Adolin will become Radient

[Elsecaller_17.5 he/him]

I've been thinking about this and it just seems like an inevitability. I know a lot of people don't want him too because they want a none Radient main character and I can relate to that. I just dont think it can happen. Adolin fits all the patterns for becoming Radient. He is around Radients day in and day out. He has attracted the attention of at least one spren, Maya. A very meta reason, he has had significant character growth throughout the series. 

Most importantly he is just a great person. And in the world of Roshar you get powers by being a good person. He follows the Edgedancer ideals without even knowing them. I just can't see a SA where he doesn't at least get a pseudo-radiency akin to Renarin's. What to yall think?

[Karger he/him]

3 minutes ago, Elsecaller_17.5 said:

Most importantly he is just a great person. And in the world of Roshar you get powers by being a good person. He follows the Edgedancer ideals without even knowing them. I just can't see a SA where he doesn't at least get a pseudo-radiency akin to Renarin's. What to yall think?

Plenty of good people do not have Radiant powers and I can think of at least one (Malata) who is not a great person and does have them(I am also not sure how you quantify the Skybreakers specifically Szeth).  I do not want  him to have powers because part of his arc seems to be handling that he can still be important and a good man without divine abilities or being exactly what other people expect of him.  I also have my own pet theory for how is arc ends and I like it much better then him being just another Radiant.

[The New Rashek]

I feel like he shouldn't become a Radiant, mainly because then the entire (alive) Kholin family will be made of radiants

[GoWibble he/him]

So, first of all, you double posted. 

Second: Maya only kind of counts. Yes, I know that there is a whole thing that she will get revived, but I'll believe it when that book comes out. I try and stay away from this kind of thing, so no opinions here!

[Elsecaller_17.5 he/him]

49 minutes ago, Karger said:

Plenty of good people do not have Radiant powers

This is true, but Adolin particularly exemplifies the Order of Edgedancers. From rescuing whores to letting stable boys wear his helmet. It just feels so right.

49 minutes ago, Karger said:

I can think of at least one (Malata) who is not a great person and does have them

A valid point I hadn't considered. 

49 minutes ago, Karger said:

I am also not sure how you quantify the Skybreakers specifically Szeth

Good by highspren standards.

49 minutes ago, Karger said:

I do not want  him to have powers because part of his arc seems to be handling that he can still be important and a good man without divine abilities or being exactly what other people expect of him.

 

16 minutes ago, The New Rashek said:

I feel like he shouldn't become a Radiant, mainly because then the entire (alive) Kholin family will be made of radiants

I know it would start to feel cliche and repetitive. I'm not arguing that it's the best choice narratively, just that in world it would make it the most sense for him to become Radient (probably a Pseudo-Radient). I think that the most logical outcome in world is what Brandon will go with. Heck, I would argue that with his fast summons in the Battle of Thayelean he already qualifies as Pseudo-Radient.

Edited January 26, 2020 by Elsecaller_17.5

[Karger he/him]

53 minutes ago, Elsecaller_17.5 said:

I know it would start to feel cliche and repetitive. I'm not arguing that it's the best choice narratively, just that in world it would make it the most sense for him to become Radient (probably a Pseudo-Radient). I think that the most logical outcome in world is what Brandon will go with. Heck, I would argue that with his fast summons in the Battle of Thayelean he already qualifies as Pseudo-Radient.

I do agree he may gain some additional power/competency but I do not think it will be radiance.

[Honorless he/him]

#TeamNotEveryoneNeedsSuperpowers!

#AwesomeUnpowered

[IcaroRibeiro he/him]

I like him without surgebinding. Don't want him to be a radiant at all

Spoiler

Make me remember I never really get into Elend becoming a full Mistborn in the end of book 2

 

[ctonicmenace]

He may be a perfect fit for the Edgedancers, but, as I see it, the Nahel Bond occurs in people who needs improvement. Kaladin has depression, Shalan has PTSD and split personality disorder (ish), Dalinar is alcoholic and also has PTSD, Renarin has his blood disease and autism, Jasnah had that traumatic experience when she was younger (and that I hope to know more about in this book). Even that Iriali shoemaker had regrets about his past as a petty thief and the murder. Adolin, however, is kind of perfect in his own way. He may be dumb as a rock and a little frivolous, but he accepts himself that way. Even after killing Sadeas, his primary concern was that his father wouldn't aprove, not that it was wrong. And, if I'm not mistaken, Brandon said that you need to have a crack in your soul to form a Nahel Bond.

