Difference between revisions of "Roshar"

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|perpendicularity=[[Honor's Perpendicularity]], [[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]]
|magic=[[Surgebinding]], [[Old Magic]], [[Voidbinding]]
|gravity=0.7 [[cosmere standard]]{{au ref|roshar}}
|radius=0.9 cosmere standard{{au ref|roshar}}
|system=[[Rosharan system]]{{map ref|Roshar system}}
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{updatespoiler|sa4tsm}}
{{update|sa4|tsm}}
{{quote
|It is difficult not to feel very small, at times, on this domineering, majestic tempest of a planet.
}}
 
'''Roshar''' is a planet in the [[cosmere]] and one of thirteen planets in the [[Rosharan system]]. It is also the name of the supercontinent that contains all of the planet's known inhabitants.{{au ref|roshar}} It is the second planet from the system's sun, orbiting between [[Ashyn]] and [[Braize]], and it has three moons.{{filemap ref|Starchart_roshar_color.jpgRoshar system}} People from Roshar are called Rosharans.{{wob ref|1075}} The planet is particularly notable due to the activity of several [[Shard]]s of [[Adonalsium]] in the area and the various forms of magic used by its residents, including [[Surgebinding]] through the use of [[Stormlight]].{{au ref|roshar}}{{book ref|sa2|41}}
 
== Geography and Ecology ==
{{image|OB Roshar.jpg|Map of Roshar|side=right|width=400px}}
 
At one point in Roshar's past there were no large landmasses.{{wob ref|3556}} The supercontinent was designed by [[Adonalsium]], following the shape of a Julia set (a mathematical formula that gives a geometrical pattern when given a seed number).{{wob ref|3953}} It is the only continent on the planet, though not necessarily the only landmass.{{wob ref|6248}}
 
Gravitational acceleration on Roshar is notably lower than usual, at 6.86 m/s<sup>2</sup>, or 70% of the cosmere standard.{{au ref|roshar}} Though it is still in common ranges.{{book ref|tsm|19}} This is due, in part, to the planet's small size; Roshar has a circumference of approximately 22110 miles (35583 km), giving a radius of 3519 miles (5663 km), and comes in just under 90% of the cosmere standard size.{{au ref|roshar}}{{wob ref|10231}} These yield a planetary mass of 3.296&times;10<sup>24</sup> kilograms. The main continent lies primarily in the southern hemisphere, spanningand froman justaverage a few degrees northdensity of the equator to about 55&deg; south of the equator, and extends approximately 120&deg; longitude4.{{map33 ref|Roshar}} It covers roughly 4&times;10g/cm<sup>73</sup> square kilometers.
 
The main continent lies primarily in the southern hemisphere, spanning from just a few degrees north of the equator to about 55&deg; south of the equator, and extends approximately 120&deg; longitude.{{map ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|7116}}{{wob ref|13208}}{{wob ref|13629}} It covers roughly 4&times;10<sup>7</sup> square kilometers.
<!-- Calculations and more data:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/7ph9ap/no_spoilers_roshar_physical_calculations/
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Roshar has 0° of axial tilt.{{wob ref|11448}} Due to having no axial tilt, the sun runs along the equator. Rosharans can easily geolocate themselves and tell time by the path and location of the sun.{{book ref|sa2|87}}{{book ref|sa3|57}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|84}}{{book ref|sa1|i|5}}{{book ref|sa4|64}}{{book ref|yumi|4}} The orbital period of Roshar is around 1.1 standard years.{{book ref|tsm|11}}{{wob ref|8928}}{{wob ref|3781}}{{wob ref|5569}}{{wob ref|10572}} The solar day of Roshar is around 20 rosharan hours, and there are around 500 solar days in a year.{{wob ref|248}}
The percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere of Roshar is higher than standard cosmere.{{wob ref|1806}} There are no oil deposits from mass extinction events on Roshar.{{wob ref|15003}}
 
The partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere of Roshar is higher than standard cosmere.{{au ref|roshar}}{{wob ref|1806}} There are no oil deposits from mass extinction events on Roshar.{{wob ref|15003}}
The rainwater in highstorms is laced with a sort of slurry called [[crem]]. When crem dries, it hardens into rock. Since the highstorms always sweep from east to west, crem builds up on the eastern side of anything that stays still and isn't regularly cleaned. Over time, the continent is very slowly shifting across the planet as the highstorms cause erosion of the western part and a build up on the eastern part.{{wob ref|4422}}
 
Roshar does not have plate tectonics.{{wob ref|8508}}{{wob ref|4422}}{{wob ref|7237}}{{wob ref|10280}}{{wob ref|15320}}{{ref|group=fn|text=Despite this, Earthquakes are referenced on numerous occasions.{{book ref|sa1|60}}{{book ref|sa1|75}}{{book ref|sa2|60}}{{book ref|sa2|71}}{{book ref|sa3|116}} It is currently unclear if this is an oversight, or if there is an explanation for this that has not yet been revealed.}} Roshar produces enough of a magnetic field to protect it from its sun, allowing it to be inhabited by life.{{wob ref|5294}}
 
