Pathfinder

And if we were speaking of whether or not a human had an exoskeleton, then using a wolf who is also a mammal as an indicator would be a good analogous example. Yet you stated it was impossible in prior posts. I disagree. I see synthetic gemstones as a possible path Rosharans could take. To each their own. Except on Roshar it is literally used as their money. Credit is a new concept, and it is still based on a reserve of gemstones that actually exist. But you still need the technology of solar panels first. You keep conflating and exaggerating what I write. You act like I am saying tomorrow someone is going to say "ah ha! synthetic crystals! all our woes are solved!". I am not saying that. Actually that is not your proposal. Your proposal would be breeding whales in captivity (which doesn't work in the real world. watch the movie "blackfish") for their oil, while trying to breed dolphins and porpoises to begin producing oil where originally they did not. You are saying an alternative synthetic version of the fuel source would not be pursued (synthetic oil, corn oil, etc/synthetic gemstones) because they could just breed chasmfiends, or other shelled beasts/whales and other marine life. On earth once we realized the environmental damage we were creating, we began to research alternatives. And if anyone else would like to bring up cows again, then why are we doing research into impossible burgers, and beyond burgers? Why are we looking into lab created forms of protein? Soy milk?

Again, it is the stormlight that fuels them and then runs out. That is the limitation. You can soulcast allomantically viable metals. If creating gemstones was a problem for that reason, the same would stand for metals, yet it most certainly is a thing. The two societies developments to me are analogous. They are not to you. I feel that is part of the reason I think synthetic gemstones can be a thing. You disagree. To each their own. If that was the case, then you wouldn't be saying synthetic gemstones are impossible. What I am arguing is that synthetic gemstones are possible. You are stating they are impossible. I think that is a very important distinction. I disagree. I do not believe that is what I am saying at all. Do spaceships make up our money? Do they run our lighting? Do they enable heating in winter and cooling in summer? Could they potentially (I say potentially because these are surge fabrials I am referring to) heal people of grievous injuries? Do they aid in the use of incredible powers that when applied to tech change the face of the planet? No they do not. Can we use the technology developed to create such ships to be applicable for other things? Sure! But what I am talking about is the power source that fuels that space ship. I am talking about strengthening the materials to make that ship able to break atmo. I am talking the ability to cause that ship to fly weightlessly through the air. Those technologies matter. But to the general population right here, right now, they don't see space as a necessity. In the abstract we are destroying the planet and look to colonizing other planets, but the global view does not. What the global view is, is trying to preserve our current planet. Which resulted in across the globe research into conservation projects. The ocean clean up project. Solar panels. Did you hear about solar roadways for awhile? Another is painting roads white instead of black. Wind farms. A city in India produced a way to have 100 percent waste removal/recycling. The perception right now is fixing what we have, so the technology is going in that direction. Gemstones are an extremely important part of Rosharan culture, society, and economy. Start removing that resource, and the perception is going to zero in on it. In my opinion. But to each their own.

