vonnegut

Jasnah. I want a Veristitalian history lecture <3 How'd that work out last time?

That's actually a very accurate description. Szeth: flies and kills people because of a rock, then stops flying for a while and just talks to a sword, then flies again

LOL, I don't think so much Necromancy as true understanding. Although, when thinking about this, I was thinking about Dalinar speaking the Dawnchant with Nohadon in a vision, and whether the language benefits in the Honor visions were using Connection to some extent, rather than just being "I'm a God-Shard, so I can just turn on auto-translate for Vision Purposes." Because Honor didn't just make everyone speak Alethi so that Dalinar could understand it-- Dalinar was understanding and *speaking* in dead languages. But that's a tangent. I'm wondering if Dalinar could connect with Nohadon, or someone else in a vision, so thoroughly that he could actually translate a language *outside* of a vision. Hmm. Well in the case of what's-his-name Southern Scandrial mask guy with the hot choc, he specifically said that he was connected to the land itself (in a way that his history was rewritten, so that he was still *himself* but tricked himself into having been raised in the Basin.... which now that I think about it, is rather like what Shai did in the Emperor's Soul). But in the case of the Ire's magic ball that Kelsier stole, that gave an ability to connect to a person/force/Shard, Preservation. And when Dalinar is having one of his big monarch meetings in Urithiru, iirc, he connects to one of the Azish people to be able to hear their language... but they aren't in their land at the moment. So that argues towards connection with that particular person. So from different worlds, we see Connection to the land... to a Shard/force... and to an individual. You could connect to an inanimate object, maybe? But not get language from it, because inanimate objects don't talk? I don't know. Unless you connected to the machine Which is a creepy idea. I have no idea, LOL, but it does make me think of Gold. On the other hand, making a recording of speech would put the machine back into it. I have a feeling that intent, and the specific focus of the Connection, is what matters. Like, to go back to a previous question, if you were connected to the land itself, and a person was phonetically reading something *from that land* without understanding it, YOU would understand it, because of the focus of the connection. But if you were focused on that PERSON and they didn't understand it, neither would you. Maybe.

Your username has completely cracked me up

Has it ever been asked if being born with breath on Nalthis is genetic or location-based? Like, if a pair of Terrispeople visited Nalthis, and had a baby on Nalthis, and their baby was a Ferring because of the genetics, would that baby also have a Breath just from being born there? Do second-generation Nalthians get Breath?

I was holding it together until she said "Star Lord" and then I broke, and now I'm dead. This is the best thing I've ever seen, especially the confusion about what Vivenna did anyway. You should tell her about Mistborn next.

I'm falling in between here.. I think Odium is going to win, but he doesn't have to be released by Cultivation to cause major havoc. Because he'll have the Blackthorn to command his forces on other planets. He can just sit back and be the brain behind it. Which is a terrifying and awesome idea. As far as what that does to the "Back Five" of Stormlight... I hesitate to speculate too much, because if you'd ask me after Book 1 what I thought would be happening in Book 4, I would have been WILDLY off base. But, I think Todium will stick to the deal-- he gets his buddy Dalinar to be his undying war-slave, to *save* the rest of the Cosmere, and on Roshar he gets to mess with everyone's head. I wouldn't even rule out the Singers/Humans ending up becoming allies against Todium in the back 5. Mortals vs Immortals (Todium and Cultivation possibly being evil together). If Hoid and the Radiants and the Fused could loop in some other Shards, they might have a chance. I just see the Back 5 as upping the stakes DRAMATICALLY-- I don't see the Singer/Human conflict being dragged out for another five books as holding enough tension. Especially when BranSan tends to escalate to bigger and bigger threats. And I really want Todium to be the big bad of the entire cosmere. When he ascended, I *SCREAMED*. It's the best thing that has ever happened. I can't lose him so soon.

Are more players still needed? Could I sign up?

I only wish I did. TPBM is ready for warmer weather.

