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{{character
|image=Nightblood by Dan dos Santos.png
|abilities=Consumes Investiture, {{tag+|worldhopping}}
|aliases=Sword-nimi
|world=Nalthis
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[Warbreaker]]
}}
{{for|pre=
{{quote
|Hello! Would you like to destroy some evil today?
|Nightblood's initial greeting to Szeth{{book ref|sa2|88}}
}}
'''Nightblood''' is a powerful, sentient sword and [[Shardblade]]{{wob ref|6892}}{{wob ref|5152}} originally from [[Nalthis]]. It was created by [[Shashara]] with assistance from [[Vasher]].
== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|The Assassin in White by Ari Ibarra.jpg|side=right|width=250px|[[Szeth]] wielding Nightblood}}
=== Appearance ===
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Nightblood is completely black, both blade and hilt. The blade is thin,{{book ref|wb|prologue}} long, and straight, with cutting edges on both sides.{{wob ref|9065}} The cross guard is referred to as being hooked. The hilt has a pommel.{{book ref|edgedancer|9}} Its overall size is noted as large; most likely, Nightblood was made to fit the proportions of a [[Returned]]. It is surprisingly heavy when sheathed.{{book ref|wb|prologue}} Nightblood was originally made of steel before being Awakened.{{book ref|wb|53}} It has an aluminum scabbard{{wob ref|8162}} with a clasp on it to prevent easy release of Nightblood. The scabbard was not directly involved in Nightblood's Awakening and it has not been revealed when it was created, or by whom.{{wob ref|8410}}
Based on Vasher and Vivenna's statements, Nightblood could be around fifty-three all the way to sixty inches (135 cm - 152 cm) long overall, with a blade length somewhere between forty-three to forty-six inches.
=== Personality ===
{{quote
|I'm not bloodthirsty. I just want to be useful.
|Nightblood{{book ref|sa3|92}}
}}
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. The first hours of its life are imprinted into its memory, and it cannot overwrite the 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.{{wob ref|7395}} Vasher tends to underestimate its capacity to change.{{wob ref|7373}}
It can speak into the minds of people nearby, 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.{{wob ref|7385}} It also briefly spoke into the mind of [[Dalinar]] though it had evidently been prohibited to do so and forgot this prohibition.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
As an Awakened object, Nightblood's goal is to fulfill its Command, "Destroy evil".{{book ref|wb|51}} It often tries to convince its wielders that they should draw it and is often bored or frustrated when sheathed.{{book ref|wb|51}}{{book ref|sa3|90}} Though it thinks otherwise, Nightblood doesn't need to sleep.{{wob ref|3021}}
Nightblood has no sense of gender assigned to itself. Vasher is responsible for originally assigning it male pronouns, while [[Lift]] refers to it using female pronouns. It is fascinated by gender, and is still attempting to figure it out.{{wob ref|3372}}
== Attributes and Abilities ==
=== Effect on Others ===
{{quote
|You cannot tempt the hearts of men who are pure, Nightblood.
|[[Vasher]]{{book ref|wb|21}}
}}
Those that the sword defines as "evil" feel drawn to possess it; once an "evil" person picks Nightblood up, the sword amplifies the wielder's bloodlust causing him or her to slaughter anyone nearby and then commit suicide with the blade. Nightblood in effect "wields" the person holding the sword and the result is often suicide with Nightblood plunged through their chest.{{book ref|wb|54}}{{book ref|wb|56}} A strong-willed person or someone who has previous history with Nightblood can resist this bloodlust.{{book ref|wb|51}}
A "good" person, someone who wouldn't want to use Nightblood for evil purposes, feels sick while looking at Nightblood; touching it can induce vomiting.{{book ref|edgedancer|15}} Wrapping the sword in a blanket seems to help suppress these effects.{{book ref|wb|54}}
Those aligned with Nightblood's [[Intent]], or those who do not want to use it, will not be affected by Nightblood.{{wob ref|15920}} Anyone who is able to wield Nightblood and survive forms a bond or connection with the blade to a greater degree and is no longer repelled by or abnormally drawn to use it.{{wob ref|7404}} This bond does not allow for access to [[Stormlight]] directly.{{wob ref|8348}} Nightblood's compulsion/revulsion effect has some parallels with [[Zinc#Allomantic_Use|Rioting]].{{wob ref|9424}}
Nightblood is able to better sense where those are that have bonded more deeply with it.{{book ref|wb|55}}{{wob ref|7404}} This is normally done by having it absorb a large amount of their Investiture.
