Rasarr

Kill Vivienna, heal Elend. 1. Kelsier 9 HP2. Kaladin 6 HP3. Vin 8 HP4. Elend 10 HP 5. Shallan 8 HP6. Dalinar 4 HP7. Vivenna 0 HP8. Siri 4 HP9. Adolin 8 HP11. Sazed 6 HP12. Raoden 6 HP14. Marasi 6 HP15. Wayne 7 HP16. Sylphrena 8 HP17. Lightsong 7 HP20. Marsh 9 HP 24. Hoid 8 HP25. Jasnah 8 HP

While this is a nice theory, there's the fact that spheres glow when charged with stormlight, which is, AFAIK, not an effect associated with electricity. And nobody mentions ever being shocked by anything shortly after highstorm.

Heal Lightsong, hurt Vivienna. 1. Kelsier 9 HP 2. Kaladin 5 HP 3. Vin 8 HP 4. Elend 8 HP 5. Shallan 7 HP 6. Dalinar 4 HP 7. Vivenna 3 HP 8. Siri 4 HP 9. Adolin 7 HP 11. Sazed 6 HP 12. Raoden 6 HP 14. Marasi 6 HP 15. Wayne 7 HP 16. Sylphrena 8 HP 17. Lightsong 7 HP 20. Marsh 9 HP 24. Hoid 9 HP 25. Jasnah 8 HP

I admit I'm actually leaning towards "annoying", though it might be hilarious. Depends on Sharders' mood, I guess. Hurt Vivienna, heal Raoden. 1. Kelsier 9 HP2. Kaladin 5 HP 3. Vin 7 HP4. Elend 8 HP5. Shallan 5 HP6. Dalinar 5 HP 7. Vivienna 4 HP8. Siri 5 HP9. Adolin 7 HP11. Sazed 6 HP12. Raoden 6 HP13. Wax 5 HP14. Marasi 5 HP15. Wayne 7 HP16. Sylphrena 7 HP17. Lightsong 6 HP20. Marsh 12 HP24. Hoid 7 HP25. Jasnah 6HP

Hurt Renarin, heal Elend. 1. Kelsier 8 HP 2. Kaladin 5 HP 3. Vin 7 HP4. Elend 8 HP5. Shallan 56. Dalinar 6 HP7. Vivenna 5 HP8. Siri 5 HP9. Adolin 7HP11. Sazed 6 HP12. Raoden 5 HP13. Wax 5 HP14. Marasi 5 HP15. Wayne 7 HP 16. Sylphrena 7 HP17. Lightsong 6 HP20. Marsh 10 HP23. Renarin 1 HP24. Hoid 8 HP25. Jasnah 6HP

@sheep, your art continues to be the awesomest (also, I'm not the one who asked about it, but thanks for pointers on painting skin!). And I absolutely adore your Jakamav design. *sigh*

Hurt Spook, heal Elend 1. Kelsier 7 HP 2. Kaladin 5 HP3. Vin 6 HP4. Elend 7 HP5. Shallan 56. Dalinar 6 HP7. Vivenna 5 HP8. Siri 5 HP9. Adolin 6 HP10. Spook 2 HP11. Sazed 6 HP12. Raoden 5 HP13. Wax 5 HP14. Marasi 4 HP15. Wayne 7 HP16. Sylphrena 7 HP17. Lightsong 6 HP20. Marsh 9 HP23. Renarin 424. Hoid 9 HP25. Jasnah 6 HP

Hurt Hrathen, heal Marsh. 1. Kelsier 7 HP 2. Kaladin 5 HP3. Vin 6 HP4. Elend 6 HP5. Shallan 5 HP6. Dalinar 6 HP7. Vivenna 5 HP8. Siri 5 HP9. Adolin 5 HP10. Spook 4 HP11. Sazed 6 HP12. Raoden 5 HP13. Wax 5 HP14. Marasi 3 HP15. Wayne 7 HP16. Sylphrena 7 HP17. Lightsong 6 HP19. Hrathen 1 HP20. Marsh 7 HP23. Renarin 5 HP24. Hoid 10 HP25. Jasnah 6 HP

Seems its time to give up on my murder attempt on Marasi. Hurt Szeth, heal Marsh. 1. Kelsier 6 HP2. Kaladin 5 HP3. Vin 6 HP4. Elend 6 HP5. Shallan 5 HP6. Dalinar 6 HP7. Vivenna 4 HP8. Siri 5 HP9. Adolin 5 HP10. Spook 4 HP11. Sazed 6 HP12. Raoden 6 HP13. Wax 5 HP14. Marasi 3 HP15. Wayne 6 HP 16. Sylphrena 8 HP17. Lightsong 6 HP19. Hrathen 4 HP20. Marsh 6 HP22. Szeth 3 HP23. Renarin 5 HP24. Hoid 8 HP25. Jasnah 6 HP

