#stormlight isn't better in that way

[dayscapism]

Brando Sando defenders should learn the difference between theology and criticism of religion/faith. Also learn to understand thematic undertones and subtlety...

[jochi-the-veristithaylen-baker]

Kelsier: *solves everything by killing noblemen*

Everyone on Scadrial: If only Kelsier was here, he'd have a great way to solve this problem.

Every nobleman on Roshar when they meet an assassin: I bet Kelsier planned this, it feels like something he'd do.

[cosmerelists]

If Other Stormlight Characters Served as the King's Wit

As requested by anon. :)

"The King's Wit" is there to insult people in the king's stead. In this role, Hoid basically gets to stand at the entrance to feasts and make fun of people. It's a good gig for him. But what if other characters had this job?

1. The Stormfather

Stormfather (rumbling with displeasure): You have broken an oath today. Stormfather: You promised your son that you would play "Shattered Plains" with him this afternoon, but you did not. Stormfather: Though you feast for today, my storm winds shall one day scatter your dishonored bones. Elhokar (visibly sweating): Ha ha my new Wit sure is, ah, intense!

2. Kaladin

Kaladin: Ew. Another Lighteyes... Kaladin: Sniff, sniff! Smells like the exploitation of the powerless in here! Kaladin: I can name a dozen men better than you and guess what--they're ALL darkeyed. Kaladin: Nice outfit--did it come free with your ancestral privilege?  Elhokar (muttering to himself): I will not put him in jail again, I will not put him in jail again, I will not...

3. Shallan

Shallan: [sketching] Hapless Lighteyed guest: Is that...me? Shallan: It is! [shows Ideal Self portrait--it's the same person, only their sadness and distrust is gone and they shine with an earnest and honest light, looking out toward their future] Hapless Lighteyed Guest (visibly tearing up): I...It's beautiful. Shallan: Please, go ahead & take it! Elhokar: Shallan-Wit, why is everyone at my feast introspective and crying? Shallan: I'm really good at art.

4. Adolin

Adolin: Wow! You are so brave to put those colors together, and in a style from two years ago ago! Adolin: You are almost pulling it off. 

5. Dalinar

Dalinar: Hello. I could not help but overhear your heated argument, my friends. Dalinar: It reminds me of a tale from the Way of Kings, which I will now quote from memory... Dalinar: ... Dalinar: Aaaaand, they fled. Dalinar: That's the third time that's happened this evening.

6. Ialai

Ialai: [hands hapless lighteyed guest a folded-up sheet of paper] Hapless Lighteyed Guest: W-Where did you get this information about me? And my husband? And my...former boyfriend's sister's cousin? Ialai: [merely smiles] Hapless Lighteyed Guest: W-What do you want? Please! I'll do anything! Ialai: Why...nothing at all. Yet. Please enjoy the feast.

7. Lift

Lift: Mmmm....4. Lift: A solid 6! Lift: Perhaps a 5, but ONLY because of those pants. Lift: Wow! An 8! Wyndle: P-Please mistress, I don't think the job of the King's Wit is to rank the butts of all attendees! Lift: They need to know.

8. Jasnah

Hapless Lighteyed Guest: Ugh, I don't think it's right for the king to employ a heretic as his Wit! Jasnah: It's strange--one might think that your faith in the Almighty would inspire you to strive to be a good man, yet in reality your mother weeps each and every night to have produced a son who loves drinking and gambling more than he loves his children, his wife, or indeed the Almighty. Jasnah: Should you wish to inspire faith in others, perhaps you should try to demonstrate even the smallest reason why yours has produced an iota of good for anyone in this world aside from yourself. Elhokar (across the room, watching): I...am afraid.

9. Lopen

Lopen: Hey, I know you! I got a cousin in your army! Lopen: He always laughs 'bout how weird it is that your officers make the men pay for their own boots 'n' stuff 'cause it's an army not a charity, right? But then your officer son gets an allowance which is funny 'cause that kinda seems like the 'charity' thing that an army isn't! Lopen: We Herdazians tend to use a word to mean a thing, yeah? But you Alethi sure like to make a word mean whatever it is you want!

10. Szeth & Nightblood

Nightblood: Evil. Evil. Evil. Definitely evil. Big evil! Little evil, but still evil. Szeth: You've identified every guest so far as evil, sword-nimi. Nightbood: Yeah, I'm so good at detecting evil! So when does the slaying start? Szeth: I told you. I don't murder entire parties anymore. That is my past, but it does not have to be my future. Nightblood: But you're the King's Wit! You got wit-tle down the evil, right? Szeth: That is not what that means, sword-nimi. Nightblood: ... Szeth: ... Nightblood: People sure do speed up when they have to walk past us, huh? Szeth: I am pretty sure that means we're doing a good job.

[sweetteaanddragons]

So! It's been long enough now that someone else has almost certainly already said all this and said to better, but laying it out will help me sort through my own thoughts on it. Let's look at Epic: The Musical and ruthlessness.

Throughout the musical, the question of whether or not goals should be pursed ruthlessly has been emphasized. Odysseus's arc, unquestionably, is one of learning to accept ruthless action, and this ends with him achieving his goal. Looking at his arc alone, this would suggest a theme like, "Ruthlessness is effective."

. . . of course, looking at his arc a little more closely, we also see that ruthlessness, like mercy, has a cost. Yes, letting Polyphemus live cost him Poseidon's wrath. (Of course, his pride played just as big a role in creating that particular bill . . . ) On the other hand, his ruthless action with Scylla cost him the trust of his men, leading to the mutiny, the deaths of the cattle, the deaths of his crew . . . and, as is plainly seen in later songs, a good chunk of his peace of mind.

He kills the suitors, explicitly turning down any chance of a more merciful resolution! Interestingly, the musical then ends before exploring the consequences of this as the original poem does. All of the suitors had families . . . and those families are going to want payback of their own. Since the musical chooses not to address this, though, we'll leave it out of any discussion of the theme.

What the musical does choose to do is have Athena present her final thoughts on the matter. Athena has been going through the opposite arc to Odysseus: she starts the musical urging him to put his emotions aside and be more ruthless and ends it worrying that she's led him wrong. Athena herself has embraced more merciful actions, choosing to forgive Odysseus's disobedience to her and to fight for him even without any guarantee that she would gain his renewed friendship as a reward. By the end of the musical, Athena has the Odysseus she originally wanted . . . and she's no longer sure this is the kind of world she wants to live in. ("What if there's a world where we don't have to live this way?" which is an interesting echo of Polites: "Tell me is this how we're supposed to live?")

Odysseus decides he can't afford to work for that world . . . but he doesn't reject it as something not worth wanting, only as something he can't have. As the show's final (direct) comment on ruthlessness, it would seem to suggest the theme is something like, "In some situations, ruthlessness can be necessary, but a world where it isn't is something to strive for." (In which case, it's interesting to start dissecting whether the story believes that the modern world has achieved that second state, or whether the story still sees it as aspirational.)

(Side note: this definitely reminded me of one of Dalinar and Nohadon's conversations in Stormlight Archive about the kinds of codes of honor written by kings in times of peace vs. the actions kings take to get to those times of peace.)

Looking at some of the other side characters:

Telemachus attempts mercy in "Odysseus" but it backfires on him.

On the other hand, Eurylochus, one of the original proponents of ruthlessness in the musical, utterly fails to survive the play.

. . . of course, neither does Polites, the proponent of mercy.

Polyphemus denies Odysseus's crew mercy and suffers for it, while if he had taken their bargain, he probably would have been fine. Poseidon falls into the same category. Circe offers Odysseus mercy and is fine . . .

. . . but the whole reason she is initially ruthless is because failing to be has cost her before, and she only resorts to mercy when her ruthless attempt to kill Odysseus fails.

Which brings us to an interesting line in her final song:

"Maybe one day the world will need a puppeteer no more/maybe one day the world will need a puppeteer MORE."

Which ties in interestingly to Athena and Odysseus's conversation wherein Athena hopes for a better world someday.

So where does that leave the musical's message?

I'd argue that the musical's ultimate message on it is that, "Ruthlessness is effective so long as you have the power to back it up . . . which is one reason why a better world is one to strive for."

If you're powerful enough and you make sure to always shut anyone down before they can hurt you, you can ensure you don't get hurt.

