Survey! What do you want to learn more about?

3/22/2017

EDIT 3/28: Aaaaaaaand comment replies are back up!

EDIT 3/27: Some of you may be wondering why I'm not responding to your comments. It's not because I'm back in closed-door cultivation, it's because there's a bug with Weebly right now that's preventing comment replies. I'll let you know when that's back up, but in the meantime, I'll be beaming you my responses to each of your comments via psychic wave. So be on the lookout for that.

I'm having trouble putting these blogs together while I'm working on Blackflame, largely because all I want to say each week is "It's not done yet, check in later."

Last week, I gave you some extra story information about Cradle's Blackflame Empire. So this week, I wanted to know: what extra story information do you want?

I might as well ask you!

In the comments below, or on Facebook, or on Reddit, let me know what extra background information I can give you. This can be for any of my series--maybe you want to know more about how Kai grew up, or about new cultures in Cradle, or Calder's favorite food. I don't care.

This is just to give me ideas for future blogs...and maybe for short stories as well, since I know I owe you quite a few of those once I finally finish Blackflame.

Let me know what you want to see, and I'll start making up some answers!

-Will

155 Comments

Tievel1

3/22/2017 01:36:18 pm

Maybe a simple question, but I've long wondered where you came up with the word madra? It seems so familiar to me, as though I should recognize it, but as far as I can tell it's completely made up.

Shane

3/22/2017 01:46:29 pm

Well it's an Irish word for "dog" but, somehow, I don't think that's what Will had in mind when he picked it :^)

Will link

3/22/2017 01:48:19 pm

Okay, but keep this to yourself. I don't want this to get out, because it ruins the author mystique.

Don't do anything like, say, post it in a comment on my blog where anyone could read it.

But I just took the word "mana" and worked out a bunch of different permutations to it. Eventually I settled on one that sounded cool and sufficiently different.

I eventually googled it and Madra was the name of an ancient region in India, so I figured I was safe to use it.

That's it. I just made up another word for mana. I know it destroys the mystery, so be sure not to let this highly guarded secret leak.

Nocturniquet

3/22/2017 02:10:56 pm

To be frank it comes across as mana anyway. An internal and external power source for magic. My immediate conclusion was "this is literally chakra from Naruto, which is literally mana, and in Naruto their jutsu, or techniques, are literally magic." Dope.

Will link

3/28/2017 06:28:17 am

Oh, it's no secret that it WORKS just like mana. That's intentional. I was just making a joke about how mundane the process of making up the word was.

3/22/2017 01:41:08 pm

Honestly, just a "StI'll not done, but I'm working on it." Would be perfect. As long as you're breathing and working on it, I'm happy.

Also, fantastic work so far :)

Jason

3/22/2017 01:51:08 pm

I have a bunch, lol.

1.) So we know that there are many, many, rooms in Valinhall. Is there a room for all the counter abilities of all the other territories?

2.) Where are the other Dragon Fangs? (This is a short story or long one definately.)

3.) Are the Dragon Fangs advisors still with those swords?

4.) If the Dragon Fangs do indeed have some sort of sentience, why have they not communicated with Simon?

5.) Was there a time before the Elder Gods?

6.) Could Lindon potentially split the other two cores to make 4?

Thus ends this round.

Azqa

3/22/2017 02:09:07 pm

Nice!

Will link

3/28/2017 06:31:25 am

1.) Not everything.

2.) This one I'll definitely be getting to in a story.

3.) No, they're in Valinhall. Bored.

4.) They have.

5.) If you mean the Elders...that WOULD be a good thing for me to explore at some point. Because I'm not sure.

There definitely was a time before THESE Great Elders. They're old, but it's not like they were around at the creation of the universe.

However, was there a time before Elders? I'll have to think about that, I'm not sure.

Thanks for asking! That gives me something to decide.

6.) Potentially? Yes, he could.

Wes

3/22/2017 01:52:19 pm

I would love to read a short story about Suriel before she ascended!

Will link

3/28/2017 06:33:50 am

I'm certain I'll do this eventually. It's fun to write stories about the Judges as mortals, because they were all extraordinary.

In a main novel, I have to keep the major characters to a (relatively) reasonable level of ability. Otherwise the Mary Sue quotient gets a little too high.

But in a side story about someone skilled enough to become a Judge, they CAN be a ridiculous once-in-a-lifetime genius who has a series of lucky breaks combined with earth-shattering insight.

That'll be fun to explore every once in a while.

AdamC

3/22/2017 01:55:40 pm

The Nye. Why are they bound to the house? What exactly is their goal?

Will link

3/28/2017 06:34:20 am

Hmmm...this is a good one. I'm not sure whether I should explore this in an explanatory blog post or a short story.

Dustin

3/28/2017 07:22:38 pm

I thought this was pretty much answered already in the books? Weren't the Nye just part of a fractured world that became part of Valinhall and that's why they're bound to it? And isn't their goal to make Valinhall a more powerful place because by extension they became more powerful?

Reddan

3/22/2017 02:04:33 pm

What are the names/roles of the rest of the Abidjan? Phoenix, Hound, Reaper...

Will link

3/22/2017 02:08:04 pm

Hm. This is a good one. I actually could do a basic history/structure of the Abidan post.

I will probably do this one, Reddan.

Reddan

3/22/2017 03:04:11 pm

That would be phenomenal!

Will link

3/28/2017 06:35:01 am

(A week later, this is still my favorite suggestion. I'll probably write this tomorrow.)

Jacob

3/22/2017 03:09:41 pm

A+ for you

Aaron

3/22/2017 02:08:53 pm

In no particular order:

1) Kai had the Iron Scroll and Denner had the bell which sent all foreign objects back to their home territory, and if I recall correctly none of the others were said to have access to these powers. How did they get them? Why didn't they share the knowledge of the power's location with their fellow Dragon Army members? Did all of them have a power that they kept secret from the others?

2) How did Valin choose the kids that he did as his first Dragon Army? Were they all chosen at once? What criteria did he look for?

3) When and how did Valin go to the City of Light to get the gold for Mithra? How did the- I'm just assuming here- members of the Gold District react to a powerful foreign invader, and why does nobody remember that Valin visited?

4) When a guardian dies- like the snake in the forge- how is another guardian chosen? If being picked as a guardian where you can die instead of one you just have to defeat is a punishment of some sort, what crimes prompted the punishment?

5) What was Kathrin doing? Was she repping out as a strange Tartarus traveler, as many assumed Valinhall to be?

6) Now that Simon and the Eldest are recovering the Dragon Fangs, how will they pick new wielders? Are they going to intentionally set out for and try to find new Valinhall travelers, or will they just wait and hope that another falls into their lap like Erastes did?

7) How did Valin create Valinhall? Is this something that could be done again by someone else to create a Territory in their own image?

