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So I was talking in Discord with my college buddies last night, and I wondered--WI Adolin is already a 3rd or even 4th Ideal Edgedancer, but he and Maya aren't able to access their bond properly due to Connection issues stemming from the suspected issue possibly caused by the trapping of BAM in the False Desolation? Going based on known Windrunner oaths, oath 1 is the motto, oath 2 is the specific Order's general purpose, oath 3 is the "follow oath 2 even if you don't want to or if you need to change your behavior to do so properly", oath 4 seems to be the moderation oath ("don't burn yourself out for the Ideal" kinda thing, though it likely could also be "know when to step back"). Adolin already follows these--he sticks up for the little guy when others wouldn't, even when it is a significant personal impact for him (blows off an important war meeting to personally help a prostitute get home safe, throws away what little chance he still had of taking on Sadeas or salvaging the situation AND does something that implicitly comes with a massive loss of face because Kaladin has been imprisoned unjustly), and knows when to step back (he is the only figure in Renarin's life until Bridge 4 shows up who treats Renarin well and with the respect that Renarin needs, which speaks to a degree of self-understanding, interpersonal understanding, and perceptiveness that are necessary IMO for a moderation Ideal). Plus he's spent years deliberately treating, speaking to, and thinking of Maya as an extension of/integral part of his soul and being. And, though he doesn't show it much, he is clearly desperate for the approval of his father, who he idolizes, and shows a number of traits typical of both a Well Done, Son! Guy and a sibling-of-the-special-needs-kid. So I'm thinking that in book 5 he finally cracks, and gets the storms kicked out of him, but then (assuming that BAM/missing Connection theory is correct) BAM is released and he and Maya immediately rocket up to 4th Ideal and proceed to kick the living daylights out of some bad guys. Anyway that's my crack theory of the day, thoughts?