Editing Herald

{{group
|image=Heralds.jpg
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote 
|The Heralds, they were honorable. Perhaps not as divine, but I may even like them more, to know they were once just normal men and women.
|[[Navani]]{{book ref|sa3|38}}
}}

The '''Heralds''' are servants of [[the Almighty]] worshipped across the whole of [[Roshar]]. There are ten of them, with each associated with one of the [[Ten Essences]] and one of the ten orders of the [[Knights Radiant]]. They are known by different names in different cultures -- in [[Azir]], they are known as the '''Kadasixes''',{{book ref|sa2|I|9}} and in [[Vorin]] countries, the suffix "'Elin" is often appended to their names, presumably as an honorific.{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{book ref|sa1|55}}{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}

== History ==
=== Becoming Heralds ===
{{quote
|1=<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Humans could never win when the creatures they killed were reborn each time they were slain. And so, the Oathpact.</span>
|2=The Stormfather on the creation of the Heralds{{book ref|sa3|38}}
}}
Most of the Heralds were born on [[Ashyn]], with [[Shalash]] as possibly the only exception. After humanity destroyed that planet's ecosystem, they traveled along with the rest of the refugees to [[Roshar]], although they weren't the Heralds yet at that point.{{wob ref|11945}}{{book ref|sa3|111}}

Prior to the first [[Desolation]], most of them held various positions of importance -- scholars, generals, priests, and kings. After the [[Fused]] began to return, Honor formed the [[Oathpact]], granting the newly-made Heralds a connection to him and, through it, their supernatural abilities.{{book ref|sa3|38}} How people were chosen to become Heralds is uncertain; it's possible that it has something to do with the [[Proving Day]].{{book ref|sa1|5}}

=== The Desolations ===
{{image|Ending the Oathpact by Katie Payne.jpg|The Heralds abandon the [[Oathpact]] after the [[Last Desolation]]|side=right|height=250px}}
{{quote
|Almighty above. You’re broken too, aren’t you? They all were.
|[[Kalak]] after centuries of Desolations{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
}}
From there on, the Heralds were stuck in the cycle of Desolations. At the end of each one, they would travel to [[Braize]], their presence there preventing the [[voidspren]] and the Fused from returning to Roshar. They would attempt to hide, but eventually, Odium's forces would track them down and begin torturing them until one of the Heralds broke. At this point, the Heralds would be returned to Roshar and resurrected to push Odium's forces back.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

At some point, the [[spren]] began mimicking their abilities, creating the first [[Surgebinder]]s.{{book ref|sa2|87}} The Heralds found that surprising, but had no compunctions against using the Surgebinders in battle.{{book ref|sa3|47}} [[Ishar]] imposed structure upon them, creating the [[Knights Radiant]], and each Herald took patronage over the Order that matched their Surges.{{epigraph ref|sa2|42}} The last to do so was [[Nale]], who initially rejected the [[Skybreakers]] even when they called him their master.{{epigraph ref|sa2|43}}

Eventually, the pattern of continuous resurrections and torture led to the Heralds growing increasingly stressed and psychologically damaged, making the period between the Desolations shorter as they broke faster and faster.{{book ref|sa3|38}} Things came to a head in the [[Aharietiam]], a Desolation where only one Herald, [[Taln]], died in battle. Those who survived were supposed to return voluntarily; however, Ishar theorized that one Herald remaining in Braize was sufficient to keep the Oathpact going. And so, the Heralds decided to abandon Taln to his fate, leaving their Honorblades -- and the Oathpact -- behind.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} To hide this fact, they told the ordinary people that the Desolations were over, and that they would take the fight to the [[Tranquiline Halls]]. This event marked the end of the [[Heraldic Epochs|Heraldic Epoch]] {{book ref|sa3|42}}

{{image|Baxil's Mistress by Shuravf.jpg|[[Shalash]] the vandal|side=left|width=150px}}

=== Era of Solitude ===
{{quote
|What a gift you gave them! Time to recover, for once, between Desolations. Time to progress. They never had a chance before. But this time … yes, maybe they do.
|Taln to Shalash{{book ref|sa3|119}}
}}
For the next four and a half thousand years, Taln remained on Braize, being tortured by the voidspren to make him break and allow them to return.{{book ref|sa3|119}} At the same time, the nine living Heralds went on to live among the people of Roshar, hiding their true nature. The only one to recover his [[Honorblade]] was [[Nale]], who also remained in touch with the [[Order of Skybreakers]], eventually joining them and becoming their leader.{{book ref|sa3|106}}

