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Difference between revisions of "Ati"

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{{character
  
{{character
−
|image=Ruin.jpg
 +
|image=Ruin by ML Malandrino.jpg
 
|abilities={{tag+|shard|Ruin}}
  
|abilities={{tag+|shard|Ruin}}
 
|titles=[[Ruin]]
  
|titles=[[Ruin]]
−
|aliases=Frue{{book ref|mb6|22}}
 +
|aliases=Herr{{book ref|mb6|22}}
 
|died={{date|1025|fe}}
  
|died={{date|1025|fe}}
−
|world=Scadrial
 +
|world=Yolen
 
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
  
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
−
|books=[[Mistborn Era 1]]
 +
|first appeared=[[Mistborn: The Final Empire]]
  +
}}
−
}}{{for|Aon#Ati|the Aon|pre=This article is about the [[Vessel]]}}
 +
{{for|Aon#Ati|the Aon|pre=This article is about the [[Vessel]]|post=For the [[seon]], see [[Ati (seon)]].}}
 
{{quote
  
{{quote
  +
|Death is not evil, Kelsier. Death is necessary.
−
| Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him.
  
−
| [[The Letter]]{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}
 +
|Ati{{msh ref|4|4}}
 
}}
  
}}
⚫
'''Ati''' is a human and the original Vessel of the [[Shard]] [[Ruin]], originally from the planet [[Yolen]]. When he was killed by [[Vin]] and separated from his shard, it is revealed that he has red hair. {{epigraph ref|mb3|82}}
  
   
  ⚫
'''Ati''' is a human and the original Vessel of the [[Shard]] [[Ruin]], hailing from the planet [[Yolen]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|82}} He and [[Leras]], the Vessel of [[Preservation]], created [[Scadrial]] together before Leras betrayed him and trapped him in the [[Well of Ascension]].{{au ref|Scadrial}}
   
−
== Appearance and Personality ==
+
== Appearance and Personality ==
  +
{{image|Ati.jpg|side=left|width=150px}}
  +
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
  +
{{quote
  +
|Think of me as a caretaker—the one who watches the shop and makes certain that the lights are turned out, that everything is cleaned up, once closing time arrives.
  +
|Ati{{book ref|mb3|57}}
  +
}}
   
  +
=== Appearance ===
−
Little is known about Ati's appearance, other than the fact that he has red hair. His personality before he became the Vessel of Ruin was that of a very kind, generous and caring man. Due to Ruin's influence, however, his personality was warped to fit that of Ruin, making Ati want to see the destruction of everything in existence.
  
