Spoilers for prologue 5 Let's try and guess the most important words a man can say.

[bmcclure7]

Which one of these words are what the stormfather (stormfaker?) Is Looking for 

Winner gets to be torched by voidbrings for eternity

Introduction

"You must find the most important words a man can say.

Those words came to me from one who claimed to have seen the future. 'How is this possible?’ I asked in return. ‘Have you been touched by the void?’

The reply was laughter. 'No, sweet king. The past is the future, and as each man has lived, so must you.’

‘So I can but repeat what has been done before?’

‘In some things, yes. You will love. You will hurt. You will dream. And you will die. Each man’s past is your future.’

 

In some things, yes. You will love. You will hurt. You will dream. And you will die. Each man’s past is your future.’

‘Then what is the point?’ I asked. ‘If all has been seen and done?’

‘The question,’ she replied, ‘is not whether you will love, hurt, dream, and die. It is what you will love, why you will hurt, when you will dream, and how you will die. This is your choice. You cannot pick the destination, only the path.’

 

This started my journey. And this begins my writings. I cannot call this book a story, for it fails at its most fundamental to be a story. It is not one narrative, but many. And though it has a beginning, here on this page, my quest can never truly end.

I wasn’t seeking answers. I felt that I had those already. Plenty, in multitude, from a thousand different sources. I wasn’t seeking ‘myself.’ This is a platitude that people have ascribed to me, and I find the phrase lacks meaning.

In truth, by leaving, I was seeking only one thing.

A journey.

 

The eighth parable

 

 

 

I walked from Abamabar to Urithiru. In this, the metaphor and experience are one, inseparable to me like my mind and memory. One contains the other, and though I can explain one to you, the other is only for me.

I strode this insightful distance on my own, and forbade attendants. I had no steed beyond my well-worn sandals, no companion beside a stout staff to offer conversation with its beats against the stone. My mouth was to be my purse; I stuffed it not with gems, but with song. When singing for sustenance failed me, my arms worked well for cleaning a floor or hogpen, and often earned me a satisfactory reward.

Those dear to me took fright for my safety and, perhaps, my sanity. Kings, they explained, do not walk like beggars for hundreds of miles. My response was that if a beggar could manage the feat, then why not a king? Did they think me less capable than a beggar?

Sometimes I think that I am. The beggar knows much that the king can only guess. And yet who draws up the codes for begging ordinances? Often I wonder what my experience in life—my easy life following the Desolation, and my current level of comfort—has given me of any true experience to use in making laws. If we had to rely on what we knew, kings would only be of use in creating laws regarding the proper heating of tea and cushioning of thrones.

Regardless, I made the trip and—as the astute reader has already concluded—survived it. The stories of its excitements will stain a different page in this narrative, for first I must explain my purpose in walking this strange path. Though I was quite willing to let my family think me insane, I would not leave the same as my cognomen upon the winds of history.

My family traveled to Urithiru via the direct method, and had been awaiting me for weeks when I arrived. I was not recognized at the gate, for my mane had grown quite robust without a razor to tame it. Once I revealed myself, I was carried away, primped, fed, worried over, and scolded in precisely that order. Only after all of this was through was I finally asked the purpose of my excursion. Couldn’t I have just taken the simple, easy, and common route to the holy city?

For my answer, I removed my sandals and proffered my callused feet. They were comfortable upon the table beside my half-consumed tray of grapes. At this point, the expressions of my companions proclaimed that they thought me daft, and so I explained by relating the stories of my trip. One after another, like stacked sacks of tallew, stored for the winter season. I would make flatbread of them soon, then stuff it between these pages.

 

Yes, I could have traveled quickly. But all men have the same ultimate destination. Whether we find our end in a hallowed sepulcher or a pauper’s ditch, all save the Heralds themselves must dine with the Nightwatcher.

And so, does the destination matter? Or is it the path we take? I declare that no accomplishment has substance nearly as great as the road used to achieve it. We are not creatures of destinations. It is the journey that shapes us. Our callused feet, our backs strong from carrying the weight of our travels, our eyes open with the fresh delight of experiences lived.

In the end, I must proclaim that no good can be achieved of false means. For the substance of our existence is not in the achievement, but in the method. The Monarch must understand this; he must not become so focused on what he wishes to accomplish that he diverts his gaze from the path he must take to arrive there.

 

 

The man and a stone

 

I once saw a spindly man carrying a stone larger than his head upon his back. He stumbled beneath the weight, shirtless under the sun, wearing only a loincloth. He tottered down a busy thoroughfare. People made way for him. Not because they sympathized with him, but because they feared the momentum of his steps. You dare not impede one such as this.

