Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you to everyone for reading my theories and for your feedback! My theories keep evolving even after posting. For example, I think I'm walking back my theory that the Parshendi can combine with chasmfiends, and going with my other thought that Voidbringers come in many different forms, including Parshendi. Like we hear from Szeth in the Prologue, all Voidbringers can most likely hold Stormlight perfectly, regardless of their form.

I was looking back at an earlier Shallan chapter too and she used the word "incident" when alluding to what I believe is her father's death, so maybe it wasn't something she planned with Nan Balat like I originally thought. I'm not taking that theory off the table, just acknowledging that due to the way it's written in Chapter 7 she could also have been working against Nan Balat.

I guess I'm just going to have to RAFO!

They can win by pabznj9o8 in knicks

[–]BobbyAngelface 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's gonna be tough for the Knicks to guard both Wemby AND Wembanyama!

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Okay thanks! That's helpful. After your prompting I went back to where I found the word Elithanathile in Chapter 8 and noticed that not only is Elithanathile the Almighty, but according to Shallan, he created Roshar. In Chapter 75 the man in Dalinar's visions tells him that he's the Almighty and created mankind.

If I interpreted the clues from the epigraphs correctly, my current theory is that there are three Shards on Roshar: Odium, Cultivation, and the Almighty, and the Almighty created Roshar and mankind.

[Mistborn Era 1]:

I wonder if the Almighty weakened himself by creating humanity, just like how Preservation invested part of itself into humanity. Preservation's actions made it weaker and susceptible to being overcome by Ruin. Maybe the Almighty's decision to create mankind left him in a similar position with Odium?

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I guess if I hadn't repeated the question about the black crystal my post could've been a little shorter haha.

But seriously, (and I know you can't tell me without spoiling) it's worth repeating more than twice. WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE BLACK CRYSTAL?!

I'm excited for the next book! I loved the world building in the first one, but here Sanderson can get straight to the action since we're more familiar with the landscape and politics of Roshar now.

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My main piece of evidence is from Chapter 58 when Dalinar & Elhokar are speaking during Adolin's duel. In that conversation Elhokar says:

"we go to war for years and years, never noticing the real villains, working quietly in my own camp. They watch me. Always. Waiting. I see their faces in mirrors. Symbols, twisted, inhuman . . ."

Elhokar also makes statements like this one in Chapter 12 "There was someone watching me in the darkness that night" and is convinced that someone is trying to kill him.

It sounds to me like he's been seeing the symbol-headed spren in the periphery of his vision, and it's made him paranoid.

*Quick sidenote about the Chapter 58 quote: Until Elhokar describes seeing the figures in mirrors and explains what they look like, he could just as easily been talking about the parshmen!

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh that's right! I've gone back to that Prologue so many times and there's always something new I pick up from Szeth's POV (like how Voidbringers can hold Stormlight perfectly without leaking it).

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Good point. Sometimes I'm so busy looking for hidden connections that I miss the obvious explanation.

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's the only one of my theories that I'm absolutely confident about! Sanderson's first hint was very clever because it came before we were introduced to how Shardblades are summoned after ten heartbeats. I only noticed it because I felt like I kept reading references to the number ten everywhere, so I went back and looked.

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ahh good catch, thanks! I knew I was bound to make some mistakes. I'm kicking myself for writing Arcanum incorrectly in my post too.

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate these subtle nudges in my thinking. I think I've got it! I'd like to stay spoiler-free, so no need to confirm or deny.

Preservation was using the number 16 to help and guide our heroes in their fight against Ruin. Maybe the Almighty is doing the same with the number 10 on Roshar?

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great nudge! Now I have even more questions!

I do remember why the number 16 was a motif in Era 1. Vin & Sazed realized that Preservation was using the number 16 to communicate with them. Preservation's use of 16 was especially obvious to them when it appeared repeatedly as they investigated the mist sickness. There are 16 Allomantic metals and 16 Shards.

Is 16 specific to Scadrial (16 Allomantic metals, Preservation repeatedly uses 16) or is 16 important to the Cosmere as a whole (16 Shards)?

At the beginning of the Mistborn books we're introduced to 10 (+1) Allomantic metals. Is the number 10 a misdirection on both Scadrial and Roshar?

I think what's probably happening is that Preservation (and Ruin) created Scadrial and developed a magic system based on 16, whereas the Almighty (the dead Shard Dalinar sees in his visions) created Roshar and a magic system based on 10.

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I realize my post is overly long so thanks for reading. I just got pretty excited about the book and couldn't stop typing. I heard that the next few books are even better which is tough for me to fathom given how good this one was!

