Aesudan Kholin

Aesudan Kholin
Aesudan Kholin Fan art by lamaery[1]
Biographical information
Ethnicity	Unknown
Nationality	Alethi
Gender	Female
Status	Unknown
Social Information
Title(s)	Queen of Alethkar (formerly)
Family	House Kholin
Appears in	The Way of Kings (mentioned), Words of Radiance (mentioned), Oathbringer, Rhythm of War

Aesudan Kholin was Queen of Alethkar by marriage to her husband, Elhokar Kholin, formerly King of Alethkar.

In her husband's absence from the kingdom, the queen surrounds herself with many sycophantic ardents who indulge her every whim. Lhan states to Pai that the queen likes to feel that those around her are refined. That it makes her feel refined by association. The queen, in turn, treats these sycophants well - nice food, nice robes, fantastic quarters, lots of free time to do whatever they want, warm baths, horseback riding using the queen's personal stables, music, and art - thinking it will buy her favor with the One who makes the storms. Lhan reveals that she worries that the Almighty isn't pleased with her.

In her time as regent during the War of Reckoning, Queen Aesudan cancelled the Beggars' Feast, which Pai deemed reprehensible.

Pai states that the queen is excessive; throwing feasts every night, engaging in debauchery, wasting food and money while Alethkar languishes. Aesudan has yet to actually 'weigh in' on such accusations, but she has Pai executed for them nonetheless.

The Thaylen tailor Yokska tells Elhokar that the queen had basically vanished; that the people would get proclamations from her, but they often didn't make much sense.

Unmade Influence
Artwork by Soph Peralta[2]

In her madness, Aesudan bonded with the Unmade, Yelig-nar, who took over her persona ... and appearance.

Elhokar deduces from his conversation with Yokska that it was, in fact, that dark spren who gave the actual order of execution. He states that his wife would never be so imprudent as to publicly execute an ardent during such perilous times.

In the middle of the rioting, a proclamation came from the queen, whereby she wanted to execute the city's parshmen because they were Voidbringers. However, the parshmen were only exiled. Still, a coalition of important lighteyes didn't follow the proclamation, and when they went to meet with her, they never came back from the palace.

Later, during the siege of Kholinar, a soldier tells Adolin that the queen locked he and other members of the Palace Guard in the garrison there because they wouldn't obey her.

Appearance

Aesudan Kholin and Ashertmarn, Heart of the Revel
Fan art by Kyle Pearson[3]

Aesudan has long dark Alethi hair, a narrow face, and prim lips painted a deep red.

She is also a slender woman who wears her long hair in a bun lit by a gemstone of each shade. Navani thinks that all those colors are gaudy together, but acknowledges that they do make Aesudan stand out.

Characteristics

She is younger than Elhokar.

Character

Aesudan's attitude is rather like one belonging to one of the "new rich" or a rich merchant’s daughter that was able to marry beyond the means she expected. This is not the attitude of a noblewoman who has had privilege and training her whole life. She may be a foreigner who lacks a deep understanding of Alethi politics and Vorinism. Her understanding of Vorin morality and theology is simplistic, even childlike.^{[citation needed]}

She believes that she has important people to meet. The wives of highprinces, the best generals in the land.

Aesudan claimed to care about propriety and manners, but she'd insert herself into a conversation between men without bringing her husband along as an excuse.

Family

• Elhokar Kholin - Husband (deceased)
• Gavinor Kholin - Son
• Gavilar Kholin - Father-in-law (deceased)
• Navani Kholin - Mother-in-law
• Jasnah Kholin- Sister-in-law

Notes

Jasnah wanted to assassinate Aesudan because she felt that the queen was seeking to usurp power, for one thing, and was reckless for another. So, Jasnah was worried about the safety of the throne.