Top 10 Unanswered Stormlight Archive Questions (feat. Bookborn)

[@Slater2113]

I thought it was pretty clear that Szeth is truthless because he tried to tell his people that Radiant powers were returning and they didn't believe him and sentenced him Truthless as a result.

[@nathangarza8911]

I thought it was that the void bringers were returning... I need to re read twok...

[@suzu8253]

Yep that’s what I think is the case as well

[@pontuslindheohlsson2184]

It has also been stated that fighters are not positions of power, more like servants or slaves. There are also many theories that Shin has hundreds if not thousands of the lost shardblades. Training with honor blades is probably more of a duty than an... honor...

[@Spaduba]

Yeah I never even doubted that it was anything other than the return of the Radiants/Nahel Bond until just now.

[@mrjuderaw87]

@@nathangarza8911 Two sides of the same coin

[@samroth7995]

Question 3b "what was Ba-Ado-Mishram" before she was unmade is, in my opinion, the most important question.

[@shrouded8797]

@samroth7995 I have a theory that depends on having read some of the preview chapters. Are you okay with spoilers for those?

[@Unoriginal____Starwalker]

I've heard a theory from another youtber that the unmade were dawnshards, but I have no idea how to feel about that

[@shrouded8797]

@@Unoriginal____Starwalker I'm pretty sure it's been confirmed there have only ever been four Dawnshards.

[@Unoriginal____Starwalker]

@@shrouded8797 Yeah when I was watching that video I was not feeling it xD

[@wooshbait36]

@@shrouded8797 What's yout theory?

[@CleverPsuedonym1]

Knowing Taravangian, becoming Odium, gaining a shard and tasting its power, probably means if anyone can reforge Honor, he thinks it ought to be him. He’s probably becoming aware of the external threats to Roshar from other worlds and wants to be the one who protects Roshar from that because of his pride. He and Dalinar have this shared theme of desiring power, albeit for somewhat different reasons.

[@samroth7995]

The only way Moash could redeem himself is he is accepts being Odiums champion, then promptly unalives himself.

[@CodyTaylor115]

Damn... Your right 🤣🤣

[@timothypruitt6257]

Agreed…. No other way is acceptable

[@patrickmallon9489]

I'll never forgive him

[@timothypruitt6257]

@@patrickmallon9489 never 😢

[@sandkiller]

*Kills himself

[@andrewberenson5717]

I think the Ishar problem will be a major issue for Books 6-10. I think Ishar will be the main antagonist in books 6-10. This will allow us to see flashbacks of some Heralds and how they formed the Oathpact.

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

I love this theory!

[@zyrain]

Andolin will be Dalinar's champion. He's literally been set up as the best 1 on 1 duelist the entire series. Also, the setup for a Herald being Odium's champion is strong. Why else would we have the setup of seeing Ishar fighting off 5 radiants at once, being 'average'? It's possible that Nale will be this Herald. Andolin will lose, but probably not die completely, per the precedent Jasnah established on duels of honor). This thus explains the specificity of Dalinar's punishment, abd this will allow T to have his friend back, forever. (Plus we keep them both for future books)

[@LlM0]

10:23 Szeth was deemed Truthless because he said the radiants were returning and his people exiled him for it basically.

[@fishtailfuture]

It had nothing to do with this powers. Those were always available with honor blades. It was that the radiance were returning only at least that's all we can gather so far.

[@LlM0]

@@fishtailfuture yes? That's literally what I said?

[@fishtailfuture]

@@LlM0 Yeah, I don't know what I misread there. I think I thought you said "the radiance were returning and his powers, and they exiled him". I must've been pretty stoned that night.

[@LlM0]

@@fishtailfuture Lol, all good

[@ireallyhatemakingupnamesfo1758]

I think new information from Yumi and the nightmare painter really supports the idea that the Spren that Ishar experimented with are being bonded in some way to previously human bodies. When Yumi and painter transfer, yumi’s innate investiture allows her to “heal” her body to match her perception and spiritual aspect. This results in painter’s body transforming to look like Yumi. Spren might have enough investiture to do something similar, but they “heal” into an impossible form because their body has no understanding of internal organs or anything like that.

