Lightweavers

The order's two Surges: Illumination (top left), Transformation (bottom left) and Ideal/Essence.

Lightweavers are one of the ten orders of Knights Radiant. Lightweavers share Surges with the orders of Truthwatchers (Illumination) and Elsecallers (Transformation). Shalash is the patron of this order.

The Lightweavers' Nahel bond is with Cryptic spren, which appear to be inclined toward lies and manipulation, while also valuing truths and self-awareness.

History

“	Malchin was stymied, for though he was inferior to none in the arts of war, he was not suitable for the Lightweavers; he wished for his oaths to be elementary and straightforward, and yet their spren were liberal, as to our comprehension, in definitions pertaining to this matter; the process included speaking truths as an approach to a threshold of self-awareness that Malchin could never attain.	”
–From Words of Radiance, chapter 12, page 12

“	Yet, were the orders not disheartened by so great a defeat, for the Lightweavers provided spiritual sustenance; they were enticed by those glorious creations to venture on a second assault.	”
–From Words of Radiance, chapter 21, page 10

“	These Lightweavers, by no coincidence, included many who pursued the arts; namely, writers, artists, musicians, painters, sculptors. Considering the order's general temperament, the tales of their strange and varied mnemonic abilities may have been embellished.	”
–From Words of Radiance, chapter 21, page 10

Characteristics

As indicated above, the Lightweavers spoke truths as an approach to a threshold of self-awareness. They provided spiritual sustenance to their fellow Radiants.

Further, they were comprised of writers, artists, musicians, painters, and sculptors, who exhibited varied mnemonic abilities.

They also had an affinity to act as liaisons with the great ones of the spren, but never were the true masters of visitation in their realm.

Known Lightweavers

• Hoid, through his unnamed Cryptic, would belong to this order.*

• Shallan, through Pattern, belongs to this order.

• Elhokar would have belonged to this order.

• Tien was a budding Lightweaver.

Oaths

Lightweaver oaths are an oddity, perhaps because their spren tend to be the oddest among all Radiant spren. Instead of speaking specific words, or even words along a certain theme, Lightweavers speak truths about themselves - things they must admit to themselves in order to progress as people. It is theorized that because Lightweavers live on the line between reality and fiction, it is important for them to be able to separate the real from the lie, and only with the proper ability to do so can they move forward.

Lightweavers are the Radiants most interested in the arts, including all kinds of visual arts and theater. They range widely in personality from the quiet and introspective painter to the outgoing and gregarious stage performer, with everything in between. What unites them tends to be a love of art, though there are some few who are more interested in intrigue, secrets, and espionage. They are the spies of the Knights Radiant and are often untrusted by others (such as the stoic Skybreakers) for their love of subterfuge. They have a reputation for having looser morals than other orders, but the Lightweavers are quick to point out that their personal values are strong. They just don't feel they need to match what other more hardline orders tend to require. They can be vague with oaths, and many say there is far more Cultivation in them than Honor. (Others dispute this, saying that all orders have an equal mix, despite some spren naming themselves “honorspren.”) Lightweavers tend to be free spirits, and many among their order see the importance of entertainment, beauty, and art in a person's life, and strive to make sure that the world doesn't just live through the Desolations - because mere survival isn't enough unless there is something to live for.

Immortal Words

All Lightweavers must speak the Immortal Words of the Knights Radiant, which are a set of rules by which Radiants live. The First Ideal, identical for all orders of the Radiants, is used as their motto. Each of the Radiant orders then had an additional number of Ideals that were unique to each order. For the Lightweavers, these Ideals are as follows:

The First Ideal

“

"Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination."

”

The Truths

“	"Lightweavers make no oaths beyond the first ... . You must speak truths."	”
–Pattern to Shallan

Resonance

This has to do with their mnemonic abilities (i.e., the mental images - or Memories - that Shallan has which she then renders on a page). Many Lightweavers have had powerful mnemonic abilities. Brandon has confirmed that mnemonic abilities are the Lightweavers' Resonance.

Notes

*The Lightweavers are probably the only order through which Hoid could feasibly advance through the ranks. His goals (especially with his stated willingness to see Roshar burn to achieve them) are likely incompatible with the Ideals. As a Lightweaver, however, all he needs are deep truths. Still, when he bonded his Cryptic, he didn't even say the entire First Ideal. He only said "Life before death, little one" and avoided the rest, which contradicts his point made to Dalinar about his views on the ends justifying the means.