Difference between revisions of "Urithiru"

'''Urithiru''' is a tower-city on [[Roshar]] that functioned as the home of the [[Knights Radiant]] and the central point of the [[Silver Kingdoms]] during the [[Heraldic Epochs]].{{book ref|sa1|45}} In the present day, it serves as the headquarters of the forces opposing [[Odium]], including the refounded Knights Radiant, as well as the remaining [[Alethi]] soldiers and nobility. The current Queen of Alethkar rules from Urithiru.{{book ref|sa3|122}}

Urithiru is located almost exactly in the middle of the Rosharan continent, in the mountains that comprise the border of [[Emul]] and [[Greater Hexi]].{{map ref|Roshar}} The tower sits on the east side of one of those mountains, leaning against two slopes.{{qafile ref|1100|1|It is on the east side of a mountainUrithiru.|date= Jan 8th, 2015jpg}}{{filebook ref|Urithiru.jpgsa2|89}}

Historically, there was some disagreement as to whether or not Urithiru is accessible by means other than [[Oathgate]] travel or flight. Ancient chroniclers Varala and Sinbian both stated that it was impossible, but in [[Nohadon]]'s eighth parable from [[The Way of Kings (in-world)|''The Way of Kings'']], he claims that he walked from [[Abamabar]] to Urithiru (which he confirms in Dalinar's dream, saying that he did not use an Oathgate, only a guide, which washe akinbelieves towasn't "takingcheating" ain ferryany across a riverway)."){{epigraph ref|sa1|34}}{{book ref|sa3|103}}. As is later revealed, there is an entrance at the bottom of the mountain which can be used to exit the tower on foot. {{book ref|sa3|4}}

There is an unnamed village in the foothills of the mountain to the south of the tower, {{book ref|sa2|i|10}} but it is apparently not visible from the tower, as all Dalinar can see is clouds and rocks.{{book ref|sa3|86}} In addition, Urithiru sits relatively closelyclose to the [[Valley]] of the [[Nightwatcher]].{{map ref|Roshar}}

The tower is comprisedcomposed of multiple rooms of different functionality, including sleeping quarters, meeting halls, libraries and bathhouses. Most of them have high ceilings.{{book ref|sa3|15}}

A room resembling a theater can be found on the tower's third level, near the Breakaway. It's a large chamber with round walls and rows of stone benches facing a raised platform that served as a stage. This stage can be reached both by stairs from the audience and by a separate entrance. The corridor leading to it is narrow enough to be touched on both sides, and goes by several smaller chambers, possibly dressing rooms. Past the theater's back door (the one which would be, presumably, used by the audience), there is a circular room with large vertical slits in the walls, some of which face Breakaway, although neither it, nor the theater itself can be reached directly from the market. It is there that [[Shallan]] puts on a [[Lightweaving Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightwoven]] play of [[The Girl Who Looked Up]] for [[Pattern]], and where they first encounter [[Re-Shephir]].{{book ref|sa3|25}}

==== The MeetingGallery Roomof Maps ====

The meetingGallery roomof Maps is located near the top of the tower. From the moment the Alethi arrive in the city, it is used as their main meeting chamberroom, both for discussing strategy and when speaking with foreign dignitaries. Though it is initially barren, a table is brought in at some point, which Shallan and Dalinar use to create a real-time map of Roshar.{{book ref|sa2|89}}{{book ref|sa3|8}}{{book ref|sa3|111}} It's named after a similar chamber back in the [[Pinnacle]].{{book ref|sa3|107}}

Urithiru wasdisplays oncea homenumber of unusual properties that allow humans to survive despite its high altitude. It is believed that these systems are somehow powered by or related to the spren known as the [[Sibling]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|87}} However, at some point itthe Sibling withdrew from mankind, and currently slumbers.{{epigraph ref|sa3|70}}{{book ref|sa3|111}} This explainsmay explain why many of Urithiru's systems are currently non-functional.{{wob ref|9498}} At the present, only some elevators work when gemstones are inserted, and the gem archive appears to be the sole functional fabrial remaining. Of the life support system, only increased pressure remains maintained.{{epigraph ref|sa3|69}}

Though it's unclear whether it was originally built for this purpose, Urithiru was the headquarters of the [[Knights Radiant]] orders, as well as the center of the [[Silver Kingdoms]], holding ten thrones, one for each king. Even following the temporary end of the cycle of [[Desolation]]s, it remained an important location as both the home of the Radiants and the [[Oathgate]] hub.{{epigraph ref|sa1|46}} During that time, Urithiru had a large population of not only Radiants, but also ordinary people - servants, traders, craftsmen and so on.{{epigraph ref|sa3|72}} At one point, the [[Unmade]] [[Re-Shephir]] invaded the tower, and was trapped and sealed by an unknown [[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweaver]].{{book ref|sa3|29}}

[[Jasnah Kholin]] began an effort to rediscover the city after growing convinced that a new Desolation was coming.{{book ref|sa2|6}} While she herself was unable to do so, her student, [[Shallan Davar]], managed to complete her works and pinpoint the location of [[Stormseat]], an ancient city that possessed an [[Oathgate]], but was destroyed long before Urithiru was abandoned.{{book ref|sa2|47}} She eventually managedlead tothe locate[[Alethi]] Stormseatarmy -to Stormseat--now a [[listener]] city called [[Narak]] - -and, as the [[Listener]]slisteners summoned the [[Everstorm]], transported the [[Alethi]] armythem through its Oathgate, rediscovering Urithiru.{{book ref|sa2|86}}

Following the arrival of the [[Everstorm]], Urithiru became the centre of Alethi military power, with most [[highprince]]s, chief among them [[House Kholin]], relocating there along with their armies. The Alethi began to reinhabit the tower, although they were unable to reactivate most of Urithiru's systems, such as the heating or the main elevator.{{book ref|sa3|2}} Following a string of strange accidents, [[Re-Shephir]] was tracked down and banished from the tower by a team led by [[Shallan Davar]]{{book ref|sa3|29}} Several [[Oathgates]] - that-those of [[Vedenar]], [[Azimir]] and [[Thaylen City]] - -were unlocked to reenable fast transportation across the continent.{{book ref|sa3|58}}

* ForBrandon some time, it washas theorizedconfirmed that Urithiru mightis benot a spaceship or something akinused to atravel spaceship thatfrom [[Ashyn]]ites used to travel from their ruined homeworld to Roshar. This has been debunked.{{wob ref|8762}}

* In similar vein, itBrandon has been theorizedstated that the [[Kholinar]] windblades do not power Urithiru. in some fashion, though this, too, was debunked.{{wob ref|10715}}