Pattern

Part 4 is the Shadesmar part - after Kholinar was lost in Part 3.

Maya seems to be partly alive in the end, when she tells Adolin her name and Adolin is able to summon her as a Shardblade after less than ten heartbeats. So perhaps it is possible for Maya to become totally alive again without forming a Nahel bond to Adolin. For a bond, Adolin has to crack. Of course this is always possible but as for now he seems to be ok after confessing Sadeas' killing. Adolin's talking to his shardblade and treating it with respect in the past should increase now and could be a catalyst in reviving Maya. I really would like to see that happen without losing the refreshing non-radiant perspective. Adolin is great without magic and can continue to be so .

Odium seems to have no problem with him, so I guess Taravangian got his boon/curse only from the Nightwatcher. But this is only guessing...

This is not really what the Knight Radiant are. Humans might have been the invaders, but somewhen in the past Odium shifted from a human god to a Singer/Listener god. There is no evil side when you look at present time humans and listeners/singers/parsh. That is why Kaladin finally freezes in battle and does not want to fight anymore. Both the freed parshmen and the humans living in their cities for generations have legitimate interests. Odium instigates war, his only goal is to get free of Roshar and consequently destroy as many Shards as possible. So when Odium influences one side - either humans or parsh - a war of annihilation is intended. Here the KR can and should counter the aggressors. It is possible for the KR to become helpful for both races, we already see Venli bonding a Radiant spren, a thing not possible in the past. On the other hand, Renarin has accidentally bonded a corrupted spren (Sja-anat) but he is far from hateful. Renarin is the wildcard, Odium cannot see. All in all we already see that the secret that destroyed the Knights Radiant does not have as massive an impact on the new KR as Taravangian might have hoped. Honor's changing shortly before the Recreance must also have played a part in the insecurities of the KR of old. (Tanavast seems to have lost his humanity, bending to the Intent of the Shard more and more). Honor without compassion is not a good thing, so yes, if the KR had such a compassionless god at that time and then discovered that humans were the original Voidbringers, this would lead to them abandoning their oaths. Perhaps even with the assent of their spren.

So now we know why Dalinar regained his memories despite the boon and curse of the Nightwatcher lasting lifelong. Dalinar's boon and curse came from Cultivation herself and not the Nightwatcher, with the intention to let them fade after time, so Dalinar could deal with his burdens in doses he could handle. Here, Cultivation actively crosses Odium's plan to currupt Dalinar with the Thrill to make him his Champion in the end. Odium seems to be very wary of Cultivation. When Lift appears in the vision where Odium talks to Dalinar, Odium nearly seems frightened and disappeares immediately. Lift has been in the Valley, too. I assume that Lift also has been altered by Cultivation herself and not the Nightwatcher. Dalinar reeks to her like Cultivation, I guess her own smell is much stronger. The little unassuming and awesome girl might become Cultivation's joker and eyes and ears. I am looking forward for more!

Thats useful, for sure. Used it earlier, too, to find the pics with Alethi women's script on it. Scanning does not go well with the book and the light for photos is not optimal right now. Translations (since it has been asked for them):

