The Reshi Islands

[Argenti he/him]

So, I haven't seen anyone talk about it, but what on earth is up with the Reshi Islands? Odium didn't conquer them, so they should have pockets of sunlight that move with the islands? What does this mean for the Rel-na? Are they stunted without any light? What happens if they go onto land where odium rules? Is it tied to their normal claims instead?

It's so strange!

[Nitpicking]

I assumed that the Foreverstorm doesn't extend across the oceans at all. I might be contradicted by the text, to be honest. I am not motivated to check, the ending by and large was exhausting rather than thrilling for me. (Exception: Adolin's storyline.)

[Treamayne]

For reference - Wat Ch 145:

Spoiler

Good. Likewise, he would allow the Shattered Plains to have a kind of autonomy themselves. What of the rest? Roshar was entirely dominated. His agents in the Shin government had succeeded while the Heralds were distracted. The Reshi Isles … he had the land, all of it, though those who rode the beasts had largely rejected his offers. They weren’t worth the effort.

Everything else on Roshar—ninety percent of the planet—had accepted his deals or had been won by his forces. That would do. It was enough. In fact, it was glorious. 

So, to me, it sounds like True Everstorm will be confined to Land. I do not think the Relu-Na can go on land - they are so big they would die if they left the water - though Brandon has answered both ways in WoBs, so it is unclear. 

Spoiler

Quote

Blightsong

Have larger landgoing greatshells existed above a chasmfiend?

Brandon Sanderson

Larger than a chasmfiend... the ones that wander around out in the islands of Reshi could go on land. So yea, it is possible that there are larger ones. They do better in the water, because of how big they are, but the high oxygen, low gravity, and symbiotic bonds with the spren allow some mega fauna that is just really large and just could exist on earth, so yea.

OdysseyCon 2016 (April 8, 2016)

Quote

Questioner

Are there any greatshells in Roshar's oceans larger than the ones we've seen?

Brandon Sanderson

No.

Questioner

So the Reshi Isles--

Brandon Sanderson

The Reshi Isles, that's the biggest, and even with that I'm doing major fudging on the square-cube law. They've just spren-bonded, we'll talk about this. But even with the spren, those are a stretch. That's as big as it gets. They could exist in the oceans because the square-cube law doesn't apply the in same way, with buoyancy and things. But I think we don't need anything larger than islands.

Questioner

No Godzilla?

Brandon Sanderson

They're bigger than some version of Godzilla.

Arcanum Unbounded Chicago signing (Dec. 6, 2016)

Both are 2016 Quotes, so it is unclear which is actually correct. 

Hope that helps

[Argenti he/him]

4 hours ago, Treamayne said:

For reference - Wat Ch 145:

  Hide contents

Good. Likewise, he would allow the Shattered Plains to have a kind of autonomy themselves. What of the rest? Roshar was entirely dominated. His agents in the Shin government had succeeded while the Heralds were distracted. The Reshi Isles … he had the land, all of it, though those who rode the beasts had largely rejected his offers. They weren’t worth the effort.

Everything else on Roshar—ninety percent of the planet—had accepted his deals or had been won by his forces. That would do. It was enough. In fact, it was glorious. 

So, to me, it sounds like True Everstorm will be confined to Land. I do not think the Relu-Na can go on land - they are so big they would die if they left the water - though Brandon has answered both ways in WoBs, so it is unclear. 

  Hide contents

Both are 2016 Quotes, so it is unclear which is actually correct. 

Hope that helps

5 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

I assumed that the Foreverstorm doesn't extend across the oceans at all. I might be contradicted by the text, to be honest. I am not motivated to check, the ending by and large was exhausting rather than thrilling for me. (Exception: Adolin's storyline.)

Ah so that would make sense. 

Maybe that secret underwater society that certainly exists rejected odium as well! 

[Treamayne]

7 minutes ago, Argenti said:

Maybe that secret underwater society that certainly exists rejected odium as well! 

I thought they were off the East coast, near Puuli's Lighthouse. 

[Argenti he/him]

6 minutes ago, Treamayne said:

I thought they were off the East coast, near Puuli's Lighthouse. 

Good point, think those sailors will return?

Also how on earth did you remember he existed?

[Treamayne]

4 minutes ago, Argenti said:

Good point, think those sailors will return?

Also how on earth did you remember he existed?

Reread before Book 5 - I noted loose threads so I could watch for them in WaT. . . 

Sadly, no new info on Natanatan or Puuli

Edited December 24, 2024 by Treamayne

[teknopathetic he/him]

8 hours ago, Argenti said:

Good point, think those sailors will return?

