Why there are four types of Allomantic metals

[Stormgate]

For a while now, I have had the theory that each of the Shards of Adonalsium correspond to one of the 16 Allom metals. I have tried to prove as much in various threads, and have come up with the same holes in the theory. Loosely paraphrased, they are:

1: Why are the metals categorized into the four groups? (physical, mental, temporal, and enhancement)

2: How do Feruchemical powers play into this?

3: What can be used to determine what metal goes with what Shard?

4: Any other questions I don't remember.

I plan to address problems 1 and loosely 3. In another thread, I attempted to define Connection as being able to be separated into four categories: Person to person, person to location, person to Shard, person to Time. There has been a bit of conflict as to why Time is a form of Connection or if it is at all, but for now, I will just say that time is the most wibbly-wobbly of the types of Connection.

I believe these four types of connection directly correspond to the different categories of metal. Person to person is physical, person to location is mental, person to Shard is enhancement, and person to Time is, well, temporal.

But what can be used to identify the category a Shard fits into? Well, I'm more sure in some areas than others, so let's give it a stab.

The general rule I have with matching Shards to metals is that the basic effect of the magic—with no actual use—is a heightened version of its mettalic counterpart, for example, the Nalthian's life sense is very much like bronze.

Physical: This one is extremely subject to potential change, due to low sample size.

Pewter provides the user with enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, endurance, and healing. The only difference between burning pewter and using Stormlight is that Stormlight makes you a human lightbulb. So, Honor's counterpart is pewter.

But what does Surgebinding have to do with connection to people? The only thing I can say is that Honor has to do with how you interact with people. This seems flimsy even to me, and please don't make this the point that breaks the theory. I'm not happy with this part.

Mental: This is my favorite category. My evidence here is far better.

For two Shards I have placed in this category, I have placed because their Intents naturally incline them towards them. Devotion and Dominion I have linked with zinc and brass, the emotional metals. Devotion is about what you want, and glorifying that which you feel strongly about. Dominion is more about suppression.

The third Shard I have already talked about, Endowment, which is bronze.

These Shards have very clear references to location Connection. The Selish magic systems are based almost exclusively on location, especially the connection to a homeland.

Endowment is a bit harder, and required a bit of digging. The Commands for Awakening must be spoken in the individuals native language. This link, although less confident than Selish magic, still remains in support of my theory.

Temporal:

This one was tricky. I have suspicions of two Shards being temporal: Preservation and Ruin. I came to this conclusion by the fact that Feruchemy, the magic system caused by the Shardic interaction, is defined as "shuttling attributes in time", as well as Preservation manifesting incredible abilities for foresight, even for a Shard. Preservation's magic being the basis of my theory makes it difficult to find a link to a metal, although I am giving them the metals of cadmium and bendalloy. The Connection to time seems to be manifested in some sort of timey-wimey foolery.

Enhancement:

This is likely manifested in interfering with the magic of either other magic users or different types of magic. Basically the larkins from Stormlight Archive are all I have to go on. I have basically nothing on how this relates to Connection.

My next post on this topic is likely going to be on the Realmatic inclination of Shards.

[Voidus]

Well the metals only have those relationships in Allomancy, in Feruchemy they're relmatic and in Hemalurgy they probably have some completely different categorization, if they have one at all.

Also given that Ruins magic is almost exclusively about stealing magic form other people I'd put him in physical (Person-Person) or more likely Enhancement.

[Yata]

Yeah it's the reason I find unlikely to try a relationship Shard-Metal.... Anyway I think you must start from Ruin.

 

After all it's the only Shard knowed that we know every Metallic Art interaction of his own GodMetal. Probably if you want to create this relationship you have to take the "purest" form of a Shard's power and try to find likehood with the metals.

 

It's the reason in your previous topic that I create the Ruin-Electrum pair.

[Voidus]

If I was to use your system and you wanted Preservation and Ruin to be temporal metals I'd also use gold and electrum, preservation saw his own future, much as electrum does, Ruin shows people tangible visions much like gold does.

[Yata]

If I was to use your system and you wanted Preservation and Ruin to be temporal metals I'd also use gold and electrum, preservation saw his own future, much as electrum does, Ruin shows people tangible visions much like gold does.

In his previous post I suggested Preservation-Gold and Ruin- Electrum from your same reason and because through Gold Feruchemy you may preserve yourself.

[Blackhoof]

Well in regards to Ruin and Preservation being temporal, those names do have quite heavy connotations with time.

Preservation, as in "preserving stuff over long periods of time", and Ruin as in "all things are ruined with time"

 

Other Shards have little such connection, they are "in the moment", so to speak. Dominion over NOW. Odium hating what is NOW. Endowment providing benefits NOW. That sort of thing.

Although, Cultivation implies a time, so maybe she/he is a temporal shard too.

[Ari]

Metals falling into four groups is just a consequence of dividing sixteen into smaller chunks. It's a better question to ask "why these four groups?", IMO.

 

I imagine there are similar groupings to the shards but I'd be very surprised if anything but the applicability of the chart format itself extends to the Shards.

[Stormgate]

Well in regards to Ruin and Preservation being temporal, those names do have quite heavy connotations with time.

Preservation, as in "preserving stuff over long periods of time", and Ruin as in "all things are ruined with time"

 

Other Shards have little such connection, they are "in the moment", so to speak. Dominion over NOW. Odium hating what is NOW. Endowment providing benefits NOW. That sort of thing.

Although, Cultivation implies a time, so maybe she/he is a temporal shard too.

Thank you, someone understands! The magic system linked to a Shard may have minimal influence by the metal in question. I' not quite sure where Cultivation goes, though. Too soon to tell.

Well the metals only have those relationships in Allomancy, in Feruchemy they're relmatic and in Hemalurgy they probably have some completely different categorization, if they have one at all.

Also given that Ruins magic is almost exclusively about stealing magic form other people I'd put him in physical (Person-Person) or more likely Enhancement.

I'm working on Feruchemy, and I have no idea what the pattern is in your beloved Hemalurgy. I'm thinking about just saying that Hemalurgy is of Ruin, and thus doesn't apply to my theory. Feruchemy is a blend of Preservation and Ruin, so it may have subtle influences from the pattern.