Vasher and Vivenna weaponize this trait of Nightblood by allowing someone "evil" to use it, knowing they will be compelled to use the sword to kill others and then themselves.{{book ref|wb|prologue}}{{book ref|wb|51}}{{book ref|wb|55}}
=== Usage ===
{{image|Vasher by ToastSamurai.jpg|side=right|width=250px|[[Vasher]] wielding unsheathed Nightblood}}
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.{{wob ref|7374}} This is very similar to the black Investiture made from the souls consumed by the [[father machine]].{{book ref|yumi|39}} 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}} If Nightblood kills while still in its scabbard, it will leave a blackness around the wound.{{book ref|wb|19}}
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.{{wob ref|7474}} 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 seen in [[Lolan]]'s hand, Lift's arms, and Szeth's face.{{book ref|wb|26}}{{book ref|sa3|119}} So long as Nightblood is unsheathed, it drains Investiture from its wielder, drawing it faster the longer it is held, until it is all gone in a way very similar to both [[larkin]] and [[chromium|chromium Mistings]].{{book ref|wb|56}}{{wob ref|5023}}{{book ref|sa4|i|12}} If held until all available Breath (or other [[Investiture]]) is consumed, Nightblood will feed on the spark of life, killing the wielder.{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{wob ref|5813}} This will also happen to non-Returned that wield Nightblood.{{wob ref|4068}} Some of Nightblood's negative effects can be negated by an aluminum gauntlet, though this would also negate some positive effects; however, these positive effects are not used by many of Nightblood's wielders in the first place.
When it inflicts a wound, it vaporizes and destroys on all three [[Realms]] (Cognitive, Physical, and Spiritual).{{book ref|sa4|111}}{{wob ref|3393}}{{wob ref|8404}} Living humans, [[Lifeless]], and inanimate objects disappear in a puff of smoke if so much as nicked by Nightblood's blade.{{book ref|sa3|92}}{{book ref|wb|56}} Nightblood can also destroy inanimate objects by destroying their bead in [[Shadesmar]].{{wob ref|10508}} Nightblood is powerful enough to destroy [[Fused]] and [[thunderclast]]s permanently, presumably sending them to the [[Beyond]].{{wob ref|10440}} Additional incredible effects of Nightblood include: killing the [[Vessel]] of a [[Shard]] of [[Adonalsium]],{{book ref|sa4|113}} collapsing a [[perpendicularity]],{{book ref|sa4|111}} chipping an [[Honorblade]],{{book ref|sa4|111}} and severing [[Bondsmith]]-forged [[Connection]]s.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
Nightblood was created on Nalthis and initially consumed BioChromatic Breaths, but it can also consume other forms of Investiture, such as [[Stormlight]].{{wob ref|661}}{{book ref|sa3|92}} On [[Scadrial]], a person would need to be actively [[Allomancy|burning a metal]] or tapping a [[Feruchemy|metalmind]] to avoid being consumed very quickly.{{wob ref|8683}} Nightblood can also feed on the [[mist]]s but would not be able to pick up the Shard [[Preservation]].{{wob ref|4590}} On [[Sel]], Nightblood would be able to draw power from the [[Dor]]. For instance, if an Elantrian drew an [[Aon]] above the sword, it would be able to draw on Investiture, but the Aon would quickly be consumed due to too much energy being pulled through too small an opening.{{wob ref|8746}} Notably, it can draw Stormlight from other sources directly--not just from the wielder.{{book ref|sa3|92}} Nightblood is strong enough that an Awakener of the tenth Heightening cannot break its command.{{wob ref|13095}}
Nightblood is one of the most heavily Invested non-Shard entities in the cosmere, due to consuming the Investiture of its users and victims.{{wob ref|10833}} It has been compared to [[Susebron]], making it possible that its current Investiture is roughly equivalent to over 50,000 Breaths.{{wob ref|7299}} Nightblood probably has more raw Investiture than an [[Unmade]], but not the [[Stormfather]].{{wob ref|12591}} There is a limit to how much Investiture Nightblood can hold.{{wob ref|16272}}
=== Comparison to Shardblades ===
