Hessi's Ward

Gravitation: weighted blankets Illumination: Urithiru Movie Nights Abrasion: stone-skating rink

Horneater White is a clear liquid. A Blackbane infusion or just some Blackbane mixed into the drink would most likely discolor it. Unless the poison is not Blackbane and we can rampantly speculate what unknown liquid clear, tasteless, and odorless poison did Ialai have on hand.

Can we not have another fridged female character? That would also as run-of-the-mill as killing off a mentor and arguably more so considering how often he does it in the Cosmere. Adolin not being "broken" enough for the spren bond is more surprising than if he had bonded a spren earlier in life. Consider how he needed to step up after the burning of Rathalas and how he set aside his own trauma after his murder of Sadeas and Elhokar's death in Kholinar. In my opinion, the publication of in-world Oathbringer and Dalinar's confession of being the one to kill Evi would be more likely to break Adolin.

That would be an interesting choice

A mole in the team doing the stabbing is the most efficient method to murder Ialai. You only need to prick Ialai just enough. The mole can just slide the needle out, wait for the poison to get into Ialai's bloodstream and then feign shock. No evidence left behind. The mole can just hide the needle again. The only problem is who is the mole. Adolin's men are hand-picked by Adolin himself, a Ghostblood operative must be there from the start and survive multiple battles and earn Adolin's trust while being a spy so we can rule out any of Adolin's men unless a Kandra affiliate of The Ghostbloods has infiltrated them. I think that would be unlikely because unless we have a Paalm situation again, the Kandra are loyal to Harmony who is dealing with his own problems and be very unlikely to join a secret society meddling with another planet. A member of Shallan's Lightweaver squad is a lot more likely as they are the spies of the Radiants. My money is on Ishnah as @GudThymes had mentioned. She has a history with The Ghostbloods and the only question would be how long has she kept up this act.

Sounds risky to me. As seen in the text, team radiant searched the room before leaving. Ialai is still in the chamber to be searched for pinpricks. Shallan and her team will search every corner of the room. Veil noticed the back door and would most likely suggest seeing what's on the other side either by entering or tell Pattern to explore it for her.

@Karger They still need to figure out a way to remove the dart without being noticed though. A dart flying the wrong way is even more suspicious.

Scadrians know about magnets, so one could assume that Iyatil knows too (either as a knowledge passed down through generations of the Southerner diaspora or as common knowledge in Silverlight). The problem is what kind of freakishly strong magnet would The Ghostbloods have access to if they want to remove the dart. Also, a mole removing the dart would be a lot more effecient.

A dart would stick out but no one seemed to notice unless the dart was removed before Shallan could check the body. If Ialai was shot during her capture, she was surrounded by Adolin's men. If it was before she was herded out, Shallan should notice. There's an arguable tiny timeframe of when the dart could be shot, which is when Adolin broke into the room and Shallan is distracted but the same problem of the dart being noticed is still there. A stabbing would be a lot more subtle.

It would take a ridiculously good aim and timing, the right atmospheric condition (if the dart is not fletched), and loud enough noises to cover up the sound of the dart whooshing by

It's just that no one noticed any dart or the sound of a blowdart being shot in the chamber, not even Veil who has been shot at by Mraize. If Ialai was shot during her capture, at least one person should notice and a dart should be present which is why I think there's a good chance Ialai was stabbed with the needle instead of shot. Let's assume the dart is not fletched and the air was just right that fletching was not needed, then yes, it's probably Mraize. I do like the idea that it's Mraize though to be honest, any suspect other than Shallan is interesting to me.

My first guess was Iyatil too. It's just that I find the Ishnah idea very interesting too. I think Iyatil could hide behind the escape door behind Ialai (which I call Chekhov's Door) and when Adolin and co. entered the room to arrest Ialai, she could shoot the dart and booked it immediately,

Thinking about it again, yeah, Ishnah is pretty likely. She has interacted with The Ghostbloods and is knowledgable in espionage. Maybe she made a deal with them or she was an operative from the start.

