Difference between revisions of "Surgebinding"

|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]], [[The Sunlit Man]]

'''Surgebinding''' is a prime manifestation of [[Investiture]] on [[Roshar]]. Surgebinders can manipulate ten fundamental forces locally known as Surges, with each Surgebinder having access to two of the Surges with overlap between them, by infusing objects or beings with [[Stormlight]].{{wob ref|4515}}{{wob ref|7663}} Each Surgebinder's Surges come in a set combination,; for example, it is possible to have the Surges of Progression and Illumination or Progression and Abrasion, but not Progression and Gravitation. It is often considered one of the most powerful Invested Arts in the cosmere,{{au ref|Scadrial}} so much so that [[Rayse]] believes that there would be a war when Shards of other worlds find out about its power.{{book ref|sa4|112}}

The '''Nahel bond''' is a symbiotic relationship between humans and [[spren]], through which the human gains Surgebinding powers and the spren gains sapience in the [[Physical Realm]].{{book ref|sa2|17}} The spren choose the people they bond with according to the actions and personalities of those people.{{wob ref|6651}} There are ten types of spren that bond with humans—each granting access to two of the ten Surges, with overlap between them—and each of these types are attracted to different attributes in their bondmates.{{book ref|sa2|1}}

* '''Basic Lashing''': This ability alters an object's or being's spiritual gravitational bond to the planet below, instead temporarily linking it to a different direction. It allows the Surgebinder to run up walls, or send objects or people flying off into the air. Lashings only affect gravitational pull and not mass,. so differentDifferent things with different masses will still fall at the same speed as mass does not affect rate at which things fall.{{wob ref|5907}} Lashings can only send something in a particular direction and can not be locked into following an object.{{wob ref|3848}} Lashing can also affect liquids and gases, but this is difficult.{{wob ref|5140}}{{wob ref|16244}} Surgebinders can rotate themselves in the air using wind resistance,{{wob ref|8250}} and can also lessen the force of the wind while flying.{{book ref|sa3|60}} Taking sharp turns while Lashing can cause the Surgebinder to black out.{{wob ref|10357}}{{book ref|sa3|116}} When Lashing multiple objects or beings at a time, it is possible to create a sort of channel around the group, which will keep them close together.{{book ref|sa3|60}} Basic Lashing requires skin contact if the Surgebinder is trying to infuse an external object or being.{{book ref|sa2|85}} Basic Lashing continually consumes the [[Stormlight]] with which the object is infused until the object runs out of Stormlight or the Surgebinder dismisses their Lashing; as such, the length of a Basic Lashing is dependent on the amount of Stormlight used.{{book ref|sa2|41}} However, it can run out faster if the target uses [[Feruchemy]] to increase their weight.{{wob ref|16296}} Advanced users of Basic Lashing can employ partial Lashings — a half-Lashing upward, for example, would make the Surgebinder effectively weightless, while a quarter-Lashing would halve the person's weight.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} It is also possible to use multiple Basic Lashings simultaneously so that the infused object or being will be pulled toward different directions at once or pulled toward a single direction but stronger than gravity normally would.{{book ref|sa2|52}} It is possible to only Lash part of an object, though this requires skill.{{wob ref|12747}}

* '''Regrowth''': This ability heals the damage done to the body and the soul of a person instantly and without any scarring. The flesh, muscle, or bones can be completely regrown rapidly. The body can be refreshed and rid of fatigue.{{book ref|sa1|19}} The Surgebinder can even reverse death with Regrowth; a body that has bled out or a soul that has been severed with a Shardblade can be healed with Regrowth and continue to function as if it has never been damaged.{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} However, once the soul leaves the body and reaches the afterlife, it is impossible for the Surgebinder to revive the person.{{book ref|sa2|88}} This ability may also fail to heal injuries that are too old.{{book ref|sa3|Interlude|13}} Regrowth is inferior to normal Radiant healing.{{wob ref|14448}} Surgebinders can stack Regrowth with their Radiant healing to heal much faster than normal.{{book ref|sa3|120}}

* '''Lightweaving''': This ability creates visual and auditory illusions. The illusion is based upon not just what the Surgebinder imagines, but also desires to create, requiring both a mental picturing of and a Spiritual connection to the intended creation.{{book ref|sa2|part=ars}} Once the creation is shaped, the Surgebinder breathes out a cloud of [[Stormlight]] to form the illusion.{{book ref|sa2|7}} The illusion can be created anywhere, but requires a constant source of Stormlight, so the Surgebinder — or a being the Surgebinder is Spiritually linked to — needs to keep in proximity to it. Because the illusion automatically feeds off the Surgebinder, the glowing effect common to the Surgebinders as the Stormlight leaks out of their bodies does not happen, as excess Stormlight is instead fed to the illusion.{{book ref|sa2|60}} Unless the Surgebinder intentionally dissolves the apparition, it will stay active until they run out of Stormlight or leavesleave its proximity. It canwill even stay active while the Surgebinder is unconscious.{{book ref|sa4|4}} Attaching a Lightweaving to a being they are bonded with will cause their Stormlight to drain faster.{{book ref|sa2|63}} It's possible for the Surgebinder to attach the illusion to themselves, as well as a being they are Spiritually linked to such as the [[spren]] that forms the [[Nahel bond]], so that the illusion automatically follows their movements. This way, an illusion of a disguise can mimic facial expressions or adapt to the clothing or the accessories they are wearing.{{book ref|sa2|60}} Experienced practitioners of this art can also attach the illusion to an object that is infused with Stormlight, such as a [[sphere]].{{book ref|sa3|51}} The illusory image has no substance to it, and if an object physically passes through the illusion, the image fuzzes to Stormlight until the object withdraws.{{book ref|sa2|42}} Light itself does not pass through the illusion; if the Surgebinder wants to see through it, they must put in viewing holes. The amount of Stormlight the illusion requires depends on the complexity of it.{{book ref|sa2|54}} Lightweaving can manipulate all forms of electromagnetic radiation, including lasers.{{wob ref|11554}} Lightweaving would be affected by aphantasia.{{wob ref|14331}}