Editing Jasnah Kholin

{{character
|image=Jasnah Shuravf.jpg
|family=[[House Kholin]]
|ancestors=[[Dalinar's father]], [[Sadees]]
|parents=[[Gavilar]], [[Navani]]
|siblings=[[Elhokar]]
|relatives=[[Dalinar]], [[Adolin]], [[Renarin]], [[Gavinor]], [[Kaves]]
|abilities={{tag+|elsecaller}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}}
|bonded=[[Ivory]]
|titles=Queen of [[Alethkar]]
|profession={{cat tag|Scholars|Historian}}
|groups={{tag|Knights Radiant}} <small>([[Order of Elsecallers|Elsecallers]])</small><br />{{tag|Veristitalians|link=Veristitalian}}
|born={{Rosharan date|1139}}{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|36}}
|'residence={{tag|Kholinar|cat=Residents of Kholinar}} <small>(formerly)</small>, {{tag|Urithiru|cat=Residents of Urithiru}}
|nation=Alethkar
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[The Way of Kings]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|It strikes me that religion&mdash;in its essence&mdash;seeks to take natural events and ascribe supernatural causes to them. I, however, seek to take supernatural events and find the natural meanings behind them. Perhaps that is the final dividing line between science and religion. Opposite sides of a card.
|Jasnah on why she researches [[Voidbringers]]{{book ref|sa1|72}}
}}

'''Jasnah Kholin''' is the queen of [[Alethkar]] on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa3|122}} She is a [[Surgebinder]] and [[Elsecaller]], with access to the [[Surge|Surges]] of [[Transformation]] and [[Transportation]], sometimes called "Elsecalling."{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}} She is the sister of the late King [[Elhokar Kholin|Elhokar]], daughter of the late King [[Gavilar Kholin|Gavilar]] and [[Navani Kholin|Navani]], niece of Highprince [[Dalinar Kholin|Dalinar]], aunt of royal heir [[Gavinor]], and cousin to [[Adolin]] and [[Renarin]]. She is known widely as a brilliant scholar and for her denunciation of [[Vorinism]].{{book ref|sa1|3}} She is a member of the [[Veristitalian]]s, an order of historians dedicated to reconstructing unbiased and factual accounts of the past in order to better understand the present.{{book ref|sa1|28}} She was training [[Shallan Davar]] as her [[ward]], but has since finished prior to the [[Urithiru#Capture_of_Urithiru|capture of Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa1|8}}{{book ref|sa4|21}}

== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Jasnah by Nozomi.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Jasnah wearing her [[Shardplate]]}}

=== Appearance ===
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Jasnah is a reserved and statuesque woman. She is widely praised for her beauty, always graceful and dressed immaculately. She is tall and slender with a full chest. She has tan skin and deep black hair that, when unbound, reaches the middle of her back - though she usually puts it up in intricate braids.{{book ref|sa3|39}} She has a squarish face and pale violet eyes with an [[Wikipedia: epicanthic fold|epicanthic fold]].{{book ref|sa1|5}}

=== Personality ===
{{quote
|You two are a pair of nails in the same doorframe. Stern, hard, and storming annoying to pull free.
|[[Navani]] about [[Dalinar]] and [[Jasnah]]{{book ref|sa1|28}}
}}

Jasnah is generally a stern and serious person, although she occasionally shows a wry sense of humor,{{book ref|sa1|29}} and allows familiarity among those she is close with.{{book ref|sa3|15}} She sometimes acts in a brusque manner, and can be exceptionally rude when someone gets on her bad side.{{book ref|sa1|33}} She is determined, confident, and often stubborn.{{book ref|sa1|8}} She can be extremely tough and ruthless, as she showed when she killed four footpads that attacked her and Shallan. She harbors a deep hatred towards men like them, possibly because of something that has been done to her in the past.{{book ref|sa1|36}} 

She can be temperamental and prone to aggressive verbal outbursts when under stress, even when such a reaction isn't warranted or appropriate. When she calms down, and feels that her response was unwarranted, she feels guilty and apologizes to the target of her outburst.{{book ref|sa1|8}} She recognizes this temper as one of her flaws.{{book ref|sa1|8}} 

She has a brilliant mind and shows wisdom and care in her studies.{{book ref|sa1|3}} She is very passionate about scholarship and wants others to share in her passion as well.{{book ref|sa1|29}} She often encourages her ward, Shallan, to come up with answers on her own, rather than simply giving them to her.{{book ref|sa1|36}} She also deeply appreciates when people pursue knowledge out of desire to learn and expand their knowledge, rather than for any ulterior motive.{{book ref|sa1|8}} Furthermore, she respects and encourages persistence in others.{{book ref|sa1|8}} She considers history to be the most important literary sub art, as she believes that the present can only be fully understood by understanding the past in a factual and unbiased manner.{{book ref|sa1|45}}

She is prejudiced against the visual arts, going so far as to call them frivolities, although having Shallan as her ward may have changed her opinions on the subject.{{book ref|sa1|5}} 

She has also been shown to have some sort of aversion to darkness, or at the very least shadows, as seen when she became uneasy while staring at a shadow.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} Jasnah seems to have faced some sort of trauma as a child; Dalinar mentions her "lunacy" in conversation with Gavilar and she has memories of being locked in a dark room when she was a child, which taught her that even the people she loved could hurt her.{{book ref|sa3|47}} No one else seems to remember it in the modern day, but Jasnah is terrified of it happening again to her.{{book ref|sa3|49}}

Jasnah is an atheist.{{book ref|sa1|29}} This has caused her a significant amount of problems and led to her being ostracized, but she has never compromised in her beliefs for the sake of appearances.{{book ref|sa1|28}} While she is confident in her lack of faith in the [[devotary|devotaries]], like the true scholar that she is, she also always keeps an open mind to the possibility of being wrong. She is content to keep her beliefs to herself, and doesn't particularly care about converting anyone else.{{book ref|sa1|29}}

Jasnah is asexual but is willing to be intimate with a person she cares for.{{book ref|sa4|17}}{{wob ref|14288}} She also prefers that her sexuality not be a matter of discussion.{{wob ref|12642}}

== Attributes and Abilities ==
{{image|Ivory Jasnah.png|side=left|width=250px|Jasnah and [[Ivory]]}}
=== Surgebinding ===
Jasnah has a [[Nahel bond]] with the [[inkspren]] [[Ivory]] which gives her the ability to Surgebind.{{book ref|sa2|3}} She has access to the Surges of [[Transformation]] and [[Transportation]].{{book ref|sa1|72}} As with all Surgebinders, she has superhuman speed, strength and healing when she holds Stormlight. She has demonstrated her ability to Soulcast multiple times, as well as the power to enter and leave Shadesmar (the [[Cognitive Realm]]). She is a [[Knights Radiant|Knight Radiant]] of the [[Order of Elsecallers]].

