Difference between revisions of "Spheres"

{{row/image+artist|image=Emerald sphere.jpg}}

{{row/kv|Type|type={{cat tag|Currencies|Currency}}|}}

{{row/kv|Books|''books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]''}}

'''Spheres''' are the primary currency in most nations on [[Roshar]]. Each one consists of a [[gemstone]] encased in a glass bead. Gemstones, including the ones in spheres, can temporarily hold [[Investiture]] in the form of [[Stormlight]], offering both a source of light{{book ref|sa1|3}} and fuel for [[Surgebinding]]s.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Like all gemstones, spheres naturally leak any Stormlight they have absorbed, over a period of about a week.{{book ref|sa1|17}} This has led to the practice of leaving spheres out during highstorms so they can be recharged. Rosharans use the terms '''infused''' and '''dun''' to differentiate between spheres that hold Stormlight at the moment, and ones that have gone dark. They were first devised as an alternative to large open flames, as Roshar's atmosphere has a high oxygen content, making flames behave somewhat differently.{{au ref|Rosharan }}

{{row| Chip | 0.1{{wob ref|10400}} | 20 | 3{{url ref|name=igs}}{{url ref|name=diamondnexus}} | pre={{!}} style="text-align:center;" {{!}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Mark | 0.5{{wob ref|10400}} | 100 | 5{{url ref|name=igs}}{{url ref|name=diamondnexus}} | pre={{!}} style="text-align:center;" {{!}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Broam | 2.0{{wob ref|10400}} | 400 | 8{{url ref|name=igs}}{{url ref|name=diamondnexus}} | pre={{!}} style="text-align:center;" {{!}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Sapphire | Deep blue |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#00008B;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Smokestone | Translucent |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#FFFFFF;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Ruby | Deep red |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#8B0000;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Diamond | Transparent |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#FFFFFF;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Emerald | Deep green |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#006400;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Garnet | Deep violet |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#9400D3;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Zircon | Pale blue |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#ADD8E6;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Amethyst | Pale violet |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#EE82EE;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Topaz | Pale orange |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#FFA500;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Heliodor | Light yellow |   | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} | pre3={{!}} style="background:#FFFFE0;" {{!}} }}

Perhaps the most common use of the spheres is as a light source. Since the gemstones inside them have the ability to hold Stormlight, many Rosharans have adopted the habit of leaving their spheres out during highstorms (in cages or baskets, so they don't get lost or stolen) so they can get (re)charged. Much like the highstorms, Surgebinders are also able to recharge spheres, similarly to how Awakeners[[Awakener]]s can store their Breaths[[Breath]]s in objects; the Surgebinder must already be Invested, at which point they can will some of their own Stormlight into a gem or sphere. Spheres are leaky containers for Stormlight, however (unlike the [[Polestone#Perfect_Gemstones|perfect gemstones]]), so they slowly lose their Stormlight to a process similar to evaporation. It takes several days for newly infused spheres to lose all of their Stormlight and become dun, though this amount of time varies slightly with the denomination of the spheres.

Due to this property of gemstones, infused spheres often serve as a replacement for other, more traditional light sources, such as candles and lanterns. Given that spherelight is both steadier and more consistent,{{book ref|sa1|23}} as well as being practically infinitely renewable, it is easy to see how people with access to spheres would consider them superior. The amount of light a sphere gives off varies with the denomination: chips barely have any glow at all, marks glow almost as bright as a candle, and broams glow with the light of several candles.{{book ref|sa1|3}} The color of the spherelight also changes predictably from sphere type to sphere type - emeralds glow green, rubies - red, and so on. Notably, spherelight from diamonds is considered best for reading,{{book ref|sa1|8}} as it is not only closest to natural light, it is also the cheapest gemstone. All spherelight, although reputably steady and calm, is only so in comparison to the even more flickering candlelight; [[Kaladin]] observes that the Stormlight inside spheres is actually chaotically shifting, much like a blowing storm.{{book ref|sa2|22}}

