Oathbringer
72. Rockfall
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter begins by highlighting the displacement caused by the city’s upheaval, with the Edgedancers prioritizing relocating their people rather than recording their thoughts in gemstones. The narrative underscores the moral dilemma faced by the Radiants, who are being absorbed by nations, contrasting their fate with that of the ordinary citizens left without homes. This sets a tone of societal imbalance and the difficult decisions surrounding loyalty and responsibility amid chaos. The perspective emphasizes the human cost of political and magical conflicts, illustrating how the broader conflict impacts everyday lives, especially those of the displaced and vulnerable populations.
Veil, a central character, perceives the city’s heartbeat through its ancient stones, sensing a dark presence—a spren that has become an urban disease. Her observations reveal a city scarred by old wounds and ongoing threats, with the populace avoiding the palace and ignoring the ominous signs. Veil’s introspection about the city’s resilience and the silent threat within hints at deeper, unseen dangers. Her cautious exploration underscores the pervasive tension and the presence of a long-standing, corrupting influence that has yet to be fully revealed or confronted.
The narrative then shifts to Veil and her companion Vathah infiltrating a luxurious mansion called Rockfall, which is filled with illusions of waterfalls and grandeur, created through magical means. They adopt disguises to evade detection, moving through the estate’s opulent, transformed spaces. Their mission involves gathering intelligence and assessing the damage from recent storms, including repairs made to the mansion after lightning strikes caused significant destruction. The detailed descriptions of the mansion’s architecture, the artificial waterfalls, and the ongoing repairs reflect a world where wealth, magic, and aesthetics intertwine, yet underlying tensions and dangers persist beneath the surface.
The chapter concludes with Veil and Vathah covertly observing a conversation involving Ishnah and the mansion’s mistress, Brightness Nananav. As they navigate guards and the mansion’s guarded environment, Veil sketches Nananav from memory, demonstrating her resourcefulness and stealth. The scene captures the mounting suspense and the complexity of their infiltration, emphasizing the danger of their covert operation. The characters’ interactions reveal their nervousness and professionalism, illustrating the high stakes of their mission and the constant threat of discovery in a world filled with political intrigue, magical dangers, and hidden agendas.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the city’s heartbeat as described in the chapter, and how does Veil perceive it?
Answer:
The city’s heartbeat symbolizes its ancient vitality and the deep, living history embedded within its stones. Veil perceives this heartbeat as a slow, old rhythm that she can almost hear when she closes her eyes, indicating her connection to the city’s enduring presence. This metaphor highlights the city’s resilience and its unawakened awareness of the dark force—an ancient spren—that has infiltrated it. Veil’s sensitivity to this heartbeat suggests her role as an observer and protector, aware of the underlying darkness that most others avoid or fail to notice, emphasizing the importance of perception and vigilance in the narrative.2. How does the chapter illustrate the use of illusion and disguise in Veil and Vathah’s infiltration, and what does this reveal about their roles?
Answer:
Veil and Vathah employ elaborate disguises—Veil’s face altered with a different appearance and Vathah adopting the guise of a brutish man—to blend into their environment and evade detection. Veil’s ability to bleed into her persona, Shallan, and sketch a person from memory showcases her skill in deception. Their disguises allow them to move freely within the mansion, bypassing guards and surveillance. This use of illusion underscores their roles as covert operatives or spies, relying on stealth, quick thinking, and deception to gather intelligence or achieve their objectives without confrontation. It highlights the chapter’s theme of hidden identities and the importance of perception versus reality.3. In what ways does the chapter explore the contrast between wealth and destruction, especially through the mansion and the effects of the Everstorm?
Answer:
The mansion, Rockfall, symbolizes wealth, grandeur, and human imagination, with features like waterfalls made of crystal and polished wood, representing the height of opulence. However, it also bears the scars of destruction wrought by the Everstorm—such as the gaping hole patched with unsightly wood—reminding readers of the fragility of human constructions against natural and supernatural forces. The chapter contrasts the mansion’s beauty and permanence with the destructive power of the Everstorm’s red lightning, which can break through rock and cause chaos. This juxtaposition emphasizes themes of impermanence, the limits of human achievement, and the ongoing struggle between prosperity and destruction.4. How does the chapter depict the tension between the desire for stealth and the reality of danger during Veil and Vathah’s infiltration?
Answer:
The chapter vividly portrays the tension through the characters’ nervousness, careful planning, and awareness of their surroundings. Vathah’s comment about doing the infiltration at night reflects their understanding that guards are more alert during the day, yet Veil points out that the guards are well-guarded and alert regardless of the time. Veil and Vathah’s cautious movements, quick sketches, and whispered conversations highlight their awareness of imminent danger. The scene emphasizes that despite their skills, they are acutely aware of the risks involved in their covert operation, which heightens the suspense and underscores the constant threat of exposure or failure.5. What does the chapter suggest about the themes of identity and deception, particularly through Veil’s dual role and the use of magical disguise?
Answer:
The chapter explores identity and deception as central themes through Veil’s ability to assume different faces and personas, such as her disguise as a rugged man and her blending of Shallan’s identity. Veil’s skill in bleeding her identity into different forms underscores the fluidity of self and the importance of perception. Her ability to deceive others visually and psychologically reflects the broader themes of hidden truths and the necessity of disguise in dangerous environments. This duality highlights that in their world, appearances can be manipulated to serve strategic purposes, and that understanding or uncovering true identities is crucial for survival and success in their covert activities.
Quotes
1. “The Edgedancers are too busy relocating the tower’s servants and farmers to send a representative to record their thoughts in these gemstones.”
This quote highlights the neglect or oversight of certain groups amidst larger political or magical concerns, emphasizing themes of displacement and forgotten voices within the chapter’s setting.
2. “If stone met a man, stone might win—but if stone met humanity, then no force could preserve it.”
This line reflects on the resilience and fragility of human civilization compared to the unyielding nature of stone, symbolizing how human connection and spirit outlast material structures—an overarching metaphor for the chapter’s exploration of urban decay and renewal.
3. “Veil felt she could hear the city’s heartbeat when she closed her eyes.”
This evocative statement underscores Veil’s deep connection to the city’s life force, illustrating her awareness of its underlying vitality and the dark movements within it, setting the tone for the chapter’s themes of observation and infiltration.
4. “They had been, once. But sometime long ago, someone had mixed far too much wealth with far too much imagination. They had hired Soulcasters to transform large fountains of water that had been poured from the top level. They’d been Soulcast into other materials right as the water splashed to the floor.”
This passage explores the city’s artificial beauty and the decadence that led to its current state, symbolizing how excess and illusion can mask underlying decay—an important commentary on the city’s transformation.
5. “Veil and Vathah had entered a small library lit by a few spheres in a goblet on the table. Vathah eyed them, but didn’t move—this infiltration was about far more than a few chips.”
This quote emphasizes the clandestine nature of Veil and Vathah’s mission, illustrating their careful planning and the dangerous game of espionage they are engaged in, which is central to the chapter’s tension and plot development.