Elder

I could see the prophecy referring to Rlain or Venli. He was too late to stop the latter. The Storm could easily be the bridge. But, it could be the former. In the meantime, I would probably reserve Atium levels of precognition for higher ideals.

I do like him, but to each their own. I’ve always liked the trickster trope. I’d say I like him best in book 4 though.

I’m going to say that Moash’s problem is that he doesn’t want redemption. He’d rather be worse (Vyre) than try to be better. He feels bad about what he’s done (when he’s forced to feel), but until he reacts to that by even desiring to change rather than running from it, he won’t change.

Moash realizes he messed up, but he gratefully buys Odium’s line that he couldn’t possibly have done any better. Problem is, he can’t handle how Kaladin demonstrably refutes this. Hence he feels the necessity to try and break Kaladin. As far as Moash is concerned, Kaladin is a freak for not jumping into the Honor Chasm back in WoK. If Kaladin can beat Moash on a philosophical level, maybe Moash can be redeemed. then again, until he decides he can be better, he never will be.

Worth pointing out: at least among the parshendi, mateforms usually sequestered themselves. They wouldn’t be found in the invasion forces that took Kholinar or in the occupation of Urithiru. They might have been around Hearthstone, but they may have been sequestered far from anything going on. They probably were given some privacy.

A couple Factors that go in to determining what the 5th ideal might be: 1. Jezrien was the Herald the Windrunners were patterned after. The Herald of Kings. A King’s role is to protect his people. I suppose that’s what you could argue makes for an honorable king. Something tying protection to leadership wouldn’t go amiss. Granted we’ve only had maybe 4 glimpses of the man, half of which he was a drunken mad man, so it’s hard to really get much of a profile on him. 2. Kaladin’s story arc should lead him to the next ideal. The question is, where’s that arc going? He’s not leading Bridge 4 or the Windrunners. He’s teaming up with Szeth. We haven’t seen very much interaction between the two since Kaladin killed Szeth. what we might be seeing here is exploring the differences between Honor Spren and High Spren, between Law and Protection, Adhesion vs Division, etc. Where they intersect, where they do not. Something that certainly has some real world ramifications that Brandon may be interested in exploring. Then I have my theory that Kaladin is going to have a showdown with Moash via visions. Not sure how or if that meshes with the rest. I haven’t reached any conclusions yet. I’m not sure if I want to or not.

The only issue I have with lessening Moash’s responsibility for his actions as Vyre is that he chose and still actively chooses to be Vyre. When Vyre is stripped away, Moash begs to be Vyre again. He can’t live with himself as Moash, so he yearns to be something worse. It’s like a very unhealthy addiction with terrible withdrawal really. I’m not quite versed enough with addiction recovery to say how much responsibility is involved here. If Kaladin can reach Moash in one of these times of weakness and get him to go the other direction, that would be quite amazing. But Moash has to choose it. Has to want it.

Happy Birthday!

Worth noting, slave form is obviously capable of reproduction. I would guess that so is dull form. Maybe work form. But mate form actually has reproductive instinct.

Done

Moash is going to continue to assault Kaladin’s psyche via visions. Kaladin will have his final battle with Moash and it will be a battle of ideals. I do think Taravangian will outmaneuver Dalinar in the Contest of Champions. But, it won’t necessarily go his way anyway. Taravangian keeps thinking Dalinar can’t succeed, and Dalinar keeps succeeding anyway. If Dalinar can pick up the Shards afterwards, he will be the Shard of War. Dalinar may not be able to do it as a Cognitive Shadow.If not, Adolin has a nice blend of Honor and Odium in him. So does Szeth come to think of it. Shalan and Adolin will seek out Ba-Ado-Mishram, fight the Ghostbloods, and save the Deadeyes. That oughta completely upend social structures if you think about it. Szeth is going to learn lessons of justice and mercy as he faces his people. His “cleansing” of Shinovar won’t go how he thinks. SP4 Spoiler

Fair point. I’ll admit, the distinction isn’t as clear for me, but I merely dabble. I can definitely tell there is variety within Japanese animation, even if I don’t understand it. That said, when you speak of overwrought emotions, Passion, plus the Spren reaction, is integral to this story. I agree on the detail lines and the eyes (except for maybe Szeth).

Honesty, with Spren popping up every time someone’s mood changes and Shardblades slicing cleanly through inanimate objects, it feels more like an anime than anything else. But, that won’t necessarily suit the books’ audience. I enjoy the occasional anime, but my y wife can’t stand them, and I’d prefer to watch with her. I agree it should be animated though. It would simply be too SFX reliant otherwise. Having CGI Spren popping up would be just too distracting. In an animated feature it would feel better.

A fair point, but the name isn’t drawn just from the light, but also the Rhythm. Those are a bit more congruent with the shards, though not universally. I’d be interested in what you think a good alternative would be.

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.