Editing Rathalas

{{settlement
|image=Rathalas by Connor Chamberlain.jpg
|region=Eastern Crownlands
|nation=Alethkar
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
'''Rathalas''', also known as the '''Rift''', was a city in the northern part of the [[Eastern Crownlands]] near central [[Alethkar]]. The city was burnt to the ground in 1163 and has not since been rebuilt. The people of Rathalas are sometimes referred to as '''Rifters''' and have a distinct nasally accent.{{book ref|sa3|11}} Rathalas was large enough to house tens of thousands of people.{{book ref|sa3|76}}

== Geography ==
Rathalas was a tiered city built on struts up the side of chasm walls. It could be accessed from both the plains above and the canyon mouth below the city.{{book ref|sa3|76}}   

Rathalas is on the eastern shore of the [[Sea of Spears]], and is near the [[Thanadal princedom|Thanadal]] and [[Kholin princedom]]s.{{map ref|Alethkar}} It is situated close to the spren city of [[Celebrant]] within the [[Shadesmar|Cognitive Realm]].{{map ref|Sea of Lost Lights}} Somewhere to the south-east is the waystop Vedelliar, however it is unknown whether this town is within the Eastern Crownlands or [[Unclaimed Hills]].{{book ref|sa3|71}} 

The city resided within a deep chasm that narrows at one end and opens onto the Sea of Spears at the other. The canyon that held the city is at least 150 feet deep and V shaped in nature.{{book ref|sa3|11}} The area above the canyon is flat and rocky and the city was difficult to spot when approached from above. A wall enclosed the opening to the Rift on all sides except the western.{{book ref|sa3|11}} 

The riverbed near to the city does not retain water, only filling during storms.{{book ref|sa3|71}} This is due to the rockbuds surrounding the riverbed consuming large quantities water.{{book ref|sa3|71}} The rockbuds grow to exceptional sizes with trunks growing as tall as a man's waist and vines as thick as a man's wrist.{{book ref|sa3|71}}

== History ==
=== Unification of Alethkar (1141) ===
Rathalas was besieged by [[Gavilar]] Kholin during his campaign to unite the princedoms of Alethkar. During the attack, [[Dalinar]] Kholin sought out and killed Brightlord [[Tanalan's father|Tanalan]], winning himself the [[Shardblade]] [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]]. Although he had instructions to kill Tanalan's [[Tanalan|heir]], Dalinar spared the boy's life and he and his [[Tanalan's mother|mother]] fled.{{book ref|sa3|11}}

=== Rebellion of Rathalas (~1151—1163) ===
Years later, Tanalan's son (with whom he shared a name), returned to Rathalas and demanded the return of his father's Blade. The reappearance of Tanalan destabilized the area, leading to the threat of rebellion within the entire region of the Eastern Crownlands.{{book ref|sa3|36}} Gavilar attempted to quell the region through political means but was ultimately unsuccessful, due in part to support of the rebellion from at least one of the other highprinces.{{book ref|sa3|66}}

{{image|The Rift by greatunknown.png|side=right|width=250px|The burning of Rathalas}}

=== Destruction of Rathalas (1163) ===
After twelve years of failed negotiations between Gavilar and [[Tanalan]], Dalinar and [[Torol Sadeas|Sadeas]] returned to the Rift to end the rebellion. Against his nature but at the behest of his wife, Dalinar offered Tanalan a final chance to submit to the king and save his city. Tanalan seemingly accepted Dalinar's truce, offering him information about the highprince who had supported the rebellion and naming Sadeas as traitor.{{book ref|sa3|71}} Dalinar, believing that one of Sadeas' Shardbearers had recently left the city, followed in pursuit only to fall into a trap set by Tanalan, who hoped to separate Dalinar from the Kholin army and kill him.{{book ref|sa3|75}} Dalinar returned to Rathalas after the attempt on his life failed and ordered the city razed to the ground and its people slaughtered in order to set an example. During the battle, Tanalan was killed by Dalinar after he watched his family die.{{book ref|sa3|76}}

[[Evi]] Kholin was killed during the battle after secretly travelling to the city to plead with them to surrender. In order to hide the true nature of her death and as well to justify the destruction of the city, a narrative was constructed that claimed that Evi's assassination prompted the ensuing slaughter.{{book ref|sa3|76}}

== Notable Citizens ==
* Brightlord [[Tanalan]] (son)
* Brightlord [[Tanalan%27s_father|Tanalan]] (father)
* [[Tanalan's mother]]

== Notes ==
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[[es:Rathalas]]