User:Truthwatch3r/Court of Gods
{{architecture
|usage=Government, {{cat tag|Palaces}}
|city=T'Telir
|nation=Hallandren
|world=Nalthis
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[Warbreaker]]
}}
The Court of Gods is the home and parliament of the Returned in Hallandren.[1] While the Returned effectively rule the nation, they are confined inside the walls of this complex in T'Telir, the capital of Hallandren.
Layout[edit]
Within the Court of Gods stand the palaces of the Returned surrounding a central courtyard of uninterrupted lush grass.[2] The God King's palace, a black many-roomed building in the far end of the court, has rooms in a variety of colors. It used to be an outpost, a black tower standing over the bay long before the city was constructed around it.[3] Each of the various Returned's palaces boasts the colors of the Returned who resides within; these colors are worn by the Returned as well as by the priests and staff who care for them.[4]
The arena, an open, sandy area where the priests debate politics, is situated outside the circle of palaces. It has four rows of stone benches to accommodate the citizens who are allowed in, rising in tiers toward the carved stone boxes reserved for the Returned.[2] The Lifeless barracks are situated at the base of the Court.[5]
History[edit]
Politics[edit]
The political issues of Hallandren are resolved in the court, and citizens who either have reached at least the First Heightening, are influential, or have won a lottery set up for this purpose are allowed entrance to observe the choices being made in the Court Assembly.[6] Since the Returned aren't allowed outside the court, the priests make it their duty to go out among the people, listen, study their issues, and then inform the gods of the people's concerns during the debates, the topics of which are the priests' to decide. The Returned make judgments on such issues when the issues escalate to the point where the gods need to provide direction for the people.[7] These Court Assemblies are held weekly, though smaller judgments are made on a daily basis.[8]
When someone Returns in Hallandren, they are given a duty to fulfill in the court; some are given votes on issues of trade, social ills, or other topics, and four are given command of a quarter each of Hallandren's Lifeless army.[1][9] Though every Returned can attend any assembly, those few who were given responsibilities pertinent to the issue being discussed are the ones who hold real sway in the vote.[5]
Culture[edit]
The Court of Gods is an extravagant place in which every want or need of its Returned inhabitants are met, from luxurious food to exotic performances.[8] The Returned live in luxury until they deem it fit to give their Divine Breath to a person with a need they find worthy. At the time of the Pahn Kahl rebellion, however, most of the Returned are content to live in excess and are apathetic to the wants and needs of the general populace. As such, much of their considerable political power lies with their priests. Furthermore, no Returned has sacrificed themselves in three years, leading to some resentment among Hallandren's citizens.[10][7]
In Oathbringer, a Reacher in Celebrant tries to sell a painting from the Court of Gods to Kaladin for three hundred broams worth of Stormlight. The painting, by Nenefra, seems to Kaladin to depict nine shadows, with a figure kneeling in the middle (the Unmade and Odium's champion). The painting is small, painted from thick strokes of oil. It has red and black colors, and seems sloppy, as if it had been carelessly painted with a knife.[11]
== Notes ==
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{{Warbreaker}}