Zephrun’s Imperium

So, I have weird ideas (don't we all) and one day, I imagined a scenario in which Mistborn is produced as a movie and becomes really successful. So successful in fact that, in an attempt at a money grab they decide to make a prequel called Survivor about Kelsier because Kelsier is awesome and who doesn't love Kelsier? Anyway, as I started mulling over this, I started to think of how it began, but to my amusement, it took a fun turn. Enjoy. Long, long ago, in an ashen world, dubbed Scadrial by its gods, a baby was born. His birth was not an extraordinary event. It happened in a nondescript corner of the capital city Luthadel, planned and prepared for. But this baby was no ordinary baby. He was destined to bring tyrants to their knees, bring hope and joy to the downtrodden. To overcome the greatest of challenges and go above and beyond the limits of mortality. Or at least, he would have been, if it weren't for a second birth, not a year later. If you've ever had a little brother, you'd understand the way Marsh felt at having a second person in his home. Kelsier was loud and Marsh wanted attention. And it seemed nothing changed as the years went by. Why, if anything, Marsh's lesser was getting even more annoying as time went on. But, then, if you are someone's little brother, you'd understand how Kelsier felt. The world was his oyster and Marsh, who was taller, and smarter and knew practically everything, was susceptible to his whims. Yes, little Kelsier loved being able to control what other people thought and did. He wanted to be just like his brother, have everything he had, do everything he was destined to do. And he would do it better. And so it was that Kelsier committed his first robbery. And stole his brother's destiny.

Well, I have a bad habit of looking at fanart before I finish books so I was like, "Ha, ha, why is Marsh an Inquisi... Oh no." And also, I know that big things happen at the end of parts in Mistborn books and you can kinda see the little black strip that marks the beginning of a part on my copy, so while I was reading TFE, I flipped ahead and I saw one of the last lines of part 4: "He paused, looking at Kelsier, assuring himself that the crewleader was dead." I kinda set the book down gingerly and thought about it, but I shrugged it off 'cause I was like, "There's no way he's really dead. He'll just come back." And I really believed it. Still, it hurt when he died. I started to cry because it was so unexpected and I read on because I figured in the next ten pages or so, he'd pop out of nowhere like, "HI GUYS! I was kidding! I'm not really dead!" But then I read the letter and I just started to sob because he was really gone and he was amazing enough to have planned for it all. My dad didn't let me read SH until after BoM. Fortunately (I think), I realized about halfway through BoM that Arcanum Unbounded (which my dad got for Christmas a few years before I got hooked on the cosmere) was a book of short stories. You have no idea how crafty I felt when I realized that SH was inside. I picked it up and read the first chapter and literally started to cry with joy. Wow. That turned into a life story. Anyway, my dad took a picture of me when I read the first chapter. You can only kinda tell that I'm crying, but I'm so happy it doesn't matter.

Secret History is a weird one. If I have a friend who I know isn't going to read Era 2, I'll have them read SH after Era 1. However, I have one friend who I've kept innocent for like a month now and he's just starting BoM. I feel so evil.

I always tell people to read Mistborn, then Elantris, then Warbreaker and then SA. Elantris could very well go after SA though. I think the most important thing is to know who Vasher and Vivenna and Nightblood are so you can pick up on little easter eggs. Some people don't care about that though so I usually tailor the first book to the person. Say, for instance, I have a friend who likes mysteries. I would tell them to read Elantris and if they like it, I might direct them to Mistborn.

Seconded and seconded.

Thanks. It sure was fun to do. I'm excited to see other people's entries.

I first listened to Elantris on audiobook when I was like 9 or 10 with my dad. He had read SA and Mistborn and Warbreaker and liked them (who wouldn't) so he figured we could listen to it together 'cause I loved to read. Then a few years past and my dad got me Steelheart as a gift. We were at my grandparents' so I started reading it aloud to my cousins and got them totally hooked. It had been a while and I remembered liking it, so I decided to read Elantris again and it was even better than I remembered. After that, at age 11, I read Warbreaker. It wasn't until Christmas break of 7th grade that I got Mistborn as a 12 year old. I finished the first book on New Year's day. It was kinda cool because I got to read it in the winter and it didn't get green again until after I had finished the series. After devouring Era 2 and Secret History, I started with SA which was what really got me, well, Invested in the cosmere.

Thanks. Say what you will about me, I'm committed.

