Editing Arsteel

|died=Duel with [[Vasher]]{{wob ref|6806}}

|first appeared=[[Warbreaker]]

'''Arsteel''' is a [[Returned]] and one of the [[Five Scholars]] on [[Nalthis]].{{book ref|wb|Epilogue}} He is the brother of [[Yesteel]]. After his death he was made into a Lifeless named Clod.{{wob ref|6806}}

== Attributes and Abilities ==

{{quote

|Arsteel was a brilliant duelist-- almost as good as Denth. Vasher's never been able to beat either of them.

|[[Jewels]] about Arsteel{{book ref|wb|19}}

}}

As a [[Returned]], Arsteel can have the Fifth Heightening whenever he desires, and all the effects that implies, such as agelessness.{{book ref|wb|prologue}}{{book ref|wb|part=ars}}

As one of the Five Scholars, Arsteel is extremely knowledgable about [[Awakening]]. It is likely he knows how to manipulate his appearance using his divine breath because as a [[lifeless]] (and likely before dying) he has the body of a normal man, and not a [[Returned]].{{book ref|wb|19}}

Arsteel is an incredibly skilled swordsman.{{book ref|wb|19}} Since Lifeless retain some of the skills they had in life, Clod is a significantly more skilled swordfighter than other Lifeless.{{wob ref|6806}} Additionally, as a result of the Breaths Vasher gave Arsteel right before killing him, Clod is more self-aware than most Lifeless.{{wob ref|4635}}

=== Returned and Manywar ===

Arsteel was born on Nalthis, very little is known about his life during this time, it is known however that he had a brother, who would return as [[Yesteel]]. He eventually died and Returned. Like other [[Returned]], he cannot remember anything of his life from before his Return. After he Returned, the Cult of the Returned gave him an unknown name and kept him alive by giving him Breath.{{cite}}

He formed the Five Scholars, along with the other Returned [[Denth]], [[Talaxin]], [[Shashara]], and [[Yesteel]]. During this time he probably studied awakening and gained an understanding of its mechanics.{{cite}}

After the [[Manywar]] began Arsteel and his brother Yesteel joined the Pahn Unity and began aiding them using their knowledge of awakening.{{book ref|wb|32}}

=== Denth’s Crew and Yarn Dred ===

Three hundred years later Arsteel joined [[Denth's crew]] in the hopes of bringing [[Denth]] around and orchestrating a reconciliation between him and [[Vasher]].{{wob ref|6806}}

Though Arsteel was the better swordsman, he was killed in a duel with Vasher several months before the events of the [[Pahn Kahl rebellion]] in Yarn Dred.{{book ref|wb|19}} Arsteel never intended to kill Vasher, instead wanting to beat some sense into him, Vasher misinterpreted him however. Vasher defeated him by suddenly giving him a large quantity of [[Breath]]. The arrival of that Breath sent Arsteel into a brief moment of deep pleasure, which distracted him long enough for Vasher to kill him.{{wob ref|7469}}

After a time he was found by Denth. Denth, still interested in awakening, wondered how a [[Returned]] would make as a [[lifeless]]. They took the body to an awakener and paid to have Arsteel awakened. After this he received the name “Clod”. Denth gave [[Jewels]] the task to care for Clod.{{wob ref|5838}}

=== As Clod ===

When during an unsuccessful meeting with some Idrian slumlords, the city watch attacked, Clod intervened as he had been Commanded to.{{book ref|wb|31}} He found [[Vivenna]] in an alleyway and fought and killed four lifeless.{{book ref|wb|31}} Though he was wounded, his nature as Lifeless allowed for Jewels to repair him.{{book ref|wb|33}} After his muscles were sufficiently functional for him to sit up, he attempted to do so, forcing Jewels to Command him to go inactive.{{book ref|wb|33}} In her fear for his life, she slipped up, allowing Vivenna to hear the Command phrase: "Howl of the sun."

After Vivenna escaped from Vasher, she ran into Denth, Tonk Fah, Jewels, and Clod. Upon seeing the corpses of [[Parlin]] and Tonk Fah's various pets she realized the group's true nature and, in a desperate bid to escape, Commanded Clod to attack Denth, which allowed her to run away in the confusion.{{book ref|wb|35}}

[[Jewels]] originally joined [[Denth]]'s team to be near Arsteel, with whom she was in love.{{wob ref|6806}} His death 'unhinged' her a little, and after they turned Arsteel's corpse into a [[Lifeless]], she took over his care and still regularly talked to him, occasionally going so far as to sleep with the Lifeless.{{wob ref|6806}}

Arsteel and Denth are friends, despite fighting on different sides during the manywar. Arsteel joined Denth's team because he wanted to try to redeem Denth. He felt that a reconciliation between Denth and [[Vasher]] was possible, and as a peacemaker, he thought he might be able to make it happen.{{wob ref|6806}}

===Vasher===

Arsteel wants to reconcile Denth and Vasher. Arsteel fights Vasher in [[Yarn Dred]] to beat some sense into him, though he was not necessarily right. This went wrong however, as Vasher killed Arsteel.{{book ref|wb|19}}

* Brandon has said that the reason Vasher dueled and killed Arsteel might be covered in the [[Nightblood (book)|Warbreaker sequel]].{{wob ref|6806}}

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