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Elements of the cosmere are slowly being added to the books, and will eventually come to the forefront in the [[Dragonsteel]] series and the [[Mistborn Era 4|final Mistborn trilogy]].{{wob ref|6868}}
Current series in the cosmere are [[Elantris trilogy|Elantris]], [[Mistborn (series)|Mistborn]], ''[[Warbreaker]]'' (and [[Nightblood (book)|its eventual sequel]]), [[The Stormlight Archive]], and [[White Sand]]. It does not include any books that reference [[Earth]], as Earth is not in the cosmere.{{ref|name=WhatIsCosmere}} For a complete list of books in the cosmere, see [[#Bibliography of the Cosmere|the bibliography section below]].
The shared "creation myth" of the cosmere revolves around [[Adonalsium]], the power of creation, which was broken into sixteen pieces called [[Shard]]s in an event known as the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]]. The Shards are effectively gods, and magic is derived from their power.{{msh ref|3|2}}
In the cosmere, everything exists in three Realms: the [[Physical Realm]], the [[Cognitive Realm]], and the [[Spiritual Realm]].{{tes ref|12}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|57}} The three Realms have existed since the beginning of the cosmere.{{wob ref|13066}}
When someone in the cosmere dies, their body remains in the Physical Realm and a [[Cognitive Shadow]] forms in the Cognitive Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} For most people, this Cognitive Shadow quickly moves on to the [[God Beyond#Beyond|Beyond]] and their [[Investiture]] returns to the Spiritual Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} The more Investiture someone held in life, the longer they can linger before being drawn to the Beyond,{{msh ref|1|1}} but only [[Sliver]]s—those who once held a significant portion of a [[Shard]]'s power—can resist the Beyond forever, though they can still choose to go if they so desire.{{msh ref|6|8}}▼
==== The Physical Realm ====
In the [[Physical Realm]], the cosmere is a star cluster of about 50 to 100 stars.{{wob ref|9284}} The laws of physics are the same as our own, except when the other Realms are involved.{{wob ref|6360}} Currently, there are ten known solar systems in the cosmere, which contain a total of twelve notable planets. The cosmere is also home to other celestial objects, including several dwarf planets, gas giants, and constellations.{{article ref|Physical Realm}} At least one person has tried to leave the physical bounds of the cosmere, with unknown results.{{wob ref|13336}}
==== The Cognitive Realm ====
[[File:Shadesmar (TWoK).jpg|thumb|right|350px|<small><center>by [[Isaac Stewart]]</center></small>A map of [[Shadesmar]], the region of the Cognitive Realm around [[Roshar]].{{wob ref|5814}} Regions labelled "Expanse" lead to other planets in the cosmere.{{wob ref|1392}}]]
The [[Cognitive Realm]] is closely modeled on the Physical Realm, though there are significant differences.
The appearance of the Cognitive Realm around a particular planet seems to reflect salient characteristics of that planet—around Scadrial, for instance, it is composed of mist, while around Roshar it is composed of spheres.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} Land and water are inverted in the Cognitive Realm—what is solid land in the Physical Realm is unstable ground in the Cognitive, while bodies of water in the Physical are solid in the Cognitive.{{msh ref|3|2}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} As a result, physical beings attempting to traverse non-solid regions of the Cognitive Realm risk drowning in whatever composes the local Cognitive Realm, though cognitive entities can traverse these regions safely.{{msh ref|2|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}}
==== The Spiritual Realm ====
{{quote
|All things exist in three Realms, Gaotona. '''Physical''', '''Cognitive''', '''Spiritual'''. The Physical is what we feel, what is before us. The Cognitive is how an object is viewed and how it views itself. The Spiritual Realm contains an object’s soul—its essence—as well as the ways it is connected to the things and people around it.
