Comatose

The age old questions must be asked: Boiled in water, or fried in oil? Do fruit pierogies count as dinner or dessert?

I'm done with this for now - I'd like to come back to it at some point and edit it because I'm not totally happy with it, but it's late and I'm worried if I don't post it now I'll never get around to it. For reference, this is a Rashendi story, arising out of the chat conversation during the 10th Anniversary Livestream. The logbook entries, of course, are Brandon's words, taken from The Final Empire epigraphs.

Thanks for putting your point out there - I agree talking through this is difficult. I see this as a point of differing opinions between us. In my view, Brandon has a lot of power. Maybe it's not the political power to directly effect change, but he does have the power to influence hearts and minds. I know his books and words have influenced me a lot. When it comes to social issues public discourse and opinion is very important, and with Brandon's platform I do think he has significant power. He also has social power in that a lot of people look up and respect him, and listen when he speaks. It's true he possibly never asked for that, but he has enjoyed the benefits of it. Part of why I think people respect and listen to him is because he's cautious about what he says and how he says things, actually, but that tendency may be hurting him in this instance. I hear you - it may not be fair to expect Brandon to be clairvoyant - but again in my opinion I don't feel like that is the case. The question has been put out there on multiple platforms - indirectly and directly to him. If he does end up saying something, personally I would be prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt - maybe it took him a while to see it, and maybe his was taking the time to craft a response he could stand behind. But if his social media and news sources are anything like mine, I don't think he can claim ignorance. If I am reading you correctly, it seems like you are feeling that people's expectations of Brandon unfairly pressure or constrain him, or are perhaps unrealistic or not open to certain possibilities. I think that's a fair opinion to have. Generally speaking (not responding to anyone's particular comment), I've also been thinking a lot about defensiveness this last week. I think a for a lot of people, myself included, defensiveness is often rooted in a place of self preservation. In this case, I think conflict sometimes arises as follows: (1) Someone critiques Brandon. (2) Person reading critique likes Brandon. (3) Critique is saying something Brandon did or did not do is bad. (4) Person reading critique assumes that the critic is claiming Brandon himself is bad. (5) Person feels unconscious or conscious guilt for liking Brandon if he is bad. (6) Person rejects critique to avoid negative feelings. (7) Person defends Brandon in order to defend themselves. To me, this progression is natural, but it's operating on a lot of potentially mistaken assumptions. (1) Identifying a problematic behavior does not equate with a judgement of someone's character as a whole. (2) Opinions can evolve - we are free to adjust our opinions as we receive new information, and having a bad but uninformed opinion is okay if you make efforts to become informed and allow yourself to change when you do. (3) It's okay to live in that confusing space of respecting and appreciating someone without agreeing with or condoning their behavior. I've never seen Brandon call for people to defend him - in fact he usually seems to invite critique, which is why I do wonder if some of the heated push back against calls for greater inclusion, or in the present case, for him to speak out against racial injustice, are personally motivated rather than out of a concern for Brandon. Lots of complicated emotions to examine and work through - I appreciate this space to do that, and hope others do as well.

