IceBaka

I agree on the noise issue. I never thought the chasmfiends would be natural disaster-level loud. I was just pointing out that even if that were the case, it would not necessarily preclude them from being effective predators. I disagree that having large batches of eggs is what will save the chasmfiends from excessive harvesting. A large number of eggs may indicate great potential reproductive success, but it is rarely realized. In fact most species that lay large numbers of external eggs do so because they have very high mortality rates in early life stages. In other words, only a very small percentage of those eggs survives to adulthood. There are several examples of real world species undergoing population decreases even though they lay many eggs. The average clutch size for burrowing owls (depending on location and subspecies) is around 9 eggs, much higher than the typical range of most other owls (2-5 eggs). However, the average number of young that survive to adulthood from each burrowing owl nest is only about 3. In much of their range, at least in North America, burrowing owl populations are decreasing. More extreme examples include many of the amphibian and aquatic reptile species, especially sea turtles. Sea turtles often lay multiple clutches per season, each with > 100 eggs, but many eggs are not viable, some clutches are depredated before hatching, newly hatched turtles face heavy predation from aerial and terrestrial predators before they reach the sea, and small turtles are exposed to even more predators in the sea. The few that do survive to adulthood are subject to anthropogenic threats, both intentional (hunting for meat) and incidental (chemical pollution, boat strikes, etc.). With one or two exceptions, sea turtle species are internationally recognized as endangered or critically endangered. As a side note... If the primary prey of adult chasmfiends is indeed carnivorous or omnivorous, it could turn out to be a predator of chasmfiend eggs or young. If the prey population increases because of the massive loss of chasmfiend adults, then that would add to the predation pressure on eggs/young. Even with Isomere's reminder, I'm completely ignoring the magical (i.e., stormlight & gemhearts) side of this. Depending on how that fits in with chasmfiend life history, it could rescue them or push them over the edge.

I think Chapter 24 "The Gallery of Maps" has some relevant information: This suggests three important things. First, the Alethi really don't know much (geography, flora, fauna, etc.) about the eastern portion of the plains, which means we don't either because we haven't had any viewpoints from there. Second, chasmfiends primarily range in that unknown eastern part; that must be where they are "coming" from to hunt and/or pupate. Third, coming to the western edge is for hunting (pupating largely occurs in the middle of the plains). These support the basic ideas that Gloom is working from but don't necessarily support his conclusions. The primary prey of the chasmfiends could be, as Gloom suggests, an omniovorous, potentially man-eating, animal that could cause trouble for the humans. Or it could be an herbivore that might serve as another food source for humans. Either way, it's probably on the verge of a population explosion because predation pressure has been dramatically reduced. The problem is that the what and how of chasmfiend hunting hasn't really been addressed, although I provide some minimal speculation below. So we are left to wonder, when chasmfiends come to the western portion of the Shattered Plains are they scavenging, hunting humans (Sadeas' can't be the only one sending search crews into the chasms), hunting something we haven't seen yet, or some combination of the above? Also in Chapter 24: It's too bad the only definitive number here is the number of victories, and presumably amount of gemhearts won, by the Parshendi at the Tower (27). But there are ten highprinces all collecting enough gemhearts to finance their military operations AND the Parshendi are winning some of the battles. That's a lot of chasmfiends being killed while they pupate. The wiki says there 100 weeks per year (http://coppermind.net/wiki/Roshar), so if there are two battles per week as Roion says to Dalinar, in other words two pupating chasmfiends killed each week, then hundreds of chasmfiends are being harvested every year. Given their large body size, chasmfiends probably have low reproductive rates and slow maturation times. Given their apparently solitary behavior, they probably have low population densities. We don't really know population size or growth rates, so it's hard to speculate what the current trajectory is, but it wouldn't surprise me if chasmfiends are hunted to extinction in the next book or two. It may be that the loss of chasmfiends (and their gemhearts) is the ecological consequence Brandon is referring to. However, the ecological damage is likely to be more widespread, even if it does not directly affect the humans. Take a real world example. When wolves were extirpated from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming), elk numbers increased and they began moving into habitats with less cover. Both of these changes lead to elk feeding on aspen sprouts and buds to such an extant that there was very little new aspen growth for several years. Many smaller animals rely on aspen for food and cover, and they experienced population declines. That was one of the main reasons for the push to reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone. The fact that the chasmfiends do indeed hunt, as evidenced by their attraction to bait and various in-world quotes, suggests to me that eating is important and they do not derive most of their energy from stormlight. I envision chasmfiend hunting to be similar to how male lions (not lionesses) hunt: mostly single predator ambushes with short chases. Any potential prey species will probably have evolved mechanoreceptors that detect approaching chasmfiends via soundwaves through either the air or the ground. But if the movement of chasmfiends is indeed as loud as you suggest (like a rockslide or earthquake), then it may be too loud for the prey to determine the location of the source, which could actually aide the chasmfiend in an ambush-type hunting style. After all, if you're in a chasm it isn't like an open plain with many possible escape paths. You've only got two options for a direction to run, at least until the chasm branches. If the movement is so loud you can't determine where it's coming from, you might just run toward the predator. Easy lunch. To conclude a really long reply, I think that chasmfiends are nearly extinct from harvesting and their primary prey (whatever it may be) will experience a population surge (pun intended) soon. However, I don't think that prey species will in turn hunt humans.

