Adolin and Mayalaran Poll

[Embrisk he/him]

I wrote a post, but it's late and I'm tired so I needed to change it to this instead.

Edited January 17, 2019 by Sharshiblarb

[CrazyRioter she/her]

20 hours ago, Lidolas said:

When I think of Adolin and Edgedancers, I always think about when Kaladin was sneaking through the camps and saw Adolin stand up to Sadeas' men to protect the prostitute.  To me, that was a great example of 'remembering those who are forgotten.'

Yeah that's a BIG Edgedancer moment. Most people would just keep on walking when faced with that kind of scene because they don't want to get involved.

[happyman he/him]

On 1/17/2019 at 8:52 AM, CrazyRioter said:

Yeah that's a BIG Edgedancer moment. Most people would just keep on walking when faced with that kind of scene because they don't want to get involved.

To play devil's advocate, Adolin could get away with stuff like that because of his rank and because he's a Shardbearer.  There's other people who'd be willing to help out, but don't want to mess with Sadeas' men.  And they may well be right not to; they might end up making the situation worse.

That said, though, I feel it's still an indicator.  His rank could just as easily have made him arrogant and dismissive of the prostitute, but it didn't.  He stood up for her partly because he could, but also because he obviously felt it was right as well.

[goody153]

I know that motivation, narratively and almost alot of aspect lineup for Adolin to become a edgedancer by fixing Maya but that is not what i want to happen for it seems predictable. 

I'm hoping for a "surprise me" event where Maya gets revived but not in a conclusion that you would think would happen.

[Paleth]

I see Adolin as a mixed character, one of the few that still has an open route for him. He has some qualities that could make him great Radiant or a great villain if he falls to Odium.

Also, whole faster shardblade summoning creates a sort of dissonance for me. Obviously, he established some kind of bond with Maya which is a good thing, but 10 heartbeats is significant because it's Honor number. Going down to 9 might be related to Odium. Maybe said bond is actually corrupting Mayalaran and Adolin is becoming first Rosharan shard-necromancer lol

[Void89 he/him]

Would be hilarious, but don't put adolin in the same sentence as odium, or you get like 300 hate posts  That guy is off limits and has way too many fans who will protect the one who can't protect himself (see what I did there?)

The theory with 9 heartbeats is definitely something that sounds interesting though and shouldn't be dismissed lightly - not that he gets to become a necromancer now but small subtle things like that are usually more important than we think!

[Kon-Tiki he/him]

I could have sworn it was seven heartbeats, not nine

[Void89 he/him]

Didn't check it, but someone I trust just pointed out that it was indeed seven, guess I go back to double check everything

[Paleth]

You guys are correct just checked it. No idea where I've got this from.

[Messydesk]

On 16.1.2019 at 9:13 PM, Lidolas said:

When I think of Adolin and Edgedancers, I always think about when Kaladin was sneaking through the camps and saw Adolin stand up to Sadeas' men to protect the prostitute.  To me, that was a great example of 'remembering those who are forgotten.'

This and also the fight in Thaylen city where Adolin leaves the thunderclast to Renarin and other Radiants and goes to save a small kid (who's being forgotten in the mids of all fighting).

That said, I don't want Adolin to become a Radiant since I really like his character being the "regular" guy reminding us that being a Radiant is not the norm. I'm a bit afraid of "power creep" happening in the books (I do trust Brandon to write well and avoid the neverending power ups) and having Adolin as a non-Radiant main character who still fights alongside the Radiants would keep the sense of danger there. Especially when he can't heal himself like Radiants can. Of course, there is sense of danger whenever Stormlight runs low or out completely. But still, I do wish to see Adolin struggle a bit more with his "I used to be an important person but now I seem very insignificant compared to the Radiants, am I good enough?"

I do hope he revives Maya and something interesting and unexpected would happen. I thought that maybe Adolin would somehow revive her without forming a bond and then would tell her "you're free to do whatever you want" but then I remembered that WoB about Maya probably bonding with Adolin if she was alive so... Yeah. I just hope he won't get killed in the process.

 

[Mage of Lirigon he/him]

4 hours ago, Messydesk said:

That said, I don't want Adolin to become a Radiant since I really like his character being the "regular" guy reminding us that being a Radiant is not the norm. I'm a bit afraid of "power creep" happening in the books (I do trust Brandon to write well and avoid the neverending power ups) and having Adolin as a non-Radiant main character who still fights alongside the Radiants would keep the sense of danger there. Especially when he can't heal himself like Radiants can. Of course, there is sense of danger whenever Stormlight runs low or out completely.

