#ashspren

[shakesthewizard]

Untitled Stormlight OC Fic, pt 1

cw: discussion of suicide & suicidal ideation

Lightning exploded only a handful of feet to Sahan’s left, and before the thunder could even begin to fade, a boulder crashed downward in front of her. She stood hunched against the leeward side of a grain silo, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She was soaked to the bone, and her hair tied itself in knots in the wind. She sobbed, crying out in a hoarse voice that vanished in the wind. The storm was at its height; the time had come. All she had to do now was step out into the wind.

“You won’t do it,” said the voice. Sahan jumped, yelping. Squinting through her hair, she saw it – the pattern in the stone, like the shape of lightning burned into the stone.

“Fuck you,” she spat at the shape. “I told you to stop following me, you voidbringer shit.”

“And what are you going to do about it?” Said the voice, strangely clear in the storm, “kill yourself at me?”

“Fuck you,” she said again, softer this time. Thunder deafened her.

“If you wanted to die, you would’ve picked something more reliable than the old man,” it said. “I’m not challenging you, kid. I’m telling you what you knew going in.”

“Of course I don’t want to die!” she screamed.

“But you think you deserve to.”

“Because I do.”

There was quiet for a time, and Sahan could tell, somehow, that the thing on the ground in front of her was considering.

Eventually, he said, “Maybe. To be honest with you, ‘deserve’ has never made a lot of sense to me.”

“Well let me fill you in,” she said, suddenly full of spite. “Sometimes a human hurts another human. Hurts them too badly to ever make it right. Too badly for the person she hurt to ever get better. So badly that the closest thing anyone can get to closure is for the one who fucked up to guarantee that nobody ever has to worry about seeing her again. I deserve this because I was given a choice, and the power to make it, and I chose wrong. Just let me die. Please.”

The voice paused again. “No.”

The storm raged around them.

“Why?”

“Because the last person who listened to me died with blood in his teeth. Because you and I are the same kind of idiot, and I’m too stupid to give up on a lost cause.”

“So what do you want with me?” she asked.

“You know what I want.”

And she did. The thought crystalized in her mind. She tasted bile.

“You want me to take the coward’s way out. To make the selfish choice, again.”

“I promise if it goes wrong, you can blame everything on me.”

She drew a shaking breath. She thought of her mother. She spoke.

“Life before death.”

[cosmerelists]

Custom Collective Nouns for Radiant Spren

As requested by anon. :)

You know how there's collective nouns for animals, like a "murder of crows," or a "flamboyance of flamingos" or a "clowder of cats"? Those custom collective nouns sure are fun! So this anon asked what groups of Radiant spren are called. Here is what I think would be neat!

1. A Matrix of Cryptics

This was suggested by the anon who requested this list, and they are so correct.

2. A Judgment of Highspren

I considered other options as well, such as a "Pronouncement of Highspren" or a "Determination of Highspren," but "Judgment" felt right.

3. A Zephyr of Honorspren

A "zephyr" is a type of breeze, which felt right for the windspren-like Honorspren.

4. A Prism of Mistspren

Inspired by how they look like light reflecting onto a surface through a crystal. Plus, it evokes the shattered glass imagery that's always around Renarin, so

5. A Summit of Peakspren

Okay, maybe this one is TOO on the nose, but I like it! Yes, they are mountains so ha ha "summit," but also, a "summit" can be a gathering of people, and I like that lowkey pun.

6. A Verdancy of Cultivationspren

"Verdancy" is the noun from "verdant," so green and flourishing. Makes sense for Cultivationspren, right?

7. A Conflagration of Ashspren

I also considered something like "Curiosity" or "Marvel" to represent their interest in how things work, but "Conflagration" does speak to destruction and makes one think of fire, and therefore ash.

8. An Idiosyncrasy of Reachers

"Idiosyncrasy" is a word referring to a someone's peculiar or individualized behavior/character--it's built off of the ancient Greek idio (self, one's own) + krasis (mixture): so basically, it's your own personal blend. I love that for Reachers, the spren of Willshapers.

9. An Atrament of Inkspren

But this one is my favorite! "Atrament" is a word meaning "a very dark substance, especially a liquid." So - ink, yeah? But also, it's an obscure word, one stemming from the Latin for black, ater, and I think that sort of learned obscurity would appeal to an Inkspren.

[tyresw]

Just realized that I never posted this theory here

I believe that non sapient spren are fundamentally the same as their equivalent Radiant spren.

The only real difference coming in when you add Identity to the raw investiture.

And that Identity is the primary mechanic of the nahel bond, both sides share a part of themselves with the other.

