#Szeth is a cat

[stormscience]

Urithiru: World's Most Expensive Cat Tree

@blindradiant helped me realize something. If Szeth is a cat (which, let's be real, he has The Most cat energy ever), and he was the first to Urithiru, then wasn't he just being a cat and finding the highest spot he could perch on? Which means Urithiru is just a giant cat tree?

[basket-of-radiants]

I'm not sure I've seen you talk about the Szeth flashbacks much. Did you like them at all? It was probably one of the only parts of the book I liked personally

True, I have not discussed them much. I can do that! I liked them well enough! They were cute! Also they contained Szeth, and Szeth is always great, as a character he is above criticism, even if he's in a scene where stupid stuff is happening.

Prior to W&T, I think there was already a lot we knew about him, at least from context clues. We knew he was a kind and good person in the past (he sincerely abhored violence and cruelty). We knew he had a genuine love of motion (just LOOK at his chapters, if Szeth wasn't somehow a dancer in his past, I would have called bullshit). We knew that he loved his family, and that he missed his home, and that he was ridiculously clever and skilled at basically everything, and that he'd trained with all the honorblades, and that he'd heard voices which guided him as a child. And we knew he had a massive complex around truth. He'd claimed the radiants and voidbringers had returned, and he'd been told that was a lie so grave that he deserved to live as a Truthless for the rest of his life. I didn't know the exact details, but I had an idea of the shape of his past.

So going into his backstory, my main question was "what is this guy's deal, why does he behave like this". I was undeniably curious as well, to the causal events that led him from being a shepherd's son to being the coolest smartest deadliest badass on the planet, but really that could have been anything. (Oh I also wanted to know how he learned literally every single language ever, I assume the rest of you were clamoring for that as well.)

Szeth is a very strange person. For the first couple books, I think we'd be excused for thinking "huh I guess he's from a culture with really strict notions of honor and really anti-consequentialist notions of justice, the Shin people sure have some unique values and norms, interesting worldbuilding." But by Oathbringer you're probably getting the inkling that even compared with the rest of his people, Szeth is probably a little Extra. One of my big questions for this book on the whole was "what the fuck is up with Shinovar, do they really all act this way????" The answer is no they do not. It was very funny to finally see his backstory, and everyone else is a normal person, and Szeth is Just Like That.

Except he's not Just Like That, not really? He was predisposed to take instructions too literally, but I don't think that was his entire personality, mostly he just wanted to be a good boy. He probably could have grown out of that mentality on his own, at least somewhat, as he grew and learned to see the world as a complicated place. But not so long as he had a Voice in his head at all times, telling him exactly what to do at every turn. His entire life he's been fed orders to obey, he's never been permitted to make choices of his own, he's never been allowed to learn and grow from his mistakes. Szeth is responsible for all of his decisions, in that he has always been the one physically taking the actions, but also the decisions themselves have never been his. Ishar was in Szeth's very thoughts, grooming him into the perfect, obedient soldier. Even when Szeth did do things of his own volition, it always seemed to serve the Voice's agendas, leaving it unclear if he was ever in control of his actions. In the end Ishar wasn't especially bothered by what course Szeth took, so long as it left him colder, harder, and more useful. (Which is why as much as people make fun of this scene, Szeth saying "I am the law" and then throwing it all away in front of Ishar's face was something he probably had to do, to thematically bring that all to a close.)

Anyway, none of that is the answer to "what is Szeth's deal?" It's the answer I'd thought I wanted but it's not the important thing about him. No, the most important, the most in-your-face-from-his-first-words-of-introducton, the most fundamental piece of Szeth-son-son-Vallano turned out to be something else entirely. When he fought Kaladin, it was very clear that he knew some dark truth, but that he would prefer kill and then to die and then to suffer eternal torment rather than acknowledge it. We were lead to believe it was the returning of the desolations, but that was just a part of it. The real truth he was repressing was that his father was wrong. At the end of everything, Szeth was just a kid who loved his dad.

Meaning I think I got what I was hoping to get from his backstory. They were a fairly good time. His family was pretty sweet. And I liked how the flashback chapters weren't written with the same tongue-in-cheek prose that eventually wore very thin with the main story. I also enjoyed seeing some of Shinovar and it's culture. Honestly, I could have used a lot more of that in the main plot as well. (Please show me real interactions with locals, give us more of a before and after here, I don't think everyone in the entire country is in some depressive fugue state.)

