Difference between revisions of "Investiture"

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'''Investiture''' is a "Cosmere aware" term describing the energy that infuses the [[cosmere]] and on which all [[cosmere]] magic systems are based.

Investiture transcends the three realms: Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual that comprise most of the cosmere. However, it is more Spiritual than anything.{{wob ref|5610}} In the Physical Realm, Investiture is known to exist in solid, (i.e. [[atium]] and [[lerasium]]), liquid ([[Perpendicularity|Shardpools]]), and gaseous material forms ([[Mist|Preservation's Mists]], Stormlight[[Light]], [[BioChromatic Breath]]). For some reason, all solid Investiture is metallic, the result of one of the laws governing the cosmere.{{wob ref|9291}} Most often these appear due to influence by a [[Shard]] holder, however some formations occur in a more natural way. Some solid Investiture, like atium, breaks the general rules regarding how Invested objects interact with Investiture.{{wob ref|8929}} Investiture works in a similar fashion to energy in that it follows its own version of the laws of thermodynamics. It is not possible to destroy Investiture; it can only be redistributed.{{wob ref|1649}} There are at least four laws that govern Investiture, with the fourth one relating to Adonalsium.{{wob ref|3544}} Large amounts of Investiture concentrated in a specific location tend to pierce a hole in the three realms (Spiritual, Cognitive, and Physical) and create a Perpendicularity. This effect is similar to the gravity generated by large amounts of matter.{{wob ref|8920}} Large amounts of Investiture can also create a time dilation.{{wob ref|13425}}{{wob ref|13453}}

Several end-positive magics share the trait of requiring a Spiritual shift of some kind; Elantrians are more closely attuned to the Spiritual Realm (incidentally, this is why [[Hemalurgy]] gets more from them),{{wob ref|6218}} Allomancers, in Classical Scadrial, had to Snap to access power, and Surgebinders "plug" spren into themselves. Once a conduit has been established, a key, such as an Aon, metal, or Command, is used to tell it how to act.

The intent of a user is very important to several magic systems,; these magic systems require a mental component to function. Some, like Hemalurgy, simply require that someone intend to make a spike when they do it, and others, like Awakening, require complex images created in your mind with the spoken command to function. Hemalurgy has only one known Mentalmental component and: that is the user or [[Shard]] [[Ruin]] must be trying to do Hemalurgy (It'sthis is [[Ruin]]'s intent when [[Spook]] temporarily gains the ability to burn pewter). This mental component, if not present, renders the spike to a normal metal spike and simply harms the victim. When present, it controls what is stolen when used in conjunction towith the correct binding point. Awakening is almost as much mental as spoken. If the visualizing of the command is not firm, the Awakened object can behave in a unknown manner or not at all. The more complex the command the more important that mental component is. In [[Surgebinding]], the mental component has varying degrees of necessity depending on the [[Surge]] used. [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Lightweaving]] requires an extremely clear image in a user's mind to create an illusion with the appropriate appearance, but with [[Surge]]sSurges like Gravitation the user does not have to have any idea of what they are doing; the Surge will do the same thing regardless. Some [[Surge]]sSurges do require simply that the user wish it to happen. Often with [[Surgebinding]] this can be accomplished by instinctively pushing [[Stormlight]] into something.

;'''Soulcasting''': When Soulcasting, both Surgebinders and fabrial users are limited by the types of gems available to them.{{wob ref|2784}} While the chemical composition of the gemstone is important, its color is paramount, with every color of a polestone corresponding to one of the [[Ten Essences]].{{book ref|sa3|part=ars}} Some polestones are the same type of crystal but with different color and chemical signatures, such as sapphires and rubies both being types of corundum. Much like how [[iron]] and [[steel]], despite being very similar chemically, are different metals in the Metallic Arts, the exact color and chemical signatures are enough to differentiate the polestones. As a result, an off-color polestone acts much like an impure alloy in Allomancy.{{wob ref|4080}} If a polestone was drained of its color by an Awakener, it would still hold Stormlight but would have the properties of a dusty or cloudy quartz.{{wob ref|3203}}{{wob ref|295}} If a spren was trapped inside, thethey would be released.{{wob ref|292}} Although the type of polestone Stormlight is stored in is irrelevant for most [[Surgebinding]], polestones do have an important impact on Soulcasting. Namely, they determine what kind of substances a Soulcaster can transmute objects into.{{wob ref|2784}}

