Talenel
| House / Order | |
|---|---|
| Race / Culture | Herald |
| Status | Returned (broken) |
| Origin | Greater Roshar |
| Born | |
| Died | |
| Weapon | |
| Fate | Bore the Oathpact alone for millennia; returned to Roshar |
| Portrayed by |
Talenel, also called Talenelat'Elin, Taln, and Stonesinew, is one of the ten Heralds in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive. Associated with the divine attributes of dependability and resourcefulness and the role of Soldier, he is among the most tragic figures in the world's history.
The Oathpact
The Heralds bound themselves by the Oathpact to hold back the Desolations of Odium. When a Herald died in battle, their soul was drawn to Damnation, where Odium tortured them; so long as they endured, the next Desolation was delayed. After the Desolation remembered as Aharietiam, the other nine Heralds chose to abandon the Oathpact and leave Roshar, believing the war won.
Millennia of torment
Talenel alone refused to break. He remained bound to the Oathpact, enduring Odium's torture alone for thousands of years while the other Heralds walked Roshar. By holding fast, he held back the Desolations long after his companions had given up.
Return
At the opening of The Stormlight Archive, a ragged, raving man appears bearing an ancient Honorblade, declaring that the Desolation has come and that humanity must prepare. This is Talenel, finally returned, his mind shattered by his unimaginable ordeal. His arrival signals to those who understand its meaning that the Heralds' defense has at last failed and the ancient enemy is coming again.