Difference between revisions of "Investiture"

{{updatespoiler|sa4mb7}}

The term '''Investiture'''{{wob ref|1072}} has only seen in-world use in or by the [[Seventeenth Shard]], [[Ghostbloods]], [[Scadrial|Scadrians]], [[Vasher]], [[Riino]], [[Navani]], the [[Herald]]s, and [[spren]]. Most who refer to Investiture use terminology specific to the world in which they reside; Feruchemists refer to the process of Investing a [[Metalmind]] as 'filling', or ‘storing’ and [[Windrunner]]s refer to the process by which they create [[Lashing]]s as 'infusing'.{{wob ref|5528}} Most characters using this term understand more cogently that the [[cosmere]] encompasses worlds and systems of magic other than their own.

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 (many [[Perpendicularity|perpendicularities]]), and gaseous material forms ([[Mist|Preservation's Mists]], [[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.{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}{{wob ref|13425}}{{wob ref|13453}}

An interesting thing to note is that the color red has a tendency to manifest when a Shard is "co-opting or corrupting another Shard's magic".{{wob ref|8340}}{{book ref|sa3|117}} All Investiture creates some type of emotional reaction in users.{{wob ref|13392}} Investiture has taste, and different Investitures have different tastes.{{wob ref|15669}}{{book ref|sa4|42}}

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 mental component: that the user or [[Shard]] must be trying to do Hemalurgy (this 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 with 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 Surges 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 Surges do require simply that the user wish it to happen. Often with Surgebinding this can be accomplished by instinctively pushing [[Stormlight]] into something.

Many magic systems in the [[cosmere]] are able to heal a person from damage. This includes physical wounds{{book ref|mb6|14}} or sprains,{{book ref|sa3|10}} and can even heal fatal damage.{{book ref|mb6|17}}{{book ref|sa3|72}} Limbs and body parts can be regrown as well.{{book ref|sa2|87}} Healing can also be used to recover from poisoning,{{book ref|sa3|18}} sickness such as a cold or cancer,{{wob ref|1009}} chronic diseases, such as poor eyesight,{{wob ref|2833}}{{book ref|wor|89}} tiredness,{{book ref|mb4|15}} and even damage to the [[Spiritwebspiritweb|soul]].{{book ref|sa3|37}} Constantly healing from wounds can leave the user invulnerable to pain.{{book ref|mb4|13}} Most forms of extreme healing don't care much about what is done to the physical body, as long as the person's spiritual template is in power at the time.{{wob ref|3535}} Some magic systems are better at healing than others.{{wob ref|6678}}

Healing works by using the three versions of the user's self; their Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual version.{{wob ref|9441}} Healing typically heals the Physical version by matching it to their ideal Spiritual version, which is filtered through the lens of their minds (Cognitive version). Almost all forms of healing in the cosmere are filtered through the perception of the user.{{wob ref|7024}}{{wob ref|9623}} This applies to both internal and external forms of healing. When someone is healing someone else, both of their perceptions matter.{{wob ref|11998}} If a person hasn't accepted a wound as a part of themselves, they can still heal it regardless of how long they've had it.{{book ref|sa2|87}}{{wob ref|12149}} However, even if a wound is recent, if the person has changed their mindset to see it as a part of themselves, they will not be able to heal from it.{{wobbook ref|6501sa3|i|13}}{{book ref|sa3.5|i1}}{{wob ref|136501}} Perception can also have users change their body to match their identity, such as a transgender person changing their biological sex,{{book ref|sa3.5|3}}{{wob ref|10913}} or a human changing into a singer.{{wob ref|15924}} There are a few magic systems that are an exception to this rule.{{wob ref|5306}}

Highly Invested individuals can shift their Spiritual self to more closely match their Cognitive self, making self-perception more important in the process. This allows for the healing of old wounds if the person doesn't view them as being part of themself, something that is impossible with less Invested individuals.{{book ref|sa2|87}}{{wob ref|14448}}

The conditions required for becoming Invested with a larger amount of power differ from planet to planet. It is assumed that the intent of the respective Shard influences these conditions. On [[Scadrial]] Connection to a Shard is determined by genetics. On [[Sel]] it's the [[Shaod]] that comes to those who live in the correct area and are devoted to something, and on [[Roshar]] it has to do with a person's actions and how they live their life.{{wob ref|7256}}

* [[Nightblood]], as a Type IV BiochromaticBioChromatic Entity

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