|
== History ==
Several thousand [[Singer]]s arrived at the shores of [[Thaylen City]] under the protection of an [[Everstorm]] spawned by [[Odium]] in order to mask their invasion.{{book ref|sa3|115}} Due to the perception that sailing during a storm is impossible, the human defenders of the city are caught unaware. Furthermore, because of the timely manipulation of [[Taravangian]]{{book ref|sa3|111}}, the Thaylen people and a portion of theSadeas' Alethi army, specifically that of Sadeas, under control of [[Meridas Amaram]], isare the only fighting forceforces left in the city. The Everstorm that coverscovering the advance of the enemy stalls overheadover the city instead of continuing on{{book ref|sa3|115}}, darkening the sky above, something never seen before.
The souls of approximately 1000 enemy spren gather outside the [[Thaylen City]] [[Oathgate]] in [[Shadesmar]].{{book ref|sa3|112}} Due to the stalled Everstorm, the Voidbringer souls are able to pass into the [[Physical Realm]]; among them were [[Fused]], ancients who didn't have bodies. This allowed some of them to inhabit the stone in the ground, ripping themselves free to become [[Thunderclast]]s. In addition, clad in a body made of golden Carapacecarapace and clutching a regal scepter, Odium himself stepped onto the shore to personally lead the battle personally{{book ref|sa3|115}}.
Even with such might backing them, some of the [[Fused]] expressed doubt over their chances of victory. The Thunderclasts were a powerful weapon, but the army of recently freed Parshmen had little training, had never experienced true battle before, and many did not want to fight at all{{book ref|sa3|115}}. Amaram's forces had taken up the defense of the city and the seasoned veterans of the [[Shattered Plains]] proveddemonstrated their effectivenesscombat uponreadiness thewith their battlefieldmaneuvering. Although faced with horrors the battle was believed to be winnable, or even at favorable terms to the humans. The Ancient Singers did not believe their barely trained forces could stand against the battle-hardened humans and that their army would ultimately break. Odium, however, explained that he had not brought the Singers to fight, but to watch his true army fight.
In the form of blood red mist, litheoccasionally withmanifesting twistinginto depictionsimages of battlecombat, the [[unmade]] [[Nergaoul]] took to the battlefield and filled Sadeas' troops with the [[Thrill]], fillingimbuing them with bloodlust and the urge to fight above all else. It was then that the voidspren that had come through the Oathgate into the physical realm seized new hosts. Odium had figured out a way in which he could bond voidspren to humans, something that had never happened in previous desolations. The Alethi army, 10,000 men strong, turned glowing red eyes upon their own forces. Lead by Amaram, who had cut a deal with Odium, the Alethi army began to siege toassault Thaylen City.{{book ref|sa3|115}} A massive Thunderclast laysbreached wastethe towall theand city,broke particularlyapart the Thaylen gem reserve. RendingIt the building apart, it castsscattered the riches of Thaylen City in the form of done gemstones intothroughout the skycity toand fall throughoutonto the city.plain Ofof particularbattle. noteAmong tothese thegems enemy,was isa thelarge ruby called the "[[King's Drop]]."{{book ref|sa3|i|13}} {{book ref|sa3|116}}, which was of particular interest to the enemy.
Taking his copy of [[The Way of Kings]] under his arm and unwilling to bow before the enemy, [[Dalinar]] goeswent alone to meet the enemy.{{book ref|sa3|116}} Despite the departure of the [[Azish]]'s departure, [[Lift]] had snuck awayback to the city, unwilling to abandon Dalinar. toShe theasks enemyhim how she can help. UnsureThough Dalinar was unsure of the particular importance of the King's Drop, buthe seeinghad seen how eagerly the enemy protected it. So, Dalinar orders Lift to pursue and retrieve the gem.{{book ref|sa3|117}} [[Szeth]], who hovers above the city along with [[Nale]] chooses to swear the Third Ideal of the [[Skybreaker]]s opting to put his faith in a man who will do what is right: Dalinar. Szeth descends upon the battlefield with [[Nightblood]] unsheathed and brings fury to the enemy in order to aid Lift in accomplishing her task. {{book ref|sa3|117}}{{book ref|sa3|118}}
[[File:I am Unity.jpg|"I am Unity."--by [[Coppermind: Artist/Ly Eldalagren|Ly Eldalagren]]|thumb|left|300px]]Odium and Dalinar meet along with several Fused including [[Venli]]. Odium explains that he had been grooming Dalinar for years and reveals that he himself is to be Odium's Champion. Dalinar falls to his knees as the Thrill and the pain of his past actions bombard him. He is broken and alone and Odium offers him an escape of that pain if he will just give in. {{book ref|sa3|118}} Dalinar instead manages to overcome the pressure and accept and bare his pain, refusing to become Odium's Champion. He rises to his feet and reaches his hands to either side. In one hand he grips the [[Cognitive Realm]], in the other the [[Spiritual Realm]]. Venli whispers to him asking "What are you?" He brings his hands together exclaiming, "I am unity."{{book ref|sa3|119}} All three realms, physical, cognitive, and spiritual are united in an outpouring of [[gloryspren]] and [[Stormlight]], infusing every gem in the city and forming a [[Perpendicularity]] that [[Adolin]], [[Shallan]], and [[Kaladin]] use to return to the Physical Realm and join the fight.
