Will Retribution break his/Odiums Oaths?

[Forged Herald]

Hi,

Like several of you it's my impression that Honor's mind/Avatar/child will learn that even when being true to your Oaths you can still do great evil and that the most honorable thing isn't always keeping your Oaths (like Kaladin at the end of WoR).

However, how can Retribution keep all his promises? Hasn't he already broken some?

Of the top of my head: He has promised a small planet to Battah plus whatever Dai-Gonarthis' price is. The deals with Fen, Emul... Something for El?

But also he has inherited all of Odiums previous Oaths (the ones with Honor are void, but what about the rest?). He promised to spare Karbranth all people born there and their spouses. He may have reconstructed Karbranth in the Spiritual Realm but, is this enough?

What other promises/oaths am I missing? What could come back to bite him in the ass WHILE he is fighting other Shards? Am I missing some servants or promises?



 

Edited December 11, 2024 by Forged Herald
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[+Oltux72 he/him]

The oldest promise. Shards are to leave each other alone.

[boolamoo]

I feel the wording in WaT doesn't support that they must be unharmed, but rather that the intent was to leave them alone to Taravangian who now as Odium could treat them like Gavinor if he wished. They are his and under his control. I don't feel the end would have said he was mad at Dalinar if he'd saved them just to wriggle out of the consequences of destroying Kharbranth. He saved them because he loved them and wasn't willing to lose them.

[BinarySecond]

I recall the oath was to preserve kharbranth? Something like that? I don't have a text copy of Oathbringer so I can't easily go and check.

[boolamoo]

The oath was to spare Kharbranth born people for two generations. I know the wording seems like it would be broken by harming them, but all indication in WaT implies that's not the case. He doesn't mention destroying Kharbranth would break an oath, but that because of the deal they were his (Taravangian's) to do with as he pleased. I just think BS might've written it in a way that people are pinning all their theories on to be disappointed with how it'll plays out on the page.

[Forged Herald]

34 minutes ago, BinarySecond said:

I recall the oath was to preserve kharbranth? Something like that? I don't have a text copy of Oathbringer so I can't easily go and check.

“Kharbranth,” Odium said. “The city itself, and any humans who have been born into it, along with their spouses. This is whom I will spare. Do you agree to this?”

39 minutes ago, boolamoo said:

I feel the wording in WaT doesn't support that they must be unharmed, but rather that the intent was to leave them alone to Taravangian who now as Odium could treat them like Gavinor if he wished. They are his and under his control. I don't feel the end would have said he was mad at Dalinar if he'd saved them just to wriggle out of the consequences of destroying Kharbranth. He saved them because he loved them and wasn't willing to lose them.

I agree, he saved the city out of love. He realizes that, just as Jasnah, he's another hypocrite. And I agree that the implication is that he would still be the ruler of Karbranth to do withit as he pleased.

On the other hand, Taravangian has tried to follow the Contract to the letter instead of the spirit (as Rayze said he would). Can he decide when to follow the Intent of the OAth and when to follow the letter. Isn't that hypocresy just another chink in his Godhood?

Also, if you remember any promise I may have missed, please add them.