Which leads me to theorize that Rushu will end up bonding Bippy, who will have become an ashspren after having been given enough Identity through the attention paid to him by Rushu.

Rushu will, along with the Reshi King, refound the Dustbringers within Urithiru

[cosmereclysmic]

STOP THE COUNT NO ONE BUY ANYMORE ASHSPREN PLUSHES

[rwrbficrecs]

Hey! Do you happen to know any fics where Henry finds out about Alex’s childhood obsession with his poster? I know it’s kinda specific but I’m craving that brand of teasing and fluff right now.

Hi! Here’s a few ❤️

Celebrations by @three-drink-amy Framed by floatingaway4 The B Was Never Silent by @indomitable-love Wedding Part 2: Electric Boogaloo by @ashspren-writes

Also wanted to include the following fics as a bonus! The poster/magazine is mostly only a small mention in these ones but I thought they were still fun to include. (Search “magazine” in them to find the mention) and then i was a careless fool (and i fell in love with you) by newmoonrising Asking For Permission by @cultofsappho But Then You Found Me (And Everything Changed) by Lily_Padd_23, supernatural_mondler everything looks better in the morning. by @chaa-kiao Magazine Posters by @chrysti-e & @kate882 Per Aspera Ad Astra by @springairs There's Nothin' Better by orphan_account  Huge thanks to my lovely new team of volunteers for helping collect these recs ❤️ If you’d like to help out too, check out the Volunteers Page 🥰

[knight-of-skyloft]

Temeraire Radiant AU where the dragons are spren, though?!?

Ashspren Iskierka, hapless Dustbringer Granby

Bondsmith Napoleon Bonaparte

Tharkay is constantly followed by a pack of lightspren but he won't commit to Willshaper vows

Windrunner Laurence might be low-hanging fruit but that man is pure essence of Windrunner. Why fight fate. Also Laurence swearing the third ideal when he brings the cure to France is just 👌

[windrunnered]

So what is it about Kal that draws an Ashspren in your Dustbringer!Kal au? And is Syl still interested in Kaladin or is his character not as much about protecting?

you and @theknightartorias are sooooo fricking nice to me….. 

to answer your question, which i do end up getting to but to answer it first: truly, i do think he attracts an ashspren because he chose to logic himself through the pain of killing elhokar. i think that if he ignores his heart and his honor and solely relies on his self-discipline, that would attract an ashspren. dustbringers’ ideals are about self-mastery, and what’s more disciplined than a man who doesn’t want to kill the king, making himself do it anyway because it’s what he said he would do?

i think syl definitely ends up leaving him. i’m not sure if double-ordering is possible, but i think combustion (kaladin’s ashspren) and syl would kill each other first. i do think that this au transforms and kills kaladin from the inside-out, so his character can no longer be about protecting, lest he make himself completely and utterly miserable. thank you!!!!!! i already have a ramble written so im going to post it belowwwww

so the idea comes from the idea that kaladin does in fact kill the king with moash in wor and just obliterates the honor that syl thinks he should have but doesn’t necessarily contradict his oaths so it doesn’t kill her but she does leave (see: breaking moash’s promise didn’t kill her, even though he swore to him too) also because i can’t think about her dying. and this au isn’t about anyone else i don’t want to think about what would happen to dalinar and adolin in wor!!!!!! they’re saved through Plot

anyway so syl leaves and kaladin is left still broken and open for a nahel bond, one might say even more broken than before, and an ashspren swoops in and is ready to bond with kaladin stormblessed. i’m thinking it happens pretty fast, so he goes from windrunner to burgeoning dustbringer within a couple of days.

his ashspren is named Combustion but i’ve been considering changing it to Ignition too. and combustion’s kind of all over the place, see: (i just wanted it to be relating to points of an explosion, see the only other named ashspren we know of being named Spark)

“Where are we going next? I want to blow something up,” Combustion says. “Your guy has the right idea. I wish I was there when you killed him!”

ok this is long so im putting it below a cut here

i made up the au because i wanted an idea of what would happen to kaladin if he did go ahead and kill the king and go be with moash and do it for moash but the more i think about it the more it becomes a study in how antithetical this would be to their canon dynamic. yes, kaladin let moash have his vengeance and helped him accomplish it, and it literally destroys him inside and out. it annihilates his honor, his “becoming one with the wind” motifs, and makes him an outcast to a service he’s spent the last five years cultivating. in one moment, he’s the head of the king’s guard, in the next, he’s a traitor to the whole kingdom.

