Editing User:Stargazer/Cosmere

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|There's always another secret

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[[File: cosmere symbol.svg|thumb|right|<center>The cosmere symbol, by [[Isaac Stewart]]</center>]]

The '''cosmere'''{{wob ref|5952}} is a fictional universe where Brandon Sanderson's adult epic fantasies (including [[Elantris (book)|Elantris]], [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]], [[Warbreaker]], [[The Stormlight Archive]], and [[White Sand]]) are all set.{{wob ref|4487}} It does not contain Earth.{{wob ref|4845}}

Brandon has said that you do not need any cosmere knowledge to understand the books, and that they can be enjoyed separately, but it will be necessary eventually to have a certain understanding of Realmatic Theory.{{wob ref|4778}}{{wob ref|9762}} Elements of the cosmere are slowly being added into the books, behind the scenes, until they come into the forefront with [[Dragonsteel]] and the final Mistborn trilogy.{{wob ref|6868}}

The underlying mythology of the cosmere revolves around [[Adonalsium]], the power of creation, which was broken into sixteen pieces called [[Shard]]s. The Shards are effectively gods, and magic is derived from their power.

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}}{{book ref|sa3|103}} The three Realms have existed since the beginning of the cosmere.{{wob ref|13066}}

In the [[Physical Realm]], the cosmere is a star cluster of about 50 to 100 stars.{{wob ref|9284}} The laws of physics are the same as our own, except when the other Realms are involved.{{wob ref|6360}} Currently, ten solar systems are known in the cosmere containing a total of twelve major planets. The cosmere is also home to other celestial objects, including several dwarf planets, gas giants, and constellations.{{article ref|Cosmere#Planets}} At least one person has tried to leave the physical bounds of the cosmere, with unknown results.{{wob ref|13336}}

[[File:Shadesmar (TWoK).jpg|thumb|right|350px

|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}}]]

The [[Cognitive Realm]] is closely modeled on the Physical Realm, though there are significant differences. Geography in the Cognitive Realm is influence by people's perceptions of the world. As a result, outer space is significantly compressed in the Cognitive Realm, as people do not spend much time thinking about the space between planets.{{wob ref|1392}} At least in the regions of the Cognitive Realm around [[Roshar]] and [[Scadrial]], land and water are inverted—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}} The reason for this inversion also has something to do with how people think, as well as where they are likely to pass.{{msh ref|3|2}} The Cognitive Realm is home to several kinds of entities, including certain [[Cognitive Shadow]]s and [[spren]]. Such entities can safely traverse the Cognitive Realm where it is not solid, but physical beings attempting to do so risk drowning in whatever makes up the local Cognitive Realm.{{msh ref|2|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} The appearance of the Cognitive Realm around a particular planet seems to reflect salient characteristics of that planet—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}}

|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—its essence—as well as the ways it is connected to the things and people around it.

The [[Spiritual Realm]] is the Realm of [[Connection]], [[Identity]], and [[Fortune]].{{tes ref|12}}{{wob ref|10298}} Neither distance nor time truly exist there,{{wob ref|6129}} which allows Shards to see far beyond where their attention is currently focused in the other Realms and to see the future,{{wob ref|730}}{{wob ref|10298}} as they exist primarily in the Spiritual Realm.{{wob ref|6304}} Since the Spiritual Realm is not truly a place, travel to it does not so much involve literally going there, but rather seeing the various Connections of the present and into the future. For example, when [[Elend Venture]] burned [[atium]] with [[duralumin]], he was pulled mostly into the Spiritual Realm for a moment and understood [[Leras]]' plan for the death of [[Ati]].{{wob ref|6304}}{{book ref|mb3|81}} Visions, such as the ones [[Honor]] left for potential [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]], almost always involved being pulled partially into the Spiritual Realm, with an additional "Cognitive framework" to provide the structure of the vision.{{wob ref|9562}} The spiritual aspect of something is the idealized form of that thing.{{wob ref|7425}} A person's aspect in the Spiritual Realm is known as a [[Spiritweb]] or Spiritual DNA,{{wob ref|115}} and also contains information about how the person sees themself and the things to which they are connected.{{tes ref|12}} 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, which means healing is usually limited by how a person views themself.{{wob ref|9441}}

When someone in the cosmere dies, his or her 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 [[God Beyond#Beyond|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, those who once held a significant portion of a [[Shard]]'s power, can resist the Beyond forever, though the can still choose to go if they desire.{{msh ref|6|8}}

