Unmade

The Unmade are a group of nine ancient and twisted spren on Roshar comprising Splinters of Odium. They are regarded as minions of Odium, but not all of them continue to do his bidding. While they are traditionally depicted as personifications of destruction or forces, some of them are cognizant individuals. Each Unmade is endowed with vast and terrible powers, although the intelligence of the Unmade varies drastically.
Ba-Ado-Mishram, the most intelligent of the Unmade, has three parts in her compound name, while Re-Shephir, Sja-anat, and Yelig-nar have two parts in a compound name and have displayed a level of awareness. Unmade such as Nergaoul and Ashertmarn, have shown themselves to be mere creatures of instinct.
== Characteristics ==
=== Creation ===
The specific process of how Odium created the Unmade is unknown, but they were unmade by his hand.
One process of unmaking is documented with Raboniel's attempt to unmake the Sibling. While Invested with Voidlight, Raboniel placed her hands on the Sibling's pillar. The Sibling reacted by glowing with Towerlight. The Voidlight moved from Raboniel into the pillar's embedded garnets, starting the process of corruption. If she had been able to continue, the Sibling says she would infuse the entire pillar with Voidlight in the proper order and utilize the Surge of Transformation.
The Sibling considers being unmade into something else as equivalent to death.
Sja-anat believes Odium could unmake the Unmade again. This would steal their memories and rip them to pieces. She also fears he will unmake her children, both true spren and lesser spren, to the same effect.
It is uncertain what the Unmade were before becoming corrupted. Upon her confrontation with Re-Shephir, Shallan believes her to have originally been a creationspren, but later thinks it might in fact have been human.
The Unmade inherently make those in their proximity feel a strong sense of unease and wrongness. The sensation grows stronger the closer one gets to the Unmade itself.
=== Functioning ===
In creating Unmade, Odium trapped them in a halfway existence, many not fully belonging to the Physical or Cognitive Realms. Sja-anat experiences a shadowy version of both Shadesmar and the Physical Realm at the same time, feeling the distance between the two dilate as she moves.
Some of the Unmade manifest various forms in the Physical Realm if they reside too long in the same place or are pulled through by strong emotions.
Some are practically mindless, more like emotion spren, others are intelligent, crafty and conniving.
Unmade are Invested enough that they have been able to push through Urithiru's suppression effect, depending on the circumstances. Although not as Invested as the Stormfather or Nightblood, they are still more Invested than the Vessel of a Shard (though obviously not the Shard itself).
Buildings under the influence of an Unmade cannot be drawn by Lightweavers.
=== Capturing ===
An Unmade may be captured in a polestone like other spren, but to do so seems to require both someone who deeply understands them and a perfect gemstone. Unmade are able to think while in captivity but can not break free. Unmade do not fade during captivity, unlike Heralds.
Prior to the Recreance, a Lightweaver managed to trap Re-Shephir, an act previously thought impossible. Re-Shephir then escaped her imprisonment by unknown means centuries before the True Desolation. After the Alethi arrived at Urithiru, she once again encountered a Lightweaver, Shallan Davar. Sensing the similarities between Shallan's powers and those of the Lightweaver who had trapped her in the past, Re-Shephir fled rather than risk being imprisoned again. 
The Urithiru gem archive includes a theory that Melishi, a Bondsmith, would be required to trap Ba-Ado-Mishram in a special prison. A Knights Radiant strike team was successful in capturing Ba-Ado-Mishram in a gemstone at the end of the False Desolation, which cut off her Connection to the singers. Most of the details of this capture are unknown, other than several Heralds, including Nale and Kalak, being present.
During the Battle of Thaylen Field, Dalinar Kholin used his intimate knowledge about the Thrill's nature, and the method of capturing spren through coaxing them into a gemstone, to capture Nergaoul in the King's Drop. It is unclear whether or not he utilized the Bondsmith Surge of Adhesion to aid with his Connection to the Thrill and it is also unknown if this is the same method that the ancient Radiants used.
It is also theoretically possible to bind an Unmade to the Physical Realm using a Hemalurgic spike.
