The Stormlight Archive · Character
Roshone
Also known as citylord of Hearthstone, Brightlord Roshone
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 5
Roshone is mauled with his son Rillir in a whitespine attack in The Stormlight Archive (Book 1).
- Gender
- male
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 5
- Books
- 2
Roshone arrives in Hearthstone as a petty, vindictive lighteyed citylord exiled from Kholinar politics, turning the townspeople against the surgeon Lirin over disputed spheres and, in revenge, conscripting young Tien into his cousin Amaram's army, an act that sets Kaladin's tragedy in motion. After losing his son Rillir to a whitespine attack and marrying Laral, he is humbled by years of hardship and illness. By Rhythm of War he has become a limping, diminished man who nonetheless genuinely protects the people of Hearthstone, helping evacuate them and guiding Kaladin to the captives in the manor cellar. His tentative redemption is cut short when Moash kills him, invoking Tien's death as justification. The killing deepens Kaladin's struggle over whether a man like Roshone can be forgiven.
Description
A middle-aged, somewhat flabby man with a short, grey-streaked beard. He wears a ruffled violet coat, short at the front and long at the back, over a golden takama reaching to his calves, and carries a sword. His expression is distasteful and sour. Roshone is an old lighteyed man, his face slackened into deflated jowls after weight loss and his beard shaved away. He walks on a wooden peg foot, often wobbling and relying on a stool for support. His clothing is ragged and humble, including short trousers and kneepads associated with scraping crem. He has a worn, troubled presence, his expression readily betraying fear or concern.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
- A
Amaramcousin
Amaram is Roshone's cousin. He visits him in Hearthstone and defers to Roshone's lawful choice of conscripts, including Tien.
- L
Laralconflicting source relationships
Their engagement begins as a political arrangement but becomes a marriage with real affection. Laral and her children grieve sincerely at his death.
- RR
Rillir Roshonefather
Roshone's son is mortally wounded in the whitespine attack and given dazewater by Lirin as a final mercy.
Dalinar Kholinmilitary superior
In the occupied town, Roshone aids Dalinar's forces by reporting the prisoners in the manor cellar and guiding the rescue party.
- T
Taravangianfellow ruler
The two appear only as fellow rulers in parallel contexts, with no direct personal connection.
Kaladinconflicting source relationships
Kaladin despises Roshone as a corrupt lighteyes and blames him for Tien's death. Even so, he helps treat Roshone after the whitespine attack, an experience that forces him to face his own capacity for violence. Years later Kaladin sees that Roshone may genuinely care for his people, yet he still struggles to forgive him before Roshone's murder.
- L
Lirinconflicting source relationships
The two clash bitterly over Wistiow's spheres, and Roshone wages economic warfare on Lirin's family. Lirin nevertheless saves Roshone's life out of a surgeon's duty. Their old grievances resurface during the occupation of Hearthstone.
- T
Tienconflicting source relationships
Roshone conscripts the terrified boy to spite Lirin, sending him to die at the front. Moash later invokes that act to justify killing Roshone.
Story so far
BOOK 1The Way of Kings
- Arrives as Hearthstone's new citylord and accuses Lirin of stealing spheres promised by the late Wistiow
- Turns the townspeople against Lirin, withholding donations to impoverish the surgeon's family
- Is mauled with his son Rillir in a whitespine attack; Lirin saves Roshone, but Rillir dies
- Becomes engaged to Laral, securing a political match
- Selects Tien for military service as revenge on Lirin, and his cousin Amaram declines to override the choice
BOOK 4Rhythm of War
- Appears as a diminished, limping former citylord living among the people he once ruled
- Helps usher townspeople onto a ship during the evacuation, acting as their protector
- Reports the prisoners held in the manor cellar to Dalinar and volunteers to guide the rescue
- Is killed by Moash, who cites Tien's death to justify the murder
- Leaves Laral and her children grieving, forcing Kaladin to confront unresolved hatred
Appearances
Meet Roshone in Bookworm
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