Difference between revisions of "Szeth"

Szeth
	by Ben McSweeney
Family
Parents	Neturo
Siblings	Sister
Ancestors	Vallano
Born	1138
Abilities	Skybreaker, Shardbearer
Bonded With	Szeth's highspren
Titles	Truthless of Shinovar
Aliases	Assassin in White, Szeth of the Skybreakers, Szeth of Shinovar, One All White
Profession	Assassin (formerly), bodyguard
Groups	Knights Radiant (Skybreakers)
Birthplace	Valley of Truth
Residence	Urithiru
Ethnicity	Shin
Homeworld	Roshar
Universe	Cosmere
First Appeared	The Way of Kings

Latest revision as of 19:12, 18 March 2024

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“I was Truthless. I simply followed orders. Tell me. Do you think that absolves a man? ”
—Szeth to Taravangian^[3]

Szeth-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 starts the War of Reckoning.^[4] As the Assassin, he wields Jezrien's Honorblade; eventually, he loses it and is gifted Nightblood.^[5]

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 for his Fourth Skybreaker Ideal quest.^[6]

Appearance and Personality[edit]

by Jessi Ochse

Appearance[edit]

For more images, see /Gallery.

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 Rosharans possess. Normally, his eyes are dark green, but they change to pale sapphire whenever he summons Jezrien's Honorblade,^[1]^[7] and glow light grey when he holds Stormlight as a Skybreaker.^[8] His hair is naturally brown,^[9] but he shaves his head often, mentioning that he's unable to grow a full head of hair.^[10]

As the Assassin, Szeth always wears white. While this originally stemmed from listener customs, Taravangian had him keep the outfit as a symbol.^[4]^[11] Even after he stops following his Oathstone, he continues to wear white.^[12] Following his death and subsequent revival, his soul was improperly attached to his body, leaving him with a ghostly white afterimage that can be seen by anyone with sufficient Investiture, such as Lift or the Skybreakers.^[9]^[10]^[13]

Personality[edit]

“I am not good at being a person. It is … a failing of mine. ”
—Szeth^[14]

Szeth is bound unwaveringly to honor, and loyal to the extent that he will do anything asked by his master, including self-mutilation.^[1] However, as a Truthless he's forbidden to take his own life or to give up his Blade.^[1] 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.^[10]

During this era, he is deeply devoted to Stone Shamanism, seeing it as the only thing of worth he had left in his life. He comes to question his faith's teachings often during his time as Truthless, but tries to silence any such thoughts, considering them dangerous.^[15]

As a Skybreaker, Szeth develops a far greater suspicion of his superiors; he starts questioning his orders, and even argues with those above him if he believes they are wrong.^[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.^[16] His highspren believes he needs to learn to rely on himself more instead of Dalinar.^[17] 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.^[14]

He finds the idea of eternal damnation far more comforting than the obliteration of the soul.^[15]

Attributes and Abilities[edit]

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.^[11] In one-on-one combat, he can hold his own, and even defeat, a master swordsman.^[18] He's fearless when attacking even people in Shardplate and wielding Shardblades, trusting his greater, Stormlight-augmented agility to carry him through the battle unharmed.^[4] He also shows great cunning, resourcefulness and determination, which serve him well both in and out of combat.^[19]

by Ari Ibarra

Drawing Nightblood

Surgebinding[edit]

“Szeth of the Skybreakers had, fortunately, trained with all ten Surges. ”
—Szeth^[14]

Szeth knows how to use all of the Surges, having practiced them with the Shin's eight Honorblades.^[14] As his family was given to the Honorblades,^[17] he was the bearer of Jezrien's Honorblade. It grants him the powers of a Windrunner and thus the Surges of Gravitation and Adhesion.^[20] Over the years, he has become a master of it, easily controlling all three Lashings. However, he is unaccustomed to fighting other Windrunners, leveling the playing field somewhat when his opponent can also take to the skies.^[18]

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.^[14] This training gave him an assortment of other, non-supernatural skills, such as ice-skating.^[14]

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.^[6] 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.^[6]^[17] He will gain his Shardplate upon the completion of his Fourth Ideal crusade.^[17]

Nightblood[edit]

For more information, see Nightblood.

After losing Jezrien's Honorblade, Szeth was gifted Nightblood by Nale.^[5] While Szeth cannot dismiss Nightblood the way he could a regular Shardblade, he is even more dangerous with Nightblood. Lacking Breath, he has to feed it Stormlight to survive the act of using it, which means he cannot draw it very frequently.^[19]

Unlike Shardblades, Nightblood is capable of erasing Fused from existence completely, preventing them from resurrecting in the next Everstorm.^[8]^[21] Other unique capabilities include denting an Honorblade, collapsing an open perpendicularity, and destroying Connections made by Bondsmiths.^[22]

History[edit]

Early Life (1138 - 1166)[edit]

“I knew a voice like yours once, sword-nimi. ... A single one, in my mind, when I was young. I hope things go better this time. ”
—Szeth to Nightblood^[23]

Szeth was born in the year 1138 in the Valley of Truth in Shinovar to Neturo-son-Vallano and an unknown mother.^[1]

As a younger man, Szeth was a highly-regarded member of the Shin society.^[24] He carried water and did other tasks on his father's sheep farm. He lived near the coast, and his sister and mother still live in the area.^[17] At some point, his family was given to the Honorblades,^[17] and he started his training with them, familiarizing himself with all ten of the Surges. Among others, the training included ice-skating exercises to mimic Abrasion.^[19]^[14] At some point, however, he began hearing a voice in his head, possibly that of a spren.^[23] Perhaps as a result of this, he began saying that the Voidbringers were returning to Roshar.^[25] The Shin leaders, however, told him that his claims were false and, in the year 1166 at the age of 27, named him Truthless.^[1]^[26] By this point, he was already the bearer of Jezrien's Honorblade.^{[fn 1]}^[27]

After being made a slave and given an Oathstone, Szeth was traded to the Thaylen merchant Vstim.^[28] From then on, whoever owned his Oathstone owned Szeth, and Szeth was obliged by his honor to do as the owner commanded; with the exception of killing himself or giving up the Honorblade.^[1] Just after being exiled from Shinovar, Szeth visited Urithiru for the first time.^[26]

Assassin in White (1166 - 1173)[edit]

by ThomasW

Facing off against Gavilar Kholin

“I am Truthless. I do as my master requires and I require no explanation.”
—Szeth, regarding his oath.^[29]

Killing King Gavilar[edit]

For more information, see Assassination of Gavilar.

Two years after his banishment, Szeth was purchased by an assassin named Liss.^[30] 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 1167.^[31] Klade knew of him from Venli, who in turn learned of him from Nale.^[32] When Klade pressured him, Szeth told him about his Shardblade and the abilities it brought.^[31] As a result, in Ishi 1167, 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.^[4]

As Szeth attacked, he was fooled into believing Gavilar was a bodyguard, and decided to chase after the escaping target, instead of fighting a protracted battle. However, soon after he realized the "target" was simply a decoy, since Gavilar would be much safer fighting with his own Shardblade and Plate instead of fleeing for his life. Doubling back, Szeth returned to kill Gavilar, and a fierce battle commenced. Gavilar almost succeeded in killing Szeth with a Shardplate-enhanced punch, but ultimately failed and fell to his death onto a piece of wooden debris, which impaled him in an area where the Shardplate had been broken.^[4]

Before dying, Gavilar had two last requests: to tell his brother to "find the most important words a man could say," and to protect a mysterious black sphere that shone dark light. Szeth honored both requests, scrawling a message to Dalinar into the wood with Gavilar's own hand and blood.^[4] Eventually he also hid away the black orb somewhere in Jah Keved.^[1]

His clothes on the night of the killing led to the general public dubbing him the Assassin in White.^[33]

Laying Low[edit]

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.^[1]

Avado took Szeth with him to Jah Keved in fear of possible Alethi retribution against strange foreigners in the wake of their king's assassination. He did not keep his slave for long, however; over the course of the next five years, the Oathstone changed possession many times before landing in the hands of Took, a transient worker. Took was robbed and killed after a night of drinking in Ironsway, a town in the Bavland, and Szeth's Oathstone is taken by Makkek, a small-time criminal.^[1] With Szeth under his control, Makkek set out to gain wealth, first by killing his fellow robbers and then by establishing a gambling den in Bornwater.^[15]

On one of Makkek's missions, this time to eliminate a rival who had opened his own gambling place, Szeth infiltrated the local lord's mansion where his target, Gavashaw, resided. After entering Gavashaw's rooms, he met a mysterious stranger who knew of Szeth and his role in Gavilar's death, as well as his powers. After a short confrontation, the man revealed that both Makek and Gavashaw had been killed, and that Szeth's Oathstone was now in the hands of a new master. Thus, Szeth began to unwittingly serve the Diagram.^[15]

Taravangian's Killer[edit]

by Marie Seeberger

First attempt to assassinate Dalinar, foiled by Kaladin

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 Azish Primes.^[15]^[34] His second-to-last kill was King Hanavanar of Jah Keved, whom he killed on Tanatesev 1173 along with his two Shardbearer guards and many others who were present.^[11]^[35] This led directly to the Veden civil war.^[25]

King Taravangian, the last name 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 Rattles.^[36] Upon showing this to Szeth, he ordered him to kill 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 him, then proceeded to fight against Adolin, Kaladin, and Dalinar, all of whom believed he was there to assassinate Elhokar. Szeth 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.^[37]^[38]

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.^[26] 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. Having heard that, Szeth departed, vowing to kill Kaladin; however, Taravangian forbade him to approach Kaladin, demanding that Szeth kill only Dalinar.^[25]

Death and Resurrection[edit]

“What I am owed will come to me eventually! Every bit of it. I will drown in it, stonewalker! ”
—Szeth to Dalinar^[18]