(Takes of Staff Hat and puts on Person Hat) I don't disagree with you Slowswift. I think people should be not be emotionally manipulated into doing or saying things they would not otherwise do. I also don't disagree with you Frustration that people immediately assuming the worst in Brandon is not necessarily warranted. At the same time, personally I do not think that is what is happening here or on twitter. "Guilting" is the act of intentionally trying to make another person feel shame or guilt. While I think that expressing potential disappointment in advance of an action or inaction could be seen as "guilting" in some scenarios, I would usually expect to see that in a personal relationship between friends or family where both are speaking as equals, or where the person doing the guilting is in a position of power. Power dynamics are important, because that's what informs a person's capacity to make or threaten someone with a certain feeling. I see people actually expecting the best of Brandon, and still hoping he will do what they do as the right thing, but feeling growing disappointment as he does not. I think everyone would be happy to feel an emotional reversal if Brandon proves detractors wrong and does say something. In this situation, Brandon has all the power. He does not need to listen or to comply with fan requests. He makes decisions that will please some fans and anger others on the daily. It's part and parcel for a figure in his line of work and in his position. He is not obligated to do anything he does not want to do. Other than our collective power as purchasers of his product (which I don't see being leveraged in this case), or our social pressure to highlight his actions or inactions on forums or social media platforms of our choosing, we really don't have much leverage in this relationship. Even if we are using that leverage, I don't think it is a bad thing to hold public figures to account. What I see happening in this case, is that people are expressing their very real feelings. Disappointment, hurt, or anger as feelings are not bad - they are natural responses to the world around us. While I think we can ascribe value judgments to actions based on emotions, I do not think we can say an emotional reaction, or the expression of it, in and of itself is wrong. Can emotions be expressed in intentionally manipulative ways? Yes. Is that what I see happening here? No. I see Brandon having a choice. To post or not to post. It's a choice I've also been struggling with as I deal with my own status as an ally my own inherent racism in all of this. From what I know of Brandon, he's probably weighing his options. Is he qualified to speak on this? Is posting about this really going to make much of a difference? Is this worth breaking his general policy of not commenting on current events? What can he say that hasn't been said by others? Would posting now just to allay public concerns be self serving on his part? Would it be better just to quietly donate instead? Obviously I don't know what Brandon is really thinking - but these are my thoughts. The thing is, whatever Brandon decides, he's going to weigh his options. People have voiced their potential disappointment and frustration to him. If he chooses not to say anything, then he is making an informed decision to disappoint, frustrate, and arguably hurt some people who look up to him - and he has to satisfy himself that whatever reasons he has for staying quiet are worth that cost. At the end of the day, people are entitled to judge Brandon and each other for actions and inactions. It's fair for people to conclude that, if Brandon doesn't say anything his silence is speaking for itself. People in power who let things happen without doing their part to stop it are, in my opinion, somewhat culpable (though I concede the extent to which they are may be debatable on a case by case basis). Do I think Brandon is evil if he doesn't post? No, and I don't think other people feel that way either. Do I think Brandon's silence is harmful and he should be judged accordingly. Yes - because if he stays silent, he is doing so fully informed and should be prepared to accept those judgments as a consequence. This is really rambly - so I'll try to wrap it up (still trying to thing through these things myself). Basically what I'm saying is I'd like to see people be more open to hearing impassioned calls for change, whether through greater representation in novels, or by calling on personal heroes to take a stand for something they view as right, and I don't think people in those emotional states should be held to a standard of perfection just to have their voices heard. Yes one can critique delivery - but not if by doing so you are ignoring the message (which I frequently see happening). Brandon deserves a lot of the admiration he receives, but I don't think he needs us to defend him so vigilantly when people are calling him out for this or that. He'll be fine either way - but someone who is at their breaking point and just wants to know their hero cares about them, or that they have a place in these wonderful fantasy worlds, might not be. TL;DR - In my opinion, people are rightfully expressing their emotional responses to Brandon's silence on this issue, and he has to accept that as a consequence of his inaction. Since he is in a position of relative power and privilege, I don't think it's fair to call people's expressions a form of force or coercion, or if that's what they are, then I think its an acceptable form of the same. Brandon remains free to do what he wants, and some forms of social pressure are acceptable (to put it in a Breezian way). I hope that somewhat made sense, and is useful to this discussion.

I commend everyone's efforts to be respectful, but things are getting tense again - staff are working on a response, but we are putting in another temporary lock so things don't escalate in the mean time. Please take a break and a few deep breaths and we will get this open again soon. Thank-you for your patience.

Reminder - this is an emotionally charged subject which could easily become contentious. Please take care to voice opinions as opinions rather than fact, and try not to use provocative or dismissive language. Remember we are all friends and hopefully this challenging and very important discussion can be conducted with sensitivity and civility. Thanks all. Edit: The post that prompted this reminder is now hidden.

@AonEne I think discussion of adding more queer characters of all shades and what we would like to see is fine and on topic. I was more wanting to encourage discussion and lessen debate (the should/would discussion) which can occur elsewhere and has run its course in this thread. Hope that helps!

I definitely got the awakener/royal locks vibes immediately on reading it. The scarf also seems to help her climb iirc.

