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Hello everyone, I am Nightstar The Bright. I really enjoy reading Brandon Sanderson’s books, sometime after I read them all I began editing the Coppermind.
 
Hello everyone, I am Nightstar The Bright. I really enjoy reading Brandon Sanderson’s books, sometime after I read them all I began editing the Coppermind.
   
Notable pages I created or heavily edited.
+
Notable pages I reworked
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Court of Gods]]
 
* [[Court of Gods]]
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}}
   
! The following text is a collection of the information about the Alethi military !
+
! The following text is a collection of the information about Alethkar!
   
  +
Some Alethi live as herdsmen.{{book ref|sa1|1}}
== Military ==
 
{| class="infobox side" style="width: 22em; float:right; font-size: 88%;"
 
!colspan='3' style="text-align:center; background:#cce" |'''Chain of command'''
 
|-
 
! Unit
 
! Soldiers
 
! Typical Commander
 
|-
 
| subsquad
 
| 6–8
 
| sergeant
 
|-
 
| squad
 
| ~25
 
| squadleader
 
|-
 
| platoon
 
| ~50
 
| captain/captainlord
 
|-
 
| company
 
| ~100
 
| companylord
 
|-
 
| battalion
 
| ~1000
 
| battalionlord
 
|-
 
| division
 
| ~2000
 
| general
 
|-
 
| army
 
| —
 
| highprince
 
|-
 
|colspan='3' | <small>In companies made solely of lighteyes, the rank "lieutenant" is used as the equivalent of sergeant.</small>
 
|}
 
   
  +
- Slavery -
The modern Alethi military is one of the strongest armed forces on Roshar with well over 100,000 troops{{book ref|sa1|6}} and over thirty [[Shardbearer]]s.{{book ref|sa2|5}} The army employs most of its troops as spearmen and archers, as well as a very small amount of cavalry due to the rarity of horses on Roshar;{{book ref|sa1|6}} only the officers wield swords because, according to Vorin traditions, the sword is regarded as a lighteyed's weapon.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Soldiers are usually trained in one or two additional Skills, i.e. horse grooms.{{book ref|twok|28}} Under most circumstances, military service is voluntary, though the leaders of the army has the right of conscription for darkeyes that do not provide an essential function to a community (e.g. a town's only surgeon) when they feel there is need for additional troops.{{book ref|sa1|44}} It is extremely rare for a darkeyed soldier to rise higher than the rank of squadleader.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Lighteyed officers that have the command of a branch of the army are usually referred by their duties (e.g. cavalrylord, infantrylord).{{book ref|sa1|26}}
 
  +
A slaver must provide the reason someone was sold into slavery when he sells the slave, it is illegal to lie.{{book ref|sa1|4}}
   
  +
;
Despite Alethkar being a monarchy, the king has very little actual say in how the military is run and does not directly command any force other than the 250-strong King's Guard. The troops are sworn to and led by their individual highprinces.{{book ref|sa2|5}} In that sense, Alethkar army is not truly a unified army, but a loose coalition between ten smaller armies. Indeed, even in wartime, there is constant in-fighting between the highprinces' armies,{{book ref|sa1|47}} and cooperation between the highprinces themselves is seen as a weakness;{{book ref|sa1|54}} this is bolstered by the tenets of Vorinism that say the purpose of life is to prepare in order to join the Heralds in the fight to regain the [[Tranquiline Halls]] and Alethi belief that everything is a competition in life.{{book ref|sa1|15}}
 
   
  +
The largest family of animals on Roshar are known as [[greatshell]]s, which exist both on land and in the seas. All greatshells possess gemhearts and utilize them to attract [[mandra]]s to decrease their own weight. The land greatshells include domesticated herbivores known as [[chull]]s and two large predatory species, the [[chasmfiend]] and the extinct [[lanceryn]]. The marine greatshells include the [[yu-nerig]], which comes on land to pupate and is known to feed on humans,{{book ref|sa1|40}} and the [[Tai-na]], the largest animals known to inhabit the cosmere. Their legs are said to be sixty feet long, while the body itself stretches hundreds of feet tall. The back of Tai-na, which sticks out above water, is an ecosystem of its own, inhabited by multiple species of plants and animals, as well as humans.{{book ref|sa2|i|2}}
Because of the immense size of the army and the difficulty of travel, compounded by the poor supply line infrastructure of Alethkar,{{wob ref|3824}} [[Soulcasting]] plays a vital role in supplying the army with wood, metal, food, and many other necessities, as well as being used in building fortifications. The king controls most of the Soulcaster ardents; in fact, manipulating the highprinces with his Soulcasters is one of the ways that the king maintains a control over them.{{book ref|sa1|15}}
 
