Difference between revisions of "Nahel bond"

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Spren seem to bond with people who share their perspective or personality; however, they also seem to seek partners that would complement them.{{wob ref|5183}} The bonded spren is more likely to be of the opposite gender to their bond-mate, but this is by no means a hard rule,{{wob ref|349}} and there are numerous Surgebinders with same-gender spren, such as [[Malata]] with [[Spark]], or [[Renarin]] with [[Glys]].
 
How exactly the bond is decided on varies. Some spren are highly discerning, while others do not pay much attention to the morality of their prospective partner.{{book ref|sa1|60}} Some spren choose the people they bond with individually, while others are more organized and make the decision by comitteecommittee, then send one of their number to bond.{{wob ref|1384}}
 
Forming a bond utilizes the [[cosmere]]-wide properties of [[Connection]] and [[Identity]] in some manner; lessening those attributes, such as by storing them in a [[metalmind]], would affect the bond.{{wob ref|9407}} It is also harder to form a bond with a heavily Invested being, such as a [[Returned]].{{wob ref|288}}
Another way to break the Nahel Bond is to deliberately forswear the First Ideal; this, too, will kill the spren.{{wob ref|11533}} If the spren is at a point where it can become a [[Shardblade]], breaking the bond will turn it into a [[deadeye]].{{book ref|sa3|101}}
 
There are some ways to break the bond without killing the spren. Dying while upholding the Oaths -- for example, of old age, or in battle -- will send the spren back to [[Shadesmar]], and severely traumatize it, but the spren will survive, and can bond again.{{book ref|sa3|95}} The spren can also safely break the bond on their own, albeitthough this requires great deal of caution.{{wob ref|9298}}
 
A Nahel bond can also be passed from one person to another, similar to a [[seon]] bond. This has happened a few times in the past,{{wob ref|885}} though the mechanics ofbehind howit are unknown.
 
== Powers Granted by the Bond ==
 
=== Resonances ===
Some Orders have additional, unique abilities known as resonances, that occur due to the combination of their Surges. Examples of such resonances are the Windrunners' increased number of squires, and the Lightweavers' mnemonic abilities.{{wob ref|6740}}{{wob ref|4889}} Rather than being directly caused by the Nahel bond, this is a result of the two Surges interacting to produce an effect together. While some [[Herald]]s benefit from the same resonances, others do not - for example, [[Jezrien]] will not have a large number of squires, because Heralds do not get squires.{{wob ref|3958}}
 
It's possible that the Bond also perfects innate skills of the user, without granting additional skills; for example, an expert spearman would become a spearman without equal, but wouldn't become a master swordsman.{{book ref|sa2|52}} While this effect has been observed with [[Kaladin]], it's uncertain whether it holds true for other Surgebinders or orders.
 
=== Shardblade ===
When the Nahel bond is at a sufficient strength, the bonded spren can instantly manifest itself as a [[Shardblade]], which, unlike dead Blades, is capable of shapeshifting. Known forms range from strictly militant, such as a shield oor a spear,{{book ref|sa3|86}} to utilitarian, like forks,{{book ref|sa2.5|20}} or plain rods.{{book ref|sa2.5|19}} Moreover, while a human using a dead Shardblade must wait ten heartbeats before the summoning occurs, a living Blade will manifest instantenously.{{book ref|sa3|86}}
 
While in Shardblade form, a spren can communicate with its partner telepathically.{{book ref|sa2|86}} The exception to that is the [[Stormfather]], who, while refusing to become a Blade, can communicate with his Surgebinder regardless of the physical distance, directly in their mind.{{book ref|sa2|89}}{{book ref|sa3|4}}
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