Dahn

Dahn
World of Origin	Roshar

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Dahn is a caste system for the lighteyed nobility who live the Vorin kingdoms, such as Alethkar and Jah Keved. Its counterpart for darkeyes is the nahn system.

Ranking

The dahn system has ten different levels ranging from one to ten, with one being the highest and ten being the lowest. The highest levels of dahn implies immense power and authority while those at the lowest level of dahn are merely ordinary people.

The first dahn consists of the king and highprinces. The second dahn contains the heirs apparent to the king and highprinces. The third dahn is made up, at least in part, by the non-heir children of the king, the non-heir children of highprinces, and highlords. The fourth dahn includes lighteyes who hold the position of battalionlord in the army; battalionlords command a full battalion of a thousand men. The seventh dahn includes lower ranking officers in the army who are landless and attached to a more powerful officer's retinue.

The tenth and lowest level of dahn were colloquially known as "tenners" and were looked down upon as being barely above darkeyes. Unlike high dahn lighteyes—who might make a living from their landed estates or by ruling over other men—or even high nahn darkeyes—who might be merchants or master craftsmen—tenners had to actually work for a living.

Moving between ranks

It is difficult for a lighteyed person to raise their dahn, especially at the higher dahns. At the lower dahns, one could buy themselves up a rank. Alternatively, one could be appointed to a position; a position such as a citylord conveys a certain rank and if the person does not currently have that rank, they will receive it along with the appointment. A person could potentially jump up two or three dahns by receiving such an appointment.

One could raise his dahn through two other, much more rare, methods. The first was through direct intervention by the king or a highprince. The second was to become a Shardbearer; by doing so, one immediately raised his dahn to that of the fourth rank, if he was not already at or above this rank.

A person can also be demoted in dahn if they perform poorly in a given role.

Inheritance of dahn

The dahn of a lighteyed child is influenced by the dahn that his parents hold. Generally, the child's dahn will be equivalent to the highest dahn that either of his parents hold. For example, a child from a union of a fifth dahn husband and sixth dahn wife would be fifth dahn.

However, special rules apply to those of very high dahn or who hold certain special positions. In such a circumstance, the heir apparent will be assigned a reserved dahn and eventually succeed the parent's position and dahn while the non-heir children will slip one or two ranks down until they reach a "stable rank." A stable rank is one in which the child will always inherit the rank of their parent; the third dahn is a stable rank, while the first and second are not.

Notable lighteyes

First dahn

• King Elhokar Kholin, King of Alethkar
• Highprince Dalinar Kholin, Highprince of Kholin and Highprince of War

Third dahn

• Highlord Meridas Amaram, absendiar highmarshal of the Sadeas princedom
• Jakamav, landlord and Shardbearer under Highprince Roion

Fifth dahn

• Shallan Davar

Tenth dahn

• Rind, Kholin head quartermaster