Death Rattle about Taln

[UpLifted he/him]

I think that the following death rattle deals with the mystery surrounding Taln.
 

 

 

"They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory"

Now, we know that it's most likely that the person we think is Taln is some sort of imposter. We know this because of a WoB where he refuses to confirm that the person who claims to be Taln is who he says he is. So we are left with several questions. Mainly, who is this imposter, where did he come from and how did he get Taln's Shardblade?

My theory is as follows.

The death rattle quoted above refers to both Taln and his imposter. They are the two dead men who came from the pit. "The pit" would be referring to Braize, the purgatory where the heralds are relegated to in between Desolations. The "heart in their hands" is referring to Taln's Honorblade. Remember, before the Blade got switched out for a plain old Shardblade, the blade that Taln's imposter was carrying seems to be an Honorblade. I think that the Honorblade is instrumental in returning the Heralds from Braize to Roshar. They certainly grant investiture as evidenced by Szeth's manifestation of windrunner abilities. It's not too much of a stretch to say that the Honorblade is the "heart" that they are holding. "True Glory" can refer to one of two things. The obvious thing is the glory of a herald. The other requires me to elaborate on my theory.

Here's what I think happened. Someone came to Braize to rescue Taln or to inform him of the coming Desolation. He would have to be a worldhopper and a powerful one at that to survive the hellfires of Braize. We see evidence of his power when he catches the poisonous darts fired at Amaram mid-flight. This however doesn't seem to match what we know as Heraldic powers. The heralds' powers I believe were just stronger versions of the knights radiant. For example, Jezrien would've been a really strong Windrunner, perhaps an immortal one in terms of aging. However, the heralds were not supermen. Superspeed was not, as far as I know in their repertoire. Nor is it in the repertoire of any of the invested beings on Roshar as far as I know. Maybe he's a Feruchemist (unlikely, but he could have tapped speed, after all his hand motion is described as a blur.) Regardless, his powers are not those of a Rosharian. 

 

So he goes to save Taln. He finds him, but Taln refuses to leave Braize. He feels that he must hold to the oathpact for fear of letting Odium free. The Oathpact is, I assume, what has bound Odium to the Rosharian System. However, he still feels the need to send help. Therefore he sends his Honorblade with the imposter and instructs him to help the Rosharians. Something goes wrong and the imposter loses his mind. Not sure why. The "Glory"is the sacrafice made by Taln in order to uphold the Oathpact. 

 

Wooooo..... Okay so hopefully most of that wasn't nonsense. Please comment and tell me what you think.

 

P.S. I do think that the imposter is someone that Hoid knew. He refers to him as "My confused, unfortunate friend." Perhaps this was a friend of Hoid's on some previous Hoid adventure. 

[Hurricane_Privileged]

I like it, but in a way I always interpreted that Death Rattle to be about Shallan and Kaladin when they are in the chasms together and they emerge with the Gemheart, after defeating the Chasmfiend.

 

The true glory part is up for debate as to what it refers to.

 

 The "two men" part doesnt really fit unless you go with the general term of "men" to mean humanity. 

 

 

 

I guess I am trying to shove a square block through a round hole, but its the closest thing i can find. 

[ecohansen]

I'm pretty sure that there's a consensus that this rattle is referring to Shallan and Kaladin coming out of the chasms with the gemheart of the slain chasmfiend.

 

edit:ninja'd

Edited March 7, 2016 by ecohansen

[The Sovereign]

For the sake of the devil's advocate, the simplest answer is often correct:

 

Would it not make more sense for the two dead men, leaving the pit with a heart in their hands to refer to Shallan and Kaladin leaving the Chasm with the Chasmfiend's gemheart in hands after being assumed as dead?

Edit: Double Ninja'd, wow, Mobile you are failing me...

Edit 2: Regarding the "True Glory" Kaladin is surrounded by Glory Spren when he informs Dalinar that he has returned Shallan alive and well.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Iron Eyes

[IndigoAjah he/him]

Also, I think it's debated about whether Sanderson is refusing to call "Taln" Taln for the reasons that you mentioned, or due to Taln's altered sense of self and reality, or for any number of other reasons including teasing us

[The Sovereign]

...or for any number of other reasons including teasing us

 

You bring up a good point here, Brandon does like to have fun with us. I'm pretty sure he gives us some answers just to make us squirm...

[Jondesu he/him]

You bring up a good point here, Brandon does like to have fun with us. I'm pretty sure he gives us some answers just to make us squirm...

He plays with words more than an Aes Sedai.  Absolutely I believe he messes with us, without actually lying about anything (except maybe occasionally by accident due to exhaustion or misunderstanding, since he's still mostly human, after all).

 

jW