Are we sure that the singers became Parshmen *before* the Recreance? I thought that they were fighting singers in Dalinar's vision about the Recreance, and then everyone abandoned the front line and came back to Feverstone... but wait, that doesn't make sense either. Because if they did the Recreance first, then they wouldn't have the abilities to do the B-A-M prison. But if they did the B-A-M prison first, who were they fighting when they left the front lines to do the Recreance?

Ooh, interesting thought. Wouldn't Nale know if a highspren had been hanging out Szeth for years? Wouldn't his spren have told him, and sent the Skybreakers to recruit him? Or maybe they did, but then Szeth's whole truthless drama got in the way-- but would explain why Nale was on hand instantly to revive Szeth after he died-- if he was already on Nale's radar. Unless this is some renegade highspren going off on his own. Spren in general are rare in Shinovar, right? Have we seen or heard of any Shin surgebinders at this point (either from Dalinar's visions of the past, or current day)? Do the Shin even bond (other than Szeth)?

Stump?

Thanks for the welcome, everyone! Favorite Hoid appearance-- well technically that would be a spoiler until RoW discussion opens up. But, second favorite after that, would be him [spoilers for Mistborn Secret History, and Oathbringer]: Least favorite character? Don't hate me, but-- Dalinar. I'm just always rolling my eyes at him. He's very much not my type. And of course there's Moash, but I enjoy hating him so thoroughly, I couldn't even call him "least favorite."

Ooooh. That kind of full-on fight sounds like the kind of thing that could destroy this planet like the last one. Are we sure that the back half of SA takes place actually ON Roshar? I'm 100% behind the idea of Dalinar losing this battle. But I don't want him to be put out of his misery. It would be the absolute darkest, most brilliant place for his character to go from this point. Horrifying, yes, but WOW that would be a juicy plot point, especially as he would start popping up on other planets. That's a really good point about Renarin. If Rayse were still Odium, I'd say no chance he'd take the risk. But with Todium? He's smart enough to out-smart himself, so it *might* be something he would be willing to try, if he thought he was clever enough to pull it off. I mean, I think the likelihood is very low. Still an idea that won't get out of my head, though. It could be awesome. I kind of don't want Moash to do any more Self-Discovery. I want him to fully embrace the darkness and become the Actual Worst Person Ever, even moreso than he is now. I'm just loving the idea of No-Eyes Moash becoming Todium's unquestioning henchman and always popping up where he is least wanted, just to ruin everything.

I think Adolin is too much of a good guy for this to happen. I don't think he has that type of betrayal in him, no matter how mad he is at his dad. Renarin, though, is a possibility that has been kicking around in my head. Why? No idea. I can't make it make sense. We really don't know everything that is going on in his head, though, and his (way too small) role in RoW leaves me with so many questions. What if he foresaw a future that made him think that being Todium's champion was necessary, in ways that no one else would understand? I don't think if that's the most likely (probably El is the most likely), and I think my favorite guess is Ishar, but, the Renarin idea intrigues me.

Oof, that's a hard one. Dark Tower series, Catch-22, Sandman by Neil Gaiman. I would also say Kingkiller except I'm too angry to discuss those books.

I want a full Steris list. Not even a chapter. Not even a broadsheet. Just a whole list of everything Steris has imagined might happen throughout the whole course of the book, and how she will deal with it. Barring that, I want: Wayne to find actual absolution Wax to put his goddamn earring back in and have some productive Sazed chats Lots of Wayne/MeLaan snogging. He has so much pent up energy. A certain Stormlight character showing up being really sad about his situation, spoiling us for Stormlight 5. Marasi dealing with her experience with the Bands, and giving that up, and accepting her own power as herself Hoid, Hoid, Hoid, and more Hoid. Wax wanting to protect Steris but she just is too competent to handle Ending the book with hot choc. That was a good ending last time. I want every Cosmere book to end with hot choc. RoW / full Cosmere spoilers: I don't think it's atium. Ati is so, so, so, so, so super dead. How could he still have metal? I have read RoW and still don't understand this reference, but I want to see Hoid's redacted, too. I want to see all of his redacted. I think we should get very close and intimate with his redacted. Maybe, and I know that's Wax's current theory. But I think it's more likely that they are just using them for straight hemalurgy, rather than raping them. Why wait to see if a baby has some powers, when you have someone with powers right here?

