Wyndlerunner

What's that you say? It's my 5th shardiversary? I've been an active member of this fandom for half a decade?! 

What an eventful year this has been. Sure, my presence on the Discord is bigger than my presence on the forums proper, but c'est la vie. We had Dragonsteel 2022, and oh my goodness, it was five months ago but I still can't shut up about how fun it was. Hanging out with @AonEne, @Borio Singaldi, and @JesterLavorre was genuinely one of the most fun experiences I've had in association with this fandom. 

I'm genuinely so lucky to count you all among my friends. I'm not being overdramatic or hyperbolic when I say many of you have changed my life for the better. Thank you all, and here's to another 5 years to come!

Well, here we are, with my fourth Shardiversary upon us. How has it already been four years? Like, seriously, how has it been that long? The last year has been one of my most momentous as a Sharder, despite my relative... well... lack of posts. We had the first Dragonsteel Con, and just recently the rather momentous occasion that is Brandon's secret novels. While I still notably have struggled to actually get around to reading Cytonic, we also have TLM scheduled for this fall, which is sure to kickstart a lot of discussion. Now, onto the special mentions!

@Firerust, now that you're off your mission, I can bug you with pings again, heh. But seriously man, I cannot overstate how important my friendship with you has been. You were one of my first 'Cosmere-literate' friends IRL, and without you pestering me to start a Shard account during our little library geek out sessions, I wouldn't have made the great memories I've made here. 

@AonEne, my friend in high places! I would not have met you without this website, and I do think that's a point in its merit. In terms of the past year, we actually got to meet in person for the first time at Dragonsteel Con after nearly 3 years of friendship. It's honestly kind of surreal!

@overlord stick, Stick my friend! one of the few cases where our friendship hasn't really revolved around Brando Sando in quite some time lol. Thank you for always being so indulging of my eccentricity, and enduring of my continuous prods to catch up on Demon Slayer. 

But seriously, all of you are super important to me, and while I might not post on this site a whole lot nowadays, I really appreciate all of your friendships. Here's to another year!

In 5 days, I'll be living in a world where the first 3 episodes of The Wheel of Time have premiered, and I'm simultaneously hyped as heck, and surreally wondering how this is actually happening. 

Current Pokemon Headcanon:

The Sinnoh Region's champion Cynthia is actually a piano prodigy, who composed her own battle theme in her spare time sitting around waiting for challengers

Well it's that time of year once again, March 7th, 2021, and my third Shardiversary. This last year has definitely been one for the history books in a lot of far reaching ways, but I figured I'd scale back and just focus on my experience within this fandom within the past year. I've been a Sanderfan for 6 years, I joined the Shard shortly following my initial Oathbringer re-read, and I've been active on the Shard since then. Because of that crucial timing factor, the release of Rhythm of War this last year has been my first experience being a part of the community during the initial hype and build up to a major Cosmere release (Sorry White Sands Volume 3, you don't count), and boy what a high that was. Rhythm of War surpassed all the expectations I had for it, and I'm mostly ready to devour book 5 when we get it in a couple years. Outside of the general Sanderson community, however, I've had some great experiences with the Shard as a whole and with some people who bear some recognition for their part in it. 

@AonEne, where to begin with how wonderful you've made so many people's experiences on this site? Your kindness and your convictions shine through every time we chat, and I can't even envision how drastically different my experience with this site would be without my having gotten to know you.

@Shard of Thought, I really got to know you this year, and as an aspiring artist, your work is continually inspiring. Despite our occasional diverging opinions, your bright personality was like a ray of sunshine in an otherwise at times dreary world.

OK for some reason it's not letting me quote y'all in the post, but I'll quote you in a reply or something. 

The TKND crew: You guys and gals are fantastic, you remain a pleasure to write with, and I wouldn't exchange the awesome times we've had for the world, or even a black sphere that might potentially have something alive inside it or something .

Empress Stick: While most of our interactions happen over on Discord, you are a joy to talk to, and I look forward to many more anime gif spamming sessions in the future. 

Revelryintheart: I've just barely started to get to know you, and I look forward to continuing to get to know you in the future. 

In conclusion, it's been an awesome three years, and I hope to be among you for many more to come. *Raises a glass of Pink Wine* Cheers!

The things my younger brother asks while I read TWoK:

"Can you eat chasmfiend?"

"Why does Brandon Sanderson like crabs so much?"

Well y'all, I'm back. I may or may not have ignored all of my physical needs to read Rhythm of War in just over 24 hours

Well ladies and gents, It appears as though I shall be bidding you all farewell for a time, so I can keep myself as spoiler free as possible (yes I know I read the preview chapters. Hush)

To quote Lloyd Andrew Webber's classic of musical theatre, Les Miserables:

"One day more. Another day another destiny"

Y'all. It is exactly 7 Days till Rhythm of War. I cannot even with how hyped I am

People of the Shard, I need your help. How would you say that Samwise Gamgee resonated with you? 

Me: Minding my own business, about to get out of bed after chilling with my laptop

My Brain: Hey, Wyn?

Me: What is it?

My Brain: You know those things, like the ability to walk, and hold things without dropping them?

Me: Yeah, what about them?

My Brain: So, in like a minute, I'mma forget how to do that. 'Kay?

Me: WAIT NO

My Brain *as I nearly trip over my laptop cable, and accidentally fling my phone from my hands*: Too late!

Tell me, did you ever hear the tragedy of RoW preview chapters the wise? I thought not. It's not a story the patient fans would tell you. The RoW preview chapters were a dark lord of the serialization, so powerful, and so full of lore, he could influence the fandom, to create... Hype. They had such a knowledge of lore that they could even keep theories people cared about, from dying. The preview chapters are a path to much knowledge some consider to be... unnatural. 

I hope you all are doing well, with everything going on. Just wanted to let you know, that I know that you got this! 

Just Finished reading Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. 

I'm now empty inside

Me when I get back from having no internet service for 3 days and reading all the sample chapters

Just finished watching The Two Towers with my youngest brother, and man, Sam's speech at the end just hits different during these troubled times

Rhythm of war is done people! *celebration noises*

Apparently, I am now part of a government of Old men. Whadda'ya know

PSA from Wyn: If you haven't Yet signed up for Brandon Sanderson's newsletter, you should do so today

For reasons

Whoever decided to make medieval covers of modern songs a popular thing on YouTube is literally a saint.

Well, here's my drawing of James Freeman, my character from the RP, 'The Knights Next Door'And, it's sideways. Well, ain't that lovely

Guys! I can do the art thing now! I am literally psyched out beyond belief right now!

Admiral Kilian really out here being one of the most underappreciated Clone Wars Characters though

That feeling when you notice there's a Rhythm of War spoiler board, and you start scrambling thinking there's something you've missed, but there isn't.