The Rift Rebellion (spoilers if you haven't read at least Stormlight 1-3)

[Display-Names-Are-Stupid]

Did we ever get confirmation in a WoB or anything on if Sadeas was the Highprince working with Tanalan?

[Treamayne]

59 minutes ago, Display-Names-Are-Stupid said:

Did we ever get confirmation in a WoB or anything on if Sadeas was the Highprince working with Tanalan?

There was no traitor working with Tanalan - at least not a specific one in that instance. Tanalan set it up as an ambush to kill the Blackthorn:

1. Because Dalinar killed his father
2. Because they would never win a battle with the Blackthorn in charge.

There was political rumormongering, as mentioned by Gavilar (Ch 49) - but that was more of a political "lets see how they handle this before we decide which side to back."

Spoiler

“I am failing,” Gavilar said.

“What?”

“Rathalas. The Rift.”

“But I thought—”

“Propaganda,” Gavilar said. “Intended to quiet critical voices in Kholinar. Tanalan is raising an army and settling into his fortifications. Worse, I think the other highprinces are encouraging him. They want to see how I handle this.” He sneered. “There’s talk I’ve grown soft over the years.”

 

[Display-Names-Are-Stupid]

Ahhh, thanks for this! 

I did wonder if it was all a fake out, or if it was a case of he wanted the Blackthorn gone AND he had help as well. 

[Treamayne]

1 hour ago, Display-Names-Are-Stupid said:

Ahhh, thanks for this! 

I did wonder if it was all a fake out, or if it was a case of he wanted the Blackthorn gone AND he had help as well. 

I would guess part of the gambit was to try driving a wedge between the Kholins and Sadeas. But Tanalan probably did not realize what color of Snake Torol was (he would always side with the strongest - at least until he was ready to make his own move - which was not until after Gavilar's death). 

[Display-Names-Are-Stupid]

37 minutes ago, Treamayne said:

I would guess part of the gambit was to try driving a wedge between the Kholins and Sadeas. But Tanalan probably did not realize what color of Snake Torol was (he would always side with the strongest - at least until he was ready to make his own move - which was not until after Gavilar's death). 

Very true, and I suppose the reader's viewpoint is coloured by how Sadeas has acted in WoK and WoR.

[bmcclure7]

18 hours ago, Treamayne said:

There was no traitor working with Tanalan - at least not a specific one in that instance. Tanalan set it up as an ambush to kill the Blackthorn:

1. Because Dalinar killed his father
2. Because they would never win a battle with the Blackthorn in charge.

There was political rumormongering, as mentioned by Gavilar (Ch 49) - but that was more of a political "lets see how they handle this before we decide which side to back."

  Reveal hidden contents

“I am failing,” Gavilar said.

“What?”

“Rathalas. The Rift.”

“But I thought—”

“Propaganda,” Gavilar said. “Intended to quiet critical voices in Kholinar. Tanalan is raising an army and settling into his fortifications. Worse, I think the other highprinces are encouraging him. They want to see how I handle this.” He sneered. “There’s talk I’ve grown soft over the years.”

 

 

18 hours ago, Treamayne said:

There was no traitor working with Tanalan - at least not a specific one in that instance. Tanalan set it up as an ambush to kill the Blackthorn:

1. Because Dalinar killed his father
2. Because they would never win a battle with the Blackthorn in charge.

There was political rumormongering, as mentioned by Gavilar (Ch 49) - but that was more of a political "lets see how they handle this before we decide which side to back."

  Reveal hidden contents

“I am failing,” Gavilar said.

“What?”

“Rathalas. The Rift.”

“But I thought—”

“Propaganda,” Gavilar said. “Intended to quiet critical voices in Kholinar. Tanalan is raising an army and settling into his fortifications. Worse, I think the other highprinces are encouraging him. They want to see how I handle this.” He sneered. “There’s talk I’ve grown soft over the years.”

 

Actually, there is a theory that the rift was inside job an attempt at assassinating Dalinar by his brother and Sadeas. It Would explain many things.

[Treamayne]

I'm not sure why you quoted the same post twice, but you should be able to fix that in Edit. 