The rainwater in highstorms is laced with a sort of slurry called [[crem]]. When crem dries, it hardens into rock. Since the highstorms always sweep from east to west, crem builds up on the eastern side of anything that stays still and isn't regularly cleaned. Over time, the continent is very slowly shifting across the planet as the highstorms cause erosion of the western part and a build up on the eastern part.{{wob ref|4422}} This rainwater is full of nutrients, and plants given it fare better than those given water from other sources, such as lake or river water. Various cremlings search out and eat plants as they lap up the stormwater.{{book ref|sa4|11}}
 
=== Climate ===
With the exception of [[Shinovar]] and the occasional well-sheltered [[lait]], all of Roshar is frequently ravaged by powerful [[highstorm]]s, massive hurricanes travelling from east to west. These storms come frequently and, though they do not appear to follow a simple pattern, [[stormwarden]]s are able to accurately predict their schedule through complex mathematics.{{book ref|WoR|31}} As a result, Shinovar is the only place on Roshar that has soil.{{book ref|WoK|i|4}} A highstorm consists of a high altitude, wide-spread [[wikipedia:Cumulonimbus cloud|cumulonimbus]], scraping the top of Roshar's troposphere; they can be [[wikipedia:derecho|derecho]]-like storms bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
 
The one consistent aspect of the Rosharan climate is the [[Weeping]]. The Weeping occurs every five hundred days and consists of four weeks of steady crem-free rain. The middle day of those four weeks is known as the Lightday and alternates between being one clear day in the midst of the rain and being a high storm.{{book ref|WoR|46}} There are typically fewer highstorms in the weeks leading up to the Weeping.{{book ref|WoK|25}} The seasons following the weeping typically have weaker storms, making them good for farming.{{book ref|WoK|4}} BeyondDue this,to thehaving seasonszero areobliquity, aboutRoshar asdoes randomnot asexperience thetrue highstorms.seasons, Theywith canthem beinstead roughlysimply predictedbeing defined by stormwardenscurrent temperature, but only tend to last a few weeksclimate, and don'tstorms, followunrelated anyto obvious patternirradiance.{{wob Theref|11448}} characteristicsThese ofseasons winter,are spring,relatively summerrandom, and autumnare lineoften upquite fairlyshort, wellusually withlasting whatonly wea expectfew from those seasons on Earthweeks.{{book ref|WoKsa1|1825}}{{book ref|WoKsa1|464}} They can be roughly predicted by stormwardens. Seasons are primarily defined by changes in the storms.{{bookwob ref|WoK|2511448}} Due to not being caused by axial tilt, they can vary greatly even between relatively nearby nations on the same hemisphere.{{book ref|WoKsa3|5464}}
 
The equatorial regions of Roshar, particularly the Reshi Isles, are notable for their intense heat and humidity compared with the rest of the planet.{{book ref|sa3.5|16}}{{book ref|yumi|4}}{{book ref|sa4|50}}
 
===Spren===
{{for|Spren|more information about spren}}
 
Among many factors that make Roshar unique among other [[cosmere]] worlds is the overabundance of [[spren]]. Spren are small pieces of [[Investiture]] that have acquired sentience - and, in some cases, sapience - through the influence of Roshar's living creatures.{{book ref|sa2|3}} They are a mix of different [[Shard]]ic investitureInvestiture, mainly [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]], and exist mostly in the [[Cognitive Realm]].{{wob ref|11949}}{{book ref|sa2|1}} However, they can and will often become partially visible in the [[Physical Realm]], and some transition there entirely.
 
Three main groups of spren can be recognized. The nature spren correspond to various natural phenomena, such as [[Spren#Windspren|windspren]] or [[Spren#Flamespren|flamespren]], which appear in the presence of wind and fire respectively. Emotion spren are attracted to emotions, such as [[Spren#Fearspren|fearspren]] appearing when one is afraid or [[Spren#Gloryspren|gloryspren]] for people who feel intense pride.{{book ref|sa2|1}} However, a natural phenomenon or an emotion will not necessarily summon a spren, as they may not be present in the physical place's Cognitive equivalent.
{{for|:Category:Rosharan lifeforms|a list of Rosharan flora and fauna}}
 
The shape and form of Rosharan ecology is influenced by four major factors: lower gravity, higher oxygen content, highstorms, and spren. The higher oxygen content and the lower gravity permit the existence of megafauna comparable only to the largest [[sandling]]s on [[Taldain]], while several species of animals are capable of forming spren bonds, further augmenting their capabilities.{{wob ref|10243}} However, the most visually notable feature of Rosharan ecology is the way vast majority of them adapted to highstorms. Multiple species of both flora and fauna have developed shells to protect themselves from extreme weather, withdrawing into them whenever any danger approaches.
 