Over time, the mental state of the Heralds deteriorated, due to a combination of their ages, trauma, and possibly other factors.{{wob ref|16301}} Nale grew compassionless;{{book ref|sa3|115}} [[Kalak]] became paranoid;{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} [[Jezrien]] started to drink heavily;{{book ref|sa3|88}} [[Shalash]] began to track down and destroy her own artwork.{{book ref|sa3|117}} While Shalash and Nale both believed that Ishar remained unaffected, he, too, went mad.{{book ref|sa3|121}} He took over the country of [[Tukar]], becoming its god-priest, and started to swing wildly between megalomania and the desire to end his own existence.{{book ref|sa3|24}}{{book ref|sa3|64}} When Nale came to him with questions about the possibility of a new Desolation arriving, Ishar told him that the return of [[Knights Radiant]] could prompt it, causing Nale to travel the world killing any potential Surgebinders.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}} At some point, perhaps in pursuit of this goal, he and Kalak found themselves in the [[Kholinar palace]] on the night of king [[Gavilar]]'s assassination.{{wob ref|13634}}

=== True Desolation ===
{{image|Taln Neirr.png|[[Taln]] announcing the [[True Desolation]]|side=right|width=150px}}
{{quote
|The burdens of nine become mine. Why must I carry the madness of them all? Oh, Almighty, release me.
|A [[death rattle]] collected by the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]].{{epigraph ref|sa1|54}} It's possible it refers to Taln.
}}
Sometime around the year 1173, Taln was finally returned to Roshar to proclaim a new Desolation, although he did not break.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}}{{wob ref|14869}} He was initially disbelieved by Rosharans, who assumed him to be some random madman, which was further confirmed, in their eyes, by his deranged, near-catatonic behavior.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} Some of the Heralds, such as Nale, initially refused to believe a new Desolation had arrived, though he was convinced upon seeing the awakening of the [[Parshmen]].{{book ref|sa2.5|19}}

When [[Dalinar Kholin]] sought to bring Tukar into his alliance, Ishar refused him, claiming that instead, it was Dalinar's forces who should bow down to him, and give [[Urithiru]] over to him, which was met with no answer.{{book ref|sa3|24}} At the same time, Shalash was searching for Taln, aware that, if the Desolation has returned, so had he. She was eventually pointed on the right track by [[Mraize]].{{book ref|sa3|i|8}}

Ash and Taln met again during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|117}} After surviving the fighting, Shalash attempted to bring Taln with her to Ishar, but the two were intercepted by [[Jasnah Kholin]] before they could make it to the Oathgates. At the same time, Jezrien, hiding as a drunkard in the captured [[Kholinar]], was killed by [[Moash]] in a way that made him permanently incapable of returning. The shock of it sent Taln and Shalash unconscious.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

== Abilities ==
{{image|Jezrien Endpage.jpg|[[Jezrien]]|side=right|width=250px}}

{{quote
|The Heralds glow like the sun, wield the [[Honorblade]]s, and speak with the voices of a thousand trumpets. They could cast down buildings with a command, force the storms to obey, and heal with a touch.
|[[Shallan]]'s recollection on what she was taught about the Heralds.{{book ref|sa2|63}}
}}

=== Resurrection ===
The Heralds are [[Cognitive Shadow]]s capable of repeatedly returning back to life and have become so heavily Invested they are no longer human.{{wob ref|4024}}{{wob ref|8468}} While alive, they do not age, allowing them to live for millennia.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Upon death, they are transported to [[Braize]], where they are tortured until one of them breaks. When that happens, they are returned back to life on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa3|38}} This process isn't well-understood, though one thing that is certain about it is that unlike the [[Fused]], the Heralds do not hijack human bodies to resurrect.{{wob ref|12029}} Unlike similar resurrected entities, like the [[Nalthis|Nalthian]] [[Returned]], the Heralds don't have to consume [[Investiture]] in order to remain alive.{{wob ref|10581}}