  +
Little is known about Ati's appearance; he has flame-red hair, and a welcoming, friendly smile. When taking on human form, he wears a robe, and has shadows moving beneath his skin, akin to spines or spider legs. They push against his form, making it pucker outwards erratically.{{msh ref|4|4}} How intense this effect is varies; it's sometimes less pronounced, and sometimes more.{{msh ref|6|1}} When speaking to Vin, Ati uses [[Reen]]'s voice, though he sounds more aged and fatherly.{{book ref|mb3|57}}
  +
  +
=== Personality ===
  +
==== Mortal ====
  +
As a mortal, Ati was known for being kind and generous. After taking up Ruin, he fought against the destructive impulses it brought about for many years. Over time, however, Ruin won out, and adapted this kindness to its own intent. This fundamentally warped his personality, leaving him nearly unrecognizable from his original self.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|10334}}
  +
  +
During his mortal life, he was driven to kill Adonalsium, either due to desire for power or a belief in the necessity of the action. Displaying the willingness to kill, either for a cause he believed in, or to gain power.{{msh ref|3|2}}
  +
  +
After dying and losing his Connection to Ruin, he quickly accepted his death and passed into the [[Beyond]].{{msh ref|6|8}} If he continued to exist in the Physical or Cognitive Realms instead of passing away into the Beyond, his personality would have returned to his original one, though his soul would forever carry scars from his time as a Vessel, likely keeping his personality from truly returning to normal.{{wob ref|3009}}
  +
  +
==== Vessel ====
  +
  +
As Ruin, Ati wants to see the destruction of everything in existence. He believes that all life must end eventually, and to force it to carry onward past its expiration date is cruel. In his opinion, the destruction he causes serves a creative purpose; without death, there can be no further life.{{msh ref|4|4}}{{book ref|mb3|45}} Through this framework of understanding his Intent, he sees himself as a sort of caretaker of reality, and as the representative of change itself, and of necessary entropy and decay.{{msh ref|4|4}}{{book ref|mb3|57}}{{wob ref|10334}} Following from this, he does not see himself as evil, but as a natural and necessary force of nature.{{msh ref|4|4}}
  +
  +
He sees great beauty in destruction and endings, and sees it as something one shouldn't mourn, but rather take joy in. As he sees destruction as completion, and finds sublime beauty in that.{{book ref|mb3|45}} He claims that the only reason to create something is to watch it die, to reach its ordained completion.{{book ref|mb3|45}} He attempts to comfort those that resist him, and convince them of his own necessity, and of the inherent goodness in finality.{{book ref|mb3|45}}
  +
  +
As a result of this insatiable craving, he hates how his force of change and destruction is always resisted by [[Preservation]]'s stasis and protection, leading to neither being able to do anything. He considers this state of balance the curse of his existence.{{book ref|mb3|76}} He even curses balance itself, due to his experiences with the concept.{{book ref|mb3|77}}{{book ref|mb3|81}}
  +
  +
At the same time, Ati is prideful and boastful. He considers himself to be a fundamental aspect of reality, and considers himself to be God.{{book ref|mb3|65}}{{book ref|mb3|72}} He seems to revel in mocking those he has defeated, and will appear in front of his victims to gloat about his victory.{{msh ref|4|4}}{{book ref|mb3|57}} This very quality is his weak point, as it often leads him to underestimating his opponents.{{book ref|mb3|81}} When people reject his perceived superiority, especially when they rebel against him, he becomes deeply angered.{{book ref|mb3|72}}
  +
  +
As a megalomaniacal figure, Ati is subtly manipulative, manipulating people in order to fulfill his goals and desires.{{book ref|mb3|part=ars}} He subtly manipulates people in order for them to play into his plans, either through speaking directly into their mind, or through changing the text of documents in manners that fit with his agenda.{{book ref|mb2|epilogue}}{{book ref|mb3|part=ars}} He even directly controls the minds of those spiked with enough [[Hemalurgy|hemalurgic spikes]] to leave their soul vulnerable to his influence, warping their thoughts and emotions to fit his Intent and his greater plans,{{book ref|mb3|prologue}} as he sees people as little more than pawns in his game. and feels a sense of ownership over them.{{book ref|mb3|57}}{{msh ref|4|4}}{{cite}}
  +
  +
== Abilities and Attributes ==
  +
{{image|Marsh Ruin.png|side=right|width=200px|Commanding an [[Inquisitor]]}}
  +
{{quote
  +
|I'm all around you—the air you pretend to breathe, the ground beneath your feet. I’m in that knife and in your very soul.
  +
|Ati{{msh ref|4|4}}
  +
}}
  +
  +
Ati is a [[Shard]] of [[Adonalsium]], making him one of the most powerful entities in the [[cosmere]]. He is immortal, unaging, and incorporeal; he fuels the magics of [[Hemalurgy]] and, in part, [[Feruchemy]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|33}} Thanks to being heavily Invested in [[Scadrial]], he can alter any text other than what is written in metal, changing it to suit his needs.{{epigraph ref|mb2|1}} He can also speak to any person wearing a hemalurgic spike.{{book ref|mb5|7}} This all comes at a cost of a drastic personality change, as his mind was forced to adapt to [[Ruin]]'s intent.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}
  +
  +
Apart from his supernatural abilities, Ati has proven to be adept at deception, when he wishes to be. His alterations are subtle enough to trick the unaware into thinking they are still reading the original text.{{book ref|mb2|epilogue}} When appearing in person, he can easily play a role of another; most notably, he was speaking in [[Reen]]'s voice in [[Vin]]'s head for years without tipping her off to the fact that she wasn't hearing her own thoughts, and he mimicked [[Kelsier]]'s voice to [[Spook]] to drive him to serve Ruin's purposes.{{book ref|mb3|45}}{{wob ref|7719}} Despite his destructive, megalomaniacal tendencies, he is easily able to play someone kind and affable.{{msh ref|2|3}}
   
