Editing T'Telir

{{settlement
|image=T'Telir by Geoff Shupe.jpg
|nation=Hallandren
|world=Nalthis
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[Warbreaker]]
}}

{{quote
|It was terribly overwhelming. Garish. A vibrant, enthusiastic garishness.
|[[Siri]]'s first impression of T'Telir{{book ref|wb|4}}
}}
'''T'Telir''' is the capital city of [[Hallandren]] on [[Nalthis]].{{book ref|wb|prologue}} It is set on the coast and is known for its blaze of color because of the dyes grown in the area. A person from T'Telir is called a T'Telirite.{{book ref|wb|25}}

== Geography  ==
{{image|T-Telir.png|Map of T'Telir from a tapestry hanging in the palace of [[Lightsong]] the Bold, circa 327, not to scale|side=right|width=300px}}
The city of T'Telir is located somewhere in Hallandren, close to Idris.{{book ref|wb|16}}{{book ref|wb|28}} T'Telir lies in a tropical climate: the temperature is quite warm, colorful animals and flowers are common, and harsh weather is rare.{{book ref|wb|2}}{{book ref|wb|12}} The growth of plants in this region is helped by [[Investiture]], much like the [[Elendel Basin]];{{wob ref|9833}} a combination of this Investiture and the local climate is the reason that the jungle around T'Telir is the only place in which the [[Tears of Edgli]] grow.{{book ref|wb|22}}

T'Telir is located on the shores of the [[Bright Sea]]. The city is built in a crescent around a bay of the [[Bright Sea]], abutting the water.{{book ref|wb|4}} The city's placement in this bay, protecting it from storms, makes it a prime port.

The area in the direct vicinity of T'Telir is characterized by stands of palm trees and sandy soil. Beyond that stretch, the landscape gives way to a jungle.{{book ref|wb|4}}

== Landmarks ==
=== The City Walls ===
When entering T'Telir one is greeted by its walls. Siri describes them as Immense and daunting, while almost looking more artistic then functional. The wall's top is curved in massive half-circles, like rolling hills, and the rim is plated with a golden metal. The gates themselves are described as in the form of two twisting, lithe sea creatures who curve up in a massive archway. The position of the city on the sea means that the city wall only has to run around the landward half-circle of the city.{{book ref|wb|4}}

{{sidequote
|Many of the painted buildings did clash, but none of it was sloppy. There was a sense of craftsmanship and art to everything from the storefronts, to the people, to the statues of mighty soldiers that frequently stood on corners.
|Siri describing T'Telir
|side=right|size=350px
}}
=== The Court of Gods ===
T'Telir contains the [[Court of Gods]]. The Court is built on a plateau in the south of the city, and is entirely walled off.{{book ref|wb|4}} The Court consists of a number of palaces for the [[Returned]], a large palace for the [[God King]],{{book ref|wb|4}} and an Arena used for entertainment.{{book ref|wb|14}} The Court exists to protect the [[Returned]], so that they may bless humanity, and to rule [[Hallandren]]. 

T'Telir also contains the [[lifeless]] enclave,{{book ref|wb|47}} the compound-like building containing the entire Halllandren army, forty thousand lifeless. This makes T'Telir the starting point of any invasion.

=== D'Denir Celabrin ===
Another notable feature of T'Telir lies in the [[D'Denir]] Celabrin,{{book ref|wb|9}} imposing statues of warriors supposedly left as a memorial to those who died in the [[Manywar]] and as a reminder to the [[Hallandren]] of the cost of war.{{book ref|wb|28}} The people of [[T'Telir]] often put colorful clothing on the statues for fun.{{book ref|wb|9}}{{book ref|wb|28}} Some statues, particularly those located in the [[Idris|Idrian]] slums, have been defaced or broken.{{book ref|wb|49}} The first ones were left to the city by [[Peacegiver|Peacegiver the Blessed]] right after the Manywar, though new ones are commissioned yearly by the Returned.{{book ref|wb|9}} 