Well hey, anything for the spread of cosmere awareness. I have, let's see... I think 6 friends reading different Sanderson books currently. Edit: Make that 7. Or 8 if you count my friend that finished OB just a few days ago, completing her journey through the cosmere.

Eeeee! It's finally done! I'm really proud of myself... Here's Come Alive, as sung by Kelsier to Vin. Enjoy!

Yup! It takes like 40 minutes. One time I had a cold so I decided to type it up... that was not fun. It took hours and it really made me appreciate Brandon.

Pathfinder makes a good point. Personally, I'm not certain Kelsier did any real ruling. I mean, he left, didn't he? The only thing we know he did is show them their medallion things. The fact is we don't really have all that much to go on.

When your friend who lives a few hours away doesn't have Mistborn at her library so you record a chapter of it every day for her.

That doesn't change that Kelsier would hate it. Maybe he'd be a fantastic leader, but I don't think we'll ever really find out because he would be extremely unfulfilled doing it. Perhaps it'd be fun for a little while, but at the end of the day, he's just not fit for a position like that. Leave the leading to other characters. Kelsier would much rather break the rules than make them. He's a crewleader; ambitious and not a little bit crazy. A serial killer. Would you really want someone like that in charge of everything? I know I wouldn't. Brandon has said that Kelsier would be the bad guy if things were just a little bit different. He's the attacker, not the defender and he'd rather manipulate the strings than set them up himself, if you get what I mean. Why write the play when it's so much more fun to mess with the actors and turn an opera into something so much more entertaining?

Oh my Shards @Singer that deserves all the upvotes. Unfortunately, I'm out for the day but I'll be back tomorrow!

Alright, I think I'm seeing what you mean. However, I'm still not so sure how good he would be at actually leading a people. I think he'd find himself in trouble by being too headstrong. Things go his way or not at all. And I'm skeptical of his ability to deal with little skirmishes and problems that he deems unimportant. He'd get frustrated and I don't think he'd be very happy with his position. Kelsier wasn't made to hold the kind of responsibility that affects everyone's lives. He was made to defy all the rules. He can't live without a thrill. Maybe Kelsier would be an okay leader, but he wouldn't be happy as one.

That's the problem. Tricking people just isn't the same. If you're going to lead, you want the trust of the people. And while I completely agree with his strategic ability, I don't think he could very well shield an empire against three storming armies. You'll want someone like Dalinar for that. Or better yet, someone who could avoid that situation all together. I agree with @Jace21 Kell is good for leading small groups and being inspiring.

We're planning to collaborate to make it about all of the cosmere. I've kinda started. It's already on the Cosmere Musical thread, but I might as well put it here. So tell me do you wanna go Where Radiants fly through the skies Where Hoid is any one of those guys Impossible comes true (Though they might spike you) Anyway, sorry about the delay on Come Alive. I'm a huge procrastinator. It will get done though. Eventually.

Well, "Remeber to smile," is the go-to for me, (what Kelsier wrote in his letter to the crew) but I really love what Kelsier says to Spook. "You want to be like me? Really like me? Then fight then you are beaten!" Other honorable mentions: (WARNING: Lots of Kelsier ahead) Kay, that's enough for now.

*waves hand vehemently* Me, me, me! And Kell's my favorite! Always has been.

I'm actually kinda surprised that Kelsier has tied for first place, at least for now. Sure, he led the gave the skaa hope but did he really lead them? I think, in reality, he's just very good at getting people to do what he wants and think in a way that's beneficial to him. And I'm not trying to downgrade what he did or call him selfish. I just don't think he would do a particularly good job actually ruling. I mean, can you imagine what would have happened had he taken Rashek's place? Kelsier is a fun guy to be around (unless you happen to be a noble) and he definitely possesses the charisma that inspires leadership, but I would never trust him to take control of a country.

Yeah. But because its a puppy consistency is important. Still, I'll probably end up calling her Vivenna by accident.

Ha, ha, ha! Very nice. My family is getting a dog really soon and I was very insistent that its name be Cephandrius but alas my 5 year old sister can't pronounce it very well and we ended up getting a girl anyway. We're naming her Vivian.

Who's your favorite character, ShardOfAnxiety? And welcome!

I picked Raoden because even though we never actually see him rule from a throne it's obvious that the people love him. And that might just be because Iadon is not that great, but the loyalty he has is pretty significant. And then in Elantris, he gains allegiance very swiftly despite the fact that he's brand new to the city and they don't know his identity. He's very considerate of other people's needs and he's not full of himself. Kaladin is a close second though. This was a very hard choice.