Ishar

Supporting
First seen · Book 1

Ishar is a supporting character in The Stormlight Archive (Book 1).

Gender: male
Age: centuries old
First appears: Book 1
Books: 2

Ishar, Herald of Luck and patron of the Bondsmiths, first appears in The Way of Kings as the architect of the Heralds' fateful reasoning at Aharietiam: that the Oathpact could endure so long as a single Herald remained bound to it, justifying the abandonment of Taln. By Rhythm of War, millennia of broken oaths have twisted the once bold and ambitious battlefield commander into a delusional old Shin man posing as an ardent, wielding the Bondsmith Honorblade. When Dalinar Kholin seeks his instruction, Ishar mistakes him for Odium's champion and attempts to steal his bond with the Stormfather. He also clashes with Szeth over the Honorblade of Szeth's father, and only rare moments of lucidity, such as acknowledging the sin he shares with Taln, break through his madness.

Description

The text identifies Ishar as a male Herald centuries old but provides no concrete description of his face, hair, eyes, complexion, height, build, or attire. No distinguishing marks or accessories are established. His appearance should therefore remain unspecified rather than be assigned invented details. An older, pale-skinned Shin man with a white beard. He wears robes and an ardent’s beard; his forearms and stance suggest a warrior accustomed to holding a weapon. In the scouting description he wears simple deep blue robes.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Dalinar Kholinconflicting source relationships
Dalinar seeks Ishar as a mentor to restore the Radiants and master his powers, sponsoring Kaladin's mission to retrieve him; the delusional Herald instead deems Dalinar Odium's champion and tries to steal his bond with the Stormfather.
S
Shalashfellow Herald
Shalash recalls Ishar's former self for Dalinar, describing him as an energetic battlefield commander and bold, ambitious thinker, highlighting how far he has fallen.
T
Talenelfellow Herald
Ishar remembers Taln as the one who bore the Heralds' shared agonies, a burden his own reasoning imposed; asked by Dalinar to help restore him, Ishar briefly owns their shared sin before retreating into delusion.
J
Jezerezehfellow Herald
Fellow Herald who conveyed Ishar's reasoning about sustaining the Oathpact with a single bound Herald to Kalak, sealing Taln's abandonment.
S
Szeth-son-son-Vallanoconflicting source relationships
Szeth confronts Ishar over the Honorblade once held by his father and kept by the Shin, demanding to know whether Ishar killed him; their clash damages the blade, and Ishar insists it was given willingly.

Story so far

BOOK 1The Way of Kings
- Named as one of the ten Heralds bound by the Oathpact
- Reasons that the Oathpact can hold so long as one Herald remains bound
- His reasoning is relayed by Jezrien to Kalak at the abandonment of Taln
BOOK 4Rhythm of War
- Revealed as an aged, pale-skinned Shin man in blue ardent's robes who still carries a warrior's bearing
- Sought by Dalinar, who sends Kaladin to retrieve the unstable Herald so he can teach Bondsmith powers
- Mistakes Dalinar for Odium's champion and attempts to steal his bond to the Stormfather
- Clashes with Szeth, whose father's Bondsmith Honorblade he holds; the blade is damaged and Ishar claims it was given willingly
- Briefly acknowledges his shared sin with Taln before relapsing into delusions of grandeur