Difference between revisions of "Shard"

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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
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{{update|sa4|mb7|yumi}}
:''<div class="navaid">This page contains information for the Shards of Adonalsium. For information regarding the armaments used on Roshar, see [[Shardblade]] or [[Shardplate]].''</div>
 
{{quote
 
Investing in a world will produce numerous effects, most notably the creation of a magic system tied to the Shard. While a Shard doesn't have complete control over how the magic system functions or what it does, it can manipulate its mechanics to an extent.{{wob ref|6072}}{{wob ref|4242}} Moreover, the presence of a Shard leads to the formation of a [[Perpendicularity]], a well of the Shard's Investiture that pierces all three [[Realmatic Theory|Realm]]s, allowing for [[worldhopping]].{{book ref|sa3|119}} The Shard's Investiture can also manifest directly in the world in other ways; examples of such manifestations are [[atium]] and [[lerasium]] on [[Scadrial]], the [[Tears of Edgli]] on [[Nalthis]], or the many [[spren]] of [[Roshar]].
 
It is possible for a Shard to be broken down into multiple smaller Shards with different Intents.{{wob ref|15990}} It is currently unknown whether this has ever happened before, or how it would be accomplished.
 
=== Vessel ===
== Known Shards ==
 
There are sixteen original Shards, with fifteen Shards (including Harmony) currently known. Two of the original Shardswhich are currently unknownknown.
 
While most planets have at most one Shard, [[Sel]] and [[Scadrial]] are both dishardic, hosting two Shards each.{{au ref|Selish}}{{au ref|Scadrian}} [[Roshar]], on the other hand, is the only known example of a world influenced by three Shards.{{au ref|Rosharan}}
| [[Taravangian]] <br /><small>(formerly [[Rayse]])</small>
| [[Braize]], [[Roshar]]
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]''
|{{wob ref|7266}}{{wob ref|5984}}{{book ref|sa4|83}}
|-
| [[Koravellium Avast]]
| [[Roshar]]
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]''
|{{wob ref|10113}}{{wob ref|5984}}{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 2.jpg}}
|-
| [[Tanavast]] <small>(deceased)</small>
| [[Roshar]]
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]''
|{{wob ref|4229}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
| [[Autonomy]]
| [[Bavadin]]
| [[Taldain]]; avatars on<br />[[First of the Sun]], [[Obrodai]], and [[ObrodaiScadrial]]
| ''[[White Sand]]'', ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]'', [[Mistborn Era 2]]
|{{wob ref|5599}}{{wob ref|9385}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|50}}{{book ref|mb7|19}}
|-
| [[Ambition]]
| ''Unknown''
|{{epigraph ref|sa4|25}}
|-
| [[Virtuosity]]
| ''Unknown'' <small>(deceased)</small>
| [[Komashi]]
| ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''
| {{book ref|yumi|1}}{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}
|-
| ''Unknown''
| ''Unknown''
| ''Unknown''
| ''Unknown''
|}
 
=== Hybrid Shards ===
 
Several of the known Shards are dead in the current time, with [[Ambition]], [[Virtuosity]], [[Honor]], [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]] all being [[splinterSplinter]]ed,{{au ref|Rosharan}} with the remnants of [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]] having been combined together in the [[Cognitive Realm]] as [[the Dor]].{{au ref|Sel}} [[Ruin]] and [[Preservation]], on the other hand, have blended together into [[Harmony]], albeit they remain somewhat separate within this unified construct.{{wob ref|6486}} It is possible for the remnants of the Shard Honor to merge with Odium to form a new Shard.{{wob ref|13819}}
 
 
|}
 
=== Unnamed ShardsShard ===
{{quote
|Some men, as they age, grow wiser. I am not one of those, for wisdom and I have always been at cross-purposes, and I have yet to learn the tongue in which she speaks.
}}
 
OneThere ofremains theseone twoShard Shardsthat has not been named, but it has an intentIntent similar to Wisdom or Prudence.{{wob ref|12684}}{{wob ref|13231}}{{wob ref|15500}} [[Hoid]] and this Shard may be antagonistic towards each other,{{book ref|sa3|68}}{{wob ref|13239}} though this appears to be something of a common thread in his relations with the original Vessels.{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|41}}{{book ref|sa2|55}} There is a Shard that "[[Survival Shard|just wants to hide and survive]],"{{wob ref|2788}} though it has realized over time that that may not be the most desirable course of action; this may be the "wisdom" Shard.{{wob ref|12684}}{{wob ref|13231}}
There remain two Shards that have not been named, nor referred to explicitly in text.
 
