Difference between revisions of "Voidbringer"

Despite the fact that the Voidbringers were mostly dismissed as legends and folklore, the scholar [[Jasnah Kholin]] feared what was to come and tried to surmise the true nature of Voidbringers, hypothesizing that the singers were the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa1|72}} In actuality, upon the arrival of the [[Everstorm]], the Voidbringers were revealed to be a large coalition of various beings allied with the [[Shard]] [[Odium]]--not solely singers. Furious at their displacement and slavery at the hands of humankindmankind, the Voidbringers are intent on taking Roshar for themselves.{{book ref|sa3|109}}

The very earliest people called the Voidbringers were actually the first humans on Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|111}} They came to Roshar fleeing their former homeworld{{book ref|sa3|111}} of [[Ashyn]]{{wob ref|9464}} which they had destroyed with the [[Dawnshard]]s,{{book ref|sa3|113}} bringing with them their god, the [[Shard]] [[Odium]].{{book ref|sa3|121}} Initially confined to [[Shinovar]], the place they had been given that was sheltered from the [[highstorm]]s, they eventually moved to conquer all of Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|113}} The original inhabitants of Roshar, the [[singers]], named them Voidbringers,{{book ref|sa3|111}} for they had brought the void, Odium.{{book ref|sa3|121}} At some point in this conflict, humankindmankind instead became aligned with the Shard Honor,{{book ref|sa3|121}} whereas the singers took the aid of Odium, who granted them powers.{{book ref|sa3|38}} When those he had granted power died, they refused to move on to the [[Beyond]], instead reincarnating themselves by possessing the bodies of other singers. These were the very first [[Fused]]. HumankindMankind began to lose, unable to defeat enemies that were continually reborn. Ten humans asked Honor for the ability to seal away the spirits of the Fused on [[Braize]], much as Odium was trapped by Honor. Honor made them into his [[Herald]]s, granting them this ability as well as the [[Honorblade]]s.

While this Oathpact worked for a time, the Heralds could be tortured into betraying their oaths and allowing the spirits to return to Roshar in an event known as a [[Desolation]].{{book ref|sa3|38}} Over time the singers and the rest of Odium's forces became known as the Voidbringers by humankindmankind. They fought against humankindmankind to reclaim their homelands on Roshar and occupy them,{{book ref|sa3|83}} destroying human civilization{{book ref|sa3|14}} and killing a huge portion of the population.{{book ref|sa1|60}} In joining with Odium, the singers had given over absolute authority to him, directing the overarching strategy of the Voidbringer attacks and creating plans independently of the Fused.{{book ref|sa3|115}} HumankindMankind repelled them each time, with the help of Honor, the Heralds and the [[Knights Radiant]]. The cycle of torture and Desolations exhausted the Heralds, causing them to one day abandon the Oathpact, leaving behind only [[Talenel]], who had been forced to return to Braize when he was killed. Taln had never broken before, and by the strength of his will alone held back the next Desolation.

Millennia later, the remaining singers fought against humanity in the [[False Desolation]],{{book ref|sa3|56}} led by the Unmade [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} The [[Bondsmith]] [[Melishi]] used his abilities{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} to imprisoned the Unmade,{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} but inadvertently{{epigraph ref|sa3|81}} also damaged the minds of all the singers who had been Connected to her.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} This rendered the singers into the servile parshmen who were repurposed to form the backbone of human labor for the next several centuries.{{book ref|sa1|72}} Memory of the Voidbringers faded over the centuries, as they became considered to be myths and legends.{{book ref|sa1|19}} Even several generations after the departure of the Heralds, memory of the Voidbringers was already becoming confused.{{book ref|sa1|28}} Information from the shadowdays was fragmented{{book ref|sa1|45}} and what little knowledge that remained of the Voidbringers was heavily revised and edited by the Vorin church during the days of the [[Hierocracy]].{{book ref|sa2|6}} Eventually after four thousand and five hundred years, Taln finally broke under torture in Damnation,{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa3|38}} releasing the Voidspren and the spirits of the Fused.{{book ref|sa3|38}} Voidspren began carving out an empire in Shadesmar,{{book ref|sa3|108}} and as a result some true spren returned to the Physical Realm bond with humankindhumans to try to prevent the Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|13}}

In 1173, a [[Listener|group of singers]] that had avoided losing their Connection and Identity by abandoning their gods and chosing dullform{{book ref|sa2|i|4}} fought the [[Alethi]] in the [[War of Reckoning]]{{book ref|sa1|43}} on the [[Shattered Plains]].{{book ref|sa1|12}} A single Voidspren guided one singer, [[Venli]], to the discovery of stormform, a form of power.{{book ref|sa3|i|3}} Fearful of being driven to extinction by the Alethi,{{book ref|sa2|i|11}} the singers took stormform and in a final [[Battle of Narak|battle with the Alethi]] summoned the [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa2|84}} As this storm passed over Roshar in early 1174, it restored Identity and Connection to the parshmen, returning their minds and personalities to them.{{book ref|sa3|17}} The Fused also returned, taking the bodies of unwittingly willing singers.{{book ref|sa3|i|6}} The Voidspren guided the newly-awakened singers to several different locations, conquering their way through [[Emul]]{{book ref|sa3|96}} and concentrating their forces in [[Alethkar]],{{book ref|sa3|96}} [[Marat]],{{book ref|sa3|27}} and [[Iri]], where humankindhumans had agreed to help the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa3|16}} The Voidbringers in Iri have also moved to capture the Oathgates in [[Rall Elorim]], [[Kurth]], and [[Panatham]], securing most of the territory around the [[Purelake]].{{book ref|sa3|122}}