My research into the Unmade has convinced me that these things were not simply "spirits of the void" or "nine shadows who moved in the night." They were each a specific kind of spren, endowed with vast powers. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 3 I have done my best to separate fact from fiction, but the two blend like mixing paint when the Voidbringers are involved. Each of the Unmade has a dozen names, and the powers ascribed to them range from the fanciful to the terrifying. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 4 I should point out that although many personalities and motives are ascribed to them, I'm convinced that the Unmade were still spren. As such, they were as much manifestations of concepts or divine forces as they were individuals. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 7 The most important point I wish to make is that the Unmade are still among us. I realize this will be contentious, as much of the lore surrounding them is intertwined with theology. However, it is clear to me that some of their effects are common in the world -- and we simply treat them as we would the manifestations of other spren. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 12 Taxil mentions Yelig-nar, named Blightwind, in an oft-cited quote. Though Jasnah Kholin has famously called its accuracy into question, I believe it. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 26 Yelig-nar had great powers, perhaps the powers of all Surges compounded into one. He could transform any Voidbringer into an extremely dangerous enemy. Curiously, three legends I found mention swallowing a gemstone to engage the process. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 27 Yelig-nar is said to consume souls, but I can't find a specific explanation. I'm uncertain this lore is correct. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 51 Of the Unmade, Sja-anat was most feared by the Radiants. They spoke extensively of her ability to corrupt spren, though only "lesser" spren -- whatever that means. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 89 Lore suggested leaving a city if the spren there start acting strangely. Curiously, Sja-anat was often regarded as an individual, when others -- like Moelach or Ashertmarn -- were seen as forces. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 90 Nergaoul was known for driving forces into a battle rage, lending them great ferocity. Curiously, he did this to both sides of a conflict, Voidbringer and human. This seems common of the less self-aware spren. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 121 I am convinced that Nergaoul is still active on Roshar. The accounts of the Alethi "Thrill" of battle align too well with ancient records -- including the visions of red mist and dying creatures. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 140 Moelach is very similar to Nergaoul, though instead of inspiring a battle rage, he supposedly granted visions of the future. In this, lore and theology align. Seeing the future originates with the Unmade, and is from the enemy. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 143 Moelach was said to grant visions of the future at different times -- but most commonly at the transition point between realms. When a soul was nearing the Tranquiline Halls. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 144 Many cultures speak of the so-called Death Rattles that sometimes overtake people as they die. Tradition ascribes them to the Almighty, but I find too many to be seemingly prophetic. This will be my most contentious assertion I am sure, but I think these are the effects of Moelach persisting in our current times. Proof is easy to provide: the effect is regionalized, and tends to move across Roshar. This is the roving of the Unmade. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 170 Ashertmarn, the Heart of the Revel, is the final of the three great mindless Unmade. His gift to men is not prophecy or battle focus, but a lust for indulgence. Indeed, the great debauchery recorded from the court of Bayala in 480 -- which led to dynastic collapse -- might be attributable to the influence of Ashertmarn. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 203 I find Bo-Ado-Mishram to be the most interesting of the Unmade. She is said to have been keen of mind, a highprincess among the enemy forces, their commander during some of the Desolations. I do not know how this relates to the ancient god of the enemy, named Odium. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 224 There is very little information about Bo-Ado-Mishram in more modern times. I can only assume she, unlike many of them, returned to Damnation or was destroyed during Aharietiam. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 226 Chemoarish, the Dustmother, has some of the most varied lore surrounding her. The wealth of it makes sorting lies from truths extremely difficult. I do believe she is not the Nightwatcher, contrary to what some stories claim. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 231 Re-Shephir, the Midnight Mother, is another Unmade who appears to have been destroyed at Aharietiam. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 250 The Midnight Mother created monsters of shadow and oil, dark imitations of creatures she saw or consumed. Their description matches no spren I can find in modern literature. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 252 It will not take a careful reader to ascertain I have listed only eight of the Unmade here. Lore is confident there were nine, an unholy number, asymmetrical and often associated with the enemy. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 266 I am certain there are nine Unmade. There are many legends and names that I could have misinterpreted, conflating two Unmade into one. In the next section, I will discuss my theories on this. - From Hessi's Mythica, page 266 If I'm correct and my research true, then the question remains. Who is the ninth Unmade? Is it truly Dai-Gonarthis? If so, could their actions have actually caused the complete destruction of Aimia? - From Hessi's Mythica, page 307

