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Your search for the tag 'nightblood' yielded 96 results

  • 1

    Interview: Jan 18th, 2010

    Ashley

    Do you ever plan to use bio‐chroma again? It'd be a shame to see such an interesting and original idea left with a single book.

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    It is unlikely that I will use this magic system in a different book because it is distinctly tied to that particular Shard. The sequel likelihood is good. There is more to tell in this world, so there is a decent chance I will return and do a second Warbreaker book (I've been calling it Nightblood when I've mentioned it before). That isn't to say that there will never be magic systems that will repeat across series—in fact there's a decent chance that will happen—but I'm not going to say any more on that right now.

    Tags

  • 2

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    onelowerlight

    What first gave you the idea for Warbreaker? What was your first inspiration for it?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Warbreaker came from a lot of sources. Siri and Vivenna were side characters in a book I never finished. Vasher came from the line that starts the book. No space to post it here, but give it a read. Nightblood came because...well, I just wanted to have a talking sword.

    Tags

  • 3

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    rrjr010

    Would you be willing to take bribes to start Nightblood before finishing WoT!?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Heh. Nightblood will happen someday. Bribes of cookies or Magic Cards at signings might help. More seriously, I do intend to do this—and post it online as I write it—but it probably won’t be for a few years.

    rrjr010

    Then you shall have both when you come here this winter. Help turn a few years into six months, right?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    lol. Well, it can’t hurt. But I DO have a lot on my plate... We’ll see. I want an Elantris sequel out for 2015.

    rrjr010

    Wow, an Elantris sequel would be awesome too. Where would it fit chronologically after the end of Elantris?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Elantris direct sequel would be 10 years later and use Kiin’s children as viewpoint characters living in Fjorden.

    Tags

  • 4

    Interview: Nov 2nd, 2010

    Aidan Moher

    Recently, you detailed all the different series and novels you have in the pipeline, including White Sand, The Liar of Partinel, The King's Necromancer, at least nine more volumes in The Stormlight Archive and Nightblood, a sequel to Warbreaker, just to name a few. How do you keep them all straight in your head? And, when one project is finished, how do you choose which one to work on next?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Choosing the next project is a balance between the promises I've made to readers and the best way to channel my creativity. I stay fresh by jumping between projects; it's the way I've (for better or worse) trained myself. And so I always have a lot of ideas, and there are a lot of things I've worked on.

    One thing to keep in mind with me is that, because of the way I work, some of these things just don't end up turning out. They aren't good enough for publication, at least in their current state, so I shelve them. Imagine it like the B-sides of an album. The band may do a lot of playing, jamming, and recording—and then they pick the very best to present to their listeners.

    In the case of the books mentioned above, Liar turned out poorly enough on the first go-around that it's shelved indefinitely. I'm not sure how I stand on The King's Necromancer yet, and White Sand is unlikely to be in good shape for many years. Scribbler (one you didn't mention) turned out great, and you'll probably see it in the near future.

    As for sequels to books that are half-promised, we'll see. Something like Nightblood (where there is a potential sequel, but the story of the book was wrapped up and told strongly, I feel) is less urgent than something like the rest of the Stormlight Archive (which is a single story, told across many books.) In the case of Stormlight, I've made a stronger promise to readers, one I feel the need to fulfill.

    Of course, the question you asked is how I keep them all straight. Lots of notes mixed with quirks of the way my brain works.

    Footnote

    Scribbler has since been renamed, "The Rithmatist".

    Tags

  • 5

    Interview: Oct, 2008

    VegasDev (16 October 2008)

    The other lake in Alendi's bumps?

    Brandon Sanderson (17 October 2008)

    A manifestation of Ruin's gathered consciousness, much like the dark mists in book two. The lake was still around in Vin's era, but had been moved under ground. (Note that the Well is a very similar manifestation. You've also seen one other manifestation like this....)

    PETER AHLSTROM

    Such as...this?

    The "lake" was barely ten feet deep—more like a pool. Its water was a crystalline blue, and Raoden could see no inlets or outlets.
    If that's what you're hinting at...I never thought of the connection before! I just kept thinking of Aether of Night, and never thought of this pool at all.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Both are accurate, but the first is what I meant, as most people here don't have access to Aether.

    CHAOS

    I'm also thinking that the Dor in Elantris is another Shard of Adonalsium. Certainly in the Elantris world, where the Dor came from is rather ambiguous, which I expected it would be. Of course, if other Shards of Adonalsium do exist, the Dor could have come from that source.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I will RAFO from here on the other Shards of Adonalsium, as it would be better for me not to give spoilers. Please feel free to speculate. Readers have met four shards other than Ruin and Preservation.

    PETER AHLSTROM

    Have we met these four by name, or just by influence? I can't think of a name that would go with the one that the Elantris lake is a manifestation of.

    Hoid could be one? I know nothing his purpose other than that he shows up in lots of different books, sometimes begging and sometimes telling stories. Since most of these series happen on different planets (though two of them may happen on the same planet as each other), I'm assuming he has mad planet-hopping skills.

    ...Nightblood...