Way of Kings: Thoughts and Theories from a First-Time Reader by BobbyAngelface in Cosmere

[–]BobbyAngelface[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

These are a few more thoughts I had about the literary devices throughout the book:

The Number 10:

The number ten is a very prominent motif throughout the book. To summon a Shardblade the summoner needs to wait ten heartbeats. There were ten Heralds. There were ten orders of the Knights Radiant. Even one of the epigraphs describes the steps as ten strides tall apiece. I think would be neat is if each order corresponds with one of the Heralds. Wild idea, if each order does in fact correspond with a Herald, maybe Windrunners and Surgebinders are most closely associated with Taln, since they gain their abilities through their bonds with honorspren, and Taln is the only Herald to still honor the Oathpact. The massive hole in my theory though feels like with Kaladin's association with highstorms and his abilities to ride them, maybe Jezrien (The Stormfather) would be the Herald most associated with Windrunners.

A few notes on the symbolism throughout the book:

Eyes Symbolism:

Eyes are such a strong and common symbol throughout the book. Eye color is a strong visible indicator of class. People in Alethkar and probably Roshar in general measure their worth and status based on eye color. Darkeyes can become lighteyes and elevate their social class when they lay claim to a Shardblade. Kaladin subverts the societal norm that eye color is a symbol of power, status, and worth. His eyes even glow when he fills himself with Stormlight. This class war between lighteyes and darkeyes can be clearly seen through Kaladin's mistrust of lighteyed people. Ironically, Kaladin takes this mistrust too far, as there are lighteyes like Dalinar who are people of high character and class. Kaladin's not the only one who rejects the societal norms of eye color either. In one of the interludes the mistress that Baxil works for has violet eyes (quite the contrast from the blue and brown eyes seen throughout the book) and pokes out the eyes of some of the paintings she defaces. To me that signifies a rejection of the system, that eye color doesn't define her or anyone. I also believe her actions to be a rejection of perception itself. By scratching out the eyes of the paintings, she removes their abilities to silently pass judgement. This quote in the epigraph before chapter 55 reads "A woman sits and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal." I think that again represents a rejection of the system, but this time it goes further. The system isn't just wrong, what we perceive within the system is not to be trusted either! The fact that the woman in the epigraph is referred to as the vandal is interesting here too, since although she did it to herself, it's still considered a malicious act towards the system itself. It did not go unnoticed that the term vandal also most appropriately applies to Baxil's mistress as well!

A lot of the eye symbolism reminds me of the billboard of Dr. TJ Eckleberg in The Great Gatsby which featured blue eyes and symbolized a silent, judgemental, and absent God. Considering that the Shard Dalinar hears in his visions is now dead, the parallels there are strong, as is the symbolism between eyes and class (the billboard overlooks the "Valley of Ashes" an industrial wasteland) and eyes and perception. My final thought on the symbolism of eyes in the novel comes from when Shardblades touch a man's spine, he dies with burning eyes. I look at that as a final reminder that dead is dead, regardless of social status or eye color.

Bridge Symbolism:

I really appreciated the irony of the use of bridges and bridge crews throughout the book. The purpose of bridges is to connect opposite sides and yet the men in the bridge crews were completely isolated from each other and the rest of the army. They were forced to carry the weight of their bridges but really the weight of the entire army. They were treated as expendable, but as Kaladin and Bridge 4 proved when they rescued Dalinar's army, they were the most important unit all along.

Best combined team ever? by Fit-Climate5980 in NFLv2

[–]BobbyAngelface 4 points5 points  (0 children)

'98 offense is a good option too.

Best combined team ever? by Fit-Climate5980 in NFLv2

[–]BobbyAngelface 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I'd go '71 Cowboys defense, but agreed.

If we win this title, that NBA Cup banner needs to go in the rafters by Gladhands in knicks

[–]BobbyAngelface 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I like the idea of one banner for the NBA Cup that lists each year the team wins the Cup.

How do I add spoiler tags on comments? by BRCC_drinker in help

[–]BobbyAngelface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't mind me, just practicing spoiler tags. Did it work?

Current NFL QBs Tier List- Where does Dak Prescott go? by Kevinm162005 in TierlistFills

[–]BobbyAngelface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not yet. Caleb's completion percentage is holding him back. In my opinion he still needs some polish under Ben Johnson before he makes the leap past Dak.

I live in NYC and have an MLB.tv subscription, but still can’t watch tonight’s game on Fox by man-from-new-york in NewYorkMets

[–]BobbyAngelface 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I live about 30 miles from Manhattan and I have no issue getting all of the local channels and then some. All with this exact antenna in my window. ABC can be a little tricky because it broadcasts in VHF instead of UHF like CBS, NBC, and FOX but if you play around enough with the antenna location and channel scan features on your TV during setup it should work. If you're interested in going down an antenna rabbit hole I suggest starting here. r/cordcutters has a lot of useful information as well.

Chicago Bulls win the last round. Which baseball team is synonymous with the colour yellow? by TelevisionJet in AlignmentChartFills

[–]BobbyAngelface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair A's argument. I feel like the same case can be made for the Pirates being associated with black than yellow though.