Black Friday World-building EXTRAVAGANZA!

11/24/2017

EDIT 11/29: "Submissions," if that's what you'd like to call them, are now closed! You can keep commenting, but I can't promise I'll answer anything beyond Magpie Jack's question about aura theory!

Also, many of you asked multiple questions or proposed many scenarios. I'll answer the most fun one from each of you (or more if I feel like it), but if I responded to everything I'd be writing a whole new book down there!

Now that Purple Wednesday and Brown Thursday have passed, its time for Black Friday...and, since I don’t have any extra products to sell you, another round of collaborative world-building!

You tell me what detail you’d like me to make up about one of my worlds (Traveler’s Gate, Elder Empire, Cradle, or Barbie Horse Adventures) and I’ll make it up! Or, if it’s an answer I’ve already come up with, I’ll just tell you!

Caveat: I’m here to make stuff up because it’s fun and allow you to ask weird, off-the-wall questions, so I won’t answer things that might be spoilers or could ruin the story. If you remember last round, topics like “What’s the most popular restaurant on Cradle?” or “Tell me where the bathrooms are in Valinhall” are most preferred.

I’ll give you about a day to pile up questions/comments/snide remarks, and then I’ll answer them!

By sheer coincidence, that will also give me some more time to catch up on my email, which I still haven’t finished!

Meanwhile, ask me everything you’ve always wanted to know about Simon’s shoe size and how childbirth works on Cradle (I saw that question before, but I never got around to answering it).

Fire away!

-Will

324 Comments

Jason

11/24/2017 08:30:32 am

What is Lindon's favorite baked good?

If Simon had to pick an animal he would be, what would he pick?

Will link

11/30/2017 01:53:46 pm

>If Simon had to pick an animal he would be, what would he pick?

When Simon was a child, he found a badger burrow behind his family's house. The badger largely ignored humans, but viciously attacked any other animals who get close to the burrow entrance.

Simon enjoyed watching it, and he was impressed with the way the badger completely ignored anything that wasn't a threat, but wasn't afraid of anything. And it spent a lot of the day nestled snug in its den.

This left an impression on him, so he'd pick a badger.

Deadnettle

11/24/2017 08:41:52 am

What kinds aura would be most useful for a musician's path on cradle? Also, what do Abidan Judges do when they step down and retire? Do they play cosmic shuffleboard and take up world-knitting?

Will link

11/30/2017 01:55:56 pm

>What do Judges do when they retire?

That depends on the Judge. Many of them do drift into the shallow void, knitting fragments together into miniature Territory-like lesser worlds.

So effectively yeah, they can take up world-knitting.

Others return to their original worlds and live like gods; they may have given up their Mantle and weapon, but they're still extremely powerful beings.

Most of them go to live in Sanctum, the home world of the Abidan. They take up advisory positions in the Abidan organization, though they're not allowed to wield any authority.

Walter

11/30/2017 11:33:39 pm

I’ve been wondering what happens after you’re done being Abidan... :( this felt like a spoiler

Sean k

11/24/2017 08:42:55 am

How would a meal of the same ingredients be different if made from someone of higher rank? Suck as Turkey. Assuming a culinary path, how would that Turkey differ when made by a low-gold, underlord, sage, or Herald?

Will link

11/30/2017 02:14:34 pm

I'm not sure if you're talking about the level of the chef or the level of a sacred turkey. So I'm going to answer both.

The problem with eating sacred beasts is that they get more intelligent as they advance. Most cultures have the same taboos against this as they do against cannibalism.

However, there are a few exceptions. Some powerful individuals don't care about the rights of those weaker than them, and will consume sacred beasts regardless of their intelligence. Other cultures have no taboo, but make sure that the beasts have died of natural causes. And sometimes when sacred beasts are born instead of awakened from advancement, they have all the power and none of the intelligence. Though this can be hard to prove.

So in the latter case, where you might have a Truegold-level sacred turkey with the intelligence of a normal bird, let's assume you ate it. It's going to be very tough, so it's difficult to cook, but if you prepared it perfectly, you would find it to be an intense experience. The concentrated blood aura in the body gives the meat a powerful flavor that you might find physically uncomfortable until you get used to it. When processed with the appropriate herbs, it can be delicious...although usually served in small portions.

It can also help to refine the body, strengthening you and promoting physical health.

As for a chef, here's what they say in the Blackflame Empire:

A Lowgold chef will prepare you a wonderful meal.
A Highgold chef will cook you the best dish you've ever had in your life.
A Truegold chef will serve you your new favorite food.

Jacob

11/24/2017 09:00:21 am

What do people do on cradle who don't pursue sacred arts?

Jerry

11/24/2017 09:47:42 am

Good question!

Dustin

11/24/2017 09:26:01 pm

I pretty much just assume they'd die. :P That or never travel more than 5 feet away from their house that is protected by many other cultivators.

Will link

11/30/2017 02:18:27 pm

To a degree, advancement in the sacred arts is an act of survival. Almost every adult on the planet is at least Iron, because that's essentially the minimum it takes to interact with the world on a normal level.

However, many of Cradle's people don't consider themselves "sacred artists" per se, because their life does not revolve around the pursuit of advancement. Aura and madra are still a part of their lives, but not personal power and achievement.

Cradle certainly has farmers, but farmers who can pull the rainclouds closer with Ruler techniques. They have chefs who can determine your tastes by reading your feelings, doctors who can diagnose you from across the room by sensing your blood, and carpenters who shape wood with their spirits.

Jacob

12/8/2017 08:59:23 am

Thanks will!!

Craig

11/24/2017 09:18:25 am

Is the a cycling technique that aids digestion? Asking for a friend.

Will link

11/30/2017 07:05:56 pm

The Path of the Crimson Furnace has developed a cycling technique that they use in conjunction with their Iron bodies to eat as many spirit-fruits and sacred elixirs and pills as possible. They gorge themselves on sacred beast meat and sacred herbs, and then digest as quickly as possible.

Their Iron body involves stuffing yourself to bursting and then using life madra to accelerate your body so that you digest it quickly. After about two weeks of this, combined with some pills they have developed for the purpose, your body becomes able to do it naturally. It's a great all-purpose Iron body; they are able to receive further benefits from elixirs that improve the body, and much of what they eat strengthens them and makes them tougher. The only downside is an accelerated metabolism: now they HAVE to eat all the time.

At Jade, they have a cycling technique to go along with it. It allows them to milk further benefits out of restorative pills and elixirs, and extracts aura from the things they eat, improving advancement.

Chu Feng

11/30/2017 08:48:58 pm

So my Heavenly Bloodline has a cheap knockoff. Stupid Cradle.

Nick

11/24/2017 09:18:52 am

How do monarchs have babies on Cradle? Do they just appear instantly at the nine months stage? Do they rocket out of the womb at mach 9? The core is right below the navel, which is where a baby would be. Does this effect the baby or it's own developing core?

Will link

11/30/2017 07:09:23 pm

The children of Monarchs are born just like anyone else. Monarchs are not only extremely powerful, they are also skilled at controlling their power; they're not going to harm their child unless they want to. When the baby is within the womb, the Monarch's own spirit protects it, and it is born normally. Monarchs have smoother and easier pregnancies than most women, due to their superhuman resilience.

The children of Monarchs are often born with special advantages. Some bloodline legacies (powers inherited through lineage) are from sacred beasts that have taken human form, but others come from Monarch ancestors.

Curiousity

11/24/2017 09:20:39 am

Why does thus far everyone seem to speak the same language and very similar dialect? Even the people in the Sacred Valley, who have been isolated for centuries, seem to speak the same language as is known throughout the Blackfire Empire.

Namer

11/26/2017 04:52:59 pm

While I agree that it seems everyone speaks the same or similar language, I have to argue that there is quite a bit of evidence for different dialects. Re-read Yerin's lines from Unsouled, and notice how she has a manner of speech and a great many expressions that are foreign to both the reader and to Lindon.

If fact, Yerin seems to have a great many expressions in general that are fairly uncommon. Such as: "You're asking me, but who am I supposed to ask?" or "Bury that."

I think the main reason we don't see that more is because if the author did that for every character the number of unusual and different expressions would be completely overwhelming to the reader. Also, Lindon's proficiency with interacting with the outside world is growing, and so these sayings become less strange to him. The author is mimicking that feeling with the reader.

Curiosity

11/27/2017 11:46:43 am

Mhm, yeah. I agree. I just started re-reading Unsouled again and I have been noticing that Yerin sounds pretty different, especially in her first scenes. So I take back what I said about there not being different dialects.

But still though, it doesn't seem like transportation and trades so powerful and widespread that the average person would be able to transverse an at least Eurasia size continent easily. They can't possibly all speak the same language. At least not without a magical explanation. Like maybe Script is associated with the spoken tongue, causing it to be universal in all cultures.

Sage of Impatient Readers

11/28/2017 09:50:24 pm

Also remember that, with a few exceptions, most of the people we have seen have been from the Blackflame Empire, which has been united for a significant time and which has had some harsh rulers (the kind that might force subjugated people to change languages to whatever the Empire speaks.
Of the exceptions
Yerin: Speaks a noticeably different dialect
Eithan: Not from the Empire, but has lived there for six years, most of what he says is strange enough that unusual word choices seem to be "just him" but could possibly be due to slight language differences. Eithan is probably the main person who should use a different language or dialect that doesn't.
Akura Justice: the Akura family controls the Blackflame Empire, Justice was chosen to speak to Eithan (no surprise that someone acting as an ambassador would be someone who knows the language well)
Akura Mercy: Again, the Akura rule over the Empire, and Mercy chose to go there (instead of some other territory), possibly because she is comfortable with the language and culture in the Empire.
Sacred Valley: was once connected to the Empire. We don't know how long they have been isolated (probably long enough for some language drift), but they do have a little contact with the Empire. It's possible that the presence of an immortal (Elder Whisper), the fact that their Elders live longer, and the fact that written Path manuals are so central to the culture could all have slower down language changes.

So everyone we have seen SHOULD speak the same language, just with different accents and slightly different word choices. The problem is that accents are difficult to show through writing. Consider Australia, the U.S., Canada, and the UK. It's possible to read a book or article written by someone in a different English-speaking country and barely notice. It would be pretty difficult to establish different characters as being from different regions purely through text without the audience being aware of certain signaling words (bathroom vs toilet, "shall", etc.). For someone unaware of the differences (like us, because we've never been to Cradle), it's impossible to really tell the difference.

Cradle also does have pretty effective transportation methods. Thousand-Mile Clouds and other flying constructs or beasts are considered valuable, but still pretty common (imagine them similar to cars-expensive, but useful enough to be worth the investment for many people). Our world has been connected enough that language barriers are reducing (rather than similar languages diverging) for some time now. While we don't know how long their scripting technology has been at this point (at least before Sacred Valley was isolated) Cradle's transportation technology seems high enough that language wouldn't diverge too much once a region has been unified. And the fact that Monarchs can conquer anything below their level effortlessly means that very large empires are possible, even if they are often left to their own devices for ease of governing (like the Blackflame Empire is mostly left alone by the Akura).

Curiousity

11/29/2017 07:58:19 pm

All right, all right. Now that I'm 3/4 of the way through my re-read of Soulsmith I'm noticing a lot of little things about word usage I must have missed on my first read through when I was primarily focused on plot and understanding the setting. So I rescind my earlier comment about languages.

I suppose it's a credit to Will's skill as a writer that I didn't even notice word choice, despite them being unusual. The fit well enough into the story that nothing pulled me out of immersion enough to notice.

