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|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
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{{quote
|It is difficult not to feel very small, at times, on this domineering, majestic tempest of a planet.
== 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}}
▲{{image|OB Roshar.jpg|Map of Roshar by [[Isaac Stewart]]|side=right|width=400px}}
=== Climate ===
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 ===
* Larger animals on Roshar utilize bonds with [[mandra]]s, or luckspren, to decrease the pull of gravity on them, allowing creatures such as [[chasmfiend]]s to exist without collapsing upon themselves. In the case of [[skyeel]]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]]
* 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 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
;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 violet 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
{{image|Shallan And The Santhid.png|side=right|width=250px|A Santhid. Roshar's greatest creatures are far larger than humans.}}
|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 [[
{{image|The History of Man.jpg|side=right|width=250px|A [[Vorin]] perspective on the history of mankind by [[Greg Call]]}}
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 ====
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 ==
:''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 Stormlight. 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 Stormlight, 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}}
====Wines====
{{image|Types of Wine.jpeg|width=250px|side=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
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 Beverages====
====Drinking Culture====
[[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}}
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===
{{image|Roshar_and_Surroundings.jpeg|side=right|width=250px|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}} The [[singer]]s call Nomon Honor's Moon.{{book ref|sa4|31}} 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|
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 ==
|