    BRANDON SANDERSON (20 OCTOBER)

    Ookla, I'm going to be tight lipped on this, as I don't want to give things away for future books. But I'll tell you this:

    You've interacted with two directly.
    One is a tough call. You've never met the Shard itself, but you've seen its power.
    The other one you have not met directly, but have seen its influence.

    CHAOS (18 OCTOBER)

    I thought Nightblood was explained sufficiently for my tastes in Warbreaker, so I doubt that it is a Shard, but I've been plenty wrong before. Also, I don't know if Hoid could even be a Shard. Certainly he has mean planet-hopping skills, but I don't know what purpose a celestial storyteller would have in this universe. He doesn't really have the same kind of power as Ruin or Preservation did, so normally I would rule him out right off the bat. But it is possible that these Shards come in many shapes, not just in the near-deific quantity Ruin or Preservation had. I think it's a bit of a stretch to say Hoid is a Shard... but, then again, I don't have any ideas for what those four other Shards are.

    Maybe Hoid is just a traveler trying to find remnants of Adonalsium and stories about them. He doesn't need to be a shard, I suppose.

    BRANDON SANDERSON (20 OCTOBER)

    This is slightly a tangent, but here is a relevant chunk from the Warbreaker Annotations. As this won't be posted for months, I'll put it here as a sneak preview.

    Chapter Thirty-Two

    This whole scene came about because I wanted an interesting way to delve into the history. Siri needed to hear it, and I felt that many readers would want to know it. However, that threatened to put me into the realm of the dreaded info dump.

    And so I brought in the big guns. This cameo is so obvious (or, at least, someday it will be) that I almost didn’t use the name Hoid for the character, as I felt it would be too obvious. The first draft had him using one of his other favorite pseudonyms. However, in the end, I decided that too many people would be confused (or, at least, even more confused) if I didn’t use the same name. So here it is. And if you have no idea what I’m talking about. . .well, let’s just say that there’s a lot more to this random appearance than you might think.

    CHAOS (17 OCTOBER)

    Brandon, I believe in one of Sazed's epigraphs, he actually called it "Adonasium" rather than what you are referring to here, which is "Adonalsium". I'm thinking that's just a typo, right?

    I don't suppose you could tell us which book series of yours will tell us more about Adonalsium, would you? You know, just so us theorizers on the forum know when to properly theorize about these things...

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Well, I guess this means that the proofreaders did not add the "L" when I marked the error on the manuscript.(sigh). Yes, the correct spelling is Adonalsium. I will try to get this fixed for the paperback, but I've been trying to get that blasted steel/iron error in the back of book one fixed for two years now. . .

    If it helps, Sazed would probably under-pronounce the "L" as that letter, like in Tindwyl's name, is said very softly in Terris.

    As for your other question, you will have to wait and see. Now, you could search my old books for clues, but I would caution against this. While there are hints in these, they are not yet canon. Just as I changed how things were presented in the Mistborn books during editing, I would have fixed a lot in these books during revision. Beyond that, reading them would give big spoilers for books yet to be released. White Sand, Dragonsteel, and Way of Kings in particular are going to be published some day for almost certain. (Though in very different forms). Aether of Night should be safe, as should Final Empire prime and Mistborn prime, though of those three, only Aether is worth reading, and then only barely. (It is still pretty bad).

    Footnote

    Peter's quote is from Elantris. It's the pool that Raoden finds in the mountains above Elantris.

    Tags

  • 6

    Interview: Apr 17th, 2012

    Google+ Hangout (Verbatim)

    Will

    The silly question is, who would win in a fight? Vin or Vasher or the Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    And who would win in a fight between Vin and Vasher? It would probably depend on who got the jump on who. Vin's a bit more sneaky so I have the feeling that Vasher would be in trouble if it involved sneaking but Vasher is - he only has to get one little cut on you and you're gone so it's, it would probably- my money would be on Vin.

    Tags

  • 7

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    Herowannabe ()

    Can an infused Hemalurgy spike be affected by Allomancy—steel pushes and iron pulls? Or does the charge interfere with the Allomancy much like a persons body would?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Anything infused (regardless of the world or magic that infused it) is resistant to magic. So you'd have a lot of trouble pushing or pulling on a spike, unless you had access to a boost of some sort to overcome the resistance.

    theofficetroll

    So, Nightblade would be resistant to steelpushing? Good to know ;-)

    Herowannabe

    My friend and I asked him something like this at a book signing, but for some reason it never seemed to make it onto 17th Shard. We asked if a shardblade or Nightblood could be used as a hemalurgic spike (i.e.: two different investitures of magic). Brandon said that yes, in theory you could do that, but objects have a limit to how much investiture they can hold, and that it could be argued that things like Nightblood and Shardblades are already "full."

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  • 8

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    ReaderAt2046

    What would happen if Nightblood and a Shardblade hit each other?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO

    Footnote

    Brandon has stated that Nightblood is, "orders of magnitude," more powerful than a Shardblade.

    Tags

  • 9

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    NewbSombrero ()

    Is the risk of Vasher dying from wielding Nightblood unsheathed too long because Nightblood would consume his divine Breath or does that also extend to those who are not Returned?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, and yes, it does apply to others.

