Timewaster's Guide Archive

I'm going to play devil's advocate here: 

1.When he is knocked in the air his shardplate seems to correct itself so he lands right side up

This is still the first time Shardplate is described in use.  Because of that, I took it to be a general description of the plate, rather than an exceptional event.

2. Adolin notes that he moves faster in shardplate than should be possible, making other shardbearers look like children by comparison

He is described as having been very accomplished in Shardplate even before he started to embody these ideals.  Also, the fact that it was described as"speed and grace" rather than just "speed" or "moved faster" could mean that he is not exceeding the normal physical limits of Shardplate, only using it to its full potential.

3. When he catches the greatshell claw, Adolin notices that his shardplate "almost glows"

This one's pretty solid, but "almost seemed to glow" is hedging pretty hard.  The best alternate explanations I could come up with were: Sunlight reflecting off of him while within the shadow of the claw makes him brighter, cracks leaking Stormlight, or Adolin projecting what he thinks he should see.
EDIT: once could have been a coincidence, but his plate "almost seemed to glow" at the end of ch.62, when he saved Kaladin from the Parshendi archers.  #3 is pretty solid evidence.

Very good introduction to the story.  Some things I noticed in the prologue:

Steel jacketed bullets seem like a bad idea.  The hard metal quickly degrades the gun's barrel, which is why steel cored bullets (jacketed with copper, and possibly lead) are used instead.
When going down the hole, Wax drops a bullet to support his weight.  This should probably be a cartridge (bullet, case, powder, and primer all together) unless he carried loose bullets to be used in the same way Mistborn used coins.
Wax cocks his gun twice inside of the mine, without him uncocking it (that we are told of).  Once was just before seeing the first display, then again at the end.


Also, an idea: would Marsh require atium to survive (being younger) or could he just use gold, and just be very healthy for 350 years old?

IMO the Heralds is just a shortened term for Heralds of the Dawn, or the rise of mankind from the darkness. (Seems to fit to me...though it might be the hidden dramatic in me trying to break free, which I have throughly tried to beat out of myself. )

Epilogue, pp1001 (hardcover)
"...I am Talenen'Elin, Stonesinew, Herald of the Almighty."
Doesn't fit with your theory, but doesn't directly contradict it either. 

I always thought that "Honor" was to do with the Heralds, and "Dawn" came before them (even before the Cycle of Desolations), but then again, I have no evidence.

In ulysses sword's theory I'm wondering what other angle Odium has worked into the deal.  I mean, torturing Heralds and sending out Desolations is fun for him/her/it, but it doesn't feel like enough incentive.

That's a weakness that I haven't been able to resolve very well.  The best I could come up with is that without the Oathpact, Honor and Odium would have had a direct god on god fight, like Vin vs. Ruin, and both would inevitably be destroyed.  This is because Honor would have an inescapable duty to protect the citizens of Roshar, because most religions trade obedience (from a person) for protection (from a god).  This is somewhat reliant on the idea that there was a time before the Desolations where people worshipped Honor in this way, and Odium had not yet come.

I don't think that the Oathpact could be "inherited" by Odium because I imagine it as a contract between (probably) Honor and Odium, with the Heralds and Desolations as conditions to uphold it.  This sets the boundaries of the fight and outlines the conditions.  This could have been done to avoid mutually assured destruction (like Vin vs. Ruin).  Both gods benefit hugely from this arrangement.  Odium gets to attack every 100 years (?), and Honor now had a bond to Odium, as well as motivating all people to band together and help each other through the Desolation, probably using oaths/contracts. 

Tanavast is the original name of the Almighty before he took the Shard Honor.

I see. Well, even if there is no in-world reason given why the original Heralds wouldn't come back to their positions, the narrative ones are not affected by this.

Finished a reread of Way of Kings, and looking at the forum/appendices gave me an idea as to the direction of the series.  I think that the Heralds of the Almighty will be reformed by the last book.  Here are my predictions (in order) for who they will be: Kaladin, Jasnah, Talenel (herald from the epilogue), unnamed art destroyer, Elhokar, Shallan, Dalinar, Navani, Szeth, Rysn (trader that visited Shinovar).  As you can see, it alternated between men and women, with five of each.  I tried to match the characters as closely as possible to the table of Ten Essences, but had to stretch plausibility a little to make it work.  Here are my reasons for my choices, and how strongly I believe I can support them:

1. Kaladin (Sapphire, inhalation, air, protecting/leading):  He uses a sapphire to survive the Highstorm, inhales Stormlight for his powers, Syl is a spren associated with Air, he tries to protect everyone and is a natural leader.  Solid case. 

2. Jasnah (Smokestone, smoke, learned/giving): She uses her smokestone in her "soulcaster" most of all (the obstructing boulder, and the two thieves she wasn't touching), she is very learned, and could be perceived as giving, if you stretch a bit.  Fairly solid.

3. Talenel (ruby, soul, fire, brave/obedient): No support for Ruby, his soul was trapped, and then returned, he shows bravery by choosing impossible fights and winning, and obedience by not abandoning the Oathpact.  Fairly solid.

4. Art Destroyer (Diamond, eyes, loving/healing): eyes look at art?  not much here, needed a woman for the slot.  Weak.

5. Elhokar (Emerald, Just/Confident): Wins an emerald gemheart in the hunt, isn't very just or confidant now, but could easily become so later.  Fairly weak case.  Adolin could also fit here fairly well.

6. Shallan (Garnet, Blood, Creative/Honest): Uses a garnet to reach Shadesmar, soulcasts the goblet to blood, bleeds lots when she "attempts suicide" backbreaker powder is a blood poison.  Symbolheads could be associated with blood (see ch 4. epigraph, "I'm dying, aren't I? Healer, why do you take my blood? who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky.") She is extremely creative, and genuine.  Solid case.

7. Dalinar (Zircon, Oil, wise/careful):  Dalinar needed to be in here somewhere, and he fits best with wise/careful by the end of the book.  Fairly weak case. 

8. Navani (Amethyst, metal, resolute/builder): nothing with Amethyst, metal is needed to build fabrials, which she does.  She also is very determined, not too sure about "builder" though.  Medium strength case.

9. Szeth (Topaz, bone, rock. dependable/resourceful): Windrunners were described as blue and yellow (IIRC), Kaladin is Sapphire, so that leaves Topaz for Szeth.  nothing for bone, but rock could easily be his oathstone.  He is very dependable and resourceful, succeeding in all of the tasks given to him.  Strong case.

10. Rysn (Heliodor, pious/guiding):  A heliodor powered the sensing fabrial that she set up.  Not much here either.  Weak case.

Some things that I know I missed: who are the pictures in the chapter headings of in each of their viewpoint chapters?  as well, I seem to recall hearing that all of the main characters were introduced already, but I'm not sure when.