Analyzing the Death Rattles

[Observer]

Alright, so I don't believe anybody has done this yet, so I'll go ahead and post it. I've organized the Death Cries into various categories in the hopes that we might make a little more sense out of them. And with that sad little intro behind us, let's move on!

 

Please note, this now includes spoilers for Words of Radiance, especially the Confirmed section. Continue at your own risk.

Original quotes, mostly in order, complete with chapter name and notations.

PROLOGUE
The love of men is a frigid thing, a mountain stream only three steps from the ice. We are his. Oh Stormfather…we are his. It is but a thousand days, and the Everstorn comes.
-Collected on the first day of the week Palah of the month Shash of the year 1171, thirty-one seconds before death. Subject was a darkeyed pregnant woman of middle years. Child did not survive

HONOR IS DEAD
Ten orders. We were loved, once. Why have you forsaken us, Almighty! Shard of my soul, where have you gone?
-Collected on the second day of Kakash, year 1171, five seconds before death. Subject was a lighteyes woman in her third decade

CITY OF BELLS
A man stood on a cliffside and watched his homeland fall into dust. The waters surged beneath, so far beneath. And he heard a child crying. They were his own tears.
-Collected on the 4th of Tanates, year 1171, thirty seconds before death. Subject was a cobbler of some renown.

THE SHATTERED PLAINS
I’m dying aren’t I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky.
-Collected on the 3rd day of Jesnan, 1172, 11 seconds pre-death. Subject was a Reshi chull trainer. Sample is of particular note.

HERETIC
I have seen the end, and have heard it named. The Night of Sorrows, the True Desolation, The Everstorm.
-Collected on the 1st of Nanes, 1172, 15 seconds pre-death. Subject was a darkeyed youth of unknown origin.

BRIDGE FOUR
I’m cold. Mother, I’m cold. Mother? Why can I still hear the rain? Will it stop?
-Collected on Vevishes, 1172, 32 seconds pre-death. Subject was a lighteyes female child, six years old.

ANYTHING REASONABLE
They are aflame. They burn. They bring darkness when they come, and so all you can see is that their skin is aflame. Burn, burn, burn…
-Collected on Palahishev, 1172, 21 seconds pre-death. Subject was a baker’s apprentice

NEARER THE FLAME
Victory! We stand atop the mount! We scatter them before us! Their homes become our dens, their lands are now our farms! And they shall burn, as we once did, in a place that is hollow and forlorn.
-Collected on Ishan, 1172, 18 seconds pre-death. Subject was a lighteyed spinster of the eights dahn.

DAMNTATION

Ten people, with Shardblades alight, standing before a wall of black and white and red.
-Collected: Jesachev, 1173, 12 seconds pre-death. Subject: one of our own ardents, overheard during his last moments

DROPLETS
Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broken One reigns
-Collected: Chachnan, 1173, 84 seconds pre-death. Subject: a cutpurse with the wasting sickness, of partial Irali descent.

A HIGHWAY TO THE SUN
I’m standing over the body of my brother. I’m weeping. Is that his blood or mine? What have we done?
-Dated Vevanev, 1173, 107 seconds pre-death. Subject: An out of work Veden sailor.

DUNNY
He must pick it up, the fallen title! The tower, the crown, and the spear!
-Dated Vevahach, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: A prostitute. Background unknown.

AN EMERALD BROAM
A woman sits and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal.
-Dated Palahevan, 1173, 73 seconds pre-death. Subject: a beggar of some renown for his elegant songs

THAT STORMING BOOK
Light grows so distant. The storm never stops. I am broken, and all around me have died. I weep for the end of all things. He has won. Oh, he has beaten us.
-Dated Palahakev, 1173, 16 seconds pre-death. Subject: A Thaylen sailor.

WANDERSAIL
I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it give us further breath to draw
-Dated Shashanan, 1173, 23 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyes youth of sixteen years. Sample is of particular note.

THE JOURNEY
Re-Sephir, the Midnight Mother, giving birth to the abominations with her essence so dark, so terrible, so consuming. She is here! She watches me die!
-Dated Shashabev, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyed dockworked in his forties, father of three.

AN HONOR
Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew.
-Dated Batabanan, 1173, 45 seconds pre-death. Subject: A lighteyed child of five years. Dictation improved remarkably when giving sample.

THAT WHICH WE CANNOT HAVE
The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended.
-Dated Betabanes, 1173, 95 seconds pre-death. Subject: A scholar of some minor renown. Sample collected secondhand. Considered questionable.

RIGHT FOR WRONG
In the storm I awaken, falling, spinning, grieving.
-Dated Kakanev, 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. Subject was a city guardsman.

THREE GLYPHS
The darkness becomes a palace. Let it rule! Let is rule!
-Kakevah 1173, 22 seconds pre-death. A darkeye Selay man of unknown profession.

