Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Chaos on March 27, 2008, 11:09:54 PM
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Here I'm going to talk about Allomancy fairly in-depth. If you don't want to know or ruin a potential surprise, don't say I didn't warn you (also there are plot points from the end of MB2 as well). Do note, however, this is merely theory. I have no more qualification to talk about this than the next person--only Brandon has the true authority. This is not fact (though I hope I'm on the right track), simply a theory.
So, we know about the Physical metals, we know about the Mental metals. We also know about the Temporal metals. Each quartet has two pushing metals, two pulling, two Internal, two External.
However, there is a fourth quartet of metals--that much should be obvious. I mean, Aluminum and Duralumin aren't classified under any of those three quartet. And, if there is a quartet, then there are two other metals that aren't named (I say this for summation purposes--many who have been looking at the Speculative topics already know this fact).
These metals influence metals and Allomancy itself. I'm going to call them the Metallic metals, even though that is an awful name--one I didn't coin, by the way.
I think it is safe to assume that Aluminum and Duralumin are the Externals of the quartet. I mean, they affect how Allomancy is burned, and burning metals has generally very External effects. So, I hereby define these metals to be:
Metal 13. Aluminum - Metallic External Pulling Metal. Pulls on Allomantic metals, extinguishing an Allomancers supply of metals.
Metal 14. Duralumin - Metallic External Pushing Metal. Pushes on Allomantic metals, flaring them so rapidly that they burn away.
So, if those are the Externals, what are the Internals? At the end of MB2, Elend ingests a strange metal. He subsequently gains the powers of a Mistborn. I--and probably others as well--are convinced that this metal is the 15th metal. It gives the user the ability of Allomancy--the powers of the Mistborn. I'm also convinced that this metal is how the Lord Ruler gave the original supporters of his rule Allomancy, and, as well, how he gives the Steel Inquisitors their Mistborn powers (now, that doesn't mean its the only thing that goes into making an Inquisitor, but definitely a part).
The effects of the metals are External in nature, but the ability to use the metals themselves are Internal. I classify the 15th and 16th metals as Internal.
There is also a very interesting pattern which evolves with the Temporal quartet. Atium sees into the future of someone else. It's pair, malatium, sees into the past of someone else. Gold sees into your past. Electrum sees into your future.
While Atium/Malatium are external, simply by the merits of each one being Pushing or Pulling, there is a symmetry. Atium, I believe, is the Temporal External Pushing metal, and Electrum is Pushing as well (because I rather think that seeing into the future is more of a Push). There is symmetry amongst a Pushing pair or a pulling pair, one that isn't as prevalent in the Internal or External metals.
So, here I get this crazy idea. Aluminum "Pulls" (once again, whether it is Pushing or Pulling is not immediately prevalent, but I'm going with this until someone tells me otherwise), taking away metals. The 15th metal doesn't exactly give you metals, but it gives you the ability to burn metals. That seems symmetrical enough for me.
Therefore:
Metal 15. Unknown metal #1 - Metallic Internal Pulling Metal. Grants the ability of Allomancy to the person who ingests this metal.
Going on with the idea of symmetry, Duralumin must have some sort of similarity with the 16th metal. The 16th is one I don't think anyone has solidly defined, so here I shall attempt that!
Duralumin burns your metals away in a flare. This seems remarkably similar to how Vin describes the Well in MB2: the power had to be burned away in an instant, and then it was gone.
:D. That is far too coincidental to be false. It's symmetric--in that both Duralumin and the 16th metals burn things away rapidly.
Therefore.
Metal 16. Unknown metal #1 - Metallic Internal Pushing Metal. Burns away "the power" in an instant, power of creation.
I say "the power" because I'd like to say "The Power of Allomancy" but you can't burn an ability away. The only thing really able to burn is the power at the Well itself.
Something like that, I think, is the closest we can get to knowing what these metals do.
However, I can discern what the symbols are for these metals, if I did classify them correctly. Notice this (http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/Mistborn%20Wallpaper%20One%201028.jpg) wallpaper that Brandon posted in the fan art thread. It shows the circle of Allomantic metals--which, by the way, further verifies that there are 16 metals.
The top left quartet--if you look at your MB2 Ars Arcanum--is Physical, top-right is Mental, and the bottom-right is Temporal. The inner ring of metals is Internal, the outer External. The bottom-left is the only quartet not in the MB2 Arcanum, so that must be our Metallic metals.
Further analyzing these symbols, we can see which ones Push and which ones Pull. Look at the dots on a symbol. It's either out or its in. The symbols which are "out" of the symbol are Pulling, and the dots which are "in" the symbol are Pushing.
So, utilizing this knowledge:
Aluminum: (http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9241/aluminumsymbolax6.jpg)
Duralumin: (http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3443/duraluminsymbolco8.jpg)
15th metal: (http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4075/15thmetalsymbolbr6.jpg)
16th metal: (http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2884/16metalsymbolsq1.jpg)
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Nicely done, I definately think that you are on to something. I always pictured Aluminum as the pushing metal though. I pictured it sort of smothering out the metals you have, like brass smothering emotions into depression. And Duralumin is a puller, because it pulls the last of your metals out of you in a flare, that's just how I pictured it anyway. I could of course be wrong. It doesn't really change your theory however, it just swtiches the pulls and pushes around. I also really like the well theory, burning things away quickly, maybe it gives you all the powers of allomancy or of creation in an instant, I like it. I commend you Chaos, good job!
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Yeah, well, duralumin PUSHES it out in a flare. Or whatever. I don't really know, either :P.
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I was kind of confused to with the push/pull thing, not that it really matters, I love this theory, very conclusive, I like how you put everything together. ;D
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Good work on this! I have one question; how did you determine which symbols were for which metals? Just a guess, or did you find some clues somewhere?
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If I'm correct, first there's the outer/inner part, which Chaos figured out, and then I think there is a pattern of push an pull metals, but I'm not certain, Chaos?
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Nice analysis.
Not a big deal, but I agree that your push/pull analysis is reversed. Look at it this way...with aluminum you neither keep the metals nor use them, so you can't have pulled them. If you pull something, you have it, but the metals are gone from you. Duraluminum, on the other hand, are pulled in all at once when you use them.
Here is another idea for the 16th metal...could it give you the power of feruchemy? Allomancy as a power is a pulling power. You ingest the metals and get your power from them. In feruchemy, you place your own ability into the metal, in other words you push it away. Yes, you pull it back later, but the true power stems from your being able to push abilities into the metals.
