The Tranquiline Halls are supposedly the true home of humankind. Vorinism teaches that the Voidbringers invaded the Tranquiline Halls, exiling humankind to Roshar, thus supposedly beginning the cycle of Desolations and the Heraldic Epochs.
The Heralds were said to return to battle for the Tranquiline Halls after leading Roshar in the Last Desolation - supposedly the Final Desolation[1] - but in reality, the Heralds ended the Oathpact, nine of them remaining on Roshar in anonymity, while the one who had died was returned to Damnation, as was mandated by the Oathpact.[2] For this reason, Vorinism teaches that the highest Calling for a man's life is to become a warrior so that he may prepare himself to assist the Heralds in reclaiming the Halls after his death. The Alethi, in particular, base their culture around this Calling, as they are descended from the nation of Alethela, ancient home of the Knights Radiant.[3]
Also, according to Vorin teachings, the Dawnsingers were sent to Roshar by the Almighty to help care for humans after they were cast out of the Halls:
| “ | "What about the Dawnsingers? ... Couldn't they have created it?"
"That isn't the kind of thing the Dawnsingers did. They were healers, kindly spren sent by the Almighty to care for humans once we were forced out of the Tranquiline Halls." |
” |
However, according to the Eila Stele, humans are the true Voidbringers who destroyed their world, Ashyn, with Surgebinding. The Tranquiline Halls are on that world.[4]
The document further reveals that the Dawnsingers were Parshendi (or singers) and the native inhabitants of Roshar, thereby destroying Vorin teachings that the Dawnsingers were spren.[4]
Speculation[]
It might be that the story of the Tranquiline Halls has its origin in the Shattering of Adonalsium and the withdrawal of Honor and Cultivation from Yolen to Roshar. But it could be that at some point, Urithiru itself was overthrown by the forces of Odium, who destroyed the Oathgate links, and shattered the Plains in an attempt to destroy the last access. Or, perhaps the Radiants - for some reason - had to flee Urithiru, and they locked the Oathgates and shattered the Plains in their attempt to destroy the last Oathgate behind themselves, locking the destroyers in Urithiru. Either of these could be a plausible origin for the story of the Tranquiline Halls that are currently inaccessible in the flesh, but must someday be recovered.
Q&A with Brandon[]
Q: Are the Tranquiline Halls where everyone in the cosmere goes when they die? Or does each world have its own heaven?
A: There is an afterlife that is not heaven that the Shards don't know about, or can't look into. Each world has its own heaven depending on its religions. The real afterlife is different across the cosmere, and the Tranquiline Halls are different.[5]
Q: The Tranquiline Halls: are they real?
A: They are - well they're a real place ... . They're actually the planet that's referenced [in Oathbringer] (i.e., Ashyn).[4] But whether mythologically they're real or not that's more a debate for scholars.[6]
References[]
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