Editing Jezrien

{{character
|image=Jezrien Endpage.jpg
|merge-family=y
|children=[[Shalash]]{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{wob ref|10414}}
|died={{Rosharan date|1174|2|7|5}}{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|93}}
|abilities={{tag+|Cognitive Shadow}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}} <small>(formerly)</small>
|titles={{tag+|herald}}, Herald of Kings, Father of Storms, Kadasix of Kings, Prime Kadasix, Patron of the [[Windrunners]]
|aliases=Jezerezeh, Yaezir, Ahu, Yaysi, [[Stormfather]]
|world=Ashyn
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[The Way of Kings]]
}}
{{exemplary|date=2022-05-22}}
{{quote
|We chose this burden willingly. Well, we can choose to drop it if we wish.
|Jezrien on the Oathpact{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
}}
'''Jezrien''', also known as '''Jezerezeh'Elin''', '''Yaezir''' and '''Yaysi''', is one of the ten [[Herald]]s of [[the Almighty]]{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} and the Patron of the [[Order of Windrunners]].{{book ref|sa3|64}} Jezrien fights in multiple [[Desolation]]s, defending mankind from the [[Voidbringer]]s and returning to [[Damnation]] between Desolations to be tortured.{{book ref|sa3|38}} After centuries of combat, Jezrien abandons the [[Oathpact]] with eight of the other Heralds, pretending the Voidbringers had been defeated once and for all.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He goes into hiding, gradually losing his mind,{{book ref|sa3|39}} while the rest of the world revere his memory and he becomes a figure of legend over the following millennia.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Jezrien by Shuravf.jpg|side=left|width=250px}}
=== Appearance ===
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Jezrien has dark eyes{{book ref|sa3|42}} and black hair.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}  He is tall and appears almost [[Alethi]], although his skin is a little darker than a typical Alethi man and his features are slightly off.{{book ref|sa3|42}} As a [[Herald]], Jezrien appears to be about thirty years old and wore a short, neatly-trimmed black beard.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He stands confidently{{book ref|sa3|42}} with a royal bearing.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He often wears fine white and blue clothing,{{book ref|sa3|42}} although it is oftentimes stained and charred by battle.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He speaks with a deep, calm voice that has a regal sound to it.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}

After he abandoned the [[Oathpact]] and started living as a beggar, Jezrien's beard grew long and scraggly,{{book ref|sa3|88}} streaked with black and gray.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} His hair became matted and filthy and he smelled like garbage.{{book ref|sa3|88}} Jezrien's clothes are reduced to ragged scraps. His words are often slurred or believed to be gibberish.{{book ref|sa3|88}}{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

=== Personality ===
{{quote
|Better that one man should suffer than ten.
|Jezrien's response to Taln's abandonment{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
}}

Jezrien is widely believed to have been one of the best men to have ever lived. Upon joining the Oathpact, he was an honorable and true man.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} Jezrien's specialty was leadership; he was a great instructor on the guidance of men.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} He is a man willing to admit his mistakes and make common cause with those that had been his enemies.{{book ref|sa4|47}} After centuries of torture, Jezrien became damaged by anguish and grief.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He was afraid to return to [[Braize]] and face the torments of the [[Voidbringer]]s again. This led Jezrien to make the choice to abandon the Oathpact and leave [[Taln]] alone on Braize. He had even reached such a point that he was willing to lie to the surviving humans that he and the other Heralds had achieved final victory. He seemed distraught by his own cowardice at the ending of the [[Oathpact]] and ashamed of leaving Taln to suffer.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}

In the millennia that followed, he succumbed to insanity.{{book ref|sa3|39}} By the [[Era of Solitude]], Jezrien's once sharp mind had been dulled thoroughly.{{book ref|sa3|88}}{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} He spoke nonsensically and without any clear meaning behind his words.{{book ref|sa3|88}} He seemed to have some semblance of lucidity, referencing the various [[Unmade]], but it is uncertain how much awareness he had. He appeared to speak gibberish at times, but it is possible that he is speaking in an ancient language, such as the [[Dawnchant]].

== Attributes and Abilities ==
{{image|Jezrien by Esther Schrader.jpg|side=right|width=250px}}
{{quote
|The Heralds glow like the sun, wield the Honorblades, and speak with the voices of a thousand trumpets. They could cast down buildings with a command, force the storms to obey, and heal with a touch.
|[[Shallan Davar]]'s thoughts on the Heralds{{book ref|sa2|63}}
}}

