DrakeMarshall

Hm... This is I think a somewhat broad question. I will answer it to the best of my understanding. Bear with me, because it might take a little while for me to tie all this back to shards. In the cosmere, the bit of a human being that resides in the spiritual realm is not what many would typically think of as the soul. Consciousness, and what many people are used to thinking of as the soul, are actually purely associated with the cognitive realm. The spiritual realm is the realm of investiture. A human has several attributes that exist in the spiritual realm. These include: -Innate investiture. The spark of life, the ability to use allomancy, and many things beside are all investiture that is associated with a sentient being and which exists within the spiritual realm. -Spiritual connection. We really don't know very much about this but we know it exists. -Identity. We don't know too much about identity either, but we do know that identity is what controls who can access a metalmind. -Other bits of information including a persons age and a range of other attributes. -If the classification of feruchemical powers is to be trusted, we can also assume that fortune is an attribute of a person's spirit. Now. In terms of investiture, I believe there are two major kinds of investiture. Innate, and kinetic. As you may have noticed, innate investiture is listed above. It is a kind of investiture that exists in the spiritual realm and is part of a sentient being. The spark of life, the ability to use allomancy, and the nahel bond are all examples of innate investiture. Kinetic investiture I suspect does not exist within the spiritual realm. It is inside the cognitive or physical realm, and isn't innate to an individual. Stormlight is a great example of kinetic investiture. (As for biochromatic breath... Whether it is innate or kinetic is subject to some question, but that is a discussion for another time and probably another thread) Now... So far I have only been talking about the spiritual realm with respect to humans. But, as I understand it, shards also have things like innate investiture, connection, and identity. In fact, all sentient beings do. Most of a shard's investiture is innate investiture, and therefore in the spiritual realm. This is because at any given time, odds are, most of a shard's power isn't actively being used. Like all types of energy, investiture cannot be created or destroyed. So when an allomancer burns pewter and draws on some investiture from the shard of preservation to strengthen their body, the investiture returns to preservation after being used by the allomancer. The fraction of a shard's investiture that a shard is using at a given time is almost always a very small fraction of the total power they wield. Now... As splintering other shards... We don't know too much about the specifics of splintering. However, I think it is reasonable to assume that splintering is indeed something that happens in the spiritual realm. As I understand it, splintering involves taking chunks of a shard's innate investiture and scattering them, so that the shard is effectively no longer one diety, but a bunch of tiny pieces. In this shattered state, it is impossible for a single sentient being to control the entire shard, which makes a splintered shard directionless and not a threat. Hopefully this explains your question. Let me know if it needs clarification.

Ah, but if I am killing people in a timely fashion that means their death serves the greater good Anyways. Granted. Your have the ability to fly with wings. However, since you are a human, with human bone density and limb thickness... The wings need to be enormous. Which in turn makes you so top-heavy that you can't even stand. On the bright side, while you can no longer walk, you really are quite good at flying, once you manage to take off into the air. Oh, and also, after a few sightings... Your local government wants you for dissection. I hope you can learn evasive flying quickly or your newfound freedom in the air will be short lived indeed... Those are just side effects from granting your boon in a realistic way however. For your actual bane, your ability to fly is negated by kool aid. I wish for a pet lifeless squirrel. EDIT: Ninja'd by stonesinew... Disregard my wish then.

Hm... Granted. You have total immunity to being lied to. Whenever someone utters a lie to you, it sets of a kind of mental alarm in your head and you know they are lying to you. However, if you have been listening to pattern... You may have noticed that human interactions rely on certain kinds of lies. And you didn't ask for immunity to deception, or lies with malicious intent, just lies in general. Most figures of speech, all forms of metaphor, and plenty of other phrasings in the English language set off your lie detection power. You can never actually tell if someone is lying or not since everyone always registers as lying. And whenever someone talks to you, they inevitably set off your alarm multiple times which puts you on edge. I wish for timeliness, the attribute that Hoid reasons is most valued.