Fieryblue

3/22/2017 02:28:31 pm

The answer to how Valin created Valinhall was answered in one of the books, he didn't actually "create" it, it was just sort of floating around in tons of little fragmented dimensions and as Valin ventured through and added things to it he revitalized it. Valin found the Territory, named it after himself, and shaped a good amount of it because he was the first one.

Aaron

3/22/2017 02:43:49 pm

You're right- I phrased that one poorly. It should have been more along the lines of the second half; could someone else do it?

Dom

3/22/2017 03:33:24 pm

I think the teaser for the next book in the travelers gate series already alluded to their being other man-made territories, but its been awhile since i read it so I'm not sure.

Will link

3/28/2017 06:39:55 am

1.) They were the only ones to EARN those powers, not the only ones to know about them. Some rooms have to do with personal compatibility, so they're easy for some people and very hard for others.

2.) Good question. I've wanted to do a Dragon Army prequel book at some point, but there are a lot of books I'd like to write.

3.) "why does nobody remember that Valin visited?" Who says no one remembers?

4.) The "government" of the House gets a little strange sometimes, but in general, a crime would be disrupting the order of the Territory or doing something that jeopardized their power or existence. Like trying to monopolize a power you didn't earn, or interfering in the function of another room.

5.) That would be a fun short story, actually.

6.) This one will definitely be answered in the next few novels, if not the short stories.

7.) Yes, it is something that could be done again.

Daniel

3/22/2017 02:28:33 pm

I would like to hear about some of the weirder paths on cradle and how they came to be. Like, for instance, one where they replace their limbs with tentacles or those who gather madra by being drunk and brewing alcoholic beverages or one that turns their lower body into mist or something.

Will link

3/28/2017 06:40:24 am

So would I, Daniel. So would I.

Daniel

3/22/2017 02:30:24 pm

Or a path that focuses on fear, or maybe tranquillity, or insanity

Paden

3/22/2017 02:33:14 pm

1) more background on valinhall (rooms etc) would be hot fire.
2) short story on how Lindon's father was injured?

Yeah and to concur with J above, "still working" is fine too!

Will link

3/28/2017 06:44:59 am

1.) When I'm getting prepared to write the next Traveler's Gate books, I'll have to go back over all my Territory notes and re-read the trilogy. At that point, I would like to develop a Guide to Valinhall, so to speak.

2.) I'm not sure if this interests me enough to write a short story about it. However, I REALLY want to write a short story about how Eithan ended up in the Blackflame Empire in the first place. Because he only showed up about six years ago.

"But he said in Soulsmith that he grew up in Blackflame City!" you might remember, if you have the memory of an elephant.

Why yes he did, and he wasn't lying--he was just gone for years, before returning six years ago.

Where was he? Where did he go? What happened when he came back? SHORT STORY!

Honestly, I don't know if I can stop myself from writing it. My fingers are...moving...on their own...SOMEONE HELP!

Gunslinger

3/28/2017 06:41:40 pm

Only a cruel cruel man would tease us that story and not finish it.

Lyndrek

3/22/2017 02:42:25 pm

In the Traveler's Gate Trilogy, you talk only about two countries, which are relatively close to each other, are there other countries in this world (there would have to be right? Pirates were mentioned, also the badari desert.) Why are there no real representation from these other countries in the Territories? Do they perchance have access to different Territories?

Will link

3/28/2017 06:45:56 am

There are other countries! I explore this a little bit in the short stories, but I'll hit it in more detail in the next trilogy.

Corey link

3/22/2017 02:42:36 pm

Is writing your primary method of income, or do you have another jobs?

Will link

3/28/2017 06:47:26 am

Writing is my sole source of income. I'm a one-job kind of guy!

Dustin

3/28/2017 07:31:01 pm

Don't lie Will. We all know you moonlight with Chippendales.

Jacob

3/22/2017 03:07:05 pm

I've wanted to know why Denner is a specialist in taking down flying creatures since I first read it in the Crimson vault. But it's not answered! Not even in the short story about him in Avernus! So if you could please enlighten me and others like me? :)

Will link

3/28/2017 06:48:48 am

Honestly? It started as kind of an inside joke among the original Dragon Army. They made Denner fight the flying creatures that are annoying to fight, and then they kept making him do it with the justification that he had more experience.

Eventually, he got good at it.

Rhys

3/22/2017 03:10:24 pm

Maybe some of the more exotic places on cradle that we probably won't visit. Given it's so large we can't see all of it in the series so some of the more interesting places/people we won't meet would be quite cool

Will link

3/28/2017 06:50:04 am

I'll probably end up with a bunch of short stories all over Cradle, once I finish this book.

Yosef

3/22/2017 03:12:03 pm

How long is a day on Cradle?

What is the fishers' Iron body?

How many of the Abidan came from worlds like Cradle?

Will Lucas get a dragon fang and challenge Simon or will he get over his dislike/hatred?

Will link

3/28/2017 06:55:57 am

1.) It's 24 hours, because I learned a long time ago that people get really irritated when you make up your own scales for space and time. In Wheel of Time, a week is technically ten days, but that does nothing but confuse the timeline.

I know the planet is bigger, and I would love it to have a 32-hour day, but I didn't feel like I could get away with it.

2.) The Hidden Spring Iron body. So called because they can go a long time without drinking water, so the idea is that they have a "hidden spring" inside their bodies and they never have to drink at all.

This isn't true, it's just a myth they cultivate. Their bodies process water more efficiently so that they can survive longer in the wilderness of the Desolate Wilds where finding fresh water can be all but impossible.

3.) "How many of the Abidan came from worlds like Cradle?"

I'm not sure what "worlds like Cradle" means, so I'm not sure how to answer that. All of them?

4.) Oh, you. Plot point in the next book!

Shane

3/28/2017 04:19:37 pm

2) That's pretty cool! Cradle has so much potential for future stories (outside of Lindon's I mean) with the different types of aura, madra, iron bodies and other different abilities that seem to be available. Your other settings also have this to a lesser extent, e.g. different territories or the type of soulbound vessel, but Cradle seems to have the most variability available, which I personally find fascinating!

SOME SPOILERS BELOW!

Iron bodies in particular are really cool! So I have a few questions about them:

1) Is there a general mechanism to how one gets one of the special iron bodies? e.g. Bloodforged or Steelborn (or Hidden Spring)

2) If so, is it related to how aura interacts with the body of the sacred artist before becoming an iron? In particular, I'm wondering if it is related to where the aura interacts with the body and the type of aura subjected to that area? For example, with Lindon's Bloodforged body, I think it was related to how the venomous aura interacted with his circulatory system.

3) If that is the case, does the amount of aura that interacts with the body part result in a more powerful ability as a result? e.g. better healing for Bloodforged or longer without water for Hidden Spring

4) Does the type of iron body allow the sacred artist to use madra in a special way because of the processes they underwent to get their iron body?

