Lunu’anaki

I think there is more to it than we know. You're right it's odd that they would do that, It's unreasonable. There is something else going on that we aren't aware of. I'm sure of it.

No worries!! In my opinion this is philosophy, not something worth fighting over; just something worth discussing and thinking about! I just feel that you are making an assumption when it comes to who should take responsibility for the actions of an organization, and when they should... Perhaps it's a matter of semantics, or worldview... and that's great, you can believe with conviction that a leader like Thaidokar is responsible for all actions of an organization like the Ghostbloods. It's a 100% valid interpretation of what "responsibility" entails... but it's not the only one. It's an opinion, it's not a proven fact (and never could be). "Responsibility" and the dynamics of running a large organization are not so simple of things to boil down to "This is just how it works". If your A or B are based on assumptions like this than your C is inherently an assumption as well. Simply making a claim like "The leader of an organization is responsible for the actions of that organization in every case." doesn't prove that statement to be true. So, while I believe Thaidokar isn't responsible for Mraize's actions, and you believe he is, neither of us can in fact prove each other wrong... We just don't have enough context or information to do so.

I haven't seen anyone mention the elephant in the RoW room... anti-investiture... Does anti-investiture mean there is an Anti-Adonalsium out there? Or Anti-Shards? Something to think about.

This is the most important point. Genocides don't work. They are awful ideas made by hateful people and those people usually end up hanging or imprisoned by those who would see them pay for a crime like attempted genocide. So even if one was attempted, it wouldn't actually be successful, the singers wouldn't have just disappeared because some evil king wanted them to.

Well, the entire world is infused with Honor. RoW made it very apparent that even some Fused operate with a certain sense of honor. I think Genocide wouldnt come very natural to the peoples of Roshar, even with Odium pushing them to do so regularly. It should be noted that some desolations have been implied as attempts at genocide also... So I don't think an attempt hasn't happened before.

Wow. This makes me believe even more strongly that Dalinar will find a way to reforge the Oathpact or bring the Herald's back to their senses in some way in book 5. This is very true for me as well!!

Storms, don't say that. The only candidate in that case is Hoid

Why do you say this? We have no reason to believe that Shards don't directly create their magic systems, but multiple examples from Mistborn of shards purposefully doing so... unless I'm missing something? It's not that simple. A key part of the process for Navani was putting the investiture into a vacuum. We also arn't certain that the tones are tied to all forms of investiture or just the Lights.

I'm more partial to CultTeravOdium if you ask me I think there is merit to the idea of diluting Odium by splintering it. I just find it hard to believe that Cultivation of all the Shards would want anything to do with Odium's power. It's the Shard that killed her lover after all.

Mistborn Era 1 + Warbreaker!! I actually highly recommend Mistborn Era 1 + Mistborn: Secret History before you reach Rhythm of War because there will be some things in it that will make a lot more sense with that series under your belt. They are also fantastic stories!! Warbreaker will also be an interesting one to read relative to Stormlight! None of that is necessary though!! If you really just wanted to push through SA before exploring more of the Cosmere you'll be totally fine. I've read every single Cosmere book in existence and I'm realizing new and amazing things about the world on every single reread. There's always another secret! Welcome to the shard!! Be certain to avoid the forums tagged for spoilers!!

The "Fallen Title" could easily be "Bondsmith" as well (Or even "Radiant").

Like many have said here, it's a mute point anyways. Worship is a very personal thing. I know people who would Worship the stick from WoR, and explain quite coherently their moral argument for doing so. So in that respect, everyone could be worthy of worship in someone's eyes. The more important questions in this discussion are "What are the Shards actually capable of?" and "Are they good antagonists." I think we don't have a full picture for the first question, but have some specific answers and evidence to base assumptions off of. As for the second question, it's subjective but It feels like most of the people in this thread agree with the basic premise that Odium's arc up to this point was anticlimactic in some capacity.

...a Dragon, right? We know Cultivation was a Dragon, we know they had a relationship before ascension. Is that assuming way too much, seeing as we know Dragons can do the whole polymorph thing in the cosmere? Is there any evidence to the contrary, or otherwise? Discuss.

Respect, certainly. Worship? I don't know if I'd go that far, not if you know what they are in truth. Like... I see why they are worshiped, but it's hard to imagine someone worshipping a shard if they know that they are just ascended humans incapable of acting outside of certain Intent-defined parameters.

That Interlude where Zahel revealed he was always Kelsier in disguise was epic. I can't believe him and Hoid are twins!!

Well... Roshar has been heavily influenced by Honor, and honor is known as the shard of connection. Connection is the surge that's been used in every Cosmere magic system for translation purposes. What if a land and a people being infused by Honor really does make it easier to learn a language on Roshar? I mean we saw firsthand how quickly Raboniel learned Alethi, maybe that isn't because of her intelligence, but because of realmatics.

Are there really that many interactions between Fused and humans? I think we are only treated to Leshwi, Raboniel, and the Defeated(yes I will only use his new title ) I think Raboniel's Alethi knowledge was pretty straightforward she is a scholar after-all, with Leshwi... well, she's been thinking about Bridge 4 for quite some time. The Defeated is the tough one. He doesn't say much to Kaladin directly, so it's possible he only speaks some Alethi, and isn't fluent. I think he mainly just needed to know Alethi in order to operate as a good antagonist. OR: Maybe the fused, being similar to the heralds, have some connection based spiritual realm stuff going on. We know the Heralds can all speak with connection at will.

On the mist/light comparison: I wonder if a radiant could breath in mists and use them like stormlight? Maybe with a duralumin metalmind or something as an aid?

Thanks! It is very compelling, I found myself getting hit with what may or may not be a Dawnshard spoiler though (totally my fault for opening a spoiler tag and thinking nothing of it) so I'll finish reading the theory when I finish the book! I'm halfway through it right now. :X

Assume works for this too I believe, but I suppose you could go with "hypothesizing" if you want to get really specific.

Certainly! but it also gives her a number of opportunities to keep an eye on things without being directly involved in the "oversight" which might lend weight to the idea that Nightbloods presence on Roshar was her direct doing, rather than a happy coincidence. That was my reasoning atleast. Idk. I'm definitely overthinking it at this point lol

I'm not sure that's true... I thought it was mentioned multiple times in RoW and once or twice in Oathbringer as well? I could very well be imagining that though? I know Dalinar was at least realizing that the vessel Rayse could be manipulated since Oathbringer. I do agree though, It was not clear that Rayse was having a tough time controlling himself until moments before his death, which is weak foreshadowing. (Brandon is literally the master of foreshadowing in every other case though, so I'm very forgiving on this one, even though it is a pretty big deal.)

Okay, maybe Endowment is just focused on "her own thing" we don't really know what that means though. Someone else getting rid of Odium for her after their planet is "endowed" with a god killing weapon could easily aid with Endowments thing though, right? Idk, Endowments letter screams "If I need to, I could kill Rayse without lifting a finger." and it seems to me that is exactly what she did.

I'm really happy to see that a post I made a year ago has become a poppin' viewing party spot I'm a few episodes behind but I'll do my best to catch up and join sometime if I can!!

So... we know he has a Yolen form of lightweaving... perhaps there is a connection there between his Yolen-based magic and hiding even from shards. Or... on a completely different train of thought. He was involved in the shattering, maybe they figured out a way of hiding their presence from Adonalsium in order to enact their plan, and that method still works for Hoid to this day?