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Eric's notes: This a draft of the revision of the Cosmere article. Its main benefit is the history section. I focus on the history of the Shards, though there is a lot of Shardy things on Scadrial. It needs a lot of citations, but will be done after that I think. ▼
▲Eric's notes: This a draft of the revision of the Cosmere article. Its main benefit is the history section. I focus on the history of the Shards, though there is a lot of Shardy things on Scadrial. It needs a lot of citations
The Cosmere is a fictional universe where Brandon Sanderson's adult epic fantasies (including [[Elantris (book)|Elantris]], [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]], [[Warbreaker]], [[The Stormlight Archive]]) are all set. It does not contain Earth, nor any alternate Earth.▼
▲The '''Cosmere''' is a fictional universe where Brandon Sanderson's adult epic fantasies (including [[Elantris (book)|Elantris]], [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]], [[Warbreaker]], [[The Stormlight Archive]]) are all set. It does not contain Earth
Brandon has said that it is not important to know about the Cosmere to enjoy his books, and that they can be enjoyed separately. Elements of the Cosmere slowly be added into the books, such as in the [[Dragonsteel]] books, and the final Mistborn books.▼
▲Brandon has said that it is not important to know about the Cosmere to enjoy his books, and that they can be enjoyed separately.{{cite}} Elements of the Cosmere slowly be added into the books, such as in the [[Dragonsteel]] books, and the final Mistborn books.
The underlying mythology of the Cosmere, so far, revolves around [[Adonalsium]], the power of creation, which was broken into sixteen pieces called [[Shard]]s. The Shards are effectively gods, and almost all magic is derived from them.
==Physical Properties==
The structure and physics of the Cosmere are the same as our own, but the main story of the Cosmere occurs on a compact dwarf galaxy, meaning it has many fewer stars and systems than our universe.{{17s ref|post|42426}} Time flows the same on the Cosmere (except under special magical effects, such as [[Allomancy|Allomantic]] [[cadmium]] and [[bendalloy]]).{{ref|name=yalive}}
There are ten primary worlds in the Cosmere, called [[Shardworld]]s, as the Shards of Adonalsium play major roles there.{{qa ref|718|8}} There are also minor worlds, where Shards have little influence, but may have lesser powers, like [[Splinter]]s on them.{{cite}} Magic on these
The physical universe of the Cosmere only tells one part of the story. In fact, there are [[Realmatic Theory|three Realms]] of existence: the Physical Realm, the Cognitive Realm, and the Spiritual Realm that all coexist simultaneously.{{cite}} Investiture works through all three of these Realms.{{cite}} There is also something beyond the Three Realms, where people "pass on," but Brandon does not wish to reveal anything about it.{{cite}}
==Planets==
===Before the Shattering===
(Sazed quote on Adonalsium)
Little is known of the extremely distant past of the Cosmere: the time before the Shattering of Adonalsium and the Shards. It is not even clear who or what Adonalsium exactly is. Is it a god, the God? Is it a force, or person? Regardless, its power is described as the power of creation, a power which does not vanish.▼
▲Little is known of the extremely distant past of the Cosmere: the time before the Shattering of Adonalsium and the Shards. It is not even clear who or what Adonalsium exactly is. Is it a god, the God? Is it a force, or person? Regardless, its power is described as the power of creation,{{cite}} a power which does not vanish.{{cite}}
Humans existed on worlds before this time, though how many is not clear. At the very least, there were humans on [[Yolen]], as [[Hoid]] is from there, and was there before the [[Shattering]]. Magic ([[Investiture]]) also existed prior to the Shattering, though its form was different.{{cite}}▼
▲Humans existed on worlds before this time,{{cite}} though how many is not clear. At the very least, there were humans on [[Yolen]], as [[Hoid]] is from there,{{cite}} and was there before the [[Shattering]].{{cite}} Magic ([[Investiture]]) also existed prior to the Shattering, though its form was different.{{cite}}
There is a force that opposes Adonalsium.{{cite}} Adonaslium's opposition also created a weapon,{{cite}} but important specifics, such as if it is still around, or if it had played a role in Adonalsium's Shattering, are unknown.▼
▲There is a force that opposes Adonalsium.{{cite}}
There was once a plot to destroy Adonalsium, which had failed.{{cite}}
It was not random who took up the Shards{{cite}}, and there was some sort of design in the way Adonalsium was split.{{cite}}
It turned out that, though the power of a Shard required a mind to control it, the specific [[intent]] of the Shard would slowly warp the mind of those that hold it.{{book cite}} It is not known whether the Shardholders knew this would be the case. Eventually, the people who took up the Shards would simply be referred to as their Shard's name, and referred to as Shards.
