Shardcellist

The stratification does seem to be based on one-handed and two-handed activities, but it was in order to allow men to gain control over Shardblades. As far as Shardblade fighting goes, Adolin mentions that fighting two-handed with a Shardblade is a lot stronger. (Specifically, he mentions one-handed fighting as a weakness of Flamestance.) While it is possible (and some stances are based off of doing it this way), it is usually better to fight two handed. For drawing and writing, we have mention of lighteyed ladies steadying the page with their safehand. Music is a bit of a conundrum (flutes are also seen in The Way of Kings) but in a different passage Dalinar notes how lighteyed women got very adept at using only one hand. I would assume that the safehand was again used to hold the instrument while the freehand played. (Also, words like "harp" and "flute" are relatively generic; Kaladin's commentary as Hoid plays his flute makes the Alethi version seem more like a modern recorder, and historic instruments by the same name at times vary quite differently from their modern counterparts. WOB:

First of all, the word I used was "meaningless," not "worthless." The difference between those two is both tiny and as vast as the world itself all at once. From what I gather, you agree that currency, for the most part, is meaningless beyond the fact that it is mutually agreed as valuable. Nothing is worthless unless people decide it is so. And, of course, the right Feruchemical alloy should be able to store your flock of sheep in a manner that is easy to carry around. As for the atium boycott, it doesn't have to be feasible, merely theoretically possible. We philosophers need not be practical, as long as we do so in a dignified manner, of course. Although, this is why I said it would have to be strictly enforced. But no, hypothetical situations are a distraction. Deviation. Atium economics. We must discuss the nature of atium economics.

Well, I'm no expert (I discovered the Cosmere accidentally when I found the 17th Shard), but Brandon Sanderson has given a lot of information at book signings, interviews, etc. that people have compiled on this and other websites. This is where a lot of the information is tied together. As far as books go, there is a lot in the Stormlight Archive and Hero of Ages if you are looking for it, although I also was unable to connect it merely from the novels. As to who figured it out first, I cannot help you (although Peter Ahlstrom is always a pretty safe bet...). I would assume more astute readers than I with better connections to Mr. Sanderson started asking questions and receiving answers. And went on to blow our minds.

That is a very good point, and one that I failed to address completely. Upvote for you! I think, however, that you are missing a big part of the main point. That final question was meant as a thought-provoker, something to start the discussion. It was really more of a postscript (I will fix that and make it clearer). If I misunderstood your point, that is my fault. It is a great commentary on the economics of atium and makes it more clear that its value is really only realized by the Great Houses, While the Lord Ruler helped fuel this, HOA Spoiler he, being in charge of the supply, was for the most part unaffected. Your final point (it being a point of conflict for the nobility) is probably the real source of leverage any attempt to mutually-agreed avoidance of atium would contain; weakening the Lord Ruler's hold on the nobility and the general populace.

(Double posting to start the discussion) As far as I understand, the main point is that atium only retains its economic value to power Mistborn (usually members of a Great House), but when used is quickly destroyed. This creates a dichotomy where one tries to obtain atium solely for the purpose of using it if necessary, but tries to avoid using it as much as possible. Thus, from my point of view, atium is generally a psychological weapon (I have more atium than you do, so you don't want to attack me or earn the ire of my Mistborn), but the existence of multiple Great Houses (potential opponents) means that one would only want to use it as such (while I have more atium than you do, if I use mine to attack you than House Elarial will be able to take me out and overpower us both). Thoughts? Questions? For example: What happens if all of the Great Houses mutually agree to boycott all atium whatsoever? This would have to be strictly enforced (any breach would result in an arms race where everyone tried to grab enough atium to defend themselves, and the entire agreement would go out the window), but could result in pressure on the government (the Lord Ruler seems to depend on his atium, to a certain extent, to run his empire).

*Enter distinctive as-of-yet-to-be-composed Hamline opening theme music* "Greetings, ladies and gentlemen, nobles and skaa, Brightlords and Brightnesses; and welcome to The HAMLINE! Your local Cosmere philosophy panel, where we theorize, cause general annoyance to nearby Soothers, and discuss about philosophical issues raised in Sanderson novels. Today's topic was handed us by the Survivor himself, mentioned as one of our namesake's favorites. It is, therefore, our opening discussion. ________________________________________________________________________________________ General Information: The discussion as recommended by Kelsier to Vin was of atium economics in the Final Empire. The main points are as follows: During this period, the only generally known use of atium was Allomancy. Allomantic atium temporarily makes a Mistborn near-unbeatable, but burns extremely quickly. Supply and Demand: The atium supply was carefully controlled by the Lord Ruler. While later information tells us why (I will avoid HOA spoilers for the moment), it also provided the funding for the Final Empire. It was sold in limited amounts for exorbitant prices. The philosophy comes in when one takes into account that if a Mistborn burns his supply of atium, he rapidly burns through the most valuable resource around, spending a fortune in mere minutes. However, if he refrains from burning it, the atium's economic value is meaningless, since it only exists to power Mistborn (as far as all but the Lord Ruler and high-ranking individuals in his theocratic bureaucracy know). I will now turn the topic over to the panel for discussion. *General applause as the camera zooms in on the discussion table.*

Granted. You, however, always feel as if you are on the verge of sneezing. My curse is a constant itch on one of my toes. Give me a suitable wish.

