The sixteen fragments of the god Adonalsium, shattered in a primordial act whose details remain largely unknown. Each Shard embodies a fundamental aspect or intent – Ruin, Preservation, Honor, Odium, Autonomy, and others – and grants its holder immense power, though the Shard's intent gradually shapes the holder's personality and actions over millennia. The Shards are the driving forces behind the magic systems and conflicts across the Cosmere.