Difference between revisions of "Oathpact"

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{{magic
{{update|book=sa3}}{{spoilers|book=sa3}}
 
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|image=The Heralds - XVII. The Star .png
The '''Oathpact''' is an oath held by the [[Herald]]s of [[The Almighty]] to protect the world in the times of the [[Desolation]]s.{{book ref|sa|part=prelude}}
 
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|related=[[Herald]]s, [[Honor]], [[Fused]]
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|world=Roshar
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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
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|books=The Stormlight Archive
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}}
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{{update|sa3|sa4}}
 
The '''Oathpact''' is an agreement sworn by the [[Herald]]s of [[The Almighty]] that trapped the Fused on Braize in between Desolations.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
   
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
During the Desolations, the Odium had given his soldiers powers, allowing them to remain past their deaths as Cognitive Shadows. After being killed, these singers, known as the [[Fused]], were able to take over the bodies of other singers and manipulate the [[Surge]]s with [[Voidlight]]. Everytime a Fused was killed, its soul it would simply be born again into a new host. This formed an impossible challenge for the humans as their strongest enemies could never be permanently killed, and so came the solution: the Oathpact.
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During the Desolations, Odium had given his soldiers powers, allowing them to remain past their deaths as Cognitive Shadows. After being killed, these singers, known as the [[Fused]], were able to take over the bodies of other singers and manipulate the [[Surge]]s with [[Voidlight]]. Every time a Fused was killed, the soul would simply be born again into a new host. This made an impossible challenge for the humans as their strongest enemies could never be permanently killed, and so the Oathpact was created to solve this problem.
   
Five men and five women gave themselves up voluntarily to this pact. With Honor's blessing, they traveled to Braize and sealed the spren of the enemy there. It prevented the Fused from returning, and so ended the war. Or so Honor thought. While gods and spren cannot break oaths, men can and will. The Fused captured the Heralds and tortured them. Eventually, one of the Heralds would break, starting a new Desolation. At the beginning, the Heralds were strong and hundreds of years passed between Desolations, but near the end, their souls wore thin. There were only 2 years between the last two Desolations. After the Aharietiam, the Heralds realized that after all that time, there was one Herald that had never broken the oath and started a Desolation. [[Talenelat]], the Bearer of Agonies. The other Heralds abandoned the Oathpact, leaving only Talenelat to uphold it by himself. For over four and a half millennia, Talenelat withstood the torture of the enemy, but he finally broke, joining the other nine who still live. This caused the True Desolation, currently occurring on Roshar.{{cite}}
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Five men and five women gave themselves up voluntarily to this pact, who would become known as the ten [[Herald]]s. With Honor's blessing, they traveled to [[Braize]] and sealed the spren of the enemy there. It prevented the Fused from returning, and so ended the war. But the Fused tortured the Heralds on Braize until one of the Heralds broke. Thus the Heralds and the Fused would return, starting a new Desolation. At the beginning, the Heralds held strong and hundreds of years passed between Desolations.{{book ref|sa3|38}} Around 2500 years later,{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{book ref|sa4|76}} the Heralds started to lose their sanity, and there was less than a year between the last two Desolations, which left humans no time to rebuild society.{{book ref|sa3|38}} To solve this problem, nine Heralds found a way to abandon the Oathpact and left [[Talenel]], who has never broken, to uphold it by himself.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} The Heralds as well as the Stormfather thought that this would end the Oathpact entirely, at least for the Heralds abandoning it. However, despite what they believe, all the Heralds are still bound to the Oathpact,{{wob ref|5186}} although it has been weakened to the point of near-destruction.{{book ref|sa3|38}} For over four and a half millennia, Talenel withstood the torture of the enemy alone, but eventually he was returned to Roshar. Although Talenel did not break, it is currently unknown what caused his return.{{wob ref|14869}} This coincided with the True Desolation, currently occurring on Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
   
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With the Oathpact weakened and the Everstorm present on Roshar, the Fused only returned to Braize briefly and were reborn in the next Everstorm.{{book ref|sa2|88}} The potential restoration of the Oathpact was a subject of some discussion among the modern day Radiants seeking to defeat the Fused. Jasnah Kholin considered trying to locate a Herald to ask them to return to Damnation or kill them to seal away the Fused again.{{book ref|sa3|39}} Dalinar approached Ishar who in a moment of lucidity claimed the Oathpact could be reset, although he said that he will need Dalinar's help to complete the task.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
After the [[Last Desolation]], nine of the Heralds thought they abandoned the Oathpact, leaving only [[Talenel|Talenel'Elin]] to uphold it.{{book ref|sa|part=prelude}} However, despite what they believe, all the Heralds are still bound to the Oathpact.{{wob ref|5186}}
 
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{{image|Ending the Oathpact by Katie Payne.jpg|side=left|width=300px|End of the Oathpact}}
   
 
== Mechanics ==
 
== Mechanics ==
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The Oathpact can be visualized by a Bondsmith as a network of Connections between each individual Herald and their fellows.{{book ref|sa4|47}} Dalinar saw the Oathpact and noted a particularly strong, still potent connection when he touched [[Nale]] with [[Bondsmith]] powers.
The Heralds and the Shard [[Honor]] were the only two parties who were part of the Oathpact.{{wob ref|2898}} [[Odium]] being bound to the [[Roshar]] System was not a direct result of the Oathpact but the Oathpact is part of it. {{wob ref|6273}}
 
