AleStaar

Here comes Part 1's Interludes! I-1: The Purelake is a lot of fun. I wonder why those three people are looking for Hoid. Guess they're from another world. I-2: Oh great, Nan Balat kills animals for fun. One step away from being a serial killer. I liked the descriptions of axehounds and songlings. Roshar's fauna is awesome. I-3: Szeth-son-son Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, is a strange individual. It mentioned he's a Surgebinder (which were mentioned in prelude) and Windrunner, like the Radiants of old... The rules of being a Truthless are so cruel, and he's definitely feeling strife over what he did to Gavilar.

Chapters 7 and 8 - I’m really liking Jasnah’s character. I think she’s a person who admires competency, honesty, and knowledge the most in a person. She’s in control of her emotions but demands respect. She’s more sympathetic than I first thought. Went back to reread her dialogue with Shallan. I think I'll like Shallan. I like her quips, her Memory power gets the gears turning, and I'm intrigued about her past and home life. My heart broke a little when she intiially failed to become Jasnah's ward. I think there's something of the Cognitive Realm about her. Something I picked up when looking into Feruchemy. Shallan's skill in drawing and memorization is definitely not natural. How is she drawing all this within two hours of famliaritiy with Kharbranth There’s definitely something weird with the brief implication Shallan wielded a Shardblade in the past. House Davar is probably too insignificant to have a Shardblade, and no way they would let go of one if they did. I'm loving the implication that Kharbranth is an ancient city built millennia ago. I bet the highstorms are similarly ancient. Just realized chapter 9’s epigraph says the subject is one of their own ardents… So these last words are being collected by a faction that owns ardents. I should jot down part 1’s epigraphs. I have theories for what they are and what they mean. Chapter 9 - Oh Kaladin... someone please get him out of Bridge Four...... This is definitely one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've read so far in the cosmere. Along with chapter 11's suicide, though that had a light of hope. Thank you Syl. Chapter 10 - Flashback chapters?! This is a nice surprise! I always wished cosmere books delved into the past POVs of characters. Guess ths is the series that will do it! Not much here of note. But I find it weird that according to Lirin the Heralds were sent to teach mankind and lead them against the Voidbringers, after mankind was cast from heaven. How the hell does humanity "being cast from heaven" work.... I wonder why the Radiants supposedly betrayed mankind after the Heralds left. Chapter 11 - Thank you Syl. One more try, Kaladin... May he be the best bridgeleader ever!!!

I'm trying to revive this thread, and I took so many reading breaks that I forgot some of the plot. Was kinda detached from the story’s events when I read ch 29 a few days ago So I'm using the audiobook and reading along my kindle's copy, highlighting whatever strikes out to me. Doing this until I reach my phyiscal copy's most recent point - chapter 29. Plus, I haven't been discussing the individual chapters as much as I'd like. This book really is a slow burn lol. Prelude and Prologue - Amaazing as I said before. Though I wonder what the deal with Szeth and the Heralds are. From the descriptions of the Heralds' ordeal, I have a small theory. Chapter 1 - Yeah. This is awesome. Something i didn't mention before was that Sanderson is great at writing war and massive battles. Even if it’s just a minor skirmish. This is way too early to do this, but I wonder if it will be a contrast to Scadrial and Nalthis Those massive battles focused more on the most powerful individuals instead on the movements of armies. Cenn's POV sounds very accurate to the experiences of a new soldier, especially a child. But what would I know lol. Also, Kaladin is surprisingly dangerous with a spear. I wonder who would win between him, Kelsier, and Vin if they fought with just hands or weapons, without powers. Chapter 2 - My heart broke when Kaladin lost the blackbane. Tvlakv is awful. I'm curious about the full circumstances of Kaladin becoming a slave. He kileld a lighteyes, but did not kill a lighteyes? Chapter 3 - My humor is probably broken but I like Shallan's jokes. Also it seems like a coping mechanism for her trauma. I admire her persistence to find Jasnah. Chapter 4 - With all this talk of highstorms giving life, and life in the wind via windspren or skyeels (I think?), I’m wondering if the storms and wind are living entities on Roshar The trend on Roshar seems to be that nature and emotions have sentient embodiments. I wonder why Syl said there many people like Kaladin in the Shattered Plains. I don’t think she was talking about slaves Surgebinders, perhaps? Chapter 5 - Jasnah is freaking beautiful and I loved the Soulcasting scene. Stormlight is Investiture, right? I think the trend of Investiture stored in objects is very cool. On Scadrial, it’s stored in metal. On Nalthis, it’s stored in anything that can be Awakened. On Roshar, it’s stored in gemstones. The Soulcasting honestly reminded me of things I saw on Sel and Scadrial. Felt bad for Shallan. Chapter 6 - Holy crap, bridge crews are horrific. Storm you, Tvlakv. But I liked the bit of humanity from him. Kaladin needs a hug RIGHT NOW THOUGH! By the way. that scene where Gaz was giving orders reminds me of the start of "Deliver Us"

