Order of Truthwatchers

The Coppermind has spoilers for all of Brandon's published works, now including The Sunlit Man. Information about books that have not yet been released, like Stormlight 5, is allowed only on meta-pages for the books themselves. For more details, see our spoiler policy. To view an earlier version of the wiki without spoilers for a book, go to the Time Machine!

This page or section needs to be updated with new information for Oathbringer and Rhythm of War!
Be aware that in its current state, it may not include all additional content yet.
Order of Truthwatchers
Truthwatchers glyph.svg
Progression
Illumination
Herald Pailiah
Spren Mistspren
Surges Progression & Illumination
Plate spren Unknown
World of Origin Roshar
Universe Cosmere

The Order of Truthwatchers is an order of the Knights Radiant on Roshar.[1]

The Truthwatchers are Surgebinders who used the Surges of Illumination and Progression, and they are associated with the emerald polestone. They form a Nahel bond with mistspren.

PhilosophyEdit

Those who join the Truthwatchers generally subscribe to a philosophy of finding the ultimate truth and sharing it.[2] The order is concerned with the fundamental truths of the universe, and whether or not those in power are being truthful with the people they lead.[3][4] A small percentage of Truthwatchers are greatly concerned with the actions of the powerful and might be likened to investigative reporters.[2] The order will make their opinions known loudly and forcefully, particularly if they think someone in power is abusing that power or lying about fundamental truths. They tend to attract scientists, scholars, or thinkers of all types.

Divine attributes of the Truthwatchers are Learned and Giving.

Ideals of the TruthwatchersEdit

The Ideals of the Knights Radiant, also known as the Immortal Words, are a set of rules by which the Radiants live. The First Ideal is shared by all of the orders, and is used as a motto for the Knights Radiant as a whole. Each of the orders then have an additional four Ideals that are unique to that order.[5] The Ideals of the Order of Truthwatchers all focus on seeking and sharing truth, as well as making sure it is not improperly exploited. However, unlike the Lightweavers, who pursue personal truths, the Truthwatchers are concerned more with uncovering the greater secrets of the universe.[2]

The First IdealEdit

Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination.

—The First Ideal of the Knights Radiant[5]

The Second IdealEdit

The Second Ideal of the Truthwatchers is focused on seeking truth.[2]

AbilitiesEdit

The Truthwatchers use the Surges of Progression and Illumination.

ProgressionEdit

Progression can be manipulated to alter the growth and healing of organisms.[6] It is described as "The Surge of Growth and Healing, or Regrowth". This ability heals the damage done to the body and the soul of a person instantly and without any scarring.

IlluminationEdit

Illumination is used to craft illusions by weaving light, sound and various waveforms.[6] This can be used to change their appearance for disguises or other purposes, create illusions of walls and rocks to hide behind and in, and to create illusions to confuse or distract. There are some differences in how they use the Surge compared to Lightweavers.[7]

EnlightenedEdit

Truthwatchers who have had their mistspren Enlightened by Sja-anat have different abilities from standard Truthwatchers. Progression remains normal, still allowing the healing of themselves and others.[8][9] Where standard Truthwatchers can use Illumination to create illusions, Enlightened ones can only summon lights, which can sometimes act in strange and unnatural ways.[10] Deeper connection to Rhythms can alter the Truthwatcher's abilities slightly.[11] An Enlightened Truthwatcher will have different oaths from a standard one.[12]

Future Sight

This bond also allows the Radiant to see the visions of past and future events.[13][14] Renarin stated that this is because Truthwatchers are unique because "they see".[15] Visions are shown through dark glass and show possible outcomes, but are not always accurate.[16][17] Other people are not able to see this glass.[16] They do not come specifically from Odium, but since their powers come from him it is possible that his desires influence what the visions will show.[16] This also has the added benefit of causing others who see the future to see the Truthwatcher and those close to them as a black spot, as those who see the future cause a conflict in Fortune.[18][19][20] The ability to see the future is related to the Voidbinding chart,[21] though the precise relationship between the powers and Voidbinding remains unclear.[22]

HistoryEdit

The ancient Truthwatchers were often scientists, scholars and thinkers; this led to them being perceived as quiet and rather esoteric in their pursuits. They tended to be reserved, though a group of them was always dedicated to monitoring the actions of the people in power on Roshar, and making their opinions on said actions heard far and wide if necessary. They particularly concerned themselves with abuse of power, as well as finding out the truth, though what constituted "truth" was a subject of some debate.[2]

Truthwatchers would often engage in enthusiastic discussions on the topic of philosophy, particularly concerning the truth, even if many such conversations would take place only in writing. They were also interested in the more obscure crafts and sciences, such as new fabrials or technologies.[2]

Modern Truthwatchers are few and far between, scattered around the world rather than united.

Notable TruthwatchersEdit

QuotesEdit

Now, as the Truthwatchers were esoteric in nature, their order being formed entirely of those who never spoke or wrote of what they did, in this lies frustration for those who would see their exceeding secrecy from the outside; they were not naturally inclined to explanation; and in the case of Corberon's disagreements, their silence was not a sign of exceeding abundance of disdain, but rather an exceeding abundance of tact.

NotesEdit

  1. Words of Radiance chapter 52 epigraph#
  2. a b c d e f The Ten Orders of Knights Radiant
    Arcanum - 2020-06-09#
  3. Oathbringer Chicago signing
    Arcanum - 2017-11-21#
  4. #SayTheWords
    Arcanum - 2024-01-24#
  5. a b The Way of Kings chapter 59#
  6. a b Words of Radiance Ars Arcanum#
  7. Rhythm of War chapter 26#
  8. Rhythm of War chapter 50#
  9. Oathbringer chapter 15#
  10. Rhythm of War chapter 6#
  11. General Reddit 2020
    Arcanum - 2020-11-22#
  12. Skyward Seattle signing
    Arcanum - 2018-11-10#
  13. Words of Radiance chapter 85#
  14. Oathbringer chapter 117#
  15. Words of Radiance chapter 89#
  16. a b c Rhythm of War chapter 54#
  17. Oathbringer chapter 118#
  18. Rhythm of War interlude I-6#
  19. Skyward Seattle signing
    Arcanum - 2018-11-10#
  20. Skyward Seattle signing
    Arcanum - 2018-11-10#
  21. Oathbringer Chicago signing
    Arcanum - 2017-11-21#
  22. JordanCon 2018
    Arcanum - 2018-04-22#
  23. Arcanum Unbounded signing Hoboken
    Arcanum - 2016-12-03#
  24. Words of Radiance interlude I-2#
  25. Rhythm of War chapter 24#
  26. Rhythm of War chapter 114#
  27. Words of Radiance chapter 52#
This article is still missing information. Please help The Coppermind by expanding it.