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{{character
|relatives=[[Rashek]]{{epigraph ref|mb2|53}}
|
|died={{date|c. 0|fe}}
|world=Scadrial|nation=Terris▼
|titles=The Announcer{{epigraph ref|mb2|34}}
|books=[[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn Era 1]]▼
|groups=[[Worldbringers]]
|era=Classical Scadrial
|nation=Terris
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
▲|books=[[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|Mistborn Era 1]]
}}
{{quote
|My name is Kwaan. Philosopher, scholar, traitor. I am the one who discovered Alendi, and I am the one who first proclaimed him to be the Hero of Ages. I am the one who started this all.
|From [[Kwaan's inscription]]{{epigraph ref|mb2|4}}
}}
'''Kwaan''' was a [[Worldbringer]] of [[Terris]] prior to the [[Final Empire]] on [[Scadrial]]. He was the first person to believe that [[Alendi]] was the prophesied [[Hero of Ages]]. He later realized that he was incorrect and recruited his nephew [[Rashek]] to prevent Alendi from taking up the power of the [[Well of Ascension]] and freeing an unknown evil ([[Ruin]]).{{book ref|mb2|41}} Rashek ultimately took up the power himself and became known as the Lord Ruler, altering the planet and establishing the [[Final Empire]]. Kwaan's actions therefore had a significant effect on Scadrial and the greater [[cosmere]] for more than a millenium.{{book ref|mb3|part=ars}} Before his death, Kwaan inscribed a brief history of his exploits on a [[steel]] plate that was discovered by [[Sazed]]; this inscription was critical to [[Kelsier's crew]] realizing the extent of Ruin's interference in their actions.{{book ref|mb2|30}}{{book ref|mb3|62}}
== Appearance and Personality ==
{{sidequote|side=right|size=350px
|Kwaan and I met by happenstance—though, I suppose, he would use the word "providence." I have met many other Terris philosophers since that day. They are, every one, men of great wisdom and ponderous sagaciousness. Men with an almost palpable importance. Not so Kwaan.
|From [[Alendi's logbook]]{{epigraph ref|mb1|19}}
}}
According to [[Alendi's logbook]], Kwaan was unlike other Terris scholars and philosophers. He was not a religious scholar, nor did he radiate an air of great wisdom. Instead, he had many interests that seemed ridiculous to Alendi, and he was particularly interested in nature.{{epigraph ref|mb1|19}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|32}} He was incredibly persistent in his research,{{epigraph ref|mb2|14}} and he was prone to rambling.{{epigraph ref|mb2|37}}
== Attributes and Abilities ==
Like most Worldbringers, Kwaan was presumably a full [[Feruchemist]], able to use all of the Feruchemical abilities.{{book ref|mb3|part=ars}} He also seemed to have an [[Wikipedia:Eidetic memory|eidetic memory]] and could memorize pages of words without using a [[coppermind]].{{book ref|mb2|epilogue}} It is possible that his memory was magically enhanced.{{wob ref|1699}}
During Alendi's first encounter with Kwaan, the Worldbringer was trying to figure out whether trees could think.{{epigraph ref|mb1|19}} This is likely because Kwaan and other ancient Terrismen had some awareness of [[Realmatic Theory]], and he may have been investigating whether or not trees had a [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive aspect]].{{wob ref|1253}}{{wob ref|3968}}
Kwaan used uniquely Terris speech patterns that are reflected in his writing.{{wob ref|5409}}{{wob ref|6159}}
== History ==
As a Worldbringer, Kwaan's work and research focused on nature, a subject that most of his colleagues found "unsuitable" for someone in his position.{{epigraph ref|mb2|32}} He spent a lot of time in the great library of [[Khlennium]].{{epigraph ref|mb1|19}}
=== Proclaiming the Hero of Ages ===
Kwaan and Alendi originally had a chance meeting in the Khlenni library. Alendi had left his hometown to seek a life of indistinction,{{book ref|mb1|18}} but Kwaan noticed his ingenuity and felt he commanded respect, despite his youth. He soon befriended him and hired him as an assistant for at least a few months.{{book ref|mb2|30}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|11}}
At some point in time Alendi became king of Khlennium,{{epigraph ref|mb1|16}} possibly by marrying the previous king's daughter.{{epigraph ref|mb2|21}} Under the growing threat of the [[Deepness]], Alendi united several nations (including Terris){{epigraph ref|mb2|23}}—some by diplomacy{{epigraph ref|mb1|10}} and others through military actions.{{epigraph ref|mb1|1}} Except for a few dissenters, Alendi was able to create a general unity on Scadrial under the reign of Khlennium.{{epigraph ref|mb1|10}} As Alendi's fame and power grew, Kwaan had started to become convinced that he fit the Terris prophecies regarding the Hero of Ages, also known as the Anticipation.{{epigraph ref|mb2|12}} Initially, the other Worldbringers met Kwaan's claims with scorn.{{epigraph ref|mb2|13}} However, Kwaan was determined to validate his theory and decided to travel with Alendi and document his journeys.{{epigraph ref|mb2|23}} Alendi, who was under Ruin's influence,{{wob ref|8049}}{{wob ref|5767}} fueled rumors about himself to persuade the world of his cause, while Ruin slightly altered the prophecies to fit Alendi.{{epigraph ref|mb2|16}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|46}} Eventually, the other Worldbringers became convinced that Alendi must be the Hero of Ages.{{epigraph ref|mb2|30}}
=== Recanting ===
{{quote
|Alendi was never the Hero of Ages. At best, I have amplified his virtues, creating a Hero where there was none. At worst, I fear that all we believe may have been corrupted.