 
== History ==
  
== History ==
  +
Nothing is known about Ati's origins and life prior to the [[Shattering]], other than that he came from [[Yolen]].{{wob ref|7939}} For unknown reason, ten-thousand years before the True Desolation,{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}{{book ref|tsm|11}} he and a group of others broke cosmere's creator deity, Adonalsium, into sixteen pieces.{{msh ref|3|2}} Of those sixteen, he took up [[Ruin]], and departed alongside [[Preservation]] for an empty star system that would eventually become [[Scadrial]].{{au ref|Scadrial}}
   
  +
{{for|Ruin#History|Ati's actions as Ruin}}
−
Ati became the Vessel for Ruin through unknown means. He was originally a kind and generous person, but over the course of holding Ruin, his personality was twisted by the influence of his Shard.{{article ref|The Letter}} Because of this, he became the embodiment of the natural force of entropy, and wished to destroy everything. His desires have only been kept in check by [[Leras]], the Vessel of the Shard of his opposing force, [[Preservation]].
  
   
  +
Following his death at the hands of [[Vin]], Ati's body reappeared at the site where the two clashed.{{book ref|mb3|82}} His [[Cognitive Shadow]] briefly manifested in Scadrial's [[Cognitive Realm]], where he was initially confused, wondering if he'd found himself on [[Vax]]. Unfortunately for him, he manifested near [[Kelsier]], who promptly decked him in the face as retaliation. With glum acceptance, Ati faded away into the [[Beyond]].{{msh ref|6|8}}
−
Leras was weakened over time, unable to defeat his opponent due to the inherent protective nature of Preservation. This caused him to pass the shard to Vin, who could defeat Ati before the personality-altering effects could prevent her from doing so. Ati is killed by Vin-as-Preservation when she sacrifices herself for that purpose. This enabled [[Sazed]] to take the Shards Ruin and Preservation, combining them into [[Harmony]].
  
   
  +
== Relationships ==
−
== Pact with Preservation and Attempted Destruction of Scadrial ==
  
  +
=== Leras ===
  +
{{quote
  +
|As if he could harm even me.
  +
|Ati about Leras{{msh ref|4|4}}
  +
}}
   
  +
It's unknown what, if any, relationship there was between Ati and Leras prior to the [[Shattering]]. The two left [[Yolen]] together, though it's unclear whether this was due to personal attachment or simply because they realized the need for their Shards to balance each other out.{{au ref|Scadrial}} However, Leras tricked Ati; first convincing him to create Scadrial together, under the pretense that he'd be allowed to destroy it later, then sacrificing himself to trap Ruin's mind within the [[Well of Ascension]].{{book ref|mb3|71}}{{msh ref|2|2}}
−
As one of the sixteen people who shattered Adonalsium, Ati became the original vessel of Shard Ruin. As the vessel, his mind was warped to fit his Shardic intent, making him always want to reduce everything down to its smallest possible form, to destroy everything. In an agreement with the Shard Preservation, he obtained Preservation's help in creating a planet ([[Scadrial]]), with the agreement that if Preservation could create sentient life, Ruin could eventually destroy Scadrial and its inhabitants. However, Preservation's Intent prevented him from actually allowing Ruin to destroy Scadrial. He orchestrated the downfall of Ruin on Scadrial with an elaborate plot to sacrifice himself (since holding Preservation meant he was unable to destroy). He sacrificed his mental capabilities to entrap Ruin in the Well of Ascension, effectively preventing Ruin from majorly affecting the world. Ati was still able to use Ruin's power to affect the world, and changed the [[Terris Prophecies]] to trick Vin into freeing him from the Well of Ascension. Once free, he began to make the [[Ashmounts]] to erupt more frequently, causing the omnipresent ash to fall more heavily and lava flows to endanger several villages close to each Ashmount.{{epigraph ref|mb3|48}} Earthquakes were also much more frequent, so much so that [[Elend Venture|Elend]] remarked that earthquakes were practically unheard of in the [[Dominance|Inner Dominances]], but during a short time he had already experienced several.{{book ref|mb3|36}}
  
