Could Larkin subsist solely from the metal from Scadrial

[The Unsoulcastable Stick He/Him]

I have this question because in the book SLA it talks about how Larkin eat Investiture and the metal in scadrial is invested

 

It could also be that the Allomancer is the one to turn it into investiture although that is less likely because of the light that comes from metal when Vin is Preservation

 

Also this would mean that if you had a Larkin on scadrial then it could be one of the best ways to detect who is an allomancer

[Treamayne]

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19 minutes ago, The Unsoulcastable Stick said:

I have this question because in the book SLA it talks about how Larkin eat Investiture and the metal in scadrial is invested

Only the GodMetals on Scadrial (or any Shardworld) are invested. The Metals used by Allomancers are just metal. "Burning" the metal is the process of using the molecular structure (a pattern) to create a path for Preservation's investiture in the Spiritual Realm to power their abilities (much like Aons on Sel). 

So, no. A Larkin could not gain any investiture from metals on Scarial - possibly not from any metals at all, since they have only been shown to be able to "Consume" investiture in a Gaseous or Liquid State (they don't each Shardblades, afterall). 

WoBs:

Spoiler

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Andrew The Great (paraphrased)

What would happen if a person were to burn a metal that was Feruchemically charged using Allomancy?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

The metal used in Allomancy is like a key or a doorway to the power that Allomancy actually uses. The metal acts as a filter, much as the Aons in Elantris do, to determine what the power actually does. However, if the metal is Feruchemically charged, then it will basically become a super-burst of Feruchemical power with no Allomantic effect. The Feruchemical charge acts as a filter as well as the metal, and changes what the power does. in this case, say you were burning steel, you would just be massively speedy for a second, and wouldn't actually have the ability to push on anything Allomantically. Hope that answered the question. I get the concept, so if you need me to explain it differently, let me know and I'll try. Oh, the other thing I forgot is that this concept only works if it's a metal that you charged yourself. If it's a metal someone else charged, it would just work like regular Allomancy, and the Feruchemical charge would just cease to exist.

Andrew The Great (paraphrased)

If someone aluminum or duralumin burned the Feruchemically charged metals, what would happen?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Basically the same thing as above, except with aluminum. Aluminum, they would just go away.

Idaho Falls Signing (June 20, 2009)

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Questioner

I'm curious. Are any of those rare metals from Mistborn on any other world?

Brandon Sanderson

So, not those exact metals, unless they've been taken off-world. But there are other metals like them that you could find.

Questioner

So they could have Allomantic lore?

Brandon Sanderson

They theoretically could...

Let's just say it's not a coincidence that you find Investiture manifesting as metal on other places. Such as Shardblades, as well.

Salt Lake City ComicCon 2017 (Sept. 22, 2017)

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zas678

What would a larkin do on Scadrial around a metal?

Brandon Sanderson

A larkin on Sca-- It would have to-- *pause* I'm going to RAFO that. I mean I know what it would do, but let's let you see what larkins can do more.

Holiday signing (Dec. 12, 2015)

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coltonx9

Are there types of Investiture that the larkin can't consume?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, I would say that there are, but it's going to depend on the state they're in. Pure Investiture, a larkin is always going to probably be able to grab, but lots of people can get pure Investiture. Kinetic Investiture they're are gonna have a good chance at being able to grab, but they can't get everything.

Idaho Falls signing (Dec. 29, 2018)

 

 

That said, they may be able to consume the Kinetic investiture from Allomancers and Feruchemists while it is being Burned or Tapped. 

Hope that helps

 

Edited December 9, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Xanpheon]

On 12/9/2025 at 9:53 PM, The Unsoulcastable Stick said:

I have this question because in the book SLA it talks about how Larkin eat Investiture and the metal in scadrial is invested

 

It could also be that the Allomancer is the one to turn it into investiture although that is less likely because of the light that comes from metal when Vin is Preservation

 

Also this would mean that if you had a Larkin on scadrial then it could be one of the best ways to detect who is an allomancer

Regarding the second part of your question, though - the best way to detect an Allomancer on Scadrial is still to burn bronze, but any way of sensing kinetic investiture would work (read, any way of sensing investiture that is not in a passive state, like in a Feruchemist's metalminds). There are a couple of ways you could do this - the sand from Taldain is a good example, but Larkins would also probably be able to sense them. The downside being that it would be extremely obvious what you were doing, as Scadrial doesn't exactly have dog-sized insects flapping about the place on the average day.

Most of the time you're going to find it easier to just use white sand or, if you're a native Scadrian, just find a local Seeker and pay them (if you weren't a Seeker already).

[Nitpicking]

On 12/9/2025 at 5:08 PM, Treamayne said:

So, no. A Larkin could not gain any investiture from metals on Scarial - possibly not from any metals at all, since they have only been shown to be able to "Consume" investiture in a Gaseous or Liquid State (they don't each Shardblades, afterall). 

They don't consume spren in other forms, or human souls, either. I'd call that Investiture in spiritual form.

Hmm .. they don't consume the Sleepless' ability to coordinate their hordelings, either. Based on that example, I doubt they can consume allomancy.

