Editing Taravangian

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{{character
|image=Taravangian by stinkypanda.jpg
|children=[[Savrahalidem]]
|descendants=[[Gvori]], [[Karavaniga]], [[Ruli]], [[Taravangian's granddaughter|granddaughter]]
|abilities={{tag+|oldmagic}}, {{nosnippet|{{tag+|shard|Odium}}}}
|titles=King of [[Kharbranth]] <small>(former)</small>, King of [[Jah Keved]] <small>(former)</small>,{{book ref|sa2|i|12}} {{nosnippet|Odium}}
|aliases=Vargo
|groups={{tag|Diagram (group)|cat=Diagram|text=Diagram}}
|died=1175
|'residence=[[Kharbranth]] (palace), {{tag|Urithiru|cat=Residents of Urithiru}}<!-- renting a room & plotting everyone's demise -->
|nation=Kharbranth
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|I am the monster who will save this world.
|Taravangian to Szeth{{book ref|sa1|70}}
}}
'''Taravangian''' is the king of [[Kharbranth]]{{book ref|sa1|3}} and [[Jah Keved]]. He is the leader of the secret society known as "the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]]" which believes the truth and the path to human salvation lies in the set of predictions and instructions he laid out on the day he was a genius. {{nosnippet|He is the current Vessel of the [[Shard]] [[Odium]].}}

== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Taravangian Portrait by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=left|width=200px}}
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
{{quote
|Someone must bear the responsibility, someone must be dragged down by it, ruined by it. Someone must stain their souls so others may live. Society offers us up to trudge through dirty waters so others may be clean.
|Taravangian to Dalinar{{book ref|sa3|86}}
}}
Taravangian is an aged man with a wispy white beard,{{book ref|sa1|3}} which he shaves during the [[True Desolation]].{{book ref|sa3|24}} He has pale grey eyes and an open, kindly face.{{book ref|sa1|3}} He lives with perpetual aches in his body and other symptoms of old age. Before he Ascended as Vessel of Odium, he was in his 70s in Rosharan years.{{wob ref|11590}}

He is popular among many for providing free access to city hospitals funded by an admittance fee to the [[Palanaeum]],{{book ref|sa1|7}} and he is known to visit the hospitals on a weekly basis.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Ruling Kharbranth with the help of a council,{{book ref|sa3|12}} he has been quiet and humble for his entire life, leading many people to believe he is slow witted.{{book ref|sa3|16}} People who know him better know he had a keen intelligence until his "illness" 5 years before the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|21}} The illness is a consequence of a visit to the [[Nightwatcher]] who granted him great intelligence and great compassion, but cursed him to never have them at the same time. As a result, he wakes up every morning with a fluctuation of both. On some days, he cries and has compassion for everyone around him, while unable to have intelligent conversations,{{book ref|sa3|107}} while on others he is brilliant, yet easily speaks of killing singing children.{{book ref|sa3|i|5}} 

Taravangian is a pragmatic man who considers it his duty to do whatever it takes to make a better world. When he poses a moral dilemma, asking what to do if three of four men are guilty of murder and one is unsure which is innocent, he says "To prevent murder to happen again … I must hang them and weep."{{book ref|sa3|28}} He believes religion fills gaps and brings a sense of comfort which prevents understanding. He trusts only the Diagram, which is the result of his raw intelligence.{{book ref|sa3|i|5}}

== Attributes and Abilities ==
Taravangian has surprising knowledge of the [[Shin]] and the Shin language, which is rare outside of [[Shinovar]].{{book ref|sa1|71}} He also knows [[women's script]] and has solved [[Fabrisan|Fabrisan's Conundrum]]. He is responsible for Dalinar's knowledge of how to capture a spren: giving it what it wants. This knowledge is key for Dalinar's victory over Nergaoul at the battle of [[Thaylen City]].{{book ref|sa3|100}}

