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For those who have not completed games in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, this page contains spoilers regarding the plot. Discretion is advised. |
Cradles (Japanese: ユリカゴ, Yurikago) are objects in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
Overview
Cradles are devices used for the continued reproduction and rapid development of Kevesi and Agnian soldiers, and are typically located in each Nation's Castle. They have the appearance of a grey capsule, with a glass center. An orange liquid fills the Cradle, from which a soldier is rapidly developed from fetus to late childhood. This process is usually performed by the Queens of Keves and Agnus, and is top secret information. The soldiers are only taught that their lives come from the Queen, and return to the Queen upon their deaths. While most Cradles are located in the castles of Keves and Agnus respectively, there are a few that are either taken to the City, or have already been liberated by Ouroboros such as the Cradles in the Lost Colony. Despite only being intended for use in Castles, certain transport convoys have been shown to be in use by the nations.
Description
Cradles can only be opened by an individual outside and are unable to release soldiers automatically. Those born from a Cradle have a limited lifespan indicated by a Term mark, living from late childhood to early adulthood. Whenever a soldier dies, they will be reborn again in a Cradle, except for those who reach to their Homecoming Ceremony. However, soldiers will remain in their first term if they have not been released from their Cradle. While soldiers are typically born in their first term, it is also possible for soldiers to be reborn as an older version of themselves by accelerating their development to a later term through the use of special Cradles, such as the one in Colony Omega.
Due to being the source of all Kevesi and Agnian forces, the capture of Cradles is a high priority for the Lost Numbers, who return with them to the Module Warehouse in the City, in the hopes of one day finding a way for the soldiers to be born without a Term limit. As for the reason why they do not release some of the soldiers to aid the Lost Numbers, Monica said that it was their own war they have to fight, and they want the soldiers to live in a world where they can find their true selves.
Story
It is later revealed that the biological data of the soldiers of Keves and Agnus comes from Origin, and that data is passed into the Cradles, from which they perform their reproduction process. The soldiers of each nation are in fact constructed from most of the people from the worlds of the Bionis and Alrest respectively, and have genetic traits matching the races of their home worlds.
Trivia
- The Cradles bear some resemblances with the Human capsules of the Lifehold Core or the Mimeosome capsules of the Maintenance Center from Xenoblade Chronicles X, the Kadomony from Xenogears or the tube that Kahran Ramsus was born in.
- Ethel is the only Hero character to be shown inside a Cradle during the main story.
- The female soldier in the Cradle during the cutscene in Keves Castle and the cutscene showing the Lost Colony Cradles are identical.
Gallery
