Straff Venture Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 (edited) Anyone who has read the Stormlight Archive can see that the creatures of Roshar (excluding Shinovar) are all shelled in some form, even if they may have an 'Earth equivalent', such as axehounds and dogs. The only species of animals and plants that are from Earth are only present in Shinovar. Except humans. Humans are present across all of Roshar. This seems simple: the humans of Roshar first came from Shinovar and when intelligent enough to build shelter against the highstorms in Roshar they migrated into the rest of the continent. *SPOILERS* When thinking about this, my mind thought about another shelled race that had not occured to me before: the Voidbringers/Parshmen. Though they are always said not to be humans, their similar physiology implies a connection. What if the Parshmen are simply the non-Shinovar evolved counterparts to humans on Roshar? This does not explain why they are the Voidbringers, however. Perhaps they evolved as a species and later Odium used them to fight in the desolations. Thoughts? Edited September 5, 2012 by Straff Venture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dionysus Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Perhaps the humans are the voidbringers brought to Roshar by Odium. Like you say, humans seem to be the only thing not adapted to the environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightflame Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Parshendi don't actually have to be Voidbringers. Yes, it's Jasnah's big theory, but there have been plenty of discussions here about how it might not be completely correct, or even on the right track. Voidbringers could be Spren for all we know. Also, your idea is interesting. Let's wait and see how this turns out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortaan Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 It does state that humans aren't native to Roshar, they were driven from the Tranquline Halls. I've always figured it was literal, not figurative. All humans coming from Shin is a rather interesting idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Observer Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Personally I think something's up with Shin. They're simply too unnaturally strange to have no place in this. I'm willing to bet they'll have a large role soon enough. What if they are the Voidbringers? They seem pretty harmless,but...well....we've learned that the world's impresions are rarely correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straff Venture Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Personally I think something's up with Shin. They're simply too unnaturally strange to have no place in this. I'm willing to bet they'll have a large role soon enough. What if they are the Voidbringers? They seem pretty harmless,but...well....we've learned that the world's impresions are rarely correct. I agree, even if my theory isn't right Shinovar misses two things; Spren and Highstorms. Those are the two single things that shape Roshar and The Way of Kings to how it is. Shinovar is definitely going to have some significance because of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Observer Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 (edited) It's practically the only place in all the Cosmere that's like the real world, excluding AoL. Ima laugh when Shinovar is the Tranquiline Halls. Edited September 5, 2012 by Observer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riddlesinthedark Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Anyone else want an "On" at the beginning of this thread title? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Observer Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Anyone else want an "On" at the beginning of this thread title? Doesn't bother me much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aethling Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 On the flipside, the Parshendi could be humans that HAVE adapted to the environment. Or at least a branch on the family tree. The question would be whether shard-powered evolution could work so quickly, but we already have an example of a shardholder doing instant changes to human physiology. Would it be so much of a stretch to say that Odium did exactly the same as Rashek? Sanderson has already done examples of humans being changed in drastic ways. An still being able to cross-reproduce. Elantrians can interbreed with normal humans. Skaa can interbreed with nobles though the changes might have been so drastic. Returned are rumored to be able to interbreed as well. Koloss can interbreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straff Venture Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Returned are rumored to be able to interbreed as well. Returned cannot interbreed, in Warbreaker they mate with humans and don't produce offspring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortaan Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Returned cannot interbreed, in Warbreaker they mate with humans and don't produce offspring. Because they don't know how. The annotations for Warbreaker indicate that it's possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roamer Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Koloss can interbreed. I've always wondered how drunk or desperate one would have to be to mate with a Koloss? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straff Venture Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 I've always wondered how drunk or desperate one would have to be to mate with a Koloss? And after you'd have to explain 'they ate my horse' 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Observer Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 And after you'd have to explain 'they ate my horse' +1, you made me laugh. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straff Venture Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks, I've been trying to get my first plus for five days now By the way, this is off topic from the thread but does anyone know how to get those gold marks below your name and how to join the various factions? (ardentia, worldsingers etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riddlesinthedark Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Doesn't bother me much? Just for the lulz. You know, a shoutout to "On the Origin of Species" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aethling Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 There is at least one explicit example in the text of a Returned starting a line. If Vo had been a normal human when his children were conceived, he would not have passed the traits to Vivenna and Siri. I have loaned out my copy of Warbreaker, but doesn't Vasher tell one of the sisters they have returned blood in them that causes the Royal Locks? Of course, that could have been in an annotation I read too. Yeah, the Koloss blooded guy in Alloy was sort of disgusting thinking about how he came about. The short from Sanderson's website talks about Raoden having a baby. He didn't even meet his wife until after he was already an Elantrian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windrunner Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 By the way, this is off topic from the thread but does anyone know how to get those gold marks below your name and how to join the various factions? (ardentia, worldsingers etc.) Those little gold marks are representative of your post count. They go up at certain levels, like rep. The groups you mention are staff groups, we each help the admins run various sections of the site. There's no real application type thing, if admins want someone to be staff, then they'll contact that person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Observer Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks, I've been trying to get my first plus for five days now By the way, this is off topic from the thread but does anyone know how to get those gold marks below your name and how to join the various factions? (ardentia, worldsingers etc.) I think it's people uprating you, or a mark of staff authority, depending on your rank Worldsingers/Ardents/KR are admin ranks. Like Mod or Admin, but nerdier. Yeah, the Koloss blooded guy in Alloy was sort of disgusting thinking about how he came about. I always assumed, especially judging from the news clipping, that the koloss just raped any woman they could find. The idea of anything intentional on the human side is simply unlikely and nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aethling Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 We can only hope. Of course, there are sickos out there in pretty much any culture. I really wouldn't put it past some women to have done it voluntarily. Erickson's children of the dead would be the closest I could think of in fantasy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Observer Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 If it saves your skin, there is very little sentient creatures wouldn't do to stay alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straff Venture Posted September 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Thanks Hmm I can imagine if the Parshendi are naturally situated on Roshar reproduction must be a job with that carapace. Imagine trying to have sex in armour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReaderAt2046 Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Thanks Hmm I can imagine if the Parshendi are naturally situated on Roshar reproduction must be a job with that carapace. Imagine trying to have sex in armour. Of course, it's possible that the Parshendi only grew the carapace armor to allow for fighting, and they'll shed it when they return to civilian life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straff Venture Posted September 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Of course, it's possible that the Parshendi only grew the carapace armor to allow for fighting, and they'll shed it when they return to civilian life. Just a bad joke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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