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{{lifeform
|image=Arclo.jpg
|sapient=y
|world=Roshar
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''Dysian Aimians''', also known as '''Sleepless''',{{wob ref|2113}}
▲'''Dysian Aimians''', also known as '''Sleepless'''{{wob ref|2113}}, are a sentient race found on [[Roshar]].
== Appearance and Anatomy ==
{{quote
|The cook began to hum. Pieces of her broke off. She crumbled to a pile of chittering little cremlings that moved out of her clothing, leaving it in a heap.
|Kaza, watching the cook of the ''[[First Dreams]]''{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}
}}
Dysian Aimians have a unique physiology, as their "bodies" are actually comprised of thousands{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} of small [[cremling]]-like creatures called "hordelings" that are able to function as a single consciousness.{{wob ref|11484}}{{wob ref|1543}} The hordelings are not limited in how they assemble themselves; with practice, a Sleepless can mimic the shape of other creatures, including humans.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} However, many Sleepless are barely humanoid.{{wob ref|2902}} They refer to themselves as "Sleepless"{{wob ref|2113}} because at least some part of the horde is always awake.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Unlike [[Siah Aimian]]s, Dysian Aimians cannot mate with humans.{{wob ref|10842}}
=== Hordelings ===
Hordelings are usually about the size of a finger,{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} and can be as large as a fist.{{wob ref|11672}} Hordelings on Roshar often resemble native creatures known as cremlings simply to make them less noticeable to casual observers; they can take other forms.{{wob ref|3346}} The hordelings of each Sleepless are not all identical, and often serve specific purposes.{{wob ref|1543}} For example, because [[Arclo]] tries to pass as a human, many of his hordelings have protrusions on their backs that resemble human parts such as skin or eyeballs; he is also able to speak with a passably human voice.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} However, hordelings cannot actually shapeshift, so the nature of a Sleepless body is always visible upon close inspection.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Sleepless therefore tend to cover their "skin" when possible, or use the appearance of older skin{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} or tattoos{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} to obscure their true nature.
=== Adaptation and Regeneration ===
Hordelings can be specially bred to enhance specific capabilities of a Sleepless, such as a heightened sense of smell or increased memory capacity, although this process takes some time.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} There is a limit on both the total mass and number of hordelings a Sleepless can have at any given time,{{wob ref|12043}} but the maximum number would definitely allow a Sleepless to become larger than human-sized.{{wob ref|11672}}{{wob ref|11953}} Because they can continually create new hordelings to replace any that are lost, the personality of a Sleepless can live forever, as long as not too many of the hordelings are destroyed at once.{{wob ref|3885}}
=== Consciousness ===
In practice, hordelings function as a "hive mind",{{wob ref|1543}} but they are not technically one entity.{{wob ref|11869}} Hordelings have the ability to separate from the main body to act as remote agents while maintaining their mental link with the rest of the horde.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Certain circumstances could lead to a hordeling being split off from the group and forced to act independently.{{wob ref|11869}} For example, a hordeling that is physically too distant from the others can lose contact with the main mind, and this would affect its [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] aspect.{{wob ref|11603}} The Sleepless are not able to split their consciousness between the Cognitive Realm and the [[Physical Realm]].{{wob ref|11869}}
== History ==
The Sleepless lived in Aimia prior to the [[Scouring of Aimia]], which has been characterized by [[Hessi]] as "total destruction".{{epigraph ref|sa3|113}} They coexisted with the [[Siah Aimian]]s, but are not related to them.{{wob ref|5479}} Dysian Aimians exist on other planets in the [[cosmere]]{{wob ref|11778}} and have traveled between them in the past,{{wob ref|12222}} so it is not clear if their true origin is Roshar. During the events of the ''Stormlight Archive'', relatively few Sleepless are still alive.{{wob ref|1784}}{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} As both Siah Aimians and Dysian Aimians are immortal, the remaining individuals seem to be aware of each other.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} [[Hoid]] is the only character that has used the term "Dysian" in the books, and the source of the term is unknown.{{book ref|twok|54}}
=== Heraldic Epochs ===
The blurbs on the back covers of the ''[[Stormlight Archive]]'' books are written from an in-universe perspective and are authored by Dysian Aimians;{{wob ref|1500}} the author of the blurb on ''[[The Way of Kings]]'' is an "odd" individual who has not otherwise appeared in the books.{{wob ref|12611}} It is clear that the Sleepless have a long history with the [[Herald]]s and [[Knights Radiant]], as the blurb references the period before the [[Last Desolation]].{{ref|text=[[The Way of Kings#Cover Synopsis|''The Way of Kings'' cover synopsis]]}} It is also implied that some Sleepless were once able to use the power of [[Surgebinding]].{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}}
At least some of the Sleepless, including Arclo,{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} were allies of the Heralds and Knights Radiant during the [[Heraldic Epochs]]; the author of the blurbs calls the [[Unmade]] and [[Odium]] "enemies"{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}} and believes that the Radiants must return.{{ref|text=[[Words of Radiance#Cover Synopsis|''Words of Radiance'' cover synopsis]]}} Arclo tells [[Lift]] that others of his kind are particularly interested in Radiants.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} At least one Dysian Aimian may have fought during [[Aharietiam]], as [[Dalinar Kholin]] notices a heap of burned, strange cremlings in one of [[Dalinar's visions|his visions]];{{book ref|sa3|42}} it is not clear which side they fought on.
