Difference between revisions of "Tindwyl"

{{character

|abilities={{tag+|feruchemist}}

|profession=[[Keeper]]

|died={{date|c 1024|fe}}

|nation=Terris

|world=Scadrial

}}

 

== Appearance and Personality ==

 

Tindwyl is highly knowledgeable and intelligent. Like all Keepers, she has a love of learning.{{book ref|mb2|37}} Her area of focus is the biographies of great men of the past — generals, kings, and emperors, most of whom have been forgotten under the [[Lord Ruler]]'s reign.{{book ref|mb2|14}} When she is absorbed in a task, she is single-minded in her dedication towards it, staying awake for over a week while she and Sazed study the [[Kwaan's inscription|rubbing]] he made at the [[Conventical of Seran]].{{book ref|mb2|45}}

She is also very perceptive and quick to see the truth of people, and adept at giving them what they need — in tutoring Elend, she is firm and harsh; with Vin she is kind and tries to help her see and accept herself.{{book ref|mb2|25}} Due to her perceptiveness, while studying the rubbing she is also able to pick out the inconsistency in [[Kwaan]]’s narrative, which has been tampered with by [[Ruin]].{{book ref|mb2|41}} Her understanding of people also helps her to achieve things through indirect means. She masterfully gets Elend to do things and admit things to her on more than one occasion, such as getting him to accept being referred to by an honorific, and getting him to express the sincerity of his love for Vin.{{book ref|mb2|20}}

 

 

 

== History ==

 

=== Keeper ===

 

=== Time in Luthadel ===

After the [[Collapse]] Tindwyl received a message from Sazed, detailing the situation of [[Elend Venture]]. Although he did not explicitly ask her to go to [[Luthadel]] and train him, she went anyway.{{book ref|mb2|13}}

 

 

A few days later, she was caught by [[Demoux]], apparently listening in on Elend's meeting with the crew. Elend recognized her from the Assembly hall. She demanded a private audience with him, to which [[Dockson]] and [[Ham]] were immediately opposed. She pointed out that Elend was in no danger as Vin was outside. He agreed to speak with her alone, after guessing that she was a Keeper, here at the request of [[Sazed]].{{book ref|mb2|13}} Once they were alone, she snapped her bonds. Alarmed, Elend called for Vin, and Tindwyl told him that she had actually left to do her rounds — which was why she let herself be caught by Demoux.

She circled Elend, studying him, then began correcting his posture and manner of speaking, telling him to be more commanding. Elend, bewildered, demanded to know what was going on, which finally met her approval. She introduced herself to him as a Keeper of Terris, and harshly commented upon his slovenly appearance and indirect manner of speaking. Elend tried to excuse himself, until she remarked that his people thought he was a fool, what with how the Assembly ignored his authority, how the [[skaa]] didn't have faith in him and how his friends assumed he would have nothing to add to discussions. He had good ideas, but lacked leadership skills.

 

 

Elend countered that he spent the last year studying as much as he could on leadership and governance, to which Tindwyl responded that he should have spent that time being seen by his people and learning to be a ruler.

Tindwyl informed him they had only just begun, and that he was still a fool. She told him that he needed to work on the way he walked, his speech patterns, and how to fight, pointing out his reliance on Vin to handle all fighting for him. She intended on having him train in private with a dueling master. She concluded by telling him that he could perhaps learn to be a king, but until then would have to fake it.

 

 

[[Demoux]] then interrupted them, bringing news of a messenger from [[Straff Venture]]. He told Elend he liked the new uniform, before leaving. Tindwyl was pleased by this. They began to discuss what made a good king, to which Tindwyl

They then went on to discuss leadership, and the responsibility Elend bore as king. Tindwyl advised him not to feel guilty when things went wrong, but simply try his best to make things better. When he asked what he should do if he could never make things better, Tindwyl responded that he should then remove himself from the position, preferably by suicide. When Elend asked if he should just kill himself, Tindwyl clarified that she was trying to get him to take pride in himself. Exasperated, he pointed out how she constantly disparaged his leadership abilities, and voiced his insecurities about how Kelsier would have made a better king. Tindwyl put a stop to this immediately, encouraged him to accept his place as king and his strengths, and concluded the topic by advising him to not question himself.

