Editing User:Arook/investiture

'''Investiture''' is a term describing the energy that infuses the [[Cosmere]] and on which all [[Cosmere]] Magic systems are based.

== Terminology ==
The term '''Investiture'''{{qa ref|977|5}} has only seen in-world use by the [[Seventeenth Shard]] and [[spren]]. Most who refer to investiture use magic-specific terminology; Feruchemists refer to the process of investing a [[Metalmind]] as 'charging', and [[Windrunner]]s refer to the process by which they create [[Lashing]]s as 'infusing'.{{qa ref|691|18}}

== The Nature of Investiture ==
Investiture transcends the three realms Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual that consist of most of the Cosmere. In the Physical Realm Investiture is known to exist in solid, (ie Atium and Lerasium), liquid (Shardpools), and gaseous physical forms (Preservation's Mists, Stormlight, BioChromatic Breath). Most often these appear due to influence by a [[Shard]] holder, however some formations occur in a more natural way. Investiture works in a similar fashion to energy in that it follows its own laws of thermodynamics. It is not possible to destroy Investiture it can only be redistributed.{{qa ref|1116|3}}

== Accessing Investiture ==
Lots of ways to access Investiture exist. Most often Access to investiture is a function of a [[Shard]]s Influence with the planet that they are located on. Investiture can be directly given by a Shard to fuel magic (Preservation's Mists). Some shards will innately imbue people living on a planet With Investiture (i.e. Scadrian potential for Allomancy and Feruchemy, the initial BioChromatic Breath). Some Methods require an external force to influece a persons Spirit web or SDNA before use of investiture is possible. Things like a Nahel Bond, Hemalurgy, and Forgery alters a persons SDNA without direct influence by a shard. Some Systems of magic like Classic [[Allomancy]] required snapping of a person through extreme mental or physical trauma. Some systems of magic are accessible through a mechanical means like Rosharan [[Fabrial]]s though this may not truely be mechanical in nature due to the use of [[Spren]] in their construction.

== Intent of use ==
The intent of a user is very important to several magic systems. Several magic systems require a mental component to function. Some like Hemalurgy simply require that someone intend to make a spike when they do it and others like Awakening require complex images created in your mind with the spoken command to function. Hemalurgy has only one known Mental component and that is that a user must be trying to do Hemalurgy. This mental component if not present renders the spike to a normal metal spike and simply harms the victim. When present it controls what is stolen when used in conjunction to the correct binding point. However the person doing the spiking does not need to be the one intending to create a Hemalergic Spike, the holder of the [[Shard]] [[Ruin]] is able to provide this intent for the person doing the Spiking. Awakening is almost as much mental as spoken. If the image of what you wish an object to do is not firm then the awakened object can behave in a unknown manner or not at all. The more complex the command the more important that mental component is. Surgebinding
depending on the [[Surge]] used the mental component can be very important. [[Lightweaving]] requires an extremely clear image in a persons mind to make something display correctly, but [[Surge]]s like a full lashing the user does not have to have any idea of what they are doing the surge will do the same thing regardless. Some [[Surge]]s do require simply that the user wish it to happen often with [[Surgebinding]] this can be accomplished by instinctively pushing [[Stormlight]] into something.

== Bonds ==
Bonds are connections between entities in the [[Cosmere]] that exist outside the [[Physical Realm]]. Depending on the Shard world, its type, and its constituent entities, the Bond will provide different things. Bonds are typically formed between entities with greater-than-normal [[Investiture]](i.e. [[Spren]]) and other entities, allowing them to gain enhancements of some form. It is unknown if a person with only innate [[Investiture]] is able to create a Bond.{{qa ref|1076|27}} Bonds are not limited to connections of entities with greater-than-normal [[Investiture]] to innately invested entities; they can also be made between two entities with greater-than-normal [[Investiture]].{{qa ref|1113|2}}

=== Types of known Bonding Entities  ===

'''Spren''': Entities of the [[Cognitive Realm]]

'''Sapient Awakened entities in an inorganic host''': Intelligent inorganic entities created through the use of [[Breath]].

