Difference between revisions of "Hoid"

'''Hoid''' is a [[Worldhopper]] and [[Dawnshard]]{{book ref|tsm|21}} that travels the cosmere, originally born on the planet [[Yolen]]. Hoidbefore is not his originalthe name;[[Shattering]].{{wobbook ref|5882tsm|10}} beforeHe tellingwas one of the major figures in the [[KaladinShattering of Adonalsium]], thebut storyavoided oftaking thea up a ''[[WandersailShard]]'' himself,{{book heref|sa4|99}} claimsinstead hechoosing stoleto wander the namecosmere frompursing someonehis heunknown shouldgoals, haveoften loved.in the guise of a fool{{book ref|sa1Sa1|5712}} Theor [[dragonstoryteller.{{book (cosmere)ref|dragon]]warbreaker|32}} [[Frost]]He oncemay askedbe himguided inat [[Letters#Thetimes Secondby Letter|a letter]]mysterious ifsense about where he isshould nogo, longerbut hidingnot behindwhat thehe is to accomplish there.{{wob ref|2567}} nameOne of his oldmajor mastergoals is the defeat of Rayse, the original Vessel of the Shard Odium.{{epigraph ref|sa2sa1|6028}} likelyWhile referringHoid tohas generally avoided direct involvement in the namemajor Hoid.events Amongof the original [[Vessel]]scosmere, Hoidhe is oftenoftentimes knownpresent asin '''Cephandrius'''the periphery,{{msh ref|2|1}}influencing in large ways and small the people who will go on to alter the course of history, as well as occasionally taking on an apprentice to train at his side.{{epigraphbook ref|sa3tsm|3334}}{{epigraph refHoid has been present for events such as the restoration of the city of [[Elantris (city)|sa3|42}}Elantris]] on [[Sel]],{{book ref|sa4elantris|11258}} the [[Catacendre]] of [[Scadrial]],{{book ref|sa4mb3|epilogue27}} whichand isthe one[[True Desolation]] of his earliest aliases[[Roshar]].{{wobbook ref|3985sa2|epilogue}} HeAlong isthe knownway ashe thehas godgained '''Lunu'anaki'''access to thea prodigious number of powerful [[HorneaterInvested Art]]s. and arcana, including [[Surgebinding]],{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} [[AonDor]],{{book ref|tress|64}} Awakening,{{book ref|sa2|4659}} and [[Allomancy]],{{wob ref|4877}} among others.

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 travels between various planets within the cosmere by making use of [[perpendicularity|perpendicularities]],{{wob ref|1472}} places usually created by the presence of a Shard on a planet where the sheer power of Investiture causes the borders between the realms to be weakened.{{au ref|drominad}} A knowledgeable person such as Hoid is able to transition from the Physical Realm to the Cognitive Realm.{{wob ref|1472}} Hoid can then travel to a different world's subastral, as the distances between worlds in the Cognitive Realm are much smaller than in the Physical Realm.{{wob ref|4132}} Hoid is very proficient at traveling in the Cognitive Realm.{{wob ref|5981}} He can easily travel to any world that has an active [[perpendicularity]], even those worlds where the perpendicularities are dangerous to pass through such as the [[Well of Ascension]].{{msh ref|2|1}} Hoid is known to be aware of perpendicularities on Scadrial,{{msh ref|2|1}} Sel,{{book ref|Elantris|part=postscript}} and Roshar,{{book ref|sa2|46}} and likely knows of Nalthis's perpendicularity as well.{{book ref|wb|32}}{{wob ref|9501}} While Hoid typically makes use of natural perpendicularities in his travels, later in life he may also have access to an ability that essentially allows him to generate his own personal perpendicularity, much like the [[Surge]] of Transportation.{{wob ref|9294}} Following the invention of space travel, he also makes use of spaceships to travel between planets.{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}

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}}

InOn ''[[Warbreaker]]''Nalthis, [[Lightsong]] calls Hoid to tell the story of [[Hallandren]] history to him and [[Siri]]. As he told the story, he dropped sands, dusts, and small objects, mixing them together to produce various effects.

InOn ''[[The Way of Kings]]''Roshar, the chasms echoed the music allowing him to speak and play, without the music ever seeming to stop. It is unclear how the flute could be used without chasms or canyons. <!-- maybe he lightweaves sound, or the sound of the wind? was the smoke colored? -->

At an unknown date theThe individual who would later become known as '''Hoid''' was conceivedborn naturallyon under[[Yolen]] wedlocksometime onprior to the [[YolenShattering of Adonalsium]].{{wob ref|26103212}}{{wob ref|58088343}} He was born naturally and his parents were married.{{mshwob ref|2|12610}}{{wobmsh ref|83432|1}} 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 Topaztopaz 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 Investiture that predated the [[Shattering]], notable among these was Yolish [[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 (cosmere)|dragons]]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}}

For reasons unknown the idea of killing [[Adonalsium]] emerged, whilst reluctant to help with this idea Hoid did believe it to be necessary.{{wob ref|8718}} Hoid was present during the events of the Shattering, although he did not directly participate in events as they played out,{{wob ref|10773}}{{wob ref|10868}}{{wob ref|11858}} despite this however the Dawnshards, of which he was one, were used in order to kill Adonalsium.{{book ref|dawnshard|19}}}} Immeidately upon the Shattering taking place the original sixteen [[Shards]] were created, Hoid was offered one of these but refused it,{{wob ref|3337}}{{wob ref|4175}}{{book ref|sa4|99}} due to his refusal someone else became a vessel in his place.{{wob ref|12132}} In the ensuing discussion Hoid did imply, but not promise, that he would not interfere with the other Shards or theretheir activities in the future,. thisThis implication would be broken many times in the ensuing years.{{msh ref|2|1}}

At some point after the Shattering, Hoid visited Roshar and mingled with the original inhabitants of the world, even dancing with the ancient [[singer]]s. He grew to be close with one Singersinger known as [[Vatwha]].{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}

Hoid founded the [[Worldsingers]], and has the rank of Master Worldsinger, and, ttat 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.

