Timewaster's Guide Archive

However, I can't help but sit in awe at the sheer time frames that must be involved with these events.  Just how old is Hoid, now, anyway?  He was apparently alive before Scadriel was created, which is implied to be on something approaching geological time-scales.

Well, clearly it's in the thousands of years.  Hoid apparently isn't a shard but IS something greater than human.

Mistborn, takes place a thousand years after the Emperor takes power (and there is all that time BEFORE the Emperor's ascension too - we're not even sure how long that is!).  Obviously Hoid had been around a while even then (without spoilers let's just say that evidence of shards on Scadriel was there and well documented).

We don't have epic landmarks in time for Warbreaker or Elantris like that (at best we have hundreds of years that they're counting) nor do we really have a reference for when those happened in relation to each other (unless Hoid has clues too subtle for us to pick up on).

Back to Hoid...

Hoid is the one who has all the knowledge in play but who cannot (it seems), due to some sort of non-interference clause (either natural - possibly even biological - or ethical or metaphysical) directly play a role in crucial events going forward from The Shattering - in EVERY face-to-face appearance, he's SOUGHT OUT...he doesn't come actively seeking to influence events!

I've noticed that Hoid is usually sought out by characters (or at least summoned - he NEVER waltzes up to characters uninvited - it seems that he has to be invited to intervene what little he can).  Also, he usually comes at night. [Geez...I make him sound like a vampire]

Sarene enlists his aid.  He insists upon meeting her only at night.
Kelsier goes out and finds him.  This is at night, while the mists are out.
Elend goes to meet him in the camp.  This is at night - there are references to Mist and campfires.
Vin almost goes to see him but stops herself.  This is also "late at night".
Lightsong and Siri summon him during the day (they cannot leave the court of the gods though and Siri is rarely let into the court as is - and she's been closeted with her husband every night so Hoid had to change his Modus operandi). 

I have my suspicions that the only coming out at night is partly to hide what Siri notices easily but dismisses as eccentricities or marks of his station - that he's much younger than he pretends to be.

I'll second that - let's think of it as a practice run...years early.

I work nights and I can never get one off?  Plus, if I ever try to get more than 30 miles from work I will be plagued with phonecalls and crying.

Happy munching-day!  ^_^

Perhaps this explains my REALLY strange dream and the mission objectives that I awoke with...

I want to watch this proposed thread!

Holistic Omnipresent Intelligence Deity

Bearer of infinite exposition.
I strongly suspect that he is strongly adhered to the Cognitive realm and not firmly fixed to the Physical (if I'm wrong, keep in mind that I have only read his commercially published works, Warbreaker drafts and sample chapters - and I avoid reading Spoiler cuts).

At least, that's how I view him until proven otherwise or until I gain more understanding of Sanderson's cosmology and revise this.