#also i want to know more about the history of thaylenah

[peachdoxie]

Thinking about the Thaylens and their eyebrows...

How do all of the Thaylens have the same eyebrows? I'm going to guess that lies in either magic or genetics, since I'm not sure what else would cause it. However, I'm also not sure how magic would cause super long eyebrows, unless the Nightwatcher had something to do with it ("your curse is that the eyebrows of all of Thaylen will be long!"). Setting that aside, how could the generic aspect of the eyebrows work?

I'm going to make the assumption that the cause of the extra long hair is the cause of a genetic mutation that happened to affect the anagen cycle of the eyebrows, making them grow longer before falling out. If this is the case, it means that the genetic trait must've been passed down from just a few individuals who possessed the trait. I would guess that this trait was present in the survivors of Ahariatiam in the region of Thaylenah. Given that Ahariatiam was likely an extinction level event, it's quite possible that only a few (dozens? hundreds?) of people survived and that, somehow, the trait of long eyebrows became common among the people of Thaylen because of one horny guy or whatever.

However, if the eyebrows of Thaylen are a genetic mutation, it makes me wonder if there's anyone in Thaylen who DOESN'T possess long eyebrows. People who are of recent mixed race descent don't count, I think, but I wonder if it's possible that there are (mostly) pureblooded Thaylens who don't have long eyebrows. Do they face any social stigma for not having the "right" kind of eyebrows for a Thaylen? Is the legitimacy of their birth called into question? Unless, of course, the trait became so popular as to become fixed so that the non-mutation or whatever was wiped out.

That brings me to another question. How much did the popularity of long eyebrows contribute to their spread? Obviously, it's possible there was some original natural selectionary reason for keeping the long eyebrows, but I cannot think of some way that long eyebrows would contribute to natural selection enough to cause the trait to spread to the entire population of Thaylenah. That leads me to believe that it spread due to a sort of sociologically induced assortive mating, where people were more likely to mate with people with long eyebrows because they were fashionable for some reason, until, after 4500 years (or longer, if the trait preceded Ahariatiam) the trait became widespread.

Anyway, I'm going to guess that the reason Thaylens have long eyebrows is because it was a mutation that someone who survived Ahariatiam had and it was so sexy to the survivors that over time they began to socially select for people with long eyebrows until the possibility of having short eyebrows became almost nothing. Alternatively, some random guy with the trait decided to become Fuckhands McEyebrows and got funky with a lot of different women.

#stormlight archive #the stormlight archive #if i ever get to ask brandon a question it will be this #also i want to know more about the history of thaylenah #because thaylenah used to be the kingdom of thalath from before ahariatiam #and thalath spread across more than just the island that's now thaylenah #and iirc the people in the region that used to be thalath dont all have long eyebrows? #because it includes kharbranth and they dont have long eyebrows mostly #im not sure though since its been a while since i read way of kings and the coppermind doesnt say #anyway #you know im in way too deep when i write a long rambling post about the origin of eyebrows at 2:50 am

[nightblink]

Blink Reads Oathbringer - Chapters 50-54

Apologies to anyone actually reading these for the wait! I wasn’t able to make any headway over the holiday, and then I was finishing up and posting Whitespine Caged, so this last week didn’t see any progress either!

But, here you go, the next chunk. And if by chance there are people reading these, is there anything you’d like to see me doing differently in these liveblogs?

Chapter Fifty – Shash Thirty-Seven

'Obrodai'? Where and what is Obrodai. Is that the place in the sea, whichever sea that may be?

'new avatar' wh a t

'she has been instilled with an intense and overpowering dislike of you' how the hell did you piss these people off that badly, Hoid

WHOOO FLYING WITH KALADIN. But Dalinar is. not thrilled. Understandable, considering the circumstances of his previous 'flight'. But it seems he's not the greatest fan of heights, either. Heh.

“Men are not of the waves.” Tell that to the Thaylens and Reshi. I guarantee you'll get a rude gesture.

Huh. I wonder what purpose the 'domes' that the warcamps previously were served. Shelter? Granaries? Were they used by the humans or the Parshendi?

Everyone has Crazy Hair but what do you bet that Kaladin's is somehow still perfect and luxurious. Syl must protect it somehow.

Oh thank the Heralds you're at least still thinking about the logistics of feeding Urithiru while still keeping in mind the limited supply of gemhearts and possible extinction of the chasmfiends.

