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I thought Adolin got his plate and blade from his mother's side of the family? Maybe I'm confusing it with something else but I'm fairly certain of that. Dalinar offering Renarin the next Plate he got on a plateau run was so surprising because he hadn't kept any of the other ones he got before, so it seems weird that he gave Adolin Plate and Blade but left his other son out to dry.

Concerning why the names changed. Maybe it was done on purpose? I'm totally blanking on the book title but when i was in middle school, i read a book (a trilogy actually) of a land where humans can become immortal, and it was done by them being recorded or something like that... It gets to a point where one of the characters purposely didn't let people paint pictures of him, and when they did, he had them do it with him wearing ridiculous clothes and have it look nothing like him. Not saying that the same thing is happening in with the Heralds, but maybe the person (possibly Shalash herself) destroying depictions of Shalash and the names getting different names change are connected? btw, would appreciate it if someone knew the book title. The times are set in like pre-industrial era type place with the first book having a war between the north and south. The 2nd book had different characters but had something to do with weaving or something... (sorry, middle school was seriously long ago for me..) The third book has a girl from a time with railroads, etc. somehow time travel back to meet the char. from book 1.

I thought Shadesmar and the Cognitive Realm were one and the same?

For me, as long as it comes out before 2/10/2013 (Year of the Snake begins) I'm fine.

I agree with you on the Turak scene and on The Dragon Reborn. I'm about half way through that one right now, and it's as difficult to go through as i remember. I don't believe it's ever been confirmed that Thom killed the King has it? Sure, it's a prominent theory but from what i can remember, nothing in the books ever confirm that, just shrouded in mystery. I don't know if there is an interview where Jordan confirms/denies it but somehow, I've always thought of it as a work of some Darkfriends (if this happened in The Lord of Chaos I would definitely say it was a Darkfriend but not...).

Yeah, and I feel Kaladin has been through a lot more traumatic and difficult experiences than Dalinar has. This probably forced along changes in his beliefs, etc. After Dalinar's betrayal by Sadeas, I think Dalinar will probably start manifesting as a KR.

It's interesting to say that stormlight is Honor's energy or essence or whatever (like the mists in mistborn?) But Szeth, who is NOT Surgebinding, is also using stormlight. How would you explain that?

Don't know about the face in the storm, unless we think of the boundary between the Physical and Cognitive Realms being thinned during a highstorm or perhaps that particular highstorm (does the face reside in all highstorms? or just some/just that one?). But from Shallan's experience with soulcasting, there is an implication of some form of pseudo-sentience in physical objects, their Cognitive aspect. I'm not sure if we should be calling that sentience, but something similar to it, yes. I mean if you can 'talk' with a goblet, why not a planet?

Maybe it has something to do with the Cognitive or Spiritual Realm/aspects? In WoK, when Shallan Soulcasts for the first time, she talks with what appears to be the Cognitive aspect of the goblet (the part where it says something on the line of: change? i can change, i haven't in so long but if you want...) So maybe there's a Cognitive Aspect to these Shardworlds? *shrug* just throwing ideas out there

Interesting, but I agree with KChan that there isn't enough evidence to really begin to know why the Seventeenth Shard is after Hoid. HOWEVER, IF you consider Hoid as the writer of The Letter.... Hoid says, "your friends of the Seventeenth Shard" and "I doubt that they have any inkling what to do with me should they actually catch me". From this, at the very least seems more likely that Hoid is NOT the founder of the Seventeenth Shard. Although he may still have been a member, it doesn't seem likely as he considers them through the recipient, not an answer to the Seventeenth Shard themselves but to someone who is connected to them, this creates a MUCH larger social distance and make it less likely he was a part of it, though not impossible. Also, Hoid was the apprentice of the 'original' Hoid right? I haven't read any of the Partinel stuff but well, dangers of General Theories section.. (I know it's irresponsible to consider those in theories as they aren't officially canonical but i think was mentioned in interview by Brandon?) This all doesn't help confirm whether they are trying to apologize or not, but it DOES seem that Hoid doesn't consider there to be any reason for them to be apologizing...

