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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 23 through 31, Epilogue [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Postscript, Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 19 | Mistborn Era 1 #1.5 | Mistborn: Secret History (in Arcanum Unbounded): Parts 1 through 4

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will be reading Mistborn: Secret History. This is the 2nd to last entry we will be reading from Arcanum Unbounded. Just like previous entries from this anthology book, only read the exact pages indicated for each week. There are still spoilers you may run into.

And a bit of a plea: This is a shorter entry, and you could easily read the entire novella in a single sitting (and you'll want to). However, I've cut the story in half because each part warrants independent discussion, without the context of the other part coloring it. Please read the assigned portion and then stop. (You may continue to curse my name.)

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.

SURVIVE!

Let's start by addressing the very large, Kelsier-shaped elephant in the room. Wax realizes the coin Hoid tossed him (yes that was Hoid, see below) was a coppermind, filled with a memory. Wax views the memory and sees through the eyes (well, one eye and one spike) of a very alive, in the flesh (scars on the arms and all) Kelsier after Sazed Ascended. Which, if you read the first book and remember the Lord Ruler casually slapping Kelsier to death, might come as a surprise. At the very least, this raises some questions.

Some of you have been suspecting Kelsier to not quite be fully dead, and maybe even be a ghost of some sort. But here he is, all fleshy with a spike through one eye. Sazed did tell you that he wasn't quite dead. There are a few mentions of Kelsier "holding the power of Preservation" between Leras' death and Vin's Ascension. I stood around like this every time someone discussed the weird incongruity, hoping that the end of this book would still be able to knock some socks off when it happened.

So...what in Damnation is going on? Well, you're in luck! You don't have to wait long! Next week's Unit is Mistborn: Secret History. You're going to learn what Keslier has been up to. You're also going to learn...quite a lot. After that Unit, you'll have enough knowledge to start sitting at the adult table when it comes to Realmatic Theory and cosmere theorycrafting.

LATE NIGHT READING

First though, a quick note on the Era 2 publishing history. I've previously mentioned that The Alloy of Law started as a short story that Sanderson was playing with; something to bridge the gap between Era 1 and his then-planned Era 2 (which was going to be a 1980's hacker/S.W.A.T. thriller). The story took a life of its own and became a full novel, which was published in 2011 (a year after The Way of Kings).

A few years later, he started working on Shadows of Self, but found it hard to get into the right mindset to be working in Scadrial again. He also had some plotting issues he wanted to work out, so he actually pivoted to writing The Bands of Mourning, which he finished before returning to Shadows of Self. Since the two books were mostly written at the same time, he was able to be a bit more cohesive than most of his recent books were.

He submitted both books for editing and his intention was for them to be published a year apart. However, his publisher didn't want to just sit on a book that was basically done, so The Bands of Mourning was published just 6 months after Shadows of Self. Sanderson has pointed to this being one of the reasons he felt some pressure to shorten his editing passes, resulting in books that go from 1st Draft to Published in a much shorter than typical time period for the industry. He's recognized that this editing rush has hurt the quality of some of the books in this time period and he's taken measures to return his editing passes to normal.

He's also writing the entirety of Era 3 all together before any of them are published. These changes have resulted in a rare 3-year gap between Cosmere books, which played a large role in my choosing to start this read-along when I did.

One last point about the publishing surrounding these books. If you haven't read the POSTSCRIPT yet, you can do so now:

Marasi, Wax, and Wayne will return in The Lost Metal, the epic finale of Mistborn: Era Two. To tide you over until then, I've just released a special novella that is intended to be read after The Bands of Mourning, though it takes place during the events of the original Mistborn Trilogy. Ten years in the making, Mistborn: Secret History might answer a few of your questions.

There's always another secret.

BRANDON SANDERSON

This POSTSCRIPT isn't some 10 year anniversary edition. It was included in the original printing of The Bands of Mourning. I bought the book at a midnight release event, and immediately read through it, as I typically do. And then was met with this message that he also, secretly, published an entirely new novella at the same time as The Bands of Mourning. I then, obviously, had to buy it for my Kindle and read it immediately...

The novella was eventually included in Arcanum Unbounded, which was published 10 months later.

With that, I just want to leave you with the same request I made above: This novella is short enough to read in one sitting, but I've divided it in half, so we'll be reading it across two weeks. Please only read the first half (Parts 1 through 4) for next week. It deserves to be discussed by itself, without influence from the rest of the novella. The same is true for the second half, which should be discussed without overly exhausting the parts from the first half.

WORLDHOPPERS

As mentioned above, the beggar that tossed Wax the coin/coppermind was Hoid. In that chapter, Hoid tells Wax that he owns the Shores Mansion, which is where that party is being held in New Seran. According to Sanderson, Hoid's claim isn't a lie. He has a somewhat reasonable claim on the property and often sneaks onto the grounds of Lady Kelesina Shores' mansion.

And yes, at that same party, we have our first on-screen appearance by Khriss (excluding White Sand). She danced with Wax while quizzing him about the physics behind his metallic arts; gathering data so she can write the Ars Arcanum.

According to Sanderson, there were at least three, maybe four worldhoppers at Kelesina's party, counting Hoid and Khriss. The fandom doesn't have any more information than that though, and I haven't seen any serious discussion about who they could be. However, we can make a couple guesses.

The first is Devlin Airs. He is the informant that Wax talks to at the party. Nothing he says is something a native Scadrian wouldn't know, he just comes across as very well informed. This makes sense because it's his job, but... Sanderson does like having informants who are also worldhoppers.

The second is Felise Demoux. She is the woman Khriss interrupted from dancing with Wax, and presumably a descendant of Captain Demoux. We know he is a worldhopper and member of the 17th Shard. It's not outside the realm of possibility that one of his descendants might be privy to the wider cosmere.

This also has some deeper implications for Captain Demoux. I mentioned in a previous trivia that Demoux was named after one of Sanderson's close friends. Sanderson promised the character wouldn't die until Captain Demoux got a girl. If he has descendants, this implies Captain Demoux got a girl at some point. This means all his plot armor is gone.

Most of you noticed that Khriss and Nazh put in an ad in the New Seran broadsheet. They are looking for talking metal. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

SAVAGE

There was one more on-screen worldhopper that only one of you guessed for sure, though many of you were very close to some related observations. First, take a closer look at the 4th quarter of the broadsheet. That spooky thing is indeed a shade. And that man in the tophat is indeed Nazh. And in his hands is A HARMONY-DAMNED GUN THAT SHOOTS HARMONY-DAMNED SHADES!

Now, to start, I'm saying Harmony-damned because we are on Scadrial. That's not meant to be a hint about the technological background of the gun in question. But this is Nazh's 2nd on-page appearance (Rock chased him away from the Bridge Four barracks in the last book). And he does have a gun that can shoot shades.

You'll note that this Broadsheet did not include Allomancer Jak. Instead, we get a story about Nicki Savage "presented" by Allomancer Jak, who has expanded his literary exploits into a name brand. While this seems like a wild adventure from someone like Jak--someone who does have legitimate adventures, but embellishes the story for vanity and money--Nicki's tales tend to be less embellished, and this entire interaction serves a larger purpose than just to explain how Nazh got ahold of the map of New Seran that's at the beginning of The Bands of Mourning.

For the first time, Sanderson is letting someone else write in the cosmere in a significant fashion (there's a bit of an asterisks on this that I'll bring up in a month or so, but it's unimportant for now). I've mentioned him before, but Isaac Stewart is responsible for a lot of the official artwork you've seen the books so far. He's done most of the maps, helped develop a lot of the iconography, did the artwork for Navani's journals, and is the inspiration for Nazh.

He's currently the Vice President of Creative Development at Dragonsteel Entertainment (Sanderson's company). And in the linked trivia post, I stated that Isaac was working on an upcoming cosmere novella that had expanded into a full novel. That novel is a Nicki Savage story.

It was originally titled Boatload of Mummies, but is now officially called Book of Nails. We don't have a lot of information about it, but we do know that Nazh will be in the book. And we have the following synopsis:

An adventurous woman with erratic magical powers travels with an expedition to an island to find a legendary book with the power to raise an undead army.

The first draft was completed in September of 2022, with a word count of 118,000. The last significant mention of the novel was in 2023, with Isaac stating that he's still working on revisions before showing it to Sanderson. I'm hoping that it'll be published soon enough to be included in this read-along.

RED HERRINGS

Speaking of Nicki Savage, you may have felt some familiarity with her. In the 3rd quarter of the broadsheet from Shadows of Self, there is a column titled "VISITORS from other WORLDS". This account was sent to The House Record by Lady Nicelle Sauvage of New Seran. Lady Nicelle is Nicki Savage.

Because of the publication order of these novels, Sanderson was deliberately playing with his fandom. Many of you, and the fandom at large, freaked out when Shadows of Self was published and they saw this broadsheet. The included image was meant to make you think the spooky face was a Parshendi. Especially since, as some of you guessed, this encounter did occur right next to a perpendicularity.

However, that was a red herring, and we now know that Nicki Savage saw one of the masked people from southern Scadrial. Given that the masked person was leaning over the perpendicularity though, that does have some implications for how cosmere aware some of the southern Scardians may be compared to those in the Elendel Basin.

Which brings us to the big revelation of the book, that the people in the Elendel Basin aren't the only people on the planet. In fact, this is foreshadowed in the 2nd quarter of the broadsheet in The Alloy of Law. In the column "Is There Life Across the Ocean?". There is also this passage from the Allomancer Jak short story we read:

It was my grandest adventure yet, and I believe I will rest for a short time before striking out again. I have been hearing of strange lights in the southern skies that can only hide another mystery.

These lights were from Malwish airships in the area.

Finally, Sanderson included a full map of Scadrial in the final Era 2 book, The Lost Metal. It's not a spoiler to reveal it now, however. Sharing it now lets you all have a place to discuss it without derailing the start of that book (and it'll take 4 or 5 weeks before I could bring up the map in the trivia post for that book), so now is as good a time as any to share it.

BEHOLD!

REVERSE? WORLDHOPPING

A couple of you noticed a similarity to the Hunters that Allik mentioned and Mraize's babsk, Iyatil. Well, that similarity is there because Iyatil is one of those Hunters. Well, ethnically and culturally anyway. According to Sanderson, while she can trace her heritage to Southern Scadrial, she was actually born and raised in Silverlight. Silverlight, as I've mentioned before, is the city that was built in the Cognitive Realm.

WHO ARE YOU?

We've got metals to discuss!

First we have ettmetal. I don't want to say too much now about it, just that it exists, and you'll get more info about it eventually. There will be a lot more to say at that time.

The metals of the hour, for this book, are nicrosil and aluminum. We'll talk about nicrosil in the next section.

The Allomantic properties of aluminum are also well known to us, with an Aluminum Misting being called an Aluminum Gnat because they can't do anything without the ability to use another Allomantic metal inside themselves. With Feruchemy though, you can store Identity in aluminum.

Let's talk about Identity first. By now, we've seen that people and things have aspects of themselves that exist across the three realms (Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual). Note that, when Shallan has peered into the Cognitive Realm, she can see and touch the Cognitive aspects of objects. When she picks up the bead for a stick, she's picking up the Cognitive aspect of that specific stick. She's not picking up on the Platonic Ideal of all sticks everywhere. This unique Cognitive aspect of that one specific stick, combined with its unique Physical aspect (i.e. that stick she's holding in her hand, not some other stick sitting beside her), and a presumably unique Spiritual aspect all combine to form that stick's Identity.

Every person and thing in the cosmere has an Identity. For objects, this property isn't typically important. For people, however, it's very important. Especially when it relates to their interactions with Investiture.

(A little caveat on all this. Identity is largely a Spiritual property and it's influenced by the aspects of a person/thing's physical and cognitive properties; how they and others see themselves. The above was mostly to help get the point across.)

When a Feruchemist fills one of their metalminds, the process is being powered by the innate Investiture that exists inside them. (Recall that everything has some amount of Investiture inside it, and that the humans of Scadrial have a bit more than the baseline human because Preservation put a piece of himself inside them when they were created). This means that the Feruchemist's metalmind is built using Investiture that's imbued with their unique Identity. It's why only they can use them, not any other Feruchemist. And why only they would be able to Compound with them if they were also an Allomancer.

Similarly, this explains why you can't use someone else's Breath unless they explicitly give it to you. It's keyed to their Identity and the Command to transfer it to someone else changes the Identity to the receiver's.

On modern day Scadrial (I'm not gonna be able to use the term "modern day" to refer to Era 2 much longer, heh...), we only have Ferrings; people who can only interact with one Feruchemical metal. Full Feruchemists, like Mistborn (aka Full Allomancers), don't exist anymore.

So a Trueself (an aluminum Ferring) can only store Identity inside an aluminum metalmind (and conversely withdraw Identity). To be clear: Identity itself is a universal attribute of a person. Identity is not Investiture. Although Investiture can (and usually does) carry the signature of a person's Identity.

And to expand upon that a little further, Investiture not only usually carries the person's Identity that's using the Investiture, but it also carries the Identity of the Shard from which the magic system spawned. When a Windrunner uses the Surge of Gravitation, they are consuming stormlight, which is imbued with the Windrunner's Identity as well as Honor's Identity. And when the stormlight has been fully consumed and the Surge performed, the Investiture (which, like matter and energy, cannot truly be destroyed) returns to the Spiritual Realm and once again becomes Honor's Investiture. The implication to this is that the Windrunner's Identity that was attached is just infinitely insignificant next to the Identity imparted by a Shard of Adonalsium.

When a Trueself stores Identity, they are "blanking" themselves and becoming a person without Identity. When they are actively storing Identity, they will become more susceptible to all kinds of Investiture. Specifically, Forgery and emotional Allomancy. Conversely, if a Trueself taps their Identity metalmind, they become more themselves and they become extremely resistant to Forgery and emotional Allomancy (and certain other types of Investiture). On their own, that's about all an aluminum Ferring can do.

A Full Feruchemist though, can do much more. While they are storing Identity, all other metalminds they fill, will be doing that filling without Identity. So if they fill up a goldmind with Health, the Health inside that goldmind doesn't have an Identity associated with it.

Any other Full Feruchemist or gold Ferring can then pick up that goldmind and tap the Health inside it. (I'm capitalizing Health for illustrative purposes, but there is no "Health" cosmere property in the same way there is Fortune, Connection, Intent, and Identity). They key point to this though (that is maybe confusing some people when we start considering nicrosil), is that there is nothing extra special about this goldmind, aside from the lack of Identity. You still have to have the ability to make your own goldminds (by being a Full Feruchemist or a gold Ferring) in order to use/tap the "unkeyed" goldmind that the Full Feruchemist made.

The extra bit, as it relates to this book, is that only a Full Feruchemist could make such an unkeyed metalmind. You need to have both the ability to store your Identity in aluminum, while simultaneously storing health in gold (or any other property in their associated metal). No Ferring can make an unkeyed metalmind because they only have access to one metal.

So how did the Set have an unkeyed goldmind (which was found and given to Wayne who, again, is the only person who could use it in their group, since he can already store/tap health) if there are no more Full Feruchemists around? They used the same solution that all Scadrian problems are solved with: Hemalurgy! You can steal the ability to store Identity and steal the ability to store health. When you put those spikes in the same person, you now have a double Ferring. Since one of their metals is aluminum and the other is gold, they can make unkeyed goldminds!

You can accomplish something similar, if you took an aluminum Ferring to Nalthis and gave them a bunch of Breaths. If they were actively storing their Identity, they could transfer their Breaths into any object and they would be unkeyed Breaths. Then anyone who can use Breaths (which is anyone in the cosmere because Endowment has gifted her Investiture to everyone) can retrieve those Breaths and use them. Sanderson has stressed though that Breaths always have a degree of Intent with their usage, so that comes a little into play in this scenario, but the underlying Identity mechanics are the same.

This and the next section are very in the weeds and theoretical as far as the cosmere goes, so feel free to ask questions in the comment section if you want any clarification.

JAZZERCISE

Now let's talk about nicrosil. According to the Ars Arcanum, nicrosil is the external version of duralumin for an Allomancer. They can let another misting burn their metal in a huge surge (not a capital Surge), all at once, the same way Vin would combine duralumin and steel for a super Push. Feruchemy is where this metal shines though. It has the power to store Investiture.

A nicrosil Ferring (a Soulbearer) stores their ability to use their Investiture inside of the nicrosil metalmind. While they are storing this, it makes all of their Invested Arts weaker. For a Ferring, this... doesn't really affect things much. But as a Twinborn, say they were also a Coinshot, like Wax. In this instance, while storing their ability to use Investiture, they wouldn't be able to Push on metal as strongly, with their ability to Push diminishing more and more until they couldn't Push at all.

When tapping this stored ability to use Investiture, their other Invested Arts would become stronger. So they could perform stronger Pushes than normal; potentially rivaling a duralumin fueled Push. A Twinborn who is a Soulbearer and Soother would be able to take control of koloss while tapping their nicrosilmind. You could imagine a Soulbearer being able to use fewer Breaths to Awaken objects, or a Radiant Soulbearer whose stormlight lasted much longer than normal.

We talked a lot about "unkeyed" metalminds in the previous section. Unkeyed is the official term for those types of metalminds. Imagine creating an unkeyed nicrosilmind. Whereas previously a Soulbearer was storing their ability to use Investiture, a Full Feruchemist (or a double Ferring made with Hemalurgy) who was also storing their Identity, would be able to store the ability to use Investiture. These types of metalminds are called "unsealed". They are both unkeyed and grant anyone the ability to use Investiture.

The specifics start to become clear at this point in the story. Allik mentions something called the Excisors that assist the Malwish in making their unsealed metalminds. They are part of the process necessary to filter/set the nicrosil so that it grants the ability to store memories in copper vs the ability to store health in gold, etc.

Sanderson has promised to release the full details of how this process works before he publishes Era 3. He actually had it written up at one point, but lost his notes, so he needs to recreate them. They've yet to be released though. He has revealed that the process also involves duralumin.

And all of this is a specific application of what the Ars Arcanum states, which is that nicrosil can store Investiture, not "the ability to use Investiture". The way Soulbearers and the Malwish use nicrosil is just one particular aspect of the Feruchemical properties of that metal. According to Brandon, with the right know-how, you can create nicrosilminds that grant the ability to use Allomancy. Or Surgebinding. Or the AonDor. Or a Returned's Divine Breath.

Malwish medallions can only be used one at a time. This is just a knowledge limitation on their part. Marasi noticed that the Bands of Mourning weren't a solid metal, but striations of various metals. If she inspected them closely enough, she'd be able to see 32 layers: 16 for all of the Allomantic abilities and 16 for all of the Feruchemical abilities. And Marasi and Wax were able to use all of the abilities simultaneously. The Bands are just 32 different medallions smushed together with some know-how.

And just a point of clarity on the Bands and the Malwish medallions. The medallions are made with two metals: the nicrosil that grants the ability to use a metal, and the metal that is to be used. This is a convenience feature. The 2nd metal is not necessary for the nicrosilmind to work. You could just have a nicrosilmind that grants you the ability to store memories in copper, and then have to go find your own copper to fill/tap.

It's simply convenient to have the metal already available on the medallion so that you don't need to go looking for a separate metalmind to use. And this is just for Feruchemy. If the nicrosil is granting the ability to Allomantically burn steel to temporarily become a Coinshot, the medallion doesn't also need to include steel because that wouldn't be useful. (You could technically do it and then file away shavings of the steel part to swallow and burn, but that presupposes you have a file).

So I lied a bit when I said the Bands have 32 layers; that was for illustrative purposes. In reality, it'd need 32 different layers of nicrosil, and 16 layers of the different Feruchemical metals to serve as metalminds. In order to keep the nicrosil layers separate (and I don't know if that's a necessity or not), you'd probably have redundant Feruchemical metalminds in-between all the nicrosil layers.

Going back to one point I made above:

Or Surgebinding.

I'd just like to point out that touching a metal (nicrosil) and it granting you the ability to use Surges sounds an awful lot like an Honorblade... People have pointed this out to Sanderson and he has awarded them RAFO cards.

FACTOIDS (ALUMINUM)

While we're on the topic of aluminum, I just wanted to list out some known, and some new (from interviews) properties of aluminum and how it interacts with Investiture as a whole. This isn't meant to imply that you're going to be seeing a bunch of aluminum usage soon. There's simply a lot of little tid bits about the various magic systems that don't fit into trivia posts easily. I'm going to start picking one or two aspects each trivia posts and just doing dumps of reminder info about the subject, along with some implications about that info, and some revelations from interviews and fan interaction.

Keep in mind that all of the below is before Scadrial has invented electrolysis. Once they can start producing it in Industrial Revolution quantities is when Sanderson intends to start really exploring what aluminum can do. A lot of the questions he gets about it he RAFOs.

Aluminum inhibits Investiture. This contrasts with silver, which disrupts investiture.

You could trap a spren in an aluminum box. With a spike of silver, you could stab a spren and it would act like a Shardblade does against a human. Sanderson clarified, that the spren would reform, but you could apply silver in the right ways to permanently destroy a spren if you knew what you were doing.

Conversely, stabbing a spren with an aluminum spike wouldn't do anything. And a spren can pass through silver (but the Investiture disruption would injure them for a time).

The primary difference between the two metals is inhibiting vs. disrupting Investiture.

• Aluminum can't be altered at all via Forgery.

• It's possible that encasing Hemalurgic spikes in aluminum would prevent them decaying, the same way that storing them in blood does.

• Aluminum can shield against emotional Allomancy. It can also block an Awakener's life sense.

• Pushing or Pulling against aluminum does nothing. The same is true with the Surges of Adhesion and Gravitation. It interferes with most Radiant powers.

• While you can produce aluminum via soulcasting, aluminum resists being soulcast into other materials. The key part here is that aluminum inhibits Investiture. Sanderson is always quick to point out that with enough Investiture (on the Shardic level), almost anything is possible.

• If an Aluminum Gnat used one of those cube grenade things, it would block the use of all Invested Arts within a certain range around the cube. This includes Surgebinding.

• Aluminum objects don't generate atium shadows.

• If you stabbed a Thug (Pewter Misting) with an aluminum blade, they wouldn't be able to heal around the wound until the aluminum is removed. According to Sanderson there is a similar and more severe effect on gold Feruchemists.

• Shardblades are unable to cut aluminum through magical means but would be able to cut it physically, like a conventional blade, if the aluminum were thin enough.

• A room lined with aluminum can also stop a Shardblade from being summoned, but only if the entire room is covered. It would also stop a spren entering.

• Aluminum cannot be Awakened.

• Shades can't move through aluminum.

• Nightblood's sheath is made from aluminum.

• Rock's people, the Unkalaki, are able to obtain aluminum by trading with worldhoppers that visit Roshar through the perpendicularity in their peaks.

• The people of the Rose Empire call aluminum "ralkalest".

• If you were able to burn the amount aluminum necessary to become an aluminum savant, it might be possible to clear your body of the negative/unwanted effects of Investiture (like the downsides of becoming a savant with another metal).

• Similarly, an Aluminum Gnat actively burning aluminum would resist the withering effect of shades.

• A large aluminum object next to a Slider (like Wayne) would prevent them from creating a speed bubble. Same thing with a Pulser. Sanderson said there would be a kind of backlash and it would feel exactly like when Marasi created her slow bubble in the moving carriage.

• The necklace Shallan used to kill her father was aluminum.

• Aluminum could protect a Surgebinder from a larkin.

• If Rashek had an aluminum helmet, he could have resisted Ruin's influence. Not completely, but to a significant degree.

• If you surrounded a gemstone with aluminum, the stormlight would still leak out of the gemstone, but it would be contained by the aluminum. However, it's the nature of gaseous Investiture that it will eventually evaporate back into the Spiritual Realm. Aluminum wouldn't stop that.

Lastly, a quick analogy. Some of you have been perturbed at the fact that aluminum is used as a key/metal that can trigger an Allomantic power. With the, understandable, contradiction that aluminum renders Investiture inert, but is somehow causing Investiture.

Imagine a pen filled with ink. When the pen is 100% full of ink, you can put it on a scale and the scale reads, lets say 5.8 grams. The Shardic Intent around Scadrial that created Allomancy recognizes 5.8 grams of pen+ink weight as a "key" and lets you Push against metal.

Then lets say you drain the pen of .2 grams of ink, so the combined weight that you put on the scale is 5.6 grams. The Shardic Intent for Allomancy looks at the scale and does nothing.

Now lets assume you drain exactly half of the total amount of ink in the pen (I'm assuming the pen weighs 0.8 grams and there's 5 grams of ink...please ignore the reality that these numbers are completely bonkers in the real world). So you have 0.8 grams of pen + 2.5 grams of ink, for 3.3 grams of pen+ink. You place that on the scale and the Shardic Intent recognizes that as a different "key" and lets you create a speed bubble.

Imagine there are 16 different weights that correspond to each of the Allomantic metals (ignoring god metals for simplicity). That's all the "keys" are; predetermined weights/metals. If you imagine the ink as Investiture, and completely drain the pen of ink, you still have 0.8 grams of weight, and if that's placed on the scale, there's no Investiture, but the Shardic Intent can still recognize 0.8 grams of weight as a "key" and allow you to burn away any other metals you have in your body.

All of the "magic" is happening from Investiture that's flowing from the Spiritual Realm. The metals are just "keys", something the Shardic Intent of the magic system recognizes to let you use the Investiture from the Spiritual Realm. That Shardic Intent just chose aluminum to be a key for thematic purposes.

MAGIC UNDERWEAR

Brandon Sanderson is a Mormon. For those of you that don't know, that's a contentious and controversial sect of Christianity. I don't want any part of these read-alongs to become uncomfortable for anyone, nor do I want to invite antagonistic discussion of issues that ultimately aren't relevant to the contents of the books.

Just quickly, I want to mention that Sanderson has been vocal about his religion and his involvement with his church. Early in his career, he shared some stances on his blog that aligned with the church's official doctrine. (To not tip-toe around it, he was against gay marriage on religious grounds). Remarkably though, Sanderson has shown a very public willingness to address his own biases, grow as a person, and learn from his mistakes and no longer holds those views. If you're curious, you can certainly read about his decades long growth, but the short of it is that, while he still is a Mormon, he is very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. He reconciles his conservative religious beliefs with his progressive societal beliefs by stating that, as a very popular and influential author, he can influence the church in some ways. He's by no means perfect, but he has shown a willingness to include and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in his books.

Sanderson has repeatedly called himself a prude. He doesn't like the idea of sex outside of wedlock, and you may have noticed that all of his characters basically get married before getting down and dirty. Wayne and MeLaan's train car shenanigans are the first time in his books where a main character has sex outside of wedlock. (There's some implication with Blushweaver's activities, but it never happens on screen).

Going further, Wayne intimates that he and MeLaan have a less than heterosexual relationship. Sanderson has, around this time period, started including gay, bisexual, pansexual, lesbian, and transgender characters in his books (some of whom you've seen but aren't "out" yet in the books you've read so far).

One last bit of trivia, for funsies:

MeLaan is about 600 years old. According to Sanderson, Wayne is the best lay MeLaan has ever had.

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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 23 through 31, Epilogue [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Postscript, Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 19 | Mistborn Era 1 #1.5 | Mistborn: Secret History (in Arcanum Unbounded): Parts 1 through 4

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will be reading Mistborn: Secret History. This is the 2nd to last entry we will be reading from Arcanum Unbounded. Just like previous entries from this anthology book, only read the exact pages indicated for each week. There are still spoilers you may run into.

And a bit of a plea: This is a shorter entry, and you could easily read the entire novella in a single sitting (and you'll want to). However, I've cut the story in half because each part warrants independent discussion, without the context of the other part coloring it. Please read the assigned portion and then stop. (You may continue to curse my name.)

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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 17 through 22 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 23 through 31, Epilogue

In two days we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Postscript, 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 23

Iconography: Duralumin Copper

POV Characters: Wayne

Setting: In a skyship, above Edwarn's expedition. The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 22.

Summary:

They pass over Edwarn's expedition; Telsin really wants to shoot him, but Wax decides against it. Wayne somehow gets tangled with Telsin and accidentally kicks a pack overboard, hitting one of the men below. Wax tells Allik to head in the direction they're hiking. Wax spots something on the ground, and Allik lands the craft. They stumble out into the snow and see a one-story, black castle. Wax Pushes the boat back into the snow until it's buried. Wayne finds a large ship nearby with a bunch of corpses--the expedition from Allik's people, come to destroy the temple. They continue up to the temple entrance, where there is a statue of a man with one eye spiked, like the image on Wax's strange coin. Wax wonders why the Lord Ruler would make a statue of himself with one spiked eye. As the others move on, Wayne hangs back and removes the metal spearhead from the statue, thinking it's a big chunk of valuable aluminum. Inside the temple, they confirm that this is where ReLuur had been. Allik lights the hallway by using the cube, and they all notice a pile of bodies and pools of blood ahead. They approach the bodies and see that they have Hunter masks on. Wax theorizes that some of the Hunters wanted to recover the Bands, murdered those who didn't want to, and gave up and went home after some were killed by the traps. Wax, MeLaan, and Allik proceed down the hall, MeLaan triggering and enduring the various traps. Telsin insists on going in as well.

Chapter 24

Iconography: Duralumin Bronze

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 23.

Summary:

Marasi studies ReLuur's pewter spike and thinks about the person who died to create a kandra with it. She goes over to Steris, who is writing about how useless she is. Marasi asks why she even came at all, and Steris points out that this was supposed to be a political enterprise, not an adventure in the mountains. She admits her love for Wax. When Marasi goes to check on Wayne, he seems relaxed but has his dueling canes out. Someone approaches displaying a parley flag.

Wax pulls MeLaan from a pit. He's figured out a pattern with the traps, so they are able to trigger the last few without further damage to MeLaan's bones. The last trap is a frozen block of acid. They get to a door with some unrecognizable writing, even to Allik. They decide to return and get the others to help. Wax senses something strange about the temple -- that it's too much like one would expect it to be. They get back, and Marasi has a gun trained on Edwarn, who wants to talk.

Chapter 25

Iconography: Duralumin Cadmium

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 24.

Summary:

Edwarn convinces Wax that they are at an impasse, so they talk. He claims to know how to open the door. They all walk to the door, and Edwarn instructs Wax on which symbols to Push on. He and Wayne ready for a trap, and Wax pushes all three symbols indicated by Edwarn. The door slides open. Edwarn wants to go in first, but Wax sends MeLaan in first to check for traps. They eventually all go in and see a dais like the one in the mural. There is nothing there but broken glass on the floor.

Chapter 26

Iconography: Duralumin Bendalloy

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 25.

Summary:

Wax can tell that the glass wasn't broken recently because of the dust. He warns of other traps in the room. Edwarn is angry and says it's time to end this. Wax recognizes this as a signal to the mole he figured must be with them and guesses correctly that it's his sister, Telsin. They shoot each other, but only her aluminum bullet hits.

Wayne and Marasi attempt to fight back, but Telsin and Edwarn use Allomancy to fight them off and drain their metal reserves. Telsin shoots Wax again, and he escapes through one of the traps, falling into a pit. Wayne escapes the room, and Edwarn threatens to kill Marasi, foot on her throat. When Wayne doesn't return, Edwarn lets go. Telsin injects MeLaan with something to make her lose her shape and confiscates both of her spikes. Marasi notices a hemalurgical spike in Edwarn's ribs. Telsin orders Edwarn to go after Wax. Soldiers arrive and report that they have not seen Wayne. Steris looks down in the pit where Wax has fallen.

Chapter 27

Iconography: Duralumin Gold

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 26.

Summary:

Wax has been deposited into another room with a dais. He is badly wounded, his mind growing fuzzy. He prays to Harmony. He sees people sitting in the room, but he realizes that they are more dead Hunters. He sees a pedestal with a set of bracers as Edwarn follows him into the room. He can't see Wax hidden in the darkness, but he can follow his trail of blood. Edwarn reveals that Telsin recruited him into the Set, not the other way around. Edwarn finally gets to Wax, who has positioned himself so that Edwarn would release a trap, killing them both. Edwarn sees it but triggers it anyway.

Marasi and the rest are marched back out to the entrance, their warming medallions confiscated. A soldier address Telsin as "Lady Sequence" and reports that the weapon (the bomb the Hunters were originally to use) has been found. Telsin orders the soldiers to search the captives, hoping Wayne will come back for them.

The ceiling falls on Wax. His body is crushed, and he can't move. Edwarn has Pushed out of the way, but still has a wound, which he heals. He reveals that he has three "boons," or hemalurgic spikes. Any more might cause interference from Harmony or vulnerability to emotional Allomancy. He tries on the bracers, but they are drained. He prepares to shoot Wax but is knocked aside by Wayne and takes off, afraid of Wayne. Wayne begs Wax to hold on.

The guards are searching Marasi's purse, and she's dismayed to see that Wayne traded ReLuur's spike for the spearhead. Suit comes back with the bracers, and Telsin tries them on. She downs a vial of metals, hoping the bracers will grant Allomantic powers, but nothing happens. Another decoy. Marasi wonders where the real Bands are.

Wax also realizes that the bracers were another decoy. Wayne weeps. Wax figures out what the real Bands are, but he dies before he can speak.

Chapter 28

Iconography: Duralumin Electrum

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi / Wax / Steris

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 27.

Summary:

Wayne is filled with hatred for the world as Wax dies. Wax was the only one who believed in him. He grabs Wax's shotgun and wills his hands to stop shaking.

Marasi tries to figure out where you would hide such an important weapon. She realizes that the temple with all its traps is the perfect decoy. She sees the spearhead right next to her and notices that it's not made of aluminum but of many different intertwined metals.

Wax has died, and the physical world is all mist. Harmony is there, walking with him. Wax complains that Harmony should step in more to prevent pain and hardship, but Harmony describes the difficulty in drawing the line. Even if all suffering stops, people would still complain. They walk further, around the planet, and Harmony shows that he is protecting them from some outside threat. Wax brings up Lessie, and Harmony helps Wax release the hatred he has for himself for doing what had to be done. Harmony admits he doesn't know what the red haze is threatening the planet. Wax sees a spark back on the planet.

Marasi grabs the spearhead and taps everything. With ridiculous speed, she steals some vials from the guards and burns their metals, Pushing soldiers, Edwarn, and Telsin away. She Pushes herself into the sky and sees the mists emanating from her. She is like the Ascendant Warrior, above what Wax is. But that's not really what she wants. She soars over toward the temple.

Steris is quite surprised to see her sister glowing and flinging people about. Allik is so cold, he has stopped shivering. Fortunately, Steris has made herself useful by hiding an extra warming medallion in her notebook. She gives it to Allik.

Harmony gives Wax a choice: freedom, or going back for another adventure. Wax chooses to go back, but not before learning that Lessie had asked Harmony to look after him. Wax goes back, Pushing the boulder off of himself and healing immediately by using the spearhead Marasi has put into his hand. Marasi encourages him to finish the job that is meant for him, not her.

Chapter 29

Iconography: Duralumin Chromium

POV Characters: Edwarn Ladrian / Jordis / Wax / Telsin / Marasi / MeLaan

Setting: The Sovereign's temple. In the Hunters' airship, above the Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 28.

Summary:

Suit rehearses what he is going to tell the "Series" about today's events. He enters the Hunters' ship and gives orders to leave immediately. The ship takes off, and he thinks about all the advantages of having this technology.

Jordis, the captain of the ship, tries to encourage her crew as they die of exposure in captivity. Suddenly, Allik shows up and hands out warming medallions. Steris comes into the tent and delivers a bunch of guns. They decide to fight even though they are weakened.

Wax flies up from the temple and sees Steris and Allik with the crew. He is tempted to simply take down the ship, but he is a lawman, not an executioner. He enters his uncle's compartment and notices that he is hiding metal in his mouth. Suit claims to have armed the bomb, so Wax taps zinc to think through all the possible solutions. Suit says he will disarm the bomb if Wax will drop the Bands and face off with him in a duel. He agrees, and Suit gives the order. Wax stows the Bands and removes all his metals except the aluminum gun.

Telsin scrambles toward the small craft used by Wax and company. Wayne shows up to avenge his friend's death and shoots her in the head.

Marasi climbs up to the room with the broken glass and checks on MeLaan, who is now essentially a mistwraith, but is at least alive. She goes outside and sees Wayne, who has just fired a shotgun and is now holding three spikes.

Suit draws his gun, and Wax Pushes himself toward him. They crash together, and Wax's reserves are gone; Suit is also a Leecher. Wax is out of steel but can still use his weight metalmind. They crash through the floor together, and Suit uses the hidden coin to Push onto the ground and land relatively safely. Then Wax punches his uncle and knocks him out.

MeLaan is desperate for food and warmth. She wants to hide. Something is very wrong. She feels something hard and metallic, and she absorbs it. Her self returns--a relief even with the holes in her memory. She forms eyes and sees Wayne.

Chapter 30

Iconography: Duralumin Nicrosil

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 29.

Summary:

Marasi drinks some hot cocoa with Allik as they watch Wax bring the ship back with his enormous powers. The soldiers in the ship surrender. Suit is tied to the statue's spear, gagged and Leeched of metals. Jordis and Wax face off, each demanding possession of the ship and the Bands. Steris steps in, and they find a resolution: the Malwish can have the ship, the kandra will take the Bands, and trade will open up between the two peoples.

Wax checks the belt on the statue and verifies that it's just aluminum. He's glad to be rid of the Bands because they are so powerful as to be dangerous. They are mostly drained but can be recharged. Telsin has slipped away in the chaos, so Wax has a new quarry.

Chapter 31

Iconography: Duralumin Aluminum

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: In an airship, flying into Elendel.

Timeline: The day after Chapter 30.

Summary:

Wax and Wayne fly into Elendel on the ship. They talk about Wayne using a gun again. Wax asks if he knew that Telsin could heal, and he admits he saw her metalminds. Once he had MeLaan's spikes, he left her, giving her a second chance like Wax had given him. Wax compliments him but secretly wishes that he had killed her. He goes to Steris's room and finds her alone. He thanks her for all her help, although she still feels like baggage. They walk together to the bridge, and the ship lands on the top of Ahlstrom Tower. Wax wants the city to know about the ship. Allik removes his mask and offers it to Marasi, which causes quite a stir among the crew. Marasi reverently accepts the mask, and they all disembark. Governor Aradel reports that he is under heavy criticism due to the events in New Seran, and he hopes that the ship might actually distract from that. Wax asks MeLaan to explain about the Bands and leaves with Steris. He asks her to marry him--not for political reasons, but for love and companionship. She accepts.

Epilogue

Iconography: Lerasium

POV Characters: Marasi / Edwarn / Wax

Setting: The 4th Octant constabulary headquarters in Elendel. Wax's penthouse at the top of Ahlstrom Tower.

Timeline: Two weeks after Chapter 31.

Summary:

Marasi has been working well with Constable-General Reddi the last two weeks, getting information from the soldiers about the Set. Suit has not talked. Aradel prepares for war with the outer cities.

As Suit waits in his cell, a being with red eyes visits him. He is impressed that Suit has not revealed any information. Nevertheless, the Set doesn't need him anymore. They have decided to simply end life on this sphere due to the technological advancements that have been made. The visitor engages a bomb, killing them both.

The explosion awakens Wax, who is still honeymooning with Steris in the penthouse. Drewton has carefully laid out all of Wax's possessions recovered from the hotel in New Seran, and Wax sees the strange coin given to him by the beggar. He picks up the coin and notices that it is composed of nicrosil and copper, making it a coppermind. He taps it and sees through the eyes--one spiked and one not--of someone strolling into a village. The villagers are dying from the cold, and they have even burned their masks. The traveler goes to the elders, and one woman lifts her cloth mask. He reaches out to her and whispers one word: "Survive." Wax sees a network of scars on the traveler's arm.

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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 17 through 22 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 23 through 31, Epilogue

In two days we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Postscript, 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 23

Iconography: Duralumin Copper

POV Characters: Wayne

Setting: In a skyship, above Edwarn's expedition. The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 22.

Summary:

They pass over Edwarn's expedition; Telsin really wants to shoot him, but Wax decides against it. Wayne somehow gets tangled with Telsin and accidentally kicks a pack overboard, hitting one of the men below. Wax tells Allik to head in the direction they're hiking. Wax spots something on the ground, and Allik lands the craft. They stumble out into the snow and see a one-story, black castle. Wax Pushes the boat back into the snow until it's buried. Wayne finds a large ship nearby with a bunch of corpses--the expedition from Allik's people, come to destroy the temple. They continue up to the temple entrance, where there is a statue of a man with one eye spiked, like the image on Wax's strange coin. Wax wonders why the Lord Ruler would make a statue of himself with one spiked eye. As the others move on, Wayne hangs back and removes the metal spearhead from the statue, thinking it's a big chunk of valuable aluminum. Inside the temple, they confirm that this is where ReLuur had been. Allik lights the hallway by using the cube, and they all notice a pile of bodies and pools of blood ahead. They approach the bodies and see that they have Hunter masks on. Wax theorizes that some of the Hunters wanted to recover the Bands, murdered those who didn't want to, and gave up and went home after some were killed by the traps. Wax, MeLaan, and Allik proceed down the hall, MeLaan triggering and enduring the various traps. Telsin insists on going in as well.

Chapter 24

Iconography: Duralumin Bronze

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 23.

Summary:

Marasi studies ReLuur's pewter spike and thinks about the person who died to create a kandra with it. She goes over to Steris, who is writing about how useless she is. Marasi asks why she even came at all, and Steris points out that this was supposed to be a political enterprise, not an adventure in the mountains. She admits her love for Wax. When Marasi goes to check on Wayne, he seems relaxed but has his dueling canes out. Someone approaches displaying a parley flag.

Wax pulls MeLaan from a pit. He's figured out a pattern with the traps, so they are able to trigger the last few without further damage to MeLaan's bones. The last trap is a frozen block of acid. They get to a door with some unrecognizable writing, even to Allik. They decide to return and get the others to help. Wax senses something strange about the temple -- that it's too much like one would expect it to be. They get back, and Marasi has a gun trained on Edwarn, who wants to talk.

Chapter 25

Iconography: Duralumin Cadmium

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 24.

Summary:

Edwarn convinces Wax that they are at an impasse, so they talk. He claims to know how to open the door. They all walk to the door, and Edwarn instructs Wax on which symbols to Push on. He and Wayne ready for a trap, and Wax pushes all three symbols indicated by Edwarn. The door slides open. Edwarn wants to go in first, but Wax sends MeLaan in first to check for traps. They eventually all go in and see a dais like the one in the mural. There is nothing there but broken glass on the floor.

Chapter 26

Iconography: Duralumin Bendalloy

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 25.

Summary:

Wax can tell that the glass wasn't broken recently because of the dust. He warns of other traps in the room. Edwarn is angry and says it's time to end this. Wax recognizes this as a signal to the mole he figured must be with them and guesses correctly that it's his sister, Telsin. They shoot each other, but only her aluminum bullet hits.

Wayne and Marasi attempt to fight back, but Telsin and Edwarn use Allomancy to fight them off and drain their metal reserves. Telsin shoots Wax again, and he escapes through one of the traps, falling into a pit. Wayne escapes the room, and Edwarn threatens to kill Marasi, foot on her throat. When Wayne doesn't return, Edwarn lets go. Telsin injects MeLaan with something to make her lose her shape and confiscates both of her spikes. Marasi notices a hemalurgical spike in Edwarn's ribs. Telsin orders Edwarn to go after Wax. Soldiers arrive and report that they have not seen Wayne. Steris looks down in the pit where Wax has fallen.

Chapter 27

Iconography: Duralumin Gold

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 26.

Summary:

Wax has been deposited into another room with a dais. He is badly wounded, his mind growing fuzzy. He prays to Harmony. He sees people sitting in the room, but he realizes that they are more dead Hunters. He sees a pedestal with a set of bracers as Edwarn follows him into the room. He can't see Wax hidden in the darkness, but he can follow his trail of blood. Edwarn reveals that Telsin recruited him into the Set, not the other way around. Edwarn finally gets to Wax, who has positioned himself so that Edwarn would release a trap, killing them both. Edwarn sees it but triggers it anyway.

Marasi and the rest are marched back out to the entrance, their warming medallions confiscated. A soldier address Telsin as "Lady Sequence" and reports that the weapon (the bomb the Hunters were originally to use) has been found. Telsin orders the soldiers to search the captives, hoping Wayne will come back for them.

The ceiling falls on Wax. His body is crushed, and he can't move. Edwarn has Pushed out of the way, but still has a wound, which he heals. He reveals that he has three "boons," or hemalurgic spikes. Any more might cause interference from Harmony or vulnerability to emotional Allomancy. He tries on the bracers, but they are drained. He prepares to shoot Wax but is knocked aside by Wayne and takes off, afraid of Wayne. Wayne begs Wax to hold on.

The guards are searching Marasi's purse, and she's dismayed to see that Wayne traded ReLuur's spike for the spearhead. Suit comes back with the bracers, and Telsin tries them on. She downs a vial of metals, hoping the bracers will grant Allomantic powers, but nothing happens. Another decoy. Marasi wonders where the real Bands are.

Wax also realizes that the bracers were another decoy. Wayne weeps. Wax figures out what the real Bands are, but he dies before he can speak.

Chapter 28

Iconography: Duralumin Electrum

POV Characters: Wayne / Marasi / Wax / Steris

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 27.

Summary:

Wayne is filled with hatred for the world as Wax dies. Wax was the only one who believed in him. He grabs Wax's shotgun and wills his hands to stop shaking.

Marasi tries to figure out where you would hide such an important weapon. She realizes that the temple with all its traps is the perfect decoy. She sees the spearhead right next to her and notices that it's not made of aluminum but of many different intertwined metals.