    Tags

  • 10

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    ethnicallyambiguous ()

    If Nightblood were a Magic card, what would its abilities/stats be?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Equipment. When equipped creature does combat damage, destroy all other creatures. During your upkeep, pay WUBRG or you lose the game. (Note, I have no development chops, so I have no idea how to properly cost the artifact or the equip.)

    Tags

  • 11

    Interview: Jun 20th, 2009

    Other Happy and Exciting information on various books:

    BRANDON SANDERSON (PARAPHRASED)

    Nightblood: Would mostly be about Vasher and Vivenna hunting down the last of the Five Scholars. Apparently.

    Footnote

    The last of the Five Scholars is Yesteel

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  • 12

    Interview: Mar 17th, 2012

    Zas

    Here’s an interesting one. Why do some Breaths flare when people die? Vasher mentions it in the book.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I will answer that in the next book, if I ever get to it.

    Tags

  • 13

    Interview: Oct 1st, 2013

    Question

    How is it that Nightblood, who is merely a near-sentient awakened object, was able to read minds, something a Shard like Ruin was unable to do?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It requires bonding (with the person whose mind is to be read) to read minds.

    Tags

  • 14

    Interview: Oct 5th, 2013

    Question

    Does Nightblood need to sleep?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood does not need to sleep, but he sure thinks he needs to.

    Tags

  • 15

    Interview: Oct 5th, 2013

    Question

    What command would you have to give to an Awakened object like Nightblood in order for it to not go insane?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I am going to RAFO that about Nightblood, but is Nightblood insane? It just has no concept of... It was commanded to do something it was not equipped to judge. I would not call Nightblood insane. I would say that you have commanded something with no concept of morality to make moral decisions, and that's very confusing to him.

    Tags

  • 16

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Herowannabe

    I’m curious, I’ve got a list of various cosmere bits of metal, and I wonder if you would rank them from like 1 to 10 or easy to difficult on how hard it would be to steelpush on them?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay.

    Herowannabe

    So, like metal inside a person’s body?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It depends on how strong the investiture in them is.

    Herowannabe

    Is that going to be the answer for all of these?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Probably. :)

    Herowannabe

    How about a spike charged with Hemalurgy? Not in a person.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Not in a person? It depends on how strong—yeah. A spike is moderately—in the realm of these sorts of things—moderately easy to push on, because a spike does not rip off very much investiture. Only enough to short circuit the soul, and it loses that over time. So I would put that at the bottom—with the top being very hard—to be one of the easier things.

    Herowannabe

    How about a metalmind? A feruchemy metalmind that is "full."

    Brandon Sanderson

    That is going to be middle of the realm. Generally easier than, for instance, a shardblade, which is going to be very hard.

    Aaradel

    But a shardblade isn’t actual metal. Ish?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ish. Is Lerasium a metal? Yeah.

    Herowannabe

    So would that be the same for Shardplate, too?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Shardplate and blade are very hard. Blade is probably going to be harder. [...]

    Herowannabe

    Halfshard? Like a halfshard shield?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Halfshard shield is going to be in moderate.

    Herowannabe

    Nightblood? I imagine is going to be very difficult.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Very hard. Of all the things you’ve listed, he’s the hardest. Far beyond even a shardblade.

    Herowannabe

    Far beyond metal inside a person?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, depending on how invested the person is.

    Aaradel

    If someone was invested as much as Nightblood I’m pretty sure it’s going to be very difficult.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, for instance, the Godking, at the end, with all of those Breaths. Pushing on something inside of him? Getting through all that? Gonna be REAL hard. Average person on Scadrial? You’ve seen how hard that is. A drab? Much easier.

    Herowannabe

    That was actually going to be my next one- No, sorry, not a drab, a Lifeless.

    Brandon Sanderson

    A Lifeless. Lifeless are kinda weird, because they’ve had their soul leave, but then they’ve had a replacement stuck in, in the form of Breath, which puts them in a really weird position compared to a Drab, which has had part of their investiture ripped away, but the majority of it remains. So anyway, I’m going to give you one more. Pick your favorite.

    Herowannabe

    Okay, a soul-stamped piece of metal.

    Brandon Sanderson

    A soul-stamped piece of metal is going to be on the lower, easier side. Not a lot of investiture going on in a soulstamp.

    Tags

  • 17

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Rhandric

    Is Vasher trying to find Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher misses Nightblood and feels responsible for him.

    Rhandric

    How many worldhoppers have we seen?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, I haven't kept track, you've seen quite a few. There's one from Mistborn, did you catch him? I don't think people have really picked out the Terriswoman yet, who makes her way into them, but they're mostly not supposed to be noticeable yet, until you get to know them as characters and you look back and be like "oh that was that person."

    Rhandric

    Is it the Terriswoman I think it is?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I don't know which Terriswoman you think it is.

    Rhandric

    Tindwyl?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No.

    Kurkistan

    Speaking of the Terriswoman, is she the nurse in Warbreaker?

    Brandon Sanderson

    < Pauses; gleefully says > RAAAAAAFO!