As Ishnah mentioned, Blackbane works quicker when injected and she and Shallan concluded there should be a pinprick where a poisoned needle is used to kill Ialai. I am ruling out the possibility of Blackbane gum because there was no mention of Ialai chewing anything or swallowing something other than wine. Some have suspected that Shallan, or at least a fragment or a suppressed fourth alter in Shallan's system, did the deed. I personally don't believe it was her and I think a hidden Ghostblood agent, either in Adolin's squad, among Shallan's Lightweaver team, with the cultists, or even behind the escaped door in the chamber, is a more likely culprit, though this is based on rampant speculation on my part. This is mainly due to the reasoning that poisoned needles are fiddly little odious things and Shallan would probably be very aware of it if she's carrying it. Let's consider where the hypothetical needle would be if Shallan was carrying it: Safehand sleeve (either in the pocket or as a device to keep the sleeve's end shut) Her satchel (sketchbook included as a part of the satchel) I find both options to be very unlikely because the needle risks being too close to Shallan's skin for the former and it could prick one of the cultists instead for the latter. If Shallan is hiding it in a secret pocket or even in her hair, she would be painfully aware of it, either from knowing where she had put it or if it had slightly pricked her during her time in disguise. Also, I don't think there were moments in the text that suggests Shallan was the murderer other than the dazed and a "Did I do that?" moment. While one could argue that maybe Shallan or the suppressed alter fronted and murdered Ialai when Veil was still pro-assassination just before deciding otherwise, I don't think it's likely because someone else, most likely Veil, would notice. Also, I think if there is a fourth suppressed alter and said alter was the one who murdered Ialai, Shallan's now-canonical form of DID would veer to close to Hollywood DID territory and that would go against what I believe Brandon is intending, writing a good DID rep. TL:DR Shallan didn't murder Ialai because needles are fiddly and is a little too Hollywood DID to be what Brandon is intending with canonizing Shallan's DID

You guys remember the escape door behind Ialai before she goes to get the wine right? Chekhov's Door anyone?

So the German Rhythm of War cover is out and it breaks away from the Shallan in Shadesmar scene we've seen in the UK and Bulgarian cover. But whose fleet is that? I first thought it's the fleet from the Origin mentioned in Puuli's interlude but then with most of the coastal cities being oriented leeward, not toward the Origin. I don't think it's a fleet of SIngers unless maybe Venli convinced some to come along to whatever this city to declare her defection from Odium's side but that doesn't really sound as exciting as the lost sailors coming back when the night is darkest, does it? So what do you guys think?

I think that beta would be more of a sensitivity reader (which is good practice when writing a character outside of one's own demographic) so he'd do his own research, write Shallan's parts, and ask the reader to make sure he didn't mess up which is different from tuckerizations he'd done before.

Can someone please tell Brandon that a Kal and Moash reunion is definitely not a minor spoiler at all? I genuinely lost it at 5.30 in the morning the moment I heard hawkish face. Also at chapter storming 7 of Harmony knows how many chapters. With Moash surrendering, Kal will most likely be forced to take Moash captive which would probably do absolute wonders to his mental health. How will this end up with surgeon!Kal in the interlude? I am both intrigued and absolutely terrified. Also are Gavilar's Black Spheres definitely the same thing as the sphere in the surge-dampening voidish fabrial? Lift is with Kaladin so we'll probably get at least a few hijinks. I don't know how the plot will end up with the Lift interlude we got if we assume hers and Kal's are in the same interlude section. I'm assuming Navani is with Kaladin because he told Lift to give it to her which would be a little hard if she's in Urithiru. There's a Shallan scene in the chapter. Is it spoilery? Did something happen wherever she is? Is Brandon assuming the previous chapters are the prologue to chapter 6 or only up to chapter 1? He seems very chill about dropping this whole chapter. Are we going to have the releases in the very near future or do I have to stare wistfully at the SA tag on Tor for weeks to come? I honestly can't wait for chapter releases because this will be my first and I am ready to he hyped every Thursday/Friday (because time zones) with new content.

