Name a Cradle Weapon

3/23/2018

We've got a while before the next Cradle book comes out, but I was trying to think of something fun to do on the blog, so here's your chance to name a weapon in the Cradle series!

First, I went on the Cradle subreddit and asked what sort of thing--weapon, location, Path, whatever--the fans might like to name in the next Cradle book. There were a lot of votes for weapon or artifact, so that's what we're going with!

Initially I was going to provide all the options myself and you guys were just going to vote, but it seemed pretty clear that people wanted to come up with their own names. So here's what we'll do: I'm going to provide a brief description of the weapon here, and you all make suggestions for the weapon's name in the comments below.

In a few days, I'll put up a poll of all the options, and you can vote on the name of the weapon. I'll use the winning name in the Cradle series!

Here are some criteria for your submissions: first, it can't be from something copyrighted. I'm not going to name a sword Excalibur, but I could get in legal trouble if I call it a Shardblade or something. I'm not going to include any copyrighted options.

Second, you have to be willing to let me use the name you suggest in the series. If you don't want me to use the name...don't submit it. I feel like this one goes without saying, but just in case.

So here's the weapon we're naming: it's a longbow made of shadow madra that has been handed down through generations of shadow artists. Its arrows pass through anything without madra, and only impact objects with a soul.

This is a real weapon that will be involved in the story, by the way. This isn't just some weapon that will be mentioned in one scene and then go away forever.

If this goes well, I might do more of this kind of thing in the future. Have fun with it!

-Will

235 Comments

Ravi

3/23/2018 09:08:03 am

Awesome!! I'll go first!

Shadowblight

Soulpiercer

Soulshadow

Soulthorn

Heartsoul

Your Benevolent Dictator

3/23/2018 11:50:59 am

I was gonna say Soulpiercer too

manty05

3/23/2018 01:23:51 pm

Same here.

Bridget

3/23/2018 09:12:00 am

Soul Eclipse

Elfishpirat

3/23/2018 09:12:24 am

It needs a simple name that doesn't overshadow its power (overshadow...ha...see what I did there)

Umbra- Latin derived word meaning shade/shadow

Paden

3/23/2018 09:21:21 am

A female name as if it was sentient.

umm..."Sally"

potential character dialog: "what's the name of your bow?"
"sally."
"sally???"

Will link

3/23/2018 09:31:09 am

I'm not actually against this.

Ravi

3/23/2018 09:45:47 am

Cancel all my suggestions, this is the one.

Nate

3/23/2018 11:40:26 am

100% my vote is on Sally.

I can just imagine some Godlike assassin Monarch, just before his ascension, deciding that he would leave an artifact behind for his devout followers. He pours years of his life into the artifact, knowing that it will be one of the most feared weapons on Cradle.

Then he decides to name it Sally as a practical joke and fucks off to the Abidan, laughing all the way.

3/23/2018 06:30:48 pm

I really like this idea, but I’m not sure Sally does it for me. I’d like something a bit more clever or ambiguous.

Maybe something like “Root”? She cuts directly to the root of your enemies. You can’t stop her wielder from getting to the root of his or her problems.

Nobody of consequence

3/24/2018 05:53:27 am

Can the bow be sentient? maybe a weapon that has been on another world and has intent poored into it by users and souls it has pierced. Said bow took on the name of the first soul it claimed... Angelica

Will

3/25/2018 03:56:58 pm

Soul ripper
Asunder
SoulAsunder
The keeper
Soul keeper
Soul seeker
Dead soul
The bow of infinite souls
Hearts blunder
Heavens gate

Oliv

3/26/2018 01:33:54 am

This is great. I was gonna submit one but I can’t do any better.

Alice

3/24/2018 06:52:25 am

Well if you want a fantasy name that works well with Sally as a short name, but is hard to say so as to require shortening, I'd like to suggest Salurielle. It works as a combination of salient (something noticeable or important), lurid (harsh or unnatural in color, so a very vivid or disturbing black), and elle which is a diminutive. So "Very noticable/important and vivid but still small thing." It could set the stage for something that, if sentient, is very proud of itself, but had the classic problem of being small for its race and upset about it. Following the name could be some honorifics that no one takes seriously, thus of course upsetting said object every time.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:16:38 am

That's a great name, but it's too close to Suriel for me to use it as a major name in Cradle. Sounds awesome, though.

Listen Well

3/24/2018 10:14:25 pm

Go with a real sounding name like Viscarious

JKwas

3/25/2018 02:58:10 am

My vote is also for Sally. Great choice!!

Matt

3/25/2018 11:40:58 am

Super Awesome Light Leaching Yin= SALLY
Although Yin is the dark force in Chinese philosophy, so hopefully that doesn't break any copyright roles...

Will link

3/26/2018 09:17:47 am

Nah, yin is far too general (and ancient) of a concept to be copyrighted.

I haven't included it as part of the Cradle philosophy, though, so I'm not sure that acronym would fit. But it is hilarious.

CG 4ever

3/25/2018 07:39:05 pm

I feel like most of the names given are more like epithets than actual names. I like "Salurielle(suggested by Alice) and maybe add an epithet afterwards like "Salurielle, The soulseeker". But Eithan calls it Sally because he's Eithan. The denizens of the Cradle seem far too serious to name a powerful weapon Sally.

Captain Spaulding

3/26/2018 09:14:55 am

How about Salurielle, The Roaring Death. It's arrows moving so fast it breaks the sound barrier.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:18:17 am

It won't literally be Sally. Just a casual, simple female name.

Jordan

3/23/2018 09:23:27 am

Something simple hmmm.

The Soul Bow

Soul’s Shadow

The Shadow Bow

Pickle

3/23/2018 09:23:47 am

Shadestrike, playing off the dual meaning of shade as shadow and shade as a term for ghost/soul.

Tievel1

3/23/2018 10:10:30 am

I was wracking my brain for suggestions to contribute. Instead, I think I'm just going to wait for the poll to vote for this one. Very nice idea.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:18:35 am

I like this one.