As at this point all we are doing is repeating ourselves and not adding anything to the conversation, instead of responding I will merely say In your opinion breeding chasmfiends makes sense. In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. That is your prerogative, that you are perfectly entitled to. As we have no idea what else is included in the wisdom of the heralds, I believe it is erroneous to act as if you know what is excluded from it. But once again: In your opinion breeding chasmfiends makes sense. In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. That is great that you are confident. I am confident in my own assertions. In your opinion breeding chasmfiends makes sense. In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. It is not the gemstones themselves that power the fabrials. The gemstones just allow access. Soulcasting can create metal that can be burned in allomancy. Gemstones are no different. But once again: In your opinion breeding chasmfiends makes sense. In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. So what you stated is mentioned by Khriss? Because I am very sure it is not, but please provide the quotes of her research that support this. Thanks! Otherwise: In your opinion breeding chasmfiends makes sense. In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. So I edited your quote for accuracy and bolded what I edited. As I have said, I believe they would experiment and research discovering the potential due to the chasmfiends dying out, and then it would explode due to the necessity. I believe you are using a logical fallacy. That if we do not see it, it does not exist. Further this is a logical fallacy as your criteria for "seeing it" is supremely narrow and suits whatever you feel it needs to at the moment. So it is self validating. But regardless, once again: In your opinion breeding chasmfiends makes sense. In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. I already mentioned the inclusion of the surges they now have access to, the availability of the technology of Urithiru, and two of the 10 heralds. I believe this, combined with Roshar's complete dependence on gemstones could lead them to develop synthetic gemstones. WoB says Scadrial should not have their level of knowledge of metallurgy at their time period, yet they do due to the dependence on metal. I posted the WoB. Please check it out. Otherwise I guess the same here: In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. This all started because the OP suggested that a fabrial industrial revolution would occur. Karger then stated it would not because gemstones would break, limiting the production of fabrials. I suggested that synthetic gemstones could become a thing eventually, which would enable the revolution. Then Karger felt breeding chasmfiends would be a more logical pursuit. That is where we disagree. I posted earlier that via WoB, size of the gemheart is related to the size of the shelled beast. So in order to get the gemstones the size posited, you would need something the size of a chasmfiend. Using Karger's logic as to why synthetic gemstones can't be a thing, if it was possible to breed chull-like beasts to produce larger and larger gemhearts, then why haven't they? They have everything they need already. Why isn't it a thing? Surely breeding chull like beasts for gemhearts the size of your head would be far more lucrative. But here is another thought. Why does one have to preclude another? Why can't research into both occur? Why is only one a possibility? But I guess I will go back to In your opinion breeding chasmfiend/chull like beasts makes sense. In my opinion synthetic gemstones makes sense. To each their own. The larger the gemstone, the more stormlight it can use, the greater the effect of the fabrial. So the bigger fabrial machines and etc are going to need large gemstones. I do think research into both could occur. My one issue with mining is it would still be a depreciating resource, especially when it is confirmed by Brandon that the culling of the chasmfiends will be seen to have an effect, while synthetic gemstones would be more environmentally sound. So I could see mining and breeding being phased out in favor of synthetic gemstones, but I see no reason why research could not develop in both fields.

Considering what I wrote was a quote from your own post, I do not think it is boiling it down. And at no point do we interact with chemists that you state cannot exist. That just because we do not interact with them, they don't exist. So since we do not interact with these professional breeders you mention, then they must not exist. I disagree. Your method of breeding gemhearts from oversized creatures will not work in the immediate future. 1. how do you know that? 2. the wisdom of the heralds includes antiseptic and keeping clean to avoid contaminating bodies during surgery. That is from Pailah the surgeon. I do not think chemistry and geology would not be included among the wisdom of the heralds from Battar. But you seem to have access to information none of us have to know definitively what the wisdom of the heralds was and was not. Yet you are entirely confident to say what they do and do not know. What does that have to do with employing surges to aid in crystal creation? Going off of Urithiru you have television screens, elevators, environmental controls, teleportation, and food production but creating pressure and heat enough to create crystals is the problem? Having not seen how precisely division works, nor cohesion, I think it is a tall statement of yours to assert how they do work and what they cannot do. And surprise surprise, I already responded to this point multiple times. But to save myself time I will just bullet point it: 1. Scadrial to Metals 2. Roshar to Gems You are entitled to your opinion of breeding greatshells. I am entitled to mine of synthetic gemstones.

Thank you! That is my point regarding what Karger is saying to my theory. I literally took what he or she said, and plugged in the chasmfiend breeding theory in place of what he or she said regarding the synthetic gems theory. It proves nothing. Karger: "It clearly does not extend to the point where they can easily synthesize gemstones or they would already be doing it"

If it was possible to breed any shelled beast to increase the size of their gemheart, then they would already be doing it. Since they are not, and gemstones are important, for this is key, then they cannot breed them that way. Since they already have domesticated other shelled beasts, and harvest some of them for their gemhearts, then surely they would do the same for chasmfiends. Since they have not, and cleary it is important, then since they have not mentioned doing it, it must be impossible. That is the logic you present regarding chemistry and geology. That sounds an awful like the argument I was putting forward with the heralds, and using the surges, but I was still told my idea is impossible. So because they did not use those flammable substances in that particular instance, other flammable substances are impossible to exist, so they must have not have the knowledge of geology. Great, in your opinion synthetic gemstones wouldn't work. I disagree. To each their own.

