Editing Kelsier

|titles=Survivor of [[Pits of Hathsin|Hathsin]], Sovereign, [[Thaidakar|Lord of Scars]],{{book ref|sa4|115}}{{book ref|sa4|82}} {{nosnippet|[[Thaidakar]]{{book ref|sa4|115}}{{book ref|sa4|9}}}}, [[Kelsier#Titles|others]]

|first appeared=[[Mistborn: The Final Empire]]

'''Kelsier''' is a half-[[skaa]] [[Allomancy|Mistborn]] from [[Scadrial]].{{book ref|mb1|2}} He is stern and intense, but always smiling; another act of rebellion against the Lord Ruler's oppression. He hates injustice and takes this hatred to the extreme, which originally resulted in him being unable to see good in any of the nobility. This was changed by [[Vin]] who fell in love with [[Elend Venture]]. Kelsier went on to save Elend's life from an [[inquisitor]]. His late wife [[Mare]] collected pre-Ascension memorabilia, and he keeps one piece, a drawing of a [[Flower picture|flower]],{{book ref|mb1|17}} to inspire his crew. Kelsier is the younger brother of [[Marsh]], who is disappointed at Kelsier's apparent lack of direction or purpose until Kelsier leads the [[skaa rebellion]].

== Appearance and Personality ==

{{image|Kelsier by Deandra Scicluna.jpg|side=left|width=250px}}

{{for|/Gallery|more images}}

{{quote

|They called you their god, and you were casual with their faith! The hearts of men are NOT YOUR TOYS.

|Preservation to Kelsier{{msh ref|6|4}}

}}

Kelsier is tall and hawk-faced and has light-blonde hair and hazel eyes;{{book ref|mb1|3}}{{wob ref|9216}} he has a multitude of scars crossing both arms from his time in the [[Pits of Hathsin]].{{book ref|mb1|prologue}} He usually wears a nobleman's suit (a colored vest with dark trousers and a coat), and during the night he wears his [[mistcloak]].

He is almost always late to gatherings, which he attributes to always having somewhere better to be.{{book ref|mb1|27}} He always smiles and projects an excited and positive attitude, which is particularly unusual in the skaa underground. He does this in order to fight the Lord Ruler's oppression of all the skaa, wanting to have one thing which cannot be taken away from him.{{book ref|mb1|prologue}} He hates all of the nobility and tends to believe that all of them are to blame for the plight of the skaa, although near the end of his life this attitude changes due to Vin's insistence that [[Elend]] is different and that not all the nobles should be fought, although his views did not fully change, and he retained his prejudice and distrust. He has an imposing presence and is a natural leader, easily taking charge and swaying even the downtrodden skaa of Luthadel into joining the rebellion with his charming personality. If Kelsier orders a person around, it is a sign of affection.{{wob ref|9634}}

Kelsier is a psychopath,{{wob ref|4103}} or at least has some psychopathic tendencies.{{wob ref|8700}} He shows little empathy or fear, as well as a high ego,{{wob ref|4103}} and is frequently quick to resort to using violence—often lethal violence—to solve problems,{{book ref|mb1|5}}{{wob ref|2375}}{{book ref|mb2|54}}{{msh ref|6|7}} even when doing so clearly won't actually help the people he is supposedly trying to help.{{msh ref|2|3}} He is arrogant and very driven which, combined with his power, makes him incredibly dangerous;{{wob ref|14601}} he is willing to go extremely far to achieve his goals—for example, he would be willing to use [[Hemalurgy]] on a large scale to create powerful Allomancers if ultimately necessary to protect Scadrial from other forces in the cosmere—though is not quite as utilitarian as [[Taravangian]].{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}{{wob ref|14537}} Perhaps as a result of his egotism and arrogance, several of his plans involve setting himself up as a powerful, mysterious, or even divine figure.{{book ref|mb1|35}}{{book ref|mb6|21}}{{book ref|sa4|115}}{{wob ref|14641}} He is a great agent of chaos and is very good at tearing things down and messing with what other people want.{{wob ref|14601}} There is a darkness to him that other heroes, such as [[Kaladin]], would fight but that Kelsier instead embraces and is so ruthless that, in a fight with other notable people from the [[cosmere]], he would be the most likely to win;{{wob ref|9702}}{{wob ref|1779}} even [[Hoid]] considers him incredibly dangerous.{{book ref|sa4|64}} Had his life gone differently, he could have been an outright evil person and, outside the context of the [[Final Empire]], would likely be a villain.{{wob ref|4103}}{{wob ref|14601}}{{wob ref|9702}}

