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Unmade

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Unmade
Midnight Mother 1.jpg
by Petar Penev
World of Origin Roshar
Universe Cosmere
This page or section contains spoilers for Rhythm of War!
This information has the ability to potentially ruin elements of the plot for the reader. Proceed with caution if you have not read this book.

“The Unmade are a deviation, a flair, a conundrum that may not be worth your time. You cannot help but think of them. They are fascinating. Many are mindless. Like the spren of human emotions, only much more nasty. I do believe a few can think, however. ”

—From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: paragraph 14[1]

The Unmade are a group of nine[2] ancient and twisted spren[3] on Roshar comprised of Splinters of Odium.[4] They are regarded as minions of Odium,[2] but not all of them continue to do his bidding.[5][6] While they are traditionally depicted as personifications of destruction or forces, some of them are cognizant individuals.[7][8] Each Unmade is endowed with vast and terrible powers,[9] although the intelligence of the Unmade vary drastically.

Characteristics

Creation

“The Lady of Pains has the Surge of Transformation and dangerous knowledge. She will infuse my entire heart-the pillar-in the proper order, using her Voidlight. In so doing, she would corrupt me and leave me… leave me as one of the Unmade… ”

—The Sibling[10]

The specific process of how Odium created the Unmade is unknown, but they were Unmade by his hand.[5][6]

One process of unmaking is documented with Raboniel's attempt to unmake the Sibling. While Invested with Voidlight, Raboniel placed her hands on the Sibling's pillar. The Sibling reacted by glowing with Towerlight. The Voidlight moved from Raboniel into the pillar's embedded garnets, starting the process of corruption.[11] If she had been able to continue, The Sibling says she would infuse the entire pillar with Voidlight in the proper order and utilize the Surge of Transformation.[10]

The Sibling considers being unmade into something else as equivalent to death.[12]

Sja-anat believes Odium could unmake the Unmade again. This would steal their memories and rip them to pieces. She also fears he will unmake her children, both true spren and lesser spren, to the same effect.[5]

Functioning

In creating Unmade, Odium trapped them in a halfway existence, many not fully belonging to the Physical or Cognitive Realms. Sja-anat experiences a shadowy version of both Shadesmar and the Physical Realm at the same time, feeling the distance dilation between the two as she moves.[5]

Some of the Unmade manifest various forms in the Physical Realm if they reside too long in the same place or are pulled through by strong emotions.[5]

Some are practically mindless, more like emotion spren, others are intelligent, crafty and conniving.[13][5]

Unmade are Invested enough that they have been able to push through Urithiru's suppression effect, depending on the circumstances.[14][15][16]

Capturing

“You see, it can only be bested by someone who deeply, sincerely, understands it. ”

An Unmade may be captured in a polestone like other spren, but to do so seems to require both someone who deeply understands them[18][17] and a perfect gemstone.[19] Unmade are able to think while in captivity but can not break free.[14] Unmade do not fade during captivity,[20] unlike Heralds.[21]

Prior to the Recreance, a Lightweaver managed to trap Re-Shephir, an act previously thought impossible.[18] Re-Shephir then escaped her imprisonment by unknown means centuries before the True Desolation. After the Alethi arrived at Urithiru, she once again encountered a Lightweaver, Shallan Davar. Sensing the similarities between Shallan's powers and those of the Lightweaver who had trapped her in the past, Re-Shephir fled rather than risk being imprisoned again.[18]

The Urithiru gem archive includes a theory that Melishi, a Bondsmith would be required to trap Ba-Ado-Mishram in a special prison.[22] A Knights Radiant strike team was successful in capturing Ba-Ado-Mishram in a gemstone at the end of the False Desolation, which cut off her Connection to the singers.[23][24][25] Most of the details of this capture are unknown, other than several Heralds, including Nale and Kalak, being present.[26][27]

During the Battle of Thaylen Field, Dalinar Kholin used his intimate knowledge about the Thrill's nature, and the method of capturing spren through coaxing them into a gemstone, to capture Nergaoul in the King's Drop.[19][17] It is unclear whether or not he utilized the Bondsmith Surge of Adhesion to aid with his Connection to the Thrill and it is also unknown if this is the same method that the ancient Radiants used.

