Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
69. Pure Tones of Roshar
by Sanderson, BrandonNavani conducts experiments with Stormlight and Voidlight, exploring their unique properties and interactions. Using a tuning fork, she transfers Stormlight between gemstones, observing its fluid-like behavior. She hypothesizes that Stormlight is neither purely liquid nor gas but a distinct form of energy. To test the dangers of mixing Lights, she works within a protective steel box, cautiously preparing for potential explosions while maintaining her cover under enemy supervision. Her goal is to uncover whether combining Voidlight and Stormlight produces a new Light, similar to Towerlight.
The chapter delves into Navani’s discovery of the “pure tones of Roshar,” which correlate to the three ancient gods: Honor, Odium, and Cultivation. Stormlight responds to the first tone, while Voidlight reacts to the third. Navani learns these tones from ancient three-note scales, a revelation unknown to Alethi scholars but familiar to Raboniel. Though Navani attempts to replicate Raboniel’s ability to manipulate Light through singing, she finds success only with tuning forks. This discovery hints at deeper connections between music, theology, and the fundamental nature of Light on Roshar.
Navani’s experiments progress as she crosses streams of Stormlight and Voidlight, observing their resistance to merging. She attempts to refill a Voidlight gemstone with Stormlight, leveraging principles from fabrial science. However, the Voidlight diamond extinguishes the tuning fork’s tone, preventing the transfer. Her efforts highlight the challenges of manipulating these opposing forces, suggesting that their interaction is more complex than a simple pressure differential. The chapter underscores her meticulous and innovative approach, even in the face of limited resources and hostile conditions.
The chapter concludes with Navani’s unresolved questions about the nature of Light and its ties to Roshar’s deities. Her work bridges science and spirituality, as she contemplates the implications of the three pure tones and their alignment with Honor, Odium, and Cultivation. Despite setbacks, her experiments lay the groundwork for future discoveries, emphasizing her role as a pioneering researcher in a world where science and magic intertwine. The narrative leaves readers anticipating the next steps in her quest to unravel the mysteries of Light.
FAQs
1. How does Navani’s experimentation with Stormlight and Voidlight demonstrate the scientific method in action?
Answer:
Navani’s systematic approach exemplifies the scientific method through hypothesis formation, controlled experimentation, and iterative testing. She begins with a control experiment transferring Stormlight between diamonds (pg. 792), then progresses to testing her hypothesis about Voidlight/Stormlight interactions (pg. 793). When initial attempts fail, she refines her approach by researching music theory and obtaining ancient three-note scale tuning forks (pg. 793-794). Her documentation of results and willingness to adjust methods—such as trying pressure differentials inspired by fabrial science (pg. 794)—show rigorous adherence to empirical principles despite dangerous conditions.2. What cultural and theological implications emerge from Navani’s discovery of the “pure tones of Roshar”?
Answer:
The discovery challenges Vorin religious orthodoxy by revealing three fundamental tones corresponding to Honor, Odium, and Cultivation—whereas Vorinism only worships Honor (pg. 794). This suggests pre-existing knowledge of all three Shards was lost or suppressed. The musical aspect carries cultural weight too: Alethi ten-note scales contrast with ancient three-note systems (pg. 793), implying historical shifts in both musical and spiritual understanding. Raboniel’s familiarity with the tones (pg. 794) further highlights how Singer/Fused traditions preserved knowledge that human societies forgot, creating an asymmetry in cosmological understanding between the factions.3. Analyze the significance of Navani’s observation that Stormlight behaves like neither liquid nor gas. How might this insight advance fabrial technology?
Answer:
Navani’s note that Stormlight defies classical states of matter (pg. 792) suggests it operates by unique quantum or Investiture-based principles. This realization could revolutionize fabrial design by moving beyond fluid-dynamics-inspired models. For instance, if Stormlight’s transfer depends on vibrational resonance (tuning forks) rather than pressure gradients, future fabrials might use precise frequency modulation instead of vacuum chambers. The passage where Voidlight extinguishes a tuning fork’s vibration (pg. 794) particularly implies an interference pattern between Investiture types—knowledge that could lead to anti-Investiture containment systems or hybrid Light fabrials.4. Evaluate the risks and ethical considerations in Navani’s experimental design under captivity.
Answer:
Navani balances scientific rigor with survival by using a steel explosion chamber (pg. 793) and misleading her captors about explosion risks—a justifiable deception given her confinement. However, her safety measures are compromised (the chamber lacks a top), reflecting desperate circumstances that would normally violate ethical research standards. The chapter highlights how oppression distorts scientific integrity: she must rely on enemy forces to move equipment (pg. 793) and raid cultural sites for tuning forks (pg. 793), raising questions about coercion in knowledge acquisition. Her work becomes both an act of resistance and a moral gray area.
Quotes
1. “Stormlight is something else, with some of the properties of both a liquid and a gas.”
This quote captures Navani’s scientific curiosity about the fundamental nature of Stormlight, illustrating her experimental approach to understanding Roshar’s magic system. It represents the chapter’s theme of investigating the unknown through systematic observation.
2. “Anciently, people had used a three-note scale… The tone that drew Stormlight was the first of the three notes from this ancient scale.”
This revelation about the connection between musical tones and Investiture is pivotal, introducing the concept of “pure tones of Roshar” that correlate to the Shards. It marks a major breakthrough in Navani’s research.
3. “Three tones: a note for Honor, a note for Odium, and a note for Cultivation. Yet Vorinism only worshipped the Almighty. Honor.”
This quote highlights the theological implications of Navani’s discoveries, contrasting established Vorin beliefs with the broader cosmere truth she’s uncovering. It suggests deeper mysteries about Roshar’s religious history.
4. “In fabrial science, you captured a spren by creating a gemstone with a kind of vacuum in it—you drew out the Stormlight, leaving a sphere with a void or suction inside.”
This explanation of fabrial mechanics demonstrates the chapter’s technical depth while revealing important principles about how Investiture interacts with physical objects. It shows the scientific rigor behind Roshar’s magic.