Stormlight Books 6 - 10 epilogues predictions
So I have been thinking about Second arc of Stormlight Archives and what to expect. Here is the compilation of what we know and my predictions/wishlist.
Confirmed things about the second arc are Flashback characters and prologue. Brandon has confirmed that 6. Lift 7. Renarin 8. Ash 9. Taln and 10. Jasnah will be the flashback POV characters. (sequence may change but characters are confirmed). He has also confirmed that the prologue in second arc will be another major event having five POVs just like first arc and Gavinlar's assassination. Another confirmed thing is that second arc will focus on Heralds just like the first arc focused on radiants.
I have used Spoiler markers because my guesses will reference Stormlight Books 1 - 5.
Now what I believe most certainly be in the books. >!Prelude to Voidlight Archive and Postlude to Voidlight Archive!< >!While reading WaT, Postlude to Stormlight Archive confused me a lot. My question was that the series is not finished, so why not an Interlude and why a Postlude. But when Brandon said that in his mind, he thinks of two arcs as Stormligh Archive and Voidlight Archive, it clicked to me. There will most certainly be a Prelude to Voidlight Archive in Book 6 and Postlude to Voidlight Archive at the end of Book 10.!<
>!As for the content of this Prelude/Postlude, I don't have any idea. Arc 1 had Aharietiam in Prelude, which set up a big plot point behind the scene as to why, how and by which mechanics do heralds operate. This whole plot resolved in heralds coming together one final time. I don't know what the end of Book 10 will look like but most likely, Prelude to Voidlight Archive will set up some plot/mystery for overarching arc.!<
Epilogues: So the epilogue of each book in first half in an important event/explanation/exposition from the POV of Wit. I don't see that changing in the second arc as well. As for the specifics of each of the epilogue, my best guess is as follows. Also, I am assuming that the with the pattern/symmetry in Prologue and flashback character structure, there will be a pattern/symmetry in epilogues as well, which is not confirmed.
Book 6: >!Kaladin/Taln/All herald return to Roshar. At the end of Book 1, we see Taln returning to Roshar and announcing desolation. My best guess is that at the end of Book 6, we will see either Taln/Kaladin or all the heralds returning to Roshar for one final push. I don't believe we will have to wait more than that to get heralds in the thick of action. Afterall, the second arc is focusing on heralds. Also, maybe throughout the Book 6, we have one consistent Intelrude POV of Kaladin/some other herald to see what is happening.!<
Book 7: >!Shallan escapes Shadesmar. A perfect mirror to Jasnah escaping Shadesmar in Book 2. We know that second arc's scope will be wider and it most likely involve shards, cosmere and worldhopper more than that in first half. IMO Shallan will be the "leading authority" for off-world threats and wider cosmere (barring Wit, obviously) for the second half, and may also team up with Wit (like Jasnah did, except romance side).!<
Book 8: >!Wit focused epilogue. Just like in Book 3, where epilogue's focus is mainly on Wit and him bonding Design, I think Book 8 may also have a focus on Wit. Post that, I don't have much to add. Brandon said that he is going to do some weird stuff in second arc so idk.!<
Book 9: >!Wit meets with Valor. At the end of Book 4, Wit meets with Odium (thinking he is Rayse). As the closing of penultimate book of the arc, my guess is that stakes have become very high. There are some hints or indications that Valor is somehow involved in what is going on Roshar and fourth moon and stuff. If ever that was to come out, my best guess would be at the end of Book 9. I don't have slightest idea of how this interaction is gonna go and what will happen but it would be really cool.!<
Book 10: >!Wit on Scadrial. This one is the most guesswork for me. But assuming that the conflict on Roshar has come to a satisfying conclusion or escalated so much that story on Roshar is over and now will move to entire Cosmere, Post-Stormlight, Mistborn Space Age era will be the next major triology. Now I don't know if Brandon will have an Era 4 like Wax and Wayne and Space Age will be Era 5, but we know that protagnist of Space Age Mistborn Era is Hoid himself. So it would be safe to guess that epilogue of Book 10 will be post-conflict of Roshar and setting up future events in Cosmere with proper farewell to Stormlight series as a whole.!<
Now these ideas are tenuous at best and obviously not really a concrete predictions. But this maybe the direction where Book 6-10 may go. And it will be cool.
I am very open to all the thoughts in the comments.