this kind of fundamentally destroys kaladin’s deity status not only to bridge four and the kholin princedom, but also to moash, who has to watch kaladin crash and burn in front of him. he comes back from the dust reborn, but something entirely different. he also never reaches third ideal with syl, and has to start from the ground up with entirely new ideals as a dustbringer. no longer are his ideals about protection, essential to his core beliefs, but about self-mastery, which is more important to the decision he made about killing the king.

yes, he could have tried to protect everyone and stayed a windrunner. but he chose not to, chose to define himself as someone who is only ruled by his discipline and not his heart, and became a dustbringer. (it is also partly why i think moash could never be a dustbringer but WHATEVER that’s another post) (kind of also an interesting take on lirin’s “you have to choose when to care,” yeah?)

i don’t know how this would affect moash’s promotion to vyre. but i do think that kaladin still hates the fused because kaladin is, at his heart, an alethi soldier. i think he’d refuse their rule to moash’s dismay. i don’t know if moash would leave kaladin behind to become vyre (and people are welcome to add their thoughts on this post) because kaladin is too cemented in his ways to change, or whether he’d refuse to become vyre to stay with kaladin. especially now that kaladin hasn’t emotionally and physically abandoned moash and chosen the monarchy over his best friend (and loverrrr)

a bit of writing

It was one thing to feel so much pride for him [from how he treated] the lighteyes, the people who had wronged them so unmistakably, but [Kaladin’s] getting the same way about the Fused. Bucking up to them to deny their authority; outwardly helping the listeners they beat and staring down Fused and Regals who dare to try to disturb him. And Kaladin’s Ashpren doesn’t help. Combustion just riles him up further, egging him on to cause a disturbance.

the timeline of events with dustbringer kaladin i think is something similar to:

kills the king -> bonds combustion -> stays with moash in kholinar for a while with both of them trying to hide kaladin being a radiant -> something happens in kholinar. either moash kills jezrien around the time and is accepted to become vyre, the gang sees dustbringer kaladin…. i’m not sure yet! im kind of desperate to write it, but dustbringer kaladin is so opposite of windrunner kaladin that it’s like transformative to the point of destruction, which seems… right, for a dustbringer.

i love the idea that if moash does become vyre (see: moash still having to take responsibility for the king and also possibly crushing kaladin’s one point of unequivocal joy, now marred forever) kaladin still tries to help the radiants and the kholins but like, behind the scenes as much as possible. because how are you supposed to say sorry i killed elhokar and then ran away, i still love you all so much without sounding like you’re completely delusional? i also think that this destroys the line in the sand of kaladin and the wretch, to a secret third thing: someone who is capable of great terrible things and knows the cost of them. what’s that mary shelley quote? “I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”

i think being a dustbringer would completely alter kaladin like, forever. permanently. i think the point of no return is the second he kills elhokar. i think he knows that he’s a new kind of alone when he loses syl. even when he gains combustion, i think there’s no coming back from that. i think that destroys him. 

i think too that once he’s a dustbringer, unless double-ordering as both windrunner and dustbringer was possible (maybe for him cuz he’s Special) he could never go back to being a windrunner. even if he could feel syl. even if he she would want him back and could forgive him because i do not think he could kill combustion or break his oaths with him. i do not think he could do it twice. 

anyways i love him and have put much much thought into it and at this point dustbringer kaladin is like my oc basically but THANK YOU FOR ASKING !!!!!!!! he’s so great and miserable and i love putting my barbies under hydraulic presses made of pure stress and agony. kaladin i love you. anyway yeah. i want to write it so bad. i’ll finally have a reason to use one of my favorite titles i made up a while ago

[inolienkiki]

ok I know I just posted but it's been a long day and insane cosmere theorycrafting time now, guys

So: the Cosmere Character Pins. (yes this is a post about enamel pins. shut up.)

Last year, we got 18: thirteen in the Year of Sanderson swag boxes, including the #000 pin of Brandon, and five at the-con-currently-known-as Nexus. This year, so far, we have had... *checks notes* five?

I should clarify: five pins are confirmed to exist. The Kholin Family pins were released at FanX this year, and will presumably become widely available starting Lightday (Oct 29)? I think that's the current state of things, but they could show up sooner, I don't know. Thing is, the Kholin Family pins are numbered as: Series 2, #011-#015.