Several species are noted as having body parts made of stone, such as the bark of [[dalewillow]] or hooves of [[Ryshadium]]s.{{book ref|sa3|10}} As stone doesn't grow naturally, three possibilities must be considered:
 
Roshar does have larger flora. Some trees, including the aforementioned [[dalewillow]], have trunks made of stone while others, such as the [[jella]], augment their wooden bark by accumulating crem. Like rockbuds, they withdraw their fronds into the trunks when sensing danger. There are also species such as [[makam]] and [[cobwood]], which appear to be sturdy enough to sustain highstorms without added protection.{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{book ref|sa2|66}}
 
Rosharan grass is known to move away from disruptions or vibrations, often fully retracting to protect itself.{{wob ref|13363}}{{cite}} It is type of shallowly burrowed seed pod that has enough room to hold moisture and contain the coiled up leaf. They at most grow to around three feet tall. Seeds emerge from the leaf tip to either be consumed and redeposited as faeces, or carried and redesposited by the wind.{{wob ref|13363}}
 
;Human uses
 
Some species of native Rosharan flora are edible for humans. This includes a number of fruits as well as a rice-like plant called [[tallew]], and [[lavis]], a type of rockbud that produces grain. Tallew, lavis, and lavislongroot appear to be the major ingredients of Rosharan diet, with massive farmlands devoted to them throughout the continent.{{book ref|sa1|4}} In the West, the same niche appears to be filled by [[clema]].{{book ref|Edgedancer|6}}
 
Additionally, there exist a number of plants with known healing properties. This includes antiseptics, such as the sap of [[knobweed]] and [[fourleaf]], as well as [[lister's oil]]; treatments for specific diseases, such as [[bitterleaf]] for epilepsy and [[bloodivy]] for the [[grindings]]; anesthetics like [[winterwort]] and [[firemoss]]; and other, more specific medicines, such as [[denocax salve|denocax]], which encourages skin healing.
 
;Spren symbiosis
Multiple native species, as well as at least one imported animal, have formed symbiotic relationships with [[spren]]. This appears to be faciliated by [[gemheart]]sgemhearts, crystals that grow naturally within the bodies of those creatures.
 
* Larger animals on Roshar utilize bonds with [[mandra]]s, or luckspren, to decrease the pull of gravity on them, allowing creatures such as [[chasmfiend]]s to exist without collapsing upon themselves. In the case of [[skyeel]]s, the same bond, coupled with smaller size, permits them to fly.
Due to the presence of the Shard [[Cultivation]], the creatures on Roshar have higher chance of developing sapience.{{wob ref|2792}} So far, behaviour indicating sapience has been observed with three species, [[Ryshadium]] horses, [[Tai-na]] and [[santhid]]yn, all of which appear to have above average understanding of humans.
 
Separately from this, Roshar is known to have developed two independent sentientsapient species: [[Siah Aimian]]s and [[Singer]]s. Both of them are humanoid, and capable of breeding with humans.{{wob ref|457}}{{wob ref|930}} Roshar's other sentient species are humans, who immigrated there from [[Ashyn]], the Iriali, who have since fully integrated with the population of the planet,{{wob ref|9551}}{{wob ref|8901}} and the [[Sleepless]] (known also as Dysian Aimians), who may not be native to the planet.{{wob ref|9464}}{{wob ref|12657}}
 
== History ==
=== Pre-Desolation Roshar ===
==== Creation and Early Inhabitants ====
The planet of Roshar predates the [[Shattering]]. It had likely existed for about 12twelve to 13thirteen thousand years by the time of the True Desolation.{{wob ref|14898}}{{ref|group=fn|text=Whether this refers to standard years or Rosharan years is currently unclear.}} The continent was specifically grown by [[Adonalsium]].{{epigraph ref|sa2|66}}{{wob ref|3952}}{{wob ref|5294}} Much of the ecology of the planet existed from this time, including the [[highstorm]]s and the [[spren]].{{wob ref|167}}{{wob ref|6567}} PeopleSingers lived on Roshar prior to the [[Shattering]].{{wob ref|3779}} The [[singers]] were the primary inhabitants of Roshar at this time and are likely the [[Dawnsingers]] spoken of in modern times.{{wob ref|3922}} At some point after the Shattering, [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]] settled on Roshar. They were equally Invested in the planet originally, though the balance shifted after Honor's death.{{wob ref|12038}}
 
Around ten-thousand Rosharan years (11000 standard years) before the [[True Desolation]], intelligent spren were created.{{book ref|sa4|i|1}} This was presumably around the time [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]] settled on Roshar.
 