3/23/2018 09:26:46 am

We have a description of what the bow does, can we have a description of what the bow looks like? Any special features besides being a longbow that does shadow things? Also, does the bow create its own arrows? Any special carvings or color of the wood?

Will link

3/23/2018 09:30:35 am

I left that out intentionally, actually. I spent several minutes revising the description so that I didn't have physical details in there.

Mostly because the physical appearance would be a spoiler for reasons that will become obvious in the next book. But also I'd rather have it named for its function rather than its appearance.

Tren

3/23/2018 09:27:08 am

Not to insult anyone's sensibilities, but I'm not a big fan of people unfamiliar with Latin using it in fiction. Anyone who knows the language in depth and understands exactly how literal, straightforward, and (frankly) crass word origins can be in the language will cringe.

Take puella. Latin for girl. Do you know where it comes from? It's the lesser form of Puer, or boy. Kind of a shock to our modern senses, isn't it? Words in Latin are often metonymized to mean something you might not expect, and the word might be rarely used as its literal form.

Not to mention, sometimes the reasons for words are just dumb. Sure, pontifex (priest) means "bridge-maker," but it has nothing to do with making spiritual bridges between people and the dogs.

Making a bridge right for the first time, to the Romans, took BIG magic. They had to read the omens and count the birds and study the goat's liver before they would consider it. That's it. Bridges are hard to make, so you need someone to beg the gods to keep it from collapsing under your army.

Anyways, the name Hearthunter is kind of nice.

Trawler

3/25/2018 07:18:32 pm

Ehh...there are not many who are truly versed in Latin anyway to be a significant audience and those of us who are will not automatically cringe at its use in fiction. Latin is often used in fantasy because it sounds cool, nothing more.

Etymology is fascinating, but not always useful especially in fantasy as most authors seek to entertain, not be ultra accurate in the use of peripheral accessories like the naming of objects.

For example, languages are "misused" all the time in naming conventions; it really does not matter. In Spanish, often times 'the mall' is called (El shopping), like (Vamos al shopping) or 'We are going to the mall.' I guess some grammarians might cringe at this "misuse" of English, but its just a name borrowing just like Latin is used to name things in English.

The fact that some name in a work of fiction is derived from Latin or any other language albeit tenuously is in my opinion unimportant. But, that is just my descriptivist side taking umbrage (Latin misuse?) with your prescriptivism.

TLDR, I disagree. ;)

Vitiosi Dei

3/26/2018 02:44:40 am

Totally agree, language is whatever people are using it for.

Jayceblk

3/23/2018 09:28:16 am

Soul smoke

More to come...

Alan

3/23/2018 09:28:55 am

The Lakahn

3/23/2018 09:30:24 am

Also, I will put the obligatory Bowey McBoweyface in.

Ivo

3/23/2018 09:36:06 am

Voidpiercer

Nightcap (cause why not)

Jayceblk

3/23/2018 01:26:25 pm

I like Nightcap.

patrick foster

3/23/2018 09:37:13 am

Soulfoe.

3/23/2018 09:37:17 am

Is it still in the blackflame empire continent?

An armourpiercing bow then.. hmm.

I´d call it Harmless. As in, it harms less of your loot, seeing how it only destroyes the enemy, his armour and possessions are undamaged.

Brett

3/23/2018 09:37:20 am

Darken’s Splinter

Tiberius’ Toothpick

Josh Stephens

3/23/2018 09:38:34 am

First of love the series! My favorite book series so far.

I like: SoulTaker

Wesperado

3/23/2018 09:39:44 am

How about "SoulReaver"?

scott

3/23/2018 03:37:26 pm

It would be better with a wavy snake like sword, but I like it for this bow too.

ok12345

3/23/2018 09:41:35 am

Shadowhunter - no matter how many walls you hide behind, no matter which dark corner you cower in, its arrows will find you, and they will kill you.

Kimera

3/23/2018 09:58:16 am

Soulburst.
Archandum
Voidsoul
Arkansoul
Archshasow
Archvoid
Soulseeker
Darkfury

Gul'dan of the Stormreaver Clan

3/23/2018 09:58:56 am

Shadowfury, Blessed Blow of the Soulseeker

Shadowfury, Blessed Bow of the Soulseeker is the legendary bow once wielded by Shadowaan, Prince of shadows. The prince, son of Ul'Ukir, the Shadowlord, was attacked by Ragnoros the Stormlord, in an attempt to heighten the already impressive power that the storm cultivator held. Ragnoros succeeded; however, Shadowaan's power could not be completely taken into his form. What remained of Thunderaan was placed in a talisman of elemental binding, which was broken into two pieces. The pieces were then given to the Stormlord's two lieutenants, Magistrate Beddon and Yarr, respectively the left and right halves. These two halves are known as the [Bindings of the Soulseeker].

Sword Immortal Darknorth

3/23/2018 10:01:20 am

Ah, Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker, we meet again. And here I thought this meme had died.

Will link

3/23/2018 10:02:27 am

Did someone say [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]?

Tievel1

3/23/2018 10:04:42 am

In this case I'm guessing Rhok'delar, Longbow of the Ancient Keepers would be more appropriate ;D.

Gul'Dan of the Stormreaver Clan

3/23/2018 10:06:01 am

Nope, no [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker] here. Just [Shadowfury, Blessed Bow of the Soulseeker].

Any resemblance to people or places, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Tievel1

3/23/2018 10:11:54 am

In this case I'm guessing that Rhok'delar, Longbow of the Ancient Keepers would be more appropriate ;D.

Will link

3/23/2018 10:17:00 am

Oh, I'm sorry. I could have sworn I heard someone say [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]. I must have heard [Shadowfury, Blessed Bow of the Soulseeker] and mistaken it for [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker].

That's my mistake. I did not mean to tarnish [Shadowfury, Blessed Bow of the Soulseeker] by association with [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker].

3/23/2018 01:37:12 pm

Does it still count even if its not orange?

