Do Bondsmiths create Shardblades & Shardplate

[KiManiak]

Pitching my first theory (of the crazy kind) here on 17thshard; let’s see how this goes.

 

(Disclaimer 1: I’ve been through the forums and I don’t think this theory has been pitched before; I haven’t seen anything like this since the Seattle signing post, where I first saw the term Bondsmith)

 

(Disclaimer 2: As we all know there is very little information on the 10 orders of Knights Radiant, the creation of Shardblade & Plate; and to be even more specific, all we know about Bondsmiths are the name, and the presumption that that is the name of Kalak’s Order.  But hey, that’s why this is a loony theory! )

 

I propose that Shardblades (and therefore most likely, Shardplate) are created/generated/called-into-being initially by BondSmiths. 

 

Brandon has given to us (or confirmed) the names for 8 of the 10 orders, and given/confirmed the location of 7 of the 8.  Bondsmith has to fit the position of either Kalak’s (builder/resolute), Ishar (pious/guiding) or Palah (learned/giving) order, and the predominant belief on this forum (which I share) is that Bondsmiths are in Kalak’s order, which… makes the most sense, given the options.

 

So working off the assumption that Bondsmiths are in between Elsecallers and Stonewards, a few supporting points to this loony theory:

 

1) Transportation Surge.  Shardblades are theorized to rest in the Spiritual realm until they are summoned.  Summoning clearly involves some aspect of transportation from the Spiritual realm to the Physical realm (I have another loony theory where I propose that Elsecallers can summon things –and possibly beings/creatures- from or through Shadesmar/Cognitive realm that I may write up soon), and there needs to be some way in which the blades have some kind of connection (or bond, if you will) established between the 2 realms that allows them to travel back and forth when called and released. There needs to be another bond between the wielder of the blade and the blade itself (still need to read that book and series, someday). There also needs to be the disruption of the target-of-the-blade’s soul (maybe severs the connection of a being’s soul (spiritual) with their body (physical) or some other effect; I’m still working on this).  All of this requires some type of interaction between the spiritual and the cognitive realms that Transportation may provide.  It’s possible that Bondsmiths are able to invest the Blades with these types of attributes.

 

2)      Surface Tension-like Surge.  Shardplate has been shown to adjust adapt to the size of the person that wears it.  It also fits seamlessly on the wearer, but allows a freedom of motion and agility to the wearer that normal, stiff armor doesn’t allow.  It’s possible that the Bondsmith’s control over the Surface Tension-like force that Brandon described (allowing for things that are flexible to become rigid on command) plays a role in making Shardplate flexible for the wearer while still maintaining its structure and solidity.  It’s also possible that when proper Knights Radiant are wearing the Plate, they are able to retract the helm and visor at will, as we saw in Dalinar’s flashback with the Knights in Starfall (although this has even less basis in what we know then the rest of my theory; just pure speculation on my part). Perhaps Bondsmiths are able to invest the Plate with these types of attributes.

 

3)      Name of the Order.  They are called Bondsmiths.  The implication that they make tools, weapons or armor is kind of inherent in the name.  Also that they forge some type of bond between things.  Kelek has the attributes of Resolute and Builder.  Who knows, he could have even shown the first Bondsmiths how to create the Shardblade and Shardplate.  And to go even loonier with this theory, Kelek’s body focus are the nails, which by extension is the hands.  One summons the Shardblades and they land in the summoner’s hands.  Again, this is highly likely to be coincidental, but you never know, right?

 

4) Knights Radiant composition.  If we accept that the Knights Radiant is a complete fighting force, it would make sense that there are different divisions and specialties among the Radiants.  Some of the folks here have theorized that the Windrunners and Stonewards would be like shock troops, and that Palah’s order could be like medics, and that other orders would provide some type of direct combat or support role.  Every army also needs specialists who focus on weapons and armament.  It would be logical that a Knights Radiant Order would specialize in the creation and maintenance of the army’s primary offensive and defensive equipment. And possibly be able to cater those weapons to a specific fighting style or strength of each individual.  Maybe that's why each Shardblade appears to be different; they are designed especially to the strengths and specifications of the weilder.

 

 

So there we are; my first theory on 17thShard.  Is it fairly unsubstantiated, with wild speculation and very little hard evidence?  Sure.  But is it possible?  (And more importantly, did you have fun reading it?)

