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|image=Taln Endsheet.jpg
|abilities={{tag+|Cognitive Shadow}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}} <small>(formerly)</small>
|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}}
|aliases=Talenelat'Elin, Taln, Talat, Stonesinew, Tuk
|residence=Urithiru
|world=
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''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
== Appearance and Personality ==
As one of the [[Herald]]s of the [[Almighty]], Taln is a [[Cognitive Shadow]] capable of resurrection.{{wob ref|1537}} Upon death, he returns to [[Damnation]] to be tortured unceasingly,{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} and returns to [[Roshar]] when he or any other Herald breaks. He is ageless, like the other Heralds.{{book ref|sa3|121}} He is the only Herald who has never broken.{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{wob ref|14869}}
Serving as
=== Shardwielding and Surgebinding ===
As a Herald, Talenel has access to his [[Honorblade]], a magical sword given to him by the [[Shard]] [[Honor]]. Like all [[Shardblade]]s, it's able to cut through any material effortlessly. This increased his already great potency on the battlefield, particularly against [[thunderclast]]s, as his Blade can cut their stone bodies easily. Having spent centuries using the Honorblade in the fight against the [[Voidbringers]], Taln was highly experienced in its use. The Stormfather considers him to be indisputably the greatest duelist among all the Heralds.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
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}}
== History ==
{{image|Taln by Elisgardor.jpg|side=left|width=200px}}
=== Herald of the Almighty ===
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
=== Aharietiam ===
Some people refer to Taln as the '''Bearer of Agonies''', and swear by his name, while the [[Sons of Honor]] call him the '''Great Prince'''.{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} "Taln's palms" and "Taln's nails" are both rarely-used exclamations.{{book ref|sa3|100}}{{book ref|sa3|116}} "Talat's hand" appears to be a related one.{{book ref|sa2|54}}
He is referred to as the '''Ancient of Stones''' in the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]]. It is unclear if this title is unique to the Diagram, or if it is in more general use amongst Vorins.{{epigraph ref|sa2|83}}
While his role in the western culture isn't well-known, he is counted among the lesser gods under [[Tashi]].{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} In [[Yeddaw]], one of the traditional ten pancakes eaten during the [[Weeping]] are dedicated to him.{{book ref|sa2.5|20}}
== Trivia ==
* Taln will be the focus character of
* Taln's portrait used in the chapter arches is called the Soldier by the [[Dragonsteel Entertainment]] staff.{{wob ref|14097}}
* Taln was a major viewpoint character in ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]''.
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[[category: viewpoint characters]]
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