Did Ishin possess Nightblodd prior to Nale?

[Sythrin]

Just a little theory that I thougth up. Nightblood had a journey between Vasher and Nales hands. It was probabyl in the hands of the nightwatcher too. But its unclear if it was in its possession or if it could aquire it in my opinion.
So there is reason to believe that Ishi had the blade before he agve it Nale and to give Szeth as another obstacle to become the pillar that would replace Taln. Or at least Nale aquired it under Ishis orders.
So how did Ishi find out about it? Probably by connection to the planet through the well.

[Treamayne]

58 minutes ago, Sythrin said:

Just a little theory that I thougth up. Nightblood had a journey between Vasher and Nales hands. It was probabyl in the hands of the nightwatcher too. But its unclear if it was in its possession or if it could aquire it in my opinion.
So there is reason to believe that Ishi had the blade before he agve it Nale and to give Szeth as another obstacle to become the pillar that would replace Taln. Or at least Nale aquired it under Ishis orders.
So how did Ishi find out about it? Probably by connection to the planet through the well.

Short answer is RAFO. Brandon refuses to answer that question until either Warbreaker 2 or Stormlight back-half. Here are the known WoBs on the topic:

Spoiler

Quote

chasmfriend

My question was going to be: I want to ask how Vasher got separated from Nightblood. But that's been RAFO'd.

Brandon Sanderson

That has been RAFO'd.

chasmfriend

So I want to ask: ...How did Nale get Nightblood?

Brandon Sanderson

That's also part of the RAFO of how he lost it. You can-- No I'm not going to go there.

Shadows of Self release party (Oct. 5, 2015)

Quote

Rainier

Who had custody of Nightblood before Nale?

Brandon Sanderson

Read and Find Out.

Emerald City Comic Con 2018 (March 1, 2018)

Quote

Ruro272 (paraphrased)

Any hint on how Nin got a hold of Nightblood, or how Vasher lost Nightblood?

Brandon Sanderson (Written) (paraphrased)

Vasher and Nightblood had something of a falling out...

Minicon 2015 (April 2, 2015)

 

We do have one possible "hint" hidden in a different pair of WoBs:

Spoiler

Quote

Questioner

How many different worlds of the cosmere has Nightblood been to in total? By which I mean, been present in the Physical Realm of that world.

Brandon Sanderson

More than two.

Orem Signing (March 16, 2019)

Quote

shoeties

Has Vasher ever been to a world other than Nalthis or Roshar, or was this his first time worldhopping?

Brandon Sanderson

Vasher has only been to Roshar and Nalthis, beyond places in Shadesmar.

/r/books AMA 2015 (June 25, 2015)

This implies that Nightblood has been to more worlds than Vasher - which implies Vasher lost Nightblood before leaving Nalthis and whomever took the sword went to at least one other Shardworld before going to Roshar with the Sword. 

Hope that helps

Edited November 4, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Nitpicking]

Nale has a history of stealing swords. He stole his Honorblade back from the Shin.

[Determination]

Nightblood visiting more worlds than Vasher also implies that somebody other than Nale had to have carried it for a time. (Because Nale is a spooky ghost who can't leave Roshar).

I always assumed the chain of events went something like this:

1. Vasher leaves Nalthis (with Nightblood) and goes to Roshar.

2. Vasher visits the Nightwatcher and asks for a way to feed his Divine Breath with Stormlight. The Nightwatcher grants him this boon and takes Nightblood as the corresponding curse.

3. Dalinar visits the Nightwatcher, and we see she has Nightblood in her possession at that time when she offers it to him.

4. Nale the Sword Snatcher somehow gets a hold of Nightblood.

5. Nale gives Nightblood to Szeth.

But in order for Nightblood to visit a world that Vasher hasn't, there needs to be another step somewhere. My best guess is that in between 3 and 4, someone else visited the Nightwatcher and took the sword as their boon, went on a whole adventure, and then got their sword snatched by Nale.

It could also be something completely different, I just like the whole Nightwatcher boon angle because it explains both how she ended up with it in Dalinar's flashback and also why Vasher can feed his Divine Breath with Stormlight but can't Awaken with it. (Not that there aren't other possible explanations for that second one.)

[Treamayne]

4 hours ago, Determination said:

But in order for Nightblood to visit a world that Vasher hasn't, there needs to be another step somewhere. My best guess is that in between 3 and 4, someone else visited the Nightwatcher and took the sword as their boon, went on a whole adventure, and then got their sword snatched by Nale.

It could also be something completely different, I just like the whole Nightwatcher boon angle because it explains both how she ended up with it in Dalinar's flashback and also why Vasher can feed his Divine Breath with Stormlight but can't Awaken with it.

   Vasher can use Stormlight for the Divine Breath for the same reason Szeth can use Stormlight to wield Nightbood - in consuming investiture it does not matter how it is Keyed. To Awaken with it, Vasher would have to find a way to convert Stormlight to Biochromatic Breath.
   As for Nightwatcher - she never said she had Nightblood, she only said that she could give it to Dalinar (implying she has a way to get the sword). It's possible Nightwatcher was keeping Nightblood for a while, but this is Sanderson and exact words matter - so, based only on what she says in Oathbringer, we cannot say for certain that Nightblood was ever in the Nightwatcher's possession. Implied, but not confirmed.