ConfusedCow

@karger I clearly try to address the synergy.

What is the most dangerous order of radiants in one on one combat? To answer this I assigned a numerical value to each surge, totaled them, then adjusted for resonances. As we don't know much about the various orders and powers that you get once you swear the fourth ideal, I'm pretending everyone is at the third ideal. Surges: Gravitation 10 (This is my baseline since its the skill we're most familiar with) - Highly useful for speed, ranged attacks and defense. Adhesion 4 - Far less useful than Gravitation, limited defensive applications, potentially useful for immobilizing opponents or their weapons. Division 10 - Not entirely clear since we've only seen a few applications of it, but likely quite combat oriented. There have been hints that this surge can attack a wide area. Illumination 8 - "all war is based on deception..." Sun Tzu Progression 7 - All radiants see to have something like this, but Renarin seems capable of ignoring being squashed like a bug. Could he take a shard blade through the face stab you in the stomach and just walk off? Transformation 5 - Highly versatile but unless your an elsecaller you have to touch the object you want to transform. Transportation 2? - Can this only be used to travel (with difficulty) back and forth from shadesmar? If so it's not very useful, but maybe it has other uses we haven't seen. Cohesion 5 - So I'm getting that this is the surge which lets you reshape stone. This has good defensive and offensive uses, but if your enemy can get in close or float above... Tension 2? - We don't know much about this but the Stormfather seems to think that this surge is not well suited for combat. If this surge is about changing how flexible things are I agree. Maybe you could use it to turn long grasses into knives, make an enemies weapon flop, or make yourself an impromptu trampolin. Abrasion 4 - Actually wearing skates is less useful in a fight than one might imagine. Power comes from the ability to plant and twist. Footwork is about quick little steps. Orders: Skybreakers (21 = 20 + 1) - Given an extra point for their martial orientation and focus. Windrunners (14 =14 + *) - *+5 if we're letting the extra squires fight Edgedancers (11) Truthwatchers (11 = 15 - 4) - Lose 4 points because I'm not sure they can use illumination in the same way Lightweavers can. Lightweavers (13) Dustbringers (14) Elsecallers (10 = 7 + 3) - Given an extra three points because their resonance lets them use ranged soulcasting. Stonewardens (9 = 7 + 2) - Given an extra two points for a resolute will Willshapers (7) Bondsmith (14 = 6 + 8*) - I'm treating the resonance (+8) as the ability to summon infinite stormlight. I'm not evaluating Dalinars personal skill in combat or the bondsmith's other abilities. So I think the most powerful radiants are Skybreakers, followed by Windrunners, Dustbringers, Bondsmiths and Lightweavers.

Dalinar might not just send her to end Adolin. She would probably be a good pick to talking him out of this madness too. Though the chances that this series ends up with Adolin and Shallan sipping wine over Kholinar...

Suppose Odium chooses Adolin, setting the stage for the love triangle death duel. Dalinar might choose Shallan. She could lightweave herself to look like Kaladin, then drop the deception at the last minute. Stunned, unwilling to kill, his wife, the woman he loves, the woman he was fighting to protect, Adolin would hesitate. Then Shallan could do what she always does to the people she loves, especially the men who try to possess her.

The whole USA has a southern culture statement seems a bit unfriendly. I grew up in the north before moving to NC. Am I unamerican?

Let's respect Alethi culture a bit. If their politics are about snide comments, chest thumping and backstabbing that's their cultural traditions. Politics is always a balance of fear and friendship. Not everyone has an enlightened class of politicians focused on productive discussion, respecting each other, and general wellbeing like us.

How about merit badge for drinking each of the different kinds of Rosharan wine while reading a Sanderson book?

The benefit to joining the alliance is "If you join, some of us might live". Though I agree with all of hoiditthroughthegrapevine's other points. I didn't think about using Dalinar as a military asset and I'm not sure how I'd use him.