The monarch is like this man, stumbling along, the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. Many give way before him, but so few are willing to step in and help carry the stone. They do not wish to attach themselves to the work, lest they condemn themselves to a life full of extra burdens.

 

I left my carriage that day and took up the stone, lifting it for the man. I believe my guards were embarrassed. One can ignore a poor shirtless wretch doing such labor, but none ignore a king sharing the load. Perhaps we should switch places more often. If a king is seen to assume the burden of the poorest of men, perhaps there will be those who will help him with his own load, so invisible, yet so daunting.

 

 

 

Candles

 

 

I stood in the darkened monastery chamber, its far reaches painted with pools of black where light did not wander. I sat on the floor, thinking of that dark, that Unseen. I could not know, for certain, what was hidden in that night. I suspected there were walls, sturdy and thick, but could I know without seeing? When all was hidden, what could a man rely upon as true?

Candle flames. A dozen candles burned themselves to death on the shelf before me. Each of my breaths made them tremble. To them, I was a behemoth, to frighten and destroy. And yet, if I strayed too close, they could destroy me. My invisible breath, the pulses of life that flowed in and out, could end them freely, while my fingers could not do the same without being repaid in pain.

I understood in a moment of stillness. Those candle flames were like the lives of men. So fragile. So deadly. Left alone, they lit and warmed. Let run rampant, they would destroy the very things they were meant to illuminate. Embryonic bonfires, each bearing a seed of destruction so potent it could tumble cities and dash kings to their knees. In later years, my mind would return to that calm, silent evening, when I had stared at rows of living lights. And I would understand. To be given loyalty is to be infused like a gemstone, to be granted the frightful license to destroy not only one’s self, but all within one’s care.

Stack of stones

 

 

I passed a curious pile of stones along my path, of a type I found remarkable. The fractured shale had been weathered by highstorms, blown up against stone of a more durable nature. This pile of thin wafers lay as if stacked by some mortal hand.

But no man had stacked these stones. Precarious though they looked, they were actually quite solid, a formation from once-buried strata now exposed to open air. I wondered how it was possible they remained in such a neat stack, with the fury of the tempests blowing against them.

I soon ascertained their true nature. I found that force from one direction pushed them back against one another and the rock behind. No amount of pressure I could produce in that manner caused them to shift. And yet, when I removed one stone from the bottom—pulling it out instead of pushing it in—the entire formation collapsed in a miniature avalanche.

 

The epigraphs

 

 

As I began my journey, I was challenged to defend why I insisted on traveling alone. They called it irresponsible. An avoidance of duty and obligation.

Those who said this made an enormous mistake of assumption.

If the journey itself is indeed the most important piece, rather than the destination itself, then I traveled not to avoid duty—but to seek it.

It becomes the responsibility of every man, upon realizing he lacks the truth, to seek it out.

Yes, I began my journey alone, and I ended it alone.

But that does not mean that I walked alone.

 

other quotes 

 

There is honor in loss, if that loss brings learning.

 

A man's emotions are what define him, and control is the hallmark of true strength. To lack feeling is to be dead, but to act on every feeling is to be a child.

 

A monarch is control. He provides stability. It is his service and his trade good. If he cannot control himself, then how can he control the lives of men? What merchant worth his Stormlight won’t partake of the very fruit he sells?

 

Never fight other men except when forced to in war.

 

Let your actions defend you, not your words.

 

Expect honor from those you meet, and give them the chance to live up to it.

 

Rule as you would be ruled.

 

As I fear not a child with a weapon he cannot lift, I will never fear the mind of a man who does not think.

 

 The answer is here folks we just have to find it. Anything Stand out to you?

Edited April 1, 2022 by bmcclure7

[Frustration]

I'll add that it's something close to "give it to me. Now. I need it."

[teknopathetic he/him]

I wonder if the Noadon vision might have a clue as well? 

Also, who is telling Noadon about finding the words? Noadon says that "she" claimed to see the future, but also claimed not to be touched by the void. You would think Noadon would know who Cultivation was, so who is "she"? He mentions the Nightwatcher later on, so I doubt the Nightwatcher is "she". 

Edited April 1, 2022 by teknopathetic

[bmcclure7]

28 minutes ago, teknopathetic said:

I wonder if the Noadon vision might have a clue as well? 

Also, who is telling Noadon about finding the words? Noadon says that "she" claimed to see the future, but also claimed not to be touched by the void. You would think Noadon would know who Cultivation was, so who is "she"? He mentions the Nightwatcher later on, so I doubt the Nightwatcher is "she". 

