The Unkalaki, commonly refered to as Horneaters, are a race of people that live in the Horneater Peaks, a range of high mountains located within - but independent of - Jah Keved. The Unkalaki have no Shardblades, but many attempts have been made to acquire one, by way of dueling a Shardbearer.[1]
According to Rock, long ago, the Unkalaki people did not live in the Peaks. They lived down where the air was thick and thinking was difficult. But they were hated. He tells members of Bridge Four that everyone wanted to kill Horneaters because they were frightened of them. He says that stories say they were too good at fighting. So they were hunted and nearly destroyed.[2]
Moash asks Rock why, if his people were so good at fighting, were they nearly destroyed. Rock replies that there were few of them, and very many of others.[2]
Description[]
They're actually human-Parshendi hybrids, like the Herdazians, but in a different line. And they have a different physiology.[3][4][5]
So, they're not 100% human and are capable of eating and ingesting things that would kill a person.[6][7]
Characteristics[]
They're capable of drinking the Horneater White.[8]
They are aware of the Sleepless.[9]
They have red hair and hearty stomachs.[10]
Culture[]
They have a distinct language and customs, and refer disparagingly to the Vorin peoples of Jah Keved and Alethkar as airsick lowlanders, attributing their oddness to having too much air to breathe.[11] They eat the horns and shells of the creatures they catch as well as the meat, and thus are commonly referred to as Horneaters by others.
Birth order and heritage are factors in Unkalaki society.[12]
Customs[]
The Unkalaki usually have to offer large amount of riches in order to gain an opportunity to duel.[1]
According to Rock, the Unkalaki way to settle arguments is not by fighting but by drinking and singing until one or the other involved gives up.[13]
Occupations[]
Unkalaki occupations are traditionally determined at birth. The first two sons in a household are to help produce things like food. The third son is allowed to choose a craft. The fourth son (or below) - the tuanalikina - will be a soldier and is meant for war.[1][14]
Names[]
Unkalaki names are poems. For example, Rock's Unkalaki name is Numuhukumakiaki'aialunamor; it is a poem about a rock his father found before he was born.[11]
Foods[]
Rock believes that chull head is very good to eat; that it is the best part of a chull.[14] An accomplished cook, he prepares stew for the members of Bridge Four on a nightly basis.[12]
Drinks[]
Horneater lager is so strong that it melts teeth, according to Moash, and cups, according to Ka.[2]
Horneater white is a clear liquid fermented from an unknown substance. Upon swallowing it, there is a burning that follows, and a warming inside one's body. According to Veil, it is even fouler tasting than Veden saph.[15]
Language[]
In Rock's language, most nouns are gendered, masculine, which is why readers always see him screwing that up.[16]
- Afah'liki - To Rock, a powerful god.[17]
- Alaii'iku - Rock indicates that he is this, then questions the airsickness lowlanders whether there is anything proper that they know.[11]
- Ali'i'kamura - With regard to protecting their crew, Rock indicates that perhaps Bridge Four's current endeavor will be safe due to this Unkalaki deity.[18]
- Kaluk'i'iki - According to Rock, only a woman can be thusly defined, but not a wife.[18]
- Mafah'liki - Referring to those spren "who always follow," Rock bows his head reverently to Syl, then makes a gesture with his hand, touching his shoulders and then his forehead.[11] He also recognizes that mafah'liki would not want bread and stew as an offering when Phendorana and her entourage appear to him.[12]
- Tuanalikina - The fourth son (or below) is fit to be a soldier and can be wasted in war. First, second, and third sons are too valuable.[1][14][12]
- Ula'makai - Rock thinks of Kaladin as his captain, or his ula'makai.[17]
Rock is glad to hear Unkalaki being spoken again upon being reunited with his family. He considers it to be a proper language and is also glad that the other bridgemen do not speak it. (If they did, they might have picked out the lies that he had told them.)[12]
Religion[]
Monks had once come from Jah Keved to preach the Almighty to the Horneaters, but Rock had let his children follow any god they wanted.[19]
Gods[]
- Ali'i'kamura - "With ali'i'kamura to protect, perhaps it will be safe."[18] This is the name by which Rock refers to Syl, as he considers spren to be gods.[12]
- Kali'kalin - "Oh, Kali'kalin's ghost," Rock muttered.[20]
- Kali'kalin'da - With regard to the two dozen or more honorspren that accompany Phendorana, he exclaims "Kali'kalin'da."[12]
Notable People[]
Notes[]
It has been confirmed by Peter Ahlstrom that the Horneaters use a different year number than the Alethi. How that number differs has not yet been specified.[21]
According to Brandon, the Horneaters are a little bit of a mashup between Hawaiians, Scotsmen, and Russians.[22]
Also according to Brandon, a big inspiration for the Horneaters was the original idea of their myths, the ones that Rock shares and talks about, and their interaction with the spren. He wanted a race, a culture, on Roshar that had both its roots in human culture and in listener culture. Horneaters are human and listener hybrids, like the Herdazians are. And whose cultural roots went back to both cultures and had built something new out of them. So that's his primary inspiration.[23]
Additionally according to Brandon, Horneaters have a different calendar.[24]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Way of Kings, 23. Many Uses
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Words of Radiance, 46. Patriots
- ↑ YouTube Livestream 14, 7/30/20
- ↑ Tor Instagram Livestream, 11/25/20
- ↑ Dragonsteel Mini-Con 2021, 11/23/21
- ↑ General Reddit 2015, 1/1/15
- ↑ YouTube Livestream 14, 7/30/20
- ↑ YouTube Livestream 14, 7/30/20
- ↑ Dawnshard Annotations Reddit Q&A, 11/6/20
- ↑ Dragonsteel Mini-Con 2021, 11/23/21
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 The Way of Kings, 21. Why Men Lie
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 12.16 Oathbringer, 37. The Last Time We March
- ↑ The Way of Kings, 27. Chasm Duty
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Words of Radiance, 12. Hero
- ↑ Oathbringer, 18. Double Vision
- ↑ Book signing, Beaverton, OR, 11/16/17
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Rhythm of War, 12. A Way To Help
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 The Way of Kings, 49. To Care
- ↑ Oathbringer, 55. Alone Together
- ↑ The Way of Kings, 55. An Emerald Broam
- ↑ Calendar
- ↑ Book signing, Idaho Falls, ID, 7/21/18
- ↑ RoW Release Party, 11/17/20
- ↑ YouTube Spoiler Stream 1, 12/17/20