I wonder how the hell is the way of kings supposed to make sense
Because it starts with a few guys that are 4500 years in the past. They dont appear at all after that. Then theres a murder that happened six years ago. Then there are the characters you actually follow for the storyline but every now and then a few random ass characters that will appear never again pop in and it all ends with a guy that died in that first chapter from 4500 years ago coming back saying that something that happened millenias ago and wiped out half of humanity is coming back then dying on the spot
I don’t see all the Heralds coming out of the therapy retreat all on the same side. Whether it’s because some side with Retribution or the Heralds can’t agree on how this war should be fought, I think they’re going to come out healed but splintered in different factions.
I mostly believe this because narratively it’s too clean for them come out a well oiled machine of a team. Nine of the ten Heralds have been fighting against Odium for thousands of years and they know honor’s power more intimately than anyone else. Who else would better lead a war against Retribution than them? Taravangian knows this and would take steps to divide and conquer them.
I’m not here to push for any kind of direction, but to build an open discussion to talk about the Heralds current relationship with one another and how they are currently.
The most problematic/divisive Heralds in no particular order:
Ishar’s madness has definitely caused him to burned bridges between him and the other Heralds. He treats everyone around him like tools. Ishar abused Nale for like half a millennia. He has been trying to win this forever war by any means necessary, and I can specifically see Taln giving Ishar grief for his actions. Maybe they’ll balance each other out in the end. Maybe Ishar will go too far and Taln decides Ishar is too heartless to work beside. Kaladin is going to help Ishar builds some decent morals, but even when Ishar wasn’t driven insane by odium power, he’s always a pompous character to me. He doesn’t seem tactful when it comes to emotions. Ishar might just cause division in the team because the Heralds just don’t want to work with him.
Chana is a wildcard. We don’t know enough about her to really predict where she could be heading. She has reason to hold a grudge against Ishar and Nale over the whole ‘killing Radiant’ stuff that led her to trying to kill her own daughter(Chana still hold some blame for listening, but still). Not to mention how Nale let Helaran into the skybreakers which led to Kaladin killed her son/step-son. This has to become a relevant plot point eventually. Shallan was understanding with Kaladin, but Chana could react very differently. Also, Chana specifically tells Shallan not to trust any of the other Heralds except Taln. I’m not 100% sure that the Heralds know when one of their members gets sent to Braize, but still, Chana does not mention trying to look for Ash. She died too. Chana is only cool with Taln and that might not be enough to keep her around.
Battar is the least trustworthy of the Heralds right now. She has already willing worked with Odium. She doesn’t care about anyone else and only cares about her own standing. Battar put Moash back in fighting business, and now he's more lethal than ever. Battar has consistently help the worst people. How Battar moves forward will depend on how Retribution handles her. He might hold resentment towards her for stopping him from destroying the spren. Though, Taravangain is more likely to opt for a double cross than to not work with Battar. He may be honor bound to his word, but Taravangian is good at word play. Only Battar is very intelligent too. I foresee a very dangerous game being played between the two of them. The fact she currently has the biggest traitor flags might means she’s actually a red herring. The twist could be is she doesn’t betrayed the other heralds and Kaladin successfully helps Battar regain her abilities to empathize with others. We'll know eventually, but I’m interested in learning what was exactly her curious expression implied when she agreed to reform the oath packed. Overall, I think she is the most likely to help fuel the division between the heralds. Battar could try to influence Chana into seeking retribution against the other Heralds (*wink wink* see what I did there).
Nale and Kalak sit in the same position to me. They are both problematic for the things they have done: Nale for the whole killing new Radiants and Kalak for getting Kal’s squad killed and all the stuff with Mishram. But both are very remorseful and apologetic for their actions. If anything, they will be a test for Kal’s Herald of second chances title.
All of this is just the stuff we know. There could be so much more that could be causing tension between the Heralds that hasn't been brought up yet because we don't know much about them. Taln and Kal are the only heralds that still have some sense of humanity. The other Heralds either don’t value their position anymore or are too morally broken to be make good decisions. Ash questions whether humanity is worthy saving. Vedel has become apathetic. Pralla values recording her own history more than helping to fight the newest desolation. Everyone else deserves to go sit in the corner to go think about what they’ve done.
Kaladin has a lot of work cut out for him to get this team running again, and I highly doubt Kal will be given enough time to mend whatever broke the Heralds' team cohesion in the first place.
Okay, insane theory, but - what if Taln didn't know that Breaking was an option? Remember, he joins the oathpact last, he isn't present at most of the discussion. What if for him it was like "for the good of Roshar you must suffer this torment for however long neccecary". He strikes me as the kind of guy who wouldn't really question the mechanics of this whole thing or how the apocalypse keeps restarting anyway, he'll be like "well, I signed up for this".
This makes no sense, but consider: it would be so fucking funny sad.
Propaganda: “What if Jesus was on the cross for three thousand years and also being actively tortured and also knew that all of the disciples made the conscious decision to abandon him so that they wouldn’t also be tortured”
In today's world, when Taln leaves Damnatiom itself after 4,500 of selflessly sacrificing himself for humanity, there would still be some people who blame him for not staying there for longer.
Thinking about the parallels between Taln from The Stormlight Archive and the short story Those Who Walk From Omelas. Thinking about one person suffering the worst possible existence in order to give everyone else a good life. Thinking about how if Taln had been there with the other Nine heralds, I don’t know if the plan would’ve been any different. Thinking about how Taln never broke.
"Taln turned away. And then she was there, crossing the distance between them in a couple of steps and grabbing ahold of him with wet arms. The warmth of her body was an alien feeling against his cold skin. He let Glyphting slide from his fingers, the Blade clanging softly to the stone, and wrapped his arms around her.
“Come to Alethkar,” she pled, her cheek pressed against the wet cloth of his chest. “Come and help me drive away the invaders. I will see you rewarded with a city befitting your honor and a title to match your nobility. Forget about the things you have dreamed, Taln. Don’t let them hurt you any longer. Come back. Come back with me.”"
Brandon Sanderson: The Way of Kings Prime
AKA I did not realise this was not the _canon_ version of the book until I was like 400 pages in and honestly I don't care
I love these two, I totally needed ANOTHER doomed romance which did not end the way I wanted but I was HONESTLY surprised it even evolved into what it did. I love them. Love them so much.
