Difference between revisions of "Shard"

Investing in a world will produce numerous effects, most notably the creation of a magic system tied to the Shard. While a Shard doesn't have complete control over how the magic system functions or what it does, it can manipulate its mechanics to an extent.{{wob ref|6072}}{{wob ref|4242}} Moreover, the presence of a Shard leads to the formation of a [[Perpendicularity]], a well of the Shard's investitureInvestiture that pierces all three [[Realmatic Theory|Realm]]s, allowing for the existence of [[worldhopping]].{{book ref|sa3|119}} The Shard can also influence the world in other ways; examples of such influence are [[atium]] and [[lerasium]] on [[Scadrial]], the [[Tears of Edgli]] on [[Nalthis]], or the many [[spren]] of [[Roshar]].

Shards are capable of moving themselves to various parts of their world instantaneously (or near instantly).{{book ref|mb3|76}} They can will themselves to other Shardworlds, as noted from Odium's journey to Sel{{epigraph ref|sa1|21}} and Brandon implying that [[SazedHarmony]] could travel to another world, but chooses not to.{{wob ref|5526}} The [[Lord Ruler]] was also capable of moving around worlds when he took up the power at the [[Well of Ascension]], but he also didn't. However, when a Shard invests its power in a world, it is bound to it and will have difficulty leaving the planet or system.{{wob ref|9852}} For example, Ruin and Preservation couldn't leave [[Scadrial]] for they had had a large hand in the creation of the planet and every thing on Scadrial contains some of the Shards' power.{{cite}} In the [[Letters#The Second Letter|Second Letter]], Odium is implied to be trapped in his current system.{{wob ref|8560}}

Shards will begin to fuel magic when they settle on a world. Each Shard can do this differently, though much of the system is restricted by the world itself. Because of this, the Shard is able to directly interact with the users of the magic and provide the needed investitureInvestiture. Ruin and Preservation's ability to fuel all the Metallic Arts is an example of this.{{wob ref|6072}}

[[File:Marsh Ruin.png|thumb|right|250px|<center><small>by {{a|eyeronis}}</small></center> [[Ruin]] commanding a [[Steel Inquisitor]] ]]

Some shardsShards have the ability to touch the minds of people. This ability has many restrictions and much may depend on the intent of each shardShard.

[[Ruin]] can whisper into the minds of humans, especially spiked humans to whom he could manifest and speak to directly. Preservation can see into the minds of humans and even influence them a small amount, like causing them to leave an earring off. However, that influence is very weak and can easily be overcome by a person's own will.{{cite}}

Shards can see into the future, though this is difficult to do. [[Honor]] describes seeing the future like "It's as if the future is a shattering window. The further you look, the more pieces that window breaks into."{{book ref|twok|75}} Some Shards are better at seeing into the future--Honor says Cultivation is better at future sight than Honor.{{book ref|twok|75}} Preservation saw into the future and created the [[Terris Prophecies]].{{wob ref|5309}} Most of the time, temporal abilities are related to the pure essence of a Shard (see [[atium]]) or to a Splinter (like Returned do).{{wob ref|4645}} Since [[Wyrn]] can see into the future through some method, it is theorized he may hold a Splinter or be a [[Sliver]], but he may also have this power via [[seon]] or [[skaze]].

Shards can develop complex constructs with their power. Preservation made the mists Snap Allomancers long after his mind had withered away.{{wob ref|4445}} Honor created a visual journal which [[Dalinar]] now seessaw during [[highstorm]]s.{{book ref|twok|75}} That visual journal was propagated by the [[Stormfather]]. Honor also created many [[Spren]] out of investitureInvestiture and was even able to alter and increase the mind of the [[Stormfather]]. Entities like the Mist spirit and the Stormfather are often called [[Cognitive ShadowsShadow]]s, bits of mind with power doing tasks created for them.

Investiture never goes away and always returns; a Vessel wielding a Shard has access to an endless supply of Investiture. However, there is a finite amount that a Vessel can wield at one time. Occasionally a Shard's power is condensed into a different form in the physical realm. Investiture can appear in one of three states: a gas or mist like substance, a liquid, or a solid. [[Stormlight]] and the mists on [[Scadrial]] are examples of investitureInvestiture manifesting as a gas. The Well of Ascension is [[Preservation]]'s power, condensed as a liquid. Some Aspects of Shards' power regenerate over time. The Well of Ascension reformed every 1024 years{{wob ref|5511}} rather than vanishing forever. Atium also regenerates, though when atium was burned away, Ruin was not able to use it. It isn't known whether all of a Shard's power would regenerate eventually.

Shards, though their minds are significantly expanded, are not omniscient, omnipresent nor omnipotent. Even after Ruin was free from his prison, he couldn't influence everything. After the [[catacendre]], SazedHarmony can more easily influence events where the mists are located,{{wob ref|5308}} which implies that there is a limit to his Shards' powers.

Preservation and Ruin are blind to metal, the [[focus]] of the [[Metallic Arts]]. It is not clear if other Shards are blind to an aspect of their respective focus, but Brandon has stated that SazedHarmony is also blind to metal.{{wob ref|6149}}

It is unknown what the exact definition of a Splinter is, but the term seems to refer to a specific kind of fragment of a Shard's power. Unlike Slivers, a Splinter has never been human.{{wob ref|4541}} Lerasium and atium, despite being condensed essences of their Shards, are not Splinters. One distinguishing factor of a Splinter is that they often have an intent, separate from their Shards'. {{wob ref|10089}}

The divine Breath that [[Returned]] hold (a Splinter of [[Endowment]]){{wob ref|4486}}, the Aon within a seon (a Splinter of [[Devotion]]) and [[Spren]] on Roshar (Splinters of [[Honor]]){{wob ref|3017}} are theexamples only confirmedof Splinters. Splinters did not appear in ''[[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|Mistborn Era 1]]''.{{wob ref|4541}}

It is not clear how Splinters are formed, though it appears a Shard can actively create one. Endowment seems to be able to form them at will for [[Returned]]. [[Odium]] traveled to Sel and Splintered [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]].{{article ref|The Letter}} Since [[Odium]] killed [[Tanavast]],{{book ref|twok|75}} the Vessel of [[Honor]], Honor is Splintered.{{wob ref|9810}}

All magic systems that are currently known are related to Shards. [[Allomancy]] is of Preservation, [[Hemalurgy]] is of Ruin, and [[Feruchemy]] is the balance between the two Shards. [[AonDor]], byis name,of appears[[Devotion]] to be related toand [[DevotionDominion]]. [[Awakening]] is of [[Endowment]]. [[Surgebinding]] is of [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]]. The only magic that may not be related to a Shard are [[Hoid]]'s ability to move from planet to planet, but the mechanics of his powers are not clear.