Assassination of Gavilar

The assassination of Gavilar Kholin was an assassination of the sitting Alethi king performed by Szeth-son-son-Vallano on orders from the listener Council of Five. It was a major turning point in Alethkar's history, leading to the Vengeance Pact and the War of Reckoning. 
The events put in motion by Gavilar Kholin's assassination would ultimately lead to the reforming of the Knights Radiant, the birth of Retribution and the start of the True Desolation, thus it had lasting impact on Roshar and the cosmere itself. Thus, it is an event of utmost historical significance, on the national, planetary, and interplanetary scale alike.
==Background==
Before he discovered the Parshendi a number of changes were noted in Gavilar -- he started following the Alethi Codes of War, and he developed a fascination for The Way of Kings. Not known by most people these changes were due to him receiving visions from the Stormfather. 
Gavilar wanted to become a Herald of the almighty and therefore Immortal. he started to make deals with off world figures such as Thaidakar to gain power. Striking deals with Vasher and Axindweth to create Anti-light and transport Voidspren from Braize to Roshar respectfully. And eventually making an organization to help him bring the Radiants back, the Sons of Honor. All to make sure he and legacy would never die. 
Gavilar encountered the Parshendi on an expedition south of Alethkar, while exploring the Eastern Crownlands. Gavilar showed an unusual amount of interest in the Parshendi. attempting to discover more and more about them, most likely because he discovered their connection with the Voidbringers. Eventually, in , he even made a treaty with the Parshendi, so that could use them to bring back the Desolations.
In addition Szeth was traded around until he landed in the hands of Liss, who sold him to a slave trader in Kholinar for "Being to good".
== Before the Feast ==
=== To watch a vision ===
While in a vision of Aharietiam, Gavilar talked with the Stormfather about becoming Honor's champion, and trying to find the words to become a Herald. Before he returned out of the vision the Stormfather scolded him for just trying random words. Gavilar awoke in Navani's study with the Stormfather starting to lecture him on the pain of Immortality the Stormfather only semi aware of Gavilar’s true intention of becoming a herald.
When a guard knock the king ushered them in. Tearim, who wore Gavilar own Shardplate, announced that Dalinar wanted to see him. Gavilar told Tearm to let his brother in, and Dalinar walked in asking to see the Parshendi. Gavilar refused, asking why Dalinar would want to see the parshendi in the first place, but his brother retorted asking why Gavilar was so interested. Before Gavilar motives could be revealed he moved the conversation toward Dalinar's past mistakes, manipulating him to get him drunk, and sending a guard with him when he left to insure he found liquor. Stormfather commented on Dalinar's possible usefulness until Gavilar denies it.
 
Another knock came at Navani's study, but when Gavilar answered nobody stood behind the door. Thaidakar appeared behind him demanding him to honor their past agreement and turn Restares in to him. Gavilar tried to soothe him by saying that he still needed to gain Restares confidence. Thaidakar tired of Gavilar games took off his cloak revealing himself as just using a seon as a avatar, and as the soen flies away Thaidakar warned Gavilar was playing with power that could rip him apart.
After Gavilar regained his composure Restares (who Gavlilar thought only pretended to be the herald Kalak) walked in unannounced, questioning why Gavilar was looking into bringing back the Voidbringers. When Gavilar explained that to return the Radiants he would return the Voidbringers, and therefore bring the powers that once defeated them back as well, Restares said that they should no longer work for the return of Radiants if it meant another Return. Gavilar then threatened to turn Kalak to Thaidakar, prying for more information on what Thaidakar wanted. Under pressure Kalak revealed that Thaidakar wanted Ba-Ado-Mishram. After Kalak demanded to know what Gavilar had done to get what he wanted. Gavilar revealed the project’s success with transporting Voidlight and making Anti-light to Nale and Kalak. Gavilar noticed that Navani had spied on him through the door to her study. She entered saying that notable lighteyes were looking for him. he sent the heralds out to deal with his wife.
=== To Prepare === 
Navani dealt with the chaos of organizing the feast while the King was nowhere to be found. She noticed Rushur Kris and wanted to talk to them before her daughter in law, Aesudan, caught her in conversation. Before she could shake her daughter off a cook came to her in a panic, saying that Dalinar had drunk the reserve wine. She told him to use her personal store before going off to deal with more of the lighteyes demanding an audience with the king.
When she managed to slip away from dealing with lighteyes she passed to her study, hearing voices coming from it. While they talked Navani looked through the cracked open door, seeing Gavilar talking to two men. After he sees her she walked into her study asking him to lend his presence at the party. The two men leave, and Navani questions who they are, knowing them not to just be ambassadors. He told her that It was not her business and to go back to the feast. They fought about the fact he missed appointments, and duties with the feast, pressing him to give her more answers to what he was doing.
