Editing Ashyn

{{Shardworld
|map=Ashyn.jpg
|shards=None current, potential Investiture from [[Cultivation]]'s past presence{{wob ref|15171}}
|magic=Unknown, disease-based
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]], [[The Silence Divine]]
|system=[[Rosharan system]]{{map ref|Roshar system}}
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|There is Ashyn, the burning planet, which suffered a cataclysm long ago. 
|From [[Khriss]]'s essay on the [[Rosharan System]]{{au ref|roshar}}
}}
'''Ashyn''' is a planet in the [[Rosharan system]] that will be the setting of ''[[The Silence Divine]]''.{{wob ref|9847}} It is the first planet from Roshar's sun.{{map ref|Roshar system}}

== Geography and Ecology ==
In the past, Ashyn was largely Earth-like, with animals such as birds and horses, and plants like grapes.{{wob ref|12702}}{{wob ref|12228}} Although it is not known what the ecology of Ashyn was precisely like, it likely closely resembled the [[Shinovar]] region on [[Roshar]], as the plants and animals there are ones brought by the original refugees.{{book ref|sa3|113}} On Roshar, weather patterns are referred to as "seasons", despite not matching seasons in length, cause, or pattern. This presumably indicates that "season" is a linguistic holdover from Ashyn and therefore that Ashyn has seasons, and, by extension, axial tilt.{{book ref|sa1|22}}{{wob ref|11448}}{{wob ref|12228}}

An ecological catastrophe in the past has destroyed most of the planet, annihilating its biosphere.{{epigraph ref|sa3|115}} In the present day, the planet is mostly barren, with a few fertile patches.{{au ref|roshar}}{{wob ref|9847}} There are some reptiles on it.{{wob ref|15003}} The planet is called "the burning planet" but it is unknown what this means for its geography.{{au ref|roshar}} The [[Listener Song of Histories]] describes Ashlyn as "warm", though it is unknown weather this is describing the planet before or after the disaster.{{epigraph ref|sa2|30}}

== History ==
{{sidequote
|They came from another world, using powers that we have been forbidden to touch. Dangerous powers, of spren and Surges. They destroyed their lands and have come to us begging.
|The [[Eila Stele]] describing the Ashynite refugees.{{book ref|sa3|111}}
|side=right|size=300px
}}
Like the rest of the [[Rosharan System]], Ashyn was designed by [[Adonalsium]].{{wob ref|9283}}{{wob ref|12702}} It was eventually settled by humans. Originally their civilizations had access to powerful magic that was forbidden on [[Roshar]]; this magic was named the [[surges]].{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{wob ref|9464}}{{wob ref|14434}} Despite its name, however, this may have been a magic system only similar to the surges used on Roshar.{{wob ref|14921}}

The use of Surgebinding on Ashyn was not controlled, and this ultimately lead to a calamity and to the destruction of most of the planet.{{wob ref|9464}}{{wob ref|14434}}{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{au ref|Roshar}} The civilizations native to Ashyn attempted to flee, with many managing to migrate to Roshar as refugees, where they were accepted by the local populace.{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{book ref|sa3|116}} They did this using Elsecalling, amplified by a Bondsmith.{{wob ref|15860}} [[Odium]] arrived on Roshar along with them.{{book ref|sa3|117}} The memory of Ashyn would have a large effect on Rosharan mythology.{{wob ref|10549}} as it is remembered as the Tranquiline Halls.{{wob ref|8496}}

Despite the devastation, some patches of Ashyn remained hospitable.{{au ref|roshar}} The magic on Ashyn changed after the destruction to become illness-based.{{wob ref|3086}}{{wob ref|11585}}{{wob ref|11304}} This worked off a symbiotic relationship between [[Investiture]] and bacteria/viruses;{{wob ref|14143}} by allowing oneself to get infected, one gains magical effects. Among the surviving areas of Ashyn are the famous floating cities which are held afloat due to a special disease.{{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|12271}} Some on Ashyn remain aware of Roshar's existence.{{wob ref|11741}}

