FollowYourMuse

Moash is being used to "kill" trap the heralds, I think Kaladin will not be the champion, if that battle will be in the next 5 books, after a 10- year gap it is more likely Lift, Renarin or Taln, but Szeth is also an option. Szeth would also be an option if that battle is in the 5th book. His dad is not the one to help him, much of Kal's conflict comes from his dads attitudes on fighting. It would be Lirin coming to terms with and accepting that sometimes you have to fight. Knowing Brandon, this is too much of a here is what is going to happen, when has he ever said oh here is our plan and have it go that way?

I wonder if this connects with the Shin and spirits of Stone?

I think it is just that they are not used to the Humans having developed this far in skills, military tactics. They mention too many times how they let them go too long. In the past it was always a quick timeline of the Heralds showing up and building up defenses and teaching them what they could. Kaladin is seen as just a soldier, Dalinar a Bondsmith, as you say. Jasnah in addition to maybe being at the 4th level, it also might be their prejudice since it is obvious that they place much more weight on rulers and caste like levels.

Thinking future possibilities this could also be Kaladin taking Jezrians place and returning to "damnation" the 10-15 years is the time it takes for the next desolation to start again, and again a "resurrection" as a Herald. If you look at it the Heralds have been stuck in a literal loop of Death and Resurrection.

I agree it is probably the first, though I tend to think Kal has already gone through the Death/resurrection and is currently on the return trip, or more likely the refuse to return.

I understand your point, I just view it as the stages of the Hero's journey are never meant to be literal. even something like "Death" has different meanings and expectations based on era, culture and religion.

The heroes journey has been simplified in many stories and especially in the movies we are familiar with. If you look at many of the foundation Myths and stories the hero's journey is convoluted, complex, and the stories contain multiple journeys within a journey. With Sanderson we can expect him to twist or turn the journey and various metaphorical stages on their head to be interpreted differently or arrived at in new ways, but so far in all of the first 3 books the journey has been there for all of the characters both main POV and minor POV, we see it too in some of the non POV characters like Roshone. I tend to think that Kaladin will follow the full Journey and we will see his return to the Surgeon, the focus has been on the battles and fighting, but it was his saving bridgemen as a Surgeon, that also gained him respect, along with how they came to follow his lead, it was in saving with the scalpel that they first started taking his orders.

I actually think that if Kaladin goes on the Shadesmar mission the "envoy" will be Syl not Kal. For once she will be the one "in the lead". It is difficult for me to justify that this is a natural independent concept, when we know there are World Hoppers throughout the Cosmere, that have interacted with the worlds, and that there were also migrations that brought concepts like "The One" . No it is not the only story, but when you look at the key 17 stages of the momomyth, and identify them metaphorically not literally it is difficult to find many that do not fit in some ways. Other stories that do not exactly follow the Heroes Journey, still encompass some or many of the stages, or sometimes are built of individual mini journeys. I am hoping that Hoid shows up in Urithiru to be Queen Jasnah's Wit

Not all Sleepless will be fluent in Alethi or the Women's Script. I think Sleepless is a good bet, but so could be Siah Aimians, or a Spren. My speculation is that like the Singers forms, and Oathgate Spren that previously fabrials were an oath or bargain between people and spren not a capture, something broke the Soulcaster ones much as the bond to Radiant spren was broken. I agree that much of it is Depression, PTSD, but also that Odium is using that against him. Syl points out that Moash knew things he shouldn't have, Moash's words are Odiums, It is the same ploy used on Amaram manipulating his own honor and guilt to get him to give the pain away. After all Odium would be looking for a new Champion, or to eliminate one. I agree, something broke Shallan at a very young age, before she killed her parents, something we have only small hints about. That event caused her to forget and suppress her memories and first ideals, and what her connection to pattern was. There are all the signs of trauma and abuse, both with her and all of her brothers.

What ever it is it happened when she was very young and first bonded Pattern.

Actually, I do not recall the exact words, but when he healed Adolin the one time, there was a reference to something similar. I think it is the combination of lightweaving and re-growth.

Taln, Ash, other Heralds? We do not know what capabilities they have, I sometimes think that there will never actually be a battle of champions, Odium's plans for that failed so he will not let himself get caught in that. I am thinking it will be more likely Szeth, and to do so he will hold all of the Honor Blades to do so.

I got that impression also, it was on re-reading and the comment on comparing the timing to Highstorm and Everstorm that had me thinking maybe it was different, plus knowing they have an idea of everstorm timing also helps to place the timing.

I agree that Leshwi and the Heavenly Ones may have some form of honor, the same way that a corrupted spren does not change its core nature just a twisted version of it. I also think she is playing Kaladin, like Odium she is playing the long game, remember how far Odium could see the future and possibilities. He is being set up, and while Leshwi may be turned (Kaladin has that effect on others) it could go either way knowing Sanderson's twists and turns. Even if the Parshendi pre-date Honor and cultivation, Adonalism would have contained those same forces.

It is strange to me too, but then any of the shipping is strange to me.

The only storm I can recall which had different timing would be the Everstorm that brought Odiums forces to Thaylen City, so that would give the timing of First Dreams arriving in Aimia

I agree, From his gambling and debts, and what he did to the bridgemen, his truths would be important, and relevant. I would actually be more interested in his truths, than Shallon's.

My guess is that either she was always aware of them, or had been brought in when she made Amaram Highprince.

Ialai was the more devious one, and ran the Sadeas assassins and spy networks.

I agree that it is probably related to gemhearts, I think they hold the stormlight better, ie - do not leak as has been mentioned multiple times.

Didn't Amaram's plate all break and dissolve as he transformed? I think only the 3 shards were mentioned, the 2 blades and the shard bow.

I agree on this, from the beginning with interactions with Moash, to those with Kaladin, she is kind of boring.

For power and control over Amaram and thus a connection to SoH, just as he married Dalinar off for the benefit of his rule.

This has been my experience also, the rioters, looters and those destroying property were taking advantage of the situation or purposefully there to insight violence, and not actual protesters. There is also a real difference in mob mentality rioting and intentional abuse, Gavilar was not saying a something thoughtless in the heat of an argument he was being intentionally mean and and belittling. Abuse is abuse, there is no context that makes abuse excusable. Too often we excuse bad behavior, because the "person" is essentially good.

So who is the envoy?