Difference between revisions of "Spren"

{{magical entities

|world=Roshar

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

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|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.

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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 ==

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=== Definition ===

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.

 

 

=== Functioning ===

{{for|Deadeye|more information about spren death}}

 

 

 

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}}

 

 

[[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.

 

 

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}}

 

 

 

=== True Spren ===

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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]]

 

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.

 

 

=== Unique Spren ===

{{for|#Known unique spren|a list of unique spren}}

 

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.

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.

 

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 ===

 

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}}

 

 

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]])

* [[Cryptic]]s ([[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweavers]])

* [[Inkspren]] ([[Elsecallers]])

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[[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}}

 

{{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 ==

[[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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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.

 

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.

 

{{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.

 

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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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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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.

 

A type of spren related to fermentation.{{wob ref|12904}}

 

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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]].

 

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|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}}

 

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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 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.

 

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}}

 

A type of spren to which Rosharans attribute the pull of gravity.{{book ref|sa1|49}}

 

 

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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}}

 

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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]] ]]

 

{{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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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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}}

 

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}}

 

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}}

 

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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 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}}

 

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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}}

 

== Corrupted Spren ==

* '''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}}

* '''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:

 

=== 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 ===

 

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* '''[[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}}

* '''[[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}}

 

 

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}}

* [[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 [[Sibling]], based on their connection to [[Urithiru]] and the Stormfather's comments about how humans had harmed them before{{book ref|sa3|111}}

 

 

== Notes ==

{{Stormlight}}

[[category: magic]]

[[category: sapient beings]]

[[category: Spren| ]]