Future Blending of Honor and Odium?

[Jasqueen she/her]

It’s gonna be Adolin.
 

So I feel like the blending of these two gods is inevitable as foreshadowed by Sazed’s suggestions (in the captions) about his own weakness due to the dueling natures of being both preservation and ruin. So when the duel of champions inevitably ends in Dalinar’s defeat, I think that Adolin kills Taragangian and ascends to BOTH honor and passion and that this! is why Sanderson had Adolin kill Sadius—to establish him as not *entirely* a representative of honor. Also I feel like Hoid will come to the conclusion that a weaker 1 god of Roshar is preferable to the alternative and will push for this conclusion.

Also, I don’t 100% think that this is the end for Adolin because I just don’t think Sando  would separate him and Shallon forever. But I do think that this could be the story arc that takes us through the planned 10 year narrative interim. Opinions?

[quackquack]

I dont know if Sanderson would use the melding of of shards again.   Though it would be fitting if he did, since Odium fears becoming something other than itself.  

Honor is splintered.  So I dont know if it could meld with Odium.  If anything it would be a Odium mixed with a sliver of honour.  Would that temper odium? I dont know.  

Cultivation is also a player in this.   But I think a melding of Odium and Cultivation would be worse than Odium and Honour.    

[Seloun]

If anyone is representative of Honor + Odium, it's Kaladin, for sure. He's the closest thing to the incarnation of War in the series.

There's the most obvious scene:

Quote

The Pursuer appeared above Stormblessed. The Fused yanked a sharpened carapace spur off his arm, then—holding it like a dagger—he grabbed the kneeling man by one shoulder.

Kaladin Stormblessed looked up and let loose a howl that seemed to vibrate with a hundred discordant rhythms. Venli attuned the Lost in return.

He re-formed and tried to grab Stormblessed again. But there was no contest now. Kaladin moved like the wind, fast and flowing as he rammed his dagger through the Pursuer’s arm, causing him to shout in pain. A knife toward the face followed, and the Pursuer ejected yet again. No one chanted or shouted this time, but when Stormblessed turned around, Venli saw his face—and she immediately attuned the Terrors.

His eyes were glowing like a Radiant’s, his face a mask of pain and anguish, but the eyes … she swore the light had a yellowish-red cast to it. Like … like …

Sanderson, Brandon. Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive) . Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

There are also multiple places with phrasing like Kaladin being born to the spear:

Quote

Of all the recruits in his cohort, he had learned the quickest. How to hold the spear, how to stand to spar. He’d done it almost without instruction. That had shocked Tukks. But why should it have? You were not shocked when a child knew how to breathe. You were not shocked when a skyeel took flight for the first time. You should not be shocked when you hand Kaladin Stormblessed a spear and he knows how to use it.

Sanderson, Brandon. The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, Book 1) (pp. 398-399). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

and occasions where he's essentially in the zone and untouchable in combat:

Quote

Wind. Motion. Kaladin fought two Shardbearers at once, knocking their Blades aside with the helm. He couldn’t attack— didn’t dare try to attack. He could only survive, and in this, the winds seemed to urge him.

Instinct . . . then something deeper . . . guided his steps. He danced between those Blades, cool air wrapping around him. And for a moment, he felt— impossibly— that he could have dodged just as well if his eyes had been closed.

Sanderson, Brandon. Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive, The) (pp. 670-671). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

Zahel rejects him from the ardents because Kaladin enjoys fighting too much:

Quote

“It wasn’t a fight about winning or losing,” Zahel said. “You’re not unwelcome because you lost; you’re unwelcome because you don’t belong with us.” He whipped a sheet in the air, then pinned it in place.

“You love the fight, Kaladin. Not with the Thrill that Dalinar once felt, or even with the anticipation of a dandy going to a duel. “You love it because it’s part of you. It’s your mistress, your passion, your lifeblood. You’d find the daily training unsatisfying. You’d thirst for something more. You’d eventually turn and leave, and that would put you in a worse position than if you’d never started.”

Sanderson, Brandon. Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive) . Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

Which is a call back to:

Quote

Kal growled in anger and pain, snatching his quarterstaff from the ground and leaping at Jost. The older boy cursed, stumbling backward as he raised his weapon. Kal bellowed, slamming his weapon forward.

Something changed in that moment. Kal felt an energy as he held the weapon, an excitement that washed away his pain. He spun, smashing the staff into one of Jost’s hands.

Jost let go with that hand, screaming. Kal brought his weapon around and slammed it into the boy’s side. Kal had never held a weapon before, never been in a fight any more dangerous than a wrestling match with Tien. But the length of wood felt right in his fingers. He was amazed by how wonderful the moment felt.

...

But that one moment holding the quarterstaff sang to him. A single moment of clarity in an otherwise confusing world.

Sanderson, Brandon. The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, Book 1) (p. 257). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

Also, if we accept Odium has shades of passion:

Quote

Passionate, with an intense, smoldering resolve. A leashed anger that he used, because he had dominated it. And a certain tempting arrogance. Not the haughty pride of a highlord. Instead, the secure, stable sense of determination that whispered that no matter who you were— or what you did— you could not hurt him. Could not change him.

He was. Like the wind and rocks were.

Sanderson, Brandon. Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive, The) (p. 936). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition. 

In a way, Kaladin taking up Honor and Odium is probably the most obvious result (almost too obvious). He's essentially been training for it his entire life - managing his aggression and desire for combat, mastering his hatred and thirst for vengeance and channeling his passion into something positive. But at his core, Kaladin is about conflict, and it's always been at odds with his Honorable aspect (his clash with Lirin can be seen as shades of this).

What I sort of expect is that the Shards will all get blended - resulting in War, Science, and Freedom.

[duladen he/him]

2 hours ago, Seloun said:

What I sort of expect is that the Shards will all get blended - resulting in War, Science, and Freedom.

 

(sorry)

Edited December 5, 2020 by duladen