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Hoit

What is Hoid's best held secret?

Brandon Sanderson

Hoid is his own Best Secret.

Questioner

Has Hoid been in contact with Harmony in the timeline so far? Like, physically.

Brandon Sanderson

Physically in contact with Harmony in the timeline so far? "Physically" as it relates to a Shard is a difficult thing to say, but I would say that yes, they have interacted.

FeatherWriter

Can you tell me what the Truthwatcher spren are called, like do they have a name? I know it's not in Oathbringer.

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah, I'm not gonna canonize that yet. There're things I am still thinking about.

CiberneitorGamer

Would it be possible to break a Shardblade?

If one breaks, what happens to the spren? Could this somehow kill the spren/Nahel bond?

Can it be reforged?

What happens to the Investiture stored inside of the sword?

Could a living spren regenerate the lost part?

What could cause this breaking?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO

Pagerunner

Khriss says there was Investiture on Threnody prior to Odium and Ambition's battle. Was that Investiture of Ambition?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO!

Dragon13

Will we see any information, book, story, or just Word of Brandon in general on the fourth Shard that Odium has vanquished?

Brandon Sanderson

Eventually I will talk about it. I don't want to talk about it now, but I will talk about it. So no, that’s a RAFO.

Questioner

Is Hoid like-- Would you say he's generally well known in Silverlight? Most people know who he is?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes. Yes, I would say he is fairly well known in Silverlight. If you went to your average person in Silverlight and said, "Do you know this guy?" odds are they would know. There are some people who wouldn't, but odds are they would.

Tiek00n

Is Trell Endowment?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO.

Questioner (paraphrased)

From Secret History, does Hoid have all the magic from the universe you've created?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He does not have all the magic. He did take the bead of lerasium, and you have seen him use Allomancy. So, he is confirmed to have used Allomancy.

Jemaclus

In The Way of Kings, the [epigraphs] indicate that the year is 1174 (or thereabouts). In the Prelude, the date is indicated as 3000 years ago. What mechanism is used to delineate the epochs? Obviously in the Prelude they wouldn't refer to their date as -2174. In other words, what are the B.C./A.D./BCE equivalents for that series?

Brandon Sanderson

I'm going to have to RAFO that

ImKrypton

If there was Any shard to be offered to Hoid, it would have been this one [Whimsy].

Brandon Sanderson

Hoid is far too calculating and deliberate for Whimsy. It might seem his style on the surface, but a deep dive into who he is would show that it's very much not who he is.

DeJeR

Will we ever see the world or magic system for Whimsy?

Brandon Sanderson

Some day, hopefully.

ElephantEarwax

If Taravangian became a Vessel, would he still have smart and stupid days?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO

Questioner

What would Hoid's callsign be?

Brandon Sanderson

He'd probably go with Dust. He likes that. It depends on the mood he's in. Sometimes he might pick something a little ruder, just to make someone have to say it.

Ted Herman (paraphrased)

Does Wit know what became of Helaran?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Depends on where Wit was, so maybe.

Questioner

When Hoid took the bead of lerasium, did he actually eat it or did he just hang on to it?

Brandon Sanderson

You have seen him use Allomancy in other books, so… there's your answer.

[conversation about the inhabited South Pole of Scadrial, and whether there are currently any other inhabited landmasses]

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO. (Obviously.) :)

Douglas7886

Knowing that you have already stated that the Listeners aren't originally of Odium or of Cultivation. Is it possible that they could actually originally be of what opposes Adonalsium?

Brandon Sanderson

I'm going to have to RAFO your question; good question though.

havoc_mayhem

You've once said that there were three sentient species on Yolen: Human, Dragon and [Sho Del]. We've seen a lot of 'people' on the different planets that were either descended from or intentionally based on humans. Frost is known to be a dragon.

Are any of the non-human species we've seen descended from or based on either Dragons or [Sho Del]?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO! :)

havoc_mayhem

What colour is Frost's blood? What color is a [Sho Del]'s blood?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO, more because I'm not ready to canonize Dragonsteel facts yet, as opposed because it will be a huge revelation.

Katelyn Gigante

After the epilogue, when Odium took Hoid's memories, did he gain them or just remove them?

Brandon Sanderson

He removed them, he did not gain them. He excised them, he performed a little surgery on the Breaths. You have seen this happen before in the books, though I will not give spoilers to another book. It happened on a different world.

Questioner

Who's your favorite character to write?

