KiManiak

I was rereading that blurb, too. Again, I am curious who the narrator is, and who they are speaking to: "I long for the days before the Last Desolation." "There are four whom we watch." It's also good to be reminded that of the 4 listed on both cover blurbs (Kaladin, the surgeon/Windrunner; Szeth the Assassin; Shallan, the liar/Lightweaver; and Dalinar, the highprince/(likely Bondsmith?), one is listed as a potential savior. And one is listed as a definite destroyer. I still have no idea who the Destroyer could be. I think Szeth is too easy of an answer, and I am somewhat eagerly anxious (if that makes sense; or should it be anxiously eager?) to find out who it could be. I can barely wait til March.

Rereading the whole thing again, another question came up: "The ancient oaths have at last been spoken; the spren return. Men seek that which was lost. I fear the struggle will destroy them." It appears as if someone is directly reporting this. (It's possible that this could just be a blurb to catch the consumer's attention, but what if it's not?) Which leads to certain questions: 1) Who's making this observation? 2) Who are they making it to? 3) Could this be a direct quote (or a paraphrase) from the book? It appears that the logical answer to 1) would be Hoid, but I don't know. It could be Cultivation; it could be another cosmere-aware observer. As for 2), I have no idea. And 3), I guess we'll have to wait until March. I don't know; maybe I'm just reading too much into a back cover blurb...

Late to the party, but figured I'm willing to add a few downvotes to the cause.

Natans – Hah! That was well done, sir! When you put it that way, it does seem more tropish. Upvote for you! Although, Kaladin did refuse the “Shiny Armor” and Jasnah conceivably has access to Shardplate (that spare Shardplate/Blade set Dalinar won and donated to the crown). So, you never know, Brandon could decide that it’s the Princess in Shiny Armor who saves the poor villager and turn that trope on its head. Gloom – If you don’t agree with it, then you should be able to put it better yourself, right? Otherwise, why wouldn't you agree with it? As for the blurb, I assume you mean this one? Actually, it sounds more like Dalinar and Shallan would be spending some time together, according to the blurb you referenced; you may want to reread that thing. Of course, it’s likely that Kaladin (since he's Dalinar's bodyguard) and Jasnah (since Shallan is her ward and somewhat partner-in-research) will be there as well, so the hooking up with the princess could still happen. Just saying… And, I personally would prefer that Brandon does not decide to have Kaladin sack any villages and slaughter any of the natives in WoR (even if they be Parshendi), as that seems contrary to Kaladin’s mindset at the end of WoK. But if Brandon does decide to do that, I’m guessing it would be very well written and I'll probably end up enthralled yet again.

Gloom – I’m glad you were amused; the point of this site is to be fun and entertaining, right? So are you saying Shallan (the “destitute noble woman”) who is around the same age as Kaladin (our “brave young hero,” if you will) being paired together is less “storybook” –and by extension less trope-like– then pairing Kaladin with Jasnah (the cynical, “spinster-like princess”), who is about twice his age? What stories and tales have you been reading? Isn't the “significantly-older-suitor hooks up with the young, hard-on-their-luck-innocent” type of story, traditionally told with the male being the elder? I do go into more detail about why I don’t think a Jasnah and Kaladin pairing is your typical storybook pairing in my next few paragraphs. And like I said (and as you quoted) as of the end of TWoK, I think Jasnah is the best fit. Finally yes, hooking up with a princess (or prince, for that matter, depending on your preference) is usually very cool.

Marianmi - Kalift? Hah! Maybe Kaladin is just a little too old her for her. Lift wouldn't approve; she doesn't trust anyone who's older than 10. Now if Kaladin were to convince Lift that he's 10... for the 8th/9th time... Of course, Kaladin could always try to woo her by promising her some of Elhokar's dinner...

