CosmereScholar

What technologies could be created using fabrials we know to exist/be possible (besides flying ships, which we all know will happen)? Here are my ideas: Reverse-Conjoined Fabrials: First, a little examination of the physics of these fabrials. Zero momentum principle: Imagine you have two reverse-conjoined gemstones of the same mass, at rest when they are linked. Once the link is established, the two gemstone system cannot gain momentum. The velocity of one will always be the opposite of the other, so the sum of their momentum is 0. This means these fabrials do not obey conservation of momentum. Imagine floating in space and shooting one gemstone out of a gun (assuming the fabrial can be made small enough). Its partner would shoot in the opposite direction with the opposite velocity, and you would be flung back. The gemstones have not changed their momentum, but you have. This offers the potential for interesting applications. Force cancelation principle: Imagine reverse-conjoining two gemstones on a table, then lowering the table. What would happen? Both experience the force of gravity, so each would also experience an upward force from its partner equaling their weight. So, the gemstones would hover in midair. Indeed, any force that acts equally on both gemstones will automatically cancel in this fashion (unless it overwhelms them and causes them to crack.) Locking: Now, imagine that two reverse conjoined gemstones are set in the same object. What would happen? Any force applied to the object would also be applied to both stones equally, so it would automatically cancel (that is, unless it overwhelms the fabrials/breaks the object). This means that the object would be locked into its current velocity, and would ignore forces that attempt to change its trajectory. Perfect shock absorber: Using the locking phenomenon, we can design a perfect shock absorber, of great practical use in engineering. Just inset two reverse conjoined gems into the same object. When the link is established, the object will automatically reject any vibrations/impacts applied to it. One useful application would be to create recoil free weapons. Imagine a gun with two gemstones inset, which automatically reverse-conjoin when the trigger is pressed. The gemstones will automatically compensate for the recoil. Flying machines: Using the same technique, one can create floating platforms, with the same forces involved as the hovering platforms in WoR. Just inset pairs of reverse conjoined gemstones into a platform, hoist it up, then activate. The platform will hover in place. With the same method, one can create flying machines which automatically maintain their velocity. This way, one could construct a fabrial lift using different technology, or set a rocket flying upwards then lock it into place, the gemstones providing propulsion. These would be useful to incorporate into Navani's flying ships. Motors: Now, imagine setting a pair of gemstones onto opposite sides wheel, setting it spinning, then reverse-conjoining. What would happen? The wheel would be locked into its current rate of rotation (and position). Nothing, other than overwhelming the gemstones/ breaking the wheel, will cause the rate of rotation to change. This creates a fabrial motor. One could attach it to a machine, like a loom. The amount of work the wheel could generate would be the sum of the maximum work limits of each gemstone pair in the motor (the more pairs, the more work it can do). The only drawback is that, because of the locking that makes it work, the motor cannot be placed on an object accelerating with respect to Roshar. But, one could attach it to a generator if one wishes, or use it to wind springs. So, one can create a fabrial car, using spring power to get it started, and activating the motor one it gets going, simultaneously locking the car into its current velocity and winding springs to provide power for acceleration/turning. The gemstones on the car's motor would be disconjoined when the car needs to accelerate/turn. Null propulsion: Of theoretical interest is the ability to construct a propulsion system with no propellant. This could be used to propel buoyant air vehicles or in space. Here is one such model. Imagine a pair of parallel pistons, each with a gemstone inside. The first starts retracted, the other extended (the extended one is closer to the back of the vehicle). The gemstones are reverse-conjoined, then the first piston is pressed forward by an engine. The force transmits through the bond, pushing back the second piston. This, the total impulse of the engine is transmitted into your vehicle. Just before the pistons strike the gemstones at the end of their tubes, the gemstones are disconjoined (this is necessary, if the bond were active, the effect would be reversed, transferring momentum in the reverse direction). Then, when the pistons halt, the gemstone are relinked, and the process starts again, this time pushing against the second piston, which is now the retracted one. Each cycle generates forward momentum, while the "propellant" of the gemstones gains none (as they always have 0 momentum, see above.) What ideas do you all have?

Actually, just realized more recent WoBs seems to suggest converting between similar powers is possible. There’s another one where Sanderson says it would be quite easy for Shai to forge someone who had been bonded to a shard blade to have never given it away, so they could summon it. It’s possible though that Allomancy is more intristic though, while the effects above are related to bonds.

