*"The burdens of nine become mine.* *Why must I carry the madness of them all?* *Oh, Almighty, release me."* - _A death rattle observed on Palaheses 1173, collected secondhand and later reported to the Silent Gatherers. Subject was a wealthy lighteyes._
I remember thinking "Almost five thousand years. Jesus, it's amazing he lasted that long." Then I found out that he never actually broke, and the Fused had to cheat their way back. My jaw dropped.
@@forrestdorman4870 Except they still ended up needing the Everstorm to escape Braize, so clearly whoever died didn't immediately wuss out. It could also be that they were far enough along with the preparations that they decided to go through with it anyway just so the Oath Pact wouldn't be a problem anymore. There is of course something else to be considered. The prologue went out of its way to mention Chanarach, so I'd bet money that's the Herald who died. Chanarach was also known for having bright red hair. Also, someone in the comments of that video did the math, and found out that Gavalar died the same year as Shallan's mother. Which means that it's very possible that she was actually Chanarach, something else I'd bet money on. And since we know Shallan killed her mother with a Shard Blade...maybe her soul never made it to Braize? She could just be gone. After all, Jezrian died for good because his soul was too frayed to survive being in that gemstone. So in the end, there still may have only been Taln holding back the Desolation.
@@tabletopnephilim4633 I don’t think a shard blade can kill a creature of pure investiture. Otherwise the fused would long be gone. The heralds are very similar to the fused. But I can see a shard blade killing the body of a herald. Who knows….maybe Harold’s also take over bodies just like the fused.
@@forrestdorman4870I think I remember a WoB that said Honor made them bodies from pure investiture when they returned. Not sure how that would work now.
Honestly, I could see that happening. Especially because Kaladin seems like he wants to help other people out with their problems so he could be perfect to talk with Taln!
That’s my theory. My theory is that Kal is relying too much on Syl, and in the next book she will die. That will lead him to becoming a therapist. A warrior that saves people without raising a spear.
I really liked your articulation of Talenel's character. He is the literal embodiment of the phrase "Honor is not dead as long he lives in the hearts of men." The way you said "Talenel did not break" to drive home your final point sent chills down my spine.
I am Talenel'Elin, Herald of War. The time of the Return, the Desolation, is near at hand. We must prepare. You will have forgotten much, following the destruction of the times past. Kalak will teach you to cast bronze, if you have forgotten this. We will Soulcast blocks of metal directly for you. I wish we could teach you steel, but casting is so much easier than forging, and you must have something we can produce quickly. Your stone tools will not serve against what is to come. Vedel can train your surgeons, and Jezrien . . . he will teach you leadership. So much is lost between Returns . . . I will train your soldiers. We should have time. Ishar keeps talking about a way to keep information from being lost following Desolations. And you have discovered something unexpected. We will use that. Surgebinders to act as guardians . . . Knights . . . The coming days will be difficult, but with training, humanity will survive. You must bring me to your leaders. The other Heralds should join us soon.
When it comes to Brandon and his Tolkien influences I would like to think that Talenel is one of the clearer influences because of his connection to Gandalf. Gandalf like Talenel were described as the “weakest” and did not want the power or responsibility stating that he was too afraid. However both Gandalf and Talenel ended up being the strongest of their respective orders sent and they both were the only ones to succeed in their missions. For Gandalf it was bringing down Sauron. For Talenel he never broke.
4:58 - it's worth noting that lighteyes/darkeyes were not cultural things in the time of the Oathpact. Radiants did not yet exist, and so the reason for lighteyes being respected was not yet a thing.
Also implied that, as with many other things, modern-day Alethi have it all wrong and in the past, eye color was either irrelevant or was inverted, with Darkeyes in higher esteem. At the very least, many (if not all) of the Heralds are darkeyed (including the Kings of Kings, Jezrian himself).
@@scottalleman4564 Shardblades are irrelevant to the topic. These comments are discussing Roshar in the time before the Oathpact, at this time there were no Shardblades. The Honorblades were created during the Oathpact, and those did not change the eye colour of the Heralds who wielded them. It was only many Desolations later when the spren began forming the Nahel bond with humans that the first Shardblades as we know them came into being-which would change the eye colour of those who used them, thus creating the association between lighteyes and nobility.
