One Does Not Simply Write a Fantasy Novel

1/18/2014

So I'm working on the January batch of short stories, collectively entitled The Lightning Wastes.

I'm excited about them, and interested to see how you enjoy the chance to tour Endross, Naraka, and Ragnarus. At the risk of almost spoiling you, they tie in more to the novels than the previous six short stories did, so that's nice. There are a couple of characters in these that I really enjoy writing.

Release date for the stories? Before the end of the month.

Work on City of Light is proceeding more slowly than I had hoped. Not because of the short stories; it's mostly because I want to end the trilogy well, so I sometimes get a little too focused on not screwing up. It'll still be early 2014, though. When I say "slowly," I'm talking in terms of weeks, not years.

I did just get the first few CoL cover sketches back from my artists, though (the same ones who drew my previous two covers). It's not quite ready to show you yet, but I'm looking forward to the end product.

Since I like to end on a question, here's an inquiry for you:

What questions would you like to see answered in City of Light? Keep in mind that I will not be answering the full history of Valinhall, as I intend to release a different book about that in the future.

I'm just curious about what you're curious about.

Cheers and salutations!

-Will

128 Comments

Mike S.

1/18/2014 10:26:13 am

Since Simon made the deal with the Elder to bless the mask. Does that now mean he is the Master of the house?

Will C.

1/18/2014 11:00:50 am

That is a good point. Now that Simon has defeated Valin is his new sword Mithra? And with that does he now have new advisors?

Cam

1/18/2014 12:32:02 pm

That was my question too

Will Wight link

1/19/2014 02:34:57 am

As for whether or not he inherits Mithra, and whether he gets another advisor, that question WILL be answered.

Will Wight link

1/19/2014 02:34:09 am

Simon's deal has other ramifications, which will be hinted at but not completely explained.

Not until later.

Michael

3/19/2014 04:38:49 am

If Rhalia is the Elysian incarnation, then how did Alin become one?
P.S. Love the "will" pun

Breanne

1/18/2014 10:54:40 am

I need to know the story of Indirial's family. He's talked about his wife and daughter, but they are not around. What happened to them?
Why are the dolls, dolls? Is there a reason the advisors are shaped as they are? To match their swords?
This series is incredible,by the way, the best I've read in quite some time.

Jon l

1/18/2014 11:23:24 am

I want to know what happened to the original Elysian travelers, why ragnarus became TE guardians of the incarnations, and what is the story behind the guide in Elysia (I'm blanking on her name).

Will Wight link

1/19/2014 02:33:28 am

Rhalia, and yes, all of those questions will be thoroughly answered.

Luke

1/18/2014 01:56:18 pm

I want to know what the full origin of the trees are and whether they are really needed or is there a twist?

Will Wight link

1/19/2014 02:32:59 am

Good question! You will find out much more information related to the trees and the Incarnations in City of Light.

Mark

1/18/2014 02:52:06 pm

I would love to hear the background on how Valin found/created a realm. Properly best as a short story but might be interesting in the final book as well. Really enjoyed the books so far keep it up

Josh

1/19/2014 12:36:18 am

An offshoot of Mike S what about the ragnarus sword he promised It doesn't say what happened to either of them almost as if they were foolishly left where they were

Will Wight link

1/19/2014 02:32:23 am

I'm not sure what you mean by "either of them," but yes, you will find out what happened to Talos' Ragnarus blade.

Josh

1/21/2014 10:52:15 am

I was referring to both the Ragnarus blade and Mithra but you have already answered both and I thank you sir. Also your a damn bloody evil genius and I cant wait to see what you come up with next. I picked up house of blades on a whim and best decision EVER

1/19/2014 02:10:09 am

I would like to know if it's possible to become incarnate in valinhall from something other than Bensons strength. It seems like the only thing Simon has been warned about is not letting the chains get across his neck.

Will Wight link

1/19/2014 02:31:29 am

That's a good question, and I can see where you would be confused. But the chains grow as he draws on any power, not just the strength.

Benson's steel is just the power that you usually call first, hold longest, and release last.

Lewis Dix link

1/19/2014 03:12:11 am

Will we find out more about the origins of the Territories? IE other worlds/planets/dimensions? It's hinted at in Tower of Winter and I know you said we won't find out about Valinhall but I'm curious!!

And I'm dying to know if Elysian Incarnations poop out golden nuggets.

Will Wight link

1/20/2014 09:09:54 am

They do. That's just science fact.

