hitkay

I'd like to propose a theory: Odium and Autonomy worked together to destroy Devotion and Dominion, because those are their respective opposite Shards (in the same way that Ruin and Preservation are diametrically opposed to each other), so it was convenient for Odium and Autonomy to have them out the way. We know that Ambition was "number one on [Odium]'s hit list" (Arcanum Unbounded Chicago signing, December 6, 2016) because Ambition was, as the name suggests, the most likely to become a significant power in the Cosmere that could and would oppose Odium. Odium came across Devotion and Dominion first and took the opportunity to Splinter them. There is a WoB stating that there are two reasons Odium targets another Shard: "he can argue they're breaking the rules they set out", or he thinks they're "a good match for him, or a challenge, or a danger" (Oathbringer Houston signing, November 18, 2017). This was Brandon's answer to a question regarding why Odium went for Devotion and Dominion, so he could have just said "he found them first" but he didn't, which implies to me that if Odium had stumbled across Whimsy or someone that he would have ignored them and continued searching for Ambition. But would Odium kill Devotion and Dominion just because he could justify it? I don't think he would. Why would he care about justifying it to the other Shards when he'd immediately go on to kill Ambition, who was apparently alone? Maybe Ambition had paired off with Mercy, but Harmony seems to find Mercy ominous somehow, so I kind of doubt that Mercy was fighting on Ambition's side - even if Mercy and Ambition had paired off, Odium didn't know that so he'd still have had no reason to kill Devotion and Dominion just because he could make an excuse for it. I think this excuse was just an opportunity Odium grasped, and that the real reason he bothered with them was because Devotion is diametrically opposed to Odium - in a Tweet from February 1, 2016, BrandoSando cagily says "one could make that argument" when asked if Devotion and Odium were opposites. We know that Autonomy helped Splinter, in some way, Devotion and Dominion (Lisbon signing, November 7, 2016), and that she had either an alliance or a truce with Odium, as Odium targeting her would be considered a double-cross (Dragonsteel Mini-Con, November 22, 2021). We also know that Autonomy doesn't want other Shards to interfere with whatever her plans are (JordanCon, April 20, 2018), and she seems to be one of the most active Shards in the Cosmere, expanding to other planets whenever possible. This is why I think that Autonomy would be interested in the possibility of Splintering a Shard that was diametrically opposed to her, and I think Dominion happens to be that Shard. There isn't much evidence for this theory beyond "it seems to fit", but it seems to fit. I don't know what significance it has to the overall Cosmere either. Maybe Sel, already difficult to get to, will be shielded against both Odium and Autonomy due to the Dor's Investiture, and will become crucial in the Cosmere as Odium and Autonomy's plans are set in motion. Interested to see if The Lost Metal does anything to support or weaken this theory.

In Alloy of Law, Harmony's intent/Intent is stated as "creating a way for as many as possible to make their own choices", which is similar to the concept of autonomy. Whether or not Autonomy's Intent lines up remains to be seen; we know from Honor and Odium that the word is fitted to the concept, rather than the concept fitting the word. The following is re: Harmony's Intent vs Ruin and Preservation's Intents, which I've marked as a spoiler because I guess it's kind of a tangent. #

In the case of Harmony, it's a little difficult to tell what Sazed's intent is and what the Shard's Intent is, and I'm not sure the Intent is actually 'harmony', I think it's still 'ruin' and 'preserve' but Sazed just needed a name. From what we've seen, Sazed doesn't want two things to give up their individuality in order to become one thing, he wants them to peacefully co-exist. I doubt Sazed approves of the Elendel Supremacy Bill, which also sounds like something that Autonomy would oppose. Not saying that Trell isn't Autonomy, but unless Autonomy's Intent is very different to what we're assuming it is, I really don't think their Shardic Intents are opposites. They seem pretty in line with each other, honestly.

We know from WoB that there are only eight Shards that Trell can be related to: Ruin, Preservation, Honor, Cultivation, Odium, Autonomy, Dominion, Devotion. Honor's dead, Cultivation is extremely unlikely, Ruin and Preservation are currently Harmony, Dominion and Devotion are currently the Dor. Which gives us four suspects: Odium, Autonomy, the Dor, and a second manifestation of Harmony ('Discord'). All of these technically fit with the WoB that Trell is not native to Yolen - Odium's current Vessel is a Roshar native, Autonomy manifests as avatars, the Dor originated on Sel, and Ruin and Preservation are both in a new 'form' and have a non-Yolen Vessel. Trell's apparently destructive Intent is in line with Odium, as is the gold coloring of trellium (this would make trellium and raysium one and the same). But it's narratively unlikely because Odium is the main antagonist of SA, Mistborn Era 3 will be written before the second half of SA, and Mistborn Era 3 will prominently feature Trell. Additionally, Trell seems to have been around for a while, and Odium's Vessel recently changed, which would probably have thrown a wrench into the plans. Autonomy is the 'cleanest' answer because there are no real problems with it. Autonomy makes avatars, Autonomy is expanding her influence, there's someone called Trell on one of Autonomy's planets, and Autonomy will play a more prominent role in the upcoming Cosmere. Some of the evidence is a little loose, like the original Trell religion focusing on night and day and Autonomy's planet being tidally locked, or trellium/bavadinium giving Bleeder autonomy from Harmony (could just be the influence of another Shard rather than aligning with Autonomy's Intent), but it fits. There's some juicier stuff as well: the original Trell religion believes the antagonistic deity to be the sun, and Autonomy is invested in a sun, so Autonomy may have had an influence on Scadrial more than a millennium ago, potentially as an avatar. Ruin would have been trapped and Preservation would have been weak so neither could oppose this, and the original ending to Well of Ascension featured multiple mostly unidentified Shards, so previous influence of other Shards on Scadrial isn't necessarily unlikely. Alternatively Autonomy just needed a name and chose Trell due to the sun thing, although Trell isn't the sun deity in Trelagism. Again: it works. The Dor is probably the least popular of the theories. We know it has some basic degree of sentience, but almost certainly not enough to orchestrate the plans that point to Trell. Still, there is some stuff to support the Dor theory: Trell wanting to be worshipped over Harmony fits with the Dominion and Devotion Intents, WoB confirms there's a God Metal that comes from the Dor ('dorium'?), the Dor has no current Vessel and we know from the Cycle that Trell is looking for human 'avatars', and there are some theories connecting Trell and the Set to Sel. The main point of consideration with the Dor theory comes from MBSH, where we see the Ire trying to seize Preservation's power and revering Devotion, which could potentially develop into a plot opposing Harmony and following the Dor. A second manifestation of Harmony is technically two theories: it could be that there's a second Vessel of the Ruin and Preservation powers (potentially Kelsier), or that Sazed is in a Jekyll/Hyde situation. I find this unlikely because we know that Trell literally has a unique God Metal, although the 'reaction' described at the end of the latest chapter might suggest a relation between trellium and harmonium, but it could be that combining the polarized powers of Ruin and Preservation cannot result in one clean Intent, and so a second one has developed (usually dubbed 'Discord'). Hopefully the next couple chapters will weaken or strengthen some of these.

I like to think that the reason BrandoSando has been so cagey about the survival Shard is that Kelsier is making moves to become its Vessel.