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|image=Stormfather.png
|species=Spren
|abilities=[[Nahel bond]], [[Bondsmith]] magic, {{tag+|Sliver}},{{book ref|sa2|89}}{{wob ref|9207}} {{tag+|Splinter|Honor}},{{wob ref|5991}} {{tag+|Cognitive Shadow}}{{wob ref|8439}}
|bonded=[[Dalinar]]
|titles=Rider of Storms, Storm Rider,{{book ref|sa2|i|8}} God of Storms,{{book ref|sa2|59}} Spren of Storms,{{book ref|sa3|31}} Father of Storms{{book ref|sa3|64}}
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|1=
|2=The Stormfather explaining his role to [[Dalinar]].{{book ref|sa2|83}}
}}
== Appearance and Personality ==
{{quote
|I have burned and broken cities myself. I can see … yes, I see a difference now. I see pain now. I did not see it before the bond.
|The Stormfather.{{book ref|sa3|86}}
}}
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
The vast majority of the time, the Stormfather is simply a disembodied presence in the skies, or an overpowering voice within the highstorm itself.{{book ref|sa2|83}} On the occasions that he does show himself, he takes the form of an enormous, imperious face made out of the clouds, that seems to stretch from horizon to horizon into infinity.{{book ref|sa3|4}}
}}
He is extremely prideful and haughty, convinced of his own power and righteousness. He does not care for humanity, only serving them and sending [[visions]] because he was bid to do so by Honor.{{book ref|sa2|83}} He is particularly focused on oaths and keeping them, and does not take kindly to those who would break them.{{book ref|sa3|4}} His sense of justice does not mean he demands that men follow what is ''right'', however; to him, a genocide is not an evil deed if it was done as punishment for breaking an oath.{{book ref|sa3|86}}
He's often incapable of understanding human emotions and thoughts, and finds their unstable nature untrustworthy. Over time, when bonded to a human, he begins to gain a sense of empathy and understanding of people.{{book ref|sa3|38}} He also begins to gain a sense of morality, understanding the harm his actions have brought to people.{{book ref|sa3|86}} This does not mean he grows much more kind or gentle, though, as he still believed that the storms are his domain and his alone, and is fine with killing those who would dare to challenge him on that, like sailors on the open sea.{{book ref|sa3|50}}
== Attributes and Abilities ==
=== Nature ===
{{image|The Stormfather - XXI. The World .png|side=right|width=300px}}
{{quote
|1={{small caps|I am a sliver of the Almighty himself!}}
|2=The Stormfather.{{book ref|sa2|89}}
}}
The Stormfather is a [[spren]], making him naturally immortal and intangible. Unlike most other spren, he is mostly present in the [[Physical Realm]] rather than [[Shadesmar]], and thus cannot see inside of it, even though his highstorms affect it.{{book ref|sa3|97}}{{book ref|sa3|107}} He is one of the most powerful spren on Roshar, with an immense amount of [[Investiture]], greater even than that of the [[Unmade]], although he is much more restricted than them in what he can do with it.{{wob ref|12591}}
He has merged with [[Tanavast]]'s [[Cognitive Shadow]], making him something akin to a [[Sliver]] along with being a [[Splinter]].{{wob ref|1671}} He considers himself to be a memory men created for the Almighty, now that the god himself is gone.{{book ref|sa2|89}} It is unclear how much of Tanavast is left within him, as though he seems to share some of his memories and opinions, particularly in regards to [[Cultivation]], his standoffish nature does not match what has been seen of Tanavast.{{wob ref|2767}}
The Stormfather's unusual nature as both a spren and a Cognitive Shadow gives some additional abilities to the [[Bondsmith]] bonded to him in the present times. [[Dalinar Kholin]] is able to use it to merge the [[Physical Realm|Physical]], [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] and [[Spiritual Realm]]s, creating [[Honor's Perpendicularity]]. This allows people to travel between [[Shadesmar]] and Roshar, and releases near-infinite amounts of [[Stormlight]] into the surrounding area, albeit the perpendicularity doesn't last for long.{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{book ref|sa3|120}} [[Odium]] refers to the whole event as Ascending.{{book ref|sa3|122}} Whether this can be used in another Realm beyond the Physical is unknown.
