Oathforger Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Not all of you may remember, but before the prologue of WoK, there was a section that took place 4500 years ago. It detailed the abandoning of the Oathpact, the pact forged by the Heralds to defend humanity from the Voidbringers. This moment was never important until now. So why was the section taken from Kalak's point of view? Why not Nale, Jezrien, Ishar, or Taln himself? Is this fact important? Am I over thinking this? Let me know what you think below along with any theories. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heir of the Void he/him Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 36 minutes ago, Oathforger said: So why was the section taken from Kalak's point of view? Because he was late to the meeting. We get to know the heralds decided to abandon the Oathpact, but any of the others would have also reveled to us why it was being abandoned (Heralds were broken) and various other pertinent details, such as the nature of the Fused and the Oathpact itself. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oathforger Posted December 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 12 minutes ago, Heir of the Void said: Because he was late to the meeting. We get to know the heralds decided to abandon the Oathpact, but any of the others would have also reveled to us why it was being abandoned (Heralds were broken) and various other pertinent details, such as the nature of the Fused and the Oathpact itself. So your point is that it was because he didn't reveal everything? Here I was thinking it meant something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy92 Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 I think it's simply because he was the last one on the scene. The other 7 Heralds had already abandoned their Honorblades by the time Kalak got there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leyrann Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 The question is though, why was Kalak the one that was late? Why one that, so far, hasn't made a real appearance? I realize that's a bit meta, but the thing is, the one that was late is decided by which one Brandon wanted to use for the prelude. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt91 Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 I think its probably more to do with the storytelling than any in world relevance. Late to the meeting and the others made the decision without him so he feels pressured into it really sets the scene and gives the reader an understanding that the Heralds are doing the wrong thing. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zea mays Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Might have something to do with him sharing a name with the main protagonist. Which other heralds could it have been? 1. Taln. Back in damnation, so out. 2. Jesrien. The leader, also, the designated source of exposition in this scene. Out. 3. Nale. Shows up first in interludes as an antagonist. Better not give him a sympathetic view point before that. 4. Ishar. In the main story he styles himself “god king” and generally behaves like a mad primmadonna. He is also out. The other 5 are the female heralds, and it would be strange for a man in genderist Alethkar to be mamed after a female herald (Seriously, the other boys of Hearthstone would have teased him about this endlessly). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Song she/her Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 It is interesting! Kalak was a very sympathetic character in that scene. I would love to know what he is doing now. Maybe that is part of the reasoning, when he turns up we will be excited to finally get there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisual Haze Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Kalak was probably the most generic everyman of the Heralds, and his madness seems to express itself only as fear/anxiety, which we can grasp and understand immediately. Our other Heralds likely had perspectives or insanities that would make them poor POV characters without a backstory to establish them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortaan he/him Posted December 16, 2017 Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Kalak also seems like the least confidant Herald we've interacted with so far. Taln is... Taln, Jezerin might have been broken but he still held himself like a king, Ash is a lot like her dad, and Ishar is apparently confidant enough to consider himself Honor's heir. Kalak is more unsure. He's also the Herald that founded the Willshapers and that scene is the collective breaking of the Herald's will. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furry-And-Lovable-Grover he/him Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 On 12/16/2017 at 10:32 AM, Zea mays said: Might have something to do with him sharing a name with the main protagonist. Which other heralds could it have been? 1. Taln. Back in damnation, so out. 2. Jesrien. The leader, also, the designated source of exposition in this scene. Out. 3. Nale. Shows up first in interludes as an antagonist. Better not give him a sympathetic view point before that. 4. Ishar. In the main story he styles himself “god king” and generally behaves like a mad primmadonna. He is also out. The other 5 are the female heralds, and it would be strange for a man in genderist Alethkar to be mamed after a female herald (Seriously, the other boys of Hearthstone would have teased him about this endlessly). A meta answer for a meta question. Have an upvote. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vissy Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 "It would be strange for a man in genderist Alethkar to be named after a female herald" - what? You make no sense, @Zea mays. Kalak is the name of one Herald; if Brandon had used another, obviously Kaladin would not have shared a similar name to one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zea mays Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 Are you calling it a silly meta argument? Naladin? Jezeredin? Isharidin? Talanidin? Come on now! None of those work! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchcry he/him Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 Him showing up late makes me feel that the transportation surge won't eventually grant teleportation. If it did, Kalak could have just teleported to the meeting place. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Portz he/him Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 Oooh, nice, lots of upvotes to distribute, thanks :-D On 16.12.2017 at 4:29 AM, Oathforger said: So why was the section taken from Kalak's point of view? For raising the question. On 16.12.2017 at 8:28 AM, Ookla the Leyspren said: I realize that's a bit meta, but the thing is, the one that was late is decided by which one Brandon wanted to use for the prelude. For meta-ing it. On 17.12.2017 at 0:42 AM, Vortaan said: He's also the Herald that founded the Willshapers and that scene is the collective breaking of the Herald's will. For adding my currently favourite order to the equation. 4 hours ago, Zea mays said: Are you calling it a silly meta argument? Naladin? Jezeredin? Isharidin? Talanidin? Come on now! None of those work! For giving a funny answer instead of lashing out. 20 minutes ago, Watchcry said: Him showing up late makes me feel that the transportation surge won't eventually grant teleportation. If it did, Kalak could have just teleported to the meeting place. For making a connection to surges possibly involved. My two chips: It will have to do with Kalak not really actively deciding. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toaster Retribution he/him Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 I honestly think that it was because his personality fit the scene. He worries, and feels unsure of himself. By opening with Kalak, Brandon establishes how human the Heralds were. 14 hours ago, Watchcry said: Him showing up late makes me feel that the transportation surge won't eventually grant teleportation. If it did, Kalak could have just teleported to the meeting place. Or it was just to foreshadow that the Transportation surge doesn´t equal fast-travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryder Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 It does seem fitting that the patron herald of the order noted as being erratic, capricious, frustrating, and unreliable would be late to a meeting 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echaozh he/him Posted December 20, 2017 Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 On 12/19/2017 at 10:44 AM, Zea mays said: Are you calling it a silly meta argument? Naladin? Jezeredin? Isharidin? Talanidin? Come on now! None of those work! What's so different between Naladin and Kaladin, or Even Taladin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymeros Posted December 20, 2017 Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 https://youtu.be/5PsnxDQvQpw Is it alright if I leave this here? This is why I think Kalak was chosen relative to the other Heralds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leyrann Posted December 20, 2017 Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 2 minutes ago, Nymeros said: https://youtu.be/5PsnxDQvQpw Is it alright if I leave this here? This is why I think Kalak was chosen relative to the other Heralds. Uh, mind putting your thoughts into words instead of a YouTube video with bad music? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furry-And-Lovable-Grover he/him Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 (edited) 20 hours ago, Leyrann said: Uh, mind putting your thoughts into words instead of a YouTube video with bad music? He was just an everyday normal guy, obviously. edited for awful formatting and quote Edited December 21, 2017 by Jhardin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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