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'''Hoid''' is a recurring character in the [[cosmere]]. He has appeared in almost every cosmere novel, short story, and novella which takes place in that universe.
Hoid was involved in the events taking place before any of the cosmere's published books begin and is the second oldest character seen so far.{{
His particular style of storytelling in which he manipulates sand or smoke to illustrate his stories, as in [[Warbreaker]] and [[The Way of Kings]], does not originate from [[White Sand]], but from another unpublished story, [[The Liar of Partinel]].{{
Hoid is neither the author of the [[Ars Arcanum|Ars Arcana]], nor of the back-of-book blurb for [[Words of Radiance]].{{
== History ==
|Fuzz on Hoid{{msh ref|2|1}}
}}
Very little of Hoid's origin is known beyond the fact that he was present at the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]] on [[Yolen]].{{twg ref|7302|0}} He knew at least some of the original [[Vessel]]s personally, was friends with [[Rayse]],{{
At some point following the Shattering, Hoid traveled to Roshar. He met the singers there and even shared a dance with one of them, [[Vatwha]], a member of the [[Fused]].{{book
=== Musician on Taldain ===
Hoid spent some time in the Dayside city of [[Lossand]] on [[Taldain]] around the time that the [[Taisha]]n considered dissolving the Sand Profession.{{book ref|ws1|4}} Hoid's plans and goals during this time on Taldain are unknown. Hoid wore a brown hooded cloak and played a stringed instrument related to the [[enthir]]{{wob ref|12052}} outside the [[Hall of Judgement]].{{book ref|ws1|4}} He was passed by [[Kenton]] and [[Diren]] heading toward the building to speak to the Taisha on behalf of the Diem. Later Hoid sailed with Duchess [[Khrissalla]], [[Baon]], and [[Diren]] to [[Darkside]], playing a song on deck about how the greater the distance between the creator and the audience, the less clear the original intentions of the creator.{{book ref|ws3|6}} He sees Diren test Baon for his potential as a sand master and sees the resulting explosion of power.
=== The Restoration of Elantris (Sel) ===
| Hoid to a skaze
}}
Hoid traveled to [[Sel]], likely making use of [[Devotion's Perpendicularity]] in [[Arelon]]. Hoid spoke to the skaze, and seems to have made some sort of agreement with them hinging on his desire to become an Elantrian with the restoration of [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]].{{book ref|Elantris|Postscript}} Hoid disguised himself as a beggar, wrapped in bandages. He helped [[Sarene]] smuggle weapons into
Hoid returned to Sel
<!-- Come back and work on the citations here, that Hoid is imperial fool, link to deleted scene(?) where is it-->
=== The Collapse of the Final Empire and Catacendre (Scadrial) ===
Hoid arrived on Scadrial, likely through Ruin's Perpendicularity in the Pits of Hathsin. He took up the guise of an informant, pretending to have bad eyesight in order to make himself less threatening to people seeking information from him.{{book ref|mb1|19}} At some point he became known to both [[Dockson]]{{book ref|mb1|19}} and [[Ashweather Cett]]{{book ref|mb3|27}}. Kelsier, pretending to be a nobleman contacted Hoid, requesting information on House Renoux. Hoid (closed shop, smoking tobacco)?? met with Kelsier on the streets of Luthadel and told him that House Renoux was buying large amounts of weapons and armor from various noble houses and that Lord Renoux was considering a marriage between Valette and Elend Venture. He also claimed that Renoux was rumored to have some sort of leverage on Venture and that he knew [[Shan Elariel]] to be a [[Soother]]. At some point following this, he left Scadrial to attend to other business, again likely via the Pits.{{wob ref|1552}}
[[File:Drifter.png|thumb|right|250px|[[Kelsier]] and Hoid's meeting at the [[Well of Ascension]] by [[Coppermind:
Around a year later, Hoid returned to Scadrial, traveling through Scadrial's subastral, riding on the back of a [[Cognitive Shadow]] to the Well of Ascension, Preservation's Perpendicularity.{{msh ref|2|1}} He encountered the Shadow of Kelsier there, who asked for help returning to the Physical Realm. Hoid told
Hoid then traveled to the [[Terris Dominance]]{{msh
A year later, Hoid was in [[Fadrex City]], again acting as an informant, and Ashweather Cett
=== Storyteller to the Gods (Nalthis) ===
{{quote
|I seek not to be charming, Your Grace, I only tell stories.
|Hoid to [[Siri]]{{book ref|wb|32}}
}}
Hoid
It is possible that this is the time period in which Hoid gained hundreds of Breaths to achieve at least the Second Heightening and perfect pitch.{{cite}} Hoid also learned to play a game of Awakened cards, a game he began to win repeatedly after he started fixing the games.{{book ref|sa4|99}} However, he eventually lost after betting all on his own victory before he was forced into a tie. This event would serve as a lesson to Hoid later in life to focus on limiting his losses rather than aiming for total victory. At some point he also met Vasher who knew him as Dust,{{book ref|sa2|81}}{{book ref|sa4|15}} as well as Vivenna,{{book ref|sa3|97}} although it is unknown if they met on Nalthis.
