My problem with the Shard fusion hypothesis in the Stormlight Archive

[Dofurion]

Clarification: Although I have read the previews that have been published of the 5th book of Archive, all the arguments that I will use will not include information from them.

Ok, so I really like all the ideas that come out of theorizing about what the fusion of the Shards' intentions would be like. Ever since the possibility was presented during the course of the Hero of Ages, it has been one of the juiciest topics we have worked with in the fandom. But there is something that has always grated on me about it. The repetitiveness that this entails.

On a meta-narrative level, it makes no sense that during the events presented in Archive, the outcome involves the fusion of two Shards, we already saw that at the end of Era 1. While I don't rule out the possibility of it happening again (Maybe already entered into Era 4), I wouldn't expect it for the end of Sanderson's other main saga. In my opinion, it would border on lazy writing.

Now I'm not blind to the fact that perhaps reunification and middle ground between intentions is one of the themes Sanderson wants to bring to the table, but as far as the Stormlight Archive is concerned I would expect him to use the story's own characteristics to express it. For example, one outcome that seems satisfactory to me is that somehow, peace is achieved between the Shards present in the Roshara system and that the Bondsmiths are used as a "bridge". Adding three more, one for each missing light, could be a good solution.

Another viable option is the complete destruction of the shards in the system, but I see this as more unlikely since it may not seem like it, but we are running out of divine beings to play behind the scenes in Era 4.

Anyway, I would like to see what you think about this and whether you agree or not with what I propose.

[alder24]

11 hours ago, Dofurion said:

On a meta-narrative level, it makes no sense that during the events presented in Archive, the outcome involves the fusion of two Shards, we already saw that at the end of Era 1. While I don't rule out the possibility of it happening again (Maybe already entered into Era 4), I wouldn't expect it for the end of Sanderson's other main saga. In my opinion, it would border on lazy writing.

I think on the meta level it makes a lot of sense. This is the same universe, the same rules are applied, Shards and Adonalsium are a big thing here. Sazed successfully merged two Shards and that's a big deal, any Shard that would want to compete with him would be at big disadvantage unless they themselves also take up another Shard. We know that in the future there is a conflict between Scadrial and Roshar - we can assume Shards are involved as well. I highly doubt that Cultivation and Honor will be willing to stand together with Odium, unless they are merged with him. Moreover I doubt Honor or Cultivation would be interested in interstellar politics - Odium is interested, Cultivation showed no signs of this. If in the future Odium is competing against Harmony, then he needs to merge with another Shard and he needs to get rid of Honor and Cultivation, otherwise they will try to kill him while he's distracted by Harmony. 

And there is also Adonalsium's plotline - will he be restored? There are some clues pointing towards restoration of Adonalsium and for this to happen we need to see Shards other than Harmony being merged. This will set up a conflict and a race to combine all Shards. The alternative is that all Shards will be Splintered even further to prevent any mortal from accessing the infinite power of gods ever again. While I believe in the future there might be individuals advocating for killing all Shards, I think we will see restoration of Splintered Shards and slow merger until someone holds all 16 of them once again. However this is a plotline for the space era of Cosmere, but some foreshadowing and set up has to appear in SA for it to work.

Will Shards merger happen in WaT? I doubt it. I think we can at best see Honor being restored and someone Ascending to it, but not Honor merging with Odium - that's something I would expect to happen in SA10 - the final solution for Odium's problem. Of course, this is all highly speculative, but I think it makes a lot of sense to see another merger on Roshar. The merger doesn't have to be a good thing, Sazed saved Scadrial by merging Ruin with Preservation, on Roshar merging Honor and Odium might stop the war, but might not change Odium's plans and it would only make him stronger, more dangerous. 

11 hours ago, Dofurion said:

For example, one outcome that seems satisfactory to me is that somehow, peace is achieved between the Shards present in the Roshara system and that the Bondsmiths are used as a "bridge".

Peace? With Taravangian, who wants to save them all? No. Chances for peace died with Rayse. 

[Dofurion]

On 10/18/2024 at 8:39 AM, alder24 said:

Peace? With Taravangian, who wants to save them all? No. Chances for peace died with Rayse. 

I don't rule out the possibility of another Vessel change.