I love Taln so much he is my second favorite person in the book second only to Adolin (just because we see more of my boi Adolin. Who I swear would be a damn near perfect Stoneward) but the moment for me that made me love Taln was when he had that one moment of lucidity when he was glad for all of the pain he held the thousands of years he endured so that his people could recover. To progress to grow. That made me love that character so much. Also I have a hope to see Taln break that traitor Nale like a fucking twig. Screaming at him for betraying Honor, and mankind.
If Adolin does become a Radiant (which he WILL, or at least something new), it will definitely be an Edgedancer. Radiant Spren don't like to share their humans, and Adolin is definitely Maya's human.
Ya, holding out alone for 4.5 Thousand years is insane. That would have made him a legend. But no the man still did not yield. Honestly I don't know how Taln can walk with how huge his balls are.
The irony is that most of the other Heralds broke themselves, out of shame and guilt for what they did to Taln. But the whole oathpact was such a horrific, stupid deal to begin with. Book of Job level of evil shit.
Too bad he's basically been reduced to a super-magical Hoed at this point. (For those who haven't read Elantris, a Hoed is an Elantrian so consumed by their never-ending pain that all they do is cower and repeat the same mantra over and over, ignoring all outside stimuli.)
I think the death of Jezrian is to make room for the ascension of a new herald. Either Kaladin (another of the same order) or Dalinar as a new king. Maybe Taln will earn a permanent death too and they'll both ascend.
What a chad! This random guy shows up. Becomes one of the most powerful members of the heralds. Fights countless battles including some he wasn't expected to win. Wins them anyway! Dies numerous times doing badass stuff. Shrugs that off and keeps fighting. Dies again. Gets abandoned by those he cared about. Spends almost 5000 years fighting in the Rosharan version of hell. Never broke and would have kept going! And when one of his friends (and possible lover) comes to him and says sorry, literally begs for him to hate her, he says no. Just thanks her for it. I say again WHAT A CHAD!
What if.......? Kaladin goes to Damnation in order for Taln to be able to stay and help fight on Roshar. Kaladin comes back less conflicted than he is now and becomes a new Herald?
That's a good theory! Though I don't know if Kaladin would come back less conflicted...honestly with Sanderson anything is possible, so your guess is as good as any.
@@HarshReviews I think it would take a toll on him but if any character should turn into a herald it's kaladin , he has been pushed so often to his physical and emotional limit of pain tolerance that he's a trained mental and physical fighter I think he would hold out and be like Taln
@@aravpradosh1244 I totally predict Kaladin will become either a Herald or some kind of god. He was never seeking a normal life. His character arc is so filled by protecting others, he couldn't do that with a family or love interest.
I reckon when the time comes for Honour to be reborn, the Stormfather and the spren who are willing; combine into a giant chaotic ball of energy. Though because pieces are missing, it goes critical and will soon explode destroying Roshar. Taln steps up. Gives his soul to be stored into a ferro-spike and be driven into the mass of spren, thus filling the gaps. BAM! Honour reborn.
Man, I am SO EXCITED for Taln's flashbacks in Book 9! I know it won't happen for like a a decade and a half, but still! Like, HOW did Taln manage to stay sane?! What was he holding onto? Was he ever resentful of the other Heralds for abandoning him, or did he always understand their decision? Did he have to convince himself to hold on because he understood that he was humanity's last hope, or was he the type of person whose honor demanded that he hold to the Oathpact no matter what? Were he and Ash a couple (I still ship it, even if they weren't- but I think the implications are there)? And, of course, what was his life like on Ashyn? How did this ordinary man get involved with kings, great scholars, and generals? Taln is just SO fascinating to me, and his backstory is the one I'm most looking forward to.