5 minutes ago, bmcclure7 said:

Actually, there is a theory that the rift was inside job an attempt at assassinating Dalinar by his brother and Sadeas. It Would explain many things.

I'd agree to amending the first statement to "There's no current evidence supporting a traitor working with Tanalan"

Though I had not heard that theory before, i find it rather doubtful - based on how upset Gavilar was to hear Tanalan was allowed to live. Now, I might believe it was Sadeas trying to remove the Blackthorn on his own (or with Tanalan), but I still think it was more likely a gambit by Tanalan to drive a wedge between Kholin and Sadeas. Afterall, Torol was part of the attack that killed his father. . . 

[bmcclure7]

4 hours ago, Treamayne said:

I'm not sure why you quoted the same post twice, but you should be able to fix that in Edit. 

I'd agree to amending the first statement to "There's no current evidence supporting a traitor working with Tanalan"

Though I had not heard that theory before, i find it rather doubtful - based on how upset Gavilar was to hear Tanalan was allowed to live. Now, I might believe it was Sadeas trying to remove the Blackthorn on his own (or with Tanalan), but I still think it was more likely a gambit by Tanalan to drive a wedge between Kholin and Sadeas. Afterall, Torol was part of the attack that killed his father. . . 

You forgot that Gavilar found out Tanalan lived years before the destruction at the Rift. Plenty of time for his brother to see an opportunity and send Sadeas to contact the Rift with a plan to kill Dalinar

[Treamayne]

9 minutes ago, bmcclure7 said:

You forgot that Gavilar found out Tanalan lived years before the destruction at the Rift. Plenty of time for his brother to see an opportunity and send Sadeas to contact the Rift with a plan to kill Dalinar

I didn't forget that Gavilar discovered Tanalan's survival before sending the Blackthorn to the borders of Herdaz, then Jah Keved (all of which was before returning to the Rift).

I said what I meant, I believe his response was vehement enough that he would not have "plotted" with the "traitor" against his own brother in this instance - especially one in open rebellion that would remove Gavilar's number one military tool (no matter how unstable he had become without a war to fight). SA5 may prove differently (I am avoiding spoilers) but it seems very unlikely without explicit proof otherwise. Occam's razor Law of Parsimony* and all that jazz. . .

Spoiler

*Note: "Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem"

• "Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity"
• The best explanation is the one which makes the fewest assumptions and explains all the data. This means a highly complex answer may actually be the better one if an alternative, deceptively simpler answer fails on one or both counts (it may be easier to understand but requires unproven assumptions, or it fails to explain all the data).

 

[bmcclure7]

3 minutes ago, Treamayne said:

I didn't forget that Gavilar discovered Tanalan's survival before sending the Blackthorn to the borders of Herdaz, then Jah Keved (all of which was before returning to the Rift).

I said what I meant, I believe his response was vehement enough that he would not have "plotted" with the "traitor" against his own brother in this instance - especially one in open rebellion that would remove Gavilar's number one military tool (no matter how unstable he had become without a war to fight). SA5 may prove differently (I am avoiding spoilers) but it seems very unlikely without explicit proof otherwise. Occam's razor Law of Parsimony* and all that jazz. . .

  Reveal hidden contents

*Note: "Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem"

• "Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity"
• The best explanation is the one which makes the fewest assumptions and explains all the data. This means a highly complex answer may actually be the better one if an alternative, deceptively simpler answer fails on one or both counts (it may be easier to understand but requires unproven assumptions, or it fails to explain all the data).

 

I think you’re forgetting some other factors.

1. There were those at court that feared Dalinar would take power. It isn’t inconceivable that his brother would’ve had similar fears.

 

2. king gavilar is a practical man. I’m sure he’d be willing to use that “traitor.” Temporarily. After his brother was dead after all, you do not have excuse to destroy the rift. 
 

3. As you said yourself. Dalinar was unstable and Gavilar out of wars he could manufacture for him to fight.  Honestly, even if this theory is untrue, I highly doubt. Gavilar would have let his brother live very much longer if he hadn’t allowed himself to become distracted from the thrill by gaining a dependency on alcohol.