==== The Expulsion and Early Interactions ====
|From the [[Eila Stele]]{{epigraph ref|sa3|115}}
}}
Humans fled to Roshar from [[Ashyn]], another planet in the [[Rosharan system]], around seven-thousand years before the True Desolation.{{epigraph ref|sa3|115}}{{book ref|sa4|14}}{{book ref|sa4|111}}{{wob ref|9464}} They had destroyed the planet using what Honor implied to be the [[Dawnshard]]s, after Odium tricked [[Ishar]] into experimenting with Surges.{{book ref|sa3|113}}{{book ref|sa4|111}} Honor and Cultivation commanded the singers to take the humans in despite the forbidden powers they had relating to [[spren]] and [[Surge]]s,{{epigraph ref|sa3|115}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|116}} and they were given [[Shinovar]] to live in since Shinovar could support the plants and animals they brought.{{book ref|sa3|113}} With the humans came [[Odium]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|117}} The humans, possibly with Odium's influence, grew dissatisfied with what they were given. The conflict between the invading humans and the singers living on Roshar became the [[First Desolation]].{{book ref|sa3|111}}
 
{{image|The History of Man.jpg|side=left|width=250px|A [[Vorin]] perspective on the history of mankind by [[Greg Call]].}}
 
=== The Heraldic Epochs ===
:''Main article:'' [[Desolation]]s
 
The [[Desolation]]s were conflicts between mankind and [[Voidbringer]]s. The first Desolation occurred when humans invaded Roshar from the land they were given.{{book ref|sa3|111}} Some of the singers were infused with Odium's [[Investiture]] and became the [[Fused]]. The Fused did not pass into the [[Beyond]] and were instead reborn into the bodies of singers. To combat this, the [[Herald]]s made a deal with Honor called the [[Oathpact]]. This deal sealed away the Fused on Braize. However, there was a loophole. The Heralds could choose to allow the Fused to return to Roshar, so they were caught on Braize and tortured. The return of Heralds and Fused and the conflict that occurred became known as the Desolations.{{book ref|sa3|38}} The spren started to mimic the herald's [[Honorblade]]s and the [[Knights Radiant]] were formed. They helped to fight and rebuild society after a Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|4}}
 
To combat this, the [[Herald]]s made a deal with Honor called the [[Oathpact]]. This deal sealed away the Fused on Braize. However, there was a loophole. The Heralds could choose to allow the Fused to return to Roshar, so they were caught on Braize and tortured. The return of Heralds and Fused and the conflict that occurred became known as the Desolations.{{book ref|sa3|38}} The spren started to mimic the herald's [[Honorblade]]s and the [[Knights Radiant]] were formed. They helped to fight and rebuild society after a Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|4}}
 
Time during this period was separated into several-century long Epochs, which are further separated into years.{{book ref|sa1|19}}{{book ref|sa1|38}} The exact method for defining when an Epoch starts or ends is currently unknown.{{wob ref|11831}} One Desolation began to show signs of occurring in the Eighth Epoch, year 337, when a small village in [[Natanatan]] was attacked by the [[Midnight Essence]].{{book ref|sa1|19}}
 
The time between each Desolation grew shorter with each subsequent Desolation. At first there were centuries between Desolations, which eventually shortened into decades, which finally became a single year between the Last Desolation and the one directly before it.{{book ref|sa1|38}}
 
==== The Last Legion ====
}}
 
At the end of the [[Last Desolation]], around 4500 before the True Desolation,{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} nine of the ten Heralds had survived the fighting. As usual, they were supposed to return to [[Braize]] to hold back the [[Fused]]. However, knowing they could not face more torture, they came up with an alternative plan. [[Taln]], the only Herald never to have broken during the millennia of Desolations and the only Herald who had died that time, would remain on Braize by himself.{{book ref|sa3|38}} They had been warned that lingering on Roshar could lead to the start of another Desolation, but [[Ishar]] claimed that Taln by himself would be enough to hold back the Desolations and maintain the Oathpact. Rather than tell mankind the truth, the Heralds proclaimed that they had finally won the war against the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa1|prelude}} This deception lasted for four thousand fivearound hundred4500 years, until Taln finally returned from Braize to Roshar by mechanics which are as yet unclear.{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{wob ref|14869}}
 
=== The Era of Solitude ===
|side=right|size=350px
}}
The [[False Desolation]] began around 2500 years after the Last Desolation,{{book ref|sa3|56}} when [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]] learned how to [[Connection|Connect]] with the majority of the singers, giving them [[Regal|forms of power]] and access to [[Voidlight]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} The Radiants, unaware of how she did this, sought a way to end the fighting for good, as the Heralds had promised them.{{epigraph ref|sa3|82}} The fighting became particularly intense at this time,{{epigraph ref|sa2|41}} as the singers made a push towards [[Feverstone Keep]], possibly as part of a plan to capture [[Rall Elorim]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|84}}
 
