Dive into the whimsical world of Stormlight Lost Tales as the hosts explore three engaging stories. They discuss the lighthearted antics of 'Chasmfriends' and the emotional depth of 'Elsecaller' and 'King Lopen.' Enjoy snippets about character dynamics, narrative challenges, and the unique storytelling format of card packs. Topics also include ethical quandaries faced by characters and the potential for adapting stories into children's media. It's a mix of analysis, humor, and fan theories that brings the Cosmere to life!
The podcast discusses the narrative charm of 'Chasm Friends', highlighting its whimsical portrayal of interspecies friendships amid humorous misunderstandings.
In 'Elsecaller', Yasna’s journey in Shadesmar reveals personal growth themes, though some listeners find the narrative execution lacking depth.
The lighthearted story of 'King Lopin I of Alethkar' illustrates character-driven humor and emotional connections that resonate with fans of the series.
Listeners reflect on varying fan reactions, indicating the challenge of meeting diverse expectations while maintaining established character integrity in new tales.
Deep dives
Overview of the Stormlight Lost Tales
The episode covers the Stormlight Lost Tales, focusing on the new stories released from Dragonsteel, exploring the characters and themes they present. The speakers discuss the evolution of the business model behind these stories, mentioning that the initial boxes sold out quickly, leading to individual pack sales. They also share a sense of excitement regarding the new narratives and how they fit within the existing Cosmere framework, even while noting that some fans might not have access to the cards. This excitement is balanced with a discussion about accessibility and how these stories are targeted toward dedicated fans.
Chasm Friends: A Cute Narrative
The story 'Chasm Friends' revolves around five chasm fiends who form a friendship with a human, presenting a whimsical take on interactions between species. The fiends attempt to cheer up the human, showcasing their own naive misunderstandings of his plight. The creatures engage in various antics to bring joy, including offering items like a stick or even a corpse, paralleling their concept of friendship with that of humans. The tale's charm lies in its absurdity and humor, offering a non-canonical narrative that suggests what might be a story told within the world rather than a literal event.
Elscaller: Yasna's Journey in Shadesmar
In 'Elscaller', Yasna navigates Shadesmar after her apparent death, with the plot focusing on her quest to find a way back. The narrative reexamines previously released deleted scenes, with Yasna confronting her inner turmoil alongside a new companion, a historian, and a child who sees visions of the future. While the story attempts to explore Yasna's personal struggles and growth, commentators express disappointment about its execution, criticizing abrupt skips in the narrative and a lack of profound character development. Overall, the story's restrictions within the card format result in a truncated exploration of what could have been a more extensive narrative.
King Lopin: Humorous Hijinks and Heartwarming Moments
'King Lopin I of Alethkar' presents a lighter and humorous tale centered on Lopin's antics as he temporarily takes the throne. The story features Lopin navigating royal duties while under the guidance of his mother, Issa, who imparts valuable life lessons. As Lopin embraces his newfound role, the narrative carries a playful tone with moments of witty banter and heartfelt connections, illustrating his growth alongside Elokar. The tale excels at engaging the audience with its comedy, while grounding it in character-driven interactions that remain true to the core of the Stormlight Archives.
Themes of Comedy and Friendship
Throughout the discussions, the importance of humor and camaraderie is emphasized in the stories, fostering connections between characters and their audiences. Examples from 'Chasm Friends' and 'King Lopin' highlight the whimsical nature of their interactions, showcasing the value of these relationships. Humor serves not only to entertain but also to illuminate deeper themes of support, understanding, and acceptance, even amidst ridiculous circumstances. The laughter brought forth from these tales reflects a lighter facet of the Cosmere, providing fans with joyful respite from the heavier narratives often found elsewhere.
Fan Reactions and Expectations
As the speakers reflect on fan reactions, they note the varying levels of satisfaction brought about by the stories. Some fans express excitement for lighter narratives, while others are left wishing for more complex explorations. The disparity highlights the challenges of meeting diverse fan expectations without compromising the essence of the characters. Ultimately, the discussions lend insight into the broader context of how these narratives fit within the fandom, illustrating the balance creators must strike between new content and established character arcs.
Art and Creative Collaboration
The collaboration between artists and authors is celebrated throughout the episode, showcasing how visuals enhance storytelling within the Cosmere. Each story's accompanying artwork plays a critical role in its impact, with artists known for their distinctive styles contributing to the narrative's depth. This connection between story and imagery also fosters fan engagement, as discussions about illustrations often evoke nostalgia and excitement. The blending of creative forces in these stories highlights the interconnected nature of storytelling and visual art within the expansive Cosmere universe.
It's time to talk about the three Stormlight Lost Tales, the Storydeck stories that came out as card packs at Dragonsteel Nexus. The three are Elsecaller (the Jasnah story during Words of Radiance), King Lopen the First of Alethkar (Lopen and Elhokar at the ending of Words of Radiance), and The Chasmfriends Get a New Pet! (a noncanonical children's story). Dragonsteel later sold the cards separately, but are sold out now. But we hope you enjoy this episode anyway! Listen on to see what we thought of these stories.
Episode does contain some Wind and Truth spoilers during Elsecaller and Lopen segments.
This episode we have Eric (Chaos), Ian (Weiry), Evgeni (Argent), and Ene (AonEne)!
Thumbnail is card art for King Lopen the First of Alethkar, by Marie Seeberger: https://www.instagram.com/p/DD0bPqSIH8k/?img_index=7
Cards are sold out, but the listings are: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/storydeck-box?_pos=4&_sid=aef7e52e2&_ss=r
https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/products/story-deck-3-packs?_pos=3&_sid=aef7e52e2&_ss=r
0:00:00 Introductions
0:02:51 The Chasmfriends Get A New Pet!
0:14:04 Elsecaller (Some Wind and Truth Spoilers)
0:32:11 Interesting Elsecaller things
0:59:04 Everstorm Stuff
1:18:29 Other Gripes, Matching WoR Epilogue
1:36:25 King Lopen The First of Alethkar (Some WaT Spoilers)
1:47:38 Storydeck format
1:53:42 More Lopen
2:07:41 Who's That Cosmere Character
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