Stormwalker Posted December 5, 2024 Posted December 5, 2024 I thought I'd state my re-read theory before the WaT release. It's mostly pure conjecture, but I think the conventional accepted interpretation of the lifebrother is incorrect. Moreover, I have an unlikely theory of who the Lifebrother is. Pt 1: The Lifebrother is a Shin concept We have one reference in book for the Lifebrother (idk if there are any WOB about it). It is here in tWoK pg975 (Taravingian speaking to Szeth): Quote "Yes, I speak your language. Sometimes I wonder if the Lifebrother himself sent you to me." "To bloody myself so that you wouldn't have to," Szeth said. "Yes, that sounds like something one of your Vorin gods would do." Seemingly, the conventional interpretation (which the coppermind states as fact with only this passage cited) is that this means the Lifebrother is a Vorin concept. However, I feel that this an incorrect reading of the passage. We have never heard of the Lifebrother, either before or after this, so it seems incredibly unlikely to be a Vorin idea. Instead, it seems far more likely that the Lifebrother is a Shin concept. The key evidence is the context before this quote. Taravingian has just quoted a Shin proverb in the Shin language and then goes on to immediately say this. Taravingian isn't trying to be a devout Vorin here, he's trying to boast his knowledge to Szeth to impress him by showing he even understands the Shin. Szeth's response is then not saying that the Lifebrother is in fact a Vorin god. He's saying that Taravingian, though he knows the concept/name, clearly doesn't understand their culture, because this isn't the type of thing their god would do. Pt 2: Pure conjecture on the Lifebrother's true identity My pet theory is that the Lifebrother is Ba-Ado-Mishram the unmade, and brother to the Sibling. The Shin religion seems to be a Remanent of old beliefs in early Roshar. We know Shinovar was the land humans were first given when they came to Roshar. And this seems to match their belief to not walk on stone -- ie, the rest of Roshar, where they were not allowed to be (although I admit I'm confused as to when this prohibition started, given we see Shin on stone in the desolations and presumably in the Shin invasion). We also see that BAM was able to connect to all parshmen in the false desolation, which makes me think BAM might have been a natural part of Roshar before Odium unmade it. (I'm skipping over that I think the unmade weren't from Odium originally and were instead corrupted). If one believes BAM was originally a natural spren of Roshar, then it would make sense that the Shin had it as a mythological figure. Lastly, I wonder nowadays, why The Sibling is called just that. Who is The Sibling a sibling to? The first answer you'd think of is the other bondsmith spren, but they are never called the Brother/Sister, so why name The Sibling that. The Sibling needs a sibling and the Lifebrother is the only other sibling figure on the planet that we know of. Moreover, this makes particular sense given BAM's capture. We know the capturing of BAM affected (injured?) The Sibling. This makes sense if they are naturally closely related/connected, just as the parshmen were connected with BAM. We also know one needs to intimately understand an unmade to capture it (see Shallan and Dalinar with the Midnight Mother and the Thrill). This then explains that Milishi could understand BAM so, because he understood the Sibling.
Wanguu He/Him Posted December 5, 2024 Posted December 5, 2024 (edited) Interesting theory, but this line does strike me as a "Brandon Forgot" moment considering it hasn't been mentioned since TWoK. 1 hour ago, Stormwalker said: My pet theory is that the Lifebrother is Ba-Ado-Mishram the unmade, and brother to the Sibling. She/Her pronouns for Ba-Ado-Mishram, just saying Edited December 5, 2024 by Wanguu
alder24 Posted December 6, 2024 Posted December 6, 2024 16 hours ago, Stormwalker said: Lastly, I wonder nowadays, why The Sibling is called just that. Who is The Sibling a sibling to? The first answer you'd think of is the other bondsmith spren, but they are never called the Brother/Sister, so why name The Sibling that. They do call each other siblings. RoW ch 64: Quote Not right now, and there can ever be only three. One for each of us. “Three?” Dalinar said. “Three spren who make Bondsmiths. You … and Cultivation are two?” The Stormfather actually laughed. You would have a difficult time making her your spren. I should like to see you try it. “Then who?” My siblings need not concern you 15 hours ago, Wanguu said: Interesting theory, but this line does strike me as a "Brandon Forgot" moment considering it hasn't been mentioned since TWoK. I wouldn't count on this. Spoiler Questioner In Book One, Taravangian was talking to Szeth, when Szeth confronts him at the end. He talks about the Lifebrother; but we haven’t heard any other references since then. Brandon Sanderson You have not. That’s a RAFO. Dragonsteel 2022 (Nov. 14, 2022)
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