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Cryptic

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Cryptic
Pattern form.jpg
by Sheep
Type Spren
Abilities Nahel bond
World of Origin Roshar
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“ I'm dying, aren't I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky. ”

— Collected on the 3rd of Jesnan, 1172, 11 seconds pre-death. Subject was a Reshi chull trainer. Sample is of particular note.[1]

The Cryptics are a race of sentient spren that dwell primarily in the Cognitive Realm of Roshar. They are the personification of the underlying mathematical truths that govern Roshar and the universe.

They appear to be related to the Order of Lightweavers, the sixth order of Knights Radiant which has access to Soulcasting and Lightweaving.[2][3]

Appearance

Cryptics take the form of tall, willowy figures in "too stiff" robes that hang is if "made from glass". Above their collars, where a human's head and face would be, they have a floating symbol "full of impossible angles and geometries."[4] These symbols are not glyphs but it is possible that readers would recognize them.[5]

  • Images of Cryptics

  • Elhokar and the symbol headed figures in the mirror by User: Sheep

Abilities

Cryptics have the ablity to grant Surgebinders access to the Cognitive Realm. In return they require a truth from the person in question. The truth must be personal in nature and the more "powerful" the truth the stronger the resultant bond. The bond in question very likely gives the Surgebinder the ability to Soulcast.[3]

Bond-holders

  • Shallan Davar has a special relationship to the Cryptics that allows her to draw them using her Memories, despite not seeing them physically with the exception of Pattern.[6] She is on the path to becoming a Lightweaver.
  • Elhokar Kholin refers to creatures with the appearance of Cryptics that he sees in mirrors. This might indicate that he is on the path to becoming a Lightweaver.[7]

Trivia

Before their name was revealed Brandon said "truthspren" was a reasonably accurate way to refer to the Cryptics. This is perhaps a reference to the truth they require to grant access to the Cognitive Realm.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 4#
  2. ↑ a b {{{3}}}
    — 17th Shard forums - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "17s-post-35866" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 70#
  4. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 29#
  5. ↑ Cryptic's symbols are not Glyphs
    — Reddit - 2013-03-11#
  6. ↑ {{{3}}}
    — 17th Shard forums - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "17s-post-66166" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 58#
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