FEAR
I wish to sleep. I know now why you do what you do, and I hate you for it. I will not speak of the truths I see.
-Kakashah 1173, 142 seconds pre-death. A Shin sailor, left behind by his crew, reportedly for bringin them ill luck. Sample largely useless.

A MAN OF EXTREMES
They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.
-Kakashah 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. A rickshaw puller.

THE TOWER
I see them. They are the rocks. They are the vengeful spirits. Eyes of red.

CODES
That chanting, that singing, those rasping voices.
-Kaktach 1173, 16 seconds pre-death. A middle-aged potter. Reported seeing strange dreams during hightstorms during the last two years.

WORDS
Let me no longer hurt! Let me no longer weep! Dai-gonarthis! The Black Fisher holds my soul and consumes it!
-Tanatesach 1173, 28 seconds pre-death. A darkeyed female street juggler. Note similarity to sample 1172-89.

ESHONAI
They named it the Final Desolation, but they lied. Our gods lied. Oh, how they lied. The Everstorm comes. I hear its whispers, see its stormwall, know its heart.
-Tanatenes 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. An Azish itinerant worker. Sample of particular note.

JUSTICE
All is withdrawn from me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds.
-Tanatanev 1173, 18 seconds pre-death. A darkeye mother of four in her sixty-second year.

OTHERS
The day was ours, but they took it. Stormfather! You cannot have it, the day is ours. They come, rasping, and the lights fail. Oh, Stormfather!

And all the world was shattered! The rocks trembled with their steps, and the stones reached towards the heavens. We die! We die!

They break the land itself! They want it, but in their rage they will destroy it. Like the jealous man burns his things rather than let them be taken by his enemies! They come!

Sorted by time pre-death

HONOR IS DEAD
Ten orders. We were loved, once. Why have you forsaken us, Almighty! Shard of my soul, where have you gone?
-Collected on the second day of Kakash, year 1171, five seconds before death. Subject was a lighteyes woman in her third decade

 

 

DUNNY
He must pick it up, the fallen title! The tower, the crown, and the spear!
-Dated Vevahach, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: A prostitute. Background unknown.
 

 

THE JOURNEY
Re-Sephir, the Midnight Mother, giving birth to the abominations with her essence so dark, so terrible, so consuming. She is here! She watches me die!
-Dated Shashabev, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyed dockworked in his forties, father of three.

 

ESHONAI
They named it the Final Desolation, but they lied. Our gods lied. Oh, how they lied. The Everstorm comes. I hear its whispers, see its stormwall, know its heart.
-Tanatenes 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. An Azish itinerant worker. Sample of particular note.

 

 

THE TOWER
I see them. They are the rocks. They are the vengeful spirits. Eyes of red.

 

-Kakakes 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. A darkeyed young woman of fifteen. Subject was reportedly mentally unstable since childhood.

 

 

THE SHATTERED PLAINS
I’m dying aren’t I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky.
-Collected on the 3rd day of Jesnan, 1172, 11 seconds pre-death. Subject was a Reshi chull trainer. Sample is of particular note.

 

 

DAMNTATION

 

Ten people, with Shardblades alight, standing before a wall of black and white and red.
-Collected: Jesachev, 1173, 12 seconds pre-death. Subject: one of our own ardents, overheard during his last moments

 

 

RIGHT FOR WRONG
In the storm I awaken, falling, spinning, grieving.
-Dated Kakanev, 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. Subject was a city guardsman.

 

 

A MAN OF EXTREMES
They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.
-Kakashah 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. A rickshaw puller.

 

 

HERETIC
I have seen the end, and have heard it named. The Night of Sorrows, the True Desolation, The Everstorm.
-Collected on the 1st of Nanes, 1172, 15 seconds pre-death. Subject was a darkeyed youth of unknown origin.

 

CODES
That chanting, that singing, those rasping voices.
-Kaktach 1173, 16 seconds pre-death. A middle-aged potter. Reported seeing strange dreams during hightstorms during the last two years.
 

 

THAT STORMING BOOK
Light grows so distant. The storm never stops. I am broken, and all around me have died. I weep for the end of all things. He has won. Oh, he has beaten us.
-Dated Palahakev, 1173, 16 seconds pre-death. Subject: A Thaylen sailor.
 

 

 

NEARER THE FLAME
Victory! We stand atop the mount! We scatter them before us! Their homes become our dens, their lands are now our farms! And they shall burn, as we once did, in a place that is hollow and forlorn.
-Collected on Ishan, 1172, 18 seconds pre-death. Subject was a lighteyed spinster of the eights dahn.

 

 

JUSTICE
All is withdrawn from me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds.
-Tanatanev 1173, 18 seconds pre-death. A darkeye mother of four in her sixty-second year.