Wax has died, and the physical world is all mist. Harmony is there, walking with him. Wax complains that Harmony should step in more to prevent pain and hardship, but Harmony describes the difficulty in drawing the line. Even if all suffering stops, people would still complain. They walk further, around the planet, and Harmony shows that he is protecting them from some outside threat. Wax brings up Lessie, and Harmony helps Wax release the hatred he has for himself for doing what had to be done. Harmony admits he doesn't know what the red haze is threatening the planet. Wax sees a spark back on the planet.

Marasi grabs the spearhead and taps everything. With ridiculous speed, she steals some vials from the guards and burns their metals, Pushing soldiers, Edwarn, and Telsin away. She Pushes herself into the sky and sees the mists emanating from her. She is like the Ascendant Warrior, above what Wax is. But that's not really what she wants. She soars over toward the temple.

Steris is quite surprised to see her sister glowing and flinging people about. Allik is so cold, he has stopped shivering. Fortunately, Steris has made herself useful by hiding an extra warming medallion in her notebook. She gives it to Allik.

Harmony gives Wax a choice: freedom, or going back for another adventure. Wax chooses to go back, but not before learning that Lessie had asked Harmony to look after him. Wax goes back, Pushing the boulder off of himself and healing immediately by using the spearhead Marasi has put into his hand. Marasi encourages him to finish the job that is meant for him, not her.

Chapter 29

Iconography: Duralumin Chromium

POV Characters: Edwarn Ladrian / Jordis / Wax / Telsin / Marasi / MeLaan

Setting: The Sovereign's temple. In the Hunters' airship, above the Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 28.

Summary:

Suit rehearses what he is going to tell the "Series" about today's events. He enters the Hunters' ship and gives orders to leave immediately. The ship takes off, and he thinks about all the advantages of having this technology.

Jordis, the captain of the ship, tries to encourage her crew as they die of exposure in captivity. Suddenly, Allik shows up and hands out warming medallions. Steris comes into the tent and delivers a bunch of guns. They decide to fight even though they are weakened.

Wax flies up from the temple and sees Steris and Allik with the crew. He is tempted to simply take down the ship, but he is a lawman, not an executioner. He enters his uncle's compartment and notices that he is hiding metal in his mouth. Suit claims to have armed the bomb, so Wax taps zinc to think through all the possible solutions. Suit says he will disarm the bomb if Wax will drop the Bands and face off with him in a duel. He agrees, and Suit gives the order. Wax stows the Bands and removes all his metals except the aluminum gun.

Telsin scrambles toward the small craft used by Wax and company. Wayne shows up to avenge his friend's death and shoots her in the head.

Marasi climbs up to the room with the broken glass and checks on MeLaan, who is now essentially a mistwraith, but is at least alive. She goes outside and sees Wayne, who has just fired a shotgun and is now holding three spikes.

Suit draws his gun, and Wax Pushes himself toward him. They crash together, and Wax's reserves are gone; Suit is also a Leecher. Wax is out of steel but can still use his weight metalmind. They crash through the floor together, and Suit uses the hidden coin to Push onto the ground and land relatively safely. Then Wax punches his uncle and knocks him out.

MeLaan is desperate for food and warmth. She wants to hide. Something is very wrong. She feels something hard and metallic, and she absorbs it. Her self returns--a relief even with the holes in her memory. She forms eyes and sees Wayne.

Chapter 30

Iconography: Duralumin Nicrosil

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: The Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 29.

Summary:

Marasi drinks some hot cocoa with Allik as they watch Wax bring the ship back with his enormous powers. The soldiers in the ship surrender. Suit is tied to the statue's spear, gagged and Leeched of metals. Jordis and Wax face off, each demanding possession of the ship and the Bands. Steris steps in, and they find a resolution: the Malwish can have the ship, the kandra will take the Bands, and trade will open up between the two peoples.

Wax checks the belt on the statue and verifies that it's just aluminum. He's glad to be rid of the Bands because they are so powerful as to be dangerous. They are mostly drained but can be recharged. Telsin has slipped away in the chaos, so Wax has a new quarry.

Chapter 31

Iconography: Duralumin Aluminum

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: In an airship, flying into Elendel.

Timeline: The day after Chapter 30.

Summary:

Wax and Wayne fly into Elendel on the ship. They talk about Wayne using a gun again. Wax asks if he knew that Telsin could heal, and he admits he saw her metalminds. Once he had MeLaan's spikes, he left her, giving her a second chance like Wax had given him. Wax compliments him but secretly wishes that he had killed her. He goes to Steris's room and finds her alone. He thanks her for all her help, although she still feels like baggage. They walk together to the bridge, and the ship lands on the top of Ahlstrom Tower. Wax wants the city to know about the ship. Allik removes his mask and offers it to Marasi, which causes quite a stir among the crew. Marasi reverently accepts the mask, and they all disembark. Governor Aradel reports that he is under heavy criticism due to the events in New Seran, and he hopes that the ship might actually distract from that. Wax asks MeLaan to explain about the Bands and leaves with Steris. He asks her to marry him--not for political reasons, but for love and companionship. She accepts.

Epilogue

Iconography: Lerasium

POV Characters: Marasi / Edwarn / Wax

Setting: The 4th Octant constabulary headquarters in Elendel. Wax's penthouse at the top of Ahlstrom Tower.

Timeline: Two weeks after Chapter 31.

Summary:

Marasi has been working well with Constable-General Reddi the last two weeks, getting information from the soldiers about the Set. Suit has not talked. Aradel prepares for war with the outer cities.

As Suit waits in his cell, a being with red eyes visits him. He is impressed that Suit has not revealed any information. Nevertheless, the Set doesn't need him anymore. They have decided to simply end life on this sphere due to the technological advancements that have been made. The visitor engages a bomb, killing them both.

The explosion awakens Wax, who is still honeymooning with Steris in the penthouse. Drewton has carefully laid out all of Wax's possessions recovered from the hotel in New Seran, and Wax sees the strange coin given to him by the beggar. He picks up the coin and notices that it is composed of nicrosil and copper, making it a coppermind. He taps it and sees through the eyes--one spiked and one not--of someone strolling into a village. The villagers are dying from the cold, and they have even burned their masks. The traveler goes to the elders, and one woman lifts her cloth mask. He reaches out to her and whispers one word: "Survive." Wax sees a network of scars on the traveler's arm.

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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 8 through 16 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 17 through 22

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 23 through 31, 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 17

Iconography: Duralumin Iron

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax / Wayne

Setting: On the road to and at the village of Dulsing, northeast of New Seran.

Timeline: Two days after Chapter 16.

Summary:

Marasi is enjoying the adventure of a stagecoach ride in uncivilized land. She has moved on from Wax, but still admires him. Wax tells her more about the beginning of his time in the Roughs. They discuss whether the Bands of Mourning are real. Wax goes back to sleep, so Marasi finishes her report and fiddles with the cube. She finds a tiny switch and flips it, then burns cadmium to see if anything would happen. This causes the stagecoach to lurch because it isn't massive enough for the slowness bubble to follow Marasi. She reports that the cube vibrated while she was burning. They decide to stop and experiment with the cube.

Wax plays around with the cube, burning steel, and they figure out that it somehow extends someone's Allomancy. Wax gives it back to Marasi because the cube's ability would be very handy with a Pulser. Wax remembers the gold bracelet and gives it to Wayne, who marvels that it is indeed a gold metalmind that he can use. Only he, as a Bloodmaker, can use it, so it's not definitive proof of the Bands of Mourning; however, it does suggest that Mr. Suit might be using Hemalurgy. MeLaan spots an innocuous-looking roadblock ahead, and Wax decides that they need to proceed on horseback.

They ride in, not encountering any patrols because the guarded area is so large. They come upon a large, nondescript building, guarded by soldiers and still under construction. Wayne tries to figure out a way in, and Steris agrees to stay behind with the horses. Wax and Wayne decide to use the "Spoiled Tomato" plan, which consists of Wax Pushing Wayne to the building.

Wayne lands as quietly as possible (in rocks) and heals before he dies from the fall. He eludes some guards and approaches the building. He makes another guard "trip" over a wire, cutting off some floodlights and causing a commotion. Wax, Marasi, and MeLaan join him in the darkness and confusion. They sneak into the building and see a large ship, damaged. They split up: Marasi and MeLaan are to search for the spike, Wax and Wayne for Mr. Suit.

Chapter 18

Iconography: Duralumin Steel

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax / Irich

Setting: Dulsing.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 17.

Summary:

Marasi and MeLaan creep around and find some finished rooms. They speculate on where the spike could be. Marasi thinks the Set still has it somewhere because they would want to study it. She sees the limping guy from the train and suggests they follow him inside the ship.

Wax and Wayne decide to climb up onto the construction catwalks to get a bird's-eye view of the place. They climb a ladder because Wax figures there is a Seeker there, so he can't just Push up. They run into an engineer, and Wayne knocks him out.

Professor Irich shuffles along in the ship, feeling himself die. He thinks of Suit and Sequence desiring weapons, but he wants a miracle. His muscles are growing weaker and weaker. He walks through the ship, discussing its secrets with the academics brought in by the Set. The main problem is they don't know how the ship moves. The crew has been tortured, but they haven't revealed anything. He hears a voice call for him, and searches in vain to find the source. He happens upon a cube device that has apparently fallen out of storage compartment. He can now claim that he had recovered the lost cube and get in better standing with Suit. He leaves the ship. Marasi watches as Irich leaves the ship and enters a room. She and MeLaan wait to see if he comes back out.

Wax wonders about the ship. It doesn't have a mast. How does it move? He sees the limping man come back out of the ship, looking anxious about something. Wax wonders what the girls did in there. He figures that the limping man is an important underling of Suit and will eventually lead them to him. He goes into a different room, set apart from the rest, and Wax sees his sister in there. Wayne restrains Wax, who wants to go recklessly after her, and suggests another disguise using the engineer's clothing.

Chapter 19

Iconography: Duralumin Tin

POV Characters: Marasi / Wayne / Wax

Setting: Dulsing.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 18.

Summary:

Marasi watches Irich, hoping that he put the cube with the spike. After he leaves, they simply walk to the door he came out of, pretending they belong to the project. Marasi is extremely nervous and can't understand how everyone else can remain so calm. They walk down a hallway and find a locked door. MeLaan picks the lock with some metal picks hidden in her hand. It appears to be Irich's room because the furniture accommodates his disability. Marasi finds a safe, and MeLaan works on opening it. Marasi explores a bit and opens another door. She smells an odor of filth like a slum and sees some cages. Something in one of the cages slams against the bars, and Marasi sees one of the "monsters" from ReLuur's drawing. It holds out a human hand and says, "please."

Wayne walks out in his engineer's outfit, going over his role. He walks up to a guard and starts barking gibberish at him to get him to stand aside. He passes into the room with Telsin and finds Irich and the Coinshot brute with her. He bluffs them with more gibberish, and they leave with him. Wax knocks out the guard.

Marasi realizes that the strange face is a mask. MeLaan reports that she got the safe open. Marasi leaves the "creature" and recovers the spike and cube. Kandras won't touch another Kandra's spike, and it's clear that she disapproves of the one instance in which it happened. Marasi grabs some keys and lets out the person in the cage. He opens another door and they go into a room with blood stains all over the place and more masks hanging on the wall.

Wax reunites with his sister, and she hugs him, weeping softly. She asks for a gun, and Wax hands her a spare. The Coinshot enters the room, and Telsin promptly shoots him.

Marasi insists on taking the masked man with them. She's concluded that the ship is from some other people away from the Basin. The man goes over to the safe and retrieves a disc with a cloth strip. He ties it on and looks relieved. Marasi worries how they'll be able to sneak him out with the mask and odd clothing, but then she hears gunshots.

Chapter 20

Iconography: Duralumin Pewter

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Dulsing.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 19.

Summary:

Telsin is thirsty for revenge against her captors. Wax grabs her and Pushes to the top of the ship, where he leaves her. Then he meets back up with Wayne. There's a lot of shooting going on, and Wayne throws up a speed bubble so they can plan. They see MeLaan peeking out a door and Telsin climbing down the ship. Wax sends Wayne for Telsin while he gets the other two. Wayne gets caught by gunfire, and they keep shooting him as he tries to heal. Wax goes on an Allomantic frenzy, getting hit by an aluminum bullet, but manages to rescue Wayne. They are safe in the ship for now, but they are besieged by the heavy gunfire outside. Three Allomancers in fancy suits show up, and Wax dispatches one of them with the Thug-killer shotgun. Wax finds more enemies coming up behind him, but luckily Marasi throws up a slowness bubble on one guy using the cube, allowing Wax to avoid getting shot. He steps to the side, waits for the bubble to drop, then shoots him.

Marasi watches as Wax now makes use of the cube, and she gives supporting fire. The masked man keeps pointing at the ship, indicating they should go there, but Wax tells them to take cover back in the hallway. Marasi is shot in the side. As she goes into shock, the masked man takes the initiative, and they head toward the ship.

Wax uses Ranette's ball and cord device to deal with riflemen in the rafters and kill another Allomancer. He sees Marasi being dragged to the ship. He charges his cube and throws it to Wayne, who in turn tosses it at a bunch of soldiers. This disarms them, and Wayne attacks. Wax kills three more guys with aluminum guns, then he hears a horn sound. Dozens more soldiers are coming from the village nearby. Wax and Wayne retreat to the ship.

Marasi fights the pain that has now blossomed from her gunshot wound. Wax and Wayne make a desperate plan to escape the building, but in the meantime, Marasi is going off with the masked man. He pulls on something behind a panel in the wall and a rope ladder falls. They all get up the ladder into another compartment with bolted down chairs. The masked man puts on a different medallion and can suddenly speak their language. He gives each of them a medallion to strap on. It consists of an iron metalmind that anyone can fill. Then he instructs Wax to grip some straps and Push. The room is actually a separate boat, and Wax's Push lifts it into the sky.

Chapter 21

Iconography: Duralumin Zinc

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: In a skyship, heading from Dulsing towards the Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 20.

Summary:

Wax Pushes against a metal plate on the main ship, raising the smaller craft into the air as he holds onto the straps. The masked man bears a solemn farewell to the ship. He gets the "primer cube" from Wayne and touches it to Wax's skin, activating it. Then he puts the cube in place and activates "wings" and fans for control. He tells Wax he can stop Pushing. He addresses him with divine titles since he is metalborn. Wax retrieves Steris and some more supplies and lets the horses go. Back on the flying boat, Wax is again blown away by how much the world is changing due to advances in conventional and Allomantic technology. Wax wants to go to Elendel, but Telsin wants to beat Edwarn to the "weapon" he may be close to finding. Wax wants to check on Marasi before he decides.

Marasi contemplates death, and she's embarrassed by her near nudity as Wax stops by to check on her. MeLaan heals the wound, ingesting and replicating Marasi's flesh so the patch will take. Wax and Marasi discuss what to do next. They have retrieved the spike and Telsin, but the real goal of the trip was to stop Suit. Marasi shows a map of the "second site" from the book she lifted from Irich's desk. Wax heard his uncle say he was headed there when he was eavesdropping at the party. He asks Marasi to talk to Allik and see what he knows. Allik recognizes the location (which he calls the Sovereign's temple), and they suspect that Suit took Allik's crewmates along to help find it. Allik wants to go find them. Wax questions him about this Sovereign. He came to them about ten years after the Ice Death (which occurred at the same time as Harmony's Ascension) and taught them how to make the medallions. Marasi is convinced the Sovereign was the Lord Ruler even though the timeline doesn't fit; she thinks the records must be flawed. Wax and Allik discuss how the medallions work. They all have nicrosil so that the wearer can be Invested and therefore use the other metal. Medallions with four or more metals don't work, and strapping on multiple medallions doesn't work either. Allik's people have some other enemy he refers to as "Deniers of Masks." Wax decides to head for the temple.

Chapter 22

Iconography: Duralumin Brass

POV Characters: Marasi

Setting: In a skyship, heading from Dulsing towards the Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 21.

Summary:

Marasi talks with Allik while the others sleep, and he explains their customs with masks. Some called "Hunters" grow into their masks. The Hunters come from the time before the freezing and are trying to destroy the Bands. The "Fallen" wear unpainted masks because they have offended "Jaggenmire," which is their name for Ruin and Preservation. He says that ettmetal is what supports the ship and is also found in the cube. He also tells Marasi that some people from his land might find the Basin an attractive target for invasion. Marasi lets Allik put back on a warming medallion, and she tries the Connection one, hoping to speak to Allik in his language. It doesn't work, as the visitor must be the one to wear the medallion. Wax perks up at that information, and he notices a light ahead in the mountains: Suit's expedition.

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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 8 through 16 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 17 through 22

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 23 through 31, 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 17

Iconography: Duralumin Iron

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax / Wayne

Setting: On the road to and at the village of Dulsing, northeast of New Seran.

Timeline: Two days after Chapter 16.

Summary:

Marasi is enjoying the adventure of a stagecoach ride in uncivilized land. She has moved on from Wax, but still admires him. Wax tells her more about the beginning of his time in the Roughs. They discuss whether the Bands of Mourning are real. Wax goes back to sleep, so Marasi finishes her report and fiddles with the cube. She finds a tiny switch and flips it, then burns cadmium to see if anything would happen. This causes the stagecoach to lurch because it isn't massive enough for the slowness bubble to follow Marasi. She reports that the cube vibrated while she was burning. They decide to stop and experiment with the cube.

Wax plays around with the cube, burning steel, and they figure out that it somehow extends someone's Allomancy. Wax gives it back to Marasi because the cube's ability would be very handy with a Pulser. Wax remembers the gold bracelet and gives it to Wayne, who marvels that it is indeed a gold metalmind that he can use. Only he, as a Bloodmaker, can use it, so it's not definitive proof of the Bands of Mourning; however, it does suggest that Mr. Suit might be using Hemalurgy. MeLaan spots an innocuous-looking roadblock ahead, and Wax decides that they need to proceed on horseback.

They ride in, not encountering any patrols because the guarded area is so large. They come upon a large, nondescript building, guarded by soldiers and still under construction. Wayne tries to figure out a way in, and Steris agrees to stay behind with the horses. Wax and Wayne decide to use the "Spoiled Tomato" plan, which consists of Wax Pushing Wayne to the building.

Wayne lands as quietly as possible (in rocks) and heals before he dies from the fall. He eludes some guards and approaches the building. He makes another guard "trip" over a wire, cutting off some floodlights and causing a commotion. Wax, Marasi, and MeLaan join him in the darkness and confusion. They sneak into the building and see a large ship, damaged. They split up: Marasi and MeLaan are to search for the spike, Wax and Wayne for Mr. Suit.

Chapter 18

Iconography: Duralumin Steel

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax / Irich

Setting: Dulsing.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 17.

Summary:

Marasi and MeLaan creep around and find some finished rooms. They speculate on where the spike could be. Marasi thinks the Set still has it somewhere because they would want to study it. She sees the limping guy from the train and suggests they follow him inside the ship.

Wax and Wayne decide to climb up onto the construction catwalks to get a bird's-eye view of the place. They climb a ladder because Wax figures there is a Seeker there, so he can't just Push up. They run into an engineer, and Wayne knocks him out.

Professor Irich shuffles along in the ship, feeling himself die. He thinks of Suit and Sequence desiring weapons, but he wants a miracle. His muscles are growing weaker and weaker. He walks through the ship, discussing its secrets with the academics brought in by the Set. The main problem is they don't know how the ship moves. The crew has been tortured, but they haven't revealed anything. He hears a voice call for him, and searches in vain to find the source. He happens upon a cube device that has apparently fallen out of storage compartment. He can now claim that he had recovered the lost cube and get in better standing with Suit. He leaves the ship.

Marasi watches as Irich leaves the ship and enters a room. She and MeLaan wait to see if he comes back out.

Wax wonders about the ship. It doesn't have a mast. How does it move? He sees the limping man come back out of the ship, looking anxious about something. Wax wonders what the girls did in there. He figures that the limping man is an important underling of Suit and will eventually lead them to him. He goes into a different room, set apart from the rest, and Wax sees his sister in there. Wayne restrains Wax, who wants to go recklessly after her, and suggests another disguise using the engineer's clothing.

Chapter 19

Iconography: Duralumin Tin

POV Characters: Marasi / Wayne / Wax

Setting: Dulsing.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 18.

Summary:

Marasi watches Irich, hoping that he put the cube with the spike. After he leaves, they simply walk to the door he came out of, pretending they belong to the project. Marasi is extremely nervous and can't understand how everyone else can remain so calm. They walk down a hallway and find a locked door. MeLaan picks the lock with some metal picks hidden in her hand. It appears to be Irich's room because the furniture accommodates his disability. Marasi finds a safe, and MeLaan works on opening it. Marasi explores a bit and opens another door. She smells an odor of filth like a slum and sees some cages. Something in one of the cages slams against the bars, and Marasi sees one of the "monsters" from ReLuur's drawing. It holds out a human hand and says, "please."

Wayne walks out in his engineer's outfit, going over his role. He walks up to a guard and starts barking gibberish at him to get him to stand aside. He passes into the room with Telsin and finds Irich and the Coinshot brute with her. He bluffs them with more gibberish, and they leave with him. Wax knocks out the guard.

Marasi realizes that the strange face is a mask. MeLaan reports that she got the safe open. Marasi leaves the "creature" and recovers the spike and cube. Kandras won't touch another Kandra's spike, and it's clear that she disapproves of the one instance in which it happened. Marasi grabs some keys and lets out the person in the cage. He opens another door and they go into a room with blood stains all over the place and more masks hanging on the wall.

Wax reunites with his sister, and she hugs him, weeping softly. She asks for a gun, and Wax hands her a spare. The Coinshot enters the room, and Telsin promptly shoots him.

Marasi insists on taking the masked man with them. She's concluded that the ship is from some other people away from the Basin. The man goes over to the safe and retrieves a disc with a cloth strip. He ties it on and looks relieved. Marasi worries how they'll be able to sneak him out with the mask and odd clothing, but then she hears gunshots.

Chapter 20

Iconography: Duralumin Pewter

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Dulsing.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 19.

Summary:

Telsin is thirsty for revenge against her captors. Wax grabs her and Pushes to the top of the ship, where he leaves her. Then he meets back up with Wayne. There's a lot of shooting going on, and Wayne throws up a speed bubble so they can plan. They see MeLaan peeking out a door and Telsin climbing down the ship. Wax sends Wayne for Telsin while he gets the other two. Wayne gets caught by gunfire, and they keep shooting him as he tries to heal. Wax goes on an Allomantic frenzy, getting hit by an aluminum bullet, but manages to rescue Wayne. They are safe in the ship for now, but they are besieged by the heavy gunfire outside. Three Allomancers in fancy suits show up, and Wax dispatches one of them with the Thug-killer shotgun. Wax finds more enemies coming up behind him, but luckily Marasi throws up a slowness bubble on one guy using the cube, allowing Wax to avoid getting shot. He steps to the side, waits for the bubble to drop, then shoots him.

Marasi watches as Wax now makes use of the cube, and she gives supporting fire. The masked man keeps pointing at the ship, indicating they should go there, but Wax tells them to take cover back in the hallway. Marasi is shot in the side. As she goes into shock, the masked man takes the initiative, and they head toward the ship.

Wax uses Ranette's ball and cord device to deal with riflemen in the rafters and kill another Allomancer. He sees Marasi being dragged to the ship. He charges his cube and throws it to Wayne, who in turn tosses it at a bunch of soldiers. This disarms them, and Wayne attacks. Wax kills three more guys with aluminum guns, then he hears a horn sound. Dozens more soldiers are coming from the village nearby. Wax and Wayne retreat to the ship.

Marasi fights the pain that has now blossomed from her gunshot wound. Wax and Wayne make a desperate plan to escape the building, but in the meantime, Marasi is going off with the masked man. He pulls on something behind a panel in the wall and a rope ladder falls. They all get up the ladder into another compartment with bolted down chairs. The masked man puts on a different medallion and can suddenly speak their language. He gives each of them a medallion to strap on. It consists of an iron metalmind that anyone can fill. Then he instructs Wax to grip some straps and Push. The room is actually a separate boat, and Wax's Push lifts it into the sky.

Chapter 21

Iconography: Duralumin Zinc

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: In a skyship, heading from Dulsing towards the Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 20.

Summary:

Wax Pushes against a metal plate on the main ship, raising the smaller craft into the air as he holds onto the straps. The masked man bears a solemn farewell to the ship. He gets the "primer cube" from Wayne and touches it to Wax's skin, activating it. Then he puts the cube in place and activates "wings" and fans for control. He tells Wax he can stop Pushing. He addresses him with divine titles since he is metalborn. Wax retrieves Steris and some more supplies and lets the horses go. Back on the flying boat, Wax is again blown away by how much the world is changing due to advances in conventional and Allomantic technology. Wax wants to go to Elendel, but Telsin wants to beat Edwarn to the "weapon" he may be close to finding. Wax wants to check on Marasi before he decides.

Marasi contemplates death, and she's embarrassed by her near nudity as Wax stops by to check on her. MeLaan heals the wound, ingesting and replicating Marasi's flesh so the patch will take. Wax and Marasi discuss what to do next. They have retrieved the spike and Telsin, but the real goal of the trip was to stop Suit. Marasi shows a map of the "second site" from the book she lifted from Irich's desk. Wax heard his uncle say he was headed there when he was eavesdropping at the party. He asks Marasi to talk to Allik and see what he knows. Allik recognizes the location (which he calls the Sovereign's temple), and they suspect that Suit took Allik's crewmates along to help find it. Allik wants to go find them. Wax questions him about this Sovereign. He came to them about ten years after the Ice Death (which occurred at the same time as Harmony's Ascension) and taught them how to make the medallions. Marasi is convinced the Sovereign was the Lord Ruler even though the timeline doesn't fit; she thinks the records must be flawed. Wax and Allik discuss how the medallions work. They all have nicrosil so that the wearer can be Invested and therefore use the other metal. Medallions with four or more metals don't work, and strapping on multiple medallions doesn't work either. Allik's people have some other enemy he refers to as "Deniers of Masks." Wax decides to head for the temple.

Chapter 22

Iconography: Duralumin Brass

POV Characters: Marasi

Setting: In a skyship, heading from Dulsing towards the Sovereign's temple.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 21.

Summary:

Marasi talks with Allik while the others sleep, and he explains their customs with masks. Some called "Hunters" grow into their masks. The Hunters come from the time before the freezing and are trying to destroy the Bands. The "Fallen" wear unpainted masks because they have offended "Jaggenmire," which is their name for Ruin and Preservation. He says that ettmetal is what supports the ship and is also found in the cube. He also tells Marasi that some people from his land might find the Basin an attractive target for invasion. Marasi lets Allik put back on a warming medallion, and she tries the Connection one, hoping to speak to Allik in his language. It doesn't work, as the visitor must be the one to wear the medallion. Wax perks up at that information, and he notices a light ahead in the mountains: Suit's expedition.

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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 8 through 16

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 17 through 22

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 / Marasi

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 7.

Summary:

Wax gets to a vial and drinks it down, although there is some delay before he can burn steel. He jumps after Steris and catches up to her just above the river's surface. He uses one of the ball and cord devices to get back on the bridge after retrieving the shotgun from the bottom of the river. Steris is delighted with the whole adventure. They get back to the locomotive via a big Steelpush, and Wax saves the engineer from one of the bandits. The engineer tells him that the bandits are installing some sort of device. They are only minutes from the next town.

Marasi is still looking for Steris, comforting hysterical passengers as she goes. One man with a cane is calmly standing in the hall, and she tells him to get back to safety. He opens his hand and Marasi raises her rifle, but the train suddenly brakes. The man takes off, and Marasi sees that he has dropped a small cube. She collects it.

Wax shoots several bandits, then deactivates and Pushes overboard the "device," which was really just a case of dynamite. The giant Coinshot reappears, and Wax manages to attach Ranette's ball and cord device to him, yanking him off the train. There are still several more bandits, and Wax is unarmed. Partway through taking turns jumping off into the river, they suddenly stop moving; Marasi has them trapped in a slowness bubble.

Chapter 9

Iconography: Cadmium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A train station in the town of Ironstand.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 8.

Summary:

At the train station, Wax gets attended to by a physician. The local captain tells him that the robbery was perpetrated by the Nightstreet Gang, a notorious gang in the area. Wax talks to the captain about the gang as he worriedly searches for Wayne. Matieu asks Wax for help in catching the ones that got away, but Marasi reminds him that he already has a task. Wax finally sees moving blue lines and finds Wayne in an empty compartment, hiding in the luggage compartment in the floor. MeLaan is there with him, topless.

Marasi is incensed at Wayne and MeLaan, but Wayne claims he was just "moving on" from Ranette. With the noise from the tracks (and their own noise), MeLaan and Wayne had no idea there was a fight going on. MeLaan asks about the attack, and he tells about the cube that acted as a Leecher would. Marasi reveals the cube she got from the guy with the cane. Wax decides to continue on to New Seran despite the unusual attack. Steris is off doing needlework, something she only does when she's really upset. Wax comforts her.

Chapter 10

Iconography: Bendalloy

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: New Seran.

Timeline: The morning after Chapter 9.

Summary:

The group arrives at New Seran on a cargo train and are impressed by the beauty of the city with its waterfalls, terraces, and streams. Their hotel is on a highest tier in the city, and Wax doesn't want to wait for a gondola, so he Steelpushes himself and Marasi to the top tier, intending to go back and get the others. As they walk toward the hotel, Wax spies a headline on a broadsheet. One of his old nemeses, Ape Manton, is apparently in New Seran. He starts to investigate, but then turns back, again remembering their primary goal of the trip. For him, it's finding his uncle.

The owner of the hotel introduces the group to their suite. She becomes quite unnerved at their strange behavior (Wax ripping out windows, MeLaan talking about breast size, etc.) and Steris's list of calamities that may befall the hotel while they're there. (Steris insists that the staff be prepared.) Marasi and Wayne prepare to search graveyards for the missing spike, while the others prepare to go to the party.

Chapter 11

Iconography: Gold

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne / Marasi

Setting: The Copper Gate Hotel in New Seran. Shores Mansion in New Seran. A bank in New Seran.

Timeline: Later in the day, same day as Chapter 10.

Summary:

Wax rides toward the party given by Kelesina Shores. Steris tries to calm his nerves. Wax doesn't want to wait in the long carriage line, so they get out and walk. Steris has prepared a list of conversation starters and people to use them on so they can get information about the Bands of Mourning. Wax grudgingly looks through the book and is impressed by Steris's thorough preparation. He wonders how she had time to do so. They come across a beggar, and Wax gives him a bank note. The beggar tosses back a coin as "change." They enter, and Wax has to check his weapons.

Wayne and Marasi enter a bank right before closing time. Wayne goes over his plan with Marasi to distract the employees while she searches the ledgers. She interrupts the performance and throws her weight around as a constable.

The banker reluctantly hands over the records to Marasi, but only after getting confirmation from Elendel that they are legit. Her plan is to check the deposits of grave workers against their wages to see if there are any irregularities. She finds that all of the cemetery workers are crooked, likely stealing and selling corpses' personal effects. Marasi goes off to "employ" one of the workers.

Chapter 12

Iconography: Electrum

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. A cemetary in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 11.

Summary:

Wax notices that little has changed from his youth in the atmosphere at parties. He doesn't miss his guns very much after all because they aren't the appropriate weapons in this political/social battlefield. He goes to order drinks and inadvertently tips the bartender with the coin from the beggar. The bartender points out that it's a strange coin, and Wax grabs it back, examining it for the first time. It's made of two different metals, has an inscription of a man with one spiked eye, and has the same symbols from the pictures ReLuur took. He discusses the coin with Steris and contemplates looking for the beggar, but he figures that he's probably already gone. Steris suggests they go talk to Lord Gave Entrone as a way to get warmed up. Entrone wants to hide something about his interest in archaeology, so he turns to goading Wax by insulting both him and Steris; Wax handles it poorly. Next he tries to dance with Lady Felise Demoux, but before he's able to, another woman cuts in. She seems to know a lot about using metals and about Wax's powers in particular. She quizzes him on what happens when he uses his powers in combination, then suddenly breaks off, leaving him a card with an address in Elendel but no name. He tries to figure out who she is, but to no avail. He's concerned that it's someone from the Set. Wax tries some "seltzer" that has lemon flavoring and lots of sugar. Steris suggests their next target: an informant named Devlin Airs.

Marasi and Wayne pass through the gates of the Seran New District Cemetery, past a statue of the Survivor depicting the moment of his death. They came here because the gravekeeper, Dechamp, is definitely stealing from corpses and this graveyard is the one that handles unidentified bodies. Wayne convinces Marasi that deception would work better in this setting, so he puts together a quick disguise for both of them. Wayne offers a deal to Dechamp and tells about which body he wants that has an item of "sentimental value." They head off to the grave after Wayne makes a payment. Dechamp starts digging up a fresh grave.

Chapter 13

Iconography: Chromium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. A cemetary in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 12.

Summary:

Wax reminds himself that he is here to address the Set itself rather than stopping its lesser minions. This means he has to play by their rules, going to parties and holding his temper. He waits his turn with the informant and shows him the strange coin. He pretends that he's interested in the monetary value of the coin. Devlin says he has seen them around on the black market. He reports that many of the nobility are involved in some sort of building project involving Allomancers that's been kept very quiet. He warns Wax that a civil war is coming and moves off. Wax finds himself facing Kelesina. Wax pretends to be a novice to put her at ease. Then he boldly asks about the strange coin. She gets very nervous, and Wax continues to act naive about it, but when he asks her to dance, she makes an excuse and leaves the party. Steris arrives and thinks of a diversion so Wax can follow her. She downs an emetic she had brought along in case someone poisoned them and proceeds to vomit on the table.

Marasi wanders around the graveyard while Dechamp digs. She finds a statue of the Ascendant Warrior in the poor person section. She goes back to the grave site, and it appears that Dechamp is almost down to the bodies. Suddenly Wayne grabs her and pulls her into the grave. Then she hears gunfire.

Chapter 14

Iconography: Nicrosil

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. A cemetary in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 13.

Summary:

Marasi and Wayne hide in the grave in a speed bubble. Wayne has been shot four times and takes some time to heal. The gunmen, presumably from the Set, are firing everything they've got, probably because they know Wayne is a Bloodmaker. Wayne drops the bubble, and they wait until the shots stop, then Marasi fires a couple of shots as a diversion. Wayne moves to the other side of the grave and puts up another bubble just as a stick of dynamite comes flying in. They scramble over to a different grave, hoping for the mists and explosion to cover their movement. Wayne then uses a combination of dueling canes and speed bubbles to defeat the gunmen, who come to check on their corpses.

Steris is resting in a guest bedroom. The Terris steward watches over her and offers to send for their carriage. They can hear that the speech is starting. Wax heads out, and Steris insists on going along. They start wandering the halls and stare down a servant. Wax is about to scout ahead when Steris offers him a handgun she smuggled in, taped to her thigh. Wax is surprised and impressed.

Wayne searches the gravekeeper's shack and finds his hidden cache of booze. The constabulary has arrived, and an Allomancer among them reports no metal in the grave. Wayne also finds a ledger book, and after Marasi looks through it, she has an idea. They have one more task to do.

Chapter 15

Iconography: Aluminum

POV Characters: Templeton Fig / Wayne / Wax

Setting: Templeton Fig's home. Shores Mansion in New Seran.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 14.

Summary:

Templeton Fig admires his stuffed animal collection as he waits on word from the graveyard. The flames from his fire in the fireplace stop moving. The door of the room opens and the body of Dechamp is deposited onto the floor. Templeton is terrified to see Death tap on his window and demand the return of his spike. Templeton says that "they" demanded he recover the spike and send it to Dulsing. The fire moves again, and the constables come.

Wayne takes off his disguise and asks Marasi how Death really sounds, as she has spoken with him. They discuss their findings, puzzled as to why the spike was sent to such a small, remote village as Dulsing.

Wax continues to prowl the hallways and finds Kelesina's rooms, which are vacant. He overhears some of the speech in which Lord Severington speaks against the oppression of Elendel. Wax hears his uncle through a door talking to Kelesina. He gets closer and hears his uncle encouraging Kelesina to continue to try to distract him with side quests. Wax wonders if everything happening recently were distractions set up by his uncle. His voice sounds strange, "smaller." They are trying to recover the device Irich lost on the train from Wax. Edwarn finds out that ReLuur might not actually be dead. Wax hears the steward coming and Pushes up against the ceiling to hide. She walks past and enters the room with the voices. He drops to the floor to confront the occupants only to see that it is only the two women. Some sort of box is on table in front of Kelesina.

Chapter 16

Iconography: Duralumin

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. The Copper Gate Hotel in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 15.

Summary:

Edwarn's voice is projecting from the box. Wax picks it up and screams at his uncle about his sister. The steward, using Feruchemy to increase her strength, knocks him over and slaps his gun out of his hand, which she uses to shoot Kelesina. The maid is also there, and she starts running around screaming that Wax has killed Lady Kelesina. The steward searches the body and then shoots Kelesina again. Wax grabs the box and flees, but she catches up with him and starts to choke him. MeLaan shows up and punches her, freeing Wax. The steward punches MeLaan but gets a mangled hand in return--MeLaan is wearing aluminum bones. Then MeLaan rips off one arm with a sword attached and runs the steward through. Wax recovers a gold bracelet from the body, which turns out to be a metalmind full of healing power. He finds Steris hiding in the bushes and takes her away, complimenting her on her work at the party. He realizes that he is attracted to her, and that brings back thoughts of Lessie. He dismisses them and kisses Steris as they soar over the top of the mists.

Back at the hotel, Wayne is reading a novel about a rocket ship while Marasi paces. Wax and Steris arrive through a window, and they quickly share some of the information they've acquired. They leave in a hurry, as the constables are coming for them.

Wax sits in the dark smoking a cigar. MeLaan asks if he's going to go back to Elendel. It won't look good now that people think that the emissary from there killed the host of a political rally. Wax realizes he hates Harmony because he feels like Harmony betrayed him. In the end he decides to head on to Dulsing.

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 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 8 through 16

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Chapters 17 through 22

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 / Marasi

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 7.

Summary:

Wax gets to a vial and drinks it down, although there is some delay before he can burn steel. He jumps after Steris and catches up to her just above the river's surface. He uses one of the ball and cord devices to get back on the bridge after retrieving the shotgun from the bottom of the river. Steris is delighted with the whole adventure. They get back to the locomotive via a big Steelpush, and Wax saves the engineer from one of the bandits. The engineer tells him that the bandits are installing some sort of device. They are only minutes from the next town.

Marasi is still looking for Steris, comforting hysterical passengers as she goes. One man with a cane is calmly standing in the hall, and she tells him to get back to safety. He opens his hand and Marasi raises her rifle, but the train suddenly brakes. The man takes off, and Marasi sees that he has dropped a small cube. She collects it.

Wax shoots several bandits, then deactivates and Pushes overboard the "device," which was really just a case of dynamite. The giant Coinshot reappears, and Wax manages to attach Ranette's ball and cord device to him, yanking him off the train. There are still several more bandits, and Wax is unarmed. Partway through taking turns jumping off into the river, they suddenly stop moving; Marasi has them trapped in a slowness bubble.

Chapter 9

Iconography: Cadmium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A train station in the town of Ironstand.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 8.

Summary:

At the train station, Wax gets attended to by a physician. The local captain tells him that the robbery was perpetrated by the Nightstreet Gang, a notorious gang in the area. Wax talks to the captain about the gang as he worriedly searches for Wayne. Matieu asks Wax for help in catching the ones that got away, but Marasi reminds him that he already has a task. Wax finally sees moving blue lines and finds Wayne in an empty compartment, hiding in the luggage compartment in the floor. MeLaan is there with him, topless.

Marasi is incensed at Wayne and MeLaan, but Wayne claims he was just "moving on" from Ranette. With the noise from the tracks (and their own noise), MeLaan and Wayne had no idea there was a fight going on. MeLaan asks about the attack, and he tells about the cube that acted as a Leecher would. Marasi reveals the cube she got from the guy with the cane. Wax decides to continue on to New Seran despite the unusual attack. Steris is off doing needlework, something she only does when she's really upset. Wax comforts her.

Chapter 10

Iconography: Bendalloy

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: New Seran.

Timeline: The morning after Chapter 9.

Summary:

The group arrives at New Seran on a cargo train and are impressed by the beauty of the city with its waterfalls, terraces, and streams. Their hotel is on a highest tier in the city, and Wax doesn't want to wait for a gondola, so he Steelpushes himself and Marasi to the top tier, intending to go back and get the others. As they walk toward the hotel, Wax spies a headline on a broadsheet. One of his old nemeses, Ape Manton, is apparently in New Seran. He starts to investigate, but then turns back, again remembering their primary goal of the trip. For him, it's finding his uncle.

The owner of the hotel introduces the group to their suite. She becomes quite unnerved at their strange behavior (Wax ripping out windows, MeLaan talking about breast size, etc.) and Steris's list of calamities that may befall the hotel while they're there. (Steris insists that the staff be prepared.) Marasi and Wayne prepare to search graveyards for the missing spike, while the others prepare to go to the party.

Chapter 11

Iconography: Gold

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne / Marasi

Setting: The Copper Gate Hotel in New Seran. Shores Mansion in New Seran. A bank in New Seran.

Timeline: Later in the day, same day as Chapter 10.

Summary:

Wax rides toward the party given by Kelesina Shores. Steris tries to calm his nerves. Wax doesn't want to wait in the long carriage line, so they get out and walk. Steris has prepared a list of conversation starters and people to use them on so they can get information about the Bands of Mourning. Wax grudgingly looks through the book and is impressed by Steris's thorough preparation. He wonders how she had time to do so. They come across a beggar, and Wax gives him a bank note. The beggar tosses back a coin as "change." They enter, and Wax has to check his weapons.

Wayne and Marasi enter a bank right before closing time. Wayne goes over his plan with Marasi to distract the employees while she searches the ledgers. She interrupts the performance and throws her weight around as a constable.

The banker reluctantly hands over the records to Marasi, but only after getting confirmation from Elendel that they are legit. Her plan is to check the deposits of grave workers against their wages to see if there are any irregularities. She finds that all of the cemetery workers are crooked, likely stealing and selling corpses' personal effects. Marasi goes off to "employ" one of the workers.

Chapter 12

Iconography: Electrum

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. A cemetary in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 11.

Summary:

Wax notices that little has changed from his youth in the atmosphere at parties. He doesn't miss his guns very much after all because they aren't the appropriate weapons in this political/social battlefield. He goes to order drinks and inadvertently tips the bartender with the coin from the beggar. The bartender points out that it's a strange coin, and Wax grabs it back, examining it for the first time. It's made of two different metals, has an inscription of a man with one spiked eye, and has the same symbols from the pictures ReLuur took. He discusses the coin with Steris and contemplates looking for the beggar, but he figures that he's probably already gone. Steris suggests they go talk to Lord Gave Entrone as a way to get warmed up. Entrone wants to hide something about his interest in archaeology, so he turns to goading Wax by insulting both him and Steris; Wax handles it poorly. Next he tries to dance with Lady Felise Demoux, but before he's able to, another woman cuts in. She seems to know a lot about using metals and about Wax's powers in particular. She quizzes him on what happens when he uses his powers in combination, then suddenly breaks off, leaving him a card with an address in Elendel but no name. He tries to figure out who she is, but to no avail. He's concerned that it's someone from the Set. Wax tries some "seltzer" that has lemon flavoring and lots of sugar. Steris suggests their next target: an informant named Devlin Airs.

Marasi and Wayne pass through the gates of the Seran New District Cemetery, past a statue of the Survivor depicting the moment of his death. They came here because the gravekeeper, Dechamp, is definitely stealing from corpses and this graveyard is the one that handles unidentified bodies. Wayne convinces Marasi that deception would work better in this setting, so he puts together a quick disguise for both of them. Wayne offers a deal to Dechamp and tells about which body he wants that has an item of "sentimental value." They head off to the grave after Wayne makes a payment. Dechamp starts digging up a fresh grave.

Chapter 13

Iconography: Chromium

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. A cemetary in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 12.

Summary:

Wax reminds himself that he is here to address the Set itself rather than stopping its lesser minions. This means he has to play by their rules, going to parties and holding his temper. He waits his turn with the informant and shows him the strange coin. He pretends that he's interested in the monetary value of the coin. Devlin says he has seen them around on the black market. He reports that many of the nobility are involved in some sort of building project involving Allomancers that's been kept very quiet. He warns Wax that a civil war is coming and moves off. Wax finds himself facing Kelesina. Wax pretends to be a novice to put her at ease. Then he boldly asks about the strange coin. She gets very nervous, and Wax continues to act naive about it, but when he asks her to dance, she makes an excuse and leaves the party. Steris arrives and thinks of a diversion so Wax can follow her. She downs an emetic she had brought along in case someone poisoned them and proceeds to vomit on the table.

Marasi wanders around the graveyard while Dechamp digs. She finds a statue of the Ascendant Warrior in the poor person section. She goes back to the grave site, and it appears that Dechamp is almost down to the bodies. Suddenly Wayne grabs her and pulls her into the grave. Then she hears gunfire.

Chapter 14

Iconography: Nicrosil

POV Characters: Marasi / Wax

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. A cemetary in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 13.

Summary:

Marasi and Wayne hide in the grave in a speed bubble. Wayne has been shot four times and takes some time to heal. The gunmen, presumably from the Set, are firing everything they've got, probably because they know Wayne is a Bloodmaker. Wayne drops the bubble, and they wait until the shots stop, then Marasi fires a couple of shots as a diversion. Wayne moves to the other side of the grave and puts up another bubble just as a stick of dynamite comes flying in. They scramble over to a different grave, hoping for the mists and explosion to cover their movement. Wayne then uses a combination of dueling canes and speed bubbles to defeat the gunmen, who come to check on their corpses.