Szeth attacked Dalinar during the climax of the Battle of Narak. Dalinar was able to temporarily hold his own before being lashed to the sky, to eventually fall to his death after the Stormlight sustaining the lashing ran out. However, before that could happen, Kaladin, having recently sworn the Third Ideal of the Windrunners, swooped in and caught him, then safely returned him to the ground. Kaladin and Szeth then battled above the colliding highstorm and Everstorm. During the battle Szeth came to the realization that Kaladin was truly a Radiant, and so Szeth himself was never Truthless. Unable to accept his actions, Szeth unbonded his Honorblade and fell through the highstorm to his death.^[18]^[5]

Moments after his death, Szeth was revived by Nale, who used a fabrial to heal his body before his spirit departed.^[10] Though Szeth was initially outraged at being returned to life, Nale promised to give him a new purpose and gifted him with Nightblood.^[5]

Skybreaker Trainee (1173 - 1174)[edit]

Yeddaw[edit]

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.^[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.^[39] 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.^[40]

After the Everstorm passed over Yeddaw, Nale departed in a hurry, leaving Szeth stranded in Yeddaw. He was picked up by the Herald after a few weeks and taken to join the other Skybreakers. There, master Ki informed him that his mission with Nale was his first task, and that after being evaluated, he was found worthy of the First Ideal. This, however, was not enough for him to draw Stormlight, as Skybreaker trainees can only do so after attaining the Second.^[10]

by Marie Seeberger

Szeth at the Purelake

Second Ideal[edit]

After swearing the First Ideal, Szeth was taken to the Purelake along with other Skybreaker hopefuls and squires to complete the next test. The challenge was based on a message sent via spanreed by the city's minister, who told them there was a breakout of convicts. The request was to find the guilty and execute them. While most of the squires and hopefuls started immediately to find and execute the convicts, Szeth stayed and questioned their motives, learning more about the local law.^[23]

He was able to find and fight one. He found that the convict had a knife, but was thin, dirty and emaciated. Upon questioning him, Szeth also learned that the prison fort had only one guard. Once back, he saw other convicts, confirming that they had all been poorly fed and under a strict regime, leading him to the realization that the prison itself was improperly run. When he confirmed with Ki that the prison administrator was also on the list of the guilty, Szeth drew Nightblood and killed the man. This allowed him to swear the Second Ideal, letting him draw Stormlight. Impressed, Ki chose him as her squire.^[23]

“I swear to seek justice, to let it guide me, until I find a more perfect Ideal. ”
—The Second Ideal of the Skybreakers, as sworn by Szeth^[23]

Learning the Truth[edit]

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.^[19]

Frustrated with the slow progress, Szeth intended to swear his next ideal there and then, but at this point Nale arrived. The Herald took Szeth and the other full Skybreakers to Marat, where he showed them a village destroyed by the Voidbringers before telling them all the truth about the world. Afterwards, Nale declared his intentions: to side with the singers, the original inhabitants of Roshar, and oppose humanity.^[41]

Initially, Szeth believed he had no choice other than to follow Nale, but in a conversation Nightblood about the topic, he changed his mind, realizing that there was always a choice.^[42] He decided to swear himself into service of Dalinar, and joined the Battle of Thaylen Field.^[8]

by Matthew Johnson

Szeth killing a thunderclast

Serving Dalinar Kholin (1174 - Present)[edit]

Battle of Thaylen Field[edit]

During the Battle of Thaylen Field on Nanishah 1174, Szeth arrived on the field just in time to drop down and slay a thunderclast.^[35] 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.^[8] 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.^[43]

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 King's Drop with Lift.^[16] Together, the two managed to trick the Fused carrying it into letting it go and grabbing a Lightwoven fake, with Lift bringing the real King's Drop to Dalinar, who then used it to trap Nergaoul.^[14]

Aftermath of the Battle[edit]

After the battle, Szeth met with Nale, who warned him about following a man instead of a law, but supported the decision overall. The Herald made to depart, promising to return later and teach Szeth about the Surge of Division. Before he left, Szeth swore his Third Oath. He also made it clear that for his Fourth, the Ideal of Crusade, he intended to travel to Shinovar and cleanse it of the false leaders who made him the Truthless in the first place.^[6]

“I swear to follow the will of Dalinar Kholin. This is my oath. ”
—The Third Ideal of the Skybreakers, as sworn by Szeth^[6]

“I will cleanse the Shin of their false leaders, so long as Dalinar Kholin agrees. ”
—The Fourth Ideal of the Skybreakers, as sworn by Szeth^[6]

Afterwards, Szeth became Dalinar’s bodyguard, despite the apprehension of other Alethi.^[44]

Imprisonment in Urithiru[edit]

Szeth only served as Dalinar's bodyguard for a short time, due to his unstable nature and the uncertainty of people close to Dalinar, notably Navani. He was put in a makeshift prison cell on the upper floors of Urithiru, and was given food, fresh clothing (white, as he specified), and plenty of spheres for light (presumably to banish the voices in his head). After several people got annoyed, he requested that Nightblood stop speaking to anyone but him. During his imprisonment, Navani interviewed him a number of times, asking him about her husband Gavilar's death. During one of these interview sessions, Navani learned of the black sphere, and Szeth was temporarily released to go get it.^[12]

Guarding Dalinar on the Emuli Front[edit]

“I decide now. I finally decide. Me. No one else compelling me. Taravangian, know that in killing you, I make it my choice.”
—Szeth, immediately before attempting to kill Taravangian^[3]

When Dalinar went to Emul, Szeth and Nightblood accompanied him, wearing Lightwoven disguises.^[45] He accompanied Dalinar on and off the battlefield,^[46]^[47]^[48] with the exception of when Dalinar went to speak with Renarin.^[49]

by Nozomi

Killing Taravangian

While protecting Dalinar, he is disarmed by Nale, his former master and clearly his better in combat. Dalinar escapes Nale's attack unscathed.^[46] In an unusual deviation from his typical silent stoicism, Szeth offers Dalinar advice on Taravangian, saying that the aged king was not to be trusted.^[48] While watching Dalinar and little Gavinor, Szeth's highspren told him he must soon complete his Fourth Ideal.^[17]

Taravangian had deduced earlier that Szeth must be in Emul^[50] and had seen through his Lightwoven disguise.^[48] Taravangian requested a stone matching the description of Szeth's Oathstone in order to get Szeth to confront him.^[17] Unfortunately, this confrontation happened on a day when Taravangian was dumb and compassionate, and therefore unable to manipulate Szeth. His pleas for Szeth to give Nightblood to Dalinar for use on Rayse during a vision were ignored.^[51]

Szeth attended Dalinar's planning session in which he planned to confront Ishar. Szeth was surprised by the Herald's marked similarity to modern-day Shin.^[52] Later, he handed Dalinar the original copy of Oathbringer as they prepared to confront Ishar.^[53] Szeth then flew with the strike team to meet Ishar. At first, he stayed back. When Ishar summoned his Honorblade, which was previously held by Neturo-son-Vallano, Szeth's father, Szeth was shaken and collapsed. Just as Ishar was about to take Dalinar's bond to the Stormfather, Szeth stepped in and used Nightblood to slash the Connection. He then collapsed the perpendicularity, and, raging at Ishar, struck the Honorblade with Nightblood, leaving a chip in the Honorblade.^[22]

Szeth then went to Taravangian's makeshift prison, intending to kill him. An incredibly dumb and emotional Taravangian was unable to stop him, but fortunately was pulled into a vision by Odium right as Szeth was stabbing him with an ordinary knife. Taravangian used the slowing of time to grab Nightblood and stab Rayse, killing him. Taravangian then Ascended to Odium.^[3] Szeth re-sheathed Nightblood, and, mistaking Rayse's corpse for Taravangian's and thinking the deed done, left. He confessed to the murder of Taravangian, supposing him to have somehow drawn Nightblood and been consumed by it.^[54]

He intended to next travel to Shinovar to complete his Fourth Ideal.^[22]

Relationships[edit]

Dalinar Kholin[edit]

“I swear to follow the will of Dalinar Kholin. This is my oath. ”
—The Third Ideal of the Skybreakers, as sworn by Szeth^[6]

At first, Dalinar was nothing but a target to him, as Taravangian ordered him to assassinate him.^[36]

Since the Battle of Thaylen Field, he has completely devoted himself to following the orders of Dalinar Kholin, and became his bodyguard.^[6]^[44] He has since followed the man around as much as he was allowed to, travelling with him to Emul and accompanying him on the battlefield.^[45]^[46]^[47]^[48]^[expand] The reason he devoted himself to Dalinar was due to his reputation, and how he lived up to that reputation; the reputation was far more important than the man himself, in his eyes.^[55]

Nale[edit]

“I watched you destroy yourself in the name of order, watched you obey your personal code when others would have fled or crumbled. Szeth-son-Neturo, I watched you keep your word with perfection. This is a thing lost to most people--it is the only genuine beauty in the world. I doubt I have ever found a man more worthy of the Skybreakers than you. ”
—Nale to Szeth^[5]

Nale was his master during his time in the Order of Skybreakers, and was the man who resurrected him and gave him Nightblood after he died in the Battle of Narak.^[5] At first, he was outraged at Nale for bringing him back to life after he intentionally let himself die.^[5] During his time following him, he continuously tried to convince him of the coming of the True Desolation, but was unable to get it through to him.^[9] He respected him enough that even upon Nightblood's urging that he was evil and must be killed, he refused to draw his blade on him.^[41] He followed him due to the fact that he thought that he had too, but began questioning it after Nale declared his intentions to join on the side of the Fused.^[41] Questioning his loyalty, he turned to Nightblood again, who convinced him he always had a choice; this led him to swearing loyalty to Dalinar Kholin, turning against his previous master.^[42]^[8]

Nale was watching Szeth since the assassination of Gavilar Kholin in 1167, and was greatly impressed by his unflinching loyalty to the orders of whoever held his oathstone.^[32] It was his respect for his loyalty that he brought him back to life and gave him Nightblood.^[5] He was comfortable enough with Szeth, and trusted him enough, to reveal to him the true history of the world in private.^[41]^[6] Nale disapproves of him making the code that he followed for his Third Ideal being a man instead of a rigid code, but accepted his oath regardless.^[6] Following their departure, they became enemies due to being on two opposing sides in the war.