=== Herald of Kings ===
As Jezrien served as the Herald of Kings, it is likely Jezrien was one of the best leaders and instructors of leadership that has ever lived; he trained mankind's leaders upon his return before each [[Desolation]].{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} As one of the Heralds of [[the Almighty]], it is nearly impossible to truly kill Jezrien. In truth, the Jezrien that exists now is a [[Cognitive Shadow]].{{wob ref|1537}} Before breaking the [[Oathpact]], upon his death he was returned to Damnation to be tortured,{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} with his immortal body being constantly restored.{{wob ref|10880}} Judging by the abilities of the other Heralds, he possesses superhuman reflexes{{book ref|sa2|88}} and strength.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} Even after abandoning the Oathpact, Jezrien remains ageless, and appears as youthful as the day he became a Herald.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} His immortality is not impregnable, however. Jezrien was sealed away by [[Vyre's knife]] into a gemstone.{{book ref|sa3|121}} According to [[Kalak]], once Jezrien was sealed, his [[Connection]] to the other Heralds was severed;{{epigraph ref|sa4|79}} as a result, his soul decomposed into an ordinary soul with no valid Connection to the Spiritual or [[Physical Realm]]s.{{epigraph ref|sa4|92}} Over the weeks he faded into the [[Beyond]], at last truly dying.{{epigraph ref|sa4|93}}

=== Shardwielding and Surgebinding ===
As a Herald, Jezrien possessed an [[Honorblade]], a variety of [[Shardblade]]s given to him by the [[Shard]] [[Honor]].{{book ref|sa3|16}} This Honorblade is able to cut through any material, stone, steel, or even living things effortlessly.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} This allowed Jezrien to be a formidable foe on the battlefield, particularly against [[thunderclast]]s, as his Blade can cut their stone bodies with ease.{{book ref|sa3|120}} As he had spent an enormous amount of time using the Honorblade in the fight against the [[Voidbringer]]s, Jezrien is very experienced in using his Blade and his skill at dueling can only be matched by the other Heralds.{{book ref|sa4|111}} Unlike most Shardblades, this Honorblade also granted Jezrien access to the [[Surge]]s of [[Adhesion]] and [[Gravitation]].{{book ref|sa3|16}} As he was not sworn to a [[spren]], he was able to do with his Blade what he liked, without regard for any oaths.{{book ref|sa2|87}} However, the fact that his powers were not granted by a [[Nahel bond]] prevented him from having squires.{{wob ref|3958}} Jezrien also had no need for [[Stormlight]], as his [[Surgebinding]] was powered directly by Honor.{{wob ref|1572}} It is unknown how this would have been impacted by Honor's death. Since giving up his Honorblade when he gave up the Oathpact, Jezrien is unable to Surgebind.

== History ==
{{image|Aharietiam by Micah Epstein.jpg|side=left|width=350px|Jezrien abandoning the [[Oathpact]]}}
=== Herald of the Almighty ===
{{quote|Do not consider it an honor. A duty, yes, but not an honor.
|Jezrien to [[Nale]] on joining the [[Oathpact]]{{book ref|sa4|47}}
}}
Jezrien was likely born on [[Ashyn]].{{wob ref|11945}} At some point in the past Jezrien ruled as a king.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} It is unknown if Jezrien was ever married but had at least one child, [[Shalash]].{{wob ref|10414}}{{book ref|sa3|121}} He and [[Nale]] spent some time on opposite sides of a conflict, but Jezrien ultimately came to the conclusion that he had been in the wrong. After mankind began to lose its fight against [[Odium]]'s immortal [[Fused]], Jezrien and [[Ishar]] formed a plan to counter this threat.{{book ref|sa4|47}} Jezrien invited Nale to join them, believing that Nale's honor was above reproach. Jezrien and nine companions asked [[Honor]] for the ability to seal the [[Voidbringer]]s on [[Braize]].{{book ref|sa3|38}} Honor agreed, the [[Oathpact]] was founded, and Jezrien and his nine companions became [[Heralds]] of the Almighty and were given their [[Honorblade]]s. Jezrien was tortured with the rest of the Heralds between every [[Desolation]] until one of them broke. When that happened, Jezrien and the other Heralds returned to Roshar to guide mankind in the fight against the Voidbringers. Jezrien would aid their leaders in learning how to effectively guide their peoples.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} When the [[spren]] began to bond with humans to grant them [[Surgebinding]], Jezrien became the Patron of the [[Windrunners]], the Order of the [[Knights Radiant]] that bore the same powers as Jezrien.{{book ref|sa3|64}}

{{image|Mad Herald by Xabi Gazte.jpg|side=right|width=200px|[[Moash]] killing Jezrien}}

=== Aharietiam ===
{{quote
|I will lead the charge for the Tranquiline Halls. You will not see me again, but think not on that now! You have won your peace. Revel in it! Rebuild. Go now, help your fellows. Carry with you the light of your Herald king’s words. We are victorious, at long last, over evil!
|Jezrien to the survivors of [[Aharietiam]]{{book ref|sa3|42}}
}}

Many [[Desolation]]s after the beginning of the Oathpact, Jezrien and the other [[Herald]]s save for [[Talenel]], who had died, decided that they could no longer withstand the torture they faced in between Desolations.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} They agreed to abandon their oaths, leaving Taln alone in Damnation. Jezrien was chosen by the rest to wait and see if [[Kalak]] had survived and to pass on word to him of their decision. After explaining their decision to Kalak, Jezrien summoned his Honorblade and left it stuck point-first into the ground, before heading off by himself.

