Devotion
| Devotion | |
|---|---|
| Vessel | Aona |
| Slivers | None |
| Splinters | Aons at center of seons |
| Status | Splintered |
| Magics | AonDor, Dakhor, ChayShan, Forgery, Bloodsealing[1][2] |
| Residence | Sel |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Devotion is a Shard of Adonalsium. The original Vessel of Devotion was Aona.[3][4] After the Shattering, it traveled to Sel with Dominion, where both shards were Splintered by Odium.[5][6]
Intent
Since Devotion was Splintered well before any other known events on Sel,[7] it is somewhat unclear exactly how the Shard's intent would drive its Vessel to act. Based on the name, however, Devotion's Vessel would likely seek to care for its people. It has been theorized, however, that the Shaod picks individuals who are are especially devoted to something to turn into Elantrians and that such a selection mechanism is an expression of the Shard's intent.
Associated Magic
When Odium Splintered Devotion and Dominion, he trapped their power in the Cognitive Realm to prevent them from gaining another Vessel. Since, unlike in the Spiritual Realm, space is limited in the Cognitive Realm, the power of the two Shards is trapped together as a giant, polarized, storm of Investiture, known as the Dor, which makes the Cognitive Realm around Sel very dangerous.[8][6] This has a profound effect on the magic systems on Sel, in two main ways. First, since the powers are trapped together, all magic systems are influenced in some way by both Shards.[1] Second, and perhaps more importantly, because location exists in the Cognitive Realm, magic is tied to the user's physical location.[9][6] This is seen most dramatically with AonDor, as the strength of Aons diminishes as one gets farther from Elantris.[10] Furthermore, in order to access a magic system, it appears one must be from the land associated with that magic system.[11] For likely the same reason, shapes used in accessing magic on Sel are often tied to the lands associated with that magic.[12][13]
The Aons at the heart of the seons are Splinters of Devotion,[3] and have at least some sense that they came from something larger and how they were created, which causes them to consider Devotion as something of a god or parent.[14]
Lore
Since Devotion was Splintered so long ago, very little is known about it. Since the Shards had a general agreement to part after the Shattering,[15] it seems likely that Aona had some sort of relationship with Skai, the Vessel of Dominion, as the two went to Sel together. The only confirmed references to Devotion and Aona are in the letters Hoid has been sending asking for help combating Odium, the responses he has received, and Khriss' essay on the Selish system.[5][16][6]
Notes
- ↑ a b SpoCon 2013
— Arcanum - 2013-07-10# - ↑ /r/fantasy AMA 2013
— Arcanum - 2013-04-15# - ↑ a b A Memory of Light Signing Milford
— Arcanum - 2013-02-16# - ↑ General Twitter 2015
— Arcanum - 2015-02-19# - ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 22 epigraph#
- ↑ a b c d Arcanum Unbounded - The Selish System#
- ↑ Calamity Austin signing
— Arcanum - 2016-02-25# - ↑ Arcanum Unbounded Hoboken signing
— Arcanum - 2016-12-03# - ↑ Boskone 54
— Arcanum - 2017-02-18# - ↑ Elantris chapter 62#
- ↑ Elantris Annotations
— Arcanum - 2006-02-14# - ↑ Elantris chapter 49#
- ↑ The Emperor's Soul - Day 30#
- ↑ Steelheart Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2013-10-05# - ↑ Oathbringer chapter 39 epigraph#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 37 epigraph#