Lorn

1/19/2014 11:14:56 am

Will we learn more about the Strugle? Is it still real?

Will Wight link

1/20/2014 09:09:30 am

There is nothing more real than the Strugle. It is the realest.

Ross

1/20/2014 03:08:22 am

Are we going to see more items added to the inventory of Valinhall?

Will Wight link

1/20/2014 09:11:04 am

Honestly, I'm still trying to decide how much of this to put in. A few new things, definitely yes. They're already in. There are a few others that I know about, but writing them in would kind of feel like I was forcing it. So I'm not sure.

Ross

1/20/2014 03:11:17 am

And will we see the mask Simon bonded to the house put in a room for others to attain?

Tempmine

1/20/2014 04:24:03 am

I Kinda want to know about the masks room and guardian as well.

Will Wight link

1/20/2014 09:11:35 am

Good, because you will get to see that.

Stephanie

1/20/2014 03:08:15 pm

Who is the woman that refuses to fight against the Wanderer?
Why was Kai allowed to switch blades if you can only weild your own? What are the ramifications of the deal Simon made with the Nye for the mask? It was said it would be more than he knew at the time.
What happens to Alin's sister? Is it the same as what was done to Simon's mother?
Will Simon find out who actually killed his father?
And thanks for answering questions.

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:47:47 am

1.) Kathrin.
2.) Special exception. You'll see.
3.) Ramifications? That will be answered.
4.) Alin's sister? The answer is nigh.
5.) He knows. She's dead, and he saw Indirial kill her.
6.) Hey, you're welcome!

Swaggu

1/20/2014 03:28:05 pm

I want to know more about Kathrin, like I feel as if that has to be added into the book. Feel?

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:58:07 am

Yeah, she's cool.

Bryce

1/21/2014 05:29:18 am

One thing I would like to know is about the swords. Do they actually talk and have a personality or is that just Kai being Kai.

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:58:48 am

I'll probably have to answer that eventually, but for now I'll let you guess.

mike

1/21/2014 09:26:16 am

Will I am back after a long 'in absentia' (insert italics). This is rather unacceptable, I truly see that I put hope in the wrong person. Aha I kid, however I do wonder if it will be out End of February or early March? I do love the short stories. I do hope Brain S bas been keeping you on your toes with questions and witty comments, or have I been gone that long?

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 04:00:12 am

Welcome back, lower-case mike!

I'm glad you enjoy the stories! As for the release date, I'm not sure, it depends on how much progress I make in the next few weeks. The latest it'll be out would be March, though.

Klivek

1/22/2014 03:39:03 am

I'm interested to know why Elysian incarnations are hinted at having once been thought to be a good thing but are no longer? This may have to do with what happened to the LAST Elysian incarnation, because it seems pretty heavily implied that there was one? Sorry if this is phrased somewhat awkwardly.

mike

1/22/2014 03:46:00 am

A bit of awkward syntax there but I think that I get the gist. I don't think that necessarily the earlier Elysian incarnation was ever thought of as good. It just kept the other Incarnations in line. Just my thoughts on it...

Harlequin

1/22/2014 07:58:00 am

I got them feels too mike. Always felt the "guide girl" Alin had in Elysia was formerly an incarnation, mainly due to the hint she told Alin when they come across the Wolfman on their way to heal the Grandmaster Naraka, about how her reputation scared him off?

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 04:02:24 am

Elysian Travelers once kept the other Incarnations in line. Elysians were supposed to be able to keep from becoming Incarnations; they thought themselves better than that.

Joel

1/24/2014 02:48:55 pm

I could be wrong. But it seems like Alin became an incarnation because he was being allowed to access powers he wasn't ready for. Then overused them. I would imagine that an Elysian traveler who gained his gifts more normally would be far less likely to incarnate.

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:22:42 am

You've got that right, Joel. Also, most Elysian Travelers of the past were trained in groups, so they had other people teaching them when and why not to be stupid. Whereas Alin had to make most of these judgments himself.

kyle withers

1/22/2014 06:16:29 am

In one of the books it says Valin wad thrown into Valinhall with a loud roar and a great light...or something along those lines. Will we find out what that means? It seems to me that it might be the dragons since that is what he was searching for at the end of the short story.

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 04:01:03 am

That will definitely be answered at some point, but not in City of Light. In the Valinhall book, most likely.

Harlequin

1/22/2014 08:17:08 am

Hmm. Questions you speak of? Mysterious...this is. I must ask the right questions, yet know them not...

