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{{character \|image= Eshonai portrait large.png \|parents=[[~~Eshonai's mother\|Mother~~Jaxlim]] \|siblings=[[Venli]] \|abilities=[[Regal\|Forms of Power]], {{tag+\|Shardbearer}}, {{tag+\|willshaper}}{{book ref\|sa4\|117}} \|bonded=[[Timbre]] \|died=[[Battle of Narak]]{{book ref\|sa3\|i\|3}}, {{Rosharan date\|1173\|10\|10\|3}}{{article ref\|Words of Radiance/Timeline\|Words of Radiance timeline}} \|titles=The Explorer \|groups={{tag\|Council of Five}} \|species=singer ~~\|world=Roshar\|ethnicity=Parshendi~~ \|nation=Listener ~~\|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]~~ \|world=Roshar ~~}}{{spoilers\|book=sa2}}~~ \|universe=[[Cosmere]] '''Eshonai''' is a [[Parshendi]] [[Shardbearer]]{{book ref\|twok\|68}} who lives in [[Narak]] on the [[Shattered Plains]] of [[Roshar]] during the [[War of Reckoning]]. She is one of the first Parshendi to come in contact with [[Gavilar Kholin]]'s soldiers in the [[Unclaimed Hills]].{{book ref\|wor\|i\|1}} \|first appeared=[[The Way of Kings]] }} {{update\|sa4}} {{quote \|Progress is learning to control your world. Put up walls to stop the storms, choose when to become a mate. \|Eshonai{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} }} '''Eshonai''' is a [[listener]] [[Shardbearer]]{{book ref\|sa1\|68}} who lives in [[Narak]] on the [[Shattered Plains]] of [[Roshar]] during the [[War of Reckoning]]. She was one of the first Parshendi to come in contact with [[Gavilar Kholin]]'s soldiers in the [[Unclaimed Hills]].{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} == Appearance and Personality == {{image\|Call to Adventure - Eshonai.jpg\|side=right\|width=300px}} Her skin is a marbled red and black, and she is large of stature, standing seven feet tall in Shardplate. Her Shardplate is silver, and she wears a red cape with it. She prefers to wear it because she enjoys the strength it gives her, and because she feels it lets her know that there is still something reliable in the world. She speaks [[Alethi]] with a thick accent.{{book ref\|twok\|68}} She wears [[Listener#forms\|warform]] due to the conflict with Alethkar, but prefers workform because it is more limber and rugged, and because the form's aversion to violence forces her to think differently to solve problems.{{book ref\|wor\|i\|1}} When not wearing Shardplate, her uniform consists of a cap, and a red cloth which stretches over her warform armour.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} {{for\|/Gallery\|more images}} {{quote \|Our people are crumbling. (...) We're being weathered away. \|Eshonai about the listeners{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} }} === Appearance === Eshonai is a [[Singer]]; her skin, covered partially in carapace, is a marbled red and black, and she is large of stature, standing seven feet tall in Shardplate. Her Plate is silver, and has a red cape attached.{{book ref\|sa1\|68}} She wears [[warform]] due to the conflict with Alethkar.{{book ref\|wor\|i\|1}} When not wearing Shardplate, her uniform consists of a cap and a red cloth that stretches over her warform armor.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} === Personality === Her preferred form is [[workform]] because it is more flexible{{book ref\|sa3\|prologue}}, limber, rugged, and because the form's aversion to violence forces her to think differently to solve problems. She finds it difficult to tolerate listeners who prefer [[mateform]] , and has trouble understanding why anyone would want to remain in that form for longer than necessary to produce offspring. Her confusion on this subject at one time extended to humans, when she was baffled by the fact that humans have only a single form that is easily distracted by sexual urges.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Though she accepts her duties as a general for her people, she feels trapped and constrained by the role, and by living on the [[Shattered Plains]]. Even her uniform contributes to her emotional discomfort, and the repetitive tasks of military life numb her mind. She blames her uniform for her personal worries. However she never speaks of her discomfort in her role. She enjoys the feeling of strength she gets from wearing Shardplate, and it gives her something reliable in the world.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Eshonai's true passion is exploration, and she yearns to be free of her role as general so she can explore; even as a child, it was common for her to wander off in the middle of a task if something caught her attention.