I saw this and was like, yeah, okay, that makes perfect sense, since the first 10 pins are from the Words of Radiance kickstarter. Obviously I don't have complete confirmation of this, as they still haven't locked my address (let alone sent me my pledge), but so far we've been told that a full pledge comes with 10 radiant spren pins that look roughly like this:

Yes, it's blurry and vague, but that's all we got. I find this very interesting because the only spren I can 100% identify here are the Stormfather, and Wyndle (due to the chair). The inkspren and Cryptic do match the descriptions of Ivory and Pattern respectively; I guess the highspren and Reacher could be Szeth's spren and Timbre; and the peakspren, mistspren, and ashspren really could be anyone at all. Glys maaaybe, but I highly doubt it, there's no way he looks that normal. As for the honorspren, it's so tempting to say that's Syl- it really looks like her- but.... we already have a Syl pin. Series 1 pin #011 is a very different looking Syl. I guess it could be Phendorana, but that's highly unlikely for so many different reasons.

Ok, that's completely unrelated, ignore me. Taking into account the spren and the Kholin family, that's 15 pins so far this year, presumably numbered #001-#015 of series 2.

Then I went and checked the Wind and Truth fan bundle that just got announced. Szeth is getting a character pin in there. He's numbered #018, which is vErY InTeReStInG, iSn't iT.

Now. I could be out of my little mind. I just think it's intriguing that this heavily implies the existence of new merch that has not yet been announced. It's my personal belief that whatever pin comes with Emberdark, since it's next summer, will be in Series 3. But what characters they're going to pick, and what occasion they will be released for, before Wind and Truth- is very intriguing to me. I would kill for a Lift pin but I'm not sure we're going to get that. Given what little I know about book 5- I haven't been reading the preview chapters- maybe Rlain? Taravangian? Maya? Cultivation?

Thank you for putting up with me-

[sweatersexual]

Assigning random fictional characters to orders of the Knights Radiant

My only rule is, they can't canonically have magical powers in their own universe, or else I'd try to assign them based on what magic powers they have. I want to do this based on their character development and the ideals of their Radiant order.

Penelope Alvarez from One Day at a Time - Windrunner

I love One Day at a Time, it's one of my comfort shows. And now that I think about it, Penelope is very similar to Kaladin. They're both veterans who work in healthcare and struggle with depression. Protecting her family and the people around her is one of Penelope's main motivations, and we see her really come into her own as a leader over the course of the series. TV mom of all time, honestly.

Nancy Wheeler from Stranger Things - Skybreaker

I'm not saying Nancy is a cop. Far from it. I think she is motivated by justice though. Nothing gets her going like seeing others being unfairly dealt with, whether it's her friend's death being covered up or a little old lady not being listened to. I will say that she is like the canon Skybreakers in that she has faith in the system and she generally tries to work within it. It's only when supernatural circumstances defy the way the system is supposed to work that she reaches for her gun.

Edward Teach from Our Flag Means Death - Dustbringer/Releaser

Blackbeard is why the Releaser oaths are so concerned with self mastery. He caused so much destruction even without having any magical powers, imagine if he could incinerate things with a touch. Despite all that, Ed refused to let himself directly kill anyone because of what murder has turned him into. His character development is about learning the self control required to create instead of destroy. Also, he totally dresses like an ashspren, they would see him as one of them.

Blanca Evangelista from Pose - Edgedancer

Another iconic TV mom. Caring for the forgotten is not only Blanca's entire thing - breaking off and starting her own house specifically for that purpose is literally the inciting incident of the whole show. Taking care of others is how she copes with the difficult circumstances of her own life, but her friends remind her to take care of herself as well. The actress who plays her - Michaela Jae Rodriguez - moves with a grace that perfectly suits an Edgedancer.

Elle Woods from Legally Blonde - Truthwatcher

I woke up this morning thinking, "Elle Woods would totally be a Truthwatcher," which is what inspired me to make this post. She learns to value scholarship, and she basically uses Progression on all the friends she makes over the course of the movie. Elle heals Paulette's self confidence by helping her realize her best self. She and Vivian help each other realize they both deserve better than Warner. And she speaks truth to power, whether it's to her bestie's shitty ex or her asshole of a professor.

Wirt from Over the Garden Wall - Lightweaver

Probably the easiest to assign an order to. Aside from having the dramatic tendencies and creative ability of most Lightweavers, Wirt definitely lies to himself and others a lot. The show is very focused on Wirt learning and speaking his truths. I also think having a Cryptic with him 24/7 would drive him up the wall in the most hilarious way.

Janine Teagues from Abbott Elementary - Elsecaller

I thought about making her an Edgedancer, I really did. The Edgedancer ideals are a big part of her motivation for getting into teaching. But her character development is headed more in the direction of self actualization. She doesn't only want to be a teacher, she wants to be the best teacher possible. Janine also has the cautious personality and logical problem-solving skills of an Elsecaller.

