Difference between revisions of "Nale"

Nale is dark-skinned, and often described as looking [[Makabak]]i, or more specifically [[Azish]]. The most noticeablenotable aspect of his appearance is a crescent-shaped birthmark on his right cheek. 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}} [[Vorin]] artwork seems to typically portray him as bald, though it's uncertain whether he actually is.{{file ref|Nale.jpg|Nale chapter capstone}}{{file ref|Relief.jpg|Nale relief}}

This being said, Nale's still obsessedfocused withon obeying the rules, and will punish even his own underlings for breaking the lawthem, evenregardless of ifwhether 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 kill whoever breaks the law without a shred of compassion, even if they aren't his targets.{{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 respect that people are fallible, he expects higher standards from those he chooses.{{wob ref|3850}}

Nale was born on [[Ashyn]], either before or during the great calamity that befell it, forcingand forced the human population to leave. Like most others who would eventually become [[Herald]]s, he travelled to [[Roshar]] to settle there.{{wob ref|11945}} Sometime afterwards, when the [[Desolation]]s began, Nale joined the [[Oathpact]], becoming a Herald of the [[Almighty]].{{book ref|sa1|prelude}}

When the [[Surgebinder]]s began first appearing, Nale was initially reluctant to take them under his patronage, even though the nascent [[Skybreakers]] named him their master. Following some sort of the disturbance in the toparchy of [[Revv]], however, he agreed to do so, becoming the last Herald to formally accept his [[Knights Radiant]].{{epigraph ref|sa2|43}}

Like all other Heralds besides [[Taln]], Nalein eventuallytime Nale grew too exhausted to keep participating in the Oathpact. He and the others left their [[Honorblade]]s behind and abandoned the Oathpact in an event later known as [[Aharietiam]].{{book ref|sa1|prelude}} Unlike the others, however, Nale eventually recovered his Blade. He also ended up bonding a [[highspren]] and joining his own Radiant Order, becoming the only Herald to have done so.{{book ref|sa3|106}}{{wob ref|12600}}

At some point, either before or after the [[Recreance]], Nale began working to prevent another Desolation from happening. Eventually, likely following the advice of [[Ishar]], he came to understand it 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 SurgebinderSurgebinders who havehad committed some kind of a crime, no matter how minor, and execute them under the pretense of punishment.{{book ref|sa2|i|2}}

Nale briefly returned East for the [[Battle of Narak]], where he caught and revived recently-killed [[Szeth]]. He proceeded to recruit the [[Shin]] and give him [[Nightblood]], which he had acquired at an uknown point in the past.{{book ref|sa2|88}} Afterwards, he took Szeth with him back West on another hunt, this time to [[Yeddaw]], to track down yet another buddying Surgebinder.{{book ref|sa2.5|15}} While heHe successfully found [[Stump]], but before he could kill her, Lift confronted him there just as the [[Everstorm]] was approaching. The combination of the storm and Lift's words managed to get through to Nale as he realized that his plan had failed, and that he had killed for nothing.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}}

Following the Everstorm, Nale seems to have undergone a small 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 toso that he was back to his confident self when he returned months later.{{book ref|sa3|98}}

He took all the Skybreakers with him south, to [[Marat]]. There, he told them the truth of the Aharietiam and the origins of the Desolations.{{book ref|sa3|106}} Afterwards, they went further, to [[Thaylen City]], though only Nale and Szeth were present during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]]. ThereAs they watched, Nale informed Szeth that he intended for the Skybreakers to follow the [[singer]]s, as they had beenwere the original owners of the landRoshar.{{book ref|sa3|116}} However, he did not participatedparticipate in the battle.{{book ref|sa3|120}}

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, and has access to a living [[Shardblade]], giving him two Blades in total.{{book ref|sa3|90}}{{book ref|sa3|106}} It's unknown if his double bond -- with the Honorblade and the [[spren]] -- enhances his Surgebinding abilities in any way. However, he does have some sort of "hack" that lets him acquire [[Stormlight]] where other charactersothers cannot, though it might be due to his nature as a Herald.{{wob ref|3398}}

He seems well-connected in EasternWestern [[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}}

By contrast, Nale doesn't seem to respect the other Heralds very much. He has been keeping tabs on [[Jezrien]], and considers him to be little more than a drooling idiot in the recent years.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} It's also likely that he's met with [[Kalak]] on the night of [[Gavilar]]'s assassination, suggesting that the two keep in touch; however, he has little patience for himthe man and his worries.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}

Even later, Nale seems to take a special interest in Szeth beyond that ofabove 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, even whendespite theythem disagreedisagreeing with his own.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}} Even when Szeth decides to side with the people opposing [[singer]]s -- and, by extension, Nale -- the Herald respects it and remains friendly, even promising to teach him further.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

Afterwards, Lift takes to hunting him herself, trying to stop him from killing more [[Surgebinder]]s, which eventually leads to the two having a confrontation in [[Yeddaw]]. Nale is initially rather glad that she came to be judged, and has every intention of killing her. Eventually, howeverHowever, she manages to talk him down and point out to him that the Desolation is starting again, which seems to temporarily return him to his senses. She even manages to hughugs him, although he departs shortly after.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}}