[+Invocation]

1 hour ago, ctonicmenace said:

Even after killing Sadeas, his primary concern was that his father wouldn't aprove, not that it was wrong. And, if I'm not mistaken, Brandon said that you need to have a crack in your soul to form a Nahel Bond.

I mean...while he was in Shadesmar, he started having some pretty serious thoughts about his own worth as a human and if inconsistency truly lurks in him. 

Brandon has also said that most of the examples of Radiants we have so far have cracks beyond the minimum to form a bond, so I think Adolin's blowback from his mother's death would be enough to allow him a bond even without that or the blowback that's probably going to happen from Dalinar learning to read and write.

That said, I want Adolin to stay powerless. 

[Aon Tia she/her]

@Elsecaller_17.5 I am with you on this one. I think that Adolin is very much on his way to reviving Maya and I think it will result in him having some kind of, as you put it, pseudo- radiancy. 
I really don’t see why people are so negative towards this idea. I think it makes perfect sense and the bond will be different enough, unique enough to warrant an interesting read. 
I have said this before on other threads, I think the problems that honor’s side face are big enough that they can use all the radiants and pseudo-radiants that they can get. 
While due to his skills, Adolin is not entirely useless but he is not of much use against odium’s forces! But if he get even a squire level access to stormlight, imagine what all he can accomplish. 
 

1 hour ago, ctonicmenace said:

Adolin, however, is kind of perfect in his own way.

I do not agree with this. I don’t think this holds true any longer. I think when you kill someone and begins to think that you have failed your father, that is a beginning of cracks in your soul. When your bedrock  around which you had centred your entire ethical framework- Dalinar, is shaken, like it will be once Adolin learns about his mother and what really happened in Rathalas, I think it is going to create cracks in his soul. 
Already we see that he has broken a little, he has begun to self doubt, question his usefulness etc there are plenty of arguments we can make to suggest that he is broken enough. 
Besides, we have Lopen as an example of how a broken soul is not always necessary. 
Also I think someone who is less broken than the norms, might have better chances of filling the gaps in the broken soul of a deadeye spren and reviving them. 
In short, I am all for Adolin reviving maya and gaining some form of Radiancy. But I want him to be different from normal radiants. 

[Karger he/him]

14 minutes ago, The Traveller said:

2 hours ago, ctonicmenace said:

 

I do not agree with this. I don’t think this holds true any longer. I think when you kill someone and begins to think that you have failed your father, that is a beginning of cracks in your soul

Adolin will have to change how he seems himself.  I personally do not see this as a bad thing.

[Aon Tia she/her]

2 minutes ago, Karger said:

Adolin will have to change how he seems himself.  I personally do not see this as a bad thing.

That might have already begun once he reads OB that Dalinar wrote and begins to question the Alethi way of thinking and Alethi justifications for violence and murder. 
So far, he is not like most Alethi’s In some aspects but in many, he is like them too. 

[Guest Edonidd]

The series is about Radiants.  10 books, 10 orders, 10 main viewpoint characters.  Thrres only 2 arcs that make sense for Adolin.  1 he becomes radiant.  2 he dies and his death is a catalyst for other radiants.

 

I think option #2 makes more sense and I think I would like it more.  But it's not Sanderson's style at all.  

 

So he's going to be a KR at some point.  Most likely sooner rather than later.

[Frustration]

I want Maya revived, I wouldn't be too upset, maybe even glad if Adolin could draw stormlight, maybe even get plate, but I refuse to give him surges, or at least really handicapped ones, making him a full Raidient feels wrong.

[Tglassy]

Brandon has said that there's someone who's well on his way to becoming Radiant without being broken.  It's not a requirement, it's just easier.  I figure he's either talking about Lopen or Adolin.  

 

I like the idea of Adolin becoming Radiant.  I've never understood why people liked Batman over Superman.  "Cause he's just a regular guy who's awesome!"  No, he's a mentally disturbed rich kid who takes matters into his own hands, and instead of using his money to clean up the city and actually make things better, decides to instead run around and beat up people at night.  And the only reason why he can beat the Justice League is because the writers think he's "So cool" so they give him all of the plot armor.  Iron Man is a much better billionaire powerless superhero than Batman is.  

