Shardbearer

I agree that there was plenty of foreshadowing for Jasnah's return. I kept reading, waiting for the reveal, knowing it was coming. It is unfortunate that this reveal came so close to Szeth's resurrection, but I can't see any other way it could have been done. If done earlier, it would have been a diversion from the other plots that were happening. I suppose it could have been left for the next book, but that would probably seem even more "deus ex machina".

I dunno, that's more like the first arc of SA.

Why less? The Julia Set is mathematical, and so are the cymatic formation of the dawncities. Different math, probably, but still...

Where do secret things grow? In Shadesmar? Under the ocean? Is it the greatshell island?

So Roshar is one big cymatic, right?

I'm sad I didn't make it to this event.

I don't remember any voidbinders taking in stormlight. When did that happen?

Well, Shallan's thing is Transformation. This also extends to the people around her. It's interesting me how this works. She has a tendency to see people as they should be, not as they really are, and as they interact with her they become more like her idealistic view of them. Kaladin, on the other hand, well he has something similar going on with the people he's trying to protect, like Bridge 4. But he is more pessimistic about everyone else, especially for those who are part of the "them" (in regards to his "us vs. them" training he got in Amaram's army).

Yeah, pretty sure that's Hoid.

It's Hoid

Good catch. I was thinking the only way we might be able to spot them is by their names. Do we have any other Rosharian sounding names in the other books? Symmetrical or near symmetrical. Suffixes. Consonants mashed together...(although I think the eyebrows would be a dead giveaway with those. Unless they keep them trimmed....)

Interesting thoughts. Upvote for you. Not much evidence for it at this point though.

Oh, for some reason I thought the map of Elendel had Isasik's name on it, not Nazh's.

Yes, the cartographer. And he also drew maps in Scadrial. So whoever he's based on, he's a worldhopper.

There is Isaik or whatever his name is, but we haven't really met him in another world, just seen his work. Assuming he actually is FROM Roshar.

Yeah, so I'm guessing they wouldn't be characters we'd recognize, except maybe by reputation.

I recently read a WOB that says we've met several worldhoppers FROM Roshar already. I've never seen any speculation on who these might be. So what do you think? Where else have we seen Rosharians? Who were they? Speculate away!

Confused, I'm going to nitpick one particular argument you made above. Now to be clear, I actually really like your theory. And this argument isn't really important to your overall idea. So... You said that you believe that ReShephir has the same surges as Shalash. WOB confirms that there are NOT 10 Unmade, so I don't believe we can match them up with the Heralds in that way. And as a side note, I always think of the Shard as a busty woman because of the phrase you mentioned. But I recognize that is probably not what Brandon had in mind when he came up with the name... (or maybe he did). One of the definitions of endowment is a person's natural abilities or talent. A definition of endow is to provide something freely or naturally. It's also a financial term, which I think derives from the word dowry (or dowry is derived from the same word as endow). This financial term is essentially giving a gift of money to some person or institution. So my interpretation of Endowment's intent or mandate involves both the possession and the ability to gift natural talents and abilities. Nalthians inherently have an increased sense of life and their senses. They also have the ability to gift this natural endowment to others, or even to inanimate objects in order to allow them to act on a Command.

In the first of Dalinar's visions that we see, he notes that the town is built in a lait. So it's likely that highstorms did occur, although we don't have direct confirmation of them.

I suspect Taravangian manipulated events to help make Szeth into a Truthless. Likely, he witnessed something that led him to believe the Radiants were returning. When he reported this to the Stone Shamans, they would have told him he was mistaken and made him a Truthless. I also suspect Taravangian had a hand in his exile. I believe WoB indicates that the Recreance is rather recent, compared to the Heralds abandoning the Pact. The KR continued on their own, as Jezrien said would happen in the Prologue. The Heralds were created by Honor. They seem to have other powers besides what they get from their Shardblades, including immortality or a long life and the ability resurrect, presumably. Although it's possible that they would not resurrect anymore, after abandoning the pact.

I'm trying to find that WoB, but it's eluding me. To my recollection, the question was whether all KR had shardblades, and Brandon's response was that all Orders did, but some individuals chose not to use them.

It's better than "unobtainium".

What do you mean it can't fly? He usually blends in with a surface of some kind, but once in a while we see him as inky black floating ball of impossible patterns. And we see him act as a Shardblade in WOR. And yes, WOB confirms that all Orders had Shards, although some individuals did not use them due to preferences to not engage in battle.

Nin's probably the one who went back for his Blade.

When you think you've spotted a worldhopper, but realize it's not a Sanderson book you're reading