Cosmere text base RP/ tell our story

[Argenti he/him]

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

I understand your gripes, I did make shifting a bit overpowered. One thing I forgot to mention, however is that there are MANY MANY oath levels. It is a bit rigid, but the oaths more represent levels of power. Each oath gets progressively harder and harder to get to, and most shifters are just glorified kandra with shardblade/shardplate. It would take thousands of lifetimes to get high enough to rival the current second in command. I would say its a bit like forgery, requiring lifetimes to get the more powerful abilities. I am receptive to more individual feedback, I do think my system is quite faulty. I would LOVE some more specific feedback please. I agree with all of your statements, and want to change them, without changing the core princible of shifting which is: Shapeshifting with no limits and incredible ramifications. I would be willing to edit/remove chemalurgy, I just wanted to refrence hemalurgy with Varium spikes in a meaning full way.

I'll give you some specific ones. The way you've designed Shifting isn't just Shapeshifting, it's effectively tearing up and distorting your own Spiritweb in exchange for power. This goes well with the idea of corruption supercharging native investiture. Perhaps a shifting Cycle would be interesting, where each time you ascend to one through a personal feat, you gain a power, but loose a power, which comes back later? 

Also Corruption doesn't really need to have a rank in the Invested Art. He's a shard.

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Self shifting (Changing the shape and look of yourself)

 I like it, but I think it should vary based on power. For example, initially, a Shifter might be able to adopt the aspects of native flora, like claws or something. Later, they could start to change their whole body, and even later, they would get better control and create new forms, etc. 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Other shifting (Shifting the shape of other things[like soul casting, but without needing permission])

Eh. I get it makes sense to corrupt other things, but when I hear shapeshifter, I don't think of turning one thing into another. I think Shifting should be mostly contained to internal changes,  hijacking as external.

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Spirit Shifting (One of the most powerful, can shift and change your spirit web, giving other MoIs. Only very very high crack counts can access it)

Yeah, makes sense. Keep in mind giving yourself other, especially non-corruption, invested arts is very difficult. Hoid had a hard time, and he's been around for millennia. It would be far easier to manipulate your own connections, identity, and fortune in different ways. 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Realm Shifting (Can shift between realms)

It's useful, but what does it have to do with the fantasy of shapeshiftering? You can say you shift through realms, but that's just a word. I shift gravity, I shift your emotions, It doesn't mean anything.

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Vaw Shifting (Can summon a Vawning)

Is this supposed to be a vawing? The magic rain? As above, useful, but how does it relate?

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Corrupted Shifting (Can corrupt other investiture[Can make stormlight become corrupted stormlight] and can use access to investiture to corrupt[can burn metals and get corrupted investiture]) V

Corrupting investiture is fine, but that doesn't give you the power to burn metals to get corrupted investiture. Ruin doesn't grant allomancy. It would let you co-op other magic, if you come across it. You don't just generate corrupted investiture. 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Varium Shifting (Certain shifters can summon Varium and shape it)

Is it bound as one cohesive whole? Can you just make infinite material? Why is this better or worse than Other Shifting? Can I use this as spikes? I have questions.

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Spacial Shifting (Can transform between shard and original being[reserved for Corruption only])

Shards can just do that. They don't need a specific power for this. 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Species Shifting (Can transform between species[usually used for kandra transformation{More useful than you would expect}]).

...How is this different than Self shifting?
 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Chemalurgy: Corruption has tainted (Even more) hemalurgy so that spikes made of varium (corruption’s godmetal) can steal shifting. And they have Chemalurgic gain. This means that it effectively doubles the power lost. This is used to make twisted and incredibly powerful Chemalurgic constructs. Chemalurgy is the art of hemalurgy with varium. Varium also has the ability to perfectly store intent. This means that the speaker of the spike can store the intent of physical features they want to warp; it's a more powerful Atium, in that aspect. Shifters, however are the only ones who can take advantage of this Chemalurgy. 

 

Why are shifters the only one who can take advantage of it? Why can it perfectly store intent? What does that even mean? How is making hemalurgy able to steal shifting, tainting it? Nicrosil, Duralumanin, Atium or Lerasium could probably steal shifting, that's not a strange concept to it?
 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Chemalurgy only works to double their powers because of how destroyed their spiritweb becomes. In fact, taking out a Chemalurgic spike will then work to advance their powers more (This works with any spike). They have to constantly keep their mental barriers up to keep from being mind controlled with emotional allomancy or by shards. The higher their crack count, the better the mental barriers are, but the worse their sanity is. Many shifters have gone so crazy that it would make one of the Fused that went insane, look like the most sane person ever. In fact, hemalurgic spikes get attracted to shifters and shifters have to work to keep them away. Their spiritweb just wants to be filled again, even through hemalurgic constructs.

So the reason Chemalurgy is more effective is because it's more destructive? How does this interact with the hard limit of things you can put in your spirit web? (4) You say their mental barriers increase as they gain more cracks, but that's the opposite of what happens. In addition, a ruptured spiritweb such as a shifter's would have horrible effects on their body- I'd imagine you'd be unable to return to your native, natural form at all eventually. A heavily damaged spirit web makes you physically weaker, faster to exhaust, mentally stunted. In addition, a heavily damaged spirit web like a shifter's would make it easier, not harder for a hjacker or other influences to invade and control.
 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Lore: When corruption ascended, his best friend became the first shifter. His best friend was a dragon and is still alive to this day. The second highest crack count also gives Spacial Shifting and Corruptions friend is still the only second highest to this day. Corruption even gives him lots of freedom. His spacial shifting gives him the perspective and mind of a shard, not the powers of a shard.

