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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}{{update
'''Roshar''' is the native name for the planet on which ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' is set. It is also the name of the supercontinent on which the main events of the series take place{{wob ref|1128}}. People from Roshar are called Rosharans.{{wob ref|1075}}
Three main groups of spren can be recognized. The nature spren correspond to various natural phenomena, such as [[Spren#Windspren | windspren]] or [[Spren#Flamespren |flamespren]], which appear in the presence of wind and fire respectively. Emotion spren are attracted to emotions, such as [[Spren#Fearspren | fearspren]] appearing when one is afraid or [[Spren#Gloryspren |gloryspren]] for people who feel intense pride.{{book ref|sa2|1}} However, a natural phenomenon or an emotion will not necessarily summon a spren, as they may not be present in the physical place's Cognitive equivalent.
The third group of spren are so-called true spren. Those spren are all sentient, and have an organized society in the Cognitive Realm.{{book ref|sa2|1}} They transition to the Physical Realm only when searching for a prospective [[Knight Radiant]] to bond, as the shift robs them of most of their higher functions, which they reclaim through forming a [[Nahel bond]].{{book ref|sa1|4}} The Radiant spren seem to represent higher concepts, such as honor for the [[
In addition to those, there is a number of unique spren who are far more powerful than others. Among those is the [[Nightwatcher]], who can grant boons and curses; [[Stormfather]], who controls the [[highstorm]]s; and [[Cusicesh]] and [[Sibling]], whose exact nature is currently unclear.
Further to the east, where the highstorms are the strongest, even such measures are not enough. There, plants grow mostly in sheltered areas, such as the [[Shattered Plains|chasms]] and [[lait]]s, while remaining sparse in the open air.{{file ref|Lait.jpeg|Shallan's sketchbook: Lait}} More fragile flora, such as vines and weeds, grow and flourish in such terrain, though some, like [[knobweed]], seem to prefer flatlands, utilizing highstorms deliberately to spread.
Contrarily, in the west where highstorms are weakened by the mountain ranges, plants are much less sensitive to stimulation and retract their leaves more slowly.
Roshar does have larger flora. Some trees, including the aforementioned [[dalewillow]], have trunks made of stone while others, such as the [[jella]], augment their wooden bark by accumulating crem. Like rockbuds, they withdraw their fronds into the trunks when sensing danger. There are also species such as [[makam]] and [[cobwood]], which appear to be sturdy enough to sustain highstorms without added protection.{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{book ref|sa2|66}}
Some species of native Rosharan flora are edible for humans. This includes a number of fruits as well as a rice-like plant called [[tallew]], and [[lavis]], a type of rockbud that produces grain. Tallew and lavis appear to be the major ingredients of Rosharan diet, with massive farmlands devoted to them throughout the continent.{{book ref|sa1|4}} In the West, the same niche appears to be filled by [[clema]]{{book ref|Edgedancer|6}}
Additionally, there exist a number of plants with known healing properties. This includes antiseptics, such as the sap of [[knobweed]] and [[fourleaf]], as well as [[lister's oil]]; treatments for specific diseases, such as [[bitterleaf]] for epilepsy and [[bloodivy]] for [[grindings]];
By contrast, several species of plant are noted to have detrimental effect on humans. Firemoss is known to be highly addictive, and [[blackbane]]'s leaves, once dried, are extremely poisonous. Eating shells of rockbuds is similarly known to be unhealthy, although the [[Unkalaki]] are capable of eating them without problems, likely thanks to their [[singer]] ancestry.{{wob ref|930}} While not all plants are edible, some, like [[breachtree]] and [[narbin]], are grown to make fabrics.{{book ref|sa1|25}}{{book ref|sa1|45}}
;Non-shelled animals
Mammals dwell mostly in Shinovar, though a few species have been successfully exported East. Those include horses, which are widely used as far east as Alethkar, and hogs, which are the primary source of non-soulcast meat. While most mammals are domesticated, hogs, as well as minks and rats,{{book ref|sa1|3}} can be found in the wild. Several species of birds are known to exist, although they are all known as "chickens" among Rosharans. This includes actual chickens as well as more colourful birds, such as parrots. In contrast to mammals, they do not seem to do well in the wild, as all examples observed so far are domesticated. Amphibians, such as the [[lurg]] can also be found, as well as wide variety of fish, including both salt- and seawater ones. Cephalopods also exist, albeit with unusual properties - [[zatalef]], for example, is described as bat-like, implying the ability to fly.{{file ref|Alethi_Glyphs_Page_1.jpg}} A category without a clear Earth analogue are [[sarpenthyn]], which appear to be similar to both mollusks and cephalopods, albeit without shells and with smaller number of arms.{{book ref|sa2|55}}
;Shelled animals
[[File:Shallan And The Santhid.png|right|250px|thumb|<small>By Ashley Coad</small> A Santhid. Roshar's greatest creatures are far larger than humans.]]