So, it would be difficult to reforge spikes. So Wayne probably couldn’t use any stored power after temporarily compounding, because of his altered identity. So, it is likely infeasible to rewrite your powers.

I find myself agreeing with these theories. I've been wondering what the lies in the letter are, and you have convinced me: it does not make sense that Heleran was a Skybreaker acolyte.

Wow! I did misunderstand you. This is scary. Could this be a member of the Set, or a Ghostblood?

I doubt there is anything to this. Here is the original quote: https://wob.coppermind.net/events/385-orem-signing/ It just think Sanderson meant that it was white now because of age, but not white always because he was not born with white hair. I believe this has been refuted.

You're right! What Feruchemical Machinery ideas do you all have? These are what I could come up with: Feruchemical Iron- Light Materials- Just as mentioned above, aircraft and other vehicles can be lightened, while maintaining their integrity. This actually has huge implications, given how much of modern materials science is creating less massive materials which are still strong. Also, depending on the potential range of such Feruchemical machinery, one could lighten loads before moving them. Perpetual Motion -Changing mass will violate conservation of energy, even with conservation of momentum, as one can gain potential energy when the object is less massive by bringing it to a higher elevation, then dropping it. One could use this to create a generator, which would almost certainly create a net energy gain in the universe. Please, don't start protesting this breaks the laws of thermodynamics. Conservation of energy occurs in nature only because all the forces in our universe, that we have discovered, are conservative, (that is, they are the gradient of some scalar field which is the potential energy). A new interaction which changes mass, or creates a nonconservative force, could easily cause an energy gain even while conserving momentum. (Note that changing mass by itself creates/destroys energy by mass energy-equivalence, but this is another story). A simplistic model (proof of concept, not a good design): A magnetic weight with an Ettmetal device increases its mass and is dropped down a tube with a coil around it. Some of its kinetic energy is converted to electrical in the fall, in the normal fashion of a generator. Just before it reaches the bottom, it decreases its mass and hits a spring, which launches it back to the top. Each cycle will increase the amount of energy in the universe (provided a design is efficient enough to produce more energy than the expended Ettmetal's investiture, which is not impossible). Even if you say such machines are impossible, Wax could just do this himself, which would be amusing. Feruchemical Steel-If this is not a temporal effect, it does not obey the laws of physics, so I have no idea what on Scadrial this could do. Superfast vehicles/machines? Perhaps some feature of this prohibits certain physical interactions from happening arbitrarily, to prevent the Steelrunner from destroying everything as he/she runs over. So...perhaps it could be used to create an inertial dampener, creating incredibly safe cars and smooth rides in space ships. Feruchemical Brass- Refrigeration/Heating-As discussed previously, these could store and release heat, which is actually very important in engineering. Note: depending on how much Ettmetal this would take, this could theoretically overcome the principles of thermodynamics, creating a heat pump better than the ideal efficiency in our universe. Indeed, one might be able to reduce entropy if it were possible to convert the investiture in the metal mind into some other form. Interesting from a theoretical point of view. And no, there is no reason investiture should not be able to violate thermodynamics. From what we have seen, investiture does not appear to have entropy, unless it turns into mater or conventional energy (though it can be "corrupted" but this is clearly not something that happens in every interaction), so usual entropy principles would not need to hold in the Cosmere.

Nightblood, Steris, Marasi, MeLaan, and Shai are my favorites.

Regardless of whether this can be done: any ideas for allomantic technology.

I hope I have not offended you, I was speaking in jest. I agree Hemalurgy is far from obsolete. It will be a very powerful tool in future series. Perhaps you are right. I had not considered the bands might be a trick. But, in either case, with Ettmetal, magic will be a lot more free in the future.

Have you not been paying attention? Sanderson totally is trolling us! Just look at things like Elhokar’s execution in Oathbringer, and Kaladin failing to say the fourth oath in the same novel. Sanderson really likes to shock his readers sometimes. That being said, I do not believe the Excisors use Hemalurgy, suggestive though their name is. There was just too much buildup in Bands if Morning on the Theory of Investiture and Identity, and we know that the Bands could definiately be used to craft medallions. I see no reason for some other development. Aside from which, I do not think Hemalugy could make medallions. It grafts souls, but requires very specific bind points to work. Suggesting the amulets are like spikes seems to contradict this.

