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{{magical entities
|image=Windspren.png
|magic=[[Surgebinding]], [[Fabrial|Fabrials]], [[
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{quote
|Spren appear when something changes—when fear appears, or when it begins to rain. They are the heart of change, and therefore the heart of all things.
}}
'''Spren''' are fragments of the [[Adonalsium|powers of creation]] that have
Spren are far more extensive and numerous than the closest comparable entities, [[seon]]s and [[skaze]], Splinters of [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]] respectively. This is one of the reasons Roshar does not have the same problem with travelling to the Cognitive Realm as [[Sel]] -- even though Honor is [[Splintering|Splintered]] just like the other two Shards, on Roshar, spren act as a "release valve" for the uncontrolled power of Honor.{{wob ref|4129}}
== Characteristics ==
}}
<div style="float: right; padding-left: 1em">__TOC__</div>
=== Definition ===
For Rosharans, the term "spren" has broad application. Entities such as [[Shard]]s, [[Cognitive Shadow]]s and other beings from beyond the [[Physical Realm]] would be considered spren by the Rosharans.{{book ref|sa3|4}}{{book ref|sa3|38}} Among those are Cognitive aspects of objects. Those Cognitive aspects are based on how the objects are viewed by the surrounding entities and how long they've been the way they currently are.{{book ref|sa1|37}} These "spren" can be spoken to in the Cognitive Realm and bribed with [[Stormlight]], which forms the basis of [[Soulcasting]].{{book ref|sa1|48}} In [[Shadesmar]], they usually take the form of small beads, akin to [[sphere]]s that serve as Roshar's currency. A skilled person can "manifest" a bead, making it take the form of its Physical counterpart.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
In the strictest sense, however, spren are [[splinter]]s of one of more Shards, with a single spren being composed of one or more types of [[Investiture]]. Most spren are splinters of Honor and [[Cultivation]], or a mixture of both that leans towards either one Shard or the other.{{wob ref|11949}} There are said to be thousands of different kinds of spren, each named for a different type of phenomenon.{{book ref|sa1|49}} They vary vastly in size, with the smallest being the size of a thumbnail, while the largest can dwarf buildings.{{file ref|Rosharan Wines.jpg|Rosharan Wines}}{{book ref|sa1|i|5}}
=== Creation ===
Spren are generally personification of certain cognitive ideals and concepts;{{wob ref|4135}} as such, they come into being in the realm of thought, the [[Cognitive Realm]]. There, loose Investiture left behind by the Shards comes alive, shaped and given cognizance by the ideas and concepts of the collective experience of sentient creatures. Over time, those ideas and concepts, imprinted upon scraps of Investiture, become personified as an external entity, becoming spren.
Some spren predate the arrival of Honor and Cultivation to Roshar, and perhaps even the [[Shattering]]. These are Splinters of [[Adonalsium]] itself that it left behind intentionally and that have attained sentience on their own since then.{{wob ref|10563}} This tendency towards sentience, which can be seen both in Shard-derived spren and Adonalsium-derived spren, is a result of [[cosmere]]-wise phenomenon of Investiture attaining sentience when left on its own.{{wob ref|1473}} However, while comparable entities exist on other worlds -- most notably, seons and skaze -- the sheer amount of spren created is unique to Roshar.
The cognitive ideals that create spren are similar to those that determine the appearances of the [[Returned]] on [[Nalthis]] and the plausibility of [[Forgery| Forgeries]] on Sel, and are based off of human perception.{{wob ref|4110}}{{wob ref|4048}}
=== Functioning ===
[[File:Maya.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<center><small>by {{a|LittleGreyDragon}}</small></center> [[Mayalaran]], a [[deadeye]] spren]]
{{for|Deadeye|more information about spren death}}
Spren do not need to sleep,{{book ref|sa1|14}} but they can die.{{wob ref|96}} Spren with a Nahel Bond can die if their bonded [[Surgebinder]] breaks their Oaths to an untenable degree. However, there are stages to spren death, and it's not necessarily one-way. If the Radiant who broke their Oaths is not yet at the point where they would acquire a [[Shardblade]], the spren simply seems to disappear.{{book ref|sa2|69}} Such a spren can be brought back to life if the Radiant returns to abiding by the Oaths, and re-swears them. It's possible that swearing the next level of the Ideals is a necessary part of the process.{{book ref|sa2|84}}
By contrast, a spren that has been killed after the Third Oath leaves behind a dead [[Shardblade]], while in the Shadesmar, they take the form of a [[deadeye]].{{book ref|sa2|87}}{{book ref|sa3|101}} A deadeye is a zombie-like figure with scratched-out eyes, constantly striving to mindlessly reach the location of its Blade.{{book ref|sa3|101}} Whether it can be brought back to life is uncertain, although it has never happened before.{{book ref|sa3|28}}
In Shadesmar, spren appear to feed off [[Highstorm]]s, growing more lively and energetic when one passes over them.{{book ref|sa3|101}} They are attracted to the particular phenomena they are named after, popping up around the affected area or person -- for example, someone who is scared will attract fearspren.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} However, the causal link between spren and their namesake is not fully understood on Roshar, as some spren, like rotspren, are believed to cause their namesake rather than being attracted by it.{{book ref|sa1|57}}
Larger spren have the ability to shape-shift, often mimicking faces, as well as being able to mimic voices.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} They also have the ability to pick up small objects and give small pinches of energy.{{book ref|sa1|6}} They will often appear to a singular person, who they will taunt and play with.{{book ref|sa1|2}} Some humans have the ability to see these spren, even if the spren in question does not explicitly reveal itself to the viewer. These people are called ''alaii'iku'' by the [[Unkalaki]].{{book ref|sa1|21}}
Spren are also related to the physical phenomena of [[wikipedia:wave-function collapse|wave-function collapse]] -- one can fix a spren's dimensions simply by the act of measuring it.{{book ref|sa1|i|8}}
== Classification of spren ==
[[File:Shadesmar Spren.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Several types of lesser spren (and a [[Reacher]]), as seen in Shadesmar]]
While their variety is near-infinite, all spren can be classified into several groups.
