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|titles=King of [[Kharbranth]], King of [[Jah Keved]]{{book ref|sa2|i|12}}
|aliases=Vargo
|groups={{tag|Diagram (group)|cat=Diagram|text=Diagram}}
|'residence=[[Kharbranth]] (palace), {{tag|Urithiru|cat=
|nation=Kharbranth
|world=Roshar
}}
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'''Taravangian'''
== Appearance and Personality ==
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He is popular among many for providing free access to city hospitals funded by an admittance fee to the [[Palanaeum]],{{book ref|sa1|7}} and he is known to visit the hospitals on a weekly basis.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Ruling Kharbranth with the help of a council,{{book ref|sa3|12}} he has been quiet and humble for his entire life, leading many people to believe he is slow witted.{{book ref|sa3|16}} People who know him better know he had a keen intelligence until his "illness" 5 years before the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|21}} The illness is a consequence of a visit to the [[Nightwatcher]] who granted him great intelligence and great compassion, but cursed him to never have them at the same time. As a result, he wakes up every morning with a fluctuation of both. On some days, he cries and has compassion for everyone around him, while unable to have intelligent conversations,{{book ref|sa3|107}} while on others he is brilliant, yet easily speaks of killing singing children.{{book ref|sa3|i|5}}
<gallery caption="Images of Taravangian">
Mastermind by Ari Ibarra.jpg | <center><small>by {{a|Ari Ibarra}}</small></center> In ''[[Call to Adventure: The Stormlight Archive]]''
Taravangian.jpg | <center><small>by [[User: Sheep]]</small></center>
Kharbranth characters.jpg | <center><small>by
Taravangian as the Wheel of Fortune Orientation 1.jpg | <center><small>by {{a|taratjah}}</small></center> Taravangian's two sides
Taravangian as the Wheel of Fortune Orientation 2.jpg | <center><small>by {{a|taratjah}}</small></center> Taravangian's two sides
Taravangian Portrait by Marie Seeberger.jpg | <center><small>by {{a|Marie Seeberger}}</small></center>
</gallery>
== Attributes and Abilities ==▼
Every morning he takes an intelligence test that he devised for himself on intelligent days. The test takes the better part of an hour and is made up of mathematical problems. A trio of [[stormwarden]]s consult regarding his answers and decide his intelligence for the day. The stormwardens as well as [[Mrall]], his head bodyguard, also decide if he is fit to rule and what restrictions he will be subject to. He is restricted to his room on both his worst and best of days because during both he tends to make irrational regulations. He also tends to be more compassionate the less intelligent he is. His intelligence changes during each night, regardless of whether he is asleep or awake.{{wob ref|11390}}▼
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]].▼
He is responsible for Dalinar's knowledge of giving a spren what they want to capture them. This is key for his victory at the battle of [[Thaylen City]].{{book ref|sa3|100}}▼
== History ==
=== 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}}
Jasnah recommended that the king and his staff move to the end of the hall to be out of range, however, Taravangian refused, and told her that he would not leave his granddaughter to go through the ordeal alone. The Alethi princess soulcast the stone into smoke, freeing the king's granddaughter along with the child's nursemaids and several palace servants. Taravangian offered to hold a feast as a way of thanking Jasnah, however, the princess declined, and instead requested to be taken directly to the Palanaeum so she could begin her study.{{book ref|sa1|5}}
The incident with Taravangian's granddaughter had been deliberately planned by the king. He suspected Jasnah was using means to soulcast that did not include the use of the fabrial she carried and intentionally engineered a scenario where he could observe her work. Despite his ulterior motives, he was
Weeks later, Taravangian joined [[Shallan]] and Jasnah for lunch on their balcony in the [[Palanaeum|Veil]]. In response to Jasnah's enquiry, he reported that his granddaughter had recovered from her ordeal, though now avoided the narrower passageways of the Conclave incase of a repeat incident. Curious, he asked the princess where she had acquired her soulcaster, however Jasnah declined to answer, telling him that her secrets were her own. Taravangian acknowledged her refusal and turned the subject towards Shallan and her artistic skills which had earned her quite the reputation in the Conclave and Palace. Shallan was all
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}}
=== King of Jah Keved ===
The [[Diagram (literature)|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.
