Court of Gods
| Court of Gods | |
|---|---|
 by Howard Lyon
| |
| Usage | Government, Palace |
| City | T'Telir |
| Nation | Hallandren |
| World | Nalthis |
| Universe | Cosmere |
“They hold every single pass to the northern kingdoms! Every workable copper mine! They have military garrisons within striking distance of T’Telir! And they still claim to be ruled by the rightful kings of Hallandren! ”
—Blushweaver's priestess to the Court of Gods[1]
The Court of Gods is the home and parliament of the Returned in Hallandren.[2] While the Returned effectively rule the nation, they are confined inside the walls of this complex in T'Telir, the capital of Hallandren.
Appearance
God king’s palace
The palace of the God King is located at the far side of the Court of Gods,[3] directly opposite to the court’s gates. It is large, far larger then the other palaces[3] and is pyramidal in shape. The first few levels are formed of large square blocks, though the rest of the levels are steeper and closer to a traditional fortress.[4]
Because the God king represents all colors, the rooms where the God King stays are each coloured differently.[5] The stone walls are still black however, so coloring is achieved by filling the room with silks and tiles of a specific color.[5] The palace is divided into two area’s, the inner part, where the God king resides, in this area the rooms are all coloured,[6]and the outer part, this is the servants area, inside this area the rooms are all black.[6] Some rooms have windows to the outside.[7] Most rooms in the palace don’t have a dedicated purpose, instead the servants bring in furniture when it is needed.[7] Because of this most things in the palace are portable, like for example bathtubs.[7] There are lots of storage rooms in the palace.[7] There is a way to get to the top of the palace.[8][9] There is a large library.[10][6]
There is always food available, so that when the God King asks for it, he doesn’t have to wait.[11]
The Palace was first created by the shipmates of Vo, as a residence for their Queen. Before the Manywar the fortress was stark,[12] built with odd twists and turns to confuse an invading foe.[12] After the Manywar, while the stonework remained the same, The open dining halls or garrison rooms were split into many, smaller rooms,[12] colorfully decorated in the mode of the Hallandren upper class.
Returned palaces
Additionally all the Returned have their own palace in the Court.[2] These palaces are arranged in a ring. While the palaces are the same color as the Returned who inhabits it, they are painted with many different hues, only visible for someone of the third heightening.[13] The palaces have two stories, although the second story is little more then a roof, with no walls.[14] The palaces contain dozens of rooms. These rooms are filled with the finest decorations imaginable.[2] While the palaces do have hallways, these are for the servants.[2] At the center of a palace is a small room, in this room the residing Returned feasts on the breath of a child.[2]
“Each red was different, like notes on a musical scale. The walls were of pure red. The roof tiles, side columns, and other ornamentations were of slightly different shades, each distinct and intentional. The columns, for instance, formed stepping fifths of color, harmonizing with the base tint of the walls.”
—Vivenna describing a Returned palace
Another room is the offering room, this room is long and thin and is completely white,[2] something very unusual in Hallandren. This room is used to show the offerings which were made to a Returned,[2] these will in turn rate the paintings.[2] Petitions are heard in the petition hall, this room is often open to the outside and contains a throne for the residing Returned.[15] All the palaces are lit by torches and lanterns with the same colours as their gods.[14]
Due to Hallandren’s climate the palaces don’t have actual walls, and are separated by little more then cloth. The Returned do employ guards, however these aren’t meant to actually protect the palaces, and are unarmed.[16] The guards instead prevent people from entering the palaces without a reason.[16]
Arena
Just outside of the ring of palaces, at the back of the Court, is an arena.[13] This arena has a circular shape and is very ornate, although not to large.[13] The Arena lacks a roof and its floor is made out of sand.[13] There are four rows of benches for the common people to sit on, while the gods enjoy clefts carved into the building.[13] These boxes are located at the tops of the arena, so everyone have to look up at them, they also have holes in them for the canopy of a God.[13] The God King also has a box, and on top of this box is a golden throne.[17] this box is located at the very top of the arena.[17]
The arena is a source of entertainment for the Returned, but the priests debate here as well, informing the Returned about the current political situation.[17] A lot of the larger events are held here.[13] It also allows the common people to see the Returned.[13] The floor of the arena can be furnished as needed, in the case of a debate for example a number of pedestals would be put down.[17]
The Court’s arena is often used as a location for athletic individuals to engage in contests of physical prowess.[10] Some arena competitions mentioned are shot put, javelin toss, archery, leaping contests, and races.[10] The Returned often watch these events.[10]
Common people can enter the arena through a couple of different ways. They can simply buy their way in, or possess enough breath to be let in without issue.[13] They can also win a lottery and be allowed into the Court.[10]
Gardens and Walls
The Court is essentially a giant lawn.[13] There are no true gardens in the Court, however the Returned may summon gardeners, these then bring out many different types of plants, going so far as to create temporary flower beds.[18]
The Court of Gods has two walls,[3] although it’s unclear if this second wall runs around the entire court. The first wall is meant to stop people from wandering in,[3] while the second one hides the Court from watching eyes on the outside of the first gate.[3] The walls are hung by large tapestries,[14] these tapestries are replaced often enough to not have a single scratch.[14]
These walls are protected by human soldiers.[19]
Common people can enter the Court through a couple of different ways. They can simply buy their way in, or possess enough breath to be let in without issue.[13] They can also win a lottery and be allowed into the Court.[10]
Lifeless Enclave
