Negative_Null

The Duster nods in agreement, then looks around at the crater and devastation. "Maybe it was some kind of weapon. We heard rumors about the Talon operating around here". Jay shrugs "Bit of a weird place for that. I don't think anyone was around when it went off, whatever it was."

Hi, I'd like to submit a character

A group of Dusters mixed with more mundane policemen run around the corner. The man at the front calls "What happened? Is anyone hurt?" Jay calls back "I don't know, we just got here to investigate ourselves. We saw the explosion from our inn"

Vale mutters to Vapor. "If you want to get out of here, now's the time. Otherwise I think we're going to die watching some gods fighting." @Vapor Prime watches Rish and the King argue. "Would you mind not summoning eldritch entities into my realm? They leave a mess, even during the nothingness before the Big Bang. Jeffrey, Rish is correct. You are dangerously close to revoking my hospitality. If you're all going to fight over the girl, I'll have to intervene."

Prime walks to Vapor. "I know of one way to know for sure. Vapor, may I look into your future?" He extends his hand @Vapor

"And you would just freely teach her this?" A portal pops open behind Vapor and Jeffrey to reveal Vale and the man named Patch. Patch is dressed in a long coat and a hat, which is perched on his head at an angle so that it obscures almost all of his face. Looking under the brim, all one would see would be a glint of metal in the shadow. He has a holster on each hip holding a gun. When he enters, he bows stiffly, and crosses his gloved hand across his chest. "My lord, Vale has told me about our fallen comrade. I will go with the Lady Rish to avenge the fallen and quell the onslaught, if that is your wish." "Thank you, Vale. Lady Rish, this is Patch. If you have need of aid I can think of no one better to go with you."

Miera figures she has to try something. She weaves together Fire and Water and throws it clumsily at the mysterious figure. It explodes into a cloud of steam that blocks everything from view. She grabs for the hands of the people next to her and tries to run out the entrance of the alley

Prime stands up from his throne and fixes Vapor in a steady gaze. "I can see a timeline where this is true. I can see many more where it is not. Not all depend on her choice, but most do. Vapor, would you like to see life as a god before you choose?"

That's all pretty true. I think the point many people are saying is that she doesn't seem to be showing any growth (which is the same reason people hate Moash). Kal is working through his depression, Dalinar is working to forgive himself, heck, Teft is pushing through an addiction, Renarin is getting self-confidence, Jasnah has some kind of trauma and is trying to feel comfortable with her emotions, and whoo boy does Szeth have problems. But each of them are deliberately making strides in those areas. All of Shallan's character growth so far is in "dissociating myself from reality using elaborate fantasies" part, which, while interesting, doesn't really make her a better person at all. I don't agree with this take, but the take I have seen is that Shallan's "main problem" really doesn't matter, it's just her having a break down in private. I think that's wrong, but I can see where it comes from. When Kaladin falls into depression, everyone around him notices and is impacted. Shallan only really has problems when she's alone, so it's easy to feel like she doesn't impact people. This point I understand, but I don't agree with. The other point is one I don't understand at all, which is that somehow her being an intolerant elitist is a bigger character flaw than anyone else in the series. "Yeah, Dalinar and Szeth can be forgiven for murdering hundreds of people, but Shallan's kind of mean on purpose." Yes, she should be aware of how she's hurting people, yes she has a problem seeing other people as humans, but that doesn't mean that she's for some reason morally corrupt.

I like Shallan chapters but I agree that she's a problematic character for a lot of reasons. Fortunately, I think Sanderson is doing it on purpose. She's going to develop and change and a lot of the problems that people have are going to become less, at least I really hope so. I figure being in-laws with Renarin and Jasnah, and spending more time with Vathah and those guys, will help her grow to see other people as actual humans.

Miera clutches at Venten and tries to avoid the pool of blood spilling out from the spike (ew).

Miera sees that happen in slow motion and screams

"What about you?"

Miera grits her teeth. She doesn't know what this man is holding, it looks kind of like a ter'angreal she saw in the tower that shot fire. But that would mean he was a man that could channel, and men that could channel were found by the Red Ajah, always found by them. Of course, in this strange new place, maybe the rules were different. If he could channel, then attacking him would be worse than useless. He could probably wipe everyone in this alley away with a wave of his hand. He just thought Venten was guilty. "It wasn't him, I promise! I saw someone else do it." Marin Sedai would tell her that she shouldn't lie, even though she wasn't bound by the oaths. But what other choice did she have?

"He didn't do it! He's innocent!" Tears are forgotten as fear and a bit of anger take its place.

Jay is about to say something, but is cut off by the sounds of shouts coming from the direction of the stadium and town. "Quick, you two, into the woods. Hide until I come to get you." @Vapor @Channelknight Fadran "You, you're with me. We just got here because we heard the explosion." @A Windrunner

"Then why did you warn us?"

"...What?" Just a look of total confusion on his face. He walks closer and takes a closer look inside her hood. "What's going on?"

"Yes, but don't worry, I'm not going to turn you in. We all lose control sometimes."

"My name's Jay. I'm here to help."

Miera just nods

"What?" This interrogation, combined with her tears, proves too much for her and she stars crying harder.

"It's a ter'angreal. Marin Sedai said it had the power to unravel The Pattern and let you step through, but it had never been used. And I've never heard of any of those places."

Through her tears she says "The White Tower. And when I get back I'm going to give this back to Marin Sedai and I'm never going to disobey her again!" she tears off her amulet and throws it on the ground.

"No. We're all ok. You're ok" Jay is breathless and obviously is hopelessly out of his depth, but he sees someone in trouble and gosh darn it he's going to help them as best he can. "Can I help you up? Get you anywhere?"