Lord Of Nothing Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 (edited) Just a little theory about the parshendi- Thoughts? -The parshendi once served the Knights Radiant, just as parshmen still serve across the rest of Roshar. Evidence: Directly from book: • They seem reluctant to fight those who may be Knights Radiant- See mainly the tower battle, where on three occasions, (After Kaladin pulls in the arrows, after he jumps the chasm, and when he saves Dalinar,) - the most obvious displays of power- the parshendi leave on the first, most leave on the second, and none attack him despite his dishonourable conduct on the third. The reluctance of the parshendi shardbearers to attack may also be linked in some way, particularly his words to Dalinar on the tower. • The honourable battlefield ethic mentioned by Kaladin, and observed by Dalinar, throughout the book. • This is a possible explanation for where they got the ornate weapons, shards and soulcasters they posses. • The area (Natanatan) of Roshar that they live in has associations with Urithiru, the home of the Knights Radiant. wrong. • A weak point, but this may lead to a reason for the assassination (Assuming for the moment that they were responsible) - they wanted to put Elhokar (Or possibly Dalinar) on the throne- both seem extremely likely to be potential Knights Radiant. • EDIT 25/04/2012 - The battlefield ethic again- maybe they picked the majority of it up from watching the Knights practicing- I'm guessing that would have leaned towards small group/pair tactics, due to the Knight's small numbers? Fits with other theories/ Q&A answers: • Another weak point, but the reason they treated Szeth as tool to be used and discarded- it has been stated (I believe) that his powers are from some source other than being a Knight, and so they might view that negatively. Note that this does not exclude them, along with the rest of the parshmen from being the voidbringers- 4,500 years is a long time- they may only have served the Knights radiant since the last desolation, or possibly between desolations. This is a point that I find hard to reconcile, however. Edited April 25, 2012 by Lord Of Nothing 1
Wispsy he/him Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 jasnah believes that urithiru isnt in natanatan xD also apparently gavilar changed towards the end in a similar way to dalinar is now, he may have been on that path himself. they do seem extra honourable tho! xD
Kelek he/him Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) Parshendi theory! What if they started the war to pull the KR back to whatever is hidden in the Shattered Plains? I haven't seen this theory yet, so hopefully I am not repeating something already discussed. Using above facts mainly their being honorable, seems to support this. They were specifically looking for KR's? Dalinar? I feel there is a lot to this meeting of shardbearers. I am agreeing with the theory above. *Edited to clarify Edited October 31, 2011 by Kelek
Sunblesser Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 i think that this theory is quite sound, and ties together a lot of the incongruities of parshendi behaviour. dalinar is clearly becoming a KR, and Kaladin is also well on his way, so the respect given them makes sense if they are aware of what surgebinders are and what they can do. i'm still of the opinion that jasnah is mistaken about the parshendi being the voidbringers, but it could be possible, meaning that the parshendi might have drawn the alethi to the shattered plains in order to train them against the parshendi themselves, in anticipation of the change that afflicts them when a desolation occurs. drawing out potential KR would then be part and parcel of that strategy.
Lord Of Nothing Posted October 31, 2011 Author Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) @Wispsy A good point. I have to admit I had "Westward, in the place closest to honour" remembered as eastward, for some reason. I'll have to edit that off the initial post... Edited due to mistake. Edited April 25, 2012 by Lord Of Nothing
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