Difference between revisions of "Unkalaki"

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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 [[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 [[AimiaAkinah]].{{book ref|sa3.5|16}} When Cord bonded the [[Shardplate]], she becomingbecame the first [[Shardbearer]] amongstamong her people in a very long time.{{book ref|sa4|5i|1}}
 
== Appearance and Anatomy ==
They 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}} Because of their singer heritage, they 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 ===
Some Horneaters are born with the ability to see normally invisible [[spren]] like [[Sylphrena]]. These individuals are called ''alaii'iku'' or the [[Sighted]].{{book ref|twoksa1|21}} This congenital ability is hereditary and extremely rare.{{book ref|sa4|15}} Some of the Unkalaki (although possibly only the [[Sighted]]) consider themselves 'Guardians of the Pool', which likely refers to [[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]].{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} There is also a specific role of "watcher of the pool" which [[Cord]]'s grandmother once served as.{{book ref|sa3.5|15}}
 
== Culture ==
=== Occupation ===
A Horneater's occupation is determined by birth order. First and second sons obtain food, third sons are craftsmen, and fourth sons are warriors.{{book ref|sa1|49}} 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".
 
=== Political Structure ===
{{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.
It is unclear if Nuatomas are fourth sons or if their position excludes them from the normal profession system.
 
===Others 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}}
 
}}
 
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}}
 
== Mythology ==
The Horneaters have three powerful gods they once sought aid from: the Godsgods of the waters, the Godsgods of the mountains, and the Godsgods 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}} [[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'' is the name of the Unkalaki god of ''travel and mischief who cannot hurt man''. Rock saw [[Hoid]] emerge from an Oceanocean and came to the conclusion that he must be ''Lunu'anaki''.{{book ref|sa2|46}}
 
Naturally heated lakes on the Horneater Peaks are called ''Oceansoceans''. There is an Oceanocean on each of the Peakspeaks. Underneath the normal water is the so-called ''Water of life''. It is said to be connected to the Godsgods, and Horneaters who swim in the Oceansoceans can sometimes see the ''Place of the Gods'' (this is likely access to [[Shadesmar]] via [[Cultivation]]'s [[Perpendicularity]]). Swimming in the Oceansoceans is said to be lethal to outsiders, though, according to [[Sigzil]], this is only because the Unkalaki execute any outsiders who swim in their Oceansoceans.{{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}}
 
According to Unkalaki legends, when someone draws the [[Bow of Hours]] it heralds "years of change."{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} Unkalaki legends speak of an ancient [[pact of the Seven Peaks]] which was made with gods. The Fal'ala'liki'nor, One Who Draws the Bow of Hours, may be involved with these treaties.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}
 
Unkalaki also have legends of a group called the [[Sleepless|Gods Who Sleep Not]].{{book ref|sa3.5|9}}
 
=== The Story of the Horneater Peaks ===
Rock tells members of [[Bridge Four]] the story of how the Unkalaki claimed the Horneater Peaks.
 
The Unkalaki were at the brink of extinction due to their belligerent nature at that time. They had a leader called ''tana'kai'', who talked to the three most powerful kinds of gods on Roshar and asked them for shelter. They were the gods of the trees, the waters, and the mountains respectively.{{book ref|sa2|46}}
 
Both the godgods of the trees and the godgods of the waters refuse to give them shelter since they could notcannot guarantee the safety of the Unkalaki. The godgods of the mountains doesdo not outright decline the request but tellstell the ''tana'kai'' that his slopes are places only for spirits, and they could notcannot sustain life. The ''tana'kai'' solves the dilemma by asking the gods of the waters to place lakes on the peaks of the mountains, the mountain gods to heat them with his thermal energy from the deeps of the earth, and the gods of the forests to bring edible plants to the now habitable areas on the mountain peaks. The gods were pleased with this solution, and the Horneaters moved to the peaks.{{book ref|sa2|46}}
The ''tana'kai'' solves the dilemma by asking the god of the waters to place lakes on the peaks of the mountains, the mountain god to heat them with his thermal energy from the deeps of the earth and the god of the forests to bring edible plants to the now habitable areas on the mountain peaks. The gods were pleased with this solution and the Horneaters moved to the peaks.{{book ref|sa2|46}}
 
Whether these three gods are related to the three [[Shard]]s on Roshar is unknown.
 
== Trivia ==
* The Unkalaki peoples are a mixture of Hawaiian, Scottish, and Russian cultures.{{wob ref|10503}}
 
== Notes ==