Kingsdaughter613

Except we know that you can have an alluminum gun + bullets in the bubble...

Just as a side note, I believe the Cosmere is a dense star cluster in a dwarf galaxy.

Look, if we're doing that, can I point out Kelsier fits the mythological trickster archetype almost perfectly? Cunning and charismatic? Check. Connections to life and death? Check. Connection to independence from controlling deities? Check. Brings knowledge and change? Check. He's even got the fire connection, since he burns metals. And the Mists could be a water link... He'd fit right in with our terrestrial tricksters. Oddly, Hoid doesn't fit as well, which I find fascinating. Though if you want similar characters... Hoid and Kell are very much alike (and, unsurprisingly, loathe each other.) Don't tell them I said that though! [Hides from murderous worldhoppers.] I'm fairly certain that one's intentional however....

Since you've just finished Mistborn, if you don't mind minor spoilers, read SH first, as well as the Eleventh Metal. Then read Warbreaker (it's free on Brandon's site) followed by Elantris and ES. Now read all the other short stories + Era2 Scadrial. Note that Sixth of the Dusk should be read last. The reread SH. Now read the Stormlight Archive + Edgedancer. Once done, ask Brandon for a copy of White Sand and read that. SH is a funny one, since it rightfully belongs with Era 1. But it does have minor spoilers for BoM. Since you just finished Mistborn I'd say it is worthwhile to read it anyway; that's just me though! SH also has a TON of Cosmere stuff; that's why you reread it once you know more about the three realms and Investiture. I don't know how fast a reader you are, but if you time it right you should finish WoR and Edgedancer just as Oathbringer is being released. That's why it's last right now.

My answer depends on which order you've read the books, and your opinion on spoilers. If you've just finished Mistborn and don't mind minor spoilers, read SH first, as well as the Eleventh Metal. Then read Warbreaker (it's free in Brandon's site) followed by Elantris and ES and Edgedancer. Then reread SH, because it will mean a lot more now. Now read all the other short stories + Era2 Scadrial. Note that Sixth of the Dusk should be read last. Once done, ask Brandon for a copy of White Sand and read that. If you just finished WoR, still buy AU and read Edgedancer. Then read Warbreaker, Elantris, and ES. Follow with Scadrial Era2. Then read SH, followed by everything else. Finally, ask Brandon for a copy of White Sand and read that. SH is the funny one, since it rightfully belongs with Era 1. But it does have minor spoilers for BoM. If you just finished Mistborn I'd say it is worthwhile to read it anyway; that's just me though! SH also has a TON of Cosmere stuff; that's why you reread it once you know more about the three realms and Investiture.

I really wish Brandon would come to New York. I have two kids, so I can't just drive off to go to signing. And the one time he came close enough to New York was the week I gave birth. Maybe someone who goes could explain the situation and ask if he'd mind answering my questions?

Anyone one going who is into art and color theory? I have a question involving breaths and pointillism. For a less complicated one, is Demoux's cold the Scadrian version of rhinovirus or enterovirus? (One is potentially far more dangerous than the other, but BOTH can cause a cold...) Finally, can Atium, when burned allomanticly, be used to mimic the allomantic effect of its alloys? Those are three questions I really want answered... If anyone wants to ask these for me PLEASE let me know! I will be so grateful! (If Brandon asks they come from a fan who really wishes he'd come to the Big Apple. Since he usually doesn't I need other people to ask my questions for me...)

