Ardent

Ardent
by botanicaxu
Related to	Vorinism
World of Origin	Roshar
Universe	Cosmere

Ardents are priests of Vorinism on Roshar. The entirety of ardents is called the ardentia.

History

Ardents were presumably around since the rise of Vorinism, but only rose to power along with the Hierocracy. During that time, their word was absolute, as they claimed the sole authority to understand and interpret the scriptures and the Almighty. They dismissed the powers of Surgebinding as trickery, and sought to bury all knowledge of Knights Radiant, but they themselves claimed to be able to know future through visions and prophecies.

The Hierocracy was eventually overthrown by the Alethi warlord Sadees, the Sunmaker, during his campaign to conquer the entirety of Roshar. Ever since then, the social status of ardents has fallen significantly. In the present day, they are considered the slaves of the lighteyes.

Duties and Rights

Slavery

Ardents are, technically, slaves to lighteyed nobles of Vorin countries, with some serving specific households while others are beholden to the national ruler. They can neither hold land nor own property - a safeguard to prevent a second Hierocracy. Though, like Parshmen, they are not paid for their work, they are highly respected even by people above them in social hierarchy. It seems one cannot be forced to become an ardent; rather, people join willingly, and can also leave if they so choose.

Spiritual Guidance

Ardents are forbidden from participating in politics or holding social offices. However, their word and opinions are still highly valued, and they hold authority in spiritual matters. The Curates, a group of ardents from the Holy Enclave in Valath, maintain the right to excommunicate members of Vorinism thanks to the Covenants of Theocracy, even after Hierocracy's fall.

Ardents are responsible for the spiritual well-beings of their masters, and often tend to various rites and rituals in their stead, so as to allow the lighteyes to go on with their lives unburdened. For the darkeyes, ardents provide advice in pursuing their Calling, as well as education - the Right to Learn means that any person who asks for it must be taught by the ardents. For this reason, most major temples have ardents specializing in most common skills, from fighting to writing. This also means that they are allowed to wield Shardblades, as they must be capable of teaching Shardwielding.

They are the only people allowed to speak Almighty's tenth name, Elithanathile, or He Who Transforms.

Soulcasting

In Alethkar, ardents are the only people allowed to use Soulcasters. They surround the practice with mystery, carrying out Soulcasting at night and under heavy guard to prevent the general public from seeing. They are, however, not allowed to use Soulcasters on people. Those among the ardentia who use Soulcasters wear red robes, and are often worked until they die of savanthood as their bodies become more and more like the things they Soulcast.

Culture

Ardents of different kinds can be recognized by the color of the long robes that are their symbol of office: regular ardents wear gray, the Curates wear blue and the soulcasters wear red. In addition, the Curates carry gem-encrusted staves as an additional symbol of status.

Many ardents have shaved heads, and men often have long beards. Both male and female ardents are considered genderless from the social standpoint: women do not need to cover their safehand, while men are allowed to learn to read and write, and both can eat both sweet and spicy foods. This being said, while they are technically allowed to purse both masculine and feminine arts, they are often pushed to follow their gender.

Ardents are separated into Devotaries, sects devoted to different aspects of Vorinism. Devotaries come in different forms: some, like the Devotary of the Mind, are monastic, sequestered away from civillization to devote themselves, while others permit their members to remain in touch with the rest of the world. This being said, ardents are generally not allowed to marry outside of their orders, though at least some orders allow them to marry each other.

Notable Ardents

For a list of all known ardents, see :Category: Ardentia.

• Kabsal - Ghostbloods member who lives in Kharbranth and attempts to assassinate Jasnah.
• Geranid - A scholar of spren who lives on a small Reshi island with her husband.
• Ashir - Geranid's husband, who studies chemistry through cooking.
• Kadash - head of the ardents under Dalinar’s household. He is a former elite solider who became an ardent after he witnessed the events at the Rift.
• Zahel - warrior ardent who teaches Adolin, Renarin and Kaladin swordmanship and how to fend off a Shardbearer.
• Ellista - scholar ardent from the Jokasha Monastery who works on deciphering Dawnchant texts.

• Notable ardents
• 

  by botanicaxu Kadash
• 

  by treefin Rushu
• 

  by treefin Ellista
• 

  by User:Exmakina Kabsal

Trivia

• In the English language, the word "ardent" is an adjective meaning eager, zealous or passionate.
• Though the word shares some similarity with arteth, the name of Shu-Dereth priests from Sel, ardents and arteths are not connected.
• Though the ardents were around in some capacity back in The Way of Kings Prime, back then they were simply called monks.

Notes

This page is probably complete!

This page contains most of the knowledge we have on the subject at this time.
It has yet to be reviewed.