Nightblood is very similar to a [[Shardblade]];{{wob ref|6892}}{{wob ref|5152}} Vasher and Shashara actually made it in imitation of Shardblades, with which they had prior experience.{{wob ref|3586}} However, since they didn't know how Shardblades were originally made and were trying to imitate a magic system different from the one they had access to, they had to do some "hacking" in order to get it to work, resulting in something akin to a Frankenstein's monster{{wob ref|2650}} or "robot spren".{{wob ref|3586}} Nightblood, while ultimately built around the same principles as other Shardblades, is much more powerful than normal, and is, in some ways, broken and opposite from them (i.e., in requiring constant input of Investiture to function, emitting black smoke that falls instead of white smoke that rises).{{wob ref|7134}} It is effectively a "third generation" Blade, where Honorblades are "first generation" and spren Blades are "second generation".{{wob ref|3623}}
Much like a Shardblade, Nightblood is its own being, and even more powerful [[Awakener]]s like [[Shashara]] and [[Susebron]] would not be able to retrieve Breaths from it or break its command.{{wob ref|13094}}{{wob ref|13095}} Trying to use [[Allomancy]] to burn it would be similar to an attempt to burn someone else's metalmind.{{wob ref|2901}} [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightweaving]] does not stick to Nightblood.{{book ref|sa4|29}} Unlike a Shardblade, however, it could attract spren.{{wob ref|13372}} It can also be pulled into [[visions]], while at least dead Shardblades cannot.{{book ref|sa4|i|9}}{{book ref|sa4|113}}{{book ref|sa1|18}}
When used, its effects are somewhat similar to those of Shardblades, but much more powerful. It can destroy non-living material, but not just what it touches, as Shardblades do: Vasher clears a hole ten feet wide by ramming Nightblood into a ceiling.{{book ref|wb|56}} So far, everything Nightblood has touched has been destroyed, except for its own aluminum scabbard, which was used by a [[Fused]] to block a blow from Nightblood during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]]. Nightblood would be able to stop a Shardblade that hit it, but it seems to be unclear what would happen to the Shardblade.{{wob ref|5555}} Nightblood is able to both stop, and damage, an Honorblade.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
== History ==
{{image|DESTROY EVIL!!!.jpeg|side=right|width=200px|Wielded by Vasher}}
=== Nalthis ===
==== Creation ====
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."{{wob ref|7278}}
Nightblood was not black before being Awakened,{{wob ref|8245}} and had a different name when originally Awakened. It is unknown when the sword changed color and began leaking black smoke; but the sword was renamed Nightblood due to these qualities sometime after Vasher used Nightblood to kill Shashara.{{wob ref|7374}}
Nightblood was not originally a [[Feruchemy|metalmind]] or a [[Hemalurgic]] spike.{{wob ref|13044}} If a different Allomantically viable metal had been used, Nightblood would have likely manifested different powers and capabilities.{{wob ref|15263}}{{wob ref|15335}} Nightblood would not likely have had the same powers or capabilities had a different object been awakened. A shield for instance, would have a different response to the command to 'destroy evil'.{{wob ref|14005}}
==== The Manywar ====
Nightblood was wielded by Shashara at the Battle of Twilight Falls during the [[Manywar]], with devastating effects.{{wob ref|6954}} 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.{{wob ref|7407}}
The sword had another name when it was created, but Vasher renames it "Nightblood" after killing Shashara.{{wob ref|7374}} Nightblood knows that Shashara is his creator, but has no recollection of killing her.{{book ref|wb|29}}
==== The Pahn Kahl Rebellion ====
Vasher was in possession of Nightblood during the [[Pahn Kahl rebellion]] in 327 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").{{wob ref|7385}}{{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 while pursuing Denth.{{book ref|wb|56}}
=== Roshar ===
{{quote
|I think you did a great job, Szeth. You didn't destroy many of them, yes, but you just need some more practice!
