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{{shardworld
|map=Threnody icon.svg
|shards=None current,
|magic= [[Shade]]s
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|system=[[Threnodite system]]{{map ref|Threnodite system}}
|books=[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]
}}
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'''Threnody''' is the [[Cosmere#Planets|world]] that contains the [[Forests of Hell]].{{wob ref|5603}} It is the setting for the story [[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]. It is a temperate world with notable features such as large forests, mountains and oceans. This planet is populated by humans, known as Threnodites, as well as hostile [[Cognitive Shadow]]s, referred to locally as [[shade]]s. The shades can only be combated with silver, which makes the metal an incredibly valuable resource on the planet.
The planet is regarded as notably dangerous, disturbing, and strange, even by powerful and cosmere-aware people.{{au ref|threnody}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|27}}{{book ref|yumi|17}}
== Geography and Ecology ==
The planet itself contains two large continents separated by an ocean.{{au ref|Threnody}} Little has been revealed about the larger of the two continents, although it is the original homeland of humans on Threnody.{{book ref|sfs}} It is known as the [[Fallen World]] and contains the [[Homeland]]. The smaller of the two continents is nearly entirely covered by the deciduous [[Forests of Hell]], along with rivers, some unforested mountains, and caves.{{au ref|Threnody}}{{book ref|sfs}} Fortress Cities have been built in the mountainous regions, while homesteads and waystops dot the Forests themselves, connected by primitive roads.{{book ref|sfs}} Silver appears to be an abundant resource on this continent, although it still remains valuable due to its usefulness in handling shades. Within the seas, there is a place known as the [[Lilting Abyss]], which is an aquatic feature known for its immense depth.{{book ref|tress|51}}
There are a wide variety of herbivores in the Forests including rodents, deer, birds, rabbits, and turkeys.{{book ref|sfs}} Hogs are kept by some of the inhabitants of the Forests, but they are not eaten. Due to
Several notable plant species that grow in the Forests include [[fenweed]], which can be used as a poison, and [[wetleek]]s, whose sap glows under the light of a specific type of [[glowpaste]]. There are also large fields of pale white mushrooms that grow in the Forests.
=== Early History ===
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Little to nothing is known about the early history of Threnody. At some point in history, [[Ambition]], a [[Shard of Adonalsium]], arrived in the system.{{au ref|Threnody}} Some level of Investiture existed on the planet, although it is unknown whether it was a natural manifestation or if it was related to Ambition. The origin of the human population is unknown, but it predates Ambition's arrival. They populated the larger of the two continents, later known as the [[Fallen World]], building a technologically advanced culture that had developed gunpowder.{{book ref|sfs}} Threnodite explorers discovered the smaller, more heavily-forested continent on their world, which was populated predominantly by shades. The horrified explorers called the area the [[Forests of Hell]], believing the shades to be the spirits of the damned. A very few settlers, called the [[Forescout]]s, were the first to colonize the newly-discovered continent.▼
▲
▲At some point afterward, the Shard [[Odium]] arrived in the system, intent on killing Ambition.{{au ref|Threnody}} The two Shards fought in interplanetary space, battling on all three [[Realmatic Theory|Realms]]. Odium tore chunks of Investiture off Ambition during the fight, mortally wounding the other Shard. These broken chunks of power twisted every planet in the system, including Threnody and its people. Ambition fled the system, pursued by Odium.
=== Abandonment of the Fallen World ===
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Around a century after the abandonment of the home continent, humanity has recovered somewhat, settling into an uneasy equilibrium with the shades in their new home.{{book ref|sfs}} They remain fearful that the Evil will cross the ocean at some point in the future and finish wiping out humanity.{{au ref|Threnody}} The new continent and the Forests are still largely unmapped and unexplored, and a handful of expeditions have set out to their original continent, but none have returned. Despite the records that the original refugees brought with them, the Fallen World and Evil have slipped into the realm of legend. Over this century, the city of [[Lastport]] has become the most powerful on the continent.{{book ref|sfs}} Its governor was killed by a criminal named [[Chesterton Divide]], who fled into the Forests. He was eventually killed by [[Silence Montane]] for the bounty on his head.