 

The way you've described it, his friend is would be essentially an insane pile of cancerous flesh with a shredded soul, dragonhood be damned. Sounds like he killed his friend with extra steps. I'm really confused by what you mean by spatial shifting. 
A heavily damaged shard (which is what cracks are) makes them vulnerable and weak. A high crack count is terrible. 

[Lopens Tenth Cousin he/him]

In answer to @Argenti's question, the Vessel of Indulgence was from pre-Shaod Elantrians (specifically the Ire), but he didn't end up forming Indulgence until roughly 80 years post Catacendre, after he stole some Dor and fled from the Ire. So, relatively new in Shardic terms, but still around long enough to develop a presence on the planet or a moon (does it have a name yet?) and be sufficiently Invested in it.

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

13 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Other shifting (Shifting the shape of other things[like soul casting, but without needing permission])

Eh. I get it makes sense to corrupt other things, but when I hear shapeshifter, I don't think of turning one thing into another. I think Shifting should be mostly contained to internal changes,  hijacking as external.

15 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Self shifting (Changing the shape and look of yourself)

 I like it, but I think it should vary based on power. For example, initially, a Shifter might be able to adopt the aspects of native flora, like claws or something. Later, they could start to change their whole body, and even later, they would get better control and create new forms, etc. 

The way I have made shifting work, is that shifting is quite like hijacking, except internal. Shifters start out as hijackers and slowly gain the powers to do internal things. It is a slow generation of powers, not a just, you have Self shifting!

17 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Vaw Shifting (Can summon a Vawning)

Is this supposed to be a vawing? The magic rain? As above, useful, but how does it relate?

It relates because, Vaw/Corrupted investiture can stabilize their mental state. They can also consume Varium to ward of their deteriorating mental state.

18 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Corrupted Shifting (Can corrupt other investiture[Can make stormlight become corrupted stormlight] and can use access to investiture to corrupt[can burn metals and get corrupted investiture]) V

Corrupting investiture is fine, but that doesn't give you the power to burn metals to get corrupted investiture. Ruin doesn't grant allomancy. It would let you co-op other magic, if you come across it. You don't just generate corrupted investiture. 

How it works, is when you are at scadrial, you can latch on to the local MoI (If you have Spirit Shifting this is not needed) and use it too hijack the internal investiture of preservation and get corrupted investiture. For non-spirit shifters, it only works on scadrial.

21 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Varium Shifting (Certain shifters can summon Varium and shape it)

Is it bound as one cohesive whole? Can you just make infinite material? Why is this better or worse than Other Shifting? Can I use this as spikes? I have questions.

I made it so it costs Vaw/Corrupted investiture. I originaly had that in mind, but forgot to put it in. Varium is like solidified corrupted investiture.

22 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Spacial Shifting (Can transform between shard and original being[reserved for Corruption only])

Shards can just do that. They don't need a specific power for this. 

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Species Shifting (Can transform between species[usually used for kandra transformation{More useful than you would expect}]).

...How is this different than Self shifting?

I removed these 2.

23 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Chemalurgy: Corruption has tainted (Even more) hemalurgy so that spikes made of varium (corruption’s godmetal) can steal shifting. And they have Chemalurgic gain. This means that it effectively doubles the power lost. This is used to make twisted and incredibly powerful Chemalurgic constructs. Chemalurgy is the art of hemalurgy with varium. Varium also has the ability to perfectly store intent. This means that the speaker of the spike can store the intent of physical features they want to warp; it's a more powerful Atium, in that aspect. Shifters, however are the only ones who can take advantage of this Chemalurgy. 

 

Why are shifters the only one who can take advantage of it? Why can it perfectly store intent? What does that even mean? How is making hemalurgy able to steal shifting, tainting it? Nicrosil, Duralumanin, Atium or Lerasium could probably steal shifting, that's not a strange concept to it?

I removed the Corruption has tainted part. instead the reason only shifters can take advantage of it is explained in Spiritweb/Cracks. I removed the Varium is able to perfectly store intent.

26 minutes ago, Argenti said:

11 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Chemalurgy only works to double their powers because of how destroyed their spiritweb becomes. In fact, taking out a Chemalurgic spike will then work to advance their powers more (This works with any spike). They have to constantly keep their mental barriers up to keep from being mind controlled with emotional allomancy or by shards. The higher their crack count, the better the mental barriers are, but the worse their sanity is. Many shifters have gone so crazy that it would make one of the Fused that went insane, look like the most sane person ever. In fact, hemalurgic spikes get attracted to shifters and shifters have to work to keep them away. Their spiritweb just wants to be filled again, even through hemalurgic constructs.

So the reason Chemalurgy is more effective is because it's more destructive? How does this interact with the hard limit of things you can put in your spirit web? (4) You say their mental barriers increase as they gain more cracks, but that's the opposite of what happens. In addition, a ruptured spiritweb such as a shifter's would have horrible effects on their body- I'd imagine you'd be unable to return to your native, natural form at all eventually. A heavily damaged spirit web makes you physically weaker, faster to exhaust, mentally stunted. In addition, a heavily damaged spirit web like a shifter's would make it easier, not harder for a hjacker or other influences to invade and control.

The reason their mental barriers increase as their spiritwebs deteriorate, is because each one has a bit of coruption inside of their spiritweb, which essentially allows them to use their powers to make a 'veil' over their spiritweb. This makes it so their physical form has no reprecutions from their damaged spriitweb, when their cognitive form is constantly deteriorating. Hemalurgic spikes would be able to heal them a bit, but that is hard and faulty. With their powers, they can erect a mental barrier that grows stronger the more spiritweb they use to create it. They have to constantly keep it up, but because of their insanity they forget to put it up sometimes, giving acess to their ruined mental state.

