Noura
| Noura | |
|---|---|
| Profession | Vizier |
| Residence | Azimir |
| Nationality | Azish |
| Homeworld | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Noura is a high-ranking vizier in Prime Aqasix Yanagawn the First's court in Azir on Roshar.[1]
Appearance and Personality
She has a round face, dark eyes, and graying hair that she wears in a tight side braid.[1] Although Lift calls her "Fat Lips", she does not actually have fat lips.[2] She wears a hat and long, layered robes, sometimes adding a coat with oversized sleeves.[3] All of her clothing has brightly patterned textiles that are typical of Azir[1] and are used to signify rank and other attributes.[4]
Noura is educated and logical, and she places a high value on laws and bureaucracy.[3][4] However, she is empathetic, and will occasionally bend the law to do what she believes is right.[3] She is frank and not easily intimidated, particularly when she believes the law is on her side.[1][3] She strives to act in the best interests of Azir.[1]
History
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.[4] She lives in Azimir, the capital of Azir and the seat of its throne.[1]
Ascendance of Gawx
Noura is present[fn 1] during a failed robbery of the Bronze Palace attemped by Huqin's crew.[3] "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.[3] 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.[3] She tells Darkness to carry on, but then pushes a table into one of his minions, allowing Lift to access Investiture and ultimately escape.[3]
Noura and the other viziers follow Darkness and come across Gawx, who is dying after having his throat slit by one of the minions. They witness his seeming resurrection when Lift heals him with Stormlight.[3] Noura leads a vote on the spot to confirm Gawx as the new Prime Aqasix, believing that he may be able to survive an attack by the Assassin in White.[3]
She retains her position as lead vizier after Yanagawn is crowned, and is said to miss Lift while she spends time in Yeddaw.[2]
- ↑ The female lead vizier is not named in this scene, but information in Oathbringer is consistent with it being Noura.
Meeting Dalinar
“You are not what I expected, Blackthorn. ”
—Noura, to Dalinar[1]
Noura meets with Dalinar Kholin in Azimir after he shows Yanagawn some of his visions.[1] She openly displays her distrust of Dalinar and the Alethi, but admits that Yanagawn has been swayed by Dalinar's arguments.[1] Dalinar presents the viziers with essays written by Fen, Navani, and Jasnah, each of which contains compelling arguments regarding Dalinar's alliance.[1] Noura is surprised by his diplomatic approach.[1] 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.[1] 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 Regals or Fused.[1] 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.[1]
Dalinar's Coalition
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 Oathgates are safe to use.[1] After some discussion, Noura reaches the conclusion that the coalition makes sense, and Yanagawn offers to send troops to Jah Keved.[5]
As the coalition prepares for war, Noura travels to Thaylen City with Yanagawn, and later writes Queen Fen a poem thanking her for her hospitality.[6] She also gives a report to the other monarchs regarding the movement of Azir's fleet.[6] However, numerous pieces of information suddenly come to light (including revelations that Dalinar did not disclose all of the information about his visions and that Elhokar swore fealty to Dalinar as "highking", the arrival of an unexpected Everstorm, and the translation of the Eila Stele) that throw the coalition into chaos.[6] Noura pointedly asks Dalinar about Odium appearing in his visions, and he admits that he did.[6]
“That Oathgate is dangerous. These powers of yours are dangerous. Deny it. ”
—Noura, to Dalinar[7]
Noura realizes that it is likely someone orchestrated the downfall of the coalition, but she does not care; she already lacked trust for Surgebinders in general and Dalinar specifically, and it is clear that he withheld relevant information.[7] The Azish delegation abandons the coalition and leaves Thaylen City, refusing to use the Oathgate.[7] Lift and Yanagawn later second-guess this decision, and Yanagawn tells Noura that he would be dead without Lift's Radiant powers.[4] Lift has already stolen away from the ship, and Yanagawn tells Noura that they need to turn around.[7] Noura reminds him that the emperor of Azir does not have absolute power, and that Yanagawn will jeopardize the throne if he attempts to rejoin the battle against the wishes of the vizierate.[4] Before the argument concludes, they receive reports that the Alethi have joined Odium's forces, seemingly proving Noura right.[4] Yanagawn is baffled by this turn of events,[4] as he is not aware that Odium is using Nergaoul to control the Alethi.[8]
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.[9]
Relationships
Yanagawn
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.[10] Noura is generally always at Yanagawn's side during important meetings,[1][6] and he sometimes sends her as an envoy in his stead.[9] Noura believes that Yanagawn should not always follow Lift's advice, since Lift is very impulsive.[4]
Lift
Noura was able to quickly ascertain that Lift was not the dangerous criminal that Nale claimed her to be.[3] Lift claims that the viziers do not like her.[1] Lift likes to playfully aggravate Noura,[2] but she also seems to trust her.[11] Although Lift's quirky actions often confound Noura,[4] she appears to be fond of Lift.[1] 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.[4]
Dalinar
Noura assumes that the Alethi always attempt to solve their problems through violence,[1] a stereotype that is particularly prevalent in Azir due to the genocide perpetrated there by Sadees the Sunmaker.[12] She is inherently wary of Dalinar Kholin because of his nationality, his powers, and his reputation.[1] 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.[1] 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.[6][7]
Abilities and Attributes
Noura is intelligent.[4] She is literate in Azish, and is able to write poetry;[1][6] even Lift has noted the elegance of her handwriting.[2] She is able to speak the Alethi language.[5] She is familiar with the writings of Jasnah Kholin and is extremely impressed by the writing style of her essay Verdict,[1] although it is not clear if she can read women's script.
She is versed in Rosharan history and politics.[1][4] She is also well-informed regarding Azir's current economic climate[1] as well as military positioning and strategy.[5][7]
Notes
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Oathbringer chapter 65#
- ↑ a b c d Edgedancer chapter 14#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Words of Radiance interlude I-9#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Oathbringer chapter 116#
- ↑ a b c Oathbringer chapter 96#
- ↑ a b c d e f g Oathbringer chapter 111#
- ↑ a b c d e f Oathbringer chapter 113#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 115#
- ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 122#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 56#
- ↑ Edgedancer chapter 13#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 42#