Shardlet

Thanks for the coin info, Aoibheann.

Consider that 60 or 70 years ago, it may have been notable if a man or woman, who was clearly Chinese by heritage but in the US, had no apparent accent. It would have perhaps been atypical, but not unfeasible. It may simply be that the bridgeman's family had been in Alethkar for several generations and thus he spoke reasonably perfect Alethi and Kaladin simply expected him to have a different accent due to his heritage.

It really depends on the relative thickness of the crust and the depth of the oceans. Consider of course that the density of sea water is 1.028 g/cm3. That is almost 20 percent of the average density that was relied upon. So a significantly higher percentage of water could have a very significant effect on the average density. We can make assumptions for the crust thickness (based on assumptions for overcoming tectonics and still maintaining a magnetic field). But, ocean depth seems to me to be much more nebulous. We could base it off of the Earth's average ocean depth, but that is a shot in the dark unless we have some valid reason to suspect a corresponding average depth on Roshar.

There is much I like about frozen, much of which has already been discussed (the music, the trope turning, the underlying message). But, there are several things I did not like. Remembering that the primary target audience for the movie is 6-12 year old girls (roughly), I thought Hans transition was startlingly abrupt, particularly in view of the strength of connection between Hans and Anna originally depicted. That said, my daughters did not mention it, so...? I also did not care for the Trolls, they felt much more non-sequitur to me than Olaf. Olaf's place was clear to me since he was clearly the snowman that Anna and Elsa created in the opening scene (particularly in conjunction with "Do you want to build a snowman?"). But, I did not see much contribution by the Trolls being trolls and being the way they were. I still like Tangled better because the music was/is also excellent and the movie is overall more visually beautiful (to my eye at least). The most powerful scene in each movie, I would say, for Tangled: the lamp scene, for Frozen: Do you want to build a snowman (though, let it go was also great). Anyways, Tangled gelled for me more than Frozen. But my daughters loved both. In fact my 4 year-old was a fanatic about Tangled and her first comment upon exiting the theater from seeing Frozen was "Daddy, we need to pay this" which translated means that we need to buy this movie. Kid tested, father approved.

One thing I haven't seen considered yet is that Roshar's single land mass occupies an unknown portion of the southern hemisphere. The entire northern hemisphere is substantially oceanic as well as a significant portion of the southern. The depth of the oceans are also unknown. Since the water will have a density vastly lower than the land masses, this would have a profound effect on your average density of the planet and therefore on your radius calculations. Also consider that plate tectonics are not a factor on Roshar. This suggests to me that the outer crust of Roshar is significantly thicker than the crust on Earth. The solid crust would have a higher density than the magma beneath it, of course.

Doesn't seem like it will have that great of an effect since it seems their strategy does not (currently) depend on Eshonai's direct fighting in the battles.

I personally am of the opinion that reaching the first ideal does provide a benefit. I think Kaladin did this when he made the decision for bridge 4 to go back to the Tower to rescue Dalinar. I'm not completely sure how important it is for the words to be verbally spoken. It seems important, but the time that Kaladin did verbally speak the first ideal, it did not seem to mean anything to him. Rather, he was contemplating it. Arondell may be correct though. We just don't know yet. I suspect that we will get a much clearer picture with Shallan since Jasnah is (hopefully?) there to guide her way.

Brandon has said that soulcasting is a special case and that it is different than other surgebinding powers in that the specific gemstone used provides a specific and different effect relative to other gemstones. For other types of surgebinding is does not matter whether you get your stormlight from a topaz or a heliodor.

Illusion is the incorrect word. I should have said misconception. Regardless, no, it is not philosophical. It's physics. Suction, is not an applied force. The higher air pressure is the source of the force. It is a push, not a pull.

Suction is an illusion. Similar to darkness and coldness. Darkness is an absence of light. Coldness is an absence of heat. With suction, the force is applied due to a pressure gradient between a low pressure area (such as a vacuum or partial vacuum) and a higher pressure area. With a suction cup, a low pressure area is created when a fluid is expelled from the cavity, between the suction cup and the surface the suction cup is adhered to, and the suction cup mechanically springs back to it's original shape. However, the pressure difference between the fluid external to the suction cup and the cavity is what causes the suction cup to hold. The higher fluid pressure external to the suction cup pushes on the outer surface of the cup and prevents the cup from returning to it's natural shape. It is an equilibrium condition. With a vacuum cleaner, a fan creates a lower pressure area by pushing air from one place to another. The "suction" is a result of the interaction of the higher pressure area outside of the tube with the low pressure area inside the vacuum cleaner. The force is applied by the higher pressure,not the lower pressure. Similarly, if you are in space and a hole forms in the hull of your spacecraft, you are blown into space, not sucked. The air moving from the pressurized area to the vacuum carries loose materials with it like leaves picked up by the wind.

Another distinction that soulcasting has over the other surges is that you need a specific gem to provide for specific classes of matter change. The other surges are ambiguous as to whether you use a diamond, an emerald, or a topaz. Granted, this may have been designed by Brandon as a means to check the power of soulcasting. But, I expect that he designed an in-world explanation for such a conspicuous difference.

