Autopatrolled, Editors
8,718
edits
m (image template and formatted quotes) |
|||
(17 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown) | |||
:''Main article:'' [[Herald]]s
The [[Herald]]s were the leaders of Honor's forces during the Desolations. They were responsible for teaching mankind skills to help them prepare for the coming conflict. For example, [[Jezrien]] taught leadership, [[Vedel]] trained surgeons, and [[Kalak]] taught how to cast bronze.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} They were also each the patron of a Radiant order and helped to guide and lead the Knights. They were involved in combat, with [[Taln]] in particular becoming known for his choice of impossible battles that he won.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
=== Knights Radiant ===
{{sidequote
|They were a solution, a way to offset the destruction of the Desolations. Ten orders of knights, founded with the purpose of helping men fight, then rebuild.
|[[Dalinar's visions]]{{book ref|sa2|4
|side=left|size=375px
The Knights Radiant were originally a surprise to Honor, as he had not shown it to the Heralds. Spren decided to mimic the Heralds andgive men access to Surgebinding by forming [[Nahel bond]]s.{{book ref|sa2|4}} While the Knights Radiant as a whole helped in fighting the Voidbringers and rebuilding society, each order of Knights fulfilled a different role. The [[Windrunners]] acted as scouts, the [[Stonewards]] acted as front line soldiers,{{wob ref|12085}} and the [[Lightweavers]] gave spiritual sustenance to the troops.{{epigraph ref|sa2|47}} Many of the Radiants, particularly the Windrunners,{{book ref|sa3|61}} lived in cities in [[Alethela]] and crossed borders into other nations to fight.{{book ref|sa1|19}} The [[Shardblade]]s and [[Shardplate]] that Radiants could wield gave them a better chance when fighting the Voidbringers, particularly the [[Thunderclast]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}} The Radiants invited any with the desire and ability to fight or lead to come get training and potentially join them.{{book ref|sa1|19}}{{book ref|sa3|34}} ▼
}}
▲The Knights Radiant were originally a surprise to Honor, as he had not shown it to the Heralds. Spren decided to mimic the Heralds
=== Voidbringers ===
=== The Oathpact ===
:''Main article:'' [[Oathpact]]
Some of the singers that were killed by the invading humans were infused with power by Odium before they passed [[Beyond]]. These singers became the [[Fused]], [[Cognitive Shadow]]s that possess living singers and could not be killed.{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{wob ref|8693}} [[Ishar]] founded the [[Oathpact]] as a solution.{{book ref|sa3|64}} He and the other nine people that would become Heralds made a pact with Honor to seal the Fused on [[Braize]]. [[Taln]] was not originally meant to join the Heralds, but somehow became part of the group. The Heralds thought the Oathpact would end the endless war, but because they are human, there was a loophole. The Heralds had the ability to bend their oath and let the Fused return to Roshar, starting a Desolation. Knowing this loophole, the Fused captured and tortured the Heralds.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
=== Historical Desolations ===
The coming of a Desolation was announced by the appearance of the Ten [[Herald|Heralds]].{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}{{book ref|sa1|60}}{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} The appearance of [[Midnight Essence]] was also a sign of an upcoming Desolation.{{book ref|sa1|19}} A
=== Between Desolations ===
{{quote
Mankind was devastated in the aftermath of each desolation. Around ninety percent of the population was destroyed each time. This level of cataclysmic event pushed men to a technology level equivalent to that of the stone age. Although society would sometimes progress beyond that before the next Desolation began, the Heralds would often be forced to push technology forward thousands of years in the single year after their return.{{wob ref|1430}} It is the duty of the [[Knights Radiant]] to stay vigilant and prepare themselves and mankind for Desolations, and to fight the Voidbringers when it arrives.{{book ref|sa1|19}}▼
|[[Jasnah]]{{book ref|sa2|6}}
}}