Well, at least there's one person who's got some Air in them. Dalinar, not so much.

Looks like it took Aharietiam alone, and Fen finally accepts. That one is a doozy. But at least Dalinar finally has one of the other rulers willing to listen! I thought it'd be Gawx, since he has Lift with him, but nope, I was wrong.

Lost in your own warcamp, Dalinar, come on! At least you'll make it easy for Kadash to find you.

[hums] So your Calling was… leading your armies? I can't remember if this was discussed in TWoK or if that was just a mention of your devotary. Either way, it's what you're good at, certainly.

“What else were important lighteyed families going to do with unmotivated children?” Well heaven forbid they actually find what they enjoy doing later in their lives.

Yes yes you need to find Taln, he's the only Herald that you more or less know is a Herald at this point. You're still not going to convince the ardents anytime soon, though

Yeaaaah. They're all wondering if the de facto leader of Alethkar has really gone crazy and denounced the roots of Vorinism or not. It's a bit of a big deal, Dalinar.

Awww, Kadash, you waited as long as you could so you could argue Dalinar's side! Even though you don't believe him! That's loyalty, right there.

[winces] For all Roshar's fairly decent medical knowledge, your planet doesn't have the greatest mental health approaches, Dalinar. That's probably intentional too.

Huh. 'Not ready' for Tension yet – does that mean Stormfather wants you to say another Ideal, or just practice more? As usual, he's maddeningly unspecific in that regard.

A poison dart, though it wasn't to be used on Taln. But you wouldn't know that it was Amaram who cut him out of the cell, or that it was his life the attempt was made on.

Where is Amaram keeping Taln?

Yesssss, KALADIN FLYING TO THAYLENAH SOON. I'm all for both more Kaladin and more Queen Fen.

Chapter Fifty-One – Full Circle

“overcome the tests we have created” yes go let's do it BRING IT, WHOEVER YOU ARE

Considering that the last human they trusted got them pulling this sledge (through sheer association and nothing else), it's entirely understandable that they're standoffish to Moash. Not quite what he's thinking they're thinking, but still.

Further details on the agriculture! Excellent. Giant storm-breaks make sense if you're going to try and keep a land of cultivated food safe from the highstorms and have it be big enough to help feed an entire city.

At least two kinds of Fused then, and for some reason their Investiture isn't running out. How and why.

Impressed? Oh ho, the voidspen/ancient Parshendi in the Fused don't recognise this kind of ingenuity and technology from humans of the past, do they? Four and a half thousand years has given humanity time to advance  - that's one advantage that's going to help them dearly in this Desolation.

HEH. They haven't seen anyone even dare to resist the Fused yet, save Kaladin fleeing, and that's an entirely different matter. Killing one? They probably haven't even considered the possibility.

Yeaaaah, the situation in Kholinar is fucked

'the Fallen Tower'. Is that foreshadowing. That'd better not be foreshadowing, Brando.

….I can't blame him for laughing his ass off. How ironic.

Oh, switching POVs in the middle of a chapter, and to Shallan? Huh. I wonder how important that transition is.

Ooo, at least we're getting more info on Ishnah. I like her so far. Ambitious! Brave! Intelligent! Shallan needs someone to step on her toes a bit.

Oh, interesting. Illusions powered by the stormlight in spheres that she can then leave behind! Anywhere! She can make an illusion of herself in her rooms if she needs an alibi for 'Shallan', or create a stable diversion. ….well, and the maps too. Yeah. Nice.

I can't help but snigger when I read 'my royal person.' Elhokar, really. Really. Dude.

Mmm, going straight to Elhokar to get out from under Jasnah's eye. She does have a point, it'll be better if you have someone who can disguise the more… noticeable personages among you, and doubly so someone who's more used to sneaking around than all of you. Even better if she can lightweave herself or Kaladin into looking like a Parshman and getting even a few precious seconds of advance on the Oathgate if it's guarded.

All the effort spent to get away from Jasnah, when you spent so much trying to get close to her in the first place…

[hums]

Chapter Fifty-Two – After His Father

MORE FLASHBACKS YESGOOD

is the title referencing Adolin or Renarin though – or are we going to get to know anything about Dalinar's parents for once?

