Difference between revisions of "Herald"

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Most of the Heralds were born on [[Ashyn]], with [[Shalash]] as the only possible exception. After humanity destroyed that planet's ecosystem, they traveled along with the rest of the refugees to [[Roshar]], although they weren't the Heralds yet at that point.{{wob ref|11945}}{{book ref|sa3|111}}
 
Prior to the first [[Desolation]], most of them held various positions of importance -- scholars, generals, priests, and kings. After the [[Fused]] began to return, Honor formed the [[Oathpact]], granting themthe newly-made Heralds a connection to him and, through it, their supernatural abilities.{{book ref|sa3|38}} How people were chosen to become Heralds is uncertain; it's possible that it has something to do with the [[Proving Day]].{{book ref|sa1|5}}
 
=== The Desolations ===
| [[Kalak]] after centuries of Desolations{{book ref|sa1|prelude}}
}}
From there on, the Heralds were stuck in the cycle of Desolations. At the end of each one, they would travel to [[Braize]], their presence there preventing the [[voidspren]] and the Fused from returning to Roshar. They would attempt to hide, but eventually, Odium's forces would track them down and begin torturing them until one of the Heralds broke. At this point, the Heralds would be returned to Roshar and resurrected to push Odium's forces back. This pattern led to the Heralds growing increasingly stressed and psychologically damaged, making each [[Heraldic Epochs|Heraldic Epoch]] -- the period between the Desolation -- shorter as they broke faster and faster.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
 
Eventually, 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}}
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. As such, the Heralds decided to abandon Taln to his fate, leaving their Honorblades -- and the Oathpact -- behind.{{book ref|sa|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]].{{book ref|sa3|42}}
 
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 Desolation -- 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. AsAnd suchso, the Heralds decided to abandon Taln to his fate, leaving their Honorblades -- and the Oathpact -- behind.{{book ref|sa|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]].{{book ref|sa3|42}}
 
[[File:Baxil's Mistress by Shuravf.jpg|thumb|left|150px|<center><small>By [[Coppermind:Artists/Shuravf|Shuravf]]</small></center>[[Shalash]] the vandal]]