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{{image|Arcanum Unbounded.jpg|The cover of ''[[Arcanum Unbounded]]'', featuring [[Khriss]]|side=right|width=300px}}
{{update|mb7|tress|tsm}}
{{quote
|You’ve stumbled into something far, far bigger than you, your politics, or your little planet ... Your questions are dangerous. Once you step behind the curtain and see the actors as the people they are, it becomes harder to pretend the play is real.
|[[Khriss]] to [[Kelsier]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
The '''cosmere''' is a fictional shared universe where
The core sequence of the cosmere will consist of the [[Dragonsteel (series)|Dragonsteel series]], the [[Elantris trilogy]], at least four eras of the [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn series]], and [[The Stormlight Archive]].{{wob ref|13784}} The story of the cosmere does not include any books that reference [[Earth]], as Earth is not in the cosmere.{{ref|name=WhatIsCosmere}} For a complete list of books in the cosmere, see [[#Bibliography of the Cosmere|the bibliography section below]].
The shared "creation myth" of the cosmere revolves around [[Adonalsium]], the power of creation, which was broken into sixteen pieces called [[Shard]]s in an event known as the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]]. The Shards are effectively gods, and magic is derived from their power.{{msh ref|3|2}}
When someone in the cosmere dies, their 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 [[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 they can still choose to go if they so desire.{{msh ref|6|8}} Before the person passes to the Beyond, however, they can still be restored via Investiture healing{{book ref|mb6|28}}{{book ref|sa2.5|8}} or be infused with enough Investiture to become a more permanent Cognitive Shadow, usually as a result of a Shard's action.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|sa4|15}} Those killed by [[Nightblood]]{{wob ref|10440}} or [[anti-Investiture]]{{book ref|sa4|97}}{{wob ref|14623}} or consumed by [[Yelig-nar]],{{wob ref|15139}} however, cannot be resurrected in any way, as nothing remains of their soul.
Time travel to the past, in any of the Realms, is impossible.{{book ref|yumi|32}}{{wob ref|13651}}
==== The Physical Realm ====
In the [[Physical Realm]], the cosmere is a star cluster of about 50 to 100 stars.{{wob ref|9284}} The Physical Realm is composed of fundamental particles known as [[axi]] and follows ordinary laws of physics, except when the other Realms are involved.{{wob ref|11359}}{{book ref|sa4|97}}{{wob ref|6360}} Currently, there are
==== The Cognitive Realm ====
Along with Intent, there is also the associated concept of '''Command'''. [[Command]]s are more limited than Intent, but they help to focus the Intent so that Investiture can respond appropriately.{{wob ref|14636}} While most Commands are related to a certain Invested Art or some other specific method of manipulating Investiture, there are also the [[Dawnshard]]s, four fundamental Commands that were involved in both the creation of the cosmere and the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]].{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}
'''Identity''' is the Spiritual property that demarcates one person or object from another and describes who or what they are.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Losing their Identity during the [[False Desolation]] turned the [[singer]]s into [[singer#slaveform|slaveform]].{{book ref|sa3|17}} Identity also serves as the lock and key for metalminds; [[Feruchemy|Feruchemists]] can only withdraw attributes stored by someone with a matching Identity—ordinarily, this means only attributes they stored.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Because Identity describes who a person is, it is closely tied to the concept of a [[
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, though this idealized self is filtered through the person's perception of themself in the Cognitive Realm. As a result, healing is usually limited by how a person views themself, and once a person accepts something as part of themself, it will not be able to heal.{{wob ref|9441}}
Investiture has a property that associates it with one of the sixteen [[Shard]]s 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}}
When one form of Investiture attempts to co-opt or corrupt another form of Investiture, it will often produce a red effect.{{wob ref|8340}} Examples of this include the red smoke given off by [[Shai]]'s [[soulstamp]]s when she uses them to temporarily tweak [[Gaotona]]'s soul,{{tes ref|30}}{{wob ref|13830}} the red haze of [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]] invading [[Scadrial]],{{book ref|mb6|28}}{{wob ref|13074}}{{wob ref|8345}} and the red coloring of some of the spren Enlightened by [[Sja-anat]].{{book ref|sa3|78}}{{book ref|sa3|89}}{{book ref|sa3|115}} Similarly, when some entity possesses or has a strong influence over a person, the person's eyes will often grow red, as seen with the bodies on Scadrial controlled by
{{sidequote
|side=left|size=300px
}}
