Questioner
As far as the Oaths go, for Orders of the Knights Radiant that have Oaths that are, like, set, like Windrunners and Bondsmiths, do they have to be spoken in a specific order, or is it just as the--
Brandon Sanderson
They have to be spoken in a specific order. But the Oath can vary depending on the individual's own interpretation and feeling about it.
Questioner 1
So, spren can just manifest themselves to different people. Can they choose whether or not to manifest themselves to other spren? Does it depend on the kind of spren?
Brandon Sanderson
So, depends on the kind of spren. You'll get some hints of that in the third book. Or you probably have already, if you read the preview chapters.
Questioner 2
I read the preview chapters, but, like, the way Syl acted, is that, like, something that she's able to hide from them?
Brandon Sanderson
She was not able to hide from that spren.
Questioner
How soon until we found out why Vasher and the sword got split up?
Brandon Sanderson
Oh why they got split up. Not this book [Oathbringer]. But soon-ish.
Questioner
Is there any undiscovered planets in the cosmere?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
Questioner
Are you planning on doing more graphic novels, outside of the White Sand series?
Brandon Sanderson
Well, there's a couple of things here. Like, we don't want to do another one 'til White Sand is done. They come to us and said, "We wanna do more!" because White Sand sold so well. We're like "No, you finish what you have, then we'll look at doing it." So, we're exploring other options, but we won't start any until what we've started is finished. I really wanna do the story I had for Mistborn, the video game, as a graphic novel with Ben McSweeney.
Questioner
Any plans for a Mistborn, or just Cosmere, collectible card game?
Brandon Sanderson
Um, yes. Asterisk. It's a hard thing to get going. It would probably be more like a deck building game than a CCG, just 'cause we would sell a box set of something you could draft or something like that, rather than trying to go the whole CCG route.
Questioner
Signed cover art? Print of the cover art?
Brandon Sanderson
...Yes, we should be doing that. That's more a Michael [Whelan] question, for the cover art, and a question for the various artists. But for, what we really want to do with the endpages is do, like, a calendar, that's like a Rosharan/18-month-Earth/10-month-Rosharan calendar. We're gonna try that. But they have prints and things, and signed prints, and stuff like that.
Questioner
Could a Windrunner in Shardplate travel to other planets?
Brandon Sanderson
Uh, theoretically possible. Take a long time.
Questioner
Yes, it would. 'Cause he wouldn't need to breathe, if he's got enough Stormlight.
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah, well, I mean, they can control pressure, so. You'd need oxygen scrubbers, but they can also, so... you can create a ball of air around yourself with their power anyway, so--
Questioner
Was the Trust in [Hero of Ages] a perpendicularity?
Brandon Sanderson
So... No. Asterisk.
Questioner
Does Nightblood annihilate Investiture?
Brandon Sanderson
Investiture cannot be created or destroyed. It can only change forms. But, anything more than that is a RAFO.
Questioner
What would happen if you alloyed a metal with atium and lerasium?
Brandon Sanderson
So, you've seen some of that. It would be a further extrapolation on that concept.
Slowswift
Similar to how Lightweavers have, kind of really good memories. Do the Skybreakers have any special abilities for telling guilty and innocent people apart?
Brandon Sanderson
No. Good question.
Slowswift
Is Slowswift an Allomancer?
Brandon Sanderson
No. Slowswift is a cameo for Grandpa Tolkien.
Questioner
Is Re-Shephir related at all to the Midnight Essence in Aether of Night?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes. It's me, like-- Related in that Aether of Night isn't canon, and I really liked how that worked in the cosmere, and I ported it to this instead. So that's like--
Questioner
So you're not gonna write Aether of Night?
Brandon Sanderson
Aether of Night, I might eventually write, but the Mid--
Questioner
It may be different?
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah.
Questioner
Someone on the forum I'm on wanted me to ask you about citrus fruits during Vin's time.
Brandon Sanderson
Citrus fruits during Vin's time because of the lack of flowers, and things like that? Their fruits were not our fruits. Let's say that.
Questioner
Were they close to, like, Rosharan, like bulb fruit?
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah, there were definitely some bulb fruits. But any actual citruses, I don't think that there were.
Questioner
You know Hoid's Letter, that's in The Way of Kings? It's given to a dragon, right?
Brandon Sanderson
He calls him an old reptile.
Questioner
Is he immortal?
Brandon Sanderson
Functionally, meaning he doesn't age, but he could be killed.
Questioner
And he's a he, not a she?
Brandon Sanderson
It is a he.
Comatose
I was wondering about the Steel Ministry's stance on sexuality.
Brandon Sanderson
If you're paying them, they don't really care.
Comatose
That sounds like a Steel Ministry thing.
Brandon Sanderson
Yup.
Questioner
Could Lift's food ability be taken by Hemalurgic spike?
Brandon Sanderson
Theoretically yes.
