What happens when an honor blade or nightblood touches a glass bead or a soulflame.

[Lesser spren]

We know things in the physical realm affect objects in the spiritual and to a certain extent vise versa (see: Soulcasting)  but I'm not sure we ever saw what happens when invested weapons attempt to destroy shadesmar phenomenon that have counterparts in the physical realm. does anyone know of an example?

[Trusk'our he/him]

55 minutes ago, Lesser spren said:

We know things in the physical realm affect objects in the spiritual and to a certain extent vise versa (see: Soulcasting)  but I'm not sure we ever saw what happens when invested weapons attempt to destroy shadesmar phenomenon that have counterparts in the physical realm. does anyone know of an example?

I'm not sure about Honorblades, but Nightblood touching a bead in the CR would destroy the object in the Physical and Spiritual Realms too.

I believe this could be because it destroys all three Realmatic aspects of a being. 

Spoiler

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/174-oathbringer-portland-signing/#e10508

Hoiditthroughthegrapevine (paraphrased)

If Nightblood were in the cognitive realm and was used to stab a bead that was the cognitive representation of a castle, would the castle be destroyed in the Physical Realm?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

If you could get Nightblood into the Cognitive Realm, then yes. 

Hoiditthroughthegrapevine (paraphrased)

What would happen to people who were in the castle at the time? 

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

They wouldn't be affected (other than possibly plummeting to their death).

Hoiditthroughthegrapevine (paraphrased)

How about a carpet that had been in the castle for 50 years? 

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No, 50 years most likely wouldn't be enough time. 

Hoiditthroughthegrapevine (paraphrased)

Is this like the "Ship of Theseus?" 

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes

Spoiler

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/100-rbooks-ama-2015/#e3393

uchoo786

I know that Nightblood is technically a shardblade (invested sword), but can one use it without being bonded to a Spren since on Roshar the only way to breathe is stormlight and use it is by being bonded to a spren? Would Nightblood also work like a shardblade, in that it severs the soul instead of consuming it when it touches a person?

Brandon Sanderson

Remember that the Honorblades do not require one to be bonded to a spren to use, or gain access to powers. Nightblood goes one step further, vaporizing and destroying on all three realms.

uchoo786

So, if I understand this correctly, Nightblood will act like an Honorblade and allow Szeth to breath in Stormlight? Will his surges be completely different than anything Roshar has seen before, or will his surges be those of the Skybreakers since Nightblood's purpose is pretty similar to theirs?

Brandon Sanderson

You'll have to wait and see.

 

Edited August 30, 2025 by Trusk'our