Short Story Time Again!

4/4/2018

I know I should be sharing Of Kings and Killers updates here. Soon, my children, soon. But instead of that, I'll be writing another short story this month!

In the comments, let me know if you think it should be Elder Empire, Cradle, or something new. I have relatively more Traveler's Gate stories out there, plus the last story was a Simon story, so I want to switch it up.

Let me know which you'd prefer!

-Will

EDIT: After three weeks of isolation (that still haven't ended yet, btw, because writing is never over), I glance down at this comment section to find...that Cradle is the clear winner! Raise your hand if you're surprised!

168 Comments

Faris

4/4/2018 06:22:25 pm

Cradle story.

TBH, I'd prefer another Traveler's Gate/Simon story, but I guess we have had plenty of them.

Pickle

4/4/2018 06:23:01 pm

Cradle!

Elfishpirat

4/4/2018 06:26:11 pm

1342% in favor of another Simon story!

But if you insist on torturing us with your beautiful, slightly demented mind....Cradle.

Adaen

4/4/2018 06:31:30 pm

I would love more Cradle content. Anything and everything to be honest. Maybe more about The Nethergate, or maybe the aftermath report on the School. There is just so much awesome in the Cradle stories anything would be great to me. Thanks!

Sean K

4/4/2018 06:32:04 pm

Fisher Gisha! Fisher Gisha!! I'd love something like a scene that happens while Lindon is in the black flame trials and some guy hits on her in a bar, or something like that! Or maybe a scene from her youth when she reached High Gold or something!

Or maybe when she made her first drudge! I wonder if the first one was a spider?! OOOHHH, how a fisher got fascinated with spiders! She does seem to be the only one!

Anything with Fisher Gisha and I'm happy!

Adam

4/19/2018 06:14:31 pm

I want to know why she is so against pushing the limits with lindon. You know she lost someone important to pushing things too far too fast.

Ravi

4/4/2018 06:35:34 pm

While I'd love an EE story, I think you should whet the Cradle appetites. Maybe a story from the POV of a Monarch? Or the EME?

Elliot

4/8/2018 02:34:08 am

Seconded!

The upper-upper-ad infinitum echelon power structure of the Cradle is so interesting! I always love stories that deal with these characters at the top not as incomprehensible gods, but characters with wants and needs, their power just another mechanism to warp story and fiction. (Will does this so well!)

(Go Will!)

Daniel

4/9/2018 06:11:31 am

Cradle!

You should do a POV of a monarch, or even an abidan member, or possibly a lindon story, or sword sage apprentice( suddenly forgot her name) origin story. Basically cradle.

Dan

4/10/2018 03:32:04 pm

Either a Monarch or something about what's happened in Sacred valley since Lindon left.

Especially ELDER WHISPER. We had a POV chapter from Whisper and he/she/it premonition of the dreadgods.

Just how far above the jades of sacred valley is Elder Whisper? What's the motivation? Why locked in the tower?

GRIFF

4/12/2018 11:17:51 am

I also think it should be something about ELDER WHISPER. Maybe something about when he visited the TORCHYARD, and what it is.

Mark C

4/4/2018 06:37:40 pm

Cradle.

I always think of pokemon when i think of cradle for a couple reasons. Maybe an epic blastotoise / Orthos battle for lolz :)

1SavageCabbage

4/5/2018 06:15:37 am

i second this

Skulldragon7

4/30/2018 07:22:36 am

How about turtonator?

Andrew

4/4/2018 06:44:31 pm

The last time you did something new Cradle happened... so yeah I'd love something new, you have a great track record of creating really unique settings.

Diego

4/4/2018 06:51:07 pm

I would love to see something new.

Out of curiosity. Do you have a criteria to meet when making new worlds or is it random?

Sam S

4/4/2018 06:55:50 pm

Cradle please!

Your Benevolent Dictator link

4/4/2018 06:56:48 pm

cradle short stories of Lindon and Yerin doing normal things

Icoret

4/4/2018 07:19:16 pm

Seconded, please give us that slice of life goodness

Totally not YBD trying to make it look like more people want this for the short story

4/4/2018 07:40:52 pm

I also agree and I am definitely not Your Benevolent Dictator

Firebringer

4/4/2018 11:39:22 pm

If you go this route I would like Yerin and Lindon to visit the barber shop together. That way we can finally settle THE GREAT DEBATE.

WHAT DOES YERIN'S HAIR ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

Your Benevolent Dictator

4/5/2018 03:56:08 am

Read the books it tells you in there

Firebringer

4/5/2018 10:33:54 am

No. I don't know how to read.

Calefacient

4/5/2018 10:48:40 am

I didn't even know how badly I wanted this. I was just thinking a normal day for other Cradle inhabitants would be neat but this is so much better!

