The Cloud Knights are the armed forces of the Xianzhou Alliance. Their main mission is to wipe out the Denizens of Abundance.
Description[]
Organization[]
Command and control[]
The Cloud Knights are led by the Seven Arbiter-Generals, the seven top generals and officers of the Cloud Knights within the Xianzhou Alliance known as the vanguards of The Hunt. Every Xianzhou ship operates individually, but the Cloud Knights are all commanded by the Marshal. Therefore, it's normal for Knights to transfer between ships.[1] Appointments are assigned and sent out from the Marshal's Office.[2]
Operating forces[]
Cloud Knights aboard each ship are generally organized into brigades known as fleets.[3] The Xianzhou Yaoqing, known for its military prowess, has long been standing at the forefront of the most intense combat missions. As the Yaoqing often sails through active war zones, military operations of the Xianzhou Yaoqing is mainly done by the expeditionary fleet as to not endanger the main ship.[4]
Under the ferocious assault of the elite Verdant Knights of the Yaoqing — armed forces mainly comprised by foxians — the army of abominations made up of borisin and the like has finally been routed, with their numbers now on the decline.[5] The Yaoqing also employ Shadow Guards for reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and wetwork.[6] Vidyadhara cloudhymn magi of the Xianzhou Fanghu's Ebonpearl Fleet specialize in using cloudhymn magic in combat.[7] The Xianzhou Zhuming is known for it's artillery and Dawn Army deploy into battle with heliobi.[8] Cloud Knights may sometimes be deployed on secondment to the Ten-Lords Commission.[9]
Martial Arts[]
There is a Cloud Knight saying; "A Cloud Knight must never let slip their weapon, nor let slacken their form."[10] Luofu swordplay is all about swift and agile movements with an emphasis on footwork. Those with quick hands and a flexible body are a good fit to practice Luofu swordplay. Zhuming swordplay places and emphasis on strong, focused strikes, trying to take down targets with a single strike. Practicing Zhuming swordplay helps to develop strength.[11]
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
Cloud Knight weapons on display.
Cloud Knights use various weapons, namely devastator glaives, and other armaments such as thunder crossbows, recurve bows, rifles, shields, spears, guillotine blades, and swords. Cloud Knights may also use their own personal weapons like Sushang's Xuanyuan sword and Yunli's Old Mettle. General Feixiao uses both gun-blades and a battleaxe. Some Cloud Knights prefer to use flying swords connected into their spinal meridian from acupuncture points. They need only to think to move them around though they may be difficult to control. The Zhuming is known for it's use of artillery in combat, and have weapons of mass destruction like Zhuming Flames and Alchemical Arrows.[12] Starskiffs can also fire alchemical arrows.[13] During the High-Cloud Quintet era, Yingxing and Xianzhou military engineers who marched with the army adjusted and tested giant aurumatons that were hundreds of feet tall and were specialized weapons designed to counter borisin mechabeasts.[14]
Despite their deceptively esoteric designs, the weapons of the Xianzhou are actually quite advanced. Their blades are high-frequency and monomolecular, their crossbows are electromagnetic and their recurve bows are thermal seeking.[15][16] The arrows of Yukong's bow are self-guided auto-aim ones, and drawing the bow is just used to give a sense of antiquity. Usually, Xianzhou swordsmiths infuse a basic level of awareness into their swords to make them easier to wield, like Yanqing's flying sword.[12][17] According to Howard, the Xianzhou Natives like using a few tricks to mask their strength, likely connected to their propensity for humility.[18] The Xianzhou Zhuming's Artisanship Commission is responsible for providing sixty or seventy percent of all of the Cloud Knights' armaments.[19]
Tools and Provisions[]
It was rumored that military rations aboard the Yaoqing include dried mineshrooms from Thalassa, though this hasn't been verified.[20] When fighting the borisin, Cloud Knights either don breathing masks or take poison-proof pellets called Clear-Head Flowing-Meridian Infusion to resist the effects of Lupotoxin, suppressing the fear incited by the borisin's pheromones.[21] Some of the Cloud Knights use pellets which contain trace amounts of Yabruh to block pain on the battlefield.[22]
