Editors, Keepers
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|abilities={{tag+|Cognitive Shadow}}, {{tag+|skybreaker}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}}
|groups={{tag|Knights Radiant}} <small>([[Order of Skybreakers|Skybreaker]])</small>
|titles={{tag+|herald}}, Herald of Justice, Patron of the [[Order of Skybreakers|Skybreakers]], The Illuminator, The Judge
|aliases=Nalan, Nin, Nin-son-God, Darkness, Nakku
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
}}
Nale is dark-skinned, and often described as looking [[Makabak]]i, or more specifically [[Azish]]. The most notable aspect of his appearance is a crescent-shaped birthmark on his right cheek -- something unique to him among the Heralds.{{wob ref|8455}}{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} He's typically dressed in a uniform of an Azish constable -- a black coat with a double row of silver buttons and a stiff silver collar poking up from beneath, as well as gloves with long collars of their own.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} His eyes are mentioned as looking glassy, unfeeling and cold.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} [[
Nale is obsessed with order and law, and will go to extreme lengths to ensure he doesn't break any laws of the land he's in. This is because he's lost his own sense of justice and morality, and as such, he believes that the only way for him to act correctly is to obey a code of conduct created by others.{{book ref|sa3|121}} He is, however, capable of bending the rules to his advantage, such as by appointing himself a lawman to enable him to kill, or pressuring local authorities to change the law.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2.5|16}} This being said, Nale's still focused on obeying the rules, and will punish even his own underlings for breaking them, regardless of whether doing so is to his advantage.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} Perhaps because of this, [[Nightblood]] wouldn't consider him to be evil.{{wob ref|12567}}
In his actions, he seems utterly devoid of mercy, and will execute the maximum penalty avaiable to him without a shred of compassion or leniency,
Most of Nale's current-day behavior is
He seems to have some problems correctly perceiving the passage of time, expressing surprise that
== Attributes and Abilities ==
{{for|Herald#Abilities|a more in-depth description of general Heraldic powers}}
As a Herald of the Almighty, Nale is functionally immortal. He does not appear to age while on Roshar; and when he does die, he is transported to Braize for torturing. He can return to Roshar when he wishes to stop the
Apart from his powers as a Herald, Nale has formed a [[Nahel bond]] with a [[highspren]], making him a Skybreaker. He's the only Skybreaker in centuries to have reached the Fifth Ideal. His bond also gives him access to a living [[Shardblade]], giving him two Blades in total.{{book ref|sa3|90}}{{book ref|sa3|106}} His double bond -- with the Honorblade and the [[spren]] --
While he has access to Surgebinding during the entire [[Era of Solitude]], he seems to avoid using it in the presence of others, likely to keep a low profile.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} This changes after he joins the singers, and he seems to have no issues using Gravitation in combat.{{book ref|sa4|47}}
=== Resources ===
Nale is the head of the Order of Skybreakers, with many of its members sworn to follow him directly
Apart from the Skybreakers, Nale seems to have vast resources and connections. He has access to various rare items and creatures: he can acquire a [[larkin]] without apparent difficulty, has a [[Regrowth]] [[fabrial]] able to bring people back from the dead, and was even in possession of [[Nightblood]] for a while, having gotten his hands on it
He seems well-connected in Western [[Roshar]]. He can track Lift over vast distances and easily get his hands on attire of local lawkeepers, as well as necessary paperwork for him to join them.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} He's also fostered good relationships with most local governments, enough so that they're willing to grant him authority after he reveals himself and the Skybreakers to them.{{book ref|sa3|92}} It's unknown how well he's embedded himself in the structures of Eastern Roshar, although he has at the very least acquired the authority to act as a lawkeeper in [[Alethkar]] from king [[Gavilar Kholin]].{{book ref|sa4|77}}
== History ==
===
{{quote
|There is no person we would welcome more eagerly into this pact than you. You are the single most honorable man I have ever had the privilege of opposing.
