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{{quote
| It is difficult not to feel very small, at times, on this domineering, majestic tempest of a planet.
| [[Khriss]]{{au ref|Rosharan}}
}}
 
With the exception of [[Shinovar]] and the occasional well-sheltered [[lait]], all of Roshar is frequently ravaged by powerful [[highstorm]]s, massive hurricanes travelling from east to west. These storms come frequently and, though they do not appear to follow a simple pattern, [[stormwarden]]s are able to accurately predict their schedule through complex mathematics.{{book ref|WoR|31}} As a result, Shinovar is the only place on Roshar that has soil.{{book ref|WoK|i|4}}
 
The one consistent aspect of the Rosharan climate is the [[Weeping]]. The Weeping occurs every 500 days and consists of four weeks of steady crem-free rain. The middle day of those four weeks is known as the Lightday and alternates between being one clear day in the midst of the rain and being a high storm.{{book ref|WoR|46}} There are typically fewer highstorms in the weeks leading up to the Weeping. {{book ref|WoK|25}} The seasons following the weeping typically have weaker storms, making them good for farming.{{book ref|WoK|4}} Beyond this, the seasons are about as random as the highstorms. They can be roughly predicted by stormwardens, but only tend to last a few weeks and don't follow any obvious pattern. The characteristics of winter, spring, summer and autumn line up fairly well with what we expect from those seasons on Earth.{{book ref|WoK| 18}}{{book ref|WoK|4}}{{book ref|WoK|25}}{{book ref|WoK |54}}
 
===Spren===
[[File:Syl_caravan.jpg|right|250px|thumb|<small>By [[User:Sheep|Sheep]]</small> An [[Honorsprenhonorspren]] in the Physical Realm.]]
{{for|Spren|more information about spren}}
 
Among many factors that make Roshar unique among other [[Cosmerecosmere]] worlds is the overabundance of [[spren]]. Spren are small pieces of [[Investiture]] that have aquired sentience - and, in some cases, sapience - through the influence of Roshar's living creatures.{{book ref|sa2|3}} They are a mix of different [[Shard]]ic investiture, mainly [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]], and exist mostly in the [[Cognitive Realm]].{{wob ref|11949}}{{book ref|sa2|1}} However, they can and will often become partially visible in the [[Physical Realm]], and some transition there entirely.
 
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 [[honorspren]] or truth and lies for [[Cryptic]]s. This being said, only some true spren are Radiant spren.{{wob ref|9539}}
 
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; the [[Stormfather]], who controls the [[highstorm]]s; and [[Cusicesh]] and the [[Sibling]], whose exact nature is currently unclear.
 
=== Ecology ===
;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 the [[grindings]]; anesthetics 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}}
Multiple native species, as well as at least one imported animal, have formed symbiotic relationships with [[spren]]. This appears to be faciliated by [[gemheart]]s, crystals that grow naturally within the bodies of those creatures.
 
* Larger animals on Roshar utilize bonds with [[Mandramandra]]s, or luckspren, to decrease the pull of gravity on them, allowing creatures such as [[Chasmfiendchasmfiend]]s to exist without collapsing upon themselves. In the case of [[Skyeelskyeel]]s, the same bond, coupled with smaller size, permits them to fly.
* The native sentient species, the [[Singer]]s, bond with a variety of spren to attain a number of forms, which alter their mental state, biological functions and appearance. While bonded, the spren remain within the gemheart.
* [[Ryshadium]]s bond with what appears to be musicspren, attaining higher intelligence and physical strength. It is, however, unclear so far whether or not they have gemhearts.{{au ref|rosharan}}
 
;Non-shelled animals
Mammals dwell mostly in Shinovar, though a few species have been successfully exported Easteast. Those include horses, which are widely used as far east as Alethkar, and hogs, which are the primary source of non-soulcastSoulcast 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
The largest known group of animals on Roshar are crustaceans. Those can be of various sizes, from finger-long to four-stories-high. They are all noted as having purpleviolet blood and multiple stages of life, with the initial stage being called a larva and the process of switching between stages called pupation.{{file ref|Chull_Life_Cycle.jpeg|Chull Life Cycle}} The creation of shells is aided by the presence of crem in the rain, which the creatures can process into minerals.
 
One of the largest crustacean family are [[cremling]]s, a group of tiny, multi-legged scavengers preying mostly on deceased animals, although they will also feed on uncovered plants after highstorms. Cremlings come in variety of colours, with different features, numbers of legs, and behaviours. While most are individuals, some are part of the [[Sleepless]] swarms, and as such share a sentient hivemind. The [[Sleepless]] cremlings are bred for particular purposes, such as imitating human body parts.
 
