Trellium
Trellium is the metal used by Paalm to hide from Harmony's sight and evade capture. The metal is from a Shard of Adonalsium currently known in the cosmere but which particular Shard is unknown.[1][2] The metal is not known to Harmony. The name is in reference to the force currently known only as Trell on Scadrial, and the metal is associated with that "god", theorized to be a Shard.[3]
Trellium is a silvery metal with a red cast to it, and dark red spots similar to rust.[4][5]
Allomantic Use
When burned by an Allomancer, trellium has unknown properties.[6]
Feruchemical Use
When used by a Feruchemist, trellium has unknown properties.[6]
Hemalurgic Use
Trellium can steal Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities and grant them to kandra.[5] Presumably its Hemalurgic ability is similar to that of Atium, allowing the transfer of any ability with somewhat variable success depending on the binding point.
Using it as a Hemalurgic spike can keep the user hidden from Harmony.[7][8] This has a limited effect, however, and any more than a single spike will make the user visible to Harmony. It is an inherent property of the metal, and not a Hemalurgic attribute that hides the user.[7]
Hemalurgic Constructs
Hemalurgic chimeras are created when a living human is implanted with a trellium spike.[4] Due to their single spike, they are not susceptible to Harmony's control.
Theories
It is possible that this is the metal referred to by Miles Hundredlives in his final words as "the final metal."
Trellium is the god metal, or an alloy of the god metal, of a Shard other than Preservation or Ruin.[2][5] It is not known which of the sixteen Trell is (or if he even is one). It is not of Ambition, as she was unknown at the time trellium first appeared,[1] and it has been confirmed to not be of Endowment.[9] It is almost certainly not the god metal of Devotion, Dominion, or Honor as they are all Splintered, which leaves Autonomy, Cultivation, and Odium as the only possibilities. Cultivation has exhibited few sign of interest in affairs beyond Roshar and it seems unlikely that she was responsible for the metal. Odium does have a history of acting against other Shards and is making plans to move against Harmony,[10] which makes him a reasonable candidate for the Shard responsible for trellium. On the other hand, he had always planned to not Invest himself in a planet,[11] and he might be reluctant to commit the Investiture required to create trellium, especially while he is waging the True Desolation on Roshar. Given that the metal allowed Paalm to operate free from Harmony's influence, however, it is also quite possible that trellium is of Autonomy. Notably, Autonomy is known to be interested in operating on many worlds, and has avatars on First of the Sun and Obrodai;[12][13] Trell may be an avatar of Autonomy manifesting on Scadrial.
Trivia
- In the Alloy of Law: Masks of the Past adventure game supplement, trellium allows kandra to use the Allomantic or Feruchemical abilities of another Hemalurgic spike they are spiked with. They also cannot be controlled by Harmony or brass Allomancy but they also lose their blessing.
- Brandon Sanderson stated that "trellium" is an acceptable name for Paalm's metal.[14]
Notes
- ↑ a b Shadows of Self release party
— Arcanum - 2015-10-05# - ↑ a b Prague Signing
— Arcanum - 2019-10-26# - ↑ Oathbringer signing Portland
— Arcanum - 2017-11-16# - ↑ a b Shadows of Self chapter 21#
- ↑ a b c Shadows of Self epilogue#
- ↑ a b Hero of Ages Q&A - Time Waster's Guide
— Arcanum - 2008-10-15# - ↑ a b Shadows of Self Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2015-10-12# - ↑ Bands of Mourning release party
— Arcanum - 2016-01-25# - ↑ Shadows of Self Portland signing
— Arcanum - 2015-10-10# - ↑ Waygate Foundation Write-a-thon
— Arcanum - 2014-01-17# - ↑ JordanCon 2016
— Arcanum - 2016-04-23# - ↑ Orem signing
— Arcanum - 2017-12-21# - ↑ Oathbringer chapter 50 epigraph#
- ↑ Shadows of Self San Jose signing
— Arcanum - 2015-10-09#