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{{nation
|map=Locator_Alethkar.png
|capital=[[Kholinar]]
|ruler=
|occupied=[[Singer]]s
|ethnicity=[[:Category: Alethi|Alethi]]
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{quote
| We've got a noble heritage, Kal, darkeyes and lighteyes alike. That’s why the best warriors have always been from Alethkar.
| [[Laral]]{{book ref|sa1|16}}
}}
'''Alethkar''' is the largest and most prominent of the five [[Vorinism|Vorin]] nations on [[Roshar]]. People from Alethkar are known as '''Alethi''', and their royal colors are blue and gold.{{book ref|sa1|69}} Prior to the [[True Desolation]], they were engaged in the [[War of Reckoning]] against the [[listeners]].{{book ref|sa1|23}} At the present, vast majority of their territory is under control of the [[Voidbringer]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
== Geography ==
[[FILE:Alethkar Color.jpg|thumb|right|300px|<center><small>by [[Isaac Stewart]]</small></center> Map of Alethkar. Alethi territories (barring the [[Shattered Plains]]) are marked in purple.]]
=== Borders and Territories ===
Alethkar lies in eastern [[Roshar]], stretching across the entire continent, from the [[Steamwater Ocean]] in the North to the [[Tarat Sea]] in the South-West. To the East, it leans on the [[Unclaimed Hills]], while to the South, it reaches the nationless [[Frostlands]] and the [[Shattered Plains]], the latter of which it has recently claimed for itself. In the West, Alethkar has a long and long-disputed border with [[Jah Keved]], which currently follows two rivers and the bend of the [[Sunmaker Mountains]]. In North-West, Alethkar borders [[Herdaz]] across a stretch of land decided through a few years of border wars.{{map ref|Roshar}}{{book ref|sa3|52}}
Besides the mainland, the Alethi have a number of territories off the coast. On the [[Steamwater Ocean]], Alethkar has [[Akak]] and a number of surrounding islands, giving it complete control over the [[Bay of Elibath]]. On the [[Tarat Sea]] - more specifically, a region of it called [[Mevan Bay]] - it controls a number of small islands in the delta of [[Deathbend River]], near the city of [[Karanak]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
=== Interior ===
At the tail end of the [[Era of Solitude]], Alethkar is the largest state on Roshar, covering around seven million square kilometers of land.{{url ref| url=https://www.17thshard.com/forum/blogs/entry/634-roshar-physical-characteristics-and-areas/|text=Roshar Physical Characteristics And Areas|site=17th Shard}} Despite the fact that it is far more exposed to the [[highstorm]]s than any country further West, large swathes of it are lush with animals and vegetation.{{book ref|sa3|5}} It has numerous rivers crossing it, the two major ones being [[Windrunner River|Windrunner]] and [[Deathbend River|Deathbend]]. The Windrunner River runs East to West, from Unclaimed Hills to the Bay of Elibath, and has numerous tributaries across the northern half of the country. The Deathbend River likewise starts in the Unclaimed Hills, though it turns South, ultimately ending in the Mevan Bay, with one of its major tributaries being an enormous lake called the [[Sea of Spears]]. The North and South of Alethkar are divided by a long, cross-shaped masiff called the [[Sunmaker Mountains]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
=== Notable cities ===
<!-- That the city has a name does not make it notable, so let's not list every city on the map -->
* [[Kholinar]] - the seat of [[House Kholin]] and the national capital following Alethkar's unification. The [[Alethela]] [[Oathgate]] is located there.
* [[Rathalas]] - ruined city once known for being constructed in a massive canyon for safety. It was burned down by [[Dalinar Kholin]] following the rebellion of the local [[highprince]], [[Tanalan]]
* [[Revolar]] - one of the largest cities in the [[Vamah]] princedom. During the [[True Desolation]], it's taken over by the [[Voidbringer]]s and used as a major assembly point for their armies.
* [[Hearthstone]] - a large town in the [[Sadeas princedom]], and home of [[Kaladin Stormblessed]].
