The Hero of Ages

Marsh, a former human turned Steel Inquisitor, struggles against the control of the entity called Ruin, who commands his actions. Marsh briefly contemplates suicide, knowing that removing the linchpin Hemalurgic spike from his back would kill him, but Ruin stops him.

Accompanied by other Inquisitors, Marsh performs Hemalurgic magic on a terrified Terrisman, who is bound to a table with another person underneath. Marsh’s task is to drive a brass spike through the prisoner’s heart and into the body below to transfer their power. Marsh briefly regains control and realizes that killing the Terrisman, who dedicated his life to helping others, would be a tragedy. Ruin’s hold is too strong, and Marsh’s thoughts are quickly clouded again. He smiles as he drives the spike into the man.

Fatren, the leader of the small town of Vetitan, anxiously prepares for an impending attack with his brother, Druffel, and the town’s ragtag militia. An army of monstrous creatures known as koloss is approaching, and Fatren knows Vetitan is outnumbered and ill-equipped. Just as he and the others prepare for the worst, a lone rider approaches: Elend Venture, the emperor and a powerful Mistborn (someone who can acquire superhuman powers by burning metals, a process known as Allomancy).