So many hours spent farming rep in that desert.

Tboy

3/23/2018 11:18:00 am

Ha! This is great! I love it when stuff I like has subtle references to other things I like! It makes me feel like I'm in a secret club.

My vote is either going to this or to "Sally"

Ideal would be to go with Mestama's suggestion, having this be the uber badass true name for the bow, with Its nickname being "Sally" or an equivalent that follows the phonetic naming conventions of its owner's culture. Something with an emphasized 's' though so we get that verbal association with [Shadowfury, Bow of the Soulseeker].

In a side note, [Bindings of the Soulseeker] would also fit relativly well into the cradleverse.

Mestama

3/25/2018 07:48:34 pm

We can even build on the traditional name by having it be a short poem like a haiku or something. That would necessitate the Sally name even more. There could even be an epic scene later where the bow has to be invoked to use its full power and the owner drags out its full name in poem form.

Random

3/23/2018 09:59:50 am

Why not copy rite yourself and name it Bliss? Elder empire cross over haha!

Bernard Donohue

3/23/2018 10:07:45 am

Breathseeker
Twilight Willow Soulshrike

3/23/2018 10:15:11 am

On a more serious note, I like the name Mourning if we don't got with something awesome like Sally or Bertha.

Will link

3/23/2018 10:18:47 am

If we're going with English words, I like Mourning, Harmless, and Harmony so far.

3/23/2018 01:17:49 pm

So then my vote goes for Mourning ... but then Eithan can call it Sally. (We were all thinking it). I also really like Harmless though.

Listen Well

3/25/2018 06:28:49 am

Maybe something like Ragnaros, Bow of the End, Harbringer of the Void

DAVID

3/23/2018 10:15:30 am

Just a fan of few words

DAVID

3/23/2018 10:19:56 am

I'd go with Soulfood

Deadnettle

3/23/2018 10:17:22 am

Heartseeker

Widowmaker

Life-stealer

Nightfletcher

Silence

Nightengale

Jayceblk

3/23/2018 10:17:30 am

Wraithstrike

Silent night

Shadow scream

Soul Shear

Ghost Flight

For the more comedy driven,

Useless (I see amazing potential for confused characters with that)

Won't Stick

Smokey Twanger

Riley

3/23/2018 01:32:10 pm

Ooh Wraithstrike is SWEET!

Theophilus

3/25/2018 10:38:06 am

Agreed. I think Wraithstrike is cool.

Wraithstrike, The Darkening (aka Diane)

3/25/2018 02:21:46 pm

I reallt like Wraithstrike as well.

Also, how about:

The Darkening

Or

Wraithstrike, The Darkening

I’m a fan of the ominous name, that is then made light by Ethan. If this particular name was chosen, Ethan could call it, “Diane” or “Dirty Diane” 😂

Justin

3/23/2018 10:25:17 am

Immaterial Essence Eliminator
Piercing Truth

DAVID

3/23/2018 10:28:48 am

James Brown's Bane

TrevorC

3/23/2018 10:30:36 am

Arrow Misplacer

If you miss your never collecting the arrows from this bow. This assumes it doesn't generate arrows from Mana.

NITIN RAO

3/23/2018 10:31:09 am

In our sanskrit vedas theres many...
Bramha astra (absolute weapon)
Divya astra (given by god)
Shabdabhed (aim at sound)
Vayu astra (air weapon)
Jal astra . (Water weapon)

Will link

3/26/2018 09:25:17 am

I couldn't use these directly, because I'm not using sanskrit traditions as direct inspiration for the series, but I could use some variation. Divyastra, for instance.

DOTZY

3/23/2018 10:36:02 am

Since this weapon is made of shadow madra and kills things with soul I believe that these names can be considered:

Soulblight
Shadowblight
Soulscourge
Shadowscourge

Champ

3/23/2018 10:44:19 am

Nugget
Chicken Nugget
Onion
and Sally, cause Paden is a genius.

Deadnettle

3/23/2018 11:38:12 am

Mustang Sally, the nugget piercer.

Mike

3/23/2018 10:45:03 am

First love these books. Second depressed by your first sentence of this post. Was hoping it going to be soon.

Soul shatter
Soulblight
Soul destroyer

Danksouls

3/23/2018 10:46:26 am

Sickle

The Rope

Last Breath

Alice (Alys for all them fantasy lovers)

Pride

Jordan

3/23/2018 08:23:36 pm

There's so many Alys, you need to be more specific for me to have a chance at the reference.

Danksouls

3/23/2018 10:36:53 pm

I wasn't pointing out a specific one, just saying that it's a common spelling on the fantasy genre. different from the average Alice, just like Eithan is different than Ethan.

Andy

3/23/2018 10:51:41 am

Exanima - anima being the Latin word for soul

Then again I don’t know how Latin roots make sense in a oriental setting, but I thought the name sounded cool. Honestly props to the dude who suggested Sally because that’d be hilarious

Mestama

3/23/2018 10:56:57 am

My theory is that this bow is Akura Mercy's staff. It would be amazing if this is inherited from Akura Malice and has some pretentious / ominous name like [Uber badass Black Dragon's Name] Requiem. Then it's given to Mercy who, finding that it is sentient, calls it Sally as someone above mentioned.

Jeff

3/23/2018 11:15:03 am

Smokey Twanger is actually hysterical and the spray of liquid out of my nostrils can attest to this.

I trust Will's ability to come up with amazing names, but our comedy is on point. How about, 'Bernie?'

Crow

3/23/2018 11:26:18 am

An items name: Bell of Quiescence

A bell that when rang ceases all vibrations around it.

Zhanzy

3/23/2018 11:41:14 am

Why not go with multiple names
Like over the centuries the bow has changed many hands and each bearer has had his own name for it (such as ...)
and then the current bearer can call it sally

alec

3/23/2018 11:50:24 am

Bow McBowface

Mourning wood

Ethan

3/24/2018 09:56:06 pm

Aha, a Terraria player.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:05:51 am

Who isn't a Terraria player?