=== Modern Roshar ===
The Sleepless are able to monitor current events on Roshar using their hordelings, and they are particularly interested in Dalinar, [[Kaladin]], [[Shallan]], [[Szeth]], [[Eshonai]], and [[Venli]], believing them to be crucial to the future of Roshar.{{ref|text=[[The Way of Kings#Cover Synopsis|''The Way of Kings'' cover synopsis]]}}{{ref|text=[[Words of Radiance#Cover Synopsis|''Words of Radiance'' cover synopsis]]}}{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}} Arclo believes that [[Lift]] should also be included in that group, and that the other Sleepless should not ignore her.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Arclo is also aware that the [[Stump]] is a Radiant{{book ref|sa2.5|16}} and that [[Nale]] is alive, referring to him as a "madman".{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}
Dysian Aimians appear to be guarding several secrets from humans, including something that Dalinar seeks but "must not know".{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}} An unnamed Sleepless learns of [[Vazrmeb]]'s plan to sail the ship ''[[First Dreams]]'' to [[Akinah]] in Aimia; she poses as a [[Reshi]] cook and joins the crew, later poisoning everyone else on board to protect the island.{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} She refuses to divulge any of Akinah's secrets to [[Kaza]] even as she is dying, telling her that doing so could result in the "ends of worlds".{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}
== Attributes and Abilities ==
{{quote
|Beneath that skin was not blood or muscle. It was hundreds of cremlings, pulling together to form a counterfeit man.
|Lift, on Arclo{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}
}}
All Dysian Aimians have the abilities granted by their unusual physiology, including shapeshifting, adaptive evolution, and effective immortality. At least some Dysian Aimians have had the power of [[Worldhopper|Worldhopping]];{{wob ref|12222}} Arclo tells Lift he once traveled to a land she will never visit.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Sleepless have used [[Surgebinding]] in the past and may use it again in the future.{{ref|text=[[Oathbringer#Cover Synopsis|''Oathbringer'' cover synopsis]]}} They have some relationship to the [[shard]] [[Cultivation]] and possibly another group on Roshar.{{wob ref|9476}} Arclo is able to easily kill two of [[Nale]]'s [[Skybreaker]] apprentices and tells [[Lift]] that it would not have been possible for them to kill him.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} He notes that Dysian Aimians would have nothing to fear even from someone as powerful as a Herald, and that they know to leave his kind alone.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}
== Notable Dysian Aimians ==
* [[Arclo]]
[[Brandon Sanderson]] has indicated that appearances of cremlings in particular places may indicate the presence of a Dysian Aimian; some such sightings have been directly confirmed by him.▼
* The cook of the ''First Dreams''{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}
=== Confirmed sightings ===
▲[[Brandon Sanderson]] has indicated that conspicuous appearances of cremlings
* [[Hoid]] delivers a monologue to a hordeling while waiting for [[Jasnah]] to Elsecall after her time in [[Shadesmar]].{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}{{wob ref|1523}}
* Kaladin notices a deep purple hordeling on one of [[Tvlakv]]'s carts.{{book ref|sa1|4}}{{wob ref|3240}}
=== Unconfirmed sightings ===
{{theory}}
* Shallan sketches a cremling in the gardens at her family manor.{{book ref|sa2|27}}
* [[Mraize]] shoots a cremling on a tree while meeting with Shallan.{{book ref|sa2|43}}
== Trivia ==
* The Sleepless were inspired by the Tines in [[wikipedia:A Fire Upon the Deep|A Fire Upon the Deep]], but can spread their members farther apart.{{wob ref|1543}}{{wob ref|9348}}
* The Sleepless will play a major role in [[Mistborn_(series)#Era_4:_Third_Mistborn_Trilogy|Mistborn Era 4]].{{wob ref|3341}}
* A hordeling could gain or lose something via [[Hemalurgy]], but that would cause it to disconnect from the main hive mind.{{wob ref|3319}}
== Notes ==
<references />
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{{Stormlight}}
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