=== Lesser Spren ===
Vast majority of all spren is non-sapient; those are called the lesser spren, or subspren.{{book ref|sa3|4}} Although some can speak, talking with them is generally an exercise in futility, which leads to people ignoring them a lot of the time.{{book ref|sa1|2}} Spren of the same sub-type are essentially the same individual, with no differences between any two entities.{{book ref|sa1|17}} They are capable of forming a bond with humans, though it is different from the Nahel bond of true spren.{{wob ref|4783}} As creatures of nature, spren are not particularly concerned with good and evil.{{wob ref|9780}}
Lesser spren vary in how much they appear in the Physical Realm. Some, like windspren, exist almost entirely in the Physical, having next to no imprint on Shadesmar. By contrast, others exist mostly in Shadesmar, with only parts of them, like tongues or drool, visible in the Physical.{{book ref|sa3|95}} There are also spren like [[mandra]]s (luckspren), who will often and easily switch between existing in the Cognitive and the Physical. In Shadesmar, this phenomenon is called "dropping", as the spren appears to drop out of existence, and then drop back in.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
==== Nature and emotion spren ====
Lesser spren are divided into '''nature spren''' and '''emotion spren'''.{{book ref|sa2|3}} Emotion spren are attracted to sensations like anger, joy or passion; they are composed of more Honor than Cultivation. Nature spren are attracted to natural phenomena like wind, decay or rain, and have more Cultivation than Honor in them.{{wob ref|6454}} Emotion spren will react to emotional [[Allomancy]].{{wob ref|2740}}
While the lesser spren are often invisible, they are said to be ever present and will pop up around the phenomenon they are named for.{{book ref|sa1|7
==== Odium's influence ====
{{for|#Corrupted Spren|a list of known spren corruptions}}
Lesser spren can be corrupted by [[Sja-Anat]], a process which she refers to as "enlightening".{{book ref|sa3|97}} Such corrupted spren will appear to be misshapen compared to their regular counterparts, with various parts of them exaggerated to a more painful degree -- for example, a hand becoming more wiry and bony, or petals turning into shards of glass.{{book ref|sa3|77}}{{file ref|Kholinar Spren.jpg|Kholinar Spren}}
=== True Spren ===
{{quote
| There are no foolish oaths. All are the mark of men and true spren over beasts and subspren. The mark of intelligence, free will, and choice.
| [[Stormfather]] on what separates sapient from sentient beings{{book ref|sa3|4}}
}}
Spren that do possess sapience are referred to as true spren.{{book ref|sa3|4}} They seem to all represent higher concepts, such as honor for [[honorspren]] and truth and lies for [[Cryptic]]s. Nine types of true spren bond with humans to grant them [[Nahel Bond]]s and thus, the power of [[Surgebinding]]; however, more types of sapient spren exist.{{wob ref|9539}}
In [[Shadesmar]], true spren have their own culture, politics and nations; though the Cognitive Realm was created by creatures of the Physical, it is spren who shape and rule it.{{book ref|sa2|1}} Some spren, like Cryptics or [[highspren]], have nation-states, composed wholly of spren of their own kind;{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa3|47}} others, like honorspren, seem to rule a nation of their own, but also allow other types of true spren to live with them.{{book ref|sa3|108}} There are also city-states such as [[Celebrant]], where various spren live together.{{book ref|sa3|102}}
[[File:Glys Bonnie Johnson.JPG|thumb|
==== Odium's influence ====
=== Unique Spren ===
{{for|#Known unique spren|a list of unique spren}}
There is a small number of spren that are one of a kind, with no other like them in the world. Those include the native spren of Roshar, such as the [[Nightwatcher]], the [[Stormfather]], [[Cusicesh]] and the [[Sibling]], as well as the nine great spren of Odium called the [[Unmade]]. Each of them appears to have a unique power or ability -- for example, Nightwatcher can grant boons and banes, [[Moelach]] can induce [[Death Rattle]]s, and the Stormfather commands the [[highstorm]]s. The intelligence of unique spren varies greatly -- while some have almost humanlike minds, others are animalistic and act more as forces than they do as people.{{epigraph ref|sa3|104}} The former are capable of communicating with humans, and picking who can and cannot hear them.{{book ref|sa3|83}}
At least some unique spren can be bonded. [[Bondsmiths]] gain their powers from such bonds, with the Stormfather being one of the three great Bondsmith spren.{{book ref|sa2|89}}{{epigraph ref|sa2|44}} Some Unmade also bond with people -- [[Yelig-Nar]] grants the use of all ten [[Surge]]s to whoever swallows a gem containing him, and [[Re-Shephir]] attempts to displace a Nahel Bond.{{epigraph ref|sa3|95}}{{book ref|sa3|30}} Whether an Unmade can become a Bondsmith spren is unknown at this point in time.