But we don't have anyone saying that is what they are doing, so if it was easy enough to do, they should already be doing it. Since we do not have any mention of them doing it, they must not be doing it nor can they do it. That is the logic you are using about their level of knowledge with chemistry and geology. Because you have not seen them doing it already, they must not be doing it, nor can they do it. Yet Adolin has dealt with a chasmfiend on numerous occasions and views it as an impossibility. Later on he does not even believe that Shallan saw a chasmfiend because: "Shallan, if you'd seen a live one, you'd have surely been killed!" Read just a few sentences further in that scene and Dalinar states he wants a pyre. Not blow it up. He wants it to burn. And I disagree. I do not think it is impossible, and it is certainly not compared to breeding chasmfiends. At least that is my opinion. Clearly as stated multiple times we are speaking past each other and will not see eye to eye on this subject.

France loves eating foie gras. It is only rare in the United States, and other select countries that have outlawed the practice as inhumane. In France there are still numerous farms that do so daily. Utters are not internal organs. At least that is my rationale. There is a shelled animal that is raised for its meat and the heliodors it produces to soulcast meat. If breeding larger creatures for larger gemhearts was easy, or if breeding shelled animals to create larger and larger gemhearts was easy, then clearly they would already be doing it. So since we have not seen them doing so, or speaking of such, clearly it must be impossible. See the issue with that logic? Little further in the same exact scene: "Just a small list of impossibilities" Considering the rains from highstorms, maybe oil is the best for an army to carry. They did not originally intend to burn the Rift. Perhaps the oil is for other uses, and Dalinar got the idea to use it for that. One does not preclude the other. Just because they didn't use an explosive you have in your mind, does not mean it does not exist, or is impossible. I agree. All I am saying is one way I could see them going. I was then told by Karger it is impossible. So I was stating why I do not think it is impossible. I whole heartily agree. They already do that to a degree. They rotate infused and dun spheres as lighting in highways behind cages. Money lenders have cages for them to be infused during a highstorm, and charge a nominal fee to infuse them for you. Their entire economy is dependent on gemstones. Soon their entire technology will be dependent on them, if it isn't already.

it is exaggerating when you say "make new systems of knowledge", when you already said we do not know the extent of their knowledge in that field. Quote and Page please! You deduced all this based on the apparent absence of things, but you just said you cannot prove a negative. Just because we have not see it yet does not mean it does not exist yes? There is extrapolation and then conflation. The statements you are making are not reasonable to me based on the information we have. I already mentioned this. Scadrial has technology in metallurgy far exceeding what they should have considering their technological Era, because of the importance of metal in their society. I am saying it would make sense to me that Roshar would have technology further along regarding gemstones far exceeding what they should have considering their technological Era, because of the importance of gemstones in their society.

I still feel foie gras would be the better example as it is the artifical enlargement of an organ to sizes that far exceed what is natural for the animal for harvesting. Such an enlargement that results in rampant health problems for the animal. I thought the scenario we were working with was as of the end of oathbringer? If we are talking about anything on Roshar, including a literal shard, then anything is possible. Cultivation could create gemstones for kicks. Won't need to breed or synthesize. Or how about just have the stormfather directly fuel all the fabrials always with investiture.

You know they mine, yet you said in a prior post they did not. That is exaggeration and conflation. That is why it is frustrating for me to present quotes and WoB, and then you state things like this All the same, would love to see the quote and or WoB. You say we do not know what this study entails, and yet feel confident enough to state what it does not entail. So if you are so sure it does not include it, then please show evidence from the book or WoB that says as much We do not know that. Again conflation. Because you do not see one thing, then by extension it means all of this, when you do not have any references to back it up. When you can provide all I asked for, I will be happy to. @ZenBossanova And those animals have health problems, but as I said, take out the ethics of it. I think a better analogy would be foie gras. The forceful enlargement of the goose's fatty liver to extreme proportions. The geese frequently die before they get near the size the farmers are aiming at. Now require the liver to be triple that size. Have someone put a balloon in your chest where it doesn't belong, and have it steadily inflate. What happens to your organs? Your ribcage? The entire chest cavity? Brandon is saying because of their size, they cannot make one, so their body has evolved to not have to account for its inclusion. If you find a way to breed it to occur, the chest cavity is going to get more and more distorted. I personally do not see it as viable. But as this is all theoretical, to each their own.