[@niknikzoom]

Sunlit man adds more context to the dawnshards

[@barrydias3755]

Dalinar is unity, he can unite the shards of honor into the vessel

[@baileytreddenbarger1971]

Or that Dalinar will BECOME Unity and unite the rebuilt shard of honor and the odium shard

[@peaceofcrap]

Lore your music always bangs so frickin hard dude. Glad to see you posting again.

[@anmingtou256]

There is a cool Dawnshard theory on reddit that the 4 Dawnshard commands are Live, Grow, Fall and Change. They are based off of something Nomad says in Sunlit Man.

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

I'll look this up - thank you!

[@Hopuxx]

What a great video!!! The hard work that's gone into it is more than evident! So many good questions, I am counting down the days until I have Wind and Truth in my hands

[@The_Brickster]

Great video! Thanks for mentioning Taln’s honor blade, that doesn’t seem to be brought up enough. Here’s a few other questions that I’m hoping for an answer to; 1. Why did Honor and Odium swap between humans and singers? 2. Where are the potentially thousands of shardblades from the recreance? Both Adolin and Dalinar have thought of this in passing (thinking Shinovar) 3. What’s up with the wind and Kaladin? From his very first appearance he seems to have some sort of special connection to…something. But what?

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

These are all great additional questions. #1 I have been wondering about that myself, the timeline seems super odd and fuzzy from what we know so far #2 Who knows! Maybe they were just lost? Maybe they're in shin hands? Aimia maybe? #3 I'm re-reading the books from the beginning right now, and I can't believe how I missed just HOW connected Kaladin and the wind are the first time around. It's everywhere, especially in Way of Kings!

[@tommy.mp4]

I dont know if you've been reading the preview chapters for Wind and Truth but there is an answer to your second question in one of the chapters. I don't want to spoil it if you haven't read though

[@The_Brickster]

@@tommy.mp4 Oh boy! Yea I haven't been reading them. Want to wait for the book

[@The_Brickster]

Yea it’s kind of unbelievable how much the wind comes up. My friends and I started our rereads and one of them noticed the thing in the first chapter. Then we went down the rabbit hole of how often does the wind act weird with Kaladin, and it’s surprisingly frequent

[@Parrichan]

​@@tommy.mp4in which of the preview chapters?

[@lolJonezy]

this is a high-fidelity video with all the 3d models, great analysis too!

[@someweeb4110]

Sucked in for 20 minutes at 1 AM before realizing this is 50 minutes long… Sleep can wait. Awesome video so far!!

[@Narrative_Ink]

I hope that Moash does not get a redemption arc. He doesn't need one.

[@robertoleary5470]

Yeah honestly I hope he doesn’t

[@someweeb4110]

Agreed. Teft was the fucking man.

[@qmeaha3402]

Anyone else worried for Syl going into book 5?😅 Maybe im wrong, but I get the feeling that the inclusion of Ishar's experiments and the fact that Kaladin's quest is likely to cross paths with Ishar sets up a possible scenario where Syl could be a possible test subject.

[@tanlund5735]

I think Syl will be a test subject, and her strong bond with Kaladin will allow her to servive the transition into the physical world. This would possibly set up the whole Syladin ship

[@p-j-y-d]

As to the question of whether we know that anyone, other than Rysn, is currently a Dawnshard... what a Torment. It is a Torment indeed. The word "currently" is a Torment, as is the word "Torment". Torment. Torment. Sunlit. Torment.

[@nickbrown8045]

great video; love the chain web for BAM! Edit: all the graphics are awesome

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

Thank you! The chain web was my favorite to make 😁

[@westonhutson1894]

13:44 not sure I'm breaking any rules by saying this but for anyone who doesn't want spoilers here is your warning. Ba Ado Mishram's prison is locked in the spiritual realm, Brandon did a reading at an event about a month or 2 before this comment (you can find the video on KZbin), where he read some shallan chapters from W&T and it's revealed in that reading that her prison is indeed stuck in the spiritual realm

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

Yep, I read that chapter as well. I just wanted to keep this video as friendly as possible for those who are waiting for release. That being said, this is one of those answers that just raises a ton more interesting questions than it actually answers. I think we're going into the spiritual realm in this book, and I am so stoked to see what that's like!