==Symbiotic Relationships==
* [[Ashspren]] ([[Dustbringers]])
* [[Cultivationspren]] ([[Edgedancers]])
* [[Cryptic]]s ([[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweavers]])
* [[Inkspren]] ([[Elsecallers]])
* [[Reachers]] ([[Willshapers]])
}}
[[Bondsmiths]] powers are granted by some of the unique spren, including the [[Stormfather]].{{book ref|sa2|89}} The names of spren of the orders of [[Stonewards]] and [[Truthwatchers]] are not known at this point, although the spren themselves have been seen. A Truthwatcher spren appears as a patch of light, as if reflected from a mirror, while in the Physical Realm;{{book ref|sa2.5|20}} a Stoneward spren looks like a humanoid figure with skin of cracked stone and molten light glowing from within while in Shadesmar.{{book ref|sa3|102}}
==== Notable Radiant spren ====
* Unnamed Highspren of [[Nale]]
* Unnamed Highspren of [[Warren]]
* Unnamed
* Unnamed
}}
== Known Subtypes ==
=== Alespren ===
[[File:Alespren.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Alespren]]
{{quote
Axies theorized their existence, but was only able to observe them once, leading him to doubt whether they're real. As there are other stories of people seeing them, their existence is likely.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}}
=== Angerspren ===
{{quote
| Vamah was watching them stand there, and his expression was as thunderous as a highstorm, angerspren boiling up from the ground around him like small pools of bubbling blood.
In Shadesmar, they have an unspecified appearance but make a loud screeching noise similar to sheets of steel grinding against each other when attracted.{{book ref|sa3|93}} Angerspren are said to be "nasty" and very dangerous even to other spren. The pools of boiling blood seen in the Physical Realm are actually saliva drooling from their mouths.{{book ref|sa3|95}}
=== Anticipationspren ===
{{quote
| A few anticipationspren—like red streamers, growing from the ground and whipping in the wind—began to sprout from the rock and wave among the soldiers.
The streamer that appears in the Physical Realm is the tongue of the anticipationspren. The spren itself has a round bulbous body and is about the size of a human toddler. It will open its mouth and stick its tongue in the air when near feelings of anticipation.{{book ref|sa3|97}}
=== Ashspren ===
{{for|Ashspren}}
A type of sapient spren that forms Nahel Bonds with the Knights Radiant [[Order of Dustbringers]], granting them their powers.{{book ref|sa3|107}} Ashspren grant the [[Surge]]s of Division and Abrasion. In Shadesmar, they
They seem to be fond of destroying the things around them.{{book ref|sa3|27}}
=== Awespren ===
{{quote
| A single awespren, like a ring of blue smoke, burst out above him, spreading like the ripple from a stone dropped in a pond. Shallan had seen such a spren only a handful of times in her life.
A very rare type of spren that appear around people who are very awestruck. They take the form of a ripple of blue smoke spreading slowly outwards.{{book ref|sa2|78}} They usually appear above and around the awed person's head, like a halo.{{book ref|sa2.5|13}}{{book ref|sa3|4}} Most of the time, only a single one can be seen at once, though a whole group of people can attract several.{{book ref|sa3|24}}
=== Bindspren ===
{{quote
| He thought he could faintly make out tiny spren, dark blue and shaped like little splashes of ink, clustering around the place where the rock met the wall.
It's possible that rather than being attracted to the state of being imprisoned, captivityspren are attracted to the feelings of being trapped. This would explain why Axies, who sees being in prison as an opportunity, never witnesses any, while Kaladin's degrading mental state in prison summons several.
=== Coldspren ===
A type of spren mentioned in [[Navani's notebook]]. They can be captured in gems of a certain cut and used in fabrial machines.{{file ref|Navani1.jpg|First page of Navani's notebook}} They look like spikes growing around the affected person's feet.{{book ref|sa3|8}}
[[Urithiru]] is covered in hundreds of coldspren.{{book ref|sa3|12}} It's unclear whether they're attracted to low temperatures or the sensation of being cold.
=== Concentrationspren ===
{{quote
|Concentrationspren rippled in the air like waves overhead.
A type of spren that looks like ripples in the air, similar to a drop in the pond, although without the pond.{{book ref|sa3|104}}{{book ref|sa2.5|13}} They are rare in [[Alethkar]], but can be found in [[Urithiru]] and [[Tashikk]].{{book ref|sa3|53}}{{book ref|sa2.5|13}} They most commonly appear around people who are deeply focused on their task.
=== Creationspren ===
{{quote
| Her drawing gathered about a half-dozen of them, pulling them by her act of creation just as a bright fire would draw flamespren.
When drawing, the more skilled one is, the more likely creationspren are to appear.{{book ref|sa1|7}}
=== Cryptics ===
[[File:Pattern Animation.gif|thumb|200px|Drawings of [[Pattern]] ]]
{{for|Cryptic}}
A type of sapient spren that forms Nahel Bonds with the Knight Radiant [[Order of Lightweavers]], granting them their powers. Cryptics grants the [[
In the [[Cognitive Realm]], they have the appearance of figures in robes that hang stiffly, as if made of glass rather than fabric. Instead of heads, they have a floating symbol full of impossible angles and geometries.{{book ref|sa1|29}} In the [[Physical Realm]], Cryptics take the shape of a complex and constantly shifting geometric pattern slightly raised off a surface or object.{{book ref|sa2|3}} They can also manifest as a floating three-dimensional mass of twisting lines.{{book ref|sa2|42}}
=== Cultivationspren ===
{{for|Cultivationspren}}
A type of sapient spren that forms Nahel Bonds with the Knight Radiant [[Order of Edgedancers]], granting them their powers. Cultivationspren grant the [[
Cultivationspren are ruled by a group of them called the [[Ring]], which, among others, dictates which spren are to bond who.{{book ref|sa2.5|1}} They also have the capacity to let their kinsmen travel into the Physical Realm without the usual accompanying loss of mental functions.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}
=== Deathspren ===
[[File:Deathspren by Marianne Eie.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by {{a|Marianne Eie}}</small></center>Deathspren]]
{{quote
It's possible that deathspren have a more direct effect on the dying than simply being attracted to them, as [[Syl]] strives to protect Kaladin from them when he's close to death.{{book ref|sa1|38}}
=== Decayspren ===
{{quote
| I didn't know men got this old. You sure he's not decayspren wearing a man's skin?
