#nikaro

Doing some traditional art as I draft a novel, no biggie. Here’s a Nikaro from “Yumi and the Nightmare Painter” by Brandon Sanderson. The painter becomes the painted.

As requested by @variaandroise :)

If you're wondering where the allomancy/feurchemy are, please know that I wrote that as its own list. And if you're wondering where surgebinding is, please know that I also wrote THAT as its own list. So we're leaving the main magics of Roshar & Scadrial behind for once--and looking at the Invested Arts from other words.

1. Yoki-hijo (from Komashi): Rock

Rock: I am naturally respectful of all gods! Rock: If they want me to carefully stack rocks before they're willing to help, then that's what I'll do. Rock: I'll treat it like a good stew, and keep at it until it's right! Rock: This feels like a good fit to me, power-wise. Yumi: Plus, there's your name...? Rock: Ha, ha! Good point!

2. Awakening (from Nalthis): Shallan

Shallan: Visualizing something and turning it into reality is already my jam! Shallan: And now I just have to visualize a scarf grabbing a door handle--I don't even need to draw it? Shallan: Awakening is easy mode. Vasher: ...

3. Awakening (still from Nalthis): Also Steris

Steris: For Awakening to be precise, the Command must be precise and clear. Steris: It cannot use vague, undefined terms like "destroy evil." Steris: (Not that anyone would be foolish enough to try anything like that.) Steris: [plunking a contract down onto the table] That's why I think this will work out for me. Vasher: ...It's gotta be short enough to visualize, you know. Steris: Your point being...?

4. Hemalurgy (from Scadrial): Taravangian

Taravangian: And not because "Oh he's evil or whatever!" or anything boring like that! Taravangian: The point is--the dying SHOULD be used to help the living. Taravangian: I have been using them for prophecy and to track an Unmade. Taravangian: But if I can also use them to preserve abilities and give them to others? Taravangian: Literally, why wouldn't I?

5. Sand Mastery (from Taldain): Jasnah

Jasnah: A form of Investiture that's all about control, you say? Jasnah: Where you are only allowed to be initiated if you pass a test? Jasnah: And then your power increases as your control does? Jasnah: I think I will be fine.

6. Dakhor (from Sel): MeLaan

MeLaan: Maybe it is cheating, a bit? MeLaan: But I could have one super twisty and evil skeleton that I put on every now and again, for special events. MeLaan: Honestly, this magic seems WAY better suited to kandra than to humans!

7. Navigation (from First of the Sun): Lift

Lift: Sounds to me like an ability where you gotta listen really carefully. Lift: I can do that. Lift: You also gotta eat worm paste and you know what? I'll try anything once. Dusk: ...why do I have the urge to adopt this child?

8. AonDor (from Sel): Sigzil

Sigzil: I survived civil service training in Azir. Sigzil: Combining and recombining symbols to create complex meanings? Sigzil: I can handle that.

9. Forgery (from Sel): Nikaro

As requested by @karlathewitch :)

I mean, it's pretty much what it says on the tin. Only, I'll mostly be doing worlds that don't already have guns. "Wax...with guns!" just doesn't seem very groundbreaking for some reason.

1. Kaladin

One word: Sylgun.

Kaladin: [Is up in the sky, sniping people on the ground with his Sylgun] Kaladin: Hey Syl...are there any, like, honor implications for fighting this way? Syl (as a gun): No it's totally fine. Kaladin: Okay. Kaladin: Yay.

2. Vin

Uses the biggest gun you have ever seen in your life.

Lord Ruler: I am this world's god! You think that you can kill me? Vin: [hefting a rocket launcher] Let's find out!

3. Szeth

Uses one of those bayonet rifles. He mostly still stabs people. With this gun.

Person being stabbed to death by a gun: But whyyyyy Szeth: I don't ask myself those questions.

4. Clubs

I'm seeing a sawed-off shotgun for Clubs.