Investiture can be divided into two categories: '''kinetic Investiture''' and '''static
Cosmere scholars term the various methods of utilizing Investiture (such as the [[Metallic Arts]], [[Surgebinding]], and [[Awakening]]) '''Invested Arts'''.{{book ref|sa3|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 Invested Arts are capable of far more spectacular results than other Invested Arts.{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|4097}} If a planet does not have a Shard in residence, its 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 Invested Arts left over from before the Shattering of Adonalsium,{{wob ref|4097}} of which the only known example is [[
==== Anti-Investiture ====
! Original Vessel
|-
| [[
| [[
|-
| [[
| [[
|-
| [[Preservation]]
| [[Ati]]
|-
| [[
| [[
|-
| [[
| [[
|-
| [[Honor]]
| [[Tanavast]]
|-
| [[Endowment]]
| [[Edgli]]
|-
| [[Autonomy]]
|-
| [[Whimsy]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Virtuosity]]
| ''Unknown''
|}
|The [[Stormfather]] on [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium{{book ref|sa3|16}}
}}
During the [[Shattering of Adonalsium|Shattering]], Adonalsium split into sixteen pieces, referred to as [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium. Each of these Shards has an [[Intention|Intent]] that represents a particular facet of Adonalsium. Sixteen people involved in the Shattering then took up those Shards, becoming the first Vessels and effectively ascending to godhood.{{msh ref|3|2}} There was some sort of force or property of the cosmere that caused Adonalsium to shatter into the sixteen Shards that it did,{{wob ref|9956}} and the distribution of the Shards to the Vessels was not random.{{wob ref|5490}} The number sixteen has some significance to the mechanics of the cosmere,{{epigraph ref|mb3|71}}{{wob ref|1678}} though, as Adonalsium could have split into some other number of Shards,{{wob ref|11037}} it may have only become significant after the Shattering, and indeed may arise more from the beliefs of sapient creatures than a greater underlying property.{{wob ref|9428}}
Though the power of a Shard requires a mind to control it, known as a Vessel, the Intent of a Shard will slowly warp the minds of those that hold it, overriding their independence.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|5485}} For example, after [[Leras]] Ascended as [[Preservation]], he became unable to cause harm, even to preserve other things.{{book ref|mb3|81}}{{msh ref|2|3}} It is unclear whether the original Vessels knew this when they took up their Shards, but, eventually, the Vessels came to be known simply by their Shard's name.
Despite these restrictions, however, the Shards are generally capable of both subtle and incredible changes. Among other things, they can change the orbit of entire planets, make changes to individuals and entire species on a genetic level, and alter some of the mechanics of an Invested Art resulting from their presence on a planet.{{book ref|mb3|82}}{{wob ref|5971}} Since Shards exist primarily in the Spiritual Realm, they also have some ability to look into the future, though not all Shards are equally good at this and it fragments into more and more possibilities the further they look.{{wob ref|8147}}{{book ref|sa3|75}}
{{image|The Shattering Stained Glass Window by LittleGreyDragon.png|A depiction of [[Adonalsium]], the sixteen [[Shard]]s it [[Shattering|Shattered]] into as well as the Shards' original Vessels, and some [[Splinter]]s of the Shards|side=left|width=350px}}
Shards can also create '''avatars''', beings with access to a portion of the Shard's power who can act autonomously from their Shard, but remain part of the Shard and ultimately cannot act against the Shard's instructions. Avatars stand in contrast to [[Splinter]]s, who are pieces of a Shard's power that have or could develop free will.{{wob ref|14744}} Avatars often seem to be used when a Shard wants to influence events on a planet other than the one they are primarily Invested in; for example, [[Autonomy]], who is Invested in [[Taldain]],{{au ref|Taldain}} has avatars on [[First of the Sun]] and [[Obrodai]].{{wob ref|13220}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|50}}
Since the Shattering, the Shards have been the primary source of magic in the cosmere.{{wob ref|4097}} The interactions between their Investiture and a planet give rise to Invested Arts that are far more powerful than those formed by people accessing background Investiture.{{wob ref|5269}}{{wob ref|15703}}{{wob ref|4097}}
Each Shard also has its own '''pure tone''' and '''rhythm''', that can often influence and be heard emanating from their Investiture and can become part of the worlds they Invest in.{{book ref|sa4|69}}{{book ref|sa4|67}}{{wob ref|14482}} For example, the [[Lights]] of [[Roshar]] pulse softly to their Shard's tone and [[rhythm]] and will follow a source—vocal or instrumental—generating their Shard's tone{{book ref|sa4|69}} and both the [[Well of Ascension]] on [[Scadrial]] and the pulses a [[Seeker]] can pick up from someone using [[Allomancy]] are related to Preservation's tone and rhythm.{{wob ref|14482}}{{wob ref|14586}} Harmonizing the tones and rhythms of two different Shards is part of the creation of hybrid Investiture, like [[Warlight]] and [[Towerlight]].{{book ref|sa4|76}}{{book ref|sa4|110}} Shards also have an opposite tone, which sounds identical to most people but is unpleasant to those attuned to that Shard's Investiture, and can only be created by Intent. This opposite tone can physically repel its Shard's Investiture and can help create anti-Investiture associated with its Shard.{{book ref|sa4|97}}
