The Stormlight Archive · Character
Nalan
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 30
Nalan is a supporting character in The Stormlight Archive (Book 1).
- Gender
- male
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 30
- Books
- 2
Nalan, also called Nalan'El and Nalan the Skybreaker, is one of the ten Heralds of the Almighty, a figure who drifts through the series more as legend than living presence. In The Way of Kings he is only a guess about the figure carved on a Parshendi knife hilt, a hint that the Heralds' images reach even into Parshendi craft. By Rhythm of War his name is tied to the ancient binding of the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram, a pivotal act in Roshar's buried history. The man himself stays largely offstage, an authority felt through history rather than seen.
Description
The text does not describe Nalan's appearance. His age, build, coloring, hair, eyes, face, clothing, and distinguishing features are all unspecified. The available descriptions provide no concrete details of Nalan’s appearance. His age, build, complexion, hair, eyes, clothing, and distinguishing features are unspecified, so a consistent visual portrait cannot be drawn from this material.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
- B
Ba-Ado-MishramAdversary
Unmentioned in The Way of Kings. In Rhythm of War, Nalan is associated with the ancient binding of this Unmade, an event whose consequences echo across generations.
- H
HeraldsMember
Identified as one of the Heralds from his first mention in The Way of Kings, and named again as such in Rhythm of War, where he is given the epithet 'the Skybreaker.'
Story so far
BOOK 1The Way of Kings
- Suggested as the figure depicted on the hilt of a Parshendi knife
- Identified as one of the ten Heralds
- Remains an obscure, unexplored name with no direct role in events
BOOK 4Rhythm of War
- Referred to by his fuller titles, Nalan'El and Nalan the Skybreaker
- Reaffirmed as one of the Heralds
- Linked to the ancient binding of the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram
- Serves as a shadowy figure of authority within Roshar's hidden history rather than an active participant
Appearances
Meet Nalan in Bookworm
Meet Nalan in your EPUB — spoiler-safe to the book you're on.