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Difference between revisions of "Alethkar"
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The word ''Mathana'' was a formal term for an older sister,{{ref|b|sa1|c|22}} and for "aunt" it was ''Mashala''.{{ref|b|twok|c|60}}
=== Religion ===
Most of the Alethi were [[Vorin]], followers of the [[Almighty]]. The priests of Vorinism were called [[ardent]]s and were divided into [[Devotary|Devotaries]]. Vorinism had a large impact on the culture of Alethkar. Alethi each chose a profession and an attribute of the Almighty to emulate: a [[Calling]] and a Glory. These could be changed during life but it was generally frowned upon culturally. [[Soulcasting]] was considered sacred to the Alethi and so only the ardents were permitted to use Soulcasting [[fabrial]]s.
Each Princedom is synonymous with the [[highprince]] who rules it.
{{columns|
;[[House Kholin|Kholin]]: In the east of Alethkar
* [[Kholinar]] - Capital city of Alethkar
;[[Sebarial]]: In the south of Alethkar
* [[Rashir]]
|count=2}}
== Military ==
{| class="infobox" style="width: 22em;float:right;"
!colspan='3' style="text-align:center; background:#cce" |'''Chain of command'''
|-
! Unit
! Soldiers
! Typical Commander
|-
| subsquad
| 6–8
| sergeant
|-
| squad
| 25–50
| squadleader
|-
| —
| —
| captain/captainlord
|-
| company
| —
| companylord
|-
| battalion
| ~1000
| battalionlord
|-
| —
| —
| general
|-
| —
| —
| highmarshal
|-
| —
| —
| highprince
|}
The modern Alethi army is one of the strongest military forces on Roshar with well over 100,000 troops and over thirty [[Shardbearer]]s. 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; only the officers wield swords because, according to Vorin traditions, the sword is regarded as a lighteyed's weapon. 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. It is extremely rare for a darkeyed soldier to rise higher than the rank of squadleader.
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. 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, and cooperation between the highprinces themselves is seen as a weakness; 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.
Because of the immense size of the army and the difficulty of travel, [[Soulcasting]] plays a vital role to supply the army with wood, metal, food, and many other necessities, as well as to be 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.
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.
== Notable Alethi ==
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