Dawnshard Quadrant Intention Theory

[Xelaadryth]

I've read a lot of theories on grouping shards under Dawnshards but they didn't really capture the INTENT of the categories. This leads to Theory 1:

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1) The four Dawnshard Commands define a cycle of creation instructions, which each correspond with a realm (+Temporal from Allomancy).

• DESIGN - Cognitive
• CHANGE - Temporal
• EXIST - Physical
• CONNECT - Spiritual

To create something, you must first plan it, do the creation, it exists, and then it has to relate to other things. In a lot of science and philosophy, something doesn't exist until it is observed; without Connection to something else it doesn't truly exist.

I also think there is a logical pairing to shards, but Ruin and Preservation clearly belong to CHANGE and EXIST. This leads to:

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2) Opposing shard pairs come in two types; "contained" similar but opposing pairs which form the core of the Command, and "edge" pairs which cross the quadrants and are strong opposites.

DESIGN - Cognitive

• Ambition
• Virtuosity 
• Invention
• Reason

CHANGE - Temporal

• Whimsy
• Cultivation
• Endowment
• Ruin

EXIST - Physical

• Preservation
• Autonomy
• Dominion
• Mercy

CONNECT - Spiritual

• Odium
• Valor
• Honor
• Devotion

Ambition is wanting to take, Devotion is wanting to give. Odium is hatred, and the only way to "un-hate" is to forgive.

The "contained pairs" of EXIST and CONNECT could be swapped, which would kind of break down the Physical/Spiritual section, but still works decently well. You'll also notice this extra rule:

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3) Of the "contained" shard pairs, the first is always intrinsic, the second is extrinsic.

Virtuosity is the intrinsic capacity to DESIGN, invention is DESIGN externalized. Cultivation is CHANGE on yourself, Endowment is CHANGE to others. Autonomy is control of yourself, Dominion is control of others. Valor are your traits, Honor are those traits formalized.

And this is where it gets crazy. It always bothered me that Mercy seemed like such a random shard. If it opposed Odium, why not Love? Or if it opposed Ambition, why not Contentment? In the Cosmere, every magic requires Intent:

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4) The "edge" shards define the range of INTENTION for the Command.

For instance, CONNECT can range from utter hatred to devotion. Preservation is the intention to protect a thing's existence from external forces, Mercy is the intention to protect a thing's existence from yourself. Whimsy is the lack of directed intent since things just CHANGE like chaos/entropy, while Ruin is directed intentional CHANGE so it is no longer what it was. An Ambition is simply an unformed DESIGN, which is completed through Reason and logic.

Thus every Command quadrant is comprised of a core pair for what the Command means, and two shards that define the boundaries of Intention for how it can be wielded.

Edited 1 hour ago by Xelaadryth