Dalinar Kholin and Taravangian (Odium) faced off in their long-awaited contest of champions in Shards of Adonalsium, Taravangian is one of the most terrifying beings in the Cosmere, but there's still more to it.

Dalinar Has Forced The Other Shards' Attention On Odium

The Shards Can't Ignore Retribution

Wind and Truth's story teases the idea of the "Sunmaker's Gambit" throughout. The idea is that, by combining the Shards of Odium and Honor to become Retribution, Taravangian has become so powerful that the other Shards of the Cosmere can no longer afford to ignore him. The Stormlight Archive books previously saw Hoid trying to work with Harmony, the Shard of Scadrial, to recruit other Shards in a pact against Odium to little avail. Now, with two Shards, Retribution is one of the most Invested beings in the Cosmere and is a threat to everyone.

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Dalinar's plan has literally plunged Roshar into darkness, but he knows that the humans he's led this far will live to fight another day. Dalinar sacrificed himself to buy them time, as now that the other Shards have focused their attention on Retribution, the evil god was forced to flee Roshar. His armies still remain on the planet, but without his direct influence, anything can happen. The most important aspect of what Dalinar has done is use Taravangian's hubris against him, forcing him to become too powerful that the other Shards can no longer wait around idly.

Taravangian Is Unstable Now That He Holds Two Shards

Taravangian Is Balancing Two Opposing Powers

Holding two Shards hypothetically means more power through more Investiture, but it's not that simple. By combining Honor and Odium to create Retribution, Taravangian is a Vessel carrying two forces of power that counter one another. Odium is more powerful right now, as it has been for millennia, but Wind and Truth's ending hinted that Honor would grow and mature, hopefully pushing back against Odium from within. Even without Honor, Taravangian couldn't fully commit to his Intent, sparing the people of Kharbranth by transporting the city to the Spiritual Realm.

Those who have read Mistborn era 2 will know that managing two Shards can be challenging, as the Intents have minds of their own. Ati, the original vessel of Ruin, was known as being a kind and noble person, but Ruin eventually took hold of him. Sazed, who now holds Ruin and Preservation, is struggling not to let Ruin become too dominant within him, though this will likely happen soon. Odium and Honor will continue to push and pull Taravangian in different directions, making him a threat to himself and a volatile X-factor for the Cosmere.

What Dalinar's Decision Means For Stormlight Arc 2

Roshar Will Be In A Desire State When Readers Return

Brandon Sanderson's plan for The Stormlight Archive's second arc is to resume the story after roughly ten years. This means that humanity will spend about a decade in the wake of Dalinar's decision before readers can catch up with heroes like Adolin, Renarin, and the others who are still on Roshar fighting for their lives. Urithiru and Azir will be the only two locations left on the planet that haven't been covered in darkness during the Night of Sorrows, and now that Honor is gone, there won't be any Stormlight on the planet either.

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The absence of Stormlight means that the Knights Radiant can't access their powers and that humans can't travel between the Physical and Cognitive Realms. Kaladin and the Heralds' creation of a new Oathpact prevented the spren of Roshar from being killed, as their existence implies a portion of Honor remaining in the system. The last change for Roshar is that there's a new version of Dalinar, the Blackthorn, whom Retribution plucked out of the Spiritual Realm to use as his general against the Cosmere.

When events pick up, readers are likely to find their heroes on Roshar in dire straights, with Retribution's forces now led by an evil version of Dalinar. Kaladin and the Heralds probably won't return for some time, Adolin is going to be training his Oathless and helping prepare Azir for the future, and those remaining at Urithiru will likely be trying to find a way to re-open the Oathgates. One thing is for certain: war will come again if it hasn't started already, and the survivors need to find a way to rebuild as quickly as they can.

What Dalinar's Decision Means For Mistborn Era 3

Harmony Has Two Shards To Deal With

Now that Retribution has become the second hybrid Shard in the Cosmere, Harmony will have to devote some of his attention to Roshar. The Stormlight Archive's timeline reveal at the end of Wind and Truth shows that Mistborn era 3 and The Stormlight Archive arc 2 will happen around the same time, meaning there should be some updates on the Retribution system in Sanderson's trilogy. Harmony is still dealing with the threat of Autonomy, so he'll have even more to worry about now, potentially pushing him to become Discord.

The Ghostbloods are an organization from Scadrial run by Kelsier, and their efforts have been shown throughout The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn era 2. Due to Shallan stopping Mraize and Iyatil, Kelsier's main leaders on Roshar are dead. Not to mention, without Stormlight, their primary purpose of moving Investiture off-world is void. Kelsier will be more prominent in Mistborn era 3, so reveals about his character and his actions could directly affect The Stormlight Archive 2, possibly pertaining to Shallan.

The Stormlight Archive

Created by

Brandon Sanderson

Character(s)

Kaladin Stormblessed, Shallan Davar, Dalinar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Jasnah Kholin, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Navani Kholin

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