Mestama

4/5/2018 11:32:38 am

I want to see Lindon realize that he has essentially infinite spending money. He would have to save up for major purchases of course, but it would be awesome for him to reach into his pocket, forge some scales, and pay for anything reasonable.

Not Michael

4/7/2018 01:26:28 pm

Yessssssss

Icoret

4/4/2018 07:07:33 pm

Got to vote for Cradle here. I'd love to see more of that world more than anything else.

Decadakon

4/4/2018 07:08:30 pm

Cradle story please

4/4/2018 07:12:37 pm

Cradle

Kaden

4/4/2018 07:15:41 pm

A EE story would be a good appetizer for the coming storm. Failing that something new would be amazing to get your creative mind from falling into a rut.

Mitch

4/4/2018 07:44:51 pm

Cradle! I've been feeling the withdrawl. Maybe something about Orthos.

Gordon

4/5/2018 01:59:07 am

Like this idea a lot - maybe something from when Orthos was young and first introduced to cycling Blackflame? How did he learn the techniques?

Your Benevolent Dictator

4/5/2018 03:57:05 am

He learned them by being a dragon turtle

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

4/5/2018 06:02:05 am

YES! We need a story from Orthos’ perespective! All other suggestions are negligible!

...

Well, I mean, I guess there are other valid suggestions, but still...

Scott Nichols

4/19/2018 12:35:12 am

No, cycle Black Flame and say it again!

Sean

4/7/2018 10:23:54 pm

Agreed! Something from Orthos' perspective would be awesome, though honestly I'm dying for anything new from Cradle and would gladly take anything from there.

All your books are awesome, Will, but Cradle remains my favorite series overall

Dragon

4/4/2018 07:53:44 pm

Something new please

Oren Velciter

4/4/2018 08:02:31 pm

Cradle. Random cool path in a unique part of the world. Perhaps show off a cool sacred beast

Extesian

4/4/2018 08:02:52 pm

New fan Will, finally read all your books. I've seen references to Elder Empire selling less and I haven't found much fan obsession with it. So I want to represent on behalf of the Elder fans that must be out there.
I think they are some of the finest fantasy works I've read and they are my favorite of yours. Cradle will be amazing and I love the wider Willverse material. But the split perspective stories is utter genius in Elder. The final ones are the thing I look forward to the most, more than more Cradle.
So keep our small Empire fandom happy, please release a short story from Asylum.
And my thanks for sticking with an amazing and and glorious worldbuilding despite not enough people recognising its genius :)

FORGOTTEN ELDER FAN

4/4/2018 08:28:00 pm

I couldn't agree more! I also vote EE for the short story, I miss Shera (and our other elder empire friends)

Samwise

4/4/2018 11:03:54 pm

I would also vote for the Elder Empire, but I don't want to force you to write even more Elder Empire when I know you're feverishly working on the Elder Empire as it is. So I will put my vote for a silly Cradle story.

Unless that is you have an Elder Empire chapter/scene that you already wrote but have decided to delete.

Kaden

4/5/2018 08:42:10 pm

While I do love the idea of an EE short story I am reminded that Will is in fact human, so I must for the health of this miracle worker we so cherish... Agree with this post.

Olive

4/14/2018 02:32:13 am

While a cradle story about ElderWhisperer is really tempting... I’m an EE fan too... choices...

Cradle/Travelers gate

4/4/2018 08:40:18 pm

Honestly, I just reread travelers gate and that is what I want.

Nate

4/4/2018 10:39:08 pm

I'm in Cradle withdrawals. Gimme a fix you bastard.

Godking of the Outer Lithosphere

4/4/2018 10:57:46 pm

I shall once again put forward the suggestion of something new.

Pornomancer

4/4/2018 10:59:08 pm

I would suggest you try writing a LitRPG short story. And not just so I can continue attempting to recruit you into our cult... er... writing group.

Mr.Dude

4/24/2018 07:29:26 pm

I think the idea is interesting, but Cradle has elements of a LitRPG already. Considering the interesting settings that Will has, a traditional LitRPG structure could limit his options. I don't think that this is a bad idea, however it might be better if he wrote it without admitting the setting was in a game.

Corey link

4/4/2018 11:43:06 pm

I'mma have to go with Cradle as well :)

One thousand eyes staring at your very soul

4/4/2018 11:59:52 pm

I didn’t count, but as I skimmed through the above comments, it looks like half the people want Cradle. So yes, Cradle is fun, but we already have a lot of Cradle, just like we have a lot of Traveler’s Gate. So why not something from the Elder Empire? For those of us eagerly awaiting Of Kings and Killers/Of Killers and Kings, I think anything from the Elder Empire will calm us a down a bit and sooth our nerves. That’s my opinion, and if no one else likes it, too bad.
Go Elder Empire!!!!
Oh, and Will, if you decide to do something from Elder Empire, my personal preference would be a story with Bliss when she was young. Or maybe how she joined the Blackwatch. Or—or—or—Yeah, just anything with Bliss. Keep up the good work!