I love the book. I suffered from serious sleep deprivation while reading it, there is just no place where you can stop reading properly. Dalinar ascending was definitely impressive, most touching for me was "The Girl who Stood Up" though. Hoid and Shallan together retelling the story was just beautiful. In his youth, Hoid promised to be there where he is needed. Although he himself thinks in the end he was in Kholinar to pick up the Patternspren (I guess it's the spren Elhokar was cut off bonding), I think him giving Shallan a view how to deal with her past is the true need to be in Kholinar. Reading that chapter, I had tears in my eyes. The secret that caused the Recreance was a bit underwhelming for me. That humans are the invaders on Roshar was clear to me beforehand. Nonetheless I see the problems it would have caused for the KR of old. Odium not being only the God of Hatred but of all Passions. I am not sure whether he lied there or not. Be it as it may, I have got the impression that the Thaylen "Passions"-superstition is a remnant of old Odium worship. Renarin has bonded a Sja-Anat spren. Seeing the future is in fact of Odium, but I don't see Renarin as an evil guy. The lines blur between good and evil. Sja-Anat wants to change sides - as she says herself and the Ghostbloods also assume. The letter "E" seems to be Oathbringers Redshirt. Eshonai, Elhokar, Eth dead. For Eshonai I was sad. Elhokar died just when I started to like him a bit better, well Eth was not such an important member of Bridge 4, now he can join his brother who died in WoR. RIP. Moash. What a jerk. And now equipped with a mysterious blade, enabling him to kill the Heralds for good. The Oathpact is in true danger now. When will we get book 4? There we come to the great flaw of Oathbringer. It is too short! I could continue reading forever, I guess.

Actually, I did it myself immediately after posting because I realized I forgot it. If you also did it, we did it simultaneously.

Already edited.

Too fanciful(ha)? Ask Rushu how to keep the mast from ripping off Jasnahs Favorite Touch the gems in the correct combination to release a shock from the front nodes that will incapacitate an attacker Top View Side View Stormpiece Timepiece The ketek in the end is already translated.

What a ride. Kholinar lost to three Unmade. Elhokar dead. Aesudan occupied by Yelignar, Sja-Anat corrupting spren and the Heart of the Revel creating a debauchery cult... But all that action aside, most emotional for me and the absolute highlight of part three was "The Girl who stood up". Wit and Shallan, just beautiful. I had tears in my eyes reading this chapter, and not only because at this point I had been reading 20 hours nonstop. Brighness Azure: Welcome Vivenna -gotcha!.

For me, the prerelease of chapters in homeopathic doses enabled a detailed and interesting weekly discussion. I had some intriguing arguments with different members of the Shard, all civilized and friendly. Thanks to all involved for this! After November 14th the threads will explode with theories and discussions. I sincerly hope I will be able to follow single topics with as much dedication as I was able to during the pre-release. Reading SA books has always been intense, the discussions here made my understanding of otherwise overlooked details much deeper. All in all, the long pre-release of Oathbringer was a very good warm-up and refreshed memories from the previous books. I loved it.

Soon. Very soon.

And in the process perhaps discovered how shardplate is made. The windspren gathering around his arm made me to expect him standing in Plate soon. Well, that did not happen, but I think this is hinting at it. Oh, and we finally saw Voidlight in action. Syl jealous of gloryspren. "He is mine!" Hilarious Kaladin making demands of the Stormfather. Go for it! And a lot of philosophical questions. I am looking forward to the resulting discussion. Now work calls.

I'll probably get Oathbringer on Thursday, 16th, since I accidentally preordered the British and not the US version (before covers were released). Since I have Friday off, this will enable me to read through the night. Rereading part one will be quick, then I will slow down and expect to have finished somewhen between Friday evening and Saturday morning. Sleep is a random factor. If I fall asleep while reading, it might be for an hour or six. The Audible trial would be a nice idea to get some hearing done before the 16th.

112553 words of fake. Respect.

The stormwall of the Highstorms is a shockwave, making the Highstorms much more destructive than a storm without one. Most of it's energy will be concentrated in the front of the shockwave. Comparing the wind strengths of a Highstorm after the shockwave and the wind strenght of the Everstorm in Yeddaw at least leaves the impression that the Everstorm is weaker and has less total energy than a Highstorm. It has less internal wind velocities. (Kaladin is thrown around in the Highstorm after the shockwave has passed, the Everstorm has not even been summoned at this point of time, while Lift and Nale stand on a roof more or less comfortably when the Everstorm hits). The Everstorm has two factors making it as destructive as the Highstorms, though. First is the slow speed. A slow moving storm has more time on a given place to cause destruction and leave rainfalls. Even slower gusts of wind compared to a Highstorm can do a lot of damage this way. Second of course is the wrong direction. All laits and buildings only protect from stroms blowing westward. Wind blowing from the west will find profiles optimized for maximum destruction. What we don't know is the exact form of the Everstorm. Is it a hurricane, an outertropical cyclone or something else entirely?

