Editing Vin

{{character
|image=The Ascendant Warrior.jpg
|family=[[House Tekiel]]
|titles=Heir to the Survivor, Empress of the [[New Empire]], Ascendant Warrior, Hero of Ages, Lady Mistborn, Mother, [[Preservation]]
|abilities={{tag+|Mistborn}}, {{tag+|Hemalurgist}}, {{tag+|Sliver}}, {{tag+|shard|Preservation}}
|parents=[[Tevidian Tekiel]], [[Vin's mother|mother]]
|siblings=[[Reen]], [[Vin's sister|sister]]
|relatives=[[Salmen Tekiel]], [[Kale Tekiel]]
|spouse=[[Elend Venture]]{{book ref|mb2|48}}
|aliases=Valette Renoux
|groups=[[Camon's crew]] <small>(former)</small>, {{tag|Kelsier's crew}}, {{tag+|army|Venture}}
|born={{date|1005|fe}}{{book ref|mb1|1}}<!-- she's 16 -->
|died={{date|1025|fe}}{{book ref|mb3|81}}
|ethnicity=Skaa
|birthplace=Luthadel
|world=Scadrial
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[Mistborn: The Final Empire]]
}}
{{for|Valette Entrone|the post-[[Catacendre]] noblewoman|pre=Valette redirects here}}
{{quote
|That was an illusion, a dream. I am that child who grew up in the shadows.
|Vin.{{book ref|mb1|epilogue}}
}}
'''Vin''' is a half-[[skaa]] [[Allomancy|Mistborn]] from the [[Final Empire]] on [[Scadrial]]. She later becomes known as '''Heir to the Survivor''', the '''Ascendant Warrior''' and the '''Lady Mistborn''',{{book ref|mb6|2}}{{book ref|mb6|3}} as well as taking on the alias '''Valette Renoux'''. She was born to [[Tevidian Tekiel]]'s [[Vin's mother|skaa mistress]] in year {{date|1005|FE}} in [[Luthadel]], and was raised by her half brother [[Reen]] after he discovered that their [[Vin's sister|sister]] had been murdered by their mother. The two lived on the streets and worked in the underground, until eventually coming to work in [[Camon]]'s [[Camon's crew|crew]].

Vin trains in and works with [[Kelsier]]'s [[Kelsier's crew|crew]] after he prevents Camon from beating her to death, and infiltrates the nobility under the guise of Valette Renoux, eventually helping to save the survivors of the [[skaa rebellion]]'s army and killing [[Shan Elariel]] before fighting the [[Lord Ruler]] and killing him. After the Collapse, she marries [[Elend Venture]] and sets herself and Elend up as the '''empress''' and emperor of the [[New Empire]], respectively, during the [[Siege of Luthadel]], wherein she kills [[Zane]] and [[Straff Venture]], saves the city from rampaging [[koloss]] and forces [[Ashweather Cett|Lord Cett]] to swear his allegiance to them. In the aftermath of the siege, she inadvertently frees [[Ruin]] from its prison at the [[Well of Ascension]].

Following Ruin's release, Vin helps to secure her and Elend's empire; locating the Lord Ruler's storage caverns, participating in the [[Siege of Fadrex City]], and takes up the [[Shard]] [[Preservation]] shortly prior to the [[Battle of Hathsin]], wherein she gives her life to kill Ruin. In the years following the [[Final Ascension]], she becomes a mythical figure to the descendants of the survivors, known as the Ascendant Warrior. In the [[Words of Founding]], it is said that she became the guardian of the mists and now watches over people in the night.{{book ref|mb5|11}}

== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Vin Jemma M Young.jpg|side=left|height=300px}}
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Due to a life spent on the streets and in the skaa underground, Vin is relatively small and thinks of herself as scrawny.{{book ref|mb1|1}} She has black hair which she kept cut short until she joins the skaa rebellion.

She is naturally suspicious of others due to the circumstances of her upbringing, and slow to trust people out of fear of being betrayed. She initially tends to attempt to make herself seem irrelevant or hide when she is uncomfortable or anxious, and prefers solitude to the company of others, because of the belief instilled in her that no one can betray her if she is alone.{{book ref|mb1|1}}

Often she is alert and watchful, having a tendency to perch on things, or sitting in places where she can best monitor her surroundings. Vin is also uncomfortable with having the attention of others, preferring to go hidden and unnoticed. This puts her in an awkward position with the [[Church of the Survivor]], as she displays obvious discomfort as being revered as the Lady Heir.{{book ref|mb2|5}} For this reason, she is also uncomfortable around [[Demoux]]. She prefers to wear simple, practical clothing, and initially finds noble dresses uncomfortable and impractical, which is reflected later after becoming empress of the New Empire when she refuses to wear royal garb in favour of clothing more practical for battle.{{book ref|mb1|12}}{{book ref|mb3|15}}

By the time of the siege of Fadrex city, Vin has grown confident and perceptive. She is fully in control, and all of this in tandem makes her seem more powerful than she was before meeting Kelsier.{{msh ref|6|1}}

Vin is very [[connection|Connected]] to Preservation, since she hates change and fears people leaving her.{{wob ref|12919}}

== Attributes and Abilities ==
{{image|Mistborn by Manuel Castanon.jpg|side=right|width=300px}}
=== Allomancy ===
Being a Mistborn, Vin has the ability to access and burn all of the Allomantic metals. She [[snapping|Snapped]] during her difficult birth process, which is one reason why she has great affinity with Allomancy.{{epigraph ref|mb3|epilogue}} Vin showed proficiency in using her abilities with even Kelsier mentioning her talent surpassing his own. However due to the limitations of the Final Empire, Vin had no experience burning [[nicrosil]], [[chromium]], [[cadmium]], or [[bendalloy]]. In addition Vin’s natural curiosity and ingenuity allowed for extreme demonstrations of her power. A great example of Vin’s ingenuity is the discovery of Duralumin. Knowing that every pure allomantic metal had a supplementary alloy, Vin contracted metallurgists to develop multiple alloy variations for testing.

