Ren

Yes, they are locked/blocked in some way or broken intentionally like a broken Soulcaster.

Wasn't it Tanavast who was surprised that spren tried to mimic the Honorblades and the Surgebinding they provided? The way I see it, the spren weren't forced or commanded. They did something that neither Honor nor the Heralds thought about. They watched Honor give 10 men powers to fight Odium. Spren, at least some of them, fear Odium and it was in their interest to form Nahel bonds and to give the power of Surgebinding. There were always intelligent spren in the Cognitive Realm, but they lose their mind when they come to the Physical Realm unless they form a Nahel bond. Spren have cities, they have societies and all.. the Nahel bond is a mutual agreement in some way. You follow our spren-type (Honorspren for example) oaths (or checks as Syl named them) and we give you Surgebinding and awesome stuff to do what is needed.

Oh, that's my mistake, I fixed it. Sorry... some things get messed up when I don't check the books regularly.

It doesn't matter what order the KR in is, he just have to have a living Shardblade. Currently, Kaladin, Shallan and Jasnah are the ones we know that have progressed their Nahel bond far enough to have their own Shardblade. Also, you don't need to have KR at both sides, you just have to pour Stormlight into the spheres, since the Oathgates are mega-fabrials.

It's only a speculation at this point that Skybreakers are the order that remained behind after the Recreance. In Words of Radiance, the book Shallan read, it is said that each order decided for itself where and how to help humanity. Some helped building, some were acting as police, etc. They had their disputes and arguments. It's not uncommon, they are humans after all. As Waith said, we don't know that ended though.

Well, I sincerely doubt Elhokar is forming a bond with a Cryptic. It's just that for two books he never really expressed any talent in any of the arts. If anything, Elhokar is mostly fit for Willshaper. He's odd, most of the times he's misunderstood, people think of him as unreliable and he's fond of adventures (about the last one, you can see his eagerness in TWoK before the fight with the mature Chasmfiend.) Elhokar sees his shadow pointing towards the Sun, that means he already started bonding his spren and he goes partly in the Cognitive Realm once in a while unconsciously. Jasnah had the same experience with Ivory. And since Elhokar's personality doesn't fit neither Lightweaver nor Elsecallers - Willshapers are the one that remain.

I don't see anything wrong with Honor having to sacrifice himself, it's actually very well into his Intent and we know that the longer Shardholders hold their Shards, the more their personality is shaped into their Shard's intent. Actually, Honor might have already sacrificed himself to keep Odium at bay and he's betting everything on humanity.. Humans, on the other end, don't like being dead. And it's possible that some newfound KR doesn't do as he's supposed to do. “So the night will reign, for the choice of honor is life . . .” This can be interpreted in so many ways. Brandon mastered Aes Sedai way of talking so well. >.> The way I see it, the night (probably Voidbringers and Odium) will reign, because the choice/teachings/way of Honor is what helped the night to reign. Or the Night will reign, because Honor(or KR) did something that is purely of his Intent, like choosing life before death, living up to the Ideals. A good mastermind will always use your best virtues to turn you over and make you stumble. Like Ruin did. I think Rayse is at least as capable as him at manipulation. Which makes me think that the KR will do the best they can, but still they will fail because you can't win against Rayse with honor alone...

My opinion is that Skybreakers don't really follow the law of men, like the law of Shinovar and Alethkar. Because in every country there are different laws that contradict with different country laws. Instead, I believe there were some Knight Radiants laws or something, that they are following. To follow the law, means to follow a strict code and none does that better than Szeth. Perhaps, we'll see in Book 3 if Szeth is worthy of being a Skybreaker. Who knows, he might turn out to be something unexpected. ^^

Actually, I believe that Nale is probably the only Herald that didn't lose his mind during the last 4.5k years. If you look at the epigraphs about the Skybreakers and how Nale was the last Herald to accept an Order under his wing, because he deemed it unnecessarily and bothersome. And as far as I can tell from his interaction with Szeth, he has finally found someone who can follow a code, law and order, even in the name of his own undoing. I think Nale liked Szeth, because Szeth is very much like him. Also, I think the former Skybreakers weren't as obedient and lawful as they are depicted in the books. And that's why I think Nale never grew fond of them. As far as I can tell, Nale has been trying to keep Order and Peace and it might have been his job that there weren't any Desolations in the last 4.5k years. Also, he still follows the law, no matter what, that can be seen in Lift interlude. Emotions doesn't have any place in his job, the way I see it. He just does everything he can to keep order. Some of the other candidates for Heralds, that we suspect, have gone mad or seems pretty close to jumping from a cliff. That might be, because I suspect Stormlight is addictive, especially through Honorblade. Something like flaring too much metals in Allomancy, you get hard side effects, sometimes you die. Stormlight, on the other hand, could drive you mad or something, idk.