== History ==
=== During the Desolations ===
The origin of the Unmade is uncertain, but they are believed to have come into existence before the start of human civilization on Roshar. Each would have been considered to be native to Roshar. They have been implied to have once been something else before being made into the Unmade, but for now there is no indication what they once were. They were active in the Desolations, aiding Odium's troops in the conflict with their various skills. Urithiru was equipped with some sort of protection against the Unmade. Between Desolations, the Unmade lose their bond to Odium. Since Aharietiam, they have remained subtly active on Roshar, probably operating with diminished capacity. They have also slumbered at times, or entered a period of inactivity. About 2,500 years after Aharietiam, Ba-Ado-Mishram instigated the False Desolation by Connecting with the singers and granting them forms of power and Voidlight, until she was captured in a perfect gemstone by a Knights Radiant strike team. At some point Re-Shephir was also imprisoned by a Lightweaver, but she later escaped captivity.
=== True Desolation ===
About five generations before Lunamor's time, his great-great-great-grandfather encountered one of the Unmade in the Horneater Peaks.
The arrival of the Everstorm in Shadesmar revitalized the Unmade. As the True Desolation continued and the Fused returned, the Unmade's influence increased. The death rattles allowed by the presence of Moelach have been noted in Kharbranth and the Horneater Peaks . Re-Shephir was discovered to be hiding in the core of Urithiru by the Alethi and was driven out by Shallan Davar. In the besieged city of Kholinar, Ashertmarn's influence disrupted the leadership in the city while Sja-anat corrupted the Oathgate spren, turning it into a trap for Elhokar's rescue party. Queen Aesudan Kholin consumed a gemstone and worked with Yelig-nar, but was eventually consumed by it. In the Battle of Thaylen Field, Yelig-nar joined with Meridas Amaram for the fighting and Nergaoul's influence helped Voidspren bond with Sadeas's soldiers, turning them into warriors for Odium. Kaladin and his men defeated Yelig-nar, while Dalinar Kholin successfully managed to capture Nergaoul in a perfect gem. Navani has been researching the Unmade, but little factual information was found on them aside from in Hessi's Mythica.
=== After the Battle of Thaylen Field ===
Nergaoul's gemstone prison was put in an aluminum box and sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
Re-Shephir shared information about the Sibling with the Fused. 
Sja-anat has been using her Enlightened spren children to influence events according to her designs, while trying to convince Odium she isn't actively trying to undermine him. This influence, through the lure of corrupted windspren, allowed Taravangian to kill Odium's Vessel, Rayse, and take up the Shard himself. Also, at Shallan's request, Sja-anat sent Tumi, a corrupted mistspren, to investigate bonding a member of the Ghostbloods, but Tumi chose to bond Rlain instead, at Renarin's suggestion.
Taravangian's Diagram indicates one or more Unmade has set up in Shinovar. Ishar claims that he saved the Shin after they accepted the Unmade and tried to make gods of them. This is not actually true since there were no unmade in Shinovar. Ishar himself was the only thing corrupting them.
While negotiating the contest of champions with Dalinar, Odium claims he can demand the Unmade retreat, but not all currently obey his will.
== Culture ==
In Rosharan culture, by the time of the Era of Solitude, the Unmade have become mythologized heavily. In fact there are disagreements about the number of Unmade; some stories claim there were ten. In Vorin theology they are spoken of vaguely and are typically combined into one entity. Even still, ardents tell old folktales and stories of the Unmade. The Unmade are often referred to as spirits of the void or nine shadows that moved in the night. They are considered to be princes of the Voidbringers in story, and feature in elaborate songs, poetry, and epics. People ascribe dozens of names and powers to each Unmade, making it difficult to determine truth from falsehood centuries later. There are tales of them corrupting spren and people both. Some people fear that things like talking chickens will bring the eyes of the Unmade upon them. However, many in the modern day consider them to be nothing more than simple folklore. Scholarly works that involve the Unmade are often mocked and dismissed.