Vin demonstrated varying proficiencies in her allomantic usage. This is primarily caused by Vin’s predilection toward combat oriented metals, and her being a full [[Allomancy|Mistborn]]. If she could not immediately see how a particular metal could aid in a fight, Vin would often consider them less useful. However for the time period, Vin developed a deep understanding of allomantic theory. She was considered the most powerful Mistborn of her time even with [[Elend Venture]] consuming Lerasium directly, and therefore not suffering a dilution of power from genetic transfer.    

'''[[Iron]] and [[Steel]]-''' Vin was extremely proficient in the use of both steel and iron. Being able to combine both the aspects of Steelpushes and Ironpulls allowed for far greater mobility and offensive potential when compared to the average Coinshot or Lurcher. Vin’s naturally more powerful allomancy further enhanced her external physical metals, as she was able to match Kelsier in strength when Pushing against a coin, despite Kelsier being nearly twice her weight. Vin’s control over steel and iron allowed her to use horseshoes as a means of continued motion. 

'''[[Pewter]]-''' Vin used pewter almost constantly and subconsciously. Having subconsciously burned the small amount she absorbed in drinking water as a child to heal her daily wounds her body has grown accustomed to doing so. This is needed to assist in recovering from the many injuries she sustains, even after falling unconscious. Having been trained by Hammond to flare pewter to assist with individual strikes and maneuvers, Vin became a skilled hand to hand combatant. Vin has used pewter to lift and use a Koloss sword. Vin has been able to complete pewter drags.

'''[[Tin]]-''' Vin often burns a small amount Tin at all times. The heightened senses give her an advantage over those that would try a sneak attack. Vin also flares tin when needed to assist in sight or hearing, often when she is spying.

'''[[Brass]] and [[Zinc]]-''' Vin came to realize her power of emotion influencing even before Kelsier found her. She nicknamed them "luck" and stockpiled her metal reserve (gained from minerals in water) to be used in dangerous situations. However, she doesn't use the power often in her later life, largely due to her lack of finesse in using them. Unlike Breeze who is almost impossible to detect, Vin is often discovered. She has used them however to demonstrate her power, such as when she scared Straff Venture by stripping away all his emotions using a Duralumin powered brass Push.  Combined with duralumin, emotional allomancy also allow Vin to control Koloss.

{{image|Atium Shadow by Danrossidraws.jpg|Burning [[atium]]|side=left|height=300px}}

'''[[Copper]] and [[Bronze]]-''' Vin burns both metals constantly. Copper to hide her own allomancy, and bronze to detect others using allomancy near her. Originally Vin thought that she may be stronger at using bronze than other allomancers as she was able to pierce copperclouds. She can also pierce her own coppercloud, hearing allomantic pulses from outside.{{wob ref|5496}} This was however due to her earring which was in fact a [[Hemalurgic]] spike. 

'''[[Duralumin]]-''' Having discovered duralumin herself, Vin kept it a secret. This is because of duralumin’s enhancing abilities being extremely powerful. Duralumin enhanced Steelpushes have allowed Vin to leap extreme distances, as well as throw several horses into the air by their horseshoes.

'''[[Gold]]-''' Seeing her past self and alternate versions of what Vin could have been unnerved her to the point that she never wanted to attempt it again.
 
'''[[Atium]]-''' Due to the power and rarity of atium Vin held it in a form of reverence, both appreciating and fearing its use. Vin also understood atium’s flaws, allowing her to defeat two atium powered Mistborn.

'''[[Malatium]]-''' During the final fight between the [[Lord Ruler]] and Vin, she used the metal to discover the hidden secret behind the Lord Ruler's past. She then used this secret to stun him and kill him.

'''[[Electrum]]-''' The “poor man’s atium” Vin uses electrum to fight Steel Inquisitors when it appeared the supply of atium had depleted.
<br style="clear:left;"/>

=== Weapons and Combat ===
{{image|Vin in the mists by Steve argyle.jpg|side=right|height=300px}}

In terms of melee combat and weapon skills, Vin was very talented. Having undergone training in combat from both Kelsier (a full [[Allomancy|Mistborn]]), and Hammond (an accomplished Thug), Vin has developed a unique set of skills. Primarily using obsidian daggers to prevent Allomantic influence by her opponents, Vin uses various Steelpushes and Ironpulls to quickly maneuver around the battlefield. Doing so she will often surprise her opponents by striking from unforeseen angles. Vin will often utilize tricks to allow her to position herself for surprise attacks as well. An example of this is Pushing her coin pouch away to make it seem as if she was moving in that direction, only to strike from an alternate one. In addition to the use of daggers Vin has been trained in the use of staffs, and even handled a koloss great sword to devastating affect, though in the case of the sword Vin wielded through the strength granted by pewter and not pure skill.