Kogiopsis
Are there any parallels between the fish in the Purelake and the Aviar in Sixth of the Dusk?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
LadyKnightRadiant
So you're really good at ending books, especially like post-climax resolution that I feel is always my real weak point. I always find that I tend to write things that end up sounding really, really cheesy. I feel like you have, like, perfected the, like, decent resolution that's not horrifically cheesy. I was wondering if you have like any tips on how to end things properly.
Brandon Sanderson
It's all about promises, right, and I've talked about this a lot. Like, what-- remember that the ending, if you've earned it-- Cheesiness is based on whether the reader is on board with you or not-- Cheesiness is not like this intrinsic property of a scene. Cheesiness is, are they on board? Do they want this? Have you done a good job with this? So if you get people on board-- yeah.
Brightlord Maelstrom
Would there be a way that is reasonably feasible to use Aon Tia to teleport off-world?
Brandon Sanderson
Theoretically yes.
Brightlord Maelstrom
...Would there be a way to create it where instead of teleporting you directly there, it opens a portal?
Brandon Sanderson
We'll go ahead and start RAFOing at this point.
Questioner
After a highstorm does the Stormfather always appear regardless if someone's watching or not?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes
Questioner
Do Shardblades cut as well as like an ideal wedge in a perfect world or better than that?
Brandon Sanderson
I would say better than. Because they can cut the spirit, too. The soul.
Questioner
How could I be a better beta reader? Because I suck at giving feedback.
Brandon Sanderson
It's just practice. And try not to fix things, try to just give your responses to them.
Questioner
Like how I felt about certain things?
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah, you don't have to tell them how to fix it, you just have to say, "I was bored here." "I was not empathizing with this character." "This line was really great." That sort of stuff.
Questioner
So, you know, on Scadrial, once metal is burned, it returns to the ecosystem, because matter is not created or destroyed. Does color do the same thing on Nalthis?
Brandon Sanderson
You're gonna make me try to decide-- does color have, um-- I'll have to think about it...
Questioner 1
Where can I find the rules to the game of Michim?
Brandon Sanderson
So, probably nowhere. I would have to do some more work.
Questioner 1
...I tried really hard to extrapolate the rules.
Brandon Sanderson
I know, that's what I'm saying. Probably nowhere, because-- the rules-- we'd have to look in my notes, to see if I even have them in there.
Questioner 2
Did you actually invent a game, just to put it in?
Brandon Sanderson
Well, enough rules-- I don't know if it would pass playing-rigor.
Questioner 1
How can you guess the ones your opponent has hidden if it's a game of skill, not chance? I can't understand!
Brandon Sanderson
So, I have to fudge these things, just in case it doesn't actually play, I don't have time to, like, playtest for a year. But we can work on it and see if me can make it work. If you beg at me with an email, we can try that.
Questioner
Is the [BYU] IT Capstone [project], the Rithmatist game-- where is that in everything?
Brandon Sanderson
I went and played it, it was really cool. I don't know what else will happen with it
Questioner
If you had a bendalloy Hemalurgic spike...
Brandon Sanderson
That will be in the Hemalurgic table, which we will be releasing, hopefully, next year.
Snipexe
Does the size-- Let's say you have a really big Aon, and you had it pretty far away from Elantris, does the size of the Aon allow it to be more powerful?
Brandon Sanderson
To an extent, yes.
Questioner
Does the Almighty and the Heralds have anything to do with the bigger cosmere gods and deities?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
Questioner
The Heralds, as well?
Brandon Sanderson
...Not as much, but a little bit. They do.
Questioner
Does that mean that the Almighty is able to worldhop as well?
Brandon Sanderson
Well, the Almighty is Honor, and he is one of the Shards of Adonalsium, so he didn't originate on Roshar.
Questioner
I'm wondering how worldhoppers are able to understand languages on different worlds.
Brandon Sanderson
So, because I knew I was doing this whole thing, I made it fairly easy to use Connection to start speaking other languages, like you see in the Mistborn books happening. That's a pretty common thing with the various magic systems, one of the easiest things to get going. Some just learn the language. It does happen. But, for instance, Hoid isn't learning the language, which is why you see him making goofs, like when he says "coin" instead of "sphere." Because, like, that doesn't happen really, if you learn the other language. There's not really the word for coin. But the magic is trying to interpret the thing that he says, and it just comes out as a word that's not in their language, really. And you'll see worldhoppers making that mistake. You'll see them using words like "dirt" and stuff like that, and that's just a clue they're using magical means.
Questioner
So, I had a question about the 16 in Mistborn versus 10 [in Stormlight], there's a big discussion on the 17th Shard about it...
Brandon Sanderson
It's more-- It's not random.
Questioner
... So is there a method to the madness?
Brandon Sanderson
There is a method to the madness, but it may not be as important as some people think it is.