Working together, the scholars among the Radiants theorized that an [[Unmade]] could be imprisoned like a regular [[spren]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} That devised a plan to trap Ba-Ado-Mishram and prevent her from Connecting with the singers and providing them with Voidlight.{{epigraph ref|sa3|78}} This plan would require [[Melishi]], the only [[Bondsmith]] of his generation,{{epigraph ref|sa3|67}} and a special prison, likely a [[perfect gemstone]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} Although Melishi was confident the plan would succeed in destroying the Voidbringers, [[Naze-daughter-Kuzodo]] warned of unintended side effects.{{epigraph ref|sa3|81}} Although the plan seems to have succeeded, as Ba-Ado-Mishram has not been seen in modern times unlike other Unmade,{{epigraph ref|sa3|107}} Naze-daughter-Kuzodo's warning was correct. Because she had been Connected to all the singers, their Connection and [[Identity]] was torn out of them, creating slaveform or parshmen.{{book ref|sa3|17}} The Radiants' horror for what happened likely contributed to the Recreance.
During the lead up to the [[Day of Recreance]], many events occurred which demoralized the Knights Radiant. The [[Sibling]], for some unknown reason, withdrew from [[Urithiru]] and forced the Knights to abandon their ancestral home. Many Radiants blamed this on a perceived unworthiness, including increased conflicts between the [[Windrunners]] and [[Skybreakers]], but scholars of the time disagreed.{{epigraph ref|sa3|70}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|64}} This concern extended to potential infiltration by [[Unmade]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|73}} While this was occurring, the False Desolation was coming to a close. The presumed success in imprisoning Ba-Ado-Mishram leading to the singers having their Connection and Identity ripped out of them likely influenced the Radiants.{{book ref|sa3|17}} In the midst of this turmoil, the Radiants discovered the truth about the origins of humans on Roshar. The singers had been the original inhabitants of Roshar. The humans came as refugees from their [[Ashyn|homeworld]], which they had destroyed with surges. After being taken in by the singers and given [[Shinovar]], they invaded Roshar and started the Desolations. While Honor had comforted previous generations who learned this, this time he was dying. He raved about the [[Dawnshard]]s and promised the Radiants they would destroy Roshar like they had their homeworld.{{book ref|sa3|113}}
 
As a result of these revelations, the nine of the ten orders decided to abandon their oaths, and in agreement with their spren, kill them. They believed that this would prevent the destruction of Roshar Honor warned them about.{{book ref|sa3|113}} At the locations they left their [[Shardplate|Plate]] and [[Shardblade|Blades]], men quickly began fighting over the weapons, leading to much death and destruction.{{book ref|sa1|52}} The Radiants, other than the Skybreakers, were quickly turned on and killed because of the sense of betrayal felt.{{epigraph ref|sa2|41}} Society for both spren and humans drastically changed in the aftermath. Those with Shardblades quickly consolidated their power, including using ''[[Arts and Majesty]]'' to justify women not wielding them.{{wob ref|6245}} It is likely that this is when [[lighteyes]] truly came to power. The genocide decimated the populations of spren societies. Most of the survivors were children forced to spend centuries without nurture or guidance. Some societies took two thousand years to fully recover. {{book ref|sa3|47}}
 
==== The Scouring of Aimia ====
==== The Hierocracy and the War of Loss ====
:''Main articles:'' [[Hierocracy]] and [[War of Loss]]
The [[Hierocracy]] began when the [[Vorinism|Vorin Church]] decided to conquer the world and run the government rather than just provide spiritual guidance.{{book ref|sa1|36}} They claimed their conquering was for the good of the people. Some of the most powerful ardents claimed to have visions from the [[Almighty]], which they used to solidify their rule and obfuscate their religion. One of their main goals was to destroy knowledge of the failures of Vorinism, including [[Shadesmar]], the Knights Radiant, and the Recreance.{{book ref|sa2|3}}{{book ref|sa1|45}} They were primarily successful, as even the major libraries on Roshar are missing this information. Before the Hierocracy could spread to the west, [[Sadees]], the Sunmaker, united the princedoms of [[Alethkar]] to drive out the Hierocracy five centuries before the True Desolation.{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{book ref|sa1|24}}{{book ref|sa1|26}} They fought in manyvarious epiclarge battles the likes of which have not been seen since in what came to be known as the [[War of Loss]].{{book ref|sa1|52}} The Sunmaker successfully cast down the Hierocracy and stated the visions were a fraud.
 
