Bzhydack

On 7/25/2025 at 9:37 AM, therunner said:

No it was not valid, the map didn't even lead to perpendicularity as it was supposed to, but to a different island altogether! 

That's actually not true. We never get to know if this map is fully accurate. Dajer had just vague region to scout, and Starlink was intercepted before reaching destination. They just assumed Perpendicularity was there, because of Dakwara.

On 7/25/2025 at 6:00 AM, KnightSkye said:

I would like to point out that excessive use of  investiture draws Entities, and so this particular group of Scadrains may be "running dark" so to speak, to avoid in wanted attention in the Emberdark.

Their ship can provide enough Investiture for whole base and superweapon. Few Allomancers will not change their energy signature much.

On 7/25/2025 at 9:37 AM, therunner said:

And you might notice that some points on are very distant on map, despite being next to each other IRL (e.g. polar regions, or some oceans). 

Shadesmar by necessarity is like that, so it horribly deforms IRL space to flat plane.

But this will matter only if we want to use Physical Realm map to map Shadesmar. 

On 7/23/2025 at 8:49 AM, therunner said:

There was some trade, but that does not mean they were capable of navigation in the emberdark. 
As we see in Isles and elsewhere, moving on established routes is relatively easy. 
But navigating emberdark is basically impossible.

But they still needet to establish those routes! There was a time when EVERYTHING was Emberdark. And yet multiple people from multiple Planets were able to establish routes between them. Nalthis was one of the most prominent centers fo Shadesmar trade, they were literaly sending entire caravans throu Cosmere and they dont have any Invested art that can help them Navigate that we know of... Except of Life Sense that can MAYBE detect Knell (but this is pure speculation). They dont even have Guides, we dont know about any Cognitive Entity from Nalthis.

BTW, Scadrian Subastral is actually pretty simmilar to Emberdark with its Mist Oceans... 

On 7/23/2025 at 9:06 AM, Oltux72 said:

Well, no. To flatten a planetary map without horrible distortions you need to be very un-euklidean.

If we are talking ablot converting Globe to Flat , then maybe. But we are doing this with ours maps for hundreds of years. Also Shadesmar alone (not in relation to the Physical Realm) seems to have at least large portions of euclidean space with overall normal physics. Gravity down. Sun up. Normal 4 directions. It is shaped with thoughts of inteligent beings, and physic is, even in magical Universe, the same for all, and inteligent beings will have the same concept for it.

On 7/23/2025 at 9:06 AM, Oltux72 said:

You are really opening a can of worms here. Shadesmar works based on thoughts. That means we need to seriously consider that the calculations only work because you make them conciously.

  Yeah, but we are talking about thinking machines here. If people see something as inteligent, or with personality, it will be reflected in Shadesmar. How many times you called your computer or car as it would be a person? Personification is simply what we do.

On 7/23/2025 at 5:16 PM, Isilel said:

Sounds like something that skilled Tineyes have to do to filter out relevant information from their overall sensory overload. Might be learnable by powerful enough Seekers, who have  proper mind framework for it, provided by learning to navigate the seas without instruments. But it would likely never occur to Scadrians to train them that way, so probably moot. 

It actually can occur now. They will see Ealakin Navigators, and will try to make their own version of them. Simply to be independent from Drominad (or probably they will just try to bribe one or two).

7 hours ago, bmcclure7 said:

The Malwish don’t seem to have any metal born in era 2 why would this change in era 4 ?

Migration and nation- mixing. Scadrial should be in era of globalization.

3 hours ago, therunner said:

Well, if it worked, why is no one using it? 

Hearing Knell and Current is not enough to navigate unsea, or find anything in it. You need to be able to detect interferences in the Current, and Dusk is the first person to be able to do that from what we see.

Starling knows that Seekers can feel the Current, but is clearly surprised that he can use it to navigate, which makes it clear that Seekers can't use it to navigate

First, now it will be automated. In modern world, noone is running math manually. It probably exist as backup system in navigation devices that were mentioned, but they are dirupted by Emberdark interferences.