=== Disguises ===
Vin has also shown herself to be skilled in disguising herself as seen when she inserted herself into the court lifestyle under the guise of Valette Renoux. She used this alias to help Kelsier spy on the nobility, as well as plant lies among them.{{expand}}

=== Ascension ===
Later when she took the shard of Preservation, Vin was imbued with a large amount of power. She was shown to be able to augment the powers of Allomancers as seen when she strengthened Elend's Allomantic abilities.

=== Weaknesses ===
Despite Vin's amazing displays of allomancy and melee prowess, she is still extremely small in stature. When deprived of allomantic metals, Vin is left weak and nearly defenseless. When forced to burn aluminum, she was unable to achieve any reasonable resistance against her captors. Additionally, due to her small size, she is very vulnerable in a steelpushing match, and when she tried pushing against Kelsier, he warned her that it could be catastrophic if she did.{{book ref|mb1|9}}

Additionally Vin's friends can be used against her. Her desire to protect them pushes Vin into situations where she is disadvantaged. This is more evident when Elend is concerned. Fearing assassination attempts Vin used pewter and tin to allow her to remain awake for extreme lengths. This could have bordered on pewter dragging had she not been convinced to rest occasionally. The fatigue caused her to naturally be in a weakened state.

== History ==
{{image|Vin by GisAlmeida.jpg|side=left|height=300px|As a thief}}
=== Early Life ===
==== Childhood ====
Vin was born of Tevidian Tekiel, lord prelan of the [[Steel Ministry]]{{book ref|mb1|3}}{{book ref|mb1|26}} to a skaa prostitute{{book ref|mb1|3}}. Vin had an unnamed younger sister as well as an older half brother on their mother's side, Reen.{{book ref|mb1|3}} Vin and her sister inherited Allomantic powers from their father, the latter being born a [[bronze|Seeker]]{{epigraph ref|mb3|73}}.

Her mother was insane and was driven by Ruin to kill Vin's infant sister with a bronze pin, creating a [[Hemalurgic]] spike which the mother then used to pierce the young child Vin's ear. Because of the earring's Hemalurgy, this gave Ruin access to speak into Vin's mind and influence her. Ruin was able to use Vin as an unwitting pawn and get himself released from the Well of Ascension. Because the Hemalurgy allowed Vin to take on the Allomantic power of her murdered sister, her Allomantic Seeking ability became twice as strong as a typical Mistborn or Seeker, enabling her to pierce Allomantic [[coppercloud]]s and locate the hidden Well of Ascension. {{book ref|mb1|31}}

Her half-brother Reen saved Vin from their mother and after the death of her mother and sister, she lived on the road with 
him. At times, she had lived like a beggar, sleeping in exposed alleys.{{book ref|mb3|27}} Reen's lessons and attempts to strengthen her -- like taking her on burglaries to teach her to steal{{book ref|mb1|13}} and teaching her to survive the skaa underground -- were abusive.  He beat her for things such as being too friendly with other crewmembers or making a foolish comment and drawing unwanted negative attention{{book ref|mb1|16}}.  This abuse had a profound effect on Vin's ability to trust, but was successful in instilling the lessons he believed she needed to learn to survive and work the thieving crews in [[Luthadel]].{{book ref|mb1|1}}{{book ref|mb1|3}} At some point Vin realized her ability to soothe people, unaware that she was an Allomancer she thought of it as her "Luck" using it in her thievery. She also subconsciously burned tiny amounts of [[tin]] and [[pewter]] that helped her survive on the streets. A couple months after they joined Camon's crew, Reen disappeared, leaving Vin to think he had abandoned her. Later Vin discovers that Reen never betrayed her. Despite being captured and tortured by Inquisitors, Reen never gave her up, swearing that she had died even while he was being tortured.{{book ref|mb1|37}}

=== The Skaa Rebellion ===
==== Camon's Crew ====
{{image|Vin and Kelsier by ephermeres.jpg|side=right|width=300|Studying [[Allomancy]] with [[Kelsier]]}}

For six months after Reen left, Vin continues to work in Camon's crew. Camon, who knew she was an Allomancer, saw her as a powerful tool but at the same time was scared that she would turn against him. Camon abused Vin, hitting or even whipping her for little to no reason. He also didn't pay her so that she could not run away. Vin unwittingly soothed Camon's victims, making them more gullible to Camon's scams. After some time Camon joined with [[Theron]] another Crew leader for a scam, against the Canton of Finance. Though the scam seems to have gone unnoticed, unbeknownst to them, Vin's Allomancy alerts the obligators to her abilities, and a Steel Inquisitor is put on Vin's trail. [[Kelsier]] notices this as he is following Vin and Camon, and steps in to distract the Inquisitor, making them lose Vin's trail for the time being. During her time working in the crew, Vin grew to somewhat trust [[Ulef]], another member of the crew. Though she did not think of him as a friend, believing that friendship was a gateway to betrayal, he is the closest thing to a friend she has at the time.{{book ref|mb1|1}} As Vin gets a foreboding feeling and prepares to leave the crew's lair, she tells Ulef that she's leaving, and asks him to join her. However, Ulef betrays her to Camon, who is at the time drunk and believes that Vin plans to sell him out to the Steel Ministry. Camon flies into a drunken rage, intending to beat her to death, before Kelsier enters the lair and intervenes, saving Vin's life. Kelsier has [[Milev]] replace Camon, and has the latter put out on the streets.{{book ref|mb1|1}}{{book ref|mb1|2}}{{book ref|mb1|3}}

==== Kelsier's Crew ====
Vin joins Kelsier's crew and begins her Mistborn training with him.