Hurt Marasi, heal Dalinar. 1. Kelsier 6 HP 2. Kaladin 5 HP 3. Vin 5 HP 4. Elend 6 HP 5. Shallan 6 HP 6. Dalinar 6 HP 7. Vivenna 4 HP 8. Siri 5 HP 9. Adolin 5 HP 10. Spook 4 HP 11. Sazed 6 HP 12. Raoden 6 HP 13. Wax 5 HP 14. Marasi 1 HP 15. Wayne 6 HP 16. Sylphrenia 7 HP 17. Lightsong 6 HP 18. Sarene 3 HP 19. Hrathen 5 HP 20. Marsh 5 HP 22. Szeth 4 HP 23. Renarin 5 HP 24. Hoid 7 HP 25. Jasnah 6 HP

For all its negative qualities, a Chasmfiend cannot attack me from a distance or fit into small spaces, making it a preferable choice. ...though can you imagine a Chasmfiend Inquisitor? For that matter, would you rather fight a Chasmfiend Inquisitor or a Windrunner Koloss?

Hurt Marasi, Heal Hoid. 1. Kelsier 6 HP 2. Kaladin 5 HP 3. Vin 5 HP 4. Elend 6 HP 5. Shallan 6 HP 6. Dalinar 5 HP 7. Vivenna 5 HP 8. Siri 5 HP 9. Adolin 4 HP 10. Spook 4 HP 11. Sazed 5 HP 12. Raoden 6 HP 13. Wax 5 HP 14. Marasi 3 HP 15. Wayne 6 HP 16. Sylphrenia 6 HP 17. Lightsong 6 HP 18. Sarene 4 HP 19. Hrathen 5 HP 20. Marsh 5 HP 22. Szeth 4 HP 23. Renarin 5 HP 24. Hoid 7 HP 25. Jasnah 6 HP

Hurt Sadeas, Heal Marsh. 1. Kelsier 5 HP2. Kaladin 5 HP3. Vin 5 HP4. Elend 6 HP5. Shallan 6 HP6. Dalinar 5 HP7. Vivienna 5 HP8. Siri 5 HP9. Adolin 4 HP10. Spook 4 HP 11. Sazed 5 HP12. Raoden 5 HP13. Wax 5 HP14. Marasi 5 HP15. Wayne 5 HP16. Sylphrenia 5 HP17. Lightsong 5 HP18. Sarene 5 HP19. Hrathen 5 HP20. Marsh 6 HP21. Sadeas 4 HP22. Szeth 5 HP23. Renarin 5 HP24. Hoid 5 HP25. Jasnah 5 HP

Oooh, those Szeth and Jasnah pictures are really climatic. I do love your character designs (especially Jakamav, for some reason. He looks so cool with this giant hammer). And the comic makes me chuckle. I've just noticed... I have a folder in my computer where I save the Stormlight fanart I want to keep, and today I've realized that half of it is sheep's art.

@Yata, that's a really great idea, especially considering how Cryptics are the nobility of the sprenkind. They probably would try to get themselves into position where they could influence the nobility of humankind. @maxal, I do not claim, and frankly don't hope, that I'm able to change your perception of Elhokar - I'm just not that good of a writer, really, to change anyone's mind. I also don't think he'll get a grand arc to himself, and certainly not as big one as Adolin is likely to get (I personally hope that both Kholin non-Radiants could get their Radianthood arcs), but I do hope that Elhokar's character arc would be running parallel to Dalinar's, with both playing off each other, like I've mentioned at the end of my last post. As a supporting character to Dalinar, Elhokar could go a long way. As for the scene at the duel, the thing is, Elhokar has to be a politician. Dalinar the Blackhorn can rage and call for the viewers to help, but Elhokar has to be the calm one, because someone has to be the calm one. From in-universe perspective, the Kholins cannot lose those three (or was it four, at this point?) sets of Shards. While I like Adolin, and he is an excellent commander and fighter, I would argue that from in-universe perspective, his capablity to walk is not more important than 3% of entire world's Shardsets. Even if this is arguable, Elhokar also has to consider the fact that Dalinar is not actually replaceable, or at least - and I don't want this to sound callous (though it probably will) - not as replaceable as Adolin is. If Dalinar jumped into the arena, he'd be mobbed and killed, because, quite frankly, if Adolin can't handle four Shardbearers while in full Plate, Dalinar sure cannot without it. Elhokar is, at that moment, clearly the only Kholin with capability for logical reasoning. You've noticed yourself that he's jealous of Kaladin (and likely Dalinar to some extent). I suspect he would like nothing more than to heroically jump into the arena himself and rescue Adolin, winning respect of everyone he wants respect from in the process. However, as a king, he has responsibilities. He cannot let himself die and he has to keep up the appearance of an independent judge, beause he's the king, and has to keep his highprinces under control; he cannot let Dalinar die; he cannot let the Kholins lose all their Shards and hence cannot stop the duel. So I would argue that letting the duel continue was absolutely the right choice. Elhokar's "external" problems can't be punched or scienced into submission, and while he is aware of that, he clearly wishes he could punch his problems into submission, because that would win him respect he so craves. And so he fights himself every step of the way. Edit: I have to say, I'm not very fond of Elhokar turning to Odium. For me, it'd cheapen his character, demoting him from a complete person to a "bad king who has to be put down for the good of the nation" archetype.