=== Old Magic ===
Taravangian claims to have asked the Nightwatcher for, "Capacity. Capacity to stop what was coming. The capacity to save humankind."{{book ref|wor|i|14}} As a result, Taravangian's level of intelligence varies from day to day. This enabled him to write the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]] on a day of particularly notable intelligence. He believes that his curse is a level of compassion inversely proportional to his intelligence; he feels little to no compassion on days of high intelligence, contrasted with days of low intelligence and great compassion "to feel pain for what he had done."{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{book ref|sa4|i|6}} Some days he is as dull-minded as a [[Parshman]] and brought easily to tears as he realizes decisions he makes may bring death to innocents, while on others he is more intelligent and able-minded than the greatest scholar but regards everything he is ordering done with cold logic and an eye for the bigger picture of Roshar.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} The change in intelligence and compassion will still happen even if Taravangian is awake and conscious in the middle of the night.{{wob ref|11390}}

Every morning he takes an intelligence test that he devised for himself on intelligent days. The test takes the better part of an hour and is made up of mathematical problems. A trio of [[stormwarden]]s consult regarding his answers and decide his intelligence for the day. The stormwardens as well as [[Mrall]], his head bodyguard, also decide if he is fit to rule and what restrictions he will be subject to. He is restricted to his room on both his worst and best of days because during both he tends to make irrational regulations.

== History ==
=== Background ===
When Taravangian was born, the surgeon said there was a cord around his neck. He made public that he might have diminished capacity and the recommendation was to keep him on outer estates in favor of others. Though the diminished capacity was not present, the reputation followed him all his life.{{book ref|sa3|i|5}}
He was childhood friends with [[Adrotagia]] and his nickname was Vargo.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
Taravangian met [[Battar]], a Herald posing as an [[ardent]] named Dova, who said that the True Desolation was close.

=== The Nightwatcher and the creation of the Diagram ===
Taravangian asked the [[Nightwatcher]] for "the capacity to save humankind." He was granted the boon of great intelligence and great compassion, but the curse of not having them at the same time. As a result, he wakes up every morning with a fluctuation of both. This was granted by [[Cultivation]] rather than the Nightwatcher.{{wob ref|13097}}

On his day of greatest genius, "20 hours of lucid insanity", he covered every surface of his bedroom in hieroglyphics he invented that day. They offered a brutal path for humanity's survival, which he believed to be the Nightwatcher's attempt to save humankind.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
The writing was transcribed and annotated into a book by [[Adrotagia]] and other scribes. The book came to be known as the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]]. Taravangian created a secret society with the same name in order to aid in interpreting it, and then to fulfill those interpretations.

One of the first things he studies are [[Death Rattle]]s. These experiments were run at a secret hospital hidden in his palace, filled with hundreds of beds for the terminally ill, poor, and forgotten who would not be missed. The patients were slowly killed by draining their blood so the [[Silent Gatherer]]s could record the cryptic sentences spoken in the seconds before death.{{book ref|sa1|71}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|prologue|text=Death Rattle Quotes}} Through these Death Rattles, Taravangian hoped to gain information with which he can update the Diagram. He was aware that they were caused by [[Moelach]], but the Silent Gatherers may not have been.

=== Kharbranth ===
{{image|Kharbranth characters.jpg|With Shallan , Kabsal, and Jasnah|side=right|width=350px}}
During a [[highstorm]], Taravangian's granddaughter became trapped within a room in the [[Conclave]] when a large stone fell and obstructed the doorway. The king enlisted the help of [[Jasnah Kholin]], who had already been in the city, offering her access to the [[Palanaeum]] in exchange for the use of her [[Soulcaster]] to remove the rock. Making a deal with the heretical princess was a dangerous political move on Taravangian's part as it risked angering the [[ardentia]]. Ostensibly, Taravangian made the deal because his architects would not have time to cut through the boulder before the next highstorm arrived and because removing the boulder by conventional means would gave risked further cave-ins in the area.{{book ref|sa1|5}} In actuality, Taravangian could have rescued his granddaughter on his own, but wanted to see Jasnah's powers in order to confirm his suspicions that she was a [[Surgebinder]].{{wob ref|8070}} Before Soulcasting the rock to smoke, Jasnah recommended that the king and his staff move to the end of the hall to be out of range; however, Taravangian refused, ostensibly out of a desire not leave his granddaughter to go through the ordeal alone. The Alethi princess then Soulcast the stone into smoke, freeing the king's granddaughter, along with the child's nursemaids and several palace servants. Taravangian offered to hold a feast as a way of thanking Jasnah; however, she declined instead requesting to be taken directly to the Palanaeum so she could begin her study.{{book ref|sa1|5}}