So I have seen this said in a lot of reviews, and after playing both, I am inclined to agree. Awakening has a much better story than Fates in just about every way. Fates is better (in my opinion) than Awakening regarding mechanics because they fixed a lot of gameplay and added more customization. So if you want to play both, play Awakening first, because you will enjoy the story more, and when you get to Fates, you will enjoy the gameplay more. I did the reverse against such advice, and ended up mostly ignoring the story of Fates, and then when I switched to Awakening, getting used to mechanics that I liked no longer existing was annoying. Regarding Three Houses, I have been quite for a bit because I have been playing while not playing lol. Basically I really love making character builds and interactions, so I have been busy researching the classes, combat arts, hidden talents, and personal skills of my class to come up with unique builds for everyone so when I start playing the game, I can take maximum advantage of every moment of the calendar to bring my builds to fruition. So far I got planned: Bernadetta: Wyvern Lord (vantage with massive crits and dmg when life is low) Linhardt: Holy Knight (Tank via Nosferatu) Ferdinand: War Master (Dodge Tank using fists for healing and increased avoid) Hubert: Dark Knight (Authority/Gambit focus with dark magic debuffs) Dorothea: Dancer (buff with dance, while white magic adds healing, and increases her avoid for survivability. Kind of like Primrose from Octopath) Petra: Assassin (focus on crit and lethality) Caspar: Great Knight (Tank) Catherine (probably pick her up if I can, haven't checked if she will ally with black eagles or not yet): keep her as swordmaster Flayn: Might make mortal savant. Still trying to understand what combat art you get, because some charts list a bunch with "or" separating them, so I do not know if you can choose among them, or it depends on other circumstances. Shamir: Bow Knight Almost done, then I can play in ernest! Though I have not decided yet who I want to recruit from other houses, or even if I want to, because I kind of want to keep replaying interesting with new units each time. So don't know yet.

Personally a view slit would not change that the main line the lurcher would see would go to the surrounding tank, and not outside, and thereby be unable to pull on the metal bullets, due to as I already showed interference with the surrounding metal (the examples I gave with Wax). But to each their own.

Its been awhile since I have read it, but I could have sworn there is a touching scene between Vin and either Elend or Sazed (or both), where she laments releasing Ruin, and blaming herself.

I agree. I could see it working out similar to Elantris Spoilers I have read a theory that Kadash would end up a knight radiant. I think that would be an interesting read, and would show an interesting juxtaposition with how Dalinar dealt with it, versus how Kadash would deal with it.

So I voted for elsecaller because I am biased and I love the idea of teleportation with matter transformation. Now having said that, from what I have read Lightweavers seem pretty powerful. Now a lot of this is theoretical but the potential of making solid illusions could open a whole wide range of possibilities, coupled with potentially shooting lasers and harmful waves? In the right creative hands, that can be horrifying.

Except I did in fact show a quote from a book where geology is among their required education. I have referenced scenes that prove they do mine for ores. And I have referenced scenes where they do forge. So to say they have no understanding of geology is far fetched to me. So if you feel they lack in geology versus every other scientific study, then I would like some sort of proof to back up your assertion, especially when that assertion is being made to say what I put forward is impossible. Type synthetic gemstones. Type how were synthetic gemstones made. Type history of synthetic gemstones. I am sorry if at times I get tired of presenting research, only for it to be discarded by statements with nothing to back it up. I am requesting in our discussion, that you bring more book quotes and WoB. Thank you. None of the radiants Navani has access to at the moment has cohesion, so it would not make sense for her to: 1. know how it works 2. reason that that was how it was made that way 3. disregard other avenues of research in favor of the one option that as 1 and 2 mentioned, she does not understand nor have access to (if Taln regains lucidity, and if Taln bonds a stoneward spren, or if they find Taln's vanished honorblade, or if a stoneward pops up, or if Venli ends up a willshaper and joins team kholin early, then I could see Navani experimenting with cohesion. but presently none of those are true) Then I guess we read that WoB differently. I read it as there are creatures that are too small, that even if they could create a gemheart, because of their size they are unable to. That in order to form a gemheart of a large size, the body creating it has to be a large size. I would liken it to the size of any other organ. A whale understandably has a larger heart than a human. It needs that size to maintain its bodily functions. Conversely an enlarged heart, is actually a dangerous condition for humans, and can result in death. So to me, even if this could potentially occur (which as per my reading of the WoB, I believe it cannot), then we also do not know the health issues an enlarged gemheart taking up space where normally it did not, would cause. Storms, let us even taking out the ethics of it. Forget if the animal suffers. We have no idea if the body could maintain the enlarged gemheart long enough for it to reach the desired size before the creature dies. Keep in mind the size of a gemheart (at least the extra big one that was cut out of the chasmfiend at the hunt) is the size of a man's head. Please refer to the earlier picture I showed at the size contrast between a person's head and the size of a chasmfiend. We are talking about a size differential similar to an adult human body to a kidney stone. So I personally do not see creatures the size of chulls surviving a breeding regime that would result in them producing gemhearts of that size.

