Hemalurgy, orginal uses

[kenod]

This theory is based on the fact that every magic system we have encountered so far can stand on its own. While some magic systems such as the metallic arts interact easily with each other (which can be explained by them being on the same planet) most other systems require various hacks to get them to interact.

 

My theory is that the powers stealing aspect of hemalurgy is actually such a hack. This may sound weird because of the way we have seen hemalurgy so far, where it is mostly used to steal powers. We need to remember however that two of the three hemalurgic creations of TLR we have seen so far didn't have anything to do with allomatic or feruchemical powers. It also would have been weird that a magic system would be created with the only purpose of interacting with other magic systems.

 

My conclusion is that the original purpose of hemalurgy is the transformation of creatures and to give yourself limited boosts, such as a bit more strength or intelligence. The stealing of powers is just a (perhaps intended) side effect.

[Yata]

Hemalurgy is a Spiritual Genetic Enginering.

It removes and implants part of Spiritual DNA with conseguence for the user.

 

Of course this may be done with "average Spiritual DNA" (attributes that every human has) or "uncommon Spiritual DNA" (attributes and ability less common, like be a magic user)

[baby]

Yeah, what Yata said. The hemalurgic creations we saw were created through the removal of a spirit web from a number of people, and these were transplanted on the subject, transforming them into the creatures such as Koloss and Inquisitors.

[jasenerd]

The real question would be if the spikes that take the other metalic arts have another, original use if they were used on another kind of person(either more or less invested, with different sDNA, with modified sDNA, ect...). Or if the section of the sDNA attached to allomancy and Feruchemy overlaps with any of the other versions of investiture.

 

My personaly theory is that the Feruchemic spikes can steal any end-neutral investiture, and any Allomantic spikes can steal end positive investiture.

[Your3rdShadow]

I believe there's a WoB somewhere that states he intended to use Hemalurgy elsewhere in the Cosmere. That said, how would that work? Could anyone just grab a metal spike and kill a magic user with it to steal their powers? Does Harmony need to be present for Hemalurgy to function? Or like jasenerd theorizes, do the spikes need to be charged with a metalborn nature first? I think there's merit to the latter two questions, otherwise people on other planets might of discovered Hemalurgy by now.

[natc]

Hemalurgy requires actually knowing what you're doing with the pointy metal bits, and intent. Otherwise it should work whenever. The art itself had absolutely nothing to do with other magics.

[Your3rdShadow]

I'm not saying it has anything to do with other magics. I'm questioning whether or not Hemalurgy is local to the area that Ruin(Harmony now) resides in, if it needs to be primed before taking other magics(I don't think so, but it's possible), and while I'm aware that you need to stab someone with a sufficiently pure spike in the right location to take a power, it has been discovered on accident before, I don't think intent is relevant to whether or not someone could use hemalurgy. Although, that being said, they'd have to accidentally stab themselves with a spike after accidentally hitting the right place to take an ability, and that this is so unlikely as to be a non-factor. But I'm saying it could happen provided the two above aren't required for the magic to function in the first place.

[Yata]

I'm not saying it has anything to do with other magics. I'm questioning whether or not Hemalurgy is local to the area that Ruin(Harmony now) resides in, if it needs to be primed before taking other magics(I don't think so, but it's possible), and while I'm aware that you need to stab someone with a sufficiently pure spike in the right location to take a power, it has been discovered on accident before, I don't think intent is relevant to whether or not someone could use hemalurgy. Although, that being said, they'd have to accidentally stab themselves with a spike after accidentally hitting the right place to take an ability, and that this is so unlikely as to be a non-factor. But I'm saying it could happen provided the two above aren't required for the magic to function in the first place.

Wait wait, you need to WANT (put the intent)  performe Hemalurgy to create a Spike, then after if the Spike is put in the right place (also without any Intent) gift its power.

The Shardholder of Ruin (or now Harmony) may puts the Intent instead to create a Spike, it's what we saw in the Mistborn trilogy with many of the Spike of Agent of Ruin... But without a Shard Interference, the Hemalurgist have to put the Intent to steal a specific trait, without you have just a murder.

 

PS: Quite all the Magic Systems have need of some Intent to do what they do, Hemalurgy is not different

Edited April 1, 2016 by Yata

[Voidus]

I'm not saying it has anything to do with other magics. I'm questioning whether or not Hemalurgy is local to the area that Ruin(Harmony now) resides in, if it needs to be primed before taking other magics(I don't think so, but it's possible), and while I'm aware that you need to stab someone with a sufficiently pure spike in the right location to take a power, it has been discovered on accident before, I don't think intent is relevant to whether or not someone could use hemalurgy. Although, that being said, they'd have to accidentally stab themselves with a spike after accidentally hitting the right place to take an ability, and that this is so unlikely as to be a non-factor. But I'm saying it could happen provided the two above aren't required for the magic to function in the first place.

Hemalurgy can be used anywhere by all accounts and yes it does require Intent, as Yata mentioned a couple of times this happened in Mistborn it was Ruin who was guiding events and so it was his Intent. (Spook getting a pewter spike, Vins earring, etc.)

[hoidhunter]

I remember reading somewhere, that in the pre-ascension era of scadrial, hemalurgic spikes were used for religious purposes...ie, a way for people to communicate with their gods.  Somewhere in one of the log book entires from mistborn, Elendi mentions "Having the piercings of the Hero." or something like that.

 

On a separate note, Brandon has mentioned that hemalurgy can be used, in some way, with all of the other magic systems.  Now, this is my own speculation, but I feel that this creates the misconception that you can take an atium spike, jam it in an elantran, and become one.  I may be wrong, be I think we have already seen certain manifistations of what could be called hemalurgy on Sel, with the darkhor.

[Espella]

I remember reading somewhere, that in the pre-ascension era of scadrial, hemalurgic spikes were used for religious purposes...ie, a way for people to communicate with their gods.  Somewhere in one of the log book entires from mistborn, Elendi mentions "Having the piercings of the Hero." or something like that.

I remember reading that too, but I also think he's said that those "religious purposes" were Ruin messing with the religion so he'd be able to influence any potential Hero of Ages... so I wouldn't really say that's much different from how he uses them in the trilogy.

 

Edit: Found it, #30 here.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Espella