Prologue to Stormlight Book 5

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[@tangerinebasket]

szeth-son-son-vallano wore white on the day he was to do the entire cosmere a massive rusting favour

[@deathmistress8012]

LMAO 🤣

[@_anansi_]

😂

[@niveshproag3761]

a rusting favour...a storming favour...I love how every world has their flavour of swear words

[@darhaha3391]

This chapter really makes Gavilar look like an A-hole lol

[@Miguel211216]

​@@darhaha3391 he was hahaha a piece of shit normally the people that ended in charge after a war hahaha

[@gabrieldecock5050]

Before Stormlight 5 Prologue: "Oh No! The Good King Gavilar has been assassinated!" After Stormlight 5 Prologue: "Go shin boy go"

[@eleishar18]

I think Stormlight 4 was enough to make people hate Gavilar.

[@Bronimin]

Dunking on Navani is pretty based actually

[@gabrieldecock5050]

@@Bronimin "Dunking on" is a weird way to describe abusing your partner but ok

[@ninakrishnamurthy6674]

@@eleishar18 I think you could argue Starlight 3 was enough. At least it was for me

[@hmmmooops]

Everyone he dismissed became a radiant. Everyone he trusted ended up failing and falling. Everyone he drove away was not there to save him and he died alone. Perfect.

[@haldalas]

dude got exactly what was coming to him and I couldn't be happier

[@jacobross6017]

@@haldalas P

[@MrWambam62]

Right!? One of my favorite parts is when he thanks Sadeas for selflessly volunteering. Like, Sadeas was just trying to make sure all of his machinations didn't crumble. He even says "I've worked too hard to put you on that throne" and it goes right over Gavilar's head lol

[@this-sky]

And he instantly discounts Taravangian… who ascends higher than Gavilar even thought was possible

[@sanai97]

he's a conservative through and through. Blind and gutless

[@awes5893]

Stormfather really told Gavilar to RAFO. Amazing.

[@nomisunrider6472]

Gavilar is really trying to password hack the First Ideal. No wonder the Stormfather was so grumpy with Dalinar, having to deal with this asshole for years probably soured him on everyone and it took him a while to figure out that Dalinar actually means it.

[@valarya]

@@nomisunrider6472 Something makes me think it isn't really the stormfather here speaking to Gavilar. Why would he lie and say all the heralds were back in Damnation when we know that isn't true? Something isn't adding up here..

[@PaleBrownDot]

Is this really the Stormfather? The description of their appearance doesn't match.

[@awes5893]

@@PaleBrownDot if I had to guess, no, probably not. I'm almost convinced by the Ishar theory myself.

[@nomisunrider6472]

@@valarya We do know from the Stormfather than he was giving Gavilar visions, so they were in contact. Maybe he was impersonated when he told Gavilar that, or he was misled or influenced.

[@lushedleshen]

Seeing Gavilar gaslight Dalinar like that… Szeth did good.

[@zachricca4546]

#Szethdidnothingwrong :3

[@lushedleshen]

@@zachricca4546 oh no, Szeth did a lot of horrible things in the name of his honor. But by my estimation, Bran Stark’ing Gavilar was not one of them.

[@zachricca4546]

@@lushedleshen sure, but its still a fun meme position to take

[@fildariusv7045]

Just seeing how much of an expert at manipulation he was, carefully gaslighting his own brother into leaving the room because he couldn't be bothered to care for a moment about his family... It makes my blood boil, Storms!

[@daniabbe5197]

Honor isn't dead as long as Brandon's still writing

[@limelight1938]

Underrated comment!!! 🤏

[@skybrooks1886]

Yeah lol

[@dontcompute]

Wit is Honor in hiding.

[@Whattheheck_.]

@@dontcomputewit is hoid/cephandrius

[@darktirkd7395]

I can’t be the only one who lol when Gavilar said “ I am the law”…to Nale… a skybreaker of the 5th ideal

[@wooshbait36]

He was the law because he was the king, Nale is just there to enforce the law

[@niveshproag3761]

Nale will agree with everything you say if you are the law

[@lutokill4784]

"Shit... All right, unfortunally i have to help you bring the apocalipse"

[@erickalfaro8389]

​@niveshproag3761 he pretty much killed gavilar though.

[@paulohh2]

"The sun could love the stars but never as equals", feels like such a genius line to show Gavilars lack of perspective in seeing Navani as lesser than him.

[@blainewheaton9679]

Yes! Because they *are* equals, but only if you look from the heavens and not from the earth

[@Thisone109]

Gavilar however is more like the moon who thinks it's self radiant but only reflects the stars

[@animalobsessed1]

Oooh, I didn’t notice that until you pointed it out! That’s so cool

[@byakugan2173]

wasn't she thought? Her whole shtick was fabrials and yet Gavilar, without much experience, invented voidlight years before she did (while having help).

[@Mr_Howitzer]

@@byakugan2173 but gavilar had help from that nervous guy he didn't think was a herald. Sorry I'm bad at remembering names.

[@aclark217]

Gavilar had no idea how close Nale came to putting him on the naughty list.

