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'''Ars Arcanum'''
▲'''Ars Arcanum''' (Latin for "The Art of Mystery") is a glossary or appendix section at the end of the books that are part of the [[Cosmere]] universe. The information is presented from an in-universe perspective {{qa ref|632|4}}
Every Ars Arcanum is written by [[Khriss]].{{wob ref|6873}} The annotations on many of the images from the various books are made by her assistant [[Nazh]].{{wob ref|13587}}
For example, the books in the [[Mistborn trilogy]] each have an Ars Arcanum with the table of [[Metallic Arts]], describing what each of the [[Allomantic]] metals does. The Ars Arcanum in ''[[The Way of Kings]]'' tabulates the gemstones used in [[Surgebinding]].▼
[[Brandon Sanderson|Brandon]] initially planned to use the phrase "Ars Magica" for these glossaries, as he felt it was "a cool Latinate take on 'Magical Arts' or 'Magical Skills'." However, there was a role-playing game with that name, so he instead went with "Ars Arcanum," which he ultimately felt had more of a true-Latinate feel.{{wob ref|2491}}
== Ars Arcanum in each book or series ==
''All of the cosmere stories containing an Ars Arcanum are listed here in rough chronological order.''
=== White Sand ===
The omnibus edition of ''[[White Sand]]'' has pages of Ars Arcanum interspersed throughout; they consist of Khriss' [[Khrissalla's_Journal|original notes]] from her first visit to Dayside [[Taldain]], before she became a worldhopper. They have notes on Taldain astronomy, Dayside fauna, culture and customs, the properties of its [[Sand (Taldain)|Sand]], the abilities of [[Sand mastery|sand masters]], and comparisons of that to [[Starmarks]].
=== Elantris ===
''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]'' has an Ars Arcanum that lists selected [[Aon]]s of note and includes their design, their meanings, and some examples of their use within Aonic names or terms. The tenth anniversary edition added a brief essay titled "On [[AonDor]]". The essay raises questions about the origin of Aons and compares the manifestations of [[Investiture]] found on [[Sel]] to those found on other planets. Selish magic is noted to have several unique qualities that Khriss cannot explain. The essay is also notable for mentioning [[Vax]].
=== Mistborn ===
▲
=== Warbreaker ===
The Ars Arcanum in ''[[Warbreaker]]'' includes a table showing the abilities granted by the different [[Heightening]]s of [[BioChromatic Breath]].
=== The Stormlight Archive ===
The Ars Arcanum in [[The Stormlight Archive]] gives detailed information about the [[Ten Essences]], as well as descriptions of the different [[Surge]]s and how they are used by [[Surgebinder]]s. Some information has been added in each book: a [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightweaving]] section appears in ''[[Words of Radiance]]'' and ''[[Oathbringer]]'' contains an additional section about [[Soulcasting]]. ''[[Rhythm of War]]'' contains an additional section about the [[Surge]] of [[Cohesion]], particularly focusing on its use in shaping stone, and mentioned [[microkinesis]].
== Notes ==
<references />
{{meta/partial}}
[[Category: Books|*]]
[[Category: Cosmere]]
[[category: list articles]]
[[es:Ars Arcanum]]
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