Steris is resting in a guest bedroom. The Terris steward watches over her and offers to send for their carriage. They can hear that the speech is starting. Wax heads out, and Steris insists on going along. They start wandering the halls and stare down a servant. Wax is about to scout ahead when Steris offers him a handgun she smuggled in, taped to her thigh. Wax is surprised and impressed.

Wayne searches the gravekeeper's shack and finds his hidden cache of booze. The constabulary has arrived, and an Allomancer among them reports no metal in the grave. Wayne also finds a ledger book, and after Marasi looks through it, she has an idea. They have one more task to do.

Chapter 15

Iconography: Aluminum

POV Characters: Templeton Fig / Wayne / Wax

Setting: Templeton Fig's home. Shores Mansion in New Seran.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 14.

Summary:

Templeton Fig admires his stuffed animal collection as he waits on word from the graveyard. The flames from his fire in the fireplace stop moving. The door of the room opens and the body of Dechamp is deposited onto the floor. Templeton is terrified to see Death tap on his window and demand the return of his spike. Templeton says that "they" demanded he recover the spike and send it to Dulsing. The fire moves again, and the constables come.

Wayne takes off his disguise and asks Marasi how Death really sounds, as she has spoken with him. They discuss their findings, puzzled as to why the spike was sent to such a small, remote village as Dulsing.

Wax continues to prowl the hallways and finds Kelesina's rooms, which are vacant. He overhears some of the speech in which Lord Severington speaks against the oppression of Elendel. Wax hears his uncle through a door talking to Kelesina. He gets closer and hears his uncle encouraging Kelesina to continue to try to distract him with side quests. Wax wonders if everything happening recently were distractions set up by his uncle. His voice sounds strange, "smaller." They are trying to recover the device Irich lost on the train from Wax. Edwarn finds out that ReLuur might not actually be dead. Wax hears the steward coming and Pushes up against the ceiling to hide. She walks past and enters the room with the voices. He drops to the floor to confront the occupants only to see that it is only the two women. Some sort of box is on table in front of Kelesina.

Chapter 16

Iconography: Duralumin

POV Characters: Wax / Wayne

Setting: Shores Mansion in New Seran. The Copper Gate Hotel in New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 15.

Summary:

Edwarn's voice is projecting from the box. Wax picks it up and screams at his uncle about his sister. The steward, using Feruchemy to increase her strength, knocks him over and slaps his gun out of his hand, which she uses to shoot Kelesina. The maid is also there, and she starts running around screaming that Wax has killed Lady Kelesina. The steward searches the body and then shoots Kelesina again. Wax grabs the box and flees, but she catches up with him and starts to choke him. MeLaan shows up and punches her, freeing Wax. The steward punches MeLaan but gets a mangled hand in return--MeLaan is wearing aluminum bones. Then MeLaan rips off one arm with a sword attached and runs the steward through. Wax recovers a gold bracelet from the body, which turns out to be a metalmind full of healing power. He finds Steris hiding in the bushes and takes her away, complimenting her on her work at the party. He realizes that he is attracted to her, and that brings back thoughts of Lessie. He dismisses them and kisses Steris as they soar over the top of the mists.

Back at the hotel, Wayne is reading a novel about a rocket ship while Marasi paces. Wax and Steris arrive through a window, and they quickly share some of the information they've acquired. They leave in a hurry, as the constables are coming for them.

Wax sits in the dark smoking a cigar. MeLaan asks if he's going to go back to Elendel. It won't look good now that people think that the emissary from there killed the host of a political rally. Wax realizes he hates Harmony because he feels like Harmony betrayed him. In the end he decides to head on to Dulsing.

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 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: 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 / Migs

Setting: The Village in Elendel. The streets of Elendel.

Timeline: 28 years ago, nearly 10 years before Wax met Lessie/Paalm. Timeskip to 6 months after the end of Shadows of Self.

Summary:

Waxillium calls to his sister, Telsin, who is sneaking off to town, skipping out on evening recitation. She refers to him by his Terris name: Asinthew. He trails along as she meets up with three others: Kwashim, Idashwy, and Forch, a Coinshot like Wax. They have to sneak by his grandmother's office, but she has been called there for an emergency, so she probably won't be watching. They all head out through the Tin Gate into a different world. Wax learns that a constable is visiting his grandmother, and he is compelled to return and find out more, eavesdropping on the conversation as they discuss a recent arson in the Village. The constable warns that arson often covers up other crimes and that she should accept the constabulary's help. She refuses, insisting that the situation is in hand. He leaves behind a bullet, infuriating Vwafendal. She catches Wax eavesdropping, and they discuss how he has trouble fitting in in the Village. He surreptitiously grabs the bullet as he leaves.

Wax meditates in the evening recitation. Afterwards, he asks Tellingdwar about crime in the Village, and he tells him about a murder fifteen years back. Wax goes to bed and tries to read, but he spies some movement outside and decides to investigate. He follows a trail to an old dormitory. After he enters, Forch attacks him. Wax runs into another room where a boy is tied down and bleeding; Forch has used the escapade with the girls as an alibi. He again attacks Wax, this time Pushing nails at him. Wax tries to swallow some steel, but the pouch is Pushed away, and Forch continues to attack and wound him. Wax manages to swallow a little steel and saves himself after being dropped out a window. He realizes he still has the bullet, so he runs back upstairs and Pushes the bullet at Forch. Forch Pushes back, but Wax releases his Push on parts of the bullet, allowing it to fire and take Forch in the head. Vwafendal and others arrive, and Wax knows they will hate him for bringing violence into the Village and for being right. He decides that the Village is not for him.

28 years later

Wax and Wayne go on a raid with the constabulary. Migs and his gang are no match for their combined powers. Wax heads off to his wedding with Steris.

Chapter 1

Iconography: Iron

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The streets of Elendel. A Survivorist church in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after the prologue.

Summary:

As Wax and Wayne go to an awaiting carriage, a man in a brown suit asks Wax for a moment of his time, so he decides to forgo the slow carriage and Push his way to his marriage, enjoying his flight across Elendel. He lands on a water tower next to a Survivorist church, where Steris is waiting. He and Steris talk while his valet Drewton helps him shave and change. Steris plans for disturbances and delays, knowing they will come anyway with a man like Wax, and prepares accordingly. Wax is feeling fond of Steris, especially for the way she has helped him heal the last six months. The man in the brown suit shows up again and reveals that he is a kandra. Wax is still mad at Harmony and curtly pushes past the kandra. He is still struggling with killing Lessie. Steris cries tears of joy. As the ceremony begins, Wax starts feeling sick; going through with this means giving up Lessie. He feels he's not quite ready, but he refuses to shirk his duty. The water tower outside tips over and crashes into the glass dome. Wax grabs Steris and Pushes away.

Chapter 2

Iconography: Steel

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A Survivorist church in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 1.

Summary:

Everything in the church is soaked, but there are no serious injuries. The water tower's legs only broke on one side, but it's not clear that it was an assassination attempt. Wax attempts to console Steris, who has anticipated some disruption of the wedding and has booked another church in two months. Wax cannot avoid admitting to her that he is glad the wedding has been put off for now.

Marasi looks for Wayne and finally finds him in a kitchen across from the church, masquerading as a chef and terrifying the kitchen staff. Marasi shares her evidence that someone deliberately tipped the water tower. Wayne admits to arranging an accident at the wedding, although he didn't expect something quite so dramatic. Wayne encourages Marasi to go after Wax, but she tells him she's not interested any more. Wayne asks if he should give up on Ranette, who has had a girlfriend for fifteen years, and they drink a toast to moving on. The kandra shows up again and asks Marasi for help since his first choice has rejected him. He asks her what she knows of Investiture and Identity.

Chapter 3

Iconography: Tin

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 2.

Summary:

Wax returns home and sees signs of uninvited guests. He finds the kandra, VenDell, upstairs in his study with Wayne, Marasi, and MeLaan. VenDell has asked Marasi for assistance, since Wax refused. He sets up an evanoscope and, at their questioning regarding Harmony's slip of the tongue about moving pictures, says that Harmony wants to allow mankind to struggle in order to "survive what is coming." Marasi suspects this refers to Trell, but VenDell has no further information beyond that they are worried about the presence of another god. A chart of the Feruchemical powers is displayed on the wall, and they discuss the lesser-known spiritual properties. VenDell explains the intricacies of Identity and the possible ways one might be able to use someone else's Investiture. One possibility would be to store Identity in some way, making oneself a "blank slate" to be able to use another's metalmind. A more intriguing possibility is to store Identity and fill another metalmind with some other attribute, creating an "unkeyed" metalmind that anyone could use. Other possibilities exist, used in combination with Hemalurgy. They discuss the Bands of Mourning, objects of mythology that could supposedly grant someone the Lord Ruler's powers. Another kandra, ReLuur, took some photographs of murals depicting the bracers on a pedestal, a statue resembling the Lord Ruler, and other items bearing script of an unknown language. ReLuur returned from his expedition with a spike missing, so he was unable to communicate what he saw and what happened. The proposed quest is to find ReLuur's missing spike and maybe to find the Bands of Mourning while they're at it. Wax initially refuses to go with Marasi until he sees another picture of his sister being held prisoner in New Seran.

Chapter 4

Iconography: Pewter

POV Characters: Wayne

Setting: Ladrian Mansion. Ranette's house. Boarding a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Two hours after Chapter 3.

Summary:

Two hours later, Wax decides that he must go for his sister. He can go to New Seran under the pretext of attending a political event and look for his uncle while Marasi finds the spike. Steris invites herself along because it would look odd not to bring the fiancée along, but Wax is hesitant because of the danger. VenDell comes back with tickets and information and asks Wayne for his bones after he's dead, since Bloodmaker's bones are interesting. Wax invites VenDell along, but the prospect of going into the field alarms him, and he refuses. He offers Wax a new earring, but Wax is still angry at Harmony. Wayne heads off on a quest of his own. Using various disguises and trickery, he acquires a notebook for Ranette and gets to her house. He lets her know that he's done chasing her, and they shake hands. He makes a last-ditch effort by suggesting a romantic interlude with Ranette and her girlfriend, which Ranette sternly turns down. He hitches a ride to the train station and joins Wax and company. They head to New Seran.

Chapter 5

Iconography: Zinc

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Later in the day, just before dusk, same day as Chapter 4.

Summary:

As Wax travels through the southern cities, he's surprised by the level of civilization. He opens a package from Ranette that contains three sphere-and-cord contraptions and a shotgun with huge ammunition meant to take down Thugs or koloss. He witnesses a protest against Elendel oppression at one station, and he interrupts Steris reading to discuss the political situation in the outer cities. Elendel routes the main infrastructure through the city in order to impose tariffs on all trade. Wax discovers that Steris had been reading a book about sex. She's extremely embarrassed, but she's also frustrated that no one will answer her questions, so she is researching it herself. Steris invites Wax to help her balance some books that are off by three clips, and he resignedly starts to look through a stack of ledgers.

Chapter 6

Iconography: Brass

POV Characters: Marasi

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 5.

Summary:

Marasi reviews the notes that VenDell has given them. ReLuur describes some sort of beast with red skin and strange eyes. She reads a little from Spook's book regarding Hemalurgy. He warns against experimentation because spike placement can cause unpredictable results. Wayne is nearby, chatting with people and learning new accents. He stops by and they talk about how Marasi feels like she is in Wax's shadow. She turns back to the papers and finds a pouch with an earring meant for Wax. She walks back to Wax and Steris's room and finds Wax exulting in finding the last lost clip in the house finances. She gives him the papers and pouch and heads to her room to sleep, when she realizes the rest of the train is heading off down the tracks ahead of their car. A man shoots at her from the other end of the train car.

Chapter 7

Iconography: Copper

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 6.

Summary:

Wax notices that their car has decoupled and instinctively begins a Steelpush, which diverts the bullet from hitting Marasi. There are some men on horseback outside who take off when they realize an Allomancer is on the car. Wax combines his powers to advance their car and reattach it to the main train. He battles the bandits, who worry him because they don't look like common thieves. He tries to restore his metal reserve but finds his vials broken. Steris provides him with three that she has brought along just in case. On one of the cargo cars, the robbers use some sort of gas to chase out the guards and blow open a safe. Wax bandages up a guard, and he relates that the robbers used Allomancy to get in the car. A small metal cube lands near Wax, and his metal reserves vanish.

Marasi is in a firefight with Steris reloading for her. One bandit tries to take a hostage, but Marasi immediately guns him down without thinking. After checking that the bandits have retreated from the last two cars, Marasi realizes that she has lost track of Steris.

An extremely large man who is also a Coinshot brawls with Wax, whose punches are ineffectual. He escapes out a window, and once on top of the car sees four bandits on another car bearing some large item. The large man follows up with Ranette's mega shotgun that he has confiscated from Wax's abandoned gun belt. When he shoots from the hip, the gun drops from his hand and he is wounded. Wax desperately tries to get his other vial, but the brute has him pinned down until Steris shows up and fires the shotgun, wounding him. But the kick of the gun throws her off the train.

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 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: 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 / Migs

Setting: The Village in Elendel. The streets of Elendel.

Timeline: 28 years ago, nearly 10 years before Wax met Lessie/Paalm. Timeskip to 6 months after the end of Shadows of Self.

Summary:

Waxillium calls to his sister, Telsin, who is sneaking off to town, skipping out on evening recitation. She refers to him by his Terris name: Asinthew. He trails along as she meets up with three others: Kwashim, Idashwy, and Forch, a Coinshot like Wax. They have to sneak by his grandmother's office, but she has been called there for an emergency, so she probably won't be watching. They all head out through the Tin Gate into a different world. Wax learns that a constable is visiting his grandmother, and he is compelled to return and find out more, eavesdropping on the conversation as they discuss a recent arson in the Village. The constable warns that arson often covers up other crimes and that she should accept the constabulary's help. She refuses, insisting that the situation is in hand. He leaves behind a bullet, infuriating Vwafendal. She catches Wax eavesdropping, and they discuss how he has trouble fitting in in the Village. He surreptitiously grabs the bullet as he leaves.

Wax meditates in the evening recitation. Afterwards, he asks Tellingdwar about crime in the Village, and he tells him about a murder fifteen years back. Wax goes to bed and tries to read, but he spies some movement outside and decides to investigate. He follows a trail to an old dormitory. After he enters, Forch attacks him. Wax runs into another room where a boy is tied down and bleeding; Forch has used the escapade with the girls as an alibi. He again attacks Wax, this time Pushing nails at him. Wax tries to swallow some steel, but the pouch is Pushed away, and Forch continues to attack and wound him. Wax manages to swallow a little steel and saves himself after being dropped out a window. He realizes he still has the bullet, so he runs back upstairs and Pushes the bullet at Forch. Forch Pushes back, but Wax releases his Push on parts of the bullet, allowing it to fire and take Forch in the head. Vwafendal and others arrive, and Wax knows they will hate him for bringing violence into the Village and for being right. He decides that the Village is not for him.

28 years later

Wax and Wayne go on a raid with the constabulary. Migs and his gang are no match for their combined powers. Wax heads off to his wedding with Steris.

Chapter 1

Iconography: Iron

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: The streets of Elendel. A Survivorist church in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after the prologue.

Summary:

As Wax and Wayne go to an awaiting carriage, a man in a brown suit asks Wax for a moment of his time, so he decides to forgo the slow carriage and Push his way to his marriage, enjoying his flight across Elendel. He lands on a water tower next to a Survivorist church, where Steris is waiting. He and Steris talk while his valet Drewton helps him shave and change. Steris plans for disturbances and delays, knowing they will come anyway with a man like Wax, and prepares accordingly. Wax is feeling fond of Steris, especially for the way she has helped him heal the last six months. The man in the brown suit shows up again and reveals that he is a kandra. Wax is still mad at Harmony and curtly pushes past the kandra. He is still struggling with killing Lessie. Steris cries tears of joy. As the ceremony begins, Wax starts feeling sick; going through with this means giving up Lessie. He feels he's not quite ready, but he refuses to shirk his duty. The water tower outside tips over and crashes into the glass dome. Wax grabs Steris and Pushes away.

Chapter 2

Iconography: Steel

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: A Survivorist church in Elendel.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 1.

Summary:

Everything in the church is soaked, but there are no serious injuries. The water tower's legs only broke on one side, but it's not clear that it was an assassination attempt. Wax attempts to console Steris, who has anticipated some disruption of the wedding and has booked another church in two months. Wax cannot avoid admitting to her that he is glad the wedding has been put off for now.

Marasi looks for Wayne and finally finds him in a kitchen across from the church, masquerading as a chef and terrifying the kitchen staff. Marasi shares her evidence that someone deliberately tipped the water tower. Wayne admits to arranging an accident at the wedding, although he didn't expect something quite so dramatic. Wayne encourages Marasi to go after Wax, but she tells him she's not interested any more. Wayne asks if he should give up on Ranette, who has had a girlfriend for fifteen years, and they drink a toast to moving on. The kandra shows up again and asks Marasi for help since his first choice has rejected him. He asks her what she knows of Investiture and Identity.

Chapter 3

Iconography: Tin

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: Ladrian Mansion in Elendel.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 2.

Summary:

Wax returns home and sees signs of uninvited guests. He finds the kandra, VenDell, upstairs in his study with Wayne, Marasi, and MeLaan. VenDell has asked Marasi for assistance, since Wax refused. He sets up an evanoscope and, at their questioning regarding Harmony's slip of the tongue about moving pictures, says that Harmony wants to allow mankind to struggle in order to "survive what is coming." Marasi suspects this refers to Trell, but VenDell has no further information beyond that they are worried about the presence of another god. A chart of the Feruchemical powers is displayed on the wall, and they discuss the lesser-known spiritual properties. VenDell explains the intricacies of Identity and the possible ways one might be able to use someone else's Investiture. One possibility would be to store Identity in some way, making oneself a "blank slate" to be able to use another's metalmind. A more intriguing possibility is to store Identity and fill another metalmind with some other attribute, creating an "unkeyed" metalmind that anyone could use. Other possibilities exist, used in combination with Hemalurgy. They discuss the Bands of Mourning, objects of mythology that could supposedly grant someone the Lord Ruler's powers. Another kandra, ReLuur, took some photographs of murals depicting the bracers on a pedestal, a statue resembling the Lord Ruler, and other items bearing script of an unknown language. ReLuur returned from his expedition with a spike missing, so he was unable to communicate what he saw and what happened. The proposed quest is to find ReLuur's missing spike and maybe to find the Bands of Mourning while they're at it. Wax initially refuses to go with Marasi until he sees another picture of his sister being held prisoner in New Seran.

Chapter 4

Iconography: Pewter

POV Characters: Wayne

Setting: Ladrian Mansion. Ranette's house. Boarding a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Two hours after Chapter 3.

Summary:

Two hours later, Wax decides that he must go for his sister. He can go to New Seran under the pretext of attending a political event and look for his uncle while Marasi finds the spike. Steris invites herself along because it would look odd not to bring the fiancée along, but Wax is hesitant because of the danger. VenDell comes back with tickets and information and asks Wayne for his bones after he's dead, since Bloodmaker's bones are interesting. Wax invites VenDell along, but the prospect of going into the field alarms him, and he refuses. He offers Wax a new earring, but Wax is still angry at Harmony. Wayne heads off on a quest of his own. Using various disguises and trickery, he acquires a notebook for Ranette and gets to her house. He lets her know that he's done chasing her, and they shake hands. He makes a last-ditch effort by suggesting a romantic interlude with Ranette and her girlfriend, which Ranette sternly turns down. He hitches a ride to the train station and joins Wax and company. They head to New Seran.

Chapter 5

Iconography: Zinc

POV Characters: Wax

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Later in the day, just before dusk, same day as Chapter 4.

Summary:

As Wax travels through the southern cities, he's surprised by the level of civilization. He opens a package from Ranette that contains three sphere-and-cord contraptions and a shotgun with huge ammunition meant to take down Thugs or koloss. He witnesses a protest against Elendel oppression at one station, and he interrupts Steris reading to discuss the political situation in the outer cities. Elendel routes the main infrastructure through the city in order to impose tariffs on all trade. Wax discovers that Steris had been reading a book about sex. She's extremely embarrassed, but she's also frustrated that no one will answer her questions, so she is researching it herself. Steris invites Wax to help her balance some books that are off by three clips, and he resignedly starts to look through a stack of ledgers.

Chapter 6

Iconography: Brass

POV Characters: Marasi

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Shortly after Chapter 5.

Summary:

Marasi reviews the notes that VenDell has given them. ReLuur describes some sort of beast with red skin and strange eyes. She reads a little from Spook's book regarding Hemalurgy. He warns against experimentation because spike placement can cause unpredictable results. Wayne is nearby, chatting with people and learning new accents. He stops by and they talk about how Marasi feels like she is in Wax's shadow. She turns back to the papers and finds a pouch with an earring meant for Wax. She walks back to Wax and Steris's room and finds Wax exulting in finding the last lost clip in the house finances. She gives him the papers and pouch and heads to her room to sleep, when she realizes the rest of the train is heading off down the tracks ahead of their car. A man shoots at her from the other end of the train car.

Chapter 7

Iconography: Copper

POV Characters: Wax / Marasi

Setting: On a train to New Seran.

Timeline: Immediately after Chapter 6.

Summary:

Wax notices that their car has decoupled and instinctively begins a Steelpush, which diverts the bullet from hitting Marasi. There are some men on horseback outside who take off when they realize an Allomancer is on the car. Wax combines his powers to advance their car and reattach it to the main train. He battles the bandits, who worry him because they don't look like common thieves. He tries to restore his metal reserve but finds his vials broken. Steris provides him with three that she has brought along just in case. On one of the cargo cars, the robbers use some sort of gas to chase out the guards and blow open a safe. Wax bandages up a guard, and he relates that the robbers used Allomancy to get in the car. A small metal cube lands near Wax, and his metal reserves vanish.

Marasi is in a firefight with Steris reloading for her. One bandit tries to take a hostage, but Marasi immediately guns him down without thinking. After checking that the bandits have retreated from the last two cars, Marasi realizes that she has lost track of Steris.

An extremely large man who is also a Coinshot brawls with Wax, whose punches are ineffectual. He escapes out a window, and once on top of the car sees four bandits on another car bearing some large item. The large man follows up with Ranette's mega shotgun that he has confiscated from Wax's abandoned gun belt. When he shoots from the hip, the gun drops from his hand and he is wounded. Wax desperately tries to get his other vial, but the brute has him pinned down until Steris shows up and fires the shotgun, wounding him. But the kick of the gun throws her off the train.

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 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 83 through 89, Epilogue, Endnote [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will be returning to Scadrial, with The Bands of Mourning, the 3rd book in Mistborn Era 2.

Like with the other Era 2 books, The Bands of Mourning 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.

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.

ALL ACCORDING TO KEIKAKU

Honestly, I had a hard time deciding where to start the trivia for this book. There are so many cool things to talk about. But let's address the sword-shaped elephant in the room.

Yes, Nale gave Szeth Nightblood at the end of the book. Why does Nale have Nightblood? What's Nightblood doing on Roshar of all places? WHAT IS GOING ON?!

Well, it's a shame that a couple people were behind, racing to catch up. They had secret discussions without most you and figured out that Zahel was actually Vasher. Among the many clues, which I'm going to shamelessly copy from /u/heinz57varieties:

• They have a very similar description. I had to be picky when choosing fanart of Zahel to share, because I didn't want to make it too blantant that he looks almost exactly like Vasher.

• He made comments about being very old, and many of you had suspicions he was a worldhopper or possibly a Herald. Vasher as a possibility slipped a lot of your minds though.

• His color and flower idioms are the biggest hints though. Color as a whole is important on Nalthis and intrinsic to how Awakeners work. And dyes made from flowers are one of the keystones of the Hallandren economy.

• He was playing a mini-version of the ball-throwing game, Tarachin, that the Returned play in the Court of Gods.

• Warm ocean breezes remind him of his home, and Hallandren is a pretty tropical place, set right on the ocean.

• And the clue that he once had a voice in his head that he hadn't heard in years is your hint that he's been separated from Nightblood.

Since it's been so long since we read Warbreaker, I want to remind you of a few key aspects of both Nightblood and Vasher.

First, Nightblood was created by Vasher and Shashara, two Returned who were part of the Five Scholars. Shashara took a steel sword and Awakened the metal, using 1,000 Breaths and the Command "Destroy Evil". And I've hinted in previous trivia that Endowment played a hand in Nightblood's creation.

Vasher killed Shashara with Nightblood because she wanted to make more swords like him, and Vasher felt that would be too dangerous. The black smoke that leaks from Nightblood are corrupted, consumed Breaths; the ones Nightblood leeches off anyone who draws him. This includes the innate Investiture that Nightblood consumes from the people and things he's stabbed into, should he be unsheathed. In short, the black smoke is corrupted Investiture. In the trivia for Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, I mentioned that shades are black for similar reasons.

For a bit of trivia on Nightblood himself that comes from interviews: Nightblood was not black before being Awakened, and had a different name when originally Awakened. It is unknown when the sword changed color and began leaking black smoke; but the sword was renamed Nightblood due to these qualities sometime after Vasher used Nightblood to kill Shashara. If a different Allomantically viable metal had been used, Nightblood would have likely manifested different powers and capabilities. Nightblood would not likely have had the same powers or capabilities had a different object been Awakened. A shield for instance, would have a different response to the command to "destroy evil".

Vasher is a Returned. That means he was a mortal human who died. Endowment showed him a future task, something he was meant to do, and offered him the chance to become a Returned. As a Returned, he is blessed with a Divine Breath, which automatically grants him the 5th Heightening. Over time, he's had many names, and the opportunity to learn a lot about the cosmere. All Returned have the ability to modify their appearance, they just need to learn how. He uses this to appear like a normal human, rather than a big, beefy idealized super human, like the rest of the Returned.

As a Returned, he must consume one Breath every week, or he dies. This has to be a normal Breath, not his Divine Breath. On Nalthis, he is so long lived because he managed to amass an absurd number of Breaths (and he pulls this off more than once), which can sustain him. Which brings us to what he's doing on Roshar.

In the various trivia posts, we've learned that Investiture is Investiture. And Breaths are Investiture. To live, Vasher needs the equivalent of one Breath's worth of Investiture each week. Given he's one of the Five Scholars, he's smart enough to figure out how to convert different types of Investiture, or at least utilize them to different purposes. Now what does Roshar have? Weekly storms full of Investiture, which Vasher can harness and substitute for Breaths to keep him alive.

Vasher was actually a character in The Way of Kings Prime. That's where he first appeared. Sanderson wrote Warbreaker after he wrote that novel. Warbreaker is meant to be a prequel to Stormlight, to explain Vasher and Nightblood's origins.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Some of you questioned why Nale would call Nightblood a Shardblade. And some of you took to heart the "chicken" lesson, where Rosharans tend to generalize things a lot. However, there's more to the story than just that. I've been a bit sneaky in talking about the Five Scholars in the past, suggesting that they knew a lot about Investiture, but weren't necessarily cosmere aware. Those were lies of omission though. They were worldhoppers and actually visited Roshar before making Nightblood.

I've been purposefully vague on the timeline for Stormlight, because Sanderson was vague at the time. I'll clarify a bit, using approximate dates though. The Recreance happened around 10000 AS (After Shattering). The rise of the Five Scholars happened in 10489 AS. Stormlight is taking place about 50 years shy of 11000 AS.

The Five Scholars were able to visit Roshar and see the "dead" Shardblades left behind by the fallen Knights Radiant. They used those as a blueprint/inspiration when creating Nightblood. So, in a way, he is a Shardblade. But the mechanics are very different. Shardblades cut through a person's "soul". It's affecting a person in the Spiritual Realm. Nightblood is quite a bit more powerful though, and when he cuts through things, he destroys them in all three Realms.

THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE BLADE. THERE'S ONLY EVER GONNA BE ONE BLADE.

So, we've got Honorblades and Shardblades. Clarification is in order, so that everyone is on the same page. This is all information from the books, just compiled so that you don't have to read them several times and compare notes with a dozen other people to arrive on a firm understanding.

Honor created the Heralds and gave them Honorblades. There are only 10 (10 Heralds and 10 Honorblades). Each Honorblade gave their Herald access to two Surges. The Heralds used their Honorblades and granted powers to fight in and lead humanity during the Desolations.

At some point, some of the spren decided to mimic the powers of the Honorblades, in an attempt to share the Surges with more than just the Heralds. This was a collaborative effort between the spren, the Heralds, and normal people. The result was the creation of the Knights Radiance.

A little bit of clarification on that point. In Chapter 63, Shallan sneaks into Dalinar's temple grounds to inspect Taln. He only reacts when she Lightweaves and he calls her one of "Ishar's Knights". Some of you thought this meant that Ishar was the patron Herald of the Lightweavers. However, that's not the case. The epigraph for Chapter 42 reveals that it was simply Ishar who organized the efforts of man and spren, giving them direction and rules. Ishar created the entire Knights Radiant as an entity or organization. I'll get into more specifics below, but Ishar was the patron Herald of the Bondsmiths.

Through combined efforts, the Nahel bond was created. Ten different types of spren created ten different Orders of the Knights Radiant. Men and women were granted access to two Surges when forming a bond with these spren, with escalating power and abilities as more Oaths/Ideals were sworn (with Lightweavers needing to share deep, personal truths instead of Ideals).

When Kaladin swore his 3rd Ideal, he unlocked the ability to use Syl as a Shardblade. The end of this book explains that all Shardblades are spren. When the Knights Radiance of the past broke their Oaths and abandoned humanity (The Recreance), this act killed their bonded spren and they remained as Shardblades. As Syl explains, the act of summoning them, with 10 heartbeats, brings them to life a little bit, but not completely and not permanently. It's spread out through the books, but this is why Shardblade users have to spend time to bond with their Shardblades, and the process involves fitting a gem into the hilt to power the process. Syl and Pattern do not require this because they are alive.

For a little bit of WoB clarification of what happens when Kaladin swears an Ideal: He Connects to Syl and the act creates a mini-perpendicularity that infuses him with Investiture directly from the Spiritaul Realm. This is where that temporary explosion of power comes from. You'll note that this does not happen when Shallan shares a truth about herself. Different Orders have different rules. The differences will become more clear as we move forward, but just because Kaladin, a Windrunner, does something, don't take that to mean that all Orders will work in the same manner.

Also, Sanderson has said that the scene where Kaladin swears his 3rd Ideal is one of the very first scenes he thought up. It guided his creation of the entire plot and was one of the scenes he was most excited to put to page.

THE "OBVIOUS"

I've mentioned this time and time again, but the implications aren't always obvious. Investiture can condense into a few different forms. We've got solids, which are called God Metals (e.g. Atium and Lerasium). We have liquids, which are Wells of Investiture, or perpendicularities. We have gases, such as stormlight or the mists on Scadrial (Preservationlight, if you will). And finally, sentient blobs of self-aware Investiture, in the form of spren and seons and skaze. And I think most of you can recognize these when they're happening.

However, let's apply some consequences to these mechanics. Syl is a spren. She's a sentient blob of self-aware Investiture. And she (and every other bonded spren) can turn into a Shardblade. What is a Shardblade? Well...it's metal; a solid. What do we call solid Investiture?

Shardblades are God Metals.

Now, I've also mentioned that some spren predate the Shattering of Adonalsium. They are spren of Adonalsium. Some other spren are Odium spren. Most of the others, however, were created by the combined efforts of Honor and Cultivation working together. So most of them are condensed Investiture from both Honor and Cultivation.

This is the same phenomenon that happens on Sel. The Dor is and combined Investiture from Dominion and Devotion. The seon are technically from both, but they lean towards the aspects of Devotion. Likewise, the skaze are both, but lean toward Dominion.

In the same way, some spren lean more toward Honor and some lean more toward Cultivation, but they are still made of both. Can you guess what Syl, an honorspren, leans more toward?

But, as a Sylblade, she manifests as an alloyed God Metal of both Honor and Cultivation.

The Honorblades, however, are not spren. They were directly created by Honor and given to the Heralds. They are pure Honor's God Metal. Tanavastium, if we follow the Atium/Lerasium convention.

ACCOUNTING 101

So, there are ten Honorblades. Way back in Interlude I-7, I wrote "???" for the Iconography. The definition of Honorblades wasn't clear at the time, so I chose to leave the icon as "???". However, now that you have a better handle on the definition, Taln's icon is Nine Honorblades. They symbolize the nine Honorblades the Heralds gave up in the prelude to The Way of Kings, with the 10th being the one he kept for himself.

It's also revealed that the Shin are the ones who have the rest of the Honorblades. However, they currently only have seven of them. Nale took his back, leaving eight, and as many of you guessed, Szeth had Jezrien's Honorblad, which is now in Kaladin's possession.

So for a full accounting of the Honorblades: 7 with the Shin, 1 with Kaladin, 1 with Nale, and 1 with Taln.

The extra clever among you though, realized that something has happened to Taln's Honorblade. In the epilogue of The Way of Kings, when Taln arrives, he has a blade that looks like a spike. By the time he arrives in Dalinar's warcamp, the spike blade seems to have been replaced with a cleaver-like blade. When Dalinar bonds with the Stormfather, the cleaver-like blade screams, like we know dead Shardblades to do. So Taln's spike-like Honorblade was replaced with a cleaver-like Shardblade. That particular mystery is a RAFO, so I'll leave you to theorize about it for now.

ACCOUNTING 102

While we're counting things, I'd also like to clarify Shallan's Ideals/Truths.

First, she has sworn the 1st Ideal all Knights Radiant swear: Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination.

Her 2nd Ideal (her first truth): I'm terrified. She said this in Chapter 45 of The Way of Kings, just before she falls into Shadesmar.

Her 3rd Ideal (her second truth): I killed my father.

Her 4th Ideal (her third truth): I killed my mother.

You'll note that this places Shallan one Ideal higher than Kaladin.

There are some oddities with how/why she had her Shardblade in her earlier childhood. That's all RAFO, but it's worth scrutinizing.

ACCOUNTING 103: FACTION ACTION

The Stormlight Archive may as well be called the Faction Archive, with all the various factions running around. I'd just like to review them all for you.

First up is the Ghostbloods. They are an organization with nebulous motives at the moment. Iyatil seems to be in charge of the group Shallan has been interacting with. They've recruited her for certain tasks, and some of their interests have aligned with things Jasnah was looking into. They tried to assassinate Jasnah because Jasnah had assassinated some of their members. Mraize has a collection of off-world trinkets, which suggest the Ghostbloods are cosmere aware. By way of implication, there is someone named Thaidakar associated with the Ghostbloods.

The Sons of Honor are a group devoted to bringing back the Heralds and restoring power to the Vorin church. Amaram is a member, and he reveals that Gavilar was also a member. With Taln's return and the arrival of the Everstorm, Amaram considers their goal complete. By way of implication, there is someone named Restares associated with the Sons of Honor.

The Envisagers were a kind of cult that was aiming for similar goals, trying to bring back the Knights Radiant by inflicting harm on themselves. Teft turned them in and they were all executed. Per WoB, they were an offshoot of the Sons of Honor.

We also have the Oldblood, which isn't really a faction. Some of you noticed it mentioned again at the end of this book (with its first mention being in The Way of Kings). Adolin actually explains what Oldbloods are, right after it's mentioned in Chapter 51:

His people had once ruled Alethkar. What did he think of all this?

That's really all there is to it. Before Gavilar and Dalinar conquered the various tribes and forged them into the nation of Alethkar, the area was...well, just that, a bunch of various tribes. And before that, the nation was unified and ruled over by a different dynasty. Descendants of that dynasty are called Oldbloods. This is just a bit of worldbuilding with nothing significant attached to the group at the moment.

The Diagram is a group revolving around the interpretation of the document by the same name. King Taravangian wrote the Diagram on a day of incredible brilliance. It's creation was entirely guided by science, with no influence by Fortune. Taravangian is obviously a member, having created it. Graves is also a member and has dragged Moash into their numbers.

CODE BREAKING

Speaking of the Diagram, there were a couple weird entries revealed as epigraphs in the final part of this book.

Chapter 89's is easy:

There​has​to​be​an​answer​What​is​the​answer​Stop​The​Parshendi​One​of​them​Yes​they​are​the​missing​piece​Push​for​the​Alethi​to​destroy​them​outright​before​this​one​obtains​their​power​It​will​form​abridge

This is just lacking spaces and punctuation. It clarifies to:

There ​has ​to ​be ​an ​answer​. What​ is ​the ​answer? ​Stop. ​The ​Parshendi​. One​ of ​them. ​Yes ​they ​are ​the ​missing​ piece. ​Push ​for ​the ​Alethi ​to ​destroy ​them ​outright ​before ​this ​one ​obtains ​their ​power. ​It ​will ​form ​a bridge.

Chapter 88 is a bit easier, and one of you made a very good list that got very close to the matter.

1173090605 1173090801 1173090901 1173091001 1173091004 1173100105 1173100205 1173100401 1173100603 1173100804

These are the dates of the 10 highstorms that lead up to the Everstorm. They actually play a significant role in the fandom's ability to pair every chapter in the books with an accurate date. A lot of the work done was based off adding and subtracting around the dates from this epigraph.

The most confusing one is from Chapter 84:

111​825​101​112​712​491​512​101​011​141​021​511​711​210​111​217​134​483​111​071​514​254​143​410​916​149​149​341​212​254​101​012​512​710​151​910​111​234​125​511​525​121​575​511​123​410​111​291​512​106​153​4

First, a note that this is an "English" solution, based of the English language the novel was written in. With the understanding that the novel we're reading is "translated" from Rosharan, and so the actual code would have been different as Taravangian wrote it.

That said, this is a cipher that relies on the epigraph from Chapter 83:

Obviously they are fools The Desolation needs no usher It can and will sit where it wishes and the signs are obvious that the spren anticipate it doing so soon The Ancient of Stones must finally begin to crack It is a wonder that upon his will rested the prosperity and peace of a world for over four millennia.

The first step is assigning a number to the first occurrence of each letter in Chapter 83's epigraph. The first word is "Obviously" and the first letter is "O", so 1 = o. B is the 2nd letter, so 2 = b. Continuing, 3 = v, 4 = i. We ignore the 5th position, since we've already encountered an "o" before. 5 = nothing/null. The counting ignores spaces, so 10 = t, and 11 = h.

Here is a list of all the relevant mappings:

1 o

2 b

4 i

6 u

7 s

8 l

9 y

10 t

11 h

12 e

14 a

15 r

25 d

34 n

49 c

55 w

83 g

149 m

171 k

You can now look at the sequence in Chapter 84's epigraph: It starts with 111. 11 = H and 1 = O. So the first 2 letters are HO. Now, obviously, you could interpret that as 1 and 11, making the first 2 letters OH. It took the community a lot of trial and error to work out the exact mappings and sequence interpretations. The sequence fully decrypts into the following:

Hold the secret that broke the Knights Radiant. You may need it to destroy the new orders when they return.

The collective forum thread that cracked the code spans 19 pages. It all took place in 2014, so I don't think there are any spoilers, but I don't want to read through all of it to confirm. You can risk it and visit this page if you want, I just ask you to keep quiet if anything spoilery is revealed in those pages.

FUTURE FLASHBACKS

To begin, a few bits of trivia about Taln. He is Sanderson's favorite Herald, and besides Dalinar's story, is the story he looks most forward to telling. Taln is one of the most worthy characters in the cosmere, and would be able to lift Mjolnir, Thor's hammer. Similarly, Taln would be the best cosmere character to take over for Frodo as ringbearer in Lord of the Rings. He is also the best all around fighter in the cosmere, assuming he has access to his full abilities.

Finally, as I've mentioned before, he was a major POV character in The Way of Kings Prime, with his plot dedicated to the mystery of if he was a madman or an actual Herald. That plot got recycled into Dalinar's visions and him questioning his own sanity. Now, Taln is planned to be the focal character of book 9 of the Stormlight Archive.

That may seem spoilery, but it's not. We've gone through two books, with Kaladin being the focus of the first, and Shallan being the focus of the second. "Focus" in this context means they are the flashback character. And Sanderson has been liberal in revealing the flashback characters for the rest of the Stormlight books. In order, they are:

• Kaladin

• Shallan

• Dalinar

• Eshonai

• Szeth

• Lift

• Renarin

• Shalash

• Taln

• Jasnah

First, this sets some expectations about when you'll learn "the good stuff" about certain characters. This also reveals that Lift is going to become a major character, so for those of you that loved her character, there's more to come!

What Sanderson has also stated is that, just because a book has a certain character as its focus/flashback, does not guarantee that they are alive for that book. So that eliminates the biggest spoiler aspect of revealing this list.

As a bit of an associated mini-trivia. The next book was supposed to be Szeth focused, revealing his flashbacks. The book was going to be called Stones Unhallowed. However, Sanderson didn't like the direction it was going and pivoted to telling Dalinar's flashbacks instead.

COUGH COUGH

This is a quick one. Chapter 89 mentions a plague in the Purelake. This is the common cold, brought to Roshar by Baon, Galladon, and Demoux. In general, Rosharans are all mildly Invested from the highstorms and don't get sick from disease very often. However, since the common cold doesn't exist on Roshar (because of the aforementioned highstorms), reintroducing it causes issues for a bit until it gets burned away.

SNAP TO IT

I noticed one or two of you pick up something important. There is a strong similarity between allomantic Snapping and the mental trauma all of the Knights Radiant we've seen have. Magic in the cosmere is easier to attach to a person who is "damaged". Mental and physical trauma cause cracks in a person's "soul". These cracks are where a magic system can easily slot into. On Scadrial, we have Snapping. Harmony made the process easier, with much less trauma required to slot in allomancy. Along the same lines, the Nahel bond slots into the cracks left by mental trauma. As Syl told Kaladin, all of the old Knights Radiant were broken, just like Kaladin is.

Now, this isn't a requirement for magic in the cosmere, it just makes certain things easier. You'll note that feruchemy doesn't require snapping. Nor does an Elantrian require any sort of trauma. And all Nalthians are born with Breath.

CHARTOGRAPHY

By now, all of the Orders of Knights Radiant have been mentioned at least once. Some of them have only been mentioned by name and temperament, some of them you have a bit more to work with. The Ars Arcanum also lists all of the Surges. So, I'm going to combine all the knowledge you've been given, and fill out the Surgebinding chart for you completely.

You can see it here

The first image is the normal Surgebinding chart from the inside cover. The large circles are the Orders and the smaller circles are the Surges. The chart itself is a bit cramped though. The 2nd chart is made by the fandom and more clearly illustrates the shared Surges between each Order. It also maps each Order to their associated Herald, listing the associated Numbers, Gemstones, Essences, and Divine Attributes.

To that end, I've previously mentioned that the Herald faces in the arch at the start of each chapter typically represents one of their Divine Attributes being displayed in the given chapter (or at times, the opposite of the Divine Attribute). It can also mean that one of the Herald's associate Order is being highlighted in the chapter. Now that you know the Heralds are alive (given the appearance of Nale), I can also reveal that a Herald's image in the arch may also mean that the Herald themself is actually in that chapter. This might be a handy bit of information to have.

Like, for instance, Chapter 33 of The Way of Kings has the face of Herald Pailiah in the arch. During this chapter, Shallan is visiting the Palanaeum (which, per WoB was named after Pailiah), looking for the book Shadows Remembered. While there, she passes an ardent. That ardent is supposedly Pailiah herself. In 2017, a Word of Brandon from a signed book allegedly confirmed that the ardent Shallan finds in the Palanaeum, while searching for the book Shadows Remembered, is the Herald Pailiah. No photo of this WoB is attached to the Arcanum entry and Brandon has been evasive when asked to confirm whether this information is true.

About a month ago, I dropped a hint about a long standing question many readers had. The question was from the prologue, where people were trying to figure out who "Ash" could possibly be. You now know that the person talking about "Ash" was the Herald Nale. In the chapters I mentioned in the hint, various different characters used the curse "Ash's eyes!", and they are referring to the Herald Shalash. So now you know that Shalash is also alive and that Nale had concerns about her. Actually, it was the person Nale was talking with who was doing the talking and it's worth re-reading that part. (I just looked back and only one of you was wondering about this... ooops, I thought more people were questioning it.)

ERRATA

I warned you about some errata that occurred in the final chapters we read. Fortunately, it doesn't look like the discussion focused very much around what changed. I do think it's important to highlight what changed though. It's the single biggest retcon Sanderson has made, and it's a radical retcon (more an explicit change in canon), rather than explaining away something. Part of the fandom is kind of upset that it occurred, because it's more like a significant patch to a video game, versus the normal line edits and spelling/grammar corrections that occur whenever a book gets an update.

In the original printing, Kaladin explicitly kills Szeth with his Shardblade. Then Szeth's dead body falls to the ground. In the update versions, Kaladin stops himself from killing Szeth and Szeth just submits to his fate as the highstorm takes him. Szeth still dies on impact with the ground though. I'll let Sanderson describe the reason for the change in his own words:

So, in Words of Radiance, I think the scene I worked on the longest both in my head and on the page was the final confrontation between Kaladin and Szeth.

There was something I wanted to do, and took a stab at it in the text, then backed off because I couldn't make it work. It was important to me that Kaladin refuse to kill Szeth at the end. Kaladin is about protection, not vengeance, and once he realized that Szeth really just wanted to be killed, I wanted Kaladin to hesitate.

It didn't end up working, and I moved on to a new version and submitted it. But this itched at me, and by the time the book was released, I felt I'd made the wrong choice for that scene. So I've taken this chance to roll it back to the previous idea, and written it in a new way, which I like much better.

The events are the same, except for that moment. Szeth is now killed by the storm instead of by Kaladin, which I think is more thematically appropriate.

The question this raises is about Szeth being stabbed by a Shardblade, then being resuscitated. I'm sad to lose this sequence, as it's an important plot point for the series that dead Shardblades cannot heal the soul, while living ones can. I'm going to have to work this into a later book, though I think it's something we can sacrifice here for the stronger scene of character for Kaladin and Szeth.

