Pathfinder

@TypicalShard I was presenting from the perspective on plot, showing that the points served the same function, and were either to further another's plot, or was in fact someone else's plot only folded over to include Adolin in it. Both externalized Dalinar's self doubt, issues with his past, and overcoming his darker impulses. That's a bit of an exaggeration. If you read them side by side, they have almost exactly the same beats. Again if you read them side by side, they have almost exactly the same beats. My post was not meant to attack Adolin. I just feel Rhythm of War confirmed my personal understanding of the character's purpose and function in the novels. You are perfectly entitled to love those story beats, and the character. I wish you well with it.

She is a historian by trade and passion. She has shown she has studied societies across the breath of Roshar, both present and past. Not all cultures on Roshar use slaves, and further have different economic structures than the Alethi currently do. So I could easily imagine her taking lessons from other cultures and the past to arrive to her conclusions. So I think Thaidakar is labeled utilitarian by Brandon because, at least it seems to me, in that WoB, Brandon is viewing utilitarianism in two types of lenses. To Brandon, one form of utilitarianism is doing whatever it takes to accomplish a goal. The goal is what validates the actions. So Thaidakar's goal was to stop what he perceived was the greater evil. The reason he viewed it to be the greater evil, and his motivations can certainly be seen in varying lights, but at the end of the day, Thaidakar justified any action in pursuit of that goal. Conversely, Brandon did make a point to differentiate Jasnah's views from Thaidakar, Mraize, and Taravangian. That she is trying to do the most good with her every action that she can. So I believe that is the criteria Brandon was using to define those three characters. Now there is a whole lot more nuance to utilitarianism, and its various forms, but for the purpose of that WoB, it looks like Brandon defined it as goal orientated versus act orientated.

I would pull up some WoB, but the Arcanum has been a bit sketchy of late. WoB's that I know for a fact exist, I cannot locate anymore, and another individual has confirmed that they experienced the same thing. So going off of my own recollection, there were WoB that discussed how an individuals natural investiture can interfere with some magics. That the individual has like a "investiture field". We know this interferes with cohesion. I agree with you, as I said, we have WoB that soulcasters (fabrial) are experienced pushing through innate investiture to transform things. We even have a WoB that a soulcaster (fabrial) could soulcast a So my instinct is to say they can, but we also don't know if someone moving affects it. Now we have seen targets that are moving being soulcasted without difficulty, but that is with focus being on an individual target. Would lining up axi of air and keeping it lined up around a target that is moving through space, snug enough to ensnare a person be just too difficult? I don't know. Now an individual could simply soulcast a lip of stone just in front of the running person, causing them to trip and fall, and then soulcast a long block of heavy stone or metal over the person (not around nor binding, I mean a heavy slab of stone just above the person so it drops onto their body spread out). That way the weight of the slab would keep them immobilized. Now the weight could be measured incorrectly, resulting in crushing the person, or not being heavy enough to immobilize. Further another individual could come over and try to free him. But just musing on the function. Not trying to prove or disprove that someone could be apprehended. (also have to keep in mind no one was running till after Jasnah soulcasted the first guy. So if any of what I said would work, it would be after the inciting attack)

