Board Thread:The Last Sovereign Discussion/@comment-39332473-20190808194309/@comment-39120971-20200130072904

The Scoutman wrote: The implication isn't that there are only 7 shards in total currently, but that there is only enough for 7 "large shards". Assuming all the known goddesses have/had a large shard each, that means we have 6 accounted for. Riala's small shard would be a fragment of the 7th shard, which means the 7th one was shattered and so there can't be a 7th "large shard". It is possible other small fragments could pop up, but they wouldn't be enough to make a major power in the current TLS world (so no surprise goddesses).

I wonder if the importance of the number 7 in Ivalan doctrine is because Ivala intended to turn the high priestesses into the goddesses of the next cycle. Having all of them follow the same faith would be a way to try to keep them as a united front against future adversaries. Just chiming in to say that this is how I understand it. Once the original Soul Shard and Divine Shard splintered, there is only enough power to form 7 large pieces of each kind, and as they split further they diminish in power enough that they can't make a proper IK or Goddess. Even though, as we've seen with Simon's case, somebody given a small shard can absorb more pieces or take an IK's shard to grow in power.

So no surprise IKs (aside from the FL's shattered pieces) and no surprise goddesses assuming they don't take out an IK/goddess upon arrival and take their place.

Also I'm just so excited to see Tertia alive. She may be weary of existence but I dare to dream that we can revive her interest at least slightly. That 'Tertia RP +1' (mentioned elsewhere on the forum, I think in the nightmare spiders topic?) alongside Ivala RP during the Thenours invasion really gives me hope to fill out the Other category with Wendis and the various goddesses we've met.

If this trend continues and we also knock the Mother off of her high... throne then I have fingers crossed to see her on the bottom of the totem pole, below even Trin.