User:LadyLameness/Kharbranth

{!{settlement |map=kharbranth.jpg |region=Frostlands |world=Roshar |books=The Stormlight Archive }}{!{spoilers|book=sa3}}{!{update|book=sa3}} Kharbranth, City of Bells, is an independent city-state on Roshar, ruled by the King Taravangian. It is one of the five Vorin nations and home to the Palanaeum, the largest library on Roshar. Kharbranth is also known for the quality of its hospitals, and people come from all over the world to train in medicine. The Kharbranthian royal color are burnt orange and white, and have become synonymous around Roshar as the colors of surgeons, medicine, and healing.

Geography and Ecology

Location

Kharbranth is located on the western coast of the Frostlands, within a natural harbor that opens onto the Tarat Sea. One of the most protected cities on Roshar, Kharbranth has a southernly orientation and is naturally protected on both its eastern and western fronts. The honorspren capital, Unyielding Fidelity, is situated close to Kharbranth within the Cognitive Realm.

Residing within a natural wedge shaped lait that opens onto the sea, Kharbranth is built on unbroken stone and extends down the side of and into the surrounding mountain. While the city itself is well protected from the Highstorm, the mountain shielding it from the east bears the full force of the storm, leading to occasional cave-in's within the Conclave and rockslides on the stormside of the mountain. It is believed by some in the ardentia that Kharbranth was built upon a cymatic pattern, however, it is currently unknown as to whether this claim is true. Bells can be found in multitudes throughout the city, supposedly to warn of the passing Highstorm, which has been said to be too gentle to notice otherwise. The regularity and presence of these bells has earned Kharbranth the nickname of the City of Bells. Clock bells are rung on the hour, through the day.

Famous for its crowds, the streets of Kharbranth are often packed during both the day and at night. The Ralinsa, the main thoroughfare made up of a series of switchbacks, connects the port and docks with the Conclave at the top of the mountain. The steepness of the pathways makes it difficult to use chull pulled carts to transport goods, and instead merchants will hire workers to carry their products through the city. Rickshaws and palanquins are available to hire for transport throughout the city.

Buildings are constructed from either crem, daub, mud, or a combination of all three, blocky in nature and either built on top of, or carved out of, the mountain. Each structure is painted vibrant colors, with each color symbolising the function of the building. Most buildings are either red or orange with fewer being painted blue or yellow. Violet colored buildings signify tailors or cloth merchants, while food can be purchased in green buildings. Dine-in restaurants are also commonly found in Kharbranth. Homes are painted in pastel colors and use different patterns than commercial buildings. Kharbranth is a busy city, with shops and venues operating well into the later hours of the evening.

Notable Landmarks

The Conclave

{/{for|Conclave}}

The Conclave can be located at the top of the city and is built down into the surrounding mountain. The Conclave serves as both an official building and a residential abode, with a section of the building serving as the kings palace, and another as a residential wing for guests. The Palanaeum can be located within the Conclave. Additionally, deep within the Conclave is a secret hospital run by Taravangian and the Diagram. Terminally ill patients, as well as the extremely poor, are taken to this hospital to be killed, in the hopes that as they will deliver a Death Rattle as they die.

The Palanaeum

{/{for|Palanaeum}}

The Palanaeum is the largest known library on Roshar and contains over seven hundred thousand texts. Entrance to the Palanaeum is expensive, with the funds collected being used to finance Kharbranth's hospitals. The Palanaeum also doubles as Kharbranth's royal treasury and houses the city's store of emeralds.

Kharbranthian Hospitals

Kharbranth's medical practices are well known throughout eastern Roshar, and at least parts of western Roshar, with the city's colors and banner being synonymous with surgeons and the idea of healing. This reputation is well earned, with Kharbranthian surgeons providing unprompted aid following the Battle of Vedenar (1173), the destruction in Thaylen City after the coming of the Everstorm (1174), and both before and after the Battle of Thaylen Field (1174).

Kharbranth is famous for both the number and quality of its hospitals, with medical care being available for both physical and psychological illnesses. Any who require assistance will be treated, regardless of eye color, social ranking, or nationality. Taravangian is a frequent visitor to the hospitals and is warmly welcomed by patients during their stay. During his visits, he will stop and speak with each patient individually, checking in on their care and wellbeing.

