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{{Radiant|order=Bondsmith
|herald=Ishar
|'spren=[[Nightwatcher]], [[Stormfather]], [[Sibling]]
|surge-=Tension |surge+=Adhesion
|order-=Stoneward |order+=Windrunner
}}
The '''Order of Bondsmiths'''
The Bondsmiths
==
While each order of Radiants contains a variety of personalities within it, those who join the Bondsmiths generally subscribe to a philosophy of peace and unity.{{wob ref|13781}} They seek unity at all levels, from unity the highprinces of a single kingdom in one purpose,{{book ref|sa1|69}} to uniting the kingdoms of the world in the face of the [[True Desolation]].{{book ref|sa3|1}} This philosophy is reflected in their Ideals, which are generally themed around unity.{{wob ref|13781}} Bringing people together is their highest calling and this is their most important duty as Radiants. Among the other orders, the Bondsmiths are generally the most respected and celebrated of Radiants. The role of the Bondsmiths serve as the heart and soul of the Radiants makes them some of the most respected and celebrated of the Knights, making their protection and safety a paramount concern. The Order tends to attract the peacemakers of the world, those who want to bring people together rather than divide them.{{wob ref|13781}}
== Ideals of the Bondsmiths ==
{{image|WOKLB - KS - Bondsmiths by Steve Argyle.jpg|width=300px|side=right}}
The Ideals of the Knights Radiant, also known as the [[Immortal Words]], are a set of rules by which the Radiant lived. The First Ideal is shared by all of the orders, and is used as a motto for the Knights Radiant as a whole.{{book ref|sa1|59}} Each of the order then has an additional four Ideals that are unique to that order. The Ideals of the Order of Bondsmiths all focus on uniting people.{{wob ref|13781}} However, the uniqueness of the Bondsmith spren means that each individual's specific Ideals may take various forms depending on the spren they are bonding and the situation.
=== The First Ideal ===
{{quote
|Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination.
|The First Ideal of the Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa1|59}}
}}
==
{{quote
|I will unite instead of divide. I will bring men together.
|The Second Ideal of the Bondsmiths, as sworn by [[Dalinar Kholin]].{{book ref|sa2|89}}
}}
=== The Third Ideal ===
{{quote
|I will take responsibility for what I have done. If I must fall, I will rise each time a better man.
|The Third Ideal of the Bondsmiths, as sworn by Dalinar Kholin.{{book ref|sa3|119}}
}}
The main focus of this oath is about becoming a better person over time.{{wob ref|13083}}
== Abilities ==
{{quote
|No Radiant is capable of more than you. Yours is the power of Connection, of joining men and worlds, minds and souls. Your Surges are the greatest of all, though they will be impotent if you seek to wield them for mere battle.
|The [[Stormfather]] to [[Dalinar]].{{book ref|sa3|64}}
}}
The Bondsmiths have access to '''Tension''', the Surge of Soft Axial Interconnection, and '''Adhesion''', the Surge of Pressure and Vacuum. While they are capable of performing the same mundane abilities they share with their adjacent orders, the powers of the Bondsmiths are generally used in very different ways.{{book ref|sa3|64}} Their powers even tend to work differently for one Bondsmith than another.{{wob ref|13781}} Their ability to manipulate Connection{{book ref|sa3|64}} gives them great influence over the nature of oaths, bonds, and power.{{wob ref|13781}} Their access to raw levels of Investiture is the greatest among the orders of Radiants.{{wob ref|11299}}
=== Adhesion ===
; Full Lashing:
Using the Full Lashing, a Surgebinder can pool [[Stormlight]] into an area. All objects that subsequently touch this area will be bonded to the object, sticking them there and hindering their movement. The bond ends when the Stormlight runs out.
; Spiritual Adhesion:
Using the Surge of Adhesion to manipulate spiritual, rather than purely physical forces, a Bondsmith can touch another person and forge a spiritual connection between them. This allows the Bondsmith to temporarily speak whatever languages this other person can speak. Whether the Surgebinder must remain physically close to this other person for the ability to be continually used or if it can transfer any other skill or knowledge is unknown. The power bears a great similarity to other applications of [[Connection]] such as [[duralumin]] [[Feruchemy]] on Scadrial.