    Footnote

    The last Q&A was transcribed by Kurkistan.

    Tags

  • 18

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2014

    Question

    If Hoid were to hold an unsheathed Nightblood, would he feel sick?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (Loud laughing) RAFO

    Tags

  • 19

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2014

    Question (Paraphrased)

    Why did you put Nightblood in The Stormlight Archive?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood and Vasher were in the original version of the Way of Kings before I wrote Warbreaker. Warbreaker in a way was actually introducing those two characters I'd already created.

    Tags

  • 20

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2014

    Question

    How much more powerful is Nightblood than a a regular Shardblade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I haven't actually quantified that in my own mind so can't give an accurate comparison at this point. I will say that when he is fully consuming Investiture he can do some really freaky things.

    Footnote

    In the past Brandon has described Nightblood as being "magnitudes more invested than a shardblade".

    Tags

  • 21

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    Leinton

    Does Nightblood possibly rip souls out of people?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood consumes Investiture, including the spark of life.

    Tags

  • 22

    Interview: Mar 6th, 2014

    Question

    If Nightblood were on Roshar would he be a Shardblade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, they are exactly the same thing. He is a Shardblade that is twisted and is a lot more powerful than normal.

    Tags

  • 23

    Interview: Aug 13th, 2014

    Question

    The "God Surges" you mentioned recently, are they a part of the Way of Kings frontsheet?

    You've said that there are three types of Blades in the Stormlight Archive. We've seen "dead" Shardblades, Honorblades—is the third type the "living spren" Shardblades, or is there another type we haven't seen?

    Do all Surgebinders breathe Stormlight in, or are there other ways? Is Lift one-of-a-kind in this regard?

    Brandon Sanderson

    All I said regarding this was to tell a fan that it was possible to make an analogy between the god metals on Scadrial and certain powers on Roshar. However, these are not a codified part of the magic system.

    Lift is one of a kind.

    Nightblood is a very unique kind of Shardblade, but IS a Shardblade.

    Tags

  • 24

    Interview: Aug 13th, 2014

    Question

    Zahel/Vasher is in Roshar for Nightblood? Will we know in Stormlight Archive why these two were separated? or in the sequel of Warbreaker?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Warbreaker sequel will give clues about this, but the actual event happened between that and TWoK. So I'm not sure where I'll slip it in.

    Tags

  • 25

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    QUESTION

    A while back someone asked if Hoid's sword is Nightblood, you said that was interesting. Is it similarly Invested?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I'm going to RAFO that. It is a very interesting question.

    Footnote

    Hoid's sword has been proven to not be Nightblood. Nightblood is now in Szeth's possession.

    Tags

  • 26

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    Leinton

    Does Nightblood rip souls out of bodies, by chance?

    Brandon Sanderosn

    Nightblood consumes Investiture, including the spark of life.

    Tags

  • 27

    Interview: Mar 22nd, 2014

    Question

    If Nightblood is on Roshar, what happened to Vasher?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well, look really closely at this book.

    Tags

  • 28

    Interview: Mar 22nd, 2014

    Question

    Will Nightblood drain Stormlight?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood will drain any Investiture, so yes.

    Tags

  • 29

    Interview: Aug 20th, 2014

    PhantomMonstrosity

    Let's say some mistborn jerk tosses Nightblood into the mists. What happens?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I suspect the mists would pull away from Nightblood, though he'd try to feed on them.

    Tags

  • 30

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2014

    mail-mi

    Is Nightblood's sheath made out of aluminum?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That is an excellent question that nobody has asked me yet! Um...I will RAFO that.

    Tags

  • 31

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    My brother and I disagreed, at the very end of Words of Radiance, the sword that-- Is it the same as in Warbreaker?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes it is, in fact Vasher is in the book.

    Question

    Is that Vasher?!? [Presumably referring to Nale]

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, look for somebody making color metaphors and when they are waking up they feel like they can sense other people's presence and things like that. There is one character who is Vasher. He doesn't go by that name anymore.

    Tags

  • 32

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    So at the end of Words of Radiance, was that Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It is Nightblood! Vasher is in there too if you look for him.

    Question

    Are they going to be in the next...?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will see a lot more of Nightblood, you'll see a little bit more of Vasher.

    Tags

  • 33

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    How does Nightblood work on Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well Nightblood feeds on Investiture, which is the general life-force/magic-force in the cosmere and so he can feed on basically any source of magical energy.

    Question

    And do other magics work on other worlds?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I've been describing it lately more like you see DC current and AC current, where they're similar things but slightly different. It is possible to make magics work on other planets, some it's easier than others.

    Tags

  • 34

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    So Stormlight and Breath are both just different manifestations of Investiture.

    Brandon Sanderson

    That's correct.

    Question

    So Nightblood and Shardblades are both kind of powered by Investiture?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, in fact you can call Nightblood kind of a miss-made, evil Shardblade-- more miss-made than evil but yes.

    Question

    But a Shardblade wouldn't shear through Nightblood.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes a Shardblade would not shear through Nightblood. In fact I wrote The Way of Kings first and then I wrote Warbreaker and The Way of Kings came out after Warbreaker but in my mind Warbreaker is a prequel to The Way of Kings, where I was telling Vasher's backstory.

