EmeraldMind Posted June 2, 2018 Posted June 2, 2018 So I was bouncing around the idea of individuals who hold shards become the embodiment of their shard. It has been noted several times that those that become shards at first keep their own personality and traits, but over time become slaves to their shard. In the Oathbringer it is mentioned that at first Honor was encouraging the Humans of Roshar that they have a right to the land too and their fight was noble, but as time progressed he was basically just screaming about oaths and honor. We can see that overtime Tanavast lost his own personality and became an embodiment of Honor. Ati is interesting. It is mentioned he was once the kindest of the shardbearers, but became a slave to the concept of Ruin. But I did notice that Ruin had a twisted viewpoint when talking to Vin. He often makes comments about how what he is doing is a kindness. I don't have the books nearby to reference, but a few paraphrased lines of have him talking about how nothing is meant to last forever, and he is the one to ensure this happens. Or that she should think of him like a shopkeeper who sweeps up and turns the light off when the shop is closed. I think Ati, who was a kind individual originally, retained some of this even as consumed by Ruin as he was. He sees destroying and ruining things as a sort of benevolence. His personality traits seems to have mixed with the concept of Ruin and created a weird altruistic Ruin. I'm wondering if a hateful person like Rayse would have made a violent, vicious Ruin instead. Or a strategic person might have created a Ruin who sees the destruction of Scadrial as just another move in the game of chess. Anyone else have thoughts on this? 1
RShara she/her Posted June 2, 2018 Posted June 2, 2018 Rayse would have made a truly frightening Ruin, I think. But, he probably didn't want to pick up Ruin, because he doesn't want to destroy everything. He just wants to be the most powerful.
Fatikis he/him Posted June 3, 2018 Posted June 3, 2018 I think Ati may have been pushed over the edge by his imprisonment. Do we know how long he was imprisoned for? Well over 1000 years. Most people break down in under a day of isolation. That isn't even including the fact that Ati was betrayed by his friend. We weren't just seeing what Ruin needed to be. We were seeing an extremely mentally unwell man wielding Ruin. I feel bad for him. Of course that is what he became with what Leras did to him. 3
Wandering Investor Posted June 4, 2018 Posted June 4, 2018 18 hours ago, Fatikis said: I think Ati may have been pushed over the edge by his imprisonment. Do we know how long he was imprisoned for? Well over 1000 years. Most people break down in under a day of isolation. That isn't even including the fact that Ati was betrayed by his friend. We weren't just seeing what Ruin needed to be. We were seeing an extremely mentally unwell man wielding Ruin. I feel bad for him. Of course that is what he became with what Leras did to him. Ati's imprisonment was not the normal prison. Preservation disrupted Ati's ability to wield his power. So Ati could still view the world just fine, he just couldn't touch it. So beyond the annoyance of not being able to destroy, I don't think Ruin's imprisonment would have negative mental consequences. Alot of the shards essentially live in isolation when you think about it.
Calderis he/him Posted June 4, 2018 Posted June 4, 2018 I've thought a lot about Ati, and that situation has influenced my view of the way Shards intents are interpreted pretty heavily. My thoughts on Ati are contained here.
teknopathetic he/him Posted June 4, 2018 Posted June 4, 2018 (edited) Another interesting question is what happens to a person after they give up a shard willingly. Let's say Ati decided to give the shard of Ruin to Hoid, what would happen to Ati's personality? Had Ati been corrupted by a shard, or has Ati grown to embrace a shard? To what extent is Ati "wrong", if to any extent. Another question would concern splinters. Let's say Ati dropped Ruin after 400,000 years, and then took up Devotion; would Ati be more able to resist the intention of Devotion? What would happen there? Edited June 5, 2018 by teknopathetic
Fatikis he/him Posted June 5, 2018 Posted June 5, 2018 2 hours ago, teknopathetic said: Another interesting question is what happens to a person after they give up a shard willingly. Let's say Ati decided to give the shard of Ruin to Hoid, what would happen to Ati's personality? Had Ati been corrupted by a shard, or has Ati grown to embrace a shard? To what extent is Ati "wrong", if to any extent. Another question would concern splinters. Let's say Ati dropped Ruin after 400,000 years, and hen took up Devotion, would Ati be more able to resist the intention of Devotion? What would happen there? I get that feeling that is would be near impossible for Ati to ascend as Devotion. He isn't connected enough with that attribute, and he likely never could be after holding Ruin for so long.
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