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It is not clear who the original Shardholders were, or where they came from. Over time, Shardholders begin referring to themselves as their Shard's name (though they do remember their original selves{{qa ref|700|5|Do (Shards) still remember their original names?}}). They eventually scattered throughout the cosmere, taking residence on several different [[Shardworld]]s 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|b|mb3|c|76}}--presumably on the planet where Adonalsium and these Shardholders came from. Judging from humanity on other Shardworlds, the Shards on those worlds probably created humanity there, too. However, the Shardworlds existed before the Shards arrived there{{qa ref|700|3|Who names the planets?}} so there is a case to be made that humans already were present during the Shards’ arrivals.
 
Often, a Shardholder's original name is mentioned in some form on their world. Atium is named after Ati, lerasium after Leras, and those condensed essences of their Shards' power. AonDor is derived from Aona, a Shardholder on Sel. It is also suspected that 'Domi', god of the Shu-Korath people, is short for Dominion.{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}
Ruin and Preservation were drawn together because they were such perfect opposites{{qa ref|691|9|Are all Shards paired?}} (though not all Shards have pairs like those ones do{{qa ref|691|9}}). Direct confrontation between their two powers was excruciatingly painful, and they eventually destroyed each other. It is not clear whether if any two Shards collided, they would both die, or if this was simply an effect of Ruin and Preservation having such opposite intents.
 
It is implied that not all Shards are equal (though they started at an equal level{{17s ref|2383|post|42116|All shards started equal?}}). Rayse is said to hold the most dangerous of the sixteen, Odium.{{epigraph ref|sa1|19}}{{book ref|b|TWoK|c|46}} It is unknown what makes Odium inherently so dangerous, whether it is due to the intent, or because Odium actually has more power than other Shards.
 
Odium was powerful enough to travel to Sel, kill Aona and Skai, and Splinter their power:
In its Physical form, it can appear as a solid, and does one specific thing.{{qa 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.{{qa 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.{{book ref|b|Elantris|c|60}} That pool is theorized to be Aona's Shardpool.
 
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.{{qa ref|727|45}} The black smoke that was found in the chamber before the Well of Ascension was Ruin's corresponding "mist".{{epigraph ref|mb3|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.
The divine Breath that [[Returned]] hold (a Splinter of [[Endowment]]{{qa ref|680|13|If a returned gives away his/her breath they die right?}}) and the Aon within a Seon (a Splinter of [[Devotion]]) are the only confirmed Splinters. Splinters also appear in ''[[The Way of Kings]]'', but not ''[[Mistborn series|Mistborn]]''.{{qa ref|699|8}}
 
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|b|twok|c|75}} the holder of [[Honor]], Honor is Splintered.{{qa ref|755|27|Was Honor splintered?}}
 
== Powers ==
Shards hold a vast amount of Spiritual energy, and have enormous capabilities, so much power that they have effectively become gods. Moving a planet is easy for them to accomplish.{{epigraph ref|mb3|4}} They exist on a higher level than the Physical Realm, and have expanded Cognitive aspects and perceptions. Time seems to matter little to Shards. Minutes can pass like hours.{{epigraph ref|mb3|17}}
 
Shards can will themselves to various parts of their world instantaneously (or near instantly).{{book ref|b|mb3|c|76}} They can will themselves to other Shardworlds, as noted from Odium's journey to Sel{{epigraph ref|sa1|21}} and Brandon implying that [[Sazed]] could travel to another world, but chooses not to.{{qa ref|691|16|Can Sazed worldhop?}}
 
Shards can fuel magic, as evidenced by Ruin and Preservation's ability to fuel all the Metallic Arts.{{qa ref|727|45}} Ruin could manipulate the contents of Feruchemical metalminds. Ruin and Preservation can both whisper into the minds of humans.
 
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|b|twok|c|75}} Some Shards are better at seeing into the future--Honor says Cultivation is better at future sight than Honor.{{book ref|b|twok|c|75}} Preservation saw into the future and created the [[Terris Prophecies]].{{qa ref|727|9|How were the Terris Prophecies created in the first place?}} Most of the time, temporal abilities are related to the pure essence of a Shard (see [[atium]]) or to a Splinter (like Returned do).{{qa ref|590|46|How did Wyrn see into the future?}} 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.{{qa ref|428|10}} Honor created a visual journal which [[Dalinar]] now sees during [[highstorm]]s.{{book ref|b|twok|c|75}}
 
Aspects of Shards' power regenerate over time. The Well of Ascension reformed every 1024 years{{qa ref|691|3|Why did the Well of Ascension refill every thousand years?}} 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.
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 Sazed is also blind to metal{{qa ref|727|80|Is Sazed effected by the metal blindess, or can he see thing written in metal?}}
 
Honor states to [[Dalinar]] that a champion may bind [[Odium]], but it is unknown what he meant.{{book ref|b|TWoK|c|75}}
 
==Relationship with Magic Systems==
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Shards, Editors, Interface administrators, Keepers, Synod
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