#Jezrien Stormlight

[blindradiant]

I’m wondering about the Heralds’ relationship with their associated Radiant orders. Like obviously Nale has had a lot of influence over the Skybreakers. He’s the Herald of that order, a Skybreaker himself, and the only living one who has sworn the Fifth Ideal. Modern Skybreakers are the way they are largely because of Nale’s direction and enforcement of the order’s structure and methods.

But what about the other Heralds? Have any of them been involved with the Radiants at all, or do they try to forget? Does it depend on the Herald?

I don’t know if Jezrien was aware enough to be involved with the Windrunners before Moash killed him. We know pretty much nothing about Chanah and Vedel. I wonder what they think about modern Dustbringers and Edgedancers. Same with Pailiah and the Truthwatchers. I kind of think Ash would have absolutely no interest in being associated with the Lightweavers, and would actively try to distance herself as much as human(ish)ly possible. Batah and the Elsecallers??? Kalak is another one who I think would try to avoid any reminders of the past. Taln has been locked on Braize for 4500 years, and is now in no shape to be involved with the Stonewards. And we’ve seen how Ishar treats Dalinar.

I just think there’s a lot of potential to see how Heralds who aren’t Nale might have guided their Radiants at various points over time

[cosmereplay]

Any fic recommendations for outside POVs experiencing the insanity of our main cast’s shenanigans? (ie. Hearthstone folks experiencing Kaladin as a Radiant but could be any character)

Thanks for the ask! This is a really interesting one. If you want an author who makes a habit of exploring unusual POVs and side characters on the edges of the main story, I highly recommend @wanderingchanneler's fics. Here are two:

Kakashah 1173 by BlindRadiant

Rated Teen, 4000 words, psychological horror, Spoilers for The Way of Kings. POV is the Shin sailor from one of the epigraphs.

“Come with me.” When Hevash hesitates, staring at the stone ground, Pela adds, “If you want work, you’ll have to make some sacrifices. If you don’t, though, I can have you brought back to the docks. If you couldn’t find work or passage in the past 12 days, you probably won’t be able to find any now. But who knows? Maybe your fortune could change.” She turns away and says something to the porter, then begins walking alone into the Concourse. Hevash makes a snap decision. Clenching his jaw against the blasphemy of what he’s about to do, he calls, “Wait.” Pela turns back around, an eyebrow raised. Hevash takes a deep breath. “I will come.” He steps out of the cart and onto the stone ground.

Keep reading

---

To Listen by BlindRadiant

Rated General, 1000 words, Lift & Szeth, RoW spoilers. Lift visits Szeth during his time in prison.

“Dalinar Kholin thought it wise for me to be here,” Szeth said to both of them. “I did not object. I am dangerous.” Navani Kholin had wanted Szeth to be executed, but Dalinar had disagreed. That had lead to where Szeth was now. If execution wasn’t an option, prison was the second best alternative.  “Still,” Lift said, “you just sit in here alone all the time?” I’m here too, the sword informed her. I’m great company. “You’re even crazier than he is, and that’s sayin’ a lot.” She tilted her head to one side, putting her hands in her pockets. “I guess it’s better than nothing, though.”

Keep reading

[virtualtear00]

Some of the design tests for Jezrien's honorblade

[onaslansside]

Lego Digital Designer versions of the Heralds from The Stormlight Archive (all made before the “official” art came out, but since those are also supposed to be based on legends rather than actually seeing them...I’m satisfied)

[cosmerepolls]

What's Your Opinion - Jezrien

[lamaery]

List Some time ago a friend on discord approached me with a prompt for a Szeth moment from Way of Kings. Mainly him getting the list with all the kings and head of states to assassinate. Image Description: Loose digital painting in a fairly monochrome set of blues, greys and violets with black as the dark colours for the shadows and a pale violet blue as the highlights, We see Szeth standing alone in a room in front of a table. His form is silhouetted by the Nomon's light falling through a window near the ceiling. He stands straight and very still, Jezrien's blade in one hand a piece of paper in the other, which he gazes down towards, although his profile is so shadowed that it is hard to read his expression. On the table before him the moonlight reflects off a plate and the bulky and gruesome form of a decapitated head. Soft wisps of stormlight waft from Szeth's hands and head. Leaving him a forlorn figure in the moonlight and its shadows.(edited)

