Splinters of Honor

[DSCrankshaw]

While the Shard of Honor is being claimed by Taravangian, we see pieces of it split off.

“Go, Dalinar said. Watch. Learn.

“The power accepted Taravangian at Dalinar’s urging. Though interestingly, a few small pieces of it split off and fled. Dalinar had not expected that.” (Chapter 143, p. 1284)

So it looks like some Splinters broke off from Honor as it merged. Where did they go?

I’ve seen two main theories:

1. One, that it went to Kaladin and the Heralds to reforge the Oathpact, create Kaladin’s Honorspear, and empower Stormqueen Syl. The problem with that is that Dalinar knew what Kaladin was doing, so would have expected them to use a piece of Honor to reforge the Oathpact.
2. The other theory is that it’s gone to form other Stormfather-level spren. I’m not sure how I feel about pieces of Honor leaving and immediately becoming sentient, as Honor itself isn’t fully sentient yet.

I’d like to propose that the power of Honor was following Dalinar’s instructions to go, watch, and learn, and specifically to those he was hoping could teach it. As Dalinar instructed it when it left him: “There are still lessons to learn, stories to tell, but you cannot learn them from me. For you are not Honor. Not yet. Honor is far more than an oath kept. Learn, see, and remember me. Ask yourself why.” So who could Honor learn these things from?

Dalinar, as he connected to Honor and afterward, spent a lot of time thinking about those people he was connected to who had shown true honor:

“Dalinar strode toward Odium, the power or Honor surrounding him. He saw it, true honor, in the efforts of two young people to set right an ancient wrong. In the way a young spearman rose to his feet in the darkness. In a man who stood with friends to save a city that was not his own. In the Lightweaver who refused the lies and accepted truth. Even in the way a queen who had been wrong resolved to do better . . . That was honor. The power couldn’t see it, and that still troubled Dalinar, but he could.” (Chapter 141, p. 1264)

Then later: “Today, Dalinar had seen true honor.” (Chapter 142, p. 1277) He names five people by name: Adolin, Renarin, Jasnah, Shallan, and Kaladin. That is part of what Dalinar is hoping Honor will learn—that honor is not just swearing and then following oaths. So when Dalinar told honor to “Go. Watch. Learn,” it makes sense that Honor would seek out those whom Dalinar thought could teach it. So who is that? My guess is the following

1. Kaladin and Syl received some of it, as most people suspect. Either as part of the renewed Oathpact and Kaladin’s Honorspear, or possibly empowering Syl, if that came from Honor rather than the Stormfather.
2. I also suspect Adolin's Unoathed received a piece. Unoathed Shardplate can still heal, and we know that normally requires Stormlight. Maya thinks it might be a side-effect of what the Heralds did, but that’s speculative. I think it’s more likely that it’s powered by one of the Splinters of Honor.
3. Everyone else whom Dalinar thought of was at Urithiru, either in the physical or cognitive realm. So I would guess at least one splinter went there. Possibly to provide the Stormlight part of Towerlight.

Are these pieces of Honor sentient? If it hopes to learn, don’t they need to be? It’s hard to tell. If it’s the piece that’s empowering Syl, then it became part of her, not its own sentient piece. Similarly, a piece empowering the Shardplate may be part of the plate spren directly, or even part of Maya—though it seems like she should be aware of it if that were the case. If the power became part of the Sibling, we might not know as we aren’t in communication with the Sibling right now.

Any other thoughts?

[Riino He/Him]

2 hours ago, DSCrankshaw said:

I’d like to propose that the power of Honor was following Dalinar’s instructions to go, watch, and learn, and specifically to those he was hoping could teach it. As Dalinar instructed it when it left him: “There are still lessons to learn, stories to tell, but you cannot learn them from me. For you are not Honor. Not yet. Honor is far more than an oath kept. Learn, see, and remember me. Ask yourself why.” So who could Honor learn these things from?

That is very interesting and haven't found that idea anywhere else. It does seems to make what Dalinar was talking about in command to the Splinters of Honour.

