Bonds of a Feather: Investiture on First of the Sun

So a guy and two birds are on a deserted island... And everything tries to kill them.
Hundreds of years after the bestselling Stormlight Archive, Sixth of the Dusk is a fascinating exploration of vital Cosmere topics, as well as an interesting retrospective on the as yet unknown future of these works.
Also this video has one of my most ambitious Cosmere theories yet!
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Stories referenced: Sixth of the Dusk, Shadows for Silence, Elantris, the Stormlight Archive - Oathbringer
BotanicaXu is the best! Check out more of her stuff here:
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Thanks to Bernardo Curvello for the PERFECT Sarene art!
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Chouta Recipe: / week_31_inspired_by_ma...
Mistborn Recipes: www.tor.com/2018/06/25/cosmer...

[@sKyWIperzzz]

Your channel is hands down the best cosmere content on yt

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thank you! I'm just happy to be able to share my obsession.

[@voidsabre_]

Well, we finally got confirmation that The Ones Above ARE from Scadrial (or, at least, their ships launch via allomancy)

[@TheCosmerenaut]

True. But we also got confirmation that the Ones Above aren't the ONLY ones above!

[@cooldawg2009]

How do we know they launch via aalomancy?

[@gavatron8054]

@@cooldawg2009 probably from words of brandon

[@ericdculver]

This is a plausible theory. I think that the traditional view and this are both right though. My thought is that Scadrial or Roshar creates spaceships, then proceeds to the other worlds to trade. So then the Ones Above are a mixture of peoples from all the worlds, Scadrian, Rosharan, Nalthian, etc.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

That makes sense. By this point in the Cosmere, different investiture technology has definitely been shared between worlds.

[@kelkamer630]

I love it. Interesting that Sixth has had Herdazian food 🤔

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Right! That's what really made me start thinking about this theory.

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

Sixth of the Dusk might be my favorite Cosmere story

[@TheCosmerenaut]

It's so good!

[@danielburow8538]

You need to do more of these! You are truely talented, and also need to put out a publishing schedule. I looked at my channels every day for a rafo update. Awesome stuff dude.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thank you! My goal is to release a video every week, but a brand new baby hinders that more than I expected. I'll see if I can put something together a bit more realistic. Thanks!

[@Jaryth000]

Absolutely amazing as usual! I dont usually dable in theory, but damn this one blew my mind! Gotta share this around

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thanks! I don't usually delve deep into theory either, but this one just makes SO MUCH SENSE.

[@callianr6980]

I wish I was as good at creating magic systems as Brandon. They're all so unique and different. All of mine just end up being a different way to explain fireballs. I wonder though, when does he find the time to THINK of all this stuff, though?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

In going through the WoB Arcanum, I've noticed most of his ideas just pop up during regular life. Like the deed for Mistborn was when he was driving through some really dense fog, and the Reckoners was just a response to the popularity of superhero movies.

[@thatnerdygaywerewolf9559]

Or feruchemy coming from having insomnia

[@TheTheode]

Magic systems are stupid, magic should be mysterious and fantastical, not some video game power-fantasy ruleset. The reason why the magic in lotr is cool is because it’s a facet of the world of middle earth, it’s effectively the music of the angels, meanwhile the folks in mistborn are eating metal so they can fly and the people in storm light are wearing power armor and fighting with lightsabers in zero gravity.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Hard vs. soft magic systems. Sanderson prefers hard, though he does respect and value soft. His "Laws of Sanderson" articles on his website talk about that.

[@TheTheode]

Read And Find Out I’ve seen his lectures about it and while I can respect the internal consistency of the systems and how they can help you understand what’s going on, I still prefer a more mysterious type of magic. Personally, I think having the main character be a magic user is not my type of storytelling. I do enjoy his characters and settings though, the king’s wit was a personal favourite of mine, he reminded of Shakespeare’s feste, or the fool from the elderlings.

[@picivyvortac2641]

I find it possible that the perpendicularity on first of the sun was once more stable. An aviar does show up on Roshar after all. Additionally given the hunt/hunter mentality of Mraize it's possible that he is from there.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Mraize is canonically from Thaylenah, but given that we've seen not just one, but TWO aviar off world at this point, there totally may have been a more accessible route onto First of the Sun in the past.

[@picivyvortac2641]

@@TheCosmerenaut are you sure he's from thaylenah? I know he had a "Babsk" but she was from Scadriel and he doesn't have the eyebrows. Could the concept of submission to a master of an art not just be another thing he picked up?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

He's definitely from Roshar (wob.coppermind.net/events/445/#e14217) and the circumstantial evidence points to him being Thaylen. He may just trim his eyebrows to blend in easier.

