Editing Kandra

{{lifeform
|image=JeHoy.png
|type={{tag+|Hemalurgic construct}}
|sapient=Yes
|world=Scadrial
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]], [[Tress of the Emerald Sea]]
}}
{{update|mb6|mb7|tress}}
The '''kandra''' are a species on [[Scadrial]] first created by the [[Rashek|Lord Ruler]] during [[Ascension of the Lord Ruler|his Ascension]]. They have the ability to reshape their bodies and most are well-practiced at imitation, making them extremely sought-after as spies.

== Physiology ==
{{image|MeLann true body.jpg|side=left|width=300px}}
=== Appearance and Anatomy ===
Physically, the kandra resemble [[mistwraith]]s in their natural form. Unlike the mistwraiths, they are sentient, courtesy of two [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic]] spikes implanted in them. While mistwraiths are simply gelatinous conglomerates of various creatures, kandra can actually absorb a body and take on all of its characteristics.

When impersonating a specific person, a kandra will use that person's bones and reshape their body to look exactly like that person's. When in [[kandra Homeland|the Homeland]], most kandra use a [[True Body]], which is a set of false bones that are crafted by a kandra artisan. Some True Body forms are quartz, and kandra show off their True Bodies by creating translucent skin that allows the stone to sparkle faintly in the light.{{book ref|mb3|7}} A True Body does not have to be human-shaped, but most are. Some kandra build bodies for combat purposes, these bodies can be made of metal to be stronger and heavier and can have sharp bones to use as knives.{{book ref|mb6|16}} Combined with the ability to heal and create stronger muscles, kandra can be extremely powerful warriors though not all of them want to be one.

The members of the '''First Generation''' do not wear True Bodies, as the kandra did not originally know how to make them. Instead, they wear their own bones from before they became kandra.

Kandra store their cognitive system throughout their entire body, and can form an organ which functions as a brain to think.{{book ref|mb6|19}} It doesn't need to be inside the head, and can be placed at a safer location in the kandra's body.{{wob ref|4147}} Kandra flesh will retain its appearance when cut free of their bodies.{{book ref|mb6|6}}

They give off a smell that other kandra can detect which communicates their gender.{{wob ref|11478}} The smell that they give off is decided by the kandra in question, as a result of their control over their physiology, this smell can be masculine, feminine, neutral, a mix, or something completely different.{{wob ref|11478}}

=== Creation ===
While the First Generation were created directly by the Lord Ruler, the First Generation creates all subsequent generations of kandra through "Blessings," a pair of Hemalurgic spikes charged with a human physical or mental attribute. The Lord Ruler provides Hemalurgic metal spikes to the kandra each century, in a number requested, and the kandra use these spikes to convert mistwraiths into full kandra. One Blessing converts a mistwraith into a sentient kandra. Kandra take longer to reach maturity than a human normally would take.{{wob ref|12000}} During the years of the Lord Ruler's reign, there are a total of eleven Generations, with a Twelfth Generation unlikely, as the Father is dead. The kandra do not know how to make new kandra spikes, though they have an inkling.{{wob ref |4652}}

=== Death ===
{{quote
|All this time, and he’s never come to see me. Wise, I suppose. He knows I keep a vat of acid just for him. It’s one of the only ways to be sure about them, you know. That or a good fire.
|[[Riina]]{{book ref|tress|60}}
}}

Kandra do not appear to die of natural causes, but they are not immortal, just incredibly long lived.{{wob ref|10583}} One of the kandra secrets references the unknown acid mixture. Being bathed in acid can effectively kill a kandra, so this is one way how misbehaved kandra were executed in kandra homeland during the [[Final Empire]] with the other way being starvation. They can also be killed by fire.{{book ref|tress|60}}

Because of their ability to change shape, most damage to a kandra is of no consequence; they do feel normal physical pain as a result of trauma, though [[MeLaan]] has said that kandra have the ability to turn nerves off and thus experience no pain.{{book ref|mb6|24}} This leads to kandra guards mostly using hammers to break bones, thus hindering movement. 

A kandra digesting another kandra can perform the killing, but it is unknown if the two kandra will fight and try to eat each other during the process. After the [[Catacendre]], the kandra develop a way to take their own lives at will. Also developed by the kandra post-catacendre is a liquid which upon injection will disable kandra and make them transparent, but will not make them unconscious. Though it does not kill the kandra, further pulling out their spike will turn them back to mistwraith.{{book ref|mb6|29}} Destroying the spikes with explosion or by other means can turn them back into mistwraith, practically killing them.{{book ref|mb6|3}}