Okay. First of all, I want to say that this is a clever theory. Have an upvote. But I don't think it is quite as bad as you think. I agree that the risks of the nahel bond are likely much, much bigger than we think right now. But I don't think that is intended in the nahel bond. I would guess that the nahel bond is inherently good, and the danger lies in Odium exploiting the cracks in people's souls. And quite probably exploiting the flow of Honor's investiture. The things I mention above are serious dangers. But loss of free will? Kaladin was offered a choice. Yes, one choice would have consequences including the loss of his powers. But he, of his own volition, chose to ultimately re-affirm his oaths. I think it is safe to say that not all radiants have made that same choice. I would guess that individual radiants broke their oaths before the recreance.

We keep seeing WoBs about what happens when you become too invested. You ultimately ascend to become the vessel of the shard whose investiture you hold so much of. That much is established... But it makes me wonder... What happens if you get enough investiture to ascend... But the current vessel of the shard is still alive? Now, we have technically seen such an occurrence, when Vin ascended and took Preservation from Kelsier. On the other hand... In my estimation, Kelsier wasn't really holding the shard to full capacity. I do not think his example really counts at all. But it still raises questions. What happens? Would the current shardholder be killed? Just like that? That sounds like a surprisingly easy way to kill a shardholder. Or would perhaps the would-be ascendant be killed? For anyone here who has read the traveller's gate triology... I can't help but think of what happened to someone when they tried to become an incarnation of a territory when that territory already had a living incarnation in the real world. It wasn't pretty. No matter which way you cut it, this kind of ascension has some serious implications. And while Sanderson has said more than once that holding lots of investiture is a way to ascend, his silence on what happens to the existing shardholder sticks out to me as significant... I wonder if we will see such an ascension down the road.

Hm... To be honest we no so little about any possible resonances among twinborn (just that Khriss theorized that they might happen). I don't know how much we can speculate about those resonances (although I can tell you for sure that the steel bubble isn't a resonance; I recall seeing a WoB a month or so ago confirming that it is a product of steel savantism). In regard to the radiants... For whatever reasons, their resonances seem to be more pronounced. Shallan's flawless memory, which is implied to be an ability of all lightweavers to some extent, seems to be a perfect example of a resonance at work. And we can know that it is a product of resonance because I don't think either elsecallers or truthwatchers, which shared single surges with the lightweavers, have access to this ability (they do have their own so far as I can tell though). And, it probably goes without saying, these resonances do indeed have implications on all three realms. Given that resonances are probably a phenomenon that occurs within the spiritual realm, that sort of makes sense. Spiritual interactions can most certainly alter the cognitive and physical realms; we have seen this in action every time someone uses one of the cosmere's magic systems. I also want to note that not all "powers" exhibited by the radiants are necessarily caused by the nahel bond. So far as I can tell, radiants tend to already by remarkable people before they ever speak their oaths. Each spren is attracted to people possessing certain traits. The nahel bond and subsequent resonance might amplify some of those traits. I believe that Kaladin's fighting may well be such a pre-existing ability, that the nahel bond may have somewhat exaggerated in him. At any rate... There are still seven more stormlight archive books. Considering how much allomancy has developed in the Mistborn novels, I would be a little bit shocked if Sanderson wasn't currently keeping us (and his main characters) in the dark about a lot of powers associated with being a radiant. I guess that's part of why I made this thread.

I believe part of the spiritual/cognitive aspect of Kaladin's surge of adhesion is his ability to fight... Well, like the wind. I really like the realmatic explanation for those little extra abilities radiants seem to manifest. It is hard to say if being a radiant grants a person these abilities, or if this is part of who they are and that is part of what attracted a radiant spren... Probably a little of both, honestly. Being a radiant likely amplifies some pre-existing attributes in a person that relate to their surges. At any rate... I also believe that atmospheric pressure can influence the physical realm in more ways than sticking rocks together. I'm a little skeptical that the abilities would be as dramatic as making a tornado, but... Some level of wind-control is probably part of the package.

