Difference between revisions of "Hoid"

}}{{theory}}

{{quote

}}

'''Hoid''' is a recurring character in the [[cosmere]], as well as a legend rumored to have a thousand titles (most of which, he says, are not pleasant). He has appeared in almost every cosmere novel, short story, and novella which takes place in that universe. Note that his real name is likely not Hoid. In ''[[The Way of Kings]]'', he mentions he stole the name from someone he should have loved, while giving [[Kaladin]] his flute and telling the story of the ''[[Wandersail]]''. In section 2 of the 2nd [[Letters|Letter]] from ''[[Words of Radiance]]'', the author of the letter asks if Hoid is no longer hiding behind the name of his old master. The name "Hoid" is likely the name he is hiding behind.

=== The Restoration of Elantris and Theft of the Moon Scepter (Sel) ===

{{quote

}}

Hoid traveled to [[Sel]], likely making use of [[Devotion's Perpendicularity]] in [[Arelon]]. Hoid spoke to the [[skaze]], and seems to have made some sort of agreement with them hinging on his desire to become an Elantrian with the restoration of [[Elantris]].{{book ref|Elantris|Postscript}} Hoid disguised himself as a beggar, wrapped in bandages. He helped [[Sarene]] smuggle weapons into [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]].{{book ref|Elantris|58}} Following the restoration of the city by Raoden, Hoid traveled to the Pool to meet a skaze. He removed his bandages, hoping to find himself transformed into an Elantrian, but the transformation had not occurred. The skaze ridiculed Hoid for his failure, but Hoid expressed his joy that secrets still remained unknown to him and then entered the Perpendicularity and transitioned to the [[Cognitive Realm]].

=== Roshar (The Stormlight Archive) ===

{{quote

}}

===== Prior Visits =====

=== Post-Catacendric Scadrial ===

{{quote

}}

At some point following his actions on Roshar, 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}} Rather than coming to Scadrial in response to some important event, Hoid initially came merely to congratulate his friends.{{wob ref|3546}} He came dressed all in black, appearing as a scruffy looking beggar and spoke to the couple soon after they arrived at the dinner.{{book ref|mb4|4}} It is unknown if he was present for the subsequent Vanisher attack. Hoid may have left the planet briefly afterwards, but something on Scadrial had caught his attention and he was back several months later{{wob ref|6162}}. Hoid became employed as [[Waxillium Ladrian]]'s new carriage driver.{{book ref|mb5|7}} By that point he had become friendly with Wayne, who liked him but did not know anything about Hoid's true identity.{{wob ref|4376}} When Wax headed to the precinct station to question [[Rian]], Hoid drove the carriage and Wayne rode up front with him.{{book ref|mb5|7}} During the carriage ride, Hoid eavesdropped on Wax's conversation with [[Harmony]] about Bleeder's plans to disrupt the [[Elendel Basin]].{{wob ref|5317}}

 

{{quote

}}

 

=== Illusions ===

{{quote

}}

Hoid has access to an Invested Art known as Lightweaving that originates from Yolen prior to the Shattering of Adonalsium.{{wob ref|8909}} Lightweaving allows for the creation of optical and auditory illusions.{{book ref|sa2|ars}} This Lightweaving was much less restrictive than the later Rosharan variant,{{book ref|sa2|45}} and did not require a spren or Stormlight to function.{{wob ref|8909}} Hoid sometimes makes use of this ability in his disguises{{wob ref|5775}} although he has several ways of changing how he looks{{wob ref|5024}} and he also makes uses of practical effects as well.{{epigraph ref|sa3|35}} He may also make use of it in some of his storytelling,{{wob ref|8329}} such as the pictures of [[Derethil]] and the [[Wandersail]] Kaladin sees in the smoke when Hoid is telling him a story.{{book ref|sa1|57}}

=== Agelessness and Time-Dilation ===

{{quote

}}

Hoid has lived for many more years than any mortal human would be able to live.{{wob ref|4031}} This immortality is known to have come from some remnant of the weapon the original sixteen Vessels constructed in an attempt to kill Adonalsium.{{wob ref|10439}} Additionally, Hoid has not actually experienced all those years,{{wob ref|6585}} instead making use of some time-dilation technique that may render him somehow unconscious or unaware.{{wob ref|4083}} However, Hoid does not have the ability to travel backwards in time.{{wob ref|37}}

