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    Oathbringer

    by Sanderson, Brandon
    Oathbringer, the third book in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series, is an epic fantasy novel set on the planet Roshar. It follows Dalinar Kholin as he confronts his past, unravels ancient secrets, and strives to unite warring factions against existential threats. The story explores themes of leadership, memory, and redemption amid catastrophic conflicts and mystical revelations, advancing the series’ intricate world-building and character development.
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    Oathbringer

    53. Such a Twisted Cut

    by Sanderson, Brandon

    The chap­ter begins with Jas­nah reflect­ing on a let­ter that hints at hid­den truths about ancient Veden his­to­ry, specif­i­cal­ly focus­ing on the tumul­tuous reign of King NanKhet. The his­tor­i­cal account, penned by Nata­ta Ved, details NanKhet’s brief rule, marked by relent­less assas­si­na­tion attempts from fam­i­ly mem­bers and rivals. Despite her drama­ti­za­tion, the sto­ry under­scores how inter­nal fam­i­ly con­flicts and treach­er­ous pow­er strug­gles threat­en sta­bil­i­ty with­in roy­al lines. Jasnah’s fas­ci­na­tion with these tales reveals her con­cern about the inter­nal dan­gers that threat­en lead­er­ship, espe­cial­ly in a time of cri­sis, and prompts her to con­sid­er how such inter­nal threats could under­mine her own family’s sta­bil­i­ty.

    Jas­nah then shifts her focus to the cur­rent state of her envi­ron­ment in Urithiru, where schol­ars and scouts are explor­ing the under­ground tun­nels and cav­erns. These tun­nels, dis­cov­ered after a pro­longed search, offer a vital alter­na­tive escape route and sup­ply line, reduc­ing depen­dence on the Oath­gates. The scene empha­sizes the strate­gic impor­tance of these tun­nels and high­lights Navani’s efforts to turn the base­ment into a research hub. Jasnah’s obser­va­tions reflect her desire to lever­age knowl­edge and tech­nol­o­gy in the face of loom­ing threats, demon­strat­ing her belief that intel­li­gence and inno­va­tion are cru­cial tools for sur­vival and defense.

    The nar­ra­tive then delves into Jasnah’s inter­ac­tions with the schol­ar­ly and polit­i­cal fig­ures present in the room, reveal­ing her keen insight into the polit­i­cal land­scape and her skep­ti­cism of those who claim to pre­dict the future through mys­ti­cal means. Her strate­gic mon­i­tor­ing of con­ver­sa­tions, com­bined with her cau­tious com­mu­ni­ca­tion via span­reeds, under­scores her role as a cal­cu­lat­ed leader who val­ues infor­ma­tion and dis­cre­tion. Her con­cern about her rel­a­tives’ inter­nal con­flicts and her deter­mi­na­tion to pro­tect her fam­i­ly from inter­nal dis­cord reveal her under­stand­ing that sta­bil­i­ty with­in her lin­eage is vital for the broad­er sur­vival of her peo­ple.

    Final­ly, Jasnah’s focus on secure com­mu­ni­ca­tion and her efforts to con­nect with trust­ed con­tacts under­score her reliance on intel­li­gence net­works and strate­gic alliances. Her care­ful man­age­ment of infor­ma­tion, includ­ing her use of inter­me­di­aries to main­tain con­fi­den­tial­i­ty, demon­strates her prag­mat­ic approach to gath­er­ing and safe­guard­ing crit­i­cal intel­li­gence. The chap­ter con­cludes with her aware­ness of the impor­tance of trust and secre­cy in her efforts to nav­i­gate the com­plex polit­i­cal and mil­i­tary land­scape, empha­siz­ing her resolve to use knowl­edge and strate­gic plan­ning to ensure her family’s and her kingdom’s future amidst chaos.

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    FAQs

    • 1. Question 1

      What does the chapter reveal about the nature of political instability within the ancient Siln dynasty and its relevance to Jasnah’s concerns?
      Answer:
      The chapter illustrates that the Siln dynasty was plagued by internal violence, with multiple assassination attempts on King NanKhet during his short reign. His survival against these attempts—some from family members—highlight the dangerous and treacherous political environment. Jasnah’s interest in these stories underscores her awareness of how internal threats, such as betrayal and infighting, pose significant risks to leadership stability. This history serves as a cautionary reflection on the fragility of ruling families, emphasizing the importance of internal cohesion if a kingdom is to survive crises like the Desolation. It also informs Jasnah’s broader concern about protecting her own family from internal decay and upheaval.

