Difference between revisions of "Coalition of monarchs"

The '''coalition of monarchs'''{{epigraph ref|sa4|1}} is a coalition of several nations on [[Roshar]] dedicated to opposing [[Odium]]'s forces in the [[True Desolation]]. Founded by [[Dalinar Kholin]] after the [[Battle of Narak]], it currently consists of [[Urithiru]], [[Alethkar]], [[Thaylenah]], [[Azir]] and its member states, and [[Herdaz]], though Alethkar and Herdaz are occupied by the [[Fused]]. Prior to [[Taravangian]]'s betrayal, it also includes [[Jah Keved]] and [[Kharbranth]].{{book ref|sa4|19}}{{book ref|sa4|50}}

 

 

== History ==

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{{image|Oathgate Locations.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Locations of the [[Oathgate]]s}}

==== First to Respond ====

 

 

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==== Visions ====

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==== Thaylenah and Azir ====

Queen Fen agreed to let Dalinar, Taravangian, and a small company from Urithiru activate the Oathgate in Thaylen City and come visit.{{book ref|sa3|58}} Realizing that though he was making progress with Fen herself, he also had to win over the other influential factions of the city, Dalinar organized a duel with her [[Kdralk|son]]. He allowed the young man to stab him, healing the wound with [[Stormlight]] and proclaiming to the watching crowd that he really did come with diplomatic intentions. However, it was his labor to rebuild the [[Thaylen City#Temples|Temple]] of [[Talenelat]] and the healing done by the hastily summoned [[Renarin]] that finally convinced Fen to join the coalition.{{book ref|sa3|59}}

 

 

=== War Efforts (1174 - 1175) ===

 

==== First Meeting of Monarchs ====

 

 

==== Dissolution ====

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The meeting devolved into chaos, with everyone's trust in Dalinar and the purpose behind the coalition broken.{{book ref|sa3|111}}

 

Dalinar left the meeting, unable to make any headway in defending himself, and the rest remained for a while to discuss the new information. The Azish decided to abandon the coalition, despite agreeing with Jasnah's observation that the messages received in the meeting all came at once and seemed too targeted to be coincidental. Taravangian also decided that he would leave the coalition. Queen Fen recognized that the Thaylens still needed the Alethi army to help protect the city, so she opted to stay with him, though she wasn't happy about it.{{book ref|sa3|113}} Before the coalition could disband their flotilla and send the ships and sailors back to their respective countries, however, the enemy sailed in under the cover of the Everstorm.{{book ref|sa3|115}} The Alethi and the Thaylens successfully defended Thaylen City from Odium and his army, due in large part to Dalinar's own efforts.{{book ref|sa3|120}}

 

 

Taravangian met up with Dalinar after the conclusion of the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]]. He admitted that he had abandoned the fight but argued that his choice had been made in the best interest of Roshar, as he would have been in prime position to take control of the coalition when Dalinar, as he assumed was inevitable, fell.{{book ref|sa3|121}} He confessed to Dalinar his role in the streak of assassinations that had been taking place the preceding year, a small amount of honesty calculated to regain a little of Dalinar's trust so he could remain with the coalition.{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{book ref|sa3|122}}

 

 

==== Alliance with Herdaz ====

|[[Navani]]'s lecture on [[fabrial]] mechanics{{epigraph ref|sa4|19}}

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Every report that reached the coalition during that time indicated that [[Herdaz]], which was facing off against Odium's armies as they made inroads into the country, was about to fall. Because it seemed like a lost cause, the coalition declined to reach out and help them; however, the Herdazian resistance fought a much more protracted war than expected and inflicted a large casualty count before they finally had to give in. The coalition received word that the general, the [[Dieno|Mink]], was fleeing to Alethkar with other Herdazian refugees, so they sent [[Kaladin]] to intercept him in [[Hearthstone]] and extend an invitation to join the coalition.{{book ref|sa4|2}} At the same time, they tested out their new invention, the ''[[Fourth Bridge]]'', by flying it to Hearthstone and loading it with the entire population of townsfolk and refugees to bring back to Urithiru.{{book ref|sa4|3}}

 

 

