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Difference between revisions of "User:Jofwu/Shallan Davar"
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finished through WoR, though needs a proofread and tweaks probably.
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In some instances, Shallan recalls happy memories from her early childhood--such as a time when her parents loved to tell her stories.{{book ref|sa3|25}} On the other hand, the mysterious dealings of her mother and the attention her family drew from the [[Cryptic]]s suggests a more disquieting family life. By {{Rosharan date|1167}} Shallan's mother had been associating with a certain group of "friends," including a man by the name of [[Dreder]], who would occasionally visit the family's estates.{{book ref|sa2|45}} These people were associated with the [[Skybreakers]] and at least one of their number--with whom Shallan's mother had an intimate relationship-- was a Skybreaker acolyte.{{book ref|sa3|40}} [[Pattern]] was eventually sent by his kind to form a [[nahel bond]] with Shallan, who spoke the [[Immortal Words|First Ideal]] at a young age.{{book ref|sa2|13}}{{book ref|sa2|17}} Their early interactions with one another took place in the family's gardens, where Shallan would bring her daydreams to life by practicing [[Lightweaving]].{{book ref|sa2|6}}{{book ref|sa2|60}} It is unclear whether these experiences were a means for Shallan to deal with a troubled childhood or simply the play of an imaginative young girl.{{wob ref|8418}}
{{quote|A familiar lullaby, one he always used to sing to her. In the room behind him, dark corpses stretched out on the floor. A red carpet once white.|Lin sings "Sleep My Baby Dear" to comfort his daughter{{book ref|sa2|10}}}}At the age of eleven, Shallan's mother discovered that her daughter was a [[Surgebinder]].{{book ref|sa2|88}} Her mother and a friend confronted Lin, trying to argue that something must be done about Shallan. The argument became a fight after the unfamiliar man drew a knife, apparently intended for Shallan. She watched as her father and the man struggled--her father scoring a cut on the man's arm before being pinned to the ground. Her mother seized the knife and moved for Shallan, prompting Shallan to summon Pattern as a [[Shardblade]] in self-defense. After killing both her mother and the associate, Shallan dropped the Blade and fell into a state of intense shock. Lin placed the Shardblade in his strongbox and held Shallan while singing "[[Sleep My Baby Dear]]" to soothe her.{{book ref|sa2|10}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} Though the Blade naturally vanished, Shallan began to associate it with her "Mother's soul," which she believed was held in the strongbox--an idea she clung to so firmly that the safe would visibly glow to Shallan's eyes.{{book ref|sa2|27}} In the months that followed, Shallan began to repress her memories of her mother and these events. Her disassociation with the Shardblade and the truth of what had happened caused her bond with Pattern to weaken nearly to the point of nonexistence.{{book ref|sa2|60}} In order to protect his daughter, Lin Davar allowed rumors to spread that he had murdered his wife and her lover--a secret he would share with few before his own death.
==== Cutting the Thorns ====
{{sidequote|Shallan longed to stay outside. Here in the gardens, people didn't scream at each other. Here there was peace.|Shallan at age 12{{book ref|sa2|27}}|right|200px}}After her mother's death, Shallan did not speak for five months. At this time, Helaran became involved with the Skybreakers, which frequently kept him away from his family's estates. Before leaving, Helaran purchased a sheaf of fine drawing paper and a new set of charcoal pencils for Shallan--along with a leather satchel--hoping to coax some life back into his sister, who had enjoyed drawing at an early age. All of the younger Davar siblings had handled the death of their mother poorly, and Helaran hoped that Shallan would help to lift their spirits in his absence.{{book ref|sa2|19}}
Lin the confronted his eldest son, who had ordered a carriage prepared without his father's permission to leave. Shallan watched as Helaran drew a mysterious Shardblade of his own and held it to his father's chest--naming the man a murderer. After threatening his father further and dismissing Lin's attempt to explain the truth, Shallan begged Helaran to relent. Amused that her first words after the incident would be to defend their father, Helaran dismissed his blade. He explained again to Shallan that he would have to leave, despite her objections, and promised that he would one day explain the reasons for his activities. After asking her to continue to practice her drawing
