Qianweilian

It's an interesting discussion on what she is exactly, but I don't think it's accurate that Sanderson doesn't understand the meaning of the words.

Many great people in this thread have mentioned how Jasnah fits into the dictionary definition of heresy. While I agree that your definition of heresy is generally what people mean when they use the term on Earth, you can't really say that Brandon has the "wrong" meaning of the word Returned was breaking down the various names Jasnah is being called and the arguments. To my knowledge, it's not being said that Jasnah is our world's definition of a deist, atheist, and agnostic simultaneously. A large part of her character is saying she doesn't worship these shards as gods; how would she be a polytheist? I'm sorry bmcclure7, but you seem to be applying informal definitions of our religious terms to characters in a fictional world with a completely different religious background and supernatural, powerful beings who act like gods, create life (even planets), and give them magical power. I don't see how this is a productive discussion anymore. We've all presented our arguments and you are not listening.

I mean, our only knowledge is from stories in our world and some very short precious moments scattered through Tress. I had to look up who Xisis was and I just don't think we have enough information to place him on the list

No, you spelled it correctly.

To be fair, I don't remember the last time Kelsier had to get in a fistfight. Even before he snapped, he likely had at least a knife.

There is the possibility that the exact nature of Jasnah's belief may not be known to other Rosharans. Name calling is very prevalent in our world. Also, to my knowledge, the term 'heretic' comes from early Christianity and the splits between Nicean and Arian believers. We don't really know the religious history of Roshar very well other than many of the religions have roots in Honor and the Heralds, it's possible 'heretic' has a different connotation. Depends on the election cycle, it would be unusual, but it has happened: Jared Huffman There's probably quite a few other politicians who are atheist or non-religious, but it's easier to just believe "nothing in particular"

Missing Virtuosity, Mercy, and Whimsy. Not that viable to answer until we get more information, as we see in TLM that a single shard can stand up to a dual shard.

The answer to this one really depends on if you are including Wind and Truth or not.

Wait, that's not right? Is it really L-aid-ree-ann? I always though it was L-add-ree-ann.

Wait, really? I really didn't like that.

Okay. These vs. topics and getting out of hand. We all know the answer to this one.

Who would win in a fight? We did see the fight in WaT, but now Kaladin has Herald powers and Nale is actually fighting instead of repeatedly stepping to the side.

To be fair, they were just shooting guns at the roseite. If you're giving Wax all of Scadrian tech, he could probably use dynamite or something. Not that it would help against a Windrunner though.

I think Rashek could win, but only if he has prep time, thinks like a 17th sharder, and is less overconfident. I'm talking stuff like aluminum spike guns, metal mind armor, hunting down a shardblade, etc. Taln would probably wipe Rashek as depicted in the books Edit: Dedicated training in stuff like duralumin and bendalloy would also help, but you're pitting someone who spent thousands of years fighting and getting tortured against someone who spent one thousand years ruling.

How would aluminum punch through something that hard and heavy. Even without stormlight, it's still plate armor

Being reasonable is great, it's just reasoning at the expense of everything else that's the problem. The shard probably has the same problem. Reason and knowledge are different things. Also, neither of your examples are because of reason and reasoning.

Was it a pact like that, or was it like a mutual understanding where they both knew Ruin would be stronger some day? Again, do we know if this is an oath they made after becoming shards or just an informal agreement before any of them ascended? Yes, but are the Vessel is the polar opposite of the shard, the Vessel might get broken down, which could be worse that a Vessel who is similar but a little different, or more likely, just get rejected.

Wax just doesn't have the firepower to kill Kaladin.

No, Mercy/Ruin could be more terrifying. Depending of the vessel, I could see it ending up as something like "Apocalypse". Kill everyone so they don't have to suffer more. Basically Kaladin at his worst moment in RoW applying this mentality to everyone regardless if they want to or not.

Now I'm imagining some Odium insurance agent denying a claim

Also the fact that Ati was originally kind might have something to do with it. Ati shifted Ruin to more of a "decay is inevitable" stance. Maybe if another vessel held Ruin it might be possible.

1. Miles blows the plate with dynamite, tanks the blade, and then just shoots the other guy 2. Same as 1, but Miles doesn't need to tank the blade 3. Miles just shoots him

It could be something to do with humanity. We have change, exist, maybe something to do with emotions and some other dawnshard.

I am too, I kind of just want to be more devoted.

I'm not sure what you mean by you wouldn't be a good devotion? Merriam-Webster says a definition of the word devotion is "the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity." I am not a people person, but I think I'd do rather well devoting myself to a cause.