The Tower Siege
When the Fused awaken and Venli's song breaks the ancient seal, Kholinar falls not by siege alone—but from within.
The Tower Siege refers to the climactic confrontation at Kholinar during the events of Words of Radiance, where the Alethi royal palace is overrun by Parshendi forces under the command of the Fused and their new ally, Venli. This pivotal battle marks a turning point in the War of Reckoning, as the city's defenses crumble not just against military might, but against the terrifying resurgence of ancient powers that had been dormant for millennia.
The siege is defined by the desperate stand of King Elhokar and his remaining guards against an enemy that seems to defy death itself. It serves as the catalyst for Dalinar Kholin's realization that the old ways of warfare are insufficient, forcing him to confront the true nature of the Desolation while his brother, Kaladin Stormblessed, attempts a rescue mission that will irrevocably alter the course of history.
- Location
- Kholinar Palace
- Primary Combatants
- Alethi Royal Guard vs. Parshendi (Fused & Voidbringers)
- Key Figures
- Elhokar, Dalinar Kholin, Kaladin, Adolin, Venli, Eshonai
- Outcome
- Fall of Kholinar and capture of King Elhokar
Lore & Background
For centuries, the Parshendi believed they had escaped the Desolation cycle by severing their connection to the Fused. But a new song, discovered amid the ruins of their old world and amplified by Odium's influence, reknit that forbidden bond. The siege of Kholinar became the first battlefield where this renewed power was unleashed upon Roshar—not as an army marching from the shadows, but as spirits inhabiting living bodies, wielding Voidlight to heal mortal wounds in seconds and shatter stone with a thought.
The city's fall laid bare Alethkar's political rot. King Elhokar stood isolated as highprinces prioritized their own war camps over a unified defense. The battle exposed the brutal mismatch between disciplined but antiquated Alethi tactics and an enemy that did not bleed, tire, or fear death. Simultaneously, it fractured the Parshendi themselves—Venli's embrace of the new form promised power at the cost of her people's free will, binding them to Odium's will in ways even she could not foresee.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled through shattered throne-room windows, carrying ozone and burnt stone. Elhokar gripped his sword until knuckles whitened against the hilt as shadows in the corner detached from the wall—flowing like smoke rather than walking like men, their eyes pulsing with sickly violet light that made the air hum.
A soldier beside him screamed as darkness speared through armor without resistance. Before Elhokar could strike, the man was gone, replaced by silence.
"Hold the line!" he shouted, voice trembling. The doors burst open—not with a crash, but a slow deliberate creak that echoed like a death knell. Through them stepped figures draped in black and grey robes, faces masked by shifting porcelain. They did not rush; they simply walked forward while light dimmed around them as if the world itself held its breath.
Elhokar raised his sword. Somewhere beyond these walls, Kaladin Stormblessed descended through smoke and falling spren, racing toward a rescue that would fail—and haunt him for years to come.
Reader's Guide
The siege begins when Parshendi forces, now empowered by the Fused, breach the defenses of Kholinar. The city's highprinces are distracted by their own political maneuvering and internal squabbles, leaving the royal palace vulnerable. As the enemy floods the streets, they utilize new abilities that allow them to bypass traditional fortifications and strike fear into the hearts of the defenders.
Dalinar Kholin, having returned from his visions, attempts to rally a defense but is separated from his forces by the chaos. Meanwhile, Kaladin and his Bridge Four team infiltrate the city with the specific goal of rescuing King Elhokar. They navigate through collapsing buildings and encounters with Fused warriors who seem impossible to kill. The situation deteriorates rapidly as the Parshendi leaders coordinate their attack with supernatural precision.
The climax occurs within the throne room, where Elhokar is surrounded. Despite a valiant effort by his remaining guards and the arrival of Kaladin's team, the sheer number and power of the Fused prove overwhelming. King Elhokar is captured alive, and Kholinar falls completely to the enemy. This event forces Dalinar to abandon any hope of saving the city and focus on the larger threat, while setting the stage for the political upheaval that follows in the subsequent books.
Did You Know?
- This battle marks the first time the Fused are seen fighting openly on Roshar since the Last Desolation.
- Venli's transformation into a new form was the result of her discovery of a specific song that reconnected her people to the Fused.
- The fall of Kholinar is one of the few instances where an entire major city in Alethkar has been completely overrun and occupied.
- Kaladin's inability to save Elhokar during this siege is a significant source of guilt that drives his character development.