Roonling

4/5/2018 01:17:07 am

Cradle cradle cradle. Something with Eithan or Fisher Gesha

Jayceblk

4/5/2018 01:34:10 am

Something new would be my vote.

Paradigm

4/5/2018 02:31:42 am

I for one would like to see and Elder empire story, possibly one featuring the Emperor while he is supressing a rebellion or him fighting against some elders, hell I would love to see the guy fight a bunch of champions.

Paradigm

4/7/2018 04:24:24 pm

Or alternatively if Cradle wins out I would love to have something on Reigan Shen and his path of the King's key.

I would love to see a story about him doing his thing or people getting together trying to kill(or imprison if he cannot be killed)him.

Totally would love to see what his path is about and what Madra he uses.

A sotry set in the Niencloud court could be very interesting too just to see how things work in another part of Cradle, especially one that advanced.

Clint

4/5/2018 03:33:07 am

Oh wise and benevolent Wight! Grace us with your tales from beyond time and space! Your humble servant requests knowledge of the process of a being rising to the ranks of the Abidan! Not necessarily a being we are familiar with! But of course, at your discretion!

Joe

4/5/2018 05:57:57 am

Since we've got OKAK coming up next, I would say either Cradle or something new. I wouldn't mind a short about life on some other iteration, or about the day-to-day of a member of the Abidan. Or maybe someone who has ascended but hasn't joined the Abidan?

Anil Kadam

4/5/2018 06:21:53 am

Cradle, would be interesting to know what happened to Fisher Gisha after Lindon joined the Skysworn as she dropped off the radar

blubberfish

4/5/2018 06:45:24 am

Cradle please!

Astoroth link

4/5/2018 07:23:34 am

Can we get a story about the organisation on cradle who min/max ironbodies, paths, and cycling techniques?

Nikk B

4/5/2018 07:34:12 am

I vote for Travelers Gate! But.. since Demons may erupt from some dark portal of sentient horror... My second vote is for Cradle. Anything Cradle.

Kevib

4/5/2018 09:22:33 am

Elders. Always elders.

Brown of lee

4/5/2018 09:23:37 am

An epic battle between orthos and the rogue blackflame

tievel1

4/5/2018 09:46:32 am

A Cradle story. Preferably taking place immediately after Skysworn, and roughly 90k-130k words in length.

4/5/2018 10:04:27 am

The story leading up to where orthos had to push himself to hard vs a rogue blackflame would be great!

God of the Tower

4/5/2018 10:05:37 am

Cradle short story! Or an Abidan short story about the lower level members or a story about how the wander left amalgam... Unless that's too spoilery?

Tievel1

4/5/2018 10:57:22 am

A Cradle story, please! Preferably one taking place immediately after Skysworn, and between 90k and 130k words.

Pizzatime

4/5/2018 11:26:01 am

Cradle Short Story focused around Little Blue!

Evil Kevin

4/5/2018 12:02:06 pm

I think it would be nice to see a new world added to the Willverse. If that's not possible then I would like a short story on The Wanderer in Elder Empire.

Polycore

4/5/2018 12:14:58 pm

The origins of the feud between Northstrider and the god of the desert.

That would be sweet.

Otherwise, a story about one of Cradle's most famous fight?

Polycore

4/5/2018 12:21:52 pm

Or just a defining moment in Cradle existence really, it could be to see what inspired a future monarch or even a political moment (with the ninecloud court for instance) :)

Diego

4/10/2018 05:24:32 pm

Northstrider is on a Blood path. It seems like he eats dragons and uses their power. So in my head I'm almost sure he's the evil one whom has killed several dragons and the god of the desert wants him dead for this reason.

Hutciaj01

4/5/2018 12:24:03 pm

I'd love to see another death match

manty05

4/5/2018 12:56:46 pm

I'll vote for cradle, though I wouldn't mind something new either.
Ror suggestions a story of the final journey of the Sword sage or a day of Lindon's family before his departure.
For something new how about a story of Suriel's home world/iteration.

Morningstar

4/5/2018 02:17:38 pm

I recalled Fisher Gesha telling Lindon way back in Soulsmith:

"Do you know what happened to the last man who kept me waiting? Hm? I married him. That's a threat.”

I think it would be cool to see that story.

garbagiel the raccoon

4/5/2018 02:43:20 pm

Something new! Or something/somewhere new on a world we've already seen.

Andrew Cogan

4/5/2018 02:46:10 pm

Cradle please.