[@masonandreasen8050]

Taln's honorblade will actually be a major plot point in the Stonewalkers Adventure Path coming out next year for the Cosmere (Stormlight RPG). We dont have the specifics yet as it hasnt been released, but we've been told that one of the quests the player characters will have will be finding Taln's Honorblade. From what ive seen from Brotherwise games and Brandon, the sword questions will be primarily be answered in the RPG, probably only referenced in WaT

[@rustygray5058]

I'm fairly confident that the "bad guys" win in book 5. Here's a few reasons why. 1. Something happened to all of the Windrunners that Sigzil's new, skybreaker spren says "isn't all his fault." 2. Sigzil seems pretty certain that Kaladin is dead. 3. Several of the most powerful agents in the Cosmere, notably Hoid, seem to want to combine all of the shards back into Adonalsium Jr. 4. Brandon has said on Intentionally Blank that a win for the home team is not guaranteed in each era of a multi-era series. I think that by the end of book 5, we see either Taravangian or Dalinar holding all 3 Rosharan shards.

[@reidchikezie1161]

Yeah Kaladin died from old age.

[@-yake-]

Source for #3?

[@seniorss_1]

Keep up the good work man, someday Stormlight will blow all over the world

[@duyanhpro10]

I personally believe that Adolin's actions will lead to the reforge of Honor and he will ascend and become Honor's vessel.

[@mrbreeze7373]

Taravangian was gifted intelligence beyond his capability by cultivation - she messed up badly

[@CleverPsuedonym1]

Knowing Taravangian, becoming Odium, gaining a shard and tasting its power, probably means if anyone can reforge Honor, he thinks it ought to be him. He’s probably becoming aware of the external threats to Roshar from other worlds and wants tobe the one who protects Roshar from that because of his pride.

[@BlueberryPickles]

Re: Taln's blade: The WOB you showed on screen seems to imply that Wit DID take the blade, but has since passed it on. "I dunno if I've told people whether or not he at one point had the sword"... so my best guess for who currently holds it is Jasnah. For what purpose/significance, I have no idea :) Great work on this video, thank you for sharing!

[@enki4589]

Now that Taravangian is Odium it changes everything!

[@Bzhydack]

Main unaswered questions: 1. Shallan 2. Shallan 3. Shallan

[@ska4dragons]

Yawn

[@BluesPoet]

Shallan! Shallan! Shallan! (winks in preview chapters).

[@sigzil1985]

Ishar might well be trying to find a way to get spren away from Roshar. This seems to be a theme with the Heralds. I think he's forcing them to form human-ish bodies by severing their connection to shadesmar as completely as possible.

[@readbykyle3082]

This is an excellent video, great job to both of you!

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

Oh, hello! Thank you, fellow Kyle

[@Muhammad_Usman_Raza]

I am not watching the video because, i haven't read stormlight yet, but that Thumbnail is the best 😂😂

[@naturesworld99]

Did you know you have 30 minutes? That’s the Stormlight 5 cover and it comes out Dec 6, time to lock in.

[@allen6john713]

"Honor is not dead so long as he lives in the hearts of men!"

[@sssarnk]

I'm so scared that boo 5 will end on a pseudo cliff hanger from what Sanderson has said

[@angrychickengod3831]

I doubt it. He said he’s taking a long break from writing SLA after book five and I don’t think he’d leave us on a cliffhanger for that long lol

[@knowing.africa]

Great video, as always! A few thoughts though. Please, feel free to tell me I'm clueless! lol 1. I don't think the contest will be physical though. For some reason, punching each other for Roshar does not resonate with me. I don't know what the format of the contest will be, but I don't believe it will be physical combat between the two champions. 2. I don't think Moash will be Odium's Champion! Mostly because I don't think he is Connected to Odium enough to do it. But, also, it would be a pretty GREAT jump in the importance of his character. He strikes me as the kind of person who is constantly used and manipulated because he has no control over his actions. Choosing him would mean leaving him at the mercy of Dalinar or whoever the champion will be. Any little crack in Odium's protection, and he will break... as was the case when he tried to kill Navani at the end of Rhythm of War. 3. El gives me Hoid vibes! Haha 4. Another question may be: What is Maya's revelation at Adolin's Trial at lasting Integrity going to affect the attitude of the spren towards Nahel bonds in the future? Especially the spren of the Releasers and the Willshapers, some of who have decided to either no longer bond humans or actively support Odium. 5. Minor plot question: WIll Dalinar and Adolin's relationship be fixed in WAT? What would that look like? 6. Just a side: I can't believe I forgot that Taln's Honor Blade is missing!!! 7. Regarding Honor's shard, I agree that the Shard will be reforged and Kaladin will ascend to take up the shard. 8. I LOVE your Cultivation theories! Just love 'em! 9. I don't think Kelsier is as bad as we are being given the impression he is. Brandon does POVs very well, and I think Mistborn Era 3 will provide even more nuance with Kelsier's character! 10. About the Dawnshards: I think if there is Dawnshard sub-plot, it might be too much for just one novel no matter how long. Maybe it will be subtle, but I don't think we will get much there. More likely, I think it will be a major plot in the second half of SA.