Just a thought.
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And not a bad one at that. I tend to think that the 16th metal will remove any allomantic power tho, since the 15th metal gives it.
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I completely agree with hero of ages. If one gives it, the other would naturally take it away.
As to feuromancy, maybe if you 'flared' the metal giving you allomancy ?
Also, since sazed does not have allomancy, feuromancy might hail from somewhere else entirely, and Brandon has mantiones something about a 3rd magic system...
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I regress, my analysis of pushes and pulls are incorrect. I just got back where my Well of Ascension copy is, and I'm seeing that the alloys usually push, and base metals pull.
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Maybe if we look at it this way. Aluminum takes away, Duralumin still takes away, but in on e burst, 15th metal gives allomancy, then isn't it plausible that the 16th does the same? I'm basically jsut restating what Chaos did, I think I agree with his theory, I don't think Feruchemy comes from burning metals, it makes sense that allomancy does, but Freuchemy has really nothing to do with burning, like you said it's all about storing it away.
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I myself would think that the sixteenth metal would take away the power of Allomancy. You did say something of the sort:
"Metal 16. Unknown metal #1 - Metallic Internal Pushing Metal. Burns away "the power" in an instant, power of creation.
I say "the power" because I'd like to say "The Power of Allomancy" but you can't burn an ability away. The only thing really able to burn is the power at the Well itself."
If an ability can be created, why not destroyed? I agree that Aluminum is Pulling and Duralumin is Pulling, though.
I also have a better name for the metals than "Metallic." Aluminum essentially destroys any metals inside a Mistborn's body, whereas Duralumin essentially creates an enormous flash of power. The fifteenth metal--let us call it Partum, the Latin word for "create"--creates Allomancy, whereas we think the sixteenth metal (Dispartum, let's call it) destroys Allomancy.
Do gods not create and destroy things? Therefore, I believe these should be called the Godly metals, or the Deific metals.
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I myself would think that the sixteenth metal would take away the power of Allomancy. You did say something of the sort:
"Metal 16. Unknown metal #1 - Metallic Internal Pushing Metal. Burns away "the power" in an instant, power of creation.
I say "the power" because I'd like to say "The Power of Allomancy" but you can't burn an ability away. The only thing really able to burn is the power at the Well itself."
If an ability can be created, why not destroyed? I agree that Aluminum is Pulling and Duralumin is Pulling, though.
I also have a better name for the metals than "Metallic." Aluminum essentially destroys any metals inside a Mistborn's body, whereas Duralumin essentially creates an enormous flash of power. The fifteenth metal--let us call it Partum, the Latin word for "create"--creates Allomancy, whereas we think the sixteenth metal (Dispartum, let's call it) destroys Allomancy.
Do gods not create and destroy things? Therefore, I believe these should be called the Godly metals, or the Deific metals.
Well, I'm hesitant to say that the 16th power would take away Allomancy. From a narrative perspective, it's a bit anticlimatic. Of course, aluminum isn't the flashiest metal in its own right, so perhaps that isn't the best logic to use there.
I wholeheartedly agree with the new naming scheme! Because I never liked "metallic". So, the last quartet let's call the Deific Metals from now on. 15th metal is Partum, and 16th is Dispartum.
Anything is better "metallic"...
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I'm curious if the 15th/16th metals will be more powerful than atium.
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Well, the 15th metal turns a normal schmoe into a full blown Allomancer, so I'd say that's pretty powerful. "Deific" Metals? Seeing as these metals affect your ability to use metals, shouldn't they be Allomantic metals? I know this isn't very creative, but aluminum definitely does not give you god like abilities. It's pretty boring, actually. Also, if they are related, then what they should work in a relative way. I'll explain: Duralimin - Greatly increases the amount of power drawn from another metal. Aluminum makes the metals currently in your body powerless. Therefore, if metal 15 (or 16) grants a person the ability to burn metals, then the other one wuold most likely take it away. Also, in order to make this work, you wouldn't be able to choose to burn these metals. They just do what they do as soon as they enter the body.
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Well, the 15th metal turns a normal schmoe into a full blown Allomancer, so I'd say that's pretty powerful. "Deific" Metals? Seeing as these metals affect your ability to use metals, shouldn't they be Allomantic metals? I know this isn't very creative, but aluminum definitely does not give you god like abilities. It's pretty boring, actually. Also, if they are related, then what they should work in a relative way. I'll explain: Duralimin - Greatly increases the amount of power drawn from another metal. Aluminum makes the metals currently in your body powerless. Therefore, if metal 15 (or 16) grants a person the ability to burn metals, then the other one wuold most likely take it away. Also, in order to make this work, you wouldn't be able to choose to burn these metals. They just do what they do as soon as they enter the body.
I'm not sure if the 15th (or 16th) metal is what Elend swallows (if that is what makes him a Mistborn).
It seems like if that was the case, than everyone would be a misting.
It seems to be a rule that as a misting you can only burn one metal. It could be that everyone who can't burn one of the other metals can burn this one, and by burning it, it grants access to allow you to burn the other metals.
That seems sound, but I have a few issues with that. One is that I don't believe everyone is a misting. Mistings were created by the Lord Ruler, and there is all kinds of evidence suggesting that it's inherited through blood. It just doesn't seem likely that all Skaa would fall into the category of being the kind of Misting that can burn this kind of metal, while somehow nobels fall into that category as well. Plus, how would this work with Snaping? Would you have to Snap before you can burn that metal?
Also, it doesn't seem that likely when you look at Mistings compared to Mistborn. If this logic was the case, it would imply that anyone who can't burn one of the other metals can become a Mistborn. However, someone that could already burn one of the other metals (ie a Misting) wouldn't be able to be a Mistborn, since they would have to burn this metal, which means they would be able to burn two metals, which doesn't fit the rules. In this case, if someone was only able to burn say aluminum or duralumin then they could potentially be less powerful than a typical Skaa who can't burn anything? That doesn't seem very likely.
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Well, the 15th metal turns a normal schmoe into a full blown Allomancer, so I'd say that's pretty powerful. "Deific" Metals? Seeing as these metals affect your ability to use metals, shouldn't they be Allomantic metals? I know this isn't very creative, but aluminum definitely does not give you god like abilities. It's pretty boring, actually. Also, if they are related, then what they should work in a relative way. I'll explain: Duralimin - Greatly increases the amount of power drawn from another metal. Aluminum makes the metals currently in your body powerless. Therefore, if metal 15 (or 16) grants a person the ability to burn metals, then the other one wuold most likely take it away. Also, in order to make this work, you wouldn't be able to choose to burn these metals. They just do what they do as soon as they enter the body.
