User:Asmodeus/Fused

{{magical entities
|image=Fused monochrome.jpg
|magic={{tag+|Cognitive Shadow}}
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}

“ They are the spren of Parshmen long dead. They are their kings, their lighteyes, their valiant soldiers from long, long ago. The process is not easy on them. Some of these spren are mere forces now, animalistic, fragments of minds given power by Odium. Others are more … awake. Each rebirth further injures their minds.

They are reborn using the bodies of Parshmen to become the Fused. ”

—The Stormfather

The Fused are the souls of ancient singers that are able to be reborn by possessing the bodies of living singers. They are considered to be higher in singer society than Regals and common singers. They seem to have powers similar to Surgebinding, however, unlike the Knights Radiant, there are only nine orders of them, rather than ten.

History

According to the Stormfather, the creation of the Fused is what began the Desolations. At some point, Odium empowered the angry souls of creatures who had been slain, who refused to pass on into the Beyond. Every time they would be killed, they would be reborn again, using the bodies of other Singers.

Humanity had no way of permanently killing a Fused, because each time

Nature

These ancient singer shadows exist in a state very similar to spren, until they take over a singer body. This process requires a living singer to open themselves up to bonding a new spren during one of Roshar's invested storms, in the same way as they would to adopt a new Form. The singer shadows waiting to become the Fused then choose one of these willing, open singers, and (in a process which causes intense pain and agony to the host singers) take over their bodies, killing them. The Fused can be killed by conventional means, but they can use Voidlight to heal.^{[citation needed]} However, damaging their gemheart is instantly fatal.

In previous Desolations, when Fused died, the Oathpact bound them back to Braize and delayed them from returning immediately. They would then have to wait until the next desolation, before they could Return and be reborn again.

In the True Desolation, the Fused use the Everstorm to great advantage. Not only can they use the Everstorm (instead of relying on highstorms) to possess new living singers, but when they do die, they can immediately Return during the next Everstorm, if they can find a living singer willing to take on the burden.

Due to their Invested nature, the ancient ones that become the Fused do not need to bond a spren to attain and maintain full sapience. However, every time a Fused is reborn, the process further injures their minds.

Powers

by Jemma M. Young A Fused with the power of Gravitation

The Fused learnt to command the Surges at some point after their original creation. The Fused have displayed powers similar to the Surgebinding capabilities of the Knights Radiant, however unlike the Knights Radiant, there are only nine orders of the Fused. It seems to appear that each of the nine kinds of Fused only have access to one surge each.^{[citation needed]}

The major differences between the powers of the Fused and the Surgebinidng powers of the Knights Radiant, are in what investiture the two groups use and how they get them. Where the Knights Radiant use Stormlight, the Fused use Voidlight, which manifests as a dark violet, light-consuming glow. It is unknown how the Fused get Voidlight. They appear to innately be able to invoke it, however they do not have access to unlimited amounts of it. Because of this, they can afford to expend less of it, and are much more conservative in how much Voidlight they use. The method of distribution for Voidlight was different in previous Desolations, and changed with the advent of the Everstorm in the True Desolation.

The Fused use powers in ways similar to the Knights Radiant, but with a few notable differences. Like all Surgebinders, the Fused gain their abilities through manipulation of Roshar's fundamental forces, the Surges, though it seems to appear that unlike them, each one of the nine kinds of Fused can only access a single Surge. It is unknown whether a specific Fused can change forms (and thus, powers) during their current incarnation, nor is it clear whether they can change forms between rebirths, when they posses a new singer body. The only Fused whose death and rebirth has been shown so far, Lady Leshwi, has retained her control over the Surge of Gravitation.

Another difference between the Fused and the Surgebinders lies in the fuel they use to power their abilities. Where Surgebinders use Stormlight, the Fused rely on Voidlight - Investiture that does not appear to require a physical conduit, like gemstones, but instead can be directly supplied to the user. Voidlight does not provide the same healing abilities as Stormlight, however, it appears other healing methods may be accessible to those using Voidlight.

Some Fused can manipulate their carapace to form tools, weapons, and armor, hinting to the existence of other powers and abilities.

