Difference between revisions of "Nightblood"

Nightblood was created in a collaboration between [[Vasher]] and [[Shashara]]. It took a thousand Breaths and a very difficult visualization to Awaken steel. After much deliberation, the Command that was decided on was "Destroy evil." Unfortunately, a sentient sword doesn't really know what evil is. 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."{{ref|annotation ref|wb|chapter=35}}

The first hours of Nightblood’s life are imprinted upon it, and it cannot get rid of the concepts it learned during that time, such as Denth being fond of it and Shashara being alive. It is however very capable in some ways, able to grow and learn, although it cannot overwrite its initial experiences, ideas and memories, so in its mind, Denth will always be pleased with it, Shashara will always be alive and Vasher will always be friends with the both of them.{{ref|annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=54}}

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.{{ref|annotation ref|wb|chapter=51}} 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.

Nightblood can more easily influence and is better able to communicate with people who are mentally unhinged.{{ref|annotation ref|book=wb|chapter=53}}