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{{image|Map of Eastern Makabak.jpg|side=left|width=300px|Eastern [[Makabak]], including [[Emul]]}}

The diplomatic group left for Lasting Integrity via an Oathgate transfer to [[Shadesmar]].{{book ref|sa4|21}} Some days later, the coalition's army transferred to [[Azimir]] to begin their march to Emul.{{book ref|sa4|27}} One day during their advance, at the end of an [[Everstorm]], Odium appeared to Taravangian and instructed him to send the orders for his army to attack the coalition. Having spent the last year quietly promoting certain men and assuring them that Jah Keved would be safe from the war, his army instantly responded. Within fifteen minutes, Alethi soldiers arrived to arrest Taravangian.{{book ref|sa4|i|6}} The alliance of Alethi and Azish soldiers in Azir fought against the Vedens, who were joined by some singers and Fused, and won relatively easily.{{book ref|sa4|47}} Though they made attempts to burn the coalition's supply dumps and to rescue Taravangian, Dalinar's warnings prior to the betrayal ensured that those attempts were interrupted. The coalition armies in Southern Alethkar suffered very few casualties, aided by the Thaylen navy in their retreat to [[Karanak]]. The navy then blockaded the Veden ships into their ports.{{book ref|sa4|50}}

 

 

==== Victory on Three Fronts ====

 

 

{{image|Navani and Raboniel by Esther Schrader.jpg|side=right|width=250px|[[Navani]] and [[Raboniel]] collaborating}}

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== Internal Structure ==

During the first few meetings of monarchs, Dalinar, Navani, or other Alethi officials lead the meetings.{{book ref|sa3|96}}{{book ref|sa3|107}} Later, [[Noura]] begins leading the meetings in the place of the Kholins, as she has a calm way of doing so that everyone respects.{{book ref|sa4|19}} The first gathering especially is chaotic and prone to devolve into arguments, involving a lot of peacekeeping from Navani. Realizing that the meetings need more structure to them, Navani asks the Azish to draft some bylaws that would govern how the nations interact with one another.{{book ref|sa3|96}} This eventually results in a much more organized system in which each nation represented holds a vote on each topic, with Azir and its member states grouped together as one. The total number of votes increases to five when the coalition officially recognizes Urithiru as a separate member nation with Dalinar as its king, granting both Dalinar and Jasnah separate seats on the council.{{book ref|sa4|10}}{{book ref|sa4|19}} The number goes back to four after Taravangian's betrayal and Jah Keved's withdrawal from the coalition, but the member nations are considering adding Herdaz as an official member due to the Mink's invaluable help in retaking Emul. It seems that the coalition requires unanimity among the members before acting upon a proposal.<!-- RoW 19, Emul and Lasting Integrity missions both unanimously approved; RoW 101, Jasnah is needing to convince both Fen and Gawx to approve Wit's contract. The only thing that gives pause is Fen's quote from ch 19 where she expresses surprise that they all agreed. This, however, could just mean that total agreement without having to persuade a member is the surprise. -->{{book ref|sa4|19}}{{book ref|sa4|101}}

 

== Politics ==

 

==== Contest of Champions ====

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[[Honor]] first suggests to Dalinar in his [[Dalinar's visions|visions]] that the best possibility of beating Odium is a contest between a champion of Odium's and a champion appointed by those who oppose him.{{book ref|sa2|4}} The [[Stormfather]] agrees with this notion, explaining that Odium will see it as a situation that will cost him only time if he loses.{{book ref|sa3|16}} Odium agrees to such a contest during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], but he and Dalinar do not set terms at the time.{{book ref|sa3|117}} During the coalition's campaign in [[Emul]], [[Hoid]] advises Dalinar that Odium will not approach him to set terms for the contest until the coalition frightens him into believing that they could win the war.{{book ref|sa4|50}} [[Renarin]] confirms this when he gets a chance at the camp in [[Laqqi]] to tell Dalinar about his most recent vision.{{book ref|sa4|54}}

 

 

== Military ==

|[[Hoid]] during a battle in [[Emul]]{{book ref|sa4|64}}

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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}}

 

 

 

== Notes ==