Shallan, using [[Lightweaving]], creates an entire army to distract their assailants, even managing to give them substance{{book ref|sa3|120}}; Jasnah shows off her prowess with her [[Soulcasting]] abilities, and decides not to kill [[Renarin]], who is revealed to have bonded a corrupted spren, instead embracing him. Renarin, who had seen his death at Jasnah's hands as a vision, realizes that his visions are not set in stone and that there is hope for humanity.{{book ref|sa3|118}}
Amaram tries to attack Dalinar but is rebuffed by Kaladin.{{book ref|sa3|119}} He then chooses to bond [[Yelig-nar]] by swallowing a gem that the [[Unmade]] was contained in, growing grotesque carapace under his [[Shardplate]] and access to all 10 surges.{{book ref|sa3|120}} While Kaladin handles Amaram and keeps the Fused too occupied to attack him, Dalinar makes his way into the center of the red mists that make up Nergaoul. In the sky, Szeth, with the help of Lift, has finally acquired the King's Drop, but is followed by a number of flying Fused. Unable to escape them, he and Lift devise a strategy to fool them. With the help of Shallan, they allow the Fused to recapture thewhat gemstone andthey believe themselvesto successfulbe the gemstone; in reality it is merely a cut rock with one of Shallan's illusion over it.{{book ref|sa3|120}} Szeth sees Dalinar within the mists and knows he cannot withstand it. Lift takes the gemstone and enters the mists after Dalinar.
Adolin, with the help of his shardblade [[Mayalaran]] and Thaylen highguard [[Hrdalm]], engageengages a Thunderclast near the city's Oathgate.{{book ref|sa3|120}} Adolin scores several blows, managing to cut off the feet of the rock beast, but ultimately sustains too many injuries to fight effectively. Fortunately, Renarin then arrives with healing and his own blade. Adolin lends Hrdalm his shardblade and the Thaylen goes to battle the Thunderclast beside Renarin. Eventually, the two of them manage to bring down the beast, reducing it to inanimate stone. Renarin then makes for the Oathgate, only to see it guarded by a dozen flying Fused.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
In [[Urithiru]] a suprisesurprise attack aimed at distracting the Alethi from sending reinforcements has been underway. [[Teft]] finally bonds an [[honorspren]] and swears his ideal, becoming a full Radiant, and uses his new powers to activate the Oathgate. In Thaylen city the light of the activated gate momentarily scatters the Fused, and 2000 Kholin troops along with [[Bridge Four]] pour from the Oathgate to join the battle with Teft at their head.{{book ref|sa3|120}} Back at the ships the Singers arrived upon, [[Venli]] finally makes a decision and bonds a [[lightspren]], which takes her previously bonded voidspren captive.{{book ref|sa3|120}} She finds that she can change her eye color at will now and can fool Odium. She remains with the Singers areand begins to tell them the truth ofabout those who came before, the [[Listener]]s.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
Lift reaches Dalinar and delivers the King's Drop, a perfect gemstone, the only vessel capable of capturing one of the Unmade. Dalinar embraces the thrill. All his years under it'sits influence allow him to understand it like no other, and he uses this understanding to drawndraw in and ultimately capture Nergaoul. The Thrill is sealed inside the gem, and the soldiers of Sadeas' army return to normal, either fleeing or collapsing in place. Kaladin is almost killed by Amaram after he runs out of Stormlight, but is saved by [[Rock]], who kills Amaram with two shots from a Shardbow. The Fused and Singers retreat, while Kholin forces and the [[Windrunners]] sweep the city of it'sthe last resistanceinvaders. The day is won.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
== Notes ==
|