== Attributes and Abilities ==

{{image|Kelsier by Jessi Ochse.jpg|side=right|width=300px}}

=== Allomancy ===

Kelsier is a Mistborn, so he can burn every Allomantic metal, although he is particularly proficient with the external physical metals [[iron]] and [[steel]].{{book ref|mb1|34}} He is capable of using them with a high degree of precision to control the momentum and rotation of dozens of pieces of metal simultaneously. He once used them in his fight with a [[Steel Inquisitor]], so the metals acted like they were alive, twitching and flying through the air to cut and distract the Steel Inquisitor. He lacks finesse in the external mental abilities of [[zinc]] and [[brass]] as he tends to create large changes in emotional states as opposed to the more subtle Soothing abilities of [[Breeze]], although he can affect a relatively large mass of people.{{book ref|mb1|10}} He is quite proficient at pewter dragging and has enough practice to maintain it for hours and still maintain a fair amount of clarity afterwards.{{book ref|mb1|25}} He lost these abilities in death and has not recovered them.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}

=== Sliver ===

After Kelsier died, he became a [[Cognitive Shadow]] through the [[Well of Ascension]], making him able to resist the pull of the [[Beyond]]. After Holding and releasing the Shard of [[Preservation]], Kelsier became a [[Sliver]].

=== Preservation ===

Kelsier held Preservation for a short time but could not properly use it because of his recent rebirth as a Cognitive Shadow and his goals did not match well with Preservation's Intent.{{msh ref|6|4}}

=== Hemalurgy ===

Kelsier has a Hemalurgic spike in his right eye socket,{{book ref|mb7|40}} which he acquires sometime after the [[Catacendre]].{{msh ref|epilogue}} As a result, he has both regular vision and the steelsight that [[Steel Inquisitor|Inquisitors]] used, allowing him to see via both normal light and trace metals.{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}} This spike pins his soul to his bones.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}

=== Devotion ===

Kelsier has an unknown [[Seon]] which he uses to communicate with his [[Ghostbloods]] on Scadrial.{{book ref|mb7|40}}

To put the plan in motion, Kelsier first targeted [[Keep Venture]], as House Venture was currently the most powerful house in Luthadel and an attack on it would have the greatest impact. Kelsier killed eight [[Hazekiller]]s, stole a bag of [[atium]], and made sure that it became known that a Mistborn had attacked a Great House, something forbidden by an unspoken agreement between the houses.{{book ref|mb1|5}} He gifted Vin a [[mistcloak]] and started to teach her Allomancy. Vin expected that Kelsier would use his knowledge to control her, but to her surprise, he openly explained her the eight basic metals. Kelsier let Vin jump over the city walls as an exercise for [[steel]] and [[iron]] and was surprised how voluntarily she did it, remembering his own training.{{book ref|mb1|7}} Outside the city, they saw a [[Mistwraith]]. Back at the city gates Kelsier introduced Vin to [[Sazed]]. Realizing Vin didn't trust him, he told her that in his crew they trust each other. He offered to teach her about [[gold]] and atium, gave her the money he took from Camon, and allowed her to leave, as he didn't want to force anybody into his crew. Vin decided to stay in order to see if he told the truth about trusting others.{{book ref|mb1|8}}

Aside from the Survivorists, there was also a whole civilization of people that worshiped Kelsier far to the south of Elendel, calling him the '''Sovereign'''. Kelsier had traveled there several years after the [[Catacendre]], inhabiting a physical body that was spiked in the right eye, and found the [[Southern Scadrian]]s slowly dying of an unexplained coldness. He helped the people there survive using his knowledge of the Metallic Arts, showing them how to make [[Feruchemy#Unsealed_Metalminds|unsealed metalminds]] to store attributes like heat in a way that could be shared with anyone. As the Sovereign, Kelsier ruled the Southern Scadrians for a time and formed another religion that deified [[Metalborn]], and then he left.{{book ref|mb6|21}}

{{image|Thaidakar by AntiQcho.jpg|side=left|width=250px|}}

* '''Survivor of [[Pits of Hathsin|Hathsin]]''' - A title given to him by the skaa, as he was the first person ever to escape the Pits alive. Later used as a religious title.

