Difference between revisions of "User:King of Herdaz/Dalinar Kholin"

|image=Dalinar.jpg

|family=[[House Kholin]]

|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]

}}

{{update|sa4}}</pre>

{{quote

'''Dalinar Kholin''', also known as the '''Blackthorn''', is an [[Alethi]] member of the [[Order of Bondsmiths]], bonded to the [[Stormfather]]. He is the de facto leader of the reformed [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref|sa2|89}}. He is the younger brother of [[Gavilar]], and uncle of [[Elhokar Kholin|Elhokar]] and current Queen of Alethkar [[Jasnah Kholin]]. He is currently married to Brightness [[Navani Kholin]], Gavilar's widow. He has two sons, [[Adolin Kholin|Adolin]] and [[Renarin Kholin|Renarin]] from [[Evi]], his first wife. Before he renounced the title, letting Adolin take over in his place, Dalinar was the [[highprince]] of the [[Kholin princedom]].

 

{{image|Full body Dalinar by HW Lee.jpg|side=right|width=300px}}

=== Appearance ===

Dalinar is an aging, but powerfully-built man in his fifties, with a warrior's face which he keeps clean-shaven.{{book ref|sa3|107}} He has black hair that is gray in the temples, and blue eyes.{{book ref|sa1|12}} He is often described as the opposite of handsome, with numerous bruises and an "unfortunate" face. His nose was broken at some point during his youth, and it has been crooked ever since.{{book ref|sa2|38}} He has numerous old scars on his chest and arms, a remnant of hundreds of battles fought, to the extent where doctors are worried about his ability to use his sword arm.{{book ref|sa2|83}} When he owns Shardplate, he chooses to wear it as an unpainted slate grey color, without any unnecessary decoration or adornment.{{book ref|sa1|12}} He wears a sapphire signet ring with his house's glyphpair on it.{{book ref|sa1|26}}

 

==== The Blackthorn ====

{{quote

{{image|Dalinar book botanicaxu.jpg|side=left|width=200px|Holding ''[[The Way of Kings (in-world)|The Way of Kings]]''}}

 

{{quote

|I have spent too much of my time worrying about what people think, Navani. When I thought my time had arrived, I realized that all my worrying had been wasted. In the end, I was pleased with how I had lived my life.

He can be somewhat egalitarian in his assessment of others, in particular soldiers, and will often promote men based not on eye color or social status, but rather on the ability they display.{{book ref|sa3|3}} This extends beyond the [[Vorin]] ranks system, as Dalinar is willing to give a chance to people he doesn't normally associate with fighting, like [[Parshmen]] or women, if he considers their skills valuable or if they are recommended to him by someone trustworthy.{{book ref|sa2|46}}{{book ref|sa3|117}} This doesn't mean he's entirely free of bias, however, and when the worlds of the court and the military collide, he can often end up referring back to the established social order, possibly without fully realizing it.{{book ref|sa2|62}}

 

Dalinar was raised in the Vorin religion; his [[Calling]] is to be a leader, and his chosen [[Glory]] is determination.{{book ref|sa1|18}} At some point in his life, he joined a lay devotary called the Order of [[Talenelat]].{{book ref|sa1|54}} However, over time his faith wavers, and his visions lead him to conclude that the [[Almighty]] is dead. This ends with his excommunication from the [[Vorin]] church.{{book ref|sa3|100}}

 

{{image|Dalinar by Grant Hansen.jpg|The Blackthorn riding into battle|side=left|width=250px}}

 

In his younger years, Dalinar Kholin has been considered one of the greatest warriors of the modern world, and though in the present day his reputation has faded somewhat, he is still incredibly dangerous.{{book ref|sa1|12}} Throughout his life, Dalinar has seen every aspect of war, from open-field combat to logistics and sieges.{{book ref|sa3|3}}{{book ref|sa3|11}} His only blank spot appears to be naval combat, as though they are not landlocked, the [[Alethi]] do not typically war on sea.{{book ref|sa3|107}}

 

For most of his life, Dalinar possessed a set of [[Shardplate]], as well as a [[Shardblade]] named [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]], with the latter coming into his hands after he killed highlord [[Tanalan's father|Tanalan]] in the first siege of the [[Rift]].{{book ref|sa3|11}} He was considered extremely skilled at using both.{{book ref|sa1|13}} This being said, near the end of the [[War of Reckoning]] he gave them up. Oathbringer was given to [[Torol Sadeas]], in exchange for all of his enslaved bridgemen, while the Plate was given to [[Renarin]] shortly afterward.{{book ref|sa1|69}}{{book ref|sa2|16}}

 

Dalinar is the head of the Kholin household, and as such holds authority over all other members of his family. His nephew, [[Elhokar]], is an exception, as Elhokar is in the royal line and thus above and outside Dalinar's authority. The Kholin family is made up of his sons [[Adolin]] and [[Renarin]], his sister-in-law-turned-wife [[Navani]], and his niece [[Jasnah]]. As the highprince, Dalinar owns all of the land belonging to the Kholin princedom.

