Difference between revisions of "Hoid"

'''Hoid''' is a recurring character in the [[cosmere]], who has appeared in every cosmere novel; he was involved in events before the beginning of the novella. The subtlety of his appearances vary from book to book, ranging from him being named outright and making cosmere references to appearances where his name isn't mentioned and he's in a deep disguise. He is confirmed to be the same individual,{{qa ref|?|690|39|This is, indeed, the very same person.}} but one who [[Worldhopping|Worldhops]] between planets. Hoid's actions and motives are mysterious, as most of his actions appear to occur behind the scenes.

Hoid is not a [[Shard]], nor is he a [[Herald]], but something else entirely.{{qa ref|?|697|21|Is Hoid a Herald?}}

It has been said that the origin of Hoid will be revealed in the [[Dragonsteel]] series,{{qa ref|?|622|135|He is a primary viewpoint protagonist of Dragonsteel, but that happens before all of the other books.}} and so it is commonly believed Hoid is from [[Yolen]], the world of Dragonsteel.

Hoid has a home base somewhere in the cosmere,{{17s ref|2383|post|42472|He has a home base.}} and he has a bead of [[lerasium]].{{qa ref|?|897|21|Well, he has a bead of Lerasium}}

Very little of Hoid's history is known beyond the fact that he was present at the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]].{{qa ref|?|732|1|Hoid was at the Shattering}} The specifics of his appearances follows, but bear in mind that it is arranged by book, not chronologically. Hoid's appearance in [[Alloy of Law]] takes place after his appearance in [[The Way of Kings]].

*[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]] - As he often does, Hoid plays a role as a beggar. He helps [[Sarene]] smuggle weapons into [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]].{{ref|b|elantrisElantris|c|58}}

*[[The Well of Ascension]] - Hoid spent the vast majority of his time in this book hunting for the [[Well of Ascension]]. He had been tricked by the [[Lord Ruler]]'s disguise of the true Terris homeland, so he spent much of his time in the [[Terris Dominance]], where he got wrapped up in things he didn't anticipate.{{qa ref|?|428|58|Hoid got wrapped up in things he didn't expect to be involved in, and they dominated much of his time during the events of Mistborn: Well of Ascension.}} Hoid meets [[Elend]] and [[Spook]] on their way back to Luthadel{{ref|b|mb2|c|56}} as the unnamed leader of the [[Terris]] refugees following the [[Inquisitor]] attack on [[Tathingdwen]]. He uses Worldhopping to arrive at the Well before Vin did but his reasons for going there remain mysterious.{{qa ref|?|428|102|If so, is this Hoid's part in Well of Ascension? This trace of him?}}

*[[The Hero of Ages]] - Hoid again acted as an informant on the streets of [[Fadrex City]]. On the advice of [[Ashweather Cett]], [[Vin]] went to Hoid for information. She heard him humming and for some mysterious reason she was spooked by Hoid and decided not to speak to him.{{qa ref|?|727|24|Is Slowswift Hoid?}}

*[[Alloy of Law]] - At the wedding of Lord [[Joshin Yomen]] and Lady [[Mi'chelle Ostlin]], Hoid was seen speaking to them, once again dressed as a beggar.{{qa ref|?|632|3|Was the "beggar in black" Hoid?}}

* Worldhopping - Hoid is very good at manipulating Shadesmar.{{qa ref|?|428|102|Hoid is quite proficient at manipulating Shadesmar for his own ends.}} He can travel to any world he likes, and can even use this ability to move swiftly around a single planet and to get to otherwise inaccessible areas, like the Well of Ascension.{{17s ref|2383|post|42244|Well, by this point Hoid had been to the Well--getting there just before Vin--and had retrieved something from it.}}

* Feruchemy - Hoid also has access to at least one of the Three Metallic Arts native to Scadrial.{{qa ref|?|895|2|How does Hoid know where to go?}}

* Limited foresight - Hoid knows where he needs to go and when he needs to be there.{{qa ref|?|689|4|How does Hoid know where to go when?}} Feruchemy is somehow involved in this ability.{{qa ref|?|895|2|How does Hoid know where to go?}}

* Extremely long life and time dilation{{qa ref|?|622|106|Can Hoid jump through time?}} - Hoid is far older than any human could really live. He also hasn't lived through all those years. He can move swiftly forward in time, but has not yet traveled backwards in time.

*Awakening - Hoid likely has a [[Breath]], something that a scene in Words of Radiance seems to confirm, as he mentions how playing an instrument was easier now with 'perfect pitch' - something granted to those with the Second Heightening.{{qa ref|?|949|11|It seems quite likely that he would.}}

* A storyteller in the Court of the Gods{{ref|b|warbreakerwb|c|32}}

We know that aside from the beads of [[lerasium]] burned by the original nine [[Allomancy|Allomancers]] and [[Elend]] there is at least one more other bead somewhere in the cosmere.{{qa ref|?|732|1|And at least one more.}} We know that Hoid was at the well prior to [[Vin]] and Elend arriving there.{{17s ref|2383|post|42244|Well, by this point Hoid had been to the Well--getting there just before Vin--and had retrieved something from it.}} Also, Hoid has "metal he isn't supposed to have".{{17s ref|1389|post|24231|Hoid has metal he isn't supposed to have}} Hoid has also been confirmed to have retrieved something from the Well.{{17s ref|2383|post|42244}} Combining all these facts heavily hint that Hoid is in possession of a bead of lerasium.

It was later confirmed that Hoid does in fact have a lerasium bead.{{qa ref|?|897|21|Well, he has a bead of Lerasium}} In the letter it also references that someone is keeping something safe for Hoid. It is presumed to be the Lerasium bead that he took.

{{quote|I only tell stories, Your Grace. They may be truths, they may be fictions. All I know is that the stories themselves exist and that I must tell them.|Hoid to [[Siri]] on the truth of his stories{{ref|b|warbreakerwb|c|32}}}}

{{quote|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.|Hoid to Siri on where he learned his particular method of storytelling.{{ref|b|warbreakerwb|c|32}}}}

As Hoid developed that type of storytelling,{{qa ref|?|590|40|This is a storytelling method that Hoid developed on his own.}} it's possible that the "man who didn't know who he was" is himself. Also, "where gods have died"and "many, many years ago" seem to speak of the Shattering.

* Brandon has stated that Hoid is his favorite character, but he couldn't say why without giving away spoilers.{{qa ref|?|690|43|I’ll have to say Hoid is my favorite.}}