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The '''Shards of [[Adonalsium]]''', or '''Shards''' for short, are pieces of the power of creation itself.{{ref|?|727|45|Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body?}} They are named after a specific action or ideal, called an [[intent]]. A mind must control a Shard. When a person holds a Shard, they are imbued with its power, but they also become the Shard.{{ref|?|697|21|Barring (Honor), did we see any Shards (like Sazed) in (TWoK)?}} Despite this, fans have created the term '''Shardholder''' to refer to the person who holds a Shard (not to be confused with [[Shardbearer]]), but this term is not canonical.
There are sixteen Shards{{epigrapf ref
Nine Shards have thus far been mentioned in the novels, either referenced by their Shard's name or its holder. Those known by intent are [[Ruin]], [[Preservation]], [[Honor]], [[Odium]], [[Cultivation]], [[Endowment]], [[Devotion]]{{ref|?|715|9|Aona's shard is Devotion?}}, and [[Dominion]]{{ref|?|763|2|Another Shard revealed}}. In addition, a person called [[Bavadin]] has been confirmed to hold (or have held) a Shard, though his Shard's intent is currently unknown.
I have delved and searched, and have only been able to come up with a single name:
'''Adonalsium'''. Who, or what, it was, I do not yet know.
|the [[Hero of Ages]]{{epigraph ref
}}
It is not known what [[Adonalsium]] is, whether it be a person or a great power. Since Shards have been called pieces of the power of creation{{ref|?|727|45}}, it is theorized that Adonalsium is in fact the power of creation. Regardless of its nature, Adonalsium was [[Shattering|Shattered]], and thus the Shards of Adonalsium came into being. [[The Way of Kings]] heavily implies there are sixteen Shards.{{epigraph ref|b|TWoK
These Shards are named after their respective [[intent]], which represents the driving force of the power{{annotation ref|mb3|chapter=58}}--an aspect of creation. However, after the Shattering, the Shards were left with no mind to control the power. For [[Realmatic]] reasons, a mind--Cognitive power--must be attached to the Spiritual power of the Shard. People eventually took up these Shards, like [[Rayse]] and [[Bavadin]], who share some history with whoever wrote [[the Letter]].
In its Physical form, it can appear as a solid, and does one specific thing.{{ref|?|727|45|text=Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body?}} On Scadrial, a Shards' Physical essence was a metal, and these [[god metals]] each performed a specific effect within the Metallic Arts. Yet, as evidenced by the god metal atium, the physical essence of a Shard can be used by magic systems created by other shards. For example, Atium, Ruin's "body", could be burned by a mistborn or atium misting, both of whom use magic created by or based on Preservation.
In its liquid form, it is most potent.{{ref|?|727|45}} The [[Well of Ascension]] is one such pool of a Shard's power, and as it was formed from Preservation's own mind, the liquid essence of a Shard is said to be related to the Cognitive aspect. Many Shards have such a [[Shardpool]]. Ruin's is located below the [[Pits of Hathsin]].{{17s ref|614|text=May 2010 Q&A, Question 15}} Raoden encounters a Shardpool, where [[hoed]] can go to relieve their pain.{{ref|b|
It is not clear what the gaseous form of Shards (the Spiritual power) do in general, but the mists--the power of Preservation--are able to fuel Allomancy as if working as a metal.{{ref|?|727|45}} The black smoke that was found in the chamber before the Well of Ascension was Ruin's corresponding "mist".{{ref|b|mb3|e|14}} Based on [[Realmatic Theory]], it is known that the spiritual power is tied to the afterlife in the corresponding world and is the area in which shardblades are stored, so it is reasonable to conclude the gaseous form of Shards are somehow tied to this plane of existence.
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