…..have you been away from your wife and kid for four years straight, Dalinar. Maybe short visits back, sure, but. Damn.

You're about to pass out on your feet, though. Trying to do the work of the entire army by yourself?

“This is now my audience tent. Take what is absolutely essential and leave me.” [SNORTS] I WAS RIGHT

Two thousand losses to two hundred. You were doing an army's worth of fighting, Dalinar, and your soldiers certainly weren't slacking either. Fuck. Well, at least you're finally learning to go to and even run briefings and take on strategy rather than just charging in headlong. You're actually learning to lead.

Aaaaaaand you're still addicted to the Thrill.

EVI EVI EVI HIIIIIIII

You're yelling at her Dalinar? I know you've had a long day but that is uncalled for and you even frightened her. Back the fuck up.

It's like you don't even want to see your family. Ordering Evi around? And she cringes? And you've never even seen Renarin? Where is any sign of that tenderness you felt for Evi, the exultation on seeing your child? There's no sign of it in this man you are right now.

….I actually rather like Renarin's name, no matter Dalinar's groaning. It's a part of all of them – mother, father, brother – to carry with him, and the meaning suits him well. Unique unto himself, our fierce, brave Renarin.

You didn't even respond to a spanreed call to name your son. Goddamn, Dalinar.

At least Evi apparently has Navani and Ialai supporting her – and hopefully her brother as well, though we still know next to nothing about Toh. Dalinar's certainly not being anything but a shit husband.

She still wants to be around you even though you're a complete ass, Dalinar; be grateful.

Compassionate and merciful. It's good that she's the one with the most influence on Adolin during these early years.

SPEAKING OF WHOM. MY HEART JUST GREW THREE SIZES.

No fear of heights for this Kholin, it seems.

[wibbles over the thought of bitty little Adolin assembling his 'armor' (yes! let that creativity shine!)] but oh man, I'm torn over him going up and saluting Dalinar as a greeting – one, that's adorable, but also he's only four and a half and thinks that that's the best way to greet his father. That's… terribly painful.

And he's afraid of you too.

Fuck.

!!!! BITTY RENARIN. Who's contentedly playing by himself, not walking as much as expected, and very quiet. At least it seems like your mother and brother are doing right by you, because I'm not sure this version of Dalinar would right now. He can't even call up emotion.

Little four-year-old-Adolin already is determined to win a Blade and refuses his father's offer to do it for him. Why am I not surprised.

(these glyphs on the endpage are gorgeous)

Chapter Fifty-Three – Such A Twisted Cut

New letter? New letter! But written from who to whom? (Though by this point we can probably assume that Hoid's the party receiving the letter.)

Jasnah chapter~ All this interest in this specific king in history due to the shortness of his reign - did he accomplish something great (or terrible) or die under mysterious circumstances? (Possibly Skybreaker circumstances….?)

….this guy had family issues. And was apparently psychotic. He cooked the meat for his feast over the funeral pyre of his executed family members? Dude.

Karma got him in the end. Though I wonder, with the way Jasnah's focusing on this story, if the Unmade might have something to do with him...

You have to give Renarin time to gather that courage and decide though, Jasnah. Let him take his life at his own pace.

Wait, is Jasnah not in on the plan to fix that very problem by making Dalinar a Highking? You think they'd've mentioned that to her at the very least once she got to Urithiru.

Time for a spanreed teleconference! And I immediately love Jochi. An old baker who writes under a lady's penname as a philosopher and isn't afraid to make pastry talk to lighten the atmosphere? B l e s s

Nale! And Axies! We'd better see both of you in this book, and hopefully soon.

Of course you misplaced Lift. You never had a hold on her in the first place.

!!!! Wait where did you get drawings of the Heralds. Was it while you were in Shadesmar. Jasnah, or were you able to see more than just Jezrien while you were in the vision Dalinar provided?

-wait, what, wedding preparations, wh a t-

Renarin, are you talking to Glys? Are we finally going to meet him soon? And what do you sense in this room…?

Ahhh, so Navani's the one pushing for a ceremony soon, probably for stability for her own family and Alethkar if nothing else

Fuuuuuuucking Amaram. Of course you couldn't stay away from the main crew for too long.

Jasnah, and here I thought you'd just spoken with Shallan not too many chapters ago about threats/insults. (WR E C K HIM JASNAH)

Ooo, you're trying to be a manipulative little motherfucker, you poxed eel. Fuck off.