=== Healing Factor ===

{{quote

}}

Hoid has access to some sort of healing factor that is capable of repairing both the body and the [[Spiritweb|soul]].{{wob ref|5606}} 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,{{wob ref|4780}} 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}}

=== Fortune ===

{{sidequote

}}

Hoid has access to an ability that allows him to make use of the Spiritual attribute of [[Fortune]],{{wob ref|2567}}, which grants him a limited amount of foresight.{{wob ref|10011}} Hoid's Fortune ability gives him an innate knowledge of where and when he needs to be.{{wob ref|10011}} While this ability may grant him knowledge of what he is to do,{{wob ref|2567}}{{wob ref|738}} usually Hoid does not know why his ability has brought him to a specific place.{{wob ref|2567}} Hoid's Fortune ability is not infallible; occasionally it directs him to go somewhere, but either nothing notable is happening or he is unable to discover the reason why he has been led there.{{wob ref|5821}} Hoid's fortune ability has let him know about instant noodles.{{wob ref|2753}}

=== Awakening ===

{{quote

}}

 

=== Surgebinder ===

{{quote

}}

Hoid has bonded a [[Cryptic]] that formerly belonged to Elhokar, which grants him access to Surgebinding.{{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 may have a compounding effect with his Yolish Lightweaving, and likely allows him to circumvent the problems that he has experienced with his own Illusions. Although Hoid's Ideals are unknown, it may eventually grant him a [[Shardblade]] and [[Shardplate]]. <!-- Out of all of the orders of the [[Knights Radiant]], [[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweaver]] was his first choice, as Lightweaving matches him very well and he's quite familiar and experienced with it. Having full access to Lightweaving is a fulfillment of a long, long quest for him.{{wob ref|10755}} -->

In ''[[Warbreaker]]'', [[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.

<!--

- this part is kind of theory, but everything that he used is listed

- by theory I mean that I would like to have a table with everything that he used and what it symbolized, but...that' probably noncanonical

- you may want to reorganize the way I have it, and I have some ways that I can do it if you don't want to,

- but I do think that this should be here, somewhere on the wiki.

-->

As he told the story he began by trailing sand out of his hand, then he added a powdery black sand, when both trails mixed it became a white sand. He began to scatter fern leaves and then threw the handful up with blue and deep red dust making it seem like a minor explosion. He sprinkled silver glitter in front of him, then trailed powdery brown dirt. Black dust, and then [[Tears of Edgli|flower petals]]. He then sent out a spray of half a dozen colors from both hands. Then bright yellow dust from one hand and black from the other. Torn writing on paper, followed by metal bits, black charcoal dust from both hands, he crumbled clay, sprinkled golden dust around, bits of grass and earth, a white powder and then a spray of water that turned into mist.

<!--

He also taught me this method, though it's noncanonical to you, it has small stones, small sticks, purple, green, and orange dust, grey ash, a steel strike to make sparks and matches for small fire.

-->

 

* Roamer{{book ref|twok|i|1}}--by [[Galladon]] in the Purelake

* Dust{{book ref|wor|81}}

* The King's Wit{{book ref|twok|54}}

* Imperial Fool of the [[Rose Empire]]{{ref|name=tes-del}}

=== Warbreaker ===

{{quote

}}

 

{{quote

}}

 

=== The Way of Kings ===

{{quote

| Hoid to Dalinar{{book ref|twok|54}}

}}

 

{{quote

"I wonder if you could do that to a man. Pull him apart, emotion by emotion, bit by bit, bloody chunk by bloody chunk. Then combine them back together into something else, like a Dysian [[Aimian]]. If you do put a man together like that, Dalinar, be sure to name him Gibberish, after me. Or perhaps Gibletish.

}}

 

{{quote

}}

 

{{quote

"A pretty one, I hope."<br>

"A beautiful one," the man said. "And one that became completely worthless for my wearing it.

}}

 

{{quote

"What does the story mean, then?"<br>

"It means what you want it to mean. The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon. Too often, we forget that.

}}

 

{{quote

}}

 

{{quote

}}

 

{{quote

}}

 

=== Words of Radiance ===

{{quote

}}