Glys
| Glys | |
|---|---|
| |
| Abilities | Nahel bond, Truthwatcher magic, Splinter |
| Bonded With | Renarin |
| Species | Spren |
| Homeworld | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Glys is a spren on Roshar. He appears as a red crystalline structure, and formed a Nahel bond with Renarin Kholin. This grants Renarin the ability to use the Surges associated with the Order of Truthwatchers. Prior to forming the bond,[1] Glys was corrupted by the Unmade Sja-anat.[2]
Appearance and Personality
Glys takes the form of a bright red crystalline structure, resembling a snowflake, which shimmers and drips light upwards.[3] This is not the form of normal Truthwatcher spren, who appear as light reflected through crystal on a surface.[4][5][6] His altered appearance is the result of Sja-anat’s corruption,[2] and he intentionally tends to stay invisible.[7]
As a Shardblade, Glys is long and thin, with almost no crossguard. There are ‘waving folds to the metal, like it had been forged’.[8]
Little is known of his personality, although Renarin describes him as excitable.[9]
- Images of Glys
Glys by Bonnie Johnson
Glys and Renarin by ShiroXIX
Glys with Renarin by User: Sheep
History
Enlightening
Glys was corrupted by Sja-anat before bonding Renarin, though he does not remember this event very well.[1] Sja-anat has referred to this process as Enlightening.[10]
Bonding Renarin
Although it is unclear precisely when Glys and Renarin formed the Nahel bond, the process is already underway when Adolin gifts Renarin with the Shardblade he won from Salinor Eved. The bond is also strong enough around this time for Renarin to be able to see visions of the Everstorm's imminent arrival.[8][11]
Renarin initially thought something was wrong with him when he was able to hear dead Shardblades screaming,[8] but eventually Glys explains to him that he is a Truthwatcher.
Refounding of the Knights Radiant
The bond with Glys makes Renarin one of the first four members of the refounded Knights Radiant, along with Shallan, Kaladin, and Dalinar.
While initially Glys was unsure if it was possible, he is able to manifest as a Shardblade not long after they arrive in Urithiru. Renarin shows this to Adolin, and returns his dead Shardblade to him.[8]
When Shallan is searching for Re-Shephir in the library of Urithiru, Renarin and Glys accompany her, along with Adolin and the rest of Bridge Four. Glys is frightened by the sense of wrongness and refuses to speak. [12]
Glys also helps Renarin in discovering the gem archive hidden in the library room of Urithiru. Due to their bond Renarin is able to see visions showing him how to find the gemstones hidden in wall compartments, as well as how the compartments could be opened and the gemstones accessed. [1]
During the Battle of Thaylen Field, Jasnah tracks Renarin and Glys down to the Temple of Pailiah'Elin. This is the first time that Glys is visible to someone other than Renarin. Jasnah and her spren Ivory are able to verify that his appearance does not match that of a normal Truthwatcher spren, concluding that he had been corrupted.[3] Renarin, undergoing a fit, is shown visions of what he believes to be the future. Glys fears for their safety, as both of them see a sequence of images showing Jasnah killing Renarin with her Shardblade. During the same fit they see Dalinar giving in to Odium and kneeling before him. Upon seeing this, Glys expresses his sorrow to Renarin.[1] Jasnah, however, does not kill Renarin, which brings him to the realisation that the visions he and Glys see can be wrong. [13]
Later in the battle Renarin helps the Thaylen Shardbearer Hrdalm fight a thunderclast. After Renarin and Hrdalm subdue it, Glys shows Renarin how to dispel it using Stormlight.[9]
When Renarin and Glys approach the ramp to Thaylen City’s Oathgate to try and open it, a fit strikes him. He and Glys are able to see in the ensuing visions that a division of Kholin troops is about to arrive through the Oathgate, activated by Teft, now a Knight Radiant.[9]
Abilities and Attributes
Glys has the ability to hide himself, even from people who would normally be able to see invisible spren (such as Rock).
Nahel bond
Even as a corrupt Truthwatcher spren, Glys is able to grant Renarin access to the Surges of Progression and Illumination. It is unknown how many Ideals Renarin has spoken, but their bond has progressed to the point where he is able to summon Glys as a Shardblade.[8]
Other abilities
Due to Sja-anat’s influence, the bond with Glys also gives Renarin the ability to see visions of the future (which is typically of Odium). These visions are often but not always accurate, and appear as sequences of stained glass panels on the walls or floors, sometimes with numbers or words beneath them. Neither Glys nor Renarin are able to control when these visions strike.[1][9]
Speculation
The name of the Truthwatcher spren is unknown, though it is possible that they are the keenspren referenced by Wyndle in Edgedancer.[14]
Trivia
- Glys is a full name, and not a nickname.[15]
Notes
- ↑ a b c d e Oathbringer chapter 117#
- ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 116#
- ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 115#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 53#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 104#
- ↑ Edgedancer chapter 20#
- ↑ Shadows of Self signing Lansing
— Arcanum - 2015-10-13# - ↑ a b c d e Oathbringer chapter 10#
- ↑ a b c d Oathbringer chapter 120#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 97#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 14#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 29#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 118#
- ↑ Edgedancer chapter 6#
- ↑ Oathbringer signing Chicago
— Arcanum - 2017-11-21#