Abidan Archive Wiki - User contributions [en]

Alin

2023-09-15T09:56:39Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{TG Navbox}}
The prototypical hero. Alin is a tall, handsome (with golden blond hair), charming, brave, self-assured (and somewhat self-righteous) young man.

Alin is destined to be the first Elysian Traveler in ages who will save the people from tyranny. He is only able to use the Elysian power because he was born with the power.

The very first power he summoned from Elysia was a blast of golden light, the second is a sword mad of golden light, the third a hexagonal shield of green light, and more.

He is guy everyone looks up to...except the real protagonist [[Simon]] who often rolls his eyes at Alin.

{{books}}
[[Category: Characters]]
[[Category: Traveler's Gate]]
[[Category:Amalgam Characters]]

The Emperor

2023-07-08T09:45:23Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{EE Navbox}}

'''The Emperor''' was the most powerful [[Reader]] on Asylum. He was born a slave in the pits of [[Nakothi]] but escaped to later overthrow the rule of the [[Elders]]. He was the Emperor of Asylum until his untimely death. He has used the pseudonym of Sadesthenes, a self-educated son of a wine merchant.

{{Books}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Elder Empire]]
[[Category:Asylum Characters]]

Icons

2023-07-05T07:46:59Z

BarrelBison2334: Added an Icon

{{Cradle NavBox}}
Editing note — in the books, Sage and Icon are capitalized. All [[Advancement Level| advancement levels]] are capitalized, actually.

*See also [[Monarch factions]]
*See [[Herald (Advancement)|List of Heralds]]

==Icon==
Icons are among the many [[Magical Items]] on Cradle, but they come from the Way and are inherently a function of the Way. Even the Void Icon comes from the blue orderly Way. An Icon is an embodiment of a concept greater than humanity and the mark of a [[Sage (Advancement)|Sage]]. Those who are able to manifest an Icon gain the ability to command reality itself and to brush against [[The Way and The Worlds|The Way]]. Below is a list of all currently known Icons with the corresponding Sage.

*See also [[Advancement Level#Sage|Advancing to Sage]]

 
<big>🏹</big>
Bow Icon, Archer Icon: <blockquote> “A woman with a bow taps into the power of all who have used bows, of what it means to wield a bow,” she continued. “You are not just an archer. You are a fragment of The Archer, the single template of all archery. The bow is one of the deepest symbols of all.” There was a trace of that concept in her mother’s archery. The Bow Icon, The Archer, whatever you wanted to call it. (Reaper, ch 17)</blockquote>
An Icon is a powerful symbol. It is a signature of Authority, bestowed by the mystical Way.
A Lord manifests an Icon when the Way recognizes him/her as the living embodiment of a concept.
<Blockquote> "To become a Sage, you have to contact a greater power, a symbol of a greater concept of reality. We call that symbol an Icon.” (Wintersteel, ch 7, [[Min Shuei]] the Winter Sage, speaking to Yerin)</Blockquote>
<Blockquote> “In the past, the concept of a Sage was much more. . .fluid. . .than it is today. When manifesting an Icon, it is very important to understand the significance of your madra and to sense it deeply. Equally important is some kind of technique to regularly train your willpower. For years. An exercise that pushes your focus and concentration ever further, and that most people would give up or abandon for easier trails…. . . “Now, the specific Icon you manifest depends not only on the nature of your madra currently, but on a concept that has always been core to your identity. Even in childhood." (Wintersteel, ch 27, [[Eithan]] speaking to Lindon)</Blockquote>

==List of Known Icons==
In alphabetical order. Add more finds to the list

*Archer or Bow - Larian of the [[Eight-Man Empire]]
*Blood — [[Sage of Red Faith]] (he seems to have forgotten his given name)
*Broom - [[Ozmanthus Arelius]], historically
*Death — [[Ozmanthus Arelius]] / [[Ozriel]] the Reaper
*Dragon — [[Northstrider]], who is now a [[Monarch factions|Monarch]], manifested the Dragon Icon at Sage level (Uncrowned, ch 20)
*Heart — [[Akura Charity]] Sage of Silver Heart
*Hunger - Icon was manifested by Subject One's binding.
*Oracle - Cladia Arelius [[Sage of a Thousand Eyes]]
*Points - (Lindon, in bloopers)
*Shadow - [[Akura Malice]], now a Monarch, manifested the Shadow Icon when she was a Sage (Reaper ch 1)
*Shield - Ziel in Waybound
*Storm - Sage of Calling Storms, [[Stormcallers]] cult (no name given yet)
*Strength — [[Akura Fury]] That’s called the Strength Icon, or the Fist Icon, or the Symbol of Bodily Power (Wintersteel ch 25)
*Sword - [[Sage of the Endless Sword| Timaias Adama, Sage of the Endless Sword]], also [[Min Shuei]] and Sage of Fallen Blades: <blockquote> Technically there were three Sages of their generation who had manifested the Sword Icon: the Sage of the Endless Sword, the Sage of Fallen Blades, and herself [Min Shuei]. Among them, the only one that used the title of the Sword Sage was Adama, the Endless Sword, though it could apply to any of the three. (Wintersteel ch 6)</blockquote>
*[[Icons#Void Icon|Void]] - [[Wei Shi Lindon Arelius]] Sage of Twin Stars, [[Twin Star Sect]]
*Winter - [[Min Shuei]] Sage of the Frozen Blade (she later manifested the Sword Icon) <blockquote> I manifested the Winter Icon first. I became a symbol of ice, of cold, of all things that freeze and are frozen. Only later did I also reflect the Sword Icon.” (Wintersteel ch 7)</blockquote>

 A few Icons are manifested by Monarch [[Emriss Silentborn]] <blockquote> Will Wight: “The oldest Monarch is Emriss Silentborn and she only has a couple of Icons. Her connection to them is just very thorough.” ([https://abidanarchive.com/events/25/#e1822 Archive 1822])</blockquote>
 
There is a Sage in the Wastelands, but we know little to nothing more. The powerful sacred artists in the Wasteland are independent and unaffiliated but sometimes they ally with another, for a cause or perhaps for some gain.
<blockquote>Miles behind Malice, the unaffiliated experts of the Wasteland received her transmitted message and removed their veils. Three Heralds, a Sage, and five ancient Archlords. (Reaper, ch 9)</blockquote>

==Void Icon==
Some excerpts describing the Void Icon / Sage:

*“The Void Icon had a good connection to spatial abilities (Reaper, ch 1)
*Finally, Ziel realized where that chill was coming from. He wasn’t talking to Lindon anymore. That was the Void Sage. ..The pressure he’d felt in that moment was difficult for him to even process. (Reaper ch 3)
*“He stretched out to the Void Icon. Emptiness, hunger, and nonexistence. (Reaper, ch 7)
*“The same all-consuming hunger that reminded him of the Void Icon. Identical to the aura that had flooded out the night before. Hunger aura. (Reaper, ch 9)
*“I don’t want to win by giving something up. I want it all. I want all of it.” The fury of the Void Icon faded, and he coughed a little in embarrassment. “. . if you’re willing, of course.” (Reaper, ch 16)
*“. . .he was pulling something into existence, and out of nothingness. That resonated with the Void Icon, but he wasn’t sure exactly how” (Reaper, ch 18)

===Void Icon & Vroshir Void===

*See also [[Vroshir]]

 Question & Answer with Will Wight:<blockquote> Questioner: Does the Void in the 'Void Sage' have any connection to the Vroshir 'Void'?
 
Will Wight: Ah, sort of, yeah. In the sense that the Void is just what they call the empty expanse outside of existence. And the Void Icon is the concept of non-existence or emptiness as reflected in the Way. So, its power does come from the Way, like any Icon does, so in that regard its not coming from The Void, it is coming from the Way. But you would be able to potentially, that is one potential use of the Void Icon is tapping into The Void. ([https://abidanarchive.com/events/25/#e1823 Archive1823]) </blockquote>

==Oracle Icon==
In Book #8, Cladia Arelius, Sage of a Thousand Eyes, is clearly called the Oracle Sage, by Eithan himself. (Wintersteel ch 7). However, in book 10, Eithan makes a telling statement: <blockquote> If I’m close to Sage—especially the Oracle Icon, which I was once considered a prime candidate to manifest—then I could be picking up hints of another Sage or Monarch’s working. It could be a working you are too inexperienced to recognize, or something too far away from the realm of the Void Icon.” (Reaper ch 7)</blockquote>

{{Books}}

[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Cradle Characters]]
[[Category:Sacred Arts]]

Drudge

2023-07-04T12:48:59Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}{{Stub}}A '''Drudge''' has many uses but on of its main uses is as tool for a [[Soulsmith (Profession)|Soulsmith]] that can identify [[Sacred Arts#Madra|Madra]] types, locate bindings, be used as an extra set of hands, and many other uses.