[@2thechase]

Nale as Bad Santa = confirmed haha

[@colindiggins8217]

Nale may not have killed Gavilar directly, his oaths got in the way of doing it himself, but he did put a finger pretty heavily on the scale by telling Venli A.Gavilar planned to betray them B.where to purchase Szeth and C.that Szeth carried Jezrien's honor blade. He even pardoned her in advance. I think he made the naughty list haha

[@LeoStep93]

@@colindiggins8217 yep, Nale basically DID kill Gavilar, he basically pulled the trigger, and Szeth was the weapon

[@jsamue12]

@@LeoStep93 more like he handed the parshendi the gun, and told them gavilar was about to kill them. they're the ones who actually pulled the trigger

[@LeoStep93]

@@jsamue12 yeah, but it was by his design 100%

[@Visforelvenshireling]

"The man can't abide someone having more secrets than him." 🤣 That checks out.

[@patricklarkin2610]

Legit laughed out loud

[@tabletopnephilim4633]

Yeah, that sums up Kel perfectly. What's the point if he can't be the most mysterious person in the room?

[@elysanaya8571]

Gavilar is the most cosmere-aware non-cosmere aware person we've ever seen. The man was so narrow minded that until his final moments he never thought about the implications about all that was going on. The fact he talked to thaidakar on a regular basis and didn't know he was from another planet is just the most obvious way he was deeply blind.

[@mnomadvfx]

That's because his instincts about realmatics were on the ball, but his sphere of 'friends' were prone to deceiving him about their intentions. Almost certainly one of them knew that he was on the verge of being a potential Bondsmith - so it seems quite odd that Nale did not take him out as he attempted to do for Lift who had done no more than theft while Gavilar had presided over so much death. That's another odd thing. Why Nale, who seemingly had a ridiculous level and quality of informants could not sniff out Kaladin - unless Honorspren are just so similar to common windspren that almost no one but a Windrunner could tell the difference from a distance.

[@notchbeard9007]

@@mnomadvfx Nale said it quite clearly, Gavilar is King, His will IS THE LAW. That was the moment he decided not to kill Gavilar, his hand on his shoulder was when it almost happened.

[@abhiprakash74999]

@@mnomadvfx syl was the first honorspren to try to bond someone in millenia

[@connorbrown7455]

@@mnomadvfx I think it's entirely reasonable that Nale didn't sniff out Kaladin. Having a good network of informants doesn't make one omniscient, and Kaladin-being a slave on minor estates-was in a low and relatively isolated enough social caste that it's quite reasonable to suppose that it didn't intersect with Nale's spy network. Nale would only hear about a budding Radiant if they started manifesting outwardly enough for his network to catch wind of it, and Kaladin was basically on death row by the time he actually manifested significant healing or other surges. He was a nobody among nobodies.

[@arthatis]

where was it revealed that thaidakar was "K" from another world? I accidentally spoiled this for myself but now cant remember it ever being revealed to be "K" (dont wanna spoil it too much for anyone else)

[@valgrymart]

Shallan was born in 1156, at age 11 she killed her mom making the year of her death 1167. the same year Gavilar was assasinated. The stormfather said a herald had died. I think Chanarach, who had red hair was actually Shallans mother. she returned to damnation and caved in. Shallan caused the desolation. I think we are going to see a reunion between Shallan and her mother before this series is over

[@s.p.8508]

I think that’s a pretty big stretch to assume that she killed her mother at that exact second. But then again, nothing is impossible.

[@eX13Eugene]

Holy..... I think you are absolutely correct. It fits too perfectly

[@matthewletexier]

What the fuck I hadn't thought of that.

[@keeganmueller7333]

I'm loving this idea!

[@rde7615]

Wow, no idea if this checks out with all the little details we know, but even if not, that's a super cool theory!

[@orufus12]

Man, I love that Gavilar is COMPLETELY different than the portrait others painted of him.

[@orufus12]

I know we got glimpses in Navani's prologue but this is MUCH more explicit.

[@iamthebeaver1486]

Personally I love to see how much of a clueless fool he was, even with how much he knew

[@theegameer12]

@@iamthebeaver1486 This was great, but isn't his reunion with the Heralds really weird though? Stormfather literally says to him "Heralds are out of their mind". Then a guy who claims himself to be a Herald enters the room with another guy who he calls "NALE" and is the incarnation of the descriptions of the Herald with the same name. During their conversation Gavilar is like "Wow, Restares claims to be a Herald and is really out of his mind... Nah, these two playin, Ima be the real one and show them". Maybe its supposed to be like that, he was blinded by his trust in the Stormfather (he also said Heralds were still in Braze) and his own ambition... But to that point? Not to even wonder if it is true!? Loved the epilogue but I'm still wondering about that xD

[@Astor4o]

@@theegameer12 I'm sure it will be ironed out, it's just a draft after all

[@Astor4o]

My thoughts exactly. I even got the strong impression that without Navani (mentions they used to plan together), Dalinar and Sadeas he wouldn't be anywhere near where he is. But he has gotten arrogant in abilities that weren't all his.

[@Berend95]

I love the quote "The sun could love the stars, but never as equals" it perfectly sums up the arrogance of Gavilar

[@ferminballesteros7462]

And his ignorance

[@AdrianaRodriguezphd]

Also hilarious cuz the sun is a star. Poor clueless Gavilar.

