Difference between revisions of "Santhid"
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'''Santhidyn''' are fairly intelligent gigantic marine animals native to [[Roshar]]. They are so reclusive that some books claim they are extinct. They sometimes follow ships, although all that can be seen from the surface is the top of their shells. Sailors consider sighting them to be very lucky, and say hunting them brings bad luck. Decomposed santhidyn occasionally wash up on shore. Because of their rarity, there were no known pictures or reliable descriptions of live specimens until a santhid was drawn by [[Shallan Davar]].{{book ref|sa2|1}} |
'''Santhidyn''' are fairly intelligent gigantic marine animals native to [[Roshar]]. They are so reclusive that some books claim they are extinct. They sometimes follow ships, although all that can be seen from the surface is the top of their shells. Sailors consider sighting them to be very lucky, and say hunting them brings bad luck. Decomposed santhidyn occasionally wash up on shore. Because of their rarity, there were no known pictures or reliable descriptions of live specimens until a santhid was drawn by [[Shallan Davar]].{{book ref|sa2|1}} |
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They are one of the few Rosharan species with a degree of sentience, due to |
They are one of the few Rosharan species with a degree of sentience, due to [[Cultivation]]'s influence in the system.{{wob ref|2792}} |
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== Appearance and Anatomy == |
== Appearance and Anatomy == |
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Santhidyn have a dome shaped brown-green shell, about the size of three rowboats tied together and at least six or eight feet in height, on their top. |
Santhidyn have a dome shaped brown-green shell, about the size of three rowboats tied together and at least six or eight feet in height, on their top. The shell is sometimes overgrown with seaweed, and small crystals jut up from it. Underneath the shell, they are a knotted gray-blue mass. Their skin are rippled and folded, gnarled like an ancient tree. They have an eye as big as a human head and three enormous fins on each of their flanks. They have long, drooping, and very thick blue tendrils, like those of a jellyfish that disappear down into the depths of the seas, trailing behind the santhid at a slant. |
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{{image|Shallan And The Santhid.png|Shallan meeting the Santhid.|width=250px|side=left}} |
{{image|Shallan And The Santhid.png|Shallan meeting the Santhid.|width=250px|side=left}} |
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Revision as of 00:33, 15 October 2020
| Santhid | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Animal |
| World of Origin | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Santhidyn are fairly intelligent gigantic marine animals native to Roshar. They are so reclusive that some books claim they are extinct. They sometimes follow ships, although all that can be seen from the surface is the top of their shells. Sailors consider sighting them to be very lucky, and say hunting them brings bad luck. Decomposed santhidyn occasionally wash up on shore. Because of their rarity, there were no known pictures or reliable descriptions of live specimens until a santhid was drawn by Shallan Davar.[1]
They are one of the few Rosharan species with a degree of sentience, due to Cultivation's influence in the system.[2]
Appearance and Anatomy
Santhidyn have a dome shaped brown-green shell, about the size of three rowboats tied together and at least six or eight feet in height, on their top. The shell is sometimes overgrown with seaweed, and small crystals jut up from it. Underneath the shell, they are a knotted gray-blue mass. Their skin are rippled and folded, gnarled like an ancient tree. They have an eye as big as a human head and three enormous fins on each of their flanks. They have long, drooping, and very thick blue tendrils, like those of a jellyfish that disappear down into the depths of the seas, trailing behind the santhid at a slant.
Ecology
The waters around santhidyn are teeming with life. Small fish usually follow santhidyn around, picking at the underside of their shell, perhaps indicating a symbiotic relationship. Others move between a ship and a santhid, picking at the bottom of the vessel. This may have something to do with why santhidyn follow ships around. They are also surrounded by an unknown type of spren.
They are generally considered harmless, although the lack of reliable accounts on them makes it suspect.
Lore
Sailors consider santhidyn to be very good luck and a good omen, and even the thought of hunting one is enough to make most uncomfortable. There are stories claiming they sometimes follow a ship for days, wait out in the sea as the ship goes into port, and follow it again once it goes into open sea.
Shallan believes a santhid rescued her after the sinking of The Wind's Pleasure.[3] She lost her original drawing during the sinking but redrew it after meeting Tvlakv.[4] When she visits Mraize's basement, he has a santhid skull among his collection of trophies.[5]