[Discuss] The Everstorm and The Well

[Treamayne]

I noticed a coincidence - and, as we all know, in the land of Sanderson coincidence is unlikely (but not impossible)

In WaT we learn that Ishar took up some of Odium's Investiture from the Well of Control - and that was "centuries ago."

Spoiler

WaT Ch 126:

Quote

“Yes,” Nin whispered, his voice frail, even sickly. “I … now that I see better, I question this plan. Much of what Ishar has done these last centuries—these last years in particular—is … unsettling to me. Trying to build an army of physical spren and Fused, preparing for far-distant conflicts. I fear what drinking of Odium’s power did to him. That troubles me deeply now. I do not know why it didn’t before.”

WaT Ch 140:

Quote

Kaladin distinctly thought he heard, echoing through that failing bond, the gasps of eight other people as an unacknowledged darkness left them. An oppressive cloud that Ishar thought he’d been holding back, but had in reality been infecting every Herald. The blackness he’d absorbed from Odium centuries ago, by finding his pool of power.

It wouldn’t heal them, lifting this dark cloud. Their wounds stretched back millennia before Ishar’s terrible decision. However, this might help open a path to healing.

 

In RoW we learned that the Everstorm has been "building in Shadesmar for centuries."

Spoiler

RoW Ch 73:

Quote

“The new storm,” Venli whispered.

Yes. It’s been building in Shadesmar for centuries. We need to get our agents close enough to it on this side—a place that is out in the ocean, mind you—so they can use gemstones to pull my brothers and sisters across. Then those stones have to be physically transported here. You have no idea how much of a pain it all is.

 

So, what if a Herald(s) that had "bent" their Oaths to stay on Roshar - by taking up a measure of Odium's investiture forged a new Connection to Odium - and that (at least partly) is what allowed Odium to maneuver the Everstorm from Braize to Roshar in Shadesmar.

OB/WoBs:

Spoiler

Quote

luke.spence (paraphrased)

What caused a Desolation to end? Was it just the defeat of Odium's forces? Because the Desolations start when the Heralds break under torture.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Because the Heralds can no longer be in existence. There is a certain period of time that they can be there, and after that, if they're there, they will start a new one. So the Heralds do need to leave for a Desolation to end

darkanimereal1 (paraphrased)

Oh. So they've got a time limit.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

They do. Otherwise the Desolation will start again. What they discovered is not all of them have to. As long as one remains, the Desolation will not start again.

luke.spence (paraphrased)

So, by the nine leaving, did that actually break the Oathpact for them? Did it change the cycle of Desolations?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

They have not completely broken the Oathpact, despite what they may think.

Words of Radiance Dayton signing (March 19, 2014)

OB Ch 38:

Quote

THE TEN HERALDS WERE SEALED UPON DAMNATION, TRAPPING THE VOIDBRINGERS THERE. HOWEVER, IF ANY ONE OF THE TEN AGREED TO BEND HIS OATH AND LET VOIDBRINGERS PAST, IT OPENED A FLOOD. THEY COULD ALL RETURN.

“And that started a Desolation,” Dalinar said.

THAT STARTED A DESOLATION, the Stormfather agreed.

An oath that could be bent, a pact that could be undermined. Dalinar could see what had happened. It seemed so obvious. “They were tortured, weren’t they?”

HORRIBLY, BY THE SPIRITS THEY TRAPPED. THEY COULD SHARE THE PAIN BECAUSE OF THEIR BOND—BUT EVENTUALLY, SOMEONE ALWAYS YIELDED.

ONCE ONE BROKE, ALL TEN HERALDS RETURNED TO ROSHAR. 

 

Thoughts, Ideas, Discussion?

[JohnnyKaizen he/him]

For one, that seems legit. It makes logical sense, and the Everstorm never has made sense to me (in origin, and) as to why it showed up when it did. I am also thinking about that line that Honor threw out to Ishar (when they were discussing leaving Taln on Braize) and the others about how 9 could never work, because it's Odium's number...

9 Heralds on Roshar, and Ishar, the Bondsmith, forged a Connection with Odium directly by absorbing some of his power. Yeah, that seems like it's got some real legs on it.

[Treamayne]

1 minute ago, JohnnyKaizen said:

9 Heralds on Roshar, and Ishar, the Bondsmith, forged a Connection with Odium directly by absorbing some of his power.

And infected the other eight remaining Heralds with that power. . . 

[RedBlue]

I don’t have much to add, but I like this theory.

It answers the ‘why now?’ question which has always felt unexplained to me. The question of why Ishar chose to take up the power, and why he did it centuries rather than millennia ago, will presumably be explored in the back half.

(Mistborn)

Spoiler

Maybe Odium’s Well filled periodically, like Preservation’s Well in Era 1.

That makes me wonder if someone would be able to absorb a chunk of Retribution’s power from his Well and do something with it, once it is full.

 

[Nitpicking]

Hmm ... and now Kaladin and Syl will forge another new storm on Braize, and send it back to Roshar to expel the Everstorm in turn.

[elias888]

I like this theory. Ishar taking Odium’s Investiture and forming a direct connection could explain how the Everstorm got to Roshar. It also answers the question of why it happened when it did. If the other Heralds were infected too, it makes sense why Odium’s influence is so strong now. It feels less like a coincidence and more like part of a bigger plan.