Kalad's Phantoms
| Kalad's Phantoms | |
|---|---|
| Type | Lifeless encased in stone |
| Function | Weapons |
| Creator | Vasher |
| World of Origin | Nalthis |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Kalad's Phantoms are an army of unconventional Lifeless created by Vasher (then known as Kalad the Usurper)[1] during the Manywar on Nalthis.[2] They were later hidden in plain sight as statues known as the D'Denir Celabrin.[2]
Characteristics
Kalad's Phantoms are a version of Lifeless made of Awakened human bones encased in stone, in the form of massive warriors.[2] Their stone bodies are larger than a human's,[3] and they are faster and sturdier than other Lifeless.[2] Most of them also have stone weapons and armor.[4][5][3] They are very strong in order to move their stone bodies, and conventional weapons are virtually useless against them.[2]
The Phantoms can be placed in stasis by leaving the bones Invested with just enough Breath to hold them together.[6] Since they do not consume ichor-alcohol like other Lifeless, they can remain in this state indefinitely, and Vasher designed them to last a very long time.[2] A significant influx of additional Breath is needed to animate them.[6]
History
Creation and the Manywar
Vasher invented the Phantoms sometime during the Manywar.[7] During this period, Awakening was still a relatively new concept and the Five Scholars were regularly making significant breakthroughs that contributed to the beginning of the Manywar.[8] Discoveries by Yesteel and Shashara led to nations building up huge fighting forces made of both humans and Lifeless.[8] However, Vasher's Phantoms were so powerful that they could destroy larger armies while sustaining almost no losses.[9]
The research of the Five Scholars eventually led to Shashara's creation of Nightblood, his "horrifying" use in the Battle of Twilight Falls, and Shashara's death at Vasher's hand to prevent her from sharing the secrets of Nightblood's creation.[10] Vasher subsequently recalled the Phantoms from battle (presumably in Kuth and Huth)[8] back to Hallandren.[2] The presence of the Phantoms effectively ended the Manywar, and Vasher came to be known as "Peacegiver the Blessed".[3][11]
Stasis
After peace was restored, Vasher put the Phantoms into an inanimate state so that they appeared to be warrior statues.[6] Hallandren lore holds that Peacegiver "commissioned" a large number of these statues known as the D'Denir Celabrin,[4] ostensibly as memorials[3] and reminders not to go to war.[11] The oldest D'Denir–those created by Vasher–are in the D'Denir garden.[3] The Returned continue to build more statues each year throughout the city to honor Peacegiver's tradition, although these are not Phantoms.[4] The people of T'Telir often put colorful clothing on the statues for fun.[4][3] Some statues, particularly those located in the Idrian slums, have been defaced or broken.[12]
“D’Denir statues stood in a solemn line, arms upraised, weapons at the ready, as if in defense of the people. ”
—Vivenna, visiting the D'Denir garden[13]
Modern citizens of Hallandren did not know that Kalad and Peacegiver were the same person,[1] as the records from that era were all destroyed.[8] Kalad was thought of as power-hungry and dangerous,[1] while Peacegiver was believed to have defeated Kalad[14] and ended the Manywar through diplomacy and negotiation, saving the city.[3][2] Hoid showed up in Hallandren, knowing more about the true nature of Kalad than most, but even he did not know all of the specifics.[15] Local legends reflected the destructive power of the Phantoms[8][14] and although they were mostly thought of as mythical,[16] some people still believed that they were real.[17][18] At some point, the phrase "Kalad's Phantoms" entered the vernacular as a curse.[19]
Return
“"There are some thousand original D’Denir in the city, and most of them should still function, even still. I created them to last.” ”
—Vasher[2]
After Bluefingers betrayed Hallandren and co-opted the Lifeless army, Vasher revealed his true nature to Siri, Vivenna, and Susebron.[2] He told them that at least one thousand of the oldest D'Denir Statues were actually his Phantoms, and, at Vivenna's urging, gave Susebron his security phrase.[2] As God King, Susebron had over fifty thousand Breaths[18] and was able to reanimate all of the Phantoms, sending them to stop the Lifeless army from marching on Idris.[11] The Phantoms easily destroyed the army, and they remained in Siri and Susebron's control.[9] Vasher was left feeling cynical about reactivating a weapon like the Phantoms.[11]
Notes
- ↑ a b c Warbreaker chapter 7#
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Warbreaker chapter 58#
- ↑ a b c d e f g Warbreaker chapter 28#
- ↑ a b c d Warbreaker chapter 9#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 17#
- ↑ a b c Goodreads Fantasy Book Discussion Warbreaker Q&A
— Arcanum - 2010-01-18# - ↑ Warbreaker Annotations
— Arcanum - 2011-07-25# - ↑ a b c d e Warbreaker chapter 32#
- ↑ a b Warbreaker Annotations
— Arcanum - 2011-08-01# - ↑ Warbreaker Annotations
— Arcanum - 2010-11-16# - ↑ a b c d Warbreaker epilogue#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 49#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 25#
- ↑ a b Warbreaker chapter 15#
- ↑ Warbreaker Annotations
— Arcanum - 2010-12-07# - ↑ Warbreaker chapter 54#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 43#
- ↑ a b Warbreaker chapter 55#
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 30#