Editing Vedel

{{character
|image=Vedel Endpage.jpg
|abilities={{tag+|Cognitive Shadow}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}} <small>(formerly)</small>
|titles={{tag+|herald}}, Patron of the [[Order of Edgedancers|Edgedancers]]
|aliases= Vedeledev, Vev
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''Vedel''', also known as '''Vedeledev''' in [[Vorinism]], is one of the ten [[Herald]]s of the [[Almighty]] on [[Roshar]], and the patron Herald of the [[Order of Edgedancers]].{{book ref|sa3|part=ars}} Like the other Heralds, Vedel protected mankind during the Cycle of [[Desolation]]s before abandoning them at [[Aharietiam]].{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}

== Appearance and History ==
{{image|Vedel.jpg|Vedel's chapter icon|side=left|width=150px}}

Vedel would appear as [[Alethi]] to modern Rosharans.{{wob ref|11325}} She was born on [[Ashyn]] and made the trip to Roshar during the [[Expulsion]].{{wob ref|11945}} Like all Heralds other than Taln, she was someone important in the pre-[[Desolation]]s society -- a queen, scholar, or general. Along with the others, she approached [[Honor]] and formed the [[Oathpact]]. Whenever a Desolation ended, she'd travel along with them to [[Braize]], when she suffered torture until one of them broke. She was the one to do it at least once, starting a new Desolation.{{book ref|sa3|38}} 

While on Roshar, she would train surgeons in anticipation of the incoming Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} Once the [[Knights Radiant]] formed, she admitted patronage of the [[Order of Edgedancers]]. At the time of the [[Last Desolation]], Vedel decided with the other Heralds to give up the Oathpact and leave [[Taln]] alone on Braize.{{book ref|sa3|38}} It is not known where she went or what she's been doing during the [[Era of Solitude]].

== Attributes and Abilities ==
{{for|Herald#Abilities|more information about Heralds' powers}}

Vedel is a [[Herald]], making her a [[Cognitive Shadow]] and thus immortal. She doesn't age while on Roshar, and once dead, she can return to it from [[Braize]].{{wob ref|8942}}{{book ref|sa3|38}} Until [[Aharietiam]], she wielded a [[Honorblade]], which gave her access to the [[Surge]]s of [[Abrasion]] and [[Progression]], and likely meant she was a capable swordswoman.

She might've been a doctor of some stripe before she became a Herald, as she has vast medical knowledge, and would train new surgeons before a Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|1|7}} It's likely that a lot of the Heralds' teachings regarding medicine -- such as the mandate to always wash their hands before an operation -- came from her.{{book ref|sa1|10}}

== Culture ==
Like all the Heralds, Vedel's name has become part of culture. In [[Vorinism]], she is called '''Vedeledev''', and swearing by Vedeledev's golden keys is used to express astonishment.{{book ref|sa1|7}} "Vedeledev knows" is also used.{{book ref|sa2|67}} The name is sometimes shortened to '''Vev''' -- this is used both as an expression of its own, and as the Vorin number 4.{{book ref|sa3|68}} Names [[Vedelliar]] and [[Vevidar]] are probably derived from Vedel.

Within the context of the [[Ten Essences]], Vedel is traditionally associated with the Loving and Healing Divine Attributes, the [[Polestone|gemstone]] diamond, and the Essence of lucentia.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}

The golden keys that people swear by and that are present in some artwork of her{{file ref|Vedel Endpage.jpg|Vedel Endpage}} are derived from a Rosharan myth; though they have really existed, they are more symbolic than actually imbued with any power.{{wob ref|3247}} What the myth is about is undetermined.

== Trivia ==
* Three of the [[Death Rattle]] epigraphs in ''[[The Way of Kings]]'' are from the month of vev, one in 1172{{epigraph ref|sa1|6}} and two in 1173.{{epigraph ref|sa1|52}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|53}}
* Vedel is featured as one of the ''[[Oathbringer]]'' endpapers.{{file ref|Vedel Endpage.jpg|Vedel Endpage}}
* Brandon has compared the golden keys to the Biblical flaming sword that's said to protect the passage to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden.{{wob ref|3247}} It's uncertain whether the two serve similar purpose, or if they're both simply mythological artifacts.

== Notes ==
<references><!-- chapters:
sa1: 7
sa2: 67, I-7
sa3: 47, 71

vev as date: sa1 6, 52, 53
vev: sa3 68
-->
</references>
{{complete}}
{{Stormlight}}