Editing Royal Locks

{{Magic

|related=[[Returned]]

|world=Nalthis

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

|books=[[Warbreaker]], [[The Stormlight Archive]]{{book ref|sa3|89}}

}}

Members of the Royal House, or at least those who have the Royal Locks, can change their appearance, which is most often seen in their changing hair colors and length. Only members of the Royal House who are potential heirs to the throne have and can pass on the Royal Locks.{{book ref|wb|22}}

== Etymology ==

The Royal Locks got their name because of their users and appearance. The only users are members of the Idrian, or formerly Hanald, Royal House. Besides this, the Royal Locks, in current times, generally take the form of changing hair colors, although they are capable of so much more then this.

== Abilities ==

{| class="infobox side" style="width: 22em; float:right; font-size: 88%;"

!colspan='3' style="text-align:center; background:#cce" |'''Hair colors and corresponding emotions'''

|-

! Hair color

! Emotion

|-

| Black

| Calm or control{{book ref|wb|9}}

|-

| Red

| Anger, embarrassment,{{book ref|wb|8}} or passion{{book ref|wb|44}}

|-

| Yellow (or blond)

| Happiness or excitement{{book ref|wb|14}}

|-

| White

| Fear, intimidation, or panic{{book ref|wb|11}}{{book ref|wb|4}}

|-

| Brown

| Saddened or upset{{book ref|wb|2}}

|-

| Green

| Disgusted{{wob ref|12651}}

|-

| Pink

| Unknown{{wob ref|12651}}

|-

|colspan='3' | <small> Wearers of the Royal Locks can imitate the grey hair of the elderly,{{book ref|wb|9}} although it is unknown whether that color is associated with a particular emotion.</small>

|}

In current times the Royal Locks generally manifest as changing hair colors, although a capable wielder is able to exploit them to change their appearance much more.{{book ref|wb|epilogue}} Normally the color of the Royal Locks reflects the person's emotional state by default, but this can be controlled through training and discipline.{{book ref|wb|9}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} Royal Locks abilities can extend to facial hair.{{wob ref|1219}} What particular color will match up with which particular emotion is based on associations that people in the culture give them and the user's own perspective.{{wob ref|13043}}

Although many of it’s users believe that the Royal Locks only extend to hair, wearers of the Royal Locks are able to change many other aspects of their physical appearance,{{wob ref|1583}}{{wob ref|6808}} like their age, height, and body shape.{{wob ref|7481}} This requires a great deal of practice, energy and focus. Changing one’s physical appearance using the royal locks feels, at least to some users, like moving any other muscle.{{book ref|wb|6}}{{book ref|wb|39}} Changing their appearance also makes them hungry and tired.{{book ref|wb|6}} The users of the Royal Locks can’t change their appearance as much as a Returned can; they cannot change their physical features enough to look like someone else. Returned could most likely mimic the effects of the Royal Locks. It is also possible to have the Royal Locks independent of being a Returned, as is seen with [[Denth]].{{wob ref|4112}}

Those with the Royal Locks have a much easier time learning [[Awakening|Nalthian Awakening]], this mimics how more Breaths also make it easier to learn how to Awaken.{{book ref|wb|43}}{{wob ref|7340}}

== History ==

The Royal Locks originally came from [[Vo]], the first Returned. Vo was a member of a [[Chedesh]] expedition that discovered a paradise-like valley, which would later become known as [[Hallandren]]. Vo died under unknown circumstances around the same time the valley was discovered, and soon Returned in the bay adjacent to modern-day [[T'Telir]]. During the eight days he was given Vo managed to impregnate his wife. His wife would, as elected monarch of the new nation of [[Hanald]], establish a royal line. Every potential heir in this line would have the Royal Locks, a sign of Returned ancestry.

The members of this line would continue to rule Hanald for three hundred years, all the way up to the [[Manywar]]. This war would eventually result in Vo's royal line leaving T'Telir to establish the nation of [[Idris]] in the highlands, while Hanald was renamed [[Hallandren]] and the priests there began downplaying the importance of Vo's bloodline.{{book ref|warbreaker|32}}{{wob ref|7400}}

The royal line continued to rule Idris for another three hundred years. The priests, wanting to reintroduce the Royal Locks back into the Hallandren monarchy to further legitimize their regime and quiet those who believed [[Dedelin]] was the rightful heir to the throne,{{book ref|wb|1}} arranged a marriage between an Idrian princess and the [[Susebron|God King]]. This marriage eventually happened, although it is unknown if the two had a child, and by extension, if the Royal Locks were reintroduced into the monarchy.{{book ref|wb|4}}

== Notable Users ==

Below is a list of Notable people who have the Royal Locks:

== Trivia ==

* [[Brandon Sanderson|Brandon]] tried to work hair that would change color with emotion into [[Dark One (franchise)|Dark One]] and a story set on the [[Aether of Night|Aether]] world.{{wob ref|6711}}