Private patient rooms, along with larger wards, can be found in some, if not all, of Kharbranth's hospitals. The wards are segregated by gender and resemble large hallways.{book ref|sa1|48}} Partitions can be set up around each bed to provide privacy for each patient. The hospital that Shallan is initially admitted to after being poisoned by Kabsal, is run by an ardent named Mungam.

The Great Concourse of Kharbranth

The Great Concourse of Kharbranth is a training school for surgeons and healers, which offers the best medical training available. Tuition to the Concourse is expensive and there are strict and rigorous entrance exams, which can be taken by those over the age of sixteen.

School of Storms

Little is known about the function of the School of Storms at the present time. Scholars at the School of Storms have legacy access to the Palanaeum. Taravangian's granddaughter, Gvori, is a current student at the school.

History

Rise of the diagram Jasnah being badass Szeth going to kill T

Early History

Kharbranth was formerly a pirate town in its early years, before becoming a real city over the course of decades. It is rumored to be older than the Last Desolation, with at least one source claiming that it was built during the shadowdays. During the time of the Silver Kingdoms, the area in which Kharbranth is situated would have been considered part of Thalath. Kharbranth has been a Vorin nation since at least the Hierocracy, and maintained a strong alliance with many of the other Vorin nations following the War of Loss.Template:Annotation ref

The two chambers that make up the Palanaeum predate the founding of the city, with the rooms that house the Palanaeum's collection of manuscripts, books, and tomes having been added after people settled in the region. How the caverns were created is unknown, however, some believe that it was the work of the dawnsingers. At some point between the creation of the Palanaeum and present day, a fire occurred that destroyed parts of the library's collection.

Pre-1173

As a youth, Lirin travelled to Kharbranth as a courier, where he was introduced to different cultures and societies. Later in his life, Lirin studied medicine under Vathe, who had been trained as a surgeon at the Great Concourse of Kharbranth.

The Unmade Moelach settled in Kharbranth in 1166 (?). Following Taravangian's visit to the Nightwatcher, the Silent Gatherers were, presumably, formed and the secret hospital within the Conclave created, so as to harvest the Death Rattles and supplement the Diagram with additional information.

Creation of the Diagram/Speculation

1173

Arrivals in Kharbranth

During the year 1173, Jasnah Kholin travelled to Kharbranth to access to the Conclave and the Palanaeum, in order to continue her research into the Voidbringers and Urithiru. Shallan Davar, who had been attempting to contact the Alethi princess for six months, arrived in Kharbranth part way through the year, relieved to find that she had finally caught up to Jasnah. Locating the woman in the Conclave, Shallan petitioned Jasnah to become her ward, however, Jasnah denied her request, finding Shallan to be lacking in pre-requisite knowledge.

Shallan's arrival at the Conclave coincided with Jasnah helping Taravangian rescue his granddaughter, who had become trapped in an inner room of the palace following a cave-in. The situation had been deliberately planned by the Kharbranthian king, who wished to view the Alethi princess use her Soulcasting abilities when removing the fallen stone blocking the rooms entrance. Taravangian had suspected Jasnah did not need a physical Soulcaster to be able to use Soulcasting as an ability and to test this theory, engineered a scenario where he would be able to watch the Alethi princess wield her power. Jasnah Soulcast the rock into smoke, masking her abilities with the fake Soulcaster she wore on her right hand. In return for freeing his granddaughter, Taravangian granted Jasnah access to the Palanaeum, which she had been unable to access until this point.

Shallan's Plan

Eventually, Shallan was accepted as Jasnah's ward, becoming a regular fixture within the Conclave and Palanaeum. Shallan became well known during her wardship for her portraits, with many people from different social ranks requesting drawings from her. Although Shallan enjoyed working with Jasnah, her ultimate goal was not that of scholarship, but instead thievery. However, when presented with the opportunity to switch the broken Davar soulcaster with Jasnah's, Shallan found she was unable to follow through.

Out late one night in the city, Shallan and Jasnah were attacked by a group of criminals while in an alley near the theatre district. Jasnah had deliberately taken them to a specific street where the criminals had been attacking, robbing, and killing people. She had planned to dispatch of the men as a service to Taravangian who she felt had put himself in a more precarious position than he realised when he allied with her and allowed her access to the Palanaeum. Jasnah killed the four men during the encounter, turning them into a variety of other substances using Soulcasting, and in doing so, saving both her own, and Shallan's life. Shallan, angry at Jasnah for the situation she had deliberately put them in, switched her broken Soulcaster, with Jasnah's device shortly after the pair returned to the Conclave.

