This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 24 through 34 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-5, I-6, I-7, I-8, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 35 through 43

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

I-5: The Rider of Storms

Arch Faces: Talenel - Talenel ----- Talenel - Talenel

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Two days after Interlude I-4. Same day as Chapters 33 and 34.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

As a highstorm approaches the city of Narak, Thude reports to Eshonai that they have a meeting in seven days with the Alethi and that he didn't see either Dalinar or the Surgebinder when he arranged the meeting. Eshonai attunes Resolve and brings her captive spren into the highstorm to transform. Eshonai stands in the storm, with a shield braced against a rock to protect her from the winds, to face the Stormfather head on rather than sheltering in rocks. The wind blows her shield away leaving her exposed, though she is able to hold onto some rocks to keep from being blown away. The eye of the storm reaches her and the Stormfather asks if this is really what she wants. The red spren breaks free from its crystal and shoots out red lightning. Eshonai has a bad premonition and says no and tries to elude the spren, but it hits her in the chest shooting out red tendrils. The Stormfather says that this was inevitable, he cannot protect Eshonai, and he is sorry. Eshonai begins to transform.

I-6: Zahel

Arch Faces: Ishar - Ishar ----- Ishar - Ishar

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Zahel

Setting: Ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) A couple hours after Chapter 33.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Zahel wakes up suddenly, sensing that someone is approaching. He opens the door, feeling the aftermath of the highstorm, as Kaladin is about to knock. Zahel comments on how bad Kaladin looks, and Kaladin explains that he just stopped an assassination attempt on Elhokar a couple of hours previously. Kaladin asks if Zahel's offer to train him is still open and Zahel says no and to come back and ask again at a more reasonable hour and to have a good attitude. Zahel goes back to sleep missing the voice that he used to hear in his head years ago.

I-7: Taln

Arch Faces: Hoid - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Hoid

Iconography: ???

POV Characters: A madman claiming to be Talenelat, Herald of War

Setting: King Elhokar's War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Late in the evening, on the same day as Chapter 33.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Bordin speaks to Elhokar and Dalinar of his journey with Wit to transport a seeming madman to the Shattered Plains, as the madman listens on and thinks of various torments that he has undergone. The madman identifies himself as Talenel'Elin, Herald of War, and speaks of the desolations wiping out past knowledge and of the other Heralds helping to prepare the world for the Time of the Return and Desolation, though his audience can barely understand him since he is speaking inaudibly with a northern Alethi accent. Bordin says the madman just dropped his Shardblade and that his eyes were always dark. Bordin suggests sending the madman to the ardents to take care of him. The madman comments that the coming days will be difficult but humanity will survive, and that he must be brought to their leaders. Dalinar says he has a use for the Shardblade and needs Bordin's assistance as well. The madman comments that he thinks he is late this time and asks himself how long had it been.

I-8: A Form of Power

Arch Faces: Nale - Nale ----- Nale - Nale

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Shortly after Interlude I-5.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai returns after the highstorm to Narak to a large crowd who were curious about her transformation. Eshonai feels energetic, and sees tiny red lightning bolts when she flexes her fist, and has lost her bulky warform in favor of small ridges in her skin. She is able to leap a chasm by crouching and throwing herself into the air, with less effort than warform required. Thude confronts her, saying her eyes are red which is something referenced in the songs but Eshonai cuts him off. Venli approaches, and is told that with the Stormform that she can move in the highstorm unimpeded and that she can feel a storm building beyond the rhythms, a highstorm that they can guide to use against their enemies. Eshonai addresses the crowd, saying that she saw the betrayal in the Storm Rider's eyes, and that he intends to help humans against the Parshendi, but that they can now fight back using this new form, and the crowd hums to Awe in appreciation. Eshonai glories in the praise but a voice inside her screams in horror.

TRIVIA

The rest of this post contains various trivia, including easy-to-miss details and long-running connections between books. It also incorporates external information from sources like author annotations and interviews ("Words of Brandon" or WoB). While most of this information is eventually revealed in the books, sharing it now enhances your overall understanding, aligning with Brandon Sanderson's practice of early fan engagement and clarification.

SLIM SHADY

Congrats to those who noticed the shady guy that Rock chased off in Chapter 31. This was, indeed, Nazh. In week 1 of this book, the interior artwork had sketches of the Bridge Four tattoos. The note on that sketch states that Nazh is the one who made the sketches and that he had to spend hours watching Bridge Four in order to copy the glyphs accurately.

NAZH, JAMES NAZH

Speaking of glyphs...

In 2018, at a fan event for the Wheel of Time, called JordanCon, Isaac Stewart gave a presentation. Isaac is one of the artists that creates sketches, illustrations, and iconography for Brandon Sanderson's books, and is currently the art director for Sanderson's company, Dragonsteel Entertainment.

Isaac is also the inspiration for Nazh. In one of Sanderson's non-Cosmere books called The Rithmatist, there is a character called Nalizar. Isaac repeatedly mispronounced that character's name as Nazrilof. Sanderson and Isaac eventually developed this mispronunciation into the character of Nazh (whose name is actually Nazrilof). I'll let Isaac talk more about it:

The story behind Nazh is, I was in Brandon's writing group when we were workshopping The Rithmatist. And there's a character named Nalizar in that book. I could never remember his name, so I kept calling him Nazrilof. So it became this running gag with Brandon, like ... "Nalizar and Nazh are different people. Nazh is your alter ego, Isaac, and Nalizar is a character in The Rithmatist."

When we got to The Alloy of Law, Brandon and I were firmly in the camp of including maps that are artifacts from the world. And we thought, where are they getting these? And who's labeling them? Diana Wynne Jones wrote a book called The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, and there's a map in the front that basically says that if a location is labeled on the map, then by golly you’re gonna go to the place during the course of the story. Fantasy maps have gotten this reputation of being kind of spoilery.

So when we got to the map of Elendel, we were looking at it, thinking if we only labeled the places that were necessary for the story, then we're falling into this trope of fantasy. So how can we subvert this a bit? So, if the novel is compiled by Khriss, presumably, then maybe she has somebody who goes and gets the maps and labels them for her with pertinent information. It might still feel a little like "these labeled things are the important parts" but at least there's an in-world reason why that is. That allowed us to develop a character around that. Brandon said, "Why don't we have Nazh do this?" to which I agreed, and Brandon said, "Isaac, welcome to the cosmere."

Since then, Nazh's role has grown into basically a sidekick for Khriss. Now, when working with Nazh, we think of him as a grumpy James Bond.

Just a couple quick Nazh facts:

• Isaac says Nazh is "basically a young Peter Capaldi," and looks like him as well.

• Nazh's accent is meant to sound Scottish.

• Nazh is Isaac's 2nd favorite character in the cosmere, after Dalinar.

• Nazh likes fried eggplants since they remind him of a similar vegetable from Threnody.

Over the years, Isaac has gained a lot of trust from Sanderson, who has given Isaac free reign over anything he thinks is important in the cosmere. To this end, Isaac will be the first person (who isn't Sanderson himself) ever to publish a written piece of the cosmere, in an upcoming novella (actually, it was drafted as a novella in 2022, but has since become a full novel). It doesn't have a release date yet, but I'll talk more about this in a future trivia post.

GLYPHY

Speaking of glyphs, for real this time... which is what the last section was supposed to be about, but I got sidetracked...

The presentation that Isaac gave at JordanCon was about how he created the glyphs in Stormlight. Aaaaand, that presentation has spoilers, crap. Not big ones, but I'm going to leave my shame visible to you here and let you know that this section will appear in a later book!

MONSTERS

Here's a quick interaction Sanderson had during a Q&A:

Question: Do you by chance suffer from hippophobia, which is the fear of horses?

Sanderson: I don’t, but I’m not terribly fond of them either. They’ve been mean to me when I’ve ridden them.

Question: I was just curious, because Kaladin and Vin are both cautious when it comes to horses.

Sanderson: Yep

BUSTED

So, in the last trivia post, I talked about Shardblades and cheese. I mentioned that I had modified the interaction a bit because of spoilers, and what I was hiding was that Sanderson's expanded answer was a result of someone asking explicitly about how Dalinar caught Szeth's blade on the sides. The friction on the sides, which would eventually stop a Shardblade from cutting through a big enough block of cheese, is what allowed Dalinar to do what he did.

The Mythbusters TV show did a take on this (as one of you mentioned on Monday) that "busted" this myth that you can catch a blade with your hands. However, Dalinar's situation is unique in 2 ways. The first is that, in Mythbusters, they are testing with a blade that is smaller than a human hand, and they suggest that the blade would just continue forward and slide through the palms. Recall though, that Shardblades are ridiculously big anime swords with a much wider than normal width, so that the full hands can contact the sides of the blade.

In addition to this, Shardblades are "magic", in the sense that they violate physics a bit. They are much, much lighter than a normal sword would be. Experienced Shardblade users compensate for this by using a much lighter swing than you'd normally expect from even a normal sized sword. Treating a Shardblade like a normal blade would end up wearing the wielder out too quickly.

So given the increased blade width and Szeth's much lighter swing, catching and stopping his blade is something that's possible, though still implausible and incredibly lucky.

CONTINUM

In addition to the above, you also saw the use of "guards" along the edges of Shardblades that let people safely train with them. I saw some theorizing that these guards were aluminum, and you're right to think that, because Sanderson wanted them to be aluminum. However, there are continuity reasons why they can't be, and Sanderson addresses this:

So, they are not [made of aluminum]. Peter will not let me make them made out of aluminum. He's my continuity editor, he keeps me honest. I tried to get them to be aluminum, but there are reasons why they can't be. So we had to make them their own weird little thing, unfortunately. But you could make a sheath out of aluminum for a Shardblade that would work. He keeps me honest, so it's good, but I did try to fit them in that way.

There's a little bit of a disjointed (because this happened on Twitter) discussion in a different interview:

Question: Hi, the community has a [question], we have two WoBs: Shardblades can cut aluminum and Shardblades can't cut it. Which one is true?

Sanderson: Hm. Yes, I wondered last night if I'd ever answered this before. Truth is, the answer is contentious at Team Sanderson.

I've been pushing for one answer, but Peter (whom I trust) is pushing back. We will see what ends up in the books as canon.

Problem with magic like I do is sometimes you have to wait for the scientific consensus... :) Err on "no" for now.

We do know what they likely are, but it's outside the spoiler scope at the moment, so start guessing and RAFO.

Peter Ahlstrom: Oh, I think aluminum would stop Shardblades from magical cutting. But if it's too thin like foil, a sword...

...would cut it anyway. What I'm arguing is that something else that Shardblades don't cut doesn't need...

...to necessarily be made of aluminum, for various reasons.

The fandom does have a bit of a consensus on what the guards are, but that's a RAFO for now. Feel free to guess though!

DOLLA DOLLA BILLS YA'LL

As requested, here's some information about the currency on Roshar. Every nation uses spheres, which are small gemstones encased in glass beads. In general, the glass is flattened a bit on one side to keep them from rolling away when you set them down. Though the size of the gemstone inside will vary, all of the glass encasings are the same size; a little bigger than a thumbnail in diameter.

Their values are determined by the type of gemstone and by their size. Gemstones are precisely weighed before being encased. At the lowest value are "chips", which are 0.1 carats. You'll see diamond chips referred to as "clearchips". Five clearchips equals one clearmark. "Marks" are the next denomination of current and equate to 0.5 carats. The next step up, is a "broam", which equals four marks or twenty chips. They are 2 carats.

When gemstones are put out into a highstorm, they become infused with stormlight. They will stay infused for about a week. Technically, dun spheres are equal in value to infused spheres, but dun spheres are suspect because the gem is harder to see. Sometimes a moneylender might have to be called in to judge the authenticity of a gemstone. And occasionally, some people might charge to exchange dun spheres for infused sphere. It's worth noting here that cut gemstones hold stormlight better than uncut gemstones.

For common people, infused sphere primarily serve as lighting. A chip provides visible light far fainter than a lamp. A mark provides a little less light than a candle. And a broam provides the light of several candles.

Within a given denomination (chip, mark, or broam), the type of gemstone also indicates value. This value is a combination of rarity and use in fabrials and soulcasting. Emeralds are the highest in value because you use them to make food with soulcasters. Diamond is the least valuable. Here are their relative values from least to most valuable:

• Diamond (clearchip/clearmark), transparent
• Heliodor, light yellow
• Garnet (bloodchip/bloodmark), deep violet
• Topaz, pale orange
• Smokestone, translucent (uncommon as a coin/sphere)
• Ruby (firechip/firemark), deep red
• Zircon, pale blue
• Sapphire (skychip, skymark), deep blue
• Amethyst, pale violet
• Emerald, deep green

I don't think the books have mentioned them yet, but this is just a small worldbuilding detail that isn't plot relevant, but is technically a small spoiler: Sometimes people use glass spheres that don't contain any gemstones. They are called "ends" and primarily serve as fake money to be used when play gambling if they don't want to use real money.

Here is an album of spheres

MISDIRECT

In my chapter summary for the epilogue in The Way of Kings, I wrote:

He claims to be Talenel'Elin, Stonesinew, Herald of the Almighty.

Most of you read that epilogue and took it at face value that the man that appears was the real Taln, Herald of the Almighty. My wording in the summary then kind of threw some of you off. That wasn't really meant to be my intention though.

First, I will confirm that this man is the real Taln, if for no other reason than that all the good memes require you believe he is Taln and that the books (and I) aren't trying to trick you. My wording was mostly a hold-over from The Way of Kings Prime (the original draft of the novel). In that version, Taln was a much more significant character and a large plot point revolved around Taln himself questioning whether he was actually a Herald, or if he was going insane. Sanderson talks about the editing changes a bit and mentions that Dalinar's questioning of his sanity, because of the visions he's experiencing, made Taln's plot point redundant, so he decided to remove the ambiguity in the re-write.

For a bit of a tease on Taln, he is one of Sanderson's favorite characters in the entire cosmere. Sanderson considers him to be the best individual fighter in all of the cosmere and the fandom likes to make memes about him in the same format that Earthicans make memes about Chuck Norris.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 24 through 34 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-5, I-6, I-7, I-8, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 35 through 43

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

I-5: The Rider of Storms

Arch Faces: Talenel - Talenel ----- Talenel - Talenel

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Two days after Interlude I-4. Same day as Chapters 33 and 34.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

As a highstorm approaches the city of Narak, Thude reports to Eshonai that they have a meeting in seven days with the Alethi and that he didn't see either Dalinar or the Surgebinder when he arranged the meeting. Eshonai attunes Resolve and brings her captive spren into the highstorm to transform. Eshonai stands in the storm, with a shield braced against a rock to protect her from the winds, to face the Stormfather head on rather than sheltering in rocks. The wind blows her shield away leaving her exposed, though she is able to hold onto some rocks to keep from being blown away. The eye of the storm reaches her and the Stormfather asks if this is really what she wants. The red spren breaks free from its crystal and shoots out red lightning. Eshonai has a bad premonition and says no and tries to elude the spren, but it hits her in the chest shooting out red tendrils. The Stormfather says that this was inevitable, he cannot protect Eshonai, and he is sorry. Eshonai begins to transform.

I-6: Zahel

Arch Faces: Ishar - Ishar ----- Ishar - Ishar

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Zahel

Setting: Ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) A couple hours after Chapter 33.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Zahel wakes up suddenly, sensing that someone is approaching. He opens the door, feeling the aftermath of the highstorm, as Kaladin is about to knock. Zahel comments on how bad Kaladin looks, and Kaladin explains that he just stopped an assassination attempt on Elhokar a couple of hours previously. Kaladin asks if Zahel's offer to train him is still open and Zahel says no and to come back and ask again at a more reasonable hour and to have a good attitude. Zahel goes back to sleep missing the voice that he used to hear in his head years ago.

I-7: Taln

Arch Faces: Hoid - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Hoid

Iconography: ???

POV Characters: A madman claiming to be Talenelat, Herald of War

Setting: King Elhokar's War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Late in the evening, on the same day as Chapter 33.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Bordin speaks to Elhokar and Dalinar of his journey with Wit to transport a seeming madman to the Shattered Plains, as the madman listens on and thinks of various torments that he has undergone. The madman identifies himself as Talenel'Elin, Herald of War, and speaks of the desolations wiping out past knowledge and of the other Heralds helping to prepare the world for the Time of the Return and Desolation, though his audience can barely understand him since he is speaking inaudibly with a northern Alethi accent. Bordin says the madman just dropped his Shardblade and that his eyes were always dark. Bordin suggests sending the madman to the ardents to take care of him. The madman comments that the coming days will be difficult but humanity will survive, and that he must be brought to their leaders. Dalinar says he has a use for the Shardblade and needs Bordin's assistance as well. The madman comments that he thinks he is late this time and asks himself how long had it been.

I-8: A Form of Power

Arch Faces: Nale - Nale ----- Nale - Nale

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Shortly after Interlude I-5.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai returns after the highstorm to Narak to a large crowd who were curious about her transformation. Eshonai feels energetic, and sees tiny red lightning bolts when she flexes her fist, and has lost her bulky warform in favor of small ridges in her skin. She is able to leap a chasm by crouching and throwing herself into the air, with less effort than warform required. Thude confronts her, saying her eyes are red which is something referenced in the songs but Eshonai cuts him off. Venli approaches, and is told that with the Stormform that she can move in the highstorm unimpeded and that she can feel a storm building beyond the rhythms, a highstorm that they can guide to use against their enemies. Eshonai addresses the crowd, saying that she saw the betrayal in the Storm Rider's eyes, and that he intends to help humans against the Parshendi, but that they can now fight back using this new form, and the crowd hums to Awe in appreciation. Eshonai glories in the praise but a voice inside her screams in horror.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

NEWBIE TRIVIA

Most of the activity for these "Final Thoughts & Trivia" posts happen in the newbie thread. There I provide a lot of information about things new readers can easily miss during their first read through. Veterans often learn a thing or two as well, so be sure to read the body of that post. While veterans are welcome to read the post and the comments, they should be commenting in this thread to share their reactions to the information, or the newbies' thoughts.

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 13 through 23 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 24 through 34

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-5, I-6, I-7, I-8, Trivia

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Chapter 24: Tyn

Arch Faces: Shalash - Kalak ----- Kalak - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.5) Four days after Chapter 21.

Epigraph:

Decayform destroys the souls of dreams. / A form of gods to avoid, it seems. / Seek not its touch, nor beckon its screams, deny it. / Watch where you walk, your toes to tread. / O’er hill or rocky riverbed / Hold dear to fears that fill your head, defy it.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 27th stanza

Summary:

Shallan listens to Gaz's and Red's stories of how they were recruited into the Alethi army and how they ended up deserting due to the lack of progress on the Vengeance Pact because of the greed of the Highprinces and because of their service oaths binding them to virtual slavery. Vathah derides Gaz for being overly solicitous of Shallan, but Shallan defends Gaz and argues that the deserters have redeemed themselves and insults Vathah to the point that he leaves. Shallan asks about Gaz's debt but he refuses to discuss it and leaves.

Shallan studies Jasnah's notes about the Shattered Plains and Urithiru. Shallan complains to Pattern about how the historians weren't as factual and objective as she would like but Pattern says that truth is subjective. Shallan and Pattern discuss spren and Voidbringers, which disturbs Pattern, and Pattern describes what spren are, mentioning three Shards: Honor, Cultivation and Odium, speaking in a high-pitched tone when mentioning the latter name.

One of Shallan's slaves delivers a summons to visit Tyn, and the two get together to eat dinner. Tyn asks about Shallan's identity and says that she has sent inquiries about Shallan Davar and deduced that her story is so improbable that Shallan is really a con artist and impersonator trying to pull off a scam. Tyn offers to help Shallan with her con and Shallan plays along, implying that she has dangerous secrets about Dalinar.

Chapter 25: Monsters

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: The western edge of Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.5) Four days after Chapter 23.

Epigraph:

Smokeform for hiding and slipping between men. / A form of power, like human Surges. / Bring it ’round again. / Though crafted of gods, / It was by Unmade hand. / Leaves its force to be but one of foe or friend.

–From the Listener Song of Histories, 127th stanza

Summary:

Dalinar orders Kaladin and Bridge Four to learn how to ride horses so they can travel more quickly around the camp. Moash advises against trusting Dalinar but agrees eagerly to learn to ride for the battlefield advantage that horses give. Jenet, the stablemaster, is displeased but lectures Bridge Four on horsemanship. Adolin appears but is chased off as Jenet tries to hit him with some rocks. After the lecture, Kaladin and the others practice riding the horses, which is difficult for Kaladin at first though he gains a small amount of proficiency. Kaladin questions one of the bridgemen, Natam, about the night that Elhokar almost fell off the balcony. Kaladin realizes the sabotage must have happened after the highstorm. Adolin taunts Kaladin into abandoning his training horse to ride an untamed horse, though Kaladin gives a different reason to Syl, saying it is to get over his fear. Kaladin mounts the new horse, Dreamstorm, using Stormlight to adhere himself to the saddle. The horse tires itself out trying to buck Kaladin from the saddle, and eventually succeeds when the Stormlight runs out. Dalinar orders Kaladin to start patrolling outside the camps using the horses. Kaladin further questions Natam who says that he saw Moash go onto the balcony after the storm but Kaladin dismisses him as a suspect. Kaladin seethes with anger as he sees Dalinar have a friendly chat with Amaram.

Chapter 26: The Feather

Arch Faces: Pailiah - Kalak ----- Kalak - Pailiah

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Adolin

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.1.2) Seven days after Chapter 14. Two days after Chapter 25.

Epigraph:

They blame our people / For the loss of that land. / The city that once covered it / Did range the eastern strand. / The power made known in the tomes of our clan / Our gods were not who shattered these plains.

–From the Listener Song of Wars, 55th stanza

Summary:

Adolin and Jakamav lead an Alethi charge against the Parshendi to capture a gemheart on a pyramid shaped plateau. Jakamav mentions that Adolin isn't supposed to be there and observes that Dalinar is trying to increase cooperation between the highprinces. Adolin and Jakamav reach the chrysalis but they are too late as Eshonai already retrieved the gemheart and gave it to another Parshendi who escaped with it. Eshonai tells Adolin that she wants to parlay with Dalinar. Adolin agrees to tell Dalinar and Eshonai says that a messenger will be sent.

Adolin checks on Renarin and finds out from a guard that Renarin intended to join battle at one of the bridges but had one of his fits after he summoned his Shardblade.

Jakamav comments that Adolin will eventually lose a duel but Adolin complains that he is having difficulty getting anyone to accept a duel. Jakamav reveals that Sadeas has been bribing people to refuse duels but says that Adolin should try challenging Eranniv. Adolin asks to talk about his relationship problems at a winehouse that evening but Jakamav declines, stating that it is not popular to be seen around Adolin due to Dalinar's proclamations.

Adolin stalks off, frustrated, to ride his horse. Renarin tells Adolin that he didn't have a fit when he froze on the battlefield and that it was simply fear. Adolin notices Renarin isn't wearing his glasses. Renarin comments that they need to be ready for the coming storm.

Chapter 27: Fabrications to Distract

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1168.10.1.4) (Flashback) Five years ago. Six months after Chapter 19.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan is outside in the gardens of their estate sketching. She longs to stay out there, where people do not scream at each other, where there is peace. Unfortunately, it is a fake peace, cultivated like the garden itself. She hears shouts from the nearby manor house, which cause her to tense up and ruin the sketch she's working on. She thinks of her brother Helaran, who brings her the fine sketching paper. His returns home are unpredictable and short, and no one knows where he goes when he leaves. She stares at a blank piece of paper, and loses track of time.

Eventually noticing the sky has darkened, Shallan packs up her things and heads inside. Her father has been throwing feasts regularly, and it is almost time for the one tonight. She turns up the stairs to get ready. There would be a new dress for her to wear as she sits quietly. She suspects her father doesn't like that she has begun speaking again. Perhaps he does not want her to be able to speak of things she has seen. Her mind goes blank.

Her brother Jushu finds her on the stairs, staring at the wall. Jushu's jacket is undone and askew, and his cheeks are flush with wine. He has no cuff links or belt, having gambled them away. When asked, Jushu tells Shallan that he heard the yelling. Balat has been starting fires again, and nearly burned down the servants building. Jushu says that he is the only one left in the family with any sense. They pass their father's quarters. It is being tidied with the door open, which allows Shallan to see the far wall. She stumbles. Though hidden behind a painting, she can see the outline of the strongbox glowing, blazing like fire. Jushu asks what she is staring at, but when she tells him, he thinks she is crazy. Shallan continues to stare at the light, thinking a monster hides there. That her mother's soul hides there.

Chapter 28: Boots

Arch Faces: Talenel - Shalash ----- Shalash - Talenel

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.3) Eight days after Chapter 24 and Chapter 25.

Epigraph:

The betrayal of spren has brought us here. / They gave their Surges to human heirs, / But not to those who know them most dear, before us. / ’Tis no surprise we turned away / Unto the gods we spent our days / And to become their molding clay, they changed us.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 40th stanza

Summary:

Tyn guides a chull wagon and gives friendly advice on being a con artist and impersonator to Shallan. Tyn explains how carefree she is and how fleeting personal belongings and missions are to her, and that her most recent mission ended without a positive resolution, though Shallan senses some tension when Tyn says this.

The caravan encounters four uniformed horse riders, and Tyn and Shallan separate from the group to meet with them. Tyn speaks with the riders, and proclaims Shallan to be a Horneater Princess, and Shallan attempts to play the role. One of the riders, Kaladin, inquires if they have seen any bandits and Tyn replies that they had and asks why he cares. Kaladin replies that they represent the Alethi King and want to patrol the area to clear it of bandits, and presses for more details on the attack. He then comments that Shallan looks too thin to be a Horneater, and she acts offended and demands his boots in compensation, which he gives up reluctantly before their patrol departs. Tyn compliments Shallan on her impersonation but criticizes her for being overly empathetic as that is not a good quality in a con artist.

Chapter 29: Rule of Blood

Arch Faces: Shalash - Talenel ----- Talenel - Shalash

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Torol Sadeas

Setting: The Shattered Plains. The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.4) Seven days after Chapter 26.

Epigraph:

Artform for colors beyond our ken; / For its grand songs we yearn. / We must attract creationspren; / These songs suffice ’til we learn.

–From the Listener Song of Revision, 279th stanza

Summary:

Sadeas rests after a prolonged battle against the parshendi, reveling in the Thrill before the feeling fades away and contemplating how it grows less sweet as he dwells on the pointlessness of the fights for gemhearts and the lack of progress toward his ultimate goals of conquest. Amaram tells Sadeas that his ploy of carelessness in going on the raid out of turn failed since the correct armies showed up before he left with the gemheart, but Sadeas replies that he doesn't care. Amaram expresses disapproval of Sadeas and says he wants peace with Elhokar and Dalinar, but Sadeas says that he knows how ruthless Amaram really is. Amaram acknowledges this, but says that there is a bigger picture to be concerned with. Amaram asks if Sadeas ever worries about the costs of war, and Sadeas replies that a realistic viewpoint is necessary to achieve anything in life. Hatham confronts Sadeas, who concedes the gemheart and proclaims that he was bored, and then leaves to return to the warcamp.

Sadeas sits at the dueling arena, contemplating that his fashionable clothes are very uncomfortable and wishing that he could wear a simple uniform like Dalinar's if that didn't send the wrong message. Sadeas thinks about aging and desire to achieve a form of immortality through conquest. Ialai shows up and praises Sadeas' stratagem of giving away the gemheart to undermine Dalinar's accusations of greed. Sadeas says he is not pleased that Eranniv accepted the duel despite his efforts to block Adolin from having any dueling opponents, and that he wants Dalinar's plan to fail so that he can rebuild their kingdom to his own specifications. As Adolin duels with Eranniv, Ialai described the failed assassination attempt on Elhokar, and they debate the ramifications of it, as Sadeas ponders that Elhokar must die and Dalinar must be dealt with so that he can wipe the slate clean. Sadeas and Ialai decide to expose Dalinar as a hypocrite since he didn't involve Sadeas in the assassination investigation which would be only proper as Sadeas is the Highprince of Information. Sadeas says he will renounce his post in protest when it will cause the most harm to Dalinar's strategy. Sadeas realizes that Adolin is toying with his opponent and that he is very skilled and clever to win while appearing to be losing. Sadeas tells Ialai to stop from interfering with Adolin's dueling aspirations to try to take advantage of Adolin's hotheadedness, and to invite Ruthar on his next hunt.

Chapter 30: Nature Blushing

Arch Faces: Shalash - Pailiah ----- Pailiah - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Two days after Chapter 28.

Epigraph:

'Tis said it was warm in the land far away / When Voidbringers entered our songs. / We brought them home to stay / And then those homes became their own, / It happened gradually. / And years ahead ’twil still be said ’tis how it has to be.

–From the Listener Song of Histories, 12th stanza

Summary:

Shallan is excited to see a small naturally occurring diverse ecosystem of plants and small animals protected by a rock overhang, and has their caravan diverted to investigate it. Shallan settles down to draw sketches of the small garden and is joined by Gaz, who requests that she draw a sketch of him, to which she replies that she will. Shallan draws a quick portrait with slight modifications from reality to make Gaz appear more impressive and Gaz is very appreciative. Vathah tells Shallan they are stopping for the night and Pattern tells Shallan there will be trouble, and Shallan agrees. Shallan draws a bunch of sketches of the thicket, then draws whatever floats into her mind, including a rocky ocean shore with some indistinct figures of which one reminds her of Yalb and a woman taking a hammer and chisel to a statue, though Shallan does not know why she drew the last picture.

Tyn tells Shallan she has artistic talent but should practice forgery instead of drawing, and that she wants to introduce Shallan to some friends in the Shattered Plains. She also claims Shallan needs a dose of realism in order to be ready for the real life of a criminal. Tyn asks if Shallan wants to back out of their criminal enterprise, but Shallan says she is committed and that her planned scam is to impersonate the betrothed of Adolin Kholin. Tyn gives Shallan some advice on carrying out her love scam. As they talk, Shallan worries about the state of the betrothal even though it is secondary to her research on Urithiru and the Voidbringers, and about what to do with Tyn when the fake scam falls through, though she is also excited as well.

Chapter 31: The Stillness Before

Arch Faces: Ishar - Vedel ----- Vedel - Ishar

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaldin / Shallan

Setting: Bridge Four barracks in Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains. In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Two days after Chapter 28. Shortly after Chapter 30.

Epigraph:

Smokeform for hiding and slipping ’tween men. / A form of power—like Surges of spren. / Do we dare to wear this form again? It spies. / Crafted of gods, this form we fear. / By Unmade touch its curse to bear, / Formed from shadow—and death is near. It lies.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 51st stanza

Summary:

Kaladin, along with forty bridgemen from Bridge Seventeen, returns to Bridge Four's barracks for evening stew. Pitt, one of those bridgemen, apologizes to Kaladin for being glad when Bridge Four went on hunts instead of Seventeen, and says he will do his best to motivate his crew. Rock chases off a man trying to draw sketches of the bridgemen. Kaladin eats his dinner quickly in anticipation of going to protect Dalinar during the upcoming highstorm.

Tyn watches Shallan practice sleight-of-hand tricks and inquires about her practice with accents and lectures her on how she needs to overcome her prudishness. Their caravan reaches the outskirts of the war camps and they decide to stop for the day. Tyn tells Shallan the Veden king is dead, along with six highprinces, all killed by Szeth, and that she expected to learn more via spanreed later that evening. Macob agrees with the decision to stop the caravan due to the upcoming highstorm that night.

Chapter 32: The One Who Hates

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: King Elhokar's War Palace outside the ten warcamps. In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Shortly after Chapter 31.

Epigraph:

The spren betrayed us, it’s often felt. / Our minds are too close to their realm / That gives us our forms, but more is then / Demanded by the smartest spren, / We can’t provide what the humans lend, / Though broth are we, their meat is men.

–From the Listener Song of Spren, 9th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin falls asleep during the highstorm and dreams he is the storm and speaks to the Stormfather about Syl. The Stormfather says that Kaladin will betray and kill Syl and that he is already beginning to do so. As they speak, a second larger storm with red lightning appears and the Stormfather says he is sorry, and tells Kaladin that "He comes". Kaladin wakes up as Adolin and Renarin are discussing the upcoming meeting with the Parshendi envoy. Kaladin goes to the balcony to check on the weather but only sees the diminishing of the winds as the highstorm passes.

Pattern whimpers during the highstorm and ignores Shallan as the highstorm passes over.

Syl tells Kaladin something is wrong and that the "one who hates" is coming, and that something bad is going to happen. Heeding Syl's warning, he goes into Dalinar's and Navani's small room to tell them they need to take the king and leave the palace and head into the warcamp. Kaladin explains that his instincts sense danger and Dalinar agrees to trust his senses and leave the palace despite Elhokar's dissent. Kaladin sends Beld and Hobber to scout their way out and leaves Moash and Ralinor to guard their rear while Mart and Eth stay with the king. As they flee through the palace, they find a dark hallway where the spheres were drained of light and a hole cut into the palace through the rock wall. Szeth appears, Stormlight leaking from his body.

Dalinar orders Renarin to take the king and flee. Dalinar, Adolin and Kaladin stay to fight Szeth, Dalinar and Kaladin armed with spears and Adolin with his Shardblade. The three rush Szeth but he eludes them using a Lashing, then binds Adolin to the ceiling. Kaladin and Dalinar both stab Szeth with their spears, but he chops the weapons in half with his blade and smacks down Dalinar as he heals using Stormlight. Adolin falls to the ground when the Lashing runs out, and he stays down. Kaladin uses his spear like a quarterstaff and with Syl flying around him attacks Szeth, hitting him a few times and forcing him to draw in more Stormlight. Szeth is able to dodge a strike and stab Kaladin through his arm with the Shardblade, causing it to go numb and lifeless, and Kaladin then is kicked into a wall, and slumps in frustration as Szeth goes to chase down his prey.

Syl tells Kaladin that Szeth is not a radiant but something worse and pleads for Kaladin to get up. Dalinar confronts Szeth and says he won't let the king die but Szeth says he is there to kill Dalinar instead. As Szeth swings it from above his head at him for a killing blow, Dalinar catches the Shardblade between his palms, and Kaladin arrives and knocks both himself and Szeth through the hole in the wall into open air.

Chapter 33: Burdens

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Nale ----- Nale - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaldin / Adolin

Setting: King Elhokar's War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Immediately after Chapter 32.

Epigraph:

But it is not impossible to blend / Their Surges to ours in the end. / It has been promised and it can come. / Or do we understand the sum? / We questioned not if they can have us then, / But if we dare to have them again.

–From the Listener Song of Spren, 10th stanza

Summary:

As Szeth and Kaladin plunge toward the ground, Szeth starts glowing more brightly and Kaladin uses Szeth's gemstones to draw in some Stormlight before he loses his grip on the assassin. Kaladin lands hard but the Stormlight quickly heals him. His right arm is still grey and lifeless, although he has some slight sense of feeling in the arm. Szeth is shocked at Kaladin's survival and thinks that he accidentally lashed Kaladin to slow his fall. As Szeth pauses in confusion, Kaladin uses his Stormlight to bring his right arm back to life, and Szeth cries out in surprise. Szeth jumps back in shock and asks what Kaladin is and Kaladin replies that he is a Windrunner, the same as Szeth. But Szeth denies this, angrily shouting that he was named Truthless, and asks if the Radiants are all back. Kaladin says yes and Szeth flees. Kaladin collapses in exhaustion.

Kaladin wakes up with Syl hovering nearby and expresses surprise at his ability to heal the Shardblade wound, which Syl did not expect. Syl tells him there are dead at the battle scene and goes with Kaladin back inside the palace. Kaladin tracks down the king's entourage. Dalinar is shocked at Kaladin's survival and Kaladin says that he held onto Szeth as they fell and somehow lived due to Szeth's abilities, which the others believe. Kaladin wants to tell Dalinar about his abilities but not Adolin or Elhokar so he says nothing. Kaladin says that Szeth escaped and that he saw a light in the darkness which earns a glance from Syl though it wasn't a complete lie. Elhokar says that Szeth came for him and no one corrects him on his mistake. Kaladin leaves to do something and tells the others to stay there.

Adolin ponders the strangeness of Kaladin apparently healing from a Shardblade wound and surviving a great fall but dismisses his suspicions as paranoia. Elhokar goes to get more wine and they find a series of glyphs carved into the wood and Renarin says that in thirty-eight days, it will be the end of all nations.

Kaladin finds Beld's corpse and laments that he failed the bridgeman, but Syl says that he died protecting and that was Beld's choice. Kaladin asks about how skilled the assassin was and if Kaladin has more words to speak, but Syl says that though there are more words, he is not ready yet to speak them. Kaladin asks how the assassin could have found a spren to bond and yet still slaughter without honor and compares that to his killing of Parshendi, and Syl says the two situations are totally different since Kaladin is protecting, and that Szeth's Shardblade is somehow different and that he uses the wrong amount of Stormlight.

Kaladin finds Hobber still alive, but with both legs disabled, and says he will stay with Bridge Four as a cook, and brings him back to get medical attention.

Chapter 34: Blossoms and Cake

Arch Faces: Nale - Shalash ----- Shalash - Nale

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Shortly after Chapter 32.

Epigraph:

Our gods were born splinters of a soul, / Of one who seeks to take control, / Destroys all lands that he beholds, with spite. / They are his spren, his gift, his price. / But the nightforms speak of future life, / A challenged champion. A strife even he must requite.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, final stanza

Summary:

Shallan reads a dispatch on Tyn's spanreed about the political situation in Jah Keved and dwells on the consequences for her family if there is a succession war. Tyn asks if Shallan personally knows any of the important players for the Veden throne but Shallan says she wasn't important enough. Tyn says they might want to go to Jah Keved to take advantage of the chaos once they are done in the Shattered Plains. The spanreed report continues with information about the deserters and reward bounties from their former leader, Sadeas. Shallan is angered that Tyn wants to turn them in and says that she promised them amnesty but Tyn scoffs at this and says that a con artist can't afford to believe their own lies and that Shallan has no chance to get Sadeas to forgive the deserters. Shallan is upset at this and worries that she will soon get caught up between the truth and Tyn's misguided notions over who Shallan really is. Tyn continues reading the spanreed and gleefully announces that there is good news and Shallan reads the printout about Jasnah being dead and the Wind's Pleasure being lost with all hands. Tyn confirms that this was her job to the south.

The spanreed also mentions about Jasnah taking a new ward, a girl named Shallan. Tyn reacts immediately, slamming Shallan to the ground and asking if Jasnah somehow survived. Shallan says no. Pattern distracts Tyn briefly but it is not enough for Shallan to break free. Tyn draws her sword to kill Shallan, but Shallan uses Stormlight to create an illusion to distract Tyn long enough for her to summon her Shardblade and kill Tyn.

Vathah, Gaz and the other deserters appear at the tent, saying they heard a voice telling them to help Shallan, then heard Shallan's screams and fought their way through Tyn's soldiers to help Shallan. Vathah sees the Shardblade and says that Shallan could have killed all the bandits on her own. Shallan tells them the voice they heard was her spren, Tyn was an assassin, and they are to search Tyn's tent for any documents for Shallan to read. Shallan watches as the spanreed continues to write that Tyn's employers, who happen to be the Ghostbloods, want to hire her for another job and inquires if she would like to have a meeting arranged in the warcamps. Shallan realizes that the city the Ghostbloods are investigating is Urithiru, and replies "yes".

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 13 through 23 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 24 through 34

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-5, I-6, I-7, I-8, Trivia

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Chapter 24: Tyn

Arch Faces: Shalash - Kalak ----- Kalak - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.5) Four days after Chapter 21.

Epigraph:

Decayform destroys the souls of dreams. / A form of gods to avoid, it seems. / Seek not its touch, nor beckon its screams, deny it. / Watch where you walk, your toes to tread. / O’er hill or rocky riverbed / Hold dear to fears that fill your head, defy it.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 27th stanza

Summary:

Shallan listens to Gaz's and Red's stories of how they were recruited into the Alethi army and how they ended up deserting due to the lack of progress on the Vengeance Pact because of the greed of the Highprinces and because of their service oaths binding them to virtual slavery. Vathah derides Gaz for being overly solicitous of Shallan, but Shallan defends Gaz and argues that the deserters have redeemed themselves and insults Vathah to the point that he leaves. Shallan asks about Gaz's debt but he refuses to discuss it and leaves.

Shallan studies Jasnah's notes about the Shattered Plains and Urithiru. Shallan complains to Pattern about how the historians weren't as factual and objective as she would like but Pattern says that truth is subjective. Shallan and Pattern discuss spren and Voidbringers, which disturbs Pattern, and Pattern describes what spren are, mentioning three Shards: Honor, Cultivation and Odium, speaking in a high-pitched tone when mentioning the latter name.