 

Dalinar’s presence is often regarded as incredibly powerful, perhaps even unconsciously so. At the feast before Gavilar’s assassination, Navani notes that Dalinar seems to attract his own cluster of lighteyes, likening the arrangement to planets orbiting around a star, at once hungry for and fearful of the fire.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}} When meeting with the highprinces for a council on the Shattered Plains, Shallan likens him to a boulder as he stands, causing everyone to stop arguing and listen to what he has to say.{{book ref|sa2|38}}

 

{{for|Dalinar's visions}}

{{quote

{{image|I_am_Unity.jpg|Dalinar creating [[Honor's Perpendicularity]]|side=right|width=250px}}

 

{{quote

|Yours is the power Ishar once held. Before he was Herald of Luck, they called him Binder of Gods. He was the founder of the Oathpact. No Radiant is capable of more than you. Yours is the power of Connection, of joining men and worlds, minds and souls. Your Surges are the greatest of all, though they will be impotent if you seek to wield them for mere battle.

Dalinar has other abilities, seemingly connected to the Stormfather's particular relation to [[Honor]]. He can summon [[Honor's Perpendicularity]], which provides a temporary way to move between Roshar and [[Shadesmar]], as well as a near-infinite amount of [[Stormlight]] while open.{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{book ref|sa4|5}} Outside of it, he can also refill [[sphere]]s with Stormlight and supercharge other [[Surgebinder]]s with it, although it's uncertain whether this is part of the standard Bondsmiths' toolset, or an ability unique to him.{{book ref|sa3|122}}{{book ref|sa4|3}}

 

=== Early Life and the War to Unify Alethkar (1120 – 1166) ===

==== Childhood ====

{{image|Blackthorn by ToastSamurai.png|width=200px|Young Dalinar|side=right}}

 

{{quote

|We looked at this place here, this kingdom, and we realized, 'Hey, all these people have stuff .' And we figured ... hey, maybe we should have that stuff. So we took it.

Two years after that, the war was still ongoing. Dalinar and Evi were betrothed, not yet married. Dalinar led the attack against Highprince [[Kalanor]], intent on winning the Shards that Kalanor held. While in the battle, Dalinar got so caught up in the Thrill that he didn't realize he killed Kholin men during the assault. Dalinar killed Kalanor in single combat, winning his Shards, but the Thrill was so strong in him that when Gavilar approached him afterward, Dalinar went after his own brother with the intent to kill him. Only when Gavilar took off his helm and smiled at him did Dalinar snap out of it. Deeply ashamed of himself, Dalinar gifted Gavilar the Shards he had just won, swearing to himself that he must never be king.{{book ref|sa3|26}}

 

After five more years, the war had officially ended but the fighting hadn't. Evi was pregnant with their first child, but their relationship was strained by Dalinar's willingness to kill and Evi's horror at it. Gavilar received a demand from [[Rathalas]], telling Dalinar to return the Blade to their heir. Though Gavilar was upset that Dalinar didn't deal with the Tanalan heir, Evi was happy to find out that Dalinar had spared the Tanalan boy so many years ago. Dalinar was happy both to have pleased Evi and also at the news of a Rift rebellion, for if they were going to rebel, he would have the opportunity to fight.{{book ref|sa3|36}}

 

{{image|Dalinar Ambush LGD.png|width=300px|Dalinar filled with the Thrill after being ambushed by Tanalan's men|side=right}}

 

After some soul-searching and wishing to spare his wife pain, Dalinar approached the Rift's leaders in person, and Dalinar spoke with [[Tanalan]] the younger, the boy he spared who had grown up into the Brightlord of the Rift. Though initially hostile, Tanalan listened to Dalinar's plain-spoken assessment that the rebels would lose, and even considered Dalinar's offer of a personal duel between themselves. Tanalan informed Dalinar that Sadeas was working against him, and Dalinar promised him the rank of Highprince in return as the two concocted a cover story that would allow both sides to save face and call it a political victory. Dalinar left him with Tanalan's directions to where Sadeas' men were hiding, pleased that he was able to find a peaceful solution, knowing that it would make Evi happy.{{book ref|sa3|71}}