 

Radiant for the win.  Normal people are boring.  If I wanted to read about normal people, I wouldn't be reading Fantasy.  

Edited January 27, 2020 by Tglassy

[Aon Tia she/her]

@Tglassy Glad to find you here. I agree with you that these books are not about normal people fighting magical beings. These books are about radiants and I would not be at all surprised that Adolin will have some radiant like stuff happening for him after he revived maya and I think I would love to read about it. 

[Pathfinder]

So to be clear, everyone can think however they wish, have whatever opinion they want, and I respect it. 

For myself I theorize Dalinar as a bondsmith can infuse the faux bond that Adolin strengthened, using it like scaffolding, to restore what was ripped out.

Now having said that, I do not believe Adolin would lose anything from not being a radiant. I do not believe he would die if he does not become one. I believe there are plenty of effective characters without powers throughout stormlight, as well as in other series that Brandon has written. I also do not believe the powers Adolin may or may not get have to be full radiancy, or completely offensive powers. The thing I love about Sanderson is he is amazing with his magic systems. A power that seemingly has no use whatsoever, can, when placed in the right hands and thought of the right way, can be incredibly effective. Finally since the magic system is going in the magitech direction, just because Adolin may or may not get radiant powers, does not preclude him from using fabrials and still being effective. Or just being effective being himself. 

I believe those that feel they would enjoy a narrative that would develop Adolin without powers would be just as much of an amazing read as if Adolin does gain powers. And Adolin would not have to necessarily live or die in either one to accomplish it.

Otherwise, I will continue to believe my personal theory, and wish you all luck with yours!

[Aggravatione]

Personally I do think that Maya will be revived and Adolin will become radiant. We've already seen the beginning of it, he has a bond with his blade that hasn't really been seen before and I feel that it would add some more, in my opinion, needed depth to his character. 

 

I am curious though for those of you that are mentioning semi-radiant abilities and such, how do you see these happening? If Maya does get revived and bonds with him, I don't see how that would hinder the surges in any way. If she gets revived and doesn't bond with him, then in my eyes, he loses a blade and doesn't become a radiant. If she doesn't get revived in general, no radiant. I just can't really see how his potential radiant abilities would be somehow lessened if Maya gets fully revived. 

 

[Aon Tia she/her]

10 hours ago, Pathfinder said:

I believe there are plenty of effective characters without powers throughout stormlight, as well as in other series that Brandon has written.

Which such character are you thinking of? Is there any specific one in your mind? 

[Pathfinder]

14 hours ago, The Traveller said:

Which such character are you thinking of? Is there any specific one in your mind? 

So this list is also in regards to past responses to my statement in other threads so I am just doing so for completeness, not to prove any point. I believe not having powers does not exclude you from having a strong narrative, nor do I believe having powers guarantees you a strong narrative. I do not believe not having powers excludes you from having PoVs, nor do I believe having powers guarantees that you have PoVs. I do not believe not having as many PoVs excludes you from having a good narrative, nor do I believe having more PoVs guarantees you a good narrative. I do not believe to survive/be effective in a desolation you have to have powers. And I do not believe you will die/be ineffective in a desolation if you do not have powers. I do not believe if you have combat focused powers that you can only use them in combat and thereby be central. I do not believe non combat powers to be ineffective, and prevents someone from being in combat and being central. I do not feel someone with either combat focused powers or non combat focused powers have to be in combat to be effective, and I do not feel they have to be in combat to have a narrative. So this list of characters I believe supports these statements. Having said that, totally get and respect that there is a narrative you would like to see and prefer to enjoy. I will go into that regarding Minimanmax1

 

Characters we have met so far in Stormlight with no to limited powers

Navani - doesn't have powers, uses fabrial tech, has PoVs and Rhythm of War Spoilers

Spoiler

looks like will have further PoVs in book 4

Sebarial - has no powers, very effective in running his princedom, and is an important part of the war effort/council

Fen - has no powers, very effective in ruling her country. Spoken to and treated as an equal to Dalinar. Very important to the war effort/council

Lirin - has no powers, Rhythm of War spoilers

Spoiler

Has PoV in book 4, and is very effective despite living in an occupied state

Ehsonai - had no powers except shardplate. Very effective, and had PoVs

Kadash - has no powers. Still important to the narrative. 