If you would like I will go back over the book and write up the quotes, but the reason is Jasnah was studying how threats to the family often come from within the family. For example a story of how a member fought over the crown, poisoning and killing to get it, resulting in everyone dead. The fact that she researched extensively both the past, and Renarin's actions, agonizing over the decision, and still despite every fact pointing to that answer still could not do it, to me shows how important her family is to her. No, if slavery exists, at any point due to the resource vacuum, that can be you. Commit a minor crime, oh you are a slave. Owe debts? Slave. By removing slavery, you are assuaging that fear, and we do have proof that confident workers are beneficial workers to the overall society. Do to criminals what you normally do to criminals. You now have a living building, that never sleeps that can maintain rooms that can only be opened or closed by it. Now that we have two potential stormlight infusers in Dalinar and Navani, making food via soulcasting, and regrowth is much easier. So locking them up and feeding them is not as difficult as you make it out to be. Making them slaves or putting them on suicide missions would build resentment, fear, and foment rebellion. Again, we have proof that investing in your workforce pays increased dividends. Slavery is only lucrative in the short term, but far more damaging in the long term. Well first and foremost, as a point of clarity, it is Brandon that is saying that Thaidakar is a more extreme utilitarian than Jasnah. That he and Mraize are closer to Taravangian based on their actions. Now I have had this conversation before, so I would like to make clear I like Thaidakar. I think he is a great character. But a good chunk of the actions he has taken, makes following him dubious to me. If I fully knew the type of person he was, I would be concerned for my own safety. Further, Brandon answered to his name as Thaidakar which could indicate after he became head of the Ghostbloods. For all you know, Thaidakar has gotten even worse. But yes I am saying a man that would: sounds pretty utilitarian and close to Taravangian to me. (and that is just recollection off the cuff. I know there are plenty more if given the opportunity to dig a bit)

There is a scene where some glory spren fly around Kaladin, and Syl gets protective and knocks it away, saying something to the effect of "nope, he is mine" Oathbringer page 315 Kaladin's skin shivered with joy. Storms, how he'd missed this. The wind, the openness above, even the lurch in his stomach as gravity let go. Syl spun around him as a ribbon of light, creating a spiral of glowing lines. Gloryspren burst up about Kaladin's head. Syl took on the form of a person just so she could glower at the little bobbing balls of light, "Mine," she said, swatting one of them aside.

I believe we have confirmation that both spren have to agree with it, and Syl has shown she has a rather large problem with that.

Put side by side like that, that may certainly be the case. My intention on the reference was to show Jasnah at baseline, no perpendicularity, could soulcast people, and air at speed. Now regarding difficulty gradients between the two, I couldn't say. Maybe the reason for the quotes is since air is very transitive and hard to "fit in a box" as it were, versus people who are very much "I am me" so easier to single out, might indicate the difference? Jasnah does also comment how broken chunks of rock were easier to soulcast so Shallan could practice, rather than soulcasting a layer of rock into oil to be ignited into flame like Jasnah did.

Ehhh, at this point we may end up digressing from the topic at hand, but I have had this type of conversation before, and if I recall correctly, if you line up the events in the book with when Dalinar opened the perpendicularity, Jasnah did all that before it opened. She had already ascended the steps, and Renarin followed her, when Glys then told Renarin to look, and Renarin peeked over to see Dalinar unite the realms. So even thought we "read" it first in order in the book, there were multiple things happening at the same time. So Jasnah doing the steps actually preceded the uniting of the realms. But if you give me a moment I will pull up the scene to recall. I know I looked it up in the past for certainty, but now I am going on memory Pulling up the scene helps explain the confusion. Jasnah makes steps from air on two separate occasions. One from Renarin's PoV, and one from her own PoV. The first time, she does that prior to the uniting of the realms. It is on page 1138, and here is the quote (spoilered for length): So as you can see, Jasnah did the "disease" soulcasting of three men, soulcasted a wall to smoke, and soulcast steps from air while she ran up them, all before the realms were united. Renarin did not feel it till after she accomplished all of that.

I am sorry, the reason why I quoted the portion I did and said I was only commenting on that, was because my intention was not to prove your opinion right or wrong. I meant to just inform on the function because I felt there was a fundamental misunderstanding that resulted in you two talking past each other. So I just wanted to clear the air a bit on how soulcasting works. Now separate from that, we don't know if it is possible to soulcast directly around someone anything really. Bonds, stone, water, or what have you. People have asked if a person's innate investiture interferes with that. But we also have WoB that state soulcasters (the fabrial) are experienced in getting through resisting investiture, so one would imagine a radiant soulcaster would be more proficient. I agree Jasnah is incredibly skilled. Shallan commented on how when Jasnah ran out of ink, she would soulcast portions of the page to fire to etch words into it. Jasnah was able to soulcast air into stones attached to the wall while actively running up the steps she creates. I am just not sure about some of the mechanics presented. Also to clarify I was not intending to seem like I supported or was against Frustration's point about her being unable to subdue the assailants. Personally I feel it is immaterial because apprehending them, in my opinion accomplishes nothing. But that is my own opinion and understanding on the situation, not the function. Up until that sentence, I was only commenting on the function. Hope that clarifies things .

