Difference between revisions of "Order of Bondsmiths"

The Bondsmiths are [[Surgebinder]]s who use the [[Surge]]s of [[Tension]] and [[Adhesion]],{{wob ref|14102}} and they are associated with the heliodor [[polestone]]. {{book ref|sa2|part=ars}} They form a [[Nahel bond]] with one of three unique [[spren]]: the [[Stormfather]],{{book ref|sa2|89}} the [[Nightwatcher]],{{book ref|sa3|64}}, andor the [[Sibling]].{{book ref|sa4|3}} The exact nature of the [[Nahel bond]] that Bondsmiths share with their specific spren is unclear; it may or may not be similar to that of the other orders of the Knights Radiant. Historically one of the most exalted orders of Radiants,{{wob ref|14102}} the Bondsmiths are Surgebinders of extraordinary power{{book ref|sa3|64}} that were refounded following the [[Recreance]] by Dalinar Kholin.{{book ref|sa2|89}}

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 scales, from uniting the highprinces in 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 their most important duty as Radiants.{{wob ref|16470}} 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 and makes them some of the most respected and celebrated of the Knights, making their protection and safety a paramount concern.

The main focus of this Ideal is becoming a better person over time.{{wob ref|13083}} There may be other interpretationinterpretations of this Ideal that have yet to be explored.

The Bondsmiths have access to '''Tension''', the Surge of Soft Axial Interconnection, and '''Adhesion''', the Surge of Pressure and Vacuum.{{book ref|sa2|part=ars}} While this is simply stated, the powers of the Bondsmiths are many and varied and may not be easily definable as one Surge or another. Although 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 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}} Like most Knights Radiant, the Bondsmiths have squires.{{wob ref|13781}}{{wob ref|16470}}

Generally speaking, powers shared between two orders of Radiants may vary somewhat, but each individual Knight has powers generally similar to those of another member of their order.{{epigraph ref|sa2|35}} However, each Bondsmith has abilities and traits unique to the spren they bond.{{wob ref|13781}} This makes a generalized discussion of the common powers of a Bondsmith more complex than other orders. Some powers may be associated with the Stormfather's Bondsmith alone and are only true following the Splintering of the Shard Honor{{book ref|sa3|57}} and the subsequent alteration of the Stormfather.{{book ref|sa3|113}} Some abilities may only be functional when used in conjunction with a Radiant from another order.{{book ref|sa3|27}} Others may only be accessible because restrictions imposed on Surgebinding by Honor have vanished following the Shard's death.{{book ref|sa4|66}} Each Bondsmith seems to make use of a different variety of Light to fuel their abilities, the Stormfather's Bondsmith uses Stormlight,{{book ref|sa3|119}} the Sibling's [[Towerlight]],{{book ref|sa4|111}} and presumably the Nightwatcher grants her Bondsmith [[Lifelight]]. It is also worth noting that while Bondsmiths may be among the most powerful Radiants, at least in terms of access to quantities of raw Investiture, they generally speaking are not effective in a combat role.{{book ref|sa3|64}} Their powers are more subtle but also wider reaching than those of a Radiant with different Surges.{{wob ref|13781}}

Using the power often referred to as a Full Lashing, a Bondsmith can will a pool{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} or a spray of [[Light]] onto an object or surface.{{book ref|sa2|41}} All other objects that subsequently touch this area will be bonded to the object, sticking them there together so strongly that most materials would fail themselves before the the Lashing would fail.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} The bond ends when the Light runs out.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} This Surge has some limited applications in combat, such as sticking an enemy's boots to the ground to throw them off balance and hinder their movement or sticking their spear to a shield, disarming them.{{book ref|sa2|12}} The Radiant may use this Lashing to stick objects to others, it is unable to adhere something to the Radiant making use of the Lashing though.{{book ref|sa4|55}} This specific power is rarely employed by Bondsmiths.

Once the restrictions placed on Surgebinding by Honor were lifted following the Shard's death, Bondsmiths are free to manipulate Connection much more directly than they have been able to previously.{{book ref|sa4|66}} A knowledgeable Bondsmith may be able to use these Connections offensively, Connecting enemy Surgebinders to Roshar so that the Stormlight believes the planet to be a part of the bodies and is sucked into the ground.{{book ref|sa4|111}} It is uncertain if this power was accessible before Honor's death. This power leaves the recipient feeling drained afterward, with even stormlight healing unable to lift the headaces that follow. Another power that only became available to the Bondsmiths in Honor's final days is the ability to directly see Connections that tie all people to one another and reality.{{book ref|sa4|66}} When touching another's forehead, their Connections become faintly visible as dozens of minute tiny white lines stretching off into the distance. While a Bondsmith can visualize these Connections, they are not able to be altered in any useful way. A Bondsmith may see more specialized Connections as well, such as the Connections between the Heralds that make up the Oathpact.{{book ref|sa4|47}} Under some circumstances a Bondsmith can see flashes of a Herald's past by touching them. A knowledgeable Bondsmith may directly manipulate more specialized Connections to steal something like a Nahel bond, the mantle of a champion, strength, [[Breath]]s, the ability to use [[Allomancy]], etc.{{wob ref|15348}} These were previously forbidden by Honor.{{book ref|sa4|111}}{{wob ref|15348}} With enough Investiture a Bondsmith could attach a Shard to something.{{wob ref|1514815173}}