 

I look forward to any feedback.  I don’t know every theory that has been submitted and debunked out there, so it’s possible that a lot of this could be off, and I'd be happy to hear what does/doesn't work in this theory. 

 

But wouldn't it be cool if this was one more piece to the puzzle?

[Gloom]

I think I need more time to consider this theory. It has merit, but I'm not sure I'm sold. I would also point out that someone created the fabrial that the Stoneward carried in Starfall. I could more easily credit the Plate to an Order than the Blades, because the Blades defy the common requirements of fabrial. They are self sustaining.

[Argent]

I like it. Gloom does raise a good point, however - Blades do feel different from Plates*. But other than this, I think your idea for the Plates is a good one, and I'll support it until someone comes up with contradicting evidence.

 

* I really hate how those two words sound so similar in English...

[Shardlet]

I think it is a great idea.  As you said though, not much to go on but the name.  But it is a fabulous bit of speculation.

[Bloodfalcon]

Love it. Great theory.

[deddinty]

This is a great theory, though I think it's more applicable to shardplate personally.  Most of the in world quotes about shardblades revolve around either the Almighty or the Heralds gifting them to mankind, but of course we're seeing this through the lens of new vorinism and Szeth as well.  It seems more certain that the Honorblades of the heralds were given by the Almighty.  

 

It may even make more sense with Dalinar as well, if he does turn out to be a bondsmith, since he's a "natural" with the shardplate like no other man.  Heh, maybe even the vision of the Almighty commanding him to "return to men the shards they once bore" would be even more prophetic.  

[marianmi]

Last surge: INVESTING

[KiManiak]

Thanks guys,  I appreciate the positive feedback.  I admit, I didn't even think about the fabrials.  That's a great suggestion.  And thanks to everyone for the upvotes.

 

However, with Peter's updates to the KR orders and surges, it seems as though no Order will have both Transportation and Surface Tension-like surges.  

 

With the updated information, I don't think we can make such a strong assertion that Bondsmiths are Order #8 (although it fits Kalak's attributes, in my opinion), or if they are Order #10 (where the surges of Surface Tension and Pressure may actually fit the title of Bondsmith better).  

 

Regardless, I am more open to the possibility that they do not create/generate/etc both Blade and Plate.  I still am optimistic that they are responsible for one, and build/maintain the Knights Radiant Order's armament and tools.  

 

I am hopeful we may get more clarification at Brandon's next signing (I believe its in NYC in mid-November), about which Order is the Bondsmith.

[marianmi]

Shards are invested objects.

 

1) are invested by Honour - that would mean that now it's impossible to create shards anymore. "return to men the shards they once bore" would mean then literally return the (currently corrupted) shards to oath bound KRs, thereby "clensing" them

 

2) are invested by KRs (with Honor's power) - using maybe the mystery surge..

[Aether]

Just to add to the idea of Shardplates being different from Shardblades: Syl's apparent revulsion for Shardblades - all the while saying nothing about -plates - might indicate that there is indeed something that makes them fundamentally differ.

 

Also, Wyndle from the Lift Interlude seems to suggest that the different type of bonding Spren have associations to Honour, Cultivation or both to varying degree. Since the theme of Sharplates seems to be "Growth" (e.g. regrowing primarily from the chestplate when destroyed, if they were indeed made by members one of the Orders, then I suspect it being one of the ones more closely related to Cultivation then Honour. Oh, and needlessly to say (though I am still going to!), I think Shardplates are grown more so than made.

[Shardlet]

Last surge: INVESTING

 

And thus, with their powers of investing, the Bondsmiths provided for the financial needs of the Knights Radiant. 

Edited October 30, 2013 by Shardlet

[Aether]

And thus, with their powers of investing, the Bondsmiths provided for the financial needs of the Kinghts Radiant. 

 

Upvote for being the funniest thing I've read all day!

[The Count]

Therfore logically, the cause of the Recreance...

 

Market Crash, leading to a great depression, leading to the KR giving up...

 

IT all makes sense!

[Aether]

By the gods!

! It all falls into place now!

[hoser]

Excellent!

 

A few minor thoughts.

 

I don't see the surface tension thing making the metal flexible.  The size does adjust (which doesn't seem like a surface tension thing), but after that the movement ability seems to come from the design and not the metal flexing (otherwise why have multiple pieces with joints).

 

In addition to the Regrowth Fabrial from the Starfalls vision, there are Soulcasters, Oathgates and other fabrials that the Radiants made that the Bondsmiths could make.