[BoM/SH spoilers] Wild speculation: One of the Shards we know has changed hands.

[yurisses]

My theory is that since Kelsier's as powerful as The Lord Ruler and more--if Kel exploited the effects of atium alloys (he might have had access to atium--connecting BoM's ending with the next book, The Lost Metal--since atium-owning Marsh passively supports "Kelsier's work"), I would not put it past Kel to take on a Vessel and swipe its Shard as the ultimate heist. Overambitious? Well, now that we know that sixteen people (powerful magic users, like Kelsier?) managed to kill Adonalsium, it's reasonable to say a single powerful magic user would be able to kill the holder of a sixteenth of Adonalsium's power. Considering how overpowered the Bands are, I doubt the original Vessels were much more powerful than Kelsier, or the Dragonsteel epic is going to have ridiculous fights.

 

So the idea is that Kelsier learned about what's going on in the cosmere, while acquiring a physical form again (perhaps in a similar way the spren gain a physical form through the Nahel bond). Then, unimpeded by his lack of a physical body that inhibited his power when he held Preservation, he decided to steal one of the Shards we know. Not only would that ultimate heist be really attractive to Kelsier he might see a Shard as the perfect meddler's tool or weapon. (Though I think he would be surprised to find his identity being overridden by the Shard's Intent.)

 

I say Shard we know, because of course if my theory is true... then it'd have to tie into the narrative by having Kelsier "be" Trell. If you're going to make Kelsier steal a Shard it'd be much easier to write about it in the series Kelsier came from. I like this idea because instead of making Trell a cosmere player unfamiliar to Mistborn abruptly throw into Scadrial's narrative, it makes Trell a familiar player with an unfamiliar but foreshadowed power (a Shard other than Ruin or Preservation or Harmony).

 

Since WoB is that Trell is "of a Shard we know", I think if Kelsier stole a Shard, it might be Autonomy. Stealing Odium would require Kelsier of being involved in the Stormlight timeline which would be excessively cosmere-connected for Stormlight's narrative.

 

Evidence against my theory would include that Bavadin seems alive and well as of the WoK letter. Also, the Set's "Faceless Immortals' " willingness to erase Scadrian civilisation for fear of uncontrollable technological advancement indicates that Trell is after all an external player not one for whom Scadrial is any special as a civilisation. This plan of destroying Scadrian civilisation if they cannot rule it is heavily reminiscent of the agenda of the Skaze/Jaddeth's empire in Elantris so Trellism might just be a Skaze-infuenced religion where Svrakiss turn out not to be Jaddeth's enemies after all. Trell could also be Odium, if Miles' death rattle was caused by Moelach... In which case things don't sound too hopeful for our Stormlight protagonists! Though Moelach/Odium could simply be cooperating with whoever Trell is. Trell might even be a two-Shard team...

Edited February 13, 2016 by yurisses

[Young Bard he/him]

Possible. Remember that Stormlight Arc 1 takes place before Mistborn Era 2, and/or Hoid is not omnipotent so may not be aware of the shift of holders. Also, the Faceless Immortals are the kandra - I don't believe (besides Paalm) that any have sided with the Set. And I'm sure we have a WoB that Trell is principally Taldainish.

[yurisses]

I'm not talking about the kandra, I'm talking about the creatures that can steal people's appearances with authority in the Set that appear at the end of BoM.

 

There is no WoB that Trell is "principally Taldainish" but Trell does have minor connections to White Sand.

[Voidus]

Moved to SH spoiler board, if the entire topic is a spoiler please try to keep it here in accordance with the current spoiler policy.

[Matt Snow he/him]

I can't remember where I saw it, I think it was in a google docs of WoB, but isn't there a WoB that says that there are only 2 Shards on Scadrial (with Harmony counting as Ruin + Preservation)?

 

Also the WoB you mentioned said that Trell is "of a Shard we know" which, at least to me, means that Trell isn't a Shardholder.

 

That being said I think it would be awesome if Kelsier got a Shard.

[Uilos he/him]

I can't remember where I saw it, I think it was in a google docs of WoB, but isn't there a WoB that says that there are only 2 Shards on Scadrial (with Harmony counting as Ruin + Preservation)?

