Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive

He looks like a regular Cryptic in Shadesmar. As he manifests in the Physical Realm, he's something of an infant Cryptic.

The symbolheads are indeed cryptics. However, I suppose it's possible that there are other spren that manifest as creatures with horrible, twisted symbols for faces. I mean, why not?

Even after knowing Pattern, the descriptions of the symbolheads give me the shivers.

Could be Voidbringers for all we know.

So here's a thought. How would Shardhammers or Shardmaces work? I mean, Shardblades cut through everything and sever souls, would those smash everything? That could be mighty useful.

I just assumed they weren't meaningfully different from normal hammers (other than being indestructible), and Kaladin only shifted Syl into those forms because he hadn't had time to practice or think about it too much.

I don't see how Shardhammers would be any better besides being lighter than a normal hammer. From what we've seen, you need to cut something for a Shard to actually do anything (see: Dalinar catching Szeth's blade by the flat.).

It's possible that being struck in your bare chest by a shardhammer would smash your soul while leaving your body relatively unharmed. Unlikely, but possible.

edited 19th Apr '14 2:52:37 PM by Durazno

As long as we're on the topic, I wonder how flexible the Shardblade's shapeshifting is. Shardballistae, anyone?

Maybe she could turn into an arrow and then come back. The setting does have those "shardbows" that aren't really shards, after all.

Shardfork? Shardfryingpan? Shardboomerang?

Shardbananaphone?

All shall tremble before the Shardspork.

I wouldn't want to stick that in my mouth.

Since they can change size as well as shape, I'm wondering if that'll be a justification for Variable-Length Chain weapons.

edited 19th Apr '14 11:56:07 PM by RavenWilder

Re-reading it. Couple thoughts.

The Order that would approve of Adolin's actions appears to be the Skybreakers; when Kaladin first brings up killing Amaram, Syl tells him "You're not a Skybreaker," even though she doesn't know what it means. Plus, they follow the Herald of Justice. The flight abilities they're implied to have would also fit Adolin's status as Kaladin's foil.

Adolin's Blade appears to be an Edgedancer spren, judging by the misty vines that appear when he summons and dismisses it. I guess that means he won't be able to awaken it and become its new Knight. A little disappointing, but oh well.

I can't believe I missed this the first time, but when Elhokar tries to have Kaladin killed, Dalinar flat-out says that doing so will make Dalinar an enemy. Wow. Also, in that context it's more clear that Dalinar was mad at Kaladin not for challenging someone above his station, but for screwing up the plan. I mean, that was already clear, but it's more clear.

Did Shallan's father avoid hurting her because he loved her too much...or because he was afraid of her?

Actually, Brandon confirmed that the Skybreakers wouldn't approve of what Adolin did.

I've said it before, but I think Adolin won't become a Radiant.

Anyway, here's a thought. We have several orders with no members yet, and several candidates. For the orders with members, we have:

• Windrunners: Kaladin.
• Skybreakers: Szeth.
• Edgedancers: Lift.
• Truthwatchers: Renarin.
• Lightweavers: Shallan.
• Elsecallers: Jasnah.
• Bondsmiths: Dalinar.
  
  Which leaves the Dustbringers (apparently important, since they're noted to be among the most dangerous of the orders), Willshapers and Stonewardens (the mad Herald's order — should be interesting). And for candidates, we have Lopen and Elhokar, don't know if anyone else? I'm interested in seeing who will fill which role.

edited 29th Apr '14 6:38:03 AM by Ninety

I'm guessing Lopen will be a Stonewarden. They're all about resolve and dependability, which sounds like the kind of Order that would be happy to have the guy who spent months trying to breathe in Stormlight, long before he even saw his spren.

Elhokar might become a Willshaper, though it's hard to say because we don't know much about them. I'm mostly going off the fact that one of their Surges is Transportation (which he'd share with his sister) and they're known for having an affinity with the realm of the spren. That sounds like a guy who sees spren in mirrors, all right.

I also don't think Adolin will actually become a Radiant, but I'm just trying to figure out which one he could be. I guess Dustbringer, maybe. Their Herald is associated with Bravery and Obedience, which sounds a bit like the kind of people who would kill a man who hadn't done anything actually illegal, but was still planning to destroy everything your family was working towards.

I have a feeling that by the next book, we're going to start getting duplicate Radiants. Not sure how that would work for a lot of them, though. We know Syl is the only honorspren, but can she call back home and say "I've found my Radiant, it's safe to come find more"?

Also according to Word of Brandon, the Dustbringers (and possibly Willshapers) would be okay with what Adolin did.

I think that Eshonai could become a Willshaper, given that they all share a taste for adventure.

Rysn could possibly be a Stoneward, given that she has a lot of resolve.

Parshendi can't become Radiants.

Brandon said that it was very rare and hasn't been done before, but it's plausible in theory.

So who knows? It could happen...

I'm curious what happened to the Parshendi who fled rather than take stormform. Sure, a highstorm was coming in a couple days, but this is a species that merely changes form in a highstorm.

Chekhov'S Legion, I'd say. They're decent folk.

What's Jasnah's other surge?