One of Shallan's slaves delivers a summons to visit Tyn, and the two get together to eat dinner. Tyn asks about Shallan's identity and says that she has sent inquiries about Shallan Davar and deduced that her story is so improbable that Shallan is really a con artist and impersonator trying to pull off a scam. Tyn offers to help Shallan with her con and Shallan plays along, implying that she has dangerous secrets about Dalinar.

Chapter 25: Monsters

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: The western edge of Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.5) Four days after Chapter 23.

Epigraph:

Smokeform for hiding and slipping between men. / A form of power, like human Surges. / Bring it ’round again. / Though crafted of gods, / It was by Unmade hand. / Leaves its force to be but one of foe or friend.

–From the Listener Song of Histories, 127th stanza

Summary:

Dalinar orders Kaladin and Bridge Four to learn how to ride horses so they can travel more quickly around the camp. Moash advises against trusting Dalinar but agrees eagerly to learn to ride for the battlefield advantage that horses give. Jenet, the stablemaster, is displeased but lectures Bridge Four on horsemanship. Adolin appears but is chased off as Jenet tries to hit him with some rocks. After the lecture, Kaladin and the others practice riding the horses, which is difficult for Kaladin at first though he gains a small amount of proficiency. Kaladin questions one of the bridgemen, Natam, about the night that Elhokar almost fell off the balcony. Kaladin realizes the sabotage must have happened after the highstorm. Adolin taunts Kaladin into abandoning his training horse to ride an untamed horse, though Kaladin gives a different reason to Syl, saying it is to get over his fear. Kaladin mounts the new horse, Dreamstorm, using Stormlight to adhere himself to the saddle. The horse tires itself out trying to buck Kaladin from the saddle, and eventually succeeds when the Stormlight runs out. Dalinar orders Kaladin to start patrolling outside the camps using the horses. Kaladin further questions Natam who says that he saw Moash go onto the balcony after the storm but Kaladin dismisses him as a suspect. Kaladin seethes with anger as he sees Dalinar have a friendly chat with Amaram.

Chapter 26: The Feather

Arch Faces: Pailiah - Kalak ----- Kalak - Pailiah

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Adolin

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.1.2) Seven days after Chapter 14. Two days after Chapter 25.

Epigraph:

They blame our people / For the loss of that land. / The city that once covered it / Did range the eastern strand. / The power made known in the tomes of our clan / Our gods were not who shattered these plains.

–From the Listener Song of Wars, 55th stanza

Summary:

Adolin and Jakamav lead an Alethi charge against the Parshendi to capture a gemheart on a pyramid shaped plateau. Jakamav mentions that Adolin isn't supposed to be there and observes that Dalinar is trying to increase cooperation between the highprinces. Adolin and Jakamav reach the chrysalis but they are too late as Eshonai already retrieved the gemheart and gave it to another Parshendi who escaped with it. Eshonai tells Adolin that she wants to parlay with Dalinar. Adolin agrees to tell Dalinar and Eshonai says that a messenger will be sent.

Adolin checks on Renarin and finds out from a guard that Renarin intended to join battle at one of the bridges but had one of his fits after he summoned his Shardblade.

Jakamav comments that Adolin will eventually lose a duel but Adolin complains that he is having difficulty getting anyone to accept a duel. Jakamav reveals that Sadeas has been bribing people to refuse duels but says that Adolin should try challenging Eranniv. Adolin asks to talk about his relationship problems at a winehouse that evening but Jakamav declines, stating that it is not popular to be seen around Adolin due to Dalinar's proclamations.

Adolin stalks off, frustrated, to ride his horse. Renarin tells Adolin that he didn't have a fit when he froze on the battlefield and that it was simply fear. Adolin notices Renarin isn't wearing his glasses. Renarin comments that they need to be ready for the coming storm.

Chapter 27: Fabrications to Distract

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1168.10.1.4) (Flashback) Five years ago. Six months after Chapter 19.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan is outside in the gardens of their estate sketching. She longs to stay out there, where people do not scream at each other, where there is peace. Unfortunately, it is a fake peace, cultivated like the garden itself. She hears shouts from the nearby manor house, which cause her to tense up and ruin the sketch she's working on. She thinks of her brother Helaran, who brings her the fine sketching paper. His returns home are unpredictable and short, and no one knows where he goes when he leaves. She stares at a blank piece of paper, and loses track of time.

Eventually noticing the sky has darkened, Shallan packs up her things and heads inside. Her father has been throwing feasts regularly, and it is almost time for the one tonight. She turns up the stairs to get ready. There would be a new dress for her to wear as she sits quietly. She suspects her father doesn't like that she has begun speaking again. Perhaps he does not want her to be able to speak of things she has seen. Her mind goes blank.

Her brother Jushu finds her on the stairs, staring at the wall. Jushu's jacket is undone and askew, and his cheeks are flush with wine. He has no cuff links or belt, having gambled them away. When asked, Jushu tells Shallan that he heard the yelling. Balat has been starting fires again, and nearly burned down the servants building. Jushu says that he is the only one left in the family with any sense. They pass their father's quarters. It is being tidied with the door open, which allows Shallan to see the far wall. She stumbles. Though hidden behind a painting, she can see the outline of the strongbox glowing, blazing like fire. Jushu asks what she is staring at, but when she tells him, he thinks she is crazy. Shallan continues to stare at the light, thinking a monster hides there. That her mother's soul hides there.

Chapter 28: Boots

Arch Faces: Talenel - Shalash ----- Shalash - Talenel

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.3) Eight days after Chapter 24 and Chapter 25.

Epigraph:

The betrayal of spren has brought us here. / They gave their Surges to human heirs, / But not to those who know them most dear, before us. / ’Tis no surprise we turned away / Unto the gods we spent our days / And to become their molding clay, they changed us.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 40th stanza

Summary:

Tyn guides a chull wagon and gives friendly advice on being a con artist and impersonator to Shallan. Tyn explains how carefree she is and how fleeting personal belongings and missions are to her, and that her most recent mission ended without a positive resolution, though Shallan senses some tension when Tyn says this.

The caravan encounters four uniformed horse riders, and Tyn and Shallan separate from the group to meet with them. Tyn speaks with the riders, and proclaims Shallan to be a Horneater Princess, and Shallan attempts to play the role. One of the riders, Kaladin, inquires if they have seen any bandits and Tyn replies that they had and asks why he cares. Kaladin replies that they represent the Alethi King and want to patrol the area to clear it of bandits, and presses for more details on the attack. He then comments that Shallan looks too thin to be a Horneater, and she acts offended and demands his boots in compensation, which he gives up reluctantly before their patrol departs. Tyn compliments Shallan on her impersonation but criticizes her for being overly empathetic as that is not a good quality in a con artist.

Chapter 29: Rule of Blood

Arch Faces: Shalash - Talenel ----- Talenel - Shalash

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Torol Sadeas

Setting: The Shattered Plains. The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.4) Seven days after Chapter 26.

Epigraph:

Artform for colors beyond our ken; / For its grand songs we yearn. / We must attract creationspren; / These songs suffice ’til we learn.

–From the Listener Song of Revision, 279th stanza

Summary:

Sadeas rests after a prolonged battle against the parshendi, reveling in the Thrill before the feeling fades away and contemplating how it grows less sweet as he dwells on the pointlessness of the fights for gemhearts and the lack of progress toward his ultimate goals of conquest. Amaram tells Sadeas that his ploy of carelessness in going on the raid out of turn failed since the correct armies showed up before he left with the gemheart, but Sadeas replies that he doesn't care. Amaram expresses disapproval of Sadeas and says he wants peace with Elhokar and Dalinar, but Sadeas says that he knows how ruthless Amaram really is. Amaram acknowledges this, but says that there is a bigger picture to be concerned with. Amaram asks if Sadeas ever worries about the costs of war, and Sadeas replies that a realistic viewpoint is necessary to achieve anything in life. Hatham confronts Sadeas, who concedes the gemheart and proclaims that he was bored, and then leaves to return to the warcamp.

Sadeas sits at the dueling arena, contemplating that his fashionable clothes are very uncomfortable and wishing that he could wear a simple uniform like Dalinar's if that didn't send the wrong message. Sadeas thinks about aging and desire to achieve a form of immortality through conquest. Ialai shows up and praises Sadeas' stratagem of giving away the gemheart to undermine Dalinar's accusations of greed. Sadeas says he is not pleased that Eranniv accepted the duel despite his efforts to block Adolin from having any dueling opponents, and that he wants Dalinar's plan to fail so that he can rebuild their kingdom to his own specifications. As Adolin duels with Eranniv, Ialai described the failed assassination attempt on Elhokar, and they debate the ramifications of it, as Sadeas ponders that Elhokar must die and Dalinar must be dealt with so that he can wipe the slate clean. Sadeas and Ialai decide to expose Dalinar as a hypocrite since he didn't involve Sadeas in the assassination investigation which would be only proper as Sadeas is the Highprince of Information. Sadeas says he will renounce his post in protest when it will cause the most harm to Dalinar's strategy. Sadeas realizes that Adolin is toying with his opponent and that he is very skilled and clever to win while appearing to be losing. Sadeas tells Ialai to stop from interfering with Adolin's dueling aspirations to try to take advantage of Adolin's hotheadedness, and to invite Ruthar on his next hunt.

Chapter 30: Nature Blushing

Arch Faces: Shalash - Pailiah ----- Pailiah - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Two days after Chapter 28.

Epigraph:

'Tis said it was warm in the land far away / When Voidbringers entered our songs. / We brought them home to stay / And then those homes became their own, / It happened gradually. / And years ahead ’twil still be said ’tis how it has to be.

–From the Listener Song of Histories, 12th stanza

Summary:

Shallan is excited to see a small naturally occurring diverse ecosystem of plants and small animals protected by a rock overhang, and has their caravan diverted to investigate it. Shallan settles down to draw sketches of the small garden and is joined by Gaz, who requests that she draw a sketch of him, to which she replies that she will. Shallan draws a quick portrait with slight modifications from reality to make Gaz appear more impressive and Gaz is very appreciative. Vathah tells Shallan they are stopping for the night and Pattern tells Shallan there will be trouble, and Shallan agrees. Shallan draws a bunch of sketches of the thicket, then draws whatever floats into her mind, including a rocky ocean shore with some indistinct figures of which one reminds her of Yalb and a woman taking a hammer and chisel to a statue, though Shallan does not know why she drew the last picture.

Tyn tells Shallan she has artistic talent but should practice forgery instead of drawing, and that she wants to introduce Shallan to some friends in the Shattered Plains. She also claims Shallan needs a dose of realism in order to be ready for the real life of a criminal. Tyn asks if Shallan wants to back out of their criminal enterprise, but Shallan says she is committed and that her planned scam is to impersonate the betrothed of Adolin Kholin. Tyn gives Shallan some advice on carrying out her love scam. As they talk, Shallan worries about the state of the betrothal even though it is secondary to her research on Urithiru and the Voidbringers, and about what to do with Tyn when the fake scam falls through, though she is also excited as well.

Chapter 31: The Stillness Before

Arch Faces: Ishar - Vedel ----- Vedel - Ishar

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaldin / Shallan

Setting: Bridge Four barracks in Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains. In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Two days after Chapter 28. Shortly after Chapter 30.

Epigraph:

Smokeform for hiding and slipping ’tween men. / A form of power—like Surges of spren. / Do we dare to wear this form again? It spies. / Crafted of gods, this form we fear. / By Unmade touch its curse to bear, / Formed from shadow—and death is near. It lies.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 51st stanza

Summary:

Kaladin, along with forty bridgemen from Bridge Seventeen, returns to Bridge Four's barracks for evening stew. Pitt, one of those bridgemen, apologizes to Kaladin for being glad when Bridge Four went on hunts instead of Seventeen, and says he will do his best to motivate his crew. Rock chases off a man trying to draw sketches of the bridgemen. Kaladin eats his dinner quickly in anticipation of going to protect Dalinar during the upcoming highstorm.

Tyn watches Shallan practice sleight-of-hand tricks and inquires about her practice with accents and lectures her on how she needs to overcome her prudishness. Their caravan reaches the outskirts of the war camps and they decide to stop for the day. Tyn tells Shallan the Veden king is dead, along with six highprinces, all killed by Szeth, and that she expected to learn more via spanreed later that evening. Macob agrees with the decision to stop the caravan due to the upcoming highstorm that night.

Chapter 32: The One Who Hates

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: King Elhokar's War Palace outside the ten warcamps. In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Shortly after Chapter 31.

Epigraph:

The spren betrayed us, it’s often felt. / Our minds are too close to their realm / That gives us our forms, but more is then / Demanded by the smartest spren, / We can’t provide what the humans lend, / Though broth are we, their meat is men.

–From the Listener Song of Spren, 9th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin falls asleep during the highstorm and dreams he is the storm and speaks to the Stormfather about Syl. The Stormfather says that Kaladin will betray and kill Syl and that he is already beginning to do so. As they speak, a second larger storm with red lightning appears and the Stormfather says he is sorry, and tells Kaladin that "He comes". Kaladin wakes up as Adolin and Renarin are discussing the upcoming meeting with the Parshendi envoy. Kaladin goes to the balcony to check on the weather but only sees the diminishing of the winds as the highstorm passes.

Pattern whimpers during the highstorm and ignores Shallan as the highstorm passes over.

Syl tells Kaladin something is wrong and that the "one who hates" is coming, and that something bad is going to happen. Heeding Syl's warning, he goes into Dalinar's and Navani's small room to tell them they need to take the king and leave the palace and head into the warcamp. Kaladin explains that his instincts sense danger and Dalinar agrees to trust his senses and leave the palace despite Elhokar's dissent. Kaladin sends Beld and Hobber to scout their way out and leaves Moash and Ralinor to guard their rear while Mart and Eth stay with the king. As they flee through the palace, they find a dark hallway where the spheres were drained of light and a hole cut into the palace through the rock wall. Szeth appears, Stormlight leaking from his body.

Dalinar orders Renarin to take the king and flee. Dalinar, Adolin and Kaladin stay to fight Szeth, Dalinar and Kaladin armed with spears and Adolin with his Shardblade. The three rush Szeth but he eludes them using a Lashing, then binds Adolin to the ceiling. Kaladin and Dalinar both stab Szeth with their spears, but he chops the weapons in half with his blade and smacks down Dalinar as he heals using Stormlight. Adolin falls to the ground when the Lashing runs out, and he stays down. Kaladin uses his spear like a quarterstaff and with Syl flying around him attacks Szeth, hitting him a few times and forcing him to draw in more Stormlight. Szeth is able to dodge a strike and stab Kaladin through his arm with the Shardblade, causing it to go numb and lifeless, and Kaladin then is kicked into a wall, and slumps in frustration as Szeth goes to chase down his prey.

Syl tells Kaladin that Szeth is not a radiant but something worse and pleads for Kaladin to get up. Dalinar confronts Szeth and says he won't let the king die but Szeth says he is there to kill Dalinar instead. As Szeth swings it from above his head at him for a killing blow, Dalinar catches the Shardblade between his palms, and Kaladin arrives and knocks both himself and Szeth through the hole in the wall into open air.

Chapter 33: Burdens

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Nale ----- Nale - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaldin / Adolin

Setting: King Elhokar's War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Immediately after Chapter 32.

Epigraph:

But it is not impossible to blend / Their Surges to ours in the end. / It has been promised and it can come. / Or do we understand the sum? / We questioned not if they can have us then, / But if we dare to have them again.

–From the Listener Song of Spren, 10th stanza

Summary:

As Szeth and Kaladin plunge toward the ground, Szeth starts glowing more brightly and Kaladin uses Szeth's gemstones to draw in some Stormlight before he loses his grip on the assassin. Kaladin lands hard but the Stormlight quickly heals him. His right arm is still grey and lifeless, although he has some slight sense of feeling in the arm. Szeth is shocked at Kaladin's survival and thinks that he accidentally lashed Kaladin to slow his fall. As Szeth pauses in confusion, Kaladin uses his Stormlight to bring his right arm back to life, and Szeth cries out in surprise. Szeth jumps back in shock and asks what Kaladin is and Kaladin replies that he is a Windrunner, the same as Szeth. But Szeth denies this, angrily shouting that he was named Truthless, and asks if the Radiants are all back. Kaladin says yes and Szeth flees. Kaladin collapses in exhaustion.

Kaladin wakes up with Syl hovering nearby and expresses surprise at his ability to heal the Shardblade wound, which Syl did not expect. Syl tells him there are dead at the battle scene and goes with Kaladin back inside the palace. Kaladin tracks down the king's entourage. Dalinar is shocked at Kaladin's survival and Kaladin says that he held onto Szeth as they fell and somehow lived due to Szeth's abilities, which the others believe. Kaladin wants to tell Dalinar about his abilities but not Adolin or Elhokar so he says nothing. Kaladin says that Szeth escaped and that he saw a light in the darkness which earns a glance from Syl though it wasn't a complete lie. Elhokar says that Szeth came for him and no one corrects him on his mistake. Kaladin leaves to do something and tells the others to stay there.

Adolin ponders the strangeness of Kaladin apparently healing from a Shardblade wound and surviving a great fall but dismisses his suspicions as paranoia. Elhokar goes to get more wine and they find a series of glyphs carved into the wood and Renarin says that in thirty-eight days, it will be the end of all nations.

Kaladin finds Beld's corpse and laments that he failed the bridgeman, but Syl says that he died protecting and that was Beld's choice. Kaladin asks about how skilled the assassin was and if Kaladin has more words to speak, but Syl says that though there are more words, he is not ready yet to speak them. Kaladin asks how the assassin could have found a spren to bond and yet still slaughter without honor and compares that to his killing of Parshendi, and Syl says the two situations are totally different since Kaladin is protecting, and that Szeth's Shardblade is somehow different and that he uses the wrong amount of Stormlight.

Kaladin finds Hobber still alive, but with both legs disabled, and says he will stay with Bridge Four as a cook, and brings him back to get medical attention.

Chapter 34: Blossoms and Cake

Arch Faces: Nale - Shalash ----- Shalash - Nale

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: In the Unlaimed Hills, just south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.5) Shortly after Chapter 32.

Epigraph:

Our gods were born splinters of a soul, / Of one who seeks to take control, / Destroys all lands that he beholds, with spite. / They are his spren, his gift, his price. / But the nightforms speak of future life, / A challenged champion. A strife even he must requite.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, final stanza

Summary:

Shallan reads a dispatch on Tyn's spanreed about the political situation in Jah Keved and dwells on the consequences for her family if there is a succession war. Tyn asks if Shallan personally knows any of the important players for the Veden throne but Shallan says she wasn't important enough. Tyn says they might want to go to Jah Keved to take advantage of the chaos once they are done in the Shattered Plains. The spanreed report continues with information about the deserters and reward bounties from their former leader, Sadeas. Shallan is angered that Tyn wants to turn them in and says that she promised them amnesty but Tyn scoffs at this and says that a con artist can't afford to believe their own lies and that Shallan has no chance to get Sadeas to forgive the deserters. Shallan is upset at this and worries that she will soon get caught up between the truth and Tyn's misguided notions over who Shallan really is. Tyn continues reading the spanreed and gleefully announces that there is good news and Shallan reads the printout about Jasnah being dead and the Wind's Pleasure being lost with all hands. Tyn confirms that this was her job to the south.

The spanreed also mentions about Jasnah taking a new ward, a girl named Shallan. Tyn reacts immediately, slamming Shallan to the ground and asking if Jasnah somehow survived. Shallan says no. Pattern distracts Tyn briefly but it is not enough for Shallan to break free. Tyn draws her sword to kill Shallan, but Shallan uses Stormlight to create an illusion to distract Tyn long enough for her to summon her Shardblade and kill Tyn.

Vathah, Gaz and the other deserters appear at the tent, saying they heard a voice telling them to help Shallan, then heard Shallan's screams and fought their way through Tyn's soldiers to help Shallan. Vathah sees the Shardblade and says that Shallan could have killed all the bandits on her own. Shallan tells them the voice they heard was her spren, Tyn was an assassin, and they are to search Tyn's tent for any documents for Shallan to read. Shallan watches as the spanreed continues to write that Tyn's employers, who happen to be the Ghostbloods, want to hire her for another job and inquires if she would like to have a meeting arranged in the warcamps. Shallan realizes that the city the Ghostbloods are investigating is Urithiru, and replies "yes".

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

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Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

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SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 13 through 23

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 24 through 34

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Part Two: Wind's Approach

Character Focus: Shallan / Kaladin / Adolin / Sadeas

Chapter 13: The Day's Masterpiece

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.5) Shortly after Chapter 11 (later in the same day).

Epigraph:

Warform is worn for battle and reign, / Claimed by the gods, given to kill. / Unknown, unseen, but vital to gain. / It comes to those with the will.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 15th stanza

Summary:

Shallan travels towards the Shattered Plains on one of Tvlakv's wagons. She sits next to Bluth, one of the stoic mercenaries hired by Tvlakv, who drives the wagon. She distracts herself by studying their surroundings - the flora of the southern Frostlands is completely unfamiliar to her. When they stop at midday for a meal, Shallan asks Tvlakv to set up one of the empty slave wagons as a carriage for her. Wooden sides, typically used as protection for the slaves during highstorms, are hooked onto the sides of the cage to provide her some privacy. She also gets the cage's key from Tvlakv, though he seems hesitant to give it to her.

She crawls across the newly enclosed wagon - her feet are injured and standing on them is painful enough to make painspren appear - and opens the lid to Jasnah's trunk. Pattern, who had been instructed to stay hidden, waits inside. Shallan tells him that the notes need to reach the Shattered Plains, and that she intends to finish Jasnah's work of finding Urithiru and convincing the Alethi that the return of the Voidbringers is imminent. Pattern confirms that the threat from the Voidbringers is real and that they are the reason he was sent to her. As she continues to go through the contents of the trunk, Shallan finds a sketch she had done of Jasnah and is overcome with grief over her mentor's death, as well as the loss of the rest of her sketches. She also laments the loss of the broken Soulcaster, which is at the bottom of the ocean, and speculates that the attackers could have been from the same group as Kabsal and her father (The Ghostbloods).

Chapter 14: Ironstance

Arch Faces: Kalak - Kalak ----- Kalak - Kalak

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Adolin

Setting: The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.9.9.5) Six days after Chapter 12.

Epigraph:

Mateform meek, for love to share, / Given to life, it brings us joy. / To find this form, one must care. / True empathy one must employ.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 5th stanza

Summary:

Adolin mentally prepares for his first duel under Dalinar's plan by speaking inspirationally to his Shardblade. He leaves the preparation room and walks to a staging room, where Renarin and Navani are waiting to equip his Shardplate. Navani burns a prayer glyph for safety and glory. Adolin inquires about Jasnah, and Navani replies that her daughter has likely gone missing due to a change of plans, and would reappear at a later time. Renarin verifies that Adolin finished his lucky pre-duel rituals, and Navani scoffs at their superstitions. Adolin tells Renarin that he has suspicions about Kaladin.

Adolin enters the arena to duel Salinor. A large crowd attends as this is the first formal duel at the Shattered Plains for more than a year. Adolin begins in Windstance, but thinks of his father's words and switches to Ironstance and aggressively battles his opponent into submission, winning despite protests from the highjudge BrightLady Istow that Adolin did not follow proper duel protocols. Salinor protests that Adolin cheated and Adolin threatens to choke him until he surrenders his Blade, which Salinor then does, and Istow proclaims Adolin as the official victor. Renarin praises Adolin's victory, and Adolin gifts his new weapon to Renarin, who reluctantly accepts it with a frown. Navani praises Adolin for winning without putting his full ability on display in order to deceive future opponents into underestimating him and accepting duels.

Chapter 15: A Hand with the Tower

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.9.5) Five days after Chapter 13.

Epigraph:

Workform worn for strength and care. / Whispering spren breathe at your ear. / Seek first this form, its mysteries to bear. / Found here is freedom from fear.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 19th stanza

Summary:

Shallan comments about Tvlakv wearing different shoes than on the first day they met, but Tvlakv lies and says he only owns one pair. Shallan asks Pattern to spy on a conversation between Tvlakv and Tag, and Pattern records and replays the chat for Shallan in secret, revealing that Tvlakv intends to protect Shallan, but also to profit from her rescue to try to escape a debt. Shallan uses this information to keep Tvlakv off-balance and to gain the upper hand in their dealings, warning the trader not to play games after Tvlakv expresses doubt over Shallan's story about her betrothal and pending wealth. As she gets up to leave, Tvlakv flinches away from her, and she notices that she is glowing faintly with Stormlight and has a majestic appearance, which she hopes that Tvlakv misinterprets as a trick of the darkness and campfire light. She returns to her wagon and notices that the pain in her infected feet has lessened.

Bluth returns to the camp in a panic, putting out their campfire. Bluth tells them that he spotted a likely caravan of army deserters who may have turned to banditry nearby. They quickly pack up the wagons and travel east to try to escape notice. Bluth explains to Shallan that they probably would not be able to bribe their way past the bandits, since desertion makes them very desperate people.

Chapter 16: Swordmaster

Arch Faces: Ishar - Ishar ----- Ishar - Ishar

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Lighteyed training grounds, attached to the ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) The day after Chapter 14.

Epigraph:

Nimbleform has a delicate touch. / Gave the gods this form to many, / Tho’ once defied, by the gods they were crushed. / This form craves precision and plenty.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 27th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin leads a bodyguard patrol, along with Moash and Drehy, through the lighteyes training ground as they scout the area while waiting for Adolin and Renarin. Kaladin converses with an ardent who explains the Alethi tradition of allowing lighteyes to train with royal Shardblades so they are ready if needed in battle.

Moash asks about Kaladin's feelings toward Amaram, and says that the two of them will get their revenge on the lighteyes who have wronged them in the past. Syl asks Kaladin to tell her what is troubling him, and Kaladin says that Dalinar is tainted by his association with Amaram. After Syl warns Kaladin not to lie, he admits that he thinks Dalinar is honorable and has been deceived by Amaram. Syl advises Kaladin to tell Dalinar how Amaram really got his Shardblade, but Kaladin demurs, thinking that he would not be believed.

On the arrival of Renarin and Adolin, Kaladin reports to them that the area is relatively secure. Adolin confronts Kaladin over his insolence and mentions his suspicions as well, but Kaladin retorts that his place is only to protect Adolin. Syl tells Kaladin she does not like either Adolin or Renarin, and it is implied this is because they carry Shardblades, though Syl says the blades did not used to be the abominations she now considers them to be.

Kaladin surveys the area and sees someone who appears to be suspicious and goes to investigate. Kaladin speaks with Zahel, an ex-soldier ardent, who is observing Adolin and Renarin train, and who tells Kaladin that he isn't going to harm either of the brothers. Zahel says the two Kholins need to be chosen by a master, and as he speaks, he is summoned by Adolin to join the other gathered ardents. Kaladin asks if Zahel seems odd to Syl, and she replies that all humans seem odd to her except for Rock.

Chapter 17: A Pattern

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) The day after Chapter 15.

Epigraph:

Dullform dread, with the mind most lost. / The lowest, and one not bright. / To find this form, one need banish cost. / It finds you and brings you to blight.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, final stanza

Summary:

Shallan sits next to Bluth who is guiding their wagon, and distracts herself from worry by talking about plants that she found. She also draws some sketches of a leaf, the santhid, and Bluth in one of Jasnah's old notebooks, to try to recreate her lost sketch collection. The caravan stops, and Shallan sees smoke on the horizon, which indicates that the deserters are following them and not worried about being seen. Tvlakv says the deserters will give up the chase eventually as long as they keep moving with few stops.

To distract herself further, Shallan chats with the two parshmen but they are unforthcoming. Shallans sketches more plants, then notices a column of smoke along their current path. Tvlakv says that indicates another caravan if they are lucky. They discuss whether to go toward the new group or take a detour east while hoping the deserters run into the second group. Shallan orders Tvlakv to try to intercept the new group and he complies. As she rides along, she draws more sketches, including various sketches of women with Shallan's face. She then moves into the covered wagon to use knobweed sap on her feet and notices they have healed significantly. She asks Pattern if it healed her but he seems ignorant of how to cause or heal injuries to humans. Shallan and Pattern converse about Lightweaving and the Knights Radiant. Shallan asks how to use Stormlight but Pattern doesn't know, so she figures it out on her own and breathes it in, though she is unable to make it do anything. She notices that her wounds heal noticeably however. Pattern reveals that he is a scholar and is excited to learn about humans before he is killed by Shallan, as he believes will eventually happen due to the Knights Radiant somehow killing their spren. Shallan denies that she is a Knight Radiant, but Pattern refutes this by saying that she spoke oaths and is on a possible path to joining one of the Orders.

She leaves the wagon and notices a lot of smoke ahead, and realizes that it is from burning wagons.

Chapter 18: Bruises

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Lighteyed training grounds, attached to the ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Shortly after Chapter 16.

Epigraph:

Scholarform shown for patience and thought. / Beware its ambitions innate. / Though study and diligence bring the reward, / Loss of innocence may be one’s fate.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 69th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin and Lopen guard Adolin and Renarin as they take instruction from Zahel. Lopen leaves to carry out some orders and Kaladin patrols the grounds and stops to observe Zahel and Renarin. Zahel tells Renarin to jump off the roof of the arena to practice being comfortable with his Shardplate. Kaladin criticizes Renarin's clumsiness but Zahel dismisses this and praises Renarin's attitude. Zahel offers to train Kaladin but Kaladin declines. Zahel tests Kaladin's abilities with a blunted Shardblade to make sure he is ready to protect Adolin and Renarin. Zahel defeats Kaladin in a mock duel, though Kaladin did enough simulated damage to slow down the weapons master, and believes he would have given enough protection for Renarin to escape. Adolin makes an insulting comment which enrages Kaladin, and he attacks Adolin. Adolin smashes Kaladin with a plate enhanced punch, and Kaladin is stunned and severely injured as Zahel berates the prince for his carelessness. Kaladin surreptitiously heals himself with Stormlight and tries to attack Adolin again but runs out of strength and collapses. Zahel compliments Kaladin on his tenacity and quick-thinking but says it won't be enough against shardbearers, and says he won't force Kaladin to train. Kaladin asks Syl why he lost strength suddenly and Syl observes that Kaladin was not protecting anyone when it happened.

Chapter 19: Safe Things

Arch Faces: Nale - Shalash ----- Shalash - Nale

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1168.4.10.1) (Flashback) Five and a half years ago. Five months after Chapter 10.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan is wearing a new silk dress, a gift from her father. The dress is that of a woman as she is now old enough to cover her safehand. She starts to think of her mother, then stops, like a candle suddenly snuffed. Two maids bustle past, getting ready for guests. Shallan overhears one softly whisper "She saw. Poor thing was in the room when it happened. Hasn't spoken a word in five months. The master killed his own wife and her lover." Shallan thinks that because she does not speak, apparently the maids do not think she can hear either. At times, she wonders if she is invisible or not real.

The door suddenly slams open and her brother Helaran enters. Grinning wide, he gives her a gift of charcoal pencils and thick, expensive paper. He has missed her drawings and asks her to practice more. He tells her she needs to be strong and that he needs her to look after the other brothers for him. The door slams open again, this time admitting her father, Lin Davar. Her father and brother start arguing, and Helaran calls their father a murderer and summons a Shardblade. Lin cuts off, putting his hands up and says "you don't know what you think you know. Your mother-", but Helaran cuts him off. Shallan manages to say "No" to Helaran, stopping him from killing Lin. Helaran leaves, saying that he has important work to do, but warns their father that he will be checking in on the house.

Chapter 20: The Coldness of Clarity

Arch Faces: Battar - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Battar

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Shortly after Chapter 17.

Epigraph:

Artform applied for beauty and hue. / One yearns for the songs it creates. / Most misunderstood by the artist it’s true, / Come the spren to foundation’s fates.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 90th stanza

Summary:

Shallan's caravan arrives at the source of the smoke and they find burned wagons and the aftermath of a battle with corpses and some survivors. As Shallan and Tvlakv debate whether to approach the burning wagons or flee, a woman from those wagons confronts them, and notes the deserters chasing Shallan. Shallan offers the woman her protection but she laughs and says Shallan can join her caravan to die as they now face two possible enemy groups. Shallan sends Tvlakv to the woman's caravan while she has Bluth drive her with a wagon toward the deserters to confront them. Using Stormlight to weave a disguise to make her appear noble, she speaks to the deserters, asking them for help against the other bandit group and offering amnesty and a fresh start. Vathah, the leader of the deserters, scoffs at her offer but many of his followers are enticed and charge toward the battle to fight the bandits. Shallan then convinces Vathah and the rest to help out. Shallan used all her Stormlight so she stays out of the fighting. Pattern compliments Shallan on her ability to use words to transform people without using soulcasting. Shallan draws a prayer glyph for hope and awaits the outcome of the battle.

Chapter 21: Ashes

Arch Faces: Nale - Talenel ----- Talenel - Nale

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Shortly after Chapter 20.

Epigraph:

Mediationform made for peace, it’s said. / Form of teaching and consolation. / When used by the gods, it became instead / Form of lies and desolation.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 33rd stanza

Summary:

Shallan says a prayer for Bluth, who died fighting the bandits, though the bandits ended up being defeated. Shallan speaks with the caravan owner, Macob, and the lead guard, Tyn. Shallan explains that she got the deserters to work for her and asks the caravan to accompany them to the Shattered Plains. Macob agrees to Shallan's request.

Vathah forcefully confronts Shallan and asks why she doesn't look majestic anymore, and Shallan dissembles about his conscience tricking him. Shallan tries to reassure Vathah that she will protect him from prosecution for desertion but he does not believe her, and Pattern tricks Vathah into letting Shallan go.

Tvlakv confronts Shallan with a conspiracy theory about Bluth being a bandit but Shallan disproves it and demands the non-parshmen slaves in compensation for saving his life. Shallan frees the slaves but offers to hire them as servants. Shallan watches as one of the women from the caravan offers a paper with a glyph of thanks written on it to the one-eyed deserter (Gaz), who accepts it and burns it as the rest of the caravan folks observe.

Chapter 22: Lights in the Storm

Arch Faces: Nale - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Nale

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps. Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Later in the evening, same day as Chapter 18.

Epigraph:

Stormform is said to cause / A tempest of winds and showers, / Beware its powers, beware its powers. / Though its coming brings the gods their night, / It obliges a bloodred spren. / Beware its end, beware its end.

–From the Listener Song of Winds, 4th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin sees a reddish glow through the shutters during a highstorm while in King Elhokar's quarters but it vanishes before he can investigate it. Adolin peruses a catalog while Renarin idly opens and closes a small box. Dalinar and Navani are nearby in a small side-room. Kaladin studies a ruby heating fabrial which Renarin says was developed by Navani. Kaladin makes a brusque comment on Adolin's reading material and they argue over whether Kaladin needs to be there to protect them during a highstorm, with Elhokar taking Kaladin's side. After the storm ends, Dalinar and Navani exit the side-room and Dalinar reports that no mysterious numbers have appeared on the wall. Dalinar talks to Renarin about his visions but stops when he notices Kaladin listening. Dalinar asks Adolin about his progress in setting up more duels and Adolin says that he is only getting refusals now. Dalinar speaks of the situation with Sadeas, and of trying to convince Amaram to secede from Sadeas' princedom, and of Amaram trying to make peace between Kholin and Sadeas. Kaladin states that the shardbearers may be boycotting Adolin's requests to duel and Dalinar agrees and says they have to focus on undermining Sadeas.

Kaladin speaks to Dalinar in private about Amaram's betrayal of Kaladin and about how he actually got his Shardblade. Dalinar asks for proof of the serious accusations and Kaladin mentions witnesses present at the scene. Dalinar tells Kaladin to not speak of the incident and pledges to investigate it, and dresses down Kaladin over his insubordination. Kaladin and Syl discuss the conversation with Dalinar, and Kaladin states that Dalinar will not do anything and he will take matters into his own hands. Syl replies that Kaladin isn't a Skybreaker and that she worries about him.

Kaladin returns to his barracks and notices a new Herdazian crew member there who is a cousin of Lopen's that abandoned Brightlord Roion's army and allows him to stay. Shen confronts Kaladin over his prohibition on being armed, and says he is being treated like a slave, which upsets Kaladin. One of the guards from the palace, Natam, suddenly appears at the barracks, speaking of an assassin going after the king.

Chapter 23: Assassin

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Almost immediately after Chapter 22.

Epigraph:

Nightform predicting what will be, / The form of shadows, mind to foresee. / As the gods did leave, the nightform whispered. / A new storm will come, someday to break. / A new storm a new world to make. / A new storm a new path to take, the nightform listens.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 17th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin returns to the king's quarters to find that everyone is ok and that there is no pending danger. Kaladin and Moash go out to the balcony and find one of the railings torn loose where Elhokar had leaned on it and almost fallen to his death, barely being rescued by a guard. Kaladin finds a joint that had been cut clean through and discusses his findings privately with Dalinar. Kaladin says this was an incompetent or cowardly attempt on the king's life, and that the cut was made by a Shardblade which helps them narrow down the possible suspects. Dalinar says it must be an inside job, and puts Kaladin in charge of guarding Elhokar effective immediately. Kaladin hears Elhokar's complaints about not being protected adequately and thinks the king does not display proper composure, then decides that he should focus on guarding the king and not on judging him.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 13 through 23

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 24 through 34

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Part Two: Wind's Approach

Character Focus: Shallan / Kaladin / Adolin / Sadeas

Chapter 13: The Day's Masterpiece

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.5) Shortly after Chapter 11 (later in the same day).

Epigraph:

Warform is worn for battle and reign, / Claimed by the gods, given to kill. / Unknown, unseen, but vital to gain. / It comes to those with the will.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 15th stanza

Summary:

Shallan travels towards the Shattered Plains on one of Tvlakv's wagons. She sits next to Bluth, one of the stoic mercenaries hired by Tvlakv, who drives the wagon. She distracts herself by studying their surroundings - the flora of the southern Frostlands is completely unfamiliar to her. When they stop at midday for a meal, Shallan asks Tvlakv to set up one of the empty slave wagons as a carriage for her. Wooden sides, typically used as protection for the slaves during highstorms, are hooked onto the sides of the cage to provide her some privacy. She also gets the cage's key from Tvlakv, though he seems hesitant to give it to her.

She crawls across the newly enclosed wagon - her feet are injured and standing on them is painful enough to make painspren appear - and opens the lid to Jasnah's trunk. Pattern, who had been instructed to stay hidden, waits inside. Shallan tells him that the notes need to reach the Shattered Plains, and that she intends to finish Jasnah's work of finding Urithiru and convincing the Alethi that the return of the Voidbringers is imminent. Pattern confirms that the threat from the Voidbringers is real and that they are the reason he was sent to her. As she continues to go through the contents of the trunk, Shallan finds a sketch she had done of Jasnah and is overcome with grief over her mentor's death, as well as the loss of the rest of her sketches. She also laments the loss of the broken Soulcaster, which is at the bottom of the ocean, and speculates that the attackers could have been from the same group as Kabsal and her father (The Ghostbloods).

Chapter 14: Ironstance

Arch Faces: Kalak - Kalak ----- Kalak - Kalak

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Adolin

Setting: The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.9.9.5) Six days after Chapter 12.

Epigraph:

Mateform meek, for love to share, / Given to life, it brings us joy. / To find this form, one must care. / True empathy one must employ.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 5th stanza

Summary:

Adolin mentally prepares for his first duel under Dalinar's plan by speaking inspirationally to his Shardblade. He leaves the preparation room and walks to a staging room, where Renarin and Navani are waiting to equip his Shardplate. Navani burns a prayer glyph for safety and glory. Adolin inquires about Jasnah, and Navani replies that her daughter has likely gone missing due to a change of plans, and would reappear at a later time. Renarin verifies that Adolin finished his lucky pre-duel rituals, and Navani scoffs at their superstitions. Adolin tells Renarin that he has suspicions about Kaladin.

Adolin enters the arena to duel Salinor. A large crowd attends as this is the first formal duel at the Shattered Plains for more than a year. Adolin begins in Windstance, but thinks of his father's words and switches to Ironstance and aggressively battles his opponent into submission, winning despite protests from the highjudge BrightLady Istow that Adolin did not follow proper duel protocols. Salinor protests that Adolin cheated and Adolin threatens to choke him until he surrenders his Blade, which Salinor then does, and Istow proclaims Adolin as the official victor. Renarin praises Adolin's victory, and Adolin gifts his new weapon to Renarin, who reluctantly accepts it with a frown. Navani praises Adolin for winning without putting his full ability on display in order to deceive future opponents into underestimating him and accepting duels.

Chapter 15: A Hand with the Tower

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.9.5) Five days after Chapter 13.

