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→‎Forms
 
== Forms ==
By stayingbonding outvarious [[spren]] in a [[highstorm]] (or the [[Everstorm]]){{book ref|sa3|I-6}} with a, [[sprensinger]], singerss are capable of bonding with said spren, which has the effect of changing their forms'''form''',{{wob ref|9897}}leading alteringto theira physicaldifferent appearance, capabilities and even mental capabilitiesstate, andas causingwell aas subtlechanging changesubtly in thetheir [[Spiritual Realm|Spiritual aspect]].{{wobbook ref|3862sa2|i|5}} When a singer changes forms, the spren used for the previous form is released.{{wob ref|1363862}} Before they saw fabrials, listeners entered a random form, possibly determined by their mindset, during storms. Singers can maintain their form indefinitely, without needing to resupply with a highstorm or [[Stormlightstormlight]].{{wob ref|11340}}or [[Hemalurgyvoidlight]], and can beuse usedthe toabilities replicategranted by the transformationform ofwithout theneeding formsadditional fuel.{{wob ref|347111340}}
 
The forms are specializations, and gear the singer towards a particular purpose; for example, warform grants armor and increased strength, making it suitable for combat, while numbleform grants dexterity, making it good for delicate tasks.{{book ref|sa2|79}}{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} There are also more specific forms, such as artform for creative endevours, or mateform for breeding.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} Aside from dullform, every form is associated with a specific type of spren.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}} Ordinarily, what spren a singer will bond -- and thus what form they'll assume -- depends on their mindset during the highstorm. However, capturing a spren in a gemstone and bringing it into the storm all but ensures that a specific form will be selected.{{book ref|sa2|i|5}} [[Hemalurgy]] could also be used to replicate the transformation of the forms.{{wob ref|3471}}
The [[listener]]s recounted many common forms in the [[Song of Listing]], which they only had access to only a small subset of. They also have songs which sung of dangerous forms of power in the [[Song of Secrets]] and the [[Song of Winds]].
 
There[[Listener]]s isrecounted alsomany slaveform,common whichforms wasin the lack[[Song of anyListing]]; form,they whichalso mosthave singerssongs werespeaking lockedof into[[Regal|forms forof centuries,power]] until-- the [[EverstormSong of Secrets]] arrived and the [[TrueSong Desolationof Winds]] began.
 
=== CommonKnown Formscommon forms ===
These forms are mentioned in the listener [[Song of Listing]]. After the [[Recreance]] and before the [[True Desolation]], when the only singers who could think were the [[listener]]s, the listeners only discovered five forms: dullform, mateform, warform, workform, and nimbleform. When the [[Everstorm]] arrived and healed the other singers, singers held these forms and other common forms the listeners could not reproduce, such as artform and scholarform, and had a "dozen" options.{{book ref|sa3|I|7}}
 
| final stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|17}}
}}
 
Dullform is an older form which was rarely used after the discovery of the newer forms. Those in dullform are not very intelligent.
Dullform occurs when a singer bonds an incorrect [[spren]], or a spren that does not grant any other form.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}} It's physically similar to the "slaveform" of the parshmen, to the point where a dullform singer can easily pass for one.{{book ref|sa2|79}} It is also mentally limiting; those in dullform find thinking difficult, as if they were half-asleep, and have a harder time hearing the [[Rhythm]]s.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa3|55}}
 
Dullform was one of the two forms the [[Last Legion]] was left with after breaking away from the rest of the singers, alongside mateform. It was largely abandoned as other forms were rediscovered. However, [[listener]] spies still used it when infiltrating the human warcamps, thanks to its similarity to slaveform.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
 
====Mateform====
| 5th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|14}}
}}
 
