Szeth, a 'Truthless' (a Shin man cast out by his people and condemned to do the bidding of whoever holds his Oathstone, except the taking of his own life or giving up his Blade), is sent to murder Gavilar Kholin, King of one of Roshar's most powerful nations, Alethkar, whose people are called Alethi.Ī peace-loving believer in non-violence, Szeth cries as he's forced to do the bidding of his unknown master. Thousands of years later, the story switches from the Heralds' point of view to that of Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar Kholin, Szeth, and many others, who lead seemingly unconnected lives. The only remnants of their order are their Shardblades and Shardplate. Leaderless, the Knights Radiant seemingly gradually die off or are consumed by corruption until the order ceases to exist. After countless rebirths, and weary of the tortuous cycle, the Heralds abandon and condemn one of their own to remain eternally in that place of fire, cast down their Honorblades (swords similar to but more powerful than Shardblades), and abandon their calling, disappearing into history.

After dying, they are sent to a place of fire and brimstone where they suffer greatly, only to eventually be reborn and start the cycle of war and death again. He reveals that all the Heralds are cursed to ultimately perish in battle driving back the monsters. This plight is told from the viewpoint of a male Herald. The Voidbringers always appear in a regular cycle, called Desolations, during which the Heralds battle against them. For thousands of years, the Heralds have waged war against a race of monsters, called Voidbringers, in order to protect humanity. We look at the life of the Heralds, the leaders of the Knights Radiant.

Plot Summary For in depth plot summary, see Chapter Summaries.

The way of kings series order