I would agree that, from the get-go, Moash appears to have some dark secret in his past (...but then, don't all of the Bridgemen? ). I don't see your theory as impossible or even improbable; I just don't know if we have enough information at this point to really back it. I will say that in my multiple readings of WoK, I am consistently finding myself not trusting Moash's dedication to Kaladin's goals as much as the other Bridgemen's dedication. Moash seems to support Kaladin because of what Kaladin can teach and do for him (first he wants to learn the spear, then he is the first to ask to Kaladin to teach him how to Surgebind). I still am not convinced that Moash is as loyal to Kaladin and his goals; moreso that Moash sees Kaladin as a means-to-an-end; and as long as Kaladin's efforts positively impact Moash, Moash will go along with them. The Chapter 2 reading shows us that Moash still holds himself separate from the group (the tattoo) and also shows him trying to maximize the benefits of Kaladin's actions and new-found position for all of the Bridgemen as much as he can (his request to learn the sword). I just think we should pay more attention to what Moash wants and his actions in WoR...

I support the proposed “shipping,” but I'm not so much comfortable with the supporting arguments of the OP. I don’t agree with Kaladin being an “academic,” per se. He is fairly well educated for a soldier, but he’s not even a fully trained surgeon. Kal is honorable, I will give you that, but I also don’t know if he is the character who values peace the most in the Stormlight Archives; he just appears to be against senseless killing. I question the speculation of 1) Jasnah being sexually abused; and 2) Kaladin disabusing her of her notions about men. etc... (Argent has some good counters to the assertions of the OP, as well) Having said all of that, I can see the potential coupling of Kaladin and Jasnah. First, let’s assume that Kal will be paired up with someone in the series. I don’t see him getting back with Laral; I think that chapter of his life is closed. I reject the pairing of Kaladin and Shallan; I think it’s too “storybook romance” for the born-poor hero and the innocent noble heroine to find each other and band together to defeat the bad guys. I’d be shocked if Brandon did that (although he could always try to turn that trope on it’s head). Kal could end up with someone else we haven’t been introduced to yet; that’s always possible. But as of the end of TWoK, I think Jasnah is the best fit. Second, Brandon likes to challenge convention and I think the Jasnah/Kaladin pairing would do that. Why not have the mature/ educated/non-traditional princess who’s kind of a rebel pair with the once-naïve/hard-on-his-luck/now-empowered countryman with aspirations for doing the best for his people (the Bridgemen). Also, I believe that Jasnah could find Kal intriguing. He’s clearly not your average man. A dark-eyes who rescued her uncle and cousin from treachery, while being a slave? Who was then elevated to Captain and is personably responsible for the safety of her uncle, cousins, brother, and likely, herself? Plus, it is likely that he will be respectful and properly deferential, but I don’t see him being meek or timid around her. Kaladin has shown that he will stand up to Light-eyes and not blindly follow any fool notion. I could see someone like Jasnah respecting that. I could also see the puzzle of an educated, former-bridgeman who is trained in surgery as somewhat fascinating to someone like Jasnah. As for why Kaladin would be into Jasnah? She's intelligent, she's confident, she's resourceful, she speaks her mind (something I'm sure he'd respect), she's pragmatic, she's capable, etc. Assuming that WoR shows Kaladin's progression towards having-faith-in/trusting (certain) Light-eyes again, as well as showing his exposure to other Surgebinders, Jasnah would be a logical option (and yes, I know that Shallan would too, but I still reject that pairing ) So it's something I would pull for in The Stormlight Archive, and would love to see the genesis of it begin in WoR.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the positive feedback. I admit, I didn't even think about the fabrials. That's a great suggestion. And thanks to everyone for the upvotes. However, with Peter's updates to the KR orders and surges, it seems as though no Order will have both Transportation and Surface Tension-like surges. With the updated information, I don't think we can make such a strong assertion that Bondsmiths are Order #8 (although it fits Kalak's attributes, in my opinion), or if they are Order #10 (where the surges of Surface Tension and Pressure may actually fit the title of Bondsmith better). Regardless, I am more open to the possibility that they do not create/generate/etc both Blade and Plate. I still am optimistic that they are responsible for one, and build/maintain the Knights Radiant Order's armament and tools. I am hopeful we may get more clarification at Brandon's next signing (I believe its in NYC in mid-November), about which Order is the Bondsmith.

