Difference between revisions of "Hoid"

{{spoiler|yumispoilers|tsm}}

When he is on [[Roshar]] during the [[War of Reckoning]] and [[True Desolation]], serving as King [[Elhokar Kholin]]'s, and later Queen [[Jasnah Kholin]]'s Wit, Hoid has the appearance of an Alethi man in his mid-30s{{wob ref|1705}} with deep onyx hair. He wears a stiff black coat and carries a long thin sword at his waist.{{book ref|sa1|12}} This blade is not magically Invested but has personal value to Hoid.{{wob ref|2505}} It is a symbol of office for the King/Queen's Wit, though Hoid himself is not a skilled swordfighter.{{wob ref|896}}

Hoid cannot directly physically harm people; this is an involuntary trait that is the result of changes to his spirit made during his time as a [[Dawnshard]].{{wob ref|8687}}{{wob ref|14300}} Rock[[Lunamor]] says he cannot hurt man because it is forbidden by other gods.{{book ref|sa2|46}} He also tells a young [[Shallan Davar]], "You needn't fear me. I'm terribly ineffective at hurting people. I blame my upbringing."{{book ref|sa2|45}} Hoid apologizes to [[Kelsier]] after beating him in a fight, stating he doesn't have the inclination to do real harm to him.{{msh ref|2|1}} This aversion causes him to be nauseated when thinking about physically harming someone, and is sometimes bad enough to incapacitate him. However, this only extends to physical trauma- Hoid has no issues with mentally hurting someone or through inaction.{{wob ref|2010}} Hoid also has issues with harming himself physically, such as when he has to manipulate another man into punching him when he wants a tooth knocked out, rather than just doing it himself.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}{{wob ref|8498}} If he had the capacity to, he would be willing to kill to achieve his goals, he would also let even those he cares about perish if it meant the furtherance of his goals.{{book ref|sa2|67}}{{wob ref|2248}}

Hoid is a very kind person to those he takes a liking to, doing his best to emotionally console them and give them the will to keep going. This can be seen in the various times he has told [[Kaladin]] stories in order to comfort him and teach him a lesson that he believes he needs to learn.{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{book ref|sa4|80}} He has done the same to Shallan, most notably when he met her as a child traumatized by her experiences and the abuses she went through during the [[Middlefest Fair]]. Here, he consoles her and gave her motivation to keep moving forward.{{book ref|sa2|45}} He did the same later, when speaking with her in [[Kholinar]].{{book ref|sa3|82}} He occasionally uses allomancy[[Allomancy]] to help sootheSoothe people.{{book ref|sa2|45}}{{wob ref|6933}}

While he is very comforting to those he likes, and can sometimes be open about some parts of his past; he does make sure to insure that they never come to trust him too much, and that thethey understand what kind of person he is.{{book ref|sa2|67}}{{book ref|sa3|68}}

On the other end, he finds great joy in tormenting those he hates, such as [[Ruthar]], [[Rayse]], or [[Kelsier]].{{book ref|sa4|50}}{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa4|115}}{{msh ref|2|1}} This is likely a large part in his enjoyment of playing the role of court jesters like the King's Wit or the Imperial Fool. This behavior of his tends to rub many people the wrong way, making him despised by many people he interacts with.{{msh ref|2|1}}{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}} He sometimes bickers even with those he likes, such as [[Design]], though this takes the form of an exasperated fondness rather than bitter mockery.{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}}{{book ref|yumi}}

For unknown reasons, he was willing to turn down the immense power of a [[Shard]] when it was offered to him.{{epigraph ref|sa3|38}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|41}} This is likely connected to his self-professed distrust of the Vessels[[Vessel]]s to make their own decisions.{{book ref|tress|56}}

He believes that the main thing that people value in creation is not the creaturecreation itself, but the novelty, timeliness, and originality of it. Observing that if two people make the same discovery independently, the one who reveals their discovery first is the one given credit and lauded for their innovation, while the second is considered a forger. That if two artists create similar works of comparable pulchritude independent of each other, one would be lauded and the other would be bemoaned as derivative. He claims that if it was truly a matter of the aesthetic beauty of a work, butit ratherwould not matter which came first. From this, he claims that the idea that what is valued most is creative ability, wisdom, and invention to be nothing more than a lie that humanity tells itself. He admits that it is a rather cynical viewpoint, but holds to it regardless.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}