Will link

11/30/2017 07:15:36 pm

Looks like the Sage has covered this in detail, but I'll throw in my two cents: we're still largely in the same region, but even then, I've thrown in some different accents. Fisher Gesha, Lindon, Yerin, and Eithan all speak in a different vernacular, and I imagine them as having subtly different accents.

It's all *largely* the same because we haven't left the country, and because language has spread further than we might imagine based on our history in our world. For one thing, most of this world used to speak the same language (I'll probably get into the specifics of that at some point). It's drifted over the years, but less than you might think thanks to fairly widespread communication. Even though Cradle is a harsh world, a single sacred artist can travel much farther than a single real person, and nomadic tribes are common. There are also dream techniques for transferring language, which allows them to transfer speech much more efficiently.

As for Eithan's accent specifically, he spent his childhood in the Blackflame Empire. He speaks the local dialect better than Yerin or Lindon do.

There are, however, multiple languages in Cradle. As the world expands, we'll run into them.

Happy

11/24/2017 09:31:25 am

Greetings Will.

I would like to know about the ethno-geographical population distribution across the BlackFlame Empire and surrounding continent. This question comes in several parts.

1. How did humans originally get to Cradle? Did they evolve there independently? Did the abidan drop them off from a dead world?

2. Are there major ethnic groups in the BlackFlame empire or only clan-based lineages. We know most in the Wei clan have black, sometimes brown hair, and that is clearly phonetically very different from the aerulius family physical appearance. Are their major ethnic groups or are physical variations between groups only clan-deep?

3. How long ago was the Blackflame empire and surrounding area settled by humans? How long ago was it since the continent first got humans and where did these travelers come from?

4. To what degree does geographic features influence the paths that are practiced by people that live there? Will you find more fire practitioners near the equator and more ice practitioners near the poles?

Thank you for your time.

Will link

11/30/2017 07:24:37 pm

I'm going to try and respond to the general questions about ethnicity in Cradle, though I can't guarantee I'll hit all of your points. I'll try to answer the spirit of the question!

Humans did not evolve independently on Cradle. The Abidan initially thought they did, as the first Abidan came from Cradle; they ascended out of the world only to discover many others, most with humans that were virtually identical.

Naturally, they assumed that Cradle was the first world, but upon further investigation determined that it was not.

They have never been able to conclusively prove what the first world was.

The Blackflame Empire (and the whole continent) has a similar ethnic makeup to our east Asia. The genetics get a little muddy when you factor in sacred beasts that can breed with humans, as well as Paths that alter bloodlines, but that's a general rule of thumb.

The Arelius family comes from a different continent. Their family is, as you might imagine, Caucasian in extraction.

Pete

11/24/2017 09:42:52 am

Has anybody on Cradle every left their world to go to the moon or another planet?

Will link

11/30/2017 07:26:32 pm

Yes.

Minor spoiler alert: I'd like to go into more detail, but I'd also like to explore this in the main series, so I'm going to leave it at that.

Tievel1

11/24/2017 09:49:51 am

Are there any popular/professional sports on Cradle, or is it just exhibition fights all the time every time?

Is the Way universal, or can recognizable reality exist beyond it?

In the far recesses of history, who was the FIRST person to reach Monarch?

Will link

11/30/2017 07:33:58 pm

>Is the Way universal, or can recognizable reality exist beyond it?

The influence of the Way anchors worlds in reality by providing structure. Consistent, recognizable rules. In some of these worlds, even forces like gravity or time work differently, but they do work consistently within the world. That's the influence of the Way.

When the Abidan first started exploring the "shape" of the Way, they found it like a branching river, with Iterations like boulders in the stream. Outside the Way was the void: a hostile emptiness dotted with the fragments of broken worlds and populated by strange, unknowable creatures that sought to break rules and disrupt order.

The farther you travel into the void, the more recognizable reality crumbles, until you cease to exist. Even these fiends of the void, incomprehensible nightmare beings, can only exist somewhat close to the Way, because existence itself is a function of order.

However, when the Abidan organized, they determined that they would explore the scope and breadth of the Way. They followed each branch to its ending, until the power of the Way grew too thin to sustain them. Then they turned back.

They found that the Way WAS finite. It had an end. They've mapped it like a three-dimensional spider web, like a branching skeletal ball. In and among its branches is the endless, infinite void.

But their theory says that the Way should be infinite. There's no reason it should ever be contained, and indeed they've never seen it end; they've only followed it as far as they could.

Some believe that the Way stretches across an endless cosmic darkness, and this is the only place it has pooled thickly enough to sustain life.

Others believe that our Way is only one of many, and that there are other collections of reality out there. Perhaps an infinite number.

...I should probably save this and post it somewhere.

Curiosity

11/24/2017 09:50:47 am

Can other territories from amalgam attune artifacts from each other or is that something specific to the house of blades?

Will link

11/30/2017 07:34:46 pm

They all do that, over time. Valinhall somewhat speeds up the process using the workshop, but every Territory can assimilate pieces from other Territories eventually.

Michael

12/16/2017 11:28:21 pm

Would it be possible for a territory to incorporate enough of another, or maybe a sufficiently large piece, to create an overlap in the territories themselves? Wasn’t Valinhall grown form pieces of territories, or something like that? So theoretically territory’s have “seeds”... or something similar. Could Simon take pieces of Valinhall to the other territories and fuse links between them? Bleed one territory into another somehow?

John

11/24/2017 09:54:10 am

Are there any sacred beasts (besides dragons) that could go toe-to-toe with a Monarch or a Dreadgod?

Will link

11/30/2017 07:42:24 pm

There's Juwei, the Ghostwalker Fox, who has tricked Monarchs and escaped. There's a single Monarch-level dragon--known by some as the god of the desert--who has a centuries-old feud with Northstrider. There's Nightsong, the musician on the Path of the Moonlit Flute, who is either a sacred beast herself or has strong inhuman blood.

Andrew luscomb

11/24/2017 09:54:49 am

How do you probe your with to use the valinhall toilets

Will link

11/30/2017 07:44:28 pm

I don't understand this question except for the words "Valinhall toilets," so I'll answer what I can!

The Valinhall toilets are basically bottomless outhouses. There appears to be nothing down there at all, forever, but no one dives deep enough to find out. Only the waste goes down.

Also, the bathrooms are haunted.

Quinn

11/30/2017 08:55:26 pm

I think the question was supposed to be how do you prove your worth to be able to use the toilets in Valinhall? Fight to eat and fight to use the facilities? I assume the Nye give you that ability for free ... fewer accidents for them to clean ...

manty05

11/24/2017 10:41:22 am

What kinds of madra do the great schools of sacred valley use other than Heavens glory. I think they were Falling leaf, Golden blade and Divine wind.

Will link

12/7/2017 04:12:35 pm

Holy Wind: a strange Path of wind, light, and dream techniques that create zones of unnatural weather.

Golden Sword: a Path of sword madra that uses Enforcer techniques on their weapon. The name of their Path comes from the goldsteel swords they use more than from their techniques.

Fallen Leaf: focused on using life madra to guide the growth of spirit-fruits and sacred herbs.

Andrew

11/24/2017 10:41:43 am

What’s the most popular holiday in the blackflame empire? What does it celebrate how do the people celebrate it?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:14:46 pm

They celebrate the Emperor's birthday every year with parades that throw scales into the audience. They also celebrate the Empire's founding...although the date for that changes depending on where in the Empire you are.

Some people celebrate the founding of the current Empire, after the Blackflame family's fall. Others celebrate the founding of the original human empire, and still others celebrate the founding of the ancient dragon empire (although this date is highly disputed).

Pickle

11/24/2017 10:45:45 am

Does the board game of go exist on Cradle? If not, what is the closest existing analogue?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:21:13 pm

It does not, but Cradle's a large world, and there are alternatives.

There's a game a cross-hatched board where you place your pieces at the intersecting lines and they grow more powerful each turn they survive (indicated by replacing the pieces with different colors). The name for it, in the language of the locals, translates to "garden of beasts."

Pickle

12/7/2017 08:17:34 pm

Rad.

IsaacXander

12/8/2017 10:56:38 pm

Would you be particularly upset if i made this a thing?

Will link

12/9/2017 12:14:16 am

Absolutely enraged. I would unleash my fury upon you like the crashing of a thousand waves.

Joe

12/9/2017 05:06:44 am

I recently finished up my game inspired by the labyrinth under Sacred Valley (though now that we know more it doesn't apply as well), but it looks like I've got a new project to start in on!

Nick

11/24/2017 11:08:47 am

Can new types of madra be made artificially? Like if somebody invented the computer on Cradle would it collect computer madra?

Lyrian Rastler

11/28/2017 12:25:26 am

I would assume that a computer would gather the madra of its components. After all, per say, the computer is just glass, metal, plastic and electricity thrown together in a particular order, so it should just gather all of those

fred

11/28/2017 01:21:04 am

No there should be some kind of computing/calculating madra. After all there is sword madra, not just steel but madra assosiated with a specific shape and purpose.

Scott Russo

11/28/2017 06:25:06 am

Just want to point out that "sword" madra is somewhat of a misnomer and is more accurately known as either "blade" or "edge" madra, given that the madra gathers around any sharp edge, not just those of swords.

It might also be a question of whether or not a computer would work in Cradle without using Madra. After all, there are probably some Iterations out there whose system of the Way is so different the sacred artists are like superheroes or something like that. A "computer" as we known it might not function in such a high concentration of madra.

kaden

11/28/2017 07:41:37 pm

Also according to Jai Dashiou sword madras is just an adaptation of force madra. (in Skysworn)

Will link

12/7/2017 04:22:59 pm

All aspects of madra are essentially human interpretations of aura. You might notice a unique blend of aura around a computer, and you could break it down into storm aura and dream aura or what have you, or perhaps you could find a way to cycle it into your own madra and create what you called a "computer Path."

What would you be able to do? I'm not sure. That sounds like a confusing blend of madra.

Harlequin

11/24/2017 11:24:35 am

1. In The Traveler's Gate series, where do the Common people (non-travelers in the unnamed world) believe they go after they die.?
2. What happens to Traveler's when they die traveling the territories, anything special? Do they reincarnate as creatures of the territory, or grow it in some way?
3. Will we see Simon explore deeper into the house like we heard Kai did in book 2 and 3.
4. Are the coming Traveler's Gate books still going to focus on Simon, Leah and the others, or are you going to bring in some new cast members like you did in the short stories (I kind of liked the different perspectives, but i like Valinhall too much).

5. Have you ever considered writing a prequel series to Traveler's Gate? I really liked the Short story about Valin traveling in Tartarus, id like to see more of his adventures before and during the creation of Dragon's army. Or Perhaps focusing on the background of Ragnarus, or one of the other territories.

6. In the Elder Empire series, Besides the Elders or possibly the Emperor are there any other Religious beliefs prominent in the empire? Or even superstitions and folk beliefs? (been awhile since i've read those books, so I realize my question isn't entirely on point)

7. Are we ever going to see romance between Simon and Leah?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:26:58 pm

1.) Villagers mostly believe they go to the Maker to be judged, but instead of sending them to a Hell- or Heaven-equivalent, he assigns to them a personal reward and/or punishment depending on their accomplishments in life.

In Damasca, there was an ancient belief that good people went to Elysia and bad people went to Naraka, and references to this belief system still remain in some turns of phrase and works of art. However, modern people don't really believe that; they believe that souls go on to become part of a Territory in some way.

In Enosh, they believe that the dead become saints: white-clad beings who are constantly judging and determining the fates of men.

7.) Romance? NEVER.