Prince Wilhelm from Young Royals - Willshaper

Because Wille is constantly surrounded by lies, my first thought was that he'd be a Lightweaver. But he doesn't have the temperament to be a good illusionist. His character arc is more about seeking freedom and self expression for himself as well as others. Okay, mainly for himself. He's just a kid, but now that he (spoilers!) has abdicated the throne he can totally rage against the machine.

Eleanor Shellstrop from The Good Place - Stoneward

Eleanor starts out as probably the worst candidate for a Stoneward you could imagine. Good thing her show is all about self development! Her friends really come to rely on her by the time season 4 rolls around. Her team becomes her main motivation, and she overcomes her defensive selfishness to connect with and be there for others. The one Stoneward quality she did have from the get-go would definitely be her stubbornness, though.

Leslie Knope from Parks & Rec - Bondsmith

Leslie is all about unity and bringing people together. Her personality alone is powerful enough to be a Bondsmith. I definitely think she could fight Dalinar and steal the Stormfather from him, don't you? Maybe it's a good thing she can't worldhop . . .

[fandomseverywhereassemble]

I need to start my reread of the Stormlight Archive in preparation for SA5. The problem is that the other fandoms currently interwoven in my brainwaves like the lattice on an apple pie are Genshin Impact and SVSSS. And like, the last time this happened, I made a whole Fire Emblem Three Houses break down of what radiants all of the characters would be, and I think that would be so funny to do with SVSSS, because, like Fire Emblem, there’s virtually no overlap between fandoms. YQY probably being a Bondsmith is so ironic to me. You mean the character who struggles with the one Bond(TM) that really matters to him is gonna be a Bondsmith? Someone meant to unify everyone when he can’t even unify himself with Shen Jiu?

Each peak could be a different order of radiants, which would make one order of radiants just… entirely women. Bai Zhan is just one solitary Skybreaker (or Windrunner, but I think Skybreaker fits LQG more). It doesn’t really fit with SA lore but that’s fine and funny. Like, let’s be honest. What is cultivation if not just another form of Investiture? Maybe the Ling Xi Caves are near a perpendicularity which is why they’re a great spot for secluded cultivation. “Don’t go too deep into the caves. People disappear into them, never to be seen again.” They just went to another planet. Don’t worry.

The more I think on it, the better it gets I think. Like, some things start to Fit. Listen.

The Demons are the Singer equivalent. Why, because they’re the perceived villains who are Evil for no reason? No, because they were in the world first. Why would I say that? Because their cultivation is Strong. The book says that a three year old demon is already capable of killing a fully grown (non-cultivator) adult. While sy might have exaggerated a bit, it makes sense that they would be Compatible with this world’s Investiture. Humans came late to the world and aren’t as compatible.

Their swords are their spren equivalent. Give them a voice, let them change around somewhat, it’s fun.

Upon thinking about it a little more, I’m assigning some characters orders that they would fit in either bc I think they fit to a T or because it would be funny:

Shen Yuan: Lightweavers - this is a funny one (mostly because I’m not sure??? Where else he would fit???) but imagine him having to come to the realization that he IS gay for Binghe and that literally makes him more powerful?

Luo Binghe: Windrunner or Dustbringer - He can go either way I think. Windrunner’s “I will protect” fits but literally only for one person. I can imagine him saying his vows ‘I will protect my Shizun, who cannot protect himself.’ ‘I will protect my Shizun, even if he makes dumb decisions.’ But Dustbringers focusing on self-mastery, the most destructive of the orders, who are sad that they’re thought of as the most destructive. Dustbringers who are usually creative people who like taking things apart to see how they work. Dustbringers using their power to destroy for good (and to protect Shizun ofc). Also, if their swords are spren/their spren are their swords, then Xin Mo is absolutely an ashspren over an honorspren

Liu Qingge: Skybreaker - I said earlier that Windrunner might also fit him, and that’s true. But Skybreakers seeking justice as what SHOULD happen as opposed to the law. Pulling from Sanderson’s website, the current skybreakers are stricter than they used to be, so I think that lqg would be like the skybreakers of old. People that didn’t adhere strictly to the letter of the law.

Yue Qingyuan: Stoneward - I know I said he would be a Bondsmith but I think it might go either way. “I will be there when I’m needed.” That’s like, the most YQY desire ever.

Shen Jiu: Elsecaller - Listen. Hear me out. SJ cares so much about his cultivation and becoming stronger. I first wanted to put him in Dustbringers (self-mastery) but he’s too brazen for the order I think. He wouldn’t slow down to worry about control (think about all those qi-deviations he went through) and “I will reach my potential.”? That’s all he wanted to do, really. Become stronger.

