Truthwatchers

The Truthwatchers are one of the ten orders of Knights Radiant, a mysterious and secretive order concerned with sight, knowledge, and revelation, wielding the Surges of Progression and Illumination. They are associated with the Herald Pailiah and bond mistspren (also called liespren). In The Stormlight Archive, Renarin Kholin is the most prominent Truthwatcher.

Surges

Truthwatchers command the Surges of Progression and Illumination. Progression, shared with the Edgedancers, grants power over growth and healing. Illumination, shared with the Lightweavers, grants the creation of light and illusions, allowing the manipulation of light and sound to craft images.

Ideals

Like the other orders, the Truthwatchers swear the shared First Ideal and progress through further oaths that deepen their bond with their Spren. The order's oaths and inner workings are among the more obscure in the lore, fitting their secretive character.

Spren and the Sight

Truthwatchers bond mistspren, Spren associated with truth and revelation. Renarin Kholin's bond is unusual, however, tied to a spren of Odium rather than a typical Truthwatcher spren, which grants him visions of the future -- a rare and dangerous form of foresight, since seeing the future on Roshar is associated with Odium.

Notable Members

Renarin Kholin, son of Dalinar Kholin, is the foremost Truthwatcher of the Archive. His gift of future sight, and the unusual nature of his spren bond, set him apart even among an already mysterious order.

Significance

The Truthwatchers, with their powers of healing, illusion, and revelation, occupy a shadowed and enigmatic place among the Knights Radiant, and Renarin Kholin's unique foresight makes the order especially consequential in the war against Odium.