 

 

Tindwyl then shifted the topic to Vin — specifically, why Elend had not married her yet. The skaa, valuing monogamy, wanted the match to be official. Elend admitted that while he wanted to marry Vin, she had refused. Tindwyl suggested that perhaps Vin wasn't the right sort of woman for him, which immediately drew his ire and he jumped to her defense. Tindwyl was pleased by this, admitting that she had been testing him to see whether he truly loved Vin. She acknowledged that his affection for Vin could cause trouble in the future, but that it wasn't a reason to give her up, surprising Elend.

Tindwyl had also invited Allrianne, and commandeered the services of [[Spook]] to act as packman. During the carriage ride on their way to Kenton Street, Tindwyl observed Vin and Allrianne’s interactions. When Allrianne asked Tindwyl if they would be safe, she assured her that they would be, looking at Vin.

 

 

Upon arriving at their destination, Tindwyl surveyed the area before leading them to a dressmaker’s shop. Allrianne and Spook went ahead, and Tindwyl remarked upon her eagerness to Vin, noting how she must not have had an opportunity to shop in weeks. Vin, unsympathetic, expressed her annoyance at this. Tindwyl chastised her, pointing out that judging Allrianne for her flippancy was akin to others judging Vin herself for her simplicity. Vin protested that she liked when people judged her, for then they didn’t expect anything from her. Tindwyl, ever-perceptive, gestured to the shop, where gowns and dresses were on display, and asked whether Vin didn’t miss it all in that case. As they went on into the shop, Tindwyl remarked that she had heard Vin enjoyed noble society, and dressing as a woman. She asked if her refusal to do so now meant she didn’t like it after all, to which Vin admitted that she had stopped wearing dresses because she had, on the contrary, liked them too much. Over the course of their conversation, Vin admitted to Tindwyl how she felt at odds with herself, unable to consolidate the person she had pretended to be as Valette with the other sides of herself. Tindwyl then brought up Elend, and why they had not yet married. Vin voiced her insecurities, confessing how she believed herself to be wrong for him, because he should marry someone who could be a queen and not just a bodyguard — someone like Allrianne. Tindwyl gently reassured her that Elend had fallen in love with Vin, and loved her as she was. When Vin protested that Elend had loved her fake persona, Tindwyl pointed out that after discovering her true self, he was still with her. She explained to Vin how people had more to them than was immediately apparent, encouraging her to see and accept herself as Elend did. Vin asked if Tindwyl was trying to turn her into a queen for Elend, to which she responded that she was simply trying to help Vin become herself, before pushing her to try on a few dresses.

 

==== A King Deposed ====

 

As Elend began going through his law books, he asked whether Sazed had been summoned. Spook said that he had not been able to wake him, and Tindwyl called this an ‘issue of the Keepers’, assuming the crew had no knowledge of Feruchemy. When it was revealed that Sazed has explained it to them, she was highly displeased. She then went on to note that Sazed could not be of any assistance to them in this anyway, since as a travelling Keeper he was not to take sides in politics. When Breeze noted that overthrowing the Lord Ruler had been political, Tindwyl, annoyed, told the crew that if they were truly Sazed’s friends they would not encourage him to break his vows. Breeze wondered if she was simply put-out that the Synod couldn’t punish Sazed’s rule-breaking, and attempted to Soothe her. Tindwyl was unruffled, telling him that he would find no success in trying to push on her emotions, and he gave up.