{{Books}}
[[Category:Cradle]]

Path of the Fallen Leaf

2023-07-04T12:12:55Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}

Uses life madra to grow sacred trees and the like. Little else is know about this path.

==Techniques:==

*Striker:
*Enforcer:
*Ruler: A possible ruler technique is one that summons vines from the ground. A example of this is shown when Jai Long and Jai Chen try to leave sacred vally before the wandering Titan arrives.
*Forger:

==Cycling Techniques:==

*Unknown

==Iron Body:==

*Unknown

==Weapons/Tools:==

*Unknown

==Notable Practitioners:==

*Unknown

[[Category:Paths]]
[[Category:Cradle]]
{{Books}}

Halfsilver

2023-07-03T22:54:46Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}

'''Halfsilver''' is a metal on [[Cradle]].

Halfsilver looks like mundane silver with the addition of glittering sparks that look like stars. It is physically more brittle than silver, but it inherently disrupts madra around it, making it useful for many purposes.{{book ref|c1|14}} Sword aura resonance techniques work poorly with halfsilver weapons, presumably due to these disruptive properties.{{book ref|c1|18}}

Halfsilver is mined in [[Sacred Valley]] on [[Mount Venture]] by the [[Kazan clan]] and [[Golden Sword School]];{{book ref|c1|12}} it is unusually common in the valley{{book ref|c8|prologue}} and considered more valuable outside it.{{book ref|c2|7}}{{book ref|c3|1}}

The Lesser Treasure Hall of the [[Heaven's Glory School]] contains a number of halfsilver weapons, as well as at least one parasite ring.{{book ref|c1|14}} [[Lindon]] takes the ring and a dagger on his way through the school.{{book ref|c1|18}}

== Uses ==

* [[Parasite ring]]s are made of [[Scripts|scripted]] halfsilver.{{book ref|c1|4}}{{book ref|c1|14}}
* Some weapons and shields, especially in Sacred Valley, contain halfsilver; while some are made entirely out of halfsilver, others contain it in combination with other materials to counteract its physical weakness.{{book ref|c1|14}}{{book ref|c5|10}}{{book ref|c9|6}}{{book ref|c9|11}}{{book ref|c9|14}}
* The Kazan clan uses halfsilver and goldsteel in their static defenses to disrupt madra attacks.{{book ref|c9|9}}
* Cuffs or chains made out of halfsilver make it harder for the wearer to use madra; they are typically used on prisoners.{{book ref|c4|1}}{{book ref|c4|13}}{{book ref|c5|1}}{{book ref|c9|2}}{{book ref|c9|9}} Similarly, halfsilver is incorporated into high-security prison cells.{{book ref|c4|3}}
* Halfsilver is used as currency in Sacred Valley in the form of small rectangles known as "chips".{{book ref|c2|7}}
* Halfsilver is used in many [[Soulsmithing]] tools, such as tongs.{{book ref|c1|14}}{{book ref|c3|1}}
* In the traditional badge system, halfsilver represents the [[Advancement Level#The Lord Realm|Lord realm]].{{book ref|c7|7}}

== References ==

<references />

{{Books}}
[[Category:Cradle]]

Scripts

2023-07-03T11:47:35Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}

On Cradle, written scripts can have power. Scripts are composed of runes, sometimes only a few of them. Scripts can be used to contain sacred beasts and Remnants.
==Types of Scripts==
*One script, composed of seven runes, will glow when carved into an ancestral orus tree and is useful for the detection of same.
*Another script is one that is used by Ziel to launch himself along
*Ziel also uses a script circle that creates a plane of force that you can stand on in the center of it.
*Ziel also uses a script that strenghtens his hits with his hammer.
==Unsouled==
Lindon repeatedy writes scripts into trees while searching the forest for an orus tree with a spirit-fruit on it. This script was to determine if a tree had ascended to an ancestral tree.

==Abidan==
The only instance of scripting outside of Cradle is [[Suriel]]'s eyes, which are purple, etched with vivid runes meant to help her see the flow of Fate easier. When she is visiting Cradle, she hides these, as it would enhance the scripting of Cradle 'beyond acceptable limits'.

[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Cradle]]
{{Books}}

Heart of Twin Stars

2023-07-03T11:37:54Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}

The Heart of Twin Stars is a cycling technique which binds your [[madra]] in a knot until it creates the leverage required to split your core in two it is primarily used by Lindon. After this point this cycling technique is actually detrimental to your advancement, slowing the transition toward Iron. A modified version is used by Lindon to cycle and separate the different things he absorbs with his hunger arm.

[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Cycling_techniques]]

{{Books}}

Temple of Rising Earth

2023-07-03T10:20:54Z

BarrelBison2334:

=Description=
Temple of Rising Earth is one of the four vassal of [[Akura Family]]. It is one of the two stronger Vassal along with [[Frozen Blade School]].

The Sect was attacked and wiped out by [[Xorrus]], the Dragon Herald, when they were on their way to the [[Ninecloud City]] for the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]]. [[Xorrus]] arrived at the tournament clutching a piece of the Temple of Rising Earth in her talons.
 
[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Cradle Factions]]
[[Category:Cradle Locations]]

Eight-Man Empire

2023-07-03T10:17:04Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}
The Eight-Man Empire is a group of eight people that employ, collectively, the power of a Monarch. Individually, they are Sages or Heralds. <ref>https://www.abidanarchive.com/events/1/#e228</ref><ref>https://www.abidanarchive.com/events/1-cradle/#e272</ref>

==Not a True Monarch==
All eight of the men/women wearing the armor are Heralds and Sages. Because none of them are Monarchs they do not generate hunger aura, even though they can be as powerful as a Monarch when borrowing power from their peers. However, if their unity / formation is broken, they only have their individual strength and their individual Path to rely on.
{{Quote Box |title=Q & A with Will|quote=Questioner: Does the Eight Man Empire generate hunger aura?
 Will Wight: They do not.|source=-https://www.abidanarchive.com/events/25/#e1864}}

==Path==
Each member of the Eight-Man Empire practices their own separate Path, plus the "Path of the Eight-Fold Spear", which unites them in mind and spirit.
 
===Path of the Eightfold Spear===
“What the Empire calls “the Path of the Eightfold Spear” is not a Path in the traditional sense. It is a complex bond of mind and spirit woven through a network of Divine Treasures that allow the eight members of the Empire to access the powers of the other seven. In reality, each member of the Eight-Man Empire is on a separate Path.” (Wintersteel, ch 13)

 (This unity may be similar to how [[Lindon]] is able to unite with [[Orthos]], [[Dross]], and even [[Little Blue]] — at least by the end of book 8, [[Wintersteel]].)

==Members==
Individually, they are Heralds and Sages, but they can combine their strength using their Path of the Eight-Fold Spear to become equivalent to a Monarch (Wintersteel chapter 13).
[[Suriel]] showed one of its members to [[Lindon]] and told him that, if he had the strength of the Eight-Man Empire, he would be able to save [[Sacred Valley]] from the [[Dreadgod]] attack (Unsouled, book 1)
 
We don’t know the names of all the members. Only a few: Larian. Del'rek.

===Larian===
A Sage, Larian manifested The Bow Icon, The Archer, whatever you wanted to call it. (Reaper, ch 17)

As a child, she advanced far beyond her peers when she was only six years old. <blockquote >"Suriel stopped with her palm hovering over one member of the Eight-Man Empire, a woman with yellow hair who lay facedown on a table, snoring. “Larian was raised in a noble household. Her father wouldn’t let her play with the other children until she reached the level you know as Gold. When she was six years old, she did.” (Unsouled, ch 11)</blockquote >
 A virtuoso archer, beyond compare. [[Akura Mercy]]'s reward for successfully completing the first trial of the [[Uncrowned King Tournament]] was a dream tablet from Larian, containing archery instruction (Uncrowned, Ch. 18) Later, Mercy learned even more about Archery, down in the [[Labyrinth]] (see book 10, Reaper).

====Larian’s Relationships====
*Larian despises the [[Sage of Red Faith]] (Bloodline chapter 13)
*She opposed the gold dragons, and she doesn’t much like the white lion emperor, [[Reigan Shen]], but she has nothing against [[Sacred Beasts]] — she implied her team has some sacred beasts in it (Reaper, ch 9)
**She recently allied with the Lion emperor, for a heaping pile of bribes, treasures (Reaper, ch 9)
*She told [[Akura Malice]] it’s time to “shake up” the self-serving Monarch system (Reaper, ch 9). Does she know it generates hunger aura?
<blockquote > Larian said. “At least it is a good cause, in the end.” Then she shed her casual appearance and adopted a manner more befitting a self-respecting Sage. “Long-Sight!” The Long-Sight war-band, beneath their banner of a bow and an eye, gave a shout and a pulse of spiritual power that shook the ground." (Reaper, ch 9) </blockquote >

==War Bands==
The Eight-Man Empire is supported by eight war bands: Green-Stride, Long-Sight, Ghost-Blade, Nine-Hands, Flame-Gift, Blood-Chorus, etc. <blockquote >"From the lands all around the valley, war-bands of the Eight-Man Empire raised their banners. Not crude constructions of cloth and wood, but projections of symbols made of Forged madra. Ghost-Blade, Nine-Hands, Flame-Gift, Blood-Chorus.. .each of the eight wandering mercenary armies that made up the Eight-Man Empire’s workforce was arrayed against her. . .The war-bands averaged one Archlord, a handful of Overlords, and two or three dozen Underlords apiece, so only when they were gathered in one place could they possibly face down a Monarch’s forces. Just like the Eight-Man Empire themselves." (Reaper chapter 9)</blockquote >

==Uncrowned King Tourney (UKT)==
*The Eight-Man Empire selects Underlords to represent them in the [[Uncrowned King Tournament]].
Some years ago, the [[Sage of the Endless Sword]] participated in the 15th tournament and famously reached the Top 8, losing to Del'rek of the Shann, who was representing the [[Eight-Man Empire]].

