A war between Scadrial (era 2) and Roshar

[Voidus]

How does having water on the surface correspond to that? He doesn't mention corrosive water, just that there is mineral water on the surface. Mineral water is corrosive, but that doesn't mean that everything with mineral water in it is a Shardpool.

The fact that things that enter the pool quickly disintegrate is an excellent reason for someone to suspect that it has corrosive waters. We know that Shardpools all do that so there's no particular reason to think this one has normal Shardpool corrosiveness and also a layer of water on top that is additionally corrosive. 

[A Windspren he/him]

The fact that things that enter the pool quickly disintegrate is an excellent reason for someone to suspect that it has corrosive waters. We know that Shardpools all do that so there's no particular reason to think this one has normal Shardpool corrosiveness and also a layer of water on top that is additionally corrosive. 

 

Rock never said anything about corrosiveness, and I assume that the Horneaters get their water from there, so I would think that they would notice if people started disintegrating. The mineral water wouldn't be very good for them, but not to the point where they all melt. Delicate metal weapons, however, would be affected through rust.

[Voidus]

Rock never said anything about corrosiveness, and I assume that the Horneaters get their water from there, so I would think that they would notice if people started disintegrating. The mineral water wouldn't be very good for them, but not to the point where they all melt. Delicate metal weapons, however, would be affected through rust.

Then why did you say it's corrosive water? Normal mineral water might rust a gun if you leave it there for a few days but it's not going to rust it into instant uselessness for the few seconds it takes to get out...

I also highly doubt people get drinking water from the magic pool of the gods that they murder people for touching.

[Argel he/him]

Kevino36, if you want to defend Roshar, then try addressing the big issues such as their inability to take the war to Scadrial on a meaningful level or that we know there are Scardian worldhoppers on Roshar already, including a Kandra but no evidence of the opposite. Right now you are trying too hard. For example, it was pointed out many invaders conquered unknown lands and your response is that they didn't start at the top of a very cold mountain, as if that is something Era 2 (early industrial age/steampunkish) Scadrial cannot deal with. 

 

And then there's:

A common enemy united the highprinces. The Parshendi weren't very threatening to the Alethi, which is why there were border squabbles back at home, but the Scadrians would be seriously threatening, which would force the Alethi to unite even more.

 

So united that Sadeas orchestrates Dalinar's assassination near the end of TWoK (without Kaladin there Dalinar and his forces would have been wiped out), Even with the Everstorm, Sadeas is still scheming. And they turned hunting Gavilar's murders into a gem hunting game in no time. At the end of TWoK Dalinar finally realizes that he will have to force the highprinces to as he put it stop acting like children.

 

And we know there is unrest in other parts of the world, both internal and between other counties. Other countries. The Elendel Basin doesn't have any other countries. It has smaller cities that are growing very tired of the power and influence of the capital city, but that's internal unrest. Roshar has multiple countries and at least some with civil unrest. Weill, probably more than some given the recent round of assassinations.

 

We cannot take it as a given that a common enemy would unite Roshar. If Kandra infiltrated various government and highprince factions then the Kandra could easily keep the old political games and civil unrest going by playing it off as an opportunity for highprince X over whoever Scadrial is attacking at that moment. And if Scadrial can e.g. win the shattered plains quickly, then  how soon before spanreed communications are actually believed?? A fast victory on the shattered plains (or wherever) could mask the invasion. Roshar factions need to hold out long enough to give them a chance to even realize they need to unite.

 

With that said, would there be warnings from Death Rattles? The Diagram? What about those giant living "islands".

 

As a side note, military drafts/conscripts on Scadrial would seem to lead to more civil unrest at home. On the other hand, offering rights of conquest, a decent amount of money, etc. would seem believable.  Though if the motive is e.g. dealing with an outside threat (e.g. Odium/Autonomy), then Scadrial could have a very strong motive and people might be volunteering to help defend their home. Though that motive is also a reason for e.g. alliances to form with the KRs and forming alliances in general given that Odium is not exactly a friend to Roshar either.

