Editing Sleepless

|sapient=Yes

|first_appeared=[[The Stormlight Archive]]

{{update|yumi}}

{{quote

|Never can tell if [a cremling] is reporting back to someone or not.

|[[Lift]]{{book ref|sa4|i|5}}

}}

The '''Sleepless''', also known as '''Dysian Aimians''',{{book ref|twok|54}} are a sapient non-human race from an unknown planet in the [[cosmere]].{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}{{wob ref|15873}}{{wob ref|14342}} Their bodies are an aggregate of swarms of creatures called "hordelings" that are mentally linked and can be selectively bred and evolved in order to specialize them for certain tasks.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}{{wob ref|1543}}

They refer to themselves as "Sleepless"{{wob ref|2113}} because at least some part of the horde is always awake.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Some of the Sleepless can be found on [[Roshar]], and they once lived in the [[Silver Kingdoms|Silver Kingdom]] of [[Aimia]].{{wob ref|9640}}

{{image|Arclo by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=400px}}

Hordelings are usually about the size of a finger,{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} but they can be as large as a fist{{wob ref|11672}} or sometimes as large as a building.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}

Hordelings on Roshar often resemble native creatures known as [[cremling]]s simply to make them less noticeable to casual observers; they can take other forms.{{wob ref|3346}} The [[Yelamaiszin|first swarm]] to come to Roshar originally had spiderlike hordelings; the swarms breed their hordelings to resemble local fauna in order to blend in.{{wob ref|14312}}{{wob ref|14317}}

The hordelings of each Sleepless are not all identical, and often serve specific purposes.{{wob ref|1543}} For example, because [[Arclo]] tries to pass as a human, many of his hordelings have protrusions on their backs that resemble human parts such as skin or eyeballs; he is also able to speak with a passably human voice.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} However, individual hordelings cannot shapeshift, so the nature of a Sleepless body is usually visible upon close inspection.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Sleepless therefore tend to cover their "skin" when possible, or use makeup, or use the appearance of older skin or tattoos to obscure their true nature.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}{{book ref|yumi|16}}{{book ref|yumi|33}}

When a horde chooses to settle down on a planet, they attempt to learn everything about the terrain across the planet, sending out their hordelings to scout out and investigate it.{{book ref|yumi|33}}

Hordelings can be specially bred to enhance specific capabilities of a Sleepless, such as a heightened sense of smell or increased memory capacity, although this process takes some time.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} [[Nikli]] notes that it took three hundred years to breed hordelings that could imitate human fingers.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} Over the course of many generations, some have even managed to breed hordelings that are able to mimic the powers of a [[larkin]].{{wob ref|12658}} Specialized hordelings can convincingly mimic inanimate objects.{{book ref|sa4|64}} There is a limit on both the total mass and number of hordelings a Sleepless can have at any given time,{{wob ref|12043}} but the maximum number would definitely allow a Sleepless to become much larger than human-sized,{{wob ref|11672}}{{wob ref|11953}} up to the size of a [[santhid]] corpse{{book ref|sa3.5|8}} and possibly even larger. Because they can continually create new hordelings to replace any that are lost, the personality of a Sleepless can live forever, as long as not too many of the hordelings are destroyed at once.{{wob ref|3885}} Swarms on planets other than Roshar would breed their hordelings as needed to imitate whatever life forms are native to that world.{{wob ref|14317}}

In practice, hordelings function as a "hive mind",{{wob ref|1543}} but they are not technically one entity.{{wob ref|11869}} Hordelings have the ability to separate from the main body to act as remote agents while maintaining their mental link with the rest of the horde.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Certain circumstances could lead to a hordeling being split off from the group and forced to act independently.{{wob ref|11869}} For example, a hordeling that is physically too distant from the others can lose contact with the main mind, and this would affect its [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] aspect.{{wob ref|11603}} However, they appear to be able to cover the area of an individual planet without much difficulty.{{book ref|yumi|33}}

A hordeling could be affected by a [[Hemalurgic]] spike, but it would disconnect it from the hivemind.{{wob ref|3319}} The Sleepless are not able to split their consciousness between the Cognitive Realm and the [[Physical Realm]].{{wob ref|11869}}

