nice to see my Renarin theory got a mention. here is a Adolin theory for you: he will become a winddancer (edgerunner?) by bonding 2 spren, Maya and Notum.
He's definately got some sort of bond already with Maya, he gave her the strength to speak for herself at the trial. Whether that will manifest radiant powers, or I hope, just making him slightly harder to kill, who can say? As for Notum, who can say?
I like the child champiom theory because of the themes but i do struggle to see how we actually make our way there in a way that feels like it makes sense and isnt forced.
That is a struggle. Also Todium would be banking that Dalinar, who went through the experience of having his grandnephew kill him would have to serve the shard who put the child in that position. That doesn’t sound like a foundation for a relationship on which to save the Cosmere.
Honestly really liked your reasoning for Gavinor being the champion. I think that Taravangian doesn't mind the result of the battle never ending because if neither die then the fight isn't over therefore the deal doesn't go through so Taravodium can keep the war going without issue
Szeth is metaphorically the "child" champion. He is mentioned as looking like a child twice in TWOK (chapters I-3 and I-6) and has already been manipulated by Taravangian more than once. So why can't he be manipulated again to be Odium's Champion? If you think about Szeth as the child and as the "weeper" in the deathrattles then they completely make sense. Dalinar & co. refuse to kill Szeth as Odium's champion so it is considered a tie with Dalinar breaking his oath, then the Stormfather is deadeyed causing the storm of all storms that gives off no Stormlight: the Night of Sorrows. Plus this is Szeth's book, it makes sense for him to be a part of the final payoff. “What I am owed,” the assassin shouted, rainwater spraying from his face and Stormlight rising from his lips, “will come to me eventually! Every bit of it. I will drown in it, stonewalker!” - Chapter 85 RoW
I considered Szeth as a possible champion. As you say it is his book. While the Alethi do view him as a child, I still have him as a potential champion for Honor. But yeah, despite his intention of being Honorable he’s currently worse at it than Gavinor.
Something to keep in mind about the Duel is that it's a contract... and it's VERY likely a good Bondsmith will be able to rewrite/reallocate parts of the Duel. The most likely scenario is changing Dalinar's fate. I doubt that Dalinar could do it himself because that would be seen as breaking the terms, but a sane Ishar CERTAINLY seems powerful enough to change the target of the Fused fate to someone else... the most dramatically appropriate would be himself.
If he becomes Odium's champion to the stars, even if sane, I'd bet on Scadrial. They have had steady path towards modern (and futuristic) weaponry. While Ishar may be a powerful general, the battles he fought were mostly at bronze age level infrastructure.
Where do you place the Contest happening within the book? For me, I envision the Contest happening at the end of part 3. It will be the "Fall of Kholinar" moment in the book. This is because I expect Dalinar to lose and fulfill the promise to the audience that we have a new and more dangerous Odium. Brandon won't end the book with a complete hero loss however, that's not his style so the epic conclusion is Kaladin and others saving the day unexpectedly in part 5.
Pretty close to that. I figure we'll get the champion reveal at the end of part 3. Basically I see: Part 1 Kal & Szeth's excellent adventure, Part 2 getting Herald sanity to manageable levels, Part 3 Dalinar does Rocky ending with the duel starting Part 4 Dalinar fights and loses the duel. Part 5: Stormfather dies, Ride of the Willshapers, Ba-ado-Mishram is freed and either that fixes stuff or Kaladin becomes a herald/stormfather/both and that fixes stuff. Warcamps are saved the war is over, but their main bridge-builder just switched sides. Oops.
Im still firmly in the camp that Renarin should be Dalinar's champion. Odium cant see him in the future and he has the ability to see the future himself. He's also able to just die and then come back via Progression/Regrowth. We've seen him be fully crushed previously and bounce back almost instantly. He could literally die, ending the duel, and then come back. He still 'died' satisfying the rules, and Dalinar wouldnt be dead. The terms of that agreement are that Dalinar become a fused when he dies if they lose. If they happen to lose and Dalinar isnt dead then it pushed back becoming a fused and serving Odium untill later on. All that could also serve as part 1 to 2 of the book and give us time to get more story in without having to e constrained by the 10 day time limit.
