Larkin

Larkin
by Casta
Type	Animal
Native to	Aimia
World of Origin	Roshar
Universe	Cosmere

Larkin are small, highly-valued, flying crustacean animals native to Aimia on Roshar. They have been a critically-endangered species since the scouring of Aimia.

Appearance and Anatomy

Larkin are generally between a hand and a small melon in size. They are somewhat similar to cremlings in appearance, although, unlike the cremlings' crabbish faces, the larkin have small faces, like those of axehounds, with a snout, mouth, and shimmering eyes of solid silver, as well as wings that fold out of their backs. Their wings are strong enough that they can fly, at least short distances. During their lifespan a larkin bonds a particular kind of luckspen(mandras) only found on Aimia and must migrate there every few years to do so. Larkin used to grow to great sizes but most now remain small. It is unclear what the difference between larkin and lancerynis but they are very closely related.

Larkin may have some sort of special connection to the Tai-na; Vstim says that Chiri-Chiri is given to Rysn by Relu-na itself. According to Talik a family of Reshi gods, the Na Alind, made an agreement to keep save the few surviving larkin after Aimia fell.

Feeding on Investiture

The most outstanding feature of larkin is their ability to feed on Investiture (commonly Stormlight, as they originate from Roshar). This ability is related to both Leechers and Nightblood. They can suck Stormlight out of Surgebinders and Shardplate at will, causing the Light to stream visibly through the air and into the larkin's mouth. Larkin can also eat Stormlight that has been stored in gems and drain the Voidlight from a Fused. After absorbing a large amount of Stormlight from the King's Drop, Chiri-Chiri becomes noticeably bigger. Since larkin feed on Investiture, they are incapable of pushing it into people. Larkin cannot feed on the Investiture of a person clad in aluminum or Shardplate, though they can feed on the Shardplate itself.

A larkin would be able to prevent someone from becoming Returned by ingesting the Divine Breath as it attempted to enter the person. Larkins could also kill a Returned by feeding on all of their Investiture.

Lore

Ancient Guardians, also known as Larkin or Lanceryn were tasked, perhaps even created, to guard the dawnshard. Since the scouring of Aimia, larkin have become extremely rare, but are not totally unknown; Shallan thinks of the phrase "rare as a larkin" when she has a moment of freedom and kings are willing to pay fortunes for their corpses. Despite this Chiri-Chiri is the only true Larkin known. The others are crossbreeds with the sleepless who desired the larkin ability to drain investiture. The sleepless managed to interbreed with the Larkin and took over their task of guarding the dawnshard after the scouring although they still revere the original protectors. The larkin are associated with the Knights Radiant, though the specifics of their connection remain a mystery. One effect of this connection is possibly that Surgebinders can sense a larkin's mood.

Notable Examples

• Elhokar Kholin has the corpse of a larkin trapped inside a block of crystal to use as a paperweight in his conference room in the Pinnacle.
• Vstim trades a considerable quantity of goods for the corpse of a larkin.
• Rysn is given a live larkin by Relu-na. She names it Chiri-Chiri.
• Nale uses one to drain Lift of Stormlight while attempting to capture her.
• Kaza briefly encounters a creature that fits the description of a larkin in its native Aimia.

Trivia

• Brandon Sanderson and Isaac Stewart sometimes refer to them as "dragon bugs".
• Eight soulcasters were found on Aimia. They were kept as offerings to the larkin. It is unclear why they would want any.

Notes

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