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{{character
|image=Szeth.jpg
|parents=
|ancestors=
|abilities={{tag+|skybreaker}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}}
|profession={{cat tag|Assassins|Assassin}}
|aliases=Assassin in White
|titles=[[Truthless]] of [[Shinovar]]
}}
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'''Szeth''', formerly '''Szeth-son-son-Vallano''' or '''Szeth-son-Neturo''', [[Truthless]] of [[Shinovar]], is a [[Shin]] man from [[Roshar]].
Szeth is currently a [[Skybreaker]] of the Third Ideal and serves [[Dalinar Kholin]]. He intends to return to Shinovar and bring justice to the ones who exiled him as his Fourth Skybreaker Ideal quest.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
=== Personality ===
{{quote
|I am not good at being a person. It is … a failing of mine
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}}
As a [[Skybreaker]], Szeth develops a far greater suspicion of his superiors; he starts questioning his orders, and even argue with those above him if he believes they are wrong.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}} He slowly learns to make his own decisions, although still seems to yearn for someone to follow, as evidenced by his newfound dedication to Dalinar.{{book ref|sa3|119}} He's exceedingly serious, and unless severely agitated, highly respectful to others. He also seems deaf to jokes or sarcasm, often finding what others say to be incredibly profound, even when it's nonsensical or silly.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
== Attributes and Abilities ==▼
Szeth is an exceptionally skilled combatant; when ordered to fight, he becomes a nigh-on unstoppable killing machine. He's proficient with a sword, as well as the martial art of [[kammar]]. He combines both of those skills with his [[Surgebinding]] abilities to a deadly effect.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}} In one-on-one combat, he can hold his own, and even defeat, a master swordsman.{{book ref|sa2|85}} He's fearless when attacking even people in [[Shardplate]] and wielding [[Shardblade]]s, trusting his greater, [[Stormlight]]-augmented agility to carry him through the battle unharmed.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} He also shows great cunning, resourcefulness and determination, which serve him well both in and out of combat.{{book ref|sa3|98}}▼
[[File: The Assassin in White by Ari Ibarra.jpg|250px|thumb|right|<center><small>by {{a|Ari Ibarra}}</small></center> Drawing [[Nightblood]] ]]▼
=== Surgebinding ===▼
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Szeth knows how to use all of the [[Surge]]s, having practiced with them through the Shin's eight [[Honorblade]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}} When he was exiled, he was given [[Jezrien]]'s Honorblade, granting him the powers of a [[Windrunner]] and thus the Surges of [[Gravitation]] and [[Adhesion]].{{book ref|sa3|87}} Over the years, he has become a master of it, easily controlling all three [[Lashing]]s. However, he is unaccustomed to fighting other Windrunners, levelling the playing field somewhat when his opponent can also take to the skies.{{book ref|sa2|85}}▼
The training has also included basic information about all Radiant orders; Szeth is familiar with their names, their powers and their capabilities, as well as strategies to counter all of them.{{book ref|sa3|120}} It has also gave him an assortment of other, non-supernatural skills, such as ice-skating.{{book ref|sa3|120}}▼
At the present, Szeth no longer has Jezrien's Honorblade, and has since become a [[Skybreaker]] of the Third Ideal. This gives him access to the Surges of Gravitation and [[Division]]. While he has been using the former extensively, thanks to his prior experience, he's yet to use the latter, although he already has access to it.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
=== Nightblood ===▼
{{for|Nightblood}}▼
After losing Jezrien's Honorblade, Szeth has been gifted [[Nightblood]] by [[Nale]].{{book ref|sa2|88}} While Szeth cannot dismiss Nightblood the way he could with a regular Shardblade, he is nonetheless just as dangerous with it, if not more, as with a Blade. He cannot, however, draw it from its sheath in most circumstances; lacking [[Breath]], he has to feed it Stormlight to survive the act of using it.{{book ref|sa3|98}}▼
Notably, it seems that unlike Shardblades, Nightblood is capable of erasing [[Fused]] from existence completely, preventing them from resurrecting in the next [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|117}}{{wob ref|10440}}▼
== History ==
=== Early Life ===
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As a younger man, Szeth was a highly-regarded member of the [[Shin]] society.{{wob ref|4040}} At the time, he trained with the [[Honorblade]]s,
After being made a slave and given an [[Oathstone]], Szeth was traded to the Thaylen merchant [[Vstim]].{{book ref|sa1|i|4}} From then on
=== Assassin in White ===
