Venli (The Stormlight Archive)

"I feel like a relic. Already I seem like a cast-off ruin from a nearly forgotten day."

- Venli

Summary
Venli is a Parshendi Scholar and the younger sister of Eshonai. Her studies are what led to the eventually rediscovery of Nimbleform and Stormform, and thus played a majour role in the coming of the Final Desolation and the loss of countless Parshendi lives.

She was born a year after her older sister, Eshonai, in the year 1157, and when the two were children, Venli would often stay at home and help their mother, Jaxlim, while Eshonai travelled. For their mother was suffering from a form of dementia, and couldn't function independently.

At some point she and Demid became mates, but their union produced no children. Following their failure to produce young, they broke up their union and returned to the typical Workform. However, they stayed close to each other even after breaking it off.

Eventually, Venli settled into the role of a scholar. Typically researching into the old forms and into how to regain them after they were lost millennia ago. Though her studies were briefly distracted by the arrival of humans at the Shattered Plains in 1166. Where she met Axindweth, who gave her a gemstone containing Ultim. In these interactions she would also find the art of written script, and recognize its importance in recording information, and how much better it was than oral tradition in accurate and longlasting transcription. Seeing this, she would work to make her own script to transcribe the Parshendi tongue. And record all of the Songs in it, and cross referenced them. Through this, she managed to discover the secrets behind a lost form, Nimbleform. Venli took it on and joined listener leadership as its representative.

On the day of the peace treaty with the Alethi and the Assassination of Gavilar Kholin in the year 1167, she was sneaking around in off-limit sections of the castle. Where she stumbled upon Nale, he began questioning Venli about the number of returning voidspren; however, she managed to trick him into believing he was the one who brought about the Return. He explained to Venli that there was a loophole in the treaty that would allow the listeners to attack the Alethi if they believed there was a conspiracy against them. And he pointed towards the assassin Szeth, and she reported him to Klade, who reported of him to the Five, who deigned to use him in order to assassinate Gavilar Kholin, who was planning to bring back the "old gods" which were long lost, which was something they wanted to avoid at all costs. This action is what ultimately led to the start of the War of Reckoning, and the coming of the Everstorm.

Following this, she would begin studying into finding Stormform. Upon succeeding, Venli intended to test the form herself, but The Five refused to let her, not wanting to risk the life of an important member of their society. So sent out Eshonai in her place. This filled Venli with jealousy towards her sister. Seeing the violent and aggressive way that Eshonai began to act after taking it, she became disgusted further, and planned to wrest control from her sister.

After the Everstorm was created and left the Shattered Plains, Venli, led by Ulim, sought to find her sister, who had gone missing during the Battle of Narak. Only to find her corpse at the bottom of one of the chasms of the Shattered Plains, having been drowned by the waters of the two Storms. Despite having hated her sister, she still felt heartbroken at finding her corpse. But she regardless went to strip off the valuable Shardplate she was wearing. It was during this she would first see Timbre, floating around Eshonai's body.

Nine listeners were chosen by Ulim to receive "new forms, Eshonai and Ulim being amonsgt them. They were all taken by the Fused, however, Odium protected her, and gave her Envoyform, making her his chief propagandist. Spreading pro-Odium propaganda across Roshar in order to gain the support of freed Parshmen. She found Timbre during this period, and hid it from the Fused.

Through Timbre's urgings and words she came to accept the summoning back the old gods was a mistake. This is what planted the seeds of guilt and shame surrounding her actions which would grow over time and begin to change her as a person.

While in Marat, Dalinar Kholin pulled her into one of his visions, and attempted to negotiate. However, she refused all forms of peace and treaty with humanity. The conversation was cut short by Odium breaking into the vision space, with Dalinar managing to send Venli out just before his arrival. Following this, she boarded one of the ships to Thaylen City.

During the Battle of Thaylen Field she acted mostly as a translator, however, Odium brought her to watch Dalinar's fall from grace and his rise into Odium's Champion, however, she saw Dalinar recover and open Honor's Perpendicularity. Seeing this, she walked away and hid, swearing the First Ideal and becoming a Knights Radiant alongside a Regal. However, she had to hide this dual nature from everyone.

In 1175, she began to directly serve Leshwi and  Raboniel as their Voice. And was brought to scout with Raboniel and a group of Makay-im during the invasion of Urithiru.

After discovering that Rlain was still alive, she went to Raboniel to request his freedom. However, he request was interrupted when Mraize entered the room with  Lift in a cage, offering her and her Lifelight producing abilities to Raboniel in exchange for access to the Oathgates. Disgusted by this, she left to fetch Rlain. On the way there, she tried to swear the Second Ideal, "I will seek freedom for those in bondage.", however, having left behind a child in a cage being sold, her Ideal was rejected by Cultivation.

