Regal

Regal
by Caio Santos
World of Origin	Roshar
Universe	Cosmere

“Forms of power, yes, but also forms of obedience. The gods commanded, and we did obey, always. Always. ”

—Eshonai's mother

Regals are singers who bond with voidspren, granting them a transformation called a form of power. In the Voidbringer hierarchy, they are ranked above common singers, and below the Fused.

Regals appear to be comparatively rare among the Voidbringers, being apparently less numerous than the Fused. However, the possibility of joining their ranks is often used as a motivator for the singers, suggesting that the reason for that is a shortage of eligible singers rather than eligible voidspren.

Mechanics

Formation and Appearance

To become a Regal, a singer has to bond a voidspren; a non-sapient variety is used for this purpose. The form is assumed much like any other, by stepping into the storm with the mindset to bond an appropriate spren. Unlike a Fused possession, a form of power can be taken on both in highstorm and the Everstorm. In some cases, Odium may force a Regal form upon a singer personally while the latter is in the Everstorm.

The forms of power come in many different shapes; their precise number is unknown, though higher than ten. Regardless, they can always be recognized by having red eyes, as opposed to typical singer black. Historically, they were associated with voidlight and Ba-Ado-Mishram, though neither is necessary for their functioning.

Abilities

Unlike ordinary forms, Regals possess powers that are explicitely supernatural, from shooting lightning from one's hands to understanding and speaking every language in the world (as such, a kandra wouldn't be able to mimic a Regal). These powers do not seem to require any sort of external Investiture, such as stormlight or voidlight, to be used. Moreover, in contrast to Fused possession, taking on a form of power does not strip the host of their personality, though it can alter their way of thinking.

On the other hand, the Regal form can be directly spoken to by Odium, though this seems to only occur if the singer is caught in the Everstorm. They're also not protected from other supernatural effects, such as being swept up in Stormfather's visions, and are forced to use Odium-related Rhythms, as hearing the ordinary ones is exceptionally difficult to them. It's possible that Odium can not only speak to Regals, but also make them utterly obedient to himself.

Known Forms of Power

Most forms of power are only known through listener songs; several were recorded in the Song of Secrets, the Song of Histories, and the Song of Winds.

Nightform

“Nightform predicting what will be,
The form of shadows, mind to forsee.
As the gods did leave, the nightform whispered.
A new storm will come, someday to break.
A new storm a new world to make.
A new storm a new path to take, the nightform listens. ”

—17th stanza of the Song of Secrets

Decayform

“Decayform destroys the souls of dreams.
A form of gods, to avoid it seems.
Seek not its touch, nor beckon its screams, deny it.
Watch where you walk, your toes to tread.
O'er hill or rocky riverbed
Hold dear to fears that fill your head, defy it. ”

—27th stanza of the Song of Secrets

Smokeform

“Smokeform for hiding and slipping between men.
A form of power, like human Surges.
Bring it 'round again.
Though crafted of gods,
It was by Unmade hand.
Leaves its force to be but one of foe or friend. ”

—127th stanza of the Song of Histories

“Smokeform for hiding and slipping 'tween men.
A form of power—like Surges of spren
Do we dare to wear this form again? It spies.
Crafted of gods, this form we fear.
By Unmade touch its curse to bear,
Formed from shadow—and death is near. It lies. ”

—51st stanza of the Song of Secrets

Stormform

“Stormform is said to cause
A tempest of winds and showers,
Beware its powers, beware its powers.
Though its coming brings the gods their night,
It obliges a bloodred spren.
Beware its end, beware its end. ”

—4th stanza of the Song of Winds

Stormform is the first form of power to be rediscovered in the present times, as the listeners sought to find a way to defeat the human invaders. The form has little armor; rather, the singer's skin is covered in rows of protective ridges that poke out through the skin, which stretches tightly in some places. It causes the wearer to become more aggressive, callous, and filled with a sense of superiority over others.

Despite looking comparatively lithe, a stormform Regal is in fact significantly stronger than a warform singer, being able to leap across the chasms of the Shattered Plains without a running start. Moreover, the form allows a singer to create red lightning in their hands and shoot it at a considerable distance, though with little control. With some focus, the form also allows for control over wind; a group of stormform singers working in unison is capable of calling forth the Everstorm.

Envoyform

Envoyform isn't described in any known songs; so far, its only user is Venli, who has been granted it directly from Odium. A singer in envoyform is extremely tall, standing above even Alethi humans and stormforms, though still shorter than a Fused. The form grants very little in the way of armor, but much in the way of decoration, as an envoyform possesses long hair and more pronounced sexual characteristics, such as breasts for female singers, despite the form being apparently still asexual. Though the form is not as physically powerful as others, it is incredibly nimble.

Envoyform grants a host of supernatural abilities, though most of them go unexplained. The most notable one, however, is the ability to speak and understand any language, whether human or singer. The ability presumably uses the power of Connection; it takes several sentences before the singer can learn a language, whereupon they feel as though the words blur in their mind before being shifting into becoming understandable. Thanks to this power, the envoyform's primary purpose is that of a translator -- as well as a propagandist -- for the Voidbringer forces.

See Also

• Singers
• Fused
• Voidbringers

Notes

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