He berated her for rumors spread, damaging his legacy before telling her to talk to Jasnah about considering Amaram offer at marriage again, but she told him to do it himself. When she threatens to defile his legacy he berated her further saying that she didn’t deserve greatness that she would only stand in the shadow of it. Deeply hurt Navani watched as Gavilar left, and burned a glyphward inscribed with the glyphs, "Death. Gift. Death." as a prayer to the almighty to kill her husband.
=== To Sneak ===
Venli with Ulim's help sneaked into the palace, trying to find a delivery from Axindweth, but after making it to where the delivery was meant to be all they find is a note addressed from her saying that she’s left the planet. A short time later Venli was caught by the palace guard, and taken to a room with the guards superior, and almost let free with a warning because of the treaty being signed that night, but Ulim rushed in panicking because of heralds roaming the halls, and that Nale somehow saw him. After Ulim Nale walked in, and took Venli into his custody. When Nale demanded to know how many Voidspren had returned Venli said she had only ever seen Ulim. Nale realized that Gavilar's plan to transport the Voidspren had worked, and then told Venli Gavilar's plan to betray the Listeners as well as giving her information on where to find an assassin to kill Gavilar. Nale set them free to allow them to get said assassin.
=== To Relate === 
After Gavilar dealt with Navani he moved into his chamber to talk with the Stormfather about Thaidakar and Ba-Ado-Mishram. After questioning the Stormfather about her Amaram came in with a group of new sons of honor recruits. Gavilar gave a short speech, noticing that Taravangian was the new recruit with his assistants.
When he finished the speech Gavilar pulled Amaram aside telling him that his experiment successfully worked before moving to talk with Taravangian. pleasantly surprised at Taravangian’s acceptance of bringing the Voidbringers back. The conversation moved towards the night of sorrows and death rattles before the Stormfather warned that Eshonai is coming, and Gavilar ushered everybody out.
=== To Fear ===
While Eshonai and other Listeners carried drums to be brought inside for the feast they discussed Prashmen. After they’re done talking Eshonai wanders the halls of the palace before she stumbled into the king having a meeting. Before she could move away Gavilar asked her to come in. When the people from the previous meeting left the king showed Eshonai a heating fabrial. While Eshonai examined the it Gavilar started to ask about the Listeners gods, and told her he knew that the Chasmfiends weren’t their actual gods. Gavilar showed how small the listeners were compared to the rest of Roshar then told her to tell the Five that he would bring their gods back.
Eshonai, once the king had left, went running to meet the Five. She relayed what Gavilar had told her, and the Five, after a fast debate, decided that killing Gavilar was the only way forward, using Klade's new slave assassin that he got with Venli.
== The Feast and Assassination ==
With Gavilar having signed the treaty with the Listeners the feast properly began.
 
===To Witness===
Close to half way through the feast Jasnah made her way to a appointment with the assassin, Liss, noticing a Shin man dressed in all white carrying Prashshindi drums into the feast while on her way out. After leaving she saw her shadow pointing the wrong direction before she bumped into Amaram talking with Gavilar. A short conversation started with her and Gavilar where he implied that she should consider partying with Amaram before swiftly leaving.
Once again she noticed that her shadow pointed towards light sources instead of away from them, and decided to face the problem. As she faced the shadow it started to lengthen, taking the shape of a man. More figures appeared, and in a panic Jasnah accidentally drew upon stormlight using the surge of transportation, Elsecalling herself into the cognitive realm. Jasnah dropped into the ocean of beads, and frantically used the beads to create a facsimile of the hall she stood in a moment ago. The figure from her shadow hopped on to her platform sword drawn, but before he could approach her Jasnah made a statue of Talenelat’Elin to fight the man. The figure hesitated then bowed to Jasnah who afterwards appeared back in the physical realm.
After Jasnah recovered she ran to her appointment with Liss. Jasnah wanted at first to hire Liss to assassinate Ausudan, but as the meeting started she decided to would be to brass and hasty, and Instead just hired her to watch Ausudan. When the meeting ended Jasnah started to make her back to the main feast, but before she made it back she overheard Nale and Kalak talking about Ash, and somebody with Shardblade.
As Jasnah heard screams coming from the feast she started to run toward them, reaching Gavilar in time to see the balcony collapse under him. Right as Gavilar died three of, Klade, Gangnah, and Varnali, the Five came up to Jasnah, and admitted full responsibility for the assassination of Gavilar, and later were hung for their crimes.
===To Assassinate=== 
As required by the Listeners Szeth wore only white, so that he would be seen coming when he started Gavilar's assassination. He waited in the feast hall after being brought in with the listeners drums then moved toward the beggars feast as he started his rampage, passing a drunk Jezrien on his way. two guards stopped him on the way to Gavilar's chamber; Szeth killed the two guards with his expert use of Surgebinding, making sure that one stayed alive long enough to alert the other guards.
As Szeth fought, killing indiscriminately, Sadeas dressed to look like a king was ushered out of the king’s chambers while Gavilar put on Sadeas' plate in a attempt to fool the assassin into rushing pass Gavilar and instead focus on Sadeas. Szeth quickly saw through their plan, and started to fight Gavilar. Through Gavilar skill with shards he managed to push Szeth on to a wooden balcony while his plate barely still functioned. But before Gavilar could finish Szeth off he lashed the balcony downwards, plummeting them.
