{OB] Pillar in the basement theory

[Zelly]

I was thinking, what if the gem pillar requires not only Stormlight or a bondsmith, but a bondsmith leading "tugging" on a radiant from each of the orders, all working together?  

If all ten types of gemstones are represented on a pillar, each type could require input from the corresponding radiant order.  This could also power the corresponding veins running through Urithiru and the essences connected to said gem. 

So a Truthwatcher would contribute stormlight for the emeralds to regulate the tower's plants and farming, a Windrunner powering the sapphires for air regulation, etc, while all being melded with purpose by the Bondsmith.

As the different orders began infighting and abandoning Urithiru, they may have actually caused  some the tower's functions to fail as certain gemstones and functions no longer had the proper power supply (rather than radiants leaving because the tower was not functioning). 

 

(Extra crazy theory:  the 10 thrones are actually fabrials and Urithiru is powered by souls. Ooooooo).

Edited May 22, 2018 by Zellyia

[galendo]

I'm doubtful.  I mean, we haven't seen any instances of gemstones ever being Order-specific before now, and I think that would've been foreshadowed by now if it were going to be a thing.

[quadbox]

Plus if this were the fact, it's not like the orders wouldnt have been aware of the solution.  And while urithiru was losing its powers, they all were still working together enough to agree they should all leave their thoughts on those gems...

[Leyrann]

On 23-5-2018 at 7:14 AM, galendo said:

I'm doubtful.  I mean, we haven't seen any instances of gemstones ever being Order-specific before now, and I think that would've been foreshadowed by now if it were going to be a thing.

The Ars Arcanum connects them.

[Calderis he/him]

1 minute ago, Leyrann said:

The Ars Arcanum connects them.

And the color of the eyes, blades, and plate of each order. 

Not saying I agree with this theory, because I don't think it fits, but the connection between gem type and order is definitely there. 

[galendo]

There might be a loose theoretical connection between the gemstones and the Orders, but nothing functional that we've ever seen.  It's not like Windrunners can only draw Stormlight from sapphires, for instance, or that sapphires could only be infused by Windrunners.  So suddenly having a fabrial where only Windrunners can supply Stormlight to the sapphires only Bondsmiths can supply Stormlight to the heliodors, etc., would be a pretty big change that hasn't been foreshadowed.  In fact it would be opposite of the way we've already seen the Oathgates work, where one Radiant can supply Stormlight to the entire system. 

[Xtafa]

8 hours ago, galendo said:

There might be a loose theoretical connection between the gemstones and the Orders, but nothing functional that we've ever seen.  It's not like Windrunners can only draw Stormlight from sapphires, for instance, or that sapphires could only be infused by Windrunners.  So suddenly having a fabrial where only Windrunners can supply Stormlight to the sapphires only Bondsmiths can supply Stormlight to the heliodors, etc., would be a pretty big change that hasn't been foreshadowed.  In fact it would be opposite of the way we've already seen the Oathgates work, where one Radiant can supply Stormlight to the entire system. 

True, though certain spren can only be bound to a specific gem as shown with the fabrials. Maybe it was a bound spren in the gems that each order needed to interact with. 

Speculation but still 

[Zelly]

9 hours ago, galendo said:

There might be a loose theoretical connection between the gemstones and the Orders, but nothing functional that we've ever seen. 

Well there is this:

On 5/23/2018 at 3:56 AM, quadbox said:

And while urithiru was losing its powers, they all were still working together enough to agree they should all leave their thoughts on those gems...

Recording gems which also just happen to correspond to the correct orders.

Granted, much of this could be simply ceremonial or symbolic.  But it's another odd tie in.  Why go the the trouble of having each order record into a specific stone type?

[galendo]

25 minutes ago, Zellyia said:

Well there is this:

Recording gems which also just happen to correspond to the correct orders.

Granted, much of this could be simply ceremonial or symbolic.  But it's another odd tie in.  Why go the the trouble of having each order record into a specific stone type?

My guess is that this is just another way of encoding information for future Radiants.  The recordings are pretty short, so the haven't the time to say "This is the perspective of random Windrunner #17" on each recording.  By matching each recorded message to the Order who left it, they save time and still convey information.  I doubt that there's a hard and fast magic rule that only Windrunners can record on sapphire.  (In fact, we know there isn't, because a non-Edgedancer recorded on amethyst.)  It's simply a convenience.

1 hour ago, Xtafa said:

True, though certain spren can only be bound to a specific gem as shown with the fabrials. Maybe it was a bound spren in the gems that each order needed to interact with. 

Speculation but still 

That's not really how fabrials work, though.  Once the spren is bound, anyone can use the resulting fabrial.  The user doesn't even have to be a Radiant, much less a specific Order of Radiant.  And on top of all that, there's no real evidence that the old Radiants made their fabrials by way of capturing spren in gemstones, either.

No, I think the much more likely explanation is that the pillar is an old Radiant-style fabrial, that requires the presence/assistance of a spren in the Cognitive Realm.  This spren is presumably the Sibling, who has gone AWOL.  Thus the fabrial doesn't work properly any more, and won't until the Sibling returns.

[Zelly]

I'll throw in another gem-order connection I just remembered: the sapphire studded knife used to kill Jezrien. 

Perhaps the gems are simply symbolic to the Knights, but something deeper to the Heralds?

[Zelly]

33 minutes ago, galendo said:

 

 

33 minutes ago, galendo said:

 

Edited May 25, 2018 by Zellyia
Omg phone edit stop, sorry Gale xd

[Calderis he/him]

1 hour ago, galendo said:

(In fact, we know there isn't, because a non-Edgedancer recorded on amethyst.)

I don't disagree with your point, but all of the gems match their orders. 

Edgedancer = Diamond. 

Willshaper = Amythest. 

Edited May 25, 2018 by Calderis

[Patrick Star]

It's inactive because they need to construct additional pylons

[Stark he/him]

I think we need to look at what happens to the various spren types when they 'die.'  Higher spren, when their bond is broken after reaching the sword ideal for their order, are deadeyed.  Lesser spren, we don't know.  But I think we assume they become plate, but we have not seen their cognitive versions yet.

 

So what about the super spren - Stormfather, Nightwatcher and the sibling?  What happens when they are killed, the Bondsmith spren?  Bondsmiths, if I remember correctly, don't get swords.  An Urithiru is clearly more than it seems and lacks a lot of its previous functionality.  As does shardplate and shardblades.  THe sibling was injured and is being protected.

 

What if Urithiru is the Physical Realm Deadeye version of the sibling?

 

I have no proof - just a random thought that came to me while reading this thread. 

[Calderis he/him]

9 hours ago, Stark said:

What if Urithiru is the Physical Realm Deadeye version of the sibling?

Then they better figure out how to revive dead blades pretty damned quickly. Urithiru's ability to produce crops is going to be needed. Soon.