[loud-n]

What's up with Roshar's Money and Why is Sapphire so Valuable

I recently started my reread of Stormlight Archive to prepare for book 5, and coincidentally, this happened at roughly the same time the cosmere rpg started kickstarting. So, reading TWoK and the beta rules of the rpg at the same time, a few things happened to come together. For one, the rpg had this table:

I thought this was very interesting. I hadn't ever seen anything like this (though, checking coppermind, a similar chart has been available since an interview in 2018 that I wasn't aware of). It's a nice way for me to contextualize just how much money Shallan throws around at the beginning of TWoK (for example, based on remarks from Yalb in chapter 3, we know that a week's wages for a sailor is roughly one ruby mark/firemark, or 10 diamond marks/clearmarks), and while it seems like it might be simplified for gameplay purposes, it's also broadly consistent with the other sources.

So I kept reading until I got to this line:

"Emeralds were the most valuable, for they could be used by soulcasters to create food." (The Way of Kings ch. 3, pg. 72 on the trade paperback)

This line lays out explicitly that the soulcasting traits of a gem are the primary way (or at least a very significant one) that these values were assigned. This makes a lot of sense: the ability to soulcast food is the key component that allows Roshar the kind of military structures it has, and would provide an extremely valuable way to compensate for issues with harvests that might come with Roshar's 'temperamental' weather patterns.

(some major oathbringer spoilers below the cut)

I then wanted to know how this translates to the other types of gem. Many of these make a lot of sense: amethyst can be used to soulcast metal, which is important and difficult to obtain on roshar (coppermind notes that this may also be the only way to get aluminum on Roshar); ruby, smokestone, and zircon are all used as part of infrastructure for food preparation and waste management (and rubies seem especially common in the fabrials we've seen); garnet, heliodor, and topaz all provide less vital (though still useful) and less valuable materials; and diamond can be used to soulcast quartz, glass, and crystal, none of which are particularly valuable (especially given easy access to even light with stormlight and danger from highstorms making windows difficult and less valuable).

However, one gem caught my eye here.

Why is sapphire so valuable?

Sapphire's soulcasting can produce translucent gas or air, which seems a bit redundant with smokestone, a stone we know is regularly used. To my knowledge, we don't see any characters ever use soulcasting powered by a sapphire (please correct me if I'm wrong, I may be forgetting or confusing an instance with smokestone). So unless there's something we're missing or something to come, it doesn't seem like sapphire's value is because it is especially useful in soulcasting.

If this isn't the case, I can think of three possible explanations for why sapphire is worth so much:

Sapphire is less common. We know that obtaining emerald is a major part of the Rosharan economy and a significant reason for the continued occupation of the shattered plains at the start of the series. This might also be the case for sapphire: greatshells with sapphire gemhearts may be less common or more difficult to farm, making sapphire more scarce and thus more valuable.

Sapphire is especially useful in fabrials. So far, we've only seen one fabrial using sapphire that I can remember: the soul-harvesting dagger used to kill Jezrien (Oathbringer ch. 121). Even this may not be a specific trait of all sapphires, but rather due to the fact that sapphires are associated with Jezrien and the windrunners. I think it's possible and maybe even likely that sapphires are the gems used in half-shards, since none of the examples ever specify what gem is used and Taravangian states that the spren within could have graced a knight radiant (Oathbringer ch. 100) - possibly an honorspren trapped within a sapphire. This may also have been Taravangian lying, though.

The value is somehow associated with Jezrien and the Windrunners. This one seems the most far-fetched to me: at the start of the series, the knights radiant are not viewed especially fondly, and I doubt the Windrunners would have enough staying power to change the value of a gem. The idea that it may be association with Jezrien seems to me to have more merit; Jezrien seems to generally be elevated to a point beyond the other heralds.