Other than the cremlings, Roshar also features a number of larger crustaceans that are nonetheless smaller than humans. This group includes predatory species, such as the [[Axehound]], herbivores like [[Axehind]], and near-cremling sized creatures like [[legger]]s and [[larkin]]s, as well as species that can be found on Earth, like crabs.{{book ref|sa3|63}} The larkins in particular are unusual for their flight, as well as the ability to pull stormlight out of other creatures and absorb it.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}
The largest family of animals on Roshar are known as [[Greatshell]]s, which exist both on land and in the seas. All greatshells possess gemhearts and utilize them to attract [[Mandra]]s to decrease their own weight. The land greatshells include domesticated herbivores known as [[chull]]s and two large predatory species, the [[chasmfiend]] and the extinct [[lanceryn]]. The marine greatshells include the [[Yu-nerig]], which comes on land to pupate and is known to feed on humans,{{book ref|sa1|40}} and the [[Tai-na]], the largest animals known to inhabit the Cosmere. Their legs are said to be sixty feet long, while the body itself stretches hundreds of feet tall. The back of Tai-na, which sticks out above water, is an ecosystem of its own, inhabited by multiple species of plants and animals, as well as humans.{{book ref|sa2|i|2}}
;Sapience
Due to the presence of the Shard [[Cultivation]], the creatures on Roshar have higher chance of developing sapience.{{wob ref|2792}} So far, behaviour indicating sapience has been observed with three species, [[Ryshadium]] horses, [[Tai-na]] and [[Santhid]]s, all of which appear to have above average understanding of humans.
Separately from this, Roshar is known to have developed
== History ==
The [[False Desolation]] began when [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]] learned how to [[Connection|Connect]] with the majority of the singers, giving them [[Regal|forms of power]] and access to [[Voidlight]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} The Radiants, unaware of how she did this, sought a way to end the fighting for good, as the Heralds had promised them.{{epigraph ref|sa3|82}} The fighting became particularly intense at this time,{{epigraph ref|sa2|41}} as the singers made a push towards [[Feverstone Keep]], possibly as part of a plan to capture [[Rall Elorim]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|84}}
Working together, the scholars among the Radiants theorized that an [[Unmade]] could be imprisoned like a regular [[spren]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} That devised a plan to trap Ba-Ado-Mishram and prevent her from
==== The Recreance ====
:''Main article:'' [[Day of Recreance]]
During the lead up to the [[Day of Recreance]], many events occurred which demoralized the Knights Radiant. The [[Sibling]], for some unknown reason, withdrew from [[Urithiru]] and forced the Knights to abandon their ancestral home. Many Radiants blamed this on a perceived unworthiness, including increased conflicts between the [[Windrunners]] and [[Skybreakers]], but scholars of the time disagreed.{{epigraph ref|sa3|70}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|64}} This concern extended to potential infiltration by [[Unmade]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|73}} While this was occurring, the False Desolation was coming to a close. The presumed success in imprisoning Ba-Ado-Mishram leading to the singers having their Connection and Identity ripped out of them likely influenced the Radiants.{{book ref|sa3|17}} In the midst of this turmoil, the Radiants discovered the truth about the origins of humans on Roshar. The singers had been the original inhabitants of Roshar. The humans came as refugees from their [[Ashyn|homeworld]], which they had destroyed with surges. After being taken in by the singers and given [[Shinovar]], they invaded Roshar and started the Desolations. While Honor had comforted previous generations who learned this, this time he was dying. He raved about the [[