Laral - has no powers. Still effective, and spoilers for Rhythm of War

Spoiler

is still effective in book 4 and a part of the narrative in an occupied state

 

Characters that either have powers not combat focused but are still effective, have abilities that are combat focused but not central to story, or limited ability but still very effective

Dalinar - has powers that are not focused on combat. Has a whole book about him, and politics. 

Lift - has powers that have a semi combat focus. She is not a focus character currently. Very few PoVs

Jasnah - has powers, not typically thought as combat focused but still very effective in combat. Not a focus character currently. Very few PoVs

Malata - has powers, powers are very focused on combat. Only one PoV

Venli - has a limited ability. Still very effective across the first three books. Very few PoVs

Taravangian - has a limited ability. Ability is not combat focused at all. Still very effective and has PoVs

Mraize - seemingly no clear personal powers. Still very effective. In fact the entire organization that is the Ghostbloods could theoretically fall into this catagory

Iylatl - seemingly no clear powers. Still very effective

 

Characters from other Cosmere works with either no powers, or limited powers who are still very effective, or central to the books they are in. This includes spoilers for Sixth of Dusk, Mistborn (all the books), Elantris, Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, Emperor's Soul, Warbreaker, Whitesand

Spoiler

 

Sixth of Dusk - has no powers himself. Is granted limited abilities via a bird. Still very effective

Marasi - has a limited ability. Still very effective, and through the discovery of a fabrial has grown even more effective

Sarene - no powers. Still very effective, and a central PoV to boot

Hrathen - has a limited ability. Doesn't come up at all till the very very end of the book, and is only utilized once. Still very effective throughout the book without using that ability, and a central PoV to boot

Nicki Savage - has a limited ability. Finds a way to use it effectively and adventure. Has her own serialization in world

Allomancer Jak - has a limited ability. Finds a way to use it effectively and adventure. has his own serialization in world

Steris - has no powers. Still very effective and a continual strong presence in the narrative

Silence - has no powers. Still very effective and the central viewpoint

Dockson - has no powers. Still very effective and part of the crew

Breeze -  has a limited ability, that is not combat focused, still very effective and an important part of the crew

Ham - has a limited ability, completely combat focused, we rarely see it ever used by him against an enemy, and he is still very effective, and an important part of the crew

Clubs - has a limited ability, not combat focused at all, still very effective and an important part of the crew

Spook - has a limited ability, not outwardly combat focused, yet still very effective, and found a unique way to use it, and still be an important part of the crew

Suit - outwardly for most of the novels has no powers. Yet still very effective against Wax, without using combat directly, and is important to the narrative

Shai - extremely limited ability that has no direct combat applications. Still very effective with a whole short novel focused on her

Vivienna - for most of the book, even when she has breaths she does not know how to awaken. She is still effective, and still central to the book

Siri - never has powers at any point. Is still very effective, and still central to the book

Khriss - has no powers (that we have seen so far). Still very effective. Still central to the series she is in

Baon - has no powers (till the end of the graphic novel series). Still very effective, if not shown to be more effective to those with powers. 

 

 

23 hours ago, Minimanmax1 said:

I am curious though for those of you that are mentioning semi-radiant abilities and such, how do you see these happening? If Maya does get revived and bonds with him, I don't see how that would hinder the surges in any way. If she gets revived and doesn't bond with him, then in my eyes, he loses a blade and doesn't become a radiant. If she doesn't get revived in general, no radiant. I just can't really see how his potential radiant abilities would be somehow lessened if Maya gets fully revived. 

 

I did not reply initially to this, as these are not my own theories so I felt it was not my place to explain them. Since no one has come forward, and Traveler asked me to elaborate on my earlier statement, I will attempt to list all the theories (including Adolin getting powers, Adolin getting a degree of powers, Adolin getting no powers) that I am aware of. I will to the best of my ability present them as well as I can even when they are not my own. Not saying I do not support them, just I happen to like my own theory best. If I misrepresent anyone's theories, please feel free to correct me and I will edit this, and I apologize in advance. As this will take a moment to type up, I will come back and add the list of theories. Give me like 20 minutes. 

 

edit: Ok here we go in order from Adolin getting powers, to Adolin having different/less powers, to Adolin getting no powers

1. Adolin respects his blade. The reason this has never lead to reviving a dead shardblade before is Adolin got to travel to the cognitive realm and meet Maya. This resulted in him truly understanding her as a living sapient being and changed his cognitive view of her. Nothing was truly "ripped" out of Maya. Her cognitive self missing the physical connection via the radiant has forced her into this seeming reduced and physically limited forced state. This altered view and bond allows him to then revive Maya. 

