Sprites, known in their initial, unprototyped form as Kernelsprites, are entities released from the Cruxtruder when first opened when a person is setting up after beginning to play Sburb. Before entry and after a single, normal prototyping, the sprites appear as simplistic floating heads within the kernel. However after hatching, or a second prototyping or a special prototyping they appear in a ghost-like form possessing a tail.

Sprites are meant to serve as a player's guide, but they also have functions important to a session. Despite serving as a guide sprites cannot accompany their players through The Seven Gates until they have unlocked the ability to do so at which point the sprite gives the player a pendant which they can use to summon the sprite.

Sprites are apparently drawn to the Battlefield at some point for unknown reasons. However the trolls' Lususprites were all said to be dead and were not seen during the battle against the Black King, it is possible they were killed by meteors during the Reckoning, though this is unconfirmed. However during Cascade, Davesprite and Jadesprite were seen almost being struck by a meteor without any apparent attempt to flee.

PurposeEdit

By combining sprites with inanimate objects, or living or formerly living beings in a process known as prototyping, the objects or beings become the sprite. The sprite or the individual(s) prototyped are given access to a wealth of knowledge about Sburb and their corresponding player's personal quest, with the ability to convey the information limited by intelligence of the sprite which is limited to that of its composing parts, as seen with Jaspersprite, who struggles to convey and understand complex concepts. They are supposed to be coy in about the information, only revealing it in vague statements, riddles, or when it is deemed appropriate, however they are perfectly capable of being direct with the information as seen with Davesprite who offers to tell the alpha Dave everything. Sprites do have holes in their knowledge of Sburb, most notably in regards to the Denizens and the Choices they offer.

Along with guiding the player they can also aid in combat, possessing the ability to create beams of energy and/or objects which can be used as an attack, heal the player and telekinetically pick up objects. The nature of their abilities is determined by the prototypings, with Nannasprite seen creating house hold appliances and food, Calsprite seen creating smuppets, Davesprite being able to use his stomach sword as a weapon and Becsprite appeared to be able to enhance his energy beam with his First Guardian powers.

A prototyped sprite upon entering The Medium will divide into a kernel and a sprite, the kernel will also divide in two, carrying the prototyping data to spires on Prospit and Derse. The data modifies the Underlings players face and the Royals of the light and dark kingdoms. It also causes the the Battlefield to grow, with each entry of a prototyped sprite causing it to grow further. The final form of the Battlefield can only be reached by all players prototyping at least once before entry, as the final form of the Battlefield is required in order to grow the Genesis Frog and thus win the game.

A session with no pre-entry prototyping is called a Void session. A lack of spires on a session's Prospit and Derse (as well as orbs on the Queens' rings and Kings' scepters) are indicative of a Void session. In such cases the Kernelsprite is uneffected by entry and instead the kernel disappears upon prototyping.

When a single player attempts to initiate a session a sprite's role as a guide is discarded and instead it serves as the player's entry mechanism, replacing the Cruxite Artifact, by collapsing into a black hole and transporting the player's entire home planet into the session.

PrototypingEdit

Prototyping is where an object, or living or dead organism is combined with the sprite. Sprites can be prototyped twice (though no attempt at testing a third prototyping has been observed), although they only need to be prototyped once prior to entry to make a session viable and the second prototyping can still be undertook post-entry, however with the kernel gone the information will not be dispersed.

While inanimate objects appear to act as templates for the sprite affecting its behavior and personality. Living or deceased beings do not merely act as a template for the sprite to imitate but rather literally become the sprite with the deceased being resurrected, including bringing the soul back from the afterlife. The Kernelsprite also has an innate attraction to the dead or soon-to-be-deceased, with almost all Kernelsprite across all sessions ever played being prototyped with such individuals.

While the physical traits and associated abilities of prototypings are cumulative upon a sprite, the mental identities of the prototyped components are not. When people have been prototyped with animals or objects, or animals prototyped with objects, they keep their identity, with the other prototyping only influencing their instincts and some behavior. However in the case of two components of an equal "level" the two different identities are merged, as seen with the trollsprites.

What constitutes a single component is complex, as two things combined into one can count as a single prototyping, while a single component that is existing in multiple pieces can count as a single prototyping. Prototyping two separate components simultaneously also appears to use up both prototypings.

