TruthwatcherDan

I've recently been thinking about the Stormfaker and any implications that may follow if he is indeed the real Stormfather... Imagine if the real Stormfather has been WORKING FOR ODIUM this whole time... I mean the guy seems pretty broken (understandably after seeing all his children die during the recreance) and cagey... it's not too much of a stretch for him to want to see the end of humanity on Roshar (and potentially his own life) after thousands of years of seeing humanity at it's worst. Him bonding Dalinar makes sense as well if you look at it through the lens of the Stormfather knowing Dalinar was being groomed as Odiums champion... why not supersize your evil champion with the power of a Bondsmith (unchained)... If the Stormfather is the Stormfaker it makes sense that he has evil intentions which we're yet to understand... he wanted Gavilar to bring on the voidbringers and free Odium as he hates humanity... So... if StormDaddy is working for Odium... could he BE ODIUIMS CHAMPION in SA5!? That would be an interesting twist... thoughts?

My suspicion is on Renarin... seeing into the future is a pretty significant ability in the Cosmere, and I don't think his bond with Glys is enough to justify such power... it's also why Renarin appears golden at times and can show people different (honourable?) versions of themselves. My theory... the Iriali are the direct ancestors of the Ashynites and Evi's bloodline carried one of the Dawnshards... Sja-Anat knew of this when she sent Glys to bond with him and wanted to have Renarin as one of the most powerful and influential allies she could possibly have. The Dawnshard may, or may not, have had something to do with his "blood weakness" (or epilepsy) but I'm not sure.

This is a really interesting and terrifying idea... if the old magic still effects a shard holder... then old mate Taravagian just became a million times scarier! Imagine Taravagian on his smartest day given nearly infinite time to achieve it, then throw in the fact he has the power of Odium. Storms! But then, inversely, what would his most compassionate day in the same context look like? Odium crying and handing out free hugs?

I say this on the assumption it affected the Nahel Bond as well, as Deadeyes didn't exist before the Recreance, which happened shortly after to the capture of BAM. However thinking about it now, the Listeners also have spren in their gemhearts and weren't affected, nor were any of the fauna with gemhearts... so there's something not right about the logic there. Maybe BAM does connect directly with the Singers, and the Deadeyes were a separate phenomenon (but IMO it's related based on Melishi's actions described in my post earlier). I always interpreted the quote below as hinting that there was more at stake than just denying the Singers forms of Power...

This is a really good summary, I think the only thing to clarify is BAM gained the ability to Connect to spren, and as a consequence Connected with the the singers (via their gemhearts). As you mentioned it effects the Nahel Bond as well... Deadeyes didn't exist before the Recreance either.. (RoW, Chapter 115, per Kalak) Creating Deadeyes when a bond is broken... Which makes me think that Melishi knew, or had some insight, as to what effects trapping BAM would have on Connection in Roshar (Singers and Humans) and went through with it anyway... that's such poor form Melishi! By extension, if this is the case, it also explains why The Sibling was so angry at humanity and why the Sibling's fabrials started "failing" prior to the their slumber... I'd certainly be angry if I was a spren and my Bondsmith was planning genocide!

I would love to see Kaladin acting as an agent for Harmony... the poor guy could use a little harmony in his life, it just seems constant agony the way it is currently. *Burns a glyphward for Kaladin: "Peace, Serotonin, Harmony"*

I kind of agree, her goal is to nurture and grow things to their potential without holding bias over what is good or evil. Cultivation is a chaotic neutral IMO; she's not manipulating she's "cultivating"... gardening is an apt metaphor; human's perceive the nature of what is being grown (flowers/weeds or good/bad)... whereas, Cultivation is the action/intent of watering, fertilising, and tending to the garden...the garden will grow regardless of what is planted, or how it is perceived, it simply is and cultivation brings out it's potential. His goal as Taravagian was to save Kharbranth and his people, which win or lose the contest of champions he has achieved. The question is can he balance his sanity and holding the shard of Odium and how does he get out of the Rosharian System... sane or insane, (T)Odiums eyes are set on the whole Cosmere based on what we read of his ascension!

