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{{quote
|It is difficult not to feel very small, at times, on this domineering, majestic tempest of a planet.
}}
'''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}}
== Geography and Ecology ==
At one point in Roshar's past there were no large landmasses.{{wob ref|3556}} The supercontinent was designed by [[Adonalsium]], following the shape of a Julia set (a mathematical formula that gives a geometrical pattern when given a seed number).{{wob ref|3953}} It is the only continent on the planet, though not necessarily the only landmass.{{wob ref|6248}}
Gravitational acceleration on Roshar is notably lower than usual, at 6.
<!-- Calculations and more data:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/7ph9ap/no_spoilers_roshar_physical_calculations/
The rainwater in highstorms is laced with a sort of slurry called [[crem]]. When crem dries, it hardens into rock. Since the highstorms always sweep from east to west, crem builds up on the eastern side of anything that stays still and isn't regularly cleaned. Over time, the continent is very slowly shifting across the planet as the highstorms cause erosion of the eastern part and a build up on the western part.{{wob ref|4422}}
▲[[File:OB Roshar.jpg|Map of Roshar by [[Isaac Stewart]]|thumb|right|400px]]
=== Climate ===
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}}
===Spren===
{{for|Spren|more information about spren}}
Among many factors that make Roshar unique among other [[
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;
=== Ecology ===
==== Flora ====
Rosharan flora had to adapt to several conditions not found on Earth or Earth-like worlds, such as the severe weather and scarcity of soil.
The largest family of plants on Roshar are the [[rockbud]]s. They are characterized by having a thick outer shell from which they take their name, and tendrils, which retract into the shell upon detecting danger. The Rosharan grass, which acts in this way, is likely another subspecies of rockbud, albeit close enough in appearance to Shin grass to retain the name. Similar mechanism has been developed by [[vinebud]]s, which grow from a sturdy, yet elastic stem and, rather than spreading their tendrils along the ground, waft them in the air, akin to anemones.{{file ref|Rockbuds.jpg|Shallan's sketchbook: Rockbuds}}
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}}
==== Fauna ====
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 [[
* 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]]
* The fish in the [[Purelake]] gain various medicinal benefits through spren bonds.{{wob ref|2109}}
;Non-shelled animals
Mammals dwell mostly in Shinovar, though a few species have been successfully exported
;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
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
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}}▼
▲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 [[
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}}▼
▲The largest family of animals on Roshar are known as [[
The [[Santhid]], 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}}▼
▲The [[
;Domestication
;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 [[
Separately from this, Roshar is known to have developed two independent sentient species: [[Siah Aimian]]s and [[Singer]]s. Both of them are humanoid, and capable of breeding with humans.{{wob ref|457}}{{wob ref|930}} Roshar's other sentient species are humans, who immigrated there from [[Ashyn]], the Iriali, who have since fully integrated with the 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|9464}}{{wob ref|12657}}
|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 [[
=== The Heraldic Epochs ===
=== 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
|[[Kabsal]] to [[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa1|45}}
}}
|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=
}}
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}}
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
==== The Scouring of Aimia ====▼
:''Main article:'' [[Scouring of Aimia]] ▼
What exactly occurred during the [[Scouring of Aimia]] is unknown but it appears that the vast majority of Aimia's ecosystem collapsed, leading to the extinction of the [[lanceryn]]{{book ref|twok|36}} and the near extinction of the [[larkin]]. Most creatures there are quite rare since the scouring.{{wob ref|1080}} The island of [[Akinah]], however, was not destroyed and is still protected from outsiders by the [[Sleepless]].{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} [[Hessi]] indicates in [[Mythica]] that [[Dai-Gonarthis]] may have been responsible for the scouring.{{epigraph ref|sa3|113}}▼
==== 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
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}}
▲==== The Scouring of Aimia ====
▲:''Main article:'' [[Scouring of Aimia]]
▲What exactly occurred during the [[Scouring of Aimia]] is unknown but it appears that the vast majority of Aimia's ecosystem collapsed, leading to the extinction of the [[lanceryn]]{{book ref|twok|36}} and the near extinction of the [[larkin]]. Most creatures there are quite rare since the scouring.{{wob ref|1080}} The island of [[Akinah]], however, was not destroyed and is still protected from outsiders by the [[Sleepless]].{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} [[Hessi]] indicates in [[Mythica]] that [[Dai-Gonarthis]] may have been responsible for the scouring.{{epigraph ref|sa3|113}}
== Culture and Society ==
=== 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,
<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 unlike on Earth, 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
Because of their ability to hold
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}}
====Wines====
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
In order from weakest to strongest, those are:
* '''Violet''', the strongest, typically with an aroma of sandalwood.{{file ref|Rosharan Wines.jpg|Rosharan Wines}}
Within those
====Other
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}}
Other, unspecified alcohols drank across Roshar include a variety of ciders, juices and lagers.{{file ref|Rosharan Wines.jpg|Rosharan Wines}}
====Drinking
[[Vorinism|Vorin]] parties typically involve wine of the weakest
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 or even nonexistent, as they require a person to be deeply drunk before they appear, which can also lead to the assumption that an alespren sighting was simply a drunken hallucination; 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 different 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
{{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.
Among the listeners, the Fused are considered gods - however, they are
Following the
===Spren
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 [[
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 [[
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}}
After the events of the [[Recreance]], spren have mixed opinions of humans.
===Secret Organizations===
There are many secret organizations on Roshar, potentially nine.{{wob ref|9473}} These include worldhopping organizations with a strong presence on Roshar, such as the [[Ghostbloods]],{{book ref|sa4|13}} the [[Ire]],{{book ref|sa4|87}} the [[Seventeenth Shard]],{{book ref|sa1|i|1}}{{wob ref|1735}} and the [[Sleepless]];{{wob ref|12657}}{{wob ref|14312}} as well as strictly Rosharan organizations such as the [[Skybreakers]],{{book ref|sa3|40}} the [[Sons of Honor]],{{book ref|sa3|40}} the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]],{{book ref|sa3|i|5}} and the [[Envisagers]].{{book ref|sa2|71}}
The Ire are a [[Selish]] group with unknown motivations, although they sell things on Roshar.{{book ref|sa4|87}} The Ghostbloods are a group led by [[Thaidakar]] who are trying to establish an Investiture monopoly by using the [[Oathgates]] and Stormlight.{{book ref|sa4|13}} The Seventeeth Shard is an anti-interventionist worldhopping organization.{{book ref|sa1|i|1}}{{wob ref|1735}} Meanwhile, the Sleepless on Roshar are focused on protecting the Dawnshard underneath Akinah.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}
As for the Rosharan organizations, most of them have goals that in some way relate to [[Surgebinder]]s and/or the True Desolation. For example, the Sons of Honor want to start the True Desolation to bring back the Heralds,{{book ref|sa3|40}} while their splinter group{{wob ref|14534}} the Envisagers want to bring back Surgebinders.{{book ref|sa2|71}} Counter to that, the Skybreakers want to kill the Radiants in order to stop the True Desolation.{{book ref|sa3|40}} The Diagram focuses on saving people from what they see as the inevitable True Desolation.{{book ref|sa3|i|5}}
===Prejudices===
They would also be distrustful of albinos, partially due to their reddish eyes.{{wob ref|3898}}
== Planetary System ==
{{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
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|
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}}
* There is no chocolate on Roshar.{{wob ref|14605}}
* Roshar is of interest to several powers in the cosmere, as it is a world where pure Investiture is incredibly easy to come by.
== Notes ==
|