Glyphward
| Glyphwards | |
|---|---|
 by Sheep
| |
| Related to | Vorinism |
| World of Origin | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
A glyphward is a Vorin prayer written in glyphs with the intention of being burned.
Many scientifically-minded Rosharans deplore glyphwards as pure superstition, with some wondering why, if the Almighty is omniscient, he needs to have a prayer burned to him before he can aid someone.[1][2][3] Nonetheless, they remain a minority, and for most Vorins, glyphwards are the main avenue for communicating with the Almighty.
Creation and use
Women are the only ones to make glyphwards, although both men and women make use of them.[4] In addition to being homemade, glyphwards can be purchased from luckmerches or apothecaries, the latter of which will often decorate their shops with them.[5][2]
Usually, glyphwards are either drawn on paper or sewn into cloth, though at times they are drawn on surfaces with burn ink, and then set on fire to burn a glyph onto something.[6]. They can be as short in length as a single glyph, or as long as several glyphs strung together.[6][7] They do take some skill to draw well and neatly, so a person who can draw glyphwards calligraphically well is considered to have an impressive ability.[1]
After a glyphward is created, it is burned to send the soul of the prayer to the Almighty, although glyphwards often make an additional appeal to one of the Heralds or to the Stormfather so as to make sure they are heard.[7] Ardents will also burn prayers to help the people they serve.[8] If the prayer fails to be answered, it is simply treated as Almighty's will.[5]
On some occasions, glyphwards are not burned right away, or at all. In some cases, one is simply sewn onto a person's sleeve in the event that they ever need it.[9] Others are worn for protection or good fortune, without ever being burned, and some Rosharans will even get tattoos of glyphwards.[10][7]
When fire or flammable materials are not available, one may sketch a glyphward anyway, in hope that the Almighty will understand the supplicant's situation and accept the prayer. Instead of burning such a glyphward, the petitioner will then bow their head reverently for ten heartbeats.[11] Less formal prayers may also be simply traced with a finger to ward off evil.[12]
Prayers
Though they are universally believed to turn away evil, the prayers sent through glyphwards vary quite a bit.[5] Among others, the following can be distinguished:
- For fortune: often burned before an important action, such as a duel, or for blessings of luck or success.[13]
- For thanksgiving: burned to thank the Almighty.[14]
- For absolution: when a Vorin commits a sin of some kind, such as visiting the Nightwatcher, they burn those glyphwards so that the Almighty may forgive them.[15]
- For protection: burned to protect someone close to you. When someone dies, or is in danger of dying, their wife or daughters will create glyphwards to pray for their wellbeing either in this world or the next.[6]
- For events: some prayers are specific to particular events in a person's life. An example would be a bride's prayer, a glyphward made of a glyphpair that a woman who is to be married sews onto her sleeve. After the engagement is formally announced, such a prayer is then removed and burned.[9]
Notes
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 5#
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 17#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 43#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 28#
- ↑ a b c The Way of Kings chapter 25#
- ↑ a b c The Way of Kings chapter 69#
- ↑ a b c The Way of Kings chapter 62#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 37#
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 44#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 55#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 11#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 3#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 49#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 8#
- ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 61#