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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
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'''Herdaz''' is a kingdom in north-eastern [[Roshar]].{{map ref|Roshar}} The people from Herdaz are called Herdazians, and can be found in many surrounding countries.
== Geography ==
Herdaz is a coastal nation in the north-east of Roshar, covering approximately one million square kilometres of land.{{
Most of the country is a series of long and narrow peninsulas jutting out into the sea, and a single larger one separating the island of [[Akak]] from the rest of the Reshi archipelago. The Herdazian interior appears to be rather flat, with a single major river dividing the western and eastern halves of the country, and a number of smaller, shorter coastal rivers. Though there are cities there, none of them are of global importance.{{map ref|Roshar}}{{map ref|Alethkar}}
== History ==
{{quote
|Herdaz? My aides say it is the traditional first step for an Alethi aggression.
|[[Taravangian]]{{book ref|sa3|24}}
}}
During the [[Silver Kingdoms]] era, Herdaz was part of the kingdom of [[Rishir]], which additionally encompassed modern [[Reshi Isles]] as well as northern [[Jah Keved]], [[Alethkar]] and [[Tu Bayla]].{{map ref|Silver Kingdoms}} At some point, the people living in this particular region of Rishir intermingled with [[singer]]s, leading to modern Herdazians having singer ancestry and some of their physical features.{{wob ref|930}} It's uncertain when Herdaz became its own country.
Herdaz has a long history of conflict with the Alethi.{{book ref|sa3|24}} It was one of the first conquests of the warlord [[Sadees]], though like many others, it did not remain within his sons' grasp after his death.{{book ref|sa3|19}} Much later, following [[Gavilar Kholin]]'s unification of Alethkar, a change of dynasties occured in Herdaz, and the new monarch began threatening the Alethi borders in an attempt to test them.{{book ref|sa3|49}} The Alethi responded by sending armies led by the king's brother, [[Dalinar Kholin]], who spent about four years campaigning in the borderlands, shaping the modern Alethkar-Herdaz border.{{book ref|sa3|52}}
== Culture ==▼
Prior to the [[True Desolation]], it seems the country wasn't doing very well, as numerous Herdazians elected to leave it, with some only coming back from time to time while others never returned.{{book ref|sa2|22}}{{book ref|sa2|41}} However, it appears to have weathered the [[Everstorm]] without much destruction, as the [[Voidbringer]]s focused on bringing down their neighboring states.{{book ref|sa3|96}} When Dalinar contacted them to get their support for his coalition, they initially believed that he was trying to trick them into letting him invade them.{{book ref|sa3|24}}
Following the fall of Alethkar, a number of Alethi forces withdrew to Herdaz in an attempt to mount an organized resistance, among them forces led by [[Sheler]] and [[Relis Ruthar]].{{book ref|sa3|58}}{{book ref|sa3|96}} While most refugees have been folded under the command of the Herdazian general [[Dieno enne Calah]], the cooperation between the two armies could get heated at times, as brightlord Sheler was captured and put up for execution after assaulting the local women.{{book ref|sa3|i|10}}
▲== Politics and Culture ==
=== Government ===
Herdaz is ruled by an unnamed king from a new dynasty that has only come into power sometime before the year {{Rosharan date|1150}}.{{book ref|sa3|49}} Little is known about him and his family, other than that he has no daughters.{{book ref|sa2|41}} The kingdom has a single set of [[Shardblade]] and [[Shardplate]] that are passed down through the royal line.{{book ref|sa1|23}}
Herdaz might have at least one [[Soulcaster]], though the source on that is unreliable.{{book ref|sa3|75}} It is certain, however, that there are no [[Oathgate]]s there.{{file ref|Oathgate Locations.jpg|Oathgate Locations}}
=== People ===
{{image|Sparkflicker.jpg|side=right|width=200px|[[Lopen]] with a [[sparkflicker]]}}
Herdazians are brown-skinned, darker than the [[Alethi]], but paler than the [[Makabak]]i, and brown-haired.{{book ref|sa1|32}}{{book ref|sa2.5|3}} They are most similar in appearance to the [[Reshi]], to the point where they can be mistaken for them.{{book ref|sa2.5|7}} However, they are also one of several races on Roshar with [[singer]] blood{{wob ref|5782}} in their ancestry, though it's not quite as apparent as it is among the [[Unkalaki]].{{wob ref|930}} The most visible sign of their heritage are their crystalline, slate-colored fingernails, which are strong enough to start a fire with a proper tool, and are sometimes described as reminiscent of carapace.{{book ref|sa1|26}}{{book ref|sa2|43}}{{book ref|sa3|35}} Apart from that, they have a higher tendency to be asexual than other races without singer ancestors.{{wob ref|3400}}
Herdazians are rather tight-knit people. They have large families - a single person can easily be related to half the country - and will stick together, the bonds between them stronger than whatever country they happen to find themselves in.{{book ref|sa2|87}}{{wob ref|8262}} Majority of them seem to be [[Vorin]], though they practice their own variety of the faith, one that permits men to write.{{book ref|sa2|12}}{{book ref|sa3|50}}
Herdazian cuisine uses mostly a wide variety of shellfood, as well as flatbread.{{book ref|sa3|13}} [[Chull]] head is considered a delicacy.{{book ref|sa2|12}} The most famous Herdazian dish is [[chouta]], fried [[Soulcasting|Soulcast]] meat wrapped tightly in flatbread and topped with sauce, though sometimes the meat is replaced with shellfood.{{book ref|sa2|46}}
=== Language ===
Herdazian language belongs to the Vorin family, much like Alethi and Veden.{{wob ref|3977}} The language has, according to [[Lopen]], names for all the kinds of cousins. There are numerous words in Herdazian to refer to a person without using their name, all of which have slightly different meaning.
