The Economic and Cultural Interactions of the Cosmere

[SirWolfe]

So, I was thinking about how different planets in the Cosmere would interact in terms of trade and tourism. I have below what is essentially a description of each world and what it might export or import. Any suggestions or ideas? I sort of put them in a rough order of how nice it would be to go to.

 

First of the Sun:

General - Because the Perpendicularity is basically a death trap, we see that offworlders have to physically travel through space to reach this place. Their main value is in the Aviar, which so happens to be found in a set of islands that will try to kill you as much as possible. It's mostly ocean and death. 

Exports - The Aviar. This actually give First of the Sun a strong standing in the Cosmere, as Aviar need to come from First of the Sun, and go to a very specific island to be Invested. This gives the planet a monopoly on the Aviar. 

Imports - We see in the story Sixth of the Dusk that the main import is technology. Guns and weaponry will likely be highly valued due to the perilous nature of the Pantheon islands.

Tourism and Visiting - Just don't. The only reason I could think of for why a person would go to the planet for reasons other than trade would be research. The planet, though deadly, has some pretty cool stuff going on, and research into how so many lifeforms can detect mental activity would be fruitful.

Threnody: 

General - Many natural resources, but hard to get to and dangerous. Assuming that the Threnodites manage to find a way to worldhop safely, the planet would be a valuable trading partner.

Exports - Judging by how many plants and fungi we see on Threnody, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them turned out to be edible or medicinal. They have a lot of trees as well, so maybe they could sell lumber. Though we don't know much about the planet, Threnody appears to be rich in natural resources.

Imports - Cheap silver and Invested perfect gems for light(assuming that the Rosharans find a way to mass produce perfect gemstones artificially)  from Roshar. 

Tourism and Visiting - One word. No. Threnody is a dark, gloomy place that is only second to the First of the Sun in terms of everything trying to kill you. An outsider would likely break the Simple Rules by accident (no moving too fast a night, no bloodshed and no fire. At least Shallan won't have a problem with the last one ), and die. There isn't much to see unless you are a Cosmere researcher trying to study the shades.
Taldain:

General - This is a weird planet. And I'm not sure that this place will have that much significance in the Cosmere economy, despite their technological advancement. They don't seem to have anything particularly valuable, or even abundant. 

Imports - Minimal. Maybe metal for the dayside.

Exports - Instant noodles to whichever planet Hoid is on. Should be enough to singlehandedly fund their economy.

Tourism and Visiting - This would be a place for those seeking adventure. The Dayside is a place for exploration, as long as you have a guide, and don't get eaten by a sandling, it should be fun. Fun in the same way that a hike across the Sahara Desert is fun. Darkside might be popular among the Threnodites, who are used to dark environments. However those that aren't adapted to UV radiation should probably be careful not to stay out too long, because I'm pretty sure that skin cancer is still a thing in the Cosmere. They have instant noodles.

Sel:

General - Sel, though prosperous and diverse, probably won't make as much of a dent in terms of Cognitive Realm trade and interaction due to the fact that the Dor essentially makes the Cognitive realm a giant plasma storm. However, should they manage to find a way to control the Dor, or make travel through the Cognitive safe (possibly by using aluminum plates to create safe paths through the Cognitive realm), they would find themselves a popular place to visit among tourists and researchers alike. Due to the nature of magic on Sel, the different empires would develop into self sufficient, independent, and isolated nations that do not interact much. This might result in some funky politics as the government/representatives of, let's say Scadrial, would need to make trade deals, political treaties, and policies with each nation separately. 

Exports - I can see Elantris, due to the proximity to Devotions Perpendiculatiry and the ability to Soulcast using AonDor, exporting raw materials to other worlds. Though they probably won't be able to match the level of soulcasting production on Roshar, the Elantrian soulcast goods would likely gain a reputation of being of a higher quality, due to AonDor's ability to be very fine tuned and consistent. Rosharan soulcast foods are noted to not taste all that great, while the AonDor seems to be able to produce foods of high quality with no notable differences in taste to normally produced foods. Perhaps Nalthis would purchase the paintings from the Rose Empire, and Roshar would purchase carvings from Arelon (Sel appears to have a very good taste in sculpture and the arts). Barring the developments of methods to allow AonDor to work outside of Arelon and Sel, most of the magical technology that we see in Elantris would likely remain on world. RaiDel peppers from JinDo could be sold in Roshar, as it seems that spicy foods are popular there. 