ANYTHING REASONABLE
They are aflame. They burn. They bring darkness when they come, and so all you can see is that their skin is aflame. Burn, burn, burn…
-Collected on Palahishev, 1172, 21 seconds pre-death. Subject was a baker’s apprentice

 

 

THREE GLYPHS
The darkness becomes a palace. Let it rule! Let is rule!
-Kakevah 1173, 22 seconds pre-death. A darkeye Selay man of unknown profession.

 

 

WANDERSAIL
I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it give us further breath to draw
-Dated Shashanan, 1173, 23 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyes youth of sixteen years. Sample is of particular note.

 

 

WANDERSAIL
I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it give us further breath to draw
-Dated Shashanan, 1173, 23 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyes youth of sixteen years. Sample is of particular note.

 

 

WORDS
Let me no longer hurt! Let me no longer weep! Dai-gonarthis! The Black Fisher holds my soul and consumes it!
-Tanatesach 1173, 28 seconds pre-death. A darkeyed female street juggler. Note similarity to sample 1172-89.

 

 

CITY OF BELLS
A man stood on a cliffside and watched his homeland fall into dust. The waters surged beneath, so far beneath. And he heard a child crying. They were his own tears.
-Collected on the 4th of Tanates, year 1171, thirty seconds before death. Subject was a cobbler of some renown.

 

 

PROLOGUE
The love of men is a frigid thing, a mountain stream only three steps from the ice. We are his. Oh Stormfather…we are his. It is but a thousand days, and the Everstorn comes.
-Collected on the first day of the week Palah of the month Shash of the year 1171, thirty-one seconds before death. Subject was a darkeyed pregnant woman of middle years. Child did not survive

BRIDGE FOUR
I’m cold. Mother, I’m cold. Mother? Why can I still hear the rain? Will it stop?
-Collected on Vevishes, 1172, 32 seconds pre-death. Subject was a lighteyes female child, six years old.
 

 

AN HONOR
Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew.
-Dated Batabanan, 1173, 45 seconds pre-death. Subject: A lighteyed child of five years. Dictation improved remarkably when giving sample.

 

 

AN EMERALD BROAM
A woman sits and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal.
-Dated Palahevan, 1173, 73 seconds pre-death. Subject: a beggar of some renown, known for his elegant songs

 

DROPLETS
Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broken One reigns
-Collected: Chachnan, 1173, 84 seconds pre-death. Subject: a cutpurse with the wasting sickness, of partial Irali descent.
 

 

THAT WHICH WE CANNOT HAVE
The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended.
-Dated Betabanes, 1173, 95 seconds pre-death. Subject: A scholar of some minor renown. Sample collected secondhand. Considered questionable.

 

A HIGHWAY TO THE SUN
I’m standing over the body of my brother. I’m weeping. Is that his blood or mine? What have we done?
-Dated Vevanev, 1173, 107 seconds pre-death. Subject: An out of work Veden sailor.
 

 

FEAR
I wish to sleep. I know now why you do what you do, and I hate you for it. I will not speak of the truths I see.
-Kakashah 1173, 142 seconds pre-death. A Shin sailor, left behind by his crew, reportedly for bringin them ill luck. Sample largely useless.

 

Sorted by notation comments on usefulness.

Samples of Note

THE SHATTERED PLAINS
I’m dying aren’t I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky.
-Collected on the 3rd day of Jesnan, 1172, 11 seconds pre-death. Subject was a Reshi chull trainer. Sample is of particular note.

WANDERSAIL
I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it give us further breath to draw
-Dated Shashanan, 1173, 23 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyes youth of sixteen years. Sample is of particular note.

ESHONAI
They named it the Final Desolation, but they lied. Our gods lied. Oh, how they lied. The Everstorm comes. I hear its whispers, see its stormwall, know its heart.
-Tanatenes 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. An Azish itinerant worker. Sample of particular note.

Questionable/Useless

THAT WHICH WE CANNOT HAVE
The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended.
-Dated Betabanes, 1173, 95 seconds pre-death. Subject: A scholar of some minor renown. Sample collected secondhand. Considered questionable.

FEAR
I wish to sleep. I know now why you do what you do, and I hate you for it. I will not speak of the truths I see.
-Kakashah 1173, 142 seconds pre-death. A Shin sailor, left behind by his crew, reportedly for bringing them ill luck. Sample largely useless.

 

Given by those of renown

CITY OF BELLS
A man stood on a cliffside and watched his homeland fall into dust. The waters surged beneath, so far beneath. And he heard a child crying. They were his own tears.
-Collected on the 4th of Tanates, year 1171, thirty seconds before death. Subject was a cobbler of some renown.

AN EMERALD BROAM
A woman sits and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal.
-Dated Palahevan, 1173, 73 seconds pre-death. Subject: a beggar of some renown for his elegant songs.

