Dalinar's Oath and Bond
A broken king mends his soul to bind the storm and unite a fractured world.
Dalinar's Oath and Bond chronicles the redemption of Dalinar Kholin, the former 'Blackthorn.' Haunted by visions of a shattered past, he rejects his legacy of bloodshed to reclaim the ancient code of the Knights Radiant. This journey transforms him from a warlord into the first Bondsmith in over four thousand years, culminating in the swearing of the Third Ideal and forging an unprecedented bond with the Stormfather.
- Protagonist
- Dalinar Kholin
- Associated Spren
- The Stormfather
- Order of Radiants
- Bondsmiths
- Key Location
- Shattered Plains and Urithiru
- Status
- Active Bondsmith
Lore & Background
Forged not through conquest but through sacrifice, this bond required Dalinar to embody the Ten Virtues. By swearing the Third Ideal—'I will unite rather than divide'—he proved his worthiness to wield the Surges of Adhesion and Connection. This unique bond stabilized the Stormfather's volatile nature, turning a force of destruction into a tool for salvation. It became the linchpin for Roshar's survival, granting Dalinar the ability to anchor the Oathgates and unite the fractured nations against the Desolation.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled across the plateau, carrying the scent of ozone and wet stone. Dalinar stood alone in the eye of the Highstorm, his black armor gleaming under the chaotic flashes of lightning. He did not flinch as the rain hammered against him, for he had long since learned to embrace the storm rather than hide from it. Before him, a swirling mass of white light coalesced into a form of terrifying majesty—the Stormfather. The ancient spren spoke with a voice like cracking thunder, demanding to know why this broken man sought such power. Dalinar looked up, his eyes clear and steady despite the chaos around them. He shouted over the gale that he was done running, vowing to unite what remained of them or perish in the dark. In that moment, the storm seemed to pause, and a bond was forged in fire and water.
Reader's Guide
The arc begins with Dalinar struggling against his past and the skepticism of his son, Adolin, and wife, Navani. As he starts to follow the Codes and seek out the Highprinces of Alethkar, he faces political resistance and assassination attempts. His visions grow more intense, revealing the truth about the Recreance and the betrayal of the Knights Radiant.
The turning point arrives at the Battle of Narak, where Dalinar must choose between his old ways of conquest or a new path of unity. He successfully unites the Alethi highprinces under a single banner to fight the Voidbringers. However, the true climax occurs when he confronts the Stormfather in a spiritual realm known as the Tranquiline Halls. There, he must swear his Ideal to prove his worthiness.
Upon swearing the Third Ideal and bonding with the Stormfather, Dalinar gains the powers of a Bondsmith. This event stabilizes the Shattered Plains and allows for the discovery of Urithiru, the ancient city of the Radiants. The arc concludes with the formation of a fragile alliance among the nations of Roshar, setting the stage for the final Desolation.
Did You Know?
- Dalinar is the first Bondsmith in over four thousand years since the Recreance.
- The Stormfather was initially considered too dangerous to bond with due to his volatile nature and past trauma.
- Swearing the Third Ideal required Dalinar to publicly renounce his title of 'Blackthorn' and embrace a new identity.
- Unlike other Radiants who bond with individual spren, Bondsmiths are unique in their ability to bond with major spren like the Stormfather.