Gravitation

Fused who can manipulate the Surge of Gravitation do so very similarly to how the Windrunner and Skybreaker Orders make use of the Basic Lashing. Fused of this form are often seen manipulating the gravitation vector of both themselves and other bodies and objects, resulting in abilities such as flight, reduced weight, and sending their enemies flying off into the air. The Fused accelerate slower than Surgebinders when using Gravitation. This is due to them expending less energy and does not have to do with the gravity of Braize. Over a large span, Fused will go faster than Surgebinders.

Illumination

Fused who interact with the Surge of Illumination appear to mimic the Lightweavers' ability to change their own appearance by creating illusions.

Abrasion

Fused who control the Surge of Abrasion have the ability to change the force of friction between objects and bodies, similar to Edgedancers.

Known Fused

For a full list, see :Category:Fused.

• Leshwi
• Hnanan
• Vatwha
• Abaray
• Aharat
• Hariel
• Kyril
• Rine
• Turash

• Images of the Fused
• 

  by Kyle Pearson
• 

  by Kyle Pearson
• 

  by LittleGreyDragon
• 

  by jurassicpencil
• 

  by Jules Aguimatang
• 

  by Ralf Melevo
• 

  by taratjah

Notes

{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}
[[category: Fused| ]]

Fused notes

Powers

The Fused learnt to command the Surges at some point after their original creation. The Fused have displayed powers similar to the Surgebinding capabilities of the Knights Radiant, however unlike the Knights Radiant, there are only nine orders of the Fused. It seems to appear that each of the nine kinds of Fused only have access to one surge each.^{[citation needed]}

The major differences between the powers of the Fused and the Surgebinidng powers of the Knights Radiant, are in what investiture the two groups use and how they get them. Where the Knights Radiant use Stormlight, the Fused use Voidlight, which manifests as a dark violet, light-consuming glow. It is unknown how the Fused get Voidlight. They appear to innately be able to invoke it, however they do not have access to unlimited amounts of it. Because of this, they can afford to expend less of it, and are much more conservative in how much Voidlight they use. The method of distribution for Voidlight was different in previous Desolations, and changed with the advent of the Everstorm in the True Desolation.

Editing Notes (Incomplete)

^{[citation needed]} Look for Words of Radiance Everstorm scene. Look for Moash vs Leshwi 1.0.

A Parshman in full carapace armor is working as a scribe, receiving and noting new Parsh that come to Kholinar. Speaks strongly to the Rhythms. Considers what Yixli says to have more weight than Khen's group, but doesn't have the authority to label Kaladin free. Asks them to get the permission of one of the Fused for that.

Interesting stuff: Kaladin looks at the Fused, and matches them with Bridge Four descriptions of the strange Parshendi that had summoned the Everstorm.

Fused: On the ground, with the scribe.

• Appearance: a tall parshwoman with long hair. There was carapace covering her cheeks, running back along the cheekbones and into her hair. The skin on her arms prickled with ridges, as if there were carapace under the skin as well. Her eyes glowed red. Looks different from the flying fused - less lean, shorter hair.
• Personality: Oppressive gaze.
• Powers: She doesn't invoke Voidlight. She couldn't fly.

Fused: two flying fused that chase Kaladin.

• Appearance: Red-eyed. "These two looked different from the one he’d seen earlier, leaner, with longer hair."
• Powers: Can fly. Remind Kaladin of his first experimentation with his powers. Lag behind and get left behind eventually.

Touching the bodies of the fallen is considered taboo for the Listeners. Their Old Songs speak of humans hacking apart their corpses, searching for the Gemheart.

Interesting stuff: Ulim serves Venli's ancestors, calling them their leaders and the ones in charge. Two mentions: They know how to lead armies, and how to supply troops on a battlefield that spans hundred of miles. Ulim was not the one that sent the Listeners on the path to Szeth.

Fill this out later.

"“Looking over what you discovered, it seems that all parshmen can bond with ordinary spren as part of their natural life cycle. What we’ve been calling ‘Voidbringers’ are instead a combination of a parshman with some kind of hostile spren or spirit.” “The Fused,” Dalinar said."

“By the Stormfather’s explanation, the Fused are immortal. Nothing stops their rebirth now that the Heralds have failed. This is our real problem. Our enemy has a near-endless supply of parshman bodies to inhabit, and judging by what the good captain has confirmed through experience, these Fused can access some kind of Surgebinding. How do we fight against that?”

