Editing Ialai Sadeas

|first appeared=[[The Way of Kings]]

She is short, squat, and curvaceous, with a large bust and a slender neck.{{book ref|sa1|54}}{{book ref|sa3|19}}{{book ref|sa3|21}}{{book ref|sa2|5}}{{book ref|sa2|38}} She has a wide mouth, thick lips, and green eyes.{{book ref|sa2|5}}{{book ref|sa3|21}}{{book ref|sa2|38}} She has black hair, although she reportedly has partial foreign ancestry and dyes her hair black to appear fully [[Alethi]].{{book ref|sa1|54}} She wears dresses in the latest Alethi fashions.{{book ref|sa4|7}} Towards the end of her life, after several stressful events, she takes on a gaunt, haggard appearance.{{book ref|sa4|7}}{{book ref|sa4|12}}

Ialai has been known to be underhanded since her youth.{{book ref|sa3|19}} She is constantly assessing every person and situation, looking for weaknesses to exploit.{{book ref|sa3|21}} [[Jasnah Kholin]] believes that Ialai is as shrewd as her husband, [[Torol Sadeas]], {{book ref|sa2|38}} and the pair constantly scheme against their political rivals.{{book ref|sa2|29}} Ialai and Sadeas are so self-serving and unprincipled that [[Mraize]] believes them to be wholly unpredictable.{{book ref|sa3|22}}

Ialai runs the best network of spies and informants in the warcamps at the [[Shattered Plains]], and is able to keep it a closely-guarded secret.{{book ref|sa2|5}} Her network also includes assassins.{{book ref|sa2|58}} As the wife of a [[Highprince]], she regularly attends notable events in [[Alethkar]] such as duels, feasts, and even military meetings, giving her personal access to a wide range of information and members of the nobility.{{book ref|sa1|54}}{{book ref|sa2|29}}{{book ref|sa3|75}}

After Torol's death, Ialai continued to run a spy network in [[Urithiru]] and then the Shattered Plains, even learning bits and pieces about the activities of the [[Ghostbloods]];{{book ref|sa4|9}}{{book ref|sa4|13}} she is among the few [[Roshar]]ans at the time that are aware of [[Shadesmar]] and civilizations on other planets.{{book ref|sa4|13}} She remains adept at seizing power when it is available for the taking.{{book ref|sa3|27}}{{book ref|sa4|6}}

Ialai married [[Highprince]] [[Torol Sadeas]] prior to the unification of [[Alethkar]] and immediately became involved in Alethi politics. At a feast in {{Rosharan date|1143}}, Ialai tried to persuade [[Dalinar Kholin]] to enter into a political marriage with [[Evi]], despite her assessment of Evi as "vapid".{{book ref|sa3|19}} After Dalinar and Evi were married, Ialai and [[Navani]] often tried to convince Evi to be more assertive.{{book ref|sa3|52}} As the wives of two influential Highprinces who were often away in battle, Ialai and Navani often worked together in [[Kholinar]] during this time in order to maintain a stable kingdom.{{book ref|sa3|96}} King [[Gavilar]] had no issues leveraging Ialai's schemes to eliminate political rivals.{{book ref|sa3|19}}

During the [[War of Reckoning]], Ialai lived in the Sadeas warcamp on the [[Shattered Plains]]. When [[Shallan Davar]] arrived to the warcamps with news of [[Jasnah]]'s presumed death, Ialai haughtily asked her about the succession in [[Jah Keved]].{{book ref|sa2|38}}

Ialai and Torol spent much of their time on the Shattered Plains conspiring against the other Highprinces and currying [[Elhokar]]'s favor while simultaneously defying the authority of the throne.{{book ref|sa2|29}} Dalinar had become a longtime rival of Torol's, and he and his son [[Adolin]] were often the target of their plots.{{book ref|sa2|29}} They became uneasy when Dalinar nearly executed a plan that would have allowed Adolin to challenge Torol to a duel, and they vowed to destroy Dalinar by any means necessary.{{book ref|sa2|58}}

Using her spy network, Ialai uncovered Navani's notes on [[Dalinar's visions]]. She altered the notes in a way that was intended to defame Dalinar and released them at a [[lighteyed]] feast.{{book ref|sa2|67}} However, Dalinar embraced the release of the visions and was able to maintain his credibility.{{book ref|sa2|67}} An unsuccessful attempt was then made on Dalinar's life when a carpenter in the Sadeas's employ intentionally collapsed a bridge while Dalinar was crossing it.{{book ref|sa2|68}} Ialai felt that she had failed when Dalinar survived.{{book ref|sa2|76}}

After Torol's death, Ialai was no longer openly adversarial with Dalinar, which worried him since it meant she was likely undermining him behind his back instead.{{book ref|sa3|107}} She named Amaram the new Highprince of House Sadeas, in an affront to Dalinar's authority.{{book ref|sa3|27}} She attended a meeting of the [[coalition of monarchs]] when Dalinar was trying to unite [[Roshar]], defying tradition by refusing to carry her own chair. She tried to sabotage the Kholin's efforts by suggesting an invasion of [[Shinovar]] and insulting [[Queen Fen]].{{book ref|sa3|96}} At a later meeting of the remaining coalition, she and [[Ruthar]] verbally sparred with Jasnah, indirectly causing Dalinar to have a revelation that the [[Voidbringers]] were likely to attack [[Thaylen City]] instead of Jah Keved.{{book ref|sa3|107}}