I think where the confusion is coming in, is the oil changing to stone is constricting not expanding. When the boulder was changed by Jasnah to smoke, it exploded outwards. That is due to the change in density. Taking stone, high density, into smoke, low density. It is why when they soulcast air to stone, Adolin comments on feeling a rush of wind moving towards the soulcasting. Because you need "more" air to equate the density of the stone they used to make a windbreak. Technically when a person is turned into stone or quartz, they should shrink, but for narrative purposes Brandon kept that out because it would look silly to take a corpse and make it into a figurine (not that extreme, but you get the idea). So the stone would constrict someone encased in liquid when turned to stone. They just may not pop like a bubble, but be crushed, or be unable to expand/contract their ribcage to breath. Maybe if I post a bunch of WoB on the subject matter that would explain it better than I would. It is the idea that it is being constricted/compressed, and things will always move from that of most resistance to that of least resistance and the human body and its various orfices are spots of lesser resistance. Sorry to be gruesome/morbid. Have you ever seen the youtube videos of what happens to things when put into a hydraulic press? Hmmm, for some reason I have been having trouble finding the WoB I know for a fact exist lately. There is a rather long one where someone explains how much force the boulder changing to smoke should be and about changing corpses to stone would result in them shrinking, and Brandon explains he had to pull back a bit on the reaction for that reason, but it is still there. So far I only found this one that alludes to it. Sorana (paraphrased) Is Soulcasting volume- or mass-preserving? Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased) It's mass-preserving, but there are some strange things going on and that's why we don't get as much explosions as we should. You can see a bit of what is going on when Jasnah Soulcasts air, there are some little reactions, but not as strong as you ought to get. Stuttgart signing (May 17, 2019)

Since the degree of Jasnah's utilitarianism is coming up quite a bit and seems to be a deciding factor to various individuals, I think the last part of the below WoB is particular relevant. I have summed it up, and then posted it, highlighting the pertinent portion. On a scale of super utilitarian to not so utilitarian (going from left to right) Super Utiliarian Not So Utilitarian + - <------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Taravangian Mraize/Thaidakar Jasnah (Noticed that viewing the scale on mobile messes up the order so I have numbered them below) 1. Taravangian 2. Mraize/Thaidakar 3. Jasnah Kimbobhi Is it possible to Surgebind using gaseous Investiture other than Roshar's? Brandon Sanderson So here's the thing. It depends on your definition of Surgebinding. Surgebinding would be the Rosharan definition of all of the magics. They would call the Metallic Arts Surgebinding. You are binding the powers of creation, which the word "Surge" is that word translated from Rosharan into English, that's what the word means in Rosharan, is the powers of creation. The fundamental forces which inspired me to make this. So they would consider all of them to be Surgebinding. And that's just what you're doing, you are binding and using those powers. Other people, including Khriss, would not agree with that definition. They would say: Surgebinding is specifically binding, through the Nahel bond, the spren, the specific manifestations of Investiture on Roshar, by using specific sets of oaths in order to gain access to those powers. So she would say: no, that is not Surgebinding when someone uses Allomancy. I would lean with her on that one, but the other one's a viable definition. What you're really asking is, can someone, one of the Rosharan, the Knightly Radiant Orders, could they power that with a different form of Investiture from a different planet? And yes, this is possible, though there might be some difficulties in making it work, which I haven't explained entirely yet. But yes, this is possible. In fact, it is possible to power all of the different magics with the different forms of Investiture. That is a possibility This is one of the reasons why Mraize and Thaidakar are so interested in Stormlight. Because if you could get Stormlight off, and you can crack that... just way easier to get Stormlight than it is to get the other ones. Like Breath, you could consider easy, but hard to morally harvest; in fact, perhaps impossible. If you want ethical, sustainable magic, then Roshar is a much better bet than some of the other places that you could... Adam Horne Does that mean Mraize and [Thaidakar] want an ethically sustainable...? Brandon Sanderson They're really interested in the sustainable part. I would say that they both would say "yes" to that question. They would consider their actions to be, on an ethical spectrum, at least in the neutral area, perhaps. Others would disagree with that. Adam Horne Where would they fall, philosophically speaking, like Kantianism, or? Brandon Sanderson I'd have to think about that. That's a good question. Certainly not as far on the utilitarianism side as someone like Taravangian, who's about as far as you can go. But Jasnah is pretty far on that side, also. Though she considers her version more of a "what is the greatest good I can do with any action I take?" (Which one is that? It's not Kantian, but you know what I mean.) That is a little on the utilitarian side. Not a little, that's... not as far as Taravangian, but that's definitely, yeah. They would maybe be in between those two, maybe. Depends. They're not the same individual, they would have different lines. There's gonna be (let's just say) future books that explore Thaidakar's relationship with that. But you have seen in other books the lengths that Thaidakar is willing to take in order to achieve his goals. He is not far off from Taravangian in some of those things that he has done. YouTube Livestream 23 (Dec. 17, 2020)