I'm going to lay out my strategy as if I was Dalinar. I think the war can be won though a great deal depends on the emerging powers of the radiants, fused, and unmade. 1) I would send Kaladin, Shallan and Sigzil (with their squires) to Iriali to discover the reason behind their alliance and find a way to disrupt it. That alliance must be destroyed, war on two sides is never good. Failing that their team would be instructed to find allies in Iri and conduct reconnaisance. Shallan's skills with infiltration are obivously neccesary. She needs transportation and back-up. Kaladin needs a break from the front lines and some distance from home. This is a good way to get it. Sigzil has expertise in culture and language which will be needed. The alliance between Iri and the singers is not a natural one, it can't last. Best case scenario Iri switches sides and turns on a large Singer force at a key moment. 2) I would send Szeth, Lift and Vstim to Shinovar. Their goal would be to bring Shinovar into the alliance by any means neccessary. Lift's skills are a good compliment to Szeth's and they work well together. Moreover, Szeth needs another radiant to show the leaders of Shinovar. Vstim has experience with the Shin and negotiating expertise. I don't know where Nale and the Skybreakers are but Szeth and Lift might give turning Nalan towards the good guys a try. 3) I would send Jasnah, Adolin, Renarin, and several highprinces (maybe Hatham and Aladar) to Vedenar along with three quarters of my troops and most of my shardbearers. Their goal is to build a united allied army capable of striking into southern Alethkar and defending Jah Keved. Adolin would be appointed highprince of war and be in charge of directly training and building up the army and creating a shardbearer strikeforce. I would focus on training soldiers to fight fused and fight in more irregular battlefields. This means focusing on small team tactics, heavy infantry and archers, rather than large spear formations. While Adolin secured the allegiance of the soldiers, Jasnah would hold court to secure the allegiance of the highprinces both Veden and Alethi. Jasnah would also be in charge of watching Taravangian. He can't be trusted and in truth will probably have to be assassinated at some point, once the alliance is on firmer footing. Jasnah will have to keep him close but not giving anything away all the time prepared to deal with his treachery. This is a job no-one else could be trusted with. Renarin would be of great help to both Jasnah in her research and Adolin. He could heal many of the Veden's hurt in the civil war thereby earning their good will and allegiance. As this force grew strong I would have them work on rebuilding Vedena and push into southern Alethkar to recruit refugees into their army and threaten the Singer armies. I would, however, wait on a major clash until circumstances were heavily in my favor. 4) I would send Malata, Teft, and Rock too the Horneaters peaks. Rock would be instructed to unite the Horneaters against any hostile forces and bring them into the alliance. Malata and Teft would be instructed to carry out reconnaisance and resistance missions into Alethkar. This fighting will be ugly and horrible. The humans outnumber the singers by quite a bit and the singers have gathered most of their numbers into a few large armies. The Singers are spread thin and the humans in Alethkar are dispossessed and angry. This is an opportunity for resistance movements. Late night stabbings, burned manor houses, poisoned grain shipments. Teft and Malata would go from village to village gathering intelligence on the enemy movements planning resistance. The Singers will respond with butchery against the populace. Villagers tortured until they turn in their neighbors, public executions, examples. This fighting is, however, very necessary. It will hold the Singer armies in Alethkar in place and weaken them substantially. They will also gather key intelligence. The need for the windrunners abilities here are obvious. Malata's destructive abilities will also be put to good use here and she will be kept far from Taravangian. I would also send Rlain on a long term infiltration mission into Alethkar, with Teft as his handler. 5) I would send Lopen and his squire team in a similar role to Herdaz to connect with the Alethi forces there, bring Herdaz into the alliance, and begin resistance operations in northern Alethkar. It would be nice to send someone with him a bit more conventional to represent the alliance, perhaps Captain Colot. 6) I would offer to name Thanadal regent of the shattered plains in the name of Queen Jasnah. I would insist he pay taxes in the form of gemhearts and send a representative to join the alliance. I would point out that a large Singer force has relocated towards Natanan and the Shattered plains are now surrounded. I would leave an occupying force in Narak to hold open the Oathgate, preferably loyal Kholin troops. 7) I would name Sebarial administrator of Urithiru. I would order Sebarial to investigate the secrets of Urithiru and see to it's provisioning and supply. I would name Dalinar (myself) as King of Urithiru, commander of the alliance, and leader of Knights Radiant. Dalinar should renounce all other titles. Dalinar should also seek some sort of accomodation with the Vorin church. He needs their support and participation in the alliance. Some agreement must be possible. Dalinar should also actively recruit and bring Knights Radiants to the tower and teach them their powers. This may be his most important task and role. 8) I would task Queen Fen with creating a navy capable of responding to the Singer's navy. The Singers must not be allowed to threaten the entire Southern stretch of the Alliance. 9) I would have Navani continue organizing the research into Fabrial technology, Urithiru, and means of capturing the unmade. Kharbranth and Azimir may have scholars who can help. 10) I would have Azir muster their forces in Azimir where they can respond to either a force moving north from Tukar or Singers moving South from Yulay. They could also move quickly through the Oathgate to reinforce other cities. The Singers are heavily outnumbered by the humans. Dalinar does have superior force mobility with the oathgates. If Dalinar can prolong the conflict and build support he stands a good chance of winning a war of attrition. The Singers meanwhile will have to rely on quick decisive pushes and whatever horrors Odium can conjur. Dalinar should avoid a crushing defeat in Vedenar at all costs. Dalinar should not send his forces on reckless counter attack toward Kholinar. Once Dalinar gets the allegiance of Iri or Shinovar he can reconsider his options and try for something more aggressive.