==== Transformation ====
The Surge of Transformation allows Jasnah to [[Soulcasting|Soulcast]]. Jasnah can use Soulcasting in various ways with great precision, ranging from burning letters into a page,{{book ref|sa1|33}} to transforming boulders into smoke,{{book ref|sa1|5}} and even purifying Shallan's blood from a poison called backbreaker powder.{{book ref|sa1|50}} She also used Soulcasting as a very deadly weapon when she and Shallan were attacked by four footpads in Kharbranth and she Soulcast their assailants into fire, crystal and smoke.{{book ref|sa1|36}} They were even more dramatically demonstrated when she fought Odium's forces in the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|118}} She has expressed that she is not very capable of Soulcasting organics and she was, indeed, unable to successfully Soulcast the strawberry jam that Kabsal brought to Shallan's hospital room.{{book ref|sa1|48}} It is widely believed that her failure was due in part to the fact that she had never tasted strawberries.{{book ref|sa1|72}}

She has also shown the ability to Soulcast multiple targets from a distance. In this method of Soulcasting, bolts of Stormlight can be seen traveling towards the intended target. When Jasnah used this ability to transform two men into smoke, it caused the [[Polestone#Smokestone|smokestone]] she used to shatter, indicating that this method may use more Stormlight than regular Soulcasting.{{book ref|sa1|36}} This ability may be a specialized version of Soulcasting or a distinct ability resulting from a combination of the Surges of Transformation and Transportation.

Initially Jasnah pretends to use a fake Soulcaster fabrial to disguise her Surgebinding abilities from the public.{{book ref|sa1|70}}

==== Transportation ====
Jasnah can transport herself into and out of the Cognitive Realm, along with at least her clothing and small physical objects. Going all the way into the Cognitive Realm appears to require a greater degree of cooperation from Ivory and returning to the Physical Realm seems to require something more that going to the Cognitive does not.{{book ref|sa3|33}} It is unclear whether she can transport other people or object into Shadesmar, though she did retrieve Shallan from Shadesmar after her ward entered with not enough Stormlight available to return.{{book ref|sa1|70}}

Jasnah can identify Fused based on sight.{{book ref|sa3.5|10}}

==== Resonance ====
{{theory}}
As a Knight Radiant who has access to two Surges she also has a [[resonance]].{{wob ref|1296}} When she met [[Hoid]] after returning from the [[Cognitive Realm]], she immediately starts walking towards the nearest town, which prompts Hoid to think she has "a good sense of direction."{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}} Some suspect this indicates that the Elsecaller resonance is some sort of internal GPS that, at least, allows them to determine their exact location and the direction to the nearest settlement. Her sense of direction could also be due to seeing the lights of human souls in the Cognitive Realm. Brandon has not clearly confirmed or denied this.{{wob ref|6740}}

{{image|Jasnah Writing by Alba R.jpg|side=left|width=200px}}

=== Scholarship ===
Jasnah is one of the leading scholars of her time, and is widely known for her brilliance. Despite her young age, many feel she would have obtained the cap of a master scholar if it weren't for her vocal denunciation of the Vorin religion.{{book ref|sa1|3}} Her focus and area of expertise is history. As a Veristitalian, she looks to create a factual and unbiased account of the past events that she feels are misrepresented, in order to better understand the present.{{book ref|sa1|45}}

While researching, Jasnah prefers to collect various passages related to her subject from various sources in a single annotated, and cited notebook. Once she fills the notebook, she evaluates each item for reliability and usefulness, then copies them into different, more specific notebooks.{{book ref|sa1|42}}

==== Parshendi-Voidbringer Theory ====
Jasnah was among the first to predict that the Parshendi were the Voidbringers and that the Desolation was coming,{{book ref|sa1|74}} along with organizations such as the [[Ghostbloods]] and the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]]. Until it was proven,{{book ref|sa2|81}} the theory relied heavily on metaphorical texts and folk tales, both thousands of years old and translated through many [[Wikipedia:Proto-language|proto-languages]].{{epigraph ref|sa1|32}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|35}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|38}} Her most substantial proof was the shadow, ash and flame references in her sources that she believed were referring to the red and black skin color of the Parshendi, as well as the reported sudden appearance of Voidbringers which she thought similar to the way the Parshendi assassinated her father, King Gavilar, apparently out of nowhere.{{book ref|sa1|72}}

== History ==
{{image|Young Jasnah and Navani by Audrey Hotte.jpg|side=right|height=200px}}
=== Early Life (1139—1167) ===
Jasnah Kholin was born in {{Rosharan date|1139}} to Gavilar and Navani Kholin. Her brother, Elhokar, was born eight years later in {{Rosharan date|1147}}.{{book ref|sa1|12}} She became a princess of Alethkar when Gavilar united the [[highprince]]s and became the king in {{Rosharan date|1163}}. At about ages twelve to thirteen, Jasnah suffered from a case of lunacy.{{book ref|sa3|49}} When Jasnah reflects on this period of time, she remembers a dark room and screaming her voice ragged. According to her, this was when she learned that people she loved could still hurt her.{{book ref|sa3|47}}