 Given the prologue it's much more likely to be a Herald. 

[bmcclure7]

1 hour ago, Frustration said:

I'll add that it's something close to "give it to me. Now. I need it."

 Do you think it could be related to the story of the man with the stone. Perhaps the most important words are "help me"

[Morningtide she/her]

I think that they might be the Radiant's fifth ideal. The only confined fifth ideal radiant we have IS a herald. Also, when Gavilar said a quote that seemed rather similar to "Journey Before Destination" the Stormfather said that Gavilar was "nowhere close". This could be a lie, he certainly lied about enough other stuff, or he could mean that Gavilar wasn't anywhere close to either attracting a spren or getting to the fifth ideal. The Stormfather also said that Gavilar couldn't just say random quotes. This could mean that he has to have the intent, experience, and/or permission of a spren to say the words

 

[A_Dragon]

3 hours ago, bmcclure7 said:

‘The question,’ she replied, ‘is not whether you will love, hurt, dream, and die. It is what you will love, why you will hurt, when you will dream, and how you will die. This is your choice. You cannot pick the destination, only the path.’

Maybe the most important words a man can say are the things mentioned here? Like for Kaladin what he will love is his brothers (Bridge 4), why he will hurt is because his brothers hurt, he dreams of his brothers being safe, and he will probably die protecting his brothers. This is just something I thought while reading this.

Edited April 1, 2022 by A_Dragon

[Could Be Fire]

We know that Radiant oaths are more about the person swearing them than actual words. See how the first Oath is accepted for Lopen saying the words randomly but not for others explicating trying to tempt a spren. Or how Kaladin knew the 4th Oath, but couldn't say it. Or even how the wording of the Oath varies based the Radiant swearing it. I know it's not clear if the "words" or in fact the Radient Oaths, but I assume other elements of Honor's magic would work the same way.

I really think it's the meaning here, not the actual words that the Stormfather says is "closer". Basically what @Morningtide said.

3 hours ago, Frustration said:

I'll add that it's something close to "give it to me. Now. I need it."

Gavilar spends the entire Prologue explicitly lying and generally prevaricating to Stormfather. This is the only time we see him say something to Stormfather that is from the heart, that is honest.

So it's not that "give it to me. Now. I need it." is anything like the Oath/Words, but Stormfather is trying to Gavilar to realize that self-reflection and honesty are necessary. Like obviously being an asshole/morally corrupt doesn't bar you from becoming a Bondsmith, you just have to move forward from that version of yourself.

[Morningtide she/her]

6 minutes ago, Could Be Fire said:

So it's not that "give it to me. Now. I need it." is anything like the Oath/Words, but Stormfather is trying to Gavilar to realize that self-reflection and honesty are necessary. Like obviously being an asshole/morally corrupt doesn't bar you from becoming a Bondsmith, you just have to move forward from that version of yourself.

Yes, this is what I was trying to say. I completely agree

[Could Be Fire]

19 minutes ago, Morningtide said:

Yes, this is what I was trying to say. I completely agree

Yeah!! Like if Gavilar had thought about why he thinks he needs it and came up with a good answer, I think it could have been his Oath. Just one more step and he's there.

Like "I will seek power to build a better future" is something I could see Gavilar saying and something I think could work as a Bondsmith Oath.

[Morningtide she/her]

1 minute ago, Could Be Fire said:

Yeah!! Like if Gavilar had thought about why he thinks he needs it and came up with a good answer, I think it could have been his Oath. Just one more step and he's there.

Like "I will seek power to build a better future" is something I could see Gavilar saying and something I think could work as a Bondsmith Oath.

Totally. That really sounds like something Gavilar would say as an oath

[Vin(Diesel)]

Maybe the words are, “I will take up the ‘stone’ of leadership.” 
 

Eh. 

[FollowYourMuse she/her]

On 4/1/2022 at 7:54 AM, Frustration said:

I'll add that it's something close to "give it to me. Now. I need it."

"It need, I now to it give".

 

[Lego Mistborn he/him]

On 4/1/2022 at 8:54 AM, Frustration said:

I'll add that it's something close to "give it to me. Now. I need it."

 

On 4/1/2022 at 10:24 AM, bmcclure7 said:

 Do you think it could be related to the story of the man with the stone. Perhaps the most important words are "help me"

Provided it is actually close in meaning and not just him needing to speech true, I put forth "Give me the burden."