Sadees's win in the War of Loss affected much of eastern Roshar. Sadees declared himself king of Alethkar and began a conquest of Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|34}} Although the extent of his empire is not exactly known, [[Herdaz]] and [[Azir]] were both included. He committed genocide in Azir and killed ten percent of the population.{{book ref|sa3|42}} His empire quickly collapsed after his death, however, as he did not choose an heir, and his ten sons divided the kingdom into princedoms and became [[highprince]]s.{{book ref|sa3|19}} The effects of the Hierocracy on Vorinism can still be felt incenturies the modern timelater. The central leadership of the church was destroyed and split into mostly independent [[Devotaries]].{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{book ref|sa1|36}} The ardents became slaves who could not own land or property.{{book ref|sa1|45}}{{book ref|sa1|59}} Their revisions to historical texts also perpetuate, and it is difficult to find information about pre-Hierocracy history or the Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa2|3}}
 
==== Reunification of Alethkar ====
{{expand}}
In the year {{rosharan date|1158}}, House Kholin, led by [[Gavilar Kholin]], led a war in order to reunify Alethkar like Sadees did before him. This conquest was successful, subjugating all ten Alethi princedoms under a singular crown for the first time since the times of the Sunmaker.
 
==== Singer-Human Relations ====
{{expand}}
 
===== Assassination of Gavilar Kholin =====
{{for|Assassination of Gavilar}}
In {{rosharan date|1167}}, during the signing celebration of the Alethi-Listener treaty, Gavilar revealed his plans to return the Fused to Roshar to Eshonai. This led her to warning the Five. Together, the Five decided that he had to be killed before he could go through with his plans. Coming to this decision, they sent [[Szeth]] as an assassin, and successfully killed the king.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}
 
This assassination was traced back to the Listeners, as three Listeners remained to take credit for ordering the assassination,{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} leading to [[Elhokar Kholin]] and the Ten Highprinces to declare war upon them in the [[Vengeance Pact]], beginning the [[War of Reckoning]].
 
==== The Eighties War ====
{{for|Eighty's War}}
 
Meanwhile, in the Makabakam region, Emul and Tukar began to engage in a protracted war over ownership of the Dawncity of [[Sesemalex Dar]]. The Emuli had the city situated as their capital, and claimed it was their ancestral homeland, granted to them by the Heralds themselves.{{book ref|sa1|54}}{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} On the other side, the Tukari, led by the Herald Ishar, also claimed rightful ownership of the city for unknown reasons.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
 
This conflict was not something new, with various wars over Sesemalex Dar occurring over the history of the two nations, with the Eighty's War only being the most recent iteration of these conflicts.{{book ref|sa2.5|2}}
 
==== The War of Reckoning ====
==== Expedition to Aimia ====
{{for|Expedition to Akinah}}
At some point long before the True Desolation, the Dawnshard of Change was brought to Aimia, and the [[Sleepless]] became its guardians.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}
{{expand}}
 
During the expedition to Aimia, [[Rsyn]] took on the Dawnshard of Change.{{book ref|sa3.5|16}}{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}{{expand}}
 
==== Singer Occupation of Urithiru ====
 
During the Occupation, Navani and Raboniel worked together to discover [[Anti-Voidlight]], through which they were able to bring permanent death to the Fused. Following this discover, Raboniel was able to discover [[Anti-Stormlight]], to be used as a weapon against Spren and the Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa4|97}}
 
==== Expedition to Emul and Ascension of Taravangian ====
{{expand}}
 
Taravangian was assassinated by Szeth while being met by Odium. On his transition to the Cognitive Realm, he managed to kill Odium's Vessel with the Cognitive Aspect of Nightblood, and took the Shard for himself. Thus, he ascended as the new Vessel of Odium.{{book ref|sa4|113}}
 
==== Contest of Champions ====
The Contest of Champions between Odium and Dalinar, wherein the fate of Roshar and the Oathpact was to be decidedecided, was planned to occur on {{rosharan date|1175|5|2|5}}.{{book ref|sa4|112}}
 
==== Post-Contest ====
Even several years after the Contest of Champions, in {{date|348|fa}} in the Scadrian reckoning, travel to and from Roshar in Shadesmar was still considered extremely dangerous. This made interplanetary trade infeasible.{{book ref|mb7|39}}
 
==== Space Age ====
Long after the True Desolation, Roshar became involved in interplanetary conflicts.{{book ref|tsm|44}} They are considered uncivilized by the [[Scadrial|Scadrian]] [[TimeTellers]].{{book ref|tsm|44}}
 
== Culture and Society ==
}}
 
Various nations rose and fall over Rosharan history, outside of the Silver Kingdoms, and thus no longer stand in the modern day:
In the the modern era, the Era of Solitude, the current division of twenty-six countries and regions in Roshar are:
 
{{columns|
*[[Bayala]]
*[[Eiliz]]
*[[Revv]]
*[[Sur]]
*[[Tarma]]
*[[Akak]]
}}
 
 
In the modern era, the Era of Solitude, the current division of thirty-two known countries and regions in Roshar are:
{{columns|
*[[Thaylenah]]
*[[Iri]]
*[[Rira (country)|Rira]]
*[[Kharbranth]]
*[[Kadrix]]
*[[Quili]]
*[[Abri]]
*[[Arak]]
*[[Sumi]]
}}
 