((Sidequote regarding Ati))
At some point, some Shards traveled to other worlds. The Shards were now the primary source of magic in the Cosmere, and so they Invested some worlds with their power, and in some cases, created humans and other species on these planets.▼
▲At some point, some Shards traveled to other worlds. The Shards were now the primary source of magic in the Cosmere,{{cite}} and so they Invested some
===Early Shardic History===
The exact timeline of what the Shards did after the Shattering is not clear. Shards settled on specific
Endowment was the one Shard who traveled to [[Nalthis]].{{cite}} At some point during the history of Nalthis, Endowment began intentionally splitting its power, creating what are called Splinters, that turned into [[divine Breath]], which made the [[Returned]].{{book ref}}
Devotion and Dominion went to [[Sel]].{{cite} During this
====Scadrial====
Ruin and Preservation, having intents that opposed each other so perfectly, found themselves in conflict with the other. If Ruin tried to destroy, Preservation would stop him, and vice versa.{{book ref}} At some point they both ended up on [[Scadrial]], but they could not act much without the other.{{book ref}}
They came up with a deal: they would work together to create life, with the condition that Ruin would eventually get to destroy them.{{
Preservation couldn't stand to let Ruin destroy their creations, so he felt the need to do anything to stop this from happening. Preservation, then, betrayed Ruin. Preservation could not destroy Ruin--doing that sort of assault would result in both Ruin and Preservation's death, and the Shard had influenced Preservation's mind too much for him to do something so destructive. In order to stop Ruin, he needed another plan.
====Roshar and Odium's Quest====
{{quote|For I have never been dedicated to a more important purpose, and the very pillars of the sky will shake with the results of our war here. I ask again. Support me. Do not stand aside and let disaster consume more lives.|[[Hoid]] on [[Odium]]'s war{{epigraph ref|sa1|28}}}}
Honor and Cultivation went to [[Roshar]]. Later, Odium went to the [[Greater Roshar]] system, particularly [[Braize]]. Devastating wars called the [[Desolation]]s were fought over Roshar, between Odium's [[Voidbringer]]s and Honor's [[Herald]]s and [[Knights Radiant]]. Cultivation's role in the Desolations is not clear, but Honor and Cultivation were a romantic item.{{cite}}▼
▲Honor and Cultivation went to [[Roshar]].{{cite}} Later, Odium went to the [[Greater Roshar]] system, particularly [[Braize]].{{cite}} Devastating wars called the [[Desolation]]s were fought over Roshar, between Odium's [[Voidbringer]]s and Honor's [[Herald]]s and [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref}} Cultivation's role in the Desolations is not clear, but Honor and Cultivation were a romantic item.{{cite}}
{{sidequote|He bears the weight of God's own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become.|left|300px}}▼
Odium wanted to become the strongest being in the Cosmere. He realized that if he ever took up another Shard, that Shard would change him, and Odium preferred his own.{{cite}} So, in his quest to become god of the Cosmere, instead of absorbing all the other fifteen Shards, he decided to destroy the other Shards{{cite}}. He developed a way to Splinter a Shard's power, and in the process, killing its holder.{{book ref}}
▲{{sidequote|He bears the weight of God's own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become.|left|300px}}
Odium briefly traveled to Sel to attack Devotion and Dominion, and Odium Splintered them.{{book ref}} This left a lot of energy on Sel, with nowhere to travel outwards, and so this is why Shadesmar is incredibly hazardous on Sel.{{cite}} The Dor was created, and Selish magic itself changed.{{cite}} Odium left Sel after this event, and there is no other known evidence of his time on the planet.{{cite}} This is perhaps because if he were to leave a lasting impact, he would have needed to Invest a part of himself there.
Odium also killed Honor using this same method.{{cite}} However, Honor was crafty, and even though Honor perished, Odium was then trapped on the Greater Rosharan System.{{cite}}
There is a [[Survival Shard|Shard who just wants to survive]], presumably against Odium's onslaught.{{cite}}
===Hoid and the Seventeenth Shard ===
Hoid was deeply concerned about Odium's involvement on Sel, and thought that his war would lead to devastate the whole Cosmere. He sent a letter to a [[The Recipient|person]] (possibly a dragon) to call off his "friends of the [[Seventeenth Shard]]" and help join Hoid. The recipient of Hoid's original letter did not see things as Hoid, and said that the reason these events have occurred is because of their involvement. As such, he advocated nonintervention, where Hoid meddled a great deal, on all main worlds.
The Seventeenth Shard are a group of [[
There is also [[Khriss]], probably a member of the Seventeenth Shard{{cite}}, who has been to many
===The Ascension of Harmony===
====Ruin's Plan for Freedom====
Ruin was keenly interested in the Well of Ascension. If he could get a person to hold the power there, but instead of utilize the power, release it, then the prison on Ruin's mind would vanish
Then, Ruin
Kwaan, however, had a fabled memory, and noticed that the Prophecies had changed.{{book ref}} But Kwaan was not able to persuade Alendi that he was not, in fact, the Hero after they had argued for so long to prove that he was the hero of legend. So Kwaan, knowing something was awry with the Well, tasked a nephew, [[Rashek]], who hated Alendi, to be Alendi's guide through the mountains. Since Rashek was a [[Feruchemy|Feruchemist]], Rashek and his friends were easy picks for Alendi. If Rashek could not lead Alendi astray, he was to kill him.
