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The '''Shards of [[Adonalsium]]''', or '''Shards''' for short, are pieces of the power of creation itself.<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]], Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>
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 name='
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<ref name='
They are related to many, if not all, magic systems, and for practical purposes, they are gods.
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]]<ref name='
}}
[[The Way of Kings]] heavily implies there are sixteen Shards.<ref name='TWoK_e11'>{{bref|TWoK|e|11}}</ref>
These Shards are named after their respective [[intent]], which represents the driving force of the power<ref name='THoA_a58B'>[http://www.brandonsanderson.com/annotation/329/Mistborn-3-Chapter-Fifty-Eight-Part-2 THoA Annotation 58, Part Two]</ref>--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]].
When a person takes up a Shard, the extreme power vaporizes the body, allowing the person’s mind to expand.<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]], Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>
From then on, the person’s consciousness feeds on the power of the Shard to remain alive<ref name='THoA_a58B'>[http://www.brandonsanderson.com/annotation/329/Mistborn-3-Chapter-Fifty-Eight-Part-2 THoA Annotation 58, Part Two]</ref>, but the Shard’s intent is the driving force of the power.
Over an immense time--centuries, perhaps millennia--a Shardholder’s mind begins to change, slowly molding to the Shard’s intent.<ref name='THoA_a57'>[http://www.brandonsanderson.com/annotation/326/Mistborn-3-Chapter-Fifty-Seven THoA Annotation 57]</ref><ref name='may2010_q17'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 17}}</ref>
{{quote
|Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him.
|[[The Letter]], about Ati, the holder of [[Ruin]]<ref name='TWoK_e18'>{{bref|TWoK|e|18}}</ref>
}}
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<ref name='Europe-names'>[[Brandonology#Europe Tour|Europe Tour]], Q: Do they still remember their original name?</ref>
They eventually scattered throughout the cosmere, taking residence on several different [[Shardworlds]] and influencing events on their given planet.
Ruin and Preservation made a pact to create on Scadrial,<ref name='THoA_e53'>{{bref|THoA|e|53}}</ref> and constructed humans in the form which they have seen before<ref name='THoA_c76'>{{bref|THoA|c|76}}</ref>--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<ref name='Europe-names'>[[Brandonology#Europe Tour|Europe Tour]], Q: Who names the planets?</ref> so there is a case to 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.<ref name='TWoK_e22'>{{bref|TWoK|e|22}}</ref>
At this point, all known magic in the cosmere is related to a Shard.
When that dies, the person’s original body rematerializes and falls to the ground as a corpse.<ref>{{bref|THoA|e|56}}</ref>
Ruin and Preservation were drawn together because they were such perfect opposites<ref name='May2010_q9'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 9}}</ref> (though not all Shards have pairs like those ones do{{cite}}).
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.
Rayse is said to hold the most dangerous of the sixteen, Odium.<ref name='TWoK_e19'>{{bref|TWoK|e|19}}</ref><ref>{{bref|TWoK|c|46}}</ref>
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.
{{quote
|One need only look at the aftermath of his brief visit to Sel to see proof of what I say. In case you have turned a blind eye to that disaster, know that Aona and Skai are both dead, and that which they held has been Splintered. Presumably to prevent anyone from rising up to challenge Rayse.
|[[The Letter]]<ref name='TWoK_e22'>{{bref|TWoK|e|22}}</ref>
}}
It is unknown if Odium is special in his ability to Splinter a Shard, but regardless, the person who wrote [[the Letter]] is terrified of Odium’s power.
