Difference between revisions of "Cultivation"

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{{shard info
|image=Cultivation andby theAri Nightwatcher 2Ibarra.jpgjpeg
|vessel=[[Koravellium Avast]]
|status=Whole
|shard=Cultivation
|splinters=[[Spren]]
|status=Alive and whole{{wob ref|2785}}{{wob ref|1555}}
|shardpool=[[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]]
|perpendicularity=[[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]]
|world=Roshar
|magic=[[Surgebinding]],{{wob ref|1640}} [[Old Magic]]
|residence=[[Roshar]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
}}{{spoilers|book=sa3}}{{update|book=sa3}}
{{update|sa4|yumi}}
{{quote
|1={{small caps|I control all things that can be grown, nurtured. <br />
That includes the thorns.|multiline=y}}
|2=Cultivation to [[Dalinar]]{{book ref|sa3|114}}
}}
'''Cultivation''' is one of the sixteen [[Shard|Shards of Adonalsium]].{{book ref|twok|75}} The Shard's Vessel is female.{{book ref|twok|75}} She is located on [[Roshar]], and originally came to that planet with [[Honor]], before [[Odium]] arrived there.{{17s ref|post|42213}} She is still alive,{{qa ref|985|5}}{{qa ref|1182|67}} and was romantically involved with [[Honor]].{{qa ref|985|6|Were Cultivation and Honor romantically involved?|date=May 22nd, 2013}} Currently,
"the Stormfather reminds her of certain things about someone else she knew, and she feels the same way about the Stormfather in some ways as this person that she knew."{{wob ref|date=2014-4-11|6436|JordanCon 2014}} [[Hoid]] mentions to [[Adolin]] that she is the only woman on [[Roshar]] who is anywhere close to his own age, and that she never liked him.{{book ref|sa2|55}} Though it is not the Vessel's real name, Hoid calls her '''Slammer'''.{{17s ref|post|450112}}
 
'''Cultivation''' is one of the sixteen [[Shard|Shards of Adonalsium]].{{book ref|sa1|75}} Her Vessel is a [[dragon (cosmere)|dragon]] named [[Koravellium Avast]],{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 2.jpg}}{{wob ref|14441}} though [[Hoid]] has referred to her as '''Slammer'''.{{wob ref|9472}} Cultivation resides on [[Roshar]], having originally come there with [[Honor]] before [[Odium]]'s arrival.{{wob ref|1169}} Cultivation's [[Investiture]] is typically associated with the color green.{{wob ref|13074}}
== Appearance ==
She appears to Dalinar as a woman with brown skin the color of darkwood bark and a matronly build, wearing a sweeping brown dress that seemed to meld into the undergrowth. Her voice is described as sounding like tumbling stones.{{book ref|sa3|114}}
 
== AbilitiesIntent ==
Cultivation's intent as a Shard appears to be related to transformation. According to Odium, all she wishes to see is change, regardless of where it leads.{{book ref|sa3|57}} In her own view, on the other hand, she wishes to grow things and people, and prune them if need be, to shape them in a desired form, even if she accepts that there will always be a degree of uncertainty.{{book ref|sa3|114}}{{book ref|yumi|12}}
[[Honor]] says that Cultivation is much better at seeing the future than he was.{{book ref|twok|75}}
She is also able to grant boons similar to the Nightwatcher. This power is shown when she grants Dalinar a boon of forgetting his wife.
 