=== True Desolation (Roshar) ===
{{quote
| I've come to your land to chase an old acquaintance, but I end up spending most of my time hiding from him instead.
| Hoid to [[Kaladin]].{{book ref|sa1|57}}
}}
====
Hoid has made a number of historical visits to Roshar well before the events of the True Desolation. At some point persumably prior to the Recreance, Hoid came to Roshar hoping to to bond a spren and become a Surgebinder, but did not accomplish this goal.{{wob ref|15694}} He was familiar enough visitor at [[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]] in the Horneater peaks that the Unkalaki began describing him as a god, Lunu’anaki, who they worshipped as the god of travel and mischief.{{book ref|sa2|46}} Several generations before the coming of the Everstorm, when [[Cord]]'s grandmother was watcher of the pool, Hoid visited the Peaks and warned the Unkalaki of the [[Sleepless]].{{book ref|dawnshard|15}} Hoid also founded the organization of [[Worldsingers]] at some point, a Rosharan storyteller specializing in sharing knowledge about the world.{{wob ref|15843}}
At some point likely prior to or during the year 1170 Hoid returned to Roshar through Cultivation's Perpendicularity, encounting [[Lunamor]] as he exited the Perpendicularity. His specific goals at this time are not completely known, but he was hoping to gain full access to Lightweaving again by bonding a spren,{{cite}} as well as check in on Odium and perhaps rally others to work towards Rasyse's defeat.{{cite}} Hoid at some point met [[Helaran Davar]] in Alethkar, taking note of his determination. Around mid-1170 when Hoid mentioned to Helaran that he was traveling westward, Helaran asked him to deliver a message to Lin Davar
[[File:Under_the_Jella_Trees_by_Marie_Seeberger.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Shallan]] and Hoid's meeting at the fair by [[Coppermind:Artists/Marie_Seeberger|Marie Seeberger]]]]
Hoid came to the Middlefest fair in rural Jah Keved and met with Lin Davar in his box, using emotional Allomancy to manipulate the emotions of Lin Davar.{{book ref|sa2|45}} During the conversation, Hoid was shocked to catch sight of Shallan Davar, seeming to sense her abandoned spren bond. Afterwards, Hoid climbed a jella tree near Shallan's coach and waited for her to exit. When she came out, he revealed himself to her, expressing surprise that he had found her. After sharing a little news of Helaran, Hoid asked Shallan if spren spoke to her, but Shallan denied that they did. Hoid then told her a parable of two blind men discussing beauty, and asked her to imagine the most beautiful thing she could in exchange for knowledge of Helaran's whereabouts, trying to coax her into Lightweaving with a few spheres. As Shallan explained her dream of a happy family, she almost began to Lightweave an illusion with Stormlight from Hoid's spheres, but stopped herself before she could truly form an illusion. Hoid realized that she was not ready and encouraged her in her struggle to keep her family together. Before Hoid left, he told her Heleran was currently in Alethkar and that he would bring word of Shallan to Heleran if he got the chance.{{book ref|sa2|45}}
Likely at some point following this, Hoid took an apprentice by the name of [[Sigzil]], trying to teach him the ways of the Worldsingers as well as some common sense.{{book ref|sa1|57}} The two men spent some time in [[Babatharnam]] and Hoid was forced to bail Sigzil out of jail three times, as the locals had taken Hoid to be a wealthy foreigner, and knew he would pay to free Sigzil.{{book ref|sa1|45}} They traveled together for a long time, but somehow Hoid and Sigzil became separated in such a way that Hoid believed Sigzil had died.{{book ref|sa1|57}}
Sometime between 1170{{wob ref|5016}} and late 1173,{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} Hoid encountered Lift in Marabethia, talking with her about how it was permissible for art to be crass before jumping into the mouth of a greatshell.{{book ref|edgedancer|12}} Hoid also became aware that members of the [[Seventeenth Shard]] had come to Roshar hunting him{{book ref|sa1|i|1}} and laid a false trail through the [[Purelake]] for them to chase.{{epigraph ref|sa1|26}} Around this time, Hoid was also writing letters to potential allies, such as [[Frost]],{{wob ref|2682}} [[Autonomy]],{{wob ref|9081}} [[Endowment]],{{wob ref|8041}} and [[Harmony]]{{wob ref|9012}} asking for help dealing with Odium. Most refused Hoid, Frost citing his policy of non-intervention and his concern that their meddling could only make matters worse, Autonomy their belief that Odium was contained,{{epigraph ref|sa3|46}} and Endowment her confidence that Odium would handled if he caused any more trouble.{{epigraph ref|sa3|41}} Harmony responded with an offer of help,{{epigraph ref|sa3|57}} but also a warning that his ability to influence events was limited by the opposing powers of his Shards.{{epigraph ref|sa3|55}} Hoid and Harmony remained in correspondence, planning to extend Odium's imprisonment so that more forces could be marshalled. Hoid also recommended that Harmony reach out to the other Shards to learn more of them,{{epigraph ref|Sa5|22}} while Harmony warned Hoid that he had become too focused on Rayse as the Vessel and that Odium was the true threat,{{epigraph ref|Sa5|39}} especially in the hands of a crafty Vessel.{{epigraph ref|Sa5|42}}
==== The King's Wit ====
He also had become the King's Wit of [[Alethkar]] by around the middle of the year 1173.{{book ref|sa1|12}} He lived in the Alethi warcamps on the Shattered Plains, insulting the Alethi nobility in the stead of
{{image|Wit-Fool_by_taratjah.jpg|side=right|height=500px|Hoid tells the story of Derethil and the Wandersail}}
A few weeks later at another of Elhokar's feasts, Hoid stole a stool from one of the lighteyed artist competitions and set himself up near the bridge to the king's feasting island, insulting each of the people who came by.{{book ref|sa1|22}} When Dalinar came by, Hoid warned him that there were rumors about Dalinar being spread about, including that Dalinar had mentioned abandoning the Vengeance Pact. As Dalinar left, Navani approached the island and she and Wit exchanged friendly insults.
Following his return to the warcamps, Hoid became aware that Sigzil had survived and was now serving on the bridge crews.{{book ref|sa1|57}} He also had become suspicious that Dalinar Kholin was a member of a secret society
Hoid left the Plains, traveling to the Alethi capital of Kholinar,{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} perhaps making use of his foresight. When he arrived there, he sat on a pile of boxes just inside the gate. His odd behavior drew the attention of some of the Kholinar guard, who spoke with him for a time about the most valuable attribute a man could have. Hoid dismissed all their answers, explaining that timeliness was the most valued, as anything produced second was inevitably seen as derivative. The gate was suddenly attacked by an unknown assailant who cut his way in with a Shardblade. The Herald Talenel entered the city, warning that a new Desolation had come, before collapsing. After the man collapsed, Hoid pondered quietly to himself that he feared the Herald himself had arrived too late.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}
==== Return to the Plains ====
Wit rode in a wagon with Taln and Dalinar's man [[Bordin]] when Bordin brought the supposed-madman and his Blade to the Shattered Plains.
