My Theory for how to Organize the Shards (Please Help Refine it)

[Fritochip]

 

I have been thinking a lot recently about the Shards and noticed that it is not just Ruin and Preservation that have to do with change over time, but Cultivation is also in that category. That made me suspect that there is a fourth Change over Time Shard and Invention seems most likely to fill that role. 

 

That made me wonder if all the Shards were set in four groups of four like the basic allomantic metals. If we start with the Time Shards as a template, here is the table I came up with. 

 

	Time/Change	Relationship/ Connection	Power/ Determination	Emotion/ Identity
Growth	Cultivation	Devotion	Ambition	Valor
Stability	Preservation	Honor	Dominion	Whimsey
Decay	Ruin	Autonomy	Mercy	Odium
Transformation	Invention	Endowment

 

I am most confident of the left column and reducing confidence as it moves right. I have no confidence in the rows of the Emotion/Identity Shards, but they seem to belong in their column together. The Emotion/Identity column is possibly mislabeled, but I can't think of something better. 

Mercy, Endowment, and Autonomy could very credibly be in different places on the table. The entire Transformation Row is dubious to me as only Invention fits well as the Time Transformation Shard. 

I would love the 17th Shards help in organizing the Shards. If we can find the true order here, then we will know that the two missing Shards fit in the gaps. Knowing that a Shard is missing in the Power Transformation slot may help us identify it. 

One final thing I like about the table is that it breaks Adonalsium into his Power, Identity, Connection, and Change over Time. These feel like a way that a God might shatter. 

Thank you for your help. 

Chip

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by Fritochip

[EmulatonStromenkiin he/him]

There are several threads that are discussing this, try one of those.

[Ciridae]

I really like this aproach, you mostly see people trying to put four shards into a quadrant instead of this column arrangement with two defining characteristics.

I'd say it looks really good the way you have it, though Mercy as decay of power is definitely an interesting way of interpreting it

Well done and welcome to the Shard!

[Fritochip]

27 minutes ago, Ciridae said:

I really like this aproach, you mostly see people trying to put four shards into a quadrant instead of this column arrangement with two defining characteristics.

I'd say it looks really good the way you have it, though Mercy as decay of power is definitely an interesting way of interpreting it

Well done and welcome to the Shard!

Thank you so much. I am dipping my toes into this community after listening to Shardcast for some time. 

[+Bzhydack he/him]

I would probably swap Mercy and Endovment, but all in all this is very refreshing approche, and I like it so much! Probably the most from all othher groupings.

[Fritochip]

4 hours ago, Bzhydack said:

I would probably swap Mercy and Endovment, but all in all this is very refreshing approche, and I like it so much! Probably the most from all othher groupings.

So, you would say Mercy is Transformation of Connection and Endowment is Decay of Power.. I can see that. Mercy makes a lot of sense there. 

 I wish we have a true description of Endowment. Nalthis has a whole book and yet only minimal explanation of Endowment. It makes her so hard to place.

[Fritochip]

I am increasingly thinking that the hypothetical Wisdom could be a Transformation of Connection or Transformation of Identity. It feels like Wisdom would be in the Transformation Row. 

[Fritochip]

I am listening through the Wax and Wayne series and noticed how obsessed Bleeder is with freedom. She talks about it constantly. Assuming Trell is an Avatar of Autonomy, then freedom would make sense as an obsession for the Decay of Power Shard. So maybe Autonomy would fit better in that position.