For the next year and a half Helaran come only sporadically, always avoiding his father. During a particularly long absence they received word from him only once through a brief letter--containing little aside from veiled threats for Lin--along with a book for Shallan written by [[Jasnah Kholin]].{{book ref|sa2|27}}{{book ref|sa2|39}} Lin Davar's anger only grew as he would occasionally turn his violence towards the servants.{{book ref|sa2|39}} Shallan practiced her artistic skill with the help of a drawing book by [[Dandos Heraldin|Dandos the Oilsworn]], often using art as a diversion from the family's struggles.{{book ref|sa2|27}} Shallan's other siblings continued to fare poorly, with Balat mistreating animals and starting fires and Jushu given over to drunkenness and gambling. The house was also facing economic shortfalls--a truth Shallan discovered as she began assisting with the family's accounts. In spite of this, Lin Davar frequently insisted on throwing elaborate feasts, whereupon he would flaunt his alleged wealth to impress their lower-dahn guests. Given a new dress for each occasion, Shallan became part of this elaborate display as well.{{book ref|sa2|27}}{{book ref|sa2|39}}
==== A New Woman ====
[[File:Whelan_Stormlight_Shallan.jpg|
The next morning Shallan prepared herself to enter the warcamps using Tyn's things. Macob and his people departed their camp first, sending a palanquin back for Shallan. Followed by her guards and slaves, Shallan intended to approach Dalinar Kholin, but they soon learned that all of the highprinces were in conference with King [[Elhokar]], as the Assassin in White had attacked the previous evening. They proceeded to Elhokar's palace, where Shallan entered with Vathah and Gaz in attendance. At the entrance to the king's conference room, she was recognized by Kaladin, who took her claim to be Adolin Kholin's betrothed with a great deal of skepticism after her act as a Horneater princess three days prior. Their sourness of their previous meeting led to a bitter exchange of insults and caused a scene before all the many guards of each highprince that were present. Moments later the meeting of highprinces paused for a break, giving Shallan an opportunity to enter and approach Dalinar. She reported on the death of Jasnah to the highprince and Jasnah's mother, and tried to explain the nature of Jasnah's research before Navani began pressing for more details about Jasnah's murder. After Navani excused herself, Shallan garnered pardons for her guards, and then the discussion turned towards the betrothal as Adolin approached and introduced himself. They found one another attractive and though the basis for the union appeared weakened with the loss of Jasnah, Dalinar and Adolin agreed to maintain the causal for the time being.{{book ref|sa2|36}}{{book ref|sa2|38}}
Shallan attended Adolin's full disadvantaged duel the next day. She berrated herself for not realizing the trap Adolin had walked into--intrigue she would be responsible for recognizing, as Adolin's wife. As her betrothed struggled in the dueling arena, Shallan briefly considered joining the fight herself, before writing off the idea as foolishness. Feeling wrong to interfere with Adolin's own fight, Shallan sent Pattern to distract the Shardbearer facing [[Renarin]], which bought enough time for Kaladin to enter the fight and tip the balance in favor of Adolin.{{book ref|sa2|56}}{{book ref|sa2|57}} Adolin's self-imprisonment after his victory gave the couple some time apart, though they continued to chat via spanreed on occasion. This freed Shallan to continue her research and her efforts to contact her brothers, but it also allowed some doubts to creep in concerning the security of their relationship. Though Shallan was never particularly jealous, she struggled with fears that Adolin was not as committed.{{book ref|sa2|60}}{{book ref|sa2|63}}
[[File:Shallan-antti.jpg|300px|thumb|
==== Scholar and Radiant ====▼
▲==== Scholar and Radiant ====
▲[[File:Shallan-antti.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Shallan sketching, by [[User:Antti Hakosaari|Antti Hakosaari]]]]
After settling in Sebarial's warcamp, Shallan was finally able to devote more time to the study and continuation of Jasnah's research. While trying to discern the location of Urithiru, she made her first breakthrough--the realization that Jasnah was hoping to find an [[Oathgate]] to the mythological city on the Shattered Plains.{{book ref|sa2|47}} After infiltrating Amaram's mansion, Shallan used her findings there to focus her research. By comparing his map of the Shattered Plains with an ancient map of [[Natanatan]], she determined that the ruins of [[Stormseat]] must be located on the Plains. Amaram's notes further confirmed the idea that on Oathgate in the ancient capital would provide a means to reach Urithiru.{{book ref|sa2|60}}