THAT WHICH WE CANNOT HAVE
The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended.
-Dated Betabanes, 1173, 95 seconds pre-death. Subject: A scholar of some minor renown. Sample collected secondhand. Considered questionable.

Recognized Events.

PROLOGUE
The love of men is a frigid thing, a mountain stream only three steps from the ice. We are his. Oh Stormfather…we are his. It is but a thousand days, and the Everstorm comes.
-Collected on the first day of the week Palah of the month Shash of the year 1171, thirty-one seconds before death. Subject was a darkeyed pregnant woman of middle years. Child did not survive
---Seems to refer to mankind losing to Odium. Also references the final desolation.

HONOR IS DEAD
Ten orders. We were loved, once. Why have you forsaken us, Almighty! Shard of my soul, where have you gone?
-Collected on the second day of Kakash, year 1171, five seconds before death. Subject was a lighteyes woman in her third decade
---The chapter title matches the quote. Ten orders refers to the Knights Radiant. Note the use of the word 'shard' when describing the Almighty.

CITY OF BELLS
A man stood on a cliffside and watched his homeland fall into dust. The waters surged beneath, so far beneath. And he heard a child crying. They were his own tears.
-Collected on the 4th of Tanates, year 1171, thirty seconds before death. Subject was a cobbler of some renown.
---Seems to refer to Dalinar's final vision to me. Him seeing his homeworld fall to pieces before him.

THE SHATTERED PLAINS
I’m dying aren’t I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky.
-Collected on the 3rd day of Jesnan, 1172, 11 seconds pre-death. Subject was a Reshi chull trainer. Sample is of particular note.
---Very interesting sample. Not only does he note the surgeons killing him, he also notices a Truthspren and glimpses Sharesmar. The fact that this sample is marked interesting hints at knowledge of Radiant Soulcasting, or at least Shadesmar.

HERETIC
I have seen the end, and have heard it named. The Night of Sorrows, the True Desolation, The Everstorm.
-Collected on the 1st of Nanes, 1172, 15 seconds pre-death. Subject was a darkeyed youth of unknown origin.
---Once more, this sample refers to the Final Desolation, and therefore is of interest.

ANYTHING REASONABLE
They are aflame. They burn. They bring darkness when they come, and so all you can see is that their skin is aflame. Burn, burn, burn…
-Collected on Palahishev, 1172, 21 seconds pre-death. Subject was a baker’s apprentice
---Seems to reference the Voidbringers, and supports what I view to be the incorrect Parshendi-Voidbringer theory.

DAMNTATION
Ten people, with Shardblades alight, standing before a wall of black and white and red.
-Collected: Jesachev, 1173, 12 seconds pre-death. Subject: one of our own ardents, overheard during his last moments
---The Heralds are mentioned, though he says Shardblades, not Honorblades. Could be a mistake. References the Voidbringers

DROPLETS
Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broken One reigns
-Collected: Chachnan, 1173, 84 seconds pre-death. Subject: a cutpurse with the wasting sickness, of partial Irali descent.
---Sample here is of note. References the shards of Roshar, and mentions a "Boken one", possibly Odium. Hints at a hidden shard yet unseen.

DUNNY
He must pick it up, the fallen title! The tower, the crown, and the spear!
-Dated Vevahach, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: A prostitute. Background unknown.

---The Tower and Crown are Dalinar's symbols, and the Spear is Kaladin's weapon. Not an overly solid connection, but a working one. I suspect further investigation will reveal more from this quote.

THAT STORMING BOOK
Light grows so distant. The storm never stops. I am broken, and all around me have died. I weep for the end of all things. He has won. Oh, he has beaten us.
-Dated Palahakev, 1173, 16 seconds pre-death. Subject: A Thaylen sailor.
---Seems to refer to the Everstorm, since it mentions an unending storm. It indicates that either Odium or another has won, and quite soundly at that.

THE JOURNEY
Re-Sephir, the Midnight Mother, giving birth to the abomantations with her essence so dark, so terrible, so consuming. She is here! She watches me die!
-Dated Shashabev, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyed dockworked in his forties, father of three.
---Note the referrence to Midnight Essence here. Possibly this is the souce of them, since Dalinar's visions indicate that they are created, rather than born.

AN HONOR
Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew.
-Dated Batabanan, 1173, 45 seconds pre-death. Subject: A lighteyed child of five years. Dictation improved remarkably when giving sample.
---Very interesting quote. Seems to refer to Kaladin drinking stomlight off the Parshendi, witht he old oaths of the Radiants sparking into his mind. Could the dying be Voidbinding to see the future?

FEAR
I wish to sleep. I know now why you do what you do, and I hate you for it. I will not speak of the truths I see.
-Kakashah 1173, 142 seconds pre-death. A Shin sailor, left behind by his crew, reportedly for bringing them ill luck. Sample largely useless.
---Quote indicates that in death, the Shin sailor discovered his death and the reason behind it, and decided not to speak of what he saw. Indicates a level of decision behind speaking. Perhaps another oddity of the Shin?

