The Location of Chemoarsh

[Renarin Kholin he/him]

The map of Roshar included in the Way of Kings shows several cities that were not important (or even mentioned as far as I can remember) until later books, and some which have still not played a significant role. For example, Mourn's Vault, Eila, Elanar, and Varikev have still not played any major role. Others like Rathalas or Azimir were unimportant in book 1, but became very important in Oathbringer. So obviously, Brandon has plans for the cities that were labeled on that original map included in book 1.

Mourn's Vault sticks out to me especially, since Brandon has said,

Quote

LadyLameness

Last we heard, Tarah was moving to Mourn's Vault. As of the end of Oathbringer, is she still in Alethkar?

Brandon Sanderson

That's a RAFO. Let's just say that area of Alethkar is not a-- not a pleasant place.

Skype Q&A (Oct. 8, 2018)

which sounds to me similar to the effect Re-Shephir had on Urithiru before Shallan drove her out. So I wondered, could there be one of the Unmade currently or historically residing at Mourn's Vault?

First, I ruled out several. Not Re-Shephir, since she was residing in Urithiru until recently. Not Moelach, who was in Kharbranth and now the Horneater peaks. Nor was it Nergaoul, who has been active in Alethkar, Jah Keved, and the Shattered Plains.

Next, I ruled out Ashertmarn. The Heart of the Revel just doesn't sound like it would cause an area to be considered "not a pleasant place." My best guess as to where Ashertmarn resided prior to Oathbringer would be somewhere in the Reshi Isles.

I haven't found anything that suggests Yelig-nar affects to area around itself. It seems that it only affects a person who attempts to bond with it. So, I ruled out Yelig-nar.

Ba-Ado-Mishram was imprisoned during the False Desolation, and I don't think an imprisoned Unmade would affect the region around them.

The other four three, Chemoarish, Dai-gonarthis, Ba-Ado-Mishram and Sja-anat were harder to narrow down. Corrupted spren would certainly make an area "unpleasant," though I think at least one of the characters would know about corrupted spren if they were anywhere in Alethkar. I suspect that, until the events of Oathbringer, Sja-anat resided somewhere far from Alethkar, but I can't entirely rule her out as a possibility.

Dai-gonarthis is hard to rule out, since we know so little about him. But, if he were free, I suspect that more regions of Roshar would have suffered Aimia's same fate. Mourn's Vault does not seem to be on the verge of destruction by an Unmade, so I doubt that Dai-gonarthis is there.

Which leaves us with: Chemoarish. She is also known as the Dustmother, and is commonly mistaken as the Nightwatcher, whom it is confirmed that she is not. Little else is known about her, but the title Dustmother makes me think that she probably has a regional effect, much like Moelach or Nergaoul, which would explain why Mourn's Vault is "not a pleasant place."

Edited June 23, 2020 by Renarin Kholin

[go_go_gragdet]

Chemoash

[Honorless he/him]

53 minutes ago, Renarin Kholin said:

 

Chemoarsh

*Chemoarish

No, I think that place is similar to the Shattered Plains, it's probably a fortress-city or permanent military encampment. It's on the border with Herdaz and Alethkar frequently wars with them, Jah Keved & the Reshi. Taravangian & Fen Rnamdi both comment on Herdaz usually being the first victim of Alethi aggression. 

[Karger he/him]

It is odd that that region is known for being flat and that the normal method of destruction of hills or mountains will lead to dust.

[Frustration he/him]

1 hour ago, Renarin Kholin said:

Ba-Ado-Mishram was imprisoned during the False Desolation, and I don't think an imprisoned Unmade would affect the region around them.

The other four, Chemoarish, Dai-gonarthis, Ba-Ado-Mishram, and Sja-anat were harder to narrow down. Corrupted spren would certainly make an area "unpleasant," though I think at least one of the characters would know about corrupted spren if they were anywhere in Alethkar. I suspect that, until the events of Oathbringer, Sja-anat resided somewhere far from Alethkar, but I can't entirely rule her out as a possibility.

You messed up here.

[Renarin Kholin he/him]

2 hours ago, Frustration said:

You messed up here.

Thanks, I have changed that

[Elsecaller_17.5 he/him]

Umm, not to burst the theory bubble but isn't more likely that it's just Singer occupied territory. 

[Toaster Retribution he/him]

6 hours ago, Elsecaller_17.5 said:

Umm, not to burst the theory bubble but isn't more likely that it's just Singer occupied territory. 

If it was, Tarah wouldn’t have moved there. It might be now, but not before.

As for Mourns Vault as the resting place for Chemoarish... it is possible. I do think that if Mourn Vault was haunted by an Unmade in an obviously unpleasant way, people wouldn’t be moving there. 

[Elsecaller_17.5 he/him]

47 minutes ago, Toaster Retribution said:

If it was, Tarah wouldn’t have moved there. It might be now, but not before.

As for Mourns Vault as the resting place for Chemoarish... it is possible. I do think that if Mrourn Vault was haunted by an Unmade in an obviously unpleasant way, people wouldn’t be moving there. 

Tarah moved there before book 1. Brandon said it was unpleasant post book 3. This leaves the occupation theory wide open.

[Gilphon]

So, we know that Shallan's family was influenced by an Unmade, and Chemoarish seems like the most likely candidate for that, on the basis that we don't know anything about Chemoarish and it doesn't feel like the right MO. 

But I've always the impression that the Davar lands where in the northern part of Jas Keved, so they shouldn't be too far from Mourn's Vault.

[earthexile]

I mean, it's the apocalypse. Everywhere in the world is going to be unpleasant for an increasing number of reasons. Mourn's Vault could just as easily be ravaged by a foreign disease or rampaging greatshells, as occupied by an Unmade. "Unpleasant" doesn't give us anything.