[@Jasonygh]

This was an amazing video

[@enki4589]

It's Wit on Roshar!

[@jeramiahbarclayjr.7839]

Spoilers for Mistborn. Spoilers. Spoilers. Spoilers. Ishar is a Cognitive Shadow, exactly like Kelsier. Kelsier can't leave his home planet, Scadriel. He's stuck there. It's because investiture can not leave It's origin point, and Ghostbloods are trying to figure out how to make that happen. If you read Mistborn Era 2, you find out that Kel is alive and he's leader of the Ghostbloods, making him the one who wants investiture to be able to leave it's homeworld. They chose Roshar to be the base of operations for experiments because of the constant renewing of investiture, via high storms. As far as we know, Restares (the Herald/Cognitive Shadow Shallan was supposed to "kill") knows more about the process than anyone. That's why Kelsier wanted him. The dagger was going to trap his investiture, which might have killed him, but it might have forced him to speak to Kelsier. Ishar is doing his own experiments, but he doesn't have the Ghostbloods to do his work for him.

[@Parmandur]

I think Ba-Ado-Mishram and the other Unmade were originally independent God-Spren, like the Stormfather. They need to be Re-made for the true resolution of the conflict.

[@MrJethroha]

Cultivation didn't foresee Taravangian ascending to the Shard of Odium, she made it happen. She gave him intelligent days to help him plan ahead, and she gave him emotional days to draw Rayse in to make a deal and to allow Taravangian to bond Odium. Renarins future seeing abilities shrouded Szeth and Nightblood from Odiums notice, but somehow Cultivation knew when to send Taravangian his "stupidest" day... because she has been coordinating with Sja-Anat the whole time. Sja-Anat sent Renarin his spren in the first place and conspired with Taravangian to draw in Odium on the day he died. I wouldn't be surprised if Cultivation didn't conspire to bring Nightblood to Roshar in the first place. She committed from the beginning to give Taravangian what he asked for "the capacity to save humankind" and she still has a hook in him. The vacillation between intelligent and emotional was an essential part of the boon, so what, then, is the real curse?

[@charlieteneyck6797]

I think we have been told why he was named ruthless and why he was resurrected but being gifted nightblood is unknown.

[@fishtailfuture]

Pretty sure Dalinar was supposed to be his first champion, and then Moash. Odium says something about not being able to use his first two choices since the regaining of the tower. I assumed he was talking about Moash's blindness as the second reason.

[@sigzil1985]

Also a sleepless trader has the honorblade. I'll stick by that until Sanderson says otherwise.

[@mobama5782]

Personal theory is going to be that Dalinar and Kalidan become a parallel to Sazed and Kelsior. Dalinar takes up a shard and kalidan the shadow and protector of Roshar.

[@paquadjo1517]

I think the death rattle about the child is about the Unmade Mishram and the results or consequences of freeing her or keeping her contained.

[@cmd_f5]

Moash will become an Unmade. Ashirtmarn so he can drain other people of emotions and then Szeth swings Nightblood a few times, allowing Moash to quit existing and all the Radiants jump for joy. :P

[@amandadamatta_]

Love your videos!

[@aarong9128]

Really good video. Good edits.

[@tashacalkins76]

Is Ishar messing with Hemalurgy?

[@cpaulwick]

I wonder if there were 10 original Spren including the Wind. One for each Herald. 9 of them got unmade

[@judsonbates1359]

Would Ishar’s experiments allow Taravangian or the Heralds to leave the Roshar system?