[@TumblinWeeds]

On this night, Gavilar offended every one of his knives he played with, and ruined the lives of thousands. He brings back voidspren, which ruined Venli’s life. He offended Nale, who ordered his death. The parshendi, who carried it through, and bore the weight of Alethi vengeance, and were forced to summon the everstorm. He offended the stormfather, who swore to never trust humanity again. He created Amaram’s obsession with shard blades, which led to him killing Kaladin’s men. On the other hand, the ones he rejected. He tried to cripple Dalinar, who turned his life around the very next day, and later became the leader of the force against odium. He shunned Navani, who later bonded Urithiru itself and found a way to kill the fused. He mocked Taravangian, who went to cultivation, and later killed and became Odium. He pawned Jasnah, who stumbled into shadesmar and became the one who discovered the location of urithiru. All the good he did, Gavilar caused on his death. All the ill he did, Gavilar did while alive. He really is as graceful as a three legged chull.

[@nikolaipawell3000]

Oh Brandon, you delightful son of a typewriter. You set a mark for all aspiring writers to live up to, and we love you for it. Live before death, write before bed, journey before pancakes.

[@MissCaraMint]

Son of a typewriter huh. I’m gonna steal that.

[@michaelbailey9643]

Journey before pancakes. Are you SURE??!? Haha - great comment!

[@theblot3]

Keep writing Red Snow, it is getting better and better!

[@nikolaipawell3000]

​@@theblot3 hi, thanks a lot. I'm not sure what you mean by keep writing, I finished it early 2019. Draft 2 is on subscribe star if you would like to read it.

[@Joeysaladslover]

hI dOuG Permanently stop commenting please

[@cosinev1265]

The sweet, sweet irony of Gavilar picking up Jezrien’s honor blade

[@buffasa1]

Why ironic. I can't remember

[@BreathResolution]

@@buffasa1 szeth kills him with it

[@naurahdeatrisyagitany8365]

@@buffasa1 Szeth wields Jezrien's Honorblade

[@Jaco_Schutte]

@@naurahdeatrisyagitany8365 or at least, he used to.

[@TweEkc]

@@naurahdeatrisyagitany8365 ooooooh woopsy!

[@evanbradford8732]

To Gavilar, the most important words a man can say are the words that bind the stormfather, a way to power. To Dalinar, the most important words a man can say are the simple truth about becoming a better person than you are. They are the same words

[@penandplugs]

IT’S SO SICK

[@dellonerf3140]

Gavilar was a fucking powerdriven fool But HOW sussy is the stormfather tho?!?!? he never mentioned his lil sessions with gavilar

[@obibullett]

@@dellonerf3140 to be fair, he doesnt say much unless beaten with a stormlight infused stick

[@adamhanson5565]

@@dellonerf3140 probably a stupid theory, but what if it's not the Stormfather? What if it's Odium or Cultivation or some third powerful being that I'm not considering?

[@CmanXP]

@@dellonerf3140 What if Gavilar is the reason the Stormfather was so hesitant to bond with Dalinar? And so distrustful of Kaladin, or humanity as a whole?

[@isaiahjoiner1625]

I love that you actually made Kelsier a Seon in a trench coat like the fans suggested 😂😂

[@senthamizhselven3668]

Now that we know things about Taln, the other heralds, the oathpact and the other secrets, I had to smile at Gavilar's words about little people with their petty quests. He was the littlest of them all, dabbling in things too big for him with an inflated sense of self worth.

[@drewcipher]

Also thought it was funny he thought he'd replace Taln as he was the one who most likely broke the path pact. Way to be 100% wrong Gavilar 😂

[@LostinDiscovery]

This chapter alone has me more hyped than the 4 surprise novels not going to lie! Brandon, you are an absolute legend for doing this. Thank you!

[@aj2563]

2 legends!

[@natpin745]

@@Kevin-hq5ne spoilers, some people are going in blind to the secret projects

[@jamesj6426]

Knew I'd see you here haha, HYPE

[@lausdeo4944]

What's your take on the Stormfather in this chapter? *Is* he really the Stormfather?

[@livwilson5525]

I know!!! Thank you so much Brandon!!! I can’t wait for book 5!

[@almostunliketea]

14:03 Jesus one of the most influential line’s in TWOK and it turns out to be a manipulation.

[@hunterkillerai]

To think that he had planned this reveal since book 1

[@lausdeo4944]

This shook me. So much we knew for sure in the first book was so, so wrong.

[@jennywilliams1455]

And the way he just glosses over what he said to Navani and goes on with his day... what an asshole.

[@hunterkillerai]

Also at the end. Who Gavilar directed the dying message to.

[@loughtthenot]

Dalinar spends the rest of his life following this ideaology because Gavilar just wanted to pacify his brother for one feast. I feel like it's safe to say Gavliar was a psychopath... and a piece of shit who got exactly what he deserved in the end.

[@joshuagraham3854]

The way these prologs are escalating with King Gavilar's behavior and our insights into his motivations, the next is one gonna be like "Elhokar approached his father's chambers, hoping to find out why the storming man was still neglecting his guests at the feast, and thus forcing his son to oversee the festivities in his stead. Glancing inside, he saw Gavilar seated on a wooden stool next to a enormous basket full of adorable, squirming axehound pups. The king was whistling merrily, as he methodically plucked a puppy from the basket, calmly bit its head off, and casually tossed the body over his shoulder, before reaching into the basket for another pup. The Prince decided he'd probably better come back later."