'''Seons''': Intelligent entities with connections to [[AonDor]]

'''Aviar''': Birds infested with symbiotic worms native to the [[Pantheon]] 

=== Bonds By Shard World ===

==== Roshar Bonds ====
'''The Nahel Bond''': This Bond is between a human and a [[Spren]]. The [[Nahel Bond]] Provides access to the System of magic known as [[Surgebinding]] to the human, while granting intelligence to the Spren. There are ten known forms the [[Nahel Bond]] can take, each giving access to two different [[Surge]]s. See [[Surgebinding]] and [[Nahel Bond]] for more information.

'''Listener Bond''': The Listeners ([[Parshendi]]) can bond a with Spren, and this grants the Listeners a Form (physical and mental change). Not all Spren grant a unique Form most Spren give the listeners Dull Form. Without a Spren [[Listener]]s exist in what is known as Slaveform ([[Parshmen]]). [[Listener]]s in Slaveform have very little mental capacity and are extremely docile. Dullform Gives more free will and a small increase in mental capacity, Slave and Dull Form are physically similar. [[Listener]]s can not become [[Surgebinder]]s but Forms of power exist that grant abnormal abilities to the [[Listener]]s. See [[Listener]] for more information on Forms. 

'''Shard blade''': [[Shardblade]]s are able to bond with people through the use of charged gemstones. The gem is placed in the hilt of the blade and after a week of constant contact the blade is bonded, and can be dismissed from and recalled to the [[Physical Realm]]. Once bonded the blade can be dismissed and recalled by syncing with the user's heart to the blade, ten heart beats are required. A person's iris will lighten during the bonding process. [[Surgebinding]] is not granted by this bond.

'''Void Bonds''': Nothing is known at this time about [[Voidbinding]].

'''Lesser Spren Bonds''': Non-intelligent Spren are able to form bonds with humans{{qa ref|1044|12}} This Bond does not grant [[Surgebinding]].

'''Other Spren Bonds''': Certain spren bond with native life on Roshar enhancing them and granting ability to the animals. Confirmed animals to have these bonds are Chasm Fiends, chulls, and Sky eels.

'''Honorblades''': Do not bond with humans in the way that Shard blades do.{{qa ref|1086|26}}

==== Sel Bonds ====
'''Seons''': A [[Seon]] is able to create Bonds with people and [[Elantrian]]s. Little is known of this Bond other than that the [[Seon]] follows and helps the person it is bonded too, functioning in a servant position to the owner of the bond. This Bond does not provide an innate ability to find the human connected to the [[Seon]]. [[Seon]]s will automaticaly seek out a new person to bond with following the death of its master; often the new master has been prearranged. During the time of the [[Reod]] while the [[Shaod]] was unable to finish forming an [[Elantrian]] from a human, any [[Seon]] Bonded to a [[Elantrian]] lost its mind and would float around the city, often near their master. This Bond grants new unknown powers to the members of the Bond while on [[Roshar]] and is very similar to a [[Nahel Bond]]. {{qa ref|1037|11}} {{qa ref|1048|25}}

==== First of the Sun Bonds ====
'''Aviar''': [[Aviar]]'s create a bond with a person and grant a specific power based of the type of Aviar bonded. Aviar are granted their ability if raised on one of the pantheon islands and consume a worm native to the island. See [[Aviar]] for more information. Has no known effect on Roshar.

'''Other Worm Infected Animals''' Other Birds besides native island [[Aviar]] are able to eat the worms and create a Bond with a new effect (i.e. Sak). It is unknown if eating the worms will grant new abilities to other non bird animals.

==== Nalthis Bonds ====
'''Sentient Awakened Entities in an Inorganic Host''': Only known entity of this kind is [[Nightblood]]. [[Nightblood]] is a sentient sword made using 1000 breath and the command to destroy evil. It makes a bond with anyone with whom, it wishes to communicate, and it is able to read and speak with minds directly. {{qa ref|1037|8}} Distance appears to be a factor, but this may be a limitation of the mind of [[Nightblood]] and not its ability. [[Nightblood]], while idle, reaches out to other people ether repulsing them with great nausea, even inducing vomiting if they attempt to draw the blade, or creating a desire to use the blade. Anyone who is able to wield [[Nightblood]] and survive, Bonds with the blade to a greater degree and is no longer repelled by or abnormally drawn to use it.{{annotation ref|wb|chapter=45}} Those unable to control [[Nightblood]] are controlled by it, in effect [[Nightblood]] wields them killing everyone around and absorbing all of the [[Investiture]] from the victim including the spark of life(i.e. the soul).This bond may grant additional powers on Roshar.{{qa ref|1076|34}}

==== Scadrial Bonds ====

No Bonds are known of on this shard world.

