Taravangian

Taravangian is a character from the series The Stormlight Archive. He is the Ruler of Kharbranth, and is widely known for his hospitals. Most of our information about Taravangian comes from Jasnah and Shallan's interactions with him. By the end of The Way of Kings, Taravangian has become Szeth's master, having Szeth kill several important figures for unknown reasons. He is currently planning the assassination of Dalinar Kholin to prevent the unification of the Alethi Highprinces.

At the end of The Way of Kings, it is revealed that Taravangian is using his hospitals as a means of listening to people's last words. Shortly after the death of Gavilar, the dying began to say strange things. Taravangian noticed this, and began to collect the quotes. The part one epigraphs of The Way of Kings appear to be drawn from Taravangian's collection of such quotes. Though Szeth is appalled by what he considers to be Taravangian's murdering of hundreds of innocents to collect these quotes, Taravangian sees himself as sacrificing a few in order to save the whole of mankind.