Difference between revisions of "Nale"

|titles={{tag+|herald}}, Herald of Justice, Patron of the [[Order of Skybreakers|Skybreakers]], The Illuminator, The Judge

|aliases=Nalan, Nin, Nin-son-God, Darkness, Nakku, The Illuminator, The Judge

{{image|Herald of Justice.jpg|width=200px250px|side=left}}

Nale is dark-skinned, and often described as looking [[Makabak]]i, or more specifically [[Azish]]. The most notable aspect of his appearance is a crescent-shaped birthmark on his right cheek -- something unique to him among the Heralds.{{wob ref|8455}}{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} He's typically dressed in a uniform of an Azish constable -- a black coat with a double row of silver buttons and a stiff silver collar poking up from beneath, as well as gloves with long collars of their own.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} His eyes are mentioned as looking glassy, unfeeling and cold.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} [[VorinRosharan]] artwork seems to typically portrayportrays him as bald, and he does seem toindeed shave his hair close to his scalp.{{file ref|Nale.jpg|Nale chapter capstone}}{{file ref|Relief.jpg|Nale relief}}{{book ref|sa4|47}}

Nale is obsessed with order and law, and will go to extreme lengths to ensure he doesn't break any laws of the land he's in. This is because he's lost his own sense of justice and morality, and as such, he believes that the only way for him to act correctly is to obey a code of conduct created by others.{{book ref|sa3|121}} He is, however, capable of bending the rules to his advantage, such as by appointing himself a lawman to enable him to kill, or pressuring local authorities to change the law.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2.5|16}} This being said, Nale's still focused on obeying the rules, and will punish even his own underlings for breaking them, regardless of whether doing so is to his advantage.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} Perhaps because of this, [[Nightblood]] wouldn't consider him to be evil.{{wob ref|12567}}

This being said, Nale's still focused on obeying the rules, and will punish even his own underlings for breaking them, regardless of whether doing so is to his advantage.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} He thinks the world of [[Ishar]], and will do anything the man commands, to the point of self-delusion, in all but most dire of circumstances.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}} In his actions, he seems utterly devoid of mercy, and will execute the maximum penalty avaiable to him without a shred of compassion or leniency, evenregardless ifof they aren'twho his targetsvictim is.{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} He respects those who share his own blind obedience, and will target them as recruits for the [[Skybreakers]].{{book ref|sa2|88}} While willing to respectunderstanding that people are fallible, he expects higher standards from those he chooses.{{wob ref|3850}} He thinks the world of [[Ishar]], and will do anything the man commands, to the point of self-delusion, in all but most dire of circumstances.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}}

Most of Nale's current-day behavior is athe result of his experiences during the [[Desolation]]s. Back then, he was capable of emotions and compassion; howeverin fact, he was highly aware that law was, by itself, inflexible and immoral, and that it fell on lawmakers to make sure that law protected the weak from the strong.{{book ref|sa4|47}} However, this empathy was tortured out of him on [[Braize]].{{book ref|sa3|121}} In his better moments, Nale is aware of what he's lost, and can be horrified by his own behavior, but his current coping patterns quickly reassert themselves.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}}{{book ref|sa3|90}}

He seems to have some problems correctly perceiving the passage of time, expressing surprise that a food he'd left behind many years, if not decades prior had gone bad.{{book ref|sa3|106}} He is also unfazed by any wounds or pain; he takes an arrow to the face with little more than mild annoyance at being interrupted.{{book ref|sa4|47}}

As a Herald of the Almighty, Nale is functionally immortal. He does not appear to age while on Roshar; and when he does die, he is transported to Braize for torturing. He can return to Roshar when he wishes to stop the torturepain, although this causes another Desolation. He also has access to an [[Honorblade]], and is in fact the only Herald to have recovered his after [[Aharietiam]].{{book ref|sa3|106}} The Honorblade makes him a [[Surgebinder]], granting him powers over the [[Surge]]s of [[Division]] and [[Gravitation]].{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa3|121}}

Apart from his powers as a Herald, Nale has formed a [[Nahel bond]] with a [[highspren]], making him a Skybreaker. He's the only Skybreaker in centuries to have reached the Fifth Ideal. His bond also gives him access to a living [[Shardblade]], giving him two Blades in total.{{book ref|sa3|90}}{{book ref|sa3|106}} His double bond -- with the Honorblade and the [[spren]] -- will slightly enhanceenhances his powers.{{wob ref|5618}}