[@melkerahtagadatsoin-tsoin6016]

I'm not sure I could hate him more than I already do, but this image made me laugh so much ! Poor Elhokar 😂

[@byakugan2173]

what you are saying is that Gavilar has suddenly turned cartoonishly evil in contrast to the information we got from his closest relatives for 4 books. I feel like I'm being gaslighted. It's one thing for a person to not be 100% as others think of him and it's another to be the antithesis of that.

[@joshuagraham3854]

@@byakugan2173 To be fair, he was pretty dark in RoW, too. But I would agree that the jump in Gavilar's evilness is definitely the biggest from RoW to this SU prolog, though it might be worth remembering that it's just a draft, too.

[@byakugan2173]

​@@joshuagraham3854 He wasn't nice to his wife, that's not uncommon and doesn't tell us more than he had marital issues. Here we see him be the biggest monster, the kind that doesn't even lie to himself to justify it, and no one in his circle had any idea? Really? I don't buy that for a second

[@22noash]

@@byakugan2173 i feel like we shouldn’t be that surprised about it especially given how in dalinar’s visions gavilar was also seen as a monster who was powerful and conquered cities, and slowly he became (at least on the outside) more diplomatic and reserved, etc. I remember something about both gavilar and dalinar being feared, but with gavilar being the oldest he became more restrained while dalinar didn’t change and even actually started doing the work for gavilar when it came to battles (like if gavilar failed in something diplomacy related, than dalinar would be the one to go to a battlefield to settle it)

[@DeadlyInsanaty]

I couldnt help but snicker as soon as I heard that "[Taln's] actions, being out of line with the others, were most in danger of breaking the Oathpact." When he was the only one still following the oath he swore. Oh how little an arrogant 'genius' like Gavilar knew... it would make Taravangian and Rayse both blush

[@mnomadvfx]

Nothing would make either of the latter blush - and without a doubt they both knew most of what he knew.

[@LimpRichard]

Gavilar seems so foolish with no consideration for unknown unknowns. Taravangian is the most terrifying villain I've ever seen. Taravangian is a mix of genius, opportunist, mastermind, idealogue, and pragmatist all with grim acceptance that his is the only way.

[@tonyfriendly4409]

Lol, you are right. Gavilar seems like an amateur and a poser by comparison.

[@theKurtAnderson]

Gavilar seems to be Taravangian, minus humility and ‘capacity’

[@tmonter]

One of the scariest things about Taravangian is that he's a true believer that what he is doing is right and won't let the deaths of innocents get in his way to get what he wants. Make no mistake he's a monster cloaked in the disguise of a kindly old man. Monsters don't actually care.

[@stefanovitali2925]

Notice how Taravangian spends no time gloating, unlike Gavilar. IMHO villain's effectiveness is proportionally inverse to time spent gloating in the Cosmere.

[@mnomadvfx]

The thing tho is that this description of Taravangian sounds already much like Rayse, or Ati as Ruin on Scadriel in his mocking manipulation of events. All of them tend to have blindspots in that they are never quite as smart as they think that they are - and TarOdium may actually find that he is now more bound than he ever was in his on off genius life before he took the shard. It may look like Cultivation has unwittingly created a monster here, but like Preservation her ultimate goal may be longer term than the ascent of Taravangian as she is almost certainly aware that he is far more a monster than Dalinar ever was in his worst battle rage under the Thrill's influence.

[@cowardly_wizard]

I love that Gavilar was the stupid blunt instrument he thought of Dalinar. This one night alone he sent Taravangian and Dalinar straight to Cultivation, Nale into Venli into Szeth; He set Nale to murdering proto-radients; Jasnah basically into shadesmar. The only thing we don't know that he had a hand in was turning Channa against her daughter

[@alexv1154]

I love Sandersons commitment to killing Gavilar at the beginning of every book

[@billybalmer1571]

I am starting to think that Stormlight is the opposite of Mistborn, in that the biggest villain was defeated before the start of the story.

[@GZilla311]

Considering the events of Rhythm of War... I'm not so sure on that.

[@MyBoomStick1]

@@GZilla311 *this* Odium is the big baddie

[@skribblylacroix3251]

@@MyBoomStick1 I’m not sure Odium IS the big bad… seeing as how Odium is Taravangian…

[@RobinsMusic]

@@skribblylacroix3251 not entirely, Odium is also its own identity

[@reillyliner]

I would not be surprised if Gavilar STILL ends up being the big bad.

[@masonwheeler6536]

Wow, this completely recontextualizes the line about following the Codes tonight that we got back in the first book! 😲

[@bradwynarts7047]

It really does. What a horrid brother he was.

[@theKurtAnderson]

@@bradwynarts7047 so true. No wonder Dalinar was so screwed up; he’d basically been gaslit by a narcissist his whole life

[@mnomadvfx]

@@theKurtAnderson Yes but that among other things really makes you wonder what the Stormfather was up to in choosing Gavilar before Dalinar. Indeed what he was up to in choosing any of them. I do wish Sanderson would lean into the dark eyes angle more - at this point the Radiants seem to be tipping far closer to light eyed families than not in the major characters, especially now that Teft is gone.

[@christyrann7739]

@@mnomadvfx Aren’t the majority of windrunners darkeyes?

[@christopherneedham9584]

@@christyrann7739 Plus Lift. Honestly I think Shallon and Dalinar are is the only major radients that are light eyes

[@kellierudd5791]

Yay! We get to read about Gavalar's death again!!! Always a treat!!!