History

During the Desolations

The origin of the Unmade is uncertain, but they are believed to have come into existence before the start of human civilization on Roshar.[28] They have been implied to have once been something else before being made into the Unmade,[29][30] but for now there is no indication what they once were. They were active in the Desolations, aiding Odium's troops in the conflict with their various skills.[28] Urithiru was equipped with some sort of protection against the Unmade.[31] Between Desolations, the Unmade lose their bond to Odium.[5] Since Aharietiam, they have remained subtly active on Roshar, probably operating with diminished capacity. [28][32][5] They have also slumbered at times, or entered a period of inactivity.[33][5] About 2,500 years after Aharietiam,[34]Ba-Ado-Mishram instigated the False Desolation by Connecting with the singers and granting them forms of power and Voidlight, until she was captured in a perfect gemstone by a Knights Radiant strike team.[24][26][25] At some point Re-Shephir was also imprisoned by a Lightweaver,[18] but she later escaped captivity.[30]

True Desolation

The arrival of the Everstorm in Shadesmar revitalized the Unmade.[5] As the True Desolation continued and the Fused returned, the Unmade's influence increased. The death rattles allowed by the presence of Moelach have been noted in Kharbranth and the Horneater Peaks[35][36][37] Re-Shephir was discovered to be hiding in the core of Urithiru by the Alethi[38] and was driven out by Shallan Davar.[18] In the besieged city of Kholinar, Ashertmarn's influence disrupted the leadership in the city[39] while Sja-anat corrupted the Oathgate spren, turning it into a trap for Elhokar's rescue party.[29] Queen Aesudan Kholin consumed a gemstone and worked with Yelig-nar, but was eventually consumed by it.[40] In the Battle of Thaylen Field, Yelig-nar joined with Meridas Amaram for the fighting[40] and Nergaoul's influence helped Voidspren bond with Sadeas's soliders, turning them into warriors for Odium. Kaladin and his men defeated Yelig-nar, while Dalinar Kholin successfully managed to capture Nergaoul in a perfect gem. Navani has been researching the Unmade,[41] but little factual information was found on them aside from in Hessi's Mythica.[28][42]

After the Battle of Thaylen Field

Nergaoul's gemstone prison was sunk to the bottom of the ocean.[43]

Re-Shephir shared information about the Sibling with the Fused.[44]

Sja-anat has been using her Enlightened spren children to influence events according to her designs, while trying to convince Odium she isn't actively trying to undermine him.[5] This influence, through the lure of corrupted windspren, allowed Taravangian to kill Odium's Vessel, Rayse, and take up the Shard himself.[45][46] Also, at Shallan's request, Sja-anat sent Tumi, a corrupted mistspren, to investigate bonding a member of the Ghostbloods, but Tumi chose to bond Rlain instead, at Renarin's suggestion.[47][48]

Taravangian's Diagram indicates one or more Unmade has set up in Shinovar.[49] Ishar claims that he saved the Shin after they accepted the Unmade and tried to make gods of them.[50]

While negotiating the contest of champions with Dalinar, Odium claims he can demand the Unmade retreat, but not all currently obey his will.[6]

Culture

In Rosharan culture, by the time of the Era of Solitude, the Unmade have become mythologized heavily. In fact there are disagreements about the number of Unmade; some stories claim there were ten.[28] In Vorin theology they are spoken of vaguely and are typically combined into one entity.[3] Even still, ardents tell old folktales and stories of the Unmade.[42] The Unmade are often referred to as spirits of the void or nine shadows that moved in the night.[9] They are considered to be princes of the Voidbringers in story, and feature in elaborate songs, poetry, and epics.[30] People ascribe dozens of names and powers to each Unmade, making it difficult to determine truth from falsehood centuries later.[51] There are tales of them corrupting spren and people both.[28] Some people fear that things like talking chickens will bring the eyes of the Unmade upon them.[52] However, many in the modern day consider them to be nothing more than simple folklore.[7] Scholarly works that involve the Unmade are often mocked and dismissed.[28]

The Unmade feature heavily in the songs of the listeners,[53][54] who also fear bringing the eyes of the Unmade upon them.[55] The songs note the names of all nine Unmade, remembering them as gods the listeners swore to never follow again.[25]

Sekeir, the honorspren who rules Lasting Integrity, claims that humans thrive upon the terrible emotions of the Unmade.[56]

Members of the Unmade

Ashertmarn

“Ashertmarn, the Heart of the Revel, is the final of the three great Mindless Unmade. His gift to men is not prophecy or battle focus, but a lust for indulgence. ”

—From Hessi's Mythica, page 224[57]

Ashertmarn is a mindless Unmade that is also known as the Heart of the Revel.[57] He takes the form of an enormous, black, inhuman heart that grows veins into the ground.[39] Those who fall under Ashertmarn's influence are driven to debauchery and excess,[28] in extreme cases to the point of total mindless indulgence.[39] Ashertmarn was most recently seen in Kholinar, grown over the Oathgate there, where he managed to influence many of the Alethi elite to abandon their lives and responsibilities in favor of the revel.[39] His location is unknown after he left the Oathgate platform.

