Editing Cosmere

{{image|Arcanum Unbounded.jpg|The cover of ''[[Arcanum Unbounded]]'', featuring [[Khriss]]|side=right|width=300px}}
{{update|mb7|tress|tsm}}
{{quote
|You’ve stumbled into something far, far bigger than you, your politics, or your little planet ... Your questions are dangerous. Once you step behind the curtain and see the actors as the people they are, it becomes harder to pretend the play is real.
|[[Khriss]] to [[Kelsier]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
The '''cosmere''' is a fictional shared universe where many of [[Brandon Sanderson]]'s books take place. As a result, books set in the cosmere share a single cosmology and underlying rules of magic, and some characters from one world will make appearances on other worlds. Despite the connections, Brandon has remained clear that one does not need any knowledge of the broader cosmere to read, understand, or enjoy books that take place in the cosmere.{{url ref|name=WhatIsCosmere|url=https://brandonsanderson.com/what-is-the-cosmere|text=What Is The Cosmere?|site=[[Brandon]]'s website}}

The core sequence of the cosmere will consist of the [[Dragonsteel (series)|Dragonsteel series]], the [[Elantris trilogy]], at least four eras of the [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn series]], and [[The Stormlight Archive]].{{wob ref|13784}} The story of the cosmere does not include any books that reference [[Earth]], as Earth is not in the cosmere.{{ref|name=WhatIsCosmere}} For a complete list of books in the cosmere, see [[#Bibliography of the Cosmere|the bibliography section below]].

The shared "creation myth" of the cosmere revolves around [[Adonalsium]], the power of creation, which was broken into sixteen pieces called [[Shard]]s in an event known as the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]]. The Shards are effectively gods, and magic is derived from their power.{{msh ref|3|2}}

== Properties and Forces ==
{{image|Cosmere symbol.svg|The cosmere symbol|side=left|width=175px}}
=== Realms ===
{{for|Realmatic Theory}}
In the cosmere, everything exists in three Realms: the [[Physical Realm]], the [[Cognitive Realm]], and the [[Spiritual Realm]].{{tes ref|12}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|57}} The three Realms have existed since the beginning of the cosmere.{{wob ref|13066}}

When someone in the cosmere dies, their body remains in the Physical Realm and a [[Cognitive Shadow]] forms in the Cognitive Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} For most people, this Cognitive Shadow quickly moves on to the [[Beyond]] and their [[Investiture]] returns to the Spiritual Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} The more Investiture someone held in life, the longer they can linger before being drawn to the Beyond,{{msh ref|1|1}} but only [[Sliver]]s&mdash;those who once held a significant portion of a [[Shard]]'s power&mdash;can resist the Beyond forever, though they can still choose to go if they so desire.{{msh ref|6|8}} Before the person passes to the Beyond, however, they can still be restored via Investiture healing{{book ref|mb6|28}}{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} or be infused with enough Investiture to become a more permanent Cognitive Shadow, usually as a result of a Shard's action.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|sa4|15}} Those killed by [[Nightblood]]{{wob ref|10440}} or [[anti-Investiture]]{{book ref|sa4|97}}{{wob ref|14623}} or consumed by [[Yelig-nar]],{{wob ref|15139}} however, cannot be resurrected in any way, as nothing remains of their soul.

Time travel to the past, in any of the Realms, is impossible.{{book ref|yumi|32}}{{wob ref|13651}}

==== The Physical Realm ====
In the [[Physical Realm]], the cosmere is a star cluster of about 50 to 100 stars.{{wob ref|9284}} The Physical Realm is composed of fundamental particles known as [[axi]] and follows ordinary laws of physics, except when the other Realms are involved.{{wob ref|11359}}{{book ref|sa4|97}}{{wob ref|6360}} Currently, there are sixteen known planetary systems in the cosmere, which contain a total of nineteen notable planets. The cosmere is also home to other celestial objects, including several dwarf planets, gas giants, and constellations.{{article ref|Physical Realm}} At least one person has tried to leave the physical bounds of the cosmere, with unknown results.{{wob ref|13336}}{{wob ref|13558}}

==== The Cognitive Realm ====
{{image|Shadesmar (TWoK).jpg|A map of [[Shadesmar]], the region of the Cognitive Realm around [[Roshar]].{{wob ref|5814}} Regions labelled "Expanse" lead to other planets in the cosmere.{{wob ref|1392}}|side=right|width=350px}}
The [[Cognitive Realm]] is closely modeled on the Physical Realm, though there are significant differences. Because the Cognitive Realm is the Realm of thought, it is substantially impacted by how people imagine and perceive ideas. For example, outer space is significantly compressed in the Cognitive Realm, because people do not spend much time thinking about the space between planets.{{wob ref|1392}} There are also some entities that naturally exist primarily in the Cognitive Realm, such as the [[spren]] who personify thoughts, emotions, and natural features,{{book ref|sa2|3}} as well as certain [[Cognitive Shadow]]s.

The appearance of the Cognitive Realm around a particular planet seems to reflect salient characteristics of that planet&mdash;around Scadrial, for instance, it is composed of mist, while around Roshar it is composed of spheres.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} Land and water are inverted in the Cognitive Realm&mdash;what is solid land in the Physical Realm is unstable ground in the Cognitive, while bodies of water in the Physical are solid in the Cognitive.{{msh ref|3|2}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} As a result, physical beings attempting to traverse non-solid regions of the Cognitive Realm risk drowning in whatever composes the local Cognitive Realm, though cognitive entities can traverse these regions safely.{{msh ref|2|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} 

==== The Spiritual Realm ====
{{quote
|All things exist in three Realms, Gaotona. '''Physical''', '''Cognitive''', '''Spiritual'''. The Physical is what we feel, what is before us. The Cognitive is how an object is viewed and how it views itself. The Spiritual Realm contains an object’s soul&mdash;its essence&mdash;as well as the ways it is connected to the things and people around it.
|[[Shai]] discussing [[Realmatic Theory|the Realms]] with [[Gaotona]]{{tes ref|12}}
}}
The [[Spiritual Realm]] exists beyond space and time.{{wob ref|6129}} As such, it is not truly a place, but rather is the Realm of concepts like [[Intention|Intent]], [[Identity]], [[Connection]], and [[Fortune]].{{wob ref|77}}{{tes ref|12}}{{wob ref|10298}} Everything exists in the Spiritual Realm in its ideal form.{{tes ref|12}}{{book ref|sa3|103}}

{{sidequote
|Intent matters. Intent is king. You cannot do what I attempt by accident. You must mean it.
|[[Navani Kholin]] on the role of Intent{{epigraph ref|sa4|72}}
|side=left|size=300px
}}
'''Intent''' is the Spiritual property that expresses a person's considered will or purpose. Intent cannot be formed accidentally; if Intent is required to do something, then the person attempting to do it must not only do it, but ''mean'' to do it.{{book ref|sa3|57}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|72}} Many Invested Arts require their user to act with Intent in order to properly use their magic.{{book ref|elantris|part=ars}}{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} Invested entities, like [[spren]], [[Cognitive Shadow]]s, and even [[Shard]]s have a fundamental Intent that describes the purpose of the Investiture that constitutes their essence. Indeed, the longer they exist, the more they will become bound by their Intent, unable to act against it.{{book ref|sa4|15}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|40}} An extreme example of this is [[Ati]], the original Vessel of the Shard [[Ruin]], who was initially a "kind and generous" man,{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}} but became so consumed by his Shard's Intent that he sought the complete destruction of [[Scadrial]] and even viewed it as necessary.{{book ref|mb3|57}}

{{image|Dawnshard by ML Malandrino.jpg|[[Rysn Ftori]] discovering one of the [[Dawnshard]]s|side=right|width=350px}}
Along with Intent, there is also the associated concept of '''Command'''. [[Command]]s are more limited than Intent, but they help to focus the Intent so that Investiture can respond appropriately.{{wob ref|14636}} While most Commands are related to a certain Invested Art or some other specific method of manipulating Investiture, there are also the [[Dawnshard]]s, four fundamental Commands that were involved in both the creation of the cosmere and the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]].{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}

'''Identity''' is the Spiritual property that demarcates one person or object from another and describes who or what they are.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Losing their Identity during the [[False Desolation]] turned the [[singer]]s into [[singer#slaveform|slaveform]].{{book ref|sa3|17}} Identity also serves as the lock and key for metalminds; [[Feruchemy|Feruchemists]] can only withdraw attributes stored by someone with a matching Identity&mdash;ordinarily, this means only attributes they stored.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Because Identity describes who a person is, it is closely tied to the concept of a [[spiritweb]], which is sometimes called Spiritual DNA.{{wob ref|115}} spiritwebs are not entirely understood, but they are quantifiable in some way,{{wob ref|13361}} and seem to record information about a person's Investiture, such as the genetics that make one an [[Allomancy|Allomancer]].{{wob ref|9687}}

Magical healing in the cosmere usually works by using [[Investiture]] to make a person's condition in the Physical Realm more closely match their idealized self in the Spiritual Realm, though this idealized self is filtered through the person's perception of themself in the Cognitive Realm. As a result, healing is usually limited by how a person views themself, and once a person accepts something as part of themself, it will not be able to heal.{{wob ref|9441}}

{{sidequote
|Yours is the power of Connection, of joining men and worlds, minds and souls.
|The [[Stormfather]] to [[Dalinar Kholin]], explaining the powers of the [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]]{{book ref|sa3|64}}
|side=left|size=300px
}}
In addition to containing this information about a person or object's Identity, the Spiritual Realm also stores '''Connection''' between people, objects, and even more abstract concepts.{{tes ref|12}} For example, a person can form Connection to a region, which will allow them to speak that region's language.{{book ref|mb6|22}}{{book ref|sa3|65}} In order to take up a [[Shard]] after a Vessel dies, a person must be Connected to that Shard.{{msh ref|5|2}} 

Because the Spiritual Realm exists beyond space and time, it&mdash;along with the associated property of '''Fortune'''&mdash;can be used to see events in other locations or even the future,{{wob ref|730}}{{wob ref|10298}} though this is generally very difficult.{{wob ref|6304}}{{book ref|sa1|75}}

=== Investiture ===
{{image|The Lights of Roshar by Connor Chamberlain.jpg|A depiction of the different forms of Investiture on [[Roshar]]|side=right|width=300px}}
{{quote
|[I]t seemed you were Soulcasting to give your illusions weight. But then, concentrated Stormlight has a faint mass to it.
|[[Jasnah Kholin]] on the relationship between Investiture and mass{{book ref|sa3|120}}
}}
Just as there is an equivalency between mass and energy, in the cosmere these things can also be exchanged with a magical power known as [[Investiture]]. When Investiture is accounted for, the cosmere adheres to the ordinary laws of conservation and thermodynamics.{{wob ref|3544}}{{wob ref|1649}} Investiture mostly exists in the Spiritual Realm, though it is more precisely understood as transcending the Realms.{{wob ref|5610}} However, it can also exist in a "condensed" form in the Physical Realm as solid, liquid, or gas.{{msh ref|6|7}}