After ending up in the hospital, following

Two days later, Shallan found herself confined to a hospital bed. Unable to leave as she was believed to be a suicide risk, she drew; pictures of the Shadesmar, of herself trapped in her room and bleeding and the Cryptics. They continued to follow her, lurking at the edges of the hospital room and filled her with unease. During his visit, Taravangian granted Shallan's request for visitors and Jasnah joined her, not long after the King had left. Believing that Shallan had tried to kill herself from being overworked, Jasnah apologised and gave her the Book of Endless Pages, a central part of the Devotary of Sincerity. Shortly after, Kabsal joined the pair, bring with him - as always - bread and jam. This time he presented her with strawberry jam, rarely found on Roshar as it could only be produced in Shinovar. Jasnah examined the jar, subtly soulcasting it as she believed it to contain poison. Shallan insisted that the princess have some of the bread brought by the ardent even if she would not have any jam. Again, Jasnah soulcast the bread to remove any poison. Kabsal offered Shallan the jam, however it was no longer appealing and Shallan refused in disgust. Alarmed, Kabsal insisted that Shallan try it, eating a large glob to try and counteract the poison he had also ingested that had been sprinkled on the bed. When Shallan continued to refuse he tried to flee, however collapsed. The poison began to affect Shallan and Jasnah called for a garnet to be brought to her so that she could soulcast Shallan's blood, removing the toxin. Confused and drugged, Shallan tried to tell her that the princess' soulcaster was fake and pulled her safepouch from her safehand sleeve, revealing that she had stolen the soulcaster. As she faded to unconsciousness, Shallan felt the effects of Jasnah's soulcasting, purifying her body of the poison.

Shallan woke after being poisoned in a guarded private room in the hospital. Informed that Shallan had awoken, Jasnah went to speak with her and demanded to know who Shallan had been working with the steal the soulcaster. Shallan denied working with the ardentia and told her former mentor about her fathers death and her family's desperate need for money to pay off his debts. She learned that Kabsal had died from the poison he had ingested and had been using Shallan as a way to get close to Jasnah and assassinate her. Arrangements had been made by Jasnah for Shallan to return to Jah Keved, more than Shallan believed she deserved. Jasnah left, leaving Shallan to contemplate and wallow in her guilt.

Shallan left the hospital to find Jasnah, travelling through the city to the Concave and then onto the Palanaeum. She ignored Jasnah’s hostility when she reached the Veil balcony, telling the princess that she believed the fabrial she had stolen to be fake and showing her a drawing she had done of Shadesmar. Jasnah tried to dismiss Shallan, telling her she was being delusional. To prove to Jasnah that she knew the princess’ secret, Shallan called on Pattern to help her transition into the Cognitive Realm and admitted to what she did to her father. The spren accepted the confession as a Truth and Shallan’s mind was transported to Shadesmar. She was saved by Jasnah before she sank too far below the surface of the beads and returned to her body in the Physical Realm. Shallan petitioned Jasnah to become her ward again, and after some initial resistance on the princess’ part, Jasnah accepted Shallan back and shared her research on the Voidbringers.

Jasnah was convinced that the Parshendi and her fathers death were linked to the parshman. In times long past, after periods of peace the voidbringers - the parshmen, thought Jasnah - would invade and bring with them death and destruction. The were the reason for the Desolations and humanity had not just enslaved them to end the constant fighting but overtime forgotten who they were and intergrated them into every aspect of their society. Shallan realised with horror the chaos that would ensure if all the parshmen of the world were to suddenly revolt. Jasnah enlisted Shallan's help in furthering her research, collecting and collating more information on the Desolations, the Heralds and the Voidbringers. Having exhausted the Palaneaum's resources, Jasnah told Shallan that they would head towards the Shattered Plains so that they could gain further information about the Parshendi. Jasnah acknowledged that there were others looking for the information they sought; a group known as the Ghostbloods, of whom Kabsal had been apart of and who had been behind the assassination attempt. Shallan recognised the symbol of the group as the same one that her father's steward had worn as a pendant. Realising that this group was likely the same one who had insisted on the return of the Soulcaster, Shallan told Jasnah that her father may have been apart of the Ghostbloods.