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The Heralds and the Shard [[Honor]] were the only two parties who were part of the Oathpact.{{wob ref|2898}} [[Odium]] being bound to the [[Roshar]] system was not a direct result of the Oathpact but the Oathpact is part of it. {{wob ref|6273}} Upon dying during a Desolation, the Heralds are returned to Braize; however, even if they survived the Desolation, they are still supposed to return or the Fused will continue to reborn.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
   
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While the Oathpact still remains,{{wob ref|10561}} how much is unknown. [[Ishar]] implied that there is a way to reset the Oathpact when he shortly regained sanity. He instructed Dalinar to meet him in Shinovar and let a Radiant swear an Ideal near him to proceed. Even after the Oathpact was abandoned by nine of the Heralds, the Connection that remained between them still allowed each Herald to sense the others to some extent.{{epigraph ref|sa4|79}} This allowed all the Heralds to sense when Jezrien was permanantly killed by [[Moash]], which manifest a terrible ripping sensation internally, leaving behind a sensation of a empty place or loss inside themselves.{{book ref|sa3|121}} However, the Oathpact still remained intact even though one of its members was in the Beyond, with only Jezrien's Connection to the others being completely severed.{{book ref|sa4|47}}
While at least some of the Oathpact still stands,{{wob ref|10561}} it is unknown exactly how much remains.
 
   
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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[[category: notable articles]]
 

Revision as of 20:14, 17 August 2021

Oathpact
The Heralds - XVII. The Star .png
Related to Heralds, Honor, Fused
World of Origin Roshar
Universe Cosmere
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Be aware that in its current state, it may not include all additional content yet.

The Oathpact is an agreement sworn by the Heralds of The Almighty that trapped the Fused on Braize in between Desolations.[1]

History

During the Desolations, Odium had given his soldiers powers, allowing them to remain past their deaths as Cognitive Shadows. After being killed, these singers, known as the Fused, were able to take over the bodies of other singers and manipulate the Surges with Voidlight. Every time a Fused was killed, the soul would simply be born again into a new host. This made an impossible challenge for the humans as their strongest enemies could never be permanently killed, and so the Oathpact was created to solve this problem.

Five men and five women gave themselves up voluntarily to this pact, who would become known as the ten Heralds. With Honor's blessing, they traveled to Braize and sealed the spren of the enemy there. It prevented the Fused from returning, and so ended the war. But the Fused tortured the Heralds on Braize until one of the Heralds broke. Thus the Heralds and the Fused would return, starting a new Desolation. At the beginning, the Heralds held strong and hundreds of years passed between Desolations.[2] Around 2500 years later,[2][3] the Heralds started to lose their sanity, and there was less than a year between the last two Desolations, which left humans no time to rebuild society.[2] To solve this problem, nine Heralds found a way to abandon the Oathpact and left Talenel, who has never broken, to uphold it by himself.[1] The Heralds as well as the Stormfather thought that this would end the Oathpact entirely, at least for the Heralds abandoning it. However, despite what they believe, all the Heralds are still bound to the Oathpact,[4] although it has been weakened to the point of near-destruction.[2] For over four and a half millennia, Talenel withstood the torture of the enemy alone, but eventually he was returned to Roshar. Although Talenel did not break, it is currently unknown what caused his return.[5] This coincided with the True Desolation, currently occurring on Roshar.[2]

With the Oathpact weakened and the Everstorm present on Roshar, the Fused only returned to Braize briefly and were reborn in the next Everstorm.[6] The potential restoration of the Oathpact was a subject of some discussion among the modern day Radiants seeking to defeat the Fused. Jasnah Kholin considered trying to locate a Herald to ask them to return to Damnation or kill them to seal away the Fused again.[7] Dalinar approached Ishar who in a moment of lucidity claimed the Oathpact could be reset, although he said that he will need Dalinar's help to complete the task.[8]

End of the Oathpact

Mechanics

The Oathpact can be visualized by a Bondsmith as a network of Connections between each individual Herald and their fellows.[9] Dalinar saw the Oathpact and noted a particularly strong, still potent connection when he touched Nale with Bondsmith powers.

The Heralds and the Shard Honor were the only two parties who were part of the Oathpact.[10] Odium being bound to the Roshar system was not a direct result of the Oathpact but the Oathpact is part of it. [11] Upon dying during a Desolation, the Heralds are returned to Braize; however, even if they survived the Desolation, they are still supposed to return or the Fused will continue to reborn.[1]

While the Oathpact still remains,[12] how much is unknown. Ishar implied that there is a way to reset the Oathpact when he shortly regained sanity. He instructed Dalinar to meet him in Shinovar and let a Radiant swear an Ideal near him to proceed. Even after the Oathpact was abandoned by nine of the Heralds, the Connection that remained between them still allowed each Herald to sense the others to some extent.[13] This allowed all the Heralds to sense when Jezrien was permanantly killed by Moash, which manifest a terrible ripping sensation internally, leaving behind a sensation of a empty place or loss inside themselves.[14] However, the Oathpact still remained intact even though one of its members was in the Beyond, with only Jezrien's Connection to the others being completely severed.[9]

Notes

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