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.
After this failure, Taravangian decided to move closer to Dalinar. He is the first and only King to answer and unite with Dalinar and moved to [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa3|12}} When he finds out no other King would be part of the coalition, he recommends invasion.{{book ref|sa3|24}} After his surprise on Dalinar's negotiation strategy, he agreed to follow him and eventually moved with him to [[Thaylen City]].{{book ref|sa3|58}}
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 [[Knight Radiant]], [[Malata]] working the [[
After having another brilliant day, he decides that the best action is to take Dalinar's place on the Coalition and after will push for its collapse. He believes this will make [[Odium]] meet his agreements and save "what he can, abandon the rest".{{book ref|sa3|i|5}}.
Though he was dismissed or not needed in the tactics meetings where the defences for Jah Keved were being planned, he was secretly plotting to find secrets that would destroy Dalinar. He sends his Radiant's spren [[Spark]] to spy on him and along with his scholars and other Diagram followers is able to pull off a very strong strategy.
Eight days after the battle, on a day of below average intelligence, he received a vision from Odium, who took a tall form reminiscent of the [[Shin]] with a scepter in his hand. Taravangian tried to convince Odium that he only wanted to serve him and begs him to visit him another day, but Odium sees through him immediately and orders him not to prostrate himself. He then asked Taravangian why he would be inclined to speak with the king on a day of intelligence, thereby allowing him to negotiate from a position of power, declaring that such an event would never happen.
Taravangian then offered a deal to Odium, knowing the god couldn't afford to face Dalinar directly again for fear of losing a previously declared contest of champions. The agreement would trade his help by sharing the Diagram's information (though he could not read [[Renarin]]'s participation) and giving him the Honorblade in exchange for sparing the people of Kharbranth (the city itself, any humans born into it, and their spouses).{{book ref|sa3|121}} Odium accepted, placing Taravangian and the Diagram firmly under the control of Dalinar's enemy.
▲== Attributes and Abilities ==
▲Every morning he takes an intelligence test that he devised for himself on intelligent days. The test takes the better part of an hour and is made up of mathematical problems. A trio of [[stormwarden]]s consult regarding his answers and decide his intelligence for the day. The stormwardens as well as [[Mrall]], his head bodyguard, also decide if he is fit to rule and what restrictions he will be subject to. He is restricted to his room on both his worst and best of days because during both he tends to make irrational regulations. He also tends to be more compassionate the less intelligent he is. His intelligence changes during each night, regardless of whether he is asleep or awake.{{wob ref|11390}}
▲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]].
▲He is responsible for Dalinar's knowledge of giving a spren what they want to capture them. This is key for his victory at the battle of [[Thaylen City]].{{book ref|sa3|100}}
== Relationships ==
; [[Odium]]: Taravangian is fully aware of Odium's power. On the day Taravangian created the Diagram, he drafted out plans to save humanity from Odium. But on the same day, he also anticipated his direct confrontation with Odium after the Battle of Thaylen Field, and wrote down instructions for the future and dumber version of Taravangian on that day to follow. He explained that after the contest of champions was agreed, Odium would need people to do his bidding lest he get pressed into a duel he may lose. Taravangian makes a deal with Odium, trading the help of the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]] and the Honorblade in exchange for sparing the people of Kharbranth. Odium comments on his drive, saying, "Your passion does you credit".{{book ref|sa3|122}}
; 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]]. He has another [[Taravangian's granddaughter|granddaughter]] whom he arranged to become trapped in a rockslide in an attempt at seeing [[Jasnah Kholin]] use her [[Soulcaster]]. Despite his ulterior motives, he was concerned for her wellbeing and did not want her to be harmed, even though he put her in a dangerous situation.{{wob ref|3242}}
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[[category: viewpoint characters]]
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