Shang Qinghua: Edgedancer - literally just because I think it’s funny. “I will remember” but the man literally forgets like key things in the world he created (looking at ZZL and then sy as if to ask ‘did I make that?’). And having power over the abrasion surge makes him, quite literally, incredibly slick/slippery.

Bonus: Sha Hualing is a Singer who’s just constantly in mateform.

If there is anyone else out there who has this niche overlap of books that live in their minds rent free? Please weigh in if you agree or disagree with what I said. Or ask questions, because like. I can do some more Thinking. I’ve already done more Thinking and I would love to talk to someone about it

[shallahi-and-snowflake]

Okay, so considering the nature of today’s whole mess, I’m letting Tanakhar onto here for a bit.

Heya all, I’m Brightlord Radiant Tanakhar of Bridge Four, and its resident Dustbringer/Releaser!

(He uses He/him, btw.)

From Kharbranth, moved to Urithiru, daradaradara, Worldhopped for a bit, ended up in Elendel, and got dragged to Kalos of all regions!

My Ashspren is… rather shy with others, but his name is Cinder! He’s an excellent companion, probably the best friend I’ve ever had!

Honestly, I love trains—and mechanical things in general!

It’s the “taking things apart” Dustbringer thing, isn’t it.

…Probably, yes! Khkhkhkhkh!

If you’ve got anything to ask me, go right ahead!

Just a heads-up:

I’ll still be on here just in case anything comes up.

Alright!

[shakesthewizard]

Untitled Stormlight OC Fic, pt 2: Shalebark

@cosmereplay, for your consideration.

---

One Year Later

“Give up, Sahan,” said Rek. “You’ve got no options left. You’re beaten.”

“Like hell,” she bit at him, black hair falling in loose curls in her face. “The day I stand down to you is the day the Storms wipe this city of the map.”

Rek barked a laugh. “I admire your tenacity. If you insist, I suppose I can indulge a deathwish.” He extended his hand, rushing for her. Sahan braced, then stared in shock – he wasn’t moving how she’d predicted. No, something was off about his approach. It was almost as if...

She swept forward in retaliation, meeting his arrogant dance with a furious attack of her own. It was a risk, she knew, but she had no choice. If she was right, then he had entirely failed to see her opening. With no small amount of pride, she saw his face grow slack as he realized his mistake. Then, suddenly, she had him. He went still.

“I’ll admit, you had me on the ropes,” she said. “But true victory requires an iron will. And you just don’t have what it takes.” With a final blow, she left him defeated.

Rek sat back in his chair and laughed. Sahan grinned diabolically, taking a drink from her cup.

On the table between them was a small, square stone board, inlaid with a grid of etched lines. Within the square spaces outlined therein was a tangle of flat, rectangular stone game pieces, stacked on top of one another in what resembled towers of books.

“I told you,” Sahan gloated, “I’ve got a knack for these things.”

“And I should have believed you,” Rek conceded with a smile. “Storms, but you’ve got a mind like an axehound's jaw, woman. Two games and you’ve already got it mastered.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say mastered,” she said. “But I appreciate the complement. Now, I believe we’re about to open, and you’ve just won an extra shift.”

Rek groaned, standing. He moved away from their table near the bartop while she cleared and stored the game in a series of cinch bags. “Where shall I store this?” she asked.

“Under the bar will be fine,” he said, taking chairs from tabletops. “Open the doors, will you?”

After setting the board and bags on a shelf underneath the back side of the bar, Sahan obliged, lifting the heavy crossbar and pulling open the heavy stone doors. Immediately, a small crowd of low-Dahn lighteyes began trickling into the tavern. Guardsmen, scribes, and minor military officers made their way inside, jackets unbuttoned and hair loose.

Sahan weaved her way back behind the bar into the storage room, where they kept barrels of wine, extra chairs, and spare clay cups. She sat on a stool, letting the slightly muffled sound of the crowd wash over her.

The entry to the storage room was at an angle such that she could see out behind the bar and about half of the body of the room, but it was difficult for patrons to see inside. It made for a great roost on nights like these – when she had no work to do, but had to stay anyway. Tonight was a Highstorm night.

This tavern, the Shalebark Bloom, was also a storm shelter. It was a favorite of ninth and tenth Dahn lighteyes, who enjoyed having a place to socialize with those of their own station, without cramming into public shelters with the darkeyes.

