Rathalas
| Rathalas | |
|---|---|
| |
| Region | Eastern Crownlands |
| Nation | Alethkar |
| World | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Rathalas, also known as the Rift, was a city in in the northern part of the Eastern Crownlands near central Alethkar. The city was burnt to the ground in 1163 and has not since been rebuilt. The people of Rathalas are sometimes referred to as Rifters and have a distinct nasally accent.[1] Rathalas was large enough to house tens of thousands of people.[2]
Geography
Rathalas was a tiered city built on struts up the side of chasm walls. It could be accessed from both the plains above and the canyon mouth below the city.[2]
Rathalas is on the eastern shore of the Sea of Spears, and is near the Thanadal and Kholin princedoms.[3] It is situated close to the spren city of Celebrant within the Cognitive Realm.[4] Somewhere to the south-east is the waystop Vedelliar, however it is unknown whether this town is within the Eastern Crownlands or Unclaimed Hills.[5]
![[3]](#cite_note-Alethkar_Color.jpg-3){kind=link}
![[4]](#cite_note-Sea_of_Lost_Lights.jpg-4){kind=link}
The city resided within a deep chasm that narrows at one end and opens onto the Sea of Spears at the other. The canyon that held the city is at least 150 feet deep and V shaped in nature.[1] The area above the canyon is flat and rocky and the city was difficult to spot when approached from above. A wall enclosed the opening to the Rift on all sides except the western.[1]
The riverbed near to the city does not retain water, only filling during storms.[5] This is due to the rockbuds surrounding the riverbed consuming large quantities water.[5] The rockbuds grow to exceptional sizes with trunks growing as tall as a man's waist and vines as thick as a man's wrist.[5]
History
Unification of Alethkar (1141)
Rathalas was besieged by Gavilar Kholin during his campaign to unite the princedoms of Alethkar.[1] During the attack, Dalinar Kholin seeks out and kills Brightlord Tanalan, winning himself the shardblade, Oathbringer.[1] Although he has instructions to kill Tanalan's heir, Dalinar spares the boy's life and he and his mother flee.
Rebellion of Rathalas (~1151—1163)
Years later, Tanalan's son (with whom he shares a name), returns to Rathalas and demands the return of his fathers blade.[6] The reappearance of Tanalan destabilises the area leading to the threat of rebellion within the entire region of the Eastern Crownlands.[6] Gavilar attempts to quell the region through political means, however is ultimately unsuccessful, due in part to support of the rebellion from at least one of the other highprinces.[7]
Destruction of Rathalas (1163)
After twelve years of failed negotiations between Gavilar and Tanalan, Dalinar and Sadeas returned to the Rift to end the rebellion. Against his nature and at the behest of his wife, Dalinar offered Tanalan a final chance to submit to the King and save his city.[5] Tanalan seemingly accepts Dalinar's truce, offering him information in return on the highprince who had supported the rebellion and naming Sadeas as traitor.[5] Dalinar, believing that one of Sadeas' shardbearers had recently left the city, follows in pursuit only to fall into a trap set by Tanalan, who hoped to seperate Dalinar from the Kholin army and kill him.[8] Dalinar returns to Rathalas after the attempt on his life fails and orders the city razed to the ground and its people slaughtered, to set an example.[2] During the battle, Tanalan is killed by Dalinar after he watches his family die.[2]
Evi Kholin is killed during the battle, after secretly travelling to the city to plead with them to surrender.[2] In order to hide the true nature of her death and as well to justify the destruction of the city, a narrative is constructed that claims Evi was assassinated leading to ensuing slaughter.[2]
Notable Citizens
- Brightlord Tanalan (son)
- Brightlord Tanalan (father)
- Tanalan's mother
