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|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
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{{spoilersupdate|sa3.5sa4}}
{{quote
|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{{epigraph ref|sa1|39}}
}}
The '''Oathgates''' are structures on [[Roshar]] that allow people to instantaneously teleport from one location to another. There are twenty in total, with ten located in [[Urithiru]], while the other ten sit in various cities across the continent.
 
== Functionality ==
TheseOathgates are [[fabrial]]s that 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 world, and letting people unable to fly 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, withalthough transportationthey can be made to use [[Voidlight]] through methods known to [[Odium]]'s forces.{{book ref|sa4|49}}{{book ref|sa4|55}} Transportation of more than one person demandingrequires more Stormlight than what the Oathgate can normally hold in its ten [[gemstone]] lanterns.{{book ref|sa2|87}} The amount of Stormlight needed also depends on the Radiant, as those of higher oaths require less to activate the fabrial.{{book ref|sa4|23}}
 
A Radiant can use their Shardblade to travel to the Cognitive Realm instead of another Oathgate.{{book ref|sa4|21}}
== Structure and Operation ==▼
 
Oathgates function by sending a group or individual between Oathgates through the [[Spiritual Realm]].{{wob ref|9307}}{{wob ref|16252}}
 
▲=== Structure and Operation ===
{{image|Stormseat Mosaic.jpeg|side=right|width=400px|The Oathgate platform (purple) can be seen in the bottom left of the city, with a control chamber (yellow) rising from its center.}}
 
{{image|Oathgate by Artem Demura.png|side=right|width=200px|The Oathgate spren}}
=== Locking the Oathgate ===
 
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}}
 
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}}
 
=== Shadesmar ===
In [[Shadesmar]], an Oathgate is represented by a flat platform of a material akin to white marble, the size of the control building. When possible -- for example, if the Oathgate is close to the sea shore in the Physical Realm -- the Oathgate is connected with the land by a bridge of matching color.{{book ref|sa3|112}} The platform itself is watched over by a pair of enormous spren, both the size of buildings, each wearing a set of armor and holding a spear. One of the spren is white, while the other is shimmering black.{{book ref|sa3|116}}
 
Those two spren enable the Oathgate to function properly, and control who can travel, and where.{{book ref|sa3|116}} They can be corrupted by [[Sja-Anatanat]], although so far, only the [[Kholinar]] spren have been compromised in this manner.{{book ref|sa3|87}} This does not impact their ability to work with spren of the uncorrupted Oathgates.{{book ref|sa3|115}}
 
In the past, the Oathgates have been capable of transporting people in and out of Shadesmar; however, at some point before histheir deathslumbering, the [[HonorSibling]] forbade the Oathgate spren from performing this service.{{book ref|sa3|116}}{{book ref|sa4|22}} As such, this function of the Oathgate is currentlywas inaccessible.{{book ref|sa3|116}} This being said, the spren corrupted by Sja-Anatanat are not bound by this, and can transport people into Shadesmar, though it's uncertain if they can bring them back into the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sa3|87}} Some Oathgate spren have since accepted the authority of the Stormfather in this matter, and once again allow travel to Shadesmar.{{book ref|sa4|22}} This includes some of the spren at Urithiru, though others do not accept that the Stormfather has the authority to release them from their previous oaths to Honor himself.
 
== History ==
 
=== Creation and the Heraldic Epochs ===
The origin of the Oathgates is unknown, although they may have been constructed during the [[Silver Kingdoms]] epoch, as they link the capitals of those ancient nations.{{book ref|sa2|60}} The Oathgate spren chose this transformation willingly.{{book ref|sa4|49}} During [[Aharietiam]], the city of Stormseat was destroyed in unexplained circumstances and its Oathgate was forgotten, although the mechanism remained intact.{{book ref|sa2|86}}{{book ref|sa2|60}}
 
Linking far-flung cities with one another and [[Urithiru]], the Oathgates were administered by members of the [[Knights Radiant]], whose [[Shardblade|Blade]]s served as the keys that allowed for their operation.{{book ref|sa2|77}}{{book ref|sa2|86}} Much trade and travel was done via the Oathgates, with the goods traded tariffed by the Radiants.{{book ref|sa1|58}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|46}} Likewise, it seems as though trade with Shadesmar was conducted through the Oathgates.{{book ref|sa3|116}}
 
=== Closing of the Oathgates ===
As time went on, the tariffs imposed by the Knights Radiant became increasingly steep, which became a source of ire for those taxed.{{epigraph ref|sa1|46}} Later, just before Honor died, hethe Sibling spoke to the spren of the Oathgates, ordering them to stop allowing for Realmatic transition and only permitting Transportation between locations in the Physical Realm. Being bound by Honor, the Oathgate spren could not rescind this prohibition.{{book ref|sa3|116}}{{book ref|sa4|22}}
 
As the [[Sibling]] retreated from mankind and the city of [[Urithiru]] began to fail, the Radiants closed and locked the active Oathgates and abandoned the city.{{epigraph ref|sa3|72}} In the centuries since, the purpose of the structures was forgotten.{{book ref|sa2|89}} Some became prime real estate for palaces and markets;{{book ref|sa3|83}}{{book ref|sa3|65}} others became religious monuments.{{book ref|sa3|58}} During the [[scouring of Aimia]], the Oathgate in [[Akinah]] was destroyed permanently -- or so it is believed.{{book ref|sa3|107}} However, the Oathgate was instead hidden away, and a fake Oathgate platform constructed above it in an attempt to convince any visitors that the Oathgate no longer functioned. The real Oathgate is still functional, though still left locked.
 