At one point, there was an unknown Shard that does not inhabit a planet.,{{wob ref|4441}} Sincewhich then,likely however,referred theto ShardsVirtuosity.{{wob [[Ambition]], [[Invention]], [[Mercy]], [[Valor]], and [[Whimsy]] have been revealed; it is unclear if any of them are this Shard.ref|15530}} Similarly, at one point there was at least one unknown Shard that had been Splintered by Odium,{{wob ref|1357}} though the Splintered Shard Ambition has been revealed since then.
One of these two Shards has an intent similar to Wisdom or Prudence.{{wob ref|12684}}{{wob ref|13231}} [[Hoid]] and this Shard may be antagonistic towards each other,{{book ref|sa3|68}}{{wob ref|13239}} though this appears to be something of a common thread in his relations with the original Vessels.{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|41}}{{book ref|sa2|55}} There is a Shard that "[[Survival Shard|just wants to hide and survive]],"{{wob ref|2788}} though it has realized over time that that may not be the most desirable course of action; this may be the "wisdom" Shard.{{wob ref|12684}}{{wob ref|13231}}
 
At one point, there was an unknown Shard that does not inhabit a planet.{{wob ref|4441}} Since then, however, the Shards [[Ambition]], [[Invention]], [[Mercy]], [[Valor]], and [[Whimsy]] have been revealed; it is unclear if any of them are this Shard. Similarly, at one point there was at least one unknown Shard that had been Splintered by Odium,{{wob ref|1357}} though the Splintered Shard Ambition has been revealed since then.
 
In addition to these unknown Shards, Harmony believes there are Shards that are hidden to him that are encroaching on Scadrial.{{epigraph ref|sa4|28}} This likely refers to the entity [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]], which is associated with one of the nine Shards that were known when [[trellium]] first appeared,{{wob ref|6261}}{{wob ref|8554}} possibly Autonomy.{{article ref|Trell (Trellism)#Theories & Speculation}}
 
== Powers and Abilities ==
 
Shards possess incredible power -- a single Shard can easily move entire planets and alter people down to the genetic level.{{epigraph ref|mb3|4}} They exist in all three Realms, but unlike other living beings, the vast majority of their power is concentrated in the [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] and [[Spiritual Realm|Spiritual]]. Shards do not appear in the Cognitive Realm like other entities (such as a bead on Roshar).{{wob ref|14026}} Time matters little to Shards, and they can bend and stretch it as they wish.{{epigraph ref|mb3|17}}
 
Vessels also gain an immense amount of knowledge upon Ascending, more than they can process immediately. They can gain more knowledge instantaneously, but this is not automatic, and requires them to consciously gain that knowledge.{{wob ref|16293}}
 
As [[Investiture]] never truly goes away, a Shard has access to a functionally-endless supply of it; however, there is a finite amount that a Vessel can command at any one time. This means that while all Investiture in the cosmere is assigned to one Shard or another, a Shard cannot truly command all of it at once.{{wob ref|8605}} As such, while powerful, Shards are not omniscient, omnipresent, nor omnipotent.{{book ref|sa4|54}}
 
==== Mind Capacity====
Upon Ascension, the [[Vessel]]'s mind will be greatly expanded, allowing a far greater capacity to think than a mortal could.{{book ref|sa4|114}} A Shard is capable of bilocation -- being present in several places at once -- within its sphere of influence.{{msh ref|1|1}} As moments can pass like years to a Shard, they can also appear to think far faster than normal minds. Fundamental understanding of the cosmere, to the point of [[axi]] and anti-axi, also comes as a result.{{book ref|sa4|65}}{{wob ref|16293}} They seem to possess flawless memory, with no obvious upper limit, as [[Sazed]] is able to absorb the tremendous amount of knowledge in his [[metalmind]]s.{{book ref|mb3|82}}
 