They are capable of forming multiple sapient bodies at once (for example, imitating two humans at the same time), but it is difficult and risks making the split permanent, unintentionally creating a new Sleepless. This is made easier if the bodies are not engaged in intelligent tasks at the same time.{{wob ref|14314}}

Sleepless are able to reproduce, but "reproduction" for them has a variety of connotations. They can breed specific hordelings for specialized purposes over time and can also exchange hordelings if needed in order to improve their genetic diversity. They can even crossbreed hordelings with other species such as various cremlings and the [[lancer]].{{wob ref|14349}}{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} Creating a new Sleepless involves splitting off a subsection of an existing swarm, which subsequently gains independence over time; the Sleepless term for this process is becoming "Separated".{{book ref|sa3.5|6}} A swarm becoming Separated is not always intentional.{{wob ref|14314}} Newly independent swarms retain the genetic adaptations of their "parent" swarm and are able to fine-tune the evolutions of their hordelings to even greater effect.{{book ref|sa3|19}} Arclo refers to the other swarms on Roshar as its "siblings".{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}

All Sleepless have the abilities granted by their unusual physiology, including shapeshifting, adaptive evolution, and effective immortality. It is also impossible to imprison a Sleepless through conventional means.{{book ref|sa3.5|10}} Sleepless have used [[Surgebinding]] in the past and may use it again in the future.{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}}{{wob ref|14336}} Arclo is able to easily kill two of [[Nale]]'s [[Skybreaker]] apprentices and tells [[Lift]] that it would not have been possible for them to kill it.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Sleepless would have nothing to fear even from someone as powerful as a Herald, and the Heralds knew to leave their kind alone.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Sleepless have more resistance to [[Soulcasting]] compared to humans for various reasons.{{wob ref|13201}} They are also fluent in most, if not all, human languages.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} Hordelings have exceptional spatial awareness, allowing a horde to create maps more accurate than most instrument-measured surveys.{{book ref|yumi|33}}

The Sleepless are exceptionally [[cosmere]]-aware. At least some Sleepless have had the power of [[Worldhopper|Worldhopping]];{{wob ref|12222}} Arclo tells Lift that it once traveled to a land she will never visit.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} They have some relationship to the [[Shard]] [[Cultivation]] and another unnamed group in the cosmere.{{wob ref|9476}} They are aware that some [[Unkalaki]] are [[Sighted]] and that they guard [[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]].{{book ref|sa3.5|15}} They hold secrets about the power of the [[Dawnshard]]s and the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], and they have passed this information down to their "younger" members.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} They refer to [[lancer]]yn and [[larkin]] as "Ancient Guardians" and believed that protecting the [[Akinah Dawnshard mural]] was important to the fate of the entire cosmere.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}

Of the twenty-four known Sleepless on Roshar, twenty accept the authority of [[Yelamaiszin]], the First swarm, including Yelamaiszin itself. They vote on important matters using the rapid communication provided by their hive minds.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}} [[Arclomedarian]] does not accept their authority, although it is not considered one of the "true traitors" and is still liked.{{wob ref|14310}}{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} It is unknown if the other three dissident Sleepless are in this category, though all four of the Sleepless who do not accept Yelamaiszin's authority (including Arclo) are still alive.{{wob ref|14310}} The Sleepless defend life, although they are willing to kill in order to preserve it. Nikli states that the Sleepless have chosen to do this after seeing the destruction of worlds and have vowed to never let it happen again.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} Paradoxically, while the Sleepless tend to like the Knights Radiant, with Yelamaiszin even stating a personal admiration for Dalinar, they worry that the Radiants' insistence on making honorable choices is highly dangerous.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}} Despite a willingness to kill in order to protect the [[Dawnshard]] from outside knowledge, the Sleepless are also open to reason. Rysn managed to convince them to spare the crew of the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'' in exchange for her help in safeguarding it.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}

They are organized into strains, which are further separated into hordes. The only named strain being the Natricatich strain, of which [[Masaka]] (also known as Chinikdakordich) is the sixtieth horde.{{book ref|yumi|33}} Each horde is made up of thousands of individual hordelings acting together in a hivemind.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}

