Editors, Keepers
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{{culture
|image=Darkeyes by Gal Or.jpg
|related=[[Vorinism]]
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}{{update|book=sa3}}
== Overview ==
Permanently changing one's birth eye color is generally not possible. However, two exceedingly rare methods are currently known to change one's eye color.
It is a well-known legend within [[Vorin]] society that if a man wins a [[Shardblade]] on the battlefield, he will become a lighteyes, regardless of his previous station in life.{{book ref|sa1|16}} This would also be accompanied
A second and even rarer method of becoming a lighteyes is to become either a [[Surgebinder]] or [[Knight Radiant]]. According to [[Skar]], [[Kaladin]]'s eyes changed while fighting to save [[Dalinar]] during the [[Battle of the Tower]], although it was only for a short moment, as other men still recognize him as a darkeyes during the fight.{{book ref|sa2|2}} During this battle, Kaladin only said up to the Second Ideal of the [[Immortal Words]] and did not recognize himself as a Knight Radiant. Later, during the [[Battle of Narak]], after Kaladin says the Third Ideal of the Immortal Words and recognizes himself as a true Knight Radiant, his eyes
== Origins ==
It is speculated that the distinction between lighteyes and darkeyes stems from the [[Knights Radiant]]. The Knights Radiant all used [[Surgebinding]] and [[Shardbearer|Shards]], which granted them light-colored eyes even if they didn't have them at birth. Because the weapons and magic that the Radiants wielded were so superior, the belief that light colored eyes being superior to dark colored ones came to be.
[[Hoid]] thinks that he should be amused by the import given to the color of one's eyes, but he isn't, since he has seen other arbitrary systems of governance; additionally, he recalls that there is a good reason why the belief in the superiority of the lighteyes came to be.{{book ref|twok|epilogue}}
== Nahn ==
Nahn is the caste system for darkeyes.{{book ref|sa1|8}} Its counterpart for [[lighteyes]] is the [[dahn]] system.
Since darkeyes are
Within the nahn system itself, there are ten different levels ranging from one to ten, with one being the highest and ten being the lowest. Those at the highest levels of nahn enjoyed relative comfort and wealth while those at the lowest level of nahn would be serfs restricted from being able to freely travel. Finally, those of the tenth nahn are slaves and can be bought and sold by others.{{wob ref|13069}}
At the first and most prestigious nahn, one is even worthy of marrying into a lighteyed family.{{book ref|sa1|12}} At the second nahn, one could also potentially marry into a lighteyed family.{{book ref|sa1|25}} These two nahns are confirmed to be full citizens with the right of travel.{{book ref|sa1|10}}
While those at the lowest level of nahn without the right of travel are essentially serfs tied to the land they are currently on, this is relatively rare. Many more people are at the slightly higher levels of nahn that include the right of travel.{{
=== Protections and privileges ===
There are some protections built into the system of nahn to prevent abuse by lighteyes.
The first is
The second known protection is exemption from military conscription for those who are of sufficient nahn and provide an essential function to a town.{{book ref|sa1|44}} It is known that a second nahn surgeon and his only apprentice, also of second nahn, are exempt from military conscription.{{book ref|sa1|44}}
=== Moving between ranks ===
Moving between ranks is a fairly fluid and common occurrence, except for the very highest ranks, which are harder to attain.{{
Joining the army is one way to permanently increase the nahn of a person and their children; for example, if a very low-ranked darkeye joins the army, he would most likely receive an immediate one nahn increase.{{
There is also an extremely rare method to change ranks out of the nahn system and into the dahn system. By becoming a [[Shardbearer]], regardless of method and whether one is darkeyed or not, one immediately raises his rank to the fourth dahn.{{book ref|sa2|66}} This was accomplished for the first time in generations when [[
=== Inheritance of nahn ===
The nahn of a darkeyed child is influenced by the nahn that his parents hold. Generally, the child's nahn will be equivalent to the highest nahn that either of his parents hold.{{
However, for those of very high nahn, the children might slip down in rank until they hit a stable rank.
== Notes ==
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