#cosmere theory

[therealsoulking]

What if the Horneaters didn't kill him, but just banished Rock to Threnody.

"Ah, I see you've broken our deeply bizarre codes of familial hierarchy, now we have no choice but to send you through the Perpendicularity to Planet Shit forever"

[rohanrider3]

Cosmere Finale Musings

Look all I'm saying is that if Kelsier ends up using the powers of Breath and Biochroma to let him leave Scadriel AND empower the tatters of his mist cloak to do even MORE awesome shenanigans...that'd be awesome.

If Kaladin ALSO ends up using the powers of Breath and Biochroma to augment his Stormlight powers via the COLORS of the GEMS that hold the Stormlight....oh, AND somehow use the Iridescent Tones AND the Rhythms of Roshar to unlock powers we haven't even seen yet...that would be even MORE awesome.

And if in the end Kelsier and Kaladin wind up on opposing sides of a final conflict (ideologies aside, "lowborn" Skaa Kelsier was killed with a spear vs. "lowborn Darkeyes" but now (extremely reluctant titled Lighteyes) Kaladin, who's a master of the spear wielding arts,--symbolic coincidence I think ?not?)...it'd be terrible, but BADASS to watch them match wits and skills.

But. If there's a bigger bad (?Odium? Sorceress? currently unknown?) and both the Survivor AND Stormblessed have to combine forces to fight it, and they both get WRECKED....

...what are the odds that Kelsier decides to give Kaladin one last gift.

A last gasp.

(TLDR: If the Survivor tells Stormblessed "My life to yours, my breath to yours." AND GIVES UP HIS MAIN DRIVING FORCE IE "SURVIVE" to help save the entire Cosmere I am going to straight up lose my mind. And enjoy every rusting, storming, color-soaked MINUTE of it.)

[seducemewithyourpuns]

SSP4 and Stormlight Archive spoilers/theory.

In chapter 4, Nomad says to Auxiliary "I liked you better when you were alive." To which Aux responds "and who is to blame for that?"

I also know there are some pretty solid theories that Nomad is Sigzil from The Stormlight Archive.

What if Aux is Sig's spren, who died because of whatever is going to happen in KoWaT (stormlight 5) and he's somewhat conscious again similar to how Adolin helped Maya return throughout the various books of Stormlight Archive so far?

[bucketocremlings]

Mistborn Era 2 Spoilers ahead

so ive been thinking abt the other types of allomancy and ett metal. most if them are pretty self evident: cadmium/bendalloy create time bubbles; steel/iron push/pull metal nearby; zinc/brass probably riot/sooth all emotions of those nearby; and aluminum/duralumin probably remove/boost the allomantic energy stored in the ett metal.

the problem is

what do tin, pewter, bronze, gold, and electrum do?

like can a chunk of metal see its own future or what it could be? what abt sense kinetic allomancy? how would it do that?

the only ideas i have for those five involve tin and pewter. maybe those two increase/decrease how reactive ett metal is. tin making it more reactive and pewter making it less so. this could be useful as tin infused ett metal would make a much larger explosion, especially when u add trellium in to the equation. and theoretically, if u use a lot of allomantic pewter in ett metal (and probably a lot of duralumin as well), it might be able to resist an explosion long enough for someone to burn it.

but thats just my 2 cents on the matter. if anyone has other theories abt this, id love to hear

[survivorofhathsin04]

Slightly out there theory but I've seen no one else make it and wanna throw it out there. Kaladin is going to become Honor.

It's just a very random hunch I've had the past few days but it makes so much sense to me acknowledging the right details.

Now I dont know if theres a WOB debunking it but as far as I know theres no reason Dalinar couldnt use Bondsmith powers to reforge a shard. Like Honor still exists in Splinters such as honorspren and the Stormfather, so it seems possible to reforge

But even then, why Kaladin? I think its been heavily alluded to across the past few books. Such as the Stormfather consistently calling Kaladin 'Child of Tanavast' and others as 'Child of Honor' Sanderson has said before that it is an important distinction but didnt specify why so my only conclusion is Kaladin being Tanavasts successor in becoming Honor.

Secondly, the Death Rattle from Way of Kings, stating "He must pick it up, the fallen title! The tower, the crown, and the spear!"