{{quote
|All people are musicians,” Wit countered. “The question is whether or not they share their songs.
|Hoid to Kal
}}
Hoid still arrived at the Shattered Plains later on his own however.
When Hoid arrived, Kaladin noticed him quickly and was surprised.{{book ref|sa2|55}} Kaladin climbed up on the front of the carriage with Hoid for the trip to Sebarial's warcamp and Hoid asked Kaladin whether he had learned to play the flute. Before Kaladin could respond, Wit interrupted him, telling him that he already knew that Kaladin had lost the flute and mocking him for it several times. When Kaladin protested music was a woman's art, Hoid questioned why the women's arts all seemed more fun. He mocked Kaladin several more times, trying to get Kaladin engaged in the conversation, but Kaladin refused to respond wittily. Hoid finally made a passing reference to Kaladin's flying, leading Kaladin to believe Wit was aware of his Surgebinding and alarming him. When Kaladin asked what Hoid wanted, he responded that he only wanted a story from Kaladin, mocking him again. They fell silent for a time, before Kaladin remarked on the oddity new farmers setting up fields, even though the [[highstorm]]s are stronger in the east. Hoid explained to Kaladin that the whole area had once been farmed and admonished him for not knowing much about human nature or how to have a good time. Kaladin told Hoid that his definition of fun was being where Hoid was not, to which Hoid replied that maybe Kaladin still had some wit about him after all.
After arriving at Sebarial's manor, Hoid asked the footman to fetch Shallan and Adolin left the carriage and was also astonished to see Hoid driving it.{{book ref|sa2|55}} Hoid climbed down to speak with Adolin, who wanted to know what had happened to his normal driver. Hoid was insulted that Adolin seemed to think he had hurt the man and joked that Adolin's driver was probably escaped from being tied up by then. When Shallan arrived, she was astounded to recognize him from her childhood and immediately hugged Hoid to his astonishment, the first hug he had received in a long time. Shallan thanked him for the help he had given her as a girl. Adolin expressed shock that anyone would hug the King's Wit, as he was not supposed to be well-liked. Shallan told Hoid that she needed to speak to him, as she could only remember some of their first meeting. Hoid told her that he was busy but he would try to fit her into his schedule. After Adolin helped Shallan into the carriage he told Wit to stay away from her, worried that he was interested in Shallan. Hoid told Adolin that she was far too young for him and that there was only one woman his age in the area anyway. After Adolin entered the carriage, Hoid told Kaladin to flirt with Shallan a little to bother Adolin even though she was lighteyed, as Alethi put too much stock in eye color. When they decided to go to the menagerie instead of a winehouse, Adolin told Hoid to change his destination. At some point after that, Hoid successfully switched places with the man he had paid earlier, leaving him to convey the carriage to its destination while he escaped.
==== Unclaimed Hills ====
Hoid then discovered that there was a new place he needed to go, a place out in the Unclaimed Hills of Natanatan. When he arrived at the place in the middle of the wilderness, near a river, he played his pipes, alternating with the songlings for a time. Having identified one of the nearby cremlings as a member of the Sleepless, Hoid spoke aloud about the nature of art and the difficulty of expectations from an audience. Afterwards, he intentionally struck a knowing pose just before Jasnah Kholin transitioned to the Physical Realm from Shadesmar. When Jasnah saw Wit, she summoned her Blade threatening Hoid and demanded that he tell her how he had found her. Hoid told her that her Blade was no threat to him and Jasnah attempted to leave, believing that she needed to warn humankind about the Everstorm, locate Urithiru and refound the Radiants. Hoid told her that she was too late for all three, claiming that she was better of remaining in Shadesmar as the end of Roshar had come. He told her that the Everstorm would bring the transformation of the singers soon and that the Desolation would occur differently this time than it had in the past. When Jasnah wondered where mankind would find answers for the fight to come as the records of the past were meaningless and the Almighty was dead, Wit told her that he believed she was looking for God in the wrong places and that both God and salvation from the Desolation could be found in the hearts of men. The two departed, traveling towards the warcamps. During their trip, Wit explained to Jasnah the origins of Rosharan humankind and how it had led to the Recreance and the destruction of the [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref|sa3|47}} He also gave he drawings of the Heralds true faces so that she could identify them herself.
Mention Hoid knowing that Jasnah had caused problems with the spren?