1. Was Ryalia formerly an incarnation?
2. Will Alin go batshit insane like the Narakan incarnation?
3. Did Valin find his Dragons?
4. Where are the missing Valinhall swords? And will they be found?
5.Did Katrina hide them, like Kai did with Mithra?
6.Are there creatures in Ragnaros?
7. Is simon going to be wielding 3 swords? ;)
8. Did they bury Valin in a grave in the Forest Glade where he was sealed?
9. Where did the Ragnaros artifacts/weapons come from?
Finally, 10. Will Simon get the girl?

All the questions i could come up with. Tried to have fun with it. Look forward to finding out in March. :)

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:53:10 am

1.) You'll find out.
2.) Pretty much, yeah.
3.) In a manner of speaking. An Army of them.
4.) In various places. Yes, eventually.
5.) Maybe.
6.) A Ragnarus Traveler would say no, there are no creatures there. That's what they would tell you.
7.) He holds one in his mouth. Santoryu ftw.
8.) You'll find out.
9.) That...I'm not sure you will find that out. It's a tricky question to answer.
10.) I haven't spent much time developing relationships in the Traveler's Gate Trilogy, and I still won't in CoL. That said, I plan to write other books down the road. Let's leave it at that.

john

1/22/2014 05:56:11 pm

Any chance that Simon is going to learn to travel in other territories? Also is the new queen going to become a Valinhall traveller possibly even their leader since she also could be said to have defeated claim

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:57:40 am

No. He'll go to other Territories, but he won't become a Traveler of anywhere but Valinhall.

Is she? Good question. Find out in City of Light!

Jessica

1/25/2014 05:18:33 am

Gah! I was going to ask if you were ever going to make Simon a Traveler from another Territory based on the idea planted in "House of Blades." The snake was told to get the Traveler and attacked Simon's mother before Alin, so I was hoping you'd pick that back up somewhere. Maybe in another book....pleeeeease?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:23:54 am

Honestly, Jessica, I don't rule anything out completely. What he WON'T do is learn to become a Traveler of another Territory in City of Light. I can guarantee that. In a future book...I have no comment one way or another.

April

1/23/2014 11:15:46 am

The cave!!!! When and how was it created? What was the significance of the battle that created it?
Also, this probably will be in the Valinhall series, (You said series right? 5-6 books?) but the Eldest is the most intriguing character of the bunch. Who is he? What does he truly want? Yes he wants Valinhall to grow, but how? And into what?

Those are the big ones. Thank you for being awesome.

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:56:43 am

You know, that would have been a cool short story. It's a neat battle, with cool effects.

No, not a Valinhall series. One book. MAYBE two. However, I plan on writing other books in the Traveler's Gate world. Total, I'd probably end up writing 5-6 more books set in this universe.

I'd really like to tell the story of the Nye. I'm not sure if I will, but it would be fun.

You will learn a bit more about him in City of Light, though.

Ken

1/24/2014 02:28:49 am

When will we find out what's behind the door that the Nye guard?

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:54:02 am

When you inherit one of the Dragon's Fangs and make a deal with the Eldest.

cam

1/24/2014 01:49:16 pm

You sir, have given some truly vague answers. Well done, now I want to read the CoL more than ever.

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:30:46 am

I do what I can, Cam. My ability to give vague answers is matched only by my ability to raise burning questions.

For real, though, I would like to emphasize something: I wanted to know what you all were wondering so that I could make sure I answered the important questions in CoL. I never intended to answer everything in this thread.

Joel

1/24/2014 02:57:04 pm

Will we learn more about Ragnarus? I'm curious as to why the Royal line are the only ones who can access it. Also is there a particular reason it's so damn powerful?
Secondly I'd like to know a little more about Elysiam. Why are their travelers so rare? Why was it closed for so many years? And why was it the last territory made available? (other than Valinhall)

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:31:41 am

Ragnarus: in The Lightning Wastes. The last story is the Ragnarus story.

Elysia: Yes, you will learn more about them in City of Light. And also in The Lightning Wastes, to some degree.

Rich

1/24/2014 04:26:09 pm

Well Simon still be the main character in the future books?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:34:13 am

I can't give you a clear answer on this until after City of Light. IF I decide to write further books that are set after City of Light (which I probably will, but I don't want to lock myself into anything), and IF Simon survives City of Light, and IF he survives in a state in which it would make sense for him to be a protagonist (not crippled or sworn into pacifism or something), then yes. I like Simon.