  +
  +
By the time of Ruin's release, the two are extremely hostile to each other. Ati is dismissive of Leras, mocking his weakness and the limitations placed on him by his intent.{{msh ref|4|4}} Leras hates how Ati used his power to twist and change their religion to worship only himself, and bemoans the change in Ati's personality brought about by the Shard.{{msh ref|1|2}}{{msh ref|3|1}} Neither Vessel is afraid of the other; Ati, because he doesn't believe Preservation is capable of opposing him, and Leras, because he's already dead and thus out of Ati's reach.{{msh ref|4|4}}{{msh ref|2|3}}
  +
  +
=== Vin ===
  +
{{image|Vin and Ruin by EccoS.jpg|side=right|width=250px|[[Vin]] and Ruin}}
  +
{{quote
  +
|You're all on my side, Vin. I created you. You’re my tools—each and every one of you.
  +
|Ati{{book ref|mb3|57}}
  +
}}
  +
  +
Ati considers Vin one of his greatest agents, and has taken great pains to twist her to his purposes in order to have an appropriate tool to bring about the end.{{book ref|mb3|57}} She was selected at birth due to an unusual combination of circumstances: she herself a [[Allomancy|Mistborn]], with a [[Seeker]] sister and an insane mother whom Ruin could influence. As such, he drove the mother to kill the sister and put her power into a Hemalurgic spike that would become Vin's earring.{{epigraph ref|mb3|74}}
  +
  +
After [[Reen]]'s death, Ruin often makes use of his voice, speaking to Vin through the earring to influence her, mostly to make her less trusting of others.{{book ref|mb3|45}} He also alters various texts to convince people that Vin is the [[Hero of Ages]], leading to her visiting the [[Well of Ascension]]. There, he puts on a kindly persona to convince her to release the Well's power and thus free him.{{book ref|mb3|71}}{{msh ref|2|3}}
  +
  +
In the period following his release, Ruin frequently speaks to Vin, trying to beat down her spirit and ensure she would not fulfill [[Preservation]]'s plans for her. However, it's this very gloating that makes Vin realize that she's not speaking with a force of nature but a person, with very human failings. Rather than feeling defeat, she begins to hope once more that Ruin could be defeated.{{book ref|mb3|57}} Ati's final mistake with Vin is killing Elend, thinking it would push her to the depths of despair. Instead, she rallies and, freed from her last tie to the world of the living, challenges him directly, killing them both.{{book ref|mb3|81}}
  +
  +
=== Kelsier ===
  +
{{quote
  +
|You can say what you wish, but you don't own me. I am '''not''' yours.
  +
|Kelsier{{msh ref|4|4}}
  +
}}
   