Melcor loses his power very slowly over time by continuously investing not only in Arda, but in people and his other creations. It also seems like his decision to do bad took some power as well, as his power comes from Eru and he grew weaker as he drew further from the path of Illuvatar. He's still pretty powerful at the end; just weaker than the other Vala. He did start out stronger than all of them though, so there is that. Varda creates the Big Dipper, so I think that equals creating a planet. Note that Eru retains the ability to create sentient life (which is probably why it cost so much for Melcor to try.) My ranking? Eru = Adonalsium Vala = Shards (to an extent; they aren't bound to a concept (Since Adonalsium isn't shattered) but have limits the Shards don't (no sentient life, and Eru is the ultimate source of their power.)) Maia = Spren/Splinters (This works really well actually. You have Great Spren like Sauron and Melian; Gandalf would be an example of a sentient spren; then there are a whole bunch of lesser spren that do various things.) Ringwraiths, 'dead' elves and faded elves = Cognitive Shadows Elves... currently have no perfect Cosmere equivalent. Though Tolkien's explanation of their ties to Arda actually fits very well into Realmatic theory. As to who would win a fight... most individual Vala are weaker than a Shard, but they usually fight in a group. They can also call on Eru if they have to and he can definitely defeat the Shards. Most likely response? Hide in Valinor and let the Noldo weaken their enemy until said enemy can be easily defeated. Hey, it worked on Melcor!

My personal rank system goes: Eru = Adonalsium+ (Eru IS the Abrahamic God so...) Valar = Shards Maia = spren Killing the witch king was more complex than it seems; the sword Merry assaulted him with was created specifically to harm him. Eowyn only slew him after. Had Sauron regained his full power he would likely have been able to resurrect him. Rongwraiths = Cognitive Shadows? That actually works. So I would see a Shard blade 'killing' them by removing their ability to interact on the physical world, with the rings preventing them from moving on. I think part of what limited the Valar was the fact that they were creating concepts, starting from scratch, and actively working against someone who undid everything they did. They also have a REALLY weird sense of time. 1 Year = 1000 years, I believe. And time actually moved differently then. Early Arda is WEIRD. (And that's before we get into the two versions of creation...) Sauron isn't that powerful though, just in comparison to whom he was working against. His real power was always in manipulating others so losing his shape shifting took away one of his major tools. It hurt him a lot more than Moringotho. Slightly off topic, but what would the Trees and the Silmarilli be considered in the Cosmere? Maybe: Silima = God metal? Just realized: Ungoliant eats Investiture just like Nightblood! So what would happen if those two met? Especially right after she eats the trees. @Andy92 The ring definitely corrupted. Tolkien is pretty clear on that. The extent of the corruption actually varied based on many different factors. The Ring's corruption ultimately causes Frodo to fail. Thank Eru for deus ex machina! (Literally; what happened with Gollum was Eru intervening.)

Light on destructive magic?! You do realize that you have wars that sunk continents, a continent being risen and sunk into the sea, poisoness gas clouds killing everyone, and an evil so great the entire world has to be destroyed to remove it? Not to mention the dragons... Ancalagon crushed a mountain range when Earendil killed him. Of course, by the time we get to LotR the Vala are elsewhere; we see a few severely limited Maiar; one long dormant Balrog; and a badly weakened Maia who wants to dominate, not destroy. The major destructive stuff happened much earlier... and Sauron can't even shapeshift anymore! Sigh... any one know where I can find a thorn on my I phone?

Killing a Ringwraith is tricky since their essence is tied to the rings. You'd probably have to destroy the rings to keep them dead actually. I agree with Melcor being Ruin. He'd probably make a decent Odium too, what with being chained and his release bringing about the end of the world. The similarities are likely due to Tolkien borrowing from mythology, and certain archetypes being a major part of our collective unconsciousness. Now, why does my phone lack a thorn?

There's one other factor that's been bugging me for a bit. Taravangian's super smartness came about due to him visiting the Nightwatcher. Now, Taravangian may or may not know of other worlds, but Cultivation certainly does. The Nightwatcher then, probably knows too. Taravangian asked for the knowledge to save humanity. Humanity exists on many worlds. If the diagram really will preserve humanity, well, who says it's saving humanity on Roshar?

Kollos blood look different too; they have blue tinged skin. The extent of the differences between K bloods and standard humans seem to vary though.

Could I be a child of Aesclepius? Or Prometheus (ignoring the part where ALL humans are descendants of Prometheus.)

