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{{lifeform
|image=
|type={{cat tag|Spren}}
|abilities=[[Nahel bond]], [[Order of Willshapers|Willshaper]] magic, {{tag+|Splinter}}s
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|They like to travel, to see new places. They sail all across Roshar's Shadesmar, peddling goods, trading with other spren.
|[[Azure]]{{book ref|sa3|93}}
}}
'''Reachers''', also known as '''lightspren''', are a subset of sapient [[spren]] on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa3|93}} Bonding with them makes a person a [[Surgebinder]] of the [[Order of Willshapers]].{{wob ref|9531}}
== Appearance ==
{{image|Reachers by EccoS.jpg|side=left|width=250px|A Reacher on a ship}}
In the [[Physical Realm]], Reachers appear as a ball of light, small enough to hide in a palm of a hand. When they move, they trail around a glowing streak, making them look like a comet.{{book ref|sa3|i|3}}{{file ref|Shallan's Sketchbook - Reachers.jpg|text=Shallan's Sketchbook - Reachers}} The light can grow stronger or fainter, seemingly depending on the spren's mood.{{book ref|sa3|i|11}} Reachers seem to be a little more tangible than their kinsmen when in the Physical Realm -- wind pushes them, they are warm, and feel somewhat like silk to touch.{{book ref|sa3|109}} They can communicate through pulsing to the [[rhythm]]s of Roshar, which produces bursts of light, as well as audible vibrations.{{book ref|sa3|109}}{{book ref|sa3|115}} For a singer, those vibrations appear to carry more meaning than simple mood, including more abstract concepts like familial relations and high numbers.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
=== Cognitive Realm ===
==Culture==▼
In the [[Cognitive Realm]], Reachers appear human and can have features similar to different Rosharan populations, though they have metallic bronze skin, making them look like living statues.{{book ref|sa3|99}} They have bronze metal eyes with holes where the pupils would be.{{book ref|sa3|101}} Their hair is similarly metallic bronze; the Reachers pin them into buns and ponytails.{{file ref|Captain Ico.png|Captain Ico sketch}}{{book ref|sa3|102}} Unlike [[honorspren]] or [[Cryptic]]s, Reachers don't seem to have clothes as part of their essence; instead, they wear human-like clothing of earthy, tan colors, with numerous buttoned pockets. They seem to prefer going barefoot.{{book ref|sa3|99}} While most Reachers adopt a human form, they can take other forms.{{file ref|Shallan's Sketchbook - Reachers.jpg|text=Shallan's Sketchbook - Reachers}}
Reachers are not known for being overly talkative to others.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
== Abilities ==▼
The Reachers on Ico's ship are barefoot so that they can walk along the vibrating copper lines set into the
In the [[Physical Realm]], Reachers seem able to move very quickly, as well as hover and fly, although they cannot become invisible.{{book ref|sa3|i|11}} They are capable of overpowering lesser [[voidspren]], and can live inside the [[gemheart]] of a [[singer]].{{book ref|sa3|120}} They can also pulse to [[Odium]]'s rhythms, though doing so appears to cause some pain.{{book ref|sa4|60}}
Reachers are one of the spren types capable of forming [[Nahel bond]]s. Bonding them makes a person a [[Surgebinder]] with the Surges of [[Transportation]] and [[Cohesion]].{{file ref|TWoK Front Endsheet.jpg|Surgebinding Table}} Notably, they are the first sapient spren to be shown capable of forming a Nahel bond with a singer rather than a human. While the bond does seem to afford them a higher level of intelligence as it does with other spren, Reachers appear incapable of communication; however, it's uncertain whether this is a consequence of bonding a singer, or if a Reacher bonded to a human would also be mute.{{book ref|sa3|120}} Despite this, they are able to communicate with their singer via pulses and Rhythms and are able to read their Knights thoughts.{{book ref|sa4|11}}{{book ref|sa4|67}} Reachers are able to mute the rhythms of their Surgebinder.{{book ref|sa4|53}}
==History==
During the [[Heraldic Epochs]], the Reachers began bonding people in an effort to emulate the [[Honorblade]]s, giving rise to the [[Order of Willshapers]].{{book ref|sa2|87}} When the [[Recreance]] came, they, like other sapient spren, lost a tremendous number of their kinsmen, including many family members.{{book ref|sa3|121}} By the [[Era of Solitude]], they managed to rebuild their society, becoming well-known guides and traders.{{book ref|sa3|93}}
When [[Kaladin]], [[Shallan]], [[Adolin]], their [[spren]] and [[Azure]] were stranded in [[Shadesmar]], they managed to find passage to [[Celebrant]] on a Reacher-crewed ship commanded by captain [[Ico]], in exchange for barter supplies and dun [[sphere]]s.{{book ref|sa3|99}} It's uncertain how many Reachers have chosen to begin forming Nahel bonds again, though there are some willing.{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{book ref|sa4|67}}
▲==Culture==
{{image|Venli - XVI. The Tower .jpg|[[Timbre]], a Reacher, in [[Venli]]'s hand|side=right|width=200px}}
Reachers are adept sailors and explorers, journeying across the Sea of Souls in ships pulled by teams of [[mandra]]s. Because of this, they often serve as guides for newcomers, and trade extensively with various spren cities and settlements.{{book ref|sa3|93}} They usually don't carry weapons other than knives, although their ships are equipped with large harpoons, likely to defend them from hostile lesser spren.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
It's unknown if Reachers have settlements of their own, although they are very common in [[Celebrant]]. There, they live and work, selling goods -- including off-world imports like [[Nalthian]] paintings -- or exchanging money. Celebrant docks also seem to be crewed mainly by Reachers, who assist in docking the ships and unharnessing mandras.{{book ref|sa3|102}}{{book ref|sa3|101}}
While Reachers can be both male and female, they don't seem to practice any sort of division between genders -- both can be seen performing the same jobs, wearing the same clothes, and reading.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
▲==Abilities==
▲The Reachers on Ico's ship are barefoot so that they can walk along the vibrating copper lines set into the ship. [[Shallan]] believes they use it to communicate.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
The Recreance has left the Reachers with a deep-seated mistrust in humans and their oaths. Some seem to be understanding of humans using [[deadeye]] [[Shardblade]]s for their own purposes, though there is an undercurrent of resignation to this, as they seem to believe that it's inevitable for human oaths to be broken. Nonetheless, they seem intent on being helpful, easily trading with humans and providing them with means of survival. They're also willing to provide advice free of charge.{{book ref|sa3|99}}{{book ref|sa3|101}}
▲===Nahel Bond===
==Notable
* Captain [[Ico]]
* [[Timbre]] (bonded to [[Venli]])
== Notes ==
<references />
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{{Stormlight}}
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