ZenBossanova

A political marriage doesn't worry about age or relationships. It is for political purposes. There are age gaps much larger Jasnah-Kaladin gap for political marriages in history.

I have my suspicions. Similar age difference between my wife and I. But if Jasnah were interested, she wouldn't broadcast it everywhere. And she actually has shown some interest. But as I point out, would Jasnah even take age or compatibility into account, for a political marriage? It is a theory, but there is some real evidence pointing towards it.

This talk of how soulcasting works, brings to mind something I wondered: One of the reasons Nightblood has no concept of Good and Evil, is that he was made from metal, which had never been a living being. But what if Vasher had started with soulcast metal, that was originally a sapient being? Would Nightblood understand mortality better?

I think we can say that revenge is a toxic form of honor. Remember, the Shards aren't good by themselves. Preservation could be just as deadly as Odium.

Personally, I would be perfectly happy to see Moash as nothing but a tragedy. Tragedies are real. Sometimes people just screw up and don't turn around. But I suspect that Moash is going to have more of an arc than that. First, two examples of how NOT to redeem Moash. (1) Star Wars: Darth Vader It was too short, too quick and with no repercussions, except death. It was very unsatisfying. (2) Thor Ragnarok: Traitor guy An otherwise excellent movie, best of the Thor movies. This character immediately sides with the villain, spends the movie helping her, and then switches sides at the end, and "gets" to die in a blaze of righteous glory. Again, unsatisfying. Now, a great example of how it is done. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, (Technically a child's cartoon, but don't let that fool you. It is better written than most adult fare) in the first episode you met Prince-in-Exile, Zuko, from the evil Fire Nation. He has a war ship, men and is tough to beat. He just needs to capture the last Airbender, to be restored with honor. After that episode, villains and problems come and go, but Zuko is the one constant. He is relentless in tracking and attacking the last Airbender. As time goes on, Zuko gradually loses everything. He ends up in greater dishonor with his father, while his psychopath sister, is praised and honored. The only thing supporting him, is his long-suffering Uncle Iroh, who is trying to impart some peace and wisdom to his troubled nephew. Finally, over two seasons, at the end of the second season, after he really has lost everything, is fully and permanently in Exile, and is separated from the one person who had faith in him, he really hits rock-bottom. He has genuinely suffered, and lost everything. At that point, he makes a moral decision that he will no longer support his family and nation's war. He is going to track down the last Airbender, and teach him. (long story, this is desperately needed by the hero) This goes... poorly. He is hot-headed, and kind of opposite of the hero, and his group. His first attempt, he injures the blind girl, helping Aang, the last Airbender. No one trusts him, for very good reasons. He really has to work at gaining their trust. That crucial decision took two full seasons, and he still had a lot of work, besides the actual teaching and advancing the plot. So, what does this mean for Moash? He should not be redeemed for 2+ books after he loses everything. So don't start counting until he has really ended up down on his luck. Then he needs to beat to a bloody pulp, and left for dead in a ditch. And then his troubles need to really begin. He needs to make a moral decision that entails a real cost and threat to him. Don't count book 4, because Moash is currently doing well for himself, with both the dagger and the honorblade. So, if Moash is redeemed, I don't expect to see it until book 7, if not later. Also, I expect a grand battle(s) with Kaladin. Honestly, I look forward to that.

I see no reason there could not be a 4th quasi-Bondsmith. That person would not technically be a Knight Radiant, but they would be filling a very similar role, and that is probably what they would call him/her.

I do know that on Earth, the fundamental forces are balanced so perfectly, some people use it as an argument for God. (Just what would our non-Cosmere Shard be?) If we did begin messing with the forces that hold us together, (our 'bonds'), we could seriously mess things up. Ashyn is not impossible! For instance, messing with gravity or the weak nuclear force (which governs nuclear decay of elements in the earth's core) could affect plate tectonics, which is STILL important for life to exist. Messing with either Nuclear force could affect reactions in the Sun. Real bummer if we turned it off! And anything, and I do mean ANYTHING done, any kind of changes to the Electro-magnetic force, would screw with chemistry and literally doom all life, if not the structural integrity of the planet itself. Bonds are no joke. Ico and others were right to be worried.

