Necarion
The compounding trick that the Lord Ruler performed. When you're storing Investiture, are you storing your "Mistborn-ness" or all the powers individually?
Brandon Sanderson
All of the powers individually.
Necarion
Oh okay!
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah, the compounding trick. Really what's happening is you're fueling Feruchemy with the power of Allomancy, but you're filtering it through you, and then you're storing it.
Necarion
So it's not that you're a more powerful mistborn when you've tapped [investiture]
Brandon Sanderson
No, good question.
Necarion
Is Taldain orbiting at a Lagrangian point? *Brandon laughs* It would make the orbits work.
Brandon Sanderson
*long pause* I'm not sure the implications, I have to think through implications before answering questions.
Necarion
The situation I'm thinking of, it would orbit the big star but at the same period as the smaller star.
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah, well, I'll just say "yes", but I want to make sure I'm not saying "yes", without...well, yes that's how it has to work.
Necarion
Right.
Brandon Sanderson
Because [Taldain] I want to be not like Roshar where we have unstable orbits and things. Uh, but I… I'm saying yes, but I hope that doesn't get me into trouble scientifically.
Necarion
Could a double-nicrosil Twinborn compound Breath or Stormlight?
Brandon Sanderson
Uh, you’re getting a RAFO card on that. You're getting SUCH a RAFO card on that!
Necarion
One other speed bubble question. Is the speed of light the same inside and outside a speed bubble?
Brandon Sanderson
Um, yes. The speed of light is the same. Good question, you're trying to figure out the FTL.
Necarion
Also, it would eliminate the redshift if the speed of light…
Brandon Sanderson
If the speed of light were similar. That's one thing we considered, but it felt too unintuitive, plus it's just not how I imagined things working. So, no it is not, but that's a good question. It is something we considered.
Questioner
Now, do things actually move unpredictable at the edge [of a speed bubble] or do they refract out? Is it just that geometry is hard?
Brandon Sanderson
No, I have a level of unpredictability, I mean we're Chaos Theory. The idea being, you could predict if you had a perfect closed system and things like this, but it's unfeasible for most technology and minds to be able to predict.
Questioner
So my quick question: Can you use Identity (I love the speed bubbles!) to anchor speed bubbles to yourself?
Brandon Sanderson
Uh, this is possible. That's less a matter of Identity. What’s gonna happen there, like, the more someone uses the powers, the more familiar and intermingled with their soul the powers become, and they are able to accomplish things that others can't. This would be like a Mistborn learning to hover a coin, right, which they can do, but most think you can't. That's the sort of level we're going with.
Necarion
So a savant could?
Brandon Sanderson
A savant could totally do that. The problem is, things moving in and out of a speed bubble, there's a transference of energy. This is how we keep speed bubbles from irradiating people when light moves through them, right, red shift. And so there's a transfer of energy directly from the Spiritual Realm, which means that moving with a speed bubble, you're gonna run into that, and it's gonna be, it's gonna cause all kinds of problems, but it would be possible.
Necarion
Would a Mistborn have to worry about accidentally burning her copper IUD?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes she would, absolutely *laughs*
Necarion
Would a soulstamp carved from a gemstone and infused with Stormlight be more likely to Take?
Brandon Sanderson
No it would not.
Necarion
Do Vessels have any flexibility in expressing the intent of a Shard, particularly if the intent is open to many interpretations?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes they do. So, the Vessel's mind and how they perceive is going to have a large influence on how things are expressed and I think all of them have some wiggle room. But there are some deterministic things that are also going to push them. You know, holding Ruin, Harmony may not go down the same path that happened to Ati.
Necarion
So Sadeas would express Honor differently than Tanavast?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes he would.
Questioner
What happened to Vivenna?
Brandon Sanderson
This will be answered very soon.
Questioner
Is Lift going to be in the next book?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
Questioner
I really appreciate the fact that Steris is a character who is there.
Brandon Sanderson
Steris is my favorite character of the new generation of Mistborn. She is a delight to write about.
Weltall
(paraphrased)
That gave me the opportunity to ask one last question, about Feruchemical chromium and whether storing fortune would cause you to risk experiencing really improbable things, like the entropy curse in The Dresden Files.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
He said he wasn't going to answer questions about fortune, that the MAG shouldn't be taken as gospel on this point (I don't remember how it works there and didn't mention it, he brought it up on his own) and that he's planning something different than we might be thinking, for how that mechanic will function.