However, he might not be the primary protagonist. Maybe I'll want to tell the stories primarily from someone else's perspective, and have Simon perform a role more similar to Leah's POV now. I don't know anything for sure.

Mar

1/24/2014 08:07:43 pm

I know you said previously that you aren't developing relationships in the books but will there be something hinted at between simon and leah, or even leah and alin?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:35:27 am

Find out in City of Light!

This, by the way, is one of the reasons why I want to write books set after City of Light (though I won't write these books for a while). It gives me a little room to develop relationships like this when I don't have to match the blistering pace of this trilogy.

Bryce

1/24/2014 09:58:53 pm

The talk about relationships got me thinking. Are we going to see that girl from the short stories again? The one who said Kai should take an apprentice?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:35:49 am

Probably!

Jeremiah Halstead

1/25/2014 07:38:35 pm

Will anyone turn into a sofa?

Will anyone get fed to the sofa?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:36:44 am

I will forgive this once because it was a sin of ignorance, but let me be clear:

Do not talk about the sofa. Do not joke about the sofa.

Across space and time, it can hear your mockery.

And it is not amused.

Delaine M Wright

1/26/2014 12:51:53 am

What a fantastic read your series has been! I cannot WAIT for this to continue. Any chance of releasing a part 1 of Book 3? LOL. - I'm lost with it. Great work Will! THANK YOU!! A fan. :)

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:38:41 am

Thanks, Delaine! I might post a deleted scene from City of Light in a couple of weeks; there's one particular self-contained background scene that, currently, I've cut from the main book. I may post that here. And when we get closer to publication, I'll likely post Chapter 1 again, just like I did last time.

On a more personal note, I love your first name, and I happened to be looking for a cool D-name for a minor female character. I might steal yours.

Delaine M Wright

1/29/2014 11:57:40 am

:) This Delaine would be honored. !

Paul Smith

1/26/2014 10:29:51 pm

I'm curious about the advisors (the dolls in particular) and how they came to be advisors. I thought they might have been former dragon army warriors but Valinhall is too new for that to be the case.

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:41:35 am

I'm sure there will be another hint or two scattered in City of Light, but the full answer won't come until the Valinhall novel. Stay tuned!

Aaron

1/27/2014 11:28:56 am

I apologize if this has already been asked/answered, but in The Crimson Vault when Kai first sees Mithra, he remembers asking Valin where the gold came from and it is heavily implied that the gold in Mithra came from Elysia. Valin says it came from a "City of Light," thought he never outright says Elysia.

My question is how did he get there? I seem to recall Rhylia saying at some point that it has been centuries since someone came to Elysia, Valin wasn't a Traveler who could open a gate, and there was no Elysia Traveler for him to follow through with the gauntlet!

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:40:43 am

You are correct on all those points.

So it seems impossible that Valin could have gotten the gold from Elysia, doesn't it?

What a mystery. What a mystery indeed. If only there were someone who could provide us with the answers, and not withhold them out of sadistic, suspenseful glee!

(I will tell you that there is an answer, and it is cool. I'm just trying to decide whether to include the explanation in City of Light or wait until the Valinhall novel.)

Chris Yingling link

1/29/2014 03:31:06 am

AHHHH!!!! I can't stand the suspense.

I do have to say that I find your books most enjoyable. I have read quite a fair amount of books and you are easily in my top 3 of authors, if not number 1.

On to my question. If this has already been asked and answered I apologize. Can Simon now summon the mask whenever he wants/needs? Does he have to go back to Valinhall and earn the mask through a trail proper so that it reaches full potential? If he has earned it and can summon it if he wants is the mask slowly turning Simon into the next Incarnation without his or anyones awarness of such?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 06:51:24 am

Chris,

I'm both flattered and honored to hear that, Chris! You need to stop complimenting me, or I'll swell into a deranged ego-beast that thrives on positive reinforcement instead of food.

As for those questions...I can guarantee you that they will all be answered, in detail, relatively early in City of Light. I can't answer you now for fear of spoilers.

Michael

3/19/2014 04:51:06 am

Yeah Chris stop complimenting Will, or his head may grow as big as Alin's.

Nate

1/27/2014 12:03:45 pm

Excellent series! On my second read through with the wife, and looking forward to CoL!

My question: Will I be written in to CoL?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:29:02 am

Is your full name Nathaniel?

