What would happen if Aaravos was Ruin’s Vessel?

[AleStaar he/him]

 

This gorgeous, silver tongued, manipulative, contingency loving Starman from The Dragon Prince.

What would happen if Aaravos was in Ati's position as the original Vessel of Ruin?

Secondly, how would this change Ruin's mindset, intellect, plans, and relationship with Preservation?

I’ve read: every Mistborn story, Elantris, and Emperor’s Soul.

[Quantus he/him]

I think he'd struggle with Ruin just like Ati, but would get along with Preservation more than Ati, because [Dragon Prince Spoilers]

Spoiler

his core motivation is to Preserve his daughter's life.

  He and Preservation would have made a much different Bargain when creating Scadrial, one that would have left Ruin's Vessel with a more ongoing interest in the population's survival.  

If they are Lucky, he'd interpret Ruin as Cyclic Change, and

Spoiler

establish a Shardic Reincarnation cycle for his daughter to use, so she could Remain with him without running afoul of his Intent by persevering too long past natural time limits of life and death.  

 

Edited September 26, 2024 by Quantus

[AleStaar he/him]

1 hour ago, Quantus said:

I think he'd struggle with Ruin just like Ati, but would get along with Preservation more than Ati, because [Dragon Prince Spoilers] his core motivation is to Preserve his daughter's life.  He and Preservation would have made a much different Bargain when creating Scadrial, one that would have left Ruin's Vessel with a more ongoing interest in the population's survival.  

If they are Lucky, he'd interpret Ruin as Cyclic Change, and establish a Shardic Reincarnation cycle for his daughter to use, so she could Remain with him without running afoul of his Intent by persevering too long past natural time limits of life and death.  

If you want to interpret his motivation like that, this can work. But after his daughter’s death, his motivation became to destroy (or at least overthrow) the council of Startouch Elves and the “cosmic order” they uphold.

In which case, I think he’d be a much better Vessel of Ruin than Ati. I can see Aaravos directing Ruin towards the societal direction implied by Sazed and Ati's Eleventh Metal plan. Towards terrifyingly long term, contingency-having, contemplative, manipulative decay of stagnant empires or hegemonies.

Edited September 26, 2024 by Ale the Metallic Conjurer

[Quantus he/him]

1 hour ago, Ale the Metallic Conjurer said:

If you want to interpret his motivation like that, this can work. But after his daughter’s death, his motivation became to destroy (or at least overthrow) the council of Startouch Elves and the “cosmic order” they uphold.

In which case, I think he’d be a much better Vessel of Ruin than Ati. I can see Aaravos directing Ruin towards the societal direction implied by Sazed and Ati's Eleventh Metal plan. Towards terrifyingly long term, contingency-having, contemplative, manipulative decay of stagnant empires or hegemonies.

I guess that's a fair distinction: If he gained the Shard After she died rather than while she was still around, then he might have had a much better chance.  If it was after, and assuming she was completely out of his reach in the Beyond, and you might be right that he'd commit to the simple and complete destruction of whomever he blamed.  And as far as we know he didnt have anyone like Leras in his life that might have gone with him to mitigate some of that fallout.   

[AleStaar he/him]

On 9/26/2024 at 12:15 PM, Quantus said:

I guess that's a fair distinction: If he gained the Shard After she died rather than while she was still around, then he might have had a much better chance.  If it was after, and assuming she was completely out of his reach in the Beyond, and you might be right that he'd commit to the simple and complete destruction of whomever he blamed.  And as far as we know he didnt have anyone like Leras in his life that might have gone with him to mitigate some of that fallout.   

I'm just realizing how terrifying Aaravos would be for the Vessel of Ruin I just proposed. He's a very experienced manipulator who loves cascading dominoes and contingency plans that would give Kelsier a headache. I think that would make for a very dangerous Ruin. I'm not even sure Leras would trick him in the same way.

And yeah, if he gained the Shard before Leola's death, I could see him being actively interested in the population's survival and creating a reincarnation cycle for Leola. A bargain for humanity and reincarnation for Leola that preserves their lives and decays when needed. Aaravos-Ruin can exercise that manipulative mindset by ensuring human societies decay when needed. And if Ruin can't be interpreted as Cyclic Change, then he and Leras can collaborate for Leola's reincarnation.