Difference between revisions of "Balat Davar"

|booksfirst appeared=[[The StormlightWay of ArchiveKings]]

It is implied that as a boy, Balat liked starting fires, one of which almost burned down the servants' building.{{book ref|sa2|27}} He also had a habit of cruelty towards animals.{{book ref|sa2|19}} As an adult, he still likes killing animals, butthough never people.; Thethe pain of whatever he kills seems to lessen his own pain. He does so cruelly, for example, ripping the legs off of a [[cremling]] one by one.{{book ref|sa1|i|2}} This interest in death is magically enhanced.{{wob ref|3333}}

He is close to and fond of [[Scrak]], his pet axehound. {{book ref|sa1|i|2}}

HeBalat believes that [[House Davar]] is deeply damaged and a "family of cripples" as a result of the death of his [[Shallan's mother|mother]] and the following events. He sees himself as the only one who is normal and unscathed by these events.{{book ref|sa1|i|2}}

Nan [[Helaran]] confrontsconfronted Lin Davar, and leavesleft the house. Though there iswas no immediate change for Balat or his brothers, they seemseemed to constantly grieve his absence, and no one else daresdared to openly challenge Lin. When asked for evidence against Lin by a representative of the [[highprince]], Balat wantswanted his father to be taken, but doesdid not dare speak.{{book ref|sa2|39}}

At one of his father's feasts, Balat meetsmet [[Eylita Tavinar]], the daughter of a Brightlord of lower [[dahn]] than his father. {{book ref|sa2|35}} With the help of Shallan, they startstarted writing and later dating. {{book ref|sa2|45}}

Several years later, due to Helaran and Lin growing further apart, Lin startsstarted calling himBalat "Nan Balat," as if he waswere the eldest son of the family. When Lin receivesreceived a threatening message from Helaran onat [[Middlefest Fair]], he officially disinheritsdisinherited Helaran and changeschanged the title of Tet Balat to Nan Balat. {{book ref|sa2|45}}

The first time Balat confrontsconfronted his father iswas when [[Lin]] decidesdecided to forbid Balat's engagement with [[Eylita]], whowhom he disapprovesdisapproved of because of her lower station. Lin Balat preferspreferred that Balat marry the Highprince's daughter, who iswas in her fifties. Balat mentionsmentioned to his father that he saw Helaran, which makesmade Lin even more angyangry. As punishment, [[Lin]] sendssent a servant to kill Balat's beloved axehound pups. {{book ref|sa2|61}}

Looking at his dead pups, Balat confirmsconfirmed to himself that he iswas not as strong as Helaran and isnwasn't capable of taking care of his family. Shallan helpshelped him make a plan to escape with Eylita with Helaran's help, under the condition that they take their stepmother [[Malise Gevelmar]] with them. {{book ref|sa2|65}} When they cancouldn't contact Helaran, Balat decidesdecided to only take Eylita and go to the Highprince andto testify against his father for his mother's death. Though his father had gained much more power, and the accusation might not be as well received, Balat decidesdecided that he hashad to take the risk, as he cancouldn't be a coward anymore. {{book ref|sa2|73}}

On the day Balat was to go to the Highprince, Malise revealsrevealed Balat's plan, and iswas beaten and killed by Lin. Lin summonssummoned Eylita before she and Balat could escape, and he sendssent a guard to kill Helaran. {{book ref|sa2|73}}

When Balat findsfound out that his father had called for Eylita, he confrontsconfronted him again. This time, however, his father iswas cold and aggressive. The confrontation turnsturned to violence. Balat iswas not skillful enough to hurt Lin, but he breaksbroke his father's hidden [[Soulcaster]]. Lin injuresinjured Balat's leg, but before he cancould hurt him further, he iswas tricked into drinking poisoned wine by [[Shallan]], paralyzed, and strangled with her necklace. {{book ref|sa2|73}}

Nan Balat runsran the affairs of House Davar in Lin's place while Shallan pursuespursued [[Jasnah Kholin]] for a wardship. He communicatescommunicated with [[Shallan]] via [[Spanreed]]. They barely managemanaged economically, and they knowknew someone willwould discover their father's death before long. Some men visitvisited Balat and demanddemanded the return of his Fatherfather's Soulcaster. {{book ref|sa1|29}}

[[Jasnah Kholin]]at first stepsstepped in to help House Davar ,{{book ref|sa2|1}} but everything iswas lost during the upheaval in [[Jah Keved]]. By the order of [[Mraize]], Balat and his brothers arewere saved and taken to [[Urithiru]] as a "gift" to Shallan for her services to the [[Ghostbloods]]. {{book ref|sa3|122}}

In the past, Balat resented [[Shallan]] for being untouched by the brutality of his father, but he also knew he couldn’t truly hate her. He considered her shy, quiet and delicate. {{book ref|sa1|i|2}} Shallan tries to help Balat, along with the rest of her brothers. She helps him get closer to Eylita{{book ref|sa2|45}} and later encourages him to plan an escape with her.{{book ref|sa2|61}} She potentially saves his life by stopping their father.{{book ref|sa2|73}}

Though Balat seems to care for his brothers, he doesn’t step up to protect or help them. This is shown when Jushu is taken by debtors. However, Balat gives [[Shallan]] his knife to help get Jushu back. {{book ref|sa3|45}}

Balat is sure his father killed his mother and her lover. He resents his father's cruelty, to the point where he wishes for the Highprince to take him. {{book ref|sa2|39}} Balat is always afraid of stepping up to him. It is only Lin's disapproval of Eylita that pushes Balat to confront him. Lin cripples Balat with a poker.{{book ref|sa2|12273}}

* His cruelty to animals, which he uses for soothing aches, is being magically enhanced by unspecified forces on Roshar.{{wob ref|3333}}