While he has access to Surgebinding during the entire [[Era of Solitude]], he seems to avoid using it in the presence of others, likely to keep a low profile.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} This changes after he joins the singers, and he seems to have no issues using Gravitation in combat.{{book ref|sa4|47}}

Nale is the head of the Order of Skybreakers, with many of its members sworn to follow him directly byas their Third Ideal. This provides him with a small, but powerful fighting force willing to obey his every command. They seem to followexecute himhis commands unquestioningly, even when he turns against humanity.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Some of them are as high as the Fourth Ideal, while others are merely squires, though all seem rather well-trained.{{book ref|sa3|90}}

Apart from the Skybreakers, Nale seems to have vast resources and connections. He has access to various rare items and creatures: he can acquire a [[larkin]] without apparent difficulty, has a [[Regrowth]] [[fabrial]] able to bring people back from the dead, and was even in possession of [[Nightblood]] for a while, having gotten his hands on it bythrough unknown means.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} He keeps caches of food and supplies throughout the continent, though many of them are poorly-maintained.{{book ref|sa3|106}}

He seems well-connected in Western [[Roshar]]. He can track Lift over vast distances and easily get his hands on attire of local lawkeepers, as well as necessary paperwork for him to join them.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} He's also fostered good relationships with most local governments, enough so that they're willing to grant him authority after he reveals himself and the Skybreakers to them.{{book ref|sa3|92}} It's unknown how well he's embedded himself in the structures of Eastern Roshar, although he has at the very least acquired the authority to act as a lawkeeper in [[Alethkar]] from king [[Gavilar Kholin]].{{book ref|sa4|77}}

=== BeforeThe the RecreanceDesolations ===

At some point, either before orpossibly after the [[Recreance]], Nale began working to prevent another Desolation from happening. Eventually, likely following the advice of [[Ishar]], he came to understand itthis as eliminating every nascent [[Surgebinder]] other than the prospective Skybreakers, whose bonds he had the capacity to permit and deny.{{book ref|sa3|106}} By the time of the reunification of [[Alethkar]], he was still doing it, forming a methodology that agreed with his own sentiments: he would track down Surgebinders who had committed some kind of a crime, no matter how minor, and execute them under the pretense of punishment.{{book ref|sa2|i|2}}

Following the Everstorm, Nale seems to have undergonehad a smallminor breakdown, leaving for parts unknown for several weeks before coming back for Szeth, dropping him off at the Skybreaker training grounds, then leaving again to seek [[Ishar]]'s guidance.{{book ref|sa3|90}} Whatever Ishar had told him apparently worked well enough to calm Nale down, enough so that he was back to his confident self when he returned months later.{{book ref|sa3|98}}

By contrast, Nale doesn't seem to respect thefor other Heralds veryseems much.to Hehave haseroded beenwith keepingtime. tabsOnce, onhe considered fighting alongside [[Jezrien]] to be an honor; these days, however, he's been keeping tabs on the Herald of Kings, and considers him to be little more than a drooling idiot in the recent years.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book It'sref|sa4|47}} alsoHe likelyand that[[Kalak]] he'straveled mettogether witha couple of times, most notably during the capture of [[KalakBa-Ado-Mishram]] onand the night[[Assassination of [[Gavilar]].{{book ref|sa4|24}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}} He has little patience for the man and his worries, and Kalak's assassination,perpetual suggestingparanoia thatand thefear twoannoys him. He doesn't seem to keep in touch; however,with the other Heralds; he hasdoesn't littlecare patiencewhen forKalak thementions man[[Shalash]], and hisnever worriesonce speaks of [[Talenel]] despite the new Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}

Nale seemsis highlyvery impressed with Szeth, calling him one of the people most deserving of joining the [[Skybreaker]]s. He's apparently been watching Szeth for a considerable period of time while the latter was [[Truthless]], andhaving followed him since at least the [[Assassination of Gavilar]] Kholin.{{book ref|sa4|77}} He greatly respects hisSzeth's obedience to the Oath[[Oathstone]], enough so to revive him from death and entrust him with [[Nightblood]].{{book ref|sa2|88}}

Even laterafter recruiting Szeth, Nale seems to take a special interest in Szethhim above other candidates. He seems comfortable telling Szeth his life story and speaking to him in private about the true history of the world.{{book ref|sa3|106}}{{book ref|sa3|121}} He's also fairly indifferent and accepting of Szeth's opinions, despite them disagreeing with his own.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}} Even when Szeth decides to side with the people opposing [[singer]]s -- and, by extension, against Nale -- the Herald respects it and remains friendly, even promising to teach him further.{{book ref|sa3|121}}