So just dropping in to explain this aspect. Water is the only known nonmetallic liquid that expands and floats when turned into a solid. Everything else constricts and sinks. As to the interaction frustration is referring to is the conservation of density regarding soulcasting. That is why the Boulder soulcast to smoke blasted out with such force. By changing the stone (very dense) to smoke (less dense), she made a whole lot of smoke super compressed in a small area. The environment seeking to reach equilibrium causes the smoke to violently shoot out. Apparently in the real world it would be as violent as TNT but for the sake of magic Brandon made it less violent. So regarding your idea. By changing the rock to oil, the oil would overflow because there would be so much of it. The assailant might even be shot into the air depending on if Brandon would have it act like a geyser (also depending on how deep and narrow the pit was). But assuming that did not happen, and the assailant plopped into the liquid calmly, then changing the oil back to stone would be changing it to something very dense. We have not seen anyone become encased in stone in the manner you are suggesting so it may very well crush them. Think in a way what happens to water freezing in a Crack of cement. It pushes the cement out, widening the Crack. Just in this case, the action would be in the reverse direction.

So I could go and reference a bunch of PoVs (which would take a bunch of time), and then we go back and forth over our personal interpretations of those scenes, but instead I will post some of the WoB I am referring to. You are certainly entitled to interpret them in other ways, but I think they show pretty conclusively that family is a tip top priority to Jasnah. (edit: Also to add the reason why Renarin was such an issue, was because of a threat to the family within the family. That is referenced multiple times across the novel.) (outright states family is one of her most important mandates) Questioner My question is about Jasnah, and why she tried to assassinate Elhokar’s wife? Brandon Sanderson Well, you’re going to need to get to know Elhokar’s wife a little better before you get an answer for that. But understand that Jasnah is very deliberate in her choices, and protecting her family is one of her most important personal mandates. Shadows of Self San Jose signing (Oct. 9, 2015) (Willing to stay back and give Elhokar space because she understands the pressures he is dealing with and does not want to add to them, but if her quest to prevent a desolation meant she had to be at the capital, she would have stuck around, but tried not to be invasive) Mrs. Jofwu If you had to characterize in a few sentences, as adults, what the relationship was like between Jasnah and Elhokar... Brandon Sanderson ...As adults. Their relationship is that of a fond-but-unyielding sister and an earnest-but-insecure brother. Mrs. Jofwu So they were affectionate? Brandon Sanderson Yes, I would say they were affectionate. Not as much as, maybe, some other siblings. Like, you can look at Renarin and Adolin and see genuine affection. With Jasnah and Elhokar, it is almost-- there's definitely some affection, but there's almost more of an allegiance. Like, they're both dealing with certain pressures upon them, and their lives were very much consumed by these pressures, and they had that in common. But, I mean, Jasnah's not a hugger anyway, if that makes sense? Mrs. Jofwu There was no jealousy between them? Brandon Sanderson Oh, there was definitely jealousy on Elhokar's part. Definitely, the insecurity there. But Jasnah, was-- I mean, she was a little bit aware of it, but you know how she is, right? Mrs. Jofwu I didn't know if that contributed to why she removed herself from the Shattered Plains. Brandon Sanderson Yes, a little bit. I mean, her quest was more important to her than any of that. But, you know. Let my brother not live in as many shadows. Because he had a lot of shadows that he had to live in. And she was one of them, certainly. That would've been a consideration to Jasnah. But if had been right to stay, for her quest, she would have. JordanCon 2018 (April 21, 2018) (Jasnah was concerned that Aesudan was trying to take out Elhokar) Questioner Can you tell me why Jasnah wanted to potentially assassinate her sister-in-law, the queen? Brandon Sanderson She felt that the queen was seeking to usurp power, for one thing, and was reckless for another. And so Jasnah was worried about the safety of the throne. Oathbringer release party (Nov. 13, 2017)

