Icons

Editing note — in the books, Sage and Icon are capitalized. All advancement levels are capitalized, actually.

• See also Monarch factions
• See List of Heralds

Icon

Icons are inherently a function of the Way. An Icon is an embodiment of a concept greater than humanity and the mark of a Sage. Those who are able to manifest an Icon gain the ability to command reality itself and to brush against The Way. Below is a list of all currently known Icons with the corresponding Sage.

• See also Sage Advancement

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Bow Icon, Archer Icon:

“A woman with a bow taps into the power of all who have used bows, of what it means to wield a bow,” she continued. “You are not just an archer. You are a fragment of The Archer, the single template of all archery. The bow is one of the deepest symbols of all.” There was a trace of that concept in her mother’s archery. The Bow Icon, The Archer, whatever you wanted to call it. (Reaper, ch 17)

An Icon is a powerful symbol. It is a signature of Authority, bestowed by the mystical Way. A Lord manifests an Icon when the Way recognizes him/her as the living embodiment of a concept.

"To become a Sage, you have to contact a greater power, a symbol of a greater concept of reality. We call that symbol an Icon.” (Wintersteel, ch 7, Min Shuei the Winter Sage, speaking to Yerin)

“In the past, the concept of a Sage was much more. . .fluid. . .than it is today. When manifesting an Icon, it is very important to understand the significance of your madra and to sense it deeply. Equally important is some kind of technique to regularly train your willpower. For years. An exercise that pushes your focus and concentration ever further, and that most people would give up or abandon for easier trails…. . . “Now, the specific Icon you manifest depends not only on the nature of your madra currently, but on a concept that has always been core to your identity. Even in childhood." (Wintersteel, ch 27, Eithan speaking to Lindon)

List of Known Icons

In alphabetical order. Add more finds to the list

• Archer or Bow - Larian of the Eight-Man Empire
• Blood — Sage of Red Faith (he seems to have forgotten his given name)
• Dragon — Northstrider, who is now a Monarch, manifested the Dragon Icon at Sage level (Uncrowned, ch 20)
• Heart — Akura Charity Sage of Silver Heart
• Oracle - Cladia Arelius Sage of a Thousand Eyes
• Points - (Lindon, in bloopers)
• Shadow - Akura Malice, now a Monarch, manifested the Shadow Icon when she was a Sage (Reaper ch 1)
• Storm - Sage of Calling Storms, Stormcallers cult (no name given yet)
• Strength — Akura Fury That’s called the Strength Icon, or the Fist Icon, or the Symbol of Bodily Power (Wintersteel ch 25)
• Sword - Timaias Adama, Sage of the Endless Sword, also Min Shuei and Sage of Fallen Blades:

  Technically there were three Sages of their generation who had manifested the Sword Icon: the Sage of the Endless Sword, the Sage of Fallen Blades, and herself [Min Shuei]. Among them, the only one that used the title of the Sword Sage was Adama, the Endless Sword, though it could apply to any of the three. (Wintersteel ch 6)

• Void - Wei Shi Lindon Arelius Sage of Twin Stars, Twin Star Sect
• Winter - Min Shuei Sage of the Frozen Blade (she also manifested the Sword Icon)

A few Icons are manifested by Monarch Emriss Silentborn

Will Wight: “The oldest Monarch is Emriss Silentborn and she only has a couple of Icons. Her connection to them is just very thorough.” (Archive 1822)

There is a Sage in the Wastelands, but we know little to nothing more. The powerful sacred artists in the Wasteland are independent and unaffiliated but sometimes they ally with another, for a cause or perhaps for some gain.

Miles behind Malice, the unaffiliated experts of the Wasteland received her transmitted message and removed their veils. Three Heralds, a Sage, and five ancient Archlords. (Reaper, ch 9)

Void Icon

Question & Answer with Will Wight:

Questioner: Does the Void in the 'Void Sage' have any connection to the Vroshir 'Void'?

Will Wight: Ah, sort of, yeah. In the sense that the Void is just what they call the empty expanse outside of existence. And the Void Icon is the concept of non-existence or emptiness as reflected in the Way. So, its power does come from the Way, like any Icon does, so in that regard its not coming from The Void, it is coming from the Way. But you would be able to potentially, that is one potential use of the Void Icon is tapping into The Void. (Archive1823)

Oracle Icon

In Book #8, Cladia Arelius, Sage of a Thousand Eyes, is clearly called the Oracle Sage, by Eithan himself. (Wintersteel ch 7). However, in book 10, Eithan makes a telling statement:

If I’m close to Sage—especially the Oracle Icon, which I was once considered a prime candidate to manifest—then I could be picking up hints of another Sage or Monarch’s working. It could be a working you are too inexperienced to recognize, or something too far away from the realm of the Void Icon.” (Reaper ch 7)