I'm not sure if the 15th (or 16th) metal is what Elend swallows (if that is what makes him a Mistborn).
It seems like if that was the case, than everyone would be a misting.
It seems to be a rule that as a misting you can only burn one metal. It could be that everyone who can't burn one of the other metals can burn this one, and by burning it, it grants access to allow you to burn the other metals.
That seems sound, but I have a few issues with that. One is that I don't believe everyone is a misting. Mistings were created by the Lord Ruler, and there is all kinds of evidence suggesting that it's inherited through blood. It just doesn't seem likely that all Skaa would fall into the category of being the kind of Misting that can burn this kind of metal, while somehow nobels fall into that category as well. Plus, how would this work with Snaping? Would you have to Snap before you can burn that metal?
Also, it doesn't seem that likely when you look at Mistings compared to Mistborn. If this logic was the case, it would imply that anyone who can't burn one of the other metals can become a Mistborn. However, someone that could already burn one of the other metals (ie a Misting) wouldn't be able to be a Mistborn, since they would have to burn this metal, which means they would be able to burn two metals, which doesn't fit the rules. In this case, if someone was only able to burn say aluminum or duralumin then they could potentially be less powerful than a typical Skaa who can't burn anything? That doesn't seem very likely.
In response to the bolded part: Aluminum certainly does not give you godlike abilities. However, it essentially "destroys" the metals in your body. Going with the fact that only gods can create and destroy things, I think this is the best logic for these metals.
In response to the non-bolded part: No, I don't think this is true. I believe that Partum is automatically burned once it enters your body, as is Dispartum. This is weird, I know, but ah well.
To Chaos: Are you going to edit the first post?
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One of these days, I intend to revise that first post. Despite my level of activity on the forum, I am really busy most of the time. I haven't exactly had time to do so at the moment (or inspiration, for that matter).
Darxbane- Aren't all 16 metals are "Allomantic" because they all can be used for Allomancy? A quartet can't be called Allomantic for that reason :P. I just liked Deific because it was better than Metallic. Actually, the real name for it probably ends in an -al, since there are External, Internal, and Temporal. The fourth quartet's name would fit that scheme, no doubt.
Phaz - Um, how'd you get to the conclusion that everyone would have to be mistings? I'm a little confused by that logic. If you could elaborate on that, I would appreciate that.
As for your comments about the Lord Ruler creating Allomancy, there are plenty of great topics where that's been discussed. I'm not trying to shut you up or anything--I like new viewpoints--I just want you to be informed. The main one I can think of is The Mists (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5782.0), which begins with my theory about an Allomancy-Mist connection. Perhaps you'll find that interesting.
I do, however, greatly like the points you brought up about how Partum is burned. I touched on this paradox on my last "The Mists" post, but it seems really strange that Partum can be burned at all if you aren't already a Mistborn, which would, of course, defeat the purpose of the metal entirely.
The Snapping thing is something I've definitely not talked about (or have seen it mentioned). Perhaps I could explain it in terms of Allomancy heredity.
You are right, Allomancy is a genetic trait. But, certainly, after the Ascension, the Lord Ruler would've had to create Allomancers. It is common consensus that the Lord Ruler just gave them this metal to eat, and then blam, you have Allomancers.
I don't think that means you need to Snap. (Note: I am beginning to think of a contradictory idea to this, which I will explain near the end of the post) I think, that since a "Genesis Allomancer" (first allomancer)'s kids would not have eaten this metal, they would need a Snap to awaken the power in the first point. Or something.
Contradictory theory time: What if all Partum did was essentially cause a Snap where there was none? I mean, make it so you are ABLE to Snap even if you don't have Allomantic heredity, and then immediately Snapping at the same time.
What is Snapping anyways? If you prefer to use my Mist-based definition of Allomancy in "The Mists" topic, then, I guess I would say that Snapping is the act of... being able to pull the mists. Or something!
I'm confusing myself now, I know it, and if I know it, you certainly must feel it. Therefore, I think I'll just stop talking and talk when I actually have something intelligent and comprehensive to say.
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Phaz - Um, how'd you get to the conclusion that everyone would have to be mistings? I'm a little confused by that logic. If you could elaborate on that, I would appreciate that.
As for your comments about the Lord Ruler creating Allomancy, there are plenty of great topics where that's been discussed. I'm not trying to shut you up or anything--I like new viewpoints--I just want you to be informed. The main one I can think of is The Mists (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5782.0), which begins with my theory about an Allomancy-Mist connection. Perhaps you'll find that interesting.
I do, however, greatly like the points you brought up about how Partum is burned. I touched on this paradox on my last "The Mists" post, but it seems really strange that Partum can be burned at all if you aren't already a Mistborn, which would, of course, defeat the purpose of the metal entirely.
The Snapping thing is something I've definitely not talked about (or have seen it mentioned). Perhaps I could explain it in terms of Allomancy heredity.
You are right, Allomancy is a genetic trait. But, certainly, after the Ascension, the Lord Ruler would've had to create Allomancers. It is common consensus that the Lord Ruler just gave them this metal to eat, and then blam, you have Allomancers.
I don't think that means you need to Snap. (Note: I am beginning to think of a contradictory idea to this, which I will explain near the end of the post) I think, that since a "Genesis Allomancer" (first allomancer)'s kids would not have eaten this metal, they would need a Snap to awaken the power in the first point. Or something.
Contradictory theory time: What if all Partum did was essentially cause a Snap where there was none? I mean, make it so you are ABLE to Snap even if you don't have Allomantic heredity, and then immediately Snapping at the same time.
What is Snapping anyways? If you prefer to use my Mist-based definition of Allomancy in "The Mists" topic, then, I guess I would say that Snapping is the act of... being able to pull the mists. Or something!
I'm confusing myself now, I know it, and if I know it, you certainly must feel it. Therefore, I think I'll just stop talking and talk when I actually have something intelligent and comprehensive to say.
The logic (and definitions) I used are thus:
First, we assume that a Misting is someone that can burn one metal. I think most people would agree that there are all kinds of mistings, including Atium, Alumninum, etc.
We also assume there are 16 types of metals, and thus, there would be 16 types of Mistings.
If one of those 16 types of metals was one that granted you the powers of a Mistborn, than that would mean only Mistings who could burn that type (i.e. can't burn any others) are the kind that could become Mistborn.