As a result of these revelations, the nine of the ten orders decided to abandon their oaths and kill their spren. They believed that this would prevent the destruction of Roshar Honor warned them about.{{book ref|sa3|113}} At the locations they left their [[shardplate|plate]] and [[shardblade|blades]], men quickly began fighting over the weapons, leading to much death and destruction.{{book ref|sa1|52}} The Radiants, other than the Skybreakers, were quickly turned on and killed because of the sense of betrayal felt.{{epigraph ref|sa2|41}} Society for both spren and humans drastically changed in the aftermath. Those with shardblades quickly consolidated their power, including using [[Arts and Majesty]] to justify women not wielding them.{{wob ref|6245}} It is likely that this is when [[lighteyes]] truly came to power. The genocide decimated the populations of spren societies. Most of the survivors were children forced to spend centuries without nurture or guidance. Some societies took two thousand years to fully recover. {{book ref|sa3|47}}
The denomination of spheres in eastern Roshar is weaker than in the west, with some people drilling holes in spheres to carry them on strings or using chunks of gemstone instead.{{book ref|sa2.5|6}}
===Food and Drink===
A wide variety of alcoholic drinks can be found on Roshar.
====Wines====
[[FILE:Types of Wine.jpeg|250px|thumb|right|Types of Rosharan wine]]
Unlike Earth wines, on Roshar the term refers to a number of alcoholic drinks, only a small subset of which are made of fermented fruit. The use of the term "wine" is the result of linguistic shift, much in the same way that all birds became [[chicken]] and all small crustaceans became [[cremling]]s.{{wob ref|3978}} The alcohols that fall under the term "wine" are categorized by strength and colour, with different colours denoting different alcohol content.
In order from weakest to strongest, those are:
* '''Pink''', which typically has a distinct floral taste. It's said to assist alertness.
* '''Orange''', fruity and with notes of ginger, although apparently it's not made of fruit.
* '''Yellow''', which has a deep, "bold" taste while being weak enough to drink casually.
* '''Auburn''', spicy and with a tasty aroma - this could be closest to Earth's red wine, as it's made of fermented fruit.
* '''Red''', said to be "flavourful with a pleasant burn".
* '''Sapphire''', with a taste of nuts and honey, made of [[lavis]] grain. It's usually infused, and the closest equivalent to Earth whiskey.
* '''Blue''', tasting of berry and lemon.
* '''Violet''', the strongest, typically with an aroma of sandalwood.{{file ref|Rosharan Wines.jpg|Rosharan Wines}}
Within those colours, a number of different wines exist - for example, among sapphire varieties are [[kimik]], [[vari]] and [[Veden saph]].{{book ref|sa3|18}} While generally the wine colors are standardized, they gain their color by intentional colored infusions, and are occasionally made without them.
====Other beverages====
[[File:Rosharan Alcohol by Yen Shu Liao.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small>by [[Coppermind:Artists/Yen Shu Liao|Yen Shu Liao]]</small> Rosharan drinks]]
Apart from wines, Roshar has a number of other alcoholic drinks. Among those is beer, of which the most popular variety appears to be [[mudbeer]], often drank to warm up.{{book ref|sa1|25}} Another drink is a liquor called [[honu]], which comes in several varieties that differ in strength.{{book ref|sa2|81}} Both beer and honu are made from [[lavis]] grain.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
The [[Unkalaki]] people have a numer of their own alcoholic beverages. This includes a brownish drink called [[shiki]], which has to be chilled overnight, and the infamous Horneater lager, which is far stronger than regular beers, with one bartender claiming it melts their cups. Strongest among the Horneater beverages is the Horneater White. A clear, distilled moonshine, it is the strongest known alcohol on Roshar (with the possible exception of some violet wines). It is know to strip paint, and can apparently be deadly to non-Unkalaki.{{book ref|sa3|37}}{{book ref|sa3|18}}
Other, unspecified alcohols drank across Roshar include a variety of ciders, juices and lagers.{{file ref|Rosharan Wines.jpg|Rosharan Wines}}
====Drinking culture====
[[Vorinism|Vorin]] parties typically involve wine of the weakest colours, watered down to prevent the participants from getting drunk too quickly.{{book ref|sa3|18}} Sapphire appears to be the strongest colour imbibed casually, and the phrase "to be in (someone)'s violets" refers to a person being heavily, perhaps dangerously drunk.
