Difference between revisions of "Vasher"

|world=Nalthis|nation=Idris

He is a tall man{{book ref|wb|19}} who has trouble expressing himself, who letlets his anger get the better of him, and who wasis rough around the edges. {{annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=43}} Vasher's memory has a few holes.{{wob ref|link=annotation-warbreaker-chapter-forty-three9190}}. He is usually grumpy.{{annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=49|link=annotation-warbreaker-chapter-forty-nine}}

DESTROY EVIL!!!.jpeg | Vasher wielding an unsheathed Nightblood, by [[Coppermind:Artists/Matthew_Johnson|Matthew Johnson]]

Vasher was born on Nalthis,{{wob ref|2768}} and was a member of the Five Scholars, (Vasher,along with [[Denth]], [[Arsteel]], [[Shashara]] and [[Yesteel]] ) but cannot remember anything before his Return. {{book ref|wb|epilogue}}

All five scholars were Returned. Vasher, then known as Talaxin, and [[Shashara]] created Nightblood, among other things while they were both in love. He married Shashara shortly before he slew her with Nightblood. He killed her in order to prevent the knowledge of its creation from being disseminated. {{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation58chapter=58}}

Later, Vasher misinterpreted the ArsteelsArsteel's motives in joining with Denth and killed him. Due to both killings, Denth and Vasher become enemies. {{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation53chapter=53}}

By the time war started, Vasher was known as Kalad. The true origin of the war is a topic of debate among scholars, {{book ref|wb|32}} it is known that Kalad was the man who had started the [[Manywar]], against the onecities whoof Kuth and Huth. Stories say Kalad had used his knowledge of BioChromatic Breath to create a vast army of Lifeless and seize power in Hallandren. He had protected the kingdom with his armies, yet had shattered the kingdom as well by driving the royals into the highlands. {{book ref|wb|07}}

Vasher gotused a priesttrick to findget outhimself Hallandren’simprisoned politics,in findingthe thereGod wasKing's apalace. groupHe pushingescaped tohis move to war towards Idris, where the exiled royals lived,cell and pushedvisited toa findrebel morecalled about[[Vahr]]. theVahr factionsgave inVasher thehis cityBreath whofor wanteda themerciful wardeath. {{book ref|wb|5prologue}}

AfterVasher talkingfound tothrough Bluefingersa priest there was a political Hallandirien group pushing for war against Idris, where the exiled royals lived.{{book ref|wb|annotation215}} knowingLooking for more information on the returnedfaction keptinvolved, secretshe met with Bluefingers,{{annotation Vasherref|book=wb|chapter=21}} soughtwho outgave him information which led him into the home of Mercystar, a Returned known for her involvement in politics, yet who wasn’t all that influential. He broke into her palace and after disabling some guards and awakeningAwakening a lifeless squirrel, he was able to find a secret trapdoor .{{book ref|wb|21}}

He found Vivena was working with Denth on creating disturbances and vandalizing the city, which was making the movement for war stronger. Because of this, he kidnapped Vivena and took her to one of the slums, where he forced her to take Nightblood to test her heart. As Nightblood cannot tempt the hearts of those who are pure, when she dropsdropped the sword feeling sick,; thus she passed the test and got his protection. She however, still believed Denth and his team were on her side and ran back to them, finding out they were traitors and ran from them as well. {{book ref|wb|35}} Sometime after, Vasher threw Nightblood to some thugs hired by Denth who were takingmoving against her, and after they were all dead, he descended from a rooftop, secured the sword and took her back with him.{{book ref|wb|41}}

Vivenna shared with Vasher some plansof [[Denth]]'s andplans hiswith team used her toVasher. executeThis whichknowledge tipped him into finding the daughter of one of the priests who was kidnapped to turn her father in favor of the war. During this rescue, Vasher loses his temper and kills the thugs. {{book ref|wb|49}}

Vivenna and Vasher go to the arena to watch the vote, it doesn’t go very well to the peace cause, and they also find out that Siri is pregnant. Vasher accepts to help Vivenna to save her.{{book ref|wb|50}} When he broke into the God King’s palace, he was ambushed by Denth’s mercenaries who captured him.{{book ref|wb|51}} When Vasher woke up, he was tied by his wrists to a hook in the ceiling of a stone room and Denth tortured him. {{book ref|wb|53}}

