Ishar The Stairmaster

[+Child of Hodor]

I have a theory as to what this describes: 

Taking the Dawnshard, known to bind any creature voidish or mortal, he crawled up the steps crafted for Heralds, ten strides tall apiece, toward the grand temple above. (WoK Ch. 36 Epigraph)

My theory is this is Ishar going to the top of Urithiru to impose order on the Knight's Radiant. I think this is an event that happened so long ago it has been warped as it was passed down. 

Giant Steps

This is what Urithiru looks like from the outside. It especially look like a staircase in the bottom right. 

Crafted for Heralds

This is a misunderstanding after many retellings.  Urithiru was built for the Knight's Radiant who were directly inspired by the Heralds and a Herald codified them. 

I don't think there is literally a staircase with each step 10 strides tall made for Heralds.  That's rude, how is Shallash going to get up it without damaging the stairs via soulcasting or her blade? Put a ramp in, geez. 

Temple

Well here is a big leap. I think it's the roof and open sky.  One of the two gods they worship is up in the sky riding the storms. The sky makes for a grand temple, indeed! Urithiru WAS built in a spot specifically because it would be nearest to Honor. 

Quote

“Though many wished Urithiru to be built in Alethela, it was obvious that it could not be. And so it was that we asked for it to be placed westward, in the place nearest to Honor. ”

—The Vavibrar, line 1804^[3]

We've seen one religious ceremony conducted up there by the remnants / man's memory / spren of a god: Dalinar & Navani's marriage. Such ceremonies are often conducted in temples. 

We see Dalinar swear an oath there at the end of WoR, confirming he is binding the Stormfather. Speaking of binding. 

Binding the Orders

The Dawnshards were at one point on Ashyn and later were on Roshar. At least 9 of the 10 Heralds were on Ashyn and later Roshar. I associate the Dawnshards with the Heralds and think it's probably a Herald using it.

Do I have any real proof this must be a Herald? No.  

If it's a Herald using the Dawnshard on top of Urithiru to do some binding. That narrows down the big things they could be doing.  Urithiru was likely built after at least a few desolations, the KR were definitely founded after at least a few desolations had passed. Honor and the Heralds did not expect it. 

Quote

Honor was surprised by their coming, because he hadn't taught it to his Heralds.^[5] These Surgebinders were later formed into the ten orders of the Knights Radiant by the Herald Ishar'Elin, 

From the coppermind https://coppermind.net/wiki/Knights_Radiant

Ishar is specifically mentioned to have bound them by precepts and laws.

Quote

"But as for Ishi’Elin, his was the part most important at their inception; he readily understood the implications of Surges being granted to men, and caused organization to be thrust upon them; as having too great power, he let it be known that he would destroy each and every one, unless they agreed to be bound by precepts and laws." WoR Ch. 42 epigraph

We know Ishar did a big binding on the Knight's Radiant. We know Urithiru is the headquarters of the Knight's Radiant. If I am right and this is Ishar taking the binding Dawnshard to the top of Radiant HQ I think it's to bind the orders.

I imagine this binding is why the spren can't tell their radiants what words they need to say next. It probably established the number of oaths and that there must be a progression of oaths.  

In Conclusion

Remember this when the true nature of this event is revealed sometime in the 2030's