Dunkelheit

Thanks for the warm welcome! Lots of good stuff here! I have not seen a lot of it. Thank you for pointing me to it. Lots of reading to do to get caught up on the topic before responding in detail... I updated my profile with what I've read. Basically I've read all Cosmere canon except minor stuff like Hope of Elantris/Eleventh Metal. I'm not worried about spoilers from those though.

I believe there are three primary magic systems in the Rosharan System. My theory stems from this little tidbit in the Ars Arcanum of The Way of Kings (emphasis mine): And then there are a couple important WoBs: Additionally, some more relevant info (Mistborn Era 1 Spoilers): I believe that something analogous is happening on Roshar. Various combinations of Shards give rise to different systems of magic. I believe there are essentially 30 surgelike abilities, and the three "couplings" of Shards give rise to Surgebinding, Lifebinding, and Voidbinding, each of which has 10 unique "surges". However, I believe the combination of all three Shards also creates a magic system: Enlightened Surgebinding. With three Shards in residence on Roshar, there are seven total combinations possible: Honor = ?? Cultivation = ?? Odium = ?? Honor + Cultivation = Surgebinding = Knights Radiant Honor + Odium = Voidbinding Cultivation + Odium = Lifebinding Honor + Cultivation + Odium = Enlightened Surgebinding We know that the Knights Radiant comprise 10 orders and are of Honor and Cultivation, and that the 10 varieties of sapient spren form a Nahel bond with a human to grant them two surges. When Sja-anat corrupts/enlightens Radiant spren, those enlightened spren now bear Connections to all three Rosharan Shards. I believe that Enlightened Surgebinders like Renarin actually have access to three abilities. In Renarin's case, he has Progression, future sight, and an ability that seems to show people What Could Have Been™ (see chapter 8 of Rhythm of War). Side note (Mistborn Era 1 Spoilers): I believe that there are more sapient spren out there. We know that sapient Voidspren exist, and I suspect that they can form a Nahel bond with a human to grant them different surgelike abilities. But the question is, would it be Voidbinding or Lifebinding? Are Voidspren entirely of Odium, or are they a combination of Odium and another Shard? And where is the third group of 10 sapient spren hiding? It is very interesting that the ideals of the Truthwatchers differ from the ideals of Enlightened Truthwatchers. I think it is evidence that supports my theory. Unanswered Questions: Where do abilities deriving from a single Shard play into this? Why can the Fused use the surges from H+C, and why is Adhesion the only exception? Do Voidblades and Lifeblades exist? Why are the Bondsmith and Truthwatcher glyphs on the Voidbinding chart encased in a gem separated from the others, unconnected to any surge glyphs? What in Roshar is Cultivation up to, and where are her sapient C+O spren? Where in Roshar is all the Lifelight hidden? Is the Lifebrother a splinter of Cultivation and does bonding him make you the Lifebinding "Bondsmith"? If Odium wins the contest of champions, will the back five books of Stormlight be called The Voidlight Archive?