Yolenlightweaver

I have been thinking about Shallan’s flashback with her mother and her associate. This associate, who is posited to be a skybreaker acolyte gets cut while fighting Lin. I know the different orders have different relationships with squires, but we have seen Nale send squires to handle possible radiants themselves, using himself as backup if they fail. If the associate is a skybreaker acolyte high enough to track a radiant, I have a hard time believing that Nale wouldn’t finish the job, much less he would lose to a normal human (as we have seen their squires along with Szeth use Stormlight). I know he gets cut but squires can heal. I would appreciate any thoughts on this as I am a little stuck.

I think that is a fun one! I just feel like the authors of the two most recent books were a surprise so I would be surprised if it is just Kaladin since I think that is a low hanging fruit. We know Rlain won’t have any flashbacks but that he does have familiarity with both sides of that. I personally still feel like the death of the first generation of spren seems to simple to be that the humans stole the land, so I think there will definitely be some truth that Rlain will be discovering so solid idea!

So do you think it will be one that one of them writes, so far the books come from the distant past, the less distant past, the present reflecting on the past, the present and technology, so the last could be about the future? Kaladin and Shallan setting expectations and goals for the new order of knights radiant? It’s fun to speculate.

I am finishing another reread of Words of Radiance in preparation for KoWaT and I am sorry if this has been discussed, but what I have previously seen is that this title is in reference to Kaladin and Szeth’s mission. At the end of WoR, Mraize invites Shallan to find truth. Is there any chance the truth here is in reference to Shallan’s journey and discovery and the Wind refers to the duo with the black sword? Just wanted people’s thoughts, so pumped for December!

On my reread of Way of Kings before book 5, I noticed something new. Kaladin and the bridgemen chose to go back for Dalinar after Sadeas betrayal. I was getting emotional due to following Kaladin’s thought process in choosing to go back but we only see a little from the bridgemen. He remarks that months ago they would let others die, but they all choose to go save others now. I assumed they had a lot of faith in Kaladin at this time, but only 3 or 4 knew the extent of his powers and most interactions led me to believe they all assumed they would die. Previously I just assumed they thought Kaladin would save them, but up to this point, he was just good at getting less killed than normal. When they choose to go back and charge the Parshendi, most of Bridge 4 is not aware of the extent of help they will get. They probably assumed they would die but it was the right thing to do. It makes sense why Windrunners have so many squires since I believe most humans can recognize nobility in this sacrifice whereas not everyone would gravitate to other orders. They weren’t as far as Kaladin on their path, but already at this point, they were on their way to Windrunners. This is not just because they were in close proximity to Kaladin, but by their own merits, inspired by Kaladin. I think that is also why the most disliked character in Bridge 4 hurts so much. He had the same resilience and desire to protect, but he threw it away. He wasn’t just loyal to Kaladin, but he was on his way to being a protector as well which is why Renarin was able to create such a powerful projection of what he could have been. Kind of a ramble, but it helped me see the valiance in Bridge 4 when I previously just thought they were offshoot followers of Kaladin.

Do you think that if the Soren got nicked it would be game over or would you have to have the intention to wield Nightblood? If a nick would kill, I assume the high Soren would just refuse to be summoned until the sword was put away. Would Nightblood drain energy from the bond Soren before or after it took Szeths life? If after than I feel like the high Soren would be safe.

I think the Stormfather showed to be more aware than Gavilar assumed and I don’t think he would let him get it just by trial and error. I think when he said, “that was almost them,” he is speaking to the fact that most times, the oaths were said when the need was truly there. He was close as he had the need and desire, but missed the point.

I have heard this one and actually really like it. Especially if it involves unity. I feel like I am just interested in the idea of closure. What are some ways that closure would occur while also keeping it fresh? I feel like Brandon is stellar at that but my experience with fantasy stories is limited. Since the cosmere didn’t start with one big bad, you can’t just say they defeat the evil guy which is the normal that I have seen.

I updated to clarify the actual question. It mostly comes down to I would appreciate takes on how it could end in a good way.

I have enjoyed reading and rereading Cosmere related books for years now. I have recently finished Arcanum Unbounded again along with the Sunlit Man. These make me reflect on the same question - How will the Cosmere end? I know there are a lot of solid theories but one thing I value of Brandon is his ability to combine a solemn ending with one that is either also happy or hopeful. I need that, that’s a big part of why I read his and not others. With the tech advancement being shown in some books for later-Cosmere stories, it makes me wonder how is it possible to put a happy ending to these societies. Dune probably did it best by having everyone keep spreading out and exploring and choosing their futures, but I am wondering what other endings there could be other than, everyone just spreads out. I guess I am just weary due to all the post-apocalyptical stories I have read the past few years but I would appreciate some hope on that account. What are some ways that Brandon could close out the Cosmere on a hopeful note? Thanks all! edit:clarified question.

That makes a lot of sense, thank you!

That is what I was looking at but this WoB implies he only used fortune and assumed it was intelligence: https://wob.coppermind.net/events/174/#e8447 Sorry, I don’t know how to clip WoB well. It is #38. I do agree with the storytelling method, and I hope some go beyond SA5 as some theories, including Taravodiums champion I’m not a fan of. If both Rayse and Taravangian had Fortune, did Rayse not predict the outcome since he couldn’t track the sword? If so why could Cultivation?

