Siege of Kholinar
| Siege of Kholinar | |
|---|---|
| Part of the True Desolation | |
| Date | ~Jesishi to Nanachan 1174[citation needed] |
| Participants | Adolin, Kaladin, Shallan Davar, Elhokar, Azure, Drehy, Skar, The Fused, Moash, Sah, Khen |
| Effects | Alethkar lost to the Voidbringers; death of Elhokar; Adolin, Shallan, Kaladin, and Azure transported to Shadesmar |
| City | Kholinar |
| World | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
The Siege of Kholinar and the ensuing battle inside Kholinar Palace are a major event in the True Desolation. The battle results in a Voidbringer victory and occupation of the city, as well as the death of King Elhokar.[1][2]
Background
Facing very little opposition from the Alethi military which was occupied in the Shattered Plains, a large parshman army gathered outside of Kholinar, taking control of nearby villages and forcing the local populace into slavery while waiting for the rest of their hosts to arrive.
In the lead-up to the assault, Dalinar Kholin proposed relieving the city by moving his soldiers through the Oathgate in Kholinar. He sent a small task force led by Elhokar which included Kaladin, Adolin, and Shallan, and her espionage group (which included Ishnah, Vathah and Red) to activate the Oathgate.
Siege
In the siege leading up to the main assault, the Voidbringers used various siege tactics to weaken and test the city's defences. Upon the arrival of Moash's group, refugees were released by the Voidbringers in order to further encumber the besieged city, which was already running low on food. In order to prevent communication with other allied cities, the Voidbringers deployed a variety of Voidspren referred to as Screamers to detect the use of fabrials within the city, particularly spanreeds. These spren detected the use of fabrials and investiture within the city and upon detection emitted their namesake scream to alert nearby scouting Fused, who would then neutralize the source. The Fused were also shown to engage in raids on the city walls in order to gauge the city's defences, which were primarily maintained by Highmarshal Azure and her Kholinar Wall Guard.
When Dalinar's task force arrived in Kholinar, they hid at a house that was owned by a friend of Adolin's. The members of the task force split up. Elhokar arranged to meet up with the other remaining lighteyed nobles to attempt to win them over to their cause, and Adolin became his bodyguard. Shallan and most of her espionage group imitated a spren who gave food to the poor (she was later labelled the "Swiftspren") in order to infiltrate the Cult of Moments, a group of fanatics influenced by Ashertmarn, an Unmade. Kaladin joined the Kholinar Wall Guard so that he could find out more information about the group (particularly its leader, Highmarshal Azure).
Assault on the City
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Battle of Kholinar Palace
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Aftermath
With the King slain and the Voidbringers overwhelming the palace, the remaining forces under Azure retreated to the Oathgate. Knowing that the Oathgate was the only way to escape, Shallan attempted to activate it against the warnings of the supposedly turncoat Unmade, Sja-anat, who reveals to her that she was compelled to alter the spren of the Oathgate, so that it will not work properly. Sja-anat promises to try and not kill Shallan and her companions, and they activate the Oathgate. The sabotaged Oathgate transports them to Shadesmar.
After the Radiants' narrow escape, the Voidbringers gain complete control over the city and cement their hold over the majority of Alethkar. However, during the battle, Bridge Four members Skar and Drehy managed to extricate Elhokar's son Gavinor from the chaos and flee the city undetected. They are later brought back to Urithiru with Kaladin's help.
Aesudan's fate after the battle is unknown, but Yelig-nar is later shown taking Meridas Amaram as its new host, with Odium mentioning that "the power consumed her".
Characters Present
Combatants
Non-combatants
Casualties
Notes
| History of Roshar | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Narak | Siege of Kholinar | Battle of Thaylen Field |