    Question

    Oh really, so the Warbreaker we know takes place after The Way of Kings?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, it takes place before, it's a prequel meaning I wrote The Way of Kings and then I went back in time and told Vasher's backstory but Warbreaker ended up coming out first because The Way of Kings wasn't ready yet.

    Tags

  • 35

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    I assume I'm going to learn a lot more about this in Stormlight 3 but Nightblood, is he more dangerous or less dangerous now that he-- obviously he needs Investiture that is why [audio obscured] any investiture?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'd say more dangerous, a little bit easier to get the Stormlight.

    Question

    I assumed I'd learn a lot more about him...

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will, and he's pretty dangerous, but he is also less dangerous because other people have Shardblades, if that makes sense.

    Tags

  • 36

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    Will we ever find out the when, how, and why Vasher and Nightblood moved to Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, but I don't know when it will happen. I will get around to it.

    Tags

  • 37

    Interview: Jan 8th, 2015

    fletchershair

    Now that Nightblood is on Roshar, can it feed off of Stormlight the same way it can off of Breaths?

    Brandon Sanderson (Paraphrased)

    He was going to RAFO this, but then he said that because we had already figured it out pretty much he would answer. And the answer is yes. Nightblood will feed on pretty much anything.

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  • 38

    Interview: Mar 8th, 2014

    Trickonometry ()

    Would you be able to tell me anything about how Vasher lost Nightblood to Nin?

    Brandon Sanderson

    A: (Brandon gives a knowing smile) "Wait, who?" Q: Okay... What can you tell me about how Zahel lost Nightblood? A: Oh ZAHEL! Well... I can't say much about that right now, but you'll get all of these questions answered in the book "Nightblood" in the future.

    Tags

  • 39

    Interview: Mar 13th, 2014

    Question

    If you write Nightblood, the Warbreaker sequel, chronologically, will it come before or after Stormlight?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Before. More close to Warbreaker than to Stormlight.

    Tags

  • 40

    Interview: Mar 20th, 2014

    Outis

    Does Nightblood act as an Honorblade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO

    Tags

  • 41

    Interview: Jan 6th, 2015

    Question

    When are you going to write the other Warbreaker book? Last time I came to hear you talk, you said you were going to, and now you have 3000 other projects!

    Brandon Sanderson

    I know, and the Warbreaker fans really get on my case about that. Well, I wrote Words of Radiance, and I got Vasher into it, so that would kindle interest, and make sure that you at least got to see your characters again. But did you hear the story about that? So, I wrote The Way of Kings in 2002, the first version, and in that version Kaladin trained with a swordmaster, and that swordmaster, a guy named Vasher, had a mysterious past. After I finished that book, later on I wrote Warbreaker as a prequel to The Way of Kings, to show Vasher's backstory. But then Warbreaker came out before The Way of Kings, which was a really kind of interesting thing. So in my head, Warbreaker is the prequel, but to everyone else...

    Yes, it is a totally different world, different planets, people get around...

    Wetlander

    So how much of Vasher's backstory do we actually have?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well, a huge chunk of it! If you were reading The Way of Kings, you would know nothing, and then you'd read Warbreaker and you'd be like, "Oh, here's a whole past that he had!" That doesn't mean it's all of his past.

    Footnote

    Note from Wetlander: "He's not giving any hints as to whether Vasher had any connection with Roshar prior to Warbreaker. Or at least not without someone asking a much more direct question."

    Tags

  • 42

    Interview: Mar 20th, 2014

    Chris_from_Warrenton

    Would it be possible to Soulforge NIghtblood and change the command that was given to him when he was Invested?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That is possible. That would actually not be a very difficult Soulforge. The problem is, he's Invested. So reInvesting him, which is what Soulforgery is, is really hard. So you'd have to figure out how you could use Forgery on something that is already Invested. But forgery can get through some of those hoops a lot easier than some other magic systems can.

    Chris_from_Warrenton

    Do you have to be a willing subject to be Soulforged?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You do not. Working with the soul is really hard though. You have to be a supreme expert in what you're doing, because soul is Investiture

    Tags

  • 43

    Interview: Mar 20th, 2014

    Chris_from_Warrenton

    Will the next book explain how that sword [Nightblood] got there, and why that guy[Zahel/Vasher] isn't with that sword?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The next book will give you some hints.

    Tags

  • 44

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    If someone--Vasher says that Nightblood would kill him, is that just because he has this big deific Breath? Would it kill an ordinary person, like a drab?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It would suck the Breath from anybody, and if they were unable to feed it he would feed on their soul.

    Question

    So they would die.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. Anybody wielding Nightblood, he will suck their soul. For too long, he will eventually, if you draw him, he will suck your soul.

    Tags

  • 45

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    I know that there's three sorts of forms that magic presents itself in, the liquid and the solid and air. What would Breath be?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Breath is definitely like Mist, it is in the form of the air.

    Question

    And is Stormlight the same?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Stormlight is the same. Good questions!

