Difference between revisions of "Autonomy"

|magic=[[Sand mastery]], [[Starmarks]]

|books=[[White Sand]], [[Mistborn Era 2]]

'''Autonomy''' is a [[Shard]] of [[Adonalsium]], currently held by [[Bavadin]].{{book ref|mb7|19}} It's presently located on [[Taldain]], Invested in at least one of the local suns, [[AisDa]], though it possesses a number of [[Avatar|avatars]] in other worlds throughout the [[cosmere]].{{wob ref|4021}}{{au ref|Taldain}}{{wob ref|8606}}{{book ref|ws|part=ars}}

However, this doesn't stop Autonomy from meddling in affairs of others.{{au ref|Taldain}} On the micro scale, she dictates how exactly people are allowed to express their individualism, requringrequiring that each of them fit in her major plan in the way she, rather than they, have decided.{{book ref|mb7|20}} On the macro scale, she often intervenes with her fellow Shards, up to and including indirectly attacking them and plotting invasions of their worlds.{{book ref|mb7|19}}{{book ref|mb7|35}}

Sand mastery is the magic system of the [[Dayside]] of [[Taldain]]. Autonomy's [[Investiture]] travels through the atmosphere there and is absorbed by a small lichen living on the local sand; this has the effect of turning the sand white.{{au ref|Taldain}} Sand masters can use this to command the sand, making it move around. Sand is controlled in ribbons; the strength of a sand master is defined by how many ribbons they are capable of calling forth.{{book ref|ws1ws|1}}{{book ref|ws|part=ars}} They do so at the cost of their internal stores of water.{{au ref|Taldain}}

It's unclear what the conditions for becoming a sand master are. The ability seems to be a combination of nature and nurture,{{book ref|ws|5}} and must be encouraged to appear in a person by another Sand master;{{book ref|ws|part=ars}} it can take weeks of training before one can control sand. At the same time, it appears to be in-born to at least some extent, as different people have different strength, and in some, the power will not appear at all.{{book ref|ws1ws|1}}{{book ref|ws|5}}

=== Shifting ColorsStarmarks ===

Like all Shards,{{wob ref|9082}} Autonomy is able to create avatars -- semiavatars—semi-autonomous entities that wield a portion of Autonomy's power without being wholly separate from Autonomy herself. Autonomy creates two types of avatars. One type are pieces of Autonomy that have been allowed to gain their own sentience, becoming effectively alternate identities of herself. The other are Physical beings that have been granted the use of a portion of Autonomy's power, and becoming a [[Sliver]] of her.{{book ref|mb7|19}}{{book ref|mb7|66}} Physical avatars benefit from becoming Invested, granting them immortality, as well as incredible healing and resilience.{{book ref|mb7|69}} However, they require a [[Connection]] to Autonomy herself in order to benefit from their status as an avatar; interrupting and cutting off that Connection leads them to lose the power.{{book ref|mb7|66}} While they are connected and begin to become a sliver, they also begin to take on Autonomy's intent, similar to full [[Shard]] wielders.{{book ref|mb7|66}}{{book ref|mb7|55}}

* '''[[Telsin Ladrian]]''', the leader of the [[Set]]. Telsin was investedInvested by Autonomy in order to facilitate either control or destruction of [[Scadrian]] society. In this function, both Telsin and Autonomy herself are occassionally referred to as [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]].{{book ref|mb7|20}}{{book ref|mb7|55}}

While this was happening in the [[Physical Realm]], Autonomy began the process of Investing herself into Scadrial, taking advantage of [[Harmony]]'s conflicting intents to infiltrate the planet. Harmony could not understand it at the time, albeit he knew enough to visualisevisualize it to [[Wax]] as a choking, pressing red haze.{{book ref|mb6|28}}

Set's original purpose appears to have been a takeover of the [[Elendel Basin]], installing themselves -- andthemselves—and, by extension, Trell -- asTrell—as the rulers of Scadrial.{{book ref|mb6|13}} However, the discovery of [[Southern Scadrian]]s and their vastly more advanced technology led them to attempt to accelerate the timeline. Autonomy, on the other hand, decided to forego the plan to control Scadrial and opt for its complete destruction instead.{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}} For this reason, she eliminated Set's then-leader, [[Edwarn Ladrian]], and began to move her men of gold and red into Scadrian subastral of the [[Cognitive Realm]], intending a full-blown invasion.{{book ref|mb7|60}}

Over the six years following the death of Edwarn Ladrian, the Set fully took control of the city of [[Bilming]] on behalf of Autonomy, up to developing it with accordance to Autonomy's philosophy and using Taldain architecture, particularly the [[wikipedia:Brutalist architecture|brutalist]] style.{{book ref|mb7|20}} At the same time, they conducted underground tests in order to create a [[trellium]]-[[harmonium]] bomb.{{book ref|mb6mb7|19}} The key part of the plan -- andplan—and the part of it meant to impress Autonomy -- wasAutonomy—was the delivery device: a self-propelled rocket, something that Autonomy herself was yet to figure out.{{book ref|mb7|66}}