THE TOWER
I see them. They are the rocks. They are the vengeful spirits. Eyes of red.
---Description seems to refer to a Thunderclast, judging by the Herald chapterrs.

CODES
That chanting, that singing, those rasping voices.
-Kaktach 1173, 16 seconds pre-death. A middle-aged potter. Reported seeing strange dreams during hightstorms during the last two years.
---Rasping voices seems a recurring theme. Appears to referrence either the Voidbringers or the Parshendi.

ESHONAI
They named it the Final Desolation, but they lied. Our gods lied. Oh, how they lied. The Everstorm comes. I hear its whispers, see its stormwall, know its heart.
-Tanatenes 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. An Azish itinerant worker. Sample of particular note.
---Another reference to the Final Desolation, this time refering to it, pehaps metaphorically, as a Highstorm. Note the knowledge of the Herald's lies.

EPILOGUE
The day was ours, but they took it. Stormfather! You cannot have it, the day is ours. They come, rasping, and the lights fail. Oh, Stormfather!
---Note the word rasping and its useage. Lights failing indicates a Surgebinder, possibly Voidish

MAPS
And all the world was shattered! The rocks trembled with their steps, and the stones reached towards the heavens. We die! We die!
---Note the similarities between this sample and Hoid's letter. Both mention stone pillars of the heavens or such things. Perhaps the Windblades?

Confirmed Events.

Ones that match chapter titles and are more or less 95% confirmed go here.

 

AN HONOR
Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew.
-Dated Batabanan, 1173, 45 seconds pre-death. Subject: A lighteyed child of five years. Dictation improved remarkably when giving sample.

--This is Kaladin at the end of The Way of Kings, bridgemen behind him, Kholin in front of him, with the Stormlight of the Parshendi gems to breathe in. He speaks the oaths, we know the rest. Pretty much speaks for itself.

 

A MAN OF EXTREMES
They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.
-Kakashah 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. A rickshaw puller.

--Kaladin and Shallan emerging from the chasm in WoR, a gemheart in their hands. That chapter is called True Glory.

 

JUSTICE
All is withdrawn from me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds.
-Tanatanev 1173, 18 seconds pre-death. A darkeye mother of four in her sixty-second year.

--Pretty much guaranteed to be Kaladin defending the king from Moash in WoR

 

AN EMERALD BROAM
A woman sits and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal.
-Dated Palahevan, 1173, 73 seconds pre-death. Subject: a beggar of some renown for his elegant songs

--All but confirmed by WoB to be Shalash hammering out her own statues, and she is the daughter of Jezrien, the Herald of the Windrunners.

I plan to add to this list as I get more time and see more connections. For now, speculate on what we have.

Edited April 8, 2014 by Observer

[CrazyRioter she/her]

I don't place a great deal of credence to the idea that seeing the future = Voidbinding, for the record, I suspect that's a religious misunderstanding.

[Millennium]

WANDERSAIL

I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it give us further breath to draw

-Dated Shashanan, 1173, 23 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyes youth of sixteen years. Sample is of particular note.

Here's a thought: is it possible that this is from Odium's perspective, referring to the Splintering of Honor?

Shards seem to have something like a mind behind them -at the very least, some force to power its intent- but the level of actual thought and awareness is still subject to question. They may very well seem like newborn babies to someone with more complex thought patterns, like an adult human (or, on a much higher level, a Shardbearer). Thus, Honor -not Tanavast, who is probably already dead by this point, but the actual shard Honor- could be "the suckling child."

What does it mean to Splinter a Shard? We know it's possible to kill a Shardholder without doing that. It seems likely that Splintering would be traumatic enough to kill a Shardholder who is not already dead, but is this even possible? Odium doesn't seem the sort to confront other Shardholders directly unless absolutely necessary, but thus far he's killed the holder of every Shard he's Splintered, so perhaps it is necessary. What if the way to Splinter a Shard were simply for its holder to command it to Splinter? This would certainly necessitate killing any existing Shardholder first. You would then have to pick up the Shard briefly without bonding to it -another thing that we know is possible- and this could be "holding the child in my hands, a knife at his throat."

People don't usually commit atrocities without perceiving a reason to do so (even if, from an outsider's perspective, that reason is seldom if ever a good one). Has Rayse convinced himself, possibly under Odium's influence, that this is for the good of the cosmere? Or is he perhaps a kind of solipsist, believing that he (and Odium?) are the only things that truly exist, or are at least the only things that matter? Either line of thinking could easily lead a person to "know" that "all who live" deem this course of action necessary.

It is interesting that Shards are never spoken of as destroyed, but "Splintered". It implies that they are not truly gone, but that their power is dispersed. If we take blood to be a metaphor for power in this case, then it is indeed "spilled upon the ground, over (Rayse's) hands," though it does lead to a curious inconsistency where a Shard whose "blood" is spilled still does not truly die. Metaphors, by their nature, can only be stretched so far.