At the same time, Nighblood was thrown into the water, but was able to come out and contact Vivenna; together they went to find him. {{book ref|wb|54}} Vivenna came in, freed Vasher and gave her Breath to him as Denth stuck his sword into her shoulder.{{book ref|wb|56}} She later recovered some of her Breath and threw Vasher out the window in an attempt to save him. Using Awakening, he survived and found Nighblood, which he used to kill a group of Lifeless that were sent to kill him. Nightblood consumed most of his Breath, and before he was killed by himit, he let the blade go. At that time, Denth came in and asked to finish the duel. {{book ref|wb|56}} Vasher was almost killed by Denth in combat but he used his secret maneuver, he gave Denth his last Breath and during the time of “shock” when getting it, he killed him.{{book ref|wb|57}}

By the time Vasher comes out, the Pahn Kahl had already sent Hallandren’s Lifeless to attack Idirs. They wanted both kingdoms to fight and be weakened in hope to gain their own liberty. Vivenna finds via Nightblood who Vasher really is and they together go to see the God King, who had his tounge healed. Vasher showed himself as Returned and [[Susebron]] keeledknelt at him. Vasher gave him information on his old army: Kalad’s Phantoms. so he could stop the war.{{book ref|wb|58}}

The Lifeless were destroyed, and only a couple of the phantoms were lost.{{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotationepiloguechapter=epilogue}}. He then sets off to find [[Yesteel]] who was attempting to restore [[Huth]] and [[Kuth]], Vivenna goes with him.{{book ref|wb|epilogue}}

Vasher moved to Roshar and changed his name to '''Zahel'''. His main purpose in returning to Roshar was to have easier access to the [[Investiture]] ([[Stormlight]]) that he needs in order to survive.{{wob ref|4553}} He partially walked and partially took a vehicle to get from Nalthis to Roshar. {{wob ref|8168}}, making use of a caravan running between the two planets.{{wob ref|11992}} Vasher was separated from Nightblood after arriving into Rosharthis world.{{wob ref|1714}}

During the [[War of Reckoning]] he served as ardent and swordmaster. With encouragement from Adolin, who he had trained before, {{book ref|sa2|35}} he became the master for Renarin Kholin.{{book ref|sa2|16}}.

Zahel appreciated Renarin’s enthusiasm, obedience, and no fear of looking foolish. He also offered to train Kaladin in using and defending himself from Shardbearers and help him protect the Kholins. He tested Kaladin by sparing with him; recognizing his abilities both in skill and tenacity, but letting him know training was needed. {{book ref|sa2|18}} Kaladin, didn’t acceptedaccept the offer at first, but came asking for it after the attempt on the king’s life; he brought three more of his bridge four men to train with him. Most of the training was given toby his fellow female ardent Ivis. {{book ref|sa2|44}}

During the Kholinar battle with the fused, Vivenna (going now by the name of Azure) met both Kaladin and Adolin. Before parting from them, she asked them to warn Zahel she was looking for him. {{book ref|sa3|110}}

Vasher is a Returned who has a Divine Breath making him automatically of the Fifth Heightening (ageless).{{book ref|wb|32}} however, over the years he has learned to give away all his Breath except for that one Returned Breath that keeps him alive. As long as he has that one Breath (which he’s learned to suppress and hide), he can stay alive. {{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation58chapter=58}}

In Roshar he uses stormlightStormlight to keep himself alive and though he cannot use it to awakenAwaken, {{wob ref|10380}} he can still sense people. {{book ref|sa2|i|6}} He can draw investiture from highstorms, {{wob ref|5167}} this, however, doesn't allow him access to [[Surgebinding]].{{wob ref|5727}} The method he uses involves the gap in his [[spiritweb]] left by his [[Divine Breath]].{{wob ref|2912}}

He’s got a lot of good information, and he has a handle on what he doesn’t understand. {{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation46chapter=46}} He can issue three commands in one Awakening, which is a difficult task, but for him it had become as simple as blinking.{{book ref|wb|51}}

In Roshar, he uses stormlightStormlight to keep himself alive, but losthas thenot abilityfigured out how to awakenAwaken with it.{{wob ref|10380}}

Vasher is a very skilled swordsman, with three hundred years of practice along with his Returned speed and strength. Though he has admitted that he is not the best swordsman because his temper gets in the way, his ingenuity in combat gives him an edge. He also is open to using "cheap tricks" in combat, such as when he transferred Breaths to stun his opponent. A clear indicator of his sword-fighting prowess is that on Roshar he is a highly sought-after [[Alethi]] blademasterweapons-master, having directly trained both of the Kholin children and [[Kaladin]] in the use of and defense against Shardblades[[Shardblade]]s. His familiarity with wielding Shardblades presumably was honed by using Nightblood, a very powerful Shardblade.