 

{{image|Small Bottle by ToastSamurai.png|side=left|width=200px|Young [[Renarin]] trying to help his drunken father}}

 

In the years after the reunification of Alethkar, Gavilar began to lose his thirst for battle. He had started reading a book called [[The Way of Kings (in-world)|''The Way of Kings'']], trying to convince Dalinar and his other Highprinces to be peaceful and to follow the [[Alethi Codes of War]].{{book ref|sa1|18}} Like the other Highprinces, Dalinar resisted his brother's ideas, finding them unpalatable and strange – even un-Alethi. To try and change Gavilar's mind, Dalinar convinced him to go on an expedition, a hunt for a chasmfiend. He suggested this hoping to remind Gavilar of the good times in their youth, to reawaken his brother's fighting spirit.{{book ref|sa1|28}}

 

Meeting the Parshendi was ten years after the events of the Rift, and Dalinar was still an alcoholic. After returning to Kholinar, Dalinar realized he felt more himself on the expedition than in the decade leading up to it. His alcoholism led to fits of anger and emotional distance from his sons, Adolin and Renarin, who had grown up a lot in that time. Though he'd felt especially a lack of connection from Adolin, it's his second son who connected with him here. Renarin broke through with his unfailing love for Dalinar, and this was what made Dalinar realize he needed to stop hating his sons for making him miss Evi.{{book ref|sa3|94}}

 

==== Gavilar's Death and Dalinar's Transformation====

{{quote

Afterward, Dalinar found himself outside, unable to remember the specifics of his agreement. He could not fathom that he would ask for forgiveness, of all things, and found it silly in hindsight that he would come to the Nightwatcher. He assumed that he had asked for and been given the boon of peace. He resolved then and there to stop drinking, to stop moping. He decided at this moment to start following the [[Alethi Codes of War]] - he had failed to follow the Codes and it had cost his brother his life. He asked for a copy of ''The Way of Kings'' to be brought to him along the way to the Shattered Plains.{{book ref|sa3|114}}

 

At first, Dalinar threw himself into the fighting against the Parshendi with abandon, his guilt driving him. But as his grief faded, so did his thirst for battle and war. Dalinar and the Kholin warcamp followed the Codes when no other Alethi highprince would. He studied the words of [[Nohadon]], the author of ''The Way of Kings'', convinced that he must now become an example to Alethkar and lead them towards peace and honor.

 

Men began to speak of Dalinar the same way they'd spoken of Gavilar later in his life, namely that he was becoming weak and feeble despite Dalinar's history as a terrifying force on the battlefield as the Blackthorn. The rumors of his madness during the storms combined with his strange obsession with the teachings of ''The Way of Kings'' lost Dalinar a lot of respect and influence among his peers.

 

The battle against the Parshendi was the first time Dalinar lost the [[Thrill]] in his memory.{{book ref|sa1|26}} This loss of the Thrill during battle caused Dalinar to question why he was fighting this war and whether alternative methods of settling the Alethi dispute with the Parshendi would yield better results. The Highprinces saw Dalinar's wish for a more peaceful resolution as a sign of weakness, rather than wisdom, so he kept these questions to himself.

 

He accepted this. Soon after, another highstorm passed, and he had a vision while Navani attended. In this vision, he met [[Nohadon]], and wondered why the author of a book promoting a way of peace said that now only the sword was needed. When he came back to himself, Navani proved his visions to be real when she recognized what Dalinar had been speaking during the visions was the [[Dawnchant]], a long-dead language that Dalinar couldn't have known.{{book ref|sa1|60}} Knowing that the visions were real bolstered Dalinar's confidence, and he knew for certain now that his task was true. He had to unite the princes and he knew he could trust Sadeas.