Realistically it's going to have to be either Szeth or Talenel who deals with Nale at the end. Maybe Kaladin could or perhaps Dalinar himself, but that doesn't make a huge amount of sense for me. On a separate note my favourite stormlight chapter title is still "The spear that would not break" which is oddly fitting here
Theory: we know tthat when someone reaches an ideal, everyone around seems more connected to the spiritual realm and can, for a brief period of time, recover from mental issues. When Kaladin will pronounce the fith ideal (because he will 😠) Taln will recover and do some... Stuff ? Yh i know this isn't even a full theory 😭
I think he broke. Kelek said that the Oathpact was broken 70 years or so earlier than current events. That one of the ties of the Oathpact broke. I think they broke Taln he will be Odiums champion against Dalinar.
Kaladin will eventually interact with him. I believe kaladin will become the champion to fight for Roshar and gain herald abilities. I hope you read this Brandon im onto you
I actually have issues with Taln being believable. His is no doubt a goat badass, but without having any kind of explanation why I just don't believe it)
U r the most igonrant person. U have to tell if it contains spoilers, and of which book it contains. Do u think I wanted to know nevani was going to bond the siblings in the first second. I was halfway through Rythm of War, but u still managed to ruin it for me
“Four thousand years?” She held his hand tighter. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” […] “Four thousand years?” Taln asked again. “Ash…” “We couldn’t continue-I…we thought…” “Ash.” He took her hand again. “What a wonderful thing.” Wonderful? “We left you, Taln.” “What a gift you gave them! Time to recover, for once, between Desolations. Time to progress. They never had a chance before. But this time…yes, maybe they do.” 🥺😭😭🥹🥹
The second ideal of the stonewords. (I WILL BE THERE WHEN IM NEEDED.))
Oh my god I didn’t even think of this that’s so perfect!
I guess the only problem with that is that hoid is a lightweaver
@@grenien4109 yeah but i think hoid is a weird case, he was not directly bounded by a spren but instead adopted someone elses spren.
@@grenien4109 his power to be there when needed likely comes from a dawnshard not a spren bond though.
THE OATHPACT BROKE BEFORE TALN DID.
YESSIR
the plant broke before the guard did
Taln stands
the heralad that died the same days as Gavilar broke
In oathbringer when taln says to ash "what a gift you have given them" i cried like a baby..
Taln is the GOAT fr
that's selflessness
Ash can't even look at her own face in depictions after dropping him in Braize alone and he's like "good, you gave them time to recover". Damn onions.
It really sucks that the other heralds didn’t help humanity grown and prepare
Me too. A sob literally racked out of me when I read that.
*"The burdens of nine become mine.*
*Why must I carry the madness of them all?*
*Oh, Almighty, release me."*
- _A death rattle observed on Palaheses 1173, collected secondhand and later reported to the Silent Gatherers. Subject was a wealthy lighteyes._
funnily enough, that one was not Taln but Ishar.
I remember thinking "Almost five thousand years. Jesus, it's amazing he lasted that long." Then I found out that he never actually broke, and the Fused had to cheat their way back. My jaw dropped.
We’ll accord to the release prologue for 5 it seems a Herald did die and return to Braize. So they didn’t exactly cheat but did push things along.
@@forrestdorman4870 Except they still ended up needing the Everstorm to escape Braize, so clearly whoever died didn't immediately wuss out. It could also be that they were far enough along with the preparations that they decided to go through with it anyway just so the Oath Pact wouldn't be a problem anymore.
There is of course something else to be considered. The prologue went out of its way to mention Chanarach, so I'd bet money that's the Herald who died. Chanarach was also known for having bright red hair. Also, someone in the comments of that video did the math, and found out that Gavalar died the same year as Shallan's mother. Which means that it's very possible that she was actually Chanarach, something else I'd bet money on. And since we know Shallan killed her mother with a Shard Blade...maybe her soul never made it to Braize? She could just be gone. After all, Jezrian died for good because his soul was too frayed to survive being in that gemstone. So in the end, there still may have only been Taln holding back the Desolation.
