Difference between revisions of "Desolation"

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|They were a solution, a way to offset the destruction of the Desolations. Ten orders of knights, founded with the purpose of helping men fight, then rebuild.

 

The Knights Radiant were originally a surprise to Honor, as he had not shown it to the Heralds. Spren decided to mimic the Heralds and give men access to Surgebinding by forming [[Nahel bond]]s.{{book ref|sa2|4}} While the Knights Radiant as a whole helped in fighting the Voidbringers and rebuilding society, each order of Knights fulfilled a different role. The [[Windrunners]] acted as scouts, the [[Stonewards]] acted as front line soldiers,{{wob ref|12085}} and the [[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweavers]] gave spiritual sustenance to the troops.{{epigraph ref|sa2|47}} Many of the Radiants, particularly the Windrunners,{{book ref|sa3|61}} lived in cities in [[Alethela]] and crossed borders into other nations to fight.{{book ref|sa1|19}} The [[Shardblade]]s and [[Shardplate]] that Radiants could wield gave them a better chance when fighting the Voidbringers, particularly the [[Thunderclast]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}} The Radiants invited any with the desire and ability to fight or lead to come get training and potentially join them.{{book ref|sa1|19}}{{book ref|sa3|34}}

 

=== Historical Desolations ===

The coming of a Desolation was announced by the appearance of the Ten [[Herald|Heralds]].{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}{{book ref|sa1|60}}{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} The appearance of [[Midnight Essence]] was also a sign of an upcoming Desolation.{{book ref|sa1|19}} A Desolation began when the Fused returned to Roshar, known as the '''Return'''.{{book ref|sa3|i|6}}{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} Each Return, Fused needed to find singers willing to give the Fused their bodies.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}} One of the Desolations lasted eleven years.{{book ref|sa1|60}} There were not many more than fifteen Desolations total.{{wob ref|10816}} A Desolation ended with the Heralds leaving Roshar and returning to Braize. The Heralds had a fixed period of time they could remain on Roshar. If they exceeded it, a new Desolation would start.{{wob ref|2893}}

 

=== Between Desolations ===

Mankind was devastated in the aftermath of each desolation. Around ninety percent of the population was destroyed each time, leading to fall of many nations; many, such as [[Eiliz]] and [[Tarma]], would disappear from history altogether. This level of cataclysmic event pushed men to a technology level equivalent to that of the stone age. Although society would sometimes progress beyond that before the next Desolation began, the Heralds would often be forced to push technology forward thousands of years in the single year after their return.{{wob ref|1430}} It is the duty of the [[Knights Radiant]] to stay vigilant and prepare themselves and mankind for Desolations, and to fight the Voidbringers when it arrives.{{book ref|sa1|19}}

 

{{sidequote

|Something must be done about the remnants of Odium’s forces. The parsh, as they are now called, continue their war with zeal, even without their masters from Damnation.

 

Unlike previous Desolations, the [[False Desolation]] did not involve the Heralds or Fused. The False Desolation began when [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]] learned how to [[Connection|Connect]] with the majority of the singers, giving them [[Regal|forms of power]] and access to [[Voidlight]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} The Radiants, unaware of how she did this, sought a way to end the fighting for good, as the Heralds had promised them.{{epigraph ref|sa3|82}} The fighting became particularly intense at this time,{{epigraph ref|sa2|41}} as the singers made a push towards [[Feverstone Keep]], possibly as part of a plan to capture [[Rall Elorim]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|84}}

:''See also:'' [[Vorinism]]

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According to Vorinism, mankind fought the Voidbringers during Desolations ninety and nine times, before mankind finally won and drove them back to the [[Tranquiline Halls]].{{book ref|wok|45}} That victory was later referred to as the [[Last Desolation]].