If left alone, Investiture will, over time, become self-aware,{{wob ref|3776}} resulting in a [[Splinter]].{{wob ref|10563}} [[Khriss]] suspects that the land itself on [[Sel]] is undergoing a process like this as a result of [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]]'s Investiture being trapped in the Cognitive Realm.{{au ref|Sel}} More common examples of this process include [[seon]]s and [[spren]].{{wob ref|10563}}

Investiture has a property that associates it with one of the sixteen [[Shard]]s of [[Adonalsium]]; at the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], all Investiture was divided evenly between the Shards.{{wob ref|8605}}{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|5313}} Even though, as a result of the Shattering, all Investiture is associated with a Shard, Investiture also remains linked to Adonalsium in some way and the Shattering meant "everything and nothing at the same time" to Investiture.{{wob ref|9385}}

When one form of Investiture attempts to co-opt or corrupt another form of Investiture, it will often produce a red effect.{{wob ref|8340}} Examples of this include the red smoke given off by [[Shai]]'s [[soulstamp]]s when she uses them to temporarily tweak [[Gaotona]]'s soul,{{tes ref|30}}{{wob ref|13830}} the red haze of [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]] invading [[Scadrial]],{{book ref|mb6|28}}{{wob ref|13074}}{{wob ref|8345}} and the red coloring of some of the spren Enlightened by [[Sja-anat]].{{book ref|sa3|78}}{{book ref|sa3|89}}{{book ref|sa3|115}} Similarly, when some entity possesses or has a strong influence over a person, the person's eyes will often grow red, as seen with the bodies on Scadrial controlled by [[Autonomy]],{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}}{{book ref|mb7|55}} the soldiers possessed via [[Nergaoul|the Thrill]] at the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]],{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{book ref|sa3|117}} and many of Odium's servants, whose souls are corrupted by his power.{{book ref|sa4|38}}{{book ref|sa4|42}}

{{sidequote
|This is a powerful magic, and one where humans themselves have often had access to grand bursts of strength. I would challenge one to identify another planet, save only Roshar, where one can find such strength of Investiture so commonly in the hands of mortals.
|[[Khriss]] on [[Allomancy]] and [[Feruchemy]]{{au ref|Scadrial}}
|side=left|size=300px
}}
Investiture can be divided into two categories: '''kinetic Investiture''' and '''static Investiture'''.{{book ref|sa4|89}} Kinetic Investiture refers to Investiture actively doing something. When Investiture is kinetic, it can often be detected by various methods, such as [[Allomancy|Allomantic]] [[bronze]] or [[sand (Taldain)|sand from the Dayside of Taldain]].{{wob ref|15308}}{{wob ref|9521}} Static Investiture refers to all Investiture not actively doing something, such as a [[Feruchemy|Feruchemical]] charge in a metalmind.{{wob ref|15308}}{{wob ref|247}}{{book ref|mb5|12}} At least some forms of static Investiture, including [[Lights]] not actively powering anything, can also be detected by [[Taldain]]'s sand, though they affect the sand much more slowly than kinetic Investiture does.{{book ref|sa4|89}} The term '''innate Investiture''' denotes a direct conduit between a person and the Spiritual Realm,{{wob ref|5715}} such as the piece of [[Preservation]] in all [[Scadrial|Scadrians]] or [[Breath]],{{wob ref|1072}} and would likely be a subcategory of static Investiture.

Cosmere scholars term the various methods of utilizing Investiture (such as the [[Metallic Arts]], [[Surgebinding]], and [[Awakening]]) '''Invested Arts'''.{{book ref|sa3|part=ars}} Since the Shattering, these can be grouped into three main categories. The most common are those powered directly by the Shards,{{wob ref|4097}} which arise from the interactions between a Shard and the planet they are Invested in.{{wob ref|5269}} Such Invested Arts are capable of far more spectacular results than other Invested Arts.{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|4097}} If a planet does not have a Shard in residence, its inhabitants can still access and use Investiture by the ordinary laws of Realmatics, but, without a Shard to provide additional power, the results are far more limited.{{wob ref|9385}} The last category is the few Invested Arts left over from before the Shattering of Adonalsium,{{wob ref|4097}} of which the only known example is [[Yolish Lightweaving]].

==== Anti-Investiture ====
Much like there is both matter and [[wikipedia: Antimatter|antimatter]], at least some forms of Investiture can be transformed into a substance known as '''anti-Investiture'''.{{book ref|sa4|part=ars}} Currently, the only known forms of [[anti-Investiture]] are [[anti-Stormlight]] and [[anti-Voidlight]], which can be made by at least partially isolating [[Stormlight]] or [[Voidlight]] respectively from their Shard's pure tone and then exposing it to their Shard's opposite tone;{{book ref|sa4|97}}{{book ref|sa4|104}}{{wob ref|14778}} [[Khriss]] seems to believe additional forms of anti-Investiture are possible.{{book ref|sa4|part=ars}} Anti-Voidlight, at least, looks mostly similar to regular Voidlight, but appears to warp the air around it.{{book ref|sa4|97}} When anti-Investiture mixes with Investiture of the same type, the two annihilate in a violent explosion; if the Investiture in question is the soul of a person or that of an entity composed entirely of Investiture, like a [[spren]], then this annihilation results in their permanent death.{{book ref|sa4|97}}{{book ref|sa4|104}}

=== Perpendicularities ===
{{image|I am Unity.jpg|[[Dalinar Kholin]] summoning [[Honor's Perpendicularity]]|side=left|width=200px}}
{{quote
|Anytime too much power&mdash;too much Investiture, too much self&mdash;congregated, realms became porous and time behaved oddly.
|[[Sylphrena]] on entering the [[centerbeat]] of the [[highstorm]]{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}
}}
When a sufficient amount of Investiture coalesces in one place in the Physical and Cognitive Realms, it creates a junction between all three Realms known as a [[perpendicularity]]. Most stable perpendicularities form from the presence of a [[Shard]] on a planet and the massive amount of Investiture they bring with them.{{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|9665}} Sentient beings can use perpendicularities to travel between the Physical and Cognitive Realms, which in turn facilitates easier travel on and off a planet for those with the knowledge to use them.{{au ref|Drominad}}

=== Adonalsium ===
{{quote
|There was a God. Adonalsium. I don’t know if it was a force or a being, though I suspect the latter.
|[[Khriss]] on [[Adonalsium]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
When the cosmere began, there was an entity known as Adonalsium; this entity is widely believed to have created the cosmere.{{wob ref|4850}} Perhaps for this reason, Adonalsium is sometimes referred to as "the power of creation."{{wob ref|6072}} Investiture was Adonalsium's power,{{wob ref|5799}} which has led cosmere scholars to conclude that either Investiture seeks intelligence because it used to be Adonalsium or that Adonalsium came into being because Investiture sought intelligence.{{wob ref|9324}}

The exact nature of Adonalsium, however, remains unclear. It may have been a mere force that acted according to specific rules or an actual entity that could think on its own; [[Khriss]] suspects the latter.{{msh ref|3|2}} The way Adonalsium saw the cosmere was simply the way its magic worked. For example, the [[spren]] on [[Roshar]] could not form [[fabrial]]s prior to the Shattering because Adonalsium did not want them to be able to do so. Given Adonalsium had this level of control over the cosmere, some have suggested that Adonalsium may have wanted the Shattering to occur.{{wob ref|13525}}

Some say there are "subtle forces" being manifest in the cosmere, separate from Adonalsium, likely referring to belief in the [[God Beyond]].{{wob ref|3436}}

==== Shards of Adonalsium ====
{| class="infobox sortable center-col-1 center-col-2" style="float:right; margin-left:15px; margin-bottom:10px; width:25%;"
|-
! colspan=2; style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Shards of [[Adonalsium]]
|-
! [[Shard]]
! Original Vessel
|-
| [[Devotion]]
| [[Aona]]
|-
| [[Dominion]]
| [[Skai]]
|-
| [[Preservation]]
| [[Leras]]
|-
| [[Ruin]]
| [[Ati]]
|-
| [[Odium]]
| [[Rayse]]
|-
| [[Cultivation]]
| [[Koravellium Avast]]
|-
| [[Honor]]
| [[Tanavast]]
|-
| [[Endowment]]
| [[Edgli]]
|-
| [[Autonomy]]
| [[Bavadin]]
|-
| [[Ambition]]
| [[Uli Da]]
|-
| [[Invention]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Mercy]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Valor]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Whimsy]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Virtuosity]]
| ''Unknown''
|}
{{quote
|[Odium] is far greater than I, but the power of ancient Adonalsium permeates him. And controls him. Odium is a force like pressure, gravitation, or the movement of time. These things cannot break their own rules. Nor can he.
|The [[Stormfather]] on [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium{{book ref|sa3|16}}
}}
During the [[Shattering of Adonalsium|Shattering]], Adonalsium split into sixteen pieces, referred to as [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium. Each of these Shards has an [[Intention|Intent]] that represents a particular facet of Adonalsium. Sixteen people involved in the Shattering then took up those Shards, becoming the first Vessels and effectively ascending to godhood.{{msh ref|3|2}} There was some sort of force or property of the cosmere that caused Adonalsium to shatter into the sixteen Shards that it did,{{wob ref|9956}} and the distribution of the Shards to the Vessels was not random.{{wob ref|5490}} The number sixteen has some significance to the mechanics of the cosmere,{{epigraph ref|mb3|71}}{{wob ref|1678}} though, as Adonalsium could have split into some other number of Shards,{{wob ref|11037}} it may have only become significant after the Shattering, and indeed may arise more from the beliefs of sapient creatures than a greater underlying property.{{wob ref|9428}}

Though the power of a Shard requires a mind to control it, known as a Vessel, the Intent of a Shard will slowly warp the minds of those that hold it, overriding their independence.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|5485}} For example, after [[Leras]] Ascended as [[Preservation]], he became unable to cause harm, even to preserve other things.{{book ref|mb3|81}}{{msh ref|2|3}} It is unclear whether the original Vessels knew this when they took up their Shards, but, eventually, the Vessels came to be known simply by their Shard's name.