=== Highstorms ===
The Stormfather commands the [[highstorm]]s, the powerful hurricanes that scour Roshar at regular intervals. While he ordinarily sticks to his schedule, he can summon them to a particular location if need be.{{book ref|sa2|83}} The highstorms also grant him the ability to summon [[Stormlight]], although he cannot do so outside of a highstorm.{{book ref|sa3|68}}
While he rides the storms, and can perceive everything within them, his consciousness is not restricted to them -- he is capable of speaking to [[Dalinar]] from great distances, and unlike other Radiant spren, he does not need to remain close to him.{{book ref|sa3|8}}{{wob ref|4268}} This being said, he does not have absolute control over everything that happens within his storms, and he's incapable of stopping singers from using it to bond with spren, even [[voidspren]].{{book ref|sa2|i|5}}
Within a highstorm, the Stormfather is capable of communicating with people, appearing as an enormous face and speaking in a thunderous voice.{{book ref|sa1|35}}{{book ref|sa4|57}} Doing so slows down time greatly.{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}
=== Visions ===
{{for|Dalinar's visions}}
The Stormfather is capable of sending people visions, so long as his target is in an area experiencing a highstorm. Whether or not a person is currently awake or asleep is irrelevant, and it appears that the vision cannot be resisted.{{book ref|sa1|18}} The visions can be given to more than one person at a time, as long as all other than his bonded Surgebinder are within a highstorm.{{book ref|sa3|38}} His bonded Surgebinder is also able to enter a vision without a highstorm and is able to bring in others with them outside of a highstorm as long as they are touching the Bondsmith.{{book ref|sa3|56}} When speaking to others inside of a vision, accents might not carry over.{{book ref|sa3|58}}
The visions the Stormfather sends out have been bestowed upon him by [[Honor]] near the end of the Shard's life, to be given to those who would be best served by them, such as possible future Bondsmiths.{{book ref|sa2|89}}{{book ref|sa3|28}} They play out as a pre-recorded, heavily interactive scenes, set in another place and another time. The target of the vision assumes the role of someone who lived in that time and place, and the people conjured up by the vision interact with them as though they were that person.{{book ref|sa1|18}}
The target cannot summon their [[Shardblade]], although they are capable of using their Surgebinding abilities.{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{book ref|sa3|103}} They can, however, feel pain and attempt to act out their actions within a vision, which sometimes requires that their physical bodies be restrained.{{book ref|sa1|19}} They will speak the language matching the time period and location of the vision, even if they aren't normally able to speak it.{{book ref|sa1|60}}
While the Stormfather ordinarily has a cycle of visions he goes through on a loop, he can send his bonded Bondsmith to them even outside of a highstorm, and transport the Bondsmith into any area of the vision "map".{{book ref|sa3|1}} He has almost complete control over the visions, being able to insert people as various characters within them and manipulate the passing of time, but entities such as [[Shard]]s or [[Lift]] can override him.{{book ref|sa3|34}}{{book ref|sa3|42}}{{book ref|sa3|56}}
Certain places are immune to the Stormfather's visions, preventing him from accessing them. This included [[Kholinar]] while it was inhabited by [[Unmade]], and Urithiru while the Sibling was partially corrupted, negating Radiant abilities.{{wob ref|14481}}
=== Dreams ===