Most of the original statues reside in the D'Denir Garden, an open grassy field with many statues; this garden is one of the only ones in the city which doesn't feature flowers and trees and isn't full of bustling people. The exact location is unknown, but it is somewhere in the north of the city. The garden is noticeably quiet and serene in comparison to the rest of T'Telir.{{book ref|wb|28}} Despite this, it is a popular place for clandestine meetings after hours.{{wob ref|6963}}

=== Docks ===
T'Telir lies on the shores of the [[Bright Sea]],{{book ref|wb|4}} and because of its location in a sheltered bay, T'Telir is a prime port. The T'Telirite docks are made up of the shipyards, a number of warehouses and the dock slums.{{book ref|wb|54}} These slums are located between the shipyards and the warehouses. The dockslums are full of dockhands, who live and drink here.{{book ref|wb|54}}

T'Telir has a number of [[Stormrunners]].{{book ref|wb|42}} Everyone who wants to fish in T'Telir waters needs to pay a fee. Some people avoid this by fishing at night however.{{book ref|wb|53}}  

There are people at the docks who sew nets.{{book ref|wb|42}} The slumlords of T'Telir often dump bodies in the bay, hiring people to go out at night and sink the bodies.{{book ref|wb|53}}

=== Markets ===
T'Telir has many markets. Like the rest of T'Telir, the markets are very colorful. Most of the markets in T'Telir are decorated with the D'Denir Celabrin. When entering the markets a person is instantly bombarded by the sight, sound, scent, and colors of T'Telir.{{book ref|wb|9}}

The wealthier shopping districts do not contain merchants raising tents to shade themselves as they sell wares. Instead, there are many high quality, colorful shops with more expensive goods. While performers are present in these markets, there are fewer than in the average shopping district.{{book ref|wb|25}}

The T'Telirite markets are full of merchants from distant kingdoms, such as [[Idris]], [[Tedradel]], and likely the kingdoms beyond the mountains.{{book ref|wb|9}}

== Appearance ==

{{image|Warbreaker by Phoebe Rothfeld.jpg|Vivenna and Parlin's arrival in T'Telir|side=left|width=300px}}

=== Colour ===
T’Telir, like the rest of Hallandren, is extremely colourful.{{book ref|wb|4}} Buildings are painted in a wide array of, often very bright, colours.{{book ref|wb|9}} The same goes for the people, most of whom wear brightly coloured clothing{{book ref|wb|13}} and even dye their hair.{{book ref|wb|14}} Even furniture and other objects are painted.{{book ref|wb|22}} Due to this there are very few dull things in the city, and most of them are located in the slums, which contain objects and buildings with faded colours.{{book ref|wb|22}} The T'Telirites love greenery and as such the city is designed with many gardens and open spaces that show off its greenery and have palm trees and other flora growing along the streets.{{book ref|wb|4}}{{book ref|wb|25}}

=== Wealthy Areas ===
The wealthy areas of the city are very diverse, ranging from huge mansions to regular sized houses.{{book ref|wb|17}} These residential areas tend to have less people walking around.{{book ref|wb|17}} Since Hallandren has no nobility these houses are likely owned by merchants.{{book ref|wb|17}}{{book ref|wb|4}} The flora in these districts is described as being incredibly diverse.{{book ref|wb|17}} Dozens of different species of palms, ferns, grasses, and potted flowers, including the [[Tears of Edgli]], can be found in the gardens of the houses and on the streets.{{book ref|wb|17}}{{book ref|wb|25}}  Like in most of the city there are many [[D'Denir]] statues located in these districts.{{book ref|wb|25}}

Almost none of the roads in the city are made of anything other then dirt, although most roads have slate sidewalks for people to walk upon,{{book ref|wb|17}} and the streets are lined with lanterns.{{book ref|wb|25}} The people tend to stay on the sidewalks because carriages are common.{{book ref|wb|25}} The wealthier shopping districts do not contain merchants raising tents to shade themselves as they sell wares. Instead, there are many high quality, colorful shops with more expensive goods.{{book ref|wb|25}} While performers are present in these commercial areas, there are fewer than in the average shopping district.{{book ref|wb|25}}