*The Eight-Man Empire utilize the Uncrowned Tournament as a testing ground for sacred artists who might one day join their group. (Underlord, Epilogue). [[Ziel]] fought for the Eight-Man Empire in the 17th Tournament, when Mercy was only eight years old. She remembers attending the 17th UKT (Underlord)

===The 18th UKT===
The current event is the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]]. In the 18th Uncrowned Tournament, the eight-man empire brought four teams from four different warbands: Ghost-Blade, Flame-Gift, Blood-Chorus, Nine-Hands.(Uncrowned, Ch. 9). Their platform was a tower with eight floors, each full of sacred artists and [[Sacred Beasts|sacred beasts]], with one member of the Empire per level. Later they were seen hovering together over the tower. (Uncrowned, Ch. 20)

*The Eight-Man Empire didn’t shine, but one of their contestants made it to the Final 16 Rounds. However, [[Akura Mercy]] defeated their Ghost-Blade contender, Ulrok Crag-Strider (ch 4, Wintersteel)

== Golden Armor ==
Beginning Report: "They crafted eight Divine Treasures, suits of golden armor, that linked their wills together. It is unknown how sacred artists who never ventured beyond Cradle understood such principles so thoroughly, but Abidan intervention is suspected." (Wintersteel, ch 13)

According to [[Suriel]], their golden armor is a cross between a Remnant and a Construct. She told Lindon: “Today, an army of ten thousand Gold-ranked sacred artists couldn’t scratch her armor.” (Unsouled, ch 11)

===Inheriting the Armor===
When one member dies, their armor is passed down to the next to join. "The Eight-Man Empire is always on the lookout for heirs to inherit their positions in the event of death or ascension. Their suits of armor can be passed down and repaired, but not replaced. Their experiment has never been successfully repeated." (Wintersteel ch 13)

== Trivia ==
*They got their name because they conquer everywhere they go.
* They put a bounty on [[Akura Fury]]'s head. (Uncrowned, Ch. 4)
* [[Reigan Shen]] fought them to a standstill before they drove him away. However, if an individual were to fight Reigan Shen alone, they would be "eaten alive."(https://www.abidanarchive.com/events/1/#e140)
* [[Northstrider]] would most likely beat them. (https://www.abidanarchive.com/events/1/#e257)
* In a fight, [[Sha Miara]] is roughly equal to them. She'd likely win if she breaks their power-sharing formation quickly, but would be overwhelmed otherwise.(https://www.abidanarchive.com/events/1/#e264)

{{Books}}
[[Category:Cradle]][[Category:Characters]][[Category:Cradle Factions]]

Soulfire

2023-07-03T09:35:57Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}

'''Soulfire''' is a form of condensed [[Vital aura]] associated with the [[Advancement Level#The Lord Realm|Lord Level]] of advancement in the [[Sacred Arts]] on [[Cradle]].{{book ref|c3|18}}

==Creation==

Soulfire is woven from vital aura, mainly by Underlords and higher; the ability to do so is considered the hallmark of a Lord.{{book ref|c4|8}} Those at the peak of Truegold can usually start to gain the ability to weave soulfire and must learn to control it as part of the process of advancing to Underlord.{{book ref|c4|4}} Once woven, soulfire can be stored in a sacred artist's spirit for later use.{{book ref|c3|10}}

Natural treasures can be burned to fuel the creation of soulfire, as long as the types of aura they produce are in sufficient balance.{{book ref|c6|6}}{{book ref|c6|8}}{{book ref|c10|18}}

==Properties and uses==

When physically manifested without being specifically directed, soulfire takes the form of a spherical flame. The soulfire of Underlords appears diffuse and colorless; the soulfire of Overlords and Archlords appears to be progressively denser, brighter, and more silvery.{{book ref|c9|9}}{{book ref|c9|18}}{{book ref|c10|18}}

Soulfire can be used as a power source in a wide variety of ways, including developing spirits, remnants,{{book ref|c3|10}} powering scripts,{{book ref|c4|2}}{{book ref|c4|8}}, and strengthening madra techniques.{{book ref|c5|13}}{{book ref|c6|18}} Mundane physical objects can be washed in soulfire, which makes them stronger and even allows them to conduct madra, aura, and willpower better.{{book ref|c3|20}} Completing the advancement from Truegold to Underlord causes soulfire to flow throughout a sacred artist's body and spirit, granting increased power, durability, and strength.{{book ref|c4|1}}{{book ref|c5|8}}{{book ref|c6|4}}{{book ref|c6|8}}{{book ref|c6|19}}

Soulfire grants some amount of control over any form of aura, allowing for minor manipulation of the physical world, though the control is far weaker than any proper Ruler technique and essentially useless in battle.{{book ref|c6|6}} For example, sacred artists with advanced enough soulfire can control wind aura to fly as if they were on a wind path. {{book ref|c7|8}}{{book ref|c7|9}}

Soulfire is used in creating various [[Magical Items]], including Lord-level weapons and powerful elixirs such as ghostwater.{{book ref|c5|17}}

==References==

<references />

{{Books}}
[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Sacred Arts]]

Elders

2023-07-03T09:23:11Z

BarrelBison2334: I went through and got rid of some of the non relevant information. I also made the information seem less personal.

{{EE Navbox}}
The Elders are [[Chaos fiends|Fiends of Chaos]], they were never human but gained the ability to interact with the world in a way we recognize as intelligent from humanity. Some Elders have power that can rival that of the [[Abidan|Abidan Judges]] and just as the Abidan manipulate [[The Way and The Worlds|The Way]] the Elders are suspected of manipulation of Chaos.

Asylum is a prison for some of the more powerful Elders. It is believed that the [[Abidan]] originally intended to use Asylum as a temporary prison until the Elders had fully corrupted it. Then they would just get [[Ozriel]] to destroy it. Which wouldn't kill the Elders, but it would drive them back into the void. Then [[the Emperor]] came along, and humanity prospered beyond that which the [[Abidan]] predicted. The increase of the human population strengthened the worlds tether to the Way this helped Asylum avoid corruption much longer than anticipated.

The Elders each have a specific nature and they always act according to that nature. When the Elders were free they stayed out of each other's way, but while they were trapped on Asylum they occasionally come into contact and even conflict with each other, such as with Othaghor and Kthanikahr.

The 7 Great Elders imprisoned on Asylum are :

*[[Nakothi]], The Dead Mother
*[[Othaghor]], The Hordefather
*[[Kelarac]], The Soul Collector
*[[Ach’magut]], The Overseer
*[[Urg’naut]], The Creeping Shadow
*[[Tharlos]], The Formless Legion
*[[Kthanikahr]], The Worm Lord

 

{{Books}}
[[Category:Elder Empire]]

Icons

2023-07-03T06:34:59Z

BarrelBison2334: Added the Hunger Icon to the list of know Icons. Not 100% sure who or what manifested it but I know it was manifested.

{{Cradle NavBox}}
Editing note — in the books, Sage and Icon are capitalized. All [[Advancement Level| advancement levels]] are capitalized, actually.