Jasnah transcribed Gavilar's account of his first meeting with the [[Parshendi]] in {{Rosharan date|1166}}.{{book ref|sa1|36}} She didn't know what to think of the changes in Gavilar around that time,{{book ref|sa1|15}} but felt connected to her father for the first time.{{book ref|sa1|45}} She was very interested in studying the Parshendi and the [[Shattered Plains]]. She suspected that the ruins in the Plains were extremely important, and that scholars had been searching for said ruins for a long time.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}

Before Jasnah became famous as a heretic of Vorinism, her father wanted her to marry Amaram. Convinced that her plan to become a famous atheist would fail, Gavilar heartily disapproved of her denunciation of Vorinism, and wished her to return to the church and marry Amaram. Gavilar was sure that this was the only secure future for his daughter.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} Jasnah refused the betrothal long before her father died, but Gavilar was still trying to convince her to take the offer of marriage on the night he was killed, and Amaram still pursued her for years after the fact. Jasnah continued rebuffing his advances whenever their paths crossed, and he was bitter toward her for years.{{book ref|sa2|37}}

{{image|Their Farewell by Marie Seeberger.jpg|Jasnah and [[Dalinar]] at [[Gavilar]]'s funeral|side=left|height=300px}}

=== The Research (1167—1173) ===
==== Singer Betrayal ====
In {{Rosharan date|1167}}, Jasnah attended the feast held in the [[Kholinar]] Palace after the signing of the Parshendi treaty. While walking to a meeting with an assassin named [[Liss]] with the intention of killing Elhokar's wife [[Aesudan Kholin|Aesudan]], she noticed her shadow pointing toward the light. She walked past Highprince [[Torol Sadeas|Sadeas]] and a [[Shinovar|Shin]] [[Szeth-son-son-Vallano|servant in white clothing]], and subsequently came across her father in quiet conference with [[Meridas Amaram]]. Once Amaram left, Jasnah asked Gavilar what he commanded Amaram, but Gavilar deflected the question and left hastily, leading her to wonder if he knew about her plans regarding Aesudan. Walking onward, Jasnah's shadow again acted oddly, and this time formed into a "man of midnight blackness [with] a certain reflective cast, as if he were made of oil."{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} He carried an unsheathed sword. In panic, Jasnah went into [[Shadesmar]] for the first time. There, the shadowy figure sheathed its sword, and Jasnah fell into the sea of glass beads. Before she drowned, Jasnah managed to find the glass bead corresponding to the Kholinar Palace, and using that as her guide, willed herself to rise to the surface, standing on a platform of glass beads. From there, she formed the corridor she'd stood in before leaving the [[Physical Realm]], and when the shadowy figure stepped onto her platform with its sword drawn, she formed a statue of [[Talenel|Talenelat'Elin]]. She confronted the figure, and it saluted and bowed, then left. When Jasnah returned to the Physical Realm, all the spheres lining the hallway walls were dun.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}

Jasnah met with Liss but decided not to assassinate Aesudan, instead ordering Liss to survey her. Jasnah asked Liss about the servant she wanted to show off, but Liss answered that she had sold her Shin servant to a slaver weeks ago for being too good a slave. Hearing that the servant was Shin, Jasnah recalled the servant in white clothing and decided to look into him.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}

Jasnah hesitated in returning to the party after she heard the music in the dining hall stop abruptly. She ran into [[Nale]] and [[Kalak]], two "ambassadors from the west" who had been invited by the king.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|77}} Jasnah heard sudden screams and ran toward them, fearing for her family's safety. The sounds led to her father's chambers, and the way was littered with corpses with burned eyes and the walls marked by [[Shardblade]] cuts. She eventually reached a balcony and saw her father in his [[Shardplate]], called to him and made him hesitate. The balcony broke beneath [[Gavilar]], and Jasnah saw the servant she'd seen before fall down with her father. The Shin man somehow changed direction in the air, and fell onto the wall, completely ignoring gravity. While crying to herself, Jasnah was approached by three [[singers]], [[Klade]], [[Gangnah]] and [[Varnali]]. They took responsibility for the assassination and told Jasnah they were sorry for her loss but explained that Gavilar had to be stopped from doing something dangerous. Gavilar, as a member of the [[Sons of Honor]], was trying to bring back the [[Fused]] in the hopes that the [[Knights Radiant]] would return, reinstating the dominance of the Vorin church.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} Sadeas stumbled in, saw what happened, and ran toward Gavilar's corpse, where they found [[Szeth]]'s note to [[Dalinar]] written in Gavilar's blood, telling him to find the most important [[Immortal Words|words]] a man could say.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} Jasnah later discovered that this was a direct quote from [[The Way of Kings (in-world)|''The Way of Kings'']] by [[Nohadon]].{{book ref|sa1|15}}

Hours later, they discovered that the admission and the surrender of those three of the [[Council of Five]] covered the escape of the rest of the singers. Dalinar sent several failed expeditions after the escapees. After refusing to divulge information, the three singers were hanged. Jasnah interrogated Liss and the King's guards about the Assassin in White to no avail, and for the next half-decade would turn to [[The Way of Kings/Epigraphs#Jasnah's Notes|ancient books]] for her answers.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}

==== Travels ====
After the death of her father, she started drawing parallels between the Parshendi and the [[Voidbringers]].{{book ref|sa1|74}} Eventually, she discovered her [[Surgebinding]] abilities, and started carrying a [[Jasnah's Soulcaster|fake Soulcaster]] [[fabrial]] to disguise she was a [[Surgebinder]].{{book ref|sa1|72}} At some point, she made her way to the warcamps in the Shattered Plains, but eventually her studies took her elsewhere.{{book ref|sa1|18}} She left a copy of her notes at an information center in Tashikk for safekeeping.{{book ref|sa3|47}}

In {{Rosharan date|1172}}, she received a letter from [[Shallan Davar]], asking for wardship. She replied to Shallan to meet her in [[Dumadari]] in two weeks' time, though she didn't really expect her to make it. She spent the next six months traveling from town to town, leaving notes for Shallan when she left so the young woman could follow her. She eventually reached [[Kharbranth]] in {{Rosharan date|1173}}.{{book ref|sa1|3}}