* '''He Who Lived''' - A title used by Jak{{file ref|Elendel Daily broadsheet.png|''The Elendel Daily'' broadsheet}}

Kelsier is Vin’s mentor and teaches her to use her Allomantic abilities. Though [[Vin]] initially is wary and suspicious of him, she eventually learns to trust him, and he becomes somewhat of a father figure to her. He tries to teach Vin to smile and occasionally look on the bright side of things. They go on several outings together, including fighting [[Inquisitors]]; this leads to Vin almost dying, however, and that leads Kelsier to change how he runs the crew. Though he is killed by the Lord Ruler, he watches over Vin as a Cognitive Shadow. He feels guilty for abandoning her but does his best to help her. He eventually plays an important role in freeing her from Ruin’s influence.

He and Gavilar were working against each other to an unknown extent. Their relationship was such that Gavilar was quick to believe that he was the one who ordered his murder.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

Leras is fascinated by Kelsier due to him being the first to punch him after death, and being the first to attempt to recruit him to their schemes. Thus he decides to go along with him out of curiosity.{{msh ref|1|1}} Despite being mostly cordial with Kelsier, he does disapprove of him to an extent due to how he manipulated peoples faiths during his life, playing with their hearts and treating their faith casually.{{msh ref|6|4}} He also is frustrated how much Kelsier goes against his Intent, bringing about massive societal change in how he brought about the death of the Lord Ruler, who was perfectly preserved, and played into Ruin's plans.{{msh ref|1|2}}

== Quotes ==

{{for|/Quotes|a list of quotes from Kelsier}}

== Trivia ==

* Kelsier was released by [[Wikipedia: Epic Games| Epic Games]] as a character skin in the game [[Wikipedia: Fortnite| Fortnite]] on May 27, 2021. The playable character does not have Mistborn powers.{{wob ref|14709}}{{wob ref|14710}}

* Kelsier and [[Hoid]] do not get along.{{wob ref|4058}}

* If given the chance, Kelsier would find it "really fun" to punch [[Honor]] next.{{wob ref|8943}}

* Kelsier would understand, but still disapprove of, [[Taravangian]]'s plans.{{wob ref|3330}}

* He is more of a coffee person than tea.{{wob ref|10522}}

* Kelsier would beat Kaladin in a straight fight as he is prone to using dirty tactics. On the battlefield, Kaladin would be more likely to win.{{wob ref|335}}{{wob ref|4648}}

* {{nosnippet|Before the release of ''[[Rhythm of War]]'' revealed that Kelsier is the leader of the Ghostbloods,{{book ref|sa4|115}} when asked which of the secret societies on Roshar Kelsier would join if he had to join one, Brandon said that he would join the [[Ghostbloods]] and likely become their leader within a year.{{wob ref|3585}}}}

* Kelsier is a cat person.{{wob ref|758}}

* Kelsier likes noodles.{{wob ref|10916}}

* If Kelsier were to ever meet [[Kaladin]], Kelsier would like him because Kaladin is an innately good person who tries to do good, and Kelsier appreciates it and wants to preserve that in the world. He would try to offer encouragement and console Kaladin about not being able to save everyone. Kaladin would not like him back, but Kelsier wouldn't mind.{{wob ref|13840}}

* Despite what he has told the Ghostbloods, Kelsier does not have a real avatar. Uncanonically, Brandon imagines Kelsier as using a Seon in a trench coat as his 'avatar'.{{wob ref|14641}}

* Kelsier considers guns to be inelegant weapons.{{wob ref|15238}}

* If he were a Radiant, there are three Orders Kelsier might belong to: [[Order_of_Edgedancers|Edgedancer]], [[Dustbringer]], or [[Willshaper]]. The reason he would fit well as an Edgedancer is mainly because of what he picked up from Mare regarding restoring the world to the time of flowers and greenery. Dustbringer also fits because of the theme of self mastery and pushing himself. Willshaper is high on the list as well.{{wob ref|15679}}

* If he were a Returned, his name would likely be Lifeseeker, or something along those lines.{{wob ref|14997}}

== Notes ==

<div data-nosnippet>{{holder

|title= Vessel of<br />[[Preservation]]

|prev=[[Leras]]

|this=

|next=[[Vin]]

}}</div>

<references />

{{partial}}

{{Mistborn|Era 1}}

[[category: viewpoint characters]]

[[es:Kelsier]]