The problem, of course, is making sure you're always the biggest monster in the room - and as Poseidon's fall demonstrates, you are never, ever going to be powerful enough to ensure that forever.

Odysseus, however, is convinced that Poseidon was right: "the world is dark." Ruthlessness may lead to a dark path that ultimately leads to your own gruesome death, but it's the only way to achieve even a moment of victory.

Which then brings us to Circe and Athena's lyrics that point to the future world - or, from our perspective, our world. Is it a world that can be safely greeted with open arms? Is it a world that can't?

And if it's a world that can't, can we afford the cost of letting it remain that way? Is Odysseus's world, where every threat is shut down as quickly and cruelly as possible until WE'RE the threat that's cut down, actually the world we want to live in?

. . . ooooh, wait a minute. Hold on.

Because the musical doesn't end with his scene with Athena. It ends with his reunion with Penelope.

Ruthlessness can get him to Penelope. It can bring him home alive.

It can't force her to still love him.

And in a worldview strictly defined by it . . . she shouldn't. She shouldn't be able to forgive him for failing her for twenty years. At most, she should accept him back on the grounds that he's clearly still the strongest warrior around, so for practical reasons - sure, yeah. We can still be married.

But that's not her perspective. Her perspective is of course she still loves him. Of course nothing can have destroyed the roots of their relationship.

In the end, she greets him with open arms.

[sailorspren]

Top 5 things you're looking forward to/want in stormlight arc 2?

Oh I'll be 100% real with you, I hated WaT and I don't know if I'll even read era 2. But in my wildest fantasies here are some things I would want from the series:

1. Gavinor and Moash breaking the cycle of violence together (forgiving each other/creating something better together etc)

2. Honestly any Moash arc that isn't wildly racist

3. Honestly just the series in general not being racist would be great. I'd like the system of racial oppression to be acknowledged in a way that's not just window dressing for people's trauma, I'd like oppressed people's anger to not be villainized, I'd like more darkeyed and singer characters, and especially more darkeyed and singer characters who resist the system in meaningful ways, I'd like Kaladin's internalized racism and model minority behavior to be acknowledged, I'd like Shallan's and Dalinar's and Navani's and everyone else's deeply ingrained racism to be acknowledged, I'd like less arcs about how hard it is to be privileged and the superficial guilt of the ruling class, I'd like history to not be revisited and told only from the oppressors' point of view. I'd like it if race and class issues weren't brushed aside in favor of dramatic epic fantasy plots moved along by the actions of individuals from the ruling class

4. A trans main character + more queer characters in general who are part of the main cast. Personally I'm a trans/nonbinary Lift believer I think it's a perfect continuation of her arc

5. More Navani and more Rysn and more Leshwi. Actually please Kaleshwi. Kaleshwi could fix this series

[nevertheless-moving]

stormlight au number 27. Elhokar and Kaladin time travel from Oathbringer to Way of Kings.

IMPORTANT: kaladin and elhokar develop weird unhealthy codependent situationship.

(MAJOR Oathbringer spoilers below)

...

...

Kaladin isn't pulled away by Adolin when he has his meltdown over Elhokar's death, over not being able to Save Everyone, and instead clings to Elhokar's dying body as a symbol of his failures. When Kaladin is killed in the confusion, something - the universe/ sja anat/ tattered pieces of honor and odium / hey maybe even adolnesium themselves who knows is like - errr. What. nope. Not my special boy!  Go back, Try Again. 

Kaladin wakes up in Way Of Kings, maybe a highstorm or two before the Tower. Kaladin is just like ah i see eternal damnation. Eternal damnation for my failures. Takes a little time before even considering the idea of time travel. Fortunately his attitude and response to thinking he's been consigned to everlasting ironic torment is remarkably similar to his response to the events of the first book, so a few days go by before the bridgecrew notices he's more fucked up than usual. 

Elhokar wakes up and (i enjoy the idea of THE COSMERE ITSELF SAVING KALADIN STORMBLESSED! and also Elhokar is there!) has no idea what to do. Testy with both thadeus and dalinar. Figures out some lightweaving. Maybe passes an order that the bridgemen should all have shields, in case Kaladin doesn't remember the future either, as a little goodwill present. After a couple more days he sneaks out to thadeus's bridgemen barracks to ask the hero for help, since none of the other kholins are responding to his leading mention of things he saw in 'dreams'.

Obviously he's not going to show his actual face when the guy who murdered him is in the room.

Dark amorphous blob with glowing blue eyes entering the barracks: Greetings Stormbles - do you all just sleep on the floor? And what is that smell? Heralds, this is depressing. Bridge four: WHAT THE - VOIDBRINGER! VOID- Kaladin : calm down, men, that's not what a voidbringer looks like. I think...its an unmade? Are there unmades in damnation? Only - that voice...do i...know you... Dark amorphous blob with glowing blue eyes: well, looking around, i suppose i can see why you would think this is braize, but come on, we're not actually dead and the almighty sent us ...here... for a reason. I need you to do your hero thing, huphup. Kaladin: ...shallan? Dark amorphous blob with glowing blue eyes: I suppose I am glad for the memory confirmation, but do i look - ugh - okay for hopefully obvious reasons i'm not going to put my true face on, so don't be an idiot and blurt out my real name, but i can probably wear the, ah, outfit she picked for me in Kholinar [Amorphous dark blob turns into pretty light eyed woman]: tada! Bridgefour: uh Teft: storms...you're one of them too...i think... Skar: does anyone else feel like we're in more danger now? Like better we were found with a voidbringer in our quarters than a brightlady? Drehy: no, i agree Hobber: shh! We're finally getting the captain's mysterious backstory ! Bissig: i TOLD you guys he must have got involved with a brightlady Leyten: and i bet on voidbringers which we all agreed was 10 to 1 so i'm pretty sure i'm winning Kaladin: Kaladin: [starting to tear up] Brightlady: uh Kaladin: [grabbing brightlady and audibly sobbing] Brightlady: UH Teft: storms you really broke him  Brighlady: what! I have no idea whats happening! He doesn't even like me! You all must have done something to him! Kaladin:  i thought...i failed you...that I cohldnt save you...i saw you get stab ed Brightlady: oh...huh. you really take that 'protect everyone' thing seriously. Do you do this every time someone you're guarding gets hurt? Moash: yeah... he's pretty much always like this Bridge four: [general nods of agreement] Brightlady: [awkwardly patting kaladin on the back]: well. The good news is i'm much more stab resilient now! Aha. Still would prefer not to... Kaladin: [weeping] Brightlady: come on bridgeman, there's a desolation coming remember? Saving the world and all that? Rest of bridge four: 

Anyway Elhokar somewhat intentionally leads the non Kaladin members of bridge four to believe that the actual Elhokar is dead, and that he (she? No, he, i think. Maybe they? Just - just go by what face i'm wearing!) has taken the king's place through dark magics. He assumes that the bridgemen will like him better if they think he's some sort of unholy kingkilling blood sorcerer, as opposed to the actual elhokar kholin.

Depressingly, he's right.

Unhealthy situationship! They both see each other as a Symbol. Elokhar is the Chance to Save Everyone. Kaladin is the True Hero and Leader. Kaladin starts tutoring elohkar on how to be a good person and leader, blaming his death on not doing so earlier. 

Kaladin's ability to do so is somewhat hindered by his deep unwillingness to see elhokar in danger, and his extreme tendency to take control when he sees something wrong. He objectively recognizes that this was also dalinars problem, but still shakes like a chihuahua sometimes to avoid grabbing elhokhar by the scruff of the neck when he does something stupid. Definitely questionable how qualified kaladin is for teaching, but like. There is progress.

Elhokar uses kaladin ruthlessly as a glowing flying tool to instill fear in his highprinces, which makes kaladins skin crawl a little, but it is helping enforce a lot of social changes protecting darkeyes that he never dreamed could happen. 

Elhokar at somepoint offers to lightweave kaladin and make him king elokhar instead. 

Kaladin doesn't even know where to start unpacking that.

Intriguingly, the whole not seeing the man for the symbol thing, while being Not Great, is also the source of a bit of solid common ground for each other. A few dizzy moments in private where they connect uniquely on what it is to have no friends who are not followers. Of never being allowed to be just a man.

