Resonance
| Resonance | |
|---|---|
| Related to | Realmatic Theory, Investiture, Surgebinding, Twinborn |
| Universe | Cosmere |
“The effects here are more subtle than they are when mixing Surges on Roshar, but I am convinced that each unique combination also creates something distinctive. Not just two powers, you could say, but two powers … and an effect. This demands further study. ”
—Khriss.[1]
Resonances are additional powers or effects gained by people with access to more than one Invested Art or Surge.[2]
Mechanics
Resonances arise from the nature of how Shards combine.[3] They are not simply a combination of the two base powers, but rather a separate, more distinctive, effect.[1] The combination of powers can also cause slight variances in how the base powers are manifested, which is why Knights Radiant of different orders may manifest their shared Surges slightly differently.[4] The longer a person uses their two powers, the more likely they are to acquire a resonance.[5]
An individual with many powers, such as a Mistborn or Full Feruchemist, may lose this added effect.[6] With so many powers, the individual powers effectively wash out any resonance. It is still possible for such people to have a resonance, but it would be much less pronounced.[7] Temporarily gaining additional powers, such as from the Bands of Mourning, would not deprive someone of a resonance they previously had. Someone with one power who began using the Bands of Mourning might develop a resonance between their original power and the Bands.[5]
Known Resonances
Surgebinding
All orders of Knights Radiant have access to two Surges,[8] and therefore each order has a resonance of their own.[9][10] If a Radiant were to gain access to other Surges, either through an Honorblade or bonding to a different spren, resonances can form from Surges that wouldn't normally interact.[11] Known Surgebinding resonances include:
- Windrunners' resonance is an increased number of squires, more than any other order.[12]
- Lightweavers' resonance is increased mnemonic ability.[13][14] For Shallan Davar, this manifests as the ability to take a "Memory" of a scene, which she can recall at a later time with perfect accuracy; when she put it to paper as a painting or a sketch the Memory is completely removed from her mind.[15][16] This is similar to the way an Archivist stores memories in their copperminds. There is a limit to how many Memories she can store at the same time.[17] Memories are tied to Spiritual Connection.[18] Lightweavers can experience light and color differently and may be able to minutely alter the mood of others.[19] It is also implied that they may able to create a solid illusion by combining their Illumination surge and their Soulcasting.[20][21]
Metallic Arts
Twinborn, individuals who are both Ferrings and Mistings, also have resonances.[1] Hemalurgy will usually not create resonances, but it is possible for it to happen.[22] Examples of resonances in the Metallic Arts include:
- Waxillium Ladrian's ability to create a "steel bubble" to deflect metal moving around him[23] was originally intended to be the result of him being a savant in the resonance between his Allomantic steel and Feruchemical iron. Brandon later backed up on that, as he realized Wax was not manifesting the usual consequences of savantism.[24][3] It is unclear if other Twinborn with the same powers would be able to mainfest a similar steel bubble.
Speculated Resonances
- Skybreakers' resonance is unknown, though it has been confirmed that it does not involve telling guilty and innocent people apart.[25]
- Edgedancers' resonance is believed to be an ability to communicate especially well. This belief is derived from Lift's ability to easily speak with a street urchin in Tashikk and scholars considering the pre-Recreance Edgedancers "the most articulate and refined" of the Radiants.[26][27] Brandon has RAFO'd whether or not this is the resonance.[4]
- Elsecallers' resonance is suspected to be some sort of internal GPS. This suspicion comes from Jasnah Kholin's immediate knowledge of the direction to the nearest settlement after she returned from Shadesmar, and Hoid's subsequent thought that she has a good sense of direction.[28] Brandon has not clearly confirmed or denied this.[13] Their ability to Soulcast at a distance is not a resonance, as it is something that Lightweavers could learn as well.[29]
Trivia
- The nature of resonances was partially inspired by the constructive interference of waves.[30]
Notes
- ↑ a b c Shadows of Self Ars Arcanum#
- ↑ Lucca Comics and Games Festival
— Arcanum - 2016-10-28# - ↑ a b User: Argent conversation
— Arcanum - 2016-12-15# - ↑ a b Arcanum Unbounded Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2016-12-06# - ↑ a b JordanCon 2018
— Arcanum - 2018-04-21# - ↑ /r/Stormlight_Archive
— Arcanum - 2016-10-05# - ↑ Orem Signing
— Arcanum - 2019-03-16# - ↑ Oathbringer Ars Arcanum#
- ↑ Firefight Seattle UBooks signing
— Arcanum - 2015-01-06# - ↑ Calamity Austin signing
— Arcanum - 2016-02-25# - ↑ San Diego Comic-Con@Home 2020
— Arcanum - 2020-07-23# - ↑ Firefight Phoenix signing
— Arcanum - 2015-01-21# - ↑ a b Words of Radiance Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2014-03-22# - ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 49 epigraph#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 7#
- ↑ Words of Radiance Portland signing
— Arcanum - 2014-03-07# - ↑ Supanova 2017 - Sydney
— Arcanum - 2017-06-16# - ↑ Supanova 2017 - Sydney
— Arcanum - 2017-06-16# - ↑ The Great American Read: Other Worlds with Brandon Sanderson
— Arcanum - 2018-10-25# - ↑ Oathbringer chapter 120#
- ↑ /r/books AMA 2015
— Arcanum - 2015-08-04# - ↑ Skyward Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2018-11-16# - ↑ The Alloy of Law chapter 1#
- ↑ Arcanum Unbounded Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2016-12-06# - ↑ Oathbringer release party
— Arcanum - 2017-11-13# - ↑ Edgedancer chapter 6#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 46 epigraph#
- ↑ Words of Radiance epilogue#
- ↑ Starsight Release Party
— Arcanum - 2019-11-26# - ↑ Salt Lake City signing
— Arcanum - 2017-12-16#