Unfortunately there was no on-screen scene wherein Szeth was sat down to be taught every single language on planet, so at the end of the day I have to call these chapters a 0/10.

[azura-aurorae]

Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king…

[the-commonplace-book]

i gotta draw knights radient as miraculous holders. i gotta

[rhythm-of-lesbianism]

it’s so tragic that there’s no cats on Roshar because i think 90% of the main cast of Stormlight would be cat people

[cosmerelists]

What Pets Stormlight Characters Would Have

As requested by anon. :)

However, I will NOT be assigning anyone a dog or a cat. Why, you ask? Well, because I've done that one before! I've also previously assigned them random pets. But for THIS variation on the pet-having theme, here are the non-Rosharan, non-cat-or-dog pets I think they'd have!

1. Szeth: A lizard

Szeth: [staring straight ahead, unblinking] The lizard on his shoulder: [staring straight ahead, unblinking] Nightblood: I just feel sometimes like I'm the only conversationalist here.

2. Mraize: Poison Dart Frogs

Mraize: Did you know? These frogs are not poisonous in captivity because their poison comes from their diet. It is not innate. Iyatil: So that's why... Mraize: That's why I feed them only poisonous insects, yeah.

3. Kaladin: Guinea Pigs

Kaladin: (mid-explanation) So anyway, I had the one guinea pig, but then Shallan told me that guinea pigs can't be on their own or they get too stressed out--you always have to have more than one! Dalinar: You have a dozen of them, though. Kaladin: Well, I didn't want them to be lonely? What if some of them don't get along? Dalinar: ...It's a guinea pig army, Kaladin. Kaladin: ...Yeah. Dalinar: You have a problem. Kaladin: I know.

4. Shallan: Exotic fish

Adolin: Your tank setup is amazing! Shallan: Thanks! There's actually quite a bit about, like, temperatures and filtration and space and stuff--luckily, Radiant loves to manage it all. Adolin: Is...Is that urchin wearing a miniature version of Veil's hat? Shallan: And that was Veil's contribution. Adolin: (In a whisper): Amazing.

5. Taravangian: Ant Farm

Taravangian: It's inspiring--I always have them on my desk as I work. Taravangian: On...less intelligent days, it is good to see that a whole community, working together, can achieve such remarkable things. Taravangian: On truly intelligent days, it's nice to be reminded that humans are nothing more than ants to me. Adrotagia: ...Your granddaughter got that ant farm for you. Taravangian: Yes, and I am saying I like it.

6. Navani: Rats

Navani: They are social, intelligent, misunderstood creatures! Navani: And if you give them a little rat backpack, they can carry messages! Dalinar: ...So that is why there is a little backpack-wearing rat sitting in my palm right now? Navani: Yes. Dalinar: ... Dalinar: I got used to the watch. I'm sure I can get used to this.

7. Rlain: A Rabbit

Rlain: You see, if I'm in workform, then the humans treat me like a slave. Rlain: If I'm in warform, they're scared of me. Rlain: If I'm in warform while carrying an adorable rabbit... Renarin: S-So unbelievably cute... Rlain: Exactly.

8. Adolin: Horned beetle

Shallan: ...It's because they "fence" with their horns, isn't it? Adolin: My tiny, adorable duelist!

9. Renarin: Snake

Renarin: [is chilling with his snake wrapped around his shoulder and arm] Shallan: ...Really not beating the "creepy" allegations here. Renarin: Eh. Me and Sir Wiggles don't care about that.

10. Lezian: Spider

Lezian: Pound for pound, spiders are THE most ruthless hunters on the planet. Lezian: Killerheart isn't my pet--he's my inspiration in viciousness and power! Leshwi: Killerheart is SO fuzzy! Lezian: ...I never liked you.

[brothermouse-skeleton]

Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar: (going to work wearing a cute little all white outfit)

Me:(a Schrodinger's Cat of reading the situation) Yes! Go! Slay, King!

[bornuntohimself]

(IPA chart with sounds for reference)

other character polls: renarin / shallan / szeth

edit: have been informed that i mixed up long a and short a 🤦 i can’t edit the poll but please just ignore that part and go off the IPA symbols/examples :') sorry for the confusion!