Also some incredibly specific trauma bonding of living through the actual apocalypse. Both have some serious issues regarding dying in the absolute shitshow that was that the unmade palace. Mutual extreme distress when elokhar accidentally lightweaves a flashback. Please imagine a servant walking in on King Elhokar and Lord Stormblessed clinging to one another and shaking on the ceiling while a nightmareish orgy of death takes place beneath them. Paid off extremely well to never discuss what she saw, not that she'd be able to explain it.

Hard to completely cover up because she ran away screaming. Couple people assume the two men were fucking, but honestly most assume by her genuine distress, i mean jokes aside, those are two very good looking men and she was, you know, screaming in terror, so almost definitely not that. Some sort of vision from the almighty? Maybe a voidbringer?? 

Bridgefour, under the impression that 'elhokars' 'true form' is closer to the shadowy nightmare blob they initially saw (do you know how hard it is to lightweave invisibility? It was a rough draft, alright?), are largely convinced that she walked in on that. And maybe them fucking, uncertain about that part. They are initially supportive of their captain's potential monsterfucking (the man deserves to relax) but grow increasingly concerned about some of the red flags in their relationship. 

Anyway, needless to say, dalinar and kaladins dynamic is weird in this one. Still a fair amount of instant mututal respect. But now elhokar is cribbing shamelessly from dalinars hero journey and calling him out  on his tendency to seize power, undermining elokhar. So dalinar feels a lot more wobbly about his place. 

Apparently not even the visions from god are special, elhokar and his secret radiant (a real radiant!) had been receiving some too? Better, more useful ones even? 

And the radiant is taking his place in elhokars trust, and calling him out even MORE for not teaching elhokhar how to be a leader when he was younger, stormfather,  did you want him to fail? how did it get this bad? Fortunately, Dalinar is willing to get humble and Grow. Honestly, dalinar and kaladin are probably in a better place. More mutual trust. Less constant exchange of unpayable debts. Kaladins rank is really confusing, but theyre closer to equals than they were in canon.

Teft: lad we need to talk about you and the Uh. Lightweaver. shapeshifter? Kaladin : what? I thought you guys were warming up to eachother Lopen: gancho they're the best unholy creature i've ever met. Proper respect for herdassian women. Skar: lopen does not agree with this intervention but the rest of us are...concerned. Rock: is how he looks at you that we are worried. Like starving man looks at beloved pet axehound. Kaladin: Kaldin: what? Moash: you know i'm fond of the guy, it's like Skar said, we're a little...concerned. That he wants to, you know, kill and eat you so he can take your place. Kaladin: he wouldn't - he definitely wouldn't eat me. Teft: see, the fact that you didn't immediately argue with the 'murder you to take your place' part of that is concerning. Kaladin: he's just going through a lot. Rock: yes, but way you circle one another...again, like axehound and man, only you change places Kaladin: hes my king! and im secretly tutoring him on how to be a leader! of course our dynamic is going to be odd!  Teft: look its - he's not a normal person. He doesn't know how to...be a human, i don't think.  Kaladin: yeah, sure, I'll give you that. but he's getting better! You saw how he said thank you to sigzil the other day! Moash: kal... Kaladin: i can fix him Moash: kal

Sure hope dalinar never overhears bridgefour and elhokar talking about how glad they are that his nephew is dead and that new elhokar took his place! He definitely wouldn't go into a murderous rage and do something regrettable if he believed that were true!

Alternate Version with Solo Elhokar Time Travel Stormlight AU Masterlist

[onlycosmere]

Brandon Sanderson: It is, frankly, a bit of a miracle that this [Secret Project Five] manifests in the middle of Stormlight Five. And it only did because I had a little bit of momentum on it from a number of years ago.

And you'll find out once that is once we do more of the reveals. But it's something I've been writing on for maybe seven, eight years.

I wrote a bunch of this in Hawaii last year. I took some time and relaxed; I actually had two trips to Hawaii last year, one with the whole family, and then one with just myself and Emily. And that's where the bulk of this was written, was during those two trips.

Dan Wells: Secret Project Five is much shorter and more compact. It's got, I think, really only two POVs.

Brandon Sanderson: Something else I wanted to talk about with this. You mentioned High Cosmere Connectivity; I worked forever trying to figure out how to write that phrase. Because it had to fit in, like, two or three words on the screen. And it had to explain... and I'm not sure if people will understand, even still, what we're getting across.

Because what I really wanted to say is: this book isn't intended for first-time Cosmere readers (though if you are a first-time Cosmere reader and you understand that, you'll probably have a good time). The rest of you probably should read a few Cosmere books before you pick this one up, then you will really enjoy it better.

That's what I wanted to write; that's not three words.

If they know they're jumping into future era where there's a lot more Cosmere connectivity... but, the story reads just fine on its own. There are plenty of people who could read this book, not know anything, and enjoy it quite a bit. It doesn't require you to have read other books to understand. But...

And some people don't like a lot of Cosmere connections. And this one does have them. It's got characters from multiple different planets; some you've seen, some you haven't. And it's taking place, kind of dealing with future era sort of stuff. I think most readers will enjoy it, but I do want you to be aware of that, right? There are some people who are just like, "I just want to read Stormlight Archive, and I don't want to worry about the larger mess."

And this is probably not something they would like.

Dan Wells: One of the things, as I was reading it (because I was keeping this idea in mind of how accessible is it to new readers), in a lot of ways I think... Imagine Lord of the Rings, except it starts after they've already left the Shire.

So you don't actually get to see the homeland of anyone in the Fellowship. But you hear about their homeland, and they brag about their homeland to each other. That still works, right?

It's very Guardians of the Galaxy; other than Earth, you don't really see anyone's homeworld. But you can accept, "Okay, these are all the adventurers that have come together to do the thing."

[smoldering-violets]

So I've had some Thoughts lately as I've been rereading Oathbringer about a post I saw at some point just after finishing reading the Stormlight Archive for the first time and starting to get into the fandom. The basic premise of the post was that both Elhokar and Jasnah would have both led better lives if they were trans and effectively switched roles.

I disagree with that in regards to Jasnah. Her problems are mostly from the strict gender roles put on her by Alethi culture and vorinism, not from just being a woman. Also, as an elsecaller her oaths are supposed to revolve around meeting her potential and becoming better, and she's shown to be at at least the fourth ideal in RoW. If she were trans I'd expect that to have come up at some point. Maybe I'm missing something because I'm transfem not transmasc but I don't see that for Jasnah.

Elhokar on the other hand, I get the argument. There's not a lot of textual evidence, but more than for Jasnah. Like Jasnah, the strict gender roles of their culture seems to cause Elhokar distress, but he's way worse at making his own place despite them than Jasnah is. Elhokar was made king after his father's death due to being the only male heir, but as is shown throughout the series he's not good at being a king. Like at all. Jasnah does a much better job ruling Alethkar and that's during the apocalypse! Anyway, being a bad king doesn't mean he's trans, but it does help illustrate that the place he's put in life doesn't fit him.

The strongest evidence for Elhokar being trans is that he's attracted the attention of cryptics and if he wasn't killed he would have become a lightweaver. Lightweavers tend to be people who have deeply hidden truths about themselves that they refuse to admit even to themselves (assuming Shallan isn't a complete outlier). As someone who is trans, it's pretty easy to imagine that being a powerful truth someone would be reluctant to admit to.

Additionally, in Oathbringer when the team is infiltrating Kohlinar, Shallan suggests disguising Elhokar as a woman. Kaladin and Shallan both expect him to resist that idea, but he goes along with it eagerly and never seems uncomfortable with the experience or role while wearing that disguise. It seems like a similar thing to a lot of trans women dressing up as women for Halloween before realizing who they are/coming out because it gives them plausible deniability. I know I for one would have been delighted to have the opportunity to have an illusion that changes both my appearance and voice to be more feminine (I'm slowly working on that without the illusion, but anyways).

The last thing that's less directly evidence of being trans, but still contributes to the argument imo is that Elhokar seems to be kinda depressed most of the time. It'd be pretty easy to read the cut saddle strap situation in TWoK as a potential suicide attempt that could be explained away as trying to find assassins. In WoR after Dalinar sets off into the shattered plains Elhokar immediately starts drinking and goes to Kaladin to talk about how bad he is a being a king. On the night of the assassination attempt he's extremely drunk and moping in his rooms. In early Oathbringer he tries to abdicate the throne to Dalinar and constantly talks about how he always fails and makes a mess of things.