She observed Rek as he began tending bar. They were quite a pair, in her estimation. He was in his early thirties, contrasting Sahan’s twenty-two. Where her hair was a permanently damp Alethi black to her shoulders, Rek had a receding line of red veden hair, kept short. She also technically outranked him, being herself a tenner to his first nahn, but she felt no shame in being something like his protege. When she’d first come to Kharbranth looking for work a year ago, he’d given her a place behind his bar and hadn’t asked questions. They’d been friends since, and he had made it his quest to search all of Roshar for a game of skill he could best her at. He hadn’t succeeded yet.

She didn’t startle when she noticed the spiderwebbing pattern of cracks crawling up the stone doorframe separating her den and the bar. She just reached into her pocket and retrieved a small, rectangular block of flint.

Dusk spoke. “Not going to mingle?”

“Nope,” she replied casually. She took a shallow breath, drawing in a pinch of stormlight.

“Hoping to see someone?” He asked, somewhat jokingly.

She snorted as she coated her thumbnail in light. “Not likely. She’s bound to be feasting with some noble house tonight. Besides, the storm will be hitting any second now. Doors are closed.” With her stromlight-covered nail, the flicked the block of flint. The magically enhanced friction between her it and the stone caused a small flurry of sparks to spill onto the stone floor.

At the bar, the men – there were three of them, it looked like – were still talking to Rek.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Dusk said. “It’s not why you have the power.”

“I never agreed to power,” she argued.

“You said the words.”

“You don’t want me to stop. You just want me out there, jumping from rooftops and performing feats of daring-do.”

“I emphatically do not want you jumpting from rooftops,” Dusk hurried to reply, a curl of smoke rising from the maze of fractures that were his body.

“I don’t hear you denying the other thing.” Flick; more sparks. A flamespren rose up from the ground, red like hot iron and dancing slowly, lethargically.

“As a matter of fact, I think a little daring-do would be good for your health.”

“Well I don't. I...” Sahan trailed off.

At the bar, Rek had gone still, his arms raised in a gesture of surrender. The men across the bar had grown aggressive, looming over him.

Cold ran down Sahan’s spine. One of the men – tan, with thaylen eyebrows – thrust a finger at Rek’s chest, scowling.

Dusk crackled. “Kid?” She was stock-still. The stormlight within her was pushing her up, to her feet. She forced herself not to move with an effort of will. It was like holding her breath too long underwater.

“Sahan,” Dusk hissed urgently. “Help him.”

The noise of the crowd hadn’t faltered; no one had noticed the altercation. No one but her.

She stayed still. “Dusk, I-”

She watched as Rek took a cloth sack from one of the men, filled it with spheres, and handed it back. She could see his hands shaking even from so far away.

Dusk’s voice was quiet when he spoke again; he almost sounded younger. “Please, Sahan.”

The last of her stormlight puffed from her lips. “No,” she said. “I won’t.”

The men, satisfied with their takings, turned and walked out of the Shalebark and into the riddens.

part 1

[cosmerelists]

Why Every Radiant Order Would Let Their Radiant Develop Cat Ears

As (sort of) requested by @inkwell-god

There was a post from the @fake-words-of-brandon account about whether or not furry Radiants would develop into their fursonas thanks to the magic healing power of Stormlight (post here). Inkwell-god wanted to know which spren would be down for at least letting their Radiant have cat ears. And honestly...I think they ALL would be. And here's why!

1. Cryptics (Lightweavers)

I mean, according to FWOB (fake word of Brandon), the cryptics would be the quickest to grant their Radiants cat ears. And it only makes sense. Cryptics allow their Radiants to lightweave into whatever form they want. And having that form become permament? Seems like a delicious lie to me!

2. Highspren (Skybreakers)

Well, it's not against the law to have cat ears, is it? And the law is the law.

3. Honorspren (Windrunners)

If their Radiant believed that it was right to have cat ears, then an Honorspren would never refuse them. In fact, the Honorspren would want to also have cat ears, since cat ears are fun and Honorspren like playing with their appearances.

4. The Sibling (Bondsmith)

The Sibling doesn't like humans. A physical change that makes Navani look a bit less human? I think the Sibling would be all for it.

5. The Nightwatcher (Bondsmith)

The Nightwatcher grants people what they want--no, what they need. If their Radiant's deepest desire was cat ears, the Nightwatcher would want them to have it (in return for something, perhaps...)

6. The Stormfather (Bondsmith)

The Stormfather would not be for or against cat ears, I don't think. It's just that the Stormfather tends to agree with Dalinar if Dalinar is forceful enough and/or if it's an oath thing. If Dalinar shouted into the storm that he needed cat ears, I think the Stormfather would give in.

