Difference between revisions of "Harmonium"

'''Ettmetal''' is a kind of metal known to the [[Southern Scadrian]]s. It is also called '''harmonium''' by [[Harmony]]{{redditwob ref|books|2ytg2h|csuq5u3|text=Sazed didn't like the sound of Sazedium.|date=7 july 20153539}}{{17swob ref|post|513046|Ettmetal is Harmonium|date=December 3, 20162544}}. In conjunction with south Scadrian technology, ettmetal can reproduce a particular power of [[Allomancy]] or [[Feruchemy]] when it is in the vicinity of that power.{{book ref|mb6|17}}{{book ref|mb6|29}} When an Allomantic effect is produced, it slowly uses up the ettmetal,{{book ref|mb6|22}} similar to how metals are burned up by an Allomancer.

Because of its explosive interaction with water, ingesting ettmetal is likely fatal even for Allomancers, though a full Mistborn with access to gold compounding could burn it for some effect.{{wob ref|date=2018-3-1|9321|Emerald City Comic Con 2018}} It is also likely difficult to make ettmetal [[Hemalurgic]] spikes for the same reason, though not impossible. Whether or not a [[Feruchemical]] attribute can be stored or tapped from it is currently unknown.

[[Harmony]] is another manifestation of Ruin and Preservation combined on a grander and more complete sense. This makes "harmonium" a fitting name for ettmetal, as it reflects Harmony's combined nature. It is known that harmonium is a term [[Sazed]] (as Harmony) chose for the metal{{redditwob ref|books|2ytg2h|csuq5u3|text=Sazed didn't like the sound of Sazedium.|date=7 july 20153539}}, but whether or not the metal existed in Southern Scadrial prior to Sazed's [[Final Ascension|Ascension]] is currently unknown. Combinations of the two Shard's powers have been known to exist even from the beginning (e.g. the Metallic Art of Feruchemy), so it might be possible that ettmetal reserves existed before Sazed took up the Shards.

* The term "harmonium" has never been used in the stories published so far, but [[Brandon Sanderson]] introduced the term in one of his talks even before the release of [[Shadows of Self]]{{qawob ref|1094|43|Salt Lake City Comic-Con|date=Sep 4th, 20141033}} and has afterwards confirmed that it is another term for ettmetal.{{17swob ref|post|513046|Ettmetal is Harmonium|date=December 3, 20162544}} [[Marasi]] probably did not know the term harmonium when [[Allik]] described ettmetal to her, as otherwise the word would have translated.{{book ref|mb6|22}}

* [[Brandon Sanderson]] has described ettmetal as "super-cesium" in reference to its violent chemical reaction with water.{{17swob ref|post|513046|Ettmetal is Harmonium|date=December 3, 20162544}} [[Wikipedia:Cesium|Cesium]], like other alkali metals, is an extremely reactive real life metal, and will cause an explosion with water even at sub-zero temperatures.

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