Difference between revisions of "Scar"

|books=[[Arcanum Unbounded]], [[Mistborn Era 2]], [[Stormlight Archive]], [[Shadows for Silence]]

The Scar is a region of stars{{wob ref|8094}} that are unusually bright.{{wob ref|8094}}{{wob ref|6089}}{{wob ref|3363}} In a cosmere star chart that was commissioned by an unknown patron,{{wob ref|8088}} the Scar includes a constellation known as "The Dragon".{{wob ref|8088}}{{file ref|Cosmere constellation map.jpg|Cosmere constellation map}} Most of the stars in the Scar have a red tint on the chart,{{file ref|Cosmere constellation map.jpg|Cosmere constellation map}} and are perceived as red when viewed from several planets, unlike other stars.{{book ref|mb3|7}}{{book ref|sa1|2}} The color is significant,{{wob ref|8093}} but the reason why is not yet known. Red is commonly associated with outside influence or corruption in the cosmere;{{wob ref|13830}} however, that is not necessarily the only thing that it symbolizes.{{wob ref|13074}}

The apparent shape of the Scar varies depending on the vantage point in the cosmere; it is not always visible on every planet.{{wob ref|13018}}{{wob ref|3363}} This is due to the positioning of the various planetary systems{{wob ref|3363}} as well as local factors such as mist or ash.{{wob ref|3363}}{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}} Additionally, stars are not known to be visible from the [[Cognitive Realm]].{{book ref|sa4|22}}

On [[Threnody]], the Scar is known as the '''Starbelt'''.{{book ref|sfs}}{{wob ref|3363}} Threnody has no moon,{{map ref|Threnodite system}} making the nights extremely dark; the Starbelt is usually bright enough to faintly illuminate objects, even when its light is filtered by tree branches.{{map ref|Threnodite system}}{{book ref|sfs}} Threnody may lie relatively close to the Scar, as [[Silence Montane]] implies that the Starbelt's position in the sky changes on a day-to-day basis.{{book ref|sfs}} The residents of Threnody do not describe the Starbelt's light as red; the star at the center of the Threnodite system also appears to be red,{{file ref|Cosmere constellation map.jpg|Cosmere constellation map}}{{map ref|Threnodite system}} which may affect their perception of the Scar.

Most [[Roshar]]an people refer to the Scar as '''Taln's Scar''', named for the [[Herald]] known as [[Taln]].{{book ref|sa1|2}} Taln's Scar is described as deep red in color, and it changes position in different seasons.{{book ref|sa1|2}} It is visible before the sun sets and other twinkling white stars (accompanied by [[starspren]]) appear.{{book ref|wor|31}} [[Reya]]'s [[Tear]] is another notably bright star in the sky, but it is not part of Taln's Scar.{{book ref|wor|31}} Roshar has three moons that rise and set during the night;{{map ref|Roshar system}} between moons, the stars provide adequate illumination for someone to move around{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} but not quite enough to read or draw.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2|43}} The position of Taln's scar on one's seventh birthday is relevant in Rosharan astrology.{{book ref|sa1|33}}

In [[Classical Scadrial]], no mention is made of any unusually bright stars or constellations, even when [[Sazed]] discusses an astronomically-aware people known as the [[Nelazan]].{{book ref|mb1|9}} During the [[Final Empire]], the sky was largely obscured by [[mist]] and the [[ashmounts]], to the point that even an [[allomancer]] burning [[tin]] could not always see the stars,{{book ref|mb1|7}} with the exception of tin [[savant]]s.{{book ref|mb3|14}} [[Vin]] is able to see the stars by using tin or by using [[steel]] to fly above the mists.{{book ref|mb3|73}} SheWhen isshe abledoes toso, she can see some of the same stars that would be in the skyskies of Threnody,{{wob ref|3675}} butyet she still does not take note of anything that resembles the Scar. It is possible that [[Luthadel]]'s orientation at the north pole of [[Scadrial]] during this era{{wob ref|8042}} was such that the Scar was not visible.

|[[Waxillium Ladrian]]{{book ref|mb3mb6|epilogue}}

During the [[Catacendre]], [[Harmony]] moves Scadrial back to its original orientation and orbit.{{book ref|mb3|82}} Hundreds of years later, [[Waxillium Ladrian]] sees a celestial phenomenon known as the '''Red Rip''' on several occasions, although he seems to viewconsider it as mundane. The Red Rip is not described in detail, but it is prominent on cloudless nights, and sometimes sits low on the horizon.{{book ref|mb3|7}} It is bright enough that it can sometimes be seen through the mists when they are present if observed at high enough elevation.{{book ref|mb3|epilogue}} When Wax is temporarily dead, Harmony shows him a seemingly troublesome red haze that is enveloping Scadrial,{{book ref|mb6|28}} but this haze is not necessarily related to the Red Rip.{{wob ref|9649}}

[[Category: cosmereCosmere astronomycelestial bodies]]