You are spot on here, in Taravagian's eyes he has already achieved his purpose of saving Kharbranth and his people from destruction; win or lose the contest, they're safe. The predicament we see for Taravagian now is will he be able to balance his sanity/compassion/intelligence now that he holds the power of Odium... how his control or lack of control will influience his decisions... and how this will play into the wider Cosmere... (T)Odium is a total wildcard with the complexity of internal conflict going on there. With Szeth as (T)Odium's champion, the other link we need to consider is Cultivation's intent and foresight in giving away Nightblood. The history there is murky, but given she can seen the future, she may have seen it falling into Szeth's hands, with an outcome that Szeth is champion for the Team Radiant. However, if as you suggest Taravagian is playing a subtle game, he could mould Szeth into a champion for team Odium so subtly that Cultivation isn't aware until the last minute. She did set up Taravagian to become (T)Odium with unfruitful good intentions after all! This terrifies me because it would make for such interesting reading... but I'm not sure if Brandon would go there from an ethical/moral writing POV; he generally seems to suggest sensitive/triggering topics rather than writing them directly into the story... Like we have seen with Jasna's/Vin's past... Surely infanticide is up there as an ethical/moral boundary. I'm also wondering how (T)Odium will tread with Renarin now, given anyone that he, and he interacts with him, has their future shadowed from foresight... Maybe everyone should just have a mass group hug with our boy Renarin for the final ten days and screw (T)Odium up big time!

Go directly to damnation, do not pass go, do not collect $200 spheres! I am not a Stan of Syladin; we haven’t seen any romantic or sexual attraction between spren or spren and humans, in my opinion it’s not something they have capacity for. I suspect platonic relationships is all they’re capable of Spren and friends, not … buddies!

I've been thinking about how Szeth's oaths may play out in SA5; and some possible ways his narratives may come together, especially given that Szeth will be the flashback character in SA5. Here's our oaths to start as a reminder: I'm interested to see if Dalinar looses the contest of champions then how does Szeth's future play out in light of his Third Ideal? Does he become an agent of Odium by proxy of Dalinar's will? Does he break his oath to follow Dalinar consequently killing his (mysterious) Highspren? Does he say his Fifth Ideal, circumventing his Third Ideal? Or does Dalinar have the power of will to release Szeth from his Third Ideal without breaking it? What ever happens I think we will see a conflict for Szeth brought to light as we learn his backstory, particularly with that caveat in his Fourth Ideal: "So long as Dalinar Kholin agrees"... and it's going to be GOOD READING! Bonus theory: Imagine if Szeth-Nightblood are tricked/convinced into being (T)Odium's champion...? (T)Odium guy has so much emotional leverage over Szeth already, I can see him giving it a go... especially if Taravagian uses the advantage of no one knowing of his ascension to his advantage. Szeth has his Fifth Ideal as a nice little get out of my Third Ideal card to draw too! By the Almighties Tenth Name that would be a terrifying scenario for Dalinar, et., al! Nice knowing you team!

For a while I was team Susfather too... believing that Ishar was the one talking with Gavilar however... after re-reading WoR for the umpteenth time, I'm not so sure about it. The Stormfather hates humanity for killing the Honorspren, he has lied, and withheld information time and time again, and evensent the Highstorm (during the riddens) to the Battle of Narak to destroy everyone there... the guys a little unhinged! Syl goes so far as to describe him as "broken" (chapter 86, WoR). On a more general level, the Stromfather has spent millennia circulating Roshar like record on repeat... killing, seeing men kill, and seeing men break oaths. That's enough to drive anyone mad. I don't think we can take the Stormfather to be a truthful point of view given this context. Is it possible that the Stromfather was lying to Gavilar with promises of becoming a Herald? Motivating him to bring Odium back in the hope it would be the end of Roshar? for Odium to kill the Stormfather ending his torture? That's my current train of thought anyway!

I agree with you on this one… Brandon has said that the narrative structure in this one is going to be different to anything he’s done in previous books. Hopefully we get Battle of the Champions early, and then something even more mind blowing as a mic drop finisher.

I think that if mother-herald comes true, Chanarach being involved in the battle of the champions is a nice way to tie Shallan into the battle while forcing her to confront her past. Narratively it works. I really don’t see any of our Radiants or other “good guys” fighting on behalf of Odium, no matter how manipulative Todium is. Malata is an interesting option for Todiums champion that no one seems to consider… we haven’t seen her in battle but she seems like a bit of a boss to me! It doesn’t really fit narratively but I’d love to see a Dustbringer in action, if not Chanarach. Also, what’s the deal with El? Doesn’t hear rhythms, “replaces” his carapace with metal, doesn’t seem phased that his title was given to a human… I’m convinced he’s actually human but the question is… if so then who was he before turning to the dark side?

Welcome friend!

Welcome to the Shard friend

Opinions please! I wonder if the choice of Honorblades was specific in the prologue… I.e., Jezrien and Chanarach… Jezerien’s blade is with Vyre and we don’t know who’s blade Chanarach is with but perhaps this is suggesting who our champions will be? We haven’t seen the surge of division on screen yet, but I bet it’s going to make for excellent reading! Gavilar wanting “to have seen her in battle” may be equally foreshadowing us seeing Chanarach in battle as is the mention of “flaming red hair”. It’s also curious that Shallan never hears her Shardblade (Testament?) scream when she held it… could she actually have an Honorblade as well, or is this a simple overlook on Sandersons part. Knowing the Shin have already given up Jezrien and Ishars blades, it’s not hard to imagine they may have given up or lost some of the others, especially with an unmade in the picture.