=== Calendar ===
The RosharanVorin calendar is divided up into ten months, with ten weeks each. Both the months and the weeks are named after the RosharanVorin numerals (which, in turn, are derived from the names of the [[Herald]]s), and are sometimes combined into abbreviations. Such abbreviations have the full name of the month and two suffixes, for week and day. Each week is five days, and a year on Roshar is 500 days long, ultimately defined by the time between two [[Weeping]]s.{{book ref|sa2|46}} Although the Rosharan year is 500 days long, these days are shorter than usual, coming in at 20 Rosharan hours.{{ref|text=A Rosharan hour is slightly shorter than an Earth hour.{{wob ref|8086}}|group=Note}}{{wob ref|8928}} Consequently, a Rosharan year is only 10% longer than the cosmere standard.{{wob ref|8086}}{{au ref|Rosharan}} As an example Chachel means it's the third day of the week.{{book ref|sa1|46}} Interestingly, Kaladin, who gets paid once a week, refers to payday as "third pass".{{book ref|sa1|14}} Presumably, this means that another way to talk about days of the week is by saying first, second, third, fourth or fifth pass.
 
Each week is made up of five days,{{book ref|sa1|14}} with a month being made of ten weeks or fifty days,{{book ref|sa1|27}} and a year on Roshar is 500 days long, ultimately defined by the time between two [[Weeping]]s.{{book ref|sa2|46}}
 
Although the Rosharan year is 500 days long, these days are shorter than usual, coming in at 20 Rosharan hours, which are themselves cut down into 50 Rosharan minutes.{{ref|text=A Rosharan hour is slightly shorter than an Earth hour, roughly 0.964 hours.{{wob ref|8086}}|group=fn}}{{wob ref|8928}} Consequently, a Rosharan year is only 10% longer than the cosmere standard.{{wob ref|8086}}{{au ref|Rosharan}}{{book ref|tsm|11}}
 
Other cultures across Roshar have different calendars, which consequently leads to differences in recorded year between nations and cultures. One culture known to make use of a different calendar are the Unkalaki. The Tukari and Emuli, and potentially the Azish in general, in which whose reckoning deems the period from Vorin year {{rosharan date|1167}} and {{rosharan date|1174}} to be in the eighties of an unclear century and millennium.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{book ref|sa3.5|16}}{{wob ref|14531}}
 
<center>Abbreviation Examples
 
The denomination of spheres in eastern Roshar is weaker than in the west, with some people drilling holes in spheres to carry them on strings or using chunks of gemstone instead.{{book ref|sa2.5|6}}
 
Glass beads without gemstones inside are called 'Ends', and are mainly used as gambling tokens.{{book ref|sa3|40}}
 
===Food and Drink===
====Wines====
{{image|Types of Wine.jpeg|width=250px|side=right|Types of Rosharan wine}}
Unlike Earth wines, on Roshar the term refers to a number of alcoholic drinks, only a small subset of which are made of fermented fruit. The use of the term "wine" is the result of linguistic shift, much in the same way that all birds became [[chicken]]s and all small crustaceans became [[cremling]]s.{{wob ref|3978}} The alcohols that fall under the term "wine" are categorized by strength and color, with different colors denoting different alcohol content. Additionally, the stronger "wines" are actually distilled spirits.{{wob ref|12920}}.
 
In order from weakest to strongest, those are:
* '''Pink''', which typically has a distinct floral taste. It's said to assist alertness. This wine is actually a juice and has no alcoholic content.{{wob ref|12920}}.
* '''Orange''', fruity and with notes of ginger, although apparently it's not made of fruit.
* '''Yellow''', which has a deep, "bold" taste while being weak enough to drink casually.
Apart from wines, Roshar has a number of other alcoholic drinks. Among those is beer, of which the most popular variety appears to be [[mudbeer]], often drunk to warm up.{{book ref|sa1|25}} Another drink is a liquor called [[honu]], which comes in several varieties that differ in strength.{{book ref|sa2|81}} Both beer and honu are made from [[lavis]] grain.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
 
The [[Unkalaki]] people have a number of their own alcoholic beverages. This includes a brownish drink called [[shiki]], which has to be chilled overnight, and the infamous Horneater lager, which is far stronger than regular beers, with one bartender claiming it melts their cups. Strongest among the Horneater beverages is the {{anchor|Horneater white}} '''Horneater white'''. A clear, distilled moonshine, it is the strongest known alcohol on Roshar (with the possible exception of some violet wines). It is known to strip paint, and can apparently be deadly to non-Unkalaki.{{book ref|sa3|37}}{{book ref|sa3|18}} It is comparable to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everclear Everclear].{{wob ref|12920}}
 
Other, unspecified alcohols drank across Roshar include a variety of ciders, juices and lagers.{{file ref|Rosharan Wines.jpg|Rosharan Wines}}
 
Spren in Shadesmar speak their own languages, of which we have little information on.{{wob ref|3977}}
 
==== Features ====
 
Rosharan phrases and curses often have distinct connotations specific to Roshar, such as mentioning Stormfather or storms in some way. [[Alethi]] and other [[Vorin]] cultures are also likely to use [[Almighty]] or [[Heralds]] in their phrases, while [[Singer]] / [[Listener]] phrases would often use rhythms or tones.
 
