Difference between revisions of "Chasmfiend"
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'''Chasmfiends''' (
== Appearance and Biology ==
The chasmfiend's head is triangular, narrowing down to a point like an arrowhead.{{book ref|sa2|70}} Inside the long jaw, it has a circular mouth, surrounded by several rings of teeth. There are several types of teeth present, from sharp fangs and flat molars to small mandibles that shove the food further down the throat.{{book ref|sa1|15}} Flanking the mouth is a pair of smaller foreclaws, which the chasmfiend can use to manipulate objects and pick up food.{{file ref|Chasmfiend.jpeg|Shallan's Sketchbook - Chasmfiend}} Chasmfiend are capable of vocalizing; they make roars that sounds like four bellowing trumpets playing at the same time.
The eyes, set above the jaw, are glassy and green.{{book ref|sa2|70}} They also have apparently thick eyelids that close sideways
=== Gemheart and spren bonds ===
Very little is known about the chasmfiends' youth, and we have not yet seen them, primarily seeing the second and third phases of life{{wob ref|124}}. It's highly likely that they don't live on the [[Shattered Plains]] for most of their life, but rather migrate there when the time comes for them to breed.{{book ref|sa2|49}}
Once there, they set up a nest, and continue hunting and scavenging across the chasms.{{book ref|sa1|12}} Eventually, prompted by some unknown instinct, they climb up to one of the plateaus and pupate, forming an immobile, rock-colored '''chrysalis''' around themselves. This pupation typically happens during the night, with the chrysalis already formed come daytime. From then, the chrysalis awaits a [[highstorm]]; what happens anatomically once that occurs in unclear, as it is at this point that people typically harvest them.{{book ref|sa2|49}} They are however known to take in a lot of Investiture when hit by
The life-cycle of a Chasmfiend is split into at least three stages, including the pupation stage.{{wob ref|124}}
They reproduce similarly to Chulls,{{wob ref|762}}
=== Feeding habits ===
=== Chasmfiend hunts ===
Though rarely, adult chasmfiends are also hunted, mostly when one wanders into a territory claimed by one of the [[highprince]]s. First, the chasmfiend is lured to climb up onto the plateau by stringing out hog carcasses and pouring hog blood into the chasms, to let the beast smell it. Once the chasmfiend emerges, which can take up to several hours, a flock of wild hogs is let loose for it to pursue. Archers equipped with [[grandbow]]s -- the only bow type capable of harming the chasmfiend -- then pepper the creature with arrows to weaken it. Eventually, [[Shardbearer]]s approach the beast and cut off its legs with their Blades.{{book ref|sa1|12}} Once toppled, the chasmfiend is set up for a killing stroke, delivered with a Blade
=== Overhunting ===
* The inspiration for chasmfiends was a [https://wob.coppermind.net/media/sources/255/Ben%20McSweeney's%20landscape%20concept%20art%20for%20The%20Way%20of%20Kings%2C%20November%202008.jpg concept sketch] that [[Ben McSweeney]] created when Brandon was brainstorming Roshar with him. The sketch contained a picture of a crustacean hiding in a narrow passage based on a coral; the creature eventually became the chasmfiend. That same sketch led to the [[Shattered Plains]] -- originally part of ''[[Dragonsteel Prime]]'' -- to be moved to Roshar.{{wob ref|8580}}
* The chasmfiend is Brandon's favorite fictional creature from his own works.{{wob ref|8529}}
* A chasmfiend could be Awakened as a [[Lifeless]]. However, this would require multiple Breaths, and would result in the Lifeless collapsing under its own weight.{{wob ref|16238}}
== Notes ==
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