He believes that all great art is necessarily hated by some due to the variety in human tastes,. that toTo make it so nobody would hate a work of art, one must remove everything that makes it special, therefore making it so that it is loved by nobody. Being hated is not proof that art is great, but not being hated is proof that it is not.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} He believes that art is about emotion, examination and going places people have never gone before to discover and investigate new things; it is from this definition of art, and his recognition of the subjective nature of aesthetic taste, that he argues that all great art is necessarily hated by somebody.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} When questioning himself on how many people need to love a work of art to outweigh the hate it inevitably inspires, and balance out the risk. Thus, if even one person loves a work, no matter how many people hate it, it is worthwhile.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}

Hoid has also gained access to Allomancy,{{wob ref|4877}} by burning a bead of lerasium stolen from the Well of Ascension.{{msh ref|2|1}}{{wob ref|1515}}{{wob ref|12210}} This grants him power equivalent to that of the ancient Allomancers.{{epigraph ref|mb3|22}} It is uncertain how practiced he is with these powers, but he does make use of emotional Allomancy{{wob ref|6933}} on at least one occasion.{{book ref|sa2|45}} He also has access to [[atium]].{{wob ref|465}} It is unknown whether or not Hoid has access to [[Feruchemy]].{{wob ref|466}} However, he does have access to some unkeyed metalminds,{{wob ref|1571}} which would not be useful to him without Feruchemical abilities or unsealed metalminds. The particular attributes that are stored in these metalminds are unknown. Hoid does not make use of Hemalurgy, to gain access to the Metallic Arts or any other manifestation of Investiture, as he is concerned about opening himself up to the influence of Shards.{{wob ref|656}} He does, however, own many Hemalurgic spikes.{{wob ref|15271}}{{wob ref|16280}}

As a Yolish man, Hoid was not himself born with any [[BioChromatic Breath]].{{wob ref|3212}} However at some point Hoid has gained access to enough BioChromatic Breath to bring him to at least the Second Heightening.{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa2|59}} This means Hoid has at least two hundred Breaths, which grant him the ability to recognize unsupressed Breath auras and judge about how much breath another Awakener has, as well as perfect pitch.{{book ref|wb|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}} That is not to say that Hoid may not have reached a higher Heightening, just that the second Heightening is his minimum power level.{{wob ref|4655}} Hoid's level of skill with [[Awakening]] is still unknown, as he has only made use of it on one known occasion, when he Awakened a doll, causing it to walk.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} This makes it difficult to ascertain his knowledge of Commands or complex Awakenings. Hoid's level of control over Investiture does allow him to suppress his Breath aura, making it difficult to be noticed by others. However, there are various methods of detecting Investiture that could circumvent this suppression.{{wob ref|3437}} Hoid's perfect pitch does aid him in tuning instruments and making music.{{book ref|sa2|59}} Additionally, holding Breath has allowed Hoid to somehow outsource somecenturies of his memorymemories to said Breath.{{wob ref|16273}} After [[Odium]]'s destruction of some of these Breaths in order to wipe his short-term memory, his level of Breath was reduced to just under the Second Heightening, resulting in a loss of perfect pitch.{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}}

Hoid has bonded the [[Cryptic]] [[Design]], which grants him access to Surgebinding.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}}{{wob ref|10746}} While the enhanced reflexes and healing permitted by Stormlight will likely be less useful to Hoid, the [[Nahel bond]] allows him to access the surges of [[Illumination]] and [[Transformation]].{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} This allows Hoid to [[Soulcast]], transforming one type of matter to another by persuading its Cognitive aspect as well as Lightweaving, which grants him the ability to create visual and auditory illusions. This Rosharan Lightweaving seems to have a compounding effect with his Yolish Lightweaving, and allows him to circumvent the problems that he has experienced with his own illusions.{{book ref|sa4|80}} Although Hoid's Ideals are unknown, ithe has admitted some truths.{{wob ref|16289}} This may eventually grant him a [[Shardblade]] and [[Shardplate]], and he likely has access to at least a Shardblade from their bond.{{book ref|Yumi|32}}

