potato

That's what I wonder. The listeners were a nonfactor for eons and brought back by wholesale slaughter of the greatshells. I'm thinking Odium's presence on Roshar must be dependent upon minimum expense of endowment on greatshells (maybe matched with cultivations help).

I would imagine that they feed the spren that allow the general health functions to operate. I'll throw a random thought out there, though- Maybe they steal some of Odium's mojo, lessening his effect on Roshar.

My theory is a binary planet system. The Tranquiline Halls and the remains of a society destroyed by Odium are on the twin. Edit: I think there would be some note of the second sun, narrative or otherwise.

I don't know why everybody assumes they could make themselves a primary character. Narcissism I suppose? I'd shoot for joining the bridgemen, perhaps E-5 or so. Just high enough rank to be Lopen's second and alter events subtly. And achieve squire status. Maybe bend Kaladin's ear slightly.

Thanks! You always have a quote handy to crush a flawed theory (this is where I'd insert a smiley if I was given to that sort of behavior).

This one is pretty straight forward: Honor invested a lot of his power in the Heralds. This power should have been returned at the end of the last Desolation but wasn't, due to the Heralds decision to forgo damnation. This means that Honor was still highly invested on Roshar, while Odium was not (no voidbringers, no investment). Odium took advantage of this discrepancy of power, splintering Honor. Now humanity relies on The Stormfather (a shadow of Honors power) and the Heralds (even lesser shadows of their former selves) for salvation. Odium will win unless they can somehow force him to invest a great deal of his power in a champion. Even then, they'll probably need some help from Cultivation to succeed. Less likely addendum theory: The Heralds were the leaders of the Silver Kingdoms and completely lost it when Honor was splintered. This led to the locking of the Oathgates, the destruction of Stormseat, and (indirectly, through the destruction of Stormseat and other wars where each Herald tried to keep any of the others from acquiring enough power to Ascend to become Honor {despite the fact that none wanted the requisite changes or responsibilty}), the Recreance.

What's the timeline on Dalinar going to the Nightwatcher? I only ask because some part of me thinks Dalinar killed his wife (possibly after she and Sadeas tried to convince him to dispose of Elhokar and become the king himself). That would explain Adolin's dislike of Sadeas and how Dalinar became broken enough to bond a spren. The guilt of failing his brother, coupled with a hot-blooded killing of his wife would surely drive a man to the brink.

Perhaps Vedel's branch of the KR had taken the Honorblades and used them to control the Oathgates and trade. That would explain the phrase about golden keys. Idk, I'm just convinced that the Heralds, the Dawncities, and the Oathgates are connected. Sorry if I'm getting of topic with my suppositions.

Are you implying that high storms are tidal? That could explain their irregular predictability. Also up vote.

I'm assuming that Stormseat was Taln's, and thus unlockable when he died and his Blade went with.

I'll bequeath my other 1/2 vote to you, leaving me out in the Storm.

I gave a second up vote on your behalf (well, 1/2 for you 1/2 for me). Half of me thinks that if Roshone had rode with The Stick as his lance things may have turned out differently.

I'm starting to think a lot of things on Roshar aren't as they seem. The Parshendi feel betrayed by their gods. The Heralds betrayed the Oathpact. The KR betrayed their spren. I'm starting to think Honor invaded Roshar (with the Heralds and humanity) to try to unseat Odium's power base after he took the Tranquilin Halls. He arrived to find Cultivation already there (regrowing Roshar from the burnt out husk Odium left it) and their powers "corrupted" Odium's constructs (the spren) in Rayse's absence.

There are some projections on a globe here: http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/6912-hidden-things-in-map-of-roshar/page-8. About halfway down the page. I believe there are several others in the pages preceding and following, but looking through that thread is exhausting.

Argent, I put forth the same Heralds-Oathgates theory here http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/7595-dawncities-linked-to-specific-heralds/ . It feels good to have someone as cosmere-knowledgeable as you independently speculate on (part of) it. I was convinced by others that the timeframe doesn't work out with the Recreance (unless the Heralds only hid as KR versus disappearing completely following the last Desolation.) I am still utterly convinced that the Honorblades are the keys to the Oathgates.

