Could you snatch Breath?

[JustQuestin2004 he/him]

If someone was trying to transfer Breath to someone, holding their hand upon them as they said the words "My life to yours, my Breath become yours", but right before they finished you took their hand and placed it upon yourself right as the last word was uttered, would that cause the Breaths the transfer to you or just ruin the process?

[Trusk'our he/him]

35 minutes ago, JustQuestin2004 said:

If someone was trying to transfer Breath to someone, holding their hand upon them as they said the words "My life to yours, my Breath become yours", but right before they finished you took their hand and placed it upon yourself right as the last word was uttered, would that cause the Breaths the transfer to you or just ruin the process?

I highly doubt it, as the Intent matters deeply for such a process.

It might be possible to Hemalurgically spike a Breath in transfer however. 

Spoiler

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/80-shadows-of-self-london-uk-signing/#e5282

Questioner

With spikes, would you be able to actually transfer Breaths, when they get to the other planets?

Brandon Sanderson

So spikes rip off pieces of the soul and so Breaths are not going to be part of the soul. You could maybe get a divine Breath but I haven't really decided on regular Breaths, they're kind of stuck there in the Physical Realm which is not a thing that spikes are dealing with. Divine Breath, potentially, because that's something that's actually melding onto your soul. But, you know, when you're using the Breaths they reach through to the Spiritual Realm so, maybe if you got it while the Breaths were kinetic, right, while you're using them, then you might be able to rip them off. I'm not a hundred percent certain on that one.

Bystander

There's still things to decide upon.

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah there's still things, like I have to kind of see. My instinct says no right now. But, you know, how they interact is not something that I have-- Yeah.

 

[Duxredux he/him]

Actually... I suspect the Breaths will still transfer to the intended recipient. Commands that are interrupted or mumbled will still transfer Breaths but leave them inactive (Warbreaker chapter 49, no idea what page since this is ebook). We see this directly when Vivenna attempts to Awaken Tonk Fah's coat and Denth cuts her off.

It definitely won't transfer to the person who interrupts the Awakener. As @Trusk'our notes, Intent is huge and the Command to transfer Breaths, at least the part "My Breath to yours" worked just fine for letting Vivenna store her Breaths in her shawl when hiding in the slums. When an Awakener selects a target to transfer Breaths, they get transferred to the intended target - as opposed to all other valid targets touching the Awakener such as their pants.

 

You know, that would be a really rude prank.

"Come close my child, it is at last time to bestow my Breaths and inheritance to my posterity." The aura of power warped the colors around the elderly Awakener, who was far older than he appeared. A withered hand rose from the arm of the chair and reached for the head of the smugly smirking son. "My Life to yours, my Breath become yours" the Awakener intoned.  The young man tensed, waiting for the flood of bliss that would accompany the influx of power, granting influence and near immortality. The aura of color faded... and... nothing? "Ah, yes," the elderly Awakener mumbled, fondingly patting the decrepit armchair, "You have long supported me and my posterior these many years old friend. Far more than that my actual posterity." Smiling contentedly, the Awakener rapidly withered and leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes for the last time.

[JustQuestin2004 he/him]

1 hour ago, Trusk'our said:

I highly doubt it, as the Intent matters deeply for such a process.

It might be possible to Hemalurgically spike a Breath in transfer however. 

  Reveal hidden contents

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/80-shadows-of-self-london-uk-signing/#e5282

Questioner

With spikes, would you be able to actually transfer Breaths, when they get to the other planets?

Brandon Sanderson

So spikes rip off pieces of the soul and so Breaths are not going to be part of the soul. You could maybe get a divine Breath but I haven't really decided on regular Breaths, they're kind of stuck there in the Physical Realm which is not a thing that spikes are dealing with. Divine Breath, potentially, because that's something that's actually melding onto your soul. But, you know, when you're using the Breaths they reach through to the Spiritual Realm so, maybe if you got it while the Breaths were kinetic, right, while you're using them, then you might be able to rip them off. I'm not a hundred percent certain on that one.

Bystander

There's still things to decide upon.

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah there's still things, like I have to kind of see. My instinct says no right now. But, you know, how they interact is not something that I have-- Yeah.

 

I figured, though the mental image of someone desperately snatching the hand of someone transferring a massive amount of Breath while yelling 'MINE MINE MINE!' is a funny image.

[BigBadBagsworth He/him/his]

“My life to your’s, my breath become-“ “MINE!!!”