Anyway that's about it for my random thoughts and rambles about this that have been rattling around in my head for a while. I doubt this'll really persuade anyone, but I just wanted to put my thoughts out there

[kaiasky]

so spoilers for wind and truth the latest stormlight book

jasnah has this whole debate thing with odium where she starts out as a utilitarian and odium proves to her and the judge that she's a hypocrite because 1) she cannot know the greater good for certain especially not when an immortal god is saying he knows for certain his way is best. 2) while she'd sacrifice a stranger to save her kingdom she wouldn't sacrifice her family and that makes her a hypocrite for not truly caring about the greatest good for the greatest number of people etc. and so actually her utilitarianism is just cover over more petty noble-squabbling look-out-for-you-and-yours philosophy.

and overall this works for me right. Jasnah losing a debate and having her world shaken is very fun and I like where she arrives at the end where she's like shit. I have to reassess my whole philosophy. what do I still believe in. like I think she holds the Clown Stick for much of the scene but it does mean she gets scenes of her nobly trying to be intellectually honest as she rebuilds and reconsiders her ideology.

And like. I like that she's put in the vulnerable position of feeling on a gut level that Odium is wrong but not being able to articulate that rationally yet. Particularly in a book about like. what it means to make wrong choices and then make better choices later, I like that it isn't that Jasnah's scholarship is useless when she finds she's wrong, and instead it provides an orderly way for her to rebuild.

However. part of me feels like. look. I dont think Jasnah is actually lying about "greatest good" shit. I think if Teravangian could credibly tell her that he served the greatest good she would be like. for real? Convince me that a war in the cosmos is necessary. why not something more subtle. can we put checks and balances in this? sure you wield the Shard of unbridled hatred and scorn but like. That's why we set up checks and balances. idk.

idk. there's an alternate way to write it where Jasnah ends up being the spark of the idea to fuse Odium with a balancing Shard somehow or to like. create the Council Of Feelings to manage the power etc.

and. Idk. I think probably id be a little cynical about it. Ohhh now mister liberal Mormon is going to preach to me how even seemingly reasonable tolerant atheists will make deals with the devil if they don't have a code to give them morals.

buuut. idk.

first off I think Jasnah/Teravangian is a fun dynamic. and in particular if there's not Hoid, I want her to have someone who can be like damn she's smart.

Secondly like. IDK. I think in order to sell Teravangian as an extremely dangerous person to be holding Shards you'd really like him to say like. "yes this power is driven by strong feelings. This scares me and I am thinking of how to manage this through Establishing Systems." a thing that I think Jasnah could find pretty appealing

I think it would be excellent to have a non-Yolen non-Shard who is cosmere-aware and has has strong thoughts on what the future of the Shards and cosmere should be. particularly bc she's exes with Hoid.

Like. from a doylist perspective the goal is for Thaylenah to fall from a seemingly sure position, and from a watsonian perspective it's bc Odium isn't trying to recruit Jasnah, he's trying to get Thaylenah by proving her a hypocrite. And also even if her arguments are defeated she's still ideologically opposed to tyranny and so there's nothing a tyrant can offer her. I get it. but c'mon give me Dark Jasnah

[thatboreddrake]

So a while back I finished the third book of the Stormlight Archives, Oathbringer. As I was thinking back over the characters and plotlines, it occurred to me, "It's all about pain, isn't it." Each of the major plot beats seem to focus on how characters deal with and cope with their own personal pains.

Adolin is dealing with the feeling that he has betrayed everything that he and his father stood for, but he can't bring himself to feel guilty about it. Shallan is dealing with everything that happened in her childhood and feeling as though it was all her fault. Dalinar has to deal with the pain of the fact that he killed his wife and put an entire city to the sword: men, women, and children. Venli is dealing with the fact that her sister, her people, and everyone that she's ever known has died, and it's all her fault. Teft is still struggling with the guilt of bringing death to his whole family. Kaladin is dealing with the same darkness that nearly led him to cast himself into the chasm and feels powerless to prevent the deaths of those he feels responsible for. Moash is wrestling with the fact that he betrayed Kaladin: the only person who he feels was ever worthy of his respect or loyalty.

And each of them deals with the pain in their own ways. Adolin puts on a brave face and desperately tries to pretend that he's the same person as he always has been, despite the turmoil that is eating him alive. Shallan retreats further into the protection of disguises, faces, new personas, in a bid to be anybody but herself, anyone but the person who feels her pain. In his flashbacks, Dalinar nearly drinks himself to death in a vain attempt to drown the memories of those he murdered. Venli throws herself into her work, determined that she is going to make her people's sacrifice mean something. Teft falls into a depression and isolates himself from Bridge Four to prevent them from seeing his pain and his shame. Kaladin tries desperately to push it all down and focus on the next mission to keep himself from having the time to dwell on everything that he has lost. And Moash tries to rationalize his actions, convincing himself that the whole world is broken. Just like him.

And in the end, none of these coping mechanisms help them to move forward or deal with their pain. So long as they hold onto them, they only prolong their suffering. Adolin's conflict is only resolved when he finally comes clean to Shallan and receives her confirmation that he did the right thing. Shallan comes inches away from completely losing herself to her illusions until Hoid confronts her and asserts that, no matter what has happened and what she has done, she must never believe that she deserves to hurt. Venli has to mentally break from the work of the Fused and, with the prompting of Timbre, instead take the next step to try and rebuild what she has lost. Teft is forced to confront his own self-loathing and affirm that he will protect those he hates, even if the one he hates the most is himself. Moash falls fully into his self-rationalization and refuses to accept the idea that he could still change for the better.

Kaladin... well, Kaladin doesn't overcome his pain here. When he comes to the critical moment, he knows what he has to do to move on and become a better man. But he can't. Instead, he is forced to reckon with the fact that, despite his best efforts, sometimes all he can do is to take a step back and let somebody else save him. But that doesn't mean that he's any closer to accepting and healing from the pain of losing the ones he swore to protect.

In this, Kaladin's character mirrors that of Amaram, in a way. In their fight, Kaladin forces Amaram to strip away his rationalizations. Despite all his talk of working for the greater good of Roshar, Amaram still has to deal with the pain of the damage which his actions have inflicted on others. But instead of learning from his pain, he gladly surrenders it to Odium's reassurance: "You didn't do this. I made you do this. It wasn't your fault."

And all of this is what makes the conclusion of Dalinar's arc so powerful in this book. Dalinar, who so recently had to come to terms with a crushing amount of pain. Who once more was faced with a truth that in the past had driven him to self-destruction and desperation. Dalinar, who, despite all his attempts to be a better person, has to reckon with the fact that he has wrought untold amounts of death and destruction on people whose only crime was being in his way. And when he is given Odium's same offer? The choice to surrender his pain, his choice, his responsibility? He gives but one response: "YOU CANNOT HAVE MY PAIN"

Because in the end, it's all about pain. How we deal with it. How we accept responsibility and move on with our lives. Because the pain will never truly leave us. All that is left for us, then, is to turn the pain into a spark. To let it light a fire beneath our feet, that we may be a better person tomorrow than we were today.

[cuubism]

Crossed Blades (3049 words) by cuubism Chapters: 1/3 Fandom: Stormlight Archive - Brandon Sanderson Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Kaladin/Adolin Kholin, Kaladin/Leshwi (Stormlight Archive), Adolin Kholin & Sylphrena Characters: Adolin Kholin, Kaladin (Stormlight Archive), Leshwi (Stormlight Archive), Sylphrena (Stormlight Archive), Teft (Stormlight Archive), Dalinar Kholin, Venli (Stormlight Archive), El (Stormlight Archive) Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Book 05: Wind and Truth (Stormlight Archive), Explicit Sexual Content, Politics, Kaladin's canonical savior complex, Trauma, Near Death Experiences, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort, Battle, Major Character Injury, Established Relationship, Polyamory Series: Part 3 of They Carried Gravity Summary: The ceasefire with Odium is meant to guarantee peace for one thousand years. But Kaladin isn't satisfied with a form of 'peace' that still gives Odium dominion over half the population of Roshar. Especially when it leaves an old comrade-in-arms trapped under his thumb.

--

I have more Kadolin fic. I can't stop, I won't stop 🫡 I'm doing my part.

--

Peacetime.