Her snappy dismissiveness is brightening my entire night. I should make popcorn for this scene.

Amaram grabbing her arm is making me bristle. I can only imagine that she's standing as primly as a queen, glancing down at his hand like it's windblown trash that happened to land on her.

J a s nah, that was brutal. And not what I expected from you, going after his mother like that (not that he doesn't deserve all the insults. Because he does. But maybe she doesn't.)

Holy sheeeeyit

OH SHIT, ROAST HIM

OH YEAH. COME ON. COME ON AMARAM I DARE YOU JUST TRY IT AND YOU'RE ONLY GONNA BE SO MUCH SMOKE ON THE WIND

best show the scholars have seen all week

...I don't think there's going to be any option that keeps Amaram “””safely occupied”””. Just a hunch. Jasnah's probably going to have to use that 'pays-assassins-well-and-discreetly' option.

We are all Shallan in this moment.

(thus begins the lessons on how to properly insult someone down to a quivering puddle)

Shallan, you haven't been getting any reading done – not that yout Veil-work isn't important, but you're not going to be able to keep this facade up forever.

Oooo, and here's the lie/excuse. Mind, it's a good one, but what will Jasnah-

What's Renarin doing.

SECRET BUTTONS SECRET BUTTONS IN THE LIBRARY

And they were hiding encoded gemstones! Ooo, I wonder if it was the Truthwatchers that did it, 'foreseeing' that they'd need some way of ensuring that their information would need to last longer than any books they had at the time? (and maybe hinting as to why Renarin was the one to sense them there) Ingenious setup though.

Chapter Fifty-Four – An Ancient Singer's Name

….is the writer of this pre-chapter letter Sazed/Harmony. It sounds like the cadence of his writing, and that 'before attaining my current station' with obvious reference to the writer being a 'deity' right after…

Another Moash chapter. [sighs] And the first thing he notes is how much better he has it here than in Sadeas' camp, relatively, and then once again convince himself that it wasn't his fault.

It's a stark difference from how the protagonist side of the book is handling things (mostly).

!!!! Another Fused type, this one able to manipulate the shape of its carapace! But is the shifting into whatever they can imagine, or only certain shapes?

Strike Team Kholin had better get to Kholinar and open the Oathgate quickly, otherwise the Fused/Parshmen armies will be able to overrun them through sheer force of numbers, assuming that the city is only sparsely defended at the moment, what with all the armies off in Urithiru.

[snorts] Of course you have a reputation. You don't punch people out and then start siding with the only group of Parshman slaves without the story getting around.

...there's probably more crazy Fused than sane ones, Moash, considering what they are.

Voidlight? Is that what we're calling it now?

Add another count to the Alethi who are not about this 'heights' thing.

Admittedly, the robes of the flying Fused do sound quite lovely and very impressive. Someone knows how to dress their people to make a statement.

The windspren – and all the other spren – are probably all avoiding anything that senses of Odium like the plague.

“Do you know that it is one of our names?” Oooooo. Of course you'd get borrowed words in the language, especially over the time that Listeners/Parshendi and humans have interacted, but Sanderson doesn't name without reason. Handful of spheres says that this is another indication that Moash sides with the Fused/Parshmen in the end.

Okay, so the Fused still call their 'surges' Surges, but we're not entirely certain that they're the same as those the Radiants have. They're definitely powered in a different manner, but they could have further differences that separate the powersets – the ways they can use them and even how they combine, maybe.

OOP, THIS IS THE SPREN-SHENDI OF THE ONE YOU KILLED ON THE PLAINS. If she wanted you dead she'd have killed you already, Moash, so calm ur tits.

“Those who fall will be sung of, but their blood is ours to demand.” Yeah you give zero fucks about the Parshmen and Parshendi of this time. Does the one who was sacrificed to you still scream inside her own head?

It's like Solas and the Yeerks all rolled into one big, steaming pile of Do Not Want.

Aaaaaaand she's telling Moash of their reasons for fighting. Yep, he's as good as Odium-bound.

Oh ho, she gave him his freedom – and I'm betting responsibility to go along with it. ….or not. But she gave him a question, and he's choosing responsibility for himself. Ironic, when he chooses not to accept that of his previous actions.

#blink reads oathbringer #oathbringer spoilers