In her first practical lesson with Kelsier, they venture outside the city walls and are picked up in a carriage by [[Sazed]], who takes them to [[Fellise]], where Vin is tutored by him as it is decided that she will infiltrate the noble court on their behalf.{{book ref|mb1|7}}{{book ref|mb1|8}} She contributes to the plan by supplying a method to infiltrate the Steel Ministry from her old crew: Theron's fake canal convoys.

During the meeting, Ham interrupts, reporting that the Ministry found Camon's lair, where Milev and his crew had continued to operate. The crew move to investigate the lair, wherein Vin's old crew mates has been butchered by an Inquisitor. Finding the former crewleader hung from a hook in the streets, the crew realize that the Inquisitors must still be on Vin's trail after Camon's last scam.{{book ref|mb1|11}}

{{image|Vin and Elend by Elisgardor.jpg|height=300px|With [[Elend]] as Valette|side=left}}

==== The House War ====
Vin spies on the noble houses by disguising herself as a noblewoman: '''Valette Renoux''', an identity created as a cover, who is the fourth cousin of Lord [[Renoux]], daughter of [[House Renoux|Lord Hadren and Lady Fellette Renoux]]. Kelsier reveals that he chose House Renoux and the Valette cover in part because of their status as weapons merchants, making them valuable to various houses and drawing the nobles that the rebellion needs to focus on to them.{{book ref|mb1|12}} Vin attends her first ball at [[Keep Venture]] to establish her identity within Luthadel, and she attracts the attentions of several young men, declining their offers to dance on account of her inexperience.{{book ref|mb1|12}} She recognises her father and meets Elend Venture, the heir to [[House Venture]], although she only learns who Elend really is after the fact when speaking with Sazed.{{book ref|mb1|12}}

Vin follows Kelsier one night, discovering the spikeway between Luthadel and Fellise in the process. After he discovers and confronts her, he introduces her to [[atium]] for the first time, and they attempt to raid the Lord Ruler's palace, [[Kredik Shaw]].{{book ref|mb1|13}} During the raid, the pair are forced to flee when attacked by the Steel Inquisitors guarding the palace, and Vin is left behind. She recovers [[Alendi]]'s [[Alendi's journal|logbook]] before she is gravely wounded in her attempt to escape.{{book ref|mb1|14}} Sazed, however, manages to save her from the Inquisitors and brings her back to [[Clubs]]' hideout.{{book ref|mb1|15}} Vin spends the subsequent two weeks unconscious as she recovers from a massive wound in her side, and it takes three more months to recover fully from her ordeal at Kredik Shaw.{{book ref|mb1|15}}{{book ref|mb1|16}}{{book ref|mb1|20}}

Gradually, Vin grows more comfortable when adopting the Valette persona, but she is given a sobering reminder of the realities of the Final Empire when she witnesses a soldier murder a skaa kitchen boy for begging from a nobleman.{{book ref|mb1|18}}

Vin tries to get training from Ham with pewter by watching him spar, but the two find out that the [[Luthadel Garrison]] is being called away to quell the skaa rebellion's army led by Yeden in a sudden attack against the Holstep Garrison as a test of their strength.{{book ref|mb1|24}}{{book ref|mb1|25}} After informing the rest of the crew, Vin joins Kelsier on a desperate mission to save the skaa army's survivors. They find the army being massacred in an ambush from the Valtroux Garrison, and Vin stops Kelsier from trying to stop it, reminding him that even though they are Mistborn, they're not invincible. Instead, they return to the caves, finding the two thousand men, lead by Demoux, who stayed behind out of loyalty to Kelsier. Vin and Kelsier lead the remnants of the army back to Luthadel.{{book ref|mb1|25}} 

{{image|Vin vs Shan Elariel by Rafael Sousa.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Fighting [[Shan Elariel]]}}

Two weeks later, after Vin has recovered from the consequences of pewter-dragging, the executions in the later named Square of the Survivor begin. She discovers her father's identity as the Steel Ministry's lord prelan during the executions after pointing him out to Kelsier. The executions provide Kelsier the opportunity to renew the crew's determination, by showing them what it is that they're truly fighting for.{{book ref|mb1|26}} 

After the executions in the fountain square, the crew commit even more to provoking an all out house war in earnest, making it the top priority now that the bulk of their army is lost. Vin begins to spread bad information among the nobility, while remaining the crew's primary spy among them.{{book ref|mb1|27}} Vin and Kelsier go to meet Marsh in [[the Twists]], and while waiting, she experiences burning gold for the first time, seeing the two versions of herself, the trusting version who lost her street instincts, and the hateful and lonely version. The meeting with Marsh yields the truth about the Ministry Allomancers, that they're used in the Soothing stations positioned throughout the skaa sections of Luthadel.{{book ref|mb1|27}}