If Brandon were to do a novel where different magic systems collide as the focus of the book, he refers to it as a '''conflux''' book.<ref name='conflux'>[[Brandonology#17th shard|17th Shard Interview]], Q: Will you ever write a book or series where different magic systems come into the same world?</ref>
The [[Seventeenth Shard]] are not a Shard of Adonalsium, but rather an organization of people who hop between worlds.<ref name='17S_intro'>[http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/6-welcome-to-17th-shard/ Welcome to 17th Shard]</ref>
==Known Shards==
|- align="center"
| [[Ruin]]
| [[Ati]]<ref name='THoA_thread'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread]]</ref> (later [[Sazed]])
| [[Scadrial]]
| [[Mistborn]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| [[Preservation]]
| [[Leras]]<ref name='THoA_thread'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread]]</ref> (later [[Sazed]])
| [[Scadrial]]
| [[Mistborn]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| [[Endowment]]<ref name='B&N_shards'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Noble|Barnes and Noble Q&A, Q: Could you tell us the numbers per book?]]</ref>
| ''Unknown''
| [[Nalthis]]
| [[Warbreaker]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| ''[[Aona's Shard|Unknown]]''
| [[Aona]]<ref name='TWoK_e22'>{{bref|TWoK|e|22}}</ref>
| [[Sel]]<ref name='TWoK_e22'>{{bref|TWoK|e|22}}</ref>
| [[Elantris]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| ''[[Skai's Shard|Unknown]]''
| [[Skai]]<ref name='TWoK_e22'>{{bref|TWoK|e|22}}</ref>
| [[Sel]]<ref name='TWoK_e22'>{{bref|TWoK|e|22}}</ref>
| [[Elantris]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| [[Honor]]
| [[Tanavast]]<ref name='@tanavast'>[http://twitter.com/#!/BrandSanderson/status/49647539623952384 Brandon’s Twitter]</ref>
| [[Roshar]]
| [[Stormlight Archive]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| [[Odium]]
| [[Rayse]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
| [[Roshar]]
| [[Stormlight Archive]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| [[Cultivation]]<ref name='17S_Cultivation'>[[Brandonology#17th Shard|17th Shard Interview]], Q: Is Cultivation a Shard on Roshar?</ref>
| ''Unknown''
| [[Roshar]]
| [[Stormlight Archive]]<ref name='B&N_Sel'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Nobles|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: what is the name of the planet that Elantris is on?</ref>
|- align="center"
| ''[[Bavadin's Shard|Unknown]]
| [[Bavadin]]<ref name='Europe_Bavadin'>[[Brandonology#Europe Tour|Europe Tour]], Q: Does Bavadin hold a Shard?</ref>
| ''Unknown''
| ''Unknown''
It is likely that this is a complete list of all the Shards for the published [[Shardworlds]].
Some worlds have more Shards than others.<ref name='B&N_shards'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Noble|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: Could you tell us the numbers per book?</ref>
Ruin and Preservation are the only Shards on [[Scadrial]] at the moment.<ref name='THoA_t_sazed'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler Thread]], Q: With all the talk about action and reaction and whatnot, will some force form to counter Sazed's new Ruin/Preservation mix?</ref>
By the time of the Hero of Ages spoiler thread (before the Way of Kings release), Brandon mentioned that there were four Shards other than Ruin and Preservation that have been seen:
One is a tough call. You've never met the Shard itself, but you've seen its power.<br>
The other one you have not met directly, but have seen its influence.
|Brandon Sanderson<ref name='THoA_t_shards'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler Thread]], Q: Have we met these four by name, or just by influence?</ref>
}}
Endowment was confirmed to be the Voice from [[Warbreaker]],<ref name='B&N_shards'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Noble|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q: Could you tell us the numbers per book?</ref> which Lightsong interacts with.
[[Raoden]] interacts with a second voice when he jumps into the [[Shardpool]] in [[Elantris]] (presumably Aona’s).
Before the release of [[The Way of Kings]] it was not clear what the other two Shards were.
However, Hoid was not a Shardholder on that list.<ref name='May2010_q12'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 12}}</ref>
With the Way of Kings, [[the Letter]] demystifies the other two unaccounted for Shards: we had not directly met Skai’s Shard, but his power on the planet of [[Sel]] has been seen (and, presumably, his related magic, with the [[Dakhor]]).
And [[Odium]] traveled to Sel, killing Aona and Skai, so by default his influence is pervasive on Sel.<ref name='TWoK_e22'>{{bref|TWoK|e|22}}</ref> So, all the
Shards on Scadrial, Sel, and Nalthis are accounted for.
There are three Shards on Roshar<ref name='May2010_q13'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 13}}</ref> and they are confirmed to be Honor, Odium, and Cultivation<ref name='17S_Cultivation'>[[Brandonology#17th Shard|17th Shard Interview]], Q: Is Cultivation a Shard on Roshar?</ref>.
Therefore, for all Shardworlds that have been seen, all Shards are known.
Still, that leaves eight additional Shards that have not been seen, and the only reference to any of them is that Bavadin is a Shardholder.<ref name='Europe_Bavadin'>[[Brandonology#Europe Tour|Europe Tour]], Q: Does Bavadin hold a Shard?</ref>
The last seven Shards are unknown.
