Adolin's Test

[Terra of Roshar she/her]

Re-reading Nohadon's section also brings up an interesting point (though not really related to the topic) - the Desolation has struck but Nohadon talks about what the Heralds will find when they next return (which seems to imply they did not presage that particular Desolation). When first reading that section I remember (due to that passage) thinking that this occurred after the Prelude chronologically (i.e. the Heralds didn't show up because all but one quit) but upon reflection that contradicts there being no Desolation since the Heralds gave up. The Prelude seems to imply pretty strongly the Heralds' return is connected to the Desolations, so it's unclear if Nohadon's phrasing here is just misleading or if what's going on isn't actually a Desolation (or maybe the Heralds showed up but got killed immediately...).

I always thought the vision took place in the direct aftermath of a Desolation. My mental timeline was Alakavish starts a war -> lots of people die -> Desolation starts -> lots more people die -> they win with the Heralds' help -> the Heralds leave -> a day of two later, Nohadon and his advisor have their little talk. It can't be too long after the Desolation, since there are Thunderclast corpses littering the city. I read the line about the Heralds returning as implying they had already left after the Desolation, not that they hadn't been there at the beginning of it.

 

Edit: Ninja'd by WitSpren

Edited February 26, 2014 by Terra of Scadrial

[Dros]

I had a conversation tonight about the Thrill and found myself explaining it to a first time reader of WoK, and found something interesting.

 

The Thrill is basically adrenaline. I don't think that any one disputes this?

But then I threw out the definition of Thrill; and a light bulb came on

Thrill:a sensation of excitement and  pleasure. 

This is about more than adrenaline junkies like Sadeas. It's about making the Alethi love fighting. 

 

The KR from Star fall talks about fighting, even against "the enemy" would change an individual, but they know how to stop it.

 

Dalinar himself is enjoying the Thrill in WoK then has a realization of the task brutality of what he is doing, and freezes up.

 

I think what we see in all the above cases is a mental recognition of what they are doing and what this makes them feel, and how the two should not coincide. 

Similar to a Scadrian recognizing that they are being manipulated by Emotional Allowmancy. Once they recognize that what they feel does not add up to what they believe, they have the tool to combat said manipulation.

 

Good explanation. I buy that.

[Xavien]

Pure speculation but I think Adolin's real test is what happens when he loses a duel...and his shards.  In another thread people speculated that Adolin can't be a Radiant because he is not "broken" but here we have a guy who lives for shard duels, it's either his Calling or Glory (can't remember which)

 

Take away his shards and who is he? I think that will be his real test.

 

Just 3 more days...

[Green Hoodie Mistborn he/him]

And that may be where he falls to Odium's influence!