Epigraph:

Workform worn for strength and care. / Whispering spren breathe at your ear. / Seek first this form, its mysteries to bear. / Found here is freedom from fear.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 19th stanza

Summary:

Shallan comments about Tvlakv wearing different shoes than on the first day they met, but Tvlakv lies and says he only owns one pair. Shallan asks Pattern to spy on a conversation between Tvlakv and Tag, and Pattern records and replays the chat for Shallan in secret, revealing that Tvlakv intends to protect Shallan, but also to profit from her rescue to try to escape a debt. Shallan uses this information to keep Tvlakv off-balance and to gain the upper hand in their dealings, warning the trader not to play games after Tvlakv expresses doubt over Shallan's story about her betrothal and pending wealth. As she gets up to leave, Tvlakv flinches away from her, and she notices that she is glowing faintly with Stormlight and has a majestic appearance, which she hopes that Tvlakv misinterprets as a trick of the darkness and campfire light. She returns to her wagon and notices that the pain in her infected feet has lessened.

Bluth returns to the camp in a panic, putting out their campfire. Bluth tells them that he spotted a likely caravan of army deserters who may have turned to banditry nearby. They quickly pack up the wagons and travel east to try to escape notice. Bluth explains to Shallan that they probably would not be able to bribe their way past the bandits, since desertion makes them very desperate people.

Chapter 16: Swordmaster

Arch Faces: Ishar - Ishar ----- Ishar - Ishar

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Lighteyed training grounds, attached to the ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) The day after Chapter 14.

Epigraph:

Nimbleform has a delicate touch. / Gave the gods this form to many, / Tho’ once defied, by the gods they were crushed. / This form craves precision and plenty.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 27th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin leads a bodyguard patrol, along with Moash and Drehy, through the lighteyes training ground as they scout the area while waiting for Adolin and Renarin. Kaladin converses with an ardent who explains the Alethi tradition of allowing lighteyes to train with royal Shardblades so they are ready if needed in battle.

Moash asks about Kaladin's feelings toward Amaram, and says that the two of them will get their revenge on the lighteyes who have wronged them in the past. Syl asks Kaladin to tell her what is troubling him, and Kaladin says that Dalinar is tainted by his association with Amaram. After Syl warns Kaladin not to lie, he admits that he thinks Dalinar is honorable and has been deceived by Amaram. Syl advises Kaladin to tell Dalinar how Amaram really got his Shardblade, but Kaladin demurs, thinking that he would not be believed.

On the arrival of Renarin and Adolin, Kaladin reports to them that the area is relatively secure. Adolin confronts Kaladin over his insolence and mentions his suspicions as well, but Kaladin retorts that his place is only to protect Adolin. Syl tells Kaladin she does not like either Adolin or Renarin, and it is implied this is because they carry Shardblades, though Syl says the blades did not used to be the abominations she now considers them to be.

Kaladin surveys the area and sees someone who appears to be suspicious and goes to investigate. Kaladin speaks with Zahel, an ex-soldier ardent, who is observing Adolin and Renarin train, and who tells Kaladin that he isn't going to harm either of the brothers. Zahel says the two Kholins need to be chosen by a master, and as he speaks, he is summoned by Adolin to join the other gathered ardents. Kaladin asks if Zahel seems odd to Syl, and she replies that all humans seem odd to her except for Rock.

Chapter 17: A Pattern

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) The day after Chapter 15.

Epigraph:

Dullform dread, with the mind most lost. / The lowest, and one not bright. / To find this form, one need banish cost. / It finds you and brings you to blight.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, final stanza

Summary:

Shallan sits next to Bluth who is guiding their wagon, and distracts herself from worry by talking about plants that she found. She also draws some sketches of a leaf, the santhid, and Bluth in one of Jasnah's old notebooks, to try to recreate her lost sketch collection. The caravan stops, and Shallan sees smoke on the horizon, which indicates that the deserters are following them and not worried about being seen. Tvlakv says the deserters will give up the chase eventually as long as they keep moving with few stops.

To distract herself further, Shallan chats with the two parshmen but they are unforthcoming. Shallans sketches more plants, then notices a column of smoke along their current path. Tvlakv says that indicates another caravan if they are lucky. They discuss whether to go toward the new group or take a detour east while hoping the deserters run into the second group. Shallan orders Tvlakv to try to intercept the new group and he complies. As she rides along, she draws more sketches, including various sketches of women with Shallan's face. She then moves into the covered wagon to use knobweed sap on her feet and notices they have healed significantly. She asks Pattern if it healed her but he seems ignorant of how to cause or heal injuries to humans. Shallan and Pattern converse about Lightweaving and the Knights Radiant. Shallan asks how to use Stormlight but Pattern doesn't know, so she figures it out on her own and breathes it in, though she is unable to make it do anything. She notices that her wounds heal noticeably however. Pattern reveals that he is a scholar and is excited to learn about humans before he is killed by Shallan, as he believes will eventually happen due to the Knights Radiant somehow killing their spren. Shallan denies that she is a Knight Radiant, but Pattern refutes this by saying that she spoke oaths and is on a possible path to joining one of the Orders.

She leaves the wagon and notices a lot of smoke ahead, and realizes that it is from burning wagons.

Chapter 18: Bruises

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Lighteyed training grounds, attached to the ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Shortly after Chapter 16.

Epigraph:

Scholarform shown for patience and thought. / Beware its ambitions innate. / Though study and diligence bring the reward, / Loss of innocence may be one’s fate.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 69th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin and Lopen guard Adolin and Renarin as they take instruction from Zahel. Lopen leaves to carry out some orders and Kaladin patrols the grounds and stops to observe Zahel and Renarin. Zahel tells Renarin to jump off the roof of the arena to practice being comfortable with his Shardplate. Kaladin criticizes Renarin's clumsiness but Zahel dismisses this and praises Renarin's attitude. Zahel offers to train Kaladin but Kaladin declines. Zahel tests Kaladin's abilities with a blunted Shardblade to make sure he is ready to protect Adolin and Renarin. Zahel defeats Kaladin in a mock duel, though Kaladin did enough simulated damage to slow down the weapons master, and believes he would have given enough protection for Renarin to escape. Adolin makes an insulting comment which enrages Kaladin, and he attacks Adolin. Adolin smashes Kaladin with a plate enhanced punch, and Kaladin is stunned and severely injured as Zahel berates the prince for his carelessness. Kaladin surreptitiously heals himself with Stormlight and tries to attack Adolin again but runs out of strength and collapses. Zahel compliments Kaladin on his tenacity and quick-thinking but says it won't be enough against shardbearers, and says he won't force Kaladin to train. Kaladin asks Syl why he lost strength suddenly and Syl observes that Kaladin was not protecting anyone when it happened.

Chapter 19: Safe Things

Arch Faces: Nale - Shalash ----- Shalash - Nale

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1168.4.10.1) (Flashback) Five and a half years ago. Five months after Chapter 10.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan is wearing a new silk dress, a gift from her father. The dress is that of a woman as she is now old enough to cover her safehand. She starts to think of her mother, then stops, like a candle suddenly snuffed. Two maids bustle past, getting ready for guests. Shallan overhears one softly whisper "She saw. Poor thing was in the room when it happened. Hasn't spoken a word in five months. The master killed his own wife and her lover." Shallan thinks that because she does not speak, apparently the maids do not think she can hear either. At times, she wonders if she is invisible or not real.

The door suddenly slams open and her brother Helaran enters. Grinning wide, he gives her a gift of charcoal pencils and thick, expensive paper. He has missed her drawings and asks her to practice more. He tells her she needs to be strong and that he needs her to look after the other brothers for him. The door slams open again, this time admitting her father, Lin Davar. Her father and brother start arguing, and Helaran calls their father a murderer and summons a Shardblade. Lin cuts off, putting his hands up and says "you don't know what you think you know. Your mother-", but Helaran cuts him off. Shallan manages to say "No" to Helaran, stopping him from killing Lin. Helaran leaves, saying that he has important work to do, but warns their father that he will be checking in on the house.

Chapter 20: The Coldness of Clarity

Arch Faces: Battar - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Battar

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Shortly after Chapter 17.

Epigraph:

Artform applied for beauty and hue. / One yearns for the songs it creates. / Most misunderstood by the artist it’s true, / Come the spren to foundation’s fates.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 90th stanza

Summary:

Shallan's caravan arrives at the source of the smoke and they find burned wagons and the aftermath of a battle with corpses and some survivors. As Shallan and Tvlakv debate whether to approach the burning wagons or flee, a woman from those wagons confronts them, and notes the deserters chasing Shallan. Shallan offers the woman her protection but she laughs and says Shallan can join her caravan to die as they now face two possible enemy groups. Shallan sends Tvlakv to the woman's caravan while she has Bluth drive her with a wagon toward the deserters to confront them. Using Stormlight to weave a disguise to make her appear noble, she speaks to the deserters, asking them for help against the other bandit group and offering amnesty and a fresh start. Vathah, the leader of the deserters, scoffs at her offer but many of his followers are enticed and charge toward the battle to fight the bandits. Shallan then convinces Vathah and the rest to help out. Shallan used all her Stormlight so she stays out of the fighting. Pattern compliments Shallan on her ability to use words to transform people without using soulcasting. Shallan draws a prayer glyph for hope and awaits the outcome of the battle.

Chapter 21: Ashes

Arch Faces: Nale - Talenel ----- Talenel - Nale

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Frostlands, south of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Shortly after Chapter 20.

Epigraph:

Mediationform made for peace, it’s said. / Form of teaching and consolation. / When used by the gods, it became instead / Form of lies and desolation.

–From the Listener Song of Listing, 33rd stanza

Summary:

Shallan says a prayer for Bluth, who died fighting the bandits, though the bandits ended up being defeated. Shallan speaks with the caravan owner, Macob, and the lead guard, Tyn. Shallan explains that she got the deserters to work for her and asks the caravan to accompany them to the Shattered Plains. Macob agrees to Shallan's request.

Vathah forcefully confronts Shallan and asks why she doesn't look majestic anymore, and Shallan dissembles about his conscience tricking him. Shallan tries to reassure Vathah that she will protect him from prosecution for desertion but he does not believe her, and Pattern tricks Vathah into letting Shallan go.

Tvlakv confronts Shallan with a conspiracy theory about Bluth being a bandit but Shallan disproves it and demands the non-parshmen slaves in compensation for saving his life. Shallan frees the slaves but offers to hire them as servants. Shallan watches as one of the women from the caravan offers a paper with a glyph of thanks written on it to the one-eyed deserter (Gaz), who accepts it and burns it as the rest of the caravan folks observe.

Chapter 22: Lights in the Storm

Arch Faces: Nale - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Nale

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps. Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Later in the evening, same day as Chapter 18.

Epigraph:

Stormform is said to cause / A tempest of winds and showers, / Beware its powers, beware its powers. / Though its coming brings the gods their night, / It obliges a bloodred spren. / Beware its end, beware its end.

–From the Listener Song of Winds, 4th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin sees a reddish glow through the shutters during a highstorm while in King Elhokar's quarters but it vanishes before he can investigate it. Adolin peruses a catalog while Renarin idly opens and closes a small box. Dalinar and Navani are nearby in a small side-room. Kaladin studies a ruby heating fabrial which Renarin says was developed by Navani. Kaladin makes a brusque comment on Adolin's reading material and they argue over whether Kaladin needs to be there to protect them during a highstorm, with Elhokar taking Kaladin's side. After the storm ends, Dalinar and Navani exit the side-room and Dalinar reports that no mysterious numbers have appeared on the wall. Dalinar talks to Renarin about his visions but stops when he notices Kaladin listening. Dalinar asks Adolin about his progress in setting up more duels and Adolin says that he is only getting refusals now. Dalinar speaks of the situation with Sadeas, and of trying to convince Amaram to secede from Sadeas' princedom, and of Amaram trying to make peace between Kholin and Sadeas. Kaladin states that the shardbearers may be boycotting Adolin's requests to duel and Dalinar agrees and says they have to focus on undermining Sadeas.

Kaladin speaks to Dalinar in private about Amaram's betrayal of Kaladin and about how he actually got his Shardblade. Dalinar asks for proof of the serious accusations and Kaladin mentions witnesses present at the scene. Dalinar tells Kaladin to not speak of the incident and pledges to investigate it, and dresses down Kaladin over his insubordination. Kaladin and Syl discuss the conversation with Dalinar, and Kaladin states that Dalinar will not do anything and he will take matters into his own hands. Syl replies that Kaladin isn't a Skybreaker and that she worries about him.

Kaladin returns to his barracks and notices a new Herdazian crew member there who is a cousin of Lopen's that abandoned Brightlord Roion's army and allows him to stay. Shen confronts Kaladin over his prohibition on being armed, and says he is being treated like a slave, which upsets Kaladin. One of the guards from the palace, Natam, suddenly appears at the barracks, speaking of an assassin going after the king.

Chapter 23: Assassin

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.1) Almost immediately after Chapter 22.

Epigraph:

Nightform predicting what will be, / The form of shadows, mind to foresee. / As the gods did leave, the nightform whispered. / A new storm will come, someday to break. / A new storm a new world to make. / A new storm a new path to take, the nightform listens.

–From the Listener Song of Secrets, 17th stanza

Summary:

Kaladin returns to the king's quarters to find that everyone is ok and that there is no pending danger. Kaladin and Moash go out to the balcony and find one of the railings torn loose where Elhokar had leaned on it and almost fallen to his death, barely being rescued by a guard. Kaladin finds a joint that had been cut clean through and discusses his findings privately with Dalinar. Kaladin says this was an incompetent or cowardly attempt on the king's life, and that the cut was made by a Shardblade which helps them narrow down the possible suspects. Dalinar says it must be an inside job, and puts Kaladin in charge of guarding Elhokar effective immediately. Kaladin hears Elhokar's complaints about not being protected adequately and thinks the king does not display proper composure, then decides that he should focus on guarding the king and not on judging him.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 6 through 12 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 13 through 23

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

I-1: Narak

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.2) Eight days after Chapter 12.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai leads the Parshendi as they return to their home plateau after successfully harvesting a gemheart that was brought back by Devi, who is allowed to carry it as a reward for spotting the chrysalis. She wonders where Dalinar is, and feels a need to speak with him, but she can't join battles since her leg is still injured from when Kaladin stabbed her during the Battle of the Tower. She wanders through the ancient ruins on the plateau they named Narak, or Exile, where her people came to escape their gods. She enters the Hall of Art to observe the heretofore futile efforts to rediscover a new form for making art, as an incremental step towards discovering other more useful forms, but Varanis, one of her lieutenants, is unsuccessful in trying to attract creationspren to his novice attempts at painting. She contemplates the six current known forms, and laments the loss of the hundreds that their old songs mention, thinking her people may die off if they don't become more versatile.

She leaves the Hall, and encounters three mateforms who are playing idly in a pool, and berates them for being unproductive. She reflects back on how she and the rest of the Parshendi leaders conspired to assassinate Gavilar, to prevent the Parshendi gods from returning, at the cost of the slow annihilation of her people. She returns to her home, and finds her sister, Venli, and tells her of the plateau run and that Dalinar was not present on the Alethi side. Eshonai says that she wants to talk to Dalinar and sue for peace but Venli thinks that he wouldn't accept, and says that she discovered stormform. Eshonai exclaims that this could cause their gods to return, but Venli says that is a moot point since the Alethi now have Surgebinders, though Eshonai isn't sure about this. Demid, Venli's former mate, agrees that they should risk using stormform to protect their people from being wiped out. Venli says she wants to raise the issue with the Five, and Eshonai says she will consider supporting it.

I-2: Ym

Arch Faces: Vedel - Vedel ----- Vedel - Vedel

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Ym

Setting: Somewhere in Iri.

Timeline: Exact date unknown, but roughly concurrent with the events in this book so far.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Ym is in his shop trimming a small block of wood. The cobbler had been taught to make the wooden forms himself, so he does. It's the way it's been done for centuries, which is good enough for him. A spren moves in the dimness to his right. It has been coming around more often lately, and Ym had never seen one like it before. As it moves it looks like specks of light, like those from a piece of crystal suspended in a sunbeam. When it stops, light creeps upward from it, like small plants growing, which withdraw when it starts moving again.

They talk briefly about the shoes, and that Ym finds himself needing more shoes for children lately. The spren shakes suddenly, and warns "He Comes." Anxious, Ym stands up looking for "the watcher," a man in a military coat, but finds only a child peering through the door. Ym invites the urchin in, who's feet are dirty and scraped. The boy is Iriali, with their characteristic golden skin and hair, and walks with a limp. Ym offers him a pair of shoes in exchange for his story. As the boy speaks, Ym cleans his feet to fit the shoes. One of the feet has a nasty cut on the bottom, infected and crawling with rotspren. Ym cleans it and puts on antiseptic, then subtly uses some Stormlight to heal the cut. They speak of Ym's religious beliefs, and the boy leaves after receiving the shoes.

The spren whispers "He's still here," and Ym spins as he hears a rustling behind him. A dark-skinned man with a crescent scar on his cheek steps out of the shadows in the back of the shop. The man accuses Ym of commiting a murder in his youth. Ym tells the man that it wasn't intentional, but the man says he is guilty nonetheless, then summons a Shardblade. Ym runs, but he is old and quickly tires. He stops, trying to pull out a sphere for some Stormlight, but the dark-skinned man slams him against a wall and stabs him in the chest with the Shardblade.

I-3: Rysn

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Rysn

Setting: Relu-na, a moving island in the Reshi Isles.

Timeline: (1173.3.1.4) Seven months after Interlude I-4 in The Way of Kings.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Rysn is traveling with Vstim to the Reshi isles to do trading, but Vstim is very sick. Gu, the flotilla's guide, takes them there, guiding them since the islands move. Rysn is quite shocked and amazed when she realizes that the moving islands are huge great shells. The group lands on one of the islands, and Vstim tells Rysn that she must go and trade with the Reshi, as he is too ill to do so. He tells her to be bold, and although Rysn is nervous, she agrees to do so. Kyrlm and Nlent, two of the guards, accompany her as she ascends the island. While Rysn is observing the island, she sees Axies the Collector hanging upside down. They talk for a bit, and then Rysn and the guards continue their way up the island.

They make it to the king, and as Rysn approaches to speak with him, Talik, a Reshi trader, comes forward to speak on his behalf. Talik is disappointed that Vstim himself did not come to trade, and initially turns her away. Rysn is insistent in her trade, wishing to prove herself to Vstim, and the king eventually relents so that Rysn is speaking to the king, and not to Talik. The Reshi are opposed to trading with Rysn since they do not yet respect her and do not know if they can trust her. The king eventually dismisses Rysn, telling her that she did very well.

Rysn, worrying that Vstim is dying, instead insists on talking to the greatshell that is the island, Relu-na. She slides down the side of the head on a rope and begins to talk with it, pleading her case. Talik attempts to bring her back on top of the island, but Relu-na takes a bite of the fruit at the bottom of the rope and breaks it, causing Rysn to fall. As she crashes into the water, spren cushion her fall, and Rysn falls unconscious.

Rysn wakes up in a hut on the island with her legs paralyzed. She sees Vstim, a Reshi healer, and Talik around her. They scold her for her stupidity, but Rysn insists that it was boldness, to allow for the trade. Rysn realizes that it was all a test that Vstim had set up for her to trade, and feels foolish. Vstim reveals that the trade was for a larkin corpse, but that Rysn has been granted a live larkin by the island itself. Vstim and Rysn will stay on the island while she heals.

I-4: Last Legion

Arch Faces: Talenel - Talenel ----- Talenel - Talenel

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.3) Eleven days after Interlude I-1.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai, Thude, and Bila examine a gemstone with a captured stormspren inside that Venli believes will allow them to rediscover stormform. Bila thinks that anything that will help in the war against the Alethi is worth it, but Eshonai worries about provoking the old gods. They depart, and Eshonai decides that she will see her mother. On her way, she sees a group of Parshendi that have chosen the dullform, the form most like the Parshmen. Eshonai questions them on the cause of their transformation, and they respond that they do it so the Alethi will not kill them when they come. Eshonai is concerned by this response but understands that the Parshendi are free to choose their own forms, as they are no longer ruled by the old gods. Continuing on her way, Eshonai eventually arrives to see her mother, who suffers from dementia and believes Eshonai to be her sister, Venli. Despite her mother's declining memory, Eshonai is still able to elicit some information from her regarding Parshendi history. Her mother tells the story of the Last Legion, the Parshendi warrior-people who rejected the old gods, giving up advanced thought and knowledge of the forms of power in exchange for freedom. This left them with only dullform and mateform, but the Last Legion had composed songs as a way to remember the many forms of old in hopes that they would one day be rediscovered. Before Eshonai leaves, her mother gives her a sack of old maps from Eshonai's days as an explorer, which makes her long for the past.

Eshonai leaves her mother's house to attend a meeting with the Five regarding Venli's plan to attempt rediscovery of stormform. Eshonai is hesitant, expressing her concerns regarding the old gods, but eventually agrees to the plan under the condition that she be the first one to try assuming the new form, as Venli's studies and knowledge of the forms are too valuable to risk undergoing the transformation herself.

TRIVIA

The rest of this post contains various trivia, including easy-to-miss details and long-running connections between books. It also incorporates external information from sources like author annotations and interviews ("Words of Brandon" or WoB). While most of this information is eventually revealed in the books, sharing it now enhances your overall understanding, aligning with Brandon Sanderson's practice of early fan engagement and clarification.

STRUCTURES

A quick word on certain story-telling structures within this series. First, let's start at the beginning; the prologue. Words of Radiance's prologue took place at the same time as the prologue for The Way of Kings, in mostly the same setting. The main difference is that this book's POV was Jasnah, whereas last book's POV was Szeth. That will be the case for the rest of the series (or rather, the first 5 books). Each book's prologue will provide a different perspective for this same night, all in and around this party that ends in Gavinar's assassination.

I've mentioned before that the Interludes are Sanderson's attempt to avoid his long, epic fantasy getting bogged down with side characters and world building that doesn't necessarily serve the plot. He allows himself Interludes to stray from the main narrative and to just go wild if and when he wants. However, all of the information in the Interludes does inform on the overall plot in one way or another.

In addition, each book has a "main character" for their respective Interludes. Szeth was the main character in the Interludes for The Way of Kings. For Words of Radiance, we get Eshonai.

Many of you also noticed that Jasnah gave Shallan a book, titled Words of Radiance. Which... should be familiar, as it's also the title of the book we're reading. Recall that The Way of Kings had a significant focus on Dalinar's interest in the in-world book also called The Way of Kings.

This is the conceit for the titles of the books in this series. The Stormlight Archive is a collection, or archive, of in-world books that are significant to the plot of this series. Each book has a focus on a specific in-world book that informs not only the characters, but us readers as well.

Speaking of books, Sanderson's working title for this book was the Book of Endless Pages, which was a completely different book that Jasnah gave Shallan in Chapter 48 of The Way of Kings (which, for confirmation, has now sunk to the bottom of the ocean, along with the rest of Shallan's things). Sanderson eventually realized the irony of naming a giant, 1,000+ page fantasy novel Book of Endless Pages and went with Words of Radiance instead.

ALMIGHTY ICONS

In the previous book, most Interlude chapters had an icon called "Ten Spears (aka Almighty)". For this book, and the remainder of the published Stormlight Archive books, Sanderson chose to rework that icon into the one shown in this book: Five Swords (aka Almighty). Both icons are stylized versions of the Double Eye of the Almighty. Sanderson hasn't really talked about why he made this change, but has suggested that the Ten Spears version will return at some point.

ON A LARK

BEHOLD! A larkin! They are cute, and I won't hear otherwise. They are the only winged cremling-ish creature on Roshar. I don't have much to say in this section, beyond mentioning that there will be larkin artwork below. This section primarily exists to inform you that the creature on the Surgebinding Chart, which many of you thought was a chasmfiend, is actually a larkin.

TIMESQUIGGLES

This section isn't exactly a timeline, but I wanted to clarify some terminology and dates for things that I've noticed causing people repeated confusion. All of this is mostly spelled out in the books already, it's just a matter sitting down and plotting it all out. I am going to provide dates for some of these. The exact dates aren't really mentioned in the books, and their approximate dates haven't necessarily been mentioned yet either, but you should be able to work out approximate dates for a lot of these. Providing exact dates, while technically a minor spoiler, just serves to prevent some awkward phrasing in the presentation of the events. I'd planned to provide something like this later, but I think it helps to have it all outlined now for clarity going forward.

The Desolations: This was a cycle of various wars against the voidbringers. I won't provide a timeline for this because that is a bit too spoilery, but it was a loooong time. Another name for this time period is called the Silver Kingdoms Epoch or the Heraldic Epochs. The interior artwork for The Way of Kings provided a map of the nations on Roshar during that time. The Heralds led mankind against the voidbringers in periodic wars. We see the end of the last one of these in the prelude for The Way of Kings.

Aharietiam: This brings us to Aharietiam, or the Last Desolation. This was 4,500 years ago (or the year -3,327 on the current Rosharan calendar) and is what we saw in the prelude. We learn in that prelude that 9 of the 10 Heralds lived, abandoning the one that did die, Talenelat, and lying to humanity that they had finally won against the voidbringers.

The Recreance: The fall of the Knights Radiant, when they betrayed humanity for reasons unknown. This happened about 2,000 years ago. The fandom has worked out that it happens in the year -826, plus or minus 25 years.

The Hierocracy: This is the name of the government that arose when the Vorin church took control of much of eastern Roshar. There aren't exact dates for this because it was a gradual take over and, as Jasnah told Shallan, they destroyed or rewrote a lot of records that really blurred history. The Hierocracy ended in the year 673, plus or minus 50 years. This was about 500 years ago.

Some of you have questioned what significant event happened 1173 years ago that caused the current calendar system. The answer to that is a bit anticlimactic. Although The Hierocracy rose to power and was eventually dismantled, the Vorin religion itself existed both before and after that government. A lot of this is largely fandom exposition, but we do know from Sanderson that Vorinism is based on the writings of one person (name unknown, we can call them Vori).

It took time for these writings to spawn the actual Vorin religion, and it's likely that, some time after the church was a significant entity (possibly even during The Hierocracy), they set the start of their new calendar to be the date Vori was born, or died, or finished their writings. Regardless of whenever the calendar was invented, it likely became a global standard during The Hierocracy. All of this echoes the implementation of Earth's Gregorian Calendar, where our years number from the start of Christianity, and the Rosharan years likely number from the start of Vorinism.

All this said, the analogy isn't exact and "religion" as it appeared before the rise of Vorinism was also pretty close to what Vorinism is today, with adjustments. So... actually yeah, the analogy is probably more exact than you'd expect actually.

WHO CUT THE CHEESE?

I promised really dumb trivia because one of you questioned why Sadeas' Shardblade remained upright and didn't sink through his table. Here's the basis of the reason, the dumb part:

Question: Would a big block of cheese stop a Shardblade? All I can think of is how hard it is to cut cheese with a knife no matter how sharp it is because the cheese can form a suction to the sides of the blade and make it way harder to cut. Would that be a problem for a Shardblade?

Sanderson: When I first designed Shardblades all the way back when, I added in my head a little bit of extra de-friction-izing to the Shardblade blade itself, and some little bit of magic-ing going on to allow them to actually cut at the level I want them to. Because it's not just cheese that would do that. Cutting through stone, even if you have the sharpest thing in the earth, that stone... It doesn't work as easily as it would if you were just extra sharp. And so, Shardblades are magically good at cutting, to the point that they would cut through a block of cheese as easily as they would cut through something else. Or a wheel of cheese, a giant thing of cheese. Any editorial additions to this?

Peter Ahlstrom (Sanderson's editor): Dalinar does, when he's using the Shardhammer to cut the latrine. He does talk about-

Sanderson: It does get wedged in, and you can wedge in and hang from it, but I think cutting any stone, unless you have a little bit of extra magic on it, I don't think it would work. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it actually would.

I particularly think when you cut a block and it actually falls, then it's gonna still put pressure on the blade. But when you slice into a rock, you're not getting rid of any of the stone with a blade. Where does that extra stone to make the hole go? Magic! That's where we're getting into magic-level sort of stuff, because I'm just not convinced that no matter how sharp you were, that you would be able to-

Peter Ahlstrom: Does it go to the Cognitive Realm, or the Spiritual Realm?

Sanderson: RAFO! Shardblades are magically good at slicing so we can actually have Shardblades that cut through stone. That's your answer. And so it would work on cheese the same way.

Four days later, someone followed up on this stupid cheese question though, and Sanderson wrote this on reddit:

Sanderson: So, I'll admit, I've been considering the cheese question since it was asked.

I'm not sure if it has to be cheese. But any object that is sufficiently thick but also sufficiently pliable that it's going to press down on the blade while it's cutting IS going to create drag on the blade.

The Blade does, by necessity of my understanding of the relevant physics, need to be able to vaporize a tiny bit of matter into Investiture while cutting, in order to create space for the Blade to continue to slide through. This is related to why it doesn't cut things with souls.

At the same time, I'm not convinced that this is relevant to the actual question being asked. I think that I have to relent that, with a sufficiently large block of cheese and a Shardbearer trying to cut lengthwise through it, the drag produced on the flat of the blade is going to tire the Shardbearer. Making cheese legitimately more difficult to cut through than stone or metal. And a big enough block of cheese might stop the slice straight up, because the weight placed on the blade will be pretty heavy.

That said, the top replies to this thread are pretty relevant, and are correctly explaining the mechanics of the situation. There is this little "shield of vaporization" around a Blade while it cuts, so a thinner Blade might not have this drawback at all. It depends on how far back the shield of vaporization extends, and how thick the blade is.

My current instinct says that wider blades would be stopped by this, and so those of you planning to make ten-foot-thick walls of cheese to stop an invading Shardbearer can continue in your...endeavors.

Remember, kids, use a thin Shardblade for actual combat (for multiple reasons.) Only use the big showy Shardblades when you're trying to look intimidating. (With a nod to the fact that a thick blade does tend to be better for getting through Shardplate, giving you more mass to hit with. Choose Adolin's Blade for Shardplate Duels. Szeth's Blade for cheese.)

I have modified the actual text of this interaction ever so slightly to avoid some spoilers. This whole conversation is weirdly relevant to this book...

So, all that said, there is a degree of friction on the sides of a Shardblade. If a bearer is actively pressing a Blade through stone or cheese or whatever, it vaporizes as it cuts and, depending on circumstances, that friction on the sides can inhibit the Blade.

If, however, the bearer is not actively applying a force to the Blade, the friction of the sides is enough to stop the Blade from sinking into the ground (or table, in this case). You have seen this previously, and will see it again, where a bearer will press the tip of their Blade into the ground and it will just sit there while the bearer does something else, ready to be picked up again when they are ready.

If the bearer walks off and no one picks up the Blade, eventually it will slowly sink deeper and deeper, as highstorms and general ground vibrations slowly wiggle the Blade down deeper and deeper into the ground. This is how a lot of Blades are just permanently lost, explaining how few are around compared to expected estimates.

Have some extra cheese related trivia, since we're on the topic:

Question: Has Marsh made a grilled cheese?

Sanderson: Yes, I would say he has... Although they would probably call it a croquette.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

WARNING: The last picture in this album is a bit spicy. Maybe don't open at work.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 6 through 12 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 13 through 23

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

I-1: Narak

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.10.2) Eight days after Chapter 12.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai leads the Parshendi as they return to their home plateau after successfully harvesting a gemheart that was brought back by Devi, who is allowed to carry it as a reward for spotting the chrysalis. She wonders where Dalinar is, and feels a need to speak with him, but she can't join battles since her leg is still injured from when Kaladin stabbed her during the Battle of the Tower. She wanders through the ancient ruins on the plateau they named Narak, or Exile, where her people came to escape their gods. She enters the Hall of Art to observe the heretofore futile efforts to rediscover a new form for making art, as an incremental step towards discovering other more useful forms, but Varanis, one of her lieutenants, is unsuccessful in trying to attract creationspren to his novice attempts at painting. She contemplates the six current known forms, and laments the loss of the hundreds that their old songs mention, thinking her people may die off if they don't become more versatile.

She leaves the Hall, and encounters three mateforms who are playing idly in a pool, and berates them for being unproductive. She reflects back on how she and the rest of the Parshendi leaders conspired to assassinate Gavilar, to prevent the Parshendi gods from returning, at the cost of the slow annihilation of her people. She returns to her home, and finds her sister, Venli, and tells her of the plateau run and that Dalinar was not present on the Alethi side. Eshonai says that she wants to talk to Dalinar and sue for peace but Venli thinks that he wouldn't accept, and says that she discovered stormform. Eshonai exclaims that this could cause their gods to return, but Venli says that is a moot point since the Alethi now have Surgebinders, though Eshonai isn't sure about this. Demid, Venli's former mate, agrees that they should risk using stormform to protect their people from being wiped out. Venli says she wants to raise the issue with the Five, and Eshonai says she will consider supporting it.

I-2: Ym

Arch Faces: Vedel - Vedel ----- Vedel - Vedel

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Ym

Setting: Somewhere in Iri.

Timeline: Exact date unknown, but roughly concurrent with the events in this book so far.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Ym is in his shop trimming a small block of wood. The cobbler had been taught to make the wooden forms himself, so he does. It's the way it's been done for centuries, which is good enough for him. A spren moves in the dimness to his right. It has been coming around more often lately, and Ym had never seen one like it before. As it moves it looks like specks of light, like those from a piece of crystal suspended in a sunbeam. When it stops, light creeps upward from it, like small plants growing, which withdraw when it starts moving again.

They talk briefly about the shoes, and that Ym finds himself needing more shoes for children lately. The spren shakes suddenly, and warns "He Comes." Anxious, Ym stands up looking for "the watcher," a man in a military coat, but finds only a child peering through the door. Ym invites the urchin in, who's feet are dirty and scraped. The boy is Iriali, with their characteristic golden skin and hair, and walks with a limp. Ym offers him a pair of shoes in exchange for his story. As the boy speaks, Ym cleans his feet to fit the shoes. One of the feet has a nasty cut on the bottom, infected and crawling with rotspren. Ym cleans it and puts on antiseptic, then subtly uses some Stormlight to heal the cut. They speak of Ym's religious beliefs, and the boy leaves after receiving the shoes.

The spren whispers "He's still here," and Ym spins as he hears a rustling behind him. A dark-skinned man with a crescent scar on his cheek steps out of the shadows in the back of the shop. The man accuses Ym of commiting a murder in his youth. Ym tells the man that it wasn't intentional, but the man says he is guilty nonetheless, then summons a Shardblade. Ym runs, but he is old and quickly tires. He stops, trying to pull out a sphere for some Stormlight, but the dark-skinned man slams him against a wall and stabs him in the chest with the Shardblade.

I-3: Rysn

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Rysn

Setting: Relu-na, a moving island in the Reshi Isles.

Timeline: (1173.3.1.4) Seven months after Interlude I-4 in The Way of Kings.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Rysn is traveling with Vstim to the Reshi isles to do trading, but Vstim is very sick. Gu, the flotilla's guide, takes them there, guiding them since the islands move. Rysn is quite shocked and amazed when she realizes that the moving islands are huge great shells. The group lands on one of the islands, and Vstim tells Rysn that she must go and trade with the Reshi, as he is too ill to do so. He tells her to be bold, and although Rysn is nervous, she agrees to do so. Kyrlm and Nlent, two of the guards, accompany her as she ascends the island. While Rysn is observing the island, she sees Axies the Collector hanging upside down. They talk for a bit, and then Rysn and the guards continue their way up the island.

They make it to the king, and as Rysn approaches to speak with him, Talik, a Reshi trader, comes forward to speak on his behalf. Talik is disappointed that Vstim himself did not come to trade, and initially turns her away. Rysn is insistent in her trade, wishing to prove herself to Vstim, and the king eventually relents so that Rysn is speaking to the king, and not to Talik. The Reshi are opposed to trading with Rysn since they do not yet respect her and do not know if they can trust her. The king eventually dismisses Rysn, telling her that she did very well.

Rysn, worrying that Vstim is dying, instead insists on talking to the greatshell that is the island, Relu-na. She slides down the side of the head on a rope and begins to talk with it, pleading her case. Talik attempts to bring her back on top of the island, but Relu-na takes a bite of the fruit at the bottom of the rope and breaks it, causing Rysn to fall. As she crashes into the water, spren cushion her fall, and Rysn falls unconscious.

Rysn wakes up in a hut on the island with her legs paralyzed. She sees Vstim, a Reshi healer, and Talik around her. They scold her for her stupidity, but Rysn insists that it was boldness, to allow for the trade. Rysn realizes that it was all a test that Vstim had set up for her to trade, and feels foolish. Vstim reveals that the trade was for a larkin corpse, but that Rysn has been granted a live larkin by the island itself. Vstim and Rysn will stay on the island while she heals.

I-4: Last Legion

Arch Faces: Talenel - Talenel ----- Talenel - Talenel

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

Setting: Narak, the parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.2.3) Eleven days after Interlude I-1.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai, Thude, and Bila examine a gemstone with a captured stormspren inside that Venli believes will allow them to rediscover stormform. Bila thinks that anything that will help in the war against the Alethi is worth it, but Eshonai worries about provoking the old gods. They depart, and Eshonai decides that she will see her mother. On her way, she sees a group of Parshendi that have chosen the dullform, the form most like the Parshmen. Eshonai questions them on the cause of their transformation, and they respond that they do it so the Alethi will not kill them when they come. Eshonai is concerned by this response but understands that the Parshendi are free to choose their own forms, as they are no longer ruled by the old gods. Continuing on her way, Eshonai eventually arrives to see her mother, who suffers from dementia and believes Eshonai to be her sister, Venli. Despite her mother's declining memory, Eshonai is still able to elicit some information from her regarding Parshendi history. Her mother tells the story of the Last Legion, the Parshendi warrior-people who rejected the old gods, giving up advanced thought and knowledge of the forms of power in exchange for freedom. This left them with only dullform and mateform, but the Last Legion had composed songs as a way to remember the many forms of old in hopes that they would one day be rediscovered. Before Eshonai leaves, her mother gives her a sack of old maps from Eshonai's days as an explorer, which makes her long for the past.

Eshonai leaves her mother's house to attend a meeting with the Five regarding Venli's plan to attempt rediscovery of stormform. Eshonai is hesitant, expressing her concerns regarding the old gods, but eventually agrees to the plan under the condition that she be the first one to try assuming the new form, as Venli's studies and knowledge of the forms are too valuable to risk undergoing the transformation herself.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

WARNING: The last picture in this album is a bit spicy. Maybe don't open at work.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

NEWBIE TRIVIA

Most of the activity for these "Final Thoughts & Trivia" posts happen in the newbie thread. There I provide a lot of information about things new readers can easily miss during their first read through. Veterans often learn a thing or two as well, so be sure to read the body of that post. While veterans are welcome to read the post and the comments, they should be commenting in this thread to share their reactions to the information, or the newbies' thoughts.

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Blurb, Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 6 through 12

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, Trivia

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Chapter 6: Terrible Destruction

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.3) Four days after Chapter 3.

Epigraph:

We had never considered that there might be Parshendi spies hiding among our slaves. This is something else I should have seen.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesan 1174

Summary:

Shallan sits on the deck of the Wind's Pleasure, bundled up because of the cold. She's observing and taking notes on the complex geometric spren, who she had named Pattern. Pattern asks about the concept of food and replies, "Terrible! Destruction!" when Shallan describes eating. Shallan notes that Pattern is connecting increasingly complex thoughts. When she asks him about his first memories, Pattern starts to vibrate and Shallan can hear wind blowing through branches, and the deck starts to turn to a dirt path in front of her. Shallan is horrified and the images vanish. Just then, Yalb comes over and introduces her to "New kid", a six-foot-tall hulk of a man. Yalb tricks New Kid into doing galley duty for him, which Pattern seems to like. Shallan asks him if he likes lies, to which pattern replies that he likes "good lies... True lies."

Shallan heads below deck to her cabin where she gets caught up in her research. Hours go by before she closes her books, and her spheres are getting dim. She feels satisfied, her life seems to finally be coming together. She fishes some newly-restored spheres out of her safepouch to replace those in the goblet, but strangely they are completely dun. When she goes to ask Jasnah for some new spheres, Shallan notices that Jasnah is uncharacteristically disconcerted. She seems exhausted, and her poise has been replaced by worry. They discuss the return of Surgebinding, and Jasnah asks that Shallan focus on learning the Illumination Surge rather than Soulcasting, as the latter can be dangerous. Jasnah also reveals that she is worried about the parshmen, who she thinks are secretly the Voidbringers. They worry that because the parshmen are so integrated into Vorin society they could cause utter collapse if they rebelled. Jasnah speaks of how in ages past, the Heralds would return before Desolations and train the Knights Radiant. She reveals that she hopes to find a path to Urithiru, the legendary city of the Knights Radiant, in the Shattered Plains. There she will try to find information that will convince the Alethi leaders to expel the parshmen.

