Harmony can fight Retribution (Intent)

[Forged Herald]

Hello, not really new, but I forgot my old account (also I like my new name better).

I've read WaT over the last 3 days and I'm still letting most of it sink in. I'll have to reread slowly and  without skipping the first 25 chapters (which I had already listened to).

I loved the Sunmakers Gambit Dalinar makes at the end, but I don't fully agree with T-Odiums assesment that Harmony cannot intervene because of it's conflicting natures. Retribution is a clear force of change and destruction so Preservation would like to stop it and it must be destroyed so it aligns with Ruin. Also it is something new, so I don't think Preservation wants to Preserve something that is newly created.

But if you go deeper, it is clearly missaligned with Harmony. Retribution is almost an exact opposite of Harmony: if I keep retributing to past offences, I'll never live in harmony with you. It can be seen in the endless cycle of war between Odium and Honor. An endless escalation of retribution which impedes Singers and Humans living in harmony with each other.

As long as Harmony is Harmony (and not Discord) it's Intent should allow him to fight Retribution.

It's just some rambles after having powered thorugh such a big book in such a short time, but I'd like to hear your thoughts since I didn't find anything similar in the forum.

Edited December 11, 2024 by Forged Herald

[Nef]

That makes sense to me. After reading WaT it seems clear to me that a shard's overall interpretation of its alignment is greatly influenced by the conviction of the bearer, so if Sazed has the conviction that conflict with Retribution is indeed a harmonious action so to speak, I can see it happening. Tanavast ultimately lost the Honor shard by performing actions that he himself didn't view as honorable.