Elder

I think you’ll enjoy the next interlude even more.

I like the idea of BAM being split into 2-10 pieces of the same gem. The only issue I have with Chirri-Chirri bonding BAM is that if all she got was the piece in the King’s drop, she has at most, half a Spren, possibly as little as a tenth.

Fair enough. Just hang in there. No matter how dour or dire it gets, have patience with Kaladin. It will pay off.

Fair Warning, Knights needing to live up to the ideals they speak to get their powers is integral to this series, especially in this book. Sanderson believes that powers are only as interesting as their limitations. Surgebinders are some of the most powerful he’s made. As such, he’s devised a particular limitation for them. EDIT: not sure how much you’ll like why the powers have a moral requirement.

I’d say the peak of his story telling comes in RoW. And his insult game.

Moash might still be able to fight Kaladin, but he’ll fight in the mind. Moash is probably not of any use in the physical world. Maybe, just maybe, he can continue attacking Kaladin in visions. As it stands, Moash is Kaladin’s last external conflict. Amaram is dead. Roshone, dead. Liren: reconciled. My bet: Kaladin’s last ideal and final showdown will in a vision with Moash. This will be a battle of ideals. Moash has had a lot of trouble accepting that Kaladin could behave with honor despite everything he’s been through. He’s never understood how anyone could have such strength.

Capturing Moash is a viable solution, if you have the time and means of doing it. Holding him long term would be a headache and a half. Capture in the heat of battle is a dangerous prospect. Police train in their hand to hand tactics, with all holds and maneuvers meant to lead to cuffing. I doubt Windrunners train that way, though skybreakers might. Kaladin’s been pointed out as a spearman, and while he can handle himself grappling, it isn’t his focus. It isn’t something you try in the middle of a battle. Regardless, whether or not capture is a viable option is secondary if not tertiary to the mental afflictions that are paralyzing Kaladin in RoW. It’s a moot point now. Moash is blind beyond the power of Stormlight to heal. Taking him prisoner may be much easier now. Unless he bonds a Spren to give him precognitive powers.

It’s not a matter of violence. It’s not just about seeking non-lethal solutions. It’s a matter of severe mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and PTSD crippling him, mentally paralyzing him. Those do not add up to cowardice. He doesn’t choose to do nothing. His mind is freezing up, broken by severe and sustained trauma.

WoK Moash is at worst an annoying obstacle to Kalladin accomplishing good things with Bridge 4, but once he’s surmounted he’s ok. WoR Moash is perfectly relatable. No issues. Oathbringer Moash is kinda weak in how he can’t accept responsibility, but tries to do what Kalladin did with the Parshmen outcasts. I can definitely respect that. Not at all angry with him for killing Elhokar, even though I wanted to see Elhokar finish saying the words, loved watching him become better. RoW, I’m not ok with him encouraging Kalladin to suicide. The effort he puts into breaking his friend is unconscionable. I love how Renarin defeated him just by showing him a Lightweaving of what he could have been.

To be clear, in which situation was Kaladin a “coward?” Surely not the first time he fought Moash, drove him off and saved Elhokar in WoR. The second time in Oathbringer he froze up from PTSD and a moral crisis coming to a head. I’m going to go ahead and state plainly: Mental Health problems do not equal cowardice, and it is inaccurate, counterproductive, and just plain wrong to state otherwise. I’m sorry to be blunt, but suffice to say it’s an important stand to take. Should Kaladin have been relieved of duty afterwards? Hell yes. Which is what they do in RoW, actively stating it probably should have been done sooner. as for the 3rd time, in Hearthstone in RoW, see the second. He still hadn’t healed. At least that time they took him off active duty.

Yeah, it might help if they find Mishram. That seems to be where Shallan’s going next, so that makes sense as part of his story.

I mean,

Awesome. I’ll edit my post to reflect such.

Ah Lift

Just gonna point out, the Stormfather rarely manifests this way, but it does happen in Rhythm of War: “The Stormfather appeared beside him, moving in the air alongside Dalinar—a rare occurrence. The Stormfather never had features. Merely a vague impression of a figure the same size as Dalinar, yet extending into infinity.“ - Rhythm of War, pg. 1132

You ok with me using it this way? I’d get it if you weren’t, as they certainly have better lives than branded slaves. EDIT: also, on soulcasters, since they can soulcast from 1 to 3 of the 10 essences, would you want more points for a more versatile soulcaster?

Listening through RoW for the second time, I’m given to wonder: are Shards coming back together? We know that Stormlight and Voidlight mix into Warlight. Will the Shards themselves come together? And would peace be achieved by creating a combined Shard of War? Dalinar, as the Bondsmith of the Stormfather, seems to have as much power as can be had that once belonged to Honor. If the Storms merged, or perhaps if Dalinar loses the contest of Champions, but Odium goes down anyway…. Could Dalinar become War? Part of me thinks that this might be a step backwards for Dalinar. Part of me thinks it would be kinda lame for Brandon to do the exact same thing on Roshar as he did on Scadrial…… but maybe the Shards are coming together. They were never meant to be separate. Maybe Dalinar’s next big challenge is to fail in his contest and fall back into war, and claw his way into something better. And then there’s a question of what kind of Shard War would be. Hatred, restricted by oaths and discipline? Battle, but organized, with rules of engagement, Codes that control violence? Battle being handled by soldiers so that civilians are left in peace? I don’t know…..

