Difference between revisions of "Spren"

1,671 bytes added ,  3 months ago
→‎Functioning: not really true, Nomad was able to stop before Aux was completely destroyed, if he hadn’t there wouldn’t have been a shardblade left.
m (The chapter for quotes were written)
Tags: Mobile web edit Mobile edit Advanced mobile edit
(→‎Functioning: not really true, Nomad was able to stop before Aux was completely destroyed, if he hadn’t there wouldn’t have been a shardblade left.)
Tags: Mobile web edit Mobile edit
(23 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]], [[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]], [[The Sunlit Man]]
}}
{{spoilers|tsm}}
{{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.
By contrast, a spren that has been killed after their Radiant acquires a [[Shardblade]] leaves behind a dead Shardblade, and while in Shadesmar, they take the form of a [[deadeye]].{{book ref|sa2|87}}{{book ref|sa3|101}} A deadeye is a zombie-like figure with scratched-out eyes, constantly striving to mindlessly reach the location of its Blade.{{book ref|sa3|101}} Deadeye spren can be at least partially revived.{{book ref|sa4|94}} [[Mayalaran]], [[Adolin]]'s deadeye Shardblade, regains consciousness during Adolin's trial by witness in [[Lasting Integrity]] while under extreme emotional stress.{{book ref|sa4|94}}
 
Similar to a [[Cognitive Shadow]], a spren can be permanently killed by the use of a [[raysium]] dagger embedded with a gem of anti-Stormlight (though a spren in Shardblade form would be more resilient to this).{{book ref|sa4|104}}{{wob ref|15334}} Through unknown methods, a spren can have their cognitive form pulled into the physicalPhysical realmRealm, where the new body will spontaneously form organs and muscles, but the spren will die within minutes. The [[Stormfather]] calls this act an abomination, and claims that it should not be possible. Cryptics and Ashspren cannot be brought over properly, because the process of creating bodies for them results in a physical form that collapses upon itself immediately. [[Ishar]] speculates that their physiology does not conform to the natural laws of the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sa4|111}} These bodies can be made into [[Lifeless]] and affected by [[Forgery]].{{wob ref|14989}} Spren can also be killed by having their essence used for power by a [[Dawnshard]].{{book ref|tsm|20}}
 
Spren can be cut and will feel pain.{{book ref|sa4|35}} They can be "killed" by hurting them enough that their minds break, making them something similar to a deadeye. They can also be cut by a Shardblade, but it won't kill them and they will reform in the Cognitive Realm after some time.{{book ref|sa4|2}} Stormlight will help spren heal faster.{{book ref|sa4|87}}{{book ref|sa4|90}} The only way to keep a spren divided is to store them in separate halves in gemstones.{{book ref|sa4|44}}
 
Spren can be combined, similar to Shards.{{wob ref|215}} Some spren are also related to the physical phenomena of [[wikipedia:wave-function collapse|wave-function collapse]] -- one can fix certain spren's dimensions simply by the act of measuring it.{{book ref|sa1|i|8}} Spren notice when they are being watched and will change based on direct individual perception.{{book ref|sa4|34}}
 
Much like Stormlight itself, it is difficult for Spren to leave Roshar due to their strong [[Connection]] to the planet.{{book ref|sa4|14}}{{book ref|yumi|21}}{{wob ref|9489}}{{wob ref|4956}}{{wob ref|15879}}{{wob ref|15986}}{{wob ref|8543}} There are ways for them to escape from the planet, but these ways are unknown.{{book ref|yumi|21}}{{book ref|tsm|28}}
 
== Classification of Spren ==
{{quote
|A few anticipationspren—like red streamers, growing from the ground and whipping in the wind—began to sprout from the rock and wave among the soldiers.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Six{{book ref|sa1|6}}
}}
 
{{quote
| A few anxietyspren, like twisting black cross shapes, appeared around Rysn.
|Dawnshard: Chapter One{{book ref|sa3.5|1}}
}}
 
}}
 
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}} Singers see awespren as floating blue balls that approach the awestruck individual from afar and then expand with great enthusiasm.{{book ref|sa4|48}}
 
==== Bindspren ====
{{quote
|Concentrationspren rippled in the air like waves overhead.
|Oathbringer: Chapter 53{{book ref|sa3|53}}
}}
 
An uncommon type of spren that appear around creative acts such as painting or drawing. They are of medium-size, about finger-length, and glow with a silvery light. They take the form of objects they have recently seen, but move them in odd ways, such as a table that rolls like a wheel.{{book ref|sa1|7}} In the Cognitive Realm, they appear as small swirling shapes that change colors, and evoke impressions such as faces.{{book ref|sa4|30}}
 
