I've figured out the foundation of my more nuanced interpretation of Ruin. Looking back while I like aspects of Ruin, I'm not a fan of some shit he does.
I've decided that I must expand on the Scadrian Shards and their schemes. And to do that… I’ve felt I need to make Ruin a lot smarter. A timeline where Preservation is the only god crafting clear cut, precognitive and Xanatosian plots doesn’t sound like an interesting world or divine conflict. That… and I really want to diverge from Ruin’s DEATH AND EVIL GLOATING shtick. He felt more dangerous in The Well of Ascension despite being more restricted.
I've been having a lot of discussions and thoughts about Ruin's future sight, Preservation's plans, and Harmony's knowledge. Because of this, I have a good idea on how to write Ruin in my Mistborn AU.
Sanderson hinted that Ruin is the power of change and entropy, so I really want to lean in that direction. Rather than portraying him as the entity of death and destruction that Sanderson wrote him as, I want to write him as the God of Decay and Entropy. Everything we associate with canon Ruin and entropy would be parts of his desire/methods of ensuring that everything degrades and decays. He is also a force of chaos, disorder, and temptation. Death and destruction are parts of his Intent, but they aren’t forefront in the Intent. AU Ruin is the gear that spins the world's cycles of rising and falling. He pushes people to embrace uncertainty and change.
Ruin weaves and executes multiple, branching schemes to ensure the subtle, slow downfall of Scadrial and its empires. He knows there are countless ways his Intent is present in the Universe, and will execute them through any avenue. However, he's also responsible for the rise of Scadrial's kingdoms, nations and empires. He understands that emotions and ambition are essential for the world.
Ruin manuevers and guides humans, events, and mindsets to create many rebellions and rebel groups throughout history. This comes with the major, intended effect of breeding contempt for the Lord Ruler and the nobility. He guides the Keepers in preserving the old world’s information, and is responsible for the existence of better technology in the lesser controlled Dominances. He whispers to the kandra's mind to breed complacency, while simultaneously grooming multiple kandra into desiring that their society changes.
I desperately intend to expand upon Ruin’s precognitive abilities. It doesn’t feel right downplaying Ruin’s future sight when the only WoB we have about it came from 2012, way before Sanderson truly incorporated precognition into the Cosmere. Not only that but the Mistborn trilogy was written before he solidified Cosmere-wide mechanics. I think that once a Mistborn adaptation comes out, we will truly see his abilities in action.
AU Ruin’s future sight would still be inferior to Preservation. It feels slightly wrong LMAO, but it’s necessary for the ending. But it’s far better than Elend’s future vision and Odium’s future sight.
Any advice or Cosmere relevant insight?
I’ve only read the Mistborn trilogy trilogy, Elantris, and Emperor’s Soul.
