ChickenBonanza Posted January 28, 2025 Posted January 28, 2025 Greetings. I would like to share my thoughts on this topic. When making use of a Hemalurgic spike, one staples, roughly, a piece of foreign soul-matter into their own. This trauma inflicted upon the soul creates and exaggerates tearing a holes and whatever. Day to day, this is not a very noticeable effect. However, such tears allow Investiture—even foreign Investiture—to flow more easily through. This is why Hemalurgy makes one more vulnerable to Emotional Allomancy and other effects which wrest control from an individual, such as what some Shards exhibit. Ruin, being the source of Hemalurgy, is especially potent in this regard. This is also the reasoning behind Hemalurgy’s difficulty in forming Resonances, (https://wob.coppermind.net/events/373/#e12024) Resonances deriving from the melding of different powers in the Spiritweb, which cannot occur if different Invested Arts in the Spiritweb do not blend. Savantism, however, is possible. And is very possibly a source to remedy the damage to the Spiritweb inflicted by Hemalurgy. Somewhat. Savantism is the growth of a portion of the Spiritweb (most likely an Invested Art) in a manner in which it impacts the function of other portions of the Spiritweb, allowing access to more power at various costs. However, what if there was open space for that power to grow? Hemalurgy leaves a degree of separation between the spike’s corresponding portion of the Spiritweb and the original. Enough so that any leftover Identity in a Hemalurgic spike conflicts enough with the bearer’s when attempting to Compound. At least under Harmony’s influence. Marsh’s ability to Compound could be indicative of greater integration, and concurrently damage, allowed by spikes created and administered under Ruin as a sole Shard. Savantism, theoretically, would cause that spike portion to expand and fill that degree of separation. As well as some besides. Albeit such a thing could perhaps not be rightly called Savantism, if no negative impact is felt. I shall continue with the term as meaning ‘the growth or inflation of a section of the Spiritweb through continuous flow of Investiture through that section.’ That’s not the definition of Savantism, of course, but from now on is what I mean when I refer to Savantism. If one were able to analyze the Spiritweb with some tool or ability, one could perhaps know exactly to what degree they should delve into Savantism. Of course, with such tools, it is equally plausible for the damage caused by a Hemalurgic spike’s insertion to be minimized. If the receiver’s Spiritweb were to already be damaged—through mental trauma, a Nalthian giving away their Breath, or having been spiked before, as a non-lethal donor or as a recipient—there might not be any damage at all. Though Ruin’s Intent might not allow for such a thing. Harmony’s, perhaps, would. Another possible method to integrate a spike is time. The Spiritweb changes constantly over time. New Connections to people and places, changes in outlook. All of these change the parts of the Spiritweb corresponding to those aspects of ourselves. Over time, the Spiritweb portion aligning with the spike might slowly begin to interact and intertwine with the receiver’s Spiritweb in ways that begin to reflect a natural addition. This might prove especially true for children, who have not grown into their own personalities. Anyway, lots of this is conjecture born of half-remembered information and inferences born from that information, fated to slowly erode from ill-study. I just like talking about it. 2
Trusk'our he/him Posted January 28, 2025 Posted January 28, 2025 (edited) 14 hours ago, ChickenBonanza said: Greetings. I would like to share my thoughts on this topic. When making use of a Hemalurgic spike, one staples, roughly, a piece of foreign soul-matter into their own. This trauma inflicted upon the soul creates and exaggerates tearing a holes and whatever. Day to day, this is not a very noticeable effect. However, such tears allow Investiture—even foreign Investiture—to flow more easily through. This is why Hemalurgy makes one more vulnerable to Emotional Allomancy and other effects which wrest control from an individual, such as what some Shards exhibit. Ruin, being the source of Hemalurgy, is especially potent in this regard. This is also the reasoning behind Hemalurgy’s difficulty in forming Resonances, (https://wob.coppermind.net/events/373/#e12024) Resonances deriving from the melding of different powers in the Spiritweb, which cannot occur if different Invested Arts in the Spiritweb do not blend. Savantism, however, is possible. And is very possibly a source to remedy the damage to the Spiritweb inflicted by Hemalurgy. Somewhat. Savantism is the growth of a portion of the