His clothes on the night of the killing led to the general public dubbing him the Assassin in White.{{book ref|sa1|8}}
==== Laying
After Gavilar's death, the listeners threw away Szeth's Oathstone as they fled [[Kholinar]]. Since the Alethi believed that Szeth had fled with the Parshendi, they did not attempt to track him down and instead initiated the [[Vengeance Pact]], waging war on the [[Shattered Plains]]. Meanwhile the stone, and as a result Szeth, was eventually picked up by [[Avado]], a travelling merchant.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}}
After his confrontation with Kaladin, Szeth retreated to the top of Urithiru, shaken by Kaladin's words and wondering if he was wrong the entire time. Ultimately, he decided to confront Taravangian about the matter.{{book ref|sa3|i|10}} He found the king in [[Vedenar]], and, control almost gone, demanded to know if the [[Knights Radiant]] were returning. Taravangain managed to appease him by claiming that a Honorblade with [[Regrowth]] has been stolen. Hearing that, Szeth made to depart, vowing to kill [[Kaladin]]; however, Taravangian forbade him to approach, demanding that Szeth kill only Dalinar.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
==== Death and
{{quote
|What I am owed will come to me eventually! Every bit of it. I will drown in it, stonewalker!
==== Yeddaw ====
After gifting him with Nightblood, Nale inducted Szeth into the [[Skybreakers]], and took him to [[Yeddaw]] in order to find a potential Radiant. Throughout this time, Szeth attempted to convince Nale of the upcoming [[True Desolation]], but was unable to get through to him.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}}
During his time there, he met [[Lift]] in the city's [[Grand Indicium]]. He confronted her and drew Nightblood to test her, but left when Nightblood's power found her innocent.{{book ref|sa2.5|15}} Later, he encountered her again, chasing after him and the other Skybreakers. He stopped to inform her that she could not possibly get there before they did, but also shared the identity of the person they were seeking.{{book ref|sa2.5|16}}
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==== Learning the
The next test was based on the newly acquired ability to Lash by the Skybreaker hopefuls. It involved Lashing oneself through the air and throwing pouches of colored powder at other competitors -- the one with the least spots of color on their outfit would win the game. Szeth originally held the lead, but when the rest of the group realised he would win, he was surrounded and pummeled with pouches. Shortly after, his Stormlight ran out and he fell into the Purelake. Nonetheless, he managed to win, as the water washed away the colors.{{book ref|sa3|98}}
[[File:Szeth Thunderclast.jpg|thumb|right|250px|<center><small>by {{a|Matthew Johnson}}</small></center> Szeth killing a [[thunderclast]] ]]
=== Serving Dalinar Kholin ===
==== Battle of Thaylen Field ====
Szeth arrived on the field just in time to drop down and slay a [[thunderclast]]. After landing, he met [[Lift]], who let him know that Dalinar asked her to recover [[Honor's Drop]], a perfect gemstone. Acknowledging this as Dalinar's will, Szeth joined her in the hunt.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Things initially
Fortunately, it was then that Dalinar managed to open [[Honor's Perpendicularity]], infusing the city with enough Stormlight to slake Nightblood's thirst. Szeth managed to resheathe the blade, and met with Dalinar. After managing to convince the Alethi of his new loyalty, he returned to his search for Honor's Drop with Lift.{{book ref|sa3|119}}
Together, the two managed to trick the Fused carrying it into letting it go and grabbing a [[
==== Aftermath ====
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Afterwards, Szeth became Dalinar’s bodyguard, despite the apprehension of other Alethi.{{book ref|sa3|122}}
▲== Attributes and Abilities ==
▲Szeth is an exceptionally skilled combatant; when ordered to fight, he becomes a nigh-on unstoppable killing machine. He's proficient with a sword, as well as the martial art of [[kammar]]. He combines both of those skills with his [[Surgebinding]] abilities to a deadly effect.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}} In one-on-one combat, he can hold his own, and even defeat, a master swordsman.{{book ref|sa2|85}} He's fearless when attacking even people in [[Shardplate]] and wielding [[Shardblade]]s, trusting his greater, [[Stormlight]]-augmented agility to carry him through the battle unharmed.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} He also shows great cunning, resourcefulness and determination, which serve him well both in and out of combat.{{book ref|sa3|98}}
▲[[File: The Assassin in White by Ari Ibarra.jpg|250px|thumb|right|<center><small>by {{a|Ari Ibarra}}</small></center> Drawing [[Nightblood]] ]]
▲=== Surgebinding ===
▲{{quote
▲| Szeth of the Skybreakers had, fortunately, trained with all ten Surges.
