Wonders of the Grishaverse

The Captivating Creations of Grisha Durasts

Small Science in the World The Order of Materialki, or the Order of Fabrikators, is comprised of two grisha types. In case you haven’t already guessed based on the title, today we’ll be talking about durasts specifically!

Able to manipulate most natural and solid substances on a molecular level, durasts are capable of quite some interesting feats, including color modification, making plants bloom, and much more. But namely, they are quite well-known for their extraordinary inventions, some of which helped turn the tides at points during the series.

Durast creations can be found all around us and sometimes, people don’t even know they were involved in the process of making certain things! Thus, we’re going to dive in and explore some areas in which we can find some Small Science influence. What grisha involvement were you always aware of and what has perhaps gone under your nose this whole time?

Architectural Genius

Going from big to small, durasts have helped out with certain structures over the years, some more commonly known than others. Let’s take a moment to appreciate some architecture, shall we?

The Little Palace

Likely the most anticipated place for there to be this influence, the Little Palace hosts the Fabrikators’ Workshops whose doors boast intricate patterns inlaid with gems. Detailed carvings are a common theme within the palace, something which we probably have our durasts to thank for.

The White Cathedral

With what the famous church was utilized for in Ruin and Rising, it comes as no surprise that durasts would be involved with its architecture in some way. It was assumed that the paintings of saints with their halos along the walls had fabrikator handiwork involved because of how the colors stayed so perfect even in the face of cold and damp weather. You hear that, artists?

Ice Court

Probably one of the last places one would expect grisha involvement, it is highly suspected that the icy glass within the Ice Court was made by fabrikators long ago due to how it appears too perfect to have simply been done by otkazat’sya hand. Fjerdans, having been against grisha in the past, went against this and claimed it was done by a god or Sënj Egmond.

The Power in an Object

Most obviously, with what they are able to manipulate, durasts have been known to invent a number of usable things. Just a few of these include…

Grisha Steel

Invented by the famous Ilya Morozova, grisha steel is a special metal that as you can tell by the name has been altered by a durast. Its strengthened qualities render it very useful for many things including various weapons, an example being infusing the steel into the tips of arrows.

Amplifiers

Typically coming in the form of jewelry such as a necklace or bracelet, durasts are capable of manufacturing amplifiers for grisha who’ve gone through the process of acquiring the necessary animal remains. They are made to be strong and flush against the individual’s skin in a way where it will be sure to never fall off and once bonded, the grisha will have greater power than before.

The Finest Fabriks

Yes, durast skills have been known to venture even into fashion! Those studying the Small Science may already be aware of the first item…

Keftas

Known as the Second Army uniform, keftas that are worn for combative purposes are created using corecloth, a fabrikator creation. Corecloth is built to be so strong that it can even withstand bullets, making it perfect for soldiers to wear out in the field. If you’d like to learn more about keftas, you should check out one of our recent blogs all about them, Canon to Costume: Crafting the Kefta for Shadow and Bone ;)

Alina’s Gloves

Probably one of the most well-known durasts, David Kostyk, is described as having made Alina Starkov’s gloves meant to help her with using her summoning abilities. In the books, they’re said to be lined with small mirrors in such a way to allow her to focus and direct light more easily.

Noticed any missing durast creations?

A blog is only so big of a space and unfortunately, sometimes we don’t get to discuss all the cool things that exist out there in the Grishaverse. Thus, we extend the question to you: are there any cool things made by durasts that weren’t mentioned and that you find pretty interesting? Enlighten everyone!

Even if one of your favorite things was already mentioned by us, please feel free to let us know which it is and maybe even elaborate on why! Fabrikators were often underestimated in the series until later on so let us give them the appreciation they deserve.

Until next time!