A large part of Jasnah's loyalty lies with her family. We have numerous PoVs as well as WoB that confirm that. Now that is not to say she would not do something that her family disagrees with if she feels it is better for them in the long run (when things went all to braize at Theylenah, she was thinking to herself how to evacuate Dalinar and co for their safety while realizing Dalinar would be resistant to the idea) Honestly I wonder if it is actually the best move given the factors. Low tier darkeyes and light eyes were facing a lot of fear and uncertainty after the parsh awakened and left. Jobs that the parsh used to do, suddenly needed people to do them. It is mentioned in the books how lower class were leery because they worried it would result in their class getting even lower, or being made into slaves to fill the gap. But if you abolish slavery, that confronts and removes that fear. Short term it would be difficult, but it has been proven across time if you actually pay your workers a livable wage, they will feel valued, work harder, and reinvest their wages back into the economy. Essentially a "trickle up", instead of "trickle down" economy.

We may be arguing semantics, but "bettering survivability" to me is the temperature rises, so then the creature evolved a way to deal with the heat. But that is not how it works. First, it just happens to be some of the creatures could take that rise in temperature, and therefore continued to breed. It is like taking sand and sifting it through finer and finer pans. In hind sight it could be said "ah ha! they evolved temperature regulation to deal with the heat!", when in reality, evolution is just a confluence of events. Here is another example: The Axolotl. Just about every other salamander species morphs from gills to amphibious on entering adulthood. When they were first discovered, it was assumed for a long time that they were just the nascent stage of another species. It wasn't till they were captured, and reproduced, that scientists realized, nope this was the adult stage of this salamander. Research was done into why this was so, and how it was possible. Long story short, because of the introduction of species that was more successful at competing at the food source on land, the terrestrial version of the salamanders in that area died out. That particular watery area happened to provide the right amount of food, and was exclusive to aquatic salamanders. So there no longer needed to be a secondary stage. Now because of climate change and other various variables, that tiny ecosystem is changing. Even the tiniest of shifts is resulting in their deaths. So the evolutionary trait, actually resulted in making them more vulnerable. The whole species can go extinct in an instant. And there are actually a ton of examples of that. If we are talking about preserving survivability, then that species of salamander should have evolved a way to compete more efficiently with the terrestrial competitors. But instead, they evolved in such a way that in the long run their entire species can go poof at the slightest provocation. The trait essentially made them worse at surviving because it requires a very specific environment for it to continue. Basically evolution does not equal progress. As in, as long as the environment is not in a state of perpetuity, any trait can either be the best or worst trait at any given moment.