Glad to see another one thinking like me. The Hero of Ages prophecy was a nice brainstorming, very well foreshadowed. Now, for TSA. I also think Kal won't survive long enough to be the one to save us all, neither Dalinar. Szeth is my choice simply for being who he was. Not because, he's scared of being rejected by whiny lighteyes. Not because, he's afraid he had killed so many people and they would torture him in his dreams. But because, he does what it has to be done. He always does that. He doesn't rely on emotion like many others. Odium, like Ruin, seems to be master manipulator and what's easier to manipulate, other than emotions? I know you might say that he'll take his revenge on the Stone Shamans and all. And how that is the path of Odium, but I believe that under Nale's command, Szeth will be fine. Another option of mine is Vasher, because I think its about time for him to quit being a lazy swordmaster Ardent.

IIRC, there was a WoB that Shardplates are not fabrials, but my memory might be lying to me. Anyway, it is plausible for a Shardplate to be of aluminium, but I still think they have some connection to Cultivation, because of the way they 'regrowth' themselves.

Well, I'm not an expert on Cosmere, but... We already know from WoB that different magics systems can work with different Investiture. For me that means that you can get your Investiture in a form of Stormlight, instead of just staying near the ever-radiating Elantris to power you up. The question is quite simple: Can AonDor work with other another world's landscape as a foundation for Aons? And if it can, can you worldhop from one planet to another with it? It doesn't have to be necessarily Aon Tia, it might be some other Aon. We know for sure that humans on the known planets barely know what are the boundaries of their magic system. (Awakening, Allomancy, AonDor, etc...) That's it. Brandon said that there's a big hit in Elantris for worldhopping. I might be wrong. I might be looking in the wrong direction, but It makes sense for me. Too bad, I'm not from NA and I don't have really time to go to his online Q&As, so I can ask.

Hello, I posted an unrefined theory in a very long thread, so I decided to work this out this evening and here it is. Since I read the whole WoB thread a few days ago, something kept bothering me - why Brandon chuckles so much when he says that it was far from obvious how Worldhopping works and that we have BIG HINTS in Elantris. So, well. The foundation of my theory is that Hoid is using AonDor to travel between worlds. Let me explain some things first, as I understand them from my re-readings of Elantris. Lets just go back a bit, what did Raoden in the end with drawing Aon Rao on the ground? He restored the Investiture somehow. That's how I understand that. Before that he added the chasm line, but the Aons were very weak, but after drawing the new Aon Rao, every Elantrian started glowing and etc. For their Aons to be powerful they needed Investiture. And the closer they are to Elantris, the more powerful their Aons are. This means that Elantris somehow generates/connects I don't know exactly and acts like Sel's "Highstorm" for Elantrians. Elantris was already there, before even the humans arrived, so that means that it is the source of Investiture somehow. I got a bit carried away, so my point is. WoB is that you can power one magic system with Investiture from another, as long as you know how. Then why that means that you can use AonDon, as long as you can and as long as you have Investiture, from anywhere in Cosmere. But the trick is! I believe that using AonDor from Roshar, one doesn't need to draw Sel's lines of map. One have to draw Roshar's! So, imagine drawing Aon Ehe on Roshar, we have to draw Roshar's map lines and the add the additional stuff and viola, we have the effect. Example 1: Hoid is in Elantris. He draws Roshar's map lines, additional calculations to where exactly to land. And Hop. Example 2: Hoid is in Roshar. He draws Scadrial's map lines, additioanl calculations and HOP. Hoid is known to be able to use strange magic, magic we haven't yet seen in any of the books, why can't he use AonDor too? We don't know what he can and what he can't too. My second best argument is - Galladon. He's one of the Three Worldhoppers looking for him?! Why send Galladon, ask yourselves? Because he can use AonDor! The other two can grab him and he'd draw the Aon and hop. My third best arguments is - Brandon said at one of his Q&A that the guy who asked him something about the mountains was on the right track, but not exactly. The point is that, mountains are a very important part of AonDor. WoB said that Hoid traveled before through Shadesmar and I think that is quite reasonable. Lord Ruler changed the land on Scadrial, Sazed did that again later, Elantris had the chasm, Roshar has the Shattered Plains (in my opinion that is quite similar to the Chasm in Elantris). Hoid is not God, he had to travel through Shadesmar to get into the lands at first. All we need to do is to find out how AonDor works on the given planet and then we can jump as long as we have Investiture. Thanks for reading.