 

{{for|Battle of the Tower}}

{{quote

In the next highstorm, Dalinar experienced another vision in which he realized that the Almighty, who had spoken to him in his visions, had all this time been unable to hear what Dalinar was saying.{{book ref|sa1|75}} Dalinar realized that he had misinterpreted the visions and that the Almighty had not been calling him to specifically unite Alethkar or specifically to trust Sadeas. The Almighty's words in the visions were a recording and not a conversation with him. The Almighty said to Dalinar that he, God, was dead and that [[Odium]] had killed him.{{book ref|sa1|75}}

 

{{quote

|I'll have us be what we were before, son. A kingdom that can stand through storms, a kingdom that is a light and not a darkness. I will have a truly unified Alethkar, with highprinces who are loyal and just. I'll have more than that. I'm going to refound the Knights Radiant.

In this meeting, though not everyone agreed with him, Dalinar commanded the respect of the room. Kaladin noted that he was acting like a king even when [[Elhokar]] was present.{{book ref|sa2|5}}

 

The first Highprince Dalinar approached was [[Aladar]]. He approached Aladar in person while Adolin led the Kholin troops into battle to help Aladar's army. Aladar was unhappy with him, citing that Dalinar's proclamation hurt him, but Dalinar had none of it. He threatened Aladar by reminding him what happened to another highprince, [[Yenev|Highprince Yenev]], when Yenev refused to accept the unification of Alethkar. Dalinar offered advice on the battlefield below where they were talking, and though his advice won Aladar the battle, Aladar still refused to side with him.{{book ref|sa2|8}}

 

 

{{image|Teamfight by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=left|width=250px|[[Dalinar]] catching [[Szeth]]'s blade in the lastclap}}

[[Szeth]] came after Dalinar on the night of another highstorm. Dalinar, Adolin, and Kaladin went to fight him, but Szeth handled them with ease. Dalinar shouted that he would never let Szeth take Elhokar's life, but Szeth said he was here to kill Dalinar. Szeth swung his Blade down and Dalinar caught it in his hands, a maneuver known as the [[lastclap]], giving Kaladin enough time to tackle Szeth out of the palace.{{book ref|sa2|32}}

 

At a meeting with the other highprinces, Dalinar offered a place to [[Shallan Davar]], the young woman who was in a causal betrothal arrangement with his son, Adolin. She refused, explaining that she already had a place in [[Sebarial|Highprince Sebarial's]] warcamp. Dalinar and the other princes discussed the Assassin, but Dalinar dismissed their arguments, stating that the Assassin was essentially unstoppable. Therefore the best course of action would be to try and stop the reason for the war. Since the Parshendi were the ones who hired Szeth last time, Dalinar suggested going to the Parshendi to discuss terms of peace. Adolin had been receiving requests from the Parshendi in that regard already. Dalinar announced his plan to meet the Parshendi and either agree on peace or defeat them.{{book ref|sa2|38}}

 

Though Dalinar didn't want to send Adolin to meet the Parshendi, Adolin argued that Dalinar was the most important man around. Dalinar could not be risked.{{book ref|sa2|51}} Adolin met the Parshendi Shardbearer, [[Eshonai]], and pretended to be Dalinar. He communicated with Dalinar from a distance via [[spanreed]] so that his answers would sound like his father. Eshonai made clear that the Parshendi would not deal for peace, and would make an assault on the Alethi later. Though this meant Dalinar had a lot of work to do to get an army together that could face the Parshendi, his conscience was clear. He told Adolin to win more dueling matches, to gather as many Shards as possible before this battle with the Parshendi.{{book ref|sa2|51}}

 

Dalinar visited Kaladin in prison, letting him know Elhokar would release him soon. He explained some of Elhokar's actions, including that of exiling Brightlord [[Roshone]] - not aware that Roshone was responsible for the death of Kaladin's brother, [[Tien]]. Dalinar told Kaladin that though his feelings were not misplaced, the only way he was going to change things was by being a leader beyond reproach.{{book ref|sa2|62}}

 

With only days to go before the Everstorm came as predicted by the glyphs on his walls, Dalinar was trying to gather as many allies as possible for the excursion into the Plains. He went to speak with some Highprinces at a party, but at the party, he found that someone had been spreading around papers which are accounts of his visions for the purpose of humiliating and discrediting him. They were Navani's words of the accounts but twisted to mock him. Navani was upset that her own words were being used to hurt Dalinar, but Dalinar took it in stride. He stood up on a table and declared that what the sheets say is true, more or less. He told everyone there that his visions would vindicate him, and he was eager to speak with everyone present about it. He spent the rest of the party speaking with interested parties, ignored outright mockery but engaged the crowds trying to get support for the battle with the Parshendi.{{book ref|sa2|67}}

 

As it turned out, Dalinar had devised a test to see if Amaram was who Kaladin claimed he was. Dalinar knew Amaram had lied to him. He was forced to let Amaram go, even though he and Kaladin knew he was a murderer. They made a plan to retrieve Amaram later.

