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Difference between revisions of "Coalition of monarchs"
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==== First to Respond ====
With this decided, Dalinar assembled a small team to help him: [[Aladar]] and his daughter [[May Aladar|May]], [[Navani]], [[Kalami]], [[Teshav Khal]], and two of Teshav's senior wards. The first ruler they reached out to via [[spanreed]] was [[Yanagawn]], the emperor of [[Makabak]] and king of [[Azir]]. He and his advisors, recalcitrant and obviously suspicious of Dalinar, rebuffed every invitation to visit Urithiru and broke off communication abruptly when Dalinar began speaking more forcefully. Queen [[Fen]] of [[Thaylenah]] herself conversed with the group next, bluntly asking after Dalinar's true intentions. She also refused to come to Urithiru and even denied Dalinar's offer to send Alethi troops to help her rebuild [[Thaylen City]] from the destruction left by the [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|12}} The team spoke with Queen Fen and the Azish multiple other times but made no headway.{{book ref|sa3|24}} They also approached the rulers of [[Yezier]] and [[Tashikk]] but were turned down. However, King [[Taravangian]] sent a message accepting his invitation and saying that he and one of his [[Knights Radiant|Radiants]] would arrive at a later date via the Oathgate in [[Jah Keved]].{{book ref|sa3|12}} The queen of [[Iri]] wrote back to Dalinar one day and reported that the ruling triumvirate had agreed to side with the [[Voidbringers]]. Positing that the Kholins had stolen [[Evi]]'s [[Shardplate]], she categorically refused to listen to Dalinar unless he wanted to return the set of Plate.{{book ref|sa3|16}} Aside from those rulers, Dalinar's group reached out to several others. Neither [[Marabethia]] nor [[Rira (country)|Rira]] responded; [[Babatharnam]] was evasive; the other Makabaki states were waiting for Azir to decide; [[Shinovar]] sent congratulations but no real answer; and the [[Reshi Isles]] and other small states didn't really have a leader to contact. The [[Herdaz|Herdazians]] didn't trust Dalinar, and the [[Tukar]]i scribes delayed in bringing his message to their god-king, [[Tezim]].{{book ref|sa3|24}} [[New Natanan]] was evasive at first as well but then began to warm up.{{book ref|sa3|24}}{{book ref|sa3|28}}
{{sidequote
|[[Hoid]] during a battle in [[Emul]]{{book ref|sa4|64}}
}}
The [[Alethkar|Alethi]] oversee the military operations of the coalition, with [[Dalinar]] himself acting as the chief commander.{{book ref|sa3|96}}{{book ref|sa3|122}} However, when [[Herdaz]] finally falls to the enemy, the coalition recruits the [[Dieno enne Calah|Mink]];{{book ref|sa4|2}} realizing that he needs to pursue his [[Bondsmith]] abilities, Dalinar begins to step back, relying heavily on the Mink to run their military operations.{{book ref|sa4|50}}
The nations of the coalition bring different strengths to their group and are able to combine them in innovative and effective ways. When faced with the threat of an immediate invasion of [[Thaylen City]], they cobble together a small navy force composed of [[Veden]] ships manned by [[Tashikk]]i sailors and some of the best Alethi troops.{{book ref|sa3|107}} Combining the discipline and teamwork of the [[Azish]] infantry with the flexibility and special tactics of the Alethi creates a potent army they are able to use a year later during their mission in [[Emul]].{{book ref|sa4|47}} The [[Fused]], who have not fought any wars on [[Roshar]] since use of cavalry has become commonplace, are slow to react in ways that negate its use. This gives the coalition an advantage, even though the Fused adapt very well to modern warfare in other ways. [[Hoid]], in fact, foresees a time coming when even the military tactics still used by the coalition--those pertaining to regular men without the advantages of [[Surgebinding]]--will be obsolete due to the plethora of new powers arising in Roshar.{{book ref|sa4|64}}
The coalition has a navy which mostly consists of the ships that the enemy did not steal from [[Thaylenah]] and a few ships they have built since that time. The Thaylens successfully defend an incursion into the seas controlled by the coalition, resulting in a stand-off in which the coalition retains a naval superiority in the [[Southern Depths]] while Odium's forces control the seas on the north of Roshar.{{book ref|sa4|17}} Following [[Taravangian]]'s betrayal, the coalition's navy aids the general retreat by their troops in southern Alethkar and blockades all of Jah Keved's ships in their ports.{{book ref|sa4|50}}
The coalition's military forces rely heavily on the abilities of Surgebinders. [[Edgedancers]] and [[Truthwatchers]] provide medical support both in battles and away from the front lines, while Windrunners do most of the fighting, facing off against the enemy's [[Heavenly One]]s and [[Skybreakers]].{{book ref|sa4|5}}{{book ref|sa4|47}} The Windrunners also act as the coalition's scouts, often watching for enemy movement or patrolling outside [[Urithiru]] or along the coalition's borders and coastlines.{{book ref|sa4|17}}{{book ref|sa4|19}}{{book ref|sa4|31}} Likewise, the Windrunners are used to transport small groups of people when they need to get places quickly.{{book ref|sa4|9}}{{book ref|sa4|111}} The [[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweavers]] aspire to act as the coalition's spies, though their ability to [[Soulcast]] is also important in that it can feed the army without the inevitable danger that [[Soulcasting#Soulcasters|Soulcaster]] users face.{{book ref|sa4|21}} Together, Dalinar's Bondsmith powers and [[Shallan]]'s Lightweaving can combine to create a three-dimensional map of Roshar that can zoom in and out and includes such details as troop placement, so long as the [[Stormfather]] is able to see them during the [[highstorm]]. This map, together with reports from Windrunner patrols, is the foremost tool used in the coalition's military planning.{{book ref|sa4|17}}
Urithiru's [[Oathgates]] are of monumental strategic importance to the coalition. With portals leading to distant parts of Roshar, the Oathgates allow the coalition to move troops and supplies to needed areas quickly. Odium's armies are aware that depriving the coalition of the Oathgates would cripple their resistance; this thinking leads to [[Raboniel]]'s plan to occupy the tower.{{book ref|sa4|14}} The coalition's scholars are able to use the Oathgates' ability to make transfers to [[Shadesmar]] to their advantage as well.{{book ref|sa4|13}} This easy access to Shadesmar is what allows the coalition to send a group of emissaries to [[Lasting Integrity]].{{book ref|sa4|19}}
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