Ostensibly, this is peacetime—the lull after Dalinar’s duel with Odium, after the stalemate, the ceasefire, the winning back of some of their lands and forfeiture of others. It feels less like a lasting peace and more like the Weeping—a temporary cessation of hostilities, but always with the knowledge that they will return.

Adolin knows Kaladin feels the same. That the many lingering problems on Roshar still nag at him, and the promise of future warfare too, even if it's a thousand years past their lifetimes. Nobody feels quite satisfied with this ‘peace’, and it’s why they’re still having these war councils, these… ‘stalemate’ councils where they go around and around, wondering what, if anything, to do, all aware, in the backs of their minds, that while they may have managed to get the rabid whitespine out of their house for now, it’s still pacing and snuffling at the doors, searching for a way back in.

For the moment, Odium seems to be distracted with grander projects, apparently searching for a way off-world, and has left most of his lands to be managed by the Fused. By the terms of the contract, neither side is allowed to attack the other outright, so they can’t just try to reclaim the nations that fell to Odium. But there could be another way to undermine his power, without officially breaking the ceasefire.

Kaladin is convinced that the Singers can be turned against Odium, and Rlain, Renarin, and Venli all seem to agree. While simply trying to seize the countries from Odium’s followers wouldn’t work anyway--they're too numerous, and besides, as Rlain argues, the Singers have just as much right to be in those lands as the humans do--there could be other methods.

“I spent time with them in Alethkar,” Kaladin is saying, leaning on the council table. Adolin sits back in his chair and listens, not really a part of the conversation, but not minding so much. He likes watching Kaladin. “They’re just people. They’re angry, they want justice— and rightly so. But if we can offer a better future than Odium, we can win them over.”

Rlain hums in agreement.

“Odium will still desire war, it is his nature,” Dalinar says, contemplatively, pacing with hands clasped behind his back. “But the contract holds him. And, to an extent, us.”

“Then give him a war,” Kaladin says. The fire in him is thrilling to watch. He has a plan now, and it’s banishing any traces of despair that lingered after Azir, after the devastation on the Shattered Plains. “But not us against the Singers. That’s just repeating the mistakes of the past. We all have the same enemy. This time, it should be all of us against Odium.”

“Do you think peace with the Singers is possible while Odium holds sway?” Dalinar asks. “The history… his influence… it's heavy.”

“We have to try,” says Rlain, and Renarin… hums some kind of rhythm in agreement? Storms, listening to him pick up that Listener language is odd.

“Even if you can reach ordinary Singers," Dalinar says, "what about the Fused?”

“The Fused can be turned,” Venli and Kaladin say at the same time. They look at each other across the table.

“Some of them don’t want to fight anymore,” Venli says. “They’re tired.”

“We saw it happen right here in Urithiru,” Kaladin says.

Navani nods in agreement.

“I have to talk to Leshwi,” Kaladin continues, determined. “She’s still with you at the Shattered Plains, isn’t she?”

Venli hesitates, then says, in a rhythm that sounds mournful even to Adolin’s ignorant ears, “…No. During the battle… we had to feign allegiance to Odium. The Shanay-im… they gave themselves back over to his powers. I think they may be in Thaylenah now, though I am not certain.”

Kaladin swears.

“They don’t want to serve him anymore,” Venli stresses.

“I know that.” Kaladin thinks longer, tapping his fingers on the table. “I have to find her.”

“Kaladin.” Rlain’s voice is contemplative. “Even if these Heavenly Ones don’t want to serve Odium any longer, they may be compelled by his powers. It is hard to break away from him even once. What exactly do you aim to do?”

Kaladin blows out a long breath. “Trust her not to kill me? We need some of the Fused to join us against Odium, or at least put down arms—otherwise the cycle of war will just begin again. If not now, then in a thousand years.”

“If you go to Thaylenah, so will I,” Venli says, sounding resolute. “I owe it to the Singers to try for peace. And I do not think you will be able to sway them yourself, human. With respect.”

Kaladin nods.

“I’m not sending an army to Thaylen City,” says Dalinar, hand held out in a stalling gesture. “That will start a war. And not the one you propose.”

“Not an army,” Kaladin says. “Just a few people. And besides.” His lips quirk up in a half-smile, as if he knows what he’s saying is a bit ridiculous even as he says it. “We’re just there to talk, aren’t we? Nothing in the contract against that.”

They all wait for the verdict. Finally, Dalinar sighs. “Please just don’t start a war in the process.”

Adolin wants to bask in the triumph on Kaladin's face.

Before the council disbands, they hash out a few more of the details. Adolin, of course, decides he's going along--he isn’t going to let Kaladin walk into enemy territory with a completely insane plan without at least coming along to watch. He may have accepted that he can’t reasonably put himself on the front lines of a proper battle, but he doesn’t intend to let life get boring.

Or to leave Kaladin with his back unguarded.

After the meeting, he corners Kaladin in the hall, pulls him down a narrow passageway in the Tower, one of the secret ones that opens with a hidden door and then seals shut behind them.

Kaladin splutters in the darkness. “What?”

“You’re incredible like that,” Adolin says, already pushing him up against the wall, shoving a gasp from his lungs.

“Like what?”

“Leading.”

It had been riveting to watch. The authority. The determination. Really, Adolin hadn’t known that was something that could get him so riled up, but it’s fun to find that out.

Kaladin looks like he’s about to protest, but then he pauses. Thinks about it. Studies Adolin. Finally he takes Adolin’s chin in one hand, tilts his head up and says, “Someone has to take charge.”

Shit, he’s learning.

“You always have,” Adolin says, voice coming out all breathy.

Kaladin is a force of nature. Adolin used to find it infuriating. Now… that’s not the word he’d use.

“We should discuss more detailed plans for this trip, I want to go soon,” Kaladin says.

“Probably should,” Adolin agrees. He lets his gaze drop to Kaladin’s lips and back up. “I mean, we can if you want—”

Kaladin pulls him into a rough kiss. His hands dig into Adolin’s hair, and when he drags Adolin close his thigh slots between Adolin’s legs. Adolin lets himself be pulled in, grinds against Kaladin’s thigh with a moan specifically designed to urge him on.

It works, too. A possessive hand grips Adolin’s ass, grinding his cock harder into Kaladin’s thigh. How Adolin loves goading him.

Adolin rolls his hips, groaning at the pressure, and the bite of Kaladin’s kiss. He could get off just with this, really, just grinding on Kaladin’s thigh, just on the base need of it.

Kaladin seems to have the same thought, reaching between them to untie Adolin’s trousers so he’s not so constricted, but not fully taking him out. Then he pulls Adolin back in, pressing Adolin hard into his body, urging him on, mouth going to his neck as Adolin pants into his shoulder.

“That’s it,” he praises. “Come on.”

Adolin must be more wound up from watching Kaladin lead than he realized, because it’s not long at all before he’s whining into Kaladin’s skin, his body hot, sparking, trembling, desperate. Just Kaladin holding him close, keeping pressure on him, wanting him, is enough to get him. He’s easy, he’s very very easy when it comes to Kaladin.

Kaladin digs his fingers into his hair, drags Adolin’s head back to meet his lips again—and that’s it, the easy manhandling, fuck.

Adolin comes with a whimper that falls right into Kaladin’s mouth, heat rushing through him, legs going weak. The strength of Kaladin’s hands, the heat of his mouth is overwhelming.

When he catches his breath, he pulls away, sinking down onto his knees. He might sort of collapse the last couple of inches, because erotically sinking down onto one’s knees is not actually that easy to do with a prosthetic, but he does his best.

Kaladin doesn’t seem to find it any less affecting. His hands slip back into Adolin’s hair as Adolin undoes his trousers, straining over his cock, and takes him out. Adolin hears him take in a sharp breath.

Adolin presses his nose into Kaladin’s pelvis, breathing him in, Kaladin’s cock smearing wetly over his cheek. Kaladin’s grip tightens in his hair until it’s painful. “You really like doing that,” he observes shakily.

“So?”

“You thought I was complaining?”

Adolin nips the skin above his hipbone. “Don’t bite the hand that— the mouth that’s bi— that’s. Sucking you off.”

“Maybe you should leave the wordplay to Shallan. And I hope you aren’t going to bite me.”

Adolin nips him again. Kaladin’s skin jumps.

“You’re going to hurt your knees,” he says. From anyone else it would be meant to get his blood up but from Kaladin it sounds like genuine concern. Storming man.

