Cromptj

Now that the whole of the prologue, chapter 1 and chapter 2 are up on Tor, there are more epigraphs, specifically, entries from Navani's journal.

Is it just me, or do the journal entries remind you of the epigraphs in WoA. Specifically Chapter 2 when she writes

"Our first clue was the Parshendi. Even weeks before they abandoned their pursuit of the gemhearts, their pattern of fighting changed. They lingered on the plateaus after battles, as if waiting for something."

This suggests to me that some similar large reveal will happen at the end of WoR, and, more importantly, that it will be a disaster (for the Alethi, anyway).

But I think that a spear would be basically ineffective against the various voidbringers. We see in one of Dalinar's visions that you either need a brute force (a hammer) or a shardblade to beat one. I think that Kaladin would need some kind of shard weapon, and listening to Dalinar describe how different using a regular sword is to a sharblade, I think it would be safe to assume that the same would be try for spear vs shards pear, if they are possible. Also, shardblades are the most effective shard weapon (maximises edge, the most unique part of a shard blade) and the fact that shardblades are the only shard weapons exist, that we know of, suggests that that was for a good reason.

If I remember correctly, Honour says that he was the Almighty directly to Dalinar in his visions.

Also, when Vorinism says they have "lost" the TH, it could be their version of original sin, or when they take it back, it could their version of the second coming. We are assuming that they believe this to be literal.

I am only using Christian examples because they are the only ones I know well.

I will occasionally use it plus the last three WoT books as weights.

That is assuming that no one gets raised to Herald, and that the Heralds want to fight again.

I don't see why not. I know that the mountain range east of Shinovar is called the Misted Mountains as an homage to Lord of the Rings, like the Mountains of Mist in the Wheel of Time.

I heard that Brandon was considering at least one other flashback sequence for some of the characters. I think Kaladin was specifically mentioned.

I would be surprised if Taln got a flashback sequence in the current arc, just because I feel that it would reveal too much about Odium and the second cycle. I could see Gavilar being the flashback character in the 5th book because I think that the first cycle will mainly be about sorting out Roshar, while the second will be focused more on the impending apocalypse. Gavilar was central to how current affairs are in Roshar (the reunification of Alethkar, communicating with the Parshendi, etc.), so it would be fitting if he had a flashback sequence at the conclusion of the events he set into motion.

So what's happening to the surgebinding charts?

Resolution: To try and finish the book in a day. (Then reread so I don't miss anything)

Wish: Dalinar doesn't die, at least not in WoR

If i remember correctly, didn't Brandon say that there are technically 30 magic systems in SA. That probably means 10 each for Odium, Honour and Cultivation.

I always thought Dalinar used siege bridges to show that he was different from Sadeas and did not just waste lives.

Is each Shard's power equal?

But the cognitive aspect of preservation was effectively splintered when he imprisoned ruin. Also, the Well of Ascension is not Preservation's shardpool, it is that metallic lake that we see in Alendi's journal.

To get back to the main topic, I 've always thought that the shardpools were the cognitive representation of splintered shards. To my knowledge, shardpools are only found on planets where the shard has been splintered. And the one example we have of a living shardholder who has been connected to the shard for a length of time (Sazed) has no shardpool.

The counter argument to this is that Ati was imprisoned by Leras but both were still alive and they had Shardpools. However, both of the shards were effectively on autopilot on the spiritual and physical levels. The one level that requires a mind to guide it is the cognitive. I think this is one of the reasons why shard pools are formed and more specifically, why the Well of Ascension sat there doing nothing until Vin came along.

The fact that it takes part of the spirit web suggests that hemalurgy can only steal hereditary powers, if it can steal any other than allomancy or feruchemy. It would be interesting, however, if the bond between spren and radiant changed said radiant's spiritweb. This would have no practical use unless someone from Scadrial turned up during SA.(although I wouldn't put it past Brandon)

I meant to say that his curse could have been the powers of a KR because it would make sense for the Nightwatcher to want him to fight against Odium. Also, as mentioned in one of the interludes( I forget which one). The people who visited the Nightwatcher either overcame their curse or it did not boher them that much.

The reason I don't think that Dalinar is a KR is because he was acting honourably or trying to soon after Gavilar's death but he did not get a spren.

It is also mentioned that the Blackthorn was a legendary warrior long before he even started acting honourably.Dalinar mentions killing people because they insulted him before Gavilar's death. I would also argue that be does not at the moment belong in the 8th order as be was resolute/builder for like >10% of the book.

My personal theory as to why Cultivation is better at seeing the future is because she must understand human nature to cultivate people and is therefore better at predicting the actions of people over a length of time. Of course, her shard could be more temporally powerful than the other two, think uberatium.

I'm new to this forum but I have read a lot of the theories, especially on Stormblessed and while there is much speculation about Dalinar's radiant ability, there are not many theories offered apart from him being a surgebinder. Now I believe that there is very little evidence to suggest this. I mean he does protect/lead but there is no sign of honour spren. Also, for a lot of the book he encourages Adolin to take the lead in case something happens.

Now I believe that there are a few plausible options.

1. He is a surge binder but we have not been given any information from his view points (unlikely)

2. We are just reading to much into his skill and the viewpoints suggesting anything out of the ordinary (possible)

3. He has gained his power from a different means than which we have seen (probable)

Brandon has already confirmed in an interview(I think goodreads but can't find quote) that Szeth's power is not gained the same way that Kaladin's is. Now whether it is from Odium or Cultivation is irrelevant for the purposes of this post (I would guess Odium) but I think that there is evidence that suggests that Dalinar got his power from Cultivation/the Nightwatcher.

Firstly, we know for a fact that he visited her at some point before the main story. We also know that his curse/boon(interchangeable at this point) was that he cannot remember anything about his wife. Now, as Cultivation's motive is to cultivate, it makes sense to eradicate the memory of his wife so he can function and grow but I think that Cultivation also gave him the powers of a Surgebinder. The Nightwatcher was known to give gifts and curses but each curse and gift has helped the person in question to adapt for the better. It follows that giving Dalinar Surgebinding would help him. Especially now that he has given up both his shards( at least one of which is seen as evil). Now this whole theory is just my thoughts and I gave very few quotes to back it up( none in this post because I misplaced my copy of WoK).