who retired.

My apologies for being a pedantic nerd.

I've got a few things to say:

1) FREE DAVID'S HAT. FREE IT.

2)  (WTCC spoilers):

Incredible episode, gang! I'm definitely gonna listen again because this one had my brain popping! So many thoughts, theories, silly things flying through my head. 

Theory: The "they" being brought back and forth from Braize are some of Nale's Skybreakers, and "The Connection is not severed, but can be warped to allow for travel" is about their Nahel bonds.

4 hours ago, Naurock said:

Incredible episode, gang! I'm definitely gonna listen again because this one had my brain popping! So many thoughts, theories, silly things flying through my head.

All the things they said

All the things they said

Flying through my head

Flying through my head

All the things they said

This is not enough

THIS IS NOT ENOUGH

[synth solo]

The whole talk about which characters you guys think are in which groups is making me so excited for some new character interactions!

I really like the idea that Rlain is a spy and could potentially interact with Venli, and it got me thinking. What if Rlain recognizes that Venli disagrees with Odium so he speaks to her and realizes she is a Radiant, and then brings her to the others and that’s how she eventually meets/teams up with the main group?

First time I have ever commented on an episode, but the discussion of the 3 arcs/parts got my attention and I can't stop thinking about it. 

First i looked at where we left off.  Jesnah recently came back into the fold and i believe Brandon once stated that she was not previously cosmere aware, but is catching up quick.  So any arc with her in it, or maybe her sending others on it could involve cosmere and/or secret society stuff.  Maybe Shellan and Ghostblood stuffs.  Either with or without Jesnah.

Second and third, although I don't stay as up to date on WOB as you guys i thought Brandon has said he wanted to get 2 Edgedancer type novellas out before this book.  He specifically stated that Rock's story kind of needs to come first.  And I believe he also said Rocks story would be during the year break and would involve him going back to the peaks.  So that's certainly a good option for a story arc.  But don't forget that even before Rocks story Brandon has previously mentioned Rysn and Wandersail.  Which we all kind of expect to make it's way to Aimia.  So Rock and Rysn are both possible viewpoint characters and I think Horneater peaks and Aimia are viable destinations.

Obviously Kholinar is a possible destination.  And I think people are correct the only way we get a full book of Venli is if she is part of that main group.  And it would seem impossible for her to "start in the same place as everyone else" unless they have people like Moash and Rlain there or Shellan or somebody again tying to undercover spy.  I don't really have too much new thoughts on this.  Except that I just can't see Kaladin there.  He's too prominent after Thaylen city IMO and unlike Shellan he can't disguise himself or use any stormlight without getting caught.

Something that I could see requiring a huge group is if Shellan goes monster hunting.  Some unmade need to be dealt with and she is definitely "our unmade person."  Dalinar has bottled one up already.  If they have another perfect gem over the next year I can see them mobilizing to try that again.

There's also Tezim who people now know about.  If you gotta take on Odium, and you know where A #1 leader of all the Heralds is; maybe, just maybe you do what you can to get his help...?

Another Shellan option, this time possibly involving Szeth.  I've long suspected her brother gave away his shardblade when he bonded his own spren.  So Kaladin didn't kill her brother.  If the Ghostbloods tell her that and Szeth tells everybody about a secret group of Knights Radiant who have bonded a huge # of spren and have training and organization and everything; that could certainly be s ok somewhere she goes.  Or Dalinar.  Unite them.

Speaking of Szeth and Dalinar.  One knows about a cache of Honor Blades.  One would certainly want those Honor Blades and/or people as trained in using them as Szeth.  We know Szeth is going to go back there at some point.  I think Dalinar makes a lot of sense as wanting to go with him, although the Bondsmith is supposed to stay in Urithuru, he has to go on his long walk at some point, right?  Rysn could be another option to go to Shinovar, lots of setup there with her learning how to bargain with Shin and raising the bowl of grass.  She may have to bond her spren first and get her legs back.  Which probably happens after Aimia so she can have the character growth of accomplishing something great with just her mind while she's still crippled.

There's also Taravangian who may or may not have recognized his mistake.  But also may or may not have noticed the one way to win lies with Odium not being able to see Renarin.  If he changes his whole MO and works with people instead of by himself he may get the info from Renarin and/or Jesnah that his spren has been corrupted by what's her face.  Wherein Shellan may also share that what's her face may want to defect.

I really like Kaladin and Lirin idea, especially if he chooses to "not save" somebody like Lirin or Laral.  Both of whom seemed like they could end up being Radiants at some point when the spren return en mass. Regardless he has to be in the first group of 5.  And he pretty much has to get his plate early ish in the book I feel like.  With the one year break and what we saw already, all of bridge 4 is gonna be full radiants at this point with their own blades.  Kaladin has to be special he may not be the main character, but he's the classic hero.  Yet some of his former squires will have a lot easier time with the 4th oath than him.

I kind of like the idea of Szeth and Dalinar going together as group 3 on a less focused thing.  Maybe they dont accomplish much beyond setting them up to make it to Shinovar for book 5.  I also like Kaladin meeting with Lirin in group 1, with 3 others maybe evacuating or strengthening the hold of Alethi strongholds outside of Kholinar.  Possibly Adolin to represent Kholin family and high princes in general.  Probably other bridge 4.  Maybe Renarin.  Navani to help coordinate women stuff?  Shellan is the hard one.  So many things she could do.  Unmade, spying, go with her husband as representatives of the royal family, just as a scholar helping track down Aimia after discovering Urithuru, going to the Skybreakers, other secret society stuff.

My tentative guess if I had to commit to it is:

Group 1 - 1. Kaladin plus all Bridge 4

2.  Adolin and Maya

3.  Lirin

Meets up with 4. Rlain and the lost legion of Listeners and probably 5. Venli all on Alethi plains.  Move towards Horneater peaks for a major battle.

Group 2 Shellan and Jasnah together again.  Trying to figure out what's up with Sja-Anat.  Super involved plot.  End up going monster hunter on Unmade, probably at Hornester Peaks.

Group 3.  Dalinar and Szeth.  Head toward Tukari, then maybe look into the Skybreakers, end the book just arriving at Shinovar after going all over.