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{{magical entities
|image=Emotion Spren by Holly D'Oench.jpg
|magic=[[Surgebinding]], [[Fabrial
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
{{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 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}}
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== Characteristics ==
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=== 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
=== 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
Some spren predate the arrival of Honor and Cultivation to Roshar, and perhaps even the [[Shattering]]. These are
The cognitive ideals that create spren are similar to those that determine the appearances of the [[Returned]] on [[Nalthis]] and the plausibility of [[Forgery|
=== Functioning ===
[[File:Maya.jpg|thumb|
{{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
By contrast, a spren that has been killed after
In Shadesmar, spren appear to feed off [[
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}}
== Classification of
[[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.
===
Spren naturally found on Roshar 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}} Some spren are easier to find than others, though even the most common will, at times, fail to appear.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} In [[Shinovar]] in particular, all types of spren are exceptionally rare.{{book ref|sa1|i|4}}{{wob ref|8714}}
The vast majority of all spren are non-sapient; these 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}}
=== True Spren ===
{{quote
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|The [[Stormfather]] on what separates sapient from sentient beings{{book ref|sa3|4}}
}}
While true spren can transition into the Physical Realm, they do so rarely, and only when seeking to bond a prospective [[Knight Radiant]]. This is because transition between the Realms leaves holes in their memories and impairs their cognitive functions in some ways.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} Even after forming a bond, moving too far from their bonded Surgebinder will cause the spren's mental capacity to degrade once more.{{book ref|sa1|9}}{{book ref|sa3|91}}
Once the true spren make the transition, they cannot affect the Physical Realm in any but the most minor ways.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} While in Shadesmar, most sapient spren have a humanoid shape and size, in the Physical Realm they usually take on a smaller and simpler form.{{book ref|sa2|3}}
[[File:Glys Bonnie Johnson.JPG|thumb|right|250px|<center><small>by {{a|Bonnie Johnson}}</small></center> [[Glys]], a corrupted [[Truthwatcher]] spren]]
{{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}}
Separately, there exist '''[[voidspren]]''', spren made up of the essence of [[Odium]]. The lesser voidspren are, like their native Rosharan counterparts, non-sentient. They can, however, form bonds with [[singer]]s, granting them [[Regal]] forms, which often include supernatural powers and a change in mindset in the singer.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}
Some spren of Odium are also sapient, making them true spren. Unlike their Honor- and Cultivation-aligned kin, sapient voidspren are capable of retaining their higher functions in the Physical Realm without bonding a person.{{book ref|sa3|31}} Those spren are usually imprisoned on [[Braize]], along with the rest of Odium's forces, but they are capable of escaping and traveling to Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|i|3}} They tend to look like small [[Shin]] humans, and have colors such as yellow or red.{{book ref|sa3|31}}{{book ref|sa3|i|3}} Whether sapient voidspren are capable of granting powers to other creatures is uncertain.
Sja-
=== Unique Spren ===
{{for|#Known unique spren|a list of unique spren}}
There
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==
Some types of spren exist in symbiotic relationships with various other creatures living on Roshar.{{wob ref|2109}} In most cases, such a relationship is facilitated by a [[gemheart]], a crystal inside a creature's body that allows them to house the spren.
=== Bonds
Large animals, most notably the [[greatshell]]s, utilize spren bonds to grow to enormous sizes that would not be otherwise possible. There seem to be two types of spren facilitating this -- an unknown type living in their gemhearts, and [[mandras]], which decrease the pull of gravity on their bodies.{{wob ref|1227}}{{book ref|sa3|99}} [[Skyeels]] also form bonds with mandras, which allow them to outright fly despite not having wings.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
=== Singer Forms ===
[[Singer]]s can attain different forms by taking a spren into their gemheart during a [[highstorm]].{{book ref|sa2|i|5}} Each such form comes with a slightly different physical shape, and even different biology -- for example, only [[mateform]], [[slaveform]], and possibly [[dullform]] are capable of reproducing, while [[warform]] is taller and more muscular, with ridges and natural plating to protect its wearer.{{wob ref|3400}}{{book ref|sa2|79}}
Such bonds are formed only with non-sentient spren, and once the singer changes a form, the spren is released from the gemheart, unharmed.{{wob ref|136}} When the bond is formed with a lesser [[voidspren]], the singer gains a [[Regal]] form.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}
Each Order of the [[Knights Radiant]] forms a [[Nahel Bond]] with a different type of true spren.{{wob ref|6651}} This bond is similar in nature to the bond between a [[seon]] and its master, albeit unlike a seon bond, a Nahel bond grants numerous benefits to both parties.{{wob ref|3035}} The spren gains the capacity to retain higher mental functions while bonded; their partner gains access to [[Surgebinding]].{{book ref|sa1|57}} Though historically, only humans could become Surgebinders, during the [[True Desolation]] some spren have managed to form a Nahel Bond with a singer, although how this changes things is unknown.{{wob ref|7005}}{{book ref|sa3|120}} It's theoretically possible for someone to bond multiple spren, although this would require a lot of upkeep on the bondee's side in an effort not to break the rules of either bond.{{wob ref|6647}}
Each Nahel Bond grants access to two [[Surge]]s, with every Surge shared between two orders.{{file ref|
The bond between a Knight and their spren can be strengthened by verbally or mentally stating certain [[Immortal Words|Ideals]] or ideas related to their Order. Once the bond has strengthened to a certain point, the spren gains the ability to become a [[Shardblade]] when needed.{{book ref|sa2|84}} A sword is the base form for a [[Shardblade]], since they were fashioned after the [[Honorblade]]s, but they can become any shape their Knight needs, such as a spear, hammer, or shield. While in a Shardblade form, the spren can communicate with their Surgebinder through their mind.{{book ref|sa2|86}}
