12,425
edits
Difference between revisions of "Cryptic"
m
Text replacement - "}} {{spoilers|yumi}}" to "}}"
m (Text replacement - "}} {{spoilers|yumi}}" to "}}") |
|||
| (12 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
|
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]], [[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]
}}
{{update|sa4|yumi}}
{{quote
|One does not war with Cryptics, as one does honorspren. Cryptics have but one city, and do not wish to rule more. Only to listen.
In the [[Physical Realm]], Cryptics manifest as complex fractal patterns that are constantly shifting, slightly raised off a surface or object.{{book ref|sa2|3}} On occasion, they can also manifest as a floating three-dimensional mass of twisting lines.{{book ref|sa2|42}} Their voice has a buzzing quality, and they vibrate when they speak.{{book ref|sa2|6}} They also tend to hum a lot.{{book ref|sa2|6}}
When their cognitive bodies are forced into the Physical Realm and they die, Cryptics appear as elongated bodies with a black shell, with their heads looking like a soggy mess of black flesh, similar to intestines.{{book ref|sa4|111}} However, there is a way to make them take on a physical form in the Physical Realm, by using a complex Lightweaving wireframe attached to their Cognitive aspect as they take form in the Physical Realm.{{book ref|yumi|5}} This allows them to essentially take on any form the Lightweaver desires, though it is essentially only an imitative shell.{{book ref|yumi|17}}
=== Cognitive Realm ===
In the [[Cognitive Realm]], Cryptics take the form of tall, willowy figures in too-stiff robes that hang off them as if made from glass rather than fabric.{{file ref|Shallan's Sketchbook - Cryptics.jpg|text=Shallan's Sketchbook - Cryptics}} Above their collars, where a human's head and face would be, they have a floating symbol full of impossible angles and geometries.{{book ref|sa1|29}} Different individuals have slightly different head patterns.{{book ref|sa3|102}} These patterns are constantly changing at varying speeds, seemingly never repeating, though individual patterns will always maintain the same general "feel".{{book ref|sa4|22}} The way a pattern changes reflects the Cryptic's mood, such as speeding up for confusion,{{book ref|sa4|26}} and slowing down for shame.{{book ref|sa4|93}} Despite not having any apparent means to do so, they are capable of hearing, seeing and speaking as well as any other spren.{{book ref|sa3|97}}{{book ref|sa4|75}} Their hands appear boney and as if chiseled from black obsidian or white marble.{{file ref|Shallan's Sketchbook - Cryptics.jpg|text=Shallan's Sketchbook - Cryptics}}
Trying to analyze their patterns is known to drive people to insanity due to the way they warp space and time around themselves.{{book ref|yumi|5}}
== Abilities ==
{{image|Pattern by Caio Santos.jpg|A Cryptic in [[Shadesmar]]|side=right|width=250px}}
Cryptics have prodigious translation abilities, and seem capable of understanding any language, human or spren, with enough exposure.{{book ref|sa3|102}}{{book ref|sa2|47}} They are also adept codebreakers, a talent stemming from their in-depth understanding of mathematical patterns.{{book ref|sa2|42}} Using vibrations, they can also perfectly mimic voices and sounds.{{book ref|sa2|15}}{{book ref|sa2|54}} Cryptics are not able to inherently tell if something is a lie.{{book ref|sa4|29}}
While in the [[Physical Realm]], they can affect it in minor ways, allowing them to pick locks.{{book ref|sa2|63}} Unlike other types of sapient spren, like [[honorspren]] or [[ashspren]], Cryptics seem unable to turn invisible, meaning they have to hide in their environment to remain unnoticed.{{book ref|sa3|62}}
=== Nahel bond ===
Cryptics are one of the few spren types capable of forming a [[Nahel bond]] with humans. They grant their partner the power of [[Surgebinding]] with the Surges of [[Illumination]] and [[Transformation]], making the person a [[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweaver]].{{file ref| TWoK Front Endsheet.jpg | Surgebinding Table}} Past a certain point, a bonded Cryptic gains the ability to transform into a shape-shifting [[Shardblade]].{{book ref|sa2|34}} Cryptics are able to sense where their Surgebinder is once they start summoning their blade.{{book ref|sa4|7}} With a powerful enough bond, Cryptics are able to feel the impressions of their Surgebinder's thoughts.{{book ref|sa3|63}}
Unlike most Nahel bonds, a Cryptic bond is progressed by uttering deep, personal truths about oneself by the bond holder, with the more powerful, impactful truths deepening the bond further.{{book ref|sa1|70}} The Cryptics' particular affinity for truths extends further than that, as they are able to sense when a person is lying.{{book ref|sa3|47}}
Cryptics were one of the first spren groups to begin bonding humans again in anticipation of the [[True Desolation]]. Among others, they sent [[Testament]] to bond with [[Shallan]] when she was only a child, as well as another Cryptic to bond with [[Tien]], although only the former managed to bring the Bond to fruition, after long setbacks.{{book ref|sa2|60}}{{wob ref|10278}}
A group of them
== Culture ==
}}
Cryptics are not very common in Shadesmar, with the vast majority of their population living in a single unnamed city, one that enjoys some renown.{{book ref|sa2|3}}{{wob ref|16227}} Unlike the [[honorspren]], Cryptics do not have any inclination to conquer more territory, so other types of sapient spren do not war with them.{{book ref|sa3|97}} Although they have a fearful reputation among other types of spren,{{book ref|sa2|3}} they themselves are content with listening and learning.{{book ref|sa3|47}}
{{image|Elhokar mirror.jpg|Cryptics watching over [[Elhokar]]|side=right|width=280px}}
| |||