Evolution can be quite rapid, and has nothing to do with bettering anything. It is that which is most suitable to the situation continues. A recent example due to climate change. There is a tropical island off in the middle of no where that has a species of lizard. That island was hit with two hurricanes in short succession. Lizards with longer legs became dominant. It was not because longer legs made them to stronger to fight off predators or catch prey. It was not because it increased their land speed, or well just about anything in their day to day existence. It was because since they tended to hang out on branches, when the hurricanes hit, those with longer legs were able to hold onto the branches longer. The longer legs did not assist in any other aspect of their lives. The longer legs would not cause them to survive any better in further day to day occurrences. The longer legs just so happen to be the best thing in that given circumstance and because of that, that trait bred true. Evolution is essentially a pachinko machine lol.

The reason why I responded that way is because by assuming what the victims would or would not want is the same thing as assuming that the killers were either angels just dragged down the wrong path, or sociopathic serial killers. We have no information to lead us to believe in either direction. It is pure conjecture. So essentially it is Schrodinger's killers and victims. They are both misunderstood/angelic and nefarious/revenge laden in equal measure till the "box" is opened. 1. The killers were misunderstood ruffians forced down a path and if only they had a chance they would be redeemed wonderful members of society, and those innocents killed would righteously wish their deaths inspired reform and the betterment of all. or 2. The killers were bloodthirsty, foaming at the mouth serial killers, drooling at the thought of their next killer. The rush and power of taking a life. The innocents killed, just walking home, trying to eke out a living to keep young Timmy in crutches having food on the table each night, and Jenny able to study at the local school. When their mommy and daddy's simple lives were cut short in horrid fashion. That the spirits of the dead call out in rage and retribution as those killers continue their bloody rampage. See how diametrically opposed it can be presented? And with the information we have to draw on, both can be equally true. So for myself at least, I do not think painting such a dichotomy is conducive for discussing the subject matter. They could be back out tomorrow night, in a week, month, year, or try another enterprise. They could be so scared straight not knowing when someone else will have a means to end them, so it isn't worth it anymore. There are plenty of what ifs. The certainty we can however confirm is those three individuals will not be continuing the crime. But if you can prevent thunderstorms from striking the tree, allowing people shelter there, even if for a time? edit: actually to fully connect the analogy, some people have to go to that tree. They have no other choice. Or some people go to that tree not knowing there is a thunderstorm. Is it fair to those people to say simply "well you shouldn't have sheltered under the tree?".

I respect that you can protect yourself. The three prior cases where the innocents were murdered were unable to protect themselves. Please do not speak for other people who do not have the same abilities and capabilities as you do. Everyone walking down that alley is not you.

I think it does also need to be considered the time frame in which Jasnah was working. She was focused on preventing the end of the world. She spent her every waking moment researching and trying to find a way to prevent the desolations from happening again. She was only in Kharbranth to research that. Frankly she would not have the time to put in the resources to reform Kharbranth, even assuming she could successfully do so as a foreign princess. So for me, that returns to CryoZenith's point. Does she absolve herself of responsibility by doing nothing, but still know more people will die at the hands of these men that she could have stopped, or take action and save lives in the short term?

So you are perfectly entitled to view Jasnah in that light if that is your prerogative. My only statement on this matter is I believe we have proof from the book that is not the case. We have Jasnah's PoVs that dispute all of this. Now we do know Shallan is an unreliable narrator, so it could be said Jasnah is self-delusional, but I have seen nothing in the novels to indicate that was the case. So if we can rely on what Jasnah thinks to herself truly being what she is thinking, then for me at least, this whole theory holds no water. But I wish you luck with your theory all the same.

(edit, I had a response, then thought of something to add to that response, but at the end of the day I am responding on behalf of someone who never asked that I do so, nor do I personally espouse these beliefs, so I think I will just delete what I wrote and leave it there. Don't think continuing will help anything. So just going to call it.)

