Difference between revisions of "Vstim"

|profession=Merchant, Minister of Trade

|booksfirst appeared=[[The StormlightWay of ArchiveKings]]

'''Vstim''' is a [[Thaylen]] merchant on [[Roshar]]. He is currently employed as the Minister of Trade for [[Queen Fen]], the highest civil position in the Thaylen government.{{book ref|sa3|I|13}} He was "Babskbabsk" to [[Rysn]], a position consisting of a master to an apprentice, and also her legal father until he pronounced her a merchant in her own right.{{book ref|wok|i|4}}

Vstim is in his 70's and described by [[Rysn]] as "spry for his years."{{book ref|sa3|I|13}} He prefers to wear [[Thaylen]] merchant's clothing consisting of stiffly starched robes and a conical hat.{{book ref|wok|i|4}} He is very wealthy and follows the [[Passions]].

Vstim traveled to [[Shinovar]] with his apprentice [[Rysn]] to trade with [[Thresh|Thresh-son-Esan]]. He brought [[Soulcast]] metal and traded in exchange for [[chicken]]. It is revealed that seven years before on another trade he received [[Szeth]], whom he describes as the "best servant I ever had." Every time he comes back to Shinovar he asks Thresh to trade him another Shin soldier, which is denied by Thresh because Szeth had been [[Truthless]].{{book ref|wok|i|4}}

A year later Vstim and Rysn traveltraveled to the [[Reshi Isles]]. He feignsfeigned sickness in order to allow her to take charge of the trade for herself. Rysn meetsmet [[Talik]] and in attempting to prove her boldness to the natives, endsended up falling off the top of the [[Tai-na]] and into the water below. The fall shattersshattered her legs. Afterward Vstim reappearsreappeared and revealsrevealed he had feigned sickness in order to give her a chance to lead as trademaster to see how she would do. Rysn figuresfigured out that Vstim was previously Talik's Babskbabsk. It was also revealed by the [[Ral-na|Reshi king]] that Vstim had gained the islanders' respect a long time ago by hunting down a [[coracot]].{{book ref|sa2|I|3}}

When Rysn iswas working in the [[Thaylen Gemstone Reserve]], a job that Vstim arranged for her, he unexpectedly visitsvisited Rysn. He tellstold her that Queen Fen offered him a job as ministerMinister of tradeTrade, "the highest civilian appointment in the kingdom". Then he handshanded Rysn a box, containing a wound-up cord of white rope and a deed of ownership to the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'', so Rysn cancould still be a merchant even though she can't walk. He also offersoffered to fund her first trade run.{{book ref|sa3|Ii|13}}

Following that, Rysn givesgave Vstim a tour through the vault and shows him the [[King's Drop]]. As they begin to inventory the vault, they get attacked by one of the guards, a disguised [[fusedFused]]. The attacker slashesslashed at Vstim and lockslocked him in a smaller vault.{{book ref|sa3|I|13}}

Later, Highprince [[Dalinar Kholin]] findsfound Rysn and the wounded Vstim amid the wreckage of the collapsed Thaylen Gemstone Reserve building. He asksasked Rysn what happened, and Vstim is attended to.{{book ref|sa3|116}}

Prior to Rysn meeting with Queen [[Navani Kholin]], Vstim sharesshared information with her about a secret Alethi [[fabrial]] project involving a set of conjoined fabrial lifts. Some of the details of the project arewere public, but Vstim's position as TheylanThaylen Minister of Trade affordsafforded him private information on the true purpose of the project.{{book ref|sa3.5|2}}

It is stated that Vstim accepted investment funds from several people for creation of the ''Wandersail''. However, despite transferring ownership of the ''Wandersail'' to Rysn, he remainsremained the primary investor. As such, he receivesreceived a portion of the ''Wandersail'''s profits.{{book ref|sa3.5|2}}

During the construction and test voyages of the ''Wandersail'', Vstim kept his intention to gift the ship to Rysn private. This led to initial animosity towards Rysn on the part of the crew, who anticipated ownership being given to [[Drlwan]], the captain.{{book ref|sa3.5|4}}

On her voyage to [[Akinah]], Rysn recallsrecalled a particular set of trades made by Vstim during an expedition to the wilderness of [[Hexi]]. While in [[Triax]], Vstim purchased barrels of grain containing worms for mere chips. He later traded the wormy grain to Hexi nomads, as their priestly class took oaths not to eat flesh but considered grubs and insects to be plant, not animal.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}}

When the ''Wandersail'' and its crew taketook shore leave, following the encounter with the [[Sleepless]] in the form of a dead [[santhid]], Rysn communicatescommunicated with Vstim via spanreed. He informsinformed of the secret purposeher of Queen Navani's secret goal to find an [[Oathgate]] on Akinah. Vstim also communicatesspoke via spanreed with [[Queen [[Jasnah Kholin]] on behalf of Rysn regarding the [[AimiansSleepless]] and Masked Ones,the [[Fused]] [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightweavers]].{{book ref|sa3.5|9}}