During this time, Autonomy finished the process of Investing herself into the planet. About a year before her deadline, she communicated with [[Harmony]], attempting a compromise: she would let Harmony peacefully depart Scadrial and Invest himself elsewhere, while she took control of Scadrial. Harmony rejected her offer, and was subsequently bound by Autonomy, blinding his future-sight. In response, Harmony sent his agents -- primarilyagents—primarily [[Waxillium Ladrian]] -- to—to Bilming.{{book ref|mb7|19}}

After Wax and [[Wayne]] destroyed the Set's bomb, while [[Marasi]] destroyed the perpendicularity intended for the [[men of gold and red]], Autonomy begrudgingly withdrew from Scadrial, acknowledging their victory.{{book ref|mb7|74}} However, this was only temporary -- shetemporary—she fully intended to regroup and return in the future.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}

Autonomy is widely worshipped by many of [[cosmere]]'s worlds and cultures. She -- orShe—or, sometimes, he or they -- appearsthey—appears in various forms and under various names throughout her many religions. In some places, there are entire pantheons of gods where every member is actually a different persona of her.{{wob ref|133233974}}{{book ref|mb7|20}} Religions worshipping Autonomy include [[Ker'Reenreen]] Philosophyand [[Los'seen]] of [[Taldain]], which worships her under the male persona of [[Sand Lord]], the [[Eelakin]] faith, which considers the island of [[Patji (island)|Patji]], the site of the Patji avatar, one of its gods, and the [[Scadrian]] faiths of [[Trelagism]] and later [[Trellism]], in which she is known as the god Trell.{{book ref|ws1ws|3}}{{book ref|ws|part=ars}}{{book ref|sixth}}{{book ref|mb7|20}}

Autonomy will often seed these religions on various planets -- includingplanets—including those already Invested by other [[Shard]]s. These are seeds of influence she can later reactivate in order to exert her influence on the planet; for example, reactivating Trelagism as Trellism with the [[Set]].{{book ref|mb7|20}}

Autonomy has consistently shared her Shardic knowledge of advanced physics and technology with her people. This has led to [[Taldain]] becoming one of cosmere's most technologically-advanced worlds, and the fastest to advance.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}} However, Autonomy has at the same time insisted on stopping Taldain from developing further than she desires, and has meddled in the planet's cultural and political development from ancient times, including manipulating specific individuals in an attempt to divide faith in the Sand Lord and destroy the [[Diem]] should they prove unworthy to survive.{{book ref|ws3ws|6part=ars}}{{book ref|ws|18}}

Presently, Autonomy has effectively isolated Taldain from the rest of the cosmere. As such, off-world travel to and from the planet has all but ceased.{{wob ref|3912}}{{wob ref|12236}} This also had the result of cutting Taldain [[worldhopper]]s off from their own homeland; people like [[Khriss]] and [[Baon]] are virtual exiles.{{msh ref|3|2}} Autonomy is not, however, opposed to exporting Taldain's culture -- orculture—or rather, the version of it she approves of -- toof—to other worlds. Places under Autonomy's control, like [[Bilming]], will eventually come to look similar to cities of Taldain, mimicking aspects such as layout and architectural style.{{book ref|mb7|20}}

Autonomy herself interferes directly in a number of cosmere's worlds.{{wob ref|2744}} She might have aided Odium in killing and splintering [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]] among other [[Shards]].{{epigraph ref|sa3|44}}{{wob ref|2614}} She has been taking over multiple worlds through her avatars, with [[First of the Sun]], [[Obrodai]] and [[Scadrial]] being known to host her avatars at one point or another.{{bookepigraph ref|ws1sa3|350}}{{book ref|sixth}} On Scadrial in particular, through her persona of Trell, Autonomy can outright blind [[Harmony]] and attempt to bring destruction to the planet as part of her plan to prevent the rise of Scadrial as an interstellar power.{{book ref|mb7|20}} She appears to be influencing Roshar to an unknown degree.{{wob ref|15850}}

When subterfuge proves insufficient, Autonomy has access to more forceful methods, as she commands an army known only as '''the [[men of gold and red''']].{{book ref|mb7|35}} They are humanoid figures with golden skin and red eyes that give them their appellation, equipped with advanced firearms.{{book ref|mb7|60}}{{book ref|mb7|65}} Their full capabilities are unknown; while they specialize in widespread destruction, they are reportedly difficult to control, making unleashing them an irreversible act.{{book ref|mb7|50}}