Compounding Theory (First Ever Post)

[Grimwulf]

Cosmere Theory

My Partner and I have a Nahel-type bond: Much like every Radiant in the Stormlight Archive, we made our Oaths in good faith, but we learn both the true nature and the true power of that Bond only through shared experiences.  Unlike the Skybreakers, we cannot be told simply what the ideals are; we must discover them ourselves, and we will either know them and progress, or not.

To really double-down on our Sanderson Nerdosity, during complete Pandemic Lock-Down (before Rhythm of War), we adopted two cats:  One orange female, and one grey-white-speckled male.  After looking through dozens of mythologies and legends for famous or historical red-haired females, we decided upon Shallan as a perfect name for a very young cat who makes questionable choices.

On one hand, our grey-and-white male appears to be partially Norwegian Forest Cat, and has a magnificent mane of floof that is perpetually in a (fashionably) messy state.  On the other hand, as he has grown, his pattern has constantly changed, while somehow still remaining the same… Pattern.

We named our other cat Pattern, because our human child thought ‘Adolin’ was too regal-sounding for our derpy floof who still has difficulty interacting in the Physical Realm.

So, I’m walking through our house, and commenting on how our feline Shallan has a Spren (Pattern the Cat), and my Partner corrects me:  “Shallan has TWO Spren.  Which one is Testament?”

Well, this began a roil of thoughts in my head that I began to spit out as soon as I could think:

There is constant reminding of Compounding as a mathematical and magical trait in the Cosmere.  We are given the phrase ‘Compounding’ specifically as early as Alloy of Law, wherein Miles Hundredlives is using both Allomancy and Feruchemy to get a different effect from what would normally be the result of 1 +1.

We are also told  --repeatedly—by Khriss that Roshar has evidence of several symbiotic Bonds that produce different effects that what they historically created.

We know that the Cosmere has a great deal of crossover, *particularly* revealed in Rhythm of War, where we see Aviar with Talents from the Pantheon, The Iridescent Tones from Hallendren, and the influence of Thaidakar.

So, in as many words as possible, I’m getting around to this:

Compounding exists.
Holding Two Shards Exists (Sazed/ Harmony)
It is possible to bond to two Spren simultaneously (Shallan w/ Pattern and Testament)
Stormlight, Lifelight, Voidlight, Towerlight, Warlight, Anti-Voidlight, and Anti-Stormlight all exist.
The Tones of Roshar and the Iridescent Tones both exist on Roshar.
Dalinar is Bonded to Honor (Via the Stormfather), cultivated by Cultivation, and both groomed and in a pact with Odium (the Power, if no longer Rayse).

What makes this compounding, alloying, and directing of and by Shards most interesting is that Cultivation gave Taravangian the capacity to take Odium’s Power.  That isn’t the same thing as Sazed claiming both Preservation and Ruin, but it is an example of a slightly different dynamic:  Cultivation has her tendrils in both Dalinar and Taravangien, and despite the Will of Odium, that has to count for something.

Even if it takes 6 books for that Cultivation to bear real fruit.
Raboniel was able to create a weapon that could kill a god, while (presumably) being tied only to Odium.
Dalinar has strong ties to Honor and Odium, yes, but the power of Cultivation cannot be understated, particularly when both the powers of Honor and Cultivation will inevitably come into play against Odium (and that's before assuming that extra Shards don't weigh in for the next 5-book arc!)

[Arsteel]

Very interesting. I have been thinking about Cultivations infpuence too. For example, what if Cultivation still has power of Taravangian's "clever" and "emotional'' days? Cultivation could make Taravangian clever again for a few days, and he might lose his Connection to Odium and be split from it! This would be a failsafe if Taravodium refuses to work with Cultivation.

[+Tekiny]

On 9.7.2022 at 0:56 PM, Arsteel said:

For example, what if Cultivation still has power of Taravangian's "clever" and "emotional'' days?

I don't think she'd be able to. They are now - at least concerning pure power - on one power level. Yes, she has tens of thousands of years more practice, but I don't think previously established Connections can be exploited between Shards in that way. That'd make it a bit too easy, I think. If she ever had that much power over Taravangian's mental state, I would say that becoming a Shard that mostly resides in the Spiritual would make it rather easy to make this Connection powerless/not as abusable.

[Arsteel]

True, but might severing his Connection remove some of his emotionality and weaken his bond to Odium?