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|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
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{{spoiler|sa4}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|The Heralds, they were honorable. Perhaps not as divine, but I may even like them more, to know they were once just normal men and women.
}}
 
The '''Heralds''' are servants of [[the Almighty]] worshipped across the whole of [[Roshar]]. There are ten of them, with each associated with one of the [[Ten Essences]] and one of the ten orders of the [[Knights Radiant]]. They are known by different names in different cultures -- in [[Azir]], they are known as the '''Kadasixes''',{{book ref|sa2|I|9}} and in [[Vorin]] countries, the suffix "'Elin" is often appended to their names, presumably as aan honorific.{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{book ref|sa1|55}}{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}
 
== History ==
 
=== The Desolations ===
{{image|TheEnding Heraldsthe -Oathpact XVII.by The StarKatie Payne.pngjpg|The abandonmentHeralds ofabandon the [[Oathpact]] after the [[Last Desolation]]|side=right|widthheight=150px250px}}
{{quote
|Almighty above. You’re broken too, aren’t you? They all were.
At some point, the [[spren]] began mimicking their abilities, creating the first [[Surgebinder]]s.{{book ref|sa2|87}} The Heralds found that surprising, but had no compunctions against using the Surgebinders in battle.{{book ref|sa3|47}} [[Ishar]] imposed structure upon them, creating the [[Knights Radiant]], and each Herald took patronage over the Order that matched their Surges.{{epigraph ref|sa2|42}} The last to do so was [[Nale]], who initially rejected the [[Skybreakers]] even when they called him their master.{{epigraph ref|sa2|43}}
 
Eventually, the pattern of continuous resurrections and torture led to the Heralds growing increasingly stressed and psychologically damaged, making each [[Heraldic Epochs|Heraldic Epoch]] -- the period between the Desolations -- shorter as they broke faster and faster.{{book ref|sa3|38}} Things came to a head in the [[Aharietiam]], a Desolation where only one Herald, [[Taln]], died in battle. Those who survived were supposed to return voluntarily; however, Ishar theorized that one Herald remaining in Braize was sufficient to keep the Oathpact going. And so, the Heralds decided to abandon Taln to his fate, leaving their Honorblades -- and the Oathpact -- behind.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} To hide this fact, they told the ordinary people that the Desolations were over, and that they would take the fight to the [[Tranquiline Halls]]. This event marked the end of the [[Heraldic Epochs|Heraldic Epoch]] {{book ref|sa3|42}}
 
{{image|Baxil's Mistress by Shuravf.jpg|[[Shalash]] the vandal|side=left|width=150px}}
|A [[death rattle]] collected by the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]].{{epigraph ref|sa1|54}} It's possible it refers to Taln.
}}
Sometime around the year 1173, Taln was finally broke, and returned to Roshar to proclaim a new Desolation, although he did not break.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}{{wob ref|14869}} He was initially disbelieved by Rosharans, who assumed him to be some random madman, which was further confirmed, in their eyes, by his deranged, near-catatonic behavior.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} Some of the Heralds, such as Nale, initially refused to believe a new Desolation has arrived, though he was convinced upon seeing the awakening of the [[Parshmen]].{{book ref|sa2.5|19}}
 
When [[Dalinar Kholin]] sought to bring Tukar into his alliance, Ishar refused him, claiming that instead, it was Dalinar's forces who should bow down to him, and give [[Urithiru]] over to him, which was met with no answer.{{book ref|sa3|24}} At the same time, Shalash was searching for Taln, aware that, if the Desolation has returned, so had he. She was eventually pointed on the right track by [[Mraize]].{{book ref|sa3|i|8}}
 
=== Resurrection ===
The Heralds are [[cognitiveCognitive shadowShadow]]s capable of repeatedly returning back to life and have become so heavily Invested they are no longer human.{{wob ref|4024}}{{wob ref|8468}} While alive, they do not age, allowing them to live for millennia.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Upon death, they are transported to [[Braize]], where they are tortured until one of them breaks. When that happens, they are returned back to life on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa3|38}} This process isn't well-understood, though one thing that is certain about it is that unlike the [[Fused]], the Heralds do not hijack human bodies to resurrect.{{wob ref|12029}} Unlike similar resurrected entities, like the [[Nalthis|Nalthian]] [[Returned]], the Heralds don't have to consume [[Investiture]] in order to remain alive.{{wob ref|10581}}
 