|[[Khriss]] to [[Kelsier]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
While the cosmere has a wide array of planets,
{{image|Cosmere constellation map.jpg|A star chart of the cosmere in the Physical Realm|side=right|width=350px}}
'''[[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}} When someone dies, [[Endowment]], the resident Shard, occasionally sends their [[Cognitive Shadow]] back as a [[Returned]] to prevent a tragedy they forsee after their death.{{book ref|wb|57}}{{wob ref|5943}}
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.{{wob ref|8243}}{{au
'''[[Scadrial]]''' is the most technologically advanced planet and the most similar to [[Yolen]].{{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}}
'''[[Sel]]''', also known as '''Seol''', is a large planet with three great domains.{{au ref|Sel}} It has many magic systems, which are tied to the user's location and are accessed by creating shapes in the proper form, rather like programming.{{wob ref|1768}}
The planet '''[[Taldain]]''' is tidally locked between two stars, a blue-white supergiant and a white dwarf. The side of the planet facing the former, [[Dayside]], is a vast desert where Investiture arrives from the light of the star. [[Darkside]] faces the white dwarf,
{| class="infobox
|-
!colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Primary Worlds of the Cosmere
|-
! style="width:
! style="width:
! style="width:29%;" |Shards
! style="width:40%;" |Books
! rowspan=3 |[[Rosharan system|Rosharan System]]
| [[Ashyn]]
|
| ''[[The Silence Divine]]'' (unpublished)
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|8869}}
| [[Braize]]
| [[Odium]]
|
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
| [[Roshar]]
| [[Cultivation]], [[Honor]]
|
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
| [[Scadrial]]
| [[Preservation]], [[Ruin]] ([[Final Ascension|combined]] as [[Harmony]])
| [[Mistborn (series)|
| {{au ref|Scadrial}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
| [[Taldain]]
| [[Autonomy]]
| ''[[
| {{au ref|Taldain}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|}
=== Other Notable Worlds ===
'''[[Canticle]]''' is an extremely small planet with a dense, Invested core.{{book ref|tsm|19}} The light of the system's host star is also Invested; when that light reaches the surface of Canticle, it is quickly pulled down to the planet's core, superheating everything in its path.{{book ref|tsm|39}}{{book ref|tsm|45}} As a result, people living on the planet must keep moving constantly in order to stay ahead of the sunrise.{{book ref|tsm|1}}
The [[Drominad system]] is home to several planets, all of which have water as a dominant feature. Three of them are inhabited by humans, the most of any planetary system in the cosmere at the time Khriss wrote her essay on the system. The innermost planet, '''[[First of the Sun]]''' has a [[perpendicularity]], though the region around it in the Physical Realm is incredibly dangerous.{{au ref|Drominad}}{{book ref|sotd}}
'''[[Dhatri]]''' is the homeworld of the [[aether]]s, though they have since spread around the cosmere;{{wob ref|15136}}{{wob ref|15428}}{{wob ref|16254}} the world has been made inhospitable due to an entity known as the [[dark aether]].{{book ref|mb7|47}}
'''[[Lumar]]''' is a backwater planet that is home to the [[aether spores]], a compressed form of [[aether]] that grows dangerously fast when touched by water, which are produced by a variant strain of the aethers on the twelve moons that hang close to the surface of the planet.{{wob ref|15428}}{{book ref|tress|28}}{{book ref|tress|31}}
'''[[Threnody]]''' is a planet with two principal parts: the [[Fallen World]], which is under the control of an unknown entity called the [[Evil]] that is so dangerous that everyone was forced to leave, 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}}
The [[UTol system]] is located near where the Shard [[Virtuosity]] Splintered herself and home to two habitable planets.{{book ref|yumi|1}}{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}} The eponymous planet of '''[[UTol]]''' is a water-dominated planet inhabited by [[Sho Del]] that seems to be well-known in the cosmere by the space age.{{book ref|yumi|30}}{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}} Its sister planet '''[[Komashi]]''' is home to humans and [[Splinter]]s of Virtuosity known as [[hijo]];{{book ref|yumi|17}} before the destruction of the [[father machine]], it was notable for an eternal [[shroud]] of black Investiture covering the planet.{{book ref|yumi|1}}
'''[[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 '''[[
{| class="infobox
|-
!colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Other Worlds of the Cosmere
|-
! style="width:
! style="width:
! style="width:29%;" |Shards
! style="width:40%;" |Books
! class=unsortable style="width:4%;" |Reference
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Bjendal]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[The Lost Metal]]'')''
| {{book ref|mb7|39}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Canticle]]
| None
| ''[[The Sunlit Man]]''
| {{book ref|tsm|16}}{{wob ref|15602}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Dhatri]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[The Lost Metal]]'')''
| {{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Drominad system|Drominad System]]
| ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''
| {{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|8902}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Lumar]]
| None
| ''[[Tress of the Emerald Sea]]''
| {{wob ref|15428}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Mythos]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[The Lost Metal]]'')''
| {{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| ''[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]''
| {{au ref|Threnody}}{{wob ref|5603}}
|-
! rowspan=2 |[[UTol system]]
| [[Komashi]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Virtuosity]]
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''
| rowspan=2 | {{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}
|-
| [[UTol]]
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Yolen]]
| None
|
| {{wob ref|5984}}{{wob ref|14885}}
|}
At some point, the [[Dawnshard]]s were used to create the cosmere.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}}
The first humans lived on [[Yolen]] and were created by Adonalsium.{{wob ref|5702}}{{msh ref|3|2}} 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
Most of the other planets in the cosmere existed and were named prior to the Shattering,{{wob ref|7262}} though [[#Worldhoppers|worldhopping]] was much less common at the time.{{wob ref|13219}} During this time, Adonalsium created the entire [[Rosharan system]] and grew
[[Investiture]] still existed prior to the Shattering, though its form was different.{{wob ref|1118}} During this time, 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}}
|[[Khriss]] on the original [[Vessel]]s{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
Eventually, around ten-thousand years before the [[True Desolation]],{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}{{book ref|tsm|11}}{{wob ref|1355}}{{wob ref|9683}}{{wob ref|2728}} a group of people that opposed Adonalsium came together and plotted its destruction.{{wob ref|4078}}{{wob ref|2539}} This group included people of all three sapient species on [[Yolen]]: humans, [[dragon (cosmere)|dragons]], and [[Sho Del]].{{wob ref|9676}} To achieve their goal, they created a weapon{{wob ref|5602}} that utilized the [[Dawnshard]]s.{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} In an event known as the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], the weapon was used to "undo" Adonalsium,{{book ref|sa3.5|19}} splitting it into the sixteen [[Shard]]s;{{msh ref|3|2}} the weapon was expended in the process,{{wob ref|2246}} though remnants of it exist in the Physical Realm and are responsible for Hoid's immortality.{{wob ref|10439}} As part of the Shattering, sixteen of the people who had opposed Adonalsium took up the new Shards and became the first Vessels.{{msh ref|3|2}} There was some sort of force
Hoid was loosely involved in the plot to Shatter Adonalsium and was present at the Shattering.{{wob ref|10868}}{{wob ref|6470}} He also had the opportunity to take a Shard, but turned it down.{{epigraph ref|sa3|38}}{{wob ref|3337}} He and [[Frost]] both knew the original Vessels personally.{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}
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 then went their separate ways. Most settled on a planet, though
=== Odium's Quest ===
|[[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 possibly 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}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}{{book ref|mb7|20}} 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}}
{{sidequote
|size=300px
}}
Odium's first target was [[Ambition]], as he feared that it would be a threat to him. However, while searching for Ambition, over 7700 years before the [[True Desolation]],{{book ref|sa4|14}}{{book ref|sa4|76}} 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 made the [[Expanse of the Densities|Selish
Sometime after he splintered Devotion and Dominion, Odium finally found Ambition, who had settled in the [[Threnodite system]]. Odium attacked and mortally wounded Ambition, though the Shard fled and was ultimately Splintered elsewhere,{{au ref|Threnody}} in a battle with Odium and [[Mercy]].{{epigraph ref|sa4|27}} These clashes resulted in a wound in the Spiritual Realm and left ripped-off chunks of Ambition's power in the Threnodite system, which twisted the people and planet of [[Threnody]].{{au ref|Threnody}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|27}}