I just got to that part of RoW for the second time, and I’m given to idle fancy. Adolin has a bond with Maya, both as a Shardblade and as a person. He is remembering someone who has been forgotten, as the Radiant Spren of old were forsaken by their Radiants and their identities lost to time, treated as unthinking beings, while Adolin treats Maya like a beloved companion, a sister in arms. I can envision a future where Adolin leads the rehabilitation of deadeyes. He’s the Grand Master Duelist or some other some such after RoW. Shardbearers may be wondering where they stand in a world of Radiants. Adolin can teach them how to truly bond with their blades, how to get to know the Spren behind them. Duel unworthy shardbearers and rescue the Spren. and maybe….. just maybe….. if Adolin says the Words it might heal Maya. I think he’d be overjoyed at that, moreso than if it involved him getting powers. Part of me thinks it’s good to have compelling characters who don’t have power, and Adolin fills that role well. But something like this would be beautiful.

I would posit the following: 1. If there were such a thing as a Bondsmith to the Unmade, it would function as an “Enlightened” Bondsmith, similar to Renarin acting as an “Enlightened” Truthwatcher. 2. If one of the Unmade were to enter the Nahel Bond, Ba Ado Mishram would probably be it, as she has the power, the lucidity, etc. she could bind the singer people. Create a Singer Bondsmith. 2nd in line might be Sja-Anat 3. Bonding anyone would definitely change one of the Unmade. If someone were to bond Nergaoul or Ashertmarn (contrary to position 2) it might give them more sentience or will, assuming whatever radiant they bonded weren’t completely overwhelmed. EDIT 4. A major obstacle here is whether or not these spren are going to be subject to bonds, and adhesion, something that Odium doesn’t seem to have any part of, may be a big part of this. 5. At the risk of sounding somewhat like an Inkspren, just because something is, doesn’t mean it will always be. A sufficiently powerful Bondsmith might be able to help the unmade make a bond. Funny how we now have one who has pioneered the blending of disparate Lights.

Ok, let’s have a little fun here Name: Bakar Status: Slave - Ardent (11 points) Profession: Scribe (8 points) Artifact: Soulcaster - capable of soul casting stone, metal and meat (5 points) Powers: Spren Bond - Mist Spren (Truthwatcher powers). backstory: an Ardent in the service of House Kholin and the crown. Had to face a crisis of faith serving Dalinar. After reading Oathbringer, crisis came to a head and he started speaking the vows of a Truthwatcher.

By the beginning of RoW, she’s gotten better at Soulcasting with 8 months of tutoring, but, she still hasn’t mastered it. Beryl seems to have a much better handle on it, and a lesser proficiency on Light Waeving, the Shallan’s inverse. Beryl was used to changing herself for her clients. I’ve skimmed the last couple chapters of Rhythm of War, and I haven’t seen anything that quite indicates she’s gotten better at Lightweaving. However, since she’s reintegrated veil, perhaps she will improve. On the other hand, maybe Shallan’s next/final truth has more to do with what Shallan’s can and will become. Veil was meant to help her cope with her past by hiding it from her. Radiant however is meant to help her cope with what she’s becoming: a Knight Radiant. If she reintegrated the Radiant persona, perhaps in addition to fully accepting her combat ability and gaining her plate, she’ll also get better at soul casting. After all, Radiant is partially based on Jasnah, and one of Jasnah’s biggest traits is her soul-casting, particularly in combat. I think Shallan’s is at 3 with Pattern, and she was definitely at least 3 with Testament.

The idea of Dalinar being put into the moral dilemma of possibly killing Gavinor is an interesting idea. That said, I have an alternative interpretation for the Tower/Criwn/Spear Deathrattle. Whether it’s Kalladin or Dalinar…… I think someone needs to pick up the mantel/shard of Honor.

Been listening my way through Stormlight, and I think I might have found a couple ideas that might indicate Shallan’s character arc moving forward. The basic premise: Shallan’s difficulty with Transformation/Soulcasting may be rooted in the same place as her excellence at Illumination/Lighteeaving, and her extra personae. She can’t face certain memories, certain truths. As such, she cannot change (or Transform). Changing requires acknowledging what something is. Can’t do that by living in what something (or what someone, particularly one’s self) isn’t. When she speaks the Truth she’s hiding from, that may be the breakthrough that helps her get better at soulcasting. Speaking of which, which ideal/truth is Shallan’s on anyway? I’m having trouble keeping track. I mean if I had to guess, she’s working on #4, since she has yet to manifest armor. That might also be the point where she reintegrates Radiant, and stands ready to fight. Not sure how Testament will fit in to the picture.