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{{character
|image=Jasnah Shuravf.jpg
|family=[[House Kholin]]
|ancestors=[[Dalinar's father]], [[Sadees]]
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}{{objective|date=2020-06|claim=PiedPeterPiper
{{quote
|It strikes me that religion—in its essence—seeks to take natural events and ascribe supernatural causes to them. I, however, seek to take supernatural events and find the natural meanings behind them. Perhaps that is the final dividing line between science and religion. Opposite sides of a card.
}}
'''Jasnah Kholin''' is the queen of [[Alethkar]] on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa3|122}} She is a [[Surgebinder]] and [[Elsecaller]], with access to the [[Surge|Surges]] of [[Transformation]] and [[Transportation]], sometimes called "Elsecalling."{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}} She is the sister of the late King [[Elhokar Kholin|Elhokar]], daughter of the late King [[Gavilar Kholin|Gavilar]] and [[Navani Kholin|Navani]], niece of Highprince [[Dalinar Kholin|Dalinar]], aunt of royal heir [[Gavinor]], and cousin to [[Adolin]] and [[Renarin]]. She is known widely as a brilliant scholar and for her denunciation of [[Vorinism]].{{book ref|sa1|3}} She is a member of the [[Veristitalian
== Appearance and Personality ==
=== Appearance ===
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Jasnah is a reserved and statuesque woman. She is widely praised for her beauty, always graceful and dressed immaculately. She is tall and slender with a full chest. She has tan skin and deep black hair that, when unbound, reaches the middle of her back - though she usually puts it up in intricate
=== Personality ===
{{quote
|You two are a pair of nails in the same
|[[Navani]] about [[Dalinar]] and [[Jasnah]]{{book ref|sa1|28}}
}}
== History ==
=== Early Life (1139—1167) ===
Jasnah Kholin was born in {{Rosharan date|1139}} to Gavilar and Navani Kholin. Her brother, Elhokar, was born eight years later in {{Rosharan date|1147}}.{{book ref|sa1|12}} She became a princess of Alethkar when Gavilar united the [[highprince]]s and became the king in {{Rosharan date|1163}}. At about ages twelve to thirteen, Jasnah suffered from a case of lunacy.{{book ref|sa3|49}} When Jasnah reflects on this period of time, she remembers a dark room and screaming her voice ragged. According to her, this was when she learned that people she loved could still hurt her.{{book ref|sa3|47}}
Jasnah transcribed Gavilar's account of his first meeting with the [[Parshendi]] in {{Rosharan date|1166}}.{{book ref|sa1|36}} She didn't know what to think of the changes in Gavilar around that time,{{book ref|sa1|15}} but felt connected to her father for the first time.{{book ref|sa1|45}} She was very interested in studying the Parshendi and the [[Shattered Plains]]. She suspected that the ruins in the Plains were extremely important, and that scholars had been searching for said ruins for a long time.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}
Before Jasnah became famous as a heretic of Vorinism, her father wanted her to marry Amaram. Convinced that her plan to become a famous atheist would fail, Gavilar heartily disapproved of her denunciation of Vorinism, and wished her to return to the church and marry Amaram. Gavilar was sure that this was the only secure future for his daughter.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} Jasnah refused the betrothal long before her father died, but Gavilar was still trying to convince her to take the offer of marriage on the night he was killed, and Amaram still pursued her for years after the fact. Jasnah continued rebuffing his advances whenever their paths crossed, and he was bitter toward her for years.{{book ref|sa2|37}}
=== The Research (1167—1173) ===▼
{{image|Jasnah by horizonproblems.jpg|side=left|height=300px}}
▲=== The Research (1167—1173) ===
==== Parshendi Betrayal ====