Weltall
(paraphrased)
I asked what Hoid's favorite flavor of instant noodles is.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
At first I think he misheard me asking what his own favorite is ('spicy Korean ramen' apparently, though I don't remember the exact specifics) so I clarified. He said that Hoid is looking forward to instant noodles but they aren't Yolish and he knows about them via the same method that he knows where he needs to be in the cosmere.
Weltall
(paraphrased)
I asked if Nazh's knife didn't glow to Kelsier's eyes because the metal wasn't from Scadrial generally or whether it was a metal with some particular property.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO.
Weltall
(paraphrased)
I asked if someone who had a lot of Breath would have it weaken collectively, in the same way that the single Breaths of children are more vibrant than others and move one slightly closer to a Heightening, then weaken as they grow older (and contribute slightly less towards a Heightening).
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
He said that it wouldn't be noticeable once you accumulate enough Breath and, for example, Hoid wouldn't find himself suddenly losing perfect pitch as a function of time.
Herald
(paraphrased)
What would have happened if Kelsier hasn't taken Preservation or later Sazed hasn't taken Ruin and Preservation powers? Would the earth have been destroyed due to so much raw power much before the actual destruction due to Ruin's actions?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes. Bad things would have happened.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Like Sel?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Not going to answer that. Just bad things would have happened.
Herald
(paraphrased)
What about Hemalurgy in other worlds other than Mistborn?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes.
Herald
(paraphrased)
I again asked with the exception of kandra, have seen Hemalurgy such as people who may have been spiked.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
He repeated "You have seen Hemalurgy in other worlds."
Herald
(paraphrased)
Have we seen any of the system or the world that has end-negative magic system other than Hemalurgy?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes there is one more end-negative magic system and you have seen minor hints of it.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Is Vax present (lurking) in any of the star systems explained in Arcanum Unbounded? Personally I think there will be more star systems that would be discovered in the future and Vax might be part of them. Comment?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO for Vax. Yes, there might be more stars. The picture on the cover is the sight observed from one particular place.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Silverlight?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO. Let's just say that there are more planetary systems present in the existing star chart itself that you don't know yet.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Is Yolen present in the dragon constellation?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Do Ym, Stump belong to Edgedancer? Will we see Stump again in the future?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Ym is not an Edgedancer. You will see Stump in the future novels though you may not see Tashikki much again.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Is there more significance to the 10 other planets around the Rosharan star system and them being gaseous? We know that Roshar's moons have unnatural orbits; so there seems to be some astronomical manipulation in the system.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes there is significance of 16 in cosmere and 10 in Rosharan system.
Herald
(paraphrased)
The outer 10 gas giants in the Rosharan system suggest a tie to the number 10 that predates the arrival of the current Shards. Is the prominent numerology we see around the cosmere an inherent property of the planets, rather than the Shards who invest them?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Big RAFO.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Would Ashyn/Braize share the 10-centric numerology of Roshar?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes 10-centric is for the entire Rosharan planetary system...wait Braize is 9-centric.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Have we see [Bavadin's] influence on other worlds till now – like Austre in Nalthis or other religions which Sazed studied on Scadrial for example.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes you have seen her influence in other worlds other than Taldain. He wouldn't confirm if it is Nalthis or Scadrial or any other planet.
Herald
(paraphrased)
How do we pronounce Bavadin?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
ba-va-din (ba as in batman, va as in want, din as in dinner).
Herald
(paraphrased)
Is it possible to reliably deduce what a Shardworld's Cognitive realm will look like if we knew a lot about its Physical realm? For example, mists in Scadrial, spheres in Roshar etc.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes, but it works in odd ways. So it may not work in the logical way that you think.
Herald
(paraphrased)
Why spheres on Roshar? Something related to the highstorms makes more sense, right?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes there is a reason for them being spheres. RAFO
Herald
(paraphrased)
Asked for a dedication from a resident of Yolen.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Got "May two worlds become one to you" He stressed that it's worlds not realms!!!
Mark Lindberg
(paraphrased)
Would emotion spren react in any way if a Rioter or Soother were operating in the area?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes, you would be able to see that sort of change if you were paying attention.
Gary Singer
(paraphrased)
Could Lift convert food from other cosmere worlds into Stormlight?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes. Lift's Spiritweb has something changed about it to allow converting mass to Investiture directly.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
Does Lift's shadow behave abnormally with respect to the sun or infused spheres?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes, there is something going on with her shadow, but no specifics given.
