Sleepless Surges

[18th Shard he/him]

This is the Oathbringer cover blurb. 

Quote

A new storm has come.
   Ash and red lightning sweep the land, awakening our ancient enemies. The Unmade - shadows of the enemy's soul - stir, while the eyes of men open. This war is not, and never was, what they thought it to be.
   We may soon hold Surges again, for the Radiance has returned to some, and shines toward others. The Captain, broken by loss, seeks reconciliation. The Spy, broken by cruelty, seeks completion. The Stonewalker, broken by oaths, seeks truth. The Traitor, broken by ambition, seeks freedom.
   And finally The King, broken by war, he seeks the past. That which was abandoned. That which he must not learn.
   For those secrets will crush him as they did the Knights who came before.

Brandon has said these covers were  written by the Sleepless. He has also RAFOd a question about them holding Surges and being Radiants before. 

When did these Aimians hold Surges? 

Perhaps on Ashyn? 

[+Bliev she/her]

I’ve wondered if that’s more a royal “we” meaning we, Rosharans, but the thought of a Sleepless radiant that can live forever would be crazy.

[Honorless he/him]

Agreed with @Bliev, I always interpreted that 'we' as 'we Rosharans'

[Karger he/him]

14 hours ago, Bliev said:

I’ve wondered if that’s more a royal “we” meaning we, Rosharans, but the thought of a Sleepless radiant that can live forever would be crazy.

A royal we is singular and refers to one person.  However you are likely correct that "we" refers to our side. 

23 hours ago, 18th Shard said:

Brandon has said these covers were  written by the Sleepless. He has also RAFOd a question about them holding Surges and being Radiants before. 

They can hold surges(anyone can) I have no idea when they did.

[KandraAllomancer he/him]

I definitely agree with 'we' meaning 'we Rosharans'.

As for the Sleepless, they seem to protect a Dawnshard and the technology to create Surge fabrials, so they might have had access to Surges all along, just not via Nahel bond.

Edited December 2, 2019 by KandraAllomancer

[Knight of Iron]

Of course, if we mean 'we' as in the Rosharans in general, then we must also speak of 'our' as Rosharans in general. As in 'our ancient enemies, the Unmade'. Plus if you look at the context of the other books, it's pretty clear that they are talking of the Rosharans in general.

Still doesn't change the fact that the Dysian Aimians fought in Desolations, possibly alongside the Knights Radiant. It isn't much of a stretch to reason that the reason the Sleepless were seen fighting in the Desolations with the Knights Radiant were because they were a part of the Knights Radiant.

[Honorless he/him]

On 12/2/2019 at 11:04 PM, Knight of Iron said:

Of course, if we mean 'we' as in the Rosharans in general, then we must also speak of 'our' as Rosharans in general. As in 'our ancient enemies, the Unmade'. Plus if you look at the context of the other books, it's pretty clear that they are talking of the Rosharans in general.

Still doesn't change the fact that the Dysian Aimians fought in Desolations, possibly alongside the Knights Radiant. It isn't much of a stretch to reason that the reason the Sleepless were seen fighting in the Desolations with the Knights Radiant were because they were a part of the Knights Radiant.

Arclo told Lift that the Ancient Radiants counted them among their allies. And the spren discovered the Nahel Bond after observing the Honorblades, granting it to men. Until further info comes down the road, I believe that the Sleepless not being counted among the ranks of the Knights Radiant is more likely correct. They might've had access to Surgebinding via other methods though, like @KandraAllomancer said or maybe even different spren bonds if they're native to Roshar, same goes for their "cousins", the Siah Aimians.

Edited December 12, 2019 by Honorless