Hijo Creations

[Trusk'our he/him]

The Hijo in YatNP can be used to create all kinds of things, be it a kind of repeller Fabrial (to make floating islands), powerful fan-like constructs to herd their floating plants and repel threats, Invested lights, or seemingly simple saws. You use art to summon a Hijo, give it a picture of what it's supposed to be along with a mental projection of what you want, and they can choose to fulfill your wish.

This makes me think, it seems like their limitations are mostly limited to what you can imagine (and obviously their Intent and amount of Investiture), and that they come in pairs. They can even perform tasks specifically with Investiture it seems, not just mechanical motions.

 

So, assuming that you managed to conjure up a Hijo with your robust artistry (and that they are actually as versatile as I've suggested), what would you first think to ask them to become for you?

 

Personally, my first thought was a pair of Hemalurgic spikes that could Invest a bearer, making them better in some way. Shouldn't even need a donor, and the Hijo is free to go after a few years (just make sure that you have a healing device in place for when they do). More longevity and power. Since the spikes should be linked you could perhaps share one with your buddy and gain a Nahel bond or something similar with them, helping you be partners in crime.

[PanLin they/he]

1 hour ago, Trusk'our said:

Personally, my first thought was a pair of Hemalurgic spikes that could Invest a bearer, making them better in some way. Shouldn't even need a donor,

Of course it was  but why stop there? We know from the drones that pretty complex stuff rivalling modern tech is possible. If they're capable of emulating a given spike, why not have one half become a spike, and the other half a controller that lets you reprogram which ability it gives on the fly?

1 hour ago, Trusk'our said:

perhaps share one with your buddy and gain a Nahel bond or something similar with them

This is a fun concept though, like a spiritual walkie-talkie. I wonder if you could form a proper Nahel bond and share Invested abilities.

 

Personally, I'd like to experiment with creating a sort of Investiture condenser. We know matter, energy and Investiture can be converted among each other, so turn one half into a sort of lightning rod that takes in energy (or a solid fuel engine that burns matter like an Allomancer), converts it into Investiture, and sends it to the other half, a handheld Investiture battery. Similar to Lift's Lifelight metabolism.

The scope of usefulness of something like that would be insane, although I wonder whether the Investiture would be unkeyed or of Virtuosity (artlight, maybe?).

[Nalthian Customs Official]

6 hours ago, Trusk'our said:

So, assuming that you managed to conjure up a Hijo with your robust artistry (and that they are actually as versatile as I've suggested), what would you first think to ask them to become for you?

If I was a fighter of some kind, I would have them turn into a pair of boots that are able to push off the ground to enhance my movements, letting me run faster, jump higher, or even deliver more powerful kicks.  Since they are Invested, they could probably also mimic the Surge of Abrasion, giving the occasional glide across the ground or briefly increasing friction against walls to run on them.  I'm not sure what I would ask for in terms of everyday life or a supportive role though.  

[Adonalsium Will Return He/him]

I would probably see if they are able to mimic other Investiture, then if they are attempt a bondsmithing fabrial. That would be insane.

[Frustration]

1 minute ago, Adonalsium Will Return said:

I would probably see if they are able to mimic other Investiture, then if they are attempt a bondsmithing fabrial. That would be insane.

They probably wouldn't be able to do that

Spoiler

kvancleeff21

What was the fabrial used by Nale to completely revive Szeth at the end of Words of Radiance? That seems like an immensely powerful fabrial, and I don’t think it has been mentioned since.

Brandon Sanderson

During the last days of the heights of the Knights Radiant, they were figuring out how to replicate most Radiant abilities with fabrials. This is where... the Oathgates as a guide for that sort of thing. So you're just seeing a fabrial that can replicate what an Edgedancer does, or a Truthwatcher. There were fabrials created that could do this for all ten Surges. Okay, nine of the ten Surges. Bondsmithing is its own weird thing, as usual. So yes, it's a very valuable fabrial to have, and that is why you haven't seen much more of it because it is in the hands of the Skybreakers, and we aren't spending a lot of time with the Skybreakers. But yeah, it is a thing they have. And there are fabrials that can replicate the other eight as well. You've seen several of them in the books already.

YouTube Spoiler Stream 3 (Dec. 16, 2021)

 

Going with some form of paired device for my life I'd probably go for a pair of rings. One of me and one for my future wife,

Emberdark spoilers

Spoiler

I'd want them to work like Tamukeks, where we can share emotions and thoughts to strengthen and support each other.

 

[Adonalsium Will Return He/him]

Okay, since they can’t do Bondsmithing, I’d have to say Regrowth. Instant-heal is amazing, and I wonder what doing that on a constantly-filling gold Ferring would do.

[Trusk'our he/him]

25 minutes ago, Adonalsium Will Return said:

Okay, since they can’t do Bondsmithing, I’d have to say Regrowth. Instant-heal is amazing, and I wonder what doing that on a constantly-filling gold Ferring would do.

If I recall (it's been a while and I don't keep the books on me, so someone correct me if I'm wrong), the scholars' prototype rock-stacker fed on a portion of the Hijo's Investiture to function when summoning them.

The resulting constructs made from those Hijo were weaker, and disappeared more quickly. 

So I think the Bloodmaker could reasonably siphon off the extra health into Goldminds, but it would drain the Hijo faster.

On 3/9/2026 at 3:15 PM, PanLin said:

Personally, I'd like to experiment with creating a sort of Investiture condenser. We know matter, energy and Investiture can be converted among each other, so turn one half into a sort of lightning rod that takes in energy (or a solid fuel engine that burns matter like an Allomancer), converts it into Investiture, and sends it to the other half, a handheld Investiture battery. Similar to Lift's Lifelight metabolism.

The scope of usefulness of something like that would be insane, although I wonder whether the Investiture would be unkeyed or of Virtuosity (artlight, maybe?).

Hmm, Artlight in exchange for mundane materials?

Sounds like a good trade, especially for Worldhoppers.

On 3/9/2026 at 9:08 PM, Nalthian Customs Official said:

If I was a fighter of some kind, I would have them turn into a pair of boots that are able to push off the ground to enhance my movements, letting me run faster, jump higher, or even deliver more powerful kicks.  Since they are Invested, they could probably also mimic the Surge of Abrasion, giving the occasional glide across the ground or briefly increasing friction against walls to run on them.  

I'll admit that Abrasion is my least favorite Surge, but these actually sound pretty slick.

35 minutes ago, Frustration said:

 

Going with some form of paired device for my life I'd probably go for a pair of rings. One of me and one for my future wife,

Emberdark spoilers

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I'd want them to work like Tamukeks, where we can share emotions and thoughts to strengthen and support each other.

 

Your wholesomeness is staggering. 

I guess I might be able to share one of my spikes with a future spouse, but something tells me she wouldn't be too pleased with the idea. Just a hunch.

 

In any case, the rings seem like a pretty useful tool for interpersonal relationships.

[Frustration]

9 minutes ago, Trusk'our said:

Your wholesomeness is staggering. 

Not a quality I'm usually known for, but thank you.

9 minutes ago, Trusk'our said:

I guess I might be able to share one of my spikes with a future spouse, but something tells me she wouldn't be too pleased with the idea. Just a hunch.

I think earrings are pretty popular.

[Trusk'our he/him]

10 hours ago, Frustration said:

I think earrings are pretty popular.

Weeeeell, I was thinking more of the railroad-sized spikes that you ram into your guts, but I suppose smaller ones could be more practical.