      2. Question 2

      How does the chapter depict the relationship between the past and present in the context of Jasnah’s research and strategic planning?
      Answer:
      The chapter shows Jasnah drawing parallels between historical accounts—like the violent history of the Siln dynasty—and contemporary issues facing her family and kingdom. Her fascination with ancient kings’ assassinations and familial conflicts informs her understanding of political instability, highlighting how history often repeats itself. The library, filled with scholars and research, symbolizes her effort to use historical knowledge as a tool for present-day strategy. Jasnah’s meticulous gathering of information and her focus on technological and scholarly advancements reflect her belief that understanding history and leveraging knowledge are crucial for safeguarding her family and ensuring stability amid looming threats.

      3. Question 3

      In what ways does the chapter illustrate the importance of information and communication networks in Jasnah’s efforts?
      Answer:
      The chapter emphasizes the critical role of information through Jasnah’s use of spanreeds and intermediary contacts to gather intelligence. Her secure communication system, involving passcodes and trusted intermediaries, highlights the importance of confidentiality and reliability in espionage and strategic planning. The loss of her previous spanreeds and her subsequent efforts to reconnect with key contacts demonstrate how vital these networks are for staying informed about political and military developments. Jasnah’s approach underscores that in a complex political landscape, effective information exchange can be a decisive advantage, enabling her to anticipate threats and coordinate efforts covertly.

      4. Question 4

      What does the chapter suggest about the internal conflicts within Jasnah’s family, and why are these conflicts significant?
      Answer:
      The chapter reveals that Jasnah perceives her family’s internal conflicts—particularly between her brother and her uncle—as potentially destructive. She recognizes that such disagreements threaten the stability of their leadership and, by extension, the safety of their kingdom. These conflicts are significant because they mirror historical patterns of familial treachery and infighting, which have historically led to the downfall of ruling dynasties, as seen in the stories of NanKhet and others. Jasnah’s concern reflects her understanding that strong, unified leadership is essential to survive external threats like the Desolation, and internal discord could undermine their ability to lead effectively.

      5. Question 5

      How might Jasnah’s strategic use of technology and scholarly resources influence the future of her efforts to protect her family and kingdom?
      Answer:
      Jasnah’s focus on harnessing technology and scholarly research positions her to gain a significant strategic advantage. By creating a network of scholars, utilizing magic-infused devices like spanreeds, and carefully managing intelligence, she enhances her capacity to anticipate threats and develop innovative solutions. This approach signifies a shift from reliance solely on political power to a more sophisticated, knowledge-based strategy. In practice, it could enable her to uncover hidden enemies, develop new technologies (such as fabrials), and coordinate covert operations more effectively. Ultimately, her integration of science, magic, and information could prove pivotal in strengthening her family’s position and ensuring their resilience against external and internal dangers.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Friend, Your letter is most intriguing, even revelatory.”

      This opening remark sets a tone of curiosity and significance, highlighting the importance of the correspondence and the chapter’s focus on uncovering hidden truths or insights.

      2. “The ancient Siln dynasty in Jah Keved had been founded after the death of King NanKhet. No contemporary accounts survived; the best they had dated from two centuries later. The author of that text—Natata Ved, often called Oileyes by her contemporaries—insisted that her methods were rigorous, although by modern standards, historical scholarship had been in its infancy.”

      This passage underscores the theme of unreliable history and the challenges of reconstructing the past, which is central to understanding the chapter’s exploration of legacy and truth.

      3. “Remarkably, during the brief span of his reign, NanKhet survived six assassination attempts… NanKhet, apparently a light sleeper, struck down his nephew with his own sword.”

      This quote vividly illustrates the dangerous and treacherous nature of royal succession, exemplifying the chapter’s interest in the internal threats within ruling families and the deadly politics of monarchy.

      4. “She’d grown adept at protecting her family against danger from without, carefully removing would-be deposers. But what could she do to protect it from within?”

      This statement captures Jasnah’s internal conflict about safeguarding her family from internal strife, emphasizing the chapter’s focus on internal political dangers versus external threats.

      5. “You can’t spend forever floating between worlds, Cousin, Eventually you’ll need to decide where you want to belong.”

      This reflective quote highlights the theme of belonging and decision-making, suggesting that personal and political stability require committed choices—a key insight into Jasnah’s internal struggles and leadership philosophy.

    Quotes

    1. “Friend, Your letter is most intriguing, even revelatory.”

    This opening remark sets a tone of curiosity and significance, highlighting the importance of the correspondence and the chapter’s focus on uncovering hidden truths or insights.

    2. “The ancient Siln dynasty in Jah Keved had been founded after the death of King NanKhet. No contemporary accounts survived; the best they had dated from two centuries later. The author of that text—Natata Ved, often called Oileyes by her contemporaries—insisted that her methods were rigorous, although by modern standards, historical scholarship had been in its infancy.”