Questioner
So, I'm intrigued by aluminum, especially the fact that it can only be found by Soulcasting on Roshar. So, how was it discovered in the first place?
Brandon Sanderson
...Did I say you can only get it through Soulcasting?
Questioner
In the Shallan flashbacks, she has the pendant.
Brandon Sanderson
Don't take what she says at 100% truth.
Questioner
Is there some relation between Investiture and magnetism? It seems like aluminum is always screwing things up, and that's the first thing that came to mind.
Brandon Sanderson
There are slight relationships between them, yes.
Mason Wheeler
Harmonium is ettmetal... Its chemicals properties are sort of analogous to cesium. It explodes in contact with water. People are made out of water. You try to spike someone, you try to swallow it, you try to wear it as jewelry, it will not end well. Why in the world would he pick something so inharmonious?
Brandon Sanderson
He didn't pick it. It's unstable because of the two halves of him not meshing well.
Mason Wheeler
So, because the world is flat in Shadesmar, if there's a place where you can't cross, so if a Radiant was on a ship, they'd have trouble getting across, because their spren would be stuck behind that line of discontinuity. Is the Origin of Storms located on that line?
Brandon Sanderson
No, good question.
Mason Wheeler
If the Parshendi are listeners, would it be proper to call the Aimians watchers?
Brandon Sanderson
There are those who would call them that, but because that is used in the Marvel world so extensively, I would not use it, probably.
Questioner
Who do you think would win, an atium misting, or Kaladin with Syl?
Brandon Sanderson
The atium misting, as long as they have enough atium, is probably got an advantage, but Kaladin can fly. So, I would bet on Kaladin, meaning he flies up high, waits 'til they run out of atium, then gets them.
Joyblu
So, I just had a question about the name Hoid. I've gone through all these [Aons], with the "OID," I know he really cares about how it's spelled. Is there anything you can give me the "O" and the "I" and the "D"? The only ones that have the "O" and the "I" are these two right here. Am I onto anything here, or is that just a coincidence?
Brandon Sanderson
No, those are just a coincidence.
JoyBlue
*written* What Aviar power does Mraize's green chicken grant?
Brandon Sanderson
*written* RAFO!
*spoken* But it is an Aviar, so it does have one.
OrangeJedi
Could a Parshendi form a bond with an intoxicationspren?
Brandon Sanderson
Theoretically possible, yes.
OrangeJedi
Would it look ugly?
Brandon Sanderson
It may not be the best idea they ever had.
Questioner
Can Parshendi provide what the humans can provide, in terms of a mutualistic relationship with the spren?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
Questioner
Can plants have Hemalurgic properties?
Brandon Sanderson
...As I have it in the notes right now, no. I could change that, but for right now, no. There's just not a way to get it to work, right now.
Ethour
Would a Shardfork be effective in combat?
Brandon Sanderson
...Depends on who has it. I think-- There were war tridents that were used, historically, but I'm gonna say that, on average, a sword's a better choice. But, I mean-- Lift isn't hot on hurting people, even when she's fighting them, so it's kind of a weird thing.
Questioner
Is there anything preventing the listeners, or Parshendi, from picking up a sword of Radiance
Brandon Sanderson
Historically, yes.
Questioner
So, it's not something that *inaudible*
Brandon Sanderson
Something was preventing them. You phrased that well.
ShadowBlaze
Is it possible to have a stormblessed Mistborn?
Brandon Sanderson
...What do you mean by stormblessed? Do you mean Radiant?
ShadowBlaze
Yeah.
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah. It is possible.
OrangeJedi
So, Kaladin obviously draws Stormlight from a pouch, all the time... If the pouch was coated in, say aluminum, would he still be able to draw the Stormlight?
Brandon Sanderson
No. Good question.
OrangeJedi
What about if it was coated in silver?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes, he probably still could.
Questioner
How the crap did Zahel end up on Roshar?
Brandon Sanderson
Partially walked there, partially took a vehicle.
Questioner
So, I'm about to read the last four books of Wheel of Time, and I know in your interview with Deseret News is that no one has asked you about something big, world-shattering. What should I be thinking of while I read these books?
Brandon Sanderson
I can't give you even a clue, because I've been sworn to secrecy by team Jordan. I made it up, but they said "We can't tell people this." So, this is something I added to the books, it's not something that was in the notes. So there, you learned something about it.
Questioner
Where is the status, or will it ever happen on the pizza necromancer book?
Brandon Sanderson
...Death by Pizza's floating. Really I can only start new things if it's directly for my contract for Tor or for my contract [with Random House] until I clear off a few things, so I'm not letting myself do that one. I considered slotting it in when I did Skyward, but Skyward was the one I ended up doing. So, that one's, basically-- I'm not gonna do it until at least I get Rithmatist and Alcatraz done.
Questioner
Well, I'm excited. It sounds fun.
Brandon Sanderson
It is a load of fun.