Would there be a way that is reasonably feasible to use Aon Tia to teleport off-world?
Theoretically yes.
...Would there be a way to create it where instead of teleporting you directly there, it opens a portal?
We'll go ahead and start RAFOing at this point.
After a highstorm does the Stormfather always appear regardless if someone's watching or not?
Yes
Do Shardblades cut as well as like an ideal wedge in a perfect world or better than that?
I would say better than. Because they can cut the spirit, too. The soul.
How could I be a better beta reader? Because I suck at giving feedback.
It's just practice. And try not to fix things, try to just give your responses to them.
Like how I felt about certain things?
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.
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?
You're gonna make me try to decide-- does color have, um-- I'll have to think about it...
Where can I find the rules to the game of Michim?
So, probably nowhere. I would have to do some more work.
...I tried really hard to extrapolate the rules.
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.
Did you actually invent a game, just to put it in?
Well, enough rules-- I don't know if it would pass playing-rigor.
How can you guess the ones your opponent has hidden if it's a game of skill, not chance? I can't understand!
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.
Is the [BYU] IT Capstone [project], the Rithmatist game-- where is that in everything?
I went and played it, it was really cool. I don't know what else will happen with it
If you had a bendalloy Hemalurgic spike...
That will be in the Hemalurgic table, which we will be releasing, hopefully, next year.
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?
To an extent, yes.
Does the Almighty and the Heralds have anything to do with the bigger cosmere gods and deities?
Yes.
The Heralds, as well?
...Not as much, but a little bit. They do.
Does that mean that the Almighty is able to worldhop as well?
Well, the Almighty is Honor, and he is one of the Shards of Adonalsium, so he didn't originate on Roshar.
I'm wondering how worldhoppers are able to understand languages on different worlds.
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.
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...
It's more-- It's not random.
... So is there a method to the madness?
There is a method to the madness, but it may not be as important as some people think it is.
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?
...Did I say you can only get it through Soulcasting?
In the Shallan flashbacks, she has the pendant.
Don't take what she says at 100% truth.
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.
There are slight relationships between them, yes.
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?
He didn't pick it. It's unstable because of the two halves of him not meshing well.
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?
No, good question.
If the Parshendi are listeners, would it be proper to call the Aimians watchers?
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.
Who do you think would win, an atium misting, or Kaladin with Syl?
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.
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?
No, those are just a coincidence.
*written* What Aviar power does Mraize's green chicken grant?
*written* RAFO!
*spoken* But it is an Aviar, so it does have one.
Could a Parshendi form a bond with an intoxicationspren?
Theoretically possible, yes.
Would it look ugly?
It may not be the best idea they ever had.
Can Parshendi provide what the humans can provide, in terms of a mutualistic relationship with the spren?
Yes.
Can plants have Hemalurgic properties?
...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.
Would a Shardfork be effective in combat?
...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.
Is there anything preventing the listeners, or Parshendi, from picking up a sword of Radiance
Historically, yes.
So, it's not something that *inaudible*
Something was preventing them. You phrased that well.
Is it possible to have a stormblessed Mistborn?
...What do you mean by stormblessed? Do you mean Radiant?
Yeah.
Yeah. It is possible.
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?
No. Good question.
What about if it was coated in silver?
Yes, he probably still could.
How the crap did Zahel end up on Roshar?
Partially walked there, partially took a vehicle.
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?
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.
Where is the status, or will it ever happen on the pizza necromancer book?
...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.
Well, I'm excited. It sounds fun.
It is a load of fun.
Does Hoid have a favorite color?
Probably black, maybe silver.
What's the deal with Hoid and instant noodles?
...He likes his ramen, right? Like any sane person, he likes his instant noodles. Nothing more than that.
...Has he ever had instant noodles?
Yeah, he's had instant noodles before. They have them on Taldain, yeah.
Does the kandra worldhopper appear in Way of Kings, on screen?
I don't know.
What metal is Nightblood's sheath made out of?
Nightblood's sheath is aluminum.
If Soulcast blood is human blood, does that mean Soulcast meat is people meat?
No.
But that doesn't necessarily mean that, like-- when it has a blood type, and things like that-- I don't know enough about blood. I didn't mean to imply it's human blood. I'm just saying, it has all the attributes of blood, and it could be ascribed to something specific. That's where my mind was going. If they were asking, "Is this human blood?" No, that's not necessarily-- some of it is. Soulcast meat is definitely not. Soulcast blood, probably is most of the time. But it is-- there are, like, certain derivations of it that happen. It's more complicated, in other words, than what I-- than a simple answer can give. So, is Soulcast blood human blood? You could use it for blood transfusions, most if it, unless, in certain instances, you couldn't. Like, it's more-- Those sorts of questions, I have to circumlocute them so much.