Sprites with unstable components or conflicting prototyping are liable to self-destruct. Tavrisprite "tavrispl♉ded" itself only minutes after being created due to the irreconcilable personalities it possessed. Jadesprite, while she did not self-destruct, released a burst of energy similar to Tavrisprite soon after being created due to being upset over being revived, this was exacerbated by her other prototyping causing her to see the Green Sun. It is unknown if this was her simply losing control of her First Guardian powers or a failed attempt at self-destruction, as First Guardians are nearly indestructible it could possibly have prevented her self-destruction. Even though the combination of Feferi's and Nepeta's personality seemed stable, Roxy's Fefetasprite exploded fefetasploded as well after Erisolsprite and ARquiusprite simultaneously kept addressing a specific part of her personality.

While sprites are supposed to act as a guide to the player, a player is also capable of prototyping themselves and becoming their own sprite. This can be used to circumnavigate the normal process by which information is revealed, as well as giving the player a power boost but at the expense of having no one to assist the player for parts of the session. However alternate selves can also be prototyped to varying effect.

The SpritesEdit

The B1 kids' spritesEdit

The B2 kids' spritesEdit

As a void session nothing was prototyped pre-entry, as such none of the prototyping have any effect on the Medium or the royalty. Gamzee prototyped three of the sprites with two trolls each, only the prototyping of one of these sprites was seen during which he prototyped both trolls simultaneously, as such it is likely he prototyped the other two in the same manner. Dirk's sprite was only prototyped with one troll by Gamzee, it was subsequently prototyped again by Dirk thus making it the only sprite of the session confirmed to not have its prototypings occur simultaneously and the only sprite to have a non-troll component.

Character	Sprite	Prototyping	Notes
Jane	Tavrisprite	Tavros Nitram and Vriska Serket's remains simultaneously.	Its personality was so irreconcilable that it "tavrispl♉ded" almost immediately after being created.
Roxy	Fefetasprite	Nepeta Leijon and Feferi Peixes' remains.	Mirrors Jaspersprite as a combination of a princess and a cat-themed troll. She eventually "fefetasploded".
Dirk	Equiusprite (Tier 1) ARquiusprite (Tier 2)	Equius Zahhak's remains (Tier 1) Lil Hal (Tier 2)	Prototyped by Gamzee 5 months after entry. Tier 2 prototyped moments later by Dirk. Mirrors Davesprite by being first-tier prototyped with a being connected to the sprite's player's themed animal, and being second-tier prototyped with an alternate version of the sprite's player.
Jake	Erisolsprite	Sollux Captor and Eridan Ampora's remains.	Hates himself, has considered self-destruction but a combination of apathy and possibly, a love suffering, stopped him.

The trolls' spritesEdit

While it was revealed what all the trolls prototyped with, only half of the trolls' sprites were ever seen, and only four of the trolls had their sprites named within the comic, however given the consistency of sprite names, the remaining names were easily assumed.

Dead session spritesEdit

Sprites in dead sessions do not serve the same purpose as in other sessions; instead it acts almost like a replacement for the cruxite artifact. Soon after being released the kernelsprite collapses into a black hole and grows to a massive size, large enough to engulf the player's planet, sending the entire planet to the Medium. The only seen instance of this was when Caliborn entered his session. Unlike other sprites, his alternated between two colors, his and Calliope's blood colors, despite Caliborn being the sole player. The exact reason for this is unknown.

In the only seen dead session, prior to entry there were signs the session had potential to be a multi-player session. Whether this is the case or not for all such sessions is unknown. If it is the case that would likely mean all dead sessions require a single player to reject the other player(s) and play by themselves. It was speculated that as the other player(s) are prevented from playing that their sprites and the player's sprite are all released at once. This could potentially cause them to prototype each other and collapse into the black hole and thus allowing entry into the dead session. However Andrew explained to Caliborn that it was a single kernel that collapsed.

