Difference between revisions of "Spiritweb"

{{spoilerupdate|sa4|mb7|yumi}}

|The actual outlet of the power is not chosen by the practitioner, but instead is hardwritten into their Spiritwebspiritweb.

|[[Khriss]]{{book ref|mb4mb7|part=ars}}

The '''Spiritwebspiritweb''' is the network of [[Connection]]s and [[Investiture]] which make up the soul of a creature, place, or object. Residing in the [[Spiritual Realm]], Spiritwebsspiritwebs lack any tangible shape or size, with their borders defined by their [[Identity]]. Contained within a Spiritwebspiritweb are various pieces, including '''Spiritual DNA''', the '''Spiritual Aspect''', and one’s '''Spiritual Ideal'''.{{wob ref|3923}}

A person’s Spiritwebspiritweb, closely related to Spiritual DNA,{{wob ref|115}} makes up their presence in the Spiritual Realm. Measuring and quantifying a Spiritwebspiritweb is possible, if difficult, to do.{{wob ref|13361}} Spiritual DNA can be passed from parent to child like regular DNA,{{wob ref|5514}} yet does not function exactly the same as identical twins can have different Spiritual DNA.{{wob ref|3037}}{{wob ref|7761}}{{wob ref|16270}} Some ways of utilizing Investiture are written into Spiritual DNA. Spiritwebs can be manufactured, though the process of how is unknown.{{wob ref|15234}}

A person's Spiritwebspiritweb can be damaged either through physical or emotional trauma. This creates "cracks" in the soul. It is easier for Shards to [[Invest]] in people who are damaged in this way, as Investiture can enter the soul through these "cracks". This is why [[Allomancer]]s need to undergo [[Snapping]] in order to awaken their powers, and is implied to be the reason why [[Surgebinder]]s tend to have psychological problems.{{wob ref|5469}}{{book ref|sa2|68}}{{book ref|sa4|110}} Spiritwebs can be damaged with weapons like hemalurgic spikes and Shardblades. Those wounds can then be healed with a graft of Investiture. The healing process does leave a permanent wound on a person’sperson's Spiritwebspiritweb.{{wob ref|126}} Investing an object or person for a long period of time will warp and change their Spiritwebspiritweb.{{wob ref|2690}} In humans, this process leads to [[Savant]]ism.{{wob ref|7267}}

Most forms of healing work by using the three aspects of the user's self; their Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual.{{wob ref|9441}}{{wob ref|5306}} Healing typically heals the Physical version by matching it to their Spiritual Ideal, which is filtered through the lens of their minds (the Cognitive aspect).{{wob ref|3923}} Almost all forms of healing in the [[cosmere]], even natural healing, are filtered through the perception of the user, {{wob ref|7024}}{{wob ref|9623}} which means that if a person hasn't accepted a wound as a part of themselves, they can still heal it regardless of how long they've had it.{{wob ref|12149}} However, even if a wound is recent, if the person has changed their mindset to see it as a part of themselves, they will not be able to heal from it.{{wob ref|6501}}{{book ref|sa3|i|13}} An example of this can be found when [[Kaladin]] was unable to heal his slave brand until he swore the fourth oath and recognized that it wasn't a part of him.{{book ref|sa4|110}}

All forms of Investiture which one can use are related to the Spiritwebspiritweb. Some manifestations of Investiture are built into a person's Spiritual DNA, such as [[Allomancy]] and [[Feruchemy]]. Other abilities, such as [[Hemalurgy]] and [[Surgebinding]], involve manipulating Spiritual DNA. A few types of Investiture even work by manipulating or overwriting the Spiritwebspiritweb directly, such as [[Forgery]].

[[AonDor]] requires some innate Spiritual DNA, but the change[[Shaod]] that turns someone into an [[Elantrian]] likely involves some sort of change to the Spiritual DNA during the [[Shaod]]transition.{{clarifywob ref|14742}}{{citewob ref|2173}}

[[Forgery]] works by overlaying an object’s or person’s history and Spiritwebspiritweb with an alternative one. This may indicate that it is possible to remove the effects of a [[soulstamp]], though it is currently unknown.{{citewob ref|837}}

The ability to give [[Breath]], which is a part of a person's Spiritual aspect, is built into a [[Nalthis|Nalthian]]'s Spiritual DNA.{{citewob ref|12603}} The ability to [[Awakening|Awaken]] is not limited to Nalthians, as shown by [[Hoid]]'s use of it.{{book ref|sa3|epilogue}}

Multiple forms of Allomancy relate to the Spiritwebspiritweb. Allomantic [[zinc]] and [[brass]] will work only on creatures with a sufficient level of sapience and work better on creatures whose Spiritwebspiritweb has been damaged, as with Hemalurgic constructs.{{citebook ref|mb2|54}}{{book ref|mb3|3}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|21}} The ability to use Allomancy is passed down via Spiritual DNA.{{wob ref|12576}}

Several of the Feruchemical Attributes are deeply connected to the Spiritwebspiritweb, especially the Spiritual metals such as [[aluminum]] and [[duralumin]], which allow for Identity and Connection, respectively, to be stored. Similarly to Allomancy, the ability to use Feruchemy is passed down through Spiritual DNA.

In Hemalurgy, portions of the Spiritwebspiritweb seem to be ripped off of one person and grafted onto another person's Spiritwebspiritweb.{{wob ref|5969}} This causes lasting damage to the Spiritwebspiritweb of the creature in which a Hemalurgic Spike is placed.{{wob ref|4961}}

A [[Surgebinder]]'s [[Nahel bond]] with a [[spren]] works in a similar way, a spren becoming spiritually attached to a certain point on a person's Spiritwebspiritweb, merging together as the [[Surgebinder]] progresses in their [[Immortal Words|Oaths]].{{wob ref|184}}{{cite|WOB on merging more as oaths progress}}

Although it does not directly alter the Spiritwebspiritweb, [[Soulcasting]] can alter a Spiritwebspiritweb if the Cognitive aspect stays altered for long enough.{{citebook ref|sa3|part=ars}}

[[Regrowth]] allows for healing both the Physical form of a living thing and its Spiritwebspiritweb, as does a sufficient amount of Stormlight. This likely functions by restoring one’s physical form to the state of their Spiritual Ideal.{{citewob ref|9441}} Regrowth can even go so far as to reattach the soul of one recently deceased, as seen with [[Szeth]].{{book ref|sa2|88}}{{book ref|sa3|90}}

A [[Shardblade]] can be stolen with Hemalurgy,{{wob ref|1153}}{{wob ref|4548}} because it is Connected to a person's Spiritwebspiritweb. When a Shardblade cuts through living matter, its edge fuzzes, leaving the physical body uninjured, whilst cutting the being's SpiritwebCognitive self - not their spiritweb.{{book ref|sa1|13}}