On Cultural and Magical Connections and Associations in the Surgebinding Table

[Firesong she/her]

 

So, we know from a WoB that the connections in the Surgebinding table are not random, but have a deeper meaning in Vorin culture, based on cultural correlations. I have actually noticed that it goes even deeper than this, where you can even see it reflected in the Spren themselves. I apologize if this isn't that organized, but I don't know how to organize it more properly. 

 

One of the most obvious is Chach (Fire) and Kak (Metal), due to the fact that fire is needed to smelt metal, which is the very thing needed to make metal useful as a material for tools and weapons. But there is an even deeper connection, Reachers are made out of metal in the Cognitive Realm, but in the Physical Realm they appear like a "ball of white fire." This I feel makes a very clear meaning between the connection, and a way it is reflected not only in culture, but in the way that the Spren manifest. 

Chach and Kak also have another notable feature. They are both made into conjoiner fabrials, with conjoined ruby fabrials moving in the same direction, and conjoined amethyst fabrials moving in the opposite direction.

 

 

Another obvious connection is that of Nan and Chach. Nan is about smoke and fog, and Chach is about fire, which creates smoke. This connection is actually deeper than this, rooted in Divine Attributes, but you have to start at Windrunners to see it. Jeseh is about Leading and associated with Kings, this connects to Nan which is about being Just (which is rooted in ideas of lawkeeping, that is, acting as the arm of a leader, enforcing a system), which connects to Chach which is about Obedience to a system. Ishi can be connected into this chain as well, for they are Pious and Guiding, and connected to Jeseh as well. They are all connected. 

 

Jeseh also connects to Nan in another way, with them both having Soulcasting properties of Gas. Jeseh also has a connection to Vev, but I do not see the exact association in this case. I guess that Honorspren are often described as being made of bright light, moreso than any other True Spren. Which correlates with Lucentia. I also guess Protection and Leading are one way that Loving can manifest, like the love of a parent. 

 

Vev and Palah are particularly strange, as they are essentially flipped. Palah is about wood, plants, and moss, but that fits with Cultivationspren, which are of Vev. While the Spren of Palah, Mistspren, are more connected with light, quartz, and crystal (a very quartz-like mask, combined with manifesting as reflected light in the physical realm). Another reflection can be seen in Shalash, of Shash, being associated with masks (you can see this in the Shalash official art), much like how Mistspren have a body that is all mist except for their crystalline mask. 

Cultivationspren manifest Vev in the crystal parts of their body, just as the crystal eyes and hands. And, as I said, Mistspren manifest Vev with their crystaline mask, and Cultivationspren manifest Palah in their body being of vines. 

 

Palah and Shash also have connections in both being associated with finding truth. However, Palah is about finding external truth, while Shash is about finding internal truth. This, I feel, indicates that the Illumination Surge, which they both share, is associated with the concept of Truth. 

 

 

Jeseh to Shash actually reflects that they have a good understanding of what blood is. As Jeseh is air and inhalation, and Shash is blood, and they have a direct connection. This reflects that they have some knowledge that blood carries oxygen. 

Shash to Betab is based around the Non-Oil liquid of Shash, and the Oil of Betab. Shash to Tanat actually makes sense as well, as Cryptics are notably very boney and skeletal, and the body focus of Tanat is the bones. 

Palah and Ishi is obvious, Palah is ultimately about plant life (pulp, plant, moss), and Ishi is about animal life (meat, flesh, and sinew). Which is a reflection of the dualistic dichotomy that Vorins see the world through. Another factor is the fact that Emerald and Heliodor are both impure versions of the same gemstone, Beryl. 

 

Kak and Tanat would be connected as metal is harvested from stone.

 

Tanat and Vev are due to the connections between stone and crystal. 

 

I am pretty proud about noticing all of this. Even if it isn't that impressive. 

As you can observe, spren actually tend to manifest traits of both the Order they are a part of, and of the Orders that they are directly attached to. 

Edited September 10, 2023 by Firesong