Difference between revisions of "Herald"

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}}

{{image|TheEnding Heraldsthe -Oathpact XVII.by The StarKatie Payne.pngjpg|The abandonmentHeralds ofabandon the [[Oathpact]] after the [[Last Desolation]]|side=right|widthheight=150px250px}}

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}}

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}}

This ability to resurrect makes the Heralds essentially immortal. UntilIt verywas recently,not thereuntil wasseven nothousand wayyears toafter killthe themOathpact permanently;that assingers offigured rightout now,they thecan onlybe weapontrapped knownin togemstones, bemuch ablelike tospren putcan. themThe downmethod forinvolves goodstabbing isthem with a specially constructed [[raysium]] dagger.{{book ref|sa3|121}} The dagger would trap the Herald's soul into the gemstone at its hilt. The trapped Herald's bond to the Oathpact would be severed, causing the soul to disintegrate back to a normal soul, then go on to the [[Beyond]], permanently killing the Herald.{{epigraph ref|sa4|92}}

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 procreate, though not necessarily in the traditional way.{{wob ref|14507}}

:''Surges'': [[Gravitation]], [[Division]]

:''Status'': alive, current location unknown.

:''Status'': alive; likelyliving in [[Kharbranth]] under the name Dova.{{book ref|sa4|i|3}}

** [[Nale]], the Judge

** [[Chanarach]], the Guard