Synthetic Metals Question

[The Shadow he/him]

I'm sorry if this has been answered before, but I didn't see it in the forums or on Theoryland, so I'm going to go ahead.

 

I recently read that a metal associated with allomantic properties has those properties no matter where they're from. For example, a Mistborn would be able to use tin from Sel or Roshar or Earth just as easily as they could use tin from Scadrial.

 

This got me thinking. There are a number of synthetic elements on Earth, elements that can only be created in a lab. Now, all of them are very unstable and only last for about a year at best, but it can be done.

 

So here's my question: If someone on Scadrial could figure out a way of making metals and could make them stable long term, would those metals still have their allomantic properties. Could they even make new metals?

 

I suppose to first step would be to try out soul forging, but that wouldn't work for making things like Atium, unless of course Atium turns out to be some ridiculously common element by a different name, but that doesn't seem likely.

[Claincy he/him]

I think you would find that any brand new metal wouldn't have any allomantic properties. There are actually quite a lot of naturally occurring metals that don't, the allomantic metals are really only a small subset.

 

If they successfully "created" a sample of an existing allomantic metal I would guess that an allomancer could burn it without any difficulty. I'm a little uncertain on whether forging would work though. Trying to convince a piece of lead that it was actually steel might be a bit of a stretch, convincing some iron that it had been forged into steel at some point could be much easier. I don't know what would happen if an allomancer tried to burn this hypothetical forged steel though. Maybe it would give them Allomantic steel until enough of the metal burnt away that it broke the seal, and then revert to Allomantic iron. That's pure speculation though.

[Oudeis he/him]

Sorry, where did you read that metals from any Shardworld can be burned? I've had this discussion with other people and I've never heard of any attribution.

[Mailliw73 he/him]

I have to agree with Darnam, I've heard speculation both ways, but have never seen WoB that states one or another. If you could cite that, that'd be very helpful.

[The Shadow he/him]

I'm afraid I can't help much with the citation. I read while I was lurking on the forums and thought it was WoB. I'm not sure I could even tell you what thread it was in. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

I think you would find that any brand new metal wouldn't have any allomantic properties. There are actually quite a lot of naturally occurring metals that don't, the allomantic metals are really only a small subset.

 

You're probably right. Or, if it could be done, it would require so much trial and error (and poisoned allomancers) that it would be an exercise in futility.

 

 

If they successfully "created" a sample of an existing allomantic metal I would guess that an allomancer could burn it without any difficulty. I'm a little uncertain on whether forging would work though. Trying to convince a piece of lead that it was actually steel might be a bit of a stretch, convincing some iron that it had been forged into steel at some point could be much easier. I don't know what would happen if an allomancer tried to burn this hypothetical forged steel though. Maybe it would give them Allomantic steel until enough of the metal burnt away that it broke the seal, and then revert to Allomantic iron. That's pure speculation though.

 

You're right that it would be tricky, if not outright impossible, to make higher metals with soul forging. Lesser metals can be done. We know that gold can be turned into lead with (relative) ease. But what would be the point.

 

That's good point about the seal. I hadn't thought of that.

[Swimmingly he/him]

Lead is poisonous - gold is not. If you Forged gold bars being shaved to apply gold flake to some rich bad guy's supper to have been adulterated with lead, then he would gradually die. It would be much easier to just make the switch - unless you didn't have the resources to get enough gold that it would still be convincing after being adulterated with lead. Or, you know, just poison the food itself.