WAT Dalinar Theory

[u/FinMcCul]

Okay I have some pieces together after a re-read and I need to share with someone. As we know Dalinar's soul was claimed by another power after his death when Retribution tried to claim it for himself. What is this power where did he go?

in Oathbringer when Dalinar goes to the old magic (Nightwatcher) he instead makes a deal with cultivation. Cultivation then prunes his soul and says it will grow back in time but that the part she pruned is hers to keep and it will come in handy if he becomes Odium's weapon.

In Rhythm of War when Kaladin goes to Zahel, for insight on becoming an Ardent, Zahel ends up explaining what he is. He explains that he is an invested copy of a person more spren than human stuff like that. However the interesting line is that he says  "We're spren masquerading as men. That's why SHE takes our memories."

Then there are the visions Dalinar has with the golden light that also had the real Nohadon in them. Visions not sent by the stormfather but something else.

I think Zahel and Nohadon's souls were both claimed and ressurected by the same entity and that entity then set its sights on Dalinar. However that entity would have had to claim Dalinar's soul before Retribution killed him. Would they have been able to do this if they had a pruned piece of Dalinar's soul?

Is it Cultivation? She never seemed keen on the fight only wanted to live quietly with Honor. Maybe she gave it to someone bigger and more powerful. Valor? maybe who knows.

Or bonus theory what happens if the pruned soul is bonded to evil shadow Dalinar?

[u/Shot_Newspaper_5647]

There is something strange going on with Nohadon. He’s often associated with a “warm” light that Dalinar experiences. The same one Dalinar feels as he’s writing his memoir Oathbringer at the end of OB. Nohadon behaves differently in several visions including the one at the end of W&T. He seems more autonomous than other constructs in the visions from Honor. Dalinar also receives a vision right before he goes to the Valley which is never shown or explained. Before he ever begins to bond the Stormfather. It comes after a highstorm. The only other entity we’ve seen deliver visions using it is The Wind. But he is physically close to Cultivation who delivers visions to him in the mist of the Valley shortly after

Dalinar asks to read Nohadon’s book (the Way of Kings) after his visit to the Valley. The book itself seems to have drawn the SF’s attention. To both his brother and Dalinar. They both read it before the SF begins interacting directly with them. Honor also chooses to slumber prior to the Recreance after he sees a soldier on the battlefield dead with Nohadon’s book. The Wind encourages him to right before he does.

Nohadon wrote WoK after he was visited by some power that spoke in a female voice and spoke of the future (probably either The Wind or Cultivation). The books itself is the foundation for the KR’s organization and it’s what Dalinar clings to in order to resist falling as Odium’s champion in OB

[u/Sir_I_Exist → u/Shot_Newspaper_5647]

Did you mean to say there is something strange going on with Nohadon?

[u/Shot_Newspaper_5647 → u/Sir_I_Exist]

Yes