In {{rosharan date|1170|5}} during the [[Middlefest Fair]] in [[Jah Keved]], [[Shallan Davar]] met Hoid disguised as a messenger, and he spoke with her.{{book ref|sa2|45}} Seeing that she was emotionally distressed, he used emotional allomancyAllomancy in order to soothe her, and encouraged her to keep on pushing forward despite her struggles.{{book ref|sa2|45}}{{wob ref|6933}} This meeting would leave a deep impression upon Shallan, and she would remember him for years after the event.{{book ref|sa2|55}}

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}}

==== SeigeSiege of Kholinar ====

[[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}}

While walking through the city he found a child around the corpse of her mother, and used [[Awakening]] to lure her away from the body, leaving her in the care of a family in the city. He then headed to the palace where he finds a [[Cryptic]], the spren [[Elhokar]] was about to bond before he died. This Spren was [[Design]], and he bonded to her, becoming a Knights RadiantSurgebinder of the [[Order of Lightweavers]].{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}{{wob ref|15354}}

He and Jasnah both went to the expedition in Emul in {{Rosharan date|1175}}.{{book ref|sa4|17}} During their expedition, [[Ruthar]] angered them both greatly, and Jasnah sent him to insult the highprince. After doing so, Ruthar challenged him to combat, but he choosechose Jasnah as his champion. She easily stabbed him through the throat, but had Renarin heal him.{{book ref|sa4|50}}

He noticeslater noticed that a Sleepless was spying upon him and Jasnah.{{book ref|sa4|64}}

When Kaladin was stuck in a vision by Odium, he and Design appeared to him in order to tell him the story of the Dog and the Dragon, in order to try and cheer him up and point him in the right direction.{{book ref|sa4|80}}

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 had come to feel sorrowful for his actions there, and felt like though his motivations were noble, the outcomes were ultimately not worth it and he was wrong to have done what he did.

At some point, he wrote a letter to [[Frost]]. It offers valuable insights into his personality and goals. He wrote about how he was being hunted by the Seventeenth Shard and has set a false trail for them to follow, referencing the three figures sent by the Seventeenth Shard that were searching for him.{{book ref|sa1|i|1}} He came across as not at all worried about them, and in fact seemed mildly amused. He also asked Frost for his support in stopping Rayse, but was dismissed since Odium was trapped in the [[Rosharan system]].{{epigraph ref|sa2|69}}

In {{date|342|fa}}, following his actions on Roshar,{{ref|group=fn|text=The events between {{date|342|fa}} and {{date|348|fa}} take place after [[Wind and Truth]] and before [[Stormlight 6]]; in the 10-15 Rosharan year (11-16 Scadrian years) period between the two books.}} Hoid returned to Scadrial to attend the [[Yomen-Ostlin wedding dinner|wedding]] of Lord [[Joshin Yomen]] and Lady [[Mi'chelle Ostlin]],{{wob ref|918}}{{wob ref|4698}} two friends of his that he had made at some unknown point in the past.{{wob ref|3546}} He did so via finding some way to bypass the strong Connection binding him to Roshar after becoming a Knights Radiant.Surgebinder{{book ref|yumi|21}}{{wob ref|15879}}{{wob ref|15986}}

Hoid later became involved in the sting operation that Marasi ran in [[Bilming]] in {{date|348|fa}}. He had a silent interaction with [[Wan ShaiLu|Moonlight]] from different trucks. Moonlight commented that she couldn't tell whether she was watching Hoid or if Hoid was watching her, but then resolved that they were both just keeping an eye on the same third parties.{{book ref|mb7|20}} After Wax arrived in Bilming, and gave chase to [[Dumad]] he casually appeared in a sleek black car to give Wax a ride.{{book ref|mb7|25}} In Bilming, he traded his harmonica with Wayne for a rat named [[Sir Squeekins]].{{book ref|mb7|21}} Since this event, he has been taking good care of Sir Squeekins.{{wob ref|15925}} He also showed up to rescue Wax from the ocean in a small boat after the explosion of the [[Pewternaut]] A16.{{book ref|mb7|72}}

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}}

: For a while, Sigzil believed that Hoid thought him dead, but was filled with rage upon learning that he knew he was alive all through his slavery at the Shattered Plains.{{book ref|tsm|10}} He is further angered by the burden placed upon him by Hoid giving him the Dawnshard.{{book ref|tsm|10}}

:Hoid dislikes Sadeas, insulting him at any chance he gets. Though at first he tries to get Sadeas to attempt to kill him in order to remove the man as a threat, he makes fun of Sadeas after his death just for the fun of it.{{book ref|sa1|15}}{{book ref|sa3|68}}{{cite}}

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}}