{{image|Odium - XV the Devil.jpg|[[Odium]] and the [[Fused]]|side=right|width=200px}}
Sometime after [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]] arrived on [[Roshar]], 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}} At some point before this, humanity destroyed Ashyn via unrestrained Surgebinding enhanced by a Dawnshard, leaving it largely uninhabitable outside of a few patches of land, and fled the planet to Roshar with Odium around seven millennia before the True Desolation.{{book ref|sa3|111}}{{book ref|sa3|113}}{{au ref|roshar}}
As a result of being trapped in the system, 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 also Invested in the Rosharan system enough to create and grant access to Invested Art known as [[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, especially after nine of the Heralds abandoned the [[Oathpact]], leaving it to [[Talenel]] alone, who was better able to withstand the torture on Braize.{{book ref|sa3|38}} As a result of his past clashes with Shards, Odium has "scars that do not heal," which makes him more careful about future engagements.{{book ref|sa3|16}}
Many of the other Shards are aware of Odium's actions, though most do not seem to consider him a problem, as long as he remains bound to the Rosharan system.{{epigraph ref|sa4|30}} [[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 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}} though they have realized over time that may not be the best course of action.{{wob ref|12684}}{{wob ref|13231}} [[Harmony]], who only became aware of the threat around the time of the [[True Desolation]], is deeply concerned about Odium,{{epigraph ref|sa4|31}} but is unable to do much because of the conflicting nature of his powers.{{epigraph ref|sa3|55}} In a letter to [[Hoid]], however, he did suggest that [[Valor]] might share some of his concern.{{epigraph ref|sa4|25}}
=== The Ascension of Harmony ===
{{image|Harmony by Kelley Harris.jpg|[[Sazed]] as [[Harmony]]|side=left|width=200px}}
After the death of the [[Lord Ruler]], Ruin was successfully able to manipulate [[Vin]] into taking up the Well's power and then releasing it, which allowed him to be free.{{msh ref|2|3}} Once free, Ruin was unable to immediately Splinter Preservation, but brought his power to bear against what remained of Leras, slowly killing the Vessel.{{msh ref|3|2}} The [[Ire]], aware of Leras's impending death, sought to use [[Ire's orb|a device]] to [[Connection|Connect]] one of their members to Preservation and Ascend in {{date|1025|fe}}.{{msh ref|5|2}} The device, however, was stolen by Kelsier, who used it after Leras finally died, taking up the portion of Preservation's power that Leras had still been holding and preventing Ruin from Splintering Preservation.{{msh ref|6|4}}
Kelsier continued to hold that power until Vin, Leras's chosen successor,{{epigraph ref|mb3|epilogue}} had her link to Ruin—a [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgically]] charged [[Vin's earring|earring]]—removed, whereupon she began absorbing the [[mist]]s and Kelsier released the portion of Preservation's power he held, allowing Vin to Ascend and become the Vessel of [[Preservation]].{{msh ref|6|7}}{{book ref|mb3|73}} During the [[Battle of Hathsin]], Vin then sacrificed herself in order to kill Ruin's Vessel, [[Ati]].{{msh ref|6|8}}{{book ref|mb3|81}}
Leras, when he held Preservation's power, had foreseen all this and planned for both Ruin and Preservation to be left without a Vessel so that [[Sazed]] could take up both Shards and their intents could moderate each other.{{book ref|mb3|82}} As a result of one person holding both Shards, Ruin and Preservation's power began to intermingle, and Sazed became known as [[Harmony]].{{wob ref|4115}} It is considered a single Shard, much like a king of two countries is still just one king.{{wob ref|6486}} This consolidation of two Shards with one Vessel caused some of the other Shards—notably Odium and [[Autonomy]]—to feel threatened or even scared and to begin making plans for dealing with Harmony.{{book ref|mb7|20}}{{wob ref|1025}}{{wob ref|7319}}
=== Splintering of Honor and the True Desolation ===
Approximately 4,500 Rosharan years (4,950 standard years) after the [[Last Desolation]], [[Odium]] and his servants developed the [[Everstorm]] to allow the [[Fused]] to circumvent the Oathpact and return to [[Roshar]] without [[Talenel]] breaking.{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{wob ref|14869}}{{book ref|sa4|73}} As Odium's forces grew closer to enacting their plan, Hoid began reaching out to the dragon [[Frost]] and several of the Shards, asking them to help in keeping the cosmere safe from Odium. Aside from Harmony, who had not previously been aware of the threat Odium posed, they all rejected Hoid's request as they considered Odium's binding to the [[Rosharan system]] sufficient.{{article ref|Letters}} After years of preparation, Odium's servants successfully guided the [[listeners]] to summoning the Everstorm,{{book ref|sa4|73}}{{book ref|sa4|86}}
beginning the [[True Desolation]].