Imports - I imagine that their main import would be aluminum from Roshar or Scadrial, as it would allow Elantrians to carry Investiture with them as they travel offworld, as well as to prevent the use of magic (like in prisons for Forgers in the Rose Empire). Perhaps the Rose Empire would buy art from Nalthis. If the Elantrians keep the habit of wearing bright colored clothes (referencing Elantris, where the Elantrians had to make do with Sarene's monkey-paw style response to their request for fabric, bringing them the most garish, brightly colored cloth that she could get), Hallandren dyes could be a popular item. 

Tourism and Visiting - So many places to see, and so little time. I believe Sel may be one of the best tourist locations in the Cosmere. The ecology and planet is safe, political climate (assuming the Shu-Dereth calm down) is stable, and cultures are diverse. The massive city of Elantris would likely be the first stop on anyone's Sel vacation, and not just because it has a Perpendicularity on it. There is something for everyone in the city. Scholars could visit the library in the city, and artists could study the sculpture and masonry that decorates the stone of the city. Due to the unique natue of Selish magic and the level of Realmatic awareness, researchers of magic would have a field day studying the different systems of magic and discussing realmatic theories with the Elantrians. 

Nalthis:

General - A very pleasant place to be. The people are all Invested with Breath, making them healthier and stronger than a normal person. However, the nature of Endowment's Investiture makes Investiture hard to accumulate. Hallandren is skilled in the arts and magical technology.

Exports - Paintings, dyes, and Lifeless to Roshar. As suggested by @Honorless, they may also have some trade in Breaths. However, due to their limited nature (one Breath per person), I'd imagine that it wouldn't be a major part of their trade economy.

Imports - Investiture from Roshar for the Returned. Cheap food from planets with high food production capabilities, such as Roshar or Sel with Soulcasting or Scadrial with their fertile lands. 

Tourism and Visiting - Probably one of the nicest places to visit, Nalthis has many sights to see. Tourism to Hallandren would be busy, as the city has restaurants, colors, and a very vibrant culture. The Court of Gods would be a popular destination. For those that want a bit more peace and quiet, the nation of Idris is a good choice. The seafood in Hallandren seems to be quite nice. Rich people could go and buy Breath. 

Roshar:

General - These guys might end up being an economic powerhouse. They don't really need anything. Soulcasting gives them the ability to produce vital materials such as food, water, metals, and fuels. Highstorms mean that Investiture is easily accessed on the planet, giving their economy near limitless potential to produce using Soulcasters. Their ability to expand may be slower due to the reliance on gemstones, but unlike other planets, gemstones are a renewable resource on Roshar. 

Exports - Allomantic metals including aluminum, and fuel to Scadrial. Silver, soulcast food, and maybe perfect gemstones (for flameless light) to Threnody. Stormlight infused gems packed in Aluminum to Nalthis for the Returned to eat (like magic Poptarts), and cheap soulcast food might be popular as well, judging by how expensive food is in Hallandren). And possibly Aluminum to Sel (Aluminum has the ability to keep Investiture from leaking, so Elantrians might use aluminum to carry around Investiture to eat when offworld. But we see that Elantrians have the ability to do their own version of soulcasting, so maybe they won't need to buy Aluminum.) Something to notice is that a lot of their exports have to do with aluminum. This is because soulcasting (an ability that appears to be shared only with the Elantrians) allows for Roshar to bypass the large energy and cost requirements of Aluminum production, and their easy access to the Cognitive Realm gives them a unique position to dominate the aluminum trade. Same goes for their access to Stormlight and gemstones. 

