Wandering Investor Posted February 20, 2019 Posted February 20, 2019 Odium is definitely scarred, not sure if maimed counts though. As for how he wins, that's the big question. Some theorize that he is simply more skilled at shardic combat. Others have theorized that there is a reason he goes after worlds with two shards, other than as an excuse. Perhaps he may have some ability to infect others with hared and make them fight each other instead of him.
Fanghur Rahl he/him Posted February 20, 2019 Author Posted February 20, 2019 9 hours ago, Wandering Investor said: Odium is definitely scarred, not sure if maimed counts though. As for how he wins, that's the big question. Some theorize that he is simply more skilled at shardic combat. Others have theorized that there is a reason he goes after worlds with two shards, other than as an excuse. Perhaps he may have some ability to infect others with hared and make them fight each other instead of him. The problem with that is that it would presumably go both ways. If Odium’s intent ‘infects’ those of his targets, the same should also be true in reverse.
Quantus he/him Posted February 20, 2019 Posted February 20, 2019 12 hours ago, Wandering Investor said: As for how he wins, that's the big question. Some theorize that he is simply more skilled at shardic combat. Others have theorized that there is a reason he goes after worlds with two shards, other than as an excuse. Perhaps he may have some ability to infect others with hared and make them fight each other instead of him. We have this WOB that says it's some combination of Skill, Ability, Numbers, and Undispersed Power (which I take to reference that most of the Others have their power tied up in Investing a planet, while prior to Braize he was unattached). However the "Numbers" option is what really catches my attention, because I've long thought it possible that Shattering a Shard specifically require Two shards to pull it apart rather than being something any one of them can do alone. A popular theory is that Autonomy is helping Rayse, though there are also all these shards we know nothing about which could be suspects too. Quote ericth What is Odium's edge. Vin and Ati killed each other but Rayse has downed 3 shards and survived. Was it skill, ability, numbers or possibly un-dispersed power? Brandon Sanderson Some combination of the above. Words of Radiance Los Angeles signing (March 5, 2014)
+Child of Hodor Posted February 21, 2019 Posted February 21, 2019 23 hours ago, Quantus said: We have this WOB that says it's some combination of Skill, Ability, Numbers, and Undispersed Power (which I take to reference that most of the Others have their power tied up in Investing a planet, while prior to Braize he was unattached). However the "Numbers" option is what really catches my attention, because I've long thought it possible that Shattering a Shard specifically require Two shards to pull it apart rather than being something any one of them can do alone. A popular theory is that Autonomy is helping Rayse, though there are also all these shards we know nothing about which could be suspects too. That could be true. Would go along with Odium's "We Killed You!" to Dalinar when he formed Honor's perpendicularity. 16 participated in the Shattering of Adonalsium and he was split into 16 pieces. Odium's method is somewhat related, but in a way that's not obvious. Quote KingSloth Is Odium's method of smothering shards inspired at all by the way Adonalsium was originally shattered? Or of his own devising? Brandon Sanderson It is not obvious to other Shards. But there are relationships. /r/books AMA 2015 (June 8, 2015) Autonomy, or one of it's many, many, avatars is the only known shard that would fit the bill. The Vessel's of these two have a pre-existing relationship or at least Frost and Hoid lump them in together in the letters. Speaking of letters I find it odd that Hoid would ask for Autonomy's help if Autonomy is helping Odium. Hoid might not know that Autonomy is helping, maybe that is the "not obvious" part. If Autonomy's involvement is hidden from other Shard's Hoid would have a hard time finding that out.
Karger he/him Posted February 21, 2019 Posted February 21, 2019 (edited) On 2/9/2019 at 10:58 PM, Jruesch2 said: Odium is actually a word in English with Latin roots. It literally means hatred. More then that it means a passionate longstanding uncompromising disgust and abhorrence. This is perfect for destroying another shard. Also from what we have seen the shards he has splintered mostly did not have abilities that would be helpful in a fight with the exception of Ambition. Honor is the power of binding and correct action, Dominion wants mastery not destruction, and Devotion can't exactly love Odium to death. This leaves Ambition whose will to live and successes would make a difficult opponent. This leads me to believe that Odium had some kind of edge going into that fight meaning he probably planed that encounter vary carefully. Edited February 21, 2019 by Karger
Wandering Investor Posted February 22, 2019 Posted February 22, 2019 On 2/20/2019 at 5:10 AM, Fanghur Rahl said: The problem with that is that it would presumably go both ways. If Odium’s intent ‘infects’ those of his targets, the same should also be true in reverse. Not necessarily. The shards may have equal power, but not equal abilities. Future sight being an excellent example, as shards have different skills in this area, ranging from large designs that are planned thousands of years in the future to shards that can make a guess or two an event a thousand years in the future. Big difference. Its also possible that some shards have entirely unique abilities that other shards can't replicate. Some definitions of Odium including not just feeling hatred, but inspiring hatred in others. So Odium might have a unique ability to inspire hatred in others, or perhaps another entirely unknown ability that other shards could copy if they know about it.
Fanghur Rahl he/him Posted February 22, 2019 Author Posted February 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Wandering Investor said: Not necessarily. The shards may have equal power, but not equal abilities. Future sight being an excellent example, as shards have different skills in this area, ranging from large designs that are planned thousands of years in the future to shards that can make a guess or two an event a thousand years in the future. Big difference. Its also possible that some shards have entirely unique abilities that other shards can't replicate. Some definitions of Odium including not just feeling hatred, but inspiring hatred in others. So Odium might have a unique ability to inspire hatred in others, or perhaps another entirely unknown ability that other shards could copy if they know about it. Wouldn’t Devotion then have that same ability only in her case inspiring love?
Wandering Investor Posted March 1, 2019 Posted March 1, 2019 On 2/22/2019 at 10:15 AM, Fanghur Rahl said: Wouldn’t Devotion then have that same ability only in her case inspiring love? Depends on how Odium is doing it, if he is at all. The first method involves his name. Odium can mean to hate things, but it can also mean to invoke hatred in others. As far as I know, this is the only shard with a possibly bi directional name. Most of the others want to do their namesake, for example to preserve, to ruin, to be devoted. But to be odius means to not only hate others, but invoke hatred from them. So it might be a unique skill to this particular shard. The second method, and the more likely one in my opinion, is that other shards can use this ability, but either are not as good at it as Odium is (see Ruin and future sight), OR they don't know how to. If this is the case, then Devotion may also have the ability but can't use it as a weapon, or didn't' know how to.
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