This may have been previously discussed but as I have been reading RoW it got me thinking. We see multiple manifestations of reading the future in the cosmere and specifically with odium vs taravangian/diagram, odium makes the point genius-taravangian see the same as odium but odium sees deeper. Whether flawlessly or not the diagram is successful but it poses the question, are all previous manifestations of foretelling still viable? A lot of discussion has taken place about predicting death rattles in relation to Stormlight 5 but how many of those are invalidated by the specific path the future followed? Or are those ones given to us specifically by Brandon since they are part of the true path of events? I would love your take.

I made the mistake and read the first chapter and was frustrated after that since I know I want it all if that was just a taste. Stay Away!!!!!!

Assuming Mrall is the kandra, why are we assuming that Day of Brilliance Teravangian didn't know what Mrall was? He might not have understood, but he could have determined something different about Mrall, and the kandra may have done certain things, or shared pieces of information that made him valuable.

I was thinking, how many Greeks didn't see the Pantheon as dieties. If they left, not considering the pantheon to be their God(s), they would still probably refer to the entity as the god(s) since they are commonly known by that name by the populace.

We know Hoid isn't but what about Frost

I really like that example, thanks! I guess this goes into spit-balling about a deity, but if he was in control of what he wanted to do, was he completely just and fair, or could he have been a normal dude that would just kind of do what he wanted? We see shards manifesting empathy for the different races, but that might not have been true to Adonalsium. Who is to say that his Cultivation/Ruin side often prevailed, like for certain humans, or the Honor/Devotion side? Do you think he varied like a person, or was he just on a higher level and wouldn't change that much. Along with that, did he have a purpose of his own or did he just like watching ants scurry around? I love that quote too! It makes you think about even how someone like Harmony is completely out of context making him almost immobile while trying to do things. We could assume that with context, Adonalsium focused on Justice, but could he have enjoyed chaos? A lot of religions these days see more benevolent deities, but in the past, (like greek pantheon) they viewed their Gods as often self-centered or flippant with a passing soft spot for the human race. Would all the Intents that made up Adonalsium have made up the same type of person in another situation, or does Adonalsium manifest different intents more that others? I hope that make sense, let me know what you think!

I thought all we knew is that Adonalsium didn't have a predecessor. Do we know if it was the original, or are we led to simply assume that currently? Also, along that vein, do we know if he was omniscient and omnipotent? Thanks!

Hey all, thanks for the help in the past. I have been trying to look and have only seen one or two things on this. If there is another discussion or something more concrete, let me know! When Sazed combined the powers of Ruin and Preservation, they became Harmony. In effect, a new intent that is a combination of the others. Does that mean Adonalsium had an overarching intent? If so, what would that have been?

At the end of the first Mistborn book, Vin concocts the idea that if she stabs the Lord Ruler's malatium shadow, he would die. She does this with a dagger a few times and nothing happens. If I remember correctly that is because it reveals something on the spiritual realm level. Do you all think there is or will be a weapon that could effectively do what Vin tried to do? The reason I thought about this is when Kaladin stabs one of the spren bugging Elhokar's son and it disappears. (Granted that situation is cognitive vs. cognitive)

I just started listening to Mistborn era 1 again and I didn't realize one of the roles of the Hero of Ages. "The Hero of Ages was not simply to be a warrior. He was a person who united others, who brought them together. A leader. " So at least its in the first era of Mistborn as well!

Haha very true! Thanks for providing the WoB, I haven't seen that one before. Also thank you so much! I was wondering how to get the grey box around it. I am rather new as you have already guessed. Makes sense, yeah thanks for pointing those out, it makes a lot more sense now!

I believe corrupted was the wrong word. I guess, unrestrained, a certain intent could cause problems or even destruction while being true to the intent. claytonphillips Before Adonalsium shattered, was it consciously opposed by something, be it people or another cosmic force? Is whatever opposed it still around? Brandon Sanderson Yes. Yes. With this WOB I feel like there is an outside force that it could have been opposing. I may just be understanding, but I feel like a group can have a personality. For example, I see the Ghostbloods as having a personality and profile, but I understand how that is a bit of a stretch.

Brandon adds a lot of religious ideas to his books, but I think he does a great job at staying away from promoting a religious agenda. After someone dies, they stay in the cognitive realm for a short time and they go somewhere else that even Harmony doesn't know. Since the shards are a collection of Adonalsium I doubt that he knew either. (If there is a possibility that he could know, let me know!) That started to rule out the single omnipotent diety for me in my mind. I then started thinking, would a God with all these attributes be a bad god? Maybe, but bad enough to kill/fracture into the disorder that followed? Maybe. Is it possible that instead of an individual, Adonalsium was a pantheon of Shards? Eric If Adonalsium Shattered with intent, would he always Shatter with the same Shards? Brandon Sanderson It is plausible that it could've gone a different way. Eric So it could've been different Shards? Brandon Sanderson Yes, that's plausible. Words of Radiance Chicago signing (March 22, 2014) It at least allows the idea that there could be a smaller fracturing of shards if they could have had different intents. We already have shards combining so it isn't impossible. This would also lend to the idea that there was a reason to kill it. There may have been some that had been corrupting their power such as Odium, and the shattering crew felt like they had to do something. Some would want the same power that these "gods" possessed, and others felt like justice had to be enacted. I feel like this is a little more depressing of an idea that I had of Adonalsium, so if there is any proof otherwise, let me know!