*See also [[Monarch factions]]
*See [[Herald (Advancement)|List of Heralds]]

==Icon==
Icons are among the many [[Magical Items]] on Cradle, but they come from the Way and are inherently a function of the Way. Even the Void Icon comes from the blue orderly Way. An Icon is an embodiment of a concept greater than humanity and the mark of a [[Sage (Advancement)|Sage]]. Those who are able to manifest an Icon gain the ability to command reality itself and to brush against [[The Way and The Worlds|The Way]]. Below is a list of all currently known Icons with the corresponding Sage.
*See also [[Advancement Level#Sage|Advancing to Sage]]
 
<big>🏹</big>
Bow Icon, Archer Icon: <blockquote> “A woman with a bow taps into the power of all who have used bows, of what it means to wield a bow,” she continued. “You are not just an archer. You are a fragment of The Archer, the single template of all archery. The bow is one of the deepest symbols of all.” There was a trace of that concept in her mother’s archery. The Bow Icon, The Archer, whatever you wanted to call it. (Reaper, ch 17)</blockquote>
An Icon is a powerful symbol. It is a signature of Authority, bestowed by the mystical Way.
A Lord manifests an Icon when the Way recognizes him/her as the living embodiment of a concept.
<Blockquote> "To become a Sage, you have to contact a greater power, a symbol of a greater concept of reality. We call that symbol an Icon.” (Wintersteel, ch 7, [[Min Shuei]] the Winter Sage, speaking to Yerin)</blockquote>
<Blockquote> “In the past, the concept of a Sage was much more. . .fluid. . .than it is today. When manifesting an Icon, it is very important to understand the significance of your madra and to sense it deeply. Equally important is some kind of technique to regularly train your willpower. For years. An exercise that pushes your focus and concentration ever further, and that most people would give up or abandon for easier trails…. . . “Now, the specific Icon you manifest depends not only on the nature of your madra currently, but on a concept that has always been core to your identity. Even in childhood." (Wintersteel, ch 27, [[Eithan]] speaking to Lindon)</blockquote>

==List of Known Icons==
In alphabetical order. Add more finds to the list
*Archer or Bow - Larian of the [[Eight-Man Empire]]
*Blood — [[Sage of Red Faith]] (he seems to have forgotten his given name)
*Broom - [[Ozmanthus Arelius]], historically
*Death — [[Ozmanthus Arelius]] / [[Ozriel]] the Reaper
*Dragon — [[Northstrider]], who is now a [[Monarch factions|Monarch]], manifested the Dragon Icon at Sage level (Uncrowned, ch 20)
*Heart — [[Akura Charity]] Sage of Silver Heart
*Hunger - Icon was manifested by Subject One's binding.
*Oracle - Cladia Arelius [[Sage of a Thousand Eyes]]
*Points - (Lindon, in bloopers)
*Shadow - [[Akura Malice]], now a Monarch, manifested the Shadow Icon when she was a Sage (Reaper ch 1)
*Storm - Sage of Calling Storms, [[Stormcallers]] cult (no name given yet)
*Strength — [[Akura Fury]] That’s called the Strength Icon, or the Fist Icon, or the Symbol of Bodily Power (Wintersteel ch 25)
*Sword - [[Sage of the Endless Sword| Timaias Adama, Sage of the Endless Sword]], also [[Min Shuei]] and Sage of Fallen Blades: <blockquote> Technically there were three Sages of their generation who had manifested the Sword Icon: the Sage of the Endless Sword, the Sage of Fallen Blades, and herself [Min Shuei]. Among them, the only one that used the title of the Sword Sage was Adama, the Endless Sword, though it could apply to any of the three. (Wintersteel ch 6)</blockquote>
*[[Icons#Void Icon|Void]] - [[Wei Shi Lindon Arelius]] Sage of Twin Stars, [[Twin Star Sect]]
*Winter - [[Min Shuei]] Sage of the Frozen Blade (she later manifested the Sword Icon) <blockquote> I manifested the Winter Icon first. I became a symbol of ice, of cold, of all things that freeze and are frozen. Only later did I also reflect the Sword Icon.” (Wintersteel ch 7)</blockquote>

 A few Icons are manifested by Monarch [[Emriss Silentborn]] <blockquote> Will Wight: “The oldest Monarch is Emriss Silentborn and she only has a couple of Icons. Her connection to them is just very thorough.” ([https://abidanarchive.com/events/25/#e1822 Archive 1822])</blockquote>
 
There is a Sage in the Wastelands, but we know little to nothing more. The powerful sacred artists in the Wasteland are independent and unaffiliated but sometimes they ally with another, for a cause or perhaps for some gain.
<blockquote>Miles behind Malice, the unaffiliated experts of the Wasteland received her transmitted message and removed their veils. Three Heralds, a Sage, and five ancient Archlords. (Reaper, ch 9)</blockquote>

==Void Icon==
Some excerpts describing the Void Icon / Sage:
* “The Void Icon had a good connection to spatial abilities (Reaper, ch 1)
*Finally, Ziel realized where that chill was coming from. He wasn’t talking to Lindon anymore. That was the Void Sage. ..The pressure he’d felt in that moment was difficult for him to even process. (Reaper ch 3)
* “He stretched out to the Void Icon. Emptiness, hunger, and nonexistence. (Reaper, ch 7)
* “The same all-consuming hunger that reminded him of the Void Icon. Identical to the aura that had flooded out the night before. Hunger aura. (Reaper, ch 9)
* “I don’t want to win by giving something up. I want it all. I want all of it.” The fury of the Void Icon faded, and he coughed a little in embarrassment. “. . if you’re willing, of course.” (Reaper, ch 16)
*“. . .he was pulling something into existence, and out of nothingness. That resonated with the Void Icon, but he wasn’t sure exactly how” (Reaper, ch 18)
===Void Icon & Vroshir Void===
*See also [[Vroshir]]
 Question & Answer with Will Wight:<blockquote> Questioner: Does the Void in the 'Void Sage' have any connection to the Vroshir 'Void'?
 
Will Wight: Ah, sort of, yeah. In the sense that the Void is just what they call the empty expanse outside of existence. And the Void Icon is the concept of non-existence or emptiness as reflected in the Way. So, its power does come from the Way, like any Icon does, so in that regard its not coming from The Void, it is coming from the Way. But you would be able to potentially, that is one potential use of the Void Icon is tapping into The Void. ([https://abidanarchive.com/events/25/#e1823 Archive1823]) </blockquote>

==Oracle Icon==
In Book #8, Cladia Arelius, Sage of a Thousand Eyes, is clearly called the Oracle Sage, by Eithan himself. (Wintersteel ch 7). However, in book 10, Eithan makes a telling statement: <blockquote> If I’m close to Sage—especially the Oracle Icon, which I was once considered a prime candidate to manifest—then I could be picking up hints of another Sage or Monarch’s working. It could be a working you are too inexperienced to recognize, or something too far away from the realm of the Void Icon.” (Reaper ch 7)</blockquote>

{{Books}}

[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Cradle Characters]]
[[Category:Sacred Arts]]

Subject One

2023-07-03T03:16:19Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}Subject One is/was a scientist who long ago swallowed his own potion, figuratively, and unintentionally became a beast, a powerful and nearly immortal [[Dreadgod]]. He’s imprisoned in the [[Labyrinth]] beneath [[Sacred Valley]]. We first hear about him in book 2, [[Soulsmith]], when Lindon finds some research notes mentioning him in the Transcendent Ruins.

==His Names==
Subject One doesn’t recall his birth name — he’s been more beast than man for too long, a Dreadgod consumed by endless need, raw hunger. He goes by many names. The Devourer itself. The Slumbering Wraith. Subject One. “The Father of Hunger” (Reaper, ch 1)
<blockquote>The being that some called the fifth Dreadgod, and others called the father of the Dreadgods. Their progenitor, the original, from which they were all formed. Subject One. (Bloodline ch 13)</blockquote>

==In Brief==
'''Subject One''' is (was) a scientist. Long ago, but after [[Ozmanthus Arelius]] ascended, he delved too deeply into hunger aura. To test his theory, he swallowed his own potion, figuratively, becoming the first test subject, and unintentionally became a beast, hungry, powerful, and nearly immortal. He’s the first [[Dreadgod]], and the progenitor of the other four Dreadgods. Because he’s a monstrously hungry and powerful beast of a man, hard to kill and nearly immortal, he’s kept bound in the [[Labyrinth]] in the power-suppression field covering [[Sacred Valley]]. However, despite his imprisonment, he still has the power to attack anyone who enters his domain, using his powerful [[hunger madra]]. He is the Father of Hunger Madra.

==His Corrupted Bloodline==
Subject One is a [[Dreadgod]], though few realize it. He is the first of his corrupted bloodline, followed by [[The Bleeding Phoenix]] and the other three beasts. He is the origin of the warped bloodline and the Father of Hunger Madra: <blockquote>The last chunk of masonry rolled away, revealing a towering stone door. It was carved with the image of a gaunt, sunken human with many grasping hands, its eyes hollow and mouth open unnaturally wide. This was Subject One, at least as he had appeared long ago. A Dreadgod, though few knew that. The man who had become warped by hunger aura. The origin of their bloodline.’ (Bloodline, ch 20)</blockquote>

==His Research==
===Unnatural Hunger Aura===
Hunger aura was a serious problem warranting research. It was the direct cause of dreadbeasts. See [[Dreadbeasts]]
<blockquote > "Hunger aura drifted all over the world, and where it moved, all other aura weakened. It corrupted everything; Remnants, natural spirits, sacred beasts. Even humans." (Subject One, in Reaper, ch 21)</blockquote>
{{Quote Box|title=Dreadbeasts Multiplying|quote=So much of it was hunger aura. Dreadbeasts would be born or empowered every second.|source=-Reaper, chapter 9|align=left|fontsize=13px}}
 As Subject One and his research team knew, hunger aura is not a natural substance. It is a by-product of overweening ambition and greed — Monarchs. Hunger aura is a corrupting force. Anything and anyone it touches, it corrupts. And it ranges freely all over the planet. Hunger aura corrupts sacred beasts, warping them into dreadbeasts.
 These researchers sought to deal with Cradle’s problem of hunger aura.