I disagree with you on this, Aminar. I think that Jasnah and Shallan would have spoken of it already if the Parshmen changed to mateform. This would be another feature that would totally freak the Alethi (and others) out if it occurred. There is a very noticeable physical change that occurs with mateform and a very pronounced vibrance and personality to mateform that would absolutely not be unnoticed by their masters. That is not to mention that the Parshmen would have to revert to no form after they were done mating. It seems like this would be something that they would be unwilling to do. That is a good point about memory of forms, Chlehrma. I would also expect the Parshendi to have direct knowledge and experience with more than just two forms (dull and mate, not including no form) if they were functionally immortal. However, it should be noted that Eshonai indicates that they have had knowledge of mateform for a very long time. Nevertheless, I still agree with you they can mate in forms other than mateform.

You say these things like we've lived on Roshar for a long time. But, we've only spent about two months there and none of our POVs have been shown around any Parsh except for Shen and the Parsh in the Palanaeum. Fact is we haven't had much opportunity to see a sick Parsh or a master interacting with his/her Parsh. We know that they are desirable servants but we know little of their overall monetary value. They are clearly viewed as less than people. In pretty much every situation I have heard of where that is the case, the object of such a view is frequently abused. Yes, we have not heard of Parsh breeders. But we also have not heard of a lot of occupations and activities which take place on Roshar. Lack of mention is pretty weak evidence for non-existence. Fact is, we have heard far more about the Parshendi than we have the Parshmen. And Jasnah's fears regarding the Parshmen strongly suggest that there are a substantial population of them in Alethkar. They don't seem to me to be particularly rare.

By way of clarification, listeners = (Parshendi, Parshmen). Parshendi = free listeners. Parshmen = enslaved listeners. So, Parshmen, being only in slaveform or no form would not know mateform. Parshmen having been in captivity (by all appearances) for a very very very long time, would need to breed in some manner. Even if the listeners (including the Parshmen) were functionally immortal, their numbers would have been subject to substantial attrition over the years since they would still be subject to disease and injury (including those wrought by a cruel or angry master). Further, the Parshendi population would be expected to be quite large since there appears to be limited predation (including those of the humanoid variety), they have/had a known form dedicated to improved mating success, and intra-Parshendi conflict appears to result in low casualties (as evidenced by Eshonai's comments). I suspect therefore, that listeners are not functionally immortal and that slaveform (and indeed many others) does not negate the ability to procreate.

I think the quote you sited is saying that if someone somehow gained the ability to awaken without receiving breath(s), then they would not be able to use the life force or investiture that they have to be able to awaken. Essentially, awakening requires "breath" (at least in standard circumstances, there may be some elaborate work-arounds) and only Nalthians are naturally born with breath or its equivalent.

I haven't figured it out yet. I find it very curious and rather conspicuous. If the gemstones were there only as decoration, then why would they flash? If the gemstone is there as an integral part of the blade, how can it be removed and then crushed and the blade apparently remain just fine? Further, how come there was no flash when Sadeas took up Oathbringer? Every explanation I come up with sounds contrived.

Great post Fingerstyle. Welcome. I would suggest though that the reason the diamond in the diamond mark was nearly invisible was due to a clear gem being encapsulated in a clear medium. If you put a loose diamond on a glass of water it is likewise nearly invisible. However, were the gem to be infused with stormlight, then the diamond would be clearly visible.

I agree with Mysty. Adolin fought this duel differently than previously. He was brutal. Lacking artistry and finesse. He fought as if he were on the battlefield rather than the arena. As such, I suspect he felt the Thrill that he is used to feeling in battle but is unaccustomed to it in a duel. This would contrast with the Thrill of Contest as spoken of by Dalinar when he raced Elhokar. I would expect this to be a more likely form of the Thrill to be felt in a duel.

I am inclined to agree with Quantum. Useful or not, I think most of the world would be pretty uncomfortable having servants/slaves who are functionally immortal. I suspect that mateform greatly facilitates mating, but is not required for it. Similar to how Eshonai has demonstrated to herself and others that activities outside the scope of a form can be performed while in that form. Although I suspect that they cannot mate in warform.

There is no mention of a flash when Sadeas took up Oathbringer.

Less likely to my mind. He recognized the KR symbol (well, what became the KR symbol) that Nohadon was wearing. Seems like he would have likewise recognized the pattern on the ceiling if it was the same.

Yeah, in the case of Adolin, it seems like it was a tradition to do that with shardblades (and plate?) that were won in duels. An expression of triumph. In the case of Dalinar and Sadeas, it was really a triumph of Dalinar over Sadeas. Such an expression in that setting would, I expect, have been highly provocative.

<Shakes his head sadly> Sometimes I don't understand you guys. Again, Peter has been upvoted for acknowledging a joke, but the person who upvoted the acknowledgement failed to upvote the joke. I know that we love Peter's comments and that we like to express that, but seriously! I have repaired this egregious error.

Welcome, Doge! Shiba Inus are cool. You must must must read Hero of Ages. Excellent finale. Then you must rush out and buy the Way of Kings, excellent vanguard to an, by all appearances, astoundingly good series. After you finish with those, you must then rush out and buy Words of Radiance, the eagerly anticipated follow-up novel to WoK. We are all aflutter waiting for the release date (Mar 4).

Glad to have you with us SpiteMalice. It's good to see that you did not choose to remain a lurker in spite of Shardbearer's admonition . Welcome.