Perpendicularities Peculiar Permutations Upon Populations

[JustQuestin2004 he/him]

Something that was pointed out by a fellow reader that I didn't realize upon my first reading is this quote during the Epilogue of Isles of the Emberdark:

Spoiler

As per Patji's words, this was a gift only to them. Ed had an explanation - close proximity to a perpendicularity could change people's souls. He was confident nobody but those from First of the Sun would have this talent unless they spent time living on Patji or the other Pantheon Islands, close to the power of the pool.

This, is really something. Something that so far has been mostly overlooked. Because I think we've seen the effects of this exact thing multiple times across the Cosmere. I'll start from world to world.

-Cultivation's Perpendicularity in the Horneater Peaks, and we know that certain people from their, known as the 'Guardians of the Pool' are 'Sighted'. Gifted with the ability to see Spren, even if they don't want to be seen. This ability may be from their distant Singer Ancestry, but since only the 'Guardians' seem to have this ability, it is likely that the Perpendicularity is what brings this ability out.

-Odium's Perpendicularity in the Shattered Plains, its what allows Chasmfiends to grow so large and why they always migrate their in order to pupate. What effects this has on the people living there is unknown, both on humans and Singers, but perhaps we'll see more in the Back Half.

-On Scadrial, the amount of Investiture in bloodlines is what determines if a person has magic or not. I theorize that the effects of the Well of Ascension, is that the people in Luthadel have more likelihood of becoming Allomancers, even if they're too far removed from the Nobility lines, probably only a small boost to the odds. And maybe since the pool isn't always full this effect isn't always active, but I do think this could be the case.

-The effects that Ruin's pool may have had on people, well I don't know. Most Skaa didn't live there for long enough for any effects to be immidiatly obvious, though Kelsier's soul did have stronger ties to Ruin than Preservation, and while that may just be from his more ruthless personality, I can only wonder if such a broken soul Snapping so close to such a large amount of Ruin's power could have had effects on him.

-Harmony's Perpendicularity, even if we've never seen it, perhaps people that live close to it may have a greater chance of becoming Feruchemists? That sure would be handy for a civilization that relies on Feruchemy just to survive, wouldn't you say? 

-We know that Endowment's Perpendicularity causes certain very colorful flowers to bloom near Hallandren, which is how they became so rich through dye trading. We know that the individual strengths of one's Breath can vary to certain extents, so perhaps people living in Hallandren have better quality Breaths than people much further away? Making it easier to gain Heightenings perhaps?

-Devotion's Perpendicularity, besides being used to 'kill' Elantrians, is unclear. But perhaps, it is the reason why AonDor is so strangely freeform compared to other Invested Arts? Not in power, we already know why that is, but in why Elantrians can simply draw upon the air itself instead of needing bones, stamps or blood? I dunno, maybe Seons emerge from the pool when they're created?

But either way, this is quite the discovery. Perpendicularities can possibly grant abilities to people who live close enough, and that proximity can seem to vary from "Swimming in it" with the Sighted, to "Be in the same Archipelago as it".

[Trusk'our he/him]

7 hours ago, JustQuestin2004 said:

Something that was pointed out by a fellow reader that I didn't realize upon my first reading is this quote during the Epilogue of Isles of the Emberdark:

  Reveal hidden contents

As per Patji's words, this was a gift only to them. Ed had an explanation - close proximity to a perpendicularity could change people's souls. He was confident nobody but those from First of the Sun would have this talent unless they spent time living on Patji or the other Pantheon Islands, close to the power of the pool.

I gotta say, this guy sounds pretty smart and perceptive.

And tall, and handsome, and-

[JustQuestin2004 he/him]

29 minutes ago, Trusk'our said:

I gotta say, this guy sounds pretty smart and perceptive.

And tall, and handsome, and-

I hear he also is a big fan of some strange kind of acupuncture.

Speaking of which, if you dipped a Hemalurgic Spike into Ruin's Perpencidularity, do you think the Hemalurgic Charge would be preserved?

[Trusk'our he/him]

1 hour ago, JustQuestin2004 said:

I hear he also is a big fan of some strange kind of acupuncture.

Sounds about right. Good for the soul, and all that.

1 hour ago, JustQuestin2004 said:

Speaking of which, if you dipped a Hemalurgic Spike into Ruin's Perpencidularity, do you think the Hemalurgic Charge would be preserved?

Perhaps.

I think it could work. I could also see the pool trying to put more power in the spike as well, giving it a slight boost over time. Not a ton most likely, but maybe a little given its alignment and the pressure differential between the two.