How did Dalinar immediately know Taln was the Herald left behind?

[Slater he/him]

So, I was rereading Oathbringer to get ready for RoW. And this came up.

When Stormfather is talking about the Heralds and how they left one of there own behind when they abandoned the Oathpact, Dalinar immediately says Taln like he knew which one it was specifically. But its only a few paragraphs later where he realizes the Madman calling himself Taln really was him.

So how did he know which one it was? I feel like it must have been something in WoR I missed or was it something else? As far as I can tell nothing about what happened to Taln is known or in the scripture so how did Dalinar immediately know? Am I forgetting something aboutfrom WoR or a WoB?

Thanks for any clarification 

[Knight of Iron she/they]

I am not aware of how he does know this, and I have not read the passage in question, but I can share that in their culture and mythology, we know that they refer to Taln as Bearer of Agonies. Plus, as a Stoneward, he would be the most obvious choice for the one to stay behind. He was always known as the self-sacrificing one, hence why he ended up being the only one to die at Aharietam.

Taravangian also seems to have known, though whether or not this is due to magical means is unknown. The Diagram is recorded saying "the Ancient of Stones" must finally break.

[Karger he/him]

The way the stormfather described him.  The one who was not a king general or scholar.  Also Dalinar put two and two together.  He had Taln in custody at the same time this started. 

[Honorless he/him]

Because he came to know that the rest of the Heralds had abandoned the Oathpact, then the one to arrive bearing news of the approaching Desolation would be the Herald who was left behind.

[Zedseayou]

On 10/15/2020 at 7:02 PM, Karger said:

The way the stormfather described him.  The one who was not a king general or scholar.  Also Dalinar put two and two together.  He had Taln in custody at the same time this started. 

The passage does read a bit oddly, though. I suppose we don't really know what Vorin theology about the Heralds is but given that they are revered as divine, it does seem surprising that Dalinar knows Taln from the description. Dalinar knows:

• The Herald in question had never broken
• The Herald was never meant to join them, and was not a king, scholar or general
• He has a madman who claims to be Taln

This is maybe enough to make the mental leap but it still seems like a long shot. Point 1 is the strongest, given the Vorin lore about Stonesinew, but point 2 references biography of the Heralds that the Vorins probably didn't know, and point 3 seems like isn't realised until a page later.

[Karger he/him]

18 hours ago, Zedseayou said:

• This is maybe enough to make the mental leap but it still seems like a long shot. Point 1 is the strongest, given the Vorin lore about Stonesinew, but point 2 references biography of the Heralds that the Vorins probably didn't know, and point 3 seems like isn't realised until a page later.

True but if you have to guess about one of the Heralds being the odd one out on that description you would probably guess Taln with maybe a bone thrown to Chana.  Even today it is mentioned in passing that elitists look down a bit on Taln's devotery as a place for common people(ordinary soldiers).  You also have to keep in mind just how well every Vorin knows the Heralds(at least in myth).  Remember they count based off Heraldic names.  Dalinar can probably recite dozens of stories about the different Heralds in his sleep. 

Edited October 17, 2020 by Karger

[Zedseayou]

On 10/17/2020 at 4:45 PM, Karger said:

Even today it is mentioned in passing that elitists look down a bit on Taln's devotery as a place for common people(ordinary soldiers).

Ah, I had not remembered this. It's from WoK at a party (with Hatham, Dalinar, the ardent and the Natan). Importantly, I did not remember that Dalinar is a member of the Order of Talenelat (which is actually the reason that the point gets brought up). It does make a lot more sense that he would be especially familiar with the Herald he's in the devotary of, even if he wasn't very devout.

[Karger he/him]

1 minute ago, Zedseayou said:

Ah, I had not remembered this. It's from WoK at a party (with Hatham, Dalinar, the ardent and the Natan). Importantly, I did not remember that Dalinar is a member of the Order of Talenelat (which is actually the reason that the point gets brought up). It does make a lot more sense that he would be especially familiar with the Herald he's in the devotary of, even if he wasn't very devout.

It does bring up a funny AU where Dalinar is in the devotary of Nale and assumes that Nale must be the one they were all talking about.  However biased he is Dalinar is correct that in terms of raw willpower you go looking for the enlisted soldier.