The Yaoqing briefly collaborated with the Intelligentsia Guild to create a medicinal pellet that could resist most of the Chiseltooth Pack's microbe weaponry. Soldiers are advised to bring at least two of these pellets or something similar before going to combat. The Yaoqing has also developed a tactic against the Sableclaw Pack's superior olfactory senses by deploying smell disruptors and counter pheromones. Before sent on deployment against borisin, it is recommended that Cloud Knights bring at least two units of counter-entrapment inhibitors known as "Perfume."[23]
The Cloud Knights of the Zhuming's Dawn Army deploy into battle with heliobi. Even on the Zhuming, it's rare to see a soldier and a heliobus have a close symbiotic relationship. The connection between a person and a heliobus becomes unstable under immense pressure, and at times like this, military healers use incense to purge evil.[8][24]
Starskiff[]
Fighter starskiffs make up the bulk of the Cloud Knights air force. At least 500,000 fighter jets were deployed during the Third Abundance War. Large fighter starskiffs need to be operated in pairs. One pilot takes the helm, the other controls the turrets.[25] The Verdant Knights use starskiffs born with biotechnology instead of being grown from seeds. Newly born starskiffs are described as "furry little creatures" that may join the battlefield after growing in a few short months, becoming loyal partners capable of eradicating abominations.[4] The Navis Astriger is a type of Cloud Knight troop carrier starskiff that can land and deploy Cloud Knights onto the surface of a planet.[26] The Xianzhou Alliance also employs large military vessels like battleships that boast massive cannons.[27]
Known Personnel[]
Arbiter-Generals[]
| Icon | Name | Title | Xianzhou Flagship | Descriptor | Spiritus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hua | Marshal (Chinese: 元帅) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
|
Feixiao | The Merlin's Claw (Chinese: 天击将军) | The Yaoqing | Fierce and swift |  |
|
Huaiyan | The Flaming Heart (Chinese: 烛渊将军) | The Zhuming | Strong and righteous | Unknown |
|
Yaoguang | The Seer Strategist (Chinese: 戎韬将军) | The Yuque | Cautious and sophisticated | Unknown |
|
|
Xuanquan | The Seiche Queller (Chinese: 伏波将军) | The Fanghu | Mighty and powerful | Unknown |
|
|
Youwu | The Patina Justice (Chinese: 尘冥将军) | The Xuling | Mysterious and fair | Unknown |
|
Jing Yuan | The Divine Foresight (Chinese: 神策将军) | The Luofu | Wise and brave |  |
Others[]
- Chiyan — Divine Foresight Messenger
- Qingzu — Divine Foresight Counselor
- Yong Hai — Divine Foresight Secretary
- Yutie — Divine Foresight Chief Guard
- Yanqing — Luofu Cloud Knight Lieutenant
- Yunli — Flamewheel Octet Sword Hunter
- Sushang — Yaoqing Cloud Knight Recruit (transferred to the Luofu)
- Suyi — Yaoqing Cloud Knight
- Zhouduan — Luofu Prison Guard Captain
- Yongren — Luofu Undercover Cloud Knight
- Dewei — Luofu Cloud Knight Captain
- Cloud Knights Patroller
Former Personnel[]
| Icon | Name | Title | Xianzhou Flagship | Descriptor | Spiritus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Teng Xiao † | Unknown | The Luofu | Blunt and straightforward | |
|
Yueyu † | Unknown | The Yaoqing | Selfless and resolute | |
- Jingliu — Former Sword Champion of the Luofu[29]
- Jingliu's master † — Luofu Cloud Knight[30]
- Yukong — Luofu fighter pilot
- Caiyi † — Luofu fighter pilot
- Guangyuan † — Luofu fighter pilot
- Xiao † — Luofu fighter pilot[31]
- Hong † — Luofu fighter pilot[31]
- Baiheng † — Yaoqing fighter pilot
- Dahao — Luofu Cloud Knight
- Jingyan — Luofu Cloud Knight
- Yancui — Luofu Cloud Knight[32]
- Zhixin — Luofu Cloud Knight
- Cong's previous life — Luofu Cloud Knight[33]
- Dewei's son † — Luofu Cloud Knight
- Xiao and Hong's father † — Luofu Cloud Knight[31]
- Xiao and Hong's mother † — Luofu Cloud Knight[31]
- Nameless Swordsmaster on Kalevala † — Luofu Cloud Knight[12]
Cloud Knight Units[]
- High-Cloud Quintet (disbanded)
The Xianzhou Luofu[]
- Rainbowfall Fleet
- Vernalbolt Fleet
- Pyrocrane Fleet
- Starlance Fleet
The Xianzhou Yaoqing[]
- Verdantia Fleet
- Heroncrest Fleet
- Red Ballad Fleet
The Xianzhou Yuque[]
- Echojade Fleet
The Xianzhou Fanghu[]