Bring me these heretics who haven't played Terraria, that I may burn them.

Steve K

3/23/2018 11:51:04 am

Bow of the Black Mist or

Sally Shadow, which peaks your fancy.

Paradigm

3/23/2018 11:51:14 am

Hmmm...I would say Shade's distant Mercy said mercy being the arrow killing the opponent relatively painlessly and swiftly.

Bonus points if it is a certain female member of the Akura clan who ends up getting the artifact.

Your Benevolent Dictator

3/23/2018 11:57:27 am

Primal Shadow

Twilight Bow

Dusk Shard

Ben

3/23/2018 12:04:01 pm

Snuff?

Shade thrower?

Jungian analyst?

Random Internet Dude

3/23/2018 12:07:51 pm

My first thought was Soulbane, but that seems a bit edgy and obvious to be honest.

Spiritseeker
Spiritstalker

Shadowclip - No-clip, a gaming term for when you can move through objects, and also Clipper, a fast sailing ship

Rapidapshure

3/23/2018 12:34:22 pm

Just a few different ideas :)

Shadowsong

Grace

Dawn

Rapture

Ash

Ruin

Looking forward to the next book!
I quite like Harmony as a name too :)

Will link

3/26/2018 09:29:36 am

I think Rapture is great, but that's one of the names I had for a potential Akura family member. So is Grace. I'm going to include Shadowsong, but I wanted you to know that I thought Rapture was a great suggestion.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:30:04 am

...never mind, I'm including Rapture. It's too good.

Rapidapshure

3/26/2018 02:54:01 pm

Thanks heaps Will! I'm glad you liked the suggestions!

G. Reaper

3/23/2018 12:41:56 pm

Not sure if these would be copyrighted.

Reaper's Touch
Reaper's Breath

The Bow with No Name

Death

Extinguish

A regular name would by funny, like Sally but that may be distracting.
But I gotta say Mourning sound pretty awesome to.

Crow link

3/23/2018 01:00:03 pm

Archer’s shadow

Ironically it doesn’t cast a shadow itself.

Xant

3/23/2018 01:02:10 pm

Passage

Caemos

3/23/2018 01:10:29 pm

Fade with Evening

Lazy

3/23/2018 01:11:29 pm

BlackWeeper

SoulPinCusionMaker

BlackVapour/BlackPudding

SoulSweeper (not GhostSweeper (™))

Sour/Bitter/etc

Sage of the Infinite Blades (botter_otter, guys, like really, surprised people haven't figured this out yet) On a side note, gotta love all the memes in here, it's great, gotta love this community ([Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker])

3/23/2018 01:14:17 pm

I'd call it something simple, like Pierce, or Hate, or Shade

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

3/23/2018 01:15:43 pm

Well, I think Sally beats everything into the merciless dirt, but, since this is all fun and games, I’ll throw in my chip...

Eclipse, the Lightbreaker

Also, letting it have multiple names from its previous owners was a pretty good idea (and I’m not at all supporting this notion so that — just maybe — my name might make a cameo next to Sally. Not at all;)

Will link

3/26/2018 09:07:08 am

I'm probably going to end up giving it some version of that "It has many names" speech, just as a tribute to this thread.

Jayceblk

3/23/2018 01:24:08 pm

Shadows Quiver

Spectre's Touch

Soulstring

Core Seeker

and more comedy...

Poof, you're gone

Smoked Madra

Quick hide behind thaarrrgggghhh...

Wispy weapon

Will link

3/26/2018 09:08:34 am

You know, I'm not against (at some point) naming a weapon something like Quickrun "Because that's what everyone says before they die. 'Quick, run!'"

I think it would be a funny little quirk to give to a character who might actually name something on that basis.

Path of the NinjA

3/23/2018 01:41:06 pm

ShadySam

Silent Sarah

Dark Piercer

The Traveler

Darkness Rising (to QUOTE Kings Dark Tidings)

:J

manty05

3/23/2018 01:52:17 pm

Harpist at the gates of netherworld
Shadow beckoning underworld
Shadow beckoning souls into underworld
Mourning singer
Shadow of mourning
Shadow of mourning temple
Lost requiem
Lost prayer
Prayer forgotten
Prayers forgotten

Will link

3/26/2018 09:09:20 am

"Harpist at the Gates of Netherworld" sounds amazing, but it also sounds like the name of a song or the title of a book more than a weapon. I like it, though. Send me a copy of your Harpist at the Gates of Netherworld short story and I'll read it.

Jason Briggs

3/23/2018 01:52:29 pm

Heartsbane

shadows vengeance

last breath

comes the darkness

Shreyas

3/23/2018 01:59:07 pm

Indagator animarum - (Latin for Seeker of Souls)

Touch of Erebrus - (Erebus, greek primordial god of darkness)

Eye of Skaed'Atma - ( Skaed - Shade/Shadow, Atma- Soul, Literally - Eye of Shadow-Soul. Weapon which can see and lock on to the souls of opponents and travels through the shadow dimension using shadow madra)

Ruffbrack

3/23/2018 02:03:06 pm

Sanoja, The Shadow-Chain Bow of the Akura Soul Strike

Sanoja means eternal

It was created to be used in sequence with the madra from the Path of the Chainkeeper. And the original name has been lost to history the only thing that is known is that the bow has always been in the family and was renamed after somehow not being destroyed in a fight with a dragon. The bow would be with the family for eternity

This is all only if its Mercy's Bow that she used in Skysworn.

If that is in fact not the case then i would do,
" Sanoja, The Shadow Bow Strike of Soul Affliction"

Chris N

3/23/2018 02:38:55 pm

@Will: Can you say if it has a string for the bow or is that also shadow madra? If it is shadow madra as well then is the string normally visible or only comes about when the person goes to shoot the arrow? And does it actually have separate arrows of shadow madra or do they just appear when the bow is drawn back? If it's the later then is there a limit to the arrows or any recharging time limit between shots or any other limits like that?

