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'''Kharbranth''', the City of Bells, is an independent city-state on [[Roshar]], ruled by Queen [[Savrahalidem]]. It is one of the five [[Vorin]] nations and home to the [[Palanaeum]], the largest library on Roshar. Kharbranth is known for the quality of its hospitals, and people come from all over the world to study medicine from Kharbranth's surgeons. The Kharbranthian royal colors are burnt orange and white
== Geography ==
{{image|View_of_Kharbranth.jpg|The City of Bells|side=left|height=300px}}
Residing within a natural wedge
Bells can be found in large numbers throughout the city, supposedly to warn of the passing highstorm, which as story tells it, is too gentle to notice otherwise.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|7}} The ringing of these bells can be heard even deep within the Conclave.{{book ref|sa1|7}} The regularity and presence of these bells
Famous for its crowds, the streets of Kharbranth are often packed during both the day and at night.{{book ref|Sa1|36}}{{book ref|Sa1|71}} The Ralinsa, the main thoroughfare made up of a series of switchbacks, connects the port and docks with the Conclave at the top of the mountain.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|Sa1|36}} The steepness of the pathways makes it difficult to use [[chull]] pulled carts to transport goods, and instead merchants will hire workers to carry their products.{{book ref|sa1|71}} Rickshaws and palanquins are available to hire for transport throughout the city.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa3|21}}
Buildings are constructed from either [[crem]], daub, mud, or a combination of all three, blocky in nature, and either built on top of
The Kharbranthian plumbing system, which relies on gravity to move water through pipes, has become quite popular in the Alethi warcamps.{{book ref|sa2|67}} The system is used within the Conclave and is combined with heatrials to produce running hot water.{{book ref|sa1|36}}
{{for|Conclave}}
The [[Conclave]] can be located at the top of the city and is built down into the surrounding mountain.{{book ref|sa1|3}} The Conclave serves as both an official building and a residential abode, with a section of the building serving as the
Deep within the Conclave, there were once secret hospitals that were run by Taravangian and the Diagram.{{book ref|sa1|71}} Terminally ill patients, as well as the extremely poor, were taken to these
=== The Palanaeum ===
Funding for these hospitals is provided by the entrance fee to the Palanaeum.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Any who require assistance will be treated, regardless of eye color, social ranking, or nationality.{{book ref|sa1|48}} During his time as king, Taravangian is a frequent visitor to the hospitals and is warmly welcomed by patients during their stay. During his visits, he will stop and speak with each patient individually, checking in on their care and wellbeing.{{book ref|sa1|48}}
Private patient rooms, along with larger wards, can be found in some, if not all, of Kharbranth's hospitals.{{book ref|sa1|48}}{{book ref|sa1|50}} The wards are segregated by gender and resemble large hallways.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Partitions can be set up around each bed to provide privacy for each patient.{{book ref|sa1|48}} The hospital that Shallan is initially admitted to after faking suicide
=== The Great Concourse of Kharbranth ===
|[[Lirin]]'s warning to [[Kaladin]]{{book ref|Sa1|31}}
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As a youth, [[Lirin]]
Lirin desired to send his son [[Kaladin]] to Kharbranth to train as a surgeon when he turned sixteen.{{book ref|sa1|10}}{{book ref|sa1|17}} Lirin and his wife [[Hesina]] stole a large number of spheres, claiming to have been given them by Brightlord [[Wistiow]] on his deathbed, in order to fund Kaladin's study in Kharbranth. After the arrival of [[Roshone]] in [[Hearthstone]], Lirin and Hesina wrote to the surgeons in Kharbranth with a plea to let their son take the entry tests early, however, their request was denied.{{book ref|sa1|31}} Lirin considered escaping Hearthstone and taking his family to Kharbranth after Roshone cut off all their means of income, however, decided instead to stay and continue to oppose the Brightlord.{{book ref|sa1|37}}
{{image|Taravangian_as_the_Wheel_of_Fortune_Orientation_1.jpg|side=right|height=450px}}
On the night of his death, [[Gavilar Kholin]] confided in [[Taravangian]] about the visions he had received regarding the [[True Desolation]].{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} Believing the visions had come from the [[Almighty]], Gavilar insisted to Taravangian that for the world to survive the True Desolation, it would have to be united.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} Taking the king’s warning to heart, Taravangian
After visiting the Nightwatcher, Taravangian experienced a day of extreme intelligence, where he transcribed a large number of predictions on the available surfaces in his bedroom.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{book ref|sa4|i|6}} These writings were bound together into a tome referred to as the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]]. A [[Diagram (group)|society by the same name]] worships the Diagram, however, it is currently unknown if this society existed before the creation of the Diagram, or whether it was formed in response to Taravangian's creation.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