Can someone please tell Brandon that a Kal and Moash reunion is definitely not a minor spoiler at all? I genuinely lost it at 5.30 in the morning the moment I heard hawkish face. Also at chapter storming 7 of Harmony knows how many chapters. With Moash surrendering, Kal will most likely be forced to take Moash captive which would probably do absolute wonders to his mental health. How will this end up with surgeon!Kal in the interlude? I am both intrigued and absolutely terrified. Also are Gavilar's Black Spheres definitely the same thing as the sphere in the surge-dampening voidish fabrial? Lift is with Kaladin so we'll probably get at least a few hijinks. I don't know how the plot will end up with the Lift interlude we got if we assume hers and Kal's are in the same interlude section. I'm assuming Navani is with Kaladin because he told Lift to give it to her which would be a little hard if she's in Urithiru. There's a Shallan scene in the chapter. Is it spoilery? Did something happen wherever she is? Is Brandon assuming the previous chapters are the prologue to chapter 6 or only up to chapter 1? He seems very chill about dropping this whole chapter. Are we going to have the releases in the very near future or do I have to stare wistfully at the SA tag on Tor for weeks to come? I honestly can't wait for chapter releases because this will be my first and I am ready to he hyped every Thursday/Friday (because time zones) with new content.

To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of this theory for certain reasons which are: Neither of them is in a rush to get married. Kaladin is perfectly content with having Bridge Four as his family and being single. Jasnah prioritizes the protection of her family and all of humanity before romance and with the world ending, I don't think she would have the time and desire for romance and she could always lean onto her relatives for emotional support. A marriage could be problematic for Jasnah's reign. As a monarch, marriage to a member of a foreign royal family or high nobility is rarely done unless for bilateral alliance or straight up merging two nations. There isn't any reason for marriage for alliance purposes with the Coalition established and she could always use the promise of military aid instead of her hand in marriage if an alliance is needed. Also, she already has Gavinor as her heir and she might want to present herself as a reigning regent a la ancient Japanese ruling empresses until Gavinor comes of age. They have very different principles. Jasnah and Kaladin are both very protective toward their families but there is a fundamental difference in their perspective. Kaladin is very much the idealist to Jasnah's pragmatist and we have seen how much friction that difference had caused. While their arcs are to be less "extreme" about their principle, I don't think they would see the other's trait as something they seek in their partner though they could still become friends who debate about philosophy over chouta. Their coping mechanisms don't complement. Jasnah is a person who pulls more into her shell when she is stressed while Kaladin gets even more stressed when in isolation even though they both share a trait of poring over a chosen mission even harder when under stress. Jasnah isn't exactly the comforting or joking-through-crisis kind of person and is not the best at emotions. Kaladin is the type who would invest a lot of time and effort into his friends and basically being the mom friend which would not yield the best response from Jasnah. They can develop as characters without being a couple. While being more empathetic is a big part of Jasnah's personal arc, it is something she is capable of doing herself as shown in her interaction with Renarin in the temple. With a life-changing field trip to conquered Alethkar being a possible storyline for Jasnah in RoW, she could come to the conclusion of genocide being a bad and unethical idea herself. She could even interact with the listener POVs to have a more intimate understanding of their kind and more information to build a better, less genocidal solution as that lack of information was what hinders her from making better decisions. As for Kaladin, his arc is about acknowledging he couldn't save everyone and with Lirin getting a POV and just being present in his storyline, he could learn to grow calluses and let go without having to be in a romantic relationship. Though I'm not against Jasnah and Kaladin being friends or even friends with (tax) benefits, I don't see why they need to be in a relationship especially with two couples already established and that whole subplot in Oathbringer unless a very specific kind of buildup happens in RoW. I don't think Kaladin can be that petty to his friend and, arguably, new Tien figure. While Shallan still needs to learn to manage her emotions, I think she does realize that she was attracted to Kaladin but also realized that Adolin can support her better. What about sapphic aroace Jasnah? Asexuality doesn't always entail asceticism and even then Kaladin is arguably also ace or at least demisexual and he can't really be described as monk-like. Also, I don't really get why being adversarial toward other women means she's a lesbian when female Alethi courtiers can get really mean to each other and the examples you have listed don't really support your idea. Jasnah doesn't like being mothered (abandonment, to a mental asylum no less, probably did wonders to Jasnah's maturity and trust in her mother), knows that she is not a good teacher, and wants to protect her family from possible usurpers. We also got Jasnah chapters in Oathbringer and she didn't really spare a thought on anyone's attractiveness which could always be attributed to the world literally ending but there should at least be one cute scholar in Urithiru, right? In regards to how she presents herself, she is not only a renowned scholar, she was also a princess and dressing up is practically in the job description. For ladies, the court politics is basically one big oneupmanship event in every aspect and with people already talking rust behind her back, Jasnah can't afford to give them another chink in the armor. She is totally a power dresser and she would dress the part down to the tiniest detail even if she doesn't care about looking attractive.