==== Busking in Kholinar ====
At some point following his meeting with Jasnah, Hoid went to Kholinar, again for reasons he was uncertain of, taking up residence in an inn, promising the owner to attract crowds with his storytelling. While he failed to honor that promise, he did help [[Azure]] keep the wall guard fed by providing her with aluminum to hide the Soulcaster she was using to produce grain.{{cite}} Publicly, he took on the guise of a storyteller, wearing an unbuttoned soldiers coat with Sadeas livery, and a colored scarf around his neck. One day while standing on a cistern wall, he told the story of Queen [[Tsa]] and [[Mishim]]. Hoid made use of a storytelling technique that involved manipulating colored smoke that he made by burning various powders in a brazier. He may have been Lightweaving as well to enhance the effect. While telling the story, Hoid noticed that the jar of sand he kept in his pack had turned white one one side, detecting kinetic Investiture in the crowd. He quickly identified Shallan in the crowd and after he finished his story and the crowd dispersed, he invited her to come with him and buy him something to eat.{{book ref|sa3|67}}
==== Aiding Shallan ====
Hoid brought Shallan to the inn where he was staying.{{book ref|sa3|68}} At some point he picked Shallan's pocket, offering her pouch of spheres to the irate inkeeper as proof he had brought in at least one paying customer. Once they were seated in a private dining room, Hoid complimented Shallan's Lightweaving while she confronted him about his true nature. While denying that he was a Herald, Hoid did reveal his tremendous age to her and explained that he had made a vow to always be where he needed. He encouraged her to eat and Shallan asked him how she might become more like him and learn to change the lives of those around her, like he had done for her in Jah Keved. Wit warned her against trying to change the world too much, explaining that those few that succeed rarely see as far as they think they do. Shallan explained to Hoid about her companions and their goal of activating the Oathgate to save the city. They discussed the risks of power further and Shallan asked Hoid about the Cult of Moments. Hoid cautioned her against trusting anyone who claims to see the future as the Cult did, claiming they were a dangerous group who reminded him of another group he had once known. Shallan explained her plan to infiltrate the cult and Hoid gave her more information on the group as well as Ashertmarn, the spren that drove them to revel. Hoid told Shallan that she could get access to the Oathgate platform by providing high quality food for the leadership and agreeing to use his contacts among the cult to help her. Shallan invited him to join in their efforts to save the city, but Hoid refused, telling her that he had come to the city for another reason. He then asked Shallan to help him fool the innkeeper and sneaked out of the room behind the man's back. Hoid spent some time working to get Shallan a contact with the leadership of the Cult of Moments, although he had difficulty getting any more than advice that she do something to attract their attention.{{book ref|sa3|72}} He left a note for her at the inn updating her on this progress.
{{sidequote
|I cannot judge the worth of a life. I would not dare to attempt it.
|Hoid to Shallan{{book ref|sa3|82}}
|right|300px;}}
Hoid later found Shallan in [[Muri]]'s room in a tenement close to the market.{{book ref|sa3|82}} Hoid tried to comfort Shallan, who was devastated that her naivety in giving food to the poor had inadvertently worsened their lives by atracting the attention of the [[Grips]]. He told her that the men in the area had dispersed the gang after what had happened and apologized for not getting involved. Hoid explained to Shallan that failure is a part of life, asking her if she had heard the story of the Girl Who Looked Up. He tried to begin a Lightweaving several times, but failed, requiring Shallans help to get the illusion going before taking it over himself. He told the story with different details than the version Shallan knew, such as the fact that there was no light where the girl who looked up lived. As he told the story, the two argued about the nature of art and whether or not it has a purpose. Shallan ended the story by concluding that the humans were the monsters and Wit gave her a hug, telling Shallan that the world is improved by its association with her. Shallan explained that while she has now confronted the truth of what she did to her parents, she cannot stand having to know the truth and wished she would die rather than face it. Hoid finished the story with an ending Shallan had never heard, claiming the girl brought back a piece of god's Light over the wall, bringing with it the first storms, which caused hardship, but were better than living in the darkness as they had before.
{{quote
|You tried to help the people of the market. You mostly failed. This is life. The longer you live, the more you fail. Failure is the mark of a life well lived. In turn, the only way to live without failure is to be of no use to anyone. Trust me, I’ve practiced.
|Hoid to Shallan{{book ref|sa3|82}}
}}
Hoid then asked Shallan if she wished she could go back to before she could see the truth.{{book ref|sa3|82}} When she replied that she did not, Hoid asked her to live on, accepting her failures as a part of her. He then used her Lightweaving to create two identical images of Shallan. The first collapsed under the weight of her memories, but when Shallan gave her memories to the second illusion, it remained standing as that version had forgiven herself. Hoid asked her again to allow herself to live despite her pain, explaining that her alters take over because their lives seems more appealing, and that she would never control them until she accepted herself for who she was. When Shallan told him that she'd never learn to control them, Hoid asked her to trust him that she was valuable and worth protecting, reminding her again that it was okay to hurt, but not okay to accept that it was her fault. He left her then, walking out into the market with his pack and vanishing. Later when Shallan confronted Ashertmarn and became lost in the flood of emotions, Hoid may have contacted her to help, speaking directly into her mind to tell her that she could be all of the people she imagined herself as being and that she can make Shallan so strong that the others must bow before her.{{book ref|sa3|84}}
==== Occupied Kholinar ====
{{quote
|It's either go with me now or wait it out and get captured. I honestly don't even know if you've the mind to listen. But if you do, know this: I will give you truths. And I know some juicy ones.
|Hoid to a Cryptic{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}
}}
Hoid stayed in the city of through the end of the siege and the capture of the city by the [[Fused]] and the [[singers]]. Trying to keep a low profile as to avoid recognition by the Fused and Odium, Hoid began suppressing his healing factor, drinking a concotion that caused his hair to fall out in clumps.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}} While waiting in line, he also gave a grand lecture on how all great art is hated by some in order to frustrate the man ahead of him in line. When Hoid realized the man did not speak Alethi, he merely cut the man in line, which was enough to earn him a punch to the face that knocked out a tooth. After heading toward the palace district, Hoid wandered around, talking to some of the people he had come to know during his time in Kholinar. He went to a small girl who still squatted near a collapsed building where her mother had died. Hoid Awakened a doll to draw the girl out from under the wall, and brought her to Kheni a grieving mother to give her a new child to care for. After that he climbed the steps to the palace, adopting the act of a mad beggar and successfully avoiding the attention of the Fused Vatwha. He walked to the work project where the palace was being torn apart and managed to slip past a pair of singer guards, before pretending to fall against the wall in his panic. He spoke the Cryptic Design, who had been hiding in the palace since Elhokar's death, telling her that while he might not be her ideal choice for a bond, she did not have many options at the moment. As the guards reached him, Hoid pushed against them and fell against the wall again, allowiong Design to slip onto his person. After the guards carried him to gardens with the rest of the beggars, he looked at the Cryptic resting on his hand.