Quinn

11/24/2017 11:33:43 am

I have two questions. What sports do they play in cradle? Second, what games do they play in cradle?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:30:23 pm

I made up a game in one of the comments above, but here's a sport!

Most sports are combat-related (in some way), but there are a few that aren't. One sport involving getting a ball into a goal revolves around two teams of six people, each positioning themselves strategically on their half of the field. They have to use the sacred arts to maneuver the ball into the opposing goal without letting it touch the ground.

Most of the rules exist to prevent them from attacking their opponents.

Devin

11/24/2017 11:38:16 am

Got a few:

How does life madra affect other kinds if madra it is mixed with?

Is Soulfire produced internally by Monarch level Sacred Artists? Or is Soulfire combined with the Madra as a Sacred Artist advances to Monarch?

In Cradle terms, how powerful would a Traveler from Amalgam be if they had a bond to every territory?

Can a Sacred Artist have a Path with conflicting Madra types, such as Fire and Water?

What are the techniques for the Path of the Last Breath mentioned in Skysworn?

And finally, where on Cradle does someone go for the best Hamburger imaginable?

Chu Feng

12/1/2017 09:12:49 am

Do you mean Underlord? I don't know what it mean by the Monarch level Sacred artists internally producing soul fire, because Underlord is the first stage that can make soulfire. If you are talking about the Underlords, then they weave soulfire out of vital aura.

Will link

12/7/2017 04:36:00 pm

Life madra is strange.

It's widely known on Cradle that your experience and the aspects of your Path affect how you perceive aura. Some types of less-tangible aura--like destruction, for instance--can't be detected by some people at all. These are usually the aspects that deal with intangible concepts.

Therefore, in theory, life madra would be difficult for the average person to perceive. But it isn't. This is believed to be because we are all acclimated to life aura ourselves, as living beings, and because we're surrounded by plants and animals even before Copper.

Life madra interacts with the force that animates a living being. HOW it interacts depends on the Path and the technique.

Let's take life and fire, for instance. One Path might have a flame that uses life for fuel, consuming the target even underwater. Another Path might have a flame that ignites a life-fire and gives you inexhaustible life aura, meaning you have more energy and heal faster.

It's a weird one.

Adarsh

11/24/2017 11:45:48 am

Questions:
1: Are there bacterial/viral diseases in cradle that are super-lethal due to evolving in a high essence concentration?

2: Are Incarnations truly as powerful as a traveller from their territory can become? Like is it even conceivable for a traveller to become more powerful than an incarnation from their territory?

3: What is the average elementary school education like for a mortal in the Abidan home-iteration?

4: What happens to the oft-vanishing guards at the ragnarus exit gate?

1SavageCabbage

11/24/2017 12:30:53 pm

I believe I can answer your first question. I think that:

a) Viruses aren't as much of a threat on Cradle because higher level sacred artists have bodies that don't even need to breathe for a few months (this was in the Northstrider fight scene) and most poisons don't even affect Underlord sacred artists.

b) This is what clans such as the Aurelius family are for: they clean up places where toxic or dangerous auras are likely to gather such as sewers, etc.

Adarsh

11/24/2017 12:50:13 pm

a: Thats why I specified that they evolved in a high-essence environment. While I'm sure that at higher levels one would be less susceptible to the diseases, something that evolved in an ultra-dense concentration of disease/poison madra would probably be able to infect someone even if they didn't need to breath/eat.

b: Im sure thats true, but surely there are places out in the wild that are extraordinarily toxic? Places where even an underlord would not step foot/broom in?

Tievel1

11/24/2017 01:24:09 pm

For what it's worth, Suriel specifically mentions a plague that was threatening a bunch of pacifists in Unsouled. So it is reasonable to assume that such diseases can and do exist. Furthermore, considering that the Sandvipers cultivate a toxin-based madra, it doesn't seem too much of a stretch to imagine a Path that focuses on diseases or infections. So even if a plague couldn't evolve naturally, I can totally imagine an evil or crazy sacred artist developing an artificial plague, or enhancing a naturally occurring one.

Tievel1

11/24/2017 01:32:18 pm

For what it's worth, Suriel does mention a plague threatening a conclave of pacifists in Unsouled, so we have seen at least one example of such a thing. Whether the plague was natural or artificially created, though, is another matter.

We've seen the Sandvipers cultivate a toxin-based Path, so it isn't too difficult to imagine a disease or infection based path, either. As Eithan points out, even with a truly resilient Iron body, complete immunity to toxins (and diseases presumably) is an impossibility. I can easily imagine a Path that focuses on pestilence and disease madra, and by extension I can imagine vital aura accumulating in spots which could produce truly virulent plagues.

(First comment didn't go through, so this may end up redundant).

Isaacxander

11/26/2017 08:16:56 am

Also, you have to consider the possibility of a disease evolving to consume madra. How would a sacred artist even fight it? The first way that comes to mind, is that they would try and burn it. But inevitably they would try and burn it with Madra created fire, which the disease would then consume, which would make it grow and spread.

Illar

11/24/2017 02:09:21 pm

Sacred Flu? Would it leave behind millions of tiny remnants when it died?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:18:28 pm

2.) Are Incarnations as powerful as a Traveler can become?

Essentially yes, but there are many measures of "power" depending on the Territory. Incarnations aren't necessarily the most skilled, or the best at using the powers they can call upon.

Dalinar

11/24/2017 11:49:25 am

Are remnants capable of having a society? Is there anywhere with particularly intelligent remnants and what do they do on a daily basis

Will link

12/7/2017 06:33:26 pm

Some of them are intelligent enough and capable of forming a society, yes. However, they're still Remnants: they're bound by the nature of their madra and the impulses that drove them when they were formed. So they don't interact as naturally as people do, no matter how intelligent they are.

On a daily basis, they pursue "food," or compatible madra suitable to maintain their form and advance them. Some of the more intelligent Remnants have renewable sources of madra--which means human communities--where they can get their power, either from stealing scales or from making deals with humans.

David

11/24/2017 12:12:36 pm

In ‘Crimson Vault’ Denner uses a bell that returns everything to its respective territory. Does that also mean that the Tartarus sword that Erastes uses would have also returned? If it would, did a bunch of Damascan officers lose their swords as well?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:30:34 pm

Good question, but Tartarus steel is typically taken from the Territory and worked in the Unnamed World. It doesn't have enough of a connection to the Territory to be banished.

1SavageCabbage

11/24/2017 12:25:19 pm

What is the strangest, most niche path on Cradle?

What is one Cradle horror story? (like the Shadow Wolf story from the other world building session)

Are Time and/or Space actual madra aspects?

What can Dream madra do besides read Fate?

Chu Feng

11/30/2017 09:42:23 pm

Space madra has to exist, how else will I store all my treasures? And dream madra can make illusions. But that might just be with light madra...

Will link

12/7/2017 07:22:12 pm

Dream madra affects thoughts and perception.

Space madra is somewhat different than most aspects; it's not shaping madra INTO space, as that makes no sense, but there is a way to develop madra so that it affects space.

Mestama

12/7/2017 09:30:50 pm

Would this happen to be called "weaving soulfire?" JK Don't answer that.

Kriptica;

11/24/2017 01:13:33 pm

What is the Cradle analogue of a TV ? Like what do average people do to chill ?

What was the last big - i mean Pokemon level - craze in the Blackflame Empire ? Do people in Cradle even have fashion crazes ?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:24:53 pm

What people do to relax on Cradle varies wildly depending on where you are. Some people have access to devices that record audio and video, so they have what is essentially a TV. For cultures with advanced dream tablets, they have accessible virtual reality experiences, and use those for entertainment.

And of course they have books and games and everything else people did to entertain themselves before TV.

Catatonic

11/24/2017 01:41:01 pm

How do people on Cradle get information quickly for the average person? Does somebody come around on horseback delivering mail? Does somebody on a speed path run around delivering and picking up letters? Is there a portal system in place?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:26:12 pm

Most countries have some kind of a postal system run by sacred artists who can travel long distances quickly. Some of them use sacred beasts as mounts, but others do run it by foot.

There are also communication constructs that can relay information over distances. Most of them are more like telegraphs than telephones.

Dillon

11/24/2017 01:42:49 pm

What are some of the best entertainment professions?

I know light and dream mandra would be great but are there any other specialties such as madra that would create fireworks or balance mandra that would make spectacular jugglers?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:29:27 pm

There are entertainers with many different aspects of madra. Blood artists can sometimes give you physical impulses or emotions directly. There are actors on stone Paths who create their own scenery as they perform. Dream artists can store fantasies in a tablet, to be experienced by anyone. There are wind artists that can give you the experience of flying freely for a limited time.

Yosef

11/24/2017 02:25:32 pm

what is a Cradle calendar like? I know that time basically works the same as here i.e. a day is 24 hours and a week is 7 days, but do the people on cradle count the days the same way as the do in travellers by counting the number of days to big days of each season? do they even have four season or is it more of a wet/dry season than winter/spring ect.

How many moons does cradle have? how many other planets are there in cradle's solar system?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:31:56 pm

Cradle has one moon, and it appears larger in the night sky than ours does. It's pocked with scars not just from ancient meteor showers, but also from the sacred arts techniques that have struck it over the millennia.

I haven't brought up the calendar in the main series because it changes so often. Sacred Valley had a calendar, the Desolate Wilds had a calendar, the Blackflame Empire has an official calendar and several more colloquial ones, and so on.

In order to keep it consistent in each region, I personally use a calendar based on year and season. That's not what they use in the world, though.

Yggrasidil

11/24/2017 03:03:57 pm

Sup Will.
If I stuck my face inside a nye then inhaled, would i get the powers of the nye?
If Luminous Queen Sheia (or whatever her name is, you know, the one that keeps all the chains) and Northstrider had a baby, then that baby grew up and had a baby with the strongest elder, then the baby of those two was given the powers of the way, What would its spirit animal be?
Has anyone ever had a child after ascending?
Is there a path from cradle that only has one technique?
Is there an infinite amount of madra types?
If you made a cradle/EE/ TG videogame, what type of videogame would it be? (FPS, RPG etc etc)

Will link

12/7/2017 07:33:38 pm

1.) Only if the Nye really liked you.
2.) An electric eel.
3.) Yes.
4.) Yes.
5.) Yes.
6.) Survival RPG. More like Breath of the Wild than Skyrim.

Quinn

11/24/2017 03:27:24 pm

What is a useless item that can be won in valinhall

Will link

12/7/2017 07:34:18 pm

A fork with one prong bent. Valin once dropped it, and the inhabitants of the House hoarded it like a treasure. It's just a fork.

Edmund

11/24/2017 04:09:15 pm

What is the weirdest, creepiest room in Valinhall?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:36:29 pm

I'm tempted to say "Kai's bedroom," but I've made you wait two weeks for an answer, so I have to give you something decent.

There's a deep room that is only roughly connected to the rest of the House, and it's something like an aquarium for spectral fish. The room is completely dry, but these pale, ghostly, aquatic creatures "swim" through the air as though on the ocean. They look horrific and alien, and their moans pierce the ear. If they cut you, your blood drifts up into a wispy cloud, as though dispersing into water that isn't there.

Hjorth

11/24/2017 04:26:35 pm

Is everyone a Sacred Artist on Cradle, or does every community practice Sacred Arts in some way, for example, is it possible on some remote island there would be people not practising Sacred Arts?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:37:58 pm

When people in Cradle call themselves sacred artists, what they're really saying is that they're actively pursuing advancement. They cycle aura every day, they practice their techniques, they hone their craft, and so on.

So while madra would be a part of everyone's everyday life, and while everyone has technically attained some advancement level in the sacred arts, not everyone is a sacred artist.