=== Rediscovery ===
King [[Taravangian]] of [[Jah Keved]] and [[Kharbranth]] was the first to agree, ordering his Radiant, [[Malata]], to activate the Oathgate.{{book ref|sa3|24}} [[Thaylenah|Thaylens]] were the next to agree, and Dalinar sent [[Shallan]] and [[Kaladin]] to open it from their side.{{book ref|sa3|51}} Finally, the [[Azish]] allowed access, after initially denying that the Oathgate was even functional.{{book ref|sa3|12}}{{book ref|sa3|60}}
 
At the same time, one of [[Odium]]'s [[Unmade]], [[Sja-Anatanat]], suceeded at corrupting the [[Oathgate spren]] of [[Kholinar]] to bend them to her master's will.{{book ref|sa3|87}} The [[Voidbringer]]s later used this to invade Urithiru from Kholinar, as a distraction from the attack on [[Thaylen City]].{{book ref|sa3|i|14}} After [[Alethi]], assisted by [[Teft]], managed to push them back, they sent reinforcements to Thaylen City through its Oathgate to turn the tide of battle.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
 
== Oathgate Locations ==
The [[Alethela]] Oathgate is located in the city of [[Kholinar]], the capital of [[Alethkar]]. It's attached to the [[Kholinar Palace]] by a long covered bridge called the Sunwalk, and is technically part of the palatial complex.{{map ref|Kholinar}} The Oathgate platform serves as the home of the palace [[ardentia]], and is thus covered by numerous buildings.{{book ref|sa3|87}} It's called the Monastery Dais, with the control chamber itself known as the Circle of Memories. The local ardents believe that the ten lamps in the Circle represent the [[Silver Kingdoms]], while the keyhole represents the need for the priesthood to ignore borders and boundaries.{{book ref|sa2|i|12}}
 
During the [[Siege of Kholinar]], the platform becomes home to [[Ashertmarn]], and as such is the location of the endless Revel organized by the [[Cult of Moments]].{{book ref|sa3|78}} At the same time, another [[Unmade]], [[Sja-Anatanat]], corrupts its spren. When [[Shallan]], [[Adolin]], [[Kaladin]] and [[Azure]] attempt to use the Oathgate, they are dumped into Shadesmar instead.{{book ref|sa3|87}} While the Oathgate is later locked from Urithiru side after the news of Kholinar's fall reaches the tower,{{book ref|sa3|96}} [[Malata]] eventually unlocks it, letting the [[Voidbringer]]s attack Urithiru thorugh it.{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{book ref|sa3|122}}
 
===Thaylenah===
{{image|The Thaylen Oathgate by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=350px|[[Thaylen City]] Oathgate as seen from [[Shadesmar]]}}
The [[Thalath]] Oathgate is located in the Thaylen capital, [[Thaylen City]]. It sits at the city's highest and east-most point, near the cliffs falling down into the sea. Standing high above the other buildings, it provides an excellent view of the entire city.{{book ref|sa3|58}} A solitary path connects it to the Royal Ward. Notably, it's the only known Oathgate so far not to be located within the original borders of the ancient city it's connected to.{{map ref|Thaylen City}} In Shadesmar, it's connected to land by a long bridge.{{book ref|sa3|112}}
 
When accompanying the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'' to Akinah, the team [[Navani Kholin|Queen Navani]] sent had the secret mission of determining the location and state of the Akinah Oathgate.{{book ref|dawnshard|9}} On arriving in Akinah, [[Lopen]] and [[Rushu]] found the fake Oathgate building exactly where they expected it. However, due to a number of odd coincidences, and a warning from [[Rysn]], they did not believe they had found the actual Oathgate. After finding a set of stairs, and cutting through the stone with a [[Soulcaster]], they discovered the actual Oathgate platform.{{ref|name=ds15}}
 
After Rysn brokered a peace agreement with the Sleepless, the ''Wandersail'' was allowed to leave Akinah with knowledge of the Oathgate.{{book ref|dawnshard|13}} The Oathgate was not opened, however, since Dalinar'sNavani coalition isnwasn't certain yet if they want to expend the forces needed to secure the location.{{wob ref|14363}}
 
=== Other Oathgates ===
<!-- NOTE: Once there's more than two sentences of information about any of these Oathgates, they should get their own subsections, the same way the ones above have -->
 
There are four other Oathgates, whichthat are yetnot known to behave been reactivated in the present day.
 
* '''Iri''': The [[Iri]] Oathgate is located in their capital, [[Rall Elorim]].{{map ref|Oathgates}} As the Iri leadership allied with [[Odium]], the Oathgate is currently under their control. However, it remains locked.{{book ref|sa3|16}}
* '''Rira''': The [[Rishir]] Oathgate is located in the capital of [[Rira (country)|Rira]], [[Kurth]].{{map ref|Oathgates}} It's likely come under the control of Odium as the Iriali moved to conquer Rira -- something they've intended to do for a long time.{{book ref|sa3|27}} Because the island that contains Kurth was located in the Silver Kingdom of Rishir and not Iri,{{map ref|Silver Kingdoms}} the Kurth Oathgate may sometimes also be referred to as being in the [[Reshi Isles]].{{map ref|Oathgates}}
* '''Babatharnam''': The [[Sela Tales]] Oathgate sits in the city of [[Panatham]] in [[Babatharnam]]. It has most likely been captured by the Iriali forces.{{book ref|sa3|107}}
* '''Shinovar''': The [[Shin Kak Nish]] Oathgate lies somewhere in [[Shinovar]].{{map ref|Oathgates}} It's exact location is unknown, as there are no cities in Shinovar marked on the world map.{{map ref|Roshar}} The Map of Oathgates also does not list the city it is located within.
 
== Notes ==
{{Stormlight}}
[[Category: Magic]]
[[es:Puerta Jurada]]
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