The Coppermind

Difference between revisions of "Unkalaki"

Unkalaki (edit)

Revision as of 20:42, 27 February 2021

1,686 bytes added ,  3 years ago
Some reorg, OB & RoW additions, etc. Hope to look at this more later
m (→‎The Story of the Horneater Peaks: more pluralizing how Rock did)
(Some reorg, OB & RoW additions, etc. Hope to look at this more later)
}}
{{spoilers|sa4}}
 
{{update|sa3|sa4}}
The '''Horneaters''', or '''Unkalaki'''{{book ref|sa1|14}} as they refer to themselves, are a race of people on the world of [[Roshar]]. They live on the tops of mountains called the [[Horneater Peaks]]. The Unkalaki have two sets of [[Shardplate]]. The first was obtained by [[Rock]] during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], where he used a [[grandbow]] to kill [[Amaram]].{{book ref|sa3|120}} The second set was discovered by [[Cord]] on the [[expedition to Akinah]].{{book ref|sa3.5|16}} When Cord bonded the Shardplate, she became the first [[Shardbearer]] among her people in a very long time.{{book ref|sa4|isa2|146}}
 
== Appearance and Anatomy ==
TheyThe Unkalaki are a human race with [[listener]] blood in their ancestry.{{wob ref|930}} As a result, they have a higher tendency to be asexual than other races without listener ancestors.{{wob ref|3400}} Furthermore, they seem to be able to faintly hear the Rhythms,{{book ref|sa3|37}}, although it remains unclear whether they are able to distinguish them or attribute them to certain feelings. Features that are often associated with Horneaters are pale skin, tall stature, and red hair. {{book ref|sa2|69}} Their lines mixed with that of the [[Veden]]s at some point; by the era of the [[True Desolation]], traditional Veden coloring includes such features as red hair and freckles, inherited from the Horneaters.{{book ref|sa2|45}} Because of their singer heritage, theythe Unkalaki have extra jaw pieces at the back of their mouths which help them eat shells.{{wob ref|3922}} This is likely the reason they are called Horneaters.
 
=== The Sighted ===
== Culture ==
=== Occupation ===
A Horneater's occupation is determined by birth order. First and second sons obtain food, third sons are craftsmen, and fourth sons and younger are warriors.{{book ref|sa1|49}}{{book ref|sa3|37}} If siblings die, the younger ones advance in this order of professions, meaning a son that started training as a warrior would be forced to abandon his career in order to become a craftsman if his older brother died. It is unknown what more fertile families do with the later children, and it is not entirely clear how daughters fit into this system. This regulation reflects the social status of each type of profession in the Horneater culture. Basic functions like gathering food are valued the most, while professions related to warfare are seen as least important. Therefore, a third son craftsman like [[Rock]] refuses to become a spearman soldier like the rest of [[Bridge Four]] because it would be "beneath him".
 
Horneaters, when making a living outside of the Peaks, prefer to work in the same business as a family unit.{{book ref|sa3|21}} They work in a variety of professions, from masseuses and servants to guards.{{book ref|sa3|18}}{{book ref|sa3|21}}
=== Political Structure ===▼
 
▲=== Political Structure and Military ===
{{sidequote
|The nuatoma, they see our lack of Shards as a great shame. They want these weapons very badly. It is believed that the nuatoma who first obtains a Shardblade would become king, a thing we have not had for many years. No peak would fight another peak where a man held one of the blessed Blades.
|side=right|size=350px
}}
The Unkalaki are organisedorganized in clan-like social structures. The leaders of these clans are called [[Nuatoma]]. The relatives of a Nuatoma serve him and act as his household. Nuatomas regularly leave the Horneater homeland in attempts to win [[Shard]]sShards in duels with Shardbearers[[Shardbearer]]s. The first Nuatoma who couldto win a Shardblade would become the king of the Unkalaki.{{book ref|sa1|23}}. ThisIt positionis wouldunclear nowif beNuatomas givenare tofourth [[Rock]],sons afteror heif killedtheir [[Meridasposition Amaram]],excludes athem shardbearer, duringfrom the [[Battlenormal ofprofession Thaylen Field]]system.
 
Since the [[True Desolation]], the Unkalaki have obtained two sets of [[Shardplate]]. The first is obtained by [[Rock]] during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], where he uses a [[grandbow]] to kill [[Meridas Amaram]].{{book ref|sa3|120}} While he also wins the [[Shardblade]] [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]], he returns this to [[Dalinar Kholin]] in repayment of a debt.{{book ref|sa3|122}} The second set is discovered by [[Cord]] on the [[expedition to Akinah]].{{book ref|sa3.5|16}} When Cord bonds the Shardplate, she becomes the first Shardbearer among her people in a very long time.{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}
 
The ruler of [[Jah Keved]] is able to levy troops from the population of Horneaters, which is one reason why the Vedens argue against ceding the Horneater Peaks to [[Odium]]'s forces.{{book ref|sa3|107}} The Unkalaki also have aided the [[coalition of monarchs]] by supplying batches of arrows for their armies. These arrows are unique, being fletched with white "goosefeathers."{{book ref|sa4|98}}
It is unclear if Nuatomas are fourth sons or if their position excludes them from the normal profession system.
 
