fractal

8 minutes ago, Fanghur Rahl said:

At the time, Dalinar had no idea what Shardblades actually were; he thought they were just some kind of highly advanced magitech, not that they were the Spren of Radiants. And given that assumption, it makes sense to wonder why similar tools weren’t  created for more mundane tasks as well. But it’s a false assumption, and I have a very hard time imagining that a sapient Spren would be eager to allow themselves to be used in such a way; I certainly wouldn’t if I were a Spren.

Yeah you're right. That's also worth thinking about. I can't really picture a Sylshovel. So probably just a comment from Dalinar, which shows us how he is trying to or beginning to question his beliefs. I just got the impression that somehow there was more behind it - like devices that work in a very similar way as shards do, but also accessibly by people without a Nahel bond. But now I've realized that fabrials are pretty much devices like this.

23 minutes ago, Corax said:

My personal guess, if it is foreshadowing, is that perhaps there are far more shardblades around that are being used for mundane purposes like stonemasonry, precision gem-cutting, etc. I'd imagine that the common people who have them and use them like that would keep it under wraps. Maybe go so far as to employ those darkeye drops. Not everyone's dream is to be a lighteyed warrior. I bet more people would be interested in keeping shards a secret part of a successful business. (And yes this is baseless speculation... But my point is that there are things that could be implied by a simple passing thought.)

Interesting point. I was not thinking about how such shards could be used right now (meaning present time-line) to improve the everyday life. The hunch I got was that there has been something in the past which had helped humans in previous desolations survive the wars or something like this. But I like your thought.
I have to remind myself all the time that the Alethi world view isn't the only one represented on Roshar. Like how the Shin see people who pick up weapons as the lowest in their social system and celebrate farmers like the Alethi do lighteyes. So maybe they would be interested in some device like this.

Yeah I agree with you that he was just wondering. I didn‘t think that Dalinar would look for something like that. But I thought that maybe there is something more behind this - some kind of forshaddowing to some shard-like devices that could be used by anyone like fabrials can. 

Probably just my interpretation getting ahead of things. 

That‘s interesting. I hadn‘t thought about it that way. I pictured something like huge fabrial-powered constructions which anyone, not only Radiants, could use. Something the Heralds (or Radiants) thought the common people in order to help them survive a long time ago, and which are now forgotten. 

But maybe it ’just’ means that KR don’t have to be fighters all the time but also can use there powers for more common work - and helping people in general, not only in war times. So thanks for the new perspective  

I recently did a re-read of WOK and, among other things, one passage struck me as quite odd. In chapter 28 Decisions, Dalinar is thinking about whether or not to abdicate. While walking around in his camp and inspired by the Codes, he starts to help his men building a latrine, still wearing his Shardplate (great chapter by the way, it always gets me). Somewhere in the process of digging he thinks:

Quote

'Where were the Shards for regular men? Why hadn’t the ancients, who were so wise,
created anything to help them? As Dalinar continued to work, beats of his hammer
throwing chips and dust into the air, he easily did the work of twenty men. Shardplate could
be used for so many things to ease the lives of workers and darkeyes across Roshar.'

WOK - chp. 28

Has anyone an idea what such 'regular shards' could be? Could this be a reference to the half-shards or are there any other theories out there?

I looked for some WOBs regarding this, but my researching skills are still those of a lowly bridgeman, so I would really appreciate any help/ideas regarding this.

Taravangian

As she wanted to take the first bite of that delicious looking onion, she suddenly heard Melaan‘s voice crying: ,Stop! Onions have layers. Kandra have layers too. You get it? We both have layers.  

some of my favorites: 

"The nature of the world is that when we create something, we often destroy something else in the process" - from The Hero of Ages

"The right belief is like a good cloak, I think. If it fits you well, it keeps you warm and safe. The wrong fit however, can suffocate" -The Final Empire 

"Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack." - from The Way of Kings 

"Expectation. That is true art. If you can give a man more than he expects, then he will laud you his entire life." - from Words of Radiance 

and of course:

"Above silence, the illuminating storms—dying storms—illuminate the silence above" - from The Way of Kings (chills every time!) 

Buy.

Mraize's secret hobby is soapmaking.

spoilers for the end of OB

Hey thanks!
I think mine is his ability of writing characters. They are always so life-like and their internal and external struggles make them seem more than just characters in a story. I just love how Brandon can put the same fundamental idea or concept  into different characters and have them deal with it in their own, personal way.

Hey everyone!  

I have been a quiet observer of the forums for some time now. Lurking in the shadows behind some random upvotes, stalking for new theorie and memes. Now, I've decided to shroud off my mistcloak and step into the light. 

My brother introduced me to the cosmere two years ago and I'm heavily invested since  

The thing about Brandon's books is that along the way, they started to be more than stories. I can't really say which book is my favorite - that's like choosing one of your best friends over another, choosing the destination over the journey. 

I don't know how much posts I'm going to write, as I'm more comfortable with consuming words than producing them. But I do think that sharing words can strengehen the bond we have to our surroundings and passions.

So, here I am, sharing my words and looking forward to discuss cosmere stuff with other sharders and maybe find peolpe with the same kind of bond as me.