2. Adolin strengthened his faux bond with the shardblade. This is the reason for feeling urging from Maya. Dalinar had the same with Oathbringer. The reason for the reduced heartbeats, and the whispered name is due to the realms having been brought together. Dalinar using his investiture and connection powers funnels investiture through Adolin's scaffolding of his strengthened faux bond, heals and restores what was ripped out of Maya, allowing her to be revived. The reason this has not happened in the past was because there has not been a bondsmith in centuries

3. Spren are more "physical" in the cognitive realm. Hemalurgy (which requires touching flowing blood) can work directly on a spren in the cognitive realm. Surges can work directly on a spren in the cognitive realm. The theory is that Renarin in the cognitive realm can use regrowth to heal what was ripped out of Maya restoring her. The reason this has not happened in the past was because there has not been a Truthwatcher (theoretically) in centuries. Potentially this can either result in a full revival and normal spren, or because of Renarin using his surge to restore Maya, what is healed is different or has "scar tissue" resulting in a reduced bond. 

4. Sja-anat can "enlighten" lesser spren. Sja-anat stated she never enlightened something as great as the oathgate spren before. This is despite seemingly having enlightened glys which is a radiant spren. Sja-anat can use her corruption powers to infuse the missing chunk of Maya with her investiture. This would revive Maya as a corrupted spren. This is theoretically how Glys was made. That Glys was also a dead spren that Sja-anat healed via her corruption

5. Adolin via respecting his blade revives Maya but not fully. This is because there is a chunk of Maya missing that cannot be restored as the original knight radiant bonded to her is dead. Adolin either (as there are a few theories branching out from this)

    a. can summon her faster, and speak with her, but does not gain any further abilties

    b. can summon her faster, and has limited surge usage

    c. fills what was torn out of her with his own spirit web in a reverse nahel bond, resulting in weaker powers, or completely different powers

6. Adolin cannot fully awaken Maya as the chunk that was ripped out of her is unable to be restored. The urging he felt from her earlier is from the shardblade bond, which Dalinar also experienced with Oathbringer. The reduced number of heartbeats and name was due to the cognitive realm being close. No awakening is actually taking place. Adolin as highprince and leader of the kholin princedom leads mundane humans against the voidbringers during the desolation, using technology and strategy to be effective against the looming threat.  

 

Edited January 28, 2020 by Pathfinder

[Greywatch she/her]

I'm excited by the idea of Adolin becoming a Radiant. Sorry to say, but in SA, the Radiant orders and powers are way more interesting than having Normal Guy not having Radiant powers; it doesn't take away from his character, and somehow, having Radiant powers doesn't make anyone else's arc less interesting. This is what I'm here for, to be honest. Whatever's going on with Maya is already interesting and stoking ideas across the fandom, so I can't waaait to see what book 4 brings on this front.

[Efebre]

I think adolin will make an elhokar

[Karger he/him]

On 1/27/2020 at 2:14 AM, Edonidd said:

The series is about Radiants.  10 books, 10 orders, 10 main viewpoint characters.  Thrres only 2 arcs that make sense for Adolin.  1 he becomes radiant.  2 he dies and his death is a catalyst for other radiants.

Or three maybe he does something cool and as such becomes a figure known for that cool think.  Maybe his success reviving blades can be replicated and he will spend the back five teaching. 

Or four maybe he will learn something about the CR and go worldhopping with Shallan. 

Or five maybe he becomes highprince of war and leads the final battle at Kholinar's gates.

Or..

I see more then two possibilities that make narrative sense. 

[Aon Tia she/her]

8 hours ago, Karger said:

Or three maybe he does something cool and as such becomes a figure known for that cool think.  Maybe his success reviving blades can be replicated and he will spend the back five teaching. 

Or four maybe he will learn something about the CR and go worldhopping with Shallan. 

Or five maybe he becomes highprince of war and leads the final battle at Kholinar's gates.

Or..

I see more then two possibilities that make narrative sense. 

All of these are very interesting options

@Karger 

I like the idea especially where he learns how to revive the blades and teaches it to everyone! May be then Syl will finally like him! 

8 hours ago, Efebre said:

I think adolin will make an elhokar

But he can be Elend too.