The bond of radiants and their spren without stormlight

[Peregrin Pelerin]

While a Radiant would be significantly weakened without Stormlight, their inner strength, connection to their spren, and sense of duty would continue to drive them. It’s important to note that the lack of Stormlight might also affect the Radiant’s ability to bond with their spren to the fullest extent, as the bond is sustained through this energy. So, how will affect the connection of radiants with their spren without stormlight?

[Green Hoodie Mistborn he/him]

Hi there!

I don't think the connection of Radiants and the Spren will be effected in the slightest. I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that the bond is sustained through Stormlight? I don't think that is the case. 

Stormlight powers surgebinding, but the bond itself shouldn't be effected. Those Radiants who had advanced to the 3rd and 4th Ideals can also still summon their Blades and/or Plate without any use of Stormlight as well: 

Quote

Somehow, their armor and swords worked without Stormlight. In contrast to those of ordinary Shardbearers—whose Blades could not be bonded and Plate could not be repaired—the armaments of the Unoathed still functioned. Maya said something had been done at the end by the Heralds to shield and protect the spren—and this was a side effect. Radiants could still summon Blades and Plate too,

Sanderson, Brandon. Wind and Truth: Book Five of the Stormlight Archive (The Stormlight Archive, 5) (p. 1314). Tor Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Emphasis mine

I'll be interested to see if Radiants can still advance in their oaths or not in this interregnum period while Retribution exists. If that is what you mean by the bond is powered by this energy... that might be where I could see it. I could also see that the new oath pact still grants access to Radiants advancing in their oaths and gaining a power dump of Spiritual Realm energy for a short time as well. 

Edited January 7, 2025 by Green Hoodie Mistborn

[Leuthie]

Syl herself accepted one of Kaladin's Oaths. I would guess that the advancement of Oaths is now entirely within the bond, now that Stormfather is dead and Sibling is in stasis. Ishar might be listening.

Taravangian won't be allowing freely available Retribution light anywhere. However, I'll bet advancing Oaths will still result in a mini-Perpendicularity.

But none of this means much as there isn't Investiture available to use Radiant abilities or even self-heal. They get weapons and armor, which is great. Taravangian will still be able to make Fused and control Singers using his bonds. He'll still make anti-light to provide weapons against spren. But I don't think he cares much who wins. He wants to create an army, so he'll encourage fighting and the development of weapons on both sides. But he can only do this while not being attacked by other Shards.

I'm theorizing that Retribution light will become available to all at some point. It serves Taravangian's goals to set the magic users free and against each other. The more balanced the sides, the more warfare development there will be.

[Raven Wilder]

I'm thinking Taravangian will have to make Warlight so readily available that Radiants will have no trouble getting hold of some. Remember, everywhere but Azir and the Reshi islands is under a perpetual Everstorm cloud blocking out sunlight - the only way to grow crops and keep the population fed is with massive amounts of Warlight. And with Taravangian often focusing on cosmic matters (or on chilling in Spiritual Kharbranth), they can't afford to have their people run out of Warlight because their god's attention was elsewhere, so the distribution of Warlight will probably need to be a mostly autopilot process. 

[Green Hoodie Mistborn he/him]

On 1/7/2025 at 10:12 AM, Leuthie said:

He'll still make anti-light to provide weapons against spren.

I wonder still if he'll be able to do that or not. Maybe, or maybe Warlight will become more "fused" because the Shards are not in opposition, and thus impossible to split apart. I doubt you can make a pure anti-light of Stormlight w/o the base Stormlight. 

If this was Cosmere boards I'd say more about other series/readings but SA only this is all I've got here

15 hours ago, Raven Wilder said:

And with Taravangian often focusing on cosmic matters (or on chilling in Spiritual Kharbranth), they can't afford to have their people run out of Warlight because their god's attention was elsewhere, so the distribution of Warlight will probably need to be a mostly autopilot process. 

I tend to agree with this, though that isn't the picture he paints toward the end of WaT with the Listeners having to Sing/Pray for it at night. That will be hard for human kingdoms to do and keep track of without Listener/Singer help

[Nitpicking]

1 hour ago, Green Hoodie Mistborn said:

I tend to agree with this, though that isn't the picture he paints toward the end of WaT with the Listeners having to Sing/Pray for it at night. That will be hard for human kingdoms to do and keep track of without Listener/Singer help

The Listeners are not a subject nation of Retribution, unlike, say, Thaylenah. It isn't clear how the Thaylens get their Warlight.