[[File:Shallan And The Santhid.png|right|250px|thumb|<small>By {{a|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 [[Axehoundaxehound]], herbivores like [[Axehindaxehind]], 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 stormlightStormlight out of other creatures and absorb it.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}
 
The largest family of animals on Roshar are known as [[Greatshellgreatshell]]s, which exist both on land and in the seas. All greatshells possess gemhearts and utilize them to attract [[Mandramandra]]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 [[Yuyu-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 Cosmerecosmere. 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}}
 
The [[Santhidsanthid]], a massive marine species with large shell and a number of tendrils, might be considered a greatshell, and houses its own ecosystem, much like the Tai-na; however, as they were considered half-mythical until very recently, it's impossible to state so with any certainty.{{book ref|sa2|1}}
 
;Domestication
:''Main article:'' [[Expulsion]]
{{quote
| They came from another world, using powers that we have been forbidden to touch. Dangerous powers, of spren and Surges. They destroyed their lands and have come to us begging
| From the [[Eila Stele]]{{epigraph ref|sa3|115}}
}}
Humans fled to Roshar from [[Ashyn]], another planet in the [[Rosharan system]].{{wob ref|9464}} They had destroyed the planet using what Honor implied to be the [[dawnshard]]s.{{book ref|sa3|113}} Honor and Cultivation commanded the singers to take the humans in despite the forbidden powers they had relating to [[spren]] and [[Surge]]s{{epigraph ref|sa3|115}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|116}}, and they were given [[Shinovar]] to live in since Shinovar could support the plants and animals they brought.{{book ref|sa3|113}} With the humans came [[Odium]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|117}} The humans, possibly with Odium's influence, grew dissatisfied with what they were given. The conflict between the invading humans and the singers living on Roshar became the [[First Desolation]].{{book ref|sa3|111}}
:''Main article:'' [[Last Desolation]]
{{quote
| A…a decision has been made. It is time for the Oathpact to end.
| [[Jezrien]]'s words to [[Kalak]]{{book ref|sa1|prelude}}
}}
At the end of the [[Last Desolation]], nine of the ten Heralds had survived the fighting. As usual, they were supposed to return to [[Braize]] to hold back the [[Fused]]. However, knowing they could not face more torture, they came up with an alternative plan. [[Taln]], the only Herald never to have broken during the millennia of Desolations and the only Herald who died, would remain on Braize by himself.{{book ref|sa3|38}} They had been warned that lingering on Roshar could lead to the start off another Desolation, but [[Ishar]] claimed that Taln by himself would be enough to hold back the Desolations and maintain the Oathpact. Rather than tell mankind the truth, the Heralds proclaimed that they had finally won the war against the Voidbringers.{{book ref|sa1|prelude}} This deception lasted for four thousand five hundred years, until Taln finally broke under the torture.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
=== 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’sRoshar's Heraldic Epochs ended. Mankind entered the Era of Solitude. The modern era.
| [[Kabsal]] to [[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa1|45}}
}}
==== The False Desolation ====
:''Main article:'' [[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}}
|side=leftright|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 Connecting 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 ====
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 [[Dawnshard]]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 [[shardplateShardplate|platePlate]] and [[shardbladeShardblade|bladesBlades]], 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 shardbladesShardblades 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 Hierocracy and the War of Loss ====
:''Main articles:'' [[Hierocracy]] and [[War of Loss]]
The [[Hierocracy]] began when the [[Vorinism|Vorin Church]] decided to conquer the world and run the government rather than just provide spiritual guidance.{{book ref|sa1|36}} They claimed their conquering was for the good of the people. Some of the most powerful ardents claimed to have visions from the [[Almighty]], which they used to solidify their rule and obfuscate their religion. One of their main goals was to destroy knowledge of the failures of Vorinism, including [[Shadesmar]], the Knights Radiant, and the Recreance.{{book ref|sa2|3}}{{book ref|sa1|45}} They were primarily successful, as even the major libraries on Roshar are missing this information. Before the Hierocracy could spread to the west, [[Sadees]], the Sunmaker, united the princedoms of [[Alethkar]] to drive out the HIerocracyHierocracy.{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{book ref|sa1|24}} They fought in many epic battles the likes of which have not been seen since in what came to be known as the [[War of Loss]].{{book ref|sa1|52}} The Sunmaker successfully cast down the Hierocracy and stated the visions were a fraud.
 
Sadees's win in the War of Loss affected much of eastern Roshar. Sadees declared himself king of Alethkar and began a conquest of Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|34}} Although the extent of his empire is not exactly known, [[Herdaz]] and [[Azir]] were both included. He committed genocide in Azir and killed ten percent of the population.{{book ref|sa3|42}} His empire quickly collapsed after his death, however, as he did not choose an heir, and his ten sons divided the kingdom into princedoms and became [[highprince]]s.{{book ref|sa3|19}} The effects of the Hierocracy on Vorinism can still be felt in the modern time. The central leadership of the church was destroyed and split into mostly independent [[Devotaries]].{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{book ref|sa1|36}} The ardents became slaves who could not own land or property.{{book ref|sa1|45}}{{book ref|sa1|59}} Their revisions to historical texts also perpetuate, and it is difficult to find information about pre-Hierocracy history or the Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa2|3}}
 
=== 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, soand thea year inon Roshar is 500 days long, ultimately defined by the time between two [[Weeping|Weepings]]s.{{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}}{{wob ref|7833}} 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
:''Main Article: [[Spheres]]''
 
