Shadesmar in Sel? (Minor SA spoilers)

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

We know that in Sel, there are large quantities of investiture in Shadesmar (the cognitive realm) and that Elantrians have the ability to create little ‘Keyholes’ into Shadesmar to access the Dor. Could an Elantrian ‘Paint’ a doorway into shadesmar? Similarly what would happen if you got to Shadesmar? Would you be flooded with power? How would that work? If an Elsecaller went to Shadesmar, would they have an unpractically large amount of stormlight? Would a Misting have infinite metal fuel? Would it just be like a Bondsmith opening a perpendicularity?

[Treamayne]

57 minutes ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

We know that in Sel, there are large quantities of investiture in Shadesmar (the cognitive realm) and that Elantrians have the ability to create little ‘Keyholes’ into Shadesmar to access the Dor. Could an Elantrian ‘Paint’ a doorway into shadesmar? Similarly what would happen if you got to Shadesmar? Would you be flooded with power? How would that work? If an Elsecaller went to Shadesmar, would they have an unpractically large amount of stormlight? Would a Misting have infinite metal fuel? Would it just be like a Bondsmith opening a perpendicularity?

Though there are ways to protect yourself, even Hoid is afraid of Shadesmar on Sel. It's not just "large quantities of investiture" it is two entire shards, smushed together into a planet-size Plasma Storm. Sel's Shadesmar is very dangerous.

Spoiler

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Blaze1616

The Dor: Is it gaseous Investiture or is it something else completely?

Brandon Sanderson

Oh that's a great question. People have not been asking enough about the Dor.

Blaze1616

And if it is gaseous—or not gaseous—is it plasma?

Brandon Sanderson

*Long pause*

You got it. *said definitively*

It's super sup-- not plasm-- yeah, it's super-dense to the point that's it's liquefied and dense-- does that make sense? So it's plasma, basically. It's its own weird thing, so yeah. What you can write is that it's its own weird thing that's kind of plasma-like.

Shadows of Self Lansing signing (Oct. 13, 2015)

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Questioner

Can you describe what Shadesmar looks like on either Nalthis or Sel.

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah. On Sel? Looks like a big old storm that will destroy you. More than a storm, it's like a big pressurized-- it's like plasma, almost. It is really dangerous. Really dangerous. That 'cause the Dor is hanging out there.

Oathbringer release party (Nov. 13, 2017)

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Questioner

Exactly how turbulent is the Cognitive Realm around Sel? Khriss seems to think it's rather difficult [to travel] but how difficult would it be for Hoid to get through?

Brandon Sanderson

How difficult would it be to get through to Sel, how difficult would it be for Hoid. I would say straining his resources and capacity. It is difficult for him. So take that as you will. But it is worth his effort and he has done it numerous times.

JordanCon 2018 (April 21, 2018)

 

SA Spoilers:

Spoiler

That said, Aon Tia is the AonDor equicvalent of Elsecalling, and they should be able to move from the Physical to the Cognitive using that Aon with the correct modifiers (once they learn how - and find a way to survive the experience).

Hope that helps

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

One of my main questions is this: since the elantrians can 'draw' keyholes into shadesmar (I think thats how that works?) could an elantrian just 'paint' an entrance into shadesmar? like just open a gateway through drawing just a big just doorway? into shadesmar?

[Treamayne]

On 1/25/2025 at 4:53 PM, CoderDrag0n8 said:

One of my main questions is this: since the elantrians can 'draw' keyholes into shadesmar (I think thats how that works?) could an elantrian just 'paint' an entrance into shadesmar? like just open a gateway through drawing just a big just doorway? into shadesmar?

That would depend on what and how you are trying to use it. A persistent Aon, like Ashe (Light), will continue to convert investiture entering the Physical Realm in accordance with the Command (filter) represented by the Aon (and it's modifiers). If something were to coopt that investiture, it would eventually collapse the Aon.
WoB:

Spoiler

Questioner

So you said that different Investitures from different worlds can fuel different Investitures, right? Would that mean that you could potentially use Stormlight for Allomancy and/or Feruchemy?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, a little harder with the Metallic Arts than, for instance, Nightblood is the easiest example. He can just feed on whatever Investiture is around.

Questioner

Could he feed on the Dor from...

Brandon Sanderson

He could totally feed on the Dor.

Questioner

Would you need to have a special sheath to do that or?

Brandon Sanderson

No, what you would have to do for him on Elantris is you would have to open some conduit to the Dor that's persistent, like a light or something, and he will suck through that, he would probably end up sucking the whole aon.

Barnes & Noble B-Fest 2016 (June 11, 2016)

If you are asking could an Aonic Formula be crafted to dump raw Dor into the Physical Realm, then it may be possible (likely Aon Daa) but is probably not a good idea. Look at what weakened Dor was doing to Raoden before the Chasm Line was discovered. Aon Daa was what Galadon and his band of rescuers were using on the Teo Docks when they followed Raoden over to face the Dakhor in Teoras.

Raw Dor streaming into the PR is not likely to be a good thing

Edited February 11, 2025 by Treamayne
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