The Shards have access to infinite power, but the Vessels' minds, even though they are expanded by holding the Shard, are not capable of wielding it all at once.{{wob ref|8605}}{{wob ref|8702}} The Shards are also limited by certain rules that restrict how they can act;{{book ref|sa3|16}}{{book ref|sa1|75}} for example, they must fulfill a formally made oath.{{wob ref|13144}}{{book ref|sa3|122}} Failing to do so can give others an opening to act against the Shard who broke an oath; this has, on at least one occasion, resulted in the death of a Vessel.{{book ref|sa4|99}} Shards can also intervene to block another Shard's actions, though not perfectly.{{book ref|mb3|76}}

Despite these restrictions, however, the Shards are generally capable of both subtle and incredible changes. Among other things, they can change the orbit of entire planets, make changes to individuals and entire species on a genetic level, and alter some of the mechanics of an Invested Art resulting from their presence on a planet.{{book ref|mb3|82}}{{wob ref|5971}} Since Shards exist primarily in the Spiritual Realm, they also have some ability to look into the future, though not all Shards are equally good at this and it fragments into more and more possibilities the further they look.{{wob ref|8147}}{{book ref|sa3|75}}

{{image|The Shattering Stained Glass Window by LittleGreyDragon.png|A depiction of [[Adonalsium]], the sixteen [[Shard]]s it [[Shattering|Shattered]] into as well as the Shards' original Vessels, and some [[Splinter]]s of the Shards|side=left|width=350px}}
Shards can also create '''avatars''', beings with access to a portion of the Shard's power who can act autonomously from their Shard, but remain part of the Shard and ultimately cannot act against the Shard's instructions. Avatars stand in contrast to [[Splinter]]s, who are pieces of a Shard's power that have or could develop free will.{{wob ref|14744}} Avatars often seem to be used when a Shard wants to influence events on a planet other than the one they are primarily Invested in; for example, [[Autonomy]], who is Invested in [[Taldain]],{{au ref|Taldain}} has avatars on [[First of the Sun]] and [[Obrodai]].{{wob ref|13220}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|50}}

Since the Shattering, the Shards have been the primary source of magic in the cosmere.{{wob ref|4097}} The interactions between their Investiture and a planet give rise to Invested Arts that are far more powerful than those formed by people accessing background Investiture.{{wob ref|5269}}{{wob ref|15703}}{{wob ref|4097}}

Each Shard also has its own '''pure tone''' and '''rhythm''', that can often influence and be heard emanating from their Investiture and can become part of the worlds they Invest in.{{book ref|sa4|69}}{{book ref|sa4|67}}{{wob ref|14482}} For example, the [[Lights]] of [[Roshar]] pulse softly to their Shard's tone and [[rhythm]] and will follow a source&mdash;vocal or instrumental&mdash;generating their Shard's tone{{book ref|sa4|69}} and both the [[Well of Ascension]] on [[Scadrial]] and the pulses a [[Seeker]] can pick up from someone using [[Allomancy]] are related to Preservation's tone and rhythm.{{wob ref|14482}}{{wob ref|14586}} Harmonizing the tones and rhythms of two different Shards is part of the creation of hybrid Investiture, like [[Warlight]] and [[Towerlight]].{{book ref|sa4|76}}{{book ref|sa4|110}} Shards also have an opposite tone, which sounds identical to most people but is unpleasant to those attuned to that Shard's Investiture, and can only be created by Intent. This opposite tone can physically repel its Shard's Investiture and can help create anti-Investiture associated with its Shard.{{book ref|sa4|97}}

== Planets ==
{{image|Cosmere constellation map.jpg|A star chart of the cosmere in the Physical Realm|side=right|width=300px}}
{{for|Physical Realm}}
{{quote
|Other planets ... Yes, there are dozens of them. Many are inhabited by people much like you or me. There is [[Yolen|an original]], shrouded and hidden somewhere in the cosmere. I’ve yet to find it, but I have found stories.
|[[Khriss]] to [[Kelsier]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
While the cosmere has a wide array of planets, many of them are uninhabited, not significantly Invested, or otherwise not generally relevant to the broader cosmere.{{wob ref|4846}}{{wob ref|15593}} Planets in the cosmere have something akin to souls,{{wob ref|4056}} likely referring to their presence in the Cognitive and/or Spiritual Realms.

{| class="infobox sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Significant Worlds of the Cosmere
|-
! style="width:14%;" |Planetary System
! style="width:13%;" |Planet
! style="width:29%;" |Shards
! style="width:40%;" |Books
! class=unsortable style="width:4%;" |Reference
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Bjendal]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[The Lost Metal]]'')''
| {{book ref|mb7|39}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Canticle]]
| ''None''
| ''[[The Sunlit Man]]''
| {{book ref|tsm|16}}{{wob ref|15602}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Dhatri]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[The Lost Metal]]'')''
| {{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Drominad system|Drominad System]]
| [[First of the Sun]]
| [[Patji (being)|Patji]] (Avatar of [[Autonomy]])
| ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''
| {{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|8902}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Lumar]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''[[Tress of the Emerald Sea]]''
| {{wob ref|15428}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Mythos]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[The Lost Metal]]'')''
| {{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Nalthian system|Nalthian System]]
| [[Nalthis]]
| [[Endowment]]
| ''[[Warbreaker]]'', ''[[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]]'' (unpublished)
| {{wob ref|1120}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Obrodai]]
| Avatar of [[Autonomy]], ''possibly others''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[Oathbringer]]'')''
| {{epigraph ref|sa3|50}}{{wob ref|9081}}
|-
! rowspan=3 |[[Rosharan system|Rosharan System]]
| [[Ashyn]]
| ''None''
| ''[[The Silence Divine]]'' (unpublished)
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|8869}}
|-
| [[Braize]]
| [[Odium]]
| [[The Stormlight Archive]]
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
| [[Roshar]]
| [[Cultivation]], [[Honor]]
| [[The Stormlight Archive]]
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Scadrian system|Scadrian System]]
| [[Scadrial]]
| [[Preservation]], [[Ruin]] ([[Final Ascension|combined]] as [[Harmony]])
| [[Mistborn (series)|''Mistborn'' series]]
| {{au ref|Scadrial}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Selish system|Selish System]]
| [[Sel]]
| [[Devotion]], [[Dominion]]
| [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]], ''[[The Emperor's Soul]]''
| {{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Taldain system|Taldain System]]
| [[Taldain]]
| [[Autonomy]]
| ''[[White Sand]]''
| {{au ref|Taldain}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Threnodite system|Threnodite System]]
| [[Threnody]]
| [[Ambition]]
| ''[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]''
| {{au ref|Threnody}}{{wob ref|5603}}
|-
! rowspan=2 |[[UTol system]]
| [[Komashi]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Virtuosity]]
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''
| rowspan=2 | {{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}
|-
| [[UTol]]
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Vax]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]'' and ''[[Mistborn: Secret History]]'')''
| {{book ref|elantris|part=ars}}{{msh ref|6|8}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Yolen]]
| ''None''
| [[Dragonsteel (series)|Dragonsteel series]] (unpublished)
| {{wob ref|5984}}{{wob ref|14885}}
|}

=== Trishardic Systems ===
The [[Rosharan system]] consists of three planets of note. '''[[Ashyn]]''' was nearly destroyed in an apocalypse long ago, though a few cities remain floating in the atmosphere.{{wob ref|8243}}{{au ref|Roshar}} Certain bacteria on the planet are able to grant magical powers, including the ability to keep the floating cities aloft.{{wob ref|12271}}{{wob ref|1862}} '''[[Roshar]]''' is a planet with a [[highstorm|powerful storm]] that frequently blows across the continent and where [[spren]] can cross into the Physical Realm.{{au ref|Roshar}} '''[[Braize]]''' is the prison of the [[Fused]] where the [[Herald]]s are tortured between [[Desolation]]s.{{book ref|sa3|38}} The system is home to the Shards [[Cultivation]] and [[Honor]], though the latter has been Splintered; additionally, [[Odium]] is currently trapped in the system.{{au ref|Roshar}}

=== Dishardic Systems ===
'''[[Scadrial]]''' is the most technologically advanced planet and the most similar to [[Yolen]].{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{wob ref|6732}} Its [[Metallic Arts|three magic systems]] all use metal to store and access [[Investiture]].{{book ref|mb4|part=ars}} The system is home to the Shards [[Preservation]] and [[Ruin]], who have since combined into [[Harmony]].{{book ref|mb3|82}}

'''[[Sel]]''', also known as '''Seol''', is a large planet with three great domains.{{au ref|Sel}} It has many magic systems, which are tied to the user's location and are accessed by creating shapes in the proper form, rather like programming.{{wob ref|1768}} The system is home to the Shards [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]], who have both been Splintered by Odium.{{au ref|Sel}}

=== Monoshardic Systems ===
The planet '''[[Taldain]]''' is tidally locked between two stars, a blue-white supergiant and a white dwarf. The side of the planet facing the former, [[Dayside]], is a vast desert where Investiture arrives from the light of the star. [[Darkside]] faces the white dwarf, leaving it in perpetual twilight; many things there fluoresce in ultraviolet light. Its [[Shard]], [[Autonomy]], keeps the planet isolated from the rest of the cosmere.{{au ref|Taldain}}

The [[Drominad system]] is home to several planets, all of which have water as a dominant feature. Three of them are inhabited by humans, the most of any planetary system in the cosmere at the time Khriss wrote her essay on the system. The innermost planet, '''[[First of the Sun]]''' has a [[perpendicularity]], though the region around it in the Physical Realm is incredibly dangerous,{{au ref|Drominad}}{{book ref|sotd}} and is home to [[Patji (being)|Patji]], an avatar of Autonomy.{{wob ref|9385}}

'''[[Nalthis]]''' is a world of color. Color is needed to fuel its magic system, [[Awakening]], and those with large amounts of [[Breath]] will enhance the colors around them and can see perfect shades of colors.{{book ref|wb|prologue}} When someone dies, [[Endowment]], the resident Shard, occasionally sends their [[Cognitive Shadow]] back as a [[Returned]] to prevent a tragedy they foresee after their death.{{book ref|wb|57}}{{wob ref|5943}}

'''[[Threnody]]''' is a planet with two principal parts: the [[Fallen World]], which is under the control of an unknown entity called the [[Evil]] that is so dangerous that everyone was forced to leave, and the [[Forests of Hell]], which is home to dangerous [[Cognitive Shadow]]s known as [[Shade]]s. The system used to be home to the Shard [[Ambition]], whose Splintering has severely warped planet.{{au ref|Threnody}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|27}}

The [[UTol system]] is located near where the Shard [[Virtuosity]] Splintered herself and home to two habitable planets.{{book ref|yumi|1}}{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}} The eponymous planet of '''[[UTol]]''' is a water-dominated planet inhabited by [[Sho Del]] that seems to be well-known in the cosmere by the space age.{{book ref|yumi|30}}{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}} Its sister planet '''[[Komashi]]''' is home to humans and [[Splinter]]s of Virtuosity known as [[hijo]];{{book ref|yumi|17}} before the destruction of the [[father machine]], it was notable for an eternal [[shroud]] of black Investiture covering the planet.{{book ref|yumi|1}}