  +
Kelsier first learns of Ruin's existence after his death, when he witnesses Leras scream at Ati in defiance.{{msh ref|2|1}} During the time he spends trapped in the Well of Ascension, he learns more about the Shard and even uses bits of its power to see the events happening beyond the Well.{{msh ref|2|2}} He comes to fear the possibility of its release, and tries to aid Leras in stopping Ati from breaking free, albeit to no avail.{{msh ref|2|3}} After Vin releases Ruin, Kelsier sets out to find a way to defeat it.{{msh ref|3|3}}
−
== God Metal ==
  
   
  +
Ati himself seems to find Kelsier amusing, and Leras notes that even the man's old self would laugh at the situation.{{msh ref|3|1}} When he appears to Kelsier, it's to mock him, and assure him that his own victory is inevitable. Much like Vin, Kelsier does realize that Ati is doing so partially because he is worried that Kelsier might find a way to oppose him; however, he still find Ati's words disturbing.{{msh ref|4|4}}
−
'[[Atium]]' is Ruin's god metal, a physical condensation of his power, and is named after Ati. Atium gives the user the ability to see into the future by a few seconds in order to counteract any move made by an opponent and strike almost unavoidably, as the Seer or Mistborn burning Atium will know where you will move before you even do. Burning Atium also expands the user's mind to be able to deal with the wealth of new information and act accordingly to it. Atium burned incredibly quickly; even a relatively large bead lasts for only about two minutes.{{book ref|mb2|40}} Atium production from the [[Pits of Hathsin]] was ceased when [[Kelsier]] destroyed the crystals that the Atium grew from.
  
   
  +
When Kelsier returns with the [[Ire's orb]], Ati once again mocks him, suggesting that it was him who inspired Kelsier's quest in the first place. Kelsier tries to protect Vin from Ruin's influence, but even after taking up Preservation, he is unable to do that until the very end, when he passes the Shard's power onto her.{{msh ref|6|1}}{{msh ref|6|7}} It's only after Vin uses said power to kill Ruin that Kelsier is able to pay Ati back for all the verbal abuse, by punching him hard enough to make the former Vessel fall to the ground.{{msh ref|6|8}}
−
== Image Gallery ==
  
   
  +
== Trivia ==
−
<gallery caption="Images of Ati">
  
  +
* If Ati managed to give up Ruin without dying, his personality would return to something closer to the original one, though his nature as a [[Sliver]] would leave a permanent mark on his psyche.{{wob ref|3009}}
−
Ruin.jpg | Ruin by [[Coppermind: Artist/Kyle Pearson|Kyle Pearson]]
  
  +
* Ati is potentially named after [[wikipedia:Ate_(mythology)|Até]], the Greek goddess of ruin.
−
Marsh Ruin.png | Ruin commanding Marsh by [[Coppermind: Artists/eyeronis|eyeronis]]
 
−
Ati.jpg | Ati by [[User: Botanicaxu]]
 
−
</gallery>
  
   
 
== Notes ==
  
== Notes ==
 
<references />
  
<references />
−
{{partial}}
 +
{{complete}}
 
{{Mistborn|Era 1}}
  
{{Mistborn|Era 1}}
 
{{cosmere}}
  
{{cosmere}}
  +
[[es:Ati]]

Latest revision as of 02:48, 4 May 2024

Ati
Ruin by ML Malandrino.jpg
by Maria Lia Malandrino
Died 1025 FE
Abilities Shard of Ruin
Titles Ruin
Aliases Herr[1]
Homeworld Yolen
Universe Cosmere
First Appeared Mistborn: The Final Empire
This article is about the Vessel. For the Aon, see Aon#Ati. For the seon, see Ati (seon).

“Death is not evil, Kelsier. Death is necessary. ”

—Ati[2]

Ati is a human and the original Vessel of the Shard Ruin, hailing from the planet Yolen.[3] He and Leras, the Vessel of Preservation, created Scadrial together before Leras betrayed him and trapped him in the Well of Ascension.[4]

Appearance and Personality[edit]

by botanicaxu
For more images, see /Gallery.