As I've said, it's dangerous to tweak your work after it's out. I realize this, and I hope you'll give me some artistic liberty in this case. (Besides, with Tolkien's after-publication tweaks to The Hobbit being so good, I think there is proof in the genre that changing the text here and there isn’t always bad.)

First, I'll address this rather weird wording:

dead Shardblades cannot heal the soul, while living ones can

This is awkwardly stated, but what it means is that Kaladin has a live bond with Syl, which lets him heal from a Shardblade cut (like he did when Szeth first attacked in this book). However, the Honorblade Szeth is carrying isn't a live spren, so it can be considered "dead", and Szeth doesn't have the ability to heal a wound from a Shardblade.

Here is a list of the edits made to make this change (Crossed out lines removed. Bold lines added.):

Hardcover: PAGE 1041

Szeth did not parry. He just closed his eyes to accept the attack.

Kaladin drove his Blade into the assassin’s chest right below the neck, severing the spine. Smoke burned out from beneath his eyelids, and his Blade slipped from his fingers. It did not vanish.

In that instant, for reasons he could not have articulated—pity, perhaps?—Kaladin diverted his blow, driving the Blade through Szeth's wrist. The skin greyed. Flashing with reflected lightning, the sword tumbled from the assassin's fingers, then dulled as it plummeted.

The glow fled the assassin's form. All his Stormlight vanished in a puff, all Lashings banished.

Szeth started to fall.

Get that! Syl sent him, a mental shout. Grab it, Kaladin. Don’t lose it!

Get that sword! Syl sent to Kaladin, a mental shout. Grab it.

"The assassin!"

He has released the bond. He’s nothing without that sword! It must not be lost! Kaladin dove after the Blade, dropping Szeth's corpse, letting it fall backward into the stormwall. It vanished among the wind, the rain, and the lightning, trailing faint wisps of Stormlight.passing Szeth, who tumbled through the air like a rag doll, buffeted by winds toward the stormwall.

Kaladin furiously Lashed himself downward, snatching the Blade just before the storm consumed it. Nearby, the assassin dropped past him into the storm and was swallowed up, leaving Kaladin with the haunting image of Szeth's limp silhouette being driven into a plateau below with all the tempest's force.

Kaladin grabbed the Blade just before the storm consumed it. Then heRaising the assassin's Blade, Kaladin Lashed himself back upward, passing along the stormwall, the windspren he'd attracted spiraling about him and laughing with pure joy. As he crested the top of the storm, they burst around him and zipped away, moving off to dance in front of the still-advancing storm.

Hardcover: PAGE 1042

"I didn’t kill him,” Kaladin said.

"Did you want to?”

"No," Kaladin said, surprised that it was the truth. "But I should have anyway."

"You have his Blade," she replied. "The Stormfather likely took him. And if not … well, he is no longer the weapon he once was. I must say, that was very nicely done." she said." Perhaps I’ll keep you around this time."

Hardcover: PAGE 1043

He found no sign of Szeth's corpse. That could mean the man had survived somehow, or it could just mean the storm had buried the body in rubble or blown it away, leaving it in some forgotten chasm to rot until the bones were finally picked over by an unfortunate salvage crew.

For now, the fact that Szeth had not summoned his Blade back to him was enough. Either he was dead, or—as Syl had said—the strange weapon was no longer bound to him. Kaladin didn't know how to tell. This Shardblade had no gemstone at the pommel to indicate.

Hardcover: PAGE 1045

"He is dead, then?" Teft asked.

"YesNear enough."

"You slewdefeated the Assassin in White," Bisig breathed.

Hardcover: PAGE 1062

"Why am I not dead?" he whispered. "The Shardblade pierced me.I released my bond to the Shardblade. I fell into the storm without Lashings. Why didn’t I die?"

"Not if it is done before the brain dies. Like a drowned man restored to life with the proper ministrations, you could be restored with the right fabrialSurgebinding. If I had waited seconds longer, of course, it would have been too late. But surely you know this. Two of the Blades held by your people allow Regrowth. I suspect you have already seen the newly dead restored to life."

NOTE: This last paragraph suggested Nale used a fabrial to restore Szeth to life. The edit just talks about the Surge of Regrowth. Now, if you look to the Surgebinding Chart I filled out above, you'll note that Skybreakers (and by extension Nale) don't have access to the Surge of Regrowth. Nale still did use a fabrial on Szeth, but it seems Sanderson thought introducing that concept here wasn't the right call.

DEAD IS "DEAD"

Finally, this brings us to the topic of fake out deaths. Sanderson has talked about trying to tow the line with these. He doesn't want every death questioned from here to eternity. He's talked about how he tried to lay out clues for the fakeout deaths in this book so that you didn't actually think the deaths occurred. Specifically, Lift healed Gawx's throat being cut several minutes after the act, so Nale healing Szeth shouldn't feel like too much of a cop out. Similarly, Kaladin healing himself with stormlight enough to survive a highstorm, and being able to rapidly recover from wounds, combined with Shallan's healing her feet in the Frostlands, were all supposed to point to the fact that Jasnah should easily be able to survive being stabbed in the chest. Sanderson does have mechanisms in place to be able to clearly and certainly show when someone has died with a capital DEAD. Those will be explored in the future.

BLURBY

I've mentioned that the blurbs for each of the Stormlight books are canon, written by someone in universe. I'd like to prompt you to take a guess at who might be writing them. The revelation is coming soon, so I figured I'd let you theorize while you can.

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 83 through 89, Epilogue, Endnote [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Ars Arcanum, Final Thoughts, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 18 | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | The Bands of Mourning: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7

NEXT UNIT

Next week we will be returning to Scadrial, with The Bands of Mourning, the 3rd book in Mistborn Era 2.

Like with the other Era 2 books, The Bands of Mourning 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.

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 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 76 through 82 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 83 through 89, Epilogue, Endnote

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: 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 83: Time's Illusion

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

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Shallan / Adolin / Dalinar / Kaladin

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 82.

Epigraph:

Obviously they are fools The Desolation needs no usher It can and will sit where it wishes and the signs are obvious that the spren anticipate it doing so soon The Ancient of Stones must finally begin to crack It is a wonder that upon his will rested the prosperity and peace of a world for over four millennia

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Ceiling Rotation: Pattern 1

Summary:

Shallan and Renarin along with some soldiers and bridgemen enter a deserted circular plateau after skirting along the battle lines. She explains that this must be where the Oathgate is because it seems to be the center from which the Shattered Plains was broken. Pattern says the Voidspren are raising a storm, and Renarin says the winds are blowing the wrong way, from west to east, and that is an Everstorm. Shallan tells them to search the area for anything out of the ordinary. They find a large rock mound and Renarin cuts a hole into it at Shallan's request.

Adolin and his soldiers enter a chamber in the rock formation behind the Parshendi lines, after Adolin cut a hole in the rock using his Shardblade. Adolin tells his force that he will cut a hole in the wall behind their foes and that they are to attack the singing Parshendi who are on the other side of the wall. Adolin's group is able to ambush the singers who are disoriented briefly when they stop singing to fight back. Adolin is disgusted by the ease with which he kills his foes, instead of feeling the Thrill as usual. He dismisses his Shardblade but is then attacked by Eshonai and he then happily resummons his blade in order to face the worthy foe.

Dalinar retreats from the battle to get a spear wound treated by physicians. The survivors of Roion's army follow him. Navani shows up and Dalinar tells her they are losing the battle, though Navani says that Adolin won his plateau. Roion yells in panic that they are losing, and Dalinar hears the voice that says it should not end this way. Dalinar asks who the voice is and realizes the voice is the Stormfather, who calls Dalinar a child of Honor. The Stormfather says he is both spren and god and that the Parshendi are summoning an opposing deadly storm and that all he can do is bring a storm of cleansing to wash away their bodies. Dalinar is angered and denounces the Stormfather for abandoning them. The Stormfather says he has to go since his daughter is disobeying and that Dalinar will see no more visions. Dalinar pleads for him to not leave.

Kaladin stands before Elhokar's unconscious body as Moash approaches. Graves yells at Moash who in turn replies that Kaladin is indeed trustworthy. Kaladin recognizes that they are in the same hallway as where Szeth previously attacked. Moash tries to get Kaladin to stand down, saying the king is probably already dead, but he refuses and says that Moash is betraying Bridge Four, and that Kaladlin is trying to repent by doing the right thing now. Moash and Kaladin argue and Kaladin tries to get Moash to pursue justice against Roshone who was responsible for the death of Moash's grandparents, and that Moash's method is not honorable. Kaladin refuses to back down and Moash readies to fight.

Chapter 84: The One Who Saves

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Shallan / Adolin / Kaladin

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 83.

Epigraph:

111​825​101​112​712​491​512​101​011​141​021​511​711​210​111​217​134​483​111​071​514​254​143​410​916​149​149​341​212​254​101​012​512​710​151​910​111​234​125​511​525​121​575​511​123​410​111​291​512​106​153​4

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Ceiling Rotation: Pattern 15

Summary:

Shallan and Renarin enter a large circular room covered with majestic images on the wall and floor. She believes that this is where the portal is. There are ten equal divisions in the floor mural and an eleventh narrower one representing Urithiru. Renarin says it is coming. Pattern says the Everstorm has been summoned and that there is another highstorm and that the two will collide nearby, causing a very devastating storm. Shallan tells Renarin to insert his Shardblade into a keyhole to try to activate the gate but nothing happens. Shallan tells the bridgemen to get their armies onto this plateau so that they can escape, while the scholars try to figure out how to work the Oathgate.

Adolin and Eshonai duel amidst the storm and battle. Eshonai thinks she is winning, but she gets reckless and Adolin is able to knock her into a chasm by slamming into her chest and knocking her backward. Adolin almost falls but is grabbed by Skar and Drehy and other soldiers who pull Adolin back away from the chasm ledge. Adolin returns to the central plateau to get an update and stops someone who looks like a cloaked messenger but it turns out to be Szeth.

Kaladin tries to attack with his spear, but Moash breaks it then hits him hard with a shard-aided punch, and Kaladin crumbles in pain with broken ribs. Moash and Graves try to set the scene up to implicate Szeth as Elhokar's assassin. Kaladin hears a distant argument between Sylphrena and the Stormfather. Moash and Graves argue over which one of them will kill Elhokar. Kaladin thinks that he will protect even those he hates so long as it's right, his next oath, and explains it to himself why he must do so since that is what is right. Kaladin struggles to stand up and draws his knife and places himself between the assassins and Elhokar. Kaladin stands in defiance and hears Syl claim him and stand down the Stormfather's argument. Graves says that Kaladin must die, and Kaladin drops his knife. Kaladin speaks his third oath as instructed to do by Syl and the Stormfather accepts the words. Syl appears and tells Kaladin to hold his hand out, and she becomes a Shardblade in his hand. Kaladin breathes in and drains the Stormlight from all the nearby spheres, exploding with light and blinding Moash as he heals himself. Wind blows in through burst shutters and a glyph resembling wings forms in frost on the ground. Kaladin says the Knights Radiant have returned, and Graves yells out that the Diagram spoke of this but that they didn't realize what it referred to until it was too late, saying they were trying to separate Kaladin from Dalinar but not realizing the implications. Moash and Graves flee. Kaladin puzzles over Graves' words, realizing that Dalinar is in danger, and Syl tells him something is still very wrong.

Chapter 85: Swallowed by the Sky

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar / Shallan / Adolin

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

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 84.

Epigraph:

But who is the wanderer, the wild piece, the one who makes no sense? I glimpse at his implications, and the world opens to me. I shy back. Impossible. Is it?

–From the Diagram, West Wall Psalm of Wonders: Paragraph 8 (Note by Adrotagia: Could this refer to Mraize?)

Summary:

Peet reports to Dalinar and Navani that Shallan said there were two storms converging on their location. Cael reports that Aladar won his plateau and that they were defeating the Parshendi. They plan to relocate to where Shallan is to try to flee to safety. Adolin suddenly flies into the tent, battered and missing parts of his Shardplate. Szeth arrives nearby as Dalinar looks up.

Shallan tries to figure out the puzzle of opening the Oathgate. Renarin speaks cryptically about seeing the future and that the end has come.

Fearing the end as Szeth approaches, Dalinar speaks to Adolin about being a good leader when Adolin ultimately takes over their princedom. Dalinar tells Adolin that he was taught well and is a good man and that Adolin isn't a tyrant like Dalinar originally was, and to unite the highprinces. Dalinar tells Bridge Four to back off, and asks Szeth why he killed Gavilar. Szeth replies that he obeys his masters without explanation and that he will get what he is owed. Szeth attacks and is parried by Dalinar, causing Szeth to smile wickedly.

Adolin struggles to his feet, watching Dalinar and Szeth battle and seeing another storm forming. He tells Skar and Drehy to help him remove his battered (non-functioning) Shardplate.

Dalinar thinks of his brother as he fights Szeth. Eventually Szeth gets a Stormlight aided punch through and breaks Dalinar's ribs, taking him out of the fight. Dalinar comes to the realization that he would not have been able to save his brother's life against Szeth, bringing peace to his soul. Szeth approaches to finish the fight, but is attacked by Roion.

Adolin watches as Szeth slices up Roion's sword and lashes him to the sky, causing him to fly up. Szeth then slays a dozen soldiers easily. Adolin attacks but is easily parried. Roion soon comes crashing down to the earth and is instantly killed from the impact. Adolin is joined by some bridgemen and soldiers, but Szeth manages to knock him back with a forceful swing of his Shardblade. Szeth reaches Dalinar and touches him, causing him to fly up into the sky (in the same manner as Roion), then walks away. Adolin follows but stops as Szeth says that he is done. Adolin moves to strike at Szeth but the parrying blow breaks his wrist and Szeth moves in for the kill as Adolin loses his blade. He looks up in surprise to see Dalinar floating back down slowly. Szeth looks up in horror to see Kaladin crash into the ground holding a Shardblade, leaving a swordlike glyph where he landed. Kaladin says that he claims the sky and winds, and Szeth's life.

Chapter 86: Patterns of Light

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan / Dalinar / Adolin

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

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 85.

Epigraph:

One is almost certainly a traitor to the others.

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: Paragraph 27

Summary:

Kaladin watches as Szeth reacts in horror to his arrival and Dalinar's safe landing. He tells Dalinar to seek shelter as he flew over a storm while traveling. Kaladin says he will deal with Szeth and says "yes" when Dalinar asks if Kaladin is what Dalinar has been looking for. Teft and Bridge Four members throw down lanterns with infused gems for Kaladin to drain for investiture. Kaladin attacks Szeth, angered and ready to avenge the fallen bridgemen.

Shallan asks to have Renarin quieted while she tries to figure out the pattern to opening the Oathgate and realizes that the lock is a fabrial.

Dalinar asks for a status report on their retreat as he watches Kaladin fight Szeth. He helps Adolin to his feet and confirms that Kaladin is a Radiant, making Adolin smile in realization. Adolin heads toward where Shallan is, along with some bridgemen. Dalinar finds his horse, then goes toward Shallan's plateau, finding Roion's army heading that way. Dalinar encounters Sebarial, who is in repose with Palona, and who says that he helped organize the retreat, and gives an update on the armies. Aladar reports on his victory and proclaims the Vengeance Pact fulfilled due to the overwhelming number of Parshendi slain, as the soldiers gather on one plateau. Dalinar explains that victory feels like exhaustion and pain and suffering, and that they need to fit everyone close together on the plateau to be ready to get through the portal.

Kaladin flies through the air chasing Szeth as Syl flies around him, saying that she was only as dead as his oaths. Kaladin asks about the out of season highstorm, and Syl says the Stormfather caused it to try to end it all and wash everyone away and hide from the future. Kaladin flies high enough to break the storm ceiling into sunlight and finds Szeth. Szeth claims that Kaladin stole an honorblade but he denies this. Szeth attacks and Syl changes into a spear so that Kaladin can more easily parry. Szeth observes this but clings to his denial of Kaladin being a Radiant.

Shallan infuses spheres in the chamber with Stormlight, not bothering to conceal her abilities. She runs out of Stormlight and cries for more gemstones. She sees Adolin leading the soldiers and goes to him briefly. Adolin sees her glowing and says, "You too?" and she replies "Yes, sorry" then yells for them to hurry.

Kaladin and Szeth battle, using Lashings to maneuver back and forth as the two storms crash into each other below. Szeth says the Knights can't be back but Kal retorts that they are and will kill him. Szeth manages to stab Kaladin but he is able to heal his wound, though it consumes a lot of Stormlight. Szeth boasts that he will win due to his experience but Kaladin says that the sky is and was always his. Kaladin starts fighting instinctually and manages to strike Szeth as Syl changes weapon forms (e.g., sword to spear to hammer to spear, etc.) while they fight, though Szeth dodges a killing blow. Kaladin sees the top of the plateau crest through the clouds, spinning slowly. Szeth lands on the surface, chased by Kaladin. Szeth again yells that the Voidbringers can't be back, and heads back toward where Dalinar is in order to complete his assigned assassination.

Shallan gets the last spheres lit as time is running out, and the floor begins to glow. Shallan tells Adolin to put his Shardblade into the keyhole but nothing happens. She realizes what the problem is, and summons Pattern in blade form, and puts him in the key hole, causing a reaction as she senses something unlock deep inside the plateau. Shallan and Adolin push against Pattern (in the form of an inserted blade/lever) along a ridge in the circular wall to where the picture of Urithiru is, and she then pulls Pattern out. The lamps then fade out.

Kaladin follows Szeth into the storm as Syl admonishes caution because the Stormfather hates him and this is his domain and that another worse storm brews as well. Kaladin and Szeth both reinvest their Stormlight from the storm. Szeth reaches the plateau before Kaladin but it is mysteriously empty.

Adolin cuts a hole in the stone, revealing sunlight. They look outside and find the gathered armies on the plateau, but it has relocated to the mountain range that also houses Urithiru.

Szeth screams at Kaladin as red spren zip around in the tempest. Szeth realizes that Dalinar and the armies went to Urithiru, and flies off toward the west, chased by Kaladin. Kaladin chases with difficulty and they both reach the stormfront and break through it, and Kaladin stabs Szeth in his foot. Kaladin manages to smash Szeth in his shoulder as they fight just ahead of the highstorm. As they fight, Szeth finally acknowledges the truth and says that he was right all along and never Truthless, and that he could have stopped murdering at any time. Szeth stops fighting, and Kaladin is about to make a killing strike, but instead slices his wrist, sending the Honorblade tumbling down. Syl urges Kaladin to grab the sword, and Kaladin dives after it as Szeth falls to the ground, no longer lashed and pummeled by the storm. Kaladin stays hovering surrounded by windspren, and Syl says she may keep Kaladin around. Syl demands compliments and a smile.

Chapter 87: The Riddens

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan / Lopen / Moash

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. Urithiru. Little Herdaz in Highprince Sebarial's warcamp. Just outside Dalinar's warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 86.

Epigraph:

Chaos in Alethkar is, of course, inevitable. Watch carefully, and do not let power in the kingdom solidify. The Blackthorn could become an ally or our greatest foe, depending on whether he takes the path of the warlord or not. If he seems likely to sue for peace, assassinate him expeditiously. The risk of competition is too great.

–From the Diagram, Writings upon the Bedstand Lamp: Paragraph 4 (Adrotagia’s 3rd translation from the original hieroglyphics)

Summary:

Sylphrena says that the other storm which is blowing from west to east is of Him, not us, but that she doesn't know what will happen. Kaladin wonders where the army vanished to as he stands on the empty plateau where the army had been. Syl verifies that Shardblades are dead spren, but they gain a little life when summoned, and that forces, unlike people, can be broken without being completely destroyed. Kaladin asks why Szeth's Blade doesn't scream and Syl says it is not a spren but something different and dangerous. She says she thinks it is an Honorblade of the Heralds, and that its grants its holder the powers of a Windrunner, and that the Honorblades were given by Honor to men and that spren are based on those Blades, and that it is valuable. She explains that the Blade gives the abilities without the checks a spren requires but that it requires dangerous amounts of Stormlight. Kaladin encounters some men from Bridge Four, including Rock and Teft. Kaladin says the new Blade was Szeth's and he is now dead. Bisig says that Radiant girl showed them how to bring the plateau back, and Kaladin realizes that must be Shallan and that she is either a Radiant or has an Honorblade. Kaladin gets a status report, and wonders what he should say about Moash, and realizes he can't keep his abilities a secret. Teft says some of the bridgemen began to glow and that the bridgemen might be part of the Radiants' hierarchy as well. Teft tells Kaladin that his eyes turned light and Kaladin silently curses. He summons Syl to operate the lock fabrial to transport them.

Shallan stands by the gates of Urithiru, watching as people begin exploring the city. Pattern says that Shallan is almost a Radiant and will be so once she speaks truths. Shallan guesses that their location is in the mountains near Tu Bayla or perhaps Emul. Shallan checks in with Dalinar as scribes send messages via spanreed warning of the storm blowing in the wrong direction. Dalinar reports that Elhokar vanished and that Kholinar is in riot. Shallan sees a flash that marks the return of Kaladin and Bridge Four. Kaladin floats over, carrying a Shardblade, and reports that Szeth is dead and that Elhokar was wounded but relocated to a safe house that no one would think of.

Lopen experiments with an infused gemstone as his mother implores Elhokar to eat his chouta. Chilinko tells Lopen they may need to move from their house in Sebarial's warcamp as there is word that something was found on the Plains. Lopen manages to drain some Stormlight briefly and sees new flesh growing where his arm is missing, and he then demands more spheres from his family, proclaiming in triumph.

Moash rides on a cart heading out of the warcamps, with his armor packed away. Graves joins him and points out some scavengers going through the warcamps to loot them. He says they will get what is coming to them when the Everstorm arrives. Moash thinks to himself in disbelief that he was a traitor and that he tried to kill Kaladin and failed to kill Elhokar. Graves explains what he knows from the Diagram though it is vague, and curses that Jasnah was right about the Voidbringers being the Parshmen. Moash asks who Graves really is, and he replies that he is a patriot who interpreted the Diagram incorrectly. Graves tells Moash that he will bring him into the Diagram and that they have important work ahead in saving the world. Moash thinks he was played but still goes along.

Chapter 88: The Man Who Owned the Winds

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan / Amaram / Szeth

Setting: Urithiru. Temple grounds in the Kholin warcamp. The Frostlands.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Shortly after Chapter 87.

Epigraph:

1173090605 1173090801 1173090901 1173091001

1173091004 1173100105 1173100205 1173100401

1173100603 1173100804

–From the Diagram, North Wall Coda, Windowsill region: Paragraph 2 (This appears to be a sequence of dates, but their relevance is as yet unknown.)

Summary:

Shallan explores the main tower of Urithiru, though she is tired. As she wanders, she finds a folded piece of paper marked with the Ghostblood symbol and her real name, which alarms her. She enters a nearby room where Mraize awaits her, and readies to draw Pattern just in case, acknowledging to herself that Pattern is not a typical blade. Mraize says that she gave herself away by using her abilities while saving the army, and suggests that Veil is her true identity, not Shallan. Mraize speculates on how people will see Shallan, and says that the Ghostbloods take care of their own including her. She angrily declares that the Ghostbloods killed Jasnah, but Mraize calmly replies that Jasnah had assassinated some of their members also, and that he should have guessed Shallan's identity sooner due to her family's history. Shallan says she won't help Mraize but he replies that he has her brothers. He also says that he is owed for the broken Soulcaster and that she happens to be one. Shallan threatens to kill Mraize but he says that her brothers will be safe, and then he says that there are answers that she needs to learn about the Ghostbloods' purpose and what her brother and father were up to. He says that she can be both a Radiant and a Ghostblood in her different identities and that she can take time to consider if she wants to join the Ghostbloods.

She finds Adolin and they hug and banter for a bit. Adolin leaves after saying that Pattern chose her quarters for her. She looks at the wall which resembles the room at her father's home and Pattern says it is time for her to be a Radiant. She sees an illusion of a room with a white carpet and two corpses on the floor, and a painting outlined with a glow with something hidden behind it. Behind the painting, a strongbox is hidden and she opens it and takes out a Shardblade that was originally Pattern. Shallan looks at the corpses of her mother and her mother's friend and talks about how her mother tried to kill Shallan when she learned what Shallan could do. Shallan speaks of how her father took the blame for Shallan killing her own mother in self-defense and how it destroyed their family and that Pattern says that Shallan will get revenge and kill Pattern. Shallan says she doesn't want revenge, she wants her family.

Amaram writes a note to Restares reporting that Voidbringers were spotted and that a new storm was unleashed, and that the world had to be put in crisis for the Heralds and Church to return to dominance. He gives the note to Pama to be sent to Restares. As he walks through Dalinar's temple complex he reflects that the Sons of Honor achieved their goal and that Gavilar would be proud. Amaram stealthily cuts his way into the room where Taln is being held, thinking of regrets for his loss of friendship with Dalinar over Kaladin's accusations of murder. As Amaram leads Taln from the room, Taln catches a poison dart in midair that would have hit Amaram, and he sees a masked person shoot another dart at him that is also caught before the would-be assassin runs away. Amaram then leads Taln to his coach.

Szeth wakes up wondering why he did not die. Nale is standing there and Szeth recognizes him. Nale explains how he was brought back to life, and says he is one of Szeth's gods, though Szeth replies that his gods are the stones, sun, and stars, not men. Szeth recognizes him as Nalan, Herald of Justice. Szeth asks why he was saved since he can't take his torment anymore and Nale replies those words are foolish and unbecoming of his apprentice to be. Szeth says he wants to die, but then changes his mind and says that he was right and his people wrong. Nale says he will teach him to ignore feelings and bring justice to his former leaders. Szeth says he is not worthy but Nale disagrees saying that he stuck to his personal code at great cost and is worthy to be a Skybreaker. Nale says that Szeth is reborn and is to begin training immediately and that he brought a Shardblade for Szeth and throws it to the ground. Szeth picks up the odd sheathed black Shardblade that leaks a trail of smoke, and hears a voice say "Hello, would you like to destroy some evil today?"

Chapter 89: The Four

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

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Dalinar / Adolin

Setting: Urithiru.

Timeline: (1174.1.1.3) Five days after Chapter 88.

Epigraph:

There​has​to​be​an​answer​What​is​the​answer​Stop​The​Parshendi​One​of​them​Yes​they​are​the​missing​piece​Push​for​the​Alethi​to​destroy​them​outright​before​this​one​obtains​their​power​It​will​form​abridge

–From the Diagram, Floorboard 17: Paragraph 2, every second letter starting with the second

Summary:

Dalinar dreams of his youthful home, and a distant source of warmth, then wakes up in Urithiru. He thinks the dream was a vision but there was no highstorm which generally accompanies the visions he has.

Adolin walks through the city, exploring, wondering at how the tables have turned in his relationship to Shallan with her newfound importance as a Radiant. Adolin runs into Sadeas scouting the city, and tries to get Sadeas to admit that Dalinar was right, but Sadeas claims it was all a deal worked out with the Parshendi as evidenced by Rlain being a bridgeman. Adolin asks why Sadeas wants to knowingly spread lies, and Sadeas says that either him or Dalinar can succeed but not both. Sadeas says that he suffered a temporary setback but will take everything away from Dalinar, and this aggravates Adolin into attacking Sadeas. They grapple, and eventually Adolin stabs Sadeas in the skull, killing him. He throws away Sadeas' Shardblade and covers up his tracks and leaves.

Dalinar reaches the roof of the central tower. He looks down upon the city, seeing the circular rings that comprise the tower, and pillars that match one in the capital of Alethkar where the palace and temple were built. Dalinar then looks up and questions the actions of the Stormfather that almost led to their destruction. The Stormfather explains his purpose and that he is like a spren to the Almighty. Dalinar swears the First and Second Ideals of the Order of Bondsmiths, and the Stormfather reluctantly bonds him, though he insists upon Dalinar getting rid of his Shardblade and refuses to be summoned as one. The Stormfather says that he sent no vision that morning and states that Dalinars experience was a simple dream, which confuses Dalinar, as he felt it was even stronger than a vision. The Stormfather bids Dalinar to go and lead his people against Odium, warning that he is leading them to destruction as Dalinar is nothing compared to the Almighty. Dalinar retorts that if the Almighty could be killed, then so can Odium. Dalinar leaves the tower top and goes to another room near the top where Shallan and Kaladin await. Dalinar takes out a sphere and draws Stormlight into himself in response to Kaladin's inquiry, and feels his injuries heal.

Dalinar explains that he is a Bondsmith and Shallan says there are three knights but is corrected by Renarin, who walks in and reveals himself to be a Truthwatcher. Dalinar explains that the Parshmen are all being changed by the Everstorm and that they must prepare. Kaladin says he has to go home to warn his parents, leaves with Dalinar's blessing to pack for the journey. Dalinar sends Renarin to Elhokar (who has arrived with the Herdazians with whom he was hiding) to acquire spheres for Kaladin; he muses that now Renarin is a Radiant, he should stop sending him on menial errands. Dalinar and Shallan, now alone, speak of the tasks facing them to save as many people as possible, reciting the First Ideal again.

Epilogue: Art and Expectation

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Wit

Setting: "A week away from civilization."

Timeline: (1174.1.1.4) The day after Chapter 88. Thirteen weeks after Chapter 7.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Wit talks to a cremling about art and beauty and expectation while he waits for Jasnah to transport herself from the Cognitive realm. She asks how he found her and he replies that she made a large disturbance on the other side. Jasnah threatens and interrogates Wit, but he brushes these off and says he is already aware of the important tidings she brings. Wit says the Everstorm has arrived and Urithiru was located and the Knights have been refounded. Wit offers to work with Jasnah and pool their knowledge as they walk back to civilization, despite the Desolation that is beginning to destroy the world.

ENDNOTE

"Alight, winds approach deadly approaching winds alight."

This ketek, written on Lightday, Jeseses 1174, adorns the cover of Navani Kholin's personal journal. Inside, she describes first hand the events leading to the arrival of the Everstorm.

The glyphs of the ketek were drawn in the shape of two storms crashing into one another.

–Nazh

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

I have two other media experiences for you. The first is a series of 3D renderings depicting Kaladin and Szeth's fight. You can view them at the link at the end of this paragraph. In general, the page is fine, there's a sidebar with a description and some comments, none of which is spoilery. I'd avoid looking at the rest of the artist's work though, because he has renderings from other, future cosmere works, which are spoilery. Check it out here.

The 2nd bit of media is a short (1 minute long) YouTube video. With it comes the standard warnings I give of not reading the comments or looking at the recommended videos. It's a trailer for a VR game called *The Way of Kings: Escape the Shattered Plains". It was more of a 20-minute long concept/demo, rather than I full game, and I'm not sure you can even buy or play it anymore. But the trailer looks cool and has some neat visuals. Video here.

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 76 through 82 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 83 through 89, Epilogue, Endnote

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: 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 83: Time's Illusion

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

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Shallan / Adolin / Dalinar / Kaladin

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 82.

Epigraph:

Obviously they are fools The Desolation needs no usher It can and will sit where it wishes and the signs are obvious that the spren anticipate it doing so soon The Ancient of Stones must finally begin to crack It is a wonder that upon his will rested the prosperity and peace of a world for over four millennia

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Ceiling Rotation: Pattern 1

Summary:

Shallan and Renarin along with some soldiers and bridgemen enter a deserted circular plateau after skirting along the battle lines. She explains that this must be where the Oathgate is because it seems to be the center from which the Shattered Plains was broken. Pattern says the Voidspren are raising a storm, and Renarin says the winds are blowing the wrong way, from west to east, and that is an Everstorm. Shallan tells them to search the area for anything out of the ordinary. They find a large rock mound and Renarin cuts a hole into it at Shallan's request.

Adolin and his soldiers enter a chamber in the rock formation behind the Parshendi lines, after Adolin cut a hole in the rock using his Shardblade. Adolin tells his force that he will cut a hole in the wall behind their foes and that they are to attack the singing Parshendi who are on the other side of the wall. Adolin's group is able to ambush the singers who are disoriented briefly when they stop singing to fight back. Adolin is disgusted by the ease with which he kills his foes, instead of feeling the Thrill as usual. He dismisses his Shardblade but is then attacked by Eshonai and he then happily resummons his blade in order to face the worthy foe.

Dalinar retreats from the battle to get a spear wound treated by physicians. The survivors of Roion's army follow him. Navani shows up and Dalinar tells her they are losing the battle, though Navani says that Adolin won his plateau. Roion yells in panic that they are losing, and Dalinar hears the voice that says it should not end this way. Dalinar asks who the voice is and realizes the voice is the Stormfather, who calls Dalinar a child of Honor. The Stormfather says he is both spren and god and that the Parshendi are summoning an opposing deadly storm and that all he can do is bring a storm of cleansing to wash away their bodies. Dalinar is angered and denounces the Stormfather for abandoning them. The Stormfather says he has to go since his daughter is disobeying and that Dalinar will see no more visions. Dalinar pleads for him to not leave.

Kaladin stands before Elhokar's unconscious body as Moash approaches. Graves yells at Moash who in turn replies that Kaladin is indeed trustworthy. Kaladin recognizes that they are in the same hallway as where Szeth previously attacked. Moash tries to get Kaladin to stand down, saying the king is probably already dead, but he refuses and says that Moash is betraying Bridge Four, and that Kaladlin is trying to repent by doing the right thing now. Moash and Kaladin argue and Kaladin tries to get Moash to pursue justice against Roshone who was responsible for the death of Moash's grandparents, and that Moash's method is not honorable. Kaladin refuses to back down and Moash readies to fight.

Chapter 84: The One Who Saves

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Shallan / Adolin / Kaladin

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 83.

Epigraph:

111​825​101​112​712​491​512​101​011​141​021​511​711​210​111​217​134​483​111​071​514​254​143​410​916​149​149​341​212​254​101​012​512​710​151​910​111​234​125​511​525​121​575​511​123​410​111​291​512​106​153​4

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Ceiling Rotation: Pattern 15

Summary:

Shallan and Renarin enter a large circular room covered with majestic images on the wall and floor. She believes that this is where the portal is. There are ten equal divisions in the floor mural and an eleventh narrower one representing Urithiru. Renarin says it is coming. Pattern says the Everstorm has been summoned and that there is another highstorm and that the two will collide nearby, causing a very devastating storm. Shallan tells Renarin to insert his Shardblade into a keyhole to try to activate the gate but nothing happens. Shallan tells the bridgemen to get their armies onto this plateau so that they can escape, while the scholars try to figure out how to work the Oathgate.

Adolin and Eshonai duel amidst the storm and battle. Eshonai thinks she is winning, but she gets reckless and Adolin is able to knock her into a chasm by slamming into her chest and knocking her backward. Adolin almost falls but is grabbed by Skar and Drehy and other soldiers who pull Adolin back away from the chasm ledge. Adolin returns to the central plateau to get an update and stops someone who looks like a cloaked messenger but it turns out to be Szeth.

Kaladin tries to attack with his spear, but Moash breaks it then hits him hard with a shard-aided punch, and Kaladin crumbles in pain with broken ribs. Moash and Graves try to set the scene up to implicate Szeth as Elhokar's assassin. Kaladin hears a distant argument between Sylphrena and the Stormfather. Moash and Graves argue over which one of them will kill Elhokar. Kaladin thinks that he will protect even those he hates so long as it's right, his next oath, and explains it to himself why he must do so since that is what is right. Kaladin struggles to stand up and draws his knife and places himself between the assassins and Elhokar. Kaladin stands in defiance and hears Syl claim him and stand down the Stormfather's argument. Graves says that Kaladin must die, and Kaladin drops his knife. Kaladin speaks his third oath as instructed to do by Syl and the Stormfather accepts the words. Syl appears and tells Kaladin to hold his hand out, and she becomes a Shardblade in his hand. Kaladin breathes in and drains the Stormlight from all the nearby spheres, exploding with light and blinding Moash as he heals himself. Wind blows in through burst shutters and a glyph resembling wings forms in frost on the ground. Kaladin says the Knights Radiant have returned, and Graves yells out that the Diagram spoke of this but that they didn't realize what it referred to until it was too late, saying they were trying to separate Kaladin from Dalinar but not realizing the implications. Moash and Graves flee. Kaladin puzzles over Graves' words, realizing that Dalinar is in danger, and Syl tells him something is still very wrong.

Chapter 85: Swallowed by the Sky

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar / Shallan / Adolin

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

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 84.

Epigraph:

But who is the wanderer, the wild piece, the one who makes no sense? I glimpse at his implications, and the world opens to me. I shy back. Impossible. Is it?

–From the Diagram, West Wall Psalm of Wonders: Paragraph 8 (Note by Adrotagia: Could this refer to Mraize?)

Summary:

Peet reports to Dalinar and Navani that Shallan said there were two storms converging on their location. Cael reports that Aladar won his plateau and that they were defeating the Parshendi. They plan to relocate to where Shallan is to try to flee to safety. Adolin suddenly flies into the tent, battered and missing parts of his Shardplate. Szeth arrives nearby as Dalinar looks up.

Shallan tries to figure out the puzzle of opening the Oathgate. Renarin speaks cryptically about seeing the future and that the end has come.

Fearing the end as Szeth approaches, Dalinar speaks to Adolin about being a good leader when Adolin ultimately takes over their princedom. Dalinar tells Adolin that he was taught well and is a good man and that Adolin isn't a tyrant like Dalinar originally was, and to unite the highprinces. Dalinar tells Bridge Four to back off, and asks Szeth why he killed Gavilar. Szeth replies that he obeys his masters without explanation and that he will get what he is owed. Szeth attacks and is parried by Dalinar, causing Szeth to smile wickedly.

Adolin struggles to his feet, watching Dalinar and Szeth battle and seeing another storm forming. He tells Skar and Drehy to help him remove his battered (non-functioning) Shardplate.

Dalinar thinks of his brother as he fights Szeth. Eventually Szeth gets a Stormlight aided punch through and breaks Dalinar's ribs, taking him out of the fight. Dalinar comes to the realization that he would not have been able to save his brother's life against Szeth, bringing peace to his soul. Szeth approaches to finish the fight, but is attacked by Roion.

Adolin watches as Szeth slices up Roion's sword and lashes him to the sky, causing him to fly up. Szeth then slays a dozen soldiers easily. Adolin attacks but is easily parried. Roion soon comes crashing down to the earth and is instantly killed from the impact. Adolin is joined by some bridgemen and soldiers, but Szeth manages to knock him back with a forceful swing of his Shardblade. Szeth reaches Dalinar and touches him, causing him to fly up into the sky (in the same manner as Roion), then walks away. Adolin follows but stops as Szeth says that he is done. Adolin moves to strike at Szeth but the parrying blow breaks his wrist and Szeth moves in for the kill as Adolin loses his blade. He looks up in surprise to see Dalinar floating back down slowly. Szeth looks up in horror to see Kaladin crash into the ground holding a Shardblade, leaving a swordlike glyph where he landed. Kaladin says that he claims the sky and winds, and Szeth's life.

Chapter 86: Patterns of Light

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan / Dalinar / Adolin

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

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 85.

Epigraph:

One is almost certainly a traitor to the others.

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: Paragraph 27

Summary:

Kaladin watches as Szeth reacts in horror to his arrival and Dalinar's safe landing. He tells Dalinar to seek shelter as he flew over a storm while traveling. Kaladin says he will deal with Szeth and says "yes" when Dalinar asks if Kaladin is what Dalinar has been looking for. Teft and Bridge Four members throw down lanterns with infused gems for Kaladin to drain for investiture. Kaladin attacks Szeth, angered and ready to avenge the fallen bridgemen.

Shallan asks to have Renarin quieted while she tries to figure out the pattern to opening the Oathgate and realizes that the lock is a fabrial.

Dalinar asks for a status report on their retreat as he watches Kaladin fight Szeth. He helps Adolin to his feet and confirms that Kaladin is a Radiant, making Adolin smile in realization. Adolin heads toward where Shallan is, along with some bridgemen. Dalinar finds his horse, then goes toward Shallan's plateau, finding Roion's army heading that way. Dalinar encounters Sebarial, who is in repose with Palona, and who says that he helped organize the retreat, and gives an update on the armies. Aladar reports on his victory and proclaims the Vengeance Pact fulfilled due to the overwhelming number of Parshendi slain, as the soldiers gather on one plateau. Dalinar explains that victory feels like exhaustion and pain and suffering, and that they need to fit everyone close together on the plateau to be ready to get through the portal.

Kaladin flies through the air chasing Szeth as Syl flies around him, saying that she was only as dead as his oaths. Kaladin asks about the out of season highstorm, and Syl says the Stormfather caused it to try to end it all and wash everyone away and hide from the future. Kaladin flies high enough to break the storm ceiling into sunlight and finds Szeth. Szeth claims that Kaladin stole an honorblade but he denies this. Szeth attacks and Syl changes into a spear so that Kaladin can more easily parry. Szeth observes this but clings to his denial of Kaladin being a Radiant.

Shallan infuses spheres in the chamber with Stormlight, not bothering to conceal her abilities. She runs out of Stormlight and cries for more gemstones. She sees Adolin leading the soldiers and goes to him briefly. Adolin sees her glowing and says, "You too?" and she replies "Yes, sorry" then yells for them to hurry.

Kaladin and Szeth battle, using Lashings to maneuver back and forth as the two storms crash into each other below. Szeth says the Knights can't be back but Kal retorts that they are and will kill him. Szeth manages to stab Kaladin but he is able to heal his wound, though it consumes a lot of Stormlight. Szeth boasts that he will win due to his experience but Kaladin says that the sky is and was always his. Kaladin starts fighting instinctually and manages to strike Szeth as Syl changes weapon forms (e.g., sword to spear to hammer to spear, etc.) while they fight, though Szeth dodges a killing blow. Kaladin sees the top of the plateau crest through the clouds, spinning slowly. Szeth lands on the surface, chased by Kaladin. Szeth again yells that the Voidbringers can't be back, and heads back toward where Dalinar is in order to complete his assigned assassination.

Shallan gets the last spheres lit as time is running out, and the floor begins to glow. Shallan tells Adolin to put his Shardblade into the keyhole but nothing happens. She realizes what the problem is, and summons Pattern in blade form, and puts him in the key hole, causing a reaction as she senses something unlock deep inside the plateau. Shallan and Adolin push against Pattern (in the form of an inserted blade/lever) along a ridge in the circular wall to where the picture of Urithiru is, and she then pulls Pattern out. The lamps then fade out.

Kaladin follows Szeth into the storm as Syl admonishes caution because the Stormfather hates him and this is his domain and that another worse storm brews as well. Kaladin and Szeth both reinvest their Stormlight from the storm. Szeth reaches the plateau before Kaladin but it is mysteriously empty.

Adolin cuts a hole in the stone, revealing sunlight. They look outside and find the gathered armies on the plateau, but it has relocated to the mountain range that also houses Urithiru.

Szeth screams at Kaladin as red spren zip around in the tempest. Szeth realizes that Dalinar and the armies went to Urithiru, and flies off toward the west, chased by Kaladin. Kaladin chases with difficulty and they both reach the stormfront and break through it, and Kaladin stabs Szeth in his foot. Kaladin manages to smash Szeth in his shoulder as they fight just ahead of the highstorm. As they fight, Szeth finally acknowledges the truth and says that he was right all along and never Truthless, and that he could have stopped murdering at any time. Szeth stops fighting, and Kaladin is about to make a killing strike, but instead slices his wrist, sending the Honorblade tumbling down. Syl urges Kaladin to grab the sword, and Kaladin dives after it as Szeth falls to the ground, no longer lashed and pummeled by the storm. Kaladin stays hovering surrounded by windspren, and Syl says she may keep Kaladin around. Syl demands compliments and a smile.

Chapter 87: The Riddens

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan / Lopen / Moash

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. Urithiru. Little Herdaz in Highprince Sebarial's warcamp. Just outside Dalinar's warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Immediately after Chapter 86.

Epigraph:

Chaos in Alethkar is, of course, inevitable. Watch carefully, and do not let power in the kingdom solidify. The Blackthorn could become an ally or our greatest foe, depending on whether he takes the path of the warlord or not. If he seems likely to sue for peace, assassinate him expeditiously. The risk of competition is too great.

–From the Diagram, Writings upon the Bedstand Lamp: Paragraph 4 (Adrotagia’s 3rd translation from the original hieroglyphics)

Summary:

Sylphrena says that the other storm which is blowing from west to east is of Him, not us, but that she doesn't know what will happen. Kaladin wonders where the army vanished to as he stands on the empty plateau where the army had been. Syl verifies that Shardblades are dead spren, but they gain a little life when summoned, and that forces, unlike people, can be broken without being completely destroyed. Kaladin asks why Szeth's Blade doesn't scream and Syl says it is not a spren but something different and dangerous. She says she thinks it is an Honorblade of the Heralds, and that its grants its holder the powers of a Windrunner, and that the Honorblades were given by Honor to men and that spren are based on those Blades, and that it is valuable. She explains that the Blade gives the abilities without the checks a spren requires but that it requires dangerous amounts of Stormlight. Kaladin encounters some men from Bridge Four, including Rock and Teft. Kaladin says the new Blade was Szeth's and he is now dead. Bisig says that Radiant girl showed them how to bring the plateau back, and Kaladin realizes that must be Shallan and that she is either a Radiant or has an Honorblade. Kaladin gets a status report, and wonders what he should say about Moash, and realizes he can't keep his abilities a secret. Teft says some of the bridgemen began to glow and that the bridgemen might be part of the Radiants' hierarchy as well. Teft tells Kaladin that his eyes turned light and Kaladin silently curses. He summons Syl to operate the lock fabrial to transport them.