Nate

2/2/2014 05:12:01 am

Yes it is!

john

1/28/2014 10:30:32 am

I know you said he wouldn't become a traveler but is there any chance he will "earn" powers from other territories? Like the powers gained from one of districts in elysia or a source from lirial? I would think that last would work especially well with Benson's steel. Or maybe earn gates to other territories with the same restrictions individually that they have in the "real" world?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:28:09 am

That may or may not happen. I can't comment. But I will say that it certainly COULD happen.

Alo

1/28/2014 03:00:05 pm

Where do the 'chains' come from, and do they have any significance aside from a measure of power usage / time left? What are they if so? Why chains, why not rope or celtic knots or garrote wire or...?

What's the counter Valinhall has to Elysia, if Elysia has the counters to all the other territories?

Can any of the territories connect directly to another, or do they have to go through the world first?

Are there permanent gates that exist in order for people to 'discover' the territories on their own?

What happens if a gate is held open indefinitely?

Why can't the blood trees take animals as sacrifices, why does it have to be human?

How are the creatures and animals of the territories replenished?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 12:27:28 am

The answers to your questions will be found in...

1.) The Valinhall novel.

2.) City of Light.

3.) Probably City of Light, possibly the Valinhall novel.

4.) This post: yes. Natural Gates open under specific circumstances, which is how people discovered the Territories in the first place. They're temporary and difficult to predict; some of the easiest Territories to enter naturally are Endross and Asphodel, because natural Gates open there under relatively predictable conditions.

5.) This post: very little, but it's difficult/impossible to do.

6.) The Lightning Wastes.

7.) Future books.

Bryce

1/29/2014 07:43:43 am

OK I got some more questions but they are NOT about what is coming up, at least not directly.

-Has any of these posts made you realize things you will probably want to pursue?

-Has any of these posts made you realize something you will HAVE to pursue?

- Has any of these posts caused you to change or reconsider things you were or were not going to do?

Will Wight link

1/29/2014 08:11:13 am

That's a great series of questions, Bryce, and I'll try to do them justice.

These posts have given me a checklist of information that I need to include in City of Light. Since I know all the answers, it's sometimes difficult to remember which mysteries I've explained and which are still mysterious. Responses like this help to remind me which questions I have yet to answer, and therefore which ones I need to explain in the text.

Really, when I ask questions like this, I'm trying to get a better sense for what you guys want, rather than trying to come up with new ideas/directions. I have a surfeit of ideas that I'd like to pursue, and I've got a million possible ideas for the future of the Traveler's Gate universe.

This was also true for the post in which I asked to hear what books you'd like to see from me. I didn't get any new ideas from the responses, but I got a great sense for the kinds of books you all are interested in. That's what I wanted, so I was very happy about the response to both that post and this one.

Ideas are cheap. I have a million of them, and I could easily sweep them all out the door and come up with a million more. The hard part is figuring out which ideas resonate with my target audience: you.

So that's what I'm getting out of these posts, and they've been wonderful. Keep it coming!

Sam

1/29/2014 08:32:46 am

Do we see a lot more of simon's growth in COL?
I like the way he's forced to deal with new situations in order to grow and there is no one way to learn in Valinhall, it would just be nice to see a bit more of him in the house, clearing rooms and such, basically being a badass. (More than he already is)

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 11:59:31 am

We definitely see more of Simon's growth as a person, and yes he does get stronger. There's not a whole lot of him going room-to-room and beating guardians, but he does collect a handful of new powers in City of Light, some of which happens onscreen, so to speak.

Dave

1/30/2014 03:05:54 am

Hi Will,
Are you still planning on having the Lightning Wastes out before the end of the month? Because I'm British and my month end before yours does.
R.E. What I would like to see - will there be travellers of more than one territory?
Thanks!

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 11:58:12 am

Still planning on getting the stories up tomorrow, but I still have some work to do. Worst-case scenario, they go up on February first.

There are a handful of dual Travelers, Gilad being one of them. The main reason that there aren't more is because training as a Traveler of one specific Territory is a full-time occupation, so if you find out you're adept at controlling one Territory, you don't usually take the time to test yourself on the others. There's no reason to: it's like passing the bar and then going back to try med school.

john

1/30/2014 05:52:39 am

Any chance Valinhall will get permanent gates opening into a specific place in the other territories like what happened with the gate leading directly to where valin was buried

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 12:01:30 pm

The Gate there is something like a permanently-closed Gate. Anyone with a gatecrawler can get through to Valinhall at that particular spot in the Latari Forest. It's's because that's the place where the Wanderer arrived when he forcibly "drilled" a hole between Valinhall and the main world.

scott pike

1/30/2014 09:03:02 am

I know you said you won't answer the full history of Valinhall in this book, but I would like to know how Valin ended up there also I'd like to know the origin of the territories in general and what the link is between the territories and their human travelers. Valinhall seemed to grow stronger as it gained new human in it and I wonder if that is true for other Territories. Is there a symbiotic relation ship between territiories and their travelers?

