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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."{{annotation ref|wb|chapter=35}}
Upon being Awakened, the entire sword turned black{{wob ref|8245}} and began leaking black smoke.{{annotation ref|wb|chapter=51}} Nightblood was not originally a [[Feruchemy|metalmind]] or a [[Hemalurgic]] spike.{{wob ref|13044}}
=== Nalthis ===
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.{{annotation ref|wb|chapter=51}} 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.{{annotation ref|wb|chapter=58}} 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}}
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}} 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.{{book ref|wb|56}} 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}}
== Cosmere Significance ==
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
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 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}} [[Odium]] is well aware of Nightblood{{wob ref|8741}} and other vessels are afraid of it.{{wob ref|10832}} [[Hoid]], who is very difficult to kill,{{wob ref|4780}} is also afraid of it.{{wob ref|8588}}
== Quotes ==
* Brandon intended to write a full sequel to ''Warbreaker'' called ''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 [[Shardworld]]s.{{wob ref|12594}}
* Shashara could not have retrieved her Breath from Nightblood through any means she knew.{{wob ref|13094}}
== Notes ==
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