Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
28. Heresies
by Sanderson, BrandonNavani, a prominent figure, engages in a tense communication via a spanreed—a magical device that allows distant written conversation. The mysterious correspondent accuses her of heresy for experimenting with fabrials, which trap spren (spiritual entities) to harness their power. The correspondent condemns these actions as cruel and unnatural, comparing it to imprisoning a storm. Navani remains composed, seeking to understand the theological objections while her team of scholars and engineers meticulously measures the spanreed’s decay to determine the correspondent’s location.
The engineers, led by the animated Falilar, use precise scales and instruments to gauge the distance of the spanreed’s other end. Their initial measurements suggest the correspondent is alarmingly close—possibly within the same tower. Navani and her scribe, Kalami, speculate whether the correspondent is a singer (a non-human race) or someone posing as one. The correspondent’s rhetoric frames Navani’s experiments as a moral violation, insisting that spren must remain free and accusing humans of inherent violence.
Navani attempts to buy time by pretending to consult a theological advisor, while her team relocates to triangulate the correspondent’s position. The group rushes to the plateau outside the tower, setting up the spanreed again for a second measurement. The correspondent, seemingly aware of their movements, questions their actions, revealing possible surveillance. Navani deflects, asking for clarification on the moral objections, but the correspondent grows impatient, threatening to withdraw if the suffering of the spren continues.
The chapter culminates in a race against time as Navani’s team seeks to pinpoint the correspondent’s location. The tension escalates with the implication of a spy within their midst, possibly the same person who planted the spanreed ruby. The correspondent’s silence after Navani’s probing questions leaves the situation unresolved, heightening the mystery and stakes. The chapter underscores themes of ethical experimentation, theological conflict, and the blurred lines between technological advancement and moral responsibility.
FAQs
1. What method does Navani’s team use to try to locate the mysterious spanreed correspondent, and what does this reveal about the correspondent’s location?
Answer:
Navani’s team uses precise measurements of spanreed decay—the phenomenon where the pens become heavier the farther apart they are—to triangulate the correspondent’s location. By setting up the spanreed on Falilar’s sensitive scale and taking measurements from different locations (first inside the tower, then on the plateau outside), they determine that the decay is minimal, indicating the correspondent is extremely close, likely inside Urithiru itself. This suggests the mysterious writer may be a hidden ally, enemy, or informant within the tower, possibly watching Navani’s movements.2. How does the mysterious correspondent justify their claim that Navani’s fabrial experiments are “heresies,” and what does this reveal about their perspective?
Answer:
The correspondent argues that trapping spren in fabrials is morally equivalent to imprisoning nature itself, comparing it to confining a storm or depriving a flower of sunlight. They emphasize that spren should be free and accuse humans of “dominating” them, which aligns with Singer cultural values. This reveals the correspondent likely holds a Singer worldview or is posing as one, as they frame fabrial technology as a violent act against spiritual beings rather than a neutral tool, contrasting sharply with Vorin theology’s acceptance of fabrials as mundane objects.3. Analyze the strategic implications of Navani’s decision to feign ignorance and request theological advice during the spanreed conversation.
Answer:
Navani’s tactic of pretending to consult theological advisors serves two purposes: First, it buys time for her team to take critical second measurements for triangulation. Second, it manipulates the correspondent into revealing more about their motives by posing as a receptive listener (“How is it you know what our ardents do not?”). This mirrors espionage tradecraft—keeping an opponent engaged while gathering intelligence. However, the correspondent’s awareness of their movement (“Why did you move?”) suggests Navani’s ploy may have been detected, raising stakes for future interactions.4. What does Kalami’s concern about the spanreed exchange—that “they’ll learn more about us than we do about them”—suggest about the risks of Navani’s investigation?
Answer:
Kalami’s warning highlights the asymmetric risks of communication with an unknown party. While Navani seeks to uncover the correspondent’s identity, every reply potentially exposes: (1) Urithiru’s technological capabilities (via the decay measurement setup), (2) Navani’s investigative methods, and (3) the tower’s internal divisions (as the correspondent seems aware of her fabrial experiments). This mirrors real-world counterintelligence dilemmas, where pursuing a source risks becoming the subject of their scrutiny. The chapter later confirms this when the correspondent detects their relocation, proving the threat is actively monitoring them.5. How does the chapter frame the ethical conflict between technological progress and moral responsibility through the fabrial debate?
Answer:
The confrontation crystallizes a central tension in the Stormlight Archive: whether advancing technology justifies exploiting spiritual entities. The correspondent’s accusations position fabrials as systemic violence (“Do you kill? Humans always kill”), while Navani’s pragmatic comparison to chull-drawn carts reflects utilitarian ethics. This mirrors real-world debates about scientific ethics—like animal testing or AI rights—where convenience clashes with moral consideration for consciousness. The “heresy” framing elevates it beyond practicality into a theological crisis, questioning whether Vorinism’s approval of fabrials stems from ignorance of spren suffering.
Quotes
1. “Other Shards I cannot identify, and are hidden to me. I fear that their influence encroaches upon my world, yet I am locked into a strange inability because of the opposed powers I hold.”
This opening italicized passage sets a tone of cosmic mystery and vulnerability, hinting at unseen forces influencing events. It introduces a key theme of the chapter: the tension between knowledge and power, and the limitations even powerful beings face.
2. “Spren are meant to be free. By capturing them, you trap nature itself. Can a storm survive if placed in a prison? Can a flower bloom with no sunlight? This is what you do. Your religion is incomplete.”
This passionate argument from the mysterious spanreed correspondent presents the core ethical dilemma of fabrial technology. The poetic metaphors make a compelling case against spren captivity, challenging human assumptions about their right to harness natural forces.
3. “The decay is almost nonexistent… Extremely near. Inside the tower.”
This revelation from Falilar’s measurements creates a moment of tension, revealing that the mysterious communicant is much closer than expected. It shifts the chapter’s dynamic from abstract philosophical debate to immediate physical threat, raising questions about infiltration and hidden enemies within Urithiru.
4. “Humans always kill.”
This blunt, accusatory statement encapsulates the deep-seated resentment held by some non-human entities in this world. Delivered through the spanreed, it serves as both a condemnation of Navani’s experiments and a broader indictment of human nature in the cosmere’s conflicts.