“Think of me as a caretaker—the one who watches the shop and makes certain that the lights are turned out, that everything is cleaned up, once closing time arrives. ”

—Ati[5]

Appearance[edit]

Little is known about Ati's appearance; he has flame-red hair, and a welcoming, friendly smile. When taking on human form, he wears a robe, and has shadows moving beneath his skin, akin to spines or spider legs. They push against his form, making it pucker outwards erratically.[2] How intense this effect is varies; it's sometimes less pronounced, and sometimes more.[6] When speaking to Vin, Ati uses Reen's voice, though he sounds more aged and fatherly.[5]

Personality[edit]

Mortal[edit]

As a mortal, Ati was known for being kind and generous. After taking up Ruin, he fought against the destructive impulses it brought about for many years. Over time, however, Ruin won out, and adapted this kindness to its own intent. This fundamentally warped his personality, leaving him nearly unrecognizable from his original self.[7][8]

During his mortal life, he was driven to kill Adonalsium, either due to desire for power or a belief in the necessity of the action. Displaying the willingness to kill, either for a cause he believed in, or to gain power.[9]

After dying and losing his Connection to Ruin, he quickly accepted his death and passed into the Beyond.[10] If he continued to exist in the Physical or Cognitive Realms instead of passing away into the Beyond, his personality would have returned to his original one, though his soul would forever carry scars from his time as a Vessel, likely keeping his personality from truly returning to normal.[11]

Vessel[edit]

As Ruin, Ati wants to see the destruction of everything in existence. He believes that all life must end eventually, and to force it to carry onward past its expiration date is cruel. In his opinion, the destruction he causes serves a creative purpose; without death, there can be no further life.[2][12] Through this framework of understanding his Intent, he sees himself as a sort of caretaker of reality, and as the representative of change itself, and of necessary entropy and decay.[2][5][8] Following from this, he does not see himself as evil, but as a natural and necessary force of nature.[2]

He sees great beauty in destruction and endings, and sees it as something one shouldn't mourn, but rather take joy in. As he sees destruction as completion, and finds sublime beauty in that.[12] He claims that the only reason to create something is to watch it die, to reach its ordained completion.[12] He attempts to comfort those that resist him, and convince them of his own necessity, and of the inherent goodness in finality.[12]

As a result of this insatiable craving, he hates how his force of change and destruction is always resisted by Preservation's stasis and protection, leading to neither being able to do anything. He considers this state of balance the curse of his existence.[13] He even curses balance itself, due to his experiences with the concept.[14][15]

At the same time, Ati is prideful and boastful. He considers himself to be a fundamental aspect of reality, and considers himself to be God.[16][17] He seems to revel in mocking those he has defeated, and will appear in front of his victims to gloat about his victory.[2][5] This very quality is his weak point, as it often leads him to underestimating his opponents.[15] When people reject his perceived superiority, especially when they rebel against him, he becomes deeply angered.[17]

As a megalomaniacal figure, Ati is subtly manipulative, manipulating people in order to fulfill his goals and desires.[18] He subtly manipulates people in order for them to play into his plans, either through speaking directly into their mind, or through changing the text of documents in manners that fit with his agenda.[19][18] He even directly controls the minds of those spiked with enough hemalurgic spikes to leave their soul vulnerable to his influence, warping their thoughts and emotions to fit his Intent and his greater plans,[20] as he sees people as little more than pawns in his game. and feels a sense of ownership over them.[5][2][citation needed]

Abilities and Attributes[edit]

by eyeronis
Commanding an Inquisitor

“I'm all around you—the air you pretend to breathe, the ground beneath your feet. I’m in that knife and in your very soul. ”

—Ati[2]

Ati is a Shard of Adonalsium, making him one of the most powerful entities in the cosmere. He is immortal, unaging, and incorporeal; he fuels the magics of Hemalurgy and, in part, Feruchemy.[21] Thanks to being heavily Invested in Scadrial, he can alter any text other than what is written in metal, changing it to suit his needs.[22] He can also speak to any person wearing a hemalurgic spike.[23] This all comes at a cost of a drastic personality change, as his mind was forced to adapt to Ruin's intent.[7]

