Difference between revisions of "Hoid"

'''Hoid''' is a recurring character in the [[cosmere]], as well as a legend rumored to have a thousand titles. 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.

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as in [[Warbreaker]] and [[''The Way of Kings]]'', does not originate from ''[[White Sand]]'', but from another unpublished story, ''[[The Liar of Partinel]]''.{{qa ref|590|40}} In ''Warbreaker'', Siri asked Hoid where he learned his style of story telling.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,{{qa ref|622|135}} 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.{{17s ref|post|42472}}

Hoid is neither the author of the [[Ars Arcanum|Ars Arcanum]], nor of the back-of-book blurb for ''[[Words of Radiance]]''.{{qa ref|1080|5}} He occasionally will show up somewhere, stand around for a while, realize there isn't a novel-worthy plot going on, and leave.{{17s ref|post|104720}}

Hoid arrived on [[Scadrial]], likely through Ruin's Perpendicularity in the Pits of Hathsin. He took up the guise of an informant, pretending to have bad eyesight in order to make himself less threatening to people seeking information from him.{{book ref|mb1|19}} At some point he became known to both [[Dockson]] and [[Ashweather Cett]]. [[Kelsier]], pretending to be a nobleman contacted Hoid, requesting information on House Renoux. Hoid (closed shop, smoking tobacco) met with Kelsier on the streets of Luthadel and told him that House Renoux was buying large amounts of weapons and armor from various noble houses and that Lord Renoux was considering a marriage between Valette and Elend Venture. He also claimed that Renoux was rumored to have some sort of leverage on Venture and that he knew [[Shan Elariel]] to be a [[Soother]]. At some point following this, he left Scadrial to attend to other business, again likely via the Pits.{{wob ref|1552}}

Hoid has visited [[Roshar]] prior to the''The Way of Kings''.{{qa ref|1088|11}} 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]].

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.

In ''[[The Way of Kings]]'' 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? -->

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