CosmereQuestioner

As I reread WoR I couldn't help but notice the conversation between Shallan and Wit, where he states that he can't teach her, she needs to figure out more on her own to progress, because the shards here are a lot more strict. (Paraphrased). Is the concensus among sharders that this refers to the fact that on roshar the invested must intentionally fulfil oaths and have aligning goals, (some of which must be learned/done at their own pace) as opposed to scadrial where mistborn such as Vin unknowingly burn metals with no intent or knowledge? (I welcome other thoughts and interpretations on this statement by Hoid)

Also remember the Adonalsium created most of the cosmere (including roshar). So even if a shard isn't specifically invested there, there will still be bits of Adonalsium power there (just like shattered shards are still invested in their planets) simply because he created them.

Thanks guys! Yeah, I've noticed Brandon is more likely to answer a question where you have a well thought out answer/solution prepared, and you are looking for confirmation rather than hand outs. Sure it can still be too much of a spoiler - a RAFO, or your idea/conception is just plain wrong; but then when it isn't and you strike gold it's exciting! As for the investiture/sentience info given here, the more I think about it, the more relevant it seems! I'm certain that at some point we'll have a major source of investiture that loses it's vessel and slowly starts directing itself. (And an Adonalsium info is absolutely fascinating for me!)

Got my signed copy of Elantris , with question answered! (They emailed me to clarify the question, which is why i got so in depth). Exactly what i emailed is below, typos included. The background to my question is this: It was once stated by Mr Sanderson that "Magic in the cosmere needs a guiding force. If it doesn't have one, the magic itself will gain sentience." We also have that things like Nightblood that gained sentience because of crazy amounts of investiture. My question then is: "Is the reason that investiture has this tendency to lead to sentience caused by the fact that pre-shattering Adonalsium had a goal/purpose/intent of bringing sentience to his universe." (I guess this is in a way a 2 part question, because it assumes that Adonalsium actually HAD the intent of bringing sentience to his Cosmere) And his answer: Yes, this is part of the reason. Good question!

In the extra scene at the end of the 10th anniversary edition of Elantris, the skaze calls Hoid Hoed, and when corrected, continues to call him Hoed. Now it's written to come off as simply a verbal/pronunciation difference, but Brandon is the type to sneak things in...is there something more to this designation as a Hoed? Perhaps Hoid partially succeeded, but somehow became Hoed instead of a full elantrian... I.E. an elantrian that is missing some aspects since he isn't actually from Sel? Thoughts?

Would you be willing to ask: Is the Parshindi's STRONG response to Kaladin disturbing their dead more than it appears? (Like, most societies have a taboo to dishonoring the dead, but theirs seems extreme) And if so...why? (Does it have to do with their afterlife?) Thanks!

I understand Nightblood's drive to destroy evil (the given command), and that his creation process with 1000 breaths gave him sentience, etc...but where did his draining of investiture come from?? It's such a huge part of him, yet I never thought to ask about that part til later books came out.

I don't think they were...the description from thescene where bridge 4 gets their tattoosite says: "The 'warcamp' was really a city, built up inside the craterlike rim of some enormous rock formation." Which to me says it's a bit big to soul cast, or at the least impractical (and seemingly to them, natural). I assumed they moved to the shattered Plains and found them convenient.

Do we know what caused the 10 craters on the Shattered Plains where the 10 Alethi war camps are set up? Both pictures of the Plains have exactly 10 (no extras or empty ones) in a semi circle besides the plains. My thoughts were that these may have been landing points for the heralds when they came before the desolation? Falling at speed like a meteor...

IS there an origin? I always assumed the storm just continued around the world, slowing (albeit at different speeds each time) while on the unseen portion of Roshar. And maybe only resetting during weepings - if then. Sanderson once stated his inspiration for Roshan was the giant storm on Jupiter that never stops (or hasn't as long as we've been watching it), and in my mind the storm in Roshar just continuously circles the globe. (Please correct me with evidence or WoB though, I'm very interested!)

I did know that the icon changed depending on who the chapter is about (Kaladin had the spear etc.) And a vague knowledge of the heralds/branch of magic relating to the faces, however I had never noticed the head of pattern being that icon til today. As far as a deeper meaning to his statement, I'm all ears, because the icon matching who the chapter is about just didn't seem like enough to inspire his quote. (Unless there's crossover and icons hidden within icons)

A few months ago I was at a signing and couldn't think of any specific questions, so I asked Brandon to write "Something that wouldn't mean anything now, but in a couple years/books would become clear." He wrote "Pay attention to the chapter icons". Ever since then I have been doing this, and while thumbing through the Way of Kings large paperback noticed an illustration of cryptics, the heads of which correlate to the icons of certain chapers. Is this common knowledge? Do we know why? Do you guys think this has anything to do with what he wrote in my book? (I've also been comparing the round spear icons with known Allomantic symbols as we learn more and more of then)

Do we have WoB concerning whether Hoid will be in each piece of the White Sand trilogy of graphic novels? I know Sanderson stated he would have to put more Hoid in them than was in the prose version, and we also know Hoid appears in every novel, but concerning the graphic novel (since it's one story broken into 3 parts): will Hoid appear in EACH part, or just in the series? -CQ

This still doesn't tell me what the corpses themselves would be good for...I realize that anyone who hasn't moved on when dead and hovers around the cognate realm still has potential, but other than using a Kanda to impersonate them I have no clue what the corpses of those 2 splinters would be good for. (And I don't think a Kanda impersonation is what Brandon had in mind for Sazed to use them for.)

I was pouring over the Sanderson Q&A's and noticed that someone had asked if Sazed had done anything with the bodies of Ati and Leras after he ascended. Sanderson said "No, I'm afraid not. Those might have been useful to have around, though." Does anyone have any further insight or WoB into this? What "use" would their bodies have been?