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Roshar (edit)

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→‎Geography and Ecology: Changing the enitre Ecology section
(→‎Geography and Ecology: Changing the enitre Ecology section)
[[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}}
 
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 weepingWeeping. {{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}}
 
=== FloraEcology ===
To cope with the frequent high storms, plant life across most of Roshar has adapted ways to retract and hide. As a few examples, the grass retracts back into the ground, [[rockbud]]s have particularly sturdy outerleaves that can fold up so that the plant resembles a large rock, and [[vinebud]]s have a durable but elastic stem that they retract back into. Many plants also have some form of tendrils or vines that waft in the air or can snake out in search of water or nutrients. Nearby motion causes many plants to retreat, though gardeners have cultivated some varieties that are less sensitive. These plants have also adapted to living in soil free environments.
 
The shape and form of Rosharan ecology is influenced by four major factors: lower gravity, higher oxygen content, highstorms and spren. The higher oxygen content and the lower gravity permit the existence of megafauna comparable only to the largest [[sandling]]s on [[Taldain]], while several species of animals are capable of forming spren bonds, further augmenting their capabilities.{{wob ref|10243}} However, the most visually notable feature of Rosharan ecology is the way vast majority of them adapted to highstorms. Multiple species of both flora and fauna have developed shells to protect themselves from extreme weather, withdrawing into them whenever any danger approaches.
In Shinovar, which is protected from the highstorms by the [[Misted Mountains]] and thus still has soil, the flora is much closer to that found on Earth. Visitors from the rest of Roshar find the still grass and plants that don't retract disconcerting.
 
Several species are noted as having body parts made of stone, such as the bark of [[dalewillow]] or hooves of [[Ryshadium]]s.{{book ref|sa3|10}} As stone doesn't grow naturally, three possibilities must be considered:
=== Fauna ===▼
* The substance is actually stone, somehow either grown or gathered by the creatures,
{{quote
* The substance is organic, but highly similar in appearance to stone,
| "Perhaps a story for a child," [[Hoid|Wit]] said. "I will tell you one, to get you in the mood. A bunny rabbit and a chick went frolicking in the grass together on a sunny day."<br>"A chick...baby chicken? [[Kaladin]] said. "And a what?"<br>"Ah, forgot myself for a moment," [[Hoid|Wit]] said. "Sorry. Let me make it more appropriate for you. A piece of wet slime and a disgusting crab thing with seventeen legs slunk across the rocks together on an insufferably rainy day. Is that better?"|multiline=y
* The substance is hardened crem, deliberately cultivated by those creatures.
| [[Hoid]]'s opinion on the ecosystem and Fauna of Roshar.{{book ref|sa2|59}}
}}
Rosharan fauna have adapted to their unique environment in a number of interesting ways. Lower than usual gravity allows some of the native creatures to grow spectacularly large.{{wob ref|10243}} There are crustaceans (ranging from tiny crabs to lumbering chulls) and molluscs that retreat into their shells during the highstorms. Others have dens or pupate. There are also creatures, like the warm-blooded [[sarpenthyn]], that vaguely resemble a tentacled mollusc with no shell and can ooze into the cracks between rocks.
 
==== Flora ====
Chulls are very important crustaceans in Roshar. They are herded like cattle, but pull large carts like oxen would.
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.
[[File:Lait.jpeg|left|250px|thumb|In highstorm-heavy regions, laits like this are the oases of plant life.]]
 
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}}
On the other hand, there are insects and amphibians that like the rain and spin cocoons that dissolve in water. One notable example are [[lurg]]s, which coat the inside of their cocoon with a mucus as they spin it so that it is water tight and keeps them from drying out between storms.
 
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.
The skies of Roshar are populated by insects, [[skyeel]]s, and a wide variety of [[chicken]]s.
 
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}}
Mammalian life is limited outside of Shinovar, but rats and minks can be found in the wild. Domesticated hogs and horses exported from Shinovar to the rest of Roshar. There is some evidence that there may also be wild hogs.
 
;Human uses
[[Larkin]]s are a rare form of creature found on Roshar which can suck the [[stormlight]] out of a [[surgebinder]].{{book ref|sa2|I|9}}
 
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 continet.{{book ref|sa1|4}}
It is easier for animals on Roshar to attain some degree of sentience because of something to do with Cultivation.{{wob ref|2792}}
 
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]]; anaesthetics 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 once dried. 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}}
 
[[File:Chasmfiend.jpeg|right|250px|thumb|A Chasmfiend, with gleaming [[mandra]]s surrounding it. They allow the greatshell to exist despite its enormous size.]]
 
▲==== Fauna ====
 
Roshar contains a wide variety of fauna, most of which appears to be shelled. While most creatures are native to the world, several species have been introduced into Roshar during human exodus from [[Ashyn]], among them mammals and birds.
 
Like Rosharan flora, the animals of Roshar have also adapted to their unusual circumstances. Several species, including the largest, grow massive shells which can protect them from highstorms. Others hide in dens or, in case of small [[sarpenthyn]], ooze between the cracks in the rock.
 
;Spren symbiosis
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 [[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]]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 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, 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. 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 purple blood and multiple stages of life, with the initial stage being called a larva and the process of switching between stages called pupation.
 
The smallest crustacean family are [[cremling]]s, a group of small, 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 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 human. This group includes predatory species, such as the [[Axehound]], and herbivores like [[Axehind]], and near-cremling sized creatures like [[legger]]s and [[larkin]]s. 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}}
 
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}}
 
;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 three independent sentient species: [[Sleepless]] (known also as Dysian Aimians), [[Siah Aimian]]s and [[Singer]]s. While the Sleepless are hive minds of cremlings, both Siah Aimians and Singers are humanoid, and capable of breeding with humans.{{wob ref|457}}{{wob ref|930}}
 
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