}}
Nale was born on [[Ashyn]], either before or during the great calamity that befell it and forced the human population to leave. Like most others who would eventually become [[Herald]]s, he travelled to [[Roshar]] to settle there.{{wob ref|11945}} Sometime afterwards, when the [[Desolation]]s began, Nale joined the [[Oathpact]], becoming a Herald of the [[Almighty]].{{book ref|sa1|prelude}} It appears that, at the time, he and [[Jezrien]] were
When the [[Surgebinder]]s began appearing, Nale was initially reluctant to take them under his patronage, even though the nascent [[Skybreakers]] named him their master. Following some sort of the disturbance in the toparchy of [[Revv]], however, he agreed to do so, becoming the last Herald to formally accept his [[Knights Radiant]].{{epigraph ref|sa2|43}}
At some point, Nale got in contact with the [[Alethi]] king [[Gavilar]], possibly through [[Kalak]] and his [[Sons of Honor]], which the king was a part of. While Nale participated in Gavilar's secret project, he didn't seem to have much patience for it. Regardless, he visited the man the night of his [[Assassination of Gavilar|assassination]].{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}
A few hours before the feast began, Nale stumbled upon [[Venli]] and [[Ulim]] skulking around the [[Kholinar Palace]], and immediately recognized the latter. Silencing the spren, he began questioning Venli about the number of returning [[voidspren]]; however, she managed to trick him into believing that it was his own actions that had prompted a new Return. Incensed, and thinking that
During the feast, Nale, once more accompanied by [[Kalak]], met with Gavilar to discuss the king's progress. When [[Navani]] walked into the room to question Gavilar's absence from the feast, Nale took it as an opportunity to take his leave, dragging Kalak along with him, perhaps
{{image|Hug the Darkness.png|side=right|width=200px|[[Lift]] hugging Nale in the [[Everstorm]]}}
=== True Desolation ===
==== Joining the Singers ====
Following the Everstorm, Nale
He took all the Skybreakers with him south, to [[Marat]]. There, he told them the truth of the Aharietiam and the origins of the Desolations.{{book ref|sa3|106}} Afterwards, they went further, to [[Thaylen City]], though only Nale and Szeth were present during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]]. As they watched, Nale informed Szeth that he intended for the Skybreakers to follow the [[singer]]s, as they were the original owners of Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|116}} However, he did not participate in the battle.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
A year into the [[True Desolation]], Nale and his [[Skybreakers]] were sent to [[Emul]] to fight on the side of the [[Voidbringers]]. During one particular battle, he approached the army leader, [[Dalinar Kholin]], and tried to persuade him to submit to the law of the [[singer]]s; however, before he could go too far into his speech, [[Cord]] shot him in the face, to which he barely responded. After pulling the arrow out and healing his face, he descended to the deck of the floating platform the others were on.{{book ref|sa4|47}}
Nale approached Dalinar, incredulous that the man such as him would be made a [[Bondsmith]]. He tried to amend this and launched himself at Dalinar, but before he could attack, Dalinar, prompted by [[Stormfather]], used his abilities on the Herald, and saw a number of visions from Nale's memory. Starting from Nale abandoning the [[Oathpact]], they went back in time, showing
When the visions ended, Nale, shocked
== Relationships ==
=== Other Heralds ===
{{quote
Nale greatly respects [[Ishar]] and his opinions, believing the Herald of Luck to be the only one who hasn't succumbed to madness. It was likely at Ishar's suggestion that Nale began his crusade against Surgebinders, and when the [[Everstorm]] comes, Nale goes to Ishar for comfort and advice.{{book ref|sa3|106}}▼
|You're worried about everything. (...) Shut up.
