DiamondMind

And humans . You misinterpreted what I wrote. I said harder, not impossible. Of course you can Soulcast most objects into other things. I'm saying that it's much easier to Soulcast them into one of the Ten Essences, and it's harder to Soulcast an Essence into anything else. For example, notice how in Shallan's chapter, when she "talks" to the goblet, it's very agreeable to change? I'm positing blood would not like to change into a goblet, though you could force it to. Simply: Object ---> Essence: Easy, like pushing a boulder downhill (it only needs a nudge!) Essence --> Object: Hard, like pushing a boulder uphill

This theory makes some sense. The most solid part is that Szeth, the Parshendi, and Darkness are all connected. However, what would be Elhokar's motive to kill his own father? He doesn't seem very eager to rule. And by Occam's Razor, it makes more sense for him to be afraid of what we know, i.e. the spren and the murder of his father. Also, what does Jasnah have to do with any of it? And what does "I also think he was probably the way the Parshendi found out" mean? Found out about what?

It's possible that this only matters when soulcasting objects into the Ten Essences, and Shallan and Jasnah do with blood. We don't know if it works the other way around. In fact, playing devil's advocate, here's the argument: the Ten Essences have, for some reason,very strong Cognitive aspects, which is part of the reason that they are so important. (Or perhaps, because they're so important they are Cognitively strong.) Therefore, it would be easier to make something into an Essence as it wants to grow cognitively stronger rather than weaker.

Uh oh. This sounds like Mat's secret from Towers of Midnight.

Yes, but it isn't true that Syl showed herself and bonded with Kaladin ONLY after he spent time in a highstorm. She was definitely with him on his last day in the army (see Cenn describing Kaladin fight, the "random" windspren in the flashback chapter). We have no idea why exactly she was attracted to him--it might be the highstorms, partly, but this isn't proof of it. Myself, I think that it isn't necessary, since the mists were Snapping people's innate abilities, not adding something external like the Nahel bond does, like xbauks said.

I like that idea! We never do see what emerges from the chrysalis. Maybe they mutate in some fashion with the spren's help, somewhat like Parshendi?

I agree with Crisapx. We see Sadeas "on screen" dismissing his Shardbleade, which presumably means he is bonded with it. I don't think a loaned Shardblade would be able to do that.

Bloodfalcon, there's a quote in one of the Szeth chapters that he was "exiled from the Valley of Truth," which is probably why people think it's different (or more) than just a code.

Ha, I didn't notice that at all! Thanks for adding it. That's nice to know. I should get into a habit of searching that database. I have a different interpretation of the symbiotic relationship though. Since spren are Cognitive aspects, they would have no need to be protected. They would need some benefit like Syl gets from associating with Kaladin. I have no idea what it could be, but I don't think it's physical. Edit: And thanks for the back up, Shardlet! Your efforts were still appreciated.

I think that the bridgeman kaladin slaved might be relevant later, but I don't think he's Taln or a Herald. Now, I can't disprove the last one (anyone could be a Herald) but this is why he can't be Taln: Sacklike clothing: Bridgeman wear a vest and trousers, not a sack. Description: Here is how the bridgeman is described: "He had dark brown skin and brown eyes, his thick black hair pulled back into a long, braided tail." And here is Taln: "...a solitary man with dark skin. His hair was long and matted, his clothing nothing more than a ragged, sacklike length of cloth wrapping his waist. He stood with head bowed, wet, ratty hair hanging down over his face and mixing with a beard that had bits of wood and leaves stuck in it." He's also wild, dazed, and wet. It doesn't sound like that's someone who was just healed on the battlefield, but one who came from the fires and the pain that was described in the prelude Also, Hoid seems to be there specifically to greet Taln as he came back. Why wouldn't he just find him in the Shattered Plains? I admit, the accent thing is weird and the description is similar, but I don't think they're actually the same person.

Is there any way Brandon can come to the Northeast/Boston area? We're left out all the way up here...

Hi everyone! I've been a lurker for quite a long time on these forums and finally decided to contribute to the awesome discussion here. I searched the forums and nobody seemed to have brought this topic up yet. I was re-reading WoK for the release of Words of Radiance and noticed something really interesting. After the hunting party kills the chasmfiend, Dalinar is observing the body and notices some spren rising from its body. I'm going to quote the passage (from chapter 15) because it's so easy to miss: So, there are spren that look like smoke that leave the chasmfiend's (or any greatshell's) body after it dies. Then reading Dalinar vision a few chapters later I come across this: The "Midnight Essences," which are not Voidbringers but are a harbinger of the coming Desolation, seem to be filled almost entirely by smoke. A couple more things: Also, a picture that Jasnah found of a Voidbringer looks suspiciously like a chasmfiend, and even though Dalinar dismisses the rendering, I can't believe that's all there is to it. Spoiler from Words of Radiance: My theory from all of this is that smoke is a sign of Odiom's investiture in Roshar. The chasmfiends greatshells are a leftover from the last Desolation, and there is still a residual amount of Investiture left over that leaves when the chasmfiend greatshell is killed. When the next Desolation comes, Odium or will take over and control it. I had a whole 'nother tie in with deathspren and red eyes, but this is long enough as it is. What do you guys think? Edit: Changed chasmfiend to greatshell

Thanks! Is there anywhere to find theories in an organized fashion, not just discussions, like the wotencycloedia did?

Hi everyone! I've been reading this site for a while, but was finally decided to post because I had to log into chat. Whoever thought of putting a hint there was brilliant! (Still working on number 7 though...) I'm hoping to join in discussions if I can understand all the background. Thanks all the creators for making the site! -DM