Brandon Sanderson

Usually the characters I look more-- forward to the most are the ones that are goofy.

Questioner

Wayne?

Brandon Sanderson

So like Wayne and Lift. Like, but not up to like-- Wit I-- is hard to write, right? It's the kind of wacky but don't have to be too clever characters that are most fun to write.

Paladin Brewer (paraphrased)

Why do some spren not receive the Nahel bond?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO

Questioner

My question's about Secret History, specifically it's kind of a two-parter. The first part's easier to answer. Is it relevant that the glowing substance that Hoid puts on his oar is very similarly described as the same stuff that the Ire drink, the glowing--

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah, that is relevant.

Questioner

And does it have to do with Connection.

Brandon Sanderson

Ah… *sighs* Yes, but not the way you're thinking. That's a "I'm wiggling out of..." Yes, it has to do with Connection, but so does a dog. Cause a dog is Connected to things. *laughs in the audience* You said "does it have to do with"! The answer is yes.

simon_thekillerewok

Is there a Shard named Survival?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO.

Judean_peoplesfront

I'm currently on a reread of WoK and in chapter 57 Hoid says to Kaladin: "I've many [names]. I began life as a thought, a concept, words on a page. That was another thing I stole. Myself."

Do we know if this is Hoid breaking the fourth wall or is it just some kind kind of metaphorical reference to his presence at the birth of the Shards?

Peter Ahlstrom

The simple answer is that this does not break the fourth wall, but we won't find out why until years from now. So it's understandable that you would interpret it this way.

firstRainbowRose

Can we have a hint as to which book will explain it?

Peter Ahlstrom

Probably Hoid's origin story, which Brandon is writing after he finishes Stormlight 10.

Sam Script

So was Adonalsium a divine being or a pure force/essence of creation?

Peter Ahlstrom

RAFO

coltonx9

Is Sja-anat-- Is she wearing a chiton, like a Greek chiton?

Brandon Sanderson

I'll RAFO that.

Algafi

I also have the theory that Huio will swear Dustbringer oaths (taking spanreeds apart to see how they work and a badass Shardhammer). And I want to get my first RAFO so:

Can a KR swear 2 order oaths after obtaining a Shardblade?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO!

Questioner

I was thinking about the Shardplate in Dalinar's first vision and how it looks different than any other plate now.  Would that be like how Syl could only transform after he said that second round... or was it third round of oaths, so is the Shardplate just like the next set, or would that be a totally different set of...?

Brandon Sanderson

I'm totally going to RAFO you.  Look you've got a RAFO.  You are asking good questions.

Oudeis

What is Wyrn’s or Hrathen’s seons’ names?

Brandon Sanderson

Um that is--

Oudeis

Or if you don’t know the name off the top of your head then what the Aon translates as.

Brandon Sanderson

Right. It’s been ten years, it’s in the notes. It will be important when I write the second ones.

Questioner

We have a Nicroburst Twinborn, who burns his old stored metal. What happens?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO.

simon_thekillerewok

Is/was Mare a kandra?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO.

Questioner

In The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance, you covered the relationship between Shardblades and spren...you never get around to Shardplate.

Brandon Sanderson

I’m saving that one on purpose, it’s a gun on the mantle, or armor on the mantle. So, you will eventually find out what’s going on there, okay?

yulerule

*Written:* So somewhere it says that the number of Breaths doesn't determine the power of the object. But are the number of Breaths directly tied to how much Investiture is in an object? You're repeatedly said that Nightblood is ridiculously heavily Invested, more so than Shardblades, Honorblades, or the Bands of Mourning. But it only has a thousand Breaths, which doesn't seem all that much from the point of view of the God King--Tenth Heightening, over 50,000.

Brandon Sanderson

So this is a RAFO, but you're starting to ask the right questions there. Okay?

*Writes:* RAFO

Questioner

In terms of character development, I've noticed you you tend to be concentrated on Twinborns and Mistings, in your new series. Are you going to be exploring the full Mistborn?

Brandon Sanderson

Am I going to be exploring full Mistborn in other books. That's kind of a RAFO, which means Read And Find Out. I will-- I am very interested in telling these intimate stories in the Mistborn world right now and Mistborn have kind of fallen out of the world. There aren't many, if any, of them left, but who knows what will happen in the future. So that's what we call a RAFO.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Can the survival Shard hide in a person?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO

Questioner

Is Dalinar Unity because he's the combination of all three Shards, through the Thrill, the boon and curse, and the Stormfather?