I think Hoid has it to play as a wildcard in the future… during interlude 7 of Words of Radiance, Bordin mentions that Wit escorted him and Taln on their journey to the Shattered Plains… interestingly Chanarach features as one of the Chapter Icons in this interlude as well. Coincidence or…

It’s a play on words, they’re both the title of the SA novels and books featured in-world in their respective books: Way of Kings: This ones obvious, it’s the in-world book written by Nohadan Words of Radiance: This one is less obvious, this is the in-world book describing the orders and abilities of the radiants. Text from the book features as the epigraphs for part three. Oathbringer: the in-world book that Dalinar writes about his life and learnings. Rhythm of War: is the name of the book Navani and Raboniel write as they documented their experiments to create the tone that is the rhythm of war. cheers!

Dalinar is the most appropriate in terms of power loading if he can learn more about being a Bondsmith from a sane Ishar. But in ten days? I'm not quite sold he can master his skills in such a short time span, even with the help of a Herald. I agree Kaladin is the alternative option, he has more experience with surgebinding, is a natural warrior, has the nature of a reluctant hero. If so he will be the champion out of need or forced into the position through circumstance. The other option no one seems to suggest is Taln, who as a main character, has kind of just been hanging around. If Ishar can be healed of his mental wounds, so too can Taln IMO. In terms of (T)Odiums champion, there are so many options. One I've been looking at recently is... I guess time will tell!

I understood some of those words!

It's not surgebinding itself that is the danger, but rather anyone with access to investiture that also holds one of the Dawnshards. That was what resulted in the destruction of Ashyn (A surgebinder holding a Dawnshard); this was revealed in the Dawnshard novella and why the condition was placed on Rysn to never bonding a spren. The Recreance was the consequence of a generation of Radiants realising (a) humans were the voidbringers, (b) humans invaded Roshar after destroying their own planet, and (c) that by having access to investiture, they also had the potential to destroy Roshar like they did Ashyn (if the Dawnshards were ever located). We learnt this from the Stormfather in OB chapter 113. I don't think the radiant understood the consequences of breaking the bond after BAM was impressioned; however, Melishi must have had some idea given that (a) he built protections for the sibling, and (b) his bond with Sibling was voluntarily broken prior to the the Recreance (and BAM's imprisionment which I suspect happened in parallel). The thing I find horrifying is poor Honor, already a little mentally unwell, witnessing all of his Honorspren children die at once! It's the Sanderson equivalent of a Thanos snap!

I always thought that feeling the death of a fellow Herald was the distinction between being sent back to Braize (Herald-Connection still in tact; not felt) vs. true death (Herald-Connection broken; felt) but this new prologue casts doubt on that. What we also don't know is if the Sus-father felt the death, or witnessed the death; his reaction seems to be a felt response but it's possible that if he is omni-present it was a witnessed response. There's so much ambiguity around the Stormfather/Sus-father. Very good references! Now I'm being swayed to team Stormfather in this prologue... My interpretation on this one is his Nahel Bond and Connection allows for him to send the visions to Dalinar, and by proximity Jasnah and Navani. In Oathbringer, the Stormfather could only bring Fen and Yanagawn into the visions during a Highstorm in their respective cities... then there is this: The Stormfather could by lying but to what motive... This feels like another Battle of Theylen Field moment in the making, and honestly, I'm here for it! I FORGOT ABOUT TIEN! Rest in peace our beautiful sad stone collector boy. Roshar was too small to hold his giant heart. NB: I love this community, and finding these forums has been such a joy! I have no one to talk to about how important these books are to me, so it's so nice to finally be nerding out and connecting with like-minded people <3