Kaladin roused Shallan early in the morning and they set off once more, hoping for the sun to give more help with their orientation. It didn't take long before they began to irritate one another once again, but as the conversation progressed, they slowly began opening up to one another. When Kaladin admitted his suspicions of Shallan, she shared Jasnah's theories concerning the Voidbringers and swore to him that she intended no harm to the Kholins. Unfortunately, the rising sun revealed that they were again headed in the wrong direction, so Shallan set about drawing their path once again. They began relying on her sketches to make slow, steady progress through the chasms. The process helped her to realize that the Shattered Plains were symmetrical, which Kaladin reinforced by explaining he had once seen them as symmetrical in a dream. With Kaladin highly discouraged, Shallan tried to be upbeat. He attributed this optimism to an easy upbringing, and was shocked when Shallan showed him a hint of the brokenness within herself. Something about her honesty encouraged the bridgeman, and he actually began to join in with her joking--until the chasmfiend revealed itself once more.{{book ref|sa2|70}}{{book ref|sa2|71}}
[[File:Kaladin and Shallan in Chasm.png|thumb|
Kaladin pushed Shallan into a crack in the chasm wall, where they hid just out of reach until the monster relented and began to simply wait. With the highstorm only a few hours away, Kaladin decided to run as a distraction--giving Shallan an opportunity to escape with her important knowledge of Jasnah's research and now the Plains' symmetry. Shallan allowed him to leave, but not before offering up Pattern as a Shardblade. She darted from the crevice after Kaladin drew the chasmfiend's attention and was able to reach her satchel, containing what little Stormlight she had left. As Kaladin struggled to survive against the attacking beast, Shallan used illusions of herself and Kaladin to distract it and buy him precious moments. When the beast finally snapped at the true Kaladin, he drove Pattern deep into its head, slaying the creature. Shallan rushed to his side to help free him from the dead monster's maw. With Kaladin alive but too wounded to help, and the highstorm soon approaching, Shallan used Pattern to cut a series of handholds into the chasm wall above the chasmfiend's corpse, followed by a small cleft just above the waterline. She clambered into it herself, and pulled Kaladin in as the stormwall struck. Terrified amidst the raging torrent, they clung to one another. Kaladin mentioned his prior experience being strung up in a highstorm, and prompting from Shallan encouraged him to share much of his personal story with her--though the truth of Helaran's death was obscured by happenstance. Shallan listened silently and shared of her own childhood struggles and time with Jasnah after he had finished, including the murder of her father. As her story came to a close, the [[Stormfather]] appeared to Shallan. Then, with the height of the storm passed, Shallan fell asleep against Kaladin.{{book ref|sa2|71}}{{book ref|sa2|72}}{{book ref|sa2|74}}
The pair recovered the [[gemheart]] from the chasmfiend the following morning and returned to the warcamps, tattered but alive, where they were brought to the triage pavilion for care. Navani arrived shortly after and took fierce command of Shallan's treatment, as if the girl was her own daughter--ordering blankets, a warm bath, and a hot meal despite Shallan's protests. Though the older woman's sudden affection was overwhelming, Shallan embraced it graciously. Shallan had Pattern spy on Dalinar and Navani as she bathed, and revealing Dalinar's hopes that Shallan would join their expedition for the use of her mapmaking skills. Adolin arrived soon after, relieved to discover that his betrothed was still alive. After a long hug and kiss, he swore to protect her more carefully, earning him a strong reprimand from Shallan, with thoughts of her father in mind. When Dalinar arrived with Navani to request Shallan's aid, Shallan explained her theory that the ancient ruins of Stormseat at the center of the Shattered Plains held answers to Jasnah's research. She also explained the supposed danger posed by the parshmen, and convinced Dalinar to leave them in the warcamps. With Shallan's decision set, Navani decided to join as well, and the army was ready to march within the hour. {{book ref|sa2|75}}
==== Narak ====
Shallan's lady's maid and guards joined as well, included Gaz who arrived at the last moment with a newly acquired copy of ''[[Words of Radiance (in-world)|Words of Radiance]]''. Adolin gave Shallan a placid horse, expecting she wouldn't ride for long with little experience on horseback, and the couple enjoyed one another's company as the army began to depart--though Shallan felt a distracting and lingering sense of yearning for the unwavering intensity that she had seen in Kaladin.{{book ref|sa2|77}}