Shallan and Jasnah leave for the Shattered Plains aboard the Wind's Pleasure, who had been delayed after reaching Kharbranth.

Shallan and Kabsal

During her time studying in Kharbranth, Shallan struck up a friendship and potential romance with the ardent Kabsal, who she met while waiting to speak with Jasnah after the incident with Taravangian's daughter. On several occasions, Kabsal expressed his concerns about Shallan's spiritual wellbeing and the effect that Jasnah's hearsay may have on her, however, Shallan did not believe she was being influenced by Jasnah's lack of faith. In an attempt to convert Shallan to his own Devotary, Kabsal shows her the cymatics patterns of Roshars major cities: Thaylen City, Kholinar, Akinah and Vedenar. When asked about Kharbranth itself, Kabsal informed Shallan that there was no known cymatic pattern of the city, however, he believed that one did exist. (?).

The pair often spending time together around the Conclave, picnicking in the palace gardens and talking in the Palanaeum. Shallan also became quite well known amongst the Conclave staff for her drawing abilities, with many of the workers requesting portraits from the young scholar.

Pattern

As the months passed while she studied, Shallan began to grow more and more aware of Pattern and the other Cryptics who watched her from the Cognitive Realm. Several times, Shallan unconsciously included them in portraits she created, first while sketching king Taravangian while he ate lunch in the Veil with Jasnah, and then later, in a sketch of herself and Kabsal after visiting the Palanaeum with the ardent. She also began hearing the Cryptics whispers, convincing herself that she was mishearing sounds made by the Conclave staff as they worked. Eventually Shallan was unable to ignore the spren and fled to her rooms to try and escape. Unfortunately for her, Pattern and the other Cryptics followed, leading to Shallan accidentally Soulcasting a goblet within her quarters into blood. To hide what she had done from Jasnah when the woman came to check on her, Shallan cut open her arm, pretending that the blood was hers and was taken to one of the city's many hospitals.

Shallan, knowing she couldn't continue to hide her plans to leave, told Kabsal of her intentions. After he requested a portrait from her, the two returned to the Veil, where Shallan had left her drawing materials. He quickly requested a second sketch, this one of both of them, paying her for it with one of the King's spheres. To the second drawing, Shallan added the forms of several Cryptics to the background. Panicking, Shallan hurried away from the alcove, running back towards her rooms in the guest quarters. Along the way she continued to take Memories, drawing them out quickly to show the spren following along after her. After locking herself in her room, she takes one final Memory and discovered the beings to be crowded around her. Frightened, she began to summon her shardblade before being interrupted by one of the Crytics speaking to her. Prompted by his words, she speaks a Truth and she is transported to Shadesmar, where she unwittingly soul casts the goblet on her desk into blood. Returning to herself in her room, she hears Jasnah in their shared common area, coming to find her and make sure she was alright. To hide the fact that she had soulcast, Shallan cut a gash in her arm to pretend that the blood was her own.

Jasnah

Jasnah wrote to Dalinar, telling him about how she had travelled to Kharbranth to seek knowledge on her current field of study. While the Palanaeum did not contain anything obvious, she had found hints and fragments of the information she sought.

In the room, she found several of Jasnah's journals - one on Urithiru, one on the voidbringers and one on New Natanatan, The Shattered Plains and the Unclaimed Hills.

Taravangian

After slaughtering his way through Jah Keved, Szeth travelled to Kharbranth to assassinate King Taravangian, the last person on the list of names he had been given. Travelling to the palace under the guise of being a porter, he used is shardblade to gain access to the King's quarters, subduing the guards who had been tasked with protecting Taravangian. The King did not acknowledge Szeth when he declared his intent to kill him, instead commenting on the havoc the Shin man had caused. Szeth realised that Taravangian had been the unknown master who had tasked him to kill and cause panic. After checking on his injured guards and calling for medical aid, Taravangian took Szeth to a large room filled the sick and dying. He was horrified to find that the healers, instead of caring for the patients were killing them. Taravangian explained that the dying could see things that the rest of them couldn't and the cost of killing those who were already sick or unwanted would be worth the death rattles that they could produce. Taravangian added Dalinar Kholin's name to Szeth's list, and insisted that the Highprince be killed quickly before he had time to unite the Alethi.