Rick

11/24/2017 04:28:55 pm

Of all your characters, who's the strongest character you could take in a fist fight?

Rick

12/7/2017 04:51:06 pm

Either fist-to-fist or your fists against their magic.

Will link

12/7/2017 07:38:11 pm

Otoku the doll.

Deadnettle

11/24/2017 05:11:47 pm

Are there any independent nations or territories on Asylum? Are there multiple worlds in the Asylum iteration?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:39:08 pm

No, there are no independent nations or territories in Asylum. There are isolated communities that aren't aware they are part of the Empire, but the Empire considers them Imperial territory. They're not undiscovered, after all, just so remote as to be not worth collecting taxes from.

Gabes

11/24/2017 06:06:24 pm

If the Emperor had been born on a world like Cradle where he could actually train and develop instead of having to hold back the Elders, how high would he or someone with his will/strength/etc. have been able to advance?

Sage of the Impatient Readers

11/27/2017 12:45:47 pm

While I'm not Will, judging by the fact that the Emperor is the strongest human in history on Amalgam and how easily he wrecks the Incarnations in the Deathmatch, I'm pretty sure a Cradle version of the Emperor would reach Monarch with the minimum resources and information necessary to do so.

Adarsh

11/27/2017 08:14:58 pm

The Emperor lived on Asylum, not Amalgam.

Sage of Impatient Readers

11/28/2017 09:54:12 pm

Sorry, made a mistake. The Emperor is from Asylum. (Though he is stronger than anything from Amalgam as well)

Will link

12/7/2017 07:20:53 pm

He certainly COULD have reached Monarch, but most of those with the potential to reach Monarch fail to do so. It requires so much luck and unique opportunity that it's impossible to guarantee anyone with reach Monarch, no matter how driven and/or talented.

In the Blackflame Empire, he would have almost certainly become a powerful Underlord. With the right resources and chances, he could have potentially left the Empire and ascended to Overlord or better outside.

David

11/24/2017 06:10:05 pm

Using a sinister vibe integrate Barbie horse into travelers gate world as a fragment realm.

Will link

12/7/2017 07:18:39 pm

The air swirls in front of you with a vibrant pink light. Startled, you take a step back, but the light soon snaps into a recognizable shape: a pink-edged doorway into another realm.

An endless, perfectly flat field of plastic grass stretches out before you. The clouds seem painted onto the sky. A glossy horse turns to stare at you--it seems to be covered in brown chitin instead of hair. Its eyes bulge as though it can never blink.

A woman stands next to the horse, her hand on the animal's mane. Her smile seems to wear her. She looks like a mannequin wearing the face of a human woman as a mask.

Though you lock eyes, she says nothing. Her teeth clack together as though she tries to speak, but cannot.

You turn from the portal and run. It's best to let a Traveler deal with this.

Joe

11/24/2017 07:32:15 pm

What other food sources exist in Valinhall? Since Kai could disappear deep within the house for long periods of time, he obviously didn't need to come back to the garden, do what else is there?

Will link

12/7/2017 07:12:20 pm

The deep part of the House contains some spoilers, because presumably I'll want to get into that when we return to Traveler's Gate, but there ARE other rooms with food in them.

There are animals in the house that can be caught and cooked, and there are edible mushrooms that grow in many rooms.

Ian

11/24/2017 07:34:02 pm

Question on development:
How does childhood development work in cradle? Especially in regards to higher tier families that can raise a baby to jade or gold in one pill. Taken to an extreme with luminous queen sha mirara, she inherited her power and is currently queen. Who controlled the super-charged baby when she was having fits? Also she only looks to be 10 or 11, if she is a monarch presumably she ages incredibly slowly, would she have the maturity of her true age? And what happens when she hits puberty? will she be affected by her hormones?

Samuel

11/30/2017 08:59:56 pm

LOL

Will link

12/7/2017 07:09:39 pm

She doesn't age any more slowly than anyone else until after she reaches maturity. Advancement doesn't lock you into your current age so much as it optimizes your body; she won't be sick a day in her life or suffer the debilitating effects of age.

As for the families that can raise their kids to Gold instantly, these families also have the power to easily control an immature Gold. If everyone in the family is an Underlord, a five-year-old Lowgold throwing a temper tantrum has the same relative power as a normal five-year-old throwing a temper tantrum.

Danger only comes in two circumstances: when the child is more powerful than the family can contain, or when the child develops the power to hurt itself before the ability to resist/control itself.

Those are the situations they're trying to prevent. Usually, a child with the power to rocket-propel itself into a brick wall can also survive being rocket-propelled into a brick wall.

kaden

11/24/2017 08:05:37 pm

What is the most powerful path and what is the weakest

What is the most powerful awakened item in EE that doesn't have great elder intent in some way

kaden

11/26/2017 09:33:50 pm

For the first question its cradle based and can you also say the madras types involved please

Will link

12/7/2017 07:04:26 pm

The most powerful and weakest Paths are difficult to answer, as that's largely a matter of opinion. I'll give you a very powerful one and a very weak one, though:

Path of the Untamed Spark. It revolves around nurturing a flame of life and fire that consumes anything living and is difficult to extinguish. It's a killing Path, and at its height it can depopulate cities.

Path of Shadeleaf. It's a purely aesthetic Path built around molding and folding shadow madra like origami to create pleasing shapes and displays. It has almost no other use.

***

Estyr Six's Soulbound Vessels have no Elder Intent. They're the skulls of ancient, powerful Kameira that she defeated in battle.

The Magisters have sealed away a spear that combined the powers of multiple ice-controlling Kameira, but it was too difficult to use. Their tests blanketed an isolated Magister facility in snow for years.

B Pops

11/24/2017 09:06:38 pm

I'd like you to make up a 6 or 7 book series about the founding of the elder empire!

Barring that, a 6 or 7 book series about a new IP.

Barring that how about a theory on the end of the house of blades?

Oliv

11/28/2017 12:18:27 am

Barring that, how about more books!!!

Will link

12/7/2017 06:54:21 pm

I like six or seven books as a series size. Idk about the founding of the Elder Empire--depends on how the main series does after the relaunch.

manty05

11/25/2017 12:44:41 am

Would the body of a sacred artist over the iron stage retain it's heightened abilities if the artist core was cracked/permanently damaged.

kaden

12/6/2017 08:49:59 pm

Depends on the body

Will link

12/7/2017 06:53:48 pm

In most cases, yes. Even if you're spiritually injured, your Iron body still functions. It's a physical change in your body.

But there are Iron bodies, like Lindon's, that require madra. In that case, you wouldn't see much benefit from it. Indeed, it might make your spiritual injuries even worse.

Benjamin

11/25/2017 02:36:36 am

Are there any pests analogous to rats or mice in Valinhall?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:52:36 pm

There are beetles the size of your fist that eat rusted metal, but the Nye keep them under control.

Kurt

11/25/2017 02:55:43 am

How would you, using cradle lingo in the blackflame empire, ask someone if they wanted to "Netflix and chill"?

Same for in Damasca (Im think both what Simon would say and what Leah would say).

Samuel

11/30/2017 09:01:33 pm

Hey babe, want to spar till exhaustion and cycle?

Hey babe, want to have a practice match until we collapse and let my chains go back down?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:51:04 pm

In the Blackflame Empire, you'd likely be asking a girl if she wanted to come cycle back at your place. There's no benefit to cycling together, so it's just a thin excuse she's meant to see through.

If you're asking what Simon would say and what Leah would say, I have to imagine Leah would be smoother about it than Simon.

Alex Martin

11/25/2017 06:09:02 am

Ok will I need to know how old is Lindon and what is his birthday is

Also how Long is a day on cradle, a month on cradle, and a year on cradle

Merci

Will link

12/7/2017 06:43:35 pm

As for the time on Cradle, it's the same time as ours. Why? Because it's easier to tell the story that way. I don't want you to have to remember custom details for how long times or distances are.

So they're all the standard measurements.

Off the top of my head, I'm pretty sure Lindon is eighteen now. He doesn't have a birthday, so to speak. In Sacred Valley, they count every child's age up a year each new year.

Diego

11/25/2017 06:18:51 am

Idk if i asked about childbirth in cradle. But i thought about it. I mean an irons body would presumably crush a baby as its being born. And stronger sacred artists would just be worse.

*I figured it was that the baby was still attached to the mother thus to a certain degree considered part of her body untill the child is born.

Diego

11/25/2017 06:28:04 am

1.) Is it spoilers to ask how aspfodel traveler heal? We've never seen it happen.

2.) Is it another spoiler to ask how to make your intent get stronger?

3.) Does Leah pay Simon? Or is friendship its own reward? Actually idk what Simon would do with it but id like to know about Damascan money

Will link

12/7/2017 06:39:56 pm

>How do Asphodel Travelers heal?

For the most part, they're like herbalists or folk doctors. They find, cultivate, and use plants that have healing properties.

Reddan

11/25/2017 06:59:01 am

Does the Will verse have ice cream (or a close analogue)? And if so, what are the favorite flavors of the Abidan Judges?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:38:42 pm

Of course it has ice cream. I'm not a monster.

Suriel: peanut butter ice cream with real nuts.

Gadrael: mint ice cream. No chocolate chips.

Ozriel: strawberries and cream flavor.

Makiel: he doesn't eat ice cream, because there's no purpose to it.

Adarsh

12/7/2017 07:05:35 pm

What a psychopath.

Darren

12/7/2017 09:56:50 pm

Something really wrong with Gadrael.
Mint ice-cream with no chocolate chips. whoever heard of such a crazy thing.

Next you'll say one of the judges likes goody-goody gumdrops icecream without the gumdrops!
heres a link in case you've never heard of it!
https://www.tiptop.co.nz/products/tip-top-tubs/goody-goody-gum-drops-ice-cream/

Will link

12/7/2017 09:57:00 pm

Truly, he is the worst.

Walter

11/25/2017 08:30:09 am

Are there any culinary paths? Are there any candies or treats that would have interesting properties?

Chu Feng

12/1/2017 09:15:22 am

A lowgold chef will make an amazing meal
A highgold chef will cook the best dish you've ever had
A truegold will serve you your new favorite dish
Or something like that!

Nick

11/25/2017 08:40:42 am

What is the smallest Sacred Beast to achieve underlord status in cradle?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:36:46 pm

Nessandarius the Flea, Lord of the Bloodlight Path.

He has grown larger and more humanoid as he advanced, and after refining his body in soulfire, he now looks like a two-foot-tall hooded man.

Diego

11/25/2017 10:09:21 am

1.) What would have happened to the house of blades or any other terrioty fragment if humans didnt discover it?Would it break apart and be consumed by the unamed world or would it just reach an all time low of power and sit there?

2.) Whom taught Calder to read. And is reading part of your genetic make up or can a non-reader evolve or awaken?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:35:01 pm

A fragment would slowly dissolve into the void if not bound to the Way by human will. This is true even for corrupted fragments, which is the preferred outcome: they drift off into nothingness until they dissolve.

MunchyMunch

11/25/2017 10:22:45 am

What is the food equivalent of chicken on cradle? What about pizza?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:17:22 pm

It's chicken. They have chickens in Cradle.

Deadric Lord Of Comments

11/25/2017 11:53:15 am

Yo Dude, don’t even trip about answering these question dog.

What’s the fastest anyone has ever moved in cradle?
If it’s not to spoiler-y can you describe how you use Valinhall powers in a different way? Like Indrial did in Crimson Vault.
Can you create a new madra type by mixing two others together?

Samuel

11/30/2017 09:03:29 pm

Last question, Blackflame madra...