== InfluenceAssociated Magics ==
{{image|Cultivation by Gar_leyva.jpg|side=left|width=250px}}
[[Spren]] are either of Cultivation, of [[Honor]], or a combination of the two.{{17s ref|post|35866}} Spren of Odium are also known to exist, but these are named [[Voidspren]] as a distinction.
=== Lifelight ===
Cultivation has her own form of gaseous Investiture, [[Lights#Lifelight|Lifelight]], that is comparable to the Scadrian [[mist]]s,{{wob ref|12207}} [[Stormlight]], and [[Voidlight]].{{wob ref|10578}} When visiting the [[Nightwatcher]], Dalinar sees Cultivation surrounded by green mist,{{book ref|sa3|114}} which is likely Lifelight.{{wob ref|12207}} It can both be captured in gems and serve as a power source much like the other two Lights. In fact, [[Lift]]'s Investiture that she generates by transmuting consumed food is Lifelight and not Stormlight. The power that the [[Sibling]] uses, [[Towerlight]], is a mixture of Lifelight and Stormlight.{{book ref|sa4|69}}
 
Lifelight takes up the middle note on the Rosharan [[wikipedia:Tritonic scale|tritonic scale]].{{book ref|sa4|69}}
In Words of Radiance, mankind is referred to by some spren as 'sons of Honor'. This could suggest that Spren are not part of Honor.
 
=== God Metal ===
It has been theorized that Cultivation is the reason why [[Shinovar]] is so strange compared to the rest of Roshar.
[[Shardblade]]s and [[Shardplate]] are both made out of a mixture of the unnamed God Metals of Honor and Cultivation. The precise proportion of the two differs depending on the type of [[spren]] that forms the Blade, or the order to which the Plate belongs; as such, there are at least ten alloys.{{wob ref|11211}}{{wob ref|11949}}{{wob ref|2541}}
 
=== Surgebinding ===
Something about her presence on Roshar, be it intentional or otherwise, makes it easier for animal life there to attain a degree of sentience.{{qa ref|1148|4}} In Arcanum Unbounded it is said that the sentience comes due to some animals bonding to a spren.
{{for|Surgebinding}}
 
Surgebinding is a magic system derived from both Cultivation and [[Honor]].{{wob ref|1640}} To Surgebind, a person must bond a [[spren]], which grants them the ability to inhale [[Stormlight]] and use it for various purposes, chief among them self-healing and manipulating [[Surge]]s, the fundamental forces of Roshar.{{wob ref|7663}} Some Surges are more inclined towards Cultivation, while others are closer to Honor. Additionally, some of the Radiant spren appear to be closer to Cultivation than others.{{wob ref|10649}}
Many people in-world might consider her to be in hiding in the conflict with Odium, but Brandon doesn't consider her to be actually hiding.{{wob ref|date=2017-11-28|8669|Oathbringer London signing}}
 
The spren capable of forming the Radiant bonds are likewise a mix of Cultivation and Honor's [[Investiture]]s; as such, a [[Shardblade]] is a mix of her and his metals.{{wob ref|11949}} She is able to acknowledge the oaths of [[Knights Radiant]]s.{{book ref|sa4|60}}{{book ref|sa4|115}}
== Theories and Speculation ==
{{theory}}
=== Old Magic and the Nightwatcher ===
The [[Nightwatcher]] is powerful spren of Cultivation, and may even be Cultivation's [[cognitive shadow]], in the same way that the Stormfather serves as the cognitive shadow of Honor. Her powers are referred to as part of the [[Old Magic]].
 
=== Old Magic ===
The [[Nightwatcher]] explores humans in chapter 114 of Oathbringer. Cultivation monitors the Nightwatcher's use of the old magic, and may rarely directly give a boon and curse. Prior to the events in chapter 114 of Oathbringer Cultivation claimed to not have interacted with people in centuries.
{{for|Old Magic}}
 
Old Magic is a magic "system" that appears to be usable only by Cultivation and the [[Nightwatcher]].{{book ref|sa3|114}} It allows for granting another person a boon and a curse based on their request. The boons and curses can range from physical objects, such as money or swords, to mental alterations, such as making a person see upside-down for the rest of their life, or erasing memories.{{book ref|sa3|114}}{{book ref|sa1|i|7}} It even permits [[Realmatic Theory|Realmatic]] changes, such as granting a new and unique way of acquiring Investiture.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}
=== Name of Holder ===
It was speculated that [[Reya]], who was said to have shed a single tear and had [[Tear|a star]] named after it, may be the name of Cultivation's holder, however Brandon and Peter confirm that she is important for a different reason.{{17s ref|topic|6568}} Hoid calls her "Slammer", albeit this is also not what she's called.{{17s ref|post|450112}}
 