This feels so overtly about Kaladin, especially with rhythm of war context. The tower is Urithiru, and Kaladin fighting back the singers and helping free them, the spear is the most obvious and could reference either his decision to join Amarams army in the first place or his decision to train Bridge Four but I think it overall represents his consistency to go back to the fight and do what he must. The fallen title, can be interpreted as Honor itself and how he must carry it on.

The crown is slightly more cryptic and nothing we can currently point to but, if Dalinar reforges the Oathpact with Kaladin as a Herald, the crown title makes sense since Jezrien, the former Windrunner herald was caller KING of the Heralds, and so he also potentially becomes the Windrunner Herald before becoming Honor itself.

And thats like... it.

Not a lot of evidence but my god this feels possible

[corvidpolyglot]

mistborn theory time again!

in The Lost Metal, Sazed claims that the Intent of his shards is shifting towards Discord rather than Harmony, which is a weird shift to happen given that we haven't seen major shifts in almost any other Shard.

So, my theory goes as follows: "Harmony" and "Discord" don't actually exist. We only have Sazed's word that they ever existed in the first place, and the words we use for the Intents are just descriptors for things that are usually a bit more ephemeral.

"Harmony" is interesting because it directly opposes Discord, and also represents a status quo compared to Discord's change; neither of those things should resolve from a Ruin/Preservation dishard, given that that's literally a major point of opposition between the Shards making it up. The more reasonable assumption, and one that explains the slow shift towards Discord, is that Harmony is just another term for Preservation and Discord is just another name for Ruin. We do know, after all, that Ruin still has a leg up over Preservation due to humanity on Scadrial still existing, so it's logical that it would slowly take over the double shard.

[monarchetype]

Adonalsium (probably) contained/consisted of all of the investiture in the Cosmere, and investiture in its solid form is metallic, so you're technically right

my unhinged iteration on this theory is that the method of killing the god of the Cosmere involved somehow cutting off its cognitive aspect from the cognitive realm so the perception of people couldn't continue to reinforce it as The God Of The Cosmere. and this method resulted in limiting the ways people can perceive/think about it, including erasing/blocking its real/"true" name. but its god metal somewhat escaped that effect so everyone just started using the god metal as a substitute name since it contains the original name "Adonal" or something similar to that. (the name "Adonalsium" was inspired by the term "Adonai" so this would make sense.)

my unhinged cosmere theory is that adonalsium is not a person but a hunk of metal they split into 16 different components and that's why the shards all have god metals

[renarines]

being dumb as fuck is making this chapter preview period so fun like. yes i have read over 20 books and novellas in this series. no i have no idea what is happening at any given moment. i just love when people post like "NO guys this means the dawnspren will reverse nahel splinter and kaladin will mega-ascend to reforge three shards into a invested shardshit" and i'm just like. god you're so right. keep going everyone

[azure-sorceress]

I've seen the theory that by the end of Wind and Truth the Stormfather will die (either because Dalinar loses the contest and dies or something else that we're not expecting happens) and therefore there will be no more Highstorms meaning no more stormlight.

If that happens, it makes a lot of sense why Lift will be the focus character in Stormlight 6. Her powers don't work on stormlight, they work on lifelight, which she can make herself. It would also explain why Cultivation made her that way: "When everything else is going wrong, I want to be the same." This is what she asks for. And if all the radiants are unable to use their powers because there's no more Highstorm, Lift will be the only one who stays the same.

I also wonder if Renarin and Rlain will be able to power their surgebinding with voidlight, instead of stormlight if this happens. Considering their sprens are not only of Honor and Cultivation, but also Odium, maybe that means they can use voidlight as well as stormlight, and get it easily from the Everstorm. Again, it checks with Renarin being one of the main POVs in the second half of the series.

I do not think that the other orders of Radiant will end, though. I only think they will have to be extremely reliant on the Tower. Because through their bond, Navani and the Sibling can make Light, I bet they could make it to power the radiants, but they will never be able to stay away from Urithiru for long.

If all this does happen I expect that they'll be able to get the Highstorms again by the end of book 6 or 7 (considering what we know about Roshar from The Sunlit Man, I'm pretty sure the storm returns).

Anyway, this was just a little theory that I came up with the other day.