At an unknown date the individual who would later become known as '''Hoid''' was conceived naturally under wedlock on [[Yolen]].{{wob ref|2610}}{{wob ref|5808}}{{msh ref|2|1}}{{wob ref|8343}} From an early age he developed a fascination with the topic of whether life existed on other planets and often listened to local philosophers debate the topic.{{book ref|tsm|10}} Later on as an adult Hoid ended up holding a [[Dawnshard]], for reasons unknown this Dawnshard was associated with Topaz and thus earned him one of his oldest aliases as well as the title 'Bearer of the First Gem'.{{wob ref|6065}}{{wob ref|14355}}{{wob ref|5301}} Holding this Dawnshard had a profound effect on Hoid as it permanently altered his [[spiritweb]], stopped him from aging and caused him to be unable to harm others.{{wob ref|14300}}{{wob ref|11070}}{{wob ref|10439}} Around the same time, for reasons also unknown, Hoid's hair changed from its natural colour to pure white{{wob ref|15174}}{{wob ref|10631}} and he also gained access to numerous systems of investitureInvestiture that predated the [[Shattering]], notable among these was Yolish [[Lightweaving]] which he would continue to use throughout his life.{{wob ref|8498}}{{wob ref|10852}} Whilst a Dawnshard Hoid travelled throughout Yolen and met various [[Sho Del]] and [[Dragon]]s, as well as this he was known to get in trouble due to his ability to Lightweave.{{wob ref|10852}} During this period Hoid also had served a 'master' of some form who would later die,{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{epigraph ref|sa2|60}} it is from them that he would later take the name of Hoid.{{wob ref|5882}}

Like with the rest of the Cosmere the Shattering had a large impact on himself, one such change was that of investitureInvestiture which has behaved 'oddly' around him ever since,{{wob ref|3212}} as well as this his Lightweaving then suddenly had issues functioning as it had before.{{wob ref|11587}} As well as this Hoid lost someone very dear to himself due to the event,{{wob ref|13276}} and also left the encounter holding a grudge against Rayse and [[Bavadin]].{{wob ref|10630}} In the years following the Shattering Hoid eventually gave up his Dawnshard and left Yolen, going on to explore the wider [[Cosmere]].{{wob ref|14300}}

Hoid iscame to be worshipped by the [[Unkalaki]] as ''Lunu'anaki'', the god of travel and mischief who cannot hurt man.{{book ref|sa2|46}}

Hoid founded the [[Worldsingers]], and has the rank of Master Worldsinger, and at some point in the early Sixth Epoch, he took [[Senne Khald]] as his apprentice, and assigned her with the task of writing a treatise on all the Radiant Orders.{{wob ref|15843}}{{wob ref|16437}}

Several centuries later,{{wob ref|14099}} around Nalthian[[Hallandren]] year 327,{{file ref|T-Telir.png|Map of T'Telir}} Hoid traveled to [[Nalthis]] and took the role of a master storyteller. [[Lightsong]] summoned him to the [[Court of the Gods]], where he recounted the story of [[Vo]], explained the origin of the [[Hallandren]] God Kings, and answered Lightsong and [[Siri]]'s questions.{{book ref|wb|32}} He likely achieved perfect pitch while on this world by obtaining additional Breaths.{{book ref|wb|52}}{{book ref|sa2|59}}{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}} At some later point, [[Vivenna]] also met Hoid; she later described him as one of the only people on Nalthis that is cosmere-aware.

He met [[Lift]] at some point after her blessing by the [[Nightwatcher]] in {{Rosharan date|1170}}, but before her heist on the [[Bronze Palace]] in {{rosharan date|1173}}.{{wob ref|5016}}{{citebook ref|sa2.5|12}} She was fond of him, and they parted ways when he jumped into the mouth of a [[greatshell]].{{book ref|sa2.5|12}}{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}

He later helps her get into the Cult of Moments, finding Shallan at her darkest moment, when she discovered the food she has been giving to the poor is just making things worse. {{expand}}

[[Shalash]], upon seeing sketches of [[Talenel]] and herself, wondered aloud why Midius, another name for Hoid, was giving away drawings of them.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

At some point, Hoid asked his apprentice Sigzil to briefly take up the same Dawnshard that gave Hoid his immortality,{{book ref|tsm|20}} an action that he believed would be necessary to avert calamity.{{book ref|tsm|10}} Hoid passed the Dawnshard to Sigzil, who was changed in some ways that were similar to Hoid, acquiring the ability to Skip to any planet in the cosmere, as well as his own inability to do violence. {{book ref|tsm|21}} This action would ultimately cause Sigzil to nearly kill his spren [[Auxiliary]] when the Dawnshard drew upon the Investiture that made up the spren in an attempt to defend itself.{{book ref|tsm|20}} This action ruined Sigzil's life, and forced him to remain on the move outrunning the [[Night Brigade]] in their quest to capture him.{{book ref|tsm|10}} Hoid regained possession of that Dawnshard again as well, meaning Sigzil was ultimately running from the Night Brigade to prevent them from finding Hoid. However, Hoid hashad come to feel sorrowful for his actions herethere, and feelsfelt like though his motivations were noble, the outcomes were ultimately not worth it and he was wrong to have done what he did.