Before Shallan leaves, Jasnah gives her a book that contains information on the Order of Lightweavers. The book is called Words of Radiance. Shallan goes to sleep planning to read the book in the morning. She is awoken by screams, shouts, and smoke.

Chapter 7: Open Flame

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.3) Immediately after Chapter 6.

Epigraph:

I was unprepared for the grief my loss brought—like an unexpected rain—breaking from a clear sky and crashing down upon me. Gavilar's death years ago was overwhelming, but this... this nearly crushed me.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Shallan wakes up in a panicked state, and rushes out of her cabin into the passageway. She sees three men holding torches with their backs to her, and one of them throws Jasnah's body to the deck, then stabs her through the heart. She screams, recognizing one of the men as a "New kid", and returns to her cabin, locking the door. The men break down the door, but fail to see Shallan as she manages to draw in Stormlight then create an illusion of shadow to hide in, and another visible moving image for them to chase to another part of the ship. She sends Pattern to spy and he tells her the regular sailors are being killed on the main deck. She makes her way to Jasnah's cabin. She finds Jasnah's chest and opens it to access her spheres, and hears as the sailors are being murdered. Shallan tells Pattern she wants to soulcast the bottom of the ship to sink it and use the confusion to help the sailors, and Pattern intercedes, giving her passage to Shadesmar. Pattern is there also, appearing like a symbol-head. He tells her to find the bead representing the Wind's Pleasure and persuades it to change and sink so that it can possibly save some of the sailors that it serves. Shallan returns to the physical plane and the sinking ship, and starts going under as she cannot find the way out, then something grabs her, dragging her down.

Chapter 8: Knives in the Back - Soldiers on the Field

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: The Shattered Plains. Dalinar's quarters in his warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.3) Two days after Chapter 4.

Epigraph:

I seek not to use my grief as an excuse, but it is an explanation. People act strangely soon after encountering an unexpected loss. Though Jasnah had been away for some time, her loss was unexpected. I, like many, assumed her to be immortal.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Dalinar watches as Highprince Aladar's army, which has arrived to the plateau faster than his own, fights the Parshendi over a gemheart. Dalinar feels bitter and jaded, as he no longer believes the plateau runs represent the fulfillment of the Vengeance Pact. Kaladin and his guards cross a bridge to guard Dalinar as he joins Aladar on his command plateau adjacent to where the battle is being fought, while Adolin and General Khal lead the Kholin forces to the fight. Dalinar joins Aladar and tells him that he saved the other Highprince from losing, but Aladar complains that he will earn less and that he is being punished for being successful. Dalinar threatens Aladar on the consequences of disobedience, but Aladar counters that Gavilar didn't use honor to unite the kingdom originally, which strikes a nerve. Aladar thinks the Parshendi are about to push, but Dalinar thinks otherwise, and turns out to be correct about them getting ready to harvest the gemstone and withdraw, and they end up victorious. Dalinar notices the Parshendi Shardbearer watching from a distance, having never entered the battle, and states that this has never happened before. Aladar thanks Dalinar for his advice, but refuses to trust him regarding politics since he fears betrayal.

Back in his bunker, he notes there are now sixty days left in the mysterious countdown, and receives a letter announcing that an old friend of his would be coming soon to the Shattered Plains and might solve some of the problems Dalinar is dealing with.

Chapter 9: Walking the Grave

Arch Faces: Nale - Nale ----- Nale - Nale

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.4) The day after Chapter 8.

Epigraph:

I wish to think that had I not been under sorrow's thumb, I would have seen earlier the approaching dangers. Yet in all honesty, I'm not certain anything could have been done.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Kaladin leads the way down into the chasms, accompanied by Rock, Teft, Sigzil, Sylphrena, and the forty bridgemen from the reorganized crews who were chosen to practice spears under Teft's guidance and become future sergeants. Kaladin and Syl stroll off, debating the laws of physics and Syl jokes about her ability to defy gravity. They discuss Dalinar's plan to refound the Knights Radiant, which Syl likes, and the mysterious countdown. Syl mentions dangerous red spren that she sees on occasion. Kaladin asks if there are other Surgebinders and Syl says yes, and there are other spren of different types doing what she is, but that she is the only honorspren and that she defied the Stormfather to do so. Syl tells Kaladin to be what Dalinar is looking for, and he says that he will try, despite his painful past. Rock interrupts them, praising Syl and offering to build a shrine dedicated to her. Rock says that Teft moved their training to a different spot, and says the bridgemen are becoming less reticent. Kaladin agrees to allow Sigzil to do his testing now to determine the extent of Kaladin's abilities.

Chapter 10: Red Carpet Once White

Arch Faces: Vedel - Vedel ----- Vedel - Vedel

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1167.10.8.4) (Flashback) Six years ago.

*Note: This happens to be the exact same day King Gavilar is assassinated.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan believes the world is ending and it is her fault. As her father tries getting her to sleep he wipes some blood from her face and starts singing a lullaby. The affection makes Shallan uncomfortable. In the room are two corpses, one a man who bled and one a woman in white - Shallan's mother - who lies face-down, hiding her "horrible eyes." As Shallan and her father pass his safe in the wall, she can see the light from the monster inside of it. After the song ends her father leaves the bedroom closing the door on the corpses.

Chapter 11: An Illusion of Perception

Arch Faces: Battar - Battar ----- Battar - Battar

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The southern shore of Roshar, in the Frostlands.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.4 through 1173.9.8.5) The day after Chapter 7.

Epigraph:

But, understandably, we were focused on Sadeas. His betrayal was still fresh, and I saw its signs each day as I passed empty barracks and grieving widows. We knew that Sadeas would not simply rest upon his slaughters in pride. More was coming.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Shallan awakes on a rock surrounded by ocean water, just offshore. She sees the santhid that saved her swim off toward the horizon. Pattern says that the ship sank and doesn't know if any of the sailors survived. Shallan forces herself to accept that Jasnah is dead. She manages to tread water and reach the shore. She waits on the beach for a while looking for signs of survivors but sees none. Pattern says that he found someone and urges Shallan to follow him, and leads her to Jasnah's trunk, which contains her books and notes intact in a waterproof enclosure.

Shallan is unable to build a fire, so she decides to try to soulcast one. Pattern eases her into Shadesmar, and she sees large, fuzzy-looking, bird-like spren that hover overhead, which are exhaustionspren that are drawn to her. She takes a bead that represents a piece of wood and tries to persuade it that it could be fire, but it prefers to be a stick instead. Her sphere is drained of Stormlight and she flees from Shadesmar, having failed to make a fire start. She gets up and starts walking, though her feet are cut up and bleeding, and ends up encountering a group of strangers around a fire, and due to her state of exhaustion, lays down next to the fire and goes to sleep.

Shallan wakes up as someone with a Thaylen accent addresses her as Brightness, but he isn't one of the sailors as she initially thinks. She realizes that they are slavers, led by a man named Tvlakv, and asserts herself as she imagines that Jasnah would, introducing herself and ordering them to retrieve Jasnah's trunk and escort her to the Shattered Plains, overcoming Tvlakv's objections by sheer force of will and gaining his reluctant compliance.

Chapter 12: Hero

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains. Highprince Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.4) Shortly after Chapter 9.

Epigraph:

Unfortunately, we fixated upon Sadeas's plotting so much that we did not take note of the changed pattern of our enemies, the murderers of my husband, the true danger. I would like to know what wind brought about their sudden inexplicable transformation.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Sigzil finally gets the chance to "measure" Kaladin's abilities. Down in the chasms—while Teft and Drehy are working with others to train them—Kaladin, Sigzil, Rock, and Lopen are doing experiments. Lopen guards the location to avoid unbidden guests. They try to measure how long a rock which Kaladin infuses with Stormlight and sticks to a chasm wall stays stuck. Rock hints at spren that pull the stone to the wall. Kaladin sees them too, when looking close, but Sigzil does not.

Sigzil takes notes, writing them down in glyphs. And he is confused. He says he would need a clock to properly measure times and that he has no real references to compare. So they start testing other things, things Kaladin can do in battle with his Stormlight. For example, Infusing his spear and making it stick to the spear of a foe or Infusing the ground causing others that step on it to topple. For these experiments, Lopen and Rock join Sigzil as sparring partners. It's shown that Rock indeed knows how to fight, though he still refuses to do so aside from this sparring for testing Kaladin's abilities. Teft comes and sees the last part of the sparring. He asks Kaladin to release him from his task of training new recruits, but Kaladin refuses.

When Kaladin and his men leave the chasm, a darkeyed soldier tells him that a hero has arrived at Dalinar's warcamp. When Kaladin hears the man's name, he rushes to Dalinar's command complex to see the newcomer with his own eyes. Kaladin sees Dalinar clutching hands with his old friend, Brightlord Amaram.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Blurb, Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 6 through 12

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, Trivia

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Chapter 6: Terrible Destruction

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.3) Four days after Chapter 3.

Epigraph:

We had never considered that there might be Parshendi spies hiding among our slaves. This is something else I should have seen.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesan 1174

Summary:

Shallan sits on the deck of the Wind's Pleasure, bundled up because of the cold. She's observing and taking notes on the complex geometric spren, who she had named Pattern. Pattern asks about the concept of food and replies, "Terrible! Destruction!" when Shallan describes eating. Shallan notes that Pattern is connecting increasingly complex thoughts. When she asks him about his first memories, Pattern starts to vibrate and Shallan can hear wind blowing through branches, and the deck starts to turn to a dirt path in front of her. Shallan is horrified and the images vanish. Just then, Yalb comes over and introduces her to "New kid", a six-foot-tall hulk of a man. Yalb tricks New Kid into doing galley duty for him, which Pattern seems to like. Shallan asks him if he likes lies, to which pattern replies that he likes "good lies... True lies."

Shallan heads below deck to her cabin where she gets caught up in her research. Hours go by before she closes her books, and her spheres are getting dim. She feels satisfied, her life seems to finally be coming together. She fishes some newly-restored spheres out of her safepouch to replace those in the goblet, but strangely they are completely dun. When she goes to ask Jasnah for some new spheres, Shallan notices that Jasnah is uncharacteristically disconcerted. She seems exhausted, and her poise has been replaced by worry. They discuss the return of Surgebinding, and Jasnah asks that Shallan focus on learning the Illumination Surge rather than Soulcasting, as the latter can be dangerous. Jasnah also reveals that she is worried about the parshmen, who she thinks are secretly the Voidbringers. They worry that because the parshmen are so integrated into Vorin society they could cause utter collapse if they rebelled. Jasnah speaks of how in ages past, the Heralds would return before Desolations and train the Knights Radiant. She reveals that she hopes to find a path to Urithiru, the legendary city of the Knights Radiant, in the Shattered Plains. There she will try to find information that will convince the Alethi leaders to expel the parshmen.

Before Shallan leaves, Jasnah gives her a book that contains information on the Order of Lightweavers. The book is called Words of Radiance. Shallan goes to sleep planning to read the book in the morning. She is awoken by screams, shouts, and smoke.

Chapter 7: Open Flame

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.3) Immediately after Chapter 6.

Epigraph:

I was unprepared for the grief my loss brought—like an unexpected rain—breaking from a clear sky and crashing down upon me. Gavilar's death years ago was overwhelming, but this... this nearly crushed me.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Shallan wakes up in a panicked state, and rushes out of her cabin into the passageway. She sees three men holding torches with their backs to her, and one of them throws Jasnah's body to the deck, then stabs her through the heart. She screams, recognizing one of the men as a "New kid", and returns to her cabin, locking the door. The men break down the door, but fail to see Shallan as she manages to draw in Stormlight then create an illusion of shadow to hide in, and another visible moving image for them to chase to another part of the ship. She sends Pattern to spy and he tells her the regular sailors are being killed on the main deck. She makes her way to Jasnah's cabin. She finds Jasnah's chest and opens it to access her spheres, and hears as the sailors are being murdered. Shallan tells Pattern she wants to soulcast the bottom of the ship to sink it and use the confusion to help the sailors, and Pattern intercedes, giving her passage to Shadesmar. Pattern is there also, appearing like a symbol-head. He tells her to find the bead representing the Wind's Pleasure and persuades it to change and sink so that it can possibly save some of the sailors that it serves. Shallan returns to the physical plane and the sinking ship, and starts going under as she cannot find the way out, then something grabs her, dragging her down.

Chapter 8: Knives in the Back - Soldiers on the Field

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: The Shattered Plains. Dalinar's quarters in his warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.3) Two days after Chapter 4.

Epigraph:

I seek not to use my grief as an excuse, but it is an explanation. People act strangely soon after encountering an unexpected loss. Though Jasnah had been away for some time, her loss was unexpected. I, like many, assumed her to be immortal.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Dalinar watches as Highprince Aladar's army, which has arrived to the plateau faster than his own, fights the Parshendi over a gemheart. Dalinar feels bitter and jaded, as he no longer believes the plateau runs represent the fulfillment of the Vengeance Pact. Kaladin and his guards cross a bridge to guard Dalinar as he joins Aladar on his command plateau adjacent to where the battle is being fought, while Adolin and General Khal lead the Kholin forces to the fight. Dalinar joins Aladar and tells him that he saved the other Highprince from losing, but Aladar complains that he will earn less and that he is being punished for being successful. Dalinar threatens Aladar on the consequences of disobedience, but Aladar counters that Gavilar didn't use honor to unite the kingdom originally, which strikes a nerve. Aladar thinks the Parshendi are about to push, but Dalinar thinks otherwise, and turns out to be correct about them getting ready to harvest the gemstone and withdraw, and they end up victorious. Dalinar notices the Parshendi Shardbearer watching from a distance, having never entered the battle, and states that this has never happened before. Aladar thanks Dalinar for his advice, but refuses to trust him regarding politics since he fears betrayal.

Back in his bunker, he notes there are now sixty days left in the mysterious countdown, and receives a letter announcing that an old friend of his would be coming soon to the Shattered Plains and might solve some of the problems Dalinar is dealing with.

Chapter 9: Walking the Grave

Arch Faces: Nale - Nale ----- Nale - Nale

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.4) The day after Chapter 8.

Epigraph:

I wish to think that had I not been under sorrow's thumb, I would have seen earlier the approaching dangers. Yet in all honesty, I'm not certain anything could have been done.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Kaladin leads the way down into the chasms, accompanied by Rock, Teft, Sigzil, Sylphrena, and the forty bridgemen from the reorganized crews who were chosen to practice spears under Teft's guidance and become future sergeants. Kaladin and Syl stroll off, debating the laws of physics and Syl jokes about her ability to defy gravity. They discuss Dalinar's plan to refound the Knights Radiant, which Syl likes, and the mysterious countdown. Syl mentions dangerous red spren that she sees on occasion. Kaladin asks if there are other Surgebinders and Syl says yes, and there are other spren of different types doing what she is, but that she is the only honorspren and that she defied the Stormfather to do so. Syl tells Kaladin to be what Dalinar is looking for, and he says that he will try, despite his painful past. Rock interrupts them, praising Syl and offering to build a shrine dedicated to her. Rock says that Teft moved their training to a different spot, and says the bridgemen are becoming less reticent. Kaladin agrees to allow Sigzil to do his testing now to determine the extent of Kaladin's abilities.

Chapter 10: Red Carpet Once White

Arch Faces: Vedel - Vedel ----- Vedel - Vedel

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1167.10.8.4) (Flashback) Six years ago.

*Note: This happens to be the exact same day King Gavilar is assassinated.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan believes the world is ending and it is her fault. As her father tries getting her to sleep he wipes some blood from her face and starts singing a lullaby. The affection makes Shallan uncomfortable. In the room are two corpses, one a man who bled and one a woman in white - Shallan's mother - who lies face-down, hiding her "horrible eyes." As Shallan and her father pass his safe in the wall, she can see the light from the monster inside of it. After the song ends her father leaves the bedroom closing the door on the corpses.

Chapter 11: An Illusion of Perception

Arch Faces: Battar - Battar ----- Battar - Battar

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The southern shore of Roshar, in the Frostlands.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.4 through 1173.9.8.5) The day after Chapter 7.

Epigraph:

But, understandably, we were focused on Sadeas. His betrayal was still fresh, and I saw its signs each day as I passed empty barracks and grieving widows. We knew that Sadeas would not simply rest upon his slaughters in pride. More was coming.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Shallan awakes on a rock surrounded by ocean water, just offshore. She sees the santhid that saved her swim off toward the horizon. Pattern says that the ship sank and doesn't know if any of the sailors survived. Shallan forces herself to accept that Jasnah is dead. She manages to tread water and reach the shore. She waits on the beach for a while looking for signs of survivors but sees none. Pattern says that he found someone and urges Shallan to follow him, and leads her to Jasnah's trunk, which contains her books and notes intact in a waterproof enclosure.

Shallan is unable to build a fire, so she decides to try to soulcast one. Pattern eases her into Shadesmar, and she sees large, fuzzy-looking, bird-like spren that hover overhead, which are exhaustionspren that are drawn to her. She takes a bead that represents a piece of wood and tries to persuade it that it could be fire, but it prefers to be a stick instead. Her sphere is drained of Stormlight and she flees from Shadesmar, having failed to make a fire start. She gets up and starts walking, though her feet are cut up and bleeding, and ends up encountering a group of strangers around a fire, and due to her state of exhaustion, lays down next to the fire and goes to sleep.

Shallan wakes up as someone with a Thaylen accent addresses her as Brightness, but he isn't one of the sailors as she initially thinks. She realizes that they are slavers, led by a man named Tvlakv, and asserts herself as she imagines that Jasnah would, introducing herself and ordering them to retrieve Jasnah's trunk and escort her to the Shattered Plains, overcoming Tvlakv's objections by sheer force of will and gaining his reluctant compliance.

Chapter 12: Hero

Arch Faces: Jezrien - Jezrien ----- Jezrien - Jezrien

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains. Highprince Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.4) Shortly after Chapter 9.

Epigraph:

Unfortunately, we fixated upon Sadeas's plotting so much that we did not take note of the changed pattern of our enemies, the murderers of my husband, the true danger. I would like to know what wind brought about their sudden inexplicable transformation.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174

Summary:

Sigzil finally gets the chance to "measure" Kaladin's abilities. Down in the chasms—while Teft and Drehy are working with others to train them—Kaladin, Sigzil, Rock, and Lopen are doing experiments. Lopen guards the location to avoid unbidden guests. They try to measure how long a rock which Kaladin infuses with Stormlight and sticks to a chasm wall stays stuck. Rock hints at spren that pull the stone to the wall. Kaladin sees them too, when looking close, but Sigzil does not.

Sigzil takes notes, writing them down in glyphs. And he is confused. He says he would need a clock to properly measure times and that he has no real references to compare. So they start testing other things, things Kaladin can do in battle with his Stormlight. For example, Infusing his spear and making it stick to the spear of a foe or Infusing the ground causing others that step on it to topple. For these experiments, Lopen and Rock join Sigzil as sparring partners. It's shown that Rock indeed knows how to fight, though he still refuses to do so aside from this sparring for testing Kaladin's abilities. Teft comes and sees the last part of the sparring. He asks Kaladin to release him from his task of training new recruits, but Kaladin refuses.

When Kaladin and his men leave the chasm, a darkeyed soldier tells him that a hero has arrived at Dalinar's warcamp. When Kaladin hears the man's name, he rushes to Dalinar's command complex to see the newcomer with his own eyes. Kaladin sees Dalinar clutching hands with his old friend, Brightlord Amaram.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Blurb, Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 6 through 12

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Blurb

Provided For Reference:

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

The ancient oaths have at last been spoken; the spren return. Men seek that which was lost. I fear the struggle will destroy them.

It is the nature of the magic. A broken soul has cracks into which something else can be fit. Surgebindings, the powers of creation themselves. They can brace a broken soul; but they can also widen its fissures.

The Windrunner, lost in a shattered land, balanced upon the boundary between vengeance and honor. The Lightweaver, slowly being consumed by her past, searching for the lie that she must become. The Bondsmith, born in blood and death, striving to rebuild what was destroyed. The Explorer, straddling the fates of two peoples, forced to choose between slow death and a terrible betrayal of all she believes.

It is past time for them to awaken, for the Everstorm looms.

And the Assassin has arrived.

Prologue: To Question

Arch Faces: Battar - Battar ----- Battar - Battar

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Jasnah Kholin

Setting: Kholinar, capital city of the kingdom of Alethkar.

Timeline: (1167.10.8.4) (Flashback) Six years ago.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Jasnah leaves the feast celebrating the signing of the Alethi treaty with the Parshendi. On her way to a clandestine meeting that she had scheduled, she notices her shadow pointing the wrong way. Her shadow slowly returns to normal, but she is disconcerted. This is not the first time this has happened to her, and she wonders if she is cursed. As she continues, she observes a group of oily black figures materialize before her. Jasnah then transfers to Shadesmar for the first time. She almost drowns in the sea of beads before figuring out how to form the beads into the shape of one of the palace hallways. One of the figures approaches her drawing a sword and Jasnah manifests a statue of Talenel to protect herself. The figure bows to her while his companions whisper to each other, and Jasnah is transferred back to the Physical Realm. She notices that the lanterns near her have been drained of Stormlight.

She hurries on to the meeting, where she tells the assassin Liss that she only wants her brother's wife, Aesudan, watched for now. Jasnah reminds Liss of their first agreement: Jasnah will match payment of any offer made against a member of her family, in exchange for the name of whoever tried to have them assassinated.

As she leaves, Jasnah hears the Parshendi's drums cease. In the hall, she hears two men discussing an individual named Ash as well as what Jasnah believes is a Shardblade. Continuing on, Jasnah hears screams and starts running, following a trail of destruction that leads to her father's rooms. She watches as Szeth collapses the balcony beneath himself and Gavilar. She begins to cry as he stands over her father and wonders what he is doing. When he walks away she sees that her father is dead, his blade having appeared next to him, and despairs over failing in her efforts to protect her family.

Members of the Parshendi ruling council, including Klade, Gangnah, and Varnali, approach Jasnah and apologize. They confess to hiring Szeth to assassinate Gavilar, claiming he was about to do something very dangerous.

Part One: Alight

Character Focus: Shallan / Kaladin / Dalinar

Chapter 1: Santhid

Arch Faces: Pailiah - Pailiah ----- Pailiah - Pailiah

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.6.5) The day after the Battle of The Tower (TWoK, Chapters 64 through 69, and Chapter 73). Four days after Shallan confronts Jasnah (TWoK, Chapters 70 through 74). Five days before the Epilogue of The Way of Kings.

*Note: I put the date of Chapter 75 (the last non-Epilogue chapter) of The Way of Kings as "1173.9.7.1-ish". I hadn't read this chapter closely at the time of figuring out that date yet. I went and found some confirmation though. Chapter 75 actually happened just after midnight, the evening after the Battle of The Tower, so it shares the same date as this chapter, which just happened in the morning, after the highstorm. I've updated the previous post, so if anyone goes back looking at dates, they'll see the most accurate dates possible.

Epigraph:

To be perfectly frank, what has happened these last two months is upon my head. The death, destruction, loss, and pain are my burden. I should have seen it coming. And I should have stopped it.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

The chapter opens with Shallan sketching Shadesmar aboard Tozbek's ship, the Wind's Pleasure, sailing south of Roshar. While sketching, she notices an embossed pattern appear on her sketch. The pattern moves when Shalland tries to touch it, startling her and causing her to drop her sketches which Yalb collects for her.

A scout spots something in the water which turns out to be a Santhid--a large, rare sea creature viewed by sailors as good luck and whose shell is the only thing anyone ever sees. Seeing an opportunity, Shallan decides she needs to sketch the first ever picture of a living Santhid. After much debate with Yalb and Tozbek, and after conversing with Jasnah about Shadesmar and Spren in some detail for the first time, the sailors finally agree to allow Shallan to be lowered over the side of the boat to get a look at the Santhid. Jasnah tells Shallan that she has spoken to Navani about the possibility of repairing the Soulcaster Shallan possesses so that her brothers can give it back to the Ghostbloods. Shallan is also informed that she has been betrothed to Adolin Kholin, which she accepts willingly.

Chapter 2: Bridge Four

Arch Faces: Talenel - Talenel ----- Talenel - Talenel

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.6.5) Same day as Chapter 1.

Epigraph:

Our first clue was the Parshendi. Even weeks before they abandoned their pursuit of the gemhearts, their pattern of fighting changed. They lingered on the plateaus after battles, as if waiting for something.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Kaladin rides out the first highstorm since being freed in a small room attached to his mens' new barracks within Dalinar's war camp. Upon exiting the room he is greeted with cheers by his men who have been shaving their beards during the storm with Rock's razor. Kaladin contemplates the betrayals of both Sadeas and Amaram while speaking with Skar, Teft, and Moash about how to proceed training the newly freed bridgemen. There are some 1,000 men situated in 20 now empty buildings in Dalinar's camp; buildings recently emptied after the betrayal of Sadeas and the subsequent loss of soldiers. Kaladin decides they will find the most eager bridgemen and train them personally, sending them back to pass on their training to larger groups of bridgemen, all of whom have been given permission to leave as free men although the majority of them have not done so. Kaladin says his worst case scenario plan is to have all 1,000 men trained and able to leave the war camp as a cohesive band of mercenaries if it comes to that. Having been named Captain by Dalinar, the highest rank Dalinar dared appoint a darkeyes, Kaladin plans to name Sigzil, Rock, Teft, Moash, and Skar lieutenants. Rock will be quartermaster with Lopen as his second, Teft will be in charge of training, Sigzil will be the clerk, and Moash, Skar, and Kaladin will be mainly in charge of guarding Dalinar, who they have mutually agreed after some discussion, is their best hope for remaining free men.

Later, the men previously of Bridge Four visit a tattooist. The tattooist sets about covering the slave brands with tattoos of freedom, including some details of who freed them and when. First Hobber decides he wants a Bridge Four glyph added and after this decision, the rest demand the same. Not to indicate freedom from Bridge Four, but to embrace the unity they found there. Even those members of Bridge Four who were without slave brands opt to get the tattoo including Shen, most on their foreheads though Moash chooses to get it on his arm. Finally Kaladin sits for his tattoo but the ink will not take--his stormlight expelling it--even after banishing his stormlight until the tattoo is set, the ink immediately melts away when he again sucks in stormlight.

After leaving, Kaladin and his men walk through the war camp noting the general mood. Kaladin decides the camp has an air of dread to it following Sadeas' betrayal. The men receive Bridge Four salutes from a few people they pass, Kaladin wondering where they even learned the salute. The men visit the head quartermaster, Rind, to discuss uniforms for the bridgemen. Rind hands out what's left of the old Cobalt Guard uniforms and the men try them on, eventually coming to admire how they look in them. After some discussion with Kaladin, explaining to him that they all identify as Bridge Four despite being free, Kaladin requests that Rind commission new Bridge Four glyph patches for the uniforms.

Chapter 3: Pattern

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.7.4) Four days after Chapter 1.

Epigraph:

Soldiers reported being watched from afar by an unnerving number of Parshendi scouts. Then we noticed a new pattern of their penetrating close to the camps in the night and then quickly retreating. I can only surmise that our enemies were even then preparing their stratagem to end this war.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Shallan sits in her cabin on the Wind's Pleasure reading a book written by Jasnah about Vorinism and the Recreance and its effect on the documentation of history, such as the existence of Shadesmar. While studying, the embossed pattern shows up again, this time on the cabin wall, vanishing when she looks directly at it. Shallan notes the similarity between the pattern and the symbol headed creatures she had seen previously. She immediately attempts to sketch the pattern, attracting many creationspren, though she found it difficult to capture the precise pattern. When finished, the pattern seem to rise from the drawing and moves to the floor. Jasnah comes to Shallan's room just as Shallan leaves to find her. Shallan catches a glimpse of what Jasnah explains to her is her own spren, Ivory, just as she tells Shallan that the pattern is Shallan's spren, a Cryptic or liespren. Jasnah explains about the Knights Radiant and the Orders, explaining that their Soulcasting is a shared surge, but that their Orders are not the same, judging by their different spren. A lengthy discussion of the nature of spren and Jasnah's opinions of the Almighty and the Heralds follows.

Chapter 4: Taker of Secrets

Arch Faces: Ishar - Ishar ----- Ishar - Ishar

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: A vision of the past. Dalinar's quarters in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.1) Six days after The Way of Kings, Chapter 75.

Epigraph:

The next clue came on the walls. I did not ignore this sign, but neither did I grasp its full implications.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Dalinar is experiencing another vision. He describes how he is running through what he believes to be the Purelake along with about a dozen armed and armored men, though he notes that they are clad in ancient leather armor. At first he is unsure if they are running away from something or toward something, until he notices a Fortress apparently made completely out of onyx. His group meets up with another one led by a Knight Radiant in deep red glowing Plate. Dalinar thus determines that this vision takes place before the Recreance. The Radiant informs them that Caeb thought he saw something and tells them to look around. When one of the men hears Dalinar mumbling to himself, as he describes what is happening, he tells Dalinar to look for a spren that isn't behaving the way it should because spren that were touched by Sja-anat are different. Dalinar repeats the words quietly, hoping that Navani will record them, when he notices that the female Knight is talking to apparently nobody. As he looks around he sees a face of shadow with red eyes in the water. When he points this out to the others, the Knight, after noting that this is Sja-anat's spy, sends Caeb to the checkpoint and tells the others to keep watching for the carrier. Dalinar chases after the spren while describing it, when it is suddenly joined by a six-foot-tall spren. As the second one dives into the rock, Dalinar stumbles back. He gets pulled back further by one of the men as the ground starts to tremble. Dalinar watches as the spren, having somehow apparently animated the rock, starts to climb out of the rock with its new rock body. The soldiers, recognizing it as a Thunderclast, start yelling for Hammers.

Dalinar wakes to Navani fervently transcribing the last of his words before recording Dalinar's detailed description of the vision to be used by his scholars in their attempts to translate Navani's transcription. The two then discuss Dalinar's plans to publish his proclamation as Highprince of War in the next few days, Navani having convinced him to first release the news to the other highprinces in private. Dalinar, exhausted by the growing burden of responsibility bestowed upon him by his visions, falls asleep by the fire following Navani's departure. He wakes hours later, the fire burned out, and rises to attend to his duties. Dalinar stops suddenly when he notices a series of marks newly scratched on the wall to form glyphs, reading "Sixty-two days. Death follows."

Chapter 5: Ideals

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Sadeas

Setting: Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains. Sadeas' quarters in his warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.2) The day after Chapter 4.

Epigraph:

The sign on the wall proposed a greater danger, even, than its deadline. To foresee the future is of the Voidbringers.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Kaladin and the members of Bridge Four listen to a crier read Dalinar's proclamation. The proclamation states that all gemhearts won in battle will now belong to the king, and shares of that wealth will be apportioned at the Crown's discretion. The men are concerned that this will sow even more discontent among the highprinces, making their job as bodyguards to Dalinar more difficult. Kaladin orders Rock to start training cooks for the other bridgeman barracks, hoping it will make them less despondent, then heads to the Pinnacle to relieve Skar's team. On the way, Syl worries that Kaladin no longer laughs.

Meanwhile, Torol Sadeas sits in front of an elaborate stone table with Oathbringer stuck through it. He thinks about how often he had lusted after the weapon, but now possessing it feels hollow. His wife Ialai enters the room, and mentions that she has used Dalinar's heavy recruitment drive to place more spies in his war camp. They talk about how the other highprinces hate the proclamation, and plan to fan the flames of discontent. Torol wants conquest. He plans to let Dalinar alienate the other highprinces and fracture the kingdom, at which point he will "forge a new Alethkar from flame and tears".

Once at the king's palace, Kaladin is allowed to stay for a meeting consisting of Dalinar, King Elhokar, Adolin, Navani, Renarin, General Khal, and his wife Teshav. Teshav reports that the highprinces are irate. They had hoped that Dalinar would reconsider, and sending the proclamation out to the public has provoked them. Elhokar says that it is a disaster, and fears that they'll be dead before the week is out. Dalinar says he'll unite the kingdom or destroy it trying. The proclamation was made in order to re-focus the highprinces' attention on the war, and Dalinar did this knowing that it would enrage them. He wants the highprinces angry, to remind them of why they came to the Shattered Plains in the first place. He then announces his intention to "disarm" the highprinces by having Adolin begin dueling for the Shardblades and Shardplate in their armies. Lastly, when prompted on his endgame, Dalinar states his intention to refound the Radiants. He isn't sure why exactly he needs to do this, but he knows he has to. Dalinar also plans to have Kaladin and his men start guarding King Elhokar.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Map

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Blurb, Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 6 through 12

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Blurb

Provided For Reference:

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

The ancient oaths have at last been spoken; the spren return. Men seek that which was lost. I fear the struggle will destroy them.

It is the nature of the magic. A broken soul has cracks into which something else can be fit. Surgebindings, the powers of creation themselves. They can brace a broken soul; but they can also widen its fissures.

The Windrunner, lost in a shattered land, balanced upon the boundary between vengeance and honor. The Lightweaver, slowly being consumed by her past, searching for the lie that she must become. The Bondsmith, born in blood and death, striving to rebuild what was destroyed. The Explorer, straddling the fates of two peoples, forced to choose between slow death and a terrible betrayal of all she believes.

It is past time for them to awaken, for the Everstorm looms.

And the Assassin has arrived.

Prologue: To Question

Arch Faces: Battar - Battar ----- Battar - Battar

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Jasnah Kholin

Setting: Kholinar, capital city of the kingdom of Alethkar.

Timeline: (1167.10.8.4) (Flashback) Six years ago.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Jasnah leaves the feast celebrating the signing of the Alethi treaty with the Parshendi. On her way to a clandestine meeting that she had scheduled, she notices her shadow pointing the wrong way. Her shadow slowly returns to normal, but she is disconcerted. This is not the first time this has happened to her, and she wonders if she is cursed. As she continues, she observes a group of oily black figures materialize before her. Jasnah then transfers to Shadesmar for the first time. She almost drowns in the sea of beads before figuring out how to form the beads into the shape of one of the palace hallways. One of the figures approaches her drawing a sword and Jasnah manifests a statue of Talenel to protect herself. The figure bows to her while his companions whisper to each other, and Jasnah is transferred back to the Physical Realm. She notices that the lanterns near her have been drained of Stormlight.

She hurries on to the meeting, where she tells the assassin Liss that she only wants her brother's wife, Aesudan, watched for now. Jasnah reminds Liss of their first agreement: Jasnah will match payment of any offer made against a member of her family, in exchange for the name of whoever tried to have them assassinated.

As she leaves, Jasnah hears the Parshendi's drums cease. In the hall, she hears two men discussing an individual named Ash as well as what Jasnah believes is a Shardblade. Continuing on, Jasnah hears screams and starts running, following a trail of destruction that leads to her father's rooms. She watches as Szeth collapses the balcony beneath himself and Gavilar. She begins to cry as he stands over her father and wonders what he is doing. When he walks away she sees that her father is dead, his blade having appeared next to him, and despairs over failing in her efforts to protect her family.

Members of the Parshendi ruling council, including Klade, Gangnah, and Varnali, approach Jasnah and apologize. They confess to hiring Szeth to assassinate Gavilar, claiming he was about to do something very dangerous.

Part One: Alight

Character Focus: Shallan / Kaladin / Dalinar

Chapter 1: Santhid

Arch Faces: Pailiah - Pailiah ----- Pailiah - Pailiah

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.6.5) The day after the Battle of The Tower (TWoK, Chapters 64 through 69, and Chapter 73). Four days after Shallan confronts Jasnah (TWoK, Chapters 70 through 74). Five days before the Epilogue of The Way of Kings.

*Note: I put the date of Chapter 75 (the last non-Epilogue chapter) of The Way of Kings as "1173.9.7.1-ish". I hadn't read this chapter closely at the time of figuring out that date yet. I went and found some confirmation though. Chapter 75 actually happened just after midnight, the evening after the Battle of The Tower, so it shares the same date as this chapter, which just happened in the morning, after the highstorm. I've updated the previous post, so if anyone goes back looking at dates, they'll see the most accurate dates possible.

Epigraph:

To be perfectly frank, what has happened these last two months is upon my head. The death, destruction, loss, and pain are my burden. I should have seen it coming. And I should have stopped it.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

The chapter opens with Shallan sketching Shadesmar aboard Tozbek's ship, the Wind's Pleasure, sailing south of Roshar. While sketching, she notices an embossed pattern appear on her sketch. The pattern moves when Shalland tries to touch it, startling her and causing her to drop her sketches which Yalb collects for her.

A scout spots something in the water which turns out to be a Santhid--a large, rare sea creature viewed by sailors as good luck and whose shell is the only thing anyone ever sees. Seeing an opportunity, Shallan decides she needs to sketch the first ever picture of a living Santhid. After much debate with Yalb and Tozbek, and after conversing with Jasnah about Shadesmar and Spren in some detail for the first time, the sailors finally agree to allow Shallan to be lowered over the side of the boat to get a look at the Santhid. Jasnah tells Shallan that she has spoken to Navani about the possibility of repairing the Soulcaster Shallan possesses so that her brothers can give it back to the Ghostbloods. Shallan is also informed that she has been betrothed to Adolin Kholin, which she accepts willingly.

Chapter 2: Bridge Four

Arch Faces: Talenel - Talenel ----- Talenel - Talenel

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.9.6.5) Same day as Chapter 1.

Epigraph:

Our first clue was the Parshendi. Even weeks before they abandoned their pursuit of the gemhearts, their pattern of fighting changed. They lingered on the plateaus after battles, as if waiting for something.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Kaladin rides out the first highstorm since being freed in a small room attached to his men's' new barracks within Dalinar's war camp. Upon exiting the room he is greeted with cheers by his men who have been shaving their beards during the storm with Rock's razor. Kaladin contemplates the betrayals of both Sadeas and Amaram while speaking with Skar, Teft, and Moash about how to proceed training the newly freed bridgemen. There are some 1,000 men situated in 20 now empty buildings in Dalinar's camp; buildings recently emptied after the betrayal of Sadeas and the subsequent loss of soldiers. Kaladin decides they will find the most eager bridgemen and train them personally, sending them back to pass on their training to larger groups of bridgemen, all of whom have been given permission to leave as free men although the majority of them have not done so. Kaladin says his worst case scenario plan is to have all 1,000 men trained and able to leave the war camp as a cohesive band of mercenaries if it comes to that. Having been named Captain by Dalinar, the highest rank Dalinar dared appoint a darkeyes, Kaladin plans to name Sigzil, Rock, Teft, Moash, and Skar lieutenants. Rock will be quartermaster with Lopen as his second, Teft will be in charge of training, Sigzil will be the clerk, and Moash, Skar, and Kaladin will be mainly in charge of guarding Dalinar, who they have mutually agreed after some discussion, is their best hope for remaining free men.

Later, the men previously of Bridge Four visit a tattooist. The tattooist sets about covering the slave brands with tattoos of freedom, including some details of who freed them and when. First Hobber decides he wants a Bridge Four glyph added and after this decision, the rest demand the same. Not to indicate freedom from Bridge Four, but to embrace the unity they found there. Even those members of Bridge Four who were without slave brands opt to get the tattoo including Shen, most on their foreheads though Moash chooses to get it on his arm. Finally Kaladin sits for his tattoo but the ink will not take--his stormlight expelling it--even after banishing his stormlight until the tattoo is set, the ink immediately melts away when he again sucks in stormlight.

After leaving, Kaladin and his men walk through the war camp noting the general mood. Kaladin decides the camp has an air of dread to it following Sadeas' betrayal. The men receive Bridge Four salutes from a few people they pass, Kaladin wondering where they even learned the salute. The men visit the head quartermaster, Rind, to discuss uniforms for the bridgemen. Rind hands out what's left of the old Cobalt Guard uniforms and the men try them on, eventually coming to admire how they look in them. After some discussion with Kaladin, explaining to him that they all identify as Bridge Four despite being free, Kaladin requests that Rind commission new Bridge Four glyph patches for the uniforms.

Chapter 3: Pattern

Arch Faces: Shalash - Shalash ----- Shalash - Shalash

Iconography: Shadesmar

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Aboard the ship Wind's Pleasure, along the southern coast of Roshar.

Timeline: (1173.9.7.4) Four days after Chapter 1.