[@matiasgagliardone7545]

I really need more of this videos! I check every day to see if there's a new one.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I should have one out by the end of this week. Sorry!

[@geoffreywright7563]

I love your postings. I've got to re-read Sixth of the Dusk.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Do it! It's definitely one of my favorites.

[@ethanellefson1467]

I have to say, I think that the First of the Sun's creatures having a "cognitive awareness" sounds a lot like psionic powers from other fiction. Only cooler, because it make more sense. I also really like the idea where the bonds are with a biological creature, and not just one made purely of investiture, like on Roshar. Just my personal preference.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

First of the Sun is definitely one of my favorite Cosmere planets. I can't wait to learn more about what's going on there!

[@JoeWDye]

youre videos are really good! I learned a lot and enjoyed doing so.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thank you!

[@thanielxj11]

Thank you for making these videos.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

My pleasure!

[@joshcash5768]

Love your stuff Steve

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thanks Josh!

[@ellehjames5809]

Fantastic! I agree with your theory!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thanks! I'm glad it makes sense!

[@charlesdivittorio9135]

I saw your timeline video and it made me think about this again. Since so much time has passed, wouldn't it make sense that there's entire societies of world hoppers using investiture from all over? Maybe there are rules they must follow because the Knights Radiant have evolved into a Cosmere wide police force. Awesome videos!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thanks! The trouble is, we don't yet know how much time has passed between Era 3 and Era 4, so it's hard to gauge the technological development of the different worlds ay this point.

[@enahz]

keep up the great work :)

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thanks!

[@morganlandt8469]

I like the Rosharan theory as well because Brandon is always subverting expectations and Scadrians make too much sense. Another thing that I've thought about with First of the Sun is that now Dusk has shared knowledge of the worms of Investiture so it would make sense for the company to start experimenting with human bonds, cutting out the middle bird if you will. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this world!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I believe there's a WoB saying they've tried to have humans ingest Patji's worms before, but it didn't work. If there's a way to hack it though, that's a different story.

[@morganlandt8469]

I need to start getting into to WoB sessions, I think I miss quite a bit from them. Thank you for the info!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

They're searchable! Wob.coppermind.net

[@morganlandt8469]

Awesome, I've done some digging in the copperminds and will be on that soon. I look forward to SA discussions, I have some good notes from Oathbringer!

[@animalia5554]

Cultivating them if you will?

[@tonyoliver4920]

MOAR!!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I'm working on it! Should have another video out by the end of this week.

[@Hadrian1616]

Well informed you are

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Why thank you!

[@ryanratchford2530]

5:20 Roshar Theory

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Good bookmark.

[@fluffywolfo3663]

4:25 Let's be honest we were all thinking it

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Wait, what are we thinking?

[@fluffywolfo3663]

@@TheCosmerenaut I _think_ I was saying that it was during the space opera period. ...It was a year ago. I'm just guessing. :P

[@katokhaelan4881]

Only bad thing I have to say about your channel is not enough videos! ;)

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I can't help but agree! I'll try to improve, based on your poignant feedback! ;)

[@duathhadron5040]

And now we know that The Ones Above are Rosharan!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

At least some of them are!

[@duathhadron5040]

@@TheCosmerenaut fair enough! Thank you for the amazing videos! Keep up the good work!

[@luiszomarriba8700]

I think Harmony could potentially give rules to conquerors

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Possibly. Not sure how *involved* he would necessarily be though.

[@AnthonyMLT]

MORE!NOW!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I'm working on it! 😆

[@andrewtovey7633]

Can we please talk about Mraise’s Aviar? I’ve not seen anyone mention it yet but, clearly that’s what his green ‘chicken’ is

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Oh yeah, he's got a magic chicken for sure.

[@ethanellefson1467]

I'm pretty sure that his aviar gives his sensitivity to others' presence. That's why in RoW Veil comments on him always knowing when someone is sneaking up on him.