5) Does the strength of the iron body ability, or the ability itself, change depending on the type of madra the user has?

6) Finally, do you have a list of iron body types used by each of the clans you've mentioned? If so, could you tell us about some of them if they are not spoilers?

..... Sorry, I really like the Iron Body concept :)

P.S. It's sad that you don't get to enjoy Horizon or Zelda (and/or others which you didn't mention) because you're writing Blackflame for us. I for one am super grateful for your dedication to getting the book out sooner for us!! After you get the book out, you should take a week or two off and reward yourself by playing the heck out of them, you deserve it! Kudos for being awesome, unlike certain authors who shall not be named. :P

Yosef

3/29/2017 09:11:19 am

What I meant was how many of the Abidan come from worlds with magic systems like that of Cradle?

Tyler

3/22/2017 04:47:38 pm

I have for the longest time wanted more information on Valin. I loved one of the short stories where it ended with him beginning to tell the origin to Simon! I need to know how Valin became Valin!!!

Will link

3/28/2017 06:57:23 am

I started Cradle as a simple side project to buy myself time to finish Elder Empire and write Valin's backstory.

But it backfired in the best possible way: by making way more money than I thought it would.

That showed me.

Anyway, I really want to do a Valin prequel novel, but I don't know when I'll have the free schedule to do it.

Corey link

3/29/2017 02:00:15 pm

Is Cradle your best selling series at the moment?

Ethan

3/22/2017 05:57:37 pm

You should make a secret power like the iron scroll or the glass bell for the bath and simon

Will link

3/28/2017 06:57:40 am

The bath does have a power!

Dustin

3/28/2017 07:34:38 pm

So there's some way to conquer the bath and get the healing ability permanently?

Diego link

3/29/2017 08:53:07 am

I think its the elixir? The power Indirial used to cleanse himself from the poison powder from Asphodel when the Kings daughter (who remembers side characters) tried to kill them both.(Zack and Indirial i mean)

Zeussaxis

3/22/2017 06:08:27 pm

Wow...I'm impressed and encouraged by the number and quality of questions about Traveler's! I feel this is the biggest and most exciting "world" Will has created, with boundless opportunities to expand without leaving the planet/changing the system. Don't get me wrong: the quality of writing is best in Cradle, and the imagination best in Asylum (since I can't remember the right acronym), but there's something special about Traveler's.

With this level of interest, Will may need to clone himself so he can work on Traveler's Gate in parallel with the other two series. :-)

Will link

3/28/2017 06:59:00 am

Yeah, I really like the Territories. I just wish I could rewrite the books, because some of the writing embarrasses me.

Though I guess that will always be true with my oldest books.

ZEUSSAXIS

3/28/2017 12:24:45 pm

If I were you (which, surprise! I'm not) I wouldn't be embarrassed. The majority of authors I've read can't write at the level you were writing at when you wrote House of Blades. Instead, I'd consider that progression with pride--like an athlete tracking lap times. Just because you can run a 5-minute mile now doesn't mean your 6-minute mile was crap. :-)

Will link

3/28/2017 01:13:15 pm

I like that analogy! And that's very good advice; I think you're right.

I'm always self-conscious. It's hard not to think back on mistakes I've made and wince, because they're out there exposed to the general public.

That said, I am proud of the progress I've made since then! I've learned a lot in the last few years, and I try to learn something new with every book. It's humbling to think of how I've grown since HoB and to think of how far I have yet to go.

ZEUSSAXIS

3/28/2017 09:23:13 pm

Glad to have been on service! I think this idea is critical for morale and serving well in the role you exist in at any point.

[Off topic...maybe? Gonna write it anyway]

In real life I hire people of all experience levels...and I ask every one of them to fill out a rating of their capabilities in 18 areas (industry-specific), reinforcing that it needs to be based on their job rank.

For example, if I have a team of people who compete in Spelling Bees (which I don't--they're actually assassins working for the IRS--Shhh!), the entry-level person can't compare themselves to the editor of Websters and rate themselves low; they have to rate themselves based upon their competence as compared to their peers and their own expectations in their current role.

This comparison and monitoring of small progress seems to result in much quicker progression than otherwise, and instills pride in progress vs. shame in past performance. Nobody's born as Suriel...

Mike

3/22/2017 06:52:14 pm

I would like to know about the different types of madras. Do they have weight or density or other physical characteristics other than color? Are sacred artists taking in pure madras and converting it or do they need a source of that type nearby. For example, can you use sword madra if no weapons are nearby? And does sword madra work with blunt weapons or piercing weapons?

Will link

3/28/2017 07:03:50 am

>Different physical characteristics

Yes, and this will be explored in Blackflame.

>Can you use sword madra if no weapons are nearby?

I know it can get confusing, but this is the distinction between aura and madra. Madra is YOUR power, which you have slowly stolen from the world by cycling aura into your soul. Vital aura is the power of the world around you.

A Ruler technique controls aura to make a change in the natural world.

So, could you use sword madra if no sword are nearby? Yes. Could you use a Ruler technique without a sword? No. If a sword is sitting on a table, Yerin can manipulate the aura to cut the table in half without the sword moving at all. If there's no sword on that table, she needs to blast her madra at the table in order to cut it.

...I'll explore it in more detail in Blackflame.

John

3/22/2017 07:44:38 pm

I would love be backstory in the cradle characters that Suriel said could save Lindon's home like the princess of the ninecloud empire.

Will link

3/28/2017 07:05:19 am

I think this does deserve a blog post. At least a more detailed explanation of who they are and what they do.

Otarin

3/22/2017 08:23:03 pm

Anything cradle related or Abidjan related. Like other cultures we might not see or won't see for a long time or interesting customs like various types of iron bodies other clans aim for. Also I'm wondering how in sacred Valley with 1 million residents there are no known golds. No crazy hard workers, no genius warriors in 1 million people? Is there a story based reason when according to everything we've heard, in the entire rest of the planet gold is the bare minimun.

Will link

3/28/2017 07:06:04 am

There's a reason for that!

Speaking of which, I'd also kind of like to do a short story about the Sword Sage and how he was killed...

I'll have to think about this. I don't want to ruin anything for later.

Gage

3/28/2017 12:41:30 pm

This is having me thinking that there may be something under sacred valley that is somehow draining energy from everyone living there. Such a minute amount that no one would notice outright but enough that makes the requirements for gold impossible to achieve.

This could explain why that dude so desperately wanted to return to Cradle only to rule over a bunch of nobodies. If he knew there was something there accumulating energy for thousands of year from over a million people than even for someone like him it'd be useful.

And it'd probably be even more useful for someone like the Sword Sage, but naturally it'd come with it's own dangers wouldn't it?

Plus it'd explain why the dreadgods would attack sacred valley, assuming they aren't what's buried underneath and messing with everyone's development in the first place.