Also, can you say anything about the culture from which it comes from? Is it a similar Asian-based culture like Lindon, or is it a European type culture? I'm guessing it's more from a European-based culture since it's a longbow and not a hornbow, although I know there's not exactly any Asian or European type cultures in Cradle.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:10:40 am

Yeah, even though I'm going very clearly xianxia-inspired for Cradle (and specifically the Blackflame Empire's continent), I'm not sticking too rigidly with the cultural inspirations. It's an original world, after all.

However, to answer your question: Asian culture.

April

3/23/2018 03:00:09 pm

Duskthorn

A space can be added if desired

April

3/23/2018 03:05:14 pm

Or if we go with Sally, I’d like to see a slightly modified spelling. Something reminiscent of Mat in Wheel of Time or Alin in Travelers Gate.

Maybe Sali? Or Xalee? Or Sahley?

My brother and I

3/25/2018 10:40:08 am

If "Sally" was spelled like this: "Sali" or "Xalee", it would be perfectly fine.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:11:16 am

I'm not going to literally call it Sally. I was thinking something like Sali or Sa Li or some variant like that.

Belga

3/23/2018 03:25:18 pm

Thanks for this concept, Will, it's pretty great. Loads of great idea in here.
Here are my contributions:

Promise
Moon Vardar
Throughseer

April

3/23/2018 03:33:25 pm

Also, David Bowie. (That isn’t copyrighted is it?)

Gary

3/23/2018 03:34:07 pm

Bow of Shadow

Son of the dusk

Dusk bow

Dusk bane

Bane of the evening

scott

3/23/2018 03:38:42 pm

Of the ones I've seen. SoulHunter,
ShadowHunter

Chris N

3/23/2018 03:46:49 pm

So, what about Shèjiàn? Looks like that's the Chinese name for Archery (according to Google Translate that; please correct me if I'm wrong and there's something better). It also sounds a bit similar to shadow.

Looks like some other similar words are shè yì ("shooting" according Google translate), or shè dào ("The Way of Archery" according to Wikipedia). If there's a different culture that might better apply then potentially using the old name for archery from that culture.

Sean K

3/23/2018 04:01:02 pm

Yeah, Eithan needs to call it "Sally" so awesome!

Supreme Arrow Launching Implement.
SALI

Reddan

3/23/2018 04:31:03 pm

Ghostbow (travels through objects like a ghost)
Ancestor's Shadow
Shadow's Cast (or Shadowcaster)

Dave

3/23/2018 04:51:43 pm

Shadowstorm
Shadow's Edge
PenUmbral Piercer
Wraithbolt
Animus Dart

Or any combination thereof

metatron58

3/23/2018 05:45:44 pm

Anima Venandi

May not be entirely accurate but close approximation of the phrase Soul Hunter in Latin

lying liar

3/23/2018 06:03:08 pm

Raven's Cry, Goth Bow, Soul Harvester or Renderer or Vanisher, Queen's Shadow, Really Dangerous Bow, Black Avada Kedavra Bow, Will's Nightmare, Icky Bow, Dark Soul Grasp,

Will link

3/26/2018 09:32:57 am

Black Avada Kedavra Bow. Frankly, if I wouldn't get in trouble for this, I'd include a joke alluding to this name because it's hilarious.

A REAL HUMAN WITH REAL SKIN

3/23/2018 06:25:13 pm

Rooty Tooty Point 'N Shooty

Or, for short RTPNS

Chunq

3/23/2018 06:53:34 pm

A longbow? Eastern archery has a very long history of reflex bows made of composite materials. Contrast with Western longbows made of only wood. Can't remember exactly what flavor of ethnicity that bow shooting character had, but if it tastes like the rest of Cradle then that's my two cents.

As for a name: Tension. Archery is an interest of mine, so I can only think of names relating to technical skill. Draw with back tension, anchor with consistency, release smoothly.

Or name it Mercy. If it's Mercy's bow, then that's pretty funny to have the same name as your weapon. I don't think I've seen that before.

manty05

3/24/2018 06:38:43 am

You know there was actually one book were one of the main characters had a staff that could be used as bow by bending it and connecting the ends with a string. Though I don't know if this is really feasible.

Will link

3/26/2018 09:35:36 am

It doesn't literally fit into the category of longbows versus composite bows, because it's made of fictional spiritual components with no real-world analogue. I'm using longbow as more of a physical descriptor, because it's a long bow.

Naming it after the bearer is great, but believe it or not I had that as an idea for another character who may or may not ever see the light of day. I'm keeping it in reserve.

Chunq

3/27/2018 06:12:19 pm

Aaawww, That wasn't the comment I wanted to post.

It wasn't really the materials I wanted to address, but the shape in the context of a fictional depiction of Eastern archery. An unstrung reflex bow would never be mistaken for a staff since they curl in on themselves. However, a recurve bow can look like a stick with some funny curves. The shape of a dragon's head could fit. The string would fit over its brow, snout, or mouth in that case.

And a stick of shadowy tendons can be any shape it wants to be anyways.

But if there's a "sacred artist" who uses archery, I picture them shooting a bow with curves on the end, not a longbow. That's all.

Thanks for writing.

Chris

3/23/2018 06:58:57 pm

I liked Shade that someone else said earlier. I think Phantom could be good too

Viparash

3/23/2018 07:06:13 pm

Sudden.

Walter

3/23/2018 07:06:15 pm

The inscription says... Seeking Shadow Madra Shadow Piercing Bow of Shadows.
Yerin’s face contorted into a scowl, “What did I tell you about names?”

Ben

3/23/2018 07:19:20 pm

Long Shadow

GuīGōng(Ghost Bow)

Kami

Greg

3/23/2018 07:31:06 pm

"Emotion"

Only those with a soul can feel it.

Jordan

3/23/2018 08:26:32 pm

My joke name would be Jorge, but in actuality I'd go with Bane Of Shadows or Unbroken.

