Difference between revisions of "Shard"

Ten Shards have thus far been mentioned in the novels, and an additional one by Brandon. They were either referenced by their Shard's name or their Vessel. Those known by intent are [[Ambition]], [[Autonomy]], [[Cultivation]], [[Devotion]], [[Dominion]], [[Endowment]], [[Honor]], [[Odium]], [[Preservation]], and [[Ruin]]. An eleventh Shard which has been partially revealed just "wants to survive." It is unclear what the intent of this Shard is, as it could be Survival but also could be many other things. [[Trell]] may be one of the unknown shards, as it is an unknown being of great power worshiped by [[Miles Hundredlives]], and served by the Set. Ruin and Preservation have been combined to form the new shard of 'Harmony', as suchso Ruin and Preservation no longer exist as separate entities.

It is not clear who the original Vessels were, but they all originally were from [[Yolen]]. Together, the sixteen of them killed Adonalsium and divided the power between themselves, becoming the first to Ascend.{{msh ref|3|2}} Over time, the Vessels begin referring to themselves as their Shard's name (though they do remember their original selves{{qa ref|700|5}}). They eventually scattered throughout the cosmere, taking residence on several different [[Shardworld|worlds]] and influencing events on their given planet. Ruin and Preservation made a pact to create life on Scadrial,{{epigraph ref|mb3|53}} and constructed humans in the form which they have seen before{{book ref|mb3|76}}--presumably on the planet where Adonalsium and these Vessels came from. Judging from humanity on other Shardworlds, the Shards on those worlds probably created humanity there, too. However, the worlds existed before the Shards arrived there{{qa ref|700|3}} so there is a case to be made that humans already have been present before the Shards’ arrival in some cases. It is known that some shards mymay have helped transplant humanity to other worlds as well.{{book ref|sa3}}