Alethkar

Alethkar
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Capital	Kholinar
World	Roshar

Alethkar was the largest and most prominent of the five Vorin Nations. It was split into ten princedoms, each with its own Highprince. People from Alethkar were known as Alethi.

Geography

Located in eastern Roshar, Alethkar was more exposed to the Highstorms than many lands further west. Important geographical features included the Sunmaker Mountains, the Sea of Spears, and the Windrunner and Deathbend Rivers.

History

Alethkar was founded as Alethela in the Silver Kingdoms Epoch. It survived the Desolations, but at an unknown point was fractured into the Princedoms.

Under this system, the ten Highprinces acted as Kings of their own lands, with no unifying government. In approximately 1158, Gavilar Kholin sought to conquer and unite the Highprinces, which he achieved by about 1163. He was then crowned King and his brother Dalinar Kholin became Highprince to the Kholin Princedom.

When Gavilar was assassinated by the Parshendi in 1167, his son Elhokar Kholin became King and declared war on the Parshendi. Each of the Highprinces joined the Vengeance Pact, and they went to the Shattered Plains to besiege the Parshendi in the War of Reckoning. The siege took much longer than was expected, and was still active by 1173.

Culture

The Alethi culture was divided into two major castes, the lighteyes and darkeyes. The distinction between the two was the coloring of the person's eyes, the lighteyes standing as the upper class, and darkeyes as the working/lower class, each of these classes were further divided in rank according to their dahn (in the case of lighteyes) or their nahn (in the case of Darkeyes). There were many ways in which you could improve your ranking and it was hereditary. Many darkeyes volunteered to become soldiers due for the chance to increase their rank and that of their children.

Children of pure light/dark-eyed parents always bred true, whereas the children of mixed descent had the chance to be either.

The Alethi system of government revolved around class. The lighteyes composed the ruling upper caste, which also had a ranking system (dahn). The highest ranked lighteyes was King Elhokar, who ruled over all of the Highprinces. Next in line in terms of prestige and power were any lighteyes who were also Shardbearers, with significant overlap into the princedom (i.e. many highprinces are generally Shardbearers as well).

The darkeyes made up the working class. The majority of darkeyes were either farmers or soldiers, both of which were considered to be high Callings in Vorinism, and admirable professions. Many darkeyed soldiers who went to war hoped to defeat a Shardbearer in combat to gain ownership over their Shardblade as it was believed that this would change the color of their eyes and they would become a lighteyes themselves.

War and honor were considered a way of life to the Alethi.

The word Mathana was a formal term for an older sister.

Religion

Most Alethi followed the religion of Vorinism. The priests of Vorinism were called Ardents and were divided into monasteries and Devotaries. Vorinism had a large impact on the culture of Alethkar. Alethi each chose a profession and an attribute of the Almighty to emulate: a Calling and a Glory. These could be changed during life but it was generally frowned upon culturally. Soulcasting was considered sacred to the Alethi and so only the Ardents were permitted to use Soulcasting fabrials.

Princedoms

Alethkar Princedoms

Each Princedom is synonymous with the Highprince who rules it.

Kholin

In the east of Alethkar

• Kholinar - Capital City of Alethkar
• Shulin

Sadeas

In the north-west of Alethkar

• Hearthstone
• Tomat
• Mourn's Vault

Aladar

In the north of Alethkar

• Dalilak

Roion

In the north-east of Alethkar

• Relanas
• Varikev

Vamah

In the north-west of Alethkar

• Farcoast

Ruthar

In the west of Alethkar

• Kelathar
• Danidan

Thanadal

In the centre of Alethkar

• Savalashi
• Davinar
• Rathalas

Hatham

In the west of Alethkar

• Shamel
• Darkhill

Bethab

In the south-west of Alethkar

• Karanak
• Dumadari

Sebarial

In the south of Alethkar

• Rashir

Notable Alethi

For a list of all Alethi characters, see :Category:Alethi.

• House Kholin
• Amaram
• Hesina
• Kaladin
• Laral
• Moash
• Roshone
• Sadeas
• Teft

Notes

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