[@alynnidalar]

Every time I read about it, it just gets better 😂

[@GZilla311]

@@alynnidalar And HE just gets worse. The character as a person, not the characterization.

[@therachelmontgomery]

I have never in my life wanted a fictional character to die more than Gavilar 😂

[@Krlytz]

@@therachelmontgomery Luckily for you, he did. Five times!! XD

[@jorgealarcon2113]

@@therachelmontgomery so glad we're going to read his death for a fifth time.

[@drewcipher]

Storms this validates Navani so much. Totally shows who and what Gavilar really was.

[@sleepopeepo]

1:09 "I figured... this would be fun to give the community so they could have something to talk about." Brandon please, if you give us anything more to talk about our jaws will fall off from overuse and our keyboards will crumble into dust

[@ladero01]

Poor folks over on the 17th Shard's Shardcast.

[@ChristmasLore]

Some people just don't know how to stop. Many are forgetting that the best jokes are the shortest. Not everyone deals well with success, in fact, such people are rather rare. I can only think of Keanu Reeves, top of my head. Lately, Brandon has been taking great pleasure in self congratulations, repeatedly, over and over. He's already that old guy always revisiting the same old stories of his modest debuts- only to underline just how great and famous he has become.

[@dylanb2990]

@@ChristmasLore you a failed author or something? Why do you hate Sanderson so much?

[@ChristmasLore]

Not a writer, and no "hate", just observations. Why do you feel the need to defend a perfect stranger? You won't get any good grade for it. This is a social media, different people express different opinions.

[@sleepopeepo]

@@ChristmasLore Oh okay you changed my mind, I totally don't like Brandon or his work anymore. /s Why do you feel the need to ascribe malicious intent to a perfect stranger? You won't get any good grade for it.

[@grzybkizcipki5287]

"And in the end, Gavilar Kholin; heir to the Heralds, died, as all men ultimately must, alone." that just could not be more perfect. The tragic irony of it.

[@brhettdavis7061]

“Trusting too much can get you killed someday” - sadeus Lmaoooo the irony

[@carloszerna4514]

It’s so painful to see how much dalinar loves gavilar when we first learn about him, and then to see him treat dalinar like this. :(

[@byakugan2173]

I'd say it's more disappointing than anything. You'd think that if Gavilar was really such a shit the one to know his true form would be his brother. And despite the love, at one point he had considered murdering him to steal the throne so he couldn't' have been an enamored as he seemed. Is Dalinar really such a bad judge of character? Do I need to reevaluate my opinion of him?

[@Adanu191]

@@byakugan2173 We all have blind spots, Dalinar's was obvious. I think it's more a reflection of how much he regards family than being bad at assessing people.

[@trielt1]

19:10 I can't believe it. It really IS a seon in a trenchcoat.

[@belalaloca]

ahaha we thought we'd never see the day

[@benjaminwhitehead4050]

This literally couldn't have come at a worse time for me, I've gotta finish this paper in the next hour and fifteen minutes but I wanna listen to it hahaha. This guy is the best

[@mhelvens]

Half an hour left! You can do it! 🙂

[@benjaminwhitehead4050]

@@mhelvens Got it! :P

[@iredomi3733]

Did you do it?!

[@benjaminwhitehead4050]

@@iredomi3733 Yeah :D

[@rumblorain5614]

@@benjaminwhitehead4050 SAME

[@Pianoslave1]

The moment that gavilar emotionally manipulated dalinar to give into his addictions and used Evi’s death to do it solidified him as one of the most evil characters Sanderson has ever written.

[@azeTrom17]

And to his own brother

[@zobralolz]

It’s so interesting and confirms just how much of an Ass that at 33:40 he says he’d “seen to Navani” as if what he said and did wasn’t deeply traumatic to her. It’s barely a footnote for his night, but it’s most of what Navani recalls from that night.

[@AslanJazzLan]

Thaidakar! Restares! Nale! What a star-studded chapter... Thank you Brando, you absolute legend!

[@bruceh9780]

Thaidakar with an eye spike!

[@AslanJazzLan]

@@bruceh9780 hehehe yeah I know 😁😁😁

[@kaleidoscope6043]

Gavilar was playing with nuclear fusion while everyone else fought with sticks and stones, actually incredible how his ghost haunts the entire series.

[@TheAmyrlinSeat]

it seems more the other way around to me

[@2thechase]

RIP the Shardcast's recording schedule. So excited about this!

[@JoseFlores-km8hn]

Especially with Eric’s Mishrams obsession haha

[@vamsiampolu8438]

Shardcast had everything planned for 2022, then Brandon attacked.

[@waffl3heart]

Honestly they had some kind of secretive chatter about their april schedule in their Secret Project 2 episode. I wonder if they had a bit of a heads up

[@kvothethearcane146]

Me too. The number of theories this either potentially confirms or opens up... It's wild.

[@pmanattack7363]

Eric punching the air rn

[@hackmxn]

There is something deeply satisfying about hearing Sanderson read it.

[@fantasymagic97]

I didn’t think I could hate Gavilar more than I did. Even though this is a rough draft, it’s fantastic. I’m so excited for Stormlight 5!!