And lastly, there is the matter of "giving us further breath to draw." It is possible that this is about survival: Odium may think the other Shardholders wish to kill him, and since his name can be taken to mean "that which should be hated," this is might not be the most unreasonable thing to fear. By striking at them first, he hopes to survive: thus, by their deaths, he gains further breath to draw. But he also seeks to set himself apart from the rest of the cosmere by being the only entity at his level of power: as such, every Shard he defeats puts him further away from the rest oc the cosmere. That could be said to give him more breathing room: "more breath to draw".

[Cracknut he/him]

He must pick it up, the fallen title! The tower, the crown, and the spear!

-Dated Vevahach, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: A prostitute. Background unknown.

---The Tower and Crown are Dalinar's symbols, and the Spear is Kaladin's weapon. Not an overly solid connection, but a working one. I suspect further investigation will reveal more from this quote.

Fallen title - Knights Radiant

Tower - 1) Big plateau where Sadeas abandoned Dalinar's army. 2) Wasn't it Tower where Knight Radiants resided?

Crown - 1) Dalinar won Elhokar's faith 2) Kaladin becomes king.

Spear - 1) Kaladin (Dalinar befriended him) 2) Kaladin picked up spear.

Thats how I see it. "The tower, the crown, and the spear!" - tower and crown referring to Kholins and Spear to Kaladin... idk I think each of them means different thing or all together something one.

Shardblades... Honorblades... I think those are same. 1) Honorblades were blades of honor, then someone(Odium) corrupted them and they became Shardblades. 2) Back then, people wielding Shardblades were honorable, now they see Honor as foolishness. 3) Both.

Windblades? What are those?

Edited September 19, 2012 by 213

[Vortaan he/him]

HONOR IS DEAD

Ten orders. We were loved, once. Why have you forsaken us, Almighty! Shard of my soul, where have you gone?

-Collected on the second day of Kakash, year 1171, five seconds before death. Subject was a lighteyes woman in her third decade

This is interesting to me, because of the shard of my soul reference. Is it possible that the nahel bond doesn't just gift the bound spren with a Cognitive aspect but a Spiritual one as well?

[Observer]

Shardblades... Honorblades... I think those are same

These blades were weapons of power beyond even Shardblades. These were unique. Precious. Jezrien stood outside the ring of swords, looking eastward.

Windblades? What are those?

They're the tall pillars of rock in Dalinar's homeland.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Observer

[+Czernobog]

WANDERSAIL

I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it give us further breath to draw.

-Dated Shashanan, 1173, 23 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyes youth of sixteen years. Sample is of particular note.

I'm starting to think this is Taln speaking.

When Kalak spoke of "that place of pain and fire" and "The flesh burning. The fires. The pain over and over and over..." initially I took this to mean that the Heralds finally broke because they could no longer endure repeated torture at the hands of Odium. That reeks too much of Odium being sadism incarnate. Sadism alone doesn't seem to mesh well with the nuances of the meaning of odium. Rather than Kalak dreading becoming once again the recipient of endless pain, I think instead he dreaded once more becoming a person who must mete out endless pain.

What is the most loathsome thing one can do to someone sworn to protect others? Twist the oath so that, in order to uphold it, one must commit terrible atrocities against a small number in order to protect the greater number.

[Observer]

You might be on to something there.

[Zenith]

I'm starting to think this is Taln speaking.

When Kalak spoke of "that place of pain and fire" and "The flesh burning. The fires. The pain over and over and over..." initially I took this to mean that the Heralds finally broke because they could no longer endure repeated torture at the hands of Odium. That reeks too much of Odium being sadism incarnate. Sadism alone doesn't seem to mesh well with the nuances of the meaning of odium. Rather than Kalak dreading becoming once again the recipient of endless pain, I think instead he dreaded once more becoming a person who must mete out endless pain.

What is the most loathsome thing one can do to someone sworn to protect others? Twist the oath so that, in order to uphold it, one must commit terrible atrocities against a small number in order to protect the greater number.

That, sir, is a very good idea, +1 to you. My issue, looking at this, is the flesh burning part; unless the dawnshards or whatever the Heralds use cause fire, I don't know how that would fit in.

Also, good topic: I never connected the death sayings to events in the present.

[Observer]

Doesn't Shadesmar have a whole bunch of fire everywhere? It could be that they died and got their minds trapped in there for a few centuries of torment.

[Zenith]

It could. I'll have to find the description of Shadesmar in my copy tonight....

[dionysus]

I believe many of these are similar to Dalinar's dreams in that we have someone experiencing the historical perspective of someone else. With that I have a few wild speculations.

