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|[[Kalami]] describing a Desolation{{book ref|sa3|2}}
}}
The '''Desolations''' are cataclysmic events on [[Roshar]] involving the
== Participants ==
:''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 Radiant]]. 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}} In between Desolations, the Heralds were the ones on [[Braize]] holding back the [[Fused]]. They had made the [[Oathpact]] with Honor which gave them the [[honorblade]]s and the ability to hold back the Fused. However, a loophole in the Oathpact allowed them to bend and temporarily allow the Fused to [[Roshar]], leading them to getting captured and tortured on Braize.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
=== Knights Radiant ===
}}
The Knights Radiant were originally a surprise to Honor, as he had not shown it to the Heralds. [[Spren]] decided to mimic the Heralds and give 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 [[
=== Voidbringers ===
:''Main article:'' [[Voidbringer]]s
== History ==
=== The First Desolation ===
The first Desolation occurred when mankind invaded [[Roshar]]. Humans had destroyed [[Ashyn|their previous home]] with
=== 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
=== Historical Desolations ===
{{image|Chasmfiend old.jpg|side=right|width=200px|An in-world artist's depiction of a Desolation by [[Greg Call]]}}
The coming of a Desolation was announced by the appearance of the Ten
=== Between Desolations ===
{{quote
|In the aftermath of each one, mankind was broken. Great cities in ashes, industry smashed. Each time, knowledge and growth were reduced to an almost prehistoric state.
|[[Jasnah Kholin]], on the after-effects of Desolations {{book ref|sa2|6}}
}}
Humankind was devastated in the aftermath of each desolation. Casualties were generally severe; in one desolation, ninety percent of the population of [[Nohadon]]'s kingdom died. This mass death lead to the fall of many nations, with some—such as [[Sur]], [[Eiliz]], and [[Tarma]]—wiped out so thoroughly that they disappeared from history altogether.{{book ref|sa1|60}} 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 was the duty of the [[Knights Radiant]] to stay vigilant and prepare themselves and mankind for Desolations, and to fight the
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 Heralds left their
=== The False Desolation ===
}}
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 [[
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 Connecting with the singers and providing them with Voidlight.{{epigraph ref|sa3|78}} This plan would require [[Melishi]], the only [[Bondsmith]] of his generation,{{epigraph ref|sa3|67}} and a special prison, likely a [[perfect gemstone]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} Although Melishi was confident the plan would succeed in destroying the Voidbringers, [[Naze-daughter-Kuzodo]] warned of unintended side effects.{{epigraph ref|sa3|81}} Although the plan seems to have succeeded, as Ba-Ado-Mishram has not been seen in modern times unlike other Unmade,{{epigraph ref|sa3|107}} Naze-daughter-Kuzodo's warning was correct. Because
=== The True Desolation ===
:''Main article:'' [[True Desolation]]
The True Desolation began approximately two thousand years after the False Desolation, when Talenel appears at the gates of [[Kholinar]], after returning to Roshar from Braize.{{book ref|wok|epilogue}} Not all that long after, at the [[Battle of Narak]], Stormform [[
== Warfare ==
{{quote
|All this time we’ve been assuming that we lost great technology in the Desolations, but it seems we are far, far more advanced than the ancients ever were.
|[[Jasnah Kholin]] about fabrials{{book ref|sa3|96}}
}}
During the ancient Desolations, mankind did not have access to the modern [[fabrial]]s and fabrial knowledge that is currently known on [[Roshar]]. The only fabrials they had access to were ancient fabrials.{{book ref|sa3|96}} These fabrials seem to work through a mutual agreement with a sentient spren rather than trapping a spren in a gemstone. The vast majority of fabrials seem to replicate
=== Technology ===
|[[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
== Culture ==
|[[Dalinar]]'s thoughts{{book ref|wok|19}}
}}
According to [[Vorinism]], mankind fought the
== Notes ==
|