Question about Captivityspren

[Friendly Cremling she/her]

So, I recently reread tWoK, and something stood out to me. Axies mentions that despite being imprisoned several times, he hasn’t ever seen a captivityspren. But Kaladin is only actually in jail once and he sees one. What I’m wondering is if captivityspren are just rare, or if there are other requirements for attracting one. Could someone attract on if they just felt trapped? Do you have to feel trapped and actually be imprisoned? I might just be reading too much into this, but tell me what you guys think.

[Frustration]

Spren have geographic distributions, you will find more in some areas than others.

[Friendly Cremling she/her]

Yeah, like I said, I’m probably reading too much into this, but it seems like Axies would have been all over Roshar by now (and likely has been in jails all over Roshar)

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

I always understood it to be that you had to actually feel captive in order to attract them. I don't think your theory is off at all.

Though spren demographics probably also play a role.

[Rune he/him]

Well, like you said he has been in all kinds of prisons and is used to them so he may not feel captive whereas Kaladin felt trapped so that may be why, the feeling itself.

[Treamayne]

9 hours ago, Friendly Cremling said:

Yeah, like I said, I’m probably reading too much into this, but it seems like Axies would have been all over Roshar by now (and likely has been in jails all over Roshar)

From The Coppermind

Spoiler

Captivityspren

A type of spren theorized by Axies to appear around people in captivity. Despite being imprisoned numerous times he has never observed them, leading him to doubt their existence.^[15] However, while imprisoned, Kaladin sees strange spren like taut wires crossing before him, which have been confirmed to be captivityspren.^[109][110]

It's possible that rather than being attracted to the state of being imprisoned, captivityspren are attracted to the feelings of being trapped. This would explain why Axies, who sees being in prison as an opportunity, never witnesses any, while Kaladin's degrading mental state in prison summons several.

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by Treamayne

[Zea mays]

Is it possible that in addition to the uneven geographic distribution, some people personally attract more spren than others? Something to do with charisma, perhaps.