Kered

So, I was recently typing up a theory in the RoW discussion area and something occurred to me and I was wondering if anyone else was this way. Whenever I'm typing up a theory in a discussion with other shard members about cosmere lore, i hedge my bets with a ton of ambiguous language lol. Using "maybe" "kinda" "sorta" "could it be a possibility", etc. I strictly do this to be able to wiggle out an opinion because I'm nervous about holes getting poked in the theories and looking dumb lol. Literally no rationality for this, most of the time I don't even notice I'm doing it. This apply to anyone else?

"Then he Ascended to Godhood". *puts down book* *Stares at the wall for a full minute, slowing squinting eyes* "Well, sh*t". As my grandpap says, I felt this one in my bones.

I was thinking about this as I typed my first post. Maybe an overall upgrade? Finer control of the surges, holding stormlight longer/tighter control of stormlight usage(getting more out of a sphere), etc? Idk, I can see Brandon coming up with something unique, though. The mechanics of "living" shardplate have been at the forefront because Brandon was coy with it for the longest. Distracted a bit from what comes after Plate.

My wild guess is that all the 5th Ideals share the same theme. Like the Skybreakers, the 5th ideal for every order will be totally embodying an ideal, ie "Becoming the law". How that principle would apply to a Windrunner 5th Ideal, no clue. "Becoming protection" doesn't have an obvious parallel. Maybe something along the lines of ." I will protect everyone so long as I am able". Seems a little anti-climatic.

Yeah, I have no idea why it entered my vocabulary as fast as it did.

You get out of here with that mind bending stuff, I'm still recovering from Todd.

At the time none of the "main characters" knew that soulcasters were actually dead spren. So maybe Jasnah was referring to the soulcaster version of adding a gemstone to a dead Blade?

Walked right into that one.

Updates and Edited like 7 times Solid take, I didn’t think of that.

I have no idea if this is the post-story hangover but I noticed something listening to the audiobook after I did my first read. It’s either a possible theory, error or nothing out of the ordinary. Figured the pals on the forums would be able to decide which it is Couple facts for context: - The Sibling is a spren created created by both Honor and Cultivation. - Sja-anat mentions that Unmade were “Made and unmade at Odiums hand. - it’s a decent assumption that the Unmade are in a way kinda, possibly, the Voidspren equivalent of God spren like the Bondsmith spren. So, while listening to the Sja-anat interlude, during her conversation with Odium, Sja-anat tells Odium she would like to see her cousin again(who is inferred to be the Sibling though not mentioned by name) and that her cousin was the creation of Honor and Cultivation. She also remarks that Odium “hates that she referred to the Sibling as her cousin”. Thus the question. Are the unmade, or at least Sja-anat, a creation of Odium and Cultivation? If this were the case then Sja-anat and the Sibling would the literal human definition of cousins. Why does Odium hate when Sja-anat refers to the Sibling as cousin? Maybe because odium and Culti had a “thing” and the Sibling represents the unity of Honor and Culti so Odium is feeling a bit, as the kids say, “jelly”. Three biggest holes I see with this is the fact that she explicitly says Odium made and unmade her and doesn’t mention Honor or Culti. Another is that Sja-anat could be, if this theory is half correct, a creation of Honor and Odium. And lastly, Odium hates that she refers to the Sibling that way simply because he’s the god hatred and hates the symbol the Sibling stands for, the will of both his enemies will made manifest. Oh and also I have no idea what the “thing” between them could actually be but I’m inclined to think it wasn’t romantic. It could be Odium got the proverbial “left on read” by Culti. I don’t which way I lean but if I had to pick it’d be that this is just a face value thing of Sja-anat taking the opportunity to get under Odiums skin. But I thought I’d bring it here just in case someone else picked up on it or just to tell me I’m cracked. edit: Another hole lol, maybe this wasn’t as solid as I thought. Sja could also just be referring to the Sibling as cousin in the broad sense that kinda every spren is related to one another in some way. Though the whole “The Unmade were Honor and Cultivation spren Odium directly corrupted to combat Honor’s Heralds” could have some traction. This turned into a hot mess real fast. Edit 2(this is never going to end, friends): Literally just finished listening to the interlude and Sja says Old Man T is a weapon. We know Culti molded T to be able to replace Rayse. Did Culti clue in Sja because Sja was once Culti’s spren or a spren of Odium and Culti? My brain hurts again. Make it stop.

100% Todd.

Also, for the Maya "We Chose" seen I yelled "NUH UH" so loud my fiance thought I induced her labor. Needless to say, it was an eventful experience in my house throughout reading this book.

Wait.....did Dalinar just low jack Kaladin into the spiritual realm and then accept his Fourth Ideal? if so, my response is a perfectly acceptable “Bruh wut”.

Removed the the long shot theories portion because I don't feel like having the Intent debate. This topic is mostly to get a bunch of relevant info in about the shards reveled in RoW.