This would leave you with 3 different types of allomancers:
1) People who are born Mistborn
2) People who are born a Misting of one of the other 15 types of metals
3) People who are born a Misting and can burn the metal to make them a Mistborn
I suppose that you could also create a 4th group, of people who have no allomantic power what so ever. However, I don't think that logically it makes sense to have that group if you look at things in this manner. Thus, I group all the 'extra' people into the 3rd category, meaning they could become Mistborn.
The reasoning behind why it doesn't make sense to have people with no allomantic power and people who have the single ability to burn the metal that makes them a Mistborn is because it just doesn't seem to have the strength of a positive addition to the setting in the way that Brandon's additions typically do.
It's obvious that this magic system is very well thought out and very carefully planned.
It just seems silly to me that you would have people who are Mistborn, and then certain other people who could come Mistborn, but just have to find this other metal and burn it once in their life at some point, then they will be full Mistborn. Why not just make them a Mistborn in the first place? Plus, if this metal does grant the powers of a Mistborn, it seems like it would be something powefull enough that would grant anyone the power to become a Mistborn, not just a small portion of the population.
Plus, there are also issues with the first Mistborn. If you went by these assumptions, you would have to assume that all those people (presumably before Mistborn even existed) would of all been Mistings that fell into the 3rd category (who could just burn that one metal making them Mistborn).
I guess logically I don't have any strong evidence against that, but it seems like the real answer is something much more clever.
I'm not sure if this makes sense at all, but I guess the short answer is if you accept those definitions and assumptions (which I think are logical) it just doesn't make sense that the metal that makes you a Mistborn is one of the 16 metals, because if that were the case, it would imply that everyone would be a Misting (with most people just in the way that they can burn that metal that makes them Mistborn).
Again, I can't think of any strong evidence against it, but the argument of it being one of the 16 metals just doesn't hold up well enough on it's own or seem clever enough to be the answer in this case.
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Well, we don't know anything for certain about this last pair of metals. We could be totally wrong about everything.
And your definitions certainly make it sound like we have it wrong in a lot of ways.
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If the metal that makes you a Mistborn is not one of the 16, then what is it? I understand the logic, but I think the metals that grant or take away power would be included in the magic system. Anyone can swallow metals, they just can't tap into the power. But what if this one changes you when you ingest it? It would be similar to a radioactive metal, altering your DNA, but in this case in a way that allows you to tap into Allomancy. This would also explain how it can be passed on from generation to generation. The genetic trait may only become partially active, or never activate at all. It can also decide to start working at various points in different people's lives. There are many genetic diseases that work the same way. Conversely, it's opposing metal could undo the change, turning a person back to "normal". I know that mutations in DNA don't work that quickly, but that scene would have been much less dramatic if they had to wait a week for him to change. Also, we can't forget that this is a work of fiction, and EUOL will take some liberties when it is necessary. Even real-life science is not always cut and dry.
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What if what Elend injests is actually "mist" condensed and given solid form by the Lord Ruler that actually enables you to burn metals and is not atually the 15th metal? This would mean there doesn't need to be a counterpart that would take away Alomancy. Also, then you wouldn't have to burn it to use it, just ingest it, meaning that everyone is Not a allomancer.
Alternate theory: It is possible that the original nobles were people who for some unknown reason were special in their ability to burn the 15th or 16th metal. That would explain the seperation of nobles and skaa who are basically identical.
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I just thought of more reasoning for what Elend ingests not being the 15th or 16th metal.
Think of it in terms of a "normal" magic system.
In a normal magic system, you can wave your hands, say some words and (if you possess the power) cast spells.
Having the 15th or 16th metal be what makes him a mistborn, is like having a spell that you can cast that lets you cast spells. Except you cast that spell before you have the ability to cast spells.
I could see it "changing your DNA" or something instead, but if that was the case, I wouldn't classify it as one of the 15th or 16th, because in that case, it isn't the same in the way that you are casting a spell to gain your powers, it's more you are dipping yourself into a pool that gives you the powers to cast spells, and I wouldn't classify the pool as a spell because they don't function in the same way.
It just seems too circular/redundant.
I was also thinking along the lines of what he has being like the mist. We know the mist has something deep to do with Allomancy ("Vin drew upon the mist"), and we know that this bead also has something deep to do with Allomancy. Thus, the logical conclusion is that they are the same, or they are at least very very similar.
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I think one of the reasons people think that Partum is the 15th metal is exactly because it is so ingrained in the Allomantic theory. In fact, there is a possible pair to it, which is equally ingrained in Allomancy and everything: the Well of Ascension. It is liquid metal, I think. Naturally, people would think that these are the 15th and 16th metal-pairs, simply by rite of being so powerful.
I don't really know. I would prefer something less paradox-laden myself.
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What about this. I think there are only mistings of the 8 basic metals, and 6 of the 8 higher metals are availiable on ly to mistborn. The last two, Partum, and Dispartum (what happens when we find out the real names?) are different. Partum can be burned by anyone, Dispartum by anyone who has burned Partum or has inherited the ability.
I also don't think Dispartum is used to destroy allomancy
Perhaps it kills you. Whati f Dispartum too can be used by anyone, and using it, burns your entire life away in a flash. Using it would crate a massive blast of energy ( like the power of creation) and release like a bomb. What if Vin or Elend has to use this metal to stop Ruin??
i like the theory above the best, but here's another one, what if Dispartum is used in the creation of the inquisitors? That would be opposite, woudln't it, one pushes mists, one pulls?
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That, Comatose, Brings up another possibility looking like this.
Partum: Grants the ability of allomancy
Dispartum: Grants the ability of hemalurgy (IMO, the opposite of allomancy. See the hemalurgy thread for details)
Which would be an excellent way to explain the Lord Ruler's hemalurgy. Naturally granted through dispartum. Then the rest would be "fabricated hemaurgy."
Just out of curiosity, wouldn't a compressed and solidified form of the mists be something strikingly similar to ice? That was my first thought when I read that, and it seems to be described more as a metal. My original idea was that it was from that metallic lake that Alendi mentions in the logbook.
Anyway, it makes sense for it to be the 15th/16th metal if and only if it is possible to use the metal unconsciously and without having the ability of allomancy. The idea of burning a metal unconsciously isn't new, it's been seen every time Vin gets hurt. However, I think the only way for the person ingesting Partum unconsciously to burn it would be if the body's instinctive reaction was to somehow burn it. Then the person is a mistborn because they know how to burn metals.
