Shattered Plains
| Shattered Plains | |
|---|---|
| |
| World | Roshar |
The Shattered Plains are a located on the border of the Frostlands and Unclaimed Hills formerly part of the Silver Kingdom of Natanatan.[1][2] They are aptly named, as the terrain of the Plains consists of huge numbers of plateaus of various sizes, surrounded on all sides by deep chasms. It is unknown what caused the landscape to form this way.
![[1]](#cite_note-Alethkar_Color.jpg-1){kind=link}
Topography
Only the western portion of the plains have been explored. The westernmost edge is ringed by ten circular valleys.[3] Each valley's ridges have been worn away by Highstorms where they connect to the Shattered Plains themselves.[4]
![[3]](#cite_note-Shattered_Plains.jpg-3){kind=link}
The edge of the plains consist of smaller plateaus with chasms ranging generally from 50 to 150 feet in depth which can be easily bridged, and many permanent bridges have been constructed joining them together. Moving eastward, the plains become much more varied in size and the chasms themselves can become much wider making crossing from one to another much more challenging.[5]
On the eastern side of the explored portion of the plains is a particularly large plateau known as "the Tower" for unknown reasons. The Tower is a favorite place for Chasmfiends to pupate.[6]
It is noted that Highstorms are particularly bad on the Shattered Plains, as there is no shelter on top of the plateaus, and the chasms often flood. This, added to the Plains being eastern, where the Highstorms are strongest, is the reason the Plains are not the optimal place to experience a Highstorm outdoors.
Some accounts describe the plains as looking as if something enormous had struck the center causing the plains fracturing to radiate somewhat symmetrically in all directions. Claims of lights in the center plateau (human habitation?) have also been recorded.[7]
Inhabitants
The only known permanent inhabitants of the Shattered Plains are the Parshendi. The ten valleys are currently occupied by various Alethi armies fighting the Parshendi under the Vengeance Pact.
