Rushu
| Rushu | |
|---|---|
 by Treefin
| |
| Profession | Scholar and Ardent |
| Nationality | Alethi |
| Homeworld | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
“Navani, have you ever wondered why the Almighty gave beards to men, but not women? For that matter, why do we consider it feminine for a woman to have long hair? Should not more hair be a masculine trait? Many of them have quite a lot of it, you see. ”
—Rushu to Navani Kholin[1]
Rushu is an ardent that works as scholar affiliated with the Kholin princedom.[2] Rushu is interested in the study of handwriting[2] and fabrials,[1] and does research that revolutionizes artifabrians' understanding of how Shardblades function.[3]
Appearance and Personality
Rushu is a very attractive young woman. Like many ardents, she keeps her head shaved.[1] Her face has delicate features, with long lush eyelashes and button-like lips.[1][2]
Rushu is a brilliant scholar,[1] but occasionally somewhat oblivious to her surroundings.[1][2] She does not notice hints or implied commands in others' words,[1] it often requires a direct command and multiple promptings to get her attention and make her realize what she is supposed to do.[1][2] Rushu often gets distracted as well, reading scientific reports when she should be helping with an experiment.[1] She has trouble focusing, often wandering off on tangents and random thought experiments in conversation,[1] or getting very excited.[4] She joined the ardentia to escape the advances of men, but this did not work particularly well, as she still receives attention from many of the male ardents. She is particularly interested in the spren research[1] and the study of handwriting, among other things.[2] Rushu is also a courageous person that is willing to risk her safety for her studies, as evidenced by her desire to ride on the fabrial parapet as it ascended.[1]
History
Early Life
Rushu's early life is unknown, but she joined the ardentia at some point in her past to escape the advances of men, due to her extremely attractive appearance.[1] She became one of the Kholin scholars and worked often with Brightlady Navani Kholin, who became fond of her and developed a high regard for Rushu's intelligence.
Research on the Shattered Plains
Rushu was summoned after the glyphs counting down to the arrival of the Everstorm were discovered for the first time. Rushu observed that the glyphs were poorly drawn, asymmetrical and uneven, as well as vague in their meaning. She was charged by Navani to make a copy of those glyphs and not to speak of them to anyone. She is sent away by Navani so that she can speak to Highprince Dalinar Kholin privately.[2]
Rushu was also present at Navani's test of the floating parapet made with the use of reverser fabrials. She is initially distracted, reading of Geranid's experiments with flamespren, but soon focused on the project at hand. Rushu was excited that the parapet seemed to be working, but wished that she could have been on the platform itself to check the gemstones for cracks. Navani sent Rushu to inspect the gems with the other ardents, so that she can speak to her nephew Brightlord Adolin Kholin privately.[1]
Rushu also later questioned why Shardblades can be summoned or dismissed even if the gemstone on their hilt has gone dun. She spent several weeks in contact with the ardents in Kharbranth via one of the Tashikki relay stations to do some research in the Palanaeum on the subject. They reported to Rushu that they had found accounts that the Blades initially were not able to be summoned or dismissed until ornamental gemstones were added to their hilts. They also found stories of the hilts actually changing shape to accept the gemstones. This knowledge that Rushu provided was a breakthrough for artifabrians, helping them to realize that the only function of the gemstone was to aid in bonding the Blade, it was not part of a fabrial that made the sword supernaturally light and sharp.[3]
Service in Urithiru
Shortly after arriving in Urithiru, Rushu assisted Adolin Kholin in directing workers to unload their wagons at the right place in the massive city, according to Navani's layout.[5]
When Dalinar and Navani considered getting married, she asked several ardents to marry them, including Rushu. However, like all of the ardents, Rushu turned them down as Vorinism considers them siblings by way of Navani's marriage to Gavilar Kholin; she even squeaked and literally ran away.[6]
Later, Rushu joined King Elhokar Kholin, Dalinar, and Navani on a trip to the Alethi warcamps on the Shattered Plains. They traveled to Shattered Plains via the Oathgate, and then were flown to the warcamps by Kaladin and his Windrunners, which Rushu found exhilarating. Once they arrived, she discussed sketches for a flying ship with Navani and commented that the math wasn't right, though she had trouble focusing as she was still excited about the experience of flying.[4]