Wind and Truth

Venli and her companions debate whether or not to take El’s deal.

In the Spiritual Realm, Navani is reliving memories of being mocked and bullied as a girl. She then revisits hard memories from her adult life. She recognizes that these are not random visions; they are showing only her most painful moments, as if someone is intentionally guiding them.

This chapter continues the flashback to Szeth’s past.

Szeth travels to the Elsecaller monastery six weeks after “meeting” the voice. During this time, he unsuccessfully tries to recruit Sivi and Moss to his cause and prepares his monastery for war. Now, he is going to confront Pozen.

When Szeth arrives at Pozen’s monastery, Sivi is there as well. Szeth confronts them both but is unwilling to fight them. He tells them that he is leading a rebellion. Then he flees.

The wind speaks to Kaladin, urging him to have patience with Nale.

Sigzil and his forces are beginning to grow desperate because they are running low on stormlight. A messenger arrives from Venli. She wants to work with Sigzil to deceive El and keep Narak out of Odium’s hands.

This chapter continues the Stormfather’s narration of Honor’s experiences and is set 8,000 years before the main events of the novel.

Odium, then in the vessel of Rayse—arrives in the solar system. He is interested in the planet where the humans live. Rayse and Tanavast were rivals when they were mortals. Now, their enmity continues into their godhood.

On Roshar, Cultivation and Honor create more spren. On the other planet, Rayse stokes war between the humans’ city-states. Honor discovers that Odium has killed another shard, Ambition. Then, Honor introduces himself to some humans, one of whom is Nale. Honor offers them power to defeat Odium.

Navani, now sensing the patterns in the visions that she is seeing, starts plotting an escape. She manages to contact the Sibling and then finds the present-day Gavinor in her vision. Odium appears to her, praising her for figuring out how to manipulate the visions, but he intervenes before she manages to pull herself to Dalinar. Navani decides to try to escape the Spiritual Realm with Gav and then find a way to help Dalinar from the outside. She escapes by convincing a vision-version of Kaladin to activate an Oathgate, even though, in the vision, doing this means leaving her son Elhokar behind to die.

Venli and Sigzil meet in secret and make plans to deceive El. They reach out to Jasnah via a magical communication device called a spanreed to get her help and approval.

(It will soon be revealed that their plan is for Venli to pretend that she accepts El’s offer, then lead her forces to conquer Narak Prime.) Sigzil and his forces will retreat. It will then be Venli’s job to make sure that only her people—not any of Odium’s faithful soldiers—are on Narak Prime when the deadline strikes. By involving Jasnah, they sign an official treaty of peace between the human nation of Alethkar and the dissenter Parshendi group to which Venli belongs.

This chapter continues the flashback to Szeth’s past and is set nine years before the main events of the novel.

Szeth and his rebels battle with the other monasteries. In the towns that Szeth conquers, the people are afraid of him and don’t believe him. This pains him, and he worries that he will not be able to sustain this rebellion or convince the people of the truth. Of course, he doesn’t know the full truth himself yet. Although he is correct that the voice is a corrupting influence, he does not yet know that it belongs to Ishar, not to an Unmade.

This chapter continues the Stormfather’s narration of Honor’s experiences and is set 7,100 years before the main events of the novel.

War waged by humans with god-like powers—fueled by both Honor and Odium—destroys humanity’s home planet. Honor grieves for the extensive death and destruction. Nale and Makibak are among Honor’s favorites, and he has given them great power. Upon the destruction of their planet, they team up with some of Odium’s favorites, including Jezrien and Ishar, and lead survivors through a portal to Roshar. (This arrival is the event that Dalinar and Navani witness in a vision in Chapter 46.)

Szeth asks Kaladin to tell him whether to continue killing or not. Kaladin refuses, telling Szeth that it is his choice. This moment marks a breakthrough for Szeth because someone is refusing to give him orders and is instead showing him a potential path to inner peace.