This thread has been on the staff's radar, and there seems to be some continuing issues, so I wanted to step in for a moment. To be clear, while I do have personal feelings and opinions on this subject, I am currently using my staff/mod voice, so listen up :). First, I would like to thank people here for trying to remain civil and exercising humility, even when things were heated, stressful, or hurtful. There are some issues in what has been posted, but there is a lot to be proud of as well. Now for the moderation part. I would like to direct a shift in this conversation going forward. The OP of this topic was expressing a desire for more queer characters in Brandon's books (and in SF/Fantasy generally), specifically a "gay male protagonist". While there has been some good discussion about why this is important, there has also been a lot of 'counterarguments' stating why Brandon is doing his best and why Brandon should not be obligated to include more queer characters. While these are valid opinions, and it makes sense why they came up, they are not, strictly speaking, on topic. This thread was not titled or framed as a discussion of whether Brandon should include more queer representation, it was started as an expression of desire for that occur (at least that's how I interpreted it, I could be wrong). With that context in mind, please keep the following two points in mind moving forward: (1) Read the thread before posting. A lot of people have been making the same points over and over, or even repeating their own posts. I get that it is easy not to feel heard, but please let the conversation evolve, instead of continually bringing it back to the same point. (2) Keep the purpose of the thread in mind. I've noticed a lot of threads along these lines continually get drawn to the question of 'should' Brandon include more rep, or 'should' he be obligated to include more rep, when that is not always what is the subject of a thread. The same three WoBs come up again and again. People should be able to discuss their wants and desires without needing to debate their reason for having those desires. There are tons of debate threads on the shard, so try to remember to read the room, and if you don't see an applicable debate thread, consider making one yourself, and allow people who want space just to vent and express wishes to do that. So, going forward, please continue discussion of what you'd like to see from a queer protagonist, or why you would like to see a queer protagonist here. If you would like to debate, please move on.

