Difference between revisions of "Oathbringer/Epigraphs"

== Preface to ''Oathbringer'' ==

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|"I’mI'm certain some will feel threatened by this record. Some few may feel liberated. Most will simply feel that it should not exist."

|"I can point to the moment when I decided for certain this record had to be written. I hung between [[Realmatic Theory|realms]], seeing into Shadesmar—the[[Shadesmar]]—the realm of the spren—and[[spren]]—and beyond."

|"I will confess my heresy. I do not back down from the things I have said, regardless of what the ardents[[ardent]]s demand."

== Letters ==

In Part Two of ''Oathbringer'' the epigraphs are three letters. The [[Letters#First_Oathbringer_Letter|first]] and [[Letters#Second_Oathbringer_Letter|second]] one isare directed to somebody refered to as "[[Hoid|Cephandrius.]]", Theand thirdthe one[[Letters#Third_Oathbringer_Letter|third]] is addressed to "Friend."--also likely referring to Hoid. The secondfirst letter is theorizedwritten toby be[[Endowment]],{{wob writtenref|8401}}{{ref|text=By process of elimination, Endowment is the only known, living Shard who fits with the context of the letter.}} the second by Bavadin(an avatar of [[Autonomy)]],{{wob ref|9081}} and the third letterby is[[Harmony]] mostbased likelyon writtenspeech bypatterns Sazed(Harmony)and reference to holding two conflicted powers.

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| "Dearest Cephandrius I received your communication, of course.

|"I noticed its arrival immediately, just as I noticed your many intrusions into my land."

|"You think yourself so clever, but my eyes are not those of some petty noble, to be clouded by a false nose and some dirt on the cheeks."

|"You mustn't worry yourself about [[Rayse]]. It ''is'' a pity about [[Aona]] and [[Skai]], but they were foolish--violating our pact from the very beginning."

|"Your skills are admirable, but you are merely a man. You had your chance to be more, and refused it."

|"No good can come of two Shards[[Shard]]s settling in one location. It was agreed that we would not interfere with one another, and it disappoints me that so few of the Shards have kept to this original agreement."

|"As for [[Uli Da]], it was obvious from the outset that she was going to be a problem. Good riddance."

|"Regardless, this is not your concern. You turned your back on divinity. If Rayse becomes an issue, he will be dealt with. And so will you."

|"You have spoken to one who cannot respond. We, instead, will take your communication to us--though we know not how you located us upon this world. "

|"We are indeed intrigued, for we thought it well hidden. Insignificant among our many realms."

|"As the waves of the sea must continue to surge, so must our will continue resolute. Alone.

|"Did you expect anything else from us? We need not suffer the interference of another. Rayse is contained, and we care not for his prison. "

|"Indeed, we admire his initiative. Perhaps if you had approached the correct one of us with your plea, it would have found favorable audience."

|"But we stand in the sea, pleased with our domains. Leave us alone."

|"We also instruct that you should not return to [[Obrodai]]. We have claimed that world, and a new avatar of our being is beginning to manifest there. She is young yet, and--as a precaution--she has been instilled with an intense and overpowering dislike of you.

|"This is all we will say at this time. If you wish more, seek these waters in person and overcome the tests we have created. Only in this will you earn our respect.

|"I would have thought, before attaining my current station, that a deity could not be surprised. Obviously, that is not true. I can be surprised. I can perhaps even be naive, I think.

|"I am the least equipped, of all, to aid you in this endeavor. I am finding that the powers I hold are in such conflict that the most simple of actions can be difficult. "

|"I am also made uncertain by your subterfuge. Why have you not made yourself known to me before this? How is it you can hide? Who are you truly, and how do you know so much about [[Adonalsium]]?"

|"If you would speak to me further, I request open honesty. Return to my lands, approach my servants, and I will see what I can do for your quest. "

== RecordsUrithiru Gem Archive ==

In Part threeThree of ''Oathbringer'', the epigraphs are records retrieved from the eponymousgem Stormlight Archivearchive in [[Urithiru]]. InThe atdrawer leastnumber someand of[[Polestone|gemstone]] thesedesignations epigraphs,are included with the record. The gemstone used to make the record seemslikely corresponds to correspond with the orderOrder of the [[Knights Radiant|Knight]] who made it. (ege.g., Sapphiressapphires for [[Windrunners, Zircons for Elsecallers]]) The drawer and gemstone designations have been included, as this indicates when a series of epigraphs all relate to the same topic.

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== Hessi's ''Mythica'' ==

TheIn epigraphsPart fromFour Partof 4''Oathbringer'', arethe excerptsepigraphs are from an in-universe book, [[Hessi]]'s ''[[Mythica]]'', thatwhich cataloguesattempts to catalog the Unmade, nine of Odium's lieutenants in his Rosharan war[[Unmade]].