Let's just put it this way. You can eat-- The meat is not human meat, but the blood can be used for blood transfusions. Is that enough? Yeah, we'll go with that.
*written* Could a Shard refuse to "fuel" a magic user? E.g. Could Preservation have refused to "fuel" Ham's pewter? (Please, for the question, assume Preservation is whole and undamaged.)
*written* No, but he could have interfered.
*spoken* So, the answer is "no, he couldn't." Like, if you just had the Allomancy going, like--
They can't shut you off?
They can't shut you off, but they can interfere with you using it. They could do other things. But, like, the magic, it would be like saying, "I refuse to let gravity work on this person."
But couldn't a Shard-- Technically, they can control forces--
No, they can't, but they can interfere with it, does that make sense? ...Gravity is not gone, but this person is being interfered with and their relationship to these sorts of things.
Kind of like if I throw your pen in the air, gravity's not gone, but I've interfered with something.
Yes, exactly. And you can, like, twist the gravity, so it's pointing... But the laws of natures, burning is, like, a law of nature, and things like that. And they can circumvent, and they can twist, and they can bend, but the laws of nature are still the laws of nature.
They can't just cut it off?
Yeah.
Did Jasnah's body die, and she made a new one?
No, she actually transferred her body to the other side... I actually even wrote the scene where it happened, but I didn't end put it any books... That's what Elsecallers do, is they teleport. That's one of their things.
With your awesome art people, have you thought about doing kids' books, like 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade level?
I've considered it, but I haven't practiced that very much, and it is a different skill. I'm not confident in being able to do that myself. But it's on my radar, since I have kids that age.
So, is it possible for a spren to get more Investiture? And if it does, will it kinda level up into a higher form of spren?
Yeah, it's possible. That is totally possible.
In The Rithmatist, in that world, do they ever use Rithmatics for practical purposes? I can easily see using Lines of Forbiddance for children to just draw a line on the wall, and like--
They should do it more than they do. But there are people using it, chalklings included.
I'm just curious to know if you're gonna see a change in how they treat the spren in [Oathbringer]?
...Yes. There's a slight shift happening.
Nightblood. If the person using him, the Investiture they put into him to use him. Does that make Nightblood more powerful, does he gain that Investiture? Or is it all expended back into the--
That is actually a RAFO. People in-world are trying to figure that out, so it is a good question.
So, if a Type 4 BioChromatic entity like Nightblood was created with a different Command, would it still draw in or feed off of somebody's Breath when they drew it?
It is possible to create one that wouldn't. But it is a dangerous thing to do.
When Shallan reached out to the Midnight Mother, would it have mattered if she used the right hand?
It would not have mattered. Good question!
So, I was curious if the Alethi were always-- like, if there was a time where there wasn't a segregation between lighteyes and darkeyes.
Yes, that did exist.
...How did the separation occur?
There are some clues in [Oathbringer] and in the last book. It has to do with Knights Radiant and Surgebinding and things like that. It's a part RAFO. It's pretty guessable. There's nothing--
Can Soulforged bones be Awakened?
Can Soulforged bones be Awakened? So, Soulcast bones be awakened? Once the Soulcasting is done, it is no longer Invested, and it would act as the normal item. A Forged item will act as Invested, and will resist any manipulation. Differences between the magics.
Can a kandra have a human kid, if they're in a--
...So, their DNA would-- I've answered this both ways, I think, on the internet, as I go back on forth on whether I want DNA testing to be able to catch a kandra or not. I've erred on the side of, their DNA isn't human, and so they would not be compatible, but I've gone the other direction some of the time when people have asked this question. So, I guess the answer is, I have not fully decided for myself yet.
Is this new book in the cosmere, or is it just a shoot-off?
Which one, Skyward? Skyward is not cosmere.
Is looking into the Spiritual Realm the only way to look into the future?
Any looking into the future involves looking at Spiritwebs, probability, and stuff like that. So, yes.
So, the Shardfork. A very versatile, Shard-whatever. Would it be possible to do, like, a Shardrock, or something, that would go in a catapult?
Yeah, it has more variety than people would think, but it isn't limitless, what they can become. But that would totally be possible.
And what would a Shardrock do if it hits you?
Uh, bean them on the head and be really strong. If you can get into the spirit, if you can start getting past the skin and stuff, you can do some serious damage.