[@Jevaughn]

If this was Twitter I'd be posting a galaxy brain meme - lol. Wow, you make a great case for Rosharans being the spacefarers here instead of Scadrians. You a lawyer in real life? :-) Even though it's the most speculative part, I think your point about the "aliens" weird refusal to trade until the locals became advanced enough is key. People from Scadrial operate closest to us real world humans - There'd be no such looong absolutist delay with anyone from there. However I do think that Scadrians would take less time to advance to space travel than Rosharans - It's just a matter of how the timelines line up between books to determine who are actually in space first, which Brandon hasn't told us. I mean, are the events of "The Bands of Mourning" happening before the Stormlight Archive series begins? Anyway, good stuff man.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Haha, nope not a lawyer! I'm actually a sign language interpreter for my day job. From what I remember, the Wax and Wayne series takes place between the two halves of Stormlight, which makes me think there's potential for crossover/technology sharing that will help facilitate later space travel. Thanks!

[@Jevaughn]

Cool! My sister's best friend does sign language for church services. Maybe one day I'll muster the real Intent to learn... (Get it? "Intent" ~ "Investiture"? Lol.) If Mistborn Era 2 happens when you say, then the hints in that last book about worldhoppers interfering on Scadrial and the ominous energy signature Harmony saw open up so much speculation, it's crazy. Brandon must be chuckling at us every day.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

"There's always another secret."

[@randyrussell2583]

If the investiture there isnt the cause of and shard does that mean it is there due to adonalsium? Like it was the invested planet or one of the planets he himself watched over when thards came to be they followed suit kinda like. A certain dawnshard seems to have a certain worlds magic system based upon its form of investiture. ?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Yep, it's just got latent investiture kicking around. Though I suppose the placement of a Dawnshard there would make good sense...

[@janciosadsky3709]

Does mraize have any one of those birds? When mentioning chickens

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Oh yeah, he's got an Aviar.

[@dracorim6370]

Here is the problem with the Ones Above being Rosharon, their tech is able to be duplicated on a different planet, Fabrial technology should not be able to be duplicated off of Roshar as it requires two things first spren which only exist in the Rosharon system and secondly stormlight which only exists on Roshar itself. There is many other reasons why the Rosharons can't be the Ones Above but I can't be bothered to explain all of them.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Of course it's not a perfect theory, but I still think it's plausible. In fact, we've already seen world-locked investiture function off world: the Ire in Secret History shouldn't have access to the Dor away from Sel, but they do, so there have to be hacks to enable things like that. And as I explained in the video, perfect gemstones should allow for storage and travel of stormlight. We won't know for sure either way likely until Mistborn Era 4, so I think a certain amount of speculation is fun.

[@dracorim6370]

@@TheCosmerenaut Yeah I agree and I have recently thought of something that would make it easier for travel between worlds for Rosharans, else calling fabrials which would make it easier for travel between worlds via the Cognitive Realm. Also there could be by this point in the history of the Cosmere interplanetary alliances such as between Scadrial and Roshar which would make perfect sense if we assume humans are still fighting Odium on Roshar and Scadrial is being attacked by Odium in the Wax and Wayne novels, Harmony could have arranged an alliance with Hoid as he seemed interested in the letters, They could have merged use of their magic systems allowing burning of metals to produce investiture and Rosharon specific abilities to use powerful investiture abilities cheaply.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

That totally makes sense! Really, once we hit Era 3 of Mistborn, everything's going to be so interconnected that there will have to be some sort of alliance or treaty structure between the planets just to ensure peace. Awesome thoughts!

[@dracorim6370]

@@TheCosmerenaut I just thought of something, Harmony during Era 2 seems to regret accelerating the development of the Scadrians in the Elendel Basin so he may have decided to make a rule for himself and those who serve him to not do so, which could explain why the Ones Above have rules but they seem willing to bend them as there will be people in their society who would want to exploit the Firsters so a small group could have done it, not the Rosharans as I think that only Knight Radiants -if they still exist would- be allowed to interact with those of other worlds so if there is an alliance it would have to be the Scadrians as the Windrunners, Skybreakers and possibly the Lightweavers by their nature wouldn't allow the sort of bending of rules and cutting sections of the journey out and this could be a problem for all Radiants who would want to do this sort of thing.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

The trouble is we just don't know at this point how each of their societies are going to develop.

