Lurky McLurkerson

See, for me she didn't seem so scatter-brained. I got her mindset in the interludes. I haven't touched the newsletter as I am saving myself for the full thing, but I expect to continue enjoying the ride. This probably says a lot more about me and my mindset than anything else.

Sorry, hadn't realized the actual viability of this idea before I made it in jest. I guess there are situations where this could and is more than a joke. Not an actual theory I am promoting in this case.

I still support the "Aluminum foil hats" theory on this.

We've been told that Hoid will be making an appearance (that being a change from the manuscript). As for the overall Cosmere knowledge expansion, every new magic system is an added dimension, an added data set for understanding the overall cosmeric insights. Given that this is coming out with the short stories coming out next (and those all having forwards from Khriss) coming to understand Khriss may be the most important insight. She is the most aware individual in the Cosmere at later points, so seeing her beginning is important too.

I am almost positive this was flat out RAFO'd, no implication given in either direction.

Lurking is where it is at.

I took it to mean that gold fueled by ruin in that it was an alloy of gold and atium.

Nightblood makes a lot more sense, now. I can't blame him.

I don't think the cognitive realm is solely a function of the individual perceptions, but I think a component is the collective unconscious as filtered through aspects of each realm specific to each realm. Places without conscious thought simply don't exist in the cognitive realm, bringing everything much closer together, afterall.

Maybe we can look at it as a convergence of the KR's individual perception as well as the perception of the Spren in the Bond. Syl certainly had opinions about these various things.

Isn't all of this dependent upon how the individual perceives their actions as well? Jasnah felt justified and that she was fulfilling her oath, so it stood.

We've got a WoB that we will see another Windrunner (not a squire) speaking oaths in the next book, I believe.

I had written out a similar. Without the concision. Then Syl's insistence that Kaladin speak the oath caused me to second guess myself. Upvote for you and your courage, good sir. I really think this is the heart/thrust of the "focus" or connection to the shards for this world. This being said, what would Odium's oaths/cognitions look like? I imagine hatred, anger, or fear might be parts of the appropriate emotional cocktail. "I will destroy those who oppose me" or something along those lines.

Differing perspectives are what make forums fun as long as no one gets hurt. I personally took that WoB to suggest that they wouldn't bond in the midst of a highstorm the way the Parshendi do, which I think actually supports the idea of ideals or oaths being potentially connected with the bond. We've seen a WoB that suggests that the Oaths can be worded slightly differently depending on the person. Maybe the truest form of an oath is a mindset. I know Kaladin needing to speak the oath is a solid flaw in this concept, but I think there is fun to be mined by exploring the idea.

It seems quite sandersonian to have a constant magic system but two very different approaches to integrate/apply/use it. Like Scadrial.

Yeah, photosynthesis of investment is part of the "elegent" solution. Or it is something else bizarre and I am way off.

To throw a monkey wrench into the lovely argument, can we discuss the assumption that Bavadin is "granting" these powers in an over/selective manner and thus the powered individuals are acting under the aegis of Autonomy? From the evidence present in most of the Shard Worlds, the argument could be made that it isn't that simple. We have powered individuals emerging on planets without the presence of an intact shard to guide the process on Sel and Roshar, Scadrial had powered individuals defying the will of the Shards all over the place. We just don't know enough about the mechanism for SkyColors and SandMastery yet.

It could be. I had a similar thought once the nature of the "sand" was explained.. but Light seemed so much more elegant a solution, given the overall Day Side/Night Side theme.

So, I wonder what a Voidbinder oath would look like? Is that part of the concept behind the oathpact?

I am pulling for a Dark Side of Taldain shardpool simply because it sounds, by all inference, like a more varied/exotic locale. Also, it could be why we don't get any worldhoppers in-camera.

Just throwing out the theory (of which I am not the originator) that the sun is not the shard, but that light is the focus for this world, thus the light on Darkside being magical as well. The sun being an alternate shard has been debunked as well with WoB that Autonomy is the only shard in the system.

Absolutely. I wonder if it puts Bavadin in a situation like Sazed, where it is a struggle to use his power due to the shard's intent counteracting him.

Let's go ahead and get actual dictionary definitions involved, shall we? Dominion: The power to rule; sovereignty; control Autonomy: The state of existing or acting separately from others; the power or right of a country, group, etc., to govern itself Devotion: A feeling of strong loyalty or love; the quality of being devoted. You can be devoted to something and have dominion over it at the same time without being locked into inaction. In fact, Devotion and dominion are complementary. An enlightened despot can be entirely devoted to the well-being of his people and still exercise absolute dominion as is his right of rule. Additionally, One can be devoted and yet autonomous. Devotion to a cause, a belief, or even an individual does not give up ones' autonomy, though it can certainly be strained (as anyone in a bad relationship can attest). I struggle to see any solid situation in which Dominion and Autonomy ever play nicely, my guess is it would drive an individual to needing to conquer everything or nothing. Would be interesting. All this is predicated upon Brandon using the dictionary definitions for these intents, and there is plenty of room for interpretation.

What if Bavadin is holding himself out of the conflict? Letting everything go without direct influence? He/It is living its intent, but unfortunately the worms on Taldain, left to their own devices, are moving away from the intent? We don't see much magic system beyond the SandMasters, do we?

While this is a valid point, in the sense that Honor is about obligation and autonomy seeks to avoid obligation, I take the term "more likely to be opposed than some others" to be opposition, not flat out polarization. Autonomy would oppose endowment and devotion for similar reasons.