▲Mankind was devastated in the aftermath of each desolation. Around ninety percent of the population was destroyed each time, leading to fall of many nations; many, such as [[Eiliz]] and [[Tarma]], would disappear from history altogether. This level of cataclysmic event pushed men to a technology level equivalent to that of the stone age. Although society would sometimes progress beyond that before the next Desolation began, the Heralds would often be forced to push technology forward thousands of years in the single year after their return.{{wob ref|1430}} It is the duty of the [[Knights Radiant]] to stay vigilant and prepare themselves and mankind for Desolations, and to fight the Voidbringers when it arrives.{{book ref|sa1|19}}
Between Desolations, the Heralds returned to Braize. At first, the ten men and women hid from and fought the Fused. Inevitably, they would be caught and tortured. By the nature of their bond, the Heralds were able share their pain and withstand the torture together until someone broke. Early on, the Heralds were able to withstand torture for hundreds of years between Desolations. The torture slowly broke the Heralds, however, and the gaps were decreasing to less than ten years near the end. The last gap was less than a year long, with the Heralds breaking as soon as the Fused caught and began the torture. The only Herald to never break was Taln.{{book ref|sa3|38}} The torture the Heralds endured between Desolations included hooks digging into their skin, their skin getting seared off, and their fat burning. The torture began over again every day.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
=== The Last Desolation ===
:''Main article:'' [[Last Desolation]]
At the end of what is called the [[Last Desolation]], nine of ten Heralds managed to survive the fighting, which was an unusual occurrence. Fearful of the torture they would face on their return to Braize, the Heralds chose to break the Oathpact rather than return.{{book ref|sa3|38}} Although they had been warned that lingering on Roshar would lead to another Desolation, Ishar told the others that Taln alone would be enough to maintain the Oathpact. Whether or not this was true mattered little to the Heralds as they only wished to avoid torture. The
=== The False Desolation ===
:''Main article:'' [[False Desolation]]
{{sidequote
|
|
|side=left|size=350px
}}
Unlike previous Desolations, the [[False Desolation]] did not involve the Heralds or Fused. The False Desolation began when [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]] learned how to [[Connection|Connect]] with the majority of the singers, giving them [[Regal|forms of power]] and access to [[Voidlight]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} The Radiants, unaware of how she did this, sought a way to end the fighting for good, as the Heralds had promised them.{{epigraph ref|sa3|82}} The fighting became particularly intense at this time,{{epigraph ref|sa2|41}} as the singers made a push towards [[Feverstone Keep]], possibly as part of a plan to capture [[Rall Elorim]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|84}}
Working together, the scholars among the Radiants theorized that an [[Unmade]] could be imprisoned like a regular [[spren]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} That devised a plan to trap Ba-Ado-Mishram and prevent her from
=== The True Desolation ===
:''Main article:'' [[True Desolation]]
▲When Talenel appears at the gates of [[Kholinar]], he announces the coming of the True Desolation.{{book ref|wok|epilogue}} At the [[Battle of Narak]] Stormform [[Listener|Listeners]] summon the [[Everstorm]], which appears to be referenced as the True Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|83}}
== Warfare ==
|[[Jasnah]] to [[Dalinar]]{{book ref|sa3|38}}
}}
Humanity was stuck at an extremely low level of technology during the Desolations. Most soldiers fought with bronze and leather armor.{{book ref|sa1|52}} Because of the destruction, humanity often still had stone tools and weapons when the Heralds returned. The Heralds would attempt to push humanity forward several thousand years worth of technology in the year before the Desolation, which often included learning to cast bronze. Even when humanity had learned to cast bronze already, the Heralds tried to advance technology further.{{wob ref|1430}} Other areas they attempted to push technology forward include medicine, where Vedel would teach techniques such as keeping wounds clean.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}}
== Culture ==
:''See also:'' [[Vorinism]]
{{quote
|
|
}}
According to Vorinism, mankind fought the Voidbringers during Desolations ninety and nine times, before mankind finally won and drove them back to the [[Tranquiline Halls]].{{book ref|wok|45}} That victory was later referred to as the [[Last Desolation]].
|