=== Non-shardic Systems ===
'''[[Canticle]]''' is an extremely small planet with a dense, Invested core.{{book ref|tsm|19}} The light of the system's host star is also Invested; when that light reaches the surface of Canticle, it is quickly pulled down to the planet's core, superheating everything in its path.{{book ref|tsm|39}}{{book ref|tsm|45}} As a result, people living on the planet must keep moving constantly in order to stay ahead of the sunrise.{{book ref|tsm|1}}

'''[[Yolen]]''' is the original planet of humans and the location of the [[Shattering]].{{wob ref|5702}}{{wob ref|11602}} It has few inhabitants in the modern era and has been hidden from most of the people of the cosmere.{{wob ref|6545}}{{msh ref|3|2}}

=== Other Notable Worlds ===
'''[[Dhatri]]''' is the homeworld of the [[aether]]s, though they have since spread around the cosmere;{{wob ref|15136}}{{wob ref|15428}}{{wob ref|16254}} the world has been made inhospitable due to an entity known as the [[dark aether]].{{book ref|mb7|47}}

'''[[Lumar]]''' is a backwater planet that is home to the [[aether spores]], a compressed form of [[aether]] that grows dangerously fast when touched by water, which are produced by a variant strain of the aethers on the twelve moons that hang close to the surface of the planet.{{wob ref|15428}}{{book ref|tress|28}}{{book ref|tress|31}}

Little is known about '''[[Bjendal]]''', '''[[Mythos]]''', '''[[Obrodai]]''', and '''[[Vax]]'''. Additionally, there is the homeworld of the [[Sleepless]],{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}{{wob ref|15873}} which may be one of those four planets.

== History ==
=== Before the Shattering ===
{{quote
|It was a distant place where two lands meet and gods have died.
|[[Hoid]] on pre-[[Shattering]] [[Yolen]].{{book ref|wb|32}}
}}
At some point, the [[Dawnshard]]s were used to create the cosmere.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}

The first humans lived on [[Yolen]] and were created by Adonalsium.{{wob ref|5702}}{{msh ref|3|2}} At some point, a poorly-understood and parasitic ecosystem hostile to humans, known as [[fainlife]], began to develop on Yolen. It began to spread and overtake the landscape, though the other inhabitants eventually learned how to keep it in check.{{wob ref|7825}} Yolen was also home to the [[Sho Del]], the fainlife equivalent of humans, and [[dragon (cosmere)|dragons]].{{wob ref|9676}}  Information about fainlife remains accessible enough in the modern cosmere that [[Khriss]] was able to mention it to cosmere-aware people without need for explanation.{{au ref|Scadrial}} Prior to the Shattering, Yolen's technology was Bronze Age.{{wob ref|9882}}{{wob ref|16320}}

During this time, Adonalsium created several planets, including the entire [[Rosharan system]].{{wob ref|3952}}{{wob ref|9283}} Most of the planets in the cosmere existed and were named prior to the Shattering,{{wob ref|7262}} though [[#Worldhoppers|worldhopping]] was much less common at the time.{{wob ref|13219}}

[[Investiture]] still existed prior to the Shattering, though its form was different.{{wob ref|1118}} During this time, there was a plot to destroy Adonalsium, but it failed.{{wob ref|2648}} [[Hoid]], the dragon [[Frost]], and the original Vessels all lived before the Shattering.{{wob ref|11070}}

=== The Shattering of Adonalsium ===
{{image|Shattering by Connor Chamberlain.jpg|A depiction of the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]]|side=right|width=350px}}
{{quote
|Sixteen people, together, killed Adonalsium, ripping it apart and dividing its essence between them, becoming the first who Ascended. [They were] a diverse group, with equally diverse motives. Some wished for the power; others saw killing Adonalsium as the only good option left to them. Together they murdered a deity, and became divine themselves.
|[[Khriss]] on the original [[Vessel]]s{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
Eventually, around ten-thousand years before the [[True Desolation]],{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}{{book ref|tsm|11}}{{wob ref|1355}}{{wob ref|9683}}{{wob ref|2728}} a group of people that opposed Adonalsium came together and plotted its destruction.{{wob ref|4078}}{{wob ref|2539}} This group included people of all three sapient species on [[Yolen]]: humans, [[dragon (cosmere)|dragons]], and [[Sho Del]].{{wob ref|9676}} To achieve their goal, they created a weapon{{wob ref|5602}} that utilized the [[Dawnshard]]s.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} In an event known as the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], the weapon was used to "undo" Adonalsium,{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} splitting it into the sixteen [[Shard]]s;{{msh ref|3|2}} the weapon was expended in the process,{{wob ref|2246}} though remnants of it exist in the Physical Realm and are responsible for Hoid's immortality.{{wob ref|10439}} As part of the Shattering, sixteen of the people who had opposed Adonalsium took up the new Shards and became the first Vessels.{{msh ref|3|2}} There was some sort of force that caused Adonalsium to shatter into the Shards that it did,{{wob ref|9956}} and the distribution of the Shards to the Vessels was not random.{{wob ref|5490}} The Shattering occurred on Yolen, though there is some "weirdness" with regard to Yolen and location,{{wob ref|11602}} and occurred all at once.{{wob ref|1292}} As a result of the Shattering, all Investiture in the cosmere became aligned with one of the sixteen Shards.{{wob ref|8605}}

Hoid was loosely involved in the plot to Shatter Adonalsium and was present at the Shattering.{{wob ref|10868}}{{wob ref|6470}} He also had the opportunity to take a Shard, but turned it down.{{epigraph ref|sa3|38}}{{wob ref|3337}} He and [[Frost]] both knew the original Vessels personally.{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}

After the Shattering, the new Vessels made some sort of agreement to not interfere with each other,{{epigraph ref|sa3|39}} though the exact agreement was somewhat ambiguous and the Vessels who suggested it did not make sure to get a formal oath from the others.{{wob ref|10835}}{{wob ref|13144}} Regardless, the Shards then went their separate ways. Most settled on a planet, though [[Virtuosity]] instead chose to instead travel around the cosmere before eventually Splintering herself near the [[UTol system]].{{wob ref|15530}}{{book ref|yumi|1}} Some chose to go off on their own,{{au ref|Taldain}}{{au ref|Threnody}} while others stayed together with other Shards.{{au ref|Sel}}{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{au ref|Roshar}} Around this time, [[Ruin]] and [[Preservation]] created the planet [[Scadrial]], using the non-fain parts of Yolen as a guide.{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{msh ref|3|2}}

=== Odium's Quest ===
{{quote
|One need only look at the aftermath of his brief visit to Sel to see proof of what I say. In case you have turned a blind eye to that disaster, know that Aona and Skai are both dead, and that which they held has been Splintered. Presumably to prevent anyone from rising up to challenge Rayse.
|[[Hoid]] on [[Odium]] in [[Letters#The First Letter|his letter]] to [[Frost]]{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}
}}
Soon after the Shattering, or possibly even beforehand, the Vessel of Odium, Rayse, decided he wanted to become the strongest being in the cosmere.{{wob ref|6685}} However, Odium is, by its nature, selfish and Rayse did not want the Intent of an additional Shard to make him into something else, so he instead decided to destroy the other Shards so that there would be no one left to challenge him.{{wob ref|6685}}{{wob ref|4130}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}{{book ref|mb7|20}} To do so, he developed a way to [[Splinter]] a Shard's power, which also results in the death of its Vessel.{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}

{{sidequote
|He bears the weight of God's own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become.
|Frost on Odium in [[Letters#The Second Letter|his reply]] to Hoid{{epigraph ref|sa2|71}}
|side=left
|size=300px
}}
Odium's first target was [[Ambition]], as he feared that it would be a threat to him. However, while searching for Ambition, over 7700 years before the [[True Desolation]],{{book ref|sa4|14}}{{book ref|sa4|76}} he encountered the Shards [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]] on [[Sel]] and attacked them,{{wob ref|1550}} likely because he could argue they had violated the Vessel's pact to not interfere with each other.{{epigraph ref|sa3|37}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|39}}{{wob ref|8358}} In the ensuing battle, Odium successfully splintered Devotion and Dominion and killed their Vessels, Aona and Skai.{{au ref|Sel}} In order to ensure that no one could take up their Shards, he then somehow moved most of their Investiture from the Spiritual Realm into the Cognitive Realm, which made the [[Expanse of the Densities|Selish Cognitive Realm]] incredibly dangerous and the Selish Invested Arts location-dependent.{{wob ref|9616}}{{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|4129}}

Sometime after he Splintered Devotion and Dominion, Odium finally found Ambition, who had settled in the [[Threnodite system]]. Odium attacked and mortally wounded Ambition, though the Shard fled and was ultimately Splintered elsewhere,{{au ref|Threnody}} in a battle with Odium and [[Mercy]].{{epigraph ref|sa4|27}} These clashes resulted in a wound in the Spiritual Realm and left ripped-off chunks of Ambition's power in the Threnodite system, which twisted the people and planet of [[Threnody]].{{au ref|Threnody}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|27}}

{{image|Odium - XV the Devil.jpg|[[Odium]] and the [[Fused]]|side=right|width=200px}}
A long time after the Shattering, Odium got permission from [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]] to join them in the [[Rosharan system]].{{wob ref|9934}}{{wob ref|15869}} Odium never intended to Invest himself in a planet,{{wob ref|227}} but, at some point, he became Invested in the Rosharan system to the point where he would now have to leave some of his power behind or forcibly tear it out in order to leave.{{wob ref|9852}}

Early in his time in the Rosharan system, Odium took an interest in the humans living on [[Ashyn]] and encouraged them to experiment with [[Surgebinding]].{{book ref|sa4|111}} Those experiments, combined with at least one Dawnshard, set the entire planet on fire, leaving it largely uninhabitable outside of a few small pockets, causing most of the population to flee to Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|111}}{{book ref|sa3|113}}{{book ref|sa4|111}}{{au ref|Roshar}}

At some point while he was in the Rosharan system, Honor and Cultivation used their power to trap him there.{{book ref|sa3|38}} As a result, Odium has since been waging a war to free himself from whatever binds him to the system so that he can continue his quest. To that end, he Splintered off pieces of his power to create the [[Fused]],{{book ref|sa3|38}} the [[Unmade]],{{wob ref|9207}} and [[voidspren]],{{au ref|Roshar}} and also Invested in the Rosharan system enough to create and grant access to Invested Art known as [[Voidbinding]].{{wob ref|1540}} When the Fused first appeared, Honor created the [[Herald]]s, who could seal the Fused on [[Braize]], though the Fused tortured the Heralds into allowing them to return to [[Roshar]]. Every time a Herald broke, a [[Desolation]] would begin and the Heralds and [[Knights Radiant]] would fight the Fused until they could be sealed on Braize again. This situation continued for millennia and the Shards remained at a stalemate, especially after nine of the Heralds abandoned the [[Oathpact]], leaving it to [[Talenel]] alone, who was better able to withstand the torture on Braize.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