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}}{{book ref\|sa3\|prologue}} She even contemplates exploring human civilizations, though she has a preference for exploring the wilderness. However, she believes these feelings are meaningless in comparison to the importance of protecting her people. She holds that remembering the fallen is important, but of lesser concern than protecting the living. She goes so far as to accompany her strike forces even when wounded, because she was the only Shardbearer left among the listeners.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} She believes that she is personally responsible for the War of Reckoning because she was the first to make contact with the Alethi. Despite being fully aware of the dire predicament of her people, she does not blame the Alethi for their pursuit of vengeance. While she fights the Alethi out of necessity, she would prefer, and she even attempts, to negotiate a peace with them.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} == Abilities and Attributes == {{image\|Eshonai - XIII. Death.jpg\|side=left\|width=200px}} Despite her misgivings about the role, Eshonai is a skilled combatant and military commander, having managed to keep her people alive for more than five years of a war in which they are severely disadvantaged.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} She's fluent in [[Alethi]], and is the best at it of any listeners, though she speaks it with a thick accent.{{book ref\|sa1\|68}}{{book ref\|sa3\|prologue}} Shortly before her death, Eshonai attracted the attention of a [[Reacher]] nicknamed [[Timbre]]; however, she took on the stormform before the bonding process could begin, and only became a [[Surgebinder]] moments before her death.{{book ref\|sa4\|117}} === Forms === Like all [[Singer]]s, Eshonai can change her form by taking a [[spren]] into her gemheart during a [[highstorm]]. Out of preference, she spent most of her life in [[workform]], which, while durable and strong, made her averse to violence. During the [[War of Reckoning]], she uses [[warform]] instead, as its carapace and stockier build afford her greater strength and protection while allowing for fighting.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Eventually, she takes on [[stormform]], keeping her increased strength while also granting her the ability to cast red lightning and summon the [[Everstorm]], though the latter requires cooperation with more stormforms.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|8}} === Shardbearer === Eshonai is a full [[Shardbearer]], owning both a set of [[Shardplate]] and a dead [[Shardblade]].{{book ref\|sa1\|68}} It's unknown how she came about having them, though it's possible she only acquired them after the [[War of Reckoning]] began.{{book ref\|sa1\|68}} However that happened, she knows how to use them, and wearing Shardplate feels natural to her.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} She's highly skilled with the Blade, being able to keep up and even win against [[Adolin Kholin]], though her fighting style is unlike what he's been taught, with no recognizable stances. However, she can get too focused on combat while ignoring her surroundings, which proves to be her downfall.{{book ref\|sa2\|84}} == History == === Exploration === Eshonai was an explorer who often travelled the wilderness of [[Natanatan]]. She started out exploring alone, creating maps and expanding the listeners' understanding of the world, then began leading expeditions during her teenage years, after her adventures sparked interest amongst her people. Her exploration led to the listeners' first contact with humans in {{Rosharan date\|1165}}, when she encountered Gavilar's expedition to the south of the Shattered Plains.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}}{{book ref\|sa1\|45}} {{image\|Eshonai Gavilar Shuravf.jpg\|side=left\|width=200px\|Eshonai meeting with [[Gavilar]] on the night of his death}} === Assassination of Gavilar === She has a passion for exploring, and feels trapped upon the [[Shattered Plains]]. She yearns for the wilderness and has a desire to strike out on her own, and often feels the urge to explore, even showing a desire to explore human civilisations. However, she ignores that desire, feeling it meaningless in comparison to the need to protect her people, which she believes is her new destiny. She feels awkward in her rank as general, and performing the same tasks everyday numbs her mind.