[[Investiture]] is a third category of material, analogous to matter and energy; just as matter and energy can be converted into each other, Investiture can be converted to matter or energy, and vice versa.{{wob ref|3544}} Like matter and energy, it can neither be created nor destroyed, only changed from one form to another.{{wob ref|1649}} Investiture thus adheres to the laws of thermodynamics, though, in the cosmere, there is a yet-unknown fourth law that relates to Adonalsium.{{wob ref|3544}} Like regular matter and energy, Investiture, when highly concentrated, causes time dilation.{{wob ref|13425}} Investiture mostly exists 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}} any pure Investiture in a solid state is always a metal.{{wob ref|9291}}

Investiture has a sort of "spin" that associates it with one of the sixteen Shards 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}}

Cosmere scholars term the various methods of utilizing Investiture, such as the [[Metallic Arts]], [[Surgebinding]], and [[Awakening]], "manifestations of Investiture."{{book ref|mb4|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 manifestations of Investiture are capable of far more spectacular results than other manifestations of Investiture.{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|4097}} If a planet does not have a Shard in residence, it 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 manifestations of Investiture left over from before the Shattering of Adonalsium,{{wob ref|4097}} of which the only known example is [[Yolen|Yolish]] [[Lightweaving]]. Red generally signifies that one Shard is co-opting and corrupting another Shard's manifestation of Investiture.{{wob ref|8340}}

X

It is not clear who or what Adonalsium was/is. It is unclear whether it is a force, a person, a god, or the metaphysical god. It isn't clear if it was self-aware or not. Regardless, it is sometimes described as the power of creation,{{wob ref|6072}} possibly a thing with incredible amounts of Investiture (since Investiture is a piece of Adonalsium,{{wob ref|5799}}) and a power which does not vanish.{{wob ref|1266}}{{wob ref|1649}}

There are also other forces outside of things derived from Adonalsium. One is a force that opposes Adonalsium, which still exists,{{wob ref|4078}} and some say there are "subtle forces" being manifest, separate from Adonalsium, perhaps referring to the [[God Beyond]].{{wob ref|9929}}{{wob ref|3436}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; margin-left:10px; text-align:center; width:25%;"

! colspan=2; style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" |Shards of [[Adonalsium]]

Adonalsium split into sixteen pieces, referred to as Shards of Adonalsium, each taking a particular facet, or intent, of the greater power of Adonalsium. Sixteen people took up those Shards, becoming the first [[Vessel]]s and effectively ascending into godhood. Hoid and [[the Recipient]] knew these sixteen people prior to their Ascension, as they were familiar with their original names.{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}{{epigraph ref|sa2|69}}{{epigraph ref|sa2|70}}

{{sidequote

|Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him.

|Hoid on [[Ruin]]{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}

|side=left

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It was not random who took up the Shards,{{wob ref|5490}} and there was some sort of design in the way Adonalsium was split.{{wob ref|9956}}

It turned out that, though the power of a Shard required a mind to control it, the specific intent of the Shard would slowly warp the mind of those that hold it.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|4130}} It is not known whether the original Vessels knew this when they took up their Shards. Eventually, the people who took up the Shards would simply be referred to as their Shard's name, and referred to as Shards.

The Shards were now the primary source of magic in the cosmere,{{wob ref|4097}}

[[File:Cosmere constellation map.jpg|thumb|right|A star chart of the cosmere in the Physical Realm]]

While the cosmere has a wide array of planets, twelve are currently known that are relevant to the broader cosmere. Three of these planets—Ashyn, Braize, and Roshar—are in the same solar system.{{au ref|Roshar}}

'''[[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}}

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. Anyone with a disease there also gains a magical power.{{wob ref|12271}} '''[[Roshar]]''' is a planet with a [[highstorm|powerful storm]] that frequently blows across the continent 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}}

'''[[Scadrial]]''' is the most technologically advanced planet and the most similar to Earth.{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{wob ref|6732}} Its [[Metallic Arts|three magic systems]] all use metal to store and access [[Investiture]].{{book ref|mb6|part=ars}}

The [[Drominad system]] is home to three inhabited planets, the most of any solar system in the cosmere, all of which have water as a dominant feature. The innermost planet, '''[[First of the Sun]]''' has a [[perpendicularity]], though travel through it is incredibly dangerous.{{au ref|Drominad}}