Silver2195

3/28/2017 06:15:45 pm

Will said (in response to something I asked on Reddit) that there are a fair number of people below Gold in "more civilized areas" (although some of those same areas also have a fairly high number of Underlords). It's only in places like the Desolate Wilds that everyone is a Lowgold.

April

3/22/2017 08:26:41 pm

I would like knowing more about the emperor's early history. I'm sure some will be covered in okak flashbacks, but there is surely something you could share?

Will link

3/28/2017 07:07:08 am

I don't THINK there will be very many Emperor flashbacks in OKAK, but that could change.

His earliest life is pretty uninteresting, but I would like to do some more scenes in the Elder War.

Diego link

3/22/2017 08:33:13 pm

I'd love to know more about the thirteen Dragon fangs and if there's a way to make more keys to the house for say non-Travelers.

Also I'd love to know more about the dolls Simon carries I feel like they were actual people before the house was as it was and something changed them into whAt they are now. I think that's what happened to the Nye as well.

As for Cradle I would like to know more about sacred beasts. And immortals like Suriel. I get the feeling not all of them have to b humans/humanoids to ascend perhaps a dragon/ Phoenix could become one as well.

Will link

3/28/2017 07:09:03 am

I'm going to have to get more deeply into the origins of the House in the next books, I'm sure. It just seems like a clear next step.

Jordan

3/22/2017 10:05:22 pm

I was wondering where Kai's dolls came from... I saw them as powerful travelers trapped in dolls by the wanderer.. I always thought about witting a short story for each..

Will link

3/28/2017 07:09:51 am

Hmmm...I'm not sure if I want to get into the dolls' history or not. It might be more fun as a mystery.

Jordan

3/28/2017 01:25:11 pm

Fan fiction time!!!!

Rhys

3/29/2017 02:09:53 am

My personal canon is that they are the retired members of the Abidan. Ridiculous I know. But cool

Sharon

3/22/2017 10:06:34 pm

I'm echoing Yosef - I would like to know the outcome of Lucas and if he eventually gets a Dragon Fang.

Will Elaina (Indirial's daughter) earn a dragon fang soon?

Did/Will the Heaven's Glory school destroy the Wei clan?

The Sword Sage background - how was he able to die by poison?

More information on Ozriel?

Who are the Dreadgods?

Definitely background on Kia maybe in a short story or two. :-)

Will link

3/28/2017 07:11:42 am

Most of these are about the future, so I'll answer them eventually! ...in the books!

However, the Sword Sage's death is something I'm aching to show you sooner rather than later. If only to show people that I really did have a plan, I'm not just retconning an explanation.

Chris

3/28/2017 08:58:44 am

He hits something in the crypt (or whatever those ruins were at heavens glory I can't remember) that sets off the pyramid with the spear right? Just based off how the doors looked familiar and the pyramid showed up around the same time the sword sage was killed. I guess that weakened him enough to be killed, as you've mentioned before that normally he would not die to poison. I think some other people have mentioned maybe that is stuff Ozriel (sp?) left behind but you probably can't answer that without spoilers.

James A.

3/28/2017 10:08:20 am

We believe you. It's also I think pretty clear just within Unsouled that the explanation made so little sense that there had to be something else going.

Daniel

3/28/2017 06:14:53 pm

I doubt that the heavens glory school will be able to destroy a clan whose poweres revolve around deceit and illusion. Damage yes but it is very hard to kill that which you cannot see.

Noam

3/23/2017 12:32:34 am

1. Where does the idea of Madra cultivation coming from?
Is it from Chi Gong? or stuff like Microcosmic orbit?
Or you just got it intuitively?

2. Regarding the way in which he compress his core until he becomes copper - I am familiar with internal Chi gong exercise,
Actually Never read of it anywhere - I got it from a specific teacher - I think its a kind of Tibetan Yoga exercise.
I am just wondering where did you get the idea? or if you just get them as you write.

I am really waiting for Blackflame - and you should now the previous books in this series really impacted positively my spiritual exercise regime

Will link

3/28/2017 07:14:21 am

Core cultivation is a common theme in a lot of martial arts traditions and legends all over Asia. I mostly took it from Chinese mythology, but there are some Korean and Indian influences as well.

Though I was by far more concerned with making it a cool magic system than with historical accuracy.

Nocturniquet

3/23/2017 12:36:46 am

Here's the real question we all need answered.

When book 3 has a release date will we have enough time to re-read book 1 and 2 before book 3 hits Amazon?

Will link

3/28/2017 07:14:51 am

Depends on how fast you read. For instance, can you FINISH THEM BOTH RIGHT NOW?

(I'm just kidding, still a few more weeks.)

Daniel

3/28/2017 09:48:28 am

Damn it will you got my hopes up for a second there:)

Diego link

3/28/2017 09:05:54 pm

They aren't really that long. I read them almost every day just to get more details and understanding about things I might have missed or a scene I didn't quite understand. I tend to breeze past a lot so I miss lots of little details the first time.

Justin

3/23/2017 01:39:46 am

Does Simon ever just go to a party/social gathering without being forced or tricked into going by someone? Seems like Leah has been putting a decent amount of effort into getting him to socialize with varying success. Has anyone else pulled a stunt like that on him?

Will link

3/28/2017 07:18:35 am

>Does Simon ever choose to go to a party or social gathering?

No, he doesn't enjoy them, and he doesn't see the point in cultivating relationships for their own sake.

Calder would. Shera would show up if there's food. Lindon would. Yerin's been to a bunch of social gatherings, but never to participate; always as the disciple of the Sword Sage, who is an honored guest. She wouldn't be sure what to do.

>Has anyone else pulled a stunt like that on him?

That's a good question. I'd have to think about it, but it might be worth a story.

Patrick

3/23/2017 06:23:46 am

I know someone mentioned it up earlier in the comments, but when you say you'll do some sort of structure on the Abidan, I'd love to get an idea of the scope and other operations they have. Of course about the court itself but even the other roles like Sector Control or local enforcement, etc. Perhaps an idea of what it is like once you transcend your world and join the Abidan? Or maybe you don't? I'd imagine their organization has to have thousands or even millions of people in it to monitor all of those worlds.

Will link

3/28/2017 07:19:19 am

Well, we'll definitely get to the nitty-gritty details eventually, but I can give a general overview pretty soon.

Jay W.

3/23/2017 07:33:25 am

Anything Cradle related. More back-story about the other powerful characters. In general I would love to read some some short stories involving all of the strong characters that Suriel shows Lindon in the first book.

Would like to hear more back-story about that demon winged guy who started out in Sacred Valley but was able to ascend. What path did he follow? Are there other characters like him?

Arc

3/23/2017 09:21:14 am

Honestly I would be cool with "it's not done yet, check in later." I don't really want spoilers for the series or upcoming book.