In {{Rosharan date|1167}}, Jasnah attended the feast held in the [[Kholinar]] Palace after the signing of the Parshendi treaty. While walking to a meeting with an assassin named [[Liss]] with the intention of killing Elhokar's wife [[Aesudan Kholin|Aesudan]], she noticed her shadow pointing toward the light. She walked past Highprince [[Torol Sadeas|Sadeas]] and a [[Shinovar|Shin]] [[Szeth-son-son-Vallano|servant in white clothing]], and subsequently came across her father in quiet conference with [[Meridas Amaram]]. Once Amaram left, Jasnah asked Gavilar what he commanded Amaram, but Gavilar deflected the question and left hastily, leading her to wonder if he knew about her plans regarding Aesudan. Walking onward, Jasnah's shadow again acted oddly, and this time formed into a "man of midnight blackness [with] a certain reflective cast, as if he were made of oil."{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} He carried an unsheathed sword. In panic, Jasnah went into [[Shadesmar]] for the first time. There, the shadowy figure sheathed its sword, and Jasnah fell into the sea of glass beads. Before she drowned, Jasnah managed to find the glass bead corresponding to the Kholinar Palace, and using that as her guide, willed herself to rise to the surface, standing on a platform of glass beads. From there, she formed the corridor she'd stood in before leaving the [[Physical Realm]], and when the shadowy figure stepped onto her platform with its sword drawn, she formed a statue of [[Talenel|Talenelat'Elin]]. She confronted the figure, and it saluted and bowed, then left. When Jasnah returned to the Physical Realm, all the spheres lining the hallway walls were dun.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}
==== Travels ====
After the death of her father, she started drawing parallels between the Parshendi and the [[Voidbringers]].{{book ref|sa1|74}} Eventually, she discovered her [[Surgebinding]] abilities, and started carrying a
In {{Rosharan date|1172}}, she received a letter from [[Shallan Davar]], asking for wardship. She replied to Shallan to meet her in [[Dumadari]] in two weeks' time, though she didn't really expect her to make it. She spent the next six months traveling from town to town, leaving notes for Shallan when she left so the young woman could follow her. She eventually reached [[Kharbranth]] in {{Rosharan date|1173}}.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
===Discovering a Potential Knight Radiant===
==== A New Ward ====
She found out King [[Taravangian]]'s [[Taravangian's granddaughter|granddaughter]] was trapped in one of the palace rooms after an highstorm caused a boulder to fall down from the walls, blocking the way in. Taravangian asked for Jasnah's help, to free his granddaughter by [[Soulcasting]] the stone. Jasnah accepted to help, in return for free admittance to the [[Palanaeum]]. Shallan Davar, a prospective ward, caught up with her at this point and Jasnah evaluated Shallan's knowledge. Once they reached the boulder that had trapped the king's granddaughter, Jasnah Soulcast the stone into smoke, causing the newly formed smoke to explode because of the difference in density of rock and smoke. After this, she informed Shallan that she wasn't good enough to become her ward. Jasnah left Shallan behind and went to the Palanaeum.{{book ref|sa1|5}} After she collected the books she wanted, she returned to the alcove she'd reserved, and found Shallan there. She was angry to be defied, and told Shallan, not in a kind way, to leave her alone. Shallan, in her embarrassment and disappointment, forgot the [[spheres]] she had used for illumination inside the alcove. Jasnah asked her to return and apologized to her for her rudeness. She found out that Shallan was self-taught and found it remarkable, promising if she filled the gaps in her knowledge, she would accept her as her ward. A few hours later, the servants informed her that Shallan was back and that she had her own alcove, intent on studying while in Kharbranth and applying for wardship again. Jasnah decided that if she could not get rid of Shallan, she might as well make use of her and accepted her as her ward.{{book ref|sa1|8}}
Shallan left for several hours, allegedly retrieving [[Tifandor]]'s biography of Gavilar. She returned with Kabsal, insistent on drawing his portrait. Jasnah, annoyed by the distraction, left the alcove. Jasnah later saw Shallan emerge agitated about another drawing error, headed toward her quarters. Jasnah, concerned for her ward, followed her. When she found Shallan on the ground, bleeding from a cut on her wrist, she assumed it was a suicide attempt and immediately called for help. Shallan was taken to one of Taravangian's hospitals.{{book ref|sa1|45}}