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Following its creation, the Diagram began supplementing Taravangian's predictions with the [[Death Rattle]]s provided by the [[Unmade]] [[Moelach]]. Moelach took up residence in Kharbranth in the year {{Rosharan date|1167}}, approximately around the time Gavilar began investigating the [[Shattered Plains]]. It is possible that the Unmade's arrival in Kharbranth could be related to Gavilar's exploration of the
The [[Diagram (group)#Silent_Gatherers|Silent Gatherers]] were tasked with administrating and running the hospitals where the Death Rattles were collected, however, the creation of these hospitals, as well as the details surrounding the formation of this group, are currently unknown. It is also unknown when this operation began, and whether Death Rattles were collected prior to Taravangian's creation of the Diagram. Frequency in the number of Death Rattles begins to decline in late {{Rosharan date|1173}} before ceasing completely in {{Rosharan date|1174}} after Moelach departed the city and settled in the [[Horneater Peaks]].{{book ref|sa1|71}} Why the Unmade decided to leave Kharbranth is unknown, however, Taravangian postulated that it may have been drawn away by something residing to the west of the city and eventually circled back around to take up occupation within the borders of Jah Keved.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} Despite the decline, and eventual cessation, of the Death Rattles, the hospital continued to operate through to 1175 when Taravangian ordered them to be shut down as part of his general dismantling of the Diagram and its operations in the city.{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{book ref|sa4|i|3}}
{{image|Marie_Seeberger_City_of_Bells.jpeg|width=350px|side=left|The City of Bells}}
During the year {{Rosharan date|1173}}, [[Jasnah Kholin]]
Shallan's arrival at the Conclave coincided with Jasnah helping Taravangian rescue his granddaughter, who had become trapped in an inner room of the palace following a cave-in.{{book ref|sa1|5}}{{book ref|sa1|3}} The situation had been deliberately planned by the Kharbranthian king, who wished to view the Alethi princess use her [[Soulcasting]] abilities when removing the fallen stone blocking the
Out late one night in the city, Shallan and Jasnah were attacked by a group of criminals while in an alley near the theatre district. Jasnah had deliberately taken them to a specific street where the criminals had been attacking, robbing, and killing people. She had planned to dispatch
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As the months passed, Shallan began to grow more and more aware of [[Pattern]] and the other Cryptics who watched her from the [[Cognitive Realm]]. Several times, Shallan unconsciously included them in portraits she created, first while sketching King Taravangian, and later in a sketch of herself and the ardent [[Kabsal]].{{book ref|sa1|29}}{{book ref|sa1|45}} She also began hearing the Cryptics whispers, convincing herself that she was mishearing sounds made by the Conclave staff as they worked.{{book ref|sa1|42}} Eventually Shallan was unable to ignore the spren, leading her to accidentally Soulcast a goblet into blood.{{book ref|sa1|45}} To hide what she had done, Shallan cut open her arm, pretending that the blood was hers, and was taken to one of the city's many hospitals.{{book ref|sa1|45}}
In the hospital, Shallan was visited by Jasnah, who had been studying outside the hospital room. While Jasnah was with Shallan, the pair were joined by Kabsal, whom Shallan had struck up a friendship with during her time in the city. In an attempt to kill Jasnah, Kabsal offered both women poisoned bread, knowing that Jasnah would not eat the jam that contained the antidote. Jasnah, suspecting that Kabsal was trying to assassinate her, Soulcast the jam when she inspected the jar, believing that it was the item that contained the poison. Unfortunately, she removed the antidote, leading to the poisoning of Shallan and Kabsal. Jasnah saved Shallan's life by Soulcasting her blood to remove the poison, learning at the same time that Shallan had stolen her Soulcaster.{{book ref|sa1|48}}
Despite strained relations, Kharbranth remained an ally of the Urithiru coalition,{{book ref|sa4|16}} however, frequently opposed the suggested military maneuvers that were suggested by the other members of the group.{{book ref|sa4|19}} During this time, Taravangian's inner circle began to distance themselves from their leader and spend more time in Kharbranth, at Taravangian's bequest. This allowed for the other members of the Kharbranian delegation to avoid suspicion when Taravangian betrayed the coalition and revealed himself as a double agent for Odium.{{book ref|sa4|i|3}}
Following her father’s betrayal, the newly anointed Queen Savrahalidem condemned the former monarch’s actions and pulled the city from the alliance with Urithiru and Odium, declaring itself neutral in the global conflict. No longer tied to any party, Kharbranth reclaimed its mantle of offering medical aid to anyone in need. In response to the cut ties, Dalinar blockaded the sea near Kharbranth but was unwilling to commit to a costly ground attack, which Queen Savri had likely factored
== Culture ==
=== Social Structure ===
{{for|Vorinism#Culture|Vorin Social Structures}}
Like other Vorin nations, Kharbranth's social structure is based
=== Religion ===
Kharbranth is one of the five [[Vorin]] nations.{{book ref|sa1|8}} The [[ardentia]] in Kharbranth holds a degree of influence within the city and remains in contact with the other Vorin leaders in the eastern Rosharan nations.{{book ref|sa1|5}}{{book ref|sa3|50}} Ardents,
=== Language ===
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