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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
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{{update|sa4|yumi}}
{{quote
|I am a god. [...] A little piece of one. Very, very little.
}}
A '''Splinter''' is the term for a specific type of fragment of [[Investiture]] that is ultimately derived from [[Adonalsium]].{{wob ref|10563}} These Splinters can be composed of a single [[Shard]]'s power or the Investiture of multiple Shards. They are present in many worlds of the [[cosmere]], sometimes in abundant quantities{{au ref|roshar}} or with self-aware personalities,{{au ref|sel}} while other times they are absent altogether or exist simply as a chunk of raw power guided by something else. These Splinters often possess abilities themselves or are capable of granting abilities by bonding with people.{{au ref|roshar}} Splinters are generally ageless and difficult to kill or destroy.{{wob ref|3855}} The [[spren]] of [[Roshar]]{{au ref|roshar}} and the [[seon]]s of [[Sel]]{{au ref|sel}} are some of the most well-known, although many species of Splinters can be found throughout the cosmere. The Shards [[Honor]],{{au ref|roshar}} [[Ambition]],{{au ref|threnody}} [[Devotion]],
== Nature ==
At its core, a Splinter is a significant measure of a Shard's power that has been separated from the main body of Investiture. There is a notable difference between a physical manifestation of Investiture
One distinguishing factor of a Splinter is that it may often have an intent of its own, separate from that of its parent Shard
It is certain that all Splinters do not contain the exact same quantity of Investiture, as a Splinter may be Splintered yet again into smaller fragments.{{book ref|sa3|
== Formation ==
As Splinters are fragments of energy and energy is conserved in the cosmere,{{wob ref|6984}} they ultimately cannot be reduced to true nothingness.{{book ref|sa2|75}} They may be damaged sufficiently to destroy their minds, if they are self-aware in the first place. It seems one source of vulnerability of a Splinter is in any bonds it may have formed with other beings. One of the primary examples of this are the [[deadeye]]s of the [[Knights Radiant]] who break their oaths. These spren are effectively immortal, as their essence cannot be destroyed,{{book ref|sa2|75}} but they suffer physical disfigurement in the Cognitive Realm and are reduced in function.{{book ref|sa3|89}} When they are drawn as a [[Shardblade|Blade]], they experience a state of agony.{{book ref|sa2|87}} The severing of the [[Nahel bond]] rips out a portion of their soul, which is not easily replaceable.{{wob ref|6053}} However, to the astonishment of many spren, deadeye cultivationspren Mayalaran showed significant and ongoing [[Deadeye#Resurrection|rehabilitation]] during her time with Adolin Kholin.{{book ref|sa4|94}}
A bond between a human and a [[seon]], another type of Splinter, can also be a vulnerability for the seon. Following the [[Reod]] in the ten years before the restoration of [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]], seons were in danger if their master was taken by the [[Shaod]]. The incorrect [[Aon]] acting on the human would disrupt their bonded seon as well, causing gaps to appear in their Aon, as well as a loss of any apparent sentience.{{book ref|elantris|16}} These damaged seons were known to stay close to their former masters that still lived, but apart from this they were seemingly totally unaware. Their minds were returned to them when Raoden repaired the [[Aon#Rao|Aon Rao]] in Elantris.{{book ref|thoe}}
Other vulnerabilities of Splinters appear to exist, but are less well understood. It seems apparent that if their [[
Due to their connection to their parent Shard, Splinters often struggle to leave the location where they were created or the system that their parent Shard inhabits.{{wob ref|8757}} However, some Splinters can be even further trapped under certain conditions, such as spren inside of [[Polestone|gemstones]].{{book ref|sa3|33}} It is uncertain if all Splinters may be similarly trapped under the correct conditions.
{{quote
|Spren are . . . power . . . shattered power. Power given thought by the perceptions of men. Honor, Cultivation, and . . . and another. Fragments broken off.
|
Splinters are perhaps most populous in the [[Rosharan system]], residing in the form of spren and Cognitive Shadows on at least two of the planets there.{{au ref|roshar}} On [[Roshar]], Splinters most commonly take the form of spren, comprised often of some mixture between the Investiture of both [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]].{{wob ref|13604}} The Shard Honor has actually been Splintered entirely.{{wob ref|9810}} While these two Shards are most common on Roshar, self-aware Splinters left by Adonalsium remain on the planet.{{wob ref|10563}} Spren are more properly known as transformative cognitive entities,{{book ref|sa3|part=ars}} concepts from the Cognitive Realm that have gained power and sentience as people have personified them.{{book ref|sa2|1}} Notably powerful Splinters range in power from the true spren capable of forming [[Nahel bond]]s, such as the [[honorspren]],{{wob ref|3017}} to massive spren of larger importance such as the [[Stormfather]]{{wob ref|5991}} and the [[Nightwatcher]].{{wob ref|9207}} Certain objects created directly by the local Shards, including the [[Honorblade]]s, may also be Splinters.{{wob ref|6539}} While the flashiest bonds may belong to [[Surgebinding|Surgebinders]], the Splinters of this world form symbiotic relationships with many species of creatures,{{au ref|roshar}} including the [[Ryshadium]]{{wob ref|10499}} and the [[Tai-na]].{{book ref|sa2|i|3}} Splinters are also made use of in devices known as [[fabrial]]s, which require trapping a Splinter in order to create some sort of Invested device with a specific power.{{book ref|sa3|33}} The ten Cognitive Shadows known as [[Herald]]s could be considered Splinters as well, most likely created from Honor's Investiture.
