Difference between revisions of "Szeth"

|aliases=Assassin in White, Szeth of the Skybreakers, Szeth of Shinovar, One All White{{book ref|sa2|I|9}}

|booksfirst appeared=[[The StormlightWay of ArchiveKings]]

'''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]], which startedstarts 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 roughly thirty-five years old at the start of the [[True Desolation]]. Like all [[Shin]], he's short and pale-skinned, with large, round eyes lacking the epicanthic fold that most [[Roshar]]ans possess. Normally, his eyes are dark green, but they change to pale sapphire whenever he summons Jezrien's [[Honorblade]],{{book theyref|sa1|i|3}}{{book changeref|sa2.5|8}} toand paleglow sapphirelight grey when he holds Stormlight as a Skybreaker.{{book ref|sa1sa3|i|3117}} His hair is naturally brown,{{book ref|sa2.5|89}} Hebut he shaves his head often, mentioning that he's unable to grow a full head of hair.{{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.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}} However, as a Truthless he's forbidden to take his own life or to give up his Blade.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}} 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 spiraling 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 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. He lived near the coast, and his sister and mother still live in the area.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} At some point, his family was given to the Honorblades,{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} and he started his 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, or intervention from the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]]; 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, in the year {{rosharan date|1166}} at the age of 27, named him Truthless.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}}{{book ref|sa2|i|10}} By this point, he was already the bearer of Jezrien's Honorblade.{{ref|group=fn|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}}

Two years after his banishment, Szeth was purchased by an assassin named [[Liss]].{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} She believed that Szeth was the best servant she ever had and told [[Jasnah]] that she wanted to show him off to her. However, she later found that Szeth was too good of a servant, so she sold him to slavers in [[Kholinar]]. A few weeks later, Szeth was purchased by [[Klade]], a member of the [[listener]] ruling council, in {{rosharan date|1167}}.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} Klade knew of him from [[Venli]], who in turn learned of him from Nale.{{book ref|sa4|77}} When Klade pressured him, Szeth told him about his Shardblade and the abilities it brought.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} As a result, in {{rosharan date|1167|10}}, [[the Five]] ordered him to murder king [[Gavilar Kholin]] of [[Alethkar]] during the treaty-signing celebration. They stipulated that the killing had to be done with live witnesses, and while wearing white.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

Szeth's new master gave him a list of high-ranking targets, all of whom were to be eliminated with the flashy display of skill seen over five years ago in [[Kholinar]]. Szeth carved a bloody path across the continent, slaying, among many others, a [[Selay]] [[gerontarch]] and two [[Azir|Azish]] Primes.{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} His second-to-last kill was King [[Hanavanar]] of Jah Keved, whom he killed on {{rosharan date|1173|9|1|4}} along with his two Shardbearer guards and many others who were present.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}}{{wob ref|7832}} This led directly to the Veden civil war.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

Moments after his death, Szeth was revived by [[Nale]], who used a fabrial to heal his body before his spirit departed .{{book ref|sa3|90}}. Though Szeth was initially outraged at being returned to life, Nale promised to give him a new purpose and gifted him with [[Nightblood]].{{book ref|sa2|88}}

During the Battle of Thaylen Field on {{Rosharan date|1174|2|10|5}}, Szeth arrived on the field just in time to drop down and slay a [[thunderclast]].{{wob ref|7832}} After landing, he met [[Lift]], who let him know that Dalinar asked her to recover the [[King's Drop]], a perfect gemstone. Acknowledging this as Dalinar's will, Szeth joined her in the hunt.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Things initially went poorly, especially when Szeth lost Nightblood's sheath to one of the [[Fused]], causing the sword to go out of control and begin devouring him, despite Lift's attempts to help.{{book ref|sa3|118}}

Szeth acquires [[Nightblood]] from Nale after his death and resurrection.{{book ref|sa2|88}} He does not react with either bloodlust or nausea, perhapsas indicatinghis thatdesire Nightblood'sto testonly ofdo characterwhat failedhe tois affecttold himalign's with Nightblood's [[Intent]] perfectly.{{wob ref|15920}} He does not know itsNightblood's 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}}