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Moving the species information of Parshendi (and parshmen) to this; Parshendi will refer to the specific group of listeners we have seen

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{{sapient beings ~~#redirect[[Parshendi]]~~ \|world=Roshar \|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]] }} The '''listeners''' are a species of sapient creatures on [[Roshar]].{{book ref\|sa2\|I-1}} There are two main groups of listeners, the [[Parshendi]] on the [[Shattered Plains]], and the docile parshmen. The listeners can communicate their emotions through certain rhythms to each other and can keep perfectly in time with these rhythms even when apart, although the parshmen do not have this ability. Male listeners grew beards, which they thread through beads infused with [[Stormlight]]. == Anatomy == === Forms === [[File:parshendiwarform.png\|thumb\|300px\|Warform by [[User:Khal]]]] By staying out in a [[highstorm]] with a [[spren]], listeners are capable of bonding with said spren, which has the effect of changing their appearance,{{qa ref\|987\|18\|Do Parshendi need a highstorm to change form?\|date=2012-11-06}} physical abilities, and mental capabilities. These changes are known as '''forms'''. Many forms are mentioned in the old listener song, the [[Song of Listing]], but most are lost to modern listeners. ;Warform: {{quote\|Warform is worn for battle and reign,<br> Claimed by the gods, given to kill.<br> Unknown, unseen, but vital to gain.<br> It comes to those with the will.\|15th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|13}}}} Warform gives listeners an armor-like carapace; it also seems to give them advanced physical capabilities, although it severely hampers artistic ability and is not equipped to handle abstractions. Most [[Parshendi]] that interact with the Alethi are in warform. ;Workform: {{quote\|Workform worn for strength and care.<br> Whispering spren breathe at your ear.<br> Seek first this form, its mysteries to bear.<br> Found here is freedom from fear.\|19th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|15}}}} Workform also endows significant physical strength, although without the armor of the warform; those in work form also have thinner fingers. While in workform, the Parshendi find it difficult to commit violence and did not like confrontation. ;Mateform: {{quote\|Mateform meek, for love to share,<br> Given to life, it brings us joy.<br> To find this form, one must care.<br> True empathy, one must employ.\|5th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|14}}}} Mateform is used for reproductive purposes. A few listeners maintain mating form constantly, although most enter it only briefly in order to reproduce with a partner; if these partners later entered war form they became a warpair. It is a distracting form which makes productive work difficult. ;Dullform: {{quote\|Dullform dread, with the mind most lost.<br> The lowest, and one not bright.<br> To find this form, one needs banish cost.<br> It finds you and brings you to blight.\|final stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|17}}}} Dullform is an older form which was rarely used after the discovery of the newer forms. Those in dull form are not very intelligent. ;Nimbleform: {{quote\|Nimbleform has a delicate touch.<br> Gave the gods this form to many,<br> Tho' once defied, by the gods they were crushed.<br> This form craves precision and plenty.\|27th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|16}}}} Nimbleform is a form used by the Parshendi scholars because they do not know the correct spren to bond with for scholarform. It does not impede the mind and the fingers are delicate enough for recording their findings. It grows long hair without any carapace to block it and yeilds delicate swirling patterns in their skin, along with a thinner facial structure. ;Scholarform: {{quote\|Scholarform shown for patience and thought.<br> Beware its ambitions innate.<br> Though study and diligence bring the reward,<br> Loss of innocence may be one's fate.\|69th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|18}}}} ;Artform: {{quote\|Artform applied for beauty and hue.<br> One yearns for the songs it creates.<br> Most misunderstood by the artist it's true,<br> Come the spren to foundation's fates.\|90th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|20}}}} {{quote\|Artform for colors beyond our ken;<br> For its grand songs we yearn.<br> We must attract creationspren;<br> These songs suffice 'til we learn.\|279th stanza of the [[Song of Revision]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|29}}}} ;Mediationform: {{quote\|Meditationform made for peace, it's said.<br> Form of teaching and consolation.<br> When used by the gods, it became instead<br> Form of lies and desolation.\|33rd stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|21}}}} ;Nightform: {{quote\|Nightform predicting what will be,<br> The form of shadows, mind to forsee.<br> As the gods did leave, the nightform whispered.<br> A new storm will come, someday to break.<br> A new storm a new world to make.<br> A new storm a new path to take, the nightform listens.\|17th stanza of the [[Song of Secrets]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|23}}}} ;Decayform: {{quote\|Decayform destroys the souls of dreams.<br> A form of gods, to avoid it seems.<br> Seek not its touch, nor beckon its screams, deny it.<br> Watch where you walk, your toes to tread.<br> O'er hill or rocky riverbed<br> Hold dear to fears that fill your head, defy it.\|27th stanza of the [[Song of Secrets]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|24}}}} ;Smokeform: {{quote\|Smokeform for hiding and slipping between men.<br> A form of power, like human Surges.<br> Bring it 'round again.<br> Though crafted of gods,<br> It was by Unmade hand.<br> Leaves its force to be but one of foe or friend.\|127th stanza of the [[Song of Histories]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|25}}}} {{quote\|Smokeform for hiding and slipping 'tween men.<br> A form of power—like Surges of spren<br> Do we dare to wear this form again? It spies.<br> Crafted of gods, this form we fear.<br> By Unmade touch its curse to bear,<br> Formed from shadow—and death is near. It lies.\|51st stanza of the [[Song of Secrets]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|31}}}} ;Stormform: {{quote\|Stormform is said to cause<br> A tempest of winds and showers,<br> Beware its powers, beware its powers.<br> Though its coming brings the gods their night,<br> It obliges a bloodred spren.<br> Beware its end, beware its end.