Kelsier is still a Cognitive Shadow. The spike keeps him stapled to his body, but he is still a mostly a Cognitive being lacking ties to the Physical Realm. We don't even know what metal the spike is made of. I presume if the spike was ripped out, he would return back to the Cognitive Realm. In Hemalurgy, the spike's size doesn't matter as much as the type of metal or positioning. Though I could be wrong, considering the Set's experiment.

I’m sorry, but I feel like that’s an example of a WoB that shouldn’t be taken too seriously when discussing Divine Breath. Mainly because that contradicts Susebron’s character. Throughout all his struggles, he never cared about having a tongue. He viewed himself as having no tongue and didn’t have any hangups about it. It’s not as if he viewed himself as a person with a tongue, or someone could have a tongue. Unless his Identity suddenly changed right before Lightsong healed him. Or if Siri’s involvement caused him to disregard the “part” of him that had no tongue. When the Divine Breath is so Invested it facilitates precognition AND retrocognition… I think it’s reasonable to assume it can break some cosmere rules. To be fair, that’s not exactly the same as my theory. That just talks about healing a person, not affecting a being conceived in the womb. I definitely think this would stem from modification of the child’s soul on Vo or Endowment’s part. If it doesn’t come from Vo’s Divine Breath, fragmental Divine Breath or “growing one” is basically taking unique Investiture from Endowment.

I was sent this WoB just two hours ago. After finishing Warbreaker, I basically had the same question as graendal. Among others. I finally have a theory. It involves Vo's purpose and the Realmatic mechanics of Divine Breath. I haven't finished all Cosmere books, so I can't post in the Cosmere channel. I won't get deep into Realmatics and don't want to bog this with Cosmere general spoiler blocks. But I hope you awesome people get what I mean. The Realmatics I want to focus on are aspects of the Divine Breath. Identity - how someone views themselves. Do they view themselves as chronically ill, with missing body parts, or with scars? For example, Susebron sees himself as having no tongue. Susebron's Identity is a man with no tongue. Intent. Willing intent from the Returned to heal someone. Connection. The bonds that are facilitated by Divine Breath. Bonds to Endowment - the voice that gives Divine Breath - facilitates the Fifth Heightening. Bonds to Endowment, and to the world around them, also facilitate a Returned's ability to see into the past and future I believe we saw major examples of deliberate Intent and Identity in Warbreaker, when Lightsong gave up his Divine Breath. He needed the Intent to willingly give up his Divine Breath, say the Command, and heal Susebron's tongue. And in the cosmere, Identity can put a hard stop on healing. If a person is adamant they're always a person with scars or no tongue, their wounds won't heal. That viewpoint is tied onto the Identity. So why did Lightsong's Divine Breath heal Susebron's tongue, who spent all his life without it? It's because it completely bypassed the Identity limitation, healing what Susebron was adamant about not possessing. But we did not see deliberate Connection from the Returned. Except for two grumpy old wizards, their Fifth Heightening, precognition, and retrocognition were passive abilities. But now I'm theorizing Vo deliberately manipulated Connection - bonds. Specifically the bonds between himself, his wife, and the conceived child. And he deliberately tore off a piece of his Divine Breath and gave it to his child. This is in the epilogue's annotation. Vivenna, Siri, and the rest of the royal family have a fragment of Divine Breath. If they practiced and knew, they could use similar abilities to a Returned. And of course, that fragment is responsible for the Royal Locks. But why do they have it? What did Vo do so long ago? My ultimate theory is that Vo did not die on the eighth day by eating his Divine Breath. That was the preconception. And like many preconceptions in Warbreaker, this might have been false. I believe Vo gave up his Divine Breath on the eighth day. He did so with the Intent to bond (Connect) stable life to his wife's now-impregnated womb. Without that Divine Breath, his impregnation would've either not happened or the child would've been stillborn. In addition, he intended to sacrifice a piece of his Divine Breath that would last through the child and their descendants. And on top of all this I imagine that while Awakening was discovered 200 years later, the Breath transfer Command was known by Vo. Furthermore my ultimate theory is that Endowment Returned Vo, gifting a lot of additional knowledge other Returned don't get, with the purpose of catalyzing the entire current state of Nalthis The trend of Returned all across the world Fve Visions of Austrism The Cult of the Returned Hanald / Hallandren's monopoly over the dye industry Royals or Vo descendants who are talented Awakeners - two eventually revolutionized (if not discovered Awakening), one invented an extremely dangerous weapon, and one became the student of Endowment's most important agent