Will link

12/7/2017 06:16:51 pm

>Can you create a new madra type by mixing two others together?

Yes, and in fact that's how most Paths work.

The classification of madra into aspects is purely a human invention to help them understand the properties of different Paths. You could combine water and fire madra into a burning, fluid, liquid power...if you figured out a way to do it.

Darren

11/25/2017 12:17:29 pm

Is/was there a country on cradle that leaves dangerous scripts/weapons around that children can accidentally use and kill themselves. And if so, how long did/will that country last before the population dies off?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:14:27 pm

I'm going to be honest: in most cultures on Cradle, child safety isn't a huge priority. Sacred arts schools often list their mortality rate, and a lower rate of survival is often considered a mark of a difficult, elite school for the most talented.

Most of the cultures on Cradle have techniques, constructs, or weapons around that children could use to hurt themselves. The sad truth is, you have to lose a LOT of kids before it affects the population. And most cultures respond by having more children, rather than protecting the ones they have.

Chris

11/25/2017 01:34:42 pm

Has anyone ever taken in cradle ever taken a spectre as a remnant to advance to gold. If so what path were they on.

Will link

12/7/2017 06:12:07 pm

I'm sorry, I don't think I understand the question.

Diego

12/7/2017 07:24:18 pm

I think he might refer to Specters like the Death Raven in Skysworn. (just trying to help)

Anders

11/25/2017 03:08:29 pm

Are the sacred animals bound to their stage, or could one, asy orthos for example, advance further?

someone else already suggested this, but I loved the idea:
A short story on how the Wei clan would react should if jade or lowgold lindon had returned to sacred valley at that stage.

Diego

11/25/2017 04:18:49 pm

I believe it was mentioned that sacred beasts advance differently than humans. While it doesn't say how they advance I believe this confirms that: yes they can advance.

*I believe a bond humans have with sacred beasts helps them advance faster, while providing benifits to the sacred beasts at the same time.

Will link

12/7/2017 06:11:41 pm

Sacred beasts can and do advance. However, they cycle naturally, so their advancement is different from humans. Orthos has been stuck at the Truegold stage for decades, and he has long since given up any hopes of reaching Underlord, even if his consciousness was stable enough to support the advancement.

Kriptical

11/25/2017 05:49:42 pm

Oh here's a good one. What are some other absurdly weak/isolated places on Cradle and what would their Lindon have looked and acted like ?

I'll even tempt fate and ask the opposite question, we know about the Nine Clouds Court but what are some other absurdly powerful nations/places/locals on Cradle and why are their people so strong ? What do they do with all that power ?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:10:35 pm

>What's another absurdly weak or isolated place on Cradle and what would their Lindon look like?

There's an underwater, sealed-off city at the bottom of the Trackless Sea that's surrounded by much more prosperous civilizations of aquatic sacred beasts.

The human population inside this city has developed mostly independently, just like Sacred Valley. Their Lindon would be anyone who, for whatever reason, couldn't master water aura and the Ruler techniques required to go outside the city.

That person would be like someone in our universe who can't use a car...not just someone who can't drive, but someone who is unable to get inside an automobile.

Devin

11/25/2017 06:15:09 pm

What Paths do the Four Dreadgods follow, if any?

What could a Path that has Hunger Madra as a component do? Was their ever Sacred Artists on a Hunger Madra Path?

What would happen if someone managed to Awaken a horror novel on Asylum?

Is there any way to become as powerful as an Incarnation (talking specifically about the unlimited power aspect) without the negative effectsof Incarnation?

What were the techniques of the Path of the Broken Star mentioned in Blackflame, and what were the Madra components of the Path of the Broken Star?

Is there such a thing as lightning Madra?

Could a creature from a Territory have children with someone from the Unnamed world? Some of the Elysian and Narakan creatures seem human.

What would happen if an Incarnation had a child (if they could)?

If someone began to Invest a musical instrument on Asylum, would they be a better musician when using that instrument? Would the instrument play a certain genre of music better?

Could the Abidan safely integrate shards of Iterations (such as the Territories) into a full Iteration, or would that always result in a Limit/Harrow situation?

Does Fate only have one stable path, or are there multiple variations that would be stable, and is Fate being knocked off course always a disaster?

What does the Path of King’s Key that Reigan Shen follow specialize in?

If a thermobaric missile was launched at an Archlord who followed a Path that uses fire and force Madra, would the Archlord die?

Could someone a Sacred Artist graft on Remnant wings and use them to fly?

How would a Narakan Traveler/creature deal with a psychopath/sociopath who doesn’t feel guilt or remorse for their actions?

What is the ugliest creature in the entirety of the Will-verse?

1SavageCabbage

11/27/2017 07:11:48 am

I remember reading in the first book that Li Markuth followed a "storm madra" path, so lightning madra does exist.

Sage of Impatient Readers

11/27/2017 04:36:29 pm

"Could a creature from a territory have a child with someone from the Unnamed World?"

In one of the short stories, Leah receives a diplomat from another kingdom made up of descendents from Elysia.

Will link

12/7/2017 06:07:07 pm

>What would happen if someone Awakened a horror novel?

Intent accumulates in an object based on the purpose it is used for. So a horror novel's Intent would either scare people or fascinate them, depending on the Intent of the people who have read the novel over the years.

I can imagine a novel that frightens people just by sitting on a table, where you keep casting sidelong glances at it without knowing why, taking any excuse to get out of the room away from a book. Conversely, I could imagine a book that practically hypnotizes those who read it, so it's all but impossible to voluntarily stop reading until you reach the end.

Skulking Shadow

11/25/2017 07:03:31 pm

1.) If Lindon were to die and release a remnant, would he in fact produce two remnants because of his two cores, a single hybrid remnant, or two conjoined remnants?

2.) What level of advancement would the incarnations be ranked as? (My money's on Truegold or Underlord)

3.) How did Rhalia keep herself occupied over the centuries before Alin showed up?

4.) Does Simon ever take vacation days? And if so, what he does he do for them?

5.) Azura is mentioned as being passionate and aggressive, what would you say are the "personalities" of the other swords?

6.) How well did Kathrin take Simon telling her to either pay her dues or give up her sword?

7.) What kinds of wild rumors and stories about Simon/Valinhall in general are being spread throughout Damasca after the events of the trilogy?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:04:19 pm

1.) Lindon's Remnant

It would be a conjoined Remnant, not two Remnants. It would be unstable at first, as the pure madra began to dilute the Blackflame madra, but would eventually stabilize.

It would be less powerful and aggressive than a full Blackflame Remnant, but it would be less likely to randomly attack people, which would probably increase its likelihood of finding a food source.

The Underground Astronomer

11/26/2017 12:11:13 am

Where in your collective works would I go for the spiciest dish? As a corollary, how much trouble am I in for?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:02:01 pm

Cradle. There's a pepper that grows in chambers beneath active volcanoes, where fire aura is most intense.

Even if you just took the plant out of that area and brought it to the surface, you couldn't go within five hundred yards of the pepper without the heat being so intense it would make you turn back.

This is what those above Archlords use to season their food.

Petulant Penguin

11/26/2017 12:37:13 am

What's life like for the average person in Sanctum? Are they living it up in a post scarcity universe, or are they still doing the 9 to 5 grind?

Will link

12/7/2017 06:00:23 pm

People in Sanctum have their basic needs met in a peaceful, prosperous world, but their society is engineered so that everyone has the opportunity to play a part. The Abidan see people as a valuable resource, so they've done their best to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to provide a benefit to society.

Some people choose not to, of course. And some people hate doing what they're best at, but they do it anyway. People are people.

Edward

11/26/2017 01:35:01 am

What is Kai’s favorite food? Simon’s? Leah’s?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:56:15 pm

Kai enjoys sautéed mushrooms on steak served with a glass of red wine.

Simon likes honey-frosted cakes.

Leah has a soft spot for sharp cheese.

Benjamin

11/26/2017 04:14:46 am

Are there any madra viruses in cradle? Like the same way a virus in real life is basically a random peice of DNA which uses cells to replicate itself, are there techniques which implant themselves in someone’s spirit and force a copy of themselves? And if so, would they differ by stage and advancement?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:54:15 pm

There are techniques like this, but they aren't as overpowered as you might think thanks to a simple rule: your own spirit is sovereign within your body.

It's the same reason why a water or blood artist wouldn't just stop your heart instantly. They can't. Your spirit is far stronger inside your body than anyone else's madra.

You can overcome that by a huge difference in power: a Herald could stop a thousand Underlords' hearts all at once. But techniques that insert themselves into enemies' bodies tend to degrade very quickly and do limited damage.

Azqa

11/26/2017 09:34:14 am

How intelligent can Kameira become? Are there any that can Read intent?

Could there be a room in Valinhall that grants an animal companion as a temporary power, and if so, where would the initial animal come from - Elysia perhaps?

What was an idea for a Valinhall power that you came up with and decided not to use, and why?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:52:14 pm

Kameira aren't like sacred beasts--they can't actually develop human-level intelligence, though many stories and myths suggest that they do. They are powerful animals, and there are none that can Read Intent.

Diego

11/26/2017 12:15:41 pm

I came up with a few:

1.) Why don't the other Nye speak to anyone else? They seem to solely keep to themselves and leave the Eldest to represent them in all things. Seems a bit irresponsible since they would all want the territory to grow stronger. Might be spoilers though, but I'd like to see more of them.

2.) Is it theoretically possible to have a connection to all territories or are some bloodlines or tests incompatible with each other?

3.) How did the emperor get so strong, I don't think we've seen what made him so strong or I've forgotten.

4.) What is the weirdest soulbound ever and what powers did it grant?

5.) Do some Keimeria have human lvl intellect? If so can you give us an example?

6.) Does Simon have a hobby? Does Calder for that matter?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:51:10 pm

2.) A Traveler of all Territories

Theoretically yes. It's not realistic simply because most of the tests involve spending large amounts of time in the Territory. And also you'd have to be connected to Travelers of each Territory who were willing to administer the tests, which most Travelers probably wouldn't be.

Ragnarus is the only one that would be difficult, because it's limited to the descendants of Queen Cynara.

1SavageCabbage

11/26/2017 04:05:27 pm

What are some of the coolest Cycling techniques on Cradle (like the one that increases madra regeneration, or maybe a technique that would make Ruler techniques easier, or a technique that acts like a Halfsilver Ring, etc.)

Will link

12/7/2017 05:48:53 pm

There's the Endless Revolving Cycle technique, which focuses entirely on madra regeneration, to the exclusion of all else. Their advancement isn't as fast, and they can't put an enormous amount of power into their techniques, but they can effectively use sacred arts all day long. They have to use elixirs to strengthen their madra channels in order to withstand the strain of constant use.

Awesomepossum

11/26/2017 08:22:20 pm

What were the original blackflames goldsign?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:43:51 pm

A dragon's tail. They often used it when fighting.

Alex

12/8/2017 04:03:43 am

Finally I know. It's been my question since Blackflame!

stephen

11/26/2017 08:35:47 pm

Will Kai have his own room and and much to the elder nye's dissatisfaction and embarrassment, can its test be proper doll care?

When it comes to the path of the stellar spear's gold sign, is it all their hair? Is personal grooming difficult?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:43:08 pm

In fact, it is only the hair on their heads. It used to be ALL their hair, and they altered their Path over the generations to change their Remnants so that it only armored the hair on their heads.

Ravi

11/27/2017 07:20:23 am

What's the most well known joke on Cradle?

Ravi Persaud

11/27/2017 11:52:52 am

What is the Cradle policy on err....self-gratification? (Sorry, curiosity got the better of me.)

