4,461
edits
Big Smooth (talk | contribs) (organize, tense, other fixes) |
|||
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}{{spoilers|book=sa3.5}}
The '''
== Appearance and Anatomy ==
|[[Kaza]], watching the cook of the ''[[First Dreams]]''{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}
}}
=== Hordelings ===
Hordelings are usually about the size of a finger,{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}
=== 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}} [[Nikli]] notes that it took three hundred years to breed hordelings that could imitate human fingers.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} Over the course of many generations, some have even managed to breed hordelings that are able to mimic the powers of a [[larkin]].{{wob ref|12658}} 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 much 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}}
==== Reproduction ====
Sleepless are able to reproduce, but "reproduction" for them has a variety of
=== 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}} A [[Hemalurgic]] spike would disconnect a hordeling from the hivemind.{{wob ref|3319}} The Sleepless are not able to split their consciousness between the Cognitive Realm and the [[Physical Realm]].{{wob ref|11869}} They can also form multiple humanoid bodies at once, but it is difficult and risks making the split permanent, creating a new Sleepless. This is made easier if the bodies are not engaged in intelligent tasks at the same time.{{wob ref|14314}}
== 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
In addition to their ability to mentally link their hordelings, each Sleepless can also directly communicate with other swarms. It is possible to exclude certain swarms from these communications.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}}
The Sleepless are exceptionally [[cosmere]]-aware. At least some Sleepless 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}} They have some relationship to the [[shard]] [[Cultivation]] and another unnamed group in the cosmere.{{wob ref|9476}} They are aware that some [[Unkalaki]] are [[Sighted]] and that they guard [[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]].{{book ref|sa3.5|15}} They hold secrets about the power of the [[Dawnshard]]s and the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], and they have passed this information down to their "younger" members.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} They refer to [[lancer]]yn and [[larkin]] as "Ancient Guardians" and believed that protecting the [[Akinah Dawnshard mural]] was important to the fate of the entire cosmere.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}
{{quote▼
|Arclomedarian is dangerous, Nikli sent. I can see this. But it is not as dangerous as the true traitors.▼
|Nikli, on Arclo{{book ref|sa3.5|6}}▼
}}▼
Of the twenty
== History ==
=== Origins ===
All known Sleepless on Roshar descend from a single swarm currently named Yelamaiszin. Although not native to Roshar, the Sleepless lived in Aimia prior to the [[Scouring of Aimia]], which has been characterized by [[Hessi]] as "total destruction".{{epigraph ref|sa3|113}}{{wob ref|14313}} They coexisted with the [[Siah Aimian]]s, but are not related to them.{{wob ref|5479}} Despite the fact that they survived, the destruction of their home on Aimia seems to have caused the Sleepless a great deal of emotional pain.{{book ref|sa2.5|9}}▼
Sleepless, or Dysian Aimians, existed on other planets in the [[cosmere]]{{wob ref|11778}} and are known to have traveled between them.{{wob ref|12222}} [[Hoid]] was the only person known to use the term "Dysian," and the source of the term is unknown.{{book ref|twok|54}} All known Sleepless on Roshar descended from a single swarm currently named [[Yelamaiszin]].{{book ref|sa2.5|6}}
▲
=== Heraldic Epochs ===
The Sleepless
=== Modern Roshar ===
By the time of the [[True Desolation]], there were twenty-four Sleepless on Roshar.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}}{{wob ref|1784}}{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} As both Siah Aimians and Sleepless were immortal, the remaining individuals seemed to be aware of each other.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}
The Sleepless are able to monitor current events on Roshar using their hordelings, and they are particularly interested in Dalinar, [[Kaladin]], [[Shallan]], [[Szeth]], [[Navani]], [[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]]}}{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} 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}}▼
▲The Sleepless
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}}▼
▲
The Dysian Aimians were forced into conflict with humans again due to Radiant interest in the city of Akinah. Although they had managed to dissuade early patrols of Windrunners from surveying the island using specialized larkin hybrid hordelings, their vehemence in protecting the island only attracted more attention to it.{{book ref|sa3.5|2}}▼
▲The
After Queen Navani commissioned Rysn's ship, the Wandersail, to investigate the oddities, the Sleepless were forced into steadily more aggressive confrontations with the ship's crew. These engagements resulted in the unmasking of one of their agents, [[Nikliasorm]], fatally compromising the security of their entire operation.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}▼
▲After Queen Navani commissioned Rysn's ship, the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'', to investigate the oddities, the Sleepless were forced into steadily more aggressive confrontations with the ship's crew. These engagements resulted in the unmasking of one of their agents, [[Nikliasorm]], fatally compromising the security of their entire operation.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}
Despite this the [[Dawnshard]] maintains anonymity thanks to [[Rysn]]'s careful planning. She has agreed to keep the Dawnshard hidden and train the Sleepless to better pass as human.▼
▲Despite
▲== Government and Purpose ==
▲{{quote
▲|Arclomedarian is dangerous, Nikli sent. I can see this. But it is not as dangerous as the true traitors.
▲|Nikli, on Arclo{{book ref|sa3.5|6}}
▲}}
▲Of the twenty four known Sleepless on Roshar, twenty (including Yelamaiszin) accept the authority of [[Yelamaiszin]], the first swarm. They vote on important matters using the rapid communication given by their hive minds. [[Arclo]] does not accept their authority, although he is not considered one of the "true traitors" and is still liked.{{wob ref|14310}} It is unknown if the other three dissident Sleepless are in this category, though all four of the Sleepless who do not accept Yelamaiszin's authority (including Arclo) are still alive.{{wob ref|14310}} The Sleepless defend life, although they are willing to kill in order to preserve it. Nikli states that the Sleepless have chosen to do this after seeing the destruction of worlds and have vowed to never let it happen again.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} Paradoxically, while the Sleepless tend to like the Knights Radiant, with Yelamaiszin even stating a personal admiration for Dalinar, they worry that the Radiants' insistence on making honorable choices is highly dangerous.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}} Despite a willingness to kill in order to protect the [[Dawnshard]] from outside knowledge, the Sleepless are also open to reason. Rysn managed to convince them to spare the crew of Wandersail in exchange for her help in safeguarding it.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}
▲== 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 another unnamed group in the cosmere.{{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}} Dysian Aimians have more resistance to [[Soulcasting]] compared to humans for various reasons.{{wob ref|13201}}
== Notable
* [[
* [[Yelamaiszin]], first and oldest of the swarms on Roshar
* The cook of the ''[[First Dreams]]''{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}▼
* [[
* [[
* [[
▲* The cook of the ''[[First Dreams]]''{{book ref|sa3|i|4}} was an unidentified Sleepless
=== Confirmed sightings ===
|