Based on the information we have, I think that my second proposal has the highest chance of being at least partially correct. Association with Jezrien seems far-fetched, sapphire being especially scarce seems like something too far off course to get significant confirmation of in-text, and fabrials are one of the elements of the world still being developed in universe that we also don't have a lot of extra information about.

If any of this is going to be answered, I honestly think it might come through the rpg: the first wave of releases will include a world guide with canon information that might shed some light on these elements less important to the actual story, and the rules will also detail a lot of information about fabrials that could answer my questions about half-shards. Until then, though, I'm just going to have to sit here and wonder (and keep a special eye out for mentions of sapphire on my reread for anything I missed).

[moash]

yea i gotta be honest, i think caring about moash killing jezrien as a bad thing he did is just something people say when they know he was justified in killing elhokar but still want to hate him

i’ve decided it’s actually funny when people just. forget. that moash was a slave of the fused. i used to get the occasional “what about when he killed jezrien?” and it’s like. the fused told him to do it and he was their slave, idk what you want me to say.

[youravraragechessenjoyer]

Chekhov's Bondsmith?

STORMLIGHT 5 THEORY, SPOLIERS FOR ROW

Okay, so. There's a missing Bondsmith. And What if... Crackpot theory... It's Kaladin.

Okay, So I might just be talking nonsense which would track since 90% of my experiences with Stormlight is fawning over how cool Kaladin is, but I think it makes sense.

Now keep in mind that I've only read through Stormlight once and finished a few months ago.

So first off, It is possible for someone to have a double Nahel Bond, it's confirmed through a WOB though it is described as difficult to juggle between orders.

Next, The evidence:

I'll split it up between books:

In TWoK:

Jezrien led the Heralds and not Ishar and yes this by itself is nothing but it is a weird choice for Brandon to make as he could have just made Jezrien the Bondsmith but didn't.

Kaladin turns the Bridgeman into Bridge 4, all people of different nationalities and ideals and he UNITES them into one group.

And at the end he gains control of the UNITED bridgemen.

WoR:

Kaladin's arc in this one is about being less racist to Lighteyes and at the end he becomes the starting point for equalization of Darkeyes which we see in affect later in the series. He UNITES the classes both in his mind and in the world. He also lets Renarin in, furthering this.

He also gives Rlain the weapon and treats him with respect, UNITING him with Bridge 4 and in a sense he UNITES humanity and the listeners.

Oathbringer:

This is the book Kaladin starts his sympathies to the Singers, furthering the UNITY between them in his mind.

He starts UNITING all of the Bridgemen into Windrunners.

ROW: At this point he is a UNITING symbol and leader of the Windrunners, and is at dismay when he thinks about how Bridge 4 no longer exists and is UNUNITED

He also UNITES the humans in the tower to fight the Singer Occupation.

And his respect for the Singers grows even more. If you subscibe to KalxLeswi or KalxVenli than he could even UNITE them like that in the next book.

Also he's going to Shinover next book which could put him near the Valley when starting the journey or even when/if coming back for the champion battle whether or not he ends up being the champion.

There might be more I missed. Again it is a crackpot theory but the idea popped out to me and I had to write it down.

[isdalinarhot]

Dude as someone that read fucking. That read Stormlight archive for the first time in 2021 aka well after rhythm of war came out. And then hearing from people who were in the fandom before that. It’s fucking wild !‼︎ like what do you MEAN fuck moash was a movement before Rhythm of War when he suicide baited Kaladin???????⁇ the suicide baiting of Kaladin is the only reason I’m not vehemently pro moash! And people hated him because…… he killed fucking ELHOKAR!??????⁇ OF ALL PEOPLE?????⁇ AND JEZRIEN???⁇ FUCKING JEZRIEN who all he did was get drunk in an alley and maybe have gay sex with Dalinar??????????⁇ Like girl???????⁇ LIKE OKAY MY BFF WHO INTRODUCED ME TO STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE WAS AN ELHOKAR STAN SO MY FIRST READTHROUGH I LIKED ELHOKAR but he’s sucks and on a second read you can tell he sucks. And AUGH ITS INSANE. Here is my full on drunk analysis which means that my inhibitions are gone and these are my truest thoughts. Moash is based. Vyre is a little BITCH. People who were fuck moashing before rhythm of war are SO STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!‼︎

[koravelliumavast]

What if the character death in KOWT is a herald but not getting superhelled like Jezrien did but instead a sent back to braize style death and that’s what causes everything on roshar to get even more fucked up and sets the stage for the back half of stormlight.

