Difference between revisions of "User:LadyLameness/Kharbranth"

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|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}{!{spoilers|book=sa3}}{!{update|book=sa3}}
 
{{quote
|Kharbranth is one of the most sheltered major cities in the world, and the bells are a symbol of that. It’s said they were first erected to warn that a highstorm was blowing, since the winds were so soft that people didn’t always notice.
|The myth behind Kharbranth nickname, the City of Bells{{book ref|sa1|3}}
}}
 
'''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 known for the quality of its hospitals, and people come from all over the world to study medicine from Kharbranth's surgeons. The Kharbranthian royal colors are burnt orange and white, and have become synonymous around Roshar as the colors of surgeons, medicine, and healing.{{book ref|sa1|5}}{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|7}}{{book ref|sa2|i14}}
 
== Geography ==
Kharbranth is located on the western coast of the [[Frostlands]], within a natural harbor that opens onto the [[Tarat Sea]].{{map ref|Roshar}} One of the most protected cities on Roshar, Kharbranth is naturally protected on both its eastern and western fronts.{{book ref|sa3|58}}{{book ref|sa1|3}} The honorspren capital, ''[[Unyielding Fidelity]]'', is situated close to Kharbranth within the [[Cognitive Realm]].{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa3|108}}
 
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.{{book ref|Sa1|3}} 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.{{book ref|sa1|45}} 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.{{book ref|sa1|5}}{{book ref|sa1|3}} Kharbranth is protected from the Everstorm due to the city's slight southerly orientation.{{book ref|sa3|58}}
=== The Diagram and the Death Rattles ===
{/{Speculation}}
 
{{quote
|Someone must bear the responsibility. Someone must be dragged down by it, ruined by it. Someone must stain their soul so others may live.
|Taravangian to Dalinar Kholin{{book ref|sa3|86}}
}}
 
On the night of his death, [[Gavilar Kholin]] confided in Taravangian about the visions he had received regarding the [[True Desolation]]. Believing the visions had come from the [[Almighty]], Gavilar insisted to Taravangian that for the world to survive the True Desolation, it would have to be united. Taking the kings warning to heart, Taravangian travelled to The Valley to visit the [[Nightwatcher]] and beg her for the ability to save Roshar. The Nightwatcher bestowed Kharbranth's king with a boon and a curse; the boon being extreme intelligence and compassion. The curse, constant fluctuation of these traits and the inability to have both at the same time.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{book ref|sa3|122}}{{wob ref|2892}}
Following its creation, the Diagram began supplementing Taravangian's predictions with the [[Death Rattle]]s provided by the Unmade [[Moelach]]. Moelach took up residence in Kharbranth in the year 1167, approximately around the time Gavilar began investigating the [[Shattered Plains]]. It is possible that the Unmade's arrival in Kharbranth could potentially be related to Gavilar's exploration of the eastern most part of Roshar. Why Moelach chose to settle specifically in Kharbranth at this time is unclear, however, when the Unmade began to move away from Kharbranth in 1173, Taravangian worried that the creature may return to slumber, implying that Moelach could possibly have been inactive prior to settling in Kharbranth.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
 
The ''[[Diagram (group)#Silent_Gatherers|Silent Gatherers]]'' were tasked with administrating and running the hospital where the Death Rattles were collected, however, the creation of this hospital, as well as the details surrounding the formation of this group, are currently unknown. It is also unknown when this operation began, and whether Death Rattles were collected prior to Taravangian's creation of the Diagram. Frequency in the number of Death Rattles begins to decline in late 1173 before ceasing completely in 1174 after Moelach moved westward and settled in the [[Horneater Peaks]]. Why the Unmade decided to leave Kharbranth is unknown, however, Taravangian postulated that it may have been drawn away by something residing to the west of the city, circling back around eventually to take up occupation within the boarders of Jah Keved. Despite the decline, and eventual cessation, of the Death Rattles, the hospital continued to operate after the departure of Moelach, as the potential for more Death Rattles outweighs the continued cost of human life.{{book ref|sa1|71}}{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
 
=== Scholar and Apprentice ===
 
=== Expansion of Kharbranth's Alliances ===
 
During {{Rosharan date|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, aimed to cause chaos 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. When Szeth travelled to Kharbranth to kill its king, Taravangian revealed that he was in possession of Szeth's oathstone and had been behind the list of assassinations Szeth had been given. After showing Szeth the hidden hospital where the Silent Gatherers collected the Death Rattles, Taravangian tasked Szeth with killing [[Dalinar Kholin]], who he believed had to die, based on his reading of the Diagram.{{book ref|sa1|71}}{{book ref|sa1|i|6}}
 
{{sidequote
|Leaders dead, lives lost. Panic and chaos. Was this your destiny? Do you wonder? Given that monstrosity of a Shardblade by your people, cast out and absolved of any sin your masters might require of you?
|Taravangian when first confronted by Szeth{{book ref|Sa1|71}}
|side=left
|size=400px
}}
By using Szeth to causing mayhem and destruction across Roshar, Taravangian was able to further the goals of the Diagram and created a situation where he could take control of the [[Veden]] empire without creating suspicion. Towards the end of the War of Succession ({{Rosharan date|1173}}), 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.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
 
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