'''[[Threnody]]''' is a planet split in two parts: the [[Fallen World]], which is under the control of an unknown entity called the [[Evil]] that is so dangerous that everyone left, and the [[Forests of Hell]], which is home to dangerous [[Cognitive Shadow]]s known as [[Shade]]s. Perpendicularities on Threnody are unstable and have a morbid origin.{{au ref|Threnody}}

'''[[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}}

Little is known about '''[[Obrodai]]''' and '''[[Vax]]'''.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"

{{row| Detailed Worlds of the Cosmere | pre=! colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" {{!}} }}

! style="width:15%" |Solar System

! style="width:12%" |Planet

! style="width:29%" |Shards

! style="width:40%" |Books

! class=unsortable style="width:4%" |Reference

| [[Warbreaker]], [[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]] (unpublished)

| [[The Silence Divine]] (unpublished)

| [[The Stormlight Archive]]

| [[The Stormlight Archive]]

| [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]]

| [[Elantris trilogy|Elantris]], [[The Emperor's Soul]]

| [[White Sand]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"

{{row| Other Worlds of the Cosmere | pre=! colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" {{!}} }}

! style="width:15%" |Solar System

! style="width:12%" |Planet

! style="width:29%" |Shards

! style="width:40%" |Books

! class=unsortable style="width:4%" |Reference

| [[Patji]] (Avatar of [[Autonomy]])

| [[Sixth of the Dusk]]

| {{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|8902}}{{wob ref|8906}}

| ''None (Referenced in [[Oathbringer]])''

| [[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]

| ''None (Referenced in [[Elantris]] and [[Mistborn: Secret History]])''

| [[Dragonsteel]] (unpublished)

Little is known about the extremely distant past of the cosmere: the time before the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]].

The first humans lived on [[Yolen]] and were created by Adonalsium.{{wob ref|5702}}{{msh ref|3|2}} Yolen was also home to [[dragon (cosmere)|dragons]] and [[Sho Del]].{{wob ref|9676}} 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}} Plants and land overtaken by fainlife retain their shape, but turn bone-white and spill red liquid when crushed or snapped.{{wob ref|9518}} 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}}

During this time, Adonalsium created the entire [[Rosharan system]] and grew the supercontinent on the planet [[Roshar]]; as a result, the continent is shaped like the two-dimensional projection of a [[wikipedia: Julia set|Julia set]].{{wob ref|9283}}{{wob ref|3953}} Interestingly, [[fabrial]]s could have existed on Roshar during this time, if Adonalsium had allowed them, but he had some sort of limits on the system that would have prevented it.{{wob ref|13333}}

Most of the planets in the cosmere existed and were named prior to the Shattering, and their names existed before the Shards got there.{{wob ref|7262}} The sole known exception is [[Scadrial]], which was created by [[Ruin]] and [[Preservation]], who used the non-fain parts of Yolen as a guide.{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{msh ref|3|2}} [[Investiture]] also existed prior to the Shattering, though its form was different.{{wob ref|1118}} The technology level on Yolen prior to the Shattering was less than present day Earth's.{{wob ref|9882}}

During the time before the Shattering, 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}}

Eventually, a group of people that opposed Adonalsium came together and plotted its destruction.{{wob ref|4078}}{{wob ref|2539}} They created a weapon,{{wob ref|5602}} which was expended in its use;{{wob ref|2246}} though remnants of it are the cause of [[Hoid]]'s immortality.{{wob ref|10439}} The group consisted of people of all three sapient species on [[Yolen]]: humans [[dragon (cosmere)|dragons]], and [[Sho Del]].{{wob ref|9676}} Possibly by using that weapon, in an event known as the [[Shattering|Shattering of Adonalsium]], that group of people managed to destroy Adonalsium and split it into the sixteen [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium. They did so intentionally{{wob ref|4438}} and, by doing so, they became the first Vessels of the Shards.{{msh ref|3|2}} Hoid was present at the Shattering and had the opportunity to take a Shard, but turned it down.{{wob ref|6470}}{{wob ref|3337}} The Shattering occured on Yolen, though there is some "weirdness" with regard to Yolen and location,{{wob ref|11602}} and occurred all at once.{{wob ref|1292}}

