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Stargazer
Joined 15 April 2019
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**<span style="background:#FF00FF">Realms</span>
***<span style="background:#00FFFF">Physical Realm</span>
***<span style="background:#
***<span style="background:#
**<span style="background:#FF0000">Investiture</span>
**<span style="background:#00FFFF">Adonalsium</span>
***<span style="background:#FFFF00">Shards of Adonalsium</span>
*<span style="background:#
*<span style="background:#00FFFF">History</span>
**<span style="background:#00FFFF">Before the Shattering</span>
**<span style="background:#00FFFF">The Shattering of Adonalsium</span>
**<span style="background:#
**<span style="background:#00FFFF">The Ascension of Harmony</span>
**<span style="background:#00FF00">Splintering of Honor and the True Desolation</span>
**<span style="background:#00FFFF">Chronological Order</span>
*<span style="background:#00FFFF">Further Reading</span>
== Properties and Forces ==
{{image|Cosmere symbol.svg|side=left|width=175px|The cosmere symbol}}
=== Realms ===
{{for|Realmatic Theory}}
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 [[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 planetary 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 ====
{{image|Shadesmar (TWoK).jpg|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}}|side=right|width=350px}}
The [[Cognitive Realm]] is closely modeled on the Physical Realm, though there are significant differences. Because the Cognitive Realm is the Realm of thought, it is substantially impacted by how people imagine and perceive ideas. For example, outer space is significantly compressed in the Cognitive Realm, because people do not spend much time thinking about the space between planets.{{wob ref|1392}} There are also some entities that naturally exist primarily in the Cognitive Realm, such as the [[spren]] who personify thoughts, emotions, and natural features,{{book ref|sa2|3}} as well as certain [[Cognitive Shadow]]s.
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]], [[Connection]], and [[Fortune]].{{tes ref|12}}{{wob ref|10298}} Everything exists in the Spiritual Realm in its ideal form.{{tes ref|12}}{{book ref|sa3|103}}
'''Identity''' is the Spiritual property that demarcates one person or object from 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 attributes 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}}
{{sidequote
|Yours is the power of Connection, of joining men and worlds, minds and souls.
|The [[Stormfather]] to [[Dalinar Kholin]], explaining the powers of the [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]]{{book ref|sa3|64}}
|side=left|size=300px
}}
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 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 and 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}}
=== Investiture ===
{{quote
|[I]t seemed you were Soulcasting to give your illusions weight. But then, concentrated Stormlight has a faint mass to it.
|[[Jasnah Kholin]] on the relationship between Investiture and mass{{book ref|sa3|120}}
}}
Just as there is an equivalency between mass and energy, in the cosmere these things can also be exchanged with a magical power known as [[Investiture]]. When Investiture is accounted for, the cosmere adheres to the ordinary laws of conservation and thermodynamics.{{wob ref|3544}}{{wob ref|1649}} 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 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}}
{{sidequote
|This is a powerful magic, and one where humans themselves have often had access to grand bursts of strength. I would challenge one to identify another planet, save only Roshar, where one can find such strength of Investiture so commonly in the hands of mortals.
|[[Khriss]] on [[Allomancy]] and [[Feruchemy]]{{au ref|Scadrial}}
|side=right|size=300px
}}
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}}{{wob ref|6927}}
Cosmere scholars term the various methods of utilizing Investiture (such as the [[Metallic Arts]], [[Surgebinding]], and [[Awakening]]) '''Invested Arts''',{{book ref|sa3|part=ars}} Since the Shattering, these can be grouped into three main categories. The most common are those powered directly by the Shards,{{wob ref|4097}} which arise from the interactions between a Shard and the planet they are Invested in.{{wob ref|5269}} Such Invested Arts are capable of far more spectacular results than other Invested Arts.{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|4097}} If a planet does not have a Shard in residence, it inhabitants can still access and use Investiture by the ordinary laws of Realmatics, but, without a Shard to provide additional power, the results are far more limited.{{wob ref|9385}} The last category is the few Invested Arts left over from before the Shattering of Adonalsium,{{wob ref|4097}} of which the only known example is [[Yolen|Yolish]] [[Lightweaving]].
=== Perpendicularities ===
{{image|I am Unity.jpg|[[Dalinar Kholin]] summoning [[Honor's Perpendicularity]]|side=left|width=200px}}
{{quote
|Honor's Perpendicularity. A well of power that pierces all three realms. A pathway home.
|[[Syl]] to [[Kaladin]]{{book ref|sa3|119}}
}}
When a sufficient amount of Investiture coalesces in one place in the Physical and Cognitive Realms, it creates a junction between all three Realms known as a [[perpendicularity]]. Most stable perpendicularities form from the presence of a [[Shard]] on a planet and the massive amount of Investiture they bring with them.{{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|9665}} Sentient beings can use perpendicularities to travel between the Physical and Cognitive Realms, which in turn facilitates easier travel on and off a planet for those with the knowledge to use them.{{au ref|Drominad}}
=== Adonalsium ===
{{quote
|There was a God. Adonalsium. I don’t know if it was a force or a being, though I suspect the latter.
|[[Khriss]] on [[Adonalsium]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
When the cosmere began, there was an entity known as Adonalsium; this entity is widely believed to have created the cosmere.{{wob ref|4850}} Perhaps for this reason, Adonalsium is sometimes referred to as "the power of creation."{{wob ref|6072}} Investiture was Adonalsium's power,{{wob ref|5799}} which has led cosmere scholars to conclude that either Investiture seeks intelligence because it used to be Adonalsium or that Adonalsium came into being because Investiture sought intelligence.{{wob ref|9324}}
The exact nature of Adonalsium, however, remains unclear. It may have been a mere force that acted according to specific rules or an actual entity that could think on its own; [[Khriss]] suspects the latter.{{msh ref|3|2}} The way Adonalsium saw the cosmere was simply the way its magic worked. For example, the [[spren]] on [[Roshar]] could not form [[fabrial]]s prior to the Shattering because Adonalsium did not want them to be able to do so. Given Adonalsium had this level of control over the cosmere, some have suggested that Adonalsium may have wanted the Shattering to occur.{{wob ref|13525}}
Some say there are "subtle forces" being manifest in the cosmere, separate from Adonalsium, likely referring to belief in the [[God Beyond]].{{wob ref|3436}}
==== 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]]
|-
! [[Shard]]
! Original Vessel
|-
| [[Endowment]]
| [[Edgli]]
|-
| [[Cultivation]]
| [[Koravellium Avast]]
|-
| [[Honor]]
| [[Tanavast]]
|-
| [[Odium]]
| [[Rayse]]
|-
| [[Preservation]]
| [[Leras]]
|-
| [[Ruin]]
| [[Ati]]
|-
| [[Devotion]]
| [[Aona]]
|-
| [[Dominion]]
| [[Skai]]
|-
| [[Autonomy]]
| [[Bavadin]]
|-
| [[Ambition]]
| [[Uli Da]]
|-
| [[Invention]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Mercy]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Valor]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Whimsy]]
| ''Unknown''
|}
{{quote
|[Odium] is far greater than I, but the power of ancient Adonalsium permeates him. And controls him. Odium is a force like pressure, gravitation, or the movement of time. These things cannot break their own rules. Nor can he.
|The [[Stormfather]] on [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium{{book ref|sa3|16}}
}}
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]] Ascended as [[Preservation]], he 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 the 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|mb5|17}} Since Shards exist primarily in the Spiritual Realm, they also have some ability to look into the future, though not all Shards are equally good at this and it fragments into more and more possibilities the further they look.{{wob ref|8147}}{{book ref|sa3|75}}
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}}
<references />
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