#Cultivationspren

[dravencroft]

Maya released a terrifying screech, her jaw lowering farther than it should. "You. Cannot. Have. My. SACRIFICE!".

One of the most powerful scenes in Rhythm of War: Maya shouting her truth during Adolin's trial.

[peachdoxie]

Fascinating that Maya reacted to Adolin saying the honorspren should listen to Syl when we know that the Third Ideal of the Edgedancers — whose spren are cultivationspren like Maya — is "I will listen to those who have been ignored."

[cosmerelists]

Custom Collective Nouns for Radiant Spren

As requested by anon. :)

You know how there's collective nouns for animals, like a "murder of crows," or a "flamboyance of flamingos" or a "clowder of cats"? Those custom collective nouns sure are fun! So this anon asked what groups of Radiant spren are called. Here is what I think would be neat!

1. A Matrix of Cryptics

This was suggested by the anon who requested this list, and they are so correct.

2. A Judgment of Highspren

I considered other options as well, such as a "Pronouncement of Highspren" or a "Determination of Highspren," but "Judgment" felt right.

3. A Zephyr of Honorspren

A "zephyr" is a type of breeze, which felt right for the windspren-like Honorspren.

4. A Prism of Mistspren

Inspired by how they look like light reflecting onto a surface through a crystal. Plus, it evokes the shattered glass imagery that's always around Renarin, so

5. A Summit of Peakspren

Okay, maybe this one is TOO on the nose, but I like it! Yes, they are mountains so ha ha "summit," but also, a "summit" can be a gathering of people, and I like that lowkey pun.

6. A Verdancy of Cultivationspren

"Verdancy" is the noun from "verdant," so green and flourishing. Makes sense for Cultivationspren, right?

7. A Conflagration of Ashspren

I also considered something like "Curiosity" or "Marvel" to represent their interest in how things work, but "Conflagration" does speak to destruction and makes one think of fire, and therefore ash.

8. An Idiosyncrasy of Reachers

"Idiosyncrasy" is a word referring to a someone's peculiar or individualized behavior/character--it's built off of the ancient Greek idio (self, one's own) + krasis (mixture): so basically, it's your own personal blend. I love that for Reachers, the spren of Willshapers.

9. An Atrament of Inkspren

But this one is my favorite! "Atrament" is a word meaning "a very dark substance, especially a liquid." So - ink, yeah? But also, it's an obscure word, one stemming from the Latin for black, ater, and I think that sort of learned obscurity would appeal to an Inkspren.

[unfortunatelyshortpeasent]

Y'know how mayalaran forms like vines reaching through the air because she's cultivationspren?

Do highspren blades form like cracks in the air expanding to take the form of the shardblade?? I need this it sounds sick as fuck

You really wanna fight? Just summoning my weapon cracks fucking reality you wanna face that right now?????

[thatboreddrake]

Stormlight AU where Tien doesn’t get drafted to fight a pointless war. Kaladin gets to go and study to become a surgeon at Karbranth. Instead of Syl, he ends up attracting the attention of a cultivationspren and becoming a nascent Edgedancer. He becomes catapulted into Plot(TM) when one of his patients gets transferred to Taravingian’s sketchy future sight division.

Idk I just like the idea of a Kaladin who doesn’t have to angst about when to kill and when to save, he can just focus on saving and healing those in need. You cannot tell me that Roshar’s #1 Union organizer wouldn’t swear to “remember those who have been forgotten.” Also Surgeon Kaladin getting to use Regrowth powers would be very fun.

Taravingian: “Why do I hear Eurobeat music?”

Edgedancer Kaladin who has been picking up speed and gliding across half a continent:

[uinferno]

I made a totally original Stormlight Archive OC, Brace. He's totally from here and not doing any spying. Just a normal messenger boy working for House Kholin. Like Felt! More below like design notes and lore.

In Brace's little personal narrative, he has a steady arc of moving further and further away from home. From the Roughs, to Elendel, to eventually Roshar. After a heart to heart with his childhood "bestfriend," he ultimately moves to become less of a fucking mess and promises to return home only when he's "better." After kicking around Elendel for a couple years on the coin of nobility, he is recruited by the Ghostbloods--as a minor bastard scion, steel compounder and talented survivalist--preying on his desire for a greater cause and his love of his home.

