Recent entries

Corey

When an iteration is formed but there is no human life there yet, how does the Way sustain the iteration? Is there a specfic amount of time that the Abidan have to populate it before the iteration will break down?

Will Wight

There is a certain amount of time! Depends on a lot of factors, including the stability and compatibility of the fragments that combine, which is part of what the Ghosts do: they're trying to ensure that the newborn worlds remain as stable as possible for as long as possible.

Incidentally, most of the "pioneers" that the Abidan drop on a world are not aware of the Abidan or of the full scope of the universe. It would be an experience like thinking you've died, only to see a flash of blue light and to wake up in a field with a bunch of supplies and strangers. This is your life now.

J

Please tell me you plan on writing a book or seven following this plot point. That would be so cool, starting up a new civilization in a new universe with different laws of physics and magic systems for the people to figure out. God that would be a fun read....

Will Wight

That was the book I wanted to write before House of Blades. I spent so long working on it that I had taken it way too many directions, so I thought, "This is my best idea, but I don't think I'm capable of writing it right now. What is an idea I have that I can DEFINITELY write and finish?"And that's how House of Blades was born.

Diego

I'm going to just put this out there and I don't know if it's just me or if its happening but not large scale enough to affect every corner of the multi-universe you have envisioned.

Wouldn't it actually be beneficial for these world spanning Organizations to encourage most, if not all , worlds to at least be aware of some way of ascending?

I mean heck if I knew how to become an immortal u could bet I'd be at least trying. In my head at least having more immortals around means more people to combat chaos. I mean even if some turn out evil, who wants chaos to destroy everything?

Will Wight

The thing is, their priority is to let worlds develop naturally.

Cradle is an exception to the norm in that advancement is built into its magic system. In most worlds, you'll be lucky to get one low-ranked Abidan out of it during its entire lifespan.

So in most worlds, it's not possible under normal conditions to ascend.

And here's part of the reason they want these Iterations living healthy, natural, normal lives: the more healthy and ordered the Iterations are, the closer the Way is, and the more powerful the Abidan are.

***

However, they actually HAD plenty of people in the Abidan. As many as they needed.

It was only when Ozriel vanished that they all of a sudden had a personnel problem.

(I'll go into that in Ozriel's section.)

Daniel

That kind of implies that there was one starting human universe where the way was born if the new iterations don't have enough time to evolve humans normally

Will Wight

It does imply that, yeah. However, wherever humans originated, it comes from a time before Abidan were keeping records. The theory is that the original human world already dispersed into fragments.

However, it could be out there somewhere.

There's another theory that says that the Way is like an island, and the void (chaos) is like an ocean. Which means that there could be other islands out there, other multiverses, where the Way emerges from the void and existence is possible.

Therefore, the original human world could simply be separated by chaos that everyone assumes is endless.

...or not. It's speculation.

Jason

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.

Will Wight

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.

Adaen

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?

Will Wight

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.

Diego

 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 Wight

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.

Anon

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. 

Will Wight

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.

Rhys

How big is the ninecloud court, compared to the blackflame empire now and at its height.

Will Wight

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.

Two

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 Wight

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.

Avinash

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

Will Wight

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

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 purposeor 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 Wight

1.) They're fragments of worlds that died naturally, uncorrupted.2.) SPOILERS!

God of the Tower

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 Wight

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.

Daniel

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

Will

>Path of the Tap-Dancing TigersA 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 DragonThe 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 ZebraA 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 SpiritA 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 MasterI 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.

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

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 Wight

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.

Family of Raccoons in a trench coat

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 Wight

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.

Justin

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 Wight

>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.

Mike

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 Wight

>Different physical characteristicsYes, 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.

Ethan

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

Will Wight

The bath does have a power!

Yosef

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 Wight

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!

Aaron

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?

Will Wight

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.

Wes

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

Will Wight

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.

Jason

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?

Will Wight

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.

Diego

I re-read Unsouled and noticed that in case of complete system collapse a few worlds would still be protected including Asylum. I'm going on on the obvious and thinking the Elders are scary even to the Court of seven and could possibly play the same role as the Court does but for chaos.

Will Wight

Yes, that's why Asylum is a protected world. If they get out, they're scary.

The Abidan intended it to be a temporary holding cell to imprison the Elders until they had fully corrupted the world, at which point Ozriel could destroy it.

Which wouldn't kill the Elders, but would drive them back into the void. So it was really just keeping them off the streets for a while.

Then the Emperor came along, and humanity has prospered beyond what the Abidan ever expected. That tethers the world more strongly to the Way and strengthens the prison, weakening the Elders. So Asylum has held on much longer than anyone anticipated.

The Elders, by the way, don't want to be trapped there OR cast back into the void. They want to escape into other Iterations, which is exactly what the Abidan don't want.

Back in the day, the Elders could have depopulated humanity. They didn't; they kept just enough alive to make sure the Abidan wouldn't obliterate the place while the Elders looked for a way out.