[cosmeresexyman]

Remember- The top 4 in this poll will continue to the next round, so don't hesitate to vote for any you feel are overlooked! Next post is going to be in 2 hours.

[unkalaki]

It's new years night and I'm mourning this night. Not for anything real (in the most boring definition of that word) but for something else. I'm mourning for Taln otherwise known as Talen'elat, the Bearer of Agonies.

Following includes a lot of spoilers for the Stormlight Archive so read at your own peril.

Taln, th herald of the Stonewards, the rock that refused to be eroded away.

I sometimes think about his character from time to time and I just can't. I can't deal with the sheer amount of courage, determination and just compassion on this man. Because let us not forget this, at the end of the day, he is just that. A man. His station might be that of God's chosen representative on Earth (Roshar, whatever) but beneath all of th9s he is just a man. And this man's whole character is predicated on one simple idea.

If personal pain is the price to pay for peace then that is a deal well made.

Just think about this

This man endured all the tortures that a vengeful God and his army of enraged spirits could muster and said, is that all?

He then kept on doing that for over a thousand years (I don't really remember the exact timeliness and I'm too lazy to look up)

He did this alone.

Abandoned by the fellowship whose oath was to be there alongside him.

The kings of old, Jezrien of the vaunted honour, Nale of the strict law and Ishar of the highest wisdom failed but Taln, he of the stout heart kept on going. He just kept on doing the one thing that he had always done, endure so that others did not have to, sacrifice his peace, his life and eventually his mind so that those of less 'honourable' station and 'lineage' could have a chance at a life, at peace at growth.

And then, after a millenia of being abandoned by his colleagues, friends, leaders and (in one case) partner, abandoned to be tortured by a host whose hate is increased year on year due to him fulfilling his duty, after all that when he is given a moment of lucidity the only thing he can say is:

Thank you.

The torture didn't matter

The abandonment didn't matter

The only thing that mattered was duty. The only thing that mattered was the Oath. And more specifically the reason for that Oath. The reason is simple. Bear the agonies so that others didn't have to. All Taln sees is that he fulfilled his Oath.

Hats off to him man.

[shouldprobablybereading]

how do you feel about our current cast becoming heralds in book 5?

or do you think only Szeth might get locked in or no one get's it

Long answer I am so sorry for rambling because I apparently opinions on this

It entirely depends on what being a herald will mean going forward. Are they reinstating the oathpact? Are people going back to be tortured on braise? Will it be more of a formal title, taking it upon yourself to protect humanity? Like the company of light or the avengers

I think overall that I feel similar for being "a herald" as I do for other similar groups being replaced over time, they're kinda pointless without the original context. Kinda like when dalinar declared amaram a knights radiant simply because they needed someone.

But assuming becoming a herald in this instance means taking up a similar role of responsibility however the post kowt situation asks of it

For Kaladin I don't want it in any capacity pretty much no matter what (not sure how controversial this opinion is) Pretty much his entire story has been about outside forces "the world" if you will putting him through so much. While his main character flaw is in addition taking too much responsibility and feeling a need to protect others to the point that he is responsible for whether they live or die. Yeah, I can't see a situation where becoming a herald in any capacity would be anything but a punishment for him. At this point in the story I don't want to see him in pain, I want him to have a happy ending and find peace

For shallan and dalinar I could accept more "sacrificial, dealing with the world" type endings, tho I don't want either of them to be heralds. Shallans arc seems like it's gonna extend into wider cosmere related stuff, so I guess immortality could fit in there somewhere. Dalinar has also been through some stuff (it’s stormlight), but unlike kaladin it's not because the world has been cruel to him as much as him making bad decisions. And his entire thing is taking responsibility, which I think work better with saving the world themes. Tho he’s y’now kinda rather on the fused path currently 