[therunner he/him]

Assuming that the entity is not Stormfather and the Words that are close, yet far are ' Give it to me. Now. I need it. ' then I would guess the Words would be ' Give it to me. Now. I want it. ' or ' Give it to me. Now. I deserve it. ' . The reasoning being that the Words that are close sound quite voidish, so I would assume it is Voidish entity trying to create Void equivalent of Nahel bond. The part where Gavilar failed was implying need, putting himself in subservient position/extrinsic motivation, whereas he should demonstrate instrinsic motivation of wanting or feeling deserving of it.

Of course, if it is Stormfather or something not of Odium, I have no clue.

[bmcclure7]

1 hour ago, therunner said:

Assuming that the entity is not Stormfather and the Words that are close, yet far are ' Give it to me. Now. I need it. ' then I would guess the Words would be ' Give it to me. Now. I want it. ' or ' Give it to me. Now. I deserve it. ' . The reasoning being that the Words that are close sound quite voidish, so I would assume it is Voidish entity trying to create Void equivalent of Nahel bond. The part where Gavilar failed was implying need, putting himself in subservient position/extrinsic motivation, whereas he should demonstrate instrinsic motivation of wanting or feeling deserving of it.

Of course, if it is Stormfather or something not of Odium, I have no clue.

 I think it's honor equivalent to the mist spirit. 

[Zea mays]

I want it all

I want it all

I want it all

and I want it Now

 

That’s how Freddie Mercury became a Herald.

[Olmund]

Cobbling together a "herald-ish" quote from the passages we have:

My quest can never truly end. I travel not to avoid duty, but to seek it. All save the heralds dine with the nightwatcher; I take up the stone -- I assume the burden -- and I am repaid in pain. If my stone is removed, the entire formation collapses. Control is my true strength.

...which isn't remotely close to "Give it to me. Now. I need it," but it does sound like something Gavilar might have said with his random guesses. Honest intent probably is the key ("no good can be achieved of false means").

[Syrail]

“Give it to me now. I need it” is fairly close to what Dalinar ended up saying when the Stormfather initially refused to accept his words, though.. 

Quote

I AM THE SLIVER OF THE ALMIGHTY HIMSELF! the voice said, sounding angry. I AM THE STORMFATHER. I WILL NOT LET MYSELF BE BOUND IN SUCH A WAY AS TO KILL ME!

“I need you,” Dalinar said. “Despite what you did.

-WoR, ch 89 
 

[Erklitt]

On 3.4.2022 at 5:15 AM, Ta'veren Kaladin said:

 

Provided it is actually close in meaning and not just him needing to speech true, I put forth "Give me the burden."

This is corroborated by an exchange between Jezrien and Nale which Dalinar witnesses due to his bondsmith abilities when he meets Nale: 

Quote

“I will take this charge,” Nale said softly.

RoW Ch. 47

Edit: The context of that scene is Nale being invited to the oathpact.

Edited April 6, 2022 by Erklitt

[CodeMnke she/her]

This is my choice. I cannot pick the destination, only the path.

Maybe even just "This is my choice". (with intent of course)

He thought he was close with “Give it to me,” Gavilar said. “Now. I need it.”
 

Edited April 6, 2022 by CodeMnke

[+Child of Hodor]

On 4/2/2022 at 9:37 PM, Vin(Diesel) said:

Maybe the words are, “I will take up the ‘stone’ of leadership.” 
 

Eh. 

I think it’s something to do with taking the stone the other guy was carrying. “Give me your burden.”

”I will bear this burden that needs bearing” something like that. 

[+ShardlessVessel]

On 01/04/2022 at 9:40 AM, bmcclure7 said:

If the journey itself is indeed the most important piece, rather than the destination itself, then I traveled not to avoid duty—but to seek it.

 

On 06/04/2022 at 0:44 PM, Erklitt said:

“I will take this charge,” Nale said softly.

I think the correct answer is somewhere between these.

[RefusesToElaborate]

On 4/1/2022 at 11:54 PM, Frustration said:

I'll add that it's something close to "give it to me. Now. I need it."

Hahaaaaaaa....

WoR: Chapter 89

Spoiler

'Life before death!' Dalinar shouted, 'Strength before weakness! Journey before destination!'

I AM THE SLIVER OF THE ALMIGHTY HIMSELF! The voice said, sounding angry. I AM THE STORMFATHER. I WILL NOT LET MYSELF BE BOUND IN SUCH A WAY AS TO KILL ME!

'I need you,' Dalinar said. 'despite what you did.'

 

[Lord Spirit he/him]

Also, the stormfather lied to Gavilar multiple times. He might just have said that the words were in the way of kings to keep Gavilar busy. Or maybe the words don’t exist.