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== Culture ==
The Alethi culture is divided into two major castes, the [[lighteyes]] and [[darkeyes]]. The distinction between the two is 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 are further divided in rank according to their [[dahn]] (in the case of lighteyes) or their [[nahn]] (in the case of darkeyes). There are many ways for a person to improve their ranking and it is hereditary. Many darkeyes volunteer to become soldiers for the chance to increase their rank and that of their children. Children of pure light/dark-eyed parents always breed true, whereas the children of mixed descent have the chance to be either.
The Alethi system of government revolves around class. The lighteyes compose the ruling upper caste, which also has a ranking system (dahn). The highest ranked lighteyes is [[Jasnah Kholin]], who rules over all of the [[highprince]]s. Next in line in terms of prestige and power are any lighteyes who were also [[Shardbearer]]s, with significant overlap into the princedom (i.e. many highprinces are generally Shardbearers as well). The darkeyes make up the working class. The majority of darkeyes are either farmers or soldiers, both of which are considered to be high [[Calling]]s in Vorinism, and admirable professions. Many darkeyed soldiers who go to war hope to defeat a Shardbearer in combat to gain ownership over their [[Shardblade]] as it is believed that this will change the color of their eyes and they will become a lighteyes themselves. War and honor are considered a way of life to the Alethi.▼
▲The Alethi system of government revolves around class. The lighteyes compose the ruling upper caste, which also has a ranking system (dahn). The highest ranked lighteyes is [[Jasnah Kholin]], who rules over all of the [[highprince]]s. Next in line in terms of prestige and power are any lighteyes who were also [[Shardbearer]]s, with significant overlap into the princedom (i.e. many highprinces are generally Shardbearers as well).
The word ''Mathana'' is a formal term for an older sister,{{book ref|sa1|22}} and for "aunt" it is ''Mashala''.{{book ref|twok|60}}
|colspan='3' | <small>In companies made solely of lighteyes, the rank "lieutenant" is used as the equivalent of sergeant.</small>
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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}}
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