Difference between revisions of "Shard"

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|universe=[[Cosmere]]
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{{spoilers|yumi}}
{{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
| [[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}}
|-
|-
| [[Virtuosity]]
| ''Unknown'' <small>(deceased)</small>
| [[Komashi]]
| ''[[Yumi and the Nightmare Painter]]''
| {{book ref|yumi|1}}{{book ref|yumi|part=anotherepilogue}}
|-
| ''Unknown''
| ''Unknown''
| ''Unknown''
| ''Unknown''
|}
 
| ''None''
| [[Sel]]
| ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]], [[The Emperor's Soul]], [[Mistborn Era 2]]''
| Combination of the splintered [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]]
| {{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|2787}}{{wob ref|1533}}
 
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 ====
 
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 ==