(OB) Oathbringer belonged to a dustbringer?

[TheMediocreMind Bridgeman]

So, this is a fragile half of a theory, but I've noticed a few interesting correspondences revolving around the dead blade Oathbringer.

I'm currently listening through tWoK again, and at one point (I think it may have been during the chasm-fiend hunt) Dalinar summons oathbringer and when it drops into his hand he remarks upon something like 'the blade felt alive with energy, excited for the fight'. This is definitely paraphrased because I only have tWoK on audio so it's tough to pull quotes when I want them. Maybe someone else could back me up on this?

What if Oathbringer once belonged to a dustbringer? From the little we know about the DBs, their spren likes to destroy things. Seems like it would follow that even a dead blade could get excited by a fight. By destruction.

Also from what we know of Dalinar in his younger days, I would say he could have somewhat fit the bill for a dustbringer. This might explain why the blade doesn't scream as much for Dalinar as other blades do when he touches it in OB. Is it possible that; by carrying the blade for years and exhibiting the attributes of the order to which the blade once belonged, he has just barely begun to awaken Oathbringer similar to how Adolin is awakening Maya?

Mini-point: We know that Oathbringer was once carried by the Sunmaker, who was on more or less the same path as Dalinar takes while carrying the same blade. This doesn't give me very good evidence for my theory but it's another point of interest.

To be clear I don't think he will continue to awaken Oathbringer since he no longer carries the blade and has subsequently bonded the stormfather. I do think something weird is going on with that blade though, potentially beyond the stormfather's explanation that it simply 'remembers his oaths'. Even that is somewhat vague, considering that Dalinar has most likely only said an oath, singular; which the blade would remember. This being the initial oath of the KR, which all orders speak.

Unless the blade once belonged to a bondsmith, which I doubt considering the relative few bondsmiths which have ever existed; I think it unlikely that Oathbringer would remember the ideals of a bondsmith beyond the first. Now that I think about it there might be only a single bondsmith dead blade. I seem to recall something saying there was only one bondsmith in the last generation of KR, therefore at the time of the recreance.

There is also the obvious similarity between Dustbringer and Oathbringer. I know we don't know anything about the DB's oaths yet but it could follow what we do know if they swear something to do with righteous destruction, perhaps? For a dustbringer, bringing destruction could be the same as bringing oaths.

I submit that Dalinar, in his youth, could have been accidentally living according to the ideals of the dustbringers, and that is in fact the 'oaths' that the blade remembers. It's possible that he even swore certain oaths to himself aligning with those of the dustbringers. (Promising to himself to never again covet Gavilar's throne comes to mind)

Could this point to the first step of awakening a dead blade? It certainly fits with what we know about Adolin reviving Mayalaran; as he also has been bonded to her for a matter of years and has also been exhibiting traits of an Edgedancer.

Alternately: though I find this less likely. What if the traits of the spren/order start to influence the one who is bonded to the blade? Maybe by carrying the blade long enough and following its subconscious promptings, one could intuit the path to awakening the dead blade. The spren could have an understanding of what it requires to awaken them and so give the carrier little pushes in the right direction. 

So, that's as far as I've gotten with this. Lots of supposition here but I'd love to see what you all think. Even if I'm wrong it may be an interesting discussion. I'll plug this thread too as it's along similar lines and helped me out with inspiration to start my own thread.

[OB spoilers] Is Maya alive?

[Isilel Dakhor Monk]

So, here is what Oathbringer looks like:

"The silvery Blade curved at the end almost like a fishhook. The weapon was even wider than most Shardblades, and near the hilt it rippled in wave-like patterns."

I would say that it is inconclusive, but it is a warrior's sword, so I like the idea that it belonged to a Stoneward. Dalinar has a connection to Stonewards, both through his belonging to the devotary of Talenelelat and his personality traits, such as phenomenal tenacity, resourcefulness, etc. I also have a somewhat crackpottish theory that Dalinar will give Oathbringer to Taln and the broken shardblade and the broken Herald will somehow heal together.

OTOH, here is Eshonai's:

"A Shardblade—shaped like frozen flames—rose from the ground beside her, rammed into the stone floor."

Definitely a Dustbringer blade.

and Gavilar's ditto:

"Gavilar's Shardblade, Firestorm, was six feet long with a design along the blade that resembled burning flames that "almost seemed to glow."