How about a story from the Arelius homeland?

We are all Andrew Rowe

4/5/2018 03:14:57 pm

Give us the Andrew Rowe x Andrew Rowe crossover we all wish for!

What was Simon doing in Sufficiently Advanced Magic? How did he get there?

Scott Nichols

4/19/2018 12:29:58 am

Not going to lie, this would be cool. Literally ten minutes before writing this I finished a reread of city of light while having sufficiently advanced magic paused on audible. Crossovers are the best, so much potential there.

Someone doing something

4/5/2018 03:51:20 pm

I’ve seen several people say that, since OKAK is coming soon, let’s have something other than EE. But think about it—we haven’t had anything, aside from Santa’s List (which hardly counts), from EE in forever. I would really like something to get me in the EE mode. I know I could just go read the books, but new stories always do the trick on a greater scale. Please, please, PLEASE do something from EE!

Waffles

4/5/2018 07:50:28 pm

I would love another story about Reigan Shen, or really another cradle would just be fantastic

Waffles

4/5/2018 07:53:31 pm

Or maybe a story about one of the prisoners/guards of the prison on the Iceflower continent

William

4/5/2018 08:04:46 pm

It has to be Cradle.

Joel link

4/6/2018 06:53:08 am

I'm currently in a reread of Cradle.

And while I'm in love with the world and the characters,

I'm going to vote for a new setting altogether. Short stories have awesome potential to create an amazing concept.

I'd love to see what you would write in the biopunk genre.

Eric Epping

4/6/2018 07:01:58 am

Cradle! For sure Cradle!

Devin

4/6/2018 08:13:53 am

Either a Cradle story about someone visiting that Dawnspring Archive you mentioned, or and EE story about Jorin

Samuel L. Jackson

4/6/2018 12:27:45 pm

A Cradle story about a Sacred Artist with multiple cores, like Lindon.

Settle the many-core debate once and for all!

Can you in fact be a strong sacred artist with many cores?

Your Faithful Subject

4/6/2018 01:27:36 pm

If you could be so kind as to have another cradle story.

Viparash

4/6/2018 01:52:23 pm

Lindon and Yerin SoL story would be neat.

A miniscule cupcake in the fridge

4/6/2018 03:55:24 pm

Cradle, Cradle, Cradle, Cradle…………WHY!?!?!
Don’t get me wrong, I love Cradle. But I’d really like to see some Elder Empire. It’s been sooooooooo long! But if not, I guess I can wait until OKAK comes out.
Keep it up, Will! Love your books!

Mason

4/6/2018 08:40:37 pm

Cradle short story 100%

Ruff

4/7/2018 06:49:31 am

Cradle! I would love to hear a short on a location that we might see in the future. Or on a certain sage and how came about he to a certain valley

Hjorth link

4/7/2018 06:53:01 am

Please just something Cradle, I need my fix man... :( (if you want this sad face to be a happy face, make a cradle short story!)

Cheese guy

4/7/2018 09:42:21 am

Cradle can you do some the with jai long after he leaves

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

4/7/2018 10:10:19 am

Well, this is my comment on the comments. I like Cradle and EE, so I’d be happy with either. An Orthos story would be pretty cool at some point in the future:)
I’d be interested to see what you could do to introduce a new world in under 10 pages, but I’m thinking that I’d prefer for you to introduce a new world in a full book (so you can explain it more naturally).
But, the best suggestion I’ve seen (at least, I think I saw it. I can’t find it anymore.) is to write a story about the Wanderer in Asylum. Unless, of course, you’re saving that type of scene for an entire Valinhall prequel...

Awesompossum

4/8/2018 07:48:48 pm

Oooh! I like your last suggestion! I'll second that!

Path of the Broken Dream

4/7/2018 11:21:52 am

Cradle, please! Been dying for more Cradle stuff.

Kevin

4/7/2018 12:41:24 pm

Cradle for sure.

I'd love to see something about Suriel's backstory. Either from her "mortal" life, or pre-Suriel Abidan time—maybe how she transcended (if that's not a spoiler), how she became Suriel, or her friendship with Ozriel (though I could see that being a spoiler).

Also, side question that's been bugging me since Skysworn came out--
In the who-would-win-in-a-fight comments, you mentioned that (what we now know as) monarchs are five levels above Eithan. We know Overlord, Archlord, Herald, and Monarch. Is there a rank immediately above or below Herald, or were you counting Sage in that?

kaden

4/24/2018 10:01:23 pm

Sage is a break off path so no not that. I'm willing to bet their is a rank after Archlord before Herald that is probably some monarchical term.

John

4/7/2018 03:34:13 pm

Will, write a Cradle story that will show them once and for all that Lindon will NOT split his core again!