Spheres
| Spheres | |
|---|---|
 by User: Sheep | |
| Type | Currency |
| World | Roshar |
| 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[1] and fuel for fabrials[citation needed] and Surgebindings.[citation needed] Like all gemstones, spheres naturally leak any Stormlight they have absorbed, over several days[2] - with larger denominations taking slightly longer.[citation needed] This has led to the practice of leaving spheres out in baskets and cages during highstorms so they can be recharged. The Rosharan terms for spheres full and empty of Stormlight are infused and dun respectively.
Appearance
Each sphere is made of a tiny gemstone encased in a glass bead, usually flattened on one side to keep the sphere from rolling away when set down.[3] The glass bead has a fixed size - a little larger than a person's thumbnail.[1] Contrasting the uniformity of the bead, the gemstone inside comes in a variety of types and sizes; its type can belong to any one of nine out of the ten Polestones,[4] and each one of those comes in three different sizes. While eight of the types have been revealed, it is unknown whether smokestone or heliodor is the Polestone without a sphere, or why it is not used in spheres.
Dimensions
Exact measurements for the glass beads or their embedded gemstones are not available, but they can be deduced from a Reddit post by Peter Ahlstrom where he confirms the weight of each denomination, in carats.[citation needed] The following table lists the mass and diameter of each denomination, assuming a uniform round cut.
| Denomination | Mass · carats | Mass · mg | Diameter · mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | 0.1 | 20 | 3 |
| Mark | 0.5 | 100 | 5 |
| Broam | 2 | 400 | 8 |
TODO: Sources
- https://www.gemsociety.org/article/standard-gem-sizes-chart/
- https://www.diamondnexus.com/product-education-mm-to-catat-weight-conversion.html
The natural property of gemstones to absorb Stormlight and emit a glow also leads to infused spheres being used as light sources.
Currency
The monetary value of each sphere is a direct consequence of causes both mundade (the size of the sphere's gemstone) and arcane (the Soulcasting properties of each gem type). The gem size defines the denomination of the sphere. From smallest to largest, these are chip, mark, and broam. The gem type is applied as a qualifier to the denomination (e.g. diamond chip) to form the twenty-seven different monetary units of Roshar.
Dun spheres are worth the same as infused ones[5] but since their glow is what proves that they aren't counterfeit, people are often suspicious of those spending dun spheres. They will call in a moneylender to judge their authenticity.[1] Instead of just leaving their spheres out in a highstorm, people often exchange their dun spheres with moneylenders for infused ones or pay a fee to have their spheres infused in the moneychanger's secure baskets.[6] It is possible that spheres are used as currency because of their use by Surgebinders, before the Knights Radiant abandoned the people of Roshar.
Value
There are five chips to a mark and four marks to a broam.[7] A higher denomination has a larger gemstone inside of it. However, the kind of gemstone set inside the sphere also determines the value of the sphere. This is related to the fact that magic such as Soulcasting uses gemstones in the process; emerald, the most highly valued sphere, can be used to Soulcast food.[1] There are currently five known values of spheres (and by extension, five known gemstones used in spheres), with some combinations of denomination and gemstone overlapping in value.[7]
Below is a table of all currently-known spheres, with their value given in terms of a diamond chip, the lowest denomination of the lowest-valued gemstone.
| Gem type | Chips | Marks | Broams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond | 1 dc | 5 dc | 20 dc |
| Garnet | 5 dc[5] | 25 dc | 100 dc |
| Ruby | 10 dc[citation needed] | 50 dc | 200 dc |
| Sapphire | 25 dc[3] | 125 dc | 500 dc |
| Emerald | 50 dc | 250 dc[8] | 1000 dc |
There are a number of other values including: topaz chips[9][10] and marks[11]; Zircon chips[12]; and amethyst broams.[13]
Towards the end of the War of Reckoning, one diamond chip was enough to buy a loaf of bread in the Alethi warcamps on the Shattered Plains.[14]
Spheres as Light
If left outside during a highstorm, the gemstone inside of a sphere is infused with Stormlight. Over time, usually around a week,[2] all of the Stormlight will escape leaving the sphere dun, so it ceases to glow.[15] 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.[1]
Due to this property of gemstones, infused spheres are often used as a source of light, since the light is renewable and more consistent than candles and lanterns.[16] Though the light given off by a gemstone is reputed to be steady and calm, this is only in comparison to the even more flickering candlelight; Kaladin observes that the Stormlight inside of a gemstone is actually shifting like a chaotic blowing storm.[17]
Although spheres are generally a superior source of light, many people, especially those less well-off or living in poorer districts, 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. 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.[18]
Zircon spheres give off a pale-blue light.[19]
Spheres as Investiture
A newly discovered usage of spheres is as a source of Stormlight for Surgebinders, such as the members of the newly reforming Knights Radiant and Honorblade wielders like Szeth. Surgebinders draw their powers from Stormlight; in the absence of a highstorm, Surgebinders must find other sources of Stormlight. Due to the ubiquity and inconspicuousness of spheres, they are an excellent source for power for Surgebinders to draw upon. Surgebinders make it a priority to keep a stockpile of infused spheres available to them at all times, whether it be carrying a pouch of spheres on their person, having subordinates or accomplices carry them, or using spheres found in the environment.
Fabrials
Magitech, whoo!
Surgebinders
Magi, whoo!
Shadesmar Currency
Whoo!
Informal Names
Spheres are normally described by their gemstone and denomination. However, instead of the gemstone, spheres are sometimes referred to by color. For example, a ruby mark may be referred to as a "firemark" while a diamond chip may be referred to as a "clearchip." Below is the list of known alternate names.
| Gem type | Chips | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond | Clearchip[8] | Clearmark[6] |
| Garnet | Bloodchip[citation needed] | Bloodmark[5] |
| Ruby | Firechip[citation needed] | Firemark[1] |
| Sapphire | Skychip[12] | Skymark[4] |
Notes
- ↑ a b c d e f The Way of Kings chapter 3#
- ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 99#
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 27#
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 8#
- ↑ a b c The Way of Kings chapter 17#
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 11#
- ↑ a b Peter says five chips per mark, four marks per broam, and that others are of equal value
— 17th Shard forums - 10 November 2011# - ↑ a b Words of Radiance chapter 43#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 63#
- ↑ The Way of Kings interlude I-7#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 30#
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 55#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 9#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 14#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 44#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 23#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 22#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 33#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 37#