Brandon Sanderson

So, I'm leaving that as a RAFO, Read and Find Out, but that's a very good theory.

Rusty Hodges

In book 2 of Stormlight, Mraize says Shallan is not to harm Amaram, his life belongs to another. Does he know about Kaladin at this point or is she referring to Jasnah. If he is referring to Jasnah this would insinuate he knew she was still alive, which would make sense he clearly knows a lot more then he's let on so far. This question is fulled by some conclusions I have come to about Amaram and Jasnah.

Brandon Sanderson

I'll RAFO this, but you are very astute.

f***yeahdiomedes

The thing with the kandra naming, with two parts.  Is that purely a kandra thing, or did it come from the First Generation and the Terris?

Brandon Sanderson

Good question, that’s a RAFO.

Cheese Ninja (paraphrased)

How do Bondsmiths use the Dawnshards?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO.

Cosmere Questioner

Is Rial a worldhopper?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO. RAFO. RAFO.

Questioner

I love the Hoid scavenger hunts that have been going on. What does he-- what powers does he have, what magic has used *inaudible*?

Brandon Sanderson

If you watch in these books, he has used on screen so far three of the different magics.

Questioner

And have we seen those three-- do we know what those three are?

Brandon Sanderson

You know at least two of them. Very deep clues-- very more obvious clues are in this book [WoR].

Questioner

And I haven't gotten to yet-- you can see where I am.

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah; watch where he and Kaladin have some interactions. If you watch carefully you will see something in what he mentions. You've already seen him and Shallan, that scene in one of her flashbacks.

Questioner

I was almost-- I was reading that scene like "that has to be..."

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah, in that scene he uses one if you watch.

Questioner

In Oathbringer, Taravangian tells Dalinar that there is metal falling from the sky, anything more on that?

Brandon Sanderson

The rainfall on Roshar is full of elements; and metal is not maybe not 100% accurate. But crem, that solidifies, comes down with the rain water.

Questioner

He says that's what they were using to make half-shards.

Brandon Sanderson

Oh, you're talking about that! I'll RAFO that for now.

Pinpoint (paraphrased)

If Hoid got beheaded, would his body grow a new head?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

Pinpoint (paraphrased)

What if Hoid got cut by a Shardblade?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

The Shardblade cuts the soul and what Hoid does heals the soul.

ZeN ‏

I so badly would want to know if Hoid knows he's a character in a book... or at the very least if he would accept it as a possibility...

Brandon Sanderson

Hoid does not know he's a character in a book. The cosmere doesn't break the fourth wall. (Sorry.)

Questioner

In the Cosmere, as space becomes more developed...*inaudible* outer space.

Brandon Sanderson

It's an interesting question that I've had to ponder. Would the space race happen more slowly because there's an alternative, or would it happen more quickly because you know other planets are inhabited. I'm not going to answer what I came up with, because it's a plot point in the books. So I'll give you a RAFO card, but that's the question to ask yourself.

Questioner

That wasn't my question! My question was, in the Cognitive Realm, with the gap between planets...

Brandon Sanderson

Oh! Will the gap between planets get larger as more people travel in between it. So, barring things like space stations, there's going to be so few minds in between, that I don't expect space to become larger because of that.

I don't expect it to be a factor, except--barring--there will be possibilities of certain regions popping up.

Questioner

Did you have inspiration for Wit. I just think he's totally funny.

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah, it's just hard because Wit started, I started thinking about Wit when i was like fifteen or sixteen. He evolved over all that time. Every time I've laughed a piece of that became Wit, if that makes any sense.

Kurkistan

How exactly, Realmatically, is it tracked- like [for example] Aon Aon with these swirls and lines means "Arelon"?

Brandon Sanderson

I'm not gonna' explain that yet; I can explain how the shape is, but the whole relationship between the Aons and the magic and the landscape-

*Draws out/describes AonAon like in the book*

Questioner

So. Mistborn in Space. Sixth of Dusk...

Brandon Sanderson

Lot of people are wondering about that and I'm not answering that.

Questioner

In the ancient religion with Trell, the god, he had a brother Nalt.  Is Nalt in any relation to Nalthis, the planet?

Brandon Sanderson

Hehe, that’s a good question.  Hmmm.  I’m going to RAFO that for now.

Questioner

Is Shardplate also made up of spren or is it different?

Brandon Sanderson

You get a RAFO card.  It means you’re asking a good question but I’m not going to answer it.