Difference between revisions of "Hoid"

Hoid was involved in the events taking place before any of the cosmere's published books begin and is the second oldest character seen so far.{{qawob ref|1084|24945}} He was originally human, but has changed enough that when asked, [[Brandon]] only says "It's complicated."{{qawob ref|1088|46614}} Hoid is not a [[Shard]], nor is he a [[Herald]], but something else entirely.{{qawob ref|697|218843}} He is very skilled with disguises, and the overtness of his involvement varies from book to book. In some, he is named outright and makes references to other events and places in the cosmere, while in others he is seen only deep in disguise, almost unrecognizable. Brandon has confirmed that all of these appearances are the same individual,{{qawob ref|690|394414}} but that he [[worldhopping|worldhops]] between planets. Hoid's motives are unknown, and most of his actions occur behind the scenes.

His particular style of storytelling in which he manipulates sand or smoke to illustrate his stories, as in [[Warbreaker]] and ''The Way of Kings'', does not originate from ''[[White Sand]]'', but from another unpublished story, ''[[The Liar of Partinel]]''.{{qawob ref|590|404636}} In ''Warbreaker'', Siri asked Hoid where he learned his style of story telling. Hoid answered, "I learned it many, many years ago from a man who didn't know who he was, Your Majesty. It was a distant place where two lands meet and gods have died. But that is unimportant." His origin will be revealed in the ''[[Dragonsteel]]'' series,{{qawob ref|622|1354039}} and so it is commonly believed Hoid is from [[Yolen]], the world of ''Dragonsteel'' and ''Liar''. He also has a "home base" somewhere in the cosmere.{{17swob ref|post|424721261}}

Hoid is neither the author of the [[Ars Arcanum|Ars Arcanum]], nor of the back-of-book blurb for ''[[Words of Radiance]]''.{{qawob ref|1080|52888}} He occasionally will show up somewhere, stand around for a while, realize there isn't a novel-worthy plot going on, and leave.{{17swob ref|post|1047205821}}

Very little of Hoid's origin is known beyond the fact that he was present at the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]] on [[Yolen]].{{twgwob ref|7302|05077}} He knew at least some of the original [[Vessel]]s personally, was friends with [[Rayse]],{{qawob ref|1105|12101}} and [[Tanavast]] once bought him a drink.{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}} Hoid was once offered a Shard at the time of the Shattering, but refused to take it.{{wob ref|3337}} He also did something in his past that he regretted.{{wob ref|8225}}

Hoid has visited [[Roshar]] prior to ''The Way of Kings''.{{qawob ref|1088|116619}} When visiting [[Kholinar]] in the epilogue of [[Oathbringer]], he recognizes one of the fused as [[Vatwha]], an old acquaintance. At some point, "thousands of years ago", Hoid visited Roshar and mingled with the original inhabitants of the world, even dancing with the ancient parshmen. The [[Fused]], however, are now trained to watch for him - most likely to capture him and deliver him to [[Odium]].

The Letters in [[Oathbringer]]'s epigraphs are all from Shards{{17swob ref|post|638473|text=Oathbringer's letters are from Shards we know.|date=2017-11-198401}} and all of them are directed to Hoid.

Hoid cannot easily kill people "because of certain things in his past."{{qawob ref|1044|94780}} Rock says he cannot hurt man because it is forbidden by other gods.{{book ref|sa2|46}} He also tells a young Shallan, "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 nauseous 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}} This is an involuntary trait.{{wob ref|8687}}

The blade is not magically invested but has personal value to Hoid.{{qawob ref|1181|6|Brandon on Hoid|date=2016-12-032505}} It is a symbol of office for the King's Wit, though Hoid "isn't even that good with a sword".{{wob ref|896}}

Hoid has access to some sort of healing factor that is capable of repairing both the body and the [[Spiritweb|soul]].{{qawob ref|1071|25606}} He is able to regenerate any damaged body parts at will, including his head. Hoid is able to repress his healing factor in some way, preventing instantaneous healing, an ability that he makes use of in some of his disguises.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} This healing factor makes it very difficult to kill Hoid,{{qawob ref|1044|94780}} although he is still at least somewhat vulnerable.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} The name of the manifestation of Investiture responsible for Hoid's healing is unknown, but it is ancient,{{wob ref|8498}} likely originating from some Pre-Shattering source. It is uncertain whether or not this healing factor is at all related to Hoid's apparent agelessness, which is known to originate from a remnant of a weapon built to kill Adonalsium.{{wob ref|10439}}

* Topaz{{17swob ref|post|337201|8609}}

* Cephandrius Maxtori{{17s ref|post|337235}}{{wob ref|5882}}{{wob ref|3985}}

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.{{17swob ref|post|220433656}} Some believe that Hoid is a common root to both of these organizations, one of which, the Worldbringers, was very [[Realmatic Theory|Realmatically]] aware.{{17swob ref|post|424711253}} There may be also a connection between the Worldsingers and the Dawnsingers, due to similarity of names.

* The character of Hoid existed before the concept of Adonalsium was developed. He first appeared in a short story Brandon wrote long ago, going by the name Kamp.{{bwswob ref|its-here-2|It's Here|post|pre|date=2010-8-317600}} He was on a planet trying to figure out how the magical system of the area worked.{{17swob ref|post|422191191}}

* Brandon may eventually write a parallel novel to the Mistborn series that chronicles what Hoid was up to behind the scenes.{{17swob ref|post|422441220}}