=== Slums ===
T'Telir is home to many slums.{{book ref|wb|31}}{{book ref|wb|41}}{{book ref|wb|39}} While there are different varieties of slums, they generally have a couple characteristics. Like the rest of T'Telir most of the slums are colourful,{{book ref|wb|22}} even though the colors are a little faded.{{book ref|wb|22}}  The slums also contain parks like the rest of the city,{{book ref|wb|31}} although these are very dirty, like the slums themselves.{{book ref|wb|31}} The D’Denir statues that decorate much of T'Telir are in various states of disrepair in the slums.{{book ref|wb|22}} There are soup kitchens which provide very cheap meals, food being available for only two bits.{{book ref|wb|41}}

The best known slum in T'Telir is the Highlands, the [[Idris|Idrian]] quarter.{{book ref|wb|31}} The Highlands are located in the north of the city, and most Idrians live here. The Highlands are less colourful then the rest of T’Telir,{{book ref|wb|31}} although there are still many colors.{{book ref|wb|31}} This slum is ruled by three slumlords, [[Paxen]],{{book ref|wb|31}} [[Ashu]]{{book ref|wb|31}} and [[Rira (character)|Rira]].{{book ref|wb|31}} Furthermore there are many brothels,{{book ref|wb|31}} most only a short distance away from the edge of the Highlands.{{book ref|wb|31}} [[Vivenna]] describes the place as unwelcome.{{book ref|wb|31}}

== Culture ==
=== People === 
There are many different peoples and cultures in T’Telir.{{book ref|wb|9}} The most prevalent people are the Hallandren. Other known cultures in T’Telir include Pahn Kahl and Idrian.{{book ref|wb|9}}

T’Telir has no nobility,{{book ref|wb|4}} instead it has a small but very rich class which is almost completely compromised of the most successful merchants, a middle class, and a large peasant class. Hallandren is the only nation on [[Nalthis]] to have a middle class, instead of only a high and low class. Due to this large middle class T’Telir has many features that the rest of the world lacks.{{book ref|wb|5}}

One of these features is restaurants.{{book ref|wb|5}} Restaurants are only possible because of the middle class, which is large, and rich, enough to support businesses.{{book ref|wb|5}} T’Telirites often eat lunch at restaurants,{{book ref|wb|22}} as during midday it makes more sense to buy food rather then return all the way home.{{book ref|wb|22}} It is a common practice to wipe your fingers on the tablecloth.{{book ref|wb|22}} Lots of enterprising young street boys wander the neighborhoods proclaiming their services, willing to deliver food from restaurants right to people's homes for a fee.{{book ref|wb|17}} The people in T'Telir like spicy food, and their food is often centered around seafood, and seasoned with exotic spices.{{book ref|wb|5}}{{book ref|wb|8}}

{{sidequote
|People jostled their way through the streets, draped ﬂagrantly in colors, yelling, and talking, and moving, and stinking, and coughing, and bumping.
|[[Vivenna]]'s first impression of T'Telir{{book ref|wb|9}}
|side=right|size=350px
}} 

T’Telirites like to be together, tending to crowd the same streets.{{book ref|wb|17}} Because of the warm climate, they are comfortable with wearing loose, revealing, and few clothes;{{book ref|wb|9}} their clothes are of all kinds of designs, makes, and colors, all meant to make them stand out, though the overwhelming effect is then that no one stands out.{{book ref|wb|14}}

The people in the slums are often dirty and beaten down.{{book ref|wb|31}} Most slums are ruled by people called slumlords,{{book ref|wb|31}} the crime lords of specific slums in the city. The poor in T'Telir take any jobs they can, including prostitution for women{{book ref|wb|31}} and work in the dye fields for men.{{book ref|wb|31}} A lot of people here also beg for money,{{book ref|wb|39}} although this profession isn’t very rewarding in T'Telir.{{book ref|wb|39}} There are also underground fighting matches where men can see people, often Idrians, box eachother to unconsciousness,{{book ref|wb|31}} these matches are often funded by slumlords.{{book ref|wb|31}}