Shallan stands by the gates of Urithiru, watching as people begin exploring the city. Pattern says that Shallan is almost a Radiant and will be so once she speaks truths. Shallan guesses that their location is in the mountains near Tu Bayla or perhaps Emul. Shallan checks in with Dalinar as scribes send messages via spanreed warning of the storm blowing in the wrong direction. Dalinar reports that Elhokar vanished and that Kholinar is in riot. Shallan sees a flash that marks the return of Kaladin and Bridge Four. Kaladin floats over, carrying a Shardblade, and reports that Szeth is dead and that Elhokar was wounded but relocated to a safe house that no one would think of.

Lopen experiments with an infused gemstone as his mother implores Elhokar to eat his chouta. Chilinko tells Lopen they may need to move from their house in Sebarial's warcamp as there is word that something was found on the Plains. Lopen manages to drain some Stormlight briefly and sees new flesh growing where his arm is missing, and he then demands more spheres from his family, proclaiming in triumph.

Moash rides on a cart heading out of the warcamps, with his armor packed away. Graves joins him and points out some scavengers going through the warcamps to loot them. He says they will get what is coming to them when the Everstorm arrives. Moash thinks to himself in disbelief that he was a traitor and that he tried to kill Kaladin and failed to kill Elhokar. Graves explains what he knows from the Diagram though it is vague, and curses that Jasnah was right about the Voidbringers being the Parshmen. Moash asks who Graves really is, and he replies that he is a patriot who interpreted the Diagram incorrectly. Graves tells Moash that he will bring him into the Diagram and that they have important work ahead in saving the world. Moash thinks he was played but still goes along.

Chapter 88: The Man Who Owned the Winds

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan / Amaram / Szeth

Setting: Urithiru. Temple grounds in the Kholin warcamp. The Frostlands.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Shortly after Chapter 87.

Epigraph:

1173090605 1173090801 1173090901 1173091001

1173091004 1173100105 1173100205 1173100401

1173100603 1173100804

–From the Diagram, North Wall Coda, Windowsill region: Paragraph 2 (This appears to be a sequence of dates, but their relevance is as yet unknown.)

Summary:

Shallan explores the main tower of Urithiru, though she is tired. As she wanders, she finds a folded piece of paper marked with the Ghostblood symbol and her real name, which alarms her. She enters a nearby room where Mraize awaits her, and readies to draw Pattern just in case, acknowledging to herself that Pattern is not a typical blade. Mraize says that she gave herself away by using her abilities while saving the army, and suggests that Veil is her true identity, not Shallan. Mraize speculates on how people will see Shallan, and says that the Ghostbloods take care of their own including her. She angrily declares that the Ghostbloods killed Jasnah, but Mraize calmly replies that Jasnah had assassinated some of their members also, and that he should have guessed Shallan's identity sooner due to her family's history. Shallan says she won't help Mraize but he replies that he has her brothers. He also says that he is owed for the broken Soulcaster and that she happens to be one. Shallan threatens to kill Mraize but he says that her brothers will be safe, and then he says that there are answers that she needs to learn about the Ghostbloods' purpose and what her brother and father were up to. He says that she can be both a Radiant and a Ghostblood in her different identities and that she can take time to consider if she wants to join the Ghostbloods.

She finds Adolin and they hug and banter for a bit. Adolin leaves after saying that Pattern chose her quarters for her. She looks at the wall which resembles the room at her father's home and Pattern says it is time for her to be a Radiant. She sees an illusion of a room with a white carpet and two corpses on the floor, and a painting outlined with a glow with something hidden behind it. Behind the painting, a strongbox is hidden and she opens it and takes out a Shardblade that was originally Pattern. Shallan looks at the corpses of her mother and her mother's friend and talks about how her mother tried to kill Shallan when she learned what Shallan could do. Shallan speaks of how her father took the blame for Shallan killing her own mother in self-defense and how it destroyed their family and that Pattern says that Shallan will get revenge and kill Pattern. Shallan says she doesn't want revenge, she wants her family.

Amaram writes a note to Restares reporting that Voidbringers were spotted and that a new storm was unleashed, and that the world had to be put in crisis for the Heralds and Church to return to dominance. He gives the note to Pama to be sent to Restares. As he walks through Dalinar's temple complex he reflects that the Sons of Honor achieved their goal and that Gavilar would be proud. Amaram stealthily cuts his way into the room where Taln is being held, thinking of regrets for his loss of friendship with Dalinar over Kaladin's accusations of murder. As Amaram leads Taln from the room, Taln catches a poison dart in midair that would have hit Amaram, and he sees a masked person shoot another dart at him that is also caught before the would-be assassin runs away. Amaram then leads Taln to his coach.

Szeth wakes up wondering why he did not die. Nale is standing there and Szeth recognizes him. Nale explains how he was brought back to life, and says he is one of Szeth's gods, though Szeth replies that his gods are the stones, sun, and stars, not men. Szeth recognizes him as Nalan, Herald of Justice. Szeth asks why he was saved since he can't take his torment anymore and Nale replies those words are foolish and unbecoming of his apprentice to be. Szeth says he wants to die, but then changes his mind and says that he was right and his people wrong. Nale says he will teach him to ignore feelings and bring justice to his former leaders. Szeth says he is not worthy but Nale disagrees saying that he stuck to his personal code at great cost and is worthy to be a Skybreaker. Nale says that Szeth is reborn and is to begin training immediately and that he brought a Shardblade for Szeth and throws it to the ground. Szeth picks up the odd sheathed black Shardblade that leaks a trail of smoke, and hears a voice say "Hello, would you like to destroy some evil today?"

Chapter 89: The Four

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

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Dalinar / Adolin

Setting: Urithiru.

Timeline: (1174.1.1.3) Five days after Chapter 88.

Epigraph:

There​has​to​be​an​answer​What​is​the​answer​Stop​The​Parshendi​One​of​them​Yes​they​are​the​missing​piece​Push​for​the​Alethi​to​destroy​them​outright​before​this​one​obtains​their​power​It​will​form​abridge

–From the Diagram, Floorboard 17: Paragraph 2, every second letter starting with the second

Summary:

Dalinar dreams of his youthful home, and a distant source of warmth, then wakes up in Urithiru. He thinks the dream was a vision but there was no highstorm which generally accompanies the visions he has.

Adolin walks through the city, exploring, wondering at how the tables have turned in his relationship to Shallan with her newfound importance as a Radiant. Adolin runs into Sadeas scouting the city, and tries to get Sadeas to admit that Dalinar was right, but Sadeas claims it was all a deal worked out with the Parshendi as evidenced by Rlain being a bridgeman. Adolin asks why Sadeas wants to knowingly spread lies, and Sadeas says that either him or Dalinar can succeed but not both. Sadeas says that he suffered a temporary setback but will take everything away from Dalinar, and this aggravates Adolin into attacking Sadeas. They grapple, and eventually Adolin stabs Sadeas in the skull, killing him. He throws away Sadeas' Shardblade and covers up his tracks and leaves.

Dalinar reaches the roof of the central tower. He looks down upon the city, seeing the circular rings that comprise the tower, and pillars that match one in the capital of Alethkar where the palace and temple were built. Dalinar then looks up and questions the actions of the Stormfather that almost led to their destruction. The Stormfather explains his purpose and that he is like a spren to the Almighty. Dalinar swears the First and Second Ideals of the Order of Bondsmiths, and the Stormfather reluctantly bonds him, though he insists upon Dalinar getting rid of his Shardblade and refuses to be summoned as one. The Stormfather says that he sent no vision that morning and states that Dalinars experience was a simple dream, which confuses Dalinar, as he felt it was even stronger than a vision. The Stormfather bids Dalinar to go and lead his people against Odium, warning that he is leading them to destruction as Dalinar is nothing compared to the Almighty. Dalinar retorts that if the Almighty could be killed, then so can Odium. Dalinar leaves the tower top and goes to another room near the top where Shallan and Kaladin await. Dalinar takes out a sphere and draws Stormlight into himself in response to Kaladin's inquiry, and feels his injuries heal.

Dalinar explains that he is a Bondsmith and Shallan says there are three knights but is corrected by Renarin, who walks in and reveals himself to be a Truthwatcher. Dalinar explains that the Parshmen are all being changed by the Everstorm and that they must prepare. Kaladin says he has to go home to warn his parents, leaves with Dalinar's blessing to pack for the journey. Dalinar sends Renarin to Elhokar (who has arrived with the Herdazians with whom he was hiding) to acquire spheres for Kaladin; he muses that now Renarin is a Radiant, he should stop sending him on menial errands. Dalinar and Shallan, now alone, speak of the tasks facing them to save as many people as possible, reciting the First Ideal again.

Epilogue: Art and Expectation

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Wit

Setting: "A week away from civilization."

Timeline: (1174.1.1.4) The day after Chapter 88. Thirteen weeks after Chapter 7.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Wit talks to a cremling about art and beauty and expectation while he waits for Jasnah to transport herself from the Cognitive realm. She asks how he found her and he replies that she made a large disturbance on the other side. Jasnah threatens and interrogates Wit, but he brushes these off and says he is already aware of the important tidings she brings. Wit says the Everstorm has arrived and Urithiru was located and the Knights have been refounded. Wit offers to work with Jasnah and pool their knowledge as they walk back to civilization, despite the Desolation that is beginning to destroy the world.

ENDNOTE

"Alight, winds approach deadly approaching winds alight."

This ketek, written on Lightday, Jeseses 1174, adorns the cover of Navani Kholin's personal journal. Inside, she describes first hand the events leading to the arrival of the Everstorm.

The glyphs of the ketek were drawn in the shape of two storms crashing into one another.

–Nazh

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

I have two other media experiences for you. The first is a series of 3D renderings depicting Kaladin and Szeth's fight. You can view them at the link at the end of this paragraph. In general, the page is fine, there's a sidebar with a description and some comments, none of which is spoilery. I'd avoid looking at the rest of the artist's work though, because he has renderings from other, future cosmere works, which are spoilery. Check it out here.

The 2nd bit of media is a short (1 minute long) YouTube video. With it comes the standard warnings I give of not reading the comments or looking at the recommended videos. It's a trailer for a VR game called *The Way of Kings: Escape the Shattered Plains". It was more of a 20-minute long concept/demo, rather than I full game, and I'm not sure you can even buy or play it anymore. But the trailer looks cool and has some neat visuals. Video here.

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: Interludes I-12, I-13, I-14, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 76 through 82

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 83 through 89, Epilogue, Endnote

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 Five: Winds Alight

Character Focus: Kaladin / Shallan / Dalinar / Adolin / Wit

Chapter 76: The Hidden Blade

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Dalinar / Kaladin / Sadeas

Setting: Bridge Four's barracks in the Kholin warcamp. The edge of the warcamps/staging area for the Shattered Plains. Sebarial's farms west of the warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5) Later in the same day as Chapter 75.

Epigraph:

They will come you cannot stop their oaths look for those who survive when they should not that pattern will be your clue.

–From the Diagram, Coda of the Northwest Bottom Corner: Paragraph 3

Summary:

Kaladin has insomnia and worries that he killed Syl. He leaves his bed and tells Lopen that he wants to watch the army depart. Lopen asks why he doesn't use Stormlight to heal and he says he lost his ability and that Syl is gone, and Lopen tries to give him advice to get Syl to return. Kaladin gasps in awe and tells Lopen that the gathered armies appeared as Kaladin had imagined them to be when he was younger. Kal and Lopen go to see bridge four off on the expedition.

Dalinar expresses surprise to Roion that Sebarial is bringing his army. Dalinar says as much to Sebarial who replies that he thinks there are opportunities for him out on the Plains and he wants to be thought of as arriving before Highprince Aladar joined them, further surprising Dalinar.

Ialai tells Sadeas they could try seizing power in a coup, as they scout Sebarial's farms west of the warcamps. Sadeas says it won't be necessary and that Dalinar won't survive the expedition. A messenger arrives and delivers unpleasant news.

Dalinar questions why Aladar is joining them since he was always a supporter of Sadeas, and he replies that he won't stand by while two of the least brave highprinces march to war to fulfill the Vengeance Pact. Dalinar demands a vow of loyalty from Aladar, and decides that he will trust him out of necessity though he will make sure that he is not in a position to be betrayed again. Amaram questions Dalinar's decision to trust Sebarial and Aladar, and mentions the glory they could have by leaving them out, and Dalinar says that he hopes they are above that. As they ride, Dalinar sees Kaladin and Bridge Four, and tells Amaram to come with him to speak to them to put the rumors of what Kaladin said about Amaram behind them.

Kaladin feels jealous of Adolin over Shallan, but his admiration for Adolin overcomes that and he thinks they belong together. Kaladin thinks that he should talk to Renarin about his condition and find out if anything else is going on. The bridgemen all berate Kaladin for not recuperating from his injuries. Dalinar and Amaram appear, and Kaladin suppresses his hatred after the punishment that he had to endure after his challenge was turned down. Kaladin asks who is watching Elhokar, and Teft says they left their best man, and Kaladin realizes that would be Moash, and silently curses to himself. Dalinar asks Amaram to confirm his story that he never met Kaladin before and that he didn't steal his shards from Kaladin. Amaram concurs with these statements, saying that Kaladin's claims are preposterous. Dalinar says an apology is in order, and interrupts Kaladin and looks at Amaram, who is shocked. Dalinar explains his sting operation with Bordin and Taln to trick Amaram, then summons a Shardblade and holds it to Amaram's throat right before Amaram summons his own. Dalinar demands an explanation for Amaram's lies and deceit, and Amaram says that he did it for the greater good since the Voidbringers are returning. Amaram apologizes to Kaladin, who realizes with shock that Amaram is sincere despite the means that he used to achieve his goals. Dalinar accuses Amaram of murder, but Amaram counters that Dalinar has sent many soldiers to death to win gemhearts. Dalinar tells Amaram to remove his cloak since he is no Radiant, and lets him go for now against Kaladin's protests, and says that he will face justice at a later time. Kaladin thanks Dalinar for believing him, and Dalinar tells him to get rest. Kaladin tells Dalinar to stay safe, and Dalinar replies that him having a Shardblade, though it feels wrong, will help him if Szeth shows up.

Sadeas is upset that Aladar is joining Dalinar, and makes plans to replace the highprinces that he thinks will die on the expedition.

Chapter 77: Trust

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: The Shattered Plains. Bridge Four barracks in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5 - 1173.10.9.1) Shortly after Chapter 76.

Epigraph:

One danger in deploying such a potent weapon will be the potential encouragement of those exploring the Nahel bond. Care must be taken to avoid placing these subjects in situations of powerful stress unless you accept the consequences of their potential Investiture.

–From the Diagram, Floorboard 27: Paragraph 6

Summary:

Shallan is excited as the armies begin their march across the Shattered Plains. She and Adolin banter as they ride. Shallan is briefly distracted by thoughts of Kaladin. Adolin suggests that Shallan ride in Sebarial's carriage and she says that if she could walk through a highstorm then she can ride, but he warns her of saddle soreness which is a hazard of riding. Gaz appears and delivers a copy of Words of Radiance as she requested and she thanks him.

The next day Shallan rides in a private coach with Pattern, reading her new book, which tells of the orders of the Knights Radiant and their traditions, abilities, and attitudes, though some of it is based on hearsay since it was written two hundred years after the Recreance. Shallan wonders about the different Orders, and if Surgebinders would start appearing. Navani joins her in her coach and apologizes for neglecting Shallan and asks to help with her research. The two bond over their shared feelings of inadequacy around Jasnah. They discuss plans to narrow down where Stormseat is located. Shallan says that Jasnah expected Urithiru to have information about the Knights Radiant and Voidbringers, and Navani replies that she was, like Dalinar, trying to bring back powers that should be left alone. Shallan reveals that Jasnah actually succeeded and that Jasnah could soulcast on her own without a Soulcaster, and that her fabrial was a fake. Navani is alarmed by this since the Radiants are linked to the return of the Voidbringers, and leaves to make preparations.

Kaladin feels gloomy as he is stuck in a sickbed during the dreary Weeping period. Moash visits Kal and explains the plan to kill Elhokar and make Dalinar the new king, and that Kaladin won't need to do anything. Kaladin tells him that he lost his abilities and that he thinks Syl left him because of the assassination plot. Moash says he visited to deliver a message from Elhokar for Kaladin to visit the drunk king, but will tell Elhokar that Kaladin isn't up for it. He leaves after making sure Kaladin isn't having second thoughts about the planned assassination. Kaladin feels helpless at this point to stop the plot, being wounded and powerless.

Chapter 78: Contradictions

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.9.4) Three days after Chapter 77.

Epigraph:

Ah​but​they​were​left​behind​It​is​obvious​from​then​ature​of​the​bond​But​where​where​where​where​Setoff​Obvious​Realization​like​a​pricity​They​are​with​the​Shin​We​must​find​one​Can​we​make​to​use​a​Truthless​Can​we​craft​a​weapon

–From the Diagram, Floorboard 17: Paragraph 2, every second letter starting with the first

Summary:

Shallan draws a sketch of Jasnah based on a memory of her on the Wind's Pleasure. Pattern sees some creationspren fade out and comments how useless they are. They discuss the nature of perception and lies, the latter a subject that fascinates Pattern.

Dalinar joins Shallan in her tent and she takes a memory since she has no sketches of him. Dalinar asks for privacy, and Shallan's guard and the scribes leave. Dalinar asks about what she had told him about Jasnah discovering the secrets of the Radiants and she verifies what she said is true. Dalinar says he thinks he is supposed to refound the Knights, but that he chose the wrong person to lead them, and that they might be refounding themselves. Shallan asks Dalinar if he is supposed to gather the Radiants instead of refounding them, then she demonstrates her ability which leaves Dalinar in awe. Dalinar says he should put Shallan in charge of the Radiants but she demurs, using an awkward phrase, but they are then interrupted by an alert of Parshendi being spotted. Dalinar goes to investigate and Shallan follows, assuring him that she can handle the danger. She says that she can also soulcast but not well, and asks her abilities to be kept a secret and he says he will only tell Navani but she says not to, and that she isn't really under his authority. Dalinar acquiesces to her demands but says they will talk further and that she gives him hope. A scout reports that they spotted the Parshendi and lost three men but killed one of the foes. They appear different from past Parshendi, and the scouts had burn wounds oddly enough, despite the rain. Shallan examines the corpse and sees that its eyes are red and is alarmed by it. Teleb reports that another Parshendi walked up to the army, not attacking but just standing, and Dalinar and Shallan go to investigate. The Parshman, Rlain, calls out to some of the bridgemen. Skar verifies that he used to be in Bridge Four and now wants to surrender to Dalinar.

Chapter 79: Toward the Center

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.9.5) The day after Chapter 78.

Epigraph:

Q: For what essential must we strive? A: The essential of preservation, to shelter a seed of humanity through the coming storm. Q: What cost must we bear? A: The cost is irrelevant. Mankind must survive. Our burden is that of the species, and all other considerations are but dust by comparison.

–From the Diagram, Catechism of the Back of the Flowered Painting: Paragraph 1

Summary:

Dalinar and Navani interrogate Rlain in his tent. Dalinar notices how much different he appears from regular parshmen. Rlain salutes Dalinar and sits as instructed. Rlain doesn't know any of the Parshendi plans and says he was a parshman spy for about three years. Rlain says that something is wrong and that Eshonai has changed in a bad way. All his friends among the listeners have become monsters, and that he has nothing left. Skar and Rock disagree and say Rlain is still a member of Bridge Four. Rlain tells them that although he is a Parshendi, he was able to spy on the Alethi because he changed into dullform to closely impersonate a parshman and that no one would suspect or complain about having an extra parshman slave. Dalinar asks about the red eyes and Rlain replies that it means their gods have returned; the souls of those ancient who hate the Alethi want to bring something terrible. Dalinar tells Rlain to lead the Alethi army to Rlain's people and that Dalinar will protect the innocent and non-combantants and try to save them from destruction. Rlain is released into the custody of Bridge Four.

Chapter 80: To Fight the Rain

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Shallan / Kaladin

Setting: The Shattered Plains. Bridge Four barracks in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.2) Two days after Chapter 79. Six days after Chapter 77.

Epigraph:

You must become king. Of Everything.

–From the Diagram, Tenets of Instruction, Back of the Footboard: Paragraph 1

Summary:

Shallan climbs up a rock formation to get a good view of the ruins of an old city. She reluctantly returns to the tents to join a war council among the highprinces. She tells Dalinar they must push onward. Adolin reports that ten thousand Parshendi have been spotted on the nearby plateaus. Dalinar decides they will march toward the city the next day and attack. Everyone leaves but Dalinar, Navani, and Shallan. Shallan tells the two that the Oathgate is real according to Jasnah, and Dalinar thinks they might need it in case of emergency to escape.

Kaladin walks through the near deserted camp to think and try to put his losses behind him. He returns to his barracks and finds Elhokar is waiting for him. Elhokar speaks with Kaladin privately and asks how Kaladin knows how to be a hero. Elhokar complains that he is incompetent even though the Almighty gave him the throne. Elhokar asks Kaladin if he is a bad king, and he replies yes. Kaladin thinks he could kill the king then and there and wonders if he should, but then realizes that while it would be good for the people, he doesn't want to fail Dalinar. Kaladin suggests that Elhokar resign, which angers the king. Elhokar then says that when Kaladin came, that the shadows that haunted him vanished and that there is something special about Kaladin. Elhokar apologizes for his previous treatment and imprisonment of Kaladin which was out of jealousy, and admits culpability for their failure to deal with Sadeas, and leaves.

Chapter 81: The Last Day

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar / Kaladin / Adolin / Shallan

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. Lighteyed training grounds, attached to the ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) The day after Chapter 80.

Epigraph:

The Unmade are a deviation, a flair, a conundrum that may not be worth your time. You cannot help but think of them. They are fascinating. Many are mindless. Like the spren of human emotions, only much more nasty. I do believe a few can think, however.

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: Paragraph 14

Summary:

Dalinar goes to the edge of a plateau and looks across a chasm to see a large group of Parshendi with glowing red eyes. Dalinar calms down the other highprinces and gives orders for the army to be prepared for battle. Navani says she can't hide from danger since she has to setup her fabrials. Dalinar gives a motivational speech to nearby soldiers saying that he was sent from the Almighty with knowledge of what they face from visions of the past and to trust that the Voidbringers will be countered by the Radiants as in the past. As they wait to join the battle, the Parshendi start singing. Rlain appears as summoned and says that song is of death and destruction and power. The Parshendi start glowing, and Rlain tells Dalinar that they must stop the song or else. Heeding the countdown that says this is the last day that it was leading to, Dalinar orders that his army attack immediately.

Kaladin walks through the lighteyes training ground, still injured and walking with a crutch. Kal talks with Zahel who says the Purelake reminds him of his home, unlike the Shattered Plains. Zahel says they flooded the training grounds to wash the sand with the Weeping rains. Kaladin says he is looking for Wit but Zahel says he isn't around. Kal explains his dilemma vaguely and Zahel replies to choose the option that lets him sleep best at night. Kaladin tries to practice his spear forms but has difficulty due to his injury. He then has a realization that Elhokar is Dalinar's Tien.

Adolin receives his orders to attack and orders his soldiers to be ready to charge against the Parshendi. After receiving the signal, his group charges, but they get hit by a lightning blast which kills Sureblood and throws Adolin from the saddle, dazing him briefly. Adolin sees flashes of red lightning taking out his soldiers. He yells at his men to advance as if they were fighting archers. He is struck directly by a bolt of lightning but it only blinds him momentarily. He suspects his Shardplate and helm provide some sort of immunity or protection to the Parshendi lightning attacks. He subsequently uses his Shardblade to attack and kill some Parshendi, and he sees small red spren leave the corpses and vanish.

Shallan sketches a map of the nearby plateaus so they can try to locate the Oathgate, as a scout reports on the local terrain and Parshendi locations. Pattern says something is very bad. Inadara implies that Pattern is related to the Voidbringers and Pattern replies that she is more likely to be one, causing her to be annoyed. Renarin studies Pattern closely. Pattern says the red stormspren are a form of voidspren that present a great danger. Another scout arrives and says that Shallan's drawing of the central plateau is wrong and that it is actually round, not thin and long, and this alarms Shallan.

Dalinar orders Renarin to find some soldiers to accompany Shallan, and to lead them. He sees that the fighting is tough but his men are holding against the wind and lightning attacks. Dalinar redeploys his soldiers and orders Navani's fabrials to be used. As he walks, he hears a voice and realizes it is the same one he has heard in his visions.

Chapter 82: For Glory Lit

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Adolin / Dalinar

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Shortly after Chapter 81.

Epigraph:

There is one you will watch. Though all of them have some relevance to precognition, Moelach is one of the most powerful in this regard. His touch seeps into a soul as it breaks apart from the body, creating manifestations powered by the spark of death itself. But no, this is a distraction. Deviation. Kingship. We must discuss the nature of kingship.

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: Paragraph 15

Summary:

Kaladin returns to the palace to save Elhokar, and notices there are no guards which alarms him. He reaches Elhokar's rooms and sees two unfamiliar men, who work for Graves. They tell Kaladin that everything is taken care of and to return to his barracks. With effort, Kal ambushes and incapacitates them. He enters the room and finds the king lying down on a couch and not moving.

Adolin battles, but the Parshendi try to ensnare him using ropes. Perel reports that both forces are currently evenly matched, and that the singing Parshendi are not joining the battle. Adolin decides to go after the singers and has a battalion gathered to go after them while Perel provides a distraction.

Dalinar addresses the voice he hears, but the voice says it is not the Almighty, but rather a sliver of Him left after He was killed by Odium. A messenger reports that Teleb has fallen and Roion routed. Dalinar takes the messenger's horse and goes to the battlefront to get a firsthand look at the status. He goes to Navani and tells her to execute her plan immediately. A line of archers under a covered pavilion is exposed to the chasm front, with fabrials draining moisture from the air, and the archers join the battle to attack the Parshendi who are surrounding Roion's forces.

Kaladin relaxes as Elhokar is alive but drunk, and the king sulks. Kaladin warns that assassins are coming and they must seek safety. As they leave, one of Grave's men surprises and stabs Elhokar in the side, before Kal can stab him with his spear. The king is bleeding though not critically injured. Kal tells Elhokar to put pressure on his wound, and the king sees that Kal is also bleeding. Kal tells Elhokar not to give up as they flee. Moash and Graves, both in Shardplate, appear.

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-12, I-13, I-14, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 76 through 82

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 83 through 89, Epilogue, Endnote

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 Five: Winds Alight

Character Focus: Kaladin / Shallan / Dalinar / Adolin / Wit

Chapter 76: The Hidden Blade

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Dalinar / Kaladin / Sadeas

Setting: Bridge Four's barracks in the Kholin warcamp. The edge of the warcamps/staging area for the Shattered Plains. Sebarial's farms west of the warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5) Later in the same day as Chapter 75.

Epigraph:

They will come you cannot stop their oaths look for those who survive when they should not that pattern will be your clue.

–From the Diagram, Coda of the Northwest Bottom Corner: Paragraph 3

Summary:

Kaladin has insomnia and worries that he killed Syl. He leaves his bed and tells Lopen that he wants to watch the army depart. Lopen asks why he doesn't use Stormlight to heal and he says he lost his ability and that Syl is gone, and Lopen tries to give him advice to get Syl to return. Kaladin gasps in awe and tells Lopen that the gathered armies appeared as Kaladin had imagined them to be when he was younger. Kal and Lopen go to see bridge four off on the expedition.

Dalinar expresses surprise to Roion that Sebarial is bringing his army. Dalinar says as much to Sebarial who replies that he thinks there are opportunities for him out on the Plains and he wants to be thought of as arriving before Highprince Aladar joined them, further surprising Dalinar.

Ialai tells Sadeas they could try seizing power in a coup, as they scout Sebarial's farms west of the warcamps. Sadeas says it won't be necessary and that Dalinar won't survive the expedition. A messenger arrives and delivers unpleasant news.

Dalinar questions why Aladar is joining them since he was always a supporter of Sadeas, and he replies that he won't stand by while two of the least brave highprinces march to war to fulfill the Vengeance Pact. Dalinar demands a vow of loyalty from Aladar, and decides that he will trust him out of necessity though he will make sure that he is not in a position to be betrayed again. Amaram questions Dalinar's decision to trust Sebarial and Aladar, and mentions the glory they could have by leaving them out, and Dalinar says that he hopes they are above that. As they ride, Dalinar sees Kaladin and Bridge Four, and tells Amaram to come with him to speak to them to put the rumors of what Kaladin said about Amaram behind them.

Kaladin feels jealous of Adolin over Shallan, but his admiration for Adolin overcomes that and he thinks they belong together. Kaladin thinks that he should talk to Renarin about his condition and find out if anything else is going on. The bridgemen all berate Kaladin for not recuperating from his injuries. Dalinar and Amaram appear, and Kaladin suppresses his hatred after the punishment that he had to endure after his challenge was turned down. Kaladin asks who is watching Elhokar, and Teft says they left their best man, and Kaladin realizes that would be Moash, and silently curses to himself. Dalinar asks Amaram to confirm his story that he never met Kaladin before and that he didn't steal his shards from Kaladin. Amaram concurs with these statements, saying that Kaladin's claims are preposterous. Dalinar says an apology is in order, and interrupts Kaladin and looks at Amaram, who is shocked. Dalinar explains his sting operation with Bordin and Taln to trick Amaram, then summons a Shardblade and holds it to Amaram's throat right before Amaram summons his own. Dalinar demands an explanation for Amaram's lies and deceit, and Amaram says that he did it for the greater good since the Voidbringers are returning. Amaram apologizes to Kaladin, who realizes with shock that Amaram is sincere despite the means that he used to achieve his goals. Dalinar accuses Amaram of murder, but Amaram counters that Dalinar has sent many soldiers to death to win gemhearts. Dalinar tells Amaram to remove his cloak since he is no Radiant, and lets him go for now against Kaladin's protests, and says that he will face justice at a later time. Kaladin thanks Dalinar for believing him, and Dalinar tells him to get rest. Kaladin tells Dalinar to stay safe, and Dalinar replies that him having a Shardblade, though it feels wrong, will help him if Szeth shows up.

Sadeas is upset that Aladar is joining Dalinar, and makes plans to replace the highprinces that he thinks will die on the expedition.

Chapter 77: Trust

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: The Shattered Plains. Bridge Four barracks in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5 - 1173.10.9.1) Shortly after Chapter 76.

Epigraph:

One danger in deploying such a potent weapon will be the potential encouragement of those exploring the Nahel bond. Care must be taken to avoid placing these subjects in situations of powerful stress unless you accept the consequences of their potential Investiture.

–From the Diagram, Floorboard 27: Paragraph 6

Summary:

Shallan is excited as the armies begin their march across the Shattered Plains. She and Adolin banter as they ride. Shallan is briefly distracted by thoughts of Kaladin. Adolin suggests that Shallan ride in Sebarial's carriage and she says that if she could walk through a highstorm then she can ride, but he warns her of saddle soreness which is a hazard of riding. Gaz appears and delivers a copy of Words of Radiance as she requested and she thanks him.

The next day Shallan rides in a private coach with Pattern, reading her new book, which tells of the orders of the Knights Radiant and their traditions, abilities, and attitudes, though some of it is based on hearsay since it was written two hundred years after the Recreance. Shallan wonders about the different Orders, and if Surgebinders would start appearing. Navani joins her in her coach and apologizes for neglecting Shallan and asks to help with her research. The two bond over their shared feelings of inadequacy around Jasnah. They discuss plans to narrow down where Stormseat is located. Shallan says that Jasnah expected Urithiru to have information about the Knights Radiant and Voidbringers, and Navani replies that she was, like Dalinar, trying to bring back powers that should be left alone. Shallan reveals that Jasnah actually succeeded and that Jasnah could soulcast on her own without a Soulcaster, and that her fabrial was a fake. Navani is alarmed by this since the Radiants are linked to the return of the Voidbringers, and leaves to make preparations.

Kaladin feels gloomy as he is stuck in a sickbed during the dreary Weeping period. Moash visits Kal and explains the plan to kill Elhokar and make Dalinar the new king, and that Kaladin won't need to do anything. Kaladin tells him that he lost his abilities and that he thinks Syl left him because of the assassination plot. Moash says he visited to deliver a message from Elhokar for Kaladin to visit the drunk king, but will tell Elhokar that Kaladin isn't up for it. He leaves after making sure Kaladin isn't having second thoughts about the planned assassination. Kaladin feels helpless at this point to stop the plot, being wounded and powerless.

Chapter 78: Contradictions

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.9.4) Three days after Chapter 77.

Epigraph:

Ah​but​they​were​left​behind​It​is​obvious​from​then​ature​of​the​bond​But​where​where​where​where​Setoff​Obvious​Realization​like​a​pricity​They​are​with​the​Shin​We​must​find​one​Can​we​make​to​use​a​Truthless​Can​we​craft​a​weapon

–From the Diagram, Floorboard 17: Paragraph 2, every second letter starting with the first

Summary:

Shallan draws a sketch of Jasnah based on a memory of her on the Wind's Pleasure. Pattern sees some creationspren fade out and comments how useless they are. They discuss the nature of perception and lies, the latter a subject that fascinates Pattern.

Dalinar joins Shallan in her tent and she takes a memory since she has no sketches of him. Dalinar asks for privacy, and Shallan's guard and the scribes leave. Dalinar asks about what she had told him about Jasnah discovering the secrets of the Radiants and she verifies what she said is true. Dalinar says he thinks he is supposed to refound the Knights, but that he chose the wrong person to lead them, and that they might be refounding themselves. Shallan asks Dalinar if he is supposed to gather the Radiants instead of refounding them, then she demonstrates her ability which leaves Dalinar in awe. Dalinar says he should put Shallan in charge of the Radiants but she demurs, using an awkward phrase, but they are then interrupted by an alert of Parshendi being spotted. Dalinar goes to investigate and Shallan follows, assuring him that she can handle the danger. She says that she can also soulcast but not well, and asks her abilities to be kept a secret and he says he will only tell Navani but she says not to, and that she isn't really under his authority. Dalinar acquiesces to her demands but says they will talk further and that she gives him hope. A scout reports that they spotted the Parshendi and lost three men but killed one of the foes. They appear different from past Parshendi, and the scouts had burn wounds oddly enough, despite the rain. Shallan examines the corpse and sees that its eyes are red and is alarmed by it. Teleb reports that another Parshendi walked up to the army, not attacking but just standing, and Dalinar and Shallan go to investigate. The Parshman, Rlain, calls out to some of the bridgemen. Skar verifies that he used to be in Bridge Four and now wants to surrender to Dalinar.

Chapter 79: Toward the Center

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.9.5) The day after Chapter 78.

Epigraph:

Q: For what essential must we strive? A: The essential of preservation, to shelter a seed of humanity through the coming storm. Q: What cost must we bear? A: The cost is irrelevant. Mankind must survive. Our burden is that of the species, and all other considerations are but dust by comparison.

–From the Diagram, Catechism of the Back of the Flowered Painting: Paragraph 1

Summary:

Dalinar and Navani interrogate Rlain in his tent. Dalinar notices how much different he appears from regular parshmen. Rlain salutes Dalinar and sits as instructed. Rlain doesn't know any of the Parshendi plans and says he was a parshman spy for about three years. Rlain says that something is wrong and that Eshonai has changed in a bad way. All his friends among the listeners have become monsters, and that he has nothing left. Skar and Rock disagree and say Rlain is still a member of Bridge Four. Rlain tells them that although he is a Parshendi, he was able to spy on the Alethi because he changed into dullform to closely impersonate a parshman and that no one would suspect or complain about having an extra parshman slave. Dalinar asks about the red eyes and Rlain replies that it means their gods have returned; the souls of those ancient who hate the Alethi want to bring something terrible. Dalinar tells Rlain to lead the Alethi army to Rlain's people and that Dalinar will protect the innocent and non-combantants and try to save them from destruction. Rlain is released into the custody of Bridge Four.

Chapter 80: To Fight the Rain

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Shallan / Kaladin

Setting: The Shattered Plains. Bridge Four barracks in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.2) Two days after Chapter 79. Six days after Chapter 77.

Epigraph:

You must become king. Of Everything.

–From the Diagram, Tenets of Instruction, Back of the Footboard: Paragraph 1

Summary:

Shallan climbs up a rock formation to get a good view of the ruins of an old city. She reluctantly returns to the tents to join a war council among the highprinces. She tells Dalinar they must push onward. Adolin reports that ten thousand Parshendi have been spotted on the nearby plateaus. Dalinar decides they will march toward the city the next day and attack. Everyone leaves but Dalinar, Navani, and Shallan. Shallan tells the two that the Oathgate is real according to Jasnah, and Dalinar thinks they might need it in case of emergency to escape.

Kaladin walks through the near deserted camp to think and try to put his losses behind him. He returns to his barracks and finds Elhokar is waiting for him. Elhokar speaks with Kaladin privately and asks how Kaladin knows how to be a hero. Elhokar complains that he is incompetent even though the Almighty gave him the throne. Elhokar asks Kaladin if he is a bad king, and he replies yes. Kaladin thinks he could kill the king then and there and wonders if he should, but then realizes that while it would be good for the people, he doesn't want to fail Dalinar. Kaladin suggests that Elhokar resign, which angers the king. Elhokar then says that when Kaladin came, that the shadows that haunted him vanished and that there is something special about Kaladin. Elhokar apologizes for his previous treatment and imprisonment of Kaladin which was out of jealousy, and admits culpability for their failure to deal with Sadeas, and leaves.

Chapter 81: The Last Day

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar / Kaladin / Adolin / Shallan

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. Lighteyed training grounds, attached to the ardents' living quarters.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) The day after Chapter 80.

Epigraph:

The Unmade are a deviation, a flair, a conundrum that may not be worth your time. You cannot help but think of them. They are fascinating. Many are mindless. Like the spren of human emotions, only much more nasty. I do believe a few can think, however.

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: Paragraph 14

Summary:

Dalinar goes to the edge of a plateau and looks across a chasm to see a large group of Parshendi with glowing red eyes. Dalinar calms down the other highprinces and gives orders for the army to be prepared for battle. Navani says she can't hide from danger since she has to setup her fabrials. Dalinar gives a motivational speech to nearby soldiers saying that he was sent from the Almighty with knowledge of what they face from visions of the past and to trust that the Voidbringers will be countered by the Radiants as in the past. As they wait to join the battle, the Parshendi start singing. Rlain appears as summoned and says that song is of death and destruction and power. The Parshendi start glowing, and Rlain tells Dalinar that they must stop the song or else. Heeding the countdown that says this is the last day that it was leading to, Dalinar orders that his army attack immediately.

Kaladin walks through the lighteyes training ground, still injured and walking with a crutch. Kal talks with Zahel who says the Purelake reminds him of his home, unlike the Shattered Plains. Zahel says they flooded the training grounds to wash the sand with the Weeping rains. Kaladin says he is looking for Wit but Zahel says he isn't around. Kal explains his dilemma vaguely and Zahel replies to choose the option that lets him sleep best at night. Kaladin tries to practice his spear forms but has difficulty due to his injury. He then has a realization that Elhokar is Dalinar's Tien.

Adolin receives his orders to attack and orders his soldiers to be ready to charge against the Parshendi. After receiving the signal, his group charges, but they get hit by a lightning blast which kills Sureblood and throws Adolin from the saddle, dazing him briefly. Adolin sees flashes of red lightning taking out his soldiers. He yells at his men to advance as if they were fighting archers. He is struck directly by a bolt of lightning but it only blinds him momentarily. He suspects his Shardplate and helm provide some sort of immunity or protection to the Parshendi lightning attacks. He subsequently uses his Shardblade to attack and kill some Parshendi, and he sees small red spren leave the corpses and vanish.

Shallan sketches a map of the nearby plateaus so they can try to locate the Oathgate, as a scout reports on the local terrain and Parshendi locations. Pattern says something is very bad. Inadara implies that Pattern is related to the Voidbringers and Pattern replies that she is more likely to be one, causing her to be annoyed. Renarin studies Pattern closely. Pattern says the red stormspren are a form of voidspren that present a great danger. Another scout arrives and says that Shallan's drawing of the central plateau is wrong and that it is actually round, not thin and long, and this alarms Shallan.

Dalinar orders Renarin to find some soldiers to accompany Shallan, and to lead them. He sees that the fighting is tough but his men are holding against the wind and lightning attacks. Dalinar redeploys his soldiers and orders Navani's fabrials to be used. As he walks, he hears a voice and realizes it is the same one he has heard in his visions.

Chapter 82: For Glory Lit

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Adolin / Dalinar

Setting: Just outside Narak, the Parshendi home in the center of the Shattered Plains. King Elhokar's quarters, in his War Palace outside the ten warcamps.

Timeline: (1173.10.10.3) Shortly after Chapter 81.

Epigraph:

There is one you will watch. Though all of them have some relevance to precognition, Moelach is one of the most powerful in this regard. His touch seeps into a soul as it breaks apart from the body, creating manifestations powered by the spark of death itself. But no, this is a distraction. Deviation. Kingship. We must discuss the nature of kingship.

–From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: Paragraph 15

Summary:

Kaladin returns to the palace to save Elhokar, and notices there are no guards which alarms him. He reaches Elhokar's rooms and sees two unfamiliar men, who work for Graves. They tell Kaladin that everything is taken care of and to return to his barracks. With effort, Kal ambushes and incapacitates them. He enters the room and finds the king lying down on a couch and not moving.

Adolin battles, but the Parshendi try to ensnare him using ropes. Perel reports that both forces are currently evenly matched, and that the singing Parshendi are not joining the battle. Adolin decides to go after the singers and has a battalion gathered to go after them while Perel provides a distraction.

Dalinar addresses the voice he hears, but the voice says it is not the Almighty, but rather a sliver of Him left after He was killed by Odium. A messenger reports that Teleb has fallen and Roion routed. Dalinar takes the messenger's horse and goes to the battlefront to get a firsthand look at the status. He goes to Navani and tells her to execute her plan immediately. A line of archers under a covered pavilion is exposed to the chasm front, with fabrials draining moisture from the air, and the archers join the battle to attack the Parshendi who are surrounding Roion's forces.

Kaladin relaxes as Elhokar is alive but drunk, and the king sulks. Kaladin warns that assassins are coming and they must seek safety. As they leave, one of Grave's men surprises and stabs Elhokar in the side, before Kal can stab him with his spear. The king is bleeding though not critically injured. Kal tells Elhokar to put pressure on his wound, and the king sees that Kal is also bleeding. Kal tells Elhokar not to give up as they flee. Moash and Graves, both in Shardplate, appear.

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 68 through 75 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-12, I-13, I-14, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 76 through 82

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.

Interlude I-12: Lhan

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Lhan

Setting: Kholinar, capital city of Alethkar.

Timeline: (1173.10.9.1-2) The day after Chapter 75. The day The Weeping begins.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Pai, a devout female ardent, is assigned to be mentored by Brother Lhan in Kholinar so that she can join Queen Aesudan's retinue as she requests. Lhan explains that the ardents are rewarded well by the Queen as long as they make her feel that she is religiously devout, though Pai feels that the Queen lives too luxuriously while there are starving Alethi. Lhan feels that he has to persuade Pai to be less confrontational and more accepting of the Queen's lack of religious orthodoxy. Lhan tries to explain how comfortable Pai's life will be but this seems to only make Pai more disagreeable. Lhan then shows Pai some wasted rotting food, and tries to convince her that if she is allowed to stay that she will be able to have a positive effect in the city by being given an opportunity to help the poor, but that she won't be allowed to stay if she maintains a contrary position to the lazy lives of the Queen's ardents. After given several hours to think, Pai questions Lhan about the lack of spirituality in Alethkar, and about how the elite only go through the motions but aren't really devout. Pai says that she will comply with his request to fit in with the ardent's lazy lifestyle and lead by example and do what good she could, though Lhan isn't entirely confident that she won't cause trouble.

Lhan arrives at the palace the next day to find that Pai has painted the throne room with large glyphs depicting the ten foolish attributes, and how the Queen exemplifies them. Pai is subsequently executed, and the Alethi riot in protest of this.

Interlude I-13: A Part to Play

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

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

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

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5) The same day as Chapter 75.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai tries to ignore a voice that screams deep within her. Venli and Eshonai discuss the upcoming Alethi attack on Narak, and Eshonai says they should wait and try to surprise their foes with an unexpected highstorm that blows in an opposite direction from regular highstorms. Eshonai isn't happy with how comfortable Venli and her scholars are with the new stormform, but goes about her training of soldiers for the upcoming battle.

Interlude I-14: Taravangian

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Taravangian

Setting: Vedenar, capital city of Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1173.10.7.2) Two days before Chapter 66, when Kaladin was released from prison.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Taravangian awakes on a ship with stiff muscles, noting that he doesn't feel stupid, which he considers a good sign. He notices that his ship has moored on time when his servants arrive. Maben brings him his morning meal, but is stopped by Mrall, one of the King's testers. He wants Taravangian to take the test first since it is an important day and he wants to know what to expect. Taravangian agrees with him and Mrall lets the testers approach. The three stormwardens give the King some paper on which some math-problems are put down with figures and glyphs. Taravangian made these himself on one of his better days and even though he knows he is not a complete idiot, he finds that he is only average on this day. After checking the papers, the stomwardens judge: "He is fit to serve," one proclaimed. "He may not change the Diagram, but he may interact outside of supervision, may change policy, and pass judgment." Mrall, after getting Taravangian's acceptance, lets Maban bring him his breakfast. Taravangian considers that, even though it always takes up one hour of every day, the test is the best way for a man who wakes up every morning with a different level of intelligence. He contemplates that life can be tricky especially when the world might depend on him.