* [[Dumadari]] - a major city on the border of Alethkar and [[Jah Keved]]
== History ==
Alethkar was founded as [[Alethela]] in the [[Silver Kingdoms]] Epoch. It survived the Desolations, but
When Gavilar was assassinated
Meanwhile, the Alethkar homelands were besieged by the newly awakened [[singer]] forces led by the [[Fused]], culminating in the [[Siege of Kholinar|siege]] and eventual fall of [[Kholinar]].
After Elhokar was killed by [[Moash]] during the siege, and [[Adolin Kholin]] refused to take the throne after the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], [[Jasnah Kholin]] became Queen. The current heir to the throne is Elhokar's son, [[Gavinor]] -- however, he's still a child and a regency in his name was deemed too unstable and dangerous during the time of the [[Last Desolation]].
== Culture ==
[[File:Jasnah Framed Portrait by Grant Hansen.png|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by {{a|Grant Hansen}}</small></center> [[Jasnah Kholin]], the current Queen of Alethkar]]
{{quote
| Dalinar had been around Alethi politicians so much that he found honesty an obscure thing, like a language he no longer spoke.
| [[Dalinar]]{{book ref|sa3|34}}
}}
=== People ===
The Alethi people are generally tan -- darker-skinned than the [[Veden]], but not as dark as the [[Makabak]]i -- with dark, typically black hair.{{book ref|sa1|3}} They are typically extremely tall, standing on average at least a foot taller than people living further West.{{book ref|sa2.5|10}} In the late [[Era of Solitude]], the Alethi tan and black hair are considered the general standard of beauty.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
Like all [[Vorin]] nations, Alethi practice a division between the sexes. Women wear [[safehand]]s, either as a buttoned-up sleeve, typical of lighteyes, or a glove, typical of darkeyes. They are discouraged from picking up weapons and fighting. By contrast, men are forbidden to read. As such, oftentimes a man and a woman will work together as a team in an important position that overlaps both their areas of responsibility, such as the military, with the woman acting as a scribe while the man issues commands.{{book ref|sa1|6}} The extremely militaristic nature of the Alethi further influences this divide, leading to most of Alethi rulers being kings, and women rarely, if ever, becoming highprincesses.{{book ref|sa3|122}}
Alethi discourage emotional openness and any show of what could be perceived as a weakness; an engaged couple keeping close in public is considered, while not obscene, at least extremely improper.{{book ref|sa3|122}} Men are encouraged to be combative and forceful; women, to be witty and always willing to engage in barbed banter. Unwillingness or inability to act in this way can often lead to a person being labeled as invalid or stupid.{{book ref|sa3|66}}
=== Caste system ===
The Alethi culture is divided into two major castes, the '''[[lighteyes]]''' and '''[[darkeyes]]''', separated by, as can be surmised, the color of a person's eyes. The lighteyes form the upper case, with broader rights and priviledges, while the darkeyes are the lower, working caste. Furthermore, each caste is divided into ten ranks, with the lighteyed ranks being called [[dahn]]s, while the darkeyed ones are the [[nahn]]s. Some nahns and dahns are hereditary, or stable, while others can only be held by attaining a particular position.{{wob ref|2782}} The Alethi monarch, for example, is the only person in the country holding the first dahn.{{wob ref|4006}}
There are many ways for a person to improve their rankings, such as through marriage or military service. A soldier who becomes an officer will almost automatically be raised to a proper dahn or nahn, along with their children.{{wob ref|2782}} Holding land automatically entitles a lighteyes to at least the sixth dahn, regardless of their previous status, and becoming a [[Shardbearer]] demands at least the fourth dahn.{{wob ref|4006}}{{book ref|sa3|58}}
Alethkar is generally a feudal nation. The Alethi monarch is served by ten [[highprince]]s, which have their own lower-dahn subjects, down to the citylords, who rule over individual settlements.{{book ref|sa1|16}} [[Shardbearer]]s stand slightly aside from this system, although many of them are either highprinces themselves, or in direct service to one highprince or another.