{{image|Jasnah Kholin by Lyraina.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Jasnah Kholin and her Soulcaster}}
==== The Theft of the Soulcaster ====
Furious and hurt at the apparent betrayal from her ward, Jasnah confronted Shallan when she woke up. She initially thought that Shallan had stolen her Soulcaster for one of the devotaries, but Shallan informed her that she had intended to use it for her own purposes; that [[Lin Davar|her father]] was dead and [[House Davar]] was bankrupt, and that she had become Jasnah's ward to steal the Soulcaster in the first place. Jasnah told Shallan that she would be leaving for home the next day on a ship she'd arranged and that Kabsal was dead. She also told her that he had been using Shallan to assassinate her the whole time because the bread he'd been bringing Shallan was poisoned with [[backbreaker powder]] and the jam contained the antidote. She left the room, leaving Shallan behind in tears.{{book ref|sa1|50}}
Despite Jasnah's instructions, Shallan came to her alcove and guessed that the Soulcaster Jasnah wore was a fake and she could Soulcast without a fabrial. Jasnah initially tried to deny this, but was shocked to see Shallan reveal a depiction of [[Shadesmar]]. Shallan told Jasnah that she'd stolen the Soulcaster fabrial on the night when Jasnah killed the four footpads and that she could Surgebind as well. When Jasnah didn't believe her, Shallan entered Shadesmar with a dim sphere to prove her claim. Jasnah followed her and brought her back, admonishing her for trying to enter Shadesmar with only a dim sphere. Shallan asked Jasnah to teach her and said that she wanted to be a part of Jasnah's studies. Jasnah was reluctant at first, but eventually accepted with the promise that she would never lie to Jasnah or steal from anyone ever again.{{book ref|sa1|70}} She went on to tell Shallan about Surgebinding, the Knights Radiant, and her theory about the Parshendi and the Voidbringers. When Shallan told Jasnah of the [[cryptic]]s following her, Jasnah explained that both of them were of the two different orders with the ability to Soulcast. After reading Jasnah's notes regarding the Voidbringers,{{book ref|sa1|72}} Shallan came to the same conclusion as her mentor: the Parshendi were Voidbringers. Jasnah was pleased to have convinced at least one person. She then told Shallan that, having exhausted all that Kharbranth had to offer, they would leave for the Shattered Plains the next day. She warned Shallan that there were others after this information, mentioning the [[Ghostbloods]] specifically;
=== Shipwreck and Apparent Death (1173) ===
After Dalinar released the vision proclaiming [[Honor]]'s death, he was labeled as a pariah and an outcast by ardents, colleagues, and former friends -- groups that were not necessarily mutually exclusive -- and eventually excommunicated from the Vorin church. Identifying a shared struggle between herself and her uncle, Jasnah offered sympathy and counsel on being an outcast in Alethi society.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
As Jasnah returned, her taking part in meetings with Roshar's world leaders inspired conflict between her and Shallan, who now resented being treated like a ward. Their first clash occurred shortly after Jasnah asked Shallan to take notes in a meeting. Jasnah later confronted Shallan about her rebellious attitude and lack of responsibility, chastising her for skipping meetings or arriving late, though she lessened the blow by expressing admiration for Shallan's accomplishments while Jasnah was stuck in the Cognitive Realm. Shallan proposed terminating her wardship, but Jasnah refused.{{book ref|sa3|39}} In another meeting, Shallan rebuked [[Janala Lustow|Janala]] after she insulted Renarin; After scolding Shallan once again, Jasnah confided that she didn't often take wards because she was bad at instructing them and keeping them in check. Shortly after, Shallan, resentful at returning to a more lowly position, decided to journey with [[Kaladin]], [[Adolin Kholin|Adolin
During their overlapping time in Urithiru, Jasnah observed Shallan's slow mental deterioration, which Ivory had warned her about.{{book ref|sa3|47}}{{book ref|sa3|53}}
==== Stopping the Voidbringers ====