 

{{for|Battle of Narak}}

The expedition set off, and Dalinar had three supporters: [[Roion]], [[Sebarial]] and [[Aladar]]. Dalinar spoke with them to state his trust in them. The four armies set out just as the [[Weeping]] began.

{{image|A Radiant with No Shards by Jordi Rapture.jpg|Dalinar swearing his Oaths before the Stormfather|side=left|height=300px}}

 

 

{{quote

}}

 

 

==== Internal Affairs ====

Now bonded with the [[Stormfather]], Dalinar freely revisited the visions to try and learn more about the previous desolations. He saw Odium’s light, a vision of a figure in dark Shardplate, with nine shadows and glowing red eyes. The Stormfather explained that the nine shadows were the [[Unmade]], and the figure was Odium’s champion. What he saw in this vision convinced him of the urgency of forming an alliance with the other leaders of Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|1}}

The scout [[Lyn]] interrupted this meeting to inform them all of a second, copycat murder.{{book ref|sa3|8}} They went to see the body and found it murdered in the same manner that Sadeas had been killed. Dalinar assigned Adolin to Aladar’s team to lead the investigation into Sadeas' death.{{book ref|sa3|9}}

 

Later Dalinar convened a meeting with Aladar, Navani, Kalami, and Teshav to receive the communications of the other monarchs. The Azish were the first to reply. Dalinar tried inviting them to Urithiru and explore the tower. Their reply ignored his invitation and simply thanked him for warning them about the Everstorm. Dalinar offered them aid to fight off the singers. They replied that they would welcome an exchange of aid and asked for reports of what they knew about the Voidbringers. They said that their city was in relatively good shape and they were negotiating with the freed parshmen. Dalinar tried asking them to let him come to Azimir through the Oathgate so they could speak in person. The Azish then claimed, falsely, that the portal was not functioning and sent documents to prove this. They then promised to contact him again and signed off.{{book ref|sa3|12}}

 

Shortly afterward, [[Ialai Sadeas]] arrived at the meeting accompanied by [[Meridas Amaram]]. Adolin stepped toward Amaram staring murder at him but Dalinar restrained him from doing anything to the man. Dalinar attempted to welcome Ialai and thank her for joining the meeting. She replied that she had only come because it was a convenient place to find all of the highprinces assembled together. She proceeded to announce that she had chosen Amaram to be the new highprince of the Sadeas princedom, a clear gesture showing her disregard for what Dalinar thought. After Elhokar gave his approval, Dalinar acknowledged Amaram as the new Sadeas highprince, and Adolin called Amaram a bastard and stormed out of the room.{{book ref|sa3|27}}

 

Afterward, having retired to a smaller room with Navani, Taravangian, and some others, they received Azir's response to his plea which Teshav read aloud. The Azish said that they had decided to seal off the Oathgate until they could destroy it. They explained that a magical portal into the middle was too large a danger to allow to stand. They said that they would maintain trade relations with Alethkar but asked that Dalinar stop asking them to open the Oathgate.{{book ref|sa3|28}}

 

When he found [[Ialai Sadeas|Ialai]] in her chambers, with Amaram at her side, he set the blade on the floor and turned to leave. Ialai expressed her surprise that he was giving it to her unconditionally and Dalinar, wearily, told her that he was not the one who had killed her husband. Afterward, Amaram lectured Dalinar, calling him a hypocrite, and Dalinar stormed off to his chambers. When he reached his outer common room he found Taravangian sitting by the [[heatrial]] that Navani had installed there. The two of them sat together in silence for a while as Dalinar contemplated his failure to assemble a coalition. Taravangian broke the silence and they discussed the nature and origin of morality. Dalinar brought up the story of the [[The Way of Kings (in-world)#Hogman's murder|Hogman's Murder]] from ''the Way of Kings'' and they discussed what they would have done if they had been the judge in the story. Taravangian said that he would kill all four men as that would be the best for society, but Dalinar did not think it was so clear cut.{{book ref|sa3|28}}

 