[@rustygray5058]

More importantly, would they allow Kelsier to leave the Scadrian system?

[@Bookborn]

@@rustygray5058 That's got to be where it's going, right?

[@judsonbates1359]

@@rustygray5058 What are Kelsier’s motives? What is he planning if he can leave Scadrial?

[@rustygray5058]

@@judsonbates1359 honestly, I think his current motives are "find a way to be human again". The attempts to transport stormlight are likely a way to fund future projects while learning about the nature of investiture. He and Shai both have a strong dislike of Hoid, and they are probably trying to sabotage whatever he is working on. Ultimately, Kelsier's motives are simply to live freely. But I expect events to force him into a more proactive role. He feels it is his duty - as the most awesome person around - to protect others from tyrants and evil gods. Both Odium and Dalinar will get under his skin, and he will insist on fighting back instead of surrendering.

[@judsonbates1359]

@@rustygray5058 I guess I just don’t know where the Cosmere is going. I assume Odium is going to win and become a Cosmere wide threat. From what you’re saying I assume Kelsier will help in the fight again Odium then, but to completely do so, he needs to become human again?

[@jeanneige216]

Stormlight Archive and Radiohead? sign me up!

[@TheJordanK]

I think champion will be Adolin. It will end up being him by some twist or something unexpected. Then the dueling foreshadowing and setup for his whole arc will be fulfilled. Mark my words. Maya will bond him as a radiant when yes about to lose or when he’s about to die. It will heal him and her and he will rise a radiant and defeat the champion. (I have no clue who the bad guy champion will be, I’m guessing a new character or Sadeus reborn. lol ) I still don’t believe Odium will abide by this whole thing if he loses, and Dalinar will step in and punish him with some bondsmith type shit. Adolin may not be the champion, but I still think he will end up bonding Maya and healing her. And knowing Brandon it will be at the last second.

[@steelpenpirate]

Gonna go out on a limb and speculate that Adolin will be the one who earns the mantle of Honor. He has done plenty enougb to attract a spren bond, but has not been chosen. Thus, I believe he will ascend during W&T.

[@Volactic]

Amazing introduction

[@timpage9424]

Nah. I'd say there was a chance of redemption post Elhokar. Killing Teft was the point of no return. I'd be kinda pissed if he went for a redemption arc. I trust Sando but he'd have a very fine needle to thread for that to work for me.

[@ZlothZloth]

Do we know how the timelines between Cosmere books link up? If you popped over from Roshar to Scadrial, would you find yourself in the Wax & Wayne era or the future era? Maybe the Ghostbloods seem so different because the ones we are seeing in Roshar have another 50-100 years behind them.

[@keithlewis9621]

Wax and Wayne takes place in between stormlight 5 and 6, Brandon answered that at a convention in a Wob

[@katetaylor9558]

I think that Oroden is far more likely to be the champion odium chooses if brandon goes with the child theory

[@juanmarodriguez6010]

Champion of odium adolin for the win !

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

Blasphemer!

[@juanmarodriguez6010]

​@@LoreoftheWorldsNgl I firmly belived this before RoW but after that book cementing adolin as a pure hearted hero Im simply confused about the champion of odium

[@PeterTschappler]

Or Taravangian just tosses up an easy kill to let Dalinar win

[@fidato_]

Szeth should be the honor's champion. He got the blade

[@mrpurpleorc]

Quick observation on sound for the video, there a lot of pops and mouth noicea on the track. It also feels like the treble is way up and bass is way down. Listening on headphones, mostly on the male track

[@aznp33nRocket]

8:10 Dal didn't hang out with Gav at all. The boy was with his mom while the king and Dal went to the shattered plains. As much as I DONT want it to be the child, it's that gut-wrenching twist that Sanderson could pull on us. You bring up that the boy would have to be willing? That kid has gone through some serious trauma. Odium can use his kid mind to twist the trauma he has gone through to turn the boy against those who took him from his mother AND let his father die. Sanderson has us readers ride along with various mental illnesses and personal struggles. Gav being Odium's champion would be the perfect weapon against Dal if he's the champion. Dal failed his brother by not being sober to save him (even though he realizes it wouldn't have mattered), he failed saving his son (losing taking back their homeland), and then he would have to personally kill the son of the king he failed. It's terrible, but I can see this happening and if it does, Dal... will... lose. Since this ends the first half of the series, I believe it will either be a bitter sweet ending, or a absolute loss. Sanderson has started series with the "bad guy" already winning (mistborn era 1), so who's to say he can conclude this ark in darkness as well. If Dal is the champion, it will be little Gav. If it's Kal, then it has to be Moash! I hope it doesn't happen, but I'm just disagreeing with your reasoning for it not to be the boy. Dal isn't in Gav's life at all really. He's just the big crazy guy who let his dad die and took him away from his mom.

