Difference between revisions of "Nightblood"

The first hours of Nightblood’s life are imprinted into its memory, and it cannot overwrite its initial experiences, such as [[Denth]] being fond of it and Shashara being alive. It is, however, very capable in some ways, able to grow and learn.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=547395}} Vasher tends to underestimate its capacity to change.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=517373}}

Nightblood is sentient but lacks a human context for its intelligence (sapience). Time has no meaning for it, nor can it understand the dynamic aspect of human personalities. It can speak into the minds of people nearby, including [[Vasher]], [[Vivenna]], [[Lift]], and [[Szeth]], and it reads the surface thoughts of its wielder whether they want it to or not, often running into difficulty interpreting them.{{book ref|wb|51}} It is usually cheerful, eager to help, and craves approval, but it is very self-centered and it does not like to be ignored.{{book ref|sa3|90}}{{book ref|wb|51}} It can project images directly into people's minds.{{book ref|wb|55}} Nightblood can more easily influence and better communicate with people who are mentally unhinged.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=537385}}

Nightblood was created in collaboration between [[Vasher]] and [[Shashara]], [[Returned]] lovers and two of the [[Five Scholars]]. Shashara, a very talented [[Awakener]], has some feelings of envy after [[Yesteel]] invents [[ichor-alcohol]], so she begins experimenting with steel.{{book ref|wb|51}} She eventually discovers a method to Awaken steel and give it sentience, although she and Vasher do not fully understand how this is possible.{{book ref|wb|51}} She reaches the Ninth [[Heightening]] and uses a thousand [[BioChromatic_Breath|Breaths]] and a very difficult visualization to Awaken a sword with the [[Command]] "Destroy Evil." However, the sword had no concept of evil, and so the Breaths it inherited decided evil was "someone who would try to take the sword and use it for evil purposes, selling it, manipulating, and extorting others, that sort of thing."{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=357278}}

Upon being Awakened, the entire sword turned black{{wob ref|8245}} and began leaking black smoke.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=517374}} Nightblood was not originally a [[Feruchemy|metalmind]] or a [[Hemalurgic]] spike.{{wob ref|13044}}

Nightblood was wielded by Shashara at the Battle of Twilight Falls during the [[Manywar]], with devastating effects.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=266954}} Vasher decided that the knowledge of how to Awaken [[BioChromatic_Breath#Type_IV|Type IV Entities]] was extremely dangerous and had a falling out with Shashara, ultimately using Nightblood to kill her in order to keep her from spreading this information; she had previously leaked knowledge of how to make [[Lifeless]] from a single Breath.{{book ref|wb|53}} Another of the [[Five Scholars]], [[Yesteel]], somehow learned the secret of creating Type IV Entities but is not known to have actually done so.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=557407}}

The sword had another name when it was created, but Vasher renames it "Nightblood" after killing Shashara.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=537374}} Nightblood knows that Shashara is his creator, but has no recollection of killing her.{{book ref|wb|29}}

Vasher was in possession of Nightblood during the events of ''Warbreaker'' and warned [[Vivenna]] against asking questions about Type IV objects.{{book ref|wb|53}} At one point [[Denth]] took the sword from Vasher and threw it into a shallow bay (although Nightblood thought it was "the ocean").{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=537385}}{{book ref|wb|54}} Nightblood was able to get the attention of [[Chapps]], who took it out of the water,{{book ref|wb|53}} but later kills four people and himself.{{book ref|wb|54}} Vivenna then retrieved it and gave it to a group of soldiers to use, who also all die.{{book ref|wb|55}} Vasher finally found it and used it to destroy a large number of Lifeless in pursuit of Denth.{{book ref|wb|56}}

Anyone who is able to wield Nightblood and survive bonds with the blade to a greater degree and is no longer repelled by or abnormally drawn to use it.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=557404}} This bond does not allow for access to [[Stormlight]] directly.{{wob ref|8348}} Nightblood's compulsion/revulsion magic has some parallels with [[Zinc#Allomantic_Use|Rioting]].{{wob ref|9424}}

Even while still in its scabbard, Nightblood is very powerful and enhances the person holding it; simply unclasping it allows some of its power to manifest. It will deepen colors around it, similar to how a person with many Breaths will brighten colors, even on worlds without Breaths.{{book ref|wb|15}} When its clasp is undone and even a bit of its blade shows, it suddenly feels lighter and leaks an inky smoke. The smoke is the Breaths that it has absorbed from its victims, twisted and fouled, leaking back out.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=517374}} While the sword was simply unclasped, Szeth smashed a man in the back, seemingly breaking bones and paralyzing him.{{book ref|sa3|92}} A prison guard on Nalthis was able to run the mostly-sheathed sword through his own chest.{{book ref|wb|prologue}}

Once drawn, Nightblood becomes incredibly powerful. Its voice becomes overpowering and liquid smoke pours from the length of the blade. The sword becomes barely sentient as its Command takes over, and it does not usually recall what happens while it is drawn.{{annotationwob ref|wb|chapter=587474}} The wielder feels extreme pain in the arm holding Nightblood and the hand, arm, and eventually the whole body turns black as the sword consumes Investiture.{{book ref|wb|56}}{{book ref|sa3|119}} The black veins or tendrils that appear in the wielder usually leave the skin gray after Nightblood is sheathed or otherwise satiated. This can be see in [[Lolan]]'s hand, Lift's arms, and Szeth's face.{{book ref|wb|26}}{{book ref|sa3|119}} Nightblood is strong enough that an Awakener of the tenth Heightening cannot break its command.{{wob ref|13095}}