Difference between revisions of "Nergaoul"

The ''' Thrill''' is the term used to describe the effect of Nergaoul's presence on people. It manifests as a strong competitive urge accompanied by increased focus and the ability to ignore things like pain or moralitymoral concerns that might otherwise distract from the goal of victory. This effect can be felt during any competition, whether violent or non-violent, although it is much more keen during battle{{book ref|sa1|12}}, where it has been described as a sense of bloodlust{{book ref|sa3|115}} and an enjoyment and longing for war.{{book ref|sa1|28}} It is a phenomenon experienced by many on Roshar, most of whom are not aware of its Unmade origin.

The Thrill is thought to generally grow stronger the closer someone is to Nergaoul's location.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} ItRegardless couldof affectits soldiersstrength, fromgiven bothenough sideswillpower, ofit ais battle{{bookstill ref|sa3|99}}.possible Someonefor feelingsomeone itssensing urgethe may chooseThrill to refusereject its embraceit, howeveror let go of it even when it is already in effect.{{book ref|sa3|26}}

As a spren of [[Odium]], Nergaoul contains part of Odium's Investiture. Perhaps due to this, Odium can more easily control anyone embracing the Thrill.{{book ref|sa3|115}} Odium can also increase the strength of the Thrill for anyone he wishes, as he does to Dalinar while trying to make him his champion.{{book ref|sa3|117}}

Hessi describes Nergaoul as one of the less self-aware Unmade, noting how the Thrill affects both Voidbringers and humans indiscriminately.{{book ref|sa3|99}} From Nergaoul's interaction with Dalinar during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], his intelligence does seem lacking,. butHowever, he also seems to possess some level of sentience, as he showed a desire to please Dalinar and exulted in his praise.{{book ref|sa3|120}}

The Thrill caused Alethkar to become a more warlike nation. Most Alethi soldiers, lighteyed or not, felt the Thrill to some degree. Most notably, it was used heavily and quite effectively by [[Dalinar Kholin]] when he fought battles for his brother [[Gavilar Kholin|Gavilar]], who wanted to unify Alethkar under his own rule. Dalinar's Thrill-driven ferocity in combat earned him a great reputation within Alethkar and infamy elsewhere. People started calling him the '''Blackthorn''' after hethe wasThrill seenhelped walkinghim withendure getting pierced by several black arrows sticking into him due toduring a failed assassination attempt; the Thrill helped him bear the pain.{{book ref|sa3|3}}

BeingGetting underhelp the influence offrom an Unmade wascame notat alwaysa positive for Dalinar, howevercost. At one point, the Thrill consumed himDalinar to the point that he wanted to keep fighting even after winning a battle and almost attacked Gavilar.{{book ref|sa3|26}} Later on, surrendering himself to a vengeful rage stoked by the Thrill, he ordered the slaughter of everyone in the rebelling city of [[Rathalas]], which led to the death of his own wife [[Evi]].{{book ref|sa3|76}}

This tragedy broke Dalinar's spirit. Later he journeyed to the [[Valley]] to seek the boon of "forgiveness" from the [[Nightwatcher]], who did not know what to make of this request. [[Cultivation]] intervened and took all the memories of Evi away from Dalinar's mind, allowing him to recover.{{book ref|sa3|114}} Dalinar would still use the Thrill throughout most of the [[War of Reckoning]] until he found himself more and more repulsed by the idea of senseless killing (possibly influenced by his growing Nahel bond). Later on, withoutWithout knowing its origins, Dalinar eventually concluded that there was something wrong about the Thrill.{{book ref|sa3|16}}

Nergaoul moved towards [[Jah Keved]] while the country was recovering from a series of assassinations that killed off the king and many Veden Highprinces. It is believed that the Unmade's presence greatly worsened the civil war that broke out due to the succession crisis, causing much destruction until the war ended with [[Valam]]'s became victoriousvictory.

King [[Taravangian]] of [[Kharbranth]], the one ultimately responsible for the assassinations, and who shortly succeeded Valam and obtained Jah Keved as his second kingdom, had been studying the various Unmade and noticed Nergaoul's influence in the civil war, but decided to focus his efforts on the Unmade called [[Moelach]] instead.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

During the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], [[Odium]] used Nergaoul to control [[Sadeas]]'s soldiers and attack [[Thaylen City]].{{book ref|sa3|115}} WithHe also used the helpThrill ofto [[Szeth]]attempt andto [[Lift]],turn Dalinar Kholin managed to coaxhis Nergaoulside intoand [[King'sbecome Drop]],his trapping the Unmade inside the perfect gemstone similar to the way [[spren]] are caughtchampion.{{book He did this by embracing the Thrill one last time while holding King's Drop.ref|sa3|117}}