   
  +
The [[santhid]], a massive marine species with large shell and a number of tendrils, might be considered a greatshell, and houses its own ecosystem, much like the Tai-na; however, as they were considered half-mythical until very recently, it's impossible to state so with any certainty.{{book ref|sa2|1}}
Recently, in an effort to truly unify the kingdom, [[Dalinar Kholin]] has been appointed as the [[Highprince of War]] by the king. This title was used in Alethkar before being fragmented into ten princedoms when each highprince was given the ultimate authority over one aspect of the governing of the kingdom. On paper, this gives Kholin authority over all war-related activities.{{book ref|sa1|69}}
 
   
  +
;Domestication
The Alethi military is currently one of the major military forces fighting against the Fused Invasion, most notably during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]] and the Emuli Campaign.{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{book ref|sa4|19}}{{book ref|sa4|112}} Although many more battles and skirmishes were fought between the two armies between {{rosharan date|1173}} and {{rosharan date|1175}}.{{cite}} They also led the Evacuation of Hearthstone in early {{rosharan date|1175}}.{{book ref|sa4|1}} They are currently centered around and stationed in Urithiru.{{book ref|sa4|116}}
 
  +
Large number of domesticated creatures on Roshar are the imports from Ashyn. All forms of birds are domesticated; some for food, while others as pets. Hogs are kept for meat, minks, like birds, are pets, while horses are common riding mounts. Of the local wildlife, axehounds are often kept and bred, similar to dogs, while chulls are the primary mount for hauling cargo or for riders who cannot afford to keep a horse. Another greatshell species called a [[gumfrem]] is kept for its gemhearts, which can be used to [[Soulcast]] meat.{{book ref|sa3|10}}
   
=== Uniforms ===
 
Higher ranking officers are distinguished by knots on a cord across the epaulette, with the amount of knots and their colour signifying their military rank, and their rank in the Alethi caste system.{{book ref|sa1|1}}{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|17}}{{book ref|sa1|26}}{{book ref|sa1|46}}{{book ref|sa1|47}}{{book ref|sa1|58}}{{book ref|sa1|67}} White knots indicate a citizen officer, that is a sergeant or squadleader;{{book ref|sa1|1}}{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|46}} red knots indicate an officer of seventh dahn;{{book ref|sa1|46}} and gold knots indicate second or third dahn;{{book ref|sa1|26}}{{book ref|sa1|46}} It can also distinguish between low captain,{{book ref|sa1|67}} captain,{{book ref|sa2|25}}{{book ref|sa3|83}}{{book ref|sa3|117}} captainlord,{{book ref|sa3|63}} lieutenant,{{book ref|sa3|i|14}} sergeant,{{book ref|sa3|6}} and battalionlord.{{book ref|sa4|40}} Soldiers without authority bear no knots.{{book ref|sa1|17}}{{book ref|sa1|46}}{{book ref|sa1|67}}{{book ref|sa4|23}}
 
   
Exact uniform varies between armies, usually coloured to signify the banner they fight under.{{book ref|sa1|46}}{{book ref|sa1|58}}{{book ref|sa3|116}} Some men choose to further personalize their uniforms with embrodiery or colourful scarfs.{{book ref|sa2|44}} Uniforms are always worn with an undershirt alongside the uniform itself.{{book ref|sa3|59}}
 
   
=== Armaments ===
 
Darkeyed soldiers are primarily trained in spears and axes,{{book ref|sa1|26}} with swords being used only by higher-ranking lighteyes.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Axes, however, are a nonstandard weapon usually only given to squadleaders and above.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Some soldiers use halberds, although how common they are is unclear.{{book ref|sa4|77}}
 
   
Foot soldiers were typically armored with steel breastplates, while archers were clothed with leather vests.{{book ref|sa1|27}} Ordinary foot soldiers have minimal armor, typically not wearing arm or leg guards.{{book ref|sa1|27}} Darkeyes in the armies of Brightlords tend to be dressed in leather armor.{{book ref|sa4|108}} Wealthier lighteyed soldiers wear far finer suits of armor, indicative of their status.{{book ref|sa1|27}} Armor is often marked with a rank insignia that indicated the dahn and military position that a person is a part of.{{book ref|sa1|27}}
 
   
  +
== Geography ==
The Kholinar Wall Guard wears steel breastplates and helms.{{book ref|sa3|82}}
 
  +
{{image|Alethkar Color.jpg|side=right|width=300px|Map of Alethkar. Alethi territories (barring the [[Shattered Plains]]) are marked in purple.}}
   
