Difference between revisions of "Alethkar"

'''Alethkar''' wasis the largest and most prominent of the five [[Vorinism|Vorin]] nations on [[Roshar]]. It wasis split into ten princedoms, each with its own [[highprince]]. People from Alethkar wereare known as '''Alethi'''. Alethkar is currently engaged in the [[War of Reckoning]] against the [[Parshendi]]. In the present day, Alethkar possesses many [[Shardblade]]s, like [[Jah Keved]].{{ref|b|sa1|c|23}}

Located in eastern [[Roshar]], Alethkar wasis more exposed to the highstorms than many lands further west. Important geographical features includedinclude the [[Sunmaker Mountains]], the [[Sea of Spears]], and the [[Windrunner River|Windrunner]] and [[Deathbend River]]s.{{ref|map|Roshar}}

The Alethi culture wasis divided into two major castes, the [[lighteyes]] and [[darkeyes]]. The distinction between the two wasis the coloring of the person's eyes, the lighteyes standing as the upper class, and darkeyes as the working/lower class,. eachEach of these classes wereare further divided in rank according to their [[dahn]] (in the case of lighteyes) or their [[nahn]] (in the case of darkeyes). There wereare many ways infor whicha youperson couldto improve yourtheir ranking and it wasis hereditary. Many darkeyes volunteeredvolunteer to become soldiers due for the chance to increase their rank and that of their children.

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

The Alethi system of government revolvedrevolves around class. The lighteyes composedcompose the ruling upper caste, which also hadhas a ranking system (dahn). The highest ranked lighteyes wasis [[Elhokar|King Elhokar]], who ruledrules over all of the [[highprince]]s. Next in line in terms of prestige and power wereare any lighteyes who were also [[Shardbearer]]s, with significant overlap into the princedom (i.e. many highprinces are generally Shardbearers as well).

The darkeyes mademake up the working class. The majority of darkeyes wereare either farmers or soldiers, both of which wereare considered to be high [[Calling]]s in Vorinism, and admirable professions. Many darkeyed soldiers who wentgo to war hopedhope to defeat a Shardbearer in combat to gain ownership over their [[Shardblade]] as it wasis believed that this wouldwill change the color of their eyes and they wouldwill become a lighteyes themselves.

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

The word ''Mathana'' wasis a formal term for an older sister,{{ref|b|sa1|c|22}} and for "aunt" it wasis ''Mashala''.{{ref|b|twok|c|60}}

Most of the Alethi wereare [[Vorin]], followers of the [[Almighty]]. The priests of Vorinism wereare called [[ardent]]s and wereare divided into [[Devotary|Devotaries]]. Vorinism hadhas a large impact on the culture of Alethkar. Alethi each chosechooses a profession and an attribute of the Almighty to emulate: a [[Calling]] and a Glory. These couldcan be changed during life but it wasis generally frowned upon culturally. [[Soulcasting]] wasis considered sacred to the Alethi and so only the ardents wereare permitted to use Soulcasting [[fabrial]]s.

The modern Alethi army is one of the strongest military forces on Roshar with well over 100,000 troops{{ref|b|sa1|c|6}} and over thirty [[Shardbearer]]s.{{ref|b|sa2|c|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;{{ref|b|sa1|c|6}} only the officers wield swords because, according to Vorin traditions, the sword is regarded as a lighteyed's weapon.{{ref|b|sa1|prologue}} 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.{{ref|b|sa1|c|44}} It is extremely rare for a darkeyed soldier to rise higher than the rank of squadleader.{{ref|b|sa1|c|47}} Lighteyed officers that have the command of a branch of the army isare usually referred by their duties (e.g. cavalrylord, infantrylord).{{ref|b|sa1|c|26}}

Because of the immense size of the army and the difficulty of travel, [[Soulcasting]] plays a vital role toin supplysupplying the army with wood, metal, food, and many other necessities, as well as to bebeing used in building fortifications. The king controls most of the Soulcaster ardents; in fact, manipulating the highprinces with his Soulcasters is one of the ways that the king maintains a control over them.{{ref|b|sa1|c|15}}