Mateform is used for reproductive purposes. A few listeners maintain mating form constantly, although most enter it only briefly in order to reproduce with a partner; if these partners later entered warform they became a warpair.{{cite}} It is a distracting form which makes productive work difficult. Nothing is stopping other forms from reproducing, the mateform is merely a speciality.{{wob ref|3400}}
Mateform is used by singers to reproduce; though the other forms are capable of having children, mateform is the one most specialized for the purpose.{{wob ref|3400}} In female singers, entering mateform increases the size of their breasts; it's unknown what physical effect it has on male singers. Mentally, mateform causes a singer to behave irresponsibly and become distracted in favour of the form's primary purpose; mateforms will sometimes ignore their assigned task, or do things that are expressly forbidden, without realizing the issue with that.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} Some singers are, however, capable of keeping themselves together while in mateform, though this requires strong mental discipline.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
 
It was one of the original forms the [[Last Legion]] had after abandoning the [[Regal]] forms, alongside dullform. Presently, most singers assume it only transiently, when they wish to attempt having children, though there are some who keep it on at all times.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
 
{{image|Rhythm by Elisgardor.jpg|width=350px|side=right|Archer in warform}}
 
====Warform====
{{quote
| 15th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|13}}
}}
 
Warform gives listeners an armor-like carapace; it also seems to give them advanced physical capabilities, although it severely hampers artistic ability and is not equipped to handle abstractions. Most singers that interact with the Alethi are in warform. Out of all the forms known to the listeners, warform requires the most food, but is also the most durable.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
Warform gives listeners an armor-like carapace, and makes them taller and bulkier than other forms.{{book ref|sa3|37}} It also grants them vastly increased strength; a singer in warform can leap over a chasm of the [[Shattered Plains]] with a running start.{{book ref|sa2|i|5}} Out of all the forms known to the listeners, warform requires the most food, but is also the most durable, and a warform singer heals faster than they would in any other form.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}} Mentally, the warform has less impact than most others; it makes one more pragmatic and slightly more inclined towards violence.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa2|i|11}} It also severely hampers artistic ability, and is not well-equipped to handle abstractions.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}
 
====Workform====
| 19th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|15}}
}}
 
Workform also endows significant physical strength, although without the armor of the warform; those in workform also have thinner fingers. While in workform, singers find it difficult to commit violence and do not like confrontation.
Workform endows increased strength, though it lacks the armor; rather, singers in workform are limber and rugged. It's better suited for labor, and most workers use it; however, it is also sometimes used when fighting.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa3|115}} While in workform, singers are more obedient, and have greater difficulty committing violence, forcing one to find peaceful solutions to various problems.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa2|i|11}} It's also considered more flexible than warform.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}
 
====Nimbleform====
| 27th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|16}}
}}
 
Nimbleform was a form used by the [[listener]] scholars because they do not know the correct spren to bond with for scholarform. It does not impede the mind and the fingers are delicate enough for recording their findings. It grows long hair without any carapace to block it and yields delicate swirling patterns in their skin, along with a thinner facial structure.
Nimbleform is a general form without any singular, apparent function; rather, it's useful for all work that requires dexterity and care. For this reason, listeners use it for tasks such as research, art, and raising children.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} It has no carapace, and less endurance than other forms; singers in workform are physically weaker, grow longer hair, and have thinner, more slender facial features.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa2|i|4}} It does not impede the mind, and in fact encourages greater focus.{{book ref|sa2|i|11}}
 
This form was rediscovered by the singers during the [[War of Reckoning]], through research led by [[Venli]].{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} During the [[True Desolation]], most liberated singers wore either it or workform.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}
 
====Mediationform====
| 33rd stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|21}}
}}
 
Little is known about mediationform; it appears to bestow improved speech capabilities, or better ability to convince or bestow information upon others.{{epigraph ref|sa2|21}} The head researcher of the listeners, [[Venli]], claimed that she was looking for it throughout the [[War of Reckoning]], but in reality, she either quickly pivoted to searching for [[stormform]] or never truly attempted to rediscover mediationform in the first place.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}}
 