See Also: Code of Conduct | Policies | Forum Welcome & Information Discussion and debate on different aspects of Brandon's books are a key aspect of the 17th Shard Community. Hearing different viewpoints, and debating divergent interpretations of text of WoBs or character interpretations can be a lot of fun, and it is important to make spaces for all viewpoints to be heard. That being said, most of us probably know the feeling when Nergaoul seems to seep into our minds and make us see red. Sometimes we post without carefully considering how our words might impact the person whose opinion or interpretation we are critiquing, or the discussion as a whole. While the passion of a good debate can be part of the fun, it is important to treat all members with respect so that the discussion can continue to be enjoyable for everyone. Here are some strategies that can be kept in mind when venturing into contentious topics. We hope they will assist in keeping discourse respectful and preventing conflict from escalating. The following are suggested strategies or best practices, not rigid rules. They are meant to assist posters in crafting their own posts in an effective and respectful manner, and not for policing others. There will be a range between a failure to meet these suggestions and content which requires moderation. Please do not use the following to belittle or shame other posters who are not using these methods: everyone is going to have their own style of discourse, and may have alternate ways of keeping things respectful. Not all will be well suited or recommended for every situation, but hopefully the consideration and selective implementation of the following suggestions will help to improve discourse on the Shard. (1) Assume the Best of People - One of the disadvantages of text based discourse is the lack of tone and the inability of participants to read each other's emotional responses in the moment. It is easy to take someone's words in a way that was not intended, or to continue posting without realizing the impact your own words are having on others. One strategy to avoid escalation in this context is, if a single post seems overly aggressive or hurtful, try to give the poster the benefit of the doubt. If possible, read the post in the best possible light, and respond to that. If you continue to perceive an issue with future posts, you may wish to use some other strategies to politely point out the issue to the other person, or get the staff involved. If it is an isolated incidence of unintentionally offensive phrasing, simply continuing with the discussion the poster intended can be a great way of continuing a debate without stoking a fire. Instances of repeated or blatant disrespect should always be reported, but most posters are here to talk about books they are excited about, not to insult or demean people. You may also wish to take a look at the user’s other posts on the forum. Whether they are a new user who is less experienced, a frequent fighter, or a user who normally seems to be polite and considerate, can inform how you respond. (2) Acknowledge Expressed Opinions Before Stating Your Own - If you feel like someone is repeating the same point over and over and preventing the discussion from progressing, it may be that, rightly or wrongly, that person is not feeling heard. While it can get repetitive if overused, a simple "So what you're saying is [X]. My perspective on that is [Y] and [Z]" can go a long way in pushing a conversation forward. Another strategy is to ask questions: "That's interesting. How does [A] fit into that? I think . . ." It is also possible you are missing what the person is trying to say, and taking a close look may help you notice the mistake. (3) Summarize, then Move On - Conversely, you may be feeling like you are continually repeating yourself, but the other posters are ignoring or missing your points. Instead of typing out the same points in different words, try to rereading your previous posts, summarizing your points in a succinct manner, and then asking questions of the group to encourage discussion. Remember that people are not obligated to respond to your points, and it may be that other people are just not interested in responding. If this happens even after you summarize your points and ask directive questions, that is probably a sign it is time to move on. Before responding next, reread your previous points, and try to avoid retreading old ground in your next post. (4) Threads are Not a Contest - When posting in contentious topics, try to think about why you are posting. Before typing out an entire post about why you are correct and others are wrong, try to see if your point has been made before by others. If it has, and some posters have not been convinced, it might be useful to ask yourself what you are hoping to add to the conversation. At the end of the day, we all have differing opinions. Threads where room is provided for all opinions should be viewed as successful. If some people, or even most people, have viewpoints that differ form your own, that is okay and should not be viewed as a failure to make yourself heard to convince the other side of your correctness. If you have a new point to add to the discussion or debate, then add it, but if your point has been made try to avoid repeating yourself or others solely for the purpose of convincing people. It is not necessary for every thread to end in an agreement. (5) State Your Own Opinions, not Others - No matter how nonsensical they seem, people are entitled to their own opinion. If you vehemently disagree with something, want to share your perspective, but are worried about coming across as confrontational or rude, a good strategy is to use language which signals you are expressing your own opinion, and avoid language that is aggressive or attacking. For example: "I do not agree that is [C], because of [D], and I feel that [E] contradicts that interpretation" instead of "That is not correct. is obviously not [C]. How can you not acknowledge [D] and [E]?" Both statements express a differing opinion. The former attempts to provide critique and rebuttal from the perspective of the replying poster. The latter calls the original poster's perspective into question, and may be likely to put the original poster on the defensive. A general rule is, where possible, rephrase to use "I" instead of "you". (6) People Expressing their Opinions are not Demanding or Asking for Agreement - If you read something that makes you immediately feel defensive, try asking yourself where the defensiveness is coming from. Is the post you are reacting to actually saying you are wrong, or putting forward an opinion as the only valid way of thinking? Sometimes that may be the case, and your defensiveness may be valid, but in most cases an expressed opinion is just that - an opinion. A person can think [X] is fun to talk about, and if you don't agree, there is no need to defend yourself. The fact that they enjoy different things than you does not make the things you enjoy less valid, and it's okay for you to stick to topics on the Shard that you enjoy. We see a lot of people wading into topics they don't seem to enjoy or have a personal stake in solely for the sake of offering a dissenting voice that isn't always needed or wanted. If you feel the need to express your disagreement, as yourself why - are you trying to share a different perspective for the sake of a discussion you personally find interesting, or are you implicitly trying convince someone they are wrong to enjoy what they like? A lot of repetitive disagreements can be avoided if people read carefully and realize that not every differing viewpoint is an invitation for debate. If you aren't actually interested in having an open discussion about a topic, or you see a topic you find distasteful, it's fine to just move on to something you do enjoy - the Shard is a big place, and there should be room for everyone! (7) Stick to the Facts - Using objective evidence is a good way to keep debates moving forward, and to try to lessen the effect of heightened emotions. One of the things that makes theorizing in the Cosmere Fandom fun is that there are objective answers out there for some of our questions. Educating each other on the information that is out there is part of good discourse. When refuting theories with WoBs or passages from the books, try to be considerate in doing so. We have all been in the situation of having a favourite theory be shot down by an explicit passage from the books or WoB. The fact that someone was not aware of a particular fact before posting does not make them a bad Sharder. When posting WoBs or passages from the books, try reading your post over and thinking about how you would feel if you were debunking one of your own theories. When someone else is posting a WoB or book passage that debunks your point of view, try giving them the benefit of the doubt. They are likely trying to be helpful by providing information, and do not intend a personal attack. (8) Take a Break - If you are seeing red, it may be time to close out of the topic for a bit. Take a break from the topic until you feel a little more calm, and then return to reread the posts again to see if you interpret them differently. Another option can be to type up a response without posting it, leave it for a couple minutes, and then come back and edit it for tone. As a reminder, this list is not exhaustive, and all eight points will not be appropriate in every situation. Hopefully they provide some assistance, and, with your help and cooperation, make the Shard a more cordial place.