Pitching my first theory (of the crazy kind) here on 17thshard; let’s see how this goes. (Disclaimer 1: I’ve been through the forums and I don’t think this theory has been pitched before; I haven’t seen anything like this since the Seattle signing post, where I first saw the term Bondsmith) (Disclaimer 2: As we all know there is very little information on the 10 orders of Knights Radiant, the creation of Shardblade & Plate; and to be even more specific, all we know about Bondsmiths are the name, and the presumption that that is the name of Kalak’s Order. But hey, that’s why this is a loony theory! ) I propose that Shardblades (and therefore most likely, Shardplate) are created/generated/called-into-being initially by BondSmiths. Brandon has given to us (or confirmed) the names for 8 of the 10 orders, and given/confirmed the location of 7 of the 8. Bondsmith has to fit the position of either Kalak’s (builder/resolute), Ishar (pious/guiding) or Palah (learned/giving) order, and the predominant belief on this forum (which I share) is that Bondsmiths are in Kalak’s order, which… makes the most sense, given the options. So working off the assumption that Bondsmiths are in between Elsecallers and Stonewards, a few supporting points to this loony theory: 1) Transportation Surge. Shardblades are theorized to rest in the Spiritual realm until they are summoned. Summoning clearly involves some aspect of transportation from the Spiritual realm to the Physical realm (I have another loony theory where I propose that Elsecallers can summon things –and possibly beings/creatures- from or through Shadesmar/Cognitive realm that I may write up soon), and there needs to be some way in which the blades have some kind of connection (or bond, if you will) established between the 2 realms that allows them to travel back and forth when called and released. There needs to be another bond between the wielder of the blade and the blade itself (still need to read that book and series, someday). There also needs to be the disruption of the target-of-the-blade’s soul (maybe severs the connection of a being’s soul (spiritual) with their body (physical) or some other effect; I’m still working on this). All of this requires some type of interaction between the spiritual and the cognitive realms that Transportation may provide. It’s possible that Bondsmiths are able to invest the Blades with these types of attributes. 2) Surface Tension-like Surge. Shardplate has been shown to adjust adapt to the size of the person that wears it. It also fits seamlessly on the wearer, but allows a freedom of motion and agility to the wearer that normal, stiff armor doesn’t allow. It’s possible that the Bondsmith’s control over the Surface Tension-like force that Brandon described (allowing for things that are flexible to become rigid on command) plays a role in making Shardplate flexible for the wearer while still maintaining its structure and solidity. It’s also possible that when proper Knights Radiant are wearing the Plate, they are able to retract the helm and visor at will, as we saw in Dalinar’s flashback with the Knights in Starfall (although this has even less basis in what we know then the rest of my theory; just pure speculation on my part). Perhaps Bondsmiths are able to invest the Plate with these types of attributes. 3) Name of the Order. They are called Bondsmiths. The implication that they make tools, weapons or armor is kind of inherent in the name. Also that they forge some type of bond between things. Kelek has the attributes of Resolute and Builder. Who knows, he could have even shown the first Bondsmiths how to create the Shardblade and Shardplate. And to go even loonier with this theory, Kelek’s body focus are the nails, which by extension is the hands. One summons the Shardblades and they land in the summoner’s hands. Again, this is highly likely to be coincidental, but you never know, right? 4) Knights Radiant composition. If we accept that the Knights Radiant is a complete fighting force, it would make sense that there are different divisions and specialties among the Radiants. Some of the folks here have theorized that the Windrunners and Stonewards would be like shock troops, and that Palah’s order could be like medics, and that other orders would provide some type of direct combat or support role. Every army also needs specialists who focus on weapons and armament. It would be logical that a Knights Radiant Order would specialize in the creation and maintenance of the army’s primary offensive and defensive equipment. And possibly be able to cater those weapons to a specific fighting style or strength of each individual. Maybe that's why each Shardblade appears to be different; they are designed especially to the strengths and specifications of the weilder. So there we are; my first theory on 17thShard. Is it fairly unsubstantiated, with wild speculation and very little hard evidence? Sure. But is it possible? (And more importantly, did you have fun reading it?) I look forward to any feedback. I don’t know every theory that has been submitted and debunked out there, so it’s possible that a lot of this could be off, and I'd be happy to hear what does/doesn't work in this theory. But wouldn't it be cool if this was one more piece to the puzzle?