I find this theory extremely plausible. My only question are these: We know that the Heralds continued presence on Roshar brings about another desolation. If they were unaware of this, how many back-to-back Desolation could they have caused before they figured that out? What time frame between them? I only ask because that could significantly reduce the overall length of time we are discussing. Also, though we know that the Heralds freely chose to join the Oathpact, perhaps they were unaware of the exact details when they did.

Had a thought, decided I should revive this topic: What if it's Vasher? He does seem to have a scientific bent.

226"]This passage was apparently written after the Recreance, by someone who lived through it, about events that took place before it. I take this passage as indicating that peacetime (i.e. non-Desolation) use of the Oathgates was a thing, and that it was administered by the Knights Radiant. It's possible, I suppose, that Stormseat's Oathgate alone didn't work because Taln was dead at the time*, but then why did Natanatan get to be a Silver Kingdom? Why let the one kingdom whose Oathgate doesn't work play?*: I was on the moon, with Steve! I guess this derails most of my theory and perhaps adds credence to the theory floating around about the Stone Shamans being the remnants of the KR. I still feel like the Dawncities are the Heralds original homes and that their blades are the keys to the kingdoms. I just have a vision of Kaladin rushing to Kholinar to save the masses only to discover that the gate is locked and he doesn't have the key. He begins to grow frustrated and snappish. The Everstorm draws nigh. Then, a beggar emerges from the crowd, shrugs, and asks "You bear my blade?" Aladdin begins to smoulder "I don't have time for this" Edit: Kaladin apparently gets authorized to Aladdin on my phone. This amuses me. Re-edit: I give up. The Jazrien then summons his Honorblade, stooping a little under the weight of responsibility. "If you're finished, I've got a city to save."

Probably. But hey, if I'm making unsubstantiated theories, I much prefer them to be WILDLY ridiculous. That way, I look much smarter if they end up right and only slightly dumber when they (always) end up wrong.

Then again, I may be too busy not espousing others' theories to be right. *hoping for someone to end this madness

Not that I'm aware of. I'm not certain it has any relation to the discussion at hand, but it may have a great impact on the worldview at a slightly more removed perspective. I'm in no position to espouse my own opinions (let alone others'), but great find. It may just be a excellent metaphor.

In regards to #2/3: there is some plausible evidence that the KR were well established in the Desolation preceding the breaking of the Oathpact. To wit: Jazrien's statement "they have the Radiants. That will be enough." and also the various epilogues regarding the organization of the KR. Also, there is little or no evidence that the Heralds liked, let alone trusted, each other. Also, at least some of them once called themselves kings. 4: Precisely. But with the exception that the Herald in question was one of only 9 people on Roshar to know of the fact that there were 9 unguarded Honorblades stuck in a rocky plateau somewhere near the (ultimately deciding) battle. Also, my theory is that they created whatever cult in sheltered Shinovar the Stone Shamans derived from. (A belief that treading on stone is a good way to minimize culture transfer) 5: The only evidence is completely insubstantial and amounts to this self-same theory. Also, I believe Kholinar is Jazrien's home city. You can curse me at the climax of book 3, but this seems utterly reasonable (if unsupported) to me. 6: Now I'm re-convinced it was Jazrien. Sounds like an epic gravity surge to me. The last great act of a broken, bewildered man. There is no way I'm aware of for this to stand up to academic rigor, but I think it is, at the least, plausible. Edit: I am absolutely arguing that Heralds must be on Roshar for their gates to work.

Crem will collect on the leeward side of obstructions or in areas that stormwater pools. Anything else is only so much shrapnel. (Excepting the riddens/weeping build up)

Upon further meditation, I now think the Honorblades-hiding herald is Ishar. He would probably do something like that to avoid KR hegemony. Gates not working without Heraldic presence on Roshar seems like a limit he might impose.

Thanks. I'll have to dig into that post... well, post haste. Side note: even with no axial tilt, there "should" be seasons. I guess my right and left brain will have to fight it out over "seasons severity altered by binary movement of bodies circling each other circling a star" or "irregularities due to this being a FANTASY series". I'm guessing binary movement will win, but I'm an idiot.