@@tabletopnephilim4633 I don’t think a shard blade can kill a creature of pure investiture. Otherwise the fused would long be gone. The heralds are very similar to the fused. But I can see a shard blade killing the body of a herald. Who knows….maybe Harold’s also take over bodies just like the fused.
@@forrestdorman4870I think I remember a WoB that said Honor made them bodies from pure investiture when they returned. Not sure how that would work now.
TALN. DID. NOT. BREAK.
He's the most awesome character.
That is the tragic thing, he would feel like he would fail the other Heralds if he was the one to break. Yet they had already forsaken him.
reminds me of when kaladin said "you. shall. not. have. him. (or something like that)
Talk should be the new protagonist of part 2, like kaladin was kind of for part 1
Kaladin’s current arc focused on mental health will be the key to Talenel’s recovery
Honestly, I could see that happening. Especially because Kaladin seems like he wants to help other people out with their problems so he could be perfect to talk with Taln!
And/or Ishar's.
The thing is the damage of millennia of torture might be just a bit beyond Kaladin's abilities
That’s my theory. My theory is that Kal is relying too much on Syl, and in the next book she will die. That will lead him to becoming a therapist. A warrior that saves people without raising a spear.
@@hassanseaid7088that's asinine lol.
Man, I forgot he's called the Bearer of Agonies. Most badass name in any book ever.
Taln got all the coolest titles. And he damn well earned them.
I really liked your articulation of Talenel's character. He is the literal embodiment of the phrase "Honor is not dead as long he lives in the hearts of men." The way you said "Talenel did not break" to drive home your final point sent chills down my spine.
Thanks a bunch! It makes me happy that you liked it that much, I appreciate it! Talenel is just so badass man.
I feel like we need an updated version of this now that the first era of stormlight archive is over.
I am Talenel'Elin, Herald of War. The time of the Return, the Desolation, is near at hand. We must prepare. You will have forgotten much, following the destruction of the times past. Kalak will teach you to cast bronze, if you have forgotten this. We will Soulcast blocks of metal directly for you. I wish we could teach you steel, but casting is so much easier than forging, and you must have something we can produce quickly. Your stone tools will not serve against what is to come. Vedel can train your surgeons, and Jezrien . . . he will teach you leadership. So much is lost between Returns . . . I will train your soldiers. We should have time. Ishar keeps talking about a way to keep information from being lost following Desolations. And you have discovered something unexpected. We will use that. Surgebinders to act as guardians . . . Knights . . . The coming days will be difficult, but with training, humanity will survive. You must bring me to your leaders. The other Heralds should join us soon.
When it comes to Brandon and his Tolkien influences I would like to think that Talenel is one of the clearer influences because of his connection to Gandalf. Gandalf like Talenel were described as the “weakest” and did not want the power or responsibility stating that he was too afraid. However both Gandalf and Talenel ended up being the strongest of their respective orders sent and they both were the only ones to succeed in their missions. For Gandalf it was bringing down Sauron. For Talenel he never broke.
The fact that Taln wasn't a Priest of Judge or royal like the rest of the heralds and just some dude just adds to his awesomeness.
4:58 - it's worth noting that lighteyes/darkeyes were not cultural things in the time of the Oathpact. Radiants did not yet exist, and so the reason for lighteyes being respected was not yet a thing.
That’s true! Taln was still the only one of the heralds that wasn’t a noble, so I put that together with the darkeyes haha
Also implied that, as with many other things, modern-day Alethi have it all wrong and in the past, eye color was either irrelevant or was inverted, with Darkeyes in higher esteem. At the very least, many (if not all) of the Heralds are darkeyed (including the Kings of Kings, Jezrian himself).
@@Darkkfated I think eye colour was just irrelevant, I don't think darkeyes were seen as more noble than lighteyes.
@@Darkkfated this just means nobody cared for eyecolor
@@scottalleman4564 Shardblades are irrelevant to the topic. These comments are discussing Roshar in the time before the Oathpact, at this time there were no Shardblades.
The Honorblades were created during the Oathpact, and those did not change the eye colour of the Heralds who wielded them. It was only many Desolations later when the spren began forming the Nahel bond with humans that the first Shardblades as we know them came into being-which would change the eye colour of those who used them, thus creating the association between lighteyes and nobility.