The [[Fused]], however, are now trained to watch for him - most likely to capture him and deliver him to [[Odium]].
At some point following his time in Kholinar, Hoid returned to Urithiru. By 1175, he had resumed his role as Wit, serving Jasnah in the same capacity as he had Elhokar. Hoid became one of her most trusted advisors, conferring often with her in meetings, and he confided in Jasnah at least something of his true nature. During this time, the two also began a romantic relationship. While this fact was not publicly known, their obvious closeness inspired rumors in the Alethi court. It also became more common knowledge that Hoid had bonded a spren to join the Lightweavers.{{book ref|sa4|80}} Despite the fact that his title of Wit remained the same, Hoid's demeanor was markedly different then during his tenure under Elhokar, often remaining quiet and serious in meetings, although often with a hint of mockery in his expressions. After the Mink was extracted from [[Hearthstone]], Hoid attended the following strategy meeting. He arrived with Jasnah, listening to the Mink's thoughts and seemingly impressed by his perception. When the group discussed Dalinar's thought that giving up Alethkar might be necessary to make peace, Hoid disagreed, stating that Odium would not accept anything less than a total surrender, if not the absolute destruction of humanity. Wit then went to fetch Taln and Ash from their confinement, returning to the meeting with them for questioning.
Prior to coalition's expedition to Lasting Integrity, Hoid met with Pattern,{{book ref|sa4|21}} who had grown concerned with Shallan's worsening mental health.{{book ref|sa4|78}} Hoid told Pattern that he was funny, but did offer to help. He told Pattern that if he became worried, Pattern could use the box containing the seon to speak to Hoid via his own box and helped Pattern obtain a copy of the key to Shallan's trunk. He also helped Pattern remove Shallan's brothers from Urithiru to get them away from the threat of Mraize.{{book ref|sa4|115}} Hoid then accompanied Jasnah to the Oathgate platform to see off the expedition.{{book ref|sa4|21}} Sometime before the main campaign began in Emul, Hoid left Jasnah on an unknown errand, promising to meet her later in Azir.{{book ref|sa4|27}} During this time period he spoke to Pattern via the seons on at least x occasions, providing the spren with advice, and incidentally leaking information to the Ghostbloods via the [[Sleepless]] spy that had replaced on of his pens. At some point Hoid began planning with Jasnah to replace the insubordinate Highprince Ruthar, speaking to his son Relis about the abuse Ruthar's children experienced at the hands of their father.
==== Campaign in Emul ====
Weeks later Hoid accompanied Jasnah to a planning meeting, joining her in examining battle maps.} He was by Jasnah's side when Dalinar spoke to her about his desire to further explore his powers as a Bondsmith to successfully end the war with Odium and regain Alethkar. When Jasnah wondered if they might be used to push Odium to agree to terms of a duel, Hoid replied that Odium would never agree to terms unless he truly feared that he might lose the war in order to limit his losses. When Dalinar expressed his wish for total victory, Hoid mocked this hope. Dalinar expressed that he thought his powers might be used to trap the Fused or refound the Oathpact and he felt they were leaving options unexplored, Hoid agreed with him, claiming that his value was greater as a Bondsmith than a general. After Jasnah agreed to consider Dalinar's plan, Hoid mocked Dalinar again for his positive view of the monarchy and warned him to watch the highprinces, as Jasnah was about to move against Ruthar.{{book ref|sa4|50}}
Later at that same meeting, after Jasnah goaded Ruthar into insulting her, Jasnah called upon her Wit to return the insults to Ruthar. With Jasnah repeatedly ordering him to be harsher, Hoid mocked Ruthar's manhood, his honor, and ultimately revealed to the man that he'd spoken with Relis about Ruthar's abuse. In his rage, Ruthar challenged Hoid to a duel by swords, which Hoid accepted. Before the duel could begin, Dalinar reminded Ruthar that by killing Wit he risked his title and exile. Unable to harm another, Hoid agreed to allow a champion to face Ruthar in his place, offering his blade to Jasnah so that she could fight the man herself. After Jasnah defeated Ruthar and the man's life was saved by Renarin, Wit reclaimed his Blade from Jasnah and cleaned it of blood with his handkerchief. He then dropped the bloody handkerchief and mocked Ruthar again, stating that his bullying ways had left him devoid of any willing to show loyalty. After the fight Hoid's demeanor grew serious, his face expressionless and his eyes appearing as deep voids in the light.{{book ref|sa4|50}}
Weeks later, when Jasnah fought in a major battle against the singer forces, Hoid served as her valet when she retreated from battle for rest. During her first rest, she remarked to him that she had been less successful in battle than she had expected and could not beat a Fused in a fair fight. Hoid expressed his belief that fair fights were a lie, as one person is always superior to another in skill, training, or luck. Hoid sympathized with her desire to prove herself in combat, but told her that there was no shame in making use of her powers. Hoid also updated her on the state of the battle. The two discussed the potential end of standard battlefield formations, with Hoid saying that he felt it was unlikely they would persist as the powers of the Radiants became more commonplace. He offered to massager her sword hand, but Jasnah refused, preferring to return to the fight. Hoid visited her several more times over the course of the battle. However, at some point he returned to Jasnah's tent and discovered that one of his pens had been replaced by a Sleepless and all his conversations with Jasnah and correspondence had been compromised. Hoid began writing letters to those he communicated with to warn them of the breach, as well as his contacts among the Sleepless. He was interrupted by Jasnah returning from battle. When she refused to rest before an an explanation, he told her what had happened and that he suspected the Ghostbloods. He then told her more of the Ghostbloods and their leader [[Thaidakar]] than he had previously shared.{{book ref|sa4|64}}
