Difference between revisions of "Meridas Amaram"

Meridas Amaram is man who prefers to live his life honorably whenever possible. In most public situations, his conduct is above reproach. He refuses to take advantage of defeated dueling opponents, even when it would be socially acceptable.{{book ref|sa2|22}} He speaks to his men with respect,{{book ref|sa1|47}} paying and feeding them well and allowing some to take shelter in his warcenter during highstorms, switching squads with each storm.{{book ref|sa1|51}} He serves his highprince ably, following the commands of his liege, Highprince Sadeas, even if he does not agree with the man's actions.{{book ref|sa2|29}} He is kind to people regardless of their social status, knowing the names of his kitchen girls as well as details about their lives.{{book ref|sa2|52}} Amaram is also something of a traditionalist in his leadership style, setting high standards for the men under his command, requiring that they are always neat when in uniform. Amaram also keeps a collection of flutes, which is unusual for a man.

 

Amaram is a person deeply concerned about his reputation for honor and honesty,{{book ref|sa2|29}} and always acts with the intention of maintaining that reputation.{{book ref|sa1|57}} For the most part, he has done an excellent job keeping up the appearance of his nobility. Among the darkeyes, he is seen as a famous hero{{book ref|sa1|10}} and no one among the lighteyes questions his nobility.{{book ref|sa2|22}} He is considered by them to be the paragon of Alethi honor.{{book ref|sa2|52}} However, some think that his image is a little too perfect and wonder if he is concealing something.{{book ref|sa2|66}} His reputation for honesty is strong enough that others overlook any evidence to the contrary.{{book ref|sa1|57}} However, the revelation that he stole his Shards from Kaladin has damaged this reputation somewhat,{{book ref|sa2|76}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} although to what extent is still unclear. Amaram can also become a little obsessed with personal glory, sometimes trying to avoid the aid of others in order to make his accomplishments seem grander.{{book ref|sa2|76}}

 

While in the warcamps, Amaram spent time working with both Dalinar and Sadeas, in an attempt to bridge the divide between the two. Dalinar tried to convince Amaram to secede from Sadeas's princedom,{{book ref|sa2|22}} but Amaram refused to do so, as he believed it would worsen the friction between the two highprinces.{{book ref|sa2|37}} He and Dalinar still spent much time together though; Amaram visited Dalinar at his stables while Dalinar was supervising his men learning horsemanship.{{book ref|sa2|25}} Despite Amaram's friendship with Dalinar, Amaram continued to obey Sadeas's orders.{{book ref|sa2|29}} He even participated in a plateau run that violated Dalinar's new regulations, but afterwards argued with Sadeas in favor of cooperation with Dalinar and a united Alethkar. After the attempt on Dalinar's life by the [[Szeth|Assassin in White]], Amaram attended the highprinces's meeting on the attack, conversing with [[Adolin]].{{book ref|sa2|37}}

 

During Amaram's time at the Shattered Plains, he spent much of his time attempting to locate the lost city of [[Urithiru]],{{book ref|sa2|52}} which he believed could be accessed via the [[Oathgate]] at [[Stormseat]], which he thought to be located on the Shattered Plains.{{book ref|sa2|60}} He also wished to make contact with the Parshendi to inquire about the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa2|52}} He had the Plains surveyed further than even the best Alethi maps. Amaram wrote about all of this himself in the [[stormwarden script]]. He kept all of his research and speculation locked away in a secure room within his buildings, as the knowledge that he could write and the subjects of his writings could be incredibly damaging. He also had dinner with Dalinar, trying to convince him to to explore the Plains more thoroughly.{{book ref|sa2|49}}

 

 

=== Departing on the Expedition ===

On the day of the expedition, Amaram accompanied Dalinar as he inspected his troops and their preparations for the departure.{{book ref|sa2|75}} Leaning on his authority as head of the Radiants, Amaram attempted to get Dalinar to reconcile with Sadeas before leaving on the trip, claiming that Sadeas hoped that the expedition would fail and pointing out that Dalinar had no idea where the Parshendi lived. Dalinar ignored requests, much to Amaram's annoyance, as he believed that Dalinar was unable to permanently give away authority to others. Dalinar asked after the results of Amaram's investigation into Taln's Shardblades. Amaram lied to Dalinar, telling him that he believes what Bordin said, but believes Taln's words to be the ravings of a madman. When Kaladin and Shallan returned unexpectedly from the chasms, Amaram avoided seeing Kaladin.

 

Kaladin and Amaram's relationship has evolved greatly throughout the years. As a boy, Kaladin looked up to Amaram as a true lighteyes, one of the honorable commanders and leaders from the stories,{{book ref|sa1|10}} seeing the man as a symbol.{{book ref|sa3|10}} During Kaladin's time in the army, his belief in the nobility of lighteyes faded, but his faith in Amaram's nobility remained strong,{{book ref|sa1|47}} even when he noticed problems within Amaram's army.{{book ref|sa1|51}} Kaladin made no impression on Amaram,{{book ref|sa1|51}} even though he had recruited the boy himself,{{book ref|sa1|44}} until Kaladin saved Amaram's life from the Shardbearer.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Amaram was initially awed by Kaladin's actions and stunned by his refusal to accept the Blade. Despite this, Amaram was reluctantly persuaded to take the Shardblade, killing Kaladin's squad and enslaving Kaladin himself.{{book ref|sa1|51}} This caused Amaram some guilt, but he believed that he was better equipped to make use of the Shards. Kaladin was furious and horrified at Amaram's actions, which deeply altered his perception of Amaram and all lighteyes.

