National Treasure 3: The Way of Kings

[samtheredlion]

Something I can't not think about is one line from the eight parable of The Way of Kings (in-world).

Regardless, I made the trip and—as the astute reader has already concluded—survived it. 

"The astute reader," just think about that. We already know there's a relationship between the parables of the Way of Kings (in-world) and the Oaths of the Knights Radiant. Forty-one parables on kingship written by Nohadon; forty-one oaths, the Immortal Words and the four individual oaths of the ten orders. Whether the Radiants came before Nohadon and inspired the forty-one parables with their actions and beliefs, or the first Radiant spren were attracted to the general concepts of the parables and used themas the basis of their Nahel bonds is still murky to me. (We know from Oathbringer (novel) that Nohadon was a Surgebinder, so I lean towards the former.)

Nevertheless, I think there is a hidden message or code in the Way of Kings (in-world). We know the Vanrial protected the Way of Kings (in-world) for centuries. Centuries. We know that civilization started over after each Desolation. At the end of Way of Kings (novel), Talenel, or the man presented to be Talenel, states "You will have forgotten much, following the destruction of the times past." Jasnah and others also mention that the abrupt loss of knowledge after each Desolation: medical science, engineering, metallurgy, etc. But the Vanrial chose to save Nohadon's treatise on government, over technical, medical, or scientific texts.

The real question: What could so important that following an apocalyptic destruction and worldwide devastation you chose to retreat from civilization with some classical texts?

A possible question: the texts are the key to preventing the next and final apocalyptic destruction and worldwide devastation.

There is a very good reason that Brandon hasn't let Shallan read a copy of the Way of Kings (in-world). Why? Because she'll see something in it. Something that Dalinar can't see because he's just started to learn to read, something the Kholin female scribes can't see because the book is considered heretical Alethi society, something the ardents can't see because they're not Radiants. A pattern.

Shallan already leads a merry band of misfits, eventually, she will get cocky and get some killed because of overconfidence, arrogance, neglect, etc. Dalinar, the changed man, will not reprimand her, he'll give her something to read to help her understand the right way to lead others. The most important words a man can read. Dalinar will give her a copy of the Way of Kings (in-world) as a sort of independent reading assignment and ask her to report on what she's learned every few days. Shallan will start reading and unconsciously use Lightweaving to bring the words to life. To see Nohadon walk to Urithiru, to watch the spindly man carry the boulder, etc. The Lightweaving, plus Shallan's Memory plus Stormlight plus a radiant spren will unlock something. The obvious answer is the true history of the Last Desolation, but I don't think it's that. 

I think it will be the true history of the Heralds. I believe that Nohadon based the parables of the Way of Kings (in-world) on the actions, beliefs, and ideals of the Heralds. The first protectors of Roshar. This makes more sense to me than anything. All of the Heralds are too damaged or reluctant to speak about themselves, so I think Nohadon's memories of them are encoded in the Way of Kings (in-world), essentially like a Cognitive Fabrial. This also solves the chicken and egg problem of the parables of Way of Kings and the oaths of the Knights Radiant. The parables are based on the Heralds, and the parables attracted the first Radiant spren who bonded individuals who acted in alignment with the parables. Plus, this would fill in the blanks of why the first Radiants begged the Heralds to be the Patrons of their respective orders. The Heralds were more than immortals with abilities like them, they were their idols, their idealized versions of themselves. 

To recap, or TLDR: there's a secret in Nohadon's Way of Kings, the secret is the history of the Heralds, and the parables of the Way of Kings are based on the Heralds, not Nohadon's musings on kingship. 

[IllNsickly]

I like this.

I don’t have any references, but my knee jerk reaction is that Shallan HAS read the In-World ‘Way of Kings.’ I seem to remember her referencing it a time or two. 

She did have a Damnation time finding ‘Words of Radiance’ though.

 

Edited May 19, 2018 by IllNsickly
Wordsy thing.

[Slimy_Slider]

I recall that Dalinar quoted The Way of Kings at a meeting when Shallan was present and she thought she recognised the quote. This does seem to imply that she has read it before. But then again, maybe as a more advanced Radiant with pattern looking over her shoulder and some solid life experience under her belt there could be something there for her to find?

[Avandar]

Excellent theory

[IllNsickly]

On 5/19/2018 at 7:02 PM, Slimy_Slider said:

I recall that Dalinar quoted The Way of Kings at a meeting when Shallan was present and she thought she recognised the quote. This does seem to imply that she has read it before. But then again, maybe as a more advanced Radiant with pattern looking over her shoulder and some solid life experience under her belt there could be something there for her to find?

I can’t recall the scene with any accuracy.

It may be possible that something about it put her in full crazy panic mode and she suppressed it. When Dalinar mentioned it, it simply jogged something. Again, I can’t recall the passage.

I really do like the idea of WoK being some sort of Heraldic Primer, though. When someone with “X” quality or qualification reads certain passages it imbues more specific knowledege.

[Fully_Invested]

Fascinating idea!

[IllNsickly]

Though, now that i think about it, there are 2 people who were presented with additional knowledge after reading Way of Kings and incorporating the wisdom into their lives. 

Perhaps?

[Bort]

On 20/05/2018 at 2:02 AM, Slimy_Slider said:

I recall that Dalinar quoted The Way of Kings at a meeting when Shallan was present and she thought she recognised the quote. This does seem to imply that she has read it before. But then again, maybe as a more advanced Radiant with pattern looking over her shoulder and some solid life experience under her belt there could be something there for her to find?

I vaguely recall that scene, but here's an interesting thought. When she was young, all of her books came from her parents' library. What were they doing with Way of Kings if it was so heretical?

[Slimy_Slider]

8 minutes ago, Bort said:

I vaguely recall that scene, but here's an interesting thought. When she was young, all of her books came from her parents' library. What were they doing with Way of Kings if it was so heretical?

I thought it mentioned that she had read it while studying under Jasnah. At least, that's how I always interpreted it. I suppose it is possible that it was just there as a book on philosophy (Did Jasnah mention Nohadon as one of the authors she had expected Shallan to have read? I can't really remember).