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Hordelings are usually about the size of a finger,{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} but they can be as large as a fist{{wob ref|11672}} or sometimes as large as a building.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}
Hordelings on Roshar often resemble native creatures known as [[cremling]]s simply to make them less noticeable to casual observers; they can take other forms.{{wob ref|3346}} The [[Yelamaiszin|first swarm]] to come to Roshar originally had spiderlike hordelings; the swarms breed their hordelings to resemble local fauna in order to blend in.{{wob ref|14312}}{{wob ref|14317}}
The hordelings of each Sleepless are not all identical, and often serve specific purposes.{{wob ref|1543}} For example, because [[Arclo]] tries to pass as a human, many of his hordelings have protrusions on their backs that resemble human parts such as skin or eyeballs; he is also able to speak with a passably human voice.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} However, individual hordelings cannot shapeshift, so the nature of a Sleepless body is usually visible upon close inspection.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Sleepless therefore tend to cover their "skin" when possible, or use makeup, or use the appearance of older skin or tattoos to obscure their true nature.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}}{{book ref|sa3|i|4}}{{book ref|yumi|16}}{{book ref|yumi|33}}
When a horde chooses to settle down on a planet, they attempt to learn everything about the terrain across the planet, sending out their hordelings to scout out and investigate it.{{book ref|yumi|33}}
=== Adaptation and Regeneration ===
=== Consciousness ===
In practice, hordelings function as a "hive mind",{{wob ref|1543}} but they are not technically one entity.{{wob ref|11869}} Hordelings have the ability to separate from the main body to act as remote agents while maintaining their mental link with the rest of the horde.{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} Certain circumstances could lead to a hordeling being split off from the group and forced to act independently.{{wob ref|11869}} For example, a hordeling that is physically too distant from the others can lose contact with the main mind, and this would affect its [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] aspect.{{wob ref|11603}} However, they appear to be able to cover the area of an individual planet without much difficulty.{{book ref|yumi|33}}
A hordeling could be affected by a [[Hemalurgic]] spike, but it would disconnect it from the hivemind.{{wob ref|3319}} The Sleepless are not able to split their consciousness between the Cognitive Realm and the [[Physical Realm]].{{wob ref|11869}}
Of the twenty-four known Sleepless on Roshar, twenty accept the authority of [[Yelamaiszin]], the First swarm, including Yelamaiszin itself. They vote on important matters using the rapid communication provided by their hive minds.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}} [[Arclomedarian]] does not accept their authority, although it is not considered one of the "true traitors" and is still liked.{{wob ref|14310}}{{book ref|sa2.5|18}} It is unknown if the other three dissident Sleepless are in this category, though all four of the Sleepless who do not accept Yelamaiszin's authority (including Arclo) are still alive.{{wob ref|14310}} The Sleepless defend life, although they are willing to kill in order to preserve it. Nikli states that the Sleepless have chosen to do this after seeing the destruction of worlds and have vowed to never let it happen again.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}} Paradoxically, while the Sleepless tend to like the Knights Radiant, with Yelamaiszin even stating a personal admiration for Dalinar, they worry that the Radiants' insistence on making honorable choices is highly dangerous.{{book ref|sa3.5|6}} Despite a willingness to kill in order to protect the [[Dawnshard]] from outside knowledge, the Sleepless are also open to reason. Rysn managed to convince them to spare the crew of the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'' in exchange for her help in safeguarding it.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}
They are organized into strains, which are further separated into hordes. The only named strain being the Natricatich strain, of which [[Masaka]] (also known as Chinikdakordich) is the sixtieth horde.{{book ref|yumi|33}} Each horde is made up of thousands of individual hordelings acting together in a hivemind.{{
== Lore ==
=== The Space Age ===
During the cosmere's space age, the Sleepless got involved in various currently unknown conflicts.{{book ref|yumi|33}} These conflicts have led some Sleepless, who tired of them, into hiding, such as [[Masaka]].{{book ref|yumi|33}}
== Notable Sleepless ==
=== Confirmed Sightings ===
* [[Hoid]] delivers a monologue to a hordeling while waiting for [[Jasnah]] to [[Transportation|Elsecall]] after her time in [[Shadesmar]].{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}{{wob ref|1523}}
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