In the course of spying on the nobility and spreading her information, Vin learns from Elend that House Venture works the [[Pits of Hathsin]] and mines the Lord Ruler's atium. As the house war reaches the point of no return, the noble parties and balls come to a close as alliances are formalised. Elend rejects Vin, but she saves his life shortly after when she uncovers [[Shan Elariel]]'s plot to kill him. She fights Shan, and her fellow assassins, killing the male Mistborn accompanying Shan. When confronting Shan directly, Vin realises that her atium is about to run out, and extinguishes it prematurely, leading Shan to think that she is vulnerable. Vin burns atium at the last second, taking Shan by surprise and killing her.{{book ref|mb1|30}}

Vin and Kelsier discover what they assume to be Marsh's remains during their next meeting with him, and Kelsier decides to retaliate by destroying the Pits of Hathsin and ending the atium production there for the next three hundred years.{{book ref|mb1|28}}{{book ref|mb1|32}} The Lord Ruler orders more executions in response to the attack, and Vin watches as Kelsier interrupts them, rescuing the House Renoux prisoners and killing [[Bendal]], before he faces the Lord Ruler and is killed by a spear through the chest, feeling betrayed by his death after all of his assurances as Ruin returns in Reen's voice to reaffirm her sense of betrayal.{{book ref|mb1|34}}

{{image|Help from the Mists by Carlos C Diaz.jpg|Fighting the Lord Ruler|side=left|width=250px}}
==== The Skaa Riots & the Death of the Lord Ruler ====
Vin is imprisoned in Kredik Shaw after Kelsier's death at the hands of the Lord Ruler, and is forced to burn [[aluminum]] to destroy her metals. She is taken to be questioned by the Lord Ruler, and has her earring ripped out while battling him, allowing the [[mist]]s to Invest their power in her, restoring all her Allomantic abilities. Vin kills him by [[iron|Pulling]] out his [[metalmind]]s and fatally stabbing him with a spear.{{expand}}

[[TenSoon]] would later argue during his judgement that as the one to kill the Lord Ruler, Vin had effectively taken his place and inherited his title, and should thus be considered the Mother of the kandra to replace their Father.{{book ref|mb3|11}}

=== The Siege of Luthadel ===
After the fall of the [[Final Empire]], she helps Elend establish his ideas for fair and free governance. Whilst the [[Siege of Luthadel]] progresses, she practices her Allomancy, courts [[Zane Venture]], discovers [[duralumin]], befriends the [[kandra]] TenSoon, and successfully intimidates the two besiegers: [[Straff Venture]] and [[Ashweather Cett]]. 

==== Zane & the Attack on Keep Hasting ====
Upon hearing that Elend went into [[Jastes Lekal]]'s koloss army, Vin experiences a round of uncertainty and self-doubt, uncertain of even her ability to protect one person. Zane takes advantage of her doubt, and convinces her that Elend won't let her protect him, and that she should attack Cett. {{book ref|mb2|43}}

Alongside Zane, Vin launches a brutal assault on [[Keep Hasting]], the keep which Lord Cett appropriates as his own residence once he enters Luthadel. In minutes, the two Mistborn wipe out three hundred of the one thousand men garrisoned there and make their way to Lord Cett and his son, [[Gneorndin Cett]] to threaten them. Though Vin has suspected ever since she first saw him that Cett is an Allomancer feigning his physical disability, it quickly becomes evident that neither he nor his son are Allomancers, or that they pose any threat on their own, leading Vin to spare their lives. When Zane moves to kill them, she convinces him not to. Following the attack, Cett pulls out of the city and withdraws from the siege entirely.{{book ref|mb2|43}}{{book ref|mb2|44}}

After the attack, Vin hid in an abandoned thieves' hideout, frightened by her own actions until TenSoon and Elend find her and talk to her. She reveals that Kelsier sometimes frightened her with his rationale for killing nobles. During her conversation with Elend, she decides that she has to go north to the [[Terris Dominance]] and look for the Well of Ascension.{{book ref|mb2|44}}

Zane attempts to convince Vin to leave with him, but she refuses and he becomes upset, attacking her. In the ensuing fight, TenSoon's identity is exposed to her. Zane additionally reveals multiple of his manipulations throughout the siege; placing an Allomancer among Cett's staff, forcing Vin to fight off Allomancer assassins in front of Elend to intimidate him, and attempting to make Vin explore her potential as a killer. Zane seemingly has the advantage, as he is burning atium and blocking her every attack, and in her desperation, Vin attempts to draw on the mists to no avail, because her Hemalurgic earring is not removed during the fight. However, TenSoon tips her off to the Flaw, hinting at it and allowing her to take control of him with a duralumin-enhanced Soothing. Vin uses this to her advantage, attacking Zane with TenSoon's body and retrieving the bead of atium, although the latter turns out to be a fake, a lead ball with a thin coat of atium. Cornered, with no means of escape, Vin is forced to fight Zane, and uses his own foresight granted by atium to predict what he will do and allowing her to react, causing her atium shadow to split. Vin stabs him in the neck, killing him. {{book ref|mb2|47}}

Vin goes to find Elend in her wounded condition, and while Sazed tends to her wounds, she marries Elend. Sazed takes the opportunity to convince the couple to flee the city in search of the Well of Ascension, in an attempt to save them, along with Spook.{{book ref|mb2|48}}

{{image|The Well of Ascension by Eleonor Piteira.jpg|In the [[Well of Ascension|Well]]|side=right|width=250px}}

==== The Battle of Luthadel ====
Convinced of the need to find the Well of Ascension, Vin and Elend leave Luthadel, and head towards the [[Terris Dominance]] in hope of finding the [[Well of Ascension]]. Some time after their departure, the [[koloss]] army attacks [[Luthadel]]. Vin realises that the Well is located under Kredik Shaw, and returns to find the [[Battle of Luthadel]] under way. She utilises a [[duralumin]]-enhanced [[steel]] jump to kill [[Straff Venture]] via bisection with a  [[koloss blades|koloss blade]], and stops the koloss assault on the city by controlling them through emotional Allomancy.