In Urithiru, Jasnah contacted two colleagues of hers, both Veristitalians, who studied under the same master as she. She had lost her spanreeds when the ''[[Wind's Pleasure]]'' sank, and had to contact them through an intermediary in one of [[Tashikk]]'s famous information centers, using a scribe she'd personally interviewed and bribed to maintain confidentiality. [[Ethid]],
Jasnah knew that the humans were the true Voidbringers before anyone else, having learned the fact from Wit when she found him after returning to the physical realm.{{book ref|sa3|47}} Nevertheless, she took an anti-pacifist stance in strategy meetings after [[Kaladin]] suggested negotiating with the Parshendi, arguing that the Voidbringers were ruthless creatures who needed to be stopped rather than oppressed citizens who deserved the same rights as humans.{{book ref|ob|39}} Jasnah also advocated to find the [[Heralds]] and kill them, thus restoring the [[Oathpact]] and returning the [[Fused]] to [[Damnation]]. Her plan was shot down by Dalinar and Kaladin. In addition, Jasnah suggested that humans try to regain control over the [[Shinovar|Shin]] [[Oathgate]] second -- as opposed to the one in Azir or Theylenah, which her uncle had been trying to do -- so that they could cross all of Roshar in one bound. The plan did not work in execution, as the Shin were unresponsive to Dalinar's entreaties, possibly because they didn't want it to be discovered that the [[Honorblade]]s were kept there.{{book ref|sa3|106}}
==== Battle of Thaylen Field (1174) ====
At the beginning of the Battle of Thaylen Field, Jasnah made a plan to protect her uncle and evacuate Thaylen city. She seemed to have known it was coming beforehand, having worn flexible garb in preparation.{{book ref|sa3|115}} She tracked down Renarin and discovered that
When Shallan began to run low on Stormlight, Jasnah alerted [[Navani]] and [[Queen Fen]] to send troops to aid her and clear out the [[Fused]] from inside the city. She also came to extract Shallan when she ran out completely before she could be captured by the Parshendi.{{book ref|sa3|120}} Jasnah checked on her again after the battle, and Shallan finally decided to continue with her wardship until Jasnah deemed her a fit scholar.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
===== Battle Aftermath =====
{{quote|United, new beginnings sing: "Defying truth, love, Truth defy!"" Sing beginnings, new unity.|Jasnah Kholin|left|300px{{book ref|sa3|epigraph}}▼
Following the battle, [[House Kholin]] had to decide who would succeed [[Elhokar]] as the Alethi monarch. [[Gavinor]], Elhokar's heir, was too young to rule and the next people in line to the throne, Dalinar and Adolin, both did not want to take the throne. At Shallan's suggestion, Jasnah was then crowned Queen of [[Alethkar]].{{book ref|sa3|122}} Jasnah wrote a ketek for Shallan on her wedding day to celebrate the occasion.{{book ref|sa3|epigraph}}▼
== Quotes ==▼
{{quote
▲
|[[Ketek]] written by Jasnah
}}
▲Following the battle, [[House Kholin]] had to decide who would succeed [[Elhokar]] as the Alethi monarch. [[Gavinor]], Elhokar's heir, was too young to rule and the next people in line to the throne, Dalinar and Adolin, both did not want to take the throne. At Shallan's suggestion, Jasnah was then crowned Queen of [[Alethkar]].{{book ref|sa3|122
Jasnah wrote a ketek for Shallan on her wedding day to celebrate the occasion.{{book ref|sa3|epigraph}}
==Development==
Jasnah was a main character in [[The Way of Kings Prime]], Brandon's 2002 draft of [[The Way of Kings]],{{wob ref|8069}} and her arc was the most complete out of all the threads.{{wob ref|4108}} Her plot line centered around her struggle against societal norms and her fight against outside pressures to marry.{{wob ref|7804}} In the 2010 version of The Way of Kings, this was relegated to her backstory so that Shallan could take center stage.{{wob ref|4978}}{{wob ref|7124}} Jasnah's personality was left mostly unchanged between the two versions, and her name was one among a couple that was also -- in fact, Jasnah's name, along with Dalinar's, was central to Brandon's creation of the Alethi tongue.{{wob ref|1991}}
▲== Quotes ==
{{for|/Quotes|a list of quotes}}
== Trivia ==
|title=Monarch of [[Alethkar]]
|prev=[[Elhokar Kholin]]
|this={{rosharan date|1174}} to present
|next=''Incumbent''
}}
|
edits