"Ten orders. We were loved, once. Why have you forsaken us, Almighty! Shard of my soul, where have you gone?" - From the perspective of a KR. Implies also that Honor perhaps created the humans or has given a part of himself to humans. "Shard of my soul..." I don't think that is just a turn of phrase.

"Victory! We stand atop the mount! We scatter them before us! Their homes become our dens, their lands are now our farms! And they shall burn, as we once did, in a place that is hollow and forlorn." One of the fallen Herald's perhaps. They have sent a vanquished enemy to their place of torment. Absolutely wild speculation follows: The parshmen appear to be soulless automatons. Could their souls have been sent to Damnation when the 9 Herald's violated the oathpact. This would fit with Jasnah's theory on the parshmen.

"Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broekn One reigns" - The default assumption is that the Broken one is Odium but to me that doesn't fit. Could the splinters of Honor be the broken one, and in its splintered state we have a perversion of honor. This goes along with the metaphor of the Wandersail. Where the dead king's edicts are carried out in a perverse manner with no understanding.

"A woman sits and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal." Believe this is referring to that Herald that desecrates her own statues. Forget the name.

"Light grows so distant. The storm never stops. I am broken, and all around me have died. I weep for the end of all things. He has won. Oh, he has beaten us." I think this is Honor himself speaking

"The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended." Either Tanavast/Honor or the Way of Kings writer.

"All is withdrawn from me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds." Wild speculation that this is Odium

Anyone else confused about who the Stormfather is?

Edited September 20, 2012 by dionysus

[Aethling he/him]

It may have just been me, but I got the feeling that most of the deathquotes reflected something in the chapter they precede. If we look at it through that lens, I have a feeling everything will be much clearer.

[Zenith]

The stormfather is the leader of the heralds, I believe that was mentioned in a bridge 4 chapter. If quotes are needed, I'll find them.

[Observer]

I believe many of these are similar to Dalinar's dreams in that we have someone experiencing the historical perspective of someone else. With that I have a few wild speculations.

"Ten orders. We were loved, once. Why have you forsaken us, Almighty! Shard of my soul, where have you gone?" - From the perspective of a KR. Implies also that Honor perhaps created the humans or has given a part of himself to humans. "Shard of my soul..." I don't think that is just a turn of phrase.

The fact that the Almight IS a shard makes this sample even more noteworthy.

"Victory! We stand atop the mount! We scatter them before us! Their homes become our dens, their lands are now our farms! And they shall burn, as we once did, in a place that is hollow and forlorn." One of the fallen Herald's perhaps. They have sent a vanquished enemy to their place of torment. Absolutely wild speculation follows: The parshmen appear to be soulless automatons. Could their souls have been sent to Damnation when the 9 Herald's violated the oathpact. This would fit with Jasnah's theory on the parshmen.

Sound smore like something something else would say about humans being kicked out...scariness.

"Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broekn One reigns" - The default assumption is that the Broken one is Odium but to me that doesn't fit. Could the splinters of Honor be the broken one, and in its splintered state we have a perversion of honor. This goes along with the metaphor of the Wandersail. Where the dead king's edicts are carried out in a perverse manner with no understanding.

The storm said quite clearly that Odium reigns, and we know that Honor is gone, and we've had it strongly hinted at that Cultivation is as well. What if by 'three of sixteen reigned' it means they worked together, and Odium 'broke' the peace?

"A woman sits and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal." Believe this is referring to that Herald that desecrates her own statues. Forget the name.

Shallash, the Herald for the artistic Devotionaries, which is kind of ironic all things considered.

"Light grows so distant. The storm never stops. I am broken, and all around me have died. I weep for the end of all things. He has won. Oh, he has beaten us." I think this is Honor himself speaking

I don't think so. In the visions, Honor seemed much more confident that Odium could be beaten than Preservation in the visions.

"The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended." Either Tanavast/Honor or the Way of Kings writer.

Sounds like somebody commenting on death.

"All is withdrawn from me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds." Wild speculation that this is Odium

I doubt it's Odium. It simply doesn't fit the loathsome and crafty Rayse we know.

Anyone else confused about who the Stormfather is?

He's Jezrien, Lord of the Heralds.

[Lightflame he/him]

You missed one.

HOID AND SZETH'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

Don't worry. I've tried this before.

-Dated Shashanan, 1171, 10 seconds pre-death. Subject: Young lighteyed officer. Sample is considered incredibly important.

I think this one implies that you shouldn't try to jump in front of a car driven by a Voidbringer.

[Observer]

You missed one.

I think this one implies that you shouldn't try to jump in front of a car driven by a Voidbringer.

Congratz, you made me laugh.

Added a deathcry I missed

Edited September 21, 2012 by Observer

[Lightflame he/him]

You did miss chapter one, by the way.

