Tanavast

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Tanavast
Honor by Shuravf.jpg
Died Splintering of Honor,[1] killed by Odium[2]
Abilities Shard of Honor
Titles Honor
Aliases The Almighty, God, Elithanathile,[3] Tavast[4]
Homeworld Yolen
Universe Cosmere
Introduced In The Way of Kings
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Tanavast was a fine enough fellow - bought me drinks once - but he was not God.

Hoid on Tanavast[5]

Tanavast was the original Vessel of the Shard Honor.[6]

Appearance and Personality[edit]

He loved humankind. He died defending you.

—The Stormfather on Tanavast[7]

Appearance[edit]

In one of Dalinar Kholin's visions, he appeared as a tall muscular man, thick of chest with dark skin and pure white hair; wearing billowing trousers and a waist-length coat, both of which seemed to be made of gold. Dalinar considered this clothing strange, which may indicate that it was from Yolen—or it may simply be a reflection of how style had changed since Tanavast recorded the visions.[2]

Personality[edit]

Little is known about Tanavast as a person, but the people who met him have an excellent opinion of him. He seems to be the only original Vessel with whom Hoid has a good relationship, and is, aside from Ati, the only one Hoid ever praises, calling him a decent person.[5] The Stormfather insists that Tanavast did love mankind, even dying to defend them.[7] Tanavast himself seems to have been highly dedicated to his role as a deity and protective of humanity, even apologizing in visions for getting himself killed.[2]

He appears to have loved mankind from the start, convincing the Dawnsingers to give mankind a home after they fled from Ashyn following its destruction.[citation needed] For unknown reasons, he even turned against the Singers, becoming the god of humanity and abandoning his former followers.[8][9]

Whenever mankind discovered the truth of the Desolations, he would comfort them and convince them that their fight was still justified. Arguing that it doesn't matter what their ancestors just did, only that they were defending themselves against a present enemy.[10]

Late in his life, as his death grew near, he began to go insane, raving about Dawnshards and telling mankind that they would destroy Roshar like they destroyed Ashyn before.[10] He also came to care more about oaths themselves, rather than the meaning behind it.[7] This insanity directly led to the Recreance.[citation needed] Yet, despite his madness, he died defending humanity.[7]

He was likely not prejudiced against dragons, taking Koravellium Avast, a dragon, as his lover.[11][12][13][14]

Attributes and Abilities[edit]

As a Vessel, Tanavast originally held as much power as his peers.[15] At some point, however, he was weakened enough that, even with Cultivation's assistance, Odium was able to kill him.[16] Like other Vessels, he had Shardic future sight, though it was not as strong as that of Cultivation.[2]

History[edit]

Before the Shattering[edit]

Tanavast was born and spent his early life on Yolen over ten-thousand years before the death of the Cinder King.[17][18][19] He was a regular mortal before he Ascended.[20]

At some point in the past, likely prior to the Shattering, Tanavast met Hoid, and left a good impression on him.[5] He also met and began a relationship with the dragon Koravellium Avast.[11]

The Shattering[edit]

Tanavast was one of the seventeen people who shattered Adonalsium, after which he Ascended as the Shard of Honor.[21][6] After the Shattering, Tanavast and his lover, Koravellium Avast,[11] moved to Roshar,[22] and both Shards Invested equally in the planet.[23]

Notes[edit]

  1. Google+ Hangout
    Arcanum - 2012-04-17#
  2. a b c d The Way of Kings chapter 75#
  3. The Way of Kings chapter 7#
  4. Alethi Glyphs Page 2.jpg
  5. a b c Words of Radiance epilogue#
  6. a b General Twitter 2011
    Arcanum - 2011-03-21#
  7. a b c d Oathbringer chapter 111#
  8. Rhythm of War chapter 10#
  9. Rhythm of War chapter 11#
  10. a b Oathbringer chapter 113#
  11. a b c Rithmatist Albuquerque signing
    Arcanum - 2013-05-22#
  12. YouTube Livestream 23
    Arcanum - 2020-12-17#
  13. Rhythm of War chapter 114#
  14. Rhythm of War chapter 80#
  15. 17th Shard Forum Q&A
    Arcanum - 2012-09-25#
  16. Idaho Falls Signing
    Arcanum - 2015-11-28#
  17. The Sunlit Man chapter 11#
  18. Words of Radiance Philadelphia signing
    Arcanum - 2014-03-21#
  19. Kraków signing
    Arcanum - 2017-03-21#
  20. Rhythm of War Preview Q&As
    Arcanum - 2020-09-01#
  21. Mistborn: Secret History part 3 chapter 2#
  22. 17th Shard Forum Q&A
    Arcanum - 2012-09-26#
  23. Skyward Chicago signing
    Arcanum - 2018-11-16#
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