Difference between revisions of "Alethkar"

'''Alethkar''' is a country in eastern [[Roshar]]. It borders [[Jah Keved]] to the west, the [[Unclaimed Hills]] to the east, and the [[Frostlands]] to the south. Alethkar is the largest country on Roshar, and therefor is the largest and most prominent of the five [[Vorinism|Vorin]] nations, with a population in the hundreds of thousands.{{book ref|sa4|50}} People from Alethkar are known as '''Alethi''', and their royal colors are blue and gold.{{book ref|sa1|69}} In [[Azir]], they are known as the '''Tagarut'''.{{book ref|tsm|26}}

The [[singer]]s' name for Alethkar is '''Avendla''', meaning Land of the Second Advance.{{book ref|sa4|14}} Prior to the [[True Desolation]], the Alethi were engaged in the [[War of Reckoning]] against the [[listeners]].{{book ref|sa1|23}} As of {{rosharan date|1175}} on the Vorin Calander, the vast majority of their territory is under the control of the [[Voidbringer]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}}

The term ''Tagarut'', referring to the Alethi, means "Breakers" in Azish. This refers to their destructive nature during their invasions of Azir.{{book ref|tsm|26}} The name ''Avendla'' means ''Land of the Second Advance'' in the ancient Fused language.{{book ref|sa4|14}}

The land that would become known as AlethkarRoshar was created at an unknown point before the [[Shattering]] by Adonaslium, along with the rest of Roshar and the Rosharan supercontinent, by [[Adonalsium]] roughlyover ten -thousand years prior to the Vorin year {{Rosharan date|1174}}.{{wob ref|3953}}{{wob ref|3952}}{{wob ref|1355}}{{book ref|tsm|11}} It is unclear how much the geography of modern-day Alethkar has changed compared to the land at creation.

Alethkar was founded as [[Alethela]] in the [[Silver Kingdoms]] Epoch, settled by Ashynite emigrants who arrived on Roshar in Shinovar, before eventually expanding outward and conquering the rest of Roshar. They were an extremely militaristic nation which remembered and studied the arts of war so that they would be able to teach it to new generations whenever a Desolation camecomes.{{book ref|sa1|19}} Due to this, the Knight's Radiant primarily lived in Alethela, even if their operations were based in [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa1|19}} This militarism laid the foundation for modern Alethi militarism and military strength.

At some point early in its history, it was ruled over by King [[Nohadon]].{{book ref|sa1|60}}{{book ref|sa1|24}} During one Desolation during his life, they fought for over eleven years and nine-in-ten Alethelan citizens were killed.{{book ref|sa1|60}} [[Eiliz]], [[Tarma]], and [[Sur]], likely sub-divisions of Alethela, fell during this Desolation. They are no longer remembered in modern historical memory by {{rosharan date|1173}}.{{book ref|sa1|60}}

One of the many Desolations that struck the nation, along with the rest of Roshar, arrived shortly afterin the year {{rosharan date|337}} of the Eighth Epoch. This Desolation was heralded by the release of [[Midnight Essence]] in a small settlement in [[Natanatan]].{{book ref|sa1|19}} The length of this Desolation is unknown.

The Last Desolation was a large scale Desolation thatwhich occurred circa -3332, around 4500 years before the arrival of the [[Assassination of Gavilar]]. This Desolation was particularly devasting due to the fact that it happened only a year after the previous Desolation, and thus society was weakened and still recovering. Tired of the Desolations and their torture on Braize, the nine Heralds still on Roshar refused to return to Braize, leaving Taln as the sole Herald on the planet for millennia.{{book ref|sa1|prelude}}{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

==== After the Aharietiam ====

At some point following Aharietiam, the kingdom splintered apart into many different smaller nations, and would not reunify for centuries following the splintering.{{book ref|wok|24cite}}

The HierocracyThis lasted until the [[Sunmaker]] led the kingdom in a successful revolt against [[Vorin]] rule circa {{rosharan date|673}}, known as the [[War of Loss]]. ManyFollowing citieshis weresuccessful sackedreunification and destroyed during thisof warAlethela andunder the chaosname of its aftermathAlethkar, withhe Kholinarset beinghis oneeyes ofupon the fewrest eastern cities to remainof unharmedRoshar.{{book ref|sa2ob|122}}

Several centuries later, in approximately {{Rosharan date|1140}}, [[Gavilar Kholin]]--inspired by the Sunmaker--sought to conquer and unite the highprinces, which he achieved by about {{Rosharan date|1145}}. He was then crowned king and his brother [[Dalinar Kholin]] became highprince to the [[House Kholin|Kholin]] Princedom. However, due to the lineage of each Princedom going back to the Sunmaker and his sons, the Highprinces were loathe to surrender their autonomous power to a supreme ruler. The integrity and unity of Gavilar's kingdom is therefore questionable, as evidenced by the ferocity with which the Highprinces resisted his military approach to unification and continued to strain against his rule. The most severe instance of this was the rebellion in [[Rathalas]], where Gavilar eventually had to send troops led by [[Dalinar]] and [[Torol Sadeas]] in order to quench the revolt, as political means had resulted in a failure. One notable battle during the war was the battle against Brightlord Yezriar.{{book ref|sa3|3}}

