Difference between revisions of "Nightblood"

As an Awakened object, Nightblood's goal is to fulfill its Command, "Destroy evil".{{book ref|wb|51}} It often tries to convince its wielders that they should draw it and is often bored or frustrated when sheathed.{{book ref|wb|51}}{{book ref|sa3|90}} Though it thinks otherwise, Nightblood doesn't need to sleep.{{wob ref|3021}}

 

 

== Attributes and Abilities ==

Once drawn, Nightblood becomes incredibly powerful. Its voice becomes overpowering and liquid smoke pours from the length of the blade. The sword becomes barely sentient as its Command takes over, and it does not usually recall what happens while it is drawn.{{wob ref|7474}} The wielder feels extreme pain in the arm holding Nightblood and the hand, arm, and eventually the whole body turns black as the sword consumes Investiture.{{book ref|wb|56}}{{book ref|sa3|119}} The black veins or tendrils that appear in the wielder usually leave the skin gray after Nightblood is sheathed or otherwise satiated. This can be seen in [[Lolan]]'s hand, Lift's arms, and Szeth's face.{{book ref|wb|26}}{{book ref|sa3|119}} So long as Nightblood is unsheathed, it drains Investiture from its wielder, drawing it faster the longer it is held, until it is all gone in a way very similar to both [[larkin]] and [[chromium|chromium Mistings]].{{book ref|wb|56}}{{wob ref|5023}}{{book ref|sa4|i|12}} If held until all available Breath (or other [[Investiture]]) is consumed, Nightblood will feed on the spark of life, killing the wielder.{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{wob ref|5813}} This will also happen to non-Returned that wield Nightblood.{{wob ref|4068}} Some of Nightblood's negative effects can be negated by an aluminum gauntlet, though this would also negate some positive effects; however, these positive effects are not used by many of Nightblood's wielders in the first place.

 

Nightblood was created on Nalthis and initially consumed BioChromatic Breaths, but it can also consume other forms of Investiture, such as [[Stormlight]].{{wob ref|661}}{{book ref|sa3|92}} On [[Scadrial]], a person would need to be actively [[Allomancy|burning a metal]] or tapping a [[Feruchemy|metalmind]] to avoid being consumed very quickly.{{wob ref|8683}} Nightblood can also feed on the [[mist]]s but would not be able to pick up the Shard [[Preservation]].{{wob ref|4590}} On [[Sel]], Nightblood would be able to draw power from the [[Dor]]. For instance, if an Elantrian drew an [[Aon]] above the sword, it would be able to draw on Investiture, but the Aon would quickly be consumed due to too much energy being pulled through too small an opening.{{wob ref|8746}} Notably, it can draw Stormlight from other sources directly--not just from the wielder.{{book ref|sa3|92}} Nightblood is strong enough that an Awakener of the tenth Heightening cannot break its command.{{wob ref|13095}}

 

 

=== Nalthis ===

==== Creation ====

Nightblood was created in collaboration between [[Vasher]] and [[Shashara]], [[Returned]] lovers and two of the [[Five Scholars]]. Shashara, a very talented [[Awakener]], has some feelings of envy after [[Yesteel]] invents [[ichor-alcohol]], so she begins experimenting with steel.{{book ref|wb|51}} She eventually discovers a method to Awaken steel and give it sentience, although she and Vasher do not fully understand how this is possible.{{book ref|wb|51}} She reaches the Ninth [[Heightening]] and uses a thousand [[BioChromatic_Breath|Breaths]] and a very difficult visualization to Awaken a sword with the [[Command]] "Destroy Evil." However, the sword had no concept of evil, and so the Breaths it inherited decided evil was "someone who would try to take the sword and use it for evil purposes; selling it, manipulating, and extorting others, that sort of thing."{{wob ref|7278}}

 

==== The Pahn Kahl Rebellion ====

Vasher was in possession of Nightblood during the [[Pahn Kahl rebellion]] in 327 and warned [[Vivenna]] against asking questions about Type IV objects.{{book ref|wb|53}} At one point [[Denth]] took the sword from Vasher and threw it into a shallow bay (although Nightblood thought it was "the ocean").{{wob ref|7385}}{{book ref|wb|54}} Nightblood was able to get the attention of [[Chapps]], who took it out of the water,{{book ref|wb|53}} but later kills four people and himself.{{book ref|wb|54}} Vivenna then retrieved it and gave it to a group of soldiers to use, who also all die.{{book ref|wb|55}} Vasher finally found it and used it to destroy a large number of Lifeless while pursuing Denth.{{book ref|wb|56}}

 

 

===== Serving Under Nale =====

Szeth, who calls Nightblood 'sword-nimi', carried it during and after his training with Nale and the [[Order of Skybreakers|Skybreakers]]. He was warned not to draw it except in case of extreme emergency and only if he carries much Stormlight, lest it feed upon his soul.{{book ref|sa3|90}} Notably, Szeth made no mention of any sensation of either nausea or lust for Nightblood upon encountering it because of his compatibility with Nightblood.{{wob ref|15920}}

 

 

===== Campaign in Emul =====

During their campaign to free [[Emul]], Nightblood accompanied Szeth, Dalinar, and several Windrunners to parley with [[Ishar]]. Crazed, Ishar attempts to form a [[Connection]] with Dalinar to steal his bond to the [[Stormfather]]. Inside of Dalinar's [[perpendicularity]], Szeth uses Nightblood to sever this Connection, thereby saving Dalinar. While Szeth duels [[Ishar]], Nightblood manages to chip off a piece of Ishar's [[Honorblade]], shocking Ishar and causing him to flee.{{book ref|sa4|111}}