===To Betray=== 
After signing the treaty and attending the feast Gavilar rested in his chamber while talking with the Stormfather. Where he revealed that if became a Herald instead of staying in Breize to be tortured he would just give in, allowing the war on Roshar to last an eternity and giving himself immortality. The Stormfather cried out sensing that Chana had died, revealing that he had lied to Gavilar about the heralds being still in Damnation.
After the Stormfather left Tearim and Sadeas came in panicking because of the assassin cutting through the guards. Sadeas hatched a plan to distract the assassin before dressing in the king's robe while Sadeas armorers suited Gavilar in Sadeas' Shardplate.
===To Die===
After the balcony fell Gavilar laid in the palace grounds pierced in the side with wood from the balcony while Szeth walked down the palace walls. In Gavilar’s final moments he said that he expected Szeth, thinking that he been sent by Thaidakar. Szeth corrected him, saying that he didn’t know who that was, and when prodded further by Gavilar, who was also replying to the Stormfather when he said he wasn’t responsible for Gavliar’s death, that his masters were the Parshendi.
Gavilar confused, realizing that his legacy would fall apart with him dead, tried to give the anti-voidlight sphere to the Stormfather, saying to the Stormfather to tell Dalanir to find the most important words a man can say. Szeth interpreted Gavilar’s last word as a request for him to fulfill, and grabbed the sphere to later bury then wrote Gavilar's final words with Gavilar's blood and hand onto a piece of wood before he left.
===To Mourn===
Navani didn't know about the assassination until a messenger girl brought her to Gereh, who, after she calmed him down, managed to tell her that Gavilar had died. Only after seeing the body did the truth of her husbands death fully set in. more numb than any emotion she mourned over his body, realizing she prayed for his death only a few hours before. After mourning she began to organize the city from the chaos of the king's death.
==Aftereffects==
===The Vengeance pact and The War of Reckoning===
After the king's death his son, Elhokar is crowned the new king. With the Highprinces he forms the Vengeance pact. A pact to avenge Gavilar by going to war against the Listeners, starting the War of Reckoning. The war is meant to last no more then a couple months, but due to the Parshendi moving into the center of the Shattered Plains, Narak, and the discovery of Chasmfiend Gemhearts the war is dragged out for years.
Socially, this furthered discriminatory attitudes of the Alethi towards the Listeners, and further engrained in their society a system of dehumanization towards them. This is due to the fact that they saw the betrayal and assassination of Gavilar, during the night a treaty was meant to be signed, as unassailable evidence of their "savagery," and incapable of truly integrating into Alethi society or forming peace between their peoples. This narrative of savagery, intermixed with fear and hatred, was present even before the assassination. But these fires were nonetheless stoked by the death of Gavilar Kholin.
===Jasnah's studies of the Voidbringers===
When her father died she began to study everything that transpires on The night of his assassination. eventually she hit a dead end with the assassination, and starts to study everything Gavilar read and did. leading her to study the Voidbringers, discovering the Parshendi to be one and the same with them.
===Dalinar's trip to the Nightwatcher===
During Gavilar's funeral Jasnah read the Way of Kings to Dalinar which, with the words of his dead wife and Gavilar's writen message to him, inspires Dalinar to change his ways. While on his way to the Shattered Plains he stops at The Valley, home of the Nightwatcher. Where he begged for forgiveness. Because she can't give him such a boon she requests he ask for something different before Cultivation steps in. Dalinar tells her of the voices he hears, and she offers him a way to remove them and to become a better man at a steep cost. he takes the deal, losing the memories of his wife. This would greatly influence his personality and ideologies after his visit to the Nightwatcher, which would come to heavily influence the course of Rosharan history.
=== The Restitution, the True Desolation, and the Night of Sorrows ===
While not the singular cause of the True Desolation and the Night of Sorrows, the Assassination of Gavilar Kholin was a major event in the leadup to the True Desolation. As it would bring about the War of Reckoning, which would bring about the circumstances that would motivate the Singers to invite in Odium and the Everstorm.
Furthermore, Dalinar's visit to the Nightwatcher would shape the events which occurred between the arrival of the Everstorm and the start of the True Desolation, and would bring about the circumstances that led to the birth of Retribution and the start of the True Desolation.
==Notable Figures==
== Trivia ==
* The prologues of all of the first five books in The Stormlight Archive take place on the night of Gavilar's assassination, showing the events of the night from the perspectives of different characters, and are titled as an infinitive verb.
* Over the course of the evening, Gavilar meets with the head of every major Rosharan secret society; Thaidakar of the Ghostbloods, Restares of the Sons of Honor, Nale of the Skybreakers, and Taravangian, who would later found and lead the Diagram.
== Notes ==
es:Asesinato de Gavilar