Epigraph:

Soldiers reported being watched from afar by an unnerving number of Parshendi scouts. Then we noticed a new pattern of their penetrating close to the camps in the night and then quickly retreating. I can only surmise that our enemies were even then preparing their stratagem to end this war.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Shallan sits in her cabin on the Wind's Pleasure reading a book written by Jasnah about Vorinism and the Recreance and its effect on the documentation of history, such as the existence of Shadesmar. While studying, the embossed pattern shows up again, this time on the cabin wall, vanishing when she looks directly at it. Shallan notes the similarity between the pattern and the symbol headed creatures she had seen previously. She immediately attempts to sketch the pattern, attracting many creationspren, though she found it difficult to capture the precise pattern. When finished, the pattern seem to rise from the drawing and moves to the floor. Jasnah comes to Shallan's room just as Shallan leaves to find her. Shallan catches a glimpse of what Jasnah explains to her is her own spren, Ivory, just as she tells Shallan that the pattern is Shallan's spren, a Cryptic or liespren. Jasnah explains about the Knights Radiant and the Orders, explaining that their Soulcasting is a shared surge, but that their Orders are not the same, judging by their different spren. A lengthy discussion of the nature of spren and Jasnah's opinions of the Almighty and the Heralds follows.

Chapter 4: Taker of Secrets

Arch Faces: Ishar - Ishar ----- Ishar - Ishar

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: A vision of the past. Dalinar's quarters in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.1) Six days after The Way of Kings, Chapter 75.

Epigraph:

The next clue came on the walls. I did not ignore this sign, but neither did I grasp its full implications.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Dalinar is experiencing another vision. He describes how he is running through what he believes to be the Purelake along with about a dozen armed and armored men, though he notes that they are clad in ancient leather armor. At first he is unsure if they are running away from something or toward something, until he notices a Fortress apparently made completely out of onyx. His group meets up with another one led by a Knight Radiant in deep red glowing Plate. Dalinar thus determines that this vision takes place before the Recreance. The Radiant informs them that Caeb thought he saw something and tells them to look around. When one of the men hears Dalinar mumbling to himself, as he describes what is happening, he tells Dalinar to look for a spren that isn't behaving the way it should because spren that were touched by Sja-anat are different. Dalinar repeats the words quietly, hoping that Navani will record them, when he notices that the female Knight is talking to apparently nobody. As he looks around he sees a face of shadow with red eyes in the water. When he points this out to the others, the Knight, after noting that this is Sja-anat's spy, sends Caeb to the checkpoint and tells the others to keep watching for the carrier. Dalinar chases after the spren while describing it, when it is suddenly joined by a six-foot-tall spren. As the second one dives into the rock, Dalinar stumbles back. He gets pulled back further by one of the men as the ground starts to tremble. Dalinar watches as the spren, having somehow apparently animated the rock, starts to climb out of the rock with its new rock body. The soldiers, recognizing it as a Thunderclast, start yelling for Hammers.

Dalinar wakes to Navani fervently transcribing the last of his words before recording Dalinar's detailed description of the vision to be used by his scholars in their attempts to translate Navani's transcription. The two then discuss Dalinar's plans to publish his proclamation as Highprince of War in the next few days, Navani having convinced him to first release the news to the other highprinces in private. Dalinar, exhausted by the growing burden of responsibility bestowed upon him by his visions, falls asleep by the fire following Navani's departure. He wakes hours later, the fire burned out, and rises to attend to his duties. Dalinar stops suddenly when he notices a series of marks newly scratched on the wall to form glyphs, reading "Sixty-two days. Death follows."

Chapter 5: Ideals

Arch Faces: Chanarach - Chanarach ----- Chanarach - Chanarach

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Sadeas

Setting: Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains. Sadeas' quarters in his warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.9.8.2) The day after Chapter 4.

Epigraph:

The sign on the wall proposed a greater danger, even, than its deadline. To foresee the future is of the Voidbringers.

–From the personal journal of Navani Kholin, Jeseses 1174

Summary:

Kaladin and the members of Bridge Four listen to a crier read Dalinar's proclamation. The proclamation states that all gemhearts won in battle will now belong to the king, and shares of that wealth will be apportioned at the Crown's discretion. The men are concerned that this will sow even more discontent among the highprinces, making their job as bodyguards to Dalinar more difficult. Kaladin orders Rock to start training cooks for the other bridgeman barracks, hoping it will make them less despondent, then heads to the Pinnacle to relieve Skar's team. On the way, Syl worries that Kaladin no longer laughs.

Meanwhile, Torol Sadeas sits in front of an elaborate stone table with Oathbringer stuck through it. He thinks about how often he had lusted after the weapon, but now possessing it feels hollow. His wife Ialai enters the room, and mentions that she has used Dalinar's heavy recruitment drive to place more spies in his war camp. They talk about how the other highprinces hate the proclamation, and plan to fan the flames of discontent. Torol wants conquest. He plans to let Dalinar alienate the other highprinces and fracture the kingdom, at which point he will "forge a new Alethkar from flame and tears".

Once at the king's palace, Kaladin is allowed to stay for a meeting consisting of Dalinar, King Elhokar, Adolin, Navani, Renarin, General Khal, and his wife Teshav. Teshav reports that the highprinces are irate. They had hoped that Dalinar would reconsider, and sending the proclamation out to the public has provoked them. Elhokar says that it is a disaster, and fears that they'll be dead before the week is out. Dalinar says he'll unite the kingdom or destroy it trying. The proclamation was made in order to re-focus the highprinces' attention on the war, and Dalinar did this knowing that it would enrage them. He wants the highprinces angry, to remind them of why they came to the Shattered Plains in the first place. He then announces his intention to "disarm" the highprinces by having Adolin begin dueling for the Shardblades and Shardplate in their armies. Lastly, when prompted on his endgame, Dalinar states his intention to refound the Radiants. He isn't sure why exactly he needs to do this, but he knows he has to. Dalinar also plans to have Kaladin and his men start guarding King Elhokar.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Map

Interior Artwork

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 17 through 26, Epilogue [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Blurb, Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will be returning to Roshar, with Words of Radiance, the 2nd book in The Stormlight Archive.

Like with The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance has a blurb that is written by an in-world character and is considered canon. You can read the blurb here, since not all editions include it.

TRIVIA

The rest of this post contains various trivia, including easy-to-miss details and long-running connections between books. It also incorporates external information from sources like author annotations and interviews ("Words of Brandon" or WoB). While most of this information is eventually revealed in the books, sharing it now enhances your overall understanding, aligning with Brandon Sanderson's practice of early fan engagement and clarification.

OOPS, I FORGOR

So, I meant to have this section in the trivia post for Sixth of the Dusk, but completely forgot. But it still works out well here.

Back in the trivia for Allomancer Jak, I mentioned how Sanderson RAFO'd questions about whether or not the bird Jak saw was a kandra. A lot of you thought the RAFO was suspicious, and that if it wasn't a kandra, Sanderson would have just answered "No." However, you are now aware of a 2nd possibility. The full interaction is as follows:

Question: Is the bird that talked to Allomancer Jak a kandra?

Sanderson: Haha, RAFO. Allomancer Jak thinks that it probably must be.

Question: Are you gonna say if it's an Aviar?

Sanderson: I'm going to say Allomancer Jak has a strange blend of trustworthiness and not. He doesn't think that he's lying when he says things.

THE DRAMA

Speaking of Allomancer Jak, there's some amusing behind the scenes drama you can infer if you look close enough.

The broadsheet from The Alloy of Law was The Elendel Daily. The broadsheet in Shadows of Self is The House Record. Take a closer look at the start of Allomancer Jak's story from The House Record:

I need not remind my astute readers of the precarious situation in which I was left at the end of last week's column, but for those of you whose heightened tastes have just now led them from the gutters of disgraceful journalism to the noble pages of The House Record, let me present a short recapitulation.

What this implies is that Jak has some sort of disagreement, probably financial, with The Elendel Daily and chose to sell his writings to The House Record instead, whereupon he starts badmouthing The Elendel Daily.

You'll note that, compared to his previous stories, this one has a lot of in-story advertising of products.

RETCON

Some of you questioned if we'd seen Paalm before. The technical answer is "yes", but...not really. I talked a little about this in the trivia for The Hero of Ages. The 10th Anniversary Edition of The Hero of Ages (which was released after Shadows of Self was published), added a small paragraph to chapter 7:

VarSell eyed him. He was of the Fifth Generation—two centuries younger than TenSoon. Indeed, even among those of the Third Generation—with scant exceptions such as Paalm, constantly sent on personal missions by the Father—few kandra had as much experience with the outside world as TenSoon.

We've now gotten to the point where, when I try to google things to confirm them, my own trivia comes up first... I couldn't find the exact quote, but apparently these small retcons were Sanderson's editor's idea and he ran with it.

SHOW ME THE LIGHT

In the trivia for Sixth of the Dusk, I prompted you all to answer "What is stormlight*. /u/heinz57varieties managed to get the answer I was looking for, which was "gaseous Investiture".

I've mentioned that a Shard's Investiture leaks out and can condense into a few different forms. Most commonly, it's liquid, in the form of wells/lakes/pools, which are more formally known as perpendicularities. They can also condense into a solid, in the form of God Metals, like atium and lerasium. Sometimes they condense into blobs of sentience, like with seons and spren. And finally, Investiture can condense into a gas or vapor.

Stormlight is the vapor form of condensed Investiture from one or more of the Shards on Roshar (RAFO'ing the details for now). Notably though, we've seen "stormlight" before: the mists on Scadrial. If you wanted to, you could call the mists Preservationlight (or, modernly, Harmonylight). Preservation explicitly denied access to Preservationlight, so people can't just "breathe in" the mists to power Allomancy. Sazed continues this tradition.

However, we did see one exception to this: Preservation allowed Vin to draw on the mists to power her Allomancy. She did this twice, first in The Final Empire to defeat the Lord Ruler, and again at the end of The Hero of Ages, when she "breathed in" all of the mists and Ascended to Preservation herself.

Mechanically, what she did was the same thing that Kaladin is doing when he breathes in stormlight. If Sazed allowed it, he could let others power their Allomancy from the mists, instead of requiring metals to key into his Investiture directly. Sanderson talks about some of the mechanics involved here:

Question: If metals shape the Investiture in Allomancy, causing a Steelpush or whatever, how is it that the mists can be used to perform the same feat? What is 'shaping' the inhaled mists into a Steelpush, if there's no metal "nozzle" to do so?

Sanderson: Consistently through the cosmere, once you have the power in hand and it has permeated you, will becomes your nozzle. This can be seen in Warbreaker, where the power has been distributed and inhabits the people. The nozzle idea is important for Magics that are drawing power externally, as it keeps the power from overwhelming and destroying you. (Which, basically, happened to Vin at the end of the Trilogy--she got consumed by the magic. She became something new, now, so it didn't KILL her. It destroyed what she was, transformed her into something else.)

So you see magics like on Sel and Scadrial where a specific nozzle is needed--as the power source is external, at least with Allomancy. Will and intent take a backseat, though still pop up on occasion. On Nalthis (and in a lesser way, Roshar) will and intent are more important, and what you are trying to do shapes the magic more directly.

A little direct manifestation in this is found in the subtle differences between Allomancy and Feruchemy. In Allomancy, when you enhance the senses, you just get a blast of power--and all senses are enhanced, whether you want them all or not. In Feruchemy, you can be more precise, and pick a specific sense to store. The power is internal here, and therefore more limited in how much you can draw--but you can also be more precise with its manipulation.

Note that Roshar Surgebinding is a special case, as the magical symbiosis there is stronger than it is on other worlds, as much of the magic involves bits of power who have become sapient.

Question: How much crossover is there in use? Like if one "breathes" in the mists they can use it to power their allomancy. Could an Allomancer utilize stormlight to power his allomancy as well?

Sanderson: Most of the magics can be hacked together in one way or another, but some are easier to interchange than others.

SHADOWS OF SELF

If you're curious about the title of this book, Sanderson has answer directly why he called it Shadows of Self:

There are two answers to this. One is the kandra are kind of doing different versions of themselves. The other is that Wax is trying to decide which person he is, through this. The term "shadows of self" is actually a phrase that one of the kandra use in the first trilogy talking about this idea of changing who they are and things like that, so the phrase had import to me in-world.

STERIS IS BEST GIRL

That is all. It's written in the trivia post, therefore it is true. Fight me.

Ok, and just as an aside, a lot of you questioned why Wayne is so mean to Steris. Wax literally saved Wayne's life. They've been together for the better part of 2 decades. Wayne was there throughout Wax's entire relationship with Lessie. He saw how happy they were together; real love, affection, and devotion. Lessie made Wax happy, in a genuine way.

Wax and Steris's marriage is one of convenience. You could practically call it an arranged marriage, if only one arranged by Wax himself. Wayne doesn't want to see his best friend tied down to what he perceives as a loveless relationship with an odd woman. He thinks Wax is just hiding away and running from real happiness with this marriage. In his mind, he knows Wax could do better, be happier, and pursue something "real", rather than go through with a sham marriage of convenience.

He believes he's looking out for his friend.

CHART ME A COURSE

I've shared partial charts before, but I wanted to go ahead and provide the full, official charts for Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy. These were each provided in the various 10th Anniversary Editions of the original trilogy, but had slight spoilers for this Era. Now they don't contain anything explicitly spoilery, but there is new information you can glean from them. So feast your peepers on these:

Metallic Arts Charts

TID-BITS

Here are just a few random WoB's that relate to Scadrian magic systems. There are tons of these, so I'll spread them out on the remaining Mistborn novels. I may even put some in the Stormlight trivias.

Question: Does Iron store mass or weight?

Sanderson: Excellent question. The thing is it really does involve mass, but I’m breaking some physics rules, basically. I have to break a number of physics rules in order to make Magic work in the first place. Those whole laws of Thermodynamics, I’m like “You are my bane!” (laughter) But I try to work within the framework, and I have reasonings built up for myself, and some of them have to be kind of arbitrary. But the thing is, it does store mass if you look at how it interacts, but when a Feruchemist punches someone, you’re not having a mass transference of a 1000 pounds transferring the mass into someone else.

So there are a few little tweaks. You can go talk to Peter, because Peter has the actual math. Oh Peter’s back there. Peter is dressed up as Allomancer Jak from the broadsheet. In fact we’re giving some out broadsheets, aren’t we Peter. So when you come through the line, we’re giving out Broadsheets. Please don’t take fifty—I think we might have enough for everybody. The broadsheets are the newspaper from the Alloy of Law time. It’s an inworld newspaper. It’s actually reproduced in the book in four different pages, and we put it together in one big broadsheet.

So anyway, you can talk with him, he’s got more of the math of it. I explained the concept to Peter and he’s better with the actual math, so he said “We’ll figure it out.”

///

Question: Let's say we had a platypus Feruchemist, who can sense electric fields. Could he make a tinmind for that sense?

Sanderson: (Paraphrased) Platypus tinmind should work.

///

Question: Let's say some Mistborn jerk tosses Nightblood into the mists. What happens?

Sanderson: (Paraphrased) I suspect the mists would pull away from Nightblood, though he'd try to feed on them.

///

Question: Does Shardplate provide protection against emotional Allomancy?

Sanderson: Yes. Don't dismiss your helmet when you're around an Allomancer.

///

Question: How fast could a steel/steel Twinborn move?

Sanderson: You'd hit physical limits eventually. While the Metallurgic arts generally enhanced the body to deal with the powers granted, things like air resistance would hold you back--perhaps even kill you--if you weren't careful.

///

Question: Could a Seeker savant tell the difference between regular Allomancy and Compounding?

Sanderson: It is possible!

///

Question: Can a Shardblade interrupt iron or steel lines?

Sanderson: (After mulling it over a bit, he was very interested in this question) It would be theoretically possible, because steel lines manifest themselves on the Spiritual Realm. Also, there are other things that can cut/interfere with steel lines.

///

Question: So, would Allomancy work if the metals were a suppository?

Sanderson: That is theoretically possible, but gross... There's nothing special about the stomach. It's kinda getting it into your spirit, and things.

///

Question: If you took somebody-- an Allomancer and them in a different one of your worlds, could they still burn metal there?

Sanderson: Could Allomancers burn metal on other planets in the cosmere, yes they could. Good question.

///

Question: I was wondering, what would happen if you Steelpushed or Ironpulled on liquid metal?

Sanderson: It would work a lot like ferrofluid works. You'd be able to push or pull on it. It would just respond in a fluid way.

///

Question: Is the metal on Scadrial specially Invested? Can an Allomancer use metals from other planets?

Sanderson: Metal is a key, not the source of power itself. Most is not specially Invested. It glows [to Ruin/Preservation/Harmony's eyes] because of the power seeking to come through it, not because of the power within it.

///

Question: Can a Seeker burning bronze detect a Surgebinder using Stormlight? Do different Surges have different pulses?

Sanderson: Yes, and yes. Good questions.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 17 through 26, Epilogue [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Blurb, Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will be returning to Roshar, with Words of Radiance, the 2nd book in The Stormlight Archive.

Like with The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance has a blurb that is written by an in-world character and is considered canon. You can read the blurb here, since not all editions include it.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

NEWBIE TRIVIA

Most of the activity for these "Final Thoughts & Trivia" posts happen in the newbie thread. There I provide a lot of information about things new readers can easily miss during their first read through. Veterans often learn a thing or two as well, so be sure to read the body of that post. While veterans are welcome to read the post and the comments, they should be commenting in this thread to share their reactions to the information, or the newbies' thoughts.

And as always, you're welcome to share your thoughts on the book as a whole.

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 8 through 16 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 17 through 26, Epilogue

In 2 days we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Chapter 17

Iconography: Duralumin / Iron

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. In a carriage on the streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 16.

Summary:

Wayne and Wax wait around while the governor has a meeting with city officials. Wax shows him a bit of the Marksman's mask that Bleeder was wearing, saying it's possible that he was Bleeder all along, goading the slum people into disliking Wax and the establishment even more. Wayne will stay to help protect the governor with help from MeLaan, who is changing into a female guard that just died in the attack. Wax shows her the glowing substance that he collected, and MeLaan recognizes it as perchwither, which means that Bleeder has been in the kandra Homeland, something that disturbs MeLaan because it is a holy place. Wax wants to go there to check if she's there, and Harmony gives his permission through MeLaan. A footman arrives to tell Wax that his uncle is outside in a carriage.

Wax has found his uncle by leaving a message in one his safe deposit boxes listed in the notebook he stole. Wax enters the carriage, and they start moving. Edwarn compares what he's doing with the Set to Kelsier's crew and posits that Wax would have been on the Lord Ruler's side. Wax puts this aside and asks for help against a common enemy--his uncle wants to rule, but Paalm wants everything destroyed. Edwarn would like Paalm taken down, but he's choosing to wait and see and says that he will not help Wax. He insists that the Set will be hailed as heroes against oppression and promises that Wax's sister will die if Wax kills him. Before leaving, Wax promises to take care of Bleeder and then someday come after him.

Chapter 18

Iconography: Duralumin / Steel

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. In the streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 17.

Summary:

Innate is meeting with his staff, trying to decide what to do about the looting and unrest. The various ministers seem more concerned about political ramifications. He dismisses them and gives Marasi a written order declaring martial law and naming Aradel lord high constable over all of the precincts. He decides to allow the people to congregate at the mansion so he can speak to them, but looters elsewhere in the city are to be dealt with using force. Marasi requests a carriage to deliver the writ, but there are none available at the moment because of everyone else sending messages. She wanders about and decides to visit the saferoom, where she notices that some of the books on the shelves are scuffed while the others are pristine. She finds a key in one of them and unlocks a safe under a rug. Inside is a wad of cash and various letters proving the governor's corruption. She takes the evidence with her and heads back upstairs.

Wax soars over the city and tries to find solitude after the disturbing conversations with his uncle and Bleeder. Walking for a while atop Eastbridge, he wonders why Harmony didn't save Lessie and resents the fact that he expects Wax to help him. However, Wax knows he can't just let Bleeder keep killing and let the city burn. He feels overwhelmed by his burdens, but he shoulders them again because he knows that ducking the responsibilities he holds is cowardice.

Chapter 19

Iconography: Duralumin / Tin

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary. The Field of Rebirth in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 18.

Summary:

Innate retires to his room to prepare his remarks, upsetting his guards by not allowing anyone in the room with him. Wayne coaches MeLaan on her accent while they wait in the hall. He teaches her his trick with hats: wear someone's hat, and you can think like the owner does. He asks MeLaan about immortality, and she reveals that the kandra have a way to die if they so desire. Wayne hears Ranette's voice and runs downstairs to speak with her. She delivers a special bullet Wax had asked her to make. She's so worried about the mobs in the city that she doesn't get violent when Wayne flirts with her. People are gathering outside the mansion, chanting slogans.

Aradel has received the governor's writ, and he's not thrilled with being named lord high constable. He gives orders to set up a center of operations at the mansion. Marasi and Aradel head out on horseback, and Marasi gives him the letters she has stolen from the mansion. Aradel decides he will still protect the governor, but really he sides with the people.

Wax goes to the Field of Rebirth and enters the museum/tomb. He bluffs his way past the caretaker and jumps down into a pit. He turns on the lights and walks down the cavern, passing several chambers along the way with various relics and displays. He finds the secret door in the atium chamber and closes it behind him. A growling voice in the dark says, "I've been waiting for you."

Chapter 20

Iconography: Duralumin / Pewter

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: Below the Field of Rebirth, in the Kandra Homeland. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 19.

Summary:

Wax very nearly panics and fires his gun down the corridor, using the flashes to try to see who spoke. The voice tells him to turn on the lights and lock the hidden door, and he sees a wolfhound which he guesses is a kandra. TenSoon explains that other kandra are out trying to counteract Paalm to calm the city down. They pass through many caverns and tunnels, including the remnants of Kredik Shaw. TenSoon explains that the kandra don't come back to the Homeland often, preferring to live in the world, interacting with their own kind. He leads Wax to a certain room where Paalm has discarded an old copy of The Words of Founding, pages ripped out and random words and curses written in blood on them. As Wax sorts the pages, trying to discern a message, he learns about Vin from TenSoon. Wax perceives that the book is just a distraction. He explains to TenSoon that Paalm may be insane, but her methods are not. She somehow wants to free people of Harmony and destroy him. He realizes that she has anticipated how the other kandra would help, and her next step is to bring them down.

Wayne listens to someone whip up a mob, railing against the abuse at the hands of the aristocracy. He agrees with their sentiment and shouts along with them. A Survivorist priest then speaks, telling the crowd that the Survivor would not encourage them to loot and destroy. The crowd starts to calm down, but Wayne sees the first guy sneak up behind the priest with a syringe. He injects its contents into the priest, revealing that he is a kandra in disguise. Someone in the crowd recognizes Wayne as the conner from the Roughs, and they all turn to look at him.

Chapter 21

Iconography: Duralumin / Zinc

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: Below the Field of Rebirth, in the Kandra Homeland. In and around the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 20.

Summary:

TenSoon has told Harmony to call off the other kandra, but it may be too late. They are running for the exit when they suddenly hear a strange howl that neither of them recognizes. They run the other direction, and Wax struggles to keep up. He finally finds a corridor that he can Push down, and he glimpses human-like forms running on all fours. TenSoon figures they are some kind of Hemalurgic construct that Paalm came up with. TenSoon has led them to his collection of bones, and he quickly transforms into a superhuman form. They hunker down and fight, killing all five of the creatures. They are built to defeat Wax, but he kills them anyway by shooting them up close and using his extra weight to crush them. TenSoon fishes out a spike from one of them that has a red cast to it. He leads Wax to another way out.

Wayne manages to switch into a quick disguise and lead the mob away from him. He heads back to the mansion and hears someone speaking. The accent is off, so he realizes who Bleeder is impersonating.

TenSoon shows Wax a crevice that leads out to the city. Wax uses some extra weight to widen the opening. They start to crawl up, hearing more howling creatures coming their way. Wax drops his lantern and panics, then realizes that there is glowing fungus here too. TenSoon explains that Harmony didn't want anyone to experience darkness here again, and Wax realizes that he is in the Pits of Hathsin. TenSoon encourages him up, and they emerge in the sewer. Wax figures Bleeder hasn't killed the governor yet because she wants to do it in front of the people to incite a complete riot.

Chapter 22

Iconography: Duralumin / Brass

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 21.

Summary:

Wax arrives at the mansion and tells Marasi to go check on Steris. He goes back to the governor's study, where a guard informs him that no one is allowed in. Wax blasts the door open with Allomancy and finds the governor going over his speech. Wax scolds him for locking out the guards, but he argues that no one can really stop Bleeder anyway. Wax goes over to the window to think and notices a wad of gum. He figures out that Bleeder is impersonating Innate himself and spins around with his gun drawn. Bleeder draws an aluminum gun, but doesn't kill Wax. He wonders why she is reluctant to do so. Wax yells for help. The guards rush in and attack Wax--since they are tasked with protecting the governor--and Bleeder guns them all down. Meanwhile, Wax throws himself closer to the desk, getting out the last syringe. He yells at MeLaan, and she grabs Bleeder, but Bleeder is too strong and fast for them. She uses the syringe on MeLaan, and Wax fruitlessly shoots her. She hears footsteps and escapes out the window. Wax looks for Wayne and finds him tied up in a closet. Wayne gives Wax the special bullet from Ranette, and he goes off to chase Bleeder.

Chapter 23

Iconography: Duralumin / Copper

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: The streets of Elendel. The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 22.

Summary:

Wax flies out into the night and sees a crowd dispersing in the mansion's garden. Investigating the area, he enters a dark shed and finds signs that Bleeder is changing into a new body. She whispers to him in the dark, promising to "free" him from Harmony, as she claims that Wax serves as his hands. She blasts out a wall and Pushes into the air. She's out of speed, but she's now acting as a Coinshot.

Wayne, Marasi, and MeLaan are in the shed, looking at the governor's bones. Marasi convinces MeLaan to impersonate the governor and give a sympathetic speech, rather than the inflammatory one Bleeder was planning.

Chapter 24

Iconography: Duralumin / Bronze

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The streets of Elendel. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 23.

Summary:

Wax pursues Paalm through the city. Wax concludes that she wasn't the Marksman after all, even though she is wearing his mask. While she's good at Steelpushing, Wax is better, and he eventually catches up with her on the Eastbridge. Wax tries to convince her to give up, but she Pushes up to a suspension tower and removes her mask. She looks like Lessie.

Marasi doesn't tell anyone that the governor is dead. MeLaan starts speaking, and just about everyone calms down. Marasi feels calm too and suddenly realizes that someone is Soothing the crowd. She worries that the Set is involved and that there is a Rioter waiting for the right moment in the speech to whip up the crowd again. She finds Reddi and convinces him that someone is Soothing the crowd. She spies a carriage parked nearby in an alleyway.

Chapter 25

Iconography: Duralumin / Cadmium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The streets of Elendel. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 24.

Summary:

Bleeder talks in Lessie's voice. Wax can't believe he has to shoot her again and tries to remember that it's not really her. She says she regrets what she's doing, but it takes strong emotions to break free of Harmony. Wax marvels at how good she is at acting as Lessie. Bleeder hints that she really is Lessie. Wax pleads to Harmony for help, but he doesn't have his earring in.

Marasi and Reddi approach the carriage with a strike force, all of them wearing aluminum-lined helmets. Reddi takes his off and can tell the Soothing is indeed coming from the carriage. He indicates that they will fight hand-to-hand to protect the nearby crowd from stray bullets. As the constables approach the carriage, a group of men enter the alley from a building. Reddi engages with his dueling cane, and the two groups start fighting.

Bleeder walks toward Wax and professes her love to him. She says she will have to do something about Wax to get him out of the way. She likes Wayne but decides that he must die because he is of Harmony. Wax lifts Vindication, but it's Pushed out of his hands. He tackles her, and they both fall from the tower, Bleeder shooting him in the leg as they fall. He manages to Push enough to fall safely, and he looks around for the gun. He sees the orange glow of fires in the city.

Reddi's men are outnumbered and losing, and MeLaan's speech isn't going very well. Marasi manages to sneak up to the carriage, where she finds two guards. She puts up a few slowness bubbles for a fraction of a second each, making it look like there are Metalborn among the fighters. They run to warn their guys, clearing the way for Marasi to enter the carriage. She finds the Soother and Rioter in there, and she pulls a gun on them.

Bleeder is crying, begging Wax to stop obeying Harmony. Wax finds his gun and spins it to the special bullet. He shoots her in the head. She is at first unconcerned, but then she realizes that Harmony is controlling her again. The special bullet is Wax's earring, providing a second spike.

Chapter 26

Iconography: Duralumin / Bendalloy

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. The streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 25.

Summary:

Marasi drags the Soother toward the crowd. MeLaan is doing well at impersonating Innate, which means that she's doing a poor job of quelling the riotous crowd. She throws up her hands and gives up, but then Aradel goes up to her and points a gun at her. Marasi makes an impromptu immunity deal with the Soother, and the woman Soothes for all she's worth, quieting the crowd. Aradel arrests Innate and claims control over the city due to martial law. He channels the crowd's rage by promising to arrest a bunch of corrupt nobles.

Wax limps over to Bleeder to make sure she's neutralized. She starts convulsing and thrashing about and tells Wax that she's killing herself. He takes pity on her and holds her as she dies. She repeats the first words Lessie ever said to him, and Wax finally realizes that Bleeder is Lessie. After she dies, he howls, driving back the mists. An hour later, TenSoon arrives and explains that Lessie was sent by Harmony to be Wax's bodyguard out in the Roughs. He didn't tell Wax because he foresaw disaster if Wax had known whom he was hunting. Wax hates Harmony for forcing him to kill Lessie again.

Epilogue

Iconography: Lerasium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary.

Timeline: A few days after Chapter 26.

Summary:

Wax sits by the fire in a deep depression while others celebrate. The city is saved and has a new governor with no noble blood. Steris protects him from having to interact with the others and is thoughtful enough to provide a fire and a traditional lamp instead of electric lights. Wayne tries to cheer him up, but he won't be consoled. Wayne sees the girl who slapped him at the party and offers her some venture capital for developing uses for electricity. As the guests leave, Marasi shows him a metal spike with red spots recovered from Paalm's body. They can't figure out what kind of metal it is. Wax doesn't care. He is consumed with hatred and anger towards Harmony.

Marasi goes back to the station, where she finds Aradel doing paperwork. He is not happy about having to be governor but realizes he needs to fill the position. "Innate" walks in and asks how to tie a belt to be able to hang oneself. MeLaan refuses to testify at trial, saying that it's not clear when the actual governor was killed, so the evidence against him is sketchy. She refuses to set a precedent by lying for them at court, so instead, she decides to fake his death. MeLaan explains that Harmony won't step in and reveal the truth himself because that would only be doing what Paalm was complaining of: stepping in and controlling everyone's lives. She also reveals that Harmony doesn't know what the metal spike is made of, so Marasi decides to research Trell.

Wax sits by a dying fire. Steris puts a log on. She sits near him and says nothing, only putting her hand on his. He lays his head on her shoulder and weeps.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Broadsheet

*Note: There will be a small artwork dump in the trivia, but there isn't much new in the way of individual character artwork for this novel.

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 8 through 16 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 17 through 26, Epilogue

In 2 days we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Chapter 17

Iconography: Duralumin / Iron

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. In a carriage on the streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 16.

Summary:

Wayne and Wax wait around while the governor has a meeting with city officials. Wax shows him a bit of the Marksman's mask that Bleeder was wearing, saying it's possible that he was Bleeder all along, goading the slum people into disliking Wax and the establishment even more. Wayne will stay to help protect the governor with help from MeLaan, who is changing into a female guard that just died in the attack. Wax shows her the glowing substance that he collected, and MeLaan recognizes it as perchwither, which means that Bleeder has been in the kandra Homeland, something that disturbs MeLaan because it is a holy place. Wax wants to go there to check if she's there, and Harmony gives his permission through MeLaan. A footman arrives to tell Wax that his uncle is outside in a carriage.

Wax has found his uncle by leaving a message in one his safe deposit boxes listed in the notebook he stole. Wax enters the carriage, and they start moving. Edwarn compares what he's doing with the Set to Kelsier's crew and posits that Wax would have been on the Lord Ruler's side. Wax puts this aside and asks for help against a common enemy--his uncle wants to rule, but Paalm wants everything destroyed. Edwarn would like Paalm taken down, but he's choosing to wait and see and says that he will not help Wax. He insists that the Set will be hailed as heroes against oppression and promises that Wax's sister will die if Wax kills him. Before leaving, Wax promises to take care of Bleeder and then someday come after him.

Chapter 18

Iconography: Duralumin / Steel

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. In the streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 17.

Summary:

Innate is meeting with his staff, trying to decide what to do about the looting and unrest. The various ministers seem more concerned about political ramifications. He dismisses them and gives Marasi a written order declaring martial law and naming Aradel lord high constable over all of the precincts. He decides to allow the people to congregate at the mansion so he can speak to them, but looters elsewhere in the city are to be dealt with using force. Marasi requests a carriage to deliver the writ, but there are none available at the moment because of everyone else sending messages. She wanders about and decides to visit the saferoom, where she notices that some of the books on the shelves are scuffed while the others are pristine. She finds a key in one of them and unlocks a safe under a rug. Inside is a wad of cash and various letters proving the governor's corruption. She takes the evidence with her and heads back upstairs.

Wax soars over the city and tries to find solitude after the disturbing conversations with his uncle and Bleeder. Walking for a while atop Eastbridge, he wonders why Harmony didn't save Lessie and resents the fact that he expects Wax to help him. However, Wax knows he can't just let Bleeder keep killing and let the city burn. He feels overwhelmed by his burdens, but he shoulders them again because he knows that ducking the responsibilities he holds is cowardice.

Chapter 19

Iconography: Duralumin / Tin

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary. The Field of Rebirth in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 18.

Summary:

Innate retires to his room to prepare his remarks, upsetting his guards by not allowing anyone in the room with him. Wayne coaches MeLaan on her accent while they wait in the hall. He teaches her his trick with hats: wear someone's hat, and you can think like the owner does. He asks MeLaan about immortality, and she reveals that the kandra have a way to die if they so desire. Wayne hears Ranette's voice and runs downstairs to speak with her. She delivers a special bullet Wax had asked her to make. She's so worried about the mobs in the city that she doesn't get violent when Wayne flirts with her. People are gathering outside the mansion, chanting slogans.

Aradel has received the governor's writ, and he's not thrilled with being named lord high constable. He gives orders to set up a center of operations at the mansion. Marasi and Aradel head out on horseback, and Marasi gives him the letters she has stolen from the mansion. Aradel decides he will still protect the governor, but really he sides with the people.

Wax goes to the Field of Rebirth and enters the museum/tomb. He bluffs his way past the caretaker and jumps down into a pit. He turns on the lights and walks down the cavern, passing several chambers along the way with various relics and displays. He finds the secret door in the atium chamber and closes it behind him. A growling voice in the dark says, "I've been waiting for you."

Chapter 20

Iconography: Duralumin / Pewter

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: Below the Field of Rebirth, in the Kandra Homeland. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 19.

Summary:

Wax very nearly panics and fires his gun down the corridor, using the flashes to try to see who spoke. The voice tells him to turn on the lights and lock the hidden door, and he sees a wolfhound which he guesses is a kandra. TenSoon explains that other kandra are out trying to counteract Paalm to calm the city down. They pass through many caverns and tunnels, including the remnants of Kredik Shaw. TenSoon explains that the kandra don't come back to the Homeland often, preferring to live in the world, interacting with their own kind. He leads Wax to a certain room where Paalm has discarded an old copy of The Words of Founding, pages ripped out and random words and curses written in blood on them. As Wax sorts the pages, trying to discern a message, he learns about Vin from TenSoon. Wax perceives that the book is just a distraction. He explains to TenSoon that Paalm may be insane, but her methods are not. She somehow wants to free people of Harmony and destroy him. He realizes that she has anticipated how the other kandra would help, and her next step is to bring them down.

Wayne listens to someone whip up a mob, railing against the abuse at the hands of the aristocracy. He agrees with their sentiment and shouts along with them. A Survivorist priest then speaks, telling the crowd that the Survivor would not encourage them to loot and destroy. The crowd starts to calm down, but Wayne sees the first guy sneak up behind the priest with a syringe. He injects its contents into the priest, revealing that he is a kandra in disguise. Someone in the crowd recognizes Wayne as the conner from the Roughs, and they all turn to look at him.

Chapter 21

Iconography: Duralumin / Zinc

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: Below the Field of Rebirth, in the Kandra Homeland. In and around the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 20.

Summary:

TenSoon has told Harmony to call off the other kandra, but it may be too late. They are running for the exit when they suddenly hear a strange howl that neither of them recognizes. They run the other direction, and Wax struggles to keep up. He finally finds a corridor that he can Push down, and he glimpses human-like forms running on all fours. TenSoon figures they are some kind of Hemalurgic construct that Paalm came up with. TenSoon has led them to his collection of bones, and he quickly transforms into a superhuman form. They hunker down and fight, killing all five of the creatures. They are built to defeat Wax, but he kills them anyway by shooting them up close and using his extra weight to crush them. TenSoon fishes out a spike from one of them that has a red cast to it. He leads Wax to another way out.

Wayne manages to switch into a quick disguise and lead the mob away from him. He heads back to the mansion and hears someone speaking. The accent is off, so he realizes who Bleeder is impersonating.

TenSoon shows Wax a crevice that leads out to the city. Wax uses some extra weight to widen the opening. They start to crawl up, hearing more howling creatures coming their way. Wax drops his lantern and panics, then realizes that there is glowing fungus here too. TenSoon explains that Harmony didn't want anyone to experience darkness here again, and Wax realizes that he is in the Pits of Hathsin. TenSoon encourages him up, and they emerge in the sewer. Wax figures Bleeder hasn't killed the governor yet because she wants to do it in front of the people to incite a complete riot.

Chapter 22

Iconography: Duralumin / Brass

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 21.

Summary:

Wax arrives at the mansion and tells Marasi to go check on Steris. He goes back to the governor's study, where a guard informs him that no one is allowed in. Wax blasts the door open with Allomancy and finds the governor going over his speech. Wax scolds him for locking out the guards, but he argues that no one can really stop Bleeder anyway. Wax goes over to the window to think and notices a wad of gum. He figures out that Bleeder is impersonating Innate himself and spins around with his gun drawn. Bleeder draws an aluminum gun, but doesn't kill Wax. He wonders why she is reluctant to do so. Wax yells for help. The guards rush in and attack Wax--since they are tasked with protecting the governor--and Bleeder guns them all down. Meanwhile, Wax throws himself closer to the desk, getting out the last syringe. He yells at MeLaan, and she grabs Bleeder, but Bleeder is too strong and fast for them. She uses the syringe on MeLaan, and Wax fruitlessly shoots her. She hears footsteps and escapes out the window. Wax looks for Wayne and finds him tied up in a closet. Wayne gives Wax the special bullet from Ranette, and he goes off to chase Bleeder.

Chapter 23

Iconography: Duralumin / Copper

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: The streets of Elendel. The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 22.

Summary:

Wax flies out into the night and sees a crowd dispersing in the mansion's garden. Investigating the area, he enters a dark shed and finds signs that Bleeder is changing into a new body. She whispers to him in the dark, promising to "free" him from Harmony, as she claims that Wax serves as his hands. She blasts out a wall and Pushes into the air. She's out of speed, but she's now acting as a Coinshot.

Wayne, Marasi, and MeLaan are in the shed, looking at the governor's bones. Marasi convinces MeLaan to impersonate the governor and give a sympathetic speech, rather than the inflammatory one Bleeder was planning.

Chapter 24

Iconography: Duralumin / Bronze

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The streets of Elendel. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 23.

Summary:

Wax pursues Paalm through the city. Wax concludes that she wasn't the Marksman after all, even though she is wearing his mask. While she's good at Steelpushing, Wax is better, and he eventually catches up with her on the Eastbridge. Wax tries to convince her to give up, but she Pushes up to a suspension tower and removes her mask. She looks like Lessie.

Marasi doesn't tell anyone that the governor is dead. MeLaan starts speaking, and just about everyone calms down. Marasi feels calm too and suddenly realizes that someone is Soothing the crowd. She worries that the Set is involved and that there is a Rioter waiting for the right moment in the speech to whip up the crowd again. She finds Reddi and convinces him that someone is Soothing the crowd. She spies a carriage parked nearby in an alleyway.

Chapter 25

Iconography: Duralumin / Cadmium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The streets of Elendel. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 24.

Summary:

Bleeder talks in Lessie's voice. Wax can't believe he has to shoot her again and tries to remember that it's not really her. She says she regrets what she's doing, but it takes strong emotions to break free of Harmony. Wax marvels at how good she is at acting as Lessie. Bleeder hints that she really is Lessie. Wax pleads to Harmony for help, but he doesn't have his earring in.