Navani Kholin[edit]

Navani Kholin deeply despises him for killing her former husband, Gavilar Kholin. She wants him executed for his crimes, and does not trust that he has truly found a better way by swearing himself to Dalinar.^[12] Szeth does not blame her for her feelings, admitting that what he did was wrong.^[12]^{[citation needed]}^[expand]

Neturo-son-Vallano[edit]

Neturo-son-Vallano is Szeth's father. After becoming Truthless, Szeth felt too ashamed to associated himself with him, and thus besmirch his name. This led him to taking on the name Szeth-son-son-Vallano, as a way to keep Neturo's name clean.^[15] Even going so far as to try to stop thinking about him entirely.^[17]

While separated for close to a decade, he still loved him, and was deeply shaken by his death.^[22]

Nightblood[edit]

“I'm sure you can spot [evil]. You seem smart. If increasingly kind of boring. ”
—Nightblood to Szeth^[23]

Szeth acquires Nightblood from Nale after his death and resurrection.^[5] He does not react with either bloodlust or nausea, as his desire to only do what he is told align's with Nightblood's Intent perfectly.^[56] He does not know Nightblood'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.^[23] 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.^[57]

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.^[10] Occasionally, he will draw it partially to see how other people react to it, as Nightblood causes "good" people to feel sudden nausea.^[39]

Szeth has only fully drawn the sword thrice, during the Skybreaker test at the Purelake^[23], at the Battle of Thaylen Field,^[43] and to strike at the Herald Ishar.^[22] In each case, the sword single-mindedly begins screaming into Szeth's mind while quickly consuming any available Stormlight and causing him extreme pain.^[16] However, Nightblood insists that it wouldn't deliberately attack Szeth, as it doesn't consider him to be evil.^[23]^[17]

Taravangian[edit]

For a time, Taravangian served as Szeth's master and ordered him to assassinate various key political figures such as Hanavanar, Dalinar, and two Azish Primes.^[34] Due to Taravangian holding his oathstone, he followed his orders without question, not out of any feeling of devotion to Taravangian himself, but out of a feeling of obligation due to his role as Truthless.

After Szeth accepted he wasn't Truthless, and stopped obeying the orders of those who held his oathstone, he stopped obeying the king's orders. He came to deeply despise him, enough that he was driven to murder him while he was imprisoned, unintentionally bringing about his Ascension to Odium.^[48]^[3] He also saw him as manipulative and unable to be trusted, and obliges Dalinar Kholin to not to trust anything that he says.^[48] His distrust of Taravangian is enough that he disregards and rejects anything he says as manipulation, even when he is telling the truth.^[58]

Bonded Highspren[edit]

When Szeth's highspren chooses to show itself to him, he kneels to it and moves away from Nightblood. He is reverential to it, indeed, the two have a relationship that resembles master-student much more than the close kinship of other Radiant bonds. The highspren has not yet chosen to tell Szeth its name, but Szeth does not mind. Szeth describes the highspren as always judging his worthiness.^[17]

Trivia[edit]

Continuity Change[edit]

Szeth's death was subject to a continuity change. In the original hardcover edition of Words of Radiance, Szeth was killed by Kaladin driving Syl as a Shardblade into his chest, severing his spine. Brandon felt this was out of character for Kaladin, and changed the text with the release of the paperback edition of the book. Szeth's death now occurred when he unbonded his Blade and fell through the Highstorm.^[59]

Other[edit]

Brandon wrote Szeth's scenes in The Way of Kings while listening to Daft Punk.^[60]
Brandon considers Nightblood and Szeth to be one of the more terrifying pairings in the cosmere.^[61]
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". In Rhythm of War, this is changed to "Szeth-son-Honor".
In The Way of Kings Prime, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, was known as Jeksonsonvallano, Truthless of Shinavar, or Jek.

Notes[edit]

Footnotes

↑ Szeth calls it "his blade" and relates that he flew with it through the skies of Shinovar,^{[citation needed]} implying that he held it before leaving.

References

This article is still missing information. Please help The Coppermind by expanding it.

The Stormlight Archive (Roshar) The Way of Kings · Words of Radiance · Oathbringer · Rhythm of War (Edgedancer · Dawnshard)
Major Characters	Kaladin · Shallan · Dalinar · Eshonai · Venli · Szeth · Adolin · Renarin · Jasnah · Navani · Lift · Moash · Taravangian · Taln
Spren	Syl · Pattern · Wyndle · Glys · Ivory · Timbre · Mayalaran · Stormfather · Nightwatcher · Sibling · Sja-anat
Knights Radiant	Windrunners · Skybreakers · Dustbringers · Edgedancers · Truthwatchers · Lightweavers · Elsecallers · Willshapers · Stonewards · Bondsmiths
Voidbringers	Fused · Regals · Voidspren · Unmade · Thunderclasts
Shards	Honor · Cultivation · Odium
Magic	Highstorms · Everstorm · Lights (Stormlight · Voidlight) · Surgebinding · Voidbinding · Fabrials · Shardblades · Shardplate · Oathgate · Old Magic · Dawnshard
Lifeforms	Singers · Sleepless · Siah Aimians · Ryshadium · Larkin · Chasmfiends · Greatshells
Locations	Aimia · Alethkar · Azir · Emul · Iri · Jah Keved · Kharbranth · Shinovar · Thaylenah · Urithiru · Horneater Peaks · Purelake · Shadesmar · Shattered Plains
Culture	Lighteyes · Darkeyes · Vorinism · Ardents · Spheres · Glyphs · Women's script · Dawnchant
Groups	Bridge Four · Listeners · Heralds · Highprinces · Ghostbloods · The Diagram · Sons of Honor
History	Expulsion · Desolations · Oathpact · Last Desolation · False Desolation · Day of Recreance · Hierocracy · War of Reckoning · True Desolation

[Szeth_calls_it_.22.27.27his.27.27_blade.22_and_relates_that_he_flew_with_it_through_the_skies_of_Shinovar.2C.3Csup.3E.27.27.5B.5BHelp:Cite.7C.5Bcitation_needed.5D.5D.5D.27.27.5B.5Bcategory:_articles_in_need_of_citations.5D.5D.3C.2Fsup.3E_implying_that_he_held_it_before_leaving.-27] Szeth calls it "his blade" and relates that he flew with it through the skies of Shinovar,^{[citation needed]} implying that he held it before leaving.

[The_Way_of_Kings-i-3-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j The Way of Kings interlude I-3Summary: The Way of Kings/Interlude_I-3#

[Words_of_Radiance-I-9-2] Words of Radiance interlude I-9#

[Rhythm_of_War-113-chapter-3] Rhythm of War chapter 113Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_113#

[The_Way_of_Kings-prologue-chapter-4] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f The Way of Kings prologueSummary: The Way of Kings/Prologue#

[Words_of_Radiance-88-chapter-5] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Words of Radiance chapter 88Summary: Words of Radiance/Chapter_88#

[Oathbringer-121-chapter-6] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Oathbringer chapter 121Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_121#

[Edgedancer_.28novella.29-8-chapter-7] Edgedancer chapter 8Summary: Edgedancer/Chapter_8#

[Oathbringer-117-chapter-8] Oathbringer chapter 117Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_117#

[Edgedancer_.28novella.29-9-chapter-9] Edgedancer chapter 9Summary: Edgedancer/Chapter_9#

[Oathbringer-90-chapter-10] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Oathbringer chapter 90Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_90#

[The_Way_of_Kings-i-9-11] The Way of Kings interlude I-9Summary: The Way of Kings/Interlude_I-9#

[Rhythm_of_War-16-chapter-12] Rhythm of War chapter 16Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_16#

[Arcanum-2563-13] Arcanum Unbounded Fort Collins signing
— Arcanum - 2016-11-29Cite: Arcanum-2563#

[Oathbringer-120-chapter-14] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Oathbringer chapter 120Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_120#

[The_Way_of_Kings-i-6-15] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f The Way of Kings interlude I-6Summary: The Way of Kings/Interlude_I-6#

[Oathbringer-119-chapter-16] Oathbringer chapter 119Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_119#

[Rhythm_of_War-i-7-17] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Rhythm of War interlude I-7Summary: Rhythm of War/Interlude_I-7#

[Words_of_Radiance-85-chapter-18] Words of Radiance chapter 85Summary: Words of Radiance/Chapter_85#

[Oathbringer-98-chapter-19] Oathbringer chapter 98Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_98#

[Oathbringer-87-chapter-20] Oathbringer chapter 87Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_87#

[Arcanum-10440-21] Idaho Falls signing
— Arcanum - 2018-07-21Cite: Arcanum-10440#

[Rhythm_of_War-111-chapter-22] Rhythm of War chapter 111Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_111#

[Oathbringer-92-chapter-23] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Oathbringer chapter 92Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_92#

[Arcanum-4040-24] /r/fantasy AMA 2011
— Arcanum - 2011-09-01Cite: Arcanum-4040#

[Words_of_Radiance-i-14-25] Words of Radiance interlude I-14#

[Words_of_Radiance-i-10-26] Words of Radiance interlude I-10#

[Arcanum-5089-28] Salt Lake City ComicCon 2017
— Arcanum - 2017-09-21Cite: Arcanum-5089#

[The_Way_of_Kings-i-4-29] The Way of Kings interlude I-4Summary: The Way of Kings/Interlude_I-4#

[Words_of_Radiance-I-14-30] Words of Radiance interlude I-14#

[Words_of_Radiance-prologue-chapter-31] Words of Radiance prologueSummary: Words of Radiance/Prologue#

[Oathbringer-prologue-chapter-32] Oathbringer prologueSummary: Oathbringer/Prologue#

[Rhythm_of_War-77-chapter-33] Rhythm of War chapter 77Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_77#

[The_Way_of_Kings-8-chapter-34] The Way of Kings chapter 8Summary: The Way of Kings/Chapter_8#

