Difference between revisions of "Investiture"

'''Investiture''' describes the principle on which all of [[Brandon Sanderson]]'s magic systems in the [[Cosmere]] are based. It means that people or objects are investedInvested with magical power. That power is the power of a [[Shard]].

Meanwhile, the term '''Investiture''' is a generalized term used by the [[Seventeenth Shard]]. In the Cosmere, so far, they are the only ones with knowledge of the term '''Investiture'''. On the Cosmere worlds different terms are used to describe the application of magic, depending on its appearance. For example, the [[Feruchemist]]s of [[Scadrial]] - who are able to invest [[metalmind]]s - refer to the process as 'charging' the metalmind. A [[Surgebinder]] with acces to the Three [[Lashing]]s refers to the Investiture as 'infusing' a person or an object.{{ref|?|619|18|Can we change charge to imbue?}}

The term can be used as a verb or an adjective. The Feruchemist invests his metalmind, which then becomes an invested object. By [[Awakening]] a rope, the Awakener investsInvests the rope, which becomes an investedInvested object.

When practicing an end-positive Investiture, the practicioner draws in power from an external source.{{ref|name=AoLArs}} The practicioner gains power from the external source. The Investiture is positive in that it adds - in most cases temporarily - -power to the practicioner. Most types of Investiture are end-positive.{{ref|name=END}}

Generally, humans are not investedInvested. However, on some worlds, a Shard has invested humans. For example, [[Preservation]] gave part of his power to humans to make them sentient. On [[Nalthis]], people are born with [[Breath]]. Both cases are called '''Innate Investiture'''.{{ref|?|839|4|What do we call a shardsShard's power inside someone?}}

Under specific conditions, some humans are invested Invested with more power than others. This bigger amount of power usually enables these humans to perform an Investiture themselves. In general one can say that the bigger the amount of power a human has, the more powerful an Investiture he can perform. For example, a [[Allomancer#Mistborn|Mistborn]] has a very big amount of power, enabling him to use all Allomantic metals. A [[Misting]] has a lesser amount of power, but still more than anyone with Innate Investiture. That's why he is only able to use one Allomantic metal.

== Investiture of objectsObjects ==

Objects are not investedInvested in their original state. They can get invested through an Investiture performed by a Shard or by a human having met the above-mentioned requirements. An Invested object gains magical properties. Examples for invested objects are:

* a charged hemalurgicHemalurgic spike ([[Vin's earring]], [[Wax's earring]])

* any awakenedAwakened object, especially [[Nightblood]]

An investedInvested object usually can't be influenced by another Investiture.{{ref|t|01/16/2012 Twitter}}

== TypesManifestations of Investiture ==