[@nickdossegger2156]

Great Vid like always RAFO, but your Sixth of Dusk theories needs a revisit with the new sequel reading from an RoW Release Stream (Link below). SPOILERS SPOILERS Do not click the link if you don't want future books to be ruined! And skip this comment if you don't want to be tempted with SPOILERS but nothing in this comment is spoilers because I am no monster haha Massive spoilers for what ERA 4ish of Cosmere might look like and the Shards of the Cosmere. The below link is of reading by Brandon Sanderson @ Rythme of War Release of Sixth of Dusk 2. Personally: The spoilers in the reading aren't Plot ruining now. BUT! They can be for future books like Mistborn Era 3 and Stormlight 5-10. Even in the recording, Sanderson says don't listen if you don't want spoilers and wait 15 years. haha That being said, I treat the story as foreshadowing, and I doubt that it will be narrative-destroying. Sanderson would have not done the reading on the internet if it would kill the plots of future books. Brandon Sanderson is a professional storyteller after all, but this audio was posted by a fan, Pagerunner. So maybe Sanderson didn't know it would get out but I feel like Sanderson knows he is always being recorded at book events. I can't wait for SciFi Age of the Cosmere and Sanderson's excitement and itch to share this story makes me happy. You can tell he has been sitting on some seriously awesome projects and kinda couldn't wait any longer to tell us. SPOILERS!! NONE of this is Cannon yet..... wob.coppermind.net/events/448-row-release-party/#e14408

[@TheCosmerenaut]

It's true, the Ones Above are definitely from Scadrial. But there are OTHER ones above that are Rosharan! So in a way I was both wrong and right!

[@benmerkin3202]

So as cool as this Theory is something just doesn’t sit right with me. Stormlight Era 2 takes place 15 years after Era 1, and while Rosharans may still be around by Mistborn Era 4 it’s much less satisfying to have them as this huge organization when their series ended centuries ago. I think it’s more of a Ghostbloods situation, where they’ve incorporated a lot of Rosharan tech and some Rosharan people into their organization

[@TheCosmerenaut]

It's official that the Ones Above are Scadrian, but if you've read the excerpt from the Sixth of the Dusk sequel, Rosharans do make an appearance.

[@ethanellefson1467]

Do you think that if someone could tweak their digestive system using some type of investiture, that they could obtain a talent like the aviar by consuming the worms of Patji? Or perhaps they would also need to change their spiritual self, perhaps by forming a connection with Autonomy?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

They'd have to somehow form a symbiotic and spiritual bond, which would be really difficult. Possible maybe, but difficult.

[@Shinesprk]

Mini theory for you: We have already seen a spaceship on Roshar. Remember that giant unfathomable fabrial inside of Urithiru?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I'm surprised how much traction this theory is getting in the rest of the fandom. Frankly, I'm for it!

[@ShirleyTimple]

Brandon apparently shot down the Urithuru is a space ship theory

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Too good to be true, I suppose.

[@lonsunokrogan]

After Brandon's reading for the Rhythm of War release party I really want more... Also the ones from above are definitely not who you think lol

[@TheCosmerenaut]

But the Ones Above aren't the only ones above! I say I'm sorta kinda half right maybe.

[@lonsunokrogan]

@@TheCosmerenaut you where definitely right, but that is the best part. Because you were right but you didn't know all of it. Just remember there is always another secret.

[@jonasnunn9685]

Quick question what is mistborn era 4?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Brandon's original conception of Mistborn was a trilogy of trilogies: classic medieval sword and sorcery time period, which became Final Empire; a 1980's tech time period, and a space age time period. With the writing of the Wax and Wayne series, which fits before the 1890's trilogy, each time period has become known as Era 1 for the original, Era 2 for Alloy of Law, Era 3 for the upcoming (possibly) Cold War style spy thriller, and Era 4 for Scadrians in space.

[@neodigremo]

That's not a bad case for them to be Rosharan. It should also be noted that historically we know that large populations from Roshar have moved from one world to another. The biggest problem though is that if you travel from Roshar via interstellar space you will be travelling for a ridiculously long time. There is nothing in surgebinding that makes the time aspect workable that I can think of. Even at the speed of light travel would take years. By comparison the time manipulation hacks of allomancy (especially since we know speed bubbles can be made within a bigger one) and nicrosil feruchemy, or even simply using steel would make interstellar travel in the physical world more plausible. So could Rosharans make a ship and deal with supply problems and the like? No question. But they might not be able to manage to travel between worlds in a remotely reasonable timeframe? Doubtful.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

That's true; the speed of travel would have to be tweaked via a Radiant ability or fabrial we haven't seen yet. Or by that point in Cosmere history, we've just got huge crossovers in technology between worlds, with Rosharans using Scadrian cube-like devices to create speed-bubbles of their own. In fact, I've thought for a while how weirdly specific Brandon has been in placing Mistborn Era 2 between the two halves of Stormlight.

[@neodigremo]

Hmmm, Rosharan fabrials to overcome supply and materials issues, and Scadrian magitek to allow relatavistic travel. I like it. But could a Spren actually leave Roshar? Being personifications of thoughts and concepts and realities there? Perhaps but it is a question I would love to ask Brandon..

