followthelight

I've posted something similar to this in another topic, but I think there is something here for sure. Ati was very proud in Secret History that there were 16 metals, and that that was a hint towards something. Duralumin stores connection and has a lot of similarities to Dominion's magic on Sel Nicrosil stores investiture, very similar to Endowment's magic on Nalthis. I find it difficult to make any strong connections past this though.

I actually started thinking along these lines whilst reading the last few Mistborn releases. I think that there is a hint in Feruchemy to the wider power of Adonalsium/magic in the Cosmere. There are some similarities between the Feruchemical power of a particular metal and that of some of the shards. For example; Duralumin stores connection. This is used in Bands of Mourning by foreigners to speak a native language they have no understanding of, and it is clearly demonstrated that this is driven by the location that they are in. It is a connection to a place, not a person. This is similar to how Dominion's magic works on Sel. Nicrosil stores investiture. Endowment's entire magic system is based on passing investiture back and forth. Copper stores memories, but is the only one of the metals where something is lost in it's use. Similar to Ruin's magic system. Things get even more speculative at this point, and I'm not sure if I'm trying to force this theory, but I think there could be more similarities between Electrum/Determination/Devotion and Gold/Health/Cultivation. Leras also mentions in the Mistborn: Secret Histories story the significance of there being 16 metals and how this is a hint to something, he congratulates himself on being clever for it, but then I didn't pick up on any hints why. Obviously there are also 16 shards, could be related or not.

Reading through Allik's explanation of Connection as a Feruchemical power in Bands of Mourning made me consider that Feruchemy is not a system of Preservation or Ruin, but a hint towards the more pure workings of magic in the Cosmere. From the Coppermind "Duralumin stores spiritual connection. Reducing other people's awareness and friendship with them during active storage. Tapping it can help speedily forming trust relationships with others." In Bands of Mourning Allik uses this ability to speak with Wax & co, even though he is from another part of the planet and doesn't speak their language. Marisi then subsequently tries to use the same trick to speak to Allik in his own native language, but this does not work. It is then explained that connection is intricately linked with geographical location. Marisi cannot speak Allik's language because she is being connected to the land that they are in, her own home. This made me think of the location based powers in Elantris. Also, coincidently, there are 16 shards and 16 Feruchemical properties. So my thoughts are, can we create links between these two sets of 16? It seems clear that if Duralumin/Connection = Dominion, then Necrosis/Investiture = Endowment, as the magic system on Nalthis is entirely based on shifting around investiture. I haven't been able to think much past here. Preservation could brass for the warmth felt when burning metal, or perhaps copper for storing (preserving...) memories? Cultivation could be gold for health. Devotion could be electrum for determination as the power is granted to people who are particularly devoted to something. Or perhaps Ruin is copper, as when memories are accessed they degrade, which seems to be the only Feruchemical power which does this? Anyway, interested to hear anyone's thoughts.