Imports - As the Rosharans don't seem to have many pressing needs, their imports will likely consist of "luxury" goods.  Canned food (apparently soulcast food doesn't taste that great),  and techonology (Harmony seems to be active in the tech development on world. He even name drops the "radio" in Era 2.) from Scadrial will probably be popular. Perhaps the lighteyes will take a liking to the colorful fabrics of Hallandren in Nalthis, or perhaps, following the loss of the Parshmen, Lifeless would probably take the place of menial labour, which would also bring with it the need for Ichor-Alcohol. Depending on how safe the Elantrians can make the Cognitive Realm, Elantrian soulcast food may also be popular. 

Tourism and Visiting - Roshar would probably be popular among the Returned as a vacation spot, as easily accessed Investiture from Highstorms means that they could relax and not worry about eating Breaths. Sandmastrells from Taldain might also go there to train, as the abundance of Stormlight and water means that they can practice Sandmastery without worrying about dehydrating far from a source of water. I'd also imagine that the scholars from the Rose Empire on Sel would be delighted to discuss Realmatics with the Rosharan Ardents, as both cultures are quite Realmatically Aware. Roshar's unusual ecology and societies mean that there are many places that a tourist could visit. Tourist destinations include: the tower-city of Urithiru, the Shattered Plains, the Grand Indicium in Yeddaw (very popular amongst scholars of most worlds), the Horneater Peaks (which would probably see a lot of activity, being the location of Cultivation's Perpendicularity after all), the Purelake, and many more. Shadesmar is also a pretty good place for tourism, with friendly spren and cities. 

Scadrial:

General - I saved the best for last. This planet will likely play a huge role in the overall Cosmere storyline. The society is advanced, the magic systems are not bound to the planet, and they have a Sazed. Also, they were close to developing instant noodles and space travel.

Exports - Mainly technology. They are very advanced in engineering, and their medallions may also be a big thing. Maybe the medallions would allow Elantrians to carry some Investiture with them offworld. Who knows. Maybe Ettmetal will be used on other worlds, either as a weapon or to power those airships that we see in Southern Scadrial.

Imports - Likely metal and fuel from Roshar. I can imagine the upper class buying colored clothing from Nalthis and large gems from Roshar just to show off. 

Tourism and Visiting - Scadrial has a rich history, and have preserved historical artefacts well. Museums would be cool. The Pits of Hathsin could be the Scadrial equivalent of the Paris Catacombs for us. Also, you could get a hemalurgic earring and talk to Sazed AKA Harmony AKA the most powerful being in the Cosmere as of now.

 

Thanks to @Honorless for suggesting the Breath trade and Shadesmar.

Edited January 4, 2020 by SirWolfe
To add a few more bits.

[Honorless]

You forgot Breaths for Nalthis. It's the easiest of the magic systems to get your hands on (if you are wealthy) and gives the benefit of health and increased lifespan fairly early on.

There are a lot of people who'd want to leave their world to settle elsewhere, Scadrial has a lot of empty land. 

For Roshar, don't forget Shadesmar. It's like a two-in-one world. Spren are also sapient beings with their own culture.

Edited January 4, 2020 by Honorless

[SirWolfe]

@Honorless Thank you, I had forgotten about the Spren and Breaths. I'll put those in.

 

[+Oltux72]

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

So, I was thinking about how different planets in the Cosmere would interact in terms of trade and tourism. I have below what is essentially a description of each world and what it might export or import. Any suggestions or ideas? I sort of put them in a rough order of how nice it would be to go to.

You forgot Ashyn and the World the Aethers come from.

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

Taldain:

 

General - This is a weird planet. And I'm not sure that this place will have that much significance in the Cosmere economy, despite their technological advancement. They don't seem to have anything particularly valuable, or even abundant.

They have an organic material that weirdly interacts with magic.

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

Sel:

Tourism and Visiting - So many places to see, and so little time. I believe Sel may be one of the best tourist locations in the Cosmere.