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 all eventually settled in some location; some of them together and others alone.{{au ref|Sel}} As a result of the Shattering, all Investiture in the cosmere became aligned with one of the sixteen Shards.{{wob ref|8605}}

| 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 possible 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}} 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}}

| 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}}

Odium's first target was [[Ambition]], as he feared that it would be a threat to him. However, while searching for Ambition, 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 had several profound effects on Sel.{{wob ref|9616}} First, it made the Cognitive Realm around Sel incredibly dangerous, as Devotion and Dominion's Investiture is trapped together in a high-energy state known as the [[Dor]], without enough "escape valves" to stabilize the system.{{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|4129}} Second, because the Cognitive Realm was distinct locations and the Spiritual Realm does not, systems of Investiture on Sel became highly-location dependent—different systems of Investiture exist in different regions and the symbols used to access the Dor are often derived from geographical features.{{au ref|Sel}}{{tes ref|30}}{{book ref|elantris|49}}{{book ref|elantris|55}}

Sometime after [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]] arrived there, Odium traveled to the [[Rosharan system]].{{wob ref|9934}} 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}} At some point while he was in the system, Honor and Cultivation used their power to trap him in the system.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

{{sidequote

|Odium. Be aware that [the Rosharan] system is the current habitation of the Shard of Odium on the Physical and Cognitive Realms. This Shard undoubtedly caused the Splintering of Devotion, Dominion, Honor, and perhaps others throughout the cosmere.

|[[Khriss]] on Odium{{au ref|Roshar}}

|side=right

|size=400px

}}

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 grants access to [[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.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

According to the [[Stormfather]], Odium has been wounded before and has "scars that do not heal," presumably from his prior clashes with Shards.{{book ref|sa3|16}}

At least some of the other Shards are aware of Odium's actions. [[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 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}}

For much of [[Scadrial|Scadrian]] history, [[Ruin]]'s mind was trapped in the [[Well of Ascension]], which prevented him from destroying the planet. After the death of the [[Lord Ruler]], however, he was successfully able to manipulate [[Vin]] into taking up the Well's power and then releasing it, which allowed him to be free. After [[Marsh]] removed her [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic]] spike, Vin Ascended and became the [[Vessel]] of [[Preservation]].{{book ref|mb3|73}} During the [[Battle of Hathsin]], Ruin had Marsh kill [[Elend Venture]], which inspired Vin to sacrifice herself and kill Ruin's Vessel, [[Ati]].{{book ref|mb3|81}}

Some time 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, and had given the [[Stormfather]] the power to create new [[honorspren]] and recorded a series of visions for the Stormfather to show to potential [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]].{{book ref|sa3|28}}

Eventually, after approximately 4,500 years of torture on [[Braize]], the [[Herald]] [[Talenel]] broke and allowed the [[Fused]] to return to [[Roshar]],{{book ref|sa3|38}} though [[voidspren]] had already been actively preparing for their return, most notably by guiding the [[Listeners]] to summon the [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}{{book ref|sa3|i|7}} Odium is now waging the [[True Desolation]] against the people of Roshar while [[Dalinar Kholin]] and the newly re-founded [[Knights Radiant]] attempt to stop him;{{book ref|sa2|89}} presumably, winning this war in some way would allow Odium to leave the [[Rosharan system]]. As the person most [[Connection|Connected]] to the remnants of Honor's power, Dalinar could release Odium from whatever binds him to the Rosharan system; if he were released, he would Splinter Cultivation and would "substantially" alter Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|57}}

Around three hundred years after the [[Catacendre]], the [[kandra]] [[Bleeder]] used a [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic spike]] made of an [[trellium|unknown metal]] to hide herself from Harmony. After Bleeder's death, [[Marasi Colms]] connected this metal to the entity [[Miles Dagouter]] named just before he died, [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]].{{book ref|mb5|epilogue}} When [[Waxillium Ladrian]] died, Harmony showed him a red haze of "dread and destruction" surrounding [[Scadrial]], held back by a thin strip of light.{{book ref|mb6|28}} Harmony does not fully understand this, but it is another Shard manifesting its power on Scadrial,{{wob ref|6261}} most likely [[Autonomy]] or [[Odium]].{{article ref|Trell (Trellism)#Theories & Speculation}}