=== Wages ===
+
=== Territories and Features ===
  +
==== Territories ====
Wages are based upon ones military rank and caste.{{book ref|sa3|2}} The average darkeyed soldier is payed five clearmarks a day.{{book ref|sa1|27}} Military slaves are paid less than half that of a darkeyed soldier, around one clearmark a day.{{book ref|sa1|27}}{{book ref|sa1|4}}
 
  +
Alethkar lies in eastern [[Roshar]], stretching across the entire continent, from the [[Steamwater Ocean]] in the North to the [[Tarat Sea]] in the South-West. To the East, it leans on the [[Unclaimed Hills]], while to the South, it reaches the nationless [[Frostlands]] and the [[Shattered Plains]], the latter of which it has recently claimed for itself. To the West, Alethkar has a long and long-disputed border with [[Jah Keved]], which currently follows two rivers and the bend of the [[Sunmaker Mountains]]. To the North-West, Alethkar borders [[Herdaz]] across a stretch of land decided through many years of border conflicts.{{map ref|Roshar}}{{book ref|sa3|52}}
   
  +
At the tail end of the [[Era of Solitude]], Alethkar is the largest state on Roshar, covering an area around 7,134,000 km<sup>2</sup>.{{17s ref|blog|634-roshar-physical-characteristics-and-areas|text=Roshar Physical Characteristics And Areas|date=2018-08-30|name=RosharAreas}}
=== Shards ===
 
According to official records, Alethkar possesses more [[Shardblade]]s than any other nation on Roshar, with only [[Jah Keved]] coming anywhere close.{{book ref|sa1|23}} These Shards are used effectively in combat to overwhelm non-Shardbearer armies.{{book ref|sa1|26}}
 
   
  +
Besides the mainland, the Alethi have a number of territories off the coast. On the [[Steamwater Ocean]], Alethkar has [[Akak]] and a number of surrounding islands, giving it complete control over the [[Bay of Elibath]]. On the [[Tarat Sea]] - more specifically, a region of it called [[Mevan Bay]] - it controls a number of small islands in the delta of [[Deathbend River]], near the city of [[Karanak]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
During the War of Reckoning, their Shardblades were used in order to cut through chasmfiend chrysalises in order to harvest gemhearts.{{book ref|sa1|12}}
 
   
=== Knights Radiant ===
+
==== Geographic Features ====
  +
It has numerous rivers crossing it, the two major ones being [[Windrunner River|Windrunner]] and [[Deathbend River|Deathbend]]. The Windrunner River runs East to West, from Unclaimed Hills to the Bay of Elibath, and has numerous tributaries across the northern half of the country. The Deathbend River likewise starts in the Unclaimed Hills, though it turns South, ultimately ending in the Mevan Bay, with one of its major tributaries being an enormous lake called the [[Sea of Spears]]. The North and South of Alethkar are divided by a long, cross-shaped masiff called the [[Sunmaker Mountains]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
Following the start of the True Desolation, a notably large amount of their army is made up of [[Knights Radiant]], primarily those of the [[Order of Windrunners]] and the [[Order of Edgedancers]], with a smaller but still notable number in the [[Order of Lightweavers]].{{book ref|sa4|3}}{{book ref|sa4|20}} They are used effectively as a means of transport and combat against the Fused and [[Regal]]s.{{book ref|sa4|9}}{{cite}}
 
{{image|Sadeas bridges.jpg|side=right|width=300px}}
 
   
=== Bridge Crews ===
+
=== Climate ===
  +
Due to how far east it is, Alethkar is buffeted by particularly heavy highstorms. This forces settlements to primarily be built on the leeward sides of laits.{{book ref|sa1|16}}{{cite}} These leeward sides are also far more lush with plant life, due to the protection the liats provide from powerful highstorm winds.{{file ref|Lait.jpeg|Lait study}}
{{for|Bridge crew}}
 
   
  +
Like the rest of Roshar, Alethkar does not experience true seasons, with them instead being defined by current temperature, climate, and storms, unrelated to irradiance.{{wob ref|11448}} The Alethi utilise stormwardens to predict the coming of seasons.
Bridge Crews were a very important part of the army during the War of Reckoning, serving as an expendable workforce that carried bridges to help soldiers cross over the large chasms between plateaus. They also acted as canon fodder for Parshendi bowmen, as to direct attention away from more trained and valued soldiers.{{book ref|sa1|32}} Due to this, bridgemen had a very high mortality rate, with around half a crew dying per run.{{book ref|sa1|9}}
 