They arrive at the next monastery, where Nale is the Honorbearer. Nale demands that Szeth give his oath to do as the Herald commands. Szeth refuses. Just as they are raising their blades to duel, Kaladin throws his spear to knock Nale’s blade off-course. Szeth names Kaladin his champion, who will fight Nale in his place.

Jasnah, Fen, and Odium arrive at the appointed place and time for their debate for the fate of Thaylen City. Fen tries to stop the debate before it starts, protesting that she cannot imagine any reason why she would side with Odium. Odium teases her and Jasnah, claiming that Jasnah herself will convince Fen to join Odium.

Kaladin and Nale fight a skillful duel; both are talented fighters, but Kaladin is outmatched. Eventually, Kaladin is beaten and lies helpless on the ground. Syl tries to intervene, as does 12124, but Nale pushes through them both. Then, the sound of a flute echoes on the breeze; the wind is intervening on Kaladin’s behalf.

The wind is playing the same song that Kaladin has been playing. This development stops Nale for a moment, giving Kaladin a chance to pull out his own flute. Nale attacks, punching Kaladin and breaking the flute. Syl forms herself into the shape of a flute. Kaladin believes that if he can play the song to Nale, it will make him remember his compassion and empathy. The wind assists Kaladin.

Kaladin’s music breaks through Nale’s defenses. The Herald admits to turning to the law as his ultimate guide after he realized that his mental acuity was starting to slip. Nale surrenders, and Kaladin and Szeth offer him help and comfort.

Chapter 111 continues the flashback to Szeth’s past.

Szeth’s army faces the armies of seven other Honorbearers. His father appears on the battlefield, and Szeth realizes that his father has become the Bondsmith Honorbearer. Szeth’s father believes the voice and trusts it. His conviction makes Szeth doubt himself.

Jasnah and Taravangian debate in an intense display of intellect. At this point, however, Fen remains firmly unconvinced of his arguments.

Venli and her companions remain with El and his forces, preparing to ride into battle, although she does not plan to attack the humans in earnest.

This chapter continues the Stormfather’s narration of Honor’s experiences and is set 7,050 years before the main events of the novel.

Honor creates the Stormfather, a spren avatar of himself.

Odium kills another god, the Healer. Odium has also swayed the Parshendi to his side. Honor and Cultivation plan to attack Odium, but he holds them off by reminding them, truthfully, that if they battle on Roshar, the entire planet will be destroyed. They agree that they cannot fight directly. They also agree that they cannot give limitless power to mortals; the last time they did that, it destroyed humanity’s home planet. So, they agree on terms that allow for a portion of their powers to be granted to mortals, with checks in place. These checks are the Radiant oaths.

Jasnah and Taravangian’s debate continues. The god threatens that he has attacks poised if Fen walks away from their conversation. He offers Fen a favorable contract in which Thaylenah would have good standing and considerable freedom in his new empire. When Jasnah declares that Fen should not join Taravangian because of his wanton destruction and tyrannical style of ruling, Taravangian argues that his actions are dedicated to the greater good. Taravangian then reveals his central tactic. He will use Jasnah’s past mistakes and inconsistent deeds to prove that she herself does not value the greater good above her loved ones.

Navani arrives back in Urithiru, carrying what she believes is a sleeping Gavinor. (Later, it is revealed that Odium seized Gavinor when Navani escaped the Spiritual Realm, sending an illusion in his place. He then imprisoned Gavinor and twisted the boy’s mind by slowing time and showing him repeated visions of Dalinar’s misdeeds.)

This chapter continues the Stormfather’s narration of Honor’s experiences and is set 7,000 years before the main events of the novel.

As the years pass, Honor and Cultivation disagree about how to deal with Odium. Honor wants to confront him directly, while Cultivation wants to act discreetly and make long plans. Honor decides to forge a pact with some humans and creates the Heralds. (This is the event that Dalinar and Navani witness in the vision in Chapter 62.)

