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{{lifeform
|image=
|type={{cat tag|greatshells|Greatshell}} {{cat tag|islands|island}}
|sapient=Yes
|native=[[Reshi Sea]]
|world=Roshar
|books=[[Words of Radiance]]
}}
'''Relu-na''' is a [[Tai-na]] in the [[Reshi Sea]] on [[Roshar]]. A [[greatshell]] the size of an island, she is worshipped as a god by its inhabitants.
== Appearance and Personality ==
Like other Tai-na, Relu-na has grown to extraordinary size due to a [[spren]] bond{{wob ref|2684}} related to its [[gemheart]]{{wob ref|756}} that allows its body to defy the laws of physics.{{wob ref|6498}}{{book ref|sa3|99}} Tai-na are able to grow larger than terrestrial greatshells due to their aquatic habitat,{{wob ref|1499}} although they technically could survive on land.{{wob ref|2684}} One of Relu-na's eyes is described as a "the size of a house" and it is situated more than fifty feet from the top of her head.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} [[Rysn]] believes that Relu-na is as large as a town.{{book ref|sa3|i|13}} She is referred to as female by [[Gu]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
Relu-na's shell has the appearance of a mountainous island jutting out from the ocean with no beach.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} She is not immediately identifiable as a living being, but when she moves it becomes easier to see that she has legs.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} She has stony skin covered with an array of plant life including moss, trees, [[shalebark]], and [[rockbud]]s.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The plants grow as thick as a jungle or forest over most of the shell, but relatively few plants grow on the head.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The shell has protrusions near the waterline that are used as docks by the residents of the island; stairs have also been cut into the shell.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The sea is unusually warm near Relu-na and Rysn compares the water to that of the [[Purelake]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
Relu-na appears to be ancient,{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} as Tai-na are very long-lived.{{wob ref|3423}} The natives feed Relu-na fruit, but only as a treat; they do not divulge her primary food source.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
=== Sentience/Sapience ===
The Tai-na are sentient, and the Reshi people believe that they are also sapient and capable of decision-making. Gu mentions that when two Tai-na approach each other, they decide what will happen next - a war, or something "good".{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} In an attempt to gain the trust of the natives, Rysn climbs down a rope and attempts to address Relu-na directly, but falls when the rope snaps.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Vstim later tells her that the island's spren saved her life.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Rysn says she was trying to gain respect after Vstim and [[Talik]] repeatedly insisted that Relu-na places a great deal of value on boldness; after her bold yet reckless act, the island somehow gifts her a [[larkin]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
== Inhabitants ==
The residents of the island often refer to the Tai-na as gods, and they believe that they live to serve and please Relu-na.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Many of the inhabitants are somewhat carefree and spend much of their time swimming or high diving, usually in the nude.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Some residents are combative, but in both battle and trade they are prone to posturing.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The island has soldiers and a king (who may be of either gender) who lead them in skirmishes against other islands.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} [[Vstim]] notes that people from other parts of Roshar who want to lead simple lives sometimes migrate to the Tai-na, and are only allowed to stay if they give all of their possessions to the king.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The islanders are not primitive, but do not have a great deal of contact with the outside world, and will therefore only trade with those that they respect and trust to be fair.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Some Reshi travel to other parts of Roshar for education and training.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
== Trivia ==
*[[Axies the Collector]] visits Relu-na{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} as part of his ongoing spren research.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} Axies believes that the Tai-na may have a unique type of spren (sometimes referred to as the "souls" of the islands).{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} However, the inhabitants do not like to discuss this subject, and they bind his feet and hang him upside-down.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
== Notes ==
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