La Cicatriz
The Scar is a prominent star system in the cosmere[1] that can be seen from multiple Shardworlds.[2][3] It is also known as the Starbelt, Taln's Scar, and Red Rip.
![[1]](#cite_note-Cosmere_constellation_map.jpg-1){kind=link}
Description
The Scar is a region of stars[4] that are unusually bright.[5][3] In a cosmere star chart that was commissioned by an unknown patron,[6] the Scar includes a constellation known as "The Dragon".[6][1] Most of the stars in the Scar have a red tint on the chart,[1] and are perceived as red when viewed from several planets, unlike other stars.[7][8] The color is significant,[9] but the reason why is not yet known.
The Scar has been present throughout the entire timeline of the published cosmere, but it is not always visible on every planet.[3] This is due to the positioning of the various planetary systems[3] as well as local factors such as mist or ash.[10]
Local Names and Observations
Threnody
“ The Forests felt... dark this night. The light of the Starbelt above didn’t seem to filter through the branches as well as it should. ”
On Threnody, the Scar is known as the Starbelt.[11][3] Threnody has no moon,[12] making the nights extremely dark; the Starbelt is usually bright enough to faintly illuminate objects, even when its light is filtered by tree branches.[11] Threnody may lie relatively close to the Scar, as Silence Montane implies that the Starbelt's position in the sky changes on a day-to-day basis.[11] The residents of Threnody do not describe the Starbelt's light as red; the star at the center of the Threnodite system also appears to be red[1][12] which may affect their perception of the Scar.
![[12]](#cite_note-Starchart_threnody_color.jpg-12){kind=link}
Roshar
“ The crimson eyes hovered like Taln's Scar - like spheres in the darkness, deeper in color than any ruby. ”
Most Rosharan people refer to the Scar as Taln's Scar, named for the Herald known as Taln.[8] Taln's Scar is described as deep red in color, and it changes position in different seasons.[8] It is visible before the sun sets and other twinkling white stars (accompanied by starspren) appear.[14] Reya's Tear is another notably bright star in the sky, but it is not part of Taln's Scar.[14] Roshar has three moons that rise and set during the night;[15] between moons, the stars provide adequate illumination for someone to move around[16] but not quite enough to read or draw.[17] The position of Taln's scar on one's seventh birthday is relevant in Rosharan astrology.[18]
![[15]](#cite_note-Starchart_roshar_color.jpg-15){kind=link}
Scadrial
Classical Scadrial
In Classical Scadrial, no mention is made of any unusually bright stars or constellations, even when Sazed discusses an astronomically-aware people known as the Nelazan.[19] During the Final Empire, the sky was largely obscured by mist and the ashmounts, to the point that even an allomancer burning tin could not always see the stars,[20] with the exception of tin savants.[21] Vin is able to see the stars by using tin or by using steel to fly above the mists.[22] She is able to see some of the same stars that would be in the sky of Threnody,[23] but still does not take note of anything that resembles the Scar. It is possible that Luthadel's orientation at the north pole of Scadrial during this era[24] was such that the Scar was not visible.
Post-Catacendre Scadrial
“ The mists were out, curling around outside, though the skyscraper was tall enough he thought he could see stars and the Red Rip through that mist. ”
During the Catacendre, Harmony moves Scadrial back to its original orientation and orbit.[26] Hundreds of years later, Waxillium Ladrian sees a celestial phenomenon known as the Red Rip on several occasions, although he seems to view it as mundane. The Red Rip is not described in detail, but it is prominent on cloudless nights, and sometimes sits low on the horizon.[7] It is bright enough that it can sometimes be seen through the mists when they are present.[25] When Wax is temporarily dead, Harmony shows him a seemingly troublesome red haze that is enveloping Scadrial,[27] but this haze is not necessarily related to the Red Rip.[28]
Notes
- ↑ a b c d Cosmere constellation map
- ↑ Skyward Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2018-11-16# - ↑ a b c d e /r/books AMA 2015
— Arcanum - 2015-03-13# - ↑ Miscellaneous 2017
— Arcanum - 2017-06-01# - ↑ TWG Hero of Ages Q&A
— Arcanum - 2008-04-25# - ↑ a b Miscellaneous 2017
— Arcanum - 2017-06-01# - ↑ a b El Héroe de las Eras capítulo 7#
- ↑ a b c El camino de los reyes capítulo 2#
- ↑ Miscellaneous 2017
— Arcanum - 2017-06-01# - ↑ Brazales de Duelo (libro) epílogo#
- ↑ a b c d Sombras por Silencio en los bosques del infierno#
- ↑ a b Mapa de Threnodite system
- ↑ Palabras radiantes capítulo 80#
- ↑ a b Palabras radiantes capítulo 31#
- ↑ Mapa de Roshar system
- ↑ Palabras radiantes interludio I-9#
- ↑ Palabras radiantes capítulo 43#
- ↑ El camino de los reyes capítulo 33#
- ↑ El Imperio Final (libro) capítulo 9#
- ↑ El Imperio Final (libro) capítulo 7#
- ↑ El Héroe de las Eras capítulo 14#
- ↑ El Héroe de las Eras capítulo 73#
- ↑ /r/books AMA 2015
— Arcanum - 2015-09-08# - ↑ The Hero of Ages Annotations
— Arcanum - 2010-05-04# - ↑ a b El Héroe de las Eras epílogo#
- ↑ El Héroe de las Eras capítulo 82#
- ↑ Brazales de Duelo (libro) capítulo 28#
- ↑ Arcanum Unbounded release party
— Arcanum - 2016-11-22#
