Editing Vedenar

{{settlement
|ruler=King [[Taravangian]]
|map=Vedenar city map.jpg
|nation=Jah Keved
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{quote
| Vedenar, one of the great cities of the world, was now little more than a heap of rubble and ash.
| Taravangian{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
}}
'''Vedenar''' is the capital city of [[Jah Keved]] on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa1|33}}

== Geography and Layout ==
Vedenar lies on the southern edge of [[Jah Keved]], on the cliffs facing [[Tarat Sea]]. The sound of the waves crashing against the stone can be heard across the entire city.{{book ref|sa3|100}} To the west of Vedenar flows an unnamed river stemming from the [[Horneater Peaks]], while to the north lay the vast fields that feed its populace.{{map ref|Roshar}}{{book ref|sa3|100}} Vedenar's ancient center is laid out in a hexagonal pattern with its main thoroughfares forming a rotationally symmetrical pattern that was likely created through [[cymatics]].{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{file ref|Vedenar city map.jpg|Sketch of Vedenar}} It's likely that the city has grown beyond that since the [[Heraldic Epochs]].

Vedenar is known for its lush atmosphere and many amazing gardens. Most of the city is overgrown with greenery, with rare plants jumbled together wherever there's any space for them to grow. The most magnificent gardens sit atop vast, plate-like terraces that jut out above the city.{{book ref|sa3|100}}

Unfortunately, following the Veden civil war, swathes of the city have been destroyed.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} Many buildings have and terrace gardens been reduced to heaps of rubble by siege equipment, while others have burned down to cinders.{{book ref|sa3|100}} The destruction is uneven -- many Veden live in houses that remain well-preserved even as the neighboring buildings lay razed to the ground. Even months after the war's conclusion, the smell of smoke still lingers in the air.{{book ref|sa3|i|8}}

=== Notable Locations ===
;The Oathgate: The ancient [[Valhav]] Oathgate is located in Vedenar. Prior to the [[True Desolation]], the dais housed one of the city's gardens, but the vegetation has been cleared away once the Oathgate was reactivated. There are two paths atop the gate, a long ramp and a set of stairs.{{book ref|sa3|100}}

;The Royal Palace: The Royal Palace had once been the seat of the royal power in [[Jah Keved]]. It was utterly destroyed during the civil war, to the point where it's now barely recognizable.{{book ref|sa3|100}}

;The Docks: The grand docks at the city's coast, sheltered by an enormous natural ridge, had in the past served as the main way for the locals to access the sea. Though the ridge still stands, the docks themselves were burned down by one of the factions during the civil war. For now, the city can only be reached from the sea by small boats rowing to the shore.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

;The Stormshelters: The city has numerous stormshelters to protects its populace during [[highstorm]]s. In the present, the Veden soldiers who survived the war are stationed there.{{book ref|sa3|100}}

;Devotary of Sincerity: The [[Vorin]] [[Devotary of Sincerity]] is somewhere in the city; however, it's uncertain where precisely it is located.{{book ref|sa1|48}}

== History ==
Vedenar is one of the [[Dawncity|Dawncities]], the oldest settlements in all of [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa1|33}} Back during the [[Heraldic Epochs]], it lay in the [[Silver Kingdoms|Silver Kingdom]] of [[Valhav]], and, having an [[Oathgate]], was presumably its capital.{{map ref|Silver Kingdoms}} Shortly before the [[Recreance]], it was known as '''Veden City'''.{{epigraph ref|sa1|46}}

In the late [[Era of Solitude]], Vedenar was well-known worldwide as one of the greatest cities on the planet.{{book ref|sa3|100}} However, the [[Diagram]] sought to destabilize the country so as to give [[Taravangian]] an opening to take it over.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}} For this reason, they sent [[Szeth]] to Vedenar to assassinate king [[Hanavanar]], his son and the highprinces, plunging Jah Keved into civil war.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2|31}} 

The forces led by highprince [[Valam]] took over Vedenar.{{book ref|sa2|34}} The other highprinces soon followed after him him there, and the city fell into a months-long siege later termed the Battle of Vedenar.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} The siege was excessively brutal, owing to the Veden soldiers being pushed forward by the [[Thrill]] into combat past all reason. Many forces continued fighting even after suffering over fifty percent losses.{{book ref|sa3|100}} In one battle, one of the armies pushed another off the city's cliffs and onto the ridge that protected the port from the highstorms.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

The civil war eventually wound down, with Valam emerging victorious. However, he was extremely ill, and it was at this time that Taravangian arrived, bringing medical supplies and food. As he had a claim to the throne through his mother, Valam passed the crown onto him before ordering his own son, [[Redin]], to kill him.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

After being crowned, Taravangian set out to improve the living conditions in Vedenar. The bodies of the fallen were collected and burned down in the fields outside the walls.{{book ref|sa3|i|8}} The soldiers were folded under Taravangian's command and moved into the stormshelters within the city.{{book ref|sa3|100}} After [[Dalinar]] reached out to the king, [[Malata]] opened the local [[Oathgate]], reconnecting Vedenar with [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa3|12}} Some of the [[Alethi]] troops were stationed there to aid in defending and rebuilding the city.{{book ref|sa3|24}}

It was while visiting Vedenar that Dalinar was pronounced a heretic and excommunicated from the [[Vorin]] church.{{book ref|sa3|100}} Later, after it was revealed that rather than Vedenar, the [[Voidbringer]]s sought to attack [[Thaylen City]], some of the Alethi battalions there were withdrawn, but a number remained in case of a surprise attack.{{book ref|sa3|107}}

== Politics ==
As the capital of [[Jah Keved]], Vedenar is the most important city in the whole country. The Veden government, as well as the king and his family, live there.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}} The highprinces spend a lot of their time in Vedenar rather than in their own lands.{{book ref|sa2|45}} Various lesser nobles, such as [[Lin Davar]], also visit it quite often.{{book ref|sa2|65}} [[Redin]] works from there as an investigator for highprince Valam.{{book ref|sa2|39}}

The city is also important as a transport hub. When active, its Oathgate allows it access to ten other locations across Roshar, including [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa3|12}} It's also an important sea port connecting the country with other states along the shore.{{book ref|sa2|1}} Its large size and good connections make it a perfect place to disappear in.{{book ref|sa2|61}}

Whoever controls Vedenar, controls Jah Keved -- it is for this reason that during the civil war, all the Veden highprinces brought their armies here. The Battle of Vedenar was the most bloody conflict of the civil war largely becase every faction knew the city's value.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

== Notes ==
<references />
{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}