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So I've been thinking ,If mankind was really the void bringers and took Roshar from the Parshmen (Their shell like skin also proves this ). Did not the void bringers drive mankind out of the Tranquline Halls ? and also why does the Parshmen have everything to do with the void bringers and void spren , they also refer to them as their gods? this doesn't make sense to me

We know that humans from the Rosharan system came to Roshar from Ashyn. When they did so, they brought odium with them. They also brought surgebinding, as mentioned in the Aila Stele. But radiants and surgebinders as we saw them are a result of bonding spren of honour and cultivation, where the fused utilise voidbinding by bonding with spren of odium. So basically, would it not make sense that surgebinders on Ashyn were more like the fused in that they use voidlight and voidbinding as granted them by odium? This would then discount concerns about radiants destroying roshar because it's surgebinding granted by powers not prone to deatruction as odium is. I welcome any input.

Hello, Seventeenth Shard! I am here today to propose a theory (my first) that I have not been able to find explored anywhere on the site. I pray that you bear with me, as it is fairly long-winded, with extensive citations... Any Q&A citations can be found in the compilations elswhere in the forums. The shorthand I have used for the in-text notes are designed for any who wish to cross-reference in any format - I have included book and chapter (for those on e-book) as well as page numbers for both hardocver and mass-market paperback versions. I welcome your thoughts and feedback, and look forward to many further discussions within these hallowed halls. Theory The true villain of the Cosmere is known as the Void, and Odium is yet another in the line of “villains” that has been subverted from his original purpose/intent. Supporting Points Spren categorization Spren exist that are known splinters of Honor (eg. Syl), and they refer to themselves as honorspren. Citation: “I am honorspren. Spirit of oaths. Of promises. And of nobility.” (WoK, Ch. 67 / HC page 913 / MMP page 1139) Spren exist that are known to be of Cultivation (eg. Wyndle), but have not explicitly identified themselves as cultivationspren. Spren exist that are known as Voidspren, based both on recorded in-world knowledge and on the recognition of other spren. Citation: The various Voidspren, with their unseen lord – whose name changes depending on which culture we’re speaking of – evoke an enemy or antagonist. (WoR, Ch. 3 / HC page 71) Citation: “I am not a Voidspren,” Pattern said. (WoR, Ch. 81 / HC page 981) Citation: “Mmmm,” Pattern said softly. “They are raising a storm.” “The Voidspren?” Shallan whispered. “The bonded ones. They craft a storm.” (WoR, Ch. 81 / HC page 982) The existence of Voidspren has not been denied by WoB. Citation: Q: Can anyone other than a Parshendi bond a voidspren? Like, can a human bond a voidspren? A: That is theoretically possible but humans are not good at bonding spren in the same way. WoB indicates that spren exist that are of Odium (as well as Honor and Cultivation). Citation: Q: So I'm just gonna run with that right now. Is Surgebinding in general a melding of Honor and Odium ala Feruchemy being in some senses being not directly of Ruin or Preservation? A: Honor and Cultivation is what you mean? Um, there are spren of all three shards. And those spren can work within the bounds of the magic that has already been set up on Roshar. Key takeaway: Spren of Odium would be known as Odiumspren, not Voidspren – the Voidbringers and creators of the Everstorm are really agents of the Void. 2A) The Shattering of Adonalsium Adonalsium was shattered intentionally. Citation: Sir Read-a-Lot (Added to the Database) Q: Was Adonalsium shattered intentionally, and if so, was the intention malevolent? A: Yes, and RAFO Adonalsium may have shattered itself deliberately. Citation: Q: Did Adonalsium deliberately shatter itself? A: Hmmm, good question! RAFO! The resulting Shards could have been a different set of intents. Citation: Q: If Adonalsium shattered with intent, would he always shatter to the same shards? A: It is plausible that he could have gone a different way. Q: So it could've been different Shards? A: Yes, that's plausible. Hoid was present at the shattering of Adonalsium (per WoB) – regrettably, I cannot find the exact reference at the moment. Key takeaway: Adonalsium was shattered intentionally as a response to an opposing force – the Void – and Hoid was involved. The extent of his involvement will be explored in… 2B) The Letters and What They Reveal As has been documented elsewhere in the forums, the letters in the epigraphs