Charles Schafer

3/23/2018 08:45:58 pm

The Ending Yew

Dan

3/23/2018 09:00:04 pm

Soul Thorn

Shadow's Fang

Wight Shadow

David

3/23/2018 09:23:22 pm

Last Kiss
Midnight's Kiss
Sorrows Lament
Hunters Remorse
Luna's Embrace
Abyssal Key
Fading Light

Dave

3/23/2018 09:43:29 pm

Long List 2:

Heartache
Splinter Soul
Visions Lie
Terminus
Finis
Resolve
Midnight's Resolve
Hope's Demise
Hades' Toothpick
Reaper
Deaths Visit
Voids Embrace
Death Visits at Dusk
Nether's Embrace

guest

3/23/2018 09:45:36 pm

catharsis
moratorium
sundra

Norvigs

3/23/2018 10:05:39 pm

A chill runs through her veins

Slipping it in Softly

Sentinel

Oblivion's Horizon

Souls Descent
Limbo
Stalk

Quietus

Norvigs

3/23/2018 10:12:48 pm

Eclipse

Shame

Wraiths Con
Killers Conscience

Loren

3/23/2018 10:23:53 pm

Heart light

Since it is a soul seeking shadow bow, wanting to pierce your heart.

Will Wong

3/23/2018 10:35:29 pm

2 Submissions:

ShadowBowy McShadowBowFace

or

Hawkeye from the Avenger's Shadowbow Brought To You By Carls Jr and Payless Shoes with the patent pending "Fuck Scientology Quiver"

3/23/2018 10:50:13 pm

Solepiercer

The origin of the name, of course, derives from a handed-down tale of the Sage of the Long Shadow. Generations ago, when the wielders of Eventide’s Kiss (as it was then known) were rather less rigorous in their pursuit of archery practice, a hapless Lowgold, a student of the Sage, missed a shot with the Kiss. Decades later in a far continent halfway round the world, on one of the many ramblings of her long life, the Sage was given food and shelter by a kindly old man with a lame foot.
“How came you by your injury, my good man, if I may ask?” she asked after they had broken bread together.
“Many years ago, while I was gathering berries from the bramble not far from where we sit, I was struck by a terrible pain in my foot. When I recovered my senses and sat down, I was amazed to find an arrow protruding from the bottom of my shoe. It could only have come from the earth itself. Since you ask, and since I kept it as a memento for some reason, here is the very arrow -- unusual as it is, being rather shadowy in appearance.”
The Sage inspected the arrow and instantly realized what must have happened. Blessed with a fine memory, she even recalled its stamped-on serial number as belonging to one of the shadow arrows from the hapless Lowgold’s quiver. An arrow from Eventide’s Kiss, which would travel forever until it struck the madra of a souled entity, had missed its mark on the far side of the world and traveled through Cradle’s core to this very place. Her kind host had been the recipient of Cradle’s very worst luck, and had encountered the missed arrow in the bottom of his foot by virtue of being in exactly the wrong place at precisely the wrong time. All of the other arrows from missed shots had undoubtedly ended up at Cradle’s core after many oscillations about the center of the planet, but this one had found a souled mark by ill chance, and the Sage marveled at the further chance of her stumbling across the victim of this strange circumstance.
Though she was a traveler on the dread path of shadow, the Sage was not without a sense of fairness, nor indeed a sense of humor. She used her arts to forge a replacement foot for her host, and when she returned to her school, she used her seniority and influence to rename the dread bow “Solepiercer.”

Diego

3/23/2018 11:12:23 pm

Name it after yourself. The Wight. Or The White :P jk.

I sort of like Leisure, just to show how easy it is to kill someone with it. But I have terrible naming sense. Respite was another.

Haunt? Shade? See terrible

Diego

3/23/2018 11:33:34 pm

You know what's funny ? As I was thinking of Respite.....somehow I noticed that Spite is a synonym of Malice. Weird?

Mark Cooke

3/23/2018 11:13:14 pm

Shadow Ray the Soul Destroyer (sentient, goes by Ray or Raymond because he is so much more that just a weapon)

Soul Trader

Shadow Soulstice

Bow Mc Bowface (kidding!)

Beau

Vapour Trails

Soul Purpose

Andrew

3/24/2018 12:47:29 am

Wow there are a lot of suggestions already. This might kinda suck to vote on..... You should definitely do some early cuts before the vote. Now to throw one more in there for your perusal: Fate's Road

Will link

3/26/2018 09:14:56 am

I'm definitely not including all of these options. From a practical perspective, I don't think I can.

Dave

3/24/2018 01:50:58 am

Moira

Dark Messenger

Black Sky

Flux

Nocturniquet

3/24/2018 03:28:25 am

Last Whisper

Death's Whisper

Death's Shadow

Shadescream

Shadow's Reach or Shadow Reach... This one makes a lot of sense imo.

Death's Reach I guess.

Argenteus

3/24/2018 04:53:35 am

Dhanush=Bow in Sanskrit

Dark Dhanush / Dark scream / Dark wind / Dark whisper / Dark pierce / Dark song / Dark silence

Blight Dhanush / Blight scream / Blight wind / Blight whisper / Blight pierce / Blight song / Blight silence

Shiv whisper / Shiv wind / Shiv pierce / Shiv song / Shiv silence

Shade whisper / Shade wind / Shade pierce / Shade song / Shade silence

Silver sound / silver whisper / silver pierce / Silver song /
silver silence

Crystal bow / Crystal pierce / crystal wind / Crystal song / Crystal silence

Soul pierce / Soul Dhanush / Soul wind / Soul song / Soul silence

Dragon bow / crystal flame / flame pierce / fire song / fire wind / fire scream

Blood Soul / Shade Kill / Shade wind / blood pierce

Shade venom / Soul venom / Shade blight

chad

3/24/2018 06:17:07 am

Fallen

Penance

Fallow

Danksouls

3/24/2018 10:45:19 am

I like Penance as a name. A price must be payed for the act of turning men into ghosts and a tool so mighty must weigh heavily on one's soul.

manty05

3/24/2018 06:51:40 am

Rage's penance

Penitent clutton

Penitent ravager

Ravager's penance

Penance of wrath

Shade arch

Billy

3/24/2018 07:26:40 am

I kind of like Soulseeker or The Seeking Shadow. But please…anything but Sally…

Theophilus

3/25/2018 10:42:34 am

Soulseeker is GREAT!!!!!!! Billy has good ideas.