|Nightblood after the Battle of Thaylen Field{{book ref|sa3|121}}
}}
Some time later, Vasher traveled to Roshar but was eventually separated from Nightblood{{wob ref|1714}} after some kind of falling out a few generations after the Pahn Khal Rebellion.{{wob ref|651}}{{wob ref|14099}} Some time before this, Nightblood was brought to one or more planets other than Nalthis or Roshar, but when or to what planets is unknown.{{wob ref|12594}}
The [[Nightwatcher]] somehow came in possession of Nightblood, and offered it to Dalinar during his visit to the [[Valley]] in {{rosharan date|1168}} in the Vorin reckoning.{{book ref|sa3|114}} At some point following this, [[Nale]] came in possession of the sword.{{book ref|sa2|88}}
==== The True Desolation ====
The sword next surfaced after the [[Battle of Narak]], when it is given to [[Szeth]] after his death and restoration by Nale on {{rosharan date|1173|10|10|3}}.{{book ref|sa2|88}}
===== Serving Under Nale =====
Szeth, who calls Nightblood 'sword-nimi', carried it during and after his training with Nale and the [[Order of Skybreakers|Skybreakers]]. He was warned not to draw it except in case of extreme emergency and only if he carries much Stormlight, lest it feed upon his soul.{{book ref|sa3|90}} Notably, Szeth made no mention of any sensation of either nausea or lust for Nightblood upon encountering it because of his compatibility with Nightblood.{{wob ref|15920}}
He was seen by [[Lift]] carrying Nightblood in [[Yeddaw]] in {{rosharan date|1174|1}}. Nightblood later stated that he likes her.{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{book ref|edgedancer|16}}
{{image|Szeth Enters The Battle by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=400px|After slaying a [[thunderclast]] with Szeth}}
The first time Szeth drew Nightblood was during his Skybreaker test at the Purelake. Colors appeared to become darker and more vibrant around him, and he managed to re-sheath the sword after killing a corrupt nobleman.{{book ref|sa3|92}} Szeth then drew Nightblood during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]] on {{Rosharan date|1174|2|10|5}}{{ref|name=timeline}} and killed hundreds of enemies, including a [[Thunderclast]] but also nearly killed both himself and [[Lift]], draining their Stormlight.{{book ref|sa3|118}}
During the [[War of Reckoning]] and the [[True Desolation]], Vasher remains on Roshar and has been there for quite some time.{{wob ref|6267}} Vivenna subsequently appeared on Roshar under the identity of [[Azure]], searching for Vasher and Nightblood.{{wob ref|1892}} As Azure, Vivenna carried a sword of unknown origin that shares some similar characteristics with Nightblood.{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{wob ref|10477}} [[Borea]], an [[honorspren]] in [[Shadesmar]], wanted to know more about the sword; she recalled Nightblood passing through several years ago and agrees to trade information with Vivenna.{{book ref|sa3|108}}
Szeth chooses to leave Nightblood a distance away when interacting with [[Szeth's highspren|his highspren]].{{book ref|sa4|i|7}}
===== Campaign in Emul =====
During their campaign to free [[Emul]], Nightblood accompanied Szeth, Dalinar, and several Windrunners to parley with [[Ishar]]. Crazed, Ishar attempts to form a [[Connection]] with Dalinar to steal his bond to the [[Stormfather]]. Inside of Dalinar's [[perpendicularity]], Szeth uses Nightblood to sever this Connection, thereby saving Dalinar. While Szeth duels [[Ishar]], Nightblood manages to chip off a piece of Ishar's [[Honorblade]], shocking Ishar and causing him to flee.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
Nightblood later accompanied Szeth when the Skybreaker invades [[Taravangian]]'s prison and murdered him with a normal knife. Just before Taravangian perished, [[Odium]] arrived to question him, but Taravangian grabbed the cognitive manifestation of Nightblood and used it to attack the Shard. Taravangian then perished, but, before he could pass into the [[Beyond]], Nightblood killed Odium's Vessel, [[Rayse]], but was sated by the Investiture required to do so and left the [[Shard]] itself intact, which allowed Taravangian to Ascend as the new Vessel of Odium.{{book ref|sa4|113}}