This ability to resurrect makes the Heralds essentially immortal. It was not until seven thousand years after the Oathpact that singers figured out they can be trapped in gemstones, much like spren can.{{epigraph ref|sa4|80}} The method involves stabbing them with a specially constructed [[raysium]] dagger.{{book ref|sa3|121}} The dagger would trap the Herald's soul into the gemstone at its hilt.{{book ref|sa4|82}} Heralds are similar to spren, in that they are essentially Investiture that is self-aware; this is due to their nature as resurrected Cognitive Shadows - despite the fact that Heralds were, at one point, normal humans. As the properties of raysium conduct Investiture, the pure Investiture that is a Cognitive Shadow is easily drawn into the raysium dagger. The trapped Herald's bond to the Oathpact would be severed, causing the soul to disintegrate back to a normal soul, then go on to the [[Beyond]], permanently killing the Herald.{{epigraph ref|sa4|92}}

On the other hand, their nature as Cognitive Shadows ties the Heralds to Roshar -- while they can travel between Roshar and Braize, they cannot leave the greater [[Rosharan system]].{{wob ref|1537}}{{book ref|sa4|93}}

=== Surgebinding ===
Each Herald wields an [[Honorblade]], a sword similar in function to a [[Shardblade]], albeit far more powerful.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} Honorblades can be bonded like regular Shardblades, and are similarly sharp, but unlike Shardblades, they allow their wielders to utilize two [[Surge]]s each. As such, while wielding their Blades, each of the Heralds is a [[Surgebinder]].{{book ref|sa3|16}} While they each have an Honorblade assigned to them, in the past, they would occasionally swap their Honorblades between each other, allowing them to use the Surges of others.{{wob ref|3564}}

[[Spren]] would later copy the Heralds' [[Surgebinding]], thus creating the [[Knights Radiant]], with each order matching the powers of one of the Heralds.{{book ref|sa2|87}} The Radiants have some powers that the Heralds lack -- for example, the Heralds did not have [[squire]]s.{{wob ref|3958}} However, unlike the Knights, the Heralds were powered directly by [[Honor]], and had access to raw levels of Investiture that no Radiant could possibly match.{{wob ref|1572}}{{wob ref|10331}} Additionally, they didn't need to draw Stormlight from gems, which implies they could get it directly from their bond with Honor.{{wob ref|2549}} This ability appears to be inherent to the Heralds and not tied to their Honorblades as it is not replicable by other users. How this manifests after Honor's death and Splintering is unknown.

Heralds can also gain Surgebinding by forming a [[Nahel bond]].{{book ref|sa3|106}}{{wob ref|12600}} It is unclear whether their spren would follow them to Braize or would be left in the Cognitive Realm, though most likely they would follow them.{{wob ref|15649}}

=== Other ===
Apart from the Surges, Heralds get a number of other advantages, although what precisely they are is uncertain.{{wob ref|3623}}{{wob ref|6898}} It's possible that those include superhuman speed and reflexes.{{book ref|sa2|88}} However, they are also said to have no innate powers, suggesting that whatever they can do is the result of either their connection to Honor or their own experience.{{wob ref|1050}} Although not all the Heralds were originally soldiers, they have mastered their fighting skills throughout the ages, and are now capable of fighting multiple Shardbearers with ease.{{book ref|sa4|111}} Moreover, each Herald had their own field of expertise, such as leadership, medicine or smithing, and the knowledge of how to teach those skills to others.{{book ref|sa3|47}} Heralds are able to procreate, though not necessarily in the traditional way.{{wob ref|14507}}

Heralds are able to share pain with each other through their bond, but it is unknown if they can do this outside of Braize.{{book ref|sa3|38}} They are able to sense when another Herald has permanently died, which can cause them enough shock to render them temporally unconscious.{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|79}} They are also able to tell when another Herald has broken and allowed the Voidbringers to return to Roshar, even if they are not currently on Braize.{{book ref|sa4|77}}

Some Heralds are more [[cosmere]]-aware than others.{{wob ref|11756}} A few of them are aware of [[AonDor]], but only on a conceptual level.{{wob ref|12021}} Some Heralds are able to see hidden spren.{{book ref|sa4|77}}

