Shardblade

Shardblades were magical weapons that could be found on Roshar. People who possessed a Shardblade were called Shardbearer. They were generally associated with Shardplate, it's armor-complement.

Description

There were at least three types of Shardblades. Out of those, two types have been identified. Shardblades of the first type are about six feet long and a handspan wide and have only one edge. Those are the more common Shardblades. The second type-Blades are also long, but thin and edged on both sides. They are smaller than the others. A Blade of that type was carried by Szeth.

Often, the Shardblade is somehow ornamented along the blade.

Magical abilities

Shardblades could cut easily through anything inanimate, like stone or steel. In contrast to this, it cuts through flesh without leaving a mark or spilling blood. However, when passing through the spine of a human, his eyes smoke and burn, blacken and shrivel up in their head. It was said to sever the soul itself. However, once a creature was killed, the remains interacted with the Shardblade like any other non-living material. Also, when the Shardblade cut through a limb rather than the spine of a creature, the limb went dead beyond the point of healing.

The weapon could only be blocked by another Shardblade, by Shardplate or by Half-shards.

When needed, the Shardblade could be summoned from an unknown place to appear in the hand of it's Shardbearer. The process of summoning would take exactly ten heartbeats. When summoned it formed as if condensing from mist, water beading along the metal length.

When the Blade was dropped, it disappeared unless it was willed to stay, which was a protection from being taken by the enemy during battle.

When the Shardbearer died, the weapon appeared next to the dead Shardbearer. When taken up by someone different, the Shardblade bonds with the person picking it up.

When the Knights Radiant abandoned their Shardblades, the Blades continued to glow for some time.

History

The origin of Shardblades was unknown. It was known that the Knights Radiant possessed Shardblades. Legend said that the Shardblades were "gifts of their god, granted to allow them to fight horrors of rock and flame".

At the Recreance the Shardblades were abandoned by the Knights Radiant along with their Shardplate.. Soldiers who were present picked them up. At that moment, least 200 Shardblades existed.

Later the Shardblades became objects of power and immense value. Wars were fought for them and a kingdoms power rose and fell with the number of Shardblades possessed. When the War of Reckoning was fought, there were an estimated twenty Shardblades held by Alethkar, another twenty for Jah Keved, and approximately another forty spread out among the rest of the world. Those forty include five Blades held by Thaylenah, some by Selay and one held by Herdaz. Some Shardblades were held by the Parshendi. Kharbranth and the Unkalaki did not have a Shardblade.

Known Shardbearers

• Adolin Kholin
• Amaram
• Dalinar Kholin - Oathbringer - until he traded it to Sadeas
• Elhokar Kholin - Sunraiser
• Eshonai
• Gavilar Kholin - until his death
• Sadeas - Oathbringer
• Shallan Davar
• Szeth-son-son-Vallano
• Hanavanar, king of Jah Keved, and two of his guards

Cosmere Background

This page or section deals with theories or speculation.

Please read carefully and note that this is not necessarily canonical.

Shardblades were Invested objects. It has been theorized that they are stored in the Spiritual Realm, when not used. Also it seems to produce its effect in the Spiritual Realm, killing the soul of people and not the body. A Shardblade bonds with its bearer. This seems to indicate a connection with Honor. It has been theorized that they have been created by the Almighty who himself is theorized to be Honor. They also seem to have a connection with Honorblades carried by the Heralds.

It is thought that Helaran Davar owned a Shardblade, until his death at the hands of Kaladin. His blade would be the one now owned by Amaram.