[@TheCosmerenaut]

From what I remember from WoB's, it's possible, but it would have to be hacked. It's a similar issue to using Aon Dor outside of Sel.

[@neodigremo]

Well if the spren got bonded to someone who had the ability to create connections (a Soulbearer Feruchemist, or a Forger) it might work.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Interesting idea!

[@deevee5327]

Very late to the party but I don't think the space folk are from Roshar. Roshar's investiture is heavily tied to their planet and, as discussed several times in the Rhythm of War book, nothing Roshar-invested can leave the star system - not stormlight, not spren, nada. At least not thrugh things they have now.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Did you watch the Rhythm of War release party? Basically, I was half right.

[@daniellamunoz8894]

Holy shit that’s genius!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thanks! I do my best!

[@noelhann5262]

Mistborn era 4? How many eras of mistborn are there going to be?!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Only four, as long as Brandon doesn't accidentally write another in between trilogy.

[@noelhann5262]

@@TheCosmerenaut isn’t that what era 2 is? An accidental era? I read somewhere in between when I commented and when you replied that he might try and do an era in between era 3 and 4 where it’s near future cyberpunk, which I think would be very cool

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Yeah, Wax and Wayne was "unintentional." At this point, era 3 will be roughly 1980's tech, and era 4 will be space age. I'd never complain about another oopsie set!

[@macmay3042]

One relevant WoB about Aviar, and the other possible talents they have: wob.coppermind.net/events/9-calamity-philadelphia-signing/#e7447 Basically he just says some of them might be useful for navigation. My personal theory: Someone thinks that there's an aviar talent that can be used to help find Yolen, or get to it.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Interesting... Thanks Tim!

[@robhurlocker7040]

I'm curious whether you still hold this theory after the excerpt that Brandon read during his RoW Virtual Release Party - the sequel to Sixth of Dusk.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Given that the launch platform is made of steel, yeah they're Scadrians. But it did confirm that the Ones Above aren't the ONLY ones above!

[@bryanmcclure2220]

I real should read first of the sun

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Get on it! It's in Arcanum Unbounded!

[@noelhann5262]

I don't think that first of the sun is a shard world because there isn't a shard there

[@TheCosmerenaut]

It's classified as a minor shardworld technically, because while there's no full shard in residence, Patji is actually an avatar of Autonomy.

[@Joka191095]

I have kind of a big question for anyone willing to answer. Where can I find all of this information about the shards and stuff? Is it all in Stormlight? I'm about to start reading Stormlight now that I finished Mistborn Era 1 and 2 and Warbreaker. I've also read a couple of short stories, but I've never gotten the bigger picture of the Cosmere how this dude explains it. Will I get my answer once I start reading Stormlight?

[@voidsabre_]

The primary place for most of this stuff is Mistborn: Secret History, as well as some in Stormlight and some being just questions Brandon answered

[@TheCosmerenaut]

^Correct^ The epigraphs in Stormlight provide good info as well, but many of the details have come from interviews and Q&As with Brandon.

[@guillermorodriguez3509]

Wow my mind has been blown, this is really like a plotwist made by Brandon, in most books he leaves the pieces of the twist spread so you can connect the dots and making Scadrial the ones above would obviously be too obvious since its their space era. Wow what a great theory.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Thanks! I'm particularly proud of this one.

[@mulf4812]

Now that i think about it, remember how much stormlight cost to do a illusion, maybe its not that much, but, they are not in roshar=no highstorm, and i don't think that they have a bondsmith with them (up to 3 bondsmith all time so a bondsmith its like a VIP, unless the place where the ones above are its a permanent city/place), Space scadrial, yes maybe the medallions need to be worn but aparently they don't need anything to operate and maybe you can change the design (necklace to a watch, earphone or something).

[@TheCosmerenaut]

That's where perfect gemstones come in to play: they could function basically as stormlight batteries. Though Brandon has said that it would be possible to use surgebinding off-world, but you'd probably have to hack it somehow, like any other magic system.

[@mulf4812]

And why not all 3?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Wait, all three what?

[@mulf4812]

@@TheCosmerenaut all 3: Roshar, Scadrial, Taldain stellar civs like one.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Oh, that's totally possible! However, in FotS they mention that there are other civilizations apart from the Ones Above that wouldn't be similarly bound, so there has to be at least someone else out there.

[@braxton69]

Bro?

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I promise, I'm not dead. Just busy. You should see another video out soon!