* [[Highspren]] ([[Skybreakers]])
* [[Ashspren]] ([[Dustbringers]])
* [[Cultivationspren]] ([[Order of Edgedancers|Edgedancers]])
* [[Cryptic]]s ([[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweavers]])
* [[Inkspren]] ([[Elsecallers]])
* [[
}}
[[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
{{columns|
* [[Sylphrena]]: Honorspren of [[Kaladin]]{{book ref|sa1|6}}
* [[Winnow]]: Highspren of [[Ki]]
* [[Mayalaran]]: [[Deadeye]] cultivationspren of [[Adolin]]'s Shardblade{{book ref|sa3|120}}
}}
== Known Subtypes ==
=== Lesser Spren ===
==== Alespren ====
[[File:Alespren.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Alespren]]
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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 ====
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A common type of spren that appear around people experiencing anger. They
Among the Parshendi, angerspren have the appearance of bolts of lightning that radiate out from the feet of the angry individual.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}
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 ====
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A common type of spren that appear around people looking forward to something, or who are nervous about something. They appear as red streamers that grow out from the ground and blow in the wind. They often appear around soldiers directly before a battle.{{book ref|sa1|6}}
The streamer that appears in the Physical Realm is actually 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}}
==== Awespren ====
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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 ====
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Spren that appear around objects bound with a [[Full Lashing]]. They appear as small splashes of dark blue ink. Their relationship to the Lashings is not fully understood -- [[Kaladin]] believes they are what hold the objects together, while [[Sylphrena]] disagrees, saying they could be attracted to the Full Lashing Kaladin had created.{{book ref|sa1|57}}
==== Captivityspren ====
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A type of spren theorized by Axies to appear around people in captivity. Despite being imprisoned numerous times he has never observed them, leading him to doubt their existence.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} However, while imprisoned, Kaladin sees strange spren like taut wires crossing before him, which have been confirmed to be captivityspren.{{book ref|sa2|62}}{{wob ref|2111}}
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 ====
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When drawing, the more skilled one is, the more likely creationspren are to appear.{{book ref|sa1|7}}
===
[[File:Deathspren by Marianne Eie.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center><small>by {{a|Marianne Eie}}</small></center>Deathspren]]
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A type of spren that appears only to people near death. Very few people survive after seeing deathspren
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 ====
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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 ====
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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 ====
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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 ====
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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.
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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 ====
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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}}
===
A type of spren that represents the power or force that causes things to fall. [[Zen-daughter-Vath]] sometimes found them around heavy objects.{{book ref|sa2|3}}
==== 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
====
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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}}
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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}}
==== Laughterspren ====
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A type of spren that appears in the presence of laughter. They have the appearance of small, silver minnows that dart in circular motions around those who are laughing.{{book ref|sa1|14}}
====
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Rarely, lifespren may appear in particularly populated areas.{{book ref|sa2.5|4}}
===
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[[File:Luckspren.png|thumb|right|Sketch of [[Luckspren]] ]]
==== Luckspren ====
{{for|Mandras}}
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}}
===
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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 ====
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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 ====
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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 ====
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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 ====
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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 ====
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Unlike most spren, which most Rosharans believe are only attracted to their namesake, rotspren are often believed to be the cause of sickness and infection.{{book ref|sa1|57}} They are seen to be repelled by water and antiseptics such as [[Lister's oil]], [[Knobweed|Knobweed sap]], and [[Larmic mucus]].{{book ref|sa1|10}}{{book ref|sa1|22}}
==== Shamespren ====
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 ====
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A rare type of spren that appear at night amongst the stars. They appear as small points of light that chase one another like insects.{{book ref|sa1|40}}
==== Stormspren ====
Stormspren are a variety of Voidspren. They are small red spren that look like tiny lightning.{{book ref|sa2|81}} Among the [[listener]]s, they are described as looking smoky{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}, as well as giving off a "strange red light" and splinters of lightning.{{book ref|sa2|i|5}}
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}}
===
''Stormstriders'' are large spren on glowing legs that are seen during highstorms. Kaladin and Shallan see one when they are in a chasm during a highstorm.{{book ref|sa2|74}}. Dalinar also sees one while he is out in a highstorm traveling between [[stormshelter]]s.{{book ref|sa3|19}}. Brandon has confirmed that they are spren.{{wob ref|10906}} The name "Stormstriders" is a fan given name that has not been canonized.