This ability to resurrect makes the Heralds essentially immortal. UntilIt verywas recentlynot until seven thousand years after the Oathpact that singers figured out they can be trapped in gemstones, theremuch waslike nospren waycan. toThe killmethod involves stabbing them permanently;with asa ofspecially rightconstructed now,[[raysium]] dagger.{{book ref|sa3|121}} The dagger would trap the onlyHerald's weaponsoul knowninto the gemstone at its hilt. The trapped Herald's bond to the Oathpact would be ablesevered, causing the soul to putdisintegrate themback downto fora goodnormal issoul, then go on to the [[Vyre's knifeBeyond]], permanently killing the Herald.{{bookepigraph ref|sa3sa4|12192}}
 
On the other hand, their nature as cognitive shadows ties the Heralds to Roshar -- while they can travel between Roshar and Braize, they cannot leave the greater [[Rosharan system]].{{wob ref|1537}}
 
=== Surgebinding ===
Each Herald wields an [[Honorblade]], a sword similar in function to a [[Shardblade]], albeit far more powerful.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} Honorblades can be bonded like regular Shardblades, and are similarly sharp, but unlike Shardblades, they allow their wielders to utilize two [[Surge]]s each. As such, while wielding their Blades, each of the Heralds is a [[Surgebinder]].{{book ref|sa3|16}} While they each have an Honorblade assigned to them, in the past, they would occassionallyoccasionally swap their Honorblades between each other, allowing them to use the Surges of others.{{wob ref|3564}}
 
[[Spren]] would later copy the Heralds' [[Surgebinding]], thus creating the [[Knights Radiant]], with each order matching the powers of one of the Heralds.{{book ref|sa2|87}} The Radiants have some powers that the Heralds lack -- for example, the Heralds did not have [[squire]]s.{{wob ref|3958}} However, unlike the Knights, the Heralds were powered directly by [[Honor]], and had access to raw levels of Investiture that no Radiant could possibly match.{{wob ref|1572}}{{wob ref|10331}} Additionally, they didn't need to draw Stormlight from gems, which implies they could get it directly from their bond with Honor.{{wob ref|2549}} This ability appears to be inherent to the Heralds and not tied to their Honorblades as it is not replicable by other users. How this manifests after Honor's death and Splintering is unknown.
 
=== Other ===
Apart from the Surges, Heralds get a number of other advantages, although what precisely they are is uncertain.{{wob ref|3623}}{{wob ref|6898}} It's possible that those include superhuman speed and reflexes.{{book ref|sa2|88}} However, they are also said to have no innate powers, suggesting that whatever they can do is the result of either their connection to Honor or their own experience.{{wob ref|1050}} Although not all the Heralds were originally soldiers, they have mastered their fighting skills throughout the ages, and are now capable of fighting multiple Shardbearers with ease. Moreover, each Herald had their own field of expertise, such as leadership, medicine or smithing, and the knowledge of how to teach those skills to others.{{book ref|sa3|47}} Heralds are able to share pain with each other through their bondprocreate, butthough itnot isnecessarily unknownin ifthe theytraditional can do this outside of Braizeway.{{bookwob ref|sa3|38}} They are also able to sense when another Herald has permanently died, which can cause them enough shock to render them temporally unconscious.{{book ref|sa3|12114507}}
 
Heralds are able to share pain with each other through their bond, but it is unknown if they can do this outside of Braize.{{book ref|sa3|38}} They are also able to sense when another Herald has permanently died, which can cause them enough shock to render them temporally unconscious.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
Some Heralds are more [[Cosmere]]-aware than others.{{wob ref|11756}} A few of them are aware of [[AonDor]], but only on a conceptual level.{{wob ref|12021}}▼
 
▲Some Heralds are more [[Cosmerecosmere]]-aware than others.{{wob ref|11756}} A few of them are aware of [[AonDor]], but only on a conceptual level.{{wob ref|12021}}
 
== Heralds of the Almighty ==
{{for|Nale}}
The Herald of Justice.{{book ref|sa2|88}} He is associated with the number Nan (2), the essence Vapor, and the attributes Just and Confident. He is patron of the [[Order of Skybreakers]]. Unlike the other Heralds who abandoned the Oathpact, he eventually recovered his [[Honorblade]].{{book ref|sa3|106}} While he was the last to accept his own Order, he was also the only Herald to join it.{{epigraph ref|sa2|43}}{{wob ref|8426}}
:''Surges'': [[Gravitation]], [[Division]]
:''Other names'': Nalan'Elin (Vorinism), Nin-son-God ([[Shinovar]]), Nakku the Judge ([[Makabak]]){{book ref|sa2.5|19}}
:''Status'': alive; swornfighting to thefor [[Dawnsingerssinger]]s along with most other members ofon the Order of[[Emul]] Skybreakersfrontline.{{book ref|sa3sa4|11747}}
 
=== Chanarach ===
:''Surges'': Abrasion, [[Progression]]
:''Other names'': Vedeledev'Elin (Vorinism)
:''Status'': alive, current location unknown.
 