We have a WOB that aluminum is just weird throughout the Cosmere. I'm not even sure that it is one of the sixteen basic Allomantic metals, but that's a discussion for another time. If ralkalest does turn out to be aluminum, then I think a stamp could be made of aluminum but that one couldn't stamp a piece of aluminum. After all, aluminum can be created by Soulcasting, but I would guess that it can't be Soulcast into something else. I guess someone needs to ask Brandon this.

I agree. I think you probably could, but it might have some interesting side effects. @Outis, I was pretty sure that ralkalest was just the local name for aluminum.

Well, I had practically finished with a semi-in depth post in another thread when I accidentally hit the back button and lost it. However, the bottoms of the boxes as I am posting always say they are automatically saving the content at certain times. For instance, at the bottom of this box it says "Last auto saved: 8:41:51 PM." Does anyone know how I can retrieve these? (If it was a one-time issue, I could just retype the post, but I am 83.64% sure I will manage to do this again in the near future, so I figure this could be a handy thing to know.) Also, a philosophical dilemma: Do I blame this on Voidbringers, the Nightwatcher, or windspren? (It was on the Stormlight Archive board.)

Granted; Marsh gives it to you in the form of a Hemalurgic spike. At least he will put it to good use somewhere around the Cosmere. I wish to become a double-chromium Twinborn and begin burning immediately, in which case I get one chance to find a loophole or some other way to circumnavigate whatever curse you feel inclined to give me.

It'll be back in 1024 years.

Roshar 18 Scadrial 18

Keep this Kala-din down, alright? I Shallan-ot be able to hear correctly after this torrent of bad puns; it feels as though someone is smashing my head with a Rock quite Elhok-hard, and I am seeing stars in my Gaz while just Lopen away. CalL-ir-in a surgeon!

This is pretty simple, but if you could think of another Feruchemical power, what would it be? Bonus upvotes in fifteen years if you call one that we discover in the third Mistborn trilogy... For example: Storing Time. This would produce a Cadmium/Bendalloy effect, though only for the Ferring. Storing Experience: Somewhat similar to Copper, this would store practice and experience in a given field as opposed to general knowledge, i.e. a pianist would store his sheet music in a Coppermind and his piano skill in his Thoriummind (The God Metal of an as-of-yet unseen Shard on the Shardworld Valhalla). Speculate!

Ashyn 6 Nalthis 8 Roshar 13 Scadrial 15 Sel 6 Taldain 8 Yolen 12 First of the Sun 9

When quotes from The Way of Kings come to your mind more often than Dalinar's...

First try, tell me if I do this wrong. Ashyn 8 Nalthis 9 Roshar 11 Scadrial 15 Sel 9 Taldain 10 Yolen 11 First of the Sun 9 Edit: Yep, I messed up.

I'm not saying it's not a metaphor; it probably is. I just noticed this in my latest reread of The Way of Kings and thought it might be interesting to discuss. As a center of politics or religion, these theoretical Pillars of the Sky would be central to Yolen and the Cosmere. That was just one thought; although unlikely, it was all that came to mind. @PunSpren, I really like that idea. I haven't read those, but an integral part of the Three Realms in the form of Pillars could prove to be interesting.

What did the one-armed Herdazian do to the people that kept making terrible puns? Nothing, he was 'armless.

While rereading The Letter, commonly attributed to Hoid, I noticed this phrase: "For I have never been dedicated to a more important purpose, and the very pillars of the sky will shake with the results of our war here. I ask again. Support me. Do not stand aside and let disaster consume more lives. I've never begged you for something before, old friend. I do so now.” Letter and Reply posted for reference: What do you think? Let open discussion reign!

This is correct. This thread was intended for fun, but I think we've had that; I see it changing into a more serious discussion, which is just fine with me. On that note, however, the original posts weren't meant to be doable. While this doesn't mean they aren't (I think they are possible, as kandra can be given other spikes, but I don't think that anyone except possibly Sazed has the know-how), they now seem to be less the point of discussion. To reiterate, (Shadows of Self Reading) and Alloy of Law Ars Arcanum @Moogle: I think that is a good point. After all, TLR knew Ruin was returning; handing him armies of Koloss along with overpowered Inquisitors was probably enough! So, fellow 17th Sharders, now is our chance! What are the Ars Arcanum author, Ironeyes, and others we don't yet know about planning? What roles will Hemalurgy take in the Cosmere? After all, there's always another secret!

Good point (just like a spike). I Hoid a good pun, but it lightweaved itself right out of my metalmind. Ruination! Yolen it out if you can think of it; those darn Dragonsteel every good pun I can think of.

"I would have Returned this thread, but it was unEndowed with a Splinter of skill in punning." Punbreaker the Awful Just trying to Va-Sher a pun with you all, but it seemed to fall flat. It's like I'm WOR spoiler