Difference between revisions of "Greatshell"
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{{lifeform |
{{lifeform |
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| + | |image=Chasmfiend Hunt by Randy Vargas.jpg |
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| − | |type=Animal |
+ | |type=Animal family |
|world=Roshar |
|world=Roshar |
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|universe=[[Cosmere]] |
|universe=[[Cosmere]] |
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|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]] |
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]] |
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}}{{update|book=sa3}} |
}}{{update|book=sa3}} |
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| − | '''Greatshells''' are a group of large |
+ | '''Greatshells''' are a group of large crustaceans native to [[Roshar]]. The family includes numerous species, among them [[chasmfiend]]s, [[Tai-na]] and the extinct [[lanceryn]]s.{{book ref|sa1|36}}{{book ref|sa1|12}}{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} |
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| − | People from [[Kadrix]] are said to ride greatshell beasts.{{book ref|sa1|36}} |
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| + | Greatshells refers to a variety of creatures both aquatic and land-bound. They do, however, share a number of physical characteristics. They are uniformly massive, vastly larger than a human; the largest creatures on the planet, both on land and in the water, are greatshells.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} They possess an exoskeleton, and multiple legs.{{file ref|Chasmfiend.jpeg|text=Shallan's sketch: Chasmfiend}} They have no tongue, and a complex set of jaws;{{book ref|sa1|15}} though it's unclear if they're all carnivorous, it is unlikely. Their blood is violet, and has a musty, moldy smell.{{book ref|sa1|26}} |
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| + | Greatshells do not seem to have a singular biome they thrive in; they can be found as far east as the [[Shattered Plains]], as far west as [[Aimia]], and as far north as the [[Reshi Isles]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}{{book ref|sa1|36}} Their sheer size makes domesticating most species unfeasible, although there are stories of greatshell riders in places like [[Kadrix]].{{book ref|sa1|36}} If the [[chull]]s are considered greatshells -- which is unclear -- it would make them the only case of widely-spread domestication of greatshells. |
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| − | Larger species have a large gem inside of them, called a [[gemheart]]. Greatshells are usually wild and hunted for their gemhearts, edible meat and carapace, although some species are domesticated. |
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| + | === Spren bonds === |
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| − | Their blood is violet, and has a musty, moldy smell.{{book ref|sa1|26}} |
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| + | The greatshells maintain their enormous size by bonding with [[mandra]]s, a type of [[spren]].{{wob ref|1227}} Mandras decrease their weight, allowing them to exist and move their bulk in defiance of square-cube law.{{book ref|sa3|99}} Perhaps to facilitate this bond, greatshells possess [[gemheart]]s, massive gemstones, within their bodies.{{book ref|sa3|i|13}} For this reason, they're often hunted; some species, like the [[lanceryn]] and [[chasmfiend]]s, have been hunted down to extinction or near-extinction over their gemhearts.{{book ref|sa1|36}} |
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| − | They have no tongue, and a complex set of jaws. Chasmfiends, for example, have some flat platelike teeth for crushing and destroying shells and other, smaller mandibles for ripping off flesh or shoving it deeper into the throat. |
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| + | *[[chasmfiend]] |
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| − | |||
| + | *[[lanceryn]] |
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| − | Greatshells live in symbiotic relationships with spren that allow them to grow as large as they do.{{wob ref|1227}} These [[Chasmfiend spren|spren]] only appear around the corpses of recently killed greatshells.{{book ref|sa1|15}} |
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| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | *[[Chasmfiend]] |
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| − | *[[Lanceryn]] |
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*[[Tai-na]] |
*[[Tai-na]] |
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| − | *[[ |
+ | *[[yu-nerig]] |
== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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Revision as of 16:32, 23 May 2020
| Greatshell | |
|---|---|
 by Randy Vargas
| |
| Type | Animal family |
| World of Origin | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Greatshells are a group of large crustaceans native to Roshar. The family includes numerous species, among them chasmfiends, Tai-na and the extinct lanceryns.[1][2][3]
Appearance and Anatomy
Greatshells refers to a variety of creatures both aquatic and land-bound. They do, however, share a number of physical characteristics. They are uniformly massive, vastly larger than a human; the largest creatures on the planet, both on land and in the water, are greatshells.[3] They possess an exoskeleton, and multiple legs.[4] They have no tongue, and a complex set of jaws;[5] though it's unclear if they're all carnivorous, it is unlikely. Their blood is violet, and has a musty, moldy smell.[6]
![[4]](#cite_note-Chasmfiend.jpeg-4){kind=link}
Greatshells do not seem to have a singular biome they thrive in; they can be found as far east as the Shattered Plains, as far west as Aimia, and as far north as the Reshi Isles.[3][1] Their sheer size makes domesticating most species unfeasible, although there are stories of greatshell riders in places like Kadrix.[1] If the chulls are considered greatshells -- which is unclear -- it would make them the only case of widely-spread domestication of greatshells.
Spren bonds
The greatshells maintain their enormous size by bonding with mandras, a type of spren.[7] Mandras decrease their weight, allowing them to exist and move their bulk in defiance of square-cube law.[8] Perhaps to facilitate this bond, greatshells possess gemhearts, massive gemstones, within their bodies.[9] For this reason, they're often hunted; some species, like the lanceryn and chasmfiends, have been hunted down to extinction or near-extinction over their gemhearts.[1]
Known greatshell species
Notes
- ↑ a b c d The Way of Kings chapter 36#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 12#
- ↑ a b c Words of Radiance interlude I-3#
- ↑ Shallan's sketch: Chasmfiend
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 15#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 26#
- ↑ 17th Shard Forum Q&A
— Arcanum - 2012-09-27# - ↑ Oathbringer chapter 99#
- ↑ Oathbringer interlude I-13#