=== Other ===
At one point, [[Rock]] tells [[Bridge Four]] about the Unkalaki dueling system, saying that the two men would drink [[mudbeer]] and sing until one of them gives up. The point is that by the end of the duel, no one will recall why they were fighting.{{book ref|sa1|27}}
 
Unkalaki names are usually entire sentences in the form of poems, thiswhich makes them hard to remember for people who are used to [[Alethi]] names. Insults with similar rhyme and structure as the poem name of the insulted party are valued especially highhighly in conflicts among Horneaters. {{book ref|sa1|27}}
 
Rock wears a beard style called ''humaka'aban'', which he says is the pride of every Unkalaki. Kaladin describes it as long sideburns that curve down to the chin. The chin itself and the area around the lips are cleanly shaven. Rock seems reluctant to the idea that other people besides Horneaters could wear the beard style.{{book ref|sa1|40}}
 
Unkalaki engage in trade with inhabitants of [[Shadesmar]], and [[aluminum]] is one of the commodities they have received.{{book ref|sa3.5|7}} In fact, there is a clan of Horneaters that lives in Shadesmar, including a handful that reside in [[Lasting Integrity]] during the time of the fortress' isolationist policy.{{book ref|sa4|75}}
 
== Cuisine ==
The Unkalaki received their common name "Horneaters" due to their ability to eat the hard shells of crustaceans. [[Rock]] ascribes this ability to their unusually strong teeth. Unkalaki cuisine utilizes less spices than [[Alethi]] cuisine.{{book ref|sa1|23}} One stew recipe that Rock divulges consists only of "Take everything you have, and put him in pot. Don’t let anyone airsick touch seasonings."{{book ref|sa4|54}}
 
{{quote
}}
 
In general, Horneater beverages have a quite sharp and immediately overpowering taste and smell.{{book ref|sa4|7}} Horneater lager has the reputation to melt teeth and cups. {{book ref|sa2|46}} Also, strongest among the Horneater beverages is the Horneater white. A clear, distilled moonshine, it is the strongest known alcohol on Roshar (with the possible exception of some violet wines). It is known to strip paint, and can apparently be deadly to non-Unkalaki.{{book ref|sa3|37}}{{book ref|sa3|18}} There is also a non-alcoholic beverage called [[shiki]], which is brown in color and is served chilled,{{book ref|sa3|37}} and a tea-like beverage that tastes of boiled grain but is an old, traditional recipe.{{book ref|sa3|46}}
 
== Religion and Mythology ==
The Horneaters have three powerful gods they once sought aid from: the gods of the waters, the gods of the mountains, and the gods of the trees.{{book ref|sa2|46}} Unkalaki stories teach that gods cannot be fought but must always be tricked.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} ''Lunu'anaki'' is the name of the Unkalaki god of ''travel and mischief who cannot hurt man''. Rock saw [[Hoid]] emerge from an ocean and came to the conclusion that he must be ''Lunu'anaki''.{{book ref|sa2|46}} [[Spren]] are also worshipped by the Unkalaki as gods; Rock offers to build a shrine for [[Sylphrena]] at one point.{{book ref|sa2|9}}{{book ref|sa2|46}} ''Lunu'anaki''In isaddition theto namelearning ofabout thethese Unkalakigods, godHorneaters ofreceive ''traveloccasional andmonks mischieffrom who[[Jah cannotKeved]], hurtwho man''. Rock sawpreach [[HoidVorinism]] emerge from an ocean and came to the conclusion that he must be ''Lunu'anaki''them.{{book ref|sa2sa3|4655}}
 
Naturally heated lakes on the Horneater Peaks are called ''oceans'' by the locals. There is an ocean on each of the peaks. Underneath the normal water is the so-called ''Water of life''. It is said to be connected to the gods, and Horneaters who swim in the oceans can sometimes see the ''Place of the Gods'' (this is likely access to [[Shadesmar]] via [[Cultivation]]'s [[Perpendicularity]]). Swimming in the oceans is said to be lethal to outsiders, though, according to [[Sigzil]], this is only because the Unkalaki execute any outsiders who swim in their oceans.{{book ref|sa2|46}}
 
There are ancient Unkalaki songs that refer to when the [[Dawnshard]] was brought to Roshar. It is possible these songs are considered sacred to the Unkalaki.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}
Truthwatch3r
Editors, Keepers
2,007

edits

Retrieved from "https://coppermind.net/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/146218"