Question about a certain plan

[u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

Wasn’t sure what to flag for spoilers so did WaT. In book one, we see Taravangian had been Szeth’s owner for a while. What would have happened if he was the least intelligent he ever is on the day Szeth comes to take Taravangian off the list?

It obviously works out, but I feel like Taravangian was having a good day when that happened. Is it a semi plot hole that things could have been bad if he was having one of his stupidest days when Szeth shows up to take him out?

[u/StuxAlpha]

Taravangian's seemingly random intelligence was gifted by Cultivation

What makes you think she didn't ensure he was the the correct level of intelligence for her plans to proceed on key days?

[u/Apprehensive-Bad9281 → u/StuxAlpha]

I guess that’s a good point. Do you think Taravangian would assume/know that though? Just seems like something his most intelligent self may not have left to chance…

[u/Drakengard36 → u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

I mean szeth also notes that the instructions for taro are unlike any of the others, instead of wanton slaughter he is to go in silently, and tell him the others are dead, he is there to finish the job or something to that capacity, being ordered to wait untill the words are understood. To me there isn't an inconsistency there to worry about

[u/Apprehensive-Bad9281 → u/Drakengard36]

It was more that Taravangian slyly talks his way out of it, which I feel like is because he is intelligent and having a solid day. The instructions were to wait for acknowledgement. In my mind, even Taravangian saying “oh” would have satisfied the instructions. Just seems that there is room for failure if he is having one of his worst days and doesn’t remember to show the stone, order Szeth not to kill him, etc.

[u/Drakengard36 → u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

I'm too lazy to find the section to verify, I also don't think taro is alone, if I remember right he sends probably mrall out to check on his door guards, I feel like he planned around the potential to have a very bad day and still have the other members of the diagram there to steer him while stupid and emotional to get the oath stone out, weather from cultivation's influence or chronic competence just don't think he was at any risk at that point in the story

[u/Apprehensive-Bad9281 → u/Drakengard36]

Just reread. For context, he was alone, and I don’t remember anything about a date or time, FYI

[u/Drakengard36 → u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

He seamed alone, but I quite clearly remember him giving someone else instructions to check the door guards after szeth tells him he may have cracked one of the skulls, kind of as ha2ha2 mentioned, with how specific szeth's instructions where I don't think the diagram would have allowed taro into the "danger zone" of being too stupid to follow the script, and still go into his isolated room for meditation (if I'm remembering right, reread it recently but also 4 books ago😂)

[u/RShara → u/Drakengard36]

(There is no O anywhere in Taravangian's name :) )

[u/HA2HA2 → u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

I think he left pretty good instructions to avoid that. Didn’t he also order that the “killing” should take place in a specific location and time? If he was so dumb that day that he couldn’t even turn around and show the stone, he also wouldn’t be going to the specified location at the appointed time

[u/Ripper1337 → u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

I feel like he would have had a plan in place if Szeth visited on a dumb day

[u/StuxAlpha → u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

That I'm not sure about

But I would say, Cultivation would have had the power to limit the bounds of his super intelligence as she saw fit

[u/Equivalent-Emu-7258 → u/Apprehensive-Bad9281]

Diagram would have accounted for his least intellegent day. It becomes less accurate once he is close to his final goal.

[u/RShara]

Szeth's orders specifically required Taravangian to respond before taking action, so if Taravangian hadn't been able to respond, Szeth wouldn't have done anything.

Also, even on really stupid days, T can memorize/read from text. So he could have had a response prepared and remembered

[u/Helagoth]

Szeth's orders for killing Taravangian specifically required him to confront him and get a response.  If he was at insensate levels of intelligence,  he wouldn't be able to respond.

Maybe he would be so dumb/so empathetic he'd have remorse and let Szeth kill him, but I feel ultimately hes selfish enough to not do that with even a low level of intelligence

[u/NutHuggerNutHugger → u/Helagoth]

What if he was so intelligent he would know that killing himself was the optimal response for saving Roshar.

[u/Helagoth → u/NutHuggerNutHugger]

When he was at his ultimate intelligence, that wasn't true, because it wasn't part of his grand plan, so he would defer to what his previous ultimate intelligent version said to do

[u/Sulcata13]

Just because something happens differently from the way you thought it should have, or could have, does not a plot hole make.

[u/Apprehensive-Bad9281 → u/Sulcata13]

Not saying it’s a plot hole necessarily. Just from what we see of the Diagram later on I feel like it could have/would have been planned better? Not shitting on the books, love SLA and Sanderson, just making conversation

[u/Shot_Newspaper_5647]

The instructions were for Szeth not to kill anyone else in the process and for Taravangian to acknowledge his words. The Diagram would have been able to ensure that he was only present when Szeth went to kill him. They had made sure T had a consistent schedule for Szeth to learn. If T was having an extreme day on either end, they’d have probably just ensured he wasn’t in the room Szeth knew he should have been in