==== The Well of Ascension ====
She finds the Well of Ascension beneath Kredik Shaw in the aftermath of the battle. Once they enter the Well's chamber, the [[Preservation|mist spirit]] attacks Elend -- its hand forced by Kelsier -- fatally stabbing him in the hope that Vin would use the power to save him. Despite Preservation's best attempts to prepare Vin to take up the power, and Kelsier's attempt force her to use it, Vin enters the Well and, encouraged by Ruin's tricks, gives up the power in the belief that it is the best choice, thus inadvertently releasing [[Ruin]] from his prison as he had been manipulating her to do. Preservation shows Vin the final bead of [[lerasium]] in the chamber in order to allow her to save Elend by feeding him the bead and transforming him into a Mistborn.{{book ref|mb2|58}}{{book ref|mb2|epilogue}}{{msh ref|2|3}}

==== Aftermath of the Koloss Assault ====
The crew hold a funeral service for the fallen at Keep Venture. While Demoux speaks at the service, Vin sits on the steps, watched over by Ham. Kelsier attempts to comfort her in the wake of the disastrous release of Ruin, but due to the separation between the realms, she is unable to hear him.{{msh ref|3|1}}

=== The New Empire ===
Vin and Elend set about expanding their empire, and bring large numbers of koloss under their control by killing Ruin's Inquisitors. They search for the [[atium cache]] and the storage caverns, discovering more about the history of the world. They also read about the metal [[electrum]], which helps to protect them from atium attacks.

{{image|Vin and Elend by Egilde Art.jpg|side=left|width=300px|Dancing with [[Elend]]}}

==== The Siege of Fadrex ====
They [[Siege of Fadrex City|besiege]] [[Fadrex City]], in hope of locating the atium, and the last of the Lord Ruler's plates. During the siege, Vin's attempts to gather information about through Ashweather Cett's contacts lead her to [[Slowswift]]. She speaks with Slowswift and though he is reluctant to sell information about Aradan Yomen's weaknesses, she quickly deduces how to convince him to sell her the information: by appealing to his fear of change and convincing him that the change coming upon the world is inevitable, and that Yomen cannot protect Fadrex from it.{{book ref|mb3|27}}

Upon approaching the next informant, [[Hoid]], for confirmation of Slowswift's information, she hesitates before contacting him and because of Kelsier's desperate attempts from the cognitive realm to keep Vin away from him get through to her, due to her burning bronze. She gets a bad feeling about the situation and leaves. She trusts her instincts and keeps away from Hoid entirely.{{book ref|mb3|27}}{{msh ref|6|1}}

Vin briefly scouts the Canton of Resource from outside, then proceeds to the third and final of Cett's informants, but Preservation empowers Kelsier with something similar to Allomancy, so that he can better follow Vin through Fadrex City while she is spying. Her bronze burning picks up on Kelsier trailing her in the cognitive realm, and she believes she is being followed by an enemy Mistborn and attempts to lose him. Ruin interferes upon noticing Kelsier, however, stopping him from pursuing her and sending a puppet of his own making after Vin, imitating the pulses that Kelsier was giving off in order to trick her. Ruin's puppet stops giving chase the moment Vin turns to face it, and she concludes that it must have been the mist spirit.{{book ref|mb3|27}}{{msh ref|6|1}}

Vin is captured and imprisoned by Yomen. While imprisoned, Vin is visited by an apparition of Reen, who is later revealed  to be [[Ruin]]. After learning about Ruin, she fights [[Marsh]], and escapes back to [[Luthadel]] where she fights the other Inquisitors and destroys the palace in a [[mist]]-powered Push, finally able to use the mists after Marsh regains enough control over his body to defy Ruin and remove her earring and Hemalurgic spike.

==== The Battle of Hathsin & The Final Ascension ====
{{image|Elend and Vin by Korina Hunjak.jpg|side=right|width=250px}}
When Vin absorbs the mists in the fight against the Inquisitors her body is eventually vaporised by the power and she takes up the [[Shard]] Preservation and attempts to right the world in similar ways to the inexperienced [[Rashek]]. She fails in many of the same ways as Rashek, initially, from unforeseen consequences of each action, as well as Ruin's interference.{{book ref|mb3|73}}{{book ref|mb3|76}} She observes the final fight between Elend and Marsh, fueling Elend's Allomancy with Preservation's power. Marsh beheads Elend, killing him, and removing the last thing binding Vin to the world. She attacks Ruin directly, killing both [[Ati]] and herself, leaving both Shards to be taken up by [[Sazed]].{{book ref|mb3|81}}{{book ref|mb3|82}}

In his [[Sazed's note|letter]] to [[Spook]], Sazed reveals that he had spoken with Vin and she was happy where she was, Sazed also tries to bring her back to life but reveals that merely healing a body does not return souls.{{book ref|mb3|82}}{{book ref|mb3|epilogue}}

