Windrunners

The Windrunners are one of the ten orders of Knights Radiant, renowned as protectors and defenders, wielding the Surges of Adhesion and Gravitation. They are perhaps the most prominent order in The Stormlight Archive, as Kaladin, the leader of Bridge Four, is a Windrunner. The Windrunners are associated with the Herald Jezrien and bond with honorspren.

Surges

Windrunners command the Surges of Adhesion and Gravitation. With Adhesion they can bind objects and people together, creating powerful stickiness using Stormlight. With Gravitation they can manipulate the direction and pull of gravity upon themselves and others -- the power of the Lashing, which allows them to fall in any direction, effectively flying, and to make objects or foes plummet toward chosen points. Skilled Windrunners can apply multiple Lashings to move with great speed and agility.

Ideals

The Windrunners are defined by their devotion to protecting others. Their oaths progress through Ideals centered on this calling. Beyond the shared First Ideal, the Windrunner Ideals include:

• Second Ideal: I will protect those who cannot protect themselves.
• Third Ideal: I will protect even those I hate, so long as it is right.

The later Ideals continue to deepen the Radiant's commitment to protection and to the difficult choices it entails.

Spren

Windrunners bond honorspren, intelligent Spren tied to Honor. The honorspren Syl, bonded to Kaladin, is the most prominent example, manifesting as his Shardblade and guiding his growth as a Radiant.

Notable Members

The foremost Windrunner of the Archive is Kaladin, formerly a bridgeman and slave, who rose to lead Bridge Four -- many of whose members became Windrunners or squires in turn under his leadership.

Significance

As the order of protectors and the order of Kaladin and Bridge Four, the Windrunners are central to the rebirth of the Knights Radiant and to the defense of humanity against Odium.