[@2thechase]

The three little words every Cosmere fan wants to hear: Ba Ado Mishram

[@JoseFlores-km8hn]

Eric, is that you?

[@17thShard]

BA-ADO-MISHRAM LET'S GO! -Eric

[@hunterkillerai]

Just the name of "To Live" already gives me chills.

[@yuriantonov8032]

To Kill - To Question - To Weep -To Pretend - To Live

[@midnightbloomofeorzea7182]

@@yuriantonov8032 one of them is definitely going to be "to Die", probably a Herald pov showing them going to Braize.

[@stephenconstantine1470]

The implications of this prologue are OVERWHELMING and I don’t know if I’m ready for them! I feel like I need to start studying Cosmere lore more closely to keep up!

[@adamuffoletto7869]

Three minutes in and I've already shouted, "YOU WAITED FIVE BOOKS TO DROP THAT LITTLE BIT OF EXPOSITION?"

[@Flapjack_710]

I finished stormlight 4 the day after this was released and I’m on a whole rabbit whole right now. If you’re dumb like me look up who thadikar really is and you’ll have your mind blown

[@zachricca4546]

@@Flapjack_710 but only if you've read other major cosmere stuff!

[@Flapjack_710]

@@zachricca4546 if they’re reading stormlight 5 prologue and haven’t read *title redacted* then they’re probably confused af 😂😂. Imagine reading Harmonys notes to wit and just being like “this shard seems really chill I wonder why”

[@ethancrawshaw2304]

@@Flapjack_710 Thankyou! Mind officially BLOWN

[@mathnerd97]

Wow, Gavilar is such an evil guy that he even thinks of Amaram as foolishly honest.

[@brandonaxTGC]

This man is awesome. Truly inspiring for writers and readers alike. I'm so glad to live in the age of Sanderson.

[@ellepardue]

The Tolkien of our generation.

[@TheArgon14]

Couldn't have said it better myself! I'm hoping that Pat Rothfuss will take some inspiration from this whole thing and finish Book 3 for us eeventually!

[@sunmakergg]

what's dn

[@brandonaxTGC]

@@sunmakergg typo meant and lol

[@evelynbasham1673]

Stormfather: I will never trust your family again. Then proceeds to accept the oaths of half the Kholin family. 🤣

[@theknightthatgoeshmm3127]

Hmm yes the "Stormfather" said that

[@bruceh9780]

I'm not buying that Gavilar was talking to the Stormfather, too many inconsistencies even for a first draft. Lying, Offering to make him a Herald, the weird 'almost' words "I want it!" seems like something Odium would require. Was the Spren actually Odium pretending to by the Stormfather so that he could create a Herald of Odium?

[@austinturley7010]

@@bruceh9780 i think it was the stormfather. when he was in pain, ud think odium would slip his real image of red, and not blue. i think it was really the stormfather, just had a confused plan, since its obvious it doesnt understand men that well at first

[@chiefenwolf6073]

Is it the Stormfather at all? Stormfather nor any honorspren have lied before in the previous 4 books. There also a line about a shimmering apparition in the shape of a man, and the SF has a hard time manifesting into condensed shapes since he is a storm. Then the line at the end saying "I won't choose your family again" or something like that. And it also seems like the SF has a good understanding of mankind, when we see him learning about mankind from Dalinar in books 3-4.... Seems like Gavilar connection to the SF could have been hijacked, by an Unmade maybe?

[@evelynbasham1673]

It's possible that it is not the Stormfather, but I am inclined to think it is, because he felt that herald die. He might not really have lied, but said things that Gavilar took the wrong way. We shall see.

[@jaredhuch1537]

Wow, Gavilar is an even MORE despicable human being than I had previously thought!

[@GZilla311]

He's like an onion. The more you peel away, the more rotten he is.

[@purusingh6085]

He distanced himself from everyone so that he can sever the ties easily. But goddamn I never expected him to go aspire to be a radiant.

[@maxali6889]

@@purusingh6085 he does’t aspire to be radiant. It is just a simple desire to be immortal.

[@LeoStep93]

@@purusingh6085 to be Herald, not Radiant. Big difference there!

[@purusingh6085]

@@LeoStep93 yeahh I know, I got radiant and herald mixed up. thx for pointing it out.

[@lausdeo4944]

This is so unnerving. Gavilar, this shadowy person who seemed to be honor incarnate... ...was actually a selfish jerk in over his head. Mind blown. You've done it again, Sanderson.

[@s.p.8508]

“No,” the Stormfather said, “not him.” HERALD KALADIN

[@2thechase]

He won't be the only one...

[@s.p.8508]

@@2thechase “one of them will destroy us. One of them may redeem us.” I always assumed that meant Dalinar or someone will do something that he thinks is right, but will ultimately cause Odium to almost win, but Kaladin takes up the herald mantle to “redeem us.” I could be completely off though.

[@s.p.8508]

@@2thechase or maybe (SPOILERS FOR RoW IN CASE ANYONE WHO HASN’T READ IT SEES THIS) Szeth causing Taravangian to take up the Odium shard, thereby giving the enemy a much better chance at winning because he’s much better suited to the shard and isn’t broken, is the one that “destroys us.”

[@havewissmart9602]

@@s.p.8508 What quote is that?