The incident with Taravangian's granddaughter had been deliberately planned by the king. He suspected Jasnah was using means to soulcast that did not include the use of the fabrial she carried and intentionally engineered a scenario where he could observe her work. Despite his ulterior motives, he was concerned for his granddaughter's well-being and did not want her to be harmed, despite putting her in a dangerous situation.{{wob ref|3242}}{{wob ref|8070}}

Weeks later, Taravangian joined [[Shallan]] and Jasnah for lunch on their balcony in the [[Palanaeum|Veil]]. In response to Jasnah's inquiry, he reported that his granddaughter had recovered from her ordeal, though now avoided the narrower passageways of the Conclave in case of a repeat incident.  Curious, he asked the princess where she had acquired her Soulcaster, further confirming his hypothesis that she "was" the Soulcaster when she declined to answer. He acknowledged her refusal and turned the subject towards Shallan and her artistic skills, which had earned her quite the reputation in the Conclave and Palace. She was all too happy to fulfill the king's request for a portrait, which he intended to give as a gift to his granddaughter.{{book ref|sa1|29}}

{{image|WOKLB - Part3 End by Steve Argyle.jpg|side=left|width=350px|Being drawn by [[Shallan]]}}

While Shallan drew, the king struck up conversation again with Jasnah, this time about religion and the Jasnah's lack of faith. He had trouble understanding how she could differentiate between right and wrong when what was right was a dictate of the [[Almighty]]. Right and wrong, Jasnah argued, shouldn't be subject to the will of an unseen being. To her, morality and human will were as independent from religion as mathematics. Taravangian ultimately claimed to disagree with the scholar, though he did admire the efficiency of her arguments. Jasnah explained that she had no intention of trying to convert him to her beliefs, unlike those in the ardentia, who had repeately tried to convert her.{{book ref|sa1|29}}

Shallan, who had been engrossed in the conversation, went to finish her drawing of the king, however, found that she had added several [[Cryptic]]s to the background of her sketch by accident. She destroyed the drawing, promising Taravangian that she would do him another by the end of the day. Shortly after, Taravangian excused himself so he could visit one of the many hospitals that he had established in [[Kharbranth]]. After he took his leave, Jasnah chided Shallan for calling the king dull and told her that she was not to refer to him in that manner. She deeply admired the man who reminded her of her uncle [[Dalinar]] and found them both to be earnest and sincere.{{book ref|sa1|29}} 

After several people were killed in the theater district of Kharbranth, Taravangian stepped in, hoping that he could prompt the city watch into action. His efforts failed and despite the reprimands, the watch continued to ignore the section of the city that had been terrorized by criminals. Eventually, Jasnah took it upon herself to remove the criminals, traveling into the city late at night with Shallan and purposely putting them in a situation where they would be attacked. After she killed the men using Soulcasting, Jasnah explained to Shallan that she had done so as a service to the king of whom she felt she had taken advantage. She worried that Taravangian did not realize the danger he had put himself in by welcoming her to his city and did what she could to help him.{{book ref|sa1|36}}

Weeks later, Taravangian visited Shallan in the hospital after her supposed suicide attempt. Taravangian visited the hospitals of Kharbranth at least once a week and was a welcomed sight for those admitted on the ward. During his visits he would sit and talk with each patient, checking on their progress, and doing what he could to help. Shallan complimented the king on the greatness of Kharbranth's hospitals, an accomplishment of which the man was extremely proud. Taravangian denied Shallan's request to be released from the hospital. However, before he left, did grant her wish for visitation rights. Outside the ward, Taravangian ran into Jasnah who had been studying in the waiting room. He explained that Shallan could now receive visitors and passed on the news that she had decided to return to her family's estate before leaving the princess to visit with her student.{{book ref|sa1|48}}