This battle was notable for laying the foundations of the Burning of Rathalas, and with the Kholin family obtaining the Shardblade [[Oathbringer]].{{book ref|sa3|36}}

Kalanor's shards were given to Gavilar by Dalinar, and Kalanor's territory was given to [[Loradar Vamah]], thus it was officially named the [[Vamah princedom]]. This battle marked the official end of the Alethi war of unification, however battles and skirmishes wouldcould continue for decades afterward.{{book ref|sa3|26}}

==== Conquest of the Akak Reshi ({{rosharan date|1155}}) ====

Around {{rosharan date|1155}}, a war broke out at the border between Alethkar and Jah Keved. Dalinar Kholin also acted as one of the major generals in this conflict as well.{{book ref|sa3|52}} Part of the motivation for the conflict was Jah Keved taking land from Alethkar in around {{rosharan date|1143}}.{{book ref|sa3|66}}

In {{rosharan date|1163}}, due to increasing hostilities and calls for rebellion in Rathalas, led by Brightlord Tanalan's son, also named [[Tanalan]],{{book ref|sa3|36}}{{book ref|sa3|49}} Gavilar Kholin sent his brother, Dalinar Kholin, and Torol Sadeas back to the Rift in order to quell them. Dalinar attempted to peacefully negotiate, offering Tanalan the position of Highprince if he surrendered. His offer was refused and his contingent, including himself, were struck by a landslide orchestrated by Tanalan, killing all of his men and leaving him injured, but alive.{{book ref|sa3|71}}

Enraged, Dalinar slaughtered his ambushers, and ordered his surviving men (stationed outside of the Rift) to douse the city in oil and set it alight, as to slaughter all of its people and leave the city in ruins. Panicked at what Dalinar ordered, his wife, [[Evi]], went into the city in secret and attempted to negotiate with Tanalan herself, in order to prevent the massacre from being carried out. Tanalan came to agree, and decided to send out a plea for surrender.

When messengers were sent out waving a flag of surrender, he ordered them shot dead, and demanded that the burning be continued without any deferment.{{book ref|sa3|75}} The attack went through at night, and the attack left all inhabitants of the city dead with the exception of Tanalan and his family, who Dalinar killed without hesitation. However, Tanalanit soon revealedcame to Kholinout that his wife Evi was in the city during the burning, and was killed in the fire.{{book ref|sa3|75}}

A collection of skirmishes in the northern Princedomssection of Alethkar which occurred some time before {{rosharan date|1166}}, and some time after the crowning of Gavilar in {{rosharan date|1145}}.{{book ref|sa1|16}} The skirmishes were against groups of [[Reshi]] raiders who thought they could take advantage ofat the instability of Alethkar early after the crowning of [[Gavilar Kholin]].{{book ref|sa1|16}} It can be reasonably assumed that the attempt to repel the raiders was successful.

This conflict did not fully dissuade the Reshi from engaging in border assaults, and they are known to have attemptedstill tobe raidattempting to Alethitake territoriesAlethkar as late as {{rosharan date|1173|8}}.{{book ref|sa1|18}}

Gavilar mademet contactwith the Parshendi in {{rosharan date|1166|4}} and was instantly fascinated by them. The Parshendi exploration that underwent first contact was led by [[Eshonai]], who became a very important figure in Alethi-Parshendi relations.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}{{book ref|sa1|45}}{{book ref|sa4|48}}

During an attack on the Tower led by Sadeas, Bridge Four attempted a strategy that they believed would protect them from Parshendi attack by carrying their bridge on the side. This strategy successfully protected themsthemselves, but focused Parshendi attack on other bridge crews, causing a large amount to fall. This disrupted the attack, and led to a large amount of deaths, of both trained soldiers and bridgemen. Over two-hundred bridgemen perished in the attack.{{book ref|sa1|32}}{{book ref|sa1|34}}

Music is seen as a feminine art, and is thus primarily only persued by women and ardents.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{book ref|sa2|55}} Alethi music makes a heavy use of flutes and string instruments made of a fine wood,{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{book ref|sa3|84}} and tend to dislike percussion.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}{{wob ref|12290}} Battle hymns make use of brass-like instruments.{{wob ref|12290}}

They make use of bows to play stringed instruments.{{book ref|sa1|33}} The Alethi may also practice a sort of throat-singing.{{wob ref|14654}} They are known to sing various forms of Vorin hymns.{{book ref|sa3|i|5}}