Splinters of Odium are also present on that world, such as the [[Unmade]],{{wob ref|1672}} and other [[Voidspren]].{{book ref|sa2|3}} The Cognitive Shadows of ancient long-dead [[singer]]s, known as the [[Fused]], are also considered to be Splinters.{{epigraph ref|sa2|34}} Historically, these Splinters have been confined by the [[Oathpact]] to [[Braize]], a planet inhabited solely{{au ref|drominad}} by an entire ecosystem of self-aware Splinters,{{au ref|roshar}} except during [[Desolation]]s.{{book ref|sa3|38}} However, following the [[True Desolation]] and the appearance of the [[Everstorm]] on Roshar, they are present on both Braize and Roshar. It is unknown if any Splinters are present on [[Ashyn]], the third inhabited planet in the Rosharan system.{{au ref|roshar}} Splinters in this system are particularly vulnerable to the Unmade [[Sja-anat]], who is capable of corrupting Splinters with Odium's Investiture.{{book ref|sa3|97}}
Due to their strong Connection to the system, it is very difficult for spren to leave the Rosharan system,{{book ref|sa4|14}}{{book ref|yumi|21}}{{wob ref|9489}}{{wob ref|4956}}{{wob ref|15879}}{{wob ref|15986}}{{wob ref|8543}} though it is possible through currently unknown means.{{book ref|yumi|21}}{{wob ref|9489}}{{wob ref|15986}}
=== Nalthian System ===
|Khriss on Ruin killing Preservation
}}
During the time of the [[Final Empire]], both Ruin and Preservation had no Splinters of themselves on [[Scadrial]].{{wob ref|4541}} This signifies that their [[Metallic Arts#The God Metals|God Metals]], [[lerasium]] and [[atium]]--despite existing as condensed Investiture of their respective Shards{{wob ref|6072}}--are not Splinters.{{wob ref|4541}} In fact, there are no Splinters of Ruin and Preservation in existence.{{wob ref|3020}} Three and a half centuries after the [[Catacendre]], [[Harmony]] still does not have any Splinters, but that does not preclude the possibility that one day he may have Splinters of his own.{{wob ref|652}} Any potential Splinters present on Scadrial would have to be brought there from another world,{{wob ref|3020}} a notoriously tricky process.{{wob ref|8757}} However, in the event that Ruin had been successful in defeating Preservation and destroying Scadrial, he would have Splintered Preservation.{{msh ref|6|4}} Somehow, Rosharan spren have entered and
=== UTol System ===
{{quote
|...Spirits began to float up from the stones beneath. Teardrop shaped, radiant like the sun—a swirling red and blue—and the size of a person’s head.
|Hoid describing the Hijo{{book ref|yumi|4}}
}}
The shard [[Virtuosity]] Splintered herself at some point in the past, in the UTol system.{{book ref|yumi|1}} On that system's planet of [[Komashi]], the Splinters are known as [[hijo]], or 'spirits'; they form a major part of the lives of people all over Komashi, and are the key to their survival on the planet.{{book ref|yumi|17}}
During the [[Torio]] period, figures known as the [[Yoki-hijo]] served to attract these, and bind them into various objects used by denizens.{{book ref|yumi|4}} At one point, a [[Institute of Mechanical Solutions|group of scholars]] discovered that hijo could also be attracted by mechanical means to produce a more general-use form of Investiture known as [[hion]]. Unfortunately, the [[father machine|machine]] they [[Awakening|Awakened]] to automate this was [[Command]]ed incorrectly, imprisoning the hijo and killing almost all the planet's human population.{{book ref|yumi|39}}
The survivors wrested the hion to their own needs to persevere until, seventeen centuries later, the machine was finally defeated by [[Yumi]] and the hijo were freed again.{{book ref|yumi|41}} They then entered into a more amicable relationship with humanity, and provided hion freely.{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}
=== Elsewhere in the Cosmere ===
[[category: Shards|*]]
[[category: Splinters| ]]
[[es:Astilla]]
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