Hare_Mettle he/him Posted June 15, 2022 Posted June 15, 2022 (edited) Brandon has made it apparent that on Roshar, people think about objects long enough, those objects become sentient versions of how people view them. This is an idea introduced very early in the series. After another reread and applying Brandon's propensity to reverse expectations and change the seemingly finite rules we come to believe - I think it is possible for a Spren to perceive itself as a human to such a degree, that it manifests itself as a human. Essentially, Shallan IS Testament. First - Testament is an odd name for a Cryptic because the two primary definitions are: 1. a person's will, especially the part relating to personal property. "father's will and testament" 2. something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality. Those do not seem like qualities related to Lightweavers or Cryptics. Instead, Testament wanted to prove they could do what humans do but in reverse. Testament willed itself to become a person: Shallan. Second - I believe Pattern when he said he was the Blade that helped kill Shallan's mother. If that is believed, I don't think Shallan ever uses a 'Testament Blade' because she cannot because she is Testament. Third - As Testament (a different Shallan we haven't seen yet, her true identity) kills her mom, this breaks the bond with Pattern. However, Testament's body in Shadesmar goes Deadeye and Shallan develops DID. Patter is for some reason, not turned into a Deadeye. Fourth - Shallan now, in a perverse use of her Deadeye existence between two realms, becomes different people. This is the physical realm counter affect to what happens to a Deadeye Spren in Shadesmar. I believe Brandon describes her changing in and out of personas similar to how some Spren like Syl (early Syl) become easily distracted and flit from one personality to another. 2 ADDITIONS: 1.) Ishar's experiments with bringing Spren into the physical world is his attempt at this idea. He doesn't realize that it was an actual choice Testament made to become real, not someone bringing Shallan from Shadesmar into the physical realm. 2.) The Girl Who Looked Up - There's no need to get into it too much because within this theory, TGWLU fits. The girl leaves her world of darkness and no or little color and goes into another world, and brings back trouble. Shallan is the girl, but it was a Spren. The wall is the barrier between realms. There are some other subtle hints that work well with this theory not only in her reciting of it in Urithiru, but by Wit in the Capital. Edited June 15, 2022 by Hare_Mettle
Duxredux he/him Posted June 17, 2022 Posted June 17, 2022 (edited) I've probably been overusing this WoB as a boundary for Shallan is _________ hypotheses but... Quote Questioner Is Shallan's father her actual father? Brandon Sanderson Ah! People asked if her mother were her mother. No one's asked yet if her father were her father... Yes, it was her father. Yes, I will give you that, yes. Her mother and father as presented in the stories were actually her mother and father. Words of Radiance Philadelphia signing (March 21, 2014) I don't think Brandon has ever deliberately lied during one of his Q&A sessions, though he has on occasion changed his mind after making a statement. He can be frustratingly specific with how he answers or only respond to a portion of a question. I've never seen him intentionally lie when he can just RAFO someone. This quote makes the logistics of the Davar family very difficult to explain if Shallan was a Cryptic. At any rate, without it being your fault, I've seen several "Shallan isn't really Shallan" posts recently that people have already hashed over. That's my guess at least for why you haven't gotten a response. My take on Testament's name is that Shallan chose that name as a condemnation of herself. Testament the deadeye isn't able to communicate and most likely did not choose the name in the context of the story we have seen. Edited June 17, 2022 by Duxredux 2
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