[NameIess]

18 minutes ago, Nitpicking said:

They don't consume spren in other forms, or human souls, either. I'd call that Investiture in spiritual form.

Hmm .. they don't consume the Sleepless' ability to coordinate their hordelings, either. Based on that example, I doubt they can consume allomancy.

Allomancy is kinetic investiture, different from souls or inherent properties of souls like the Sleepless’ hive mind, which is probably based off of connection more than active investiture.

Considering allomancy can be leached, and Stormlight can be leached, I think Larkins could feed off of allomancers while they’re burning metals.

 

[Treamayne]

18 minutes ago, Nitpicking said:

I doubt they can consume allomancy.

We seem to have the same conclusion, but. . . 

18 minutes ago, Nitpicking said:

They don't consume spren in other forms, or human souls, either. I'd call that Investiture in spiritual form.

I fail to see what this has to do with the conversation.

  Are you, perhaps, confusing the source with the Investiture's kinetic State? Yes, Allomancy is fueld by Preservation's investiture; yes, it is originating from teh Spiritual Realm when a metal is burned - but while the Investiture is Kinetic (working to create an effect) is it has already transitioned to the Allomancer's body and is no longer in the Spiritual Realm. I'm not saying a Larkin could siphon that; I am saying that if a Larkin can affect an Allomancer or Feruchemist that is when they would be vulnerable. We just do not have enough information either way (e. g. A Soother's effect occurs in teh Cognitive Realm - but would the investiture be vulnerable suffusing the soother before moving to the CR to create an effect? We don't yet know). 

[NameIess]

Did a quick search through WoB’s, and here are some implying Larkins could feed on allomancy:

Spoiler

Larkins work similarly to leechers:

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Questioner

If you were a Leecher, could you destroy a Shardblade?

Brandon Sanderson

I'm going to RAFO that for now, let's just say that it would be incredibly difficult if it were possible, and I'm not going to even say if it is. But that kind of power... 

Questioner

Let's just say they were burning duralumin as well.

Brandon Sanderson

Let's just say that the Investiture in a Shardblade is much greater than your average Allomancer, but... This type of thing is not unheard of in the Cosmere. The larkin, the Leechers, and Nightblood all have a similar sort of thing going on. Destroying a Shardblade would be really hard. And Investiture resists other forms of Investiture, so.

Calamity Austin signing (Feb. 25, 2016)

Larkins can eat most kinetic investiture:

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coltonx9

Are there types of Investiture that the larkin can't consume?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, I would say that there are, but it's going to depend on the state they're in. Pure Investiture, a larkin is always going to probably be able to grab, but lots of people can get pure Investiture. Kinetic Investiture they're are gonna have a good chance at being able to grab, but they can't get everything.

Idaho Falls signing (Dec. 29, 2018)

And another one that implies Larkin can steal breaths:

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Mason Wheeler

So, Vasher has been on Roshar to live off the Stormlight. Does he know about larkins?

Brandon Sanderson

He has heard of larkins.

Mason Wheeler

How afraid of them is he?

Brandon Sanderson

He is happy that are all supposedly extinct. They would kill him.

Starsight Release Party (Nov. 26, 2019)

 

 

[Nitpicking]

Thanks, @Ookla the Married. 

That's a mistake, in my arrogant opinion.

"Eating your Investiture and there's no way to resist" is the Cosmere's version of Kryptonite.

Eventually, DC Comics realized that incredibly common Kryptonite was bad, and made it really, really rare, and also let Superman work around it in various ways (e. g. lead shielding).

Brandon's well on his way to making the DC Silver Age mistake.

[NameIess]

4 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

Thanks, @Ookla the Married. 

That's a mistake, in my arrogant opinion.

"Eating your Investiture and there's no way to resist" is the Cosmere's version of Kryptonite.

Eventually, DC Comics realized that incredibly common Kryptonite was bad, and made it really, really rare, and also let Superman work around it in various ways (e. g. lead shielding).

Brandon's well on his way to making the DC Silver Age mistake.

I wouldn’t say there’s no way to resist. Aluminum blocks the effect:

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FirstRyder

Could Aluminum be used to protect a Surgebinder from a larkin?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes.

havoc_mayhem

Would a larkin be able to steal Stormlight from a surgebinder wearing Shardplate? Any comments on whether Shardplate or aluminium would be more effective protection?

Brandon Sanderson

Getting through both would be relatively equal--with the problem being that Shardplate is powered by investiture, which the larkin could feed on. So aluminum is better in that specific case.

Stormlight Three Update #5 (Nov. 19, 2016)

And also, you have to remember that Larkin are extremely rare. Chiri chiri is the only one we see on-screen, although it’s implied there are others protected by the Reshi greatshells, there don’t seem to be a great many of them. And creatures with similar powers to the Larkin seem to be few and far between. The Sleepless have their strains bred with Larkin, but other than that Leechers would be the closest, requiring physical contact.

[Nitpicking]

As Brandon said, also StormbringerNightblood. But yes, still rare, depending on how far off-world the Investiture-sucking hordelings are.