A type of spren referenced by [[Sylphrena]].{{book ref|sa1|17}} It appears that they are attracted to things that have been abandoned or neglected, as well as rotting food.{{book ref|sa3|25}}{{book ref|sa3|78}} They look like barnacles, and usually appear in large numbers, huddling close together.{{book ref|sa3|25}}
=== Exhaustionspren ===
{{quote
| She noticed something sweeping through the air above her. She cringed, looking up to find large, birdlike creatures circling around her in Shadesmar. They were a dark grey and seemed to have no specific shape, their forms blurry.
A type of spren that appear around exhausted people. In the Physical Realm, they appear as brown-colored jets of dust shooting up in the air.{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{book ref|sa3|49}} In Shadesmar, they seem indistinct yet also large and birdlike.{{book ref|sa2|11}}
=== Fearspren ===
{{quote
| Fearspren—wiggling and violet—sprang up through the wood and wriggled in the air.
Among the [[listener]]s, fearspren look like long purple worms.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}. This is probably because they can see the entire antenna and not just the tip which humans see.
=== Fermentationspren ===
A type of spren related to fermentation.{{wob ref|12904}}
=== Flamespren ===
{{quote
| ...instead watching a pair of flamespren dance along one of the logs. These seemed vaguely human, with ever-shifting figures.
The [[ardent]] [[Geranid]] was studying flamespren when she discovered that if she measured them, the spren seemed to be "stuck" by that measurement.{{book ref|sa1|i|8}} This is similar to the physical process of [[wikipedia: wave-function collapse|wave-function collapse]] in [[wikipedia: Quantum mechanics|quantum mechanics]].
=== Gloomspren ===
{{quote
|Long, grey, like a tattered streamer of cloth in the wind. It wound around him, fluttering.
A rare type of spren that looks like a grey streamer, seemingly attracted to the feeling of resignation or deep sadness. [[Syl]]'s aunt hunts them in a manner similar to a greatshell hunt.{{book ref|sa3|5}}
=== Gloryspren ===
{{quote
| Below, his men cheered, sending up calls that rose above the Parshendi war chant. Gloryspren sprouted around him.
A type of spren that appear around people when they experience pride in their accomplishments. In the Physical, they look like as golden orbs of translucent light,{{book ref|sa1|12}} while in the Cognitive, they take the form of avian-like creatures with bulbous bodies, long wings, and flowing tails, with a golden ball for a head.{{book ref|sa3|91}}
=== Gravityspren ===
A type of spren mentioned in [[Navani's notebook]]. They can be captured in gems of a certain cut and used in fabrial machines.{{file ref|Navani1.jpg|First page of Navani's notebook}} They are possibly another name for groundspren or luckspren.
=== Greatshell Spren ===
A type of spren that has a symbiotic relationship with [[greatshell]]s, enabling them to grow to such large sizes.{{wob ref|1227}} They look like tiny tongues of smoke, such as those from snuffed candles, but can only be seen when they leave a greatshell's corpse after it has been killed.{{book ref|sa1|15}}
The [[Tai-na]] of the [[Reshi Sea]] have an extraordinary variant of spren, referred to as the "soul" of the greatshell by the [[Reshi]]. It allows them to grow to far more gargantuan sizes. These "souls" will sometimes show themselves to people. They seem to have some measure of control over the [[Surge]] of Gravitation, letting them slow a person's fall.{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
=== Groundspren ===
A type of spren to which Rosharans attribute the pull of gravity.{{book ref|sa1|49}}
=== Heatspren ===
A type of spren mentioned in [[Navani's notebook]]. They can be captured in gems of a certain cut and used in fabrial machines.{{file ref|Navani1.jpg|First page of Navani's notebook}} It's uknown whether this is a scientific name for a flamespren, or a different creature entirely.
=== Highspren ===
{{for|Highspren}}
A type of sapient spren that forms Nahel Bonds with the Knights Radiant [[Order of Skybreakers]], granting them their powers. Highspren grant the [[Surge]]s of Gravitation and Division.{{file ref| TWoK Front Endsheet.jpg | Surgebinding Table}}
[[File:Syl Portrait by Marie Seeberger.jpg|200px|thumb|<center><small>by {{a|Marie Seeberger}}</small></center> [[Sylphrena]], an honorspren]]
=== Honorspren ===
{{for|Honorspren}}
A type of sapient spren that forms Nahel Bonds with the Knights Radiant [[Order of Windrunners]], granting them their powers. Honorspren grant the [[Surge]]s of Gravitation and Adhesion.{{file ref| TWoK Front Endsheet.jpg | Surgebinding Table}} They are said to be quite "discerning" in deciding who they would bond with.{{book ref|sa1|60}}
[[Sylphrena]] is an honorspren.{{book ref|sa1|67}}
=== Hungerspren ===
{{quote
| As he spoke, he attracted a few hungerspren. They looked like brown flies that flitted around the man's head, almost too small to see.
