TruthMisting

I personally immediately clocked it as Syladin, the darkened twin is similar to how Syl and Kal sometimes describe his depression, "The dark brain." I could see a scenario where their bond is being suppressed or trying to be broken. The light I love... Storms the light I love.

Adolin and Renarin being able to guess both are great, especially since Renarin is Bridge 4, but was Taln dead? I thought he was just standing there, Shalash says something right? I didn't realize that was Taln's body Edit: just remember Chana left a body, nvm

That's about what I'm thinking, that some people on a very specific list of realistically aware, only Vasher comes to mind on Roshar, can guess but the rest of the cast is in the dark. I think that there will be people, looking at the Windrunners, that will refuse to believe Kaladin is dead, and might even guess right on the Herald situation. Kaladin's mythology is just another in a long list of things I'm excited to see in arc 2 lol

Jasnah, I think you're actually right, she was grilling ash about her history so she would probably know the heralds bodies are made of investiture, I don't think Taln and Ash did leave behind bodies, since those were just investiture, but I don't think the rest of the cast would have enough information, especially 100% certainty information to make that assumption. Jasnah though... Szeth's wife does mention she, somewhat surprisingly let her write about the cleansing and gave her info on Kaladin... I think Jasnah might know, but I think the rest of the cast are probably thinking Kal is dead or in "denial"

Vasher has all the information he needs to piece together the truth: At the end of Adolin's PoV, Maya tells him that the Heralds did something to protect the spren, this information seems to be available to Maya if not all deadeyes or spren in general, either way Adolin will share it with Urithiru. KoWT will write about Ishar needed a new Herald for the Oathpact and how he never got one, except they disappeared, protecting the Spren, but Kaladin died, and it poses the question, maybe he had something to do with it as the Wind's champion. ""I can only guess what happened, therefore, to the Knight of Wind. That he is dead is demonstrable. That he succeeded, at least in part, is also demonstrable." 289 "But it was not a complete success, as I have not heard the Wind—neither has Szeth—in years. Save that one whisper. Regardless, she lives, so perhaps the Oathpact, as it was, held well enough? Even without Szeth to fill the hole? Or perhaps, as champion of the Wind, Kaladin was able to do something in the end right before he died, which turned Retribution's ire from the spren." But say if someone knew how the Heralds and Cognitive Shadows worked(someone who explained the concept to Kaladin in the last book btw) we're to hear all the pieces, he could together that Kaladin DID become a Herald. Vasher knows, whether he'll share or not, I think he won't.

Never mind then, I haven't read edgedancer before, going to on my first reread, and completely forgot about how he was in flashbacks, I'll take the L on this one lol. Still think Taln is going to bond a Peakspren tho

We know that Kaladin will spend a good amount of his time in this book trying to heal both Szeth and Ishar, we also know that he is aware that the problem with the Heralds is supernatural in nature. Perhaps Kal, with Szeth's help will come to the conclusion that Nahel Bonds are the way to heal the Heralds. We know the minds of Heralds become clearer when oaths are spoken, this is the current plan to give Ishar a moment of clarity when Szeth completes his 4th ideal, and probably when Kaladin speaks the 5th We also know Nale is the only Herald that joined his order of Radiants and he's also the one that seems the most okay. Ishar is insane, Kalek has battle shock, Taln is unresponsive, Ash has issues with her image, every single one that we have seen is not at a 100% except Nale? I mean, looking back I can't think of a moment where he wasn't logical. He conforms to his ideals and respects the Law, his belief that Radiants would bring Odium back seems unfounded but it might not be, Eshonai seeing Kaladin Surgebind did initiate the process of the Everstorm, and his reason at joining Odium, the singers, and following the only god around, is also logical, we've been attributing it to insanity but it might just be his thought process. He was on the battlefield against the Radiants regularly for a year right? And are we to believe that not one Radiant spoke an oath near him giving him time to reconsider? at the very least he seems the one that is least suffering from mental ailment, perhaps that is because of the Nahel bond. If speaking oaths around Heralds heal them, what about them speaking oaths? We've assigned Ash as a Dustbringer thanks to the POV character list, so she is most likely going to get a bond soon and Taln would be the only non radiant on the list on POV characters, he has the right powers assuming he gets back/maybe still has his Honorblade, but everyone else is or should become Radiant, so him bonding a Peakspren seems likely to me. And, we might have a peakspren floating around looking for a bond. Peakspren hide in stones and Kal has a random stone in his pack, something that could have to do with Fortune and Connection thanks to Dalinar or it could be a peakspren in disguise. The quartermaster is suprised at the rock but not the horse afterall, and Tien never handed Kal the rock, only the horse. Kal is on a journey to heal a hearld, what if, somehow, Taln ends up at Shinovar with him and ends up bonding the Peakspren that was trying to (maybe)bond Kal instead Thoughts?

I think this is very interesting and possible, though I don't think Syl has to die for it to happen. Kal could just be our first double Nahel Bond between orders. Something you didn't bring up is that Taln and Kal have a bunch of parallels and Stoneward and Windrunner seem to be very compatibal, they're both soldier class radiants but both have oaths that allow you to not fight, assuming Stonewards don't have an oath forcing you to take up arms, right now we just know they "Stand where others fall" which doesn't have to be about fighting. Though now that I type it out, that oath is basically Kaladin's struggle of always surviving when everyone around him dies. and our POV Stoneward is supposed to be Taln who's a herald not a radiant, so we need someone to feed us their oaths. I could see Taln bonding a Peakspren and that helping heal him, but perhaps Kaladin will be the one showing us the oaths, his very first story with Hoid and a good part of TWoK talks about him taking responsibility so I think if Syl hadn't claimed Kal a Peakspren would have done it a while ago. Maybe the (possible) Peakspren is trying to bond Kal but will end up bonding Taln somehow healing him. Kal is trying to help the heralds so maybe (somehow) Taln will end up with Kal in Shinovar? Peakspren hiding as rocks as to come up eventually, that's not the type of detail you never take advantage of.

I like this, but I think it would somewhat take away from lift's whole deal. She should be on the same level as Kal and Shallan as far as reputation goes among the radiants but is held back by the fact she's a child. If she also loses being the only "lifebinder" it would kinda seem like the story is actively stripping her of importance

I know posts like this have been made before but I haven't seen anyone suggest this order which I think is a crime considering how well it fits. Vin is a Stoneward. Her whole deal in Well of Ascension is about accepting that she's an assassin, the sword of the new empire. Her personal struggle is about her having to accept that she is more than her duty as a Mistborn. Like, she's not zealous about it, but Stoneward just fits, especially in HoA when she has accepted both parts of herself and trying to save the world. There's even this bit in HoA where the Tolkien guy is asking if she'll live up to the legends and turn the sun yellow again and she says that she has to try. "I will stand when others fall" that's an oath that we don't know which order it belongs to for sure, but most agree that it's Stoneward. That is literally the climax of the Final empire Kelsier falls and Vin has to stand. Speaking of, Kelsier is a Willshaper Elend is a Bondsmith Sazed is a truthwatcher