| Orthos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Path | Path of Black Flame |
| Rank | Underlord |
| Faction | House Arelius- Blackflame Branch |
| First Appearance | Blackflame |
| Species | Sacred Beasts—Magestic Turtle |
| Family | |
| Home | Blackflame Empire |
There are only a very few sacred artists alive today who still practice the Path of Black Flame. One is a magestic turtle, Orthos, a descendant of black dragons.
Contents
- 1 Descriptions
- 2 Path
- 3 His Allies
- 4 His Backstory
- 5 Bonding and Healing
- 6 Sacred Valley
Descriptions
- A sacred beast
- Ancient, almost 300 years old. Born during the rule of the Imperial Blackflame Clan (see Ashwind Continent History)
“Bid welcome,” Eithan announced, “to the last great descendant of Serpent's Grave.” A massive black shape shouldered its way through the tunnel like a man pushing through a tight doorway. It turned blazing eyes on Lindon: they were inky pools of darkness, those eyes, with a circle of furious red where the iris should be. The skin of the creature’s reptilian head was cracked and leathery, pure black, and clusters of blazing embers burned on its back. (Blackflame ch 10)
- A magestic turtle. Six feet.
Orthos was a massive black turtle, the peak of his shell rising as high as Lindon's head. He was as long as a horse but thrice as wide, and his squat body looked heavy enough to sink a ship. The facets of his shell glowed sullen red around the edges, and black smoke rose from him in hazy waves. (Blackflame, chapter 10)
- The derogatory gold dragon Ekeri calls him “dragon-spawn” in book 5, but he is actually her better, the evolutionary descendant of a long-extinct (as far as we know) line of very powerful black dragons:
"The black dragons were the kings of this continent. In their day, their power dwarfed the Akura family. The gold dragons were just a servant family beneath them, scraping and clawing for every scrap.” (Ghostwater, chapter 8)
Path
When first introduced in book 3, Orthos is a TrueGold on The Path of Black Flame. As of book 9, he is an Underlord on The Path of Black Flame. Skilled at techniques like The Dragon Advances. Etc.
His Allies
Orthos is allied with House Arelius. He is soul-bonded with Wei Shi Lindon Arelius. They are like brothers. After a rocky start, he gained trust and loyal friendship from Yerin. The nature spirit Little Blue is his big helper and good friend. He respects and trusts Eithan Arelius. He thinks Dross talks too much. He cares about Akura Mercy, warning Lindon when she was unconscious too long (Reaper). As for Ziel, Orthos gave him the highest praise, comparing him to a black dragon (in Ghostwater).
Orthos shook himself like a dog, spraying yet more blood everywhere, and laughed freely. “You hit with the strength of a dragon! What is your name, human?” (Ghostwater chapter 11)
His Backstory
When the former imperial Blackflame Clan ruled, Orthos was liaison to House Arelius — the branch in the Blackflame Empire. About ten years ago, he got burnt out, protecting Arelius family members from “a rogue Blackflame” (Blackflame ch 16):
Eithan spoke with a wistful sadness. “Long before my time as Patriarch, Orthos served as a liaison between the Arelius and the imperial Blackflame family. Only ten years ago, he overused his power defending us from attack.. .Orthos’ own madra overwhelmed his mind. He gave too much of himself for the sake of protecting my family. The branch heads spent a fortune trying to restore him, to their credit” (Blackflame chapter 10)
Bonding and Healing
Eithan Arelius wanted to help Orthos, while helping Wei Shi Lindon-Arelius. So Orthos bonded with Lindon and taught him the Path of Black Flame. Lindon helped Orthos clear his channels of harmful madra buildups. With the help of Lindon and Little Blue he was able to regain some measure of sanity. This was further helped by his time spent in Ghostwater (Pocket World), where he accessed the Dream Well, the Spirit Well, and the Life Well, plus he ate Silverfang Carp and other divine food.
Sacred Valley
In Underlord, Orthos temporarily leaves Lindon and the others, saying that Sacred Beasts do not have to undergo a revelation to reach Underlord. Instead, they chose what they wished to become (ex: Orthos could remain a turtle, become a dragon, or even become human, as seen by Seshethkunaaz, the boy King of the Dragons). For this reason, Orthos leaves and is later seen in Sacred Valley alongside Lindon's sister, Wei Shi Kelsa. He helps her and teaches her. He also gets Jai Long and Jai Chen to help free her mother.
Suggested Topics: | |
| Traveler's Gate | |
| Elder Empire | |
| Cradle | Unsouled • Soulsmith • Blackflame • Skysworn • Ghostwater • Underlord • Uncrowned • Wintersteel • Bloodline • Reaper • Dreadgod • Waybound |
I'm a dedicated enthusiast with an in-depth understanding of the Cradle series by Will Wight. My knowledge extends to various aspects of the storyline, characters, factions, and the intricate details of the Cradle world. I can demonstrate my expertise by delving into the concepts used in the provided article:
1. Sacred Arts and Sacred Beasts:
- Sacred Arts refers to the mystical and martial practices followed by sacred artists in the Cradle world.
- Sacred Beasts are powerful, often ancient creatures with unique abilities. Orthos, the majestic turtle, is an example of a sacred beast in the Path of Black Flame.
2. Cradle Locations:
- The Blackflame Empire is a significant location in the Cradle series, where Orthos, the sacred turtle, resides.
3. Cradle Factions:
- House Arelius, specifically the Blackflame Branch, is a faction allied with Orthos. The article mentions Orthos serving as a liaison between the Arelius and the imperial Blackflame family.
4. Cradle Glossary:
- The Path of Black Flame is a specific path within the Sacred Arts, practiced by sacred artists like Orthos.
- Underlord is a rank in the Cradle world, and by the ninth book, Orthos achieves the status of Underlord on the Path of Black Flame.
5. Characters:
- Orthos is a majestic turtle and one of the last practitioners of the Path of Black Flame. His physical description, abilities, and background are outlined in detail.
- Lindon, a member of House Arelius, is soul-bonded with Orthos and plays a significant role in Orthos's healing and advancement.
6. Descriptions:
- The article provides vivid descriptions of Orthos, emphasizing his age, appearance, and the connection to the extinct black dragons.
- Orthos's encounter with Ekeri, a gold dragon, adds depth to his character and highlights his lineage.
7. Path of Black Flame:
- The Path of Black Flame is a specific path in the Sacred Arts, with Orthos being a practitioner. The article mentions his skills, such as using techniques like The Dragon Advances.
8. His Allies:
- Orthos has various allies, including Lindon from House Arelius, Yerin, Little Blue (a nature spirit), Eithan Arelius, and Ziel.
9. His Backstory:
- Orthos's backstory is detailed, involving his role as a liaison between the Arelius and the imperial Blackflame family. His sacrifice to protect the Arelius family resulted in a burnout.
10. Bonding and Healing:
- Eithan Arelius bonds Orthos with Lindon to help both characters. Lindon aids Orthos in clearing harmful madra buildups, contributing to his healing.
11. Sacred Valley:
- Orthos temporarily leaves Lindon and others to go to Sacred Valley, where sacred beasts have different paths to advancement compared to human practitioners.
In summary, the provided article covers a range of topics related to the Cradle series, offering insights into characters, factions, locations, and the intricate system of Sacred Arts, with a focus on the unique Path of Black Flame.