Spiritweb (most likely an Invested Art) in a manner in which it impacts the function of other portions of the Spiritweb, allowing access to more power at various costs. However, what if there was open space for that power to grow? Hemalurgy leaves a degree of separation between the spike’s corresponding portion of the Spiritweb and the original. Enough so that any leftover Identity in a Hemalurgic spike conflicts enough with the bearer’s when attempting to Compound. At least under Harmony’s influence. Marsh’s ability to Compound could be indicative of greater integration, and concurrently damage, allowed by spikes created and administered under Ruin as a sole Shard. Savantism, theoretically, would cause that spike portion to expand and fill that degree of separation. As well as some besides. Albeit such a thing could perhaps not be rightly called Savantism, if no negative impact is felt. I shall continue with the term as meaning ‘the growth or inflation of a section of the Spiritweb through continuous flow of Investiture through that section.’ That’s not the definition of Savantism, of course, but from now on is what I mean when I refer to Savantism. If one were able to analyze the Spiritweb with some tool or ability, one could perhaps know exactly to what degree they should delve into Savantism. Of course, with such tools, it is equally plausible for the damage caused by a Hemalurgic spike’s insertion to be minimized. If the receiver’s Spiritweb were to already be damaged—through mental trauma, a Nalthian giving away their Breath, or having been spiked before, as a non-lethal donor or as a recipient—there might not be any damage at all. Though Ruin’s Intent might not allow for such a thing. Harmony’s, perhaps, would. An interesting concept. I'm not sure if expanding the power itself is actually what Savantism does. From my understanding, it's more like an overuse of Investiture that ends up widening the cracks made by Allomancy (or, perhaps, Hemalurgy), in the process warping the Spiritweb to accept the constant influx of Investiture. Spoiler https://wob.coppermind.net/events/161-words-of-radiance-washington-dc-signing/#e6930 IronCaf In what ways is becoming an Allomantic savant similar to, say, bodybuilding or exercising? Brandon Sanderson There are some parallels there, you could draw that parallel, definitely. (Follow up WoB referencing the one above) https://wob.coppermind.net/events/161-words-of-radiance-washington-dc-signing/#e6931 IronCaf What other magic systems - because it seems unique from what we have seen - what other magic systems have that same, kind of, "If you use it a lot it gets better?" Brandon Sanderson So, imagine this way-- You're making a metaphor-- It is a little bit more like wedging open cracks in the soul by letting the flow come through, and the investiture comes in. IronCaf So it seems that in Allomancy, it seems to maybe enhance those cracks-- Brandon Sanderson It can open the cracks more. IronCaf Are there other magic systems like that? Brandon Sanderson Yes. IronCaf Will we see those anytime soon? Brandon Sanderson Maybe. Anytime soon? Let me RAFO that for you. Footnote: The question is a follow-up of the previous question about savantism. I think this would explain why Spook loses most sensory input when he stops burning tin as a Savant- his Spiritweb has new cracks in it, replacing some of his natural self with the Allomantic Investiture. Though this makes his power much more efficient and tunes him into it far better, he loses a lot of his natural ability. However, given that Investiture can seep into Spiritweb cracks, I find it unlikely that there isn't some way to plaster them closed. I just don't know if Savantism is the best rout to take. Quote Another possible method to integrate a spike is time. The Spiritweb changes constantly over time. New Connections to people and places, changes in outlook. All of these change the parts of the Spiritweb corresponding to those aspects of ourselves. Over time, the Spiritweb portion aligning with the spike might slowly begin to interact and intertwine with the receiver’s Spiritweb in ways that begin to reflect a natural addition. This might prove especially true for children, who have not grown into their own personalities. Hmm, perhaps. Kandra seem to have spikes that have fully integrated into their Identity, but still suffer from the Flaw. I think it would take a little extra effort, at least in most cases. Hemalurgy causes damage as an inherent mechanism, so you'd have to find a way to more precisely know what to take, I'm thinking. As Spiritweb reading tools advance and as Investiture knowledge expands, I think this will shrink the Flaw's relevance over time. Edited January 28, 2025 by Trusk'our
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