Item from Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Small glass vials containing metal flake shavings suspended in alcohol. Allomancers drink these to replenish their internal metal reserves, each vial containing specific metal combinations for different abilities.
Allomantic vials are the fuel of Allomancy. An Allomancer must ingest metal to burn it — the metal is consumed within their body as they use their powers, and when it runs out, the power stops. Vials provide a quick way to replenish mid-combat or mid-mission. The alcohol base helps the metals dissolve and settle in the stomach where they can be accessed. Preparing vials is a practical skill every Allomancer learns: too little metal is wasteful, too much risks metal poisoning. Mistborn carry multiple vials with different combinations, while Mistings need only their specific metal. In the chaos of battle, the moment an Allomancer reaches for a vial is often their most vulnerable.
Small glass vials, typically carried in bandoliers or belt pouches. The liquid inside is clear alcohol with tiny metallic flakes visible — iron filings, steel shavings, bits of tin, pewter dust. Different vials contain different metal combinations. Some Allomancers carry general-purpose vials with all basic metals; specialists carry vials of their specific metal.
Also known as: metal vials, vials