The body of a god—or, rather, the power of a god, since the two are really the same thing. Ruin and Preservation inhabited power and energy in the same way a person inhabits flesh and blood.
|Sazed<ref name='
}}
A Shard’s power can take many different forms, related to the three [[realms]]: the Physical, the Cognitive, and the Spiritual.<ref name='B&N_Deepness'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Noble|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q:Of the people that were sick for the 16 days in comparison to just the 1 day, it is mentioned that they would be able to burn more precious metals (atium). Could it also be possible they are/were Mistborn - with the ability to burn all 16 metals?</ref>
All are extensions of the Shard’s power, and in [[the Hero of Ages]], sometimes referred to as the body of the Shard.<ref>{{bref|THoA|e|14}}</ref>
In its Physical form, it can appear as a solid, and does one specific thing.<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]], Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>
On Scadrial, a Shards’ Physical essence was a metal, and these [[god metals]] each performed a specific effect within the Metallic Arts.
In its liquid form, it is most potent.<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]], Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>
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]].<ref name='May2010_q15'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 15}}</ref>
Raoden encounters a Shardpool, where [[hoed]] can go to relieve their pain.<ref name='Elantris_c60'>{{bref|e|c|60}}</ref>
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.<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]], Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>
The black smoke that was found in the chamber before the Well of Ascension was Ruin’s corresponding “mist”.<ref name='THoA_e14'>{{bref|THoA|e|14}}</ref>
There are further subdivisions of Shards: Slivers and Splinters.
===Sliver===
A Sliver is a human intelligence who has held the power and released it.<ref name='vericon_sliver'>{{17s|420|Vericon Report}}, Q: Is the definition of Sliver: Someone who has held a large part of the raw form of a Shard temporarily?</ref>
There is a certain threshold of power where one would be considered a Sliver of Adonalsium.
Every person on [[Scadrial]] has a bit of the power of Preservation, but they are not technically Slivers.
Though there is some grey area in what it means to be a Sliver, individuals who have directly held the power of a Shard are usually termed Slivers.<ref name='goodreads_slivers'>[[Brandonology#Goodreads|Goodreads]], Q: Also, would the Elantrians and the Lerasium-mistings be considered Slivers?</ref>
The [[Lord Ruler]] held a bit of Preservation at the [[Well of Ascension]] and letting it go.
This altered him, and that residue of a Shard inside him was what scholars would term a Sliver.
After Vin gave up [[Preservation]], she was considered a Sliver, as was Kelsier by the end of the [[Mistborn trilogy]].
Elantrians are not slivers.<ref name='goodreads_slivers'>[[Brandonology#Goodreads|Goodreads]], Q: Also, would the Elantrians and the Lerasium-mistings be considered Slivers?</ref>
===Splinter===
Brandon has not told us the complete definition of a Splinter.
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'.<ref name='POsign_intent'>{{17s|712|Signing with Brandon and Peter Orullian}}, Q: Do Splinters have their own Intent, in addition to the Shards’?</ref>
The divine Breath that [[Returned]] hold are the only confirmed Splinter (a Splinter of [[Endowment]]<ref name='goodread_breath'>[[Brandonology#Goodreads|Goodreads]], Q: If a returned gives away his/her breath they die right?</ref>), though they appear in [[The Way of Kings]] and [[Elantris]] as well, but not [[Mistborn]].<ref name='vericon_splinter'>{{17s|420|Vericon Report}}, Q: How is a Splinter different from a Sliver?</ref>
It is been theorized that [[Seons]] are Splinters, and Brandon has said this line of theorizing is very close to being correct<ref name='norway'>[http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/570-brandon-signing-in-norway/page__view__findpost__p__10151 Europe Tour Q&A]</ref>.
It is not clear how Splinters are formed, though it appears a Shard must actively create one.
Endowment seems to be able to form them at will for [[Returned]].
[[Odium]] traveled to Sel and Splintered [[Aona's Shard]] and [[Skai's Shard]].
Since [[Odium]] killed [[Tanavast]],<ref name='TWoK_c75'>{{bref|TWoK|c|75}}</ref> the holder of [[Honor]], it has been theorized that Honor is Splintered as well.