==== Helping Kaladin ====
{{image|Hoid_by_Katie_Payne.jpg|side=right|height=500px|Hoid, Design, and [[Frost]]}}
When Kaladin suffered assault by Odium during his dreams, Hoid somehow discovered what was happening and entered Kaladin's vision to give him a moment of calm from Odium's attack. Interfering directly in this way was a risk for Hoid, opening him up to retaliation from Odium that he was normally immune to. he could only protect Kaladin for around twenty minutes before Odium noticed his touch and destroyed him. He pulled Kaladin out of his visions and into a bubble of light that was protected from the storm, containing a fire with stew cooking over it. Hoid explained to Kaladin that Odium had somehow trapped him in a vision and offered him stew for the little time that they had together. Kaladin asked him whether he was going to have to return to the storm, and Hoid confirmed that they did not have much time and that the vision would get worse. Kaladin confided in Wit that he was not strong enough to go on. Hoid accepted this, saying that he trusted Kaladin's judgement of himself. As he ate, Kaladin asked Wit to tell him a story, which shocked Wit, as he was rarely actually asked for a story.{{book ref|sa4|80}}
Design appeared in the vision, holding the flute that Hoid had given Kaladin. Before he began his story, Hoid warned Kaladin not to look for a moral in the story. Hoid began to tell Kaladin the story of The Dog and the Dragon, first explaining to Kaladin what a dog and a dragon are, as he had no idea what these creatures were. As Hoid told the story he and Design bantered back and forth, teasing one another as the story progressed. Hoid told Kaladin the story of a dog who wished to become a dragon himself after seeing one fly by, using his Lightweaving to create illusions of the events. He tried unsuccessfully to mimic the dragon's scales, and its ability to fly and speak, while learning other marvelous skills. Ultimately while the dog failed to become a dragon, he used his talents to save his owner's child who had fallen into a well. Hoid ended the story by explaining that even though the dog was adored and beloved by the family, he was miserable because he had failed at his goal. Kaladin took offense at this ending, as he had wanted a useful story and felt like the dog had failed to acknowledge his own achievements. Kaladin then realized that Hoid had told him the story to help him realize that he needed to stop ignoring his own accomplishments, although Hoid insisted as always that any meanings were for Kaladin himself to assign. Hoid then told Kaladin that they were running out of time and Kaladin readied himself to return to the storm. Before he left, Kaladin asked Hoid for the real ending of the tale, to which Hoid explained that the dog had realized that he probably had a better life than the dragon anyway. When Kaladin said that he felt that it would not end that way for him, Hoid told him that while his life might not get better right away, it would improve again as well. Hoid then pushed Kaladin out of the bubble of protection and back into the vision, and then vanished.{{book ref|sa4|80}}
==== Drafting a Contract for Odium ====
At some point, Hoid began drafting a contact for the terms of Dalinar's contest with Odium. According to the terms Hoid proposed, if Dalinar won, Odium and his forces would retreat to Braize for one thousand years. If Odium was victorious he would remain bound to the system but would be allowed to do as he pleased with Roshar and the monarchs and Radiants would submit to his rule. Following the final victory of the coalition armies in Emul, Hoid spent an evening with Jasnah in her house in their command camp. He interrupted her reading accounts from the Heralds, asking her to pay attention to him rather than the words of the mad and kissing the index finger of her safehand. Jasnah asked Hoid how they might beat Odium, with his ability to see the future. Hoid told her of a time he lost an Awakened card game that he thought he had fixed because he had bet on his total victory, but was instead forced into a tie. When Jasnah asked how they might limit their losses if Odium was victorious in the duel, Hoid produced the terms he had outlined.{{book ref|sa4|99}}
{{sidequote
|[I am] someone who wisely turned down the power the others all took—and in so doing, gained freedoms they can never again have. I, Jasnah, am someone who is not bound.
|Hoid to Jasnah{{book ref|sa4|99}}
|right|300px;}}
After Jasnah had read the terms, Hoid asked her opinion and Jasnah replied that she felt the terms were perfect for Hoid, but not for the people of Roshar. Hoid argued that this was a good deal for the Rosharans and that at least if they lost Odium would be prevented from wreaking havoc on other worlds. Jasnah told him that she hated gambling on a contest and asked Hoid if they could risk the fate of the world on a single duel. Hoid explained to her that the events leading up to the duel were important and that Odium would be willing to risk waiting a thousand years to try again, which would give the Radiants more time to gather strength. He assured her that Odium was someone that they could beat and that Rayse had bet too much on Dalinar joining his side. Hoid told her that Odium was struggling to locate a champion who could legitimately win, as the duel was more about the hearts and minds of their followers than it was a contest of skill. When Hoid asked Jasnah if she trusted her allies and she failed to answer, he assured her that it would not matter, as if they could get Odium to agree to these terms Hoid would be able to finally help her openly. When Jasnah reminded him that Odium would destroy Hoid if he revealed himself, Hoid told her that he would add a line declaring himself to be Honor's contractual liaison, allowing him to finally exercise his true power.{{book ref|sa4|99}} When Dalinar later negotiated his final contract with Odium, the details differed, but it was structured to keep Odium bound to Roshar, which please Hoid greatly, who felt that they had essentially won already.{{book ref|sa4|116}}
