Difference between revisions of "Relu-na"

259 bytes added ,  1 month ago
m
(16 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
{{character
{{lifeform
|image=Rysn by ephermeres.png
|type'species={{cat tag|greatshells|Greatshell}} {{cat tag|islands|island}}
|nativeresidence=[[Reshi Sea]]
|sapient=Yes
|native=[[Reshi Sea]]
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[Words of Radiance]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''Relu-na''' is a [[Tai-na]] in the [[Reshi Sea]] on [[Roshar]]. A [[greatshell]] the size of an island, she is worshippedworshiped as a god by her inhabitants.
 
== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Tan-na by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=left|width=300px|[[Rysn]] sailing towards Relu-na}}
Like other Tai-na, Relu-na has grown to extraordinary size due to a [[spren]] bond{{wob ref|2684}} related to her [[gemheart]]{{wob ref|756}} that allows her body to defy the laws of physics.{{wob ref|6498}}{{book ref|sa3|99}} Tai-na are able to grow larger than terrestrial greatshells due to their aquatic habitat,{{wob ref|1499}} although they technically could survive on land.{{wob ref|2684}} One of Relu-na's eyes is described as a "the size of a house" and it is situated more than fifty feet from the top of her head.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} [[Rysn]] believes that Relu-na is as large as a town.{{book ref|sa3|i|13}} She is referred to as female by [[Gu]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
 
{{for|Tai-na}}
Relu-na's shell has the appearance of a mountainous island jutting out from the ocean with no beach.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} She is not immediately identifiable as a living being, but when she moves it becomes easier to see that she has legs.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} She has stony skin covered with an array of plant life including moss, trees, [[shalebark]], and [[rockbud]]s.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The plants grow as thick as a jungle or forest over most of the shell, but relatively few plants grow on the head.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The shell has protrusions near the waterline that are used as docks by the residents of the island; stairs have also been cut into the shell.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The sea is unusually warm near Relu-na and Rysn compares the water to that of the [[Purelake]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
Like other [[Tai-na]], Relu-na has grown to extraordinary size due to a [[spren]] bond{{wob ref|2684}} related to her [[gemheart]]{{wob ref|756}} that allows her body to defy the laws of physics.{{wob ref|6498}}{{book ref|sa3|99}} Tai-na[[Rysn]] arebelieves ablethat toRelu-na growis largeras thanlarge terrestrialas greatshellsa due to their aquatic habitat,{{wob ref|1499}} although they technically could survive on landtown.{{wobbook ref|2684sa3|i|13}} One of Relu-na's eyes is described as a "the size of a house" and it is situated more than fifty feet from the top of her head.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}She [[Rysn]]has believesa thatmassive Relu-namouth iswith ashuge large as a townmandibles.{{book ref|sa3|i|13}} She is referred to as female by [[Gu]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
 
Relu-na's shell has the appearance of a mountainous island jutting out from the ocean with no beach.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} She is not immediately identifiable as a living being, but when she moves it becomes easier to see that she has legs.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} She has a stony skincarapace covered with an array of plant life including moss, trees, [[shalebark]], and [[rockbud]]s.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The plants grow as thick as a jungle or forest over most of the shell, but relatively few plants grow on the head.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The shell has protrusions near the waterline that are used as docks by the residents of the island; stairs have also been cut into the shell.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The sea is unusually warm near Relu-na and Rysn compares the water to that of the [[Purelake]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
Relu-na appears to be ancient,{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} as Tai-na are very long-lived.{{wob ref|3423}} The natives feed Relu-na fruit, but only as a treat; they do not divulge her primary food source.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
 
Relu-na appears to be ancient,{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} as Tai-na are very long-lived.{{wob ref|3423}} The natives feed Relu-na fruit, but only as a treat; they do not divulge her primary food source. The Tai-na are sentient, and the [[Reshi]] people believe that they are also sapient and capable of decision-making. [[Gu]] mentions that when two Tai-na approach each other, they decide what will happen next—a war, or something "good".{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
=== Sentience/Sapience ===
The Tai-na are sentient, and the Reshi people believe that they are also sapient and capable of decision-making. Gu mentions that when two Tai-na approach each other, they decide what will happen next - a war, or something "good".{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} In an attempt to gain the trust of the natives, Rysn climbs down a rope and attempts to address Relu-na directly, but falls when the rope snaps.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Vstim later tells her that the island's spren saved her life.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Rysn says she was trying to gain respect after Vstim and [[Talik]] repeatedly insisted that Relu-na places a great deal of value on boldness; after her bold yet reckless act, the island somehow gifts her a [[larkin]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
 