|[[Shai]] discussing [[Realmatic Theory|the Realms]] with [[Gaotona]]{{tes ref|12}}
}}
The [[Spiritual Realm]] exists beyond space and time.{{wob ref|6129}} As such, it is not truly a place, but rather is the Realm of concepts like [[
'''Identity''' is the spiritual property that demarcates one person or object for another and describes who or what they are.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Losing their Identity during the [[False Desolation]] turned the [[singer]]s into [[singer#slaveform|slaveform]].{{book ref|sa3|17}} Identity also serves as the lock and key for metalminds; [[Feruchemy|Feruchemists]] can only withdraw attirbutes stored by someone with a matching Identity—ordinarily, this means only attributes they stored.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Because Identity describes who a person is, it is closely tied to the concept of a [[Spiritweb]], which is sometimes called Spiritual DNA.{{wob ref|115}} Spiritwebs are not entirely understood, but they are quantifiable in some way,{{wob ref|13361}} and seem to record information about a person's Investiture, such as the genetics that make one an [[Allomancy|Allomancer]].{{wob ref|9687}}
Magical healing in the cosmere usually works by using [[Investiture]] to make a person's condition in the Physical Realm more closely match their idealized self in the Spiritual Realm, though this idealized self is filtered through the person's perception of themself in the Cognitive Realm. As a result, healing is usually limited by how a person views themself, and once a person accepts something as part of themself, it will not be able to heal.{{wob ref|9441}}
In addition to containing this information about a person or obejcts's 'Identity', the Spiritual Realm also stores '''Connection''' between people, objects, and even more abstract concepts.{{tes ref|12}} For example, a person can form Connection to a region, which will allow them to speak that region's language.{{book ref|mb6|22}}{{book ref|sa3|65}} In some cases, the person's soul will remeber where they were born, and they will speak with an accent;{{book ref|mb6|22}} in others, they will not.{{wob ref|9012}} In order to take up a [[Shard]] after a Vessel dies a person must be Connected to that Shard.{{msh ref|5|2}}
Because the Spiritual Realm exists beyond space an time, it—along with the associated property of '''Fortune'''—can be used to see events in other locations or even the future,{{wob ref|730}}{{wob ref|10298}} though this is generally very difficult.{{wob ref|6304}}{{book ref|sa1|75}}
▲When someone in the cosmere dies, their body remains in the Physical Realm and a [[Cognitive Shadow]] forms in the Cognitive Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} For most people, this Cognitive Shadow quickly moves on to the [[God Beyond#Beyond|Beyond]] and their [[Investiture]] returns to the Spiritual Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} The more Investiture someone held in life, the longer they can linger before being drawn to the Beyond,{{msh ref|1|1}} but only [[Sliver]]s—those who once held a significant portion of a [[Shard]]'s power—can resist the Beyond forever, though they can still choose to go if they desire.{{msh ref|6|8}}
=== Investiture ===
[[Investiture]] is a third material state, analogous to matter and energy. When Investiture is accounted for, the cosmere adheres to the ordinary laws of conservation and thermodynamics.{{wob ref|3544}}{{wob ref|1649}}{{wob ref|3544}} Investiture mostly exists in the Spiritual Realm, though it is more precisely understood as transcending the Realms.{{wob ref|5610}} However, it can also exist in a "condensed" form in the Physical Realm as solid, liquid, or gas.{{msh ref|6|7}}
If left alone, Investiture will, over time, become self-aware,{{wob ref|3776}} resulting in a [[Splinter]].{{wob ref|10563}} [[Khriss]] suspects that the land itself on [[Sel]] is undergoing a process like this as a result of [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]]'s Investiture being trapped in the Cognitive Realm.{{au ref|Sel}} More common examples of this process include [[seon]]s and [[spren]].{{wob ref|10563}}
Investiture has a property that associates it with one of the sixteen [[Shard]]s of [[Adonalsium]]; at the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], all Investiture was divided evenly between the Shards.{{wob ref|8605}}{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|5313}} Even though, as a result of the Shattering, all Investiture is associated with a Shard, Investiture also remains linked to Adonalsium in some way and the Shattering meant "everything and nothing at the same time" to Investiture.{{wob ref|9385}} A Shard can "co-opt" another Shard's Investiture, which will usually be denoted by the color red.{{wob ref|8340}}▼
▲Investiture has a property that associates it with one of the sixteen [[Shard]]s of [[Adonalsium]]; at the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], all Investiture was divided evenly between the Shards.{{wob ref|8605}}{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|5313}} Even though, as a result of the Shattering, all Investiture is associated with a Shard, Investiture also remains linked to Adonalsium in some way and the Shattering meant "everything and nothing at the same time" to Investiture.{{wob ref|9385