So here he is on Roshar circa end of Oathbringer through Wind and Truth, not really as aggressive in his machinations as his contemporaries, but still wanting to keep a close eye on this apocalyptic war. The little Cultivationspren on his arm is Maize. I thought it'd be cool to have a confidante for him without making him a capital R Radiant. After he accidentally killed her original Radiant (aluminum is dangerous) when he was caught assisting Singers, he promised to find her a new Knight and protect them with his life, coming to a begrudging agreement between them. Unfortunately, turns out Maize is a huge ass bitch and every recommendation Brace gives to her is shot down because they're not important enough to make meaningful difference in this world. Meanwhile Brace is confused because as far as he was informed, Edgedancers are all about the little guy. May or may not be an Enemies to Radiants arrangement.

I've been sitting on this drawing since December wanting to add more doodles to it, but given the fact it's been nearly a year since, I'm just going to post as is and any future additions to this will be their own posts.

[imonlyhereforcrem]

“Besides, there was … another voice. Pure, with a song like tapped crystal, distant yet demanding…” She smiled, and zipped away. ~Syl, Oathbringer ch. 6

Syl brings this up to Kaladin in reference to his time in growing up in Hearthstone. She “remembers” things about Kaladin from back then even though she hadn’t actually met him yet. I think Syl is saying here that another Radiant spren was observing Kaladin back then; a memory from before she left the Cognitive Realm to seek him out.

There are 2 spren that come to mind that are related to crystal: Cultivationspren and mistspren. Both of these orders have access to Progression which fits Kaladin the surgeon. However, mistspren (and Truthwatchers) are concerned with the powerful being truthful to those they lead. Kaladin “all lighteyes are deceitful/horrible abusers of unrightful power” definitely has interest in that sort of thing.

All this to say, I believe that Surgeon!Kaladin, the Kaladin that never left Hearthstone, would have been recruited as a Truthwatcher.

[shewhodoesnotexist]

I was hoping Maya could pass into the Physical Realm too :( I wish she could interact with everybody not just as a blade. She does have a bond with Adolin that could help her orient herself (and no, I don't want them to have a Radiant bond), plus apparently cultivationspren don't lose themselves as much, if we can judge by Wyndle. It would be so good for Maya's recovery to be with her friends :(

[sorchasolas]

Someone ( @codenamesarestupid ) asked if Alani had any friends among the Skybreakers

And she has ONE!!!! (Minus her Master Skybreaker who tolerates her)

But she also has an Edgedancer friend. One that is like. Completely neutral. In the war. She just likes healing people its her favorite thing.

About the other questions codenamesarestupid asked— this post is really just a filler until i

1) draw her Skybreaker friend

Or

2) figure out the answer to “how does Alani stand in the war” because i. Don’t know!!!

Anyways here’s the silly Edgedancer i have no name for her. But i do know she’s Iri and Veden. I NEED NAMES PLS GIVE ME NAMES.

[Image ID: a digital drawing of a young woman facing the camera, her Cultivationspren wrapping around her right arm and resting on her shoulder. She has light tan skin with a prominent blush and visible freckles, her nose straight and flat. Her hair is shoulder length, and wrapped to one side and tied off. She’s prominently blonde, with dusty red streaking through it, her eyelashes and eyebrows matching her hair. Her eyes are a dark brown and her shirt is a dusty brown and sleeveless, half tightly wrapped and buttoned across her chest; her neck is notably long, and her shirt covers up only a third of her neck. Her Cultivationspren is forest green with varying shades of green crystal. The woman looks just slightly to the side of the camera, an idle smile on her face. /.End ID]

[gloryofdawn]

So like

Does anyone else think about the parallels between Dalinar and Mayalaran? Like a lot?

Because good God, I sure do.

The "You cannot have my pain" and "You cannot have my sacrifice" scenes almost run one to one against each other, honestly.