So we know that a typical havah has an underskirt that is consisted of layers of pleated sheer silk to give volume. I picture the layers as having a starched lining or just straight up starched silk. However, I'm having a little trouble imagining them being worn without the waistband making an impression on the smooth bodice. Does anyone have an idea of how the underskirt work? Are the layers thin enough that the waistband isn't bulky from layers of pleated fabric? What kind of closure does it have? Buttons or ties or hooks and eyes? Could the waistband be tucked under the bodice vest to smooth out the silhouette? Is it closed at the waist or works like a kilted underskirt of a bustle dress?

Vivenna most likely began her worldhopping journey by entering Endowment's Perpendicularity which is located in Hallandren, walked through the Cognitive Realm to other planets, and go out of other Shards' Perpendicularities. It would also be much easier for her to survive there because if Nalthis has customs, why wouldn't it have markets and transport hubs? Worldhopping spren is a lot harder because, like most cognitive entities, they're Connected to the planet. We see that Returned can worldhop but they are stapled to a body and maybe Endowment helps them out a tiny bit. Spren doesn't have bodies, however, and their tie to Roshar is arguably stronger than a Returned's tie to Nalthis. It doesn't mean that it's impossible as stated in the following WOB, There were worldhopping Elsecallers so it wasn't impossible for, at the very least, inkspren to come along. A lot of knowledge was lost during the Recreance however and that would make worldhopping hard for spren as the ability to go off-world is a learned one. Even then I don't think unbonded true spren can worldhop due to their strong Connection to Roshar. So technically yes but there's research to be done and it would be a lot easier or, at least, plausible for spren to worldhop.

I read TWOK and then watched @ReadAndFindOut's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Cosmere and all of his Investiture vids

Something like medieval Sriwijaya perhaps? I was considering Majapahit because it doesn't depend as heavily on trade as Sriwijaya. Also, the thing about overlapping political boundaries could work really well with the mandala system and its thing about spheres of influence rather than borders. I would love to see an Africa-inspired culture in the Cosmere and Egypt is really interesting as a society. If the third empire is an Indonesia analog, maybe the volcanoes can be utilized as Investiture traps? It's pretty jiffy but maybe the depth of its analog in the Cognitive Realm can collect Investiture that runs off of the sea's analog and be as spiritually humid as spren birthplaces so the Investiture can be utilized by the folks living around it? I'm thinking of a radial flow of Investiture that can be the base for spheres of influence. A particularly volcanic island would become better at using the local Invested Art and produce enough food to have enough manpower to become an empire. Then there's the whole problem of the land constantly changing because of the volcanoes, can the analog of a mountain be used as Investiture trap, and how many Invested Arts can arise when a place has a lot of distinct cultures (I personally think the Selish magic systems are more tied to cultural boundaries than political ones).

This is a very interesting theory but the timeline doesn't really match up. In chapter 19 of Oathbringer, Sadeas was already married to Ialai and that chapter is the Dalinar tries to find his knife flashback set 31 years ago.