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Eshonai (edit)

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{{quote
| It is you. (...) I have found you at last.
| Eshonai to Dalinar at the Battle of the Tower.{{book ref|sa1|68}}
}}
'''Eshonai''' is a [[listener]] [[Shardbearer]]{{book ref|twok|68}} who lives in [[Narak]] on the [[Shattered Plains]] of [[Roshar]] during the [[War of Reckoning]]. She was one of the first Parshendi to come in contact with [[Gavilar Kholin]]'s soldiers in the [[Unclaimed Hills]].{{book ref|wor|i|1}}
As a youth, people were used to Eshonai wandering off in the middle of a task. She has the best spoken Alethi of any of the listeners{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}.
 
Her preferred form is [[listenersinger#formsForms|workform]] because it is more flexible{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}, limber, rugged, and because the form's aversion to violence forces her to think differently to solve problems. She finds it difficult to tolerate listeners who prefer [[listenersinger#formsForms|mateform]] , and has trouble understanding why anyone would want to remain in that form for longer than necessary to produce offspring. Her confusion on this subject at one time extended to humans, when she was baffled by the fact that humans have only a single form that is easily distracted by sexual urges.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}
 
Though she accepts her duties as a general for her people, she feels trapped and constrained by the role, and by living on the [[Shattered Plains]]. Even her uniform contributes to her emotional discomfort, and the repetitive tasks of military life numb her mind. She blames her uniform for her personal worries. However she never speaks of her discomfort in her role. She enjoys the feeling of strength she gets from wearing Shardplate, and it gives her something reliable in the world.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
 
==== The Everstorm ====
[[File:Eshonai by Casey Fallon.jpg|thumb|<small><center>by {{a|Casey Fallon}}</center></small>Eshonai bonding with a stormspren induring the Everstorm, bya [[Coppermind:Artists/Casey Fallon|Casey Fallonhighstorm]]]]
Eshonai was the first to adopt [[Singerssinger#Forms|Stormform]] after it was rediscovered by her sister Venli, though did so reluctantly. The new form caused Eshonai to become more warlike and destructive, leading her to switch from seeking peace with the Alethi, to desiring their extermination. Her new aggressive personality made her more willing to kill disobedient listeners, including her comrades, friends, and family. Any who refused to obey her orders were rounded up by Eshonai, whose intent was to have them killed.{{book ref|sa2|i|11}}{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}{{book ref|sa2|i|5}}{{book ref|sa2|i|8}}
 
In the [[Battle of Narak]], she led the listener army, who had taken Stormform, to battle, with the intent to destroy the Alethi forces.{{book ref|sa2|i|13}} After [[Adolin]] pushed her into a chasm,{{book ref|wor|84}} she rammed her Shardblade into the ground, in an attempt to not be swept away by the floodwaters. Despite her efforts, Eshonai drowned.{{book ref|sa3|i|3}}
== Quotes ==
{{quote
| This is progress. (...) Progress is learning to control your world. Put up walls to stop the storms, choose when to become a mate.
| Eshonai convincing herself of the necessity for capturing spren.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
}}
 
{{quote
| Our people are crumbling. (...) We're being weathered away. We moved to Narak and chose a war of attrition. That has meant six years with steady losses. People are giving up.
| Eshonai trying to decide what to do about Venli's discovery of stormform.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
}}
 
{{quote
| I will agree to this test. However, (...) I must be the one who tries the new form first.
| Eshonai offering herself as a test for stormform in case something goes wrong.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
}}
 
{{quote
| With enough of us bearing this form together, we could bring it. We could '''bend''' the storms to our will, and could bring bring them down upon our enemies.
| Eshonai upon returning to Narak in stormform.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}
}}
 
{{quote
| The humans will leave their warcamp together, in one large army that intends to reach Narak during the lull. They will be completely exposed on the plains, with no shelter. A highstorm at that time would '''destroy''' them.
| Eshonai's plan for winning the War of Reckoning, in stormform.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}
}}
 
== Trivia ==
* The reason she was killed off and Venli used in her viewpoint role instead was due to there already being other characters in the series who was a "paragon soldier who's trying to do the right thing".{{wob ref|11666}}
* Eshonai is the Shardbearer on the cover art of the Way of Kings. She is described as wearing silver Shardplate and a red cloak — both traits shared by the figure in the forefront of the painting.{{wob ref|11422}}
 
== Notes ==
Retrieved from "https://coppermind.net/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/118304"