In each, the focus character is, until the most critical moment, at the mercy of an unjust ruler -- Odium for Dalinar, and arguably the entire upper echelon of Lasting Integrity for Maya. This ruler seeks to use the character to achieve their victory. Dalinar will be Odium's champion, Maya will be the tool that keeps any more Honorspren from leaving Lasting Integrity to become a deadeye (from their point of view, anyways). Amusingly, each scene also has one of the Kholin brothers watching on helplessly, though I don't know that the identity of the observing characters necessarily bears much literary weight. Anyways, the rulers are all but crowing their victory when the unthinkable happens. Dalinar refuses to reject the responsibility and guilt of his war crimes. A deadeye speaks. You cannot have my pain. You cannot have my sacrifice. I killed my wife. I chose my own fate. The balance of power immediately changes, with Dalinar spearheading a spanking so hard that Taravangian is probably feeling the aftereffects and Mayalaran causing a completely upset in the trial that doesn't just see Adolin victorious, but fucking unseats the Honorspren hierarchy.

We haven't seen much else of Maya, obviously, but I'm very curious and very excited to see how far these parallels go. Will the millennia spent as a deadeye prove similar to the experience of having memories suppressed by Cultivation? Will Maya and Adolin bring about a revival of the deadeyes like Dalinar and the Stormfather revived the Knights Radiant? What's Maya's place in Cultivationspren society, and will her time as a deadeye have her treated similarly to the bogeyman Dalinar was regarded as before he got his shit together? There are so many possibilities that I'm concerned that they won't fit in KoWT. I'm sure Sanderson has a plan and is going to treat this as the important plotline it obviously is, but Maya has rocketed up to like my second or third favorite character (partially because Dalinar is my favorite and these parallels are phenomenal) and I need this.

[kingjasnah]

Wait new fake theory! Testament and maya are the same character actually. Lived as a cryptic, sworded as a cultivationspren

testament was like hmmm nah sorry girl idk if i like this whole vibe and then just jumped ship to her former nahel partner's boyfriend

[silverstream2]

Deeply want to make or read a Trigun and Stormlight Archive crossover, if only because I want to mess around with giving Vash a spren to have a Nahel bond with. Not sure which order Vash would belong to- my best guess is either Edgedancer or Windrunner, but tbh he's such a pacifist I'm not sure which one would fit him best. I would kinda like the symmetry of him bonding a cultivationspren, just because ha ha, they're both plants. Plant buddies. That are also kind of gods/little tiny pieces of gods.

Also I just like the idea of Vash bonding a spren because then it would give him a friend that would live as long as he does and is always with him. Poor, sweet plant man deserves the emotion support.

I wonder what Cultivation would think of Vash and Knives/Nai? Harmoney/Sazed would probably be a good fit for Vash, too, I think. Or at least, I think Sazed would try to be kind to him. Devotion, too, I think- or at least, whatever is left of her.

We haven't met Mercy yet, but I feel like it could be neat to see what she would think of Vash and Wolfwood. (Sidenote: I feel like Wolfwood would be a Lightweaver, all the way.)

Wanna say Knives would be a Dustbringer, but tbh we haven't really seen enough of that Order for me to tell? So... maybe? Odium would have a field day with him, tho. I wonder what Nai/Knives would think of the Singers and the Listeners? They're not human, technically, but idk if that would exactly... endear him to them.

Also Stoneward Millie. Haven't seen much of that Order either, but from what we have seen (thank you, Talenel), I think it would fit her? (I feel like she'd use her Surges to make really neat pottery and buildings and stuff, in her free time. Maybe some neat pottery for her siblings, too.) I know Gunsmoke is more sand than stone, so idk how that affects Stoneward's abilities... but I'm sure she'd be able to do something with her powers? Besides just heal with Stormlight, I mean.

Also Wit/Hoid meeting Vash and alternating between roasting him for his "lovable idiot" act (and giving Vash pointers on how to do it better), maybe giving Vash tips on how to de-escalate things and talk people over to his side better (really would be interesting to see those two chat about philosophy and such together), and just. Being gentle and kind to Vash, like how Hoid is with Shallan, because poor Vash, he really does deserve it. Poor man needs somebody to be there for him like that, sometimes, and Hoid has so much more experience than Vash, I feel like he could help? Or at least, I hope he could.