==== Windspren ====
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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}}
==
==== 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 have a humanoid form with ash-white skin that falls away when the ashspren moves, revealing boness underneath before quickly growing back.{{book ref|sa3|102}} Their appearance is unknown, as they seem to have the ability to hide from both other humans and other spren.{{book ref|sa3|107}}
They seem to be fond of destroying the things around them.{{book ref|sa3|27}}
==== Cryptics ====
[[File:Pattern Animation.gif|thumb|200px|Drawings of [[Pattern]] ]]
{{for|Cryptic}}
Also known as liespren, Cryptics are a type of sapient spren that forms Nahel Bonds with the Knights Radiant [[Order of Lightweavers]], granting them their powers. {{book ref|sa2|3}} Cryptics grant the [[Surge]]s of Transformation and Illumination.{{file ref|TWoK Front Endsheet.jpg|Surgebinding Table}} They represent fundamental mathematical laws of nature, and truths that explain the fabric of existence.{{book ref|sa3|97}}
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}} There, Cryptics reside in a single city-state, and do not wish to expand.{{book ref|sa3|47}} 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 [[Surge]]s of Abrasion and Progression.{{book ref|sa2.5|2}} They appear in the Physical Realm as a growing vine with crystals, while in Shadesmar, they take a form of a humanoid seemingly made out of thickly-bound, thin vines and pieces of crystal.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} They are generally considered the spren that express the purest form of Cultivation.{{wob ref|6276}}
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}}
==== 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}}
In the Physical Realm, highspren are described as looking like black slits in reality, with white glowing stars shining through.{{book ref|sa3|98}} They seem to have their own settlements in Shadesmar and appear rather isolationistic, with none to be seen in places like [[Celebrant]].{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}{{book ref|sa3|102}} Other spren consider them to be strict and rule-bound.{{book ref|sa3|107}}
[[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}} They are generally considered the spren that express the purest form of Honor.{{wob ref|6276}}
In the Physical, they can change their forms, although in any shape, they are blue-white with a matching glow.{{book ref|sa1|2}} In Shadesmar, they look like humans with blue-white skin and clothes that are part of them.{{book ref|sa3|89}} They are noted to be highly warlike, with numerous cities and fortresses, as well as their own fleet.{{book ref|sa3|107}}
==== 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}} In addition, they can change their size, but not their shape.{{book ref|sa3|47}}
==== 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}}
==== Lightspren ====
{{for|Lightspren}}
A type of sapient spren that formed Nahel Bonds with the Knights Radiant [[Order of Willshapers]], granting them their powers. Lightspren grant the [[Surge]]s of Transportation and Cohesion. In the Physical Realm, they appear as glowing balls of light.{{book ref|sa3|120}} In Shadesmar, they appear as humans with metallic bronze skin and holes for pupils, like living statues. There, they are also known as Reachers.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
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}}
==== 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 porcelain 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}}
==== 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}}
== Corrupted Spren ==
[[File:Kholinar Spren.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sketches of corrupted painspren and shamespren]]
* '''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}}
== 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:
=== Cusicesh ===
{{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}}
=== Nightwatcher ===
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}}
=== The Unmade ===
{{quote
|
|
}}
* '''[[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-
* '''[[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}}
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
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}}
* [[Kaladin]], a [[Windrunner]], attracts [[windspren]] on numerous occassions, most notably when fighting [[Szeth]] and when forming the "wind break" in [[Revolar]].{{book ref|sa2|86}}{{book ref|sa3|31}} Windspren are also called [[Syl]]'s "cousins" several times.{{book ref|sa2|9}}{{book ref|sa2|52}}
* [[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 [[Order of Edgedancers|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.
*
What this means, if anything, is uncertain; it has been speculated that the lesser spren will eventually form [[Shardplate]], once the Radiants reach a high enough level.
=== 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:
* The [[Nightwatcher]], whom Brandon has previously stated is on the same level as the Stormfather{{wob ref|174}}
* The [[
There has also been some speculation regarding whether an [[Unmade]] can form a Bondsmith bond. The most common topic of such speculation is [[Sja-
== Notes ==
{{Stormlight}}
[[category: magic]]
[[category: sapient beings]]
[[category: Spren| ]]
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