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Fused

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Revision as of 19:20, 29 January 2021 by Truthwatch3r (talk | contribs) (→‎Nature: added a bit from RoW, a few other small changes)
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Fused
Fused monochrome.jpg
by Ben McSweeney
World of Origin Roshar
Universe Cosmere
This page or section contains spoilers for Rhythm of War!
This information has the ability to potentially ruin elements of the plot for the reader. Proceed with caution if you have not read this book.
This page or section needs to be updated with new information for Rhythm of War!
Be aware that in its current state, it may not include all additional content yet.

“ They are the spren of Parshmen long dead. They are their kings, their lighteyes, their valiant soldiers from long, long ago. The process is not easy on them. Some of these spren are mere forces now, animalistic, fragments of minds given power by Odium. Others are more … awake. Each rebirth further injures their minds.

They are reborn using the bodies of Parshmen to become the Fused. ”

The Fused are the souls of ancient singers that are able to be reborn by possessing the bodies of living singers. They are considered to be higher in singer society than Regals and common singers.[2] They seem to have powers similar to Surgebinding; however, unlike the Knights Radiant, there are only nine orders of them, rather than ten.[3]

Nature

These ancient singer shadows exist in a state very similar to spren, until they take over a singer body. This process requires a living singer to open themselves up to bonding a new spren during one of Roshar's invested storms, in the same way as they would to adopt a new form. The singer shadows waiting to become a Fused then choose one of these willing, open singers; in a process that causes intense pain to the host, it then takes over the host's body.[2]

The Fused can be killed by conventional means, but they can use Voidlight to heal.[4] However, damaging their gemheart is instantly fatal.[5] The Fused can be permanently killed by being stabbed with a raysium dagger connected to a gem of anti-Voidlight, provided there is enough anti-Voidlight in the gemstone.[6] They can also be permanently killed by Nightblood.[7]

In the past, Fused couldn't be reborn when the Heralds stayed on Braize to uphold the Oathpact. They could be reborn many times during each Desolation and were again sealed away when the Heralds returned to Braize. To avoid this process of rebirth, humans fighting in past Desolations once tried to imprison the Fused rather than kill them; this did not work, as the Fused are able to will their spirits out of their bodies and seek a new host.[8] In the True Desolation, the Fused use the Everstorm to great advantage. Not only can they use the Everstorm (instead of relying on highstorms) to possess new living singers, but when they do die, they can immediately Return during the next Everstorm if they can find a living singer willing to take on the burden.[3]

Due to their Invested nature, the ancient ones that become the Fused do not need to bond a spren to attain and maintain full sapience.[9] However, during the seven thousand years of war, many Fused have lost some or all of their sanity, much like the Heralds. They are unable to die, and even the insane Fused continue to be reborn.[6] The rebirth process injures the minds of the Fused.[1] Many Fused who remain sane enough to function also behave erratically in some regards. Examples of this include The Pursuer, who is immensely obsessed with vengeance and Raboniel, who wishes to end the war regardless of the victor.

Hierarchy

The Fused have an extremely complex political and social hierarchy even though their actions are generally governed by Odium. Generally, they have hatred and contempt for humans and place common singers above them in status. Among common singers, those chosen to be elevated are granted forms of power and become Regals. The Fused tend to defer to thunderclasts and Unmade. However, even within the singers there are delineations of status and authority. There are nine brands of Fused with different powers and specialties.[10] Other factors such as reputation, history, and capacity also matter a great deal, and how well individual Fused have retained their sanity.[8]

The Nine

The highest authority among the Fused is the Nine, a council formed by nine Fused.[8] The Nine entomb themselves in stone pillars in an atrium through Soulcasting, and most will leave their head and one arm free. The stone pillars have an organic feeling, like tree growing on them, and makes people feel like they are older than stones itself. They will hold meetings in the atrium with high ranked Fused, who would each bring their Voice, an envoyform singer, to speak for them.[8] They would hear field reports and proposals from the Fused. They can accept opinions from other Fused but have the final say for anything. Raboniel was once among the Nine and this position is subject to change. The nine do not eat, living only on Voidlight.[8]

Powers

by Jemma M. Young
A Fused with the power of Gravitation

The Fused use powers in ways similar to the Knights Radiant, but with a few notable differences. Like all Surgebinders, the Fused gain their abilities through manipulation of Roshar's fundamental forces, the Surges, although unlike them, each one of the nine brands of Fused can only access a single Surge. A specific Fused cannot change forms (and thus, powers).

Another difference between the Fused and the Surgebinders lies in the fuel of their abilities. Surgebinders use Stormlight, but the Fused rely on Voidlight - Investiture that does not appear to require a physical conduit, like gemstones, but instead can be directly supplied to the user from Odium. Voidlight provides the same healing abilities as Stormlight. However, it is inefficient in that regard and, given the limited amount, the Fused are careful to avoid injury.[11][12][13] Fused appear to be far more Investiture-efficient than Surgebinders.[14]

Brands

There are nine Brands of Fused each with a single Surge. No brand has access to the Surge of Adhesion.