Upon hearing that Kaladin was up and hiding in the Tower, she went to Leshwi to plead protection for  Lirin and  Hesina, as they both knew that the  Pursuer wouldn't hesitate the use them in a bid to lure him into a fight. Leshwi granted this request, and Venli used this opportunity to bring Lirin to tend to the unconscious Radiants. She also went to free Lift from her prison with Cohesion, hoping that she could heal the fallen Radiants.

She discovered that some of her people survived, and developed a plan amongst various Singer peoples to flee the Fused Army and join with a group of Parshedi which turned down the Stormform and fled from the Shattered Plains. She, in a bet, revealed her nature as a Radiant to Leshwi, hoping she would be sympathetic. She was, and agreed to go with her to find the living Parshendi.

She managed to find the camp, finding that Thude and Jaxlim, among others, were still alive. Though many still held her in great suspicion. Having brought a Reacher in the hope that it would heal her mind, Venli began to sing the Song of Mornings; Jaxlim's favorite of the old songs. Just when Venli was about to lose hope, Jaxlim recognized her, and Cultivation finally accepted her Words.

Powers and Stats
Name: Venli | The Last Listener | Voice of Lady Leshwi, Voice of the Lady of Wishes (former), Voice of Odium

Age: 16 (~18 Earth Years) | 18 (~20 Earth Years)

Gender: Femalen

Classification: Listener | Stormform | Envoyform, Voice, Willshaper

Base =

Intellect
She is a very intelligent individual, able to make quick decisions and, when focused, was able to construct an entire writing system from scratch to be able to transcribe the Parshendi tongue, which was formally such an oral tongue.

Forms
As a Singer, she is capable of taking on myriad forms by bonding Spren to her Gemheart.

Dullform
"Dullform dread, with the mind most lost. The lowest, and one not bright. To find this form, one needs banish cost. It finds you and brings you to blight."

- final stanza of the Song of Listing

A form taken on when one bonds the wrong spren. This leaves the Singer mentally limited, those in dullform find thinking difficult, as if they were half-asleep, and have a harder time hearing the rhythms. This is very similar to Slaveform in various ways, therefore Listeners often use Dullform Singers as Spies.

Mateform
"Mateform meek, for love to share, Given to life, it brings us joy. To find this form, one must care. True empathy, one must employ."

- 5th stanza of the Song of Listing

Mateform, as the name suggests, is focused towards reproduction. They are mentally not very strong, and can get focused very easily to focus on their forms primary purpose. Due to their specialization towards sex and reproduction. This is not the only form capable of reproduction, though it is one of the few that can, and is highly specialized towards it.

This is attained by bonding a Lifespren

Warform
"Warform is worn for battle and reign, Claimed by the gods, given to kill. Unknown, unseen, but vital to gain. It comes to those with the will."

- 15th stanza of the Song of Listing

Warform gives listeners an armor-like carapace, and makes them taller and bulkier than other forms. Due to this it is often used in combat during the War of Reckoning. This grants them increased strength, and makes them more pragmatic and more prone to violence.

This is attained by bonding a Painspren.

Workform
"Workform worn for strength and care. Whispering spren breathe at your ear. Seek first this form, its mysteries to bear. Found here is freedom from fear."

- 19th stanza of the Song of Listing

Workform grants greater strength, and is well suited for labour.

This is attained by bonding a Gravitationspren

Nimbleform
"Nimbleform has a delicate touch. Gave the gods this form to many, Tho' once defied, by the gods they were crushed. This form craves precision and plenty."

- 27th stanza of the Song of Listing

A form without explicit powers or advantages, though it is used for all tasks that require dexterity and care.

It has no carapace, and less endurance than other forms.

Meditationform
"Mediationform made for peace, it's said. Form of teaching and consolation. When used by the gods, it became instead Form of lies and desolation."

- 33rd stanza of the Song of Listing

Scholarform
"Scholarform shown for patience and thought. Beware its ambitions innate. Though study and diligence bring the reward, Loss of innocence may be one's fate."

- 69th stanza of the Song of Listing

This form works to increase one's mental faculty and patience.

Artform
"Artform applied for beauty and hue. One yearns for the songs it creates. Most misunderstood by the artist it's true, Come the spren to foundation's fates."

- 90th stanza of the Song of Listing

Rhyhtms
She is able to attune to the fundamental Rhyhtms that permeate the Cosmere. These cannot be heard or attuned to by normal humans.