Dova is left in charge of the Death Rattles when Taravangian travels to Jah Keved to take control of the country. The Death Rattles had become more infrequent and Taravangian suspected that Moelach had moved westward, drawn away from Kharbranth. Taravangian decided to continue with the killings, finding that the cost of further life would be worth the risk if more Death Rattles were revealed.

Navani had been in contact with the Palanaeum to try and gain more information into the Old Magic after she learnt of Dalinar's visit to the Nightwatcher. She found it frustratingly difficult to get information as the Palanaeum was being swamped with requests for research into the Voidbringers from all over Roshar. She was able to gain the information she sought through a combination of Taravangian's upcoming visit to Urithiru and old debts she could call upon.

After the Everstorm

After the Battle of Narak, Dalinar sent messages to the other kingdom's on Roshar in warning. Only Taravangian responded

Kadash mentioned to Dalinar after his wedding that he had tried to placate the councils of Kharbranth and Jah Keved who were worried about Dalinar's intentions with refounding the Knights Radiant. This became much harder after Dalinar began saying the Almighty was dead.

Taravangian sent a message to Dalinar, responding to the missive sent out by the Alethi to the many rulers of Roshar's kingdoms. In his communication he told Dalinar that he had located the Veden Oathgate and a Radiant - Malata - had approached him at the suggestion of her spren. He would see if the Oathgate could by opened using her Shardblade and if so would join Dalinar in Urithiru and combine their forces.

Taravangian along with a consort of people including Malata and Adrotagia, Kharbranth's head scribe, arrived at Urithiru. Prior to the visit, Navani got in contact with the Palanaeum as she was after information on the NIghtwatcher and the boon and curse. She had difficulty as ever since the Everstorm, the Palanaeum had been inundated with requests for research into the Voidbringers. Taravangian's visit to Urithiru, as well as a favour owed to her, got Navani access to the information she had been after. Dalinar lets Taravangian and Adrotagia join him in hearing the response of Tezim in the hopes that it would allow them to feel as if they were part of the alliance and as their insight might have been of use to Dalinar.

The leaders of Vorinism across the five Vorin nations hold a meeting via spanreed where they discuss the Desolation and the Everstorm the day that Dalinar and Kadash return to the warcamps and go to the monastery buildings.

Taravangian commandeered 20 merchant ships to sail his healers to Thaylen City to help with the wounded. He said he could get 10 more ships from Kharbranth to join the make shift navy that the coalition form to protect Thaylen City from attack. Moelach moved on from Kharbranth to settle in the Horneater Peaks. Joshor followed the Unmade to gain the Diagram access to the Death Rattles again. Taravangian assigned Dova the task of leaking information on Dalinar and the coalition

During the Battle of Thaylen City, Teshav mentions to Renarin that Malata is the only Radiant at Urithiru still who can open the Oathgate, but she, along with the entire Kharbranthian contingent, haven't been contactable since Urithiru was attacked. Teshav says that the Singers attacked them first to cripple the Alethi forces retreat.

Kaladin flies from Thaylen city to Kharbranth after the battle, and stops there for the night before continuing on to Alethkar. He requisitioned gemstones from the Kharbranthian royal treasury before he moved on.

Rushu spent several weeks in contact with scholars in Kharbranth (using an information station) looking for information on the use of gemstones in the hilt of Shardblades after querying why Blades can still be dismissed and summoned when the gems had gone dun. The scholars in Kharbranth (presumably the Palanaeum) were able to find fragment from several decades post Recreance that mentioned that the ability to bond the blades became possible after the addition of gemstones (which had initially been added as ornamentation)

Politics

The smallest of the five Vorin nations, Kharbranth is an independent city-state governed by King Taravangian who also rules over Jah Keved. Currently Kharbranth is allied with both the Radiants, lead by Dalinar Kholin, as well as Odium's forces.

Local Government

The highest seat of government in Kharbranth is the position of the king, currently held by Taravangian. The king rules alongside a governing council composed of, presumably, politically influential lighteyed citizens. The exact dynamic between the king and the council is currently unknown, however, the king is able to propose and influence policy, decide upon and conduct foreign affairs, and also has some form of direct authority over the implementation of laws.