Outside of the visions, the Stormfather is capable of communicating through dreams.{{book ref|sa2|32}} Those dreams usually take place in a blank space that seems outside of time and space.{{book ref|sa3|4}} People experiencing them feel as though everything around them fades away, replaced by solid ground and wind that seems to stop in place.{{book ref|sa3|31}} Unlike the visions, the dreams seem to take up no time at all in the real world.{{book ref|sa3|16}} The Stormfather can also let a person "ride the storm," allowing them to experience being the storm itself; like the visions, these require the person to be within the storm unless they are a Bondsmith. The only known singer to have done this, [[Eshonai]], gained a fundamental understanding of Roshar's [[Roshar#Rhythms|Rhythms]] as well.{{book ref|sa4|117}}
{{image|Spren.jpeg|side=left|width=300px|The Stormfather and the [[Knights Radiant|Radiant]] [[spren]]}}
=== Nahel Bond ===
{{quote
|1={{small caps|I will not be a simple sword to you. I will not come as you call, and you will have to divest yourself of that... monstrosity that you carry. You will be a Radiant with no Shards.}}
|2=The Stormfather upon bonding [[Dalinar]].{{book ref|sa2|89}}
}}
The Stormfather is one of the three great [[Bondsmith]] spren. Forming a [[Nahel bond]] with him grants one the power over the [[Surge]]s of [[Tension]] and [[Adhesion]].{{file ref|TWoK Front Endsheet.jpg|Surgebinding Chart}} He is currently bonded with [[Dalinar Kholin]].{{book ref|sa2|89}}
While a Bondsmith can use Adhesion the way a [[Windrunner]] would,{{book ref|sa3|28}} they can also apply their powers in different manner, using them more in the [[Spiritual Realm|Spiritual]]. Using Spiritual Adhesion, a Bondsmith can form a connection between themselves and another person, allowing them to speak their language.{{book ref|sa3|65}} They also seem capable of hearing the spiritual aspects of objects, and use this to mend broken things back whole.{{book ref|sa3|59}} Bondsmiths can also summon Stormlight at will, although this requires significant effort.{{wob ref|12295}}{{book ref|sa3|122}} Due to his connection with highstorms, his Bondsmith will feel more energetic on highstorm days.{{book ref|sa4|71}}
There are several differences between the Stormfather and other Radiant spren. Unlike them, he is capable of maintaining consciousness in the Physical Realm even without the Bond, although it grants him deeper understanding of humanity and its foibles, along with the ability to empathize with others and more human responses, like cursing.{{book ref|sa3|38}} He also does not become a Shardblade, either due to his immense power or due to his immense dislike for humanity.{{book ref|sa2|89}} In addition, he can hear statements or questions directed to him, and speak directly into his Surgebinder's mind, even if he does not seem to be nearby.{{book ref|sa3|4}} His Bondsmith can also communicate with him by thinking.{{book ref|sa4|71}}{{book ref|sa3|50}}
=== Honorspren ===
The Stormfather is the creator of the modern [[honorspren]], a duty that was bestowed upon him by [[Honor]] shortly before the latter's death. Following the [[Recreance]], where almost all of them have been killed, he stopped doing so; however, he would eventually create ten of them, which would eventually create others, leading to the resurgence of the race.{{book ref|sa3|108}}
Today, many honorspren treat him as an honored ancestor and obey his wishes, with [[Syl]] in particular referring to him as her father.{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{book ref|sa2|86}} The Stormfather, in turn, considers them his children.{{book ref|sa2|83}} He apparently exerts some influence over their ability to form [[Nahel bond]]s, although he cannot stop them if their Surgebinder says the proper Oaths.{{book ref|sa2|84}} He is also able to grant them more human-like emotions, but refuses to do so.{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}
== History ==
=== Origins and the Recreance ===
{{quote
|1=
|2=About his origins{{book ref|sa3|38}}
}}
The Stormfather is likely to be one of the oldest entities in the [[cosmere]], as the [[highstorm]]s he commands predate even the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]].{{wob ref|8624}} During the early millennia of his existence, he was not particularly cognizant or self-aware, but rather simply the uncaring storm.{{book ref|sa3|113}} Even back then, however, he was capable of bonding with humans.{{book ref|sa3|108}}
