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Difference between revisions of "Oathgate"

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{{quote
  
{{quote
 
| Within a heartbeat, Alezarv was there, crossing a distance that would have taken more than four months to travel by foot.
  
| Within a heartbeat, Alezarv was there, crossing a distance that would have taken more than four months to travel by foot.
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| Another folktale, this one recorded in [[Among the Darkeyed]], by Calinam. Page 102. Stories of instantaneous travel and the '''Oathgates''' pervade these tales.{{epigraph ref|sa1|39}}
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| [[Among the Darkeyed]], page 102{{epigraph ref|sa1|39}}
 
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The '''Oathgates''' are structures on [[Roshar]] that allow people to instantaneously teleport from one location to another.
  
The '''Oathgates''' are structures on [[Roshar]] that allow people to instantaneously teleport from one location to another.
   
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These [[fabrial]]s manipulate the [[Surge]] of [[Transportation]]. There are hints that the Oathgates were responsible for the near-instantaneous travel possible during the [[Heraldic Epochs]] and were one of the only ways to reach [[Urithiru]]. They could only be activated by living [[Shardblade]]s, as wielded by the [[Knights Radiant]],{{book ref|wor|86}} or [[Honorblade]]s.{{book ref|sa3|16}} Transportation of more than one person through the gates required use of more [[Stormlight]] than what is provided by the ten gemstone lanterns within.{{book ref|wor|87}}
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These [[fabrial]]s manipulate the [[Surge]] of [[Transportation]]. Together, they form a network of gateways with [[Urithiru]] at its center, allowing for near-instantaneous travel between all corners of the Rosharan continent, including access to the tower-city itself. They can only be operated by someone wielding a living [[Shardblade]], such as a [[Knight Radiant]],{{book ref|sa2|86}} or with an [[Honorblade]].{{book ref|sa3|16}} They require [[Stormlight]] to work, with transportation of more than one person demanding more Stormlight than what the Oathgate can normally hold in its ten [[gemstone]] lanterns.{{book ref|sa2|87}}
   
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==Structure==
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== Structure and Operation ==
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[[File:Stormseat Mosaic.jpeg|thumb|right|400px|[[Stormseat]]. The Oathgate platform (purple) can be seen in the bottom left of the city, with a control chamber (yellow) rising from its center.]]
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The Oathgates are located on a round platform in Roshar's most ancient cities. There is an Oathgate control building in the center of the platform. Once the fabrial is activated by a Radiant, either the entire platform, or just the control building can be transported to the destination. The activation of the Oathgate swaps the structure on one side with the structure on the other.
 
   
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Oathgates can be found in many of the oldest cities on Roshar, such as [[Kholinar]] and [[Stormseat]].{{file ref|Oathgate Locations.jpg|Oathgate Locations}} Each of them is composed of a large, perfectly circular platform, with a round control building in its center.{{book ref|sa2|24}} The structure is typically at a higher altitude than the rest of the city, with a wide ramp leading up to it.{{map ref|Kholinar}}{{map ref|Thaylen City}}
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Due to the ancient nature of the Oathgates, their purpose has been forgotten. Many of the Oathgate platforms are covered in buildings, or are thought to be ceremonial structures.
  