Although the Nightwatcher has no known agenda in her boons and curses, Cultivation occasionally intervenes when she can further her plans.{{book ref|sa4|i|5}} These include granting [[Taravangian]] the capacity to Ascend to [[Odium]] and [[Dalinar]] the emotional fortitude to avoid becoming Odium's champion.{{book ref|sa3|114}}{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{wob ref|13097}}{{book ref|sa1|61}}
== Notes ==
<references>
 
There is more to Old Magic than just boons and curses; however, there is no person currently known to make use of that.{{wob ref|10819}}
{{17s ref|topic|6568|Cultivation's real name|date=08 March 2014}}
{{17s ref|post|35866|Spren composition|date=02 June 2012}}
{{17s ref|post|42213|They came together|date=25 Sept 2012}}
{{17s ref|post|450112|text=Hoid calls her SLAMMER... but that's not her real name|date=June 9th, 2016}}
 
{{image|Koravellium Avast by paintweaver.jpg|side=right|width=250px}}
{{qa ref|985|5|Is Cultivation's holder still alive?|date=May 22nd, 2013}}
{{qa ref|1182|67|She is still there. Alive and kicking.|date=Dec 6th, 2016}}
{{qa ref|985|6|Were Cultivation and Honor romantically involved?|date=May 22nd, 2013}}
{{qa ref|1148|4|Cultivation's presence makes it easier for animals to become sentient|date=October 6th, 2015}}
 
=== Other ===
</references>
Cultivation is capable of seeing the future, with [[Honor]] mentioning that she is much better at it than he ever was.{{book ref|sa1|75}} While certainly one of the better users of future sight in the [[cosmere]], she herself admits that she cannot truly predict everything.{{book ref|sa3|114}}
 
She is capable of creating [[spren]] of herself, the chief example of this being the [[Nightwatcher]].{{wob ref|9207}} This being said, the Nightwatcher is not very humanlike, and so Cultivation keeps her in the [[Valley]] to hold court, and grants her the use of the Old Magic.{{book ref|sa3|114}} [[Cultivationspren]] are also likely tied to Cultivation herself, as they refer to her as "Mother".{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}{{book ref|sa3|118}}
 
Something about her presence on Roshar, whether intentional or otherwise, makes it easier for animal life there to attain a degree of sentience, with both [[Ryshadium]] and [[santhid]]yn being far more intelligent than their peers for this reason.{{wob ref|2792}}
 
[[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]] is located in the [[Horneater Peaks]], and forms either one or all of the [[Horneater Oceans]], the giant lakes at the top of the mountains. Until the [[True Desolation]], where it was overtaken by the [[Fused]], it was the main way for [[worldhopper]]s to travel to and from Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|93}}{{book ref|sa3|102}}
 
Cultivation appears to have the ability to kill or at least seriously wound [[Odium]], as he refrained from killing the [[Stormfather]] out of fear of leaving himself exposed to her counterattack.{{book ref|sa3|111}}
 
== History ==
{{image|The Roshards by jurassicpencil.jpg|side=left|width=200px|Cultivation, [[Honor]] and [[Odium]]}}
{{for|Koravellium Avast#History|the history of the original Vessel}}
 
=== Shattering and ancient Roshar ===
{{quote
|I think there's only one [woman of my age] around these parts, and she and I never did get along.
|Hoid{{book ref|sa2|55}}
}}
The Shard of Cultivation was created during the Shattering, and was subsequently taken up by [[Koravellium Avast]]. She and [[Honor]], with whom she was romantically involved, departed the site of the Shattering, [[Yolen]], and ended up on Roshar.{{wob ref|2786}} There, they became the gods of a local sentient species known as the [[singer]]s. However, following [[Odium]]'s arrival in the [[Rosharan system]], the two Shards ended up siding with human newcomers instead.{{book ref|sa3|111}}
 