    Question

    Would Vasher be able to use Stormlight in the same way that he can get Breath?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That would not be immediately easy, but Stormlight could feed Nightblood.

    Question

    Which is why Szeth can wield Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Eh, you'll have to see if … but yes. That could theoretically happen. You can use most of the magics on most of the planets to fuel the other magics, if you know how to do it, it is not easy.

    Tags

  • 46

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    EHyde

    I was also wondering if there's any chance of seeing a Nightblood point of view.

    Brandon Sanderson

    There is a chance of seeing a Nightblood point of view. It is something I have sincerely contemplated...and even maybe posted about online.

    Tags

  • 47

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    It seems like you have a Warbreaker thing at the end is that actually...?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, it is.

    Footnote

    The Warbreaker "thing" is Nightblood in the end of WOR

    Tags

  • 48

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Does Vasher want Nightblood back?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher feels responsible for Nightblood.

    Tags

  • 49

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    [Paraphrased]How difficult would it be to Push on various things.

    Brandon Sanderson

    [Paraphrased]It depends on the amount of Investiture in the person/object. Nightblood would be the hardest thing to Push on, harder than Shardblades.

    Tags

  • 50

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    darniil

    Zahel has parted ways with something he's had for a while. Will we ever get to read about how that happened?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I may not write the actual story, but you will find out what happened, yes.

    Tags

  • 51

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    Will you tell us a little about the sword from Warbreaker?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood is a weapon that I devised. He is partially inspired by my love of Michael Moorcock's writing. He was built into the cosmere using many of the foundational cosmere magic system things that exist on multiple worlds.

    Tags

  • 52

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    Do Nightblood and TenSoon have the same voice?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You read Nightblood and TenSoon with the same voice, okay. Sure… Suuuure… Yes they totally can.

    Tags

  • 53

    Interview: Aug 4th, 2014

    Question

    Could an Elantrian wield Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It's possible but would be very dangerous - you'd have to figure out a way to connect Nightblood with a local source of Investiture.

    Tags

  • 54

    Interview: Jan 17th, 2015

    Question

    I’m concerned that that bloodthirsty sword is off on his own again

    Brandon Sanderson

    He, ah, he is, he is in dangerous hands right now, let’s just say that

    Question

    Yeah, untrustworthy hands.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, yes he is.

    Tags

  • 55

    Interview: Jan 17th, 2015

    Question

    I’ll make sure to write that down somewhere. I really liked Silence, by the way. She was awesome. Are we going to find out who brought Nightblood to Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 56

    Interview: Mar 12th, 2015

    Heartlight (Reddit)

    What is Nightblood's opinions on gender, and who decided on him having he/him pronouns?

    Brandon Sanderson (Reddit)

    Nightblood is fascinated by gender, and trying to figure it out. Unlike spren like Syl, Nightblood has not self gender assigned as an influence of interacting with humans. That said, Vasher was probably the one who just started calling him He, so if you want to take the issue up with anyone, go to him.

    Tags

  • 57

    Interview: Dec 12th, 2015

    Question

    So, is Nightblood reducing the amount of Investiture in the cosmere?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. At a very slow rate, but yes.

    Tags

  • 58

    Interview: Jan 21st, 2015

    Question

    Some background on Nightblood.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher + Nightblood were written into the Way of Kings Prime, then he wrote Warbreaker before returning to rewrite The Way of Kings.

    Tags

  • 59

    Interview: Jan 19th, 2015

    Question

    What happens if a kandra eats Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That would be bad for them.

    Tags

  • 60

    Interview: Jan 19th, 2015

    Question

    Can you do your best Nightblood impression?

    Brandon Sanderson

    [In a chipper voice] “Would you like to destroy some evil today?” It’s very eager.

    Tags

  • 61

    Interview: Jan 24th, 2015

    Question

    So Nightblood, is that going to be the only connection to Warbreaker?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There will be more, in fact Vasher is in this book.

    Tags

  • 62

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2015

    Argent

    Can Nightblood damage or kill a Shard?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood is not powerful enough for-- *weird ehhh sound*

    Argent

    Is he that powerful?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Damage? Yes. How damaging? Is a subject to discussion. Nightblood contains a /lot/ of Investiture.

    Tags

  • 63

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2015

    Question

    Is the sword given to Szeth at the end of the book related to Nightblood from Warbreaker?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It’s the same sword.

    Tags

  • 64

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2015

    Question

    I was wondering when you first thought to put Nightblood in Words of Radiance?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood in Words of Radiance happened because… So I wrote the original draft of Way of Kings in 2002 and Vasher was Kaladin’s swordmaster and I thought “This guy has a really interesting past, he’s not natively from Roshar”. So I went and wrote his backstory and that became the book Warbreaker. So he predates-- And then I came back and I re-wrote Way of Kings and I cut him out of it to save him for the later books. So when did I first think of it? Well 2003 probably? Was where that was happening.

    Question

    Nightblood was our apartment's collective favorite character.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I have some other quote-unquote cons going on the fans so to speak that are going to be very cool when they happen.

    Tags

  • 65

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    If sprens are pieces of the god power, and investiture is the power of the god, then can Nightblood consume spren?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He could theoret- Yeah, he could totally consume spren. There's not even any “theoretically” to that.

