Editing Rathalas

{{settlement
|image=Rathalas by Connor Chamberlain.jpg
|region=Eastern Crownlands
|nation=Alethkar
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
'''Rathalas''', also known as the '''Rift''', was a city 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. The people of Rathalas are sometimes referred to as '''Rifters''' and have a distinct nasally accent.{{book ref|sa3|11}} Rathalas was large enough to house tens of thousands of people.{{book ref|sa3|76}}

== Geography ==
Rathalas was a tiered city built on struts up the side of chasm walls. It could be accessed from both the plains above and the canyon mouth below the city.{{book ref|sa3|76}}   

Rathalas is on the eastern shore of the [[Sea of Spears]], and is near the [[Thanadal princedom|Thanadal]] and [[Kholin princedom]]s.{{map ref|Alethkar}} It is situated close to the spren city of [[Celebrant]] within the [[Shadesmar|Cognitive Realm]].{{map ref|Sea of Lost Lights}} Somewhere to the south-east is the waystop Vedelliar, however it is unknown whether this town is within the Eastern Crownlands or [[Unclaimed Hills]].{{book ref|sa3|71}} 

The city resided within a deep chasm that narrows at 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.{{book ref|sa3|11}} 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.{{book ref|sa3|11}} 

The riverbed near to the city does not retain water, only filling during storms.{{book ref|sa3|71}} This is due to the rockbuds surrounding the riverbed consuming large quantities of water.{{book ref|sa3|71}} The rockbuds grow to exceptional sizes with trunks growing as tall as a man's waist and vines as thick as a man's wrist.{{book ref|sa3|71}}

== History ==
=== Unification of Alethkar (1141) ===
Rathalas was besieged by [[Gavilar]] Kholin during his campaign to unite the princedoms of Alethkar.{{book ref|sa3|11}} During the attack, [[Dalinar]] Kholin seeks out and kills Brightlord [[Tanalan's father|Tanalan]], winning himself the [[shardblade]], [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]].{{book ref|sa3|11}} Although he has instructions to kill Tanalan's [[Tanalan|heir]], Dalinar spares the boy's life and he and his [[Tanalan's mother|mother]] flee. 

=== Rebellion of Rathalas (~1151—1163) ===
Years later, Tanalan's son (with whom he shares a name), returns to Rathalas and demands the return of his fathers blade.{{book ref|sa3|36}} The reappearance of Tanalan destabilizes the area leading to the threat of rebellion within the entire region of the Eastern Crownlands.{{book ref|sa3|36}} Gavilar attempts to quell the region through political means, however is ultimately unsuccessful, due in part to support of the rebellion from at least one of the other highprinces.{{book ref|sa3|66}}

{{image|The Rift by greatunknown.png|side=right|width=250px|The burning of Rathalas}}

=== Destruction of Rathalas (1163) ===
After twelve years of failed negotiations between Gavilar and [[Tanalan]], Dalinar and [[Torol Sadeas|Sadeas]] returned to the Rift to end the rebellion. Against his nature and at the behest of his wife, Dalinar offered Tanalan a final chance to submit to the King and save his city.{{book ref|sa3|71}} Tanalan seemingly accepts Dalinar's truce, offering him information in return on the highprince who had supported the rebellion and naming Sadeas as traitor.{{book ref|sa3|71}} Dalinar, believing that one of Sadeas' Shardbearers had recently left the city, follows in pursuit only to fall into a trap set by Tanalan, who hoped to separate Dalinar from the Kholin army and kill him.{{book ref|sa3|75}} Dalinar returns to Rathalas after the attempt on his life fails and orders the city razed to the ground and its people slaughtered, to set an example.{{book ref|sa3|76}} During the battle, Tanalan is killed by Dalinar after he watches his family die.{{book ref|sa3|76}}

[[Evi]] Kholin is killed during the battle, after secretly travelling to the city to plead with them to surrender.{{book ref|sa3|76}} In order to hide the true nature of her death and as well to justify the destruction of the city, a narrative is constructed that claims Evi was assassinated leading to ensuing slaughter.{{book ref|sa3|76}}

== Notable Citizens ==
* Brightlord [[Tanalan]] (son)
* Brightlord [[Tanalan%27s_father|Tanalan]] (father)
* [[Tanalan's mother]]

== Notes ==
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[[es:Rathalas]]