Now this is the best character
Made it just for you 😂
I second! Hard HARD second!
The planet broke before Taln did
Taln stands
I love Taln so much he is my second favorite person in the book second only to Adolin (just because we see more of my boi Adolin. Who I swear would be a damn near perfect Stoneward) but the moment for me that made me love Taln was when he had that one moment of lucidity when he was glad for all of the pain he held the thousands of years he endured so that his people could recover. To progress to grow. That made me love that character so much.
Also I have a hope to see Taln break that traitor Nale like a fucking twig. Screaming at him for betraying Honor, and mankind.
If Adolin does become a Radiant (which he WILL, or at least something new), it will definitely be an Edgedancer. Radiant Spren don't like to share their humans, and Adolin is definitely Maya's human.
Completely agree! Talenel is the most intriguing character in the entire Stormlight Archive up to now.
He's so great.
A man not only named strongest of the ten heralds but the strongest man in all of the cosmere by Sanderson himself
i am amazed that he did not break. I always assumed he did and i didnt blame him for one moment
Ya, holding out alone for 4.5 Thousand years is insane. That would have made him a legend. But no the man still did not yield. Honestly I don't know how Taln can walk with how huge his balls are.
Stone Sinew gotta be one of the coolest epithets in fiction
Yep and I tried to add it somewhere in the thumbnail, but it didn’t match.
@@HarshReviews Bearer of Agonies is still very sick
@@AliKhan-sb3ihbearer of agonies is way cooler. Stonesinew is basically just saying how jacked he is, Bearer of Agonies is a story
Finding out in RoW that the fused found another way to Roshar. Taln Did Not Break
god this video... couldn't stop crying while watching it.
There is more honor in Sanderson's books than in all the people in my life put together.
The irony is that most of the other Heralds broke themselves, out of shame and guilt for what they did to Taln.
But the whole oathpact was such a horrific, stupid deal to begin with. Book of Job level of evil shit.
I can't wait to find out more about Taln! He's almost too good to be true.
Taln is a gift that keeps giving. Can’t wait for the moment he clutches up for us during a sanderlanche.
Too bad he's basically been reduced to a super-magical Hoed at this point.
(For those who haven't read Elantris, a Hoed is an Elantrian so consumed by their never-ending pain that all they do is cower and repeat the same mantra over and over, ignoring all outside stimuli.)
Now jezrian is really gone...we admired him yet having never met him well.
RIP the king of the heralds
I think the death of Jezrian is to make room for the ascension of a new herald. Either Kaladin (another of the same order) or Dalinar as a new king. Maybe Taln will earn a permanent death too and they'll both ascend.
Taln never broke.
Subtitles: hmm yes, what kind of man is tylenol
HAHAH that’s hilarious, gotta love UA-cam for that
What a chad! This random guy shows up. Becomes one of the most powerful members of the heralds. Fights countless battles including some he wasn't expected to win. Wins them anyway! Dies numerous times doing badass stuff. Shrugs that off and keeps fighting. Dies again. Gets abandoned by those he cared about. Spends almost 5000 years fighting in the Rosharan version of hell. Never broke and would have kept going! And when one of his friends (and possible lover) comes to him and says sorry, literally begs for him to hate her, he says no. Just thanks her for it. I say again WHAT A CHAD!
What if.......? Kaladin goes to Damnation in order for Taln to be able to stay and help fight on Roshar. Kaladin comes back less conflicted than he is now and becomes a new Herald?
That's a good theory! Though I don't know if Kaladin would come back less conflicted...honestly with Sanderson anything is possible, so your guess is as good as any.
@@HarshReviews I think it would take a toll on him but if any character should turn into a herald it's kaladin , he has been pushed so often to his physical and emotional limit of pain tolerance that he's a trained mental and physical fighter I think he would hold out and be like Taln
@@aravpradosh1244 I totally predict Kaladin will become either a Herald or some kind of god. He was never seeking a normal life. His character arc is so filled by protecting others, he couldn't do that with a family or love interest.
