Oathbringer
87. This Place
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter begins with a serene farewell to Urithiru, the city, and its inhabitants, setting a tone of quiet reflection before the chaos erupts. The narrative quickly shifts to a dramatic disturbance at the Oathgate’s control building, which is violently shaken as if struck by a massive force. Adolin, caught in the upheaval, stumbles and falls, experiencing a disorienting moment of vertigo and intense sensory overload. The sudden burst of light and the ripping sound signal a catastrophic event, leaving Adolin vulnerable as he plunges into an unfamiliar environment, highlighting the suddenness and unpredictability of the crisis.
As Adolin falls, he finds himself immersed in an unsettling landscape characterized by an ocean of tiny, shimmering beads, which are not liquid but resemble countless glass fragments. He struggles to breathe and panic overtakes him, fearing suffocation and death in this strange, endless sea. Miraculously, Azure intervenes, grasping his hand and pulling him back onto a solid platform, providing a moment of relief amid the chaos. The scene emphasizes the surreal nature of the environment, with a dark, ominous sky streaked with strange clouds and a distant, tiny sun, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that underscores the chapter’s sense of disorientation.
The scene expands to reveal towering, sentient spren—spectral beings that resemble elongated human figures—hovering ominously in the air, their presence both awe-inspiring and threatening. Adolin observes these immense spren, which seem to shift and ripple with a life of their own, hinting at their sentient and possibly protective or watchful nature. The environment is filled with a sense of foreboding, as the characters realize they are in a place far removed from their familiar world, trapped in an alien landscape that defies understanding. The appearance of strange, otherworldly creatures and the shifting environment signals a significant, possibly dangerous transition.
The chapter concludes with the appearance of mysterious entities—one with a shifting, complex form resembling a ball of lines where a head should be, and others with unusual, unsettling features. These beings seem to be part of the landscape itself, and their presence intensifies the sense of alienation and threat. The characters, including Adolin, Shallan, Kaladin, and Azure, are confined to a small landing platform, cut off from their previous surroundings, and are left pondering their predicament. Azure’s remark about hating this place underscores the chapter’s overall mood of dread and uncertainty, signaling that they are now in a hostile, incomprehensible realm that may hold unknown dangers and mysteries.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the scene where Adolin falls through the control building and ends up in the ocean of beads?
Answer:
This scene marks a pivotal moment of transition and disorientation for Adolin, symbolizing a shift from the familiar reality of the physical world to an otherworldly, surreal environment. The destruction of the Oathgate’s control building signifies a rupture in the fabric of their reality, leading to Adolin’s fall into the sea of beads—an abstract, dreamlike realm filled with tiny lights and strange, towering spren. This moment emphasizes themes of chaos, the unknown, and the fragile boundary between worlds. It also sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of unfamiliar dimensions, hinting at the larger cosmic forces at play and hinting that they are now in a realm beyond conventional understanding.2. How do the imagery and descriptions of the environment—such as the sky, the ocean of beads, and the hovering spren—contribute to the chapter’s mood and themes?
Answer:
The vivid imagery creates an atmosphere of surrealism and unease, emphasizing the otherworldly nature of the environment. The black sky streaked with strange clouds that stretch into the distance, along with the ocean of beads and floating lights, evoke a sense of disorientation and wonder. The towering, shifting spren resemble sentinels, reinforcing the feeling of being watched or guarded by cosmic forces. These descriptions underscore themes of chaos, the unknown, and the boundary between reality and the supernatural. The environment’s strange beauty and alien qualities evoke both awe and dread, highlighting the chapter’s exploration of a realm that defies normal understanding and hints at deeper mystical or cosmic truths.3. What might the characters’ reactions—such as Azure’s dislike of the place and the others’ confusion—indicate about their understanding of this realm and their situation?
Answer:
Azure’s strong dislike of the place (“I hate this place”) suggests an instinctive recognition of danger or discomfort, indicating that this realm is unfamiliar and potentially hostile. The confusion among the others, including Adolin, Shallan, and Kaladin, reflects their lack of understanding of where they are and how they arrived there. Their reactions reveal that they are thrust into a dimension beyond their normal experience, confronting an environment that challenges their perceptions and raises questions about their reality and the nature of the cosmos. This collective uncertainty emphasizes their vulnerability and the need to adapt quickly, while also hinting that this realm may hold deeper significance or threats that they must confront.4. Considering the appearance of the enormous, shifting spren and the strange creature with a shifting head, what might these entities symbolize in the context of this chapter?
Answer:
The towering spren and the strange creature symbolize the presence of powerful, possibly cosmic forces at work. The spren, resembling stretched-out versions of people and standing sentinel-like, may represent manifestations of spiritual or magical entities that oversee or influence this realm. Their shifting and rippling clothing suggest fluidity and instability, reinforcing the idea that this environment is mutable and governed by forces beyond mortal comprehension. The creature with a head composed of shifting lines and impossible dimensions could symbolize chaos, the incomprehensibility of higher realms, or the boundary between order and disorder. Together, these entities evoke themes of divine or cosmic oversight, emphasizing that the characters are now in a realm where normal laws of physics and logic do not apply, and where unseen forces are at play.5. How does the ending of the chapter, with Azure’s comment and the phrase “The End of Part Three,” frame the story’s progression and the characters’ journey?
Answer:
Azure’s comment, “Damnation, I hate this place,” conveys her immediate emotional response to the alien environment, highlighting the discomfort and threat they face. The phrase “The End of Part Three” signifies a narrative division, marking a transition point in the story. It suggests that the characters’ journey into this mysterious realm is a significant development that will propel the plot into new and potentially more dangerous or revealing phases. This framing indicates that the characters are now in an unfamiliar, possibly pivotal stage of their quest—facing challenges that will test their resilience, understanding, and unity. It prepares the reader for further exploration of this realm’s mysteries and the implications for the overarching story.
Quotes
1. “Good night, dear Urithiru. Good night, sweet Sibling. Good night, Radiants.”
This quote, from a seemingly peaceful farewell, contrasts sharply with the chaos that follows, highlighting the chapter’s shift from calm to catastrophe.
2. “The shaking was followed by a distinct ripping sound, and a blinding flash of light.”
This moment marks the sudden and violent disruption of the Oathgate, serving as a pivotal turning point that propels the characters into an unknown and dangerous realm.
3. “He fell into something that gave way beneath him. Water? No, it didn’t feel right. He twisted in it—not a liquid, but beads. Thousands upon thousands of glass beads, each smaller than a Stormlight sphere.”
This vivid description underscores the surreal and disorienting environment the characters find themselves in, emphasizing the chapter’s theme of chaos and the unknown.
4. “The sky overhead was wrong. Pitch-black, it was streaked with strange clouds that seemed to stretch forever into the distance—like roads in the sky. They led toward a small, distant sun.”
This imagery illustrates the altered, otherworldly landscape, symbolizing the profound shift in reality and setting the tone for the mysterious world the characters have entered.
5. “Damnation,” she said softly. “I hate this place.”
This succinct statement captures the characters’ collective dread and sense of foreboding about their situation, emphasizing the chapter’s overall tone of unease and uncertainty.