Difference between revisions of "Alethkar"

Prior to the [[True Desolation]], the Alethi were engaged in the [[War of Reckoning]] against the [[listeners]].{{book ref|sa1|23}} As of {{rosharan date|1175}} on the Vorin CalanderCalender, the vast majority of their territory is under the control of the [[Voidbringer]]s.{{book ref|sa3|120}}

The Alethi are called the ''Tagarut'' by the [[Azish]], this term means "Breakers" in Azish. This refers to their destructive nature during their invasions of Azir.{{book ref|tsm|26}} TheSingers namerefer to Alethkar as ''Avendla'', this is ancient [[Singer]] for ''Land of the Second Advance''.{{book ref|sa4|14}}

The land that would become known as Alethkar was created at an unknown point before the [[Shattering]] by AdonasliumAdonalsium, along with the rest of Roshar and the Rosharan supercontinent over ten-thousand years prior to Vorin year {{Rosharan date|1174}}.{{wob ref|3953}}{{wob ref|3952}}{{wob ref|1355}}{{book ref|tsm|11}} It is unclear how much the geography of modern-day Alethkar has changed compared to the land at creation.

Around {{rosharan date|1155}}, a war broke out at the border between Alethkar and [[Jah Keved]]. Dalinar Kholin also acted as one of the major generals in this conflict as well.{{book ref|sa3|52}} Part of the motivation for the conflict was Jah Keved taking land from Alethkar in around {{rosharan date|1143}}.{{book ref|sa3|66}}

The Alethi people are generally tan -- darker-skinned than the [[Veden]] and [[Shin]] peoplepeoples, but not as dark as the [[Makabak]]i -- with dark, typically black hair.{{book ref|sa1|3}} They are typically extremely tall, standing on average at least a foot taller than people living further West.{{book ref|sa2.5|10}} Like most Rosharan people, they possess Epicanthic folds and see those without such folds as wide-eyed and childish.{{wob ref|4079}} They are a racially-mixed people due to their history of conquest.{{book ref|sa3|122}}{{book ref|sa2|38}}{{wob ref|15116}}

Music is seen as a feminine art, and is thus primarily only persuedpursued by women and ardents.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{book ref|sa2|55}} Alethi music makes a heavy use of flutes and string instruments made of a fine wood,{{book ref|sa1|57}}{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{book ref|sa3|84}} and tend to dislike percussion.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}{{wob ref|12290}} Battle hymns make use of brass-like instruments.{{wob ref|12290}}

=== ClothingFashion ===

As of {{rosharan date|1173}}, Alethkar was going through a trend of bright colors and ornate frills.{{citebook ref|sa1|58}} They also have a tendency towards solid colours.{{book ref|sa3|65}}{{book ref|sa4|20}}

[[Liafor]] and [[Yezier]] deeply influence lighteyed fashion in Alethkar, with much of their clothing being designed in these countries, based on Alethi fashion trends with their own cultural flair.{{file ref|Contemporary Male Fashion.jpg|Contemporary Male Fashion Folio Page}}{{file ref|Vorin Havah.jpg|Vorin Havah Folio Page}}{{book ref|sa3sa2|49}} Azish fashion also has a degree of influence over Alethi fashion.{{book ref|sa2|49}}

Lighteyed women often arrange their hair high in a complex series of braids secured by four steel spikes.{{book ref|sa1|28}}{{file ref|Vorin Havah.jpg|Vorin Havah Folio Page}} These hair-spikes are considered to be traditional in Alethi culture.{{book ref|sa1|28}} Some women deign to use different metals, such as gold, to construct these spikes;{{book ref|sa1|48}} some even choose to wear a different number of spikes in their hair, such as six.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Sometimes hair-spikes are designed to resemble Shardblades.{{book ref|sa3|24}}

ThereThey ismake use of a greatwide varietyrange of beveragessauces evenof withina thevariety sameof colourdifferent flavours, ranging from spicy,{{book ref|sa2sa1|4937}}{{book suchref|sa3|68}} asto hard honusweet,{{book aref|sa3|68}} typeto ofpeppery,{{book lavisref|sa3|19}} grainto liquorsalty.{{book ref|sa2|8159}}{{book Some alcohol is spiced, giving it a spicy flavour.ref|sa1|i|8}}{{book ref|sa2sa1|4922}}

Alethkar is one of the five great [[Vorin]] Kingdoms, with the vast majority of their populace worshipping the [[Almighty]].{{book ref|sa1|3}} The worship is mostly carried out by the priests, called the [[ardent]]s. The ardents, while influential, are not free -- rather, they are slaves to various [[lighteyes]]. Unlike most other professions, ardentia is open to both men and women, and to people from all social castes.{{book ref|sa2|11}} Ardents are considered genderless from a social standpoint, and as such, many of the Vorin taboos regarding gender and gender roles do not apply to them.{{book ref|sa2|44}} They are also the only people permitted to use [[Soulcaster]]s.