Thanks both for the kind words! I tried to be specifically vague about the other Shards aside from a few small details at the beginning, but a jealousy about Honor and Cultivation would definitely be interesting to explore, if Leras was even aware of it.

The comic definitely came first, though I doubt Brandon was aware of it (it is possible though). I am also worried about what this means for the Reckoners series. The concept is very similar, so it's possible "The Boys" will make Fox second guess putting more time into the Reckoners. It's really too bad the Boys came out first :(.

Yay for Pride & Pride Stories :). I just found out my ten year high school reunion is on Pride in my city - hoping I can catch both - thankfully I should be able to fit the Parade in at least. As a funny story - in my first Pride Parade, years ago, my friends and I decided to walk in it with multi-colored shirts stating "We are just Froot Loops in a world full of Cheerios". It was the year before the parade really got big in the city, so there was still more people walking than watching, and most people just walked because it was fun. Somehow, my friends and I ended up near the front of the parade, and on the cover of the local newspaper. My grandma (who I had only recently come out to) brought it out at dinner, excited I was "in the paper" even though I wasn't even mentioned by name and it was a total fluke, haha. Hope everyone enjoys the month :).

There are several threads on this board discussing different aspects of Adolin and/or Shallan and/or Kaladin’s romantic plotlines. Try to keep this one to the OPs topic so it doesn’t get buried and so people who are looking to talk about Adolin being a Radiant don’t get too bogged down with other stuff. Thank-you all! If the particular aspect of the relationship you want to discuss isn’t covered please do start a new topic!

