Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
84. Scholar
by Sanderson, BrandonNavani, isolated from her scholars and barred from administrative duties, finds herself with an unexpected opportunity to fully immerse herself in scholarly pursuits. Though she has long lamented the distractions of politics and leadership, she now confronts the reality of her own tendency to involve herself in such matters. With Raboniel monitoring her progress, Navani turns her attention to scientific experimentation, driven by the tantalizing possibility of discovering a way to end the war by creating a weapon capable of destroying Odium. Her curiosity is piqued by the potential of “negative Light,” inspired by a mysterious sphere she once saw that seemed to contain anti-Voidlight.
To begin her research, Navani orders supplies and gemstones, focusing initially on creating disguised weapons and traps as a practical warm-up. She constructs hidden painrials, alarms, and spring-loaded traps, using Voidlight and conjoined rubies to arm them. These devices are strategically placed among other scholars’ projects to avoid suspicion. Navani also collaborates with Raboniel to produce Warlight, though neither can create it alone. As she refines her ability to hum the tone required for Warlight, Navani becomes increasingly fascinated by the connection between sound, waves, and Investiture, seeing deeper scientific possibilities in these phenomena.
Navani’s central question revolves around the nature of opposites in Investiture, particularly how to create the opposite of Voidlight. She critiques Raboniel’s assumption that darkness is the opposite of light, arguing that darkness is merely the absence of light. Drawing parallels to symmetrical concepts in Vorin theology, she seeks a measurable model for Investiture, eventually settling on magnets as a tangible example of polarity. Her experiments lead her to request stronger magnets and even the metal used by the Fused to drain Stormlight from Radiants, much to the annoyance of her guards.
Despite the constraints of her captivity, Navani embraces her role as a scholar, driven by the potential to unlock world-changing discoveries. Her work is a blend of practical ingenuity and theoretical exploration, as she balances the immediate need for defensive measures with the grander ambition of understanding Investiture’s fundamental laws. The chapter highlights her intellectual resilience and growing obsession with Light, sound, and the secrets they hold, setting the stage for groundbreaking revelations that could alter the course of the war.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Navani’s realization about darkness not being the true opposite of light, and how does this impact her research direction?
Answer:
Navani’s epiphany that darkness is merely the absence of light—not its true opposite—challenges Raboniel’s assumption that Voidlight is Stormlight’s antithesis (pg. 947). This insight redirects Navani’s research toward discovering a provable opposite, akin to magnetic poles. She draws parallels to symmetrical, measurable forces in nature, leading her to request stronger magnets for experimentation. This conceptual shift is pivotal, as it moves her beyond Raboniel’s framework and toward original theories about Investiture. The passage underscores Navani’s growing scientific rigor as she seeks to define “negative Light” through empirical models rather than superficial contrasts.2. How does Navani’s approach to scholarly work evolve in this chapter, and what internal conflicts does this reveal?
Answer:
Navani transitions from political administrator to dedicated scholar, confronting her pattern of prioritizing governance over research (pg. 945-946). Though she initially questions whether she should do menial labor to connect with people, the lure of scientific discovery—particularly the potential to create anti-Voidlight—ultimately captivates her. Her internal conflict reflects imposter syndrome (“Could I truly become a scholar?”) versus ambition (“What if I could destroy Odium?”). Notably, she adopts her own scholars’ methods: creating an environment for accidental breakthroughs by immersing herself in experimentation (pg. 946). This evolution highlights her dual identity as both leader and innovator.3. Analyze the strategic purpose behind Navani’s “non-weapon” fabrial traps. How do they reflect her constrained circumstances and intellectual adaptability?
Answer:
Navani designs disguised traps (e.g., painrials hidden in innocuous fabrials, magnet-armed spike launchers) as contingency plans (pg. 946-947). These serve multiple purposes: they provide plausible deniability (appearing as half-finished experiments), leverage limited resources (corrupted gemstones, Voidlight), and exploit the singers’ complacency about human technology. The magnet activation mechanism—requiring precise placement—ensures only she can deploy them. This ingenuity demonstrates her ability to weaponize scholarship under occupation while maintaining the facade of cooperation. It also reflects her understanding of psychological warfare, as she stores traps in plain sight among other scholars’ clutter.4. What does the collaborative process of creating Warlight reveal about the fundamental nature of Investiture in this cosmere system?
Answer:
The Warlight experiments show Investiture requires symbiotic interaction between Roshar’s native forces (pg. 946-947). Neither Navani (human) nor Raboniel (Fused) can produce Warlight alone—it demands their combined tones, suggesting Investiture has inherent relational properties. Navani’s growing mastery of the rhythm (“the soul of Roshar”) implies Investiture responds to intentional harmony, not just mechanical replication. This aligns with the chapter’s theme of opposites: just as Light requires balance, creation depends on bridging disparate entities. The limitation also creates mutual dependence, preventing either party from monopolizing the discovery.5. Evaluate the symbolic significance of Raboniel’s daughter humming a human tavern tune. How might this detail foreshadow broader themes?
Answer:
The unnamed Fused daughter’s humming of a human melody (pg. 947) subtly undermines the war’s binary divisions. Her unconscious cultural hybridity—mirroring the Warlight fusion—hints at shared humanity beneath ideological conflict. This moment parallels Navani and Raboniel’s uneasy collaboration, suggesting that even enemies inherit each other’s traditions. The detail also foreshadows potential alliances, as it demonstrates that singers can appreciate human creativity. On a meta-level, it reinforces the chapter’s exploration of synthesis: just as Light combines, cultures may harmonize unexpectedly, offering paths beyond destruction.
Quotes
1. “Navani found herself in a curious situation. Forbidden to take part in the administration of the tower, forbidden direct contact with her scholars, she had only her research to occupy her. In a way, she had been given the gift she’d always wished for: a chance to truly see if she could become a scholar.”
This quote marks a pivotal moment of self-reflection for Navani, where constraints ironically grant her the freedom to pursue pure scholarship—a lifelong aspiration often sidelined by political duties. It frames the chapter’s exploration of her intellectual identity.
2. “The thing Raboniel wanted to create was possible. So … why not try to find out how to make it? Why not see what she could actually do? The power to destroy a god. Negative Light. Can I crack the secret?”
Here, Navani shifts from defensive survival to ambitious scientific inquiry, contemplating the revolutionary potential of anti-Voidlight. This internal monologue captures the chapter’s central tension between ethical restraint and world-changing discovery.
3. “Oftentimes the greatest discoveries came not because a woman was looking for them, but because she was so engrossed in some other topic that she started making connections she never would have otherwise.”
This insight reflects Navani’s scholarly philosophy, emphasizing serendipitous discovery through deep immersion—a principle she actively applies in her experiments with Light. It underscores the chapter’s theme of scientific methodology.
4. “Underlying all the work she did was a singular question: How would one make the opposite of Voidlight? What had been in that sphere of Gavilar’s?”
This concise formulation drives the chapter’s scientific arc, distilling Navani’s core research question about Investiture’s fundamental nature. The reference to Gavilar’s sphere ties personal history to cosmic-scale experimentation.
5. “In Vorinism, pure things were said to be symmetrical. And all things had an opposite. It was easy to see why Raboniel had assumed the dark Light of the Void would be the opposite of Stormlight, but darkness wasn’t truly an opposite of light. It was simply the absence of light.”
This theological-scientific synthesis demonstrates Navani’s unique interdisciplinary thinking, challenging assumptions about Investiture’s duality. The passage exemplifies the chapter’s blending of cultural philosophy with empirical investigation.