Green chicken

According to several WOBs skaze are splinters of Dominion: Argent (paraphrased) Ashe says to Sarene "your god". Do seons (and skaze) have a religion/god? Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased) They have an inkling of the nature of their original Shards, which they would consider their gods. Argent (paraphrased) Kind of like a first, a prime, a parent? Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased) Yes. They kind of know what happened that created them, and they also know this is not the god being worshiped (by Sarene), so... Steelheart Chicago signing (Oct. 5, 2013) mathota123 Is the creation of skaze end-negative? Brandon Sanderson So, you're not quite using the term right. The terms "end-negative" and "end-positive" refer to a specific system--in most cases, we're talking about the individual(s) using the magic. Do you draw more magic out, or is it powered by your own native Investiture? Awakening is what we call end-neutral, despite the fact that (obviously) the Breaths came from someone else in the first place. That's not the point in contention here--do the same number of Breaths (the same amount of Investiture) continue to exist in the system as you're manipulating the magic. In something like AonDor, you are drawing out much more power than you put in--end-positive. That power is put to work doing something, such as healing a body, or creating a blast of power. The skaze, like the seons, were created when a Shard was Splintered. The terminology doesn't quite work there, at least not in the way that scholars in the cosmere would use it. The question from the physicist in this thread about where Investiture goes, and what it means for a Shard to have access to certain amounts of power, is related to all of this. I'm hoping to be able to find some time to craft a response there, as there are some fundamental understandings of the magic that are relevant to the discussion that I should point out. Stormlight Three Update #5 (Nov. 21, 2016) Questioner [Does] the expansion of Jaddeth’s empire have more to do with greed and hunger for power, or the innate nature of Dominion? Brandon Sanderson Both. I would say both. The innate nature of Dominion probably caused the greed and hunger for power. Questioner What would you say percentage-wise? Brandon Sanderson Well, one caused the other. It definitely started with Dominion. The Skaze are pretty thirsty for power. Shadows of Self Chicago signing (Oct. 12, 2015) Chaos (paraphrased) This is other information we overheard while we were there. Skaze are the evil seons, and are related to Skai. Seons are related to the AonDor and thus Aona. Ancient 17S Q&A (May 1, 2010)

@Bejardin1250: "and frankly a classic duel just makes no sense to happen" @Frustration: "It's what we've been building towards since WoK, and personally something I really want to see, the amount of fighting in SA is crimminally low." That's quite contradictory.

@Frustration doesn't believe in the loophole theory. My point was that Taravangian is looking for a loophole.

It supports the loophole theory, because it implies that Taravangian doesn't like the deal that Rayse and Dalinar made. Which means that Taravangian has the motivation for a loophole.

With Ishar.

What prevented Rayse from seeing the confrontation?

Rayse couldn't see Dalinars meeting with Ishar because of Renarin. The duel was only a minor part of the climax for OB, and it was only half of the climax for Wok and Wor. That heavily implies that his champion, and strategy for the contest are going to be different. Not only that, he also believes that Rayse's mistake was accepting the contest.

The contest(with out a loophole) will just be two people trying to kill each other. That implies that Taravangian's plans are different, and the missed possibilities part means that taravangians short term plans are going to be different since his foresight is currently incapable of seeing to far into the future. Renarin and Rlain would be messing with his shardic sight.

There will still be a contest, Taravangian would just try to make it void. That's Brandon's style, his books are relatively slow until the climax.

In chapter 114 Taravangain literally realizes that Rayse's plans are flawed, and that he missed certain possibilities. It would be impossible to determine the winner in that case, which would the contract void.

First of all, Vin was built up as the hero of ages in Mistborn, even though she wasn't the hero of ages. Second off all, 3 out of the 4 SA books had fight scenes as the climax.

Odium could send a suicide bomber, who would kill both Dalinar and themselves. It is almost certain that there will be a loophole, Brandon threw wrote the epilogue to build up Taravangian as a dangerous foe, it would make no sense for Brandon to undermine the expectations that he built up in the epilogue. Rayse was a terrible villains in row, due to his incompetence. In Oathbringer his strategy for the battle of the thaylen field was a good plan, the only reason he lost was because he underestimated Dalinar. Brandon has built up Taravangian as a competent villain, the contract is so vague that it is full of potential loopholes, it would make no sense for such a competent villain to miss the loopholes.

Plenty of people can defeat Dalinar in a fight, here are just some examples: Heralds Windrunners above the 2nd ideal Skybreakers above the 2nd ideal Elsecallers who are proficient at soulcasting Lightweavers who are proficient at soulcasting and or lighweaving Truthwatchers who are proficient at lighweaving Dustbringers who are proficient at division Radiants above the 4th ideal Shards Coinshots Mistborn any twin born who has steel Steel compunders Neturo-son-Vallano with the bondsmith honorblade Ishar with the bondsmith honorblade Moash Szeth-son-Neturo Fullborn The 5 scholars excluding sahashara Elatrians Feruchemists Kandra with one spike Sleepless anyone bonded to yelig-nar who can control the power Warform singers Anyone in shardlate While Dalinar is dangerous, he isn't immortal. As a fused he shouldn't be too difficult to kill with anti voidlight. The coalition already has raysium dangers.

"But as for Ishi’Elin, his was the part most important at their inception; he readily understood the implications of Surges being granted to men, and caused organization to be thrust upon them; as having too great power, he let it be known that he would destroy each and every one, unless they agreed to be bound by precepts and laws." - Words of Radiance chapter 42 epigraphs.