Author's Note: Did this one up quick after realizing Sazed is definitely an advice recycler. Some quotes come directly from Chapter 45 of Well of Ascension. Enjoy! “I need to talk to you, Sazed,” Mare said. “I can spare a few moments, I think,” Sazed said. “But, I must warn you that my studies are very pressing, and my next assignment is coming up soon.” Mare grinned, her gleaming smile lighting up her dark features. “When are they not? What is it this time, the lost religion of people who worshipped anthills?” “Close. These people diefied nature itself--everything, from the fiery ashmount to, yes, even the smallest of ants, was seen as part of the divine. I…” Sazed trailed, off, catching a curious look in Mare’s eye. She seemed tense, distracted. Usually she paid rapt attention to anything to do with pre-ascension times, but today something was off. “Mare… what’s wrong? Mare hesitated, biting her lip slightly. Then, she moved over to the table, sitting down across from Sazed and pulling her legs up before her on the wooden seat. “Sazed,” she asked, “how do you know if you’re in love?” Normally so confident and brave, it was strange to see Mare shrink back into herself, looking almost like the girl who had saved Sazed’s life years ago. Sazed blinked. “I…I do not think I am one to speak on this topic, Mare. I know very little about it.” “You always say things like that,” Mare said. “But really, you’re an expert on just about everything.” Sazed chuckled. “In this case, I assure you that my insecurity is heartfelt. You certainly seem to have a better understanding than I.” “Humour me. You’ve got to know something.” “A bit, perhaps,” Sazed said, moistening his lips nervously. “You know, when we first met I think part of me thought I had a… an infatuation with you, to be honest, not that that would have ever worked out.” “Oh Sazed,” the sound of Mare’s laughter was somehow enchanting and heartbreaking at the same time. “You didn’t really, did you?” Of course I didn’t. It’s not a Eunuch’s place to love, after all. “Only a little, when I thought we might be kindred scholastic spirits. That was before I realized you have far too volatile a temperament for true scholarship.” Mare swatted Sazed playfully. “I’m serious Sazed. Please, I need to talk this out.” “Very well then. I’ll bite. You seem to be getting quite close to that conman who won’t stop bothering you. What, you thought I missed all those notes and gifts he’s been leaving at your window? You know, back before the Final Empire, a gentleman would leave a lady a whole bundle of flowers as a show of affection. They called it a bouquet.” “A whole bundle, really Sazed? I can’t even imagine. Kelsier will need to up his game then. He hasn’t even managed to find me a single flower, let alone an entire bouquet.” “You might be holding him to slightly too high a standard, Mare. So how do you feel when you are with him?” “I want him to consume me,” Mare said, softly. Her hushed tone almost sent a chill down Sazed's spine. “He’s like fire Sazed, and sometimes I think just being near him will be enough to destroy me entirely. He’s like the sun, blotting out all the stars in the sky with his radiance. When I’m with him I feel exhilarated, and alive. It’s like all my emotions are being rioted while I’m flaring tin. He makes me feel like being a part of something greater.” Sazed blushed, unused to hearing Mare talk in this way. “That… uh… seems to be a good sign, Mare.” “But… he scares me too, Sazed.” “Scares you?” “Sometimes, when I look in his eyes I see something. A darkness.” Mare held up her hand before her, as if she were reaching for something intangible. “His light makes me feel like he might turn me into something far greater than I imagined, but there is darkness in him too, beneath all that charm, and it is equally seductive. Dangerously so. What if I give in to him, and he changes me Sazed? Makes me forget about everything I care about. Destroys my hopes and dreams, leaving those flowers to wither in my imagination, subsumed to his wishes.” “That's… very poetic, but perhaps a little melodramatic as well? I understand the concern. Master Kelsier is… well, he’s certainly not someone I’d have chosen for you. But I also trust you to know yourself, and I doubt even the blackest darkness could blot out your dreams. Like the stars, hidden by mist, I think you could find a way to bring light to even the darkest night.” Mare smirked. “Now who’s being a poet?” “I learned from the best. But since we are playing Deepness’s advocate, I’ll try a different line. If Kelsier is so frightening, let’s turn to our more obvious choice, hmmm? What about Master Marsh? He’s been fond of you for far longer than you’ve even known his dangerous thieving brother.” “Ah yes, Marsh.” Mare’s lips quirked slightly, forming a hint of a smile before flattening into a thoughtful line as she glanced back out the window. “I don’t want him to love me. Marsh needs… he needs a woman who can stand by his side as he leads the rebellion to victory. A woman who can live up to the ideals and standards of perfection he holds so dear. Someone who can sink back into his arms and be glad of their protective embrace.” Mare turned back, meeting Sazed’s gaze. “That’s not me, Sazed. Marsh wants to protect me, but sometimes I think I’m already lost. I’m not the person he thinks I am, and it would be cruel of me to pretend otherwise.” “Master Marsh, though, is in love with you, yes? You trust him. Those iron eyes, as people call them, see a great deal, I think. How do you know he doesn’t love all of who you are, because you are exciting and different? That man could use a lot of things, but a little laughter and spontaneity certainly could not hurt.” Mare cocked her head to the side. “Careful Sazed, flatter me too much more and I might believe you do still fancy me.” She means no harm, she’s your friend. “My point stands. You are who you are. Despite Master Kelsier’s interference, despite your different approaches to life, Marsh fell in love with you, and I have to say your dreams, though ambitious, are rather compatible.” “I shouldn’t have let him fall in love with me. He deserves to be with someone who… deserves him, not someone like me.” Sazed frowned, feeling like he was missing something. “And why do you, of all people, not deserve to be loved?” Mare shook her head. “It’s not that simple, Saze.” “Few things are. Yet, I tell you this. Love must be allowed to flow both ways—if it is not, then it is not truly love, I think. It is something else. Infatuation, perhaps? Either way, there are some of us who are far too quick to make martyrs of ourselves. We stand at the side, watching, thinking that we do the right thing by inaction. We fear pain—our own, or that of another.” He reached forward, taking Mare’s hand in his own. “But…is that love? Is it love to assume for Marsh that he has no place with you? Or, is it love to let him make his own decision in the matter?” “And if I’m wrong for him?” Mare asked. “You must love him enough to trust his wishes, even if you disagree with them. You must respect him—no matter how wrong you think he may be, no matter how poor you think his decisions, you must respect his desire to make them. Even if one of them includes loving you.” Mare smiled slightly, but she still seemed troubled. “And…” she said very slowly, “if it doesn’t flow both ways? If I’ve already betrayed his feelings?" Ah…. Mare tensed immediately. “This must stay between us.” “Of course, as always.” Sazed hesitated. “It is Master Kelsier then? Mare shrugged. “Let’s say it is. You heard me before Sazed. He makes me feel so many things. Marsh makes me feel loved, but nothing else.” “Do you love him?” “Who?” Sazed shrugged. “You’re infuriating. Fine. I don’t know. I respect Marsh, and I think I’m infatuated with Kelsier, or maybe, the idea of him. There might be something more there, but I honestly can’t be sure.” Sazed hesitated. In this matter, he knew he should remain unbiased. He didn’t know enough about Kelsier, or his intentions, to compare him to Marsh—and Keepers were supposed to give information, but avoid specific advice. “And does he love you?” “Marsh certainly does. I mean, it’s obvious isn’t it? Kelsier… I… I think he does. I know he wants me. It’s just hard to tell with him. For all I know he’s just doing this to spite his brother. With Marsh, it’s an open book. I know exactly where I stand with him. With Kelsier, there’s... always another secret. Shouldn’t I pay more attention to the man who is more exciting for me? Or should I play it safe and choose the more dependable one?” “I don’t know, Mare. I honestly don’t know. I warned you of my ignorance in this area. I think you’ve already made up your mind though, and maybe just needed to talk yourself into it?” She sighed. “It’s all so frustrating. I should be worrying about the city and about overthrowing that Lord Tyrant, and making flowers bloom again, not which man to spend my evenings with!” “It is hard to defend others when our own lives are in turmoil,” Sazed said. Mare stood. “Thank-you Sazed. You’re a good friend. Thank-you for listening. I don’t know what I’ll do without you. Please say you’ll stay?” “I’m afraid the Synod has another assignment for me elsewhere. I’m sorry Mare but, we can’t all be as brave and daring as your Kelsier. Give Master Marsh my regards.” Mare nodded in understanding. “Yes. I will. Good luck Sazed. Stay safe.” Sazed smiled, and wished her the same, though in his heart he knew she wouldn’t be.

