orc

I'm wondering if I'm alone, but is anyone having a hard time trying to understand how technologically advanced Roshar is, or if it's simply being inconsistent? At first glance, I thought it was like a classic fantasy setting historically, but then we're in RoW, we discovered a bunch of things. We are told the relationship between math and music, specifically wavelength and frequency. Both of which are much more modern discovered, and the relationship between frequency and music which is even more modern. And the first theories about frequency were about electromagnetic fields and light, not sound. We learn that Navani has a vacuum tube, courtesy or a Barometric Institute, but why would they have invented that? A vacuum tube is much different than a barometer. Like, a barometer uses a Torricellian vacuum, it is not the same principles of a vacuum chamber, so I have to wonder why a barometric institute would have this device. The process to extra air from the vacuum tube makes it pretty clear that it's not the same kind of vacuum used when taking barometric readings. Then Navani talks about waves not traveling through a vacuum, but how do they know that? Because again, that's a fairly modern theory. How does she know what a vacuum less environment is, let alone that sound waves can't travel through it? And a major statement that Navani keeps making is that oil and water can mix, but theory behind emulsification is again, another fairly modern idea. I think there's more, but I'm just extremely confused, because Roshar does not know the existence of bacteria. Because if we remember, Kaladin didn't understand why he had to wash his hands before surgery, other than that was the wisdom of the Heralds. So how are complex theories about frequency, wavelength, even emulsification known as such common ideas to Navani? Because we know Raboniel does not know emulsification, and much of the wisdom of the Heralds was lost in time. I'm just wondering if anyone else has an opinion to help try to bridge this gap. I mean, the more I look, the more I see that it's not exactly medieval fantasy, but maybe pre-industrial, but even then, a lot of these ideas weren't even thought of, and yet it's common knowledge to Navani. Just hoping someone can make a more rational argument, because I felt like all the science being thrown at us through the experiments felt completely out of place based on my perceived technological level of their society.

I mean, it took everything for Dalinar and Kaladin to reject Odium's offer. Two of the most stubborn people on the planet. We saw how eager Gavinor was to get vengeance against Moash for killing his father. With a little wordplay, and some nightmares, and Odium should be able to convince a sheltered child to fight for him, in exchange for giving him his vengeance, and perhaps even Alethkar itself. And nobody would know, because I doubt Gavinor would understand that this man in his dreams is actually Odium. And Taravagian would have no qualms with torturing a child if it meant winning everything. The more I read it, the more it makes sense. And while I know Dalinar wouldn't be able to kill him, he really should, and then simply exile himself. Letting himself lose to this ploy, when he saw that there were limits for Nohadon to the point he eventually took up the sword. Giving himself to Odium is just way too much, breaking his honor, and simply killing himself after would be a much more preferable outcome. But again, doubt he'd do that.

There's still a lot being hidden to us, and I know Testament was a big reveal in a sense to her past, but I'd like to think that it's misdirection. I just kind of get stuck on Zahel and Kaladin's conversation. Zahel very openly talking about different types of invest entities. It's an interesting conversation, but to Kaladin, does it really matter? It just felt like a conversation for the reader, but why now? Then there's a secret so deep that it broke Shallan. Then I think about the story in Oathbringer, The Girl Who Looked Up, that's meant to help Shallan, and it's supposed to be about the reveal of humans being the monsters, But it's also specifically saying Shallan is a monster. So what if, Shallan died at a young age, and the question is what took her place? Because Zahel says if you're lucky, it'll be your own shadow that's nailed back to your body, so what if it wasn't? And her mother realizes this which is why she tries to kill her. Her father realizes this and basically just has nothing to do with her (she talks of others in pain, but never her). It's a completely out there theory, that has zero basis, and is just pure wild fantasy, but wouldn't it be interesting? And I just think whoever did this to her, would be the one with the Seon that she remembers. Again, pure conjecture, but that's part of the fun. A cognitive shadow with not just one, but two spren bonds too, which Sanderson said is theoretically possible. edit: I'll also add that it's a secret so deep that killing her parents is far more tame by comparison. Whatever she's hiding has to be insane.