After Taravangian left, the Stormfather told Dalinar that he was not a hypocrite but Dalinar disagreed and said that a hypocrite is simply someone who is changing. Dalinar asked the Stormfather if he had any more visions of [[Nohadon]] to show him and the Stormfather said that Dalinar had already seen all of his visions. Dalinar then asked to see the vision where he met Nohadon again and moved to get Navani to record it for him. The Stormfather offered to bring Navani into the vision with him, a possibility which Dalinar had not considered. The Stormfather explained that he could bring anyone who was touching Dalinar into the vision as well as anyone who is within a highstorm. Dalinar realized that this was his solution to his issues with the other monarchs and started planning his next move.{{book ref|sa3|28}}

}}

 

 

==== Diplomacy ====

{{image|Diplomat 2 by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=350px|Dalinar riding through [[Thaylen City]]}}

 

 

{{sidequote

}}

 

 

{{sidequote

}}

 

 

 

 

{{sidequote

When Dalinar arrived in Azimir and emerged from the Oathgate control building he found himself surrounded by a contingent of armed and armored Azish soldiers. He declared that he was unarmed and handed over his first attack, a four-page essay written by Queen Fen arguing about the economic value of the Oathgates. While the [[vizier]]s and [[scion]]s were reading the essay Dalinar tried, and succeeded, to use Spiritual Adhesion to forge a [[Connection]] with a nearby servant and understand what the Azish were saying. The viziers noticed this and were impressed, but after further deliberations, they decided that Fen's essay was not persuasive enough. Upon hearing this, Dalinar reached into his packet and gave the viziers Navani's six-page essay which contained schematics and details of many of the fabrials they had developed. As they were in the middle of reading Navani's essay Dalinar reached into his packet and retrieved the third and final essay, ''[[Verdict]]'', written by Jasnah. The viziers were extremely impressed by Jasnah's writing and it persuaded them to bring his arguments before the Prime and his council. They then led him to a waiting room for him to sit in while he waited for their decision. While Dalinar was pacing in the waiting room Lift arrived and ate his lunch. After a bizarre conversation with Lift, Noura returned to tell Dalinar what they had concluded. He said that while Jasnah's essay had been a work of art, in the end it was Navani's more sincere paper which had persuaded Azir to come to Urithiru and join the coalition. He told Dalinar that representatives from [[Emul]], [[Tashikk]], [[Yezier]], [[Alm]], [[Desh]], and [[Liafor]] would be joining them as well. As Dalinar was reentering the Oathgate building, Noura told him that he had expected Dalinar to be more of a savage than he was. Dalinar told him that he had changed from the man he once had been. This conversation triggered a wave of recovered memories to flood through Dalinar. The memories of Evi and what had happened at the [[Rift]] overwhelmed him, and when he arrived in Urithiru he stumbled and collapsed to the floor.{{book ref|sa3|65}}

 

{{quote

|They thought he was sick. They thought his collapse on the Oathgate platform had been caused by heart troubles or fatigue. The surgeons had suggested rest. But if he stopped standing up straight, if he let it bow him down, he worried the memories would crush him.

Dalinar told him about his struggles with trying to convince the monarchs to join with him and how he wanted to be able to force them to listen to him. Nohadon asked him why didn't force them if it was for their own good, and Dalinar replied that he was trying to follow Nohadon's example from ''The Way of Kings''. Nohadon replied that he had done that after trying and failing to force people to work with him. They then discussed how having morals and standing by them comes with a cost. Dalinar heard thumping outside the building they were in and when he went outside to check what it was he found a [[Thunderclast|massive skeletal stone creature]]. The Thunderclast reached a hand out to Nohadon who touched it, stilling the great creature. Nohadon asked Dalinar what this part of his nightmare represented, and Dalinar told him that it represented his pain and hypocrisy. Nohadon told him that hypocrisy can mean that a person is changing and it is not necessarily a bad thing. His words resonated within Dalinar and he remembered that he himself had said those words. When he woke up Dalinar realized that it had been a dream, not a vision, and suddenly remembered the events of Gavilar's funeral.{{book ref|sa3|103}} <!--This section is written terribly and is incomplete, as I've gotten fed up with this chapter and given up. I'll let whoever reviews this take care of it.-->

 

As Dalinar shaved and dressed the next morning he reflected on the events of the night before, both the strange dream and the memories he had recovered. He reflected on the flaws of human memory, how people remembered events and people differently, and the general perception of Gavilar had changed over time. Dalinar reached out to the Stormfather and was relieved to find that the spren was still with him, as he had feared that what he had done with the Oathgate in Vedenar would cause the Stormfather to leave him. He asked the Stormfather if he had been behind his dream with Nohadon, but the Stormfather had no knowledge that the dream had occurred, confirming Dalinar's suspicions that it had been an ordinary dream and not a vision. Feeling refreshed and at least partially recovered from his drinking spree, Dalinar left his room to find out what the others were up to.{{book ref|sa3|107}}

