"Magic is what makes fantasy fantastic," someone says, "you can't apply rules to them or else it loses wonder!" I respond, "Sure, but if you want to write them you will certainly want to know how they work." Writing is all about execution, and I find applying some basic laws of physics to magic systems make them more understandable and realistic. Here, I'm going to outline my basic method for developing a magic system.
Column by Chaos2651
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Or perhaps "binding" them is what changed the Parshendi into the Parshmen.
Btw who is Thaidakar? At first I thought he was some random name who would become apparent in a latter book, but it seems I have missed his name a couple of times (i'm not very good with names and i haven't got around to my second reading yet). Do we know who he is, or are we only making wild guesses?We don't really know yet.
From what Amaram said, he might be the leader of the Ghostbloods.
Well, it says it can bind "voidish" creatures, which I assume means Voidbringers. And it doesn't seem to make much sense to be able to bind them into the Oathpact.So far, the only real information on the Dawnshards that we have comes from Jasnah's notes in the epigraphs:
'Taking the Dawnshard, known to bind any creature voidish or mortal, he crawled up the steps crafted for Heralds, ten strides tall apiece, toward the grand temple above."
I'm curious as to exactly what "bind" means in this context.
Binded to the oathpact maybe?
The cut and type of the gem determines what kind of spren are attracted to it and can be imprisoned in it.
random thought- what if forced out of tranquiline halls just = forced to planet hop to escape?
edit: on further consideration, this doesn't seem to likely. but if we have seen the dawnsigners' language on another planet, there must be something more to it. Also, does Szeth have any lines in his native language? although the line from the interlude doesn't have any common words, shin = descendants of dawnsingers could explain his knowledge of lashings & the stone shamans' supposed power. also, it's interesting to note that the parshendi are super east, and the high storms come from the east, and the shin are super west. although the fact that shin were in the knights radiant does make this unlikely
Lord-Ruler referred to himself as a "Splinter of Divinity", no?
The idea of Seons as splinters gaining consciousness makes me think about Nightblood -- perhaps that much breath to awaken a sword is effectively ripping a splinter off Endowment. Temporarily damming the river where normal awakenings are more like dipping a bucket in.
Well, something is up with that sword. It baffled Vasher why he (gender used simply for convenience) had any personality at all. Something odd happened during its creation. It's almost like a new creation, akin to creating a human. Akin to creating a child.
Since God Kings apparently can create children (from Brandon via Peter, I think), maybe this is related.
I took Nightblood more to be an example of "if you put enough Breaths into something you can permanently Awaken it." With a sword (which isn't very much like a human body) it took 1,000 Breaths to Awaken; the result was Nightblood. With a dead human body (which is very much like a human body) it takes 1 Breath to Awaken; the result is a Lifeless.
This isn't a bad idea, but there are lots of things in the world that are more human than a metal sword, which should be able to be permanently awakened with less effort in this theory. They would be awfully useful to have around too; a very practical discovery. Brandon doesn't show us any, though. Not only does he not show us any, but the person who comments on Nightblood's status-Vasher-is an expert on the subject of Awakening, as much as experts exist in his world. No, I think something more is going on with Nightblood. Something very unusual happened when that sword awoke.
So far, the only real information on the Dawnshards that we have comes from Jasnah's notes in the epigraphs:
'Taking the Dawnshard, known to bind any creature voidish or mortal, he crawled up the steps crafted for Heralds, ten strides tall apiece, toward the grand temple above."
I'm curious as to exactly what "bind" means in this context.
The question I ask is that if their powers are so vastly reduced as they travel away from Elantris (that's a fact) then what power are they using to planet-hop?They could have just used the teleporting Aon to make a one-way trip from Sel.
There's a small amount of time between letting go of a shardblade and it dematerializing, but it's long enough to cut through something as it's falling.QuoteHe cursed, yanking Gallant in a tight turn, but the tail came too quickly. It slammed into Gallant, and in a heartbeat Dalinar found himself rolling, Oathbringer tumbling from his fingers and slicing a gash in the stone ground before puffing to mist.
The only scenario I can imagine where Shalan's father gives the shardblade to her is: "Take this blade, kill your brother and give it back to me." That would also give Shalan a motive and explain the broken soulcaster.
It would not explain the man in a pool of blood. While the second-shardblade-strike theory has a ring to it, it still would not work since dead people don't bleed.
My favorite theory: Father beats son senseless, Shalan stabs father with conventional weapon (or steak knife), stormblade materialises, she picks it up and drops it again. Could a dropping shardblade cause the damage to the soulcaster before vaporizing?
A man in a rage has a tendency to lose outer layers of clothing so he can beat people up. I can see a very angry man throw his coat to the ground to remove the restrictions, both mentally and physically, that are implied by said coat. (Removing a physical layer allows greater freedom of movement, the coat of a nobleman also implies restraint and control. Throwing it off just makes sense.)
Shallan's father stands up from the table in a rage, charges over and attacks Nan Balat, shattering his leg and rendering him unconcious. He turns to the table, gripping the edges for a brief moment before continuing his beating of the now-unconscious boy. Shallan grabs a steaknife and stabs her father in the back. Her father dies, slumping over the table. Shardblade materializes. In shock, Shallan bends down and picks up the blade, not really realizing what she is seeing. When her mind refocuses, she realizes what she has done, leaps back and drops the blade. The blade cuts through her father's coat, lying on the ground, and shears the soulcaster.
Deep-seated guilt and emotions prevent Shallan from telling anyone about the blade.
Fast forward a year or so, and you have the Shallan of today.