[[File:Stormblessed Bonus by ThomasW.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by {{a|ThomasW}}</small></center> A [[darkeyes]] facing a [[Shardbearer]] ]]
=== Militarism ===
The Alethi culture is highly militaristic, stemming from their origins as Alethela. A soldier is considered the highest religious Calling, with the fight to reclaim the [[Tranquiline Halls]] being believed to be the greatest afterlife one could hope for.{{book ref|sa1|16}} The country is almost perpetually at war, if not between the highprinces, then with some external power. Children as young as twelve can and sometimes are recruited by raving armies to feed this endless war machine.{{book ref|sa1|44}}
Military service is one of the more reliable paths of social advancement in Alethkar. A soldier can expect to raise in dahn or nahn to match his military rank.{{wob ref|2782}} Moreover, many darkeyed soldiers go to war hoping to defeat a Shardbearer and gain ownership of their [[Shardblade]], due to a widespread belief -- later proven correct -- that bonding a Blade would change their eyes to light-colored.{{book ref|sa2|66}}
Alongside this culture, the Alethi highly honor the [[Thrill]], a form of battlelust that can sometimes encompass them when in combat. The Thrill is often considered a private thing, not to be shared with others; however, it's also highly desirable, with men often awaiting its arrival when in combat.{{book ref|sa1|12}}{{book ref|sa1|26}} For many, it's downright addictive.{{book ref|sa2|29}}
=== Religion ===
{{quote
| The Alethi preferred to let the ardents deal with the Almighty, like he was some annoying parlor guest who could be safely distracted by servants offering a particularly tasty tea.
| [[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa3|15}}
}}
Alethkar is one of the five great [[Vorin]] Kingdoms, with vast majority of their populace worshipping the [[Almighty]].{{book ref|sa1|3}} The worship is mostly carried out by the priests, called the [[ardent]]s. The ardents, while influential, are not free -- rather, they are slaves to various [[lighteyes]]. Unlike most other professions, ardentia is open to both men and women, and to people from all social castes.{{book ref|sa2|11}} Ardents are considered genderless from a social standpoint, and as such, many of the Vorin taboos regarding gender and gender roles do not apply to them.{{book ref|sa2|44}} They are also the only people permitted to use [[Soulcaster]]s.
Unlike other varieties of Vorinism, the Alethi are not required to be personally devout, or to perform religious ceremonies. While each citizen is supposed to pick their [[Calling]] and Glory -- their goal in life, and the aspect of the Almighty they wish to emulate{{book ref|sa1|18}} -- the actual religious part of the religion is handled by the ardents, who perform the requisite rituals and prayers for their masters, so as to reassure them of their righteousness.{{book ref|sa3|89}} The Alethi themselves rarely interact with the Almighty, save for an occassional glyphward or prayer.{{book ref|sa3|15}}
=== Language and Writing ===
{{for|Women's script}}
The Alethi language is part of the Vorin language family, which includes others such as Veden (spoken in [[Jah Keved]]) and [[Herdaz]]ian.{{wob ref|3977}} It's particularly close to the former, making it easy to learn.{{book ref|sa1|5}} Known words from the language include ''dahn'' and ''nahn'' for the ranking system, numerous [[glyph]] pronounciations, as well as two terms for family members -- ''Mathana'', a formal term for older sister, and ''Mashala'', for aunt.{{book ref|sa1|22}}{{book ref|sa1|60}}
The Alethi language can be written using two different systems. The [[Women's script]], used broadly across eastern Roshar, is an alphabet, with twenty five letters, and at least two symbols -- a mark of maximum character height, at the start of a passage, and a small diactric denoting that a particular letter should be read as an "H".{{twg ref|7882|0|Navani's Notebook Translation|date=Sep 20th, 2010}}{{wob ref|2962}} This being said, the women's script is restricted for use by the female part of the populace, in accordance with Vorin cultural rules. Men are permitted to learn [[glyph]]s, a separate system where each symbol or pair of symbols represents a separate idea or concept.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
== Politics ==
=== Princedoms ===
[[File:Alethkar Color.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Alethi Princedoms]]
