Difference between revisions of "BioChromatic Breath"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
(20 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown) | |||
|books=[[Warbreaker]]
}}
'''BioChromatic Breath''', also known simply as '''Breath''', is the
== BioChroma and Awakening ==
[[Awakening]] is the process by which an Awakener uses his stored BioChromatic Breath to animate an object. To do so, he issues a [[Command]] in his native tongue while visualizing the action he wants the object to complete. The Commands are the key part of Awakening, and the skill of an Awakener depends on his ability to use Commands correctly.
The process causes some portion of the Awakener's stored Breath to exit his body and become Invested in the Awakened object. Depending on the object, it may require any where from one to one thousand (or more) Breaths. Furthermore, color is drained from nearby objects as fuel for the Awakening process. This can manifest, for example, as a red scarf being bleached grey.
While anyone can benefit from possessing a Breath, a non-Nalthian possessor would 'probably have to jump through some hoops to Awaken' with it.{{
== Types of BioChromatic entities ==
Spontaneous Sentient BioChromatic Manifestations in a Deceased Host, also known as the [[Returned]], are the only known natural BioChromatic entity. They retain sentience after being Returned (by [[Endowment]]) following death, and are endowed with a divine Breath. Returned are able to Awaken normally using any Breaths on top of their divine Breath,{{book ref|wb|55}} but giving away the divine Breath results in death.
The '''divine Breath''', a single powerful Breath that grants the powers of the first five Heightenings, is a [[Splinter]] of [[Endowment]].{{
===Type II===
The Lifeless can function for a long time if cared and repaired. Lifeless can withstand wounds, but too much damage will eventually cause the Lifeless to cease activity, which means that Lifeless bodies need to be maintained and repaired (e.g. by sewing its wounds shut) when needed, otherwise they are going to need a new breath. One innovation in Lifeless maintenance is the use of [[ichor-alcohol]], a substance discovered by [[Yesteel]] that could act as blood for Lifeless and that greatly prolongs their viability.
Lifeless created from bones encased in stone have the advantage of being extremely resilient and not needing [[ichor-alcohol]]. It is also possible to make stone Lifeless by transforming a dead body to stone (e.g. via [[Soulcasting]]) before Awakening it.{{
The discovery of how to create Lifeless with just a single Breath eventually led to the Lifeless armies of the [[Manywar]]. One example of a single-Breath Lifeless Command is ''Awaken to my Breath, serve my needs, live at my Command and my word.''.
The process generally thought of as [[Awakening]] creates '''Type III entities''', a BioChromatic manifestation in an organic host far removed from being alive. Examples include Awakened ropes, cloth, or skeletal remains.
They are between the two extremes of inorganic objects and dead bodies. Therefore, these have the advantage of requiring less Breath
===Type IV===
'''Type IV BioChromatic entities''' are sentient objects made by Awakening inorganic materials like metal and stone. This requires at least the [[Heightening#Ninth_Heightening|Ninth Heightening]]. [[Nightblood]], a sentient Awakened sword, is the only known object of this type. He was created by [[Shashara]] with the help of her husband [[Talaxin]], using a thousand Breaths and the Command "Destroy evil".
Nightblood is incapable of determining morality{{
Stone is presumed to be similarly difficult to Awaken. However, Lifeless can be made by enclosing bones in stone, making near
[[Vivenna's Blade]] might also be a Type IV entity, though it has not been confirmed.
==BioChromatic Laws==
''The closer a host is to a living shape and form, the easier it is to Awaken.''
This is easily understood since BioChroma is the power of life, and seeks patterns of life.{{book ref|wb|46}}
===Law of Comparability===
''The amount of Breath required to Awaken something isn't necessarily indicative of its power once Awakened.''{{book ref|wb|46}}
A good example is that a piece of cloth cut into a square and a piece of cloth cut into the shape of a man take very different amounts of Breath to Awaken, but will serve essentially the same function once Awakened.
The number of Breaths for each Heightening are approximate. Depending on the quality of Breath, it may take fewer Breaths to realize a Heightening. Furthermore, very little is known about the upper Heightenings (above the Sixth). Very few individuals amass such a store of Breath.
If enough Breaths are collected, they can start to affect the personality of the person holding them. "Breaths do bring some things along with them,", but they are not "terribly individual" depending on their original owner.{{wob ref
==Heightenings==
== Drab ==
'''Drab''' is the colloquial name for anyone in [[Hallandren]] without a Biochromatic [[Breath]]. Terms such as '''Dull''' or '''Faded One''' are also used.{{book ref|wb|3}}
Without Breath, colors lose their vibrancy and their other senses are dulled. Contrary to what many people believe in [[Hallandren]],{{book ref|wb|3}} being without a breath has significant negative effects. They feel less emotion and are more susceptible to depression. A person's allure decreases, as does the strength of their immune system. The latter stems from the fact that Breath acts as a sort of magical booster for the body, and thus the body doesn't need to build up immunity.{{wob ref|7329}}{{wob ref|7340}} Due to these facts, they typically have a shorter lifespan. Drabs lack life sense (the instinctive feeling to know if someone is watching them) and do not register on the life sense of others.{{book ref|wb|35}} A drab is also incapable of Returning.{{wob ref|10032}}
Many people sell their Breaths when they are short of cash, then spend their time trying to earn enough money to buy back a [[Breath]]. However, some people who gave their [[Breath]] to a [[Returned]] out of their beliefs cherish their status as a Drab.
If someone is made into a [[Lifeless]] before [[Endowment]] [[Returned]] that person, Endowment's gift of a divine [[Breath]] would come down, strike the Lifeless, and 'all kinds of craziness' would occur. They would end up as a 'drab god'.{{wob ref|1138}}
== Trivia ==
* Breath is specifically named BioChromatic Breath due to some of the [[Five Scholars]] having visited other more advanced worlds that had a more scientific approach to
== Notes ==
|