Considering what they're up against, they'll need all the Radiants they can find, and as one of the best fighters around, it makes sense for Adolin to be a Radiant too. We can always get more non-Radiant POV's.

[Messydesk]

16 hours ago, Mage of Lirigon said:

Considering what they're up against, they'll need all the Radiants they can find, and as one of the best fighters around, it makes sense for Adolin to be a Radiant too. We can always get more non-Radiant POV's.

I agree that they need all the Radiants they can find but I don't think that would be a good enough argument for Adolin to become one even though he's a good duelist. I don't think his ability to fight matters in reviving Maya and other spren don't try to bond with him due to Maya being dead. Maya also has a bond with Adolin, not a Nahal bond but Shardblade must be bonded with to be able to summon and dismiss it. Also, not everyone in previous Desolations became a Radiant, there were lots of regular soldiers too I believe.

In a WoB from 2016  Brandon says "I need Adolin because Adolin is the guy who is not gaining all the magical powers and flying in the air and stuff. I need the guy who is more normal. As normal as the prince of Alethkar can be. I needed him and I really liked where he went after doing that, so." And since Brandon also keeps Adolin's future strictly a RAFO I believe there is a third option for him. What if Adolin's bond with Maya evolves into something that lets him summon Maya instantly but not become a Radiant? Maybe Maya becomes partly conscious? Spren are not human so maybe they can be "kinda dead"? Okay that's just me not knowing where this is going anymore buuuuuuut yeah. xD I mean, it's Brandon, I'm 95% sure he'll surprise us. Again.

[StrikerEZ he/him]

1 hour ago, Messydesk said:

I agree that they need all the Radiants they can find but I don't think that would be a good enough argument for Adolin to become one even though he's a good duelist. I don't think his ability to fight matters in reviving Maya and other spren don't try to bond with him due to Maya being dead. Maya also has a bond with Adolin, not a Nahal bond but Shardblade must be bonded with to be able to summon and dismiss it. Also, not everyone in previous Desolations became a Radiant, there were lots of regular soldiers too I believe.

In a WoB from 2016  Brandon says "I need Adolin because Adolin is the guy who is not gaining all the magical powers and flying in the air and stuff. I need the guy who is more normal. As normal as the prince of Alethkar can be. I needed him and I really liked where he went after doing that, so." And since Brandon also keeps Adolin's future strictly a RAFO I believe there is a third option for him. What if Adolin's bond with Maya evolves into something that lets him summon Maya instantly but not become a Radiant? Maybe Maya becomes partly conscious? Spren are not human so maybe they can be "kinda dead"? Okay that's just me not knowing where this is going anymore buuuuuuut yeah. xD I mean, it's Brandon, I'm 95% sure he'll surprise us. Again.

That WoB was from 2016, a whole year before OB was even released. Book canon always supersedes WoB canon, and I think the evidence in books definitely points more towards Adolin becoming a Radiant. The way the Cosmere works, Maya should not be able to be revived without a nahel bond forming between her and Adolin. 

As for Brandon surprising us, I’m sure the specifics of how and when Maya is revived and bonded will be a surprise, but I think it’s a guarantee that she’ll be revived. 

[Dalakaar he/him]

3 hours ago, StrikerEZ said:

and I think the evidence in books definitely points more towards Adolin becoming a Radiant. The way the Cosmere works, Maya should not be able to be revived without a nahel bond forming between her and Adolin. 

Disagree. It points to something happening between them, the radiant part is opinion. And the assumption that it has to be a nahel bond is, assumption.

Well, my assumptions and opinions are that he doesn't and he can manage something other than a nahel bond. 

[WestTea he/him]

On 1/20/2019 at 9:40 AM, Messydesk said:

I'm a bit afraid of "power creep" happening in the books (I do trust Brandon to write well and avoid the neverending power ups) and having Adolin as a non-Radiant main character who still fights alongside the Radiants would keep the sense of danger there.

 

I feel like the "power creep" is going to continue because everything points toward both radiants becoming more numerous and more powerful as we have only seen the 3rd ideal (confirmed on screen) and roughly 7 of the 10 (stonewards, willshapers, and dustbringers have only been hinted at) orders in depth as well as Odiums forces are going to have more fused, more unmade, and likely heralds joining their side.

I think part of the point of desolations is that "regular people" are completely outclassed and have to rely on radiants/heralds/gods/technology for survival. I understand that "shardbearers can't hold ground" but eventually if Adolin wants to be relevant in battle he will need some way to access investiture and Maya seems the most logical option.

On 1/20/2019 at 9:40 AM, Messydesk said:

That said, I don't want Adolin to become a Radiant since I really like his character being the "regular" guy reminding us that being a Radiant is not the norm.