Second, Dead Reckoning definitly was used in the past. Urithiru has valut full of Shadesmar Compasses, and Dead Reckoning was basicly only method of navigation in that time (outside of Invested Skill). Also, Scadrial have booming interplanetary trade during times of Lord Ruler, how they will be able to establish it without good Shadesmar navigation? And there is also tendency of emploing Seekers as Obligators.

11 hours ago, Oltux72 said:

1. Shadesmar is non-eukledian. It has to be for the shape and areas of continents in Shadesmar to be correct.
2. Shadesmar is deforming itself. Your routes are changing.

Navigators seem to be more specialized compared to Seekers, which are if they are specialized at all, specialized on detecting on of the Metallic Arts. They can't even detect feruchemy.

 

Its not like Shadesmar is changing A LOT, or fast. Once established routes are still in use. Old Iriali map is still mostly correct. Shadesmar is mostly euclidean around Perpendicularities, they are stabilization points.

And Seekers are not specializet in just Allomancy. They can detect all forms of kinetic Investiture, but they have troubles with Static Investiture. For example, they can detect Surgescor even summoning of Shardblade. And yes, also Feruchemy in use (while this is very hard)

Quote

MoriWillow

The terms kinetic and static Investiture were introduced in Rhythm of War, but not defined or explained.

Brandon Sanderson

Yes.

MoriWillow

What are kinetic and static Investiture?

Brandon Sanderson

Good question. So I've been talking about this for a while, so some of the arcanists out there know. Kinetic is a thing I'm defining that the Investiture is being actively expressed and used, and so it has certain effects. For instance, you're gonna see sand get charged by kinetic Investiture but not necessarily by static Investiture. Static Investiture being Investiture that is stuck in a sphere. If you just walk by with that sphere, particularly if it's in a bag or something, the white sand's not going to see anything. But if you are actively using it to do something, if you have created or are maintaining something, if you are flying or you are using one of the Surges, then we call that kinetic. And kinetic Investiture is going to show up much more easily to someone who can replicate the abilities of a Seeker, who can hear pulses. These are the things the spren notice when someone is using their powers. This is white sand. There are just many things in the cosmere that respond to Investiture being used in some way, and when it is not being used it is harder to hear, locate, or reference.

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/482/#e15308

 

 

 

 

Quote

Argent (paraphrased)

Could a Seeker who was properly trained and experienced detect AonDor or Awakening? Similarly, does a Coppercloud block an Awakener's life sense?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

A Seeker could sense somebody else using magic not native Scadrial. RAFO on the Coppercloud blocking similar magic.

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/166/#e3008

 

 

5 hours ago, BinarySecond said:

Yes! Dajer was talking about all the different defenses that failed to protect them from the Dakwara?

A planet, presumably, ruled by nerd sorcerers wouldn't be something I'd like to mess with. I think any military power attempting to fight Elantrians on Sel is in for the worst time.

Also, Malwish have Aonic trap for Nazh. Seems to me that Malwish like to use Selish tech, and maybe Sel is in sort of aliance with Scadrial? Or at least they have a treaty?

3 hours ago, therunner said:

Seekers can be quite sensitive, but clearly they are not sufficiently sensitive to map Shadesmar. If they could, Scadrial would already be doing it as it would be massive advantage. They don't, hence they cannot.

Maybe if you enhanced them with spikes and F-Tin, but perhaps not even that.

But we know Seekers can feel the Knell and the Current. And this should be enough to map Emberdark. But how many Seekers travel throu Shadesmar? We dont see any Metalborn there. Seems to me like Northern Scadrians travel throu Cosmere a lot less than Malwish, so probably noone ever tried to send Seeker (valuable asset in security, what is important in time of war) into unexplored parts of Shadesmar.

Also  as @Isilel mentioned, Scadrial dont have seafearing cultures. Seekers need to learn what they feel. Seeker taken from the street will not understand what he feels in Shadesmar, even if he feels it. It is not Sensitivity issue, it skill issue.

I wonder how this will work on animals with other ability to use Investiture? Like some Rosharan Crustaceans, maybe Whitespine? They will counter each other? Or animal will gain new power and resonans?