A type of spren that appears around people experiencing extreme hunger. They appear as tiny brown flies that flit around the hungry person.{{book ref|sa1|2}}
=== Inkspren ===
{{for|Inkspren}}
A type of sapient spren that form Nahel Bonds with the Knights Radiant [[Order of Elsecallers]], granting them their powers. Inkspren grant the [[Surge]]s of Transformation and Transportation.{{file ref| TWoK Front Endsheet.jpg | Surgebinding Table}} They look like small, human-shaped figures with ink-black skin and clothing, coated in what seems to be oil, with a mother-of-pearl or prismatic quality to their look.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} They are capable of blending into shadows.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa2|3}}
=== Joyspren ===
{{quote
| Joyspren rose around her, like blue leaves that started at her feet then moved up in a swirl before flaring out above her as if in a blast of wind.
A relatively rare type of spren, usually accompanied to intense feelings of happiness or accomplishment.{{book ref|sa3|37}} They take form of a blue leaves or petals that rise around a person in a flutter, circling them or trailing behind as the person moves.{{book ref|sa3|4}}{{book ref|sa3|122}}
=== Keenspren ===
A type of spren mentioned by [[Wyndle]], who considers 'growing a garden for keenspren' to be a comparison point for the weirdness of a conversation.{{book ref|sa2.5|6}}
=== Laughterspren ===
{{quote
| A few laughterspren—minnow-like silver spirits that darted through the air in circular patterns—began to zip about them.
Another name for [[Cryptic]].{{book ref|sa2|3}}
=== Lifespren ===
{{quote
| A few lifespren—tiny, glowing green specks—floated around the shalebark mounds. Some danced amid the rifts in the bark, others in the air like dust motes zigzagging up, only to fall again.
Rarely, lifespren may appear in particularly populated areas.{{book ref|sa2.5|4}}
=== Lightspren ===
{{for|Lightspren}}
Reachers are often guides in Shadesmar, as they like to travel to different places, trading and selling goods.{{book ref|sa3|93}} They have ships pulled by teams of [[mandra]]s, inlaid with lines of copper that may serve as a medium of communication.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
[[Timbre]], [[Ico]], and his [[Ico's father|father]] are lightspren.
=== Logicspren ===
{{quote
| There were said to be logicspren—in the form of tiny stormclouds—who were attracted to great arguments...
[[File:Luckspren.png|thumb|right|Sketch of [[Luckspren]] ]]
=== Luckspren ===
{{for|Mandras}}
A type of spren that flies around [[skyeel]]s and some [[
In Shadesmar, luckspren are known as mandras. There, they are far larger, with long, sinuous bodies and arrow-shaped heads. They are often harnessed by various spren to pull ships through the seas of beads, as there is no wind to sail on. They have a habit of "dropping out", vanishing temporarily into the Physical Realm, and then reappearing in Shadesmar, necessiting any single ship to have several mandras hitched to it.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
=== Mistspren ===
A type of sapient spren, albeit one that is not affiliated with any order of the [[Knights Radiant]].{{wob ref|9539}} They have only been seen in Shadesmar, where they look like humanoid figures made out of swirling, indistinct fog. Their faces look like porceilain masks, and they wear gloves, trousers and vests that adhere to their bodies' shape despite their seeming incorporeality.{{book ref|sa3|108}}
They seem to be affiliated with [[honorspren]], working as common sailors on their ships.{{book ref|sa3|108}}
=== Musicspren ===
{{quote
| Musicspren zipped through the air around [the drummers], the tiny spirits taking the form of spinning translucent ribbons.
A type of spren that appear around musical performances. They have the appearance of spinning, translucent ribbons that whirl around the playing instrument.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} A single, pure note is enough to draw at least one musicspren, if only for a short time.{{book ref|sa1|33}} They also seem attracted to [[Ryshadium]]s, suggesting that they might be the spren the horses bond with.{{book ref|sa3|26}}
=== Painspren ===
{{quote
| Painspren swarmed the ground, like small orange hands or bits of sinew, reaching up from the ground amid the blood of the fallen.
A common type of spren that appear around those experiencing pain. They have the appearance of sinewy, orange hands.{{book ref|sa1|1}} They crawl out of the ground and swarm the pained, latching on to the wounded areas.{{book ref|sa1|16}}
=== Passionspren ===
{{quote
| Passionspren, like tiny flakes of crystalline snow, floated down in the air around them.
A type of spren that appears around those experiencing passionate feelings. This includes both intense love and more violent passions, like the [[Thrill]].{{book ref|sa1|61}}{{book ref|sa3|26}} They look like small flakes of snow.{{book ref|sa1|61}}
=== Rainspren ===
{{quote
| [Rainspren] were said to be the souls of raindrops...
A type of spren that appears most often during the [[Weeping]]. The have the appearance of glowing, ankle-height, blue candles that, despite seeming to melt, never grow shorter, with a single eye at the top of their body. They often stand in puddles.{{book ref|sa1|44}}
===
A type of spren related to rainbows.{{wob ref|13337}}
=== Riverspren ===
{{quote
| [The Purelake] was filled with tiny fish, colorful cremlings, and eel-like riverspren.
A common type of spren that appear in bodies of water such as rivers or the [[Purelake]]. They are often described as being eel-like.{{book ref|sa1|i|1}} They are among the larger varieties of spren and have the ability to mimic faces and expressions, as well as voices, often choosing to torment people while doing so.{{book ref|sa1|2}}
=== Rotspren ===
{{quote
| Rest... and keep that wound clean. We don't want to attract any rotspren. Let me know if you see any. They are small and red, like tiny insects.
