Will Wight, New York Times Best-Selling Author of 'Cradle'
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In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.

OSAS Guild Guide (03/10) - The Champions

8/16/2014

8 Comments

 
I just got out of The Expendables 3, and in my humble opinion, every single movie ever should end with a fistfight between Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson.

Other than that, and Antonio Banderas being hilarious, it was exactly the movie you'd expect. But still, Stallone vs. Gibson is the best final fight scene for any movie, regardless of genre. It's kind of like how Christopher Lloyd should be cast as every movie character, regardless of gender.

On a slightly less serious note, Amazon has finally allowed pre-orders for self-published authors! So from now on, starting with Of Sea and Shadow, I'll be putting up a pre-order option for all of my new books!

You know, as soon as I finish them. Which, for Of Sea and Shadow, will be this winter. Just a little reminder.

And speaking of my new series, here's entry #3 in the Guild Guide...

(Hit the jump)



The Champions:

            I doubt there is a single child in any corner of the Aurelian Empire who does not know some story of the Champion’s Guild, but I will still labor to separate fact from romantic fiction.

            The Champions as we know them today rose out of an old Izyrian tradition. In ancient days, before the Empire, the continent of Izyria was divided into a thousand clans. When two clans had a dispute, instead of going to war, they would send two representatives into a formal duel. The winner’s clan, of course, won the dispute. These clan champions were often Soulbound, strengthened by some secret alchemical technique, and highly skilled fighters.

            When the Emperor (may his soul fly free) originally crossed the Aion Sea with the aim of enfolding Izyria into his fledgling Empire, he created his own collection of duelists to defeat the natives at their own cultural game.

            Thus, the Champions were born.

            Champions became, as we have all seen, the best fighters in the Empire. They singlehandedly quell rebellions, reinforce Imperial troops in the field, and put down dangerous Kameira. And sometimes, when the Empire still needed to fight its own duels, the existence of this Guild ensured that the Emperor never lost.

            Since the death of the Emperor, this Guild has become—dare I say it—a dangerous liability. Each Champion has largely gone his or her own way. The Guild still trains initiates according to the old traditions, but it doesn’t have the organizational stability or control it once did.

 

Guild Head: Baldezar Kern, an undefeated duelist and the man who singlehandedly pacified the South Sea Revolutionary Army. Though he is known as a gentle man with an easy sense of humor, when he straps on his trademark horned helmet, he becomes a force of carnage on the battlefield like none I have ever seen. I had the opportunity to witness Kern on the warpath almost fifteen years ago, and the sight of this man in battle will haunt me until the day of my death.

            Symbol: the Golden Crown
8 Comments
Jason
8/16/2014 09:08:25 am

Whoa........can't wait for it. AWE.....SOME!!

Reply
Will Wight link
8/27/2014 03:46:20 am

Thanks, Jason!

Reply
Citino
8/16/2014 12:08:01 pm

So does this mean what we saw in that chapter you showed us took place in the past? Or was the guild book written in the future?

Reply
Will Wight link
8/27/2014 03:46:50 am

It was in the past. Far in the past. Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Reply
Dave
8/16/2014 07:02:45 pm

I'm really enjoying these guide entries. But why didn't you go for some kind of gauntlet as the guild symbol of the Champions? It fits in with dueling, the champion's gloves from chapter ???, and suggests control, which was what they were intended to do.

Reply
Will Wight link
8/27/2014 03:47:24 am

Because I have the gauntlet reserved as a symbol for a future story. It's a major plot point there.

I did consider it, though.

Reply
Mesmerizing Suggestion
8/18/2014 12:50:29 am

I just remembered another reason I love your books. I can generally predict how a book will end by page 30. I guessed one thing about the travelers gate series right( simon getting strong not included) . The entire thing. That thing was what would happen with Talos's Ragnarus sword. And it was my second guess too. Too summarize, I could not guess what would happen next. This hasn't happened in any book but these in YEARS!

Reply
Will Wight link
8/27/2014 03:50:24 am

Every once in a while, I get a compliment that really makes me feel good.

Thanks, Mesmer! It's a tradeoff, a little bit: most books, especially fantasy novels, are more structurally sound than mine. The plot is better constructed, and the tension is carefully ratcheted up. My plot, tension, and pacing are pretty messy.

A large part of that is due to my own inexperience, but the rest of it was an intentional choice on my part. Instead of focusing on making sure that the plot was solid, I tried to follow the characters in interesting ways. So it's a little messier, but it also feels somewhat fresh and more difficult to predict.

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