===Discovering a Potential Knight Radiant===
==== A New Ward ====
{{image|Jasnah Soulcasting.jpg|width=250px|side=right|Jasnah soulcasting street thugs}}
She found out King [[Taravangian]]'s [[Taravangian's granddaughter|granddaughter]] was trapped in one of the palace rooms after a highstorm caused a boulder to fall down from the walls, blocking the way in. Taravangian asked for Jasnah's help, to free his granddaughter by [[Soulcasting]] the stone. Jasnah accepted to help, in return for free admittance to the [[Palanaeum]]. Shallan Davar, a prospective ward, caught up with her at this point and Jasnah evaluated Shallan's knowledge. Once they reached the boulder that had trapped the king's granddaughter, Jasnah Soulcast the stone into smoke, causing the newly formed smoke to explode because of the difference in density of rock and smoke. After this, she informed Shallan that she wasn't good enough to become her ward. Jasnah left Shallan behind and went to the Palanaeum.{{book ref|sa1|5}} After she collected the books she wanted, she returned to the alcove she'd reserved, and found Shallan there. She was angry to be defied, and told Shallan, not in a kind way, to leave her alone. Shallan, in her embarrassment and disappointment, forgot the [[spheres]] she had used for illumination inside the alcove. Jasnah asked her to return and apologized to her for her rudeness. She found out that Shallan was self-taught and found it remarkable, promising if she filled the gaps in her knowledge, she would accept her as her ward. A few hours later, the servants informed her that Shallan was back and that she had her own alcove, intent on studying while in Kharbranth and applying for wardship again. Jasnah decided that if she could not get rid of Shallan, she might as well make use of her and accepted her as her ward.{{book ref|sa1|8}}

She spent the next two months studying and teaching Shallan, in particular having her study the events around the death of King Gavilar, to some frustration from Shallan.{{book ref|sa1|29}} During this time, she talked with her uncle, Dalinar, over [[spanreed]] about her studies, though she didn't mention specifics because they weren't speaking in person. Dalinar asked her to come back to the Shattered Plains, saying her presence was sorely missed, to which Jasnah replied she would eventually be back. Jasnah asked Dalinar to describe the events of the expedition where he and Gavilar first discovered the Parshendi. She also had Shallan draw a copy of a picture that was said to be a Voidbringer for him and Adolin. Dalinar and Adolin told her that the picture was of a [[chasmfiend]], made slightly more menacing than it really was. Jasnah replied that she didn't think that the figure in the picture really belonged to a Voidbringer and that the artist simply chose to draw the most intimidating she could think of.{{book ref|sa1|28}} Taravangian joined her and Shallan for lunch one day, where he and Jasnah talked about religion and Jasnah's lack of belief in one. Taravangian asked her about the Soulcaster, but Jasnah refused to answer. He also asked Shallan to make a drawing of him. Shallan happily accepted, but later crumpled it and refused to show it to them, claiming she made a mistake. Jasnah remarked that Shallan never made mistakes while drawing.{{book ref|sa1|29}}

A few days later, she found Shallan and the [[Ardent]] [[Kabsal]] in their alcove while he was showing Shallan the [[cymatics|cymatic]] patterns for the four cities of Kholinar, [[Vedenar]], [[Thaylen City|Thaylen]] and [[Akinah]] as a proof of the [[Almighty]]'s existence. Jasnah didn't show surprise by his demonstration, and asked if he could show the cymatic pattern for [[Urithiru]] as well, to which Kabsal answered Urithiru was a fable. She was rude to him, even insulting him and [[ardentia]] in general. Once Kabsal left, she told Shallan that he wasn't really interested in her, and was only getting close to Shallan, in order to turn her against Jasnah, and get her to steal Jasnah's Soulcaster.{{book ref|sa1|33}}

{{image|Jasnah and Shallan by Connor Chamberlain.jpg|side=left|width=350px|Studying with [[Shallan]]}}

After one of their talks about King Gavilar and the Parshendi, Jasnah remarked that Shallan looked anxious and decided to shift her training from history to philosophy, which she claimed was a more hands-on field of study. She took Shallan, in the middle of the night, to a roadway that she knew to be hunted by footpads, showing her wealth. Soon, four men came and attacked the two women and Jasnah, using Soulcasting, killed the men and left the corpse of one as crystal in the middle of the roadway. Shallan was horrified to see her kill the men, especially with the Soulcaster which Shallan considered holy. Jasnah told Shallan to research and consider the morality of the killing.{{book ref|sa1|36}} When Shallan reported her findings to her two weeks later. Jasnah disagreed with her, but she acknowledged that Shallan had put rational thought behind her opinion. She claimed the lesson was instructive and gave Shallan the rest of the day off. Shortly after Shallan rejoined Jasnah, saying that what she wanted to do with her free time was study.{{book ref|sa1|42}}

Jasnah first shared parts of her work with Shallan after a conversation about Gavilar and the Parshendi had turned to one about Urithiru and the Voidbringers. Of course, Shallan was not included in all elements of the research until her tentative reconciliation with Jasnah after the attempted theft of the Soulcaster.{{book ref|sa1|72}} Shallan suggested that Urithiru was in the Shattered Plains. Jasnah, however, was convinced it was located in the center of the [[Silver Kingdoms]].