So I think clearing the air a bit might help things. First and foremost, if I misrepresent you @Frustration , I apologize and please feel free to correct me. I am only elaborating on what I believe is the source of your stance, so it may be a little clearer. I do not want to put words in anyone's mouths, so again if you take issue with anything I say, it is not with the intention of misrepresenting you and please feel free to say as much. @Bort Regarding Frustration's beliefs, they believe that true redemption and forgiveness can only be provided through a higher power, and only through true and genuine change. What I mean by that, is the individual has to realize what they are doing is wrong, and seek to change the behavior. Thereby there are theoretically two states of being an individual can be in: 1. Committing the evil and thereby are evil 2. Repented for their actions and changed how they acted. Thereby no longer "evil" I put quotes around evil in state 2, because their actions and who they were are still evil, but now they repented, are forgiven, and have changed their actions. So in the examples of Dalinar and Lin Davar, as Frustration said, in their opinion, one repented, one did not. Now as you argue, it is a question of timeline. One was afforded the time and chance to change, while the other seemingly did not. But given the understanding of Frustration's view, that is immaterial. All that is material is whether you are in state 1, or state 2. Now having said this, that is not my own opinion nor view on the situation. Just felt I was clarifying a bit on what seems to be a fundamental view of Frustration's. You can certainly take issue with it and disagree with it, but I think in that light, it might foster the conversation a bit more. Again to Frustration, as I stated earlier, if I misrepresented you, or you feel I oversimplified your beliefs, I do apologize. Please feel free to correct me.

Yeah, as Frustration indicated you kind of forgot the paragraph of how "innocent" Kezim killed innocent people just walking home at least three times. I say at least because those three were confirmed. Going on the strawman you presented, I could easily say there were countless and Kezim the innocent is actually a serial killer who takes great pleasure in the deaths, and thankfully his reign of terror was finally brought to an end. Things can be very easily painted many ways. But the fact of the matter is we know three prior murders took place in that location, that the individuals surrounded with the intent to entrap, and they struck first.

Added another WoB I think while you were posting. Basically something already existed and then the shard, shows up, perceives it a way and the way they perceive it also affects it. So the implications is possibly 10 was a big thing regarding the planets already. Honor and cultivation perceived that to be so, and thereby the number came up in their magic system. So theoretically any other shard could have resulted in the exact same numeric. For instance autonomy could have showed up on roshar instead of Honor and cultivation and thereby resulted in autonomy having a 10 magic system.

Frustration is referring to this WoB. I believe there are more but I am still pulling them up Herald (paraphrased) Is there more significance to the 10 other planets around the Rosharan star system and them being gaseous? We know that Roshar's moons have unnatural orbits; so there seems to be some astronomical manipulation in the system. Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased) Yes there is significance of 16 in cosmere and 10 in Rosharan system. Herald (paraphrased) The outer 10 gas giants in the Rosharan system suggest a tie to the number 10 that predates the arrival of the current Shards. Is the prominent numerology we see around the cosmere an inherent property of the planets, rather than the Shards who invest them? Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased) Big RAFO. Herald (paraphrased) Would Ashyn/Braize share the 10-centric numerology of Roshar? Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased) Yes 10-centric is for the entire Rosharan planetary system...wait Braize is 9-centric. Arcanum Unbounded San Francisco signing (Nov. 30, 2016) Questioner In the cosmere, sixteen is obviously a very important number, or very significant, but on Roshar everything comes in groups of ten. Is that a cultural construction or is that really how things are being grouped on that planet? Brandon Sanderson It is both. It is a cultural construction that came from slight cosmere events that are not super, super, super important. Like, there's a reason we think in base ten, right? Is it important to the universe? Meh? Right... And it's maybe a little more on Roshar, but at the same time it's like** Questioner There are ten orders of Surgebinders. Did they order them that way? Or are there actually sixteen different-- Brandon Sanderson Well, it kind of goes back to there were ten [Heralds] with ten sets of power given by Honor, and Honor is an individual, right, so does that make sense? You cannot separate, in a lot of places in the cosmere, the perspectives of the sapient beings who are interfering with what's going on. Even going back to the number sixteen. Orem signing (March 10, 2018)