Hi Fellow Radiants! First time ever posting here, but long time Sanderson-Cosmere fan. My thoughts on some of the key themes from 'To Live': Is this storm our father? I'm team sus-father on this one; there are too many inconsistencies in the behaviour and appearance of the sus-father from what we have seen to date: The physical presentation as (a) a "shimmer as he sometimes did" and (b) "a ripping in the air... vaguely in the shape of a person"; not something we have seen before. The Stormfather has to be in close proximity to people to send them visions, i.e., the Highstorm needs to be in the same region as the receiver of the vision. Between Eshani's viewpoint and Gavilar dying outside there's no evidence to suggest that there is a Highstorm. Similar to the above, the Stormfather isn't omni-present nor can he travel places by choice, he can only see where the Highstorm is at any given time. If there was no Highstorm in Kholinar, he couldn't have been at the signing of the treaty. "I cannot go inside, just as I cannot infuse spheres indoors. When a piece splits off, it is no longer me" - The Stormfather [Chapter 71, Rhythm of War]; again, by this logic the Stormfather cannot go into closed spaces like buildings. (with acknowledgement this quote refers to Uruthuru when the Sibling was corrupted, but the logic of spheres having to be outside to be infused anywhere on Roshar is consistent...) Sus-Father feeling the death of a Herald... The Heralds feel each others death because of the Connection created to them by the Oathpact. (with acknowledgement this is speculative, based on chapter 47 RoW we see Dalinar views the Oathpact faintly as white lines; it's a logical deduction). If the Stormfather has been lying or holding back on his abilities for so long to what motivation, it's a lot of effort for very little pay off... and it kind of feels akin to the old trope "they woke up and it was all a dream..." It's possible the real Stormfather was talking to Gavilar as he died through the Spiritual Realm. Maybe. If he's not our father, then who? Here, I'm not so sure. I do think Ishar fits the brief if he has his Honor Blade at this point given his abilities in RoW and his power of Connection. Other good candidates: A herald with their blade and the power of Lightweaving (more likely Pailiah than Shallash), or The Everstormfather (not likely, but it's a cute idea, and sus-father does mention everyone needing their opposition). Who else has our father-not-father been whispering to? I also think Aesudan with her mysterious past is one to watch out for here. In the OB interlude with Pai we learn that Aesudan believes that the Stormfather is unhappy with her... is this the manic ramblings of a woman under the influence of the unmade or has father been talking to even more people than we suspect? And is the sus-father somehow involved in her obtaining Yelig-nar's gemstone? If he's not my father, then is Chanarach my mother? This is a cool theory, if a little to obvious. I have thoughts: It makes sense from a timeline perspective, tick! It makes sense from a Shallans truth and oaths perspective, tick! I've always wondered why when Shallan first noticed the Cryptics n Kharbranth they were heard asking "what are you?"... it makes sense as to why they would be curious about the child of a cognative shadow and why Shallan bonded a spren at such a young age (which was before the trauma of killing her mother, and her father going mad); it makes more sense than her being a Kendra (don't come for me, I know people want that theory to die). However, that also makes Helaren, Balat, Wikim, and Jushu children of a cognative shadow and by the logic above they should also be curious to the cryptics and potential radiants. Is this a treaty signing or a Herald reunion? I've shipped this theory for a while now, that 9 of the Heralds were at Kholinar palace that day... we have confirmation Kalak, Jezrien, Nale and Shallash were present; now we have some logical hint that Battar may have been present too! If Taravagian was there that night, surely he would have brought Dova. This leads to an interesting theory as to an alternative to the mother-herald theory... given Liss (Vedel?) was at the treaty, could she have had another contract to assassinate someone else on top of her contract with Jasnah? Or just killed Battar for working with the Diagram? If so, this could be the death of the herald the Sus-father (Ishar) feels... I'll be rereading to keep an out out for other Herald suspects on this one! It does feel very Brandon to feint us with mother-herald, leaving the fandom to speculate for years, then prove us all wrong! Ba-Ado-MiShallan? I haven't seen many theories as to her location, but I will be keeping eyes open for her on my next reread... I suspect she was once a Bondsmith that was unmade, and used Connection to connect with the Parshendi. But that's an aside. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on where she is? I have a working theory (a very, very tenuous one...) she isn't trapped in a gem stone... but rather her soul is in one of our favourite hero's, Shallan Davar! Points for to consider: Nale and Kalak were present when BAM was trapped; Dalinar see's a baby in his visions when he uses Connection on Nale. (It's a loose connection I know!) Where is Shallan at the end of RoW? With Kalak, who know's where BAM is. What are the Ghostbloods looking for...? Imagine if she was right in front of them all along. Shallan's family were partially driven mad by the presence of an unmade... who BAM-Shallan. Shallan bonding a Cryptic so young, As mentioned earlier Cryptics asking "what are you" Shallan has so many moments connecting with the Unmade, and seems to understand them intimately. The Hoid-Shallan first meeting, it was like he already knew her, but could it have been BAM he recognised? Shallan is the only female Davar child, it could pass through females on her mothers side; if so Nale would know about this and would explain the Davar-Sky Breakers connection. Speculation, Sanderson is feinting Herald-Mother to cover for Ba-Ado-MiShallan. Shallan embraces and Channels Bao-Ado-Mishram's power, Radiant fades, Shallan becomes a candidate to face Todium (and potentially other Shards in the Cosmere... if Kelsier gets his way...) Ba-Ado-Mishram has a huge role to play what ever way it goes as "the one who could rival Him" according to the Sus-father! Thanks for reading my rant!