Ba-Ado-Mishram

“ I find Ba-Ado-Mishram to be the most interesting of the Unmade. She is said to have been keen of mind, a highprincess among the enemy forces, their commander during some of the Desolations. I do not know how this relates to the ancient god of the enemy, named Odium. ”

— From Hessi's Mythica, page 203[57]

Ba-Ado-Mishram is one of the most intelligent Unmade. She is crafty and conniving.[5] She served as one of Odium's commanders in during the Desolations.[57] About 2,500 years after Aharietiam,[34] she Connected with the vast majority of singers instigating the False Desolation. She was able to grant them forms of power and provide Voidlight.[24] A Knights Radiant strike team captured Ba-Ado-Mishram in a perfect gemstone at the end of the False Desolation, which cut off her Connection to the singers, stealing their minds, and touched the souls of all who belong to Roshar.[23][16][25] The current location of her gemstone prison is unknown. Kalak was present during the capture,[27] so he may have clues to its location. He believes Ba-Ado-Mishram should be found and released.[58] Ba-Ado-Mishram is also being sought by the Ghostbloods for unknown purposes, possibly to aid their mission of transporting Stormlight off Roshar.[26][59]

Chemoarish

Little is known of the Unmade Chemoarish. By the modern Era of Solitude, she is known as the Dustmother and often is conflated with the Nightwatcher.[60] There is a variety of lore associated with her, but all of it is currently unknown. In Bavland, her name is invoked as a curse.[61]

Dai-Gonarthis

“ Let me no longer hurt! Let me no longer weep! Dai-Gonarthis! The Black Fisher holds my sorrow and consumes it! ”

— Tanatesach 1173, 28 seconds pre-death. A darkeyed female street juggler. Note similarity to sample 1172-89.[62]

Dai-Gonarthis is also known as the Black Fisher.[62] He has not been recorded as active on Roshar recently, but may have been involved in the Scouring of Aimia.[63] There is still some uncertainty in the mythology if Dai-Gonarthis is truly one of the Unmade, but some scholars are convinced.[64]

Moelach

“ Moelach is close. I can hear his wheezing, his scratching, his scraping at time like a rat breaking through walls. ”

— Jezrien on Moelach[65]

Moelach is an Unmade closely associated with precognition and visions of the future. His presence is what allows for the Death Rattles that King Taravangian has used to correct the Diagram. Moelach's appearance is unknown. Moelach took up residence in Kharbranth in the year 1167 then relocated seven years later to the Horneater Peaks.[35][37] The reasoning behind this relocation is unknown.

Nergaoul

“ Nergaoul was known for driving forces into a battle rage, lending them great ferocity. Curiously, he did this to both sides of a conflict, Voidbringer and human. This seems common of the less self-aware spren. ”

— From Hessi's Mythica, page 121[66]

Nergaoul is a mindless Unmade that is closely associated with battle rage.[66] Nergaoul is not very intelligent, taking an animalistic joy in death and killing.[17] He takes the form of an enormous red mist roiling with the forms of men fighting and dying.[67] Nergaoul causes the effect known as the Thrill, which drives men to fight far beyond when they should have given up and makes them enjoy the killing.[68] During the Battle of Thaylen Field, he was captured within the King's Drop ruby by Dalinar.[17] Afterwards, this perfect gemstone was sunk to the bottom of the ocean.[43]

Re-Shephir

“ Re-Shephir, the Midnight Mother, giving birth to abominations with her essence so dark, so terrible, so consuming. She is here! She watches me die! ”

— Dated Shashabev, 1173, 8 seconds pre-death. Subject: a darkeyed dock-worker in his forties, father of three.[69]

Re-Shephir is also known as the Midnight Mother,[69] and The Spawning Mother.[65] She takes the form of a mass of black tarry substance that is capable of flowing over various surfaces and appears to have screaming faces bubbling to the surface.[38] Her primary ability is to spawn the Midnight Essence, a type of spren that takes the form of creatures and people they see around them and try to understand humankind by mimicking them. She is a creature of instinct that is drawn to violence and pain.[70] Before the Recreance, she infiltrated Urithiru and was captured by a Lightweaver.[18][31] After the Recreance, she escaped imprisonment and inhabited Urithiru for centuries,[26] until fleeing the tower as a result of a confrontation with Shallan.[18] Her current location is unknown, but at some point she reported to the Fused, incorrectly, that the Sibling was dead.[44][16]