Punmeister

11/27/2017 08:16:27 pm

All chiefs are known as "Cradle-Robbers"

Punmeister

11/27/2017 08:17:04 pm

*thiefs

Will link

12/7/2017 05:37:25 pm

Q: What's the easiest way to make sure your enemy dies before you do?

A: Go home, sell your sword, and wait.

Danksouls

12/8/2017 10:16:59 am

I hope that by reading this manual, you will be thoroughly encouraged to become a farmer.

-Meti's Sword Manual (KSBD)

11/27/2017 08:50:36 am

What are some popular idioms on cradle. Something like cradles version of "survival of the fittest".

Will link

12/7/2017 05:25:45 pm

This is a great question, but it's really hard to do. So I'm going to cop out by sharing with you some Yerin-isms that may or may not have made it into the series so far:

"Between a tiger and a rocky cliff" = Between a rock and a hard place.
“There’s always a higher heaven” = always a bigger fish.
“Hitched to the same wagon” = in the same boat.
“Eating from the same pot” = (see above)
“Flower” = sweetie/sugar. Her master used to say that to women. “Thanks, flower.”

Glen

11/27/2017 10:16:13 am

Is there any way to learn a different magic system of another iteration or are people limited to their native magic system? If the answer is no, is an iteration's magic system genetic?

Diego

11/27/2017 11:43:44 am

Yes people can learn different magics this was confirmed by Will in a post I asked him. There's someone that does it and he's called the Horseman by Suriel, I believe it is near the end of Blackflame. He's mentoned under judge killers along with: the Vroshir, Silverlords, The Mad King, The Angler, Fiends of Chaos, and fellow Abidan.

Diego

11/27/2017 11:46:08 am

I also believe only certain magics are genetic, like Leah's connection to Ragnarus, or Eithans ability to stretch his senses everywhere. I think a few have to do with compatibility.

Glen

11/27/2017 11:49:44 am

Interesting, I must have missed that bit. Is it a trait specific to him though, or can anyone learn any magic system?

Diego

11/28/2017 08:31:35 am

Will responded to me that there's nothing written in the universe that prevents someone from learning a new iterations magic system. He did mention there are some consequences to sharing technology from different iterations though.

Chu Feng

11/30/2017 09:46:46 pm

It says he absorbs energy systems, right? So wouldn't hat mean he just takes away their planets magic? Or does it mean he absorbs knowledge of the planets magic, and uses that knowledge to become a Judge Killer level being

Will link

12/7/2017 05:20:37 pm

People are not limited to their native magic system. Parts of it are genetic, but a character from another world might come to Asylum, for instance, and find that they were getting faint impressions or visions by touching objects. They are suitable to be a Reader.

Magpie Jack

11/27/2017 10:24:43 am

Where are some good places on cradle to cultivate rare forms of aura?

What is one of the most complex yet functional paths on cradle? (with many different types of aura)

What would happen if a nation's worth of people moved into a territory on Amalgam?

Could a reader awaken artifacts from the house of Blades? If yes than what would happen when someone tries to summon them?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:19:40 pm

>What would happen if a nation's worth of people moved into a Territory?

As you might expect, that would depend on the Territory. There's usually a reason why nations don't form there.

In Asphodel, which is actually one of the most inhabited Territories, a nation-sized settlement would draw the Mist by the strength of their collective emotions. They would have to constantly contend with it, and would likely find it more worthwhile to settle elsewhere.

In Naraka, they would either leave of die of thirst. There isn't enough water in Naraka to sustain such a population.

Helgard might be able to support them. Some Helgard Travelers believe there might already be a nation-sized population somewhere in the Tower, there being huge floors and lots of nooks and crannies in Helgard.

Scott Russo

11/27/2017 11:08:11 am

Maybe a story about the Paths or lives of the first people who cycled on Cradle? Or something about how they evolved? (I'm talking before the Abidan were a group, so a really long time ago).

Magpie Jack

11/27/2017 11:46:30 am

I really like this idea.

Joe

11/27/2017 04:09:23 pm

Along with that, the story of the first person/people to ascend from their iteration and into the way

Will link

12/7/2017 05:16:35 pm

I have a potentially disappointing "spoiler" for you. ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY TO HAVE YOUR ILLUSIONS SHATTERED AND THE DISAPPOINTING TRUTH REVEALED?

...I've never thought about that. I've planned out the history of the Abidan and the development of most of Cradle's continents, as well as organized sacred arts, but I've never thought about how primitive sacred arts first emerged.

That's an untapped area for me.

Scott Russp

12/7/2017 06:25:57 pm

Awesome! I thought of something new! (Though I would have no idea what to do with that kind of setting. Still cool though)

Mestama

12/7/2017 10:11:59 pm

If I could link to the episodes of the first avatar, that's what I would post here.

Danksouls

11/27/2017 11:11:29 am

I know that these questions aren't specifically about worldbuilding but I'm curious:

Would you ever hold a fan-made path competition to help fill out your world?

How thoroughly do you plot out your magic systems before writing about them?/Do you have tons of notes on a magic system and slowly reveal more over time or is the creative process more organic in how they develop?

Have you ever read the web comic "kill six billion demons"? If not then I highly recommend it.

Clint Hillert

11/29/2017 08:59:52 am

I'm also very interested in this!

Will link

12/7/2017 05:14:58 pm

I know it's a million years after you left this comment, but I'm going to give you a shout-out in today's blog post.

I had never heard of Kill Six Billion Demons, but last week when I first saw this comment, I googled it.

Then I immediately read all the comics. It was incredible. I can't thank you enough. I'm going to recommend it in tonight's post.

>Would you ever hold a fan-made Path competition?

Maybe. I'm not against it, and in fact something along those lines sounds like a lot of fun. I've always wanted to work in a world that we as a community designed together, though I usually imagine that as building a world from the ground up with a bunch of fans in a Twitch- or Patreon-like setting.

But it's not like I actually NEED fan submissions to fill out the world. When I run into a new sacred artist and I need to make up a new Path, I just...do.

>Do you have tons of notes on a magic system and slowly reveal more over time, or is the creative process more organic in how they develop?

A little of both. I usually start out with a ton of detailed notes and then let it develop from there.

Vital aura, for instance. I know exactly how I wanted aura to work, but I had trouble describing it clearly in Unsouled, so I started tweaking the rules and principles in later books and let it deviate from what I originally intended and found difficult to explain.

...although in doing so I kind of tripped over my own feet a little bit, because describing it only gets more difficult when you change your mind, but oh well. Live and learn.

Danksouls

12/8/2017 10:29:14 am

You are more than welcome!

Ravi

11/27/2017 11:49:21 am

I thought of a few more.

1) Is Acupuncture a thing on Cradle?

2) It seems like the ceiling on Amalgam is Underlord, (Especially after the Northstrider fight.) Have any Abidan recruits come from there?

3) Which of the Territories has the tastiest birds?

4) Which of your characters could survive the best in almost every kind of story setting?

5) Is Lindon a pasta guy or a noodle guy?

6) What's the most exclusive place in the Blackflame Empire?

7) What's the Starbucks of the Cradle World?

8) Is there a Disney equivalent to the Cradle world? (Giant media conglomerate type thing.)

9) Are there professional sports on any of your worlds?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:10:27 pm

4.) I have to say Calder.

He's well-educated enough to adapt to a more modern world, skilled in enough basic skills to adapt to a more primitive world, and he has his Reader skills. Assuming they work in his setting, they'd be useful under pretty much any circumstances.

Plus, he's resourceful enough to make a living in legitimate business or in a life of crime, as circumstances require.

Wazzit

11/27/2017 11:53:14 am

If Lindon decided to give up the sacred arts to become a tavern keeper (Think Kvothe from the Kingkiller Chronically), what would he name his tavern?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:08:49 pm

Greatfather's Rest.

It's a reference to one of the sacred peaks in Sacred Valley, and there's a mythical inn called Greatfather's Rest that supposedly once existed on its slopes.

ShadIAm

11/27/2017 11:55:43 am

If Simon and Lindon both decided to give up fighting and become male escorts, who do you think would make more money per night?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:04:59 pm

Simon, unless Lindon tapped into a niche client base.

Lindon is taller and broader of shoulder, but he also looks like he wants to punch you as a matter of course. Simon's smaller, more slender, and has more delicate features.

Simon, however, would literally starve to death before he took such a course. He'd rather die on his own terms than sell his dignity.

Lindon would do what he had to.

Mathmagical

11/27/2017 11:58:03 am

If all of your protagonists had to take the SAT's and the GRE's, who would score the best? Who would score the lowest?

Will link

12/7/2017 05:02:48 pm

For everyone on his list, we have to assume that they don't get questions that are impossible for them to answer. Like questions relating to Earth's literature or technology.

Yerin would score the worst, as she's illiterate and would have no idea what to do with the tests.

Simon would be second-worst. His parents only cared about his education until the events of the HoB prologue, when he was eight years old. After that, the only math skill he exercised was counting, and he rarely wrote anything besides his name.

Calder is next up. He received a noble education, thanks to his mother, but not early in life. He would score better in math than in English (assuming we translated the fictional Imperial language he actually speaks into English), and his scores would be decent in both categories.

Leah would do better than Calder, but not much better. She's extremely well-educated, but to the limits of her time period and world.

Lindon's education is more suited to standardized tests; he actually learned math and linguistics (obviously he's not speaking English, as none of these characters are) from textbooks, and while his scientific education is either not applicable to our tests or is downright wrong even by Cradle standards, his mathematical and language skills are solid.

Shera would do the best. Gardeners got a great education and she has a well-trained memory and a precise mind. She would score higher than any of my other protagonists.

...if she could be bothered to finish the test.

Tom

11/27/2017 12:01:01 pm

Which of your characters would be most likely to make it as a self-published novelist?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:52:33 pm

Kerian, the Consultant from Elder Empire.

She's relentless, she reads a lot of novels, and she knows how to make a sale. She's also highly literate, unlike a lot of my characters.

Sam

11/27/2017 12:06:48 pm

Hey people he said ask SILLY questions! Don't ask about linguistics or population distribution nonsense. That kind of stuff is hard to answer on the fly.

So, my question is:
On a scale of baby snow bunny to eldritch-horror who is scarier when fully equipped. Simon with the mask and cloak or Lindon with his goldsign and his wriggly arm?

Rebecca

11/27/2017 12:48:58 pm

Well Simon just looks like an overly dramatized assassin playing with his parents stuff while Lindon looks like a total spaz since his arm isn't under his control. In my erudite opinion they are both closer to eldritch-horror than baby snow bunny since they aren't that scary.

Will link

12/7/2017 04:49:33 pm

I'd say Lindon when he gets going is basically a 6/horror. He's kind of a rough-looking guy anyway, and he gets the dark aura of the Burning Cloak, demonic eyes, a skeletal arm, and a big, hulking, burning turtle.

TheHeavenlyMoonlightSculptor

11/27/2017 12:27:19 pm

If Lindon had access to all the books you've read, what would be his favorite novel?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:48:05 pm

The Martian, by Andy Weir.

It would blow his mind.

Pickle

12/7/2017 08:28:46 pm

I believe it.

Mark Watney is _so good_ at cheating.

Will link

12/7/2017 09:59:42 pm

It's effectively one guy with limited resources trying to innovate ways to survive in the harshest possible environment, so Lindon would be riveted.

Grace

11/27/2017 04:12:37 pm

What is Yerin’s favorite color?

If Yerin fought against Shera, who would win?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:43:38 pm

1.) If you asked her that, she would have no idea what to say. But it's lavender.