Beer and [[mudbeer]] are typical casual drinks, commonly served in taverns.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Among [[Unkalaki]], mudbeer is also used for duels - the winner is decided by who can drink the most without passing out.{{book ref|sa1|27}}
Like most processes on Roshar, the act of drinking has its own dedicated [[spren]]. Winespren, or [[Spren#Alespren | Alespren]], appear near people who are heavily intoxicated, taking form of small bubbles clinging to nearby objects. They are considered quite rare, as they require a person to be deeply drunk before they appear; however, both [[Axies]] and [[Nazh]] attest to their existence.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}}{{file ref|Rosharan Wines.jpg|Rosharan Wines}}
===Singer society===
Among the listeners, the Fused are considered gods - however, they are also highly dangerous to interact with, and the listeners have fled to what became the [[Shattered Plains]] to escape their influence. In the present day, they are ruled by the Five, a council composed of representatives of each form the listeners can assume. History and knowledge are passed down among them mostly in form of songs, set to the [[Singer#Rhythms | Rhythms]] that all singers can attune to.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
Following the [[Everstorm]], the Parshmen's Identity and Connection were restored, returning them to full sentience.{{book ref|sa3|10}} The listeners, on the other hand, were all but decimated, first by the storm and then by
[[FILE:Sea_of_Lost_Lights.jpg|left|200px|thumb|A map showing some of the spren cities in [[Shadesmar]].]]
Within [[Shadesmar]], the sentient [[spren]] have their own countries.{{book ref|sa2|1}} Among those is a [[Honorspren]] state, with its capital in the city of [[Lasting Integrity]] and a number of strongholds, as well as a [[Highspren]] country, and a city-state of the [[Cryptic]]s.{{book ref|sa3|102}}{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa2|3}} There are also free cities, such as [[Celebrant]], where various spren intermingle. This includes [[Cultivationspren]], which, though ruled by a council called the [[Ring]], do not have holdings of their own.{{book ref|sa3|102}}{{book ref|sa2.5|2}}{{book ref|sa2.5|1}} However, even the "ethnic" spren states do not appear to be strictly isolationist - for example, Honorspren military ships are partially crewed by [[Spren#Mistspren | mistspren]].{{book ref|sa3|108}}
As the inversion of the [[Physical Realm]] and its supercontinent, Shadesmar is mostly composed of the sea of beads, with a number of narrow peninsulas and islands corresponding to Physical rivers and lakes.{{map ref|sea of lost lights}} As such, travel is done mostly by boat. Merchant and military ships, pulled by teams of harnessed [[Mandra]]s, traverse the vast spaces between the cities, ferrying goods, news and travellers.{{book ref|sa3|99}} Trade with lands outside of Roshar isn't unusual - in Celebrant, one may buy canned food (presumably from [[Scadrial]] or some [[worldhopper]] settlement) and [[Nalthis |Nalthian]] artwork. The price of various items is largely based on their permanence in the Cognitive Realm, with the most persistent objects selling for thousands of broams.{{book ref|sa3|102}}
The relationship between various spren kinds appears to have its own share of political turmoil. Several years prior to the [[Everstorm]], the Honorspren tried and failed to conquer the rest of Shadesmar, making the other spren unfriendly towards them. By contrast, Cryptics are generally understood to be unwilling to expand beyond their city; however, they are also widely considered to be uncomfortable company.{{book ref|sa3|47}}
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