==His Research==
Subject One is known as The Father of Hunger Madra. About 2500 years ago, roughly, Subject One was a researcher and soulsmith. He invented [[hunger madra]], cycled from hunger aura, while experimenting with [[Dreadbeasts]] and hunger aura. His work had unintended consequences when it resulted in the rise of the monstrous dreadgods. He unintentionally became the first [[Dreadgod]], dubbed the Slumbering Wraith. He is powerful and kept imprisoned in the [[Labyrinth]].

===Researching Hunger Aura===
Hunger aura was a serious problem warranting research. It was the direct cause of dreadbeasts.
<blockquote > "Hunger aura drifted all over the world, and where it moved, all other aura weakened. It corrupted everything; Remnants, natural spirits, sacred beasts. Even humans." (Subject One, in Reaper, ch 21)</blockquote>
{{Quote Box|title=Dreadbeasts Multiplying|quote=So much of it was hunger aura. Dreadbeasts would be born or empowered every second.|source=-Reaper, chapter 9|align=left|fontsize=13px}}
 As Subject One and his research team knew, hunger aura is not a natural substance. It is a by-product of overweening ambition and greed — Monarchs. Hunger aura is a corrupting force. Anything and anyone it touches, it corrupts. And it ranges freely all over the planet. Hunger aura corrupts sacred beasts, warping them into dreadbeasts.
 These researchers sought to deal with Cradle’s problem of hunger aura.

===Research Goal: Fix Hunger Aura===
The research team wanted to deal with the problem of hunger aura. According to [[Subject One]]: <blockquote> "Hunger aura is not a natural force. It is a corruption of the natural order of Cradle. A manifestation of ambition, of selfish desire, created by the presence of Monarchs.” In the time before the Dreadgods, "hunger aura drifted all over the world, and where it moved, all other aura weakened. It corrupted everything; Remnants, natural spirits, sacred beasts. Even humans."

He took a rattling breath. “We came to this [[Labyrinth]] as a secure location to perform our research. We were looking for a way to control the hunger aura.” ...“This site was old beyond memory, even to us. We used it as a trap to focus all the hunger aura in the world. Instead of running wild, it would be concentrated here, controlled by ancient seals. We researched fusing hunger bindings into animals, whose power would be suppressed by the great formation.” He laughed quietly, until Lindon couldn’t tell the difference between laughs and sobs. “We thought we had it under control.”

“The dreadgods will die only when there are no more Monarchs... Monarchs are too much for this world. A great weight. Sages like yourself are only half-ascended, which is within the scope of a world like ours. But when your body and your spirit have both grown too great for this world to contain, you must escape to a place that can contain you.” (Slumbering Wraith / Subject One, Reaper, ch 21)</blockquote>

===Goal 2: Remnant===
According to research notes discovered in the Transcendent Ruins, the researchers also wanted to create a sacred beast with a viable hunger madra Remnant, supposedly to use when [[Soulsmithing]] new constructs (Skysworn, ch 7). For more details on this, see [[hunger madra]].

===Why in the Labyrinth?===
Subject One and his colleagues conducted their research in the [[Labyrinth]] under [[Sacred Valley]]. They needed a place big enough and secure enough to trap and contain all the free-roaming hunger aura in the world.
<blockquote>“He took a rattling breath. “We came to this Labyrinth as a secure location to perform our research. We were looking for a way to control the hunger aura. ...This site was old beyond memory, even to us. We used it as a trap to focus all the hunger aura in the world. Instead of running wild, it would be concentrated here, controlled by ancient seals.” (Subject One, Reaper, ch 21) </blockquote>

===Hunger Madra===
In the process of studying the corrupting nature of hunger aura, and its horrifying effect on everything, including dreadbeasts, the researchers created a new kind of madra — [[hunger madra]]. “They say he virtually brought hunger madra to life.”(Reaper, ch 1). Perhaps the research goal was to find a use for all the nasty hunger aura drifting around the planet, to contain it, so it could no longer corrupt the world. Perhaps hunger madra seemed a possible solution.
<blockquote>“Generation Fourteen shows all the qualities we’d hoped for,” they read. “It demonstrates the capacity to devour and process madra with a high degree of efficiency, though each individual contains only one binding. If a sacred artist could cultivate similar techniques, our efficiency may double. . .” (Soulsmith, ch 17) </blockquote>

===The Birth of Dreadgods===
{{Quote Box|It gave off waves of hunger aura, and a level of significance that at least matched the other Dreadgod pods. The birthplace of Subject One.|source=-Reaper chapter 18|align=left|fontsize=13px}}The research was going fine, and then. . .everything went wild.
<blockquote>“We researched fusing hunger bindings into animals, whose power would be suppressed by the great formation.” He laughed quietly, until Lindon couldn’t tell the difference between laughs and sobs. “We thought we had it under control.” (Subject One, Reaper, ch 21) </blockquote>
<blockquote>The next page had been scribbled in haste, judging by the carelessness with which the characters were slapped on the paper. “The failed specimens may be the key to success. Their auras alter as they devour one another, growing faster than we’d ever predicted. Theoretically, there is no upper limit on this growth, but the spirit warps the flesh.” (Soulsmith, ch 17) </blockquote>

===Power, Ambition, Gluttony===
{{Quote Box|title=The Allure|quote=
“You understand the allure of hunger madra, I see. Endless power.” He gave a humorless chuckle. “We were wrong about virtually everything.”|source=-Subject One, in Reaper, ch 21|align=right|fontsize=14px}}
Subject One and his research team created hunger madra. It is powerful and empowering. They apparently fell victim to its allure. They put the binding in themselves. At least, Subject One did. (As apparently will [[Reigan Shen]], perhaps).
 
In book 4, [[Wei Shi Lindon]]’s prosthetic arm gives him a good sense of the nature of hunger madra.
<blockquote>“He studied the arm. What he called hunger wasn't just that. It felt similar to hunger, but it was more textured, with deeper layers. He felt ambition, greed, gluttony, an endless desire to reach for more and more.” (Skysworn, ch 12)</blockquote>
Hunger madra is a force, virtually alive, always taking. Consuming. In book 10, when Lindon and the team had been in the Labyrinth for a while, they felt weakened. The hunger madra in the labyrinth was sucking their power. “How much of this weakness was the suppression versus the constant effects of being fed upon by hunger madra?” (Reaper ch 9)

==Subject One’s Hand==
At some point, [[Tiberian Arelius]] came into the possession of Subject One’s hand, cut from his imprisoned but still kicking body. Who cut it off? Possibly Eithan. The mummified white hand can be used as a key to access the [[Labyrinth]]. Tiberian loaned it to Yerin’s master, the [[Sage of the Endless Sword]], because he wanted to find out how to separate [[Yerin]] from her Blood Shadow. When he died, [[Elder Whisper]] kept his void space open and preserved the hand (a key). Eventually he gave it to [[Lindon]]: <blockquote> Eithan swept a bow. “Eithan Arelius, at your service,” he said, though he’d met Elder Whisper before. “I am a humble scion of the ancient House Arelius, which is the symbol I bear. This key that you have shared with Lindon was once the property of my clan’s leader and Monarch, Tiberian.” (Reaper, ch 9)</blockquote>

==SPOILER: The Fate of Subject One==
Spoiler for book 10, Reaper

===SPOILER===

'''Spoiler'''!!

From [[Reaper]], especially chapters 21 and 24:

 
It’s pretty much impossible to kill a Dreadgod, and Subject One is a Dreadgod. The Monarchs cannot kill him and his four Dreadgods. The only way to kill them is for every Monarch to die and/or to ascend from Cradle, thus starving the beasts, because Monarchs create hunger aura as a byproduct of ambition, greed, etc. And the beasts consume/ cycle hunger aura into hunger madra.

But in book 10, Subject One allows lion Monarch [[Reigan Shen]] to kill him, after Shen promises to end the Monarchs, so all four Dreadgods might finally be weakened and allowed to die. Shen kills Subject One, but he has no intention of keeping his oath — he just wants his power. So the Monarch took Subject One’s core binding, thinking that he’ll have the power of Dreadgods.

However, Lindon makes a promise to Subject One’s ghost, to deal with the problem of Monarchs, which is actually the problem of hunger aura, hunger madra, dreadbeasts, Monarchs, and Dreadgods, all rolled up together.

 Lindon also takes the dead man’s arm, for his prosthetic. It’s the hungry arm of a powerful Dreadgod, the “Father of Hunger Madra” and the First of the Five Beasts.

