71. Rider of Storms: Chapter 78 Analysis

Spoiler Warning: This page contains spoilers for Rhythm of War Chapter 78.

Summary

Dalinar, now free of his old fear of highstorms, accepts the Stormfather’s invitation to ride the storm. He soars across unfamiliar lands, sees the devastation left by the Everstorm on abandoned villages, and argues fiercely with the Stormfather after two foragers are killed—calling him a coward for refusing to show mercy. The confrontation stings the Stormfather, who grudgingly admits Dalinar is right that they must both be better.

As the storm reaches Urithiru, Dalinar forces himself to linger, defying the storm’s forward momentum. He senses a faint Connection and finds Kaladin clinging to the outside of the tower, bleeding and near death. Kaladin whispers that the singers have invaded, Navani is captured, and Radiant powers—except for Kaladin’s and perhaps a Bondsmith’s—are suppressed. Dalinar uses the winds to hurl Kaladin back onto an upper balcony before being pulled away.

Back in Emul, Dalinar realizes the enemy sacrificed Taravangian and the Emul army to keep him occupied while they seized the tower. The Stormfather warns that Dalinar’s current strength cannot overcome the Sibling’s suppression. Frustrated by his slow training, Dalinar recalls that the Herald Ishar was a Bondsmith. He rushes to Shalash, who confirms Ishar is sane and likely nearby in Tukar. Dalinar resolves to find Ishar and convince him to help rescue Urithiru.

Key Events

  • Dalinar rides the highstorm with the Stormfather, experiencing the storm as a consciousness.
  • He witnesses the aftermath of the Everstorm in isolated villages and confronts the Stormfather after two foragers die, calling him a coward for hiding behind his nature.
  • Passing Urithiru, Dalinar pushes back against the Stormfather’s momentum and discovers Kaladin Stormblessed clinging to the tower.
  • Kaladin reports the singer invasion, Navani’s capture, and the suppression of most Radiant powers.
  • Dalinar uses the storm winds to throw Kaladin to safety on an eighth-tier balcony.
  • Returning to his body, Dalinar realises the true situation and calls an emergency meeting.
  • The Stormfather explains that Dalinar’s powers are not yet strong enough to open a perpendicularity inside the tower’s defences.
  • Remembering Ishar, the only other Bondsmith, Dalinar locates Shalash and Talenelat. Shalash confirms that Ishar is nearby in Tukar.
  • Dalinar decides to push past the army and reach Ishar to seek training, placing rescuing Urithiru above the war effort.

Character Development

  • Dalinar: Demonstrates how far he has come by no longer fearing the storm. Yet he still struggles with the violent urges once fed by the Thrill. He actively chooses restraint over battle, recognising he must find other ways to solve problems. His argument with the Stormfather shows his growing demand for accountability even in divine beings. His determination to seek Ishar for training shows a proactive embrace of his Bondsmith role.
  • Stormfather: Is challenged by Dalinar’s demand for mercy. Initially resistant and petulant, he is forced to acknowledge his own capacity for choice and to consider being “better.” The experience leaves him subdued, indicating a shift in their bond.
  • Kaladin: Briefly appears as a vision of despair—ragged, wounded, and barely conscious. His whispered report conveys the dire state of the tower and his lone fight. His survival and Dalinar’s intervention provide a spark of hope.
  • Shalash (Ash): Her guarded, cynical attitude remains, but she provides the crucial confirmation that Ishar is alive and possibly sane, nudging Dalinar toward a solution.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Mercy and Nature: The Stormfather believes he is merely a natural force; Dalinar insists he is a being capable of choice and mercy. This debate echoes larger questions about whether spren and gods can transcend their intrinsic nature.
  • Momentum vs. Choice: Dalinar pushes against the storm’s forward momentum, just as he has pushed against the momentum of his own violent past. He rejects the idea that momentum alone is a virtue.
  • Connection and Perception: Dalinar’s ability to sense Kaladin through a “faint Connection” foreshadows deeper Bondsmith abilities. The storm ride itself is a vision of perception, far richer than Windrunner flight.
  • Responsibility of Power: From the storm’s destruction of a village to the tower invasion, the chapter emphasises that those with power must act with conscience. Dalinar’s frustration with his slow training reflects the weight of his responsibility.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter delivers the critical revelation—from an outside perspective—that Urithiru has fallen. It connects Dalinar directly to Kaladin’s desperate situation, bridging the tower arc with the Emul front. Dalinar’s storm-ride marks a major step in his Bondsmith progression, as he learns to manipulate the Stormfather’s visions and senses. The heated exchange with the Stormfather plants seeds for the spren’s growth, while the discovery of Ishar as a potential mentor sets a new and urgent objective. The decision to sideline the war effort to rescue the tower reorients the entire coalition’s priorities and sets the stage for Dalinar’s confrontation with the Herald.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Dalinar refuse to join the battlefront despite his longing to fight? Dalinar recognises that part of him still loves the thrill of killing, and if he lets himself fight again he risks relapsing into old bloodlust. He understands that he cannot rely on the Thrill for emotional support and must find other, healthier ways to solve problems—so he forces himself to stay in the command camp.

  2. What argument does Dalinar make when the Stormfather says he cannot show mercy? Dalinar contends that the Stormfather is not merely a storm; he is a being capable of choice. He calls the Stormfather a coward for hiding behind the identity of a natural force instead of taking responsibility. Dalinar insists that being “a storm with mercy” is possible and that both of them must become better than they were.

  3. Why does Dalinar decide to seek out Ishar, and what obstacle stands in the way? The Stormfather tells Dalinar that he is not yet powerful enough to open a perpendicularity inside Urithiru against the Sibling’s suppression. Remembering that Ishar was the only other Bondsmith and might still be sane, Dalinar realises he needs training to accelerate his growth. Ishar is in Tukar, but the coalition’s army—currently pushing back the enemy—stands between Dalinar and the god‑priest.

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