===== Expedition to Shinovar =====
Following the campaign in Emul, Szeth decided to travel to Shinovar with Nightblood in order to complete his Fourth Ideal.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
== Cosmere Significance ==
{{image|Nightblood by Anya.png|side=right|width=400px}}
Both Shashara and Vasher had been to other planets before creating Nightblood and have relatively significant amounts of knowledge regarding the cosmere and Investiture.{{wob ref|1548}} Nightblood is one of the most heavily Invested things in the [[cosmere]].{{wob ref|5170}}{{wob ref|8662}} It is far more Invested than other powerful magical objects like Shardblades or the [[Bands of Mourning]],{{wob ref|7668}} and the only things more Invested than it are [[Shards]].{{wob ref|10833}} Nightblood didn't start off that strong but grew in power over time.{{wob ref|10833}} Nightblood cannot destroy an entire Shard but the Vessel can be killed by it.{{wob ref|13379}}{{book ref|sa4|113}}
It retains its power in any location as it can feed on any kind of Investiture available, including souls and even physical matter.{{wob ref|5879}}{{wob ref|8662}} It consumes Investiture at an incredibly high rate.{{book ref|wb|56}}{{book ref|sa3|90}} It is one of very few things known to affect all three [[Realms]]; it has been described as "attacking directly at the spirit".{{wob ref|8404}} Nightblood is able to collapse a perpendicularity.{{wob ref|12915}}{{book ref|sa4|111}} [[Rayse]] was well aware of Nightblood,{{wob ref|8741}} though he was surprised to see it before he was destroyed.{{book ref|sa4|113}} Other Vessels are afraid of it.{{wob ref|10832}} Even [[Hoid]], who is very difficult to kill,{{wob ref|4780}} is afraid of it.{{wob ref|8588}}{{wob ref|16273}}
If Nightblood and [[Vivenna's Blade]] were wielded against each other, terrible things would happen. Nightblood is, however, the stronger of the two.{{wob ref|13306}}
== Trivia ==
* Brandon intended to write a full sequel to ''Warbreaker'' called ''[[Nightblood_(book)|Nightblood]]'' that would have helped explain how Vasher and Nightblood ended up on Roshar, but other projects have taken precedence and it is on indefinite hiatus. Some clues may be given in other books, and ''Nightblood'' may be written as a novella instead.{{wob ref|2901}}
* Nightblood has visited more than two [[Cosmere#Planets|planets]] in the cosmere.{{wob ref|12594}}
* It is theoretically possible for Nightblood to bond a [[spren]], but the circumstances required are so bizarre it would probably never happen.{{wob ref|2862}}
* Nightblood has some similarities to Tzai blows, a technique in the non-canonical work ''[[Dragonsteel Prime]]'' that can directly attack something in the [[Spiritual Realm]].{{wob ref|8404}}{{bws ref|dragonsteel-prime-chapter-37-bridge-four-7|''Dragonsteel Prime'' chapter 37|date=2017-10-23}}
* If Nightblood was a ''[[wikipedia:Magic: The Gathering|Magic: The Gathering]]'' card, it would be equipment, with the text: "When equipped creature does combat damage, destroy all other creatures. During your upkeep, pay WUBRG or you lose the game."{{wob ref|4095}}
* Different forms of Investiture taste different to Nightblood. However, since he eats Investiture while unsheathed, he doesn't pay attention to the taste and doesn't remember it afterwards.{{wob ref|15669}}
== Notes ==
<references>
{{bws ref|date=2017-10-27|name=timeline|oathbringers-timeline|text=Oathbringer's Timeline}}
</references>
{{partial}}
{{Warbreaker}}
{{Stormlight}}
{{cosmere}}
[[category: Magic]]
[[category: Awakening]]
[[category:
[[category: Shardblades]]
[[es:Sangre Nocturna]]
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