{{Books}}

[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Cradle Characters]]

House Arelius

2023-07-02T01:18:55Z

BarrelBison2334:

{{Cradle NavBox}}
House Arelius is a monarch faction who once ruled half of the [[Cradle Locations|Rosegold Continent]] before the assassination of their [[Monarch (Advancement)|Monarch]], [[Tiberian Arelius]]. After his death, House Arelius lost most of their territory and were reduced to a shadow of their former selves. Aside from the main branch on Rosegold, there exists a lesser branch on the [[Cradle Locations|Ashwind Continent]] in the [[Blackflame Empire]] who provide janitorial service. Contact between the two branches is possible due to a gateway portal that opens between the two continents every ten years or so.

==Locations==
Main branch on Rosegold Continent. Controlled most of the continent, up until recent death of Arelius Monarch Tiberian Arelius. The Arelius family has branched out to every continent, most relevant to the plot is the [[Ashwind Continent History|Ashwind Continent]] and specifically the [[Blackflame Empire]]. <blockquote>“House Arelius used to rule over most of the Rosegold continent, before the tragic death of the Monarch Tiberian Arelius only eight years ago. But his descendants are still a force to be reckoned with, leaving branches on every continent!” (Uncrowned, ch 16, Announcer at Uncrowned King Tournament)</blockquote>

===Founder, Grand Patriarch===
{{Quote Box|title=Penance|quote=Eithan, on his knees, stared at the arrowhead with an intensity Lindon had never seen. His smile was long gone. The messenger smiled at their reaction. “Long ago, the founder of House Arelius created this weapon which he called Penance. It is a penance for its target and, unbeknownst to most, its creation was an act of penance by its creator.|source=-Uncrowned, chapter 20|align=right}}
[[Eithan Arelius|Ozmanthus Tiberian Merethian Arelius]] - Ascended from Cradle about four or five thousand years ago, maybe more. The Founder and First Patriarch of House Arelius who created the Arelius Senses (see [[Bloodline Abilities]]), the weapon Penance, and the Reaper’s Scythe. A virtuoso [[Soulsmithing|soulsmith]]. He mastered the [[Labyrinth]] to a large degree. He rose to Monarch rank and then ascended, after leaving behind a message to his descendants. He eventually became an Abidan [[The Judges|Judge]] called the Reaper, aka [[Ozriel]], aka Double-O Eight. Recently, an [[Abidan]] representative offered Ozmanthus’s arrow Penance to the winner of the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]]. It will kill anyone with just a word — including Monarchs and Dreadgods.

==Famous Bloodline Ability==
{{Quote Box|quote = “I have a thousand eyes and ten thousand ears. I know everything that happens within range of my spirit, so as soon as an enemy starts to move, I simply step aside. It's like fighting the blind.”|source=-Soulsmith|align=right|fontsize=13px}}
Arelius descendants inherit the famous Arelius Senses, a [[Bloodline Abilities|bloodline ability]] which was originally developed by the House Founder and First Patriarch, [[Ozmanthus Arelius]]. This inheritance provides an invisible web of detection madra that surrounds the sacred artist for a distance, gathering information of all sorts. The stronger the artist, the further the distance. Miles and miles even.

 
A Word from Will Wight: “Spiritual perception and the Arelius bloodline power work differently. Spiritual perception is able to feel spirits, madra, and aura; basically spiritual powers. The Arelius bloodline power extends your physical senses.” (Abidan Archives]

*See much more detail at [[Bloodline Abilities]]

===Dueling Blindfolded===
At the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]], Altavian Arelius duels Yerin Arelius, blindfolded.
<blockquote >Arelius versus Arelius...this arena had been designed with their bloodline abilities in mind. The close square pillars would block sight and make hearing unreliable, so spiritual perception and Arelius bloodline senses would be the best way to navigate the fight. And Eithan had forced her to complete his spiritual perception course. Had he known, even then, that they would be in this situation? Yerin gave him a wary look from the side. If he had anticipated this far ahead, then she should be a little afraid of him. He kept looking to the center of the arena, but leaned to the side to speak to her. “Good thing we trained your perception, isn't it? This could have been awkward.” Yerin relaxed. Sometimes she forgot Eithan was only human. (Uncrowned, ch 16)</blockquote >

==Arelius Family Members==
===Main Family on Rosegold===

===Monarch Tiberian Arelius===
[[Tiberian Arelius]] -- Died several years before the Cradle series begins. Master of lightning madra, storm, on the Path of Raging Sky. A good and wise Monarch. He developed the Pure Storm Baptism treatment that can heal a mangled spirit (see [[Ziel]]). He promoted young Eithan Arelius to be his advisor because he was able to access the historic Founder’s laboratory.
 Sadly, Tiberian was assassinated by his neighboring ruler on the Rosegold Continent, the white lion [[Reigan Shen]]. Against the advice of Eithan Arelius, Tiberian approached Shen with a plan and information on [[Subject One]] and how to destroy the [[Dreadgod]]s. Instead of helping him, Shen killed him. The ambitious lion plans to use that information to become the only world-wide ruler. He keeps the [[Remnant]] of Tiberian in his void key, enslaved to use as a weapon (see Reaper, ch 16).

 
[[Eithan Arelius]] —- Lindon’s teacher. He says he was born on the Rosegold continent and spent some of his childhood in the [[Blackflame Empire]] on the Ashwind continent. He says he moved back to the Rosegold Family Seat and became advisor to the Monarch, Tiberian Arelius. After Tiberian died, he moved back to the Blackflame Empire. As an Underlord, he serves emperor [[Naru Huan]] in battling extreme enemies. See his page for more details. [[Eithan Arelius]]

===The Arelius [[Sage (Advancement)|Sage]]===
Cladia Arelius is the [[Sage of a Thousand Eyes]], aka The Oracle Sage. She manifested the Oracle Icon. Her Overlady Revelation was similar to Eithan’s: I see. She has the Arelius madra-webbing, information-gathering [[Bloodline Abilities|bloodline ability]]. {{Quote Box|title=Oracle Sage|quote=“The Sage of a Thousand Eyes can see you anywhere I can.” So Lindon had heard correctly earlier. He looked back at the woman who looked like she might have been Eithan’s mother. The Oracle Sage, or the Sage of a Thousand Eyes, hadn’t been active since the death of her Monarch.|source=-Wintersteel|align=right|fontsize=13px}}

Cladia is an older woman, but not elderly. She has grey-blond hair and blue eyes. Her demeanor is relaxed and faintly amused. When [[Reigan Shen]] killed Tiberian, she nearly died too, and was thought dead by some, but she appeared alive and well during the [[Uncrowned King Tournament]]. She lives in the Arelius homeland on Rosegold. Her home is scripted, secret, hidden underground, but the land has been destroyed by Shen, the countryside covered in ash.
Cladia is on friendly terms with [[Eithan]] at the tournament. As the Arelius [[Advancement Level#Sage|Sage]], she takes him back to their Rosegold home for supposed training after he makes it to the semi-final round of eight contenders. He advances to Overlord in a few seconds, just before they sit for dinner ([[Wintersteel]] ch 7).

 

===Veris & Altavian===
Veris and Altavian Arelius are cousins on the Arelius homeland, the Rosegold continent. They are about 30ish years old, with blonde hair and blue eyes. They competed at the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]], in [[Uncrowned]], book 7. Eithan calls them “cousin” although his precise relationship with them isn't clear.
<blockquote>Jumping out of nowhere wasn’t nearly as satisfying when the other party could feel you coming. “Cousin Veris, a pleasure to see you again. I’m afraid I don’t have too much time, I just thought I’d make a request of your House. Could you perhaps consider not giving me a prize?”. (Uncrowned, ch 18)</blockquote>
'''Veris Arelius''' - Underlady who competed in [[Uncrowned King Tournament]] and lost to Eithan. At Eithan’s request (via Oracle Sage), she gave her award to [[Wei Shi Lindon]] — an elixir that strengthens his iron-forged body. (See [[Advancement Level#Iron Level|Iron body]]). “This is a reward for your hard work so far,” Veris continued, “but we also consider this an investment. House Arelius needs allies now more than ever, and we hope we can count on your loyalty.”
 