The most likely in my opinion would be the back 5 mcs, especially since those books are supposed to focus on the heralds and half of the characters are already heralds. And since I have no idea what their plotlines/character arcs are going to be by that time I don’t really have any strong opinions here. Again I just feel like it would be very awkward for jasnah and renarin to walk around calling themselves heralds and then hang out with taln.....  I also don’t want any of them to be immortal

Is szeth a herald? or are you referring to him using jezriens sword? I feel like I have missed a wob here

In summary no I am not fond of the idea. I think the way that I view it, it just feels like the more natural progression would be moving away from heralding as we know it since it clearly didn’t work, at least as intended

[sorchasolas]

<SUPER big rant!! Spoilers for RoW and everything before ig>

Unfortunately, the more I think about Moash and such, the more i start to pity him?

Like, in no universe will i justify his actions, because?? Killing people is?? Wrong????? (Especially ones that have never really done you any TRUE wrong.) but i do pity him, and i wouldnt hate to see a redemption arc of him.

His worst crime, arguably, is killing <Spoilers but?? Idk for when unfortunately. This is kinda unhelpful.> Jezrien. And i won’t defend that- i won’t defend any of Moash’s actions, much like i wouldnt defend any of Dalinar’s past ones. On that note, Dalinar’s killed thousands(??), he writes a book, and people are like “damn i didn’t know he was chill like that” and suddenly he’s a good guy. (That sounded REALLY hateful- to clarify, i LOVE Dalinar he’s my second fav character i would die for him) And people turn around and shout out how Moash-

Who’s grandparents were condemned and died in jail- supposedly(<<<<) by Elhokar- and he joined the military, and got shoved in the bridgecrews because they didn’t want to train him(which?!?!?!) then when Moash tried telling Kaladin about it, Kaladin agreed and then suddenly (for Moash) switched up. (Correct me if im wrong on any of this.)

- is irredeemable. Which i half agree. If he was ever redeemed, it’d be in a Szeth-like way. I don’t see him ever being trusted with ANYTHING ever again, but it’d go against Dalinar’s own ideals not to at least give Moash another chance. (This is in a hypothetical universe where Moash broke free of Odium and such.) (also Honestly i feel like the only reason people tolerate Szeth is because he’s kinda crazily devout.)

Then we get to his RoW actions. I cannot and will not even attempt to make him seem more redeemable in these events. Partly because Kaladin is my favorite character EVER, but mainly because Moash literally mentally tormented Kaladin and that’s. To take someone’s genuine care, protectiveness, and self-sacrificing nature and turn it against them, then tell them to kts.

Overall, i have a hate-love relationship with Moash. I think his CHARACTER is amazing; his ideals and actions make the reader choose between the main characters, personal justice, and two of the main themes of stormlight archive- redemption & responsibility; it’s all beautifully done imo. Horrible wrongs have been done to him, but he’s DONE horrible wrongs. I will never become a Moash apologist but i also don’t absolutely hate him because he’s just a person.

(Side note: Amaram & Odium(duh) are the only Stormlight characters i HATE. (Lezian is literally a side quest bro i don’t think i care enough to hate him))

One of the the things that I've noticed is how addicting Odium's powers/boons are. Obviously, we have the Thrill, where people get addicted off the high of killing people. We have the Heart of Revel, where it entices you to indulge.

But I haven't seen much of Moash's addiction to Odium's "peace." Like, I've read it as Moash is drugged. Odium's boon is literally him taking away guilt and hurt and pain. I've never had alcohol or drugs, and a big plan of mine is to never have any, but from the way i've heard and understood it, that's what drugs do. They take away emotions that you don't want to have and artificially create "happy" ones. And then once they wear off, emotions crash in, and you body craves the high from that substance, they don't want to be feeling these "bad emotions."

That's literally what happened to Moash.

[stardustravens]

forever amused by the fact that nobody cares about moash killing jezrien.