Difference between revisions of "Investiture"

Many methods of accessing Shardic power have been observed throughout the [[cosmere]], but all share certain cardinal similarities; an established connectionConnection or ability to create a connectionConnection to a source of power and a way of directing that power. Methods of accessing Investiture can be broadly divided into two types: physical and mechanical; the source of the Investiture (end-positive, end-neutral, or end-negative) also plays a role in the way the power is accessed.

Several end-positive magics share the trait of requiring a Spiritual shift of some kind; Elantrians[[Elantrian]]s are more closely attuned to the [[Spiritual Realm]] (incidentally, this is why [[Hemalurgy]] gets more from them),{{wob ref|6218}} Allomancers,[[Allomancer]]s in [[Classical Scadrial,]] and the [[Final Empire]] had to [[Snap]] to access power,{{wob ref|5182}} and Surgebinders[[Surgebinder]]s "plug" [[spren]] into themselves.{{wob ref|5469}}{{book ref|sa2|68}} Once a conduit has been established, a key, such as an Aon, metal, or Command, is used to tell it how to act.

While a key is generally used, [[Shard]]s can also choose to use their Investiture to power magic: [[Endowment]] breaks pieces off itself to resurrect the [[Returned]], and [[Preservation]] powers [[Vin]]'s Allomancy with the Mists[[Mist]]s; some magics, such as [[BioChroma]] and [[Feruchemy]], deal with the use of power that already exists within a human (be that naturally or by Shardic intervention). Others lack an explicit key; instead of pulling power directly from a Shard, Surgebinders draw from the Investiture of highstorms[[highstorm]]s, and direct it through their bond with their spren, similarly to [[fabrial]]s.