\|4th stanza of the [[Song of Winds]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|22}}}} Storm form is a newer form discovered during the [[War of Reckoning]]. Little is known about it. ===Slave form (Parshmen)=== {{quote\|slaveform, the form with no spren, no soul, and no song. (...) It wasn't really a form at all, however, but the lack of any form.\|Eshonai musing about listener forms{{book ref\|sa2\|I-1}}}} There is also "slaveform," which is not a true form, but the lack of a bond with a spren or lack of a form. The creatures known as the parshmen throughout Roshar are actually listener in this "slave form". Parshmen live among humans (notably the [[Alethi]] but also in [[Jah Keved]] and [[Kharbranth]]{{book ref\|sa1\|3}}) and generally function as servants.{{book ref\|sa1\|prologue}} Barely of intelligence,{{book ref\|sa1\|55}} it is said that these people, if left in the woods, would stand around amiably until someone comes along to tell them what to do.{{book ref\|sa1\|28}}{{book ref\|sa1\|36}} Generally, a parshmen would take orders without any objection.{{book ref\|sa1\|3}} They could speak but rarely did so.{{book ref\|sa1\|7}} Physically, slave form listeners are strong enough to perform physical labor.{{book ref\|sa1\|55}} Their skin has either a marbled pattern of black and red or white and red, although the white and red is more common in Alethkar.{{book ref\|sa1\|prologue}}{{book ref\|sa1\|72}} They care about and are protective of their dead, usually objecting to anyone other than one of themselves tending to them.{{book ref\|sa1\|26}} This care for the dead presumably extended to corpses of other listeners as well.{{book ref\|sa1\|55}} == Rhythms == The listeners speak to Rhythms. These Rhythms are underlying tunes that seem to exist independently from their actual use. Also, Rhythms are "playing" constantly. For example, Rhythms can be used to measure time.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythms represent a certain state of mind, the feelings of the person using it. When not paying attention, Parshendi will attune to the Rhythm that corresponds to their mood, but they can attune to another Rhythm in order to fit with their message.{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Dullforms and "Slave forms" don't use Rhythms. === List of Rhythms === {{columns\| Rhythm of Amusement{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Annoyance{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Anxiety{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Awe{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|8}} Rhythm of Appreciation{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Betrayal{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Confidence{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Rhythm of Consideration{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Curiosity{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Derision{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Rhythm of Destruction{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} New Rhythm Rhythm of Excitement{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Fury{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} New Rhythm Rhythm of Irritation{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Joy{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Rhythm of Lost{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Mourning{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Peace{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Rhythm of Pleading{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Praise{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Remembrance{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Reprimand{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Resolve{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Ridicule{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} New Rhythm Rhythm of Satisfaction{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Rhythm of Skepticism{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|1}} Rhythm of Spite{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} New Rhythm Rhythm of Supplication{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} Rhythm of Tension{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|11}} Rhythm of Winds{{book ref\|sa2\|i\|4}} }} ==History== Listeners have existed on Roshar a very long time, even before humans existing there.{{cite}} At some point, after listeners felt [[spren]] betrayed them, giving [[Surge]]s to humans instead of them, the listeners turned to other gods.{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|28}}{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|32}} These gods, perhaps the [[Unmade]]{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|31}}, but almost assuredly [[Splinter]]s of [[Odium]],{{epigraph ref\|sa2\|34}}, changed them, into what became the [[Voidbringer]]s. Later, after the [[Desolation]]s, [[Jasnah Kholin]] theorized that these Voidbringers were not eliminated, but enslaved into what were called the parshmen.{{book ref\|sa1\|72}} After the Desolations, not all listeners were the unintelligent parshmen; there were several tribes of the dullform listeners, having thrown off the forms of their gods. Raids and assassinations were commonplace, and this later created norms as to how assassinations should have been carried out.{{qa ref\|968\|2\|Parshendi once dis-unified\|date=2013-02-22}} These disparate listener tribes eventually moved near the [[Shattered Plains]] and became known as the [[Parshendi]]. The [[Alethi]] discovered this tribe of listeners, shocked that there existed sapient versions of the parshmen. Eventually Alethkar formed a treaty with these Parshendi, but on the eve of the treaty, [[Gavilar\|King Gavilar]] was assassinated, in an attempt to prevent the listener gods from returning. This led to the Alethi forming the [[Vengeance Pact]], and the [[War of Reckoning]] to destroy the assassins. During the war, these listeners moved to [[Narak]]. But eventually, [[Venli]] persuaded [[Eshonai]] that they would die unless they did something drastic. Venli had discovered stormform, one of their old gods' forms, and Eshonai took the form and forced many other listeners to adopt it as well in order to stop the Alethi and the destruction of their species. At the [[Battle of Narak]], where Highprince [[Dalinar Kholin]] led an expedition to end the [[War of Reckoning]], the listeners in stormform, now referred to as Voidbringers, summoned a storm. Eshonai thought the stormform abilities would summon a highstorm, but they instead summoned the [[Everstorm]], leading to the start of the [[True Desolation]]. ==See Also== [[Parshendi]] [[Voidbringers]] ==Notes== {{columns\|<references />\|count=2}} {{good}} {{Stormlight}} [[Category: Magical entities]] [[Category: Notable articles]]