[Argenti he/him]

7 minutes ago, Lopens Tenth Cousin said:

In answer to @Argenti's question, the Vessel of Indulgence was from pre-Shaod Elantrians (specifically the Ire), but he didn't end up forming Indulgence until roughly 80 years post Catacendre, after he stole some Dor and fled from the Ire. So, relatively new in Shardic terms, but still around long enough to develop a presence on the planet or a moon (does it have a name yet?) and be sufficiently Invested in it.

So Indulgence has been a shard for at least 220 years,  probably closer to 300+ (because of the facts of corruption's ascension)  

WAT

Spoiler

Since T-Ret was involved, it's probably at least 80 years after  era two mistborn.

 

[Argenti he/him]

annnd all my hard work was deleted by the shard.

Ugh.

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

42 minutes ago, Argenti said:

annnd all my hard work was deleted by the shard.

Ugh.

?

[Argenti he/him]

2 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

The way I have made shifting work, is that shifting is quite like hijacking, except internal. Shifters start out as hijackers and slowly gain the powers to do internal things. It is a slow generation of powers, not a just, you have Self shifting!

2 hours ago, Argenti said:

I'm not sure what you mean by that? And it seems like lots of Shifting is exterior, not just internal like you said.

2 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

It relates because, Vaw/Corrupted investiture can stabilize their mental state. They can also consume Varium to ward of their deteriorating mental state.

2 hours ago, Argenti said:

That's not what I meant. It's useful, sure, but how does it relate to shapeshifting? How does it strengthen that fantasy? In general, you don't want a magic system with a built in answer to it's own flaws- Feruchemy needs another system to get around the issue of power, Zahel needs to travel to another planet to get around his issue of eating souls, and so forth. Eating Vaw could absolutely ward off their mental cracks, but they shouldn't have a way to get it any easier than everyone else.

2 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

I made it so it costs Vaw/Corrupted investiture. I originaly had that in mind, but forgot to put it in. Varium is like solidified corrupted investiture.

3 hours ago, Argenti said:

Yup, sounds good to me. Like Nomad esq?

2 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

I removed these 2.

3 hours ago, Argenti said:

Thank you.

2 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

The reason their mental barriers increase as their spiritwebs deteriorate, is because each one has a bit of coruption inside of their spiritweb, which essentially allows them to use their powers to make a 'veil' over their spiritweb. This makes it so their physical form has no reprecutions from their damaged spriitweb, when their cognitive form is constantly deteriorating. Hemalurgic spikes would be able to heal them a bit, but that is hard and faulty. With their powers, they can erect a mental barrier that grows stronger the more spiritweb they use to create it. They have to constantly keep it up, but because of their insanity they forget to put it up sometimes, giving acess to their ruined mental state.

I honestly think it would be more fun if their physical body rotted as they used their power, the whole planet is kinda undead. As an aside, why do you think spikes would help their mental issues? Even the blessing of presence, despite granting mental fortitude, has a net minium in mental strength. Unless you're thinking of the lynchpin spike?  All spikes, even after they're removed, damage the spiritweb more. They can "hold things together," yes, but they do leave perment and lasting harm, and it would drive you more insane, but stop your limbs from falling off.

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

56 minutes ago, Argenti said:

I honestly think it would be more fun if their physical body rotted as they used their power, the whole planet is kinda undead. As an aside, why do you think spikes would help their mental issues? Even the blessing of presence, despite granting mental fortitude, has a net minium in mental strength. Unless you're thinking of the lynchpin spike?  All spikes, even after they're removed, damage the spiritweb more. They can "hold things together," yes, but they do leave perment and lasting harm, and it would drive you more insane, but stop your limbs from falling off.

I'm pretty sure theres some sort of WoB that described hemalurgic spikes as 'attaching a extra piece of a spiritweb to yours' and while normaly this would damage the spritweb, and it still does, but since their spiritwebs are so far gone, even a destructive addition to their spiritweb would still be an addition to their spiritweb. And the ones who have stopped trying to stay sane are also kind of half zombies with ridicously powerful abilities that are hard to defeat.

1 hour ago, Argenti said:

3 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

The way I have made shifting work, is that shifting is quite like hijacking, except internal. Shifters start out as hijackers and slowly gain the powers to do internal things. It is a slow generation of powers, not a just, you have Self shifting!

4 hours ago, Argenti said:

I'm not sure what you mean by that? And it seems like lots of Shifting is exterior, not just internal like you said.

Shifting can be a lot of things. And I basically just meant,

4 hours ago, Argenti said:

For example, initially, a Shifter might be able to adopt the aspects of native flora, like claws or something. Later, they could start to change their whole body, and even later, they would get better control and create new forms, etc. 

That. Yeah I was just adopting your idea. Because of the nature of spiritwebs, having a ruined one (See what i did there) would offer many abilities including changing internal things, like a kandra or something

[bmcclure7]

Ok our we ready to move on to magic systems we are already have some proposals do we have any more?

[Argenti he/him]

12 minutes ago, bmcclure7 said:

Ok our we ready to move on to magic systems we are already have some proposals do we have any more?

With @Lopens Tenth Cousin's permission, I will write one for Indulgence

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

This is my MoI (I might make more changes over time):

Quote

Shifting (CoderDrag0n8’s MoI) (Branch of Hijacking MoI): 

Base mechanics: There are levels of power that are called cracks in the shifter’s society. They would be shapeshifters and would gain powers as they gain cracks. The shifter’s shifting powers are similar to dragon’s and there are many dragons among the order. They are powered by Corrupted investiture (Corruption’s investiture) from corruption himself. There are few of them, and are corruptions elite force to control. Corruption can also corrupt (A bit like Sja-Anat) other investiture and their forms. Hijackers can Hijack Shifters, it’s just very hard. However, many shifters can immediately shift out of the hijack, and some of the highest crack counts are completely immune.