Spren attracted to feelings of shame or embarrassment. They look like red and white flower petals floating down to the ground.{{book ref|sa3|9}}
=== Shockspren ===
A rare type of spren that appear around people experiencing fearful shock (as opposed to awespren, associated with pleasant surprises).{{book ref|sa3|19}} The look like pale yellow triangles breaking and reforming around the person who attracted them.{{book ref|sa3|6}}{{book ref|sa3|19}}
=== Starspren ===
{{quote
| It was the time between moons, and so he was lit mostly by the firelight; there was a spray of stars in the sky above. Several of those moved about, the tiny pinpricks of light chasing after one another, zipping around like distant, glowing insects.
Listeners can bond stormspren to attain [[stormform]], granting them the ability to shoot red lightning.{{book ref|sa2|i|11}} They also cause the listener to be more callous and feel superior to others, and give access to Odium's Rhythms.{{book ref|sa2|i|8}}
=== Windspren ===
{{quote
| Windspren were devious spirits who had a penchant for staying where they weren't wanted...
Windspren are closely related to [[honorspren]], such as Sylphrena.{{wob ref|4071}} This perhaps evidenced by their ability to stick things together{{book ref|sa1|2}}, making use of a rudimentary version of the [[Surge]] of Adhesion.{{wob ref|3260}} They generally use this ability to play pranks on people, doing things like sticking shoes to stone or sticking shoelaces together to cause someone to trip.{{book ref|sa3|77}}
== Corrupted Spren ==
[[File:Kholinar Spren.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sketches of corrupted painspren and shamespren]]
The Unmade [[Sja-anat]] has the ability to corrupt spren, which she calls Enlightening. In the past, she could only corrupt lesser spren; presently, even Radiant spren and [[Oathgate]] spren are possible for her to Enlighten.{{book ref|sa3|97}} These corrupted spren are drawn to the same phenomena, but are different in appearance from the typical spren. [[Syl]] believes that corrupted spren can be recognized by vividly red color, though not all spren fit this description.{{book ref|sa3|89}}
Overall, corrupted spren seem to appear more painful, twisted and more intense -- the fire is blue-hot rather than red, streamers turn into whips, edges grow sharper and more jagged.{{book ref|sa3|78}}{{book ref|sa3|72}}
* '''Angerspren''': instead of pools of blood, they resemble bubbling pools of tar. Upon popping, the bubbles burn red, like embers.{{book ref|sa3|67}}
* '''Anticipationspren''': instead of the typical flat streamers, they have long, thin tendrils that resemble whips or tentacles.{{book ref|sa3|63}}{{book ref|sa3|72}}
* '''Awespren''': corrupted awespren appear as soot-black puffs.{{book ref|sa3|74}}
* '''Exhaustionspren''': they are bright red instead of their typical brown, and distorted, looking more like small red whirlwinds.{{book ref|sa3|74}}{{book ref|sa3|74}}
* '''Flamespren''': vivid blue instead of the traditional red and orange. They appear more jagged than their non-corrupted counterparts.{{book ref|sa3|78}}
* '''Gloryspren''': take the shape of a cube instead of a globe.{{book ref|sa3|77}} In the [[Cognitive Realm]], they are described as looking bone-white and brown, with wings extending to the sides, long tresses for a tail, and golden cubes for heads.{{book ref|sa3|97}}
* '''Hungerspren''': much more rare than their uncorrupted versions, even in [[Kholinar]].{{file ref|Kholinar Spren.jpg|Kholinar Spren}} They are black, and resemble the flies seen on rotting plants. {{book ref|sa3|72}}
* '''Oathgate Spren''': the corrupted spren of the Kholinar [[Oathgate]] are described as looking like stretched-out versions of people, 30 feet tall, hovering in the air. One is pitch-black and the other is red.{{book ref|sa3|87}}
* '''Painspren''': sickly green as compared to their normal orange, as well as deformed or distorted, no longer resembling human hands.{{book ref|sa3|62}}
* '''Shamespren''': resemble pieces of broken glass instead of petals.{{book ref|sa3|62}}
* '''Windspren''': the corrupted windspren are only described as "...trailing red light."{{book ref|sa3|78}} Whether this means that the ribbons of light themselves were red is unclear.