However, contrary to what many believes, Shards are neither omniscient nor omnipresent.{{book ref|sa4|54}} They can only appear at limited places at once, and can be distracted, deceived or surprised. It is also possible to block a Shard's senses away from a certain area.{{ref|text=Metal can block the sight of [[Ruin]]}} They are incapable of breaking a formal contract, at least not without seriously wounding themselves.{{book ref|sa4|112}}
Avatars are, in a way, considered to be Shards in their own right.{{wob ref|8606}} Known ones include [[Patji (being)|Patji]] and the [[Sand Lord]], both of [[Autonomy]].{{wob ref|8902}}{{wob ref|5876}} It is difficult but possible for someone to become a Vessel of an avatar.{{wob ref|13323}}
 
Shardic power is also directly related to sentience and sapience. The close presence of a particular Shard, such as [[Cultivation]], can lead to some beings developing higher levels of sapience.{{wob ref|2792}} Shardic power can also grant sentience directly -- [[Scadrian]]s are sapient due to Preservation's power within them, and [[Nightblood]]'s sapience is partially derived from his large quantity of [[Breath]]s. [[Splinter]]s can also become sapient.{{wob ref|1799}} Even the raw power of a Shard, if left alone and without a Vessel, will eventually begin to form a rudimentary mind.{{au ref|Selish}}{{epigraph ref|sa4|39}}
 
==== Magic Generation ====
{{for|Splinter}}
 
A Splinter is a fragment of a Shard's power, similar to how a Shard is a fragment of Adonalsium's power. Unlike Slivers or [[Cognitive Shadow]]s, Splinters don't generally have a Physical component.{{wob ref|4541}} They often have a mind of their own, separate and distinct from that of their parent Shard.{{wob ref|10089}} They can form in two distinct ways: either by the Shard being splintered (killed), or by the Shard directly splitting off splinters of itself.{{wob ref|4129}}{{book ref|sa3|108}} Under certain circumstances, a Shard may be split and each resulting piece would gain an aspect of the original Shard's Intent.{{wob ref|15990}}
 
Splinters can be comprised of the Investiture of one or more Shards.{{wob ref|6454}} Examples of splinters include the divine [[Breath]] of the [[Returned]],{{wob ref|4486}} [[Aon]]s within [[seon]]s, and [[spren]].{{wob ref|3017}} It is possible to create a new Shard from splinters of multiple other Shards, though it is much more difficult than it sounds.{{wob ref|14145}}
 
A Shard Splintered beyond recognition could be reconstructed as a different Shard, though this would require a great deal of effort and resources, such as the use of a Dawnshard.{{wob ref|16303}}
== Champion ==
It is possible for a Shard to name a "champion" when making a deal with another Shard. Honor encouraged [[Dalinar Kholin]] to try to get Odium to agree to a contest of champions;{{book ref|sa1|75}} Odium eventually agreed and attempted to name Dalinar as his champion, though Dalinar declined.{{book ref|sa3|119}} The Heralds are similar to champions{{wob ref|9548}} and Shards outside of the [[Rosharan system]] have also had champions.{{wob ref|5286}}
 
== Champion ==
Becoming a champion is a formal event, and requires a some kind of contractual agreement.{{book ref|sa4|112}}{{wob ref|15676}}
It is possible for a Shard to name a "champion" when making a deal with another Shard. Becoming a champion in this way is a formal event and requires some kind of contractual agreement.{{book ref|sa4|112}}{{wob ref|15676}} Honor encouragedencourages [[Dalinar Kholin]] to try to get Odium to agree to a contest of champions;{{book ref|sa1|75}} Odium eventually agreedagrees and attemptedattempts to name Dalinar as his champion, though Dalinar declineddeclines.{{book ref|sa3|119}} Shards outside of the [[Rosharan system]] have also had champions.{{wob ref|5286}} The Heralds are similar to champions,{{wob ref|9548}} and Shardsthe outsideconflicts ofbetween the[[Marsh]] and [[RosharanElend]] systemand between Marsh and [[Vin]] haveare alsoan hadecho championsof this system.{{wob ref|528615676}}
 
== See Also ==