God Metals are extraordinary substances directly formed from the concentrated power, or Investiture, of a Shard of Adonalsium. These unique metals embody a portion of a Shard's essence and possess remarkable properties.
Nature and Origin of God Metals
These metals are a direct manifestation of a Shard's power and can theoretically be created from any of the sixteen Shards. While their primary method of formation is through direct emanation from a Shard, it is also considered extremely difficult, though not entirely impossible, to create a God Metal without a Shard's direct involvement. Their rarity and origin make them incredibly significant within the Cosmere.
Properties and Applications
God Metals are highly reactive and versatile, particularly in their ability to form alloys.
- Alloying with Lesser Metals: Each God Metal has the capacity to alloy with what are considered "lesser metals" (such as iron, steel, tin, pewter, etc.) to produce sixteen distinct new metallic compounds. While the theoretical number of these alloys is vast, only a select few of them are currently known or widely documented.
- Alloying with Other God Metals: Beyond alloying with lesser metals, God Metals can also be alloyed with each other. This inter-God Metal alloying creates even more complex and potentially powerful substances, further expanding the possibilities of their use.
Key Characteristics of God Metals
To summarize their defining traits, God Metals exhibit several core characteristics:
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Origin | Directly formed from the Investiture (power) of a Shard of Adonalsium. |
| Shard Specificity | Can be manifested from any of the Shards, not limited to a select few. |
| Independent Creation | While primarily Shard-born, their creation is extremely difficult but potentially possible without a Shard. |
| Alloying with Lesser Metals | Each God Metal can combine with common metals to yield sixteen different, unique alloys. |
| Alloying with Other God Metals | They possess the unique ability to alloy with other God Metals, forming new compounds. |
| Known Alloys | Only a limited number of their potential alloys with lesser metals are presently known. |
