Difference between revisions of "Taravangian"

{{character

|aliases=Vargo

|nation=Kharbranth

|world=Roshar

|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]

{{quote

| I am the monster who will save this world.

| Taravangian to Szeth{{book ref|sa1|70}}

}}

 

== Appearance and Personality ==

 

 

 

 

== History ==

=== Background ===

He was childhood friends with [[Adrotagia]] and his nickname was Vargo.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

 

=== The Nightwatcher and the creation of the Diagram ===

 

=== Kharbranth ===

During a [[Highstorm]], Taravangian's granddaughter became trapped within a room in the [[Conclave]] when a large stone fell and obstructed the doorway. The king enlisted the help of [[Jasnah Kholin]], who had already been in the city, offering her access to the [[Palanaeum]] in exchange for the use of her [[soulcaster]] to remove the rock. Making a deal with the heretical princess was a dangerous political move on Taravangian's part as it risked angering the [[Ardentia]], however, with the next Highstorm scheduled to hit the city within days, the king's architects would not have time to cut through the boulder. Additionally, the removal of the boulder by conventional means risked the potential of further cave ins within the area.{{book ref|sa1|5}}

 

 

 

While Shallan drew, the king struck up conversation again with Jasnah, this time about religion and the Jasnah's lack of faith. He had trouble understanding how she could differentiate between right and wrong when what was right was a dictate of the [[Almighty]]. Right and wrong, Jasnah argued, shouldn't be subject to the will of an unseen being. To her, morality and human will were as independent from religion as mathematics. Taravangian ultimately disagreed with the scholar, though he did admire the efficiency of her arguments. Jasnah explained that she had no intention of trying to convert him to her belief's unlike those in the Ardentia who tried to convert her.{{book ref|sa1|29}}

[[Szeth]], the [[Assassin in White]], travelled to Kharbranth with the intent of killing the king after causing destruction throughout [[Jah Keved]]. The assassin had explicit instructions on how the king was to be killed: it was to be done quietly, without any additional deaths and the man was only to die after he acknowledged Szeth's intent. Taravangian ignored Szeth's declaration when confronted, instead speaking to him of the chaos and destruction the assassin had caused. He revealed to Szeth had he had been the assassin's hidden master and was in possession of the Shin man's [[oathstone]]. Taravangian had also deliberately put his own name on Szeth's list to to deflect suspicion from himself. He took Szeth to his hidden hospital, where Szeth witnessed the atrocities the king of Kharbranth was committing to maximise access to the [[Death Rattle]]s. Taravangian freely admitted to the monstrous acts he had committed before commanding Szeth to seek out Dalinar Kholin on the [[Shattered Plains]] and end his life.{{book ref|sa1|71}}

 

The [[Diagram]] shows that to save human kind, Taravangian needed to unite [[Roshar]] under his rule. The first path is Jah Keved and per the scripts he needed to gain possession of Szeth's Oathstone.{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}

He is able to do so and orders Szeth to kill a number of world leaders, including [[Hanavanar]], the king of Jah Keved, as well as various other highprinces of Jah Keved.

The power vacuum in Jah Keved resulted in a devastating succession war, which wiped out all of the remaining highprinces. Taravangian arrived at the city in time for the death of the last Veden Highprince [[Valam]] who named him king of Jah Keved. His first step to uniting humanity was complete.

 

=== Dalinar's coalition of Roshar ===

One of the Diagrams interpretation results in the request to kill Dalinar and Taravangian sends Szeth to kill him. During the [[Battle of Narak]], Szeth goes after him but is beaten by [[Kaladin]]. Shortly after, Szeth discovered he was not [[Truthless]], and forsakes his [[oathstone]], breaking his allegiance with Taravangian.

Though he seems to work with Dalinar, he is secretly plotting to gain political advantage. He bursts the market by sending supplies via Jah Keved, he has his [[Radiant]] working the [[oathgate]] and he sends merchant ships to Thaylen City with healers.{{book ref|sa3|29}} He shared their knowledge in [[fabrial]]s with [[Navani]],{{book ref|sa3|96}} and let them know of technology that will create half-shards.{{book ref|sa3|65}}

1) [[Elhokar]] had sworn to Dalinar as High King, and though this was meant to be as an [[Alethkar]] political tactic, some other kingdoms felt threatened that Dalinar would ask the same from them.

3) The translation of the [[dawnchant]] proving that the [[voidbringers]] are really the humans, putting the war's legitimacy in question.

 

=== Battle of Thaylen Field and Aftermath ===

 

== Attributes and Abilities ==

 

Taravangian has surprising knowledge of the [[Shin]] and the Shin language, which is rare outside of [[Shinovar]].{{book ref|sa1|71}} He also knows [[women's script]] and has solved [[Fabrisan|Fabrisan's Conundrum]].

; [[Adrotagia]]: Taravangian's head scribe and closest friend. Even on his days of genius he is aware of her intelligence. He has real fondness for her. They are childhood friends.

 

 

 

; Taravangian's Grandchildren: Taravangian has three grandchildren who write to him. They are oblivious to the Diagram and his plans. The eldest is [[Gvori]], accepted at the school of storms, [[Karavaniga]], the middle accepted forwardship and little [[Ruli]].

{{quote

| Our law will claim innocent men-for all judges are flawed, as is our knowledge. Eventually, you will execute someone who does not deserve it. This is the burden society must carry in exchange for order.

}}

 

{{quote

| Nightwatcher, Odiums victory will kill you too. Couldn't you gift me and not curse me?

}}

 

== Trivia ==

 

== Notes ==