Difference between revisions of "Noura"

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]

'''Noura''' is a high-ranking [[vizier]] in [[Prime Aqasix]] [[Yanagawn]] the First's court in [[Azir]] on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa3|65}}

 

She has a round face, dark eyes, and graying hair that she wears in a tight side braid.{{book ref|sa3|65}} Although [[Lift]] calls her "Fat Lips", she does not actually have fat lips.{{book ref|Edgedancer|14}} She wears a hat and long, layered robes, sometimes adding a coat with oversized sleeves.{{book ref|wor|i|9}} All of her clothing has brightly patterned textiles that are typical of Azir{{book ref|sa3|65}} and are used to signify rank and other attributes.{{book ref|sa3|116}}

 

Noura is educated and logical, and she places a high value on laws and bureaucracy.{{book ref|wor|i|9}}{{book ref|sa3|116}} However, she is empathetic, and will occasionally bend the law to do what she believes is right.{{book ref|wor|i|9}} She is frank and not easily intimidated, particularly when she believes the law is on her side.{{book ref|sa3|65}}{{book ref|wor|i|9}} She strives to act in the best interests of Azir.{{book ref|sa3|65}}

 

Noura passed the "master office" tests to become a vizier at only twelve years of age, giving her seniority among current viziers, even those much older than she is.{{book ref|sa3|116}} She lives in [[Azimir]], the capital of Azir and the seat of its throne.{{book ref|sa3|65}}

Noura is present{{ref|group=fn|text=The female lead vizier is not named in this scene, but information in ''Oathbringer'' is consistent with it being Noura.}} during a failed robbery of the [[Bronze Palace]] attemped by [[Huqin]]'s crew.{{book ref|wor|i|9}} "[[Nale|Darkness]]" appears as he attempts to apprehend Lift; Noura does not recognize him, and is upset that he is intruding in the palace with his minions.{{book ref|wor|i|9}} She demands to see his papers, and although she finds that they are in order, she is shocked to see that the sentence for a child thief is death.{{book ref|wor|i|9}} She tells Darkness to carry on, but then pushes a table into one of his minions, allowing Lift to access [[Investiture]] and ultimately escape.{{book ref|wor|i|9}}

 

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{{quote

|You are not what I expected, Blackthorn.

Noura meets with [[Dalinar Kholin]] in [[Azimir]] after he shows Yanagawn some of [[Dalinar's visions|his visions]].{{book ref|sa3|65}} She openly displays her distrust of Dalinar and the [[Alethi]], but admits that Yanagawn has been swayed by Dalinar's arguments.{{book ref|sa3|65}} Dalinar presents the viziers with essays written by [[Fen]], [[Navani]], and [[Jasnah]], each of which contains compelling arguments regarding Dalinar's alliance.{{book ref|sa3|65}} Noura is surprised by his diplomatic approach.{{book ref|sa3|65}} The essays buy Dalinar more time, and he has some strained conversations with Noura about the current state of affairs on Roshar while she leads him through the city to a small waiting room.{{book ref|sa3|65}} She informs him that Azir's [[parshmen]] did not immediately prepare for war like those in Alethkar, instead formally demanding reparations before being led away by [[Regal]]s or [[Fused]].{{book ref|sa3|65}} After some deliberation, Noura tells Dalinar that Azir will accept his invitation to [[Urithiru]] despite her own objections, and that other nations in the Azish Empire are likely to follow.{{book ref|sa3|65}}

 

Noura directly advises Yanagawn at the first meeting of monarchs in Urithiru. She whispers various instructions to Yanagawn, notably raising the question of whether [[Radiant]] powers and the [[Oathgate]]s are safe to use.{{book ref|sa3|65}} After some discussion, Noura reaches the conclusion that the coalition makes sense, and Yanagawn offers to send troops to [[Jah Keved]].{{book ref|sa3|96}}

 

Noura presumably realizes she was wrong about Dalinar after the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], as she attends the wedding of [[Shallan]] and [[Adolin]], bringing gifts from Yanagawn and Lift.{{book ref|sa3|122}}

 

As the senior vizier in the Azish court, Noura is highly influential on Gawx after he ascends to the throne as Yanagawn the First. Yanagawn seems to like the viziers and notes that they are doing their best to educate him as quickly as possible.{{book ref|sa3|56}} Noura is generally always at Yanagawn's side during important meetings,{{book ref|sa3|65}}{{book ref|sa3|111}} and he sometimes sends her as an envoy in his stead.{{book ref|sa3|122}} Noura believes that Yanagawn should not always follow Lift's advice, since Lift is very impulsive.{{book ref|sa3|116}}

 

Noura was able to quickly ascertain that Lift was not the dangerous criminal that Nale claimed her to be.{{book ref|wor|i|9}} Lift claims that the viziers do not like her.{{book ref|sa3|65}} Lift likes to playfully aggravate Noura,{{book ref|Edgedancer|14}} but she also seems to trust her.{{book ref|edgedancer|13}} Although Lift's quirky actions often confound Noura,{{book ref|sa3|116}} she appears to be fond of Lift.{{book ref|sa3|65}} Still, Noura seems to be unsettled by Lift's unpredictable nature; when departing Thaylen City she assigns [[Vono]] to watch Lift, but Lift escapes with ease.{{book ref|sa3|116}}

 

Noura assumes that the Alethi always attempt to solve their problems through violence,{{book ref|sa3|65}} a stereotype that is particularly prevalent in Azir due to the genocide perpetrated there by [[Sadees]] the Sunmaker.{{book ref|sa3|42}} She is inherently wary of Dalinar Kholin because of his nationality, his powers, and his reputation.{{book ref|sa3|65}} Before meeting him, she assumed he would be half-man, half-animal, but her fears are quelled by his unexpectedly calm demeanor and his ability to speak Azish.{{book ref|sa3|65}} She still maintains a level of distrust for Dalinar, and quickly turns on him after learning that he has not been forthcoming about all of his visions.{{book ref|sa3|111}}{{book ref|sa3|113}}

 

Noura is intelligent.{{book ref|sa3|116}} She is literate in Azish, and is able to write poetry;{{book ref|sa3|65}}{{book ref|sa3|111}} even Lift has noted the elegance of her handwriting.{{book ref|Edgedancer|14}} She is able to speak the Alethi language.{{book ref|sa3|96}} She is familiar with the writings of Jasnah Kholin and is extremely impressed by the writing style of her essay ''[[Verdict]]'',{{book ref|sa3|65}} although it is not clear if she can read [[women's script]].