    Tags

  • 66

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    I was curious if Nightblood was the only one of its kind, or if Vasher and Shashara have made any others.

    Brandon Sanderson

    That's a RAFO. Good question. Very good question. There was a point in time when Nightblood was the only one of its kind, and it may have continued until now.

    Tags

  • 67

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    How did Nightblood get on Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 68

    Interview: Oct 9th, 2015

    Question

    What’s your most terrifying character and why is it Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood is pretty terrifying… An object created that’s made to destroy evil and doesn’t know what it is? Yeah… I wanted you to think that Nightblood in the hands of Szeth is one of the most terrifying things that you have ever contemplated.

    Tags

  • 69

    Interview: Oct 9th, 2015

    Question

    Nightblood feeds on Investiture, so could an Allomancer burning, say, steel, draw Nightblood and fuel it off of that?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, Nightblood would feed off that Kinetic Investiture, you could make that work. You would need to keep that portal open, and he would eat the power instead of whatever you were planning to do with it, and when you ran out of metal he’d kill you.

    Question

    Would it also work with whatever you have in a Coppermind?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, theoretically that could work too. That’s a very good question, and you’re the first to ask that.

    Tags

  • 70

    Interview: Oct 9th, 2015

    Question

    I was wondering, is Nightblood a Shardblade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood is an attempt by someone who didn’t know how Shardblades were made to create a Shardblade using a different magic system.

    Question

    If Nightblood feeds on Breath, but Szeth doesn’t have it, will it feed on Stormlight?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood can feed off Stormlight, but Szeth can't draw in Stormlight right now. So Szeth better not draw that sword, for a while at least.

    Tags

  • 71

    Interview: Apr 2nd, 2015

    Ruro272

    Any hint on how Nin got a hold of Nightblood, or how Vasher lost Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    "Vasher and Nightblood had something of a falling out..."

    Footnote

    This is a direct quote since it is written in my book. Not all that interesting, but I think the important implication here is that Nightblood was not "stolen" without Vasher's knowledge, they had a "falling out". Obviously this doesn't answer a lot but I think it does put to rest the possibility that somebody came up and stole Nightblood out of nowhere. From other WoB we know that Vasher "misses and feels responsible for Nightblood" so obviously he's gotten over it since then.

    Tags

  • 72

    Interview: Jul 1st, 2015

    Cognizantastic

    As I understand it, Nightblood is most comparable to a Shardblade. However, unlike a Shardblade, Nightblood requires constant input of Investiture in order to realize his full destructive potential. Why is this?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher kind of hacked in order to imitate another magic system. Shardblades are organic parts of the world they are on, but Nightblood is a bunch of souls stuffed into something. Nightblood is like a Frankenstein.

    Footnote

    Commentary : I think this provides insight into why objects that are more inhuman necessitate an increased amount of Breaths to Awaken. If the natural state of a Breath is to be attached to a human being, then perhaps all Awakening is creating a 'Frankenstein". Also, "imitate" denotes Vasher being cosmere-aware when Nightblood was created. Perhaps he worldhopped before the events of Warbreaker.

    Tags

  • 73

    Interview: Oct 22nd, 2015

    CthulhuSpren

    Could Wax, Vin, or TLR burn nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (paraphrased) Firstly, you're assuming Nightblood is not allomantically inert (he didnt say if it was or not), but if it was, it would be like trying to burn someone else's metalmind.

    Tags

  • 74

    Interview: Feb 17th, 2016

    Question

    Vasher/Zahel is a Returned, which means he needs Breath to live. But Breath doesn’t exist--

    Brandon Sanderson

    Right.

    Question

    --on Roshar. Does he use St--

    Brandon Sanderson

    He uses Stormlight. One of the reasons-- In fact one of the primary reasons he’s on Roshar is because Stormlight is so much easier to come by than Breath. And in fact researching about things like this is one of the reasons he discovered Roshar in the first place.

    Question

    So it’s the same reason why Night-- the sword…

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood.

    Question

    Yes.

    Brandon Sanderson

    The exact mechanics of how Nightblood ended up there will be explored in a future book.

    Tags

  • 75

    Interview: Feb 17th, 2016

    Question

    Can you create a shardblade with Breath?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. That’s what Nightblood is.

    Tags

  • 76

    Interview: Feb 17th, 2016

    Question

    With Nightblood coming in [to Words of Radiance] does that produce a magic system from a different book or does that stay separate?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It will stay separate.

    Tags

  • 77

    Interview: Feb 17th, 2016

    Question

    Is Nightblood a minor Shard?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood is one of the most heavily Invested things in the cosmere that is not a Shard.

    Tags

  • 78

    Interview: Jan 26th, 2016

    viridian

    My oldest asked if it took a life to create Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No it did not.

    Tags

  • 79

    Interview: Feb 16th, 2016

    zas678

    Did Vasher visit Roshar before or after the Recreance? I ask because he probably had to have seen a live Shardblade to model Nightblood after, right?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher didn't have to have seen a live Shardblade. He could've heard stories and modeled Nightblood after those.

