A new kind of god

[Eahlendell]

….a mere essay in the craft….

 

In the world of Roshar, a fascinating idea emerges from the evolving character of Taravangian—a man who now holds the Shard of Odium but remains poised to achieve something unprecedented. A pivotal moment occurs in The Stormlight Archive when Taravangian, known for his ruthless pragmatism and fierce intellect, gains control of Odium. This event sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Shardwielding, human nature, and the potential for a being to wield multiple Shards without being overwhelmed by their conflicting intents.

At first glance, Taravangian’s dual nature, often torn between passion and logic, might suggest an inherent disharmony with Odium’s singular, consuming focus. His character seems to oscillate between cold, calculating reason and raw, unbridled emotion. Initially, I interpreted this internal division as a sign that Taravangian was struggling to fully bond with the Shard he now controls. But a deeper idea began to take shape: What if this internal conflict is not a weakness, but a sign of a deeper design? What if Taravangian’s Boon and Curse, granted by Cultivation, were always meant to prepare him for something much larger?

This theory proposes that Taravangian, far from being a typical vessel for a Shard, may be on the path to wield multiple Shards without merging their intents—something unprecedented in the cosmere. His passionate side, fueled by Odium, could be just one facet of a larger potential. His inherent logic, kept separate from his passion, could serve as a stabilizing force, allowing him to balance the power of multiple Shards in a way no one has done before.

Taravangian’s Connection to Cultivation

A crucial part of this theory lies in Taravangian’s established connection to Cultivation. Cultivation’s role in the cosmere is one of subtle but profound influence, particularly through her practice of granting Boons and Curses. It is no coincidence that Cultivation herself gave Taravangian his strange and powerful duality—a mind that oscillates between brilliance and simplicity, between empathy and cold-hearted logic. This gift, though it seems like a curse on some days, may have been intentionally designed to prepare him for something more.

Could Taravangian be on the path to wield both Odium and Cultivation? Their connection is clear: Cultivation already has a claim to part of Taravangian’s soul, having shaped him with her own hands. While wielding multiple Shards typically involves merging their intents—such as Sazed’s unification of Ruin and Preservation into Harmony—Taravangian may instead be capable of wielding them separately. His carefully maintained division between logic and passion could make him uniquely suited for such a task.

The Death Rattle: A Prophetic Shift in Power

The prophetic words, “Three of sixteen ruled, now the Broken One reigns,” found in the Death Rattles, offer a tantalizing clue. These words suggest a profound shift in the cosmere’s power dynamics, particularly among the Shards. The “Broken One” could very well refer to Taravangian, now the holder of Odium. This notion fits perfectly with the idea that Taravangian’s passionate side—the part most influenced by Odium—might now be in control. His journey from a mere king to a godlike figure holding the most destructive Shard aligns with the vision of the Broken One ruling over the cosmere.

But why stop at Odium? If Taravangian can indeed maintain his internal division, wielding Odium without being consumed by its intent, it stands to reason that he might also be able to pick up another Shard. Cultivation, already tied to him through the Boon she granted, could be the next. The result would be a being capable of extraordinary power and balance, wielding two Shards while keeping their intents separate—a feat no one in the cosmere has accomplished.

The Legacy of Rayse: Protecting Odium’s Purity

This concept of wielding multiple Shards is in direct contrast to Rayse’s approach. As the previous holder of Odium, Rayse was fiercely protective of the Shard’s singular, consuming nature. His primary goal was to maintain Odium’s purity—its undiluted focus on passion and hatred. Rayse actively avoided taking up other Shards, such as Devotion, Ambition, and Dominion, precisely because he feared that they would “taint” Odium’s intent, weakening its power. This decision reveals Rayse’s recognition that Odium, once merged with another Shard, could lose its pure focus and become something else entirely.

However, Taravangian may be the key to transcending this limitation. If his dual nature—passionate yet logical—can allow him to keep the intents of multiple Shards separate, he might be able to wield Odium alongside other Shards without compromising their purity. In this scenario, Odium’s hatred and passion could remain intact, while another Shard, such as Cultivation, could add an entirely new dimension to his power without overwhelming his identity. This potential ability to compartmentalize each Shard’s intent is what makes Taravangian’s situation so unique and compelling.

Harmony’s Inert Nature: A Product of Opposing Forces

The cosmere already provides a striking example of a Shardholder wielding multiple Shards: Sazed, the vessel for both Ruin and Preservation, who now holds the title of Harmony. While Harmony represents a remarkable balance between two fundamentally opposing forces, it also introduces a major limitation. The polar opposition of Ruin and Preservation—destruction versus stasis—creates a constant internal tension. These Shards are diametrically opposed in their very essence, and this balance has rendered Harmony somewhat inert. Sazed’s ability to act is constrained because the two Shards cancel each other out, leaving him unable to fully express the powers of either intent without conflict.

It is important to recognize that this inertness is not a result of wielding two Shards in general, but specifically because of the opposing nature of Ruin and Preservation. Their intents are so contradictory that they neutralize each other’s full potential. In contrast, if Taravangian were to wield Shards with more complementary intents, such as Odium and Cultivation, he might not face the same paralysis that Harmony experiences. This separation of intent could allow him to act decisively, using the strengths of each Shard without the risk of their opposing natures causing inaction.

A New Kind of Shardwielder

Taravangian’s journey is one that has been marked by ambition, sacrifice, and a deep desire to reshape the world according to his own vision. His belief that one person must bear the burden of ruling, keeping their hands bloody to ensure the safety of others, reflects his twisted but deeply held sense of responsibility. This perspective is both honorable and ruthless, a combination that could make him an ideal candidate to wield more than one Shard.

Cultivation’s gift, Odium’s power, and Taravangian’s own internal conflict all point to the possibility that he is not merely the latest in a line of Shardholders, but someone destined for something far greater. His ability to maintain both logic and passion, his connection to both Cultivation and Odium, and the prophetic nature of the Death Rattles all suggest that Taravangian could become the first being in the cosmere capable of wielding multiple Shards without being subsumed by their intents.

Where Rayse feared contamination, Taravangian’s dual nature may allow him to avoid that fate, separating the intents of the Shards he wields and preventing one from influencing the other. This would give him a flexibility and strength that not even Rayse could achieve. In contrast to Sazed, whose balance of Ruin and Preservation has made Harmony inert, Taravangian’s approach could allow him to wield multiple Shards without suffering from the paralysis of opposing forces.

In conclusion, Taravangian represents a new kind of god—a being capable of holding immense power without being bound by the limitations that have restrained others like Sazed. If he can indeed wield multiple Shards separately, without merging their intents, he may become the most powerful and versatile force the cosmere has ever seen. His journey is far from over, and the full extent of his potential may only be beginning to reveal itself…..