Taravangian turns to personal arguments to defeat Jasnah. He proves to Fen that Jasnah doesn’t live by the philosophy she professes to follow. He contends that if Jasnah were in Fen’s place, she could consider siding with Taravangian. He succeeds in convincing Fen to join him; Jasnah loses the debate.

This chapter continues the flashback to Szeth’s past.

The Honorbearers rule that Szeth is “Truthless” and banish him from Shinovar. Szeth swears on an Oathstone that he will obey the commands of whoever owns that stone. The voice commands Szeth to retain his Honorblade, which is counter to tradition. Part of Szeth is relieved that he will no longer have to make his own choices. However, this mindset leads him to work as an assassin for several years. During that time, he will assassinate Gavilar Kholin and work for Taravangian. (These events are described in Words of Radiance, the second book in the Stormlight Archive series.)

Venli and her companions ride chasmfiends onto Narak Prime, following a carefully choreographed plan to feign an attack on the humans. As Sigzil retreats with his people in a show of defeat, he secretly tosses a signed treaty to Venli. El and his forces leave the plateau for only Venli and her troops to occupy.

Shallan lands in a vision of a giant sea creature that has washed up on a beach. Mraize is there too.

Sigzil’s forces retreat as planned. He stalls for time as groups of his soldiers make their escape through the Oathgate. In the final moments, Moash attacks Sigzil, using another fabrial device to negate Sigizil’s powers. Moash has an anti-stormlight dagger that can kill spren. Sigzil renounces his oaths with his spren, forcibly severing their ties. This act saves the spren from being killed by Moash but is very painful for both Sigzil and the spren. It also means that Sigizil is no longer Radiant; as a result, he cannot use any surgebinding powers. Sigzil’s troop of windrunners arrives and rescues him, taking him to safety through the Oathgate into Urithiru.

Adolin spends considerable time learning to walk on his prosthetic leg so that he can walk without a crutch. The troops defending Azimir are desperate; all they can do is attempt to hold the line until noon the next day. Soon, their desperation is great enough that they call every able-bodied person to join the shield line. They then alternate in shifts between holding shields against the onslaught of Parshendi troops and stabbing long spears between the shields. Despite his injury, Adolin joins the group who is called up to fight.

Mraize tells Shallan that this vision is a scene from his childhood. He dreamed of adventuring to far-distant planets, and this was one of his main motivations for joining the Ghostbloods. They speak for a time before separating. Mraize tells Shallan that they will fight to the death when they meet again.

Nale is more like his old self again after the confrontation with Kaladin and the wind. He finally reveals that the voice is Ishar, not an Unmade. He tells Kaladin and Szeth that Ishar accessed some of Odium’s power, using the pool in the Shattered Plains. They plan to travel to the final monastery to confront Ishar.

This chapter continues the Stormfather’s narration of Honor’s experiences and is set 4,550 years before the novel’s main events. Honor and Odium have been clashing for millennia in “gigantic proxy wars” (1,096) fought by the Heralds and the Radiants on one side and the Fused and Unmade on the other.

Honor loses his temper and throws himself at Odium. This direct clash creates the Shattered Plains by bringing a moon crashing onto the surface of Roshar, where it shatters the ground. Honor is horrified at what he has done and resolves never to fight Odium directly again. In the aftermath of their fight, Ba-Ado-Mishram asks Honor if he would make peace with her if she were to find a way around Odium. Honor says yes.

Adolin joins the pike block formations (the troops holding the final line against Odium’s army). He finds this to be a terrifying, physically exhausting experience.

Odium shows Shallan many violent visions of her past. Then, she sees visions of herself committing imaginary violent deeds against her mentors, Wit and Jasnah.