Shallan left for several hours, allegedly retrieving [[Tifandor]]'s biography of Gavilar. She returned with Kabsal, insistent on drawing his portrait. Jasnah, annoyed by the distraction, left the alcove. Jasnah later saw Shallan emerge agitated about another drawing error, headed toward her quarters. Jasnah, concerned for her ward, followed her. When she found Shallan on the ground, bleeding from a cut on her wrist, she assumed it was a suicide attempt and immediately called for help. Shallan was taken to one of Taravangian's hospitals.{{book ref|sa1|45}}

==== The Theft of the Soulcaster ====
{{image|Jasnah Kholin by Lyraina.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Jasnah Kholin and her Soulcaster}}
Jasnah spent the next two days outside Shallan's hospital room. Once she was allowed inside the room, she apologized to Shallan, although she didn't prove to be very proficient at apologizing which Shallan attributed to Jasnah's ineptitude at making mistakes. Becoming serious again, Jasnah claimed she may have done the world a disservice and stolen from it one of the great scholars of the rising generation by overworking Shallan. She gave her an empty book, and called it ''[[The Book of Endless Pages]]'', and cautioned her to seek out the [[devotary|Devotary of Sincerity]] of whom the book was the guide. Kabsal joined them, and, as was typical in their interactions, Jasnah was cool and rude to him. He let it slip that Shallan was returning to her home and Jasnah, while initially surprised, agreed that it was the best for her. Kabsal revealed the strawberry jam and the bread she brought for Shallan. After being insisted by Shallan, Jasnah decided to eat some of it as well, but as her habit while accepting food from someone, she Soulcast the jam and the bread to purify them of any poisons. She was unsuccessful with the jam and the result was a rotten mush that was uneatable. Kabsal ate the jam anyway and tried to get Shallan to eat as well, though when she refused he tried to run out but collapsed before reaching the door. The same happened with Shallan a few seconds later. When Jasnah told her that she had to Soulcast her blood to get the poison out, Shallan revealed Jasnah's fake Soulcaster fabrial, apparently having stolen it. Jasnah healed her and Shallan fell unconscious.{{book ref|sa1|48}}

Furious and hurt at the apparent betrayal from her ward, Jasnah confronted Shallan when she woke up. She initially thought that Shallan had stolen her Soulcaster for one of the devotaries, but Shallan informed her that she had intended to use it for her own purposes; that [[Lin Davar|her father]] was dead and [[House Davar]] was bankrupt, and that she had become Jasnah's ward to steal the Soulcaster in the first place. Jasnah told Shallan that she would be leaving for home the next day on a ship she'd arranged and that Kabsal was dead. She also told her that he had been using Shallan to assassinate her the whole time because the bread he'd been bringing Shallan was poisoned with [[backbreaker powder]] and the jam contained the antidote. She left the room, leaving Shallan behind in tears.{{book ref|sa1|50}}

Despite Jasnah's instructions, Shallan came to her alcove and guessed that the Soulcaster Jasnah wore was a fake and she could Soulcast without a fabrial. Jasnah initially tried to deny this, but was shocked to see Shallan reveal a depiction of [[Shadesmar]]. Shallan told Jasnah that she'd stolen the Soulcaster fabrial on the night when Jasnah killed the four footpads and that she could Surgebind as well. When Jasnah didn't believe her, Shallan entered Shadesmar with a dim sphere to prove her claim. Jasnah followed her and brought her back, admonishing her for trying to enter Shadesmar with only a dim sphere. Shallan asked Jasnah to teach her and said that she wanted to be a part of Jasnah's studies. Jasnah was reluctant at first, but eventually accepted with the promise that she would never lie to Jasnah or steal from anyone ever again.{{book ref|sa1|70}} She went on to tell Shallan about Surgebinding, the Knights Radiant, and her theory about the Parshendi and the Voidbringers. When Shallan told Jasnah of the [[cryptic]]s following her, Jasnah explained that both of them were of the two different orders with the ability to Soulcast. After reading Jasnah's notes regarding the Voidbringers,{{book ref|sa1|72}} Shallan came to the same conclusion as her mentor: the Parshendi were Voidbringers. Jasnah was pleased to have convinced at least one person. She then told Shallan that, having exhausted all that Kharbranth had to offer, they would leave for the Shattered Plains the next day. She warned Shallan that there were others after this information, mentioning the [[Ghostbloods]] specifically; she showed Shallan their symbol, found on Kabsal's body. Shallan was horrified to recognize it and told Jasnah that her father might have been a member.{{book ref|sa1|74}} Jasnah hired Captain [[Tozbek]] and the ''[[Wind's Pleasure]]'' to take her and Shallan to the Shattered Plains, and the two women departed Kharbranth.{{book ref|sa2|1}}

=== Shipwreck and Apparent Death (1173) ===
{{image|Of Power and Perception by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=350px|Talking with [[Shallan]] aboard the ''[[Wind's Pleasure]]''}}

During their days sailing, Shallan occasionally asked Jasnah about the Ghostbloods, but Jasnah claimed to know very little of them beyond the fact that they wanted her research and were willing to kill for it. While on the ship, Jasnah began making arrangements to help Shallan's family: she contacted Navani via spanreed to ask whether Shallan's Soulcaster could be fixed; in the same conversation, arranged a tentative causal betrothal -- an unofficial agreement, unwitnessed by ardents -- between [[Adolin Kholin|Adolin]] and Shallan; and arranged for a relatively small amount of money to be sent to the [[House Davar|Davar family]]. It was on the ship that she explained the nature of Shadesmar and the spren to Shallan at length, showing a good understanding of the [[Realmatic Theory]]. She claimed that the meeting was not an accident, that the spren had guided Shallan to her, and that the old ways were returning because spren sensed an impending danger and were trying to preserve themselves. Jasnah also explained about the perception of power.

Jasnah was murdered by mercenaries associated with [[Tyn]] who were trying to get into the Ghostbloods.{{book ref|sa2|34}}{{book ref|sa2|42}} Though she was stabbed through the heart, she was able to escape to Shadesmar using the [[Surgebinding#Transportation|Surge of Transportation]], then heal herself with Stormlight.{{book ref|sa2|7}}{{book ref|sa3|33}} Jasnah reappeared in the [[Physical Realm]] after the summoning of the [[Everstorm]], having learned about the original [[Knights Radiant]] in her time away. Jasnah met [[Hoid|Wit]] on her way and threatened him with a Shardblade, presumably her spren [[Ivory]].{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}

=== Return to the Physical Realm (1173—) ===
After her travel through the Cognitive Realm, Jasnah headed to [[Urithiru]] to resume her fight against the [[Voidbringers]]. She observed many of Dalinar's visions, searching for hints about locations and time periods in which they took place to try to glean more information about pre-[[Aharietiam]] Roshar and the ancient Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa3|33}} She was unable to identify distinguishing landmarks, either because the landscape had changed over time or because they were in uncharted territory, but she did identify [[Jezrien|Jezerezeh, king of the Heralds]], in the vision of Aharietiam.{{book ref|ob|42}}

