Difference between revisions of "Roshar"

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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
}}{{update|book=sa3}}{{spoilers|book=sa3}}
{{quote
| It is difficult not to feel very small, at times, on this domineering, majestic tempest of a planet.
| [[Khriss]]{{au ref|Rosharan}}
}}
 
'''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}}
 
 
===Spren===
[[File:Syl_caravan.jpg|right|250px|thumb|<small>By [[User:Sheep|Sheep]]</small> AAn [[Honorspren]] in the Physical Realm.]]
{{for|Spren|more information about spren}}
 
 
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}}
;Human uses
 
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]]; anaestheticsanesthetics like [[winterwort]] and [[firemoss]]; and other, more specific medicines, such as [[denocax salve|denocax]], which encourages skin healing.
 
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}}
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 threetwo independent sentient species: [[Sleepless]] (known also as Dysian Aimians), [[Siah Aimian]]s and [[Singer]]s. WhileBoth theof Sleeplessthem are hivehumanoid, mindsand capable of cremlings,breeding bothwith Siahhumans.{{wob Aimiansref|457}}{{wob andref|930}} SingersRoshar's other sentient species are humanoidhumans, andwho capableimmigrated ofthere breedingfrom [[Ashyn]], the Iriali, who have since fully integrated with humansthe population of the planet,{{wob ref|9551}}{{wob ref|8901}} and the [[Sleepless]] (known also as Dysian Aimians), who may not be native to the planet.{{wob ref|4579464}}{{wob ref|93012657}}
 
== History ==
=== The Era of Solitude ===
{{quote
| The Voidbringers were cast back into the Tranquiline Halls. The Heralds followed to force them out of heaven as well, and Roshar’s Heraldic Epochs ended. Mankind entered the Era of Solitude. The modern era.
| [[Kabsal]] to [[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa1|45}}
}}
==== The False Desolation ====
{{sidequote
| Something must be done about the remnants of Odium’s forces. The parsh, as they are now called, continue their war with zeal, even without their masters from Damnation.
| Drawer 30-20, first emerald{{epigraph ref|sa3|77}}|left|350px}}
|side=left|size=350px|
}}
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 ConnectedConnecting with the singers and providing them with Voidlight.{{epigraph ref|sa3|78}} This plan would require [[Melishi]], the only [[Bondsmith]] of his generation,{{epigraph ref|sa3|67}} and a special prison, likely a [[perfect gemstone]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} Although Melishi was confident the plan would succeed in destroying the Voidbringers, [[Naze-daughter-Kuzodo]] warned of unintended side effects.{{epigraph ref|sa3|81}} Although the plan seems to have succeeded, as Ba-Ado-Mishram has not been seen in modern times unlike other Unmade,{{epigraph ref|sa3|107}} Naze-daughter-Kuzodo's warning was correct. Because she had been Connected to all the singers, their Connection and [[Identity]] was torn out of them, creating slaveform or parshmen.{{book ref|sa3| 17}} The Radiants' horror for what happened likely contributed to the Recreance.
 
==== 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 [[dawnshardDawnshard]]s and promised the Radiants they would destroy Roshar like they had their homeworld.{{book ref|sa3|113}}
 
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}}
 
=== Calendar ===
The Rosharan calendar is divided up into ten months, with ten weeks each. Both the months and the weeks are named after the numbers on the [[Ars Arcanum]], and are sometimes combined into abbreviations. Such abbreviations have the full name of the month and two suffixes, for week and day. Each week is five days, so the year in Roshar is 500 days, ultimately defined by the time between two [[Weeping|Weepings]].{{book ref|sa2|46}} Although the Rosharan year is 500 days long, these days are shorter than on Earth - coming in at 20 standard hours {{wob ref|8928}} - and a Rosharan year is equivalent to 1.1 Earth years.{{wob ref|3781}}{{17swob ref|post|49011|Length of Roshar days and years|date=12 February 20137833}} As an example Chachel means it's the third day of the week.{{book ref|sa1|46}} Interestingly, Kaladin, who gets paid once a week, refers to payday as "third pass"{{book ref|sa1|14}}. Presumably, this means that another way to talk about days of the week is by saying first, second, third, fourth or fifth pass.
 
<center>Abbreviation Examples
 
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]]s 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. Additionally, the stronger "wines" are actually distilled spirits{{wob ref|12920}}.
 
In order from weakest to strongest, those are:
* '''Pink''', which typically has a distinct floral taste. It's said to assist alertness. This wine is actually a juice and has no alcoholic content{{wob ref|12920}}.
* '''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 number 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 known 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}}
 
=== Languages ===
The languages on Roshar can be grouped into five main language families. The [[Vorin]] language family primarily contains languages spoken in the east. [[Alethi]], [[Veden]], and [[Herdazian]] are the most closely related, with [[Thaylen]] a bit more distant. [[Natan]], another Vorin language, is nearly dead. This family does include some minor languages like [[Bavland|Bav]]. [[Kharbranthian]] is not considered it's own language and is instead a dialect. The next language family, [[Makabaki]], contains around thirty languages, most of which are split off from [[Azish]]. The [[Iri]] language family contains Iriali, [[Riran]], [[Reshi]], and various [[Purelake]] dialects. The Dawnate language family are languages with roots in the [[dawnchant]]. These include [[Shin]], [[listener]], and [[Unkalaki]]. They share similar grammar, but the vocabulary is quite different. Lastly, the Aimian language family has two very differnt languages that get lumped together. Presumably the two languages are related to the [[Siah Aimian|Siah]] and [[Dysian Aimian|Dysian]] Aimians. These language families only cover the languages spoken in the Physical Realm, as spren have have their own languages in Shadesmar.{{wob ref|3977}}
 
===Singer society===
Other notable features of Rosharan sky are [[Taln's Scar]] and [[Tear|Reya's Tear]]. The Scar is a great swath of red stars that stand out against the white ones.{{book ref|wok|2}} It is important in Rosharan astrology, particularly its position on one's seventh birthday.{{book ref|wok|33}} The [[Tear]] is a particularly bright star, named after a single tear shed by a woman named [[Reya]] from Rosharan mythology.{{book ref|wor|31 }}
 
There are two other telluric planets in the [[Rosharan system]]: [[Braize]] and [[Ashyn]].{{17sau ref|post|62323|Correct spellings (by Eric)|date=09 August 2013Roshar}} Both of them are currently inhabited. The remaining celestial bodies in the system are ten gas giants, named after Vorin numerals, which are separetedseparated from the telluric planets by an asteroid belt.{{au ref|Roshar}}
 
== Notes ==
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