ArthurB

I think it more likely that Nohadon was one of the original Bondsmiths, that the order of the Bondsmiths and the oaths were his means of controlling the surgebinders. He actually discussed means of controlling them with Dalinar in one of the visions. Perhaps Nohadon orignally bound the Stormfather much as Dalinar did?

I was thinking that it might be one of the Dawn Shards, though there is lots of speculation going around which casts doubt on that. I thought that there was more than one of those dark crystals mentioned, but I can't remember where the other one was referenced. It might be a figment of my imagination.

That's true, and I had considered that, but I don't think that Odium would leave the humans untapped if he thought that he could invest and control them. Mainly I was leaning towards this because Kaladin's extended period of darkness seemed sort of artificial. If I were a dark god bent on destruction and dispair I would certainly try to tap into that particular broken soul, especially considering his proven talents thus far. Also Adolin's actions surrounding his murder of Sadeas seemed distinctly out of character. Again, the stabbing him in a fit of passion I can easily attribute to Adolin. The act of hiding it, though, that seemed out of character. However, I am not a dark god bent on destruction and dispair. At least, not after I've had my coffee...

Kaladin should get on that. I want to find out if my Starspren theory is correct...

Actually, I think that is exactly what happened. Remember Dalinar's vision of the recreance in tWoK? All of the KR giving up their blades and plate. They gave up their duty. I think it was exactly that they have broken the first oath. That giving up was a testament to that betrayal.

Pretty much all of these, but with three moments of distinction. Renarin stepping in to that arena, especially when you consider what it cost him as we later discover. I believe that that has already been pointed out in htis thread, but that moment really shined for me. Shallan comforting her brothers with that terrible joke while her father spoke with the bastard. Shallan garroting her father while singing him the lullaby. I'm still up in the air about whether I prefered reading that seen or hearing Kate Reading's delivery of it. I've done both, both left me weeping. Edit: One more... I am a stick.

Since this thread already warns of wild speculations, I'm going to dump a couple more in here that aren't ripe enough yet for their own thread. Starspren: It's hard to gauge how the great majority of intelligences on Roshar view the stars and thus how they might manifest in Shadesmar. Perhaps Starspren aren't what we think. We know that there is at least one other planet in the Roshar system, there seem to be strong indications that Roshar is not the world that its human inabitants originated on. Perhaps those 'spren' are in fact satellites of some sort? Some remnant of a more technoligically advanced era? I have absolutely no evidence to support this and don't think that it is at all important to current events on Roshar, but it was kicking around in my head, so there it is. If wishes were fishes: How closely bound are highspren to the minds from which they sprang? If enough people had a shift in their cognition of one thing or another, would that change the form/nature of whatever highspren happened to derive from that perception? For that matter, are Odium's spren in some way bounded by the same interaction of intelligence and the cognitive realm that the rest of the spren seem to be?

Lopen's regrowing stump makes me think that Kaladin's brands not being healed is has greater significance. Lopen war armless longer than Kaladin was branded, after all. Kaladin is still wearing them after he has spoken the third ideal. Any guesses as to why?

I have visions of a death traps from Last Crusade but with burning eyes instead of rolling heads. I approve!

Ah, thanks for clearing that up! So they might be called Invested generically? Allomancers, Elantrians, Returned, etc.

I agree with this. Further, we have to remember that Pattern was attracted to Shallan as early as age 12. We have to assume that he knew what he was doing and that the saw something special in her (beyond just the broken soul). This idea of self-discovery might be the Cryptics own method of insuring that their bondmates (a working title) retain whatever quality made them worthy in the first place in the face of such incredible power. Not being able to deceive ones self about your own nature might be every bit as effective a control as swearing oaths, for the right sort of person. As Syl said, the Nahel bond was meant to act as a check against the investiture of Honor and presumably Cultivation. Their ideal bondmates are different, their functions are different, it makes sense that their means of balance would be different.

I've seen in a few other threads some suggestions that Adolin might be succumbing to the influence of Odium. It has been established that the Thrill is artificial, though the source is as yet unconfirmed (psst, it's Odium). We know that someone must be broken in some way in order for investiture to take hold and finally we know that surgebinders are Slivers of Honor, Cultivation or both (honorblades not withstanding). Where are Odium's Slivers? Was Kaladin's extended period of darkness entirely his own doing? It seems to me that that sort of deep-seeded hatred and loss would be just the sort of fertile ground in which Odium might flourish. Adolin's murder of Sadeas might have been an act of passion, but what about his actions immediately afterword? Some have suggested that the Skybreakers might appreciate his action as some form of twisted justice, but the Skybreakers wouldn't have tried to hide the act. I don't think that the Everstorm and the unmade are the worst threats to Roshar. I think that Odium is not only looking for his champion but a sort of anti-KR faction and he is going to target Slivers of Honor and Cultivation. I think he might have been trying to break Kaladin and, having failed in that, is now trying to twist Adolin. Thoughts? Feelings? Annoying facts that will shatter my beautiful (wild) speculations? It's my first time, but no need to be gentle