It certainly could have a greater purpose, but considering Adonalsium was the forces of Creation, Creation alone is a perfectly good reason for Roshar to exist. That said, I suspect he understood far more about the future even than the existing Shards. Did he have a plan? Does he still?

Now that is interesting! I still wonder if Frost wasn't involved in both of these things. Dragonsteel perhaps? Just have to wait and see, I suppose.

That is not a detail I have heard before.

I can't tell you how many chemist's I have met, who got into chemistry because of explosives. But why do we think that Elsecalling will be the same for both orders? We have yet to see a shared surge that operates exactly the same. The closest I can think of is flight for Skybreakers & Windrunners. Perhaps Renarin vs Lift healing? Dalinar was specifically told his shared surge was different from one he saw in vision. Shallan has yet to transform things the way Jasnah can. When she did do it to the people who became her men, it was very different from Jasnah's surge. TL/DR. might be similar. More likely fundamentally different.

What strongly comes to mind for me, is the damage that was done to Ashyn by unregulated Surges and Surgebinders. The oaths regulate the surges a lot, but still, Honor isn't there to prevent major catastrophe. It feels like they have far more potential power than they understand how to use safely, and this could be an Ashyn-like situation. I still wonder how they could have messed Ashyn up so much, to where its surface, is mostly lava that has not cooled. It should have done some cooling by now, unless there was a magical reason for it. Just how do you mess things up that badly?

Soulcasting should be possible, but I doubt they could soulcast enough for it to be remotely stable. It would rip itself apart with Hawking radiation.

I just want to see someone soulcast a black hole. Of course, unless it is a substantial amount of gravitational-bound material, it will blaze with Hawking-radiation and not last long. Watch out for when Roshar gets General Relativity.

That is good to hear. I think that multiverse theory, much like Erich von Däniken's Chariot of the Gods, has done far more for science fiction than it has ever done for science. Yes, I know some big names have spoken in favor of it, but I think they are nuts. (If I must argue quantum mechanics interpretations, I prefer the ER=EPR, though it is less fleshed out that other theories).

Regardless of the proper interpretation of the Death Rattle, I expect that a showdown between Kaladin and Moash is inevitable. You don't have an Honorblade and quasi-Hemalurgic Oathpact and not do anything with it. And, no, I don't think it is a longshot.

Saved his life or spared his life? I need to look over the evidence more closely, but Moash is making a lot more sense than Elhokar.

I expect we will see some limitations to soulcasting. In particular, I am thinking of soulcasting gems. If this were possible, then we should see evidence of Radiants doing this. I expect this is a blindspot of Rosharan soulcasting. Also, Brandon has said it conserves mass, even if he has shown it imperfectly. One thing I would like to see soulcast, is a large quantity of gunpower. That could really change things!

Leras: That sounds great!

Ati: Why is it everyone has a problem with Ruin and destruction? Everything has to come to an end. Even Scadrial! (I am several chapters from finishing Hero of Ages and it is exactly what I hoped for!)

If Kaladin is a descendent of Tanavast, then a large fraction of the population of Roshar would as well, like how much of China and even significant parts of Europe, have Genghis Khan in their lineage. That could be an enjoyable twist.

I would bet Javert is the inspiration for Nale. But back to the original title of this post, thematically, Venli would fit better with a tragic arc like Éponine Thénardier or Fantine, even if Venli's arc does not entirely turn out tragic.

Argent Is Vax a planet? It’s clearly suggested that it is. Brandon Sanderson What’s that? Argent It’s heavily suggested that it is. Brandon Sanderson It is heavily suggested that it is a place. Argent It's a place. Okay, I'll take that. *talking to other attendees* Vax is a place. Brandon Sanderson No no, heavily suggested that it's a place, is what I said! Calamity Chicago signing (Feb. 22, 2016) I maintain my suspicions.

I am suspicious that Vax might be a person, or a dragon. We don't have proof it is a planet or place.

I would say spiritweb ≠ life. Perhaps we should say artificial spiritual connections/constructions. I wanted to go somewhere foreign and exotic, and ended up teaching rednecks in Florida. Still, it turned out to be what I needed. We are excited for you. Spending two years focusing on everything but yourself changes you. Besides, Rhythm of War will just be out when you return.