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|type=Weather pattern
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
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The '''Weeping''' is a four weeks long period of time on [[Roshar]], marking the end of
== Description ==
In the weeks preceding the Weeping, [[highstorm]]s grow more and more infrequent, before eventually stopping altogether.{{book ref|sa1|25}} A few days after the last highstorm, the skies cloud over and it begins to rain. The rain continues ceaselessly for two weeks, until Lightday, the Rosharan New Year.{{book ref|sa1|44}} On Lightday, one of two things happen. If the Lightday marks the start of an even-numbered year, the day will be calm - such years are called Light Years. At the start of odd-numbered years, the Weeping is instead interrupted by a hightorm.{{book ref|sa2|76}} Following Lightday are two more weeks of constant rain.{{book ref|sa2|46}} At the end of the Weeping the highstorms return, albeit initially weaker than usual.{{book ref|sa1|4}}▼
▲In the weeks preceding the Weeping, [[highstorm]]s grow more and more infrequent, before eventually stopping altogether.{{book ref|sa1|25}} A few days after the last highstorm, the skies cloud over and it begins to rain. The rain continues ceaselessly for two weeks
The Weepings are characterized by a slow, steady, unstopping rainfall that doesn't deposit [[crem]]. It doesn't feature any heavy winds or other extreme conditions generally found during a highstorm.{{book ref|sa1|44}}{{book ref|sa2|81}} The sky is perpetually overcast, bathing the land in twilight.{{book ref|sa2|77}} [[Rainspren]] are commonplace.{{book ref|sa1|44}}▼
▲The Weepings are characterized by
Halfway between two Weepings in the year is [[Midpeace]], another prolonged period of time with no highstorms.{{book ref|sa2|45}} In contrast to the Weeping, storms are more frequent before and after Midpeace, and the Midpeace itslef doesn't see much, if any rain.{{wob ref|10231}}{{book ref|sa3|58}}▼
▲Halfway between
The people of Roshar are used to the Weepings. While they do wear protective clothing, such as long coats and wide-brimmed hats, it's generally understood that everyone and everything will be utterly soaked throughout.{{book ref|sa3|10}}{{book ref|sa2|78}} Most Rosharans approach this stoically, weathering the rain while enjoying the break from the highstorms.{{book ref|sa2|78}}{{book ref|sa2|79}} Sometimes, they measure their age in Weepings, saying "sixteen Weepings old" or "hadn't reached her twentieth Weeping".{{book ref|sa1|16}}{{book ref|sa1|29}}▼
== Influence ==
In the [[Vorin]] religion, the Weepings is supposed to be the time for self-reflection and contemplating the [[Almighty]].{{book ref|sa2|80}} In [[Yeddaw]], the Weeping is celebrated by eating the city's ten famous pancakes.{{book ref|sa2.5|2}} [[Urithiru]], in turn, isn't affected by the Weepings, as the tower stands far above the clouds.{{book ref|sa2|87}}▼
{{image|Tien by Ari Ibarra.jpeg|side=left|width=250px|[[Tien]] on the roof of his house during the Weeping}}
▲The people of Roshar are used to the Weepings. While they do wear
▲In the [[Vorin]] religion, the
The prolonged period of no highstorms leads to a lack of [[Stormlight]]. Rosharans try to preserve it throughout by using large, oversized gems capable of storing vast amounts of it, with a particular, multi-faceted cut. Despite that, few gemstones make it to the next highstorm still infused.{{book ref|sa2|81}} A [[perfect gemstone]] could keep Stormlight for that long, but those are extremely rare.{{book ref|sa3|99}}▼
▲The prolonged period of no highstorms leads to a lack of [[Stormlight]]. Rosharans try to preserve it throughout by using
=== Military ===
The peace of the Weeping is
=== Industry ===
Farmers generally don't work during the Weeping, as any seeds or seed-paste planted during that time would be washed away by constant rain, and some plants might even die from excess water.{{book ref|sa2.5|12}}{{book ref|sa3|10}} The period of calm highstorms directly following, however, is a prime time for planting.{{book ref|sa1|4}} In contrast, fishermen work especially hard during the Weepings, as their ships are constantly
In some places, the Weeping is harnessed for cleaning and washing areas that would normally be too difficult or time-consuming to tidy up.{{book ref|sa2|81}}{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
== The
The Weeping between the years 1173/1174 was markedly different from the usual, owning to the [[Battle of Narak]], which took place two days before the Lightday.{{book ref|sa2|50}} Even before the battle began, people noted unusually strong winds, far in excess of what could normally be expected.{{book ref|sa2|80}} During the fighting, the [[listener]]s summoned the [[Everstorm]], while the [[Stormfather]] sent a highstorm to oppose it.{{book ref|sa2|83}} This caused the regular pattern of the Weeping to be altered.
Elsewhere in the world, the Weeping stopped, then started, then stopped again.{{book ref|sa2.5|2}} The out-of-pattern highstorm arrived during that time without warning, leading to only some spheres capturing [[Stormlight]].{{book ref|sa2.5|6}} The Everstorm came a few days later, throwing people off further.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}} What followed was a period of
How this sequence of events, as well as the addition of the Everstorm, will impact future Weepings is yet unknown.
== Trivia ==
* [[Kaladin]]'s [[wikipedia:Seasonal affective disorder|seasonal depression]] affects him the most during the Weeping.{{book ref|sa2|77}} [[Shallan]], by contrast, considers it to be her favorite part of the year.{{book ref|sa2|
* The occurence of the Weeping is influenced by Roshar's orbital position during that time of the year.{{wob ref|2521}} It is not, however, tied to the position of [[Ashyn]] relative to Roshar.{{wob ref|10398}}
* Weepings not carrying [[crem]] is motivated by needs of the narrative rather than any in-universe mechanics, as Brandon didn't want there to be an overabundance of
== Notes ==
;Footnotes
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;References
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