Soulcasting is a form of Surgebinding on Roshar.[1] Soulcasting involves manipulating the Surge of Transformation. There is also a type of fabrial that allows Someone to Soulcast without the a Nahel Bond or a Honorblade.
Soulcasting by Binding a Surge
Soulcasting allows the Surgebinder to transform any material into one of the Ten Essences. The Soulcasting of the Ten Essences is much easier than other materials, For example drinkable water is harder to make than blood would be because blood is one of the Ten Essences.[Falta cita] In general, in order to Soulcast a specific Essence, the Surgebinder needs the corresponding gemstone which is infused with Stormlight.[2] The Soulcasting itself uses the Stormlight.
In order to perform a Soulcasting, the Surgebinder needs to send their mind into Shadesmar to connect with the cognitive aspect of the object they wish changed. Once connected they must convince the object to change. Presumably living creatures have a Cognitive aspect that is separate from their mind in shadesmar. Lightweavers and Elsecallers have inherent Soulcasting ability.[3]
Soulcasting by the use of a fabrial
Users of Soulcasting fabrials had to use Stormlight from the corresponding gemstone. The fabrials themselves were considered holy objects,[4] used only by Ardents and in extreme secrecy. Each Fabrial can Change up to three of the different essences. There are no known Fabrials that can produce the essence associated with blood. [Falta cita]
Soulcasting with a Fabrial requires the user to be in physical contact with the object they wish to transform.[Falta cita]
The long-term use of a Soulcasting Fabrial Appears to begin transforming the user slowly into the essence they frequently transform other objects into. Some of the the ardents (also known as Soulcasters) that utilize these devices develop crystalline eyes and stone-like skin with cracks. There may also be effects on the user's personality, but this may be due to the way many Nations utilize their Soulcasters. At least one Soulcaster appears to have been drawn to become smoke with the object she was transforming. She had already started to become Smoke in places, having progressed to the point where she had a hole in her cheek that leaked smoke. This process is diffrent from simply having transformed a portion of themselves accidentally. [Falta cita]
Known Soulcasters
- Surgebinders
- Fabiral Users
- House Davar's broken soulcaster
- House Kholin maintains a monopoly on all Soulcasters in their kingdom.
- Highmarshall Azure's captured soulcaster (likely controlled by the Fused now)
Trivia
In most cases, Soulcasting is mass-conservative[5]