[Words_of_Radiance-i-9-35] Words of Radiance interlude I-9#

[Arcanum-7832-36] Brandon's Blog 2017
— Arcanum - 2017-10-27Cite: Arcanum-7832#

[The_Way_of_Kings-71-chapter-37] The Way of Kings chapter 71Summary: The Way of Kings/Chapter_71#

[Words_of_Radiance-32-chapter-38] Words of Radiance chapter 32Summary: Words of Radiance/Chapter_32#

[Words_of_Radiance-33-chapter-39] Words of Radiance chapter 33Summary: Words of Radiance/Chapter_33#

[Edgedancer_.28novella.29-15-chapter-40] Edgedancer chapter 15Summary: Edgedancer/Chapter_15#

[Edgedancer_.28novella.29-16-chapter-41] Edgedancer chapter 16Summary: Edgedancer/Chapter_16#

[Oathbringer-106-chapter-42] Oathbringer chapter 106Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_106#

[Oathbringer-116-chapter-43] Oathbringer chapter 116Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_116#

[Oathbringer-118-chapter-44] Oathbringer chapter 118Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_118#

[Oathbringer-122-chapter-45] Oathbringer chapter 122Summary: Oathbringer/Chapter_122#

[Rhythm_of_War-27-chapter-46] Rhythm of War chapter 27Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_27#

[Rhythm_of_War-47-chapter-47] Rhythm of War chapter 47Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_47#

[Rhythm_of_War-50-chapter-48] Rhythm of War chapter 50Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_50#

[Rhythm_of_War-66-chapter-49] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Rhythm of War chapter 66Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_66#

[Rhythm_of_War-54-chapter-50] Rhythm of War chapter 54Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_54#

[Rhythm_of_War-i-6-51] Rhythm of War interlude I-6Summary: Rhythm of War/Interlude_I-6#

[Rhythm_of_War-i-9-52] Rhythm of War interlude I-9Summary: Rhythm of War/Interlude_I-9#

[Rhythm_of_War-98-chapter-53] Rhythm of War chapter 98Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_98#

[Rhythm_of_War-101-chapter-54] Rhythm of War chapter 101Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_101#

[Rhythm_of_War-114-chapter-55] Rhythm of War chapter 114Summary: Rhythm of War/Chapter_114#

[Arcanum-8753-56] Oathbringer Leeds signing
— Arcanum - 2017-12-01Cite: Arcanum-8753#

[Arcanum-15920-57] Miscellaneous 2022
— Arcanum - 2022-11-28Cite: Arcanum-15920#

[Words_of_Radiance-116-chapter-58] Words of Radiance chapter 116Summary: Words of Radiance/Chapter_116#

[Rhythm_of_War-i-8-59] Rhythm of War interlude I-8Summary: Rhythm of War/Interlude_I-8#

[three-stories-in-new-formats-60] Three Stories in New Formats
— Brandon's website - 2015-04-05#

[Arcanum-1124-61] 17th Shard Forum Q&A
— Arcanum - 2012-09-26Cite: Arcanum-1124#

[Arcanum-4328-62] Shadows of Self signing San Jose
— Arcanum - 2015-10-09Cite: Arcanum-4328#

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Difference between revisions of "Szeth"

Latest revision as of 19:12, 18 March 2024

Contents

Appearance and Personality[edit]

Appearance[edit]

Personality[edit]

Attributes and Abilities[edit]

Surgebinding[edit]

Nightblood[edit]

History[edit]

Early Life (1138 - 1166)[edit]

Assassin in White (1166 - 1173)[edit]

Killing King Gavilar[edit]

Laying Low[edit]

Taravangian's Killer[edit]

Death and Resurrection[edit]

Skybreaker Trainee (1173 - 1174)[edit]

Yeddaw[edit]

Second Ideal[edit]

Learning the Truth[edit]

Serving Dalinar Kholin (1174 - Present)[edit]

Battle of Thaylen Field[edit]

Aftermath of the Battle[edit]

Imprisonment in Urithiru[edit]

Guarding Dalinar on the Emuli Front[edit]

Relationships[edit]

Dalinar Kholin[edit]

Nale[edit]

Navani Kholin[edit]

Neturo-son-Vallano[edit]

Nightblood[edit]

Taravangian[edit]

Bonded Highspren[edit]

Trivia[edit]

Continuity Change[edit]

Other[edit]

Notes[edit]