[Through The Living Ash he/him]

I like this theory. I agree with this. Not sure why it is a problem that Dalinar knew of the refounding of the Oathpact; I would think that would make it more sure. The Shards create life all the time, so I could see it becoming sentient instantly, if that was the intention. 

[Jult]

I haven't heard this take before either and I really really like it.

12 hours ago, DSCrankshaw said:

“Go, Dalinar said. Watch. Learn."

Dalinar's words do sound reminiscent of a Command that an Awakener would use. I originally read it as Honor thinking for itself when it split off; especially because it surprised Dalinar. But I think your interpretation is much better. Honor wasn't thinking for itself. It was obeying the Command given by Dalinar. Dalinar just hadn't realized it.

Some follow-up thoughts:

• Would these pieces of Honor be independent from one another? Or would they have some kind of collected consciousness between them like a hivemind of sorts?
  • If they are of one mind, does that include the chunk of Honor held by Taravangian? Will that chunk become progressively dissatisfied with him as a host as it learns about "true" honor?
• Will Honor's changed perception of (lowercase) honor change the nature of the Shard itself? In the way that Rayse claimed 'Passion' was a more fitting name than 'Odium', will Honor eventually want to change its own name to something with a similar but more nuanced meaning like Integrity or Decency?
  • Or perhaps these pieces of Honor will each claim their own identity as one 'facet' of Honor (e.g. Integrity, Decency, Honesty, Virtue, Morality)?

[ChillPenguin]

On 5/23/2025 at 12:01 PM, Jult said:

I haven't heard this take before either and I really really like it.

Dalinar's words do sound reminiscent of a Command that an Awakener would use. I originally read it as Honor thinking for itself when it split off; especially because it surprised Dalinar. But I think your interpretation is much better. Honor wasn't thinking for itself. It was obeying the Command given by Dalinar. Dalinar just hadn't realized it.

Some follow-up thoughts:

• Would these pieces of Honor be independent from one another? Or would they have some kind of collected consciousness between them like a hivemind of sorts?
  • If they are of one mind, does that include the chunk of Honor held by Taravangian? Will that chunk become progressively dissatisfied with him as a host as it learns about "true" honor?
• Will Honor's changed perception of (lowercase) honor change the nature of the Shard itself? In the way that Rayse claimed 'Passion' was a more fitting name than 'Odium', will Honor eventually want to change its own name to something with a similar but more nuanced meaning like Integrity or Decency?
  • Or perhaps these pieces of Honor will each claim their own identity as one 'facet' of Honor (e.g. Integrity, Decency, Honesty, Virtue, Morality)?

Spoiler

We know that Autonomy’s avatars have their own personality and interpretation of things, which may be partly due to the intent of the shard, but a lot of it has to do with the vessel (as we know vessels can influence shards a bit). All those avatars are still connected together though.

 

I believe Honor’s splinters are separate but connected. I think it would take a LOT to change the intent of a splinter away from the rest of the shard, probably dawnshard level power to do it. I’d be inclined to think that if a splinter was trying to change that investiture too much, the investiture would leave the vessel. 

Edited May 30, 2025 by ChillPenguin

[Jult]

38 minutes ago, ChillPenguin said:

In that same way, Honor’s splinters are separate but connected. I think it would take a LOT to change the intent of a splinter away from the rest of the shard, probably dawnshard level power to do it. I’d be inclined to think that if a splinter was trying to change that investiture too much, the investiture would leave the vessel. 

This is the 'Stormlight Only' board, but I'm hoping you don't mind full Cosmere spoilers since you've mentioned Autonomy.

Major non-Stormlight Mistborn Era 1 spoiler:

Spoiler

I don't mean to change the Intent of the Shard entirely. Just to steer it towards a different interpretation of that Intent. In a fashion similar to how Ati steered Ruin towards 'gradual decay over long periods of time' instead of simply 'destroy stuff'.

[ThroughTheLivingIlliterate He/Him]

On 5/23/2025 at 9:30 AM, Ashkaloda said:

Not sure why it is a problem that Dalinar knew of the refounding of the Oathpact; I would think that would make it more sure.

I think that he was referring to the fact that Dalinar was confused about where they were going. He understands that something needed to go to the oathpact, but something else is confusing Dalinar.