Apart from his supernatural abilities, Ati has proven to be adept at deception, when he wishes to be. His alterations are subtle enough to trick the unaware into thinking they are still reading the original text.[19] When appearing in person, he can easily play a role of another; most notably, he was speaking in Reen's voice in Vin's head for years without tipping her off to the fact that she wasn't hearing her own thoughts, and he mimicked Kelsier's voice to Spook to drive him to serve Ruin's purposes.[12][24] Despite his destructive, megalomaniacal tendencies, he is easily able to play someone kind and affable.[25]

History[edit]

Nothing is known about Ati's origins and life prior to the Shattering, other than that he came from Yolen.[26] For unknown reason, ten-thousand years before the True Desolation,[27][28] he and a group of others broke cosmere's creator deity, Adonalsium, into sixteen pieces.[9] Of those sixteen, he took up Ruin, and departed alongside Preservation for an empty star system that would eventually become Scadrial.[4]

For Ati's actions as Ruin, see Ruin#History.

Following his death at the hands of Vin, Ati's body reappeared at the site where the two clashed.[29] His Cognitive Shadow briefly manifested in Scadrial's Cognitive Realm, where he was initially confused, wondering if he'd found himself on Vax. Unfortunately for him, he manifested near Kelsier, who promptly decked him in the face as retaliation. With glum acceptance, Ati faded away into the Beyond.[10]

Relationships[edit]

Leras[edit]

“As if he could harm even me. ”

—Ati about Leras[2]

It's unknown what, if any, relationship there was between Ati and Leras prior to the Shattering. The two left Yolen together, though it's unclear whether this was due to personal attachment or simply because they realized the need for their Shards to balance each other out.[4] However, Leras tricked Ati; first convincing him to create Scadrial together, under the pretense that he'd be allowed to destroy it later, then sacrificing himself to trap Ruin's mind within the Well of Ascension.[30][31]

By the time of Ruin's release, the two are extremely hostile to each other. Ati is dismissive of Leras, mocking his weakness and the limitations placed on him by his intent.[2] Leras hates how Ati used his power to twist and change their religion to worship only himself, and bemoans the change in Ati's personality brought about by the Shard.[32][33] Neither Vessel is afraid of the other; Ati, because he doesn't believe Preservation is capable of opposing him, and Leras, because he's already dead and thus out of Ati's reach.[2][25]

Vin[edit]

by EccoS
Vin and Ruin

“You're all on my side, Vin. I created you. You’re my tools—each and every one of you. ”

—Ati[5]

Ati considers Vin one of his greatest agents, and has taken great pains to twist her to his purposes in order to have an appropriate tool to bring about the end.[5] She was selected at birth due to an unusual combination of circumstances: she herself a Mistborn, with a Seeker sister and an insane mother whom Ruin could influence. As such, he drove the mother to kill the sister and put her power into a Hemalurgic spike that would become Vin's earring.[34]

After Reen's death, Ruin often makes use of his voice, speaking to Vin through the earring to influence her, mostly to make her less trusting of others.[12] He also alters various texts to convince people that Vin is the Hero of Ages, leading to her visiting the Well of Ascension. There, he puts on a kindly persona to convince her to release the Well's power and thus free him.[30][25]

In the period following his release, Ruin frequently speaks to Vin, trying to beat down her spirit and ensure she would not fulfill Preservation's plans for her. However, it's this very gloating that makes Vin realize that she's not speaking with a force of nature but a person, with very human failings. Rather than feeling defeat, she begins to hope once more that Ruin could be defeated.[5] Ati's final mistake with Vin is killing Elend, thinking it would push her to the depths of despair. Instead, she rallies and, freed from her last tie to the world of the living, challenges him directly, killing them both.[15]