I do think it would be interesting to learn more about you and your interests. It would also be cool to learn more about your writing process, what keeps you writing etc.

Alternatively, House of Blades still sticks strongly in my mind. It would be cool to revisit some of that content.

Enkidu

3/23/2017 11:16:54 am

I would love to learn more about Northstrider or the 'Eight Man Empire (the precise name escapes me)."

The elders in the Elder Empire series are absolutely fascinating and I'd love to see more of them.

I would love to learn more about Champions or the Imperial Guard from the elder empire series as well.

Asterion

3/23/2017 12:17:53 pm

There are a lot of questions about Lycas and his future. I suggest you read the short stories that take place in the Traveler's Gate series. It mentions Indirial's daughter as well. I would definitely like to know about is Valin. Before Valinhall's creation or revitalization or whatever, Valin was not a traveler. I would love to explore his backstory more.

Marek

3/23/2017 12:46:25 pm

For the sword sage dying by poison I assumed it was because his steel iron body has no inherent advantages for healing that kind of damage.

I'd be interested in how the valinhall advisers were created. Valin clearly had something to do with making them, but most seem to be less than ideal for battle situations.

Also were the dolls always Kai's or did he secretly covet them all through training until Valin's incarnation and the unfortunate fallout had a silver lining?

Jim

3/23/2017 06:27:39 pm

1. Does Storm Madra include Lightning or are they separate?

2. A list of Kameira with brief descriptions and what power they would grant a Soulbound.

Asterion

3/23/2017 08:28:28 pm

@Marek
No the dolls were not always Kai's. The dolls come with Azura, so once he earned the right to carry it the dolls were his. With the exception of Simon (with Caela) the advisers are linked with the Dragon Fang. Azura gets the dolls, Mithra gets the Eldest Nye, Denner's and Indirial's sword get the talking book and Kor (the medallion) respectively. I drew a blank on the names of the swords and the book's name. Kai withheld inheriting Mithra because he wanted to stay with the dolls.

Marek

3/30/2017 05:53:13 pm

Thanks Asterion! I think i'm still unclear on the order everything happened. If I understand correctly, Valin created the advisors in the workshop but there's nothing to say (I think) he created them before bringing in the trainees. Maybe he saw Kai and immediately knew this kid wanted 50 perfect little dolls.

Family of Raccoons in a trench coat

3/24/2017 05:38:16 am

As tempted as I am to ask a question about the Travelers gates, I'm gonna ask something that's had my curiosity for a while.

It's been established that the Abidan court (did I get this name right? I'm bad at names) isn't the only superpower around, so I was wondering: are their other iteration-spanning nations like the Abidan Court, or are they the only force fighting the entropy and chaos of the universe? If their are other 'nations', do they use the way?

Oh, and how does the Abidan court feel about Valin and his wanderings? It seems like they don't take kindly to people hopping iterations. Unless he's only visited iterations outside their influence, of course.

Will link

3/28/2017 01:28:42 pm

They think of Valin kind of like a kid who wandered into a factory filled with dangerous machinery. They sort of scoop him up and send him back home, while telling him what he did was bad.

There are other Iteration-spanning organizations, though the Abidan are the largest and best organized. They can touch on the Way, though not with the degree of power and control the Abidan can, thanks to a pact the Abidan made long ago.

Nocturniquet

3/28/2017 06:33:42 pm

I'm halfway through book 1 again and at one point I noticed Li crying that he had not violated the Pact. I was going to ask what that meant but this comment sheds light.

I'm going to guess that the Way was created by people like the Abidan, or it is a natural resource that simply exists like our universe exists for reasons we don't know. With that said, the Way is policed by the Abidan and only certified people are allowed to use it, in this case all the people who work in the government? Because I recall Suriel mentioning lesser Abidan who have jurisdiction to police small areas of the universes, and her personally coming to Cradle was not normal.

So seeing as usage of the Way without approval is illegal, the quickest way to get a visit from big brother is to use the Way illegally. Seems like any sufficiently powerful and smart enough sacred artist could do that and earn themselves a ticket off world.

But this also means I can stretch this logic further and say that the Way is everywhere, and there are people outside the Abidan's control who have equal amounts of power and can use it all the same as them. Enemy governments, no?

Cheeky

3/24/2017 12:07:15 pm

I'd like to know more about when BlackFlame is coming out. If you wouldn't mind :)

Sean K

3/24/2017 03:26:09 pm

I want to know one thing. How far have you gotten in Zelda so far?

Will link

3/28/2017 01:29:03 pm

Not at all, Sean. It pains me. Blackflame has burned up all my Zelda time.

sean

3/24/2017 09:00:47 pm

I would like to know more about the four beasts that were on the door to the labyrinth and pyramid? What is there significance, there path, were they god's to the ancient people or something darker, and finally when will Lindon have to fight them?

Will link

3/28/2017 01:54:06 pm

SPOILER ALERT

Those are the Dreadgods.

sean

3/24/2017 09:04:30 pm

How big of an uproar would there be if the progress bar jumped from lowgold to copper?

Mike

3/25/2017 02:03:12 am

I'm pretty sure they are the four gods from Chinese mythology. Suzaku the pheonix, Seriyu the dragon, Genbu the turtle, and Byakko the Tiger. I probably butchered the spelling.

Will link

3/28/2017 01:53:38 pm

You're absolutely right. I modeled the Dreadgods on these four.

A suspicious looking dragon statue that definitely does not have a trap hidden on it

3/25/2017 03:17:16 am

I'd like to know the following two things:
1) Can Remnants occur without a sacred beast, sacred plant or sacred artist being killed?
2) Does Cradle have more than one language, because Lindon and Yerin could talk with everyone near the ruins despite the people coming from different places on Cradle.

Will link

3/28/2017 01:52:41 pm

1.) Sort of, yes! They're not called Remnants in that case, but rather "natural spirits."

2.) Cradle does have more than one language. They can talk to everyone in the Ruins because they speak the same language; it's not really that far from Sacred Valley to the Desolate Wilds.

Sure, SV is isolated, so they've developed some different linguistic quirks, but there are still a few ancient individuals around who came from the world outside the Valley (Elder Whisper is a good example). These few entities keep Sacred Valley speaking more or less properly.

Lindon does have an accent, though. I just don't translate it into the story, because writing an accent is annoying.

Daniel

3/25/2017 08:26:15 pm

We could suggest rediculous path names and you could write wrandom blurbs about them.
Like the path of the tap dancing tigers
Or the path of puff the dragon
Or the path of the zesty zebra
Or the path of the soulless spirit
Or the path of the drunken master

Will link

3/28/2017 01:49:05 pm

>Path of the Tap-Dancing Tigers

A Path whose Enforcer techniques are designed to combine the ferocity of wild beasts with the precise steps of a dance.