Also how on earth did you remember he existed?

Could the Reshi Isles have been those sailors? Whatever the Reshi are doing will lead to Puuli's thing?

Edited December 25, 2024 by teknopathetic

[Argenti he/him]

10 hours ago, teknopathetic said:

Could the Reshi Isles have been those sailors? Whatever the Reshi are doing will lead to Puuli's thing?

Who knows? Not I.

[Doomdrinker she/her]

I figured the Greatshell we see at the end of the minks chapter was one of the Reshi greatshells 

 

Also im pretty sure the Reshi greatshells would have no problem going on land, the reshi sea is a shallow sea and the greatshells already have like 90% of their bodys out of the water 

[Treamayne]

4 hours ago, Doomdrinker said:

I figured the Greatshell we see at the end of the minks chapter was one of the Reshi greatshells 

Unlikely, since we see (part of) the Herdazian Greatshells in Oathbringer Interlude 10:

Spoiler

One man locked Sheler’s chain to a metal loop on the stones. Another approached with a pitcher of oil. They poured it over Sheler’s head; he sputtered as the liquid ran down his face. “What is that stench?”

Above, someone blew a horn.

“I’d say ‘good luck,’ boss,” the Herdazian soldier told Sheler as his companion ran off, “but I’ve got three marks on you not lasting a full minute. Still, who knows. When the general was chained down here, he got out in less.”

The ocean started to churn.

“Of course,” the soldier said, “the general likes this kind of thing. He’s a little weird.”

The soldier dashed back up the bank, leaving Sheler locked in place, doused in pungent oil, and gaping as an enormous claw broke the surface of the ocean.

Perhaps “the hog” was more of a nickname.

The Yu-Nerig Greatshells are Marine Greatshells related-to, but smaller-than a Chasmfiend.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Doomdrinker she/her]

12 hours ago, Treamayne said:

Unlikely, since we see (part of) the Herdazian Greatshells in Oathbringer Interlude 10:

  Hide contents

One man locked Sheler’s chain to a metal loop on the stones. Another approached with a pitcher of oil. They poured it over Sheler’s head; he sputtered as the liquid ran down his face. “What is that stench?”

Above, someone blew a horn.

“I’d say ‘good luck,’ boss,” the Herdazian soldier told Sheler as his companion ran off, “but I’ve got three marks on you not lasting a full minute. Still, who knows. When the general was chained down here, he got out in less.”

The ocean started to churn.

“Of course,” the soldier said, “the general likes this kind of thing. He’s a little weird.”

The soldier dashed back up the bank, leaving Sheler locked in place, doused in pungent oil, and gaping as an enormous claw broke the surface of the ocean.

Perhaps “the hog” was more of a nickname.

The Yu-Nerig Greatshells are Marine Greatshells related-to, but smaller-than a Chasmfiend.

Just relistened to the interlude and I'm certain your wrong 

Spoiler

"A thumping shook the ground  and made him pause, behind guards and soldiers reaching to seize him stopped short. The wall trembled, the ground boomed a greatshell the size of a city emerged from the darkened fog big enough to tower over the entire for, well now Dieno said that's a finale"

unless there are some unseen greatshells this has to be the reshi island greatshells 

[Treamayne]

1 hour ago, Doomdrinker said:

WaT I-17:

Spoiler

He quietly acknowledged that he’d done all he could, then prepared to jump.

A thumping shook the ground and made him pause. Behind, guards and soldiers reaching to seize him stopped short. The wall trembled, the ground boomed.

A greatshell the size of a city emerged from the darkened fog, big enough to tower over the entire fort.

there are some unseen greatshells this has to be the reshi island greatshells 

Yes. The thumping is indicative of anything around the Chasmfiend size range, but I missed/forgot the "size of a city" reference that firmly put it in the Tai-Na category. From the WoBs quoted above:

Spoiler

Questioner

Are there any greatshells in Roshar's oceans larger than the ones we've seen?

Brandon Sanderson

No.

Questioner

So the Reshi Isles--

Brandon Sanderson

The Reshi Isles, that's the biggest, and even with that I'm doing major fudging on the square-cube law. They've just spren-bonded, we'll talk about this. But even with the spren, those are a stretch. That's as big as it gets. They could exist in the oceans because the square-cube law doesn't apply the in same way, with buoyancy and things. But I think we don't need anything larger than islands.

Questioner

No Godzilla?

Brandon Sanderson

They're bigger than some version of Godzilla.

Arcanum Unbounded Chicago signing (Dec. 6, 2016)