- Ebonpearl Fleet
The Xianzhou Zhuming[]
- Flamewheel Octet
- Goldencrow Fleet
- Dawn Army
Faction Mentions[]
Character Stories
| Character | Stories |
|---|---|
Readables
- Advocate legal and reasonable care for animals, strictly prohibit illegal wildlife trade for "releases"
- An Evening Journey Through Exalting Sanctum
- Annotations from "Ode to Reignbow Path"
- Compendium of Remedies
- Dan Shu's Diary
- Disciples of Sanctus Medicus: Collection of Exhibits
- Divination Report
- Exalting Sanctum Chancery Report to the General Affairs Office
- Glimpses into the Beyond
- History of the Xianzhou: Errata
- List of Archenemies
- List of Ten-Lords Commission Criminals Transferral by Cloud Knights
- Official Announcement on the Origins of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus
- Record of Reignbow's Road
- Report: A Rare Plant Specimen
- Sword Hunt Journal: Crimson Thorn
- The Luofu Cauldron Master's Report to the Six Charioteers
- Travelogue on Xianzhou
- Undestroyed Notes
- Views of the Universe from a Starskiff: The Xianzhou Zhuming
- Yancui Interrogation Transcript
Items
Relics
Other Languages[]
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Cloud Knights |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 云骑军 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 雲騎軍 |
| Japanese | 雲騎軍 |
| Korean | 운기군 |
| Spanish | Nimbocaballeros |
| French | Chevaliers des nuages |
| Russian | Облачные Рыцари |
| Thai | Cloud Knight |
| Vietnamese | Vân Kỵ Quân |
| German | Wolkenrittern |
| Indonesian | Cloud Knight |
| Portuguese | Cavaleiros das Nuvens |
References[]
- ↑ Adventure Mission: Pallbearing Merchant, Swordwielding Recruit
- ↑ Readable: A Page From the Alchemy Commission's Official Gazette
- ↑ Trailblaze Continuance, Finest Duel Under the Pristine Blue (I): By Words of Many
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Readable: Xianzhou Alliance Travel Guide
- ↑ Data Bank, Terms: Xianzhou Yaoqing (Location)
- ↑ Honkai: Star Rail (September 04, 2024). Character Preview | Moze, HoYoLAB.
- ↑ Data Bank, Characters, Fu Xuan: Character Story: Part II
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lingsha's Voice-Over: Knowledge
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Zhouduan
- ↑ Honkai: Star Rail (May 10, 2023). Animated Short: A Flash. YouTube. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ↑ Trailblaze Continuance, Finest Duel Under the Pristine Blue (I): The Quieting of Quillons
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Companion Mission, Vita Infinita: Swords to Plowshares
- ↑ Data Bank, Characters, Jingliu: Character Story: Part II
- ↑ Data Bank, Characters, Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae: Character Story: Part II
- ↑ Readable: Yancui Interrogation Transcript
- ↑ Light Cone Ascension Material: Arrow of the Demon Slayer
- ↑ Trailblaze Continuance, A Foxian Tale of the Haunted (Continuance): Sword Essence
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Howard
- ↑ Readable: Views of the Universe from a Starskiff: The Xianzhou Zhuming
- ↑ Item: Mineshroom
- ↑ Readable: Compendium of Remedies
- ↑ Adventure Mission, Saga of Primaveral Blade: Way of Primaveral Blade: Release
- ↑ Readable: Yaoqing Recruit Handbook: Borisin Pack Overview
- ↑ Lingsha's Voice-Over: Huohuo
- ↑ Companion Mission, Vita Infinita: For I Have Touched the Sky
- ↑ Data Bank, Characters, Jing Yuan: Character Story: Part III
- ↑ Trailblaze Continuance, Finest Duel Under the Pristine Blue (I): March to Mastery: A Star Is Born
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Jing Yuan's Voice-Over: Something to Share
Jing Yuan: This spirit is called Lightning-Wielding Thunder-Clapping Spirit-Squashing Lord (Chinese: 神霄雷府总司驱雷掣电追魔扫秽天君). It's a name I read from an ancient text, but it's too long to remember, so I just abbreviate it to the Lightning... Lord. - ↑ Data Bank, Characters, Jingliu: Character Story: Part III
"Only the Sword Champion of the Luofu Cloud Knights..." - ↑ Data Bank, Characters, Jingliu: Character Story: Part III
She doesn't have a master anymore. The woman in armor perished on the battlefield and can instruct her no longer. - ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Readable: Memorial to the Illustrious Officials Xiao and Hong
- ↑ Readable: Yancui Interrogation Transcript
- ↑ Adventure Mission: Poetic Genius Ingenium