Taravangian is a popular king, beloved by the common darkeyed citizen of Kharbranth for the time and effort he invests in the city's hospitals. Doing so, however, allows greater political freedom for the city's elite, which they readily capitalise on. Despite this, those in the royal court are known to complain about the amount of time Taravangian spends at the hospitals in the city, believing he places too much priority on the institutions. In general, lighteyed residents of Kharbranth find the king to be dull and his political capabilities to be lacking.

Although the king of Kharbranth would be considered equal to first dahn under the Vorin class system, they do not traditionally claim the rank, due to Kharbranth's city-state status. King Taravangian is known to show deference to foreign nationals, which likely furthers the upper class' poor opinion of his political competency. Additionally, by welcoming Jasnah Kholin to Kharbranth and allowing her access to the Palanaeum, Taravangian may have strained relations between himself and the Vorin leaders in Kharbranth.

It is rumored, throughout foreign nations, that Taravangian is a figurehead only for the city of Kharbranth and instead the city is run by his head scribe Adrotagia, or by another scribe.^{[citation needed]} One of Taravangian's scribes manages Taravangian's duties as king, while he, and his closest advisors, are away from Kharbranth as part of Dalinar Kholin's coalition.

Following the death of King Gavilar of Althekar, Taravangian visited the Nightwatcher to gain the ability to save the people of Roshar. The boon and curse of which he is granted, compassion and acumen, severely affect Taravangian's ability to govern Kharbranth on a day to day basis. As his intelligence and compassion fluctuate on a daily basis, he must be tested each morning to determine how much control he has over policy and how much he can interact with the politicians and citizens of Kharbranth. Initially, his political power was to be limited only on days of extreme unintelligence, however, after proposing, and attempting to implement, a eugenics program in Kharbranth on a day of high intelligence, it was decided that his ability to affect policy be restricted for both extremes.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, Taravangian's ability to interact with others is restricted on days of both low and high intelligence, as he has previously attempted to reveal his condition to the general public.^{[citation needed]}

Kharbranth, while generally considered a safe city, has previously had issues surrounding violent crime, which have not been adequately policed. It is suspected by some that the city watch has deliberately avoided taking action against violent criminals in the past due to corruption and influence from politicians. While Taravangian has issued several reprimands to the city watch, behaviours have not improved greatly, leading to some visitors to the city, such as Jasnah Kholin, to take matters into their own hands.

The Diagram

{/{for|The Diagram|Diagram_(group)}}

The Diagram is a secret society on Roshar that is headed by Taravangian and based around a book of predictions, that goes by the same name. The Diagram (book) is a recollection of writings by Taravangian that was created on a day of extreme intelligence. These writings, initially written over many surfaces within the kings bedroom, have been transcribed as written and form the basis of the secret society. There is more than one sect within the society, who interpret the Diagram different. The society heavily influences the governing of Kharbranth, dictating the size of the city-states military as well as how Kharbranth should present itself to foreign nations.

Members of the Diagram known as the Silent Gatherers, staff and manage the secret hospital hidden within the Conclave, where patients and citizens are brought to be killed and the Death Rattles collected. This operation is overseen by the ardent, Dova, while Taravangian is away from the city. The Death Rattles, beginning in 1167 after the Unmade Moelach takes up residence in Kharbranth, continue to be witnessed over a period of seven years before they begin to decline. Frequency in the number of Death Rattles begins to decline in late 1173 before ceasing completely in 1174 after Moelach moves westward and settled in the Horneater Peaks. Despite the decline, and eventual cessation, of the Death Rattles, the hospital continues to operate after the departure of Moelach, as the potential for more Death Rattles outweighs the continued cost of human life.

Military

Kharbranth has only a small standing army so as to not effect its image of being unassuming and unthreatening. It is known that Kharbranth does not wage war and has previously offered foreign aid to both sides of the same conflict. The city-state does not have a true navy, however, has a number of merchant ships that can be commandeered in times of need.

Foreign Relations

Due to their shared religion, Kharbranth, Alethkar, Jah Keved, and Natanatan have maintained strong alliances in the past, particularly following the Heirocracy.