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, he or she 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}} Travel is also possible through the Physical Realm, though it takes a long time without faster-than-light travel,{{wob ref|12901}} which is expected to be developed in [[Mistborn (series)#Era 4|Mistborn Era 4]].{{wob ref|9005}}

| 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 [[Odium]]'s war{{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#Abilities}} His objectives are rather unclear, though he can use [[Fortune]] to know the right place and the right time to be.{{wob ref|2567}} He is an adamant opponent of Odium's attempts to become the sole god of the cosmere, and has written to [[Frost]], [[Endowment]], [[Autonomy]], and [[Harmony]], hoping to enlist their help in dealing with Odium, but to no avail.{{article ref|Letters}}

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 are trying (unsuccessfully) to hunt him down, though they have larger objectives as well.{{epigraph ref|sa1|26}}{{wob ref|7910}}

[[File:Khriss.jpg|thumb|right|140px|<center>Khriss by {{a|botanicaxu}}</center>]]

[[Silverlight]] is a city in the [[Cognitive Realm]] with both worldhoppers and long-term residents as well as at least one university.{{wob ref|2555}}{{wob ref|3310}} The researcher [[Khriss]], the most knowledgeable person in the cosmere and author of the [[Ars Arcanum|Ars Arcana]],{{wob ref|5623}}{{wob ref|6873}} is associated with Silverlight and at least one university there;{{wob ref|8342}} her employee, [[Nazrilof|Nazh]], who, among other things, draws and annotates maps, and collects other things for Khriss likely has ties there as well.{{wob ref|5623}}{{wob ref|5341}} They are researchers,{{msh ref|3|1}} like the Seventeenth Shard, though their relationship with that group is unclear.

The [[Ire]] is a group of worldhopping [[Elantrian]]s. They existed prior to the [[Reod]] and were off-world when it occurred, which my have played a role in allowing them to weather it.{{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 containing the [[Shade]]s of [[Threnody]].{{msh ref|5|2}}

The [[Ghostbloods]] is a secret society on Roshar. Unlike other groups, they are not entirely comprised of worldhoppers. However, at least two of their high-ranking members, [[Mraize]] and [[Iyatil]] are worldhoppers, the latter of whom was born in Silverlight.{{wob ref|1394}}{{wob ref|12733}}

In addition, there is a thriving interplanetary trade system, the quality of which depends on the planets involved—Nalthis is easy to get to and even has customs for travelers to go through; Sel is incredibly dangerous due to the power of Devotion and Dominion being stuck in the Cognitive Realm; Roshar can be welcoming or dangerous, depending on the era; and Scadrial was relatively easy to access and had a stable mercantile system before [[Kelsier]] destroyed the [[Pits of Hathsin]] and rendered [[Ruin's Perpendicularity]] unusable for transferring between the Physical and Cognitive Realms.{{wob ref|9501}}{{msh ref|2|1}} [[Felt]] was involved in trade through the Pits of Hathsin.{{wob ref|11812}}

| During my unpublished days I wrote thirteen books, only one of which was a sequel. So I had twelve new worlds, or at least twelve new books—some of them were reexaminations of worlds. 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{{wob ref|10182}}

|right|350px|

When Brandon was beginning writing 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.{{wob ref|9813}} He decided instead to focus on standalones and trilogies. Not only would they be easier to market to publishers, but Brandon also wanted people to trust his writing before digging into something bigger.{{wob ref|9813}}

He still loved the idea of a huge epic series, so he decided to create a "hidden" epic to link his novels together. His ideas for this connected universe--the cosmere--came about when he wrote [[Elantris (book)|Elantris]], [[Mistborn]], [[White Sand]], and [[Mythwalker]] (which became [[Warbreaker]]).{{wob ref|9813}} Brandon had seen other authors who made a single universe for all their books, like Isaac Asimov, but Brandon didn't like how Asimov had to retcon and shoehorn things together to connect their books. Brandon wanted to do the cosmere from the ground-up, 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 idea of [[Realmatic Theory]], and the idea of the Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual Realms. 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 influences 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 to the magic in the cosmere. All magics have underlying rules, and are derived from a single unified theory of magic.{{wob ref|9007}}