Most Rosharans (other than Siah Aimians) do not know that the Sleepless exist, with a few notable exceptions. At least some Iriali have been aware of them{{wob ref|14397}} and the [[Unkalaki]], who call them the "Gods Who Sleep Not", even have some understanding of their hordeling abilities.{{book ref|sa3.5|10}} Neither [[Dalinar]] nor [[Lift]] seem to have even heard of beings with the powers of the Sleepless prior to talking to Hoid and Arclo, respectively.{{book ref|sa1|54}}{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} However, a few folk tales about them persisted over the years, and [[Jasnah Kholin]] was aware of these tales through her scholarly research. She assumed that they were myths, until she began hearing credible stories about similar creatures,{{book ref|sa3.5|9}} possibly including Lift's interaction with Arclo. Even then, Jasnah could not fully believe such beings existed until meeting one in person.{{book ref|sa4|64}} Although [[Vstim]] passed information about Sleepless on to Rysn, she did not rule out some form of [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightweaving]] to explain her early observations of Nikli's shapeshifting until seeing its powers up close.{{book ref|sa3.5|9}}{{book ref|sa3.5|15}}

The homeworld of the Sleepless is unknown, but they are not native to [[Yolen]].{{wob ref|14342}}

Sleepless, or Dysian Aimians, exist on multiple planets in the cosmere{{wob ref|11778}}{{wob ref|12657}} and are known to have traveled between them.{{wob ref|12222}} [[Hoid]] is the only person known to use the term "Dysian," and the source of the term is unknown.{{book ref|twok|54}} All known Sleepless on Roshar descended from a single swarm currently named [[Yelamaiszin]].{{book ref|sa2.5|6}} Most of the cosmere's Sleepless live on Roshar,{{wob ref|12657}} but unrelated swarms exist on other worlds.{{wob ref|14301}}

Although not native to Roshar, some Sleepless lived in Aimia prior to the [[Scouring of Aimia]], which has been characterized by [[Hessi]] as "total destruction".{{epigraph ref|sa3|113}}{{wob ref|15873}} They coexisted with the [[Siah Aimian]]s, but were not related to them.{{wob ref|5479}} Despite the fact that they survived, the destruction of their home on Aimia seems to have caused the Sleepless a great deal of emotional pain.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}}

The Sleepless had a long history with the [[Herald]]s and [[Knights Radiant]].{{ref|text=[[The Way of Kings#Cover Synopsis|''The Way of Kings'' cover synopsis]]}} Some Sleepless were once able to use the power of [[Surgebinding]].{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}}{{wob ref|14336}} At least some of the Sleepless, including Arclo,{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} were allies of the Heralds and Knights Radiant during the [[Heraldic Epochs]]. Arclo told [[Lift]] that others of his kind were particularly interested in Radiants.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} At least one Sleepless may have fought during [[Aharietiam]], as [[Dalinar Kholin]] noticed a heap of burned, strange cremlings in one of [[Dalinar's visions|his visions]];{{book ref|sa3|42}} it is not clear which side they fought on, although at least some Sleepless were allied with the Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}

=== War of Reckoning ===

At the end of the [[Era of Solitude]], the Sleepless mostly remained hidden, monitoring events on Roshar using their hordelings. They were particularly interested in Dalinar, [[Kaladin]], [[Shallan]], [[Szeth]], [[Navani]], [[Eshonai]], and [[Venli]], believing them to be crucial to the future of Roshar.{{ref|text=[[The Way of Kings#Cover Synopsis|''The Way of Kings'' cover synopsis]]}}{{ref|text=[[Words of Radiance#Cover Synopsis|''Words of Radiance'' cover synopsis]]}}{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}}{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} Arclo believed that [[Lift]] should also be included in that group, and that the other Sleepless should not ignore her.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Despite its general disinterest in Radiants, Arclo was also aware that the [[Stump]] had bonded a spren{{book ref|sa2.5|16}} and that [[Nale]] was alive, referring to him as a "madman".{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}

The Sleepless appeared to be guarding several secrets from humans, including something that Dalinar was seeking but "must not know".{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}} An unnamed Sleepless learned of [[Vazrmeb]]'s plan to sail the ship ''[[First Dreams]]'' to [[Akinah]] in Aimia; it posed as a [[Reshi]] cook and joined the crew, later poisoning everyone else on board to protect the island.{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} It refused to divulge any of Akinah's secrets to [[Kaza]] even as she was dying, telling her that doing so could result in the "ends of worlds".{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}