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=== Control building ===
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The inside of the control building is richly decorated in murals both on the walls and the floor. The latter is divided into eleven sections, with the ten major ones each dedicated to one of the [[Silver Kingdoms]]. Between the first and tenth segments is a smaller, narrow section representing [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa2|84}} The wall above has ten gemstone lamps hanging from it, with each lamp being enclosed in a metal lattice. Once they are infused, the floor begins to glow, and swirls of Stormlight start rising above the platform outside.{{book ref|sa2|86}}{{book ref|sa3|46}}
  +
  +
Along with the lamps, on the wall there is a plate of metal, shaped like a ten-pointed star, with a slot in its center. When a [[Shardblade]] is inserted, the slot reshapes to fit its particular form.{{book ref|sa2|84}} This occurs regardless of whether the Blade is living or dead -- however, only the living blade will activate the keyhole, producing a low, vibrating sound. With a living Blade inside, the keyhole can be moved along with the entire inner wall to align it with one of the eleven floor sections. There, the Radiant removes the Shardblade from the keyhole. With this, the contents of the control chamber, as well as anything on top of the platform, is swapped with the control chamber and the platform of the Oathgate in the desired location.{{book ref|sa2|87}} The control building can also be swapped by itself, without transporting the platform.{{book ref|sa3|58}}
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The existence of eleven lamps in each Oathgate control chamber indicates that it might be possible to transport people directly between any two platforms. However, at the present each Oathgate is tied only to one other, connecting each of the ten ancient cities to Urithiru.{{book ref|sa3|58}}
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=== Locking the Oathgate ===
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Each Oathgate can be locked from either side.{{book ref|sa3|65}}{{book ref|sa3|96}} [[Odium]] appears to have a way to break this lock, which could be tied to his corruption of [[Kholinar]] [[Oathgate spren]].{{book ref|sa3|115}}
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All but the Stormseat Oathgate have been locked up by the ancient Knights Radiant when they've abandoned the tower city.{{book ref|sa2|89}} As such, over the millennia since the [[Recreance]], their purpose has been forgotten. Many of the Oathgate platforms are covered in buildings, such as the Grand Market in [[Azimir]], or the [[Kholinar Palace]] in Kholinar.{{book ref|sa2|65}}{{book ref|sa2|89}} Others, like the one in [[Thaylen City]], have been transformed into gardens and other religious or ceremonial structures.{{book ref|sa2|58}}
   
 
==Location of Oathgates==
  
==Location of Oathgates==

Revision as of 23:49, 26 September 2019

Oathgate
Oathgate Locations.jpg
by Isaac Stewart
World of Origin Roshar
Universe Cosmere
This page or section contains spoilers for Oathbringer!
This information has the ability to potentially ruin elements of the plot for the reader. Proceed with caution if you have not read this book.

“ Within a heartbeat, Alezarv was there, crossing a distance that would have taken more than four months to travel by foot. ”

— Among the Darkeyed, page 102[1]

The Oathgates are structures on Roshar that allow people to instantaneously teleport from one location to another.

These fabrials manipulate the Surge of Transportation. Together, they form a network of gateways with Urithiru at its center, allowing for near-instantaneous travel between all corners of the Rosharan continent, including access to the tower-city itself. They can only be operated by someone wielding a living Shardblade, such as a Knight Radiant,[2] or with an Honorblade.[3] They require Stormlight to work, with transportation of more than one person demanding more Stormlight than what the Oathgate can normally hold in its ten gemstone lanterns.[4]

Structure and Operation

Stormseat. The Oathgate platform (purple) can be seen in the bottom left of the city, with a control chamber (yellow) rising from its center.

Oathgates can be found in many of the oldest cities on Roshar, such as Kholinar and Stormseat.[5] Each of them is composed of a large, perfectly circular platform, with a round control building in its center.[6] The structure is typically at a higher altitude than the rest of the city, with a wide ramp leading up to it.[7][8]

Control building

The inside of the control building is richly decorated in murals both on the walls and the floor. The latter is divided into eleven sections, with the ten major ones each dedicated to one of the Silver Kingdoms. Between the first and tenth segments is a smaller, narrow section representing Urithiru.[9] The wall above has ten gemstone lamps hanging from it, with each lamp being enclosed in a metal lattice. Once they are infused, the floor begins to glow, and swirls of Stormlight start rising above the platform outside.[2][10]

Along with the lamps, on the wall there is a plate of metal, shaped like a ten-pointed star, with a slot in its center. When a Shardblade is inserted, the slot reshapes to fit its particular form.[9] This occurs regardless of whether the Blade is living or dead -- however, only the living blade will activate the keyhole, producing a low, vibrating sound. With a living Blade inside, the keyhole can be moved along with the entire inner wall to align it with one of the eleven floor sections. There, the Radiant removes the Shardblade from the keyhole. With this, the contents of the control chamber, as well as anything on top of the platform, is swapped with the control chamber and the platform of the Oathgate in the desired location.[4] The control building can also be swapped by itself, without transporting the platform.[11]

