Location from Cradle by Will Wight
The Ninecloud Court's capital — a city of prismatic light and political theater where the Uncrowned King tournament decides the fate of factions.
Ninecloud City is the most beautiful place on Cradle and it knows it. The Ninecloud Court has maintained it as a showcase of Monarch-level power — a reminder that the Sha family controls forces that can build cities in the sky. It's also the political neutral ground where factions negotiate, display strength, and occasionally try to assassinate each other under cover of diplomacy. The Uncrowned King tournament, held here every generation, is part competition, part political theater, and part recruitment event. The winner receives Penance — a weapon that can kill anything once. Every major faction sends their best young sacred artists, and the resulting battles are broadcast across the continent. The atmosphere during tournament season is electric — literally, with light-madra discharges crackling between buildings from the sheer concentration of powerful sacred artists.
A breathtaking metropolis built on clouds and light — literally suspended in the sky through Monarch-level formations. Buildings are constructed from crystallized light-madra that refracts sunlight into permanent rainbows. The streets are cloud-paved, the architecture is luminous, and the entire city broadcasts the aesthetic of overwhelming beauty as a statement of power. The tournament arena at its center seats millions and projects fights across the continent.
Also known as: Ninecloud City, the Ninecloud Court, the Cloud City