====Scholarform====
| 69th stanza of the [[Song of Listing]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|18}}
}}
 
Scholarform produces "long hairstrands and angular features".{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}
Though present in the [[Song of Listing]], scholarform has only been reclaimed during the [[True Desolation]]; during the [[War of Reckoning]], listeners used nimbleform as a substitute.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} It appears to increase one's mental faculty and patience.{{epigraph ref|sa2|18}} Physically, it produces long hairstrands and angular features.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}
 
====Artform====
|279th stanza of the [[Song of Revision]]{{epigraph ref|sa2|29}}
}}
 
Artform is formed by bonding [[creationspren]];{{epigraph ref|sa2|29}} as its name implies, it specializes in artistic expression, such as painting or music.{{epigraph ref|sa2|20}} Venli claimed to be researching this form to other listeners, though that was most likely a lie.{{book ref|sa2|i|4}} It has not been discovered during the [[War of Reckoning]], but rather returned to the singers thorugh the [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}
 
===Forms of Power===
{{image|Eshonai Portrait - Stormform by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=250px|A singer in [[stormform]]}}
{{for|Regal}}
{{quote
|Qualify yourselves for greater service, and you will be elevated to the place of a Regal, given a form of power.
|[[Fused]] propaganda{{book ref|sa3|115}}
}}
Forms of power are attained by bonding a [[voidspren]] rather than an ordinary spren. Within Odium's army, such singers are referred to as [[Regal]]s.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}} In contrast to common forms, forms of power bestow explicitely supernatural abilities, such as being able to shoot lightning from one's fingers or speak any language in the world.{{book ref|sa3|i|7}}{{book ref|sa2|i|8}} They can drastically alter one's ways of thinking, such as making people more selfish and callous, and can feel intoxicating.{{book ref|sa2|i|11}}{{book ref|sa3|i|3}} They allow singers to hear and use new [[Rhythm]]s, but make hearing the old ones extremely difficult.{{book ref|sa2|i|11}}
 
Forms of power include:, among others, [[stormform]], [[nightform]], [[smokeform]], [[decayform]], and [[envoyform]].▼
Many singer forms are considered by the listeners to be forms of power.{{cite}} For a singer to gain one of these forms, they must bond with a [[Voidspren]].{{book ref|sa3|I-7}} Singers wearing a form of power are referred to as [[Regal]]s in the context of [[Odium]]'s army.{{book ref|sa3|I-7}} Forms of power are intoxicating to those first come into one,{{book ref|sa3|i|3}} and give access to new Rhythms, but drown old, common rhythms.{{book ref|sa2|i|11}}
 
'''{{for|Regal#Known Forms of Power|a list of known Regal forms}}'''
▲Forms of power include: stormform, nightform, smokeform, decayform, and envoyform.
 
===Slaveform===
{{quote
|They may have taken your freedom, but they took our '''minds'''.
|Slaveform, the form with no spren, no soul, and no song. (...) It wasn't really a form at all, however, but the lack of any form.
|[[EshonaiSah]] musing about slaveform{{book ref|sa2|isa3|117}}
}}
 
The term '''slaveform''' is how listeners describe singers with no [[spren]] bond, no form, and vastly limited mental capacity; humans refer to such singers as the '''parshmen'''.{{book ref|sa2|i|1}}{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} It looks visually similar to dullform, enough so that humans can confuse the two.{{book ref|sa2|71}} Slaveform did not exist until after the [[False Desolation]].{{wob ref|8400}} It was created when [[Melishi]] led a strike team to capture [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]], who was providing the singers with [[Regal]] forms.{{epigraph ref|sa3|80}} Though apparently successful, this had an unintended side effect of effectively lobotomizing the singers connected to Ba-Ado-Mishram, leading to the creation of the slaveform.{{epigraph ref|sa3|81}}
There is also "slaveform," which is not a true form, but the lack of a bond with a spren or lack of a form. What mankind called for millennia '''parshmen''' are actually singers in slaveform. Slaveform did not exist until after the [[False Desolation]].{{wob ref|8400}}
 