Navigation menu

Search

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{character
 |image=Szeth.jpg
-|parents=Neturo
+|parents=[[Neturo]]
+|siblings= Sister
 |ancestors=Vallano
 |abilities={{tag+|skybreaker}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}}
+|bonded=[[Szeth's highspren]]
-|aliases=Assassin in White
+|profession={{cat tag|Assassins|Assassin}} <small>(formerly)</small>, bodyguard
+|aliases=Assassin in White, Szeth of the Skybreakers, Szeth of Shinovar, One All White{{book ref|sa2|I|9}}
 |titles=[[Truthless]] of [[Shinovar]]
 |groups={{tag|Knights Radiant}} <small>([[Order of Skybreakers|Skybreakers]])</small>
-|born={{Rosharan date|1138}}
+|born={{Rosharan date|1138}}{{book ref|sa1|i|3}}
 |'birthplace=[[Valley of Truth]]
 |residence=Urithiru
@@ Line 13: / Line 16: @@
 |world=Roshar
 |universe=[[Cosmere]]
-|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
+|first appeared=[[The Way of Kings]]
+}}
-}}{{spoilers|book=sa3}}
+{{update|sa4}}
 {{quote
-| I am Truthless. I do as my master requires and I require no explanation.
+|I was Truthless. I simply followed orders. Tell me. Do you think that absolves a man?
-| Szeth, regarding his oath.{{book ref|sa2|I|14}}
+|Szeth to [[Taravangian]]{{book ref|sa4|113}}
 }}
-'''Szeth''' (<small>Alethi pronunciation:</small> [[Wikipedia:Help:IPA|[ˈszɛθ]]] [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key|'''''<small>SZETH</small>''''']]), formerly '''Szeth-son-son-Vallano''' or '''Szeth-son-Neturo''', [[Truthless]] of [[Shinovar]], and Skybreaker of the 4th ideal, is a Shin from [[Roshar]]. He is the son of [[Neturo]], who was son of [[Vallano]].{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}
+'''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 starts 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 for his Fourth Skybreaker Ideal quest.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
 == Appearance and Personality ==
+{{image|Szeth by Jessi Ochse.jpg|side=right|width=350px}}
+=== Appearance ===
+{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
+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 ref|sa1|i|3}}{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} and glow light grey when he holds Stormlight as a Skybreaker.{{book ref|sa3|117}} His hair is naturally brown,{{book ref|sa2.5|9}} but he shaves his head often, mentioning that he's unable to grow a full head of hair.{{book ref|sa3|90}}
+As the Assassin, Szeth always wears white. While this originally stemmed from [[listener]] customs, [[Taravangian]] had him keep the outfit as a symbol.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa1|i|9}} Even after he stops following his [[Oathstone]], he continues to wear white.{{book ref|sa4|16}} Following his death and subsequent revival, his soul was improperly attached to his body, leaving him with a ghostly white afterimage that can be seen by anyone with sufficient [[Investiture]], such as [[Lift]] or the Skybreakers.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}}{{book ref|sa3|90}}{{wob ref|2563}}
+=== Personality ===
 {{quote
+|I am not good at being a person. It is … a failing of mine.
-| This man was not sane. Szeth-son-son-Vallano was the most dangerous weapon on all of [[Roshar]], and he was broken.
-| [[Taravangian]]'s assessment of Szeth near [[Veden]]{{book ref|sa2|I|14}}
+|Szeth{{book ref|sa3|120}}
 }}
-He is short, bald, and has large, round eyes like most Shin, which normally are dark green, but change to pale sapphire when he summons his [[Shardblade]].{{book ref|sa1|i|3}}
-During his time as Truthless, he was given an [[Honorblade]] and was cast out from the Valley of Truth, forced to bear the blade and the sins of all those he served. Szeth is bound unwavering to honor, he is loyal to the extent that he will do anything asked by his master including self mutilation. He is forbidden to take his own life or to give up his Blade. Szeth, while accomplished at assassination, is not a willing killer, always facing inner turmoil when taking a life. He hears the screams of his victims when he closes his eyes and loathes himself so that he descends into madness.
+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}}
-Later, he was killed and Nale, the Herald of Justice, restored him. He used a type of fabrial to heal his body before his spirit departed. This took too long and his spirit did not reattach properly. As consequence of this, he leaves a glowing after image when he moves. {{book ref|sa3|90}}
+During this era, he is deeply devoted to Stone Shamanism, seeing it as the only thing of worth he had left in his life. He comes to question his faith's teachings often during his time as Truthless, but tries to silence any such thoughts, considering them dangerous.{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}
+As a [[Skybreaker]], Szeth develops a far greater suspicion of his superiors; he starts questioning his orders, and even argues 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 more instead of Dalinar.{{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 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}}
+He finds the idea of eternal damnation far more comforting than the obliteration of the soul.{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}
-Szeth loathes himself after his many killings and blasphemies. His madness was not healed as he hears whispers. Nin called it the effect of Szeth's connection to the powers, and said that he was hearing trembles from the Spiritual Realm. Memories of the dead he'd killed. He doesn't fear them, but still weeps. {{book ref|sa3|90}}
+== Attributes and Abilities ==
-<gallery caption="Images of Szeth">
+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}}
-Szeth.jpg | Szeth by [[Ben McSweeney]]
-Szeth and Nightblood.png | With Nightblood by [[Coppermind: Artists/LittleGreyDragon|LittleGreyDragon]]
+{{image|The Assassin in White by Ari Ibarra.jpg|width=250px|side=right|Drawing [[Nightblood]]}}
-Szeth Small.jpg | Infused with Stormlight by [[User: Sheep]]
+=== Surgebinding ===
-Szeth Action.jpg | In flight by [[User: Sheep]]
+{{quote
-Szeth's Chapters.svg | Szeth chapters by [[Isaac Stewart]]
+|Szeth of the Skybreakers had, fortunately, trained with all ten Surges.
-Szeth and Nightblood 2.png | Szeth and Nightblood by [[Coppermind: Artists/ShiroXIX|ShiroXIX]]
+|Szeth{{book ref|sa3|120}}
-Szeth assassin.jpeg | Confronting Gavilar Kholin by [[User: Sheep]]
+}}
-Szeth_the_assassin.jpg | In Gavilar's palace by [[User: Sheep]]
-Assassination of Gavilar.jpg | The assassination of Gavilar by [[Coppermind: Artists/Thorkild Skov|Thorkild Skov]]
+Szeth knows how to use all of the [[Surge]]s, having practiced them with 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}}
-Szeth Thunderclast.jpg | Szeth killing a Thunderclast by [[Coppermind: Artists/Matthew Johnson|Matthew Johnson]]
+<!--The exact wording in the book is "given to the Honorblades". Please don't edit this.-->
-Szeth Nale.jpg | With Nale and Nightblood by [[User: Botanicaxu]]
-The Assassin in White by Ari Ibarra.jpg | <center><small>by [[Coppermind:Artists/Ari Ibarra|Ari Ibarra]]</small></center>Drawing [[Nightblood]]
+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}} This training gave him an assortment of other, non-supernatural skills, such as ice-skating.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
-Szeth and Nightblood by Amanda Diaz.jpg | <center><small>by [[Coppermind:Artists/Amanda "rantology" Diaz|Amanda "rantology" Diaz]]</small></center>With [[Nightblood]]
-Szeth - XX. Judgement .jpg | <center><small>by [[Coppermind:Artists/taratjah|taratjah]]</small></center>
+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 gain his Shardplate upon the completion of his Fourth Ideal crusade.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}
-</gallery>
+=== Nightblood ===
+{{for|Nightblood}}
+After losing Jezrien's Honorblade, Szeth was gifted [[Nightblood]] by [[Nale]].{{book ref|sa2|88}} While Szeth cannot dismiss Nightblood the way he could a regular Shardblade, he is even more dangerous with Nightblood. Lacking [[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}}
+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}} Other unique capabilities include denting an Honorblade, collapsing an open [[perpendicularity]], and destroying [[Connection]]s made by [[Bondsmith]]s.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
 == History ==
-=== Early Life ===
+=== Early Life ({{Rosharan date|1138}} - {{Rosharan date|1166}}) ===
 {{quote
-| I knew a voice like yours once, sword-nimi. ... A single one, in my mind, when I was young. I hope things go better this time.
+|I knew a voice like yours once, sword-nimi. ... A single one, in my mind, when I was young. I hope things go better this time.
-| Szeth telling [[Nightblood]] about his youth{{book ref|sa3|92}}
+|Szeth to [[Nightblood]]{{book ref|sa3|92}}
 }}
+Szeth was born in the year {{rosharan date|1138}} in the [[Valley of Truth]] in Shinovar to [[Neturo-son-Vallano]] and an unknown mother.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}}
-Szeth heard a voice in his mind, similar to [[Nightblood]]'s, in his mind when he was younger. It ended badly for him somehow, perhaps relating to the events that made him Truthless.{{book ref|sa3|92}} In his youth, he trained with Honorblades {{book ref|sa3|98}} and was well trained in all ten surges. He practiced ice skating as a training exercise that mimics [[Abrasion]].{{book ref|sa3|120}} Szeth claimed that the [[Voidbringers]] were returning to Roshar.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} The Shin leaders told him that his claims were false and named him Truthless.{{book ref|sa2|i|10}} He was named Truthless at approximately 27 years of age and was traded to the Thaylen merchant [[Vstim]] shortly afterwards.{{book ref|sa1|i|4}} Szeth is bound to his [[Oathstone]]. Whoever owned his Oathstone, owned Szeth. Szeth is obliged by his honor to do as the owner commanded with the exception of killing himself or giving up his Shardblade.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}} Just after being exiled from [[Shinovar]] Szeth visited [[Urithiru]] for the first time.{{book ref|sa2|I|10}}
+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'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, 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}}
-[[File:Szeth assassin.jpeg|thumb|left|250px|Confronting Gavilar Kholin by [[User: Sheep]]]]
-=== Assassin in White ===
-When he was 29 years of age, Szeth was purchased by [[Klade]], a member of the [[Parshendi]] ruling council. When Klade pressures him, Szeth tells him about his Shardblade and his abilities{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}.
+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, whoever owned his Oathstone owned Szeth, and Szeth was obliged by his honor to do as the owner commanded; with the exception of killing himself or giving up the Honorblade.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}} Just after being exiled from [[Shinovar]], Szeth visited [[Urithiru]] for the first time.{{book ref|sa2|i|10}}
-The Parshendi ruling council orders Szeth to murder King [[Gavilar Kholin]] of [[Alethkar]] during the Alethi-Parshendi treaty-signing celebrations, in public, and be seen doing it with live witnesses. As he attacked he was fooled into believing Gavilar was a bodyguard. Szeth was forced into chasing after the escaping target, instead of fighting a protracted battle. However soon after, he realized the target was simply a decoy, since Gavilar would be much safer in his own Shardplate, fighting with his Shardblade, instead of fleeing for his life. Doubling back, Szeth abandoned chase and returned to kill Gavilar. A fierce battle between Gavilar and Szeth commenced. Gavilar almost succeeded in killing Szeth with a Shardplate enhanced punch, but ultimately failed and fell to his death upon a piece of wooden debris which impaled him in a spot where the Shardplate had been broken. Before dying, Gavilar had two last requests: to tell his brother to "find the most important words a man could say," and to protect a mysterious [[black sphere]] that shone dark light. Szeth honored both requests, scrawling a message to [[Dalinar]] into the wood with Gavilar's own hand and blood.{{book ref|twok|prologue}} Eventually he also hid away the black orb somewhere in [[Jah Keved]].{{book ref|twok|i|3}}
+=== Assassin in White ({{Rosharan date|1166}} - {{Rosharan date|1173}}) ===
