Ba-Ado-Fisherman Posted December 29, 2020 Posted December 29, 2020 Taln is one of the most intriguing characters in the SA imo. The idea of a man who sacrificed everything, and more, for humanity. A man who was apparently never supposed to be a Herald, and who never broke. At the end of WoK, Taln returns, supposedly from Damnation, after 'allegedly' finally breaking after 4500 years of torture. I don't think that happened. I think Taln, even after 4500 years of constant and unending pain, never gave in. “His hair was long and matted, his clothing nothing more than a ragged, sacklike length of cloth wrapping his waist. He stood with head bowed, wet, ratty hair hanging down over his face and mixing with a beard that had bits of wood and leaves stuck in it.” “His muscles glistened, wet as if he’d just swum a great distance.” Something doesn't seem right about this description. I don't believe that in a normal Return that Heralds would appear on Roshar as wet, and with bits of wood and grass on them. Brandon writes that it looks like he had swam a great distance. I think that Taln, while on Braize, discovered that another Desolation was coming without the Oathpact being involved, and so he found a way to escape using a perpendicularity within the Purelake, then swam to where we see him at the end of WoK. The only part I'm not sure about yet is what caused Taln to have enough time while sane to do so. What could've triggered a time of clarity for Taln to do this? Whatever happened exactly, I'm sure we'll find out at some point, maybe in Taln's book. I just really love the idea of Taln NEVER breaking. I think it's part of Brandon's characterization for him, and even after 4500 years, I think the idea of him finally giving in would go against his character.
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