Difference between revisions of "Odium"

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{{quote|Odium comes. Most dangerous of all the sixteen.|The voice in the storm to [[Kaladin]].{{book ref|b|twok|c|46}}}}
 
'''Odium''' is a [[Shard|Shard of Adonalsium]], held by [[Rayse]].{{qa ref|700|7|He did however confirm that Rayse is Odium}}. The author of [[The Letter]] calls Odium the "most frightening and terrible of all the Shards."{{epigraph ref|sa1|19}} Odium had been on [[Roshar]], though arrived on Roshar later than its other two Shards, [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]].{{qa ref|836|49|Is Odium native to Roshar?}} Currently Odium is settled on [[Braize]], one of the three [[Shardworld]]s in the solar system of [[Greater Roshar]], but his presence is still felt on Roshar.{{17s ref|3934|text=Q&A at Spokane B&N, August 2013}}
Over time, a person holding a Shard will be shaped to the Shard's [[intent]]. This can turn a kind person into [[Ruin|someone who just wants to destroy]]. However, Rayse--Odium's holder--was purportedly already an incredibly crafty, loathsome, and dangerous individual, even before picking up the power. A Shard's intent is mildly interpreted by its holder{{17s ref|1729|text=A holder's personality, however, does get to filter the Shard's intent, so to speak.}} (for example, the idea of [[Preservation]] could be interpreted in a number of ways, and the Shard's holder helps determine this), so Odium is probably being interpreted in the darkest, most dangerous way possible. Odium is a force of pure hatred which is held by a man who can--and will--use that power to the most terrible end.
 
Odium's ultimate goal is indeed terrible: he seeks to be the most powerful being in the cosmere. To this end, he kills other Shards (namely [[Aona]], [[Skai]]{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}, and [[Tanavast]]{{book ref|b|twok|c|75}}). But, instead of picking up those Shards (and becoming more and more powerful as he increases his Shard count), Rayse does not want to be unduly influenced from other Shard's intents. He feels that Odium matches him perfectly. So, he [[Splinter]]s the Shards he kills, preventing anyone taking up those Shards to challenge him.{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}
 
Odium intends to do this to every Shard and be the only Shard left, effectively making him unstoppable and giving him free reign in the entire cosmere. And, Odium appears to have no trouble with killing former acquaintances to progress its goals.
On [[Sel]], Odium's influence is omnipresent: he Splintered Devotion and Dominion, the only Shards on that world. [[Seon]]s and [[Skaze]] are both Splinters, so in a way, Odium caused their existence.
 
Odium's actions are more obvious on [[Roshar]], his present location. [[Honor]] stated to [[Dalinar]] that Odium is the enemy,{{book ref|b|twok|c|75}} and implied he is the cause of the [[Desolation]]s and potentially the leader of the [[Voidbringers]]. So, Odium has been attacking societies on Roshar for over 4,500 years.{{book ref|b|twok|csa|part=prelude}} This ultimately culminated with Odium killing Tanavast and Splintering Honor. It is unknown if the third Shard on Roshar, [[Cultivation]], has met this same fate. In the present, Odium brings about the threat of the [[Everstorm]] and the [[True Desolation]].
 
Odium may be the cause of the [[Herald]]s being tormented after dying in the Desolations.
 
==Trivia==
*The mere mention of the word Odium makes [[Syl]] hiss.{{book ref|b|twok|c|46}}
 
==Quotes==
 
{{quote|"I am... I was... God. The one you call the Almighty, the creator of mankind." The figure closed his eyes. "And now I am dead. Odium has killed me. I am sorry."|[[Honor]] to [[Dalinar]].{{book ref|b|twok|c|75}}}}
 
{{quote|Something blew against him. "Wait!" Kaladin said. "Why is there so much war? Must we always fight?" He wasn’t sure why he asked. The questions simply came out.
The storm rumbled, like a thoughtful aged father. The face vanished, shattering into droplets of water.
<br><br>
Odium reigns, the voice said more softly.|The voice in the storm to [[Kaladin]].{{book ref|b|twok|c|46}}}}
 
==Theories and Speculation==
{{quote|Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broken One reigns.|Way of Kings, epigraph 11.{{epigraph ref|sa1|11}}}}
Odium may be the one referred to as the Broken One. This quote mirrors how the voice in the storm talked to [[Kaladin]] and said "Odium reigns".{{book ref|b|twok|c|46}} The "sixteen" surely indicates the sixteen [[Shard]]s, and indeed there are three Shards on Roshar. However, it is peculiar that if three reigned, why is Odium (presumably one of the three) referred to so strangely as the "Broken One" here? It is possible to say that indeed Odium is one of the three mentioned rulers and as to why he is called the broken one it can be said that while Odium ruled along with the other two shards he was still solid and "whole" in the sense that he was of physical form, But as indicated by Wit he is more of a force than a living being so this Broken one status we can say is him becoming this force
 
===Shardic Future Sight===
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