2.) In a straight-up fight? Yerin. But if they were given orders to find and kill one another, probably Shera.

Deadnettle

11/27/2017 04:15:07 pm

Has there ever been anyone on cradle who "messed up" their path yet still ascended to the Monarch level? Say someone who, out of ignorance, got a poorly matching iron body, or cultivated a really weird mix of auras.

kaden

11/28/2017 07:45:29 pm

Dreadgods maybe?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:42:16 pm

This is a great question. I like this question.

The Beast King is a Herald (right below Monarch) who was crippled as a child while attempting to gain his Iron body. He refocused his Path into communicating with animals, using a mix of life and dream aura. Despite being unable to walk, he ended up befriending some truly ancient sacred beasts, and with their help baptized his body in soulfire and ascended to Underlord.

He's now many levels above that, and can walk just fine, but without the foundation of an Iron body he's physically not as dominant as his peers.

However, he's guarded by enormous behemoths from the deep places of the earth, so it balances out.

Scott

12/7/2017 06:19:48 pm

Wait, was that info given out before? I thought that is was just assumed/theorized that Herald was before Monarch, with nothing in between.

Well, if we didn't already, we now have the full list of stages confirmed by Will (Maybe accidentally).

Foundation(Wood)
Copper
Iron
Jade
Lowgold
Highgold
Truegold
Underlord
Overlord
Archlord
Herald
Monarch

I was kind of hoping for a Prince/Princess (or Heir/Heiress, since we're not in a bedtime story) stage between Herald and Monarch. Maybe to separate the powerful from the truly special?
Still cool to have it all. Thanks Will!

Scott

12/7/2017 06:48:52 pm

Dang it! I guess it is possible that there is something between Archlord and Herald. Anyone know if there is or if he's said otherwise before?
(Side note:Foiled Again!)

Just a joke

11/27/2017 04:30:03 pm

How much wood could a practitioner of the path of the devouring woodchuck chuck if a practitioner of the path of the devouring woodchuck could chuck wood?

Also, what path would be best suited to creating an army of forged madra garden gnome soldiers?

Will link

12/7/2017 04:38:19 pm

Path of the Clay Walkers.

Life and stone. They craft clay golems from special clay and other materials, kneading their madra into the dolls and bringing them to life under their control. It's not an especially powerful Path, but it's useful for a variety of mundane tasks.

Like creating a parade of garden gnomes.

Nosna

11/27/2017 05:49:04 pm

So if I loose my horse while training for the Blue Ribbon Race, and I accidentally run into a elderspawn instead of the usual skunks and such, what should I do?

(I bet you could make the best short story out of this) (that was a dare in case you didn't catch it)

Will link

11/30/2017 01:49:12 pm

Now, this depends entirely on what kind of Elderspawn you've encountered.

If it has the spindly legs of a spider and eyes on stalks, you just don't want to do anything interesting. As long as it has no reason to investigate you, it won't tear you apart and rearrange your organs alphabetically. You should respond in the most boring possible fashion: by turning and running away, screaming as loud as you can.

This is the response it expects, and it will be bored and turn away. Usually.

If it looks like a frog the size of a human infant, dripping with luminous slime and humming with a high-pitched sound you can barely hear, you should kill it immediately. If you succeed, you have saved us all from an outbreak.

If you leave it alone for too long, it will consume anything organic nearby: grass, leaves, roadkill, garbage, small animals and insects. When it has eaten many times its body weight, it will give birth.

The hordes of Othaghor have devastated many isolated communities. No one has seen these Elderspawn in centuries, which contributes to many ordinary citizens considering them myths. They are not.

Arch

11/27/2017 07:09:24 pm

Are there any (successful) tartarus travellers who traverse the labyrinth alone?

Will link

11/30/2017 01:41:44 pm

Tartarus Travelers still tell the story of Nasha, a young girl who was, according to legend, born in the Steel Labyrinth. She learned to crawl its corridors and bring its mechanisms to life, scavenging food and water from within the endless network of living gears.

Some Travelers swear that, when they were separated from their squads and lost in the corridors of the Labyrinth, they encountered a girl who silently guided them home.

Arch

12/2/2017 09:31:36 pm

Tartarus travellers seem to be the red shirts of the travellers, ( common and killed a lot), I realise that not every traveller is Simon or Alin but are there any current Tartarus travellers of note?

MitchyGoodness

11/27/2017 09:30:02 pm

1.a) Does the Valinhall library have any books that fight with Denner's adviser?

1.b) Any books that discuss the origin of the Nye?

2) If someone from the cradle series had a physical hole where their core was, would the core not exist or would it still be there and even visible?

3.a) What happens to the energy absorbed by Shera in elders empire?

3.b) What other things can be seen in her first awakened knife? Besides hands... (Don't touch me)

Chu Feng

11/30/2017 09:50:52 pm

2) How dare you look at me strangely! I shall cripple your cultivation!

Samuel

12/1/2017 05:54:27 am

The core is physical, right? So if you had a physical hole, you would lose your Sacred Arts.

MitchyGoodness

12/1/2017 09:11:47 am

So does that mean there are two physical organs when Lindon split his cores?

Maybe I should go split my stomach. Then I can eat healthy for one and nothing but sweets for the other. Muuwhahahaha

Samuel

12/6/2017 07:48:02 pm

Hahaha, I'm not sure if it's a physical organ, but it has to take up a certain area in space. Or maybe it doesn't. But multiple xianxia novels (only read three, but still) use stabbing or wounding that space as a punishment instead of killing someone to cripple their cultivation, advancement etc.

Danksouls

11/27/2017 09:51:18 pm

Are the Madra channels in a sacred artist's body actual physical channels or are they more of a "spiritual" overlay?

Aside from one's goldsign, can a person get remnant body mods such as extra arms/tails/wings?

Would Bliss feel any temptation if she was soulbound to the heart of Nakothi?

Who out of all your series is your favorite character to write?

Will link

11/30/2017 01:37:30 pm

>Who out of all your series is your favorite character to write?

I know this is your least world-building related question, but I'll answer it anyway: I enjoy the more colorful, less grounded characters. Kai, Bliss, Eithan, etc. They're just fun to write, and I can basically ad lib their dialogue and have fun with it.

The problem is getting that type of character to care about what happens to them and have a relatable goal. So I have to try and humanize them as well, which can be difficult.

There's a middle ground there, and I'm seeking it. If I could write more of that sort of character, I'd have more fun, and I feel like my characters would pop more.

But it almost feels like there's a slider between making them interesting and making them relatable and organically motivated.

There isn't, it just FEELS that way. I'm trying to hit the happy medium.

Sage of the Wimpy Paper Cut Sword

11/28/2017 06:22:40 am

How did the Sage of the Endless Sword become a sage?

Diego

11/28/2017 08:35:42 am

Will hasn't confirmed it but I believe someone becomes a Sage by tapping into the Way and I believe Archlord is the lowest one must be to achieve this.

Will link

11/29/2017 05:04:42 pm

(I can't FULLY answer this question due to spoilers, but I can share a relevant story!)

As an Archlord, the Sage of the Endless Sword was blessed enough to cross swords with a sword-wielding Monarch without getting obliterated.

Swearing not to waste that opportunity, he tracked down an ancient Remnant called Memory, on the Path of a Thousand Dreams. She made sure his recollection of the fight would stay fresh, so he could experience the feeling of the Monarch's power every day as though for the first time.

He began traveling from sword Path to sword Path, sensing their techniques and trying to develop a power closer to that of the Monarch's. As an experienced refiner, he also tracked down natural treasures attuned to the sword: spirit fruits, sacred herbs, and the parts of sacred beasts that gathered sword aura.

...this is where the story gets spoiler-y, but long story short, this quest led to him distinguishing himself as a Sage.

Sorry for the anticlimax, but I have to dance around the details of how one becomes a Sage. Still, I hope that's enough.

Arctic Reptile

12/4/2017 04:55:03 am

I wonder if to become a sage you have to defeat a monarch, not necessarily kill, just beat.

SMOrc

11/28/2017 06:28:01 am

Any Paths out there that relentlessly attack with little to no defense?

kaden

11/28/2017 07:50:08 pm

Path of the endless sword and I quote "the path of the endless sword has no defense it is only meant to attack". Sorry didn't mean to sound like a d@$% and also I can't find my edition of Blackflame so I probably screwed up the quote. But you get the gist

SMOrc

11/29/2017 08:59:50 am

Pretty sure in that quote Yerin is referring to sword madra itself, and how it can't be used as a shield or blocking technique effectively. Don't worry about contradicting me, constructive criticism is the whole point of forums. (Well, that and being able to talk to other fans)

You are right, but I was kinda hoping for a cool story of another path from Will, not asking if one exists. Blackflame is another example of a Path built solely for attack with little to no defense or versatility.

Will link

11/29/2017 04:52:48 pm

As they say: face is the place.

The Path of the Last Breath, mentioned in Skysworn, both drains your own life to empower your techniques and destroy the enemy and attacks relentlessly with no regard to self-protection.

There's also the Path of the Storm Lance, which focuses on channeling all of its power into Striker and Forger techniques that destroy the enemy before the enemy has a chance to resist. There is no problem they won't solve with a huge explosion.

Mestama

11/29/2017 11:31:39 pm

Ulquiora uses Lanza de Relampago. It's super-effective!

Path of the Uber Nerd

11/28/2017 10:55:51 am

Who was the last person in sacred valley to reach gold before the events of the story?

Will link

11/29/2017 04:47:09 pm

That's a great question, but unfortunately I can't answer it accurately without getting into why the people in Sacred Valley aren't Gold anymore, which is a spoiler.

I will say that one of the founders of the Heaven's Glory School was a sacred beast who achieved Gold; a golden-scaled dragon that breathed light and heat. Legend says he's still sealed beneath Mount Samara, ready to defend the School in its hour of need.

Danksouls

11/28/2017 01:35:43 pm

Where in the Willverse would you want to go if you could visit one of your iterations?

Are there any drastically different approaches to culture and cultivation on Cradle?

Can a person "stretch" their limits on Amalgam? (for example if Simon uses his abilities extensively, will he be able to use them for longer periods eventually?

Will link

11/29/2017 04:45:34 pm

>Where in the Willverse would you want to go if you could visit one of your Iterations?

Most of the settings I write about aren't places you'd really want to visit. I'm basically inventing the least comfortable places I can imagine.

However, there's an ancient library in Cradle called the Dreamway. It's filled with thousands of dream tablets that each contain endlessly changing fictional worlds. Each tablet is essentially a virtual reality experience that crafts a new story on command.

I'd want to go there. I'd probably, you know, die from neglecting my basic physical needs, but that's a nicer way to go than by visiting Valinhall.

Johnny Wander

11/28/2017 02:49:06 pm

What would happen if someone from amalgam overused their abilities while inside of another territory?

On Asylum, are there any materials that cannot be Read by a Reader?

Are there any Drugs or substances that can inhibit a soulbound individual's connection to their vessel?

Can someone keep adding vessels to themselves infinitely or is there a limit to how many objects can be bound to a person?

Where on Asylum would you go if you were hunting for powerful relics?

What are the most popular cultural dishes within the Empire on Asylum?

Will link

11/29/2017 04:33:42 pm

>Is there a limit to how many Vessels can be bound to a person?

This is a subject of debate and research in the Aurelian Empire. The Vessel gets its power from the Kameira or Elder parts that went into its creation, but it's connected to the Soulbound through Intent. Basically, it has to be connected to you personally in order for a bond to be born.

The Magisters would see any claims of a Soulbound with three Vessels very skeptically. They would never believe a report of a Soulbound with four.

But in theory, the limit is however many objects you see as part of your identity.