Sja-anat

“ Of the Unmade, Sja-anat was most feared by the Radiants. They spoke extensively of her ability to corrupt spren, though only "lesser" spren - whatever that means. ”

— From Hessi's Mythica, page 89[71]

Sja-anat is known as the Taker of Secrets.[28] She takes the form of a jet black shadow that points the wrong way with white holes for eyes[39] that often appears in mirrors,[29] as actually seeing her requires reflected light.[5] She exists like one entity in Shadesmar and one entity in the Physical Realm sharing a mind, experiencing both at the same time.[5] She considers herself intelligent, but not the most clever of the Unmade.[5] Her primary ability is to corrupt spren,[28] which she refers to as Enlightening.[72][5] She is capable of corrupting both lesser spren[72] and true spren,[73] as well as larger spren, such as the spren of an Oathgate.[29] These corrupted spren often act as her servants and messengers.[72] She is the only Unmade seen actively working against Odium, while at the same time trying to convince him she is not.[5] While her alligence to the humans is uncertain, so far she has taken the following actions against Odium's bidding:

Yelig-nar

“ Yelig-nar, called Blightwind, was one that could speak like a man, though often his voice was accompanied by the wails of those he consumed. ”

Yelig-nar is also known as Blightwind,[7] and differs from typical Unmade in a few ways. Instead of having a specific physical appearance, he is capable of joining with people or singers who swallow a gemstone, granting them the ability to make use of all ten Surges.[76] Those he possesses have red eyes, grow crystals from their bodies, and appear to be wreathed in a black wind.[29][17] It appears that those who join with Yelig-nar must control him if they do not wish to be consumed by him.[40]

Trivia

Notes

  1. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 81 epigraph#
  2. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 1#
  3. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 62#
  4. ↑ /r/books AMA 2015
    — Arcanum - 2015-03-12#
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Rhythm of War interlude I-2#
  6. ↑ a b c Rhythm of War chapter 112#
  7. ↑ a b c d The Way of Kings chapter 45 epigraph#
  8. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 91 epigraph#
  9. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 89 epigraph#
  10. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 42#
  11. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 38#
  12. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 89#
  13. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 81 epigraph#
  14. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 14#
  15. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 40#
  16. ↑ a b c Rhythm of War chapter 49#
  17. ↑ a b c d e f Oathbringer chapter 120#
  18. ↑ a b c d e f g Oathbringer chapter 30#
  19. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 121#
  20. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 96 epigraph#
  21. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 92 epigraph#
  22. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 79 epigraph#
  23. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 17#
  24. ↑ a b c Oathbringer chapter 80 epigraph#
  25. ↑ a b c d Rhythm of War chapter 73#
  26. ↑ a b c d Rhythm of War chapter 24#
  27. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 94 epigraph#
  28. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Oathbringer chapter 77#
  29. ↑ a b c d e Oathbringer chapter 84#
  30. ↑ a b c Oathbringer chapter 32#
  31. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 73 epigraph#
  32. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 92 epigraph#
  33. ↑ Words of Radiance interlude I-14#
  34. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 56#
  35. ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 71#
  36. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 103 epigraph#
  37. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 107#
  38. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 29#
  39. ↑ a b c d e Oathbringer chapter 78#
  40. ↑ a b c Oathbringer chapter 118#
  41. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 39#
  42. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 72#
  43. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 16#
  44. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 37#
  45. ↑ a b Rhythm of War interlude I-12#
  46. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 113#
  47. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 13#
  48. ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 114#
  49. ↑ Rhythm of War interlude I-3#
  50. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 111#
  51. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 90#
  52. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 45#
  53. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 25 epigraph#
  54. ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 31 epigraph#
  55. ↑ Words of Radiance interlude I-4#
  56. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 94#
  57. ↑ a b c d Oathbringer chapter 106 epigraph#
  58. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 97 epigraph#
  59. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 115#
  60. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 108 epigraph#
  61. ↑ The Way of Kings interlude I-3#
  62. ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 67 epigraph#
  63. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 113 epigraph#
  64. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 119#
  65. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 88#
  66. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 99 epigraph#
  67. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 115#
  68. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 100#
  69. ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 58 epigraph#
  70. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 31#
  71. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 97 epigraph#
  72. ↑ a b c Oathbringer chapter 97#
  73. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 116#
  74. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 54#
  75. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 85#
  76. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 95 epigraph#
  77. ↑ Unmade Name Linguistic Origins
    — 17th Shard #
  78. ↑ ICon 2019
    — Arcanum - 2019-10-17#
  79. ↑ Oathbringer San Francisco signing
    — Arcanum - 2017-11-15#
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