Considering how radiantspren usually react quite negatively to presence of a Shardblade, a shard-dowsing rod made of spren could be not so far-fetched...

I have to disagree with you, @maxal (also, I warn you in advance that Elhokar is my favourite character in SA, so I'm sorry if I say something impolite without realizing this). Elhokar does have makings of a future good king - perhaps not a brilliant one, but certainly not a disaster you seem to be painting him as. He does demonstrate insight and intelligence - consider his response to Dalinar explaining why moving out of Shattered Plains is a better option, or his reaction to Sadeas trying to goad Dalinar into getting into duelling pit in 4v1. It's also incorrect to say that his character development didn't start yet - it does at the very same duel, when he storms up big time with his handling of Kaladin/Amaram situation. Considering how he approaches Kaladin to ask whether he's a good king, and his calm reaction to the negative answer, indicates that there's been quite a lot going on in his head following that day. The fact that we don't see characters' arcs in full doesn't have to stop them from having character arcs. Elhokar seems to be extremely aware of his own shortcomings - he notes that nobility doesn't respect him, he want to be taught how to be a good leader, and his reaction to Kaladin's words suggests to me that rather than a world-shattering revelation, the "no" was more of an external confirmation of what he had already known. The main problem is, a lot of his issues stem from the situation and environment he's found himself in: he is, basically, a regular - a tad above regular, if we're feeling charitable - person among living legends. His uncle is the Blackhorn; his cousin in the greatest duellist of his times; his sister is a highly respected scholar; his father was a brilliant king. In many ways, his situation is similar to that of Renarin, but the problem is, (1), Elhokar doesn't have his Adolin - someone to protect him, to confide in, to help - and (2), Renarin is only the second son, while Elokhar has been thrust into position of highest authority in highly nonregular circumstances. Alethkar is a newborn country. Imagine riding a carriage at high speed when the driver suddenly throws the reins in your general direction and jumps off. Add to that the fact that Gavilar likely didn't train Elhokar all that much in the ways of rulership and Dalinar trying to shield him from everything, and you have a king who's never had a chance to properly learn to be a king, but is nevertheless expected to stay on top of the foodchain among people with far more years and experience to their name. Yes, on a first sight he is unlikeable, and I don't disagree in that he's self-centered paranoiac and not some perfect victimized cinnamon roll, but the deck has been stacked against him so much, it outright encourages him to perpetuate those negative traits in himself. I don't think there's the need to make a full 180 with Elhokar; to misapply the metaphor a bit, I don't think he needs much than 45 degrees turn. You have argued in the past that Adolin can have a solid character arc without being a flashback character - I think Elhokar can, too (even though he is much more of a minor character). I'm with Erklitt on this one in that he has makings of a future Lightweaver (an ability that could be put to great use by a leader), and that his struggles to overcome his own problems would be fascinating to watch, even from a distance. He wants to be a great leader. Losing some of that self-centredness (?) of his is certainly part of that. Now, coming back for a moment to original post, I foresee with my nonexistent Truthwatcher powers that he'll come in conflict with Dalinar. He wants to be a respected king, therefore he has to take control of his own nation - and that means wrestling it from the man who, quite frankly, did a military putsch and became the effective head of state. Dalinar, who has some control freak tendencies, is unlikely to relinquish Alethkar's reins of his own free will, so I think (read: hope) Elhokar will figure more prominently in Oathbringer, and both characters' development will benefit from one another.

Well, this discussion seems to have gone a tad off the rails Not that I mind, it's interesting. As for Warbreaker,

You know, this made me think... why would they create such a thing anyway? And if they did (for use on diplomatic meetings they want to go wrong?), why put it in a corridor, and not in some sort of vault or safe? Putting something like this in publicly-available place just begs for a Shardblade murder plague to start.

Soooo, from the recent Reddit update that turned into a small Q&A session...

For lighteyes, it's Soulcasting into stone. Unless he substituted a body double, there's no way he survived that.

@hwiles - this is a fascinating analysis (and this entire threat is amazing and awesome, as an aside), but referring to grandbows being less-than-useful as an anti-personnel weapon, we know Sadeas was carrying a grandbow with him and Parshmen don't possess castles. Could warform, with its armour and increased toughness, be a valid target for a weapon as overpowered as this?

Oooh, I needed something to store my book collection. I'll trade the contents of that chest, though, namely dwo dozen stuffed squirrels, apparently made from real squirrels.

When you check the expiry date on a document and your first thought is "why, it's only a day before White Sand is supposed to arrive!".

I also like the idea.