5th Oath Theory :)

[Stockman]

Hello

 

Oh, so straight to the punches. I have a guess that the 5th oath will be something like "I will protect my heart" or "I will protect my true self".

Kaladin's 4th oath of "I will accept that there are those I can not protect" freed him from the slave brand on his head, because he felt like he was a slave to saving others, and therefore making his internal world dependent upon the results of his actions which in truth he has no control over. The freedom from that is very similar to self realization and freeing oneself from the conditionals of life to find inner peace or power.

In the same vein, the next step should be to get even more in tune with himself somehow. Maybe protecting his heart and emotions are the absolute best way he still has left to serve those around him.

This is what I think his next oath will be, and the natural build up we have seen.

 

Another minor theory, is what if the 5th Ideal is only for those who are immortal? Nale is the only person we know of who has it, and apparently he has kept his oaths because he still has a high spren. He's also the only herald who never gave up actively protecting Roshar. Does the 5th Ideal somehow provide sanity somehow that lets Nale be resilient? Is Nale being insane a red herring? Will Kaladin need it if he somehow becomes immortal in the next book?

Also, Kabbalah Tree of Life looks a lot like the Surgebinding/Voidbinding diagrams...

Deep thoughts Love you all.

 

Edited January 18, 2024 by Stockman

[alder24]

28 minutes ago, Stockman said:

Oh, so straight to the punches. I have a guess that the 5th oath will be something like "I will protect my heart" or "I will protect my true self".

Kaladin's 4th oath of "I will accept that there are those I can not protect" freed him from the slave brand on his head, because he felt like he was a slave to saving others, and therefore making his internal world dependent upon the results of his actions which in truth he has no control over. The freedom from that is very similar to self realization and freeing oneself from the conditionals of life to find inner peace or power.

In the same vein, the next step should be to get even more in tune with himself somehow. Maybe protecting his heart and emotions are the absolute best way he still has left to serve those around him.

This is what I think his next oath will be, and the natural build up we have seen.

That's a popular theory. You may be interested to look at this topic: https://www.17thshard.com/forums/topic/93388-discuss-windrunner-5th-ideal/

29 minutes ago, Stockman said:

Another minor theory, is what if the 5th Ideal is only for those who are immortal? Nale is the only person we know of who has it, and apparently he has kept his oaths because he still has a high spren. He's also the only herald who never gave up actively protecting Roshar. Does the 5th Ideal somehow provide sanity somehow that lets Nale be resilient? Is Nale being insane a red herring? Will Kaladin need it if he somehow becomes immortal in the next book?

No, the 5th Ideal is the natural progression of all Radiants. Nale is as mad as any other Herald. He no longer even has any feelings and he admits he's getting worse on multiple occasions. Only Nale from all Heralds joined the Radiants. In OB Skybreakers said it has been centuries since someone said the 5th Ideal - this can't be Nale because Nale joined Radiants before the Last Desolation, more than 4500 years ago. Nale also did abandon his duty and the Oathpact and instead of protecting Roshar he was killing Radiants and then switched sides joining Odium. 

Edgedancer ch 19:

Quote

“I am sorry I must do this,” Darkness said. “Once I would have welcomed you as a sister.”
“No,” Lift said. “You’re not really sorry, are you? Can you even feel something like sorrow?”
He stopped in the hallway, sphere still gripped before him for light. He actually seemed to be considering her question.
[...]
Darkness continued to advance. “You are right. It seems I have finally released myself from the last vestiges of guilt I once felt at doing my duty. Honor has suffused me, changed me. It has been a long time coming.”
“Great. So you’re like … some kind of emotionless spren now.”
“Hey,” Wyndle said. “That’s insulting.”
“No,” Darkness said, unable to hear Wyndle. “I’m merely a man, perfected.” He waved toward her with his sphere. “Men need light, child. Alone we are in darkness, our movements random, based on subjective, changeable minds. But light is pure, and does not change based on our daily whims. To feel guilt at following a code with precision is wasted emotion.”
“And other emotion isn’t, in your opinion?”
“There are many useful emotions.”
“Which you totally feel, all the time.”
“Of course I do.…” He trailed off, and again seemed to be considering what she’d said. He cocked his head.
[...]
In that moment it seemed, strangely, that something within him emerged. It was stupid of her to think that with everything happening—the rain, the winds, the red lightning—she could see a difference in his eyes. But she swore that she could.
He seemed to focus, like a person waking up from a daze. His sword dropped from his fingers and puffed away into mist.
[...]
“I’m sorry,” Lift said.
He looked to her, face lit red by the continuous lightning, tears mixing with the rain.
“You actually are,” he said, then felt at his face. “I wasn’t always like this. I am getting worse, aren’t I? It’s true.”

 

[ConfusedCow]

Kaladin has found purpose, friends, family, the missing piece is love. "I will protect Jasnah Kholin." 

[Trusk'our he/him]

10 hours ago, ConfusedCow said:

Kaladin has found purpose, friends, family, the missing piece is love. "I will protect Jasnah Kholin." 

That seems. . . Like a rather bold suggestion. 

[SirNoSell]

"I will accept that death is a part of life..."

 

Been his biggest hurdle