7. Ashspren (Dustbringers)

Having cat ears is a little bit chaotic, I feel. I don't think the Ashspren would have any particular reason to say no, and in that case, I think they'd default to "yes!"

8. Cultivationspren (Edgedancers)

Cultivationspren want to encourage growth, right? Like growing cat ears, perhaps?

9. Mistspren (Truthwatchers)

If having cat ears was their Radiant's truth, the Mistspren would not stand in their way. Also, all of the Mistspren we've seen so far are corrupt, so they're not gonna play by society's rules anyway.

10. Reachers (Willshapers)

The Reachers like novelty, and what is more novel than cat ears?

11. Peakspren (Stonewards)

Cat ears are like triangular peaks added to a human's head. Like little furry soft mountains. What is a Peakspren going to do--say no?

12. Inkspren (Elsecallers)

Perhaps the hardest spren to convince...but if you have a logical argument, then the Inkspren will not stand in your way. Our only Elsecaller so far is Jasnah, and if you think Jasnah couldn't come up with a logical argument for having cat ears if she wanted them, then I don't know what book series you've been reading!

[tabbysdumb]

Oooh I'm obsessed with your OC Raeve. what's his deal?? what order of kr is he?? I'd love to know more he is very handsome and cool

Wahhh thank you I'm trying to pull back my depression. Raeve is my Lil guy.

Raeve grew up from a small lower class light eye family. His main friend growing up was a parshman child who was raised to be his servant. He was born into a light eye family as a dark eyes due to his mother cheating. His parents hoped they could marry him off to another light eyes as their best hope from him. He is trans tho and obviously this wasn't what he wanted. He didn't mind the feminine life style of learning to read and write and learn scholarly things. He just hated having to do so as a women because that's what he was born as. As he grew up the more he lost. His friend became more of a shell than a person he had to follow the customs of the feminine life and then his parents ended up finding a family to marry him off to.

He then made a scene taking off hid glove and curring his hair in front of his parents. Stating her wasn't going to marry and wasn't going to stay living as a woman.

His dad decided that it he would prefer a dead child over the embarrassment that would come from a dark eyed child that wasn't even his.

This is how Raeve got his scars. His friend ends up saving him he bonds to an ashspren and gives him time to get away. Raeve being injured and scared he ended up bonding with beacon and falling into shadesmar. Where beacon ends up helping him heal and get back.

here's a little part im building nor sure how i wanna plan this out

Raeve becomes an assassin in part to travel and record more of the animal and plant life because that's what he enjoys. He ends up going back to kill his dad his dad having a shade blade. Raeve takes it from when he goes. Its does scream like the others for him. It's more like crying and begging for help. It's his friends spren. He's used it from time to time. And the moments he's gone to shadesmar he's see the dead spren following him.

Here's beacons shadesmar first draft of his design. raeve is a willbringer.

And that's everything I have on him so far. Still building and editing his story as I learn more because I'm a wee bit dumb. But wahhhh I love when others are interested in my ocs. It warms my little heart.

Hope you enjoyed this Lil thing with my Lil raeve doodles ignore spelling or grammar issues and the color mistakes because u used aggie for some of these doodles and it's hard to pull the colors you need the first image is his official color choices.

[to-shards-you-say]

ashspren and soulcaster users... ive connected the two dots

[rwrbficrecs]

give me your best recs on the sisters

all things june & alex and bea & henry or june & bea

or any combination thereof

thx 💞

Hi! Ok I know there’s definitely more stories that feature the sister-brother relationships and June & Bea’s friendship, but for now this is what I could find with what’s been tagged well. If I come across anymore I’ll add them later on 🙂 Also disclaimer that I haven’t personally read all of these! 

June & Alex mothers day by dearestalez show me a gray sky (a rainy cab ride) by Mel_1999 The Claremont-Diaz's Being the Most Iconic Sibling Duo For Twelve Tweets Bi by princehenryisabiscuit Wedding Part 2: Electric Boogaloo by @ashspren-writes

Henry & Bea more than I ever (in a thousand years) by @indomitable-love i wake with your memory over me (that's a real fucking legacy) by @coffeecatsme You Know the Rules by @clottedcreamfudge

June & Bea A Best Friend You Can't Get Rid Of by plumeria47

Other: Asking For Permission by @cultofsappho Bea and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad 15 Minutes by @coffeecatsme Fiercest Protector by @adinarj Sisterhood by @adinarj The things that we whisper by Worldsofdreamers