Senor Feesh Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 So, sorry if someone else already made this connection. I noticed while starting over on BoM that VenDell explains that the soul is in the Spiritual Realm, and Investiture is part of the soul. Now I've never really bought the idea that Scadrian metals are themselves special, I see no reason why any metal from any planet shouldn't work the same way. But then I'm stumped as to why metal glows when viewed from the Cognitive Realm. Kelsier also reflects on this in SH, where he notices that metals, minds and souls are all the same thing. Now, I had a theory that what's happening is that when Kelsier is seeing the glow, he's actually seeing into the Spiritual Realm and seeing pure Investiture. But that would mean that the metals ARE Invested. I'd like to hear an alternative theory as to why the glow, if you have them, or just general thoughts on whether a Cognitive Shadow could still see into the Spiritual. Remember, Leras told him his link to the Physical was severed, but he should still have an intact Spiritual aspect.
DreamEternal Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) The metals are generaly accepted to act as gateways to the power of Ruin and Preservation, that is why those shards can't see them as anything but light. I think Kelsier can't see it because being Scadrian, his soul is made of Ruin and Preservation. Leras and Kelsier look into the Spiritual Realm multiple times along the story. It is the infinite web of connections leading into the past and future. Edited February 2, 2016 by DreamEternal
Senor Feesh Posted February 2, 2016 Author Posted February 2, 2016 Leras and Kelsier look into the Spiritual Realm multiple times along the story. It is the infinite web of connections leading into the past and future. Is that explicitly known to be the purview of the Spiritual Realm then? I don't remember it in-text, but I was too busy having my mind repeatedly blown Also, does that preclude heavily Invested sources being represented a certain way in the Cognitive? Physical objects have a reflection in the Cognitive (as we see with all the buildings and everything being represented), and it makes sense to me that things which exist more strongly in the Spiritual would have a different representation. Also it seems only metals still IN the Physical are represented as light (as Nazh'z knife shows up fine). Some others have suggested this is because of the metal's non-Scadrian source instead, but I don't buy that (yet).
DreamEternal Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Also it seems only metals still IN the Physical are represented as light (as Nazh'z knife shows up fine). Some others have suggested this is because of the metal's non-Scadrian source instead, but I don't buy that (yet).As far as we know, the ability of a metal to channel investiture from Ruin and Preservation depends only on its microscopic structure, not its planetary origin. I think the knife didn't glow because said channeling of investiture is only from the Spiritual to the Physical Realm, and the knife was in the Cognitive.EDIT: on that being how the Spiritual Realm looks, it is heavily implied if you read the right WoBs. Brandon mentioned many times connections are a, if not the most important aspect of the Spiritual Realm, he said atium, gold and their alloys allow one to read Spiritual Connections and said location is irrelevant there. Sounds a lot like the web of infinity Kelsier saw. Edited February 2, 2016 by DreamEternal
fyodor Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 This was my thought as well. It glows for Vin/Ruin/Sazed because it's a gateway to their power. Kelsier as a Scadrialian/Allomancer who is given stability by virtue of connecting himself to the Well, sees it the same way. The metals are generaly accepted to act as gateways to the power of Ruin and Preservation, that is why those shards can't see them as anything but light. I think Kelsier can't see it because being Scadrian, his soul is made of Ruin and Preservation.Leras and Kelsier look into the Spiritual Realm multiple times along the story. It is the infinite web of connections leading into the past and future.
Senor Feesh Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 (edited) Ok, so we have WoB on the glowing. Metal is a key, not the source of power itself. Most is not specially invested. It glows because of the power seeking to come through it, not because of the power within it. Make of that what you will, I guess, but it does seem to confirm that we're seeing Investiture through the Cognitive Realm there. Where that Investiture IS is still up for debate of course, but I'd still lean towards it being in the Spiritual. EDIT: Further down, he actually says this: A being with a lot of Investiture worldhops, then dies. What happens to the Investiture that was part of them? Most likely, it returns to the Spiritual Realm, where all places are one, and where you were is irrelevant. So it seems raw Investiture is indeed a Spiritual thing. I'm gonna go on thinking then that the Investiture in the soul is part of your Spiritual aspect, and that's what Kelsier can see while romping around "Scadesmar" (nicked that from another thread; can't remember which user or I'd credit). Edited February 8, 2016 by Senor Feesh
Recommended Posts