spren bonds

[DustBringer94 he/him]

" Malchin was stymied, for though he was inferior to none in the arts of war, he was not suitable for the Lightweavers; he wished for his oaths to be elementary and straightforward, and yet their spren were liberal, as to our comprehension, in definitions pertaining to this matter; the process included speaking truths as an approach to a threshold of self-awareness that Malchin could never attain. "

-Words of Radiance, chapter 12, page 12

does this mean that he bonded with a spren that he was incompatible with? it leads me to believe that he wasn't very "artsy" and was more straightforward and liked combat more that a typical Lightweaver

[Calderis he/him]

3 minutes ago, DustBringer94 said:

" Malchin was stymied, for though he was inferior to none in the arts of war, he was not suitable for the Lightweavers; he wished for his oaths to be elementary and straightforward, and yet their spren were liberal, as to our comprehension, in definitions pertaining to this matter; the process included speaking truths as an approach to a threshold of self-awareness that Malchin could never attain. "

-Words of Radiance, chapter 12, page 12

does this mean that he bonded with a spren that he was incompatible with? it leads me to believe that he wasn't very "artsy" and was more straightforward and liked combat more that a typical Lightweaver

I don't know who Malchin was, but my initial guess would be that he was a Lightweaver's squire who wanted to join the order, but as described, could never draw the attention of the Spren. 

Do we know who this guy was?

[+Extesian he/him]

The only mention of Malchin in the books is the excerpt quoted. I've kind of pictured those days as people knowing all about spren, Nahel bonds, surges and Oaths, that there were many, many spren and people could almost lobby them to form a Nahel bond. I picture Malchin as being part of the Radiant armies, but not actually a Radiant, basically a great fighter or General who wanted to become a surgebinder and specifically wanted to become a Lightweaver. He tried to convince the Cryptics to bond with him, and maybe even convinced one to give it a try, but the bond ended up dissipating because he couldn't fulfil the Oaths (Truths) they need.

All pure speculation of course, but that's the way I picture the pre-Recreance days.

[Calderis he/him]

4 minutes ago, Extesian said:

The only mention of Malchin in the books is the excerpt quoted. I've kind of pictured those days as people knowing all about spren, Nahel bonds, surges and Oaths, that there were many, many spren and people could almost lobby them to form a Nahel bond. I picture Malchin as being part of the Radiant armies, but not actually a Radiant, basically a great fighter or General who wanted to become a surgebinder and specifically wanted to become a Lightweaver. He tried to convince the Cryptics to bond with him, and maybe even convinced one to give it a try, but the bond ended up dissipating because he couldn't fulfil the Oaths (Truths) they need.

All pure speculation of course, but that's the way I picture the pre-Recreance days.

More detail than I went into, but essentially the same thought process. I also think prerecreance there was much more understanding. I think part of what the Elsecallers did was facilitate this lobbying, as reaching the Spren in the Cognitive would have been the only way to interact with unbonded spren, and Elsecallers were the diplomats/emissaries to their world. 

[+Extesian he/him]

12 minutes ago, Calderis said:

More detail than I went into, but essentially the same thought process. I also think prerecreance there was much more understanding. I think part of what the Elsecallers did was facilitate this lobbying, as reaching the Spren in the Cognitive would have been the only way to interact with unbonded spren, and Elsecallers were the diplomats/emissaries to their world. 

I'd never thought of that but as soon as you said it, it rang a bell. This. 

Quote

As to the other orders that were inferior in this visiting of the far realm of spren, the Elsecallers were prodigiously benevolent, allowing others as auxiliary to their visits and interactions; though they did never relinquish their place as prime liaisons with the great ones of the spren; and the Lightweavers and Willshapers both also had an affinity to the same, though neither were the true masters of that realm. —From Words of Radiance, chapter 6, page 2

Thanks for again adding to my head-canon

[Calderis he/him]

33 minutes ago, Extesian said:

I'd never thought of that but as soon as you said it, it rang a bell. This. 

Thanks for again adding to my head-canon

Yep, that's where my brain linked to as well.