 

Anyway, it seems like time is on Scadrial's side. Roshar needs more time to unite, more time to come up with ways to counter e.g. guns, more time to figure out how to take the fight back to Scadrial, etc.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Argel

[Pathfinder]

So again I step away for the night, to come back to 3 pages in my absence lol. I am debating whether to do another monster post since as CaptainRyan has pointed out, a lot of the issues brought up by Kevino have been brought up before and have been responded to. So I am unsure if responding to them again holds any merit. 

[Argel he/him]

So again I step away for the night, to come back to 3 pages in my absence lol. I am debating whether to do another monster post since as CaptainRyan has pointed out, a lot of the issues brought up by Kevino have been brought up before and have been responded to. So I am unsure if responding to them again holds any merit. 

 

Not sure if the those giant living, moving "islands" have been brought up for Roshar, though they seem to move too slow, and not sure they can leave the water (for long). Scenrio as presented pretty much favors Roshar.

 

I think the big question is how can Roshar invade Scadrial? For example, if the mists could be used as Stormlight, could Roshar get the jump on the Elendel Basin fast enough to pull off a victory?

[A Windspren he/him]

EDIT: Ah a glitch didn't show your response.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Kevino36

[Rasarr she/her]

So again I step away for the night, to come back to 3 pages in my absence lol. I am debating whether to do another monster post since as CaptainRyan has pointed out, a lot of the issues brought up by Kevino have been brought up before and have been responded to. So I am unsure if responding to them again holds any merit. 

 

While I enjoy reading your posts (and really, this entire discussion is fascinating), you're right that many of Kevino's points have been brought up already, so I don't think there's a point in analysing the same issues again. Still, if we want a short reminder:

• Scadrians would freeze to death in Horneater peaks: the best way to deal with cold is to dress appropriately. It's been shown in BoM that Scadrians do know how to deal with cold weather, and not necessarily by using medallions.
• Scadrians have no local data: scouting is standard element of military strategy, and Scadrian high command would have to be off its meds not to send anyone there before the main bulk of invasion forces.
• Highstorms: see above.
• Scouts would be assaulted by Horneates and killed: 

  - We don't have the basis for stating that Horneaters would be immediately hostile, and not assume Scadrians are deities like Hoid

  - It's highly probable that scouts would be Metalborn - probably Pewterarms - and thus more resistant and capable of fighting back

  - Guns are a good deterrent

  - Scadrians could simply bribe Horneaters with goods

• Corrosive properties of Horneater peak lakes: waterproof bags? I'm pretty certain at least oilskins are known to Scadrians.
• Very few Scadrians compared to Rosharans: Scadrians are both more technically advanced and have more numerous magic users, with well-understood magic system. It's been shown time and again in history that while inferior technology might win battles, superior technology pretty much always wins wars. 
• Stormfather/Parshmen will help Rosharans: neither of them is inclined to aid Roshar humans; quite the opposite, actually.
• Rosharans could go to Scadrial and do X: they cannot blend in (something that kandra can do) and rely heavily on Stormlight, which Scadrial doesn't possess
• Rosharans could duplicate guns: it's not as easy as it seems, and gunpowder alone is a huge leap that would take Roshar years too long
• Scadrians have no reason to go to war: possibly slave liberation, or battling Odium. I agree with this point, though.

I think that's all the points that's been repeating themselves for the last few pages.

[Pathfinder]

Not sure if the those giant living, moving "islands" have been brought up for Roshar, though they seem to move too slow, and not sure they can leave the water (for long). Scenrio as presented pretty much favors Roshar.

 

I think the big question is how can Roshar invade Scadrial? For example, if the mists could be used as Stormlight, could Roshar get the jump on the Elendel Basin fast enough to pull off a victory?