== Abilities ==
{{image|Kandra by Elisgardor.jpg|side=right|width=200px|A kandra with transparent skin}}
Kandra have the ability to shapeshift. However, in most cases, they only have the ability to change into and take the appearance of any creature they have digested. Because of this, in order for a kandra to appear as anyone in particular, the subject must be dead and be digested. The shapeshifting process may take anything from several hours or even days to as little as a few seconds.{{book ref|mb5|21}} The digestion is necessary also because kandra cannot create hair, fur, bones, or [[singer]] carapace, so these parts they must get from the digested victims, and be put into place one by one.{{wob ref|2905}} 

Especially skilled kandra are able to make their own adjustments to the shape of the creature they are taking. Although mimicking an existing unique individual or creature is most common, the most skilled kandra can use just a skull or set of bones to build a working structure to gain the ability to move around freely and communicate. Being without bones will make kandra unable to move fast, speak or form any proper shape, but doesn't affect their mental ability.{{book ref|mb3|2}} Kandra can create bodies without a beating heart, which helps reduce caloric intake.{{book ref|tress|18}}

By reforming their body inside the mechanism, they can crack simple locks.{{book ref|mb6|19}} Kandra are also known as unmatched actors. Before assuming the role of a certain person, a kandra will spend a significant amount of time observing the individual in order to learn their mannerisms, history, and relationships. As a result, it is almost impossible to tell a kandra apart from the actual individual they are impersonating. Wearing a body can influence how a kandra acts, such as wearing a dogs body may have them adopt dog mannerisms.{{book ref|mb7|11}}

In combat, kandra can form powerful muscles and heal most wounds immediately, utilizing their ability to shapeshift. By creating a special [[True Body]] for this purpose, they can gain many advantages such as metal bones, hidden weapons, etc. Breaking bones can slow them greatly. They can also turn off their nerves that cause pain.{{book ref|mb6|24}}

Kandra are capable of assuming smaller shapes, but losing too much mass will cause a kandra to be unable to maintain their intelligence.{{wob ref|750}} They are unable to divide their consciousness between multiple brains.{{book ref|tress|18}}

Losing one or both of their Blessings leaves holes in a kandra's memories.{{book ref|mb6|3}} The longer without their Blessings, the bigger the holes will be.{{book ref|mb6|21}} Removing a single spike will cause a kandra to lose their sanity. Kandra with only one spike will refuse a spike from another kandra, and this process can cause radical changes in personality, memory, and temperament. Giving them back their missing Blessing will restore their sanity.{{book ref|mb6|3}}

It is theoretically possible for a kandra to become a [[Knight Radiant]], if they manage to convince a [[spren]] to [[Nahel bond|bond]] with them.{{wob ref|1832}} Digesting a [[Lifeless]] could have weird side effects.{{wob ref|15341}}

=== Blessings ===
There are four different Blessings available to make a kandra. All grant mistwraiths sentience and convert them into kandra, but they also have additional benefits.{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}} The Blessing comes from the effect that the Hemalurgic spike steals.{{wob ref|11744}} They are typically slender, and less than three inches long.{{book ref|mb6|19}} The longer a Blessing is out of a kandra, the weaker it becomes.{{book ref|mb6|21}}

;[[Blessing of Awareness]]
: A pair of [[tin]] spikes that grant a kandra increased senses, similar to Allomantically burning tin.{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}}
;[[Blessing of Potency]]
: A pair of [[iron]] spikes that give a kandra more strength, like that of an Allomancer burning [[pewter]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}} It is not exactly the same effect, however; it does not grant the limitless energy received from burning pewter.
;[[Blessing of Presence]]
: A pair of [[copper]] spikes that grant increased mental capability.{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}} This capability includes the ability to focus despite physical discomfort or distraction, exceptionally sharp memory, resistance to madness, and the inability to lapse into unconsciousness due to shock.{{book ref|mb3|2}}{{book ref|mb3|24}} This Blessing also counters at least some of the mental weakness that is caused by Hemalurgy; kandra with this Blessing are much less vulnerable to being controlled by Ruin than others.{{wob ref|5597}}
;[[Blessing of Stability]]
: A pair of [[zinc]] spikes that endows its receiver with emotional fortitude, rendering them much more resistant to control by emotional Allomancy.{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}} This Blessing was rarely used.{{wob ref|7712}}

A kandra can survive with only one spike, but they lose some of their sanity while doing so.{{book ref|mb6|3}} A kandra with one spike cannot be controlled by [[Ruin]] or [[Harmony]].{{book ref|mb5|7}}

There are more possible Blessings than the four already known.{{wob ref|1116}} Allomancy can be granted to kandra via Hemalurgy, as shown when [[Bleeder]] uses the Allomantic abilities of a [[Coinshot]], but, in-universe, only Harmony (and probably Bleeder) knows the process for doing so.{{wob ref|1231}} It is also known that kandra can gain Allomancy by burning [[Lerasium]].{{wob ref|987}} Despite the fact that kandra are Invested, they are still able to worldhop.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|6}}{{book ref|tress|22}}{{wob ref|9504}}