This is a bet right. Someone was like people will buy anything Brandon puts his name on.

I don't think Jasnah will kill Gavinor. I do think she will have to be careful though. Jasnah will have lots of enemies, the devotaries, the high princes, the ghostbloods, just for a start. Gavinor will be a tempting tool that could be used to supplant her. Their plots will be dangerous to Gavinor and Jasnah both. Gavinor has to be kept close, pampered and protected but also watched and subtly hidden.

He will always be a threat to Jasnah's rule. Jasnah did consider killing her Cousin and Sister in law but she wouldnt. Right?

Why attack Urithiru? It's probably the most fortified place on Roshar. Conventional strategy would suggest you attack softer targets elsewhere, Vedenar, Azimir, Narak, and eventually put Urithiru under seige. Unless you have a massive force advantage or some arcane reason Urithiru needs to fall first.

So when do we get the ebook?

Honestly, the numbers today. I'm scared.

If Brandon completes ROW on July 10th, why can't we read it on July 11th? What if we pay up front for the hardback and the e-book and they just ship me the hardback when it's ready?

A long angry tirade from Shalash, followed by a long slow apology. 4,500 years, that's torture...

Yeah, wishful thinking. I think the point was that Shallan inspired Elhokar. He was on his way to becoming a better person, a good king. It made his death extra sad.

Would the listeners have allowed a surrender? I don't think they can hold or feed 4 thousand alethi prisoners. This is their chance to deliver a knock-out blow too. What really gets me is why Sadeas let them escape with Adolin and Dalinars' shards. If I was Sadeas, I would have retreated a bit and had Aladar or Ruthar come back me up. Just when the Parshendi finished with Dalinar, I would have attacked them to 'avenge' Dalinar and left no survivors. Sadeas ends up with all the shards, the war is over, his biggest rival is dead, and he's a hero not a coward. Problems solved.

I like this theory it has relatively little evidence but it would fit nicely. Maybe a 4 out of 10 on the chance that it's true. Assuming you're right, what would be the next parts though? Why did Hesina leave her research and settle for a life of relative obscurity?

47,000 cases in the U.S. today. This is unprecedented. My best (amateur) guess predicts the U.S. medical system breaks down if a 50,000 a day case load lasts for much more than a week. You are much more likely to get infected now compared to two weeks ago. If you do get infected now, you have markedly less chance of treatment and recovery. My friends, if you have the financial and emotional resources to quarantine yourselves and your family, please it has never been more important.