 

Dalinar met the Azish contingent as they left the temple where the meeting had taken place and made their way out of the city, heading for the docks. Most of them ignored Dalinar but Noura stopped and spoke with Dalinar about what they had decided. He said that regardless of the threat the Voidbringers poised the Surges he and his radiants wielded were dangerous and should not be used. He said that they were going to sail back to Azimir in ships that Taravangian had lent them so they would not have to use the Oathgate. When he found Fen he asked her if she would abandon him too, but she told him that she had no choice but to accept his help. Taravangian approached him and apologized for releasing all of the information, claiming that he had thought everyone else had access to it already. He then told Dalinar, without explaining why, that he was forced to leave Dalinar and not stand with him anymore. Dalinar tried arguing with him to get him to stay but Taravangian left anyways. The Stormfather told Dalinar that he had tried to hide this for his own good, saying that lying to themselves was one of the things men did best. Dalinar tried objecting but the Stormfather told him that he himself had been living a lie for the past six years, trying to pretend that he had not killed Evi. Dalinar had no response to this and, feeling dejected, returned to his villa.{{book ref|sa3|113}}

 

{{quote

|What is the most important step that a man can take?

Dalinar began walking back to the city, with Kaladin and [[Lopen]] each supporting one of his arms, leaving a trail of [[exhaustionspren]] behind him. Navani ran out of the city and took over from the bridgemen walking Dalinar the rest of the way. As they walked Dalinar told her how he had realized that the two months of pain from his memories had been exactly what he needed to experience in order to stand up to Odium. He thanked her for inspiring him, saying that her broken fabrial hanging from his arm had reminded him how to trap the Unmade. He showed Navani the ruby containing [[Nergaoul]] and told her that he wanted her to keep it safe and study it to figure out what had enabled it to trap a spren as powerful as an Unmade. Dalinar then asked Navani to teach him how to read and write.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

 

Later, back in the city, Dalinar accepted Fen's thanks and they sent a message to the Azish to try and explain what had happened. On the way to his villa, Dalinar stopped at the temple of Talenelat, which had been converted into a meeting place for the generals, to look the room over. As he was examining some of the depictions of Taln's many last stands Taravangian arrived and told Dalinar that he had brought his surgeons to help. Dalinar thanked him for the help and asked him why he had abandoned them to the enemy. Taravangian told Dalinar that he had assumed that Dalinar would fall and so he had arranged the events to play out in a way that would leave him as head of the coalition in Dalinar's place. He told Dalinar that for the good of Roshar he had been forced to do what he had done. Even with all of the conversations about philosophy that they had had together, Dalinar was shocked by Taravangian's ruthlessness. Dalinar realized that Taravangian had not become king of Jah Keved by chance and asked him how he had done it. Taravangian told Dalinar how [[Dova]] had warned him of the coming Desolation and he had sought out the Assassin in White and given him instructions of which monarchs to kill and in what order to do so. Later when he received word of where [[Skar]] and [[Drehy]] were with [[Gavinor]] Dalinar supercharged Kaladin with Stormlight and sent him to get them.{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{book ref|sa3|122}}

 

After Adolin and Shallan's wedding, Dalinar returned to his rooms to continue writing his book. As had become usual, now that [[Bridge Thirteen]] had become Teft's [[squire]]s, Szeth sat outside Dalinar's door acting as his bodyguard. Oathbringer, his former Shardblade, hung on the wall in front of him after [[Rock]] had given it to him as repayment. Dalinar sat at his desk writing his book until Navani came in and gave him some help with his pronouns. Dalinar reflected that the men of Vorinism had gotten the worse deal when they had given the arts of scholarship to women and kept the arts of war and fighting for themselves instead. Navani asked him what the ardents thought about him having learned to read and Dalinar told her that since he was already excommunicated there was nothing else they could do to him. She told him that they might leave him, but Dalinar disagreed and told her that he thought that Kadash might start to change his mind. He told her that Kadash had been reading through old theological texts trying to find justification for modern Vorinism and, while he might not want to believe it, eventually he would have to admit that Dalinar had been right. Dalinar was happy to have entered a new world where he could read any book he wanted by himself and all of the possibilities it opened up for him. Dalinar looked up at the Shardblade hanging above him and wrote a title for his book of memoirs- [[Oathbringer (in-world)|Oathbringer, My Glory and My Shame]].{{book ref|sa3|122}}