Odium's repeated clashes with other Shards have left him with "scars that do not heal," forcing him to become more careful about the battles he engages in.{{book ref|sa3|16}}

Many of the other Shards are aware of Odium's actions, though most do not seem to consider him a problem, as long as he remains bound to the Rosharan system.{{epigraph ref|sa4|30}} [[Endowment]] is currently indifferent to him and thinks he was justified in Splintering the Shards he did;{{epigraph ref|sa3|37}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|40}} she also believes she could "deal" with him if he becomes an issue.{{epigraph ref|sa3|41}} One of [[Autonomy]]'s avatars, [[Patji (being)|Patji]], also expressed indifference,{{wob ref|12761}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|46}} though he did indicate that a different avatar might be more receptive.{{epigraph ref|sa3|47}} There is also a [[Survival Shard|Shard who just wants to survive]] that is aware of Odium's goals and is "smart enough" to stay away,{{wob ref|326}} though they have realized over time that may not be the best course of action.{{wob ref|12684}}{{wob ref|13231}} [[Harmony]], who only became aware of the threat around the time of the [[True Desolation]], is deeply concerned about Odium,{{epigraph ref|sa4|31}} but is unable to do much because of the conflicting nature of his powers.{{epigraph ref|sa3|55}} In a letter to [[Hoid]], however, he did suggest that [[Valor]] might share some of his concern.{{epigraph ref|sa4|25}}

=== The Ascension of Harmony ===
{{image|Harmony by Kelley Harris.jpg|[[Sazed]] as [[Harmony]]|side=left|width=200px}}
Early in the history of [[Scadrial]], [[Preservation]]'s Vessel, [[Leras]], sacrificed most of his consciousness to imprison [[Ruin]]'s mind in the [[Well of Ascension]], preventing him from destroying the planet.{{epigraph ref|mb3|55}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|60}} In the process, Preservation also stole a piece of Ruin's power and crafted the [[Pits of Hathsin]] to hide it;{{epigraph ref|mb3|78}} the concentration of Investiture there formed a perpendicularity, which came to support an extensive system of interplanetary trade until [[Kelsier]] shattered all of the [[atium]] geodes in the Pits in {{date|1022|FE}}.{{msh ref|2|1}}{{wob ref|1514}}

After the death of the [[Lord Ruler]], Ruin was successfully able to manipulate [[Vin]] into taking up the Well's power and then releasing it, which allowed him to be free.{{msh ref|2|3}} Once free, Ruin was unable to immediately Splinter Preservation, but brought his power to bear against what remained of Leras, slowly killing the Vessel.{{msh ref|3|2}} The [[Ire]], aware of Leras's impending death, sought to use [[Ire's orb|a device]] to [[Connection|Connect]] one of their members to Preservation and Ascend in {{date|1025|fe}}.{{msh ref|5|2}} The device, however, was stolen by Kelsier, who used it after Leras finally died, taking up the portion of Preservation's power that Leras had still been holding and preventing Ruin from Splintering Preservation.{{msh ref|6|4}}

Kelsier continued to hold that power until Vin, Leras's chosen successor,{{epigraph ref|mb3|epilogue}} had her link to Ruin&mdash;a [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgically]] charged [[Vin's earring|earring]]&mdash;removed, whereupon she began absorbing the [[mist]]s and Kelsier released the portion of Preservation's power he held, allowing Vin to Ascend and become the Vessel of [[Preservation]].{{msh ref|6|7}}{{book ref|mb3|73}} During the [[Battle of Hathsin]], Vin then sacrificed herself in order to kill Ruin's Vessel, [[Ati]].{{msh ref|6|8}}{{book ref|mb3|81}}

Leras, when he held Preservation's power, had foreseen all this and planned for both Ruin and Preservation to be left without a Vessel so that [[Sazed]] could take up both Shards and their Intents could moderate each other.{{book ref|mb3|82}} As a result of one person holding both Shards, Ruin and Preservation's power began to intermingle, and Sazed became known as [[Harmony]].{{wob ref|4115}} It is considered a single Shard, much like a king of two countries is still just one king.{{wob ref|6486}} This consolidation of two Shards with one Vessel caused some of the other Shards&mdash;notably Odium and [[Autonomy]]&mdash;to feel threatened or even scared and to begin making plans for dealing with Harmony.{{book ref|mb7|20}}{{wob ref|1025}}{{wob ref|7319}}

=== Splintering of Honor and the True Desolation ===
Sometime after the [[Recreance]],{{wob ref|8144}} [[Odium]] finally managed to [[Splinter]] [[Honor]],{{wob ref|9810}} even though [[Cultivation]] was assisting Honor in some way.{{wob ref|2729}} Honor, however, had prepared for this eventuality by, among other things, giving the [[Stormfather]] the power to create new [[honorspren]] and recording a [[Dalinar's visions|series of visions]] for the Stormfather to show to potential [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]].{{book ref|sa3|28}}

Approximately 4,500 Rosharan years (4,950 standard years) after the [[Last Desolation]], [[Odium]] and his servants developed the [[Everstorm]] to allow the [[Fused]] to circumvent the Oathpact and return to [[Roshar]] without [[Talenel]] breaking.{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{wob ref|14869}}{{book ref|sa4|73}} As Odium's forces grew closer to enacting their plan, Hoid began reaching out to the dragon [[Frost]] and several of the Shards, asking them to help in keeping the cosmere safe from Odium. Aside from Harmony, who had not previously been aware of the threat Odium posed, they all rejected Hoid's request as they considered Odium's binding to the [[Rosharan system]] sufficient.{{article ref|Letters}} After years of preparation, Odium's servants successfully guided the [[listeners]] to summoning the Everstorm,{{book ref|sa4|73}}{{book ref|sa4|86}}
beginning the [[True Desolation]].

With the advent of the Everstorm on {{Rosharan date|1173|10|10|3}}, [[Dalinar Kholin]] founded a [[coalition of monarchs]] to oppose Odium's forces and the [[Knights Radiant]] were re-established.{{book ref|sa3|96}}{{book ref|sa2|89}} Acting on the advice Honor had left in his series of visions, they pushed Odium to agree to a contest of champions so that he could be forced to leave Roshar in peace for some period of time.{{book ref|sa1|75}}{{book ref|sa3|16}} Odium eventually agreed to such a contest during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]],{{book ref|sa3|117}} but withdrew before the terms for the contest could be set.{{book ref|sa3|122}}{{book ref|sa4|50}}

About a year later, in {{rosharan date|1175}}, Odium returned to set the terms for the contest. Ultimately he and Dalinar agreed that, no matter the outcome of the contest, Odium would remain bound to the Rosharan system and would cease hostilities against the coalition of monarchs, with only the fate of [[Alethkar]], [[Herdaz]], and Dalinar's soul depending on the outcome of the contest.{{book ref|sa4|112}} The protections specified for [[Hoid]] in Dalinar's initial, written, proposed contract also appear to be in effect.{{book ref|sa4|epilogue}} The contest is set for the tenth hour of the [[Roshar#Calendar|tenth day of the month Palah]] at the top of [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa4|112}}

Shortly after Odium came to this agreement with Dalinar, [[Taravangian]] orchestrated an attack on Odium with [[Nightblood]], which killed Odium's Vessel, [[Rayse]].{{book ref|sa4|113}} Taravangian then Ascended as the new Vessel of Odium; he remains bound by the agreement Rayse made with Dalinar and plans to beat Dalinar.{{book ref|sa4|114}}

=== Trell and Scadrial ===
{{image|Trell by Connor Chamberlain.jpeg|[[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]]'s power manifesting on [[Scadrial]]|side=right|width=350px}}
Sometime after the [[Catacendre]], [[Kelsier]] founded the [[Ghostbloods]] for the purpose of protecting Scadrial.{{book ref|mb7|36}} As a result of the moves he was making, others began reaching out to the rest of the cosmere for power, though they were not fully aware what they were doing.{{wob ref|15983}} Their calls were answered by the Shard [[Autonomy]], who began to make good on the ancient religion of [[Trelagism]] that she had founded in the [[Classical Scadrial|classical era of Scadrial]] and to create a new avatar of herself on Scadrial, [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]]. She backed the [[Set]] and the [[kandra]] [[Paalm]] in their efforts to break Scadrial from Harmony's influence and bring it under her control, while also preparing to destroy the planet if necessary to prevent it from becoming a threat.{{book ref|mb7|19}}{{book ref|mb7|20}}

As Autonomy's plans neared completion in {{date|348|FA}}, she trapped Harmony in a shroud that sharply limited his ability to see the future and prepared the leader of the Set, [[Telsin Ladrian]] to become the avatar Trell.{{book ref|mb7|19}}{{book ref|mb7|55}} Both of her plans for Scadrial were ultimately stopped, as [[Waxillium Ladrian]] and [[Wayne]] killed Telsin and prematurely detonated the bomb planned to destroy Elendel while [[Marasi Colms]], with help from the Ghostbloods, drained and collapsed the perpendicularity Autonomy had created for her [[men of gold and red]] to travel through, preventing them from destroying the planet.{{book ref|mb7|69}}{{book ref|mb7|71}}{{book ref|mb7|64}} Autonomy then withdrew from Scadrial,{{book ref|mb7|74}} saying that they had proven themselves for the moment, but that they plan to return.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|1}}

=== The Space Age ===
Eventually, mankind discovered a method for faster-than-light travel in the physical realm.{{cite}} This led to growing communication between planets, and the formation of the [[Silverlight Codes of Interplanetary Conduct]].{{book ref|tsm|43}} Waystations were also constructed throughout the cosmere.{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}

This greater communication led to growing conflicts between planets, and the birth of a growing arms race that consumed most developed planets.{{book ref|tsm|44}} Although during this era, many civilizations remained planetbound.{{book ref|tsm|44}} Some parties decided to bring technology to less developed planets, such as the [[Ones Above]] bringing their technology to the people of the [[First of the Sun]].{{book ref|sixth}}

== Worldhoppers ==
Some people who are aware of the broader cosmere have learned how to travel between planets and are known as worldhoppers. Since space in the Cognitive Realm is linked to how people think about that region, most of outer space is extremely compressed in the Cognitive Realm.{{wob ref|1392}} Therefore, if one could shift from the Physical to the Cognitive Realm, they could quickly travel between planets. The most common method for transfer to the Cognitive Realm is by going through a [[perpendicularity]], though it is also possible with the [[Surgebinding#Transportation|Surge of Transportation]].{{wob ref|1525}}

Planets are not equally easy to access through the Cognitive Realm and planets may rapidly become less accessible due to local events. While Nalthis is generally easy and safe to reach, and even has customs for travelers to go through,{{wob ref|9501}} it seems to be more of an outlier in this regard&mdash;travel to Sel is incredibly dangerous due to the power of Devotion and Dominion being stuck in the Cognitive Realm,{{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|9501}} a well-established mercantile system running through [[Ruin's Perpendicularity]] on Scadrial is upended overnight when Kelsier destroys the [[atium]] in the [[Pits of Hathsin]],{{msh ref|2|1}} Roshar fluctuates between being welcoming and being dangerous, depending on the stage of the conflict between Honor and Odium,{{wob ref|9501}}{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{book ref|mb7|39}} Taldain is inaccessible as [[Autonomy]] has closed it off from the rest of the cosmere,{{au ref|Taldain}} and travel to [[Bjendal]] is disrupted by unknown events.{{book ref|mb7|39}}

As a result of these difficulties, people look for other methods of travel.{{book ref|mb7|39}}{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}} While it may be possible to worldhop using the Spiritual Realm,{{wob ref|9307}}{{wob ref|13110}} the primary other method available is faster-than-light travel through space in the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sotd}}{{wob ref|15030}}{{wob ref|3295}} There are multiple ways to create ships that are capable of such travel;{{wob ref|15788}}{{wob ref|3453}} the Surge of Transportation and [[Allomancy]] both provide viable bases for developing ships that can do so,{{wob ref|15788}}{{wob ref|12307}} though the exact mechanics are unknown.