== History ==
{{image|TenSoon's Judgement by Marc Mestre.jpg|side=right|width=300px|[[TenSoon]] being judged in the [[Kandra Homeland|Homeland]]}}
=== The Final Empire ===
The First Generation of kandra were originally [[Rashek]]'s fellow [[Terris]] packmen. During his ascension, Rashek realized that a person with both [[Allomancy]] and [[Feruchemy]] would pose a serious threat to the stability of the [[Final Empire]], so he spoke directly to the minds of his closest friends, making a deal with them to trade their Feruchemy for immortality. All living Feruchemists were transformed into [[mistwraith]]s, but he gave Hemalurgic spikes to the packmen, transforming them into the First Generation.{{book ref|mb3|62}} They were to become his spies and informants. 

Kandra were the third and last of Rashek's creations. They were created with two Hemalurgic spikes and thus are less susceptible to the influence of [[Ruin]] or other [[Shard]]s. The First Generation of kandra, the Lord Ruler's friends, created a legal code which was later approved by the Lord Ruler. This code is known as the [[First Contract]]. The Contract is the first thing a kandra learns upon gaining sentience.{{book ref|mb3|11}} All future generations of kandra are created by the first by granting Blessings in the form of Hemalurgic spikes to mistwraiths.

Right before the [[Catacendre]], the majority kandra executed the [[Resolution]]. The First Generation ordered every kandra to remove their Blessings in an effort to prevent Ruin from influencing them and regaining his body. They are eventually able to replace their spikes, though it is unlikely that there will be any new kandra, as Hemalurgy is not widely known.{{wob ref|5269}} Since [[Harmony]] has absorbed Ruin into himself, kandra are now under his direct control. Kandra that go without their spikes for long periods of time lose significant portions of their memories.{{wob ref|4154}}{{wob ref|5867}}

=== After the Catacendre ===
Kandra still exist after the Ascension but now serve [[Harmony]] as his agents,{{book ref|mb5|7}} using their abilities to blend in with those around them to perform tasks given by Harmony. They are known by [[Elendel]] society due to their mention in the [[Words of Founding]], but their mention is reportedly vague.{{book ref|mb5|7}} They are often referred to as "Faceless Immortals", and reactions to them are mixed between reverence{{book ref|mb5|13}} and skepticism as an urban legend.{{book ref|mb5|12}}

{{image|House War - Kandra by Miranda Meeks.png|side=left|width=300px}}

Since the Catacendre, some kandra have traveled to other worlds,{{wob ref|5990}}{{wob ref|6438}} likely to gather information for Harmony, though most have remained on Scadrial.{{wob ref|4339}} One female kandra not acting under Harmony's orders was likely on Roshar in early 1174.{{wob ref|15992}}

After Ruin nearly takes control over the kandra, the surviving kandra discover a way to end their own lives at will to spare themselves should the situation require it.{{book ref|mb5|19}} Many of the Second Generation end their own lives using this method.{{book ref|mb5|20}} By {{date|342|PC}}, the kandra also know of a way to uncover members of their own kind in disguise, using a special substance injected into the body that causes a kandra to "droop" briefly enough to disable it temporarily. Unfortunately, the injection is fatal to humans.{{book ref|mb5|13}}

Kandra still seem reluctant to cause harm and kill humans, although this has become considerably more lax.{{book ref|mb5|11}}

Although the [[Kandra Homeland]] has long been abandoned and revered as a holy place, kandra still get together, albeit under a human guise and in human society.{{book ref|mb5|20}}

The confrontation between Harmony and [[Trell]] led to Harmony deciding to start sending Kandra off-world as his agents on other planets, to help deal with the rising threat of Trell.{{book ref|mb7|1}}{{book ref|mb7|11}}

On multiple planets, Kandra are the reason for talking animals in stories and folklore.{{book ref|tress|28}}

At some point long after the events of the first confrontation between Harmony and Trell, [[Sazed]] is said by [[Hoid]] to have released the Kandra as a whole, presumably from his own control. The true meaning of this statement is currently unknown.{{book ref|tress|42}}

== Culture ==
Kandra have spent ten centuries enslaved to humankind, serving the Contracts in an effort to keep themselves safe. Most kandra hate humans for their situation, but, ironically, most kandra True Bodies are human-shaped, with two arms, two legs, and a face, even while they curse humankind for keeping them enslaved.{{book ref|mb3|7}}

There are other jobs for kandra to perform in the Homeland, such as the teaching and instruction of young kandra, which is considered a prestigious job among kandra.{{wob ref|7510}}

They refer to the Lord Ruler as the Father, because he is responsible for their creation. After his death, [[TenSoon]] advocates that [[Vin]] should be considered the Mother, because she is the one who slays the Lord Ruler. It is unknown if other kandra accept this title for her or not.