Fused raid caravans, though the reason for this is unknown, and doesn't make sense to Kaladin.

Moash: Different varieties - powerful and imperious - have Voidlight - each intimidating.

Moash's overseer, one of the Parsh - unclear of it's a regal form, but likely it isn't - calls Kaladin a false god, a living one like the Fused.

Moash.

Fused: Leshwi type that hovers in the air near Moash.

• Appearance: a tall women, hovered in the air, toes pointed downwards. Face more angular than the Parsh. Wears overlong, flowing robes, impractical for anyone who walked, but mesmerising on someone who always flew.
• Personality: seems impressed by the Orchards. rarely walks.
• Powers: access to some of the Lashings. Can stay aloft far longer than Kaladin can, who would run out of Stormlight.

Fused: ride horses with obvious familiarity.

• Powers: cannot fly. Can invoke Voidlight.

The Fused don't burn down everything they see. They are not incarnates of destruction, rather, they keep territory and begin working it.

Moash.

Fused: Carpenter Fused.

• Appearance: a head taller than the parshmen, grew large portions of carapace armor in wicked shapes
• Personality: knows how to woodwork, and as he saws some wood, carefully explains to the Parsh what he did.
• Powers: The Fused made a fist, and dark violet energy surrounded his arm. Carapace grew there, in the shape of a saw.

Interesting: Moash goes looking for a flying type fused. According to him, "they seemed to be in charge, even of the other fused"

Fused: sat near the cistern

• Appearance: malen - heavily armored, no hair, carapace encroaching across the cheeks
• Personality: crazy. On being questioned, he just grins and throw himself in the water, floating and staring at the sky.

Fused: flying type. Leshwi's "messenger"

• Appearance: "Cloth fluttered in the air, and in the middle of it floated a fused with skin that matched the black and red clothing"
• Personality: questionable information
• Powers: access to atleast a basic lashing, can invoke voidlight.

Fused: Leshwi

• Appearance: face with all three parshmen colors - red, white, and black; marbled like paint swirled together. Notable in that someone with all three colors is rare, and Leshwi's pattern is "transfixing, almost liquid in it's effect, her like pools around which the colors ran." Deep red eyes, like pools of shimmering blood. Angular face, with black and crimson long, flowing parsh hair (which is thicker than human hair, like reeds or blades of grass)
• Personality: distinctly serene. considers attuning to the rhythms a natural way to answer questions, even when talking to a human who cannot tell. Her compatriots considered that she might wish personal vengeance on Moash.
• Powers: the Fused do not attract windspren.

Interesting: Leshwi considers that being "one of the fused who is sane" is the same as being "one of the leaders"

Interesting: Leshwi keeps her marbled patterning across her rebirths, but her specific features are different.

Interesting: Leshwi considers the overseers her "lessers"

Revisit: Leshwi's conversation with Moash here has some extractable first-hand information about the philosophy and outlook of the Fused.

Rlain, and by extension, the old Listeners, consider the Fused their enemies.

Lots

Fused: Hariel

• Appearance: Well Muscled, tall, with a broad chest and powerful stance. Majestic, with ridges of carapace poking through his skin, along his arms and at the corners of the face.
• Personality: has one of the worst tempers of all the Fused. All four of these are later described as tall, haughty. Like Leshwi, mentions that Odium will being vengeance. Commends the Listeners for their war,
• Powers: can invoke Voidlight. Ulim says "He could have destroyed you." Potential call to his powers?

Fused: Aharat

• Appearance: Similar form to Hariel.
• Personality: Unknown
• Powers: Unknown

Fused: taking over Mrun's body

• Appearance: Similar form to Hariel, called tall, imperious
• Personality: groans and mutters gibberish

Fused: taking over Altoki's body

• Appearance: Similar to Hariel
• Personality: stands low, bares teeth, predatory gait

Revisit: some extractable first-hand information about the philosophy and outlook of the Fused.

In the True Desolation, according to spanreed reports before Elhokar's departure to Kholinar, Voidbringers were slowly moving northward, and had captured much of Alethkar. Relis Ruthar had tried to gather the remaining Alethi forces in the country, but had been pushed back toward Herdaz, suffering at the hands of the Fused. However, the Voidbringers were not killing non-combatants.