Shanay-im

For more information, see Shanay-im.

The shanay-im, or Heavenly Ones, are Fused who can manipulate the Surge of Gravitation. Fused of this brand can manipulate their own gravity without expending Voidlight, but must use it to heal themselves or to Lash things other than themselves. These abilities are similar to the Basic Lashing used by the Windrunners and Skybreaker.[15] Shanay-im are often seen manipulating the gravitation vector of both themselves and other bodies and objects, resulting in abilities such as flight, reduced weight, and sending their enemies flying off into the air. The Fused accelerate more slowly than Surgebinders when using Gravitation.[16] This is due to them expending less energy and does not have to do with the gravity of Braize.[17] Over a large span, Fused will go faster than Surgebinders.[18] Fused can only Lash themselves once.[18] These Fused are able to enter space, but cannot travel far, since they would require a large amount of Voidlight to heal due to the lack of air and pressure.[19]

They usually wear extremely long robes, trailing behind them several feet. They utilize long lances suited for aerial combat, with aluminum coating to block Shardblades and a fabrial to drain Stormlight from the Radiant it pierces.

When fighting Windrunners, they hold an honorable tradition of one-to-one dueling. They raise their weapons to those they wish to duel, and engage upon consent from the Windrunners. The rest of their members float about and do not interfere with the duel. The Windrunners play along with the tradition, as the Windrunners have a smaller number and this prevents them from being ganged up on.[4] This tradition do not extend to normal soldiers.

Shetel-im

The shetel-im, or Flowing Ones, are Fused who control the Surge of Abrasion. This gives them the ability to change the force of friction between objects and bodies, similar to Edgedancers.[14] One of the shetel-im participated in the effort to steal the King's Drop at the Battle of Thaylen Field.[20]

Magnified Ones

The Magnified Ones are Fused who interact with the Surge of Progression. They can grow their carapace extremely rapidly and in specific shape, allowing them to create tools and weapons out of their carapace. They are among the largest and bulkiest of Fused brands.[21]

Mavset-im

The mavset-im, or Masked Ones, are Fused who interact with the Surge of Illumination.[22] Their abilities appear to mimic the Lightweavers ability to change their own appearance by creating illusions. One of the mavset-im participated in the effort to steal the King's Drop at the Battle of Thaylen Field.[12]

Fannahn-im

The fannahn-im, or Altered Ones, are Fused who interact with the Surge of Transformation.[8] This grants them abilities similar to Soulcasting, and they are capable of transformations such as turning a sword to dust or breathing out a toxic compound.[23]

Nex-im

The nex-im, or Husked Ones, are Fused who control the Surge of Transportation.[8] This Surge allows them to evacuate their body as a ribbon of red light similar to a spren, leaving behind a hollow husk of carapace to crumple to dust, and recreate their body at the destination point. They only hold enough Voidlight to make four jumps. Thus in battle, they usually use the first three jumps for attacking and the fourth to escape and replenish Voidlight. Forming a fourth husk will leave them trapped, unable to become a ribbon of light. Two ways of killing a Husked One include killing them before they evacuate the body, or forcing them to form a fourth body and kill them. They also cannot take anything with them that is not part of their body. Because of this, at least one of the Fused of this brand, Lezian the Pursuer, has extremely long hair to cover his body like clothing and uses his carapace spurs as weapons.[15] Very few of these Fused exist.[8]

Makay-im

The makay-im, or Deepest Ones, are Fused who control the Surge of Cohesion.[14] They can use this Surge to meld with stone and pass through it, though they cannot take anything that is not part of their body with them and cannot see when they do so.[24] They have some of the most minimal carapace covering of any singer form, only a simple cup around the genitals, although some have carapace talons.[14]

Notable Fused

For a full list, see :Category:Fused.

Notes

  1. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 38#
  2. ↑ a b Oathbringer interlude I-6#
  3. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 121#
  4. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 5#
  5. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 79#
  6. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 97#
  7. ↑ Idaho Falls signing
    — Arcanum - 2018-07-21#
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g h Rhythm of War chapter 14#
  9. ↑ Skype Q&A
    — Arcanum - 2018-10-08#
  10. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 12#
  11. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 43#
  12. ↑ a b Oathbringer interlude I-13#
  13. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 6#
  14. ↑ a b c d Rhythm of War chapter 31#
  15. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 2#
  16. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 116#
  17. ↑ Prague Signing
    — Arcanum - 2019-10-26#
  18. ↑ a b Orem signing
    — Arcanum - 2018-03-10#
  19. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 89#
  20. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 120#
  21. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 64#
  22. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 11#
  23. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 37#
  24. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 56#
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