Just realized I got the units wrong lmao. Vasher would still be 500 Breaths away from the Sixth! Still though, thanks as always!! I had absolutely no idea about the second WoB about Vo having children!!! Thank you so much! "It has to do with restoring Breath and life to the child while still in the womb." Now you got me thinking. I'm going to theorize that Vo didn't die on the eighth day by eating his Divine Breath. He gave up his Divine Breath on the eighth day to bond stable life to his wife's now-impregnated womb. Without that Divine Breath, his impregnation would've either not happened or the child would've been stillborn.

Vahr gave Vasher enough Breaths to reach at least the Fourth Heightening. Vahr's minimum of 1000 Breaths added onto Vasher's Divine Breath should have jumped Vasher to the Sixth Heightening. And yet, we never hear of Vasher using the Sixth Heightening. Granted I think it wouldn't be as necessary, since Vasher consistently used his pure skill and experience to casually perform complex Commands. But I still find the lack of Sixth Heightening odd. Is this because Vasher suppressed his Divine Breath? Or did Endowment set up Divine Breath in a way that Returned Awakeners must reach upper Heightenings from a state of 0 Breaths? Speaking of which, I really hope the sequel fleshes out the annotation's idea of Returned Awakeners who wear black, are knowledgeable black is the most powerful color fuel, and have a supply of Breath donors. And I would very interested to learn what Endowment plans for any Returned Awakener's purpose.

Thank you!

I’m trying to make a rough timeline for Nalthis and the Returned. Coppermind claims Shashara discovered the one Breath Command to create Lifeless, but I don’t see a source. Which chapter or WoB confirmed this?

If I remember correctly, many members of the First and Second Generations permanently killed themselves. The kandra discovered a method to willingly kill themselves without turning back into mistwraiths. Paalm did this in the end of SoS. I assume all of the Firsts and many Seconds did this.