Physically, slaveform singers are strong enough to perform physical labor.{{book ref|sa1|55}} However, they have damaged [[Identity]] and [[Connection]], rendering them mentally stunted.{{book ref|sa3|17}} Though seemingly capable of feeling and understanding their situation, they cannot fully comprehend it, but their awareness is dreamlike and they have no capacity to fully understand or act on their feelings.{{book ref|sa3|17}} They are capable of processing and understanding orders, and will obey them without question. When left on their own, they seem to only sit around, not doing anything.{{book ref|sa1|33}}
 
Despite this, slaveform singers do retain some form of mental faculty. They can speak, though rarely do so.{{book ref|sa1|7}} They care about and are protective of their dead, usually objecting to anyone other than one of themselves tending to them.{{book ref|sa1|26}} They also care for their young, though they have little capacity to object if separated.{{book ref|sa3|17}} In the past, a slaveform given [[Breath]] may become more cognizant, though that is now a moot point, as the passing of the [[Everstorm]] has healed all of them by restoring their [[Connection]] and [[Identity]]. As such, this form no longer exists during the [[True Desolation]].{{wob ref|3643}}{{book ref|sa3|17}}▼
Physically, slaveform singers are strong enough to perform physical labor.{{book ref|sa1|55}} Their skin has either a marbled pattern of black and red or white and red, although the white and red is more common in Alethkar.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa1|72}} Slaveform looks similar enough to dullform that humans could confuse the two.
 
=== Exploitation ===
They care about and are protective of their dead, usually objecting to anyone other than one of themselves tending to them.{{book ref|sa1|26}} This care for the dead presumably extended to corpses of other singers as well.{{book ref|sa1|55}} They also mated and formed nuclear families if humans didn't disrupt them. {{book ref|sa3|17}}
Prior to the arrival of the [[Everstorm]], parshmen are used as slave labor across the entirety of [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa1|3}} Parshmen slaves are typically more expensive than human ones, likely due to being "naturally" obedient and extremely unlikely to ever attempt an escape.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} Singers who can successfully birth healthy children are purposefully bred, and often sold off on this basis, even if this requires splitting up families.{{book ref|sa3|17}}
 
They are often used as servants, as well as for tasks requiring heavy menial labor.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa3|63}} Among others, they are used as porters in various locations around the world, hauling both cargo and carriages.{{book ref|sa1|7}}{{book ref|sa2|54}} Many countries rely on them for their economy and proper functioning of their cities; their loss to the Everstorm would spell a crisis even without the ongoing war.{{book ref|sa3|59}}
Slaveform singers lived among humans (notably the [[Alethkar]] but also in [[Jah Keved]] and [[Kharbranth]]{{book ref|sa1|3}}) and generally function as servants.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Barely of intelligence,{{book ref|sa1|55}} it is said that these people, if left in the woods, would stand around amiably until someone comes along to tell them what to do.{{book ref|sa1|28}}{{book ref|sa1|36}} Generally, a slaveform would take orders without any objection.{{book ref|sa1|3}} They could speak but rarely did so.{{book ref|sa1|7}} Humans bred singers who demonstrated they could successfully birth healthy children, splitting up families to do so.{{book ref|sa3|17}} Slaveform is described by Sah, a singer who had previously been trapped in the form, as being in a dreamlike state, vaguely aware of something being wrong, yet unable to name it.{{book ref|sa3|17}}
 
== Notes ==
▲In the past, a slaveform given [[Breath]] may become more cognizant, though that is now a moot point, as the passing of the [[Everstorm]] has healed all of them by restoring their [[Connection]] and [[Identity]]. As such, this form no longer exists during the [[True Desolation]].{{wob ref|3643}}{{book ref|sa3|17}}
<references />
 
== Rhythms ==
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