[awindandtruthliveblog]

I finished my reread a little late, but it does keep things in mind fresh from RoW. We've got Ishi doing weird spren transfers, Ba-Ado-Mishram probably getting released, Shallan and Kaladin in much better places, Szeth, uhh, "cleansing" his people, El with anti-Light tech, Moash alive but blind, Taravangian recently ascended (his newness is gonna be bad for him I'm sure) (also Cultivation might have some power over him now), Dalinar setting the terms of the fight, Maya reawakening, and Syl becoming very human. I probably missed a lot, but there's a lot going on. And we only have ten days!

It's nice to see the last Heralds, finally. Our boy Taln, wish we could see his physique though. Battah... exists. She's not mentioned much, huh? Cultivation, enigmatic as ever, but so imposing in this art. She's even got her cat, the Nightwatcher. And there's Honor! Didn't expect to see him in any form, let alone alive.

Acknowledgements and "Other book by Brandon" are both so full now. It really takes a team to make these, they all deserve so much praise. Noting the "Amputee and prosthetics expert", but it's hard to imagine anyone getting injured like that, with Edgedancers around and Radiant healing. I'm assuming a new character, but there's always the chance it's Adolin, our one non-Radiant.

Skipping the art descriptions, but the Parts are gone, kinda. Fun!

[mayatuks-catastrophe]

rip Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, you would have loved 2000's emo warrior cats amvs

[sniffanimal]

anyways welcome to the marketplace of ideas. my mind palace. help me assign furries to the stormlight cast. let's assume all earthly creatures since it'll get a little repetitive if all we have to pick from are crab-adjacent. please offer suggestions for even ones I picked bc genuinely I'm settled on none of these

so far I've got: (no overt spoilers here, maybe extremely mild implied ones. I won't be able to promise replies are spoiler free)

shallan: cuttlefish, maybe a spider?

kaladin: bird of some type, thinking a peregrine falcon? I have to do more research on bird symbolism to pick a good one

adolin: horse I mean come on. maybe a dog (German shepherd/golden retriever mix??)

renarin: I'm of two minds on if all the kholins should be dogs. but if not then he's a kitty cat. a tortoiseshell long hair. if dog then a silky shepherd and just awful at Shep things

szeth: sheep of course. no other choice exists

wit: crow, or maybe whichever one I don't pick for shallan,

Jasnah: if dog, then borzoi or some other sighthound. if not, then maybe a secretary bird?

Dalinar: some masculine dog. gshep or doberman or something.

Evi: golden retriever

gavilar: staffy or Pitt, or whatever Dalinar is

Navani: if dog, then greyhound/iggy. if not, then maybe... idk I need help here. probably a bird, maybe an African grey?. her, Jasnah, and elhokar might escape the dog kholin curse

elhokar: I like him being a doggy tho. especially with how he feels about kaladin, maybe a hunting breed of some purport? to kind of go along with a Falcon

moash: extremely a falcon, especially a big raptory hunting one.

rlain: I am leaning towards something non-mammalian/avian for singers et al. Maybe use arthropods for them? Rlain can be a beetle, and different types for different forms.

Raboniel: scorpion

venli: firefly

lopen: ferret/weasel

Sylphrena: bluejay

pattern: some sort of branching coral or slime mold. something esoteric

lift: goat

sadeas: really fluffy and round Persian cat

[lasersheith]

Szethadin fic is gonna go something like this

Kal: wow you've never... I mean... Never???

Szeth: while everyone else was being horny teenagers, I studied the blade

Kal, internally: well I can't not fuck him

Syl, also there: you gotta

Kal jumps 10 feet in the air like a cat that accidentally touched tin foil

[basket-of-radiants]

[idontknowanametouse]

Ok so. I got a few spoilers on Stormlight and am at the end of WoR. And I want Szeth to have a found family so bad bitches (affectionate) you have no fucking idea. I want him to be loved and love back and build trust and true bonds and be around people that don't want him to be their slave and just be friends. Szeth is a pathetic little meow meow a sad wet cat and I need to fucking hug him.

[jewishdainix]

So to summerise what just happened:

> A little girl with powers that are strange even for radiants went to still food with a bunch of guys

> a guy that kills radiants and WAA THERE WHEN GAVILAR WAS MURDERED tried go catch her

> one of his minions killed one of tbe guys that was stealling with lift, the girl

>she revives him

> he is crowned king

[doggirlbuck]

szeth my beautiful baldy