[[Ashweather Cett]]’s arrival in the city and his subsequent election as a candidate for the throne sparked Elend’s desire to find information on the man, as well as possible ways of preventing his appointment as king. Later, in Elend’s study, Tindwyl observed him, [[Noorden]], Ham and Sazed as they combed through various texts. However, participating in the research seemed to be too much in the territory of politics for her. As they discussed Cett and his potential reign, Elend commented that they should have just gone along with the crew’s initial plan of handing the city over to Cett, rather than his own idea of playing Cett and Straff against each other, as it seemed the people wanted Cett as king. Sazed, however, said that it was not Elend’s duty to do as the people wanted. Elend noted that he sounded like Tindwyl. Sazed observed that Tindwyl was one of the wisest people he knew. As they continued their study of the law, Sazed sighed that he could find no loopholes, pointing out that he or another of the crew would have made a note of them if they had seen any when Elend had given them the laws to proofread. This caught Tindwyl’s attention, and she asks Sazed whether he had read the law before it had been formalized. Sazed seems embarrassed by this, and Elend responds for him, confirming that he had. Tindwyl is displeased by this. Elend, annoyed by this, told Tindwyl that he would not stand for her insulting Sazed, even indirectly. She apologized to Elend, but he argues that she should apologize not to him but to Sazed, or she should leave. She chose the latter, leaving the room wordlessly.{{book ref|mb2|34}}

 

 

Tindwyl went to see Vin before she and Elend departed for their dinner with Cett a week later. She complimented her gown, telling her she looked beautiful. Vin hesitantly accepted the compliment, but pointed out that she had no jewelry anymore. Tindwyl brushed this aside, telling Vin she had no need of it. Vin brought up the topic of Elend, observing that Tindwyl’s lessons with him were growing less frequent. Tindwyl told her that Elend was close to no longer needing her instruction, although when Vin asked if this meant he was close to being like the men from Tindwyl’s biographies, Tindwyl laughed and disagreed, clarifying that in the future Elend would have to learn on his own, as much of good leadership came from experience. When Vin quietly remarked on how changed he was, Tindwyl agreed with her — but also, that she thought Elend was already on this path, and likely would have turned out this way even without her instruction. Vin, gazing at her reflection at the pretty gown, said that this was what she had to become, for Elend. Tindwyl agreed, but added that it was also for Vin herself, remarking that this was where Vin had been headed before her attention had been drawn by other things. Vin turned to Tindwyl, asking whether she would be accompanying them; Tindwyl said no, then pushed Vin to go and join Elend.{{book ref|mb2|35}}

 

==== Last Lesson ====

 

==== A Night of Study ====

 

They returned to his rooms, and spent the whole night studying the rubbing of [[Kwaan's inscription]] Sazed had made at the [[Conventical of Seran]], and various texts from their copperminds. Towards morning, Tindwyl found a reference to the [[Deepness]] in the biography of [[Wednegon|King Wednegon]]. As the pair discussed the Deepness, Sazed brought up Vin’s theory that it was the [[mist]]. Tindwyl agreed with this interpretation, as did he — something that disquieted him, for he did not wish it to be true. Tindwyl appeared puzzled that he had defied the Synod for something he had hoped was untrue, to which he explained how catastrophic the return of the Deepness could be, and how while he wished it would not come to pass he had to look into it for himself to see. While Tindwyl agreed that the discovery of the rubbing was remarkable, she did not think the Deepness posed much of a threat. Sazed persisted that the mists could be growing stronger, and that by killing the Lord Ruler they may have inadvertently killed whatever had been holding them back previously. Tindwyl brushed this away, citing that they had no proof of daytime mists and only theories on the mists killing people. Sazed backed down, admitting that this was true.

This exasperated Tindwyl; she questioned why he never defended himself. When he answered that he had no defense, Tindwyl argued that this could not be the case. She talked about how he always apologized for his behavior and sought forgiveness, and yet never changed. She noted that had he been more vocal and offered defenses for his actions, he could have been leading the Synod. She called him ‘the most contrite rebel’ she had ever known. When Sazed still offered no defense, she went on, pointing out that he had been right about the Lord Ruler — if he had tried to convince the Synod, they may have agreed. Sazed, however, disagreed, telling her that he was not like the men from her biographies — or even really a man. Tindwyl refuted that he was a better man, though she had never been able to understand why.

