Gavilar Kholin
| Gavilar Kholin | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Died | 1167 | ||||||||
| Abilities | Shardbearer | ||||||||
| Nationality | Alethi | ||||||||
| Homeworld | Roshar | ||||||||
Gavilar Kholin was King of Alethkar on Roshar, who was assassinated by Szeth, under orders by the Parshendi. He was a brother of Dalinar's and married to Navani. He sired Elhokar and Jasnah.
He was a ferocious fighter, strong leader, and was the momentum behind uniting Alethkar. He had strong features, square chin, a black beard with a hint of white, and pale green eyes.[1]
Gavilar and the Parshendi
In approximately 1165 Gavilar and Dalinar did an expedition to the south of the Shattered Plains where they found a group of "parshmen" living on their own. First they couldn't believe, but these parshmen were friendly, curious and learned the Alethi language quite easy. Gavilar's stormwardens begun calling them "Parshendi." Though Gavilar never had been the 'scholarly type' and nobody yet discovered why, he grew more and more fascinated by the Parshendi. Despite Dalinar's attempts to return to Aletkhar, Gavilar wanted to stay on the Shattered Plains to learn more about the Parshendi. Also they told Gavilar to lead him on the hunt for a great-shelled beast that had gemhearts.[2] It's also yet unknown why Gavilar made that treaty with the Parshendi and what caused the Parshendi to order Gavilar's assassination in that very night of the treaty signing.
Literature
There is "Gavilar's account",[3] dictated by Gavilar and written, one year before his murder, by Jasnah. Navani also published a book: "King Gavilar Kholin, A Biography".[2] Also there is "Matain's account."[2]
Assassination
Gavilar expected to be assassinated, but not by the Parshendi. His suspects included Thaidakar, Restares, and Torol Sadeas, despite being on apparent good terms with Sadeas at the time. Gavilar had a small, strange sphere that glowed with a black light; he gave this to Szeth before he died, saying, "You must take this. They must not get it." He wished his brother to know the "most important words a man can say", which Dalinar took to mean the words of the Knights Radiant.[1]
Shardblade
Gavilar's Shardblade, Firestorm [4], was six feet long with a design along the blade that resembled burning flames that "almost seemed to glow." Gavilar's Shards are now used for training purposes.[5]
Visions
Gavilar, on the day that he was slain, told Taravangian that he had seen visions of the Almighty and of a coming storm. [6]
Notes
| Preceded by foundation |
King of Alethkar |
Succeeded by Elhokar Kholin |