The Coppermind

Nightblood

Revision as of 01:17, 30 July 2018 by 108.162.216.211 (talk)

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Nightblood
Abilities Destroys Evil, Worldhopper
Aliases sword-nimi
Homeworld Nalthis
"Nightblood" redirects here. For The eventual sequel to Warbreaker, see Nightblood (book).

“ You cannot tempt the hearts of men who are pure, Nightblood. ”

Nightblood is a sentient sword and Shardblade[2][3] from 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 were required, and a very difficult visualization needed to Awaken steel. 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 Type IV Entities was far too dangerous and killed Shashara to keep her from spreading it as she had done with the ability to make Lifeless from a single breath.

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 it reads their surface thoughts whether they want it to or not. Though he thinks otherwise, Nightblood doesn't need to sleep.[4] 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 man through. Nightblood in effect "wields" the person holding the sword and always kills its holder by driving itself 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 Nightblood's compulsion/revulsion magic has some parallels with Rioting.[5] This bond does not allow for access to Stormlight directly.

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. Living humans disappear as well,[6] but other creatures are not confirmed to do so yet. So long as Nightblood is unsheathed, it drains Breath from its wielder, drawing it faster the longer it is held until it is all gone. If held until all available Investiture (i.e. Breath) is consumed, Nightblood will feed on the spark of life, killing the wielder.[7] This will also happen to non-Returned that wield Nightblood.[8] Nightblood can also feed on other forms of investiture, such as Stormlight[9][6], and on Scadrial, a person would need to be actively burning a metal or tapping a metalmind.[10] Nightblood can also feed on the mists but not be able to pick up the Shard.[11] 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 of an opening.[12] Notably, it can draw Stormlight from other sources directly--not just from the wielder.[citation needed]

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 (and is described as being something akin to a "robot spren"[13]), but differs in that when the blade inflicts a wound, it vaporizes and destroys on all three realms, Cognitive, Physical, and Spiritual.[14]. The similarity with Shardblades is intentional - Nightblood was created with knowledge of Shardblades.[15] So far, everything Nightblood touches can be destroyed (we don't know if Nightblood can vaporize other shardblades) except for its own sheath, which was used by a Fused to block a blow from Nightblood during the Battle of Thaylen Field.

Physical Description

 
Held by Szeth by LittleGreyDragon

Nightblood is completely black, both blade and hilt. The blade is thin,[16] long, and straight, with cutting edges on both sides.[17] The cross guard is 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 has an aluminum sheath[18] with a clasp on it to prevent easy release of Nightblood. The sword itself is made of a material different from that of the sheath, meaning that Nightblood is not made of aluminum.[19]

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.

Roshar

The sword was given to Szeth after his death and Restoration by Nale.[20] Szeth, who calls Nightblood 'Sword-Nimi', carries it during and after his training with Nale and the 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. [21]

He is seen by Lift carrying Nightblood in Yeddaw and later in Thaylena. Nightblood likes Lift.[22]

The fist time Szeth drew the sword was in the Purelake test. When he did, he heard a rushing sound, like a thousand screams. Colors changed around him. They deepened, growing darker and more vibrant. It shouted DESTROY! Liquid darkness flowed from the Blade, and then melted to smoke as it fell. Flesh and blood puffed instantly into black smoke. This sword seemed to sear away even the man's soul. He was able to ram it back into its silvery sheath. [6]

Szeth then unsheaths Nightblood during the Battle of Thaylen Field and killed hundreds of enemies, but also nearly killed both himself and Lift, draining their Stormlight.[23]

Vivenna appears on Roshar under the identity of Azure, searching for Vasher and Nightblood.[24]

Quotes

“ I'm not blood thirsty, I like being useful ”

— Nightbood to Szeth on killing people [6]

“ At least an hour, one or two or ten thousand. Something like that. ”

— Nightblood to Szeth on how long they have been together [6]

“ I think you did a great job, Szeth. You didn't destoy many of them, yes, but you just need some more practice! ”

— Nightblood to Szeth on the aftermath of the Battle of Thaylen [25]

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.[26]
  • It is of note that Szeth makes no mention of any sensation of nausea or lust for Nightblood upon encountering it.
  • Nightblood can be fueled by other means of Investiture besides Breath. This includes Allomancy and Feruchemy.
  • Assuming that Nightblood is not Allomantically inert, an attempt to burn it would be similar to an attempt to burn someone else's metalmind.[27]
  • The Nightwatcher offers Nightblood to Dalinar after he asks her for forgiveness.[28]
  • Nightblood was not black-colored before being Awakened.[29]

Notes

  1. ↑ Warbreaker chapter 21#
  2. ↑ Words of Radiance signing San Fansisco
    — Arcanum - 2014-03-06#
  3. ↑ Calamity Seattle signing
    — Arcanum - 2016-02-17#
  4. ↑ {{{3}}}
    — 17th Shard forums - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "17s-post-66703" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ Orem signing
    — Arcanum - 2018-03-10#
  6. ↑ a b c d e Oathbringer chapter 92#
  7. ↑ {{{3}}}
    — Theoryland - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "qa-1086-16" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ {{{3}}}
    — Theoryland - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "qa-979-69" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ Firefight signing Miami
    — Arcanum - 2015-01-08#
  10. ↑ Oathbringer London signing
    — Arcanum - 2017-11-28#
  11. ↑ Barnes & Noble B-Fest 2016
    — Arcanum - 2016-06-11#
  12. ↑ Oathbringer Leeds signing
    — Arcanum - 2017-12-01#
  13. ↑ /r/books AMA 2015
    — Arcanum - 2015-07-25#
  14. ↑ {{{text}}}
    — Reddit - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "reddit-books-2ytg2h-crco2mv" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ {{{text}}}
    — Reddit - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "reddit-books-2ytg2h-ct6ccoe" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ Warbreaker prologue#
  17. ↑ {{{text}}}
    — Reddit - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "reddit-books-2ytg2h-cs2den3" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ Oathbringer release party
    — Arcanum - 2017-11-13#
  19. ↑ Arcanum entry 8706
    Missing Arcanum metadata, click to import.
  20. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 88#
  21. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 90#
  22. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 119#
  23. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 118#
  24. ↑ Warsaw signing
    — Arcanum - 2017-03-18#
  25. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 121#
  26. ↑ {{{text}}}
    — Reddit - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "reddit-books-2ytg2h-cpdfni3" defined multiple times with different content
  27. ↑ Firstly, you're assuming Nightblood is not allomantically inert (...) but if it was, it would be like trying to burn someone else's metalmind.
    — 17th Shard forums - Nov 5th, 2015#
  28. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 114#
  29. ↑ Oathbringer release party
    — Arcanum - 2017-11-13#

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