Its practitioners tend to mumble the name of the Path, to avoid public mockery.

>Path of Puff the Dragon

The sacred artists on the Path of Puff the Dragon have combined cloud madra with fire madra to build a whole set of skills revolving around clouds of blazing heat and light.

>Path of the Zesty Zebra

A sad attempt by an ancient crackpot to channel the power of language into a Path, relying on alliteration to evoke the force of the spoken word.

Alas, all attempts aroused annoyance alone.

>Path of the Soulless Spirit

A mental Path focused inward, on controlling the practitioner's thoughts and feelings. Its adherents can endure the most difficult and painful training without complaint, producing unparalleled discipline and control in its disciples.

However, sacred artists on this Path tend to wander around with lifeless eyes like zombies. It can be disturbing to the uninitiated.

>Path of the Drunken Master

I have to drink before a fight, you hear me? Can't throw a punch until I've emptied a bottle. Hand me that.

What? Does the alcohol make my movements harder to read?

Uh...sure, let's go with that.

Daniel

3/28/2017 08:19:47 pm

Hahaha:) That was fantastic Will. You truely are fantastic at that. My favorite was the tap dancing tiger. If you don't think it will be to distracting/annoying I'll do some more later

Jace

3/26/2017 06:15:17 am

Smart move asking your target audience to provide you material to assist in future writing projects. The information provided should help you orient where you can focus efforts in the near future.

What sets you apart from other authors are the layers within your main plot lines and extreme depth of character development. Because of this, there are a plethora (see Three Amigos for definition) of additional stories we, as your audience, would love for you to explain in further detail.

Unfortunately, most of us want you to fully focus on Blackflame. May I propose another course of action? Hold a competition where your fans can submit a short story based off of your books. Set up some basic guidelines (don't kill off main characters, must reference no less than 2 Three Amigos jokes, etc..). Winner gets their short story published on your web site for a free read.

This method gets your readers off your back so you can write, let's them get their creative juices flowing, and helps aspiring writers realize a dream. Triple wins!

Will link

3/28/2017 01:36:32 pm

I was having trouble each week thinking of something to say in the blog, because all I'm doing is writing Blackflame. All I can see is Blackflame; I'm dreaming in Lindon scenes.

I desperately needed someone to give me topics that were relevant but NOT spoilers, and you guys did great!

As for a fan-fiction contest, that sounds awesome, but I'm a little wary about organizing it.

First of all, I'm not sure how many entries it would get. If only three people wrote a short story, that doesn't make a great pool of contestants.

Second, there would have to be some modicum of quality control. At least in terms of legibility; some of the stories people send me (not fan-fiction, just their own work) are so grammatically mangled they can't be read.

...all that said, it still sounds like a lot of fun, so I'll probably do it.

Honestly, if someone sent me decently written fan-fiction, I'd probably put it up on the site even if it wasn't part of a contest.

Jace

3/29/2017 01:50:47 am

Challenge accepted! I've been thinking of a fun short story about one of my favorite, and least commented on, characters from the Travelers gate series: Olissa Agnos. She has a rather sizable role to play in the re-establishment of the house. I would love to see how her character progresses and what she can contribute to Valinhalls power.

Ref the contest. Make it simple.

1) Have a limit on max word count

2) Ask three anonymous judges from your fan base to review submissions. I'm certain you have several you could choose from based on their blog posts. You can pay them back by giving them a sneak peak at Blackflame.

3) Judges provide you their top 3 recommendations with honorable mentions if warranted. You have the final say on 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.

All you need now is to set a deadline and pick your judges.

Josh

3/26/2017 07:01:36 pm

Will,
I really enjoy your writing, wit, and humor. Keep the great work. How do you balance character and world building, with story progression? Where does your inspiration come from?

P.S. Does anyone have any good book ideas while I am waiting for Blackflame? I read the Daniel Black series, enjoyed it, and need something to keep me pacified.

jhonny cash

3/28/2017 03:58:55 am

Read "The Way of Kings" by Brandon Sanderson it is an excellent book

Will link

3/28/2017 07:32:32 am

Thanks, Josh! Stop it, you're making me blush.

And every time I blush, the seal on Kh'rthbog the Destroyer weakens a little further...

>How do you balance character and world-building with story progression?

That's the eternal question.

More than anything else, I hate scenes that do nothing but build a character or the world. You know what I'm talking about: six pages about where the intricate rug on the floor came from, and how the dye trade influenced this culture's artistic development. I don't care.

Equally, I don't want to read a whole sub-plot about how the main character's beloved grandmother is dying, and how this causes him to relive his most treasured memories with her and finally appreciate how important family is to his life.

Unless his grandmother breathes out the hidden location of the Orb of Unmaking with her last breath, I don't care.

Because I was so allergic to these development dumps, I cut way too much character development from Traveler's Gate (especially House of Blades).

Nowadays, I'm continually attacking this problem from new angles, trying to figure out how to design scenes so that I can develop characters, show off the world, and move the plot forward all at the same time.

That's what I'm working on, but it's tricky.

>Where does your inspiration come from?

All cool stories everywhere. When I'm reading or playing or watching something and it sparks my imagination. I inevitably start spinning it off into my own version in my head. "What if they did this, and changed this, and it would be so cool if they..."

Eventually I have my own version in my head, and now I can break that idea into pieces for use in a book.

Ethan

3/30/2017 06:38:06 pm

For example; "...Told in Lindon's way, soft and polite..."

Daniel

3/26/2017 10:31:43 pm

Have you read the schooled in magic series by Christopher g nuttal? Or The Artifactor series by honor raconteur? Or tales of alus by Donald wigboldy?

God Of The Tower

3/26/2017 11:07:32 pm

How many other worlds have elders on them? Whats the strongest power in Valinhall and Ragnarus? Are different types of madra really different essences of intent of the universe? How many things in vallinhall are awakened objects?

Will link

3/28/2017 07:36:10 am

1.) The only worlds with Elders in them are doomed, except for Asylum.

2.) The strongest power in Valinhall and Ragnarus...I'm not sure. That's a difficult question.

3.) Each Iteration has its own unique expression of power. In Asylum, it shows up as Intent. In Cradle, it's madra.

4.) The relationship between Valinhall and Awakened objects is something I'll have to explore in a prequel novel/novella.

Captain Nemo

3/27/2017 08:03:27 am

I would really like to know about Valin.

Where was he born? Who are his parents? What was his childhood like?
How/why did he start "wandering"? Where did he go in his wanderings?
How/why did he start to work for Damasca, and why did that relationship turn sour?
How exactly did he enter Valinhall in the first place? What was his first interaction with the Valinhall residents like?
How did he choose the members of the Dragon Army?
What were the events immedialtey preceding his incarnation? Were there any deeper reasons for his incarnation other than sheer desire for more power? What are the details of the time between his incarnation and him being sealed under the tree?