The existence of eleven lamps in each Oathgate control chamber indicates that it might be possible to transport people directly between any two platforms. However, at the present each Oathgate is tied only to one other, connecting each of the ten ancient cities to Urithiru.[11]

Locking the Oathgate

Each Oathgate can be locked from either side.[12][13] Odium appears to have a way to break this lock, which could be tied to his corruption of Kholinar Oathgate spren.[14]

All but the Stormseat Oathgate have been locked up by the ancient Knights Radiant when they've abandoned the tower city.[15] As such, over the millennia since the Recreance, their purpose has been forgotten. Many of the Oathgate platforms are covered in buildings, such as the Grand Market in Azimir, or the Kholinar Palace in Kholinar.[16][15] Others, like the one in Thaylen City, have been transformed into gardens and other religious or ceremonial structures.[17]

Location of Oathgates

There are ten Oathgate platforms outside the plain at Urithiru. Each Oathgate transports to a location in each of the ten ancient Silver Kingdoms.

Shattered Plains

The Oathgate in the Shattered Plains is the first Oathgate that was discovered and activated by the Alethi during the Battle of Narak. The Oathgate was originally in the ancient city of Stormseat.[2]

Alethkar

The Alethkar Oathgate is located in the city of Kholinar and is attached to Kholinar Palace by a bridge. The Oathgate platform is covered in building structures.[18] The spren in the Oathgate were corrupted and instead of transporting to Urithiru, it transported to Shadesmar.[19]

Thaylenah

The Thaylenah Oathgate is located in Thaylen City. The Oathgate is located at the top of the hill city and connected by a path to the Royal Ward.

Azir

The Azir Oathgate is located in the city of Azimir. It is in the center of the Grand Market and housed under a bronze dome.[12]

Jah Keved

The Jah Keved Oathgate is located in the city of Vedenar.

Aimia

The Oathgate in Aimia is believed to have been lost during the Scouring of Aimia.

Rall Elorim

The Iri Oathgate is located in the city of Rall Elorim.

Rira

The Oathgate in Rira is located in an unknown location. Jasnah Kholin believes the Oathgate was in the City of Kurth.

Babatharnam

The Oathgate in Babatharnam is located in its capital city of Panatham.

Shinovar

There is believed to be an Oathgate in an unknown location in Shinovar.

Shadesmar

Oathgate Spren by Ben McSweeney.
For more information, see Oathgate spren.

In Shadesmar the Oathgates are represented by a flat white marble platform the size of the Oathgate control building. The platform is guarded by two enormous guardian spren, one black, one white.

During the Battle of Kholinar Shallan Davar attempted to activate the Kholinar Oathgate to transport survivors back to Urithiru. Prior to the activation she saw a reflection of the Unmade Sja-anat warning her that the Oathgate was corrupted. When Shallan activated the Oathgate she and her party were transported into Shadesmar and landed on the Oathgate platform.[19]

After the party traveled through Shadesmar to the Oathgate at Thaylen City Shallan was unable to activate the Oathgate and the guardian spren could not be convinced to allow her to.[20]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 39 epigraph#
  2. ↑ a b c Words of Radiance chapter 86#
  3. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 16#
  4. ↑ a b Words of Radiance chapter 87#
  5. ↑ Oathgate Locations
  6. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 24#
  7. ↑ Map of Kholinar
  8. ↑ Map of Thaylen City
  9. ↑ a b Words of Radiance chapter 84#
  10. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 46#
  11. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 58#
  12. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 65#
  13. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 96#
  14. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 115#
  15. ↑ a b Words of Radiance chapter 89#
  16. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 65#
  17. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 58#
  18. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 78#
  19. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 87#
  20. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 116#
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