[Cheese Ninja he/him]

I mentioned this in the Dates thread, but the one about Kaladin's bridge leap is the only one out of chronological order. [7-2-2] The next chapter's quote is on [7-2-1].

Also, the first death quote "It is but a thousand days, and the Everstorm comes." takes place on [6-5-1] of 1171.

“ReShephir, the Midnight Mother, giving birth to abominations with her essence so dark, so terrible, so consuming. She is here! She watches me die!”—Dated Shashabev, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: a darkeyed dock-worker in his forties, father of three. (284) [6-7-4]

This one and all the ones after it take place more than a thousand days after. So either the 1000 days is not exact, or the Everstorm is more of a metaphor than Tanavast's vision to Dalinar made it seem.

“The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended.”—Dated Betabanes, 1173, 95 seconds pre-death. Subject: a scholar of some minor renown. Sample collected secondhand. Considered questionable.(306) [7-2-1]

Seems like it could be any Radiant to me, it's just the reverse of the 1st Ideal.

Last time epigraphs were discussed.

“They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.”—Kakashah 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. A rickshaw puller. (380) [8-6-5]

I have a slightly convoluted theory about this. The only pits we have at this point is the dueling pits, so I'm going to assume that in this instance, "pit" means chasm. If anyone falls into the chasms on the Shattered Plains, they're assumed dead, but if Kaladin works on his Windrunners abilities a bit, he should be able to keep himself and another guy alive if they fall in. And if they come out with a "heart" (gemheart) I think they'd get a lot of glory.

[The Count he/him]

I'm starting to think this is Taln speaking.

When Kalak spoke of "that place of pain and fire" and "The flesh burning. The fires. The pain over and over and over..." initially I took this to mean that the Heralds finally broke because they could no longer endure repeated torture at the hands of Odium. That reeks too much of Odium being sadism incarnate. Sadism alone doesn't seem to mesh well with the nuances of the meaning of odium. Rather than Kalak dreading becoming once again the recipient of endless pain, I think instead he dreaded once more becoming a person who must mete out endless pain.

What is the most loathsome thing one can do to someone sworn to protect others? Twist the oath so that, in order to uphold it, one must commit terrible atrocities against a small number in order to protect the greater number.

I don't think this can be the case...

In the prologue Kalak specifically remembers being tortured himself. He talks about hooks into his body and burning through his skin and fat etc..

Not got an exact quote but it definitely implies tha Kalak is the one being tortured.

Edited September 21, 2012 by MadRand

[Observer]

“They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.”—Kakashah 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. A rickshaw puller.

Who buys corpses? Sadeas. The stupid ones walk around, thinking they still lived, but they're dead.

This could refer to that particualar quote.

[Millennium]

I don't think this can be the case...

In the prologue Kalak specifically remembers being tortured himself. He talks about hooks into his body and burning through his skin and fat etc..

Not got an exact quote but it definitely implies tha Kalak is the one being tortured.

I'm not entirely certain that they're mutually exclusive. We don't know what happened to the Heralds after they left; it's possible that those who were tortured might have found themselves forced to become the torturers.

[SarahfromVA]

I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it give us further breath to draw

-Dated Shashanan, 1173, 23 seconds pre-death. Subject: A darkeyes youth of sixteen years. Sample is of particular note.

I've been thinking that this quote actually refers to Taravangian. One of the death cries has a note about it being from a child and that the child's diction improved remarkably while speaking. I can imagine his next "test" being to try an even younger child (perhaps one even still nursing) and see if THEY would talk. All in the interest of helping humanity, of course.

That would also explain why he or his helpers think that the sample is of particular note. They'll interpret it as proof that what they're doing is right.

“They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.”—Kakashah 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. A rickshaw puller.

I personally interpreted this as being the return of Dalinar and Adolin, who should have been dead, and who hold Navani's heart in their hands, metaphorically speaking. (Of course, that's Dalinar much much more than Adolin, so it's not exactly a perfect theory.)

[Zenith]

I personally interpreted this as being the return of Dalinar and Adolin, who should have been dead, and who hold Navani's heart in their hands, metaphorically speaking. (Of course, that's Dalinar much much more than Adolin, so it's not exactly a perfect theory.)

That is really good; I never thought of it that way, I thought it was more literal. Good job!

Anyway, do you think there will be more death cry chapter headings in book 2?

[Senor Feesh]

“They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.”—Kakashah 1173, 13 seconds pre-death. A rickshaw puller.

I personally interpreted this as being the return of Dalinar and Adolin, who should have been dead, and who hold Navani's heart in their hands, metaphorically speaking. (Of course, that's Dalinar much much more than Adolin, so it's not exactly a perfect theory.)

Different take: The Gemheart from the Greatshell. Not sure if this would refer to Dalinar and Elhokar, or Alinar and Adolin. Either way, this could refer to that. Or to something else entirely. These death-quotes are very like prophecy - vague enough that many meanings can be inferred.