== Heralds of the Almighty ==
=== Jezrien ===
{{image|Jezrien.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Jezrien}}
Known as the Herald of Kings in the East, Kadasix of Kings in [[Azir]] and the Prime Kadasix in [[Emul]].{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa1|i|7}} At some point prior to becoming a Herald, he ruled as a king.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} He is associated with the number Jes (1), the essence Zephyr, and the attributes Protecting and Leading. He is patron of the [[Order of Windrunners]].
:''Surges'': [[Adhesion]], [[Gravitation]]
:''Other names'': Jezerezeh'Elin ([[Vorinism]]), Yaysi ([[Iri]] and [[Rira (country)|Rira]]){{book ref|sa3|26}}, Yaezir ([[Azir]]){{book ref|sa2|i|9}}
:''Status'': deceased; killed by [[Vyre]] on Odium's command.

=== Nale ===
{{image|Nale.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Nale}}
The Herald of Justice.{{book ref|sa2|88}} He is associated with the number Nan (2), the essence Vapor, and the attributes Just and Confident. He is patron of the [[Order of Skybreakers]]. Unlike the other Heralds who abandoned the Oathpact, he eventually recovered his [[Honorblade]].{{book ref|sa3|106}} While he was the last to accept his own Order, he was also the only Herald to join it.{{epigraph ref|sa2|43}}{{wob ref|8426}}
:''Surges'': [[Gravitation]], [[Division]]
:''Other names'': Nalan'Elin (Vorinism), Nin-son-God ([[Shinovar]]), Nakku the Judge ([[Makabak]]){{book ref|sa2.5|19}}
:''Status'': alive; fighting for [[singer]]s on the [[Emul]] frontline.{{book ref|sa4|47}}

=== Chanarach ===
{{image|Chanarach.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Chanarach}}
Associated with the number Chach (3), the essence Spark, and the attributes Brave and Obedient. She is patron of the [[Order of Dustbringers]].
:''Surges'': Division, [[Abrasion]]
:''Other names'': Chanaranach'Elin (Vorinism), Chana (nickname)
:''Status'': alive; current location unknown{{wob ref|9123}}

=== Vedel ===
{{image|Vedel.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Vedel}}
Associated with the number Vev (4), the essence Lucentia (Light), and the attributes Loving and Healing. She is patron of the [[Order of Edgedancers]].
:''Surges'': Abrasion, [[Progression]]
:''Other names'': Vedeledev'Elin (Vorinism)
:''Status'': alive, current location unknown.

=== Pailiah ===
{{image|Pailiah.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Pailiah}}
Associated with the number Palah (5), the essence pulp, and the attributes Learned and Giving. She is patron of the [[Order of Truthwatchers]].
:''Surges'': Progression, [[Illumination]]
:''Other names'': Pali (nickname)
:''Status'': alive

=== Shalash ===
{{image|Shalash.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Shalash}}
Known as the Herald of Beauty or Lady of Dreams.{{book ref|sa2|30}}{{book ref|sa1|i|7}} Daughter of Jezrien. She is associated with the number Shash (6), the essence Blood, and the attributes Creativity and Honesty. She is patron of the [[Order of Lightweavers]]. For the past several centuries, she has been tracking down and destroying any depictions of herself she could find.{{book ref|sa3|117}}
:''Surges'': Illumination, [[Transformation]]
:''Other names'': Epan ([[Emul]]), Ash (nickname), Shush-daughter-God ([[Shinovar]])
:''Status'': alive; in [[Emul]] with Talenel, held by [[Jasnah Kholin]].{{book ref|sa4|50}}

=== Battar ===
{{image|Battar.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Battar}}
Associated with the number Betab (7), the essence Tallow, and the attributes Wisdom and Care. She is patron of the [[Order of Elsecallers]].
:''Surges'': Transformation, [[Transportation]]
:''Other names'': Battah'Elin (Vorinism), Dova (Alias)
:''Status'': alive; living in [[Kharbranth]] under the name Dova.{{book ref|sa4|i|3}}

=== Kalak ===
{{image|Kalak.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Kalak}}
Associated with the number Kak (8), the essence Foil, and the attributes Resolute and Builder. He is patron of the [[Order of Willshapers]].
:''Surges'': Transportation, [[Cohesion]]
:''Other names'': Kelek'Elin (Vorinism), Kellai (Iri and Rira){{book ref|sa3|36}}, Restares{{book ref|sa4|78}}
:''Status'': alive; in [[Lasting Integrity]].