Just a friendly reminder that different character analyses are all welcome here. Let’s try not to point fingers and focus on actual book observations, and communicating respectfully. Thanks everyone!

Just moved this thread since it’s not only talking about Stormlight. Carry on.

"Premier Notley, your visitor set off our scanners." So the newest visitor from the Shield was either an epic, or, more likely, was carrying motivator tech. "Anything on her that might have done it?" The agent shook his head. "Nothing we could. . ." The room went dark. The next few minutes were a blur for Rachel as she was rushed from her office, into a safety bunker off to to the side, and her agents rushed to apprehend and secure the visitor--the likely cause of the darkness. By the time the lights came back on, Rachel was breathing heavily. "Well, where is she?" (OOC: @Drake Marshall - I'll let you decide whether or not Taya was captured - Sorry for being late everyone)

I had the same thought about “Adoda” potentially noting BAM’s connection to voidlight. I was wondering if “Ba” is some sort of negative, and “Mishram” means giver or holder or something. The one hiccup is not knowing whether the name has commonalities to the modern Alethi language or not.

@Botanica you are a hero!!! This is fantastic. Would not be opposed to more Ati/Leras art in the future So in love with this!!!

Moved to Role Playing, probably the best place to find players. Good luck!!

All the tears. Mad claps.

Aaaw, thanks folks! Glad to see the cult of Lerti/Atras is growing in converts

It’s also in the first Edmonton post.

A challenge to wax poetic? Sure why not: Endowment’s power is in a constant state of motion. It is hard to catch and perceive with the mind for all of its moving, “from” and “to” being its only constants. It is almost like a gentle stream of water catching the light as it is poured from pitcher to glass, like the rays of the sun relentlessly providing heat and light, in seasons of growth and in drought, to the earth, like the hurried coming and going of a mother bird supplying young hatchlings with food, or like the slight smile of a hard-pressed teacher whose student has finally made a break through. It is the fierce need to provide at the expense of all, combined with an uncomfortable plenty so endless it can never be entirely bestowed.