The Voidbringer forces in Alethkar [[Siege of Kholinar|laid siege]] to the capital of [[Kholinar]].{{book ref|sa3|51}} With the help of several Unmade sowing chaos in the city,{{book ref|sa3|77}} the Voidbringers managed to take the city and its Oathgate, despite the best efforts of the returning Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa3|85}} Several weeks later, Odium directed the Voidbringers to make another push to capture an Oathgate, this time located in [[Thaylen City]],{{book ref|sa3|115}} as well as force the Bondsmith [[Dalinar Kholin]] to submit to Odium and become his champion.{{book ref|sa3|117}} With the help of [[Nergaoul]], the Voidbringers successfully managed to bond with the men of the [[Sadeas princedom|Sadeas]] army.{{book ref|sa3|115}} These corrupted humans, along with [[Yelig-nar]],{{book ref|sa3|118}} the Fused, and two thunderclasts, formed the major Voidbringer forces for the battle.{{book ref|sa3|115}} Fortunately Dalinar managed to shake off this temptation and swear his next [[Immortal Words|Ideal]], opening [[Honor's Perpendicularity]] to provide Stormlight for the fight and allow some of his Radiants in Shadesmar to aid in the fight.{{book ref|sa3|119}} The Radiants and humankind managed to defend the city by capturing [[Nergaoul]] within a [[perfect gemstone]] and freeing the Sadeas soldiers from Odium's influence.{{book ref|sa3|120}} The Voidbringers themselves remain a dangerous enemy with control over vast swathes of Roshar. They have not yet decided what will become of humanity should they achieve total victory, but some among the Fused desire to drive them to extinction to ensure that they are safe from humans and Honor forever.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}

The group most easily called the Voidbringers, the Fused are [[Cognitive Shadow]]s of ancient singers that were granted access to the [[Surge]]s by Odium long ago.{{book ref|sa3|38}} Making use of [[Voidlight]], the Fused are often also referred to as spren instead of Cognitive Shadows,{{book ref|sa3|38}} although either term is applicable. The Fused are among the most dangerous enemy of humankindmankind, their repeated deaths and resurrections have given them ample opportunity to hone their skills in the art of war against humankindmankind.{{book ref|sa3|i|3}} With the weakening of the [[Oathpact]] and the arrival of the [[Everstorm]], the Fused are no longer sent to Damnation upon their death, they are instead reincarnated upon the next Everstorm.{{book ref|sa3|38}} With repeated rebirth, the Fused's minds gradually degrade, resulting in eventual insanity. The Fused are also responsible for the [[thunderclast]]s, enormous skeletal monsters with bodies of stone, inhabiting rock as they would a singer.{{book ref|sa3|115}}

The Voidbringers are said to have attacked humanity in the [[Tranquiline Halls]], capturing it and forcing humanity into [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa1|45}} The Voidbringers then tried to force humanity into Damnation itself.{{book ref|sa1|61}} HumankindMankind fought against the Voidbringers, led by the [[Herald|Heralds of the Almighty]]{{book ref|sa1|15}}{{book ref|sa1|45}} and their chosen [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref|sa1|42}} The two groups clashed ninety-nine times,{{book ref|sa1|45}} each time the Voidbringers tried to destroy everything in their path{{book ref|sa3|51}} annihilate humankindmankind{{book ref|sa3|2}} but the humans successfully held Roshar.{{book ref|sa1|42}} Finally in Aharietiam, the Final Desolations, humankindmankind succeeded in throwing back the Voidbringers to the Tranquiline Halls.{{book ref|sa1|45}} The Heralds themselves followed them, intending to reclaim the Tranquiline Halls once and for all. It is believed that the best of humankindmankind will join in the [[War for Heaven]]{{book ref|sa1|59}} and leading men{{book ref|sa3|105}} or fighting against the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa1|15}} The Unmade were said to be the princes of the Voidbringers,{{book ref|sa3|32}} able to blind the eyes of men and mislead them.{{book ref|sa3|16}} The Voidbringers are also said to flay souls in Damnation, torturing people for eternity.{{book ref|sa3|41}}

Little is known about the beliefs of the Shamanate on the Voidbringers. They say that the Voidbringers could hold Stormlight in perfectly, unlike humankindhumans.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} The Stone Shaman hold that the Voidbringers do not exist anymore. Szeth's claims that the Voidbringers had returned were apparently serious enough to lead to his banishment from Shin society.{{book ref|sa2|i|10}}