 

 

After a moment of silence, she told him that she would be leaving that day — she would offer knowledge to the armies besieging Luthadel, as she had to Elend, though she doubted that they would listen to her as Elend had. When Sazed offered no objection to her leaving, she noted that he again refused to argue. Sazed asked what the point would be, for she had made up her mind already. Tindwyl implied that she would be amenable to staying; Sazed, confused, asked about her duties as a Keeper. Tindwyl admitted that while her duties were important, ‘occasional exceptions’ could be allowed — a direct reflection of what she had told Elend before, about love. She went on to say his rubbing could perhaps benefit from further study. The deeper meaning to her words — that she wanted to be with Sazed — was made apparent to him, and he ruefully told her that he could not be what she wished, for he thought himself to not be a man. Tindwyl brushed this aside, telling him that she had had enough of men, and childbearing. She admitted that she partially resented the Terris people for what they had put her through in the breeding program, and wished for some distance from them. She went on further, confessing that she had often been frustrated at the Synod’s lack of initiative and passiveness. Only he, Sazed, had pushed for change.

 

 

Taking his hand, Tindwyl explained that the men she had read about in her biographies were men who brought about change rather than planned how to hide — men like Sazed. Anxious and apprehensive, she quietly asked him to give her an excuse to remain in Luthadel with him. Sazed asked her to stay. She agreed, and they resumed their study.{{book ref|mb2|37}}

Tindwyl feared that Luthadel’s fall would be more brutal than the crew anticipated; Sazed conceded that they were optimists. Tindwyl, however, told him that this would be worse than the revolution which had led to the Collapse, for she had studied these things and knew how they played out. Sazed agreed with her, and they returned to their work.

 

 

Shortly after, Elend called upon them. Tindwyl asked him why he was disturbing them, harshly bringing up his incompetence as a means of testing to see whether he had reverted to his old self upon losing the crown, for she had heard reports of his moping. Elend, seeing her ploy, assured her that he had not lost his self-respect; she was satisfied by this. He then took a seat, asking for advice. When Tindwyl noted that she had already perhaps given him too much of her aid, for as he was a political figure it made her seem as though she were taking sides, Elend pointed out that he was no longer king. Content with this, Tindwyl allowed him to ask his question.

Elend explained what had been on his mind: that during the vote for king, he had had an opportunity to lie, which would have secured his place on the throne. Instead he had told the truth, and lost the throne to [[Penrod]]. Tindwyl was unsurprised by this, as Elend had expected. He went on to ask whether what he had done was foolish. Tindwyl found it so, but argued that it wasn’t specifically that which lead to his losing the throne; rather, it was because he refused to do anything dishonorable to secure his place. Elend asked whether it was possible to both follow his conscience and be a good king, to which neither Tindwyl nor Sazed had an answer. Elend posed his question to Sazed about whether he should have lied; Sazed disagreed, saying that Elend had been true to himself. Tindwyl liked Elend’s ideals, but worried that his losing the throne could end badly for Luthadel’s people. However, Sazed maintained Elend had done the right thing and believed the rest was up to providence — or rather, God. Elend, skeptical, expressed his view on God being simply a tool of the [[Steel_Ministry#Obligators|obligators]]. As they discussed religion further, Elend noted the inconsistency of all the different religions Sazed preached and how they couldn’t all possibly be real. Tindwyl, returning to the original topic, told Elend that while she didn’t agree with his decisions, he had done what he thought was right, which was commendable. When Elend asked Tindwyl what he should do next, however, she had no answer.He then asked what the men in her biographies would have done. She again had no answer as according to her they would not have found themselves in his situation to begin with. Elend debated about whether a title was all there was to being king, before seeming to realize something and abruptly leaving. Slightly confused, Tindwyl allowed Sazed to guide her attention back to their studies.{{book ref|mb2|41}}

 

 

The day after Vin’s attack on Cett’s army, Tindwyl and Sazed were still studying the rubbing and looking for the context they desired. Tindwyl found a quotation of the [[Hero of Ages]] prophecy, having used the rubbing as a means of translating different names for the Hero, and she wrote it out for Sazed. While the quote she found did not tell them anything new, the careful wording used in prophecies was something to consider. Sazed, noting her discomfort at the prophecy, did not expect such a reaction from her considering what they were studying. Tindwyl, not being a believer, told him that while she collected knowledge, she thought religion was untrue. The discussed further, Sazed expressing his opinion that religions were expressions of hope. Tindwyl pointed out that the religions of the past had not saved the people from the Lord Ruler. She saw the value of religion from an academic standpoint, but could not believe it to be true. She then realized that Sazed believed Vin to be the Hero of Ages, which she found to be too big a coincidence to be plausible. Her rationale for studying the Deepness and the Hero was that since the Deepness had been defeated in the past, they could look to history to see how to defeat it again by studying the myths and legends by which the story had survived. Deciding this was something they could not agree on, they returned to their research.