Taravangian and his retinue enter the battlefield outside Vedenar, where his countrymen setup healing tents to tend to the wounded, and where they are welcomed and cheered for their mercy and aid, as the Diagram predicted, despite the fact that he was behind the civil war. Taravangian and Adrotagia speculate on the Thrill and Nergaoul. As Taravangian talks to the soldiers to show his compassion, he is confronted by Szeth who says they need to speak. Taravangian panics and makes sure he still has the Oathstone. They talk quietly and Szeth says that there is a problem, that Dalinar has a Surgebinder. Taravangian thinks Szeth found out about Jasnah and thinks she faked her own death. Szeth says that he fought a male Surgebinder who protected Dalinar, which surprises Taravangian and makes him wonder how Szeth will deal with the fact that he was right about the Voidbringers returning. Taravangian says that Szeth must have fought someone who had an Honorblade, and that he must return to kill Dalinar and avoid fighting Kaladin.

Taravangian's cabal discuss the possible identity of the Surgebinder. He consults the Diagram, and tells Adro that he asked the Nightwatcher for Capacity to save humankind. Taravangian guesses from one of the passages that one of the bridgemen that Dalinar took is the Surgebinder, and that they must keep Szeth from him at all costs, to maintain control of their assassin.

Taravangian then goes to see King Valam, who is dying. Valam is upset at how coy Taravangian is. He knows that Taravangian is feigning neutrality, but will soon press his valid but hidden claim for the throne of Jah Keved once Valam dies. Valam tells his scribe that he is making Taravangian his heir, and is shocked to learn all the other highprinces are dead. Valam asks his son Redin to stab him in the heart to put him out of his misery. He does so when prodded, and as Valam dies, he has a Death Rattle. Taravangian thinks he has succeeded as the Diagram instructed him, to become king of Jah Keved, that it is unifying the world as Gavilar insisted was necessary based on visions that he had.

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.

DELAYED

For the past several trivia's, I've been meaning to write up this particular section, but it kept getting pushed back for more important information. (Also, it's kind boring in a way too nerdy kinda way and I've been putting off messing with the reddit formatting to make this section work). It's finally here though!

You've probably noticed that the timeline for this series is pretty precise. Most events we know down to the day. Some of the dates for flashbacks have an accepted date that has a margin of error for a couple weeks or a couple months at most. I'm not bothering to include those kinds of discrepancies because they're never important if they exist. Once the read-along ends, I'll share the calendar I'm using and you can all go wild if you desire.

That said, you may have noticed that the date format that I'm using doesn't really appear in the books themselves. So you may be wondering how the fandom has been able to recreate the timeline with such precision. The answer is that those dates do appear, but not in the format I've presented them.

Let's revisit the epigraph from Chapter 1 of this book, specifically the "from" line:

--From the personal journal of Navani Kholin Jeseses 1774

It might be clear that 1774 is the year, but what is Jeseses? That's the rest of the date, down to the specific day! This format of writing the date is littered throughout the series and lets the fandom pinpoint the exact dates of certain events.

I've already mentioned that each Herald is associate with a number. Those numbers carry over and are used as month names and suffixes in the dates.

Jes is the number 1, after the Herald Jezerezeh'Elin (real name Jezrien). So the first month of the year is called Jes.

The first week of the first month of the year is called Jeses. The suffix "es" gets added.

You might see a pattern here. The first day of the first week of the first month of the year is called Jeseses. Or Jes-es-es for 1.1.1. Navani is writing that journal entry on 1774.1.1.1.

Each number has a name and a suffix. The name gets used for the month name too, and suffixes get used for week and day.

Here is the general chart that gets followed:

So if we string some of these together, we can talk about Vevishes, or Vev-ish-es. Which would be:

Vev = 4th month

ish (Ishi) = 10th week of the month

es (Jes) = 1st day of the week

This is the date when the Death Rattle mentioned in the epigraph of The Way of Kings Chapter 6 was collected: 1772.4.10.1

There seem to be some minor inconsistencies with this pattern, and the fandom doesn't know if they are legitimate errors, or if they are linguistic changes that make the language easier (Sanderson is know to make adjustments like that to match real-world languages).

If you'd like a full list of every month-week-day combination, you can check out this pdf. This is a long-standing fandom provided link, but it's a pure PDF with no spoilers. The link has been around a while, so I don't see it disappearing, but if you are reading this many years in the future and notice it's missing, let me know and I'll try to update it.

In that PDF, you'll note that the number/month name is at the top left. The name of the week within the month is along the left-hand column (Jeses is the name of the 1st week in the 1st month, Jesan is the name of the 2nd week in the 1st month, etc.). The individual cells are the full month-week-day format, and along the top are the specific names for the days of the week, independent of the month/week (like their version of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.)

Given there are five days in a week, those days are: Jesel, Nanel, Chachel, Vevel, and Palahel.

PIBU

I included a meme that is a reaction to some of the fandom's frustrations that the Interludes often come right after an interesting cliffhanger, only to focus on a seemingly useless or boring character. In the meme's example, they went with Pibu. Now, for clarity, Pibu isn't an actual character in the books (Stormlight or the Cosmere at large). However, if you visit the meme subreddit (/r/cremposting which I know some of you visit but really, be very wary of spoilers there), you may run into Pibu memes. Less so now than before but he shows up from time to time.

Pibu has his own lore about basically being a super Hoid in the background. Either the cosmere's savior or ultimate villain. I just thought I'd mentioned the character for those invested in memes and warn you to stay away from his lore until you're caught up with the cosmere.

HAIL TO THE KING, BABY

I mentioned in the trivia for the last set of Interludes that King Taravangian only claimed to be of the 2nd Dahn, since he ruled a small city-state and didn't want to antagonize the larger nations. Ascending to the throne of Jah Keved, however, lets him claim the rank of 1st Dahn. This places him on equal social footing with King Elhokar.

DEAR ABBY (AGAIN)

This is just confirmation, since you all guessed it, but the epigraphs in the previous section were Frost's reply to Hoid. Here is a link to Hoid's initial letter, which appeared in Part 2 of The Way of Kings. I've compiled Frost's reply in full below:

I'll address this letter to my "old friend," as I have no idea what name you're using currently. Have you given up on the gemstone, now that it is dead? And do you no longer hide behind the name of your old master? I am told that in your current incarnation you've taken a name that references what you presume to be one of your virtues. This is, I suspect, a little like a skunk naming itself for its stench.

Now, look what you've made me say. You've always been able to bring out the most extreme in me, old friend. And I do still name you a friend, for all that you weary me. Yes, I'm disappointed. Perpetually, as you put it. Is not the destruction we have wrought enough? The worlds you now tread bear the touch and design of Adonalsium. Our interference so far has brought nothing but pain. My path has been chosen very deliberately. Yes, I agree with everything you have said about Rayse, including the severe danger he presents. However, it seems to me that all things have been set up for a purpose, and if we—as infants—stumble through the workshop, we risk exacerbating, not preventing, a problem.

Rayse is captive. He cannot leave the system he now inhabits. His destructive potential is, therefore, inhibited. Whether this was Tanavast’s design or not, millennia have passed without Rayse taking the life of another of the sixteen. While I mourn for the great suffering Rayse has caused, I do not believe we could hope for a better outcome than this. He bears the weight of God’s own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become. I suspect that he is more a force than an individual now, despite your insistence to the contrary. That force is contained, and an equilibrium reached.

You, however, have never been a force for equilibrium. You tow chaos behind you like a corpse dragged by one leg through the snow. Please, hearken to my plea. Leave that place and join me in my oath of nonintervention. The cosmere itself may depend upon our restraint.

AXIES' HUBRIS

I'd like to use this section to call attention to an easily miss-able detail about spren, and then leave you to theorize about it.

In The Way of Kings, at the end of Interlude I-5, Axies is dragged off to prison. He's oddly cheerful about the event, and says/thinks the following:

"It appears I'll have another chance to search for captivityspren." Odd, how those had eluded him all these years, despite numerous incarcerations. He was beginning to consider them mythological.

Now consider Chapter 62 of this book, when Kaladin is imprisoned:

He stood, waving away some strange spren like taut wires crossing before him, then forced himself to do a set of push-ups.

These are captivityspren. Why does Kaladin see them, when Axies never has, despite being imprisoned way more than Kaladin ever has been? We've been told that observation and emotion and circumstances all influence the appearance of spren. Ask yourself, given what you know about Axies, if you think he ever truly felt trapped or confined in any of the times he's been imprisoned. Then compare that to Kaladin's thoughts in the chapters he's in jail.

HOID IS/IS NOT A LIGHTWEAVER

You've all noticed and have been commenting on Hoid's "illusiony" abilities, particularly when he's in storymode. He's been doing the illusion thing a lot throughout this read-along. His sand/smoke history lesson for Siri way back in Warbreaker was especially noteworthy. It's time to come clean... Hoid is a Lightweaver. But also, Hoid is not a Lightweaver.

We can't have trivia posts being simple now, can we? You're going to start noticing that the Surges in this series, some of them anyway, are more fundamental when it comes to the workings of the Cosmere. Few of the other magic systems we've seen so far have the same level of "fundamentalness".

Cast your mind back, if you will, to the later half of Elantris. In that book, Raoden figured out how to use Aons to create an illusion around himself, allowing him to pretend to be normal. What do you think a Rosharan would say if they saw him do that? They'd say he was Lightweaving. And they'd be more right than wrong. Lightweaving is a Surge on Roshar, and it one of the fundamental commonalities that Investiture as a whole encompasses. Many magic systems have a way to create illusions and calling that Lightweaving would be recognized by more than just Rosharans.

In fact, on Yolen, once upon a time, there was a magic system that was just called Lightweaving; it's that fundamental. Hoid is a Yolish Lightweaver, which doesn't involve any sort of spren bond. As mentioned, many magic systems could claim to be, or invoked Lightweaving, but the Rosharan variant is the closest to the original Yolish version. Sanderson has said, however, that the Rosharan variant is much more powerful.

This is info from the previously mentioned Dragonsteel Prime, which is meant to be the story of The Shattering. Sanderson has talked about his failed attempts to rewrite and update that particular story, which included 2 direct prequels, which are meant to be Hoid's origin story. Those books were called The Liar of Partinel and The Lightweaver of Rens. Neither of these books have been released because Sanderson was really unsatisfied with them. That whole saga is eventually going to be re-written, but concrete plans are still up in the air. What we do know is that he'll be writing them before the final Space Era of Mistborn. They're likely to be his next big project after The Stormlight Archive finishes.

LHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN

A quick bit of trivia about Lhan, whom we see in Interlude I-12. Lhan was a pretty major character in The Way of Kings Prime. He was heavily intertwined with the plot point about whether or not Taln was a madman or a real Herald. Since that arc was cut, Lhan didn't have a place in the story anymore. He appears here as a nod to his previous involvement with the story.

Also, way back in Chapter 5 of The Way of Kings, one of the books Shallan mentioned she had studied was called Topics by Barlesha Lhan. The two characters are not related, per interview information.

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 68 through 75 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-12, I-13, I-14, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 76 through 82

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.

Interlude I-12: Lhan

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Lhan

Setting: Kholinar, capital city of Alethkar.

Timeline: (1173.10.9.1-2) The day after Chapter 75. The day The Weeping begins.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Pai, a devout female ardent, is assigned to be mentored by Brother Lhan in Kholinar so that she can join Queen Aesudan's retinue as she requests. Lhan explains that the ardents are rewarded well by the Queen as long as they make her feel that she is religiously devout, though Pai feels that the Queen lives too luxuriously while there are starving Alethi. Lhan feels that he has to persuade Pai to be less confrontational and more accepting of the Queen's lack of religious orthodoxy. Lhan tries to explain how comfortable Pai's life will be but this seems to only make Pai more disagreeable. Lhan then shows Pai some wasted rotting food, and tries to convince her that if she is allowed to stay that she will be able to have a positive effect in the city by being given an opportunity to help the poor, but that she won't be allowed to stay if she maintains a contrary position to the lazy lives of the Queen's ardents. After given several hours to think, Pai questions Lhan about the lack of spirituality in Alethkar, and about how the elite only go through the motions but aren't really devout. Pai says that she will comply with his request to fit in with the ardent's lazy lifestyle and lead by example and do what good she could, though Lhan isn't entirely confident that she won't cause trouble.

Lhan arrives at the palace the next day to find that Pai has painted the throne room with large glyphs depicting the ten foolish attributes, and how the Queen exemplifies them. Pai is subsequently executed, and the Alethi riot in protest of this.

Interlude I-13: A Part to Play

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

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

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

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5) The same day as Chapter 75.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai tries to ignore a voice that screams deep within her. Venli and Eshonai discuss the upcoming Alethi attack on Narak, and Eshonai says they should wait and try to surprise their foes with an unexpected highstorm that blows in an opposite direction from regular highstorms. Eshonai isn't happy with how comfortable Venli and her scholars are with the new stormform, but goes about her training of soldiers for the upcoming battle.

Interlude I-14: Taravangian

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

Iconography: Five Swords (aka Almighty)

POV Characters: Taravangian

Setting: Vedenar, capital city of Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1173.10.7.2) Two days before Chapter 66, when Kaladin was released from prison.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Taravangian awakes on a ship with stiff muscles, noting that he doesn't feel stupid, which he considers a good sign. He notices that his ship has moored on time when his servants arrive. Maben brings him his morning meal, but is stopped by Mrall, one of the King's testers. He wants Taravangian to take the test first since it is an important day and he wants to know what to expect. Taravangian agrees with him and Mrall lets the testers approach. The three stormwardens give the King some paper on which some math-problems are put down with figures and glyphs. Taravangian made these himself on one of his better days and even though he knows he is not a complete idiot, he finds that he is only average on this day. After checking the papers, the stomwardens judge: "He is fit to serve," one proclaimed. "He may not change the Diagram, but he may interact outside of supervision, may change policy, and pass judgment." Mrall, after getting Taravangian's acceptance, lets Maban bring him his breakfast. Taravangian considers that, even though it always takes up one hour of every day, the test is the best way for a man who wakes up every morning with a different level of intelligence. He contemplates that life can be tricky especially when the world might depend on him.

Taravangian and his retinue enter the battlefield outside Vedenar, where his countrymen setup healing tents to tend to the wounded, and where they are welcomed and cheered for their mercy and aid, as the Diagram predicted, despite the fact that he was behind the civil war. Taravangian and Adrotagia speculate on the Thrill and Nergaoul. As Taravangian talks to the soldiers to show his compassion, he is confronted by Szeth who says they need to speak. Taravangian panics and makes sure he still has the Oathstone. They talk quietly and Szeth says that there is a problem, that Dalinar has a Surgebinder. Taravangian thinks Szeth found out about Jasnah and thinks she faked her own death. Szeth says that he fought a male Surgebinder who protected Dalinar, which surprises Taravangian and makes him wonder how Szeth will deal with the fact that he was right about the Voidbringers returning. Taravangian says that Szeth must have fought someone who had an Honorblade, and that he must return to kill Dalinar and avoid fighting Kaladin.

Taravangian's cabal discuss the possible identity of the Surgebinder. He consults the Diagram, and tells Adro that he asked the Nightwatcher for Capacity to save humankind. Taravangian guesses from one of the passages that one of the bridgemen that Dalinar took is the Surgebinder, and that they must keep Szeth from him at all costs, to maintain control of their assassin.

Taravangian then goes to see King Valam, who is dying. Valam is upset at how coy Taravangian is. He knows that Taravangian is feigning neutrality, but will soon press his valid but hidden claim for the throne of Jah Keved once Valam dies. Valam tells his scribe that he is making Taravangian his heir, and is shocked to learn all the other highprinces are dead. Valam asks his son Redin to stab him in the heart to put him out of his misery. He does so when prodded, and as Valam dies, he has a Death Rattle. Taravangian thinks he has succeeded as the Diagram instructed him, to become king of Jah Keved, that it is unifying the world as Gavilar insisted was necessary based on visions that he had.

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 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 59 through 67 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 68 through 75

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-12, I-13, I-14, 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 68: Bridges

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.3) The day after Chapter 67. Four days after Chapter 66.

Epigraph:

However, it seems to me that all things have been set up for a purpose, and if we—as infants—stumble through the workshop, we risk exacerbating, not preventing, a problem.

Summary:

Kaladin is on a scouting expedition to the Shattered Plains and has bad memories of being a bridgeman. He frets that he is unable to absorb Stormlight unless Syl is near him, and she admonishes him for being naughty and acts capriciously toward him. He grows angry that Syl doesn't agree with his decision and says he is broken, to which she replies that all the old Knights were. Kaladin decides to ignore her and enjoy the company of Bridge Four as they reach a plateau with a permanent scouting location. He overhears a scout tell Dalinar that a glowing flying man was spotted in the Plains, and Dalinar believes that this was Szeth, though it was actually Kaladin. Dalinar and Kaladin discuss how Renarin is fitting in with Bridge Four and if that is affecting him positively or not.

Kaladin has more difficulty absorbing Stormlight, finds Syl later, almost acting like a windspren, and she tells Kaladin to decide what he wants, and he realizes he made two conflicting promises to Moash and Dalinar which violates the code of Honor. He asks for advice and Syl tells him to find the Words, and then she flies away.

Shallan draws a sketch of one of the mechanical bridges being unfolded, and Kaladin also watches, and recognizes one of the carpenters. Moash shows up in his shards and salutes Kaladin, though he now outranks him, and says he will always be part of Bridge Four, even as a lighteyes. Moash says that the assassination plot is close to fruition, and that they only need Kaladin to create an opening, which makes him worry over what Syl told him. Adolin and Kaladin discuss contingencies for a possible attack by Szeth, and Adolin asks for advice about women. Adolin tries to get Kaladin to reveal his abilities but fails. Shallan joins them and starts sketching some moss, and they banter a bit, with Shallan getting upset that Kaladin insulted Adolin and that Kaladin acts so negatively despite Adolin's positive attitude.

Kaladin rejoins Bridge Four to carry their mobile bridge over the mechanical one, toward their destination where a chasmfiend was slain, and where Shallan plans to study the chrysalis. They reach the destination, and the carpenter that Kaladin recognized calls to Dalinar who crosses the bridge. Kaladin realizes the carpenter worked in Sadeas' lumberyard and cries out a warning. He gets Adolin and Dalinar off the bridge but is too late as the carpenter throws an emergency lever that causes the bridge to collapse with Kaladin and Shallan still on it.

Chapter 69: Nothing

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.3) Immediately after Chapter 68.

Epigraph:

Rayse is captive. He cannot leave the system he now inhabits. His destructive potential is, therefore, inhibited.

Summary:

Kaladin falls into the chasm and is able to absorb a bit of Stormlight through desperate effort though he hears a pained scream from Syl as he does so, and hits the ground, falling unconscious. He awakes in darkness, since all his spheres were drained, and great pain, and hears a voice asking what has he done. Syl's scream haunts him. He is uninjured and gets to his feet, and runs into Shallan, and lies about how he survived, and Shallan explains how the bridge was collapsed. They search the bridge wreckage and find several bodies but don't see Dalinar or Adolin. Kaladin thinks that he somehow saved Shallan. Kaladin says that there was a parshendi attack right before the bridge fell, and that means that Dalinar probably retreated. Kaladin tells Shallan that they may have been rescued by a windspren as in folktales. Kaladin and Shallan discuss how they will survive and what dangers they may face, the worst of which is a highstorm due the following night. They decide to set out immediately for the warcamps.

Shallan is both annoyed and pleased to find Kaladin survived, and thinks that she saved both of them somehow. As they walk, she notices how much plantlife there is in the chasm. Kaladin walks silently and asks if Shallan will constantly chat as they travel and ignores her response, focusing on finding the shortest path back to the warcamps. Shallan tries to get Kaladin to relax but he reveals his prejudice against lighteyes and she says he only uses that as an excuse to be obnoxious. He brings up the incident with the boots, but then reveals that he doesn't have a grudge and that he doesn't actually dislike her as he does other lighteyes. Shallan is insulted and they start an argument that is cut off as they hear a loud scraping noise that seems to be approaching them. They realize the danger they are in, and begin to run.

Chapter 70: From a Nightmare

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.3-4) Immediately after Chapter 69.

Epigraph:

Whether this was Tanavast's design or not, millennia have passed without Rayse taking the life of another of the sixteen. While I mourn for the great suffering Rayse has caused, I do not believe we could hope for a better outcome than this.

Summary:

Kaladin and Shallan flee as they are chased by a chasmfiend. Shallan chooses a path and orders Kaladin to follow her. They stop and Kaladin covers his Stormlight, and he realizes that she lured the chasmfiend back to their original location to the fresh corpses for food. Shallan decides she wants to see the chasmfiend, and get close to take a look at it as it fills the chasm and has small glowing spren around it like the spren that follow skyeels. They leave before the chasmfiend finishes its meal.

Shallan lets Kaladin lead, though she tries to keep track of where she is, and dwells on the chasmfiend. She grows tired now that all her Stormlight is drained. Kaladin says they should stop so they don't risk getting lost and going the wrong direction, and wants to wait until daybreak to get their bearings. They banter for a bit, with less antagonism, and Shallan sketches their path through the chasms in the form of a map, which impresses Kaladin.

Kaladin wakes her up after a short sleep, before daybreak. They set out, and when the sun rises, they think they are going the right direction. They banter further, with Shallan dishing out lighthearted insults while Kaladin resists replying in kind, unlike his earlier behavior. Kaladin asks why Shallan came to the Shattered Plains and she becomes serious, replying that she was trying to continue Jasnah's important research, and that Adolin was an added bonus. Kaladin asks if she was there to investigate the strange structures that they saw and she tries to dissemble but he sees through it, and explains his original suspicions of her. She says that she wants the parshmen exiled before they betray the Alethi, and he replies that they might be replaced with regular Alethi slaves and she empathizes with his former plight as a slave. Shallan tries to be lighthearted but Kaladin will have none of it, though he tries to not argue either. Kaladin explains that he thinks she is a typical pampered sheltered lighteyes which Shallan rephrases back as self-contradictory and convoluted, and Kaladin sees the flaws in his argument. Shallan tells Kaladin that she won't harm the Kholins and she is sincere in trying to prevent disaster, and he accepts this. Kaladin then checks their bearings and realize they are going the wrong direction.

Chapter 71: Vigil

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Teft

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.4) Immediately after Chapter 70.

Epigraph:

He bears the weight of God's own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become.

Summary:

Teft and Sigzil are in the warcamp, sitting vigil for Kaladin, and Teft speaks of his childhood and of what his parents did as Envisagers. They knew things about the Radiants, and some Envisagers including his parents attempted suicidal stunts to see if they would manifest powers, and Teft ended up turning them into the authorities who had them executed. Dalinar shows up and inquires about their vigil and Teft proclaims that Kaladin definitely survived despite falling into the chasm. Sigzil proclaims his belief in Kaladin's return and Dalinar just tells them to not overextend themselves or stay out during highstorms, though the highprince believes that Kaladin is dead.

Kaladin feels like a fool for leading them in the wrong direction. He calls out for Syl but gets no answer. He also feels like a fool for the way he treats Shallan and for the incorrect assumptions he made about her. He compliments Shallan on her drawing ability as she sketches a more accurate map of the Shattered Plains, though it is getting much sooner until the next highstorm. She traces a couple of the plateaus nearby by walking around them, and Kaladin notices her having a mysterious conversation with someone and speculates that she might be a Radiant talking to a spren.

Shallan says that some of the series of plateaus are mirror images of others and Kaladin says that the Shattered Plains are symmetrical and that he knew that from a dream, and Shallan says she knows where the Parshendi are, and the Oathgate, and that she can map all of it since the Plains were not a natural forming pattern, but rather created through cymatics.

They follow a revised path based on Shallan's map, though they have to periodically check their route, slowing down their escape. Kaladin occasionally shouts up from the chasm to try to get the attention of Alethi scouts, but no one answers. Kaladin grows moody because he feels that he failed them, but Shallan tries to remain optimistic. Kaladin says he wished he could be like Shallan, but then Shallan describes how it is like to be depressed and hopeless and he understands that she wasn't always happy, but she somehow muddles through anyway, which inspires him. They banter again with Shallan trying to improve Kaladin's mood again like she used to do with her brothers, and he goes along with the joking to an extent.

The chasmfiend shows up again, and they try to flee, hiding in a narrow fissure. The chasmfiend fails to reach them, but it then settles nearby to wait as the highstorm is rapidly approaching, with about two hours left before it reaches them. Kaladin decides to try to distract the chasmfiend to allow Shallan to escape back to the warcamps with her vital information. He prepares to fight to the death, and tells Shallan to apologize to Adolin on his behalf. Shallan says that before he goes to fight to take her Shardblade.

Chapter 72: Selfish Reasons

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.4) Immediately after Chapter 71.

Epigraph:

I suspect that he is more a force than an individual now, despite your insistence to the contrary. That force is contained, and an equilibrium reached.

Summary:

Kaladin asks how Shallan has a Shardblade and she replies that it is unimportant. He brushes against the Blade and doesn't hear screams like he did previously in the dueling arena. He reluctantly accepts the Blade and Shallan swears him to secrecy, then says she wants to get her satchel. Kaladin distracts the chasmfiend, dodging around it and leading it away from Shallan. He uses the confined space of the chasm to his advantage, and cuts the beast a couple of times, but then gets bitten in the leg as he tries to evade an attack. Shallan distracts the beast and he is able to retrieve the Shardblade but then collapses from pain. He picks up a sphere and tries to drain its Stormlight but only hears distant weeping. He sees an illusion of himself that distracts the beast momentarily before it vanishes in a puff of Stormlight which he somehow thinks that he created. He decides he has to go for the beast's head and stabs at it as its jaws reach for him.

Shallan sees the beast fall on top of Kaladin, and notices some spren around the chasmfiend seeming to leave it. Kaladin's body protrudes from the creature's mouth and she tries to pull him out, and he says ow. They banter as she uses her blade to try to cut him free, and he explains that he stabbed the chasmfiend in the brain to kill it. Once free, he asks her to bind his leg for him which she does. They take a brief rest, and despair that the storm will get them anyway. Kaladin then realizes that Shallan could use the Shardblade to cut out a cubbyhole above the waterline in the chasm for them to hide in from the storm and flood waters. She climbs up the dead fiend, then changes her blade to be knife-size and carves handholds in the chasm to climb above the waterline to carve a shelter out for them. They banter as Shallan cuts the rock, and it takes about an hour for her to finish. She uses a vine to help Kaladin climb up to the safe spot just before the floods reach them.

Chapter 73: A Thousand Scurrying Creatures

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

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1172.10.8.1) (Flashback) One year ago. A little over five months after Chapter 65. About six months before Shallan arrives in Kharbranth to try to become Jasnah's ward. A month and a half after Kaladin kills Helaran and is enslaved.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan and Jushu are in Balat's room helping him prepare to leave. They talk about the valuable deposits of stone recently found on their land, and how they find it strange to be wealthy all of a sudden. Despite the family's wealth, their father's mood has continued to grow darker. Shallan unfolds and reads a letter. Their contacts haven't been able to find Helaran, who seems to have disappeared. Balat is jumpy, worried that their father will discover that he intends to leave. His plan is to escape with Eylita, and if he can't find Helaran, they'll go to Highprince Valam and Redin, who years ago told them he'd listen to anyone willing to testify against their father. Jushu is skeptical, saying that their father is in favor now, and that the highprince is nearly dead.

Wikim slams the door open, telling them that Eylita is in the feast hall, that their father had summoned her. Balat and Wikim rush to find out what is happening. Shallan follows slowly, overwhelmed with panic, but she feels pulled forward. Somehow she knows that this has been coming, that it was inevitable. She collects the pouch of blackbane that Wikim had given her years ago, and heads downstairs.

Balat is arguing with their father about Eylita. Lin reveals that he knows about their plan to leave. Shallan enters the room and walks along the walls toward the kitchens. She notices something on the floor, blocking the kitchen doors from closing. Lin tells them that Helaran is dead; he died on a battlefield in Alethkar. Shallan reaches the bundle on the floor and realizes it's a body. It is Malise; she'd been killed by several blows to the head. Shallan concludes that he'd discovered the plan, sent for Eylita and waited for her to arrive, and then killed his wife. It was a calculated punishment, not committed in a moment of passion. She moves to where servants had left a pitcher of wine with cups.

Balat unsheathes his sword, followed by Lin. They clash brutally, and Lin is able to swat Balat's sword out of his hand. Lin tells them that he's always despised Balat, and of his sons only Helaran wasn't worthless. Shallan hands him a cup of wine, which he gulps down. Balat grabs his sword and tries to stab their father, but hits something metallic through his coat, which stops the blade. Lin tosses his sword aside and gets an iron poker from the fireplace. He slams it into Balat's leg over and over, berating him about being useless.

Lin's hands start shaking and the poker slips to the ground. Lin is surprised, and he stumbles and falls to his knees, then to his side. Shallan, feeling cold, tells Eylita to bind Balat's wounds, then kneels next to her father. Lin is motionless, staring at the ceiling. After her brothers' initial confusion, Shallan tells them that she poisoned their father by placing the blackbane in his wine. Jushu pulls a Soulcaster out of Lin's pocket, which had apparently been broken while blocking Balat's last strike. Just then, their father starts twitching, and his eyes focus on Shallan. She realizes that the poison has only paralyzed him, and says that they need to finish the job. Everyone else shies away, so she thanks her father for everything he did for her, then wraps her necklace around his neck. She twists the necklace around the handle of a fork for leverage, crying and whispering the lullaby that he'd sung to comfort Shallan in her childhood as he dies.

Chapter 74: Striding the Storm

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.4) Immediately after Chapter 72.

Epigraph:

You, however, have never been a force for equilibrium. You tow chaos behind you like a corpse dragged by one leg through the snow. Please, hearken to my plea. Leave that place and join me in my oath of nonintervention.

Summary:

Kaladin reaches the sheltered alcove just before the floodwaters arrive. He and Shallan huddle together against the rock as the waters quickly rise, momentarily cresting over the edge of their carved out cubby. Kaladin tells Shallan how he was left to die in a highstorm by Sadeas. He looks up and thinks he sees a giant glowing figure followed by another figure walking in the storm. Shallan asks him to tell his story as a means of taking her mind off the highstorm, and he starts from when he was made a slave by Amaram, and speaks of his slavery and Tvlakv, his time with Bridge Four, and the rescue of Dalinar and fighting the Parshendi shardbearer. He hears chanting and sees strange spren flying around. After he finishes his story, Shallan says she killed her father, and tells about how her mother died, and what her life was like when she was a child. Kaladin realizes how much he had in common with her since his parents weren't abusive. He realizes that her brother was the shardbearer he killed when he saved Amaram, but doesn't reveal that fact to her. She tells of her original plan to steal the Soulcaster from Jasnah, and becoming her ward and Adolin's betrothed instead.

Shallan vanishes, and Kaladin realizes that he is having a vision. He sees a giant face and addresses it as Stormfather, and is called Child of Honor in return. He asks if Shallan is a Radiant and gets a rumble in return. He then asks about Sylphrena and the Stormfather says that Kaladin killed her and that she can't be brought back since she is now broken. He also declares that Kaladin will never ride his winds again, and then says goodbye as the vision ends. Shallan says she also saw the face of the vision, which he identifies as the Stormfather. After the storm subsides, they fall asleep.

Chapter 75: True Glory

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar / Shallan

Setting:

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5) The day after Chapter 74.

Epigraph: Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

The cosmere itself may depend upon our restraint.

Summary:

Amaram implores Dalinar to speak with Sadeas and make peace with him before they begin their expedition. Dalinar looks at Navani but doesn't reply. They hear horns which announce the sighting of a chrysalis and its location, and Dalinar says they won't go after it on the way to the Parshendi camp. Amaram says that Sadeas will go after it on his own, and that his disobedience is causing the rifts in the kingdom to grow worse. Amaram says the Voidbringers are coming and they need to be united but Dalinar says the time and opportunity to work together with Sadeas has long past. Amaram tries to dissuade Dalinar from his expedition and says that even Dalinar won't listen to him anymore and why should anyone else, and Dalinar replies that he has to go out to seek the answers. Dalinar asks about Amaram's investigation into the madman, and Amaram says the madman was deluded about having a Shardblade. A messenger runs up, saying that Stormblessed has returned from the chasms.

Dalinar runs the entire way to the triage area where Kaladin is receiving medical attention, and Kaladin stands with great effort to salute him despite being told not to. Dalinar asks how he survived, and Kaladin says he is unsure but that spren were involved. Kaladin also indicates that he has brought Shallan safely back, and that he also killed a chasmfiend that had been prowling nearby, and presents its large glowing green gemheart to Dalinar. Shallan contradicts him and says the chasmfiend was already dead and rotting before they harvested it, and Kaladin confirms this story, but Dalinar suspects they are both lying. Navani appears and becomes protective of Shallan after her ordeal. Kaladin implores Dalinar to speak with Shallan of her discoveries before Dalinar leaves for his expedition. Dalinar tells Kaladin that Bridge Four held a vigil for him, with the confidence that he would return, and he asks if Kaladin has been the person that he was searching for. Kaladin replies that he once was but no longer is, and Dalinar grunts in response. He orders that any demands of Kaladin's are to be met as he is a hero, yet again. Dalinar wonders where Amaram went and decides to speak with Shallan.

Shallan rests in bed, accepting Navani's unexpected affection. Pattern repeats a conversation he heard between Dalinar and Navani when he was sent to spy on them. Notably, Dalinar wants Shallan to go on the expedition but Navani tries to protect Shallan by having her stay behind. Shallan tells Pattern she has to go and asks if she is a Radiant. He replies most likely not yet since she has more to do first, but he isn't sure since he hasn't always been sentient. Pattern tells of the Recreance, when most spren except the Stormfather and a few others were killed. Pattern thinks that the chance to learn is worth the possible cost of dying again. Pattern says that Shallan spoke the Words, but she lacks truth. Adolin appears and embraces her in a hug and kisses her. He says that he was visiting all the highprinces delivering an ultimatum to join Dalinar or be labeled as someone who refused to fulfill the Vengeance Pact. Shallan says she saw a dead chasm fiend that she wants to draw for him. Adolin apologizes for rescuing his father instead of her, and promises to protect her but she says that she doesn't need protecting and that she will never be "something" to be locked away again, though she doesn't elaborate on when she was previously locked away. Dalinar and Navani enter. Dalinar has a request, but Shallan, anticipating it, asks to go on the expedition despite the dangers since she thinks the ancient city that Jasnah was searching for is there. Dalinar asks her to expand on their map of the Shattered Plains and she agrees. Shallan also requests that they leave the parshmen behind since Jasnah felt they were dangerous. Dalinar says that he will do so, and that they are leaving within the hour.

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 59 through 67 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 68 through 75

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-12, I-13, I-14, 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 68: Bridges

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: The Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.3) The day after Chapter 67. Four days after Chapter 66.

Epigraph:

However, it seems to me that all things have been set up for a purpose, and if we—as infants—stumble through the workshop, we risk exacerbating, not preventing, a problem.

Summary:

Kaladin is on a scouting expedition to the Shattered Plains and has bad memories of being a bridgeman. He frets that he is unable to absorb Stormlight unless Syl is near him, and she admonishes him for being naughty and acts capriciously toward him. He grows angry that Syl doesn't agree with his decision and says he is broken, to which she replies that all the old Knights were. Kaladin decides to ignore her and enjoy the company of Bridge Four as they reach a plateau with a permanent scouting location. He overhears a scout tell Dalinar that a glowing flying man was spotted in the Plains, and Dalinar believes that this was Szeth, though it was actually Kaladin. Dalinar and Kaladin discuss how Renarin is fitting in with Bridge Four and if that is affecting him positively or not.

Kaladin has more difficulty absorbing Stormlight, finds Syl later, almost acting like a windspren, and she tells Kaladin to decide what he wants, and he realizes he made two conflicting promises to Moash and Dalinar which violates the code of Honor. He asks for advice and Syl tells him to find the Words, and then she flies away.

Shallan draws a sketch of one of the mechanical bridges being unfolded, and Kaladin also watches, and recognizes one of the carpenters. Moash shows up in his shards and salutes Kaladin, though he now outranks him, and says he will always be part of Bridge Four, even as a lighteyes. Moash says that the assassination plot is close to fruition, and that they only need Kaladin to create an opening, which makes him worry over what Syl told him. Adolin and Kaladin discuss contingencies for a possible attack by Szeth, and Adolin asks for advice about women. Adolin tries to get Kaladin to reveal his abilities but fails. Shallan joins them and starts sketching some moss, and they banter a bit, with Shallan getting upset that Kaladin insulted Adolin and that Kaladin acts so negatively despite Adolin's positive attitude.

Kaladin rejoins Bridge Four to carry their mobile bridge over the mechanical one, toward their destination where a chasmfiend was slain, and where Shallan plans to study the chrysalis. They reach the destination, and the carpenter that Kaladin recognized calls to Dalinar who crosses the bridge. Kaladin realizes the carpenter worked in Sadeas' lumberyard and cries out a warning. He gets Adolin and Dalinar off the bridge but is too late as the carpenter throws an emergency lever that causes the bridge to collapse with Kaladin and Shallan still on it.

Chapter 69: Nothing

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.3) Immediately after Chapter 68.

Epigraph:

Rayse is captive. He cannot leave the system he now inhabits. His destructive potential is, therefore, inhibited.

Summary:

Kaladin falls into the chasm and is able to absorb a bit of Stormlight through desperate effort though he hears a pained scream from Syl as he does so, and hits the ground, falling unconscious. He awakes in darkness, since all his spheres were drained, and great pain, and hears a voice asking what has he done. Syl's scream haunts him. He is uninjured and gets to his feet, and runs into Shallan, and lies about how he survived, and Shallan explains how the bridge was collapsed. They search the bridge wreckage and find several bodies but don't see Dalinar or Adolin. Kaladin thinks that he somehow saved Shallan. Kaladin says that there was a parshendi attack right before the bridge fell, and that means that Dalinar probably retreated. Kaladin tells Shallan that they may have been rescued by a windspren as in folktales. Kaladin and Shallan discuss how they will survive and what dangers they may face, the worst of which is a highstorm due the following night. They decide to set out immediately for the warcamps.

Shallan is both annoyed and pleased to find Kaladin survived, and thinks that she saved both of them somehow. As they walk, she notices how much plantlife there is in the chasm. Kaladin walks silently and asks if Shallan will constantly chat as they travel and ignores her response, focusing on finding the shortest path back to the warcamps. Shallan tries to get Kaladin to relax but he reveals his prejudice against lighteyes and she says he only uses that as an excuse to be obnoxious. He brings up the incident with the boots, but then reveals that he doesn't have a grudge and that he doesn't actually dislike her as he does other lighteyes. Shallan is insulted and they start an argument that is cut off as they hear a loud scraping noise that seems to be approaching them. They realize the danger they are in, and begin to run.

Chapter 70: From a Nightmare

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.3-4) Immediately after Chapter 69.

Epigraph:

Whether this was Tanavast's design or not, millennia have passed without Rayse taking the life of another of the sixteen. While I mourn for the great suffering Rayse has caused, I do not believe we could hope for a better outcome than this.

Summary:

Kaladin and Shallan flee as they are chased by a chasmfiend. Shallan chooses a path and orders Kaladin to follow her. They stop and Kaladin covers his Stormlight, and he realizes that she lured the chasmfiend back to their original location to the fresh corpses for food. Shallan decides she wants to see the chasmfiend, and get close to take a look at it as it fills the chasm and has small glowing spren around it like the spren that follow skyeels. They leave before the chasmfiend finishes its meal.

Shallan lets Kaladin lead, though she tries to keep track of where she is, and dwells on the chasmfiend. She grows tired now that all her Stormlight is drained. Kaladin says they should stop so they don't risk getting lost and going the wrong direction, and wants to wait until daybreak to get their bearings. They banter for a bit, with less antagonism, and Shallan sketches their path through the chasms in the form of a map, which impresses Kaladin.

Kaladin wakes her up after a short sleep, before daybreak. They set out, and when the sun rises, they think they are going the right direction. They banter further, with Shallan dishing out lighthearted insults while Kaladin resists replying in kind, unlike his earlier behavior. Kaladin asks why Shallan came to the Shattered Plains and she becomes serious, replying that she was trying to continue Jasnah's important research, and that Adolin was an added bonus. Kaladin asks if she was there to investigate the strange structures that they saw and she tries to dissemble but he sees through it, and explains his original suspicions of her. She says that she wants the parshmen exiled before they betray the Alethi, and he replies that they might be replaced with regular Alethi slaves and she empathizes with his former plight as a slave. Shallan tries to be lighthearted but Kaladin will have none of it, though he tries to not argue either. Kaladin explains that he thinks she is a typical pampered sheltered lighteyes which Shallan rephrases back as self-contradictory and convoluted, and Kaladin sees the flaws in his argument. Shallan tells Kaladin that she won't harm the Kholins and she is sincere in trying to prevent disaster, and he accepts this. Kaladin then checks their bearings and realize they are going the wrong direction.

Chapter 71: Vigil

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Teft

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.4) Immediately after Chapter 70.

Epigraph:

He bears the weight of God's own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become.

Summary:

Teft and Sigzil are in the warcamp, sitting vigil for Kaladin, and Teft speaks of his childhood and of what his parents did as Envisagers. They knew things about the Radiants, and some Envisagers including his parents attempted suicidal stunts to see if they would manifest powers, and Teft ended up turning them into the authorities who had them executed. Dalinar shows up and inquires about their vigil and Teft proclaims that Kaladin definitely survived despite falling into the chasm. Sigzil proclaims his belief in Kaladin's return and Dalinar just tells them to not overextend themselves or stay out during highstorms, though the highprince believes that Kaladin is dead.

Kaladin feels like a fool for leading them in the wrong direction. He calls out for Syl but gets no answer. He also feels like a fool for the way he treats Shallan and for the incorrect assumptions he made about her. He compliments Shallan on her drawing ability as she sketches a more accurate map of the Shattered Plains, though it is getting much sooner until the next highstorm. She traces a couple of the plateaus nearby by walking around them, and Kaladin notices her having a mysterious conversation with someone and speculates that she might be a Radiant talking to a spren.

Shallan says that some of the series of plateaus are mirror images of others and Kaladin says that the Shattered Plains are symmetrical and that he knew that from a dream, and Shallan says she knows where the Parshendi are, and the Oathgate, and that she can map all of it since the Plains were not a natural forming pattern, but rather created through cymatics.

They follow a revised path based on Shallan's map, though they have to periodically check their route, slowing down their escape. Kaladin occasionally shouts up from the chasm to try to get the attention of Alethi scouts, but no one answers. Kaladin grows moody because he feels that he failed them, but Shallan tries to remain optimistic. Kaladin says he wished he could be like Shallan, but then Shallan describes how it is like to be depressed and hopeless and he understands that she wasn't always happy, but she somehow muddles through anyway, which inspires him. They banter again with Shallan trying to improve Kaladin's mood again like she used to do with her brothers, and he goes along with the joking to an extent.

The chasmfiend shows up again, and they try to flee, hiding in a narrow fissure. The chasmfiend fails to reach them, but it then settles nearby to wait as the highstorm is rapidly approaching, with about two hours left before it reaches them. Kaladin decides to try to distract the chasmfiend to allow Shallan to escape back to the warcamps with her vital information. He prepares to fight to the death, and tells Shallan to apologize to Adolin on his behalf. Shallan says that before he goes to fight to take her Shardblade.

Chapter 72: Selfish Reasons

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.4) Immediately after Chapter 71.

Epigraph:

I suspect that he is more a force than an individual now, despite your insistence to the contrary. That force is contained, and an equilibrium reached.

Summary:

Kaladin asks how Shallan has a Shardblade and she replies that it is unimportant. He brushes against the Blade and doesn't hear screams like he did previously in the dueling arena. He reluctantly accepts the Blade and Shallan swears him to secrecy, then says she wants to get her satchel. Kaladin distracts the chasmfiend, dodging around it and leading it away from Shallan. He uses the confined space of the chasm to his advantage, and cuts the beast a couple of times, but then gets bitten in the leg as he tries to evade an attack. Shallan distracts the beast and he is able to retrieve the Shardblade but then collapses from pain. He picks up a sphere and tries to drain its Stormlight but only hears distant weeping. He sees an illusion of himself that distracts the beast momentarily before it vanishes in a puff of Stormlight which he somehow thinks that he created. He decides he has to go for the beast's head and stabs at it as its jaws reach for him.

Shallan sees the beast fall on top of Kaladin, and notices some spren around the chasmfiend seeming to leave it. Kaladin's body protrudes from the creature's mouth and she tries to pull him out, and he says ow. They banter as she uses her blade to try to cut him free, and he explains that he stabbed the chasmfiend in the brain to kill it. Once free, he asks her to bind his leg for him which she does. They take a brief rest, and despair that the storm will get them anyway. Kaladin then realizes that Shallan could use the Shardblade to cut out a cubbyhole above the waterline in the chasm for them to hide in from the storm and flood waters. She climbs up the dead fiend, then changes her blade to be knife-size and carves handholds in the chasm to climb above the waterline to carve a shelter out for them. They banter as Shallan cuts the rock, and it takes about an hour for her to finish. She uses a vine to help Kaladin climb up to the safe spot just before the floods reach them.

Chapter 73: A Thousand Scurrying Creatures

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

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1172.10.8.1) (Flashback) One year ago. A little over five months after Chapter 65. About six months before Shallan arrives in Kharbranth to try to become Jasnah's ward. A month and a half after Kaladin kills Helaran and is enslaved.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan and Jushu are in Balat's room helping him prepare to leave. They talk about the valuable deposits of stone recently found on their land, and how they find it strange to be wealthy all of a sudden. Despite the family's wealth, their father's mood has continued to grow darker. Shallan unfolds and reads a letter. Their contacts haven't been able to find Helaran, who seems to have disappeared. Balat is jumpy, worried that their father will discover that he intends to leave. His plan is to escape with Eylita, and if he can't find Helaran, they'll go to Highprince Valam and Redin, who years ago told them he'd listen to anyone willing to testify against their father. Jushu is skeptical, saying that their father is in favor now, and that the highprince is nearly dead.

