Wind and Truth

Kaladin Stormblessed is one of the protagonists in Wind and Truth. Kaladin is bonded to a spren named Sylphrena (Syl) and is a member of the Windrunner order of Knights Radiant.

Kaladin is a world-famous soldier and one of the first people to become a Knight Radiant in the current age. However, as the novel opens, Kaladin is grappling with signs of trauma and the bone-deep fatigue of conflict. As the narrative states, “He had lately become more prone to overreact to loud noises—including ones that, upon reflection, were obviously nothing dangerous” (31). Kaladin is particularly self-aware and walks away from the life of a traditional soldier to become what Wit describes as their “world’s first therapist” (51).

Kaladin is characterized by his sensitivity and thoughtfulness, and even Szeth sees him as “a man […] who pulls back before crushing a weed” (176). This thoughtfulness is most evident in Kaladin’s deep friendship with Syl and his relationship with Szeth, which develops over the course of the novel. Kaladin and Szeth are foils to one another, holding drastically different beliefs about what defines morality and where a person’s obligations lie. Their conversations and relationship lead to character growth for both men as they explore The Importance of Personal Accountability and Choice. Kaladin feels especially strongly about this topic because he has fought against the abusive control of nobility for much of his life. In Alethkar, members of the noble class have light-colored eyes. Kaladin’s eyes are naturally a deep brown.

The resolution of Kaladin’s internal conflict—how to protect and defend others without losing oneself—is reflected in an external transformation at the end of the novel when he becomes an immortal Herald.

Szeth son-Neturo is one of the protagonists in Wind and Truth. He is one of the most central characters because the novel includes many flashbacks into his past. Szeth is characterized by his exceptional skills as a swordsman. He is bonded to a spren named 12124 for much of the novel, and he is also a member of the Skybreaker order of Knights Radiant.

Szeth’s character arc follows his internal conflict between what he feels to be right and what society and the law declares to be ethical. Szeth is motivated by a desire to do what is right, and he craves a clear (and even simple) definition of what that might be. By trusting the decisions of others above his own instincts, Szeth has committed many actions for which he feels immensely guilty. This guilt is one of Szeth’s defining characteristics, and he clings to it as part of his identity, saying, “I do not need to be healed, as I do not deserve anything of the sort. I have killed, and I bear the weight of those killings” (210). Szeth’s pilgrimage with his foil, Kaladin, challenges his obedience and encourages him to develop self-determination. Ultimately, Szeth embraces a new sense of personal agency, declaring, “I am my own agent […] I make my own choices […] I am the law” (1223). This moment signifies his liberation from external control.

Odium is the antagonist of Wind and Truth. Odium is the god of unbridled passion, often manifesting as unbridled hate, and is engaged in a millennia-long conflict with the gods Honor and Cultivation on the planet Roshar. Bound by an ancient contract with his long-time rivals, Odium wages war through his proxies, the Fused and the Unmade, because he is motivated by a desire to become the eventual ruler of the entire cosmere. After Odium’s original vessel, Rayse, was killed, the human king Taravangian took the power of Odium into himself, becoming the god’s new, more logical avatar. Those events take place in the novels preceding Wind and Truth.

Odium’s hunger for control and his desire to beat Dalinar results in a transformation as he merges with Honor’s power to become Retribution.

Shallan is a protagonist in the Stormlight Archive series, although she plays a less central role in the events of Wind and Truth. Shallan is bonded with two spren, Pattern and Testament, and is a member of the Lightweaver order of Knights Radiant. Shallan is married to Adolin Kholin.

Shallan is characterized by her creativity and skills as an artist as well as her keen observation skills. These qualities make her a powerful weaver of disguises. Shallan’s character arc follows her process of healing from past traumas; her coping mechanisms are embodied in the form of alter egos (Veil, Radiant, and Formless). She created these alter egos in the preceding novels of the series to aid her in avoiding (and later processing) her painful memories.

Adolin Kholin is a member of the Alethi royal family and is known for his skill as a duelist. Despite being one of the only main characters who is not a traditional Knight Radiant, he has a unique bond with the deadeye spren named Maya, a fact that highlights his capacity for connection and plays a crucial role in her healing. Adolin is characterized as a foil to his father, Dalinar, who is a famous general and war strategist. Unlike Dalinar, Adolin inspires loyalty with his charisma and friendliness, often taking the time to visit the battle hospitals and to learn the names of common soldiers. Adolin’s character arc follows his journey toward forgiving his father for the death of his mother and toward self-acceptance; over the events of the novel, Adolin comes to accept that he is not his father and that both men have their strengths and weaknesses, as all people do.