==== Terms ====
* ''calah'' - An old Herdazian term for [[wikipedia:mink|mink]].{{book ref|sa4|1}}
* ''chorlano'' - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to [[Huio]]{{book ref|sa3.5|13}}
* ''chortana'' - a woman, possibly an intimidating or powerful one{{book ref|sa3|121}}
* ''enne'' - an old Herdazian honorific, roughly meaning "great."{{book ref|sa4|1}}
* ''gancho/a'' - a casual way to refer a male or female superior{{book ref|sa3|29}}{{book ref|sa3.5|5}}
* ''gon'' - appears to be a generic term{{book ref|sa1|32}}
* ''hooch'' - Lopen uses this one for [[Sigzil]], and refuses to explain its meaning{{book ref|sa3|35}}
* ''hregos'' - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to [[Thaylen]] sailors{{book ref|sa3.5|11}}
* ''mancha'' - [[Lopen]] sometimes uses this term when addressing [[Lunamor]] and, on one occasion, uses it to refer to himself in his own thoughts{{book ref|sa2|12}}{{book ref|sa3.5|11}}
* ''misra'' - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to [[Cord]]{{book ref|sa3.5|7}}
* ''moolie'' - A term for someone mute or quiet{{book ref|sa1|32}}
* ''naco'' - seems to be used for someone younger, like a child{{book ref|sa3|121}}
* ''ornachala'' - unknown meaning, possibly some sort of Herdazian food{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}
* ''penhito'' - an insult{{book ref|sa3|121}}
* ''velo'' - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to [[Talik]]{{book ref|sa3.5|3}}
=== Diaspora ===
{{quote
| Gon, I haven't been to Herdaz since I was a baby. There are as many Herdazians in Alethkar and Jah Keved these days as there are in our homeland.
| Lopen{{book ref|sa2|41}}
}}
Almost half of all Herdazians on [[Roshar]] don't actually live in Herdaz, but rather in the surrounding countries.{{book ref|sa2|41}} When a large group of them comes together, they often form their own districts, such as [[Little Herdaz]] in [[highprince]] [[Sebarial]]'s warcamp on the [[Shattered Plains]].{{book ref|sa2|87}} They bring their culture with them wherever they go - among others, [[chouta]] is a Herdazian street food that gained much popularity in the warcamps, and can even be bought in [[Kholinar]].{{book ref|sa2|18}}{{book ref|sa3|68}}
There are numerous stereotypes about Herdazians. Many Alethi believe they all wear [[sparkflicker]]s, and more malicious ones claim they're all stupid, though both are repeatedly proven wrong.{{book ref|sa1|26}}{{book ref|sa2|76}} Across western Roshar, they are considered extremely boastful, and the women are said to be tough and difficult to impress, even in the opinion of their kinsmen.{{book ref|sa1|i|4}}{{book ref|sa2|12}} Herdazians are mentioned as looking very similar to one another to non-Herdazians, to the point where they often cannot be told apart.{{book ref|sa2|22}}
== Notable Herdazians ==
{{for|:Category: Herdazians|more Herdazians}}
* [[Lopen]], the cheerful, one-armed member of [[Bridge Four]] and a
* Lopen's multiple cousins, including [[Punio]], [[Rod (Roshar)|Rod]] and [[Huio]].
* [[Kabsal]] might be Herdazian, as he has the accent.{{book ref|sa1|7}}
*
* [[Palona]], [[Sebarial]]'s mistress.▼
* [[Dieno enne Calah]], the Herdazian general who led the resistance against the [[Voidbringer]]s.
▲*[[Palona]], [[Sebarial]]'s mistress.
== Trivia ==
* Herdaz's size is roughly similar to that of [[wikipedia: Colombia|Colombia]], or about half of [[wikipedia: Greenland|Greenland]].{{ref|name=blog634}}
* Brandon created Herdazians after his wife noted that there are very few Hispanic cultures in fantasy worlds.{{wob ref|6467}} In particular, some elements of Herdaz are inspired by Mexico.{{wob ref|8883}}
== Notes ==
<references
{{17s ref|blog|634|text=Roshar Physical Characteristics And Areas|date=2019-08-30|name=blog634}}
</references>
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