In total, the number of people traveling between planets probably numbers somewhere in the thousands,{{wob ref|9501}} though this may increase after the development of faster-than-light travel through the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sotd}} Some of these people are involved in the broader events of the cosmere, but many just want to immigrate to another planet.{{wob ref|12724}} There is no universal language that all worldhoppers speak,{{wob ref|1136}} though some can use [[Connection]] to speak local languages.{{wob ref|1021}} These worldhoppers drive a thriving interplanetary trade system{{msh ref|2|1}}{{book ref|mb7|39}} that includes the trade of mundane objects from different worlds,{{book ref|sa4|29}}{{book ref|sa4|75}}{{wob ref|8650}}{{wob ref|10807}} rare items like paintings from the [[Court of the Gods]],{{book ref|sa3|102}} and at least one courier service.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|6}}{{wob ref|12907}} The most important commodity, however, is Investiture, though it is difficult to transport off of its home world as it is strongly Connected to that world and its Shard.{{book ref|sa4|13}}

=== Hoid ===
{{image|Hoid Frost.jpg|[[Hoid]] with [[Frost]]|side=left|width=200px}}
{{quote
|For I have never been dedicated to a more important purpose, and the very pillars of the sky will shake with the results of our war here. I ask again. Support me. Do not stand aside and let disaster consume more lives.
|[[Hoid]] on his opposition to [[Odium]]{{epigraph ref|sa1|28}}
}}
Hoid is a mysterious worldhopper who has been alive since before the Shattering of Adonalsium and was present for that event.{{wob ref|5077}} He has collected a variety of Invested items from around the cosmere and gained access to multiple Invested Arts.{{wob ref|5077}}{{article ref|Hoid#Attributes and Abilities}} His long-term goals are unclear, but he is an adamant opponent of Odium's attempts to become the sole god of the cosmere. He has written to [[Frost]], [[Endowment]], [[Autonomy]], and [[Harmony]], hoping to enlist their help in dealing with Odium, though only Harmony has responded positively.{{article ref|Letters}} He has some ability to manipulate [[Fortune]], which lets him learn where and when he needs to be to advance his goals, though he often doesn't know why being somewhere is important.{{wob ref|2567}}{{book ref|sa2|67}}

=== Worldhopping Groups ===
==== The Seventeenth Shard ====
{{quote
|However, it seems to me that all things have been set up for a purpose, and if we—as infants—stumble through the workshop, we risk exacerbating, not preventing, a problem.
|Frost to Hoid on his non-intervention policy{{epigraph ref|sa2|68}}
}}
The [[Seventeenth Shard]] is a group of worldhoppers that seeks to research and study the various worlds of the cosmere without interfering in existing cultures. They believe the Shards separated for a reason and want to minimize the risk of conflict between the Shards.{{wob ref|1564}} Frost may have some influence over them, either formally or informally.{{epigraph ref|sa1|26}} They are worried about Hoid, as they fear his actions on planets will exacerbate Shardic conflict and, from at least {{rosharan date|1173}} to {{rosharan date|1175}} on the [[Roshar#Calendar|Rosharan calendar]], unsuccessfully tried to hunt him down,{{epigraph ref|sa1|26}}{{wob ref|14949}} though they have larger objectives as well.{{wob ref|7910}}

==== Silverlight ====
{{image|Nazh Khriss.jpg|[[Khriss]] and her employee [[Nazh]]|side=right|width=200px}}
[[Silverlight]] is a fully-functional city in the [[Cognitive Realm]] where many worldhoppers have settled down.{{wob ref|2555}}{{wob ref|3310}}{{wob ref|190}} Its population, however, also includes many people who are born in the city and spend their entire lives there,{{wob ref|2520}} including a notable group of [[Southern Scadrian]]s.{{wob ref|12733}}{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|1}} The city is home to multiple universities,{{au ref|Sel}} whose scholars possess a great deal of knowledge about the nature of the cosmere and will conduct expeditions to investigate unusual workings of Investiture to further that knowledge.{{au ref|Roshar}}{{au ref|Threnody}}{{au ref|Drominad}} At least one of those universities was founded by the researcher [[Khriss]],{{wob ref|8342}} the most knowledgeable person in the cosmere and author of the [[Ars Arcanum|Ars Arcana]].{{wob ref|5623}}{{wob ref|6873}} As a result of these efforts and playing host to interactions between societies from across the cosmere, Silverlight enjoys scientific learning and progress that is without parallel in the rest of the cosmere.{{au ref|Scadrial}} The city is also home to at least [[Silverlight Mercantile|one mercantile enterprise]], whose services include an interplanetary postal service that makes use of unknown Invested entities that read [[Connection]] to find the location of message recipients.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|6}}

==== The Ire ====
{{quote
|Perhaps the Ire know more [about Investiture on Sel], but they are not speaking on the topic and have repeatedly denied my requests for collaboration.
|Khriss on the Ire{{au ref|Sel}}
}}
The [[Ire]] is a group of worldhopping [[Elantrian]]s. They existed prior to the [[Reod]] and were able to weather it, though they were off-world when it occurred.{{wob ref|10476}} Their objectives are unclear, though they did attempt to Ascend one of their members as the Vessel of Preservation after Leras died.{{msh ref|5|2}} At that time, they were at least associated with a group whose forces were keeping the [[Shade]]s of [[Threnody]] contained in the [[Threnodite system]].{{msh ref|5|2}} They have some method of storing and transporting Investiture, which they use to sustain themselves and trade with others, such as the [[honorspren]] of [[Lasting Integrity]].{{msh ref|5|3}}{{wob ref|1542}}{{wob ref|200}}{{book ref|sa4|87}}

==== The Ghostbloods ====
The [[Ghostbloods]] is a cosmere-wide secret society created by [[Kelsier]] for the purpose of protecting Scadrial from other forces in the cosmere.{{book ref|mb7|47}}{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|1}}{{wob ref|15051}} To that end, they seek to push technological progress forward and build alliances with other planets.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}} They have recruited several worldhoppers{{book ref|mb7|39}}{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|1}} and actively recruit from the Seventeenth Shard's field agents, though the two organizations do not work together.{{wob ref|11599}}{{wob ref|1757}} They have also recruited at least one [[Sleepless]],{{book ref|sa4|64}} though they are also worried about the Sleepless trying to take over their organization.{{wob ref|12657}} The Ghostbloods on Roshar are working on finding a way to transport [[Stormlight]] from Roshar, where it is easily accessible, to places where Investiture is harder to obtain,{{book ref|sa4|13}} though members operating beyond Scadrial are somewhat removed from Kelsier's direct control.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|1}}{{wob ref|15014}}

=== Other Notable Worldhoppers ===
{{for|:Category:Worldhoppers|a complete list of worldhoppers|Category:Worldhoppers}}
Most, if not all, of the [[Five Scholars]] of Nalthis were worldhoppers and are well-regarded by the cosmere-aware scholarly community as pioneers of the study of Investiture and Realmatic Theory.{{wob ref|1548}} After learning from one of the Scholars, [[Vasher]], [[Vivenna]] became a worldhopper as well.{{wob ref|8511}} [[Felt]] was involved in trade through the Pits of Hathsin and has been involved in several different worldhopping groups over the years.{{wob ref|11812}} The [[dragon (cosmere)|dragon]] [[Frost]] is extremely knowledgeable about the cosmere, but is not actually a worldhopper, as he has not left [[Yolen]].{{wob ref|3679}} The [[Sleepless]] are present on several planets across the cosmere, though most have chosen to settle on Roshar and only the Rosharan ones are capable of imitating humans.{{wob ref|12657}}{{wob ref|14312}} Additionally, there are several [[kandra]] from [[Scadrial]] who have become worldhoppers, though they were released from their contract with Harmony sometime after Autonomy's initial incursion on Scadrial.{{wob ref|5990}}{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|6}}{{book ref|tress|42}}

=== The Ascension of Harmony ===

==== Ruin's Plan for Freedom ====
On Scadrial, the [[Well of Ascension]], that power that came from Preservation, could be utilized by humanity. For much of Classical Scadrian history, a person called the [[Hero of Ages]] by the [[Terris Prophecies]] would take up the power and become a protector of mankind. They would live the rest of their lives blessing people with the power of Preservation, renewing Ruin's prison, and watch over the world.{{wob ref|6070}} The power did not vanish, instead returning every 1024 years.{{wob ref|5511}}

Ruin was keenly interested in the Well of Ascension. If he could get a person to hold the power there, but instead of utilize the power, release it, then the prison on Ruin's mind would vanish, and he would then be free to finally destroy the world.{{epigraph ref|mb3|46}} To do this, Ruin manipulated the Terris Prophecies over a long period of time. He made it so the Hero of Ages would include the "sacred piercings," actually [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic]] piercings, so he could influence the Hero.{{wob ref|5767}} More importantly, Ruin changed the Prophecies extensively so that the Well and the Hero's purpose was obscured.{{wob ref|6070}} Now the Hero was supposed to take the Well's power and release it.