Not sure how giant, slow moving, "islands" would help in the war effort? if that was what you were aiming for by bringing it up that is

 

I dunno. Even if they could figure out how to harness the mists, they tend to come out randomly to refuel the gems, or radiants, while allomancers and feruchemists can use their abilities at any point as long as they have metal in their stomach. Still doesn't seem like a sustainable beach head. 

 

While I enjoy reading your posts (and really, this entire discussion is fascinating), you're right that many of Kevino's points have been brought up already, so I don't think there's a point in analysing the same issues again. Still, if we want a short reminder:

• Scadrians would freeze to death in Horneater peaks: the best way to deal with cold is to dress appropriately. It's been shown in BoM that Scadrians do know how to deal with cold weather, and not necessarily by using medallions.
• Scadrians have no local data: scouting is standard element of military strategy, and Scadrian high command would have to be off its meds not to send anyone there before the main bulk of invasion forces.
• Highstorms: see above.
• Scouts would be assaulted by Horneates and killed: 

  - We don't have the basis for stating that Horneaters would be immediately hostile, and not assume Scadrians are deities like Hoid

  - It's highly probable that scouts would be Metalborn - probably Pewterarms - and thus more resistant and capable of fighting back

  - Guns are a good deterrent

  - Scadrians could simply bribe Horneaters with goods

• Corrosive properties of Horneater peak lakes: waterproof bags? I'm pretty certain at least oilskins are known to Scadrians.
• Very few Scadrians compared to Rosharans: Scadrians are both more technically advanced and have more numerous magic users, with well-understood magic system. It's been shown time and again in history that while inferior technology might win battles, superior technology pretty much always wins wars. 
• Stormfather/Parshmen will help Rosharans: neither of them is inclined to aid Roshar humans; quite the opposite, actually.
• Rosharans could go to Scadrial and do X: they cannot blend in (something that kandra can do) and rely heavily on Stormlight, which Scadrial doesn't possess
• Rosharans could duplicate guns: it's not as easy as it seems, and gunpowder alone is a huge leap that would take Roshar years too long
• Scadrians have no reason to go to war: possibly slave liberation, or battling Odium. I agree with this point, though.

I think that's all the points that's been repeating themselves for the last few pages.

I tried re-reading the subsequent posts since I posted last for a third time, and I agree you covered all the repeated points rather fully, and I would just be frustrating myself by reiterating them all over again. The only thing I feel you missed, was my response regarding a coinshot enhanced by a nicrosil not being torn apart without pewter as per quotes I provided from the books, and I feel we cannot really say whether or not Scadrial would have a reason to go to war as up until bands of mourning, there wasn't a possible "opposing" nation. Given that one of the prevailing theories regarding 

 

the red presence hindering Harmony is Odium. I am not sold on this theory myself, but feel the points for Odium, for Autonomy, for Dominion, for Devotion and so on all have their merits. But I digress. If it was hypothetically Odium, I would say that would be reason enough for war as they could view Roshar as the aggressor. But that is speculation because we do not have enough information to discern that.

 

Otherwise like I said, you pretty much succinctly reiterated all the repeated points, and I would rather not waste my time just repeating myself. Thanks! 

 

edit: Kevino, if you still feel despite this list, points you have stated have not been seen to, please make one post where you lay out a list of your points and I will respond to them fully, or reference specific post and page in this thread where such a point has already been seen to. Thank you. 

Edited April 6, 2016 by Pathfinder

[Argel he/him]

Scardians not having a reason to go to war is the biggest problem. Though I could see Odium becoming a reason in a short amount of time. But why a war? I think we have a cast of characters from the W&W books that would likely be the adventurers (not scouts) that go to Roshar to investigate matters. Or maybe Harmony already is with the Kandra (we know  a Kandra is there) and Harmony will figure out a way to cajole the W&W Crew (Wax, Wayne, Malaan(?), Marasi, and Steris (and who knows, maybe Marasi's boyfriend from SoScad) to head over to help resolve the situation. In which case, they eventually ally with the KRs. If there is an invasion, it seems like it would be against the voidbringers (and maybe liberate any countries, princedoms intentionally or unintentionally aiding the enemy).  Given the destruction of the Everstorm, the question of refugees might come up as well.