At an unknown point in time, she created the [[Nightwatcher]], who became both infamous and deeply sought after for her ability to grant banes and boons with the [[Old Magic]].{{book ref|sa3|114}} She also created the [[Sibling]] alongside Honor, who became vital in the functioning of [[Urithiru]] and the fight against the [[Voidbringers]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|67}}
 
Although Cultivation assisted Honor in fighting Odium, Honor still perished.{{wob ref|2729}} Following his death, Cultivation withdrew in grief, and appeared to have lost all interest in aiding mankind any longer.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} This was not entirely correct, however -- rather than hiding, she was planning.{{wob ref|8669}}
 
Cultivation also briefly spent time on [[Ashyn]].{{wob ref|15171}}
 
=== Era of Solitude ===
In the late [[Era of Solitude]], Cultivation used the [[Old Magic]] at least thrice. She granted [[Taravangian]] fluctuating amounts of compassion and intelligence, ultimately grooming him to take up the [[Shard]] of [[Odium]], which required compassion, and to master its [[Shard|Intent]], which required the intelligence.{{wob ref|13097}} She altered [[Lift]]'s Surgebinding so it was powered by Lifelight, rather than Stormlight, though Lift's boon and curse are not known.{{book ref|sa4|i|5}}{{book ref|sa4|60}} She also intervened when [[Dalinar Kholin]] came to see the Nightwatcher and begged for forgiveness. Instead of this, she erased all memories of [[Evi|his wife]], which served as both a boon and a curse.{{book ref|sa3|114}}
 
Unlike with all other boons and curses, Dalinar's memories gradually returned after the arrival of the [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|24}} This was deliberately engineered by Cultivation to give him time to come to terms with his past before [[Odium]] would try to use it to turn Dalinar into his champion.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
 
== Influence ==
{{image|Cultivation by Heatherly.png|side=right|width=300px}}
{{quote
|Storming Mother of the World and Father of Storms above!
|[[Lift]]{{book ref|sa2.5|15}}
}}
 
Cultivation has been honored on [[Roshar]] for a long time, at least since the era of the [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref|sa3|29}} In the present day, however, her worship is limited to the western part of the continent, where she is considered an embodiment of nature and nature [[spren]].{{book ref|sa2|3}} There, she is sometimes referred to as '''Mother of the World'''.{{book ref|sa2.5|15}} Even in the east, people sometimes make references to Mother Cultivation, though typically as a joke.{{book ref|sa3|21}} In [[Vorinism]], belief in her and her cohorts, such as the [[Nightwatcher]], is considered pagan superstition and usually dismissed.{{book ref|sa3|114}}{{book ref|sa3|29}}
 
Cultivation is also highly revered by [[cultivationspren]]. Though the precise relation between them and her is unclear, they often call her Mother or Blessed Mother, and only sometimes by her proper name.{{book ref|sa3|118}}{{book ref|sa2.5|4}}{{book ref|sa2.5|13}} "Mother's vines" appears to be a particular curse related to Cultivation.{{book ref|sa2.5|11}}
 
== Trivia ==
* Cultivation is one of the only five characters who have spoken in <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>small-caps</span>, the other four are: [[Odium]],{{book ref|sa3|i|6}}{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{book ref|sa4|i|4}} [[Syl]],{{book ref|sa2|84}}, [[Dalinar]],{{book ref|sa4|107}}{{book ref|sa4|108}} and the [[Stormfather]].{{book ref|sa1|46}}
* In ''[[wikipedia:Magic: The Gathering|Magic:The Gathering]]'' colors, Cultivation would be green.{{wob ref|11057}}
* Cultivation has never really gotten along with [[Hoid]].{{book ref|sa2|55}}
 
== Notes ==
<references/>
{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}
{{cosmere}}
[[es:Cultivación]]
[[category: notable articles]]
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