Then, Ruin drove the world into desperate straits so that people would believe in a hero of ancient prophecy. If he fought Preservation, the mists--the Shard of Preservation's direct essence--which still protected the land would oppose him. So, he used Preservation to his advantage: the mists Snapped [[Allomancy|Allomancers]], and people misinterpreted the mists as a negative thing. Instead of fighting against the mists' action, Ruin enhanced them, bringing the death of plants, and causing the threat that became the [[Deepness]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|81}}

Thus, when a [[Terris]] [[Worldbringer]], [[Kwaan]], claimed that [[Alendi]] was the Hero of Ages,{{epigraph ref|mb2|13}} Ruin saw an opportunity. He altered the Terris Prophecies to fit Alendi more perfectly.{{epigraph ref|mb2|40}} Alendi came to persuade kings and all the Worldbringers who denied him that he was the Hero, and under the threat of the Deepness, Alendi was their leader.{{epigraph ref|mb2|23}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|24}} So, to defeat the threat of the Deepness, Alendi traveled to the mountains of Terris, where the Well of Ascension lay, to take up the power, and release it to eliminate the Deepness.{{epigraph ref|mb2|50}}

{{sidequote
| Alendi must not reach the Well of Ascension, for he must not be allowed to release the thing that is imprisoned there.
| [[Kwaan]]{{epigraph ref|mb2|58}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|59}}
|side=left|size=200px|
}}
Kwaan, however, had a fabled memory, and noticed that the Prophecies had changed.{{epigraph ref|mb2|45}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|46}} But Kwaan was not able to persuade Alendi that he was not, in fact, the Hero after they had argued for so long to prove that he was the hero of legend.{{epigraph ref|mb2|52}} So Kwaan, knowing something was awry with the Well, tasked a nephew, [[Rashek]], who hated Alendi, to be Alendi's guide through the mountains.{{epigraph ref|mb2|53}}{{epigraph ref|mb2|54}} Since Rashek was a [[Feruchemy|Feruchemist]], Rashek and his friends were easy picks for Alendi. If Rashek could not lead Alendi astray, he was to kill him.{{epigraph ref|mb2|56}} 

And Rashek did murder Alendi. Rashek took the power of the Well himself, and in those few moments of [[Ascension of the Lord Ruler|Ascension]], he tried to stop the Deepness by moving Scadrial itself closer to the sun, to burn the mists. To counteract the heat, he created the Ashmounts.{{epigraph ref|mb3|4}} He also altered humans on Scadrial, creating [[skaa]] and [[noble]]s. He learned of the [[Metallic Arts]], developing Hemalurgic constructs, and with the discovery of [[Allomancy]], he figured out a way to combine Allomancy and his Feruchemy to become immortal (through Compounding).{{epigraph ref|mb3|9}} Rashek would be the Lord Ruler, the Hero of Ages, and protect the world from Ruin.{{book ref|mb3|48}} 

{{sidequote
| One can see Ruin's craftiness in the meticulousness of his planning. He managed to orchestrate the downfall of the Lord Ruler only a short time before Preservation's power returned to the Well of Ascension. And then, within a few years of that event, he had freed himself. On the time scale of gods and their power, this very tricky timing was as precise as an expert cut performed by the most talented of surgeons.
| [[Harmony]]{{epigraph ref|mb3|50}}
|side=right|size=300px|
}}
Ruin saw the Lord Ruler's poor use of the power and saw that the Lord Ruler would be an agent of spectacular destruction.{{book ref|mb3|63}} So, subtly, Ruin manipulated him to destroy. The Lord Ruler did do things to stymie Ruin, such as hiding [[atium]],{{book ref|mb3|71}} but Ruin's subtle manipulations took a toll on the man, and led to him subjugating his own people, among other atrocities. But as destructive as the Lord Ruler was, a thousand years later, the Well of Ascension was about to refill. The Lord Ruler planned to retake the Well's power,{{annotation ref|mb3|part=2|chapter=63}} and Ruin would not have that happen. 

So, Ruin plotted the Lord Ruler's downfall. He subtly put in [[Kelsier]]'s mind the idea of an [[malatium|"eleventh metal"]] to the ten known Allomantic metals of the time.{{epigraph ref|mb3|24}}{{book ref|11m}} This, combined with Kelsier's desire to see his [[Mare|dead wife]] avenged and her dreams of a world without ash be a reality, led Kelsier to seek to kill the Lord Ruler. He formed his [[Kelsier's crew|crew]], consisting of many, but including [[Vin]], a skaa Mistborn who Ruin manipulated; [[Marsh]], his brother; and [[Sazed]], a Terris [[Keeper]], who studied the past before the Lord Ruler. In the process of leading the skaa to revolt against the Final Empire, the Lord Ruler killed Kelsier.{{book ref|mb1|34}} Vin confronted the Lord Ruler, and using the power of the [[malatium|"Eleventh metal"]], discovered that the Lord Ruler was a Feruchemist.{{book ref|mb1|38}} She somehow drew upon the mists and pushed the Lord Ruler's metalminds away, leading to his death a mere two years before the Well was replenished.{{book ref|mb1|38}}

Ruin now needed a person who could hold the Well's power. The servants he could touch most easily through Hemalurgy, the [[Steel Inquisitor]]s, could not hold Preservation's power,{{epigraph ref|mb3|49}} so Ruin chose Vin to do it. Ruin, early in Vin's life, had influenced her insane mother to kill her sister with an earring. Her sister was a [[Seeker]] and this created a Hemalurgic spike. Vin's brother gave her the earring and when wearing it Ruin could influence her more easily. The spike, through enhanced [[bronze]] Allomancy, allowed Vin to hear the pulses of the Well of Ascension.{{epigraph ref|mb3|74}} Ruin strengthened the mists again to recreate the threat of the Deepness, and influenced events so that Vin seemed like the Hero of Ages.

With all this, Ruin led Vin and Sazed to the Well of Ascension for them to "save" the world once again. However, Preservation had a shadow of his mind left, and in the form of a mist spirit, tried to foil Ruin.{{epigraph ref|mb3|56}} Preservation even wounded Vin's husband, [[Elend]], at the Well so Vin would use the power to heal Elend instead of releasing it. But Vin did what the prophecies supposedly asked, releasing the power.{{book ref|mb2|58}}

Ruin was free once again.

==== Vin and Preservation ====

Ruin could now directly affect the world, but the power of Preservation--in the form of the mists--still protected the planet.{{epigraph ref|mb3|58}} Ruin had been weakened since the Lord Ruler hid his essence, [[atium]], and so Ruin and Preservation were balanced again. Ruin could not find the atium personally, as he could not see metal, and the [[Steel Inquisitors]], had spikes in their eyes, and so had this same flaw. So, Ruin continued to use his pawn, Vin, along with Elend, to find the atium for him.{{annotation ref|mb3|part=2|chapter=63}}

Ruin did not know that Preservation had actually selected Vin to take up his power,{{epigraph ref|mb3|74}} which enabled Vin to draw upon the mists--Preservation--directly.{{epigraph ref|mb3|79}} Unfortunately, Vin could not use this power with her earring being a Hemalurgic spike, as Hemalurgy, being of Ruin, pushed away Preservation.{{epigraph ref|mb3|77}}

In those final days, the shadow of Preservation's mind that remained communicated with Elend, and then passed.{{book ref|mb3|55}} This had the potential to be a catastrophic event: when a Shard lacks a mind controlling it, and the power has no "release," it is incredibly dangerous, as happened on Sel when [[Odium]] destroyed [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]].{{wob ref|4129}} Fortunately, Kelsier, who had not passed on beyond the [[Realmatic Theory|Three Realms]], held onto Preservation's power for just a little longer, until Vin could take it up.{{wob ref|6077}} 

Vin eventually caught onto Ruin's ploys, and would not find the atium for him.{{book ref|mb3|67}} Because of this, Ruin sent his Inquisitors, along with Marsh, his main Inquisitor, to kill Vin.{{book ref|mb3|72}} Marsh, though almost entirely under Ruin's direct control, held a small bit of himself back, and he used that shred of humanity to tear the Hemalurgic earring from her.{{book ref|mb3|72}} Vin could now access the mists--Preservation's power--fully, and upon burning it, she ascended, becoming Preservation.{{book ref|mb3|44}}

==== The Catacendre ====
{{quote
| Preservation could never destroy you! He could only protect. That's why he needed to create humankind. All along, Ruin, this was part of his plan!
| [[Vin]] to [[Ruin]]{{book ref|mb3|81}}
}}

Upon Vin's ascension, she tried to oppose Ruin, but learned that she could not do much, for Ruin would oppose her.{{book ref|mb3|76}} On the ground, Elend and Sazed discovered the atium, and Ruin immediately sent his forces to destroy them.{{book ref|mb3|79}}{{book ref|mb3|80}} Ruin, through Marsh, killed Elend, and Vin realized Preservation's plan. Preservation needed someone who could preserve, but also destroy, and Preservation was too touched by his Shard to destroy Ruin. Vin knew she had little left to live for without Elend, and so, directly attacked Ruin with her power. She pressed in, not shying back, and in the assault, killed Ruin and herself in the process.{{book ref|mb3|81}}

Sazed, on the ground at the battle, saw the corpses of Ati and Vin, with the power of their Shards leaking from their bodies, and Sazed took up both Shards together. The power did not vanish as the Well of Ascension's power did; these were the Shards themselves, which, under the control of one mind, could both preserve and destroy, or create. Using the knowledge from his metalminds, he began to remake the world, and undid the damage the Lord Ruler did to Scadrial.{{book ref|mb3|82}} This event will later be known as '''the Catacendre''', meaning "the end of the ash".{{wob ref|1273}} He then created a [[Elendel Basin|paradise]] for them to live in.{{map ref|Elendel Basin}}{{book ref|sos|5}} The conflict on Scadrial had vanished, for now.

