Cloud constructs

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How They Work

A cloud construct is created by skilled soulsmiths, using vital aura that gathers around clouds (see madra & aura). Commonly, to power them, these constructs feed off of the user's own madra to fly on vital aura; advanced sacred artists with higher-quality madra can enable the cloud to move faster.[1][2] They typically take on the appearance of a colorful cloud, in any color —- e.g., rainbow-colored for the Ninecloud Court and green for the imperials ships of the Blackflame Empire. They range in size from single-person transports to constructs large enough to carry houses, to fortresses capable of supporting entire cities.[1][3][4]

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]

“This is known as the Thousand-Mile Cloud, but it will let you move even farther than that.” Only with the elder’s explanation did Lindon realize that the cloud itself was a treasure. He’d been trying to peer through it, to see what the red fog was concealing. “It’s a construct. When you power it, it can carry you through the air for as long as your madra lasts.” (Unsouled, ch 14)

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

The Ninecloud Court provided a customized cloudship to winners of the first round of the 18th Uncrowned King Tournament.[10]

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

  • Bounding Gazelle -- Eithan's racer, a small speedcloud, another Uncrowned King Tournament prize
  • Farm cloud -- Eithan's big cloud fortress. It flies connected with Windfall. It's another UKT prize. It has a small cabin and a huge farm with various sacred crops: The Nimblethorn root was typically used as a medicinal herb to separate types of madra before spiritual surgery. A men’hla tree was especially valuable to Soulsmiths, as each of its leaves actually produced a separate Remnant. Hammershell fruit, a prime source of force aura, a hive of ivory bees. Cloudbell bush. A spring of Whispering Water. Starlotus pond, etc.(Uncrowned ch 12)

References