Although spheres are generally a superior source of light, many people, especially those less well-off or living in poorer regions, still use candles or lanterns. Using candles and lanterns is often cheaper than using spheres, since a sphere's dual status as currency makes it liable to be stolen.{{book ref|sa1|23}} This problem does not exist for wealthy or noble [[lighteyes]] who may use all-sphere lighting either as a practical matter or to show off their wealth. For example, the entirety of [[Kharbranth]]'s royal treasury is stored in the [[Palanaeum]] to be used as a source of light for the visitors and staff.{{book ref|twoksa1|33}}

One property of Rosharan spheres that does not affect their value is whether they are infused or dun.{{book ref|twoksa1|17}} However, since the glow from the Stormlight is the easiest way to prove that a sphere is not a counterfeit, people are sometimes suspicious of dun spheres and those who try to spend them. Merchants with access to the proper equipment may inspect the gem quality of dun spheres to ensure their authenticity, or call for a moneychanger.{{book ref|twoksa1|3}} Moneychangers serve an additional purpose in Rosharan societies, and that is to offer infused spheres in exchange for dun ones, since an established moneychanger usually has access to secure nests they can safely recharge spheres in. They can extend this service to people interested in recharging their own spheres safely, though this comes with a small convenience fee.{{book ref|twoksa1|11}}

The gem type is a little more complicated. The value of each type of sphere - and, therefore, the relative values of all types - is intrinsically tied to how valuable the given gemstone is in Soulcasting. This makes emeralds -- which can be used to Soulcast grain -- the most expensive kind of spheres,{{book ref|twoksa1|3}} while diamonds are the cheapest. The rest of the sphere types, however, don't all have unique values; instead, they fall within one of three tiers: '''prime pair''', '''middle weight''', and '''less weight'''.{{wob ref|10402}} Combined with the emerald and diamond spheres, this establishes a system with five distinct value tiers. The table below outlines the five tiers, lists the sphere types within each tier, and provides their monetary value expressed in '''diamond chips''', the smallest denomination of the least valued gemstone.

{{row| Cheapest | 1 | 5 | 20 | Diamond | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Less weight | 5 | 25 | 100 | Garnet, heliodor, topaz | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Middle weight | 10 | 50 | 200 | Ruby, smokestone, zircon | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Prime pair | 25 | 125 | 500 | Amethyst, sapphire | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Highest | 50 | 250 | 1000 | Emerald | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

Neither the full breathbreadth nor depth of the usefulness of Stormlight in Shadesmar is currently known, but it appears to be even more valuable there than it is in the Physical Realm. While it can serve as a regular currency, exchanged for items as mundane as clothes and as exotic as a painting from [[Nalthis]]' [[Court of Gods]],{{book ref|sa3|102}} it can also help spren change appearance{{book ref|sa3|103}}, though perhaps most importantly, it can aid in manifesting souls{{book ref|sa3|99}} -- a skill that seems invaluable for the survival in Shadesmar.

{{row| ShortcutInformal names | pre=! colspan=3 style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" {{!}} }}

{{row| Diamond | Clearchip{{book ref|sa2|43}} | Clearmark{{book ref|sa1|11}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Garnet | Bloodchip | Bloodmark{{book ref|sa1|17}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Ruby | Firechip | Firemark{{book ref|sa1|3}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{row| Sapphire | Skychip{{book ref|sa1|55}} | Skymark{{book ref|sa1|8}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}

{{url ref|name=igs|url=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/standard-gem-sizes-chart/|text=International Gem Society: Standard Gem Sizes Chart|site=IGS|date=2018-07-01|name=igs}}

{{url ref|name=diamondnexus|url=https://www.diamondnexus.com/product-education-mm-to-catat-weight-conversion.html|text=Diamond Nexus: MM to carat weight conversion values|site=Diamond Nexus|date=2018-07-01|name=diamondnexus}}

{{url ref|name=lat|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1996-04-13/home/hm-58312_1_measuring-tools|text=Los Angeles Times: Measuring Up Without Ruler|site=Los Angeles Times|date=1996-04-13|name=lat}}