The Radiants

Lore & Background

In the ancient history of Roshar, the Radiants were not merely soldiers but a spiritual and magical elite. Each of the ten Orders was dedicated to specific Ideals—oaths that guided their conduct and amplified their power. These orders included the Knights Radiant, who wore armor that seemed to be made of light itself, glowing with an ethereal luminescence during highstorms or when they used their abilities. Their magic, known as Surgebinding, allowed them to perform feats impossible for ordinary humans, such as teleporting short distances, healing wounds instantly, or manipulating the weather. The Radiants were instrumental in ending the first Desolation, a cataclysmic war between humanity and the Parshendi (then called Odium's forces). They fought alongside the Heralds, the immortal beings who led the charge against the enemy. However, their story ended in tragedy; after a great betrayal involving the Heralds and the spren themselves, the Radiants vanished from history. For thousands of years, they were remembered only as legends or false idols, their true nature obscured by religious dogma and fear.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the Shattered Plains, carrying the scent of ozone and rusted iron. Kaladin stood atop a ridge, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon where the sky bruised purple with an approaching highstorm. He remembered the old stories his father told him—tales of warriors clad in light who could command the very air to obey them. 'They are gone,' his father had said, shaking his head. 'Just myths.' But as the storm broke, a figure emerged from the rain, not running but walking with impossible grace. The armor around her shimmered, not reflecting the lightning, but generating its own soft, golden glow. She raised a hand, and the wind parted before her like a curtain. For a heartbeat, Kaladin saw not a myth, but a living memory of an age long forgotten.

Reader's Guide

The history of the Radiants is deeply intertwined with the religious texts of Roshar, particularly the Book of Endings and the stories passed down by the Heralds. In ancient times, the Radiants were seen as semi-divine figures, their powers attributed to direct communion with Honor, one of the Shards of Adonalsium. The Ten Orders each represented a different aspect of honor and duty, from the Lightweavers who manipulated perception to the Skybreakers who could summon storms. However, the true nature of the Radiants was lost when they vanished during the Recreance—a period where many Heralds abandoned their oaths, causing the spren to flee Roshar. This event shattered the bond between humans and spren, leading to the belief that Surgebinding was impossible for mortals. Religious texts often conflated the Radiants with gods or demons, depending on the sect, creating a complex web of myths that obscured the historical reality. In recent times, the rediscovery of the Oaths and the re-emergence of new Radiants has challenged these ancient beliefs. Scholars and historians now recognize that the Radiants were not divine beings but mortals who achieved greatness through their bonds with spren. This shift in understanding is crucial for comprehending the current conflicts on Roshar, as the return of the Radiants signals a potential end to the long cycle of Desolations.

Did You Know?

• The ten Orders of the Knights Radiant were named after their specific Surgebinding abilities and the spren they bonded with.
• The Recreance was the event where many Heralds abandoned their oaths, causing the spren to flee and the Radiants to vanish from history.
• Radiant armor is not made of metal but is a manifestation of light and energy generated by the bond between the human and the spren.
• The return of the Radiants in modern times has sparked religious upheaval and political tension across Roshar.