Who's the Cosmere Cat Lady? | Late 2024 Words of Brandon
Jan 5, 2025
auto_awesome
Dive into the fascinating discussions on the complexities of dragons in the Cosmere and the mystery surrounding Nightblood's origins. Enjoy whimsical speculation about feline-themed characters and a light-hearted debate over a gambler's identity. The hosts explore the evolution of cultural magic systems and the philosophical implications of honor and charity. Additionally, they tackle the intricacies of the Cognitive Realm, character dynamics, and engage listeners with fun guessing games that reveal deep lore insights.
Brandon Sanderson discusses the nature of dragons in the Cosmere, emphasizing their ancient presence and limited interaction with local magic systems.
The podcast explores Nightblood's evolution, revealing its unique composition after absorbing vast amounts of investiture beyond ordinary materials.
The representation of identity is highlighted through Rushu's confirmed pronouns, promoting inclusivity within the Cosmere's character dynamics.
Cultural identity is important for creating new magic systems, showcasing how distinct communities might develop unique magical practices based on shared beliefs.
Deep dives
Dragons in the Cosmere
The podcast discusses the existence of dragons within the Cosmere, exploring whether they would interact with the magic systems in place. Brandon Sanderson shares that the dragons in the Cosmere are ancient beings, drawing parallels to Tolkien's elves due to their longevity and powerful presence. He mentions that while certain lesser dragons might exist on other planets, they would not be as invested in the local magic as other beings since they are already tremendously empowered in their own right. This highlights the notion that, despite being created in the analogy of greater dragons, these lesser dragons would have limited interaction with the intricate systems of investiture.
Nightblood's Nature
Nightblood, a significant artifact within the Cosmere, is discussed in detail, particularly its composition and current state. It is revealed that Nightblood is no longer made of regular steel or any form of dragon steel but has transformed into something unique over time. The conversation around its creation suggests that it may initially have been a more mundane material before absorbing vast amounts of investiture, thereby acquiring its potent properties. Brandon provides intriguing insights, noting that the specifics regarding Nightblood's evolution remain an open mystery, hinting at future developments in the narrative.
Rushu's Pronouns
The episode includes a light-hearted yet meaningful discussion about the character Rushu and their identity. Brandon confirms that Rushu uses they/them pronouns after interactions with the sibling character. This clarification is celebrated as it solidifies previously implied aspects of Rushu's identity within the narrative. The inclusion of such details emphasizes the importance of representation within the Cosmere and enhances the understanding of character dynamics in the story.
The Complexity of Hoid
Hoid's character is analyzed, particularly why he does not hide his identity more effectively despite being a pivotal figure in the Cosmere. Brandon notes that Hoid often embraces this lack of disguise due to his confidence and the nature of his journeys. It’s revealed that despite the risks associated with his presence, Hoid sometimes chooses casual over cleverness, reflecting the capricious nature of immortal beings. This insight adds layers to Hoid's character, portraying him as both whimsical and strategically careless.
Cats in the Cosmere
The podcast whimsically explores the presence of cats within the Cosmere, confirming their existence with a delightful nod from Brandon. An entertaining suggestion arises about a potential crazy cat lady who may appear in future stories, adding a light-hearted tone to the episode. Brandon teases that this character is already created and will be recognized when properly introduced. This discussion showcases the fun and quirky elements that can inhabit the broader Cosmere universe alongside its more serious narratives.
The Influence of Culture on Magic Systems
The conversation takes an intriguing turn, focusing on how cultural identity influences the creation of new magic systems, specifically within the context of the planet Sel. Brandon explains that for a new magical practice to emerge, there must be a significant cultural divergence within a sustainable population. This cultural aspect implies that distinct communities could potentially develop their unique magic based on their shared identity. This insight elevates the understanding of the interconnectivity between culture and magic, emphasizing the sociological underpinnings within Sanderson’s world-building.
The Complexity of Lesser Spren
The topic of lesser spren and their relationship to concepts and emotions is discussed, intertwining with the idea of how abstract concepts could potentially gain sentience. Brandon suggests that the spirit web's response to cultural significance can create new forms of lesser spren, potentially offering a fascinating look into how beliefs shape reality within the Cosmere. This leads to pondering whether concepts can 'die' or change if they lose cultural relevance, showcasing the dynamic nature of investiture. This dynamic hints at broader implications for how characters interact with the world around them, reinforcing the themes of perception and belief.
We haven't talked about Words of Brandon in a little while, so let's catch up on what we learned at the Most Boring Book Ever release party and the Dragonsteel Nexus 2024 spoiler Q&A!
This episode we have Eric (Chaos), Evgeni (Argent), Grace (thegatorgirl), and Shannon (Grey)!
Amazing thumbnail for this episode by Connor Chamberlain, which we commissioned. Check him out here (but you've seen other thumbs with his art): https://coppermind.net/wiki/Coppermind:Artists/Connor_Chamberlain
Chapters:
If you like our content, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/17thshard
Purchase merch here! https://store.17thshard.com/
For discussion, theories, games, and news, come to https://www.17thshard.com
Come talk with us and the community on the 17th Shard Discord: https://discord.gg/17thshard
Want to learn more about the cosmere and more? The Coppermind Wiki is where it's at: https://coppermind.net
Read all Words of Brandon on Arcanum: https://wob.coppermind.net
Subscribe to Shardcast: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:102123174/sounds.rss
Send your Who's That Cosmere Characters to wtcc@17thshard.com
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