And you have proof of this? Dig some more. If you can just state levels of knowledge of cultures without anything to back it up, why should i have to present the sources of my own research? Yet the WoB you mentioned yourself says otherwise The society on whole did not have access to the information. It most certainly matters. The gemstones themselves are nothing special. They are gemstones. Just like the metals themselves are nothing special. What they allow access to, what they act as a gateway to is the investiture. the type of gemstone and color is what acts as the gateway. Just like metals. So gemstones can be melted down, because they are normal gemstones. Right, and again, as I said, it appears that the gemstones were melted together. So one possible way to replicate the pillar? Melt gemstones together. Oh look we have the surge of division from Malata for that. Lets see what happens when we melt a bunch of gemstones. Let us examine the precipitate. What could that lead to? I am saying that would lead to experimentation, much like what happened in the real world, towards synthetic gemstones.

So all these magical new fabrials will totally make breeding chasmfiends easier, but no way shape or form could possibly be used to develop or research creating synthetic crystals. And that is great that you believe that. I disagree. Remember saying we are speaking past each other? Dr. Clark was the first one, and he did so by melting rubies, not realizing what he did when they merged into one bead. Shallan as well as others mentioned metals and ores being mined from the earth. That was the whole reason for her stealing Jasnah's soulcaster. To create false veins of ore and minerals for her house to mine to regain solvency. So metal and ores in the earth on Roshar are a thing. Yet the metals were most definitely regulated as per the novels and WoB. Remember the hidden caches with metals written on them that no one knew about? Doesn't matter what it actually is. You see a giant gemstone fused of multiple gemstones. You know the surges helped create it. Surges you now have access to. You know the pillar does something. Find ways to replicate it. Maybe melt gemstones together. Boom. And yet there is a giant fused gemstone looking pillar that might be able to do something. Seems like something to try. Oh wait melting did something different than expected. what is this? maybe if we experiment further.....in other words the same thing that happened in real life.

As per the scene with Kaladin, Shallan, and the chasmfiend, I very much disagree. What fabrial are you referring to? The detection one with Rysn? That required a tripod to be set up, and was extreme fragile? Pairing fabrials? Conservaton of force is maintained, you would still need a way to move something the size of a chasmfiend. If you mean the fabrials that draw water towards itself, how is that going to help in tracking/following a chasmfiend? You going to be able to repel the giant boulders flying around and the wind while tracking a chasmfiend and still somehow make sure it is unaware of your presence so you can study how it functions in the wild and then replicate that? And I disagree First of all, the Lord Ruler did what he could to limit technological advance, and hide information. Secondly Wax talks about how alloys are interesting because even the tiniest addition of something outside can completely change the composition of an alloy. You can have a magnetic one, become inert. You can have an inert one, become magnetic. You can have steel, but without the correct allomantic percentages, you will kill the guy paying you for making it. Certain metals require various levels of heat in order to make. Why do you think bronze was a thing for so long? Again, I disagree. The same is very true for Roshar. The first person to experiment with making synthetic gemstones did so by accident by melting rubies. Where else have we seen gemstones seemingly melted or fused together? Oh wait! The pillar in the bottom of Urithiru. Navani mentions how amazing it would be if that pillar got infused. There is a theory right there. Hmmmm gemstones can clearly be fused together into a larger core. Lets figure out how they was done! The radiants clearly could do it. Lets try experimenting with the surges! We are already coming up with ideas using gravitation. Why not division from Malata? Why not pressure from Kaladin? You are entitled to disagree, but this is not open and shut as you posit. It is entirely possible. You mean the type of formal education all light eyed women and ardents get on Roshar? And it is interesting how the discovery came about by accident due to melting rubies. So highly unlikely that again, it happened by accident without any intention for that to be a result. Aluminum is mine-able. It is just difficult to do so without electrolysis, which is why soulcasting it is easier. I gave an example above as to why melting it would come up. Yes it would be identified, because that is what experimentation is. The beginning of synthetic gemstones began with the melting of rubies, and then them re solidifying. The subsequent experiments involved throwing in different chemicals, and levels of heat to create different gemstones of various quality. If once not working was enough to give up, then synthetic gemstones would not be a thing in our world nonetheless any other. Doesn't matter what I would do. What matters is what she is doing. Which is researching into the surges, and ancient fabrial tech to see how they work and what can be done with it.