{{image|Kandra.jpg|side=right|width=250px}}

The First Generation typically only communicates with the Second Generation. All subsequent generations are then created by the Seconds, every hundred years. During the approximate thousand years of the Lord Ruler's reign, there have been eleven Generations, with a twelfth Generation unlikely, as the Father is dead. In general, all decisions about law and order are communicated to the lower generations by the Second Generation, acting as something like government officials. TenSoon suspects that the Second Generation takes advantage of being the only ones who the First Generation would speak to by making many policies on their own, then telling the younger kandra that it is the decision of the First Generation.

=== Contracts ===
In the early days of the Final Empire, the kandra attempted to remain secret and blend into human society. However humans feared their abilities, calling them monsters, and began using Allomancy to hunt them down, by way of the Flaw, and kill them. After a few centuries, the kandra were almost extinct.{{book ref|woa|22}}{{book ref|hoa|11}} Out of desperation, the kandra agreed to become servants to humans, never leaving the Homeland unless out on a Contract.{{book ref|woa|40}}

As a result of this history, kandra are secretive about their culture and have an intense loathing for humans, which is only made worse by the poor treatment they often receive from their masters. Despite this, they adhere to their Contracts without question, and are often used as spies by the nobility. Fulfilling Contracts is their way of "paying for their freedom" to prevent humans from seeking ways to enslave them in other ways and finding out about their weakness to Allomancy. The terms of a Contract always prohibit a kandra from killing a human, changing bodies without permission, and revealing kandra secrets, and require the kandra to return to the Homeland if they break the terms of the Contract or if their master dies before the Contract expires.

On top of that, the fulfilling of Contracts also has another purpose. A Contract must be paid for in [[atium]], which is then brought to the Homeland where it is stockpiled in a metal vault known as the Trust. They do this because atium is condensed power of Ruin, and by storing it in a place where Ruin has no influence they deny him access to a part of his power.

All Contracts are modelled on the [[First Contract]].{{book ref|hoa|11}} During the time of the Final Empire, Contracts were arranged by leaving a message at a designated place in Luthadel. A kandra Contracted to the Lord Ruler would then go to the client and act as an intermediary while the papers were signed and payment collected. The kandra&mdash;a member of the Fifth Generation during the later days of the [[Final Empire]]&mdash;would then return to the [[kandra Homeland]] where a kandra would be assigned to the Contract.{{wob ref|7979}} The punishment for a kandra who broke a Contract is death.{{book ref|hoa|2}} The details of the Contract were never disclosed to non-kandra, not even the Lord Ruler&mdash;though the kandra likely would have shared them with him if he asked.{{wob ref|7979}}

=== Allegiance ===
{{quote
|They were of Preservation all along.
|[[Harmony]] on the kandra{{epigraph ref|mb3|80}}
}}

The kandra initially believe that they are of [[Preservation]], while the koloss, humans and Inquisitors are of [[Ruin]]. This is despite the fact that, like other Hemalurgically-created races, they have Hemalurgic spikes, which are of Ruin. The Lord Ruler creates the kandra to be his spies, and the noble class believe them to be spies for the new government. They often use the kandra as such, but Rashek's ultimate plan is for them to be double agents against Ruin, with their essence being of him but their [[Intent]] being of [[Preservation]]. According to the plan, Ruin would believe that he could take control of the kandra whenever he wanted, as they are planted with Hemalurgic spikes. However, due to a clause in the First Contract, as well as the Trust and the Resolution, instead of being used by Ruin, they would pull their spikes free when and if Ruin were to try to seize control of them. Just prior to the [[Battle of Hathsin]], this plan comes to fruition exactly as the Lord Ruler had planned, disrupting Ruin's efforts and ultimately leading to his demise, demonstrating that the kandra's true allegiance has always lain with Preservation.

== Notable Kandra ==
{{for|:Category: Kandra|a full list}}
{{columns|
* [[TenSoon]]
* [[OreSeur]]
* [[KanPaar]]
* [[Haddek]]
* [[MeLaan]]
* [[Paalm]]
* [[VenDell]]
* [[ReLuur]]
* [[Ulaam]]
}}

== Trivia ==
* The Blessing of Stability is rarely used because Brandon added it late in the development of ''[[The Hero of Ages]]'', after realizing that the structure of the powers of metals in [[Hemalurgy]] required a second mental Blessing.{{wob ref|7712}}
* At least one unidentified kandra is a [[worldhopper]], and has made an appearance in [[Oathbringer]].{{wob ref|9504}} They are not an agent of Harmony.{{wob ref|15992}}

== Notes ==
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