Wealthy lighteyes tend to have their bodies soulcast into stone or metal statues.{{book ref|sa1|41}}{{book ref|sa2|2}}{{book ref|sa3|29}}{{book ref|sa4|114}} They are positioned by mortuary sculptors before being soulcast into stone, leaving them suitable for display.{{book ref|sa3|105}}

The kingmonarch has the right to promote individuals into the position of a classical Highprince if they deem it necessary, therefore consolidating inter-princedom national power in certain aspects of government into individuals.{{book ref|sa1|18}} This right is controversial, and only began to be put into use late into the War of Reckoning in {{rosharan date|1173}}, when King Elhokar granted highprince Torol Sadeas the position of [[Highprince of Information]] and Dalinar Kholin the position of [[Highprince of War]].{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{book ref|sa1|69}}

Jasnah Kholin, the current queen, expresseshas expressed an interest in disbanding the monarchy after the True Desolation is over.{{book ref|sa4|50}}

Another level down from regions are individual settlements, which are ruled by citylords. When a citylord dies without a proper heir, a new citylord is sent to replace them. These citylords own the land and territory of a settlement, and rent it out to inhabitants.{{book ref|sa1|16}}{{book ref|sa1|25}} These inhabitants pay an income tax, which varies depending upon the size and purpose of the settlement in question, with smaller farming towns like [[Hearthstone]] primarily paying in produce such as lavis grain, while larger cities levy more financial taxes. Furthermore, the citylord only gets a portion of the collected taxes, with most going to their own local highlord, or to their local Highprince.{{book ref|sa3|116}}{{wob ref|13449}}

Citylords have legal authority over those on their manor, and are allowed to impresspress them into passing armies at will, so long as they are over the age of fifteen and aren’t vital to the community. They are also able to forbid an individual from willingly joining into service.{{book ref|sa1|16}}{{book ref|sa1|37}}{{book ref|sa1|44}}

Through trade treaties, they are able to trade with Jah KavedKeved for cheap.{{book ref|sa3|66}}

When they first met, the Listenerslisteners and Alethi had a positive relationship. whichAfter a number of expeditions the Alethi wished to formalize their relationship, eventuallywhich led to the formationestablishment of a treaty between the two peoples in {{Rosharan date|1167|10|missing-date=y}}.{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} HoweverThis thistreaty peacecontained brokeclauses downto oncesimplify Kingtrade Gavilarbetween Kholinthe waspeoples assassinatedand underfor Listenermutual orders,border leadingcrossing. toThe thetreaty enactmentalso ofprevented the Vengencelisteners Pactfrom andtrading thetheir beginningShards ofto theother Warkingdoms ofwithout Reckoningfirst againstcoming the Listenerto peopleAlethkar.{{cite}} ThisAside slaughterfrom ofthese theirclauses peoplethe wouldtreaty continuealso allowed for sixone years,party untilto itlegally ended withattack the startother of the True Desolation on {{Rosharan date|1173|10|10|3}}party.{{book ref|sa2sa4|8777}}

Throughout their history, Alethkar and the [[Reshi|Reshi Isles]] have been in a state of near constant conflict, seen in conflicts such as the [[Wastescum skirmishes]].{{book ref|sa1|16}}{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|3664}} Attacks at the northern border continued even long into the War of Reckoning.{{citebook ref|sa1|52}}<!--mentioned multiple times in WoK, need to find the citations--> The Alethi conquest of [[Akak]], and their extermination of the Akak Reshi, likely played a role in Reshi aggression towards Alethkar.{{book ref|sa1|56}}{{book ref|sa3|52}}

They appear to have good relationships with at least a few Reshi islands, with some providing chulls and handlers to the Alethi military during the War of Reckoning.{{book ref|sa1|28}} During the True Desolation, in the year {{rosharan date|1174}}, they allied with the Reshi isle of [[Relu-na]] and their king [[Ral-na]].{{citebook ref|sa3.5|3}}

==== UniformsArmor ====

=== WagesStrategy ===

==== BridgeBattlefield Crewstactics ====

Bridge Crews were a very important part of most of the armyAlethi armies during the War of Reckoning, serving as an expendable workforce that carried bridges to help soldiers cross over the large chasms between plateaus. They also acted as canon fodder for Parshendi bowmen, as to direct attention away from more trained and valued soldiers.{{book ref|sa1|32}} Due to this, bridgemen had a very high mortality rate, with around half a crew dying per run.{{book ref|sa1|9}}

The bridges used by Torol Sadeas's army are typically eight feet wide and two feet thick, with supports on both sides extending its width to sixteen feet. They are also thirty feet long, and allowed one to set up 8 men per column and 5 men per row.{{file ref|Sadeas_bridges.jpg|Bridge Run Interior Art}}

While not on bridge runs, they are typically used as cheap manpower to preformperform undesirable duties at war camps, such as chasm or latrine duty.{{book ref|sa1|27}}

Not all highprinces made use of bridge crews, with Dalinar Kholin notably refusing to make direct use of them. He instead makesmade use of large bridges on wheels, pulled by chulls. Due to being heavier and pulled by chulls instead of people, movement is significantly slower, but Dalinar makes use of it regardless as it results in a major reduction of casualties during plateau runs.{{book ref|sa1|26}}

* Alethi farmers sell their grain to merchants for unfairly cheap, who then bring it to cities at an immense markup. (SA1-27) [Probably in the economy section]