[@s.p.8508]

@@havewissmart9602 that was in the end when Gavilar was telling the Stormfather to choose Dalinar as the next herald

[@sethkinle2254]

I'm 35 years old and I feel the excitement of a child in this moment

[@John-lo2wn]

“Brother, you must find the most important words a man can say”. The implications!!!

[@abhiprakash74999]

Aren't they just the first ideal ? Life before death , Strength before weakness , journey before destination ?

[@aaronh3347]

@@abhiprakash74999 Depends on how honest the Stormfather is here or if this creature was even the Stormfather which appears to be him but other speculating it might not be. If there is a path to become a Herald or for becoming Harolds for multiple people you could argue that the words needed to invoke the new oathpact are much more important than bonding the Spren and become Knights Radiant. If the Stormfather was lying about becoming a Herald then yes these very well could be the words he was supposed to find. Though is the first ideal as important as the others? Even in that case?

[@perelluiscerdasegui441]

@aaron H keep in mind that he almost said them when he said “ give it to me. Now I need it”. Maybe the words is something about the line “ I give it to you now that you need it” ( referring his soul) almost the same but completely diferent

[@BobertBobson]

@@perelluiscerdasegui441 I don't think the words were the issue. The Stormfather, or whoever was pretending to be the Stormfather, said "It’s not about what you are saying. That is not what is wrong." The issue aren't the words but the intent behind them.

[@tiagodagostini]

Every man knows the words are "yes, mam"

[@jennywilliams1455]

As soon as I heard Brandon say Ba-Ado-Mishram I could hear Eric from 17th Shard screaming in the distance.

[@bruceh9780]

I'd say he may have opened up a perpendicularity and his scream sent ripples throughout the cognitive realm.

[@mranderson718]

It’s so awful that he didn’t even care about Dalinar and actively kept him in the throes of addiction

[@Trisjack20]

Sadly this is something we have seen in real life relationships, using addiction as a method of subtle but powerful abusive control. Another example of how Brandon manages to make a made up world where being have crazy powers but makes it feel very relatable and real.

[@djeverest4078]

Lol Thaidakar/Kelsier is just using an Seon in a trenchcoat

[@DenisonE8]

I just need a book all about Kelsier!

[@djeverest4078]

@@DenisonE8 secret history?

[@pizza6464]

My god this is so amazing. I have waited so long for Gavilar’s pov. HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK! THAIDAKAR WAS THERE THAT NIGHT!

[@Ovrlordz]

What?

[@pizza6464]

@@Ovrlordz What do you mean what? Do you not know who Thaidakar is?

[@MegaBollard]

@@pizza6464 Well he does now

[@pizza6464]

@@MegaBollard Well, shouldn’t have been listening to the prologue of B5 if he wasn’t caught up.

[@jorgealarcon2113]

@@pizza6464 to be fair, it's never explicitly mentioned in-book that Thaidakar is Kelsier

[@passerby2562]

"The sun could love the stars, but never as equals" the irony

[@barbarakeyser6415]

This is actually the first time I've listened to Sanderson's read early. Usually it's because I don't need a teaser to get excited and I use my patience to not listen so I don't become impatient. However, this prologue definitely needed to be heard. Thanks, off to be totally engrossed in finding more secrets.

[@Adonis_Quinn]

I’m exactly in the same boat!

[@fantasymagic97]

Same

[@georgeevans9044]

Ditto, and I'm so glad I did. Now I'll have a lot to think about in my next Stormlight reread!

[@naurahdeatrisyagitany8365]

To the 17th Shard crew, good luck to you people

[@godluckNgoodspeed]

"Since the book is *more than a year away*" Sure, Brando. Suuuuure...

[@Morfeusm]

It’s already printing somewhere 😂

[@apstrike]

This is just brilliant. I love seeing 5 different takes on the same scene where each significantly recontextualizes events. Can't even imagine how one would write like this, so that books you'll write years in the future don't contradict character motives in an earlier novel.

[@Senior-Donjusticia]

I imagine he’s going to change the “blue lightning lighting his room” line to something like “blue lightning illuminating his room” given how hard it was for him (or anyone for that matter) to say.

[@powerhouse6165]

Literally finished Rythm of War 2 days ago. This was PERFECT timing.

[@ElGageO]

Oh my god. Kelsier in Stormlight. I know he got referenced but HE ACTUALLY TALKED TO GAVILAR. Literally cannot wait to read this book.

[@audreyoviatt8802]

Can we take a moment to notice how GIGANTIC that glass of water is? Is it a weird camera angle or is it as big as your upper arm??

[@Kamers2347]

This has to be the top comment xDDD

[@greenpaper3071]

What is in that glass btw?

[@abhiprakash74999]

@@greenpaper3071 ice i think

[@mandorevanchist]

The smug grin in the thumbnail just kills me. Brandon is an absolute mad lad and I absolutely love him for it!

[@Maidaseu]

Out of my top 10 favourite authors, Brandon is producing and engaging more with his fans than the other 9... combined.

[@virgilhawkins3390]

I love that the whole exchange between Gavilar and Szeth changes context so much by just italicizing "He."

[@Lightsong701]

Chills. Holy implications. Wow I’m at a loss for words.

[@Donnerjkks]

So was Gavilar 🤣

[@benglaser1345]

So Kelek seems to blame himself for the Recreance, I wonder if he served as an advisor to the ancient radiants and encouraged them to seal BAM without realizing the impact it would have on the world, spren, and oaths

[@lokeyacolyte2145]

This is a fantastic prelude, and a very very good insight into Gavliar. His inner thought process (transactional, deceptive, narcissistic) really fits into what we know of him. It reads beautifully!

