Kalak

Kalak
by Isaac Stewart
Abilities	Cognitive Shadow, Shardbearer (formerly)
Titles	Herald of the Almighty, Patron of the Willshapers
Aliases	Kelek, Kellai, Stormfather
Homeworld	Roshar
Universe	Cosmere

“ Jezrien, I can't return this time. I can’t. ”

— Kalak

Kalak, also known as Kelek in Vorinism, is one of the ten Heralds of the Almighty on Roshar. He is the patron of the Order of Willshapers.

History

by Isaac Stewart Kalak's glyph

According to Talenel he taught people how to cast bronze, if they had forgotten.

Four thousand five hundred years before the main events of The Way of Kings, at the end of the Last Desolation, Kalak became daunted by the pain he would have to go through again at the place where Heralds went either after death or after a Desolation has ended. As Kalak arrived at the designated meeting spot for all the surviving Heralds, he noticed only Jezrien waiting there. Jezrien had been chosen to stay behind, unsure whether or not Kalak had perished. Kalak then confessed that he could not go back to wherever it was Heralds were meant to go due to the continuous torture they faced. Jezrien agreed with Kalak's sentiments and informed him of the Heralds' decision to end the Oathpact. Apparently seven other Heralds had decided to leave the Oathpact, leaving their Honorblades stuck point down, forming a circle. Kalak and Jezrien left in opposite directions, both their Honorblades left behind with the other seven, leaving Talenel, the only Herald to die in that Desolation as sole bearer of the Oathpact's burdens.

• Images of Kalak
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  by User: Botanicaxu
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  by Isaac Stewart Kalak's chapter capstone

Culture

“ They see us as divinities. They rely upon us, Jezrien. We're all that they have. ”

— Kalak

The word Kelek, and the phrase "Kelek's Breath" were used profanely.

He was called Kelek in Vorinism and according to the religion, he was associated with the Essence Foil and the Attributes Resolute and Builder. He was number Kak on the Ten Essences table. In Iri and Rira, he's called Kellai.

The name Kaladin is derived from Kalak.

Trivia

• It's been heavily speculated (and may sometimes be noted as a fact) that Kalak is the man accompanying Nale during the feast prior to the Assassination of Gavilar. This is, however, yet to be explicitely confirmed.
• Though his name became "Kelek" due to linguistic drift, Kalak is one of three Heralds, alongside Shalash and Pailiah, whose names are symmetrical under Vorin rules.
• Kalak is one of the only three Heralds so far to have a viewpoint in The Stormlight Archive, the others being Shalash and Taln, as the Prelude is written from his perspective. However, unlike the other two, he isn't slated to have his own book.
• The glyph for "Eternal" is also called kalak. Whether Kalak was named after kalak or the other way around, however, is unknown.

Notes

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