Difference between revisions of "Relu-na"

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reorganize, move some info to the Tai-na article
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'''Relu-na''' is a [[Tai-na]] in the [[Reshi Sea]] on [[Roshar]]. A [[greatshell]] the size of an island, she is worshippedworshiped as a god by her inhabitants.
 
== Appearance and Personality ==
{{for|Tai-na}}
Like other Tai-na, Relu-na has grown to extraordinary size due to a [[spren]] bond{{wob ref|2684}} related to her [[gemheart]]{{wob ref|756}} that allows her body to defy the laws of physics.{{wob ref|6498}}{{book ref|sa3|99}} Tai-na[[Rysn]] arebelieves ablethat toRelu-na growis largeras thanlarge terrestrialas greatshellsa due to their aquatic habitat,town.{{wobbook ref|1499}} although they technically could survive on land.{{wob refsa3|2684i|13}} 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]]She believeshas thata Relu-namassive ismouth aswith largehuge as a townmandibles.{{book ref|sa3sa2|i|133}} 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 a stony skincarapace 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}} 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}}
 
==History==
=== Sentience/Sapience ===
TheRysn Taiand [[Vstim]] visited Relu-na arehoping sentient,to andtrade thefor Reshia people[[larkin]] believecorpse. thatRysn theywas areshocked alsoby sapientthe and capableexistence of decisionTai-making.na Guand mentionswas thatunfamiliar whenwith twothe Tai-naisland's approachculture. eachShe other,and theyVstim decidewere whatled willon happena nextlong hike up to Relu-na's ahead war,to ormeet somethingthe "good"king.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} InOn anthe attemptway, tothey gainencountered the trust of[[Axies the nativesCollector]], Rysnwho climbshad down a rope and attempts tobeen addressvisiting Relu-na directly,as butpart fallsof whenhis theongoing ropespren snapsresearch.{{book ref|sa2sa1|i|35}} VstimAxies laterhad tellstried herto thatinvestigate the island'sTai-na spren, savedbut herthe life.{{booknatives ref|sa2|i|3}}refused Rysnto saysdiscuss sheit wasand tryinginstead tobound gainhis respect after Vstimfeet and [[Talik]]hung repeatedlyhim insisted that Reluupside-na places a great deal of value on boldness; after her bold yet reckless act, the island somehow gifts her a [[larkin]]down.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
 
Upon reaching Relu-na's head, Rysn attempted to trade with the natives. Unbeknownst to Rysn, Vstim had actually trained the king's son, [[Talik]], and had covertly arranged for him to be tough on Rysn as a training exercise. However, Rysn became so frustrated by the negotiation that she made a bold attempt to gain the trust of the natives. She climbed down a rope suspended hundreds of feet over the ocean and attempted to address Relu-na directly, but fell when the rope snapped.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} She survived the fall, and Vstim later told her that the island's spren somehow 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 placed a great deal of value on boldness; after her bold yet reckless act, the island somehow gifted her a living 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}}
 
== TriviaInhabitants ==
Relu-na's residents are typical for a Tai-na, and include both native Reshi and expatriates from other parts of Roshar. The residents generally lead a relaxed lifestyle and often spend their time swimming and diving. The island is ruled by a female king who has authority over the soldiers and would lead them in battle if necessary.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
*[[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 ==