Ars Arcanum

Contains spoilers

Overview

An in-world appendix catalogs Roshar’s Investiture: the Ten Essences, Ten Surges, and major fabrial types, noting likely spren enslavement behind their creation. It outlines Windrunner Lashings and the Spiritual demands of Lightweaving, while questioning how Voidbinding and the Old Magic fit the paradigm. This framework clarifies past feats and foreshadows future applications.

Summary

The author summarizes traditional Vorin symbolism of the Ten Essences and the Double Eye, noting historic links between Essences, Heralds, and Radiant orders. They question how Voidbinding’s ten levels and the Old Magic fit the scheme, and doubt the literal validity of “Body Focus” attributions.

The Ten Surges are presented as the functional powers granted to Heralds and Knights Radiant: Adhesion, Gravitation, Division, Abrasion, Progression, Illumination, Transformation, Transportation, Cohesion, and Tension. These define the forces by which Surgebinders act.

Fabrials are described as scientific devices whose creation likely requires the forced enslavement of spren. Altering fabrials include augmenters and diminishers, such as heat- or pain-givers and the half-shards of Jah Keved. The author believes far greater versions are possible.

Pairing fabrials include conjoiners (split rubies producing parallel motion with conservation of force) and reversers (amethysts producing opposite reactions), each with range and other constraints. Alerters use heliodor to sense nearby phenomena, with Stormlight quantity affecting range.

Windrunning is detailed through the Three Lashings: Basic Lashing (redirected gravity, including multiple or partial bindings), Full Lashing (Adhesion that bonds surfaces nearly unbreakably), and Reverse Lashing (creating a localized gravitational pull, best on airborne objects). Reports of the Assassin in White inspired this inquiry.

Lightweaving manipulates light and sound through Illumination, requiring not only precise visualization but Spiritual desire and connection. The author links it to an older variant and expresses intent to further study its Cognitive and Spiritual underpinnings.

Who Appears

  • Ars Arcanum author
    Unnamed scholar compiling Rosharan Investiture; questions Voidbinding and Old Magic; critiques spren-enslaving fabrial creation.
  • Windrunners
    Radiant order whose Three Lashings are detailed: Basic, Full (Adhesion), and Reverse.
  • Artifabrians
    Scientists crafting fabrials; guard methods; likely enslave spren; develop augmenters, diminishers, conjoiners, reversers, and alerters.
  • Lightweavers
    Radiant order using Illumination; illusions demand visualization plus Spiritual desire and connection.
  • Assassin in White
    Referenced as catalyst for investigating Windrunning due to reports of unusual abilities.
© 2025 SparknotesAI