Dispartum on the other hand, would cause someone to forget how they burn their metals, leaving them without allomancy.
The other option is that they are not allomantic metals, but I have not yet been able to come up with a theory on how this could work that makes sense to me.
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I think at least one of these metals come from the lake, and remember, the mist spirit was trying to prevent Alendi's Friend Fedik from drinking from it. Perhaps the mist spirit isn't preservation, but is the guardian of allomancy. We already know that allomancy has strong connections to the mist, and the mist spirit showed Vin how to save elend with Partum.
Or maybe Preservation is the guardian of allomancy, just like ruin control hemalurgists. Or maybe the mist spirit was just upholding the ideals of preservation and was trying to stop Fedik from gaining allomancy in order to prevent change from occuring. Or maybe the metal in the lake was dispartum, and the spirit was saving Fedik's life by stabbing him.
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I tend to think that Ruin has direct control over Hemalurgy, and I theorize that either Ruin or Preservation has some control over Feruchemy depending on who is more free at the time. For balance's sake, I thus also tend to theorize that allomancy is controlled (if not totally, at least partially) by Preservation. However, because preservation is opposed to change, it doesn't use voices or whatnot to get what it wants. This is where your idea of soothing the wielder of the power would come into play, I think, Comatose, rather than with hemalurgy. That level of subtlety seems to me to be more preservation's style than Ruin's. I think that the mist spirit is a tool of preservation created from the mists, not preservation itself. Personally, I think we have yet to see preservation.
Personally, I want to hear what everyone thinks about the 16th metal somehow giving hemalurgy. It was a crazy idea that came spur of the moment, but I kind of like it. Of course, there is no evidence here, but I do SO love to speculate!!!
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You know what Andrew, I think you're right, Preservation wouldn't want to affect change direcctly himself, that would be against his nature, but with ruin influencing all these people he would have to do something, and lie breeze always says, soothing isn't telling someone what to do, or controlling them, it's just suggestion.
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It would be some kind of aww hell moment if it turns out that the bead Elend ate has nothing to do with the Allomancy circle, and there are two other metals out there.
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It would be some kind of aww hell moment if it turns out that the bead Elend ate has nothing to do with the Allomancy circle, and there are two other metals out there.
We would be so screwed in this theory topic.
The idea that Dispartum grants Hemalurgy is interesting... but there is one fundamental problem. These are Allomantic metals, so they should, um, do something with the magic of Allomancy. Hemalurgy is separate from Allomancy (or at least, I think it should be), and thus, I think it would be completely paradoxical if you used Allomancy to get something that... wasn't related to Allomancy.
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Partum and Dispartum sound like good names for metals that grand allomancy and take it away, but since no one knows whether that's what the 15th and 16th metals do—and especially while speculating that they might do something else—wouldn't it make more sense to use more generic names like 15ium and 16ium? (Or unpentium and unhexium, using systematic element names (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_element_name)...)
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What if the ability to burn metals isn't so much a limitation of genetics as it is a limitation of the mind? I don't know if this road has been jaunted down yet, but what if everyone has the innate power to burn every metal, but not the natural instinct/reflex/drivers to do it? It would explain why if you can burn more than one, you can burn them all (because by having a second or third sample to check against, your brain could decipher the others). Then the thing that Elend ate could have just been something that imparted the necessary knowledge to his subconscious.
Alright, It's late, I'm off to bed.
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Personally, I want to hear what everyone thinks about the 16th metal somehow giving hemalurgy. It was a crazy idea that came spur of the moment, but I kind of like it. Of course, there is no evidence here, but I do SO love to speculate!!!
When I was first reading this thread, that's what first came into my head that dispartum grants the power of hemalurgy. I can think of two explanations that support this.
1) Before the Ascension, we only have record of Feruchemy (assuming piercing of heroes has nothing to do with hemalurgy). The mists and allomancy were created after the ascension. So maybe hemalurgy was also created after the ascension with dispartum.
2) When allomancers burn metals, it Pulls the mists. Likewise, when hemalurgists do their stuff, they Push the mists away. So maybe the "magic" comes from what you do to the mists in combination with the metals instead of just burning/hemalurging metals. This also fits well if you assume partum is the pure metal since pure metals Pull and alloys Push.
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it seems strange for an Allomantic metal to grant Hemalurgical powers...it would imply the systems are closely intertwined. One other thing:
Alendi had the 'piercings of the hero.' If we take this to mean he was a hemalurgist it would mean that hemalurgy came before Allomancy, as Allomancy was created at the Time of Ascension.
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Allomancy could have come before the Ascension. Remember, we can't trust historical records, because Ruin could have changed them.
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Wacky theory time--what if it's all genetics?
One thing about Elend is that he may not have *shown* Allomancy, but we know he comes from a family where members have it. What if what distinguished the Skaa and the nobility at the beginning of the Lord Ruler's reign was this genetic alternation. Those who could burn the 15th metal became the new ruling class and those for whom it did nothing were relegated to drudgery. Remember the comment that Allomancers used to be stronger back in the day. Perhaps this is simple genetic drift over time combined with some amount of breeding between the nobility and the Skaa--also creating mistings. This might also explain TLR's prohibitions on relations between nobility and Skaa.
The 16th metal would be Take Away Allomantic Ability, but it would only work on those with the right genes.
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i would say there are some genetics involved, as allomancers tend to have allomancer children and skaa have no allomancer blood whatsoever, but i don't think you need to already be able to burn a metal to give you allomantic powers to...burn more metals.
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The 15 and 16 metals are linked with duralumin and aluminium, right? SO this is my theroy for them. The one gives you allomancy hey, forever, your mistborn, and that's that. Aluminum takes away your metals, they are gone forefver, until you replenish them with enw ones, but the old one's never come back. Duralumin burns your metals away in a singel powerful burst. What if the 16th metal does something similar, burning a bunch of power away in an instant , instead of gaining power that last for life, sounds like the power of creation, eh? What if the stuff in the well is liquid metal: the 16th metal!
Thoughts
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The 15 and 16 metals are linked with duralumin and aluminium, right? SO this is my theroy for them. The one gives you allomancy hey, forever, your mistborn, and that's that. Aluminum takes away your metals, they are gone forefver, until you replenish them with enw ones, but the old one's never come back. Duralumin burns your metals away in a singel powerful burst. What if the 16th metal does something similar, burning a bunch of power away in an instant , instead of gaining power that last for life, sounds like the power of creation, eh? What if the stuff in the well is liquid metal: the 16th metal!