GalleryEdit

John's kernelsprite

John's sprite while battling an imp using Trickster Mode

Rose's kernelsprite

Dave's kernelsprite

Frogsprite, Aradia's tier 1 sprite

Aradiasprite

Sollux's sprite

Karkat's sprite

Kanaya's sprite

Terezi's sprite

Equius' sprite

Tavrisprite, Jane's sprite

Erisolsprite, Jake's sprite

Fefetasprite, Roxy's sprite

Equiusprite, Dirk's tier 1 sprite

ARquiusprite, Dirk's fully prototyped sprite

Caliborn's sprite soon after it was released from its cruxtruder.

NoteEdit

• The names of eight of the trolls' sprites and tier 1 prototyping of John's sprite were never given are and names listed here are conjecture based off what was prototyped.

Homestuck Charactersv · d · e
Pre-Scratch Kids	Heir of Breath Seer of Light Knight of Time Witch of Space John Egbert Rose Lalonde Dave Strider Jade Harley EB - ectoBiologist GT - ghostyTrickster TT - tentacleTherapist TG - turntechGodhead GG - gardenGnostic
Post-Scratch Kids	Maid of Life Rogue of Void Prince of Heart Page of Hope Jane Crocker Roxy Lalonde Dirk Strider Jake English GG - gutsyGumshoe TG - tipsyGnostalgic TT - timaeusTestified GT - golgothasTerror
Post-Scratch Trolls	Maid of Time Page of Breath Mage of Doom Knight of Blood Aradia Megido Tavros Nitram Sollux Captor Karkat Vantas AA - apocalypseArisen AT - adiosToreador TA - twinArmageddons CG - carcinoGeneticist Rogue of Heart Sylph of Space Seer of Mind Thief of Light Nepeta Leijon Kanaya Maryam Terezi Pyrope Vriska Serket AC - arsenicCatnip GA - grimAuxiliatrix GC - gallowsCalibrator AG - arachnidsGrip Heir of Void Bard of Rage Prince of Hope Witch of Life Equius Zahhak Gamzee Makara Eridan Ampora Feferi Peixes CT - centaursTesticle TC - terminallyCapricious CA - caligulasAquarium CC - cuttlefishCuller
Pre-Scratch Trolls	Witch of Time Rogue of Breath Heir of Doom Seer of Blood Damara Megido Rufioh Nitram Mituna Captor Kankri Vantas Mage of Heart Maid of Space Knight of Mind Sylph of Light Meulin Leijon Porrim Maryam Latula Pyrope Aranea Serket Page of Void Prince of Rage Bard of Hope Thief of Life Horuss Zahhak Kurloz Makara Cronus Ampora Meenah Peixes
Cherubs	Muse of Space Lord of Time Calliope Caliborn UU - uranianUmbra uu - undyingUmbrage
Guardians	Dad Rose's Mom Dave's Bro Becquerel God Cat Roxy's Mom Dirk's Bro
Supporting Characters	Nanna Jaspers Lil Cal Grandpa Poppop Mutie Lil Hal Grandma
Sprites	Nannasprite Jaspersprite Davesprite Jadesprite Tavrisprite Fefetasprite ARquiusprite Erisolsprite
Carapacians / Exiles	Wayward Vagabond Peregrine Mendicant Aimless Renegade Windswept Questant Writ Keeper
Agents	♠ Jack Noir ♦ Draconian Dignitary ♥ Hegemonic Brute ♣ Courtyard Droll
Midnight Crew	♠ Spades Slick ♦ Diamonds Droog ♥ Hearts Boxcars ♣ Clubs Deuce
The Felt	Lrd English Doc Scratch Snowman
Denizens	Typheus Cetus Hephaestus Echidna Hemera Nyx Yaldabaoth Abraxas
Consorts	Salamanders Turtles Crocodiles Iguanas
Underlings	Imps Ogres Basilisks Liches Giclopses
Other	Black Queen · Black King · Skaian armies · Genesis Frog · Lusus · Ancestors (The Condesce) · Horrorterrors · Betty Crocker · Colonel Sassacre · Casey · Guy Fieri · Insane Clown Posse · Maplehoof · Rambunctious Crow · Halley · Serenity · MSPA Reader · Ms. Paint · Andrew Hussie · Sawtooth · Squarewave · Calliope and Caliborn's parents · Canon fan trolls
EB/GT TT TG GG - GG TG TT GT - AA AT TA CG AC GA GC AG CT TC CA CC - UU uu WV PM AR WQ WK - SS DD HB CD