=== Era of Solitude and the True Desolation ===
{{quote
|Praise Yaezir, Herald of Kings. May he lead in wisdom. If he ever stops drooling.
|[[Nale]]'s mention of Jezrien to the viziers of [[Azir]]{{book ref|sa2|I|9}}
}}

Following the abandonment of his Blade, Jezrien spread the word of their victory to the survivors of the [[Last Desolation]].{{book ref|sa3|38}} While Jezrien was never killed and returned to Damnation after Aharietiam, avoiding death for four and a half millennia,{{book ref|sa3|38}} he seems to have succumbed to the same madness plaguing the other Heralds.{{book ref|sa3|39}} Jezrien became a drunk beggar who lived in a [[Beggars' Porch]] in the [[Kholinar Palace]].{{book ref|sa3|88}} He was known as '''Ahu''' by then, and was occasionally the drinking companion of [[Highprince]] [[Dalinar Kholin]] when Dalinar was trying to drink clandestinely or could not find more alcohol.{{book ref|sa3|88}}

Jezrien attended the [[Beggar's Feast]] on the night that King [[Gavilar Kholin]] was [[assassination of Gavilar|assassinated]], speaking incoherently to [[Szeth]] before collapsing.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} 

Six years later, after the capture of [[Kholinar]] by the Voidbringers, Jezrien was stabbed by [[Moash]]{{book ref|sa3|121}} with a [[raysium]] knife.{{book ref|sa4|84}} Jezrien was initially unfazed by the wound, but quickly realized that he had been mortally wounded, screaming and dying quite suddenly,{{book ref|sa3|121}} his soul transferred into the gem.{{book ref|sa4|84}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|80}} At the moment of Jezrien's sealing, his [[Connection]] with the other Heralds was broken{{epigraph ref|sa4|79}} and caused them to feel a painful tearing sensation and they all knew that he was dead.{{book ref|sa3|121}} While the Fused were initially successful in trapping Jezrien's soul, their plan ultimately failed. With the Oathpact severed and Honor [[Splinter]]ed, Jezrien's soul could not exist long without his body.{{epigraph ref|sa4|93}} Within weeks his mind had faded and he was truly gone, destroying the Oathpact in the process.{{epigraph ref|sa4|92}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|93}}{{wob ref|15006}}

== Culture == 
{{image|Jezrien.jpg|width=200px|side=right|Jezrien's chapter icon}}
{{quote
|You call him the Stormfather, here in Alethkar, or Jezerezeh'Elin. He was king of the Heralds. Master of the storms, bringer of water and life, known for his fury and his temper, but also for his mercy.
|Sigzil on Jezrien{{book ref|sa1|55}}
}}
Over the millennia that have passed since [[Aharietiam]] Jezrien has become mythologized across [[Roshar]]. He is known as one of the greatest humans to have ever lived.{{book ref|sa3|121}} In the Vorin kingdoms of the east, Jezrien has been conflated with the concept of the [[Stormfather]], so many believe them to be one and the same. He has come to be known as '''Jezerezeh'Elin,''' the '''Herald of Kings''', and men swear by his name{{book ref|sa1|23}}{{book ref|sa1|52}} and burn [[glyphwards]] in prayer to him.{{book ref|sa1|62}} He is associated with the number Jes, the essence Zephyr, the gemstone sapphire, and the divine attributes Protecting and Leading.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} He is commonly depicted in art and sculpture with the other nine [[Herald]]s.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} In some cases, when a serious crime is committed, men may be strung out during a highstorm to be judged by Jezrien. If they survive, they were innocent, although men typically do not survive the [[highstorm]].{{book ref|sa1|34}} [[Vorin]] people who have interacted more directly with the Stormfather have come to realize that the two are not one and the same.{{book ref|sa2|74}}

{{quote
|[The Emuli] worship Jezrien, though they don’t accept him as a figure from the Vorin religion. They name him the only god.
|[[Teft]] about [[Emul]]{{book ref|sa1|55}}
}}
In [[Emul]], Jezrien is worshipped as their only god, possibly under the name '''Prime Kadasix'''.{{book ref|sa1|55}}{{book ref|sa1|i|7}} They hold that he named their kingdom as well as its capital, [[Sesemalex Dar]].{{book ref|sa1|55}} 

In [[Azir]] and the other [[Makabak]]i kingdoms, Jezrien is known as '''Yaezir, Kadasix of Kings'''.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} They believe that each new [[Prime Aqasix]] is chosen by the will of Yaezir, and that he will guide them in their search for the person he has already ordained to be the Prime.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} 

The [[Iri]]ali and [[Rira (country)|Rirans]] also revere Jezrien on some level, calling him '''Yaysi'''.{{book ref|sa3|26}}

== Trivia ==
* Jezrien's portrait used in the chapter arches is called the King by the [[Dragonsteel Entertainment]] staff.{{wob ref|14097}}
* There is a winehouse in Urithiru named [[Jez's Duty]] after Jezrien.{{book ref|sa4|12}}

== Notes ==
<references />
{{complete|[[User:Chaos2651|Chaos2651]] ([[User talk:Chaos2651|talk]]) 07:42, 17 March 2022 (UTC)}}
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[[es:Jezrien]]