 

You know, if Hoid is willing to let Roshar burn for the presumably greater good, then maybe he helps set an evacuation to Scadrial in motion or lays the groundwork for it. Maybe books 1-5 are about the escape and 6-10 are about retaking Roshar? I doubt Brandon is headed in this direction, but on the other hand, this is his epic series....

[IndigoAjah he/him]

Scardians not having a reason to go to war is the biggest problem. Though I could see Odium becoming a reason in a short amount of time. But why a war? I think we have a cast of characters from the W&W books that would likely be the adventurers (not scouts) that go to Roshar to investigate matters. Or maybe Harmony already is with the Kandra (we know  a Kandra is there) and Harmony will figure out a way to cajole the W&W Crew (Wax, Wayne, Malaan(?), Marasi, and Steris (and who knows, maybe Marasi's boyfriend from SoScad) to head over to help resolve the situation. In which case, they eventually ally with the KRs. If there is an invasion, it seems like it would be against the voidbringers (and maybe liberate any countries, princedoms intentionally or unintentionally aiding the enemy).  Given the destruction of the Everstorm, the question of refugees might come up as well.

 

You know, if Hoid is willing to let Roshar burn for the presumably greater good, then maybe he helps set an evacuation to Scadrial in motion or lays the groundwork for it. Maybe books 1-5 are about the escape and 6-10 are about retaking Roshar? I doubt Brandon is headed in this direction, but on the other hand, this is his epic series....

 

 

I think that they'll try to banish Odium in Stormlight 5, Hoid will stop them (indirectly?) to keep Odium trapped in the system, whilst apologising. Odium will get off Braize and be stuck in Roshar and very very bad things will happen

[Argel he/him]

Yeah, that's more believable because he keeps the series in the same solar system at least, which I suspect he wants to do. Evacuating refugees to somewhere else though could be done as a side story though, something Cosmere fans could pick up on. Anyway, sorrry to digress, but I think what I laid out above makes more sense than Scadrial invading all of Roshar just because of Odium.

[IndigoAjah he/him]

Yeah, that's more believable because he keeps the series in the same solar system at least, which I suspect he wants to do. Evacuating refugees to somewhere else though could be done as a side story though, something Cosmere fans could pick up on. Anyway, sorrry to digress, but I think what I laid out above makes more sense than Scadrial invading all of Roshar just because of Odium.

 

This is a diversion, I know, but isn't there a third Rosharian planet too?

 

EDIT: yeah, Ashyn. If they evacuate, they could evacuate to Ashyn

 

My other theory is that Odium is freed fully, but sticks around Roshar to find and destroy Cultivation, which gives our heroes a last shot at stopping him

Edited April 6, 2016 by IndigoAjah

[Argel he/him]

I like both theories, though maybe the second one slightly better. IIRC there are three planets with sentient life on them in the Roshar system. So there could be more than just the three. Might be worth asking Brandon if that number drops to 2 if Odium leaves Braize.

[jasenerd]

Do shards count as sentient life on a planet?

[A Windspren he/him]

Those points are pretty good, and you've mostly convinced me. However, there are still a few points in favor of Roshar:

 

Most Scadrians, who are generally peaceloving, would not want to travel to a distant planet to fight a war. The reason of slavery seems too weak to me, as the same thing could be accomplished by diplomacy.

 

I think that the Stormfather would help Roshar in such a war, as he accepts Kaladin's oath at the end of WoR, albeit reluctantly, and even bonds Dalinar. With the Voidbringers and the Everstorm, he was afraid because he knows how powerful Odium is, but he would easily be able to crush the Scadrian army.

