Moash

Major
First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 18

Moash is a hawk-faced, sharp-tongued bridgeman in Sadeas's army, one of Kaladin's harshest critics in Bridge Four in The Stormlight Archive (Book 1).

Gender: male
First appears: Book 1 · Ch. 18
Books: 2

Moash begins as a hawk-faced, sharp-tongued bridgeman in Sadeas's army, one of Kaladin's harshest critics in Bridge Four before becoming one of his most devoted friends, though his hunger for vengeance never fully cools. By Rhythm of War, that bitterness has curdled into allegiance to Odium, who has stripped away his pain and wielded him as a weapon. Clad in a black Alethi-style uniform and blazing with Stormlight, Moash murders Teft and tries to drive Kaladin to suicide, marking his transformation from brother-in-arms to Kaladin's most personal enemy.

Description

A young Alethi man near Kaladin’s age, with a hawkish, narrow face and a lean, well-muscled build. He has dark green eyes and brown hair flecked with black; at one point he wears a short beard, and later is clean-shaven with a faded scar along his chin. His clothing varies from bridgeman trousers and simple crew attire to Parshendi-carapace armor. A tall human man with a hawkish face, brown hair flecked with black, and dark brown eyes. In the later tower scenes his cheeks are sunken, his nose prominent, and his eyes glow while he is blazing with Stormlight. He wears a sharp black Alethi-style uniform.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Kaladinconflicting source relationships
Moash starts as Kaladin's skeptic and detractor in Bridge Four, then becomes a fiercely loyal comrade who vows to protect him. By Rhythm of War, their former closeness becomes a weapon: Moash, serving Odium, exploits Kaladin's guilt and grief, killing those he loves and urging him to end his life.
Odiumagent
Moash serves Odium, who has taken his negative emotions and directs him against Kaladin and the Kholins.
R
Rabonieltemporary ally
Raboniel's forces cooperate with Moash, but her desire to end the war and her covenant over Navani diverge from his aims.
R
Rockcomrade
A fellow Bridge Four member who shares the dangers of scavenging and protecting the crew alongside Moash.
K
Khenformer comrade
A singer in Moash's band who leaves the fighting; Moash accepts her departure with surprising grace.
Navani Kholinwould-be killer
Moash seeks to kill Navani on Odium's orders, rejecting her authority and blaming the Kholins for Tien's death.
Teftmurderer
Once a Bridge Four brother, Teft is murdered by Moash to break Kaladin; Teft rejects Moash's philosophy of surrendering pain in his final moments.
Torol Sadeasoppressed subordinate
Moash bitterly resents Sadeas's lethal treatment of bridgemen, an early expression of his vengeful nature.

Story so far

BOOK 1The Way of Kings
- Serves as a bridgeman in Bridge Four under Sadeas's lethal bridge-running system
- Openly mocks Kaladin's claimed military past and leadership, becoming one of his strongest detractors
- Acknowledges that Kaladin's decisions saved lives and gradually joins the crew's growing solidarity
- Doubts Kaladin's escape plan but agrees to follow it, and proposes attacking Sadeas's soldiers out of vengeance
- Pledges to guard Kaladin with his life, cementing his loyalty
BOOK 4Rhythm of War
- Leads a band of singers on raids and lets Khen leave, inviting her to find him if she becomes unchained
- Is summoned by Odium to Urithiru and offers his plan to break Kaladin
- Murders Teft and the spren Phendorana to plunge Kaladin into despair; Teft dies affirming he is loved
- Confronts Kaladin amid Roshone and murdered prisoners, urging him toward suicide
- Arrives intending to kill Navani on Odium's orders, blaming the Kholins for Tien's death