Difference between revisions of "User:Jofwu/Shallan Davar"

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{{spoilers|book=sa3}}
 
*something more about Shallan's original time on the Wind's Pleasure? Being away from home the first time?
 
*something about Shallan's religious upbringing? Devotary?
 
*something about the beginning of her ability to take Memories?
 
==History==
==== The Plan ====
 
Though House Davar was effectively wealthy at the time of Lin's death, the man had extended himself with aggressive business deals which the Davar children were unable to make good on.{{book ref|sa1|3}} Their finances had depended heavily upon the use of athe mysterious[[Davar soulcaster|secret soulcaster]] to create a stream of steady income by means of marble deposits "discovered" on their lands.{{book ref|sa1|7}}{{book ref|sa1|29}}{{book ref|sa2|73}} During the fight that ended in Lin's death, Balat accidentally damaged the soulcaster.{{book ref|sa2|73}} They took the soulcaster to a jeweler to have it superficially repaired, but their father's advisor who was trained to use the fabrial, a Ghostbloods member named [[Luesh]], claimed that it still would not work.{{book ref|sa1|7}}{{book ref|sa1|29}} With their source of income gone and their father unable to reassure creditors, the family's financial state was in peril. The siblings considered their options and determined that the only means by which they could settle their debts was with a working soulcaster. Unable to repair the device in secret, Shallan devised a plan to become the ward of Jasnah Kholin--ostensibly a heretic with a [[Jasnah's soulcaster|soulcaster of her own]]--and covertly exchange the fabrials.{{book ref|sa2|5}} The request to Jasnah was written in desparation, but when the princess replied Shallan and her brothers believed that the plan was worth the risk. Shallan was to meet Jasnah in [[Dumadari]] in two weeks time, however Jasnah's constant travels left Shallan chasing the woman for nearly six months. For most of this journey, Shallan traveled with Captain [[Tozbek]]--a longtime business partner of the Davar family, who offered a generous discount--aboard the [[Wind's Pleasure]]. Shallan finally caught up with Jasnah Kholin in the city of [[Kharbranth]].{{book ref|sa1|3}}
 
=== Kharbranth ({{Rosharan date|year=1173}})===
==== Petitioning Jasnah Kholin ====
 
[[File:Skyeel.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A skyeel at the Kharbranthian docks, sketched by Shallan]]Upon arriving in Kharbranth in {{Rosharan date|year=1173|month=6}}, Captain Tozbek checked with the dock registrar to confirm that Jasnah Kholin was still in the city. He explained to Shallan that, as a princess, Jasnah would certainly be staying in the [[Conclave]] at the top of the city. Tozbek assigned one of his men, [[Yalb]], to escort Shallan, and promised to deliver her belongings if she proved successful with Jasnah. Yalb hired a rickshaw porter for Shallan and served as a translator as they took the direct route from the docks to the Conclave. Shallan took in the exotic sights of the unfamiliar city as Yalb translated the porter's commentary. Upon reaching their destination the porter attempted to overcharge Shallan, but Yalb explained the truth. Shallan paid Yalb handsomely for his help and asked him to to remain outside the Conclave in the event she needed him further. Once inside, Shallan sought the assistance of a master-servant, who located Jasnah Kholin and led Shallan to the woman.{{book ref|sa1|3}} Shallan joined Jasnah as she accompanied King [[Taravangian]] to the site of a recent cave-in which had trapped his granddaughter. Though Jasnah was impressed by her tenacity, Shallan soon realized that Jasnah's request to meet was merely an opportunity for her to petition the woman rather than a tentative acceptance. Jasnah began to evaluate Shallan's educational background and, with a few exceptions, found it to be sorely lacking in several subjects. Upon reaching the cave-in, their conversation was put on hold. Jasnah Kholin used her soulcaster to transform the fallen boulder into smoke--freeing those trapped on the other side and gaining Taravangian's leave to make use of the [[Palanaeum]]. Wasting no time, Jasnah denied Shallan's request for wardship and made her way to the cities famed library.{{book ref|sa1|5}}
 
Determined not to return home without trying every avenue, Shallan decided to make a second attempt to convince Jasnah to take her on. She followed after Jasnah to the Palanaeum and, finding the 1000 sapphire broam cost of entry well beyond her means, sought out Jasnah's alcove in the [[Palanaeum#The_Veil|Veil]]. After reaching the alcove, Shallan took a moment to draw sketches of Kharbranth and Yalb to clear her mind. After a third sketch, of Jasnah soulcasting the boulder, Shallan drafted a letter that she hoped would change Jasnah's mind. Before she could place the letter and leave, she was interrupted by a young ardent, [[Kabsal]]. After admiring Shallan's artwork, Kabsal explained that he had been attempting for some time to meet with Jasnah and convert her back to [[Vorin]]ism. Kabsal left shortly before Jasnah's arrival.{{book ref|sa1|7}} Shallan was swiftly dismissed, after being berated by Jasnah for wasting her time, but as Shallan composed herself outside the alcove a servant invited her back in to collect the spheres she had left. Jasnah Kholin apologized for her anger and sour mood and, at Shallan's prompting, read the letter which had been overlooked. Impressed by Shallan's arguments and the revelation that she was self-trained, Jasnah gave Shallan the unique opportunity to request wardship a second time--after improving her deficiencies in history and philosophy. Thanking Jasnah, but realizing her house would be destitute by the time she could repetition, Shallan departed.{{book ref|sa1|8}}
 
{{sidequote|Tou can tell much about a person by what they carry with them. If that notebook is any indication, you pursue scholarship in your free time for its own sake. That is encouraging.|Jasnah, deciding to make Shallan her ward{{book ref|sa1|8}}|left|300px}}Upon leaving the Conclave, Shallan was surprised to discover Yalb still waiting outside, gambling with a group of city guards. Yalb attempted to cheer Shallan up as they made their way towards the docks, after she had explained her failure with Jasnah, and he eventually convinced her to make one final attempt to win Jasnah's acceptance. Yalb sought out a bookstore and Shallan went inside, searching for books by some of the authors Jasnah had listed. The [[Thaylen]] book merchant, [[Artmyrn]], and his wife were somewhat taken aback by the young lighteyed girl's requests and attempted to sell her a romance novel instead. After a series of biting remarks from Shallan, they eventually provided her with some of the works she had requested. Finding the cost much higher than expected, but unskilled in haggling, Shallan began to pay when Yalb suddenly burst into the room pretending to work as the servant of one of Artmyrn's competitors. With Yalb's help Shallan was able to reduce the price significantly before making her purchase and returning to the Conclave. Shallan gave Yalb the sketch she had made of him in thanks and returned to the Palanaeum where she rented the alcove adjacent to Jasnah's. She settled herself with her new books, planning to study as much as possible before Jasnah's departure from Kharbranth. Jasnah, who had bribed the servants to report if Shallan returned, appeared a moment later, surprising Shallan. She guessed at Shallan's new plan and, knowing something of House Davar's precarious situation, explained she understood the source of Shallan's urgency. Jasnah then requested to see her satchel, sifting through the contents before beginning to study [[Shallan's sketchbook]]. Impressed by Shallan's natural curiosity and inclination to scholarship, as expressed in her drawings, Jasnah finally decided to grant Shallan's request for wardship.{{book ref|sa1|8}} She wrote home the next morning via [[spanreed]], letting her brothers know that she had succeeded in the first step of their plan to steel Jasnah's soulcaster.
* ''The Way of Kings'' Part 1 (TWoK-3/5/7/8 & Balat interlude)
 
==== Wearing a Scholar's Mantle ====
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