Very nice theory, I love it when i read a theory and I'm already going, "Dam, didn't think of that!" only half way through. Definitely an up vote. I don't think in this theory, the spren are necessarily simple pawns. Remember it's a TRADE powers for sentience. Syl talks about remembering a time before and knowing how she's the one changing Kaladin and it's a trade between her and him, his Surgebinding powers for sentience. I think this means that Syl was tied to a KR before. We get into, did spren exist before the Oathpact or perhaps because of it, but the fact that they gain sentience seems a good trade and something to note. Also, the fact that she's a windspren before gaining sentience means that Honorspren may be a status, or classification of evolved spren. So the truthspren may be considered honorspren too after they form a bond with Shallan or Jasnah. In the same way, I know fire is one of the other parts in Ars Arcanum (Dustbringers?), and Kaladin is a Windrunner of Jezerien (wind) right? or was it Taln, so i think it's possible firespren could become Honorspren too, etc. I'm not saying any and all spren can become Honorspren, just the ones tied to the Heralds, this goes with Surgebinding itself being modeled after the Heralds. This may mean there are something like Voidspren, if we follow this theory of balance, and consider Honorspren as a status/classification sort of thing. But maybe not, IF Szeth is Voidbinding and his apparent lack of spren companion, Voidbinding may not necessarily work in mirror junction as it was a 'forced' creation to balance out surgebindg. But I think this makes a lot of sense, considering the complete likeness of Syl as a windspren before, and what seems like Truthspren serving the same role with Shallan and probably Jasnah, and Elhokar with symbol spren? Seems just a little bit more plausible than a separate Honorspren and them all looking different and functioning and behavior being all different (there's almost nothing similar between truthspren and windspren that we've seen so far). @ReaderAt2046 The speaking of the words might be important part of the theory that actually helps it too. Like you said, it's sort of legalizing or whatever, it's like promising to follow these ideals, and it's possible that the Honorspren are acting as the witness of sort to the contract/covenant/promise, or maybe they're the recipient of the contract, or they're serving as witnesses to the contract with Honor? (Okay crazy idea just now, you know how Honor died? Maybe that's why there hasn't been a surgebinder for centuries, now there's a new holder of the Shard? Yeah I know not thought out, just wanted mention since it popped in my head just now). This would add another importance of the Honorspren and the nahel bond? Regarding the light eyes thing, I think it's important to note that so far, the only people confirmed to feel the Thrill are the light eyes. Maybe it has to do with wearing shardplate or wielding a shardblade (not sure if it's been confirmed that Sadeas feels it too). Dalinar talks about it as if it's fairly normal, but all instances we've seen are shardbearers so... But this Thrill business and eye color might be an important distinction later on.

I remember reading somewhere that the Terxim quote about the tariffs needs to be taken as the perspective of someone paying fees. Sure, it could have been crazy hikes, but if you think about how much people complain with gas goes up by 5-10 cents.. I'm not saying it's fair to have to be raising taxes, etc. but taxes are always too high, and people are always complaining about it. Even if we were paying 1% tax, people would be saying, This post has been reported for attempting to skirt the rules. 1%? so much! I worked for this! This should all be mine. Personally, I like the idea of Urithiru being either where the Nightwatcher is in The Valley, or in the mountains near it. It's pretty close to the middle of the continent, which would mean lots of trade and traffic would go through there. Also, right now, people avoid the Nightwatcher and even the ones who do go, don't speak of it, and if they have to, they only say the minimum and talk are ashamed (Dalinar comes to mind). It is a "lost city" that many people think of as only myth, so many people may no recognize it. If the Nightwatcher is some sort of spren, it could be related to the KR somehow, and maybe it's at the entrance to the city or something? Sure there're problems, like: what about "the place closest to Honor?", and it couldn't be built in Alethela, is it b/c Alethela was the problem or the city needed specific requirements?. Thinking about how Nohadon probably didn't walk very fast, the purpose wasn't to get to the destination, but the journey involved, "Journey before destination". It seems unreasonable to walk from Alethela to Shinovar in weeks (IF Abamabar IS Kholin City). Just wanted to mention the idea since no one else has. Also, I think I remember seeing a quote from Brandon talking about floating cities in an interview, can't remember if he was saying he wouldn't do one or wants to do one... Anyone know where it is?

Yeah, I think that's probably our biggest clue to finding the unifying principle behind all the magic systems. Don't forget that Brandon has mentioned that other Shards can "power" the magic systems of others, it's just, i think it was inefficient expenditure? This coupled with effectively similar magics between systems (I think I saw Transformation being discussed somewhere too...) ... Well... 2 clues. It's possible all magic is really just one system, of Adonalsium and the different magics are just different expressions influenced by each Shard's Intent and perhaps inefficiently too by a need of a physical aspect medium (metal, color, symbols, stormlight, etc.)

ah, i stand corrected. Haha, random thought, I wonder if there's anyone regulating how many gems get turned into shards? There's only supposed to be a certain amount of money in print at one time, or there's risk of hyperinflation. Supposedly that's why people keeping cash in their home or in a safety deposit box can be harmful to the economy because when they finally use that money, it adds extra cash that was not expected. Heh.. guess i actually remembered something from HS economics...

