[OB] New Fused?

[Xaladin he/him]

So, we know how Fused are really ancient members of the Parsh race who have a kind of immortality like that of the Heralds, where they go more and more insane (or something like that). But do we know how they attained that status? How would a new Parshendi aspire to be a Fused? Not get possessed and killed by one, but rather be able to return (or Return...) after dying and possess a new body?

edit: do I still have to put [OB] in the title since it's been more than 6 months now since the release of Oathbringer?

Edited May 22, 2018 by Xaladin

[StrikerEZ he/him]

First, the way I've always assumed the Fused were made was that Odium himself gave them very small Splinters of his power, similar to what Honor did with the Heralds. That made them into Cognitive Shadows, which is why they don't die when killed. As of right now, the Everstorm is how they are able to get new bodies, but they presumably were able to do so in highstorms in earlier Desolations as well.

And yes, @Xaladin you do need to put [OB] in the title until the mods/admins make a new post saying it's okay not to do so.

[Weltall]

11 minutes ago, Xaladin said:

But do we know how they attained that status? How would a new Parshendi aspire to be a Fused?

As mentioned, the Fused are Cognitive Shadows which means that Odium gave them a sufficient infusion of Investiture (either during life or immediately upon their first deaths) which prevents them from passing Beyond. The exact mechanics of their reincarnation and why it works the way it does are things we don't know, but it has some resonance with how the singers/Parsh bond with spren so it might be that the possession-based reincarnation is 'built in' due to their sDNA. Or it could be something Odium set up deliberately, like I said we don't know yet.

It's unlikely that Odium is going to create new Fused since we know he doesn't like to Invest any more than he needs to (and he already has an army of Fused) and whatever Odium does, it's clearly something he can undo at will; he warns one Fused who's questioning him at Thaylen City that he can always withdraw that which gives him life, in order to make him back down.

[galendo]

11 hours ago, Weltall said:

It's unlikely that Odium is going to create new Fused since we know he doesn't like to Invest any more than he needs to (and he already has an army of Fused) and whatever Odium does, it's clearly something he can undo at will; he warns one Fused who's questioning him at Thaylen City that he can always withdraw that which gives him life, in order to make him back down.

It's also said that the Fused tend to go a bit crazy with each reincarnation.  It doesn't seem at all unreasonable for Odium to want to get some "new blood", as it were.  I'm guessing that for now the existing Fused's battle experience is worth more to him that the current Parshendi's sanity, but once the new batch of Parshendi get some practical experience, I could easily see Odium making new Fused.  Out with the old, in with the new.

[teknopathetic he/him]

On 5/22/2018 at 0:21 PM, Weltall said:

It's unlikely that Odium is going to create new Fused since we know he doesn't like to Invest any more than he needs to (and he already has an army of Fused) and whatever Odium does, it's clearly something he can undo at will; he warns one Fused who's questioning him at Thaylen City that he can always withdraw that which gives him life, in order to make him back down.

I disagree, I think.

The myth of the Tranquiline Halls really reminds me of how the Fused work; if you are very useful and good at fighting, then you could return to fight again in an attempt to reclaim your homeland. Go to a weird world and be reborn to reclaim the one you lost? Clearly this is a religious ideal that applies to the Fused.

Religiously, for humans and for Parshendi, there is a long standing expectation that being a great fighter means you serve your God again. I think Odium will be elevating a few dead Parshendi for at least two reasons:

1. A lot of the Fused are insane now and not terribly useful. (Herald symmetry!)

2. If the Parshendi saw some of their leaders being elevated, the Parshendi might fight with more power and conviction.

 

Additional question:

Who exactly were the first people to become "fused"? Since humans were originally the children of Odium, did humans have the opportunity to be reborn as cognitive shadows? Humans come back as retunred, and even on Scadrial there is a mention of "you will fight for us in the next life for Trell". It doesn't seem beyond Odium's power to have used cylon humans in the same way he is using Fused parshendi. Heck, even look at The Heralds and what they do. Was that Honour's unique idea, or was he imitating Odium? 

My gut says that Humans once were reborn as Odium Shadows, but the humans abandoned Odium for Honor & Cultivation. Then, the Parshendi abandoned their gods and were given the chance to return as Cognative Shadows themselves. Obviously the process would be different between Humans and Parshendi, but the raw effect would be the same. 

Edited May 24, 2018 by teknopathetic

[Diomedes]

On 24.5.2018 at 9:26 PM, teknopathetic said:

My gut says that Humans once were reborn as Odium Shadows, but the humans abandoned Odium for Honor & Cultivation. Then, the Parshendi abandoned their gods and were given the chance to return as Cognative Shadows themselves. Obviously the process would be different between Humans and Parshendi, but the raw effect would be the same. 

The theory on ancient human Fused is a bit too speculative, but could be very well true. That means they are still around somewhere on Braize since they are immortal, right?

We will certainly see human Fused in the next few books. A lot of Fused are insane, as you said. Odium needs new experienced Fighters and Humans alone have any fighting experience at all. Amaram would check all the boxes. He is an exellent General, loyal to Odium and hates the Kholin family ad thereby the Radiants. I think it is fair to say that we will see him again.    

[The Harlem Worldhoppers he/him]

I'm wondering if Nightblood can permanently kill one of the fused given that it (he?) can apparently kill things simultaneously in all three realms. I just want to see more Nightblood and Szeth interactions to be honest.

[The One Who Connects he/him]

10 hours ago, The Harlem Worldhoppers said:

I'm wondering if Nightblood can permanently kill one of the fused given that it (he?) can apparently kill things simultaneously in all three realms. I just want to see more Nightblood and Szeth interactions to be honest.

Anything short of the Shards themselves would probably gonna be on the chopping block, and even then, Nightblood can damage them too.

[Ciridae]

On human Fused, there are those yellow spren with Shin appearance. We don't know what happens when a CS crosses into the physical without a vessel to inhabit, but a CS is essentially the same as any other spren and we know that they can cross over fairly easily. We have odious spren like Ulim and Yixli, I think there's a good chance they may be the first cognitive shadows created by Odium. Both of those spren mention that they are millennia old. 

I wouldn't be upset if we saw a tiny floating golden Amaram pop up in the next book.