of The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance were written between Hoid and a dragon (with Hoid writing the initial letter). Excerpts from the initial letter: Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him. Rayse, on the other hand, was among the most loathsome, crafty, and dangerous individuals I had ever met. (WoK, Ch. 18 / HC page 275 / MMP page 331) He holds the most frightening of and terrible of all of the Shards. Ponder on that for a time, you old reptile, and tell me if your insistence on nonintervention holds firm. Because I assure you, Rayse will not be similarly inhibited. (WoK, Ch. 19 / HC page 295 / MMP page 358) In case you have turned a blind eye to that disaster, know that Aona and Skai are both dead, and that which they held has been Splintered. Presumably to prevent anyone from rising up to challenge Rayse. (WoK, Ch. 22 / HC page 323 / MMP page 395) You have accused me of arrogance in my quest. You have accused me of perpetuating my grudge against Rayse and Bavadin. Both accusations are true. (WoK, Ch. 23 / HC page 337 / MMP page 413) Excerpts from the response letter: Is not the destruction we have wrought enough? The worlds you now tread bear the touch and design of Adonalsium. Our interference so far has brought nothing but pain. (WoR, Ch. 66 / HC page 777) Yes, I agree with everything you have said about Rayse, including the severe danger he presents. (WoR, Ch. 67 / HC page 785) Rayse is captive. He cannot leave the system he now inhabits. His destructive potential is, therefore, inhibited. (WoR, Ch. 69 / HC page 817) Whether this was Tanavast’s design or not, millennia have passed without Rayse taking the life of another of the sixteen. While I mourn for the great suffering Rayse has caused, I do not believe we could hope for a better outcome than this. (WoR, Ch. 70 / HC page 828) He bears the weight of God’s own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become. (WoR, Ch. 71 / HC page 840) Key takeaway: Both Hoid and the dragon that he is in correspondence with were present at the shattering, and had some input in the creation of the resulting Shards. The elements pointing to this conclusion are both found in the response letter – excerpts i. and v.. Bonus takeaway: I believe that the dragon is in fact a Shardholder, as Hoid would most likely be trying to recruit other eminently powerful entities in order to counter the actions of Odium. Why Odium is not the real villain Odium was created as the Shard of “divine hatred”, per the response letter (see quotation above). The intents of the Shards were determined as a response to a need (to counter the Void) (see WoB above). Odium / Rayse has Splintered three other Shards: Those held by Aona and Skai (see excerpt iii. of the initial letter above) Honor Citation: “I am the sliver of Him that remains. I saw His corpse, saw Him die when Odium murdered Him. And I… I fled. To continue as I always have. The piece of God left in this world, the winds that men must feel.” (WoR, Ch. 82 / HC page 991) Odium has suffered defeat frequently. Citation: “Vex Odium, convince him that he can lose, and appoint a champion. He will take that chance instead of risking defeat again, as he has suffered so often.” (WoR, Ch. 4 / HC page 76) Odium (Rayse) is currently held captive (see excerpt iii. of the response letter above). Hoid is afraid of Odium, but there are “many things” that he is scared of. Citation: Q: Is there anything Hoid was scared of? And if so, is it still around, and... A: There are many things that Hoid is scared of. He is really scared of Odium, but there are others. We have been led to believe certain individuals are the villains in each of Sanderson’s works, and are continually surprised. World - Expected Villain - True Villain Sel Hrathen Dilaf Scadrial Lord Ruler Ruin Nalthis Susebron IV Denth / Bluefingers Roshar Odium / Voidbringers ??? - The Void - ??? Key takeaway: If we know that Odium has been victorious every time he has gone up against another Shard, what defeats has he suffered “so often”? If this were referring to the Desolations, I feel he would be more likely to refer to it as being fought to an impasse, or a stalemate (due to the recurring nature of the conflicts) as opposed to a decisive defeat. This points to Odium contending with a more powerful force than any of the existing Shards – the Void. This would also indicate that his original purpose was to be the strong arm of the cosmere against its enemy, but over the millennia he has grown corrupted in his intent and turned upon the other Shards, possibly with the belief that his own power could grow if they were destroyed. Aside from the powerful Shards, Hoid would be terrified of whatever force was acting in opposition to Adonalsium.