Does everyone have Breath?

[PiedPiper]

Do non-Nalthisians have Breath? I assume yes, because Azure's sword turns people gray, but does that mean anyone could Awaken? That would make it a rather unique application of Investiture -- although Hemalurgy would be similar -- considering most magic systems (e.g. Allomancy, Nahel bond) are only available to certain people.

[Karger]

5 hours ago, PiedPeterPiper said:

Do non-Nalthisians have Breath? I assume yes, because Azure's sword turns people gray, but does that mean anyone could Awaken? That would make it a rather unique application of Investiture -- although Hemalurgy would be similar -- considering most magic systems (e.g. Allomancy, Nahel bond) are only available to certain people.

One thing at a time.  No only Nalthians have breath. 

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Questioner

In the last panel we talked a lot about people from different planets using magic systems on other planets, one of the things I've been thinking about, we've been thinking about, talking about Breath, and people being born with Breath, is that something specific to Nalthis or do, technically, other people on other planets have a Breath as well?

Brandon Sanderson

Good question and that is a Nalthian thing. Now, everyone in the cosmere to an extent has Investiture, the Nalthian Breath is part what everyone has and then a little extra, plus the ability to share it around. So a person who gives up their Breath on Nalthis is actually going below what a normal person has. But a normal person on Nalthis has more than somebody-- So if you were for instance to pick a world like Sixth of the Dusk, where there's not a Shard in residence, and you compared them to a Nalthian, Nalthian has an Investiture advantage over them. When they've given up their Breath, they have an Investiture disadvantage.

Bystander

So we're not Drabs?

Brandon Sanderson

So we're not Drabs. That's exactly it. We're not Drabs.

JordanCon 2016 (April 23, 2016)

We don't know how Azure's blade works.  Yes anyone can awaken given breath. 

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Pechvarry (paraphrased)

What happens when non-Nalthians come to Nalthis.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

They cannot use their own soul to Awaken but could do so with obtained Breath.

Pechvarry (paraphrased)

So anyone could start Awakening once they received Breaths?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

You would probably have to jump through some hoops to Awaken (talks about systems needing rigged up to work on different planets), but anyone can benefit from a Breath. Essentially said "it's not that easy!"

Words of Radiance Dayton signing (March 19, 2014)

 

 

 

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Extesian

You've said that Nalthians without Breath have something missing (are less invested) than other humans. Was this the case before Endowment invested on Nalthis? Would a non-Nalthian given Breath, who then gives up that Breath, be less invested than before they got the Breath? Would there be something missing in their spiritweb compared to their original state?

Brandon Sanderson

So, no. If someone from Sel went to Nalthis and got a Breath and then gave it up, would it give up more, the answer would be no, they would be who they were before.

Skype Q&A (Oct. 8, 2018)

 

[+Invocation]

Quote

Questioner

In the last panel we talked a lot about people from different planets using magic systems on other planets, one of the things I've been thinking about, we've been thinking about, talking about Breath, and people being born with Breath, is that something specific to Nalthis or do, technically, other people on other planets have a Breath as well?

Brandon Sanderson

Good question and that is a Nalthian thing. Now, everyone in the cosmere to an extent has Investiture, the Nalthian Breath is part what everyone has and then a little extra, plus the ability to share it around. So a person who gives up their Breath on Nalthis is actually going below what a normal person has. But a normal person on Nalthis has more than somebody-- So if you were for instance to pick a world like Sixth of the Dusk, where there's not a Shard in residence, and you compared them to a Nalthian, Nalthian has an Investiture advantage over them. When they've given up their Breath, they have an Investiture disadvantage.

Bystander

So we're not Drabs?

Brandon Sanderson

So we're not Drabs. That's exactly it. We're not Drabs.

JordanCon 2016 (April 23, 2016)

Nalthians have a little bit more Investiture in their souls than most people do, and while anyone can theoretically Awaken if they get Breaths and know what to do, their innate Investiture doesn't work like that.

[Karger]

This is also a doubled thread.  Maybe merge them?

[PiedPiper]

28 minutes ago, Karger said:

So if you were for instance to pick a world like Sixth of the Dusk, where there's not a Shard in residence, and you compared them to a Nalthian, Nalthian has an Investiture advantage over them. When they've given up their Breath, they have an Investiture disadvantage.

 

28 minutes ago, Karger said:

So, no. If someone from Sel went to Nalthis and got a Breath and then gave it up, would it give up more, the answer would be no, they would be who they were before.

Is Brandon saying, then, that while Nalthians have to give up all their Breath when they transfer it to someone else, people from other planets keep the original Investiture they were born with?

[Karger]

1 minute ago, PiedPeterPiper said:

Is Brandon saying, then, that while Nalthians have to give up all their Breath when they transfer it to someone else, people from other planets keep the original Investiture they were born with?

Brandon is saying that people from other shardworlds have innate investiture the quantity of which is not changed if they gain or loose breath from a nalthian.

[PiedPiper]

Okay, that's really interesting. Thanks so much!