Heavy Elantris spoilers. Please don't read, if you haven't read Elantris, I'll just ruin your fun. Sorry! THEORY ONE. Hoid is traveling to Roshar via AonDor or something that works very similar to it. Aon Tia is used to transport an Elantrian from one direction to another. None said that it should be only restricted to Sel. As we all know already, Investiture is universal, Nightblood can work with Stormlight, Vasher can live with presumably Stormlight. An investiture from one planet can infuse magic from another, although not without some changes, but we have WoB that the final effect would be pretty much the same. Aon Ene is also one of the major constellations that can be observed in the night sky above Arelon.It includes Sel's pole star We know that once you draw the initial Aon, you can keep drawing and make adjustments, various effects and stuff. So... Maybe Hoid is worldhopping by using Aons and drawing constellations and making adjustments. You might ask how Hoid used that sort of traveling the first time? He didn't. WoB said Hoid traveled before through Shadesmar! That means that Hoid needs to go at least once through Shadesmar, so that he can gather intel on how to travel without getting himself in the middle of a burning Sun. THEORY TWO is I think far better. Follow me on this, please, I'll try to explain. 1. We know that AonDor uses landscape as a engine? The first two lines (now three with the Chasm) and the dot are what makes the landscape around Elantris. 3. But that is not enough! You need fuel! And as you go away from Elantris, your AonDor is getting weaker. That's what Raoden restored. The fuel. 2. We know that you can use foreign magic system as long as you have Investiture. That means you can use AonDor on Roshar with Stormlight. 3. But Stormlight is not enough. Stormlight is only half of what you need. Stormlight is the fuel. 4. Hoid has to draw the engine. So imagine Hoid is on Sel. To go to Roshar, he needs to draw Rosharian standard of lines and dots, them draw the calculations and HOP. Imagine Hoid is on Roshar. To go to Sel, he needs to draw the current Sel lines and dots and HOP. If you don't draw the engine right, you don't get anything and that's why Hoid has to visit each planet through Shadesmar first, so he can get his information. My two cents. If you have improvements, all are welcome. Excuse me for my bad English, I don't have much experience writing, just reading... a lot. (Also, I don't have time to try and match Roshar Map with different Aon styles and stuff. But I'm sure I might find something!)

Just to clarify.

I don't think that Syl's scream was of her dying, but rather of her forcing their bond and helping Kal, because she's attached to him and she doesn't want to see him dying. She mentions in TWoK that she watched Kal long before he even knew of her existence. Considering various conversations throughout the two books, Syl has a habit of disobeying. Also, I don't think Syl can forbid Kaladin using anything as long as it's honorable and he doesn't break his Oaths. But since Kal broke his oaths, their bond eventually diminished...

If someone can ask Brandon on one of his Q&A/Singings something of the sort: What is the ratio of Investiture comparing 1 Breath and 1 Infused Diamond Chip? Are they 1:1 or 1:10?

Both maps are created by Isasik Shulin. Isn't that the main cartographer that was acting cocky at Shallan's masterpiece map of the Shattered Plains? http://brandonsanderson.com/beta/wp-content/gallery/stormlight-2-maps-and-illustrations-2/WoR_MAP-0_ROSHAR_fmt.jpeg

What's up with the ugly-spider-dragon thing in the background?

I don't have time to crack my theory at the moment, but I had this feeling when Rock told his story at the camp about his people and the nature of the Horneater Peaks. So, basically, he was talking about a man that was inhabiting the warm pools at the top of the mountains. In my opinion, that may be Honor's shardpool (since Urithiru is like very very close and it was said to be built near Honor) and it makes sense for me, of all the Heralds, Jezrien would be the one living there.

The second blind man mentions he's praying to the God Beyond, that should narrow the possibilities, I think.

IIRC, Jezrien mentioned that Ishar was the Herald, who proposed them to leave their Blades and lie to humanity, afterwards they talked about it and it was decided before Kalak arrived. So, maybe it's not only Jezrien, but other Heralds too? Or, maybe Jezrien was the one being fooled?

I don't know about Surgebinders, but we have WoB that a strong spirit can interfere with the Shardblade as well. http://theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=977#143 I don't think there's anyone with stronger spirit than Kaladin at the moment.

Hello, I found this section in Brandon's official site where you can read deleted scenes from his books. So my question is can we consider them as part of the books or they are something that shouldn't be taken into consideration? http://brandonsanderson.com/the-way-of-kings-prime-jeksonsonvallano/

Actually, the exact quote is: Althought, we have WoB that a Shardblade's form can be something else other than a sword, so there's nothing wrong with Kaladin getting Spear-like weapon.