Clubs: [Is inexplicably sitting on a porch in a rocking chair] Clubs: My copper cloud hides us from the Lord Ruler. Clubs: And if that doesn't work... Clubs: [pats the sawed-off shotgun in his lap]

5. Adolin

Turns into a cowboy immediately.

Adolin (in a slow drawl): You 'n' me. Pistols at dawn. We'll settle this like gentlemen. Jakamav: Will you please at least take off the cowboy hat that you're wearing on top of your helmet? Adolin: ... Adolin: Nope.

6. Zane

Keeps trying to get Vin to play Russian Roulette with him.

Zane: You'll never feel so alive as when you hear the click of that empty chamber against your head. Vin (completely caught up in the moment): Wow... Zane: I bet Elend wouldn't understand!

7. Dalinar

As a young man, Dalinar once tried to eat soup with a gun.

Evi, Gavilar, and Navani: [solemnly watching Dalinar try to eat soup with a gun] Gavilar: Is there any chance you find this attractive? Evi: Um...

8. Nikaro

He, of course, wields a paintgun.

Yumi: H-How did you paint such a beautiful bamboo forest using on a paintgun?? Nikaro: I'm actually insanely talented, you know.

9. Lift

Water guns only.

Nale: [Looking down at his damp shirt] Lift: [Is wielding a water gun] Nale: [Looking down at his damp shirt] Nale: I know what I am making illegal next.

10. Nightblood

Is a gun

You may know some people who are very easy to shop for, when it comes to buying Christmas presents. Especially people who Collect an Animal. Then there are other people who seem to have no earthly desires. So if you had to buy Christmas presents for the following Cosmere characters, would they be easy people to shop for?

1. Adolin: Easy

Get him a sword or a bottle of wine. Wine is the easiest because the quality Does Not Matter. Canonically, he cannot tell the difference!

2. Shallan: Easy

Shallan is an artist. She can never have too many drawing pads, charcoal pencils, or laquer. You might even get a nice drawing in return!

3. Nikaro: Easy

Nikaro is an artist. He can never have too many paintbrushes, ink, or drawing paper. You might even get a nice drawing in return! It will be of bamboo.

4. Tindwyl: Hard

You think, "Oh I'll get her a lovely biography--she likes biographies." But how sure are you that you'll pick one that she both likes and hasn't read??

5. Marasi: Easy

Chocolate. Mission accomplished.

6. Kaladin: Hard

I think Kaladin is one of those guys who just doesn't want anything. You'll see your present in some secondhand store within months.

7. Breeze: Easy

Wine, of course. Now, it might have to be nice wine, but also, if you're pouring, he might be more generous in his estimation.

8. Jasnah: Hard

I think Jasnah does want things. Books. Nice clothing. Nice makeup. But can you accurately buy an object from any of those categories that meets Jasnah's standards? No.

9. Tress: Easy

Go somewhere. Buy a souvenir cup. Done.

10. Dalinar: Hard

Dalinar is a dad, aka the hardest type of person to shop for. You get him a book to support how he likes reading now and he seems to appreciate it but then after dinner you find him reading Way of Kings. Again.

11. Steris: Easy

You just have to get her something from the list that she herself provided.

12. TenSoon: Hard

If you get something that's good for a human, it's like--what is he supposed to do with that? He's got paws! But if you get him something good for a dog, that just seems offensive, somehow.

13. Ulaam: Hard

It's easy to know what Ulaam wants. But it's hard to actually make the promise that you will gift him a body part postmortem. Just seems a little morbid for Christmas.

14. Lightsong: Hard...?

It's hard to buy gifts for someone who can literally have whatever they want at any time. Actually, scratch that; Lightsong would freaking love an escape room puzzle.

15. Vin: Easy

what. the. hell.

the plot twists?? i didn’t expect such a turn in the story. but also, it is a brandon sanderson book. i shouldn’t be surprised.

the plot, the characters (yumi and nikaro, my beloveds), the narration (thanks hoid), the magic system, the way it leans on sci fi, THAT ENDING??