The T’Telirites enjoy music, painting, dance, poetry, sculpture, puppetry, play performance, sandpainting and lots of other ‘lesser’ arts.{{book ref|wb|8}} Weapons are uncommon enough in the city that a sword draws attention. {{Book ref|wb|19}} Timepieces are not common in T’Telir,{{book ref|wb|11}} and punctuality is not a high priority in the city, especially among the Returned.{{book ref|wb|14}} The T’Telirites are fond of carriages,{{book ref|wb|25}} and use them a lot in the city,{{book ref|wb|25}} although the Returned and their Queen prefer to use palanquins.{{book ref|wb|14}}

The T’Telirites herd livestock such as sheep and cows.{{book ref|wb|1}}{{book ref|wb|16}} they also enjoy many sorts of sealife, such as mussels, fish, and octopi,{{book ref|wb|22}}{{book ref|wb|9}}{{book ref|wb|40}} and many foreign foods.{{book ref|wb|5}} They like their food spicy.{{book ref|wb|4}} The T’Telirites keep their dead in charnel houses.{{book ref|wb|19}}

=== Religion ===
While T’Telir is home to many different cultures,{{book ref|wb|9}} and many different religions, the largest part of the population follows the Iridescent Tones. There are also a number of [[Idris|Idrians]]{{book ref|wb|9}}{{book ref|wb|31}} who follow [[Austrism]].{{book ref|wb|31}} As there are many [[Pahn Kahl]] living in the city. the Pahn Kahl religion is likely practiced as well.

T’Telir contains the [[Court of Gods]], a large walled off plateau.{{book ref|wb|4}}This plateau is the home of the [[Returned]],{{book ref|wb|3}} including the [[God King]].{{book ref|wb|4}} Anyone in the empire who wishes to get a blessing has to send their offerings all the way to T’Telir.{{book ref|wb|3}} If people want to petition to the gods they also need to travel all the way to T’Telir.{{book ref|wb|12}} Both of these things make T’Telir very important to the religion.

T’Telir embodies everything that modern [[Austrism]] preaches against. For example, Austrism preaches that ostentation is forbidden while in T’Telir everyone and everything competes for attention.{{book ref|wb|14}} Another example is that Austrism considers [[breath]] to be a part of the soul,{{book ref|wb|10}} while the T’Telirites trade in breath.{{book ref|wb|39}} This is likely on purpose as Austrism changed significantly after the Manywar, hating everything Hallandren.

During the first three hundred years of the city’s existence the majority of the population followed [[Austrism]],{{book ref|wb|15}} although back then it was very different from modern day [[Austrism]]. During this time the [[Cult of Returned]] likely settled in Hanald, although it wasn’t very large yet. After the [[Manywar]] however the Hallandren people felt that Austre had forsaken them, and left them to Kalad the Usurper. Partly because of this and partly because of Peacegiver stopping the war they started to worship the [[Returned]]. During this time the Cult of Returned grew and evolved into the Iridescent Tones. At the time of the Pahn Kahl rebellion, people are beginning to doubt their gods more and more, seeing them as less divine, weaker, and less wise.{{book ref|wb|16}}

=== Politics and Laws===
{{quote
|This isn’t about money. It’s about fear. People in the court talk about what '''might''' happen if the Idrians cut off the passes or what '''may''' happen if the Idrians let enemies slip through and besiege T’Telir.
|[[Bebid]] to [[Vasher]]{{book ref|wb|5}}
}} 
T'Telir is the capital of Hallandren and contains the [[Court of Gods]], the home to the Returned.{{book ref|wb|4}} Hallandren, which includes T’Telir, is ruled by the [[God King]],{{book ref|wb|3}} although in reality he has very little political power and is more of a figurehead for his priesthood,{{book ref|wb|20}} who actually rule the empire. The God King has the right to undo any decision made by the Court of Gods.{{book ref|wb|50}} 

