Daishi5 Posted October 24, 2013 Posted October 24, 2013 (edited) I am a new poster here, but I have been lurking for a while. I had a slightly complicated, but mostly baseless theory, about Szeth, his blade, a herald, and the oathpact that I put together after reading a lot of stuff here and my latest re-read. I liked the theory about Szeth having an honorblade, and one quote stood out to me as I read WoK again: "Though his murders and sins would damnation him ... He would continue to exist. Punished, in agony, but not exiled to nothingness." This gave me an idea that I wanted to present. First, here are the things that are kind of prerequisites to my idea: The place of torture that the Heralds go to after they die, going there has to also provide some form of benefit (or at least the heralds need to believe that it provides a benefit). The prologue seems to make it clear that they feel ashamed of not going back, so I think this is pretty safe. Taking up an Honor blade is somehow related to going to the place of torture. The heralds need to leave their blades when they decide not to go back, so this also seems likely, but not nearly as strong as #1. Others need to be able to pick up and be bound through an honor blade, and I think we might have a word of Brandon on that somewhere, but I am horrible at searching those interviews. Here is my theory, a herald is living with the Shin, and is binding people through the honor blade to go through the torture. However, the herald still has a twisted concept of the ideas of justice and honor, and cannot just condemn Szeth to the everlasting torture for what he had already done. Szeth's punishment is not just to be bound to the honor blade, but to first be forced to commit so many horrible crimes that it could be considered justice to send him to (almost) everlasting torment. This has some parallels to Hoid's story, Szeth may be ordered to commit the crimes, but he is still responsible for carrying out those orders. To me at least, this idea covers a few things: Szeth believes (correctly) that he will continue to exist, but will be tortured. The stone shamans need to recover the blade, so that other people are not condemned, as Szeth is, without "deserving" it. As long as the herald is with the Shin, it helps explain how he is so knowledgeable about surgebinding and fighting, things that a high ranking Shin probably should not know how to do. Szeth's blade is different and unique, and more importantly how he knows this. It could be yet another herald who is twisted against his old ideals. There are a few problems with the idea. Not much evidence. What Szeth thinks may not be true. The interludes show us someone we think is a herald dispensing a twisted form of justice already. I wouldn't expect two heralds to both be consumed by a twisted and sick concept of justice. Some things I just think would be interesting: This would allow Kaladin to kill Szeth before his flashback book, but still have an obvious chekov's gun to bring Szeth back as a character. It would present Kaladin with the ability to pick up not just a shardblade, but possibly the Honorblade of his new order. (Or perhaps pass it on to Dalinar). Edit: I screwed up and posted this halfway through. Edited October 24, 2013 by Daishi5 1
Gloom he/him Posted October 24, 2013 Posted October 24, 2013 I think the theory has merit, but it also has a couple of flaws. The most obvious one is one you didn't pick up on. If Szeth is replacing a Herald, and considering his power set, we can assume the Herald he'd be replacing is Jezrien. If this is so, why do the stone shamans need to recover the Blade? When a Herald dies, the Blade goes with him. I believe that either Ishar (Pious/Guiding) or Chach (Brave/Obedient) is a very well respected and revered stone shaman. I'm leaning more towards Ishar on this. Someone like this, especially if corrupted could go along way towards explaining what little we know of the Shin and there behavior.
Daishi5 Posted October 24, 2013 Author Posted October 24, 2013 (edited) I think the theory has merit, but it also has a couple of flaws. The most obvious one is one you didn't pick up on. If Szeth is replacing a Herald, and considering his power set, we can assume the Herald he'd be replacing is Jezrien. If this is so, why do the stone shamans need to recover the Blade? When a Herald dies, the Blade goes with him. I believe that either Ishar (Pious/Guiding) or Chach (Brave/Obedient) is a very well respected and revered stone shaman. I'm leaning more towards Ishar on this. Someone like this, especially if corrupted could go along way towards explaining what little we know of the Shin and there behavior. I don't think he is replacing him, I think the herald is more sacrificing them in his place. I also found something in the Kaladin chapters slightly like this: "some kind of supernatural curse of the type that were supposed to happen to people who sought the Old Magic. There were stories of evil men made immortal, then tortured over and over again - like Extes, who had his arms torn off each day" Edit: I can't believe I have a typo in the title, is there any way to fix my mistake? Edited October 24, 2013 by Daishi5
Kurkistan he/him Posted October 24, 2013 Posted October 24, 2013 Edit: I can't believe I have a typo in the title, is there any way to fix my mistake? Just click "Edit" and then the "Use Full Editor" button on the OP, then you should be able to edit the title. Happens to the best of us.
Daishi5 Posted October 24, 2013 Author Posted October 24, 2013 Just click "Edit" and then the "Use Full Editor" button on the OP, then you should be able to edit the title. Happens to the best of us. Thank you.
The Count he/him Posted October 25, 2013 Posted October 25, 2013 (edited) Like the idea of one of the Heralds in Shinovar... may he is the god that Taravangian mentions... (somthing brother????)... Anyway, I am still not sold on the Szeth carries an honorblade theory, although I am less certain than I was, I await to be proved wrong . Like people have said Honorblades do not dissappear when they are dropped and do dissappear when the Heradl dies. When Taln falls unconcious, his blade does not dissappear. Also, as said above, the stone shamans will recover Szeths blade when he dies (assuming Szeth is correct). These things lead me against it being an Honorblade... On the other hand.... Suppose, the Herald in Shinovar made Szeths blade for him? Combining several Theories..... IF Ishar is in Shinovar... Also IF Ishar is Herald of Bondsmiths... Also IF Bondsmiths used to make Shardblades... Ishar, for some reson, made a new type of shardblade and gave it to Szeth... Now that wouold be truly crazy! EDIT: So crazy in fact, that I think I will make a new thread about it! Edited October 25, 2013 by MadRand
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