[@aaronlippman3338]

Was that Daniel Greene reading about the dawnshards?

[@p-j-y-d]

10:02 "Respect, I guess". Kitty showing up doesn't agree.

[@link7373]

With Syl getting stronger in the Physical realm, I wonder if she might become the new vessel of Honor if reforged.

[@alexwaldron6639]

What book or novella reveals that cultivation is a dragon ?

[@kaidenverkist3081]

Gavinor isn't a suckling child anymore he's 5 or 6 as I remember.

[@ctom42]

With regards to Shinovar, remember that people who use weapons are the lowest of their society, and I don't think the Honorblades are an exception to that. I think Szeth was born into the role of "he who subtracts" given that we know his father also was trained to wield honorblades. Furthermore there are some minor hints that there may be an unmade behind whatever is going on in Shinovar so I think the cleansing will largely have to do with casting out the rulers who are under this unmade influence and defeating/chasing out/capturing the unmade. Also, I think Ishar will be Odium's champion. I think he will be tricked into it by being told he is opposing Dalinar. He thinks Dalinar is Odium's champion due to his madness. He thinks he is an aspect of the almighty and I think it would not be hard for Taravangian to trick him being Dalinar's opponent. With regards to Taln's Honorblade I don't think Amaram would have had any opportunity to steal it, frankly it's bizarre that you consider him as suspect. What we do know is that this mystery is answered in the Stonewalkers campaign of the Stormlight RPG which is going to be canon. Given that an entire campaign is seemingly focused on these events, I doubt the answer is as simple as one character having taken it.

[@seniorss_1]

You're awesome

[@bocha011]

Ba ado mishram / if we move some letters could mean "The watcher of the light" or "The Guard of the Light" (mixing hebrew and alethi).

[@andrewberenson5717]

I think Dalinar will be his own champion. Outside the box is Renarin. The most likely person for Odium's champion is El. It will not be Moash as he is blinded. Out of the box will be Adolin or Navani.

[@fidato_]

Odiums champion will be moash. He will get his sight back via hemalurgy. EL is the one experimenting with this new technology. She already has metal carapace. They will turn moash into something like marsh from mistborn.

[@Rawrbagels]

Isn’t it a big miss to not even discuss what’s going on with Mayalaran and the return of the deadeyes? You know, a huge plot thread from Rhythm? Feels like something important is going on there, no?

[@alexisherbert687]

Idk man, I don't trust cultivation

[@titaniumtomato7247]

So does it contain spoilers for the preview chapters? I don’t want to read them

[@CitrusVirus6438]

Just finished watching the video. There are no spoilers from the preview chapters.

[@emilykistler6400]

Nope! You’re food

[@asons13]

Nope.

[@LoreoftheWorlds]

Nope, no preview chapter spoilers. Should have clarified!

[@towinandsave1520]

​@@LoreoftheWorlds Can you pin it?

[@isaacberger2561]

What if Honor is actually “deceit”? Just saying. 😵‍💫

[@Josh-the-man]

Why?

[@hubrisnxs2013]

Like people were trying to say Honor had deceit, I'd need to stay focused and ready somewhat fairly early. Ok once Chloe stopped Decent socks self starter dude

[@fishtailfuture]

Before I listen to this. Is there any "theorizing "of what's gonna come? I hate previews, I don't want to hear any good reason hypothesis or good guesses on what to come. I really like to hear about stuff. I miss that are definitely in the books. I don't have the time to go through them all multiple times so I want to know everything in the books. I just don't want any future spoilers. Even as far as "what might happen". I know some people really love the rise and try to guess what's gonna happen next. That's not me. During Game of Thrones when everybody would talk about what's coming I hated it. I tried to shut my brain off and go into it completely fresh.