Shadows of Self - Why was Adonalsium shattered? What can we gain?

[Stormcrown]

Question fueled by the events surrounding Shadows of Self, and the theories involving Odium. I'm mainly trying to see what we can gain by re-evaluating our theories on why Adonalsium was shattered and what other assumptions we can make.

 

Any questions I ask in the below writing, are actually questions I am asking you guys.

 

In all mentions of Adonalsium, Brandon has avoided to give any information on why Adonalsium was shattered. All that is said is that it was intentional. 

 

Something opposed Adonalsium, and it created a weapon. He did not say that weapon was used to shatter Adonalsium, simply that the opposing force created it. What exactly could be a weapon against something like Adonalsium?

 

I have a hard time believing any sort of external force shattered Adonalsium. It seems entirely more likely that Adonalsium willingly shattered itself to avoid an obstacle. (The weapon that was created by the opposing force?)

 

Odium similarly knows how to destroy a shard. Probably from Rayse's knowledge before the events of the shattering of Adonalsium. If the other 15 people do not know how Odium splinters shards, then are they also unaware of how Adonalsium shattered? How? Why? Does their own shards intents simply disable them from utilizing that knowledge?

 

When Vin with Preservation's Power destroyed Ruin, it left both shards behind. We can assume that all that was accomplished there was the destruction of Ruin's mind. Something not possible by Leras before due to the effects of a shard's intent. Sazed even talks about how the powers of Harmony do not let him act. 

 

If you destroy the mind of Ruin, someone else can take his place. So how do you accomplish the opposite? Destroying a Shard's power before destroying the mind? All examples we have point to the Shard's Mind willingly destroying itself, or splintering itself.

 

Preservation does something like this almost in an echo to Adonalsium doing it. (Although Adonalsium would have shattered not just his power). He gave more of his power away, and it was later used to accomplish something he was unable too.

 

Odium, when destroying other shards, would travel to their worlds and endeavor to splinter them. Bleeder was opposed to Harmony. In her actions, she attempted to get the people of Elendel to hate or at least oppose Harmony.

 

First of all, what being even remotely is aware of how to oppose a Shard? The only one we know of is Odium. If you didn't have that knowledge, would you take the actions that Bleeder did? What Bleeder accomplished was extremely well planned. It took time and complex actions to create the sort of Chaos in an almost perfect world. 

 

Knowing Harmony was using Kandra, towards the end of Shadows of Self, Bleeder started getting people to attack those Kandra. They are essentially immortal, but it does have an impact on Harmony. The only benefit to Bleeder (Against Harmony) is to attack Harmony. (Edit: In retrospect, this is a weak point. Bleeder would oppose those Kandra simply because they opposed her. Regardless of Harmony's involvement.)

 

This is where its purely speculation. My own opinion is that Bleeder, fueled by small pieces of Odium and perhaps Autonomy, was attempting to get Harmony to splinter himself by destroying what he created. Put Elendel in such a bad situation, of pure chaos, that he had to break off part of his power to assist. Or at the very least, start the chain of events that would enable them to destroy Harmony.

 

Bleeder attacked exactly what Sazed/Harmony would try to protect the most. Elendel and its people. Bleeder knew how to hide from the power of a God/Shard. That small piece of metal would be a very small amount of Odium or Autonomy. The reason we assume Autonomy is because Bleeder often spoke of Freedom. It's almost too obvious. We can't really use that as a sole reason to suspect Autonomy. Odium is equally capable of convincing Bleeder using that as a reason or motive. Or Odium used the power of Autonomy (Thus not using any of his own) to fuel a small attack on Harmony.

 

Either of these powers could accomplish what Bleeder did alone, or together. Without more information we can mostly guess. But Odium is crafty. Rayse was described as "among the most loathsome, crafty, and dangerous individuals I had ever met".

 

That isn't me describing my high school bully. That's presumably Hoid, who existed before the shattering of Adonalsium, describing someone that way. And it seems like a type of misdirection that Brandon would use. Bleeder speaking of Freedom, sounding like Autonomy. 

Edited October 12, 2015 by Stormcrown

[Charononus]

To me Bleeder's actions all said Odium because of her hatred of Harmony.  But those that say Autonomy have their points as well.  My guess is that that is intentional.