Doctor W

3/24/2018 07:45:48 am

Widow's blush

Hush

Nightwhisper

Yosef

3/24/2018 07:53:21 am

Zillah
Kage
Melaina
Savah
Niratap
Kardama

Personally I like Niratap as it mean one who is filled with shades and shadows.

Just an old dudr

3/24/2018 09:23:43 am

Sleep

Final Rest

Eternity

Night

Shade of Mourning

Ryan

3/24/2018 09:34:26 am

The Bow of Reaching Darkness, and maybe it's sometimes referred to in legends wielded by great heros (or dastardly villains) as: The Darkbow

Ryan

3/24/2018 09:37:08 am

Also Danny DeVito seems to me like a logical choice

Ethan

3/24/2018 09:50:35 am

Character in book names it “Godrender” because it sounds cool, second character (possibly the bow itself) comes along and says “I think I like sally better”

Lamasis

3/24/2018 10:13:58 am

Intangible Wisp or Shrouded Wisp

Wisp from will-o'-the-wisp, in some folklore being the soul from a deceased person.

Chubby_kittens

3/24/2018 10:16:18 am

Truefletch
Soulseeker
Shadow's/Shade's Grasp/Reach
Wyrd Shard
Sunderweave
Nix Bolt

Sammael

3/24/2018 11:14:00 am

Sally the Slayer

Backstory being that a it was forged with the remnant of a Salena or Salidar or something that could be shortened to sally. Of course, the people who forged it wanted a more interesting name, hence, “The Slayer”. But, the bow gets annoyed when it’s called anything but Sally.

Added bonus of homage to Buffy, Wheel of Time, and GoT

Nitin Shekhar

3/24/2018 12:13:12 pm

How about "big fookin sword"?
"Mine is bigger"
"A sword of ice and fire?

My favourite:
"Sword knows nothing".

harik

3/24/2018 01:25:20 pm

Evanescent Bow of Twilight

Great Rending Shadow

Supreme Smiter of Unwary Souls

and of course the Big F***** Bow

kaden

3/24/2018 03:58:10 pm

Prides End

The Bow of Hidden Descent

The Assassin's Harmony

(insert name of creator)'s pride

Ruan

3/24/2018 04:12:35 pm

Heartstring

Sage of the Infinite Memes regarding video games, books, shows, etc. but mostly video games and books because those are the most prevalent memes on the internet, although I guess there are a lot of memes about the most random things like frogs or news br

3/24/2018 04:40:22 pm

Lil' Insert Colour Of Bow Here

Sage of the Infinite words getting cut off because there are too many characters

3/24/2018 04:40:58 pm

aw my name got cut off cause too many characters

Gary

3/24/2018 04:44:19 pm

David Bowie

manty05

3/24/2018 04:44:45 pm

Moon's envy

Sun's lust

Lust of light

Reaper's Sloth

Tennent of greed

Okay I think now all of the seven deadly sins have been used in name suggestions.

3/24/2018 05:28:15 pm

Regalblight
Heartrender
Willbreaker

Will link

3/26/2018 09:11:45 am

How could I ever create a weapon called Willbreaker? It might break me.

Quackadoodle

3/26/2018 06:41:34 pm

How about Willmaker?

Then it will make more of you and we will get more books faster.

Arch

3/24/2018 05:35:19 pm

Love
Naming the weapon soulscraper or darkpiercer would be too easy. Deeper meanings in names is always cool, Love affects the soul. It can be considered the most dangerous weapon in the world.

Lana

3/25/2018 06:08:54 am

Hmm…I like this.

Garbagiel the Raccoon

3/24/2018 08:53:03 pm

Path's End.

Not the end of the wielder's path, but rather that of their enemies.

Garbagiel the Raccoon

3/24/2018 08:55:43 pm

Unless this weapon is actually terrible, in which case....

Actually, it still kinda works.

Stephen

3/24/2018 10:11:23 pm

Aberdine

Spirit-bane

The suuuuucks

Path Piercer

Tessa's hope

Xer's sorrow

The punchline

Mike

Polycore

3/25/2018 12:52:32 am

Well, there are already plenty of ideas out there but I'll throw mine:

Mist,
Sorrow,
Andrew Rowe (or maybe only Andrew or only Rowe?)

Will link

3/26/2018 09:12:20 am

Andrew Bowe?

Polycore

3/26/2018 12:02:03 pm

Yeah, that's even better! Could also be the name of the guy who created it if the name of the bow is already selected :D

Sword Immortal Darknorth

3/26/2018 06:42:46 pm

Haha! I love this one! If you choose to go for a male name instead of "Sally" make it some setting-equivalent of Andrew Rowe.

Justin

3/25/2018 07:13:39 am

Nice, can't wait for the next book, or the Elder Empire stuff!

-First Widow

-Sunset

-Sundown

-Greyscale

-Sightless

Cedar Bend

3/25/2018 07:17:39 am

Morderen
Fades with night

(More-dare-in)
(I don’t know how to do actual pronunciation guides)

Faris

3/25/2018 10:35:36 am

Humbling Void

Theophilus

3/25/2018 10:45:10 am

In my humble opinion, I think that Soulreaper, or Shadowshock might be acceptable. Or maybe even Wightbow.

Macross

3/25/2018 11:07:38 am

Instead of focusing on the weapon madra maybe on its effect

Lifeseeker
Or some fancy ancient word that translates into Seeks Life From the Shadows

Im not sure if the way it seeks madra is related to how the void takes empty or broken interations, but it could called something like Abidans Balance

NickReader

3/25/2018 01:55:57 pm

First off, I love Traveler's Gate, so thanks for that! I'm excited for the other series but am holding off for completion before starting but thought I could add some names.