Now under the control of one mind, Ruin and Preservation's power began to intermingle, and Sazed became known as [[Harmony]].{{wob ref|4115}} It is considered a single Shard, much like a king of two countries is still just one king.{{wob ref|6486}}

Odium became aware of Harmony, is scared of him,{{wob ref|1025}} and is making plans regarding him.{{wob ref|7319}}

== Development ==
{{sidequote
|During my unpublished days I wrote thirteen books, only one of which was a sequel. ... But I wanted to be writing big epics. This is what I always wanted to do; something like the Wheel of Time. So I began plotting a large, massive series where all these books were connected, so I could kind of "stealth" have a large series without the editors knowing I was sending them books from the same series. It was mostly just a thing for me, to help me do the writing I wanted to be doing. And then when publication came I continued to do that, and told the story behind the story.
|Brandon on the beginnings of the cosmere{{wob ref|10182}}
|side=right
|size=400px
}}
When Brandon was beginning to write and trying to get published, he loved gigantic epic fantasy series. He knew, however, that starting with a big series might not be the best idea. If he wrote four books in a series, and the first one didn't get published, he couldn't submit his sequels, so he decided instead to focus on standalone stories. However, he still loved the idea of a huge epic series, so he decided to create a "hidden" epic to link his novels together. Brandon had seen other authors who made a single universe for all their books, like Isaac Asimov, but didn't like how Asimov had to retcon and shoehorn things together to connect his books, and so wanted to build the cosmere from the beginning, so it would always be consistent.{{wob ref|9813}}

Some ideas that came into the worldbuilding of the cosmere came from Plato's theory of forms, which contributed to the development of [[Realmatic Theory]]. In this, the distinction of what is perceived as "ideal" and what is the true ideal is important: true ideals have much to do with the Spiritual Realm, while people's perception of ideals deals with the Cognitive Realm. Another influence is Spinoza, with the idea that God is in everything.{{wob ref|4051}} Brandon also incorporated the idea of a "unifying theory of everything" from physics into the magic in the cosmere. All magics have underlying rules, and are derived from a single unified theory of magic.{{wob ref|9007}}

{{sidequote
|I hope that people will stick with me for all these books, because I'll do a lot of them. But they will fit together in some really cool ways once they are all done. I think you'll be very very impressed, but that's a while off.
|Brandon on the cosmere{{wob ref|6496}}
|side=left
|size=300px
}}
The cosmere sequence has a clear story that Brandon wants to tell and is fairly firmly outlined as 35 novels, plus a variety of novellas and other works, with the [[Dragonsteel (series)|Dragonsteel series]], [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn series]], and [[The Stormlight Archive]] forming the core of that story.{{wob ref|7744}}{{wob ref|13550}} ''Dragonsteel'' will tell [[Hoid]]'s backstory and the story of the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]];{{wob ref|13550}} ''Mistborn'' will have four series, following [[Scadrial]] from the [[Final Empire]] to the development of faster-than-light travel and the interaction between the various planets;{{wob ref|9005}}{{wob ref|5343}} The Stormlight Archive will be split into two arcs of five books each and is the story of the clash between the people of [[Roshar]] and [[Odium]].{{wob ref|3380}} Generally, knowledge of the cosmere as a whole will not be necessary until ''Dragonsteel'' and the final ''Mistborn'' trilogy, which are the beginning and the conclusion respectively of the cosmere sequence{{wob ref|6868}}

Brandon does not feel that the cosmere is restrictive to his writing.{{wob ref|6496}} Though cosmere novels are intensive, as they require more thorough planning and continuity maintenance, Brandon also has an internal wiki and people like [[Peter Ahlstrom|Peter]] and Karen Ahlstrom who help him keep the cosmere on track.{{wob ref|9015}}{{wob ref|9610}} When Brandon feels like he needs a break from the more stringent requirements of the cosmere, he'll turn to work on a less intensive novel or novella, which are almost always non-cosmere.{{wob ref|9015}} If there is a concept he really wants to write but doesn't fit in the limitations of the cosmere, he moves it into a non-cosmere book. For example, ''[[The Rithmatist]]'' started as a cosmere novel, and its magics take many elements from cosmere magics, but Brandon decided that he did not want a version of Earth in the cosmere, and so moved it to its own universe.{{wob ref|10860}} 

Brandon does generally plan out which cosmere hints to give to fans, but sometimes he gives hints on the fly. Usually, fans are able to pry much more than he initially intended to tell.{{wob ref|4910}}

== Bibliography of the Cosmere ==
{| class="infobox sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Published Works of the Cosmere
|-
! Publication Year
! Title
! Series
! Planet
! Length
|-
! rowspan=1 |2005
| ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]''
| [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]] #1
| [[Sel]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=2 |2006
| ''[[The Hope of Elantris]]''
| [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]] #1.5
| [[Sel]]
| Short Story
|-
| ''[[Mistborn: The Final Empire]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #1
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2007
| ''[[The Well of Ascension]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #2
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2008
| ''[[The Hero of Ages]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #3
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2009
| ''[[Warbreaker]]''
| Standalone Novel
| [[Nalthis]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2010
| ''[[The Way of Kings]]''
| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #1
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=2 |2011
| ''[[The Alloy of Law]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #1
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[The Eleventh Metal]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #0.5
| [[Scadrial]]
| Short Story
|-
! rowspan=1 |2012
| ''[[The Emperor's Soul]]''
| Standalone Novella
| [[Sel]]
| Novella
|-
! rowspan=1 |2013
| ''[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]''
| Standalone Novella
| [[Threnody]]
| Novella
|-
! rowspan=3 |2014
| ''[[Words of Radiance]]''
| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #2
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''
| Standalone Novella
| [[First of the Sun]]
| Novella
|-
| ''[[Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #1.5
| [[Scadrial]]
| Short Story
|-
! rowspan=1 |2015
| ''[[Shadows of Self]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #2
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=5 |2016
| ''[[The Bands of Mourning]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #3
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[Mistborn: Secret History]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #3.5
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novella
|-
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 1]]''
| ''[[White Sand]]'' #1
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
|-
| ''[[Edgedancer (novella)|Edgedancer]]''
| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #2.5
| [[Roshar]]
| Novella
|-
| ''[[Arcanum Unbounded]]''
| Anthology
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan=1 |2017
| ''[[Oathbringer]]''
| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #3
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2018
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 2]]''
| ''[[White Sand]]'' #2
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2019
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 3]]''
| ''[[White Sand]]'' #3
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
|-
! rowspan=2 |2020
| ''[[Dawnshard (novella)|Dawnshard]]''
| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #3.5
| [[Roshar]]
| Novella
|-
| ''[[Rhythm of War]]''
| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #4
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=2 |2022
| ''[[The Lost Metal]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #4
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand omnibus]]''
| Anthology
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
|-
! rowspan=3 |2023
| ''[[Tress of the Emerald Sea]]''
| Standalone Novel
| [[Lumar]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''
| Standalone Novel
| [[Komashi]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[The Sunlit Man]]''
| Standalone Novel
| [[Canticle]]
| Novel
|}

=== Forthcoming ===
{{for|Unpublished works|a complete list of possible future stories Brandon has mentioned}}
The following are confirmed upcoming cosmere stories:
* ''[[Wind and Truth]]'', the fifth and last book of the first arc of [[The Stormlight Archive]],{{wob ref|9442}} scheduled for release on December 6, 2024.{{tor ref|brandon-sandersons-fifth-stormlight-archive-book-gets-publishing-date|Brandon Sanderson's Fifth Stormlight Archive Book Gets Publishing Date|date=2023-12-18}}
* ''[[Isles of the Emberdark]]'', a novel set in the far future Cosmere announced as a Secret Project alongside the Backerkit campaign for the ''[[Words of Radiance]]'' leatherbound. It is scheduled to be released in 2025.{{url ref|url=https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/dragonsteel/words-of-radiance-leatherbound#story_section_4475|text=''Words of Radiance'' Leatherbound &sect; Shipping & Payment|site=BackerKit|date=2024-03-05}}
* [[Mistborn (series)#Era 3|Era 3 ''Mistborn'' trilogy]], the next Mistborn series, set to take place when Scadrial has achieved a technology level similar to that of the 1980s.{{wob ref|13585}} Planned to be written in the break between books 5 and 6 of The Stormlight Archive.{{wob ref|11548}} Brandon hopes to write all three books before the first one is released, like he did with Era 1.{{wob ref|14683}}
* [[Elantris sequel|''Elantris'' 2]] and [[Elantris finale|''Elantris'' 3]], the sequels to ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]''. Expected to be written after The Stormlight Archive book 5 and ''Mistborn'' Era 2 are done.{{wob ref|13545}} "In a perfect world," Brandon would write them around the same time he writes ''Mistborn'' Era 3, but they may come later than that.{{wob ref|14683}}
* ''Horneater'',{{wob ref|14971}} the working title of a Stormlight novella following [[Lunamor]]. It is currently planned to be written between ''Wind and Truth'' and ''[[Stormlight 6]]''.{{wob ref|16080}}
* The second arc of [[The Stormlight Archive]], which will consist of books six through ten of the series overall. In-world, book six will pick up about a decade after book five ends.{{wob ref|9442}} Planned to be written after ''Mistborn'' Era 3 and possibly also the ''Elantris'' sequels are done.{{wob ref|14683}}
* ''[[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]]'', the sequel to ''[[Warbreaker]]''. Likely won't be written until The Stormlight Archive book 5, the ''Elantris'' sequels, and ''Mistborn'' Era 3 are written.{{wob ref|12276}}
* The [[Dragonsteel (series)|Dragonsteel series]], the origin story of [[Hoid]] and the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]]. Brandon is loosely working on it, but the series will not be written until The Stormlight Archive is finished.{{wob ref|12490}}{{wob ref|12313}}
* [[Mistborn (series)#Era 4|Era 4 ''Mistborn'' trilogy]], the science fiction trilogy, with [[Hoid]] as a main character.{{wob ref|10012}} Chronologically, this will be the last series in the cosmere sequence, and has much to do with the worlds coming together.{{wob ref|6868}}

=== Chronological Order ===
Brandon has been somewhat evasive about the order of cosmere stories, so that the timeline remains flexible for future books that he writes.{{wob ref|10273}} He has estimated that there are roughly 6000 years between the Shattering and the breaking of the [[Oathpact]], with the latter event still predating ''White Sand''.{{wob ref|3842}}{{wob ref|1355}} Although this figure is non-canonical and subject to change, Brandon has also stated that the books have mostly been released chronologically, which allows a rough timeline to be constructed:{{wob ref|10502}}
* [[Dragonsteel (series)|Dragonsteel series]]{{wob ref|10502}}
* ''[[White Sand]]''{{wob ref|10502}}
* [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]] and ''[[The Hope of Elantris]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* ''[[The Emperor's Soul]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* [[Mistborn Era 1|''Mistborn'' Era 1]]{{wob ref|10273}}
* ''[[Warbreaker]]'' and ''[[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]]''{{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|5657}}
* ''[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' (books 1 through 5){{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|549}}
* [[Mistborn Era 2|''Mistborn'' Era 2]]{{wob ref|549}}
* ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' (books 6 through 10){{wob ref|549}}
* [[Mistborn Era 3|''Mistborn'' Era 3]]{{wob ref|14582}}
* ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''{{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|15579}}{{wob ref|16524}}
* ''[[The Sunlit Man]]''{{wob ref|15579}}{{wob ref|16342}}{{wob ref|16524}}
* ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''{{wob ref|16524}}
* [[Mistborn Era 4|''Mistborn'' Era 4]]{{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|9442}}

== Further Reading ==
{{columns|
* [[Realmatic Theory]]
* [[Investiture]]
* [[Adonalsium]]
* [[Shard]]
* [[Perpendicularity]]
* [[Hoid]]
}}

== Notes ==
<references />
{{partial}}
{{demoted|sa3.5|exemplary=yes}}
{{cosmere}}
[[Category:Cosmere| ]]
[[Category:General Cosmere| ]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[es:Cosmere]]