=== Post-Catacendre Myths and Culture ===
In the world remade by [[Harmony]], Vin becomes mythologised as the '''Ascendant Warrior''', and is rarely referred to by name. The myths tell of her slaying the Lord Ruler, carrying the world upon her arms, able to kill with a glare alone, able to discover secrets no others knew, and capable of defeating entire armies of enraged koloss on her own.{{book ref|mb4|1}}{{book ref|mb5|11}}{{book ref|mb6|13}} It is believed that she merged with the mists, becoming their guardian and watching over those in the night.{{book ref|mb5|11}} The "Lady Mistborn's knives" are considered relics from mythology, alongside other objects such as the Lord Ruler's metalminds.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Additionally, she is a historical model for modern women in the [[Elendel Basin]], her example creating more egalitarian views about women in the Basin's society. Her legacy in this regard is also written into law.{{book ref|mb4|9}}{{book ref|mb5|14}} However, the way in which she is mythologised leaves a staggering reputation for other women in the Basin to live up to.{{book ref|mb6|13}}

Large statues of her and Elend stand atop their tomb and museum in the [[Field of Rebirth]] and dominate the area.{{book ref|mb4|10}} In [[New Seran]], an old, sunken statue of Vin, eight feet tall and made of black marble, resides in a graveyard among the graves of the impoverished.{{book ref|mb6|13}} [[Ranette]] created a gun which she named [[Vindication]], after Vin.{{book ref|mb4|14}} Vin is depicted ripping out the Lord Ruler's insides in several illustrated religious texts.{{book ref|mb6|2}} In some artwork of her, such as the murals in [[Kelesina Shores]]' mansion in New Seran, she is depicted rising above a flock of ravens, symbolic of Steel Inquisitors.{{book ref|mb6|12}}

Coinshots have started calling the nightscape above the mists, only accessible to those who can push themselves into the sky, the ''Ascendant's Fields''.{{book ref|mb6|16}}

== Relationships ==
{{image|Vin and Elend by Ari Ibarra.jpg|side=left|width=250px|With Elend}}
=== Elend ===
{{quote
|I want him to hold me. I want him to talk to me, even if I don’t understand what he’s saying. Anything to keep him there, with me. I want to be better because of him.
|Vin{{book ref|mb2|45}}
}}
Vin first meets [[Elend]] at a ball at [[Keep Venture]], largely by accident. Elend seems to like her, and Vin returns the feelings. [[Dockson]] and the others warns her, telling her that Elend is just pretending to like her in order to annoy his father. Vin, however, is firm in her belief that Elend is different from the other nobles.{{book ref|mb1|12}}{{book ref|mb1|13}} As the house war escalates, Elend starts avoiding Vin, not wanting her to become a target for assassins. Vin realizes how much she truly cares for Elend that night, and saves Elend from an assassination attempt lead by [[Shan Elariel]], his fiancée.{{book ref|mb1|30}} At the execution in Luthadel square, Elend attempts to rescue Vin because he thinks she is in one of the cages.{{book ref|mb1|34}} When she is captured by the [[Lord Ruler]], Elend courageously leads a team of guards into [[Kredik Shaw]] to rescue her. Soon after he finds out her identity as a skaa and a Mistborn.{{book ref|mb1|37}} 

{{sidequote
|I know what I want, now. I love Elend. I don’t know what kind of time we’ll have together, but I want some, at least.
|Vin{{book ref|mb2|48}}
|side=right|size=250px
}}

They began living together, and Vin acts as Elend’s bodyguard, keeping him safe from assassins.{{book ref|mb2|2}} Elend proposes to her at some point, but Vin denies him. They have some tension for a few months, though they don’t talk about it to each other. Vin feels that he is too good for her, and that he deserves someone better than her. Vin believes that Elend is scared of her and the way she kills so many assassins.{{book ref|mb2|38}} In turn, Elend feels that he is too boring and unimportant for one such as her. They both talk to Sazed separately, asking for advice. Sazed encourages each of them to continue with the relationship, telling them how they are good for each other.{{book ref|mb2|45}} 

After fighting and killing [[Zane]], Vin runs to Elend and has Sazed marry them in a quick marriage ceremony.{{book ref|mb2|48}} After Elend later becomes a Mistborn, he and Vin fight together on multiple occasions.{{book ref|mb3|3}} They work together to try and conquer [[Fadrex City]].{{book ref|mb3|30}} When Vin ascends to [[Preservation]], she watches, helpless as Elend fights [[Marsh]] at the Battle of [[Hathsin]]. When Marsh kills Elend, it takes away the only thing Vin has left to live for, enabling her to sacrifice herself to kill [[Ruin]].{{book ref|mb3|81}}

=== Reen ===

{{quote
|He beat me over and over and over. He swore at me, he yelled at me. He told me he’d betray me. Everyday I thought about how much I hated him. And I loved him. I still do.
|Vin{{book ref|mb1|37}}
}}

[[Reen]] is Vin's half-brother. When [[Vin's mother|their mother]] tries to kill Vin, it is Reen who rescues her. Reen raises Vin on the streets, and she accompanies him, learning how to be a thief. Reen is abusive towards her, often beating her and yelling at her. He drills into her the instinct to trust nobody, saying that anyone would betray her, including him. Eventually he does leave her, abandoning her to survive on the streets by herself.{{book ref|mb1|2}} Even though he betrays her, Vin later realizes that she still loves him.{{book ref|mb1|37}}
At some point Reen gets captured by the [[Inquisitor]]s, and is interrogated about the whereabouts of Vin. Despite the torture, he protects Vin, insisting that she died of starvation years ago.{{book ref|mb1|37}}

