#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.

[senselessalchemist]

apparently I preordered an audiobook when I had a free one from audible (yes I know but if they want to give me a poor person an audiobook I am too weak to resist, also it's how I get my stormlight archive fix every few years) and I don't know what it is and I am also afraid to check because I am a very weird coward with issues about notifications

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[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)

[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 :)

[necarion]

While the artist for the Stormlight books is no Darrell K. Sweet (original Wheel of Time covers) his cover art isn't...good? One commonality in all of these is that it is never clear which direction the light is coming from. He really wants to have the light highlighting people's hair, but that's never actually in the direction the light is coming from.

Wind and Truth is the best one since Way of Kings, but that's not saying a lot.

Rhythm of War's is easily the worst, especially when considering the full wrap-around cover, where there is no useful sense of proportion or depth:

One minor interesting point is that Michael Whalen's concept art tends to be somewhat better than the final product (although still big on the "where is the light coming from" issue), which makes me wonder how much Sanderson and his team focus-tested the art.

Oathbringer final and concept covers

[sheyshen]

I wasn't tagged but I saw @verbose-vespertine's post last night and it sounded fun and since my little "recommend me things from my tbr" ended with a bunch of good picks, here's some books i'm looking forward to reading this year!

my tbr is... quite long, I'm not sure how many exactly, but a few hundred probably! many i have, but most i'm eyeballing to either pick up or check out from the library but there's a few that I'm wanting to check out in particular this year.

Prince of Song & Sea - Started, about halfway through, loving it already. (was also the poll winner)

The Last Watch (Divide series) - The synopsis sounded really interesting and I've been wanting to check out more sci-fi novels so It was a must add)

Reforged - While browsing for lgbt related books, this one sounded interesting (and who isn't a sucker for knight in love with their king romance?)

Skin of the Sea - The synopsis sounded interesting and the reviews make it sound even better. really looking forward to this one.

Exodus - I'm extremely excited to play the game when it launches so of course I wanted to check out the novel leading up to it!

The Hunter's Gambit - Written by a friend and I adore their fics so of course I want to read their novels (I also have Bluebird and Terms of Service (releasing later this year!) on my tbr heheh)

The Way of Kings (Stormlight archive) - I started stormlight years back but stuff came up and I never got to finishing it so I want to get back to the series

Zero World - I had gotten the audiobook a few years back and was really enjoying it (read by gideon emery btw) but audiobooks aren't my thing so I picked up the novel shortly after but hadn't gotten to reading it. what better time than this year right?

Theft of Swords - I keep seeing the series being recommended so I picked up the first book for my birthday!

Bonus: rereads that I want to get to this year as well!

Swtor: Annihilation and Warcraft: War of the Ancients are both of my most read novels in my library and I always look for an excuse to reread them. The stories are good, I love the nonsense Theron gets into and Rhonin in this trilogy and Day of the Dragon is what inspired me to make a mage (my dear Shey) when wow first launched.

I'm hoping to get to at least a few of these this year (if all then I'll be thrilled!!) Tagging anyone who wants to share some of their tbr for the year and also @queen-scribbles >:3

[cosmerelists]

Rosharans Rate Foods Not Native to their Planet

As requested by @makothedorito :)

@makothedorito wanted to know what would happen if Stormlight characters encountered food not native to their planet. Here's what I think!

1. Szeth reviews Mountain Dew

Szeth: Horrible. Szeth: A bright, unconscionable green color. Sickly, horribly sweet. Like acidic poison in my throat. Szeth: Also made me feel, strangely, as though even without powers, I could fly. Szeth: ... Szeth: 3/5 stars.

2. Lift reviews Mountain Dew

Lift: Actually,SzethonlytooklikeonesipbeforeItookitfromhim. Lift: IsawthecrazylookhewasgettinginhiseyesandIwaslikenosir. Lift: Luckily,IdrankthewholebottleandI'mnotbeingaffectedatall! Wyndle: [crying]: Mistress, PLEASE use Regrowth I think you're dying!

3. Shallan reviews chocolate

Shallan: Oh, 5/5 for sure! Shallan: Radiant likes the dark chocolate because the "bitterness adds to the sweetness," apparently. Shallan: Veil likes milk chocolate coating other things--so like sugar with another, harder layer of sugar. Shallan: I gotta say--I like the bars! Something about being able to crack off pieces and eat them is so satisfying. Adolin: So the 19 wrappers I see around our room... Shallan: Head's up, I may never sleep again!

4. Rushu reviews coffee

Rushu: My research indicated that this drink is supposed to make you alert and eager for action! Rushu: But...my thoughts have never BEEN so sedate. Honestly, I could take a nap right now. Rushu: Odd. Rushu: 4/5, I suppose.

5. Nomad reviews hot 'n' spicy wings

Nomad: [a single tear running down his face] Nomad: Finally...some good fucking food...

6. Renarin reviews steak

Renarin: You would think that "well done" is the opposite of "badly done" but Renarin: ... Renarin: I suppose I know what it is like to eat leather.

7. Bridge Four reviews pizza

Lopen: Man, it's great! Look at this one--so thin and droopy you have to roll it up to eat it! Rock: What is your insanity? This one that is so thick you must cut into it with a large knife is the way to go. I want my pizza to be as deep as my fist. Lopen: Thin is better!! Rock: Thick is superior!! Skar: I can't say why, but I'm partial to the one cut into squares. Really crackling crust, too. It just feels right, somehow... Rock: Skar, friend, I respect your opinion even though it is 100% wrong. Kaladin: Isn't all pizza just a tad...greasy? Lopen: Ha ha! You say such weird things somethings, Kaladin! Lyn: Ooooh....this one with ham and the sweet yellow fruit is AMAZING! Best pizza of all time hello?? Lopen: ... Rock: ... Skar: ... Kaladin: ... Lopen: I can't believe we have to kick Lyn out of Bridge Four. Lyn: HEY

[starburstdragon]

Final Bracket Placement Poll for the Guys Who Are Multiple Guys Tournament (1 of 2)

Some characters are candidates for the bracket that, for various reasons, I'm not sure I can properly judge their worthiness myself. So we're having prelims for our fringe cases. The top three candidates from this poll and the next will make their way into the bracket properly.

(Shallan Davar image by @shuravf, according to the wiki. I'll try to make a better header for the actual bracket polls.)

Rationale below the cut.

RentheDog

I'm told there's many versions of the character. However, the Hermitcraft Wiki article is about the real human man.

Dipper Pines

He gets cloned for an episode, but it's not really that important to his character.

Noel Vermillion

Submitted without comment. She is apparently a clone, though.

Yu Joonghyuk

I'm told there's so many of this guy, but his wiki page is so bare bones I could've bought it on Wish.

Crow

He gets amnesia and a new identity. Occasionally, he has dreams about his previous self. Is this enough?

Shallan Davar

Frankly, I'm not convinced her whole situation isn't too grounded in reality for this tournament. She's the host of a system that happens to have illusion magic.

Saskia Del Norma

I'm told she's done mitosis and there's now two of her. However, the only actually accessible information on her I've found is a fan submission to a MBTI website and a one sentence introduction on the Critical Roll wiki, which is not enough for me to confirm the mitosis thing.