There is a distinct beginning, middle, and end to the cosmere sequence, and a clear sequence Brandon wants to tell.{{wob ref|7744}} There's about 36 main cosmere books, and Brandon has three "core" cosmere series: [[Dragonsteel]], [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]], and [[the Stormlight Archive]],{{wob ref|2643}}{{wob ref|6472}} which are well-planned out.{{wob ref|4036}} Dragonsteel is the start of the cosmere sequence that will tell [[Hoid]]'s backstory{{wob ref|10012}} and, presumably, the Shattering of [[Adonalsium]]. Mistborn will have four big trilogies, its last one being science fiction, deals heavily with the cosmere{{wob ref|1110}} and has travel between the different planets of the cosmere.{{wob ref|9762}} Stormlight Archive is set in the middle of the cosmere sequence.{{wob ref|9869}} Generally, the cosmere will not come into the forefront until Dragonsteel or the final Mistborn trilogy,{{wob ref|6868}} and the final Mistborn trilogy is one of the last cosmere series, if not the last. Brandon has said it will all fit together, and thinks we'll be impressed.{{wob ref|6496}}

| 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}}

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At the start of Brandon's career, he wrote cosmere novels in chronological order, but there are books that are skipped, like Dragonsteel and White Sand,{{wob ref|9869}} some of his earlier, unpublished novels. (Those unpublished novels would need to be rewritten from scratch, much like Brandon rewrote The Way of Kings.{{wob ref|10222}}) He wanted these cosmere novels to not require knowledge of previous books in the hidden epic of the cosmere. Generally, clues to the cosmere are currently easter eggs, and will not be in the forefront. However, more hints to the greater universe are inevitable, and eventually the worlds will cross over and interact,{{wob ref|9019}} perhaps in the last Mistborn trilogy.

Hoid, a character who appears in each cosmere novel, is one such easter egg. It is not random where he is; Brandon has said that if Hoid appears in a place, that place is about to be very dangerous.{{wob ref|4778}} Hoid is doing things behind the scenes, and at some point, we might have Hoid short stories explaining what is doing and why.{{wob ref|4502}}{{wob ref|4039}} There are also other people who cross between worlds that eventually Brandon thinks will be much clearer later, once we see those characters more.{{wob ref|10546}} But for now, they are easter eggs.

Brandon does not feel that the cosmere is restrictive to his writing.{{wob ref|6496}} Though cosmere novels are intensive, as they require more planning and specific rules{{wob ref|7655}} (Brandon has continuity editors, like [[Peter Ahlstrom|Peter]] and Karen Ahlstrom, on his internal wiki to keep it straight{{wob ref|9758}}), he feels that if he needs to take a break, he can just write a non-cosmere novel. Those "breather" novels are used to keep Brandon creatively engaged, and 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.{{wob ref|12393}}

[[The Rithmatist]] used to be a cosmere novel, and its magics take many elements from cosmere magics,{{wob ref|9827}} but Brandon decided that Earth is not in the cosmere, nor any alternate Earths.{{wob ref|7879}}

Eventually, there will be an official timeline for cosmere events.{{wob ref|4093}} There will probably be a cosmere encyclopedia at some point, but not for a long time.{{wob ref|4091}} It is more likely there will be Stormlight and Mistborn worldbooks first.{{wob ref|4912}} There will eventually be a [[Shadesmar]] map and star map for the cosmere that is released.{{wob ref|1392}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"

{{row| Published Works of the Cosmere | pre=! colspan=3 style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" {{!}} }}

{{row| Publication Year | Title | Series | pre=! style="font-weight: bold;" {{!}} }}

| [[Elantris]]

| Elantris #1

| [[The Hope of Elantris]]

| Elantris #1.5

| [[Mistborn: The Final Empire]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|Mistborn (Era 1)]] #1

| [[The Well of Ascension]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|Mistborn (Era 1)]] #2

| [[The Hero of Ages]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|Mistborn (Era 1)]] #3

| [[Warbreaker]]

| [[The Way of Kings]]

| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #1

| [[The Alloy of Law]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|Mistborn (Era 2)]] #1

| [[The Eleventh Metal]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|Mistborn (Era 1)]] #0.5

| [[The Emperor's Soul]]

| [[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]

| [[Words of Radiance]]

| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #2

| [[Sixth of the Dusk]]

| [[Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|Mistborn (Era 2)]] #1.5

| [[Shadows of Self]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|Mistborn (Era 2)]] #2

| [[The Bands of Mourning]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|Mistborn (Era 2)]] #3

| [[Mistborn: Secret History]]

| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|Mistborn (Era 1)]] #3.5

| [[White Sand Volume 1]]

| [[White Sand]] #1

| [[Arcanum Unbounded]]

| [[Edgedancer (novella)|Edgedancer]]

| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #2.5

| [[Oathbringer]]

| [[The Stormlight Archive]] #3

| [[White Sand Volume 2]]

| [[White Sand]] #2

| [[White Sand Volume 3]]

| [[White Sand]] #3

*[[Stormlight Archive 4]], tentatively title ''The Rhythm of War''. Will feature flashbacks from [[Eshonai]] and [[Venli]]'s point-of-view.{{wob ref|12963}} At his last update, Brandon was hopeful the book would be released in time for Christmas 2020.{{wob ref|12844}}