 

Although, realistically, the Scadrians would probably end up helping Roshar against the Voidbringers, if the Desolation is still ongoing by Era 2. I also really like the theory that Roshar gets evacuated to Scadrial, and if they find a way to use the Mists for Stormlight, it would be very interesting to see how Surgebinding and fabrials interact with the Metallic Arts, especially for Mistborn Era 4, which is set in a sci-fi-ish world.

[Pathfinder]

Scardians not having a reason to go to war is the biggest problem. Though I could see Odium becoming a reason in a short amount of time. But why a war? I think we have a cast of characters from the W&W books that would likely be the adventurers (not scouts) that go to Roshar to investigate matters. Or maybe Harmony already is with the Kandra (we know  a Kandra is there) and Harmony will figure out a way to cajole the W&W Crew (Wax, Wayne, Malaan(?), Marasi, and Steris (and who knows, maybe Marasi's boyfriend from SoScad) to head over to help resolve the situation. In which case, they eventually ally with the KRs. If there is an invasion, it seems like it would be against the voidbringers (and maybe liberate any countries, princedoms intentionally or unintentionally aiding the enemy).  Given the destruction of the Everstorm, the question of refugees might come up as well.

 

You know, if Hoid is willing to let Roshar burn for the presumably greater good, then maybe he helps set an evacuation to Scadrial in motion or lays the groundwork for it. Maybe books 1-5 are about the escape and 6-10 are about retaking Roshar? I doubt Brandon is headed in this direction, but on the other hand, this is his epic series....

So this involves a lot of bands of mourning spoilers so I will put a lot of my responses there:

 

Pearl Harbor off the top of my head. USA was isolationist for much of World War 2, till America was hit at home. Now yes there are a lot more factors to it than that, but it is to illustrate a point. The red haze has directed infiltrators to subvert the society, kill and take over government leaders, and when they have become an issue, decided to eradicate all life on the planet. Again the USA during World War 2 made concentration camps for the Japanese who were even born here yet were locked up due to their nationality. They were concerned they were sleeper cells. Same thing with the Scadrialians and Rosharians. If it ends up being Odium, then it is revealed another group has actively tried to wipe you out, and you wouldn't go to war? If it is Odium, I think it is pretty clear who the aggressor/instigator of the war would be. Scadrial wouldn't be the starter, but they certainly would be the finisher.

 

Those points are pretty good, and you've mostly convinced me. However, there are still a few points in favor of Roshar:

 

Most Scadrians, who are generally peaceloving, would not want to travel to a distant planet to fight a war. The reason of slavery seems too weak to me, as the same thing could be accomplished by diplomacy.

 

I think that the Stormfather would help Roshar in such a war, as he accepts Kaladin's oath at the end of WoR, albeit reluctantly, and even bonds Dalinar. With the Voidbringers and the Everstorm, he was afraid because he knows how powerful Odium is, but he would easily be able to crush the Scadrian army.

 

Although, realistically, the Scadrians would probably end up helping Roshar against the Voidbringers, if the Desolation is still ongoing by Era 2. I also really like the theory that Roshar gets evacuated to Scadrial, and if they find a way to use the Mists for Stormlight, it would be very interesting to see how Surgebinding and fabrials interact with the Metallic Arts, especially for Mistborn Era 4, which is set in a sci-fi-ish world.

Scadrialians are peace loving? So the people outside the basin that were talking about organizing and attacking the Elendel Basin are peaceful? The war would unite them for the reasons I wrote in the spoiler, and btw a peace loving people do not develop guns. 

