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 Invested with magical power.
Terminology
An official definition of the term has not yet been given.
Meanwhile, the term Investiture is a generalized term used by the Seventeenth Shard and spren. 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 Feruchemists of Scadrial -- who are able to invest metalminds -- refer to the process as 'charging' the metalmind. A Surgebinder with access to the Three Lashings refers to the Investiture as 'infusing' a person or an object.[1]
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 Invests the rope, which becomes an Invested object.
Categories of Investiture
In the Alloy of Law Ars Arcanum, the author categorizes the three Metallic Arts.[2] Every type of Investiture can be classified along these categories.[3]
End-positive Investiture
When practicing an end-positive Investiture, the practitioner draws in power from an external source.[2] The practitioner gains power from the external source. The Investiture is positive in that it adds -- in most cases temporarily -- power to the practitioner. Most types of Investiture are end-positive.[3]
Examples for end-positive Investiture are Allomancy and the form-based Investitures on Sel (i.e. AonDor).
End-neutral Investiture
In an end-neutral Investiture, power is neither gained nor lost[2]. The practitioner disposes about his amount of power, making it neutral in that power that is invested into an object, can be withdrawn to reinstall the original amount of power.
Feruchemy is end-neutral. Awakening is end-neutral.[4]
End-negative Investiture
In the practice of an end-negative Investiture, some power is lost.[2] It is negative in that it removes some power from someone. End-negative Investiture is very rare.[3]
Hemalurgy is end-negative.
Forms of Investiture
Investiture is known to exist in solid, (ie Atium and Lerasium), liquid (Shardpools), and gaseous physical forms (Preservation's Mists, Stormlight, BioChromatic Breath).
Accessing Investiture
Several ways to access Investiture exist. Investiture can be directly given by a Shard to fuel magic (Preservation's Mists, the explosion of Stormlight that comes with each oath of the Knights Radiant), innately extant (Scadrian potential for Allomancy and Feruchemy, the initial BioChromatic Breath) or artificial ("Cracks in the soul" are required for a Nahel Bond, Hemalurgy steals Spiritweb fragments), or used without "flowing" through the user (Forging, Rosharan Fabrials, Hemalurgical theft).
Investiture of people
Generally, humans are not Invested. 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.[5]
Under specific conditions, some humans can become Invested with more power than others. In general, the closer the connection between a human and a Shard, the more powerful the human becomes. A normal human on Scadrial is less connected to Preservation than a Misting, who snapped (chose Preservation) at some point but is less powerful than a Mistborn, who either consumed Lerasium (the direct Physical essence of Preservation) or has the proper Spiritweb needed to access all the Allomantic Abilites who is weaker than a Sliver during the time they held the power of Preservation.
The conditions required to getting invested with a bigger amount of power differ from Shardworld to Shardworld. It is assumed that the intent of the respective Shard influences these conditions. On Scadrial connection to a Shard is determined by genetics and Snapping, or choosing to live, following Preservation. On Sel it's the Shaod comes to those who live in the correct area and are Devoted to something, and on Roshar acting with Honor allows a Surgebinder greater strength.[6]
Investiture of Objects
Objects are not Invested in their original state. They can become invested by a Shard or by a human having met the above-mentioned requirements. An Invested object gains magical properties. The more invested an object is, the more power it has. Examples for invested objects include:
- filled metalminds of a Feruchemist
- a charged Hemalurgic spike (Vin's earring, Wax's earring)
- any Awakened object. Nightblood, as a Type IV Biochromatic Entity, is an extreme case.
- Shardplate and Shardblade, as well as the Honorblades
- a Forger's Seal
An Invested object usually can't be influenced by another Investiture.[7]
Investiture of Natural Phenomenon
It is possible for a natural force to become Invested. On Roshar, Zahel states that the Highstorms are Invested. Whether this is the result of purposeful design by a Shardholder, or the continued maintainence of another entity such as the Stormfather, has not been revealed. It is also not clear whether the storm is invested in and of itself, or if it houses another form of Investiture.
Manifestations of Investiture
Investiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/rowInvestiture/row| Investiture | World | Books |
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Notes
- ↑ Can we change charge to imbue?
— Theoryland - 2010-05# - ↑ a b c d The Alloy of Law Ars Arcanum#
- ↑ a b c 42117
— 17th Shard forums - 2012-09-26# Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "17s-2383-post" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "17s-2383-post" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Chicago Signing (transcription)
— 17th Shard forums - 2014-02-22# - ↑ What do we call a Shard's power inside someone?
— Theoryland - 2012-09# - ↑ A discussion on investiture
— Theoryland - 2011-05-30# - ↑ Could Allomancy affect a Shardplate/blade?
— Theoryland - 2012-01-16#