Odium's Influence
A Shard of hatred seeks to splinter every other divine power.
Odium embodies the Shard of Adonalsium defined by Hatred, viewing other Shards not as peers but as obstacles to be broken. His objective is absolute: shatter every competing source of Investiture until only his power remains whole. On Roshar, this ambition drives the Desolations—cyclical wars where the Fused return to reclaim the world from humanity.
- Entity Type
- Shardholder
- Primary Location
- Roshar System
- Manifestation
- The Fused and Unmade
- Opposing Force
- Knights Radiant
- Core Intent
- Passion/Hatred
- Status
- Active Antagonist
- Goal
- Splinter other Shards
Lore & Background
For millennia, the Heralds bound themselves to hold back the Voidbringers, a sacrifice that ended during the Recreance when their line abandoned their duty. That betrayal shattered humanity's defense, allowing Odium’s influence to seep back through the cracks of broken oaths. Ancient civilizations fell under the weight of endless wars, driven by the promise of survival through submission.
In Their Own Story
The air in Kholinar tasted of copper and old blood. Kaladin felt the voidpressure before he saw the enemy—a suffocating weight that sought to snuff out his Stormlight. It pressed against his mind, not whispering, but demanding: surrender the pain by embracing the darkness. He gripped his spear tighter, the silver glimmering faintly as he anchored himself against the gloom.
Reader's Guide
Odium operates through Voidlight, the antithesis to Honor’s Investiture. His primary weapon is corruption; he offers strength to the desperate in exchange for their souls, creating Voidbringers who serve as his army. The Unmade act as lieutenants, each embodying different aspects of ruin and acting as catalysts for chaos before armies arrive. This pressure targets the soul and mind, making the conflict spiritual as much as physical.
Did You Know?
- Odium was originally located on the planet Threnody before moving to Roshar.
- The Unmade possess unique abilities that can disrupt magical oaths and bonds.
- Voidlight is the opposite of Investiture from Honor and Cultivation.
- Some humans can bond spren associated with this force without becoming Fused.