[[Szeth]], the [[Assassin in White]], traveled to Kharbranth with orders to kill the king after causing destruction throughout [[Jah Keved]]. The assassin had explicit instructions on how the king was to be killed: it was to be done quietly, without any additional deaths and the man was only to die after he acknowledged Szeth's intent. Taravangian ignored Szeth's declaration when confronted, instead speaking to him of the chaos and destruction the assassin had caused.  He revealed to Szeth that he had been the assassin's hidden master and was in possession of the man's [[Oathstone]]. Taravangian had also deliberately put his own name on Szeth's list to deflect suspicion from himself. He took Szeth to his hidden hospital, where Szeth witnessed the atrocities the king of Kharbranth was committing to maximize access to the [[Death Rattle]]s. Taravangian freely admitted to the monstrous acts he had committed before commanding Szeth to seek out Dalinar Kholin on the [[Shattered Plains]] and end his life.{{book ref|sa1|71}}

{{image|Mastermind by Ari Ibarra.jpg|side=right|width=300px|With the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]]}}

=== King of Jah Keved === 
The [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]] showed that Taravangian needed to unite [[Roshar]] under his rule in order to save mankind. The first path was Jah Keved, and per the scripts he needed to gain possession of Szeth's Oathstone.{{book ref|sa1|i|6}} After he was able to do so, he ordered Szeth to kill a number of world leaders, including [[Hanavanar]], the king of Jah Keved, and various other highprinces of Jah Keved. The power vacuum in Jah Keved resulted in a devastating succession war which wiped out all of the remaining highprinces. Taravangian arrived at the city in time for the death of the last Veden Highprince, [[Valam]], who named him king of Jah Keved. Taravangian was able to fulfill his plot without anyone suspecting his intervention. They believed he was given the title as an act of spite from Valam and accepted Taravangian as king.{{book ref|sa3|12}}

=== Dalinar's coalition of Roshar === 
One of the Diagram's interpretations resulted in the request to kill Dalinar, and Taravangian sent Szeth to kill him. During the [[Battle of Narak]], Szeth went after him but was beaten by [[Kaladin]]. Shortly after, Szeth discovered he was not [[Truthless]] and forsook his [[Oathstone]], breaking his allegiance with Taravangian. After this failure, Taravangian decided to move closer to Dalinar. He was the first king to unite with Dalinar.{{book ref|sa3|12}} When he found out no other king would be part of the [[coalition of monarchs|coalition]], he recommended invasion.{{book ref|sa3|24}} After his surprise at Dalinar's negotiation strategy, he agreed to follow him and eventually moved with him to [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa3|58}}
While he pretended to work with Dalinar, he secretly plotted to gain political advantage: he burst the market by sending supplies via Jah Keved; he had his [[Knight Radiant]] [[Malata]] working the [[Oathgate]]; and he sent merchant ships to Thaylen City with healers.{{book ref|sa3|29}} He shared their knowledge in [[fabrial]]s with [[Navani]],{{book ref|sa3|96}} and let them know of technology that will create [[half-shard]]s.{{book ref|sa3|65}} After having a relatively brilliant day, he decided that the best action was to take Dalinar's place on the coalition and afterwards push for its collapse. He believed this would make [[Odium]] meet his agreements and save "what he can, abandon the rest."{{book ref|sa3|i|5}} Though he was dismissed or not needed in the war councils where the defenses for Jah Keved were being planned, he was plotting to find secrets that would destroy Dalinar. He sent his Radiant's spren, [[Spark]], to spy on him, and, along with his scholars and other Diagram followers, was able to succeed. During a meeting with all the other kingdoms' representatives in which they determined the enemy would strike Thaylen City, he struck against the highprince by leaking three facts:

1) [[Elhokar]] had sworn to Dalinar as High King, and though this was an Alethi political tactic, some other kingdoms felt threatened that Dalinar would ask the same from them. This eroded Fen's faith in the coalition, though she stayed with Dalinar because she would prefer him to lead than the Voidbringers.

2) Dalinar had a vision in which Odium threatened to destroy the world. This caused conflict concerning the use of powers that can't be controlled, in this case, Dalinar's. This caused [[Yanagawn]] to break off the alliance.

