Xanpheon

Something I'm really quite interested in in the aftermath of Wind and Truth is what happens to the Spren post-Night of Sorrows. Obviously, the primary function of the new Oathpact is there to anchor the splinters of Honor that make up the Spren, to prevent those born of the work of Honor and Cultivation (and likely even the Old Gods of Roshar). So in the short term, they get to keep existing, both in Shadesmar and in the Physical Realm. However, that isn't all that happens (both as a result of Odium ascending to Retribution, and the subsequent destruction of the fragment of Tanavast that remained within the Stormfather), is it? Sylphrena undergoes an unusual change in the moments they had between the ascension and the sealing of the Oathpact Reforged. She takes on aspects of the Stormfather - both as protector of the Spren, but also elements of his speech and nature as the largest remaining "pure" splinter of Honor that has sentience on the level of a Spren. Honorblades are probably a bit more invested, but they're their own thing. And this is interesting to me because while she's still clearly herself, something I don't remember is if her bond with Kaladin was broken by the Oathpact. I don't think it did, if I remember correctly? More like... put on hold, while he's in the illusion on Braize with the other Heralds. If it didn't, does this mean that the thoughts of... essentially every human nation on Roshar - even the ones controlled by the singers at the time - and their cultural image of the "Stormfather" is strong enough to affect Syl and change her at a fundamental level by the transitive property of being the next largest fragment of Honor? I'm probably missing something here, but the concept of being able to warp a conceptual entity in that way is concerning to me.

Yes and no, I used to play Guitar and Cello, but it has been years since I seriously practiced. It's something i keep meaning to get back to, I still have the instruments, but actually knuckling down to do it is a very different proposition. Water - I drink it all the time. It's easier and cheaper than any juice or fizzy drink, and tea is a bit too much effort.

Hmmmm, very good question. There's a couple, I don't think I could say a single one. I love Thud! (Pratchett), the Redemption of Althalus (Eddings), Excession (Iain M. Banks), and maybe a Wizard of Earthsea? And thank you very much! But I don't think I need one right now.

The cookies are very tempting, but I am trying to lose weight - and unfortunately, holding your breath does not heal you in this world.

My biggest issue with Surgebinding, even as I acknowledge that it is a very sensible restriction, is that you only have access to two surges - and those are also inherently restrictive. The surges of Division and Regrowth on their own would be utterly fascinating when combined - destruction and recreation together, rebirth in a sense. Is it a bad thing? No, absolutely not, and I would still love to be a Willshaper or a Edgedancer, but even so. Wayne is good! He's a precocious scamp but a very good bean indeed. "My mum told me never to take cookies from strangers!"

Ahhh, I think I see? If this works it will have, anyway. (Never mind I worked it out but can't delete, Oh well! Got it in future). I will clarify that I was an inch away from Radiant paths, simply because I've always been a massive sucker for the concept of bonded spirits in my stories and magical daydreams(tm). It's purely based on the flexibility of Feruchemy that ended up pushing it over the edge.

Good question! Hard one to answer, though. Right now I'm quite torn between Awakening and Ferruchemy in terms of offensive/weaponry. The reliance on oneself in terms of Ferruchemy, mitigating the risks of losing metals or stormlight (or water) gives a lot of options, especially in terms of how you can combine the primary offensive tools of Iron, Steel, Pewter, and Gold is fascinating to me. Having said that, the options offered by awakening and a stylish scarf also just leave a lot of creativity in how you could express yourself. As for the question from Belandrius: Feruchemy (I would love to be able to store up certain aspects while doing other things), Scadrial, and Human - although while that is very boring of me, it's primarily just because Scadrial seems to be the most "normal" and least likely to get me killed place to live. Further question: How does one quote in response to a message?

Well hello there, everyone! I'm Xanpheon, or Xan, a 27 year old who has somehow only started reading Sanderson's works this year (I know, an utter travesty. Merely a child!). Primarily prompted by changes in my daily routine, but even so. I've always been a fan of high fantasy works and creative magic systems in general - Iain M. Banks, Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Tamara Pierce, and so on. Yet the first time I tried to read Sanderson's works - Mistborn, I believe, when I was naught but a teen - I bounced off it. Not sure why, exactly, but it just didn't really appeal to my tastes at the time - I suppose I just wasn't really in the mood for a heist story. I am exactly one of those sort of people who adore deep interconnected worlds that reward reading each part, and rereading, to appreciate the different ways they connect and the context it provides. So many of my favourite fictional universes are sprung from exactly this - a world self-sufficient where stories happen, influencing each other in subtle but noticeable ways. Not the best example of it, but I've loved Pratchett's works set in the Discworld for that self-same reason. In terms of current reading progress, I've completed the Stormlight Archive, the two Mistborn Eras, and White Sand, and have now finished Elantris, Warbreaker, and am starting on YatNP - though I'm re-reading Mistborn at the moment to try and catch references I missed initially. My frankly ridiculous curiousity has lead me to do research on most of the other worlds and stories in the Cosmere, so I am (at least in concepts) freed from the burden of spoiling myself. Anyway, apologies for all of that - and it's a pleasure to be here!

While I don't necessarily disagree with the idea that Rosharans in the past have demonstrated a willingness to conquer if they need to, particularly the Alethi, this is an incredibly negative take and generalisation on a collection of peoples who are just as culturally diverse between themselves - if not more so - than what we see on Scadrial. First of all (TSM/IotED): Secondly, you're implying that all the changes - socially, politically, culturally - we see in Roshar during the Stormlight Archive are purely there to benefit those in power. Renarin gave up power by making the tower controlled by a council. Dalinar, for all his faults (and boy did he have many of those) was pushing for positive changes. Jasnah was doing what Elend did in Luthadel when she took over, forcing through political changes to improve people's lives - tempered by having a bit more pragmatic experience, but still moving to help people. And that's just the Alethi, the most warlike by far of any culture on Roshar barring what Odium made of the Singers. The Thaylens - siding with Odium as they have - have always been a people more focused on trade and knowledge than on warfare and stealing resources. Even the deal she made with Taravangian keeps her largely out of his wars, free to just continue to trade and continue their economic power. The Azish - what's left of their empire, anyway - are master bureaucrats. Their society is arguably stagnant, but even there with the assistance of the Unoathed and Adolin's sheer boyish charm has started to change. Asserting that Scadrians are going to be conquered, enslaved, and used purely as breeding stock is... A very extreme take.