Difference between revisions of "Chasmfiend"

 

== Appearance and Biology ==

 

Chasmfiends are the largest known land animals on [[Roshar]]: at least twenty feet wide, six times the height of an adult man at their peak, and over twice as long.{{book ref|sa2|72}}{{file ref|name="journal"}} They are long and narrow, with a flattened, split tail reminescent of that of a crayfish.{{file ref|name=journal}} Like most of Rosharan fauna, they're crustaceans, with a carapace exoskeleton covering their entire body. Said carapace is dark violet (though it's possible that other colors can also occur), and extremely durable, being able to withstand even a hail of arrows.{{book ref|sa1|13}} It covers the beast's back in a series of interlocking, upside-down-V-shaped plates with horn-like protrusions growing on the edges.{{file ref|name=journal}} Beneath it, the chasmfiend's blood and gore is purple, and smells of mold.{{book ref|sa1|13}} The meat is edible for both humans and native fauna.{{book ref|sa1|15}}

 

== Ecology ==

=== Life cycle ===

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== Exploitation ==

 

Both [[listener]]s and humans hunt chasmfiends down for their [[gemheart]]s, although meat and carapace are also harvested.{{book ref|sa1|13}} Most of the time, only the chrysalis is "hunted", as it is then that the chasmfiend is at both its most vulnerable and least aggressive.{{book ref|sa1|12}} Once the chrysalis is located, the hunters break it open with mallets and [[Shardblade]]s and extract the gemheart within, killing the chasmfiend in the process. On such "hunts", the biggest danger are the other armies after the same chrysalis.{{book ref|sa1|15}}

 

== Culture ==

 

Chasmfiends are deservedly said to be the deadliest predators on [[Roshar]] by the [[Alethi]]. Prior to the [[War of Reckoning]], they were considered legendary, with people rarely venturing out into the Plains to hunt them.{{book ref|sa1|28}} Back then, to kill a chasmfiend was extremely rare; king [[Gavilar]] had never slain one, and not for lack of trying. As the War progressed, however, much of the mystique surrounding them has been stripped away, though they are still understood to be extremely dangerous.{{book ref|sa1|12}}