===True Desolation and the Expedition to Akinah===

By the time of the [[True Desolation]], there were twenty-four Sleepless on Roshar.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}}{{wob ref|1784}}{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} As both Siah Aimians and Sleepless were immortal, the remaining individuals seemed to be aware of each other.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}

The Sleepless were forced into conflict with humans again due to Radiant interest in the city of Akinah. Although they had managed to dissuade early patrols of Windrunners from surveying the island using specialized [[larkin]] hybrid hordelings, their vehemence in protecting the island only attracted more attention to it.{{book ref|sa3.5|2}} After Queen Navani commissioned Rysn's ship, the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'', to investigate the oddities during the [[expedition to Akinah]], the Sleepless were forced into steadily more aggressive confrontations with the ship's crew. These engagements resulted in the unmasking of one of their agents, [[Nikliasorm]], fatally compromising the security of their entire operation.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} [[Rysn]] and [[Cord]] managed to discover a hidden chamber underneath the island, and the [[Dawnshard]] entered Rysn's consciousness. At the same time, the Sleepless battled [[Lopen]], [[Huio]], and the crew of the ''Wandersail'' on the beach, killing three sailors.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}

Despite these events, the Dawnshard maintained anonymity thanks to Rysn's careful planning and negotiating. Nikli revealed a number of secrets about the Dawnshard, and Rysn saw an opportunity to strike a bargain to keep the Dawnshard hidden and train the Sleepless to better pass as human. The Sleepless accepted her deal, also giving her some [[Soulcaster]] [[fabrial]]s and a set of [[Shardplate]] for Cord and agreeing to avoid attacking Radiants. Rysn and Cord were sworn to secrecy regarding the Dawnshard, although they were allowed to tell people an altered version of their story. The Sleepless indicated that they would monitor them with hordelings to ensure that they lived up to the bargain.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}

After Rysn struck the deal, the Sleepless were at least somewhat willing to work with other humans, as one of them met with [[Jasnah]] in person. [[Hoid]] reported to Jasnah that he did not think any of the Sleepless were working with [[Odium]], but at least one of them was allied with the [[Ghostbloods]].{{book ref|sa4|64}} One of the swarms replaced one of Hoid's pens with a hordeling evolved to resemble a pen. Hoid was baffled as to how it had evaded protections he had put in place to avoid such an infiltration. Hoid hoped a friendly swarm might be responsible, but he and Jasnah assumed that it was a spy that was reporting on Hoid's activities to [[Thaidakar]], likely through [[Mraize]].{{book ref|sa4|64}}

=== The Space Age ===

During the cosmere's space age, the Sleepless got involved in various currently unknown conflicts.{{book ref|yumi|33}} These conflicts have led some Sleepless, who tired of them, into hiding, such as [[Masaka]].{{book ref|yumi|33}}

* [[Masaka]], a worldhopper on [[Komashi]] and sixtieth swarm of the Natricatich Strain. Her Sleepless name is Chinikdakordich, but she has abandoned that name.

* An unidentified Sleepless that joined the Ghostbloods.{{book ref|sa4|64}}

=== Confirmed Sightings ===

Conspicuous appearances of cremlings may indicate the presence of a Sleepless;{{wob ref|13377}} known sightings include:

* A hordeling disguising itself as a pen to listen in on Hoid and Jasnah.{{book ref|sa4|64}}

=== Unconfirmed Sightings ===

* [[Mraize]] shoots a cremling on a tree while meeting with Shallan.{{book ref|sa2|54}}

* Veil sees a dark purple cremling in the chasms after being kidnapped by the [[Sons of Honor]].{{book ref|sa4|4}}

* Dalinar sees a burned swarm of cremlings in a vision of the Last Desolation.{{book ref|sa3|42}}

* The Sleepless were inspired by the Tines in ''[[wikipedia:A Fire Upon the Deep|A Fire Upon the Deep]]'', but can spread their members farther apart.{{wob ref|1543}}{{wob ref|9348}}

* Brandon first included Sleepless-like beings in his early sci-fi novel ''[[Star's End]]''. He later migrated them into the cosmere as he wanted a "truly alien" species.{{wob ref|14301}}

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