Vathah

Vathah
Biographical information
Ethnicity	Unknown
Nationality	Alethi
Gender	Male
Status	Alive
Abilities	Surgebinding (Lightweaving)
Occupation	Soldier (deserter), Member of the Unseen Court
Appears in	Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, Rhythm of War

Vathah is the leader of a band of deserters (including Gaz and Shob) whom Shallan meets on her way to the Shattered Plains.

When Shallan asks him what he would do to erase the past, Vathah tells her that they can't change the past.

She tells him that she can change their future, to which he says that they are wanted men.

She then tells him that she came there wanting men. Hoping to find men.

When he then looked away from her, she knew she'd lost him. He barked the order to take her captive.

He was incredulous that his companions were considering her offer, and reminded them that they left to get away from their oppressors.

After Gaz and some other deserters had jogged toward where another caravan was being attacked by bandits, Vathah left with those who'd remained behind, marching toward the fighting.

After the bandits were dispatched, Vathah executed those still alive one by one. He'd lost seven soldiers in the battle.

He then tells Shallan that his men had done worse things than that. In the wilderness, they took and killed.

Further, that if they go with her to the Shattered Plains, they're dead men. That they'll be hanged the moment they return.

He is eventually pardoned by former King Elhokar and becomes Shallan's guard captain.^{[citation needed]}

Appearance

He is a tall, "grizzled" man, with arms that look too long for his body. He has dark eyes and is bearded.^{[citation needed]}

He doesn't look any less intimidating in better light.

When Vathah panics during an intrusion on a meeting, he drains a sphere and becomes a bald man with thick knuckles and a well-kept smock.*

Character

According to Shallan, this man was stone. She could see, with a sinking feeling, that he wasn't initially swayed by her proposition.

Pattern thinks he is trouble.

Again, according to Shallan, Vathah is straightforward, if rude. At least one always knows where one stands with him.

According to Veil, Vathah is like a hog in human clothing, always grunting and milling about.

Characteristics

His grip can be firm, even painful.

His breath isn't particularly sweet.

When he dies, he wants his corpse to be burned.

Beliefs

What do polished buttons matter when you've got a child's blood on your boots?

Kholinar

Vathah is amazed that Shallan was both herself and Veil all along. He tells Shallan that they don't act anything like one another (to which Shallan replies that such is the point), stating that he likes Veil.

Shallan enhanced her reputation as a spren by sending Vathah and Ishnah out into the city of Kholinar, wearing illusions to look like Veil, giving away food.

Vathah then took to planning operations under Ishnah's guidance, and proved himself to be quite proficient.

In a private room of an inn in Kholinar, Vathah laid out a couple of spheres to light the maps he'd purchased. They detailed the manor Veil intended to hit that afternoon.

He tells her that when she reformed him from banditry, he figured he was done with stealing.

She tells him that they get the food inside the manor to pay the Cult of Moments, and then they get out.

Once the unloading was through, he'd pull away and set up a few streets farther off, where he could watch the edge of the Oathgate platform. Shallan would throw herself off it if she had trouble up there.

Notes

*Veil tells Vathah that she wants him to practice with his Stormlight and that he's probably a squire.