Advancement Level
The sacred arts are Cradle’s “magic” system. This page provides a detailed and extensive description of the advancement levels or ranks within this system.
Humans vs Beasts
Humans, animals, and even plants engage in the Sacred Arts, albeit differently. Following their chosen Path, sacred artists develop their spiritual power or madra by cycling vital aura through their spirit and body. The sacred arts are structured in such a way as to naturally lead to advancement. However, humans advance differently than sacred beasts or sacred plants.
Advancement Overview
- In the books, ranks or levels are capitalized. Example: He is just a Copper.
A sacred artist may progress through realms of advancement, with clearly defined ranks in each realm. Advancement comes when physical and spiritual development and understanding is ready, and not before, unless it’s forced with expensive elixirs. The known realms are the Foundation Realm, the Gold Realm, and the Lord Realm. Additionally, beyond that, there are Sages and Heralds and Monarchs.
Every child begins at the Foundation level with pure madra. Then, the child may gradually begin to cycle a specific madra aspect, or in rare cases, keep a pure core. (See Madra)
Only the rarest and most committed sacred artist might possibly advance to the Lord Realm, or even beyond, to Sage or Herald, typically after they reach Archlord —- but not always. The highest advancement level on Cradle is Monarch. (Unless the monstrous and nearly immortal Dreadgod is counted as a level.)