-He wore traditional white Parshendi assassin attire on the night he killed Gavilar, which led to him being known as the Assassin in White. Parshendi customs bade assassins to wear white, for if someone were to be assassinated, they were owed a fair warning.{{book ref|twok|prologue}}
+{{image|Szeth and Gavilar by ThomasW.jpg|side=left|width=200px|Facing off against [[Gavilar Kholin]]}}
+{{sidequote
+|I am Truthless. I do as my master requires and I require no explanation.
+|Szeth, regarding his oath.{{book ref|sa2|I|14}}
+}}
-=== Vengeance Pact ===
+==== Killing King Gavilar ====
+{{for|Assassination of Gavilar}}
-Following Gavilar's death, the Parshendi threw away Szeth's Oathstone as they fled [[Kholinar]]. As the Alethi believed that Szeth had fled with the Parshendi they did not attempt to track him down and instead began the [[Vengeance Pact]], waging war on the Parshendi. Meanwhile Szeth was eventually picked up by [[Avado]]. The travelling merchant took him to Jah Keved in fear of possible Alethi retributions against strange foreigners in the wake of their king's death. Over the course of more than 5 years, the Oathstone changed possession many times before landing in the hands of [[Took]], a transient worker. Took was robbed and killed after a night of drinking in [[Ironsway]], a town in the [[Bavland]], and Szeth's Oathstone went to [[Makkek]].{{book ref|twok|i|3}} With Szeth under his control, Makkek set out to gain wealth, first by killing his fellow robbers, and then establishing a gambling den in [[Bornwater]].{{book ref|twok|i|6}}
+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}}
-On one of Makkek's missions, this time to eliminate a rival who had opened his own gambling place, Szeth infiltrated the local lord's mansion where his target [[Gavashaw]] resided. There he met a mysterious stranger who knew of Szeth and his role in Gavilar's death, revealing in detail of Szeth's powers, and also of a new master they both now served, revealing his Oathstone taken from Makkek. Gavashaw and Makkek had both been killed.
+As Szeth attacked, he was fooled into believing Gavilar was a bodyguard, and decided to chase after the escaping target, instead of fighting a protracted battle. However, soon after he realized the "target" was simply a decoy, since Gavilar would be much safer fighting with his own Shardblade and Plate instead of fleeing for his life. Doubling back, Szeth returned to kill Gavilar, and a fierce battle commenced. Gavilar almost succeeded in killing Szeth with a Shardplate-enhanced punch, but ultimately failed and fell to his death onto a piece of wooden debris, which impaled him in an area where the Shardplate had been broken.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}
-=== Taravangian's Assassin ===
-[[File:Szeth Action.jpg|thumb|right|200px|In flight by [[User: Sheep]]]]
-The stranger gave Szeth a list of high ranking targets, all of whom were to be eliminated with the same skill displayed over five years ago in Kholinar. Szeth set out to do his work. His second last goal was King [[Hanavanar]] of Jah Keved whom he killed along with his two Shardbearer guards.{{book ref|twok|i|9}}
+Before dying, Gavilar had two last requests: to tell his brother to "find the most important words a man could say," and to protect a mysterious [[black sphere]] that shone [[anti-Voidlight|dark light]]. Szeth honored both requests, scrawling a message to [[Dalinar]] into the wood with Gavilar's own hand and blood.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Eventually he also hid away the black orb somewhere in [[Jah Keved]].{{book ref|sa1|i|3}}
-King [[Taravangian]], the last one on Szeth's hit list, turned out to be his secret employer. Widely known as the dim witted, elderly, yet kind king of [[Kharbranth]], Taravangian actually ran a secret hospital hidden in the king's palace. It was built in a large room with wide railings on the sides. Its purpose was to slowly kill the incredibly sick, elderly, or just undesired remnants of society by slowly draining the blood out of them, thereby protracting their death out of public eyesight. Taravangian did this because some of the dying spoke during the last moments of their life, which he thought might provide valuable insight about the coming Desolation. So in order to prepare for it, he began collecting their [[Death Rattle]]s.{{book ref|twok|71}}
+His clothes on the night of the killing led to the general public dubbing him the Assassin in White.{{book ref|sa1|8}}
-During a [[Highstorm]], Szeth attacked King [[Elhokar]]'s palace on the [[Shattered Plains]]. He entered the palace through a hole he cut in a high stone wall. He killed [[Beld]] and cut through [[Hobber]]'s midriff, crippling the use of his legs. He proceeded to fight against [[Adolin]], [[Kaladin]], and [[Dalinar]] who all believed he was there to assassinate Elhokar. He quickly gained the upper hand, lashing Adolin to the ceiling and cutting through Kaladin's arm. When he was about to kill Dalinar, Dalinar caught his Shardblade between his hands, a maneuver known as the [[lastclap]], allowing Kaladin to push both himself and Szeth through the hole in the wall that Szeth had made to enter the palace. The two of them fell to the ground, both surviving. Szeth panicked when he saw Kaladin healing his arm, and when Kaladin told him he was a Windrunner, Szeth fled.
-=== Contemplation ===
+==== Laying Low ====
+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 where he wondered if he was wrong the entire time. He stared into the distance and trying not to blink, as he heard the screams of his victims every time he closed his eyes. Szeth shouted at the sun demanding to know why must he bear the sins if he was not Truthless. He decided to go looking for answers, or someone to kill.
+Avado took Szeth with him to [[Jah Keved]] in fear of possible Alethi retribution against strange foreigners in the wake of their king's assassination. He did not keep his slave for long, however; over the course of the next five years, the Oathstone changed possession many times before landing in the hands of [[Took]], a transient worker. Took was robbed and killed after a night of drinking in [[Ironsway]], a town in the [[Bavland]], and Szeth's Oathstone is taken by [[Makkek]], a small-time criminal.{{book ref|sa1|i|3}} With Szeth under his control, Makkek set out to gain wealth, first by killing his fellow robbers and then by establishing a gambling den in [[Bornwater]].{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}
-=== Meeting with Taravangian ===
-Szeth found Taravangian and demanded to know if the [[Knights Radiant|Radiants]] were returning. He held himself barely in check, and his self control was almost gone. Taravangian quickly deflected and told Szeth that an honorblade that allows regrowth was used and that the man Szeth fought was no Radiant. Szeth was appeased and vowed to kill Kaladin and retrieve the honorblade. Taravangian forbade him and ordered Szeth to kill Dalinar Kholin while staying away from the man.
+On one of Makkek's missions, this time to eliminate a rival who had opened his own gambling place, Szeth infiltrated the local lord's mansion where his target, [[Gavashaw]], resided. After entering Gavashaw's rooms, he met a mysterious stranger who knew of Szeth and his role in Gavilar's death, as well as his powers. After a short confrontation, the man revealed that both Makek and Gavashaw had been killed, and that Szeth's Oathstone was now in the hands of a new master. Thus, Szeth began to unwittingly serve the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]].{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}
-=== Battle of Narak ===
+==== Taravangian's Killer ====
+{{image|Teamfight by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=350px|First attempt to assassinate [[Dalinar]], foiled by [[Kaladin]]}}
+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}}
+King [[Taravangian]], the last name 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 ordered him to kill [[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 him, then proceeded to fight against [[Adolin]], [[Kaladin]], and [[Dalinar]], all of whom believed he was there to assassinate Elhokar. Szeth 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. Having heard that, Szeth departed, vowing to kill [[Kaladin]]; however, Taravangian forbade him to approach Kaladin, demanding that Szeth kill only Dalinar.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
+==== Death and Resurrection ====
 {{quote
 |What I am owed will come to me eventually! Every bit of it. I will drown in it, stonewalker!
 |Szeth to Dalinar{{book ref|sa2|85}}
 }}
-Szeth attacked Dalinar during the climax of the [[Battle of Narak]]. Dalinar was able to temporarily hold his own before being lashed to the sky, to eventually fall to his death after the stormlight sustaining the lashing ran out. Szeth believed his mission was completed and attempted to casually leave, when he was confronted by Adolin. Kaladin, who recently regained his powers and stated the [[Immortal Words|third ideal]] of the Windrunners, caught Dalinar and returned him safely to the ground. Kaladin and Szeth then battled above the colliding Highstorm and [[Everstorm]]. During the battle Szeth came to the realization that Kaladin was truly a Radiant, thus he was never Truthless. Unable to accept his actions, Szeth unbonded his Honorblade and fell through the Highstorm to his death.
+Szeth attacked Dalinar during the climax of the [[Battle of Narak]]. Dalinar was able to temporarily hold his own before being lashed to the sky, to eventually fall to his death after the Stormlight sustaining the lashing ran out. However, before that could happen, Kaladin, having recently sworn the Third Ideal of the Windrunners, swooped in and caught him, then safely returned him to the ground. Kaladin and Szeth then battled above the colliding [[highstorm]] and [[Everstorm]]. During the battle Szeth came to the realization that Kaladin was truly a Radiant, and so Szeth himself was never Truthless. Unable to accept his actions, Szeth unbonded his Honorblade and fell through the highstorm to his death.{{book ref|sa2|85}}{{book ref|sa2|88}}
-=== Resurrection ===
-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 he was initially outraged at being returned to life, Nale promised to give him a new purpose. He then presented Szeth with [[Nightblood]].{{book ref|sa2|88}}
+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}}
-=== Time in Yeddaw ===
-Szeth traveled to [[Yeddaw]] with [[Nale]] to find a potential radiant who lived there.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}} During his time in the city, [[Lift]] passed him in the city's [[Grand Indicium]]. He confronted her and drew Nightblood to test her. He left her when Nightblood's power was unable to harm her.{{book ref|sa2.5|15}} Later he found her chasing after him and the other Skybreakers, he stopped to inform her that she could not possibly get there before they did, and also told her the identity of the person they were seeking.{{book ref|sa2.5|16}} When Szeth was viewed by Lift he trailed a strange glowing afterimage.
+=== Skybreaker Trainee ({{Rosharan date|1173}} - {{Rosharan date|1174}}) ===
-=== Becoming a Full Skybreaker Radiant ===
+==== Yeddaw ====
-When Szeth came back from Yeddaw, master [[Ki]] let him know that his mission with [[Nale]] was his first task and after being evaluated was found worthy of the First Ideal {{book ref|sa3|90}}. This however was not enough for him to draw Stormlight - this is only be possible after swearing the Second Ideal.
+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}}
-[[File:Szeth and Nightblood.png|thumb|left|350px|Szeth and Nightblood by [[Coppermind: Artists/LittleGreyDragon|LittleGreyDragon]]]]
-Later, he was Lashed to the Purelake along with other Skybreaker hopefuls and squires to complete the next test.
+After the Everstorm passed over Yeddaw, Nale departed in a hurry, leaving Szeth stranded in Yeddaw. He was picked up by the Herald after a few weeks and taken to join the other Skybreakers. There, master [[Ki]] informed him that his mission with [[Nale]] was his first task, and that after being evaluated, he was found worthy of the First Ideal. This, however, was not enough for him to draw Stormlight, as Skybreaker trainees can only do so after attaining the Second.{{book ref|sa3|90}}