=== Talenel ===
{{image|Talenel.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Talenel}}
Often called the Herald of War,{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} and sometimes also known as the Herald of Soldiers and the Bearer of Agonies.{{book ref|sa3|59}}{{book ref|sa3|38}} Associated with the number Tanat (9), the essence Talus, and the attributes Dependable and Resourceful. He is patron of the [[Order of Stonewards]]. Unlike the others, he wasn't a king, general or famous scholar prior to becoming a Herald. He's also the only Herald not to abandon the Oathpact at the Aharietiam, as he was dead at the time; as a result, he'd spent the past four and a half thousand years being tortured in Braize.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
:''Surges'': Cohesion, [[Tension]]
:''Other names'': Talenelat'Elin (Vorinism), Taln (nickname)
:''Status'': alive; in [[Emul]] with Shalash, held by [[Jasnah Kholin]].{{book ref|sa4|50}}

=== Ishar ===
{{image|Ishar.jpg|side=left|width=100px}}
{{for|Ishar}}
Known as the Herald of Luck, and, earlier, the Binder of Gods.{{book ref|sa3|64}} Associated with the number Ishi (10), the essence Sinew, and the attributes Pious and Guiding. He is patron of the [[Order of Bondsmiths]].
:''Surges'': Tension, Adhesion
:''Other names'': Ishi'Elin (Vorinism), Ishu-son-God (Shinovar), Tashi, Tezim (Tukar)
:''Status'': alive; currently ruling [[Tukar]] as God-Priest.

== Official depictions ==
Unlike most other characters, the Heralds have official depictions of them in the [[Stormlight Archive]]. Those are said to be in-universe artwork, and as such, they're not entirely accurate.{{wob ref|10772}} Four of them can be found at the beginning and end of ''[[Oathbringer]]'', while four more are present in ''[[Rhythm of War]]''.

<gallery caption="Illustrations" mode=packed heights=300px>
Jezrien Endpage.jpg | <center><small>by [[Howard Lyon]]</small></center> [[Jezrien]]
Nale Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Karla Ortiz}}</small></center> [[Nale]]
Chanarach Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Karla Ortiz}}</small></center> [[Chanarach]]
Vedel_Endpage.jpg | <center><small>by [[Howard Lyon]]</small></center> [[Vedel]]
Pailiah Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Magali Villeneuve}}</small></center> [[Pailiah]]
Shalash Endsheet.jpg | <center><small>by [[Dan dos Santos]]</small></center> [[Shalash]]
Kalak Endsheet.png | <center><small>by {{a|Magali Villeneuve}}</small></center> [[Kalak]]
Taln Endsheet.jpg | <center><small>by [[Donato Giancola]]</small></center> [[Talenel]]
Ishar Endsheet.jpg | <center><small>by [[Dan dos Santos]]</small></center> [[Ishar]]
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
* In ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]'', the Heralds reincarnated by taking the body of a Rosharan, similar to the [[Fused]], but this is no longer how they return.{{wob ref|12029}}
* Also in ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]'', the Heralds were capable of sensing the location of the Honorblades, although that ability appears to have been dropped when the story changed into its current form.{{wob ref|11609}}
* The portraits of the Heralds used in chapter arches each have their own title in [[Dragonsteel Entertainment]]'s files:{{wob ref|14097}}
{{columns|
** [[Jezrien]], the King 
** [[Nale]], the Judge 
** [[Chanarach]], the Guard 
** [[Vedel]], the Healer 
** [[Pailiah]], the Scholar 
** [[Shalash]], the Artist 
** [[Battar]], the Counselor 
** [[Kalak]], the Maker 
** [[Talenel]], the Soldier 
** [[Ishar]], the Priest 
** The final chapter arch is known as the Jester and is associated not with a Herald, but with [[Wit]]
}}
* The Heralds are some of the oldest beings in the cosmere, apart from [[Hoid]], the original [[Shard of Adonalsium|Vessels]], and some of the [[dragon (cosmere)|dragon]]s.{{wob ref|16301}}

== Notes ==
<references />
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{{Stormlight}}
[[Category: Heralds| ]]
[[category: list articles]]
[[category:Cognitive Shadows]]
[[es: Heraldo]]