Popular Post Diagrammarian Posted October 1, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 ...not food. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.) I propose that the Parshendi are to be the allies of humans in the fight against Odium. Most of my evidence comes from the following death rattle: “Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew.” This clearly refers to Kaladin's heroic leap across the chasm at the battle on the Tower. However, I haven't seen anyone mention the apparent discrepancy between the first and second sentences. Specifically, who does the "their" refer to? Clearly, the Parshendi. But, if looked at without any bias towards who the friends are, it seems like the "their" also refers back to someone in the previous sentence. Hence, I conclude that the Parshendi are actually the "friends before". This could certainly just be awkward phrasing, but given how subtle Brandon can be, I think it's worth looking into. There is also some suggestion in this direction by the way the Parshendi are portrayed. Kaladin says he thinks that the Parshendi display more honor in battle than the Alethi, making him feel guilty for fighting them. And, of course, we have the viewpoint from Eshonai, showing that the Parshendi are reasonable and only fighting in self-defense, and that their transformation into (allegedly) Voidbringers is not what they want to happen. If I am correct, this gives a whole new meaning to Honor's requests to Dalinar to "Unite them". I believe this actually means that he must unite humans with Parshendi. They have to figure out how to turn all the Parshendi and Parshmen back from stormform, then fight together against Odium. What do you think? 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaellok Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Welcome to the forums! Have an up-vote. This clearly refers to Kaladin's heroic leap across the chasm at the battle on the Tower. However, I haven't seen anyone mention the apparent discrepancy between the first and second sentences. Specifically, who does the "their" refer to? Clearly, the Parshendi. But, if looked at without any bias towards who the friends are, it seems like the "their" also refers back to someone in the previous sentence. Hence, I conclude that the Parshendi are actually the "friends before". This could certainly just be awkward phrasing, but given how subtle Brandon can be, I think it's worth looking into. Right, so, had a "duh!" moment right before I hit post, causing me to re-write this thing. Let's take a look at that quote again! “Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew.” So, usually, I would analyze a paragraph in the order of the sentences appear, since they present a shared thought that they explore. I'm not going to do that this time, though. The third sentence is simple enough: the old oaths are the Ideals of the Radiants, being spoken again. Rather unambiguous. The second sentence is the interesting bit. At first, I was reading it as Stormlight sticking to the faces of the Bridgemen, indicating that they would become Kaladin's Squires. We see traces of this in WoK, and even more by the end of WoR. But then I remembered--the Parshendi wear gems infused with Stormlight in their beards. This is why you thought it 'clearly' referred to the Parshendi, and I believe that you are correct. The first sentence refers to friends both before and behind. This could refer to physical distance, as in the Bridgemen in front of him as well as behind him. That interpretation clearly fits well. It could also refer to time, so, friends in the past and friends in the future. I actually think that both interpretations (my original, as well as your parsing) are correct. Two meanings, both correct, with one sentence! The kind of simple, elegant writing that makes me happy. tl;dr: I thought you were wrong, then I remembered what I was forgetting, and so I think you're right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curiosity Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 How do you come up with this stuff?!? This is really cool. I don't remember that death rattle, but what you did there... I'm liking it. Welcome to the forums! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shardcellist Posted October 10, 2014 Report Share Posted October 10, 2014 ...not food. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.) Actually, I think that first comment is on the right track. See, Szeth mentions that Voidbringers could hold Stormlight in indefinitely. Therefore, with the Everstorm preventing large-scale agriculture, captured Voidbringers and volunteer Listeners will act as longer-term gemhearts to allow Soulcasting for food during the Weepings. (Sorry; I immediately thought of this randomly when I read your post. If you couldn't tell by the mock serious look on my face, there is absolutely no need to take the previous comment with anything but a pinch of copper and a large dose of skepticism.) On a more serious note, I think this is a brilliant theory. Congratulations and welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyman Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was some sort of alliance between the Parshendi and the humans. We already have had a couple of feelers in that direction with Rlain, and in the circumstances, everybody needs all the help they can get. We'll see if it happens and how smoothly it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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