Editing Sand mastery

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'''Sand mastery''' is a manifestation of [[Investiture]] on the Dayside of [[Taldain]], where the [[Diem]] recruits and trains sand masters. It involves manipulation of [[Sand (Taldain)|white sand]] at the cost of the user's internal water supply. In addition, white sand that has been manipulated will turn black, becoming unresponsive. Black sand turns white again after four hours of [[Taldain system|sun]] exposure.{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}} Sand mastery is highly connected to [[starmarks]].{{book ref|ws|part=ars}}

|It's as if one has to be introduced to the power by one who already holds it, then the power itself chooses who to unlock and to what degree.

|[[Khrissalla]]{{book ref|ws|ars}}

Nobody can become a sand master without first being tested, and the test must be administered by an existing sand master.{{book ref|ws|part=ars}} During the test, sand is placed in a person's hands so they can feel its grains. They are directed to change the direction of the flow of sand, like disrupting a water's flow.{{book ref|ws|13}} The sand in the candidate's hand may or may not come to life, and the strength of the effect gives a rough idea of their potential.{{book ref|ws|part=ars}} How that potential is determined is not well understood, but the pattern of initiation is different from how [[Elantrian]]s are chosen on [[Sel]].{{book ref|ws|16}} Some believe that strength potential in sand mastery may be genetic and limited to daysiders.{{book ref|ws|1}} However, the [[Diem]] did not test any full darksiders until Khriss and Baon,{{book ref|ws|12}} and Baon tested positive{{book ref|ws|18}}, so it is unclear what role ancestry plays if any. After the test, the ability continues to develop for a time as the new sand master learns to control more and more ribbons at once. Eventually, the number of ribbons stops increasing as the sand master reaches their full potential,{{book ref|ws|part=ars}} but this number can be increased later through overmastery.{{book ref|ws|16}}

Sand mastery makes use of the [[Sand (Taldain)|white sand]] found on Taldain's Dayside. The whiteness of the sand, due to a microorganism which lives on the surface of the sand particles, indicates that the sand is Invested. White sand glows when used in sand mastery, and then turns black afterwards. The glow is colored like a rainbow, with bright colors that can only be seen in darkness and is seen as a white glow in the light.{{book ref|ws|11|review=yes}}{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}} The sand will also glow and turn black when touched by water or other liquids.{{book ref|ws|11|review=yes}} The microorganism requires four hours of exposure to sun above Dayside in order to be re-Invested and turn white again.{{au ref|Taldain}} The sand can also be recharged by other highly Invested things, such as [[highstorm]]s, and will still be masterable.{{wob ref|13529}} The organisms can survive and spread on other planets, but would need Investiture to do so.{{wob ref|14147}} More can be made with proper materials and a seed of the original.{{epigraph ref|sa4|63}} The organisms in the sand react to Investiture, and if allowed to fade, will turn white again in the presence of kinetic Investiture.{{wob ref|9288}}{{wob ref|3233}} This can be used similar to a [[Seeker]] to tell when someone is using kinetic Investiture.{{wob ref|9288}}

Water plays an important role in utilizing the Investiture in white sand. Water causes a chain reaction of sudden growth, energy, and Realmic transition in the microorganisms, and sand masters are able to use water to forge a brief Cognitive bond.{{au ref|taldain}} This allows them to draw small amounts of Investiture directly from the [[Spiritual Realm]] that is used to control the sand. Water is drawn directly from the sand master's body as they work, which can lead to dehydration. The first thing sand masters learn is to keep track of their water supply, and they typically carry a [[qido]] at all times.{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}} '''Overmastery''' occurs when a sand master uses too much of their water supply and suffers from dehydration. If moderating themselves correctly, a sand master can last over a half hour without a drink.{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}} If a sand master is not careful, overmastery can even lead to death.{{book ref|ws|2|review=yes}}

{{image|Sand_Mastery_Observations.jpg|side=right|width=165px|Sketched examples of sand mastery in use.}}

Sand mastery allows for the manipulation of '''ribbons''' of sand. The number of ribbons someone can control indicates their level of power. Young or weak sand masters may only have strength for a single ribbon, while the most powerful sand masters can utilize over two dozen.{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}} When using multiple ribbons, a sand master's consciousness will expand to allow better control over them.{{book ref|ws|16|review=yes}} The power of a ribbon can increase the more sand is put into it, and a ribbon's precision and speed can be increased with training and practice.{{book ref|ws|18|review=yes}}{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}} The tip of a ribbon contains the concentration of its energy. Attacking a ribbon from the side will make it collapse. Having two ribbons collide directly will make both ribbons collapse.{{book ref|ws|10|review=yes}} The more ribbons a sand master is controlling, the faster they will lose water.{{book ref|ws|2|review=yes}}

=== Overmastery ===

Overmastery occurs when a sand master overexerts themselves and uses too much of their water supply, resulting in dehydration. When overmastering, a sand master's mouth will go dry and their eyes will burn.{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}} After overmastering, a sand master's powers will temporarily disappear, which can last as long as a week.{{book ref|ws|6|review=yes}} During this time, when they attempt to sand master, the sand will immediately turn black.{{book ref|ws|4|review=yes}} Once they recover, a sand master's power will increase, similar to how exercising muscles until they are sore will make a person stronger.{{book ref|ws|16|review=yes}}{{book ref|ws|10|review=yes}} Each time a sand master overmasters, the strength they can obtain yields diminishing returns.{{book ref|ws|16|review=yes}} If a sand master is not careful, overmastery can lead to death.{{book ref|ws|2|review=yes}} If a sand master dies from overmastering, their skin and eyes will dry up as the water is sucked out of their body and they will die from dehydration.{{book ref|ws|2|review=yes}}

==== Overburn ====

If overmastery is kept up for too long, an accomplished sand master under extreme duress can push themselves far beyond overmastery into what the Diem calls overburning. This comes when the sand master feeds the sand the last drops of water from their body and then gives up their lifeforce to the sand in exchange for one final explosive command.{{book ref|ws|18}}

*[[Doril]]

* In previous versions of White Sand, powerful Sandmasters were mentioned to posses another ability known as slatrification, this meant they could turn sand into water. Brandon had said that he regretted adding this feature to the magic system, and that he'd like to turn it into a in-world legend rather than something that is actually possible.{{wob ref|1895}} Slatrification was never even meant to be in ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 1]]'' but somehow slipped in; it was edited out in the omnibus edition.{{wob ref|15107}}{{book ref|ws|1|review=yes}}