Of note is that by using [[Hemalurgy]], Bonds my be stolen and given to a new person.{{qa ref|1076|19}}{{qa ref|977|42}}

== The Known effect of Bonds while on other Shard worlds ==
Bonds created using [[Investiture]] from each [[Shard]] have unknown effects when used away from their home Shard world.

=== Roshar ===
It has been confirmed that at least one Bond other than the [[Nahel Bond]] will provide powers to the constituent entities of that Bond, what these powers are is unknown, and will not be of the ten [[Surge]]s. At this time only the Seon Bond is confirmed to do this, as the Nahel bond and the Seon bond are very similar. {{qa ref|1048|25}}

== Categories of Investiture ==
In the ''[[Alloy of Law]]'' Ars Arcanum, the author categorizes the three [[Metallic Arts]].{{book ref|aol|part=ars}} Every type of Investiture can be classified along these categories.{{17s ref|post|42117}}

=== End-positive Investiture ===
When practicing an end-positive Investiture, the practitioner draws in power from an external source.{{book ref|aol|part=ars}} The practitioner gains power from the external source. The Investiture is positive in that it adds -- in most cases temporarily -- power to the practitioner. Most types of Investiture are end-positive.{{17s ref|post|42117}}

Allomancy draws Investiture from [[Preservation]] in a similar way to [[AonDor]] pulling power from the [[Dor]]; both are considered End-Positive since they add power to the Allomancer or Elantrian. Allomantic [[Atium]] draws power from [[Ruin]]'s concentrated Physical form, but is still considered End-Positive as the power comes from an outside source.

=== End-neutral Investiture ===
For an act of Investiture to be considered end-neutral, power is neither gained nor lost{{book ref|aol|part=ars}}. A practitioner manipulates power that already exists or power that comes from themselves..

[[Feruchemy]] is end-neutral, since the amount of Investiture remains constant. Awakening is also considered end-neutral, even though color is lost.{{17s ref|post|116818}}

=== End-negative Investiture ===
In the practice of an end-negative Investiture, some power is lost.{{book ref|aol|part=ars}} End-negative Investiture is very rare.{{17s ref|post|42117}}

[[Hemalurgy]] is end-negative. Investiture held in a spike outside the body decays.


== Investiture of people ==
Generally, humans are not Invested. However, on some worlds, a Shard has invested humans. For example, [[Preservation]] gave part of his power to humans to make them sentient. On [[Nalthis]], people are born with [[Breath]]. Both cases are known as '''Innate Investiture'''.{{qa ref|977|5}} All people have some Investiture and this can be known as the Spark of life, this does not truly count as innate Investiture.{{qa ref|1076|27}} For example On [[Nalthis]] every person is born with a breath and have innate Investiture how ever a person who has given up his breath is no longer innately invested while still maintaining his Spark of Life.

Under specific conditions, some humans can become Invested with more power than others. In general, the closer the connection between a human and a Shard, the more powerful the human becomes. A normal human on Scadrial is less connected to Preservation than a [[Misting]], who snapped (chose Preservation) at some point but is less powerful than a [[Allomancer#Mistborn|Mistborn]], who either consumed Lerasium (the direct Physical essence of Preservation) or has the proper Spiritweb needed to access all the Allomantic Abilites who is weaker than a Sliver during the time they held the power of Preservation, who is weaker than a human who held the [[Shard]] permanently.