After Amaram's death, Ialai returned to the warcamps at the Shattered Plains; Mraize did not accompany her there.{{book ref|sa4|8}} Soon after her arrival, [[Thanadal]] was assassinated and [[Vamah]] fled, leaving her in control of the local economy.{{book ref|sa4|6}} She also became the leader of the [[Sons of Honor]], learning some secrets that she had not previously been privy to.{{book ref|sa4|7}} However, due to the loss of both Gavilar and Amaram, there was little she could do to help them recover their previous influence. She retained some followers who referred to her as the true queen of Alethkar, but the group operated more like a cult. Still, Dalinar had some concerns about letting Ialai operate unchecked with an Oathgate nearby. The other Alethi assumed that Ialai was also behind Thanadal's death. Shallan was sent to infiltrate Ialai's group, using her powers to disguise herself as a merchant named [[Chanasha Hasareh]].{{book ref|sa4|4}} She was eventually able to trick Ialai's followers into taking her through a secret tunnel to a fortress near the former Sadeas lumberyards where Ialai was living.{{book ref|sa4|6}} She was sleeping in a small closet-like room and refused to leave the fortress.{{book ref|sa4|8}}

A noticeably frail and paranoid Ialai assumed Shallan to be a Ghostblood agent, offering her wine and engaging in some wordplay. Ialai revealed that Thanadal and Vamah had been assassinated by the Ghostbloods despite their attempts to negotiate and flee. Although Ialai was angry with Jasnah and Dalinar, she had no designs on being queen herself, believing [[Gavinor]] to be the rightful Alethi monarch. She feared assassination and decided to bunker down hoping to be left alone.{{book ref|sa4|7}} She believed that the Ghostbloods were eliminating the Sons of Honor due to their knowledge of the gods on Roshar and possibly beyond.{{book ref|sa4|7}}{{book ref|sa4|9}} Shallan's three personas were conflicted; although Veil wanted to kill Ialai, Radiant did not agree. Even when Shallan summoned a [[Pattern]] as a [[Shardblade]], Ialai seemed ready to accept death.{{book ref|sa4|7}} As she was apprehended, Ialai suddenly died of poisoning; evidence pointed to foul play, but officially she was said to have killed herself.{{book ref|sa4|9}}{{book ref|sa4|10}} Before she died, Ialai gave Shallan a clue to search her quarters; Shallan then discovered her notes, in which Ialai recorded numerous attempts to contact [[Restares]].{{book ref|sa4|13}} She also displayed some limited knowledge of [[Shadesmar]] and other planets in the [[cosmere]], along with some theories about [[Thaidakar]] and [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]].{{book ref|sa4|13}}{{book ref|sa4|9}}{{book ref|sa4|24}}

[[Torol]] was intrigued by Ialai's blasphemous name when he first met her.{{book ref|sa2|29}} It is likely that she and Torol were very young when they were married; at a feast around the year {{Rosharan date|1143}} when Torol was approximately twenty years old, he and Ialai were already husband and wife.{{book ref|sa3|19}} He notes that she has never been considered a beauty and is not aging particularly gracefully, but he has always been attracted to her "dangerous" personality.{{book ref|sa2|5}} The couple often fondly scratch each other's backs.{{book ref|sa2|5}}{{book ref|sa2|29}} Ialai and Torol are like-minded and regularly share information about the politics, personalities, and happenings of [[Alethkar]].{{book ref|sa2|5}} They collaborate on schemes to increase their personal wealth and influence, typically with little regard for the welfare of others.{{book ref|sa2|29}} Ialai was distraught when Torol was murdered.{{book ref|sa3|22}}

Ialai and [[Dalinar]] seemed to have a cordial relationship in their youth, during [[Gavilar]]'s unification war. Ialai served as a matchmaker of sorts for Dalinar's political marriage to [[Evi]],{{book ref|sa3|19}} and she even joked with Dalinar on occasion.{{book ref|sa3|19}} However, the Sadeases' thirst for power eventually turned them against Dalinar. This led to them plotting against him{{book ref|sa2|29}} and eventually becoming outright enemies; they attempted to defame and even assassinate him.{{book ref|sa2|67}}{{book ref|sa2|76}} After Torol was killed, Ialai redoubled her efforts to plot against Dalinar. She did not believe that Dalinar killed Torol, but she defied his authority and sabotaged his coalition.{{book ref|sa3|27}}{{book ref|sa3|96}} She continued to undermine him at every opportunity.{{book ref|sa4|7}}

Ialai did not have a good first impression of Evi, calling her "vapid".{{book ref|sa3|19}} She and [[Navani]] counseled Evi to be more assertive during her marriage to Dalinar.{{book ref|sa3|52}} Evi thought Ialai was clever and admired her wit.{{book ref|sa3|22}}

Ialai did not think highly of [[Adolin]], and he was sometimes targeted by her schemes to get at Dalinar.{{book ref|sa2|29}} She seemed suspicious of Adolin after Torol's death.{{book ref|sa3|22}}

Ialai and [[Jasnah]] dislike each other, but Ialai knows better than to verbally spar with her.{{book ref|sa3|107}} She does not acknowledge Jasnah as the legitimate queen of Alethkar.{{book ref|sa4|7}}

After the [[Battle of Narak]], [[Mraize]] and the [[Ghostbloods]] keep a close eye on Ialai because of her unpredictable nature. Mraize infiltrated her inner circle through unknown means and was present for some of her important meetings in [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa3|22}}{{book ref|sa3|96}} Mraize did not accompany Ialai back to the Shattered Plains after she left Urithiru in disgrace.{{book ref|sa4|8}} Ialai apparently realized Mraize's true nature at some point, and subsequently lived in fear of the Ghostbloods until her death.{{book ref|sa4|7}}