Size of gemheart is directly related to the size of the creature. WoB below. Size of creature is dependant on symbiosis with the correct spren. Also WoB below. Questioner I was wondering if the Chasmfiends have... like their own Gemhearts... Brandon Sanderson Yes. Questioner It's probably not a coincidence that emeralds that can hold most of the Stormlight. So are Chasmfiends, do they take energy from Stormlight? Brandon Sanderson Yes, yes, yes, yes. That's part. Questioner So there is a huge energy source there, they can supply it with eating so... Brandon Sanderson It is actually most beneficial during their metamorphisis, as you'll notice that the chrysalises are not as big as they get, and so yeah. They depend on the Stormlight and they depend on the Spren that they are bonded to keep them from crushing themselves. So Chasmfiends couldn't exist off world for multiple reasons. Questioner I'm guessing that for Chasmfiends the absorption of Stormlight is different because there is a whole shell thing that is thick. Brandon Sanderson Yup, yup. Leipzig Book Fair (March 24, 2017) Yata In Oathbringer will we discover how the type of a gemheart is decided? (what polestone you will find once the gemheart is gathered) I have this doubt for months and probably is a really not relevant think but I have the constant feel of "I am missing something" Brandon Sanderson You're asking why certain species have emerald gemhearts, while others have a different type of gemstone? Yata In the end yes. Actually, I was even unsure if a specific species had a specific polestone as gemheart. In the books is never esplicity stated but (in-world) nobody ever asked what kind of polestone is retrieved after the death of a chasmfield (as if it was obvious fact) but I had not actually confirmations until now Brandon Sanderson Note that there are some species that vary. But many do not, which is what made chasmfiends so valuable. Stormlight Three Update #4 (Sept. 30, 2016) Yados Between the Parshendi and the Alethi harvesting gemhearts, how long has it been since a chasmfiend got to finish pupating? Brandon Sanderson Aha. I wondered if someone would ask that. Much like whaling in our own world, there is a big ecological price building for what is going on here. You are right to worry about this. 17th Shard Forum Q&A (Sept. 26, 2012) Questioner Is it only greatshells that have gemhearts, or do all crustaceans on Roshar have some sort of gem inside? And if it is only greatshells then are their unique decayspren related to this fact? Brandon: They're not only greatshells, but not ever crustacean has a gemheart, at least not of the style that would be of any relevance to you. Some have the same sort of chemistry going on in their body, they're just too small to have it coalesce into a gemheart. And the gemheart is related to how-- particularly the greatshells, can grow to get so big. Salt Lake ComicCon FanX 2016 (March 26, 2016) Edit: there is also this point Jasnah makes about how when they thought the lanceryn was dead, they thought that was the last of gemhearts that size. Way of Kings page 526 "You should have seen our shock when we discovered where they'd gotten them. When the lanceryn died off during the scouring of Aimia, we thought we'd seen the last gemhearts of large size. And yet here was another great-shelled beast with them, living in a land not too distant from Kholinar itself. "