When drawing, the more skilled one is, the more likely creationspren are to appear.{{book ref|sa1|7}} Creationspren are attracted to the emotion and perception of the person doing the creating, instead of the creation itself.{{wob ref|16204}}
 
[[Singers]] bond a creationspren to enter [[artform]].{{book ref|sa2|29}} Additionally, creationspren form Lightweaver [[Shardplate|Plate]].{{wob ref|14513}}
{{quote
|She noticed something sweeping through the air above her. She cringed, looking up to find large, birdlike creatures circling around her in Shadesmar. They were a dark grey and seemed to have no specific shape, their forms blurry.
|WWords of Radiance: Chapter Eleven{{book ref|sa2|11}}
}}
 
{{quote
|...instead watching a pair of flamespren dance along one of the logs. These seemed vaguely human, with ever-shifting figures.
|Oathbringer: Chapter Thirty-Six{{book ref|sa3|36}}
}}
 
{{quote
|Long, grey, like a tattered streamer of cloth in the wind. It wound around him, fluttering.
|Oathbringer: Chapter Five{{book ref|sa3|5}}
}}
A rare type of spren that looks like a grey streamer, seemingly attracted to the feeling of resignation or deep sadness. One of [[Syl]]'s aunts hunts them in a manner similar to a greatshell hunt.{{book ref|sa3|5}}
{{quote
|Below, his men cheered, sending up calls that rose above the Parshendi war chant. Gloryspren sprouted around him.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Sixty-Five{{book ref|sa1|65}}
}}
 
 
A large number of gloryspren appeared around [[Dalinar]] right before he summoned [[Honor's Perpendicularity]] at the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]] however when he summons it later on, they do not appear.
 
Singers see gloryspren as enormous brilliant spheres with long wings along the sides and flowing tails.{{book ref|sa4|68}}{{book ref|sa4|86}}
 
==== 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}} [[Singers]] can bond them to enter [[workform]].{{book ref|sa4|11}} ItAdditionally, isgravitationspren possibleform thatSkybreaker they[[Shardplate|Plate]].{{wob areref|16262}} the same as gravityspren.
 
It is possible that they are the same as gravityspren.
 
==== Gravityspren ====
{{quote
|As he spoke, he attracted a few hungerspren. They looked like brown flies that flitted around the man's head, almost too small to see.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Two{{book ref|sa1|2}}
}}
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 ====
{{quote
|Joyspren rose around her, like blue leaves that started at her feet then moved up in a swirl before flaring out above her as if in a blast of wind.{{book ref|sa2|28}}
|Words of Radiance: Chapter Twenty-Eight{{book ref|sa2|28}}
}}
 
A relatively rare type of spren, usually accompanied to intense feelings of happiness or accomplishment.{{book ref|sa3|37}} In the [[Physical Realm]], 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}} Singers see them burst around the joyful individual like a beautiful blue storm.{{book ref|sa4|109}} In [[Shadesmar]], they appear as a spinning cyclone of color.{{book ref |sa4 |34}}
 
==== Laughterspren ====
{{quote
|A few laughterspren—minnow-like silver spirits that darted through the air in circular patterns—began to zip about them.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Fourteen{{book ref|sa1|14}}
}}
 
{{quote
|A few lifespren—tiny, glowing green specks—floated around the shalebark mounds. Some danced amid the rifts in the bark, others in the air like dust motes zigzagging up, only to fall again.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Thirty-Nine{{book ref|sa1|39}}
}}
 
 
Rarely, lifespren may appear in particularly populated areas.{{book ref|sa2.5|4}}
 
There are multiple occasions where lifespren are attracted to Lift when she uses her powers.{{book ref|sa2.5|8}}{{book ref|sa2.5|12}} It's unclear whether this attraction is due to her being an Edgedancer, or if it has to do with her boon from the Nightwatcher.
 