Soulseeker?

Soulstrike?

Shadow Shard

Death's Hand/Touch

NickReader

3/25/2018 02:51:58 pm

One addition, Shadow's Lance or Shadowlance.

Steve

3/25/2018 02:34:21 pm

Playing on the earlier Bowie reference....
(Ziggy) Souldust

Awkwizard

3/25/2018 02:56:13 pm

Whisper.

Will

3/25/2018 04:07:07 pm

The rippers child
Heavens light
Bow of mourning
The last breath
The last whisper
Soul whisper or whisperer

Will

3/25/2018 04:11:59 pm

Bow asunder

Evan

3/25/2018 05:38:21 pm

White Dawn - because in the east the color of mourning is white. White dawn would be the dawn of a day or mourning.

Evan

3/25/2018 05:39:41 pm

i also like the irony of calling a shadow bow "white"

Will link

3/26/2018 09:13:26 am

I like this. "White Dawn" sounds like the name of a holy light bow, so attaching it to a shadow bow with a darker meaning appeals to me.

rnm

3/25/2018 06:10:27 pm

death's/shadow's greeting
bad touch
last breath
final farewell/silent farewell
brief long distance relationship
silent diplomat/silent diplomacy

Sean

3/25/2018 06:46:37 pm

I like night reaper or shadow reaper bow

Al Snow

3/25/2018 06:55:38 pm

It is cliche to use Latin, but does sound too cool not to consider
I was thinking like tenebricord which is an amalgamation of tenebris cordis or dark heart.

Also could we get an approximate percentage complete for the first draft or whichever draft you are on? Its vague enough to keep you from feeling like you have a public deadline, but enough to sate our impatient reading desires.

Keep up the great work!

Will

3/25/2018 08:19:32 pm

Bow of ripping
The

Variir

3/25/2018 08:59:02 pm

(name)'s Piercing Wit

(name) being the name of the person who created the bow
An example: Wight's Piercing Wit
or leave out (name) entirely and just leave it as Piercing Wit

Jacob

3/25/2018 10:03:11 pm

Soulshot

Jordan

3/25/2018 11:15:34 pm

I regret subscribing to notifications on this post

Will link

3/26/2018 09:13:59 am

Me too, Jordan.

Jordan

3/26/2018 04:09:54 pm

I imagine that you get notifications on all your posts, so you were kinda screwed either way(unless that assumption is wrong obv). I saw there was already 50 responses was like "there probably won't be too many more, I'm just gonna subscribe".

I was wrong.
So wrong

Me of course

3/26/2018 03:25:50 am

Shadow's Kiss
The Kiss of Death
The Thorn in your Side

Kratos

3/26/2018 04:23:49 am

Mindblight (to go along with the idea that it only affects sentient beings).

Anil

3/26/2018 06:18:53 am

Bow Of Nights Dark Shadow

Jason W.

3/26/2018 07:16:47 am

"Its arrows pass through anything without madra, and only impact objects with a soul."

Doesn't everything have mandra? I'm imagining the arrow getting stuck in the first tree it tries to pass through. Then the older trees getting pissed off.

(Also, Sally is perfectly acceptable name. It's so silly that it works great.)

Will link

3/26/2018 09:05:19 am

I was worried about how to phrase that statement, but I think you got the gist.

Basically, it sticks in things that have dense enough madra. So the arrows would have passed right through Lindon from Book 1, even though it's not like he literally didn't have a soul.

Jordan

3/26/2018 04:11:04 pm

This makes me think it should have some wordplay in its name. Like instead of Hunt The Weak, its Ignore The Weak

Jason W.

3/27/2018 10:00:24 am

Ahhh I see. An interesting aspect that you could add into this weapon would be the ability for it to "level up" as the user gets stronger.

Then it could potentially bypass all weaker mandras if it so chooses.

Weaver

3/26/2018 09:20:43 am

Dimension Shaft

Mathew

3/26/2018 09:40:16 am

Eunae Korean woman’s name which means grace
KaiLing Chinese which would mean triumph or victory over the Spirit

Bill

3/26/2018 09:44:44 am

Shadowbite

Soul biter

Soul Slasher

Soulseeker

Shades heartseeker

Shadowbite the Soul Seeker

Shadow Strike Shade binder

Corn

3/26/2018 10:11:32 am

Duskcord

Eventide

Half-Light

Day's End

Ric

3/26/2018 12:27:55 pm

A little late but if it’s sentient, maybe something like Shadra the soul seeker but she prefers to be called Shade.

Kell

3/28/2018 02:41:58 am

Soulstealer , something phantom

Jarrett

3/29/2018 04:22:07 pm

Umbra

Umbra's Zephyr

Penumbra

Jeff

3/29/2018 06:00:25 pm

Maybe something like Failure. The weapon might have been considered incomplete or not good enough for them. Also, I have noticed in many xianxia, etc. legendary items tend to have overly long, flowery names.

Gary

3/30/2018 03:26:41 am

Inky

Sam

3/30/2018 10:53:19 am

How about something like...

Soulrender
Cimmerian Shade (just another synonym)
Dark Maelstrom

Kyle

4/30/2018 02:21:38 pm

Kagē Shinigamī - the Shadow Reaper

Imperator-solis

6/17/2018 05:58:38 pm

Blood Flayer
or my personal favorite
Death murder explosion (its as dull as a butter knife)

Eruthros

2/11/2020 02:32:32 pm

It's a bow with a string, how about something that has to do with music? An instrument of death...

- Mourning Song
- Resonance
- Dawn's Symphony
- Dark Crescendo
- Dusks Melody
- Dark Whisper
- Sheol (place of darkness to which spirits of the dead go)
- Merciless
- Dreamers Vow
- Wishender
- Whisper
- Eruthros (red like blood)

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.