The primary form of currency found on Roshar are spheres, pieces of gemstone encased in a sphere of glass with one side flattened to prevent rolling.{{book ref|sa1|27}} The gemstones can be any of the ten [[Polestone]]s and there are three denominations: chip, mark, and broam. The ten gemstones are organized into five value levels with some gem types having equivalent values.{{wob ref|10402}} These value levels are determined by [[Soulcasting]] properties, so diamonds, which can create quartz, crystal, and glass, have the lowest value, and emeralds, which can create grain, have the highest.{{book ref|sa1|3}} Spheres, like all gems on Roshar, have the ability to hold and leak stormlightStormlight. Spheres with light are referred to as infused and those without are referred to as dun. Although dun spheres can be used as currency, people are suspicious of them because light is the easiest way to determine a sphere is real.{{book ref|sa1|17}}
 
Because of their ability to hold stormlightStormlight, spheres are commonly used on Roshar as a source of light. The light from spheres is considered to be steadier and more consistent than traditional light sources such as candles.{{book ref|sa1|23}} It can be expensive, however, as spheres are also used for currency, so the use of spheres as a source of light is often a sign of wealth. Diamonds are considered the best light source because it is both the cheapest and the closest to natural light.{{book ref|sa1|8}}
 
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}}
* '''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 the sapphire varieties are [[{{anchor|kimik]]}}'''kimik''', [[{{anchor|vari]]}}'''vari''' and [[{{anchor|Veden saph}}'''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 beveragesBeverages====
[[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 {{anchor|Horneater Whitewhite}} '''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 cultureCulture====
[[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 | Alesprenalespren]], 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 [[dawnchantDawnchant]]. These include [[Shin]], [[listener]], and [[Unkalaki]]. They share similar grammar, but the vocabulary is quite different. Lastly, the Aimian language family has two very differntdifferent 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 societySociety===
{{for|Singer|more information about the Singers}}
 
Though once the planet's dominant species, in the [[Era of Solitude]], the [[singer]]s have been subdued by humans. Majority of their species are [[Parshmenparshmen]], singers whose [[Identity]] and [[Connection]] have been stripped from them by the capture of [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]], rendering them mostly docile and wordlessly obedient.{{book ref|sa1|44}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} The singer culture of old has only been preserved by the [[Last Legion]], or listeners, on the [[Shattered Plains]] - the last enclave of the non-[[Parshmenparshmen]] singers on Roshar - and the [[Fused]], spirits of long-dead singers, on [[Braize]].
 
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 | RhythmsRhythm]]s that all singers can attune to.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
 
Following the [[Everstorm]], the Parshmenparshmen'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 becoming possessed by the Fused, with only a small group escaping west.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}} The current singer culture, such as it is, is mostly based around following the word of the Fused like gospel; however, the former Parshmenparshmen retain some of the culture of their states of origin - for example, in [[Azir]] they attempted to sue the government for backpay, while in [[Thaylenah]], they took to the sea.{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{book ref|sa3|12}}
 
[[FILE:Sea_of_Lost_Lights.jpg|left|200px|thumb|A map showing some of the spren cities in [[Shadesmar]].]]
 
===Spren societySociety===
 
Within [[Shadesmar]], the sentient [[spren]] have their own countries.{{book ref|sa2|1}} Among those is a [[Honorsprenhonorspren]] 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, Honorsprenhonorspren 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 [[Mandramandra]]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 Honorsprenhonorspren 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}}
 
After the events of the [[Recreance]], spren have mixed opinions of humans. Honorsprenhonorspren, [[Reachers]] and [[Inkspren]] are generally opposed to any attempt to restore contact, while Cultivationspren and Cryptics are supportive of new [[Nahel bond]]s, albeit cautiously so.
 
== Planetary System ==
[[File:Roshar_and_Surroundings.jpeg|right|250px|thumb|Roshar and its surrounding celestial bodies]]
{{for|Rosharan system}}
Roshar is the second planet from its sun{{au ref|Roshar}}. It has several notable heavenly bodies, including three moons. The first and smallest moon is violet [['''Salas]]'''. The middle moon is [['''Nomon]]''', which is a bright, pale blue. The final moon is [['''Mishim]]''', which is smaller than Nomon and green. The Shin refer to the moons as the Three Sisters, and call each moon by its order, with Salas being the First Sister, Nomon the Second Sister and Mishim the Third Sister, while in [[Natanatan]], Nomon is considered to be male.{{book ref|sa3|67}} All three moons rise and fall in the same order every night and have highly unstable orbits, suggesting they were placed artificially.
 
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]].{{au ref|Roshar}} Both of them are currently inhabited. The remaining celestial bodies in the system are ten gas giants, named after Vorin numerals, which are separated from the telluric planets by an asteroid belt.{{au ref|Roshar}}
 
== Trivia ==
* Although the word "dozen" is often used in the ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'', Rosharans actually would say tens instead and Brandon just translated "tens" into "dozens" to make the book easier to read.{{wob ref|14013}}
 
== Notes ==
{{cosmere}}
[[category: Roshar| ]]
[[category: notable articles]]
[[category: list articles]]
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