The Lifebrother is Vedel

[The Stick]

After some educated guessing, I have come to the conclusion that the Lifebrother, referred to by Taravangian at the end of WoK, is the Herald Vedel, the only herald we know absolutely about. While we know Vedel is a woman, it is possible that Rosharan lore of the Lifebrother started based around her and slowly changed to be inaccurate. This would also be reasonable, because the context in which Taravangian mentioned the Lifebrother was bloodthirsty, which would be an inverse of Vedel's attributes and roles, and may very well be a Ten Fools version of her.

 

[alder24]

10 hours ago, The Stick said:

After some educated guessing, I have come to the conclusion that the Lifebrother, referred to by Taravangian at the end of WoK, is the Herald Vedel, the only herald we know absolutely about. While we know Vedel is a woman, it is possible that Rosharan lore of the Lifebrother started based around her and slowly changed to be inaccurate. This would also be reasonable, because the context in which Taravangian mentioned the Lifebrother was bloodthirsty, which would be an inverse of Vedel's attributes and roles, and may very well be a Ten Fools version of her.

The Lifebrother is supposed to be a Vorin god, by Szeth's words. Vorinism worships only the Almighty and the Heralds, so it seems like this Lifebrother is meant to be one of the Heralds in the Vorin doctrine. A different name for one of them. And because it's a "brother" I doubt Vorinism would have twisted the gender of one of their Heralds so it has to be a man. However the context was that Taravangian was speaking Shin language, thus I think that the Lifebrother is actually a Shin name for one of the Herald (thus still being one of the gods of Vorinism) and the Lifebrother using others to spill the blood (he's not bloodthirsty, he's using others to kill) is a Shin description of that person. It seems like Taravangian is associating him with being lucky and the Herald of Luck is Ishar, who now is a madman using his Tukari followers to spill blood so he doesn't had to do it himself - something that Szeth as a Shin trained with Honorblades might be aware of. So if I were to guess who the Lifebrother is supposed to be, I would say he's Ishar, which would make sense if that name and character is meant to reappear as Szeth is going back to Shinovar, which now is under Ishar's control. WoK ch 71:

Quote

“Your words are like the hundred doves.”
“Easy to release, difficult to keep,” Taravangian said, speaking the words in Shin.
Szeth looked up sharply. This man spoke the Shin language and knew his people’s proverbs? Odd to find in a stone walker. Odder to find in a murderer.
“Yes, I speak your language. Sometimes I wonder if the Lifebrother himself sent you to me.”
“To bloody myself so that you wouldn’t have to,” Szeth said. “Yes, that sounds like something one of your Vorin gods would do."

 

I believe that Liss, the assassin hired by Jasnah, is Vedel. She is a total inversion of Vedel's healing attribute and is present at the night of Gavilar assassination, just like many other Heralds are. Also Vedel looks like Aleth and has dark long hair (OB endpaper) - just like Liss does (she looks Alethi enough that just changing her accent makes her a believable Alethi). WoR Prologue:

Quote

Liss stood from the table inside the small chamber. She wore a maid’s dress—low cut, of course—and could have been Alethi. Or Veden. Or Bav. Depending on which part of her accent she chose to emphasize. Long dark hair, worn loose, and a plump, attractive figure made her distinctive in all the right ways.

 

Spoiler

Argent

Now that we have canon art of Ishar, Shalash, Jezrien, and Vedel, what Rosharan nationalities would you say they resemble the most?

Brandon Sanderson

Jezrien and Vedel would be seen as Alethi, most likely. Shalash would be seen as Azish, while Ishar would be seen as Shin, probably.

NightWillReign

Wait, but if Ishar looks like he’s from Shinovar, how did the Tukkari accept him as the God-Priest?

Brandon Sanderson

That's a RAFO--but is a question you're supposed to be asking.

Skyward Pre-Release AMA (Oct. 20, 2018)

 

And then there is this WoB, where Brandon is asked if Liss is Chana. The answer is of course RAFO, but just go to the Arcanum link and listen to the recording - that laughter tells a lot. Liss is definitely a Herald and only Vedel fits. We know Ash, we suspect who Chana is, Battar and Palliah are meant to be around Taravangian, so that leaves only Vedel as a viable option. 

Spoiler

Steeldancer

And then the final question. At the beginning of Words of Radiance, the assassin Liss, is she Chana?

Brandon Sanderson

*Evil laugh* I will RAFO that. Sorry!

Legion Release Party (Sept. 19, 2018)

[The Stick]

Those both do make sense, especially with Liss, because Brandon has been so cagey.