Auakaaaa

11/29/2017 04:19:04 am

How would the Abidan deal with a sci-fi iteration with millions of worlds? Like if they ran into the Galactic Empire from Star Wars. If it got corrupted, would an Abidan have to go to every single world and exterminate whatever for of sentient life lived there?

Also, have any iterations generated their own local version of the Abidan as their own protectors outside of the Abidan's influence?

AUAKAAAA

11/29/2017 04:30:22 am

Or a Warhammer 40k-esque universe. The Orks are said to vastly outnumber the Empire of Man, which numbers in the hundreds of trillions across many galaxies.

And the Orks are also said to be virtually impossible to wipe out once they infest a planet. You have to physically use planet-destroying-force to rip the planet apart and even still you'll get survivors.

Do the Abidan have a method of determining if a iteration is more effort to protect or destroy than it's worth?

kaden

11/29/2017 06:17:57 am

My guess is they decide how useful the iteration is. I.E. cradle produces a lot of new recruits and Asylum/EE is the Abidan prison so they should protect those while Amalgam while it is cool and has probably produced a recruit at some point or other I don't see any real value beyond so it would go farther down the list of what to protect and if it started to show signs of instability the Abidan would just contain it and save some people before destroying it.

Deadnettle

11/29/2017 09:22:38 am

Just my two cents, any iteration with an abundance of inhabitable worlds would likely be incredibly well anchored to the Way. I would think that it would be a great place to harvest powerful individuals to swell the ranks of the Abidan. They could even perhaps seed it with fragments of powerful magic systems to expediate the production of strong recruits.

Will link

11/29/2017 04:27:52 pm

>How would the Abidan deal with a sci-fi Iteration with millions of worlds?

When Suriel personally intervened in Harrow, it was because the Abidan were not prepared for Harrow to be infected with corruption at all. She decided to save as many people as she could.

Limit was the world that was scheduled for demolition, its population evacuated and quarantine implemented. But Ozriel didn't show up to destroy it. The corruption spread until the Abidan weren't prepared to contain it, and that's when it spread through the Way into Harrow.

So: if they were prepared to save a sci-fi world with a galactic empire, they absolutely could. It would be easier and far more organized than what Suriel did in Harrow.

That said, civilizations with trillions of inhabitants and multiple inhabited planets are tethered very tightly to the Way. They're very stable and difficult to corrupt naturally, so they tend to be safer.

Climt

11/29/2017 06:20:35 am

Is there a limit to how many times a core can be split?

Also, if Lindon applied Blackflame Madra to the Empty Palm, would it damage or corrupt the target's core?

Diego

11/29/2017 07:21:54 am

The empty palm is a striker technique. If Lindon tried use the empty palm with blackflame all he'd get is a gout of blackflame fire spilling out from his palm. The damage it would do depends on how powerful the person Lindon uses it on is.

Deadnettle

11/29/2017 09:15:57 am

I can't remember 100% but I do believe that Will has said that injecting any Madra type except pure into an individual's core of the same rank or higher is basically pointless. If you do it to someone weaker than you it can be quite damaging though, such as when his sister was using white fox Madra on him to practice the empty palm.

Will link

11/29/2017 04:17:31 pm

>Is there a limit to how many times a core can be split?

Technically no, but it isn't terribly efficient. You lose a little energy in the split: if your core was a 100 before, you're not splitting it 50/50, you end up with let's say a 49/49.

You have to build both cores back up over time before you split it again, if you want it to work well.

Samuel

12/1/2017 09:18:45 am

So it's more like instead of splitting, you are destroying a small part between it? Like there is a circle, then you cut out a tiny strip in the middle. The circle is separated and lost some mass.

TheMOOOSE

11/29/2017 09:05:00 am

Time-wise, does Lindon's adventure occur before, after or simultaneously to Simon's?

Deadnettle

11/29/2017 09:09:11 am

That's a really good question! What about Shera and Calder? How do your series relate to each other chronologically?

Will link

11/29/2017 04:12:56 pm

Traveler's Gate takes place slightly before Cradle, and Elder Empire takes place after Cradle (or at least after where Cradle is now).

I don't want to lock myself into anything more specific than that.

Magpie Jack

11/29/2017 01:11:45 pm

What are the fundamental tenants of Aura theory on Cradle?

Who is the number one soulsmith within the Blackflame empire?

What are some of the rarest/most difficult types of Aura to cultivate?

What would happen to the Crimson Vault if it had inhabitants?

Will link

11/29/2017 04:10:08 pm

I was planning on only answering one of these, but I'll give you two since one of them is very short:

>What would happen to the Crimson Vault if it had inhabitants?

The Vault itself is actually the tip of the iceberg. There's much more to Ragnarus than Leah or any of her ancestors ever discovered.

>What are the fundamental tenets of aura theory on Cradle?

It's actually very different from culture to culture. We've spent the entirety of the series so far in the western half of the Blackflame Empire, so culturally it's all very similar.

They see it as different though everything in nature radiates a different kind of power, and these can be blended and molded in order to shape your own madra. Other cultures see aura as one connected force, the spirit of the world, which takes on different forms (aspects) as it weaves through nature.

Polycore

11/29/2017 04:25:24 pm

Hey Will! Can we have more details on how Lindon got his pure core to gold?

Kwakaka

12/2/2017 01:33:04 pm

He advanced his pure core to gold the same way Eithan did, like it said in Skysworn. By amassing power. That means he used the Heaven and Earth Cycling technique to get enough pure madra that he was officially lowgold.

Unlike most sacred artists, Lindon didn't bond a remnant, he made a contract for his Blackfire core and accumulated power for his pure core. So his version of lowgold is basically a more powerful version of jade (Orthos said as much towards the end of Blackfire).

So really there's no more details to give. Lindon cycled until his second core was gold.

James

12/5/2017 08:09:57 pm

I kind of figured Eithan just flooded Lindon with pure madra like Orthos did with Blackflame to get Lindon to low gold since Eithan is an Underlord while Orthos is only a true gold.

Kwakaka

12/5/2017 09:21:19 pm

If you reread that section again you'll notice Eithan says specifically:

"...No goldsign. I reached gold purely by amassing power. We can do the same for you."

So I'm fairly certain that means Lindon did exactly what Eithan did. Which is the Heaven and Earth Purification Wheel.

James

12/6/2017 10:44:47 am

I agree he would use the heaven and earth purification wheel, I just figured he would grind his core use the H&EPW while Eithan flooded Lindon with more pure madra than Lindon could generate on his own, kind of like consuming hundreds of scales at once, expanding his core. I believe that’s how Lindon achieved Low Gold with his Blackflame core, Orthos flooding him with inordinate amounts of Blackflame madra while cycling with the H&EPW technique.

Kwakaka

12/6/2017 12:23:38 pm

I believe that was a special circumstances only possible because Orthos and London formed a bond, agreeing to share London's blackflame core. He does not have such a bond with Eithan so it is not possible to do the same for his pure core. If it was it would mean that any high-cultivation level person could raise up another to a much higher cultivation level instantly. In which case there would be no point to training.

Sean K

12/6/2017 05:51:36 pm

I can't remember where I read it but I believe Eithan had Lindon consume refined Remnant cores which Lindon used to "Accumulate Power" which raised his core to low-gold. I'm sure there are other ways it could be done, like with something like the mining machine except instead of putting out a scale, it put it into a person, or maybe enough scales (like 100k or something ridiculous).

I thought it was mentioned during the fight with Jai Long, but it just says what Kwakaka quoted during the fight. I believe it was in Skysworn, I just can't find it without a full re-read.

Samuel

12/6/2017 07:51:59 pm

Yeah it says he ate something and got to lowgold. I could go and find it but, you know, I'm lazy and tired

Kwakaka

12/6/2017 09:06:55 pm

I do admit I remember that part about refining cores. I always assumed it was a typo and Will meant refining scales, but I had never bothered to update my version of the book because keeping my kindle online all the time drains a ton of battery power.

1SavageCabbage

11/30/2017 02:11:52 pm

What horror stories are told to children on Cradle to make them go to bed/do their homework etc.

garbagiel the raccoon

11/30/2017 04:15:56 pm

Has anyone ever opened a portal to Valinhall while under a large body of water? How would/did the Nye react?

Humiliation is fun

11/30/2017 08:45:01 pm

Are there any traditional ways of really humiliating a sacred artist if you need to? Like how a village would tar and feather somebody they really didn't like in our world.

Anders

12/1/2017 02:23:28 pm

This isnt a worldbuilding question really, but.. Any chance you´ll post a map?

I realize you wont post one of the whole of cradle, not only would it lock you down but it would also be rather revealing, but.. Sacred vallye/desolate wilds/serpents grave and the regions where they are now fighting redmoon hall?

Basically, a map over the regions where we have been, perhaps updated after each book?

Im not suggesting a graphic masterpiece in fantastic colors here, a simple black and white handscribbled one would be great.

Joe Belisle

12/2/2017 05:17:45 am

I keep checking back hoping for more...

Hahahaha!

12/2/2017 11:30:09 pm

Then you're going to keep being disappointed! Stop checking and come back to it in a year or two. By then these might be answered. Also you'll have Ghostwater and OKAK to read.

WRONG!!!!

12/3/2017 08:57:18 pm

If you recall Will posted back on 6/14/2016 09:12:43 pm that the release date for OKAK was February 30, 2026.

http://www.willwight.com/a-blog-of-dubious-intent/unsouled-release-imminent

Krakalakadingdong

12/2/2017 11:47:05 pm

It's the weekend, and for Will, this is work. You're like that that unreasonable boss demanding his employees pull extra hours on a Saturday...

Joe

12/3/2017 05:56:24 pm

Actually, I just wanted to subscribe to the post so I'd get notified when Will responded and don't know a way to do that other than make a new comment, so I thought I'd try to be encouraging and show some excitement about what he's doing.

Krakalakadingdong

12/3/2017 06:01:55 pm

Okay. I apologize if I came off as aggressive.

Warbreaker the peaceful

12/3/2017 06:15:16 pm

This peaceful resolution pleases me.

Zahel

12/3/2017 08:53:29 pm

All you youngsters need to calm down. Also don't touch my rocks.

Vasher

12/4/2017 09:27:16 pm

If you're me and I'm you, then who's driving this post?

Wyat

12/4/2017 06:55:54 pm

Plz Will we're starving. Grant us succor for us poor lost, Worldbuildingless souls.

kaden

12/4/2017 09:28:09 pm

/\
That about sums up the majority

shrine handmaid

12/4/2017 09:31:52 pm

To skirt the curse's grasp...
...tarry not for long.
Tis dark for now, and not a soul stirs. But remember, fires are known to fade in quiet.
Or perhaps thou'rt captive already.
Like the poor girl.

Samuel

12/6/2017 07:54:24 pm

I know I'm late, but... would a path with more than 1/2 madra types be more powerful than a path with 1/2 madra types, even if they used the exact same techniques with just more types of madra for one?

WilliamW

12/6/2017 09:09:48 pm

Is Will okay? We haven't heard anything from him in a week.

Will link

12/7/2017 10:02:43 pm

Busy week. Busy...many weeks, in fact, and another busy week coming up.

But I'm still alive!

A seven foot sword is stupidly long

12/12/2017 02:01:00 pm

If simon when to cradle would he be able to learn a path?
Also if simon did go to cradle would he still be able to summon things and create a portal to valinhall? And if he did start on a path in cradle would he lose his ability to use powers from valinhall?

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-At any point in the future will we get crossovers between series
- in the end do you plan to have your character of similar strenght

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And by we, I mean me.