When healing the soul, such as a missing piece cut off from a [[Shardblade]], a new patch of soul will be created.{{wob ref|126}}{{wob ref|983}} Healing wounds to the soul is much more [[Spiritual Realm]] based.{{wob ref|6435}} If a magic is strong enough to heal from pieces of a body, it will try to heal from the biggest piece.{{wob ref|4128}} If the body was perfectly cut in half, a random half would be chosen to heal from. Not every magic system is capable of healing soul wounds.{{wob ref|6435}} If the soul leaves the body and is then healed, the soul will not return and the physical body will be the only thing healed, leaving the person dead.{{wob ref|9623}}{{book ref|mb3|82}}{{book ref|mb3|epilogue}} If a soul is healed but not reattached properly, the person will leave a glowing afterimage when they move,{{book ref|sa3|90}} though it is only visible to those who are highly investedInvested or connected to the [[Cognitive Realm]].{{citewob ref|2563}}

;'''Elantrians''': ElantrianElantrians are able to heal themselves quickly and survive fatal injuries, such as decapitation.{{wob ref|13084}} This ability doesn't function if the massive Aon Rao of [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]] is non-functional. [[Reod]] Elantrains' wounds will refuse to heal; nonetheless, a Reod Elantrian can only be killed by decapitation or burning, while remaining immune to hunger or most fatal wounds, as the [[Dor]] keeps their bodies functioning.{{wob ref|1942}}

;'''Forgery''': A form of [[Forgery]] practiced by surgeons is called Resealing.{{wob ref|7759}} Resealing can effect miraculous healing, even allowing to survive otherwise fatal wounds, but it doesn't repair spiritual damage. Forgery can also be used to Forge a new soul.{{tes ref|2}}

;'''Returned''': Each [[Returned]] is gifted a single, powerful [[Breath]] called a Divine Breath, a [[Splinter]] of [[Endowment]].{{wob ref|4486}} A Returned may give this Breath up to heal one person, albeit at the cost of their own life.{{book ref|wb|12}} This sacrifice can cure diseases, heal almost any wound, and regrow lost body parts.{{book ref|wb|12}} The Divine Breath is one of the most powerful healing abilities in the cosmere, perhaps ''the'' most powerful available to non-Shards.{{wob ref|9623}}

'''The Nahel Bond''': This Bond is between a human and certain types of intelligent [[Spren]]. The [[Nahel Bondbond]] gives a human access to the system of magic known as [[Surgebinding]], while granting the spren the ability to maintain their cognition in the Physical Realm. There are ten known forms the [[Nahel Bondbond]] can take, each giving access to two different [[Surge]]s. See [[Surgebinding]] and [[Nahel Bondbond]] for more information.

'''Seons''': A [[seon]] can create bonds with humans and [[Elantrian]]s. Little is known of this bond other than that the [[seon]] follows and helps the person it is bonded to, functioning as a servant to the owner of the bond. This bond does not give the [[seon]] an innate ability to find the human to whom it is bonded. [[Seon]]s will automatically seek out a new person to bond with following the death of its master; often the new master has been prearranged. During the time of the [[Reod]], while the [[Shaod]] was unable to finish transforming a human into an [[Elantrian]], any [[seon]] bonded to a [[Elantrian]] lost its mind and would float around the city, often near their master.{{book ref|elantris|4}} This bond grants new unknown powers to the members of the bond while on [[Roshar]] and is very similar to a [[Nahel Bondbond]].{{wob ref|3035}}{{wob ref|6928}}

'''Sentient Awakened Entities in an Inorganic Host''': Also known as Type IV BioChromatic Entities. The only known entities of this kind is [[Nightblood]] and Azure's Sword. [[Nightblood]] is a sentient sword made using 1000a breathsthousand Breaths and the commandCommand to destroy evil. It makes a bond with anyone with whom it wishes to communicate, and it is able to read and speak with minds directly.{{wob ref|6928}} Distance appears to be a factor, but this may be a limitation of the mind of [[Nightblood]] and not its ability. While idle, [[Nightblood]] reaches out to other people, tempting them to draw the blade. "Pure" people who cannot be tempted would feel great nausea, even induce vomiting. Anyone who is able to wield [[Nightblood]] and survive, bonds with the blade to a greater degree and is no longer repelled by or abnormally drawn to use it.{{wob ref|7404}} Those unable to control [[Nightblood]] are controlled by it, in effect [[Nightblood]] wields them killing everyone around and absorbing all of the [[Investiture]] from the victim including the spark of life (i.e. the soul). This bond may grant additional powers on Roshar.{{wob ref|6892}}

It has been confirmed that Bonds other than the [[Nahel Bondbond]] will provide powers to the constituent entities of that Bond while on Roshar. What these powers are is unknown, and will not be of the ten [[Surge]]s. The seon bond is confirmed to do this, as the Nahel bond and the seon bond are very similar.{{wob ref|6928}}

It is possible for a natural force to become Invested. On [[Roshar]], [[Zahel]] states that the [[highstorm]]s are Invested.{{book ref|sa2|i|6}} The [[Stormfather]] also states that during a centralhighstorm, point of Honor’s[[Honor]]’s power is locatedconcentrated in the highstormstorm as it moves across the land, temporarily joining all three [[Realms]].{{citebook ref|sa3|64}}