'''Altavian Arelius''' - Underlord. Cousin to Veris. He competed in [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]] and lost to a blindfolded Yerin. (Uncrowned, ch 16). At Eithan’s / Cladia’s request, he gave [[Yerin Arelius]] his award, Diamond Veins elixir. See [[Magical Items]]

 Descriptive scene where Yerin meets Altavian and Veris: <blockquote> In the brightly tiled and decorated hallways leading to their waiting room, Yerin and Eithan ran into the House Arelius team. If that was a coincidence, Yerin would eat her sword. Veris Arelius, the remaining Underlady, was the House Arelius woman they had met during the second round. She was tall and long-limbed, with blue eyes that shone like a sharpened blade and yellow hair tied into a braid. Yerin had never seen Veris’ partner in the flesh before, but she'd looked up dream tablets on House Arelius since the last round. Altavian Arelius was in his early thirties, and his blond hair was almost white. He stood as tall as Lindon but not as broad, with legs built for running and arms for reach. The sword on his back was twice the length of Yerin’s, and his Goldsigns were his razor-sharp nails. He was a sword artist who specialized in Enforcer techniques; in her dream tablet, she'd seen him cut through three individual opponents in a row during the second round. Altavian's blue eyes were as peaceful as a lake on a windless day, and he looked as calm as though he walked around in a meditative trance. He bowed when he saw her, but otherwise said nothing. (Uncrowned, ch 16)</blockquote>

===Family in Blackflame Empire===
[[Gaien Arelius]], Patriarch. Truegold [[Advancement Level]]. Cassias is his son. <Blockquote> Gaien Arelius was therefore very important here, but Lindon didn’t care much for the aging Truegold. He had far more respect for Gaien’s son, the next heir to the Blackflame branch of the Arelius family: Cassias Arelius. (Reaper, ch 6) </blockquote>

[[Cassias Arelius|'''Cassias Arelius''']] - A member of the Blackflame branch of House Arelius. His father is Gaien Arelius, the erstwhile Patriarch. Cassias was on track to become the branch's Patriarch, before resigning that position to Eithan in order to marry [[Naru Jing]], a member of the [[Naru Clan|Blackflame Empire's Imperial Clan]]. They have a young son. Cassias is on good enough terms with Eithan, even if he finds him frustrating to work with. Cassias is protective and friendly towards Lindon and Yerin.

===Adopted by Arelius===
[[Yerin Arelius]] - An orphan. She was only Lowgold at about age 16 when she was adopted into the Blackflame branch of the family by Eithan Arelius, after the death of her master the [[Sage of the Endless Sword|Sword Sage]]. She first meets Eithan in book 2, Soulsmith.

[[Wei Shi Lindon Arelius]] - An ex-patriot with family in the [[Wei Clan]] of [[Sacred Valley]], he was about 15 years old and only a lowly [[Advancement Level#Copper Level|Copper]] when he first met Eithan Arelius. Soon afterwards he was adopted into the Blackflame family branch. Eithan mentors him. See book 2, Soulsmith.

==Bargain to Restore House Arelius==
In Wintersteel, [[Reigan Shen]] is at the Uncrowned Tournament, waiting to see who will win and hedging his bets. He is aware that the arrow Penance could be used to kill him, so he doesn’t want his enemies to win the tournament. After Eithan defeats the Nine Cloud contender Sha Miara in only nine seconds, Shen begins to fear that he might win the Tournament, so he makes a deal with him to throw the next match.
{{Quote Box|title=Bargaining Begins |quote=“This need not be a long process,” the Monarch said. “Tell me what you want, so that I may give it to you.” Eithan stopped himself short of saying “Your head on a platter.” Not only would it set the wrong tone, it wasn’t what he wanted. If Reigan Shen didn’t die to a new generation of Monarchs raised by Eithan, that would be the real tragedy.|source=-Wintersteel, ch 10|align=left}}
A bargain is struck: If Eithan will throw the match, Shen will send Rootfather Garrylondryth, a green dragon Herald who heals nature, to restore the war-torn Arelius homeland. He will also pay a billion scales to [[House Arelius]] and lend one year of protection from his own Herald, Yushi. He will also ensure evacuees from the Blackflame Empire are allowed safe passage when the Dreadgods attack. He will give Eithan his soul forge, kept in a void key. And new clothes. (Wintersteel ch 10)

{{books}}
[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Cradle Factions]]
[[Category:Cradle Locations]]

Akura Fury

2023-05-10T22:27:19Z

BarrelBison2334: Just added a couple of words.

{{Cradle NavBox}}
{{Cradle Character|Name=Akura Fury|Rank=Herald, to Monarch|Mom=[[Akura Malice]]|First Appearance=Uncrowned (Cradle book 7)|Icons=Strength|Faction=Akura Clan}}

==Brief==
'''Akura Fury''' first appears in book #7, Uncrowned, as a powerful sacred artist, a Herald. He is one of the three ✨ stars in the Akura monarchy, along with his mother, [[Akura Malice]], Monarch, and his daughter, [[Akura Charity]], the Sage of the Silver Heart. <blockquote>The Akura family emblem glowed at the center of the black square. One large star and two small stars, all over three mountains. The stars and the mountains glowed purple. The star on the left represented Charity. Fury was the star on the right, and Malice the largest star in the center. The one that rose over them all. (Uncrowned ch 6)</blockquote>
Fury is the son of [[Akura Malice]], so his mother is the Monarch of western Ashwind continent. He is hundreds of years old, but it’s implied that he was born after the [[Dread Wars]], which occurred roughly just over 500 years ago, when his mother had not yet advanced to Monarch. However, he has seen more than one [[Dreadgod]] in his day, up close. He hates the neighboring realm of gold dragons who slaughter humans.

<blockquote>Fury was Malice's child from before she was a Monarch, and he was the Sage Charity’s father. He was the only direct descendant of Malice to have ever made it to Herald, and was Malice's favored child. He was known for waging war singlehandedly. His techniques toppled cities and blighted forests. He had killed a dragon Herald, the Eight-Man Empire had a bounty on his head, and some cultures included him in their mythology as an omen of war. He was Malice's sharp sword, a legendary one-man force of devastation. (Uncrowned, ch 4, pg 68). </blockquote>

*see [[Herald (Advancement)|List of Heralds]]

==Relationships==

*[[Akura Malice]] = his mother
*[[Akura Charity]] = his daughter
*[[Akura Mercy]] and [[Akura Pride]] = his younger half-siblings
*Akura Justice = his elderly relative, Archlord gatekeeper
*[[Wei Shi Lindon]] = Fury gives him a few Palm Strike tips (Uncrowned, ch 4)
*[[Little Blue]] = a nature spirit, she approves of Fury (Uncrowned, ch 4)
*[[Xorrus]] = his mortal enemy, an ancient gold dragon Herald

==Descriptions==
Age about 450 (a textimated guesstimate) but looks about 35, shadowy drifting hair, bare-chested, bright red eyes
<blockquote>A man walked into Lindon's view, laughing sheepishly, as though he felt guilty about something and was trying to laugh it off. He wore a loose black sacred artist's robe, but only one layer, with a bare chest revealed beneath. He looked to be perhaps thirty-five or forty, with hair made of living shadow. It rose and drifted and shifted like sea-grass in the currents. Unlike the others present, his eyes were bright red. “Hmmm, I don't know.” Fury’s voice was bright, reminding Lindon more of Mercy than of anyone else he'd met in the family.(Uncrowned, ch 2)</blockquote>

==Personality==

<blockquote>With his wild, shadowy hair, his bright red eyes, and his huge frame, Fury should have been a terrifying figure. Many of the family's enemies found him so. But for those who knew him, his personality undercut all possibility of intimidation. He acted on his own whim, and it was almost impossible to get him to do anything he didn't enjoy. He looked forward to fights most of all, so advancing to Herald had been one of the great regrets of his life. Now it was so hard to find a worthy opponent. Fury spent most of his time veiled and restricted, trying to wheedle Lords into duels. (Uncrowned, ch 4)</blockquote>
Akura Fury is an energetic, optimistic and cheerful person. He is always ready for a friendly duel and wishes there were more allies who can match him. In temperament he is comparable to [[Akura Mercy]]. He cares about justice and the weak, and for his family, especially his much-younger half-sister Mercy. In a real battle, he throws his all into a fight. He hates those that give up, as seen when a competitor accepts a bribe from [[Reigan Shen]] to throw his match with [[Yan Shoumei]] in the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]].
==His Path==
Like all Akura family members, Fury is on some kind of shadow Path. He cycles aspects of shadow madra. 
<blockquote> When his hand crackled with black madra, he gently pushed it against the wall. A palm strike at one-thousandth the speed. When it touched the wall, a dozen black hands, Forged from madra, struck at the same time. The room thundered as though he'd cracked the wall in two. Every hand left a ragged handprint blasted into the metal. Lindon stared in awe. It was as though he'd struck with thirteen palm strikes at once. Fury turned, grinning and shaking out his hand. “This is the Crushing Black Palm. It's a Forger echo technique and an Enforcer attack technique all together. (Uncrowned, ch 4)</blockquote>

==War against Dragons==
Fury wages chronic war on the hated gold dragons who ambush human settlements, as does their Monarch [[Seshethkunaaz]]. In fact, Fury is among the three biggest dragon hunters, along with [[The Beast King]] and [[Northstrider]]. In the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]], he roots for Mercy to defeat the swaggering smug gold dragon, [[Sopharanatoth]]. <blockquote> Mercy’s Uncle Fury had left the Dreadgod battlefield to come see her fight. He had personally killed Sophara’s great-aunt, and had lost friends of his own in his personal crusade against the gold dragons. He had spent hundreds of years campaigning against them, and she had been raised on stories of the thousands of human settlements they had annihilated. (Wintersteel, ch 15)</blockquote>

==⚠️SPOILERS⚠️==
Spoilers below for the big revelations at the end of book 8, Wintersteel and beginning of Bloodline
===Wintersteel Spoiler===
At the end of book 8, a big spoiler. 