Some powers: (Ranging throughout crack counts) are: Self shifting (Changing the shape and look of yourself) Other shifting (Shifting the shape of other things[like soul casting, but without needing permission]) Spirit Shifting (One of the most powerful, can shift and change your spirit web, giving other MoIs. Only very very high crack counts can access it) Realm Shifting (Can shift between realms) Vaw Shifting (Can summon a Vawning) Corrupted Shifting (Can corrupt other investiture[Can make stormlight become corrupted stormlight] and can use access to investiture to corrupt[can burn metals and get corrupted investiture]) and Varium Shifting (Certain shifters can summon Varium and shape it at the cost of corrupted investiture).

Initiation: They go through rigorous testing and training before corruption accepts their first crack. They rise the ranks until they are put into the field. When corruption chooses a shifter, their spirtweb is cracked. however, they also gain protections against the mind controlablity that all beings with a cracked spirtweb have. Shifters are very secretive and very rare. Shifters are usually chosen from hijackers. When a Hijacker becomes a shifter, they lose their hijacking powers, and slowly regain them as they rise the ranks. note that they only gain the power that correlates to what they were before. Ex someone who was a physical hijacker does not gain access to spiritual hijacking.

Chemalurgy: Spikes made of varium (corruption’s godmetal) can steal shifting. And they have Chemalurgic gain. This means that it effectively doubles the power lost. This is used to make twisted and incredibly powerful Chemalurgic constructs. Chemalurgy is the art of hemalurgy with varium. Shifters, however, are the only ones who can take advantage of this Chemalurgy. 

Varium/Corrupted Investiture: Varium works as a physical manifestation of corrupted investiture. Varium can appear in many forms, and vials of varium are usually used by shifters to get easy and quick corrupted investiture. The best way to gain corrupted investiture is from the Vawning (See more in Hijacking). High enough cracked shifters can summon corrupted investiture straight from the spiritual realm. Varium can also be used, if shifted into the right form, as a partial biological construct, and can be affected by Varium spikes. Varium is also used by the shifters to create mechanical constructs. Another form of corrupted investiture is Vaw.

Spiritweb/Cracks: Whenever a shifter uses their powers, their spirit web is more and more cracked. Corrupted. The ‘cracks’ that the shifters use to add structure to their powers is merely the continued corruption/decay of their spiritweb. The more and more their spiritweb breaks apart, the more and more access they have to the abilities of shifting. Chemalurgy only works to double their powers because of how destroyed their spiritweb becomes. In fact, taking out a Chemalurgic spike will then work to advance their powers more (This works with any spike). They have to constantly keep their mental barriers up to keep from being mind controlled with emotional allomancy or by shards. The higher their crack count, the better the mental barriers are, but the worse their sanity is. Many shifters have gone so crazy that it would make one of the Fused that went insane, look like the most sane person ever. In fact, hemalurgic spikes get attracted to shifters and shifters have to work to keep them away. Their spiritweb just wants to be filled again, even through hemalurgic constructs.

Mental Stability: Because of how unstable Shifters are, they can consume Vaw to stabilize their mental state. The higher the crack count, the more Vaw they need to consume to stay stable. The only way the second in command is still alive is because corruption itself is fueling Vaw to his spiritweb. Without it, his spiritweb would fall apart, breaking him into pieces. That, or he would need to stick himself with many hemalurgic spikes to try to stabilize his ruined spiritweb.

And here is Entr0pic's MoI (We are pitching them together)

Quote

Hijacking [open to name ideas] (entr0pic’s MoI) (Branch of Shifting MoI):

Base mechanics: Hijacking is like a weird mesh between awakening and soulcasting.There are 3 types of hijackers: physical, mental, and spiritual.spiritual hijackers are by far rarer than the other two, and are more limited; both by their lack of knowledge of the power and certain limitations but in place by corruption.  Hijackers of each variety can change aspects relating to what kind they have (ex a physical hijacker could manipulate physical attributes). To do this, a hijacker must be touching someone and say a command correlating to what part of someone you want to hijack. The command structure is “be [what you want to change]” ex, a physical hijacker could say “be weak of body” as a valid command. You can use any language to do this, including sign languages. generally, the more complex a command, the   more power you need to achieve it (which will be explained shortly) . An example of a complex command would be “be strong of body, with hazel eyes, a round face, and keen senses”. It is impossible to hijack yourself, as that is reserved for shifters. It is also impossible to hijack an animal. Changes, no matter what, are temporary and expire shortly. The nature of corruption denies permanent change. how a change manifests is largely based on perception and intent. For example, if a mental hijacker said “be weak of mind” that could make someone emotionally unstable or slow of thought, depending on the intent and perception of the hijacker. However, a hijacker cannot replicate forms of investiture without certain additions. They can't just say “be a mistborn” and make a mistborn. More dramatic changes in hijacking are easier to do than more subtle ones, as corruption likes dramatic shifts. For example, the command “be morally corrupt” would be more efficient when used on a virtuous person, when compared to an already vain and jealous person. hijackers have a harder time hijacking shifters, but it is possible. Shifters, however, lie and say that it is impossible 

Some examples of common commands are:

“Be strong of body” Used by physical hijackers 

“be keen of senses” used by physical hijackers

“be swift footed” used by physical hijackers

“be weak of emotion” used by mental hijackers

“be easily coerced” used by mental hijackers  

“be an amnesiac” used by mental hijackers

“Be weak of identity” used by spiritual hijackers 

“be connected to X location” used by spiritual hijackers 

“Be strong of luck” used by spiritual hijackers 

Power source: hijackers are powered by “vaw” (pronounced like “maw”, but with a v). Vaw is obtained via what are called “vawings” where vaw rains down in the form of a purple-ish flaky substance. These happen every 3rd day naturally, but can be induced by Corruption or a higher level shifter. Vaw will break down within ~2 days if left alone, and is largely harmless. A hijacker can ingest vaw to power themselves. Vaw reserves last for a longer time, ~6 days. However, the more vaw you have, the longer it stays as a whole. As mentioned earlier, the more complex a hijacking is, the more vaw you need. Vaw can be unkeyed, but is it extremely hard to do so. Unkeyed vaw acts like unkeyed dor. Certain groups have taken an interest in vaw due to this.  Vaw can power all kinds of hijacking. Vaw could, theoretically, be stored in a nicrosilmind to prevent the decay. If you spike someone with a nicrosil spike while they have vaw, you would gain their vaw reserves, but not their hijacking. Crushed varium can also be used as a substitute for vaw, but it’s less efficient. Hijackers can use their power anywhere, so long as they have fuel. It is hard for them to leave the system without the help of an experienced spiritual hijacker.

Initiation: hijackers are chosen directly by corruption himself, bestowed upon those he thinks would make “good use of the power”. You can become a hijacker at any point of your life, but they’re usually chosen at the ages 12-20. Roughly 1 out of 500,000 people are chosen, although there are booms and depressions, depending on the time and location. Corruption will sometimes appear to the chosen upon choosing them, and will congratulate them. He has even been noted appearing to a select few hijackers consistently. 

Ranks & Order: there isn’t a very rigid structure among the hijackers, but there is some order. Most hijackers of the same variety will often meet with one another, and are generally hostile to the other varieties. Corruption does not mind this, as he actually enjoys the conflict and the changes it leads to. Hijackers are Corruption’s soldiers, but not in the most literal sense. Since most hijackers are people who want major change, such as revolutionaries, activists, conquerors, etc, they further his goals. Corruption’s most favored hijackers are sometimes called the “Taf’ir”. How this name came about is unknown (the name came about because a hijacker asked corruption “What am I?”, to which he responded “Taf’ir” this word actually means “a good person” in corruption’s native language, but the hijacker took it as a special rank. [Characters in verse don’t know this.]) For his literal battles, while he prefers shifters and Chemalurgic constructs, there aren’t many, so hijackers are used often as a substitute. 

Misc: a hijacker's powers can be stolen via an Atuim, Lerasuim, or Varuim (Corruption’s godmetal) spike (See more about Varium in Chemalurgy). While his main magic systems are hijacking and shifting, being part cultivation and ruin, he has access to the old magic and hemalurgy. He has bestowed knowledge of Hemalurgy and Chemalurgy only to his most trusted chosen. There are also legends of corruption bestowing gifts on his followers, which he achieved via the old magic. He is still willing to give boons, should someone find him. Hijackers are viewed differently depending on the region, but most have some measure of respect and fear towards them. a hijacker savant can hold vaw for longer, and can hijack more efficiently, but will start to shift to what they hijack, like how a soulcaster savant turns to what they soulcast. a hijacker savant is harder to turn into a shifter.

[Entr0pic He/him]

5 minutes ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

This is my MoI (I might make more changes over time):

And here is Entr0pic's MoI (We are pitching them together)

We are, thanks for posting both of them Coder.

[Argenti he/him]

2 hours ago, Argenti said:

With @Lopens Tenth Cousin's permission, I will write one for Indulgence

Anyone else have any ideas? I'm thinking power is obtained through excess, when you indulge in something. Lopen has expressed they'd like it to be related to rewards of will, and of course the Dor lends towards control of others and caring.

Vampires?????

My operating definition of Indulgence (What does the power want?) is as follows;

The power wants control- for the people's own good, you must understand. Indulgence desires excess- obtained through your own will. It deserves it. 

Ya feel me?

Edited March 22, 2025 by Argenti

[Argenti he/him]

Spoiler

Sin Crowns (Argenti’s Mol): Indulgence

Having settled in the system, Indulgence’s investiture began to leak into the planet and suffuse its people and the land. While Indulgence attempted to hold himself back from fully investing, the power desired control and forced his hand to conquer Arvus and Zion. For about 300 years, Indulgence ruled unopposed, or rather, his delegates, called sin crowns, ruled unopposed. Meanwhile, Indulgence lived a life of decadence and barely paid attention, trapped between the hammer of his power and the anvil of the Ire. 

Sin Crowns are born rulers. Shortly after birth, their horns emerge, quickly developing into mighty “crowns” whose specific appearance varies wildly from Crown to Crown. From a young age, they are able to influence those around them to a strange degree (think emotional allomancy), often accompanied by a desire to protect and better their flock -on the assumption that they’re the only ones capable of doing so, of course. This Charm, however, isn’t their primary power.

The greater a Sin Crown’s flock, the people who follow and obey them, the more invested the Sin Crown is. This, of course, has many benefits, including a boosting of the aforementioned Charm, improved physical, mental, and spiritual resilience and power, longer lifespans, control over the local Flora and Fauna, and a sort of attunement to the land they rule over, subconsciously molding the weather and landscape to fit their moods.

As you might expect, this power has a cost- a growing taste for greater and greater luxury and decadence, until eventually, the only thing that can sate a sin crown is human blood. With Sin Crown circles, a Sin Crown isn’t an adult until they’ve had their first taste of human blood. As they age and their flock and power grow, their hunger for blood only grows and grows until they’re truly consumed by it, and whatever humanity is left within them is consumed. At a certain point, circa 150 years, a Sin Crown needs to consume human blood, or they will die. 
 

Sin Crowns for indulgence @Lopens Tenth Cousin? 

[Argenti he/him]

@SpiritOfWrath do you have a magic system for verity, or would you like me to make on for you?

