Cloud constructs
A cloud construct is any cloud-aspect madra construct. Commonly, they feed off of the user's own madra to fly on vital aura; the higher the madra's quality, the faster it travels.[1][2] They typically take on the appearance as that of a colorful cloud, ranging in size from single-person transports to carrying houses to ones capable of supporting entire cities.[1][3][4]
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Thousand-Mile Clouds
"Thousand-Mile Cloud" refers to a variety of smaller cloud constructs, typically ones intended for individual use.[1] Wei Shi Lindon and Yerin used one taken from the Heaven's Glory School's Lesser Treasure Vault to escape Sacred Valley.[5]
Skysworn officers in the Blackflame Empire receive a pale green one as part of their standard arsenal.[6] They are able to store them inside their armor, where they do not decay.[7]
Cloudships
Larger constructs are referred to as cloudships. They bear a similar appearance to Thousand-Mile Clouds, though often possess more flight bindings than their smaller counterpart, and usually carry a permanent structure on top. Rather than being fed directly from the user, cloudships have their pilots filter madra through a control panel, funneling the madra to various bindings for them.[3] If fueled with madra or aura not of cloud or wind aspect, these bindings will eventually decay; aura-gathering scripts are used to combat this.[8]
Cloudships are a common method of long-distance transportation for wealthier factions such as House Arelius and the Akura clan.[3][9]
Cloud Fortress, Defined
A “cloud fortress” was just a type of cloudship designed for permanence rather than mobility. The Skysworn city of Stormrock was technically a cloud fortress, though on a much larger scale. Lindon thought of them as flying islands more than cloudships. Though he had spent quite a bit of time negotiating extra speed for his. (Bloodline ch 4)
Notable cloud constructs
- Sky's Mercy, the cloudship used by the Blackflame branch of the Arelius family[3]
- Stormrock, floating city and headquarters of the Skysworn[4]
- The imperial cloudship, owned by Naru Huan[10]
- Windfall, Lindon and Yerin's joint prize from the first round of the Uncrowned King Tournament[11]
- Bounding Gazelle -- Eithan's racer, a small fast speedcloud 18th Uncrowned King Tournament prize
- Farm cloud -- Eithan's big cloud. It flies connected with Windfall. It's another tournament prize. Eithan has a small cabin and various sacred crops:
The Nimblethorn root was typically used as a medicinal herb to separate types of madra before spiritual surgery. It wasn’t common, but it wasn’t incredibly valuable. .. A men’hla tree was especially valuable to Soulsmiths, as each of its leaves actually produced a separate Remnant. For many projects, one men’hla tree could be an endless source of dead matter. ...“Hammershell fruit,” he recited. A prime source of force aura. “A hive of ivory bees. Cloudbell bush. A spring of Whispering Water. Starlotus pond.” His list contained nothing that the Ninecloud Court would balk at or flag as unusual. Some were more useful to Soulsmiths, others to refiners, and he mixed in some decoys with the ones he really needed. (Uncrowned ch 12)