Not sure if spoilers needed, but to be on the safe side: possibly spoiler OB Oh, and talking about Amaram. "Amaram" is a short form of "amaveram", Latin, and means "I had loved". Let's reconciliate this with his character...

Thank you for your explanations. I am looking forward to the art in Oathbringer, perhaps you get some material to work on (I am thinking of a black spiralling vortex into the void or some weird images of horses...). As @SLNC wrote, it might not be fitting to compare our own known mental illnesses to those in the cosmere, but it is a good basis for discussion and I find it very insightful. I like to learn interesting stuff, even if it is from discussing literature. Since it is not possible for you to meet Kaladin or Shallan, I guess the only certain diagnosis can come from a WoB. Something I found in a quick search is here. I guess, this is where the assumption that Kaladin has PTSD comes from. I find it remarkable nonetheless that so many symptoms of real mental illnesses can be recognized in Brandon's books, so we have forthcoming specialists (or future specialists) to analyze this.

Criterion D is fullfilled for Shallan. Inability to recall the key feature and overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world (he hates herself as she admits to Pattern), also "Feeling isolated" at least has been a thing in past when she was still at her father's estates. Since it is not said whether the criteria have to be fulfilled simultaneously or a fulfilllment can also happen in a time sequence, the third one is questionable. Criterion E is hard to judge. Risky behaviour we have seen plenty (Shallan becomes Veil and there we go). Heightened startle reactions we have seen when she was first talked to by Cryptics, though that could be counted as quite normal corresponding to the strange situation he was in there. Shallan had all criteria fulfilled at some point in her life, though not simultaneously. The diagnosis whether that means PTSD for her, I leave for the specialists. For Kaladin it is even more tricky, since we have very scarce information about his behaviour after Tien's death. His exaggerated training with the spear could be associated with risky behaviour, irritability would not be out of character but be have too little information on that time to be sure. Thus Criterion E is somewhat blurry for Kaladin. He definitely had difficulties with his day to day life, but Tara helped somewhat there. Criterion H also makes a diagnosis difficult, since Kaladin has at least seasonal depression. Negative affects and feelings could also be caused by this instead of the traumata (the betrayal by Amaram is a new event possibly triggering PTSD). If he has had PTSD, Kaladin probably has overcome it by now, since he does not have problems with his day to day life anymore. We'll see more of this when Kaladin gets to know that Amaram has been named regent for princedom Sadeas and is back in the limelight again. I see new problems arise for him. Would her disassociative amnesia not be a sign or result of PTSD, exactly criterion D, point one?

I am quite late, meanwhile I had to get a car from a garage. I think Pattern hints at things Shallan is able to do without telling too much, compare to Wyndle who is a bit less subtle. When it comes to Surges and Investiture, spren seem to be the most reliable inworld source of information. Of course you can dismiss it as unconfirmed, since most spren are in a reduced state of sapience, but in my opinion it is foreshadowing of what will be possible. As a comparison from SA, Kaladin's early surges of strenght could also be explained by an adrenaline rush. Now we can be quite certain that it was inhaling Stormlight from nearby spheres all the time (indicated by mysteriouly drained spheres). Considering that Lightweavers are subtle and secretive, foreshadowing has to be even more subtle. We know that Forging is able to do exactly those changes in things and persons as we see Shallan do. Many cosmere magic systems mimic each other and enable similar things with slightly varied mechanics. It is no big leap to infer that Soulcasting - or more precisely the surge of Transformation - is able to change more than the state of matter. Edit: I just finished reading the rest of the thread and I saw you diagnosing Shallan with DID. The rapid switching could be explained by that, the concious transformations with creating an image and then becoming the persona seems too well timed to be caused by a disorder and too coordinated to have the right persona triggered by creating the image. Also, I would not see artist/scholar Shallan as the host. I think that is what Pattern refers to in an earlier chapter when he says "This is not the lie". In my opinion, the lie is that artist/scholar Shallan is seen as the true personality. I predict that somewhen Shallan will come to the conclusion that all her personas (including the host) are part of her identity. So I still theorize on Shallan using both Illumination and Transformation when she becoms Veil or Radiant -