About a year later, in {{rosharan date|1175}}, Odium returned to set the terms for the contest. Ultimately he and Dalinar agreed that, no matter the outcome of the contest, Odium would remain bound to the
Shortly after Odium came to this agreement with Dalinar, [[Taravangian]] orchestrated an attack on Odium with [[Nightblood]], which killed Odium's Vessel, [[Rayse]].{{book ref|sa4|113}} Taravangian then Ascended as the new Vessel of Odium; he remains bound by the agreement Rayse made with Dalinar and plans to beat Dalinar.{{book ref|sa4|114}}
=== Trell and Scadrial ===
{{image|Trell by Connor Chamberlain.jpeg|[[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]]'s power manifesting on [[Scadrial]]|side=right|width=350px}}
Sometime after the [[Catacendre]], [[Kelsier]] founded the [[Ghostbloods]] for the purpose of protecting Scadrial.{{book ref|mb7|36}} As a result of the moves he was making, others began reaching out to the rest of the cosmere for power, though they were not fully aware what they were doing.{{wob ref|15983}} Their calls were answered by the Shard [[Autonomy]], who began to make good on the ancient religion of [[Trelagism]] that she had founded in the [[Classical Scadrial|classical era of Scadrial]] and to create a new avatar of herself on Scadrial, [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]]. She backed the [[Set]] and the [[kandra]] [[Paalm]] in their efforts to break Scadrial from Harmony's influence and bring it under her control, while also preparing to destroy the planet if necessary to prevent it from becoming a threat.{{book ref|mb7|19}}{{book ref|mb7|20}}
As Autonomy's plans neared completion in {{date|348|FA}}, she trapped Harmony in a shroud that sharply limited his ability to see the future and prepared the leader of the Set, [[Telsin Ladrian]] to become the avatar Trell.{{book ref|mb7|19}}{{book ref|mb7|55}} Both of her plans for Scadrial were ultimately stopped, as [[Waxillium Ladrian]] and [[Wayne]] killed Telsin and prematurely detonated the bomb planned to destroy Elendel while [[Marasi Colms]], with help from the Ghostbloods, drained and collapsed the perpendicularity Autonomy had created for her [[men of gold and red]] to travel through, preventing them from destroying the planet.{{book ref|mb7|69}}{{book ref|mb7|71}}{{book ref|mb7|64}} Autonomy then withdrew from Scadrial,{{book ref|mb7|74}} saying that they had proven themselves for the moment, but that they plan to return.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|1}}
=== The Space Age ===
Eventually, mankind discovered a method for faster-than-light travel in the physical realm.{{cite}} This led to growing communication between planets, and the formation of the [[Silverlight Codes of Interplanetary Conduct]].{{book ref|tsm|43}} Waystations were also constructed throughout the cosmere.{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}
This greater communication led to growing conflicts between planets, and the birth of a growing arms race that consumed most developed planets.{{book ref|tsm|44}} Although during this era, many civilizations remained planetbound.{{book ref|tsm|44}} Some parties decided to bring technology to less developed planets, such as the [[Ones Above]] bringing their technology to the people of the [[First of the Sun]].{{book ref|sixth}}
== Worldhoppers ==
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, they 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
Planets are not equally easy to access through the Cognitive Realm and planets may rapidly become less accessible due to local events. While Nalthis is generally easy and safe to reach, and even has customs for travelers to go through,{{wob ref|9501}} it seems to be more of an outlier in this regard—travel to Sel is incredibly dangerous due to the power of Devotion and Dominion being stuck in the Cognitive Realm,{{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|9501}} a well-established mercantile system running through [[Ruin's Perpendicularity]] on Scadrial is upended overnight when Kelsier destroys the [[atium]] in the [[Pits of Hathsin]],{{msh ref|2|1}} Roshar fluctuates between being welcoming and being dangerous, depending on the stage of the conflict between Honor and Odium,{{wob ref|9501}}{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{book ref|mb7|39}} Taldain is inaccessible as [[Autonomy]] has closed it off from the rest of the cosmere,{{au ref|Taldain}} and travel to [[Bjendal]] is disrupted by unknown events.{{book ref|mb7|39}}
As a result of these difficulties, people look for other methods of travel.{{book ref|mb7|39}}{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}} While it may be possible to worldhop using the Spiritual Realm,{{wob ref|9307}}{{wob ref|13110}} the primary other method available is faster-than-light travel through space in the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sotd}}{{wob ref|15030}}{{wob ref|3295}} There are multiple ways to create ships that are capable of such travel;{{wob ref|15788}}{{wob ref|3453}} the Surge of Transportation and [[Allomancy]] both provide viable bases for developing ships that can do so,{{wob ref|15788}}{{wob ref|12307}} though the exact mechanics are unknown.
