The Sovereign

First, excellent theory, I've actually had a similar thought process bouncing around regarding Hoid's lesson to Shallan. Regarding Dalinar, yes, asterisk. She says to him that she will prune him so he can grow but that she COULD be making a weapon for Odium. I would interpret this as her reading the future and seeing a diverging path for Dalinar where either possibility is possible. I would guess that she foresaw that pruning Dalinar to prepare him had the best chance of successfully undermining Rayse. As for Mr.T, I would assume that yes, it is a similar intervention. I suspect that Cultivation is making subtle pushes where she can to undermine Odium. Mr. T's actions greatly affect how Dalinar acts so it is possible that the Diagram is means of forcing Dalinar's hand by essentially reshaping the world (politically, economically, etc.). This could also be Cultivation picking the playing field that she wants. With that said, the line in the Diagram that Renarin is the key makes me think that while each of these nudges have large effects on each other that really they are both just small moves in the larger game the Cultivation is playing to combat Odium.

I'm currently reading 4: Channelate The Draw Play Retail Comic Lunar Baboon

How is this even a debate?

Well, in romance languages Toaster is a masculine word. [El Tostador, Il Tostapane, Le Grille-pain, O Torradeira, La Torradora]

Out of curiosity, which WoB are you referring to? the Oathbringer signings in general have been particularly enlightening, maybe even disproportionately so, compared to recent ones.

I've been re-reading Arcanum Unbounded recently and was reminded of this scene from Secret History: I had really enjoyed this scene in Hero of Ages, but I think I actually like it even better from the Secret History perspective: Secret History:

OB Spoilers: Looks like I was wrong per @RShara and @Windrunner apparently it is Yelig-Nar.

OB Spoilers:

Sigzil. His logic based analytical thought process is very similar to how I think, so I find him really relatable (Hrathen too for that matter, not that this is relevant here).

Someone had Brandon draw the tattoo in a signed Oathbringer but I'm having trouble finding the picture. It is a like a drunk Horneater or something like that.

We know via WoB that it is related that he knows via Feruchemy. It should be noted however that in more recent WoBs Brandon has said that he never confirmed that Hoid is using Feruchemy. My guess would be that he is using a Yolish version of Feruchemy that is mechanically similar but not exactly the same (think Aon-Dor Lightweaving vs Rosharan Lightweaver or Bloodmaking vs Stormlight Healing). He is likely most likely tapping Fortune.

I'm pretty good with Chinese, but I actually barely speak a word of Japanese. I am pretty familiar with both cultures though. Do you want to stick to SciFi/Fantasy? A couple of recommendations: Wasteland of Time by Bao Shu: is a good read, the story follows the life of a college student as the world more or less collapses around him due to a problem with an experiment with the large Hadron collider that causes time to reset to a certain point every 24 hours or so. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin: This one I would highly recommend. It takes place during the Chinese cultural revolution. The government makes contact with Aliens and they come to invade Earth as their own planet is dying. The story is mostly about groups of people on earth trying to help the Aliens as they see the world as corrupt and groups who are planning to fight the invasion. To be fair, Three-Body Problem doesn't really fit the category of unknown in the States (it actual won a Hugo in like 2014) but it is an excellent read. As for what is popular over there, this is hard to say. The Chinese government has been particularly ban-crazy the last 5 or so years in the realms of Sci-Fi and Fantasy so there just isn't a ton in the genre coming out of China (For example; anything with time travel is now banned). And culturally they really like American and European literature/shows/etc. (Did you know "Friends" is the most popular TV show in China among people 30 and younger?)

There is the slight problem of removing the Gemheart instantly killing the Singer.

Work has been particularly slow since a few days before Christmas and I expect it will remain that way until after New Year's day. In light of that, I thought it was appropriate to revive this thread.

I've gotta agree with @Del-light-full here @NamelessThirteenth, not to argue semantics, but words tend to be subject to their definitions. Gender is by definition a social construct. Sex, on the other hand is indeed biological.

Pattern would like a word with you.

Fixed that for you per my pal Marsh's words.

Not sure on Ham but here are a few more: Beldre: Lady Truth Yomen: The Last Obligator Tyndwyl: Mother of Terris (Not technically an originator but still...)

They both are. Back 5 (In no particular order): Renarin, Jasnah, Lift, Taln, Ash.

Thank you, I appreciate it and look forward to hearing my RAFO . @JoyBlu, Sorry I don't have my BoM copy at the moment. But it is around half way through the book at the party just after they arrive in New Seran.

Kalphrena rolls off the tongue quite a bit be better than Syladin.

Could someone at the signing ask this question for me? In Bands of Mourning when Hoid says he thinks he technically owns the place at Kelesina's mansion is he referring to the mansion or Scadrial as a whole?

Elantris:

The man in blue is Ishar and the crystal dress woman is Ash.