[@jordisfg8983]

Hi, mr. Sanderson. I don't wanna worry you. Szeth was looking for you. He said something about an Oathstone and George R.R. Martin...

[@henrywayne5724]

😂😂😂

[@patrickcosgrove5256]

I had my fingers crossed for an early Lost Metal release, but this is so exciting!

[@kellierudd5791]

I thought we were getting more books but I'm excited to hear Gavalar die again, so I will win either way!

[@kralik394]

I was pulling for a Secret History 2, tbh.

[@spicybowtie]

I'm only 3 minutes into the video and my mind is already blown. Dear gods, Brando!

[@notchbeard9007]

Its my birthday today and I had a little downtime decided to watch some youtube and just found this... best gift yet.

[@Rie_Bot]

I don't even know how to put into words how thankful I am. Just generally, for your books, and how you've always given me something to look forward to. The other day I was quiet literally in tears because I realised how I hadn't had anything to be very happy about for quiet a stretch of time before I started reading your books about a year or so ago. Thank you. I hope I'm on this journey with your books for years to come , and I look forward to it

[@MrManlify]

I have to share. I went to a used bookstore and found the first 2 books SIGNED for $12 each. That's what had me buy it, and it's been a pleasure to fall in love with your books. You're the reason I pursued NaNoWriMo, so thank you.

[@XAllelujahXxx]

I have gotten to live through; the lord of the rings trilogy. The complete skywalker saga, The peak of pokemon craze. Goku going super saiyin, the MCU infinity saga, and so much more I have forgotten. Im sure. And now, I get The Cosmere. To have been here from the beginning of so many amazing things. Truly blessed.

[@afafahmad6240]

Just finished RoW and immediately came to this video. I am still reeling from everything that happened in RoW and now I honestly do not know what to do with myself until SA5 comes out. I have never read a series that spans out this long with everything plotted so meticulously. I am in awe!

[@freddymeisner]

It’s seriously so good!

[@yakuzamoon7962]

Thank you so much Brandon for reading this. An all time great fantasy moment for me

[@Sophie703]

I’m truly touched by how amazing he is to his fans. It seems like he enjoys sharing and making us happy as much as we enjoy his work. Thank you so much Brandon!

[@isabelpulley9660]

"man charging towards a highstorm with a stick, thinking he can fight it..." That sounds an awful lot like someone we know

[@guillermorodriguez3509]

Man it cracked me up how Brandon imagines Kalak speaking, its literally the same way I imagined him.

[@iancummings6864]

I love how Brandon's wringing can make me forget I'm listening to a fictional story. It seems so real and in many ways his books have affected me in very many real ways. Thank you for your stories Brandon, they are truly amazing!

[@GrsArt42]

I’m still dying on the inside. Stormlight still has only 6 books to go!!!!😭😭😭

[@rick_adams]

Absolutely Legendary Author. Probs to you Brando Sando

[@hallaloth3112]

I've been trying to piece together the Cosmere by myself. . . in listening to this I see that just isn't going to happen. I'm astonished at how much is jam packed into what is being a prologue.

[@CodyRPierce]

The more you know, the more there is to learn

[@garrettstevens2232]

@@CodyRPierce there's always another secret.

[@kralik394]

@@garrettstevens2232 lol I love that that little throwaway line from Kelsire became the "May the Force be with you" of the cosmere.

[@whateverdude0838]

Oh just finished this and wow the fact that gavilar was actually talking to the stormfather during his death

[@keeganmueller7333]

I shouted "woah" because I was half listening while working and my coworker panicked!! So exciting!

[@brentclouse7791]

Santa Sanderson has been too good to us this year

[@brhettdavis7061]

Of all the secrets. I was hoping for this. I didn’t think it would happen. Stormlight prologues are so important and it’s crazy we get this

[@ericlakeauthor]

Can there be a text version of this, like the Secret Project Readings? It is hard for me in particular to focus on audio.

[@radosawpapierski8610]

Same here, would love a text version!

[@MrGhostbane]

Same!

[@tiffanymurtland2804]

Considering that this vid link is not listed and must be followed from the End of Secrets video, I'm going to say probably at least a week or so before that happens so that people can learn of it the "right way".

[@zrman96]

Try using the transcript option

[@matthewletexier]

A true Vorin man would not read

[@jterral90]

Chills. Knowing what XXXXXXXX said originally versus seeing what the context of it is from his POV. Chefs kiss. Thank you for sharing this

[@jorgealarcon2113]

Sadeas telling Gavilar that trusting too much could get you killed and remembering what he did to Dalinar and Adolin at the Tower...

[@BenHazel007]

SEON IN A TRENCH COAT! YOU DID YOU MAD MAN!

[@Vospader21]

Stormfather about Dalinar: That one can be so much more than he seems. He could be radiant. Gavilar: He is a stick.

[@WillParry00]

The video has been out for 1 hour and the 17th shard already has a 3 hour long in depth analysis connecting it to the poop I took the other day (while wearing shartplate obviously)

[@mckayahpugh6554]

I just finished stormlite 4 this morning, this man’s timing is impeccable!