Fifth of Daybreak

I don't think we can dismiss coinshots to not crack shardplate, especially after multiple volleys, and steel and iron aren't nearly as fast burning as pewter, which he wouldn't rely on as much in the fight. Kel would be continually shooting volley after volley of coins at him, which would eventually, even if not at first, cause stormlight to leak. But that's not where Kel's advantage comes into play. The real advantage, comes from the shotgunning effect that was previously mentioned. Dalinar would be leaking stormlight from multiple plates. Even from the tiniest cracks, spread out over the entire plate, front and back, from numerous coinshot volleys, would be enough to lock the plate up. I think in this aspect, someone in regular armor would actually have a greater advantage over someone in plate, because the regular armor would dent instead of cracking and losing power.

Is it giving just the title, instead of the whole link with the commands? I'm seeing the BBCode commands, the hyperlink, and the title I'm trying to give them. My computer does funky things though. As for the time of day, how about twilight? It sounds more poetic (as long as you don't associate it with Vampires)

Time for the second installment of Monster Melee! This time, it's going to be the fighting dead of Nalthis, the Lifeless, against the mysterious enigma of Roshar's Midnight Essence. Lifeless Lifeless Midnight Essence For this battle, we are going to assume for one that the Lifeless were average warriors before being awakened. I also want to explore a group battle in this one. Dalinar, as a very experienced warrior, was able to take out two Midnight Essence with a fire poker, but he was injured, almost critically, in the process. From this basis, I'm going to make the assumption that they would be slightly more apt in combat for the lifeless, and I'm going to pit five lifeless against three Midnight Essence. This is open to discussion, as well as how heavily armed the Lifeless are. To start, I think it would make it a fair fight to have two lifeless armed with swords, and the rest either unarmed, or blunt weapons. I'm personally withholding my vote until after we finalize battle parameters. As with last time, I'll write up a battle scene when the dust settles and it seems like discussion is over with a clear winner in the polls. I'll also try to include some of the battle mechanics we discuss, and I've got a fun theme that I'm going t try to expand on from last time. Edit: Can anyone teach me what I'm doing wrong to get these links to work? At this point I'm just so very confused as to why I can't get them to work. I'm trying to link the wiki pages to here.

Brandon usually has a cost for his magic, and I think there's more, or rather less, to his rebirth than is first evident. If his soul was killed, I doubt it can come back whole or unaltered, if at all. If he had to agonize over the decision, I bet there's more to the story that will satisfy the need to do it.

I think we might see some continuity issues arise in the next book about the spiritual bond to his oathstone and the honorblade that could only be solved by Szeth's spiritual death.

Isn't Relis the dueling champion? I thought he hated Adolin.

Look at where the orders are falling on the map. The Lightweavers are off the sea of regret between the nexus of imagination and nexus of truth. The Skybreakers and windrunners are on the expanse of the broken sky. This is pretty cool, even if it's a coincidence.

It's an interesting theory but I see a couple holes. The first being that it's far more likely that Relis would hesitated to kill someone who is basically an invalid in the eyes of the court, especially when he's offering his neck to you in defiance. Second, I think it's more likely that Patter was still hanging around distracting him, but I think the first is far more likely. Finally, I'm skeptical because of the surges themselves. Each order has their own special ability, and the Truthwatcher's is being able to see the future. I do however, like your progression being about time, and not just about healing. This would very much make sense for the Truthwatchers to be able to see the future, as progresion (including time) pluse illumination, equals shedding light on the future. On the other side of that coin, we have the Edgedancers which are Progression and Friction. If progression does include the flow of time, I think it makes more sense for the Order that controls friction to be able to speed up and slow down time. If this is the case, I'm even more excited for some starvin' Lift chapters.

I think you missed the tag on this thread that says 'joke.' Although the rest of the thread seems to have too. Nalan is a mystery to me, I've got a few theories on him, but nothing with truly conclusive evidence backing it. Edit: I'm not trying to discourage discussion. Sometimes my humor doesn’t translate well into text.

I think we're all missing the obvious truth about Nalan...NIghtblood made him do it.

So I've been thinking: It seems very unlikely that Nightblood and Zahel won't meet up again at some point in the series, even if they aren't reunited. This is how I imagine it going down. Szeth meets Zahel in a battle situation, the specifics I'm not sure of, but it will be immediately before battle when this exchange will happen: Szeth strode forward, eyes meeting those of an ardent standing stalwart before him. Hey, that's Vasher! That's Vasher! Szeth ignored the voice in his mind, focusing on the battle that was about to take place. We should go say hi, I mean, that's Vasher. Szeth lept forward, not drawing Nightblood, but pulling it sheathed into a battle ready position. Zahel's eyes went wide as he recognized him. Wait, what are you doing? That's Vasher! The ardent rolled out of the way as Szeth swung at him, deftly dodging the attack. Stop! Stop! Stop! Vasher isn't evil! Why are you attacking Vasher? I said say hi not attack him! I can even imagine this going further, and suddenly there's a group conversation going on inside Szeth and Zahel's minds, each being able to hear each other through the link of Nightblood. Vasher, duck, he's about to swing for your head! Szeth glared at his sword, as the ardent ducked. An unfamiliar voice spoke in his head Well if it isn't the brightest flower in the meadow. Where have you been Nightblood? Szeth hesitated, then paused, brow furrowing. Brightest flower in the meadow? What does that even mean? Blasted language, you people need some idioms that make sense son. Nightblood's voice piped in. I've been saying that for years.