The Fused test Kholinar's defenses and strength in periodic raids by the flying Fused at the walls.

(paraphrased, might want to reword to be closer to the source if used) The flying Fused use long lances to poke at men on the ground. They occasionally swoop in to lash someone into the sky. They also use shields to slap away formations of pikes.

Fused: (of note) the one that lashes Kaladin

• Appearance: male, reminiscent of Parshendi, with layered plates of chitin armor creeping down across its forehead and rising from cheeks that were marbled black and red.
• Personality:
• Powers: can do basic lashings. For the threshold - it _can_ do upto a double or triple lashing.

Important: Voidlight does sustain the Fused and allow them to survive shardblade wounds.

Revisit - may want to cover the Fused activities in this chapter in the history section for the True Desolation.

Question: How to handle the Fused corpse by the Sunwalk?

Kaladin notes that the Fused take time to fight the assault on the palace, and wonders if it's because they were focused on the main assault on Kholinar.

Venli outlines the hierarchy of Odium's forces. Three Levels. Fused at the top, then Regals, which are "distinguished by forms of power - created by bonding one of the varieties of Voidspren;" lastly, common singers, who wear the ordinary forms "Venli's people had used."

The Fused control all of Eastern Alethkar by this point, which collapsed because of Alethi conscription, the Everstorm, and the arrival of the Fused.

Venli notes that the Fused less likely to dismiss what she says if she speaks to them respectfully in the ancient tongue.

According to Rine, the Fused consider Honor their "enemy," whom they defeated, and yet he fights on through his Surgebinders. They mistrust humans, because they think that any time, any of them could suddenly manifest powers from him. They were shocked when it first happened - the Humans shouldn't have been able to bond spren, as they don't have gemhearts. Yet the human spren bond was _more powerful._

Fused: Rine

• Powers: Basic Lashing

Fused: Rine's crazy companion

• Powers: Basic Lashing?

The Fused used linked harnesses to carry Venli around.

Venli notes that many of the Fused were obviously unhinged, wondering if maybe it's because their inordinately long lives had taken a toll on their psyche. She further wonders if Odium will need new leaders in their place, and if she proved herself, she could claim a place among them, by becoming one of the new Fused.

The Fused appeared alongside the Voidspren west of the Nexus of Imagination, and immediately sailed up and seized Cultivation's perpendicularity. They hold Celebrant, but they don't control it firmly - rather, they left some officials (unknown if these are Fused or Voidspren) and extracted promises from the local leaders that they would follow. Two of the Fused - Kyril and one other - check in and run inspections occasionally.

It's implied that Kyril uses a device to set fire to Ico's ship.

Eight Fused hunt down Honor's Path.

According to Kaladin, the Fused were slower than he could go, but they were still faster than the ship.

Venli wonders if the Fused and the Voidspren fear the Listeners' heritage, when they don't allow her to talk to the other Singers about the specific history of her people.

Revisit Illumination Fused

At the Battle for Thaylen City, there were dozens of the flying Fused.

On the Shadesmar side, six of them hold the bridge to the Oathgate.

Venli: Hulking Fused walk among hundreds of Singers, their carapace armor is as impressive as shardplate.

Fused: One of the hulking Fused.

• Personality: Calm, but fierce. Like a smoldering fire. Controlled, but ready to burst alight.

Important: Venli: These are the spirits of the dead, she realised. Fused who haven't yet chosen a body. Most were twisted to the point that she barely recognised them as singers. Two were roughly the size of buildings.

One Thunderclast punches through the wall and makes straight for the Gemstone Reserve. Several Fused ride on its shoulders, and drop down into that building, once the Thunderclast rips its roof open. It then attacks the building, ripping apart its walls and scattering all the gems within. It gets progressively angrier and more aggressive. Two of the Fused it carried go after

Fused: two fused following a yellow spren

• Powers: "These two Fused didn’t seem to be able to fly, but there was a startling grace to their motion. They slid along the stone street with no apparent effort, as if the ground were greased." "They skirted the turncoat army, sliding along the rock with an uncanny grace."
• Appearance: lithe bodies and little armor.

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