“I’m good,” Adolin says, but ducks his forehead against Kaladin’s thigh in acknowledgment of his concern.

Whatever concern Kaladin might have had, though, is banished as soon as Adolin takes his cock in his mouth. Kaladin gasps above him, grip tightening in Adolin’s hair. “Fuck,” he breathes, and Adolin would smile if his mouth wasn’t occupied. As it is, he relishes in tasting him, and the weight of Kaladin in his mouth, the strain on his knees, even. He loves the sounds he gets out of Kaladin, the heavy breaths and moans, when he takes him deep enough that Kaladin makes a choked off sound and his hips stutter forward involuntarily. It’s so satisfying to get his control to slip.

He grips the backs of Kaladin’s thighs, braces himself there as he bobs his head, hollows his cheeks. Kaladin takes his face between his hands, feeling the hinge of his jaw, the strain of his neck. Yes, Adolin thinks. Yes.

“Adolin,” Kaladin breaths. “Gonna—”

Adolin doesn’t let up, squeezes the backs of his thighs, hums around him— and Kaladin curses, hips jerking into the back of his throat, grip tight on Adolin’s jaw. Adolin waits until his hips still, then pulls off him and swallows, eyes still closed in bliss, holding tight to him as a shudder runs all through Kaladin’s body.

“Adolin,” Kaladin says again. “Fucking— Damnation.”

Adolin takes a moment to gather himself. “Good, hm?” he finally says, with a bit of a smirk.

“You know it is.”

He draws Adolin back to his feet, carefully, pulls him close, presses their lips together. They kiss long and slow, sinking into each other, eyes falling shut. Adolin loves this so much, just touching him, being close to him. Loves the way Kaladin wraps his arms around his back, loves the way that, after they’ve parted with gasping breaths, Kaladin looks at him in the semi-dark, his eyes faintly glowing with stormlight. It’s a tender look, fond, softly wanting. How Adolin loves getting to see that side of him. How he loves the feeling of that look being directed at him.

Kaladin presses one final kiss to his cheek, then says, “We should go, there’s a lot that still needs to be arranged.”

He straightens up his own clothes, then does Adolin’s. Adolin’s uniform coat, when buttoned, falls to mid-thigh and is fortunately long enough to cover the mess in his trousers, but he is going to have to go immediately back to his rooms to change. It gives him a bit of a thrill.

“All that effort I put in to let you leave with dignity and you just left me a mess,” he complains.

“It’s good for you,” Kaladin says. “You’re too pretty, you should be humbled.”

Adolin doesn’t feel particularly humbled. He feels like he ought to gloat.

“You think I’m pretty,” he says, with a grin.

Kaladin leans back against the wall. “Do you need it spelled out? I know you own several mirrors.”

“Maybe I just like it,” Adolin says.

Kaladin touches his cheek fondly. “You certainly put enough effort into your appearance to have figured it out on your own.”

“See, that’s the unfair thing. I do put effort in and you don’t and yet you’re still just like that.” He gestures to Kaladin’s entire self.

“What does that mean?”

Kaladin is— ‘pretty’s’ not really the right word for it, he’s too bold and unrefined to be pretty. It’s more like striking. And he is actually completely unaware of it. He always has been. It’s unbelievable. “You’re just. You carry yourself like no one I’ve ever met. Like you’ve never even thought about bending your spine to anyone. You might not like kings much but you’re incredibly regal. Your hair is always a mess from flying and yet it somehow looks artful and wild instead of messy. And you actually literally glow, in case you forgot.”

Kaladin snorts. “Is that all?”

Adolin groans. “Do you even understand how much work I put in to keep this—” he gestures to his face in general “—the way it is, and you’re just there?”

“I’ve witnessed the work,” Kaladin says. But there’s a blush starting to rise high on his cheeks at all the compliments.

“Just understand that you draw attention way more than you think you do,” Adolin tells him. “And not just because of the glowing.”

“Especially from you?”

Adolin grins. “Especially from me.”

“I’ll note it,” Kaladin says. But he looks pleased.

With their dignity mostly restored, Kaladin opens the alcove door again to let them out, and they step out into the hallway. 

Teft is leaning against the wall across the way, arms crossed, looking bored. Kaladin, previously assured, flushes with embarrassment. Adolin’s got a bit of a reputation already so he doesn’t see much point in being embarrassed, himself.

“If you’re done defiling my former bridgeleader, Brightlord, I need to borrow him,” Teft says gruffly to Adolin. There’s a sparkle of amusement in his eyes, though.

Adolin had gotten a bit of a talking to from the remaining members of Bridge Four, after the ceasefire had happened and the rumors of the change in their relationship had started to get out. The shovel talk was messy but he’d been left with the clear message that if he did wrong by Kaladin he would deeply regret it. It was as terrifying as it was sweet, and it's imperative that Kaladin never finds out about it.

“He’s all yours,” Adolin says, running a hand through his hair to emphasize its messiness, just to watch Kaladin squirm. Kaladin roughly straightens his own wrinkled uniform.

“Teft,” Kaladin says. “What did you want to discuss?”

“Your level of insanity,” Teft says, and gestures to Kaladin to follow as he walks off. Kaladin follows, with a guilty sort of look at Adolin. Adolin blows him a kiss.

--

“What did Teft want?” Adolin asks later, over a drink. “I hope he wasn’t giving you grief about fucking in a closet. It’s really not a big deal.”

Kaladin coughs, nearly choking on his drink. When he gets his breath back, he says, “No. He just thinks I’m insane for wanting to track down Leshwi, and he said, quote, ‘Do you want to get stabbed in the throat, or is all the sex frying your brain?’”

“She did try to kill you multiple times,” Adolin points out.

“That was in wartime,” Kaladin says.

“Sure, but Fused and Radiants are kind of like hereditary enemies, Kaladin. You really think she’ll talk to you and not just kill you?”

Kaladin thinks about it, tipping his glass back and forth to watch the wine swirl, but not drinking. “It’s complicated,” he says at last. “The Shanay-im have this honor code… unlike the other Fused. More than once they had one of us pinned and pulled back because they felt the kill wouldn’t be honorable. They aren’t just mindless killers. And Leshwi…” he keeps swirling the wine, gaze distant. “During the occupation she protected my family. She drew Lezian’s attention away from me. She fought with us; she walked away from Odium when Venli did. Even if she is back with Odium now, does that sound like someone who will put a spear through me without hearing me out?”

“…It doesn’t,” Adolin concedes.

“There are cracks in Odium’s power,” Kaladin continues. “They’re in the people who serve him, the way he mistreats them. I want to widen the cracks, I mean, what if we could break them out? Free the Fused?”

“Free the Fused?” Adolin says, then laughs incredulously.

“What?”

“Nothing, just— you would really try to save anyone.”

“Isn’t it better than killing them?” Kaladin exclaims, gesturing widely.

“I’m not criticizing!” Adolin says. If anything he admires Kaladin’s tenacity even if he’s not sure what he wants is really possible. “Just don’t get in over your head. Don’t throw yourself to the Fused in the hopes you can change them.”

Kaladin groans, pushing his face into his hands. “That’s exactly what Teft said. Except he also called me a ‘fucking idiot.’”

“He just doesn’t want to see you get hurt.”

“And what about you?”

Adolin grins. “Well, I don’t want you to either, but instead of stopping you I’m just crazy enough to go with you.”

Kaladin raises an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. “Double the idiocy.”

“That’s the best kind of day out.”

“And it never ends poorly,” Kaladin says, and tips his glass against Adolin’s in a toast.

[crypticpatterns]

So, okay, I'm coming at this from a very uneducated perspective on DID besides some very basic googling and some osmosis from my sibling who loves Moon Night. I do not personally have DID or any similar disorder. But Shallan's character arc in ROW has kind of been bothering me.

Shallan has always been my favorite Stormlight character and I've loved how her character has developed over the course of the series. But her arc has always felt a little strange because I could tell it was leading towards integration between the alters, and I'm not sure how I feel about that, especially after the end of ROW confirmed that's where it's been heading.

From what I've learned, integration between headmates IS a valid form of healing for systems with DID. But currently it's the ONLY valid form of healing as seen by the medical community, when there are many systems who have learned to live happy, fulfilled, and complete lives while remaining a system with multiple alters.

