Kholinar's Siege

Lore & Background

Kholinar serves as a critical location connecting past and present events in The Stormlight Archive. Six years before the main timeline, it was the site of a peace treaty celebration between the Alethi and Listeners. It was here that Gavilar Kholin unveiled his controversial plan to revive ancient gods, presenting Eshonai with a dark Gemheart capable of trapping spren—a gift that horrified her. This secret knowledge led Eshonai to organize an assassination attempt against the king. Later in the narrative, Dalinar Kholin revisits the ruined city while experiencing visions aided by Stormfather. During these experiences, he witnesses Odium summoning the nine Unmade and confronts the devastating effects of the Everstorm that had swept across Roshar.

In Their Own Story

In the prologue set six years prior, Eshonai and the Listeners arrived in Kholinar to celebrate a peace treaty. Gavilar invited her for a private conversation where he revealed his intent to revive gods who had deserted her people. He gave her a dark Gemheart containing a trapped spren, instructing her to message her council. Horrified by this revelation, Eshonai informed five other Listeners and decided an assassin was needed to stop Gavilar's actions. On the evening before the assassination attempt, she fled in tears after a performance. Much later, Dalinar explores these same ruins while experiencing the Everstorm, catching glimpses of Odium summoning his corrupted sprens. Meanwhile, Kaladin tracks escaped Parshmen who are being guided by Voidspren toward Kholinar as a declaration of war to reclaim Alethkar.

Reader's Guide

Key moments include Gavilar's meeting with Eshonai six years prior, which initiated a chain of events leading to his assassination. Later, Kaladin travels to investigate ransacked towns and tracks Parshmen guided by Voidspren toward Kholinar as they plan to reclaim the city for their people. Upon arriving at Revolar, Kaladin flees when learning about an approaching Highstorm but helps citizens shelter before being attacked by two empowered Parshmen known as the Fused. The narrative mentions riots occurring in Kholinar, prompting Dalinar to advise his nephew Elhokar to send scouts and encouraging him to restore the city while sending Kaladin there to activate an Oathgate.

Did You Know?

• Six years before the main story, King Gavilar met Eshonai in Kholinar and gave her a dark Gemheart containing a trapped spren.
• Eshonai fled in tears on the evening before organizing an assassination attempt against Gavilar after learning his plans to revive ancient gods.
• Dalinar explores the ruins of Kholinar while experiencing the Everstorm, where he witnesses Odium summoning nine corrupted shadowed sprens known as the Unmade.
• Kaladin tracks escaped Parshmen guided by Voidspren toward Kholinar as they plan a declaration of war to reclaim Alethkar.