Song

I think one of the really interesting thing with the Todium Development is we have three players involved in making it happen. Cultivation, Sja-anat, and Renarin. Cultivation seems to believe that T as Odium is a positive development, but we don't know if there is more involved in her plans, even if T believes she doesn't realise what she's done. Sja-anat seems to be using Renarin as part of her plans for Odium, but her motives will likely be focused around her own freedom or power, or her children's well-being, not necessarily the good of Roshar. And Renarin himself seems to have some awareness of what was going to happen when he dropped off the spheres. But is he a pawn or does he have awareness of what he's done and a reason behind it? So...did they all make a mistake? Or is there a longer game in play? I kind of hope so.

Yes, and specifically that a crafty vessel is worst case scenario.

I've just been reading back through the epigraphs and noticed something very scary in Harmony's letter to Hoid (I think it's to Hoid). "In truth, it would be a combination of a Vessel's craftiness and the power's Intent that we should fear most." I think this is Brandon's way of hinting...This is the worst possible outcome. Because T is crafty as they come.

So...we know from his explanation to Dalinar that Renarin himself believes that his ability to future-site and act accordingly is why Renarin is hiden from Odiums sight. I'm still not convinced that is ALL of why he is invisible to Odium. Because we've seen Odium be wrong about Dalinar becoming his champion, when he hadn't had any warning from Renarin about what he saw. There might be something Renarin did or said based on a specific vision that helped Dalinar resist, but I don't think it would be that subtle. So, while I think Renarin's future sight is one reason that Renarin blocks Odium future site, I'm still clinging onto my theory that in part it is who Renarin is that makes him impossible for Odium to read, because he is almost an anti-Odium in terms of his ability to resist hate. So that plus his future site is the reason he is the darkness that Odium sees. So his actions as a child in continuing to love Dalinar despite everything is what ultimately led Dalinar to become a better man than Odium thought possible. But...that also might just be because I love Renarin and like the idea that there is something character specific that makes him such a player in the story.

Renarin. Always.

I think this is a brilliant theory. It also fits with the back and forth of T and Dalinar's ongoing discussion about how willing you are to do evil for the good of the many. Is Dalinar willing to order the death of a child to save the world. Even his own Grandson? He can't...but Szeth could.

There were so many amazing things. I think I had two favourites Kaladin and Tien was...everything. To see Kaladin make such a significant difference to the lives of so many but to only value keeping them alive- I loved that Tien got to live again to give Kaladin a better perspective. And the way that built on the Dog and the Dragon story was perfection. Navani's arc. The way she could sit there and say she wasn't a scholar when she was so clearly one of the most brilliant people to ever walk Roshar. Her relationship with Raboniel which even as they fought and lied, taught her the truth. The way she came to see her own value and THAT was what made her worthy to say the oath. I loved it. it's something I really relate to: particularly as a Mother, where I think you get used to thinking your only value sits in the relationships you invest in and not in your capabilities. So that was so satisfying.

Yes. I agree. I think Renarin saw one option of light and gave T the chance to be better and he didn't take it. So Renarin had to go with plan B which might be better in the long run but sucks for T.

All of the above. I would die for Kal, Syl, Adolin and Rock.

I think this is correct. It was so wonderful to see Renarin do this, and I kind of dig that it was subconsciously done. Just convinces me even more that he's incapable of being corrupted, and is going to have a fabulous arc...when we are given enough pages to see it. I really, really hope we have either Kalladin or Shallan swearing another oath in this book. It's...dispiriting to see a year go by and them not really make that much progress. I want this book yesterday!!

It is heart-breaking that Evi died so young after a miserable life. But I am still holding out hope for some happy moments with her boys during Renarin's flash-backs. Seeing her through his eyes is one of the (many) things I am looking forward to in that book.

In regards to the first arch, I was convinced for ages that Taln would die (Too good for this world kind of thing) but I feel like I read a recent WOB that seemed to imply that all the back half characters will be alive for their books (he didn't say that but the way he talked about the back half books didn't seem to leave room for a Eshonai situation). So I think Dallinar will ascend, and Adolin and Navani will die. I am just not sure about Kaladin. It seems to be that he is the kind of person who is always trying to give his life for others, and that perhaps learning to live with loss would be a better arch for him? I think Szeth will die, and probably a stack of Bridge 4 and most of the Heralds.

We also know that a Truthwatcher in the past said "I foresaw this". So that would suggest to me that Glys is not the first higher level Radiant Spren that has been corrupted, even if it was so rare that most of the Radiants and Hessi didn't hear of it.

I believe that this is the main piece of evidence that Renarin has 'proper' truthwatcher illumination. We know in Ym's interlude that his Spren wanted him to make light to save them from Nale. It seems too unlikely that this wouldn't be the same type of thing that Glys got Renarin to use. How it worked? Not sure. I assume the Thunderclast is "woken" by voidlight in it's gem heart. Maybe the Truthwatcher light some how shuts it down? And is it something Renarin can always do? Does it need large amounts of stormlight. Does he 'power up' to it? Seems like Thunderclasts wouldn't be a threat if a truth watcher can take them out easily?

I was wondering about this. Every area has a very difficult culture and different priorities- just like the Heralds and the Radiant Orders. Could those have grown out of what Radiants settled in that area after Urithiru closed down?