I think the better question is.... WHY is Hoid's immortality? Is it just a matter of, Lord-Ruler-style compounding? Or is it more? Would Miles Hundredlives have survived decapitation? (And ok, that's what has been bothering me for a long time... Miles can be blown up, sure, okay, he explodes himself. But if you straight CUT HIS HEAD OFF, how would that heal? Would the body grow a new head, or would the head grow a new body? I mean, if you're being REALLY careful, and shipping the severed head to another town.)

I saw it and died. I'm going to spend so long staring at that bar. Why? There is no why. I know it will be 18 months until I get the book anyway. But the bar is love. The bar is life. The bar is everything. 3% means HE IS DOING THIS and [edit: I am excited]

Middle of the Dawn

1) If she is Connected to the author? Yes. From what I understand... connection is connection. And while we've seen connection in terms of language, that doesn't mean it isn't deeper than that. If it was only languages, it would be called "languages" instead of "connection." It's just that understanding language is part of understanding a person. You have to understand them to be connected to them. And if you're connected, and they understand it, you understand it. 2) No. Unless they are connected to the writer of the speech. If they are connected to the speaker, they would only understand what the speaker understood. 3) Yes Whether the speaker is obfuscating or not, the connection is what the speaker understands. In the case of, a code, well, that's just another type of language. If it was clear as language to the speaker, the connected person would understand the same language as the speaker-- the code. I'm not as sure on this one, because of the implications of how much the Cosmere runs on *intent* and how important intent is. But it feels right. Connection being understanding, if the "target" understands it, so will you. Unofficially in my opinion.

Oooh Warbreaker is awesome. No spoilers, but aside from Stormlight (because obviously), it's my favorite Cosmere work. I'm dying for a sequel. You will definitely enjoy You should do Mistborn Era 2 after that. I'm shocked at how enjoyable it is (but very different from Mistborn Era 1).

Hi. I'm vonne. Um, talking in front of so many people makes me nervous. *clears throat* Been into Cosmere for about 7 years now. Started on Way of Kings and Words of Radiance at the recommendation of my most amazing friend. Loved it. Looked for other books and found Elantris. Thought, "wait... is there something going on with this Hoid guy?" Googled. Found out about Cosmere and the connections between worlds. Lost my entire mind. Did Mistborn Era 1 next. Then Warbreaker. Then Arcanum. Then Misborn Era 2 (always kicking myself for doing that after "Secret History" because the ending of book 3 would have hit much harder if I hadn't known). So I've done all Cosmere (with multiple re-reads because that's what I am) except for the unpublished works, and I've only done the first White Sand graphic novel. I need to buy the White Sand (I checked the first one out from the library). But for some reason it's easier right now just to re-read all Stormlight novels and novellas, and gaze at the progress bar for Wax and Wayne 4. (we're at 3% right now, y'all, THIS IS EXCITING). So, Cosmere for 7 years, found Coppermind at about the same time, finally got on reddit last fall when the aforementioned amazing friend was taking too long to read Rhythm of War and I NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT IT. Then found this place. Hi, I apparently don't internet well enough. Got here because I was reading this old Isaac Stewart AMA and a thread was linked in it where people were translating the dawnchant around the oathgates and I realized that this is content I need. Um, what else. I'm 37. She/her, despite that for some reason everyone on the internet thinks I'm a guy, I'm not. Married with two kids. I get paid to talk about history all day, which is pretty frickin sweet. I'm in the US, specifically Virginia. So yes I'm southern but I promise I'm not awful. I identify as an Elsecaller. I fangirl for Hoid to a very embarrassing extent. Runners up being Jasnah, Nightblood, Wayne, Szeth, and Vasher. The thing I like most about BranSan is the progress bars on his website, having been burned too hard by GRRM and Pat Rothfuss. Hi. I'm vonne.