Hoid would later go on to visit the planet of [[Lumar]],{{book ref|tress|4}}{{ref|group=fn|text=It can be assumed that this takes place after the events of other Cosmere books due to the references to and appearence of very advanced technology, relative to what has been seen before. Examples include computers,{{book ref|tress|64}}{{book ref|tress|60}} monitoring systems,{{book ref|tress|60}} extremely advanced Nalthian tech such as Awakened predictive circuits,{{book ref|tress|15}} spaceships,{{book ref|tress|60}} and rockets.{{book ref|tress|64}} Along with the release of the Kandra across the cosmere;{{book ref|tress|42}} and awareness of Marsh spreading across the Cosmere,{{book ref|tress|53}} which began late into the anteverdant era of Scadrial.{{book ref|mb7|part=ars}}}} aHowever, relativeit backwateris innot theknown cosmere.{{bookwhen ref|tress|42}}it Attakes someplace pointrelative heto informed[[Yumi his friend,and the [[kandraNightmare Painter]], [[UlaamThe Sunlit Man]], of his intentions to visit the planet via letter.{{book ref|tress|22}} Still hoping to gain access to AonDor, he met withor [[Riina]], who was living on the planet in the guise the SorceressSixth of the Midnight Sea.{{book ref|tress|22}} While visiting her island, Hoid agreed to a bet with her. Riina would be allowed to place him under a curseDusk]], and in exchange, if he could successfully break it, he would be granted admission to the Elantrians and the ability to use AonDor. The curse placed on him stripped himplacement of histhis sensesection ofis humor,non-canonical senseuntil offurther style, senseconfirmation of decorum,its sensechronological of purpose, intelligence, and sense of selfplacement.{{book ref|tress|15}} Ina orderrelative tobackwater breakin the curse, he would need to return to the central room of the Sorceress' ship on her islandcosmere.{{book ref|tress|6442}} As a part of the curse, he was also forbidden from telling anyone any information about his curse, how he had been given it, or how it could be broken. Riina finished her casting by sending Hoid far away from the Midnight Sea. During his time here, he likely came into possession of some Midnight spores.{{book ref|tress|28}}

At some point after Sigzil's overthrowing of the [[Cinder King]]{{ref|group=fn|text=It has been confirmed that the events of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter take place after the events of The Sunlit Man by an unclear margin of time.{{wob ref|16524}}}}, heHoid went with [[Design]] to [[Komashi]] and was almost instantly frozen in place, unable to move. This was due to the protection measures that he instituted to prevent other entities from interfering with his Investiture after recovering from [[Odium]]'s destruction of his breaths.{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}} It activated as, immediately upon his arrival, the [[father machine]] attempted to absorb his Investiture to power itself.{{book ref|Yumi|part=anotherepilogue}} Seeing his state, Design spraypainted him copper and used him as a coatrack in her new noodle shop, the [[Noodle Pupil]]. At some point following his stasis, he formed a Connection with [[Nikaro|Painter]], [[Yumi]], and [[Liyun]] allowing him to tell what they were doing, feeling, and thinking, along with many others on the planet, though he felt it with them particularly acutely, and knew it had something to do with him.{{book ref|yumi|5}}{{book ref|yumi|39}}

; SadeasKaladin

The names of the [[Worldsingers]], a group of storytellers on Roshar, and the Conclave of [[Worldbringers]], the leading body of the original [[Terris]] religion, are strikingly similar. Brandon has stated that this is not a coincidence.{{wob ref|3656}} Some believe that Hoid is a common root to both of these organizations, one of which, the Worldbringers, was very [[Realmatic Theory|Realmatically]] aware.{{wob ref|1253}} In addition to this he is known to be a founder of the Worldsingers and a member of the Worldbringers.{{wob ref|15843}}{{book ref|tress|24}}