Vasher knows Denth as VaraTreledees and Denth knows Vasher as Tax. They were friends, colleagues from the five scholars and in-laws when Vasher married Denth’s sister Shashara. However after the creation of Nightblood, Vasher killed his wife thus making Denth a long life enemy. {{book ref|wb|53}}

Denth worked for the Pahn Khal and his payment would be capturing Vasher and make him pay for killing Shashara and Arsteel. {{book ref|wb|51}} Denth did respect Vasher and acknowledged all the good he had done for people throughout his life. {{book ref|wb|52}} Denth wanted Nightblood to kill Vasher, like he did with Shashara; or killed in duel like Arsteel. In the end, Denth end up killed by Vasher with the same maneuver used to kill Arsteel. {{book ref|wb|57}}

At first glance, Vasher believes Vivena is working with Denth and wants war between Idris and Hallandren. He kidnaps her and tests her by asking her to take Nighblood,. {{book ref|wb|49}}, asFor the reason she feels sick, he finds she has a good heart and decides to protectsprotect her, even after she ran from him.{{book ref|wb|41}}. He teaches Vivenna awakeningAwakening not only the practical but theory.{{book ref|wb|46}} He also helped her get a good grip on her sword and some tips on how to act. {{book ref|wb|49}}

For Vivienna, Vasher was rough. He was brutal. He had a terrible temper. But he was a good man. And, walking beside him, she felt safe. {{book ref|wb|49}}

Shashara, Denth’s sister, one of the Five Scholars and a Returned also known as Glorysinger by the Cult of the Returned. {{annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=26}}

She drew Nightblood at the battle of Twilight Falls and Vasher was horrified by the result.{{annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=26}}

It’s because of her insistence on using the sword in battle, and in giving away the secret to creating more, that Vasher and she fought. He ended up killing her with Nightblood, which they’d created together during the days they were in love—he married her a short time before their falling out. That marriage ended with him slaying his own wife to keep her from creating more abominations like Nightblood and losingloosing them upon the world. ({{annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=26)}}

Vasher and Shashara created Nightblood during the days they were in love. {{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation26chapter=26}} And he changed his name after using him to kill his wife. Vasher has a bit of a blind spot when it comes to Nightblood. He makes assumptions he wouldn’t make regarding other people or elements of Awakening. It’s hard for him to regard the sword without bias. {{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation51chapter=51}}

He doesn’t usually drawsdraw him, all Vasher has to do is throw in Nightblood and let him do what he does. To Vasher, that’s often all the justification he needs. If the sword can make them kill each other, then they were guilty. {{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation29chapter=29}}

Nightblood can sense where Vasher is. This is because Nightblood has ingested and fed off of Vasher’s Breaths in the past which is also the reason why he is not sick when touching it.{{annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=55}} In Roshar, it is implied he still talks to Nightblood expecting his answer back though there hasn’t been an answer in years.{{book ref|wbsa2|i|annotation556}}

HeVasher considers thisDalinar partKholin ofand thehis Kholinssons asto be his friends. {{book ref|sa2|44}} He speaks fondly to Adolin and evenaddresses knowinghim hisas statusa student, hedespite talksthe todistinct himhierarchical asdifference studentbetween them. On his side, Adolin constantlyoften remembers hisZahel’s (Vasher’s) advice and speaks fondly of his training with him. {{book ref|sa3|15}} HeVasher also considers it to be a pleasure to train Renarin whodue hasto his enthusiasm, obedience, and nolack of fear of looking foolish, whichsomething that Vasher says is not easy to teach. {{book ref|sa2|18}}

Vasher trains Kaladin and his men to be better bodyguards to the Kholins. {{book ref|sa2|44}} He would go to watch Adolin duel and shout advice to him.{{book ref|sa2|56}} Vasher also gave Dalinar advice on how the ardents must feel having to choose between him and their religion the more he pushed for breaking some rules. {{book ref|sa3|16}}

Vasher as Zahel trains Kaladin and is able to readunderstand him., Knowingknowing that he is a profound person thatwho makesasks many questions. Kaladin on the other side, trusts himVasher toenough thethat point of going tohe seeksought his advice when he was bothered with the moral decision of letting King [[Elhokar]] be killed. {{book ref|sa2|81}}

| Nightblood to Vasher when he went into the Mercystar’s palace .{{book ref|wb|21}}

| Vasher to Vivenna asking for help to stop the war. {{book ref|wb|43}}

| Zahel to Renarin after asking him to jump in shardplate. {{book ref|sa2|18}}

* Vasher grows in size here when he isn’tisn't paying attention. That’sThat is his Returned nature beginning to manifest.{{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation49chapter=49}}

* Children and animals like Vasher. They can sense the divine Breath within him, and it comforts them.{{bookannotation ref|book=wb|annotation49chapter=49}}

* Vasher has only visited Nalthis and Roshar.{{wob ref|3519}}

* He was in the original Way of Kings draft.{{wob ref|7157}}

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