Shallan did all this infused with stormlight (she changed her own appearance and possibly more). So there is more to the situation than just manipulation through charisma and words. Shallan used an illusion and therefore possibly more than just Lightweaving. Also, why would Pattern bring up Shallan's second surge if it hadn't to do anything with what happened? Lets agree not to agree on this. I see it differently. You can overcome fear with internal pep-talk without fearing something else more. You just need to want something more than the thing or situation you are afraid of. Shallan acts instinctively in a stressful situation. She quickly assumes the optimal persona in a rapid sequence of changing circumstances. She still realizes what she does though and is able to distinguish lies from truth in opposition to the earlier chapter where she questioned whether her conversations with her brothers were real or only a figment of her imagination. She paints "Shallan" over "Veil" and immediately questions herself for it. And I think she asks the right question, since I think the Shallan we have been shown is in fact not the real deal. It might be more similar to her illusions than her true self. We have not seen much of the person who was able to poison and suffocate her father. She did it to defend herself and the rest of her family, but it was in fact a premediated murder. This is not Shallan, the scholar and artist. The optical illusion over Veil is not the problem I see, but the transformation of her mindset. And this is the path she should go further, to explore what different personality traits she has and does suppress. Optical illusions accompanied by a drastic change of personality going with enhanced skillsets, I think that is not possible in real life. And I don't think it's only the optical illusion that is supernatural.

I took the quote from WoR in my previous post as a hint that the Transformation surge is more than just Soulcasting. Perhaps this is the Lightweaver resonance, instead. We have no hard evidence but to interpret it as I do still is valid. Shallan does more than pure Illumination with her illusions (either combination of surges or resonance). Also, I see Soulcasting as changing the spiritual aspect of an object or a person through the Cognitive Realm with more or less drastic effects in the Physical Realm (similar to Soulstamps in The Emperor's Soul). Rearranging subatomic matter is a part of this, but also changing your skillset. A soulstamp has to be plausible to take effects for a longer time, so I think do Shallans illusions (therefore the drawings first). I have to look up WoBs and other stuff on this though. There is textual evidence that Shallan does not know how to imprison Re-Shephir. It is the most obvious thing Shallan would want to hide from her. No real need to write that out. It can be dangerous, but it can also be helpful. Especially when we talk about feelings, for example to persuade yourself you are not afraid, even if you are, can be a true source of power. The lie becomes the truth and a change is performed. This is of course exaggerated in Shallan's case, since we see something magical exceeding real processes. I agree with you that all this has to be done consciously, otherwise it does become dangerous.

So why should Re-Shephir had given in and fled only because Shallan felt commited again? As you quoted yourself, One of those secrets - the most important one - is that Shallan has no idea how to defeat Re-Shephir. Had Re-Shephir realized this, the fight would have been lost for Shallan. If Shallan had only lied to herself to hide her past from the Unmade, the result would have been only a side effect and pure luck. The point I wanted to bring in with Transformation is that lies can become truth for Shallan. Power can be an illusion of perception, it is most of the times. This is the very lesson Jasnah tought Shallan. It is power nonetheless. Shallan transforms herself from wavering to commited. The lie becomes the truth. Furthermore, Shallan does not only wear another face when she becomes Veil or Radiant, she also transforms her mindset. Using the lies, Shallan creates a new truth temporarily, so to say. To do this, she uses both of her surges, Illumination and Transformation, on herself.