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| "My research into the Unmade has convinced me that these things were not simply "spirits of the void" or "nine shadows who moved in the night." They were each a specific kind of [[spren]], endowed with vast powers."

| "I have done my best to separate fact from fiction, but the two blend like mixing paint when the Voidbringers[[Voidbringer]]s are involved. Each of the Unmade has a dozen names, and the powers ascribed to them range from the fanciful to the terrifying."

| "I should point out that although many personalities and motives are ascribed to them, I'm convinced that the Unmade were still spren. As such, they were as much manifestations of concepts or divine forces as they were individuals."

| "The most important point I wish to make is that the Unmade are still among us. I realize this will be contentious, as much of the lore surrounding them is intertwined with theology. However, it is clear to me that some of their effects are common in the world - and we simply treat them as we would the manifestations of other spren."

| "[[Taxil]] mentions [[Yelig-nar]], named Blightwind, in an oft-cited quote. Though [[Jasnah Kholin]] has famously called its accuracy into question, I believe it."

| "Yelig-nar had great powers, perhaps the powers of all Surges[[Surge]]s compounded in one. He could transform any Voidbringer into an extremely dangerous enemy. Curiously, three legends I found mention ''swallowing'' a gemstone to engage this process."

| "Yelig-nar is said to consume souls, but I can't find a specific explanation. I'm uncertain this lore is correct."

| "Of the Unmade, [[Sja-anat]] was most feared by the Radiants. They spoke extensively of her ability to corrupt spren, though only "lesser" spren - whatever that means."

| "Lore suggested leaving a city if the spren there start acting strangely. Curiously, Sja-anat was often regarded as an individual, when others - like [[Moelach]] or [[Ashertmarn]] - were seen as forces."

| "[[Nergaoul]] was known for driving forces into a battle rage, lending them great ferocity. Curiously, he did this to both sides of a conflict, Voidbringer and human. This seems common of the less self-aware spren."

| "I am convinced that Nergaoul is still active on [[Roshar]]. The accounts of the [[Alethi]] "[[Thrill]]" of battle align too well with ancient records - including visions of red mist and dying creatures."

| "[[Moelach]] is very similar to Nergaoul, though instead of inspiring a battle rage, he supposedly granted visions of the future. In this, lore and theology align. Seeing the future originates with the Unmade, and is from the enemy."

| "Moelach was said to grant visions of the future at different times - but most commonly at the transition point between realms. When a soul was nearing the [[Tranquiline Halls]]."

| "Many cultures speak of the so-called [[Death RattlesRattle]]s that sometimes overtake people as they die. Tradition ascribes them to the [[Almighty]], but I find too many to be seemingly prophetic. This will be my most contentious assertion I am sure, but I think these are the effects of Moelach persisting in our current times. Proof is easy to provide: the effect is regionalized, and tends to move across Roshar. This is the roving of the Unmade."

| "[[Ashertmarn]], the Heart of the Revel, is the final of the three great Mindless Unmade. His gift to men is not prohecyprophecy or battle focus, but a lust for indulgence. Indeed, the great debauchery recorded from the court of [[Bayala]] in 480 - which led to dynastic collapse - might be attributable to the influence of Ashertmarn."

| "I find Bo[[Ba-Ado-Mishram]] to be the most interesting of the Unmade. She is said to have been keen of mind, a highprincess among the enemy forces, their ''commander'' during some of the Desolations[[Desolation]]s. I do not know how this relates to the ancient god of the enemy, named Odium."

| "There is very little information about Ba-Ado-Mishram in more modern times. I can only assume she, unlike many of them, returned to Damnation or was destroyed during [[Aharietiam]]."

| "[[Chemoarish]], the Dustmother, has some of the most varied lore surrounding her. The wealth of it makes sorting lies from truths extremely difficult. I do believe she is ''not'' the [[Nightwatcher]], contrary to what some stories claim."

| "[[Re-Shephir]], the Midnight Mother, is another Unmade who appears to have been destroyed at Aharietiam."

| "The Midnight Mother created monsters of shadow and oil, dark imitations of creatures she saw or consumed. Their description matches no spren I can find in modern literature."

| "It will not take a careful reader to ascertain I have listed only eight of the Unmade here. Lore is confident there were nine, an unholy number, asymmetrical and often associated with the enemy."

| "I am certain there are nine Unmade. There are many legends and names that I could have misinterpreted, conflating two Unmade into one. In the next section, I will discuss my theories on this."

| "If I'm correct and my research true, then the question remains. Who is the ninth Unmade? Is it truly [[Dai-Gonarthis]]? If so, could their actions have actually caused the complete destruction of Aimia?"

== ''Eila Stele,'' and ''The Way of Kings'' Postscript==

AfterIn thePart general contentFive of ''Oathbringer'', the Eilaepigraphs Steleare istake revealed infrom the chaptertranslation of that name in the previous[[Eila part,Stele]] we see some excerptsand from itthe in''[[The PartWay 5,of andKings also some postscripts from the(in-world)|The Way of Kings]]'' postscript.

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|But Yes,that Idoes begannot mymean journey alone, andthat I ended itwalked alone."