    This passage underscores the theme of unreliable history and the challenges of reconstructing the past, which is central to understanding the chapter’s exploration of legacy and truth.

    3. “Remarkably, during the brief span of his reign, NanKhet survived six assassination attempts… NanKhet, apparently a light sleeper, struck down his nephew with his own sword.”

    This quote vividly illustrates the dangerous and treacherous nature of royal succession, exemplifying the chapter’s interest in the internal threats within ruling families and the deadly politics of monarchy.

    4. “She’d grown adept at protecting her family against danger from without, carefully removing would-be deposers. But what could she do to protect it from within?”

    This statement captures Jasnah’s internal conflict about safeguarding her family from internal strife, emphasizing the chapter’s focus on internal political dangers versus external threats.

    5. “You can’t spend forever floating between worlds, Cousin, Eventually you’ll need to decide where you want to belong.”

    This reflective quote highlights the theme of belonging and decision-making, suggesting that personal and political stability require committed choices—a key insight into Jasnah’s internal struggles and leadership philosophy.

    FAQs

    1. Question 1

    What does the chapter reveal about the nature of political instability within the ancient Siln dynasty and its relevance to Jasnah’s concerns?
    Answer:
    The chapter illustrates that the Siln dynasty was plagued by internal violence, with multiple assassination attempts on King NanKhet during his short reign. His survival against these attempts—some from family members—highlight the dangerous and treacherous political environment. Jasnah’s interest in these stories underscores her awareness of how internal threats, such as betrayal and infighting, pose significant risks to leadership stability. This history serves as a cautionary reflection on the fragility of ruling families, emphasizing the importance of internal cohesion if a kingdom is to survive crises like the Desolation. It also informs Jasnah’s broader concern about protecting her own family from internal decay and upheaval.

    2. Question 2

    How does the chapter depict the relationship between the past and present in the context of Jasnah’s research and strategic planning?
    Answer:
    The chapter shows Jasnah drawing parallels between historical accounts—like the violent history of the Siln dynasty—and contemporary issues facing her family and kingdom. Her fascination with ancient kings’ assassinations and familial conflicts informs her understanding of political instability, highlighting how history often repeats itself. The library, filled with scholars and research, symbolizes her effort to use historical knowledge as a tool for present-day strategy. Jasnah’s meticulous gathering of information and her focus on technological and scholarly advancements reflect her belief that understanding history and leveraging knowledge are crucial for safeguarding her family and ensuring stability amid looming threats.

    3. Question 3

    In what ways does the chapter illustrate the importance of information and communication networks in Jasnah’s efforts?
    Answer:
    The chapter emphasizes the critical role of information through Jasnah’s use of spanreeds and intermediary contacts to gather intelligence. Her secure communication system, involving passcodes and trusted intermediaries, highlights the importance of confidentiality and reliability in espionage and strategic planning. The loss of her previous spanreeds and her subsequent efforts to reconnect with key contacts demonstrate how vital these networks are for staying informed about political and military developments. Jasnah’s approach underscores that in a complex political landscape, effective information exchange can be a decisive advantage, enabling her to anticipate threats and coordinate efforts covertly.

    4. Question 4

    What does the chapter suggest about the internal conflicts within Jasnah’s family, and why are these conflicts significant?
    Answer:
    The chapter reveals that Jasnah perceives her family’s internal conflicts—particularly between her brother and her uncle—as potentially destructive. She recognizes that such disagreements threaten the stability of their leadership and, by extension, the safety of their kingdom. These conflicts are significant because they mirror historical patterns of familial treachery and infighting, which have historically led to the downfall of ruling dynasties, as seen in the stories of NanKhet and others. Jasnah’s concern reflects her understanding that strong, unified leadership is essential to survive external threats like the Desolation, and internal discord could undermine their ability to lead effectively.

    5. Question 5

    How might Jasnah’s strategic use of technology and scholarly resources influence the future of her efforts to protect her family and kingdom?
    Answer:
    Jasnah’s focus on harnessing technology and scholarly research positions her to gain a significant strategic advantage. By creating a network of scholars, utilizing magic-infused devices like spanreeds, and carefully managing intelligence, she enhances her capacity to anticipate threats and develop innovative solutions. This approach signifies a shift from reliance solely on political power to a more sophisticated, knowledge-based strategy. In practice, it could enable her to uncover hidden enemies, develop new technologies (such as fabrials), and coordinate covert operations more effectively. Ultimately, her integration of science, magic, and information could prove pivotal in strengthening her family’s position and ensuring their resilience against external and internal dangers.

    Note