A Shard can also "co-opt" another Shard's Investiture or interfere in a planet where they are not already present. When this happens, the effects will often be colored red.{{wob ref|8340}} For example, when [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]]'s Faceless Immortals on [[Scadrial]] possess someone, their eyes glow red.{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}} This effect is also seen with many of [[Odium]]'s servants on [[Roshar]],{{book ref|sa2|81}} as Odium is primarily Invested in [[Braize]], not Roshar.{{wob ref|13074}}
Investiture can be divided into two categories: '''Kinetic Investiture''' and '''Innate Investiture'''. Kinetic Investiture refers to Investiture actively doing something. When Investiture is kinetic, it can often be detected by various methods, such as [[Allomancy|Allomantic]] [[bronze]] or sand from the Dayside of [[Taldain]].{{wob ref|5715}}{{wob ref|9521}} Innate Investiture refers to all Investiture not actively doing something, from the piece of [[Preservation]] in all [[Scadrial|Scadrians]] to [[Feruchemy|Feruchemical]] charge in a metalmind.{{wob ref|5715}}{{wob ref|1072}}
Cosmere scholars term the various methods of utilizing Investiture (such as the [[Metallic Arts]], [[Surgebinding]], and [[Awakening]])
=== Perpendicularities ===
==== Shards of Adonalsium ====
{| class="infobox sortable center-col-1 center-col-2" style="float:right; margin-left:15px; margin-bottom:10px; width:25%;"
|-
! colspan=2; style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Shards of [[Adonalsium]]
During the [[Shattering of Adonalsium|Shattering]], Adonalsium split into sixteen pieces, referred to as [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium. Each of these Shards represents a particular facet, or intent, of Adonalsium. Sixteen people involved in the Shattering then took up those Shards, becoming the first Vessels and effectively ascending to godhood.{{msh ref|3|2}} There was some sort of force or property of the cosmere that caused Adonalsium to shatter into the sixteen Shards that it did,{{wob ref|9956}} and the distribution of the Shards to the Vessels was not random.{{wob ref|5490}}
Though the power of a Shard requires a mind to control it, known as a Vessel, the intent of a Shard will slowly warp the minds of those that hold it, overriding their independence.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|5485}} For example, after [[Leras]]
▲Though the power of a Shard requires a mind to control it, known as a Vessel, the intent of a Shard will slowly warp the minds of those that hold it, overriding their independence.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|5485}} [[Leras]] for example, became unable to cause harm, even to preserve other things.{{book ref|mb3|81}}{{msh ref|2|3}} It is unclear whether the original Vessels knew this when they took up their Shards, but, eventually, the Vessels came to be known simply by their Shard's name.
The Shards have access to infinite power, but the Vessels' minds, even though they are expanded by holding the Shard, are not capable of wielding it all at once.{{wob ref|8605}}{{wob ref|8702}} The Shards are also limited by certain rules that restrict how they can act;{{book ref|sa3|16}}{{book ref|sa1|75}} for example, they must fulfill a formally made oath.{{wob ref|13144}}{{book ref|sa3|122}} Shards can also intervene to block another Shard's actions, though not perfectly.{{book ref|mb3|76}}
Despite these restrictions, however, the Shards are generally capable of both subtle and incredible changes. Among other things, they can change to orbit of entire planets, make changes to individuals and entire species on a genetic level, alter some of the mechanics of an Invested Art resulting from their presence on a planet, and speak into the minds of people.{{book ref|mb3|82}}{{wob ref|5971}}{{book ref|mb3|77}} Since Shards
Since the Shattering, the Shards have been the primary source of magic in the cosmere.{{wob ref|4097}} The interactions between their Investiture and a planet give rise to Invested Arts that are far more powerful than those formed by people accessing background Investiture.{{wob ref|5269}}{{wob ref|4097}}
The [[Rosharan system]] consists of three planets of note. '''[[Ashyn]]''' was nearly destroyed in an apocalypse long ago, though a few cities remain floating in the atmosphere.{{wob ref|8243}} Anyone with a disease there also gains a magical power.{{wob ref|12271}} '''[[Roshar]]''' is a planet with a [[highstorm|powerful storm]] that frequently blows across the continent and [[spren]] can cross into the Physical Realm.{{au ref|Roshar}} '''[[Braize]]''' is the prison of the [[Fused]] where the [[Herald]]s are tortured between [[Desolation]]s.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
'''[[Scadrial]]''' is the most technologically advanced planet and the most similar to
'''[[Sel]]''' is a large planet with three great domains.{{au ref|Sel}} It has many magic systems, which are tied to the user's location and are accessed by creating shapes in the proper form, rather like programming.{{wob ref|1768}}
=== Other Notable Worlds ===
The [[Drominad system]] is home to
'''[[Threnody]]''' is a planet
'''[[Yolen]]''' is the original planet of humans and the location of the [[Shattering]].{{wob ref|5702}}{{wob ref|11602}} It has few inhabitants in the modern era and has been hidden from most of the people of the cosmere.{{wob ref|6545}}{{msh ref|3|2}}
== Notes ==
<references />
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{{cosmere}}
[[:Category:Cosmere| ]]▼
[[
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Notable articles]]
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