* '''[[Glys]]''': rather than looking like a reflected light, Glys appears as a crystalline structure dripping red glow upwards.{{book ref|sa3|115}} While the [[Progression]] [[Surge]] he grants appears to remain unaltered, [[Renarin]] seems unable to use [[Illumination]] and has visions of the future.{{book ref|sa3|10}}
== Known unique spren ==
Unique spren are spren that are one of a kind, or at least exceedingly rare and powerful. Most of them appear to have been created, or at least heavily affected, by direct [[Shard]]ic influence. They include:
===
{{for|Nightwatcher}}
The Nightwatcher is a [[splinter]] of [[Cultivation]],{{wob ref|9207}} and has been raised by Cultivation akin to a child.{{book ref|sa3|114}} She holds court in an overgrown, fertile region known as the [[Valley]] of the Nightwatcher, slightly south of [[Urithiru]], in the mountains of [[Greater Hexi]].{{map ref|Roshar}} Any visitor there can ask for a boon; she might bestow something that strives to fulfill that boon. However, each boon is also associated with a curse, which is not necessarily matching.{{book ref|sa1|i|7}} Boons can range from mental alterations, such as renown or skill, or physical gifts, like wealth or magical objects. However, the Nightwatcher has some problems understanding more abstract requests, like forgiveness or unchanging. For this reason, Cultivation monitors her closely, intervening if need be.{{book ref|sa3|114}}
The boon and curse system is known to Rosharans as [[Old Magic]].{{book ref|sa1|i|7}}
===
[[File:The Stormfather by Noblesgal.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by {{a|Noblesgal}}</small></center> Stormfather]]
{{for|Stormfather}}
The Stormfather is one of the oldest entities on Roshar, having existed in some form prior to the [[Shattering]].{{wob ref|9266}} He's the Cognitive manifestation of peoples' impression of the [[highstorm]]{{book ref|sa3|31}}. He exists mostly in the Physical Realm, with only a minor Shadesmar presence.{{book ref|sa3|107}} He commands the highstorms that circle the planet, with the ability to chose when to send one.{{book ref|sa2|83}} While he generally accompanies storms, his level of power allows him to be much more omnipresent.{{wob ref|4268}} He's one of the three main [[Bondsmith]] spren, granting the [[Surge]]s of [[Adhesion]] and [[Tension]].{{book ref|sa2|89}}
To the [[singer]]s, the Stormfather is known as the Rider of Storms. At some point, he has switched sides to humans, leading to [[listener]]s feeling betrayed by him.{{book ref|sa2|i|5}} He was also changed by [[Honor]] shortly before the latter's death, providing him with more awareness, and partly merging him with [[Tanavast]]'s [[Cognitive Shadow]].{{book ref|sa3|113}} [[Dalinar]]'s ability to open [[Honor's Perpendicularity]] might have something to do with it.{{book ref|sa3|119}}
===
{{for|Sibling}}
The Sibling is a major spren associated with the tower-city of [[Urithiru]], and possibly one of the Bondsmith spren. They have been dormant since the [[Recreance]], after a prolonged decline that saw many of the tower's life support systems failing, eventually forcing the [[Knights Radiant]] to abandon the city.{{epigraph ref|sa3|68}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|69}} Stormfather asserts that the Sibling's withdrawal is tied to humankind hurting them in the past in some manner.{{book ref|sa3|111}}
Unlike most known true spren, the Sibling did not view themselves as male or female, and in fact found the spren's adherence to physical creatures' gender norms to be bizarre.{{wob ref|11572}}
===
{{for|Cusicesh}}
Also known as Cusicesh the Protector, it's one of the largest known spren to take physical form. It makes its home in [[Kasitor]] Bay, where it rises from at exactly seven forty-six in the morning every day. It takes the form of a tall column of water, topped with a face turning towards the [[Origin]]. The face is constantly changing, cycling through numerous different sets of features for ten minutes before retreating back into the water. Cusicesh also has four long feet, which it plants on the shore as it rises.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}}
Cusicesh is worshipped by the people of Kasitor, who not only set their clocks by its arrival, but have also built golden plinths at the spots where Cusicesh's feet land. However, people who are in the vicinity of Cusicesh when it appears often report a sense of fatigue after it vanishes, which may or may not be because of expectation.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}}
=== Oathgate Spren ===
[[File:Oathgate_Spren.jpg|thumb|200px|Uncorrupted Oathgate spren]]
{{quote
| We are apologetic. We have been… alone very long. We would enjoy granting passage to men again. But we cannot do that which was forbidden.
| Spren of [[Thaylen City]] Oathgate{{book ref|sa3|116}}
}}
Oathgate spren reside over the [[Oathgates]]. They take the form of enormous, statue-like humanoids, many times taller than a person, wearing armor and holding fittingly large spears. They always appear in pairs, with one being mother-of-pearl shimmering white, while the other is shimmering black.{{book ref|sa3|112}} They act and speak in concert, with no visible differences in their opinions or demeanor.{{book ref|sa3|116}}
The Oathgate spren facilitate transfer between Oathgates, with any pair being able to transport anything on the Oathgate's physical platform and in its control chamber between themselves and a matching Oathgate in either [[Urithiru]] or one other city.{{book ref|sa3|1}} Their existence is a crucial element of the Oathgates' functionality, as an Oathgate can be rebuilt so long as the spren are left uncompromised. It appears they are bound to the eleven gemstones that are used to operate the Oathgate.{{book ref|sa3|117}} While the Oathgate spren can be corrupted, this does not impact their ability to send travellers to uncorrupted ones.{{book ref|sa3|i|14}}
In the past, those spren also allowed people without the [[Surge]] of Transportation to travel to and from [[Shadesmar]]; however, [[Honor]] forbade it to them shortly before his death. While the Oathgate spren are highly regretful about it, they are physically incapable of disobeying his orders.{{book ref|sa3|116}}
=== The Unmade ===
{{for|Unmade}}
{{quote
| We were made, then unmade.
| [[Sja-Anat]]{{book ref|sa3|84}}
}}
The Unmade are a group of nine ancient spren of [[Odium]].{{book ref|sa3|1}} Each of them are exceedingly massive and powerful, and each has a unique form and effect on the surrounding enviornment.{{epigraph ref|sa3|89}} They vary vastly in not only their appearance, but also their level of intelligence, with some being mindless, while others are capable of complex thought.{{book ref|sa3|120}}{{book ref|sa3|84}} Unlike most servants of Odium, many Umade have remained on Roshar after the [[Aharietiam]], and dwell there to this day.{{epigraph ref|sa3|92}}
[[File:Thrill.png|thumb|right|300px|<center><small>by {{a|Ashley Coad}}</small></center> Nergaoul]]
The Unmade are:
* '''[[Ashertmarn]]''' - also called Heart of the Revel. Causes people in its sphere of influence to give into mindless debauchery and excess. Last seen in [[Kholinar]], although it withdrew to lure Shallan into using the local [[Oathgate]], making its current location uncertain.{{book ref|sa3|77}}
* '''[[Ba-Ado-Mishram]]''' - one of the intelligent Unmade. Can connect with the [[singer]]s, granting them access to [[Voidlight]] and [[Regal]] forms.{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} She has been trapped at the end of the [[False Desolation]], and is yet to be seen in the present day.
