Theory about a Radiant Order

[GeoffreyH]

 So I'm reading WoR again and came across the beginning passage to chapter 41 that at the end says one of the ten did not abandon there arms. Not much context as to what this passage meant but made a thought pop in my head. It made me think at first that perhaps it meant the Stonewardens since Taln was presumed their founding Herald and he was the only Herald still fulfilling his duty, though not necessarriily by choice. This led me to think maybe they had never abandoned their duty as believed. But that was negated by the fact that the Stonewardens were one order seen abandoning their duty by Dalinar. This still left and idea in my head, however.

 

  What if one of the orders didn't abandon their duty? What if instead they went into hiding, leaving everyone to think they had like every other order, but in secret were still on Roshar, biding their time until a new order of Knight Radiants came? 

 

 It was just a thought. One that doesn't have any real evidence to back it up, but still would prove to be an interesting plot element if it were true. Feel free to point out problems with the theory, or your own ideas for which order it would be if it was true!

[Moogle]

This act of great villainy went beyond the impudence which had hitherto been ascribed to the orders; as the fighting was particularly intense at this time, many attributed this act to a sense of inherent betrayal; and after they withdrew, about two thousand made assault upon them, destroying much of the membership; but this was only nine of the ten, as one said they would not abandon their arms and flee, but instead entertained great subterfuge at the expense of the other nine

-From Words of Radiance, chapter 38, page 20

 

Well, the Skybreakers, an order of the Knights Radiant, certainly still seem to be around... and they aren't exactly friendly to Surgebinders, which might fit the 'expense of the other nine' bit.

Edited October 2, 2014 by Moogle

[Windrunner he/him]

I posted a theory a few months ago when the book came out that posited that the Skybreakers are the order that survived, like Moogle just said.

[kari-no-sugata]

Excuse me while I de-lurk for a bit...

 

I had a thought a while back: why did Nalan choose to call his organisation the "Skybreakers" (the ones we see in WoR)? I can think of two likely scenarios:

1. He originally came up with the term (back when he originally accepted leadership of the order). He was disappointed with the Radiant Skybreakers and his new group are basically "Skybreakers done right" (ie his way exactly). If he didn't create the name I don't think it's likely that he'd have enough attachment to the name to do this.
2. He approved whatever stance the Radiant Skybreakers took at the time of the Recreance and is angry at what happened to them. Whether he came up with the term originally or not he is using the name out of nostalgia/respect for the Radiant Skybreakers. If so then it could be argued that his actions in WoR are a form of revenge against the other Orders.

Any thoughts?

[Moogle]

Any thoughts?

 

Third possibility: the Skybreakers that Nalan leads are descended from the Skybreakers Radiant Order, and naturally kept the name. They're not Surgebinders anymore, but it's quite possible they've kept the same goals and philosophy.