Darkness
(paraphrased)
Further on in that… do different gemstones hold a different flavor, or different "frequency" of Stormlight?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Umm…. Nnnnnnnnooooooo… But kind of? Here's the thing: So with the gemstones on Roshar… scientifically some of these gemstones are just really close to one another. Like chemical formula and whatever. But, their cognitive selves and their spiritual selves are gonna be very different because of human perception, right? (sure) And so, the answer is both a no and a yes because of that. So people's perception has sort of changed how the magic works, to an extent… but it's the same amount of investiture, just with slightly different flavorings.
Darkness
(paraphrased)
Right, so… is it easier for a Soulcaster to turn rock into smoke with a smokestone as opposed to a ruby?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
So… Soulcasting… is gonna really depend on whether you're using a soulcaster.
Darkness
(paraphrased)
First is for a Soulcaster, second is for a Surgebinder.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
A Surgebinder is far less constrained than someone using a device accessing surges, right? A Knight Radiant is far less constrained than somebody using a mechanical means of accessing magic, and I would include Honorblades as a mechanical means of accessing a surge.
Darkness
(paraphrased)
Cool! So with the whole Jasnah scene, she inhales Stormlight, for using Soulcasting. So how is it the Soulcaster appears to glow more fiercely instead of growing dimmer in that scene?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Um… heh heh heh… So… this is perception on Shallan's part, watching and kind of resonating with the Soulcasting, and some weird things are happening that she sees, and not necessarily anyone else is seeing.
Darkness
(paraphrased)
I love that! Alright… Also, did Taravangian recognize that Jasnah was not Soulcasting traditionally? Like was it the hand sinking into the rock that gave it away?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Taravangian knew and already suspected.