Personally, Valin is the most intriguing character you have created, so it would be awesome if you could answer these questions.

Will link

3/28/2017 07:37:04 am

What I'm reading on this thread is that I'm actually going to have to write that Valin prequel I promised like three years ago.

Azqa

3/28/2017 07:46:41 am

Yes please! :D

Avinash

3/27/2017 01:17:03 pm

Hey will

1. So what the heck happened between valin and the queen cause from what i gathered from the short stories they used to be thick as thieves, kinda like simon and leah (is history gonna repeat itself )

2. So at the risk of repeating this request, would love some info about the abidan court or at least the willverse or whatever u call it.

3. What about the First Mistress of Mist cause as u said (or impied) she was running a guild in a time when humans were basically livestock/slaves.

4. So i asked this before and u said to wait for Blackflame so i wont ask this point again.

5. Were the elders trapped by the abidan or are they beneath their notice?

6. Would love a comparison system for power between different worlds.

7. so much to ask but dont wanna be a bother or be the reason for causing a delay in blackflame so ill stop here ans any you can leave any which u want to keep for plot purpose
-Avinash

Will link

3/28/2017 07:41:23 am

1.) The answer to this is pretty tightly related to why Valin hates Damasca in the first place.

2.) I'm calling it the Willverse now. That's hilarious.

3.) I don't know how much more I'm going to explore her, but yeah, she was running a Guild when humans were AT BEST servants. It would be an interesting time to write about.

4.) Yes. Wait for Blackflame.

5.) The Elders were trapped by the Abidan. In their current forms, they're beneath the notice of the Abidan, but if they escaped Asylum, it would be a different matter entirely.

6.) It's hard to come up with a comparison, because comparing one magic system to another is like comparing apples to non-Euclidean geometry.

7.) Hahaha thanks! I have spent a long time on this thread, thanks to the site bug that has prevented me from responding to anything over the last few days. I do need to get back to work.

Avinash

3/29/2017 02:54:50 am

so 2 last question

1. are Territories the surviving fragments/parts of the Worlds(main planets in Willverse) that were destroyed by the Corruption or by the abidan.(as punishment or cause they got corrupted)

2. why were the ELDERS trapped on asylum
was it a matter of opportunity(all were present there)
or were the people of asylum punised for some purpose
or was there a significant power/structure on asylum that was supposed to keep the ELDERS in check but something went wrong.(like were the people advanced enough to subdue the ELDERS or was there a prison )

Will link

3/30/2017 08:41:36 pm

1.) They're fragments of worlds that died naturally, uncorrupted.

2.) SPOILERS!

Avinash

3/27/2017 01:25:06 pm

@ SHARON

I think some of ur questions have an answer already

1. indrial's daughter is using her father's blade vasha (this was mentioned in incarnations daughter.)
2. don't think so as they might not even know their location and also due to a particular REASON.
3. see the afore mentioned REASON
4. Dreadgods might be a mention of ELDERS or it might just be a rank like Underlord

REASON===SPOILER

Will link

3/28/2017 07:42:04 am

I can tell you that Dreadgods aren't Elders.

Sharon

3/30/2017 02:20:10 am

Thanks,

I don't think I'm getting the short stories in my email :-/

Will link

3/30/2017 08:42:04 pm

Send me an email, Sharon! I'd be happy to email you the stories.

George

3/27/2017 06:46:03 pm

Are there any obscure objects in the house of blades like "the stone cup of bladder control" that aren't life savers but just kind of convenient?

Will link

3/28/2017 07:43:44 am

Every prize in Valinhall was created to solve a specific problem that you'd face while fighting enemy Travelers.

None of them are useless...but yeah, some of them are weird.

Two

3/27/2017 10:04:10 pm

Suriel said Cradle is where they keep the babies, but then alluded to her being from someplace else. Explain please. Is it like a reincarnation thing? or once you ascend beyond a world you are immortal fiveever?

Will link

3/28/2017 07:45:55 am

She doesn't mean literal babies. She's speaking metaphorically.

She's suggesting that, once he's mature enough, he can ascend past this world.

People from other Iterations can become Abidan too, but it's much less common. Cradle is important to them because it produces people capable of becoming Abidan (which would be the "adults" in her analogy) on a fairly regular basis.

Rhys

3/28/2017 09:12:45 am

So will, Question time:
1. You mentioned that the blackflame emporer was the level above under lord. How much higher were the proper black fame family?
2. How big is the ninecloud court, compared to the blackflame empire now and at its height.
3. Were any of the dragons at the peak of the cultivation of cradle I.e like northstrider or Shia miara
4. Who would win a war between ninecloud court of today and the blackflame empire of the dragons
5. Finally has the loss of the blackflame family resulted in a reduction of territory? Have other states taken land from them now there is no longer a blackflame cultivator to be afraid of?

I posted this on a other thread but it got buried so I thought I'd ask here. Thanks Will

Will link

3/30/2017 08:43:50 pm

I saw this on the other thread, and I didn't give you much of an answer because of spoilers.

In general, the Ninecloud Court is on a completely higher level than the Blackflame Empire, even at the Empire's height. The dragons were more powerful than they are today, but they were far from being able to contend with a Dreadgod, as the most powerful individual in the Ninecloud Court can.

...and I'm afraid that's all I can say due to spoilers. Still too much, probably.

Anon link

3/28/2017 10:43:38 am

RHYS asks great questions.

I have a few of my own to add to the list:

1) Does Yerin ever get a Dragon fang? Would she even want one?

2) Did the Sword sage pick Yerin because of her unwelcome guest?
2.1) Is there a flaw in the path that the sage practiced? I.E. the build up of toxins in the type of Iron Body he prefers (he was constantly taking elixirs and medicines to purify himself right?) Would the full mastered guest solve the problem and allow Yerin to go beyond where the sage saw himself being able?

3) Was Ethan involved in any way with the regime change in the Blackflame empire?

4) Does Ethan use some form of the OODA Decision Loop? Or something like it? Where did he learn it? I'm asking this one because of the nature of his abilities and the inverse relationship between amounts data and actual actions.

5) Why are the parts of the Multiverse (Willverse) controlled by Abadon under siege?
5.1) Why can't the Way fix it?

6) Do cultivators from cradle eventually reach the point where they no longer need to eat and drink / sleep?

7) Will any of the characters we have met besides Lindon split their cores? Will we meet other multi core cultivators in the future?

Will, some of this is probably too spoilery. It's fun to ask anyway. I like the world you are building and the people you have living in it.

P.S. 8) I haven't read any of of your short stories. How can I get access?

Anon link

3/28/2017 10:51:08 am

P.P.S 9) If Lindon uses the river seed will its personality survive and form the basis of a presence for Lindon?

