User:Rasarr/Dominion

To Dominion

{{shard info
|shard=Dominion
|vessel=[[Skai]]
|status=[[Splinter|Splintered]]
|splinters=[[Skaze]]
|magic=[[AonDor]], [[Dakhor]], [[ChayShan]], [[Forgery]], [[Bloodsealing]]{{wob ref|9830}}{{wob ref|4090}}
|residence=[[Sel]]
|books=[[Elantris]]
}}

“At some point in the distant past, both Devotion and Dominion were destroyed. Their Investiture—their power—was Splintered, their minds ripped away, their souls sent into the Beyond. ”

—Khriss

Dominion is a Shard of Adonalsium, once held by Skai. After the Shattering, he traveled to Sel with Devotion, where both were Splintered by Odium.

Intent

Since Dominion was Splintered well before any other known events on Sel, it is somewhat unclear exactly how the Shard's intent would drive its Vessel to act. The only trace of it are its splinters, skaze, which are thirsty for power as a result of their relationship with the Shard, and driven to maintain influence over politics of Fjordell. This suggests that Dominion's focus was amassing and maintaining control over others.

Associated Magics

The Dor

For more information, see Dor.

When Odium Splintered Devotion and Dominion, he trapped their power in the Cognitive Realm to prevent them from gaining another Vessel. The power of the two Shards is thus trapped together as a giant, polarized, storm of Investiture, known as the Dor, which makes the Cognitive Realm around Sel very dangerous. This has a profound effect on the magic systems of Sel.

Since the powers are trapped together, all magic systems are influenced in some way by both Shards. Perhaps more importantly, because location exists in the Cognitive Realm, magic is tied to the user's physical location. In order to access a magic system, it appears one must be from the land associated with that magic system. All the magic systems of Sel share reliance on shape; specific shapes, based on the home lands of the magic systems, are used to access the Dor and thus perform magical effects.

Magic systems fuelled by the Dor include AonDor (from Arelon), ChayShan (from JinDo), Dakhor (from Fjordell), Forgery (from MaiPon) and Bloodsealing (from Dzhamar). The power of them grows weaker the further one is from the "home ground" of the magic system. However, they still have considerable range -- for example, Forgery and Bloodsealing are usable throughout the entire Rose Empire rather than only in their home regions of it.

Skaze

For more information, see Skaze.

The skaze are splinters of Dominion, and consider him as something of a god or parent. They are something of an inverse of the seons, and assume similar shape and size -- round, about as large as a melon. Unlike seons, however, they are all black, seeming to suck light from their surroundings rather than emitting it. They also lack an Aon in their center; rather, they are ringed by a pattern of misty symbols. They are reliant on humans, though it's unclear precisely how.

Skaze are power-hungry and controlling. They maintain a heavy level of influence over the politics of Fjordell, and were at least partially involved in the plan to wipe out Elantris. The exact powers they possess is unknown.

Other

Dominion's Investiture seems to be allowing Wyrn Wulfden the Fourth some ability to see the future.

History

Since Dominion was Splintered so long ago, very little is known about it. Since the Shards had a general agreement to part after the Shattering, it seems likely that Skai had some sort of relationship with Aona, the Vessel of Devotion, as the two went to Sel together. The only confirmed references to Dominion and Skai are in the letters Hoid has been sending asking for help combating Odium, the responses he has received, and Khriss' essay on the Selish system.

Influence

“May Jaddeth grant me success. ”

—Hrathen

Trivia

• In Magic: The Gathering colors, Dominion would be black/white.

Notes

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