Difference between revisions of "Tindwyl"

{{character

|abilities={{tag+|feruchemist}}

|profession=[[Keeper]]

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

|nation=Terris

|world=Scadrial

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

}}

'''Tindwyl''' is a [[Keeper]] of [[Terris]] and a member of the [[Synod]]. She is well-known and respected among the Terris people. She spent much of her life in the [[Lord Ruler]]'s breeding program, and had over twenty children, around fifteen of which were girls.{{book ref|mb2|45}} A year after the [[Collapse]], she traveled to [[Luthadel]] at [[Sazed]]'s wish in order to train [[Elend Venture]] in leadership. She quickly became a member of Elend's inner circle. After this, she and Sazed studied the rubbing he made of [[Kwaan's inscription]], and during that time they became romantically involved. She died during the [[Siege of Luthadel]], slain by [[Koloss]].

 

== 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.

 

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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.

|A man can only stumble for so long before he either falls or stands up straight.

|Tindwyl about Elend{{book ref|mb2|35}}

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==== 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.

 

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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.

 

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=== 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 ===

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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}}

=== Elend ===

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Tindwyl comes to Luthadel to mentor Elend, and the two spend a lot of time together as she teaches him. While her behavior toward him can be harsh, she has a high opinion of him, calling him a 'fine man'.{{book ref|mb2|37}} After he is deposed, she refuses to accept that he is no longer king and still calls him by his honorific, 'Your Majesty'. She helps him as he tries to get his throne back, and when he is unable to, continues to offer him counsel when asked.{{book ref|mb2|41}} Despite their closeness, however, their final parting ends on a bitter note as Tindwyl is upset with him for leaving Luthadel and its people, and she dies shortly after.

=== Vin ===

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Tindwyl expresses an interest in Vin from their first meeting. During their trip to the dressmaker’s shop, she is able to speak privately with her and in doing so comes to understand Vin better. She takes it upon herself to try and help her, as Vin struggles with balancing the skaa and noble parts of herself. While she finds her to be somewhat unstable,{{book ref|mb2|45}} Tindwyl does come to care for her. She agrees with her theory about the [[Deepness]] being the mists — however, she does not believe that Vin is the [[Hero of Ages]]. Their parting is not on the best of terms — Tindwyl thinks she is foolish for believing herself to be the Hero and leaving Luthadel right before the battle, and by time Vin returns Tindwyl has been killed.

 

== Development ==

 

== Quotes ==

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== Notes ==

<references />

{{Mistborn|Era 1}}