 

Amaram's betrayal stoked a rage in Kaladin that he found it difficult to suppress.{{book ref|sa2|18}}{{book ref|sa2|25}} This manifested in several ways. Kaladin maintained a specific hatred for Amaram and he was determined to have his vengeance.{{book ref|sa2|2}} Once Meridas returned to the Shattered Plains, Kaladin many times considered murdering Amaram quietly in the night,{{book ref|sa2|41}}{{book ref|sa2|22}}{{book ref|sa2|16}}{{book ref|sa2|44}} straining his bond with Syl.{{book ref|sa2|52}} This hatred eventually culminated in Kaladin publicly challenged Amaram to a duel as a redress for Amaram's actions.{{book ref|sa2|47}} In addition to this, for years afterwards Kaladin nurses a hatred for all lighteyes.{{book ref|sa1|4}} He is convinced that no lighteyes was worthy of trust, and any reputation for nobility or trustworthiness was nothing but a lie.{{book ref|sa1|4}} This makes it difficult for Kaladin to later trust Dalinar,{{book ref|sa2|41}} especially given Meridas and Dalinar's friendship.{{book ref|sa2|16}} When Amaram is appointed head of the Knights Radiant, this makes Kaladin even more reluctant to reveal his abilities to Dalinar.{{book ref|sa2|56}} Amaram put Kaladin out of his mind, and did not recognize the captain of Dalinar's guard until, to Amaram's horror, Kaladin publicly challenged him.{{book ref|sa2|57}} After Kaladin's release, Amaram avoids Kaladin unless forced to interact with him.{{book ref|sa2|75}}{{book ref|sa2|76}} Amaram is still feels sorrow for what he did to Kaladin's squad, but still insists that he would do it again, as humanity needs practiced Shardbearers to have any hope of defeating the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa2|76}} Upon further reflection, Kaladin's relationship with Amaram helps him to realize that he cannot allow Moash to kill King Elhokar, because that would mean that he too is sacrificing one life for the good of the many.{{book ref|sa2|77}} Amaram now wishes that he had not spared Kaladin's life.{{book ref|sa2|88}}

 

'''Dalinar'''

 

Dalinar Kholin and Meridas had a friendship that spanned several decades.{{book ref|sa2|58}} For years, Amaram promised Dalinar he would eventually come to the Shattered Plains to fight in the War of Reckoning.{{book ref|sa2|12}} Once Amaram comes to the warcamps, he and Dalinar spend a good deal of time together, attending events and having dinners.{{book ref|sa2|49}} Dalinar initially believes that Amaram may secede from Sadeas to join his own princedom,{{book ref|sa2|22}} but Amaram still believes that he can get Dalinar and Sadeas to cooperate in the future.{{book ref|sa2|37}} Amaram believes in Dalinar's ideals about a unified Alethkar, but wishes he would bend some on his principles. He also considers Dalinar to be a prophet of the [[Almighty]] due to the [[Dalinar's visions|visions]] that Dalinar sees during [[highstorm]]s, which gives him a certain reverence for the man.{{book ref|sa2|67}} Dalinar himself considered Amaram to be a man whose honor was beyond question.{{book ref|sa2|22}} He believed him to be such a good man that he initally made him the head of the refounded Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa2|55}} However, when Kaladin shares the story of Amaram's treachery with Dalinar,{{book ref|sa2|22}} Dalinar investigates Amaram hoping to prove the man's innocence.{{book ref|sa2|58}}{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} When Amaram lies to Dalinar about Taln's Shardblade, unaware that Dalinar is aware of his deception, Dalinar gives Amaram plenty of time to share the truth with him, out of respect for their friendship.{{book ref|sa2|76}} After he confronts Amaram about his lies and Amaram confesses to having stolen Kaladin's Shards, Dalinar's respect and trust in Amaram is completely broken and their friendship is ended. Amaram does not see how his actions of killing his own men is substantially different than Dalinar leading men to their deaths against the Parshendi. Dalinar's misjudgment about Amaram's character causes him to question his decision about refounding the Radiants, wondering if he is doing so in arrogance.{{book ref|sa2|78}} Amaram regrets the loss of Dalinar's friendship, and wishes he had killed Kaladin instead of sparing his life.{{book ref|sa2|88}} Amaram's later appointment to the position of Highprince Sadeas by Ialai does nothing to ease the tensions in their friendship, instead further dividing Alethkar and indicating that Ialai distrusts Dalinar's indictment of Amaram and indicating her opposition to the Kholins.{{book ref|sa3|22}}

 

'''Torol Sadeas'''

 

Amaram is a loyal servant of Torol Sadeas, despite the fact that he disagrees with many of Sadeas's divisive actions, such as ignoring the plateau run schedule.{{book ref|sa2|29}} However, he does agree with Sadeas that some things can only be accomplished via unsavory methods.{{book ref|sa2|37}} Meridas dutifully remained behind in Alethkar to train soldiers for Sadeas's army on the Shattered Plains, an important but unglamorous duty. Once Amaram became a Shardbearer, he chose to remain a member of Sadeas's princedom, even though he had the ability to secede from Sadeas's princedom and join Dalinar.{{book ref|sa2|33}} Sadeas for his part does not seem to value Amaram very highly, often acting dismissively towards Meridas.{{book ref|sa2|29}} Sadeas is also aware that some of Amaram's honorable reputation is a facade.