|Nale to [[Kalak]]{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}
}}
▲Nale greatly respects [[Ishar]] and his opinions, believing the Herald of Luck to be the only one who hasn't succumbed to madness. It was likely at Ishar's suggestion that Nale began his crusade against Surgebinders, and when the [[Everstorm]] comes, Nale goes to Ishar for comfort and advice.{{book ref|sa3|106}} His respect extends somewhat to the [[Bondsmith]]s, as he has extremely high standards for what makes one worthy of the bond -- standards Ishar meets, but Dalinar doesn't.{{book ref|sa4|47}}
By contrast, Nale respect for other Heralds seems to have eroded with time. Once, he considered fighting alongside [[Jezrien]] to be an honor; these days, however, he's been keeping tabs on the Herald of Kings, and considers him to be little more than a drooling idiot.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa4|47}} He and [[Kalak]] traveled together a couple of times, most notably during the capture of [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]] and the [[Assassination of Gavilar]].{{book ref|sa4|24}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}} He has little patience for the man and his worries, and Kalak's perpetual paranoia and fear annoys him. He doesn't seem to keep in touch with the other Heralds; he doesn't care when Kalak mentions [[Shalash]], and never once speaks of [[Talenel]] despite the new Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}
=== Szeth ===
Nale
Even
=== Lift ===
Afterwards, Lift takes to hunting him herself, trying to stop him from killing more [[Surgebinder]]s, which eventually leads to the two having a confrontation in [[Yeddaw]]. Nale is initially rather glad that she came to be judged, and has every intention of killing her. However, she manages to talk him down and point out to him that the Desolation is starting again, which seems to temporarily return him to his senses. She even hugs him, although he departs shortly after.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}}
{{quote
|We are not friends. You persist only because I cannot destroy spren.
|Nale to [[Ulim]]{{book ref|sa4|77}}
}}
Nale and Ulim are familiar with each other, and have interacted in the past enough so for Nale to recognize the [[voidspren]] on sight. Nale despises him; he brushes away Ulim's attempts at small talk and tell him straight-up that if he had the capacity to kill spren, Ulim would already be dead. In turn, despite being immune to anything Nale could throw at him, Ulim is terrified of him, and immediately falls silent when commanded. After realizing how badly time has ravaged his mind, Ulim notes that the Herald's condition is similar to that of the [[Fused]], and revels in Venli tricking him.{{book ref|sa4|77}}
== Culture ==
{{image|Nale.jpg|side=right|width=150px}}
As a Herald, Nale is significant in a number of Rosharan cultures. In [[Vorinism]], he's called '''Nalan''', and is associated with the number 2 (or Nan), the [[Ten Essences|Essence]] of Vapor, and the attributes Just and Confident.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} People often swear by Nalan's hand, or say "Nalan send..." to express hope.{{book ref|sa2|44}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} More crudely, an expression "Nale's nuts" is sometimes used.{{book ref|sa4|7}}▼
{{quote
|Nin-son-God, Nale, Nakku, Nalan—this man had a hundred different names and was revered across all Roshar.
|[[Szeth]]{{book ref|sa3|98}}
}}
▲As a Herald, Nale is significant in a number of Rosharan cultures. In [[Vorinism]], he's called '''Nalan''', and is associated with the number 2 (or Nan), the [[Ten Essences|Essence]] of Vapor, and the attributes Just and Confident.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} People often swear by Nalan's hand, or say "Nalan send..." to express hope.{{book ref|sa2|44}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} More crudely, an expression "Nale's nuts" is sometimes used.{{book ref|sa4|7}} On the whole, however, he does not feature in Vorin sayings particularly often; certainly less so than [[Kalak]].
In [[Shinovar]], he's revered as '''Nin-son-God''', and believed to be the founder of humanity.{{book ref|sa3|98}} The [[Azish]] know him as '''Nakku the Judge'''.{{book ref|sa3|53}} He's also ascribed the title of the Illuminator, and is mentioned as having a hundred other names across the world, among them the Herald of Justice.{{book ref|sa2|88}}{{book ref|sa3|98}}▼
▲In [[Shinovar]], he's revered as '''Nin-son-God''', and believed to be the founder of humanity.{{book ref|sa3|98}} The [[Azish]] know him as '''Nakku the Judge'''.{{book ref|sa3|53}} He's also ascribed the title of the Illuminator, and is mentioned as having a hundred other names across the world, among them the Herald of Justice.{{book ref|sa2|88}}{{book ref|sa3|98}}
▲== Trivia ==
== Notes ==
|