Will link

3/30/2017 08:47:28 pm

1.) Normally I don't answer questions about the future, but no, Yerin will not get a Dragon's Fang. I'm not planning an elaborate Cradle / Traveler's Gate crossover.

2.) Can't tell you, spoilers.

3.) No, it happened fifty years ago.

4.) In...a way, sure, because everybody does. The OODA Loop is a method of breaking down the decision-making process. In a way, we all use it.

5.) Can't tell you, spoilers.

6.) Sort of, yes.

7.) Yes.

8.) Email me! I'll send you all the short stories up to this point.

9.) Can't tell you, spoilers.

Diego link

3/28/2017 05:03:11 pm

I have a new question I just thought of when you started answering replies. You are basically saying that your books are all basically set in the same multi-universe.

My question starts here: Are all these humans born in these diverse worlds biologically different? For example if say Simon/Calder were transported to Cradle could they start cultivating? or can they not simply because their bodies are different from humans in that specific world?

Will link

3/30/2017 08:50:13 pm

If Calder, for instance, was teleported to Cradle, he would find the Intent strange and alien. It would make his powers as a Reader unpredictable, and perhaps even a liability.

However, his invested and Awakened items would still work the same as they would in Asylum.

He *could* start training in the sacred arts, though his soul would be incredibly weak. So weak, in fact, that his body might not even be able to support itself in Cradle's atmosphere.

But if he did survive long enough to strengthen his soul, then yes, he could become a sacred artist.

SiliconTraveler

3/28/2017 09:12:26 pm

Thanks so much for doing this!

Would love to know more about Sages.

How many Sages are there, and how does one become a Sage?

What "level" was the Sword Sage?

Is there a current living Sage of Brooms?

Will link

3/30/2017 08:50:46 pm

That is...a lot of spoilers. There really isn't anything I can say about Sages that isn't a spoiler, sorry!

Adaen

3/29/2017 12:50:41 am

Like everyone else here, I am a huge fan of your work. Everything of yours I have read and its all phenonmal. Thanks for sharing your imagination.

I just got in your shirts! They are both sick. And being a ginger while wearing the unsouled fills me with delight.

1. I am super interested in the Nethergate. Will that be explored more? How far does it go down? How much has been explored?
1 a. Was the treasure in the halls from the Nethergate? Even Yerin seemed impressed with the treasure from the first room. What else is in the other 2?

2. I believe you mentioned that Sacred Valley was proctected by some very powerful people that wished to keep it more or less a secret. Will be learn about them more?

3. I think another asked, but I will too. What level of power is the a Sage? I did find it kinda off that someone of his level of power was even able to be poisoned. Was there simply no good way for him to die otherwise?

I am sure there is more but nothing pops to mind as I type.

Also, thank you so much for not making love and romance your overall arc of most of your series.

Will link

3/30/2017 08:54:53 pm

Thanks, Adaen! May the shirt fill in the gap where your soul should go.

1.) Yes, I hope so. I actually wanted to spend longer in Sacred Valley, exploring things like the Nethergate, but publishing the series as a novel instead of as a web serial really forced my hand. I didn't feel like I had time to let Lindon adventure all over the Valley before leaving with Yerin; I wanted to introduce Lindon and get them both to the real sacred arts ASAP.

1a.) I hope to explore that too!

2.) Yes we will! All the mechanisms that protect and hide Sacred Valley SHOULD be explored, in time!

3.) This will be explained. However, you are correct that under normal circumstances, a Jade couldn't kill a Sage even if they poisoned him, stabbed him as he slept, set him on fire, and riddled him with shots from a machine gun.

4.) You're welcome! Romance plots are boring. I wouldn't include it at all if I could get away with it.

(To be fair, a compelling romance is a benefit to any series, but most romance isn't compelling. And it normally takes time away form the plot.)

Family of raccoons fighting their way through dark souls 3: the ringed city

3/29/2017 06:07:58 am

So, it has been established that plants take much longer to become sacred creatures than animals, and cannot ever speak.

But that knowledge came from the Sacred Valley, who are wrong about most things.

I guess what I'm asking is if a blade of grass could eventually join the an Abidan court.

Will link

3/30/2017 08:56:14 pm

In power level? Technically yes, although it would require a series of chances so astronomically small that an Abidan would laugh at you for asking the question.

...although you are now tempting me to make one of the Judges a tree in their original form, which would AT LEAST amuse me.

Family of Raccoons

3/31/2017 05:53:55 am

I'd read a story where stupidly improbable event after stupidly improbable event lead to a tree becoming one of the most powerful entities in the willverse.

Daniel

3/31/2017 10:55:19 am

I too would love to read a story about that:) or at least a short story

Jason

3/29/2017 03:19:05 pm

So, round 2,

1 b.) As per the split the core question, I'm assuming that the number of cores would dictate the number of paths one could take or is it possible to follow 2 paths with one core?

2 b.) This is more a fan fic thing from my own imagination. The Nye tend to fight with chains (I wonder why) and there are chain tattoo's to show how much power is being used. Is there another ability that can be granted by the Nye (or the territory in general?) that would enable a traveler to use a (shadow chain?) as a weapon? In my mind I picture it like a manriki gusari sort of weapon used to entangle an opponets sword or to bind or entangle limbs.

3 b.) I must go cook dinner so now more questions. Plus we need you to get back to writing.

Thanks for keep us all engaged and entertained.

Will link

3/30/2017 09:00:40 pm

1.) If everything goes according to plan, we should meet a character in book four or five that cultivates two different types of madra in one core. It's normally not possible, because they blend.

2.) I thought of that, but it sort of breaks the theme of Valinhall. Valinhall powers are internal, not external like most of the other Territories.

Sure, they can summon weapons, but the internal power they use to do so is the key to the armory. The only external power they have is the ability to summon their Dragon's Fang. They can't even summon their advisors.

If I give them any other summoning ability, it will be the ability to summon masks from the gallery, but even those are props that provide internal power.

What you're describing would be super cool, and it kind of saddens me that I used chains so heavily in Valinhall, because I would love to do the Path of the Broken Chains or something in Cradle.

Daniel

3/31/2017 11:02:17 am

There really isn't any reason you couldn't just change the color of the chains and add something on the end of their chain weapons like a sword blade or a mace head or a sickle or a dagger if you want to go classical. You could also have the end change shape. That way the focus is more on the weapon on the end of the chain then the chain itself while still maintaining the whole I'm a badass cause I kill people with chains thing.

Will link

3/31/2017 11:46:21 am

In an early draft of Soulsmith, I had the Fishers teaching Lindon how to use a kusari-gama (I made up a name for it that I can't remember now, but that's what it was).

I gave up on it, but it would have been cool.

Michael Bose

4/6/2017 04:58:23 pm

what are dreadgods? are they corrupted sacred artists? Elders? abominations born from fragments of worlds adrift?

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