Ah Pathfinder, we have locked antlers a bit haven't we. I generally like to paint a broad picture and let others fill in the details, but perhaps a close line by line analysis will speak to you. Let us consider Jasnah's motivations, because on this question morality turns. Why did Jasnah kill in that alleyway? Jasnah tells us but as always actions speak louder than words. Jasnah with emotionless eyes claims "I did not do this just to prove a point, child. I have been feeling for some time that I took advantage of His Majesty's hospitality. He doesn't realize how much trouble he could face for allying himself with me. Besides, men like those ... "(WOR 549). So Jasnah's explanation of her motivation is that she was doing Taravangian a political favor. I don't doubt that this is true, but it also cannot be her real motivation. A princess killing thieves as a kind of political favor? Plus, it doesn't really help Taravangian. It doesn't make him a stronger king or ward off Jasnah's enemies. If Jasnah wanted to do Taravangian a favor she had plenty of other, better means at her disposal. Jasnah is setting Shallan an academic exercise and not being not entirely genuine about its purpose or her opinion. "She [Jasnah] wasn't necessarily advocating ideas because she believed them; she just wanted to push Shallan" (WOR 543). In our quest to find Jasnah's motivation, let us pause to consider why she wants Shallan to study the ethics here. Jasnah claims "There will be times when you must make decisions that churn your stomach, Shallan Davar. I'll have you ready to make those decisions" (WOR 549). Jasnah is not refering to a hypothetical future or some neccesary quality of scholars. Jasnah is focused on her goal. She is talking about when she asks Shallan to join her in killing all of the parshmen. She wants to test whether Shallan has the mindset to join her in that terrible task. Jasnah's stomach churns at the thought and she wants to debate the matter with Shallan so she can be certain in her convinction. Perhaps she even wants to be talked out of it or forgiven. What motivations are left? Self defense? that's a legal argument not a motivation for deliberately creating that situation. Jasnah's quest for social justice, building a better Kharbranth? Doubtful, there are better ways she could do this. She could pressure the city guard to reform for example, so that when she leaves other thieves don't just move in. Alternatively, she could with soulcasting give generously to people in poverty. Either would be more effective in the long term than vigilantism. Recall that Jasnah thinks big. Big problems, big solutions, she doesn't waste time. Perhaps Jasnah had some arcane motive. She could have wanted to test her soulcasting? Or investigate Shallan's loyalty and powers. Perhaps she believed those thieves to be operating for the ghostbloods or some other secret sect. All these are possible but unlikely and hardly exonerating. Consider the theater of the act. They walk towards the theater district. Jasnah wears a "beautiful dress of violet and gold" (WOR 543). Jasnah deliberately witholds her purpose and raises the tension, "How foolish would you say it is for us to come here, ..." (WOR 545). All the while she waxes philosophically about religion and youth, while the night air blows in her hair. She even gives herself an audiance. Jasnah is in her element. She is enjoying herself. She feels good, freshly bathed, relaxed, teaching, contemplating killing. Yes, she is "hard and grim" (WOR 546) in the actual moment, but Jasnah enjoyed this. Why? "..."Besides, men like those ..." There was something in her voice, an edge Shallan had never heard before. What was done to you? Shallan wondered with horror. " (WOR 549) Then later "I sincerely wanted those men gone." This fleeting glimpse of emotion which Jasnah quickly silences, reveal more than all of Jasnah's eloquent philosophy. Jasnah is the victim of some horrible abuse, probably sexual in nature. Note how Jasnah's play casts her as a victim lashing out at her assailants. She does not simply stalk these men down and jump them. She enjoyed this because it is emotionally cathartic to kill these men. She is rewriting her own history. Jasnah's trauma is probably both her best and worst reason for killing. It is the most emotionally appealing but the least logically forgivable. Here is the real moral question here. Is violence as vengeance for abuse justified? I hesitate to answer. I have no personal experience with abuse. I do not truly understand the pain it leaves behind. I think, no. While I sympathize with Jasnah's murderous fury, even forgive it, I cannot condone it. Shallan could do worse than repeat Hoid's words to her "Accept the pain, but don't accept that you deserved it. (OB 855) " This turned into a really long post. Thank you for reading it. I enjoy this discussion. Also, considering this made me think that Taravangian might have been trying to recruit Jasnah to the Diagram?!

Yes, they were criminals. Yes, they attacked first. That does not add up to a death sentence. Jasnah had other options, whether or not she considered them. There are unknowns, whether or not we admit them. Killing people in dark alleys is not the way to build a better world. The truth is that Jasnah's killing, comes not as a dispassionate lesson, or a search for justice, or even as a favor to Taravangian. She kills because she hurts, deep pains in her past. While I ache for her, this does not make killing now okay. I do not know how she can find healing and peace, but I wish it for her.

What of the fact that Jasnah was born into wealth and priviledge? She has all the spheres she could ever need, thanks to lots of heartless brutal killing by her father and uncle. Jasnah seems unbound by legal consequences or even concerns. She certainly won't be brought to justice for her 'crimes'. The difference between Jasnah and those murdering theives is more a matter of success and clothing style than morality. Perhaps, those thugs were justified in murdering her. Alright, I exaggerate for effect. I like Jasnah. Still who is she to judge others crimes, especially without giving them a chance to speak in their defense, especially as a kind of political favor? Tell me honestly that the casual killing of weak, desperate people by powerful, rich people doesn't always turn your stomach.

Can you get the whole set, WOK, WOR, O?