The lifeless barracks are located at the bottom of the Court.[14] The building is gigantic[14] and has a covered walkway leading to it.[14] There are multiple guard posts on the walkway from the Court to the Enclave.[14] This walkway also contains several twisting passages, designed to confuse and disorganise enemies trying to strike at the lifeless.[14] The lifeless are kept in the dark.[14]
The compound is made up of four warehouse like storage areas for the different groups of lifeless[14] There is also a track for them to run around[14] and a room with various stones and blocks of metal for them to lift.[14] There is also a medical area where their [[ichor-alcohol is tested and refreshed.[14] There is also a viewing platform, allowing a person to get a good overview of the lifeless.[14]
Politics
The political issues of Hallandren are resolved in the Court Assembly. In order to get in, you'd either need to be favored by one of the gods, be extremely influential (generally signaled by reaching the First Heightening by having fifty Breaths), or win a lottery.[20] Priests are not allowed to talk about court politics.[21]
Bluefingers is the head scribe, who keeps the court running. He oversees all the servants in the Court of Gods.[5]
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. 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, and no Returned has sacrificed themselves in three years, leading to some resentment among Hallandren's citizens.[1]
The Returned Gods and their Queen are not allowed to leave the Court of Gods.[7]
The Court of Gods controls an army of 40,000 Lifeless soldiers. They are divided into four groups, giving command of 10,000 each to Lightsong, Allmother, Mercystar, and Hopefinder.[1]
History
At the conclusion of the Manywar around three hundred years ago, the Court of Gods formed, as the royals were driven to the highlands.[22]
The Court of Gods formed a treaty with Idris in approximately the year 307, in which King Dedelin would send his daughter to be married to Susebron, the God King. This treaty would further legitimize the Courts claim to rule in Hallandren, as an heir would have the royal blood and presumably Royal Locks (something the people of Hallandren desired).[23]
In the year 327, the Court of Gods was challenged by the Pahn Kahl rebellion. The people of Hallandren were mad at the Gods, who had become complacent and apathetic towards the needs of the people. It had been 3 years since a God had sacrificed their Divine Breath to heal someone.[15] This rebellion was supported by Idris via their spy Lemex, along with several slumlords.[24]
The rebellion was quelled when Bluefingers informed the court of Vahr's location, after which he was captured and tortured in one of their dungeons. He was kept alive as the court desired his breath.[25] His capture and eventual death at the hands of Vasher effectively ended the rebellion.
Around this time, Dedelin decided to send his youngest daughter, Siri, instead of his oldest daughter Vivenna, as the treaty had not stipulated which daughter would be married to Susebron. This agitated the court, spurring more talk of war.[26]
Had Idris sent nobody, it would have meant all out war.[5] The argument against the war was the lands held by the Idrians was undesirable and cold. The main argument for the war was to claim and protect the trade routes, as being cut off from them would lead to full economic collapse in T'Telir.[21]
Siri's arrival started the Wedding Jubilation within the court, which was a weeklong celebration. This marked the first time they'd had a queen in thirty years.[7]
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.[27]
Members
The court holds around two dozen gods, including the God King.[2] The Court Assembly has room for around fifty gods.[13]
| God | Focus | Responsibilities | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allmother | Matrons and Families | Held one fourth of the Lifeless Army | (unknown) |
| Brighthue | (unknown) | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Brightvision | Truth | Copper & Aqua | |
| Blushweaver | Honesty and (self-proclaimed)Beauty | Council of social ills | Green and Silver |
| Giftbeacon | (unknown) | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Hopefinder | Matrons and Families | Held one fourth of the Lifeless Army | Violet and Silver |
| Kindwinds | Honesty | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Lifeblesser | Healing | (unknown) | Blue and Silver |
| Lightsong | Bravery | Held one fourth of the Lifeless Army | Red and Gold |
| Mercystar | Kindness and Benevolence | Held one fourth of the Lifeless Army | Orange and Gold |
| Mirthgiver | Laughter | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Peaceyearning | (unknown) | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Stillmark | Nobility | (unknown) | Blue and Gold |
| Susebron | God King | King | All Colors |
| Truthcall | Nature | (unknown) | Maroon and Silver |
| Weatherlove | Storms | (unknown) | Green and Gold |
Various past members of the Court of Gods are known.
| God | Focus | Responsibilities | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calmseer | (unknown) | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Glorysinger | (unknown) | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Susebron the Fourth | God King | King | All Colors |
Notes
- ↑ a b c Warbreaker chapter 16#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Warbreaker chapter 3#
- ↑ a b c d e Warbreaker chapter 4#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 54#
- ↑ a b c d Warbreaker chapter 6#
- ↑ a b c Warbreaker chapter 24#
- ↑ a b c d e f Warbreaker chapter 8#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 22#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 56#
- ↑ a b c d e f Warbreaker chapter 27#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 36#
- ↑ a b c Warbreaker chapter 51#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Warbreaker chapter 14#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Warbreaker chapter 47#
- ↑ a b Warbreaker chapter 12#
- ↑ a b Warbreaker chapter 21#
- ↑ a b c d Warbreaker chapter 15#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 23#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 55#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 13#
- ↑ a b Warbreaker chapter 5#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 7#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 2#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 31#
- ↑ Warbreaker prologue#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 1#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 102#