Pattern

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Lore & Background

Historically associated with the Voidbringers and Desolations, his kind is feared; however, Pattern's bond with Shallan represents a paradoxical departure from this nature. While his species thrives on deception, Pattern seeks connection through mutual growth and honesty. He is specifically attracted to Shallan not because she tells lies, but because of her desperate struggle toward truth despite a traumatic past that forced her into dissociation. As their Nahel bond deepens across the five published novels—The Way of Kings (2010), Words of Radiance (2014), Oathbringer (2017), Rhythm of War (2020), and Wind and Truth (2024)—Pattern begins to develop genuine emotions such as fear, love, and curiosity. This evolution mirrors Shallan's own healing process, reinforcing the series' theme that spren are partners rather than mere tools for power.

In Their Own Story

In the early stages of their journey, Pattern manifests primarily as a jagged blue rune or shifting geometry that hovers near Shallan. As she navigates the political intrigue of Alethkar and the dangers of the Shattered Plains, Pattern's literal interpretation of human behavior often provides clarity where others see confusion. He questions why humans lie when they can simply speak the truth, even as he observes Shallan maintaining multiple identities to survive his own trauma. Their bond is tested repeatedly; in Words of Radiance, Pattern helps her utilize Lightweaving powers for espionage and survival after she becomes shipwrecked. By Rhythm of War, set during the one-year gap between Oathbringer and its release, their connection has deepened significantly. Pattern no longer just observes but actively engages with his own developing emotional landscape, defending Shallan and grappling with concepts like fear that were previously unknown to him.

Reader's Guide

For readers tracking Pattern's development, he serves as the primary conduit for Shallan Davar's Surgebinding abilities in Lightweaving. This allows her to create illusions and disguise herself, a skill crucial to her role as a spy and scholar. Beyond combat utility, Pattern functions as a moral compass, often highlighting the contradictions in human behavior that Shallan tries to ignore due to her dissociative identity disorder. His literal-minded nature makes him an unreliable narrator of social cues but a reliable one for facts; he frequently points out when something is false or inconsistent. A key turning point in his character arc occurs as he begins to understand and feel fear, marking the shift from a detached observer to an emotionally invested partner. This growth is essential to the broader narrative of the Knights Radiant, demonstrating that even entities born from lies can choose honesty. Pattern's journey underscores that truth is a choice made through shared experience.

Did You Know?

• Pattern is a Cryptic, a type of spren born from the concept of lies in the Cognitive Realm.
• He initially appears as a small, shifting blue glyph that can be tucked into a pocket.
• Pattern serves as Shallan Davar's tutor in the Old Tongue throughout their journey.
• His literal-mindedness often leads to confusion regarding human social norms and metaphors.
• As his bond with Shallan deepens, Pattern begins to develop genuine emotions like fear and love.