3) The translation of the [[Dawnchant]] proved that the original [[Voidbringers]] were humans, putting the war's legitimacy in question and giving Taravangian an excuse to "lose faith" in the war effort.

These revelations were enough to destroy most of the coalition, with only the [[Fen|Thaylen queen]] staying with Dalinar.{{book ref|sa3|111}}

=== Battle of Thaylen Field and Aftermath === 
Taravangian was decided to ensure Dalinar's failure at Thaylenah.  By the time Odium strikes them, he and his people had already left and had retrieved their ships. He also wrote to the singers and opened the gate to Urithiru to attack there and prevent them from sending help to the Thaylens.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
Much to Taravangian's surprise, Dalinar and his allies win the battle. He comes clean on several points, including his plotting to take the throne of Jah Keved, his usage of Szeth, and knowledge of the Desolation. He however kept to himself the existence of the Diagram and that he brought the singers to Urithiru. Though Dalinar would never again trust him as before, this does clear the air and their relationship is not fully broken.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

Eight days after the battle, on a day of below average intelligence, he received a vision from Odium, who took a tall form reminiscent of the [[Shin]] with a scepter in his hand. Taravangian tried to convince Odium that he only wanted to serve him and begs him to visit him another day, but Odium sees through him immediately and orders him not to prostrate himself.  He then asked Taravangian why he would be inclined to speak with the king on a day of intelligence, thereby allowing him to negotiate from a position of power, declaring that such an event would never happen. 
Taravangian then offered a deal to Odium, knowing the god couldn't afford to face Dalinar directly again for fear of losing a previously declared contest of champions. The agreement would trade his help by sharing the Diagram's information (though he could not read [[Renarin]]'s participation) and giving him the Honorblade in exchange for sparing the people of Kharbranth (the city itself, any humans born into it, and their spouses).{{book ref|sa3|121}} Odium accepted, placing Taravangian and the Diagram firmly under the control of Dalinar's enemy.

{{image|Szeth killing Taravangian by Nozomi.png|side=left|height=300px|Being killed by [[Szeth]]}}

=== Betrayal and Imprisonment ===

A year later, Taravangian distanced himself from Kharbranth and his fellow Diagram members in preparation of being contacted by Odium, who commanded him to have his forces betray Dalinar's on their campaign in [[Emul]].{{book ref|sa4|i|3}} As Taravangian expected, the betrayal is swiftly dealt with and Dalinar has him arrested and imprisoned.{{book ref|sa4|i|6}}

Dalinar, wishing to see the good in Taravangian, did not immediately execute him, instead keeping him prisoner in a well-furnished home where Taravangian's requests were cared for. During this time, Taravangian's mental state deteriorated, and he spent more days in his cognitively impaired, compassionate state. He was visited by Szeth and Renarin, but was too slow to carry on a conversation, and believed that he failed at his plan of manipulating Szeth. Dalinar eventually declared that he was not to be executed, and instead sentenced him to lifelong imprisonment so that he could prove to Taravangian that the [[coalition of monarchs|coalition]] was capable of defeating Odium.{{book ref|sa4|66}}{{book ref|sa4|i|9}}{{book ref|sa4|i|12}}

Taravangian, however, realized that he could kill Odium himself, guessing that if Szeth saw the Shard manifesting, he would strike out with Nightblood.{{book ref|sa4|i|12}} He had also figured out that the future of anyone close to Renarin would be obscured to Odium, due to the fact that both of their methods of seeing the future used [[Fortune]].{{book ref|sa4|i|6}} Consequently, he requested that Dalinar bring him an Oathstone so that Szeth would come to his prison with the intent of killing him.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} He also asked [[Sja-anat]] for a way to ensure that Odium arrived at the same time as the assassin and, knowing that Odium was tracking her corrupted spren,{{book ref|sa4|i|12}} she sent him two gemstones with corrupted windspren.{{book ref|sa4|113}}

{{image|Taravangian killing Rayse by Nozomi.png|side=right|height=250px|Using [[Nightblood]] to destroy [[Rayse]]}}

