Editing Fabrial

|system=Fabrial

|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]

A '''fabrial''' is a [[Stormlight]]-powered mechanical device from [[Roshar]] that uses [[spren]] captured in gemstones to perform a particular supernatural task. The magical properties of modern fabrials can usually be activated by anyone who knows how to use them.{{book ref|sa2|86}} A person who creates or designs fabrials is called an '''artifabrian'''.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} The term "fabrial" is often used colloquially to refer to the entire device. Artifabrians, however, call that a "machine", and use the word fabrial to refer specifically to a gem with a captured spren.

{{file ref|Navani1.jpg|text=Navani's Notebook: One}}

During the [[Heraldic Epochs]], the [[Knights Radiant]] knew how to create [[Surge]] fabrials, including [[Soulcaster]]s, healing fabrials, and [[Oathgate]]s. Their knowledge of non-Surge fabrials, which the modern fabrial science concerns itself with, was far less advanced than that of the current scholars.{{book ref|sa3|96}} Some principles, however, were known even then: among others, the lifts in [[Urithiru]] were created with conjoining fabrials.{{book ref|sa3|24}} With the fall of the Radiants, knowledge of most fabrials was lost, with Soulcasters as the major exception. Over time, the stories of Radiant fabrials became vastly exaggerated, with many people believing that they were far more numerous, and much more advanced, than what modern science has created.{{book ref|sa3|96}}

While the fabrials were known for centuries, it was only recently that the pace of fabrial inventions picked up, with creations such as the heating fabrials and [[spanreed]]s being only a few decades old at most. Most research occurs in the eastern nations of [[Alethkar]] and [[Jah Keved]], with [[Navani Kholin]] as a particularly important patron. [[Half-shard]]s, an important breakthrough in fabrial research that attempts to mimic [[Shardplate]], were only perfected in 1173, at the tail end of the [[Era of Solitude]].{{book ref|sa1|22}}

== Mechanics ==

{{image|Navani2.jpg|An excerpt from [[Navani's notebook]] depicting an Emotion Bracelet and examples of stormlight patterns|side=right|width=250px}}

Creating modern fabrials requires trapping the proper type of [[spren]] in a gemstone cut for that purpose.{{book ref|sa3|33}} To trap the spren, artifabrians lure it into a gemstone with something it loves and knows well. Once it is lured into the gem, the spren cannot easily escape.{{book ref|sa3|100}} The types of spren that can be captured in a [[polestone]] depend on the gem's type and color, implying that there are thousands of possible combinations.{{file ref|Navani1.jpg|text=Navani's Notebook: One}} These fabrial-gems are encased in a wire frame, but it is unknown whether this has an effect on the fabrial. Their power can be determined by the pattern of Stormlight that gets filtered through the gemstone, although it cannot be seen with the naked eye.{{file ref|Navani2.jpg|text=Navani's Notebook: Two}} Spren corrupted by [[Sja-anat]] will behave differently in a fabrial.{{wob ref|11659}}

Once trapped in a gem, spren respond to stimuli in consistent and predictable ways. The metal frame surrounding the gem creates the stimuli the spren react to - pressing metal against a flamespren in a ruby increases and decreases heat.{{book ref|sa3|33}} Multiple fabrial gems can be placed inside a single wire frame, which lets them work together to create more complex results. The [[emotion bracelet]], for example, has ten gems, with patterns in which they light up corresponding to different emotions.{{file ref|Navani2.jpg|text=Navani's Notebook: Two}}

How the ancient [[Surge]] fabrials were created is unclear, but it is likely a different method. Their functioning is also different: for example, [[Soulcaster]]s require a request for aid, which is unnecessary in modern fabrials.{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} However, they still do involve spren being bound to gemstones in some way - two large spren can be seen guarding and controlling the [[Oathgates]] in [[Shadesmar]].{{book ref|sa3|116}} So long as the gemstones are preserved and the spren are not compromised, any Surge fabrial can be recreated to operate just as it used to.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Any [[Surge]] can be replicated by fabrial science.{{wob ref|3013}} However, in the present day, fabrials that use Surges are extremely rare, and most of them date back to the era of the [[Knights Radiant]].{{cite}}

{{for|:Category: Fabrials| a full listing of known fabrial machine designs}}

Modern artifabrians divide the fabrials they design into five groups across three categories.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} Ancient fabrials, including Surge fabrials, do not fit into these categories and are grouped seperately.