The [[Returned]] have duties and votes on specific matters in the city and the empire.{{book ref|wb|16}} The task of the priesthood is generally to inform the gods of the people’s opinions.{{book ref|wb|16}} The Returned can then make informed decisions, which the priests enforce. In reality the priests handle most of the minor decisions, so that the Returned only vote on the major decisions.{{book ref|wb|50}} This method of government, waiting on debates that must be brought to the gods (who cannot leave the court to be among the people of the city) by the priests, operates much more slowly than Idris' monarchy.{{book ref|wb|1}}

There are specific laws about where begging is allowed and where it isn’t,{{book ref|wb|39}} these rules aren’t taught to beggars though.{{book ref|wb|39}} Getting into a brawl in the city will get you locked up for a night,{{book ref|wb|prologue}} although hitting a priest means the death sentence.{{book ref|wb|prologue}} Anyone who wants to fish in the waters of T’Telir has to pay a fee.{{book ref|wb|53}}

=== City Guard === 
T’Telir has a human garrison, although it isn’t terribly large. The city guard also contains many [[lifeless]], usually directed by living humans. It is likely that the city guard also contains many of the support staff that goes along with lifeless soldiers. The city guard has a number of cavalrymen.{{book ref|wb|4}} T’Telir’s living city guard is dressed in bright yellow and blue,{{book ref|wb|prologue}} while the lifeless guards are dressed in purple and gold,{{book ref|wb|31}}

T’Telir is also the location of the entire [[Hallandren]] [[lifeless]] army.{{book ref|wb|4}} This army numbers forty thousand lifeless, fully equipped{{book ref|wb|47}} and ready to respond to any potential invasion. While this army is completely separate of the city guard, it can be called upon to defend the walls. The lifeless soldiers are described as wearing gold and blue,{{book ref|wb|4}} this might be the same as the living human guards, who’s uniforms are described as bright yellow and blue.{{book ref|wb|prologue}}

== History ==
{{image|City of the Returned by Bryan Mark Taylor.jpg|side=right|width=300px}}
=== Settling and Expansion ===
The [[Pahn Kahl]] were the original inhabitants of the Hallandren lowlands,{{book ref|wb|32}} and of the bay where T'Telir was later built.{{book ref|wb|32}} They lived in scattered fishing villages in the valley's jungles.{{book ref|wb|32}} At some point, the people of [[Chedesh]] discovered the lowlands{{book ref|wb|32}} and multiple ships were sent to investigate.{{book ref|wb|32}} On one of these ships, in the bay of T’Telir, a man named [[Vo]] died,{{book ref|wb|32}} and later [[Returned]].{{book ref|wb|32}} After Vo died again his crewmates decided to found a kingdom,{{book ref|wb|32}} crowning his wife as Queen of [[Hanald]].{{book ref|wb|32}} The place where they set foot on land would later become T’Telir.{{book ref|wb|32}}

The [[Court of Gods#God king’s palace|God King]]'s palace was the first building constructed in the city of T'Telir.{{book ref|wb|51}} It served as an outpost overlooking the bay and was built by the crew mates of [[Vo]], the first Returned, three hundred years before the events of the Manywar.{{book ref|wb|32}} It would later become the residence of the Royal family of [[Hanald]],{{book ref|wb|51}} making T’Telir the capital. 

As [[Hanald]] expanded and its economy grew T’Telir grew as well, both in population and in wealth. The increase in wealth happened because of a number of reasons. T’Telir is located in a bay, protecting it from storms and making it a prime port. Another reason for T’Telir’s wealth was, and still is, the farming of many products native to the Hallandren lowlands, this includes the [[Tears of Edgli]] which only grow in Hallandren due to the present investiture from [[Endowment]]s [[perpendicularity]]. This monopoly on the dye trade was a major factor for the [[Manywar]], as other kingdoms wished to take control.