The Unmade feature heavily in the songs of the listeners, who also fear bringing the eyes of the Unmade upon them. The songs note the names of all nine Unmade, remembering them as gods the listeners swore to never follow again.
Sekeir, the honorspren who rules Lasting Integrity, claims that humans thrive upon the terrible emotions of the Unmade.
== Members of the Unmade ==
=== Ashertmarn ===
Ashertmarn is a mindless Unmade that is also known as the Heart of the Revel. He takes the form of an enormous, black, inhuman heart that grows veins into the ground. Those who fall under Ashertmarn's influence are driven to debauchery and excess, in extreme cases to the point of total mindless indulgence. Ashertmarn was most recently seen in Kholinar, grown over the Oathgate there, where he managed to influence many of the Alethi elite to abandon their lives and responsibilities in favor of the revel. His location is unknown after he left the Oathgate platform.
=== Ba-Ado-Mishram ===
Ba-Ado-Mishram is one of the most intelligent Unmade. She is crafty and conniving. She served as one of Odium's commanders during the Desolations. About 2,500 years after Aharietiam, she Connected with the vast majority of singers instigating the False Desolation. She was able to grant them forms of power and provide Voidlight. A Knights Radiant strike team captured Ba-Ado-Mishram in a perfect gemstone at the end of the False Desolation, which cut off her Connection to the singers, stealing their minds, and touched the souls of all who belong to Roshar.The Siblings Bondsmith, Melishi, trapped her, while she had been attending a meeting to make peace between the singers and humans, urged on by Honor, when he hesitated. Her gemstone prison had been located in the Spiritual Realm, in a place resembling Melishi's childhood room. She had looked like a miniature Everstorm in the gemstone.Her animosity towards humans was considerably exacerbated due to this perceived betrayal and the long duration o her incarceration.
She was released by Rlain and Renarin working together.Kalak and Nale were present during the capture, so they may have clues to its location. Kalak believes Ba-Ado-Mishram should be found and released. Ba-Ado-Mishram is also being sought by the Ghostbloods for unknown purposes, possibly to aid their mission of transporting Stormlight off Roshar. Her release would also make it possible for her to usurp the position of Vessel for Odium, this internal strife making the composite faction weaker.
=== Chemoarish ===
Little is known of the Unmade Chemoarish. By the modern Era of Solitude, she is known as the Dustmother and often is conflated with the Nightwatcher. There is a variety of lore associated with her, but all of it is currently unknown. In Bavland, her name is invoked as a curse.
According to Hessi, she is not one of the three great mindless Unmade.
=== Dai-Gonarthis ===
Dai-Gonarthis, also known as the Black Fisher is an Unmade of median intelligence. They have not been recorded as active on Roshar recently, but may have been involved in the Scouring of Aimia Dai-Gonarthis can utilize Connection to create Elsegates, though only between two locations that have a high concentration of Investiture. At least prior to the Night of Sorrows, most places controlled by the coalition of monarchs were protected from her touch, though the lands of the former Silver Kingdom of Natanatan were not. Her Elsegates manifest as a circle of violet light that extends into the ground like a pit or tunnel. Those traveling through one of her Elsegates appear to jump out of the exit, often with enough momentum that they need someone to help stabilize them when they land. Using this ability of hers has a cost, though not one that needs to be paid immediately.
Like many of the Unmade, Dai-Gonarthis also appears to have some ability to cause emotional pain and suffering, as Jezrien wonders if she was responsible for the pain Dalinar Kholin felt after he burned Rathalas and killed Evi Kholin.. There is some uncertainty in the mythology as to whether Dai-Gonarthis is one of the Unmade, but some scholars are convinced. She is used by El to bring a second army to the Shattered Plains.
=== Moelach ===
Moelach is an Unmade associated with precognition and visions of the future. His presence allows for the Death Rattles that King Taravangian used to modify the Diagram. Moelach's appearance is unknown. In the year 1166 Moelach was somewhere near Kholinar, then he took up residence in Kharbranth in the year 1167, then relocated for unknown reasons seven years later to the Horneater Peaks.