After Dalinar released the vision proclaiming [[Honor]]'s death, he was labeled as a pariah and an outcast by ardents, colleagues, and former friends -- groups that were not necessarily mutually exclusive -- and eventually excommunicated from the Vorin church. Identifying a shared struggle between herself and her uncle, Jasnah offered sympathy and counsel on being an outcast in Alethi society.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

As Jasnah returned, her taking part in meetings with Roshar's world leaders inspired conflict between her and Shallan, who now resented being treated like a ward. Their first clash occurred shortly after Jasnah asked Shallan to take notes in a meeting. Jasnah later confronted Shallan about her rebellious attitude and lack of responsibility, chastising her for skipping meetings or arriving late, though she lessened the blow by expressing admiration for Shallan's accomplishments while Jasnah was stuck in the Cognitive Realm. Shallan proposed terminating her wardship, but Jasnah refused.{{book ref|sa3|39}} In another meeting, Shallan rebuked [[Janala Lustow|Janala]] after she insulted Renarin; After scolding Shallan once again, Jasnah confided that she didn't often take wards because she was bad at instructing them and keeping them in check. Shortly after, Shallan, resentful at returning to a more lowly position, decided to journey with [[Kaladin]], [[Adolin Kholin|Adolin]], and [[Elhokar Kholin|Elhokar]] to [[Kholinar]] just to get away from Jasnah and her orders.{{book ref|sa3|44}}

During their overlapping time in Urithiru, Jasnah observed Shallan's slow mental deterioration, which Ivory had warned her about.{{book ref|sa3|47}}{{book ref|sa3|53}}

==== Stopping the Voidbringers ====
{{image|At Urithiru - Library by Marie Seeberger.jpg |side=left|width=300px|Exploring the [[Urithiru gem archive]]}}

In Urithiru, Jasnah contacted two colleagues of hers, both Veristitalians, who studied under the same master as she. She had lost her spanreeds when the ''[[Wind's Pleasure]]'' sank, and had to contact them through an intermediary in one of [[Tashikk]]'s famous information centers, using a scribe she'd personally interviewed and bribed to maintain confidentiality. [[Ethid]], an [[Azir|Azish]] [[Azir#Religion|Scion]], told Jasnah about the sightings of [[Nalan]] in Azir. Their other colleague, Jochi, a male Thaylen baker who used a pen name to publish his writings on philosophy, did not believe them at first. Ethid wrote of [[Lift]]'s antics during the selection of the new [[Prime]], as well as their suspicions that the lawkeeper who tried to kill Lift was Nalan, and that Lift was an [[Order of Edgedancers|Edgedancer]].{{book ref|sa3|53}} They also discussed the strange behavior of the Thaylen Parshmen, who stole ships and set out to sea. This data, combined with Kaladin's very different interactions with the Alethi Parshmen{{book ref|sa3|31}} and Dalinar's learning about the behavior of the Azish Parshmen,{{book ref|sa3|65}} lead Jasnah to wonder about the different Parshendi social constructs. During the conversation, Jasnah saw Renarin conversing with his spren and asked Ethid about descriptions of [[Order of Truthwatchers|Truthwatcher]] [[spren]]. She took notice of her cousin's strange behavior and decided to investigate his Nahel bond and the proper spren for the Truthwatchers.{{book ref|sa3|53}}

Jasnah knew that the humans were the true Voidbringers before anyone else, having learned the fact from Wit when she found him after returning to the physical realm.{{book ref|sa3|47}} Nevertheless, she took an anti-pacifist stance in strategy meetings after [[Kaladin]] suggested negotiating with the Parshendi, arguing that the Voidbringers were ruthless creatures who needed to be stopped rather than oppressed citizens who deserved the same rights as humans.{{book ref|ob|39}} Jasnah also advocated to find the [[Heralds]] and kill them, thus restoring the [[Oathpact]] and returning the [[Fused]] to [[Damnation]]. Her plan was shot down by Dalinar and Kaladin. In addition, Jasnah suggested that humans try to regain control over the [[Shinovar|Shin]] [[Oathgate]] second -- as opposed to the one in Azir or Thaylenah, which her uncle had been trying to do -- so that they could cross all of Roshar in one bound. The plan did not work in execution, as the Shin were unresponsive to Dalinar's entreaties, possibly because they didn't want it to be discovered that the [[Honorblade]]s were kept there.{{book ref|sa3|106}}

==== Battle of Thaylen Field (1174) ====
{{image|Jasnah vs Thrill.jpg|width=400px|side=right|Jasnah fighting Thrill berserkers}}
At the beginning of the Battle of Thaylen Field, Jasnah made a plan to protect her uncle and evacuate Thaylen city. She seemed to have known it was coming beforehand, having worn flexible garb in preparation.{{book ref|sa3|115}} She tracked down Renarin and discovered that he had bonded with a corrupted spren, a feat previously believed to be impossible. Jasnah felt she had to kill her cousin, but found she could not do so, remembering how they bonded when they were younger over being outcasts in the Alethi court.{{book ref|sa3|118}} Renarin, having seen his death in his visions, realized from this that he could be wrong, leading he and Jasnah to reason that his father could prevail against Odium.{{book ref|sa3|116}}{{book ref|sa3|118}} Jasnah ran with Renarin to save Dalinar, but they didn't get there before Dalinar prevailed against [[Odium]] and opened [[Honor's Perpendicularity]]. Jasnah took part in the battle and showcased her skills as an Elsecaller. While fighting, Jasnah found it incredibly easy to Soulcast, as the Cognitive and Physical realms were much closer together as a result of Dalinar opening Honor's Perpendicularity, reportedly feeling as if she existed half in the cognitive realm and half in the physical realm.{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{book ref|sa3|120}}