10 hours ago, Isilel said:

Well, keeping a course and faithfully recording speed, time and distances sailed  could be used for mapping, it just would require a lot more time, work and resources to find something that way.

Precisly. This method is known as Dead Reckoning (sounds like metal band ) This is how Europeans were able to sail throu vast oceans and start colonial empires. With empty map, compass, chronometer and chip log. This is also why mechanical clocks were so advanced in Europe - they were needet for navigation. Also, in Shadesmar it would be even easier than in real world, because there is no wind or currents (except the main one) and waves so unitl something unexpected happens nothing will disrupt your course. And Seekers are super sensitive Investirure users. If competent Seeker can feel what emotions Rioter is enhancing then should be able also detect interferences in Rythm of the Current. But he will need to learn what to seek for. 

What suprised me the most is probably fact that Malwish seems to not have any Metalborn between them. Also, we heard at least few times that modern equipment cant navigate in Emberdark... but why noone tried "old" way? 

Navigator skill seems to be really simmilar to Seeker, and we have confirmation that Seeker can indeed feel Current and Knell, with that and proper trainning Seekers should be able to navigate just fine, basicly all is needet is direction, speed and time of travel, and they will always feel direction.

Seems to me like indeed Malwish are strongest on Scadrial, but Ellendel is significant on his own right - and probably uses access to Metalborn as levarage, so Malwish dont have them in numbers they would want.

My theory is that Scadrial is relativly loose Federation of countries, or something simmilar to European Union, so have few independent countries, but they present one front in interplanetary politics.

Malwish have Scadrian Perpendicularity. Of course they would be the strongest on Scadrial, even if they werent before Space Era.

On 7/14/2025 at 12:34 AM, alder24 said:

Quote

These were TimeTellers, one faction among the many Scadrian political movements. Theoretically they were neutral in the current conflicts. A group of scientists, seeking to “understand the various mysteries of the cosmere.” And they were absolutely not, of course, an arm of the military working in secret to develop tech that would let Scadrial stay ahead in the increasingly dangerous arms race that currently consumed most of the developed planets.

Who thinks Time Tellers were responsible for inventing Intensifier?

4 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

But the Scadrians we meet are specifically Malwish. All of them.

Im with you here, we even get info that Malwish Empire is the strongest from Scadrian Fractions, but I dont think Scadrial is internaly divided. It can be something like Federation of few political Entities, with Malwish as leaders.

On 1/29/2025 at 6:47 PM, AlmightyGir said:

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/105/#e1265
 

Brandon himself says that blood in motion is required for Hemalurgy. Which makes it a safe assumption as to its naming.

This WoB doesnt sais it is required. Just it is part of, but may not be necesery part. Considering fact his answer to the question about Hemalurgy and AI was RAFO, I think we can see Hemalurgic Computers one day.

I see two possibilities about El and his Blade:

First, this is Voidspren. Most likely Regal Voidspren, but maybe ineed even Chemoarish. We still cannot identify El's Brand, so maybe he somehow combined being Fused and Regal.

Second, this is his own soul. Fused are basicly Spren after all, so maybe he learned how to manifest part of his soul as Shardblade. Or maybe this is soul of other Fused - and this is the reason why they fear him. Becauae they do - we can clearly see this.

I think Radiants can run on Warlight, and also they can get Stormlight either from Towerlight or from Warlight, but problem is Retribution can simply absorb this Light in any time. So they need to figure out how to blank its Identity and cut off from his influence.

On 11/20/2024 at 10:19 PM, MPHRD said:

Anyone think Iyatil might have used a speed bubble?

More likely it will be F- Steel. And probably not very large amount, because she was cought with Lashing.

Also, I like theory about Shallan being influenced by emotional manipulation - and dont need to be Allomancy. We still dont know powers granted to Mraize by his Aviar.

And speaking about Aviars... You noticed that Parrot - Aviar dispeares? Maybe indeed it was not Aviar, but Kandra?

2 hours ago, Michael Portz said:

Hmm ... I can't imagine Roshar being "not aware", "not particularly aware" sounds more reasonable, as e.g.