Tindwyl finally gave up, her parting words to him harsh — she told him he would be remembered as a coward by his people. Elend commanded her to leave, and she did, stopping only to point out the package she had brought with her — the document she and Sazed had written, about the Hero of Ages, the Deepness, and Kwaan’s inscription. She informed him Sazed would have them deliver it to the Keeper Synod in [[Tathingdwen]], bade him enjoy his exile, and left.{{book ref|mb2|49}}

 

 

Dockson entreated Sazed to help them, knowing Sazed did not like fighting. Tindwyl noted, however, that he was preparing for battle, observing the rings that he was storing Feruchemical attributes into. Sazed asked what Tindwyl’s own role was in this was, and she explained that Dockson had asked her advice due to her knowledge of military history. Sazed nodded, then agreed to help Dockson, though he warned against breaking the chain of command, to which Dockson agreed.

Then, he asked to speak privately with Tindwyl. Once they stepped away, Tindwyl noted that he was storing a lot of attributes. She asked whether he didn’t have metalminds he had stored previously, to which he responded that he had none besides strength, weight, and an array of [[tin|tinminds]]. He asked her why she had stayed in Luthadel, saying there was no place for her in the city. She countered that there was no place for him, either. Sazed refused to abandon his friends, to which she asked why he had made their leaders leave in that case. When Sazed explained he wanted them to live, Tindwyl told him that as leaders, they had to accept responsibility for their power and that the people of Luthadel would die feeling betrayed. Sazed tried to protest, but she angrily told him that even the crew expected to be saved — saved by Vin — despite the odds. Sazed repeated his sentiment that he had wanted them to live, rather than wasting their lives in a hopeless battle. Tindwyl angrily disagreed, telling him it was hope, not stubbornness, that kept her alive while she was with the Breeders.

 

 

Sazed asked her if it was hope or stubbornness that kept her in Luthadel now, to which she responded that it was neither. They embraced, and Tindwyl asked Sazed whether he knew why she loved him. When he responded that he didn’t, she told him: she loved his strength of will, his willingness to appease others and yet his firmness in the face of what he knew to be right. She spoke in past-tense, though, as she told him she didn’t think his friends understood his goodness. He confessed that he was afraid he hadn’t done enough to save them. She responded that it was enough to save Vin, Elend and Spook. She still thought he was wrong to have sent them away, but that he was right, too. Still in each other’s arms, the warning drums from the city walls began to beat.{{book ref|mb2|50}}

=== Legacy ===

In Northern [[Scadrial]], Tindwyl is remembered as one of the [[Preservers]] and is given the epithet "Mother of Terris."{{book ref|mb6|13}} In [[Elendel]], Tindwyl Promenade in the Fourth Octant is named for her.{{map ref|Elendel}}

 

== Relationships ==

=== Sazed ===

{{quote

}}

 

 

After her training of Elend is concluded, she finally asks Sazed to show her the rubbing, and they spend a night studying it together.{{book ref|mb2|36}} The following morning, when she had planned to leave Luthadel, she confesses her admiration for him, before taking his hand and asking him to give her an excuse to stay in the city with him. Shocked, he asks her to remain in the city, and she agrees. This is the beginning of their romantic relationship.{{book ref|mb2|36}} Even though their time together is dominated by their studies, they grow ever closer. When given the chance to leave Luthadel before the battle, Tindwyl refuses, choosing instead to remain with Sazed. They have an argument on the day of the [[Battle of Luthadel]], as Tindwyl is angry at him for sending Vin and Elend, the city's only hope of survival, away. However, it is soon resolved. They embrace and she tells him why she loves him, and that she understands his decision. Immediately after, the wall alarms go off -- the battle is beginning.{{book ref|mb2|50}}

 

== Development ==

 

== Quotes ==

 

== Trivia ==

 

== Notes ==

<references />

{{Mistborn|Era 1}}