Szeth and Gavilar's encounter

[Pannax]

So i was re-re-re-rereading TWOK and i stumbled across this little gem in the prologue "To kill"

 

 

"It's all unraveling. I am sorry, King of the Alethi. I doubt that you care. Not anymore, at least." "At least you won't hav to watch the world ending with the rest of us."

 

Might Szeth be refering to the comming desolation?

 

It can't be him reffering to a possible civil war in Alethkar, because it wouldn't be the end of the world, and it would most likely only affect Alethkar.

 

Thoughts? :-)

[Morsk he/him]

Maybe it has to do with this chapter epigraph

 

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.

 

And at the very end of the Prologue, there's "To Szeth’s people, a dying request was sacred." Shin may be familiar with the prophetic nature of the dying phrases, and Szeth could've learned of the future that way.

[Observer]

Another point to the Shin for being the mysterious people prepared for the future. Reminds me of the Kandra actually...

[Vortaan he/him]

The dying phrases started around the same time Gavilar died. Do we know if it was a bit before, or after?

[Meg]

Taravangian says to Szeth: 

 

 

“We do not know why some speak when others do not,” Taravangian said. “But the dying see something. It began seven years ago, about the time when King Gavilar was investigating the Shattered Plains for the first time.”

 

 

 

[Dros]

Is it ever mentioned whether Gavilar uncovered or discovered anything among the Shattered Plains besides the Parshendi? 

 

EDIT:

WoR Spoilers

The area of the Shattered Plains used to be a city, correct? So maybe Gavilar triggered something in the city.

Edited April 14, 2013 by Windrunner
Please put spoiler tags on any info about WoR outside the spoiler forum. Thanks! :)

[Vortaan he/him]

So not soon enough before Gavilar's death for a tradition to grow up around dying requests. Unless the dying comments happen every Desolation.

[hoser he/him]

So i was re-re-re-rereading TWOK and i stumbled across this little gem in the prologue "To kill"

 

 

 

Might Szeth be refering to the comming desolation?

 

It can't be him reffering to a possible civil war in Alethkar, because it wouldn't be the end of the world, and it would most likely only affect Alethkar.

 

Thoughts? :-)

Welcome! 

 

I agree that he must be referring to the coming desolation.  To me, that is a vital quote to understanding Szeth.  The other quote that is interesting is:

 

He had heard the Voidbringers could hold it (stormlight) perfectly. But, then, did they even exist? His punishment declared that they didn't. His honor demanded that they did.

 

I read this as saying that he believes in Voidbringers, but the Stone Shaman don't.  Further, he is being punished for something he has done that relates to the Voidbringers. 

 

So he did something, and believed in it enough to risk the Truthless punishment.  But now he seems resigned to playing out his sordid role.  What if he saw the chance to make a difference again?  Could that be a path to redemption for him? 

[Smidge]

I read this as saying that he believes in Voidbringers, but the Stone Shaman don't. Further, he is being punished for something he has done that relates to the Voidbringers.

So he did something, and believed in it enough to risk the Truthless punishment. But now he seems resigned to playing out his sordid role. What if he saw the chance to make a difference again? Could that be a path to redemption for him?

My interpretation/guess was that Szeth took up a shardblade because he believed the voidbringers were coming back. Shin become truthless for carrying a weapon - perhaps justified in their culture if the only use is against people but not if they need to fight voidbringers.