What is Oathbringer??

[Aaronator17]

Don't worry, I know that Oathbringer is the title of the third Stormlight Archive book and also Dalinar's Shardblade, my real question is this:

Since Brandon has said he will be keeping the theme of the previous two titles, what in universe book is Oathbringer? I can think of a couple of things,

1) A history of the shardblade Oathbringer and the various wielders throughout history

2) A biography of Dalinar himself, possibly in writing during the events of the story (I feel like any biography published before this would be more focused on him as the Blackthorn, and not as a literal bringer of oaths)

Without too much out there to speculate on, what do people think Oathbringer is about?

[Erinzard]

Could be a biography of a previous Bondsmith and help Dalinar figure out how to do what he needs to do. I could see Bondsmiths being needed to facilitate the final Oaths for each order of KR. 

Another idea is that Oathbringer could be another name for Jezrien or Ishar or another Herald that was the patron Herald of the Bondsmiths and could tell the story of the first founding of the KR. Written in Dawnchant and stored in the official Bondsmith library in Urithiru, it could be one of the gems that Navani happens to find and translate just in time for the end of the book when Dalinar needs to go super saiyan.  

[Tsidqiyah]

I heard that the Book's title is in reference to the sword itself. Remember shards are described as being covered in runes/glyphs. As a result the glyphs could be classified as a "book" in a nontraditional sense.

[The One Who Connects]

There was a Reddit WoB to this effect, and Brandon's response was that "Shardblades (blade names?) have history that goes back a lot farther than their current owners" or something very close to this. (I don't have the exact wording, but something definitely "goes back further than current owners")

[Patrick Star]

1 hour ago, The One Who Connects said:

There was a Reddit WoB to this effect, and Brandon's response was that "Shardblades (blade names?) have history that goes back a lot farther than their current owners" or something very close to this. (I don't have the exact wording, but something definitely "goes back further than current owners")

I'm just glad Roshar doesn't have internet then, because you know there would be a shardblade named "Swordy McSwordface"

Imagine explaining that to your kids

[The One Who Connects]

2 hours ago, Patrick Star said:

 "Swordy McSwordface"

This is one of those moments where the joke is bad enough to almost warrant down voting. Seriously humanity, what were you thinking..?

[+Extesian]

I think it'll be about Bondsmiths which makes sense as it's Dalinar's book.

So I think it'll relate to this

Quote

So Melishi retired to his tent, and resolved to destroy the Voidbringers upon the next day, but that night did present a different stratagem, related to the unique abilities of the Bondsmiths; and being hurried, he could make no specific account of his process; it was related to the very nature of the Heralds and their divine duties, an attribute the Bondsmiths alone could address. ”

— From Words of Radiance, chapter 30, page 18[1]

or this

Quote

But as for Ishi’Elin, his was the part most important at their inception; he readily understood the implications of Surges being granted to men, and caused organization to be thrust upon them; as having too great power, he let it be known that he would destroy each and every one, unless they agreed to be bound by precepts and laws.From Words of Radiance, chapter 2, page 4^[

I like to think the first one as Brandon has said we'll know what the Black Sphere does in this book and I think they're related. But maybe it's too early for that discovery and it'll be the second, relating to how the KR got their oaths.

[maxal]

Spoilers for The Thrill:

Spoiler

I think it will be the biography of the Sunmaker.

 

[+Wax]

Three things come to my mind when I think of Oathbringer.

1.  Dalinar's previous shardblade, which Adolin threw away after killing Sadeus.  As  other mentioned, it might be about the history of it but also about the re discovery of the shardblade, Adolin's punishment and related consequences.

2.  We might go further into the oathpact as well.  What brought on the oathpact and what exactly was it.  A book named oathbringer might also contain some clues as well!  Perhaps a book that Shallan / Dalinar / Navani might read or focus on...

3.  Dustbringers.  Perhaps a red herring, but I've always been intrigued about the use of the word "bring" with oath.  The releasers were often called dustbringers and I don't think we've seen any dustbringers with revealed abilities and so forth.  That might change with the dustbringers revealing themselves and grabbing centrestage.  Do we know what kind of spren oathbringer originally was?  Entirely wild speulation with little basis but I am thinking it might have been a dustbringer spren originally.  Also, Oathbringer the book was originally going to be Szeth's book and would have included a lot of stone shaman focus.  However, it now being a Dalinar book, there might be a heavier focus on bondsmiths, but still the revelation of dustbringers and organisation of all types of surgebinders might be a central concept in the book.

PS 100th post.. yay!

 

Edited April 5, 2017 by axcellence