Difference between revisions of "User:Stargazer/Cosmere"

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, ten solar systems are known in the cosmere containing a total of twelve major planets. The cosmere is also home to other celestial objects, including several dwarf planets, gas giants, and constellations.{{article ref|Cosmere#PlanetsPhysical Realm}} At least one person has tried to leave the physical bounds of the cosmere, with unknown results.{{wob ref|13336}}

The [[Cognitive Realm]] is closely modeled on the Physical Realm, though there are significant differences. Geography in the Cognitive Realm is influence by people's perceptions of the world. As a result, outer space is significantly compressed in the Cognitive Realm, as people do not spend much time thinking about the space between planets.{{wob ref|1392}} AtThe least in the regionsappearance of the Cognitive Realm around [[Roshar]]a andparticular [[Scadrial]],planet landseems andto waterreflect aresalient inverted—whatcharacteristics isof solidthat landplanet—around inScadrial, thefor Physicalinstance, Realmit is unstablecomposed groundof in the Cognitivemist, while bodiesaround ofRoshar waterit inis thecomposed Physicalof are solid in the Cognitivespheres.{{msh ref|31|21}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} TheLand reasonand for this inversion also has something to do with how people think, as well as where theywater are likelyinverted toin pass.{{msh ref|3|2}} Thethe Cognitive Realm—what is homesolid toland severalin kindsthe ofPhysical entities,Realm includingis certainunstable [[Cognitiveground Shadow]]s and [[spren]]. Such entities can safely traversein the Cognitive Realm where it is not solid, butwhile physicalbodies beingsof attemptingwater toin dothe soPhysical riskare drowningsolid in whatever makes up the local Cognitive Realm.{{msh ref|23|12}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} TheAs appearancea ofresult, thephysical Cognitivebeings Realmattempting aroundto atraverse particularnon-solid planetregions seemsof tothe reflectCognitive salientRealm characteristicsrisk ofdrowning thatin planet—aroundwhatever Scadrial,composes forthe instancelocal Cognitive Realm, itthough iscognitive composedentities oflike mist,[[Cognitive whileShadow]]s aroundand Roshar[[spren]] itcan istraverse composedthese ofregions spheressafely.{{msh ref|12|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}}

|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—itssoul—its essence—asessence—as well as the ways it is connected to the things and people around it.

The [[Spiritual Realm]] isexists thebeyond Realm of [[Connection]], [[Identity]],space and [[Fortune]]time.{{tes ref|12}}{{wob ref|10298}} Neither distance nor time truly exist there,{{wob ref|6129}} whichAs allows Shards to see far beyond where their attention is currently focused in the other Realms and to see the futuresuch,{{wob ref|730}}{{wob ref|10298}} as they exist primarily in the Spiritual Realm.{{wob ref|6304}} Since the Spiritual Realmit is not truly a place, travel to it does not so much involve literally going there, but rather seeingis the various ConnectionsRealm of theconcepts present and into the future. For example, whenlike [[Elend VentureConnection]] burned, [[atium]] with [[duraluminIdentity]], he was pulled mostly into the Spiritual Realm for a moment and understood [[Leras]]' plan for the death of [[AtiFortune]].{{wobtes ref|630412}}{{bookwob ref|mb3|8110298}} Visions,Everything suchexists as the ones [[Honor]] left for potential [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]], almost always involved being pulled partially intoin the Spiritual Realm, within anits additionalideal "Cognitive framework" to provide the structure of the vision.form;{{wobtes ref|956212}} The spiritual aspect of something is the idealized form of that thing.{{wobbook ref|7425sa3|103}} Athe person'sspiritual aspect inof thesentient Spiritual Realmbeings is often known as aits [[Spiritweb]] or Spiritual DNA,.{{wob ref|115}} andIn alsoaddition containsto informationcontaining aboutthis howinformation theon personsomething's sees'''Identity''', themselfthe andSpiritual theRealm thingsalso tostores which'''Connection''' theybetween aredifferent connectedthings.{{tes ref|12}} 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, which means healing is usually limited by how a person views themself.{{wob ref|9441}} 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, his or hertheir 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 thethey can still choose to go if they desire.{{msh ref|6|8}}

[[Investiture]] is a third category of material, analogous to matter and energy; just as matter and energy can be converted into each other, Investiture can be converted to matter or energy, and vice versa.{{wob ref|3544}} Like matter and energy, it can neither be created nor destroyed, only changed from one form to another.{{wob ref|1649}} Investiture thus adheres to the laws of thermodynamics, though, in the cosmere, there is a yet-unknown fourth law that relates to Adonalsium.{{wob ref|3544}} Like regular matter and energy, Investiture, when highly concentrated, causes time dilation.{{wob ref|13425}} 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}} any pure Investiture in a solid state is always a metal.{{wob ref|9291}}