Reverse Compounding theory

[TheBreadRuler]

What if Reverse Compounding involves using the Investiture from filling metalminds?

For example, permanently losing your sense of smell, touch, and taste to create a constant stream of Investiture which could power Allomancy.

Not really permanent, but it's a trade-off in line with Feruchemy's philosophy.

I don't know how the Invesiture would be repurposed, however. Maybe a special fabrial or modified metalmind could do it?

Aluminum has Identity-modifying properties and can do weird things with fabrials, so it's a possibility.

[Benkinsky they/them]

Oh, that's a very intriguing idea. Basically "sacrificing" something to get the constant stream of investiture. Only, Allomancy would be a bad candidate methinks, since Allomancers already have access to investiture wherever they are as long as they have metals. But say, for example, AonDor (and I'm not just shilling this because of my own pet Compounding theories) or another Selish Magic like Bloodsealing or Soulstamping. Something that needs Investiture to work, but doesn't have access to that. Or Surgebinding outside of the reach of the Highstorm. Anything that's limited in this way would be interested in an alternate source of Investiture-fuelling. "Storing" weight or speed or sense or whatever but instead of storing those attributes, using that Investiture to power your end-positive magic sounds cool.

Though, If i understand Feruchemy correctly, you would really permanently sacrifice that, as you said. Even Scadrians have very little innate investiture, I believe. We don't have a unit yet, don't know the amount of breaths that is worth, but like, you usually get that back with Feruchemy later. No doing that with Surgebinding of Bloodsealing, so that weight/speed/whatever is just gone.

[TheBreadRuler]

On 11/6/2022 at 6:30 AM, Benkinsky said:

Though, If i understand Feruchemy correctly, you would really permanently sacrifice that, as you said. Even Scadrians have very little innate investiture, I believe. We don't have a unit yet, don't know the amount of breaths that is worth, but like, you usually get that back with Feruchemy later. No doing that with Surgebinding of Bloodsealing, so that weight/speed/whatever is just gone.

I think that Feruchemy actually produces a decent amount of Investiture. 

per WOB, tapping a metalmind is enough to fuel Nightblood, even if not for much time.

Filling a metalmind also produces a constant stream of investiture, but It's not confirmed if that makes you any less invested, since you are pulling from attributes.

TLM spoiler:

Spoiler

Recently we heard a new classification: Matter, energy, and Investiture
Allomancy is an Investiture-Energy transfer, while Feruchemy allows both energy-Investiture and Investiture-energy. I think this theory follows that format.
Energy to Investiture
Investiture to Investiture
Investiture to Energy

I think this also fits Allomancy's theme. 

With savantism, you gain stronger powers but are hit with debuffs. This follows the same format, more power with a debuff.
There are real benefits to a Reverse Compounder:

1) Allomancy is limited by having access to metal. A Reverse Compounder would only need the 1 fabrial and have access to a constant stream.
2) The Investiture is inside a metalmind. Feruchemy has always allowed for you to tap as strongly as you want for an exponentially less efficient power burst.
For example: Storing weight for many hours but not tapping that Investiture, and using it for a single powerful Pull. This is essentially a more controllable Duralumin/Nicrosil burst.

Remember that Vin's Allomancy was significantly more powerful when she had a large amount of Investiture in her instead of relying on a burning metal.

Bendalloy, Atium, Electrum, and Iron have the most powerful combinations for this that I can think of, although others have potential.

I agree with you that Surgebinding is VERY nice for this. The Selish magics require that constant stream of Investiture, so I could see some niche uses for that as well. 

And like all magics, if you can turn that into Breaths you could get some very nice effects.

Edited November 10, 2022 by TheBreadRuler