* '''[[Chemoarish]]''' - also known as the Dustmother.{{epigraph ref|sa3|108}} Very little is known about her, as she is yet to be seen.
* '''[[Dai-Gonarthis]]''' - sometimes called the Black Fisher. As with Chemoarish, his true nature is unknown at this point in time.{{epigraph ref|sa3|113}}
* '''[[Moelach]]''' - doesn't appear to have a presence in the Physical Realm, but causes [[Death Rattle]]s in some people who die within his sphere of influence.{{epigraph ref|sa2|82}} Last seen in the environs of [[Vedenar]].{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}
* '''[[Nergaoul]]''' - an animalistic Unmade; usually doesn't have a presence in the Physical Realm, but can take the form of a cloud of red mist with various shapes within in. Its presence causes a lust for battle known as the Thrill.{{book ref|sa3|115}} At the present, it has been captured and imprisoned in the [[King's Drop]] by [[Dalinar]].{{book ref|sa3|120}}
* '''[[Re-Shephir]]''' - known as the Midnight Mother. She can create [[Midnight Essence]], monsters that mimic the creatures around them. Has been nesting in [[Urithiru]] until [[Shallan]] banishes her; her current whereabouts are unknown.{{book ref|sa3|31}}
* '''[[Sja-Anat]]''' - one of the intelligent Unmade, once called the Taker of Secrets. She can "enlighten" spren, corrupting them with Odium's Investiture. In the present, she appears to be unwilling to continue working with Odium, and is looking for a way to switch sides.{{book ref|sa3|84}}
* '''[[Yelig-Nar]]''' - sometimes called the Blightwind.{{epigraph ref|sa1|45}} He's capable of bonding with people who swallow a gemstone containing him, granting them the use of all ten [[Surge]]s. Was present at the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], although the Fused have presumably took him back when they withdrew.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
== Myths and Lore ==
Apart from the real spren, Rosharan folklore has a small number of creatures whose existence is questionable, but which are also referred to as spren. Chief among them are the '''[[Dawnsingers]]''', which the [[Vorin]] theology teaches were servants of the [[Almighty]], sent by him to care for mankind on Roshar.{{book ref|sa1|45}} In the lore, Dawnsingers are credited with bestowing numerous gifts upon humanity, including the [[Dawnchant]], humanity's original written language, and [[Dawncities]], a group of ancient settlements following [[cymatics|cymatic]] patterns.{{book ref|sa1|33}}{{book ref|sa1|54}} The [[ardent]]s of [[Palanaeum]] claim that their library was constructed by the Dawnsingers.{{book ref|sa1|7}} It's eventually revealed, however, that the Dawnsingers aren't spren, but rather the ancient [[singers]], the original inhabitants of Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|11}}
Standing in opposition to the Dawnsinges in the folklore are the '''[[Voidbringer]]s''', which in the [[Era of Solitude]] are believed to be a type of evil spren.{{book ref|sa1|45}} They are said to have existed in ancient times, walking the land with bodies of stone.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Other stories claim that the Voidbringers stalk the most violent [[highstorm]]s, or that they live out in the wilderness, coming out only at night. Most tales agree that Voidbringers would eat human flesh.{{book ref|sa1|4}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|43}} Those stories appear to be inspired by different types of Odium's servants, who likely merged together into a single, nebulous entity in the public consciousness over the millennia.
Finally, there are several types of spren that the common knowledge doesn't align with Odium, but which are considered malicious nonetheless. Those include the '''raspings''', the '''stormwhispers''', and the '''nightspren''', of which the last are considered to be the most fearsome and dangerous. Those spren are mostly believed in by the more traditional, rural followers of Vorinism. The more educated segment of the populace considers them to be ancient fabrications, created by the [[Knights Radiant]] past to support their dominance.{{book ref|sa1|42}}
== Theories and Speculation ==
* [[Shallan]], a [[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweaver]], has been known to gather a large number of [[creationspren]] when drawing or crafting illusions. Although this might simply be a function of her being an artist, the numbers Shallan attracts are unnatural, with hundreds surrounding her at one point.{{book ref|sa3|3}}
* [[Lift]], an [[Edgedancer]], attracts lifespren from time to time.{{book ref|sa2.5|8}}
* [[Dalinar Kholin]], a [[Bondsmith]], brings together an incredible amount of [[gloryspren]] during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]]. Notably, people around him often draw a gloryspren or several, despite the type's supposed rarity.
* Also during the Battle of Thaylen Field, [[Jasnah]], an [[Elsecaller]], is surrounded by a glow of geometric patterns for a moment.{{book ref|sa3|120}}
=== Bondsmith spren ===
The singular nature of the [[Bondsmith]] spren has led to some speculation regarding which named spren could bestow a Bondsmith [[Nahel Bond]]. Candidates commonly put forth include:
* [[Nightwatcher]], whom Brandon has previously stated is on the same level as the Stormfather{{wob ref|174}}
* [[Cusicesh]], as it's a powerful spren that's worshipped by the people watching it{{book ref|sa1|i|5}}
* The [[Sibling]], based on their connection to [[Urithiru]] and the Stormfather's comments about how humans had harmed them before{{book ref|sa3|111}}
There has also been some speculation regarding whether an [[Unmade]] can form a Bondsmith bond. The most common topic of such speculation is [[Sja-Anat]], who has previously shown interest in breaking ties with Odium.
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