scm288

Concerning Scadrial: Just how close to the true north pole was the Well of Ascension? I remember reading in Sanderson's interviews that the mists covered everything except for right around Luthadel and right around the opposite pole. Would that mean that Kredik Shaw was located on true north, and the opposite pole (where unnamed inhabitants live) is true south? Does the fact that these are magnetic poles play any significant role in how the mists acted? If Kredik Shaw was located on a magnetic pole, then its magnetism would affect the mists somehow, wouldn't it? Or am I just speculating here?

Was there any Allomantic reasoning behind the decision to make boxings out of gold? Was it because the ability to see into the past was that terribly useless, that access to it would be made so common? Or was it useful enough that the Lord Ruler wanted gold to be everywhere?

Brandon Sanderson generally comes up with some surreal environments for his novels. The important thing to consider is that none of them are irrelevant to the story at hand. In fact, all of them are strikingly relevant. On Scadrial, the environment and the creation thereof was one of the major elements of the trilogy--the fact that these imperfect, unwieldy deities flung the world around the solar system, and had to make major changes to the ecosystem for the humans to survive. On Sel, the very configuration of the environment powered the Aons, allowing AonDor to work. Raoden had to correct the physical environment for AonDor to be reactivated fully. Now we have a world--Roshar--where we have some obviously unearthly creatures roaming the landscape. Chulls, chasmfiends, and cremlings are all crustaceans. We have skyeels flitting about as if they were swimming in air. Certainly, there are the Highstorms that essentially plunge the world underwater for a short duration. But those come only every two weeks or so--not often enough to steer evolution into favoring strikingly-underwater species as the main denizens of the world. I think something is up with the submarine fauna of Roshar. Any theories as to what that might be?

How deliberately does Brandon plan out his languages? Is there reason to be concerned that he uses the word "shash" in both Warbreaker and The Way of Kings? Can we jump to any conclusions as a result?

Well, as of yet, we haven't had any violent reactions of disgust for Shardplate. Shardblades better fit Odium's intent. Perhaps fabrials are to Odium and Honor as metals are to Ruin and Preservation. Except I remember reading that Odium is not native to Roshar. Or was it Sel? I can't remember.

First post, first theory. Much of the credit goes to Tirium, kari-no-sugata, and others in the "eyes are important" thread under the WoK subforum. If there are three realms--physical, cognitive, and spiritual--and each are directly affected by Shards, then Shardblades (I can only assume that the name is more than coincidental) would likely affect all three, depending on what the blade makes contact with. Physical, noncognitive elements are cut through seamlessly. Physical, cognitive (sentient) beings are severed from within; as Tirium puts it: But what of the spiritual ramifications of being cut by a Shardblade? I take it that the spiritual realm is far more fundamental than the mere physical (material) or cognitive (Shadesmar) realms. Brandon repeatedly makes mention of lerasium and other elements rewiring the "spiritual DNA" of the individual or whatever, opening up powers and abilities previously unattainable (Mistborn, etc.). I'm sure the Sheod is pretty similar--it seems to exist on a higher plane than mere physical or cognitive ability. But a Shardblade cuts things. It destroys things. By nature, it is divisive and destructive. How would it do this spiritually, if not in a physical (material) or cognitive (mind) sense? Well, look at Roshar. It's been divided, and redivided, and redivided some more. Even within nations--take Alethkar as a prime example--different powers wage war against each other. What is the central prize contested between these powers? It's the Shardblades. Spiritually, these Blades are cutting the world to pieces. When they appear on the battlefield, soldiers stop doing what they're supposed to do and start either breaking formation or doing dangerously stupid maneuvers in an attempt to win fame and glory by downing a Shardbearer. It's not so much a matter of what they cut spiritually when they hit something; their mere presence provokes division and strife. There are two prime forces or Shards actively at work in this particular conflict: Honor (God, Tanavast, the Almighty), and Odium (Hate, the True Desolation). Cultivation is having fun in Shinovar or somewhere else; it doesn't really seem to come into play here. More from Tirium: Odium spreads confusion--locally, nationally, and internationally--with the Shardblades. And it seems like the only way to get past this obstacle of Odium's is, not so much to acquire all of the Blades, but to get rid of them. This theme of Honor being associated with giving up Shardblades is found throughout The Way of Kings. Kalak, Jezrien, and the other Heralds (with the notable exception of Taln) give up their blades, break the Oathpact, and walk away from their weapons in an attempt to finish the war. In Dalinar's vision, hundreds of Shardbearers approach a mortal army, abandon their weapons, and walk away. It's notable that this is a handpicked vision from Honor himself. Multiple characters view the Shardblade as a monstrosity (Szeth, Shallan, Syl). What is arguably Dalinar's most Honorable act is the act of giving up his sword for the bridgemen. I'm sure there are other references besides, but it's 2AM and I don't have the patience to look them all up. As an additional note, I suspect that this is what lies at the center of the Shattered Plains--the rock formation with the ring of swords. The Parshendi fight hard to protect Alethkar and everyone else from the evils of Odium contained therein. Possibly. I might just be spinning threads by this point. But I do think that Shardblades are Odium's devices, and that they're spiritually cutting apart the world so that Tanavast's champion will have a harder time to "unite them." I'd also like to add that I don't expect any of this to be new. Just some things that came to mind.