In total, the number of people traveling between planets probably numbers somewhere in the thousands
=== Hoid ===
|[[Hoid]] on his opposition to [[Odium]]{{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#Attributes and Abilities}} His long-term goals are unclear, but he is an adamant opponent of Odium's attempts to become the sole god of the cosmere. He has written to [[Frost]], [[Endowment]], [[Autonomy]], and [[Harmony]], hoping to enlist their help in dealing with Odium, though only Harmony has responded positively.{{article ref|Letters}} He has some ability to manipulate [[Fortune]], which lets him learn where and when he needs to be to advance his goals, though he often doesn't know why being somewhere is important.{{wob ref|2567}}{{book ref|sa2|67}}
=== Worldhopping Groups ===
==== Silverlight ====
{{image|Nazh Khriss.jpg|[[Khriss]] and her employee [[Nazh]]|side=right|width=200px}}
[[Silverlight]] is a fully-functional city in the [[Cognitive Realm]]
==== The Ire ====
|Khriss on the Ire{{au ref|Sel}}
}}
The [[Ire]] is a group of worldhopping [[Elantrian]]s. They existed prior to the [[Reod]] and were
==== The Ghostbloods ====
The [[Ghostbloods]] is a cosmere-wide secret society
=== Other Notable Worldhoppers ===
{{for|:Category:Worldhoppers|a complete list of worldhoppers|Category:Worldhoppers}}
Most, if not all, of the [[Five Scholars]] of Nalthis were worldhoppers and are well-regarded by the cosmere-aware scholarly community as pioneers of the study of Investiture and Realmatic Theory.{{wob ref|1548}} After learning from one of the Scholars, [[Vasher]], [[Vivenna]] became a worldhopper as well.{{wob ref|8511}} [[Felt]] was involved in trade through the Pits of Hathsin and has been involved in several different worldhopping groups over the years.{{wob ref|11812}} The [[dragon (cosmere)|dragon]] [[Frost]] is extremely knowledgeable about the cosmere, but is not actually a worldhopper, as he has not left [[Yolen]].{{wob ref|3679}} The [[Sleepless]] are present on several planets across the cosmere, though most have chosen to settle on Roshar and only the Rosharan ones are capable of imitating humans.{{wob ref|12657}}{{wob ref|14312}} Additionally, there are several [[kandra]] from [[Scadrial]] who have become worldhoppers,
== Development ==
|size=300px
}}
The cosmere sequence has a clear story that Brandon wants to tell and is fairly firmly outlined as 35 novels, plus a variety of novellas and other works, with the
Brandon does not feel that the cosmere is restrictive to his writing.{{wob ref|6496}} Though cosmere novels are intensive, as they require more thorough planning and continuity maintenance, Brandon also has an internal wiki and people like [[Peter Ahlstrom|Peter]] and Karen Ahlstrom who help him keep the cosmere on track.{{wob ref|9015}}{{wob ref|9610}} When Brandon feels like he needs a break from the more stringent requirements of the cosmere, he'll turn to work on a less intensive novel or novella, which 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. For example, ''[[The Rithmatist]]'' started as a cosmere novel, and its magics take many elements from cosmere magics, but Brandon decided that he did not want a version of Earth in the cosmere, and so moved it to its own universe.{{wob ref|10860}}
! rowspan=1 |2010
| ''[[The Way of Kings]]''
|
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
! rowspan=3 |2014
| ''[[Words of Radiance]]''
|
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
| Novella
|-
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 1]]''
| ''[[
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
|-
| ''[[Edgedancer (novella)|Edgedancer]]''
|
| [[Roshar]]
| Novella
| ''[[Arcanum Unbounded]]''
| Anthology
|
|
|-
! rowspan=1 |2017
| ''[[Oathbringer]]''
|
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2018
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 2]]''
| ''[[
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2019
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 3]]''
| ''[[
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