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 12:03:36 pm

Symbiotic relationship: yes. It's different for different Territories, but yes.

All of those Territory questions: a few hints in City of Light, followed by a few in The Lightning Wastes, and a few more in the upcoming Valinhall novel.

scott pike

1/30/2014 09:14:10 am

What happens to someone who becomes an incarnation and has links to more than one territory? Also what would happen to an incarnation if they went through the steps to becoming a Valinhall traveler since its the only one anyone can join?

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 12:06:23 pm

The Incarnation of a Territory is the physical manifestation of that Territory. Therefore, there's no way to become a dual-Territory Incarnation. That would be like turning into water and fire at the same time.

If you Traveled two Territories and you drew on one too deeply, or misused its power in some way, you might become the Incarnation of that Territory.

The funny thing is that, despite what I've suggested in the novels, it's actually pretty difficult to become an Incarnation. Elysia and Valinhall are the exceptions, in that you have to worry about it all the time. For Naraka, for example, most Naraka Travelers wouldn't be able to Incarnate even if they wanted to.

scott pike

1/30/2014 01:17:47 pm

Actually my idea was that if a incarnation became dual territories it would cease to be an incarnation.

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 09:08:48 pm

Hmmmm. Now that I think about it, it's probably more difficult for someone who Travels two different Territories to Incarnate in the first place. Incarnation requires that you lose yourself to one specific Territory, which is likely much harder to do if you're torn between two different ones. It could be that Traveling two Territories is the safest route.

I'll have to play with that idea a little bit.

Ben

1/30/2014 10:32:19 pm

Before Valin discovered/created Valinhall he wandered the other territories. The eldest seems to imply he was just a guy who was really good with a sword. He seems to be the only person in this world who could travel the other territories at will. Maybe I missed something along the way. Was Valin some kind of magical gate walker before he found himself (temporally) banished to the valinhall territory?

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 11:09:01 pm

I realize I was unclear regarding Valin, because I haven't written his novel/novella yet. However, he had no inherent powers before discovering Valinhall. That said, he had a working knowledge of natural Gates and the interaction between Territories that was unparalleled by any Travelers of the day. Using that knowledge, he wandered from Territory to Territory, satisfying his curiosity and collecting souvenirs.

Drew

2/1/2014 09:44:10 am

How about the origins of the grandmaster s their religion and damascus

Will Wight link

2/8/2014 07:51:26 am

Nope, not in CoL. Though I've been considering doing a few more short stories after the trilogy is over, and they might touch on topics like this.

2/1/2014 04:51:22 pm

I can't remember if this has already been answered but what is the price Simon had to pay for using the Ragnarus sword against Valin?

Bryce

2/1/2014 10:08:28 pm

From reading the last book of short stories it seems as though most of the effects are either temporary like using the spear and Leah's crown or compounding like either the dagger or wand. Who knows maybe using it actually had something to do with how Leah's brother acted.

Will Wight link

2/8/2014 07:52:01 am

KB: Great question! You'll find out about the sword in CoL.

Bryce: You're absolutely on the right track.

Sarah

2/2/2014 11:41:08 am

Will there be any new Elysian travelers now that Alin has gone full Incarnation?

Will Wight link

2/8/2014 07:53:13 am

Who knows? Maybe Elysia will be lost, left to drift in the void until it is gradually forgotten and fades away to nothing.

You will find out in CoL :)

Sarah

2/2/2014 11:45:42 am

Oh - and will Simon get anything from beating the forge or the library? Will we at least find out what you can get from those rooms? Also, where do you get the ideas for the dolls' names? Can one of them be named Sarah? It's a great name!

Will Wight link

2/8/2014 07:54:27 am

If I'm looking for another doll's name, Sarah, I'll try to fit you in. Linguistically, it does fit with the world, though my doll names are a bit of a cultural hodgepodge. The items in the House come from different worlds, so I cheated a bit by giving them different names, cultures, and accents.

Brett

2/6/2014 12:07:23 am

So I have a good bit of questions, but many of them have been asked. However I did not see a question about the other Dragon's pasts. For example Valin names Kai's full name and it is nothing like any of the other names we have heard. I would just like a short something on the ones we know and how Valin found them. Please and Thank you! Your a truly great Sir!