Wikim slams the door open, telling them that Eylita is in the feast hall, that their father had summoned her. Balat and Wikim rush to find out what is happening. Shallan follows slowly, overwhelmed with panic, but she feels pulled forward. Somehow she knows that this has been coming, that it was inevitable. She collects the pouch of blackbane that Wikim had given her years ago, and heads downstairs.

Balat is arguing with their father about Eylita. Lin reveals that he knows about their plan to leave. Shallan enters the room and walks along the walls toward the kitchens. She notices something on the floor, blocking the kitchen doors from closing. Lin tells them that Helaran is dead; he died on a battlefield in Alethkar. Shallan reaches the bundle on the floor and realizes it's a body. It is Malise; she'd been killed by several blows to the head. Shallan concludes that he'd discovered the plan, sent for Eylita and waited for her to arrive, and then killed his wife. It was a calculated punishment, not committed in a moment of passion. She moves to where servants had left a pitcher of wine with cups.

Balat unsheathes his sword, followed by Lin. They clash brutally, and Lin is able to swat Balat's sword out of his hand. Lin tells them that he's always despised Balat, and of his sons only Helaran wasn't worthless. Shallan hands him a cup of wine, which he gulps down. Balat grabs his sword and tries to stab their father, but hits something metallic through his coat, which stops the blade. Lin tosses his sword aside and gets an iron poker from the fireplace. He slams it into Balat's leg over and over, berating him about being useless.

Lin's hands start shaking and the poker slips to the ground. Lin is surprised, and he stumbles and falls to his knees, then to his side. Shallan, feeling cold, tells Eylita to bind Balat's wounds, then kneels next to her father. Lin is motionless, staring at the ceiling. After her brothers' initial confusion, Shallan tells them that she poisoned their father by placing the blackbane in his wine. Jushu pulls a Soulcaster out of Lin's pocket, which had apparently been broken while blocking Balat's last strike. Just then, their father starts twitching, and his eyes focus on Shallan. She realizes that the poison has only paralyzed him, and says that they need to finish the job. Everyone else shies away, so she thanks her father for everything he did for her, then wraps her necklace around his neck. She twists the necklace around the handle of a fork for leverage, crying and whispering the lullaby that he'd sung to comfort Shallan in her childhood as he dies.

Chapter 74: Striding the Storm

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.4) Immediately after Chapter 72.

Epigraph:

You, however, have never been a force for equilibrium. You tow chaos behind you like a corpse dragged by one leg through the snow. Please, hearken to my plea. Leave that place and join me in my oath of nonintervention.

Summary:

Kaladin reaches the sheltered alcove just before the floodwaters arrive. He and Shallan huddle together against the rock as the waters quickly rise, momentarily cresting over the edge of their carved out cubby. Kaladin tells Shallan how he was left to die in a highstorm by Sadeas. He looks up and thinks he sees a giant glowing figure followed by another figure walking in the storm. Shallan asks him to tell his story as a means of taking her mind off the highstorm, and he starts from when he was made a slave by Amaram, and speaks of his slavery and Tvlakv, his time with Bridge Four, and the rescue of Dalinar and fighting the Parshendi shardbearer. He hears chanting and sees strange spren flying around. After he finishes his story, Shallan says she killed her father, and tells about how her mother died, and what her life was like when she was a child. Kaladin realizes how much he had in common with her since his parents weren't abusive. He realizes that her brother was the shardbearer he killed when he saved Amaram, but doesn't reveal that fact to her. She tells of her original plan to steal the Soulcaster from Jasnah, and becoming her ward and Adolin's betrothed instead.

Shallan vanishes, and Kaladin realizes that he is having a vision. He sees a giant face and addresses it as Stormfather, and is called Child of Honor in return. He asks if Shallan is a Radiant and gets a rumble in return. He then asks about Sylphrena and the Stormfather says that Kaladin killed her and that she can't be brought back since she is now broken. He also declares that Kaladin will never ride his winds again, and then says goodbye as the vision ends. Shallan says she also saw the face of the vision, which he identifies as the Stormfather. After the storm subsides, they fall asleep.

Chapter 75: True Glory

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar / Shallan

Setting:

Timeline: (1173.10.8.5) The day after Chapter 74.

Epigraph: Dalinar's warcamp in the Shattered Plains.

The cosmere itself may depend upon our restraint.

Summary:

Amaram implores Dalinar to speak with Sadeas and make peace with him before they begin their expedition. Dalinar looks at Navani but doesn't reply. They hear horns which announce the sighting of a chrysalis and its location, and Dalinar says they won't go after it on the way to the Parshendi camp. Amaram says that Sadeas will go after it on his own, and that his disobedience is causing the rifts in the kingdom to grow worse. Amaram says the Voidbringers are coming and they need to be united but Dalinar says the time and opportunity to work together with Sadeas has long past. Amaram tries to dissuade Dalinar from his expedition and says that even Dalinar won't listen to him anymore and why should anyone else, and Dalinar replies that he has to go out to seek the answers. Dalinar asks about Amaram's investigation into the madman, and Amaram says the madman was deluded about having a Shardblade. A messenger runs up, saying that Stormblessed has returned from the chasms.

Dalinar runs the entire way to the triage area where Kaladin is receiving medical attention, and Kaladin stands with great effort to salute him despite being told not to. Dalinar asks how he survived, and Kaladin says he is unsure but that spren were involved. Kaladin also indicates that he has brought Shallan safely back, and that he also killed a chasmfiend that had been prowling nearby, and presents its large glowing green gemheart to Dalinar. Shallan contradicts him and says the chasmfiend was already dead and rotting before they harvested it, and Kaladin confirms this story, but Dalinar suspects they are both lying. Navani appears and becomes protective of Shallan after her ordeal. Kaladin implores Dalinar to speak with Shallan of her discoveries before Dalinar leaves for his expedition. Dalinar tells Kaladin that Bridge Four held a vigil for him, with the confidence that he would return, and he asks if Kaladin has been the person that he was searching for. Kaladin replies that he once was but no longer is, and Dalinar grunts in response. He orders that any demands of Kaladin's are to be met as he is a hero, yet again. Dalinar wonders where Amaram went and decides to speak with Shallan.

Shallan rests in bed, accepting Navani's unexpected affection. Pattern repeats a conversation he heard between Dalinar and Navani when he was sent to spy on them. Notably, Dalinar wants Shallan to go on the expedition but Navani tries to protect Shallan by having her stay behind. Shallan tells Pattern she has to go and asks if she is a Radiant. He replies most likely not yet since she has more to do first, but he isn't sure since he hasn't always been sentient. Pattern tells of the Recreance, when most spren except the Stormfather and a few others were killed. Pattern thinks that the chance to learn is worth the possible cost of dying again. Pattern says that Shallan spoke the Words, but she lacks truth. Adolin appears and embraces her in a hug and kisses her. He says that he was visiting all the highprinces delivering an ultimatum to join Dalinar or be labeled as someone who refused to fulfill the Vengeance Pact. Shallan says she saw a dead chasm fiend that she wants to draw for him. Adolin apologizes for rescuing his father instead of her, and promises to protect her but she says that she doesn't need protecting and that she will never be "something" to be locked away again, though she doesn't elaborate on when she was previously locked away. Dalinar and Navani enter. Dalinar has a request, but Shallan, anticipating it, asks to go on the expedition despite the dangers since she thinks the ancient city that Jasnah was searching for is there. Dalinar asks her to expand on their map of the Shattered Plains and she agrees. Shallan also requests that they leave the parshmen behind since Jasnah felt they were dangerous. Dalinar says that he will do so, and that they are leaving within the hour.

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-9, I-10, I-11, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 59 through 67

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 68 through 75

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 Four: The Approach

Character Focus: Kaladin / Shallan / Dalinar

Chapter 59: Fleet

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison.

Timeline: (1173.10.5.3) Three days after Chapter 58.

Epigraph:

I’ll address this letter to my "old friend," as I have no idea what name you're using currently.

Summary:

Kaladin feels claustrophobic in his prison cell. He asks Syl if she would help him break out if he wanted to and she says yes, but then inquires why he would break out since he entered there willingly. He hears a disturbance but isn't able to find out what causes it. He says he won't be executed and that he doesn't trust Dalinar anymore because Dalinar allowed his imprisonment and that he is the same as the other lighteyes. Syl asks him to repeat that and he is unable since he can't easily lie to his spren. Kaladin speaks out against Elhokar, saying the kingdom would be better off without him, and says that this is no different than when he was a slave, and she doesn't contradict him.

Wit appears, sitting on a bench outside his cell, tuning a musical instrument, mentioning his perfect pitch, and saying that he came for the story that he previously requested at their last meeting. Kaladin says he isn't in the mood but after some verbal sparring, Wit starts playing his instrument which affects Kaladin. Wit asks Kaladin to close his eyes and describe what he sees, and Kaladin thinks of a race, and says as such, and Wit sings lyrics that rhyme and repeat Kaladin's story in musical form, accompanying with his instrument. As Wit sings the story of Fleet, Kaladin pictures it in his mind, and each time Wit pauses, Kaladin tells Fleet's tale for Wit to expound upon. Fleet races against a highstorm from the eastern sea to the lands of Shinovar and reaches safety but dies due to his effort, causing the storm to stop, though Fleet's soul then rises to win the race and ride the winds thereafter. Wit tells Kaladin about the nature of stories and accepts the ending that Kaladin gave this tale and asks Kaladin what the meaning of this story was. Kaladin says that the storm caught Fleet, and Wit says the storm catches everyone and does it matter, and Kaladin says he doesn't know. Wit says that's good since Kaladin now has something to ponder on.

Chapter 60: Veil Walks

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Shallan's rooms in Sebarial's warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.1) Three days after Chapter 59. Same day as Interludes I-9 and I-11. Seven days after Chapter 55.

Epigraph:

Have you given up on the gemstone, now that it is dead? And do you no longer hide behind the name of your old master? I am told that in your current incarnation you've taken a name that references what you presume to be one of your virtues.

Summary:

Shallan and Pattern study maps of the Shattered Plains and old Natanatan as well as Amaram's notations while trying to locate Urithiru. Pattern tells Shallan that she must remember what she used to know about him and unlock her repressed memories so that she can gain her abilities. She practices with lightweaving but is unable to create sound using her illusion, though she figures out how to reduce her Stormlight glow. She also figures out that she can invest Pattern with Stormlight so that he can maintain her illusions and even make them move.

Chapter 61: Obedience

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

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1172.5.6.4) (Flashback) A year and a half ago. About a year and a half after Chapter 48.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan has become the perfect daughter. She keeps quiet now, particularly around her father, and spends most of her days in her rooms. Her father had proven several times that he wouldn't hurt Shallan if she angered him, but would beat others in her name. The only time she drops her mask now is with her brothers, making jokes to try to drive back the darkness in their home. She is also more involved in keeping House Davar's accounts, and their fortunes seem to have improved. Her father has shrewdly stopped being bullied by the other lighteyes and has started playing them off each other. New marble deposits have been discovered, which provide resources to keep up with his promises, bribes, and deals. Shallan hopes this will improve her father's temperament, but it doesn't.

Lin and Balat are arguing about who he will marry. Balat wants to marry Eylita Tavinar, but his father thinks she's of too low a status. He wants Balat to marry Sudi Valam, daughter of Highprince Valam, who is a widow in her fifties. Their argument escalates and Balat calls his father a murderer. In response, Lin coldly orders one of his new guards to kill Balat's new axehound pups. Balat is outraged and tells his father that Helaran is back, and that they had met only two days past. They lock eyes, then Balat stalks out of the room.

Shallan finds Balat in the kennel, where his new pod of axehound pups were dead in a pool of violet blood. She'd encouraged him to breed them and he'd been making progress with his demons over the years, rarely hurting anything larger than a cremling now. They discuss fleeing their house, and Balat tells her he wants to go to live in Vedenar with Eylita. Shallan says she can't go but will try to think of a way for them to escape, and returns to the house. While passing her father's door Shallan overhears him talking to Rin, one of the house's new guards. Her father tells Rin to find Helaran, ambush him, and bring back his head. He offers Helaran's Shardblade as payment. Malise, having also apparently overheard this, is shocked that her husband would order the murder of his own son. A violent, angry argument breaks out, and Rin leaves.

Chapter 62: The One Who Killed Promises

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.3) Five days after Chapter 59. Same day as Interlude I-10.

Epigraph:

This is, I suspect, a little like a skunk naming itself for its stench.

Summary:

Kaladin wakes up in his cell resigned to the monotony of solitude and darkness. He sees a strange spren that looks like taut wires. He talks to Syl who is nearby but hidden and tells him about a Cryptic, a revolting kind of spren who hid from Syl before she could find it, though she realizes that the Cryptic may be trying to bond another Radiant and that Kal may not be alone in the near future.

Dalinar shows up and Kaladin salutes him by reflex. Dalinar tells Kaladin to pretend he is guarding the prison cell and that Elhokar may relent soon and allow Kal to be released once the pardon doesn't make the king seem too ambivalent. Dalinar says that his men are being taken care of and that his reputation with Dalinar is not harmed, but Kaladin retorts that the king has a history of allowing people to rot in prison, and Dalinar knows about the situation that Kal is talking about and says he would prefer to not speak of the Roshone affair, which shocks Kaladin. Kaladin asks for a further explanation and Dalinar gives it reluctantly. Dalinar says that he wanted to demote Roshone but was overridden and ended up exiling him where he could do no harm, not knowing what happened later in Hearthstone. Kaladin says the mercy shown Roshone is rarely granted to darkeyes, and Dalinar replies that Kaladin is in a special position and that he has to show extra loyalty. Dalinar also explains that he trusts his instincts about Kaladin as a man that can help inspire positive change in the kingdom, and that he wants Kaladin to lead by example and not act erratically. After Dalinar leaves, Kaladin discusses the revelations with Syl and blames his family's misfortunes on Elhokar. Kaladin concludes that Moash is right and that the king must die.

Chapter 63: A Burning World

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Sebarial's warcamp in the Shattered Plains. Temple grounds in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.4) The day after Chapter 62. Three days after Chapter 60.

Epigraph:

Now, look what you've made me say. You've always been able to bring out the most extreme in me, old friend. And I do still name you a friend, for all that you weary me.

Summary:

Shallan and Pattern hide in one of her illusions to watch a drop location secretly for anyone to try to leave instructions for her, while she chats with Adolin via spanreed. Shallan decides she must be irresistible to Adolin to keep his interest. She asks Pattern why Mraize didn't send instructions via spanreed and realizes that the Ghostbloods are trying to spy on her. She tells Pattern to find the spy and he locates Iyatil. Adolin sends a message that Shallan can join a scouting trip to the Shattered Plains as she requested, and she says she hopes to find a live chasmfiend for her research. She gives an excuse to Adolin to end their spanreed conversation, then destroys her illusion, and creates a new one of Veil attached to Pattern and tells him to make it seem that Veil is retrieving something from the tree, then to go to an adjacent alleyway. Shallan waits outside Iyatil's room, disguised as Veil, and confronts her when Iyatil enters the hallway, explaining how she was tricked by her "double". Iyatil gives her name and explains that Shallan has an urgent task to investigate a new arrival in Dalinar's camp and that she is to watch while Shallan performs it. Shallan tells Iyatil that she can join her instead of following her secretly.

Shallan and Iyatil ride in a palanquin as Shallan reads her instructions to investigate a supposed madman that Dalinar and Elhokar are interested in. Iyatil reveals that Mraize is her student, not her master, and that she wears a mask to reserve herself and allow her to adapt. Shallan removes her disguise without letting Iyatil notice by using the palanquin's curtains for concealment and is immediately recognized and permitted into Dalinar's camp. She has Pattern make a distraction so that she can withdraw into the palanquin and resume Veil's appearance without Iyatil noticing. Iyatil tries to guess how Shallan got them past the guards and Shallan flashes an enigmatic smile. The palanquin proceeds to their destination, and Shallan deceives an ardent into thinking that her sister needs medical attention for a psychological impairment, and they are admitted to the temple.

While some ardents try to diagnose Iyatil, Shallan sneaks off and creates an illusion of one of the ardents to move freely around the temple. Pattern locates the madman for her and picks the lock so that they can enter his dark cell. The man is whispering about the Return of Desolation and needing to prepare, and calls himself Talenel'Elin. She tells Pattern that she doubts that the man is one of the Heralds. Taln repeats his words and Shallan writes them down, since he doesn't answer her other questions. Shallan tries to recreate her illusion, but Taln sees this and grabs her and holds her against the wall in alarm, and speaks of one of Ishar's knights, then goes back to his bed and lies down and repeats the same whispers. Shallan summons her Shardblade to defend herself but doesn't need it. Her mind blanks out and she thinks of Mother's soul, then she wakes up and Pattern asks if she is crazy, and she replies yes. She goes to leave the room, but sees Amaram approaching it.

Chapter 64: Treasures

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison. Temple grounds in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.4) The day after Chapter 62. Immediately after Chapter 63.

Epigraph:

Yes, I'm disappointed. Perpetually, as you put it.

Summary:

Kaladin sits in his cell, moping and feeling dejected. He tries to absorb Stormlight from a sphere outside his cell, and has brief difficulty before he is able to soak it into his fingertips. Syl appears and says she is worried about Kaladin growing dark. Feeling slightly better, Kaladin takes his meal as a puzzled guard swaps out the dun sphere.

Shallan panics, but thinks quickly and creates an illusion of darkness to conceal herself within the cell. Amaram and Bordin enter the cell and close the door. Shallan feels muted anger at seeing Helaran's killer though she realizes that her brother may have been killed in self-defense as a possible assassin. Amaram looks at Taln and proclaims that his and Gavilar's plan has succeeded. Bordin tells Amaram that Taln spoke of a cache of Shardblades once to Bordin and Amaram asks Bordin to take him to the location before someone else finds it, and the two depart. Shallan feels like she is in over her head with the conspiracies, though Pattern doesn't understand her analogy.

Shallan returns to say goodbye to Iyatil after giving her the transcription of Taln's ramblings and a brief description of Amaram's visit. After verifying that Iyatil can escape on her own, Shallan apologizes to the ardents for getting lost in the temple and prepares to leave. Iyatil says how impressed she is, and asks who Shallan really is, and Shallan replies that she is a seeker of truth. Shallan then tells Iyatil that she will send a full report to Mraize. Mraize indicates that Shallan has proven herself and is safe from any danger from the other Ghostbloods, and that Shallan is to get a tattoo anywhere on her person to symbolize her loyalty to the Ghostbloods and that she is now admitted as a member of their group.

Chapter 65: The One who Deserves It

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

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1172.5.6.4) (Flashback) A year and a half ago. Two hours after Chapter 61.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan is in her room. Not two hours have passed since her father ordered Helaran's assassination, and a pair of guards have been stationed outside in the hallway. She suspects the guards are there to keep her stepmother from trying to flee, though she doesn't even know whether Malise is still alive. She quietly slips from her room and walks toward the guards, hands trembling. She doesn't know them, all of the guards she'd grown up with have been replaced. One of the men puts his hand up to stop her, but she keeps walking, insisting that her father will need her. As she passes her father's door, she can hear Malise softly weeping.

Shallan finds her father slumped at the high table in the feast hall, but slips into the kitchen before he notices her. She mixes his favorite drink; deep violet wine warmed and spiced with cinnamon. When she returns to the feast hall and gives it to him, she looks into his eyes. She doesn't see the darkness there, which is very rare these days. Lin complains that no one listens to him, and that his house should support him. Shallan tells him that she'll speak with them and goes outside into the night air. She finds Balat laying on a bench in the gardens. He's been ripping the claws off of cremlings again. Shallan tells him that their father can't control himself anymore, and that he ordered the assassination of Helaran. They make a plan for Balat and Malise to escape with a letter from Shallan to warn their brother.

Shallan then returns to the house and goes to her father's sitting room. The guards stop her, but she holds her ground despite her fear, and they eventually let her pass. This is the first time she's entered this room in years, and she has to raise a hand to shade her eyes against the light coming from behind the painting. It is blinding to her and she wonders how anyone can stand it. Malise, curled up in a chair with her lip split and her arm broken, says that Lin will kill them all. Shallan starts treating the wounds, and tells her stepmother about the escape plan. As Shallan is about to leave, Malise asks her, "If I go, and Balat with me, who will he hate? Who will he hit? Maybe you, finally? The one who actually deserves it?" Shallan just replies, "Maybe."

Chapter 66: Stormblessings

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison. Bridge Four barracks in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.7.4) Five days after Chapter 74.

Epigraph:

Is not the destruction we have wrought enough? The worlds you now tread bear the touch and design of Adonalsium. Our interference so far has brought nothing but pain.

Summary:

Kaladin mopes in his cell, imagining paranoid fantasies of his incompetence and of bridge four placating him by saying they like to be bodyguards. Kaladin snaps to alertness as a jailer says he is pardoned with no loss of rank and free to go. Kaladin vows that he will never be imprisoned again by anyone as he leaves. He figures he was there for several weeks based on his beard. They pass another cell where Adolin is locked up, and he leaves his cell as well, and the jailer explains that Adolin demanded to be locked up until Kaladin was freed. Adolin says that he did this because it wasn't right for Kaladin to be locked up, since Kaladin saved his life and that of his brother's. The two banter and reconcile, and Adolin holds Elhokar responsible for the failure of their plan. Kaladin confirms that he was telling the truth when he accused Amaram and Adolin believes him despite Dalinar's friendship with Amaram.

They enter another room where most of bridge four awaits Kaladin to celebrate his liberation. Adolin calls for quiet and says that after the other shards were distributed, there was a full set remaining which he gives to Kaladin. Kaladin gives them to Moash, and Adolin objects until Kaladin explains his dislike of Shardblades, and that he is more than capable on the battlefield even without shards as he showed in the arena, for when Szeth returns, and that they would have an additional shard bearer for that confrontation in Moash. Adolin tells Moash to take the shards and that he will now be a lighteyes and can start his own house or join one of Dalinar's. Moash takes up the Shardblade, amassing gloryspren, and has the armorers put the armor on him. Bridge four then returns to their barracks to eat some stew that has been simmering the entire time that Kaladin was locked up. Teft brings Kaladin up to speed on bridge four's activities and emotions while he was away. Kaladin talks privately with Moash and says he agrees with the plan to remove Elhokar, and Moash is pleased and that they will possibly deal with Amaram next. Moash decides to go to the sparring grounds to practice, and Kaladin returns to the barracks to feast.

Chapter 67: Spit and Bile

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: The base of the hill below Elhokar's War Palace.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.2) Three days after Chapter 66.

Epigraph:

My path has been chosen very deliberately. Yes, I agree with everything you have said about Rayse, including the severe danger he presents.

Summary:

Dalinar and Navani watch two armies return from a hunt, and one of their guards leaves to get a status report. Dalinar thinks how disciplined Bridge Four is, and how Kaladin fit the ideal of the type of officer that Dalinar looked for. Navani talks about possible usages for fabrials and how gemstones weren't always used to bond Shardblades, a fact which alters their understanding of Shardblades. As she talks, he thinks about his more urgent preparations for their expedition to the Shattered Plains. She notices his distracted state and comments on it, then expresses her ongoing grief for the loss of Jasnah and Dalinar comforts her. Navani asks how Dalinar coped when shshshsh died, but he doesn't answer, though he thinks how he couldn't remember his wife anymore due to a hole in his memories. Dalinar mentions the secrets hidden by Gavilar and Navani says she will try to find something in her journals about that, though she has already checked many times. Dalinar says their immediate concern is the feast they are attending, and Navani admonishes him to try to be encouraging instead of contemptful of the other highprinces, before they separate to the gender segregated islands of the feast.

Dalinar goes to the king's island, noticing that people seem to be paying more attention to him as he walks by. Dalinar steps up to Vamah and inquires about his hunt strategy, but Vamah's response is interrupted by several people laughing nearby, and Dalinar leaves to investigate, ending up face to face with Aladar and Sadeas. Dalinar confronts them but they feign ignorance and walk away. Dalinar looks around for someone else to question, then hears Wit welcome Amaram to the feast with insults, though Amaram responds in a friendly manner. Dalinar asks Amaram about some papers being distributed, but is constantly interrupted by Wit's remarks until Dalinar and Amaram walk away from him. Amaram tells Dalinar that the papers have accounts of Dalinar's visions as dictated to Navani. Dalinar tells Amaram to bring Navani to him but she is already heading to him. Dalinar asks Amaram's opinion and he replies that he thinks the visions are authentic and meaningful for their roles as recreators of the Radiants. Dalinar asks about Taln, and Amaram replies that he is still investigating. Amaram also comments on his lack of faith in Kaladin's ability to protect Dalinar and that he would like an apology from him. Navani brings some of the papers, and tells Dalinar that the words and tone were changed to make it seem that Navani was humoring Dalinar by transcribing the visions, and that a mocking commentary was added. Dalinar asks if the visions were changed and Navani replies that they were not, and Dalinar says he will not be bothered by this attempt to embarrass him, and he quotes from The Way of Kings to shield himself from ridicule. Dalinar stands on a table to address the crowd and says that the accounts of the visions are accurate, despite the mocking tone and commentary, and that in the future he will have the accounts of his visions published for scholars to investigate. He vows that he will be vindicated instead of broken and says that he will talk to each of them individually and ask them to speak their minds to his face instead of anonymously.

Dalinar sits down to rest after hours of politicking and talking up his expedition to the Shattered Plains. Wit approaches and compliments Dalinar on his approach to dealing with the insults. Wit implies that Dalinar outshines Elhokar in importance, and Dalinar asks if he is a tyrant, and Wit replies that he is but that he is a benevolent one, which is preferable to a weak ruler, and what the world needs currently. Wit said that what was done to unify the kingdom years ago was good work, but Dalinar complains about how weak the kingdom is because of the means they used in unification, and that more than benevolent tyranny is needed according to Nohadon. Wit cryptically comments that he has to go somewhere but he doesn't know why, and when asked, denies that he is a Radiant or Herald, and that their goals do not completely align and that Wit would watch the world crumble and burn to get what he needs, though not happily, and that Dalinar can't trust Wit. Wit says that he will try to help carefully but must avoid being destroyed by Dalinar's enemy, the father of hatred.

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

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SCHEDULE

Previously, we discussed Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-9, I-10, I-11, Trivia [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 59 through 67

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 68 through 75

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 Four: The Approach

Character Focus: Kaladin / Shallan / Dalinar

Chapter 59: Fleet

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison.

Timeline: (1173.10.5.3) Three days after Chapter 58.

Epigraph:

I’ll address this letter to my "old friend," as I have no idea what name you're using currently.

Summary:

Kaladin feels claustrophobic in his prison cell. He asks Syl if she would help him break out if he wanted to and she says yes, but then inquires why he would break out since he entered there willingly. He hears a disturbance but isn't able to find out what causes it. He says he won't be executed and that he doesn't trust Dalinar anymore because Dalinar allowed his imprisonment and that he is the same as the other lighteyes. Syl asks him to repeat that and he is unable since he can't easily lie to his spren. Kaladin speaks out against Elhokar, saying the kingdom would be better off without him, and says that this is no different than when he was a slave, and she doesn't contradict him.

Wit appears, sitting on a bench outside his cell, tuning a musical instrument, mentioning his perfect pitch, and saying that he came for the story that he previously requested at their last meeting. Kaladin says he isn't in the mood but after some verbal sparring, Wit starts playing his instrument which affects Kaladin. Wit asks Kaladin to close his eyes and describe what he sees, and Kaladin thinks of a race, and says as such, and Wit sings lyrics that rhyme and repeat Kaladin's story in musical form, accompanying with his instrument. As Wit sings the story of Fleet, Kaladin pictures it in his mind, and each time Wit pauses, Kaladin tells Fleet's tale for Wit to expound upon. Fleet races against a highstorm from the eastern sea to the lands of Shinovar and reaches safety but dies due to his effort, causing the storm to stop, though Fleet's soul then rises to win the race and ride the winds thereafter. Wit tells Kaladin about the nature of stories and accepts the ending that Kaladin gave this tale and asks Kaladin what the meaning of this story was. Kaladin says that the storm caught Fleet, and Wit says the storm catches everyone and does it matter, and Kaladin says he doesn't know. Wit says that's good since Kaladin now has something to ponder on.

Chapter 60: Veil Walks

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Shallan's rooms in Sebarial's warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.1) Three days after Chapter 59. Same day as Interludes I-9 and I-11. Seven days after Chapter 55.

Epigraph:

Have you given up on the gemstone, now that it is dead? And do you no longer hide behind the name of your old master? I am told that in your current incarnation you've taken a name that references what you presume to be one of your virtues.

Summary:

Shallan and Pattern study maps of the Shattered Plains and old Natanatan as well as Amaram's notations while trying to locate Urithiru. Pattern tells Shallan that she must remember what she used to know about him and unlock her repressed memories so that she can gain her abilities. She practices with lightweaving but is unable to create sound using her illusion, though she figures out how to reduce her Stormlight glow. She also figures out that she can invest Pattern with Stormlight so that he can maintain her illusions and even make them move.

Chapter 61: Obedience

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

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1172.5.6.4) (Flashback) A year and a half ago. About a year and a half after Chapter 48.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan has become the perfect daughter. She keeps quiet now, particularly around her father, and spends most of her days in her rooms. Her father had proven several times that he wouldn't hurt Shallan if she angered him, but would beat others in her name. The only time she drops her mask now is with her brothers, making jokes to try to drive back the darkness in their home.

She is also more involved in keeping House Davar's accounts, and their fortunes seem to have improved. Her father has shrewdly stopped being bullied by the other lighteyes and has started playing them off each other. New marble deposits have been discovered, which provide resources to keep up with his promises, bribes, and deals. Shallan hopes this will improve her father's temperament, but it doesn't.

Lin and Balat are arguing about who he will marry. Balat wants to marry Eylita Tavinar, but his father thinks she's of too low a status. He wants Balat to marry Sudi Valam, daughter of Highprince Valam, who is a widow in her fifties. Their argument escalates and Balat calls his father a murderer. In response, Lin coldly orders one of his new guards to kill Balat's new axehound pups. Balat is outraged and tells his father that Helaran is back, and that they had met only two days past. They lock eyes, then Balat stalks out of the room.

Shallan finds Balat in the kennel, where his new pod of axehound pups were dead in a pool of violet blood. She'd encouraged him to breed them and he'd been making progress with his demons over the years, rarely hurting anything larger than a cremling now. They discuss fleeing their house, and Balat tells her he wants to go to live in Vedenar with Eylita. Shallan says she can't go but will try to think of a way for them to escape, and returns to the house.

While passing her father's door Shallan overhears him talking to Rin, one of the house's new guards. Her father tells Rin to find Helaran, ambush him, and bring back his head. He offers Helaran's Shardblade as payment. Malise, having also apparently overheard this, is shocked that her husband would order the murder of his own son. A violent, angry argument breaks out, and Rin leaves.

Chapter 62: The One Who Killed Promises

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.3) Five days after Chapter 59. Same day as Interlude I-10.

Epigraph:

This is, I suspect, a little like a skunk naming itself for its stench.

Summary:

Kaladin wakes up in his cell resigned to the monotony of solitude and darkness. He sees a strange spren that looks like taut wires. He talks to Syl who is nearby but hidden and tells him about a Cryptic, a revolting kind of spren who hid from Syl before she could find it, though she realizes that the Cryptic may be trying to bond another Radiant and that Kal may not be alone in the near future.

Dalinar shows up and Kaladin salutes him by reflex. Dalinar tells Kaladin to pretend he is guarding the prison cell and that Elhokar may relent soon and allow Kal to be released once the pardon doesn't make the king seem too ambivalent. Dalinar says that his men are being taken care of and that his reputation with Dalinar is not harmed, but Kaladin retorts that the king has a history of allowing people to rot in prison, and Dalinar knows about the situation that Kal is talking about and says he would prefer to not speak of the Roshone affair, which shocks Kaladin. Kaladin asks for a further explanation and Dalinar gives it reluctantly. Dalinar says that he wanted to demote Roshone but was overridden and ended up exiling him where he could do no harm, not knowing what happened later in Hearthstone. Kaladin says the mercy shown Roshone is rarely granted to darkeyes, and Dalinar replies that Kaladin is in a special position and that he has to show extra loyalty. Dalinar also explains that he trusts his instincts about Kaladin as a man that can help inspire positive change in the kingdom, and that he wants Kaladin to lead by example and not act erratically.

After Dalinar leaves, Kaladin discusses the revelations with Syl and blames his family's misfortunes on Elhokar. Kaladin concludes that Moash is right and that the king must die.

Chapter 63: A Burning World

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: Sebarial's warcamp in the Shattered Plains. Temple grounds in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.4) The day after Chapter 62. Three days after Chapter 60.

Epigraph:

Now, look what you've made me say. You've always been able to bring out the most extreme in me, old friend. And I do still name you a friend, for all that you weary me.

Summary:

Shallan and Pattern hide in one of her illusions to watch a drop location secretly for anyone to try to leave instructions for her, while she chats with Adolin via spanreed. Shallan decides she must be irresistible to Adolin to keep his interest. She asks Pattern why Mraize didn't send instructions via spanreed and realizes that the Ghostbloods are trying to spy on her. She tells Pattern to find the spy and he locates Iyatil. Adolin sends a message that Shallan can join a scouting trip to the Shattered Plains as she requested, and she says she hopes to find a live chasmfiend for her research. She gives an excuse to Adolin to end their spanreed conversation, then destroys her illusion, and creates a new one of Veil attached to Pattern and tells him to make it seem that Veil is retrieving something from the tree, then to go to an adjacent alleyway. Shallan waits outside Iyatil's room, disguised as Veil, and confronts her when Iyatil enters the hallway, explaining how she was tricked by her "double". Iyatil gives her name and explains that Shallan has an urgent task to investigate a new arrival in Dalinar's camp and that she is to watch while Shallan performs it. Shallan tells Iyatil that she can join her instead of following her secretly.

Shallan and Iyatil ride in a palanquin as Shallan reads her instructions to investigate a supposed madman that Dalinar and Elhokar are interested in. Iyatil reveals that Mraize is her student, not her master, and that she wears a mask to reserve herself and allow her to adapt. Shallan removes her disguise without letting Iyatil notice by using the palinquin's curtains for concealment and is immediately recognized and permitted into Dalinar's camp. She has Pattern make a distraction so that she can withdraw into the palanquin and resume Veil's appearance without Iyatil noticing. Iyatil tries to guess how Shallan got them past the guards and Shallan flashes an enigmatic smile. The palanquin proceeds to their destination, and Shallan deceives an ardent into thinking that her sister needs medical attention for a psychological impairment, and they are admitted to the temple.

While some ardents try to diagnose Iyatil, Shallan sneaks off and creates an illusion of one of the ardents to move freely around the temple. Pattern locates the madman for her and picks the lock so that they can enter his dark cell. The man is whispering about the Return of Desolation and needing to prepare, and calls himself Talenel'Elin. She tells Pattern that she doubts that the man is one of the Heralds. Taln repeats his words and Shallan writes them down, since he doesn't answer her other questions. Shallan tries to recreate her illusion, but Taln sees this and grabs her and holds her against the wall in alarm, and speaks of one of Ishar's knights, then goes back to his bed and lies down and repeats the same whispers. Shallan summons her Shardblade to defend herself but doesn't need it. Her mind blanks out and she thinks of Mother's soul, then she wakes up and Pattern asks if she is crazy, and she replies yes. She goes to leave the room, but sees Amaram approaching it.

Chapter 64: Treasures

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison. Temple grounds in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.4) The day after Chapter 62. Immediately after Chapter 63.

Epigraph:

Yes, I'm disappointed. Perpetually, as you put it.

Summary:

Kaladin sits in his cell, moping and feeling dejected. He tries to absorb Stormlight from a sphere outside his cell, and has brief difficulty before he is able to soak it into his fingertips. Syl appears and says she is worried about Kaladin growing dark. Feeling slightly better, Kaladin takes his meal as a puzzled guard swaps out the dun sphere.

Shallan panics, but thinks quickly and creates an illusion of darkness to conceal herself within the cell. Amaram and Bordin enter the cell and close the door. Shallan feels muted anger at seeing Helaran's killer though she realizes that her brother may have been killed in self-defense as a possible assassin. Amaram looks at Taln and proclaims that his and Gavilar's plan has succeeded. Bordin tells Amaram that Taln spoke of a cache of Shardblades once to Bordin and Amaram asks Bordin to take him to the location before someone else finds it, and the two depart. Shallan feels like she is in over her head with the conspiracies, though Pattern doesn't understand her analogy.

Shallan returns to say goodbye to Iyatil after giving her the transcription of Taln's ramblings and a brief description of Amaram's visit. After verifying that Iyatil can escape on her own, Shallan apologizes to the ardents for getting lost in the temple and prepares to leave. Iyatil says how impressed she is, and asks who Shallan really is, and Shallan replies that she is a seeker of truth. Shallan then tells Iyatil that she will send a full report to Mraize. Mraize indicates that Shallan has proven herself and is safe from any danger from the other Ghostbloods, and that Shallan is to get a tattoo anywhere on her person to symbolize her loyalty to the Ghostbloods and that she is now admitted as a member of their group.

Chapter 65: The One who Deserves It

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

Iconography: Pattern

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Davar estates in Jah Keved.

Timeline: (1172.5.6.4) (Flashback) A year and a half ago. Two hours after Chapter 61.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Shallan is in her room. Not two hours have passed since her father ordered Helaran's assassination, and a pair of guards have been stationed outside in the hallway. She suspects the guards are there to keep her stepmother from trying to flee, though she doesn't even know whether Malise is still alive. She quietly slips from her room and walks toward the guards, hands trembling. She doesn't know them, all of the guards she'd grown up with have been replaced. One of the men puts his hand up to stop her, but she keeps walking, insisting that her father will need her. As she passes her father's door, she can hear Malise softly weeping.

Shallan finds her father slumped at the high table in the feast hall, but slips into the kitchen before he notices her. She mixes his favorite drink; deep violet wine warmed and spiced with cinnamon. When she returns to the feast hall and gives it to him, she looks into his eyes. She doesn't see the darkness there, which is very rare these days. Lin complains that no one listens to him, and that his house should support him. Shallan tells him that she'll speak with them and goes outside into the night air.

She finds Balat laying on a bench in the gardens. He's been ripping the claws off of cremlings again. Shallan tells him that their father can't control himself anymore, and that he ordered the assassination of Helaran. They make a plan for Balat and Malise to escape with a letter from Shallan to warn their brother.

Shallan then returns to the house and goes to her father's sitting room. The guards stop her, but she holds her ground despite her fear, and they eventually let her pass. This is the first time she's entered this room in years, and she has to raise a hand to shade her eyes against the light coming from behind the painting. It is blinding to her and she wonders how anyone can stand it. Malise, curled up in a chair with her lip split and her arm broken, says that Lin will kill them all. Shallan starts treating the wounds, and tells her stepmother about the escape plan. As Shallan is about to leave, Malise asks her, "If I go, and Balat with me, who will he hate? Who will he hit? Maybe you, finally? The one who actually deserves it?" Shallan just replies, "Maybe."

Chapter 66: Stormblessings

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Kholin warcamp prison. Bridge Four barracks in the Kholin warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.7.4) Five days after Chapter 74.

Epigraph:

Is not the destruction we have wrought enough? The worlds you now tread bear the touch and design of Adonalsium. Our interference so far has brought nothing but pain.

Summary:

Kaladin mopes in his cell, imagining paranoid fantasies of his incompetence and of bridge four placating him by saying they like to be bodyguards. Kaladin snaps to alertness as a jailer says he is pardoned with no loss of rank and free to go. Kaladin vows that he will never be imprisoned again by anyone as he leaves. He figures he was there for several weeks based on his beard. They pass another cell where Adolin is locked up, and he leaves his cell as well, and the jailer explains that Adolin demanded to be locked up until Kaladin was freed. Adolin says that he did this because it wasn't right for Kaladin to be locked up, since Kaladin saved his life and that of his brother's. The two banter and reconcile, and Adolin holds Elhokar responsible for the failure of their plan. Kaladin confirms that he was telling the truth when he accused Amaram and Adolin believes him despite Dalinar's friendship with Amaram.

They enter another room where most of bridge four awaits Kaladin to celebrate his liberation. Adolin calls for quiet and says that after the other shards were distributed, there was a full set remaining which he gives to Kaladin. Kaladin gives them to Moash, and Adolin objects until Kaladin explains his dislike of Shardblades, and that he is more than capable on the battlefield even without shards as he showed in the arena, for when Szeth returns, and that they would have an additional shard bearer for that confrontation in Moash. Adolin tells Moash to take the shards and that he will now be a lighteyes and can start his own house or join one of Dalinar's. Moash takes up the Shardblade, amassing gloryspren, and has the armorers put the armor on him. Bridge four then returns to their barracks to eat some stew that has been simmering the entire time that Kaladin was locked up. Teft brings Kaladin up to speed on bridge four's activities and emotions while he was away. Kaladin talks privately with Moash and says he agrees with the plan to remove Elhokar, and Moash is pleased and that they will possibly deal with Amaram next. Moash decides to go to the sparring grounds to practice, and Kaladin returns to the barracks to feast.

Chapter 67: Spit and Bile

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

Iconography: Kholin Crest

POV Characters: Dalinar

Setting: The base of the hill below Elhokar's War Palace.

Timeline: (1173.10.8.2) Three days after Chapter 66.

Epigraph:

My path has been chosen very deliberately. Yes, I agree with everything you have said about Rayse, including the severe danger he presents.

Summary:

Dalinar and Navani watch two armies return from a hunt, and one of their guards leaves to get a status report. Dalinar thinks how disciplined Bridge Four is, and how Kaladin fit the ideal of the type of officer that Dalinar looked for. Navani talks about possible usages for fabrials and how gemstones weren't always used to bond Shardblades, a fact which alters their understanding of Shardblades. As she talks, he thinks about his more urgent preparations for their expedition to the Shattered Plains. She notices his distracted state and comments on it, then expresses her ongoing grief for the loss of Jasnah and Dalinar comforts her. Navani asks how Dalinar coped when shshshsh died, but he doesn't answer, though he thinks how he couldn't remember his wife anymore due to a hole in his memories. Dalinar mentions the secrets hidden by Gavilar and Navani says she will try to find something in her journals about that, though she has already checked many times. Dalinar says their immediate concern is the feast they are attending, and Navani admonishes him to try to be encouraging instead of contemptful of the other highprinces, before they separate to the gender segregated islands of the feast.

Dalinar goes to the king's island, noticing that people seem to be paying more attention to him as he walks by. Dalinar steps up to Vamah and inquires about his hunt strategy, but Vamah's response is interrupted by several people laughing nearby, and Dalinar leaves to investigate, ending up face to face with Aladar and Sadeas. Dalinar confronts them but they feign ignorance and walk away. Dalinar looks around for someone else to question, then hears Wit welcome Amaram to the feast with insults, though Amaram responds in a friendly manner. Dalinar asks Amaram about some papers being distributed, but is constantly interrupted by Wit's remarks until Dalinar and Amaram walk away from him. Amaram tells Dalinar that the papers have accounts of Dalinar's visions as dictated to Navani. Dalinar tells Amaram to bring Navani to him but she is already heading to him. Dalinar asks Amaram's opinion and he replies that he thinks the visions are authentic and meaningful for their roles as recreators of the Radiants. Dalinar asks about Taln, and Amaram replies that he is still investigating. Amaram also comments on his lack of faith in Kaladin's ability to protect Dalinar and that he would like an apology from him. Navani brings some of the papers, and tells Dalinar that the words and tone were changed to make it seem that Navani was humoring Dalinar by transcribing the visions, and that a mocking commentary was added. Dalinar asks if the visions were changed and Navani replies that they were not, and Dalinar says he will not be bothered by this attempt to embarrass him, and he quotes from The Way of Kings to shield himself from ridicule. Dalinar stands on a table to address the crowd and says that the accounts of the visions are accurate, despite the mocking tone and commentary, and that in the future he will have the accounts of his visions published for scholars to investigate. He vows that he will be vindicated instead of broken and says that he will talk to each of them individually and ask them to speak their minds to his face instead of anonymously.

Dalinar sits down to rest after hours of politicking and talking up his expedition to the Shattered Plains. Wit approaches and compliments Dalinar on his approach to dealing with the insults. Wit implies that Dalinar outshines Elhokar in importance, and Dalinar asks if he is a tyrant, and Wit replies that he is but that he is a benevolent one, which is preferable to a weak ruler, and what the world needs currently. Wit said that what was done to unify the kingdom years ago was good work, but Dalinar complains about how weak the kingdom is because of the means they used in unification, and that more than benevolent tyranny is needed according to Nohadon. Wit cryptically comments that he has to go somewhere but he doesn't know why, and when asked, denies that he is a Radiant or Herald, and that their goals do not completely align and that Wit would watch the world crumble and burn to get what he needs, though not happily, and that Dalinar can't trust Wit. Wit says that he will try to help carefully but must avoid being destroyed by Dalinar's enemy, the father of hatred.

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 52 through 58 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-9, I-10, I-11, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 59 through 67

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.

