Voidlight
| Voidlight | |
|---|---|
 by Ari Ibarra
| |
| Related to | Lights, Voidbinding, Odium |
| Type | Investiture |
| World | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
| Featured In | The Stormlight Archive |
“She stared at that terrible light, and—from the songs—knew it for what it was. The forms of power had been associated with a dark light, a light from the king of gods. ”
—Eshonai[1]
Voidlight is the visible form of Investiture similar to Stormlight, but associated with Odium.[2]
Acquisition and Properties[edit]
A singer can sing the Song of Prayer to create a Voidlight sphere, though this would draw Odium's attention.[3] It appears that this process is perhaps somewhat troublesome or time-consuming, as during battle, the Pursuer would go to someplace to fetch stored Voidlight instead of creating it directly.[4] In the past, Ba-Ado-Mishram is said to have provided it.[5] The Fused enter the Physical Realm suffused with Voidlight.[6] Leaving gemstones out in Everstorm doesn't infuse them with Voidlight.
Voidlight is stored in gemstones similar to Stormlight, but these two types of light cannot be stored in the same gemstone.[7] Voidlight leaks significantly slower than Stormlight.[8]
Voidlight takes the form of dark, purple-on-black vapor, glowing violet.[9][8] When a person is infused with it, Voidlight spreads over the surface of their skin rather than sinking in.[9] On the skin, it can be made to pulse, and when a person infused with Voidlight moves, they leave behind trails of violet light.[6][10] However, Voidlight does not leak from the Fused.[11]
Voidlight has an emotional effect similar to Stormlight, but instead of a need to move, it causes a feeling of enhanced passion, and emotions become more vibrant.[3][12] When drawn into the body of a singer, it infuses mainly the gemheart, rather than the entire body as with Stormlight.[3] Humans can draw in Voidlight if they learn the correct tone and rhythm.[13]
Uses[edit]
Historically, the Regal forms of the singers are associated with Voidlight, which is said to come from the king of gods.[1] Voidlight powers some, if not all, of Regals' special powers.[3] In the present day, it's used by the Fused to access Surges, similarly to how a Surgebinder uses Stormlight. Also similarly, Voidlight provides healing to the person infused with it.[10] However, Fused do not lose Voidlight when not using it, and it can power their Surges for far longer, albeit more weakly.[11] Holding it has some sort of emotional impact, though different from Stormlight's.[12]
Several Unmade are associated with Voidlight. Bonding with Yelig-nar causes a person to grow violet crystals, including a gemheart pulsing with Voidlight.[14] The sphere containing Nergaoul glows dark purple.[15][1] Moreover, when Dalinar sees Odium's true nature, the fire it burns with has the same coloring.[16]
Larkin are capable of feeding on Voidlight, with no apparent ill effects.[17]
Trivia[edit]
- The appearance of Voidlight is inspired by Stygian colors, a type of chimerical colors.[18] A chimerical color can be "perceived" when a person stares at one color until the cones in their eyes tire, then looks at another, with an afterimage causing the colors to mix into imaginary shades in the observer's brain. Stygian colors are a subset of those occurring when the second color is black.[19]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ a b c Oathbringer prologue#
- ↑ Steelheart Seattle signing
— Arcanum - 2013-10-14# - ↑ a b c d Rhythm of War chapter 67#
- ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 2#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 80 epigraph#
- ↑ a b Oathbringer interlude I-6#
- ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 69#
- ↑ a b Rhythm of War chapter 16#
- ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 54#
- ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 79#
- ↑ a b Orem signing
— Arcanum - 2018-03-10# - ↑ a b Skyward release party
— Arcanum - 2018-11-06# - ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 97#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 120#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 121#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 57#
- ↑ Oathbringer interlude I-13#
- ↑ General Reddit 2019
— Arcanum - 2019-08-11# - ↑ Impossible Colors and How to See Them
— https://www.thoughtco.com/ #