 

Part of the problem with all this, is as stated, there is a rather large gap for Roshar due to the next 3 books in the stormlight archive. Roshar could have been laid waste to by the everstorm and there be a tenth of the population left. Or Dailinar could have rallied the peoples, and now have an army of radiants. The level of technology could be the same, or the dawnshards could have been found/understood or whatever the crem they are. The heralds could have been "fixed" and start training radiants. Tons of things could have happened that would affect what Roshar could do, field, and act on. So to say the Stormfather would do this or that, or could do this or that, and the voidbringers would do this or that is impossible. Storms the stormfather could be dead by the time of AoL. The voidbringers could be ruling the planet, while humanity is trying to hide and slowly build a resistance. Rosharians could welcome Scadrialians and beg them to help. So I feel the only way this could really be discussed, is as Knight Oblivion has stated I think twice, is set definable parameters. What is the level of tech on each side. What resources does each side have. Where does it take place. And honestly forget about the reason why they are fighting because there isn't any concrete evidence that either side would even want/need/or intend to fight. I took this as a mental exercise. A what if. What if scadrial fought roshar. Who would win with what they currently have? At least that is how I approached this whole thing.

 

again apology before hand if i come off crass, confrontational or curt. Balancing a few things as I type lol

 

edit: how about this, can anyone figure out based on timelines, what version of roshar existed during mistborn? Stormlight archive does reference how life was years, if not centuries preceding the current in book timeline. Would that solve this issue? Then we could compare where each stands coterminous. 

Edited April 6, 2016 by Pathfinder

[Rasarr she/her]

Most Scadrians, who are generally peaceloving, would not want to travel to a distant planet to fight a war. The reason of slavery seems too weak to me, as the same thing could be accomplished by diplomacy.

 

I think that the Stormfather would help Roshar in such a war, as he accepts Kaladin's oath at the end of WoR, albeit reluctantly, and even bonds Dalinar. With the Voidbringers and the Everstorm, he was afraid because he knows how powerful Odium is, but he would easily be able to crush the Scadrian army.

 

Although, realistically, the Scadrians would probably end up helping Roshar against the Voidbringers, if the Desolation is still ongoing by Era 2. I also really like the theory that Roshar gets evacuated to Scadrial, and if they find a way to use the Mists for Stormlight, it would be very interesting to see how Surgebinding and fabrials interact with the Metallic Arts, especially for Mistborn Era 4, which is set in a sci-fi-ish world.

 

I also agree that Scadrians won't be much into fighting a war for shady reasons and on a distant planet, and that if Odium was such reason, Scadrians would probably end up helping Rosharans rather than battling them. Then again, this is the Shard of Wrath - I wonder if Rayse could find a way to manipulate events as to convince Harmony and Scadrial that Rosharan people were the aggressor. Then again, as was already noted, Harmony's answer would probably be to send his Lawmen Emergency Response Unit rather than an army.

 

Considering Stormfather: even if we suppose he sides with Roshar, highstorms are very much a two-edged sword. On one hand, yes, they will slow down Scadrian advance; but so will they slow down Rosharans. Neither side can fight during a highstorm, and it will be destructive to both sides - moreso, even, to Rosharans, as during a highstorm Scadrians can continue muster, training and weapons production on their homeworld while Rosharans have to remain inside. It's also far from a controllable weapon: Stormfather's control over it seems to be simply sending it forth and then let it circle the globe. Probably the biggest advantage would be for Stormfather to send out storms in unpredictable fashion, giving heads-up to Dalinar about it, so that only Rosharans know where to hide, but Scadrians could counter that by having Steelrunning scouts watching for when Rosharans are hiding and then going to Scadrians to tell them to hide as well.

 

And now I so want a Scadrial-Roshar Odium-fighting crossover...