(You are a busy person)

[Lopens Tenth Cousin he/him]

@Argenti - I think the idea of Sin Crowns is pretty spot on, but I feel like it would be better if the blood drinking didn't happen until after Corruption ended up showing up on the planet, or until their Investitures started interacting (I'm not certain on who showed up first)

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

11 hours ago, Argenti said:

  Hide contents

Sin Crowns (Argenti’s Mol): Indulgence

Having settled in the system, Indulgence’s investiture began to leak into the planet and suffuse its people and the land. While Indulgence attempted to hold himself back from fully investing, the power desired control and forced his hand to conquer Arvus and Zion. For about 300 years, Indulgence ruled unopposed, or rather, his delegates, called sin crowns, ruled unopposed. Meanwhile, Indulgence lived a life of decadence and barely paid attention, trapped between the hammer of his power and the anvil of the Ire. 

Sin Crowns are born rulers. Shortly after birth, their horns emerge, quickly developing into mighty “crowns” whose specific appearance varies wildly from Crown to Crown. From a young age, they are able to influence those around them to a strange degree (think emotional allomancy), often accompanied by a desire to protect and better their flock -on the assumption that they’re the only ones capable of doing so, of course. This Charm, however, isn’t their primary power.

The greater a Sin Crown’s flock, the people who follow and obey them, the more invested the Sin Crown is. This, of course, has many benefits, including a boosting of the aforementioned Charm, improved physical, mental, and spiritual resilience and power, longer lifespans, control over the local Flora and Fauna, and a sort of attunement to the land they rule over, subconsciously molding the weather and landscape to fit their moods.

As you might expect, this power has a cost- a growing taste for greater and greater luxury and decadence, until eventually, the only thing that can sate a sin crown is human blood. With Sin Crown circles, a Sin Crown isn’t an adult until they’ve had their first taste of human blood. As they age and their flock and power grow, their hunger for blood only grows and grows until they’re truly consumed by it, and whatever humanity is left within them is consumed. At a certain point, circa 150 years, a Sin Crown needs to consume human blood, or they will die. 
 

Sin Crowns for indulgence @Lopens Tenth Cousin? 

@Argenti, great MoI, but I feel like it was like oh also let’s add vampires yeah that’s cool.

its not bad to add vampires, they just need to feel more integrated then, yeah let’s add vampires also. @Lopens Tenth Cousin gave a good idea, them being partially corruption would give them a way to have a reason to be there.

[Entr0pic He/him]

8 hours ago, Lopens Tenth Cousin said:

@Argenti - I think the idea of Sin Crowns is pretty spot on, but I feel like it would be better if the blood drinking didn't happen until after Corruption ended up showing up on the planet, or until their Investitures started interacting (I'm not certain on who showed up first)

I always imagined that they arrived pretty close to one another

[Argenti he/him]

42 minutes ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

its not bad to add vampires, they just need to feel more integrated then, yeah let’s add vampires also. @Lopens Tenth Cousin gave a good idea, them being partially corruption would give them a way to have a reason to be there.

Works for me. (It totally was just let's add vampires.) 

8 hours ago, Lopens Tenth Cousin said:

@Argenti - I think the idea of Sin Crowns is pretty spot on, but I feel like it would be better if the blood drinking didn't happen until after Corruption ended up showing up on the planet, or until their Investitures started interacting (I'm not certain on who showed up first)

So it was like, up until Corruption came about, Sin Crowns just were almost immortal, but then once corruption arrived they required blood, and their "golden age" came to an end.

2 minutes ago, Entr0pic said:

I always imagined that they arrived pretty close to one another

to be fair, 200 years is pretty close to each other by shard standards. Sazed is still young.

[bmcclure7]

On 3/20/2025 at 9:58 PM, Argenti said:

I'll just put my main gripes with Shifting and Hijacking here, for those of you who can't see the docs.

(Shifting and Hijacking)

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Shifting (CoderDrag0n8’s MoI) (Branch of Hijacking MoI): 

Base mechanics: A system similar to the Knights Radiant with oaths, but they are more a matter of position. Like, 'I am a shifter of the 6th oath' or something. They would be shapeshifters and would gain powers as they gain oaths. (No there are no 'spren' that regulate the oaths. Corruption itself has to regulate it.) Corruption has the highest oath possible, and no others can reach that oath level. The shifter’s shifting powers are similar to dragon’s and there are many dragons among the order. They are powered by Corrupted investiture (Corruption’s investiture) from corruption himself. There are few of them, and are corruptions elite force to control. Corruption can also corrupt (A bit like Sja-Anat) other investiture and their forms. Hijackers can Hijack Shifters, it’s just very hard. However, many shifters can immediately shift out of the hijack, and some of the highest oaths are completely immune.

Some powers: (Ranging throughout oath levels) are: Self shifting (Changing the shape and look of yourself) Other shifting (Shifting the shape of other things[like soul casting, but without needing permission]) Spirit Shifting (One of the most powerful, can shift and change your spirit web, giving other MoIs. Only very very high oaths can access it) Realm Shifting (Can shift between realms) Vaw Shifting (Can summon a Vawning) Corrupted Shifting (Can corrupt other investiture[Can make stormlight become corrupted stormlight] and can use access to investiture to corrupt[can burn metals and get corrupted investiture]) Varium Shifting (Certain shifters can summon Varium and shape it) Spacial Shifting (Can transform between shard and original being[reserved for Corruption only]) and Species Shifting (Can transform between species[usually used for kandra transformation{More useful than you would expect}]).