==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.<ref name='THoA_e4'>{{bref|THoA|e|4}}</ref>
Shards 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.<ref name='THoA_e17'>{{bref|THoA|e|17}}</ref>
Shards can will themselves to various parts of their world instantaneously (or near instantly).<ref name='THoA_c76'>{{bref|THoA|c|76}}</ref>
They can will themselves to other Shardworlds, as noted from Odium’s journey to Sel<ref name='TWoK_e21'>{{bref|TWoK|e|21}}</ref> and Brandon implying that [[Sazed]] could travel to another world, but chooses not to.<ref name='May2010_q16'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 16}}</ref>
Shards can fuel magic, as evidenced by Ruin and Preservation’s ability to fuel all the Metallic Arts.<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]], Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>
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."<ref name='TWoK_c75'>{{bref|TWoK|c|75}}</ref>
Cultivation is apparently better at seeing into the future than Honor.
Preservation saw into the future and created the [[Terris Prophecies]].<ref name='THoA_terris'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler Thread]], A: The Terris prophesies were created by Preservation before he attempted his imprisonment.</ref>
Most of the time, temporal abilities are related to the pure essence of a Shard (see [[atium]]) or to a Splinter (like Returned do).<ref name='Tor_Wryn'>[[Brandonology#Tor Q&A]], Q: how the eff did Wyrn see into the future?</ref>
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.<ref name='B&N_Deepness'>[[Brandonology#Barnes and Noble|Barnes and Noble Q&A]], Q:Of the people that were sick for the 16 days in comparison to just the 1 day, it is mentioned that they would be able to burn more precious metals (atium). Could it also be possible they are/were Mistborn - with the ability to burn all 16 metals?</ref>
Honor created a visual journal which [[Dalinar]] now sees during [[highstorms]].<ref name='TWoK_c75'>{{bref|TWoK|c|75}}</ref>
Aspects of Shards’ power regenerate over time.
The Well of Ascension reformed every 1024 years<ref name='May2010_q2'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 2}}</ref> 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 end of [[the Hero of Ages]], Sazed can more easily influence events where the mists are located<ref name='THoA_sazed'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler Thread]], A: The mists are now an extent of Sazed's power, and where they roam, he is better able to influence things.</ref>, which implies that there is a limit to his Shards’ power.
Ruin could not read minds.
It is unknown whether this is a limit to all Shards.
In [[the Alloy of Law]] it is speculated that Sazed is reading Waxillium’s mind.<ref name='17S_AoL3'>{{17s|647|Alloy of Law Chapter Three Discussion}}</ref>
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<ref>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler Thread]], Q: Is Sazed effected by the metal blindess, or can he see thing written in metal?</ref>
Honor states to [[Dalinar]] that a champion may bind [[Odium]], but it is unknown what he meant.<ref name='TWoK_c75'>{{bref|TWoK|c|75}}</ref>
==Relationship with Magic Systems==
{{quote|The powers of Ruin and Preservation are Shards of Adonalsium, pieces of the power of creation itself. Allomancy, Hemalurgy, Feruchemy are manifestations of this power in mortal form, the ability to touch the powers of creation and use them. These metallic powers are how people's physical forms interpret the use of the Shard, though it's not the only possible way they could be interpreted or used. It's what the genetics and Realmatic interactions of Scadrial allow for, and has to do with the Spiritual, the Cognitive, and the Physical Realms.|[[Brandon]]<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]] Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>}}
All magic systems that are currently known are related to Shards.
The types of magics that exist on a world depends on which Shards are present.
If Endowment were to move to Scadrial, additional combinations of magics may form.<ref name='May2010_q25'>{{17s|614|May 2010 Q&A, Question 25}}</ref>
However, Shards did not ''create'' magic systems.
Ruin and Preservation did not create the Metallic Arts.<ref name='hemalurgy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler Thread]], Q: Is Hemalurgy dead?</ref>
Rather, magic is a natural function of the world, a Shard’s intent, [[Realmatic]] interactions, and sometimes genetics.<ref name='allomancy'>[[Brandonology#HoA Thread|Hero of Ages Spoiler thread]], Q: Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body? How exactly does that work?</ref>
Magic systems have a [[focus]].
===Aona and Skai's Shard Intents===
[[Aona's Shard]] was confirmed to be a synonym of Love or Compassion.<ref name='Aona_shard'>
When Brandon was pressed if Devotion was her Shard’s name, he said we are essentially right.
He said Devotion may even be the term he settled on, but he must check his notes to be certain.<ref>{{17s|712|Brandon and Peter Orullian Signing}}, Q: Is Aona's Shard name Devotion?</ref>
Skai’s Shard has been postulated to be Unity, Cohesion, or Passion.
His Shard is not Obedience.<ref
===Shardholder of Endowment===
| |||