Follow.....a chasmfiend......around......with highstorms a thing......Sure that sounds super easy. Electricity was not what replaced whale oil. It was the petroleum industry and vegetable oils that did. When whaling became an issue, other means were researched and took off. I see no fallacy. Adolin and Shallan discussed how the constant chasmfiend hunts are going to have a negative impact. Brandon confirmed this via WoB that it already has and we will see the impact soon. It is mentioned repeatedly throughout the books how other great shells have been harvested to extinction (or apparent extinction). The reason why the shattered plains became such a big thing is they harvested their own great shells to extinction, so they jumped to another. Much like our history with whales. They have the scientific background, they have the focus, they have the means (surges), and they have the intel (heralds). I see no reason why synthetic gems could not be a thing. But as you said we are talking past each other. Clearly we will not see eye to eye. Here is the WoB regarding Scadrial and metallurgy yafeshan I am space nerd with a love of fantasy, so; Why is Scadrial prime example planet to invent space travel. Is its allomancy/ferruchemy/hemalurgy combination more suitable for that kind of technology or do they have other incentives to invent space travel other than regular technology development? Is it related to the intervention of unknown metal/shard/beings we saw? Brandon Sanderson There are a bunch of reasons. The most technologically advanced of the planets (Taldain) is extremely isolationist because of its Shard, while Harmony is very interested in the progress of his people. Scadrial has an advanced understanding of metallurgy, and for many years was quietly open to visitors from across the cosmere. In the modern era, that has enhanced. It's a much safer place to visit than, say, Sel, Threnody, or First of the Sun. There are other reasons, too, which we'll get into as the world progresses. Having some prominent cosmere-aware people pulling strings behind the scenes is a big help. If you know other worlds are out there, and are populated, then you're more likely to push toward space travel. Stormlight Three Update #6 (Feb. 8, 2017) So I am going to highlight your suppositions that you are presenting as fact, when we have no evidence of any of that. Secondly, gemstones provide illumination, money, and power their technology as well as radiants use them for stormlight storage. No difference with metal and allomancers. If anything there is a greater reason for Roshar. You are exaggerating what I wrote. I never said overnight. I said it would accelerate.

They know where Chasmfiends lay their eggs? Because I distinctly remember it mentioned in the book that they do not. They know where the juveniles hang out? Because again I distinctly remember they do not. They know the migration patterns of the chasmfiends because again I distinctly remember they do not. They know what a chasmfiend has to do to prepare itself for chrysalis? Because once more I distinctly remember it mentioned in the book that they do not. Yep, I agree we are talking past each other, because can you provide me the evidence that supports your claims? Where does it say Scadrians knew where to go while Rosharans won't? How does putting gas in the car result in people thinking of ways to produce biofuel from corn? Show me the road map between the two there, and why that would be beyond the Rosharans? By all means continue to use the existing route of wiping out the chasmfiends. Brandon has said he drew on whaling for inspiration for that. Did we find a way to breed whales for their oil? Nope. We found alternative means of producing or alternative sources of attaining it. So too for Roshar. But as you said, we are talking past each other, so not sure what would be gained from continuing this.

As I mentioned earlier, Scadrial was pre-industrial yet they developed metallurgy that far exceeded what they should have had at that point. Why? Necessity is the mother of invention. Metals are hugely important on Scadrial. So what do people do? They focus on developing it. Nobles pay premier for the best metals, so it would behoove metallurgists to produce better quality, more efficiently. Mixing metals. Developing new alloys. Finding new ways. So too for Roshar. Gemstones power fabrials. Gemstones provide renewable illumination. Gemstones provide renewable power. Gemstones are money. They are jewelry. Again, as mentioned above, the surge pressure anyone? There is your vacuum. They wouldn't be looking for gold from lead, when with a soulcaster (that uses gemstones) can do exactly that. So once again necessity. And this is still somehow easier to do than researching and producing gemstones via chemistry and surges? Do you have a reason to learn how to synthesize gemstones? Did you go to college with a focus on chemistry and geology because you wanted to learn more about gemstones? Again necessity. Gemstones means power and money. Gunpowder has no practical use on Roshar. The highstorms would ruin it. WoB support that. At this point I feel like I am a parrot. Gemstones are of huge import on Roshar. With the fabrial boom, research will explode in that direction. For instance we are experiencing a shortage in oil supply across the globe. What has occurred in response? Alternative fuel research. We have people looking into corn oil fuel, synthetic fuel, electricity and many more. So too will Roshar. I whole heartily agree. Using the surges would accelerate their capabilities a hundred fold.

The gemhearts are harvested when the chasmfiend goes into a chrysalis. That is the size of a chasmfiend when it goes into a chrysalis. They need to allow it to grow that big in order for the gemheart to get to the size they desire. So again, not sure how you are going to keep a creature that size in captivity. Not to mention keep multiple of them considering you are aiming to breed them. Elephants and whales do not do well in captivity on our world. How exactly are they supposed to do that to something twice, three, or even four times that size? So the quote from the book about all scholars having a basis in chemistry being required is not having any experience? The prior desolations mention the heralds teaching medicine, forging and etc. "The wisdom of the heralds". Taln came to himself when Dalinar united the realms. Navani and Jasnah are going to be asking Shallash all sorts of things. There is also Battar and Pailah. So to me developing technology to produce synthetic gemstones, on a world where gemstones are supremely important, makes more sense than trying to breed in captivity something this size: