Difference between revisions of "Shard"

Shards possess incredible power -- a single Shard can easily move entire planets and alter people down to the genetic level.{{epigraph ref|mb3|4}} They exist in all three Realms, but unlike other living beings, the vast majority of their power is concentrated in the [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] and [[Spiritual Realm|Spiritual]]. Time matters little to Shards, and they can bend and stretch it as they wish it.{{epigraph ref|mb3|17}}

As [[Investiture]] never truly goes away, a Shard has access to a functionally-endless supply of it; however, there is a finite amount that a Vessel can command at any one time. This also means that while all Investiture in the cosmereCosmere is assigned to one Shard or another, a Shard cannot truly command all of it at once.{{wob ref|8605}} As such, while powerful, Shards are neithernot omniscient, nor omnipresent, or omnipotent.

A Shard's power can be temporarily diminished, either by assigning it to other living creatures (likesuch as people or [[spren]]), or by sending it back to Spiritual Realm, forsuch example,as by burning [[atium]]. Moreover, Shards are, as powers, bound to follow higher rules; a deal, once made by a Shard, cannot be broken, and they must absolutely obey the rules that govern them.{{book ref|sa3|16}}

Each Shard appears particularly predisposed towardstoward acting in line with their intent; for example, [[Preservation]] finds it near-nearly impossible to destroy, while it's extremely easy for [[Ruin]] to do so.{{msh ref|2|3}} This is partially influenced by the personality change brought about by the Shard.{{wob ref|6685}} However, whether their intentsintentions provide Shards with actual unique powers is unknown.

Shards are capable of appearing in various parts of their own Invested worlds instantaneously.{{book ref|mb3|76}} They can also travel to other planets by willing themselves to do so.{{epigraph ref|sa1|21}}{{wob ref|5526}} However, when a Shard Invests its power in a world, it's bound to it and will have difficulty leaving the system it's in.{{wob ref|9852}} Shards can also trap each other in systems, though the precise mechanics of itthat are unknown.{{book ref|sa3|57}}

Shards have several ways of communicating with people. Some Shards can speak directly into the minds of others, while others can listen.{{book ref|mb3|48}} A Shard can also communicate with a person directly through dreams or visions, and even take on a physical form -- a puppet of sorts, serving as a Physical outlet for communication.{{book ref|sa3|57}}{{book ref|sa3|114}} While the use of visions and speaking directly into a mind are limited to a single person, a puppet can be seen by many people.{{book ref|sa3|115}}

Shards can use their power to create complex '''constructs''', capable of continuing their function past the Shard's death. Examples of such constructs are the snapping mists of [[Preservation]],{{wob ref|4445}} and the vision journal of [[Honor]].{{book ref|sa1|75}} Shards can also create sapient beings out offrom their power -- this is most commonly seen on [[Roshar]], with its overabundance of [[spren]]. Many of them, like the [[Stormfather]], [[Nightwatcher]], and [[honorspren]], were created by local Shards.{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{book ref|sa3|114}}

Shards can also create '''avatars''', personas that can act independently of them.{{wob ref|13220}} Avatars can be of any gender, race, and species, regardless of the original Vessel creating them, and can be formed at a considerable distance from the main body of the Shard, with many different avatars able to exist on a single [[Shardworld]].{{wob ref|3974}}{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|3974}} Though a Shard can create them directly, avatars can also form without a conscious decision on the Shard's part, though the Shard is still aware of what is happening.{{wob ref|13220}} When created directly, however, they can be instilled with specific traits.{{epigraph ref|sa3|50}}

Avatars are, in a way, considered to be Shards in their own right.{{wob ref|8606}} Known ones include [[Patji (being)|Patji]] and the [[Sand Lord]], both of [[Autonomy]].{{wob ref|8902}}{{wob ref|5876}} It is difficult, but possible for someone to become a Vessel of an avatar.{{wob ref|13323}}

Shardic power is also directly related to sentience and sapience. CloseThe close presence of a particular Shard, such as [[Cultivation]], can lead to surroundingsome beings developing higher levels of sapience.{{wob ref|2792}} Shardic power can also grant sentience directly -- [[Scadrian]]s are sapient due to Preservation's power within them, and [[Nightblood]]'s sapience is partially derived from his large quantity of [[Breath]]s. [[Splinter]]s can also become sapient.{{wob ref|1799}} Even the raw power of a Shard, if left alone and without a Vessel, will eventually begin to form a rudimentary mind.{{au ref|Selish}}

While not all magic systems in the cosmereCosmere are directly tied to a Shard, Shardic presence greatly influences the shape a magic system takes. On a [[Shardworld]], magic forms as a result of the interactions between a Shard's power, [[Realmatic]]s, the world's natural inclinations and, in some placescases, even genetics.{{wob ref|6072}} For this reason, the exact function magic performs will not always be related to the Shard's nature -- for example, [[Surgebinding]], despite being powered by [[Honor]], is capable of manipulating [[Division]], which controls separating things. However, how the magic is ''obtained'' is, in fact, tied to the Shard.{{wob ref|4032}} [[Hemalurgy]] demands that a person be destroyed, in line with the intent of Ruin, while Surgebinding demands forging bonds.

Shards can perceive the future, although it can be difficult for them. Some are better at it than others, with [[Cultivation]] and [[Preservation]] in particular being noted as particularly excelling.{{book ref|sa1|75}}{{wob ref|5309}} Like all seers, Shards utilize [[Fortune]] to see ahead; and, like all seers, they can be wrong about both what they see and how they interpret it.{{book ref|sa3|122}} Shardic power can also be utilized by others to perceive the future likeas they do: examples of this are [[atium]], as well as the visions of the [[Returned]].{{wob ref|4645}}