=== Tension ===
The Tension Surge can be manipulated by the Surgebinder to alter the stiffness of an object.{{book ref|sa2|part=ars}}
=== Other abilities ===
; Spren and Shardblades:
Each Bondsmith shares a [[Nahel bond]] with one of three unique spren: the [[Stormfather]], the [[Nightwatcher]]{{book ref|sa3|111}}, and an unnamed [[Sibling|third]] who slumbers.{{epigraph ref|wor|44}}{{book ref|wor|89}}{{book ref|sa3|111}} These spren are all sort of the same type,{{wob ref|13647}} but obviously have substantial differences between them as well. The sheer power of the various Bondsmith spren allows them to behave in ways that differ from the true spren bonded to other orders. The Bondsmith spren are more omnipresent and can be located great distances from their Radiants while still granting them powers and communicating, as they are much more widely Connected than other Radiant spren.{{wob ref|4268}} Bondsmiths typically do not have access to a [[Shardblade]],{{wob ref|3311}} although it is possible to force their bonded spren into a shape of power that allows them to activate Oathgates.{{book ref|sa3|100}} However, like typical Radiant spren, Bondsmith spren are still vulnerable if their bonded Radiant betrays their oaths.{{wob ref|6041}}
; Synergy with other Radiants:
Another power unique to the Bondsmiths is their ability to work jointly with other Radiants to create effects that neither could manage independently. A Bondsmith has a unique interaction with the Radiants of each order,{{wob ref|11296}} and it may even be that the specifics of these joint abilities vary between each Bondsmith spren. When a joint power may be used, both Radiants feel a tugging or leaping sensation towards one another.{{book ref|sa3|8}} These joint powers only appear to be active when the Radiants are physically together, although there may be some way around this requirement.{{book ref|sa3|27}} It is uncertain where this power comes from, although it may be the Resonance of the Bondsmiths. Only one such specific synergy is known; the Stormfather's Bondsmith may work in tandem with a Lightweaver to create a three-dimensional projection of Roshar as it appeared to the Stormfather the last time a highstorm passed over the continent.{{book ref|sa3|8}} This map behaves like any other illusion that is created by a Lightweaver, its appearance may be altered{{book ref|sa3|122}} and it may collapse if the Radiant is distracted{{book ref|sa3|122}} or if the illusion is touched.{{book ref|sa3|8}}
; Repairing inanimate objects:
Bondsmiths may be able to feel and hear the cognitive aspects of certain broken objects around them. With some combination of physical effort, Tension and Adhesion, they can fix them. It has been suggested that this ability may have similarities to Progression-based healing - it is easier for users of Progression to heal those who are recently wounded, and it gets harder as the "soul" becomes accustomed to the wound. {{book ref|sa3|59}}
== History ==
=== Historical Bondsmiths ===
This order was founded by the Herald [[Ishar]] during the cycle of [[Desolation]]s, who also served as the order's patron.{{book ref|sa3|64}} The Bondsmiths along with the other orders helped in the fight each Desolation against the [[Voidbringer]]s. As becoming a Bondsmith is contingent on convincing one of only three specific spren to bond with a person,{{wob ref|13781}} the Bondsmiths commonly had no more than three full members, making them the smallest of the orders.{{epigraph ref|sa2|44}} Additionally, this number varied over the centuries and there have been times where there was only one Bondsmith.{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} That is not to say that there were no others who considered themselves to be Bondsmiths.{{wob ref|13781}} Bondsmiths could have squires themselves, although this may not have been the norm. Additionally, the Bondsmiths were surrounded by attendants and protectors, who were generally considered to be members of the order. Some even swore Bondsmith oaths as well, despite the fact that this would grant them no powers. Some considered this to be the purest form of Radiance, for the oaths were sworn for the love of the oaths themselves.{{wob ref|13781}}
The Bondsmith's focus was generally on unity and peacemaking, presumably during and between Desolations.{{wob ref|13781}} Instead of using their powers in an active combat role,{{book ref|sa3|64}} they helped resolve disputes between nations and set up functioning governments in regions where none existed.{{wob ref|13781}} Bondsmiths also helped keep the peace between the various orders of Radiants, who often clashed and squabbled with one another.{{epigraph ref|sa3|67}} The Bondsmiths persisted following [[Aharietiam]], but their post-Desolation role is unclear. They likely continued to help in the struggles against the remaining [[singer]]s.{{book ref|sa3|56}} By the time of the [[False Desolation]], only one true Bondsmith, Melishi, was sworn to an unknown spren.{{epigraph ref|sa3|79}} As a part of the plan to defeat [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]], Melishi used his powers to imprison the Unmade in a [[Perfect gemstone]],{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} and likely did the same to [[Re-Shephir]].{{book ref|sa3|30}} The events of the Recreance followed shortly thereafter, and the fate of Melishi is uncertain. It is known however that the order of Bondsmiths was disbanded at this point.{{epigraph ref|sa2|41}}
=== Refounding ===
No known Bondsmiths were sworn for centuries, although the Stormfather was given the task in Honor's final days of choosing a new Bondsmith.{{book ref|sa3|28}} It is uncertain how often this happened, but by 1167 Gavilar Kholin had begun seeing visions{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} and had developed at least a tentative bond with the Stormfather.{{wob ref|2509}} This bond ended when the king was assassinated by [[Szeth]] on the orders of the listeners.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} At some point in the intervening years, his brother Dalinar was chosen by the Stormfather and by 1173 he had begun receiving visions of his own.{{book ref|sa1|12}} At the start of 1174 he swore the first two Ideals and formally bonded the Stormfather.{{book ref|sa2|89}} Over the next several months Dalinar spent his time acting very similarly to historical Bondsmiths, uniting a coalition of monarchs against the Voidbringer threat, bringing together the Vorin monarchs with the Azish and their surrounding countries.{{book ref|sa3|111}} While there were some challenges to his authority,{{book ref|sa3|111}} Dalinar managed to successfully coordinate the defense of [[Battle of Thaylen Field|Thaylen City]]{{book ref|sa3|120}} by swearing the third Ideal and learning to open [[Honor's Perpendicularity]]{{book ref|sa3|119}} and trap [[Nergaoul]] using his Bondsmith abilities.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
== Notable Bondsmiths ==
* [[Melishi]] (Ancient Bondsmith){{epigraph ref|sa2|58}}
* [[Dalinar Kholin]]{{book ref|sa2|89}} (bonded to the [[Stormfather]])
== Quotes ==
{{quote
|But as for the Bondsmiths, they had members only three, which number was not uncommon for them; nor did they seek to increase this by great bounds, for during the times of Madasa, only one of their order was in continual accompaniment of Urithiru and its thrones. Their spren was understood to be specific, and to persuade them to grow to the magnitude of the other orders was seen as seditious.
|[[Words of Radiance (in-world)|Words of Radiance, chapter 16, page 14]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|44}}
}}
{{quote
|So [[Melishi]] retired to his tent, and resolved to destroy the [[Voidbringer]]s upon the next day, but that night did present a different stratagem, related to the unique abilities of the Bondsmiths; and being hurried, he could make no specific account of his process; it was related to the very nature of the Heralds and their divine duties, an attribute the Bondsmiths alone could address.
|[[Words of Radiance (in-world)|Words of Radiance, chapter 30, page 18]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|58}}
}}
==Theories and Speculation==
{{theory}}
;Destruction of the singers
{{quote
|We are uncertain the effects this will have on the parsh. At the very least, it should deny them forms of power. Melishi is confident, but Naze-daughter-Kuzodo warns of unintended side effects.
|Drawer 30-20, fifth emerald{{epigraph ref|sa3|81}}
}}
It is possible that a Bondsmith's powers are responsible for the act that robbed nearly every singer of their minds.{{epigraph ref|sa2|58}} During the [[False Desolation]] a strike team of Radiants attacked the Unmade [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]], who had Connected with the singers centuries after [[Aharietiam]]. The Bondsmith Melishi's goal was to use his abilities to imprison Ba-Ado-Mishram within a perfect gem to deny the enemy forms of power and [[Voidlight]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} This attack was apparently successful at imprisoning the Unmade,{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} but perhaps inadvertently{{epigraph ref|sa3|81}} the singers Connected to the Unmade had their Connection and Identity ripped away, rendering them into the servile parshmen.{{book ref|sa3|17}}
;Nature of Bondsmith spren:
{{quote
|Are there others, though? Spren like you, or the Nightwatcher? Spren that are shadows of gods?
|Dalinar Kholin to the Stormfather{{book ref|sa3|111}}
}}
As Bondsmith spren have been described as shadows of gods, some hold that these spren are in some way be directly related to or associated with the Shards worshiped as gods on Roshar. This might explain why Bondsmiths are said to only bond specific spren, and also why there is a maximum total of three Bondsmiths at any given time, due to the the three Shards relevant to Roshar. Indeed the [[Stormfather]] and the [[Nightwatcher]] are Bondsmith spren{{book ref|sa3|111}} that are associated with [[Honor]]{{book ref|sa3|108}} and [[Cultivation]]{{book ref|sa3|114}} respectively. It has been suggested that the third Bondsmith spren may be the mysterious [[Sibling]],{{book ref|sa3|111}} but even still the nature of this unknown spren remains unclear. As Odium is the third Shard with significant influence on Roshar, it is possible that this third Bondsmith spren is associated with Odium in some way, even perhaps symbolically. However the concept of a Bondsmith that represents or is related to the enemy of the [[Knights Radiant]] is somewhat self-contradictory. Alternatively, it may be a spren that represents a balance between Honor and Cultivation.
== Notes ==
{{
{{Stormlight}}
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