Will Wight link

2/8/2014 07:55:54 am

This would be the central plot of the Valinhall novel, I think. There would be a large chunk of it focusing on Valin finding and gathering the right people for his Dragon Army.

P.S. That's not actually Kai's name that Valin uses, though it's 100% my fault that you didn't catch that. I just re-read the scene; it's confusing. That's actually the Eldest's name.

Brett

2/8/2014 09:14:51 am

Thank you for your comment and looking forward to anything you will give us into this series. Truly brilliant! But that is the Eldest's name... interesting. Looking forward to some insight on that! Anyways keep being wonderfully amazing! I will continue to throw money your way if you continue to give me stuff like this or anything you see fit to be printed. Love it.

Ben

2/8/2014 12:57:57 am

It's probably a little late to see the answer to this in City of Light, as you're probably on the home stretch (hopefully), but I might as well ask it here.

I want to see what happens to someone who travels two territories. Are they torn between two worlds, with their summoned allies hating each other? Or are they sort of like a child in a broken marriage that still sort of works, with both parents putting aside their differences for the sake of the child?

I kind of want to see a short with someone who travels both Helgard and Valinhall, specifically. Helgard is all about trust. To summon anything from Helgard, you must know it better then you know yourself. How would that work with a Valinhall Traveler, specifically one who's made the Nye's bargain?

Well, that's my query. More on Duel Travelers.

Will Wight link

2/8/2014 08:01:21 am

Duel Travelers will not get much of a role in CoL, I'm sorry. However, I've been batting around the idea of releasing 3-6 more short stories after City of Light is complete. This is mainly because I want to release all the Chronicles in a complete compendium, and I want it to be long enough to justify $2.99. I'm trying to figure out a way to do that so that I don't accidentally deceive anyone or make anyone feel like I'm trying to take advantage of them.

I just want them in the form of a single book because it's WAY easier to keep track of. And because I make a much higher percentage off of a single book that's $3 than I do off of three books that are $1 apiece. I'm not sure why; ask Amazon.

Anyway, if I did those stories, one or more of them might feature duel-Territory Travelers in some way.

Also, one of my core ideas for the next series in this universe--when I do, eventually, return with another Traveler's Gate trilogy or series--involves a major character (or possibly protagonist) who discovers that she's compatible with three Territories, which is essentially unheard of. So she goes around trying to become the first person in history to ever Travel all nine Territories.

I would enjoy writing it, though I'm not sure it is the direction I will eventually head. It's one of my front-runner ideas, though.

Chris Yingling link

2/9/2014 10:04:57 pm

Curious. Are you including Elysia as a territory that this individual would enter. If so, wouldn't that be redundant as Elysia is the counter to the other territories, excluding Valinhall? Or would traveling to the 9 territories make said traveler the counter to Elysia? If that is the case would the traveler be more powerful than an Elysian? That almost makes me think Alin is going to be around in some aspect and be crushed by the 9 territoried traveler in the next series, thus making me wonder if Simon is going to survive or possibly become an incarnation himself at the end of COL. If so will Simon and Alin now be hunted by Kai and Indirial, or will there be a new set of trees that keep the incarnations at bay? I better stop, my head is starting to hurt. However in going through these questions I think I figured out a major plot point in COL, which makes want to read it that much more.

Bryce

2/11/2014 07:46:20 am

Chris I think you misunderstood him. The characters may travel all 9 but would be compatible with 3. But Will this brings me to something you already said.

Basically you said that you generally do not see many travelers with more than one territory because of time constraints and because it is still relatively rare. Doesn't that mean that there is the possibility that there are those who could use 3+ territories.

I would imagine that one thing you would go into with a character like that would they would essentially be the Jack of all trades but master of none type of person, again mainly because of time.

Though Valinhall could negate that somewhat when you think about it. ARGH too many possibilities. In some ways I do not envy you choosing where to go in this universe.

Will Wight link

2/20/2014 03:53:42 am

It's tough, Bryce, but I do what I can.

Michael

3/19/2014 05:04:08 am

One combination of territories that would be cool would be like a last Air bender sort of thing, naraka (fire), ornheim (earth), asphodel/avernus (air), helgard (water/ice), and possibly endross (lightning). Elemental territories!

Steve

2/9/2014 06:36:15 am

First off - awesome stuff you're churning out, truly great. Second sorry for any questions already asked and clearly you're knee deep in CoL.

