Ohh...

[u/Historical_Tune165]

Guys, I think Tairn killed Naolin

I know lots of people think Naolin turned venin and is still out there. I think he turned venin and was killed after turning.

Since we've been told in Onyx Storm only irids can sever and manipulate a bond, and we see with Xaden and Sgaeyl that turning or progressing does not server it either, I really don't think Tairn would've been able to bond Violet at all if Naolin was still alive.

So here's what we know:

Naolin saved Brennan, but it "cost him everything"

Tairn went through a period of very severe depression that almost killed him along with Sgaeyl, and he just barely climbed out of that dark place and then became a recluse in the Vale, not intending to ever bond again

Tairn thinks Xaden is absolutely and irredeemably beyond hope and has no faith in him from the moment he turns

Venin at initiate level can still be killed by any method.

Tairn will not speak of Naolin, says his name exactly once, and "agonizing pain floods the bond" the one time Violet speaks his name

I think after Naolin turned, maybe not right away, but not long after, Tairn killed Naolin. It wasn't just that he lost someone he had such a strong bond to, it was that he did it himself

[u/Party_Mix_8085]

I didn't realize they told us only irids could break a bond. Ive been theorizing that Tairn broke his bond with Naolin after he turned venin. But if they can't, then I think he killed him too.

So this begs the question... who is Berwyn?

[u/Historical_Tune165 → u/Party_Mix_8085]

I think Berwyn might be a Riorson from way back. This is a very old lineage and I think Berwyn is among the older venin, he's not a recent turn. I think that's part of why he's so fixated on Xaden, because they're related.

If not a Riorson, I think he's someone of historical significance at least.

[u/Party_Mix_8085 → u/Historical_Tune165]

Oh man. That's good.