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} On the day of his [[Assassination of Gavilar\|assassination]], [[Gavilar]] spoke to Eshonai privately. She was the first listener to learn that Gavilar wanted to bring back the listeners' old gods. He gave her a [[Black sphere\|dark gemstone]] and told her to give it to [[The Five]]. Taking the gemstone, Eshonai went to the Five and told them of Gavilar's plans, and the group decided to assassinate the Alethi king. Though Eshonai was not yet on the Council of Five, the council gave her a vote and listened to her advice due to her role as an interpreter. She voted in favor of killing Gavilar, in order to keep the listeners free of their gods and to affirm the decision made by their [[Last Legion\|ancestors]] centuries ago.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}}{{book ref\|sa3\|prologue}} === The War of Reckoning (1167-1173) === ==== Narak ==== Sometime between the assassination of Gavilar and the Battle of the Tower, Eshonai became a member of the Council of Five and was made the general of the listener army. After the death of the king, the listeners relocated to [[Narak]] in the hopes that a war of attrition would deter the Alethi from pursuing longterm action. Unfortunately, the presence of chasmfiends on the Shattered Plains allowed the war to continue for many years, with the Alethi and listener forces clashing over the beast's gemhearts. Eshonai would sometimes join her troops in the skirmishes over these gems.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} ==== The Battle of the Tower ==== She holds that remembering the fallen is important, but of lesser import than striving to protect those who still live, and prefers to stay with her strike forces as their only Shardbearer even when injured, despite the strain of jumping between plateaus on a wounded leg.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} During the battle, Eshonai dueled [[Dalinar Kholin]] as the army made its retreat. She defeated him in combat, and recognised him as the Alethi Shardbearer she had been searching for, but was stabbed in the leg by [[Kaladin Stormblessed]], who made his escape with Dalinar before she had a chance to speak with him. As the army made its retreat from the [[Tower (Roshar)\|Tower]], she saluted Dalinar as a gesture of respect. She allowed the Alethi to escape the battle without attacking them once they cleared the Tower.{{book ref\|twok\|68}} ==== The Everstorm ==== She believes that she is personally responsible for the War of Reckoning, because she was the first to make contact with the Alethi.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Despite being fully aware of the dire predicament of her people, she does not blame the Alethi for their pursuit of vengeance against her people.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} {{image\|Eshonai by Casey Fallon.jpg\|side=right\|height=250px\|Eshonai bonding with a stormspren during a [[highstorm]]}} {{quote \|With enough of us bearing this form together, we could bring it. We could '''bend''' the storms to our will, and could bring bring them down upon our enemies. \|Eshonai in stormform{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|8}} }} Eshonai was the first to adopt [[singer#Forms\|Stormform]] after it was rediscovered by her sister [[Venli]], although she did so reluctantly. The new form caused Eshonai to become more warlike and destructive, leading her to switch from seeking peace with the Alethi, to desiring their extermination. Her new aggressive personality made her more willing to kill disobedient listeners, including her comrades, friends, and family. Any who refused to obey her orders were rounded up by Eshonai, whose intent was to have them all killed.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|5}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|8}} In the [[Battle of Narak]], she led the listener army, who had all taken Stormform, to battle, with the intent to destroy the Alethi forces.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|13}} After [[Adolin]] pushed her into a chasm,{{book ref\|wor\|84}} she rammed her Shardblade into the ground, in an attempt to not be swept away by the floodwaters. Because of her efforts, Eshonai did not drown, instead she died shortly after from wounds inflicted during her fight for survival in the chasm.{{book ref\|sa4\|117}} She seems to tolerate Listeners who prefer mateform poorly, and has trouble understanding why anyone would want to remain in that form for longer than necessary to produce offspring. Her confusion on the subject at one time extended to humans, when she was baffled by the fact that humans have only a single form that is easily distracted by sexual urges.