[Argel he/him]

@Pathfinder:  I think "peace-loving" was meant as in "not a militaristic society". It's not like we have e.g. constant tribal warfare in the EB. I also don't think we can say for sure the EB is isolationist. Just because they are isolated isn't the same as having isolationist policies. They haven't even had anyone they knew about to isolate from. I do not think your analogy with Earth is valid because Harmony is far more directly involved in Scadrial than any deity on Earth.  I just don't see him sitting back while Scadrial goes off on some kind of subjugation war against Roshar. Something more focused on Odium, yes, but not something so over the top. He was there for the warfare at almost end of the world before becoming Harmony after all. He has the Kandra, Wax, etc. to help out. Maybe even Marsh (assuming nothing binds Marsh to Scadrial). Maybe a certain cognitive shadow would push for a war, but we know what a good crew can do in Era 1 and Era 2 at this point. Now, maybe the war is meant to distract Odium from the adventuring crew sent to deal with Odium. That's probably the most credible theory I can come up, though that feels too much like Tolkien. Though, uhm, one shard to rule them all... Hmm....

[Alfa he/him]

On some occasions I saw the post "Rosharans possess only 0.7 of the strength of scadrians, because the gravity is weaker". That is not entirely correct. While on roshar it it's easier to stem weights, to accelerate something to the necessary speed (say - to accelerate a spear to killing speed) you still need the same amount of energy and force. So its plausible to say that Rosharans are still a bit weaker than Scadrians, but not to the 70% mark, but more about 90%.
Also, be Roshar or Scadrial the agressor, the attacking army would have its problems with the abnormal gravity - because it takes some time for your subconsciousness to adjust good enough for precision work.

[Pathfinder]

@Pathfinder:  I think "peace-loving" was meant as in "not a militaristic society". It's not like we have e.g. constant tribal warfare in the EB. I also don't think we can say for sure the EB is isolationist. Just because they are isolated isn't the same as having isolationist policies. They haven't even had anyone they knew about to isolate from. I do not think your analogy with Earth is valid because Harmony is far more directly involved in Scadrial than any deity on Earth.  I just don't see him sitting back while Scadrial goes off on some kind of subjugation war against Roshar. Something more focused on Odium, yes, but not something so over the top. He was there for the warfare at almost end of the world before becoming Harmony after all. He has the Kandra, Wax, etc. to help out. Maybe even Marsh (assuming nothing binds Marsh to Scadrial). Maybe a certain cognitive shadow would push for a war, but we know what a good crew can do in Era 1 and Era 2 at this point. Now, maybe the war is meant to distract Odium from the adventuring crew sent to deal with Odium. That's probably the most credible theory I can come up, though that feels too much like Tolkien. Though, uhm, one shard to rule them all... Hmm....

What subjugation war? If hypothetically it was Odium as I wrote, it would be a war of self preservation. The early attacks are of subterfuge, but we have no idea what state Roshar is in at the time of AoL. Like I said, for all we know, voidbringers could be the dominate life form at that point and once they realize spys and undermining don't work, they would have an army of their own to wipe out Scadrial. The Scadrialians, much like in the analogy I posited, would then take the war to Roshar. But again, this is all pure conjecture on both our parts. Just in your opinion it is farther fetched that a war could start than in my opinion. 

[Argel he/him]

In your scenario, has Odium already taken over all of Roshar? If not, then why attack the non-Odium factions?

Edited April 6, 2016 by Argel

[Voidus]

I think taking motivations into it are probably skirting around the point a bit, yes Scadrial doesn't really have any reason to go to war with Roshar, although as mentioned Roshar is a pretty war-like planet and the first scouts they send would be attacked, that alone might justify it. But aside from that the whole point is that this is a hypothetical scenario, what if they went to war, you can't really answer that with 'they wouldn't'

[A Windspren he/him]

we're taking willingness to fight out of the scenario, then what's stopping the Stormfather from creating a Highstorm on top of the Scadrian army?

[Voidus]

we're taking willingness to fight out of the scenario, then what's stopping the Stormfather from creating a Highstorm on top of the Scadrian army?

Well there's the fact that the willingness of a country to go to war doesn't mean all entities in that country do too, unless you want Harmony to join in along with MeLaan and the Bands of Mourning. Other than that? The fact that he can't. He can hurry it along but it still follows the same path as always.