 

looking at past desolations in Dalinars visions we see that anyone who wanted to be a radiant could just apply. Yes it currently isn't the norm but their is no reason to assume that humans and spren working together has to be a rare thing especially in a time of war.

My personal hope is a reverse nahel bond where instead of the human having the flaws the spren has the flaws. I have no idea what the consequences of such a bond will be, but I think this will be a more interesting viewpoint than the normal person viewpoint. Also, if Maya is revived I think it will have major consequences for all high spren and could be the single largest game changer for team honor in gaining more radiants.

P.S. I also really dislike Malata and want to see her spren realize hating humans for killing spren was wrong.

[CrazyRioter she/her]

I don't think a "reverse nahel bond" makes sense, but I absolutely agree with your on the revival of a dead spren being a huge game changer, especially since there are a lot o questions about the Recreance that a spren who was directly involved could answer.

And I agree that Adolin reviving Maya and their relationship as it develops is an interesting line of character development, and it has been foreshadowed as early as WoR with his unique treatment of his Shardblade.

[StrikerEZ he/him]

3 hours ago, Dalakaar said:

Disagree. It points to something happening between them, the radiant part is opinion. And the assumption that it has to be a nahel bond is, assumption.

Well, my assumptions and opinions are that he doesn't and he can manage something other than a nahel bond. 

To each their own, I guess. We’ll find out which of us is right (hopefully) in SA4! 

[Dalakaar he/him]

1 hour ago, StrikerEZ said:

To each their own, I guess. We’ll find out which of us is right (hopefully) in SA4! 

Well if the poll is any indication you'll be getting a brighter Brightlord Adolin! I'm still holding out hope for something new in their case though. 

Edited January 22, 2019 by Dalakaar

[Messydesk]

11 hours ago, StrikerEZ said:

That WoB was from 2016, a whole year before OB was even released.

I put the year of the WoB in the link text exactly for this point, it's relatively fresh WoB and in the middle of 2016 the outline for Oathbringer (and Adolin's part in it) was already done (Just a few days after that WoB Brandon said he had finished writing part two of Oathbringer). I don't think he would've done drastic changes after that so I believe his stand on what he said there still holds.

But, as you said, to each their own. There are many people supporting both sides of this topic.

[Mage of Lirigon he/him]

On 1/21/2019 at 10:09 AM, Messydesk said:

I agree that they need all the Radiants they can find but I don't think that would be a good enough argument for Adolin to become one even though he's a good duelist. I don't think his ability to fight matters in reviving Maya and other spren don't try to bond with him due to Maya being dead. Maya also has a bond with Adolin, not a Nahal bond but Shardblade must be bonded with to be able to summon and dismiss it. Also, not everyone in previous Desolations became a Radiant, there were lots of regular soldiers too I believe.

I don't think Adolin will become a Radiant because he's a good fighter. If he does become one, it'll be because of his other qualities. But that's from an in-universe perspective. From an out-of-universe one, it makes sense for Adolin to become a Radiant, especially an Edgedancer, since they're abilities lend themselves quite well to melee combat.

 

On 1/21/2019 at 5:03 PM, CrazyRioter said:

I don't think a "reverse nahel bond" makes sense, but I absolutely agree with your on the revival of a dead spren being a huge game changer, especially since there are a lot o questions about the Recreance that a spren who was directly involved could answer.

I'm really hoping that this is the case. Because frankly, something is going to have to change with the spren to get them to stand up to Odium. I'd be fine if Maya gets revived and decides to go back home and advocate there to help them with the war instead of bonding with Adolin.

 

On 1/21/2019 at 11:38 PM, Messydesk said:

I put the year of the WoB in the link text exactly for this point, it's relatively fresh WoB and in the middle of 2016 the outline for Oathbringer (and Adolin's part in it) was already done (Just a few days after that WoB Brandon said he had finished writing part two of Oathbringer). I don't think he would've done drastic changes after that so I believe his stand on what he said there still holds.

But, as you said, to each their own. There are many people supporting both sides of this topic.

I'm fairly sure that just applies to Oathbringer, since that was a major part of Adolin's arc there. I don't think you can take that mean it will be the entirety of Adolin's character for the rest of the books.

[Void89 he/him]

Iirc 'Adolin's Character arc' was to die at some point rather unspectacular. Sanderson just changed his mind and decided to drag him along now as a main character.

I don't think there are any major plans for his character yet as there is for all the others, sure I guess he has a general direction in mind where he want him to go, but I doubt it's that well thought out. Considering there wasn't a real plan for him to begin with, even if things have changed.