| Nightblood | |
|---|---|
| Type | Weapon |
| Creators | Shashara, Vasher |
| Owners | Vasher, Szeth |
| World of Origin | Nalthis |
“You cannot tempt the hearts of men who are pure, Nightblood.”
Nightblood is a sentient sword on Nalthis. It was created through the experiments of Vasher and his associates, the Five Scholars.
Creation
Nightblood was created in a collaboration between Vasher and Shashara A thousand Breaths, and a very difficult visualization to Awaken steel were required. Nightblood was Awakened with the command "Destroy Evil." 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."Template:Annotation ref
The first hours of Nightblood’s life are imprinted into its memory, and it cannot overwrite its initial experiences and memories, such as Denth being fond of it and Shashara being alive. It is, however, very capable in some ways, able to grow and learn.Template:Annotation ref
Vasher decided the knowledge of how to Awaken steel was far too dangerous and killed Shashara to keep it secret.
Powers and Characteristics
Nightblood is sentient, but lacks a human context for its intelligence(sapience). Time has no meaning for it, nor can it well understand the dynamic aspect of human personalities. It can speak into Vasher's mind, as well as Vivenna's, and reads their surface thoughts whether they want it to or not. Though he thinks so, Nightblood doesn't need to sleep.[2] Nightblood can more easily influence and is better able to communicate with people who are mentally unhinged.Template:Annotation ref
When its clasp is undone and even a bit of its blade shows, it leaks an inky smoke. The smoke is the Breaths that it has absorbed from its victims, twisted and fouled, leaking back out.Template:Annotation ref Those it 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. Even while still in its scabbard Nightblood is very powerful and enhances the person holding him, once Nightblood is unclasped every part of it is a deadly weapon that--literally--yearns to kill evil-doers, It can smash bones and even run a men through. Nightblood in effect Wields the person holding the sword and always kills its holder by driving its self through their chest.
A "good" person, someone who wouldn't want to use Nightblood for evil purposes, feels sick while looking at Nightblood and touching it can induce vomiting. This sensation of nausea is suppressed if the user has drawn Nightblood and had his or her breath drained. 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. Template:Annotation ref
Once drawn, Nightblood becomes incredibly powerful. Its voice becomes overpowering. Lifeless that it touches disappear in a puff of smoke and stone also disappears when struck. It is unknown what happens to a Living creature that is struck by Nightblood. So long as Nightblood is unsheathed, it drains the Breath from its wielder, drawing Breath faster the longer it is all gone. If held until all avalable Investiture(i.e. Breath) is consumed Nightblood will feed on the spark of life killing the wielder.[3] This will also happen to non-Returned that wielding Nightblood.[4]
Nightblood seemingly drew the color from a person who tried to wield it but was disarmed by Vasher before the sword could kill.
Nightblood is similar to a Shardblade, but differs in that when the blade inflicts a wound, it vaporizes and destroys on all three realms, Cognitive, Physical, and Spiritual.[5]
Notes
- ↑ Warbreaker chapter 21#
- ↑ Does Nightblood need to sleep?
— 17th Shard forums - Oct 5th, 2013# - ↑ Does Nightblood rip souls out of bodies, by chance?
— Theoryland - Mar 4th, 2014# - ↑ Is everyone at risk of dying from wielding Nightblood unsheathed for too long?
— Theoryland - Apr 15th, 2013# - ↑ Would Nightblood also work like a shardblade, in that it severs the soul instead of consuming it when it touches a person?
— Reddit - May 18th, 2015#
Physical Description
Nightblood is completely black, both blade and hilt. The sword is described as long and straight with the guard referred to as being hooked. Its overall size is noted as large; most likely, Nightblood was made to fit the proportions of a Returned. It is sheathed in a silver color, all-metal sheath with a clasp on it to prevent easy release of Nightblood.
Based on Vasher and Vivenna's statements, Nightblood could be around 53 all the way to 60 inches long overall, with a blade of around 43-46 inches long.
Other Sightings
Though it was speculated that Hoid wields Nightblood when on Roshar acting as the King's Wit, it is now confirmed that his blade is not Nightblood.[1]
Nightblood appears at the end of Words of Radiance. The sword was given to Szeth after his death and Restoration.[2]
Trivia
Nightblood has no sense of gender assigned to itself. Vasher is responsible for originally assigning it male pronouns. It is fascinated by gender, and is still attempting to figure it out.[3]
It is of note that Szeth makes no mention of any sensation of nausea or lust for Nightblood upon encountering it.
Notes
- ↑ {{{3}}}
— 17th Shard forums - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "17s-post-65432" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 88#
- ↑ What is Nightblood's opinions on gender, and who decided on him having he/him pronouns?.
— Reddit - Mar 13th, 2015#