When Shallan began to run low on Stormlight, Jasnah alerted [[Navani]] and [[Queen Fen]] to send troops to aid her and clear out the [[Fused]] from inside the city. She also came to extract Shallan when she ran out completely before she could be captured by the Parshendi.{{book ref|sa3|120}} Jasnah checked on her again after the battle, and Shallan finally decided to continue with her wardship until Jasnah deemed her a fit scholar.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

===== Battle Aftermath =====
{{image|The Queen and Her Wit by Morby.jpg|side=left|width=250px}}
{{quote
|United, new beginnings sing: "Defying truth, love, Truth defy!"" Sing beginnings, new unity.
|[[Ketek]] written by Jasnah for Shallan's wedding|left|300px{{book ref|sa3|epigraph}}
}}
Following the battle, [[House Kholin]] had to decide who would succeed [[Elhokar]] as the Alethi monarch. [[Gavinor]], Elhokar's heir, was too young to rule and the next people in line to the throne, Dalinar and Adolin, both did not want to take the throne. At Shallan's suggestion, Jasnah was then crowned Queen of [[Alethkar]].{{book ref|sa3|122}}

Jasnah wrote a ketek for Shallan on her wedding day to celebrate the occasion.{{book ref|sa3|endnote}}

==== The Expedition of the Wandersail ====
After the events of the Battle of Thaylen Field, Jasnah, as Queen of Alethkar, along with Dalinar, sent communications to various neutral nations in hopes of recruiting new allies for the coalition of nations. One such letter was sent to the [[Ral-na]], King of the [[Reshi Isles]], inviting the Reshi people to Urithiru to discuss an alliance. As the war waged on Jasnah and Dalinar suspected the enemy would launch a ground based invasion on [[Jah Keved]] by sailing an invasion force east, through the Reshi Isles.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}}

Jasnah had direct involvement in monitoring the [[Expedition to Akinah|expedition]] of the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'' to [[Akinah]]. Ardent [[Rushu]] was in communication with Jasnah via [[spanreed]] to report sightings of unusual spren and reported a cluster of [[luckspren]] following the ''Wandersail'' after [[Cord]] sighted them.{{book ref|sa3.5|7}} After a [[santhid]] corpse was found by the crew of the ''Wandersail'', and was subsequently exposed as a fake, Jasnah was contacted by [[Vstim]] on behalf of [[Rysn Ftori|Rysn]] to ask about the legends of the [[Aimian]]s. Jasnah recalled two theories on the nature of the santhid that disintegrated into a pile of cremlings; the first being reports of Aimians being able to take off their arms and legs and reattach them; the second being an old story about creatures who were living heaps of cremlings. In the stories these creatures would hide and grow in the attics of buildings before devouring the occupants below. Jasnah originally overlooked these stories but due to the current events on Roshar at the time, cautioned Rysn against these types of creatures.{{book ref|sa3.5|9}} When Rysn postulated that the santhid could have been the work of a [[Fused]] [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightweaver]], Jasnah chided herself for her own lapse in judgement, citing the newness of Lightweaving magic as the reason for overlooking it as a possibility. Jasnah drew the conclusion that if an enemy Lightweaver were attempting to stop the expedition, then the [[Voidbringer]]s would be taking considerable lengths to prevent them from reaching Akinah, and the secrets there must be more important than first believed.{{book ref|sa3.5|9}}

{{image|Jasnah on the Battlefield by Vedtom.jpg|side=right|height=300px}}

=== In Emul ===
{{quote
|No. I want to know the real feeling of war, or as close to it as I can allow myself, in Plate with Blade.
|Jasnah to Ivory{{book ref|sa4|64}}
}}
Jasnah went with [[Dalinar]] on the military expedition into [[Emul]], where she wanted to prove herself to be a good military leader and tactician. Highprince [[Ruthar]] challenged her position, saying it was a disgrace to have a woman leading and making military decisions. Jasnah directed [[Wit]] to insult him until Ruthar snapped and demanded a trial by combat. Acting according to Jasnah’s prearranged plan, Wit elected Jasnah as his champion to fight for him, letting her use his sword. Ruthar scoffed and said that fighting a woman would be demeaning, but Jasnah lunged forward and stabbed him through the throat. Jasnah had [[Renarin]] heal him, then pronounced that all Ruthar’s lands and titles are forfeit, and are now passed to his son, [[Relis]]. After the duel, Jasnah passed a new law, forbidding trial by sword in Alethkar.{{book ref|sa4|50}}

During a large infantry confrontation at [[Drunmu Basin]], Jasnah decided to join the battle to experience what being at war felt like. She pretended to be a regular Shardbearer, using her Plate and Blade but not using her [[Elsecaller]] powers at first. She had initial success until a [[Fused]], one of the [[Magnified Ones]], attacked her. It proved too skilled and powerful, and she gave in and used her powers to help her defeat it. She fought in the battle for hours, not wanting to rest lest more soldiers die as a result. She talked with Wit both during the battle and after, and learned that a [[Sleepless]] had been spying on them, disguised as Wit’s pen.{{book ref|sa4|64}}

During the military expedition in Emul, Jasnah and Wit worked on creating a document that outlined terms for the Contest of Champions.{{book ref|sa4|99}} With Jasnah’s help, the [[coalition of monarchs|coalition]] eventually completed their conquest of Emul, securing their victory there. At [[Dalinar]]’s request, Jasnah took on the task of writing the undertext of his book, [[Oathbringer (in-world)|Oathbringer]].{{book ref|sa4|101}}

== Relationships ==
=== Hoid ===
{{quote
|She found the way he spoke fascinating. After all this time - and all her worries - here was one who was her intellectual equal. Perhaps her '' superior''.
|Jasnah{{book ref|sa4|99}}
}}
Sometime after Jasnah’s return from Shadesmar, she and [[Hoid]] grow close. Jasnah likes him because he is never bothered by her frequent questions, even if he dodges them sometimes. Jasnah cares more for mental stimulation than the physical, which makes interacting with Hoid invigorating to her.{{book ref|sa4|99}}