On a more light-hearted note:

IMPORTANT: Also, consider:

Kaladin: *is sad*

Kuroneko-sama: *comes and sits on his lap and curls up on him and purrs at him*

Kaladin: *pets the kitty and feels better*

Syl: *wildly approves, and transforms into a ribbon of light for Kuroneko-sama to play with*

Also, Syl being friends with Vash and making a point to tease him and chat with him.

Wanna say Kaladin and Vash should talk about protecting people and the use of violence in doing so, but I'm worried the collective Sad(TM) would just overwhelm both of them. My poor sweet boys, y'all need so much therapy.

I do feel like the Windrunner oaths would help Vash out the most, tho, even if he doesn't swear them himself? Especially if Kaladin is there to give his own insight into it. I mean, accepting that there will be people you can't protect/save is right there as the Fourth Ideal. I feel like Vash could benefit from that.

[femmefaggot]

r cultivationspren like. Of cultivation (god)

[cosmerelists]

Why Every Radiant Order Would Let Their Radiant Develop Cat Ears

As (sort of) requested by @inkwell-god

There was a post from the @fake-words-of-brandon account about whether or not furry Radiants would develop into their fursonas thanks to the magic healing power of Stormlight (post here). Inkwell-god wanted to know which spren would be down for at least letting their Radiant have cat ears. And honestly...I think they ALL would be. And here's why!

1. Cryptics (Lightweavers)

I mean, according to FWOB (fake word of Brandon), the cryptics would be the quickest to grant their Radiants cat ears. And it only makes sense. Cryptics allow their Radiants to lightweave into whatever form they want. And having that form become permament? Seems like a delicious lie to me!

2. Highspren (Skybreakers)

Well, it's not against the law to have cat ears, is it? And the law is the law.

3. Honorspren (Windrunners)

If their Radiant believed that it was right to have cat ears, then an Honorspren would never refuse them. In fact, the Honorspren would want to also have cat ears, since cat ears are fun and Honorspren like playing with their appearances.

4. The Sibling (Bondsmith)

The Sibling doesn't like humans. A physical change that makes Navani look a bit less human? I think the Sibling would be all for it.

5. The Nightwatcher (Bondsmith)

The Nightwatcher grants people what they want--no, what they need. If their Radiant's deepest desire was cat ears, the Nightwatcher would want them to have it (in return for something, perhaps...)

6. The Stormfather (Bondsmith)

The Stormfather would not be for or against cat ears, I don't think. It's just that the Stormfather tends to agree with Dalinar if Dalinar is forceful enough and/or if it's an oath thing. If Dalinar shouted into the storm that he needed cat ears, I think the Stormfather would give in.

7. Ashspren (Dustbringers)

Having cat ears is a little bit chaotic, I feel. I don't think the Ashspren would have any particular reason to say no, and in that case, I think they'd default to "yes!"

8. Cultivationspren (Edgedancers)

Cultivationspren want to encourage growth, right? Like growing cat ears, perhaps?

9. Mistspren (Truthwatchers)

If having cat ears was their Radiant's truth, the Mistspren would not stand in their way. Also, all of the Mistspren we've seen so far are corrupt, so they're not gonna play by society's rules anyway.

10. Reachers (Willshapers)

The Reachers like novelty, and what is more novel than cat ears?

11. Peakspren (Stonewards)

Cat ears are like triangular peaks added to a human's head. Like little furry soft mountains. What is a Peakspren going to do--say no?

12. Inkspren (Elsecallers)

Perhaps the hardest spren to convince...but if you have a logical argument, then the Inkspren will not stand in your way. Our only Elsecaller so far is Jasnah, and if you think Jasnah couldn't come up with a logical argument for having cat ears if she wanted them, then I don't know what book series you've been reading!

[tyresw]

This response was written by a cultivationspren

loudly going "YOU'RE GOOD YOU'RE GOOD" to myself to ward off the memory of every embarrassing thing i've ever done

[soloavengers]

edgedancer syl and cultivationspren winnie who likes to wrap around his head and shoulder to look like a flower crown will never leave my head until i draw them i know but i cannot. confidently. yet