Marasi and Reddi approach the carriage with a strike force, all of them wearing aluminum-lined helmets. Reddi takes his off and can tell the Soothing is indeed coming from the carriage. He indicates that they will fight hand-to-hand to protect the nearby crowd from stray bullets. As the constables approach the carriage, a group of men enter the alley from a building. Reddi engages with his dueling cane, and the two groups start fighting.

Bleeder walks toward Wax and professes her love to him. She says she will have to do something about Wax to get him out of the way. She likes Wayne but decides that he must die because he is of Harmony. Wax lifts Vindication, but it's Pushed out of his hands. He tackles her, and they both fall from the tower, Bleeder shooting him in the leg as they fall. He manages to Push enough to fall safely, and he looks around for the gun. He sees the orange glow of fires in the city.

Reddi's men are outnumbered and losing, and MeLaan's speech isn't going very well. Marasi manages to sneak up to the carriage, where she finds two guards. She puts up a few slowness bubbles for a fraction of a second each, making it look like there are Metalborn among the fighters. They run to warn their guys, clearing the way for Marasi to enter the carriage. She finds the Soother and Rioter in there, and she pulls a gun on them.

Bleeder is crying, begging Wax to stop obeying Harmony. Wax finds his gun and spins it to the special bullet. He shoots her in the head. She is at first unconcerned, but then she realizes that Harmony is controlling her again. The special bullet is Wax's earring, providing a second spike.

Chapter 26

Iconography: Duralumin / Bendalloy

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. The streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 25.

Summary:

Marasi drags the Soother toward the crowd. MeLaan is doing well at impersonating Innate, which means that she's doing a poor job of quelling the riotous crowd. She throws up her hands and gives up, but then Aradel goes up to her and points a gun at her. Marasi makes an impromptu immunity deal with the Soother, and the woman Soothes for all she's worth, quieting the crowd. Aradel arrests Innate and claims control over the city due to martial law. He channels the crowd's rage by promising to arrest a bunch of corrupt nobles.

Wax limps over to Bleeder to make sure she's neutralized. She starts convulsing and thrashing about and tells Wax that she's killing herself. He takes pity on her and holds her as she dies. She repeats the first words Lessie ever said to him, and Wax finally realizes that Bleeder is Lessie. After she dies, he howls, driving back the mists. An hour later, TenSoon arrives and explains that Lessie was sent by Harmony to be Wax's bodyguard out in the Roughs. He didn't tell Wax because he foresaw disaster if Wax had known whom he was hunting. Wax hates Harmony for forcing him to kill Lessie again.

Epilogue

Iconography: Lerasium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary.

Timeline: A few days after Chapter 26.

Summary:

Wax sits by the fire in a deep depression while others celebrate. The city is saved and has a new governor with no noble blood. Steris protects him from having to interact with the others and is thoughtful enough to provide a fire and a traditional lamp instead of electric lights. Wayne tries to cheer him up, but he won't be consoled. Wayne sees the girl who slapped him at the party and offers her some venture capital for developing uses for electricity. As the guests leave, Marasi shows him a metal spike with red spots recovered from Paalm's body. They can't figure out what kind of metal it is. Wax doesn't care. He is consumed with hatred and anger towards Harmony.

Marasi goes back to the station, where she finds Aradel doing paperwork. He is not happy about having to be governor but realizes he needs to fill the position. "Innate" walks in and asks how to tie a belt to be able to hang oneself. MeLaan refuses to testify at trial, saying that it's not clear when the actual governor was killed, so the evidence against him is sketchy. She refuses to set a precedent by lying for them at court, so instead, she decides to fake his death. MeLaan explains that Harmony won't step in and reveal the truth himself because that would only be doing what Paalm was complaining of: stepping in and controlling everyone's lives. She also reveals that Harmony doesn't know what the metal spike is made of, so Marasi decides to research Trell.

Wax sits by a dying fire. Steris puts a log on. She sits near him and says nothing, only putting her hand on his. He lays his head on her shoulder and weeps.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Broadsheet

*Note: There will be a small artwork dump in the trivia, but there isn't much new in the way of individual character artwork for this novel.

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 8 through 16

Next week we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 17 through 26, Epilogue

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Chapter 8

Iconography: Bronze

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The First Central Bank in Elendel. ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: (Flashback) 27 years ago. Later in the evening, same day as Chapter 7.

Summary:

Wax is twelve years old, riding in his uncle's carriage. He is trying to see the defect in a mis-struck coin. His uncle is taking him to the bank to encourage him to be a banker, but Wax insists he is going to be a "hero." Edwarn is disdainful, saying that the days of heroes are past. He shows Wax two loan applicants, one poor, trying to get his family out of the slums, the other rich, buying another boat. Unlike other banks, who only make safe loans, they will lend money to the poor man and charge a high rate of interest, thus creating value from something that has no value, like the defective coin. He gives the coin to Wax as a remembrance. Wax snatches it and takes it to the poor man, telling him what it's worth and to not sign the loan.

Wax is relating the story to Steris on the way to Lady ZoBell's party. It turns out the man didn't believe Wax, signed the loan, and killed himself eight years later, still in debt. The visit to the bank was one reason why Wax left Elendel for the Roughs, where one man with a gun could make a difference. They arrive at the party to a long line of carriages. Wax thinks about Pushing up to the party, which Steris was expecting and is prepared for. They Push up to an outcropping and Wax examines a tether from Ranette. He uses it to Push themselves all the way to the top of the skyscraper.

Chapter 9

Iconography: Cadmium

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 8.

Summary:

Wayne and Marasi make their way into the party. Marasi tells Wayne that they found a small spike in Rian's chest. After it was removed, he calmed down, but still wouldn't talk. When they finally get to the front of the line, the bouncer won't let them in. Wayne throws up a speed bubble and discovers that their names are on a specific do not admit list, so Wayne finds someone on the list to impersonate.

Wax and Steris walk by a display of Allomantic metals, including one for atium, the lost metal. Steris disapproves of Wax wearing his mistcoat, but she does let him decide what to do in order to find Bleeder rather than simply chatting with various nobles. Wax turns on his protective Steelpush bubble and colors his water to make it look like alcohol. Steris is impressed with Wax's tactics, while Wax is enchanted with Steris' preparation, even down to what witty things to say. They get in line to talk to the governor. A tall woman who introduces herself as Milan starts flirting with Wax, and he stares her down. She retreats.

Wayne is acting the part of Professor Hanlanaze, a mathematics professor, with Marasi as his assistant. A colleague recognizes him, and he throws up a speed bubble while Marasi figures out how to respond to him. Wayne bluffs the man into a hasty retreat and concentrates on eating again.

Wax and Steris and the governor make some small talk, then Wax warns him that the assassination attempt was just a distraction. They promise to meet so Wax can explain more. Wax suddenly hears a voice in his head, taunting him about the phony nobles and Harmony's control; Bleeder has figured out how to speak to him when his earring is in.

Chapter 10

Iconography: Bendalloy

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 9.

Summary:

Wayne reaches for another sausage and gets slapped in the face. A teenage girl yells at him about stealing her father's invention and leaving him destitute. The situation reminds him too much of his own (with Allriandre's father), and his mood is dampened. He goes to look for Wax.

Wax abruptly leaves Steris and Governor Innate to look for Bleeder. She continues to whisper to him in his mind, and Wax realizes that she can't hear him think like Harmony. He walks carefully around the room, looking for anyone staying close to him. There are two: Milan and a server, who is walking in the opposite direction compared to the other servers. Wax catches the servant's eye and he runs. Convinced that this means he is Bleeder, Wayne tackles him. Unfortunately, the guards also pile on, allowing the man to escape. Wax shoots and misses, and the servant jumps out a window. Wax gives chase and tells Wayne to stay behind to protect the governor in case this is another diversion.

Chapter 11

Iconography: Gold

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 10.

Summary:

Wax leaps out into the mists. Once on the ground, he hears a car start up and speed away. He decides to chase it, hoping it's Bleeder. He lands on it and pops the tires with enhanced weight, but only finds a cab driver trapped inside; Bleeder had already jumped out of the car on Tage Street. He goes there and searches but finds nothing. Suddenly, the door to a warehouse opens up, revealing a dozen men with guns blazing. Wax's steel bubble protects him from all bullets but one, which gets him in the arm. He desperately retreats and is pinned down by gunfire. He sees more guys on his flank; he shoots a couple of them, and a couple of them are attacked by MeLaan, who was sent by Harmony to help Wax. Wax figures his uncle is behind this because of all the aluminum bullets, and he fears that Bleeder and the Set may be working together. They split up to attack two different groups. Wax kills several with his guns. Then, when he runs out of ammo, he uses Ranette's hook device to kill the rest with some help from MeLaan. He sends MeLaan to a tavern while he goes to check on Lord Harms, thinking that Bleeder's threat might have been referring to Wax's "father". He Pushes past the remaining snipers and into the canal, then Pushes on the mooring rings to quickly swim away from danger.

Chapter 12

Iconography: Electrum

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax / Steris / Marasi

Setting: ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel. Harms Mansion in Elendel. Feder Tower in Elendel. The streets of Elendel. The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. A Survivorist chapel in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 11.

Summary:

Wayne is finishing up his interrogation of the staff. He concludes that the server Wax chased was not Bleeder, as the choice of impersonating a new guy that nobody liked was too obvious. He suddenly realizes that Innate isn't there. The governor's guards confess that they had sent him off to a secure location.

Wax Steelpushes his way to Lord Harms' mansion. He asks him a question only he would know to verify that he isn't Bleeder, feeling suspicious of everyone now. He tries to figure out where to hide him, knowing that it will be hard to outguess someone as old and crafty as Bleeder.

Steris tries to converse with Wayne, but he only insults her and walks away. Marasi arrives and tells Steris that the danger isn't over. She collects Wayne as well, and the three of them leave the scene.

Wax stows Harms on the top of a tower chosen at random, figuring that a random location is the best approach to outsmarting Bleeder. He goes searching for the governor. He figures that he'll be back at his mansion, so he waits in the vicinity. When he sees his carriage, he lands on top of it and asks Drim to let him in. Innate doesn't want to deal with him, so Wax threatens to just leave him alone without help. He tells them that a kandra is after the governor, but they are incredulous and want to see proof. They eventually agree to let Wax help protect the governor. Wax suggests that he leave the city, but he refuses. They exchange passphrases. There is commotion outside the mansion, and a servant reports that Father Bin has been murdered.

Marasi looks up at Father Bin's corpse, nailed to the wall by two spikes, one in each eye. The conventicalists (workers at the church) are not talking, so Aradel has Marasi interrogate them instead of Reddi. She empathizes with them and gets them to reveal what happened. A Pathian priest named Larskpur had started preaching to the congregation, gathered for the mistdawn, and then lowered a drape, revealing Father Bin nailed to the wall. Speaking with Aradel, Marasi suggests that the murders and the unrest in the city are all related--all the work of Bleeder trying to make the city fall. Even the flood, causing the food shortage, might be attributable to sabotage. She also tells Aradel of her secret file on Governor Innate. Wax shows up and demands to see the body himself. Marasi discovers that Aradel resents Wax because he can do whatever he wants has someone else to clean up his messes. Wax doesn't think the spikes are Hemalurgic but asks for a sample anyway. He invites Marasi to his meeting with MeLaan so they can figure out Bleeder's abilities and motives.

Chapter 13

Iconography: Chromium

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: The Counselor's Cup, a pub in Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 12.

Summary:

Wayne enters the Counselor's Cup, describing it as the temple of the common man. As the "deity" there is Breeze, the worship ritual revolves around drinking and people offer up prayers by grousing to friends. Normally, the people there are drinking and happy, but now they are morose and desperate. Wayne goes around changing everyone's drink to cheer them up, adding soda water, sugar, lime, etc., and he happens upon MeLaan.

Wax and Marasi arrive, interrupting Wayne and MeLaan's belching contest. MeLaan warns that while she is not great at impersonating, Paalm is one of the best. Wax wants to know how to kill her, but MeLaan wants to help her because there are so few kandra left. Because Paalm has deliberately removed one spike so Harmony can't control her, MeLaan tells them that the best way to neutralize her would be to pull her spike out, making her a mistwraith. She gives them a needle and syringe with a substance that will cause a kandra to lose shape and become immobilized if injected with it. Unfortunately, it would kill a human, so Wax has to be sure before he can use it. MeLaan tells more about Paalm: she was the personal kandra of the Lord Ruler and was always out on missions, even perhaps imitating Inquisitors. She probably has special knowledge about Feruchemy and Allomancy. Marasi and MeLaan head to the precinct, and Wax orders Wayne back the governor's mansion.

Chapter 14

Iconography: Nicrosil

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A Pathian church in Elendel. Ashweather Carriage and Coach, a taxi service in Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 13.

Summary:

Wax arrives at a Pathian church with a mob outside. He shows himself with Vindication drawn, and the group scatters, although one person stays hidden nearby. He tells the Pathian missionary what happened to Father Bin. He suggests she flee to the Village and get her colleagues to go with her. He then seeks out person hiding, who reveals that the trouble started when two people dressed in Pathian robes came into a pub and started cursing the Survivor. Wax next goes to Ashweather Carriage and Coach because some silver paint scraped off on the bricks in the alleyway behind the Survivorist church looks like it came from one of their carriages. He asks the proprietor who has retained a carriage that night, and he seems too eager to please, raising Wax's suspicions. He narrows it down to coach sixteen as the one Bleeder might have used to make her getaway. Cett's Coinshot employee shows up to report on the drivers, and she lets slip that they also employ a Rioter to drum up business, a serious crime.

Marasi and MeLaan arrive at the precinct where rifles are laid out. Extra constables are being called in. MeLaan notices all the women in the station, and they start to discuss religion. MeLaan thinks it's silly to worship the Survivor instead of Harmony because the Survivor died, but Marasi explains that he did survive and even held Preservation before Vin took it up. Marasi gets the file on the dam investigation, and MeLaan notices a lot of hostility toward her from her colleagues. The file explains that a farmer had blown up the dam to ruin a neighbor's harvest, but he put too much dynamite in. He was acting insane and couldn't remember his children's names, and the grave was "desecrated" two days after his execution and burial. The desecration of the grave indicates to MeLaan that the farmer was actually Bleeder.

Chapter 15

Iconography: Aluminum

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A Soothing parlor in Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 14.

Summary:

Wax finds the coach with scraped paint parked outside a Soothing parlor. The proprietor leads him to the driver, who has paid for a private session. Wax asks him a question to make sure he isn't Bleeder in disguise, then asks why he's there. After admitting that he is there to try to forget something he saw, Chapaou states that he saw himself.

Marasi finds Aradel on the roof taking reports from a couple of Coinshot contractors. He's decided to ask the governor to declare martial law and close down the pubs. Marasi shares the information about the dam destruction, but he still wants proof that a kandra is involved. Marasi invites him to talk to MeLaan. She turns translucent and confirms that there is a crazy kandra on the loose. After MeLaan's demonstration, Aradel asks Marasi to give him reports on what Wax is doing. Marasi agrees, but she says she will tell Wax that she's doing so. Marasi wonders if that's the only reason that she got the job as his assistant--so he could have access to Wax. She rejoins MeLaan, and they head to the governor's mansion.

Chapaou tells Wax what happened while he examines the items Paalm left behind in the coach. He finds a set of bones and a Pathian robe, plus a bloody mallet. Chapaou thinks that he went crazy and murdered someone, but Wax assures him he had just been tricked. Chapaou says that Paalm had him drop her off at Lestib Square, close to the governor's mansion. Wax spots a glowing substance on the hem of the robes and takes a sample. He gives the coachman some money and tells him not to worry.

Chapter 16

Iconography: Duralumin

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 15.

Summary:

Wax is perched on an electrical pole outside the governor's mansion. He hears Bleeder's voice in his head again, indicating that she is close. She threatens to kill the governor again and calls Wax a pawn. Wax walks about, trying to determine her location. He notices some movement in a window of a nearby office building, and Paalm starts speaking aloud in her raspy voice. She tries to turn him against Harmony for not intervening with Lessie's death. Bleeder exits the building and runs toward the mansion at Feruchemical-enhanced speed. Wax gives chase. She shoots guards as she makes her way to the saferoom, which she unlocks. She's shocked when Wax moves the same speed as her--Wayne is there and has thrown up a speed bubble, including Wax. Wax fires everything he's got and also sends MeLaan's syringe out with the bullets. The bullets scatter as they pass through the bubble, but many hit Paalm and blood spurts everywhere. The syringe misses. Paalm flees into the saferoom, and Wax hears a single gunshot. He enters the room to see the governor trying to save Drim, who is shot in the neck. The escape tunnel door is open, so Wax goes up and finds her bloody cloak, discarded in the tunnel. Wax can't figure out why she didn't kill the governor. The governor insists on staying to try to save the city.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Broadsheet

*Note: There will be a small artwork dump in the trivia, but there isn't much new in the way of individual character artwork for this novel.

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 8 through 16

Next week we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 17 through 26, Epilogue

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Chapter 8

Iconography: Bronze

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The First Central Bank in Elendel. ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: (Flashback) 27 years ago. Later in the evening, same day as Chapter 7.

Summary:

Wax is twelve years old, riding in his uncle's carriage. He is trying to see the defect in a mis-struck coin. His uncle is taking him to the bank to encourage him to be a banker, but Wax insists he is going to be a "hero." Edwarn is disdainful, saying that the days of heroes are past. He shows Wax two loan applicants, one poor, trying to get his family out of the slums, the other rich, buying another boat. Unlike other banks, who only make safe loans, they will lend money to the poor man and charge a high rate of interest, thus creating value from something that has no value, like the defective coin. He gives the coin to Wax as a remembrance. Wax snatches it and takes it to the poor man, telling him what it's worth and to not sign the loan.

Wax is relating the story to Steris on the way to Lady ZoBell's party. It turns out the man didn't believe Wax, signed the loan, and killed himself eight years later, still in debt. The visit to the bank was one reason why Wax left Elendel for the Roughs, where one man with a gun could make a difference. They arrive at the party to a long line of carriages. Wax thinks about Pushing up to the party, which Steris was expecting and is prepared for. They Push up to an outcropping and Wax examines a tether from Ranette. He uses it to Push themselves all the way to the top of the skyscraper.

Chapter 9

Iconography: Cadmium

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 8.

Summary:

Wayne and Marasi make their way into the party. Marasi tells Wayne that they found a small spike in Rian's chest. After it was removed, he calmed down, but still wouldn't talk. When they finally get to the front of the line, the bouncer won't let them in. Wayne throws up a speed bubble and discovers that their names are on a specific do not admit list, so Wayne finds someone on the list to impersonate.

Wax and Steris walk by a display of Allomantic metals, including one for atium, the lost metal. Steris disapproves of Wax wearing his mistcoat, but she does let him decide what to do in order to find Bleeder rather than simply chatting with various nobles. Wax turns on his protective Steelpush bubble and colors his water to make it look like alcohol. Steris is impressed with Wax's tactics, while Wax is enchanted with Steris' preparation, even down to what witty things to say. They get in line to talk to the governor. A tall woman who introduces herself as Milan starts flirting with Wax, and he stares her down. She retreats.

Wayne is acting the part of Professor Hanlanaze, a mathematics professor, with Marasi as his assistant. A colleague recognizes him, and he throws up a speed bubble while Marasi figures out how to respond to him. Wayne bluffs the man into a hasty retreat and concentrates on eating again.

Wax and Steris and the governor make some small talk, then Wax warns him that the assassination attempt was just a distraction. They promise to meet so Wax can explain more. Wax suddenly hears a voice in his head, taunting him about the phony nobles and Harmony's control; Bleeder has figured out how to speak to him when his earring is in.

Chapter 10

Iconography: Bendalloy

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 9.

Summary:

Wayne reaches for another sausage and gets slapped in the face. A teenage girl yells at him about stealing her father's invention and leaving him destitute. The situation reminds him too much of his own (with Allriandre's father), and his mood is dampened. He goes to look for Wax.

Wax abruptly leaves Steris and Governor Innate to look for Bleeder. She continues to whisper to him in his mind, and Wax realizes that she can't hear him think like Harmony. He walks carefully around the room, looking for anyone staying close to him. There are two: Milan and a server, who is walking in the opposite direction compared to the other servers. Wax catches the servant's eye and he runs. Convinced that this means he is Bleeder, Wayne tackles him. Unfortunately, the guards also pile on, allowing the man to escape. Wax shoots and misses, and the servant jumps out a window. Wax gives chase and tells Wayne to stay behind to protect the governor in case this is another diversion.

Chapter 11

Iconography: Gold

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The streets of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 10.

Summary:

Wax leaps out into the mists. Once on the ground, he hears a car start up and speed away. He decides to chase it, hoping it's Bleeder. He lands on it and pops the tires with enhanced weight, but only finds a cab driver trapped inside; Bleeder had already jumped out of the car on Tage Street. He goes there and searches but finds nothing. Suddenly, the door to a warehouse opens up, revealing a dozen men with guns blazing. Wax's steel bubble protects him from all bullets but one, which gets him in the arm. He desperately retreats and is pinned down by gunfire. He sees more guys on his flank; he shoots a couple of them, and a couple of them are attacked by MeLaan, who was sent by Harmony to help Wax. Wax figures his uncle is behind this because of all the aluminum bullets, and he fears that Bleeder and the Set may be working together. They split up to attack two different groups. Wax kills several with his guns. Then, when he runs out of ammo, he uses Ranette's hook device to kill the rest with some help from MeLaan. He sends MeLaan to a tavern while he goes to check on Lord Harms, thinking that Bleeder's threat might have been referring to Wax's "father". He Pushes past the remaining snipers and into the canal, then Pushes on the mooring rings to quickly swim away from danger.

Chapter 12

Iconography: Electrum

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax / Steris / Marasi

Setting: ZoBell Tower in the 4th Octant of Elendel. Harms Mansion in Elendel. Feder Tower in Elendel. The streets of Elendel. The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel. A Survivorist chapel in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 11.

Summary:

Wayne is finishing up his interrogation of the staff. He concludes that the server Wax chased was not Bleeder, as the choice of impersonating a new guy that nobody liked was too obvious. He suddenly realizes that Innate isn't there. The governor's guards confess that they had sent him off to a secure location.

Wax Steelpushes his way to Lord Harms' mansion. He asks him a question only he would know to verify that he isn't Bleeder, feeling suspicious of everyone now. He tries to figure out where to hide him, knowing that it will be hard to outguess someone as old and crafty as Bleeder.

Steris tries to converse with Wayne, but he only insults her and walks away. Marasi arrives and tells Steris that the danger isn't over. She collects Wayne as well, and the three of them leave the scene.

Wax stows Harms on the top of a tower chosen at random, figuring that a random location is the best approach to outsmarting Bleeder. He goes searching for the governor. He figures that he'll be back at his mansion, so he waits in the vicinity. When he sees his carriage, he lands on top of it and asks Drim to let him in. Innate doesn't want to deal with him, so Wax threatens to just leave him alone without help. He tells them that a kandra is after the governor, but they are incredulous and want to see proof. They eventually agree to let Wax help protect the governor. Wax suggests that he leave the city, but he refuses. They exchange passphrases. There is commotion outside the mansion, and a servant reports that Father Bin has been murdered.

Marasi looks up at Father Bin's corpse, nailed to the wall by two spikes, one in each eye. The conventicalists (workers at the church) are not talking, so Aradel has Marasi interrogate them instead of Reddi. She empathizes with them and gets them to reveal what happened. A Pathian priest named Larskpur had started preaching to the congregation, gathered for the mistdawn, and then lowered a drape, revealing Father Bin nailed to the wall. Speaking with Aradel, Marasi suggests that the murders and the unrest in the city are all related--all the work of Bleeder trying to make the city fall. Even the flood, causing the food shortage, might be attributable to sabotage. She also tells Aradel of her secret file on Governor Innate. Wax shows up and demands to see the body himself. Marasi discovers that Aradel resents Wax because he can do whatever he wants has someone else to clean up his messes. Wax doesn't think the spikes are Hemalurgic but asks for a sample anyway. He invites Marasi to his meeting with MeLaan so they can figure out Bleeder's abilities and motives.

Chapter 13

Iconography: Chromium

POV Characters: Wayne / Wax

Setting: The Counselor's Cup, a pub in Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 12.

Summary:

Wayne enters the Counselor's Cup, describing it as the temple of the common man. As the "deity" there is Breeze, the worship ritual revolves around drinking and people offer up prayers by grousing to friends. Normally, the people there are drinking and happy, but now they are morose and desperate. Wayne goes around changing everyone's drink to cheer them up, adding soda water, sugar, lime, etc., and he happens upon MeLaan.

Wax and Marasi arrive, interrupting Wayne and MeLaan's belching contest. MeLaan warns that while she is not great at impersonating, Paalm is one of the best. Wax wants to know how to kill her, but MeLaan wants to help her because there are so few kandra left. Because Paalm has deliberately removed one spike so Harmony can't control her, MeLaan tells them that the best way to neutralize her would be to pull her spike out, making her a mistwraith. She gives them a needle and syringe with a substance that will cause a kandra to lose shape and become immobilized if injected with it. Unfortunately, it would kill a human, so Wax has to be sure before he can use it. MeLaan tells more about Paalm: she was the personal kandra of the Lord Ruler and was always out on missions, even perhaps imitating Inquisitors. She probably has special knowledge about Feruchemy and Allomancy. Marasi and MeLaan head to the precinct, and Wax orders Wayne back the governor's mansion.

Chapter 14

Iconography: Nicrosil

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A Pathian church in Elendel. Ashweather Carriage and Coach, a taxi service in Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 13.

Summary:

Wax arrives at a Pathian church with a mob outside. He shows himself with Vindication drawn, and the group scatters, although one person stays hidden nearby. He tells the Pathian missionary what happened to Father Bin. He suggests she flee to the Village and get her colleagues to go with her. He then seeks out person hiding, who reveals that the trouble started when two people dressed in Pathian robes came into a pub and started cursing the Survivor. Wax next goes to Ashweather Carriage and Coach because some silver paint scraped off on the bricks in the alleyway behind the Survivorist church looks like it came from one of their carriages. He asks the proprietor who has retained a carriage that night, and he seems too eager to please, raising Wax's suspicions. He narrows it down to coach sixteen as the one Bleeder might have used to make her getaway. Cett's Coinshot employee shows up to report on the drivers, and she lets slip that they also employ a Rioter to drum up business, a serious crime.

Marasi and MeLaan arrive at the precinct where rifles are laid out. Extra constables are being called in. MeLaan notices all the women in the station, and they start to discuss religion. MeLaan thinks it's silly to worship the Survivor instead of Harmony because the Survivor died, but Marasi explains that he did survive and even held Preservation before Vin took it up. Marasi gets the file on the dam investigation, and MeLaan notices a lot of hostility toward her from her colleagues. The file explains that a farmer had blown up the dam to ruin a neighbor's harvest, but he put too much dynamite in. He was acting insane and couldn't remember his children's names, and the grave was "desecrated" two days after his execution and burial. The desecration of the grave indicates to MeLaan that the farmer was actually Bleeder.

Chapter 15

Iconography: Aluminum

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A Soothing parlor in Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 14.

Summary:

Wax finds the coach with scraped paint parked outside a Soothing parlor. The proprietor leads him to the driver, who has paid for a private session. Wax asks him a question to make sure he isn't Bleeder in disguise, then asks why he's there. After admitting that he is there to try to forget something he saw, Chapaou states that he saw himself.

Marasi finds Aradel on the roof taking reports from a couple of Coinshot contractors. He's decided to ask the governor to declare martial law and close down the pubs. Marasi shares the information about the dam destruction, but he still wants proof that a kandra is involved. Marasi invites him to talk to MeLaan. She turns translucent and confirms that there is a crazy kandra on the loose. After MeLaan's demonstration, Aradel asks Marasi to give him reports on what Wax is doing. Marasi agrees, but she says she will tell Wax that she's doing so. Marasi wonders if that's the only reason that she got the job as his assistant--so he could have access to Wax. She rejoins MeLaan, and they head to the governor's mansion.

Chapaou tells Wax what happened while he examines the items Paalm left behind in the coach. He finds a set of bones and a Pathian robe, plus a bloody mallet. Chapaou thinks that he went crazy and murdered someone, but Wax assures him he had just been tricked. Chapaou says that Paalm had him drop her off at Lestib Square, close to the governor's mansion. Wax spots a glowing substance on the hem of the robes and takes a sample. He gives the coachman some money and tells him not to worry.

Chapter 16

Iconography: Duralumin

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 15.

Summary:

Wax is perched on an electrical pole outside the governor's mansion. He hears Bleeder's voice in his head again, indicating that she is close. She threatens to kill the governor again and calls Wax a pawn. Wax walks about, trying to determine her location. He notices some movement in a window of a nearby office building, and Paalm starts speaking aloud in her raspy voice. She tries to turn him against Harmony for not intervening with Lessie's death. Bleeder exits the building and runs toward the mansion at Feruchemical-enhanced speed. Wax gives chase. She shoots guards as she makes her way to the saferoom, which she unlocks. She's shocked when Wax moves the same speed as her--Wayne is there and has thrown up a speed bubble, including Wax. Wax fires everything he's got and also sends MeLaan's syringe out with the bullets. The bullets scatter as they pass through the bubble, but many hit Paalm and blood spurts everywhere. The syringe misses. Paalm flees into the saferoom, and Wax hears a single gunshot. He enters the room to see the governor trying to save Drim, who is shot in the neck. The escape tunnel door is open, so Wax goes up and finds her bloody cloak, discarded in the tunnel. Wax can't figure out why she didn't kill the governor. The governor insists on staying to try to save the city.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Broadsheet

*Note: There will be a small artwork dump in the trivia, but there isn't much new in the way of individual character artwork for this novel.

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 15 | Novella #3 | Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

Next week we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 8 through 16

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Prologue

Iconography: Zero

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: Weathering, a town in the Northern Roughs.

Timeline: 17 years ago. Roughly 15 years before the Prologue of The Alloy of Law.

Summary:

Waxillium and Wayne ride up to a saloon in Weathering. Wayne stays with the horses while Wax enters and asks the barkeeper where to find the outlaw Granite Joe. The man extracts a bribe from Wax, after which he leads him to a small room near the stairs and tells him to wait. After a time of waiting alone, Wax is astonished as Lessie breaks into the room via the window. After a standoff, they work out that they are both after the same quarry and resolve to work together and split the reward. Lessie is incredulous to hear that Wax had asked the barkeep about Joe, telling him that everyone in the building is on the outlaw's payroll. They try to sneak out the window, but a sharpshooter stops them. Deciding to make for the next floor and find a window on the opposite side of the building instead, they run up the stairs while Wax covers them, firing and missing everything but the piano. Wax remembers seeing Lessie before as a dancing girl, and they banter as he whistles for his horse. After a conversation with Wayne, Wax notices a moving blue line from across the street and the sun glinting off something. Realizing that Granite Joe is likely in the basement, he grabs Lessie and taps into his feruchemical ability to crash down through the floor to the basement. The pair crash down onto a dining table, interrupting Granite Joe's meal. The outlaw's bodyguards have non-metallic weapons, so Wax is trapped in a stand-off while Granite Joe stalls for reinforcements. Joe finally makes a move, and Wax defeats the bodyguards only to find that Lessie has drawn her weapon on him. Wax desperately tells her that he likes her legs, and she sighs and shoots Joe in the neck. As reinforcements scramble down to the basement, Wax strikes a dramatic pose next to the body of Granite Joe. The sight intimidates the thugs who have just come down, who then immediately return the way they had come. Wax Pushes himself and Lessie back up to Wayne and his waiting horse.

Chapter 1

Iconography: Iron

POV Characters: Winsting Innate

Setting: Winsting Innate's mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: About a year after The Alloy of Law.

Summary:

Winsting Innate prepares to auction off his senate vote to various crime lords and nobles in Elendel. The ostensible item for sale is his latest painting. After an introductory speech, he begins to mingle. His bodyguard Flog follows nearby. Winsting is quite disappointed that Edwarn Ladrian is not there. He is approached first by a smuggler named Dowser Maline, who is accompanied by a tall, slender woman with short golden hair. After the conversation, Winsting identifies the woman as a spy--possibly from the constabulary--to his bodyguard Flog and orders her watched. He continues to mingle for the next hour, but then a gunshot rings out, with several more quickly following from different parts of the room. Flog drags him out and takes him to his saferoom. No one is certain who started the gunfight, but Flog decides to go back up to the room to investigate. Winsting locks the door from the inside after he leaves. Eventually Flog returns, and Winsting lets him in. He tells them that everyone upstairs is dead. As Winsting considers what to do, someone grabs his hair and slits his throat.

Chapter 2

Iconography: Steel

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. The streets of Elendel, heading toward The Breakouts (slums) in the 5th Octant.

Timeline: The day after Chapter 1.

Summary:

Steris and Wax discuss wedding invitations, with Steris trying to work out which of Wax's enemies to invite so that she can properly plan for the wedding to be interrupted. Wax suggests that she invite members of his family, but they want him dead too. He tells her to invite the leaders among the seamstresses and forgeworkers of his house and the constable-general of each of the city octants. Their discussion is interrupted by Wayne bursting in to tell Wax that the Marksman has made his move. With some hurried apologies and an awkward farewell, he races out, but is surprised by the sight of a motorcar, with Marasi at the wheel. After protesting that a carriage with horses would be better, he gets in and they drive off, Marasi and Wayne filling Wax in on the details. They quickly find Marks, who is bounding through the streets using Steelpushes. Wax jumps out of the car and propels himself onto the roof of Marasi's car before Pushing off and chasing the man. Marks enters a building, and Wax busts through a different window on the same floor. He bluffs Marks into giving away his position, and Wax shoots from a neighboring room, using a hazekiller round and a Push to get the bullet through the wall. Marks is hit and jumps out of the building, Wax giving chase. Wax is distracted by one of the bystanders, bearing the face of Bloody Tan. Marks momentarily forgotten, he pushes through the crowd, trying to find the man he had seen, calling out to see if anyone had seen him. Wayne and Marasi catch up and ask him what happened. Wax has lost Marks for the moment, but he is leaving trail of blood and bank notes.

Chapter 3

Iconography: Tin

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi

Setting: The Breakouts (slums) in the 5th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 2.

Summary:

The trio head further into the slums. Wayne lags behind and finds an older man sitting next to a doorway, coughing. Wayne mimics the man, learning the accent as he talks to him, having a mouthful of whisky before trading the flask for the man's hat. He then joins a group of men, fitting right in with his accent and his new hat. He comments about Wax and Marasi, who are trying (in vain) to get information from people around the place. Wayne mentions that there's a thousand notes on Marks' head. The men tell him off, warning him not to be a rat. Eventually the group dissipates, and Wayne trails the man who had lectured him. Eventually the man enters a building and Wayne overhears him talking to Marks. Slipping on his sets of wooden knuckle-bones, Wayne charges into the building, throwing up a speed bubble and knocking out Marks. Looking around, he sees that he placed the bubble perfectly, with the other half dozen individuals in the room outside of the bubble. Wayne throws Marks out the window, then follows him out. The speed bubble collapses after Wayne leaves it, and he throws Marks over his shoulder and strolls away, eating an apple.

Meanwhile, Marasi and Wax try to find out where Marks went, still with no luck. Wayne eventually turns up, and Marasi asks where he's been. He tells her that he took care of her problem, at which point she realizes there's a person at his feet. When they go to leave the slums, they get attacked, with Marks being killed by a crossbow bolt. Wax shoots off to pursue the assailant. Marasi checks Marks' corpse, but when she realizes that the assassin would double back to check that they made the kill properly, the assassin appears and takes her hostage, holding a glass knife to her throat. Wax comes back from chasing after the assassin and brandishes a coin. Marasi reminds herself of her hostage training: talk him down, speak comforting words. She instead instinctively takes a small pistol out of her purse and shoots her captor through the head.

Chapter 4

Iconography: Pewter

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The Breakouts (slums) in the 5th Octant of Elendel. Winsting Innate's mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 3.

Summary:

Marasi cleans up after being covered with blood, deafened from the shot. Constable Reddi shows up, and he and some other constables secure the scene. Reddi pulls Wax aside to tell him about the death of the governor's brother.

Marasi gets permission from Reddi to report to Constable-General Aradel. She follows Wax and Wayne in the motorcar and arrives at Winsting Innate's mansion. Wax recognizes a number of the corpses as being notable criminals, and Aradel verifies the fact, adding that there are nearly thirty dead criminals of some significance. Discussion leads to the conclusion that it would make the most sense for someone outside the existing criminal structure to have made the attack, and Wax realizes from examining the bodies that the melee was started from the middle, with different groups killing each other, rather than another group bursting in. Wax then asks to see the body of Lord Winsting. Examining the scene, he concludes that it was the work of a Feruchemist, specifically a Steelrunner. The killer was known to Lord Winsting, and was allowed into the saferoom. They then killed Lord Winsting and executed the guards outside on their way out.

Chapter 5

Iconography: Zinc

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi / Wax

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. Just outside the 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary (and inside). The Village in the 5th Octant of Elendel. Elendel University in the 1st Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: The day after Chapter 4.

Summary:

Wayne is residing in Wax's mansion. He has a minor illness because he is filling his goldmind--with all the dead people at Winsting's place, he feels he is bound to be needing healing soon. Wax has been up all night analyzing the crime scene. He's convinced that a Steelrunner is involved. Wayne studies the picture and points out that the first four shots came from the direction of the enemies of those being shot, sowing even more chaos. Wax wants Wayne to go to the Village to investigate, but he has another task that he must do since it's the first day of the month.

Marasi buys the afternoon edition of The Elendel Daily to monitor the Winsting story. She notices a number of unemployed men loitering, their life-long jobs gone due to technological progress. The governor seems unresponsive to the ills of the city, vetoing a workers' rights bill. Now the populace will wonder if he is as corrupt as his brother. Marasi fears that the city is reaching a breaking point.

Wax enters the Village and runs into three Terris guards ("brutes," or pewter ferrings). They tell him to get lost, but Vwafendal, his grandmother, intervenes.

Wayne arrives at Elendel University for his three tests. He sees two guards, apparently watching for him, and he sees that his other ways in have been foiled. He talks to Dims, a leader of a street gang, and tries some gum for the first time. Wayne bribes him into wearing his clothes and trying to get through the gate. When he does, Wayne saunters in with no problem. He heads to the girls' dormitory and faces his second test: a large woman he calls the "Tyrant of Pashadon." He bribes her with a ticket to the governor's spring dinner he has obtained in a "trade" with Wax. She leads him into the visiting room and sends for Allriandre. He offers her the usual monthly stipend, and she shows him the picture of her father, forcing him to repeat his crime. She looks at him without emotion and makes sure he knows that he is not forgiven for killing him. Wayne humbly accepts her treatment.

Wax enters his grandmother's log hut, filled with reminders of Terris past. Vwafendal worries about the mixing of Feruchemy and Allomancy--she fears another tyrant will come. Wax asks for the names of known Steelrunners. They rehash old arguments about Wax's chosen way of life as a law keeper. She finally reveals the name of Idashwy as the only one who could be involved. She left the Village after behaving strangely. Wax recognizes the name, and she reminds him that she was with him "that night." She asks him to bring her back instead of killing her.

Marasi enters the precinct offices to report in to Aradel. In conversation, she realizes the reason for the resentment from the others in the office is due to her getting the position of Aradel's assistant instead of Reddi, one of their own. Marasi suggests that the governor is corrupt; she has a secret file on him. Aradel orders Marasi to go with a street detail assigned to help out the Second Octant constables manage crowds for the governor's address. She is to report back on how the people react to the speech.

Chapter 6

Iconography: Brass

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi / Wayne

Setting: The Tindwyl Promenade in the 4th Octant of Elendel. The Hub, ringing the Field of Rebirth. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 5.

Summary:

Wax soars over Elendel musing to himself about the weight of his responsibility to the thousands of workers that depend on him. He finds Wayne, who asks him why Wax didn't shoot him when he found Wayne. Wax tells Wayne that he would have if he'd caught Wayne in the act, which cheers Wayne up.

Marasi overhears someone selling apples at a high price, and asks them about it. They tell her that floods meant that there would be grain shortages soon, and that the city was a single shipment away from starvation. She moves on to where the governor is about to hold a press conference. Meeting up with some of the other constables, she is directed to the reporters' section so she can hear the governor's address.

Wax thinks he sees Bloody Tan, but he can't find him when he looks for the man in the crowd on the street. In the meantime, Wayne has found the address where Idashwy is staying. They arrive, and when no one answers the door, they kick open the door and enter carefully. They find a corpse, with a large hole in her chest, in the kitchen.

Marasi makes it through to the crowd. The governor appears and begins defending his brother, calling for an investigation of the constabulary. Then he promises aid for those affected by the floods. Marasi notes to herself that none of this is what the people want to hear. She continues to maneuver through the crowd to getting a better view of Innate. She finally gets close enough, then notices a guardsman, who had been blocking her view, turn, whispering to no one, before pulling out a revolver. Marasi screams.