Indeed. But, this situation is a little different. In compounding, we replicate the tapping effect. We have not seen an increase in the storage effect, and I do not think it would be possible, and this could be necessary for a Brass-cooler. I hope it is possible though. It would open incredible new technologies.

Can Ettmetal replicate Feruchemical effects? I suspect it could, since Allomancy can do so, but I do not think we have seen it.

To clarify, I am not saying Awakening cannot do good, or that Awakeners are evil. Just that it is the most nefarious magic as an influence on society.

Regardless of whether Hemalurgic Technology exists/ is possible: I really like this suggestion. It did not occur to me that appliances could be accelerated in their operation. A bendalloy power plant would be able to power them no problem; indeed if the whole wire power grid would count as in the field it could be linked directly to an accelerated generator, at least as directly as it is done usually, to power it. It occurs to me these appliances, especially an oven, would generate large amounts of heat, and would need a refrigeration unit to be safe. Indeed, air conditioning and heaters could be made far more powerful with bendalloy fields. Any other ideas on appliances?

What if we were to tally the numbers and find there were five deaths per 100 Drabs because of their weakened immune systems? Which would you consider more evil then? Also, I would argue the payment for fractions of peoples' souls is itself quite evil.

I do not see how this would happen. On the contrary, Hemalurgy seems to be outdated, now that medallions exist. Even Suit says that he feels their experiments were wasted. Of course not. But, I maintain that Awakening is more evil as a whole. It seems to me far more grotesque to give three hundred people a lifelong sickness (yes I know it's voluntary) so you can live forever, than to kill one person to gain a power. One is more brutal, it is true, but the other strikes me as more perverse.

How would Hemalurgy power technology? And how would you make this without sacrifices?

But, we know that This implies the Lifeless are pretty aware. Though I admit I would find it creepy even if they weren't. But, I do not think most Awakening is objectionable. Just the creation of Drabs and Lifeless seems evil to me.

I was writing as you posted yours.

Actually, Drabs have been confirmed to be worse than regular people, while regular Nalthians are better.

Is it just me who sees Awakening as the most sinister magic of the Cosmere? It relies on the existence of Drabs, who have a reduced immune system and reduced enjoyment of life. For each Awakener, there are literally hundreds of people who have been crippled for life. It is no wonder Vasher moved to Roshar. Also, it creates automatons which the annotations indicate have some self awareness, but are killed instantly. And most diabolically, it employs necromancy: the Lifeless we have been told also have some awareness, but are made into slaves. Here is what makes Awakening worse than other magic systems: Hemalurgy-Requires killing people, probably, and it creates abominations, but it strikes me as less sinister: it is used by very few people and does not inspire the long term mass exploitation of the masses. Also, no necromancy. Bloodsealing-Necromancy, but skeletals seem less alive than lifeless automatons to me, though as alive as an Awakened object perhaps. But, it requires no sacrifice. Dahkor-Lots of sacrifices here, but again, it’s violence against the few, more brutal and overt, while Awakening is far more insidious. Note: Awakening is my favourite magic system in the Cosmere, in part because it is the most ethically complex.

The medallions are granted abilities by metal born, and those that need traits, like heat, were filled by Firemothers and Firefathers. So yes, someone would have to fill it. Unless you have a zinc compounder who can manipulate identity. But I am worried tapping mental speed could decrease lifespan, so there is no net benefit to using them. (In Bands of Morning, I believe it mentions tapping zinc makes you hungry, so it seems to increase the metabolism.) Additional application: it would allow propulsion free orbital manuvering. Inside a time bubble, gravity appears to be normal, but from the outside bendalloy would appear to increase gravity, and cadmium to decrease it. So satellites which activate bubbles would change the shape of their orbits, and by flaring cadmium could escape a gravity well (imagine orbiting the earth at a normal pace, then suddenly have it appear to rush away from you.)

Me neither : )

Perhaps you are right the technology requires refueling. I hadn’t considered it, but maybe they had medallions granting allomamcy, and were periodically recharging things. You are right, the Ettmetal is definitely being used up. But I can easily imagine an automated mechanism replacing Ettmetal batteries as needed. Though of course, any generator will need some maintenance.