Part Four Epigraph (spoilers)

[realmatist]

At this point we should be at least 99% sure that the letter in TWoK is from Hoid to the leader of the 17th Shard (I really don't want to have to call him that every time, from now on he will be Bob) (Note: because I named them Bob I will call Bob a he, even though the gender of Bob has not been revealed).

 
The epigraph in part four is the response to Hoid's letter (perhaps this correspondence will continue in further epigraphs), from Bob. This letter introduces Bob as a character, gives clues to his motivations, and reveals tantalizing details about the cosmere. Bob, in this letter, identifies that he is writing to Hoid: "I am told that in your current incarnation you've taken a name that references what you presume to be one of your virtues." Obviously Wit. We can then see that Bob is not fond of wit (not the name, the attribute) as he likens it to a "stench." The nonintervention that the 17th Shard seeks is because "interference so far has brought nothing but pain." Perhaps there was 17th Shard interference on Sel during Rayse's rampage (ooh good alliteration) that led to much pain and suffering there. For certain, we now know that the 17th Shard interfered before, but it didn't work.

 

And, "Rayse is captive"!!!!!!!!!!!!! (this was news to me)

Even though I haven't seen much of Rayse's direct influence on Roshar, we know that "he cannot leave the system he now inhabits." Perhaps Rayse was up to some mischief elsewhere in the system...

 

Some more details: (all spoilers)

• Rasye wished to become Odium
• Hoid and Bob made Rayse (and the other Shards?) what they are

Please, discuss, point out errors, and hypothesize!

[Argent he/him]

For consistency (and sanity), could you use one of the other threads on the same topic we already have? I can remember seeing at least three different ones =\