[sailorspren]

I'm not a cosmere theories freak but I do have one theory I'm very passionate about which is that the pure tones of Roshar sound like sine wave synths! Let me explain :) I am taking "pure" to mean "consisting of only one note (and no overtones)", which is basically the definition of a sine wave. A sine wave is the representation of a single frequency with no harmonics and is considered an acoustically pure tone. Sine waves don't occur naturally - real world sounds always have overtones, in varying quantities. We can synthesize sine waves, however, and they sound like this (I played it in different pitches so you can get an idea of the timbre):

Here's a visual representation of a sine wave:

So this is what I imagine it sounds like when Dalinar opens a perpendicularity, or when singers hear pure notes in highstorms. And because the sound of a sine wave is so unnatural, it would really stand out and feel otherworldly on a planet that doesn't have modern technology - and I feel like that fits the description.

We also know that it's possible to use tuning forks to play the three pure tones of roshar and pull the matching types of light out of gemstones. While acoustic instruments can't produce a truly pure note (aka a sine audio wave), tuning forks come pretty close. They initially produce high overtones, but those fade out quickly, and then the forks keep resonating with a pure tone. It makes sense that tuning forks are the closest Rosharan humans can get to synthesizing a sine wave!

There's also the fact that Raboniel can sing the pure notes and get the lights to respond, while Navani can't. Is it just because Raboniel's pitch is more accurate, or do singers have an physiological ability to produce notes with less overtones? This is really interesting to me...

And one more fun thing to consider. You know what other instrument comes pretty close to producing a pure tone? The flute! Hoid gave Kaladin a flute... idk if it actually has any reasoning behind it but I really hope it does 😂 imagine how cool it will be if it will be used for musical magic system stuff

[little-cute-pink-horrible-being]

RoW spoilers! Shallan theory!

One of the most unhinged theories that I have is too funny to not share.

In the end of RoW Shallan remembers that despite losing Testament some of her powers still worked. I am fairly sure that it was due to her actually being a squire to someone else.

But here is where it gets crazy: What if the radiant she was a squire to was her father? That would explain how he survived the poison (which used all of his stormlight). But if we are assuming that he was a lightweawer (he sure had enough lies to attract a cryptic), HE DID NOT NEED A SOULCASTER.

Which means that the soulcaster was broken initially and he needed it only to cover up his powers, JUST LIKE JASNAH. Which means that shallan tried to switch one cover-up soulcaster FOR ANOTHER.

It is totally crazy and probably not true, but, hey, a girl can dream!

[youngmasterwisdomperson]

In Barbie (2023), Barbie Land is presented in such a way as to suggest that it takes up a significant portion of Earth’s cognitive realm. And indeed, the various Barbies and Kens are in many ways similar in nature to Rosharan spren and other sentient idea-based splinters, including in their need for a powerful Connection with a human in order to take on more aspects of reality and manifest properly in the physical realm. This has numerous interesting implications in terms of the Barbie Movie’s otherwise unexplained magic system, not the least of which being that the ghost of Ruth is similar in numerous ways to a Nalthian Returned. In this essay I will-

[onlycosmere]

So the Spiritual Realm is one way to get a much older and very upset Gavinor for our protagonists to deal with

[headcanonsandmore]

Kaladin, explaining his past to Adolin: So, after working tirelessly with Bridge Four to save ourselves from the near-hopeless situation we had ended up in, I was no longer a slave. I no longer had to walk barefoot and in rags everywhere.

Adolin: *horrified* Storms, Kaladin; you've had a incredibly difficult life. I can see exactly why you disliked me when we first met; people like me had literally beaten you down for your entire life. I'm... I'm so sorry.

Kaladin: Thanks, Adolin; that means a lot to me.

Adolin: So... what happened after you had finally been released from slavery?

Kaladin: Your wife used her privilege as a light-eyes to rob me of the boots I was wearing.

Adolin: ...

Kaladin: ...

Kaladin: Yeah, now that I think about it, that explains why I didn't like her for so long-

[marvelousmagicalaura]

I have a bunch of theories about The Lost Metal and Era 3, particularly about what Sazed is planning.

Sazed has master plans

I know this may end up being an unpopular opinion. But to me the story came across as if Sazed has been operating as the Chessmaster the entire time, all part of a coordinated effort to outmaneuver Autonomy. An effort to make her withdraw her army and interest in Telsin. I think a lot of little quotes in The Lost Metal, and certain quotes in the previous books, point to Sazed subtly maneuvering everyone - Wax, Wayne, Marasi, Kelsier and his Ghostbloods, Marsh, Tobal and Maraga, Steris (?). All with very powerful, very subtle future sight to make specific outcomes come to fruition.