==== Logicspren ====
}}
 
A rare type of spren that appear around good and well-thought-out arguments. They take the appearance of tiny stormclouds.{{book ref|sa1|7}}{{book ref|sa2|35}} They seem to be quite rare, although they can often be seen in [[Azir]].{{book ref|sa3|65}} They are attracted to the person's emotion and thoughts, and not necessarily the activity.{{wob ref|16204}}
 
They are used to create fabrial clocks, and affect timing, similar to [[Aon]] Ene.{{wob ref|14264}}
{{quote
|Musicspren zipped through the air around [the drummers], the tiny spirits taking the form of spinning translucent ribbons.
|The Way of Kings: Prologue{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}
}}
 
{{quote
|Painspren swarmed the ground, like small orange hands or bits of sinew, reaching up from the ground amid the blood of the fallen.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Forty-Seven{{book ref|sa1|47}}
}}
 
{{quote
|Passionspren, like tiny flakes of crystalline snow, floated down in the air around them.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Sixty-One{{book ref|sa1|61}}
}}
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}} In the [[Physical Realm]], they look like small flakes of snow.{{book ref|sa1|61}} In [[Shadesmar]], they are long flying spren with mustaches and graceful bodies. They have the ability to eject tiny crystalline shards that float down and vanish.{{book ref|sa4|29}}
|[[Sibling]]{{book ref|sa4|69}}
}}
 
A type of spren related to persuasion.{{book ref|sa4|69}}
 
==== Plaguespren ====
{{quote
|[Rainspren] were said to be the souls of raindrops...
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Forty-Four{{book ref|sa1|44}}
}}
 
{{quote
|[The Purelake] was filled with tiny fish, colorful cremlings, and eel-like riverspren.
|The Way of Kings: Interlude One{{book ref|sa1|i|1}}
}}
 
 
Listeners see riverspren as having carapace.{{book ref|sa4|45}}
 
==== StormsprenRockspren ====
A type of spren related to rocks.{{wob ref|16204}}
 
==== Rotspren ====
{{quote
|It was the time between moons, and so he was lit mostly by the firelight; there was a spray of stars in the sky above. Several of those moved about, the tiny pinpricks of light chasing after one another, zipping around like distant, glowing insects.
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Forty{{book ref|sa1|40}}
}}
 
A rare type of spren that appear at night amongst the stars. In the [[Physical Realm]] appear as small points of light that chase one another like insects. In [[Shadesmar]], starspren appear as huge, dark, long-necked [[greatshell]]-like creatures with ashen carapace that are only visible from a certain angle. TheThey have seven sets of wings. ItThey trailshave clouds trailing behind itthem, and other clouds cling to itstheir chin giving the appearance of a beard. Pinpricks of light dotglow thebeneath starspren'stheir ashenskin carapaceor shell like points on a constellation, which isare whatthe isvisible seenparts in the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sa4 |34}}
 
They were not imagined into existence by greatshells.{{wob ref|14424}}
 
==== 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}}
 
Singers can bond stormspren to attain [[stormform]], granting them the ability to shoot red lightning.{{book ref|sa2|i|11}} They also cause the singer to be more callous and feel superior to others, and give access to Odium's Rhythms.{{book ref|sa2|i|8}}
 
Their color implies that they are normal spren who have been corrupted. They were not originally of Honor, however.{{wob ref|8733}}
 
==== ''Stormstriders'' ====
{{quote
|Wavespren danced atop the tips of whited caps across a field of shimmering blue.
|Dawnshard: Chapter Five{{book ref|dawnshard|5}}
}}
 
{{quote
|Windspren were devious spirits who had a penchant for staying where they weren't wanted...
|The Way of Kings: Chapter Two{{book ref|sa1|2}}
}}
{{quote
Windspren are closely related to [[honorspren]], such as Sylphrena.{{wob ref|4071}} This is 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}} Additionally, windspren form Windrunner [[Shardplate|Plate]].{{book ref|sa4|110}} Kaladin Stormblessed occasionally attracts windspren, and has been able to control them-and by extension, the wind itself-on at least one occasion; it is unclear if this is unique to him or if any Windrunner can do it.{{book ref|sa3|31}}
 
It seems that Singers might bond windspren to use nimbleform.{{book ref|sa4|7473}}
 
=== True Spren ===
}}
 
Oathgate spren reside over the [[Oathgates]]. They call themselves the gatekeepers{{book ref|sa3|116}} 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, the [[Sibling]] forbade it to them shortly before their departure. While the Oathgate spren are highly regretful about it, they are physically incapable of disobeying their orders.{{book ref|sa3|116}} Although many of the gatekeepers uphold the Siblings order, some of them have listened to the Stormfather's request to allow people to use the Oathgates to travel between the Physical Realm and Shadesmar once again.{{book ref|sa4|22}}
 
==== Peakspren ====
* '''Flamespren''': vivid blue instead of the traditional red and orange. They appear more jagged than their non-corrupted counterparts.{{book ref|sa3|78}}
* '''Gloryspren''': take the shape of a cube instead of a globe.{{book ref|sa3|77}} In [[Shadesmar]], 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}}
Editors
1,737

edits