 

Also the WoB you mentioned said that Trell is "of a Shard we know" which, at least to me, means that Trell isn't a Shardholder.

 

That being said I think it would be awesome if Kelsier got a Shard.

Knowing Kelsier, it would of course be the "Survival Shard" that's supposedly drifting in space. While WoB says that isn't its Intent, Kelsier would definitely be a sympathetic vessel for a shard looking to "Survive"

[emailanimal he/him]

I am going to do my usual observation here....

 

Kelsier loves Scadrial, and has gone to great lengths to protect it, once he understood what was going on. Under the most probable scenario, he has saved numerous peoples on the South Pole.

 

Now, how does that square with "Trell's" desire to destroy Scadrial and all people on it?

 

We also have the postscript to Secret History stating that Kelsier is still around, and hinting very strongly that his attempts to influence the characters in Wax and Wayne books can be guessed at (my personal favorite is Wayne shooting the shotgun).

 

Going around punching Shards - yep - I can see that. Trying to take one for himself? Not in the current timeline.

 

(Plus, in order to take up a Shard, you need connection).

[natc]

Knowing Kelsier, it would of course be the "Survival Shard" that's supposedly drifting in space. While WoB says that isn't its Intent, Kelsier would definitely be a sympathetic vessel for a shard looking to "Survive"

Not necessarily. The whole Survivor shtick so far involves surviving the odds, often seemingly impossible ones for the few direct uses of the term in titles. Spook was the Survivor of the Flames for a little bit, and Kelsier jumped from Hathsin to Death as far as he cares.

If that Vessel is simply a coward Kelsier might not like him. Kel advocates standing up to the challenge and odds and persevering anyway, not turtling in a corner or some such nonsense. It depends on how he's surviving really.

[yurisses]

I can't remember where I saw it, I think it was in a google docs of WoB, but isn't there a WoB that says that there are only 2 Shards on Scadrial (with Harmony counting as Ruin + Preservation)?

 

Also the WoB you mentioned said that Trell is "of a Shard we know" which, at least to me, means that Trell isn't a Shardholder.

 

That being said I think it would be awesome if Kelsier got a Shard.

 

Yes, there is such a WoB in a transcript of a recent signing, but sending worldhoppers and a few pounds of solid Investiture to a planet may not count as being on Scadrial. The fact that Sazed refers to the "Trellium" spike as a "cursed" spike does suggest it is not a god metal but some magic system hack instead. Trell's organisation might not be coordinated by a Shard for all we know (which might reinforce the Skaze as Trell).

 

 

I am going to do my usual observation here....

 

Kelsier loves Scadrial, and has gone to great lengths to protect it, once he understood what was going on. Under the most probable scenario, he has saved numerous peoples on the South Pole.

 

Now, how does that square with "Trell's" desire to destroy Scadrial and all people on it?

 

We also have the postscript to Secret History stating that Kelsier is still around, and hinting very strongly that his attempts to influence the characters in Wax and Wayne books can be guessed at (my personal favorite is Wayne shooting the shotgun).

 

Going around punching Shards - yep - I can see that. Trying to take one for himself? Not in the current timeline.

 

(Plus, in order to take up a Shard, you need connection).

 

The Set's intent to destroy Scadrial to prevent technological advancement could be (other than Kelsier being unaffiliated with the Set) his personality being overriden by a Shard, or Kelsier acquiring goals larger and more important than Scadrial. Looking back, I don't think it makes sense narratively for Kelsier to both be the Southern saviour and the destroyer of Scadrial in an interval so short in the cosmere timeline. I don't think any longer that Kelsier is a solid Trell candidate, but I'm still partial to the idea that he will be punching more Shards in the face if he hasn't already.

 

As for Connection, we know that there are ways around that which are probably way within the reach of the thief crewleader. Compounding could be one of them.

[KnightGradient]

I don't think Kelsier is Trell, because why would he hijack a new religion? He already started one, and it's the largest religion in the Elendel Basin. He's the kind of person who uses every tool available to him, so why wouldn't he use a religion that already worships him?