So my feelings about Shallan are complicated, because by having her integrate and presumably end the series mentally "normal" with no alters, isn't that perpetuating the idea that it's the only way for people with DID to heal from their trauma? But on the other hand, it does feel like the most natural conclusion to her character arc, since her alters have formed as a coping mechanism for Shallan to dissociate from her actions and pretend to be someone else. I kind of think that maybe by not approaching Shallan from the very beginning as someone with DID Brando's bungled up the representation.

And I won't lie, I know that Veil isn't dead and that she simply merged with Shallan and still exists as a part of her, but emotionally that scene did still feel like a character death to me, so I am dealing with it on that level too.

I think there was a better way for Shallan's character to be handled than what we got, but at the same time, I'm not sure if I have any authority to say that when I have no personal experience with DID and know relatively little about the disorder. I guess I'm just looking to talk to some other people about it and what they think about what happened in the hopes it can get me some closure.

[shakesthewizard]

The Bad Kids as Knights Radiant

A while ago, I wrote this post assigning the main characters from Deltarune orders of Knights Radiant from Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive books. Now I'm gonna do the same with Fantasy High's Bad Kids!

Adaine O'Shaughnessey - "I will Seek Truth." The Order of Truthwatchers.

Do I need to elaborate on this one? The strongly opinionated youngest child of a rich and powerful family who has oracular visions thrust upon them without their asking and has to use their newfound power to save the world despite their pronounced lack of physical ability and the presence of neurological, emotional, and physical disabilities? Is anybody gonna fight me on this?

In all seriousness though - Adaine is defined by her desire to uncover lies and use the truth to set things right, no matter the cost. She so strongly values telling people what they need to hear, instead of what will make them feel better, and alongside Riz she's half of the team's mystery-solving power.

As a Truthwatcher, Adaine commands the surges of Progression and Illumination, and while powers-wise those feel a bit more geared towards Fig's spell list, Adaine is a master of handling the battlefield without drawing attention to herself, and as a Diviner she fills a much stronger support role than other Wizard subclasses.

Boggy the Froggy is Adaine's Lightspren.

Fabian Seacaster - "I will Reach my Potential." The Order of Elsecallers.

The Elsecallers are the consumate badasses of the Knights Radiant, and probably the most concerned with appearances, aside from the Lightweavers (who we'll get to, don't you worry). Fabian himself has huge potential for strength, grace, social aptitude, and academic success, that we see him fulfill over the course of the show. He's an excellent fighter who isn't afraid to utilize a nontraditional ability or tool in unique ways to give himself an upper hand. It reminds me a lot of Jasnah soulcasting on the battelfield.

As an Elsecaller, Fabian commands the surges of Transformation and Transportation. I think Transformation is the most apt thematically, as we see during his season 2 arc, learning to live as himself without abandoning his father's legacy. Although Transportation is also appropriate, given both that he's a very mobile combatant, and that he was the first among his party to gain access to a vehicle - one which he uses on the battlefield constantly.

I would say that the Hangman is his Inkspren, but I really think if he's anything he's a Dustspren.

Gorgug Thistlespring - "I will Seek Self-Mastery." The Order of Dustbringers.

While his personality doesn't match what we know of the Dustbringers in the series so far, Gorgug is otherwise an extremely good fit for this order. In season one, his arc centers on accepting his anger as a natural part of himself, and learning how to point it in useful and helpful directions, as well as reconnecting with his orcish heritage.

In seasons two and three, Gorgug dives into artificing; learning how to take things apart and put them back together, and pioneering ways to combine his skill with technology and his prodigious destructive power.

As a Dustbringer, Gorgug commands the surges of Division and Abrasion. These feel very appropriate for our curious barbarian, and I honestly don't feel like there's a lot I could say that wouldn't be plainly obvious. The kid rips stuff apart, what can I say?

Fig Faeth - "I will Speak My Truth." The Order of Lightweavers.

Performance. Art. Identity. Lies. Fig feels almost like an embodiment of this order. If you know anything about Lightweavers, I don't even know what to say that isn't already apparent. Fig disguises herself, invents new identities, lies constantly, and is the party's designated spy. She expresses these illusory powers by way of her artistic expression, and has a bad habit of running from her problems using those same powers. But of course, when the time comes, she shows an unmatched prowess for using those powers to completely dismantle the lies and schemes of ne'er do wells.

As a Lightweaver, Fig commands the surges of Illumination and Transportation. She uh. Makes illusions and turns into other people. Look, I don't know what else to say. She's a perfect fit.

Kristen Applebees - "I will Unite Instead of Divide." The Order of Bondsmiths.

Holy shit. This is why I wanted to make this post. Kristen, who with force of will and clarity of purpose brings a god back from the dead and forges a bond with her. Kristen, the most powerful Cleric of any god for the last century, who even at her most ignorant is the one to start treating the bad kids as a team before anyone else. Kristen, whose source of power is immense and strange, and who she conflicts with regularly, even as they share a purpose.

As a Bondsmith, Kristen commands the surges of Tension and Adhesion. Again, these are perfect for her. Kristen as a character feels at times to be made of tension; pulling at a deep and very serious love of ritual and spirituality that is at odds with her seeming inability to take things seriously the more dire they get. The girl who can create a new god, who can bring one back from nothingness, and who flunks out of her Cleric class the moment her teacher isn't 100% in her corner. Kristen's arcs also tend to be pretty central to the larger plots, what with the Harvestmen, The Nightmare King, and now Cassandra's spouse seeming to have a pretty pivotal role in whatever the Rat Grinders are up to. In short; Kristen Adheres the bad kids together.

Kristen's Bondsmith-spren is, obviously, Cassandra.

Riz Gukgak - "I will Protect." The Order of Windrunners.

I'm gonna be real with you, folks, I have never encountered a more Windrunner-ass motherfucker in my life. "I gotta do the right thing no matter what and be emo about it the whole time. What do you mean I have friends who love and support me?" Look me in the eyes and tell me if Riz got assigned to Bridge Four he wouldn't immediately dedicate himself to saving his whole crew and freeing them from slavery. You know I'm right.

As a Windrunner, Riz commands the surges of Adhesion and Gravitation. These aren't great fits for his real, very stealthy skillset - but if we're being honest Gravitation is the least thematically interesting surges anyway, and Adhesion is just the "cool nice guy" surge, which Riz already is.

lmk if this is the kind of content you're frothing at the mouth for and I can do more characters (I'm on my hands and knees give me characters to do this with it's so fun for me)

[cosmerelists]

Top 10 Adolin Friendships I Want to See More Of

[THIS POST CONTAINS WAT SPOILERS!!]

If Adolin has one superpower, it's the Power of Friendship. And in Wind and Truth, we saw this superpower on full display. Here are the friendships I really want to see more of in the back half of Stormlight!

#10: Adolin & Gavinor

Now, we haven't really seen Adolin and Gavinor interact so far, I know, but hear me out. Gavinor is now a twenty-something, PTSD-having, manipulated-by-an-evil-god, saw-his-grandfather-die-in-front-of-him messed-up guy. And Kaladin is gone, so the newly minted Kaladin therapy isn't available for poor Gavinor. But there is one other man who knows how to temporarily push back the darkness in his friends' minds through the power of friendship--and that's Adolin. I would like to see Adolin just being Gavinor's friend, hopefully making his life just a little bit better.

#9: Adolin & Hmask

Hmask is a new character in Wind & Truth--a Thaylen man who is devoutly loyal to Adolin due to Adolin having saved his son from that Thunderclast. Hmask seems incredibly cool--when Adolin makes his dash through the center of the enemy encampment in the dome, Hmask is the only one who is able to stay with him. When Adolin falls during a fight with Abidi, Hmask puts himself in between them. I mean.... Due to language barrier, we don't see them actually conversing all that much, but I hope to see more of that in the future!

#8: Adolin & Zabra

Zabra is a new character in Wind & Truth, a small girl who tries to dress as a boy to join the army, but is helped by Adolin to find other ways of fighting beyond, like, being in a pike block. And now she's a member of the Unoathed! We didn't see as much of this particular friendship in Wind and Truth, but I liked Zabra and I look forward to seeing more of their interactions.

#7: Adolin & May

Speaking of members of the Unoathed...May Aladar was sure a surprise favorite for me! I liked that she and Adolin did not have the best relationship to start--given that he kinda sorta dated her, I guess--but that over the course of the book even she could not resist the Power of Adolin Friendship.