Thoughts
That was my thought as well--check the first post in this topic to see what I mean.
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I've been thinking that the metal Elend ingested should be paired with Duraluminum. It's like a lightswitch: Elend's metal "turns on" your latent Allomancy in the same way Duraluminum "turns up your dial". Aluminum "shuts down" your metals in the same way the last metal would "turn off" your ability to use Allomancy.
The bigger question for me is, can anyone burn Elend's metal? If a random Skaa was picked out and given a drop of the metal, would they develop allomancy? Every statement about why Allomancy is limited to the nobility originates in the propaganda machine of TLR.
I'm not sure if the power at the Well is necessarily allomantic--Allomancy doesn't seem to do much in the way of creation or distruction, even in large amounts.
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i actually really, really like that idea comatose! And Tyran i believe that if a skaa were given Elend's metal it would work exactly the same, the only difference between skaa and nobles is that the nobles supported TLR in his bid for power iirc. He then blessed the nobles with some of the same metal Elend ingested, and they passed it on to their descendants. Over the years their blood has become diluted and Allomancers are not as common or as powerful, but as skaa had no metal to begin with they cannot conceive Allomancers.
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Duralumin and Aluminum are definately paired, because they are Duralumin is an alloy of aluminum, it would be a cool switch, but we already know for sure that they are paired.
Maybe there's a deeper reasoning for who is skaa and who is noble, the way the lord ruler didn't let them breed sounds a lot like what he did to the terris to stop them from breeding with noblemen. What if there's some secret to why the skaa are skaa?
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Well it is described that the Lord Ruler was a Terrisman and that somehow he gained Allomantic abilities after going to the well of ascension, therefore I believe that at very minimum we've nailed the fifteenth metal. Through the patterns of all of the other metals, when you compare opposites, would very much support the idea that it would get rid of someone's ability to burn metals.
I believe that this theory is well thought out and very plausible. Even if it turns out to be wrong, it was a valiant effort.
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Not all pairs are exact opposites though. Tin and Pewter both enhance characteristics, if they were opposites, one would weaken charcteristics wouldn't it? But the both enhance: one physical cahractersitics the othere the senses, they're not exactly opposites though, just close. Like Duralumin and ALumunim one takes away metals, the other takes away metals in a single flared burst. ESsentially they both do the same thing in different ways. So you see, the pushing and pulling pairs of metals don't always have to have opposite effects.
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Very good point.
In any case they all relate somehow to their other metal.
I don't really see anything else this could do,
unless it somehow managed to grant them Furechemical abilities.
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WEll if the fifteenth gives you power of allomancy for a long time, I like the theory at the start of this thread, theo one that the 16th is the liquid metal in the well that gives the power of creation, all the power you want, but in a single burst, that wears off quickly.
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That idea seems way too omnipowerful though.
If this had been the case, then why hadn't the Lord Ruler have a private stock of it kept within Kredik Shaw? I mean, he would have known what it did, and if it had allowed something that powerful, wouldn't he want it close to him at all times? There is always the explanation of the ego complex though. He could have assumed that if he ever wanted it he could just go and get it without alerting its secret to anyone.
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yeah i tend to doubt that the 16th will take away Allomancy. Of course it would make things extremely hard for the hero which Sanderson loves but it seems too obvious. And of course the metal in the pool could be the 16th metal. The Lord Ruler does have his private stock; in the Well. Within Kredik Shaw.
He doesn't need to use it though, because with his hybrid abilities he is far more powerful than any other magic-user out there. He rules with an iron fist and his own personal squad of Inquisitors keep the law.
However, using the 16th metal in the Well doesn't come without a price. Using it directly touches the power (either Ruin or Preservation) locked in the Well; perhaps awakening the sleeping/chained Power?
The more i think about this idea the more i like it...thoughts?
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OK! I just had a sudden epiphany of sorts. I have no idea where this suddenly clicked and came into place within my head, but it did.
A new theory on the 16th Metal.
What if the 16th metal isn't actually a metal at all. What if the 16th metal is actually the mists. We see that the 15th metal is creating power within someone, giving them the powers of allomancy. Now we also see that the mists are starting to destroy things, kill people, etc. AND Vin used the mists to help her defeat the Lord Ruler. Then we see that the Deepness was subsided by the Lord Ruler. Using the 15th metal somehow suppressed the deepness, and we also see that the mists went away at this time.
We also know that there is Ruin and Preservation. . . what if these are just the connotational names for the 15th and 16th metals. What if the liquid in the well is actually what is creating the mists and the mists ARE the 16th metal, and it just burns differently than the others?
-Sorry my thoughts were all jumbled and everywhere, I just had to like spit this all out before I totally forgot everything I was thinking.-
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We also know that there is Ruin and Preservation. . . what if these are just the connotational names for the 15th and 16th metals. What if the liquid in the well is actually what is creating the mists and the mists ARE the 16th metal, and it just burns differently than the others?
If that's the case, who was it that shouted I AM FREE at the end of WoA? Unless you think the metal can shout as well? I suppose it's probably possible, but I don't find it very likely.
I like the idea of the well power being the 16th metal. I think I stated that earlier in this thread, but I'll say it again just for fun.
That idea seems way too omnipowerful though.
Not necessarily. We don't really know how the metal works, and there could be limitations we haven't guessed. There also is a rather limited stock of this metal, so that would make it difficult for anyone to get and effectively limit it.
As an aside, can you imagine how much that metal would be worth?
If this had been the case, then why hadn't the Lord Ruler have a private stock of it kept within Kredik Shaw? I mean, he would have known what it did, and if it had allowed something that powerful, wouldn't he want it close to him at all times? There is always the explanation of the ego complex though. He could have assumed that if he ever wanted it he could just go and get it without alerting its secret to anyone.
As mentioned earlier, he did have a private stock, the Well itself. Also, the metal is only there in large quantities every thousand years, and apparently the only way to get it out is to use it, so that would make it difficult to get a private stockpile.
OK! I just had a sudden epiphany of sorts. I have no idea where this suddenly clicked and came into place within my head, but it did.
A new theory on the 16th Metal.
What if the 16th metal isn't actually a metal at all. What if the 16th metal is actually the mists. We see that the 15th metal is creating power within someone, giving them the powers of allomancy. Now we also see that the mists are starting to destroy things, kill people, etc. AND Vin used the mists to help her defeat the Lord Ruler. Then we see that the Deepness was subsided by the Lord Ruler. Using the 15th metal somehow suppressed the deepness, and we also see that the mists went away at this time.
