potato

That's what I wonder. The listeners were a nonfactor for eons and brought back by wholesale slaughter of the greatshells. I'm thinking Odium's presence on Roshar must be dependent upon minimum expense of endowment on greatshells (maybe matched with cultivations help).

I would imagine that they feed the spren that allow the general health functions to operate. I'll throw a random thought out there, though- Maybe they steal some of Odium's mojo, lessening his effect on Roshar.

My theory is a binary planet system. The Tranquiline Halls and the remains of a society destroyed by Odium are on the twin. Edit: I think there would be some note of the second sun, narrative or otherwise.

I don't know why everybody assumes they could make themselves a primary character. Narcissism I suppose? I'd shoot for joining the bridgemen, perhaps E-5 or so. Just high enough rank to be Lopen's second and alter events subtly. And achieve squire status. Maybe bend Kaladin's ear slightly.

Thanks! You always have a quote handy to crush a flawed theory (this is where I'd insert a smiley if I was given to that sort of behavior).

This one is pretty straight forward: Honor invested a lot of his power in the Heralds. This power should have been returned at the end of the last Desolation but wasn't, due to the Heralds decision to forgo damnation. This means that Honor was still highly invested on Roshar, while Odium was not (no voidbringers, no investment). Odium took advantage of this discrepancy of power, splintering Honor. Now humanity relies on The Stormfather (a shadow of Honors power) and the Heralds (even lesser shadows of their former selves) for salvation. Odium will win unless they can somehow force him to invest a great deal of his power in a champion. Even then, they'll probably need some help from Cultivation to succeed. Less likely addendum theory: The Heralds were the leaders of the Silver Kingdoms and completely lost it when Honor was splintered. This led to the locking of the Oathgates, the destruction of Stormseat, and (indirectly, through the destruction of Stormseat and other wars where each Herald tried to keep any of the others from acquiring enough power to Ascend to become Honor {despite the fact that none wanted the requisite changes or responsibilty}), the Recreance.

What's the timeline on Dalinar going to the Nightwatcher? I only ask because some part of me thinks Dalinar killed his wife (possibly after she and Sadeas tried to convince him to dispose of Elhokar and become the king himself). That would explain Adolin's dislike of Sadeas and how Dalinar became broken enough to bond a spren. The guilt of failing his brother, coupled with a hot-blooded killing of his wife would surely drive a man to the brink.

Perhaps Vedel's branch of the KR had taken the Honorblades and used them to control the Oathgates and trade. That would explain the phrase about golden keys. Idk, I'm just convinced that the Heralds, the Dawncities, and the Oathgates are connected. Sorry if I'm getting of topic with my suppositions.

Are you implying that high storms are tidal? That could explain their irregular predictability. Also up vote.

I'm assuming that Stormseat was Taln's, and thus unlockable when he died and his Blade went with.

I'll bequeath my other 1/2 vote to you, leaving me out in the Storm.

I gave a second up vote on your behalf (well, 1/2 for you 1/2 for me). Half of me thinks that if Roshone had rode with The Stick as his lance things may have turned out differently.

I'm starting to think a lot of things on Roshar aren't as they seem. The Parshendi feel betrayed by their gods. The Heralds betrayed the Oathpact. The KR betrayed their spren. I'm starting to think Honor invaded Roshar (with the Heralds and humanity) to try to unseat Odium's power base after he took the Tranquilin Halls. He arrived to find Cultivation already there (regrowing Roshar from the burnt out husk Odium left it) and their powers "corrupted" Odium's constructs (the spren) in Rayse's absence.

There are some projections on a globe here: http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/6912-hidden-things-in-map-of-roshar/page-8. About halfway down the page. I believe there are several others in the pages preceding and following, but looking through that thread is exhausting.

Argent, I put forth the same Heralds-Oathgates theory here http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/7595-dawncities-linked-to-specific-heralds/ . It feels good to have someone as cosmere-knowledgeable as you independently speculate on (part of) it. I was convinced by others that the timeframe doesn't work out with the Recreance (unless the Heralds only hid as KR versus disappearing completely following the last Desolation.) I am still utterly convinced that the Honorblades are the keys to the Oathgates.