General Thoughts on Way of Kings Part 2 This was phenomenal. Dalinar and Adolin are fascinating characters. The direction of Dalinar’s character seems to be a redemption arc where he finds the definition of honor, and tries to become a better man than the Blackthorn. While he fights against Alethkar’s definition of honor. Fights against a nation’s sense of honor that wages war over the Vengeance Pact, fights for glory over gemhearts, and treats darkeyes as lowly. I wonder if Adolin will be somewhat of a foil to Dalinar, and realizes his own tendency to fight duels over honor isn’t the best way to live. But I think Dalinar slightly believes his way is the best way. He’s bullheaded. That could go wrong as he clashes against Sadeas or Elhokar, or clash against what the Almighty wants him to do. The visions are real, and I think it ties into a cosmere-relevant thing. I don’t know if it’s the Almighty, the Stormfather, or the Heralds sending them. But they have a purpose, and so does Dalinar. The Thrill seems real too, and I think the visions counter that. Adolin and Renarin are interesting characters. It’s so refreshing to see a loving sibling relationship in the cosmere. It was fun reading the Jasnah and Shallan cameo. I’m very excited to see how the Voidbringers, Parshendi and parshmen plots develop. Kaladin and Bridge Four are lovely characters. Don’t have much to say here, it’s definitely a slower burn than Dalinar’s arc. But I love it. One of Sanderson’s strengths is his ability to quickly attach us to characters It seems as time goes on, Syl becomes smarter and more knowledgeable. Hope we learn more about her. Theories: - The visions are sent by the Almighty to communicate the foreseen threat of a new Desolation and the Everstorm. And they serve a secondary purpose of countering “the enemy’s” Thrill - its emotional manipulation. The Almighty plans for Dalinar to unite Alethkar against the returning Voidbringers - Gavilar received the visions as well, eventually repulsed by the Thrill. He wanted Dalinar to read the Codes of War and The Way of Kings, so he starts contemplating the meaning of honor and receives the visions. Gavilar knew about the potential Desolation and Everstorm - Kaladin is slowly awakening the power of a Surgebinder - draining Stormlight as fuel for powers such as Lashings. This is why his spheres were suddenly empty. Szeth and the Knights Radiant in the midnight essence vision are Surgebinders as well. - The Almighty has a plan for Kaladin. He nudged for the unique talking windspren to follow Kaladin, and did some weird mind stuff for Kaladin to feel an… attachment?… to the spear. He wants Kaladin to be the first Surgebinder in millennia. - Szeth received the visions and it’s why he was made Truthless - Sadeas hired Szeth. Eventually, he’s going to order that Szeth assassinate Dalinar and Elhokar. Did I mention I hate Sadeas?

It’s no problem! That’s a pretty good thing to know! I completely forgot there were crystals that produce the geodes… which had atium beads at the center. And that Kelsier destroyed the crystals. Okay wow Pits atium truly was a unique metal. And I gotta say Preservation created the Pits in such a brilliant way. Now if only we knew where the electrum in the Pits atium comes from.

That's a fair conclusion. I'm going off Scadrial's history. As far as I can tell, everything about Scadrial's history indicates that in previous cycles the Mists only appeared once the Well was nearly full. They would persist during the day, every day. Then disappear once someone used the Well's power. I know Ruin's intervention is somewhere inside the cycles' timeline. My personal interpretation of the Deepness is that while Preservation programmed the Mista to persist and Snap during the daytime AND nighttime, Ruin intervened to expand how fast and wide the Mists expand across the world. Blocking sunlight and killing crops. And my personal theory is that Ruin discovered that option very late into the plan, during Alendi's cycle, courtesy of his poor mindset and future sight. Just bringing that up. Because I think the nonexistent mention of Mists during Alendi's logbook is a big green flag that nighttime Mists are unorthodox across the entire history of Scadrial. Unlike the Final Empire's Scadrians, Alendi never wrote something along the lines of "The peaceful Mists have turned violent and hateful." Then when Rashek Ascends, he tries to burn the Mists instead of transforming them back into their docile form. Alendi treats the Mists as if they are an entirely foreign concept. And sure, Rashek was "yada yada knowledge comes slow" but still... And personally, I don't think the Mists of Shadesmar are enough to say the Physical Realm Mists have existed for all of Scadrial's history. For a few reasons If Shadesmar is where thoughts and perception gather, could it be possible that it's changed throughout history? We've only seen the Shadesmar for Rashek's continent in its very desolate era. I think it's pausible Shadesmar was different for the Southern Continent in Era 1, or all of Scadrial before Rashek's Ascension. Heck it might be slightly different in Era 2, because of the Physical Realm's new state. The sun shines and Mists don't appear as often. The Well of Ascension has warped Scadrial and its people several times throughout history, which is the same Investiture that makes up the Mists. Perhaps the actions of Rashek, and the users that came before it, influences the Identity of Scadrial. The very building blocks of Scadrial and its people are partly of Preservation's Investiture. And that same god is far more involved with the planet and humanity than Ruin. Small quibble. Sazed said that Kelsier didn't prevent the reformation of atium. The atium and Well would've reformed after around three centuries.