=== Pailiah ===
:''Surges'': Progression, [[Illumination]]
:''Other names'': Pali (nickname)
:''Status'': alive; last seen in [[Kharbranth]], in the [[Palanaeum]].{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{wob ref|4419}}
 
=== Shalash ===
:''Surges'': Illumination, [[Transformation]]
:''Other names'': Epan ([[Emul]]), Ash (nickname), Shush-daughter-God ([[Shinovar]])
:''Status'': alive; likely in [[UrithiruEmul]] with Talenel, held by [[Jasnah Kholin]].{{book ref|sa4|50}}
 
=== Battar ===
Associated with the number Betab (7), the essence Tallow, and the attributes Wisdom and Care. She is patron of the [[Order of Elsecallers]].
:''Surges'': Transformation, [[Transportation]]
:''Other names'': Battah'Elin (Vorinism)
:''Status'': alive; likelyliving in [[Kharbranth]] under the name Dova.{{book ref|sa4|i|3}}
 
=== Kalak ===
Associated with the number Kak (8), the essence Foil, and the attributes Resolute and Builder. He is patron of the [[Order of Willshapers]].
:''Surges'': Transportation, [[Cohesion]]
:''Other names'': Kelek'Elin (Vorinism), Kellai (Iri and Rira){{book ref|sa3|36}}, Restares{{book ref|sa4|78}}
:''Status'': alive; in [[Lasting Integrity]].
:''Status'': unknown; last seen in Alethkar during the night of King Gavilar's death{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}.
 
=== Talenel ===
:''Surges'': Cohesion, [[Tension]]
:''Other names'': Talenelat'Elin (Vorinism), Taln (nickname)
:''Status'': alive; likely in [[UrithiruEmul]] with Shalash, held by [[Jasnah Kholin]].{{book ref|sa4|50}}
 
=== Ishar ===
 
== Official depictions ==
Unlike most other characters, the Heralds have official depictions of them in the [[Stormlight Archive]]. Those are said to be in-universe artwork, and as such, they're not entirely accurate.{{wob ref|10772}} Four of them can be found at the beginning and end of ''[[Oathbringer]]'', while four more will beare present in ''[[Rhythm of War]]''.
 
<gallery caption="Illustrations" mode=packed heights=300px>
Ishar Endsheet.jpg | <center><small>by [[Dan dos Santos]]</small></center> [[Ishar]]
Taln Endsheet.jpg | <center><small>by [[Donato Giancola]]</small></center> [[Talenel]]
Chanarach Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Karla Ortiz}}</small></center> [[Chanarach]]
Nale Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Karla Ortiz}}</small></center> [[Nale]]
Kalak Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Magali Villeneuve}}</small></center> [[Kalak]]
Pailiah Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Magali Villeneuve}}</small></center> [[Pailiah]]
</gallery>
 
* In ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]'', the Heralds reincarnated by taking the body of a Rosharan, similar to the [[Fused]], but this is no longer how they return.{{wob ref|12029}}
* Also in ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]'', the Heralds were capable of sensing the location of the Honorblades, although that ability appears to have been dropped when the story changed into its current form.{{wob ref|11609}}
* The portraits of the Heralds used in chapter arches each have their own title in team [[Dragonsteel Entertainment]]'s files:{{wob ref|14097}}
{{columns|
** King for [[Jezrien]], the King
** Judge for [[Nale]]
** [[Nale]], the Judge
** Guard for [[Chanarach]], the Guard
** Healer for [[Vedel]]
** [[Vedel]], the Healer
** Scholar for [[Pailiah]]
** [[Pailiah]], the Scholar
** Artist for [[Shalash]]
** [[Shalash]], the Artist
** Counselor for [[Battar]]
** [[Battar]], the Counselor
** Maker for [[Kalak]]
** [[Kalak]], the Maker
** Soldier for [[Talenel]]
** [[Talenel]], the Soldier
** Priest for [[Ishar]]
** [[Ishar]], the Priest
** The final chapter arch is known as the Jester and is associated not with a Herald, but with [[Wit]]
}}
 
== Notes ==
LadyLameness
Editors, Keepers, Synod
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