Rathalas
| Rathalas | |
|---|---|
| Nation | Alethkar |
| World | Roshar |
Rathalas, also known as the Rift, was a city in 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.
Geography
Rathalas was a tiered city built on struts up the side of chasm walls. It could be accessed from both plains above and the canyon mouth below the city.[1]
Rathalas is on the eastern shore of the Sea of Spears, and is near the Thanadal and Kholin princedoms.[2] It is situated close to the spren city of Celebrant within the Cognitive Realm.[3] Somewhere to the south-east is the waystop Vedelliar, however it is unknown whether this town is within the Eastern Crownlands or Unclaimed Hills.[4]
![[2]](#cite_note-Alethkar_Color.jpg-2){kind=link}
![[3]](#cite_note-Sea_of_Lost_Lights.jpg-3){kind=link}
The city resided within a deep chasm that narrows on 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.[5] 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.[5]
Politics
Prior to the unification of Alethkar, Rathalas is ruled by Brightlord Tanalan.[5] Nine years after Tanalan is killed, his son (with whom he shares a name) returns to the city leading to the possibility of rebellion in the region.[6] After eleven years of failed negotiations between King Gavilar Kholin and Tanalan, the city is razed to the ground to set an example and its people and leader slaughtered.
