[OB] How Odium Is Set Free

[Varenus]

Prescript:

My apologies if this Idea has already been put forward by someone else, I checked but probably missed something. Most of what I say is likely common knowledge at this point, but my aim is to show how it is useful to Odium specifically.

What we Know:

• Odium can be freed by someone wielding a large splinter of Honor
• Fused can be revived in the Everstorm 
• Moash's dagger stole something from Jezrien 
• The dagger works like Hemalurgy, but probably isn't 
• Fused are gathering shardblades
• Sja-anat corrupts spren

Theory:

Odium will forge(or else acquire) a new splinter of Honor, give it to one of his minions(or willing participant), and be set free.

With the death of Honor's vessel, Odium has opened a new win condition for himself that he did not have in previous Desolations. This condition was shown in Oathbringer when Dalinar told Odium to simply leave, to which Odium's answer was that he could and would if Dalinar willingly and deliberately wished him to. This is possible, according to Odium, because Dalinar has bonded the Stormfather(who has absorbed some more of Honor's investiture after he shattered). So, I think it is safe to assume that any one possessing a splinter of Honor of equal or greater magnitude to that of the Stormfather could free Odium. The question then becomes: How will Odium obtain such a large amount of Honor's investiture? Fortunately for Odium, smaller pieces of Honor are flying(literally in some cases) left, right, and center.

Most notably among all the things that contain Honor's essence are the Heralds and their Honoblades. These are by far the largest splinters of Honor with the exception of the Stormfather and maybe the Sibling(the Nightwatcher is probably more of a splinter of Cultivation and therefor not as useful). So, I propose that the reason why Odium is killing Heralds is not because he is worried about the Fused getting stuck again, as the Everstorm may or may not allow them to remain on Roashar indefinably, but because he needs their pieces of Honor. 

The process of extracting a Herald's fragment of Honor has then already been made manifest by Moash killing Jezrien with the special dagger. The glowing light in the dagger's gemstone is likely Jezrien's splinter of Honor in this case. Odium is looking for the most pure essence of Honor he can get, so that other intents(like Cultivation's) do not interfere with his plan. To that end, he needs a way to divide the souls/spirit webs of his enemies into their Honor and Cultivation components. Hemalurgy would certainly be useful in this scenario, but Odium needs something with a smaller chance of failure. Thus the dagger is possibly a fabrial wielding the surge of spiritual division. All the benefits of Hemalurgy, but none of the hassle. The smaller pieces of Honor can then be mended by spiritual adhesion or tension if necessary(Dalinar or someone with Dalinar's specific powers may be needed). 

Now Odium needs to kill enough Hearlds to equal the power of the Stormfather, no easy feat. Odium could probably get the majority of them(Nale and Ishar I'm looking at you), but sooner or later the remaining Heralds and our new Radiants will wise up and band together(specifically Ash and Taln). So, Odium needs a backup plan. That plan is the Fused gathering shardbaldes and Sja-anat corrupting living spren. I think this is part of the reason the Fused are occupying places like Celebrant in the cognitive realm. If Odium can't have all the Heralds, he will replace them with all the dead spren and the living spren of the places he is occupying. Thereby proposing a moral dilemma to the forces of Honor: the lives of a few Heralds or the lives of sprenkind.    

I hear Tukar is nice this time of year, Shinovar too...

Edited May 8, 2018 by Varenus

[TheHeadHancho]

I think you are forgetting the dawnshards as a possibility. These things can destroy planets and have the power to kill Odium according to Honor.

[Leyrann]

I think this is an overly complicated theory; if Odium had simply wanted to leave, he could have done so after Dalinar said so, instead of warning Dalinar about what it meant he said. I think it's clear Odium wants to achieve things first. Most likely, I think he wants to kill Cultivation and further deal with Honor's splinters.

[Varenus]

@Leyrann No, Odium says in that passage that he can't be freed on accident. The person must say the words with the intent of freeing Odium for it to work. I'll post the full quote when I have the time.

Also, which do you think is easier, dealing with Cultivation from Braize with who knows what restrictions or dealing with her while on Roshar and free?

Perhapse I should clarify, when I say free I mean not bound by Honor and Culivation's rules. Not free as in get up and leave the planet/system. So, I agree that he has unfinished business on Roshar, but that is more easily accomplished when he can act at full strength.