#6: Adolin & Syl

It was just a brief moment in Wind and Truth, but I loved how Adolin was so delighted by Syl's new fashion choices, and their brief but earnest conversation about it. Hell yeah! I want to see more of Adolin and Syl bonding over clothing and fashion history and helping Kaladin. I haven't forgotten that when Syl needed someone to help Kaladin without being intimidated, she went straight for Adolin. A-And, I know that Syl is also not around anymore, but in the event that she and Kaladin come back, I'd really like to see more of her and Adolin being friends.

#5: Adolin & Nightblood

I was so charmed by: "We chat about swords. He likes swords." When did Adolin & Nightblood chat??? Was it during meetings while Szeth was skulking in a corner?? Do Adolin & Nightblood just have a silent, telepathic conversation whenever they're in the same room together?? I don't know, but I desperately need more of it. Leave it to Adolin to befriend the soul-eating-possibly-evil-magical-sword because, well, it's a sword. Swords are cool.

#4: Adolin & Rlain

I don't honestly recall if Adolin & Rlain have really interacted yet? But given that Rlain is now dating Adolin's brother, I really do want to see Adolin & Rlain become closer. Both Adolin & Rlain are good at understanding other people's perspectives, at bridging difficult social gaps. Together they shall be an Unstoppable Force of Friendship!

#3: Adolin & Yanagawn

I really loved the development of Adolin & Yanagawn's friendship in Wind & Truth. Adolin recognized that this isolated kid needed a friend, and he provided it, despite, you know, everything else going on during Adolin's chapters in Wind & Truth. Leave it to Adolin to see through the layers of pomp & circumstance & bureaucracy and recognize that this guy needed to learn how to play Towers. Especially since Adolin appears to be staying (?) in Azir for now, I'm looking forward to seeing more of this in books to come.

#2:Adolin & Notum

Notum ranks high on this list in part because I think I'm just interested in Notum: a spren who wants to fight in the human realm but does not want to swear oaths with a Radiant. And in being that way, he is such a fascinating parallel with Adolin himself, who also refuses to swear oaths with a spren despite forming incredibly close relationships of trust with so many of them. I definitely want to see more of these two!

#1: Adolin & Maya

But the #1 friendship I want to see more of has got to be Adolin & Maya. Those two were AWESOME in Wind & Truth, from their close bond of trust, to Maya calling Adolin a slut. I love how Maya is developing into what I read as a sarcastic butch, and that is exactly the BFF I want Adolin to have. Super excited to see more of them in, uh, a few years? Whenever we get the next Stormlight book?

I can maintain my excitement until then.

[solitude-of-stars]

Hi guys,

I'm Solitude, or Sol, whichever you prefer. She/Her, 30, European, and I've been writing fic on and off since 2008. I write about Alice in Borderland, but I have been known to branch out into other fandoms from time to time. Heavy on fluff and happy endings. I'm nothing if not predictable, but at least you'll always know what you're getting with me.

You can find me on Ao3 here.

Fic Writing

Niragi/Tatta

A ship that MalaMari's fic Cat's Eyes kickstarted on accident, and that I have gone to great lengths to keep alive and healthy. You can find all of my Niragi/Tatta fics in my Papersky: A Tatta/Niragi Collection. It currently holds more than 40 fics, so I'm not going to list all of them here. Have a select few of my favorites instead:

Antimatter - post-Borderland, everyone remembers, Tatta is dead until he isn't, mystery. Ongoing, current wordcount: 6.6k

Lost In Paradox - the one that started it all. post-Borderland, flashback-heavy, roommates, slice of life(ish). Wordcount: 50k

Wouldn't Feel So Alive Without You - teen fic, high school AU, Kuina & Niragi friendship. Wordcount: 27k

Mr. Sunshine - streamer AU, coming out, queer joy, being lgbtq+ in Japan. Wordcount: 8k

Don't Think Back To Better Years - childhood friends meet again in the Borderlands. flashbacks, childhood memories, second chances. Wordcount: 10k

Alive In Time, Your Eyes In Mine - NSFW, yeah, it's that kind of game, they have a lot of fun though. Wordcount: 18k

Advent Calendars

I've written two Advent Calendars for the AiB fandom, containing 24 fics each that range from various ships and friendships to more general plots.

24 Days - An AiB Advent Calendar (2024)

24 Days - An AiB Advent Calendar (2023)

Other AiB Ships

I've been known to write for other AiB ships on occasion, most notably for Chishiya/Arisu, Niragi/Karube, Kuina/Ann and Kyuma/Tatta. Feel free to peruse my fic catalogue for them.

Others

I'll occasionally venture out into other fandoms if something catches my eye. So far, I have written for the following fandoms (though I imagine I might add more in the near future):

RWBY

Dome - Qrow Branwen/Clover Ebi, Wordcount: 1.9k

Dune

Superbloom - Paul Atreides/Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Wordcount: 11k

The Stormlight Archive

Disaster Has A Way Of Remaking Our Hearts - Renarin Kholin/Rlain, Wordcount: 2.1k

**

Feel free to message me if you want to talk about AiB, my fics, or writing in general. Or if you'd simply like to say hi :)

[illarian-rambling]

Thanks for the tag @davycoquette!

Writer Questionaire

1. Is writing a hobby or way of life?

I mean, it's my greatest passion, but it's not what I do or plan on doing for a living in the future, so I'll go with hobby. To be honest, I'm fine with that. I think I'd enjoy writing a lot less if I was doing it professionally.

2. A journal full of writing notes or a clean, completed manuscript?

Sorry guys, clean manuscript. I do a barebones outline to start, then just write the thing top to bottom. I know first drafts aren't supposed to be pretty, but I can't help myself.

3. Who (or what) is your writing inspiration?

That's a tough one. I read a lot, so maybe Sanderson or Tolkien, but honestly, the person who inspired me to take writing more seriously is a guy from my weekly dnd group. He was the first person I met in real life who wrote and had published stuff. He proved to me that regular people can be authors too.

4. Which is worse: someone you "idolize" reading your first draft or listening to you sing?

Listening to me since, easily. I can't sing, but I'm fine with that. I'm not emotionally invested in my singing ability like I am with my writing ability.

5. Has writing from someone else's POV ever changed your own perspective?

Maybe a little? I feel like a lot of my characters are based on different parts of my own psyche, so really I'm just leaning into those. Because of that, writing about them has made me more accepting of different parts of my own identity.

6. Tumblr, AO3, LiveJournal, or FFN?

I'm only on Tumblr at the moment. I don't intend to put my writing anywhere else because I feel like sites like AO3 aren't really made for original fiction.

7. AO3 wordcount, and are you satisfied with it?

Not on AO3, but I just did the math and between three Honor's Outcasts books and two and a half Mortal God books, I'm at 644,000 words. Add up all the miscellaneous short stories I have floating around and I'd put myself at an even 650,000. Not bad!

8. What movie/book/fic gripped you irrevocably?

The Name of the Wind was the first book that really showed me what could be done with prose. I don't care that the third book is never coming out, Kingkiller Chronicles will always have my heart <3

The Foundryside Trilogy is an underrated series that basically inspired Mortal God. It weaves fantasy and sci-fi perfectly, has some of the best villains I've ever read, and the ending still makes me sick to think about. Which is a compliment.

And, of course, the Stormlight Archives massively inspired my worldbuilding. I always strive for the layer of depth and strength of character found in those books.

9. What’s the highest compliment you’ve ever been given, and have you been given it?

The best comment I've ever gotten isn't exactly a compliment. One of my beta readers once commented on a weak metaphor, "You can do better, you started with a symphony." That really stuck with me for some reason. It reminds me that I do have the capability to write beautifully, and that I shouldn't settle for anything less.

10. What defines your writing style?

I've been told my narration is very conversational, cut through with fanciful descriptions. I've also been told the voice of whichever character I'm writing from the POV of tends to slip through into my writing style. Descriptions in Sepo's chapters are darker and more grim, the narration of Ivander’s chapters gets more sarcastic, Twenari’s chapters focus more on the smaller details, the voice of Astra’s chapters has some more of that country flair, and so on and so forth.

I'll tag @fantasy-things-and-such @wyked-ao3 @rotting-moon-writes @finchwrites and anyone else who wants in :)