Sadeas
| House / Order | Princedom of Sadeas |
|---|---|
| Race / Culture | Alethi |
| Status | Deceased |
| Origin | Alethkar; Shattered Plains |
| Born | Alethkar |
| Died | The Shattered Plains (murdered by Adolin Kholin) |
| Weapon | Shardblade; Shardplate |
| Fate | Murdered by Adolin Kholin after years of betrayal and rivalry with Dalinar Kholin |
| Portrayed by |
Torol Sadeas is a major antagonist in the early books of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. A Highprince of Alethkar and once one of King Gavilar's closest companions in the unification wars, Sadeas became the chief rival of Dalinar Kholin on the Shattered Plains -- ambitious, ruthless, and utterly self-serving, masking his cunning behind a bluff, jovial exterior.
It is Sadeas whose army runs the bridge crews -- including Bridge Four -- as expendable arrow-fodder, and whose calculated betrayal of Dalinar Kholin on the Plains becomes one of the defining outrages of the series.
Background
Sadeas fought alongside Gavilar Kholin and Dalinar Kholin in the conquest that unified Alethkar, and was deeply loyal to Gavilar. After Gavilar's assassination, that loyalty curdled into rivalry with Dalinar. As Highprince, Sadeas built his war effort on the Shattered Plains around bridge crews -- companies of slaves and condemned men who carried and laid assault bridges under enemy fire, suffering horrific casualties so his soldiers could advance. Kaladin and Bridge Four serve in this brutal system.
Biography
The Way of Kings
Sadeas and Dalinar Kholin maintain an uneasy alliance, jointly assaulting the Listeners on the Shattered Plains. Sadeas is named Highprince of Information, investigating threats to the king. In the book's climax, during a combined assault, Sadeas deliberately withdraws his forces and abandons Dalinar's army to be destroyed -- a calculated betrayal meant to eliminate his rival. The plan is foiled when Kaladin leads Bridge Four to save Dalinar's men. In the aftermath, Dalinar trades his Shardblade for the bridgemen's freedom, and Sadeas openly declares that he will keep undermining Dalinar.
Words of Radiance
Sadeas escalates his scheming against the Kholins, conspiring to seize power and discredit Dalinar. His ambition and contempt grow ever more brazen. Finally, after threatening Dalinar's family once too often, Sadeas is killed in a corridor by Adolin Kholin, who runs him through in a sudden, unsanctioned act of vengeance -- a killing Adolin conceals and carries as a secret.
Character
Sadeas is cunning, charismatic, and amoral, hiding a calculating mind behind a hearty, sweaty affability. He is genuinely capable and even, in his way, loyal to the memory of Gavilar Kholin and to his own princedom -- but he holds honor and the Codes of War in open contempt, viewing Dalinar's principles as foolish weakness. His casual expenditure of bridgeman lives and his betrayal on the Plains mark him as one of the series' great human villains.
Powers and abilities
Sadeas was a Shardbearer, wielding a Shardblade and Shardplate, and a competent battlefield commander. His true weapon, however, was political: mastery of intrigue, manipulation, and the cold arithmetic of sacrificing others -- especially his bridgemen -- to advance his position.
Relationships
- Dalinar Kholin -- his former brother-in-arms turned bitter rival, whom he betrays.
- Gavilar Kholin -- the late king to whom he was loyal.
- Adolin Kholin -- Dalinar's son, who murders him.
- Ialai Sadeas -- his wife and equally cunning partner in scheming.
- Kaladin and Bridge Four -- the bridgemen he used as fodder.
Quotes
I did the right thing. Don't look at me like that.
We're rivals now, Dalinar. I'm going to take everything you have.