Kelsier[edit]

“You can say what you wish, but you don't own me. I am not yours. ”

—Kelsier[2]

Kelsier first learns of Ruin's existence after his death, when he witnesses Leras scream at Ati in defiance.[35] During the time he spends trapped in the Well of Ascension, he learns more about the Shard and even uses bits of its power to see the events happening beyond the Well.[31] He comes to fear the possibility of its release, and tries to aid Leras in stopping Ati from breaking free, albeit to no avail.[25] After Vin releases Ruin, Kelsier sets out to find a way to defeat it.[36]

Ati himself seems to find Kelsier amusing, and Leras notes that even the man's old self would laugh at the situation.[33] When he appears to Kelsier, it's to mock him, and assure him that his own victory is inevitable. Much like Vin, Kelsier does realize that Ati is doing so partially because he is worried that Kelsier might find a way to oppose him; however, he still find Ati's words disturbing.[2]

When Kelsier returns with the Ire's orb, Ati once again mocks him, suggesting that it was him who inspired Kelsier's quest in the first place. Kelsier tries to protect Vin from Ruin's influence, but even after taking up Preservation, he is unable to do that until the very end, when he passes the Shard's power onto her.[6][37] It's only after Vin uses said power to kill Ruin that Kelsier is able to pay Ati back for all the verbal abuse, by punching him hard enough to make the former Vessel fall to the ground.[10]

Trivia[edit]

  • If Ati managed to give up Ruin without dying, his personality would return to something closer to the original one, though his nature as a Sliver would leave a permanent mark on his psyche.[11]
  • Ati is potentially named after Até, the Greek goddess of ruin.

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ The Bands of Mourning chapter 22#
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Mistborn: Secret History part 4 chapter 4#
  3. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 82 epigraph#
  4. ↑ a b c Arcanum Unbounded - The Scadrian System#
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h The Hero of Ages chapter 57#
  6. ↑ a b Mistborn: Secret History part 6 chapter 1#
  7. ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 18 epigraph#
  8. ↑ a b General Twitter 2018
    — Arcanum - 2018-06-06#
  9. ↑ a b Mistborn: Secret History part 3 chapter 2#
  10. ↑ a b c Mistborn: Secret History part 6 chapter 8#
  11. ↑ a b Steelheart Chicago signing
    — Arcanum - 2013-10-05#
  12. ↑ a b c d e f The Hero of Ages chapter 45#
  13. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 76#
  14. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 77#
  15. ↑ a b c The Hero of Ages chapter 81#
  16. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 65#
  17. ↑ a b The Hero of Ages chapter 72#
  18. ↑ a b The Hero of Ages Ars Arcanum#
  19. ↑ a b The Well of Ascension epilogue#
  20. ↑ The Hero of Ages prologue#
  21. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 33 epigraph#
  22. ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 1 epigraph#
  23. ↑ Shadows of Self chapter 7#
  24. ↑ The Hero of Ages Annotations
    — Arcanum - 2009-11-24#
  25. ↑ a b c d Mistborn: Secret History part 2 chapter 3#
  26. ↑ Words of Radiance Philadelphia signing
    — Arcanum - 2014-03-21#
  27. ↑ Rhythm of War interlude I-1#
  28. ↑ The Sunlit Man chapter 11#
  29. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 82#
  30. ↑ a b The Hero of Ages chapter 71#
  31. ↑ a b Mistborn: Secret History part 2 chapter 2#
  32. ↑ Mistborn: Secret History part 1 chapter 2#
  33. ↑ a b Mistborn: Secret History part 3 chapter 1#
  34. ↑ The Hero of Ages chapter 74 epigraph#
  35. ↑ Mistborn: Secret History part 2 chapter 1#
  36. ↑ Mistborn: Secret History part 3 chapter 3#
  37. ↑ Mistborn: Secret History part 6 chapter 7#
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