*[[The Lost Metal]], the fourth and final Era 2 Mistborn novel. Projected release in 2020 or 2021.{{wob ref|12504}}

*[[Elantris sequel]] and [[Elantris finale]], the sequels to [[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]. Expected to be written after Stormlight Archive 5 and Mistborn Era 2 are done.{{wob ref|12486}} They need to be written before Mistborn Era 3 and ''Nightblood''.{{wob ref|1053}}{{wob ref|9105}}

*[[Mistborn (series)#Era 3|Era 3 Mistborn trilogy]], the trilogy with Allomancy in a modern, 1980s technology level. Planned to be written in the break between Stormlight 5 and Stormlight 6.{{wob ref|11548}}

*[[The Stormlight Archive]], which will have ten books in total, plus novellas. Book 5 will be written in the somewhat near future, after which Brandon will take a break and there will be an in-universe time skip of about a decade before book 6 picks up.{{wob ref|9442}}

*[[Nightblood (book) |Nightblood]], the sequel to [[Warbreaker]]. Likely won't be written until Stormlight Archive 5, the ''Elantris'' sequels, and Mistborn Era 3 are written.{{wob ref|12276}}

*[[Dragonsteel]], 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}} This will be one of the last known cosmere sequence, chronologically, and has much to do with the worlds coming together.{{wob ref|6868}}

Brandon was been somewhat evasive about the order of cosmere stories, so that the timelines remains flexible for future books that he writes.{{wob ref|10273}} He has estimated the time from the Shattering to the breaking of the [[Oathpact]] at around 6000 years, but that number is non-canonical and may change greatly.{{wob ref|1355}} Brandon has, however, provided some answers and has stated that books have mostly been released chronologically, which allows a rough timeline to be constructed:{{wob ref|10502}}

* [[Dragonsteel]]{{wob ref|10502}}

* [[White Sand]]{{wob ref|10502}}

* [[Elantris (book)|Elantris]] and [[The Hope of Elantris]]{{wob ref|10273}}

* [[The Emperor's Soul]]{{wob ref|10273}}

* [[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}}

* [[Arcanum Unbounded]] essays{{wob ref|1491}}

* [[The Stormlight Archive]] (books 1 through 5){{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|549}}

* [[Mistborn Era 2]]{{wob ref|549}}

* [[The Stormlight Archive]] (books 6 through 10){{wob ref|549}}

* [[Mistborn Era 3]]

* [[Sixth of the Dusk]]{{wob ref|10273}}

* [[Mistborn Era 4]]{{wob ref|10273}}

== Trivia ==

=== Capitalization ===

The capitalization of the word "cosmere" is inconsistent at best from official sources. Generally, in the novels, like Stormlight Archive books, cosmere is uncapitalized,{{book ref|sa1|54}}{{epigraph ref|sa2|75}} but exclusively in [[The Alloy of Law]], its [[Ars Arcanum]] refers to it with a capital C.{{book ref|mb4|part=ars}} Adding to the confusion, these Ars Arcanum are written by the same person,{{wob ref|9875}} and [[Words of Radiance]]'s Ars Arcanum uses lowercase.{{book ref|sa2|part=ars}}

From interviews where Brandon types responses, Brandon sometimes capitalizes cosmere,{{wob ref|9015}} and sometimes leaves it uncapitalized.{{wob ref|1084}} [[Peter Ahlstrom]], Brandon's assistant, has said that generally, cosmere is uncapitalized in books, but capitalized outside of them.{{tweet ref|607208955069100032}}

== See Also ==

*[[Shard]]

*[[Adonalsium]]

*[[Investiture]]

*[[Hoid]]

*[[Realmatic Theory]]

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{{tweet ref|607208955069100032|How is cosmere supposed to be capitalised?|date=June 6th, 2015}}

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