-The challenge was based on a message sent via [[spanreed]] by the city's minister who let them know there was a breakout of convicts, they were all guilty, and had a tattoo on their forehead. The request was to find the guilty and execute them. While most of the squires and hopefuls started immediately to find and execute the convicts, Szeth stayed and questioned their motives. He learnt that this was a Reshi idealist population who had non-violent attitude, even towards criminals, but mercy was withdrawn when they escaped. Just after that, he went hunting for a convict.
+{{image|Justice at the Purelake by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=left|width=350px|Szeth at the [[Purelake]]}}
-He was able to find and fight one, finding the convict had a knife but also notices he is thin, dirty and emaciated. Before letting him drown, Szeth also questioned him finding there was only one guard in the Fort. Once back, he sees other convicts and confirms that they were also badly fed, and probably under an internal regime, letting him to understand this was the result of a badly administered prison. He asks if the list of guilty included the administrator, and as he was the first in the list, Szeth draws his sword and kills him. With this he is allowed to swear the 2nd Ideal, is able to draw in Stormlight and is chosen by Ki to become his master. {{book ref|sa3|92}}
+==== Second Ideal ====
+After swearing the First Ideal, Szeth was taken to the [[Purelake]] along with other Skybreaker hopefuls and squires to complete the next test. The challenge was based on a message sent via [[spanreed]] by the city's minister, who told them there was a breakout of convicts. The request was to find the guilty and execute them. While most of the squires and hopefuls started immediately to find and execute the convicts, Szeth stayed and questioned their motives, learning more about the local law.{{book ref|sa3|92}}
+He was able to find and fight one. He found that the convict had a knife, but was thin, dirty and emaciated. Upon questioning him, Szeth also learned that the prison fort had only one guard. Once back, he saw other convicts, confirming that they had all been poorly fed and under a strict regime, leading him to the realization that the prison itself was improperly run. When he confirmed with Ki that the prison administrator was also on the list of the guilty, Szeth drew Nightblood and killed the man. This allowed him to swear the Second Ideal, letting him draw Stormlight. Impressed, Ki chose him as her squire.{{book ref|sa3|92}}
 {{quote
-| I swear to seek justice, to let it guide me, until I find a more perfect Ideal.
+|I swear to seek justice, to let it guide me, until I find a more perfect Ideal.
-| The Second Ideal of the [[Skybreakers]], as sworn by Szeth{{book ref|sa3|92}}
+|The Second Ideal of the [[Skybreakers]], as sworn by Szeth{{book ref|sa3|92}}
 }}
+==== Learning the Truth ====
-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.
+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}}
-After exiting the Purelake, Szeth wins the contest because the color on his outfit was washed away by the water. He is about to swear the next oaths when [[Nale]] finally arrived and took Szeth and most of the other full Skybreakers to Marat. There he showed Szeth a village conquered by Listeners and Fused. He explained they were the original species populating Roshar, and told him about Aharietiam and that he will defend the Voidbringers and fight the Knights Radiant. {{book ref|sa3|106}}
+Frustrated with the slow progress, Szeth intended to swear his next ideal there and then, but at this point [[Nale]] arrived. The Herald took Szeth and the other full Skybreakers to [[Marat]], where he showed them a village destroyed by the [[Voidbringer]]s before telling them all the truth about the world. Afterwards, Nale declared his intentions: to side with the [[singer]]s, the original inhabitants of Roshar, and oppose humanity.{{book ref|sa3|106}}
-Szeth believes he does not have a choice other than to follow Nale, but in a conversation with his sword [[Nightblood]] {{book ref|sa3|116}}, he decides to swear his oath to Dalinar Kholin{{book ref|sa3|117}}. Nale believes the problem with following a man instead of law is a lack of consistency, but supports his decision. {{book ref|sa3|121}}
+Initially, Szeth believed he had no choice other than to follow Nale, but in a conversation Nightblood about the topic, he changed his mind, realizing that there was always a choice.{{book ref|sa3|116}} He decided to swear himself into service of Dalinar, and joined the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|117}}
+{{image|Szeth Thunderclast.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Szeth killing a [[thunderclast]]}}
-After the battle of [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], he swears his the Third Ideal: “I swear to follow the will of Dalinar Kholin. This is my oath." and becomes a full Radiant. {{book ref|sa3|121}}
+=== Serving Dalinar Kholin ({{Rosharan date|1174}} - Present) ===
-=== Battle of Thaylen Field and Aftermath ===
+==== Battle of Thaylen Field ====
-[[File:Szeth Thunderclast.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Szeth killing a Thunderclast by [[Coppermind: Artists/Matthew Johnson|Matthew Johnson]]]]
-Szeth arrives to Thaylen just in time for battle and meets [[Lift]]. She lets him know Dalinar has asked him to get a gemstone that the Fused have and he decides to help her. He draws his sword ([[Nightblood]]) and starts to fight. He finds purpose wielding his sword and putting his trust in Dalinar. He swept through the enemy’s army, the red-eyed soldiers turning to black smoke. He thirsted for death but could never enjoy it. He kept killing until a female voice, Lift’s voice, stopped him. He couldn’t let the sword go, it was consuming him and his soul. Lift got to him, held his face and sent Stormlight into him, trying to feed the sword, but it started to drain her too as black veins started to grow on her arms. {{book ref|sa3|118}}
+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}}
-At that time, Dalinar became Unity and Infused all the gemstones in the floor, which was enough to free them both. With a grey face, Szeth got blade back into its sheath. {{book ref|sa3|119}}
-After that he did meet with Dalinar and the rest of the Radiants. He explained his loyalty and is given the task of helping Lift with the gemstone. He envies [[Kaladin]] for having the honor of protecting Dalinar, but did not complain and went to fulfill his task. {{book ref|sa3|120}}
+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 King's Drop with Lift.{{book ref|sa3|119}}
-Szeth confronts the fused who have the gemstones and is out skilled. They outnumber him and are more skilled. The gem is taken by a Fused who can do abrasion and makes it very slippery so only she can hold it. Though Szeth feels beaten, Lift has a plan. He is able to trick the Fused as she underestimated his abilities with surges and catches the gem on a jacket that they successfully swap with a carefully cut rock. {{book ref|sa3|120}} The task ends up being fulfilled by Lift who is able to get into the mists surrounding Dalinar; a task that Szeth did not want to do. {{book ref|sa3|120}}.
+Together, the two managed to trick the Fused carrying it into letting it go and grabbing a [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightwoven]] fake, with Lift bringing the real King's Drop to Dalinar, who then used it to trap [[Nergaoul]].{{book ref|sa3|120}}
+==== Aftermath of the Battle ====
-After the battle is over, he and [[Nale]] have a conversation where Szeth swears the 3rd oath and becomes full radiant by bonding a highspren. Nale confirms he lost his ability for compassion after the tortures and that is why he will follow someone else, the law of the Singers. He will continue to train Szeth even if they meet in battle and fight each other. {{book ref|sa3|121}}
+After the battle, Szeth met with Nale, who warned him about following a man instead of a law, but supported the decision overall. The Herald made to depart, promising to return later and teach Szeth about the Surge of Division. Before he left, Szeth swore his Third Oath. He also made it clear that for his Fourth, the Ideal of Crusade, he intended to travel to [[Shinovar]] and cleanse it of the false leaders who made him the Truthless in the first place.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
 {{quote
-| I swear to follow the will of Dalinar Kholin. This is my oath.
+|I swear to follow the will of Dalinar Kholin. This is my oath.
-| The Third Ideal of the [[Skybreakers]], as sworn by Szeth{{book ref|sa3|121}}
+|The Third Ideal of the [[Skybreakers]], as sworn by Szeth{{book ref|sa3|121}}
 }}
-Szeth wants to go back to Shinovar and cleanse the Shin of their false leaders. {{book ref|sa3|121}}
-He then becomes Dalinar’s bodyguard. {{book ref|sa3|122}}
 {{quote
-| I will cleanse the Shin of their false leaders, so long as Dalinar Kholin agrees.
+|I will cleanse the Shin of their false leaders, so long as Dalinar Kholin agrees.
-| The Fourth Ideal of the [[Skybreakers]], as sworn by Szeth{{book ref|sa3|121}}.
+|The Fourth Ideal of the [[Skybreakers]], as sworn by Szeth{{book ref|sa3|121}}
 }}
+Afterwards, Szeth became Dalinar’s bodyguard, despite the apprehension of other Alethi.{{book ref|sa3|122}}
-== Attributes and Abilities ==
-Szeth is master of the three lashings, Stormlight, and the Shardblade he wields. Szeth is proficient at the martial art of Kammar as well. Furthermore, he shows cunning, intelligence, resourcefulness and determination. When ordered, Szeth is an unstoppable killing machine.
-=== Surgebinding ===
+==== Imprisonment in Urithiru ====
+Szeth only served as Dalinar's bodyguard for a short time, due to his unstable nature and the uncertainty of people close to Dalinar, notably [[Navani]]. He was put in a makeshift prison cell on the upper floors of Urithiru, and was given food, fresh clothing (white, as he specified), and plenty of spheres for light (presumably to banish the voices in his head). After several people got annoyed, he requested that Nightblood stop speaking to anyone but him. During his imprisonment, Navani interviewed him a number of times, asking him about her husband Gavilar's death. During one of these interview sessions, Navani learned of the black sphere, and Szeth was temporarily released to go get it.{{book ref|sa4|16}}
-Szeth was bonded to an Honorblade which granted him the [[Surgebinder]] powers of a [[Windrunner]]. He was not bound to an honorspren like the other known Windrunner, [[Kaladin]].{{wob ref|4685}} Szeth possessed relatively expert knowledge of the Windrunner order of the [[Knights Radiant]], knowing the name of the order as well as the name for the powers they possessed: the three [[Lashing]]s. Since unbonding Jezrien's Honorblade, he has since become a Skybreaker of the Fourth Ideal.
+==== Guarding Dalinar on the Emuli Front ====
-=== Honorblades ===
+{{sidequote
-Szeth has trained with all the Honorblades that the Shin possessed (8 out of 10), and thus has experience using all of the surges. He is shown to have detailed knowledge of the capabilities of Edgedancers, but seems to prefer the surge of gravitation above all the others as it grants him the power of flight.
+|I decide now. I '''finally''' decide. Me. No one else compelling me. Taravangian, know that in killing you, I make it '''my choice'''.
+|Szeth, immediately before attempting to kill Taravangian{{book ref|sa4|113}}
+}}
+When Dalinar went to Emul, Szeth and Nightblood accompanied him, wearing Lightwoven disguises.{{book ref|sa4|27}} He accompanied 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}}
-=== Shardblade ===
-Szeth possessed an Honorblade that was long and thin, edged on both sides. It was smaller than most others. Being bonded to this blade granted Szeth the abilities of a Windrunner, which is the reason why Szeth had no bond to a spren. After losing his Honorblade, Szeth was presented with [[Nightblood]].{{book ref|sa2|88}}
+{{image|Szeth killing Taravangian by Nozomi.png|side=right|width=350px|Killing [[Taravangian]]}}
+While protecting Dalinar, he is disarmed by Nale, his former master and clearly his better in combat. Dalinar escapes Nale's attack unscathed.{{book ref|sa4|47}} In an unusual deviation from his typical silent stoicism, Szeth offers Dalinar advice on Taravangian, saying that the aged king was not to be trusted.{{book ref|sa4|66}} While watching Dalinar and little [[Gavinor Kholin|Gavinor]], Szeth's highspren told him he must soon complete his Fourth Ideal.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}
