theory Hoid's Plans Have Changed

[VirtuousTraveller]

A very kind 17th sharder (shout out to ParadoxSpren) exposed me to some really interesting information to my theory of Hoid causing the Shaod/Reod that has me thinking about Hoid's meddling in the cosmere. ParadoxSpren directed me to some WoB which give some interesting information about Hoid’s involvement on Sel from the following Words of Brandon:

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Words of Brandon (http://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=768#5)

Aon Ene represents wit, intelligence, and cleverness. In recent years, the Aon has also begun to be associated with prosperity and wealth as well. It was once a popular Aon for names, though recently it has fallen out of favor in this regard, and names using it are now considered a little old-fashioned.

During the Middle Era, when Elantris's influence expanded and the kingdom of Arelon began to take shape, Aon Ene was attributed to the guild of storytellers who brought tales of the marvels in Elantris. It was often rumored that these people, who took upon themselves the Enefel name, were agents of the Elantrians. Their purpose was to spread good will about the city and its inhabitants, calming the rural populace, who regarded Elantris and its magics with suspicion.

Over the centuries, this guild of storytellers transformed into a more scholarly group who gathered stories and histories from the people. By the dawn of the Late Era—about two centuries before the fall of Elantris—the group had burgeoned beyond its origins into several distinct sects of scholars and philosophers. By the time of the fall of Elantris, the constant association of this group with Aon Ene expanded its meaning into the more familiar use, representing scholarly intelligence and study.

So, a group of storytellers went around Arelon telling everyone about the Elantrians and their magic. As time went on, they collected stories and histories of the people in the land and passed this information along through scholarship. It seems Hoid was involved on Sel long before the events of the book Elantris.

Aon Ene represents “wit,” which is a name Hoid uses on Roshar. (as an aside, “Ene” is a palindrome, symmetrical and possibly even Vorin in nature). Following this clue to Roshar, we find that another group similar to the Enefels, known as the Worldsingers, which engaged in very similar behaviors, with whom Hoid has interacted:

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“Why is he ashamed of being a worldsinger?”

“Worldsinger?” Kalindin asked?

“I do not know much. Are strange people. Say they must travel to each kingdom and tell the people there are other kingdoms. Is a kind of story teller, though they are thinking of themselves as much more.”

(The Way of Kings chapter 46)

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I am not a foolish jester or storyteller. I do not 'give tales.' I spread knowledge of cultures, peoples, thoughts, and dreams. I bring peace through understanding. It is the holy charge my order received from the Heralds themselves. – Sigzil

(The Way of Kings chapter 55)

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“Tell him I graduate him.” Hoid said. “He’s a full Worldsinger now. Don’t let him get killed. I spent far too long trying to force some sense into that brain of his.”

Sigzil, Kaladin thought.

(The Way of Kings chapter 57).

On Scadrial, the Worldbringers were spiritual leaders of the Terris people, using their copperminds to store information about the past including histories, philosophies, and religions. For some reason, the Lord Ruler felt it necessary to destroy this group – hunting down their successors the Keepers (see The Well of Ascension Chapter 4). An admin on 17^th Shard said that the similarities between the names of Worldbringers and Worldsingers was not a coincidence, so we could assume Hoid had involvement on Scadrial prior to the events of the first Mistborn Trilogy too.

On Nathlis, we see Hoid as a storyteller with information about the history of the nations of Idris and Hallandren (Warbreaker chapter 32), though whether or not he was the influence behind a guild of storytellers or not is not revealed.

My point is this: Why would Hoid invest (pun intented) so much of his time and resources in making sure that humans on these shardworlds were aware of past histories and stories? Perhaps as a way to promote awareness of the shards' existence? I wonder if this was one of his first "intervention" strategies following the shattering. Perhaps this led to some of the chaos that the second letter references:

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“You tow chaos behind you like a corpse dragged by one leg through the snow. Please, hearken to my plea. Leave that place and join me in my oath of nonintervention.”

It seems to me that Hoid was originally dedicated to encouraging humans on various planets to be aware of stories of the past, of histories, of the magic that existed. Perhaps this was his first attempt at intervening in the cosmere, but because it didn't accomplish what he wanted it to (or because of the chaos it caused), his plans have changed.

Now, it seems like he's more directly involved in things, l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶u̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶S̶h̶a̶o̶d̶/̶R̶a̶o̶d,or taking the bead of Lerasium, or involving himself with the Knights Radiant on Roshar.

What are your thoughts?

Edited November 27, 2016 by VirtuousTraveller
Removed debunked theory

[Landis963]

A very kind 17th sharder (shout out to ParadoxSpren) exposed me to some really interesting information to my theory of Hoid causing the Shaod/Reod that has me thinking about Hoid's meddling in the cosmere. ParadoxSpren directed me to some WoB which give some interesting information about Hoid’s involvement on Sel from the following Words of Brandon:

So, a group of storytellers went around Arelon telling everyone about the Elantrians and their magic. As time went on, they collected stories and histories of the people in the land and passed this information along through scholarship. It seems Hoid was involved on Sel long before the events of the book Elantris.