I very much agree with this. We have a precedent for a Cryptic spying on a king. The very first time that Shallan draws a Cryptic is when she's doing the portrait of King T. Then, they disappear until after she steals the Soulcaster and attempts to Soulcast. Then there's the death rattle that also hints at cryptics hanging around Kharbranth.

We know they make a stylish paperweight for the Alethi king on the move

Windrunner vs a jedi. Not completely cosmere, but assuming that lightsabers and shardblades can parry, it'd be one storming fight.

I also wouldn't be surprised if TLR's metalminds were invested enough to be able to deflect the Honorblade. He's had centuries to store up his attributes, even without being able to compound the abilities, a fully prepared feruchemist could tap enough speed and strength to end the fight before it even begins. I'd have to assume that an invested Szeth is somewhere around a mistborn/thug in terms of speed and reaction times, and the Steel Inquisitors gave Vin trouble without having much time at all to store speed, so having gone centuries without often having to use his reserves, I doubt TLR would need to use anything other than speed and strength to end the battle. The only way I could see Szeth prevailing is if he accidentally hit the Atium bracers, and even that is questionable considering they're god metals and would be even more invested than the rest of his metalminds.

That is a match up I had in mind, but I don't want to jump the gun on this yet. I'm planning on working up small at first, and throw in the bigger creatures every couple weeks.

The sun beat down on Brightlord Roshone, the wind rustling his takama. The open plain before him rose and fell with the meandering will of the landscape. Lifespren swarmed the ground, and windspren giggled in the sky, dancing merrily. It was a perfect day for revenge. The giant beast underneath him moved with a lithe grace that hinted at a dangerous strength. It was massive, covered in fur, with eyes too cunning. About the size of a horse, its jaws were big enough to pick up a rockbud, maybe two, and powerful enough to crush them. It had a strange soft skin, almost like that of a chicken, but more like hair. Roshone had no idea where the beast had come from, but he knew a kindred soul when he found one. Its eyes flicked about, searching through the world with a malevolent curiosity. Roshone had been shocked to have befriended the animal, but had been even more surprised, and pleasantly at that, to learn that it took to riding. His was a mount that could cow even a Ryshadium. Or a Whitespine. They rode in silence. Roshone didn’t approve of men who feigned conversation with their animals. Besides, he and the Warg shared an unspoken understanding- the love of the hunt and the thirst for blood. Roshone could pick out his prey up ahead. It stood on two legs, back armored in carapace and spikes, tusks gleaming in the late sun. As they drew closer, Roshone thought he could see blood on the things tusks. Roshone let a bestial growl rumble from the pit of his stomach, and was surprised to find the Warg growling as well, its strange hair standing up on end. He could feel the animal growing tense beneath him, muscles growing taught. The wind suddenly changed, putting them upwind of the Whitespine, it sniffed the air, then turned to face them. Its eyes met those of the Warg, and the air grew tense. Roshone felt his heart beat faster in his chest as the moments stretched into eternities. With a sudden snap in the tension, the warg lept forward, bounding towards the Whitespine. Roshone readied his spear, holding himself in the saddle, his bad leg throbbing, pulsing. It was as if his leg knew that the monster who had maimed it was only a few strides away. As they raced forward, Roshone drew back for a thrust. The Warg and the Whitespine met in a clash of teeth on tusk. Roshone was thrown off balance by the impact, thrust going wide, glancing uselessly off its carapace. There was a yelp of pain, and they separated from the Whitespine speeding away, their quarry giving chase. Roshone recollected his thoughts and glanced back at the Whitespine. The Whitespine was missing one of its tusks, and there was a large gash on its face that dripped blood. Looking back at the Warg, Roshone saw where the tusk had gone-it was embedded deep in the Warg’s shoulder. It was favoring its other side as well, but still fast enough to outpace the enraged animal pursuing them. They shot away, then turned in a wide arc, the Whitespine struggling to keep up. As they kept turning a bounding away, they eventually moved out of its sightline. Roshone kept a close grip of the spear, his other hand on the reigns. He wasn’t directing the animal, it hadn’t accepted his commands when he tried, but it didn’t feel right riding without them. They turned back towards the Whitespine and increased speed, heading directly for its side. Roshone pulled his arm back again. In seconds they were upon the beast, and Roshone struck forward with all the strength he possessed. At the same time, the Warg barreled into the Whitespine’s side, leading with its uninjured side. Roshone’s arm rang with the shock of the blow, and he felt himself rise up, leaving the saddle. His bad leg hadn’t been strong enough to keep him seated during the collision. Roshone tumbled through the air and landed hard. The spear was embedded into the Whitespine, which lay on the ground kicking wildly. The Warg kept attacking, dancing in between the kicks to snap at its exposed underbelly. It was trickling blood in more than a few places. Roshone stumbled to his feet and unsheathed his side sword, turning back toward the fight. The trickle of blood had increased to a small stream, and the Whitespine trumpeted in pain and fury. It kicked out again, this time connecting with the Warg’s head in a powerful blow that sent it stumbling. The Warg tried to rise, but it could no longer walk on its injured leg. Looking closely, Roshone could see that another kick had hit the tusk, embedding it further into the beast, most likely locking up its shoulder joint entirely. Roshone started backing away, limping. The Whitespine had regained its feet, though it looked unsteady. The spear fell away from it, it had only embedded itself in the carapace, not able to pierce the thick armor. The animal circled the Warg, regarding it. To its credit, the Warg did manage to limp around, never exposing its back, but Roshone knew. Damnation take this storming Whitespine. Must it take everything I love? Roshone turned away, striding away from the battlefield as quickly as possible. He tried to ignore the cries of pain behind him, until the air grew silent again. He glanced back one last time, hoping beyond hope, but no. The Whitespine stood victorious. Blood dripped from its many wounds, but the Warg lay dead, staring sightlessly into the sky.

