Vessel

A Vessel (i.e., a Shardholder) is an individual who has taken up the power of a Shard.Mistborn: Secret History, part 5, chapter 2
While the compulsion of "being" a Shard is incredibly strong, one's capacity as a Vessel is thereby increased, and one's ability to learn how to deal with that compulsion is also equally increased.Dragonsteel Mini-Con 2021, 11/22/21
==Characteristics==
The original sixteen Vessels all knew each other.JordanCon 2014, Roswell, GA, 4/11/14 
Vessels have some flexibility in expressing the Intent of a Shard, particularly if the Intent is open to many interpretations. A Vessel's mind - and how it perceives - will have a large influence on how things are expressed. But there are some deterministic things that are also going to push them. For example, holding Ruin; Harmony may not go down the same path that happened to Ati.Book signing, San Francisco, CA, 11/30/16
Vessels are not - even if their minds are enormously expanded by holding a Shard - infinite.Book signing, London, UK, 11/28/17
==Notes==
According to Brandon, there are multiple nonhuman Vessels* in the cosmere.JordanCon 2021, Atlanta, GA, 7/17/21
*See Dragons.
==Q&A with Brandon==
Q. So all of the Vessels of the Shards were, if not mortal, at least physical beings at some point, right?
A. Yes.
Q. Are there any living descendants of any of them still in the cosmere?
A. Yes.Starsight Release Party, Orem, UT, 11/26/19
Q. Are there any previous Vessels still roaming around in the Cognitive Realm or have they all passed into the Beyond?
A. RAFO.YouTube Spoiler Stream 3, 12/16/21
==References==
Category:Shardbearers