Which Shard did Hoid date?

[The Shard Insanity]

I would like to discuss this WoB.

Questioner

Wit's dated a dragon; has Wit also dated a Shard?

Brandon Sanderson

Wit has dated someone who wasn't a Shard at the point, but at some point in the future became a Vessel for a Shard 

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/522/#e16253

I've been wondering, which Shard (or rather, pre-ascenscion vessel) did Hoid date? I think there are a few possibilities. He might have dated Odium or Autonomy, as his letter to Frost in TWoK indicates that he has personal grudges against them. He refers to them as Bavadin and Rayse rather than their shardic names, indicating that he dislikes the vessels, not just the shards. He also says "Rayse, ... was among the most loathsome, crafty, and dangerous individuals I had ever met," which definitely shows a personal dislike. These negative opinions could well be caused by bad relationships in the past.

The other possibility that makes sense to me is Valor. This stems from one epigraph in Harmony's letter to Hoid in RoW. He says "I do think that Valor is reasonable, and suggest you approach her again. It has been too long, in her estimation, since your last conversation." This could indicate that Hoid has been avoiding talking to her because she's his ex. Valor may want to at least be friends with him again, and be using Harmony as a way to contact him.

These ideas are pure speculation, of course, and I would love to hear more ideas.

 

 

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

A couple thoughts: 

Hoid is currently dating Jasnah, which might be extrapolated to find the qualities he’s attracted to. Unfortunately, the shardic influences on the vessels’ personalities make it difficult to guess what they were like before ascension. If the shard intent matches the vessel in both cases, someone like prudence (if the shard is close to the real intent) or cultivation has a similar philosophy to Jasnah. (Just a thought. I’m probably wrong) 

Speaking of cultivation; we know Hoid dated a dragon, and we know of two dragons he’s friends with: Frost and Cultivation’s vessel. If Hoid dated Cultivation, that would fulfill both dragon and vessel. 

So yeah, my very uninformed guess is on Cultivation. 

[The Shard Insanity]

If I remember correctly, he says that he "never got along" with Cultivation. He also says "Wisdom and I have always been at cross-purposes." I can't seem to track down the exact quotes, unfortunately.

[alder24]

1 hour ago, The Shard Insanity said:

I've been wondering, which Shard (or rather, pre-ascenscion vessel) did Hoid date?

It seems to be Bavadin, they did have a past relationship. OB ch 42 epigraphs:

Quote

"Cephandrius, bearer of the First Gem,

You must know better than to approach us by relying upon presumption of past relationship."

And if Brandon in his answer to the WoB you've quoted meant that Hoid dated a dragon who was not a vessel at that point, but later became, then it means Koravellium as she is the only Shard-Dragon. But this answer is indirect enough that those two might have been separate people. We don't know which dragon he dated, there are many of them and we know just two others excluding Koravellium.

2 hours ago, The Shard Insanity said:

He might have dated Odium

Hoid and Rayse were just friends once:

Spoiler

Alaxel (Paraphrased)

He asked for "Something juicy about Odium that no one knows about yet."

Brandon Sanderson

Odium and Hoid were once friends.

General Signed Books 2014 (Feb. 15, 2014)

 

1 hour ago, The Shard Insanity said:

He refers to them as Bavadin and Rayse rather than their shardic names

He refers to every Shard by their Vessel's name. Other Vessels do the same tbf. 

2 hours ago, The Shard Insanity said:

The other possibility that makes sense to me is Valor. This stems from one epigraph in Harmony's letter to Hoid in RoW. He says "I do think that Valor is reasonable, and suggest you approach her again. It has been too long, in her estimation, since your last conversation." This could indicate that Hoid has been avoiding talking to her because she's his ex. Valor may want to at least be friends with him again, and be using Harmony as a way to contact him.

Possible. I agree that Valor is a likely candidate. We will see in SA5 as Valor will be name-dropped:

Spoiler

ArgentSun

Tell us a little bit about Valor. What’s her Vessel like? Any fun anecdotes? Hoid once bought Tanavast a drink; are there fun stories with Valor’s Vessel? Just anything?

Brandon Sanderson

Let’s put this one off for just a little longer. Let’s RAFO Valor. How about this, I’ll give you one thing: Valor is name-dropped in Stormlight Five.

YouTube Spoiler Stream 6 (Dec. 19, 2023)

 

48 minutes ago, The Shard Insanity said:

If I remember correctly, he says that he "never got along" with Cultivation.

That's WoR ch 55, it's on Koravellium's Coppermind.

49 minutes ago, The Shard Insanity said:

He also says "Wisdom and I have always been at cross-purposes." I can't seem to track down the exact quotes, unfortunately.

OB ch 68:

Quote

Some men, as they age, grow wiser. I am not one of those, for wisdom and I have always been at cross-purposes, and I have yet to learn the tongue in which she speaks.