Sporeaters in the Space Age cosmere

[Atlas333]

I'm a big fan of spore eaters; having a certain sporeater show up was a nice treat and had a few interesting implications.

1. Crow's condition is no longer terminal.

- This is a bit of an inference, but given that she's able to leave Xsis's presence (something she was told would lead to her death), means that she is unlikely to be killed by her spores when doing so. Whether this is because of something the dragon has done or some kind of process she has to do regularly in Silverlight remains to be seen.

2. Spores can be used offensively.

Quote

Crow was Invested, the bearer of an unnatural aether. She had hidden powers Starling had seen only once, when writhing vines emerged from the captain and ripped a person clean in half.

- This is interesting to me because Sporeaters are a primarily defensive ability, making them "practically indestructible." This is the first (and only) instance we have of sporeaters using their powers to attack. This could imply with training, there is a method to control the spores. However, it could be that this person was currently attacking Crow, so the powers may have viewed attacking the man as a defensive measure, not offensive.

 

Let me know if I missed any other tidbits about sporeaters.

[Kingstar114 he/him]

On 7/4/2025 at 6:20 AM, Atlas333 said:

This is interesting to me because Sporeaters are a primarily defensive ability, making them "practically indestructible." This is the first (and only) instance we have of sporeaters using their powers to attack. This could imply with training, there is a method to control the spores. However, it could be that this person was currently attacking Crow, so the powers may have viewed attacking the man as a defensive measure, not offensive.

I don't think Crow can use her spore-eating offensively. I believe that - if she could - she would do so more than once in the entirety of her time captaining the Dynamic. Starling simply mentions that her verdant aether emerged and ripped a man in half. This could have been in defence, perhaps the man was attacking Crow and the vines tore him apart to defend her. I.e she had no conscious control over it. This is speculation, of course, but I personally find it more plausible - especially if her condition has been weakened/tamed by Xisis.

[Elite01]

It’s open to interpretation 

im leaning towards the spore eater having some control in the future.

 

the main thing ill add is that captain crow seemed to want the mutiny to happen, she allowed herself to be led away so if she had offensive capabilities she may have been choosing not to use them.

like I said open to interpretation.

[Nitpicking]

On 7/5/2025 at 3:16 PM, Elite01 said:

the main thing ill add is that captain crow seemed to want the mutiny to happen, she allowed herself to be led away so if she had offensive capabilities she may have been choosing not to use them.

like I said open to interpretation.

I tend to agree. I suspect that Crow still resents Xisis and is  covertly sabotaging him.

[+Oltux72 he/him]

On 7/5/2025 at 9:16 PM, Elite01 said:

the main thing ill add is that captain crow seemed to want the mutiny to happen, she allowed herself to be led away so if she had offensive capabilities she may have been choosing not to use them.

Would you want to be captain of an outdated half-wreck and a crew of misfits? Plus, if you really hurt a dragon pointing to your authority as a captain will be a thinner defense than you thought.