+Taravangian had deduced earlier that Szeth must be in Emul{{book ref|sa4|i|6}} and had seen through his Lightwoven disguise.{{book ref|sa4|66}} Taravangian requested a stone matching the description of Szeth's Oathstone in order to get Szeth to confront him.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} Unfortunately, this confrontation happened on a day when Taravangian was dumb and compassionate, and therefore unable to manipulate Szeth. His pleas for Szeth to give Nightblood to Dalinar for use on [[Rayse]] during a vision were ignored.{{book ref|sa4|i|9}}
+Szeth attended Dalinar's planning session in which he planned to confront [[Ishar]]. Szeth was surprised by the Herald's marked similarity to modern-day Shin.{{book ref|sa4|98}} Later, he handed Dalinar the original copy of [[Oathbringer (in-world)|''Oathbringer'']] as they prepared to confront Ishar.{{book ref|sa4|101}} Szeth then flew with the strike team to meet Ishar. At first, he stayed back. When Ishar summoned his Honorblade, which was previously held by Neturo-son-Vallano, Szeth's father, Szeth was shaken and collapsed. Just as Ishar was about to take Dalinar's bond to the [[Stormfather]], Szeth stepped in and used Nightblood to slash the [[Connection]]. He then collapsed the perpendicularity, and, raging at Ishar, struck the Honorblade with Nightblood, leaving a chip in the Honorblade.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
+Szeth then went to Taravangian's makeshift prison, intending to kill him. An incredibly dumb and emotional Taravangian was unable to stop him, but fortunately was pulled into a vision by Odium right as Szeth was stabbing him with an ordinary knife. Taravangian used the slowing of time to grab Nightblood and stab Rayse, killing him. Taravangian then Ascended to Odium.{{book ref|sa4|113}} Szeth re-sheathed Nightblood, and, mistaking Rayse's corpse for Taravangian's and thinking the deed done, left. He confessed to the murder of Taravangian, supposing him to have somehow drawn Nightblood and been consumed by it.{{book ref|sa4|114}}
+He intended to next travel to Shinovar to complete his Fourth Ideal.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
-[[File: The Assassin in White by Ari Ibarra.jpg|thumb|right|<center><small>by [[Coppermind:Artists/Ari Ibarra|Ari Ibarra]]</small></center>Drawing [[Nightblood]]]]
 == Relationships ==
+<!--
-=== [[Nightblood]] ===
+Kaladin
-Szeth is given a sword by Nale, which he calls "sword-nimi". This sword, also known as [[Nightblood]], is sentient and can communicate with Szeth telepathically. Szeth is warned not to draw Nightblood 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|sa2|90}}
+Ki
+Lift
+-->
+=== Dalinar Kholin ===
-They have conversations often and Nightblood knows a good deal of information about Szeth's past. Szeth tells Nightblood he had another voice speak to him in his youth, and that he hopes this time it goes better{{book ref|sa3|92}}. Nightblood has no sense of time and speaks often of his creators and wielders such as [[Vivenna]], [[Shashara]], and [[Vasher]] even though Szeth has no idea who they are. Nightblood helps him decide which side to take.{{book ref|sa2|116}}
+{{quote
+|I swear to follow the will of Dalinar Kholin. This is my oath.
+|The Third Ideal of the [[Skybreakers]], as sworn by Szeth{{book ref|sa3|121}}
+}}
+At first, Dalinar was nothing but a target to him, as Taravangian ordered him to assassinate him.{{book ref|sa1|71}}
+Since the Battle of Thaylen Field, he has completely devoted himself to following the orders of Dalinar Kholin, and became his bodyguard.{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{book ref|sa3|122}} He has since followed the man around as much as he was allowed to, travelling with him to Emul and accompanying him on the battlefield.{{book ref|sa4|27}}{{book ref|sa4|47}}{{book ref|sa4|50}}{{book ref|sa4|66}}{{expand}} The reason he devoted himself to Dalinar was due to his reputation, and how he lived up to that reputation; the reputation was far more important than the man himself, in his eyes.{{wob ref|8753}}
-Szeth will partially draw the sword to see how other people react to it; the sword causes "good" people to feel sudden nausea.{{book ref|sa2.5|15}}
+=== Nale ===
-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 singlemindedly begins screaming "DESTROY EVIL!" into Szeth's mind while quickly consuming any available Stormlight and causing him extreme pain.{{book ref|sa3|119}}
+{{quote
+|I watched you destroy yourself in the name of order, watched you obey your personal code when others would have fled or crumbled. Szeth-son-Neturo, I watched you keep your word with perfection. This is a thing lost to most people--it is the only genuine beauty in the world. I doubt I have ever found a man more worthy of the Skybreakers than you.
+|[[Nale]] to Szeth{{book ref|sa2|88}}
+}}
+Nale was his master during his time in the Order of Skybreakers, and was the man who resurrected him and gave him Nightblood after he died in the Battle of Narak.{{book ref|sa2|88}} At first, he was outraged at Nale for bringing him back to life after he intentionally let himself die.{{book ref|sa2|88}} During his time following him, he continuously tried to convince him of the coming of the True Desolation, but was unable to get it through to him.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}} He respected him enough that even upon Nightblood's urging that he was evil and must be killed, he refused to draw his blade on him.{{book ref|sa3|106}} He followed him due to the fact that he thought that he had too, but began questioning it after Nale declared his intentions to join on the side of the Fused.{{book ref|sa3|106}} Questioning his loyalty, he turned to Nightblood again, who convinced him he always had a choice; this led him to swearing loyalty to Dalinar Kholin, turning against his previous master.{{book ref|sa3|116}}{{book ref|sa3|117}}
+Nale was watching Szeth since the assassination of Gavilar Kholin in {{rosharan date|1167}}, and was greatly impressed by his unflinching loyalty to the orders of whoever held his oathstone.{{book ref|sa4|77}} It was his respect for his loyalty that he brought him back to life and gave him Nightblood.{{book ref|sa2|88}} He was comfortable enough with Szeth, and trusted him enough, to reveal to him the true history of the world in private.{{book ref|sa3|106}}{{book ref|sa3|121}} Nale disapproves of him making the code that he followed for his Third Ideal being a man instead of a rigid code, but accepted his oath regardless.{{book ref|sa3|121}} Following their departure, they became enemies due to being on two opposing sides in the war.
+=== Navani Kholin ===
+Navani Kholin deeply despises him for killing her former husband, Gavilar Kholin. She wants him executed for his crimes, and does not trust that he has truly found a better way by swearing himself to Dalinar.{{book ref|sa4|16}} Szeth does not blame her for her feelings, admitting that what he did was wrong.{{book ref|sa4|16}}{{cite}}{{expand}}
+=== Neturo-son-Vallano ===
+Neturo-son-Vallano is Szeth's father. After becoming Truthless, Szeth felt too ashamed to associated himself with him, and thus besmirch his name. This led him to taking on the name Szeth-son-son-Vallano, as a way to keep Neturo's name clean.{{book ref|sa1|i|6}} Even going so far as to try to stop thinking about him entirely.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}
+While separated for close to a decade, he still loved him, and was deeply shaken by his death.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
+=== Nightblood ===
+{{quote
+|I'm sure you can spot [evil]. You seem smart. If increasingly kind of boring.
+|[[Nightblood]] to Szeth{{book ref|sa3|92}}
+}}
+Szeth acquires [[Nightblood]] from Nale after his death and resurrection.{{book ref|sa2|88}} He does not react with either bloodlust or nausea, as his desire to only do what he is told align's with Nightblood's [[Intent]] perfectly.{{wob ref|15920}} He does not know Nightblood'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}}
+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}} Occasionally, he will draw it partially to see how other people react to it, as Nightblood causes "good" people to feel sudden nausea.{{book ref|sa2.5|15}}
+Szeth has only fully drawn the sword thrice, during the [[Skybreaker]] test at the [[Purelake]]{{book ref|sa3|92}}, at the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]],{{book ref|sa3|118}} and to strike at the Herald Ishar.{{book ref|sa4|111}} In each case, the sword single-mindedly begins screaming into Szeth's mind while quickly consuming any available Stormlight and causing him extreme pain.{{book ref|sa3|119}} However, Nightblood insists that it wouldn't deliberately attack Szeth, as it doesn't consider him to be evil.{{book ref|sa3|92}}{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}
+=== Taravangian ===
+For a time, Taravangian served as Szeth's master and ordered him to assassinate various key political figures such as Hanavanar, Dalinar, and two Azish Primes.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} Due to Taravangian holding his oathstone, he followed his orders without question, not out of any feeling of devotion to Taravangian himself, but out of a feeling of obligation due to his role as Truthless.
+After Szeth accepted he wasn't Truthless, and stopped obeying the orders of those who held his oathstone, he stopped obeying the king's orders. He came to deeply despise him, enough that he was driven to murder him while he was imprisoned, unintentionally bringing about his Ascension to Odium.{{book ref|sa4|66}}{{book ref|sa4|113}} He also saw him as manipulative and unable to be trusted, and obliges Dalinar Kholin to not to trust anything that he says.{{book ref|sa4|66}} His distrust of Taravangian is enough that he disregards and rejects anything he says as manipulation, even when he is telling the truth.{{book ref|sa4|i|8}}
+=== Bonded Highspren ===
+When Szeth's highspren chooses to show itself to him, he kneels to it and moves away from Nightblood. He is reverential to it, indeed, the two have a relationship that resembles master-student much more than the close kinship of other Radiant bonds. The highspren has not yet chosen to tell Szeth its name, but Szeth does not mind. Szeth describes the highspren as always judging his worthiness.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}
 == Trivia ==
-* He was once a highly regarded member of [[Shin]] society{{wob ref|4040}}
-* Brandon wrote Szeth's scenes while listening to [[wikipedia: Daft Punk|Daft Punk]]{{wob ref|1124}}
-* "[[Nightblood]] in the hands of Szeth should be one of the most terrifying things you have ever contemplated"{{wob ref|4328}}
-* Szeth was given [[Jezrien]]'s [[Honorblade]] as a special case{{wob ref|5089}}
 === Continuity Change ===
-Szeth's death was subject to a continuity change. In the original hardcover edition of ''[[Words of Radiance]]'' Szeth was killed by [[Kaladin]] driving [[Syl]] as a [[Shardblade]] into his chest, severing his spine. Brandon felt this was out of character for Kaladin, and changed the text with the release of the paperback edition of the book. Szeth's death now occurred when he unbonded his Blade and fell through the Highstorm.{{bws ref|date=2015-04-05|three-stories-in-new-formats|Three Stories in New Formats}}
+Szeth's death was subject to a continuity change. In the original hardcover edition of ''[[Words of Radiance]]'', Szeth was killed by [[Kaladin]] driving [[Syl]] as a [[Shardblade]] into his chest, severing his spine. Brandon felt this was out of character for Kaladin, and changed the text with the release of the paperback edition of the book. Szeth's death now occurred when he unbonded his Blade and fell through the Highstorm.{{bws ref|date=2015-04-05|three-stories-in-new-formats|Three Stories in New Formats}}
+=== 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". In ''[[Rhythm of War]]'', this is changed to "Szeth-son-Honor".
+*In ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]'', Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, was known as Jeksonsonvallano, Truthless of Shinavar, or Jek.
 == Notes ==
+;Footnotes
+<references group=fn />
+;References
 <references />
 {{partial}}
 {{Stormlight}}
 [[category: viewpoint characters]]
-[[category: notable articles]]