 

Six months after the battle in Thaylen City Dalinar met with [[Ral-na]], king of the residents of [[Relu-na]], and his son [[Talik]] to negotiate a treaty together so the coalition would have allies in the north in case the enemy began making moves in the region. He had [[Lopen]] speak to them first in order to reassure them about his intentions.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}}

 

After Kaladin left them Dalinar and Navani were discussing Dalinar's [[Bondsmith]] abilities when the Mink snuck up and interrupted them. Dalinar had a brief exchange with the Herdazian general about their past and Dalinar promised to use the ''Fourth Bridge'' to evacuate his troops from where they were hiding. Soon afterwards [[Lyn]] flew over to Dalinar and Navani to report that a large of Fused were heading their way.{{book ref|sa4|3}} During the ensuing battle Dalinar repeatedly summoned his perpendicularity for short periods of time giving the Radiants a strong advantage in the fight.{{book ref|sa4|5}} After the battle Dalinar had the Windrunners fly him and Navani back to the Oathgate at Narak so they could return to Urithiru, while the ''Fourth Bridge'' continued on its mission.{{book ref|sa4|9}}

 

 

Dalinar's relationship with his family is complicated. He idealizes his brother, and, as a younger man, was frequently willing to make sacrifices in Gavilar's favor. However, he also heavily envied him, mostly when it came to Gavilar's wife, [[Navani]], although such moments of envy were often accompanied by an intense sense of shame.{{book ref|sa3|26}}

 

Dalinar grew highly protective of [[Elhokar]] following Gavilar's death, having sworn to himself that he would not let the boy come to harm.{{book ref|sa1|13}} Over time, however, his tendency to take control begins to take precedent. However non-deliberately, Dalinar starts to pull the kingdom out of Elhokar's hands. Though Dalinar isn't happy about it, he does little to stop himself once he realizes it, and often forces his will on his nephew.{{book ref|sa3|12}}{{book ref|sa1|69}} He does see traces of Gavilar in Elhokar; this is, however, rare.{{book ref|sa2|56}}

 

=== Navani ===

Dalinar and Navani are deeply in love with each other. They have been for decades now; however, initially, Navani chose Gavilar over his brother. While it is possible this was because Gavilar was a more advantageous match, Navani claims that young Dalinar scared her with his intensity.{{book ref|sa1|28}} Dalinar never stops carrying the torch for her, even after his own marriage, and at one point nearly killed his brother for a chance of being with Navani.{{book ref|sa3|26}} The two part ways shortly after Gavilar's death, with Navani remaining in [[Kholinar]] to keep an eye on [[Aesudan]].{{book ref|sa3|22}}

 

While Dalinar is incapacitated Navani leads the coalition and covers for him while he is unable to do his job.{{book ref|sa3|104}}{{book ref|sa3|96}}

 

{{quote

|So today, you and your men sacrificed to buy me twenty-six hundred priceless lives. And all I had to repay you with was a single priceless sword. I call that a bargain.

}}

 

{{quote

|I will say Dalinar is my oldest character, followed by [[Hoid]]. Those two have been around since I was 15 and so, there is some favoritism for them, perhaps, just in longevity sense.

Brandon eventually rewrote the entire story from scratch, creating ''[[The Way of Kings]]'' we have today. It's then that Dalenar became Dalinar, and, according to Brandon, it was then that he finally got the character "right".{{ref|name=we}}

 

* When pressed to give his favorite character, Brandon often points towards Dalinar, although he also notes that this might be because of how long ago he was created.{{wob ref|3851}}{{wob ref|5017}}

* Early on in the writing of ''[[Oathbringer]]'', Brandon intended for it to be [[Szeth]]'s book, with Dalinar's being the fifth. While the two were eventually swapped, ''Stormlight Archive 5'' will also feature a lot of big Dalinar moments.{{wob ref|10951}}

* There was a [[Gereh|Feruchemist]] keeping watch on Dalinar in his house.{{wob ref|14529}}

 

{{columns|

* [[Dalinar's visions]]

}}

 

<references>

{{url ref

</references>

<pre>{{partial}}

{{Stormlight}}