In the Spiritual Realm, Ba-Ado-Mishram shows Rlain visions. He sees a beautiful, ancient Parshendi city, and he then sees an ancient battle during the time when the Parshendi worshipped Mishram as a god. Ba-Ado-Mishram proclaims that she has used Odium’s power to bind him away. Mishram claims that defeating humanity is the path to long-term peace. A historic moment occurs for the Parshendi when a group of dissenters (who call themselves the Listeners) leave Mishram because they do not want to trade Odium for yet another war-hungry god. Rlain realizes that despite Mishram’s anger, she let the Listeners walk away and was later inspired by their example to consider true peace.

Renarin enters Rlain’s vision with the Listeners. The two kiss and resolve to stand together even if the world resists a human-Parshendi relationship.

This chapter continues the Stormfather’s narration of Honor’s experiences and is set 4,500 years before the main events of the novel.

Another Desolation has occurred, and Honor meets with the Heralds to congratulate them on another victory. Only Taln died during the war, so nine Heralds are still living on Roshar. These nine show Honor their pain and break the Oathpact. (This is the event that Dalinar and Navani witness in the vision in Chapter 77.)

After the Heralds walk away, Honor retreats into himself, “becoming the storm and blowing across the landscape, fleeing from the hurt [he] had created” (1116). Time passes quickly for the god, but thousands of years go by while Honor is paying little attention to the events on Roshar. In his absence, Ba-Ado-Mishram finds Odium’s pool and claims some of his power. Honor sees an opening to negotiate with Odium; he offers his rival a deal. If Honor and his Radiants do away with Ba-Ado-Mishram, Odium must agree never to directly attack Honor and must also agree to a contest of champions at some point in the future; this contest would end the cycle of war.

Adolin and the other soldiers on the shield line struggle through a relentless night. Adolin is convinced that he will not live through this battle.

Jasnah is crushed by her loss to Taravangian in the debate. She grieves that Thaylenah is now allied with the enemy, and she also struggles with the hypocrisy that the god noted during their debate. She has been robbed of the defining philosophy that has guided her life. The god visits Jasnah and offers her a placed as an immortal Fused. She refuses.

This chapter continues the Stormfather’s narration of Honor’s experiences and is set 2,000 years before the main events of the novel.

The power of Honor rejects Tanavast when he betrays Ba-Ado-Mishram as per his agreement with Odium. Tanavast dies in his mortal body. Before the power of Honor abandons Tanavast completely, it takes his memories and a portion of his soul and infuses it into the Stormfather.

Odium is still held to the pacts that he made with the power of Honor, even if Honor no longer has a vessel. The Stormfather and the power of Honor decide to search for a champion; they decide that the champion will prove themselves by saving Roshar, after which the power of Honor will invest in them to defeat Odium.

(This sets the stage for the dilemma that Dalinar must grapple with in Part 10; he thinks that he needs the power of Honor to save Roshar, but the power will not accept him until he proves himself by saving Roshar.)

Navani and Wit await Dalinar’s return from the Spiritual Realm. They are certain that Odium will release him in time for the contest; if he does not, he will be violating the terms of the contract.

Adolin is numb with pain and fatigue after fighting in grueling conditions for an entire night. He watches as the last human shardbearer—a man wearing Adolin’s plate—falls. The enemy cheers and surges forward. Adolin fights desperately to hold the line; his numbness fades and he is filled with anger and stubbornness. He drops his shield and spear and draws his longsword, bringing down many Parshendi before his peg is kicked out from under him. He falls, and his friends rescue him. He tells them to leave him, but the emperor Yanagawn refuses to go to his saferoom until Adolin is with him. So, Adolin goes. They make it to the saferoom, but the city of Azimir is now in enemy hands.

Dieno is a general from Herdaz, another human nation on Roshar. Interlude 17 describes how Dieno was captured with his troops as he was attempting to enter Herdaz and liberate it from Odium’s forces before the contest deadline. He is about to be executed when a giant creature called a greatshell emerges from the fog.

Odium pauses for a moment of reflection after Dalinar emerges from the Spiritual Realm and before the contest of champions takes place. He imagines peace across a Cosmere that is entirely under his command.