• the Iriali seem to be quite aware of their history and thus should be equally aware of the Cosmere
• the Unkalaki live with Cultivation's Perpendicularity right at their doorstep and even seeing themselves as its guardians

Still, this is not level of Nalthis or Sel, when you have entire economy in Shadesmar.

16 minutes ago, bmcclure7 said:

1. yes, you did by saying that they couldn’t get free on their own. You’re implying that someone or something is holding them there.

2. That just goes towards my point it is the nature of ink spren to follow the rules unconditionally. They don’t think about freedom because that’s not in their nature. They are not by nature free. Any more than I am by nature a squirrel. This is not a bug gets a feature.

For them to suddenly be all about freedom they would have to be changed fundamentally. 

You forgot very important factor. Or even two. Or more.

First, when those Inkspren became Oathgates, humans and Spren were allies. So they were serving, probably wilingly, their friends. But things changed with Recreance - suddenly Spren assumed Humans betrayed them, so they found themselves in service of traitors. With this in mind is understandable they wanted to end service.

Second. Of course there is something holding them there. They are literaly ENGINE OF OATHGATE! And while Spren as dead Shardblades slowly vanish from Physical Realm, we dont see anything simmilar in Soulcaster's case. So we can assume Spren bounded to Surge Fabrial cannot simply stop being those Fabrials, even if they want.

Third, it is not the first time when we hear about Spren concern about humans enslaving Spren. Remember why Sibling dont wanted Bond Navani?

4 hours ago, Oltux72 said:

• Does it work outside Shadesmar proper, that is outside Roshar's subastral?
• Is the assumption of Roshar being not aware of the Cosmere at the time before the Recreance true?
• For how long has Yolen been hard to reach?

1. We dont know.

2. Thats very good point actually, we know Fused at least are more Cosmere aware than today Roshar - they know about White Sand, they have the same name for Aluminium as Sel.

3. I always assumed it was consequence of Shattering, but this is just speculation, we have no idea.

2 hours ago, Miyabi said:

I think part of this could be attributed to some lack of context.  How rare exactly are compasses of this sort within the Cosmere?  They seem rare on Roshar.  What if Roshar was unique in their development of such a device?  

Counterpoint: If Roshar, not particularly Cosmere Aware was able to obtain Device capable of pointing at Yolen, then civs much more active in the Cosmere, like Nalthis or Silverlight should be able to do that.

47 minutes ago, Michael Portz said:

Which other examples of high spren fabrials do we actually have?

Soulcasters and healing fabrials. Or actually one healing fabrial.

4 hours ago, teknopathetic said:

It is either Ambition because of the bell/music/durge connection to that system or Virtuosity's death spot since that might have left an intentional mark and we don't know what a self-inflicted shattering looks like or what her goals were in doing so. Virtuosity's death spot being a cosmere-wide art installation would be nifty. 

But how this looks in timeline? Wasnt Virtuosity suicide much later, at least comparing it to Recreance?

This cannot be Honor's Grave (?) because those Compasses were hidden in Urithiru by Sibling, but in time when Sibling hide them Honor still was alive.

Most popular theory I saw is that this is the Dor, since it is the largest known amount of Investiture in Shadesmar, it is also place where god died. Actually even two gods.

But I think it is death place of Ambition, simply for practical reasons - it was outside any system, so Compass will be usefull on any planet.

1 hour ago, The Sovereign said:

Autonomy may be interfering on Roshar via Sja-Anat.

This reminded me of my old theory, it was that there is Avatar of Autonomy in Rosharan System, on Ashyn being more specific. Is a little outdated, but I like it:

It cant be the same as Sia-Anat, but why assume there can be only one Avatar of Autonomy in the System?

One of new epigraphs is mentioning both Kal and Szeth as Wind's Champions, so they are both Knights of Wind. Shallan definitly can be Knight od Truth, but title sugests Knights of both, Wind and Truth, should be Plural, so who is second Knight of Truth? Actually, as im thinking of it, maybe Dalinar? His act in Oathbringer was greatly about discovering self - truth. Maybe also Navani?

I think Todium will try force a draw this should be option.

Also I have idea of locking Dalinar in eternal contest - maybe sort of time bubble, so contest will never end.