Herdaz

Herdaz
by User: Otto didact
Ethnicity	Herdazian
Ruled by	King of Herdaz
World	Roshar
Universe	Cosmere

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Herdaz is a kingdom in north-eastern Roshar. The people from Herdaz are called Herdazians, and can be found in many surrounding countries.

Geography

Herdaz is a coastal nation in the north-east of Roshar, covering approximately one million square kilometres of land. Most of its jagged coastline lies on the Reshi Sea, while a small part of it faces Steamwater Ocean and the Bay of Elibath. From the south, Herdaz borders Jah Keved on two rivers and Alethkar on land. Across the sea, it is close to a number of Reshi Isles.

Most of the country is a series of long and narrow peninsulas jutting out into the sea, and a single larger one separating the island of Akak from the rest of the Reshi archipelago. The Herdazian interior appears to be rather flat, with a single major river dividing the western and eastern halves of the country, and a number of smaller, shorter coastal rivers. Though there are cities there, none of them are of global importance.

History

“ Herdaz? My aides say it is the traditional first step for an Alethi aggression. ”

— Taravangian

During the Silver Kingdoms era, Herdaz was part of the kingdom of Rishir, which additionally encompassed modern Reshi Isles as well as nothern Jah Keved, Alethkar and Tu Bayla. At some point, the people living in this particular region of Rishir intermingled with singers, leading to modern Herdazians having singer ancestry and some of their physical features. It's uncertain when Herdaz became its own country.

Herdaz has a long history of conflict with the Alethi. It was one of the first conquests of the warlord Sadees, though like many others, it did not remain within his sons' grasp after his death. Much later, following Gavilar Kholin's unification of Alethkar, a change of dynasties occured in Herdaz, and the new monarch began threatening the Alethi borders in an attempt to test them. The Alethi responded by sending armies led by the king's brother, Dalinar Kholin, who spent about four years campaigning in the borderlands, shaping the modern Alethkar-Herdaz border.

Prior to the True Desolation, it seems the country wasn't doing very well, as numerous Herdazians elected to leave their country, with some only coming back from time to time while others never returned. However, the country appears to have weathered the Everstorm without much destruction, as the Voidbringers focused on bringing down their neighboring countries.

Following the fall of Alethkar, a number of Alethi forces withdrew to Herdaz in an attempt to mount an organized resistance, among them forces led by Sheler and Relis Ruthar. While most refugees have been folded under the command of an unnamed Herdazian general, at some points the cooperation between the two countries was heated, as brightlord Sheler was captured and put up for execution after assaulting the local women.

Politics and Culture

By botanicaxu Lopen with a sparkflicker

Herdaz is ruled by an unnamed king from a new dynasty that has only come into power sometime before the year 1150. Little is known about him and his family, other than that he has no daughers. The kingdom has a single set of Shardblade and Shardplate that are passed down through the royal line.

Herdazians are one of several races on Roshar with singer blood in their ancestry, though it's not quite as apparent as it is among the Unkalaki. The most visible sign of their heritage are their crystalline, slate-colored fingernails, which are strong enough to start a fire with a proper tool. Apart from that, they have a higher tendency to be asexual than other races without singer ancestors.

Many Alethi stereotype Herdazians as wearing sparkflickers and being boastful. They are mentioned as looking very similar to one another, to the point where they often cannot be told apart, at least by foreigners. Majority of them seem to be Vorin, though they practice their own variety of the faith, one that permits men to write.

There are almost as many Herdazians in Jah Keved and Alethkar as there are in Herdaz. When a large group of them comes together, they often form their own districts, such as Little Herdaz in highprince Sebarial's warcamp on the Shattered Plains. They bring their culture with them wherever they go - among others, chouta is a Herdazian street food that gained much popularity in the warcamps.

Notable Herdazians

For more Herdazians, see :Category: Herdazians.

• Lopen, the cheerful, one-armed member of Bridge Four and a second-Oath Windrunner.
• Lopen's multiple cousins, including Punio, Rod and Huio.
• Kabsal might be Herdazian, as he has the accent.
• An illiterate Herdazian who gives Taravangian's doctors a death rattle.
• Havarah, Dalinar's bridgelord, is part-Herdazian.
• Palona, Sebarial's mistress.
• The Herdazian general in charge of defending the country from the Voidbringers.

Trivia

• Herdaz's size is roughly similar to that of Colombia, or about half of Greenland.

Notes

This article is still missing information. Please help The Coppermind by expanding it.