Difference between revisions of "Talenel"

|titles={{tag+|herald}}, Herald of War,{{book ref|sa3|47}} Herald of Soldiers,{{book ref|sa3|59}} Bearer of Agonies, Patron of the [[Order of Stonewards|Stonewards]], Ancient of Stones,{{epigraph ref|sa2|83}} Great Prince{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa2|88}}

|world=RosharAshyn

'''Talenel''', known as '''Talenelat'Elin''' in [[Vorinism]] and '''Tuk''' in [[Tukar]] and nicknamed '''Taln''' or '''Talat''', is one of the ten [[Herald]]s of the [[Almighty]] and patron of the [[Order of Stonewards]].{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}{{epigraph ref|sa2|37}} He's is often titled the '''Herald of War''',{{book ref|sa3|47}} or the '''Herald of Soldiers'''.{{book ref|sa3|59}} At [[Aharietiam]], he was abandoned by the rest of the Heralds and forced to return to [[Damnation]] alone.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He returned shortly before the arrival of the [[Everstorm]], his mind ruined by torture, to bring warning of the upcoming [[True Desolation]].{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}

Serving as the the Herald of War, Taln was one of the most skilled fighters on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} He was the most formidable fighter among the Heralds without dispute.{{book ref|sa4|111}} His reflexes are inhumanly quick, and he is even stronger than his massive build would suggest, able to throw open the gates of Kholinar on his own.{{book ref|sa2|88}}{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} He was once a capable commander, able to win battles thought to be unwinnable, even at the cost of his own life.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He also excelled at training soldiers, and helped prepare mankind's warriors for the Desolations.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}}

The Honorblade granted Taln access to the [[Surge]]s of [[Surgebinding#Cohesion|Cohesion]] and [[Surgebinding#Tension|Tension]]. Unlike the [[Knights Radiant]], he had no need for [[Stormlight]], as his Surgebinding was powered directly by Honor.{{wob ref|1572}} It's unknown if this has been impacted by Honor's death. What his Surges did is unclear at this point. In his prime, there was likely nobody in the [[cosmere]] who could defeat him in one-on-one combat.{{wob ref|16233}}

In the present day, what precisely has happened to Taln's Honorblade is unclear. The weapon he arrived with in [[Kholinar]] was shaped like an enormous spike, long, narrow, and straight.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} The weapon he arrived with on the Shattered Plains was wide and cleaver-like,{{book ref|sa2|76}} and screams when touched by a Radiant, marking it as a dead Shardblade.{{book ref|sa2|89}} As such, it's clear that somewhere on his journey from Kholinar to the Shattered Plains, someone swapped his Blade, but it is unknown who stole it and for what purpose.{{wob ref|1875}} The Stormfather confirms the Shardblade Taln had when he reached the Shattered Plains was not an Honorblade, but does not know what happened to it.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

Not much is known about Taln's life before he became a Herald, but he was not initially intended to number among them and he was the only Herald who was not a king, scholar, or notable individualgeneral.{{book ref|sa3|117}} As Herald, he and the others fought in a series of Desolations against the [[Voidbringer]]s and [[Odium]] in defense of mankind.{{book ref|sa1|45}} Prior to each Desolation, Taln trained soldiers to fight the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} After each Desolation, Taln and the others returned to [[DamnationBraize]], where they were tortured.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} Each time, if Taln himself was killed during the fighting, he automatically returned to DamnationBraize. After several Desolations, the [[Knights Radiant]] were founded by [[Surgebinding|Surgebinders]] with [[Ishar]]'s help{{epigraph ref|sa2|42}} and Taln became patron of the [[Order of Stonewards]], who shared access to the same Surges he possessed.{{epigraph ref|sa2|37}} It is possible that Hoid met Taln at some point during this time, as Hoid seems familiar with the man.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}

During the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], Ash snuck into Taln's tent, which was left unguarded when Sadeas's soldiers were corrupted by Odium.{{book ref|sa3|117}} She attempted to rouse Taln with no success.{{book ref|sa3|118}} When Dalinar Ascended, swearing the Third Ideal of the Bondsmiths and summoning [[Honor's Perpendicularity]], this seemed to awaken Taln.{{book ref|sa3|119}} Ash explained that the Heralds had abandoned them, but he expressed only joy at the opportunity their betrayal had given mankind. He felt Dalinar waiting for them, although he did not know who was calling to him. He and Ash walked onto the battlefield, where they were recognized as Heralds by the Stormfather and Dalinar. Shortly thereafter, Taln's lucidity faded again, and he hid cowering from the fighting.{{book ref|sa3|121}} After the battle was over, Ash tried to get Taln through the Oathgate, hoping to bring him to Ishar, who she believed could help him. However as they waited in line, they felt the true death of Jezrien and Taln began to whimper and collapse. As they inadvertently caused a commotion, they were recognized by [[Jasnah Kholin]], who compared their faces to drawings she had received from Hoid.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

As one of the Heralds, Taln has impacted mythology and culture in a variety of ways across all of Roshar. In the [[Vorin]] nations, he is known as '''Talenelat'Elin''' and '''Stonesinew'''.{{book ref|sa2|88}}{{book ref|sa2|63}} There, he is revered as a warrior who helped to drive the Voidbringers from Roshar and has now taken the fight to the [[Tranquiline Halls]] with the other Heralds.{{book ref|sa1|45}} Like all Heralds, he has temples dedicated to himself in major cities like [[Thaylen City|Thaylen]] and [[Kholinar]].{{book ref|sa3|59}}{{map ref|Kholinar}} Temple art of him sometimes depicts him facing off against hundreds of voidbringers, fighting alone.{{book ref|sa3|59}} The [[Order of Talenelat]] is a lay devotary based in Alethkar, dedicated to him.{{book ref|sa2|54}} Taln is also the namesake of a major Rosharan constellation, [[Taln's Scar]].{{book ref|sa1|2}} Traditionally, he's associated with the number 9 (tanat) the [[Ten Essences|Essence]] of Talus, and the Divine Attributes of Dependable and Resourceful.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}

* Taln will be the focus character of one of the books in the secondninth arcbook of [[The Stormlight Archive]].{{wob ref|371511620}}

{{demoted|sa4|exemplary=yes}}