▲| Szeth{{book ref|sa3|120}}
▲}}
▲Szeth knows how to use all of the [[Surge]]s, having practiced with them through the Shin's eight [[Honorblade]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}} When he was exiled, he was given [[Jezrien]]'s Honorblade, granting him the powers of a [[Windrunner]] and thus the Surges of [[Gravitation]] and [[Adhesion]].{{book ref|sa3|87}} Over the years, he has become a master of it, easily controlling all three [[Lashing]]s. However, he is unaccustomed to fighting other Windrunners, levelling the playing field somewhat when his opponent can also take to the skies.{{book ref|sa2|85}}
▲The training has also included basic information about all Radiant orders; Szeth is familiar with their names, their powers and their capabilities, as well as strategies to counter all of them.{{book ref|sa3|120}} It has also gave him an assortment of other, non-supernatural skills, such as ice-skating.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
▲At the present, Szeth no longer has Jezrien's Honorblade, and has since become a [[Skybreaker]] of the Third Ideal. This gives him access to the Surges of Gravitation and [[Division]]. While he has been using the former extensively, thanks to his prior experience, he's yet to use the latter, although he already has access to it.{{book ref|sa3|121}} Theoretically, he should also have a Shardblade at this point, although his spren is too skittish to approach him.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
▲=== Nightblood ===
▲{{for|Nightblood}}
▲After losing Jezrien's Honorblade, Szeth has been gifted [[Nightblood]] by [[Nale]].{{book ref|sa2|88}} While Szeth cannot dismiss Nightblood the way he could with a regular Shardblade, he is nonetheless just as dangerous with it, if not more, as with a Blade. He cannot, however, draw it from its sheath in most circumstances; lacking [[Breath]], he has to feed it Stormlight to survive the act of using it.{{book ref|sa3|98}}
▲Notably, it seems that unlike Shardblades, Nightblood is capable of erasing [[Fused]] from existence completely, preventing them from resurrecting in the next [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|117}}{{wob ref|10440}}
== Relationships ==
=== Nightblood ===
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Szeth acquires [[Nightblood]] from Nale after his death and resurrection.{{book ref|sa2|88}}. He does not know its name, referring to it with the honorific "sword-nimi" instead. Nightblood is sentient and can communicate with Szeth telepathically. The two often have conversations, and throughout them, Nightblood has learned a fair deal about Szeth's past, including what might've been an attempt at bonding a [[spren]]. In turn, the sword has no sense of time and casually speaks of his creators and wielders, such as [[Vivenna]], [[Shashara]], and [[Vasher]], even though Szeth has no idea who they are.{{book ref|sa3|92}} However, Szeth often finds Nightblood's words to be helpful and profound, and when the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]] comes, it's Nightblood that helps him decide which side to take.{{book ref|sa2|116}}
Szeth is warned not to draw Nightblood from its sheath except in case of extreme emergency and only if he carries a great deal of [[Stormlight]], as the sword is extremely dangerous and can feed upon souls.{{book ref|sa3|90}}
Szeth has only fully drawn the sword twice, during the [[Skybreaker]] test at the [[Purelake]]{{book ref|sa3|92}} and at the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|118}} In both cases the sword
== Trivia ==
=== Other ===
* Brandon wrote Szeth's scenes in ''[[The Way of Kings]]'' while listening to [[wikipedia: Daft Punk|Daft Punk]].{{wob ref|1124}}
* Brandon considers Nightblood and Szeth to be one of the more terrifying pairings in the [[cosmere]].{{wob ref|4328}}
* In ''[[The Way of Kings]]'' and ''[[Words of Radiance]]'', every chapter written exclusively from Szeth's point of view begins with the phrase "Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar..." In ''[[Oathbringer]]'', the phrase is dropped for "Szeth of Shinovar" and then "Szeth of the Skybreakers".
== Notes ==
{{Stormlight}}
[[category: viewpoint characters]]
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