[Spoilers Elantris] [Spoilers Secret History] Ambition Might be Influencing Fyorden

[teknopathetic he/him]

During a re-read, I came upon this quote from Hrathen to Dilaf:

"Ambition was the one emotion Jaddeth would accept as readily as devotion"

So Jaddeth, of Dominion, values the essence of two shattered shards? The only other two shattered shards (we think) at the time of Elantris? Coincidence? 

 

This is strange and illuminating for a few reasons:

1). We know that traditionally, the three major Kingdoms ignored each other. But suddenly Fyorden began ambitiously conquering other territories.This goes against centuries of the nations "ignoring" each other. What changed? It wasn't the shattering of Dominion and Devotion. So then what was it?

2) Many of us see Jaddeth as expressing traits of Dominion, but it is interesting to see him value devotion and ambition in those he controls. Could this be more than coincidence?

3) Ambition got to see the somewhat sloppy destruction of Devotion and Dominion. Perhaps Ambition saw a way to resurrected or proliferate itself by utilizing the Dor?

4) Ambition has been described as "Mono Black in terms of Magic the Gathering", which is all about sacrifice and undeath. When I think Black, I think cards coming back from the graveyard. Could this be a hint at Ambition's resurrection?

5) Threnody's morbid investiture seems to be about undeath in some way, is this a clue to what Ambition is trying to do after death?

6) Ambition is ambitious. It seems odd a shard like that would go down without repercussion. 

7) The land itself is becoming sentient on Sel. Who knows what that might do to how shardless investiture manifests.

 

Any thoughts on this quote? Do you think it means anything? Does anyone else think Ambition may be a hidden presence? 

 

 

Edited November 16, 2018 by teknopathetic

[RShara she/her]

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vanahian

We know that Bavadin has several 'avatars' allocated at some shardworlds, major and minor, over the Cosmere...is Austre from Nalthis one of them? Is The Wyrn of the Fjordell Empire or Jaddeth one of them?

Or if we recall what the followers of Shu Dereth believes that 'Jaddeth rewards devotion in his followers, as well as ambition' + something you said some time ago about the ramifications of Ambition demise... Is The Wyrn or Jaddeth Himself connected with Ambition?

Brandon Sanderson

You can expect things on Sel to be either Dominion or Devotion. People can be ambitious--even Shards--and reward ambition even if they're not specifically tied to the Shard of Ambition.

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