The embodiment of the warrior archetype. The best Herald of all 🫡
THE GOAT!
Taln built different bruh
I'm subscribing cause I like what I'm seeing keep up the good work it'll eventually pay off big time ! 😁
I appreciate the sub man, thanks a lot!
I reckon when the time comes for Honour to be reborn, the Stormfather and the spren who are willing; combine into a giant chaotic ball of energy. Though because pieces are missing, it goes critical and will soon explode destroying Roshar.
Taln steps up. Gives his soul to be stored into a ferro-spike and be driven into the mass of spren, thus filling the gaps. BAM! Honour reborn.
great video - looked amazing - good narratve
Man, I am SO EXCITED for Taln's flashbacks in Book 9! I know it won't happen for like a a decade and a half, but still! Like, HOW did Taln manage to stay sane?! What was he holding onto? Was he ever resentful of the other Heralds for abandoning him, or did he always understand their decision? Did he have to convince himself to hold on because he understood that he was humanity's last hope, or was he the type of person whose honor demanded that he hold to the Oathpact no matter what? Were he and Ash a couple (I still ship it, even if they weren't- but I think the implications are there)? And, of course, what was his life like on Ashyn? How did this ordinary man get involved with kings, great scholars, and generals? Taln is just SO fascinating to me, and his backstory is the one I'm most looking forward to.
another exellent video i love your channel!
Thanks so much, dude, I’m glad you enjoyed :)))
@@HarshReviews Thank you for the video (sorry if i speak wrong i recently started learning english i understand but i am so bad in speaking)
Your English is great buddy, keep it up!
@@HarshReviews Thanks!
Motion to rename him as Talenel the Unbroken
That editing is cleannn
Thanks, homie.
Amazing
You’re amazing.
@@HarshReviews no you're breath taking 👉🏾
Realistically it's going to have to be either Szeth or Talenel who deals with Nale at the end. Maybe Kaladin could or perhaps Dalinar himself, but that doesn't make a huge amount of sense for me.
On a separate note my favourite stormlight chapter title is still "The spear that would not break" which is oddly fitting here
I really want it to be Talenel, because I feel that Nale siding against Mankind is a betrayal of their oath and to their people.
Taln is the biggest chad in all of fiction.
Wow I clicked this not even to realize that they'll be huge spoilers right at the start for the latest book
Taln was absolute chad
He is absolute unite
He’s him
Theory: we know tthat when someone reaches an ideal, everyone around seems more connected to the spiritual realm and can, for a brief period of time, recover from mental issues. When Kaladin will pronounce the fith ideal (because he will 😠) Taln will recover and do some... Stuff ? Yh i know this isn't even a full theory 😭
I think he broke. Kelek said that the Oathpact was broken 70 years or so earlier than current events. That one of the ties of the Oathpact broke. I think they broke Taln he will be Odiums champion against Dalinar.
Sanderson confirmed in a Q and A that Taln did not break. He says there's a different reason for which he returned and we will find out later.
Kaladin will eventually interact with him. I believe kaladin will become the champion to fight for Roshar and gain herald abilities. I hope you read this Brandon im onto you
I actually have issues with Taln being believable. His is no doubt a goat badass, but without having any kind of explanation why I just don't believe it)
Taln is the 🐐
Taln rules
= D
U r the most igonrant person. U have to tell if it contains spoilers, and of which book it contains. Do u think I wanted to know nevani was going to bond the siblings in the first second. I was halfway through Rythm of War, but u still managed to ruin it for me
Just don't watch videos before finishing the book
Simple
“Four thousand years?”
She held his hand tighter. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
[…]
“Four thousand years?” Taln asked again. “Ash…”
“We couldn’t continue-I…we thought…”
“Ash.” He took her hand again. “What a wonderful thing.”
Wonderful? “We left you, Taln.”
“What a gift you gave them! Time to recover, for once, between Desolations. Time to progress. They never had a chance before. But this time…yes, maybe they do.”
🥺😭😭🥹🥹