Chapter 25 – Men of Blood and Sorrow
Warning: This summary contains detailed spoilers for Oathbringer, including events discussed in this chapter.
Chapter Summary (Chronological)
Dalinar stands on the plateau outside Urithiru, waiting for King Taravangian’s arrival. While he waits, he reflects on the recent return of long-lost memories of his wife, Evi. He recalls meeting her, their political betrothal, and his attraction to her, but the later years remain a blur. He suspects that after Evi’s death he sought the Nightwatcher to remove his pain, and the spren took his memories as part of the curse. Since bargains with the Nightwatcher are supposed to be permanent, he cannot explain why the memories are resurfacing.
A flash of Stormlight signals the activation of the second Oathgate platform. Taravangian emerges with his chief scribe Adrotagia, a Thaylen bodyguard, and a woman named Malata — the newly revealed Knight Radiant of Jah Keved, a Dustbringer. Dalinar notices that Malata smiles with a hint of amusement and carries a wealth of infused spheres.
During a lift ride through the tower, Taravangian gawks openly and asks simple questions, behaving far less keenly than the intelligent man Dalinar remembers. Adrotagia frequently prompts him. Dalinar offers to send Alethi battalions to secure Vedenar, but Adrotagia assures him the city remains in Veden hands. Taravangian speaks with unexpected melancholy, calling himself and Dalinar “men of blood and sorrow” who will never reach a glorious end.
Navani meets them at the top. She and Dalinar whisper about Taravangian’s deterioration, and Navani shares her research into the Old Magic — no recorded case shows a curse lifting, which makes Dalinar’s returning memories impossible by all known lore. The Stormfather again denies any role in the phenomenon.
The group tours the Initiation Room and the large sloped chamber that might serve as a council hall. Dalinar admits that, so far, no other monarch has heeded his call to form a coalition. The queen of Thaylenah dodges his requests, Azir refuses, Iri dismissed him outright, and marpari states wait for Azir’s lead. The only reply from the Tukari is an imperious message read aloud by Navani: Tezim the Great, who claims to be the sole Radiant and a Herald, demands surrender and the opening of Urithiru’s gates. That proclamation effectively removes the Tukari from the list of possible allies.
Taravangian, assuming the alliance is a pretext for Alethi aggression, suggests attacking Herdaz or Thaylenah. Dalinar insists his only goal is unity against the Voidbringers through diplomacy. Yet inwardly, he wrestles with the fear that if no one will join, he might resort to conquest — just as he once united Alethkar by strength. Standing at the window, his returning memories of Evi bring a fresh and troubling perspective on what he might become.
Key Events
- Taravangian, Adrotagia, and the Radiant Malata arrive at Urithiru via the Oathgate.
- Dalinar’s lost memories of his wife Evi continue to resurface, defying the known rules of the Old Magic.
- Malata is introduced as a Dustbringer and activates the Oathgate; she carries abundant infused spheres.
- Taravangian displays drastic mental decline but still shows flashes of melancholy and insight.
- Navani relates that no recorded Nightwatcher curse has ever lifted, deepening the mystery of Dalinar’s memories.
- Dalinar reveals that none of the other rulers have agreed to join his coalition, and the Tukari god-king Tezim sends a threatening claim of sole Radiant status.
- Taravangian innocently suggests military conquest, exposing the perception others have of Alethkar’s intentions.
- Dalinar reaffirms his commitment to diplomacy while privately fearing he will revert to the Blackthorn’s ways.
Character Development
- Dalinar: The return of Evi’s memories forces him to confront his past brutality and the possibility that his “unite instead of divide” ideal may crumble under political pressure. His gratitude toward Navani for sharing the burden of his secret shows a growing vulnerability.
- Taravangian: Appears earnest and childlike, yet his poignant phrase “men of blood and sorrow” and the tears in his eyes hint at a deeper awareness beneath the simplicity. He remains emotionally honest in a way that unsettles Dalinar.
- Navani: Takes concrete steps to research the Old Magic, demonstrating her methodical support for Dalinar. Her quiet frustration with unsolvable problems mirrors her daughter Jasnah’s temperament.
- Malata: The new Dustbringer exudes confidence and amusement, raising questions about the motives of the spren who choose Radiants, especially since she does not seem to share Dalinar’s urgency.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Memory and Identity: Dalinar’s recovering memories challenge his self-image and the permanence of his curse, tapping into the wider theme of whether a person can truly escape their past.
- Unity vs. Conquest: The chapter starkly contrasts Dalinar’s stated goal of a voluntary alliance with the Blackthorn’s historical method of forced unification. Even Taravangian’s simple mind grasps the conqueror’s logic, which haunts Dalinar.
- Men of Blood and Sorrow: Taravangian’s self-description captures the moral weight carried by leaders who have waged war and lost loved ones, a burden Dalinar feels acutely as he stands at the window.
- Isolation and Mistrust: No other nation heeds the call; every reply reinforces the deep-seated suspicion of Alethi motives, underscoring how history undermines present cooperation.
Why This Chapter Matters
“Men of Blood and Sorrow” marks the arrival of the coalition’s first — and still only — monarch, while simultaneously pulling back the curtain on just how isolated Urithiru truly is. The political reality deflates any hope of swift unity and forces Dalinar to confront the possibility that his old methods might be the only path forward. At the same time, the continued return of his memories introduces a deeply personal crisis that parallels the public one: just as the nations refuse to believe he has changed, Dalinar is being forced to remember the man he once was. Malata’s introduction plants a seed of future tension inside the Radiant orders, while Taravangian’s strange blend of simplicity and sorrow invites readers to question how much of the old king remains.
Study Questions
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What makes the return of Dalinar’s memories so puzzling, and why is it significant? The Old Magic’s boon and curse are historically permanent; Navani’s research found no exception. The fact that Dalinar’s memories are resurfacing therefore breaks a seemingly unbreakable rule, suggesting either that his bond with the Stormfather is overriding the curse — though the Stormfather denies this — or that his original deal with the Nightwatcher was unlike any other. This anomaly hints that Dalinar’s path may be rewriting the expected boundaries of magic, paralleling the unprecedented nature of his Bondsmith bond.
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How does Taravangian’s behavior in this chapter serve a dual purpose for the story? On the surface, Taravangian appears simple to the point of helplessness, relying on Adrotagia for cues. Yet his unprompted remark about “men of blood and sorrow” and his tears reveal a sadness that seems too aware for a mere simpleton. This duality lets the narrative show him both as a figurehead the coalition can work with and as a puzzle — someone who may be more than he seems, a thread that will become critical later.
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Why does Dalinar feel cornered despite insisting on diplomacy, and what internal conflict does that create? Taravangian’s instinct to attack Herdaz or Thaylenah mirrors the reaction Dalinar fears from every other nation: they see Alethkar’s proposed alliance as a takeover in disguise. Dalinar knows that if no one joins willingly, the logical next step is to secure the Oathgates by force “for the greater good.” The returning memory of Evi — and the person he became after her death — makes him dread that he could easily slip back into the Blackthorn’s skin, betraying his oath to unite instead of divide.