    Tags

  • 80

    Interview: Feb 25th, 2016

    Question

    Why does Nightblood need to eat Investiture?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So, Nightblood is… leaky, is how would say it.

    Question

    Does his sheath help with this somehow?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 81

    Interview: Oct 14th, 2015

    BeskarKomrk

    How much of Nightblood's personality and effects come from the Command he was given?

    Brandon Sanderson

    A moderate amount.

    Tags

  • 82

    Interview: Apr 8th, 2016

    Blightsong

    How does corrupted investiture work, like Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, Nightblood. Again, this is a definition of what somebody feels is a corruption. For instance, there are spren people would feel are corrupted. But that is corruption where the mixing of different shards has changed things, and I think a lot of times when people say corruption, people are meaning the mixing of shards powers.

    Blightsong

    So is there a mixing of shards power with Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *smirks* RAFO. That's the natural question, I'm glad you asked it.

    Blightsong

    Ok, uhhh, so something similar is happening with Gavilar's sphere, right?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *contemplative silence*, RAFO.

    Blightsong

    Uhhh, if anyone else has questions, speak up (I started running out of questions at this point).

    Brandon Sanderson

    Question over here!

    Tags

  • 83

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2016

    Question

    Can Nightblood receive a Boon and Curse from the Nightwatcher?

    Brandon Sanderson

    She can try. I have no idea how that would turn out. I think he could take them (huh? Maybe someone go over this audio for me, I may have misheard)

    Tags

  • 84

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2016

    Question

    Are the Bands of Mourning as Invested as Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Not even close.

    Tags

  • 85

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    Would Nightblood appear in the Cognitive Realm?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood would have a manifestation in the Cognitive Realm.
    Question

    Would it appear as a sword, or because Nightblood appears to perceive itself as something else, would it appear as something else?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will get a RAFO. [applause] There will be some scenes in the Cognitive Realm coming up, and you will be better able to make guesses along these lines after you’ve read those.

    Tags

  • 86

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    You’d originally said that Nightblood is way more powerful than a regular Shardblade, but at the time we didn’t know about live Shardblades, we only had dead Shardblades. So is that still true, now that we have at least two…?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is more powerful than a regular Shardblade. [Groaning and laughter]

    Question

    How does Nightblood compare to a more living Shardblade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    More living Blade? Well, let’s just RAFO that one..

    Tags

  • 87

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    What would happen if a Forger got their hands on Nightblood and they Soulstamped it?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nightblood is so heavily Invested that it would be like trying to freeze the ocean with an ice cube. Maybe not that scale, that’s your metaphor.

    Tags

  • 88

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    You called Nightblood a…misformed Shardblade.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Uh, a Shardblade created with a different magic system.

    Question

    Is that an intentional creation or mimicry?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, that is intentional.

    Question

    I mean, intentional on the part of the person who made that…

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 89

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    Has Hoid had a direct interaction with the Nightwatcher at this point, you said he’d be calling her very nasty names?

    Brandon Sanderson

    [laughs] Hoid is… let’s go ahead and RAFO that one.

    Tags

  • 90

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    So is Vasher - [lady?] who was part of the process creating Nightblood a worldhopper, then?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher had been to Roshar before he created Nightblood, yeah.

    Tags

  • 91

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    If Lift ate something that had like, gold leaf on it, could she change that gold leaf into Investiture or something?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So the gold leaf would probably pass through her system.

    Question

    So she wouldn’t be…?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Mhm, yes, that things that she eats that she can metabolize, she can turn into Stormlight.

    Question

    So what would happen if she ate Nightblood? [laughter]

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah, eating Nightblood would not be a smart idea for anyone. [more laughter] Nightblood would eat you. In Soviet Russia, sword eats you? I don’t know…

    Footnote

    Brandon says here that she can convert items that she can metabolize into stormlight, but during the Out of Excuses 2016 he implies that Lift can convert anything she ingests into stormlight including non food

    Out of excuses 2016 q3

    Tags

  • 92

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    Then finally I asked if Vasher and Nightblood were separated before or after coming to Roshar (I kind of felt like this had probably been asked before but I couldn't find any info on it so I went ahead),

    Brandon Sanderson

    and after hesitating for a minute, he said that they were separated after.

    Tags

  • 93

    Interview: Nov 3rd, 2016

    Question

    What happens to the investiture that nightblood 'consumes'?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO

    Tags

  • 94

    Interview: Nov 29th, 2016

    Question

    Szeth refers to Nightblood as sword-nimi. What is the -nimi ending?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It is an honorific.

    Question

    And why does he call it "sword", and not by its name?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It has not told him its name.

    Tags

  • 95

    Interview: Dec 3rd, 2016

    yulerule

    How much compounding would a nicrosil twinborn would need to do to get a metalmind that is as Invested as Nightblood?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Wow so much.

    Question

    A thousand breaths doesn't seem to be that much - the God King has tens of thousands - would a piece of stone or wood or cloth or plain metal that has a thousand breaths be as Invested as Nightblood, or is there something more?

    Brandon Sanderson

    needs more

    Tags