Unmade

The Unmade are a mysterious group of odious spren on Roshar. Religion and lore speak of them vaguely at best, tending to simplistically conflate them into a single evil entity. While they are traditionally depicted as personifications of destruction, they are also shown to be individuals. Nevertheless, they have been confirmed to be Splinters of Odium. Odium splintered himself and created the Unmade to be his influence on Roshar. It is through the Unmade that Odium may be able to influence people in how they think or act.

Although the Unmade aren't the same 'class' of being as the Stormfather and the Nightwatcher, collectively, they're on the same level.* Individually, they're responsible for the Thrill and death rattles.

According to the Stormfather, the nine shadows of Odium's champion are the Unmade. His minions, ancient spren. Dalinar knows of the Unmade from legend only. Terrible spren who twist the minds of men.

Hessi describes that they are likely ancient spren, primal, from the days before human society and civilization.

Characteristics

It has been confirmed that the Unmade can be bonded, as is evidenced by Aesudan's bond with Yelig-nar. In her commentary in the following epigraph from The Way of Kings, it can be seen that Jasnah once believed the Unmade to be fabrications of folklore:

“	Yelig-nar, called Blightwind, was one that could speak like a man, though often his voice was accompanied by the wails of those he consumed.	”
–The Unmade were obviously fabrications of folklore. Curiously, most were not considered individuals, but instead personifications of kinds of destruction. This quote is from Traxil, line 33, considered a primary source, though I doubt its authenticity.

Additionally, according to Hessi, each of the Unmade has a dozen names, and the powers ascribed to them range from the fanciful to the terrifying.

Further, Unmade can be trapped like spren can.

Known Unmade

Yelig-nar

One confirmed member of this group is Yelig-nar, or Blightwind. He was referenced in one of Dalinar's visions, when he met with Nohadon. (Yelig-nar had broken into Nohadon's chancery and slaughtered all of Nohadon's swordsmen.)

Moelach

Another member is Moelach, who is relative to the death rattles which augment the Diagram of Taravangian's devise.

Nergaoul

Nergaoul is an Unmade who drives forces into a battle rage and creates the Thrill. This Unmade was located somewhere in Alethkar for an unknown length of time. Soon after Taravangian's assassination of the king of Jah Keved, Nergaoul moved there to incite a bloody civil war. However, Nergaoul was trapped by Dalinar during the Battle of Thaylen Field and was then thrown into the sea.^{[citation needed]}

Ashertmarn

Also known as the Heart of the Revel, Ashertmarn is an inky black, massive, inhumanly shaped heart that grows veins from the ground. Ashertmarn's influence includes incredible indulgence, which eventually leads to mindless excess. Ashertmarn was last seen in Kholinar protecting its Oathgate. It eventually fled after it interacted with Shallan.

Ba-Ado-Mishram

Yet another is Ba-Ado-Mishram, who has been described as being connected to the Parshendi, providing Voidlight, and facilitating forms of power.

Sja-anat

Sja-anat, or The Taker of Secrets, is an entity which, once it touches another spren, that spren acts and looks strangely; it doesn't act like it should. According to Shallan, she was also mentioned in one of Dalinar s visions. Glys has been corrupted by Sja-anat. The Taker of Secrets is disloyal to Odium, warning Shallan of the corrupted Oathgate in Kholinar.

Re-Shephir

The source of the dark aura in Urithiru is due to the presence of Re-Shephir. Also known as the Midnight Mother, Re-Shephir appears as an inky specter encountered by Shallan, Adolin, Renarin, and a few members of Bridge Four in the bowels of Urithiru. She spawns vague black figures that fight for her. During Shallan's confrontation with her, Shallan senses a longing to understand humankind from Re-Shephir, and theorizes Re-Shephir was once human.

Dai-gonarthis

Dai-gonarthis is suspected to be another Unmade.

Chemoarish

Chemoarish is thought to be yet another Unmade. She is called the Dustmother by the people of Bavland.

Name Origins

According to Brandon, most of the Unmade have a Middle Eastern mythology inspiration, and while one could pair them with deities, two (i.e.: Yelig-nar and Ba-Ado-Mishram) are actually inspired by Lovecraft (Dagon also appears in Lovecraft's writings.)

(The image above translates some names in Hebrew as well as in English.)

Also according to Brandon, the names of the Unmade do not correlate to the fragmentation of each their spirits.

Numbers

Shallan's Sketchbook: Horses
Drawing by Ben McSweeney

While the number of the Unmade is fixed, that number is not ten.

In Oathbringer, Dalinar speaks of the Midnight Mother being in the tower at Urithiru and wonders if the other eight Unmade are somewhere nearby.^{[citation needed]} (This occurs during his vision to meet with the queen of Thaylenah.)

Knowing now that there are nine Unmade might also explain the nine shadows for Odium's champion.

Epigraphs

“	Our revelation is fueled by the theory that the Unmade can perhaps be captured like ordinary spren. It would require a special prison. And Melishi.	”
–From drawer 30-20, third emerald

Notes

*Brandon has indicated that the Stormfather is a bit above both the Nightwatcher and Cusicesh the Protector.

In Words of Radiance, upon learning of an animal that speaks, young Shallan declares, "A Voidbringer!" "You'll bring the eyes of the Unmade upon us." The merchant to whom she is speaking responds, "These things live all over Shinovar, young lady. If their speech drew the Unmade, the entire country would be cursed!"

Brandon has said that each of the Unmade sort of has a corresponding order of Knights Radiant.

Brandon has also said that it's possible that Unmade influence and existence would extend beyond Roshar.

There is an extensive article on tor.com about what readers know of the Unmade thus far here.

Q&A with Brandon

Q. The last Unmade, the one that's hypothesized to [be] Dai-Gonarthis. It looks suspiciously to me like Cusicesh, because of the feeling of being drained, because it's a large spren ... . Is there something to that or is the feeling just because Cusicesh is a large spren?

A. I'm gonna RAFO.