==== Writing ====
 
There are at least three Rosharan writing systems, the Alethi [[Women's script]], [[Thaylen script]] and the [[Glyphs]].{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Alethi Glyphs, Page 1}}{{book ref|sa1|28}}{{book ref|sa1|8}}
 
Vorinism teaches that it is unnatural and not masculine for men to read and write in the Alethi script.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
 
Although men being able to read Glyphs is permitted, people have a heavy prejudice towards [[Stormwarden|Stormwardens]], who have adapted glyphs into a full writing system, although this prejudice is largely due to the Vorin teachings about those who claim to see the future.{{book ref|sa1|60}}{{book ref|sa2|52}}
 
[[Glyphs]] are largely logographic, meaning writing symbols or pictures to convey ideas, rather than an alphabet like The Women's script.{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Alethi Glyphs, Page 1}}
 
Thaylen is an abjad, meaning it has little to no written vowels, instead, vowels are inferred. An example of this is the name of the slaver [[Tvlakv]].{{ref|name=decryption}}
 
Thaylen is typically written vertically, but is sometimes written left to right {{ref|name=decryption}}
 
[[Dalinar]] describes the Azish writing system as looking like the tracks cremlings make.
 
===Singer Society===
{{image|Roshar_and_Surroundings.jpeg|side=right|width=250px|Roshar and its surrounding celestial bodies}}
{{for|Rosharan system}}
Roshar is the second planet from its sun.{{au ref|Roshar}} It has several notable heavenly bodies, including three moons. The first and smallest moon is violet '''Salas'''. The middle moon is '''Nomon''', which is a bright, pale blue. The final moon is '''Mishim''', which is smaller than Nomon and green. The Shin refer to the moons as the Three Sisters, and call each moon by its order, with Salas being the First Sister, Nomon the Second Sister and Mishim the Third Sister, while in [[Natanatan]], Nomon is considered to be male.{{book ref|sa3|67}} The [[singer]]s call Nomon Honor's Moon.{{book ref|sa4|31}} All three moons rise and fall in the same order every night and have highly unstable orbits on an astronomical timescale, suggesting they were placed artificially. They also complete two orbits per day.{{wob ref|16058}} These moons are relatively small,{{book ref|sa1|19}}{{ref|group=fn|text= They are comparable to [[wikipedia:Phobos_(moon)|Phobos]] in size (about 11 kilometers in radius).{{wob ref|9202}}{{wob ref|8096}}}} They orbit relatively close to the surface, and during the night they come closer than their geosynchronous orbit altitude.{{wob ref|9202}}{{wob ref|8096}}
 
Other notable features of Rosharan sky are [[Taln's Scar]] and [[Tear|Reya's Tear]]. The Scar is a great swath of red stars that stand out against the white ones.{{book ref|sa1|2}} It is important in Rosharan astrology, particularly its position on one's seventh birthday.{{book ref|sa1|33}} The [[Tear]] is a particularly bright star, named after a single tear shed by a woman named [[Reya]] from Rosharan mythology.{{book ref|sa2|31 }}
 
There are two other telluric planets in the [[Rosharan system]]: [[Braize]] and [[Ashyn]].{{au ref|Roshar}} Both of them are currently inhabited. The remaining celestial bodies in the system are ten gas giants, named after Vorin numerals, which are separated from the telluric planets by an asteroid belt.{{au ref|Roshar}}
 
== Trivia ==
* Although the word "dozen" is often used in the ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'', Rosharans actually would say tens instead and Brandon just translated "tens" into "dozens" to make the book easier to read.{{wob ref|14013}}
* At some point, the Rosharan supercontinent was originally planned to be shaped like a cymatic pattern, but this idea was scrapped in favor of a Julia Set. In [[The Way of Kings Prime]], it was laid out in a three-pronged shape.{{wob ref|7116}}
* There is no chocolate on Roshar.{{wob ref|14605}}
* Roshar is of interest to several powers in the cosmere, as it is a world where pure Investiture is incredibly easy to come by.
== Notes ==
;Footnotes
<references group=Notefn />
 
{{17s ref
|name=decryption
|date=2014-3-14
|topic|6487|Thaylen and Alethi Glyph Translation
}}
 
;References
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