The conditions required for becoming invested with a larger amount of power differ from [[Shardworld]] to Shardworld. It is assumed that the intent of the respective Shard influences these conditions.
On [[Scadrial]] connection to a Shard is determined by genetics and Snapping, or choosing to live, following Preservation. On [[Sel]] it's the [[Shaod]] comes to those who live in the correct area and are Devoted to something, and on [[Roshar]] acting with Honor allows a Surgebinder greater strength.{{qa ref|608|15}} 


== Investiture of Objects ==
Objects are not Invested in their original state. They can become invested by a Shard or by a human having met the above-mentioned requirements. An Invested object gains magical properties. The more invested an object is, the more power it has.  Examples for invested objects include:
* filled [[Metalmind]]s of a [[Feruchemist]]
* a charged [[Hemalurgic]] spike ([[Vin's earring]], [[Wax's earring]])
* any Awakened object. [[Nightblood]], as a Type IV Biochromatic Entity
* [[Shardplate]] and [[Shardblade]], as well as the Honorblades

Invested objects are harder to affect with any magic system, the more Investiture the more difficult to affect.{{qa ref|715|1}}{{qa ref|979|51}}Once an object has been invested it is very hard to invest it with a different kind of investiture as well.{{qa ref|1034|28}} Sometimes when an object in one of the Realms has a large amount of Investiture it can gain sentience.(see [[Spren]] and [[Nightblood]]) 


== Investiture of Natural Phenomenon ==
It is possible for a natural force to become Invested. On [[Roshar]], [[Zahel]] states that the [[Highstorm|Highstorms]] are Invested. Whether this is the result of purposeful design by a [[Shardholder]], or the continued maintainence of another entity such as the [[Stormfather]], has not been revealed. It is also not clear whether the storm is invested in and of itself, or if it houses another form of Investiture.


== Notes ==
<references>
{{qa ref|977|5| I refer to all of this as types of investiture.|date= Sep, 2012 }} 
{{qa ref|691|18|Can we change charge to imbue?|date=2010-05}}
{{qa ref|1076|27|Do all humans have innate investiture?|date= Mar 6th, 2014}}
{{qa ref|1113|2|Can Nightblood Bond Spren?|date= Aug 4th, 2014}}
{{qa ref|1044|12|Can any Spren bond even if they do not create a knights Radient?|date= Mar 24th, 2014}}
{{qa ref|1037|11|Is the bond between a Seon and its master similar to the Nahel Bond between a Surgebinder and his spren?|date= Oct 1st, 2013}}
{{qa ref|1048|25|If an Elantrian bonded to a Seon and traveled to Roshar, would that act as a Nahel bond?|date= Mar 20th, 2014}}
{{qa ref|1037|8|How is it that Nightblood, who is merely a near-sentient awakened object, was able to read minds, something a Shard like Ruin was unable to do?|date= Oct 1st, 2013}}
{{qa ref|1076|34|Nightblood is a shardblade|date= Mar 6th, 2014}}
{{qa ref|1076|19|Hemalurgy affects all Magic systems|date= Mar 6th, 2014 }}
{{qa ref|977|42|Hemalurgy can steal a Shard blade bond.|date= Sep, 2012 }}
{{qa ref|1048|25|If an Elantrian bonded to a [[Seon]] and traveled to Roshar, would that act as a Nahel bond?|date= Mar 20th, 2014}}
{{17s ref|post|42117|Can all Investitures be classified as end-positive, neutral, or negative?|date=2012-09-26}}
{{17s ref|post|116818|Chicago Signing (transcription)|date=2014-02-22}}
{{qa ref|977|5|What do we call a Shard's power inside someone?|date=2012-09}}
{{qa ref|608|15|A discussion on investiture|date=2011-05-30}}
{{qa ref|715|1|Could Allomancy affect a Shardplate/blade?|date=2012-01-16}}
{{qa ref|979|51|Can an infused Hemalurgy spike be affected by Allomancy?|date=Apr 15th, 2013}}
{{qa ref|1034|28| it is really, really hard to invest things that have already been invested.|date= Sep 24th, 2013}}
{{qa ref|1116|3|Investiture can not be created or destroyed. It follows it's own version of the laws of Thermodynamics.|date= Mar 12th, 2015}}
{{qa ref|1086|26|You can't bond an Honorblade|date= Mar 4th, 2014}}
</references>