Shallan contacted Hoid via seon after she successfully reintegrated Veil and wished to leave the Ghostbloods. He explained to her some information about seons and told her that he had helped her brother evacuate before the Tower fell. Hoid also told her something of Thaidakar and asked Shallan to pass a message along to Thaidakar via Mraize. Hoid told Thaidakar that he should deal with his own planet and stop meddling with others if he did not want Wit to come beat him again.{{book ref|sa4|115}}
==== Meeting with Odium ====
Shortly after he returned to Urithiru, Hoid ventured out to the old palace at the Pinnacle, hoping to speak to Odium directly for the first time in over a thousand years. As he walked the halls, Hoid spoke to Design and some corrupted windspren about the dirty tricks involved in storytelling, drawing an audience's attention to one subject and using their distraction to surprise them elsewhere. Hoid and Design bickered about this topic while Hoid performed coin tricks, with Hoid insisting that illusions performed with trickery were superior to those performed with magic as they draw the audiences attention better. When Design told him that she thought that was stupid, he told her to go bother someone else for a time and she left him to chase the corrupted windspren. Hoid's Breaths alerted him to a presence in Elhokar's old sitting room, and Hoid entered, allowing himself to be easily found. Odium arrived and the two argued about the contract, with Odium insisting he would have his vengeance upon Hoid while Hoid mocked him. Odium then asked Hoid who Hoid would chose for champion, a question that seemed odd to Hoid and he did not answer. As Hoid left the room, he realized the interaction had gone exactly as he had expected except for Odium's question about the champion. He realized that Rayse had been replaced as Vessel, but before he could act he was seized by Odium's power. Odium spoke to him them, admitting he had made a mistake in asking the question and realizing that while he could not harm Hoid directly, he could interfere with the Breaths that Hoid stored his memories in and excise the previous events. Hoid found himself standing in the hallway of the palace, with no idea of the events that had just occurred. He walked down the hall as he had before, beginning his monologue about storytelling again. He felt somewhat disoriented and noticed some oddities, such as Design's absence and one of his trick coins being in the wrong place on his person. Hoid then felt Odium's presence again and returned to the sitting room, having a nearly identical conversation with Odium, without the question about the duel of champions. After Odium declared that he would destroy Dalinar's champion, Hoid left the room feeling uneasy, but he assured himself that all must be well as the conversation had gone exactly as he had expected it to occur.{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}}
=== Post-Catacendric Scadrial ===
At some point following his actions on Roshar, Hoid returned to Scadrial to attend the [[Yomen-Ostlin wedding dinner|wedding]] of Lord [[Joshin Yomen]] and Lady [[Mi'chelle Ostlin]],{{wob ref|918}}{{wob ref|4698}} two friends of his that he had made at some unknown point in the past.{{wob ref|3546}} Rather than coming to Scadrial in response to some important event, Hoid initially came merely to congratulate his friends.{{wob ref|3546}} He came dressed all in black, appearing as a scruffy looking beggar and spoke to the couple soon after they arrived at the dinner.{{book ref|mb4|4}} It is unknown if he was present for the subsequent Vanisher attack. Hoid may have left the planet briefly afterwards, but something on Scadrial had caught his attention and he was back several months later{{cite}}{{wob ref|6162}}. Hoid became employed as [[Waxillium Ladrian]]'s new carriage driver.{{book ref|mb5|7}} By that point he had become friendly with Wayne, who liked him but did not know anything about Hoid's true identity.{{wob ref|4376}} When Wax headed to the precinct station to question [[Rian]], Hoid drove the carriage and Wayne rode up front with him.{{book ref|mb5|7}} During the carriage ride, Hoid eavesdropped on Wax's conversation with [[Harmony]] about Bleeder's plans to disrupt the [[Elendel Basin]].{{wob ref|5317}}
Hoid's actions after this point are unclear. Hoid somehow obtained a coin-like [[Feruchemy#Unsealed_Metalminds|unsealed metalmind]] containing a memory of [[Kelsier]] aiding the [[Southern Peoples of Scadrial|southern Scadrians]]
When Waxillium Ladrian walked up the path to Kelsina's mansion to attend a [[Kelesina Shores' party|party]] with [[Wayne]], [[MeLaan]], [[Steris Harms]] and [[Marasi Colms]], Hoid climbed out of the bushes, startling Wax.{{book ref|mb6|11}}
== Appearance & Personality ==
Hoid's true personality, while also usually disguised, is more easily seen as he occasionally drops whatever part he is playing. One of his overall most noticeable traits is his sharp wit and intelligence. The characters he plays often have a penchant for jokes and mockery but when he removes the facade his personality often seems mysterious and grave.{{book ref|twok|epilogue}}{{book ref|twok|57}} If he was asked about whether he called himself a good man personality-wise, Hoid would reply with a "No".{{wob ref|1704}}
Hoid cannot easily kill people "because of certain things in his past."{{
On Roshar as [[Elhokar|King Elhokar]]'s Wit he appears to be in his mid-30's{{wob ref|1705}} and was described as
}}
The blade is not magically invested but has personal value to Hoid.{{
<gallery caption="Images of Hoid">
Wit sketches.jpg | King's Wit in uniform by [[User: Sheep]]
</gallery>
== Relationships ==
=== Kelsier ===
Hoid initially met Kelsier in the disguise of an informant, so at first their relationship was of little import during Kelsier's life. Hoid was frustrated that Kelsier had destroyed the perpendicularity at the Pits of Hathsin, making his life harder. Their relationship became more relevant when Hoid encountered the Shadow of Kelsier trapped in the Well of Ascension. This meeting was the start of history of antagonism between the two men. Hoid and Kelsier have contrasting personalities and both have strong egos, meaning they often find themselves at odds.
