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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]]
}}▼
}}{{update|book=mb6}}
The '''kandra''' are a race of creaturesspecies on [[Scadrial]] featured in [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]]. The First Generation of kandra werefirst created by the [[Rashek|Lord Ruler]] through the use of [[Hemalurgy]] during his [[Ascension of the Lord Ruler|his Ascension]], earning him the title "Father" among the kandra. They have the ability to reshape their bodies and most are well-practiced at imitation, making them extremely sought-after as spies.
 
The First Generation of kandra were originally [[Terris]] [[Worldbringers]]. 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 are transformed into [[mistwraith|mistwraiths]], and these closest friends are also given Hemalurgic spikes which gave them back their sentience and bestowed certain "blessings".{{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}} As of the end of ''[[The Hero of Ages]]'', they no longer take contracts{{wob ref|9903}} and have taken a vow to live in animal bodies.{{wob ref|4443}} Some of them later make appearances in ''[[The Alloy of Law]]'' and in human shape, which contradicts the statement above,{{wob ref|9903}} as well as appear in non-Mistborn books.{{wob ref|5990}}{{wob ref|6438}}▼
 
== Physiology ==
=== 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 arewill inuse that person's bones and reshape their body to look exactly like that person's. When in [[kandra Homeland|the Homeland]], allmost subsequentkandra Generations prefer the form ofuse a [[True Body]], which is a set of false, human-shaped 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}} KandraA haveTrue spentBody tendoes centuriesnot enslavedhave 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 arebe human-shaped, withbust twomost arms, two legs, and a face, even while they curse humankind for keeping them enslavedare.{{book ref|mb3|7}} 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.▼
Because of their age, the '''First Generation''' appear to be made of dark-colored flesh which hangs off their skeletons. The bones that they wear are their own original bones, from when they were Terris packmen.
 
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.
▲When kandra are in their [[kandra Homeland|Homeland]], all subsequent Generations prefer the form of a [[True Body]], which is a set of false, human-shaped 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}} 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}} 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.
 
Kandra form an organ which functions as a brain to think. It doesn't need to be inside the head, and can be placed at a safer place in the kandra's body.{{wob ref|4147}}
 
=== Creation ===
While the First Generation were created directly by the Lord Ruler, the First Generation createcreates all subsequent generations of kandra through "Blessings"," a pair of Hemalurgic spikes createdcharged usingwith thea arthuman ofphysical or mental [[Hemalurgy]]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. Two of the same types of spike make up a Blessing, and 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. Without the Lord Ruler, the kandra cannot create new Blessings or new kandra. It is revealed in the ''The Hero of Ages'' that kandra of the First Generation are practically immortal. Kandra do not appear to die of natural causes, but they are not immortal, just incredibly longed lived.{{wob ref|10583}}
 
As stated previously, kandra are mistwraiths altered by Hemalurgy and given sentience. Despite the physical similarities, and indeed origins as a mistwraith, kandra are considered a separate species in the Final Empire.
 
=== Death ===
Kandra do not dieappear naturally,to withdie theof Firstnatural Generation'scauses, agebut identicalthey toare thenot Lord Ruler'simmortal, exceedingjust aincredibly thousandlonged years,lived.{{wob and they are essentially immortal.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. 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}}
 
== History ==▼
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}}▼
 
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 kandra end their own lives using this method.{{book ref|mb5|20}} By [[Mistborn Era 2]], 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}}▼
 
== Culture ==▼
The kandra are known to be secretive, keeping to themselves and mistrusting of all others, including each other. Kandra keep religiously to a social mandate they call the "[[Contract]]", which is the system by which they offer their services to humans in exchange for [[atium]].
 
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.▼
 
The First Generation typically only communicates with the Second Generation. All subsequent generations are then created by the Firsts, 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.▼
 
Most kandra have an intense loathing for the human race as they are afraid of being controlled by Allomancy, their most closely-guarded secret. Bound by the Contract, a kandra will do its master's bidding without question. During the reign of the Lord Ruler, many noblemen hire kandra (using the Contract) to be spies for their respective houses. Kandra are, however, treated poorly in general, intensifying their deeply-rooted hatred. 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.
 
On top of that, the fulfilling of Contracts also has another purpose. All the atium they earn is brought to their Homeland where it is stockpiled in a metal vault, 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.▼
 
=== Allegiance ===▼
{{quote▼
|They were of Preservation all along.▼
|[[Harmony]] on the Kandra▼
▲}}
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. 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. During the events of ''[[The Hero of Ages]]'', 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.▼
 
== Abilities ==
 
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}}
 
▲== History ==
▲The First Generation of kandra were originally [[TerrisRashek]]'s fellow [[WorldbringersTerris]] 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 are transformed into [[mistwraith|mistwraiths]]s, andbut thesehe closest friends are also givengave Hemalurgic spikes whichto gavethe thempackmen, backtransforming theirthem sentienceinto and bestowedthe certainFirst "blessings"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}} As of the end of ''[[The Hero of Ages]]'', they no longer take contracts{{wob ref|9903}} and have taken a vow to live in animal bodies.{{wob ref|4443}} Some of them later make appearances in ''[[The Alloy of Law]]'' and in human shape, which contradicts the statement above,{{wob ref|9903}} as well as appear in non-Mistborn books.{{wob ref|5990}}{{wob ref|6438}}
 
▲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}} Some have traveled off [[Scadrial]].{{wob ref|5990}}{{wob ref|6438}}
 
▲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 kandra end their own lives using this method.{{book ref|mb5|20}} By [[Mistborn Era 2]], 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}}
 
▲== 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.
 
▲The First Generation typically only communicates with the Second Generation. All subsequent generations are then created by the Firsts, 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 recieve 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. AllA theContract atiummust theybe earnpayed for in [[atium]], which is then brought to theirthe 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—a member of the Fifth Generation during the later days of the [[Final Empire]]—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—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
}}
▲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. 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. DuringJust theprior eventsto ofthe ''[[The HeroBattle of AgesHathsin]]'', 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 ==
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