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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]]
|
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
}}
'''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 ==
{{image|
=== Appearance ===
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
}}
Little to nothing is known of Talenel's personality before Aharietiam. As patron of the Stonewards, Taln was a man who exemplified the traits they found valuable, including resolve, strength, and dependability.{{epigraph ref|sa2|37}} He was also self-sacrificing, often
After the torture in Damnation, Taln's mind was heavily damaged. Upon his return to Roshar, Taln displayed true awareness only at his arrival in Kholinar{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} and a handful of other times.{{book ref|sa2|88}}{{book ref|sa2|63}} [[Dalinar]] opening [[Honor's Perpendicularity]] allowed him to temporarily become fully lucid.{{wob ref|12789}} Most of the time Taln spends dully repeating a mantra about the coming Desolations and the preparations
== Attributes and Abilities ==
{{for|Herald#Abilities|more information about general Heraldic powers}}
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
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
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
== History ==
{{image|Taln by Elisgardor.jpg|side=left|width=200px}}
=== Early Life ===
Talenel was born on [[Ashyn]] over seven-thousand years before the True Desolation,{{book ref|sa4|14}}{{book ref|sa4|76}}{{wob ref|11945}} and was a soldier and bodyguard.{{wob ref|11400}}
At some point during his life, Ashyn was scoured by uncontrolled Surgebinding, leaving most of the planet uninhabitable, and forcing him, along with much of the Ashynite population, to flee to Roshar.{{wob ref|9464}}{{wob ref|14434}}{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{au ref|Roshar}} Where they were accepted by the Singers and given the land that would come to be Shinovar.{{book ref|sa3|115}}
He was not initially intended to number among the Heralds and he was the only Herald who was not a king, scholar, or general.{{book ref|sa3|117}}{{wob ref|11400}}
=== Herald of the Almighty ===
=== Aharietiam ===
After
=== Return to Kholinar ===
|Talenel{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}
}}
Around four and a half millennia later, on the {{rosharan date|1174|9}} of the Vorin Calendar, not long after the [[Battle of the Tower]], Talenel returned to Roshar from Damnation.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}
=== Travel to the Shattered Plains ===
After his arrival in Kholinar, Taln was apprehended by the men of [[House Kholin]]. Taln displayed no awareness following his collapse, repeating his mantra with no regard for his surroundings.{{book ref|
{{sidequote
|One of Ishar’s Knights. I remember… He founded them? Yes. Several Desolations ago. No longer just talk. It hasn’t been talk for thousands of years. but… When…
|Taln after seeing Shallan take in Stormlight.{{book ref|sa2|63}}
|side=right|size=250px
}}
The ardents placed Taln in a small, dimly lit cell in their monastery where he remained unresponsive despite their care.{{book ref|sa2|63}} Once Taln was placed in the monastery, several groups became aware of his presence on the Shattered Plains. The [[Ghostbloods]] became aware of him somehow and were interested in him because he had drawn the attention of the king and Dalinar.{{book ref|sa2|63}} Their source provided them with sketches of Taln. The Sons of Honor became aware when Dalinar ordered Bordin go drinking with some Amaram's men and talk about Taln.{{book ref|sa2|76}} As part of his investigation into Amaram, Dalinar wished Bordin to spread the lie that Taln had mentioned a cache of Shardblades on the Plains. This news spread to Amaram, who contacted Bordin and had him bring him to see Taln in the monastery.{{book ref|sa2|64}} At this same time, Shallan Davar visited Taln on the behalf of the Ghostbloods.{{book ref|sa2|63}} Shallan recorded his mantra but was unable to get a reaction out of him until she drew in some [[Stormlight]], provoking a sudden and violent reaction from Taln, who shoved her into a wall. Appearing semi-lucid, Taln identified her as a Radiant, but quickly lapsed back into his mantra shortly afterwards. Shallan decided that she believed him to be a simple madman. While Shallan was still in the room with Taln, Amaram and Bordin arrived to see Taln, so she concealed herself in the cell with Lightweaving.{{book ref|sa2|64}} Upon seeing Taln, Amaram determined that he believed the man to be a Herald, but was unable to get him to speak or interact at all. Wishing to recover the fictitious Blades, Amaram left Taln in the cell.
}}
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.
== Culture ==
{{image|Talenel.jpg|side=left|width=200px}}
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}}
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}}▼
▲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 [[
== Taln's Mantra ==
== 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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