Progression
To mend the flesh before it can scar, and urge life forward against the tide of time.
Progression stands apart within the Rosharan system of Investiture. While other Surgebinder orders command gravity or manipulate electricity, the Edgedancers wield a gentler force: the acceleration of biological time itself. This Surge grants its wielders dominion over life’s natural rhythm, allowing them to knit broken bones in moments, purge disease with a thought, and coax dormant organisms into bloom—effectively borrowing tomorrow's vitality for today.
- Order
- Edgedancers (Lifters)
- Surgebindings
- Progression and Abrasion
- Honorblades
- Nale's Honorblade (historically associated with the order)
- Spren Type
- Cryptics (Truthwatchers) or potentially others linked to growth
- Primary Wielder
- Lift
Lore & Background
In the Age of Heroes, Edgedancers served as both guides and guardians. Their mastery over Progression allowed them to heal the wounded on battlefields without slowing their pace, embodying a philosophy that valued preservation alongside protection. This power was not merely about physical repair but mirrored the order's ethos: helping others find their footing while they themselves climbed higher. It is a force of benevolence, bending the natural order not to dominate it, but to alleviate suffering.
In Their Own Story
The scent of rain and crushed jasmine hung heavy as Lift loomed over the soldier. His leg twisted at a sickening angle, bone pressing against skin. He braced for the agonizing work of setting the break, but Lift merely placed her small hand on his knee, her eyes igniting with verdant light. 'Grow,' she whispered—a command that felt more like an invitation. The flesh beneath her palm rippled as if disturbed by a stone in water. In seconds, the bone knit itself whole; bruising faded from violet to pale pink. His ragged breathing evened into a steady rhythm, and he looked up at her not with gratitude, but with the bewildered shock of a man who had slept for years rather than minutes.
Reader's Guide
Progression operates alongside Abrasion as one of the Edgedancers' primary Surges. Practically, it accelerates the body's innate healing processes: minor laches close in moments, fractures mend instantly, and infections are purged by supercharging cellular regeneration. However, this acceleration demands a price. The energy required is drawn from Investiture reserves—typically food for Lift, or lifespan energy depending on the user's connection to their spren. A soft, greenish luminescence often marks the process, accompanied by a wave of warmth spreading through the target. Yet boundaries exist; Progression cannot manufacture life ex nihilo, nor can it resurrect the departed once the soul has left the body. Furthermore, complex healing requires an intuitive grasp of biology to prevent deformity. It is a gift demanding responsibility, for rushing growth without wisdom invites unintended consequences.
Did You Know?
- Though the order was always known as Edgedancers, modern colloquialisms often link the title 'Lifter' directly to their abilities due to the prominent member, Lift.
- All Surgebinders must swear Ideals, but for Progression users, personal maturity and understanding of life are inextricably linked to the depth of their power.
- The Surge extends beyond humans; it can stimulate rapid growth in flora, allowing for emergency crop cultivation or healing damaged ecosystems.
- Historically, Edgedancers were often paired with Truthwatchers, combining the guidance of truth with the physical restoration of Progression.