== Culture ==
Following the devastation on Ashyn the majority of its population fled to Roshar, the nearest hospitable planet, for refuge. The remainders live on the few habitable pieces of land left on the worlds surface, which includes its famous floating cities.{{au ref|roshar}}{{wob ref|8243}}

The destruction of Ashyn has had a major impact on Rosharan culture being remembered as the [[Tranquiline Halls]] and gaining religious significance in [[Vorinism]].{{wob ref|8496}} Ashyn itself has also remained aware of Roshar's existence however the impact this has had on their culture is unknown.{{wob ref|11741}} Little can be ascertained as to how Ashyn culture functions, however it is known that due to the way Investiture manifests upon the world, disease is an important aspect of it. In particular the floating cities are held afloat by individuals infected with a disease that causes hearing loss making them essential to the cities continued existence.{{wob ref|12271}}

== Magic ==
Ashyn currently has no [[Shard]], but [[Cultivation]] spent some time there.{{wob ref|15171}} [[Odium]] also possibly spent some time there, as he followed the Ashynites to Roshar.{{wob ref|6646}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|117}} Like most of the Rosharan system, the planet is 10-centric.{{wob ref|2745}}

The magic of Ashyn is disease-based. As the bacteria and viruses there seek to keep their hosts alive, they provide them with access to supernatural abilities, which differ depending on the disease. The Ashynites harness this by lowering their immune systems and deliberately infecting themselves to gain various powers.{{wob ref|7584}}{{wob ref|1862}}

Very little is known about the specific forms of magic granted by the illnesses, though a few have been described. The most important from the survival standpoint causes hearing loss while allowing its host to manipulate gravity. As such, it's crucial to the functioning of Ashyn's flying cities, which are kept aloft by conclaves of people infected with it.{{wob ref|12271}} Other abilities granted by diseases include flight or passing through walls.{{wob ref|4043}}{{wob ref|9849}} The ability lasts as long as the person is infected by the disease, and disappears when their immune system overcomes it.{{wob ref|9849}} 

Ashyn's magic system was not sickness-based from the start.{{wob ref|11304}} The original magic, which brought about the cataclysm, wasn't exactly like [[Surgebinding]], but shared the same basic principles.{{wob ref|8690}} It might've also been related to Roshar's [[Old Magic]].{{wob ref|12681}} The [[Eila Stele]] mentions humans using the powers of [[spren]] and [[Surge]]s, suggesting that the shift to bacteria and viruses as the focus of Ashynite magic might've happened some time after most people have already evacuated from the planet.{{epigraph ref|sa3|115}}

The symbiotic relationship between the bacteria and their hosts is similar to that of the [[Aviar]]s and the worms that grant them powers from [[First of the Sun]], albeit here the humans interact with the magic-granting microorganisms directly rather than through intermediaries.

== Development ==
{{unpublished|book=tsd}}
The earliest reference to Ashyn, though not under that name, can be found in Brandon's blog post from March 10, 2006. Back then, he considered it the sillier of his two ideas for magic disease stories, the more serious of which would involve a doctor combating an illness with various magical effects on its victims.{{wob ref|7584}} The "silly" story would later be developed into ''[[The Silence Divine]]'', though for now, only an early version of the first chapter exists in public (it can be found [[wob:12303|here]]). There, several aspects of Ashyn have been established, though their current canonicity is debatable.

In the story, Ashynites do not have [[fabrial]]s, but appear to have discovered gunpowder, as some are mentioned carrying flintlock pistols. Abilities granted by diseases include prophecy and changing the color of liquids, and are accompanied by sometimes-dangerous side effects, such as physical weakness, hallucinations, and deadly fevers. Occasionally, there are some symptoms left behind after the disease is over, called Echoes, which take some time to fade or don't disappear at all. People who carry the diseases are called '''Incubators'''.{{wob ref|12303}}

== Trivia ==
* At least most [[Heralds]] came from Ashyn and one or more may have been born there.{{wob ref|13442}}{{wob ref|11945}}

== Notes ==
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