A similar ability that the Stormfather can grant is riding the storms, in which a person can join him and view the land from the perspective of a highstorm as it passes over the continent of Roshar.{{book ref|sa4|71}} The person riding the storm with the Stormfather may be capable of seeing even more details of the terrain below the highstorm than the Stormfather himself. It appears that his bonded Radiant may exercise even more control over these visions than a normal person allowed to ride the storm. When his Radiant rides the storm, the Radiant may control it if the Stormfather allows them, and can even go backwards against the force of the storm, although this pains the Stormfather greatly. When in this state a Bondsmith is even capable of accepting a Radiant's oath in the Stormfather's stead.{{book ref|sa4|108}} They are also ablecapable of communicating with those in the highstorm, though those words will not be spoken out loud via their physical body.{{book ref|sa4|71}} The ability of the Sibling's Bondsmith to see and comprehend the mechanisms of [[Urithiru]] may be related, it represents a similar expansion of the Radiant's perception and knowledge of the Tower{{book ref|sa4|111}} in a similar way to someone riding the highstorm. It also allows for the Radiant to speak through the veins of garnet in the Tower, much as the Sibling does.{{book ref|sa4|111}}

Each Bondsmith shares a [[Nahel bond]] with one of three unique spren: the [[Stormfather]], the [[Nightwatcher]]{{book ref|sa3|111}}, and the [[Sibling]].{{book ref|sa4|3}} 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 violate the normal rules governing 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 speaking directly into their minds, as they are much more widely Connected than other Radiant spren.{{wob ref|4268}}{{book ref|sa4|71}} Bondsmiths typically do not have access to a [[Shardblade]],.{{wob ref|3311}} althoughIt itis possible for the Stormfather and the Nightwatcher to become Shardblades, though this is highly implausible.{{wob ref|15682}} It is also possible to force the essence of their bonded spren into the Physical Realm{{book ref|sa4|90}} in a way that allows them to activate Oathgates.{{book ref|sa3|100}} This is an uncomfortable and even dangerous thing to do, perhaps risking killing the spren,{{book ref|sa4|90}} and has only been observed with the Stormfather.{{book ref|sa3|100}} However, like typical Radiant spren, Bondsmith spren are still vulnerable if their bonded Radiant betrays their oaths.{{wob ref|6041}}{{book ref|sa4|90}} While Bondsmiths do not have access to a Blade, there is evidence that they may manifest a suit of Shardplate,{{book ref|sa3|109}} perhaps comprised of gloryspren, although this is not confirmed.{{wob ref|8803}} Additionally, following the death of Honor, the Stormfather's Bondsmith has the ability to release Odium from his confinement if they so choose, as they hold a large remnant of Honor's power and authority.{{book ref|sa3|57}}

As Bondsmiths are deeply Connected to powerful spren that serve as sources of Investiture, unlike other Radiants they are capable of pulling through Investiture on demand,{{book ref|sa4|111}} each spren allowing access to its associated Light. They may use this ability to overcharge another Radiant with Light directly.{{book ref|sa3|122}} This process is physically taxing for the Bondsmith. However, as most Radiants primarily make use of Stormlight, this is perhaps most useful for the Stormfather's Bondsmith, although the other Bondsmiths can still generate their respective Lights for personal use. It is uncertain how exactly this is done, but it is not necessary for the Bondsmith to be holding some Light already in order to pull more over into the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sa4|110}} The exact mechanics of this ability are unknown, but it seems most likely that they are pulling it directly from the Spiritual Realm.

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}}{{book ref|sa4|17}} 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 or enlarged.{{book ref|sa4|17}}{{book ref|sa3|122}} It may collapse if the Radiant is distracted{{book ref|sa3|122}} or if the illusion is touched,{{book ref|sa3|8}} though it treats touching the Bondsmith differently, instead reaching towards them.{{book ref|sa4|17}}

The order of Radiants known as the Bondsmiths 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 unique spren to bond with a person,{{wob ref|13781}}{{wob ref|16470}} 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|16470}} 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}}{{wob ref|16470}} Bondsmiths also helped keep the peace between the various orders of Radiants, who often clashed and squabbled with one another.{{epigraph ref|sa3|67}}

* [[Melishi]] (Ancient Bondsmith, bonded to the [[Sibling]]){{epigraph ref|sa2|58}}{{book ref|sa4|42}}

* [[Dalinar Kholin]]{{book ref|sa2|89}} (bonded to the [[Stormfather]]){{book ref|sa2|89}}

* [[Navani Kholin]] (bonded to the [[Sibling]]){{book ref|sa4|110}}