My main question centers around the relationships travelers have with their territories, and how their allegiances (Damascan vs Enosh) correlate, if at all.

Similarly, I can't recall (perhaps it's in there somewhere) what the etiquette is between travelers from the same territory fighting on different sides.

As I understand it, you are born into one side or the other (essentially) but your traveler abilities develop after. So what happens when two Narakan travelers, one Damascan, one Enosh, let's say, cross paths in their territory? Or back in the regular world, but not in battle? Are they friends?

Will Wight link

2/20/2014 03:57:26 am

That's a great question! And, like so many other things, the answer depends on which Territory you're in.

Some Territories, like Tartarus, draw a clear line between Travelers of different allegiances. If a Traveler from Enosh meets a Traveler from Damasca, even if they're both in Tartarus at the time, they'll try to kill each other.

In Lirial, you're not likely to run into another Traveler at all. If you do, it doesn't matter where they're from.

Naraka Travelers think of themselves as more enlightened than non-Naraka Travelers, so typically they'll get along fine. Each Territory is somewhere along this spectrum. In Helgard, for instance, the ultimate enemy is considered to be the Tower of Winter itself. So relationships between Enosh and Damascan Travelers are tense, but any Helgard Traveler would save any other from a sudden blizzard (for instance).

Sam

2/11/2014 07:17:08 pm

Will, I've enjoyed your books very much. My question isn't really directly related to CoL, but I've always wondered. In Valinhall, one could theoretically obtain food,water, and other such necessities ad infinitum.

This would make any need for basic supplies from the outside world unneccessary, meaning they could stay in their territories indefinitely. Is this true for all the other territores? I think Elysia works that way( Districts,after all) , but do the others? I mean, we could hear about hermits who left the normal dimension behind totally :D
Sorry for being so long winded,and thanks!

Will Wight link

2/20/2014 04:00:52 am

There are indeed some people who leave the regular world behind and stay in their Territory more or less permanently. This is usually discouraged because it often results in some degree of insanity. You'd get paranoid if you spent all your time in Valinhall, for instance, and if you lived for years in Endross, then your response to every problem would be to beat it to death.

Also, time works differently. It moves more slowly in places like Valinhall or Naraka, and more quickly in Ornheim. So you might spend a few years in Ornheim only to emerge and find out that a decade has passed in the outside world. Helgard's even more complicated, because their time shifts in relationship to the "real" world.

Sam

2/23/2014 03:40:30 am

Damn,details for so many territories! You, good sir, have created a world where just one trilogy simply will NOT do. ( More books are on the table, I hope, than just a single Valinhall novel. :) )

Hmm, I see what you mean about the insanity, though Simon seems to be getting used to fighting for his life all the time in Valinhall. Then again, he hasn't been a Traveler all that long.

I don't think time would be such a big factor,given that I was talking about people who left the "real" world behind permanently. I was thinking more along the lines of what they could/would gain by becoming a permanent inhabitant of the territory, besides the obvious.

Thanks for the reply! Looking forward to the CoL release.

2/12/2014 12:28:29 pm

What is the power or benefit that Indirial and Simon get from using the cloak? In CV when Simon, Kai and Denner are fighting against talos and the Lysander, the cloak is swept back into valinhall when Denner strikes the big bell.

Also, what is the power that Kai uses when his chains flare white? I know Kai doesn't have the nye Essence but has he made a deal with another character from valinhall that has given him special benefits similar to what Simon and Indirial have done with the Eldest?

Will Wight link

2/20/2014 04:02:00 am

I'm glad you asked about the cloak! Fortunately, that's answered relatively quickly into City of Light.

As for the chains...I'm not sure if I'll answer that in CoL or not. Depends on how much I end up editing out. It is a power associated with a specific room, though.

2/12/2014 12:32:17 pm

My bad on submitting that one multiple times. It never showed that my comment submitted on my phone until I refreshed the browser.

Will Wight link

2/20/2014 04:02:37 am

Ah, comment duplication, my old nemesis. That's one of the reasons why I hate answering these things from my phone, even though it's so convenient.

paul

2/12/2014 05:15:59 pm

I seem to remember that in one of the fight scenes in the crimson vault, Kai's chaines flash white. Does this hold any significance?

Will Wight link

2/20/2014 04:02:56 am

Yes.

Joel

2/15/2014 02:24:07 pm

Is it possible to unincarnate?

Will Wight link

2/20/2014 04:03:23 am

Not exactly, but sort of. Clarification coming in Book 3.

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