Rust and Ruin…. I just realized a lot more things were part of Preservation's plan than the story let on. Rashek’s Ascension, Empire, and his death. Vin releasing Ruin. The Mists appearing every night. And the advent of publicly aware Allomancy during the Final Empire. These were all part of Leras’ plan… Ruin’s body at the Pits of Hathsin existed for several millennia, but every bit of atium needed to be burned at the right moment. Leras needed an Allomancer to take up Preservation then kill Ruin. He needed a rebellious Feruchemist to tap all the memories in their copperminds, and take up both Preservation and Ruin. Sanderson confirmed in the annotation of HoA chapter 70 that Preservation, before imprisoning Ruin, set up the Mists to appear every time the Well of Ascension was nearly full. And then, I presume, the Mists disappear. The Mists appearing every night during the Final Empire is an anomaly. None of the aforementioned steps could happen without a consistent force attuning the Allomancer to Preservation, or an army that knows the existence of Allomancy, or the setup of a system that prevents Ruin from immediately reabsorbing the atium at the Pits. There needed to be a Feruchemist with reason to be rebellious and fill their copperminds with so much information. And they couldn’t have been the Hero with half of the hybrid Shard “locked away” and weakened. Leras trusted that Rashek live and die so the final stops towards the Hero of Ages could be accomplished. He predicted the burning of all atium, and the apotheosis of his immediate successor, should manifest during the Final Empire. He also needed Vin to release Ruin, so Sazed could get its full power. Even if Leras no longer remembered by the time of Secret History. I would also postulate that, among other things, he trusted Kelsier to destroy all the atium at the Pits of Hathsin. A freed Ruin would immediately go there, reabsorb the atium, and destroy Scadrial. But because Kelsier destroyed the Pits, Ruin was forced to follow Rashek’s tricky trail.

Resident Mistborn experts @Treamayne and @alder24 explained it perfectly. My personal theory is that Feruchemy was always in the minds of the Shards, once they created the planet. Along with this, Feruchemical potential was always in humanity. But Preservation needed to directly intervene to bring out the Feruchemical potential specifically in the Terris people. I think he did this through the person who used the Well before Rashek, as part of his long game to defeat Ruin.

I love making post analyses! I hope Stormlight encourages me to make a lot more lol. That is something I should keep in mind, thanks! Though at the same time, weirdly enough I feel like that makes Endowment scarier than first glace. I think Endowment gifting divine Breath to people who seemingly don’t have significant Return purposes - such as Calmseer sacrificing her divine Breath to heal her daughter - adds a particularly dangerous layer to her Intent, future sight, and planning. I believe they not only cover the greater scale purposes of the Five Scholars (especially Vasher), Lightsong, and Blushweaver… but can also cover the lesser scale scope of just blessing the gift of spending one more week with family, or living a few more years then healing a dying daughter. Mistborn all Spoilers: Well, I’m surprised to hear there are more Returned Awakeners than the Five Scholars. Personally, I find that more significant than you might. I really hope the Warbreaker sequel delves into this. Interesting… I personally think deliberate Fortune is involved when she shows a potential Returned a future vision. But if a Returned sees the past and future through a painting or dreams, that is more about Connection. I was referring to the one page chapter where Susebrone dreamt of T’Telir burning, Susebron dead, soldiers in the streets, Lifeless killing people, and Nightblood. But, wow. Well that is terrifying. Endowment is devious.

I'm currently reading Part Two and coming up with a lot of theories. Right now, my reactions are on a Part-by-Part basis. Though, I wonder if that will change as I progress through the series.