==Development==
Jasnah was a main character in [[The Way of Kings Prime]], Brandon's 2002 draft of [[The Way of Kings]],{{wob ref|8069}} and her arc was the most complete out of all the threads.{{wob ref|4108}} Her plot line centered around her struggle against societal norms and her fight against outside pressures to marry.{{wob ref|7804}} In the 2010 version of The Way of Kings, this was relegated to her backstory so that Shallan could take center stage.{{wob ref|4978}}{{wob ref|7124}} Jasnah's personality was left mostly unchanged between the two versions, and her name was one among a couple that was also -- in fact, Jasnah's name, along with Dalinar's, was central to Brandon's creation of the Alethi tongue.{{wob ref|1991}}She is the flashback character for Stormlight Archive Ten.{{wob ref|11620}}As such, she will become even more prominent as the series continues.{{wob ref|1673}}

== Quotes ==
{{dialogue
|Shallan|I have kept a journal since I was a child, in order to practice my writing skills.
|Jasnah|Congratulations. Should I need someone to write a treatise on their stuffed pony or give an account of an interesting pebble they discovered, I shall send for you.
|attr=Shallan and Jasnah{{book ref|sa1|5}}
}}

{{quote
|Ignorance is hardly unusual, Miss Davar. The longer I live, the more I come to realize that it is the natural state of the human mind. There are many who will strive to defend its sanctity and then expect you to be impressed with their efforts.
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|sa1|5}}
}}

{{quote
|...a woman's mind is her most precious weapon. It must not be employed clumsily or prematurely. Much like the aforementioned knife to the back, a clever gibe is most effective when it is unanticipated.
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|sa1|29}}
}}

{{quote
|Youthful immaturity is one of the [[cosmere]]’s great catalysts for change... To be young is about action. To be a scholar is about </em>informed<em> action.</em>
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|sa1|29}}
}}

{{quote
|Too many scholars think of research as purely a cerebral pursuit. If we </em>do<em> nothing with the knowledge we gain, then we have wasted our study. Books can store information better than we can&mdash;what we do that books cannot is </em>interpret<em>. So if one is not going to draw conclusions, then one might as well just leave the information in the texts.</em>
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|sa1|29}}
}}

{{quote
|I always forgive curiosity, Your Majesty. It strikes me as one of the most genuine of emotions.
|Jasnah to Taravangian{{book ref|sa1|29}}
}}

{{quote
|A true scholar must not close her mind on any topic, no matter how certain she may feel. Just because I have not yet found a convincing reason to join one of the devotaries does not mean I never will. Though each time I have a discussion like the one today, my convictions grow firmer.
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|sa1|29}}
}}

{{quote
|When we are young, we want simple answers. There is no greater indication of youth, perhaps, than the desire for everything to be </em>as it should<em>. As it has ever been. The older we grow, the more we question. We begin to ask why. And yet, we still want the answers to be simple. We assume that the people around us&mdash;adults, leaders&mdash;will have those answers. Whatever they give often satisfies us. ... Indeed, it seems to me that aging, wisdom, and </em>wondering<em> are synonymous. The older we grow, the more likely we are to reject the simple answers. Unless someone gets in our way and demands they be accepted regardless.</em>
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|sa1|36}}
}}

{{quote
|You will find wise men in any religion, Shallan, and good men in every nation. Those who </em>truly<em> seek wisdom are those who will acknowledge the virtue in their adversaries and who will learn from those who disabuse them of error. All others&mdash;heretic, Vorin, Ysperist, or Maakian&mdash;are equally closed-minded.</em>
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|twok|48}}
}}

{{quote
|Let the Vorin believe as they wish&mdash;the wise among them will find goodness and solace in their faith; the fools would be fools no matter what they believed.
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|twok|48}}
}}

{{quote
|Power is an illusion of perception...Some kinds of power are real -- power to command armies, power to soulcast. These come into play far less often than you would think.
|Jasnah to Shallan{{book ref|wor|1}}
}}

{{quote
|Most threats to a dynasty came from within.
|Jasnah Kholin{{book ref|ob|118}}
}}

== Trivia ==
* Jasnah is the only member of a Vorin royal house who was a professed heretic before the events of the Stormlight Archive.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
* Twelve young women asked Jasnah for a wardship during the year {{Rosharan date|1173}} alone.{{book ref|sa1|5}} She eventually accepted the last one, Shallan.
* Jasnah doesn't get along well with Highprince Sadeas's cousin, [[Lalai]].{{book ref|sa1|28}}
* Jasnah has never met Shallan's stepmother, [[Malise Gevelmar]], even though she revealed that she knew Malise had married Shallan's father when she met Shallan in Kharbranth.{{wob ref|1161}}
* In [[The Way of Kings Prime|''The Way of Kings'' Prime]], Jasnah was a viewpoint character with as many chapters as the other characters. [[Brandon]] decided too many viewpoints was too distracting and cut Jasnah's parts in the final version.{{wob ref|10204}}
* Brandon read a lot of atheist message boards and talked with atheists he knew while developing Jasnah.{{wob ref|1194}}
* Brandon thinks having [[Sazed]] and Jasnah together could lead to some great discussions of philosophy.{{wob ref|4058}}
* Dalinar's words with Jasnah suggest that she has had other ward(s) in her past, besides Shallan.{{book ref|sa1|28}}
* Brandon has released an uncanonical scene directly following Jasnah transferring to Shadesmar after she is stabbed aboard the ''Winds Pleasure'', which can be read on <span class="plainlinks">[https://tor.com/2014/08/06/stormlight-archive-scene-after-words-of-radiance/ on Tor's website]</span>.
* Jasnah is a Slytherin.{{wob ref|11943}}
* Jasnah is [[Wikipedia: asexuality|asexual]] and [[Wikipedia: heteroromantic| heteroromantic]], but has a neutral opinion of physical intimacy.{{wob ref|14288}}

== See Also ==
*[[Jasnah's notebook]]

== Notes ==
{{holder
|title=Monarch of [[Alethkar]]
|prev=[[Elhokar Kholin]]
|this={{rosharan date|1174}} to present
|next=''Incumbent''
}}
<references />
{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}
[[Category: Viewpoint characters]]
[[es:Jasnah Kholin]]