Though it is ruled by a single king, Alethkar is divided into ten princedoms, each ruled by a [[lighteyes|lighteyed]] [[highprince]]. Each princedom is named after the family controlling it, and each has its own military, independent of one another - a remnant of the times prior to the reunification. While the highprinces do work together, the king has limited control over them, maintained less through tradition, and more through sheer military power and access to amenities like [[Soulcaster]]s.{{book ref|sa1|15}} In addition, the ruling [[House Kholin]] controls the largest territory, as apart from their own princedom, they also hold an underpopulated stretch of land called the [[Eastern Crownlands]].{{map ref|Alethkar}}
The territories of Alethkar and their major settlements are:
{{columns|
;[[Kholin princedom]]: In the east of Alethkar
* '''[[Kholinar]]'''
* [[Shulin]]
;[[Sadeas princedom]]: In the north-west of Alethkar
* [[Hearthstone]]
* [[Mourn's Vault]]
* [[Tomat]]
;[[Aladar princedom]]: In the north of Alethkar
;[[Vamah princedom]]: In the north-west of Alethkar
* [[Farcoast]]
* [[Revolar]]
;[[Ruthar princedom]]: In the west of Alethkar
;[[Thanadal princedom]]: In the center of Alethkar
* [[Davinar]]
* [[Savalashi]]
;[[Hatham princedom]]: In the west of Alethkar
* [[Darkhill]]
* [[Shamel]]
;[[Bethab princedom]]: In the south-west of Alethkar
* [[Dumadari]]
* [[Karanak]]
;[[Sebarial princedom]]: In the south of Alethkar
* [[Rashir]]
;[[Eastern Crownlands]]: In southeast Alethkar
* [[Rathalas]]
}}
=== Military ===
{| class="infobox side" style="width: 22em; float:right; font-size: 88%;"
!colspan='3' style="text-align:center; background:#cce" |'''Chain of command'''
|colspan='3' | <small>In companies made solely of lighteyes, the rank "lieutenant" is used as the equivalent of sergeant.</small>
|}
The modern Alethi army is one of the strongest military forces on Roshar with well over 100,000 troops{{book ref|sa1|6}} and over thirty [[Shardbearer]]s.{{book ref|sa2|5}} The army employs most of its troops as spearmen and archers, as well as a very small amount of cavalry due to the rarity of horses on Roshar;{{book ref|sa1|6}} only the officers wield swords because, according to Vorin traditions, the sword is regarded as a lighteyed's weapon.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Soldiers are usually trained in one or two additional Skills, i.e. horse grooms.{{book ref|twok|28}} Under most circumstances, military service is voluntary, though the leaders of the army has the right of conscription for darkeyes that do not provide an essential function to a community (e.g. a town's only surgeon) when they feel there is need for additional troops.{{book ref|sa1|44}} It is extremely rare for a darkeyed soldier to rise higher than the rank of squadleader.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Lighteyed officers that have the command of a branch of the army are usually referred by their duties (e.g. cavalrylord, infantrylord).{{book ref|sa1|26}}
Despite Alethkar being a monarchy, the king has very little actual say in how the military is run and does not directly command any force other than the 250-strong King's Guard. The troops are sworn to and led by their individual highprinces.{{book ref|sa2|5}} In that sense, Alethkar army is not truly a unified army, but a loose coalition between ten smaller armies. Indeed, even in wartime, there is constant in-fighting between the highprinces' armies,{{book ref|sa1|47}} and cooperation between the highprinces themselves is seen as a weakness;{{book ref|sa1|54}} this is bolstered by the tenets of Vorinism that say the purpose of life is to prepare in order to join the Heralds in the fight to regain the [[Tranquiline Halls]] and Alethi belief that everything is a competition in life.{{book ref|sa1|15}}
Recently, in an effort to truly unify the kingdom, [[Dalinar Kholin]] has been appointed as the [[Highprince of War]] by the king. This title was used in Alethkar before being fragmented into ten princedoms when each highprince was given the ultimate authority over one aspect of the governing of the kingdom. On paper, this gives Kholin authority over all war-related activities.{{book ref|sa1|69}}
According to offical records, Alethkar possesses more [[Shardblade]]s than any other nation on Roshar, with only [[Jah Keved]] coming anywhere close.{{book ref|sa1|23}}.
== Notable Alethi ==
== Trivia ==
*Alethi are modeled on half Asian and half Hawaiian people, and according to Brandon, picturing Alethi as looking east-Indian works very well.{{
== Notes ==
{{partial}}
{{stormlight}}
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