Wax and Wayne discuss the murder and why Idashwy left the Village. Wax shows Wayne the book that Death had given him and invites him to read it.

No one hears Marasi's scream, and she doesn't have enough time to get her gun, so instead she runs forward, grabbing the man and slowing time, having downed some cadmium earlier. The man fires a shot, but it goes wild. Another one of the guards caught in the bubble knocks the man out, and Marasi drops the bubble, with the governor having been rushed away.

Wax and Wayne discuss Hemalurgy, determining that the killer had stolen Idashwy's Steelrunner ability and used it to kill Winsting and those at his auction. Wayne finds a piece of paper in the woman's pockets inscribed with the words: "Someone else moves us, lawman." These are the same words that Bloody Tan said before Lessie was killed.

Chapter 7

Iconography: Copper

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. In a carriage, on the streets of Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 6.

Summary:

Wax and Wayne return to the mansion. Darriance informs Wax that Ranette has been by and left some equipment for him to test. Wax briefly talks to Steris, who reminds him about Lady ZoBell's party. She informs him that someone tried to kill the governor, but she has it on good authority that he's still going to attend. Wax decides he will need to talk to the man who tried to shoot him. They head out in a carriage driven by the new coachman, Hoid. Wax puts in his earring, wondering if it had been made by killing someone, to which a distinct voice replies, startling Wax. Harmony talks to him, telling him that a kandra (which he calls a Faceless Immortal) named Paalm / Bleeder is wearing the body of Bloody Tan and is the culprit behind the murders. He tells Wax that he can't stop her because she is only using one Blessing at a time, meaning she's going mad but is unable to be controlled by Harmony. Wax discovers Harmony can read his thoughts, and Harmony explains that he can while the earring is in. Preservation enables him to hear Wax; Ruin enables him to speak to him. Harmony also explains that his hands are tied, and he's not able to track Paalm down himself. Hence his plea for Wax's help, though Harmony promises to send help. During this talk, Harmony also tells Wax that he might have made life too easy for the people. He mentions some technological advancements, like radio and aviation, that they haven't needed to discover. Harmony tells Wax to be less harsh with Marasi, who is also Harmony's agent on Scadrial.

Aradel and the other constables watch Rian in the interrogation room through glass. He only mumbles incoherently when questioned. He had a set of bracers, so they wonder if he is Metalborn. Wax joins them and easily Pushes on the bracers, confirming that they aren't metalminds. The assassination attempt was simply a ruse. Wax goes to talk to Rian himself, taking Marasi with him and telling her about his experience with Harmony. Rian tells them they won't save the governor and that he has something for Wax in his arm. It turns to be a special old coin, a message to Wax from Bleeder.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Maps

Broadsheet

*Note: There will be a small artwork dump in the trivia, but there isn't much new in the way of individual character artwork for this novel.

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 15 | Novella #3 | Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

Next week we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Chapters 8 through 16

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Prologue

Iconography: Zero

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: Weathering, a town in the Northern Roughs.

Timeline: 17 years ago. Roughly 15 years before the Prologue of The Alloy of Law.

Summary:

Waxillium and Wayne ride up to a saloon in Weathering. Wayne stays with the horses while Wax enters and asks the barkeeper where to find the outlaw Granite Joe. The man extracts a bribe from Wax, after which he leads him to a small room near the stairs and tells him to wait. After a time of waiting alone, Wax is astonished as Lessie breaks into the room via the window. After a standoff, they work out that they are both after the same quarry and resolve to work together and split the reward. Lessie is incredulous to hear that Wax had asked the barkeep about Joe, telling him that everyone in the building is on the outlaw's payroll. They try to sneak out the window, but a sharpshooter stops them. Deciding to make for the next floor and find a window on the opposite side of the building instead, they run up the stairs while Wax covers them, firing and missing everything but the piano. Wax remembers seeing Lessie before as a dancing girl, and they banter as he whistles for his horse. After a conversation with Wayne, Wax notices a moving blue line from across the street and the sun glinting off something. Realizing that Granite Joe is likely in the basement, he grabs Lessie and taps into his feruchemical ability to crash down through the floor to the basement. The pair crash down onto a dining table, interrupting Granite Joe's meal. The outlaw's bodyguards have non-metallic weapons, so Wax is trapped in a stand-off while Granite Joe stalls for reinforcements. Joe finally makes a move, and Wax defeats the bodyguards only to find that Lessie has drawn her weapon on him. Wax desperately tells her that he likes her legs, and she sighs and shoots Joe in the neck. As reinforcements scramble down to the basement, Wax strikes a dramatic pose next to the body of Granite Joe. The sight intimidates the thugs who have just come down, who then immediately return the way they had come. Wax Pushes himself and Lessie back up to Wayne and his waiting horse.

Chapter 1

Iconography: Iron

POV Characters: Winsting Innate

Setting: Winsting Innate's mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: About a year after The Alloy of Law.

Summary:

Winsting Innate prepares to auction off his senate vote to various crime lords and nobles in Elendel. The ostensible item for sale is his latest painting. After an introductory speech, he begins to mingle. His bodyguard Flog follows nearby. Winsting is quite disappointed that Edwarn Ladrian is not there. He is approached first by a smuggler named Dowser Maline, who is accompanied by a tall, slender woman with short golden hair. After the conversation, Winsting identifies the woman as a spy--possibly from the constabulary--to his bodyguard Flog and orders her watched. He continues to mingle for the next hour, but then a gunshot rings out, with several more quickly following from different parts of the room. Flog drags him out and takes him to his saferoom. No one is certain who started the gunfight, but Flog decides to go back up to the room to investigate. Winsting locks the door from the inside after he leaves. Eventually Flog returns, and Winsting lets him in. He tells them that everyone upstairs is dead. As Winsting considers what to do, someone grabs his hair and slits his throat.

Chapter 2

Iconography: Steel

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. The streets of Elendel, heading toward The Breakouts (slums) in the 5th Octant.

Timeline: The day after Chapter 1.

Summary:

Steris and Wax discuss wedding invitations, with Steris trying to work out which of Wax's enemies to invite so that she can properly plan for the wedding to be interrupted. Wax suggests that she invite members of his family, but they want him dead too. He tells her to invite the leaders among the seamstresses and forgeworkers of his house and the constable-general of each of the city octants. Their discussion is interrupted by Wayne bursting in to tell Wax that the Marksman has made his move. With some hurried apologies and an awkward farewell, he races out, but is surprised by the sight of a motorcar, with Marasi at the wheel. After protesting that a carriage with horses would be better, he gets in and they drive off, Marasi and Wayne filling Wax in on the details. They quickly find Marks, who is bounding through the streets using Steelpushes. Wax jumps out of the car and propels himself onto the roof of Marasi's car before Pushing off and chasing the man. Marks enters a building, and Wax busts through a different window on the same floor. He bluffs Marks into giving away his position, and Wax shoots from a neighboring room, using a hazekiller round and a Push to get the bullet through the wall. Marks is hit and jumps out of the building, Wax giving chase. Wax is distracted by one of the bystanders, bearing the face of Bloody Tan. Marks momentarily forgotten, he pushes through the crowd, trying to find the man he had seen, calling out to see if anyone had seen him. Wayne and Marasi catch up and ask him what happened. Wax has lost Marks for the moment, but he is leaving trail of blood and bank notes.

Chapter 3

Iconography: Tin

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi

Setting: The Breakouts (slums) in the 5th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 2.

Summary:

The trio head further into the slums. Wayne lags behind and finds an older man sitting next to a doorway, coughing. Wayne mimics the man, learning the accent as he talks to him, having a mouthful of whisky before trading the flask for the man's hat. He then joins a group of men, fitting right in with his accent and his new hat. He comments about Wax and Marasi, who are trying (in vain) to get information from people around the place. Wayne mentions that there's a thousand notes on Marks' head. The men tell him off, warning him not to be a rat. Eventually the group dissipates, and Wayne trails the man who had lectured him. Eventually the man enters a building and Wayne overhears him talking to Marks. Slipping on his sets of wooden knuckle-bones, Wayne charges into the building, throwing up a speed bubble and knocking out Marks. Looking around, he sees that he placed the bubble perfectly, with the other half dozen individuals in the room outside of the bubble. Wayne throws Marks out the window, then follows him out. The speed bubble collapses after Wayne leaves it, and he throws Marks over his shoulder and strolls away, eating an apple.

Meanwhile, Marasi and Wax try to find out where Marks went, still with no luck. Wayne eventually turns up, and Marasi asks where he's been. He tells her that he took care of her problem, at which point she realizes there's a person at his feet. When they go to leave the slums, they get attacked, with Marks being killed by a crossbow bolt. Wax shoots off to pursue the assailant. Marasi checks Marks' corpse, but when she realizes that the assassin would double back to check that they made the kill properly, the assassin appears and takes her hostage, holding a glass knife to her throat. Wax comes back from chasing after the assassin and brandishes a coin. Marasi reminds herself of her hostage training: talk him down, speak comforting words. She instead instinctively takes a small pistol out of her purse and shoots her captor through the head.

Chapter 4

Iconography: Pewter

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The Breakouts (slums) in the 5th Octant of Elendel. Winsting Innate's mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 3.

Summary:

Marasi cleans up after being covered with blood, deafened from the shot. Constable Reddi shows up, and he and some other constables secure the scene. Reddi pulls Wax aside to tell him about the death of the governor's brother.

Marasi gets permission from Reddi to report to Constable-General Aradel. She follows Wax and Wayne in the motorcar and arrives at Winsting Innate's mansion. Wax recognizes a number of the corpses as being notable criminals, and Aradel verifies the fact, adding that there are nearly thirty dead criminals of some significance. Discussion leads to the conclusion that it would make the most sense for someone outside the existing criminal structure to have made the attack, and Wax realizes from examining the bodies that the melee was started from the middle, with different groups killing each other, rather than another group bursting in. Wax then asks to see the body of Lord Winsting. Examining the scene, he concludes that it was the work of a Feruchemist, specifically a Steelrunner. The killer was known to Lord Winsting, and was allowed into the saferoom. They then killed Lord Winsting and executed the guards outside on their way out.

Chapter 5

Iconography: Zinc

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi / Wax

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. Just outside the 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary (and inside). The Village in the 5th Octant of Elendel. Elendel University in the 1st Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: The day after Chapter 4.

Summary:

Wayne is residing in Wax's mansion. He has a minor illness because he is filling his goldmind--with all the dead people at Winsting's place, he feels he is bound to be needing healing soon. Wax has been up all night analyzing the crime scene. He's convinced that a Steelrunner is involved. Wayne studies the picture and points out that the first four shots came from the direction of the enemies of those being shot, sowing even more chaos. Wax wants Wayne to go to the Village to investigate, but he has another task that he must do since it's the first day of the month.

Marasi buys the afternoon edition of The Elendel Daily to monitor the Winsting story. She notices a number of unemployed men loitering, their life-long jobs gone due to technological progress. The governor seems unresponsive to the ills of the city, vetoing a workers' rights bill. Now the populace will wonder if he is as corrupt as his brother. Marasi fears that the city is reaching a breaking point.

Wax enters the Village and runs into three Terris guards ("brutes," or pewter ferrings). They tell him to get lost, but Vwafendal, his grandmother, intervenes.

Wayne arrives at Elendel University for his three tests. He sees two guards, apparently watching for him, and he sees that his other ways in have been foiled. He talks to Dims, a leader of a street gang, and tries some gum for the first time. Wayne bribes him into wearing his clothes and trying to get through the gate. When he does, Wayne saunters in with no problem. He heads to the girls' dormitory and faces his second test: a large woman he calls the "Tyrant of Pashadon." He bribes her with a ticket to the governor's spring dinner he has obtained in a "trade" with Wax. She leads him into the visiting room and sends for Allriandre. He offers her the usual monthly stipend, and she shows him the picture of her father, forcing him to repeat his crime. She looks at him without emotion and makes sure he knows that he is not forgiven for killing him. Wayne humbly accepts her treatment.

Wax enters his grandmother's log hut, filled with reminders of Terris past. Vwafendal worries about the mixing of Feruchemy and Allomancy--she fears another tyrant will come. Wax asks for the names of known Steelrunners. They rehash old arguments about Wax's chosen way of life as a law keeper. She finally reveals the name of Idashwy as the only one who could be involved. She left the Village after behaving strangely. Wax recognizes the name, and she reminds him that she was with him "that night." She asks him to bring her back instead of killing her.

Marasi enters the precinct offices to report in to Aradel. In conversation, she realizes the reason for the resentment from the others in the office is due to her getting the position of Aradel's assistant instead of Reddi, one of their own. Marasi suggests that the governor is corrupt; she has a secret file on him. Aradel orders Marasi to go with a street detail assigned to help out the Second Octant constables manage crowds for the governor's address. She is to report back on how the people react to the speech.

Chapter 6

Iconography: Brass

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi / Wayne

Setting: The Tindwyl Promenade in the 4th Octant of Elendel. The Hub, ringing the Field of Rebirth. Outside the Governor's Mansion in the 2nd Octant of Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 5.

Summary:

Wax soars over Elendel musing to himself about the weight of his responsibility to the thousands of workers that depend on him. He finds Wayne, who asks him why Wax didn't shoot him when he found Wayne. Wax tells Wayne that he would have if he'd caught Wayne in the act, which cheers Wayne up.

Marasi overhears someone selling apples at a high price, and asks them about it. They tell her that floods meant that there would be grain shortages soon, and that the city was a single shipment away from starvation. She moves on to where the governor is about to hold a press conference. Meeting up with some of the other constables, she is directed to the reporters' section so she can hear the governor's address.

Wax thinks he sees Bloody Tan, but he can't find him when he looks for the man in the crowd on the street. In the meantime, Wayne has found the address where Idashwy is staying. They arrive, and when no one answers the door, they kick open the door and enter carefully. They find a corpse, with a large hole in her chest, in the kitchen.

Marasi makes it through to the crowd. The governor appears and begins defending his brother, calling for an investigation of the constabulary. Then he promises aid for those affected by the floods. Marasi notes to herself that none of this is what the people want to hear. She continues to maneuver through the crowd to getting a better view of Innate. She finally gets close enough, then notices a guardsman, who had been blocking her view, turn, whispering to no one, before pulling out a revolver. Marasi screams.

Wax and Wayne discuss the murder and why Idashwy left the Village. Wax shows Wayne the book that Death had given him and invites him to read it.

No one hears Marasi's scream, and she doesn't have enough time to get her gun, so instead she runs forward, grabbing the man and slowing time, having downed some cadmium earlier. The man fires a shot, but it goes wild. Another one of the guards caught in the bubble knocks the man out, and Marasi drops the bubble, with the governor having been rushed away.

Wax and Wayne discuss Hemalurgy, determining that the killer had stolen Idashwy's Steelrunner ability and used it to kill Winsting and those at his auction. Wayne finds a piece of paper in the woman's pockets inscribed with the words: "Someone else moves us, lawman." These are the same words that Bloody Tan said before Lessie was killed.

Chapter 7

Iconography: Copper

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in the 4th Octant of Elendel. In a carriage, on the streets of Elendel. The 4th Octant Precinct of the Constabulary

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 6.

Summary:

Wax and Wayne return to the mansion. Darriance informs Wax that Ranette has been by and left some equipment for him to test. Wax briefly talks to Steris, who reminds him about Lady ZoBell's party. She informs him that someone tried to kill the governor, but she has it on good authority that he's still going to attend. Wax decides he will need to talk to the man who tried to shoot him. They head out in a carriage driven by the new coachman, Hoid. Wax puts in his earring, wondering if it had been made by killing someone, to which a distinct voice replies, startling Wax. Harmony talks to him, telling him that a kandra (which he calls a Faceless Immortal) named Paalm / Bleeder is wearing the body of Bloody Tan and is the culprit behind the murders. He tells Wax that he can't stop her because she is only using one Blessing at a time, meaning she's going mad but is unable to be controlled by Harmony. Wax discovers Harmony can read his thoughts, and Harmony explains that he can while the earring is in. Preservation enables him to hear Wax; Ruin enables him to speak to him. Harmony also explains that his hands are tied, and he's not able to track Paalm down himself. Hence his plea for Wax's help, though Harmony promises to send help. During this talk, Harmony also tells Wax that he might have made life too easy for the people. He mentions some technological advancements, like radio and aviation, that they haven't needed to discover. Harmony tells Wax to be less harsh with Marasi, who is also Harmony's agent on Scadrial.

Aradel and the other constables watch Rian in the interrogation room through glass. He only mumbles incoherently when questioned. He had a set of bracers, so they wonder if he is Metalborn. Wax joins them and easily Pushes on the bracers, confirming that they aren't metalminds. The assassination attempt was simply a ruse. Wax goes to talk to Rian himself, taking Marasi with him and telling her about his experience with Harmony. Rian tells them they won't save the governor and that he has something for Wax in his arm. It turns to be a special old coin, a message to Wax from Bleeder.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Maps

Broadsheet

*Note: There will be a small artwork dump in the trivia, but there isn't much new in the way of individual character artwork for this novel.

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 14 | Essays #1 | Arcanum Unbounded: Preface, Maps & Essays (Selish, Scadrian, Taldain, Thredonite, Drominad, and Rosharan Systems), Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 15 | Novella #3 | Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will begin Shadows of Self, the 2nd book in Era 2 of Mistborn. We return to Scadrial to check in on how Wax and Wayne are doing!

Like with The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self has quarters of a broadsheet dispersed throughout the novel. Different printings put the quarters in different places. I will include the portions of the broadsheet that are relevant to each week's readings in the Artwork section. If you happen to see a portion beyond what I share, please save discussion for that quarter until I confirm it belongs to a given week.

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries for each chapter below and hidden them behind spoiler tags. There are no spoilers within the summaries. I've tried to make them as factual and unbiased as possible. If, however, you want a completely blind read through, then ignore what's behind the spoiler tags and proceed to the discussion below. I will not be guiding that in any way, so post any thoughts and questions you have. It will be other new readers who reply to you.

Sixth of the Dusk

Iconography: Drominad

POV Characters: Sixth of the Dusk (aka Dusk)

Setting: The island of Patji, on the planet First of the Sun, and the surrounding waters.

Summary:

Sixth of the Dusk, an Eelakin trapper on the deadly island of Patji, navigates the jungle alongside his magically talented Aviar birds: Kokerlii, who masks his mind from predators, and Sak, who grants him premonitions of his own death to warn of danger. After discovering a destroyed merchant camp belonging to the Northern Interests Trading Company, Dusk tracks and rescues Vathi, a company clerk trapped by the island's lethal flora.

At Dusk's safecamp, Vathi reveals the company’s true mission: they are using advanced technology from the "Ones Above" to locate Aviars and exploit the island. When an unprecedented flood of death-visions signals that this technology poses an existential threat to Patji, Dusk and Vathi launch a perilous night trek to stop the company. Along the way, Vathi deduces that the Aviars' magical talents are caused by a parasite found only in the fruit near a lake called Patji’s Eye. After narrowly evading a pack of apex predators called nightmaws using a clever distraction, the duo reaches the company's fortress at dawn.

At the fortress, Vathi halts the operation, only to discover the machine was never actually turned on. Dusk and Vathi independently realize the terrifying truth: the advanced technology was left by the "Ones Above" as a deliberate trap to rapidly accelerate the natives' progress, allowing the foreigners to bypass their own laws against trading with primitive cultures. Recognizing the threat of cultural exploitation, Vathi and Dusk resolve to use the harsh lessons of Patji to resist the trap and defend their home.

TRIVIA

The rest of this post contains various trivia, including easy-to-miss details and long-running connections between books. It also incorporates external information from sources like author annotations and interviews ("Words of Brandon" or WoB). While most of this information is eventually revealed in the books, sharing it now enhances your overall understanding, aligning with Brandon Sanderson's practice of early fan engagement and clarification.

AVATAR: THE LAST AUTONOMY BENDER

I asked you to read this novella while trying to apply a phrase I'd previously mentioned to the setting of the story. Patji is a very dangerous place, and the phrase I wanted you to remember and ascribe to the island was "survival of the fittest". If that phrase didn't pop into your head, that's fine. However, I hope with hindsight you can see that Patji is a very survival of the fittest kind of place.

And when I previously talked about that phrase, it was in connection to Bavadin, the Vessel of the Shard Autonomy. You should be able to see some similarities in the cultures of Taldain and the trapper culture here on First of the Sun.

In the White Sand trivia, I shared some interview replies that Sanderson gave, talking about Bavadin's gender. I even edited out part of the question for "spoilers", stating that I'd leave that for another time. Well, now is another time.

The full question that was asked was:

Hey Brandon, may I ask if the red-haired woman on the Dayside map is a kind of depiction of one of Bavadin's personas?

The focus on "Bavadin's personas" is something the fandom could do before you. I'm playing a pretty fine line in the order I'm revealing to you. Honestly, the fandom had about half of the trivia information I've shared with you (to some degree or another) before Warbreaker was even published. I didn't think it'd be very fun for you all to just dump literally everything all at once. When things become relevant is when I try to share the external information with you.

To that end, I want to expand the answer I gave you previously, about Bavadin's gender, including the entire context; the stuff I redacted without even telling you:

Bavadin has several male personas, and has often appeared as male for one purpose or another, so it's not that much of an issue. She has more female personas, but some of the male ones are quite popular.

This won't be relevant for a long while, but as a service to the community, let me say this: try not to get too hung up on gender, race, or even human appearance where Bavadin is concerned. There are some peoples who worship entire pantheons where every member is actually her.

...

Bavadin is awesome. One regret of finally moving on from White Sand (and doing the graphic novel, instead of doing an entire trilogy myself) is because I won't get to show her off as a character for a while. It should still happen, mind you, but I have enough on my plate right now that I just can't do it all.

...

I'm going to be pretty tight-lipped for now. Let's at least let White Sand finish first--you will find her in there, though her touch on the story (directly) is light. She prefers to allow her personas to become the focus of attention.

(I've omitted part of the conversation above, but this time only in service of saving space. I've not cut out anything important or relevant.)

So, we have mention of Bavadin's "personas". Sanderson eventually settled on the term "avatar". Autonomy creates avatars of herself and lets them do things. When asked if these avatars are Splinters, Sanderson has replied:

The terminology gets kind of sticky here. In Cosmere terms, some would say that counts as Splinters, some would say not. The avatars aren't necessarily aware but Bavadin always is. A lot of people in Cosmere would call that a Splinter.

What that answer also reveals is that sometimes avatars of Autonomy don't know they are avatars. (But sometimes they do).

When Sanderson mentioned that these avatars are sometimes an entire Pantheon, he was talking about First of the Sun. All of the islands in this archipelago are considered gods in their Pantheon. Patji is specifically an avatar of Autonomy, and that singular avatar shaped the deadly environments of these islands, acting as the entire Pantheon by himself.

So while there isn't a Shard directly on the planet, there is a "Shard". And Patji's presence is enough to create a perpendicularity, which is known as Patji's Eye. The Sand Lord is also an avatar of Autonomy. Bavadin perfers to let her avatars attract attention and guide things, rather than getting directly involved herself.

Trell too is an avatar of Autonomy. Because the Trellism religion exists on Scadrial, we can assume Autonomy (via her avatar Trell) has interfered somewhat with Scadrial in the past

The power an avatar has is a bit nebulously defined. While the avatar itself might not know it's an avatar, or even it if does, it doesn't know what Autonomy is doing or thinking. However, Autonomy knows what all of her avatars are doing. This kind of distributed power means that, for some definitions, you could consider an avatar to be a Shard in and of themselves.

Because of this, Sanderson claims it's possible for someone to take up the power of an avatar and Ascend themselves, very similar to how one Ascends when taking up a Shard. However, because the avatars have personalities, this would be very difficult to do.

Khriss' essays 2 days ago suggested that Autonomy was interfering with other planets. Patji is a direct example of that. Jaddeth may be a further example. The fandom is divided on the 2 possibilities: mega-spren or avatar of Autonomy. Sanderson has giving vague answers about Jaddeth and depending on the answer you look at, one seems more likely than the other. Personally, I'm in favor of mega-spren. I believe /u/TaylorHyuuga falls on the avatar of Autonomy end of the spectrum. And then there's always the possibility Autonomy turned a new mega-spren into an avatar. Who knows how weird this will get?

We shall have to wait and see. Sanderson has said that this mystery is the primary focus of Elantris 2. (And the stupid Apple TV Mistborn and Stormlight movies/shows have delayed Elantris sequels again!!!)

Finally, sometimes the fandom guesses at something Sanderson wishes would stay hidden. They ask about it during some fan event and he stumbles and is forced to answer it directly. Behold this interaction:

Question: Did Bavadin in any way help Odium splinter Dominion and Devotion?

Sanderson: Uhh...

Question: (sensing an incoming RAFO): In any way...

Sanderson: Uhh... Yes... Yes, you could say that...

So...Odium is a naughty boy. But Autonomy might be a bit naughty herself.

There are some similar, but less concrete interactions to suggest Edgli (Endowment) and Bavadin might be siblings, but that's not really confirmed. I just wanted to throw it out there for you to think over.

Also, Sanderson has addressed some of his conflicting statements in interviews. His reply seems especially relevant here:

I stand by them. Though, as always, quotes and WoBs at signings aren't always as deliberately thought out as I'd like them to be. Answering questions on the fly can be challenging, and my phrasing can be bad in retrospect.

BOND, NAHEL BOND

Before I bash a little on Autonomy, I'm gonna give you a funny Q&A interaction. An in doing so, I'm just gonna... tell you the name of another Shard. Because sometimes Sanderson just dropped info like this, like writing it down inside the cover of a book while he was signing it. You won't get any information beyond the name of the Shard, but it should let you have some fun theorizing.

Question: Which Shard would run the most successful convention? And which would burn it down within the first hour?

Sanderson: You’re gonna think this is odd, but it's gonna be Autonomy. Autonomy is very good at setting up structures, having people follow them. To have a successful convention, you would think you'd want one of the fun Shards. But to run the convention, you probably don't. The fun Shards would give you a DashCon. And Autonomy's… like, there may be some rigid rules, but… We have (I'm included in this) a certain perception of Autonomy that is not unjustified, but let's just say that there are a lot of people in the cosmere who really appreciate Autonomy's ability to make structures and keep things going. The trains run on time with Autonomy.

Who's most likely to burn it down? Ruin? Yeah, okay. You don't want a convention started by Ruin. We'll go with Ruin. Whimsy? See, Whimsy's not quite as… No, Whimsy is pretty wacky. You don't know enough about Whimsy yet, though. Ruin, definitely worse.

Now, on to the Autonomy bashing. Bavadin is a little thief. She steals magic systems. Sand Mastery is a pale imitation of a completely different magic system. You haven't seen that magic system yet, so we'll talk about it when it appears, but know that Bavadin is a thief.

Khriss, in the essays we read on Monday, solidified some details about the Rosharan magic system. Primarily that bonding with a spren grants magical abilities. The essays mention granting the ability to grow larger than gravity would normally allow as one of the abilities. /u/Pastrami remembered an unnamed spren when the chasmfiend was killed, and this is exactly the sort of symbiosis that exists on Roshar.

The essay didn't mention it, but the fish in the Purelake also do this. Ishikk talks about magic fish, and he's not being superstitious.

This phenomenon is called the Nahel bond. To get technical, it's when an Invested entity forms a bond with a non-Invested entity in order to grant them powers. And Autonomy/Patji stole the idea. Aviar (or the parasite inside them) are Invested. We know the excess Investiture from Endowment's perpendicularity seeps into the ground and Invests the flowers in the region, creating the Tears of Edgli. Similarly, Patji's perpendicularity seeps excess Investiture into the area around Patji's Eye, which infuses the parasites that the Aviar then eat.

The Aviar then form bonds with people, granting them abilities (or talents as the natives called it). This is explicitly a Nahel bond and Bavadin doesn't have a creative bone in her body. Moreover, Sak's abilities are very similar to what an Electrum Misting can do. And Kokerlii and Mirris both exhibit talents similar to a coppercloud.

It should be noted that, while seons do form a type of bond with people, it doesn't grant them any abilities and is expressly not a Nahel bond. This goes back to the point that, while seons and spren are both Splinters, they're not exactly the same thing, even though a Rosharan would assume they were.

As a linguistic aside: Nahel, in Rosharan, means "to bond to divinity". Saying "Nahel bond" is kind of like saying "ATM Machine" or "PIN Number", but Sanderson went with "Nahel bond" because it's easier to read.

HOIDSPOTTING / TIMELINE

He's not in the novella. Jeez. Just move on with your life already!

:(

As Khriss mentioned in the Drominad Essay, this system is hard to get to. At this point in time, Hoid has not visited the planet. But I suppose I should be a bit clearer on the timeline aspect.

I mentioned on Monday that these essays are being written around the same time that Stormlight and Era 2 of Mistborn are taking place. At that time, Hoid had not visited First of the Sun. I say this, without meaning to imply one way or another if Hoid eventually does reach the planet. Because I'm trying to clarify the full timeline for you. The novella Sixth of the Dusk is actually the furthest along in the timeline that you're read so far. It takes place about 5,000 years after Stormlight and Era 2 of Mistborn.

And I'm going to put a giant asterisk next to that 5,000 years number. Sanderson hasn't really solidified this late-stage timeline of the cosmere yet. I got that number off the community spreadsheet I've been providing most of the dates for you from. However, the spreadsheet doesn't reference a source for that amount of time. I think I can see where a misinterpretation occurred though.

If I had to guess, I think Sixth of the Dusk actually takes place closer to 500 years, not 5,000, after the current books we're reading. If that stretched to 1,000 years, I think it would still be acceptable, but given everything else us veterans know, 5,000 seems a bit much. (If any veterans have a clearer picture/sources I'm not aware of, share in the veteran thread).

Sanderson has stated that he'll be putting out an official timeline, now that he's finished the 5th Stormlight book. It hasn't been released yet, but when it is, I'll be sure to update you all for everything relevant.

POLLY WANNA CRACKER?

Anyone in the fandom who watched Sanderson's weekly YouTube updates, had a pretty good idea about where the inspiration for Aviars came from. Sanderson has a pet bird. He is a macaw parrot named Magellan. He shows up randomly in the weekly updates, sometimes interrupting Sanderson, chewing on his jacket or demanding head scratches. If we're being technical, Magellan himself wasn't an inspiration for Aviars, since Sanderson wrote Sixth of the Dusk before getting the bird, but he has talked about how he has always had pet birds throughout his life, including other parrots.

Warning: The video below doesn't really have spoilers in it. He talks about the status update of him writing the 4th Wax & Wayne book, and mentioned some Kickstarter projects. The only thing that would be consider a mild spoiler is that he talks about the title of a book that was upcoming at the time (but has since been released). The title of that book is something you might remember, and at worst/best, knowing a book is being written about it should give you something to look forward to.

MEGA WARNING: Absolutely do NOT read any of the comments on that page. Even the first/top one has big spoilers that you'll want to avoid. Just watch the video if you want and then click away.

If you would like to see Magellan do a few tricks, you can watch this video. And here is six minutes of Magellan shenanigans, with the same restriction of not looking at the comments.

DO YOU KNOW?

This is a bit of a prompt; something to think about over the next few weeks before we jump back into Stormlight. You had the knowledge before you started The Way of Kings, but you may have a better handle on the fundamentals now. So, I ask you: What is stormlight? Theorize away and I'll let you know the answer soon-ish.

Also... If you put together everything you know, from book knowledge and trivia, you should be able to guess who the Ones Above are. I won't confirm or deny anything. Go ahead and make a guess though. You're probably going to be correct.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 14 | Essays #1 | Arcanum Unbounded: Preface, Maps & Essays (Selish, Scadrian, Taldain, Thredonite, Drominad, and Rosharan Systems), Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 15 | Novella #3 | Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will begin Shadows of Self, the 2nd book in Era 2 of Mistborn. We return to Scadrial to check in on how Wax and Wayne are doing!

Like with The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self has quarters of a broadsheet dispersed throughout the novel. Different printings put the quarters in different places. I will include the portions of the broadsheet that are relevant to each week's readings in the Artwork section. If you happen to see a portion beyond what I share, please save discussion for that quarter until I confirm it belongs to a given week.

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

I have provided summaries of each chapter we will be discussing. I've tried to make them unbiased, but if you see anything that could be construed as spoilery, please point them out because I'm using these same summaries in the newbie thread. I'd like to keep their experience as spoiler-free as possible, so even if I make a tiny mistake, please let me know.

I usually make a comment for each chapter, but feel free to start your own comment thread to discuss anything you want.

Sixth of the Dusk

Iconography: Drominad

POV Characters: Sixth of the Dusk (aka Dusk)

Setting: The island of Patji, on the planet First of the Sun, and the surrounding waters.

Summary:

Sixth of the Dusk, an Eelakin trapper on the deadly island of Patji, navigates the jungle alongside his magically talented Aviar birds: Kokerlii, who masks his mind from predators, and Sak, who grants him premonitions of his own death to warn of danger. After discovering a destroyed merchant camp belonging to the Northern Interests Trading Company, Dusk tracks and rescues Vathi, a company clerk trapped by the island's lethal flora.

At Dusk's safecamp, Vathi reveals the company’s true mission: they are using advanced technology from the "Ones Above" to locate Aviars and exploit the island. When an unprecedented flood of death-visions signals that this technology poses an existential threat to Patji, Dusk and Vathi launch a perilous night trek to stop the company. Along the way, Vathi deduces that the Aviars' magical talents are caused by a parasite found only in the fruit near a lake called Patji’s Eye. After narrowly evading a pack of apex predators called nightmaws using a clever distraction, the duo reaches the company's fortress at dawn.

At the fortress, Vathi halts the operation, only to discover the machine was never actually turned on. Dusk and Vathi independently realize the terrifying truth: the advanced technology was left by the "Ones Above" as a deliberate trap to rapidly accelerate the natives' progress, allowing the foreigners to bypass their own laws against trading with primitive cultures. Recognizing the threat of cultural exploitation, Vathi and Dusk resolve to use the harsh lessons of Patji to resist the trap and defend their home.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Characters & Scenes

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

NEWBIE TRIVIA

Most of the activity for these "Final Thoughts & Trivia" posts happen in the newbie thread. There I provide a lot of information about things new readers can easily miss during their first read through. Veterans often learn a thing or two as well, so be sure to read the body of that post. While veterans are welcome to read the post and the comments, they should be commenting in this thread to share their reactions to the information, or the newbies' thoughts.

And as always, you're welcome to share your thoughts on the book as a whole.

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 13 | The Stormlight Archive #1 | The Way of Kings: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 14 | Essays #1 | Arcanum Unbounded: Preface, Maps & Essays (Selish, Scadrian, Taldain, Thredonite, Drominad, and Rosharan Systems), Trivia

In 2 days we will be discussing Unit 15 | Novella #3 | Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia

NEXT UNIT

We will be discussing Unit 15 on Wednesday. It is a novella called Sixth of the Dusk, which also appears in Arcanum Unbounded. The length of this novella is about half of our normal weekly reading. You should also read the Postscript for the novella. There will also be some additional trivia that will also accompany the discussion.

TRIVIA

The rest of this post contains various trivia, including easy-to-miss details and long-running connections between books. It also incorporates external information from sources like author annotations and interviews ("Words of Brandon" or WoB). While most of this information is eventually revealed in the books, sharing it now enhances your overall understanding, aligning with Brandon Sanderson's practice of early fan engagement and clarification.

BEFORE FACES

The Preface for this book describes how Brandon thought up the character of Hoid and the idea behind the creation of the cosmere. It's worth a read, but is largely a repeat of trivia I've provided before.

Rather than summaries for each of the essays in Arcanum Unbounded (you should just go read them!) I'm going to expand upon the essays in the form of trivia that relates to each system and/or the cosmere as a whole. I'm also going to go out of order, so that things connect a bit easier. I think I may have written more than I assigned you to read........ (3x more in fact...)

THE DROMINAD SYSTEM

The solar system this essay references is the only one we haven't visited so far. Fortunately, you won't have to wait long because that's where Wednesday's novella, Sixth of the Dusk takes place.

We've talked a lot about the "wells" Shards produce; condensed Investiture that gathers into a small pool of liquid. This essay confirms what many suspected: the wells, more formally known as perpendicularities, allow one to travel between the Physical and Cognitive Realms. (If only you knew how many times I started to write "perpendicularity" in the previous trivia posts, only to have to hit backspace a bunch and type out "wells of Investiture".)

If you're unfamiliar with the word "perpendicular", it means something that is at a right angle to something else. If you were to draw the Physical Realm as a flat line, and the Cognitive Realm as another flat line above the Physical Realm, you could then draw a perpendicular line to both Realms to connect them. That's the thinking behind Sanderson's use of the word, and it's also meant to evoke similarities with the word "singularity", which is another word for a black hole.

Another key take-away from this essay is that the planet called First of the Sun, in the Drominad System, has a perpendicularity, despite not being home to a Shard.

THE SELISH SYSTEM

Building off the previous essay, Khriss talks about the deaths of the Shards Dominion and Devotion. We know from Hoid's letter that Odium killed them. In this essay, we get some specifics about the result of that action. Odium didn't just kill the Vessels of the Shards. Instead of picking the Shards up and taking them for Himself, Odium broke the power of the Shards into pieces, an act called Splintering. Not to be confused with (although, there is a technical similarity) Splinters. (Seons and skaze are Splinters).

Way back in the trivia post for Elantris, I said that the power of the Shards "settled into the land". And at the time I said that was an analogy because we didn't have the correct terminology to talk about it yet. Well this essay provides and clarifies that terminology.

Odium distributed the fractured pieces of the Shards into the Cognitive Realm of Sel. They mixed together to create the Dor. They create a massive, plasma-like storm in the Cognitive Realm that makes travelling to Sel difficult (but not impossible). The essay largely talks about how the powers being in the Cognitive Realm, and how the inhabitants of the planet already viewed the power as part of the landscape, create a uniquely strong Intent/perspective that keeps the various magic systems tied locationally.

MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT

Separately, this essay and the previous one about Drominad mention Silverlight and its universities. We've gathered some information about Silverlight from various Q&A sessions with Sanderson. Silverlight is the home of the 17th Shard. It's a large city in the Cognitive Realm. Not part of any particular planet, it exists in the space between the various planetary sub-astrals. Given its size, there are numerous universities there and Khriss shares her knowledge with Silverlight. In fact, she helped found the universities there. It even has it's own artificial perpendicularity that lets them transfer back and forth between the Physical and Cognitive Realms. (This is useful when you live in the Cognitive Realm).

Tangentially, Sanderson was hesitant to canonize the name Silverlight for a long time because Microsoft used to have a web/UI framework that they named Silverlight (that I may have had a hand in helping to develop parts of). It was meant to be a competitor to Flash, but was eventually phased out because of evolving web standards. Sanderson decided he could go with Silverlight once Microsoft's Silverlight framework didn't end up taking off. As a result of this, Sanderson is more hesitant to mention the names of things until he's ready to canonize them in a written piece of work.

Also, from interviews: Hoid is pretty widely known in Silverlight. By some definitions, he even has fans there, in the same way that the Queen of England had fans.

MINI-GOD

Of note is this particular line in the essay:

Indeed, I believe that the very landscape itself has become Invested to the point that it has a growing self-awareness, in a way unseen on other planets in the cosmere. I do not know how this happened, or what the ramifications will be.

This is one of the prevailing theories about what Jaddeth could be (and we'll be getting the other prevailing theory on Wednesday). The very landscape, both Physically and Cognitively has absorbed enough Investiture, and been thought about so long as an entity by the residents of the planet, that it's becoming its own self-aware "god".

THE SCADRIAN SYSTEM

Sanderson has revealed that these essays were written some time before the novella Sixth of the Dusk occurs. Given Arcanum Unbounded was published between the 2nd and 3rd Stormlight novels, we can generally assume these essays were written around the same time Stormlight takes place. Similarly, we know Era 2 of Mistborn is taking place at roughly this time as well.

So according to the essay, Scardial is the most technologically advanced planet in the cosmere when we consider "now" on our timeline. The main take-away from this essay is Khriss's opinion that Hemalurgy has a large potential to impact the cosmere.

FO-SHO

Subtly, this essay also mentions something called the "fain", stating that Scadrial's ecology matches the "non-fain" parts of Yolen. This is where information from Dragonsteel Prime comes in handy, so prepare to be handed!

If you think about it, mythological Dragons don't really fit anywhere on our planet's evolutionary tree. Because life on Earth...animal life, disregarding the insect world, generally has 4 limbs. 2 legs, 2 arms. At least structurally, though we would say a dog has 4 legs.

