Difference between revisions of "Order of Skybreakers"

|order-=Windrunner  |order+=Dustbringer

The Skybreakers are [[Surgebinder]]s who use the [[Surge]]s of Gravitation and Division,{{book ref|sa3|90}}, and they are associated with the smokestone [[polestone]]. They form a [[Nahel bond]] with [[highspren]].{{book ref|sa2|59}}  They are widely thought of as fanatics in both Shadesmar and the Physical Realm. The Skybreakers were the only Radiant order not to have abandoned their oaths on the [[Day of Recreance]], and continued to operate in secret until the present day.{{book ref|sa3|40}}

The individuals who join the Skybreakers generally believe in following a strong moral code.{{wob ref|13773}} They wish to prevent both anarchy and tyranny. To do so, they enforce the law on everyone. They particularly want to make sure the other orders of Radiants do not use their powers to break the law and become tyrants.{{wob ref|16450}} They used moral codes and legal structures to fight for justice and causes they believed in.{{wob ref|1373313773}}

Before the Recreance, the Skybreakers were merciful and understood that the law is not perfect. They viewed the law as an ideal to strive towards.{{wob ref|1373313773}} Highspren would accept their Radiants following codes that may endorse illegal activity. For example, a Skybreaker could follow the code of a criminal organization.{{wob ref|13766}} Since the Recreance, the Skybreakers have gotten far more strict and merciless in their behavior. The group largely seems to follow Nale's opinion on what codes and laws to follow.{{wob ref|13773}} This may be related to the fact that Nale has lost his ability to feel emotions under the torturing in [[Damnation]]. While they still follow the law to the letter, they are not above getting the law changed or instituting the most strict punishments possible to suit their needs.{{book ref|sa2.5|8}}{{book ref|sa2.5|16}} Exploiting loopholes in codes is also encouraged among them.{{book ref|sa3|98}}

The Ideals of the Knights Radiant, also known as the [[Immortal Words]], are a set of rules by which the Radiants live. The First Ideal is shared by all of the orders, and is used as a motto for the Knights Radiant as a whole. Each of the orders then have an additional four Ideals that are unique to that order.{{book ref|sa1|59}} The Ideals of the Order of Skybreakers all focus on fighting for justice, upholding codes, and protecting civilization.{{wob ref|13773}} Their Ideals and interpretations would be compatible with the philosphyphilosophy that the ends justifies the means.{{wob ref|2525}} Skybreakers tell their recruits all five Ideals when they swear the first one.{{book ref|sa3|90}}

Also called the Ideal of Dedication, this is a specific oath to dedicate oneself to a greater truth, either a code or, sometimes, a person. A Skybreaker squire must first bond their [[Highspren]] before taking this oath, and it is the minimum oath required before the Surge of Division can be used. Swearing this Ideal makes someone a full Skybreaker. This oath is the furthest that most Skybreakers ever swear.{{book ref|sa3|90}} If the code they swear to follow changes after they swear to it, they must follow the changes.{{wob ref|13766}} Nale warned that following people as an Ideal may result in some issues since  people are easily subject to change.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Nonetheless, some Skybreakers choose to follow Nale as their third Ideal.{{book ref|sa3|117}}

|The Fourth Ideal of the Skybreakers, as spoken by [[Szeth]].{{book ref|sa3|121}}.

Called the Ideal of Law, this Ideal requires the Skybreaker to swear an oath that they will become a personification of law and truth. Nale is likely the only current Skybreaker to have achieved it, as it has been centuries since anyone  mastered the Fifth Ideal.{{book ref|sa3|90}} There is a disagreement among the order on whether this means that the Skybreaker swearing this oath can do anything, as they are an embodiment of the law, or if they need to not break any law to keep their oaths. Depending on the Skybreaker's perception of the Ideal, either interpretation could be valid.{{wob ref|12100}} After swearing the Fifth Ideal, a Skybreaker is no longer required to follow the Third Ideal they swore to.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}

[[Surgebinding#Gravitation|'''Gravitation''']] allows the Skybreaker to change the direction and strength of an object's gravitational attraction.{{book ref|sa2|part=ars}} While there are slight differences in how the Surges behave between orders, Gravitation largely looks the same between the them and the [[Order of Windrunners]].{{wob ref|6916}}

[[Surgebinding#Division|'''Division''']] allows them to destroy or degrade things around them.{{book ref|sa2|part=ars}} Skybreakers do not have access to the Surge of Division until after the Third Ideal.{{book ref|sa3|90}} Restricting access to Surges based on oaths is rare among the orders and few do it. The only other order currently known to do so are the [[Dustbringers]], who share the Surge of Division.{{wob ref|13774}}