=== The Manywar ===
{{for|Manywar}}

T’Telir was home to the Royal family of Hanald, the descendants of Vo. After a [[Returned]] had a vision of war Kalad raised up a large army, and together with the Royal family’s own [[lifeless]] and awakeners he seized control of [[Hanald]], ending three hundred years of reign. At least some of the Royal family were kept alive though, and they were stuck in T’Telir. Near the climax of the [[Manywar]] the remaining members of the Royal family fled T’Telir and headed north, establishing the kingdom of Idris. 

After the end of the [[Manywar]] [[Kalad]], then known as [[Peacegiver]] commanded his [[Kalad's Phantoms|Phantoms]] to enter T’Telir, and stay put like statues, calling it a gift for the city.{{book ref|wb|58}} Eventually the people of T’Telir forgot that they were [[lifeless]]. Modern day Hallandren lore holds that Peacegiver "commissioned" a large number of these statues known as the D'Denir Celabrin,{{book ref|wb|9}} ostensibly as memorials{{book ref|wb|28}} and reminders not to go to war.{{book ref|wb|epilogue}} The [[Returned]] continue to build more statues each year throughout the city to honor Peacegiver's tradition, although these are not Phantoms.{{book ref|wb|9}}

=== The Plague ===
{{quote
|You mean to tell me that our God King—the most holy and divine personage in our pantheon—died to cure a few tummy aches?
|[[Lightsong]]{{book ref|wb|27}}
}}
Two hundred and fifty years later, a plague of distrentia struck T'Telir. The disease was especially deadly among the elderly and the young, and the nature of it meant that it spread other diseases as well. This caused the city's commerce to slow drastically, meaning that outlying villages went months without necessary supplies. In the end, Susebron the Fourth gave his Breath to cure the plague and [[Susebron]] the Fifth began his rule.{{book ref|wb|27}}

=== The Pahn Kahl Rebellion ===
{{for|Pahn Kahl rebellion}}

Thirty years into Susebron the Fifth's reign, he signed a treaty with King [[Dedelin]] of [[Idris]] that promised peace in exchange for his marriage to Dedelin's daughter.{{book ref|wb|1}} At the time when the treaty was fulfilled twenty years later, T'Telir was the site of the Pahn Kahl rebellion. First, a Pahn Kahl named [[Vahr]], a worker in the dye fields, made an attempt at stirring up his people.{{book ref|wb|19}} He worked to that end for over a decade but was ultimately captured and imprisoned due to [[Bluefingers]]' information leaks and killed by [[Vasher]].{{wob ref|6020}} Bluefingers himself planned an extensive subversive campaign centered around starting a war between Hallandren and Idris: he brought mercenaries and Pahn Kahl [[Awakening|Awakeners]] into the tunnel system below the court,{{wob ref|7298}} manipulated [[Siri]] into distrusting the Hallandren priests,{{wob ref|6983}} and hired [[Denth's crew]] to increase tensions in the city.{{wob ref|6723}} When his plans were nearing completion, he tortured [[Blushweaver]] and [[Lightsong]] in order to get the Command phrases for Hallandren's Lifeless army, changed the Command phrase, and sent the army towards Idris.{{book ref|wb|55}} The attempted rebellion was defeated when Susebron, with his newly healed tongue, used [[Peacegiver's Treasure]] to storm his palace with an army of Awakened cloths. Vasher decided to give him the Command phrase to Kalad's Phantoms, which he then sent after the Lifeless army.{{book ref|wb|ep}}

== Notable Residents ==
{{for|:Category:Residents of T'Telir|a full list see}}
{{columns|
* [[Susebron]]
* [[Siri]]
* [[Bluefingers]]
* [[Treledees]]
* [[Lightsong]]
* [[Blushweaver]]
* [[Mercystar]]
* [[Llarimar]]
}}

== Trivia ==
* Brandon wanted to use double consonants as a naming structure in Warbreaker, though he also wanted variety in the way in which names were written. Thus, we have apostrophes as in T'Telir, doubled up letters without an apostrophe as in Llarimar, and letters with a vowel in between as in Vivenna.{{wob ref|6695}}

== Notes ==
<references />
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