 * Rhythm of Amusement
 * Rhythm of Annoyance
 * Rhythm of Anticipation
 * Rhythm of Anxiety
 * Rhythm of Appreciation
 * Rhythm of Awe - the Knights Radiant are sung of to this rhythm
 * Rhythm of Betrayal - rarely sung
 * Rhythm of Confidence
 * Rhythm of Confusion
 * Rhythm of Consideration
 * Rhythm of Consolation - used for strong apologies
 * Rhythm of Curiosity - a slow rhythm
 * Rhythm of Despair
 * Rhythm of Determination
 * Rhythm of Disappointment
 * Rhythm of Excitement
 * Rhythm of Fortune - has some cultural significance, as one can be said to be blessed by it if they're lucky
 * Rhythm of Hope
 * Rhythm of Irritation
 * Rhythm of Joy
 * Rhythm of Longing
 * Rhythm of the Lost - soft, slow, but violent, with sharp, separated notes; used for remembering the fallen
 * Rhythm of Memories - used for singing about history
 * '''Rhythm of Mourning
 * Rhythm of Pain
 * Rhythm of Peace - calm, soft, soothing beats; used by listeners to measure time
 * Rhythm of Pleading - rarely-used
 * Rhythm of Praise - used both to show appreciation of others and to express true satisfaction
 * Rhythm of Reconciliation
 * Rhythm of Remembrance
 * Rhythm of Reprimand
 * Rhythm of Resignation
 * Rhythm of Resolve - a steady beat with power rising over time
 * Rhythm of Skepticism
 * Rhythm of Supplication
 * Rhythm of Surprise
 * Rhythm of Tension
 * Rhythm of the Terrors - used when feeling terror, as the name implies.
 * Rhythm of Victory
 * Rhythm of Winds - used for predicting highstorms
 * Rhythm of Wisdom - possibly metaphorical

Stormform =

Stormform
"Stormform is said to cause / A tempest of winds and showers, / Beware its powers, beware its powers. / Though its coming brings the gods their night, / It obliges a bloodred spren. / Beware its end, beware its end."

- 4th stanza of the Song of Winds

In Stormform she gains the ability to pull upon the Investiture of Odium to become incredibly powerful, their strength increases to the degree she can fight a person in shardplate, and gains thin and light armour which is as effective as the formally bulky and heavy armour of the Warform, with ridges on the nose and cheeks, capable of deflecting a blade away from the face without causing too much damage.

Stormforms are capable of unleashing grand bolts of lightning that electrocute and burn their enemies, cooking them alive in their armor. Even capable of destroying stone structures. They can also physically touch a foe and release a powerful shock.

She gains immunity to the effects of Storms, able to move through the Highstorm and Everstorm with ease.

Post-Oathbringer = After the events of Oathbringer and throughout the events of Rhythm of War she came to possess Envoyform and become a Surgebinder of the Order of Willshapers.

Envoyform
As an Envoyform she has the powers of translation, able to speak in and understand any language spoken, or written, by man or singer. . An envoyform feels as though the words blur in their mind before shifting into something understandable and they gain the ability to speak and understand that language. As she got more skilled in the usage of her abilities, she developed the ability to intuit instructions from so little as a mere hum or a single gesture. This translation ability requires knowledge that what they are looking at or listening to is language in order for it to function properly.

Though it lacks carapace armour, with the carapace it has being focused towards ornamentation. It also is not as good at insulating her from the cold as other forms. Despite being weaker than other Forms of Power, she is still significantly stronger than a normal human.

This form is asexual, though does have more pronounced sexual characteristics, such as breasts, however these are mainly aestetic in nature.

Voidlight
Being in a Form of Power gives her the ability to call upon and use Voidlight, the Investiture of Odium.

Surgebinder
After bonding with the Lightspren, or Reacher, known as Timbre, she became a Surgebinder of the Order of Willshapers. This allows her to use both Voidlight and Stormlight, and power her Surges with Voidlight.

However, she is not particularly practiced in any Surges.

Surge of Transportation
Through the use of the Surge of Transportation, she can transfer herself in and out of Shadesmar through the creation of a miniature Perpendicularity. She is not very practiced in this Surge, and furthermore, as a Willshaper, she is not as powerful in this Surge than an Elsecaller would be.

Surge of Cohesion
Cohesion allows them to alter the shape of solid objects in a way called Stoneshaping. Allowing her to make more malleable, like clay, or even a liquid. Allowing her to reshape it to her desire. This is done through the manipulation of all of the Axi which make up the stone and the forces which bind them together. However, it had strict limits put on it by Honor, in order to prevent it from being as powerful and destructive as the Yolish Art of Microkinesis.

She communicated with the stone, and the stone and her body aligned in an ancient rhythm set to a pure tone, making stone reshape to show her images of her ancient people, the Dawnsingers, shaping things with stone. The exact reason for how and why this happened is not fully understood.