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'''BioChromatic Breath''', also known simply as '''Breath''', is the common form of investiture on [[Nalthis]]. Every Nalthian is born with one Breath, though a person may choose to transfer that Breath to another person.{{book ref|wb|prologue}} It is possible for children of Nalthian parents with Breath born away from Nalthis to have their own Breath.{{wob ref|12603}} When a person dies, the Breath they were carrying returns to [[Endowment]].{{wob ref|8658}} Humans are able to use their Breath to perform [[Awakening]] as well as gaining benefits from having one or more Breaths.
== BioChroma and Awakening ==
[[Awakening]] is the process by which an Awakener uses
The process causes some portion of the Awakener's stored Breath to exit
While anyone can benefit from possessing a Breath, a non-Nalthian possessor would 'probably have to jump through some hoops to Awaken' with it.{{wob ref|2877}}
It is impossible to reabsorb Breaths from an object Awakened by somebody else, unless they blank their [[Identity]] first with Intent.{{wob ref|14423}} This is likely due to the imprint of the Awakener's soul being left in the breath that awakens the object, since breath is a part of one's soul.{{wob ref|6806}}
== Types of BioChromatic entities ==
[[Vasher]] categorizes Biochromatic entities into four Types.{{book ref|wb|46}} At some point Vasher had to change the system. He refers to spren as Type One Invested entities and describes them as power that came alive on its own. He adds that what he used to consider Type I are now considered Type II. It's not clear if other adjustments are made to his system.{{book ref|sa4|15}}
=== Type I ===
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]].{{wob ref|6724}} Giving away the divine Breath to another person will instantly heal that person, at the cost of the life of the Returned.{{wob ref|6724}} Divine Breaths cannot be transferred like normal Breaths as they immediately become kinetic Investiture when used.{{wob ref|11165}}
===Type II===
'''Type II BioChromatic entities''' are Mindless Manifestations in a Deceased Host, or more commonly known as "Lifeless", and are non-sentient reanimated animal remains. They have a functioning brain, and are able to interpret old Commands and have new Commands given. These creatures are made via complex Commands that reanimate a dead person or animal. These Commands are guarded closely by those who know them.
Type II entities are cheap to make, even with awkward Commands (used to cost 50 breaths before the Manywar). This is due to the Law of BioChromatic Parallelism. However, Breath sticks so firmly to the construct that it is impossible to remove afterwards.
Once a '''Lifeless''' is created, it will obey any instructions given to it that include a pre-determined '''Command Phrase'''(similar to a password). Human Lifeless are able to understand more abstract instructions than animal Lifeless. However, the skill of the [[Awakener]] who Awakens the Lifeless also affects its ability. Any Lifeless will retain a level of skill that it had in life. For example, a soldier's corpse would make a better soldier Lifeless than that of a farmer's.
The Lifeless can function for a long time if cared for and repaired. Lifeless can withstand otherwise mortal 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
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.{{wob ref|2781}}
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,
===Type III===
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 (still more than corpses, often over one hundred) to Awaken than inorganic objects while at the same time allowing for Breath recovery. They have the strength to easily strangle people. The more it resembled living beings, the easier it is to be Awakened, so a skilled Awakener would prepare human-shaped and organic clothes for Awakening purposes. When Awakened, it tends to mimic living things, forming muscle-like structures or the shape of
===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
Nightblood is incapable of determining morality{{wob ref|3023}} and has a rigid way of thinking similar to a [[
Stone is presumed to be similarly difficult to Awaken. However, Lifeless can be made by enclosing bones in stone, making near
▲Nightblood is incapable of determining morality{{wob ref|3023}} and has a rigid way of thinking similar to a [[Spren]] on Roshar.{{wob ref|7257}} The large number of Breaths he contains also grants him incredible destructive power. The threat of more weapons like Nightblood being created eventually caused Talaxin to kill Shashara to prevent the knowledge of this form of Awakening from becoming public.
[[Vivenna's Blade]] might also be a Type IV entity, though it has not been confirmed.
▲Stone is presumed to be similarly difficult to Awaken. However, Lifeless can be made by enclosing bones in stone, making near indestructible warriors. [[Talaxin]] used this technique to create the legendary [[Kalad's Phantoms]].
==BioChromatic Laws==
'''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
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 '
== 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
* A person from another Shardworld (or an Earth human) would have more Innate Investiture than a Drab, but less than someone with one Breath.{{wob ref|182}}
== Notes ==
[[category: Awakening]]
[[category: magic]]
[[Category: Splinters]]
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