Fury is at Sky’s Edge, a wintersteel mining community that’s a vassal to Akura. He is in a stand-off with enemy Harolds and Sages and Lords from [[Seshethkunaaz]]’s dragon faction and the four [[Dreadgod cult]]s. As soon as the tournament winner is announced, Fury advances from Herald to Monarch, via Sage. He manifests the Strength / Fist [[Icons]] and immediately advances to [[Advancement Level#Monarch|Monarch]]. He then immediately overwhelms [[Xorrus]] the dragon Herald and the others who had been attacking his clan at Sky’s Edge. 
 
''Xorrus choked out a voice tinged with fear and anger, “Why? If you could advance, why did you wait?” A Forged hand of shadow grabbed her by the scaled throat, and Fury pulled her close. He was only the size of one of her eyes. “To see this look on your face.”''

''Then three other Heralds unveiled their power, and the true battle began.(Wintersteel, pg 488)''

===Bloodline Spoiler===
Early in Bloodline, Fury ascends, guided by lesser [[Abidan]] greeters, stepping into a portal into [[The Way and The Worlds|The Blue Way]]. He takes numerous family and clan members with him. He argued with his mother before he left, because she wouldn’t ascend with him.
 
The author has hinted on his Abidan Archives that Fury’s character might be seen again.
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[[Category:Cradle]]
[[Category:Cradle Characters]]

Iron body

2023-05-10T09:18:13Z

BarrelBison2334: /* Iron body, per character */ Decapitalized a few bodys.

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An '''Iron body''' is the enhancement given to a [[Sacred Arts|sacred artist's]] physical form when they advance to [[Iron (Advancement)|Iron]].<ref name="US 7">[[Summary:Unsouled#Chapter 7|''Unsouled'', Chapter 7]]</ref> Every part of the body receives a degree of improvement, but many sacred artists will choose to prepare for advancement in a way that grants them additional ability in a certain area, such as particularly refining their strength or speed; often, they will choose one that pairs well with their Path. These specialised forms are known as <ins>perfect</ins> Iron bodies.<ref name="Soulsmith 15">[[Summary:Soulsmith#Chapter 15|''Soulsmith'', Chapter 15]]</ref>

 See Iron level details at [[Advancement Level#Iron Level|Advancement to Iron]] 

If an artist advances to Iron without performing specific preparations, as is done in [[Sacred Valley]], they will be left without any abilities beyond the baseline.<ref name="Soulsmith 15" /> If their advancement is disrupted, they may be left permanently crippled.<ref name="US 7" />

==Iron body, per character==

*Bloodforged Body ([[Lindon]] Accelerates Healing)
*Hidden Spring Iron body — ([[Fisher Gesha]], survive longer with limited water)
*Moonheart Iron body ([[Sha Miara|Sha Miara, Royal Sha lineage]] Makes it so Physical Trauma Does Not Disrupt Spirit or Mind)
*Mountainroot Iron body ([[Seishen Kingdom|Seishen Kiro, prince]], Path of the Steel Guardian, Allows User to Increase Weight)
*Puppeteer’s Body ([[Akura Mercy]] Increases Coordination)
*Raindrop Body ([[Eithan Arelius]] Agility. Allows the User to Move Quickly and Smoothly)
*Sandviper Body ([[Sandviper Gokren]] same as Bloodforged Body)
*Silverscale Iron body ([[Yan Shoumei]] Increases Resistance to Spiritual Attacks)
*Skyhunter Iron body ([[Wei Shi Kelsa]], Enhances Eyesight?)
*Steelborn body ([[Yerin Arelius]], Increases Strength as She Ranks Up)
*Stellar Spear ([[Jai Long]], [[Jai Clan]])

==Details, on separate page==

*[[Bloodforged Iron body]]
*[[Crimson Furnace Iron body]]
*[[Drifting Iron body]]
*[[Hidden Springs Iron body]]
*[[Iron body of the Stellar Spear]]
*[[Mountainroot Iron body]]
*[[Puppeteer's Iron body]]
*[[Raindrop Iron body]]
*[[Silverscale Iron body]]
*[[Steelborn Iron body]]

==References==
<references />

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Akura Charity

2023-05-10T09:10:13Z

BarrelBison2334: /* Age & Appearance */ Just switched a few words.

{{Cradle NavBox}}{{Cradle Character|Name=Akura Charity|Path=Path of Seven Pages|Rank=Sage of the Silver Heart|Faction=Akura Family|Dad=Akura Fury|First Appearance=[[Ghostwater]] - Cradle book 5|image=Akura_Charity.png}}
'''Akura Charity''', Sage of the Silver Heart, is a Sage on the Path of Seven Pages, Book of the Silver Heart. She is a main figure in the Akura clan, and is entrusted with many of its tasks.

==Akura Realm==
'''Akura Charity, the Sage of the Silver Heart''' is one of the three major powers in the Akura monarchy, along with her grandmother, [[Akura Malice]], the Monarch, and her father, [[Akura Fury]], a Herald. The Akura monarchy reign over western Ashwind continent, and all the vassal states. Charity gets involved with the Akura vassals, including the [[Blackflame Empire]], the [[Seishen Kingdom]], Sky’s Edge mining community, the [[Frozen Blade School]], the [[Temple of Rising Earth]], etc etc. One of her responsibilities is to select competitors for the [[18th Uncrowned King Tournament]] from vassal states.

===Akura Emblem===
Charity is one of the three stars on the Akura flag.<blockquote>The Akura family emblem glowed at the center of the black square. One large star and two small stars, all over three mountains. The stars and the mountains glowed purple. The star on the left represented Charity. Fury was the star on the right, and Malice the largest star in the center. The one that rose over them all. (Uncrowned ch 6)</blockquote>

==Age & Appearance==
Charity is ancient but she looks like she's only about nineteen years old, often seen with her hair pinned up loosely, wearing an artist's smock or peasant garb. Her age is not stated, exactly, but she is the granddaughter of [[Akura Malice]], who was born roughly just over 500 years ago. Her father, Fury, is about 450 years old. So, Charity could be 400 years old, possibly.

Like her entire family, Charity has amethyst eyes and dark hair. She is often seen with one of her living forger techniques which is an owl that is purple and silver.

==Path==
Path of Seven Pages Book of the Silver Heart. <blockquote> Mercy was familiar with Charity's Book of the Silver Heart. It contained seven techniques of shadow and dreams, so Charity lived in a world of abstractions. Of thoughts and visions. Her plans were so far beyond Mercy that Mercy could never comprehend them, but she tended to lose sight of other human beings. (Underlord ch 12)</blockquote>

==Relationships==

*[[Akura Malice]] = her grandmother
*[[Akura Fury]] = her father
*[[Akura Mercy]] = her much-younger-than-herself aunt
*[[Akura Pride]] = her much-younger uncle
*[[Akura Harmony]] — her grandnephew
*Akura Justice = a relative, Archlord, family gatekeeper
*Old Man Lo = Overlord, Charity's majordomo, short and bald, probably somehow related

*[[Wei Shi Lindon]] = She selects and trains Lindon for [[Uncrowned King Tournament]]
*[[Yerin Arelius]] = Charity trains Yerin for finals in the UKT, with [[Min Shuei]] the Winter Sage
*[[Xorrus]] = her mortal enemy, an ancient gold dragon Herald who serves [[Seshethkunaaz]]

==Book Appearances==

===Ghostwater===
She is introduced in Ghostwater, where she is watching [[Akura Harmony]] as he goes through [[Ghostwater (Pocket World)|Ghostwater]]. She has a talk with Yerin and directs her and Mercy to the other side of the island to find Lindon, although she does not allow Mercy inside her castle due to [[Akura Mercy|Malice's restrictions (see biography)]].

===Underlord===

Charity is in charge of organizing the vassal states' team for the tournament. She watches and interferes in the main characters' struggles, eventually choosing Lindon for her pick of the head team and Eithan, Naru Saeya, and Yerin for the vassals.

===Uncrowned===
As the left hand of [[Akura Malice]], Charity is in charge of supervising the Akura family contestants to the Uncrowned Tournament. She sends Mercy to train, provides Lindon with resources and training programs, and gives the Blackflame vassal team consisting of [[Naru Saeya]], [[Eithan Arelius]], and [[Yerin Arelius]] various training packages. Later she views the Uncrowned tournament from the Akura family tower. She is pleased with the placings of the main family team as well as the vassal team. Charity appears to be acquainted with [[Min Shuei]], the Sage of the Frozen Blade.

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