The Way of Kings Part One Part One was finished a week ago, but I've been preoccupied with reading Part Two. Which has been an absolute joy. I keep cheering for Kaladin, while Dalinar's arc is so juicy and I hope it's full of lore. I can confidently say that Part One was the slow burn among Sanderson's slow burns, but he always does a fantastic job setting up the world and character motives. The star of the show so far has been Kaladin, no doubt. He's been through some storming crem, failing to protect his brother and those he loves. Failing to be a person who fights for honor. And he’s become disillusioned by the lighteyes he once wanted to fight for. Chapter 11 was whiplash in the best way. The Cosmere has a lot of darkness, but seeing a man almost commit suicide was not on my bingo list. I loved that Syl pulled him out of the moment. I'm praying for Kaladin not to lose his will to survive in pursuit of freedom and protection. And I'm excited to see more of Syl. Wish I could remember certain descriptions or lines as well as I did with Mistborn Guess that will improve as I read more of Stormlight, and more epic fantasy. "One more try, Kaladin." Shallan is fun so far, and like Kaladin her story sounds like a dark one. I hope we get history and worldbuilding out of her POV. Everything about Roshar’s environment, flora, and fauna is so alien compared to the other Cosmere worlds. I’m excited to delve into a more fantastical world. The theory I have for Part One is that Shallan’s mind is enhanced by the Stormlight dispersed around Roshar. And this either gives her a photographic memory or the power to manipulate her memories.

Feruchemy is of balance between both Shards. This is seen in how each Metallic Art reflects the Intent of the Shards. To ensure great Allomantic potential, a bloodline must be Preserved as purely as possible. Allomancy doesn’t cause great physical changes, thus Preserving the body. The workings of Hemalurgy are all about decay. Filling a metalmind temporarily Ruins the body, mind, and/or soul. Tapping a metalmind Preserves the body, mind, and/or soul by strengthening them. Leaving a metalmind alone leaves them alone - Preserving.

I found it fascinating that Szeth considers killing a sin but goes through it. His title of Truthless seems like a big stab to his drive and will. I also love that he hates walking on stone and using Stormlight-filled gemstones as jewelry. And yet, he doesn't think it's a sin to breathe in Stormlight. His fighting style is insane. Reminds me of Steelpushing from Mistborn.

Hey all! I'm very sorry for updating this thread late. I have been busy during the last month of this semester. For those who've been reading Wind and Truth, hope you've all been enjoying it. Well, on with the show! Prelude to the Stormlight Archive We follow a guy named Kalak, who stumbles upon a corpse of a giant stone monster called a thunderclast. Kalak mentions how he's been killed by thunderclasts, and yet.. he's still alive? Strange... Surgebinders and Shardblades were mentioned here, just like the blurbs. There are also vanishing Blades with power beyond Shardblades. There's another guy named Jezrien. I guess both Kalak and Jezrien are people called Heralds, experienced with going through torture and pain. And… dying? They died yet they’re alive? The Heralds ended something called the Oathpact. They’re worried about the enemy “finding a way” around this. “He” will find a way around this? Other small bits like Desolations and Taln were mentioned. Prologue Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king. This is such a powerful opener. I can already tell this story will be unlike anything else I’ve read in the cosmere. I was not expecting all... this. This level of brutality from a cosmere magic system wtf. Summoning magic swords that sever the soul. Magic armor. Breathing in Investiture. What is going on???!!! Even the fight's prose was unlike anything in Mistborn. And I’m seeing connections with the other magic systems. The circumstances of Gavilar’s assassination will surely be a big mystery as we advance. It’s weird the employers of an assassin would be waiting at the location of his mission. Plus, Gavilar mentioned many possible suspects who’d want him dead. He must’ve had many enemies. The vibe was so mysterious towards the end. Why would Gavilar give his killer that sphere? Gavilar said he expected Szeth was coming. Did he have many enemies, or could he have been seeing the future? Gavilar’s last words were strange. Why would he want his killer to send his brother a message? “Tell … tell my brother … he must find the most important words a man can say. …”

After so long reading the stories of Scadrial, Sel, and Nalthis, it is finally time for me to take my first trip to Roshar. It is time I read The Stormlight Archive. Writing my thoughts here in case anyone finds them interesting. I tried this thread with the Wax & Wayne series, but those books went by so quickly. Hopefully, The Stormlight Archive will be an opportunity to interact with you all. Like my Wax and Wayne thread, I was inspired by the idea of @Amira to do her Stormlight Archive reaction thread. The Cosmere community is amazing.