Recent entries

Alex

How does ascending to higher iterations work? Is it like a ladder, where there is one iteration that is higher than the one before, or is it like a pyramid, where there are many "infant" level iterations and as you go higher there are less and less iterations.

Will Wight

"Higher" isn't literal, it just means "more advanced." Cradle prepared people for interdimensional combat better than most Iterations do, and once you learn that lesson, you're ready to participate in the truth of the multiverse.

Tacroy

Are Iterations sequential? Like, does one universe die and then another one spin up, but the members of the Abidan court are able to travel through time to some extent? Or are they all scattered throughout a multiverse, and coalesce at different times?

Will Wight

They're all scattered through a multiverse. There are thousands of simultaneously extant universes managed by the Abidan.

It's just that, at any given time, one might be dying and another being born.

Devin

 In the short story Steel Diplomacy you have descendants of Elysians that have been away from the City for a while. What would happen to them as they spent longer and longer away from the Territory?

Will Wight

Nothing happens to them. They're fine. They're descendants, so technically they're natives of the Unnamed World (the Traveler's Gate world that isn't a Territory).

As for the Territories continuing to grow, they don't grow any closer to the main world. That's what I meant by them finding an equilibrium. They expand horizontally but not vertically, in a sense.

Nocturniquet

When you say universe do you mean literal full scale universe like the one we exist in or do you mean a sorta localized sphere of planets and stars, perhaps the scale of one galaxy, and nothing else exists at all?

Will

Full universe. Some of the Iterations have galactic colonies.

Nocturniquet

That would imply that the most developed and advanced iterations have multiple worlds all united under one government and/or race. Makes sense that the "Court of Seven" would rule from this iteration. I wonder if in the most advanced iterations, they are so knowledgeable that things like the Abidan are not myths, just everyday facts of life. And hell I wonder if the average citizens discuss the policies this Court of Seven implement or think about. I wonder if this iteration is so fucking advanced that even a child in this civilization would seem like a god to the strongest people on Cradle. At some point this becomes an epic fantasy space opera now that I think about it...

Will Wight

Sanctum is like you've described. It's a galactic civilization with faster-than-light travel in the form of skipping through the Way, they're fully aware of the Abidan, and they benefit from the technology of other worlds.However, it's the exception. Most Iterations, even the technologically advanced ones, are unaware (or only vaguely aware) of the Abidan. That's a result of their non-interference policy.There is at least one organization out there that unites worlds and gladly interferes in natural development. They encourage inter-universal trading, develop weapons based on the magic of several different worlds, and even raid other worlds for resources.

Mahfuz

Also, Valinhall is a relatively new fragment that joined with Amalgam and was molded to Valin's will, right? If that's true then were all the other territories molded to someone or something so that they could become stable? Is that what the original founders were?

Will Wight

And yes, that's what Founders are. The person whose will shapes the Territory to the greatest degree. Valinhall is still young and malleable, and most of the other Territories are way more stable, so they don't need a Founder anymore.Valinhall does because it's still, to some degree, in the process of being formed.

Devin

Do the inhabitants of the territories fit the definition of human? The ape from Lirial (whose name escapes me), the Avernus bird-men, the Nye, Marakos/the gnomes from Elysia, the lizard creatures from Naraka Kai kills? Or are those humans who were affected by the time they spent on a fragment drifting through the void?

Follow up. Assuming that the Territories are fragments that haven't fully combined with the Traveler's Gate World, what happens to travelers when the territories do fully combine?

 

Will Wight

They do count, but not fully. They're either humans who were warped by their time in a fragment or the descendants of humans like that. OR they could be non-humans that achieved sentience and became more human.

Either way, they count, just not as much as a full human would. Just like how Valinhall held together for a long time without humans in it regularly--it was populated by the Nye and a bunch of other sentient beings, but humans are a much better anchor (so to speak).

The Traveler's Gate world, Amalgam, is unique in that it has formed a stable relationship with the fragments "orbiting" it. The Way between the main world and the fragmentary worlds is thin, so their realities tend to bleed together (showing up primarily as natural Gates--randomly occurring portals to a Territory that weren't created by a Traveler).

However, normally when one world bleeds into another, the bleeding gets faster and faster until they collide. Like what happened with Limit and Harrow, the two worlds that Suriel is trying to euthanize.

Amalgam is unique because it has formed an equilibrium with its extra fragments. They're free to exist and grow without accelerating into existential destruction.

Adarsh

Which of your books took place on Sanctum?

Will Wight

None of them, Suriel just mentions it a few times. It's the headquarters of the Abidan.

Havoc

Do any iterations have civilizations that exist across multiple planets? Would something like the Star Wars galaxy be more strongly connected to the Way since there is so much sentient life?

 

Will Wight

And yes, absolutely! Sanctum is one such Iteration, where they have many populated planets and enjoy a strong connection to the Way.Barring external factors, worlds like that will live until the natural expiration of that universe, so billions of years.

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.

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.

Coldsteel

Now, I have a theory about Ozriel and it will be interesting to see if I'm right (eventually). We know that he developed his own path. We also know that he died and returned to life in a labyrinth (somewhere). We also know that a massive labyrinth forms the foundation of Sacred Valley. And this labyrinth is full of secrets and treasures. Could they be one and the same? It's hard to believe in coincidence in books like these. I also find it fascinating that Sacred Valley is being protected from the outside by powerful individuals and that the outside world has, for the most part, forgotten it even exists. I think perhaps there's more to Sacred Valley than meets the eye. Am I right?

Will Wight

As for Sacred Valley...You COULD be right. You certainly could be.