Difference between revisions of "Eshonai"

|parents=[[Eshonai's mother|MotherJaxlim]]

|abilities=[[Regal|Forms of Power]], {{tag+|Shardbearer}}, {{tag+|willshaper}}{{book ref|sa4|117}}

|booksfirst appeared=[[The StormlightWay of ArchiveKings]]

}}{{update|book=sa3sa4}}

[[File:{{image|Call to Adventure - Eshonai.jpg|thumb|side=right|width=300px|<center><small>by {{a|Antti Hakosaari}}</small></center> ''Horizon Seeker'']]

Eshonai is a [[listenerSinger]]; her skin, covered partially in carapace, is a marbled red and black, and she is large of stature, standing seven feet tall in Shardplate. Her Plate is silver, and has a red cape attached.{{book ref|sa1|68}} She wears [[warform]] due to the conflict with Alethkar.{{book ref|wor|i|1}} When not wearing Shardplate, her uniform consists of a cap and a red cloth that stretches over her warform armor.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}

Eshonai's true passion is exploration, and she yearns to be free of her role as general so she can explore; even as a child, it was common for her to wander off in the middle of a task if something caught her attention.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} She even contemplates exploring human civilizations, though she has a preference for exploring the wilderness. However, she believes these feelings are meaningless in comparison to the importance of protecting her people. She holds that remembering the fallen is important, but of lesser concern than protecting the living. She goes so far as to accompany her strike forces even when she has an injured leg from the [[Battle of the Tower]]wounded, because she iswas the only Shardbearer left among the listeners.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}

She believes that she is personally responsible for the War of Reckoning because she was the first to make contact with the Alethi. Despite being fully aware of the dire predicament of her people, she does not blame the Alethi for their pursuit of vengeance. While she fights the Alethi out of necessity, she would prefer, and she even attempts, to negotiate a peace with them.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}

[[File:{{image|Eshonai - XIII. Death.jpg|thumb|side=left|width=200px|<center><small>by {{a|taratjah}}</small></center>]]

Shortly before her death, Eshonai attracted the attention of a [[Reacher]] nicknamed [[Timbre]]; however, she took on the stormform before the bonding process could begin, and thus neveronly became a [[Surgebinder]] moments before her death.{{book ref|sa2|isa4|11117}}

Like all [[listenerSinger]]s, Eshonai can change her form by taking a [[spren]] into her gemheart during a [[highstorm]]. Out of preference, she spent most of her life in [[workform]], which, while durable and strong, made her averse to violence. During the [[War of Reckoning]], she uses [[warform]] instead, as its carapace and stockier build afford her greater strength and protection while allowing for fighting.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} Eventually, she takes on [[stormform]], keeping her increased strength while also granting her the ability to cast red lightning and summon the [[Everstorm]], though the latter requires cooperation with more stormforms.{{book ref|sa2|i|8}}

Eshonai was an explorer who often travelled the wilderness of [[Natanatan]]. She started out exploring alone, creating maps and expanding the listeners' understanding of the world, then began leading expeditions during her teenage years, after her adventures sparked interest amongst her people. Her exploration leadled to the listeners' first contact with humans in {{Rosharan date|1165}}, when she encounteringencountered Gavilar's expedition to the south of the Shattered Plains.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}{{book ref|sa1|45}}

On the day of his [[Assassination of Gavilar|assassination]], [[Gavilar]] spoke to Eshonai privately. She was the first listener to learn that Gavilar wanted to bring back the listeners' old gods. He gave her a [[Black sphere|dark gemstone]] and told her to give it to [[The Five]]. Taking the gemstone, Eshonai went to the Five and told them of Gavilar's plans, and the group decided to assassinate the Alethi king. Though Eshonai was not yet on the Council of Five, the council gave her a vote and listened to her advice due to her role as an interpreter. She voted in favor of killing Gavilar, in order to keep the listeners free of their gods and to affirm the decision made by their [[Last Legion|ancestors]] centuries ago.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}

During the battle, Eshonai duelleddueled [[Dalinar Kholin]] as the army made its retreat. She defeated him in combat, and recognised him as the Alethi Shardbearer she had been searching for, but was stabbed in the leg by [[Kaladin Stormblessed]], who made his escape with Dalinar before she hashad a chance to speak with him. As the army made its retreat from the [[Tower (Roshar)|Tower]], she saluted Dalinar as a gesture of respect. She allowed the Alethi to escape the battle without attacking them once they clearcleared the Tower.{{book ref|twok|68}}

[[File:{{image|Eshonai by Casey Fallon.jpg|thumbside=right|<small><center>by {{aheight=250px|Casey Fallon}}</center></small>Eshonai bonding with a stormspren during a [[highstorm]]]]}}

Eshonai was the first to adopt [[singer#Forms|Stormform]] after it was rediscovered by her sister [[Venli]], thoughalthough she 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 all 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 all 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. DespiteBecause of her efforts, Eshonai drowneddid not drown, instead she died shortly after from wounds inflicted during her fight for survival in the chasm.{{book ref|sa3|isa4|3117}}

=== Eshonai's motherJaxlim ===

Eshonai thoughtthinks little of [[Eshonai'sJaxlim]], mother|her mother]], due to her memory loss, though Eshonai still respects her.{{book ref|wor|i|4}} TheirHowever, their bond is evidentlystrong notenough verythat strong,Eshonai consideringsomewhat thatovercomes the singled-minded influence of stormform; when her mother refusedrefuses to change to Stormform,stormform Eshonaiand stillis rounded her up with the other dissenters, Eshonai assigns her old squad members to guard them, seemingly aware they would assist them. She does not give chase when they escape, either.{{book ref|wor|i|8}}