I-5. Taravangian

Taravangian experiences one of his rare days of exceptional intelligence while confined to his chambers at Urithiru. In this heightened state, he deconstructs a copy of the Diagram, rearranges its fragments to find new connections, and develops a revised strategy regarding Dalinar Kholin and the coalition.

Taravangian begins the day in a state of brilliant mental clarity, passing his daily intelligence tests with ease while dismissing the restrictive protocols established by his normal self. Servants and his advisors—Adrotagia, Mrall, and Dukar—facilitate his work, though Taravangian grows impatient with their formalities. He orders his bedroom cleared of furniture and requests music and privacy. Alone with a bound copy of the Diagram, Taravangian decides that binding it in codex form has constrained his original thinking. He cuts the book into fragments and arranges them on his walls using gum paste, discovering new connections by juxtaposing pages. He deciphers previously incomprehensible numbered passages, including the original "Dalinar paradigm" that called for the Assassin in White to kill Dalinar—a mission that failed. Adrotagia confronts him, revealing that he deliberately avoided answering the final test question to stay below the intelligence threshold that would trigger decision-making restrictions. Despite her objections, Taravangian continues his work. He later dismisses concerns about Urithiru's food production by proposing Stormlight-enhanced agriculture. His mood deteriorates as the day progresses; he insults Adrotagia, demands the execution of singing children (later clarified as simply silencing them), and harshly rejects his maid's attempts to care for him. By the chapter's end, Taravangian reveals his new strategy: rather than assassinate Dalinar, the Diagram organization will support the coalition, then pressure Dalinar to step down so Taravangian can assume leadership and negotiate with Odium from a position of power. He plans to use Malata's Dustbringer spren to spy on Dalinar and uncover secrets to exploit. Adrotagia and Mrall accept this interpretation as consistent with the Diagram's true purpose: saving what can be saved rather than attempting to defeat Odium.