Difference between revisions of "Szeth"

|bonded=Unnamed [[Szeth's highspren]]

'''Szeth{{nosnippet|-son-Honor}}''', formerly '''Szeth-son-son-Vallano''' or '''Szeth-son-Neturo''', [[Truthless]] of [[Shinovar]], is a [[Shin]] man from [[Roshar]]. He is the infamous Assassin in White and is responsible for the death of [[Gavilar Kholin]], kickstartingwhich started the [[War of Reckoning]].{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} As the Assassin, he wields [[Jezrien]]'s [[Honorblade]]; eventually, he loses it, and is gifted [[Nightblood]].{{book ref|sa2|88}}

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 asfor his Fourth Skybreaker Ideal quest.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

Szeth is roughly thirty-five years old at the start of the [[True Desolation]]. Like all [[Shin]], he's short and pale-skinned, with roundlarge, beadyround eyes lacking the epicanthic fold that most [[Roshar]]ans possess. Normally, his eyes are dark green, but whenever he summons Jezrien's [[Honorblade]], they change to pale sapphire.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}}{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} He's bald, and shaves his head often, mentioning that he's unable to grow hisa hairfull outhead asof much as most peoplehair.{{book ref|sa3|90}}

Szeth is bound unwaveringly to honor, and loyal to the extent that he will do anything asked by his master, including self-mutilation. However, as a Truthless he's forbidden to take his own life or to give up his Blade. While accomplished at assassination, he's not a willing killer, always facing inner turmoil when taking a life. He hears the screams of his victims when he closes his eyes; his self-loathing eventually sends him spirallingspiraling into madness. His resurrection did nothing to help him; he continues to hear the whispers of those he'd killed, which [[Nale]] believes to be trembles from the [[Spiritual Realm]], serving as a constant reminder of his crimes.{{book ref|sa3|90}}

As a [[Skybreaker]], Szeth develops a far greater suspicion of his superiors; he starts questioning his orders, and even argueargues 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}} His [[Szeth's highspren|highspren]] believes he needs to learn to rely on himself instead of Dalinar more.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} 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}}

Szeth knows how to use all of the [[Surge]]s, having practiced with them throughwith the Shin's eight [[Honorblade]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}} As his family was given to the Honorblades,{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} he was the bearer of [[Jezrien]]'s Honorblade. It grants 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, leveling 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 hasThis alsotraining 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}} Although he has bonded a spren at this point and it should be able to manifest as a Shardblade, it has yet to do so, and in fact rarely shows itself to him at all.{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} He will unlockgain his Shardplate upon the completion of his Fourth Ideal crusade.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}

After losing Jezrien's Honorblade, Szeth has beenwas gifted [[Nightblood]] by [[Nale]].{{book ref|sa2|88}} While Szeth cannot dismiss Nightblood the way he could with a regular Shardblade, he is nonethelesseven just asmore dangerous with it, if not more, as with a BladeNightblood. He cannot, however, draw it from its sheath in most circumstances; lackingLacking [[Breath]], he has to feed it Stormlight to survive the act of using it, which means he cannot draw it very frequently.{{book ref|sa3|98}}

Notably, it seems that unlikeUnlike 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}} Other unique capabilities include denting an Honorblade, collapsing an open [[perpendicularity]], and destroying [[Connection]]s made by [[Bondsmith]]s.{{book ref|sa4|111}}

As a younger man, Szeth was a highly-regarded member of the [[Shin]] society.{{wob ref|4040}} He carried water and did other tasks on his father [[Neturo-son-Vallano]]'s sheep farm.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} He lived near the coast.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} At some point, his family was given to the Honorblades,{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} and he started hehis training with them, familiarizing himself with all ten of the [[Surge]]s. Among others, the training included ice-skating exercises to mimic [[Abrasion]].{{book ref|sa3|98}}{{book ref|sa3|120}} At some point, however, he began hearing a voice in his head, possibly that of a [[spren]].{{book ref|sa3|92}} Perhaps as a result of this, he began saying that the [[Voidbringers]] were returning to Roshar.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} The Shin leaders, however, told him that his claims were false and, at the age of 27, named him Truthless.{{book ref|sa2|i|10}} By this point, he was already the bearer of Jezrien's Honorblade.{{ref|text=Szeth calls it "''his'' blade" and relates that he flew with it through the skies of Shinovar,{{cite}} implying that he held it before leaving.}}{{wob ref|5089}}

{{image|FacingTeamfight offby withMarie the Assassin in WhiteSeeberger.jpg|side=right|width=350px|First attempt to assassinate [[Dalinar]], foiled by [[Kaladin]]}}

Szeth's new mastersmaster gave him a list of high-ranking targets, all of whom were to be eliminated with the sameflashy display of skill displayedseen over five years ago in [[Kholinar]]. Szeth set out to do just that, carvingcarved a bloody path across the continent, slaying, among many others, two [[Azir|Azish]] Primes.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} His second-to-last kill was King [[Hanavanar]] of Jah Keved, whom he killed along with his two Shardbearer guards and many others who were present.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}} This led directly intoto the Veden civil war.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

King [[Taravangian]], the last onename on Szeth's hit list, turned out to be his secret employer. When Szeth arrived in [[Kharbranth]], Taravangian revealed a portion of his schemes, showcasing his "hospitals" in which people were slowly killed in order to draw out [[Death Rattle]]s.{{book ref|sa1|71}} Upon showing this to Szeth, he sentordered him out on a mission to kill a new target: [[Dalinar Kholin]].

During a [[highstorm]], Szeth attacked King [[Elhokar]]'s palace on the [[Shattered Plains]], entering it through a hole cut in the wall with his Blade. On his way, he killed [[Beld]] and cut through [[Hobber]]'s midriff, crippling the use of his legshim, then proceeded to fight against [[Adolin]], [[Kaladin]], and [[Dalinar]], who all of whom believed he was there to assassinate Elhokar. HeSzeth quickly gained the upper hand, lashing Adolin to the ceiling and cutting through Kaladin's arm. However, he ultimately failed, as Kaladin managed to push him through his entryway. The two of them fell to the ground, both surviving. Szeth panicked when he saw Kaladin healing his arm, and when Kaladin told him that he was a Windrunner, Szeth fled.{{book ref|sa2|32}}{{book ref|sa2|33}}

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|sa2|i|10}} He found the king in [[Vedenar]], and, control almost gone, demanded to know if the [[Knights Radiant]] were returning. Taravangian managed to appease him by claiming that an Honorblade with [[Regrowth]] has been stolen. HearingHaving heard that, Szeth made to departdeparted, vowing to kill [[Kaladin]]; however, Taravangian forbade him to approach Kaladin, demanding that Szeth kill only Dalinar.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

When Dalinar went to Emul, Szeth and Nightblood accompanied him, wearing Lightwoven disguises.{{book ref|sa4|27}} He accompanniedaccompanied Dalinar on and off the battlefield,{{book ref|sa4|47}}{{book ref|sa4|50}}{{book ref|sa4|66}}, with the exception of when Dalinar went to speak with [[Renarin Kholin|Renarin]].{{book ref|sa4|54}}