This makes sense, but also doesn't. It leaves a lot of questions. If the 16th metal isn't a metal, then what exactly is it that Elend ingested? Also, allomancy is based entirely on metals, and mist is mostly water vapor, no matter what else it has in it. It may have metal in it, but it itself isn't metal. So that would mean that the mists have to be made entirely of metal. I suppose they could be a gaseous form of some metal, though, and that same metal is what Elend ate in solid form. But then, why were they in different states of matter under fairly similar conditions? And why is the metal gaseous at outside temperature? The only metal I can think of that isn't solid at room temperature is mercury, and that one is liquid. I suppose it could work, but I'm more inclined to believe that the mists and the ability to burn them are related to allomancy, but not directly included as one of the metals.
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If that's the case, who was it that shouted I AM FREE at the end of WoA? Unless you think the metal can shout as well? I suppose it's probably possible, but I don't find it very likely.
The power could also be holding back the strong entity which we find was hidden here. That could simply be one of the ways in which it works, and by using it you are breaking some kind of hidden barrier, which in turn would release the thing it had been placed in front of to hold. Read the thing at the bottom of this post for more validation on this, but what if the barrier had been formed out of mists and burning it so close, while not knowing what you're doing, released the barrier.
This makes sense, but also doesn't. It leaves a lot of questions. If the 16th metal isn't a metal, then what exactly is it that Elend ingested? Also, allomancy is based entirely on metals, and mist is mostly water vapor, no matter what else it has in it. It may have metal in it, but it itself isn't metal. So that would mean that the mists have to be made entirely of metal. I suppose they could be a gaseous form of some metal, though, and that same metal is what Elend ate in solid form. But then, why were they in different states of matter under fairly similar conditions? And why is the metal gaseous at outside temperature? The only metal I can think of that isn't solid at room temperature is mercury, and that one is liquid. I suppose it could work, but I'm more inclined to believe that the mists and the ability to burn them are related to allomancy, but not directly included as one of the metals.
I never said it wasn't metal, I just said what if it and the mists were the same thing. Like if the metal were a very volatile substance that could easily change form. Whereas they found it in a solid form in the end of WoA. I'm more thinking thought that it could be very unstable in its solid state, and therefor takes on the form of the mists. Also, have you ever seen real mists? They don't move like rivers and don't have a ghost like consciousness hidden within them. What if this is all part of the metal and it's power? What if it is trying to destroy everything.
15th metal - This is Preservation. There are many metals in our blood, some of them more prevalent than others. So, my thought, in an attempt to try and keep the world together, this metal runs through peoples blood. This could explain why you have to be noble, because it could be a metal only inherited from a parent. And different concentrations of it, or different blood types, could react differently; thus causing Mistings and Mistborns.
16th metal - This is Ruin. This metal wants everything to die and perish. Thus it takes on the form of mists. Under the Lord Ruler's reign, he could control the mists, thus keeping them at bay. Not that there is no one to control them, they have started bringing destruction about again. The voice could have been the essence of the metal, which could have taken a physical form, reveling in the fact that it can now reign free because they broke a barrier set up by the Lord Ruler. The thing that the Hero of Ages SHOULD have done, was use all of the power he had found to destroy the 16th metal, thus causing preservation forever. The thing being that the Lord Ruler, wanting the power for himself, simply captured its essence and kept the power for himself.
Take this into consideration - Vin even talks about burning the mists as if they were a metal. Steel and iron push/pull on other metals. What if burning the mists also gave you some control over the mists. This would explain why the mists acted like they did when the Lord Ruler was in control. He could keep them at bay during the day, and then allow them to keep Skaa in line at night. It could also explain the way in which the new entity was kept at bay.
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We've discussed the likelihood of the mists being metal, we never really came up with any conclusions, as I remember.
Here's a question: What would happen if someone who is already a misting or a full mistborn ate the 15th metal. PErhaps that's why inquisitors are such good seekers, and why they are seekers before hand. You take a seeker, give him the metal, he becomes a msitborn with great seeking abilities. Then add hemalurgy, with the spikes and whatever that does. Then again, we know Vin's great seeking abilities have something to do with her earring, which makes the above theory unlikely doesn't it? Oh well, jsut me thinking out loud.
And sorry Miyabi, I'm still not buying the Ruin and Preservation are metals thread, although I agree with what you have to say of how the powers are passed on and such, with the metals in the blood.
What if there were misting-like feruchemists as well, say ones who could only store one attribute. Maybe the fact that the powers split up after a few generations is something unique about allomancy. And Hemalurgy isn't genetic at all, it's only present in those given it by some sort of ritual. Anyways, just some particualr random ramblings that came to mind.
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What if there were misting-like feruchemists as well, say ones who could only store one attribute. Maybe the fact that the powers split up after a few generations is something unique about allomancy.
Thats what i've been wondering about as well...i guess we'd have to know more about whether hemalurgy and feruchemy are passed on genetically as well.
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i guess we'd have to know more about whether hemalurgy and feruchemy are passed on genetically as well.
Surely it's fairly well established that feruchemy is hereditary? I didn't know anyone was questioning that.
As for hemalurgy, that's a different story. Some people theorize that it may be, in part, hereditary to the skaa, but I don't think we'll know much for sure for another few months. :)
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eh, sry i was doing like three things when i wrote that, forgot all about TLR's culling of the Keepers :( Still, it would be nice to know what prerequisites are neccesary to use hemalurgy. After all, surely there must be more than simply making sacrifices and sticking metal in yourself.
Perhaps Allomancy is required? The only Hemalurgists we know of are also Allomancers.
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I'm continueing this thought on the hemalurgy thread.
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15th metal - This is Preservation. There are many metals in our blood, some of them more prevalent than others. So, my thought, in an attempt to try and keep the world together, this metal runs through peoples blood. This could explain why you have to be noble, because it could be a metal only inherited from a parent. And different concentrations of it, or different blood types, could react differently; thus causing Mistings and Mistborns.
The only problem with that is that your parents wouldn't be able to pass that much of the metal on to you, and after you were born the only way for you to get more metal is to take it from your parents blood (assuming of course, that there is no other source of this metal.). Because of that, the number of mistborn/mistings should have decreased at a far greater rate than it did.