== InhabitantsHistory ==
{{image|Rysn and Relu-Na by Botanicaxu.jpeg|side=right|height=300px|[[Rysn]] swinging in front of Relu-na's head}}
The residents of the island often refer to the Tai-na as gods, and they believe that they live to serve and please Relu-na.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Many of the inhabitants are somewhat carefree and spend much of their time swimming or high diving, usually in the nude.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Some residents are combative, but in both battle and trade they are prone to posturing.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The island has soldiers and a king (who may be of either gender) who lead them in skirmishes against other islands.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} [[Vstim]] notes that people from other parts of Roshar who want to lead simple lives sometimes migrate to the Tai-na, and are only allowed to stay if they give all of their possessions to the king.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} The islanders are not primitive, but do not have a great deal of contact with the outside world, and will therefore only trade with those that they respect and trust to be fair.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Some Reshi travel to other parts of Roshar for education and training.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
[[Rysn]] and [[Vstim]] visited Relu-na hoping to trade for a [[larkin]] corpse. Rysn was shocked by the existence of [[Tai-na]] and was unfamiliar with the island's culture. She and her guards were led on a long hike up to Relu-na's head to meet the king, [[Ral-na]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} On the way, they encountered [[Axies the Collector]], who had been visiting Relu-na as part of his ongoing [[spren]] research.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} Axies had tried to investigate the Tai-na spren, possibly [[mandra]]s, but the natives refused to discuss it and instead bound his feet and hung him upside-down.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
 
TheUpon Taireaching Relu-na's are sentienthead, andRysn theattempted Reshito peopletrade believewith thatthe theynatives. areUnbeknownst alsoto sapientRysn, andVstim capablehad ofactually decision-making.trained Guthe mentionsking's thatson, when[[Talik]], twoand Tai-nahad approachcovertly eacharranged other,for theyhim decideto whatbe willtough happenon nextRysn -as a wartraining exercise. However, orRysn somethingbecame "good".{{bookso ref|sa2|i|3}}frustrated Inby anthe negotiation that she made a bold attempt to gain the trust of the natives,. RysnShe climbsclimbed down a rope suspended hundreds of feet over the ocean and attemptsattempted to address Relu-na directly, but fallsfell when the rope snapssnapped.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}She survived the fall, and Vstim later tellstold her that the island's spren somehow saved her life.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Rysn says she was trying to gain respect after Vstim and [[Talik]] repeatedly insisted that Relu-na placesplaced a great deal of value on boldness; after her bold yet reckless act, the island somehow giftsgifted her a [[living larkin]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
== Trivia ==
 
*[[Axies the Collector]] visits Relu-na{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} as part of his ongoing spren research.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} Axies believes that the Tai-na may have a unique type of spren (sometimes referred to as the "souls" of the islands).{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} However, the inhabitants do not like to discuss this subject, and they bind his feet and hang him upside-down.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
When Rysn later wrote to Talik regarding her worries about [[Chiri-Chiri]]'s deteriorating health, Talik and the king were in [[Azimir]]. Talik wrote to the inhabitants of the island, and the king's consort approached Relu-na, who somehow indicated that Chiri-Chiri needed be taken home to [[Akinah]].{{book ref|sa3.5|2}}
 
== Inhabitants ==
Relu-na's residents are typical for a [[Tai-na]], and include both native Reshi and expatriates from other parts of [[Roshar]]. The residents generally lead a relaxed lifestyle and often spend their time swimming and diving. The island is ruled by a king, who has authority over the soldiers and would lead them in battle if necessary.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
 
== Notes ==
<references />
{{complete|[[User:Big Smooth|Big Smooth]] ([[User talk:Big Smooth|talk]]) 22:25, 21 April 2020 (UTC)}}
{{complete}}
{{Stormlight}}
[[Category: Islands]]