Ted Herman
(paraphrased)
Why were the trees at the palace in Azir bronze? Soulcast?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Soulcast for decoration.
danimalod
I also just finished Shadows of Self and was thinking about what would happen if a kandra tried to eat a shade. If they don't have bones, it probably can't happen I guess. But maybe a shade that was a kandra could be pretty frightening.
Brandon Sanderson
Yes, a kandra couldn't eat a Shade. And how scary the shade kandra would be depends entirely on the kandra, I'd figure...
senick67
(paraphrased)
My question was since Shardblades can sever your soul and turn it gray. In Warbreaker the priest who held Nightblood and lived his hands were gray. so does Nightblood consume your soul.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes since your soul is investiture.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
Is the flute that Vin saw in the Lord Ruler's secret room in [Well of Ascension] the same flute that Hoid gives to Kaladin in [The Way of Kings]?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO. The origins of that flute will be revealed at some point.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
Is an Snapped Allomancer more likely to pass on the Allomantic ability than an UnSnapped one?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Not necessarily.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
I asked if it was pure genetics, then.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
He initially said yes, then appended that with "not just genetics. there's a Spiritual aspect to it as well."
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
How much of Harmony's manipulation of Wax was Hoid aware of?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
He knew what was going on. That's all I'm going to say.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
Did Hoid have anything to do with Bavadin showing up on Sel?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO.
Dearius
(paraphrased)
We know that investiture physically affects and changes people's bodies, so aside from the chance of being born as a Misting, Feruchemist, ect. Can investiture physically or biologically affect the magic user's descendants, and if so then in what way?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
You are on to something there, but I can't give details without spoilers. He then elaborated that it plays a major part on Sel.
Dearius
(paraphrased)
In response I asked if the Alethi were descendants of the original Knights Radiant and if their descendants had light eyes due to their ancestor's use of Stormlight/Nahel Bond.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
He said I was on to something but to RAFO
Seonid
If Cultivation and Honor were romantically involved, why did Cultivation not help Honor against Odium?
Brandon Sanderson
She did.
Shawn M. Halversen
(paraphrased)
I asked him about the time between each of the original 99 desolations.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
It turns out that the number 99 in the stories was made up, and that there were much fewer of them. He also then stated that the cosmere runs along a 10,000 year gap and that Roshar falls right into the middle of the timeline. He ended with "That should give you a perspective of the timeline and events of the desolations".
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Hoid went through Cultivation's Shardpool to get to Roshar as opposed to Honor's. Yet, he notes he never got along well with Cultivation. Why did he choose her Shardpool rather than Honor's?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
You're making assumptions!
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Is it possible that it is Honor's?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
It's possible.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Are the Unmade and the Stormfather the same "class" of being?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Technically no, but they are on a similar level. It is a good analogy.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Graves claims that if he had succeeded in killing Elhokar (and done it more quickly), Dalinar would have become an ally of Taravangian. Is there any truth to this idea?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
They are predicting the future. There are people who firmly believe that that would be the case.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Did Nalan's eyes change when he killed Ym? (And attempted to kill Lift)
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
*thinks for a moment* No, I don't think so.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Can someone accidentally Worldhop?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
*thinks for a moment* Yes.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Was Allomancer Jak in the newspapers in The Alloy of Law just Hoid in disguise?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
No. I actually just published a short story with him in it.
(He also said that he came up with the idea for him in an RPG writing group, or something along those lines.)
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
In Dalinar's vision, why did Nohadon make a distinction between Soulcasting and Surgebinding?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Because they are distinct in his [Nohadon's] mind.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Were the Starfarers in Sixth of the Dusk from a world we've seen?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes. Good question.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Are there Surges that could be considered as God Surges, like the God metals on Scadrial?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Progression and Adhesion, perhaps?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
No, but they could be considered as such.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Do the Honorblades reflect the natural pairing of Surges, or did Honor decide which Surge pair to put in each Blade?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
The pairs are natural to Roshar in the same way as the metals on Scadrial.
Khyrindor
(paraphrased)
Shards can talk to dead people. Are the Tranquiline Halls where everyone in the cosmere goes when they die? Or does each world have its own heaven.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
There is an afterlife that is not heaven that the Shards don't know about, or can't look into. Each world has its own heaven depending on its religions. The real afterlife is different across the cosmere, and the Tranquiline Halls are different.
