lyht

It is confirmed that there is a single author: http://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=988#10

Yup: http://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=632#4 and we know it's not Hoid http://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=1076#13

I would love to join. I like thinking about stuff, and have opinions on almost everything. So... do I just follow this topic then?

Your arguments are compelling, and as such I cannot dismiss them out of hand. However, with this single example, it is very difficult to extrapolate what kind of being might be behind the changes and what their purpose would be. Fortunately, the mere fact you have shone a light on it's actions should cause this creature to become more cautious (or clever) with it's future activities, and give us some room to discover it's purpose. You mention you have seen other changes and alterations. Perhaps if you share some of those as well, others of us can begin the quest of research, comparison and evaluation. While none of us may have the benefit of "years in solitude or the incredible memory for comparisons", together we can achieve what no single person can. However, we must keep the goal in mind, to determine the true nature of the threat. You express grave concern, and insist that Brandon must never be allowed to finish the Cosmere story, lest the terrible creature behind this problem be released. I believe this premature. We don't yet have enough information to make such extreme assumptions or demands of Brandon. So, to help guide the effort of determining the true nature of the threat, allow me to describe some possibilities as I see them. Of course, these will change as more information comes to light. Brandon is the source of these changes. The possible reasons for this are varied. perhaps there are aspects of the Cosmere that he does not quite want us to understand because the power that comes with that knowledge is too great. Perhaps the Cosmere itself is changing as we speak, and Brandon simply documents what exists even as it shifts and changes. Some other human (i.e. Peter) is the source. In addition to the reasons listed above for Brandon, the reasons here could shift into the nefarious. Perhaps someone wishes to keep specific knowledge or power to him/herself. However, both of the above options become more complicated if we discover examples of changes outside of the books, where it does not seem possible that a mortal human could gain access. Unless those we assume are mortal with no magical abilities are not what they seem. Other possibilities: A benevolent being is the cause. If the being is benevolent, we could assume the purposes is one that is to our benefit. Perhaps the changes are corrections to minor mistakes invariably made by mortal humans, changes to draw us closer to the truth. A malevolent being is at fault. This, of course, is the great fear. It's purpose can't be for our good, and most likely would be to our detriment. But such a creature would also have a mode of operation filled with deception, manipulation, and trickery. When we take action, how can we be sure we are not doing exactly what the being desires. Perhaps this creature is already out and free, but knowledge of the Cosmere puts it's existence at risk. It will do whatever it must to keep the story from being complete, including causing doubt it it's validity or concern that it's completion would cause us harm. This is a problem of possible great concern and we should apply our vast resources to finding additional information and examples so we can determine the true nature of the threat. But we should be careful to avoid jumping to conclusions before we have enough information to keep from falling to the very foe we seek to avoid.

I think shardblades are quite a bit more practical. Easy to carry, much easier to control. However, it seems to me that Nightblood crazy more powerful. He often killed without even coming out. So, better? I dont know. I think we will see some fights between the two. But I would much rather have a shardblade. Nightblood is just scary.

I think the danger of the Shardpool is actually a symptom of the same problem, but not the problem itself. It is actually difficult to get to Sel as well as leave it. The Cognitive Realm is very dangerous on Sel. It has to do with a lack of an entry controlling the Shardic power. http://theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=944#7 It seems to me that the power tried to find an outlet, and for lack of anything else, humans can be that outlet. But as we have seen often, to much power consumes and destroys you. Makes me wonder how Hoid got there. Does he have another method for Worldhopping? I think he might, but who knows what. Or maybe he was there before the splintering of Devotion and Dominion. But then how did he get off? Or maybe he had figured out how to deal with the danger.

1) Are you talking about the Donor or the Recipient? I have not been able to verify it 100%, but it seems that hemalurgy may require the death of the donor in every case. On the Recipient side, we do have Marsh as an example. He has been around a very long time, but we have not seen enough of him to really know what impact hemalurgy has had. Most of the impact from hemalurgy that has been documented is not the impact from hemalurgy directly but from the influence it allowed Ruin to have over the recipient. If you can get your hands on the Mistborn Adventure Game, it has the most extensive information I have found on all three of the metallic arts, in the section titled "The Treatise Metallurgic." While I don't know if we have final verification from Brandon if we can treat it as cannon, he oversaw the project and has comments throughout, so I personally run with it as mostly cannon. It states things like "the Hemalurgic arts... gradually warp the body, mind, and soul of anyone who benefits from them." It also describes the possible effects of stealing specific abilities. 2) I agree with Moogle's assessment on color.

Yah, that is interesting isn't it. It gives us a clue that Hoid's healing ability is different that most others we have seen. We have a few WoB on the subject:

So the line felt long when I saw him, so I only asked him a quick little question (about Hoid and White Sand). I was lamenting the fact I have a bunch of questions I would like answered to my siblings, and my sister said "Maybe he would respond to an email, cuz how else are you going to get your questions answered? Maybe I could ask him for you. We are best friends you know."

He hasn't really talked much about how shadows of self fit in his plans that I have seen, but I kinda thought it was basically finished, only because the sample chapter seems so polished.

Oh. Pm me too!

I believe Mraize is a worldhopper (He is an obvious "wanderer"), and he is blatantly involved in the politics and happening of the society, so I think he is more well known as a mover and shaker and important person than Hoid. Which is why I think Androtagia thinks the quote refers to him. I mean, other than Jasnah and Kaladin, and maybe Dalinar, who would imagine Wit to be someone the Diagram would reference directly. However, Hoid seems much more of a wild-card than Mraize. Hoid is the one that makes no sense.

Um... welcome? And if you have a chance to see old Taravangian (or Vangy as his friends call him), let him know I found something wrong with the Diagram. An error over by the lamp.

Page 968 (end of chapter 80) in Words of Radients. Elokar calls them Shadows. I thought they were cryptics also.

No, but we do know quite a bit from Brandon. Ask questions over in the Elantris topic.

That's funny. Felt was the top of my list, but try searching through an e-book for "felt". Personally, I am not convinced, but I will put it on my list of "maybes". EDIT: Oh, and I forgot, one more fun thing as part of this, some of the people from Roshar we have been talking about could be on the list: http://theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=1068#11

I musta missed that. I will have to do some digging. EDIT: Well... after some digging, I can find nothing. So... no idea.

For all we know, all the Harolds could be... but we don't have any clear evidence.

My count of world-hoppers on Roshar is a little higher:

Right now, I think that is how much impact he is supposed to have on the story. He is supposed to be an extra, a bonus. Just an easter egg for those that are willing to watch out for him, but not much of a distraction for those that know nothing of him. Later, when he gets his own stories, that will change.

Ruin and Preservation were not splintered. They were just unheld power. I think that makes a big difference. How do you take investiture out of a spren or seon? Or nightblood?

Welcome. Read Emperor's Soul if you have a chance. It is a Novella, but one of my favorite stories from Brandon. Also, don't overlook the rest of his stuff. Steelheart and the Rithmatist are both excellent, and I look forward to January when Firefight (which is a follow up to Steelheart) comes out.

Brandon has said the second set of five books will be a different set of main characters.

The 3 seem fairly obvious as shards. However, does the broken one have to be one of those three? I wondered if instead it is the storm father, who is a broken splinter of one of the three.

Interesting. Here is another quote that might lend some evidence: (Second letter, Words of Radiants)