Appropriately named, altering fabrials qualitatively alter the property or attribute they target. Well-known examples include altering the temperature of an object or an area and enhancing or dampening the sensation of pain, though artifabrians believe there is potential for even greater types of fabrials in this category.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}

Altering fabrials that increase or enhance an attribute are known as augmenters. They work best with forces, emotions or sensations.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} [[Half-shard]]s and [[Grandbow]]s are examples of augmenters that increase durability.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}{{book ref|sa1|12}} There are also heating fabrials that generate heat, sometimes called warmers or heatrials.{{book ref|sa1|15}}{{book ref|sa3|62}}{{book ref|sa3|100}} Heatrials were first developed just before [[Assassination of Gavilar|Gavilar's feast]], though earlier models were much less effective.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} Painrials that enhance the feeling of pain also fall under this category.{{book ref|sa3|118}}

Diminishers act as opposites of augmenters, decreasing the magnitude of their targeted trait. In general they operate in a similar manner to augmenters, with similar restrictions.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} [[Painrial]]s that decrease pain are a type of diminisher.{{book ref|sa1|60}}

Pairing fabrials are, as the name suggests, created in pairs that can move in parallel, or the opposite, over great distances. This category was a recent discovery during the [[War of Reckoning]].{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} Force is conserved between each pair of fabrials, and the force required to move one is equivalent one required for moving both. Despite limitations in how far the fabrials can be separated and still work (dictated by certain processes during manufacture), conjectures about possible applications are being discussed.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}

Conjoiners are created from infused rubies which are split in half after the spren is already captured. The two halves are then able to exhibit parallel movements over large distances. [[Spanreed]]s are the most widespread example of conjoiner, linking two pens and allowing for long-distance communication.{{book ref|sa1|28}}{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}

Reversers are created in a similar manner to conjoiners, using an amethyst instead of a ruby. The two halves are then able to exhibit equal, but opposite reactions; lifting one would cause the other to be lowered.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}

Warning fabrials detect things and give notice to the user. Their range depends on the the amount of Stormlight infused into its fabrial-gem.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}}

Alerters use heliodor to detect the presence of objects, feelings, sensations, or phenomena, and warn the user. There are alerters which can detect approaching people while excluding certain persons from detection.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} The [[Emotion bracelet]] is an alerter able to detect different emotions.{{file ref|Navani2.jpg|text=Navani's Notebook: Two}}

These are fabrials that are able to manipulate Surges, replicating the effects of [[Surgebinding]] and [[Voidbinding]].{{wob ref|3013}}{{wob ref|7029}}

These fabrials mimic the the Radiant ability of [[Soulcasting]].{{book ref|sa1|72}} A Soulcaster fabrial consists of two rings and a bracelet connected by chains which hold a group of three gemstones across the back of the hand. Most are only able to effect small, singular changes, such as turning stone into water, while about one in ten can effect any change.{{book ref|sa1|5}} They can be activated by tapping one of the three gemstones when holding the hand against what is to be changed.{{book ref|sa1|42}} They manipulate the Surge of Transformation.

These fabrials manipulate the Surge of [[Transportation]], and allow the user to transport anything on top of the platform and in the control chamber between Oathgates in an instant. However, as far as is known, they function in pairs - an Oathgate in [[Urithiru]] only connects to one Oathgate outside, and the Oathgate outside only connects to one Oathgate in Urithiru. They can only be activated by living [[Shardblade]]s, as wielded by the [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref|sa2|86}} Transportation of more than one person through them requires use of more Stormlight.{{book ref|sa2|87}}

Rosharan clocks are fabrials, with their mechanisms powered in some fashion by an infused smokestone in their center.{{book ref|sa1|10}} They are noted as being rather expensive, although in recent years they have become more and more common.{{book ref|sa2|12}}{{book ref|sa2|49}} Dozens of them can be found in [[Kharbranth]]. Many have bells hanging from them to announce the hour.{{book ref|sa1|3}} In the past, they came only in standing and hanging varieties.{{book ref|sa1|10}}{{book ref|sa1|8}} Recently, Navani has managed to create a design small enough to wear on one's hand.{{book ref|sa3|16}}

Used to attract certain substances {{book ref|sa2|67}}, possibly determined by the gemstone used. During the [[Battle of Narak]], Navani unveils one capable of drawing moisture from the air, pooling the water into a globe around the garnet that powers it. {{book ref|sa2|82}} [[Shallan]] spots one that gathers smoke from a fire in the [[Ghostbloods]]'s hideout at the [[Shattered Plains]]. {{book ref|sa2|43}}

Thaylen engineered fabrials that help to stabilize ships during the highstorm. [[Rysn]]'s ship, [[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]], has been equipped with these fabrials.{{book ref|sa3|i|13}}

Though their name is unknown, these fabrials can partially drain stormlight from gems to diminish their glow, for aesthetic purposes.{{book ref|sa1|55}}

===Possible Fabrials===

==== Shardplate ====

[[Shardplate]] is occasionally referred to as a fabrial. It's unknown whether this is accurate, however, as Shardplate appears to operate in a different manner.

==== Gemstone column ====

There is a column of gemstones in [[Urithiru]]'s lower level, the purpose of which remains unknown. [[Renarin]] speculates that it might be a fabrial allowing the city to operate properly, although if so, it appears to be non-functional.{{book ref|sa3|29}}

These devices can move stormlight between gems, and are used by the moneychangers of [[Celebrant]] to transfer stormlight into [[Polestone#Perfect_Gemstones|perfect gemstones]].{{book ref|sa3|99}}

* It is possible for synthetic gemstones to be used in fabrials.{{wob ref|2702}}

* Theoretically, a fabrial could be used to detect emotional [[Allomancy]].{{wob ref|11576}}

* The term "fabrial" will, eventually, come to be used for all magic-based mechanical devices in the [[Cosmere]], such as the mechanism that picks [[Elantrian]]s.{{wob ref|8621}}