Shortly before the [[Recreance]], around 2000 years before the [[True Desolation]],{{book ref|sa3|56}} [[Honor]] altered the Stormfather in a frantic preparation for his own death.{{book ref|sa3|113}} Among other changes, he gave him the capacity to create [[honorspren]], as well as bestowed him with a set of visions to be sent to a person who would benefit from them, in the event of a new [[Desolation]].{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{book ref|sa2|89}} Back then, the Stormfather had only childlike intelligence, although it grew over time.{{book ref|sa3|113}} When the Recreance came,
{{image|Bondsmith Oath by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Bonding with [[Dalinar]]}}
=== Visions and Bonds ===
At some point shortly before the [[True Desolation]], Syl was rediscovered, and the Stormfather arranged to have her delivered to one of the honorspren cities, ordering [[Notum]] to keep an eye on her.{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{book ref|sa3|110}} Against his wishes, she eventually escaped to form a [[Nahel
Around the same time, the Stormfather began sending out his visions. While there were less than ten people to have received them, the only ones known are [[Gavilar]] and [[Dalinar Kholin]].{{wob ref|12268}} Gavilar began seeing them shortly before his death, although he interpreted them far differently than they were supposed to be.{{wob ref|3316}} This led indirectly to the creation of the [[Diagram (literature)|Diagram]], as well as Gavilar's cooperation with the [[Sons of Honor]] in a bid to bring the [[Herald]]s back, even if it meant starting a new Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{book ref|sa2|88}}
The Stormfather later visited Kaladin directly in a dream, where the two had a conversation. He accused Kaladin of being a traitor, and shared his belief that humans couldn't be trusted.{{book ref|sa2|32}} His predictions seemingly came true when Kaladin killed Syl by breaking his bond.{{book ref|sa2|69}} Stormfather visited him in a subsequent highstorm to tell him that she was dead and that Kaladin would never [[Surgebind]] again. While he let [[Shallan]] see him as well, he didn't speak with her.{{book ref|sa2|74}}
During the [[Battle of Narak]], the Stormfather spoke to Dalinar out of a vision, claiming that the Alethi were lost, and promising to send a highstorm to sweep away their bodies. At the same time, Syl began to regain her consciousness, and so the Stormfather departed to stop her from re-bonding Kaladin.{{book ref|sa2|83}} Despite his best efforts, Syl succeeded, and the Stormfather reluctantly conceded allowing her to restore her bond.{{book ref|sa2|84}} Following the crash of the Highstorm and Everstorm, he took the Cognitive Shadow of [[Eshonai]] and showed her the world as the storm crossed the continent, before letting her pass into the [[Beyond]].{{book ref|sa4|117}}
Following the battle, Dalinar climbed to the top of [[Urithiru]] to speak with him. The Stormfather answered, explaining the [[Everstorm]] and Honor's death, whereupon Dalinar attempted to bond him. Though initially, the Stormfather was hostile to the idea, he eventually agreed once Dalinar said the [[Immortal Words]], although under the stipulation that Dalinar would wield no [[Shardblade|Shards]].{{book ref|sa2|89}}
=== Bondsmith spren ===
{{quote
|1=
|2=At [[Dalinar]]'s and [[Navani]]'s wedding{{book ref|sa3|4}}
}}
Initially, the plan went reasonably well, with [[Dalinar]] conversing with [[Fen Rnamdi]] of [[Thaylenah]] and convincing her to consider his offer.{{book ref|sa3|34}} Afterwards, the Stormfather brought him, [[Navani]] and [[Jasnah]] to the vision of [[Aharietiam]] to explore it. It was there that he told Dalinar about the origins and fate of the [[Herald]]s, though he again refused to speak about the Recreance.{{book ref|sa3|38}} Shortly afterwards, during a trip back to the warcamps, he told Dalinar that he was beginning to feel empathy for people dying in his storms.{{book ref|sa3|50}}
=== The
{{quote
|This is the lot I have chosen. It is you or oblivion.