During 1173, Taravangian acquired Szeth's oathstone and tasked him with murdering a large number of high ranking officials in several foreign nations. These murders, dictated by the Diagram (book), aimed to cause chaos and collapse in several foreign nations including Jah Keved and Azir. Taravangian, as a precautionary measure, included his own name on the list given to Szeth to divert suspicion away from Kharbranth if the assassin had been captured during his spree. Using Szeth to causing mayhem and destruction across Roshar, allowed Taravangian to further the goals of the Diagram (group) and created a situation where he could take control of the Veden empire without arising suspicion. Towards the end of the Veden Cival War, Taravangian sent food, medical supplies, and healers to the country to help the wounded on all sides of the fighting. In doing so, he secured a new ally for Kharbranth with whichever side was victorious. In the case that the country fell to ruin, Taravangian, through a distance connection to Veden royalty, could engineer a situation that would end with the king of Kharbranth on the Veden throne. When the war ended later that year, Taravangian was named as king by the previous monarch, Valam, shortly before he died, securing Jah Keved as an ally for Kharbranth.

Taravangian entered both Jah Keved and Kharbranth into an alliance with Alethkar in 1174, after Dalinar Kholin contacted the leaders of Roshar's nations seeking aid in the fight against the Voidbringers. Taravangian was the only leader to initially respond to Dalinar's request. The council of Kharbranth were suspicious of Dalinar's initial request, as well as his intentions with refounding the Knights Radiant. Mistrust of Dalinar increased amongst the council members after Dalinar pronounced the death of Honor, which those within the Vorin Church conflate with the Almighty. Kadash, one of Dalinar's ardents, did what he could to try and calm the council and allay their fears. It is unknown Kadash was successful, leading to the council agreeing with Taravangian to enter into an alliance with Alethkar, or whether the king of Kharbranth has executive power over foreign affairs.

Entering into an alliance with Dalinar, allowed Taravangian and the Diagram access to Urithiru and the inner workings of the Alethi government. Unimpeded from joining political assemblies with other foreign nations, or scholarly meetings, the Kharbranthian cohort were able to gather intelligence on the coalition, and several other nations of Roshar, and their research into Urithiru, the Voidbringers, as well as other matters. As part of the coalition, Taravangian was able to manipulate other world leaders, as well as spread misinformation that threatened the breakdown of the alliance, with the hope that Dalinar Kholin would fail, leaving Alethkar open to be secured under Taravangian's rule.

In an attempt to gain favor with Odium, Taravangian interfered with the redeployment of troops from Urithiru to Thaylenah during the Battle of Thaylen Field by having a member of the Diagram, Malata, unlock the Kholinar Oathgate in secret, allowing Odium's forces to invade the ancient city. Following the battle, Odium met with Taravangian during the Everstorm agreeing to spare Kharbranth and its citizens during the imminent war in exchange for the Diagram's loyalty. As of present

- Vorin ranks - Taravangian would be on the level of first dahn (?) but does not use the ranking system as it would negatively affect foreign relations - find WOB and confirm Jasnah would rank higher? - confirm against WOB

- Taravangian is a beloved King to the dark eyed citizen's of Kharbranth because of his dedication to building and maintaining a large number of hospitals. Lighteyes, however, find him dull and not a fantastic politician. - Taravangian gained enemies by welcoming Jasnah to Kharbranth

- Several murders occur in the same street near the theatre district, however, the city watch takes no action to prevent further death, despite several reprimands from Taravangian. This may be due to backroom deals between the commander of the city watch and his cousin who is a politically influential lighteyes in the city. There is also rumors that the criminals are bribing the watch. - Jasnah worries about the trouble she may bring Taravangian through his alliance with her.

Taravangian also visits the hospitals in Kharbranth frequently and is well liked by the patients. The landlords and houselords involved in the political court of Kharbranth complain about how often the King spends in the hospitals but also exploit the political freedom that it allows them

The council of Kharbranth were weary of Dalinar's intentions with refounding the Knights Radiant. Kadash tried to reassure them that Dalinar only meant well

Taravangian rules Kharbranth along side a governing council. Taravangian agrees to combine his forces with Dalinar after the Alethi wrote to the rulers of Roshar to try and unite them.

Out of all the rulers that were initially contacted by Dalinar, Taravangian as the only one who had agreed to listen to him.

