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{{lifeform
|image=Santhid.jpeg
|type={{cat tag|Greatshells|Greatshell}}
|sapient=
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{quote
|The santhid. It rescued me.
|[[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa2|11}}
}}
'''Santhidyn''' are massive shelled marine animals native to [[Roshar]]. They are one of a few Rosharan species known to have some degree of sapience.{{wob ref|2792}}
Although it is unclear if santhidyn are categorized as "[[greatshell]]s", they have some characteristics in common with other animals such as the [[yu-nerig]] and [[Tai-na]], and they are part of the same family tree as [[chasmfiend]]s.{{wob ref|7450}} Shallan observes arrow-shaped [[spren]], presumably [[mandra]]s, near a santhid.{{book ref|sa2|1}} These spren are known to enable animals to grow to enormous size on Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|99}}{{wob ref|1806}} The size and anatomy of santhidyn may also indicate that they have [[gemheart]]s.{{wob ref|756}}
{{image|Sea Voyage by Randy Vargas.jpg|side=left|width=250px}}
==Behavior==
{{sidequote|side=right|size=250px
Sightings of santhidyn are extremely rare. Even full-time sailors may only see one every few years. When a santhid does encounter a ship, they may sometimes follow it for days, even waiting at sea for the ship if it visits a port of call. Their large fins allow them to swim quickly and smoothly, and they seem to easily keep up with ships, even over long distances. They are generally considered harmless, although their presence still worries some sailors since they are enigmatic creatures.{{book ref|sa2|1}}▼
|Do you realize that nobody has ever produced a drawing of a live santhid? All the ones that have washed up on beaches were badly decomposed.
|[[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa2|1}}
}}
▲Sightings of santhidyn are extremely rare. Even full-time sailors may only see one every few years. When a santhid does encounter a ship, they may sometimes follow it for days, even waiting at sea for the ship if it visits a port of call. Their large fins allow them to swim quickly and smoothly, and they seem to easily keep up with ships, even over long distances. They are generally considered harmless, and there are even stories about santhidyn saving people from drowning, although their presence still worries some sailors since they are enigmatic creatures.{{book ref|sa2|1}}
Santhidyn have some degree of sapience. This is related to the [[Shard]] [[Cultivation]]{{wob ref|2792}} and presumably facilitated by a relationship with [[spren]], although this relationship is not well-understood.{{wob ref|8302}}{{wob ref|2684}}{{wob ref|11667}} Shallan noticed that a santhid seemed to focus its eye directly on her;{{book ref|sa2|1}} she believed that the same santhid later rescued her from a shipwreck.{{book ref|sa2|11}}
Because sightings are so infrequent, the full range of santhidyn is unclear, although their size presumably limits them to deeper waters. They have been observed in Longbrow's Straits and the [[Southern Depths]].{{book ref|sa2|1}}{{book ref|sa2|11}}
{{image|Shallan And The Santhid.png|[[Shallan]] meeting a santhid|width=250px|side=
==History==
Santhidyn are rarely seen by sailors, and even more rarely by scholars. A naturalist named [[Naladan]] spent her entire career chasing santhidyn and never got a good look at one. Sightings are so infrequent that there is a great deal of disagreement about their nature, and even their existence. Some corpses have washed ashore, but they are generally badly decomposed and not useful for study.{{book ref|sa2|1}}
[[Shallan Davar]] and the crew of the ''[[Wind's Pleasure]]'' encountered a santhid in [[Longbrow's Straits]]
When the ''Wind's Pleasure'' later sank off the coast of the [[Frostlands]], Shallan managed to survive; she made landfall near the [[Shallow Crypts]].{{map ref|Frostlands|the Frostlands}} When she woke up, she did not remember what had happened, but she saw a santhid leaving the area. She believed that it was the same santhid she had encountered in Longbrow's Straits, even though she had since traveled a significant distance without seeing it again. She assumed that the santhid had saved her, and speculated about its level of intelligence.{{book ref|sa2|11}} She lost her original drawings during the sinking, but later recreated some of them.{{book ref|sa2|17}}
During the [[expedition to Akinah]], the crew of the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'' came across a replica of a dead santhid formed by a [[Sleepless]]. Thinking it to be a regular santhid corpse, the crew were certain that it was a terrible omen until convinced by [[Rysn]] that, like a dead santhid washing up on shore, it was actually a good omen and that the crew should give the creature a proper burial. Upon the crew attempting to haul in it for a burial, however, it split into its constituent hordelings, horrifying the crew.{{book ref|sa3.5|8}}
== Lore ==
{{quote
[[Thaylen]] sailors consider santhidyn to be very good luck and a good omen, and even the thought of hunting one is enough to make most uncomfortable. They often tell stories about santhid sightings and behavior. Scholars such as Shallan and [[Jasnah]] are aware of the reverence that sailors hold for santhidyn.{{book ref|sa2|1}}▼
|You are good luck, young miss! We ain't seen a santhid in years.
|[[Yalb]], to [[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa2|1}}
}}
▲[[Thaylen]] sailors consider santhidyn to be very good luck and a good omen, whether alive or when washed on the shore, and respect those they do encounter as if they were sacred. Killing a santhid is considered to be a monstrous act and rumored to attract extremely bad luck, and even the thought of hunting one is enough to make most uncomfortable. They often tell stories about santhid sightings and behavior. Scholars such as Shallan and [[Jasnah]] are aware of the reverence that sailors hold for santhidyn.{{book ref|sa2|1}}
Santhid shells are sometimes displayed in coastal cities such as [[Amydlatn]]
Santhids are believed to magnify peace and confidence, and some people consider them to be more spren than animal.{{book ref|sa3.5|8}}
▲Santhid shells are sometimes displayed in coastal cities such as [[Amydlatn]].{{book ref|sa2|1}} [[Mraize]] also appears to have a part of a santhid skull in his "trophy room".{{book ref|sa2|43}}
==Trivia==
== Notes ==
<references /><!-- sa2: 1, 6, 11, 17, 43, art -->
{{complete|[[User:Big Smooth|Big Smooth]] ([[User talk:Big Smooth|talk]])
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