Initiation: They go through rigorous testing and training before corruption accepts their first oath. They rise the ranks until they are put into the field. When corruption chooses a shifter, their spirtweb is cracked. however, they also gain protections against the flaw that all beings with a cracked spirtweb have. Shifters are very secretive and very rare. Shifters are usually chosen from hijackers. When a Hijacker becomes a shifter, they lose their hijacking powers, and slowly regain them as they rise the ranks. note that they only gain the power that correlates to what they were before. Ex someone who was a physical hijacker does not gain access to spiritual hijacking.

Chemalurgy: Corruption has tainted (Even more) hemalurgy so that spikes made of varium (corruption’s godmetal) have a similar effect to lerasium, except easier to gain, and has hemalurgic gain. This means that it effectively doubles the power lost. This is used to make twisted and incredibly powerful Chemalurgic constructs. Chemalurgy is the art of hemalurgy with varium. Varium also has the ability to perfectly store intent. This means that the speaker of the spike can store the intent of physical features they want to warp; it's a more powerful Atium, in that aspect. 

Varium/Corrupted Investiture: Varium works as a physical manifestation of corrupted investiture. Varium can appear in many forms, and vials of varium are usually used by shifters to get easy and quick corrupted investiture. The best way to gain corrupted investiture is from the Vawning (See more in Hijacking). High enough oath level shifters can summon corrupted investiture straight from the spiritual realm. Varium can also be used, if shifted into the right form, as a partial biological construct, and can be affected by Varium spikes. Varium is also used by the shifters to create mechanical constructs. Another form of corrupted investiture is Vaw.

Lore: When corruption ascended, his best friend became the first shifter. His best friend was a dragon and is still alive to this day. The second highest oath also gives Spacial Shifting and Corruptions friend is still the only second highest to this day. Corruption even gives him lots of freedom. His spacial shifting gives him the perspective and mind of a shard, not the powers of a shard.

 

Hijacking [open to name ideas] (entr0pic’s MoI) (Branch of Shifting MoI):

 

Base mechanics: Hijacking is like a weird mesh between awakening and soulcasting.There are 3 types of hijackers: physical, mental, and spiritual. Hijackers of each variety can change aspects relating to what kind they have (ex a physical hijacker could manipulate physical attributes). To do this, a hijacker must be touching someone and say a command correlating to what part of someone you want to hijack. The command structure is “be [what you want to change]” ex, a physical hijacker could say “be weak of body” as a valid command. You can use any language to do this, including sign languages. generally, the more complex a command, the   more power you need to achieve it (which will be explained shortly) . An example of a complex command would be “be strong of body, with hazel eyes, a round face, and keen senses”. It is impossible to hijack yourself, as that is reserved for shifters. It is also impossible to hijack an animal. Changes, no matter what, are temporary. The nature of corruption denies permanent change. how a change manifests is largely based on perception and intent. For example, if a mental hijacker said “be weak of mind” that could make someone emotionally unstable or slow of thought, depending on the intent and perception of the hijacker. However, a hijacker cannot replicate forms of investiture without certain additions. They can't just say “be a mistborn” and make a mistborn. More dramatic changes in hijacking are easier to do than more subtle ones, as corruption likes dramatic shifts. For example, the command “be morally corrupt” would be more efficient when used on a virtuous person, when compared to an already vain and jealous person. hijackers have a harder time hijacking shifters, but it is possible. Shifters, however, lie and say that it is impossible 

Some examples of common commands are:

“Be strong of body” Used by physical hijackers 

“be keen of senses” used by physical hijackers

“be swift footed” used by physical hijackers

“be weak of emotion” used by mental hijackers

“be easily coerced” used by mental hijackers  

“be an amnesiac” used by mental hijackers

“Be weak of identity” used by spiritual hijackers 

“be connected to X location” used by spiritual hijackers 

“Be strong of luck” used by spiritual hijackers 

Power source: hijackers are powered by “vaw” (pronounced like “maw”, but with a v). Vaw is obtained via what are called “vawings” where vaw rains down in the form of a purple-ish flaky substance. These happen every 3rd day naturally, but can be induced by Corruption or a higher level shifter. Vaw will break down within ~2 days if left alone, and is largely harmless. A hijacker can ingest vaw to power themselves. Vaw reserves last for a longer time, ~6 days. However, the more vaw you have, the longer it stays as a whole. As mentioned earlier, the more complex a hijacking is, the more vaw you need. Vaw can be unkeyed, but is it extremely hard to do so. Unkeyed vaw acts like unkeyed dor. Certain groups have taken an interest in vaw due to this.  Vaw can power all kinds of hijacking. Vaw could, theoretically, be stored in a nicrosilmind to prevent the decay. If you spike someone with a nicrosil spike while they have vaw, you would gain their vaw reserves, but not their hijacking. Crushed varium can also be used as a substitute for vaw, but it’s less efficient. Hijackers can use their power anywhere, so long as they have fuel. It is hard for them to leave the system without the help of an experienced spiritual hijacker.

Initiation: hijackers are chosen directly by corruption himself, bestowed upon those he thinks would make “good use of the power”. You can become a hijacker at any point of your life, but they’re usually chosen at the ages 12-20. Roughly 1 out of 500,000 people are chosen, although there are booms and depressions, depending on the time and location. Corruption will sometimes appear to the chosen upon choosing them, and will congratulate them. He has even been noted appearing to a select few hijackers consistently. 

Ranks & Order: there isn’t a very rigid structure among the hijackers, but there is some order. Most hijackers of the same variety will often meet with one another, and are generally hostile to the other varieties. Corruption does not mind this, as he actually enjoys the conflict and the changes it leads to. Hijackers are Corruption’s soldiers, but not in the most literal sense. Since most hijackers are people who want major change, such as revolutionaries, activists, conquerors, etc, they further his goals. Corruption’s most favored hijackers are sometimes called the “Taf’ir”. How this name came about is unknown (the name came about because a hijacker asked corruption “What am I?”, to which he responded “Taf’ir” this word actually means “a good person” in corruption’s native language, but the hijacker took it as a special rank. [Characters in verse don’t know this.]) For his literal battles, while he prefers shifters and Chemalurgic constructs, there aren’t many, so hijackers are used often as a substitute. 