The march to Stormseat took several days, during which Shallan spent much of her time studying ''Words of Radiance'' for clues that might be helpful in reaching Urithiru. As the [[Weeping]] began on the second day, Navani joined Shallan in the carriage and offered her apologies at how she had been treating Shallan as well as assistance in Shallan's research. Thankful to have the older woman's support, and for Navani's insistence that Shallan would oversee the project, they began to collaborate. Shallan explained Jasnah's research and revealed that Jasnah herself proved to be one of the [[Knights Radiant]] that Dalinar had been hoping to unite. One week into the expedition, Dalinar came to speak with Shallan in private about these matters. Seeing that the highprince was in great need of encouragement, Shallan confided in him that she herself was a [[Lightweaver]]--creating an illusion as proof. She swore Dalinar to secrecy, for the time being, before they left together to investigate the report of a [[Parshendi]] who had surrendered. The men of [[Bridge Four]] identified the Parshendi as [[Rlain]], appearing to Shallan as one of the Voidbringers of legend as described in Jasnah's notes. After speaking with Dalinar, Shallan interviewed Rlain herself, and was able to work out a map to [[Narak]] with his help--though he knew nothing of the [[Oathgate]]--and a few days later they reached the outskirts of the city. With retreat no longer a viable option, Dalinar charged Shallan with seeking the Oathgate at all costs, in case it became their only chance for survival.{{book ref|sa2|77}}{{book ref|sa2|78}}{{book ref|sa2|80}}
As the [[Battle of Narak]] commenced the following day, Shallan was hard at work sketching the center of the Plains in hopes of a clue, when one of the Kholin scouts indicated that a portion of her map was incorrect. Shallan instantly recognized that this strange plateau, breaking the symmetry of the Shattered Plains, would hold the Oathgate. Shallan quickly set out with [[Renarin Kholin]], [[Inadara]], several bridgemen, and a squad of soldiers, to investigate. They skirted the ongoing battle to reach the plateau, and Shallan soon located the entrance to the Oathgate's control building, buried under centuries of crem. Once inside, however, they struggled to understand how the ancient [[fabrial]] might be used. Shallan identified the "keyhole" requiring a [[Shardblade]], but did not understand why Renarin's dead Shardblade failed to activate it. She gave the order to gather the [[Alethi]] armies on the Oathgate plateau before continuing her efforts. Eventually, amidst Renarin's cryptic lament, Shallan recognized that the device was a fabrial--requiring [[Stormlight]] to be utilized. Abandoning all hope of keeping her nature as a [[Surgebinder]] a secret, Shallan began collecting infused gemstones and transferring the Stormlight to the Oathgate's lamps. As the [[Everstorm]] and unexpected [[highstorm]] collided above Narak, Shallan attempted activate the Oathgate once more with Adolin's Shardblade. When, again, nothing happened, Shallan realized that the living Shardblade of a Knight Radiant would be required. She removed Adolin's Blade, drew Pattern, and transported the remaining Alethi forces to [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa2|81}}{{book ref|sa2|83}}{{book ref|sa2|84}}{{book ref|sa2|86}}
=== Urithiru ({{Rosharan date|1173}}-{{Rosharan date|1174}}) ===
[[File:
==== Brightness Radiant ====
On the eve of her arrival in [[Urithiru]], Shallan was helping to explore the tower when she happened across a note--addressed to her and marked with the symbol of the [[Ghostbloods]]. She entered the next room to find [[Mraize]], who had discovered her true identity--though he insisted that "Veil" is Shallan's true self. Mraize reiterated both Shallan's debt to the Ghostbloods--her father's [[Davar Soulcaster|broken Soulcaster]]--as well as her admittance into their ranks. Shallan denounced him, noting their apparent murder of [[Jasnah Kholin]], however Mraized claimed he would deliver her brothers to Urithiru, teased secrets relating to [[Helaran]], and promised Shallan that she would only find answers to all of her questions by working with the Ghostbloods. Exhausted after the long day and confrontation with Mraize, Shallan met with Adolin, who led her to a room selected by Pattern as a place for rest. The room instantly reminded Shallan of her father's study, and once she entered Pattern explained that she would have to confront the truth of her past in order to become the Knight Radiant that the world would need. He prompted her to relive the murder of her mother through a Lightweaving; memories buried deep down and long suppressed returned to Shallan's consciousness--the weight of it crushing her, but deepening her bond to Pattern.{{book ref|sa2|88}}
{{quote|I don’t want revenge. I want my family.|Shallan recalling her mother's death{{book ref|sa2|88}}}}
"The Four"? {{book ref|sa2|89}}
==== The Darkness Within ====
Re-Shephir zoom by Petar Penev (https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/011/661/885/large/petar-penev-dnavenom-midnight-mother-final.jpg)
Shallan and Kaladin at her arrival on Plains (https://vladorart.tumblr.com/post/175895566521/is-this-really-all-because-i-lied-to-you-she)
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