16th metal - This is Ruin. This metal wants everything to die and perish. Thus it takes on the form of mists. Under the Lord Ruler's reign, he could control the mists, thus keeping them at bay. Not that there is no one to control them, they have started bringing destruction about again. The voice could have been the essence of the metal, which could have taken a physical form, reveling in the fact that it can now reign free because they broke a barrier set up by the Lord Ruler. The thing that the Hero of Ages SHOULD have done, was use all of the power he had found to destroy the 16th metal, thus causing preservation forever. The thing being that the Lord Ruler, wanting the power for himself, simply captured its essence and kept the power for himself.
So what you're saying is that the hero of ages should completely destroy Ruin? The problem with this is that then you are left only with preservation. Therefore, nothing changes, and the world slows into stagnation. There has to be balance for the world to work.
Take this into consideration - Vin even talks about burning the mists as if they were a metal. Steel and iron push/pull on other metals. What if burning the mists also gave you some control over the mists. This would explain why the mists acted like they did when the Lord Ruler was in control. He could keep them at bay during the day, and then allow them to keep Skaa in line at night. It could also explain the way in which the new entity was kept at bay.
So wait...You're suggesting a Third Entity that we haven't heard about yet? That seems to me like an unnecessary complication. It seems to me that Brandon would have mentioned a third entity if it existed.
Also, the ting about burning the mists allowing you to control them is plausible, but I don't really agree. Vin burns the mist, agreed. Brandon establishes that this is related to allomancy. The mists are, themselves related to allomancy. The problem is that the mists are (according to Brandon from his MB 1 Annotations Ch 38 pt 3) related to the mythology of the world and the magic systems on a foundational level. The mists are affected not only by allomancy, but also by hemalurgy, as evidenced by the inquisitors, Vin, and Zane. So I see them as being a kind of transition area between the systems, and also between Ruin and Preservation. I think that the Deepness was a result of Ruin controlling the mists, and now that Ruin is free, it can control them again.
If there was doubt as to the fact that the force released at the Well is Ruin, it is cleared up here. Product Description for HoA, Amazon.
Who is the Hero of Ages?
To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness---the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists---is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.
Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can’t even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!
The conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy fulfills all the promise of the first two books. Revelations abound, connections rooted in early chapters of the series click into place, and surprises, as satisfying as they are stunning, blossom like fireworks to dazzle and delight. It all leads up to a finale unmatched for originality and audacity that will leave readers rubbing their eyes in wonder, as if awaking from an amazing dream.
Emphasis mine, of course. But you see what I mean.
Also, I'm still confused, in what way would the Lord Ruler have used the mist to keep the skaa in line at night? Unless you were simply referring to him planting superstitions among them?
We've discussed the likelihood of the mists being metal, we never really came up with any conclusions, as I remember.
Here's a question: What would happen if someone who is already a misting or a full mistborn ate the 15th metal. PErhaps that's why inquisitors are such good seekers, and why they are seekers before hand. You take a seeker, give him the metal, he becomes a msitborn with great seeking abilities. Then add hemalurgy, with the spikes and whatever that does. Then again, we know Vin's great seeking abilities have something to do with her earring, which makes the above theory unlikely doesn't it? Oh well, jsut me thinking out loud.
And sorry Miyabi, I'm still not buying the Ruin and Preservation are metals thread, although I agree with what you have to say of how the powers are passed on and such, with the metals in the blood.
What if there were misting-like feruchemists as well, say ones who could only store one attribute. Maybe the fact that the powers split up after a few generations is something unique about allomancy. And Hemalurgy isn't genetic at all, it's only present in those given it by some sort of ritual. Anyways, just some particualr random ramblings that came to mind.
I was actually wondering about the what would happen if you fed a mistborn the 15th metal thing earlier. My guess is...Absolutely Nothing!!! As a side note, I can't recall ever having confirmation that Vin's seeking abilities are due to her bronze earring, just our wild speculation that seems most likely to be right.
eh, sry i was doing like three things when i wrote that, forgot all about TLR's culling of the Keepers :( Still, it would be nice to know what prerequisites are neccesary to use hemalurgy. After all, surely there must be more than simply making sacrifices and sticking metal in yourself.
Perhaps Allomancy is required? The only Hemalurgists we know of are also Allomancers.
The only Hemalurgists we know for sure that can use allomancy are Vin, Zane, and Marsh. And the Lord Ruler. I might have missed some. I agree that the others are likely allomancers, but I hesitate to just establish that as fact.
I'm continueing this thought on the hemalurgy thread.
I shall follow!
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Oh dark gods of forum posting! I call upon thy strength to reanimate the soul of this dead topic!
Okay, so it's necroposting, but I feel there's sufficient new material to resurrect this thread.
In Brandon's blog post about Issac being at the release party, he posted an image of a new metals poster they're working on. The link is http://www.monkeysloth.net/brandon/graphics/IsaacStewartConfirmedatProvoLaunchPartyH_C379/PosterPrelim.jpg
On this chart, we're most concerned with the bottom-left hand corner.
(http://picasaweb.google.com/TacticianCzanos/Misc?authkey=g0y-9SozMKE#5254898319974158882)
If you look closely, you can see that Aluminum, the Internal Pulling metal, and Duralumin, the Internal Pushing metal, are the fifteenth and sixteenth metals, respectively.
This means that the other two Enhancement metals are external, which may support the theory that Elend's metal is not on the wheel.
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It's hard to read, but it looks to me like the 13th metal is Chromium. I can't make out its alloy. Anyone have better eyes?
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If it is Chromium, then the 14th metal could be Nickel Chromate. (Though if this is true the metal colors on the wheel are reversed. Chromium is silvery, where Nickel Chromate is rust colored.)
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Hmmm. I also think #13 is Chromium, but it's really hard to tell. In fact, #13's color does look like how I envisioned what was previously the 15th metal (the one Elend ate), sort of dark like that. All I know for certain is that it starts out with a "C".
I find it immensely curious that the 4th group of metals is explicitly called Enhancement, and that Duralumin and Aluminum are internal metals. Technically, giving someone Allomancy is an enhancement, so that could be likely.
I sort of doubt now that #14 is the thing in the Well, but it is silverish. That counts for something.
Sigh, I don't think I can make much more theories about the 13th/14th metal (curse that numbering change! lol). All I must say is that whenever Brandon will be selling those posters, I so want one.
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Curse you guys for resurrecting a topic that I'd learned to ignore! Anyway, I just started a new thread about this since I didn't see this.
Chromium is a likely possibility. Anyway....
This does kind of kill the 14th metal being the one in the well.