Hm... I have absolutely no clue what emotional allomancy would do to a fully sapient radiant spren like honorspren or cryptics. Probably just effect them like it would effect a real human being? Maybe a little more dramatic effects on them since they are purely cognitive beings? As for other, common spren... I think I can guess what those do. You know how using windrunner powers attracts windspren? I bet that if you try to riot someone's anger on Roshar... Angerspren are attracted to you. A lot of them. And they might be acting a little strangely or excited. This wouldn't probably have any practical effect on the allomancy, but it would make it difficult to stealthily use emotional allomancy on Roshar.

I don't think that would be a "real" perpendicularity. But the effects would... Likely be very similar. Honestly, an elsecaller nicrosil compounder could do some pretty crazy things with the cognitive realm I bet. Provided they have access to enough stormlight to fuel their enhanced elsecalling... They could likely teleport people to other planets with ease.

When I first read this death rattle I actually thought Eshonai. But when I heard the theory on it being Kaladin... It lines up so well. I think this is a reference to Kaladin protecting Elhokar and ultimately renewing his oaths at the end of Words of Radiance. In regard to cultivation... Well I don't really believe she is withdrawn from Roshar (I have a theory that Taravangian and the diagramists are furthering Cultivation's agenda).

Aha! Just when I was wishing we had someone to test these... *ahem* baked goods on. How... Fortunate. I guess my chromium spike is working. If you want to help purvey baked goods imbued with ruinous powers... I suspect yes.

@Daniel Chambers these are very good keteks I particularly liked these two: Sight brings opportunity, which begs thought: how is it found? It is how thought begs, “Which opportunity brings sight?” Redeem thyself, doing so in service to others. Guiding others to service, in so doing, thyself redeems.

Perhaps I mispoke when implying that Yolish people should be the template for "basic human." Perhaps a more accurate template would be "Scadrian without powers." In regard to innate investiture not dissipating... As a general rule we have observed that: -kinetic investiture is transferrable, dissipates, and you aren't born with it -innate investiture is not transferrable, does not dissipate, and you are born with it We have some obvious exceptions to the above. First of all, hemalurgy can obviously transfer innate investiture. That doesn't really break our rules though, since the innate investiture isn't being transferred naturally, its being magically stolen and grafted onto another person. Second of all, biochromatic breath doesn't fit cleanly into any of our categories. Is it kinetic investiture that acts a little bit like innate, or innate investiture that acts a little bit like kinetic? I don't think we can really know at this point. My gut feeling is that its innate, but like I just said, we really have no idea. This is 100% what I have been trying to describe with hemalurgy. I agree completely with this explanation and hope it might clarify what I have previously speculated about hemalurgy. EDIT: Okay, one caveat to my agreement... I'm not sure that the charge within a hemalurgic spike is always innate. I suspect that once you imbue the spike with power but before you implant it into a subject, the charge is technically kinetic. But that once you implant it into a subject the charge is innate. This is because I define innate investiture as investiture that is literally part of a subject's soul, so when its in the spike but not attached to a host, its technically kinetic. But once the spike is inside of someone it becomes innate to them because its attached to their soul.

Granted. The nightwatcher whispers in your ear how it all started. As your bane, you forget your question and all the context of the answer. You know how it all started, but not what "it all" is. Finding out what your question was will be much more difficult than finding the answer was. We apologize for the inconvenience. I wish that someone reading this will appreciate both of the references to a certain series that are in the above.

Soulstone is not a metal. A hemalurgic spike has to be a metal. And not just any metal, but one of the sixteen, or a god metal. Trellium is not soulstone. However. Trellium and soustone might be very closely related. When a shard invests on a planet, their power can take different shapes, depending on the planet... If soulstone was the product of a shard on Sel, Trellium may well be the product of the same shard investing on Scadrial. It could just be the metal version of soulstone that was created when the shard associated with soulstone started investing in Scadrial. I'm not sure I buy it, but... It's a possibility. And if soulstone and trellium are related, I would guess that my above explanation is how they are related. If the whole trellium-soulstone speculation is true, however... We still need to ask the question, "so which shard is that?" Dominion and devotion are splintered shards known to be on Sel. Also, since soulstone falls from the sky, it might actually be from a third shard, but I highly doubt it because I think you would still have to invest on Sel to make a substance that can be used in Sellish magics. My guess is that, if the shard is from Sel, it's Dominion, because the set's agenda is much more closely linked with dominion than with devotion. How any of this works with a splintered shard? That is an excellent question. In conclusion: Prime candidates for being Trell: -Odium -Autonomy -Dominion -Some mixture of the above -A piece of one of the above -??? In further conclusion: We really don't know anything yet. We are reading so much into these details... I am looking forward to the next mistborn novel.