|From Kwaan's inscription{{epigraph ref|mb2|36}}
}}
Kwaan's discovery of Alendi had earned him renown among the Worldbringers, and he became swept up in the idea that he was the Announcer of the hero foretold in the prophecies.{{epigraph ref|mb2|12}} However, by the time the other Worldbringers began to agree with his theory about Alendi, he realized that something was wrong.{{epigraph ref|mb2|30}} He believed that Alendi was perhaps too perfect of a fit to the prophecies, and that his own desire for recognition had caused him to exaggerate Alendi's virtues or make leaps of logic in order to fulfill all of the signs that the Hero of Ages had arrived.{{epigraph ref|mb2|36}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|38}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|40}} Additionally, his eidetic memory allowed him to remember the prophecies without resorting to his copperminds (which could be manipulated by Ruin){{wob ref|9695}} and he began to notice changes in the prophecies cited by the other Worldbringers that could only be caused by meddling from an outside force.{{epigraph ref|mb2|45}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|46}}
Kwaan's pride did not allow him to bring this information to the other Worldbringers at first.{{epigraph ref|mb2|34}} He publicly denouced Alendi to the [[Conclave of Worldbringers]],{{book ref|mb1|15}} but by then it was too late to stop the events that were in motion. The other Worldbringers continued to preach Alendi's virtues and dismissed Kwaan's concerns as madness.{{book ref|mb1|15}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|43}} Alendi had surrounded himself with new counselors who told him what he wanted to hear.{{epigraph ref|mb2|52}} Kwaan's sudden reversal hurt and confused Alendi, who saw him as a father figure.{{book ref|mb1|15}}{{book ref|mb1|29}} Alendi considered having Kwaan executed, but he did not make a great effort to track him down since he was focused on his journey to the [[Well of Ascension]].{{book ref|mb1|29}} Kwaan knew that Alendi was ruthless and expected to be executed after Alendi visited the Well.{{epigraph ref|mb2|6}}
=== Recruiting Rashek ===
Once Kwaan realized that a mysterious force was influencing Scadrial, he came to believe that something destructive was imprisoned in the Well of Ascension.{{epigraph ref|mb2|58}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|59}} He still believed that Alendi was a good man, and that if he took the power of the Well he would release it, freeing whatever was trapped inside.{{epigraph ref|mb2|50}} This was an impressive deduction, as Ruin had indeed been imprisoned in the Well by [[Preservation]] when life was first created on Scadrial, and could have been freed if Alendi released the power.{{wob ref|5310}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|46}}
As a last resort, Kwaan recruited his young nephew [[Rashek]] to get himself hired as one of Alendi's guides through the [[Terris Mountains]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|54}} He would then prevent Alendi from reaching the Well by any means necessary, including assassination.{{epigraph ref|mb3|55}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|56}} Rashek gladly agreed to this assignment because he hated the fact that the Terris nation had been annexed by Khlennium; he also believed that only a Terrisman could be the true Hero of Ages.{{epigraph ref|mb3|56}}{{epigraph ref|mb1|27}} Rashek ultimately killed Alendi and took up the power, making numerous changes to the world and himself, and ruling the Final Empire as Lord Ruler for a thousand years.{{book ref|mb3|part=ars}}
=== Final Days and Legacy ===
{{quote
|I write these words in steel, for anything not set in metal cannot be trusted.
|From [[Kwaan's inscription]]{{epigraph ref|mb2|1}}
}}
Shortly before Alendi and Rashek journeyed to the well, Kwaan created a [[Kwaan's inscription|steel inscription]] describing his discoveries and apologizing for his role in the events of his time, knowing that Ruin could not alter metal.{{book ref|mb3|part=ars}}
During [[Ascension of the Lord Ruler|Rashek's Ascension]], Kwaan was among the
The inscription survived to the end of the Final Empire, when it was found in the [[Conventical of Seran]] by [[Sazed]].{{book ref|mb2|12}} Sazed made a rubbing of the inscription and studied it often.{{book ref|mb2|30}} However, Ruin once again used the tactic of altering the text retroactively.{{book ref|mb3|62}} Through this and other methods (including manipulating [[Vin]]), he helped orchestrate the rebellion against Rashek.{{wob ref|8049}} Sazed eventually figured out that his copy of the inscription had been altered, but only after Ruin had already been released.{{book ref|mb2|epilogue}}{{book ref|mb2|58}}
== Trivia ==
▲Kwaan was among the members of the First Generation of [[kandra]] who were offered immortality by Rashek during the [[Ascension]]. Kwaan refused the offer, believing it to be a betrayal of who they were as a people. Rashek attempted to destroy him in anger, but was unable to so due to wielding [[Preservation]]'s power. Kwaan remained human, fleeing and going into hiding. Rashek eventually hunted him down and executed him.{{wob ref|5764}}
* One of Brandon's main inspirations for ''[[The Well of Ascension]]'' was the relationship between Kwaan, Alendi, and Rashek.{{wob ref|5396}} Despite fan interest, Brandon is not likely to write a prequel story about the interactions between these characters.{{wob ref|6599}}
== Notes ==
<references />
{{complete|[[User:Big Smooth|Big Smooth]] ([[User talk:Big Smooth|talk]]) 18:56, 15 June 2023 (UTC)}}
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