   
 
=== Ecology ===
Each Bridge Crew was made up of 35-40 men, which were lead by a Bridge sergeant, who reports directly to the Brightlord in charge of the crews.{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|17}} Each crew has an internal leader elected amongst themselves known as the bridge leader, who has no official authority outside of that which his crewmembers choose to give him.{{book ref|sa1|14}} Members of bridge crews were typically payed five clearmarks a week, given on the third day of every week.{{book ref|sa1|11}}{{book ref|sa1|14}}{{book ref|sa1|27}}
 
 
==== Flora ====
  +
Despite the fact that Alethkar is far more exposed to the [[highstorm]]s than any country further West, large swathes of it are lush with animals and vegetation.{{book ref|sa3|5}} The flora one finds depends heavily on the region of Alethkar. In the northwest, common flora includes thickets of [[snarlbrush]], stout [[markel]] trees and [[stumpweight]] trees.{{book ref|sa1|31}} Alethkar also contains many fragile species of flora, such as vines and weeds, these species only grow in laits.
   
 
==== Fauna ====
The bridges used by Torol Sadeas's army are typically eight feet wide and two feet thick, with supports on both sides extending its width to sixteen feet. They are also thirty feet long, and allowed one to set up 8 men per column and 5 men per row.{{file ref|Sadeas_bridges.jpg|Bridge Run Interior Art}}
 
  +
[[Whitespine]]'s live in the area near Hearthstone and occasionally causes problems for travellers.{{book ref|sa1|31}} Ryshadium live wild in herds across Roshar, though they rarely stray into the western part of the continent. It is only after one chooses to bond a human that they allow themselves to be taken out of the wild.{{book ref|sa3|26}} Wild axehounds are social creatures who live and hunt in groups.{{book ref|wok|1}} also chull lmao.
   
  +
=== Notable cities ===
While not on bridge runs, they are typically used as cheap manpower to preform undesirable duties at war camps, such as chasm or latrine duty.{{book ref|sa1|27}}
 
  +
<!-- That the city has a name does not make it notable, so let's not list every city on the map -->
 
  +
{{for|Alethkar#Known_Princedoms|a more complete list|here}}
Not all highprinces made use of bridge crews, with Dalinar notably refusing to make direct use of them. He instead makes use of bridges on wheels, pulled by chulls. Due to being heavier and pulled by chulls instead of people, movement is significantly slower, but Dalinar makes use of it regardless as it results in a major reduction of casualties during plateau runs.{{book ref|sa1|26}}
 
  +
* [[Kholinar]] - the seat of [[House Kholin]] and the national capital following Alethkar's unification. The [[Alethela]] [[Oathgate]] is located there.
 
  +
* [[Rathalas]] - ruined city once known for being constructed in a massive canyon for safety. It was burned down by [[Dalinar Kholin]] following the rebellion of the local [[highprince]], [[Tanalan]].
Eventually, Sadeas' Bridge Crews were bought off of him by Dalinar for his Shardblade, who granted them freedom from slavery and promoted them to a battalion.{{book ref|sa1|69}}
 
  +
* [[Revolar]] - one of the largest cities in the [[Vamah]] princedom. During the [[True Desolation]], it's taken over by the [[Voidbringer]]s and used as a major assembly point for their armies.
 
  +
* [[Dumadari]] - a major city on the border of Alethkar and [[Jah Keved]].
 
  +
*[[Karanak]] — a major city in the south of Alethkar, it is located near the delta of the [[Deathbend River]]. Karanak was a major part of the Alethi defense during the True Desolation.
 
For the Alethi, being a leader is essentially the same as being a general. Officers wear something called an officer’s coat, which is long and meant to be unbuttoned. War banners mark divisions, battalions and companies, they are used to organise an army.{{book ref|sa4|27}} During the True Desolation, warfare began to change. There are far fewer large scale formations, those are far to easy to disrupt. Instead men spend their time in protected warcamps, occasionally making a sudden surge to claim ground and shove away the enemy. During this time battles changed from decisive engagements to several month long fights.{{book ref|sa4|43}} The Alethi quickly adapted to warfare against the [[Fused]] and [[Regal]]s. When there is an abundance of Shanay-Im the humans lock their shields together into a canopy, protecting from lances and spears, aside from that the humans have learned to use water to render the stormforms power unusable.{{book ref|sa4|42}}
 

Latest revision as of 07:48, 22 May 2024

Hello everyone, I am Nightstar The Bright. I really enjoy reading Brandon Sanderson’s books, sometime after I read them all I began editing the Coppermind.