Granted. Everything you do will heal the person you intend to heal. You can only heal one person at a time however, since you said "the person I intend to heal" and not "the people I intend to heal." Also, although your efforts are 100% guaranteed to save the person you are trying to heal, you can't heal people instantly. Depending on the severity of their condition, it may take anywhere from a minute to a couple of hours. As your bane... When you return from your visit to the nightwatcher back to your home, you find your family members are all mortally wounded. You can only save one of them... I wish to be an edgedancer.

It is true that Sanderson's answer was deliberately vague on that count. We can't really eliminate any possibilities at all with that answer. However. The way he said it makes me consider a new possibility. What if Trell was not Odium, but the thing we call Trell is something Odium may have caused? I reach the conclusion that Trell is not Odium but that the thing we call Trell is likely one or more shards that Odium manipulated into attacking Harmony. Why is Odium behind it? I am supposing Odium to be responsible for Trell because Odium is such an obvious enemy for Harmony. In my estimation, Sazed and Rayse are the two most powerful people in the cosmere. Their intents have little to no overlap. Conflict is inevitable, and since Odium was aware of Harmony but Harmony was unaware of Odium, Rayse gets the first move. Trell's activity would be that first move.

Discussing theories is the specialty of the order of theorybreakers.

Also. While this thread revives... @Spoolofwhool we've been having a delightful discussion about nicrosil feruchemy. You should totally join us theorybreakers.

Pardon my ignorance if this is just something Sanderson does in signing... But could that numbering thing next to his signature be a direct reference to part of the diagram? Also I think you are thinking along the right lines here... When we read words of radiance it was great to see Kaladin save Dalinar... But the implications are a little bit dangerous. Taravangian now is placed in a very hard position. The diagram told him to do something... And he couldn't carry it out. That we know of, the diagram doesn't specify what to do in the event that the assassination failed. Furthermore, Szeth is now turned against Taravangian (although, for the time being, he will be occupied by the stone shamans). In short, things are looking pretty bad for Taravangian right now... But he also happens to be gifted with extraordinary prescience and rules multiple kingdoms at this point. He's desperate, but still dangerous and by no means defeated. His next move will be extreme.

I am just pointing out that there are multiple possible sources of red light. Maybe Trell's servants' eyes glow red for more mundane reasons. I will also note that there are more shards of adolnasium than colors on the color wheel... I'm not saying Trell can't be Odium. It's a very real possibility. I just want to bring up the reasonable doubts as well.

Lord ruler... Another of these?

Presumably, there was some kind of basic human template in the cosmere. I reach the conclusion that the things nicrosil stores are pretty much any part of the spirit web that isn't in that template. Feruchemy can store all these parts of the spirit... All these natural parts of the spirit... I believe nicrosil is the metal that stores whatever additional parts to a human's spirit may exist. Typically in the cosmere, those other parts of someone's spirit tend to grant them some kind of magical power. But I don't believe it would be exclusive to that.

That's why I have a second criteria then just "anything part of the spirit web." Only specific parts of the spirit web work. Anything that is naturally part of a person won't store. The spark of life, physical attributes, identity, connection, and age are all parts of the spirit web that are naturally present. You can't store them. Bits of a spirt web, however, that actually ultimately originate from a shard... These I suspect should all be storable. Allomancy, while it is something you are born with, isn't a natural part of the spirit web, it came from preservation. A hemalurgically bestowed bit of someone's spirit... Isn't naturally part of them. Because of that, I suspect it can be stored away. I think nicrosil specializes in storing the bits of someone's soul that are extra.