No. Sel is a high-gravity world. Running around there will be no fun for anybody from a different world. For Rosharans, it is likely near crippling.

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

Nalthis:

General - A very pleasant place to be. The people are all Invested with Breath, making them healthier and stronger than a normal person.

That raises a question. Do you really want to expose foreigners to pathogens who have adapted to living in such an environment?

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

Tourism and Visiting - Probably one of the nicest places to visit, Nalthis has many sights to see. Tourism to Hallandren would be busy, as the city has restaurants, colors, and a very vibrant culture. The Court of Gods would be a popular destination. For those that want a bit more peace and quiet, the nation of Idris is a good choice. The seafood in Hallandren seems to be quite nice. Rich people could go and buy Breath. 

 

Roshar:

General - These guys might end up being an economic powerhouse. They don't really need anything.

They live in a high-oxygen environment. There must be industrial processes for which that is bad. Do they have coal, oil or natural gas? And of course they need gem stones.

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

Soulcasting gives them the ability to produce vital materials such as food, water, metals, and fuels. Highstorms mean that Investiture is easily accessed on the planet, giving their economy near limitless potential to produce using Soulcasters.

Given how soulcasting works, it looks like you cannot build an automated soulcaster.

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

Their ability to expand may be slower due to the reliance on gemstones, but unlike other planets, gemstones are a renewable resource on Roshar.

Except for diamonds, gem stones are really not that difficult to make in an industrialized economy.

11 hours ago, SirWolfe said:

Tourism and Visiting - Roshar would probably be popular among the Returned as a vacation spot, as easily accessed Investiture from Highstorms means that they could relax and not worry about eating Breaths. Sandmastrells from Taldain might also go there to train, as the abundance of Stormlight and water means that they can practice Sandmastery without worrying about dehydrating far from a source of water. I'd also imagine that the scholars from the Rose Empire on Sel would be delighted to discuss Realmatics with the Rosharan Ardents, as both cultures are quite Realmatically Aware. Roshar's unusual ecology and societies mean that there are many places that a tourist could visit. Tourist destinations include: the tower-city of Urithiru, the Shattered Plains, the Grand Indicium in Yeddaw (very popular amongst scholars of most worlds), the Horneater Peaks (which would probably see a lot of activity, being the location of Cultivation's Perpendicularity after all), the Purelake, and many more. Shadesmar is also a pretty good place for tourism, with friendly spren and cities.

Beaches. Imagine that waves on a world with a huge ocean, low gravity and frequent storms. Surfers' paradise.
And medical tourism if they can get the healing fabrials to become common.

 

[Honorless]

2 minutes ago, Oltux72 said:

That raises a question. Do you really want to expose foreigners to pathogens who have adapted to living in such an environment?

This is possibly a very pertinent point since we see the three worldhoppers-

Spoiler

Demoux, Galladon, Baon

-from the 17th Shard (not us!) searching for Hoid in the Purelake had spread a disease among the locals.

Quote

stormfather (paraphrased)

Does the plague on the Purelake has anything to do with the fact that the magic fish form symbiotic bonds with spren?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No, worldhoppers brought a disease to Roshar that they didn't have before. It's the common cold. Rosharans' Investiture makes it so they're usually a healthy bunch so something like the cold is kind of frightening. "It's a plague of the sniffles."

stormfather [Alternate wording from ZenBossanova's report] (paraphrased)

Another person asked about the plague in the Purelake.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Turns out, that was a pathogen introduced by worldhoppers. People on Roshar normally have greater health than elsewhere in the cosmere because they are more Invested (Stormlight and all that). This plague was what we call… the common cold.

Firefight Phoenix signing (Jan. 21, 2015)

Of course it might also be due to the Purelakers' isolation that they didn't have immunity but the different Shardworlds are very different places with probably very different pathogens. This is something that will need to be addressed. Of course some might find it easier to cope with their particular system of Investiture but not everyone and even they might become carriers, plus, as we see in the example, ambient Investiture means greater health in general not magical immunity.