Adrotagia is the head scribe of Kharbranth A scribe was left running Kharbranth in Taravangian's absence It is rumored that either this scribe or Adrotagia are the true powers that run the city state and Taravangian is kept only as a figure head. Dalinar found that it made sense for Kharbranth to have a congenial figure head, as the city state was meant to be unassuming and neutral

Taravangian's ability to govern Kharbranth is determined based upon the level of intelligence that he awakes with each day. When he is either too dull or too intelligent, he is unable to affect policy, and on days of extreme, he is not permitted to interact with others. Initially he had only placed a limit on control of policy for days of dullness, however, after a day of high intelligence )where he had proposed a number of changes to fix problems within the city, one which included limiting those who could have children based on their IQ), he changed his rules to restrict access and power on days at both ends of the bell curve. On the day that he had solved the Fabrisan Conundrum, he had had to be locked in the Palace to prevent him telling the outside world about his condition and ordering those of low intelligence to commit suicide for the good of the city.

Adrotagia is in attendance at scholar meetings in Urithiru

Kharbranth has only a small army, as the Diagram requires the city state to be unassuming and unthreatening.

Kharbranth is deliberately unassuming and unthreatening and doesn't wage war

Kharbranth does not have a true navy but has a number of merchant ships it can commandeer if need be

Kharbranthian ships (that were docked in Jah Keved?) are sent to Thaylen City to help defend against the Singer attack. Dalinar notes that some of the faster ships of the combined Urithiru fleet fly Kharbranthian flags.

Culture

- Kharbranth owns no soulcasters

- Kharbranth has no human slaves

Peoples

Kharbranth is a multicultural city that does not limit or restrict entrance to the city or its surrounding waters based on nationality or status. As such, people from all walks of life and the many nations of Roshar can be found throughout the city.

People

` - Wide variety of people and cultures. - Jah Keved - shirts and trousers that lace at the front for men, skirts and colourful blouses for women - Tashikk - clothing of single sheet wraps - ?? - ankle length coats, open at the front - Natanatan - gloved hands and slightly bluish skin - ?? - tall stately people dressed in robes of black - ?? - Men with beards bound in cords, looking rodlike

- Kharbrathian's prefer soup for their lunch

- Palanquin's are available for use in Kharbranth. Shallan used them extensively during her stay in the city.

Religion

Kharbranth is one of the five Vorin nations. The Ardentia in Kharbranth holds a degree of influence within the city and is remains in contact with the other Vorin leaders in the eastern Rosharian nations. Ardents, along side their religious duties, manage and staff the Palanaeum. Not all Devotaries can be found in Kharbranth, with the city currently containing no ardents from the Devotary of Sincerity. The Kharbranthian Ardentia do not own any soulcasters.

Like other Vorin nations, Kharbranth's social structure is based in eye coloring, with lighteyes considered the upper class, while darkeyes the lower, or working class. Each class is further split into a ten rank system; dahn for lighteyes and nahn for darkeyes. Each rank reflects different amounts of power and influence within the Vorin system, with those of the first or second rank holding more privilege than those of lesser ranks. The Kharbranth king would be considered of equal status to that of first dahn, however, traditionally does not claim this rank due to Kharbranth's size and its status as a city-state. Unlike other Vorin nations such as Alethkar, however, Kharbranth does not allow for human slaves. The city does, however, still utilise parshmen for free labor.

The ardents hold a lot of sway in the city but so does Taravangian. He is not worried about them when he enlists Jasnah to help soulcast a rock and save his granddaughter.

"The king keeps careful track of his ardents"

There are none from the Devotary of Sincerity in Kharbranth

Language

The Kharbranthian language is very similar to Alethi and Veden, with all three being considered similar dialects of the same language. Differences between the three languages come largely from variations in pronunciation, instead of variances in the language's vocabulary.

Notable Citizens

• Taravangian: king of Kharbranth
• Adrotagia: head scribe. It is rumored that she is the power behind the Kharbranthian throne.
• Dova: ardent. Taravangian believes Dova to be the herald Battah'Elin.
• Dukar: stormwarden. Dukar is in charge of Taravangian's daily intelligence testing and helps determine whether the king is fit for duty each morning.
• Kabsal: ardent. Deceased.
• Pailiah^[disputed]

Notes

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