Notable pages I reworked

! The following text is a collection of the information about Alethkar!

Some Alethi live as herdsmen.[1]

- Slavery - A slaver must provide the reason someone was sold into slavery when he sells the slave, it is illegal to lie.[2]

The largest family of animals on Roshar are known as greatshells, which exist both on land and in the seas. All greatshells possess gemhearts and utilize them to attract mandras to decrease their own weight. The land greatshells include domesticated herbivores known as chulls and two large predatory species, the chasmfiend and the extinct lanceryn. The marine greatshells include the yu-nerig, which comes on land to pupate and is known to feed on humans,[3] and the Tai-na, the largest animals known to inhabit the cosmere. Their legs are said to be sixty feet long, while the body itself stretches hundreds of feet tall. The back of Tai-na, which sticks out above water, is an ecosystem of its own, inhabited by multiple species of plants and animals, as well as humans.[4]

The santhid, a massive marine species with large shell and a number of tendrils, might be considered a greatshell, and houses its own ecosystem, much like the Tai-na; however, as they were considered half-mythical until very recently, it's impossible to state so with any certainty.[5]

Domestication

Large number of domesticated creatures on Roshar are the imports from Ashyn. All forms of birds are domesticated; some for food, while others as pets. Hogs are kept for meat, minks, like birds, are pets, while horses are common riding mounts. Of the local wildlife, axehounds are often kept and bred, similar to dogs, while chulls are the primary mount for hauling cargo or for riders who cannot afford to keep a horse. Another greatshell species called a gumfrem is kept for its gemhearts, which can be used to Soulcast meat.[6]



Geography[edit]

Map of Alethkar. Alethi territories (barring the Shattered Plains) are marked in purple.

Territories and Features[edit]

Territories[edit]

Alethkar lies in eastern Roshar, stretching across the entire continent, from the Steamwater Ocean in the North to the Tarat Sea in the South-West. To the East, it leans on the Unclaimed Hills, while to the South, it reaches the nationless Frostlands and the Shattered Plains, the latter of which it has recently claimed for itself. To the West, Alethkar has a long and long-disputed border with Jah Keved, which currently follows two rivers and the bend of the Sunmaker Mountains. To the North-West, Alethkar borders Herdaz across a stretch of land decided through many years of border conflicts.[7][8]

At the tail end of the Era of Solitude, Alethkar is the largest state on Roshar, covering an area around 7,134,000 km2.[9]

Besides the mainland, the Alethi have a number of territories off the coast. On the Steamwater Ocean, Alethkar has Akak and a number of surrounding islands, giving it complete control over the Bay of Elibath. On the Tarat Sea - more specifically, a region of it called Mevan Bay - it controls a number of small islands in the delta of Deathbend River, near the city of Karanak.[10]

Geographic Features[edit]

It has numerous rivers crossing it, the two major ones being Windrunner and Deathbend. The Windrunner River runs East to West, from Unclaimed Hills to the Bay of Elibath, and has numerous tributaries across the northern half of the country. The Deathbend River likewise starts in the Unclaimed Hills, though it turns South, ultimately ending in the Mevan Bay, with one of its major tributaries being an enormous lake called the Sea of Spears. The North and South of Alethkar are divided by a long, cross-shaped masiff called the Sunmaker Mountains.[10]

Climate[edit]

Due to how far east it is, Alethkar is buffeted by particularly heavy highstorms. This forces settlements to primarily be built on the leeward sides of laits.[11][citation needed] These leeward sides are also far more lush with plant life, due to the protection the liats provide from powerful highstorm winds.[12]

Like the rest of Roshar, Alethkar does not experience true seasons, with them instead being defined by current temperature, climate, and storms, unrelated to irradiance.[13] The Alethi utilise stormwardens to predict the coming of seasons.

Ecology[edit]

Flora[edit]

Despite the fact that Alethkar is far more exposed to the highstorms than any country further West, large swathes of it are lush with animals and vegetation.[14] The flora one finds depends heavily on the region of Alethkar. In the northwest, common flora includes thickets of snarlbrush, stout markel trees and stumpweight trees.[15] Alethkar also contains many fragile species of flora, such as vines and weeds, these species only grow in laits.

Fauna[edit]

Whitespine's live in the area near Hearthstone and occasionally causes problems for travellers.[15] Ryshadium live wild in herds across Roshar, though they rarely stray into the western part of the continent. It is only after one chooses to bond a human that they allow themselves to be taken out of the wild.[16] Wild axehounds are social creatures who live and hunt in groups.[1] also chull lmao.

Notable cities[edit]