What biochromatic entities could Hoid hurt

[Hmmm lies she/her]

So Hoid can't hurt people, or seemingly even animals. But what about these things. I figure he still wouldn't be able to hurt Returned, since they still have a normal soul, and I suspect awakened objects would be fine, he can likely harm objects, and just because they are invested with a command likely wouldn't stop that, and I would expect the same would be true for lifeless, but it's a bit harder to say, but they are called "lifeless" after all. But type 4 biochromatic entities is a tricky case. They aren't alive in the way normal things are, but they are definitely sentient. (Also Nightblood is basically invincible but this is hypothetical)

[alder24]

1 hour ago, Hmmm lies said:

So Hoid can't hurt people, or seemingly even animals. But what about these things. I figure he still wouldn't be able to hurt Returned, since they still have a normal soul, and I suspect awakened objects would be fine, he can likely harm objects, and just because they are invested with a command likely wouldn't stop that, and I would expect the same would be true for lifeless, but it's a bit harder to say, but they are called "lifeless" after all. But type 4 biochromatic entities is a tricky case. They aren't alive in the way normal things are, but they are definitely sentient. (Also Nightblood is basically invincible but this is hypothetical)

This topic should be in the Cosmere section. 

What kind of "hurt" are we talking about? Hurt their feelings? No problem! Beat up their Cognitive manifestation? No problem as proven by SH. Hurt their soul or body? Well here is the hard part, what can he hurt or not? He can't eat meat, so it seems that he can't hurt even animals, not just humans. I would guess it's about being sentient, those that can feel emotions. This means type 1 and 4 are off the table for Hoid to hurt, type 2 are in the gray area, as it depends on how self-aware they are, how much they can feel, type 3 are not sentient, not alive, he can "hurt" them. 

But it also depends on Hoid's perception. If he believes that they aren't alive and he doesn't hurt them (like if he thinks Lifeless aren't alive and can't feel) he might be able to hurt them.

Spoiler

Brandon Sanderson

Lightsong Sees the Lifeless and Takes Command of Them

They keep them in the dark. This is a bad idea. They don't realize it, but the Lifeless are far more aware than everyone assumes. Clod in this book is a foreshadowing of that, and there won't be much more about it in the rest of the novel. It's one of the focus points for the sequel, if I ever write it. (Which will actually have a Lifeless as a viewpoint character, if I can find a way to swing it.)

Warbreaker Annotations (March 21, 2011)

 

Spoiler

Questioner

Can Hoid eat Soulcast bacon? 

Brandon Sanderson

Yes. He could probably eat lab-grown meat if he knew it was (or magic-grown meat). He probably could. His psychology will be influencing this, right? Which is why I say "probably." But the magic would allow it. 

Billy todd

If somebody lied to him about the nature of the meat, could he eat that? 

Brandon Sanderson

No. Well, okay, if they lied and said it was Soulcast, yes, then he probably could.

Questioner 2

It's based on his perception. 

Brandon Sanderson

It's based on his perception, yeah.

JordanCon 2021 (July 17, 2021)

SH spoiler:

Spoiler

Questioner

Hoid's ability to hurt Kelsier, is that due to his perceptions and beliefs or those of an external entity?

Brandon Sanderson

It's going to be a bit of both but more his perceptions and beliefs. This is how a lot of things work in the Cosmere, particularly if you're where they were.

Starsight Release Party (Nov. 26, 2019)

SH spoiler:

Spoiler

Questioner

I have a question about Hoid. If he was previously a Dawnshard that prevented him from hurting himself or others, how could he use a hemalurgic spike on himself?

Brandon Sanderson

We don't know that he has.

Questioner

But would he be able to?

Brandon Sanderson

I think there is a way he could get around that if he needed to. Basically, he has to convince himself that this isn't actually hurting him, it's helping him.

Questioner

Similar to how he could do damage to Cognitive Shadows, because they're not really...

Brandon Sanderson

Yep, exactly.

Dragonsteel 2023 (Nov. 21, 2023)