@@MeMySkirtandI Provided my last read through of RoW about 3 weeks ago is accurate, and that Sanderson plays to the exact wording the two used, I don't think he'll have a choice. As long as I'm remembering correctly the wording of the agreement is that when Dalinar dies his soul becomes Odium's. The contest doesn't specify that Dalinar's life is forfeit if his champion dies. They both just assumed that Dalinar would be his own champion and that the contest would be to the death, therefore Dalinar loosing in the contract is the same as the contract saying he has to die. But it never stipulates it. It would be a fantastic moment for Renarin, who we've been told is clever the whole series, to notice that loophole and then convince his father to let him stand in. I can also see Todium missing it. Renarin can't be seen with Odium's future sight, and Taravangian was relying on his predictions even before becoming Odium. To the point of it being to his determent. I doubt he would change that after getting access to greater foresight. On top of all this, it puts increased stakes on team Urithiru because they now have to figure out a solution to save Dalinar from this eventual fate. He can't avoid death forever after all. Even something like becoming a Herald might trigger it off if the Heralds are actually cognitive shadows of some sort.
No way on the Finrod/Sauron comparison. A Maiar is an immortal being that existed before the creation of Arda. Though Ishar is a Cognitive Shadow by Honor's gift, he started life as an ordinary human. He can never equal Sauron. Ishar could hold immense power as a Vessel for a shard, but Sauron is himself a mini shard of Eru Iluvatar who coexists unbroken with all the Ainur and Maiar that are aspects of his thought. The better duel comparison might be Gandalf/Balrog. If you leave aside the immortality piece I just made a big deal of then the Balrog, like Ishar, has the advantage many lifetimes spent in combat while Dalinar has just the one.
Those points are completely valid when talking about power levels. But Epic Rap Battle of Fantasy is more of a Vibe or trope than a science. Also I just really wanted to point out that Tolkien wrote an Epic Rap Battle of Fantasy. I really like saying Epic Rap Battle of Fantasy.
Thank you? "death to carthage" sounds very Roman,😁 but I must admit that I don't think about the Roman empire with regularity. Nor have I actually read the entire Aenid (le gasp) It's on my summer reading list.
@@MeMySkirtandICato the Elder who lived through first Punic war would thereafter end EVERY one of his speeches with "furthermore I think Carthago must be destroyed"
Hey can you make a video about who we might see take the main stage for the next set of books? Character POV's. (ex. Gavinor, Oridon, Shallan's possible child)
Just read Rhythm of War chapter 54 and honestly that Renarin theory is looking reaaaaaaal likely. I can definitely see his lack of self worth being something that convinces him that Dalinar would kill his own son to save the world. Honestly the whole of chapter 54 which does discuss a contest of champions seeme like big set up for this. Liking that theory a LOT
@@MeMySkirtandI Possibly. I'll admit that I'm HEAVILY biased towards Renarin (he's probably my favorite character who is out of focus), but I doubt that he's going to be Champion. The Dr. Strange option is the only one I see working, and it would shatter so many things. It would make for some huge drama, though. Just imagine the fallout between Renarin and Adolin. (It WOULD give Adolin a big purpose going into the second half, and assuming that Adolin becomes an Edgedancer, it would give him someone obvious to listen to that no one else would...)
@@MeMySkirtandI Oh, and the other issue with choosing Renarin as Champion is that Odium cannot predict him or anything that he touches... which would mean that Odium would basically lose any use of Fortune regarding the contest of Champions, which doesn't sound like something Odium would do. Taravangian would be more likely than Rayse, but doubtful in either way.
@@NemisCassander On the one hand Taravangian could try the Edward Cullen approach. Get the person you can't predict on your side. On the other hand is preview chapter spoilers.
Heh. Very doubtful. The only way this would happen is to pay off the line where Hoid admits that Dalinar is a tyrant, but perhaps what is needed at the time. Thaidakar might not dig that deep to determine the truth of that statement, even if he would accept it as the truth.
People keep saying that Gavinor is gonna be the champion to make Dalinar lose, but I think that just ruins Daliniar's character, where he chose to not be Odium champion. it doesn't make sense for Dalinar to just give up his journey, even for Elokhar's child, because than he will just be resisting the entire time.
@@MeMySkirtandI odiums, commands I can’t see why Dalinar would listen to odium as champion after the contest and lead his armies, especially if he realizes it’s taravagium. Odds are I think the champion would be El, since he seems to respect the humans and is looking forward to leading them in invasion
Wow, the herald who never broke for 16000 years, would up and join team Odium next book. I guess he did save Amaram's life, but wow. That is a completely original theory!