{{image|Kelsier's Crew by Katie Payne.jpg|side=right|width=300px|With [[Kelsier]] and the other members of his [[Kelsier's crew|crew]]}}
=== Kelsier ===

{{quote
|It was a fun job wasn’t it? When you remember me, please remember that. Remember to smile.
|Kelsier’s note to Vin and the rest of the crew{{book ref|mb1|35}}
}}

Kelsier is Vin’s mentor, and teaches her to use her Allomantic abilities.{{book ref|mb1|7}} Though she initially is wary and suspicious of Kelsier, she eventually learns to trust him, and he becomes somewhat of a father figure to her. He tries to teach Vin to smile and occasionally look on the bright side of things. They go on several outings together, including fighting Inquisitors.{{book ref|mb1|14}} Though Kelsier is killed by the [[Rashek| Lord Ruler]], he continues to watch over Vin as a [[Cognitive Shadow]]. He feels guilty for abandoning her, but does his best to help her. He eventually plays an important role in freeing her from Ruin’s influence.{{Msh ref|6|7}}

=== Zane ===
{{quote
|Just… someone more like myself. The kind of man I should be with.
|Vin, talking to Sazed about Zane.{{book ref|mb2|45}}
}}

From the first time she sees him, Vin is intrigued by the mysterious Mistborn who watches her from the tops of buildings, and who always manages to slip away from her when she gives chase.{{book ref|mb2|2}} Soon, Vin meets Zane and they get to know each other well. They duel in the mists nearly every night, never seriously trying to kill each other. Zane tells Vin of her immense skill and power, and tells her that [[Elend]] is just using her as a tool. He gets her to attack [[Ashweather Cett|Cett]]’s keep with him, and they slaughter thousands of soldiers.{{book ref|mb2|43}} 

Vin’s relationship with Zane causes her emotional turmoil, as she tries to decide between Zane and Elend. In the end, it’s a conversation with [[Sazed]] that helps her make up her mind. One night, Zane comes to her and asks her to run away with him. Vin refuses, choosing Elend over Zane. Zane attacks her, this time intending to kill her. Though Zane burns [[atium]], Vin still manages to kill him during the course of their fight.{{book ref|mb2|47}}

=== Sazed ===
{{quote
|Oh, child. When will you stop worrying and simply let yourself be loved?
|Sazed{{book ref|mb2|45}}
}}
In Vin’s chaotic and confusing life, [[Sazed]] remains a constant and steady person for her to confide in. He has saved her life on more than one occasion, and Vin trusts him completely. Throughout Vin’s time in [[Kelsier]]’s crew, Sazed often suggests different religions to her from his [[coppermind]]s.{{book ref|mb1|29}} She goes to him for both advice on important current events, as well as relationship advice.{{book ref|mb2|45}} He remains calm at all times, which often has a calming affect on Vin in turn. At Vin’s request, he preforms Vin and Elend’s marriage ceremony.{{book ref|mb2|48}}

== Quotes ==
{{for|/Quotes|more quotes}}
{{quote
|Anonymity. Hiding, even when you’re with others. Being quiet, unobtrusive. Forcing yourself to stay apart—emotionally, at least. It’s a way of life. A protection.
|Vin to TenSoon{{book ref|mb2|22}}
}}

{{quote
|You brought armies to attack my city. You threatened my people. I won’t slaughter your soldiers, make them pay for what you did, but I will kill you, Cett.
|Vin to Lord Cett{{book ref|mb2|55}}
}}

{{quote
|I can't decide if you're a fool, (...) or if you simply exist in a way that makes you incapable of considering some things. (...) You said that the only reason to create something is to destroy it. (...) We create things to watch them grow, Ruin. (...) To take pleasure in seeing that which we love become more than it was before.
|Vin to Ruin during the Battle of Hathsin.{{book ref|mb3|81}}
}}

{{quote
|She was strong and vulnerable all at once. She was my last master, and my greatest. She had a way of pouring everything of herself into what she did. When she fought, she was the blade. When she loved, she was the kiss. In that regard, she was far more . . . human than any I have known.
|TenSoon speaking of Vin to Waxillium Ladrian.{{book ref|mb5|20}}
}}

{{quote
|All right, what was that pink thing I just passed in the hallway?
|Vin's first reaction upon seeing Allrianne Cett{{book ref|mb2|21}}
}}

== Trivia ==
*Vin was originally male in a single chapter of Mistborn before Brandon changed his mind.{{wob ref|4069}}

== See Also ==
=== Subpages ===
{{Special:PrefixIndex/{{FULLPAGENAME}}/|stripprefix=1}}

=== Related Articles ===
{{columns|
*[[Vin's earring]]
*[[Elend Venture]]
*[[Kelsier]]
*[[Preservation]]
*[[Church of the Survivor]]
}}

== Notes ==
{{holder
|title= Vessel of<br>[[Preservation]]
|prev=[[Kelsier]]
|this=
|next=[[Sazed]]
}}
<references />
{{partial}}
{{Mistborn|Era 1}}
[[category: viewpoint characters]]
[[es:Vin]]