This isn't really going to be a discussion thread more of a informative thread but feel free to discuss, though I believe most of the discussion is taking part in the Part Discussions. Was getting ready to start doing some edits on the new Shard pages so I created an info sheet with all the possible definitions of the new Intents as well as a few abstract interpretations. Here is what I used and what I will be adding to in order to reference: Invention Definitions: The action of inventing something, typically a process or device. Creative ability. something. Typically a process or device, that has been invented. Noun. Synonyms: Inventiveness, originations, creation, design, contraption, innovation, creativity, imagination, originality Mercy Definitions: Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Used in expressions of surprise or fear. Noun. Synonyms: Leniency, clemency, compassion, grace, pity. Whimsy Definition: Playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor. A whim. A thing that is fanciful or odd. Noun. Synonyms: Flightiness, arbitrariness, capriciousness, irresponsibility. Valor Definition: great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. Noun. Synonyms: Bravery, courage, fearlessness. Initial Thoughts Valor could likely be the cosmere's version of "The God of War". Valor and Honor would be a good combo shard. Makes me think that if Honor and Cultivation weren't a couple maybe Honor and Valor would have settled together. The most potential for an "evil" intent is Invention. The one likely to the most damage/cause the most cause is Whimsy. I wonder if Mercy was helping Odium or Ambition in the fight. From WoB's, could clearly be that Mercy helped Odium. Maybe Mercy saw what Odium was doing as a mercy then after helping actually splinter a shard, Mercy got scared of the scope and implications and bailed. I expect Invention to play a large role in Era 4. Valor, from the letter, can be sort of implied to have a decent relationship with Hoid. More so than the other shards at the very least. Whimsy and Odium combination is absolutely terrifying. Any combo has the potential to be dangerous but I think Odium, particulary the Passion aspect, takes the cake. Trell most likely seems to now be Autonomy. Though, it could be just as likely it's a shard we don't know. With these epigraphs we now have only 2 unknown shards. And only one relevant hint remains, the WoB about wisdom and a possible property an unknown shard has. The "surviving shard" also refers to this "survival" shard. Cultivation and Invention would be a cool combo. Invention and Endowment as well. Whimsy and Autonomy would also would be crazy. Mercy and Autonomy would also be cool, might temper the Autonomy intent into something interesting.

I’m counting Kelek in order to vindicate this theory. in absolutely no way does this make sense and I am awarded zero points. May the Fox(phone autocorrected to this from God, toats keeping it) Beyond have mercy on my soul. Side note though, kinda bummed about the lack of Ash and Taln in this book. Getting Kelek and Ishar was awesome but it would’ve been cool to see at least a bit of progress with Taln. Inb4 talk therapy scenes with Taln and Kal. My soul needs this.

Kaladin going berserker after Teft is a scene that I think passes the Arena scene in WoR for me. Seeing from another POV was such a good choice. Soon as Kaladin grabbed Ole Defeated I audibly said “ Uh oh, this bayd, so bayd”. I’ve seen a few people complain about the Fourth Ideal but I disagree. This was the pivot point Kaladin needed to make in logical character development. Also, Shardplate Kaladin is just straight up awesome sauce. Side note, the Teft thing isn’t what pushed me over the edge with Tw*t Waffle 9000(taking one out of Odiums book and giving him a new, proper title). What pushed me over the edge was his POV right after. A person with wrong convictions still is brave enough to stand by them. Tw*t Waffle 9000 is now simply a coward with the wrong convictions. Something ya can’t even muster pity for.

Put the book down for a full 5 minutes and yelled “WHAT” so loud my fiancé thought we were being robbed.

I think we're going to start seeing more of the other half of Kelsier Brandon always mentioned. The fact that Kelsier could have easily been a villain. I think a lot of it is going to depend on his current relationship with Sazed.

I can literally think of no other possibility. Scars, cognitive shadow and the Hoid bit. Unless this is a major misdirect by Brandon, I can't see it being anyone else.

Anyone else having small strokes when they read the epigraphs?

The envoy will mostly succeed because that will be the time Adolin revives Maya and the honorspren will see what humans are capable of. Before the honorspren chose to bond again they tell the envoy that the Windrunners squires must revive the dead honorspren. Cue montage of all the Windrunner blades being stolen by the Squires. I back this up with zero evidence and absolutely no logic.

I know we’re close to release but I was listening to the released audiobook chapters when I heard something that gave me and idea on what one of the parts epigraphs could be for RoW. Posting here to see what y’all think and probably get the usual “Are you even reading the same books, friend?” comment. During the Heavenly Ones/Windrunner battle around the Fourth Bridge, Kaladin makes a remark after he notices the Fused are trying to get a better look at the craft. Something along the lines of “From Jasnah’s interviews with the Herald Ash, who herself was thousands of years old, was shocked by something like the Fourth Bridge”(extremely and poorly paraphrased). So, my thought is that maybe excerpts from these interviews will serve as epigraphs. Other than the letters, they would serve roughly the various purposes of the other epigraphs. Also would serve as a nice tease to the Heralds flashback books in the back 5. What’d ya guys think?

I think it's basically going to be a "slave to his madness" thing. A few moments of lucidity, maybe. Which would be him cursing the Stormfather and begging for death. But mostly him just thinking he's the best possible leader on Roshar to the point, obviously, of insanity. Or It's a lot like this.

As fun as it is to read, I'm not always in the mood for Lift's flippancy, Think the Shallan/Adolin team will be awesome. Would be especially awesome if the plot would be wrapped up with Adolin reviving Maya and this action itself is what moves the Honorspren to seek the oaths again. To be honest, now that I think about it, I think that'd be the only justification of Adolin reviving Maya this book that would be okay with me. Also, Old Man T needs to learn about social distancing.