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{{magical entities
|image=Emotion Spren by Holly D'Oench.jpg
|magic=[[Surgebinding]], [[Fabrial
|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}}
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== 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.
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 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
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}}
=== Nature and Emotion Spren ===
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}}
=== True Spren ===
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In contrast, 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}}
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}}
=== Odium's Influence ===
{{for|#Corrupted Spren|a list of known spren corruptions}}
Lesser spren can be corrupted by [[Sja-
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.
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=== Unique Spren ===
{{for|#Known unique spren|a list of unique spren}}
There are 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, the 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.
=== 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]])
* [[
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[[File:Alespren.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Alespren]]
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==== 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}}
==== 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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==== Bindspren ====
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==== 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.
[[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
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==== Creationspren ====
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[[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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==== Exhaustionspren ====
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==== Fearspren ====
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==== Flamespren ====
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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}}
==== 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}}
==== Gravitationspren ====
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 ====
==== 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
==== Hungerspren ====
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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}}
==== Joyspren ====
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==== Laughterspren ====
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==== Lifespren ====
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==== Logicspren ====
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==== Musicspren ====
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==== Painspren ====
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==== Passionspren ====
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==== Rainspren ====
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==== Riverspren ====
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==== Rotspren ====
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==== Starspren ====
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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'' ====
''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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{{for|Cryptic}}
Also known as
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}}
{{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|
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}}
{{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|
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|
==== Keenspren ====
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
They seem to be affiliated with [[honorspren]], working as common sailors on their ships.{{book ref|sa3|108}}
[[File:Oathgate_Spren.jpg|thumb|200px|Uncorrupted Oathgate spren]]
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* '''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}}
{{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}}
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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}}
* '''[[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 [[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-
== Notes ==
{{Stormlight}}
[[category: magic]]
[[category: sapient beings]]
[[category: Spren| ]]
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