Elhokar Kholin

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Elhokar Kholin
House Kholin Spouse Aesudan Parents Gavilar, Navani Siblings Jasnah
Born	1147
Abilities	Shardbearer
Titles	King of Alethkar
Nationality	Alethi
Homeworld	Roshar

[[Category: Spoilers for Book shorthand incorrect]]

Elhokar Kholin is the king of Alethkar directly following his father Gavilar.

He is a Shardbearer, most likely having inherited his Shards from his father. Though this inheritance is unconfirmed, it is unlikely that Gavilar's Shards would have gone to another relative or a stranger upon the occasion of his death. If this is the case, the Shardplate has been repainted, from Gavilar's blue to its current gold paint with a blue cape. He also possesses a Shardblade called Sunraiser.

Appearance and Personality

Elhokar has light yellow eyes and keeps himself clean-shaven. His face is "almost too handsome" with full lips, a broad forehead, and a firm chin. He bears a resemblance to his father, though Elhokar has fewer scars than Gavilar does.

Elhokar suffers from a deep paranoia and fear of assassins, especially after his father is killed. Because of his suspicious nature, he wears his Shardplate far more often than other ShardbearersHe dislikes when people mention his father, believing correctly that the Alethi often compare him unfavorably to Gavilar.

Despite his own uncertainty in his ability to rule, Elhokar is capable of making decisive action and manages to control the Highprinces, if just barely. He is also a capable warrior, despite being easily defeated by his uncle. His wife Aesudan manages the kingdom in his absence.

History

Elhokar mainly serves as an unwitting obstacle to Dalinar as his uncle attempted to unite the Highprinces. Elhokar's father and the former King of Alethkar, Gavilar was assassinated by Szeth, prompting the ten Alethi Highprinces to declare war on the Parshendi under the Vengeance Pact, after they claimed responsibility for the assassination. Due to Elhokar's youth and paranoia his ability to rule was questioned by those under his rule and he maintained a weakened authority over the ten Highprinces. The King's paranoia stemmed from the assassination of his father and he feared that he would meet the same fate, although he overcompensated on the battlefield and often acted recklessly to the dismay of his family and guards. This paranoia was furthered by his ability to see strange creatures (possibly truthspren) in mirrors. Due to this ability it is theorized that Elhokar could become a Soulcaster like Jasnah and Shallan Davar, and be able to Soulcast without the use of a fabrial.

Elhokar's deep fear of assassination caused him to fake an assassination attempt on his own life by cutting the girth strap on his saddle, in order to trigger an investigation on those who wish him dead. Although this rash action placed suspicion on his uncle Dalinar, this method did yield results as it was found that weakened gemstones were placed in his Shardplate by a yet unknown individual.

Attributes and Abilities

As aforementioned, it is theorized that Elhokar could become an innate Soulcaster, one who does not require the use of a fabrial in order to Soulcast.

“I see their faces in mirrors. Symbols, twisted, inhuman”

—Elhokar Kholin

This seems very similar to the apparitions that Shallan observes in her drawings.

“a figure with a sharp, angular symbol hovering above its collar instead of a head”

—Shallan Davar

As these "cryptics" are linked with Shallan's ability to Soulcast, it seems likely that Elhokar could have the potential to gain the same abilities.

Shardblade

Elhokar's Shardblade was named Sunraiser and was described as long and thin with a large crossguard. It was etched with the ten basic glyphs up the sides of the blade.