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} After her death, the [[Stormfather\|Rider of Storms]] briefly stopped her soul from entering the [[Beyond]] in order to let her ride his winds across all of Roshar as the [[highstorm]] swept over the continent.{{book ref\|sa4\|117}} ~~While she fights the Alethi to protect her people, she would prefer to negotiate with them than to fight.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}}~~ Later, [[Ulim]] leads Venli and [[Demid]] to Eshonai's body to retrieve her Shards.{{book ref\|sa3\|i\|3}} ~~== The War of Reckoning ==~~ ~~=== The Battle of the Tower ===~~ During the battle, Eshonai duels [[Dalinar Kholin]] as the army is making it's retreat. She defeats him in combat, and recognises him as the Alethi Shardbearer she's been searching for, but is stabbed in the leg by [[Kaladin Stormblessed]], who makes his escape with Dalinar before she has a chance to speak with him. As the army makes it's retreat from the [[Tower]], she salutes Dalinar as a gesture of respect. She allows the Alethi to escape the battle without attacking them once they clear the Tower.{{book ref\|twok\|68}} == Relationships == ~~=== The Everstorm ===~~ === Jaxlim === In an attempt to test the newly rediscovered [[Parshendi#Forms\|Stormform]], she is the first to adopt it, despite reluctance about using it -- and after doing so undergoes a major shift in personality, becoming more warlike and determined to wipe out the [[Alethi]], despite originally wanting peace; it is implied that the form exerts the change over her.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|5}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|8}}{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Her new, aggressive personality even makes her willing to kill Parshendi who do not obey her, including soldiers in her own division, those she considered close friends, as well as her own family; [[Venli]] and her [[Eshonai's mother\|mother]], going so far as to have dissidents among the population of Narak rounded up to be killed.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Her current status is unknown after her defeat at the hands of [[Adolin Kholin]] at the [[battle of Narak]], where she is pushed into a nearby chasm.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|13}}{{book ref\|wor\|84}} Eshonai thinks little of [[Jaxlim]], her mother, due to her memory loss, though Eshonai still respects her.{{book ref\|wor\|i\|4}} However, their bond is strong enough that Eshonai somewhat overcomes the singled-minded influence of stormform; when her mother refuses to change to stormform and is rounded her up with the other dissenters, Eshonai assigns her old squad members to guard them, seemingly aware they would assist them. She does not give chase when they escape, either.{{book ref\|wor\|i\|8}} ===Venli=== ~~She is one of the five on the Council of Five who voted on the assassination of King Gavilar, they all voted yes.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}}~~ Eshonai has a difficult relationship with her younger sister and her views.{{book ref\|sa4\|88}}{{expand}} == Trivia == ~~Her original intent in her search for Dalinar Kholin was to broker a peace between the Listeners and the Alethi.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}}~~ * The reason Eshonai was killed off and replaced by [[Venli]] as the main [[singer]] character was that the series already had overabundance of paragon soldiers trying to do the right thing, making her feel superfluous to Brandon.{{wob ref\|11666}} * Eshonai was originally going to be the sole flashback character in ''[[Rhythm of War]]'';{{wob ref\|8979}} eventually, Brandon decided on using a mix of her and Venli's flashbacks.{{wob ref\|12848}} * While [[Michael Whelan]] has said that the US cover of ''The Way of Kings'' isn't meant to depict specific characters,{{tweet ref\|user=whelanmichael\|1295741147877441539\|text=Michael Whelan commenting on ''The Way of Kings'' cover art\|date=2020-08-18}} [[Brandon Sanderson\|Brandon]] has indicated that she is one of the people on that cover.{{wob ref\|11422}} * She's unnamed throughout ''The Way of Kings''; however, chapter 68 of the book -- the only one she appears and speaks in -- is named after her without explanation.{{book ref\|sa1\|68}} == Notes == {{Stormlight}} [[category: viewpoint characters]] [[es:Eshonai]]