And Rashek did murder Alendi. Rashek took the power of the Well himself, and in those few moments of [[Ascension of the Lord Ruler|Ascension]], he tried to stop the Deepness by moving Scadrial itself closer to the sun, to burn the mists. To counteract the heat, he created the Ashmounts. He also altered humans on Scadrial, creating [[skaa]] and [[noble]]s. He learned of the [[Metallic Arts]], developing Hemalurgic constructs, and with the discovery of [[Allomancy]], he figured out a way to combine Allomancy and his Feruchemy to become immortal (through Compounding). Rashek would be the Lord Ruler, the Hero of Ages, and protect the world from Ruin.
Ruin saw the Lord Ruler's poor use of the power and saw that the Lord Ruler would be an agent of spectacular destruction. So, subtly, Ruin manipulated him to destroy. The Lord Ruler did do things to stymie Ruin, such as hiding
So, Ruin plotted the Lord Ruler's downfall. He subtly put in [[Kelsier]]'s mind the idea of an [[malatium|"eleventh metal"]] to the ten known Allomantic metals of the time. This, combined with Kelsier's desire to see his [[Mare|dead wife]] avenged and her dreams of a world without ash be a reality, led Kelsier to seek to kill the Lord Ruler. He formed his [[Kelsier's crew|crew]], consisting of many, but including [[Vin]], a skaa Mistborn who Ruin manipulated; [[Marsh]], his brother; and [[Sazed]], a Terris [[Keeper]], who studied the past before the Lord Ruler. In the process of leading the skaa to revolt against the Final Empire, the Lord Ruler killed Kelsier. Vin confronted the Lord Ruler, and using the power of the [[malatium|"Eleventh metal"]], discovered that the Lord Ruler was a Feruchemist. She somehow drew upon the mists and pushed the Lord Ruler's metalminds away, leading to his death a mere two years before the Well was replenished.
Ruin could now directly affect the world, but the power of Preservation--in the form of the mists--still protected the planet. Ruin had been weakened since the Lord Ruler hid his essence, [[atium]], and so Ruin and Preservation were balanced again. Ruin could not find the atium personally, as he could not see metal, and the [[Steel Inquisitors]], had spikes in their eyes, and so had this same flaw. So, Ruin continued to use his pawn, Vin, along with Elend, to find the atium for him.
Ruin did not know that Preservation had actually selected Vin to take up his power, which enabled Vin to draw upon the mists
In those final days, the shadow of Preservation's mind that remained communicated with Elend, and then passed. This had the potential to be a catastrophic event: when a Shard lacks a mind controlling it, and the power has no "release," it is incredibly bad, as happened on Sel when [[Odium]] destroyed [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]].{{cite}} Fortunately, Kelsier, who had not passed on beyond the [[Realmatic Theory|Three Realms]], held onto Preservation's power for just a little longer, until Vin could take it up.
Vin eventually caught onto Ruin's ploys, and would not find the atium for him. Because of this, Ruin sent his Inquisitors, along with Marsh, his main Inquisitor, to kill Vin. Marsh, though almost entirely under Ruin's direct control, held a small bit of himself back, and he used that shred of humanity to tear the Hemalurgic earring from her. Vin could now access the mists--Preservation's power--fully, and upon burning it, she ascended, becoming Preservation.
Upon Vin's ascension, she tried to oppose Ruin, but learned that she could not do much, for Ruin would always oppose her. On the ground, Elend and Sazed discovered the atium, and Ruin immediately sent his forces to destroy them. Ruin, through Marsh, killed Elend, and Vin realized Preservation's plan. Preservation needed someone who could preserve, but also destroy, and Preservation was too touched by his Shard to destroy Ruin. Vin knew she had little left to live for without Elend, and so, directly attacked Ruin with her power. She pressed in, not shying back, and in the assault, killed Ruin and herself in the process.
Sazed, on the ground at the battle, saw the corpses of Ati and Vin, with the power of their Shards leaking from their bodies, and Sazed took up both Shards together. The power did not vanish as the Well of Ascension's power did; these were the Shards themselves, which, under the control of one mind, could both preserve and destroy, or create. Using the knowledge from his metalminds, he began to remake the world, and undid the damage the Lord Ruler did to Scadrial. He then created a [[Elendel Basin|paradise]] for them to live in. The conflict on Scadrial had vanished, for now.
Now under the control of one mind, Ruin and Preservation's power began to intermingle, and Sazed became known as [[Harmony]]. It is considered a single Shard, much like a king of two countries is still just one king.
Odium became aware of Harmony,
==Bibliography of the Cosmere==
<references>
{{17s ref|post|42426|Physical structure of cosmere|date=2012-09-28|asker=Karkat Vantas}}
▲{!{Cosmere}}
{{qa ref|718|8|Tell me something new about the cosmere|date=2011-11-24|asker=FireArcadia}}
{{tweet ref|22409638968295424|Are you going to cameo in the cosmere?|date=2011-01-04}}
{{url ref|name=yalive
|url=http://new.livestream.com/92Y/YAFantasy/videos/34988457
|site=Livestream
|date=2013-11-16
|text=YA fantasy livestream
|post= - min 55:33
}}
</references>
{{Cosmere|cats=}}
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