=== Jasnah Kholin ===
=== Kholin Family ===
=== Kaladin ===
=== Shallan ===
=== Vessels ===
== Abilities ==
{/{theory}}
Hoid does not yet have the abilities of every planet he's visited.{{wob ref|2853}} Some of his powers predate the [[Shattering]], but none of them are gained through [[Hemalurgy]].{{wob ref|6658}} Hoid is concerned about opening himself up to the influence of Shards, so he only gains access to manifestations of Investiture through more conventional ways.{{wob ref|656}} Hoid has access to multiple Invested Arts, but not an incredibly large number.{{wob ref|1044}}
He is likely the most powerful non-Shard entity in the cosmere.{{wob ref|7323}} There are only a few things in the cosmere that are capable of hurting him, one of which is [[Nightblood]], and he stays far away from all of them.{{wob ref|11671}} Hoid also has an unknown [[seon]].{{book ref|sa4|78}}{{book ref|sa4|115}}
=== Illusions ===
=== Worldhopping ===
Hoid travels between various planets within the cosmere by making use of [[perpendicularity|perpendicularities]],{{wob ref|1472}} places usually created by the presence of a Shard on a planet where the sheer power of Investiture causes the borders between the realms to be weakened.{{au ref|drominad}} A knowledgeable person such as Hoid is able to transition from the Physical Realm to the Cognitive Realm.{{wob ref|1472}} Hoid can then travel to a different world's subastral, as the distances between worlds in Shadesmar are much smaller than in the Physical Realm.{{wob ref|4132}} Hoid is very proficient at traveling in Shadesmar.{{wob ref|5981}} He can easily travel to any world that has an active [[perpendicularity]], even those worlds where the perpendicularities are dangerous to pass through such as the [[Well of Ascension]].{{msh ref|2|1}} Hoid is known to be aware of perpendicularities on Scadrial,{{msh ref|2|1}} Sel,{{book ref|Elantris|part=postscript}} and Roshar,{{book ref|sa2|46}} and likely knows of Nalthis's perpendicularity as well.{{book ref|wb|32}}{{wob ref|9501}} While Hoid typically makes use of natural perpendicularities in his travels, later in life he may also have access to an ability that essentially allows him to generate his own personal perpendicularity, much like the [[Surge]] of Transportation.{{wob ref|9294}} Later after he has developed his Radiant bond to [[Design]], Hoid may fully slip into the Cognitive Realm using his abilities, but it is unknown if he has some other way to exit Shadesmar himself.{{book ref|sa4|22}}
=== Agelessness and Time-Dilation ===
|Hoid to Jasnah on her Shardblade
}}
Hoid has access to some sort of healing factor that is capable of repairing both the body and the [[Spiritweb|soul]].{{
{{wob ref|13207}} Is this relevant? (Shardblades don't scare him)
=== Fortune ===
|Hoid to Dalinar{{book ref|sa2|67}}
|right|300px;}}
Hoid has access to an ability that allows him to make use of the Spiritual attribute of [[Fortune]],{{wob ref|2567}}
(trivia?)
=== Connection ===
Hoid has access to some manifestation of Investiture that allows him to manipulate the Spiritual attribute of [[Connection]]. The full extent of this ability is unknown, but its primary known use is to help Hoid speak the various languages of the worlds of the cosmere that he visits. The ability allows him to Connect to whatever land he is in, temporarily altering his Spiritual aspect to believe that he was raised in that place, allowing him to speak as a native.{{wob ref|3759}} While Hoid has learned naturally how to speak some foreign languages,{{wob ref|9012}} and is decent with languages, he desires to pass as a local oftentimes, which requires something beyond natural learning.{{wob ref|223}} Generally he makes use of
=== Metallic Arts ===
Hoid has also gained access to Allomancy,{{wob ref|4877}}
=== Awakening ===
|Hoid to Kaladin on making music{{book ref|sa2|59}}
}}
As a Yolish man, Hoid was not himself born with any
Additionally, holding Breath has allowed Hoid to somehow outsource some of his memory to said Breath. After [[Odium]]'s destruction of some of these Breaths in order to wipe his short-term memory, his level of Breath was reduced to just under the Second Heightening,resulting in a loss of perfect pitch.{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}}
=== Surgebinder ===
{{quote
|For years, I've had to make do with hints of illusions. Suggesting scenes. Leaving most to the imagination. Now, having the power to do more, I find it less satisfying.
|Hoid to
}}
Hoid has
== Storytelling Method ==
== Known Pseudonyms ==
* Roamer
* Dust - by Vasher{{book ref|wor|81}}
* The King's Wit{{book ref|twok|54}}
* Imperial Fool of the [[Rose Empire]]{{ref|name=tes-del}}
* A storyteller in the Court of the Gods{{book ref|wb|32}}
* Topaz{{17s ref|post|337201|}}
* Drifter - by Kelsier{{msh ref|2|1}}
* Cephandrius Maxtori{{17s ref|post|337235}}{{wob ref|5882}}{{wob ref|3985}} - by the Vessels
* Midius - by the Heralds.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
== Speculation ==
The names of the [[Worldsingers]], a group of storytellers on Roshar, and the Conclave of [[Worldbringers]], the leading body of the original [[Terris]] religion, are strikingly similar. Brandon has stated that this is not a coincidence.{{17s ref|post|22043}} Some believe that Hoid is a common root to both of these organizations, one of which, the Worldbringers, was very [[Realmatic Theory|Realmatically]] aware.{{17s ref|post|42471}} There may be also a connection between the Worldsingers and the Dawnsingers, due to similarity of names.
==== Topaz Dawnshard? ====
== Quotes ==
* The character of Hoid existed before the concept of Adonalsium was developed. He first appeared in a short story Brandon wrote long ago, going by the name Kamp.{{bws ref|its-here-2|It's Here|post|pre|date=2010-8-31}} He was on a planet trying to figure out how the magical system of the area worked.{{17s ref|post|42219}}
* Brandon has stated that Cephandrius is the closest to his real name. Only a few decades off.{{cite}}
* Brandon has stated that Hoid is his favorite character, but he couldn't say why without giving away spoilers.{{
* Brandon may eventually write a parallel novel to the Mistborn series that chronicles what Hoid was up to behind the scenes.{{17s ref|post|42244}}
* Hoid loves bacon.{{wob ref|3098}}
{{bws ref|date=2014-03-31|name=tes-del|the-emperors-soul-deleted-prologue-imperial-fool|Deleted prologue from ''The Emperor's Soul''}}
{{twg ref|date=2009-12-19|7302|0|Hoid was at the Shattering}}
|