=== Nergaoul ===
Nergaoul is a mindless Unmade that is closely associated with battle rage. Nergaoul is not very intelligent, taking an animalistic joy in death and killing. He takes the form of an enormous red mist roiling with the forms of men fighting and dying. Nergaoul causes the effect known as the Thrill, which drives men to fight far beyond when they should have given up and makes them enjoy the killing. During the Battle of Thaylen Field, he was captured within the King's Drop ruby by Dalinar. Afterwards, this perfect gemstone was sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
=== Re-Shephir ===
Re-Shephir is also known as the Midnight Mother, and The Spawning Mother. She takes the form of a mass of black tarry substance that is capable of flowing over various surfaces and appears to have screaming faces bubbling to the surface. Her primary ability is to spawn the Midnight Essence, a type of spren that takes the form of creatures and people they see around them and try to understand humankind by mimicking them. She is a creature of instinct that is drawn to violence and pain. Before the Recreance, she infiltrated Urithiru and was captured by a Lightweaver. After the Recreance, she escaped imprisonment and inhabited Urithiru for centuries, until fleeing the tower as a result of a confrontation with Shallan. Her current location is unknown, but at some point she reported to the Fused, incorrectly, that the Sibling was dead.
=== Sja-anat ===
Sja-anat is known as the Taker of Secrets. She takes the form of a jet black shadow that points the wrong way with white holes for eyes that often appears in mirrors, as actually seeing her requires reflected light. She exists halfway between Shadesmar and the Physical Realm, experiencing both at the same time. She considers herself intelligent, but not the most clever of the Unmade. Her primary ability is to corrupt spren, which she refers to as Enlightening. She is capable of corrupting both lesser spren and true spren, as well as larger spren, such as the spren of an Oathgate. These corrupted spren often act as her servants and messengers. She is actively working against Odium, while trying to convince him that she is not. While her allegiance to mankind is uncertain, she has taken the following actions against Odium's bidding:
*Sent her children, Glys and Tumi, to bond allies of the Knights Radiant; she also has more corrupted spren willing to bond.
*Saved Shallan and her companions from death while traveling through the Kholinar Oathgate, whose spren she had corrupted.
*Sent corrupted windspren to Taravangian so that he could use them to lure Odium into the presence of Nightblood, use the sword to destroy Rayse, and take up the Shard of Odium.
=== Yelig-nar ===
Yelig-nar, also known as Blightwind, differs from the other Unmade. Instead of having a specific physical appearance, he is capable of joining with humans or singers who swallow his gemstone, granting them command of the Surges. Hessi's research indicates this may include all ten Surges, though given the Voidbringers' view of the Surge of Adhesion, Yelig-Nar may only grant the other nine. Those he possesses have red eyes, grow crystals from their bodies, and appear to be wreathed in a black wind. Those that join with Yelig-nar must control him if they do not wish to be consumed by him.
== Trivia ==
* The names of the Unmade are derived from deities of Near Eastern pantheons, and H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos; however, the powers and characteristics of the Unmade do not necessarily match those of their nominal inspirations. Suspected associations are: 
** Anat, Semitic war goddess, for Sja-anat.
** Resheph, Canaanite plague deity, for Re-Shephir.
** Nergal, Mesopotamian god of war and death, for Nergaoul.
** Moloch, a biblical term, commonly interpretated as a Canaanite god associated with fire and child sacrifice, for Moelach.
** Dagon, a Canaanite fisher god and sea-dwelling entity from the Cthulhu Mythos, for Dai-Gonarthis.
** Asherah, Sumerian sea goddess, for Ashertmarn.
** Chemosh, god of Moabites and Ammonites, for Chemoarish.
** Unknown Cthulhu Mythos deities for Ba-Ado-Mishram and Yelig-nar.
* Moloch, Dagon, Asherah, and Chemosh are also named as fallen angels in Hell in Milton's Paradise Lost. They are accompanied by Thammuz who was also known in Canaan as Adon, a possible inspiration for Ba-Ado-Mishram. 
* In The Way of Kings Prime, there was an Unmade behind a very ornate door in the First Capital, bound by crystal spikes.
== Notes ==