Since chapter 19 I suspected Sazed had a plan in motion, one that needed him to arrange “help” unaware they were mobilized to be the “help.” One that required him to play games over and over with Autonomy. This suspicion came back once Wax speculated he always intended for him to be the Sword that stops a God Metal bomb.

Chapter 71 confirmed aspects of future sight I was curious about… ever since I started analyzingthe Terris Prophecies. Sazed confirmed that he sees future possibilities, automatically analyzes something as complex as a harmonium-trellium bomb, think much faster than mortals, and can discern the probabilities of an action (i.e. 1% chance of success, 99% chance of failure). Sazed even fleshed out what Fuzz warned Kelsier - even future sight as great as Preservation’s can be wrong. Sazed also confirmed that while Shards see future possibilities and analyze probabilities, they don’t always know the “why” of a possibility. Such as “why” it is good. This eased my suspicions.

But then Kelsier’s epilogue came along. While I don’t think Sazed is acting “all is perfectly according to keikaku,” he’s acting close enough. I think he was ultimately keeping certain, ultimate future outcomes in mind. The responses to Kelsier’s frustration made alarm bells ring in my mind:

"I had it in hand."

"Luck is a different thing to a god who can see futures, I think."

"I have it in hand."

"People should discover it on their own. If they do not, there are subtle consequences."

What if Sazed always knew Trell was Autonomy? After all Autonomy created Trelagism, and we know from book 3’s epilogue that Preservation hid “gems” in Trelagism to help the Hero of Ages. What if he let Autonomy’s plans get to this stage, knowing he could efficiently arrange pieces that could stop her? Or maybe he bet it would be the perfect event to encourage the continents to advance and progress?

What if Sazed was betting on Wax fulfilling his duties after the Lessie fiasco? What if he intentionally molded Wayne into the Slider who could accomplish the partial detonation? What if he knows the history of Scadrian eugenics and discerning what could happen if he directly GIVES knowledge of future tech?

His name shall be Discord, and they shall love him for it.

It’s obvious that Sazed is becoming Discord. Or perhaps, he’s already Discord by the time of Kelsier’s epilogue.

There’s clearly something going on with Sazed’s Shard, we just don’t know what. Harmony’s Intent left him unable to act, creating a state where every action needs equilibrium between P&R’s attributes. And there was a dark shadow throughout TLM. Kelsier speculates the shadow exists because Ruin was always stronger. Marsh’s interview with Khriss implies it may be the result of Ruin being subservient to Preservation.

My theory is Discord will be a good thing. Sazed directly educated Wax and Wayne about the bomb’s mechanics AND told them how to detonate it. Dulled the wave coming over Wax. Arranged for under 10 people to foil Autonomy’s complex plans, while his future sight was BLINDED. This is the most effective he’s been yet. I think Discord will be a Shard representing Sazed’s realization that Ruin and Preservation can’t always be in exact balance. Sometimes, Preservation’s attributes are needed most. Other times, Ruin’s attributes are needed most. I believe this mindset allow him to act, to commit actions that are EITHER of Preservation or Ruin.

I think Sazed is just trying to carefully move through his web of future possibilities. Preservation seemingly foresaw Discord will be a good thing. But if Sazed makes the wrong move, I bet he could invalidate that prediction.

How to make the Bands of Mourning, Excisors, unkeyed metalminds

Unkeyed metalminds contain attributes that aren’t attached to a Feruchemist’s Identity. But without Full Feruchemists, it’s impossible for a sole Feruchemist to create an unkeyed metalmind.

My theory is the Southern Scadrians are extensively using the same method as the Set’s keep-people-alive Hemalurgy. I think to create an unkeyed metalmind, Southerners are using a Command and a very thin duralumin spike. This would rip off a piece of the Feruchemist’s Identity, making any future storing Identity-less.

I think the Excisors are nicrosil and/or duralumin spikes.

The Bands of Mourning is the really tough cookie. Kelsier is no longer an Allomancer and definitely not a Feruchemist, so he couldn’t use his own powers to create the Bands. There’s no way he used Northerners to make them. There are a lot of logistics issues. My theory is Sazed directly created the Bands of Mourning and guided Kelsier into hiding it.

It wouldn’t be the first time Sazed subtly helped the Southerners. Sazed gave them harmonium and a perpendicularity, and we’ve seen how well they’ve been used.

[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