Hoid delivered it himself. He used his ninja stealth and myriad powers to sneak in and leave it on the recipient's kitchen table. But since the recipient appears to be a dragon, his "kitchen table" may very well be a slab of rock in a cave.

What's "Lift"?

This is close to how I view Honor. When Syl finally remembers that she's an honorspren, she doesn't say "I honor things." She specifically says, "I bind things." Because of this I've thought of Honor as being more about honoring commitments or keeping promises rather than following an honor code or being honorable. While I agree that keeping a promise and being honorable are interrelated, they are not equivalent.

I predict that once everyone is at the Shattered Plains, Szeth makes his attempt on Dalinar. Of course, it happens at a feast and a lot of people die, including Adolin, Elkohar, half of bridge four, and great number of light eyes. Using some fabrials in an inventive way, Navani manages to capture Szeth. Under questioning, he admits that Taravangian (or whatever his name is) holds Szeth's oathstone and is intentionally killing people in his hospitals to record death rattles. The result is chaotic upheaval that falls perfectly into Odium's plans.

As a teenager, I really enjoyed Eddings' Belgariad. Not sure if that's much of an endorsement... It's been a bit since I read Rothfuss' Name of the Wind and Wise Man's Fear, but I recall the first as being free of both swearing and sex. It was the latter that had an excess of sex. I was about to recommend Anthony Ryan's Blood Song (which I quite liked), but then I remembered that it had some language, especially near the beginning, and mild sex, mostly off-page, near the end. Most of the stuff I've read in the last year or two I simply can't recommend (bad language, sex, or poorly written), except perhaps Ernest Cline's Ready Player One. It was a fun little jaunt through an alternate near future that featured a heavy dose of pop culture from the 70s-90s.

I think it very likely that one of the Heralds, perhaps Taln, knows how to construct or obtain shardblades.

I like the idea of a shard named turmoil (think of the possibilities), but it doesn't quite feel the same as self-betrayal. Perhaps Hypocrisy?

@theofficetroll: That's entirely possible. My initial reading made me think Brandon said the name of the shard, then, realizing he'd directly stated it, added in some other descriptions that were appropriate and would diffuse focus from the name.

Sounds like "Betrayal" is the official name for one of the shards.

Kaladin's reaction to the bridge crews largely depends on his state when he gets there. I think Kal would have only arrived at the Shattered Plains with his squad if 1) he had accepted the shards from the unknown shardbearer or 2) the unknown shardbearer had not attacked Amaram's army. If Kal had taken the shards, Amaram would have used him as focal point to rally his troops around during future skirmishes before sending him or accompanying him to the Shattered Plains. In that case Kal had already lost most of his squad, and he may have lost the interest of Syl (given her dislike of Dalinar's shardblade). This likely would have influenced his thinking and behavior. He may not have given the bridge crews much thought. I highly doubt a shardbearer would end up in a bridge crew. If the shardbearer had never attacked, Kal's squad would have remained mostly intact and he may have held onto Syl's attention. His integrity would remain largely intact, and he would be appalled by the general state of the warcamp and the despicable use of bridgemen. He could wind up in a bridge crew if he rebels at the lack of honor exhibited by the Alethi forces.

I think at least some of them did understand the geographic connection, but it may have taken a while before they even knew that there was a major change in the landform. Consider: 1) the distance of the chasm from Elantris, 2) the speed (or slowness) of news traveling, and 3) the general chaos that probably ensued with the apparent failure of AonDor. The combination of those factors may have terminally delayed the passing of information to the right people. Even after they've learned about the chasm, they would have to determine some its basic characteristics, like length and location. Getting this information to properly add a line for the chasm may have taken much too long given the social upheaval experienced by Elantrians. Sorry, I just realized that I'm repeating some of what lord_Ffnord said... Raoden had, presumably, the benefit of an education that included current maps showing the chasm. What he had to figure out was the connection between AonDor and the land,

I agree with what others are saying about Kaladin's face. It just felt wrong. But I think that's because I pictured him differently in my head.

Given the direction Kaladin is looking, I wonder if he and Szeth are not fighting each other (at least at this particular moment) and are instead fighting someone, or something, else? Also, did anyone else notice the flying "beetles"? Are these new animals, or different forms of something we've already seen? Mr. Whelan included some insect-like animals in sketches and early watercolors, but I don't recall any shelled creatures with powered flight in WoK. Based on their placement and coloring, I'm struggling to determine if the "beetles" (not sure what else to call them at this point) are small and nearby or big, perhaps very big, and far away. If the latter, then perhaps they are pre-pupation chasmfiends?

First time joining a fan forum, although I've been an irregular stalker of 17th Shard for a couple of years. Finally decided to participate a little instead of just observing.