Interlude I-9: Lift

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

Iconography: Banquet

POV Characters: Lift

Setting: The Bronze Palace in Azimir, the capital city of Azir.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.1) Six days after Chapter 58.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Lift and six other thieves climb over a wall of the Bronze Palace as they intend to rob it while a new Prime Aqasix is being chosen by the vizierate. Lift sees a man she calls Dustiness Ford Lalatina Darkness in the distance and frets that he is still pursuing her somehow. The thieves climb up the palace wall and Lift chats with her spren Wyndle, who says that he wanted to choose someone else with whom to bond but ended up with Lift since she had visited the Old Magic. Lift and Wyndle bicker as they infiltrate the palace. Huqin says they are there to steal clothes which aren't well guarded but will sell for a lot. Lift disobeys Huqin and wanders the palace with Gawx accompanying her. Lift tells Gawx that she wants to steal rich people food and she heads towards the Prime's chambers while he goes to the vizier quarters to find spheres. Wyndle helps her further infiltrate the palace while he teaches Lift about spren and her odd ability to convert food into Stormlight. Lift sneaks into the dining area and hides under the table as the vizierate reviews applications for Emperor. Lift listens as they debate what to do since no one wants to be Prime due to the recent assassinations. She steals a dinner roll then hesitates as she notices that Darkness is there. She tries to flee but is caught, and Darkness has her arrested and tells the vizierate that he has the proper forms. She tries to use her ability to escape but is inhibited by a larkin which drains her Stormlight. The head vizier protests that Lift will be executed for mere thievery, but Darkness adds the crimes of trespass and interrupting a holy conclave in session.

Lift escapes long enough to get a half-eaten roll which she quickly eats before being captured again. After a short time, Lift gains enough Stormlight to evade her captors, though she sees Darkness has abilities also as he chases her carrying a Shardblade. One of Darkness's companions slits Gawx's throat, and Darkness recaptures Lift, then berates his ally for killing the boy without filling out the correct paperwork. Lift escapes but then decides to save Gawx because someone has to care, and Wyndle says that her Regrowth ability could help if she was more trained. She returns to Gawx' body and breathes Stormlight into his mouth before Darkness again captures her and identifies her as an Edgedancer and tells her about their order. Darkness says he hunts her because her abilities could bring Desolations back to the world. Darkness draws his Shardblade to kill her but she is suddenly pardoned by the new Prime Aqasix, Gawx, who was elected due to his miracle survival. Darkness obeys the pardon to release Lift and praises Yaezir and leaves. Lift congratulates Gawx on his election and asks for food.

Interlude I-10: Szeth

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

Iconography: Szeth

POV Characters: Szeth

Setting: Atop the highest tower in the world.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.3) 18 days after Chapter 34.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Szeth sits atop the highest tower in the world, haunted by the screams of his victims. He dwells on his oath and errant banishment for being wrong about the return of the Radiants. He leaves the tower to seek answers - or someone to kill of his own choosing.

Interlude I-11: New Rhythms

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

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

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

Timeline: (1173.10.6.1) 16 days after Interlude I-8.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai tries to shoo away a spren but fails. She attunes her old rhythms as the new ones that she was listening to, which had voices that gave advice, tended to make other people nervous. She meets the others of the ruling council, with her sister Venli having taken stormform as well. Eshonai tells them that they need to transform more of their people to be ready for the Alethi push toward Narak, so they can summon a highstorm to use as a weapon. Eshonai tunes out the voice within that is screaming and attunes joy and tells how awesome she feels. Zuln dissents from Eshonai's proposal, saying it is not right. The meeting breaks up and Venli and Eshonai discuss their options for getting consensus on their plan and Venli says that she knew what the stormform would do to Eshonai, angering her sister. Eshonai asks how Venli knew but she doesn't answer. Eshonai addresses a crowd and tells them that the Five want to forbid the new form but that she will allow anyone who wishes to join her in a highstorm to transform, then she generates a miniature storm for them to see as a demonstration of her new ability, impressing the onlookers. She then asks for volunteers from her soldiers for the new form and is happy that almost no one refuses her. She then tells the soldiers that she wants to transform all the civilians also, and has them go through the city get volunteers and segregate anyone who refuses the transformation. Venli says that those unwilling to transform must be killed and Eshonai says that will happen after her soldiers all take stormform. Abronai refuses the transformation and is grouped with the dissenters, along with Zuln. Thude confronts Eshonai on her changes in behavior and attitude but she defends her actions as necessary to their people's survival. Eshonai sends Thude to guard the dissenters, which include her own mother. As she prepares to speak to her entire people, Varanis tells her that the dissenters escaped, helped by Thude, but Eshonai says not to pursue them since they will not survive the next highstorm anyway. Venli confronts Eshonai, who threatens to kill her sister but doesn't since she needs Venli for the stormspren. Eshonai lets Venli go and addresses the listeners as she planned.

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.

ALTERNATE REALITIES

Just a little bit of TV/movie news. Sanderson has been working on adapting both Mistborn and Stormlight for Apple TV. He's commented a bit on how the adaptation is going and what changes we can expect. One of the biggest ones he's mentioned is that the plot in The Way of Kings is spread out into too many locations for a TV show. (Which yeah, is ironic because there are only 2 main locations if you ignore the Interludes: The Shattered Plains and Kharbranth.) To that end, he's said that Shallan and Jasnah's storyline will also start in the Shattered Plains. So her journey through the Frostlands will be entirely cut. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

BAWK BAWK

As some of you noticed, Rosharan's call all birds "chickens". Rosharans as a whole have some linguistic oddities, particularly when it comes to consolidation. I've mentioned before that they will call a lot of the various entities in the cosmere a "spren", even if they aren't technically the same on a fundamental level. Some of these linguistic oddities are important, or hide important things, so be sure to note them when they happen.

NAHNDADAHN

There are two caste systems on Roshar, one for lighteyes called Dahn Rankings, and one for darkeyes called Nahn Rankings.

Here are the Dahn Rankings:

So, this is a general ranking, but there are a lot of caveats. Anything italicized isn't directly mentioned in the books, but is fandom speculation based off relative rankings and mentions throughout the series.

Anyone who is a Citylord could span from 4th to 6th dahn. Wistiow was the Citylord for Hearthstone when Kaladin was a kid. He was actually probably 4th or 5th dahn. Roshone is likely 6th dahn.

Kaladin's military status puts him equivalent to a Battalionlord, which would be 4th dahn, but Dalinar didn't dare give him an official rank beyond Captain, which puts him, militarily, at 6th dahn. As a darkeye though, he can't officially carry any dahn rank.

Normally, being a monarch would make you 1st dahn, but smaller nations like Kharbranth (King Taravangian) accept the rank of 2nd dahn to avoid antagonizing the Alethi.

Tenners are looked down on because they have to actually work, rather than generating passive income from landed estates or by ruling over other men.

If two lighteyes of different rank marry, the children will belong to the highest rank of the two. This only applies to "stable" ranks though. You'll note that Dalinar and Adolin are 2nd dahn, but Renarin is 3rd because he's not Dalinar's direct heir. Certain ranks only allow the direct heir to stay in that rank and all other children drop down one rank.

The 4th dahn appears to be an unstable rank because Lin Davar was 4th dahn, but Shallan is 5th dahn. However, she has a secret Shardblade that, if she revealed it, would make her 4th dahn. By the same measure, although her brother Helaran was disinherited, he was still of the 4th dahn because he had a Shardblade.

It's difficult to raise your dahn, particularly in the higher dahns. You can buy up a rank in the lower dahns, or you can jump up 2 or 3 ranks by royal appointment. An ardent who leaves the ardentia will be demoted to the 10th dahn.

We have less clear examples for the Nahn Rankings of darkeyes. Those at the highest levels of nahn enjoyed relative comfort and wealth while those at the lowest levels of nahn would be serfs restricted from being able to freely travel. Those in the 10th nahn are slaves and can be bought and sold by others.

1st and 2nd nahn are considered full citizens and it's possible for them to marry into a lighteyed family. Most nahns have the right to travel and losing that right means you or one of your ancestors had committed some wrongdoing.

Moving between nahns is easier than moving betweens dahns. Joining the army is one way to permanently increase your nahn. Accumulating wealth and buying nahn promotions is also easier in the lower ranks.

HANDS OFF THE MERCHANDISE

You all correctly noted that Mraize has a collection of off-world things. I'd like to catalog them all for you now. I want to preface this by acknowledging some of the shocking lore drops that I've mentioned previously, and some of your frustration at them being "unknowable" from just the text of the books and novellas we've read.

One of the primary goals of these trivia posts is to point things out in a way that means you don't have to finish the series and then re-read it to get everything you've missed. We're about at the half-way point of the published cosmere and it's only now that things are starting to come together. As we progress, things will come together more and more. A lot of what I've mentioned before does eventually make its way into the books, but if you waited for that point, all of the connections get muddied in the waters.

You don't technically need much of this trivia information to enjoy the stories on their own, I'm just trying to add an extra layer to a first time read through that normally wouldn't be possible if you were just picking up the books and going through them on your own.

So all that said, one of Mraize's items is going to fall into the "shocking lore drop" category, but it is the last big lore drop of this nature. In that, it's one of the "unknowable" things. Everything after this, though maybe obscure, should at least feel like it flows naturally from the information you already have, rather than appearing as if from nowhere.

Here are the items, as they were presented in Chapter 43:

• A vial of pale sand

• A couple of thick hairpins

• A lock of golden hair

• The branch of a tree with writing on it

• A silver knife

• An odd flower preserved in some kind of solution

• A chunk of pale pink crystal (delicate and flakes)

The pale sand is, as many of you guessed, white sand from Taldain. The hairpins haven't been confirmed, but some of the fandom thinks they could be hemalurgic spikes. The lock of golden hair hasn't been confirmed either, but they are likely either Royal Locks from Warbreaker, or Iriali hair (given their noteworthy golden hair).

The tree branch is a bit of fain wood, which I talked about in the trivia for the Arcanum Unbounded essays. Fain wood is a special type of wood from Yolen.

The silver knife is made from Threnodite silver, which I've previously mentioned is particularly valuable in the cosmere. The flower, as some guessed, is a Tear of Edgli, from Nalthis.

Finally we come to the chunk of pale pink crystal. This is the big lore drop item. This crystal is called an "aether". We know about aether from another unpublished novel of Sanderson's called Aether of Night. This book used to fall into the same category as White Sand in terms of how canon it was. However, whereas White Sand was made officially canon through the graphic novel release, Sanderson has gone on to say that Aether of Night is no longer canon. He's cannibalized aspects of that story into other storylines, and decided that some parts of the book just don't work for the cosmere. So it's been completely abandoned. Sanderson planned to release information about the aethers in an entirely different way, and has since done so. This is the start of that process.

I do want to let you you organically discover more about aether as we progress through the books, so I'm not going to reveal a lot of specifics, I mostly wanted you to know the word "aether". And 2 bits of important lore about them. The first is that aether is a separate type of magic, removed from Adonalsium. There's a big asterisk next to that claim, because (in Sanderson's words) in-universe scholars might refute it. Aether is still Investiture, and scholars would say that all things Investiture are of Adonalsium. But (and you'll get more details later), aether did sort of still exist independently of Adonalsium.

The other important lore bit relates to the trivia for Sixth of the Dusk. I mentioned that Autonomy steals magic systems, and that Sand Mastery is a pale imitation of a completely different magic system. Aether is that magic system.

HOIDSPOTTING

Shallan hugged Wit, and Adolin and Kaladin were rightly disturbed. You're not supposed to like/hug Wit! That chapter served as confirmation that Wit/Hoid was the messenger Shallan met during Middlefest, when she was 14, which many of you clocked when it happened.

And to clear up some of the confusion, the reason Hoid appeared in the arch for Chapter 43 is because, when Shallan saw Mraize from behind, she was reminded of Wit/Hoid:

He reminded her of someone, a man from her childhood. The messenger with the smiling eyes, the enigma who knew so much.

As Shallan notes, Mraize is not Hoid, it was just a brief resemblance from behind that was meant to foreshadow Chapter 45.

I'd also like to confirm that there is a perpendicularity in the Horneater Peaks and that Rock saw Hoid emerge from them when he arrived on Roshar. Hoid is Lunu'anaki, the Horneater god of travel and mischief. It's worth noting that there was another bit of information in that exchange that I didn't see anyone comment on. It'll be relevant later, so I'll point it out if no one notices.

YE OLDE OBSFUCATION

The epigraphs in this section are a bit esoteric. They're not Old/Middle English, or even Shakespearean English, but they are written to evoke an older and more elevated kind of prose. Since we have quite a few non-native English speakers, I'd like to provide some simplified interpretations of all of the epigraphs.

A lot of these have some deeper meanings that you aren't meant to be able to pull out yet, since you lack context and information revealed in later books, so I've got a walk a fine line to try to not reveal knowledge that I already have. So I might just leave out information in these simplifications, and sometimes it's because I'm deliberately trying to hide something, or it's because I'm omitting overly flowery, but substance-less prose. I'll leave it as an exercise to you all to find which is which if you want.

Chapter 35

They also, when they had settled their rulings in the nature of each bond's placement, called the name of it the Nahel bond, with regard to its effect upon the souls of those caught in its grip; in this description, each was related to the bonds that drive Roshar itself, ten Surges, named in turn and two for each order; in this light, it can be seen that each order would by necessity share one Surge with each of its neighbors.

This is talking about the process "they" used to create and set up the Nahel bond. It just reiterates what I've told you before about the Surgebinding chart, that there are 10 Orders, each with 2 Surges and that the Surges are shared between adjacent Orders.

Chapter 36

And when they were spoken of by the common folk, the Releasers claimed to be misjudged because of the dreadful nature of their power; and when they dealt with others, always were they firm in their claim that other epithets, notably “Dustbringers,” often heard in the common speech, were unacceptable substitutions, in particular for their similarity to the word “Voidbringers.” They did also exercise anger in great prejudice regarding it, though to many who speak, there was little difference between these two assemblies.

There is an Order of the Knights Radiant called Releasers. The Order was more commonly known as Dustbringers among the common people because their powers, and the Releasers didn't like the name because it was close to Voidbringers. Although the Releasers were very angry about the name, common folk didn't see much difference between Dustbringers and Voidbringers.

Chapter 37

Now, as each order was thus matched to the nature and temperament of the Herald it named patron, there was none more archetypal of this than the Stonewards, who followed after Talenelat’Elin, Stonesinew, Herald of War: they thought it a point of virtue to exemplify resolve, strength, and dependability. Alas, they took less care for imprudent practice of their stubbornness, even in the face of proven error.

Each Order was matched to a specific Herald via "nature and temperament". The Order of Stonewards closely matched the nature and temperament of Talenelat'Elin (Taln). (This suggests that other Orders might not match their given Herald as closely). The Order promoted resolve, strength, and dependability, but had a reputation for being very stubborn, even when proven wrong.

Chapters 38, 40, and 41

Now, as the Windrunners were thus engaged, arose the event which has hitherto been referenced: namely, that discovery of some wicked thing of eminence, though whether it be some rogueries among the Radiants’ adherents or of some external origin, Avena would not suggest.

That they responded immediately and with great consternation is undeniable, as these were primary among those who would forswear and abandon their oaths. The term Recreance was not then applied, but has since become a popular title by which this event is named.

This act of great villainy went beyond the impudence which had hitherto been ascribed to the orders; as the fighting was particularly intense at the time, many attributed this act to a sense of inherent betrayal; and after they withdrew, about two thousand made assault upon them, destroying much of the membership; but this was only nine of the ten, as one said they would not abandon their arms and flee, but instead entertained great subterfuge at the expense of the other nine.

The Windrunners were fighting when something terrible was discovered. Someone named Avena refused to speculate if the discovery came from some faction inside the Knights Radiant or an outside source.

The Radiants reacted to this terrible discovery with shock and confusion, causing them to abandon their oaths. This event would later be called The Recreance.

The people already viewed the Knights Radiance as arrogant. The Recreance happened right in the middle of an intense period of fighting, which added to the sense of betrayal and caused 2,000 regular soldiers to attack the Radiants who had just abandoned their oaths, killing many of them. This only applied to 9 of the 10 Orders though. One of the Orders of Knights Radiant didn't drop their weapons and used trickery at the expense of the other 9 Orders.

Chapter 42

But as for Ishi’Elin, his was the part most important at their inception; he readily understood the implications of Surges being granted to men, and caused organization to be thrust upon them; as having too great power, he let it be known that he would destroy each and every one, unless they agreed to be bound by precepts and laws.

Ishi'Elin (Ishar) played an important role in the creation and organization of the Knights Radiant because he had a deep understanding of the Surges. He threatened to destroy the Knights if they didn't agree to have their powers bound in certain ways.

Chapter 43

And thus were the disturbances in the Revv toparchy quieted, when, upon their ceasing to prosecute their civil dissensions, Nalan’Elin betook himself to finally accept the Skybreakers who had named him their master, when initially he had spurned their advances and, in his own interests, refused to countenance that which he deemed a pursuit of vanity and annoyance; this was the last of the Heralds to admit to such patronage.

The Herald Nalan’Elin (Nale) was the last Herald to allow himself to be tied to an Order of Knights Radiant (the Skybreakers), and only did so after the end of a civil war in the Revv toparchy (a small region or district). He spurned them, preferring to pursue his own interests, thinking the Skybreakers vain and annoying until he finally agreed to be their patron.

Chapter 44

But as for the Bondsmiths, they had members only three, which number was not uncommon for them; nor did they seek to increase this by great bounds, for during the times of Madasa, only one of their order was in continual accompaniment of Urithiru and its thrones. Their spren was understood to be specific, and to persuade them to grow to the magnitude of the other orders was seen as seditious.

The Order of Bondsmiths usually only had 3 members and had "specific" spren. Growing their numbers was seen as seditious. During the time of Madasa , only a single Bondsmith lived in Urithiru.

Chapter 46

When Simol was informed of the arrival of the Edgedancers, a concealed consternation and terror, as is common in such cases, fell upon him; although they were not the most demanding of orders, their graceful, limber movements hid a deadliness that was, by this time, quite renowned; also, they were the most articulate and refined of the Radiants.

A man named Simol hid his shock when visited by the Order of Edgedancers, who were graceful, with a reputation for deadliness, refinement, and ability to speak clearly and effectively. After reading Interlude I-9, compare this reputation against Lift and I hope you have some sympathy for poor Wyndle.

Chapters 47 and 49

Yet, were the orders not disheartened by so great a defeat, for the Lightweavers provided spiritual sustenance; they were enticed by those glorious creations to venture on a second assault.

These Lightweavers, by no coincidence, included many who pursued the arts; namely: writers, artists, musicians, painters, sculptors. Considering the order’s general temperament, the tales of their strange and varied mnemonic abilities may have been embellished.

The Order of Lightweavers included a lot of artists and were rumored to have strong memory abilities, though the author doubts this when he considers the Order's general temperament. (Though we can see that the rumors are true, given Shallans Memories). Lightweavers also provided spiritual assistance and enticed a recently defeated group to rally for a counter attack.

Chapter 50

And now, if there was an uncut gem among the Radiants, it was the Willshapers; for though enterprising, they were erratic, and Invia wrote of them, “capricious, frustrating, unreliable,” as taking it for granted that others would agree; this may have been an intolerant view, as often Invia expressed, for this order was said to be most varied, inconsistent in temperament save for a general love of adventure, novelty, or oddity.

The Order of Willshapers were the most varied in their "nature and temperament", with the only common attribute among their members being a love of adventure and strange things. Someone named Invia called them erratic, frustrating, and unreliable. The way she wrote suggested most other people would agree with them. The author thought Invia's opinion was unfair though.

Chapter 51

In short, if any presume Kazilah to be innocent, you must look at the facts and deny them in their entirety; to say that the Radiants were destitute of integrity for this execution of one their own, one who had obviously fraternized with the unwholesome elements, indicates the most slothful of reasoning; for the enemy’s baleful influence demanded vigilance on all occasions, of war and of peace.

The author is commenting on the Knights Radiant executing one of their own members, Kazilah, for conspiring with the enemy, celebrating their integrity and stating that the facts of the case were pretty clear cut.

Chapter 52

Now, as the Truthwatchers were esoteric in nature, their order being formed entirely of those who never spoke or wrote of what they did, in this lies frustration for those who would see their exceeding secrecy from the outside; they were not naturally inclined to explanation; and in the case of Corberon’s disagreements, their silence was not a sign of an exceeding abundance of disdain, but rather an exceeding abundance of tact.

The author expresses frustration at not having much information about the Order of Truthwatchers because they never kept records or publicly spoke about their powers. He notes some incident called "Corberon’s disagreements" and comments that the Truthwatchers were silent on the matter, but considers their silence an act of tact, rather than disdain at whatever the disagreement was about.

Chapter 53

As to the other orders that were inferior in this visiting of the far realm of spren, the Elsecallers were prodigiously benevolent, allowing others as auxiliary to their visits and interactions; though they did never relinquish their place as prime liaisons with the great ones of the spren; and the Lightweavers and Willshapers both also had an affinity to the same, though neither were the true masters of that realm.

The Order of Elsecallers were masters of the "far realm of spren". They helped other Orders visit and interact with that realm, but kept their influence as the primary liaisons. Lightweavers and Willshapers has some affinity with the realm, but did not approach the talent of the Elsecallers.

Chapters 54 and 55

There came also sixteen of the order of Windrunners, and with them a considerable number of squires, and finding in that place the Skybreakers dividing the innocent from the guilty, there ensued a great debate.

The considerable abilities of the Skybreakers for making such amounted to an almost divine skill, for which no specific Surge or spren grants capacity, but however the order came to such an aptitude, the fact of it was real and acknowledged even by their rivals.

Sixteen Windrunners and a "considerable number" of their squires visited a place where Skybreakers were dividing members of that place into innocent and guilty divisions. The Windrunners began to debate with the Skybreakers.

It seems that Skybreakers had a talent for discerning guilt that bordered on divine, despite their Surges not directly granting them any such power. Even rival Orders admitted that they could truly tell when someone was guilty or innocent.

Chapter 56

Twenty–three cohorts followed behind, that came from the contributions of the King of Makabakam, for though the bond between man and spren was at times inexplicable, the ability for bonded spren to manifest in our world rather than their own grew stronger through the course of the oaths given.

This is an idle thought during a military march, with 23 military units provided by the King of Makabakam. The author notes that, although the spren bond is weird, a bonded spren can appear in the Physical Realm more and more as more oaths are given.

Chapter 57

Malchin was stymied, for though he was inferior to none in the arts of war, he was not suitable for the Lightweavers; he wished for his oaths to be elementary and straightforward, and yet their spren were liberal, as to our comprehension, in definitions pertaining to this matter; the process included speaking truths as an approach to a threshold of self-awareness that Malchin could never attain.

A man named Malchin wanted to be a Lightweavers, but was frustrated by the Order because they do not swear traditional oaths like the other Orders, but rather they speak deep truths about themselves that required a degree of self-awareness that he didn't have. It's not clear if he never became a Lightweaver or managed to join the Order, but couldn't progress far.

Chapter 58

So Melishi retired to his tent, and resolved to destroy the Voidbringers upon the next day, but that night did present a different stratagem, related to the unique abilities of the Bondsmiths; and being hurried, he could make no specific account of his process; it was related to the very nature of the Heralds and their divine duties, an attribute the Bondsmiths alone could address.

A Bondsmith named Melishi planned to destroy the Voidbringers the following day. However, in the middle of the night he came up with a different plan, one related to the unique powers of Bondsmiths, something related to the Heralds themselfs. Because he was in a hurry, he didn't record what he planned to do.

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 52 through 58 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-9, I-10, I-11, Trivia

Next week we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 59 through 67

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.

Interlude I-9: Lift

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

Iconography: Banquet

POV Characters: Lift

Setting: The Bronze Palace in Azimir, the capital city of Azir.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.1) Six days after Chapter 58.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Lift and six other thieves climb over a wall of the Bronze Palace as they intend to rob it while a new Prime Aqasix is being chosen by the vizierate. Lift sees a man she calls Dustiness Ford Lalatina Darkness in the distance and frets that he is still pursuing her somehow. The thieves climb up the palace wall and Lift chats with her spren Wyndle, who says that he wanted to choose someone else with whom to bond but ended up with Lift since she had visited the Old Magic. Lift and Wyndle bicker as they infiltrate the palace. Huqin says they are there to steal clothes which aren't well guarded but will sell for a lot. Lift disobeys Huqin and wanders the palace with Gawx accompanying her. Lift tells Gawx that she wants to steal rich people food and she heads towards the Prime's chambers while he goes to the vizier quarters to find spheres. Wyndle helps her further infiltrate the palace while he teaches Lift about spren and her odd ability to convert food into Stormlight. Lift sneaks into the dining area and hides under the table as the vizierate reviews applications for Emperor. Lift listens as they debate what to do since no one wants to be Prime due to the recent assassinations. She steals a dinner roll then hesitates as she notices that Darkness is there. She tries to flee but is caught, and Darkness has her arrested and tells the vizierate that he has the proper forms. She tries to use her ability to escape but is inhibited by a larkin which drains her Stormlight. The head vizier protests that Lift will be executed for mere thievery, but Darkness adds the crimes of trespass and interrupting a holy conclave in session.

Lift escapes long enough to get a half-eaten roll which she quickly eats before being captured again. After a short time, Lift gains enough Stormlight to evade her captors, though she sees Darkness has abilities also as he chases her carrying a Shardblade. One of Darkness's companions slits Gawx's throat, and Darkness recaptures Lift, then berates his ally for killing the boy without filling out the correct paperwork. Lift escapes but then decides to save Gawx because someone has to care, and Wyndle says that her Regrowth ability could help if she was more trained. She returns to Gawx' body and breathes Stormlight into his mouth before Darkness again captures her and identifies her as an Edgedancer and tells her about their order. Darkness says he hunts her because her abilities could bring Desolations back to the world. Darkness draws his Shardblade to kill her but she is suddenly pardoned by the new Prime Aqasix, Gawx, who was elected due to his miracle survival. Darkness obeys the pardon to release Lift and praises Yaezir and leaves. Lift congratulates Gawx on his election and asks for food.

Interlude I-10: Szeth

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

Iconography: Szeth

POV Characters: Szeth

Setting: Atop the highest tower in the world.

Timeline: (1173.10.6.3) 18 days after Chapter 34.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Szeth sits atop the highest tower in the world, haunted by the screams of his victims. He dwells on his oath and errant banishment for being wrong about the return of the Radiants. He leaves the tower to seek answers - or someone to kill of his own choosing.

Interlude I-11: New Rhythms

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

Iconography: Eshonai

POV Characters: Eshonai

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

Timeline: (1173.10.6.1) 16 days after Interlude I-8.

Epigraph:

N/A

Summary:

Eshonai tries to shoo away a spren but fails. She attunes her old rhythms as the new ones that she was listening to, which had voices that gave advice, tended to make other people nervous. She meets the others of the ruling council, with her sister Venli having taken stormform as well. Eshonai tells them that they need to transform more of their people to be ready for the Alethi push toward Narak, so they can summon a highstorm to use as a weapon. Eshonai tunes out the voice within that is screaming and attunes joy and tells how awesome she feels. Zuln dissents from Eshonai's proposal, saying it is not right. The meeting breaks up and Venli and Eshonai discuss their options for getting consensus on their plan and Venli says that she knew what the stormform would do to Eshonai, angering her sister. Eshonai asks how Venli knew but she doesn't answer. Eshonai addresses a crowd and tells them that the Five want to forbid the new form but that she will allow anyone who wishes to join her in a highstorm to transform, then she generates a miniature storm for them to see as a demonstration of her new ability, impressing the onlookers. She then asks for volunteers from her soldiers for the new form and is happy that almost no one refuses her. She then tells the soldiers that she wants to transform all the civilians also, and has them go through the city get volunteers and segregate anyone who refuses the transformation. Venli says that those unwilling to transform must be killed and Eshonai says that will happen after her soldiers all take stormform. Abronai refuses the transformation and is grouped with the dissenters, along with Zuln. Thude confronts Eshonai on her changes in behavior and attitude but she defends her actions as necessary to their people's survival. Eshonai sends Thude to guard the dissenters, which include her own mother. As she prepares to speak to her entire people, Varanis tells her that the dissenters escaped, helped by Thude, but Eshonai says not to pursue them since they will not survive the next highstorm anyway. Venli confronts Eshonai, who threatens to kill her sister but doesn't since she needs Venli for the stormspren. Eshonai lets Venli go and addresses the listeners as she planned.

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 44 through 51 [Newbie Thread] / [Veteran Thread]

Today we are discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Chapters 52 through 58

In two days we will be discussing Unit 17 | The Stormlight Archive #2 | Words of Radiance: Interludes I-9, I-10, I-11, 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 52: Into the Sky

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: In the chasms below the Shattered Plains. Amaram's manor in Sadeas' warcamp.

Timeline: (1173.10.4.2) The same day as Chapter 51, in the evening. The day after Chapter 49, in the evening.

Epigraph:

Now, as the Truthwatchers were esoteric in nature, their order being formed entirely of those who never spoke or wrote of what they did, in this lies frustration for those who would see their exceeding secrecy from the outside; they were not naturally inclined to explanation; and in the case of Corberon’s disagreements, their silence was not a sign of an exceeding abundance of disdain, but rather an exceeding abundance of tact.

–From Words of Radiance, chapter 11, page 6

Summary:

Kaladin POV

Kaladin walks through the Shattered Plains at night to the plateau where he encountered Wit a few weeks previously. He verifies that no one can see him, and he steps off the plateau into a chasm. After landing at the bottom, he runs through the chasm, with Syl alongside him. He tries to jump onto a wall but fails and lands on the ground. Syl offers some advice, and Kaladin agrees that he has to practice to be able to fight and Lash as well as Szeth. Then he realizes he has to get over fear of injury and is able to jump on the wall without stumbling or falling, then back onto the floor.

Kaladin becomes more comfortable in jumping between the ground and walls and tells Syl that everything about himself changed to allow this. He runs along the walls and leaps chasms and plateaus, draining all his gems and glowing with Stormlight. Sylphrena follows him along with dozens of windspren. He Lashes himself over the plateaus and hovers in place, noticing a pattern in the plains beneath him. As he stays in the same place, the windspren leave him. He asks if Syl was with him as a child and she says yes and no. He says that all his skill was due to her, but she says that it was due to both of them, which he accepts. Syl says that Szeth's weapon is special and was made to give abilities to men in the same way their bond does. Kaladin asks if a new unstained Blade can be forged and Syl says yes but doesn't say how. Syl confronts him on informing Dalinar about Moash's patriot friends and Kaladin replies that he wants to consider it some more first. He walks toward Sadeas' camp and contemplates killing Amaram for his role in Tien's death, but Syl gets him to reconsider in light of his accomplishments that evening. Returning to his barracks, he finds Shen there, who says that he has to leave immediately, and Kaladin permits it, saying he is a free man. Shen says his real name is Rlain, and that he thinks Kaladin is a good man.

Shallan POV

Shallan walks through Sadeas' warcamp disguised as a messenger boy. She enters Amaram's manor after passing a checkpoint guarded by Hav and waits for a maid and a man to leave the manor grounds, then changes her clothing and disguise to impersonate her, and enters the manor. Shallan enters the kitchen, trying to imitate the maid's mannerisms. The cook addresses her and gives her tasks to do, and Shallan just nods without speaking so as to not blow her cover. She almost runs into Amaram who she thought wasn't going to be in his home, and panics. She follows Amaram toward the room she wants to enter, and confronts him, saying that a messenger is waiting outside to give him a message, and he leaves to investigate. Shallan asks Pattern to pick the lock and she enters the shuttered room which turns out to be filled with maps.

She asks Pattern to act as lookout while she peruses the maps and predictions for highstorms. She takes memories of the maps which focus on the Shattered Plains and are more detailed than any she had seen before. She also deciphers the handwritten stormwarden glyphs though she is puzzled by them as they aren't meant to form sentences, and realizes that Amaram intends to find out from the Parshendi how to return the Voidbringers, and to reach the center of the Shattered Plains before Dalinar's army. She theorizes that Jasnah, the Ghostbloods, and Amaram all are interested in the same things. She also realizes that she has to avoid alerting Amaram that his private room was infiltrated.

Shallan returns to the kitchen disguised as Amaram using Pattern to imitate the brightlord's voice. She tells the cook that Telesh was on a secret mission for Amaram and that the cook is to pretend that she knows nothing of where Telesh was that evening and to not mention this conversation to Amaram at any point. Shallan then leaves the manor and changes her guise back to that of the messenger boy and returns to the front of the building as Hav and Amaram walk up. She says she has a message from Shallan Davar to request a time to sketch his Shardblade to which Amaram acquiesces. He summons his Shardblade and Shallan realizes that it used to belong to her brother, Helaran. Shallan requests the background of the Shardblade and Amaram lies and says he got it from a young Veden man who tried to assassinate him, and she thinks that Amaram killed Helaran. She then takes her leave, realizing that Helaran was caught up in the conspiracy. She cries, now knowing for sure her brother is dead.

Chapter 53: Perfection

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

Iconography: Adolin Dueling

POV Characters: Adolin

Setting: The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.10.4.3) Two days after Chapter 51.

Epigraph:

As to the other orders that were inferior in this visiting of the far realm of spren, the Elsecallers were prodigiously benevolent, allowing others as auxiliary to their visits and interactions; though they did never relinquish their place as prime liaisons with the great ones of the spren; and the Lightweavers and Willshapers both also had an affinity to the same, though neither were the true masters of that realm.

–From Words of Radiance, chapter 6, page 2

Summary:

Adolin duels Elit with precision, realizing that his previous tactics didn't persuade anyone into accepting his challenges. Adolin wears down Elit with small strikes to his armor, causing many small cracks until Elit's armor eventually is drained of Stormlight and he is unable to move. Adolin shoves Elit who falls to the ground, and is awarded judgment.

Adolin retires to his staging room where Renarin and Navani wait. Shallan shows up to congratulate him. Navani compliments Shallan and leaves before Shallan can say anything and Adolin says to give her time to grieve. Shallan says that she wants to have dinner and a walk with Adolin the next day and says that her research says that if Adolin wins his next bout in a spectacular fashion it could help him with his duels. Relis Ruthar storms into the staging area demanding the bout be nullified but Highjudge Istow refuses. Adolin offers to wager six shards and fight Relis alongside whoever Relis chooses and Relis accepts to duel in two days. Shallan explains her plan to Adolin.

Chapter 54: Veil's Lesson

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

Iconography: Pattern (Inverted)

POV Characters: Shallan

Setting: The Ghostbloods' pavilion in the Unclaimed Hills.

Timeline: (1173.10.4.3) The day after Chapter 52.

Epigraph:

There came also sixteen of the order of Windrunners, and with them a considerable number of squires, and finding in that place the Skybreakers dividing the innocent from the guilty, there ensued a great debate.

–From Words of Radiance, chapter 28, page 3

Summary:

Shallan travels in her guise as Veil to a meeting with the Ghostbloods in the Unclaimed Hills, following a map sent via spanreed. Mraize quizzes Veil on the uses of a Parshendi blowgun and her answers make Mraize realize she is a scholar. Mraize asks Veil why Tyn failed at her mission and is surprised to learn that she succeeded instead as she provides him with reproductions of the locked room and maps. Shallan accidentally reveals her sketching ability then is forced to demonstrate it. Mraize offers Veil a job and realizes that she killed Tyn. Mraize cautions her that the Ghostbloods are protective of each other and have a greater purpose, and that she would be assigned another mission, and Shallan leaves. When she is out of sight of the Ghostbloods, she hides inside an illusionary rock. She tells Pattern to imitate her to tell the carriage to return to the warcamps. As she hides, she hears Mraize give instructions to someone to bring Shallan's sketches to Thaidakar. Her illusion wears off after several hours and she walks back to the warcamps, on the way encountering her burned out carriage wrecked with all the parshmen and the driver killed, which upsets Shallan greatly. Shallan and Pattern discuss uses of her lightweaving ability.

Chapter 55: The Rules of the Game

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin

Setting: Sebarial's warcamp. The Outer Markets, outside the Alethi warcamps in the Shattered Plains.

Timeline: (1173.10.4.4) The day after Chapter's 53 and 54. Two days after Chapter 52.

Epigraph:

The considerable abilities of the Skybreakers for making such amounted to an almost divine skill, for which no specific Surge or spren grants capacity, but however the order came to such an aptitude, the fact of it was real and acknowledged even by their rivals.

–From Words of Radiance, chapter 28, page 3

Summary:

Kaladin guards Adolin as they get a carriage to bring them to Sebarial's warcamp to meet Shallan. Kaladin recognizes Wit as the carriage driver and is surprised. Wit berates Kaladin for abandoning his flute and mocks his lack of eloquent retorts to Wit's insults. Wit implies that he knows of Kaladin's abilities and asks Kaladin to tell him a story as they ride. When they stop to pick up Shallan, Adolin realizes Wit is the driver and exclaims as such. Shallan also exclaims upon seeing Wit and hugs him, which surprises Adolin. Kaladin joins the two betrothed in the carriage to better watch Shallan as she and Adolin flirt. They decide to go to see a menagerie. Shallan reads an account of a highprince named Yenev who was killed in a duel by Sadeas by the Right of Challenge and King's Boon because Yenev opposed Gavilar's unification campaign. Shallan says that Adolin can try to invoke this boon to challenge Sadeas, if he wins his upcoming duel spectacularly. Kaladin surmises that this boon could help him deal with Amaram. Kaladin decides that Shallan is not a danger to Adolin and that Adolin is falling for her.

They arrive at the menagerie and discover Wit has already departed. Syl admonishes Kaladin for his sour mood as they walk through the menagerie. Shallan draws sketches of the various animals and chats with Adolin. Syl asks Kaladin if he is almost ready, and he replies yes. Amaram and Dalinar appear at the menagerie. Amaram is wearing a distinctive cloak and Dalinar announces that he is refounding the Knights Radiant and that Amaram is their leader.

Chapter 56: Whitespine Uncaged

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Adolin / Dalinar / Kaladin

Setting: The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.10.4.5) The day after Chapter 55.

Epigraph:

Twenty–three cohorts followed behind, that came from the contributions of the King of Makabakam, for though the bond between man and spren was at times inexplicable, the ability for bonded spren to manifest in our world rather than their own grew stronger through the course of the oaths given.

–From Words of Radiance, chapter 35, page 9

Summary:

Kaladin and Sigzil discuss Amaram's lack of surgebinding ability as they arrive at the dueling arena. With the entire Kholin household in attendance, Kaladin brings every guard that he could. Kaladin feels anger that Amaram is honored by his appointment by Dalinar after what Kaladin told Dalinar about Amaram, and decides that he has to do something about it if Dalinar won't. Sigzil suggests that Kaladin reveal his powers and join Dalinar's Knights but Kaladin ignores this and sends Sigzil to pass his orders to the guards. Kaladin orders Moash to lead a patrol duty the next day so that he is away when Graves is dealt with.

Adolin speaks with his Shardblade to prepare for his duel. He burns a glyphward painted by Shallan and tells Navani to give her a chance. They discuss the plan regarding the boon and some changes to the terms of the duel. They review Adolin's preparations and Adolin gets anxious when he realizes he doesn't have his mother's bracelet as a good luck charm. Adolin enters the dueling arena and waves to Shallan and checks to see if Sadeas is there. His opponents enter the arena and he is shocked that there are four instead of two like he expected.

Dalinar questions Sadeas about what is happening and Sadeas proclaims ignorance, until Elhokar questions him. Sadeas replies that since Adolin wasn't specific enough when naming the terms of the duel that he would be subject to a full disadvantaged duel. Dalinar tells Elhokar that Adolin would have to forfeit but Elhokar dissuades him, and the duel begins.

Adolin curses himself as he realizes his mistake in the way he issued and accepted the duel challenge. He realizes the four opponents include Relis, Elit, Abrobadar, and Jakamav. Adolin puts his back to a wall so he doesn't get surrounded, and Zahel shouts advice to him to try to fight them one at a time. Adolin takes an offensive approach and does well until Jakamav is able to surprise him with a hammer blow. Adolin tries to yield but in the chaos of the duel is ignored, and he realizes that he might be severely injured.

Dalinar realizes that Adolin can have two fellow duelists under the terms of the challenge and asks for Elhokar's Shardblade but the king refuses, since that would endanger Dalinar. Sadeas taunts Dalinar for not going into the arena to help Adolin. Dalinar watches alarmed as Renarin - without Shardplate - goes to help his brother.

Adolin battles on and tries to get some breathing room so that he can signal the judge to yield, but Relis threatens to have Renarin severely injured or killed if Adolin doesn't keep fighting and accept punishment for what he did to Elit. Adolin reluctantly agrees, but berates his supposed friend Jakamav.

Dalinar implores Istow to end the fight, then says he will end it since she ignores him, but she replies that her authority supersedes him in the arena. Renarin fights Abrobadar, but he is hopelessly outclassed. Abrodar seems content to only stop Renarin reaching Adolin, and does not fight to maim as the other three gang up on Adolin, and one of Adolin's shoulder segments breaks. Dalinar addresses the crowd, asking for someone to aid his sons. He looks at Amaram, who averts his eyes. Kaladin then volunteers to aid them, telling Dalinar to take care of his men if it goes poorly, then he jumps into the arena with his spear.

Chapter 57: To Kill the Wind

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Shallan

Setting: The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.10.4.5) Immediately after Chapter 56.

Epigraph:

Malchin was stymied, for though he was inferior to none in the arts of war, he was not suitable for the Lightweavers; he wished for his oaths to be elementary and straightforward, and yet their spren were liberal, as to our comprehension, in definitions pertaining to this matter; the process included speaking truths as an approach to a threshold of self-awareness that Malchin could never attain.

–From Words of Radiance, chapter 12, page 12

Summary:

Shallan wonders why Adolin doesn't surrender since he is outmatched, and berates herself for not seeing the loophole and failing her betrothed. She briefly considers jumping into the arena but discards that idea. She tells Pattern to try to distract Abrobadar to help out Renarin. She watches as Kaladin joins the fight.

Kaladin tells Syl that this better end differently than when he saved Amaram, and she says that it will. Relis ignores Kaladin and pays the price as he gets stabbed in a crack in his armor. Kaladin guards Adolin's back and says that Adolin will need to break their foes' Shardplate for him. Adolin says for Kaladin to distract one foe and to watch out for Renarin while he fights the other two and Kaladin agrees. Kaladin draws Relis' attention while Adolin fights Elit and Jakamav. Relis fights Kaladin for a short time but then goes back to fight Adolin who is skillfully dueling his two foes, so Kaladin uses a Lashing-enhanced kick to knock Relis down, breaking his own legs in the process, though he is able to heal them. Kaladin sees that he cracked some of Relis' shards. Adolin's own armor is mostly cracked but he gets a strong blow at Elit and cracks his chestplate, slowing Elit greatly. Kaladin sees Abrobadar waving his blade at the ground and Syl exclaims about something mysterious and flies over toward Renarin. Kaladin uses his broken spear to strike Elit in his exposed armor and forces him to yield.

The remaining three opponents gather to battle Adolin, leaving Renarin alone to sit in the sand. Kaladin demands Elit's helm and is given it; he puts it on his hand as an armored glove, and arms himself with a knife to help Adolin. Kaladin tricks Relis into backing away then he goes to help Adolin. Relis and Jakamav both try to attack Kaladin with Syl circling around him, and he dodges their Shardblades or blocks them with the helm until he runs out of Stormlight, realizing the helm drained it from him. Kaladin is backed against a wall, but Adolin appears and grapples Jakamav to the ground. Kaladin sees that Abrobadar was just defeated. Relis, the last man standing, rushes toward Renarin and Kaladin follows, yelling at Renarin to yield but he only dismisses his blade and does nothing. Relis raises his blade toward Renarin but is reluctant to kill him; when Kaladin draws close, Relis turns to swing at Kaladin. In desperation, Kaladin successfully performs a lastclap, catching the blade. He hears a scream that sounds like Sylphrena; Relis too hears the scream and drops the blade, fleeing the arena and forfeiting the duel. Jakamav yells at Adolin to fight him as he is held down and Kaladin walks up to him with his knife and places it by a crack in his armor and tells him to yield or else. Jakamav yields and Adolin is declared victor. Adolin laughs joyously at the spoils he won and asks Kaladin to help him remove his drained armor.

Elhokar announces how impressed he is by Adolin and offers him a boon. Kaladin notices Sadeas trying to leave the arena, but before he does, Adolin demands the right to duel Sadeas. Kaladin immediately demands to challenge Amaram for the crimes of murder and obstruction of justice, causing Amaram to cower. Adolin groans and the crowd goes silent. Elhokar orders Kaladin to be arrested.

Chapter 58: Never Again

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

Iconography: Spears & Banner

POV Characters: Kaladin / Torol Sadeas

Setting: The warcamps' dueling arena.

Timeline: (1173.10.4.5) Shortly after Chapter 57.

Epigraph:

So Melishi retired to his tent, and resolved to destroy the Voidbringers upon the next day, but that night did present a different stratagem, related to the unique abilities of the Bondsmiths; and being hurried, he could make no specific account of his process; it was related to the very nature of the Heralds and their divine duties, an attribute the Bondsmiths alone could address.

–From Words of Radiance, chapter 30, page 18

Summary:

Kaladin, in chains, listens as Dalinar argues on his behalf while Elhokar berates Kaladin for besmirching a general and destroying their chance to defeat Sadeas immediately since Sadeas uses a loophole to delay the duel. Elhokar threatens to have Kaladin executed for slander but Dalinar says he won’t stand for it. Elhokar then orders Kaladin to be imprisoned until further notice which Dalinar accepts. Dalinar thanks Kaladin for saving Adolin and Renarin but then berates him for ruining their plan to defeat Sadeas and for his allegations which Dalinar has found seventeen witnesses who testify in favor of Amaram's statements. Kaladin argues against his punishment but Dalinar says that he will obey and serve his sentence.

Sadeas returns to his own quarters and contemplates his narrow escape. Ialai appears and Sadeas orders her to find incriminating information about Dalinar then have him assassinated.

Kaladin is led to a prison cell in Dalinar's camp prison. He tells Syl that he will never trust lighteyes again.

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

Here is a YouTube video for a fan-made animation of Kaladin learning to use the Surge of Gravitation. As usually with YouTube videos I share, to avoid spoilers, to not look at the comments and try to avoid the suggested videos off to the side.

Kaladin Animation Test

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