Soon afterwards, Dalinar's memories of the burning of [[Rathalas]] returned.{{book ref|sa3|65}} Afterwards, he confronted the Stormfather about his reasons for bonding a monster such as himself, to which the Stormfather answered that to him, what Dalinar had done was administering justice -- but also that now, with his bond more advanced, he understood the immorality of the act.{{book ref|sa3|86}}
When Dalinar traveled to [[Vedenar]], he felt the return of the [[Thrill]], and sought to run away. Despite the Stormfather's protests, he managed to summon something gleaming and white and used it to open the [[Oathgate]], causing the great spren significant pain.{{book ref|sa3|100}} Afterwards, Dalinar apologized to him, but the
=== Eila Stele and Thaylen Field ===
In the aftermath of the battle, the Stormfather briefly visited [[Lopen]] to hear out his [[Windrunner]] second ideal, chastising him for thinking he had been ready earlier.{{book ref|sa3|121}} Afterwards, he allowed Dalinar and [[Shallan]] to use his presence over [[Kholinar]] to see what had happened to the city.{{book ref|sa3|122}}
== Relationships ==
{{image|True Love by Artur Mosca.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Presiding over [[Dalinar]] and [[Navani]]'s marriage}}
=== Dalinar ===
{{quote
=== Sylphrena ===
{{quote
|1=
|2=The Stormfather to [[Kaladin]].{{book ref|sa2|74}}
}}
[[Syl]] is one of the original [[honorspren]] created by the Stormfather prior to the [[Recreance]].{{book ref|sa3|108}} Perhaps because of this, he seems to adore her above all his other children, and takes care that she's not harmed.{{book ref|sa2|32}} While she calls him her father, she's also clearly frustrated with how overprotective he can be, and will argue with him over what she is and isn't allowed to do.{{book ref|sa2|84
{{image|Kaladin and the Stormfather by Katie Payne.jpg|side=right|height=250px|Kaladin seeing the Stormfather for the first time}}
=== Kaladin ===
{{quote
|
|
}}
The Stormfather has mixed feelings regarding [[Kaladin]]. On one hand, he's furious with him for bonding Syl, and blames him for everything bad that happens to her, immediately assuming that he would kill her.{{book ref|sa2|32}} Eventually, he comes to respect him somewhat, although the respect is grudging.{{book ref|sa3|50}} Kaladin sometimes rides his storms in dreams, though this seems rather accidental.{{book ref|sa1|46}} He's the only person to whom the Stormfather
Over time, the Stormfather seems to come to care for Kaladin somewhat, in his own way. He helps him travel to [[Urithiru]] from [[Revolar]], and later hopes that the Stormblessed can safely return from [[Kholinar]].{{book ref|sa3|31}}{{book ref|sa3|107}}
<br style="clear:right;"/>
== Culture ==
The [[Vorin]] religion often identifies the Stormfather with the [[Almighty]], as well as one or more of the [[Herald]]s. In [[Alethkar]], it's commonly believed that [[Jezrien]] and the Stormfather are the same entity.{{book ref|sa1|34}} In [[Natanatan]], the same is said about [[Kalak]].{{book ref|sa3|i|1}} A common punishment for some criminals in Vorin countries is being strung up in a [[highstorm]], to be "judged by the Stormfather", which typically equals a death sentence.{{book ref|sa1|21}}
== Trivia ==
* [[Cultivation]] when she met Dalinar in the [[Valley]].{{book ref|sa3|114}}
* [[Odium]] when preventing a Fused from taking [[Venli]]'s body,{{book ref|sa3|i|6}} when he tells Dalinar {{small caps|"We killed you"}},{{book ref|sa3|119}} and when he speaks to [[Vyre]].{{book ref|sa4|i|4}}
* [[Syl]] when about to be resurrected by [[Kaladin]].{{book ref|sa2|84}}
* Dalinar when Connecting Kaladin to a vision of [[Tien]] and subsequently accepting Kaladin's Fourth Ideal.{{book ref|sa4|107}}{{book ref|sa4|108}}
== Notes ==
<references />
{{
{{Stormlight}}
| |||