That's three different theories and there is more recent one where he specifically states that 'soul replaced with investiture' is a theory. (It's somewhere in the events board from one of the recent tours.) The point is it should be noted as a theory, not stated as a fact. I'm not discussing whether or not it's accurate.

Don't feel too bad; the confusion was probably due to Kell borrowing a pre-existing myth. You were conned by a master con artist!

I am aware of all of the above. Regardless, saying the soul is replaced by investiture as a fact is misleading. It's still a theory. I do not disagree that Kell's soul has been deeply effected by Preservation's investiture. Nor am I arguing the fact that people's perception of him will have an effect. I'm not sure why you keep arguing with me about 'soul replaced with investiture' being a theory; I'm not arguing the point, just the way it was presented. Nor do I understand why you feel I disagree on the other points; I've indicated several times that I agree. This isn't the first time this has happened; I'm not certain if you are simply skimming my posts, or are failing to comprehend them. If the latter, let me know and I'll attempt to elucidate. If the former, please read them closely; the English language has many subtleties I am prone to utilizing, which may make comprehension difficult if you are unaccustomed to it. If it is a comprehension issue, let me know which words need explanation and I'll do my best to illustrate a concept using different terminology. Because right now I just feel like you are willfully ignoring half of what I say.

The 'soul replaced by investiture' is an in world theory. It may or may not be accurate. Preservation definitely did something on the spiritual realm; this may or may not have replaced Kell's soul with investiture. Can we please keep theory separate from facts?

Preservation definitely did something; but I don't think it replaced his soul with Preservation. For one thing Kell and others clearly make mention of his soul. Preservation certainly expanded it though. But that isn't the same as replace.

I actually wonder if he's moved past the Survivor. I'm of the opinion that at some point the Survivor will be one of his gold shadows. (Note that I think his shadows during TFE were a nobleman and a broken Skaa. The nobleman is hard and cold, willing to do whatever he must to keep his secrets. The Skaa is despairing, knows nothing but pain and hate, is more than a little mad, and keeps living only because he does not know how to stop. Somewhere in between you have the Survivor.) And the thing about his Soul is an in world theory; not necessarily accurate. Kell actually lived about thirteen years as a purely cognitive being. Then he got a body... He also seems to be the core of two religions.., And since Brandon has indicated that Kelsier's heroic journey and growth as person will be an important part of Era three and four I find it unlikely that Kell's own nature would be subsumed by the mythos he created.

Marsh is still around...and Kell does care about his brother's opinion. I think he would still want to be a good person; it was always part of him. It's part of what makes him so fascinating. So many characters are naturally good; I love seeing one that isn't, but tries to be, especially as a heroic character instead of a villainous/anti-villainous one. (On a peripherally related note, the above is part of why I like Arvis from Fire Emblem. He knows he's an utter dastard, embraces it, and tries to use it to make the world a better place. Best part? If it wasn't for deus ex machina (an evil dragon possessing his son) he would have succeeded! Actually, Fire Emblem has quite a few of these fascinating villains; Arvis is just one of my favorites, followed by Emperor Rudolph. (Or maybe I just like morally ambiguous, guile (anti) villains/heroes, who actually have surprisingly good, and, often, oddly heroic goals? No wonder I adore Kelsier!)

Help, yes. But I'm thinking Fullborn soothing or Lerasium Mistborn/Soother. Both of whom are unusually powerful. This part is guess work, but I think copperclouds would do less for hemalurgic creations since they have an inherent weakness. So the level of power needed to break through to soothe a Kandra is less than that necessary to soothe an ordinary person. Duralumin should be able to give enough of a boost. I could be totally wrong about this though.

Don't forget that Scadrial has guns and aluminum, while it remains in a wound, can't be healed. Or effected with investiture at all. So all ANY Scadrian would need is a sharpshooter sending an aluminum bullet through the eye slit. The helm itself would keep the bullet from exiting, and prevent our radiant from healing.

Summer Glau (or however you spell her name) because every time I see her slaughtering Reapers I think 'Vin!'

And a powerful enough soother/rioter could control them.