Difference between revisions of "Spheres"

{{culture

|type={{cat tag|Currencies|Currency}}

|world=Roshar

|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]

}}

 

== Appearance ==

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

|}

Each sphere is made of a tiny gemstone encased in a glass bead that is usually flattened on one side to keep the sphere from rolling away when set down.{{book ref|sa1|27}} The gemstone can belong to any one of the ten [[Polestone]]s{{wob ref|10402}} and can come in one of three different sizes. The glass bead is always a uniform size, a little larger than a person's thumb nail.{{book ref|sa1|3}}

 

 

The table to the left presents the mass and diameter of the gemstone in each denomination, assuming a uniform round cut.

! colspan=3 style="background:#CCCCFF; text-align:center;" | '''Spherelight colors'''{{wob ref|10402}}

{{row| Gem type | Color | pre=! style="text-align:center; font-weight: bold;" {{!}} | pre2=! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; font-weight: bold;" {{!}} }}

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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 [[Awakener]]s can store their [[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.

 

The table to the right lists all ten sphere types along with the spherelight color they emit.

 

== Currency ==

The gem size defines the three denominations of spheres (chip, mark, and broam), and therefore a fixed exchange rate between the different denominations of spheres of the same type. Within the same gem type, each broam is equivalent to four marks,{{wob ref|10400}} and each mark is equivalent to five chips{{book ref|sa1|3}} - making a broam equal to twenty chips.

 

 

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"

 

For a full list of the known prices of goods and services, see '''this page'''.-->

=== Ends ===

Glass spheres that do not contain a gemstone are known as '''ends'''. They serve as fake money that can be used to play wagering games such as [[pieces]] if the players do not wish to risk real spheres.{{book ref|sa3|40}}

For Surgebinders - including both pre-Recreance [[Knights Radiant]] and [[Dalinar]]'s newly restored Orders, as well as wielders of [[Honorblade]]s such as [[Szeth]] prior to his death - the spheres, much like ordinary gemstones, act as a portable, convenient, and inconspicuous source of Stormlight to power their [[Surgebinding|abilities]]. Because of this, Surgebinders often carry pouches full of infused spheres, although if they find themselves in a situation where their own spheres are unavailable, inaccessible, or dun, they are often able to make use of spheres frequently found in the environment.

 

 

=== Shadesmar Currency ===

{{partial}}

{{Stormlight}}