Aon Ene represents “wit,” which is a name Hoid uses on Roshar. (as an aside, “Ene” is a palindrome, symmetrical and possibly even Vorin in nature). Following this clue to Roshar, we find that another group similar to the Enefels, known as the Worldsingers, which engaged in very similar behaviors, with whom Hoid has interacted:

On Scadrial, the Worldbringers were spiritual leaders of the Terris people, using their copperminds to store information about the past including histories, philosophies, and religions. For some reason, the Lord Ruler felt it necessary to destroy this group – hunting down their successors the Keepers (see The Well of Ascension Chapter 4). An admin on 17^th Shard said that the similarities between the names of Worldbringers and Worldsingers was not a coincidence, so we could assume Hoid had involvement on Scadrial prior to the events of the first Mistborn Trilogy too.

On Nathlis, we see Hoid as a storyteller with information about the history of the nations of Idris and Hallandren (Warbreaker chapter 32), though whether or not he was the influence behind a guild of storytellers or not is not revealed.

My point is this: Why would Hoid invest (pun intented) so much of his time and resources in making sure that humans on these shardworlds were aware of past histories and stories? Perhaps as a way to promote awareness of the shards' existence? I wonder if this was one of his first "intervention" strategies following the shattering. Perhaps this led to some of the chaos that the second letter references:

It seems to me that Hoid was originally dedicated to encouraging humans on various planets to be aware of stories of the past, of histories, of the magic that existed. Perhaps this was his first attempt at intervening in the cosmere, but because it didn't accomplish what he wanted it to (or because of the chaos it caused), his plans have changed.

Now, it seems like he's more directly involved in things, like causing the Shaod/Raod, or taking the bead of Lerasium, or involving himself with the Knights Radiant on Roshar.

What are your thoughts?

 

My first thought is: there's no confirmation of Hoid causing the Reod (which seems rather unlikely).  

 

Further thoughts:  I like the theory, but I'm of the opinion that the Worldsingers/Worldbringers/Enefel travellers are at best a side project while Hoid works on things that will shake the heavens, as he put it.  

[The Ninja Yodeler]

Don't know about the Reod and all that. But, considering what Hoid started out as, I don't find it hard to believe at all that he had a hand in starting some(if not all) of these groups.

[Blackhoof]

Now, it seems like he's more directly involved in things, like causing the Shaod/Raod, or taking the bead of Lerasium, or involving himself with the Knights Radiant on Roshar.

What are your thoughts?

 

yeah, that sounds really likely. Perhaps the Reod was also caused by the other worldhoppers as well, causing them (except for Hoid) to take up an oath of nonintervention?

[ParadoxicalZen]

Aye, I linked these 3 when I first found that info. Even got RAFO'd b y Brandon when I asked something about the Enefel, I forgot what it was. I'm curious to see if they're still active circa Elantris time

[VirtuousTraveller]

I'm curious to see if they're still active circa Elantris time

I'm curious that they, like the Worldbringers, are interestingly absent from the present time of the stories we read. Only the Worldsingers seem to be around, and even their numbers are small (so small that Hoid was the master to Sigzil). Hoid seems very interested in spreading awareness about the past. It seems like something (or someone else) doesn't want that at all.

[VirtuousTraveller]

Interesting connection between the Worldsingers and Scadrial - perhaps Hoid was behind their attempts to "snap" Rosharians into becoming surgebinders? He would have seen this form of Investiture Initiation while mingling in the Mistborn storyline.

[Eki]

Interesting connection between the Worldsingers and Scadrial - perhaps Hoid was behind their attempts to "snap" Rosharians into becoming surgebinders? He would have seen this form of Investiture Initiation while mingling in the Mistborn storyline.

I think you're mixing up the Worldsingers and the Envisagers. I don't remember the Worldsingers doing anything like that, at least.

[Ari]

Remember, the reason TLR wanted to hunt down Feruchemists was to prevent the two metallic arts mixing in ways he didn't control, not necessarily because of the philosophies of the Worldbringers. In fact the existence of the Kandra suggests he really didn't want to get rid of the actual people who were Worldbringers at the time in order to meet that goal.

[hoidhunter]

Yeah...especially after reading the sample chapters of LoP...I came to realize that Hoid may have been the originator of all of these story telling traditions...how that may have something to do with the Reod eludes me.  That's not to say it isn't so.  The little bit added to the end of the Elantris anniversary edition is particularly interesting in this regard.  I would almost think that Hoid was meddling a little more into fixing the Roed.

Edited May 29, 2016 by hoidhunter