There has been at least one visit onto the planet by a [[Worldhopper]].{{au ref|Threnody}} [[Khriss]] has been to the Forests of Hell and spent some time there, guided by her assisstant [[Nazh]], who is a Threnodite himself. Khriss is interested in the world and the shades, but as of yet has not had time for extended study of the world and its Investiture. At some point, the [[Cryptic]] [[Design]] visited the planet.{{book ref|yumi|17}}
== Culture and Society ==
=== Race and Language ===
There appears to be little sense of importance to race or ethnicity among the modern Threnodites.{{book ref|sfs}} Some people have darker skin than others, but there do not seem to be any racial divides amongst the people; they are mostly focused on survival. A few still have faint memories of the lands they once came from, such as the Homeland, but those memories do not have much significance in day-to-day life. Nothing is known about Threnodite languages, but it appears that most in the Forests speak the same tongue. A common
=== Religion ===
:''See also: [[God Beyond]]''
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Little is known about the cultures of the nations that once existed on the [[Fallen World]], as they were destroyed in their entirety.{{book ref|sfs}} The people of a place that is now simply called [[Homeland]] worshiped the [[God Beyond]], basing a religion around it. They symbolized this religion with a dagger, which was often made of silver and carved with symbols of divinity. They also made small shrines to their god. This religion is still practiced in the Forests by some, who have adapted it to fit recent events. Some people, such as [[Silence's grandmother]], believe that the coming of the Evil was a part of the God Beyond's plan and that the Forescouts are destined to one day return to the Fallen World and defeat the Evil there. Others, such as [[Silence Montane]], dismiss these notions as mere superstition.
:''Main Article: [[Fortress Town]]s''
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The people that fled to the smaller continent did not set up nations there upon their arrival.{{book ref|sfs}} Fearing that the Evil would manage to follow them across the ocean, they instead founded several [[Fortress Town]]s{{au ref|Threnody}} in the mountains, such as [[Bastion Hill]] and [[Lastport]].{{book ref|sfs}} They focused on making these
Lives spent living in the mountains with few shades in the area makes many fortdwellers skittish about shades and unused to following the Simple Rules.{{book ref|sfs}} They avoid traveling the Forests, particularly at night. If they are forced to do so, they remain perfectly silent and do not speak. Fortfolk have a particular way of looking at the Forests, averting their gaze and rarely looking at them directly or staring too deeply into the trees. Those traveling in the Forests without proper guidance often end up violating one of the Simple Rules and are slaughtered by the shades. They tend to wear fancier clothes than the homesteaders: black coats with shirts covered in lace at the front, as well as wide-brimmed hats with tall tops. The lands near the forts are relatively infertile and they are dependent on the Homesteaders for the majority of their food.
:''See also [[Forests of Hell]]''
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The Threnodites who homestead the Forests of Hell are a tough, practical people.{{book ref|sfs}} They are more focused on survival than anything else, and have little time for sentimentality and emotion. The forestborn are much more at home with the Forests and the shades than the fortfolk. Most cannot afford enough silver to fully encircle their homes and lands, so they live among the shades, some may even enter their homes, and accept that the Simple Rules are just a way of life. Even the Homesteaders do not care for traveling the forests at night, but they accept that at times they will have to do so. They often live in large family groups of up to a dozen. Homesteaders wear plain clothing and eat simple foods, such as gravied venison and beer. One can often tell a Homesteader by the way they walk, in a deliberate slow pace that will not draw the shades. The Homesteaders are an independent group; they have a deep dissatisfaction with the fortfolk, who they feel have broken their commitments, unfairly taxing them while failing to properly maintain and patrol the roads. They view the fortdwellers as prim and soft, unable to survive in the Forests. The Homesteaders tend to not want anything to do with the forts, they do not believe that they need their help. Many people that live in the Forests are technically criminals for dodging the taxes levied on them by the forts. Homesteaders know that their lives are harder and more dangerous than the fortfolk, but they value their freedom more than anything. Forestborn are often a superstitious people as well, they believe that hogs ward away shades and refuse to eat them. Many people are afraid to touch those that have been disfigured by shades, fearing the taint of their touch.
=== Technology ===
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Before the arrival of the Evil, the people of Homeland had discovered gunpowder.{{book ref|sfs}} However, humankind's flight from its influence caused large amounts of technological knowledge to be left behind. Technological innovation has been rather stifled in the Forests by the Simple Rules, specifically the rule against kindling fire. This has rendered technologies such as firestarters or gunpowder nearly useless in the Forests, although myths of gunpowder's explosive properties remain. It has also restricted the development of any sort of combustion-related technologies, such as steam engines. Any and all fire must be provided by a fire merchant, so once they are kindled, most fires are never allowed to go out. The Threnodites have also developed an alternative light source to fire, due to the difficulties with lighting fires in the Forests.{{book ref|sfs}} They make use of a material called [[glowpaste]], which provides a soft blue light and makes shades glow as well. They have also domesticated several species of animals on the planet, including horses and dogs, which they use in their everyday life.{{book ref|sfs}} They have also domesticated hogs, turkeys, and rabbits, which are raised and carefully slaughtered for food.