You don't have to memorize them or anything, but it might be fun to pay attention to them and try to decipher the meaning as you read along. Don't dwell too much on them though, because as name_here has said, still pretty unclear towards the end, but clues my friend, clues! (I feel like Brandon is using them as clues/foreshadowing to future revelations so)

I thought Soulcasters used full on gems, not spheres? I always thought that Soulcasting demands a lot from it's gems and is not rechargeable (why they have to keep harvesting gems from chasm fiends instead of recharging them during a highstorm). I assumed the gem cracking was showing the point where the gem was completely drained and could no longer be used to Soulcast. Maybe that's when they create spheres?

It might not be quite right to say that there are more comets than planets. The only comets we know of are the ones that fly by close enough to Earth that we could see and record them. There could any number of comets and meteors flying around universe, they're constantly moving so they are invisible to our long range telescopes, it's a lot harder to see something moving far away then something close by. Comets are probably easier to be made then a whole planet too, and new comets are made between colliding objects, comets also disappear all the time, perhaps landing on a planet, shattering upon impact with another comet, etc. But anyways.. If there was life on a planet when the Shard(s) arrived there, what could have happened? Magic is fueled by Shardic presence right? Can you imagine if the effects from the magic systems all appeared on a planet wide scale at once? Magic running rampant with nobody having the faintest clue as how to control them.. of course probably not nearly as bad, but I sort of imagine the Breaking from WoT. Or maybe Shards gradually introduced magic and it's effects on the environment? Would a Shard's mere presence change the environment automatically? or is it more of a controlled side-effect type stuff.

I read; MB, WB, WoK, AoL, Elantris. All in all, I think reading them in the publication order is fine. Elantris, MB, WB, WoK, AoL. If you do that, you can sort of see the Brandon's progression as a writer too. It doesn't really matter though but, I think it'll be good for you to read Warbreaker right after Mistborn. In one of the notes for Warbreaker, Brandon mentions how he wrote Warbreaker right after Mistborn because he wanted to create a stark contrast between the 2 worlds. If you just read the back of the books you can already tell, but Mistborn has sort of muted atmosphere with the mists and weak sun, etc. while Warbreaker is super colorful and bright, (after writing MB, Brandon wanted to go to the other side).

Sometimes I think Brandon is just messing with our heads with the chapter icons. A red herring of sorts.

Brandon has said that Szeth's powers are NOT the same as the KR, he gets his powers from something else. So i don't think Szeth fits there, maybe in the future? but as of now, no. Brandon has said that he used the Interludes to flesh out the backstory of Roshar rather than introducing/using important characters to the plot, so it seems weak to have Axies on the list at all. Also, we haven't seen anything from him that might hint at budding KR powers, just some genetic abilities that he has. Taln is a Herald... I don't really think he belongs on a list of Knight Radiants, he's a Herald, perhaps the last true Herald seeing as the others all ran away. I think Navani should be Wise/Careful and Jasnah is more Just/Confident. Jasnah is the most confident character we've seen yet. Adolin might fit better in Dependable/Resourceful, and Renarin as Brave/Obedient (he rushed out to help Dalinar against the Chasm fiend even without any Plate or Blade, and follows what Dalinar says to the letter). Adolin argues with Dalinar on multiple occasions so obedient seems not to match, and whenever i saw a scene with Adolin, i thought, "oh yeah, he's going to win that duel, yeah Dalinar will be alright, he has Adolin as back up, etc.)

maybe it's a common feature of attacks/damage/corruptions on the Spiritual aspect/plane rather than a direct connection between Nightblood and Shardblades.

Maybe there is something special about the current Shardworlds that drew the Shards to them. Like some sort of compatibility of planet and Shards (like creating wells of power or something) or accessibility to Shadesmar? We know the Shards aren't all powerful, with their Intents being as much a weakness as it is their strength. Planets that are found to be different from the others in a way that specifically holds some purpose could be named differently than the way we name planets.

Ah~. dammit. I totally forgot about that scene. I always thought Hoid was implying Kaladin could be able to do what he did too, hence giving him the flute. Now.. hmm..

oo~ awesome. Thanks. He does word it vague enough that I'm not sure if he means Lightweaving has already shown up in Stormlight Archive or if it's going to happen, but it is very interesting. It sounds like Lightweaving will be based around illusions so I'd guess it hasn't come up yet.

? I thought Allomancy was the magic system influenced by both Preservation and Ruin? Ruin: Hemalurgy (it steals properties, loses potency the longer spike is outside of body, Ruin uses it to influence people's minds) Preservation: Feruchemy (all powers are from within, it's basically just storing it for later, no addition or subtraction) R + P : Allomancy