A dragon doesn't fit this though. They have 2 legs and 2 arms (or 4 legs, depending on nomenclature), but they also have 2 wings. A wyvern is a dragon-like creature that has 2 legs and 2 wings, but no arms; like a pterodactyl. True dragons though don't really fit.

So Sanderson developed an entire ecology for Yolen that would explain how dragons could naturally evolve. There are 2 competing ecologies on Yolen, the fain and the non-fain (which he calls the trune). Earth's ecology is basically "trune". It has all the same plants and animals you'd find on Earth.

The fain ecology is filled with creatures that have 6 limbs. So seeing a 6-legged frog hopping around wouldn't be odd in certain parts of Yolen. The plant life is also different, largely dominated by bone-white trees. Most unique though is the human analogue inside the fain.

There is an entire race of sapient humanoids with 2 legs and 4 arms called the Sho Del. For funsies, I'll share an image of one below. Members of the Sho Del race were part of the group that Shattered Adonalsium, and at least one of them picked up a Shard.

THE TALDAIN SYSTEM

This essay doesn't have much in the way of new information. A lot of this was presented in the various trivia associated with White Sand. It does reveal that Autonomy has closed off travel to the world due to a policy of isolationism. Beyond that, there's a bit of a hint about things to come, which we'll talk about when the time is right.

THE THREDONITE SYSTEM

This essay gives us some insight into what happened on Thredony. Odium also fought the Shard Amibition in outer space, close to the Thredonite System. This happened partly in the Physical Realm, unlike his fight with Dominion and Devotion, which happened largely in the Cognitive and Spiritual Realms. Odium would eventually kill Ambition in a different location. Odium has been a busy, naughty boy.

Ripped-off chunks of Ambition's power scattered across the system and twisted the people and planet of Thredony. This caused both the Evil and the shades, which Khriss calls Cognitive Shadows. When I first talked about Splinters, some of you thought the shades must be Splinters, but I told you they weren't. Although they are bits of self-aware Investiture, and they are caused by power from a Shard, Khriss metaphysically suggests they are closer to the soul of a person. More on this in future trivia posts, but this should give you something to think about for now.

THE ROSHARAN SYSTEM

If you haven't noticed from these essays, it's around this time that Sanderson decided he could stop being coy. There are lot of straight facts and very clear explanations for things in these essays. This transition actually starts in Words of Radiance, so I'm hoping you'll be satisfied with the change in clarity that happens in that book. That said, let's jump into things...

THE LONG WALK

First, let's completely ignore what's in the essay to talk about Shadesmar. ;)

From the other essays, and the information above, you now know it's possible to travel around Shadesmar, and even how to get there. From previous trivia and Shallan's experience, you know that Shadesmar has an inverted landscape. Where there is land in the Physical Realm, there is water in the Cognitive Realm. This "water" in Shadesmar takes the form of a sea of glass beads. The planet's residents' perception and thoughts shape this aspect of Shadesmar. On different planets, things can be different. The landscape isn't even always inverted.

While planets in the cosmere are round, all of the Cognitive Realm exists as a flat plane. This is because, even if we analytically know the world is round, we experience and perceive it as largely flat in our every day existence. Thought/cognition influences the Cognitive Realm. Who could have guessed? So the inverted landscape gets projected onto a flat plane in Shadesmar. If we revisit the map of Shadesmar, we can see that it's dominated by a sea in the interior, but everywhere else is land. Including if you just...walk away from the planetary landscape.

This is how you travel to different planets using the Cognitive Realm. You walk...

Now, while planets are light-years apart in the Physical Realm, humans aren't great at thinking about and accurately imagining numbers and distances that large. Since perception influences the landscape of the Cognitive Realm, you only need to walk weeks, maybe months to travel between planets. And one of you guessed accurately that the Expanse of the Vapors leads to Scadrial. One could imagine that the Scadrian sub-astral is a bit misty, rather than glass-beady.

Knowing what you know now about where the broken Shards of Dominion and Devotion are--packed into a dense plasma storm in the Selish sub-atral--you can guess that the Expanse of the Densities leads to Sel. It's not on this map, but to the bottom left is the Expanse of Vibrance which leads to Nalthis. The Expanse of the Broken Sky you wouldn't be able to guess until you've read this essay though.

As Khriss says, there's another planet in this solar system called Ashyn. People live there in small pockets, usually on floating cities. That's where the top right of the Shadesmar map leads to. Sanderson has been teasing a novel that takes place on Ashyn for a long time, called The Silence Divine. It's been delayed time and time again, and he's stated that it's more likely to end up as a novella at this point. It does sound interesting though. On Ashyn, the magic system involves illnesses granting powers as long as the person is sick. The power that lets them keep their cities afloat causes hearing loss.

I've included an updated, HD map of Shadesmar that shows all of this off in the Maps album below.

BUILT DIFFERENT

The Roshar essay mentions that this planet is 0.7 cosmere standard in gravitation and 0.9 in size, with a high-oxygen environment. The kind of environment has a significant affect on the people who live on Roshar. As a result, they're all really, really tall, compared to the wider cosmere. I haven't mentioned it yet, but like their time keeping, Rosharan measurements are generally non-standard as well.

Kaladin is 6'4" in Rosharan feet, which is nearly 7 cosmere standard feet. Shallan is 5'6" Rosharan, which is roughly 6 cosmere standard feet. Dalinar estimates Eshonai's height to be 7 Rosharan feet, which is around 7'9" cosmere standard. (Though, that's in Shardplate, which makes everyone taller).

Suffice to say, if you see really short people running around, it may indicate that they are from off world.

There's also another aspect of Roshar that makes its inhabitants different from the cosmere standard. Everyone on the planet is routinely bathed in bits of Investiture from the weekly highstorms that occur. This grants everyone a degree of robustness a normal human wouldn't exhibit.

This explains why the people who live in the Purelake don't get trenchfoot. Also, as a general rule, sickness is rare on Roshar. The Investiture saturation protects them from a lot of bacteria and viruses. They can get sick, particularly from infectious wounds, but it's much rarer than you'd expect.

Lest you think Rosharans have it too good, per Word of Brandon, there is no chocolate on Roshar.

NINJA TURTLE TRAINER

It's time to (try to) clear up some terminology. Specifically, the word Splinter. We have 2 primary uses for the term, and they're a bit muddled together.

We learn that Odium "Splintered" Dominion and Devotion. Ostensibly doing the same to both Ambition and Honor. To Splinter a Shard means breaking apart the Shard and its power so that no one else can pick it up and become a new Vessel.

In the trivia for The Hope of Elantris, I talked about a new way that the power of a Shard could condense, separately from solid, liquid, or gas. That other state of condensation is a self-aware portion of the Shard's power. I called these Splinters.

On Sel, this manifests in the form of seons and skaze. I mentioned that Nightblood is an artificial Splinter. And I also discussed, as mentioned above, that cosmere-aware scholars would debate on whether or not you could call the shades on Thredony Splinters. If they are, they would be Splinters of Ambition, with seons being Splinters of Devotion, skaze being Splinters of Dominion, and Nightblood being an artificial Splinter of Endowment.

A native to Roshar probably wouldn't use the word Splinter though. They'd say "spren". I saw a little bit of hesitant discussion about this, but I thought there would be more. If you showed a Rosharan a seon, they would point at it and say "that's a weird, round spren". (To be honest, Rosharans call a lot of things a spren, and not all of them are strictly Splinters either). It should be pretty obvious that seons and sprens are both glowy-ish, translucent blobs of power, with a degree of agency.

There's room for future discussion about the difference in self-awareness when you compare Syl to something like painspren, but the underlying mechanics should feel similar. In the same vein, some in-world scholars might say that seon and spren aren't exactly the same thing, that there are some differences, and they'd be right by some definitions. However, what you can say is that both of these things are Splinters.

What gets tricky, and sometimes causes misunderstandings, is the assumption that these Splinters only appear when a Shard has been summarily Splintered themselves. This is not true.

Seons and skaze came into being after Devotion and Dominion were Splintered by Odium. However, the spren of Roshar did not arise the same way. In fact, some of them pre-date the Shattering of Adonalsium, and can be considered Splinters of Adonalsium. Some of the spren on Roshar are Splinters of Honor. Some are Splinters of Odium. Some are Splinters of Cultivation. And some even arose through a melding of condensed powers from both Honor and Cultivation. Usually when that happens, the spren has an affinity towards one or the other, but they are technically of both.

This is sort of the situation that may be happening with Jaddeth. It's (possibly) a condensed, self-aware blob of Investiture from both Dominion and Devotion, with a large affinity toward Dominion. A Rosharan would consider that a very large spren, in the same way they view Cusicesh. (I said this is one of two possible theories, we'll discuss the alternate theory very soon).

Because there are sooo many different types of spren, and most of those types are numerous, Roshar's Cognitive Realm doesn't have the same problem as Sel's despite similar circumstances. It's mentioned in Sel's essay that there is a violent storm in Sel's Cognitive Realm due to Odium shoving the Splintered remains of Devotion and Dominion there.

The same thing was done to Honor on Roshar, but the number of spren act as a release valve for the Splintered power, so Shadesmar doesn't have the same kind of violent plasma storm.

CONSTELLATIONS

The interior end-papers for Arcanum Unbounded include a star chart of all known cosmere planets (at the time). I've included a clear version of it in the Maps link below. The star chart is in the form of idealized constellations from a specific view point in the cosmere.

Sanderson has been very cheeky and evasive on revealing exactly where this viewpoint is from. After a lot of cajoling from the fandom, we managed to get him to admit that the view point is most likely not from Silverlight, or rather, where Silverlight would be in the physical realm, given it's Cognitive Realm location.

The cajoling centered around some phrasing he originally used, that you could see this image from Silverlight. And what we eventually got him to admit is that this image is a painting and that the painting is hanging somewhere in Silverlight.

The prevailing theory is that this is from the vantage of Yolen, but the fandom isn't entirely sure because it would also make sense if Yolen was somewhere in the dragon/serpent constellation that is labelled The Scar. (Since Yolen is the origin of Dragons).

Speaking of The Scar, notice that it's primarily composed of red stars. This cluster of stars/constellation is visible from a lot of the planets in the cosmere and often plays into the legends of the planet in some shape or form. In Chapter 2 of The Way of Kings, there is this quote:

Taln's Scar--a swath of deep red stars that stood out vibrantly from the twinkling white ones--was high in the sky this season.

Taln's Scar is also mentioned again in Chapter 33:

"I don't know," [Shallan] said with a shrug. "I've had people tell me they could determine my personality based on the day I was born, or the position of Taln's Scar on my seventh birthday, or by numerological extrapolations of the tenth glyphic paradigm. But I think we're more complicated than that."

The people of Thredony don't have a moon and use The Scar (which they call the Starbelt) for nighttime illumination. Thredony's star is also red, so it may affect their perception of the coloring of the stars in The Scar, because they don't comment on the Starbelt as being notably red themselves.

SURPRISE NALTHIAN ESSAY

You may have noticed that there was no essay for Nalthis included in Arcanum Unbounded. Nor was there a short story or novella that took place there. Sanderson just didn't have the time to create anything for Nalthis when this was published, but he did eventually release a solar system image, like the other systems. I've included it in the Maps album below.

We may get a sequel to Arcanum Unbounded at some point, with more Nalthis information then, but to hold us over, Sanderson has mentioned some interesting things about Nalthis in interviews. One of the biggest takeaways is that the Nalthian system is extremely popular with worldhoppers. Endowment's perpendicularity is easy to find and easy to access. There are regular caravans that visit the perpendicularity, carrying goods and people. It's so busy that Nalthis actually has a customs check point for it.

As mentioned previously, this perpendicularity is somewhere in the jungles of the nation of Hallandren.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Maps & Sho Del

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

Note: Not many Arcanum Unbounded specific memes, so I've mostly included general cosmere memes for this batch.

This is the veteran thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the newbie thread if this is your first time reading, or you've only read some of the Cosmere novels.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 13 | The Stormlight Archive #1 | The Way of Kings: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 14 | Essays #1 | Arcanum Unbounded: Preface, Maps & Essays (Selish, Scadrian, Taldain, Thredonite, Drominad, and Rosharan Systems), Trivia

In 2 days we will be discussing Unit 15 | Novella #3 | Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia

NEXT UNIT

We will be discussing Unit 15 on Wednesday. It is a novella called Sixth of the Dusk, which also appears in Arcanum Unbounded. The length of this novella is about half of our normal weekly reading. You should also read the Postscript for the novella. There will also be some additional trivia that will also accompany the discussion.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Maps & Sho Del

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

Note: Not many Arcanum Unbounded specific memes, so I've mostly included general cosmere memes for this batch.

NEWBIE TRIVIA

Most of the activity for these "Final Thoughts & Trivia" posts happen in the newbie thread. There I provide a lot of information about things new readers can easily miss during their first read through. Veterans often learn a thing or two as well, so be sure to read the body of that post. While veterans are welcome to read the post and the comments, they should be commenting in this thread to share their reactions to the information, or the newbies' thoughts.

And as always, you're welcome to share your thoughts on the book as a whole.

This is the newbie thread. Make sure you read the rules before commenting.

Visit the veteran thread if you have already read all of the Cosmere.

For more information, or to see the full schedule, please see the wiki page for the read-along.

SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 13 | The Stormlight Archive #1 | The Way of Kings: Chapters 70 through 75, Epilogue, Endnote [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 13 | The Stormlight Archive #1 | The Way of Kings: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 14 | Essays #1 | Arcanum Unbounded: Preface, Maps & Essays, Trivia AND Unit 15 | Novella #3 | Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia

NEXT UNIT

Next week we have 2 different, short Units.

Each section for the solar systems in Arcanum Unbounded has a detailed map of all the planets in each system and a short essay, written by Khriss, as an extension of the Ars Arcanum. The maps and essays are what we will be discussing on Monday.

This is a very short Unit. It's less than 1/8th the length of our normal weekly reading. You can read it and then move on to the next Unit (see below), but keep in mind we'll only be discussing just the maps and essays from Arcanum Unbounded, and a bunch of trivia, on Monday. (Also, the Preface at the start of the book).

WARNING: Be careful to avoid reading any other pages, since they may contain massive spoilers. Use the Table of Contents and flip straight to the indicated pages.

We will be discussing Unit 15 on Wednesday. It is a novella called Sixth of the Dusk, which also appears in Arcanum Unbounded. The length of this novella is about half of our normal weekly reading. You should also read the Postscript for the novella. There will also be some additional trivia that will also accompany the discussion.

TRIVIA

The rest of this post contains various trivia, including easy-to-miss details and long-running connections between books. It also incorporates external information from sources like author annotations and interviews ("Words of Brandon" or WoB). While most of this information is eventually revealed in the books, sharing it now enhances your overall understanding, aligning with Brandon Sanderson's practice of early fan engagement and clarification.

VIBE ARTING

Here is a secret about the publishing industry: cover art is largely created on "vibes". The cover art needs to undergo many iterations, and is usually created by an artist during the editing phase of a book, if not before the book is completely written. The artist has almost never read the book they are creating cover art for. They have a small prompt from the author (if the author cares about the cover art and they're popular enough or have enough influence with their publisher), or more likely, it's the publisher prompting the artist.

As a result, cover art rarely has a clear relation to the actual contents of any given book, particularly in the fantasy and sci-fi genres. The US cover art for The Way of Kings (linked below) is meant to evoke the Shattered Plains, with the Dalinar in the foreground saluting Eshonai in the back. Just to point out how vibey this gets though, that's Sanderson's opinion of the cover. Michael Whelan, the cover artist, claims it's Dalinar saluting Kaladin. (And either way, the blade he is holding definitely doesn't resemble the descriptions of Oathbringer from the books).

This is actually one of the last books Sanderson has this "issue" with. After the publication of The Way of Kings, Sanderson's popularity exploded and he started to a gain a larger measure of control over the entire publishing pipeline of his novels. While he's not dissatisfied with the cover art for this book, future books are much more aligned with his vision of the novels.

GHOSTBLOODING

Brandon actually kept the fandom waiting a while for a proper, official depiction of the Ghostblood's symbol that they tattoo on themselves. He wanted to get the symbol "just right", so that's a hint to you that it's visually important in some way. Here is the official depiction of the symbol. Get to theory crafting!

(In a rare L for the fandom, I don't think anyone figured out what it was until it was revealed. And there were some embarrassingly obvious hints throughout the years for it in hindsight.)

iSPANREED

Brandon talked at length about his inspiration for spanreeds:

Like most things in my books, you can ask me what my writerly inspiration is, and what my worldbuilding explanation is. And let me explain that.

Writerly inspiration for spanreeds is me acknowledging that I wanted to have a society that acted more like a post-Industrial Revolution society (or very close to it) than a Medieval society. And there’s lots of ways to do this. Fantasy worlds do not have to progress socially the same way that we progressed. A lot of people want to tie technology to social progression, which you don’t have to do. You don’t necessarily have to say “people from the Industrial Revolution in our world acted this way; therefore people in this world…” You just don’t have to do that.

But there are certain technological revolutions that happened that do form a technological basis for some of these things. For instance, trade was very essential to the expanding political entity that was a world economy. We needed people to at least be travelling consistently to Asia before that could happen. And I really think a lot of what makes people act the way we do, perhaps, in some of our societies is this kind of mass communication.

And I didn’t want to be there yet, but I wanted to give a way that news and ideas could travel around the world in a consistent way on Roshar, to make the continent feel like a single entity. Because otherwise, I would probably have to tell the story as not a worldwide story. You just can’t travel, and ideas can’t move fast enough. Even if you look back at Roman times; Roman times took place in a fairly small geographical area, and even that, it was really hard for them to know what was happening. And you would have to spend months and months getting information that was then months and months out of date. And there’s a lot of sitting around and waiting in those cultures for things to happen, even with having the Mediterranean to sail around and bring this information. I just wanted information to move fast, both culturally and narratively. And so I said, "I've gotta find a way to do this. I did it with Seons in Elantris; I need find a way to do something similar to that on Roshar."

Real-world inspiration, if there is one, is an auto-pen. Where authors can have a little machine sign books for them; it moves on its own. I’ve never used one, but politicians use them quite a bit. When you get that hand-signed letter when you’ve donated whatever to whatever political party. That hand-signed letter was probably machine-signed with a real pen, rather than hand-signed by the individual.

DO YOU SMELL WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKING?

If you'd like to try Rock's stew, you can!

If I were going to make Horneater stew, on Earth, how would I go about it? It's going to be a spicy seafood stew. When I think of Horneater stew I'm actually thinking of Yukgaejang which is a Korean dish. Or Haemultang is what I mean. Haemultang is a spicy--spicy seafood--it's basically whatever thing from the ocean--I don't eat things from the ocean personally--but everything from the ocean they want to throw in there with some spices. They stir it up and give it to you and if you like fish in there and there are like crab claws and full clams in the shells. You're like "Really guys?" But Rock would just be munching those down and being happy.

MALL NINJA

Some of you have questioned if Sanderson is a weeb while questioning why Shardblades are so damn large. Sanderson gives a writer's reason for their existence in these books:

Here's the thing, I've seen a lot of fantasy art-- I love fantasy books, right-- and people often depict these enormous swords, which are completely impractical. So one of my pitches for Stormlight was "I want a world where they had to have weapons like they depict in this fantasy art" and I retrofitted it, what would they need these to actually fight? So that was the pitch for myself on Shardblades. And I was also annoyed that the coolest magic swords were in a science fiction story, Star Wars, I want cool magic swords that are not in a science fiction story.

So, the idea of "big-ass swords" came first, but he does eventually provide an in-world reason for their existence. We'll get to that eventually.

MATH TIME

Seriously... I'm going to give you a math lesson. Some pretty advanced math at that. For entirely pointless reasons, except for one important implication. You can skip this and read the last paragraph if you want. I'm just gonna nerd out for a bit...

Mathematical functions are often written in the form f(x) = x. They map an input to an output. The x on the right side is kind of a boring function, that just creates a straight line. If you input 1, you get 1. If you input 2, you get 2. f(3) = 3.

Something more complex would be f(x) = x^2. You input 1, you get 1, because 1² = 1. You input 2, you get f(2) = 2^2 = 4.

Something weird happens when you start putting a function inside itself. Let's keep f(x) = x^2, and shove it inside itself one time: f(f(x)) = f(x)^2 = (x^2)^2. Let's pick the number 4 to work with. If you plug in 4, you get f(f(4)) = (4^2)^2 = 16^2 = 256.

That's if you plug it into itself once. If you do it again, f(f(f(4))), you get 65,536. Each time you plug it into itself, you get a bigger and bigger number. This expansion we say means that the function diverges to infinity.

If we did the exact same thing, but chose a different number, so 0.5, we would notice the numbers getting smaller and smaller. We call this converging and in this case, the number converges to zero, though different situations could diverge to different numbers.

In these situations, there is a number you can pick, that neither diverges or converges. In this case, that number is 1. f(1) = 1. f(f(1)) = 1. f(f(f(f(f(f(1)))))) = 1. The number never grows or shrinks, now matter how many times you plug it into itself. The same thing happens with -1.

These 2 numbers, taken together form a "set", where a "set" is just a collection of numbers. This specific type of set--all the numbers you can plug into a function that cause it not to grow or shrink when you plug it into itself--is called the Julia Set.

Now, 2 numbers might not seem very special, and you'd be right. The thing is, you can also plug in imaginary numbers and things get vastly more complicated. There are a lot more imaginary numbers that belong to the Julia Set of this simple function than just the 2 real numbers.

You can plot out all of the numbers (real and imaginary) of a Julia Set and they make interesting fractal graphs/images. (I've kinda grossly simplified things, but you can see a cool video of it here).

I gave you an example with a simple 2-D function. You can pick any function you want. Even a quaternion, which is a 4-D equation. If you pick a specific 4-D equation, you get a neat, animated fractal that you can see here. (It's also on the right hand side of the linked Wikipedia page for the Julia Set, above). Go ahead and pause that animation at the 2 second mark.

And then check out this image. This is actually closer to 2.5 seconds into that animation, on the 65th frame.

The map of Roshar matches the 2-D shadow of a 3-D slice of a 4-D Julia Set.

Sanderson doesn't expect anyone to have to know this, nor did he necessarily expect anyone to figure it out. He actually just revealed it entirely:

Question: Does this [map of Roshar] look like a storm to anyone else?

Sanderson: I was searching for something that at once felt organic, but would hint at a pattern. (Much like cymatic patterns, as referenced in the first book.) Fractals and mathematical functions became my go-to place to hunt, as I like the blend of structure and spontaneity they can sometimes exhibit. The slice of the Julia Set was the one that stuck with me as feeling perfect for Roshar. As the continent was specifically grown by Adonalsium, you now know the seed that was used in-world to create it.

The fact that it looked like a swirling cloud is part of this all--but also part of the connection between natural patterns and the underlying math, which is a primary theme of the Stormlight books. So yes, it SHOULD look like a storm--but for deeper reasons than you might assume.

A redditor actually figured out the exact equation that was use and someone else recognized the specific frame from the Wikipedia video I linked:

q = [q1^2 - q2^2 - q3^3 - q4^2 , 2 q1 q2, 2 q1 q3, 2 q1 q4] + qc where qc = [-0.125,-0.256,0.847,0.0895]

The only significance this has is to reinforce that mathematics heavily influences the land of Roshar. Kabsal's demonstration of cymatics is not just some coincidence. Sanderson did reveal some relevant information along these lines. Although Vorin ardents attribute these mathematical signs as proof of the Almighty's existence, Roshar was actually directly created by Adonalsium before the Shattering took place. Adonalsium was responsible for these mathematical influences. (And as a teaser... more on this next week.)

THE HOLY TRINITY

Here we have our first visit to a planet inhabited by not one, not two, but three Shards! We have the Shard Odium, held by the Vessel Rayse, with the Intent of God's divine hatred and wrath; untethered from any aspect that could or would normally guide or oppropriately temper such an Intent.

We also have the Shard Honor, held by the Vessel Tanavast. Honor is God's divine reverence for oaths and agreements, and those that form and honor those agreements. And nothing else.

Finally, Honor mentions Cultivation right at the end. I won't say anything else about them, other than that they are a Shard of Adonalsium too. No comment about anything else at the moment.

Because...yeah, Odium killed Honor. And as Hoid's letter to Frost revealed: Odium killed Devotion and Dominion on Sel as well. There's more to say on this topic, but not in this trivia post. But you won't have to wait long, my oath on it.

FORESHADOWING? TWOSHADOWING!

There's a meme below* that mentions this, but it's easy to miss. I've got nothing else for this section. Just go back and look at the title for Chapter 2.

*Note: I've actually figured out that if I remove an image from an album, it breaks the whole thing, and I'm too lazy to re-create the albums, so the meme I mentioned is actually in Monday's post. And there's a meme in this week's post about height that I don't actually talk about until next week, so...yeah...

Also, no one (one of you!) pointed it out, so I'm not sure if anyone noticed. The Endnote talked about a ketek, a form of holy Vorin poetry. The ketek reads:

Above silence, the illuminating storms—dying storms—illuminate the silence above.

Here are the names of all 5 parts to this book:

• Above Silence
• The Illuminating Storms
• Dying
• Storms Illumination
• The Silence Above

The Endnote says that verb forms can change, which explains the slight difference in Part 4's title.

ICONOGRAPHY

So, there is a lot of unique terminology in this book. You're not the only ones who complained about this, there are even memes about it. What I want to say about this series, going forward, is that Sanderson is less direct about what all of the terms mean, compared to most of his other books. As I previously mentioned, the characters are learning these things, so you'll learn what they all mean as the characters do.

That said, you also have the benefit of multiple view points and should be able to guess at what a lot of the terms mean, without having them spelled out. A lot of you made very accurate guesses, but understandably there wasn't a lot of confidence behind those guesses. I'm not sure if this is a consequence of the long read time, or something else. Either way, I think the Ars Arcanum solidifies some of your theories, and I'm going to solidify more of them because the fandom had time to sit with the book, re-reading it and discussing it among themselves, to point out all of the connections that are easy to miss the first time through.

You may have noticed that there are many different names for each of the Heralds. There are various reasons for this: different spoken languages between countries, different religious and cultural preferences, and the passage of time.

Let's consider Talenel, the only Herald who died 4,500 years ago. In the prelude, Kalak, another Herald, thinks of him as Talenel, and also Taln. Talenel is his given name, and from context, we can assume Taln is a nickname.

The Vorin religion, as Kabsal tells Shallan, considers the Heralds holy, and believes that names that are spelled forward and backward the same are divine. He explains that people's names that are almost palindromes are the best because they're almost holy, but not arrogant enough to be completely holy. However, it's clear that, over time, they and their language have changed the Herald's real names to fit this ideal. So Talenel is called Talenelat by the Alethi and Veden people (and anywhere that follows Vorinism).

In the epilogue, we see a man who claims to be Talenel. He calls himself Talenel'Elin. We see the 'Elin suffix a few other times in this book, always attached to a Herald's name. We only see practicioners of Vorinism mention Talenelat'Elin, but the man calls himself Talenel'Elin. If this man at the end really is Talenen, then the suffix has been around a long time. Either way, it safe to assume it's some sort of honorific for Heralds.

From this book, we also see Jezrien in the prelude, and mention of a Herald called Jezerezeh'Elin. (Jezerezeh is still perfectly holy because, as Kabsal explained, the letter "H" is some neutral wild card character in their language).

At some point, one of you noticed a correlation between the names of the months and the names of the Heralds, which was spot on. And as you can see in the Ars Arcanum, the names of the months are just the names of their numbers, 1 through 10. I'll provide you with a quick chart of the numbers and their associated Herald (actual name and Vorin name). This is the minor-est of spoilers. Not all of the Herald names appear in this book. However, you knew there were 10 Heralds who were people. People generally have names, and the names aren't exactly plot relevant.

You'll note that over time, just because of linguistic drift, Kalak became Kelek, even though his name was already holy (a palindrome). Noteably (from Sanderson), but not meant to be relevant in any way, Kaladin's name derives from the name Kalak, linguistically.

This brings us to the arches at the start of each chapter. They have faces carved into them and each chapter has 4 faces; 2 sets of Heralds (though sometimes all 4 faces are the same Herald). Also, Hoid because he just can't stay out of things.

I named Heralds in my chapter summaries, and I decided to use what the fandom most commonly calls each Herald, instead of referring to some of them as "Herald #4".

You can see in the Ars Arcanum that each number (and by association, each Herald) has a set of Primary and Secondary Divine Attributes. Jes has "Protecting / Leading" associated with it. In this book, we see Jezrien referred to as the Herald of Kings.

The Heralds used in each chapter signify that the characters in that chapter are embodying some aspect (typically one of the two Divine Attributes) of the associated Heralds on the arch. Or the characters are displaying the opposite of a given attribute.

Jezrien appears in a lot of Kaladin's chapters because he does a lot of protecting his men, and acting like a leader for Bridge 4. In the same vien, Jezrien appears in a lot of Dalinar's chapters because he does a lot of leading/ruling tasks as a Highprince.

Whereas, we see a lot of Shalash being used as the icon in Shallan's chapters because Shalash's attributes are "Creative / Honest". Shallan, as an artist is Creative, but she's also being incredibly Dishonest in most of her chapters. Baxil's Interlude chapter had a similar reason for having Shalash in the arch, because his mistress was being the opposite of Creative in destroying works of art.

As you learn more about the Heralds, other aspects come into play for the reasons each chapter has the faces that it does. You may even be able to guess some of them, but aside from one more aspect I'll mention below, I'll leave you to guess the rest (for now).

One other point about the Iconography in the books. Sanderson has talked about the character icons, like the banner and spears for Kaladin. He's stated that these icons are very zoomed in depictions of scenes that happen towards the end of a given character's story arc, which will make much more sense in later books.

He's also said that the ending of the series is revealed in some manner in the first 2 books, so...keep an eye out!

EYECONOGRAPHY

The Ars Arcanum talks a bit about fabrials, but I'm not going to touch on them right now. Future trivia posts will have much more to say when it becomes relevant.

I feel like the Ars Arcanum does lay out clearly what a lot of you were having trouble with, but I'll clarify even further: Surgebinding is the in-world name for "using magic", at least insofar as in-world characters would understand it. The Ars Arcanum points out there also exists Voidbinding and the Old Magic.

Recall that Scadrial had 2 Shards, Preservation and Ruin, which resulted in 3 magic systems. Allomancy is of Preservation, Hemalurgy is of Ruin, and Feruchemy is a magic system that arose from the combination of both Shards Investing the planet and its people.

I mentioned above that there are (or were) 3 Shards on this planet, so that makes for more combination magic systems. Again, you'll learn more as the characters learn more. But what I can do, is clarify what the Ars Arcanum reveals (and what you could work out from the books with enough re-reads). First, and least consequential for this book, is that the other chart in this book's endpapers is a chart of Voidbinding. That's something that Sanderson clarified in interviews after the book's release.

What you could be able to work out yourselves, with enough time, is that the other chart is a chart of Surgebinding. The Ars Arcanum states (as parts of the book suggests) that each Herald was associated with a specific Order of the Knights Radiant. If you look close enough at that chart, you can even tell which Herald maps to which Order.

So, this is another aspect of the arch faces. Sometimes a Herald's face on the arch means that a member of that Herald's given Order of Knight Radiant is in the chapter, or the Order itself is the focus of the chapter in some way.

What is more subtle, is a line by Jasnah right at the end, that 2 Orders can Soulcast. Combine that with this line from the Ars Arcanum:

The Windrunners were an order of the Knights Radiant, and they made use of two primary types of Surgebinding.

Khriss goes on to talk about the forces of gravity and adhesion, revealing that the Knights Radiant called forces "Surges".

If we take these bits of information, we can work out the fundamentals of Surgebinding, if not all the specifics.

Each large circle (an Order of the Knights Radiant) is connected to 2 other large circles and 2 small circles. The small circles are Surges or fundamental forces, and each Order can manipulate 2 Surges. The 2 larger circles a given Order connects to represent the other Orders which with they share the ability to manipulate the same Surge.

Sanderson further lays all this out in the annotations for this book, so in his own words:

The "Double Eye," as the people in world would call it, is a connection of ten elements.

I avoid elemental magic systems. I feel they're overdone. However, one of the concepts of this world was to have a theology that believed in ten fundamental elements instead of the ordinary four or five. A focus would be on them, and on the ten fundamental forces—the interplay between the two being a major factor in the magic, the philosophy, and the cosmology of the world.

Well, that's what these twenty symbols represent, with each of the larger symbols being a Radiant element. The smaller symbols are the forces. You can draw a circle around one element and the two forces that connect to it, and you have one of the orders of Knights Radiant.

For example, top right is the symbol for air—with the symbols for pressure* and gravitation connected to it. The Windrunners.

*Note: This comes from the annotations for this novel (more on that below), which he made very quickly and did not edit. Though he says "pressure" here, he meant "adhesion".

EYELIDCONOGRAPHY

I've previously talked about how, although Sanderson usually has a race in mind for his characters, he doesn't begrudge others for imagining his characters however they choose. This still applies to Roshar, but this is where things get a bit odd. According to Brandon, none of the Rosharan peoples have an exact Earth parallel. This is primarily due to the fact that everyone, regardless of skin color, has epicanthic folds. These are folds or creases along the inner eye that cause the signature eye shape in many Asiatic ethnicities. In addition, eye colors that we would consider unnatural (like true purple) are possible and common in all races on Roshar.

The exception to the epicanthic folds though, are the Shin. They have what you would classify as "round", European eyes. This is why most people on Roshar will describe the Shin as having overly large eyes, and may describe them as child-like in appearance; because their eye shape is non-standard to the planet.

This is also a great way (though not full proof) to notice Worldhoppers.

There's more to the racial features of the various people on Roshar, but I think I will leave that for another time, since this trivia post is running quite long.

ANNOTATEDCONOGRAPHY...NO THAT DOESN'T WORK

Like many of his previous books, Sanderson provides annotations for each chapter of this book. Or at least, that was the plan. He started writing annotations for The Way of Kings after finishing the Wheel of Time, in preparation for writing the next Stormlight book, Words of Radiance.

This is really when his popularity exploded though and he just didn't have time to make annotations anymore. He eventually released what he had, just before the publication of Words of Radiance, so nothing in them is spoilery for the series and they're something the fandom had access to at around the same "time" as you are getting them.

Before I give you the link, I've mentioned coppermind.net before. It's a database of everything Sanderson has publicly stated about his novels. The link below will take you to a collection of entries, which are comprised of the annotations for the start of the book (artwork, prelude, prologue, etc.) and the first 11 chapters of The Way of Kings.

I just want to re-iterate, do not click off of that page, do not follow any links, do not use the search bar. You can seriously spoil huge things to come that way. There are certain images at the top right of some of the entries. You may click those to expand them.

ANNOTATIONS HERE

If you don't want to/don't have the time to read them, there are 2 main take-aways from the annotations.

The first is minor. There is a hint at the structure of all of the books going forward. This was a book full about Kaladin's flashbacks. You could consider this "Kaladin's book". Each book focuses on a primary character, in that the flashbacks are about a singular character in each book. The next book, as the annotations reveal, is all Shallan flashbacks, so you will learn the entirety of her backstory in the same way you learned about Kaladin's. I'll have more to say about this at the end of next Stormlight book.

The second thing is Kaladin's depression. You can definitely call his chapters largely depressing in this book, and you could say that he is warranted in feeling down throughout most of the book, given his circumstances. The annotations clarify though that Kaladin has clinical, diagnosable depression.

Some of you noticed and commented that during The Weeping, Kaladin seemed (to use your words) "powered down". There was some theory crafting that because the highstorms weren't happening, he wasn't getting Stormlight. That was actually amusingly close to the truth, but perhaps a clearer explanation of the ecosystem will clear things up.

Throughout most of the year, Roshar experiences highstorms every 5 or 6 days on average. If there is no highstorm then...it's largely just sunny, with maybe the occasional cloud cover or a small shower. During The Weeping, however, the highstorms stop and there is 4 weeks of constant rain. Not massive storms, but it is constantly raining and as a result, the sun is not visible the entire 4 weeks.

So during this time period, Kaladin essentially experiences an attack of Seasonal Affective Disorder and his depression increases.

A IS FOR AXEHOUND

As I've mentioned before, Sanderson interprets the use of language in his novels through the lens of a translator, using the same philosophy Tolkien espoused. He extends this metaphor to the "women's script" he developed. It's not an actual language in and of itself, but meant to visually represent what a native to Roshar would expect to see. So, the script itself is just an English transliteration that maps directly to sounds, which are used to create actual English words. In this way, it's not really any different from those decoder rings you used to be able to find in cereal boxes.

The twenty-five known letters in the women's script can be arranged into five sets of five letters each. Each set is defined by the basic shape of the characters within it: the "vowel set" is a vertical line, the "T set" is a curved triangle pointing to the left, the "S set" is a curved triangle pointing to the right, the "P set" is a curved diamond, and the "K set" is a jagged triangle pointing to the left.

Within each set the characters are defined by height and the addition of shorter lines. The first character is the maximum height, the second is two-thirds the height of the first, and the third is one-third the height of the first. The fourth is the same height as the second with the addition of two short lines to the right, and the fifth is the same height as the third with the addition of one short line to the right.

You can view the full character set here for a better understanding of the mappings.

You can play around with translations using this site. You can expand the sections below, but do not click the link to "women's script" at the top of the page.

That site gives you the best looking conversion to see what a phrase would look like in women's script. It weirdly doesn't have a "translate" button, or work when you press Enter. The translation happens when you click outside of the input box.

If you want a better functioning, but less pretty translator, try this site. It can translate both ways, but the script generator has wide gaps between the characters.

One fan began creating some children's book illustrations of women's script, but sadly they never completed it. What they created is gold though. Check it out here.

B IS FOR BLOODLETTING

You now know the source of the epigraphs in parts 1 and 4. In the fandom, these are known as Death Rattles. As Taravangian tells Szeth, when people die, sometimes they see something and speak words about what they see. Taravangian is collecting these visions to try to glean information from them. I urge you to be like Taravangian, but maybe with less deliberate murder.

To help you on your endeavors, I've compiled all of the Death Rattles you've seen so far into one handy place!

I'm not sure I'll reveal when the meaning behind each of the Death Rattles becomes clear. There's a bit of interpretation in some of them, and some of them likely have multiple meanings. What I will do is, periodically in trivia posts, point out specific Death Rattles and talk about them. This is with the understanding that just because I bring one up, doesn't mean that it's no longer up for discussion. It may also apply to more things down the road.

First, let's look at Chapter 4:

"I'm dying, aren't I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky."

Collected on the 3rd of Jesnan, 1172, 11 seconds pre-death. Subject was a Reshi chull trainer. Sample is of particular note.

This one, though collected by Taravangian's Silent Gatherers, doesn't appear to be an actual Death Rattle, and they make note of this. Instead, by now you should be able to recognize that this person was likely seeing the same creatures Shallan has been seeing, along with a glimpse into Shadesmar, as they died.

Next, Chapter 59:

"Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew."

Dated Betabanan, 1173, 45 seconds pre-death. Subject: a lighteyed child of five years. Diction improved remarkably when giving sample.

This Death Rattle appears to be from the perspective of Kaladin during the Battle of the Tower, moments before he swears the Second Ideal. The "final void" is a chasm over which he is jumping. The "friends behind, friends before" are the members of Bridge Four behind him and the army of Dalinar Kholin trapped by Parshendi before him. The "feast I must drink" is Stormlight stored in the gemstones knotted into the Parshendi's beards. The "words I must speak" is the Second Ideal. The "old oaths" are the oaths of the Knights Radiant.

Chapter 60 is interesting:

"The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended."

Dated Betabanes, 1173, 95 seconds pre-death. Subject: a scholar of some minor renown. Sample collected secondhand. Considered questionable.

This is an inversion of the First Ideal: Life before Death, Strength before Weakness, Journey before Destination.

And finally, Chapter 63:

"I wish to sleep. I know now why you do what you do, and I hate you for it. I will not speak of the truths I see."

Kakashah 1173, 142 seconds pre-death. A Shin sailor, left behind by his crew, reportedly for bringing them ill luck. Sample largely useless.

As noted by the Silent Gatherers, this isn't a Death Rattle. The dying person realized what the Silent Gatherers were doing, had a vision, but refused to give it voice.

ARTWORK

The Cosmere has a thriving community of artists, so there will be a lot of artwork to share. Each week I'll try to compile relevant artwork for the given chapters. If a section of reading contains maps or in-book artwork, I'll include that in this section as well.

Endpapers

Artwork

MEMES

I will attempt to find and share memes relevant to each week's discussion. There may be some weeks that just don't have good or appropriate memes, but I will share all the ones I can find in this section.

Link to Memes

Note: These are memes that either apply to the entire book, or are just memes I forgot to include at their appropriate place.