! rowspan=2 |2020
| ''[[Dawnshard (novella)|Dawnshard]]''
|
| [[Roshar]]
| Novella
|-
| ''[[Rhythm of War]]''
|
| [[Roshar]]
| Novel
|-
! rowspan=2 |2022
| ''[[The Lost Metal]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #4
| [[Scadrial]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand omnibus]]''
| Anthology
| [[Taldain]]
| Graphic Novel
|-
! rowspan=3 |2023
| ''[[Tress of the Emerald Sea]]''
| Standalone Novel
| [[Lumar]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''
| Standalone Novel
| [[Komashi]]
| Novel
|-
| ''[[The Sunlit Man]]''
| Standalone Novel
| [[Canticle]]
| Novel
|}
{{for|Unpublished works|a complete list of possible future stories Brandon has mentioned}}
The following are confirmed upcoming cosmere stories:
* ''[[Wind and Truth]]'', the fifth and last book of the first arc of [[The Stormlight Archive]],{{wob ref|9442}} scheduled for release on December 6, 2024.{{tor ref|brandon-sandersons-fifth-stormlight-archive-book-gets-publishing-date|Brandon Sanderson's Fifth Stormlight Archive Book Gets Publishing Date|date=2023-12-18}}
* ''[[Isles of the Emberdark]]'', a novel set in the far future Cosmere announced as a Secret Project alongside the Backerkit campaign for the ''[[Words of Radiance]]'' leatherbound. It is scheduled to be released in 2025.{{url ref|url=https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/dragonsteel/words-of-radiance-leatherbound#story_section_4475|text=''Words of Radiance'' Leatherbound § Shipping & Payment|site=BackerKit|date=2024-03-05}}
* [[Mistborn (series)#Era 3|Era 3 ''Mistborn'' trilogy]], the next
* [[Elantris sequel|''Elantris'' 2]] and [[Elantris finale|''Elantris'' 3]], the sequels to ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]''. Expected to be written after
* ''Horneater'',{{wob ref|14971}} the working title of a Stormlight novella following [[Lunamor]]. It is currently planned to be written between ''Wind and Truth'' and ''[[Stormlight 6]]''.{{wob ref|16080}}
* The second arc of [[The Stormlight Archive]], which will consist of books six through ten of the series overall. In-world, book six will pick up about a decade after book five ends.{{wob ref|9442}} Planned to be written after ''Mistborn'' Era 3 and possibly also the ''Elantris'' sequels are done.{{wob ref|14683}}
* ''[[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]]'', the sequel to ''[[Warbreaker]]''. Likely won't be written until The Stormlight Archive book 5, the ''Elantris'' sequels, and ''Mistborn'' Era 3 are written.{{wob ref|12276}}
* The [[Dragonsteel (series)|Dragonsteel series]], 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}} Chronologically, this will be the last series in the cosmere sequence, and has much to do with the worlds coming together.{{wob ref|6868}}
=== Chronological Order ===
Brandon has been somewhat evasive about the order of cosmere stories, so that the
*
* ''[[
* [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]] and ''[[The Hope of Elantris]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* ''[[The Emperor's Soul]]''{{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}}
* ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' (books 1 through 5){{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|549}}
* [[Mistborn Era 2|''Mistborn'' Era 2]]{{wob ref|549}}
* ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' (books 6 through 10){{wob ref|549}}
* [[Mistborn Era 3|''Mistborn'' Era 3]]{{wob ref|14582}}
* ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''{{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|15579}}{{wob ref|16524}}
* ''[[
* ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''{{wob ref|16524}}
* [[Mistborn Era 4|''Mistborn'' Era 4]]{{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|9442}}
== Further Reading ==
<references />
{{partial}}
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{{cosmere}}
[[Category:Cosmere| ]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[es:Cosmere]]
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