Reading through all these other threads, I'm more and more convinced that the Syl thread was not my fault (entirely.)

The spren trapped in gems aren't self aware though, it's conciousness that's missing from Shardblades, and giving it a mindless spren won't fix its mind.

The stick must bear the ring. Only it can withstand the corruption.

I think the Ring is invested enough to resist Sharblade cuts. But the first one is hilarious. "Hello there little thief. I can smell you." Starvin' dragons!

For the sake of discussion, and because I'm so on the edge, I'm switching over to the Warg side! Hooray for flip flops! Keep in mind that the Whitespine only has carapace on it's back, as far as I have read. The intelligence of the warg would come into play here, and I think that it could outpace it, then charge in from the side and knock it down, going for damage on it's underbelly. Nothing like a fat Lighteyes to bring the edge

So I've decided I'm going to try to start doing a weekly match up between various monsters and creatures, and we'll poll and discuss, and if I'm not feeling too lazy, at the end I'll try and write up a battle scene between the two with the results and mechanics of the fight we discuss in the thread. So this week, I didn't want to get too ambitious, I do plan on doing some Cosmere only fights, but to start off with, this seemed like an exciting pair! So let's get to it! Whitespine VS Warg (LOTR) In the red corner, we have the Whitespine! Dreaded predator of Roshar, these beasts are about horse size, with carapace armor on their backs that can detach after it has been embedded in the flesh of its prey. They are bipedal, with claws on both their feet, and their cute little T-Rex arms. Also, they are much better at getting revenge on Roshone than Kaladin or Moash are. [post=http://coppermind.net/wiki/Whitespine]Whitespine[/post] In the blue corner, we have the Warg! These viscious beasts are what wolves dream of growing up to be. With an average height of 5 foot, (roughly average horse size, convenient that,) Wargs have terrifyingly sharp teeth, sharp claws on all four legs, and a body built for speed. Wargs are also distinct in they have a superior intellect compared to that of most animals. They're even smart enough to pick riders that are uglier than they are! [post=http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Warg]Warg[/post] We'll assume this battle is happening in a field or plains of some sort, a few hills maybe, but mostly open terrain. I have to say this is a toss up for me (which is why I wanted to do this one first.) On the one hand, the Whitespine seems to be better equipped, between the carapace armor and those nasty claws and tusks, however, we don't have much of a basis for what their abilities are in terms of speed and strength. This is a battle between creatures of similar size, so with the initial advantage going to the Whitespine, the Warg most likely has the edge in speed, and intellect. As far as we know, the Whitespine has only a predatory intelligence, while the Wargs are able to be trained, and even on their own, they show a surprising amount of intellect. I'm going to cast my initial vote towards the Whitespine, but I'm on the edge, I think the Warg could surprise me.

I think viewing the reaction the guards have when being attached, we can assume that at the very least, it could draw on the Shardblade's investiture to provide the strength, which could explain why it is flimsy detached from a Blade.

Aluminum can only be soulcast on Roshar. Shallan's necklace from her father was made of aluminum. I'm inclined to agree with you, but I think it not being recognized is a point against the theory.