Difference between revisions of "Kandra"

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|world=Scadrial

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

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The '''kandra''' are a species on [[Scadrial]] first created by the [[Rashek|Lord Ruler]] during [[Ascension of the Lord Ruler|his Ascension]]. They have the ability to reshape their bodies and most are well-practiced at imitation, making them extremely sought-after as spies.

 

== Physiology ==

=== Appearance and Anatomy ===

Physically, the kandra resemble [[mistwraith]]s in their natural form. Unlike the mistwraiths, they are sentient, courtesy of two [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic]] spikes implanted in them. While mistwraiths are simply gelatinous conglomerates of various creatures, kandra can actually absorb a body and take on all of its characteristics.

 

 

 

 

=== Creation ===

 

=== Death ===

 

 

== Abilities ==

{{image|Kandra by Elisgardor.jpg|side=right|width=200px|A kandra with transparent skin}}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

=== Blessings ===

 

: A pair of [[tin]] spikes that grant a kandra increased senses, similar to Allomantically burning tin.{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}}

: A pair of [[iron]] spikes that give a kandra more strength, like that of an Allomancer burning [[pewter]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}} It is not exactly the same effect, however; it does not grant the limitless energy received from burning pewter.

: A pair of [[copper]] spikes that grant increased mental capability.{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}} This capability includes the ability to focus despite physical discomfort or distraction, exceptionally sharp memory, resistance to madness, and the inability to lapse into unconsciousness due to shock.{{book ref|mb3|2}}{{book ref|mb3|24}} This Blessing also counters at least some of the mental weakness that is caused by Hemalurgy; kandra with this Blessing are much less vulnerable to being controlled by Ruin than others.{{wob ref|5597}}

: A pair of [[zinc]] spikes that endows its receiver with emotional fortitude, rendering them much more resistant to control by emotional Allomancy.{{epigraph ref|mb3|38}}{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|Hemalurgy Table}}{{wob ref|11744}} This Blessing was rarely used.{{wob ref|7712}}

 

A kandra can survive with only one spike, but they lose some of their sanity while doing so.{{book ref|mb6|3}} A kandra with one spike cannot be controlled by [[Ruin]] or [[Harmony]].{{book ref|mb5|7}}

 

 

== History ==

The First Generation of kandra were originally [[Rashek]]'s fellow [[Terris]] packmen. During his ascension, Rashek realized that a person with both [[Allomancy]] and [[Feruchemy]] would pose a serious threat to the stability of the [[Final Empire]], so he spoke directly to the minds of his closest friends, making a deal with them to trade their Feruchemy for immortality. All living Feruchemists were transformed into [[mistwraith]]s, but he gave Hemalurgic spikes to the packmen, transforming them into the First Generation.{{book ref|mb3|62}} They were to become his spies and informants.

 

 

 

 

 

Kandra still seem reluctant to cause harm and kill humans, although this has become considerably more lax.{{book ref|mb5|11}}

 

Although the [[Kandra Homeland]] has long been abandoned and revered as a holy place, kandra still get together, albeit under a human guise and in human society.{{book ref|mb5|20}}

 

== Culture ==

Kandra have spent ten centuries enslaved to humankind, serving the Contracts in an effort to keep themselves safe. Most kandra hate humans for their situation, but, ironically, most kandra True Bodies are human-shaped, with two arms, two legs, and a face, even while they curse humankind for keeping them enslaved.{{book ref|mb3|7}}

 

 

They refer to the Lord Ruler as the Father, because he is responsible for their creation. After his death, [[TenSoon]] advocates that [[Vin]] should be considered the Mother, because she is the one who slays the Lord Ruler. It is unknown if other kandra accept this title for her or not.

 

The First Generation typically only communicates with the Second Generation. All subsequent generations are then created by the Seconds, every hundred years. During the approximate thousand years of the Lord Ruler's reign, there have been eleven Generations, with a twelfth Generation unlikely, as the Father is dead. In general, all decisions about law and order are communicated to the lower generations by the Second Generation, acting as something like government officials. TenSoon suspects that the Second Generation takes advantage of being the only ones who the First Generation would speak to by making many policies on their own, then telling the younger kandra that it is the decision of the First Generation.

 

=== Contracts ===

 

As a result of this history, kandra are secretive about their culture and have an intense loathing for humans, which is only made worse by the poor treatment they often receive from their masters. Despite this, they adhere to their Contracts without question, and are often used as spies by the nobility. Fulfilling Contracts is their way of "paying for their freedom" to prevent humans from seeking ways to enslave them in other ways and finding out about their weakness to Allomancy. The terms of a Contract always prohibit a kandra from killing a human, changing bodies without permission, and revealing kandra secrets, and require the kandra to return to the Homeland if they break the terms of the Contract or if their master dies before the Contract expires.

 

 

All Contracts are modelled on the [[First Contract]].{{book ref|hoa|11}} During the time of the Final Empire, Contracts were arranged by leaving a message at a designated place in Luthadel. A kandra Contracted to the Lord Ruler would then go to the client and act as an intermediary while the papers were signed and payment collected. The kandra—a member of the Fifth Generation during the later days of the [[Final Empire]]—would then return to the [[kandra Homeland]] where a kandra would be assigned to the Contract.{{wob ref|7979}} The punishment for a kandra who broke a Contract is death.{{book ref|hoa|2}} The details of the Contract were never disclosed to non-kandra, not even the Lord Ruler—though the kandra likely would have shared them with him if he asked.{{wob ref|7979}}

{{quote

|They were of Preservation all along.

}}

The kandra initially believe that they are of [[Preservation]], while the koloss, humans and Inquisitors are of [[Ruin]]. This is despite the fact that, like other Hemalurgically-created races, they have Hemalurgic spikes, which are of Ruin. The Lord Ruler creates the kandra to be his spies, and the noble class believe them to be spies for the new government. They often use the kandra as such, but Rashek's ultimate plan is for them to be double agents against Ruin, with their essence being of him but their [[Intent]] being of [[Preservation]]. According to the plan, Ruin would believe that he could take control of the kandra whenever he wanted, as they are planted with Hemalurgic spikes. However, due to a clause in the First Contract, as well as the Trust and the Resolution, instead of being used by Ruin, they would pull their spikes free when and if Ruin were to try to seize control of them. Just prior to the [[Battle of Hathsin]], this plan comes to fruition exactly as the Lord Ruler had planned, disrupting Ruin's efforts and ultimately leading to his demise, demonstrating that the kandra's true allegiance has always lain with Preservation.

 

* [[VenDell]]

* [[ReLuur]]

}}

 

== Trivia ==

* The Blessing of Stability is rarely used because Brandon added it late in the development of ''[[The Hero of Ages]]'', after realizing that the structure of the powers of metals in [[Hemalurgy]] required a second mental Blessing.{{wob ref|7712}}

 

== Notes ==

{{partial}}

{{Mistborn|metals}}

[[category:kandra| ]]