Misc: a hijacker's powers can be stolen via an Atuim, Lerasuim, or Varuim (Corruption’s godmetal) spike (See more about Varium in Chemalurgy). While his main magic systems are hijacking and shifting, being part cultivation and ruin, he has access to the old magic and hemalurgy. He has bestowed knowledge of Hemalurgy and Chemalurgy only to his most trusted chosen. There are also legends of corruption bestowing gifts on his followers, which he achieved via the old magic. He is still willing to give boons, should someone find him. Hijackers are viewed differently depending on the region, but most have some measure of respect and fear towards them. a hijacker savant can hold vaw for longer, and can hijack more efficiently, but will start to shift to what they hijack, like how a soulcaster savant turns to what they soulcast. a hijacker savant is harder to turn into a shifter.

First off I question why a shard focused on change and unchecked growth/destruction have strict, orderly levels that grant set powers? Shard intent and planet type typically inform the structure and access of the invested art, if not the invested acts themselves. I'm under the assumption that Corruption is largely dominated by the shard's intent. Entropic said the vessel wasn't that assertive, which would make me think he couldn't act beyond what the shard would want.

Secondly, Shifting and Hijacking both seem a little... expansive in my opinion? Shapeshifting, OP Soulcasting (Makes sense as far as corruption goes), Elsecalling, Budget Bondsmithing/ Essence marks, full Mistborn powers, Hemulurgly that's just better in every way (There's not a single downside to using Chemalurgy over anything else. It would be better to spike yourself and give yourself double power-loosing hemulargic decay get rid of its only flaw.), generation of Perpendicularities, magical prosthesis, Fabrials, Awakening and inverse Forgery (Likely things are harder) are just the things I noticed. 

Remember Sanderson's second and third laws; Limitations are more interesting than Powers, and expand what you have before you add anything new. We need to cut both systems down a bit to a core idea- what does each system want to do? What is corruption's intent? Even mighty, expansive powers like Forgery, Bondsmithing, and Elantrians have downsides, limitations, and a core idea. Forgery requires research and years of work, and can't work well on things that aren't likely, Bondsmithing is very very rare, and can only manipulate connection, while Aon Dor requires you to be in a small geographical area and for you to know specific arcane symbols. All of these have ways around them, yes, but they're difficult to do, and more importantly, cheating-they're not built in. Could there be a way for  Chemalurgy to double power, sure! But should it be a native thing that just happens whenever you do it? I don't think so.

 

@CoderDrag0n8’s 

@CoderDrag0n8

I like the basic idea, but I do think that I need some different initiation makes no sense for someone swear else to corruptions like it would be for honor, for example.  I also do agree with the criticism that it’s a little more overpowered but that’s easy to fix. We can simply make the higher levels (realm shifting for example) as of yet unknown or making them require a lot of power.

[Argenti he/him]

4 minutes ago, bmcclure7 said:

 

 

@CoderDrag0n8’s 

@CoderDrag0n8

I like the basic idea, but I do think that I need some different initiation makes no sense for someone swear else to corruptions like it would be for honor, for example.  I also do agree with the criticism that it’s a little more overpowered but that’s easy to fix. We can simply make the higher levels (realm shifting for example) as of yet unknown or making them require a lot of power.

I agree on that. Maybe it's like an herb or something, black panther style?

Or it could be ritual tattoos mixed with vaw?

[bmcclure7]

On 3/20/2025 at 11:48 PM, CoderDrag0n8 said:

I updated my MoI to make it more balanced. The oaths are no longer their, instead replaced with insanity. Tell me if there is anything I missed!

Mostly look at the last part. That is the main change. I hope I changed it well!

So the more they gain power, the more they grow unstable?

2 hours ago, Argenti said:

I agree on that. Maybe it's like an herb or something, black panther style?

Or it could be ritual tattoos mixed with vaw?

I like the idea of eating something as when you eat something you either corrupt it changing into part of your body, or interrupt you, I change your body in some way

 

@CoderDrag0n8 sorry to pin you but on reflection I have any idea of a limite and cost I can add to your system 

Edited March 23, 2025 by bmcclure7

[bmcclure7]

On 3/21/2025 at 11:34 AM, Lopens Tenth Cousin said:

In answer to @Argenti's question, the Vessel of Indulgence was from pre-Shaod Elantrians (specifically the Ire), but he didn't end up forming Indulgence until roughly 80 years post Catacendre, after he stole some Dor and fled from the Ire. So, relatively new in Shardic terms, but still around long enough to develop a presence on the planet or a moon (does it have a name yet?) and be sufficiently Invested in it.

So I suppose the civilization should be primitive be give that they would have to be created by indulgent  or migrated afterwards 

[Argenti he/him]

22 minutes ago, bmcclure7 said:

So I suppose the civilization should be primitive be give that they would have to be created by indulgent  or migrated afterwards 

Humans could have been there previously. A minor Shardworld with substantial Ruinous and Cultitvated investiture (maybe ambitious too?), that Indulgence initially invested for ???reasons, and which Corruption later came and invested in because of the pre existing investiture called to them. 

Then Truth came.

[bmcclure7]

2 minutes ago, Argenti said:

Humans could have been there previously. A minor Shardworld with substantial Ruinous and Cultitvated investiture (maybe ambitious too?), that Indulgence initially invested for ???reasons, and which Corruption later came and invested in because of the pre existing investiture called to them. 

Then Truth came.

I writing a prologue expanding this