Just as Taravangian had plotted, Szeth entered his house, intending to kill him. As Szeth was reaching for his knife, Odium arrived and pulled Taravangian's mind out of the [[Physical Realm]]. Still next to Szeth in the Physical Realm, Taravangian reached for the manifestation of [[Nightblood]] in the vision and used the weapon to attack Odium. Szeth then killed Taravangian, but before he could pass into the [[Beyond]], Nightblood consumed [[Rayse]], the original Vessel of Odium. As Taravangian was having his least intelligent day yet, his emotions ran rampant, giving him an Intent very similar to that of the Shard, allowing him to Ascend to become the new Vessel of Odium.{{book ref|sa4|113}}

=== Vessel of Odium ===
<!-- Ordinarily, Vessel history goes on the Shard's page, but we may need to revisit that -->
After his Ascension, Taravangian conversed with [[Cultivation]], who explained some of the nature of his new power. Taravangian intends to expand Odium's influence throughout the cosmere after his and Dalinar's contest of champions is settled, regardless of the outcome.{{book ref|sa4|114}}

{{for|Odium#History|the subsequent events}}

== Relationships ==
=== Adrotagia ===
[[Adrotagia]] is Taravangian's head scribe and closest friend. They have been friends for 73 years, since they were children.{{book ref|sa4|i|3}} Even on his days of genius he is aware of her intelligence. He has real fondness for her.

=== Malata ===
[[Malata]] is a Veden bodyguard and [[Dustbringer]]. She works for him and follows his lead, however she had said that she "is not his" and they were there because her spren [[Spark]] suggested visiting [[Urithiru]] now that it has been rediscovered.{{book ref|sa3|27}}

=== Odium ===
Taravangian is fully aware of [[Odium]]'s power. On the day Taravangian created the Diagram, he drafted out plans to save humanity from Odium. But on the same day, he also anticipated his direct confrontation with Odium after the Battle of Thaylen Field, and wrote down instructions for the future and dumber version of Taravangian on that day to follow. He explained that after the contest of champions was agreed, Odium would need people to do his bidding lest he get pressed into a duel he may lose. Taravangian makes a deal with Odium, trading the help of the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]] and the Honorblade in exchange for sparing the people of Kharbranth. Odium comments on his drive, saying, "Your passion does you credit".{{book ref|sa3|122}}

=== Taravangian's Grandchildren ===
Taravangian has three grandchildren who write to him. They are oblivious to the Diagram and his plans. The eldest is [[Gvori]], accepted at the school of storms, [[Karavaniga]], the middle accepted forwardship and little [[Ruli]]. He has another [[Taravangian's granddaughter|granddaughter]] whom he arranged to become trapped in a rockslide in an attempt to see [[Jasnah Kholin]] use her [[Soulcaster]]. Despite his ulterior motives, he was concerned for her wellbeing and did not want her to be harmed, even though he put her in a dangerous situation.{{wob ref|3242}}

== Quotes ==
{{quote
|Our law will claim innocent men-for all judges are flawed, as is our knowledge. Eventually, you will execute someone who does not deserve it. This is the burden society must carry in exchange for order.
|Taravangian to Dalinar on executing three murderers and one innocent{{book ref|sa3|28}}
}}

{{quote
|Nightwatcher, Odium's victory will kill you too. Couldn't you gift me and not curse me? 
|Taravangian reflecting alone{{book ref|sa3|121}}
}}

== Trivia ==
* What happens to Taravangian increases multiple types of intelligence, not just raw 'processing power'. Someone tapping enough feruchemical zinc could achieve something similar but not quite the same.{{wob ref|3845}}
* Taravangian was deaf in the original draft of Way of Kings Prime. Brandon removed this part of Taravangian's character as he thought he had done it poorly.{{wob ref|1320}}{{wob ref|4204}}
* Taravangian would make a worse President of the United States than [[Rashek]].{{wob ref|13924}}

== Notes ==
{{holder
|title=King of [[Jah Keved]]
|prev=[[Valam]]
|this=
|next=[[Savrahalidem]]
}}
<div data-nosnippet>{{holder
|title= Vessel of<br />[[Odium]]
|prev=[[Rayse]]
|this=
|next=''None''
}}</div>

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[[category: viewpoint characters]]