:''See also: [[Shade]]s''
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Unlike some of the other worlds in the Cosmere where full Shards of Adonalsium are present, such as [[Roshar]] or [[Scadrial]], Threnody has no active manifestation of Investiture that humans can use themselves.{{wob ref|6889}} The Investiture on Threnody takes the form of [[shade]]s, barely conscious Cognitive Shadows of human spirits{{au ref|Threnody}} that appear as translucent white figures that wander the Forests.{{book ref|sfs}} They are not innately aggressive, but become enraged and respond violently to any violations of the Simple Rules. Any flesh that a shade touches becomes black and withered, and if the contact is bad enough, the person will die and occasionally return as a shade themselves. The only thing that is able to combat shades is silver. It is unknown whether or not silver on Threnody is Invested in any way. The Evil is also related to Cognitive Shadows in some way, but specifically how is still uncertain.{{wob ref|7726}} ▼
|Threnodites, they have this phantom echo to their souls. A sort of smoky shadow that lives on after they die.
|[[Nomad]]{{book ref|tsm|13}}
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▲Unlike some of the other worlds in the
Prior to Odium's clash with Ambition, there was some other form of Investiture already in existence, but its precise origin is still unknown.{{au ref|Threnody}} It may simply be a natural manifestation of Investiture, or it could be related to Ambition. It is uncertain whether this Investiture still exists.
=== Perpendicularities and Subastral ===
Without a full Shard currently residing on the planet, Threnody lacks a stable [[perpendicularity]],{{au ref|Threnody}} like the [[Well of Ascension]] on [[Scadrial]].{{msh ref|2|1}} This absence prevents anyone from making an easy transition between the Physical Realm and [[Shadesmar]], restricting travel on and off the world.{{au ref|Threnody}} On occasion, perpendicularities form on the planet, but they are unstable and difficult to predict. Their origin is uncertain, but it is known to be morbid, so they may be related to the shades. It is known that the perpendicularities on Threnody have some link to the fact that a Shard was Splintered nearby.{{wob ref|12922}} There are currently no details on the appearance of Threnody's subastral in Shadesmar. However, the [[Sel|Selish]] organization known as the [[Ire]] have troops on the border of Threnody in Shadesmar to prevent Cognitive Shadows, presumably shades, from escaping the subastral.{{msh ref|5|2}} The reflection of the larger continent, the place where the Evil lives, in Shadesmar is very dangerous to visit.{{au ref|Threnody}}
=== Threnodites ===
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|These people had a natural, biological ability to leech Investiture from one another.
|Nomad{{book ref|tsm|13}}
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Threnodites themselves may be more Invested than people from other planets, as when a Threnodite creates a [[sunheart]] the power cell contains about two hundred [[BioChromatic Breath|Breath Equivalent Unit]]s, while a native from another planet creates significantly less.{{book ref|tsm|24}}
Threnodites on [[Canticle]] are also able to share Investiture with each other, directly transferring it between them via touch.{{book ref|tsm|13}} They are not able to share Investiture with non-Threnodites unless they have Connected with them.{{book ref|tsm|24}}{{book ref|tsm|39}} Those with the ability to forcibly pull Investiture from a person rapidly could kill them, though Threnodites do not have the inherent ability to take enough to be lethal.{{book ref|tsm|13}}{{book ref|tsm|52}}
== Planetary System ==
:''Main article: [[Threnodite system]]''
Threnody is
== Notable Threnodites ==
{{for|:Category:Threnodite|a full list see}}
*[[Silence Montane]]: A woman who runs a waystop in the Forests; she also secretly hunts for criminals under the alias of the [[White Fox]].{{book ref|sfs}}
*[[Chesterton Divide]]: A dangerous criminal who kills the governor of Lastport.{{book ref|sfs}}
== Development ==
[[Brandon Sanderson]] planned for Threnody to exist within the
== Trivia ==
== Notes ==
<references />
{{partial}}
{{demoted|sa4|exemplary=yes}}
{{Shadows for Silence}}
{{cosmere}}
<set-property key="demonym">Threnodite</set-property>
<set-property key="demonym-plural">Threnodites</set-property>
[[es:Treno]]
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