Hard facts about the High-Cloud Quintet are treated like gold by someHonkai: Star Railfans. The fellowship from the Xianzhou Alliance earned a sizable following for their close bonds and tragic history. Although some fans are upset with recent updates, others are happy to have more canonical information on the quintet.
Led by Jingliu, the quintet’s actions led to consequences that continued to affect the Alliance more than 700 years later. These consequences have affected the Trailblazer and the Astral Express’ journey. Even after moving on from the Alliance, the quintet’s story may still draw Trailblazers back to the spacefaring ships.
Xianzhou native
Xianzhou Zhuming (Outsider, settled in)
Short-lived species
Unknown (Possibly Xianzhou Yaoqing)
Foxian
Although the High Cloud Quintet has a reputation in Luofu, they came from different Xianzhou Alliance ships. Yingxing is from a short-lived species and settled in Xianzhou Zhuming as a refugee of an Abundance attack.
Jingliu’s home ship of Cangcheng was destroyed, while Baiheng met Yingxing at Zhuming on assignment. Dan Feng originated from the Xianzhou Luofu. Jing Yuan, on the other hand, only settled in the Luofu. There is no source for his origins, though he eventually became an Arbiter-General settled in the Luofu.
9Baiheng Was A Trailblazer
Baiheng’s exact origin isn’t clear, yet fans think she came from the Xianzhou Yaoqing. She was requested to requisition arms and reinforcements for the Yaoqing’s Crane Feather orbit Fleet. In the process, she met a young Yingxing on the Zhuming.
But aside from her duties to the Xianzhou Alliance, Baiheng wasa free-spirited traveler. She even wrote a travelogue on her miraculous escapes from starskiff crashes and the worlds she visited.
A popular Baiheng theory is that she used to be a Trailblazer. Fans believe Bailu dreaming about Baiheng’s memories after visiting the Astral Express means Baiheng had a connection to Akavili’s creation. However, nothing has outright stated that Baiheng joined the crew even temporarily.
8Blade Made The Quintet’s Weapons
Born as Yingxing, the short-lived boy escaped from his world after it was overrun by the borisin, an ally of the Abundance. He met Master Huaiyan of the Zhuming as a stowaway and was taken as an apprentice. The young boy developed his skills in hopes of avenging his people.
Baiheng found Yingxing working away on the Zhuming. It was through her that she eventually became acquainted with the other members of the Quintet. As an arrogant, grown man,he forgedthe Quintet’s signature weapons:
7The High-Cloud Quintet Only Lasted For 100 Years
Luocha said the five “vanquished evil from the world, creating legendary tales” in their wake before they “went [their] separate ways”. These “legendary tales” only happened within the span of 100 years, and the Quintet did not separate so much as get destroyed.
The Quintet were friends, mentors, and acquaintances before their formal assembly. Upon connecting, they saved a Xianzhou ship and a planet from the Abundance and destroyed key enemies. It was on one such mission that the Quintet came to an end when one of their members died.
6Baiheng Was The First To Die
Baiheng meant different things to the Quintet. To Jing Yuan, she was an ace pilot; Jingliu recalls her near-supernatural luck. Dan Heng considers her a dear friend, while Yinxing may have had romantic feelings for her.
The Foxian pilot was also, according to Jingliu, loyal to the point ofsacrificing her lifefor her allies. Jingliu said of her last moments:
“She charged ahead and shattered the enemy’s defenses, allowing the Xianzhou soldiers to break through Shuhu’s Sanguinary Abyss and awaken you from your Dragon’s Delirium… She was not able to walk out of that fight. We all shoulder a debt that we will never be able to repay.”
Spoilers for Honkai: Star Rail Version 1.4 “Jolted Awake From a Winter Dream” will be discussed onwards.
5Jingliu’s Home Ship Was Destroyed By The Abundance
Jingliu’s life was touched by the Abundance before meeting anyone from the Quintet. Her home ship the Cangchengwas destroyed byRahu, the Devourer of Worlds, which was revived by Shuhu. Shuhu was the Emanator of Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance, and both master and servant waged wars against the Alliance.
From then on, Jingliu struggled against the Abundance and the whims of other aeons. After millennia of suffering, she grew “sick and tired of treading on a predetermined path” made by the gods. Now free of mara, Jingliu wants to end Yaoshi and break the hold of Aeons over the universe.
With Luocha as her fellow warrior against Yaoshi, they plotted to board the Xianzhou Xuling with Luocha’s coffin. Luocha’s scheme set them on a course for the Xuling, but the Alliance halted their progress with a detour to the Yuque. Once they set foot on the Xuling, Luocha hopes to unleash whatever is in his coffin, which may lead to the fall of Yaoshi.
4Imbibitor Lunae And Blade Tried To Resurrect Baiheng
Although it was hinted at earlier, version 1.4 confirmed Dan Feng and Yingxing committed the crime of using a sacred Vidyadharan ritual to try and resurrect Baiheng. According to the quest “The Dragon Returns Home”, the Transmutation Arcanum transfers the High Elder’s powers to their heirupon reincarnation. It can also allow the Vidyadhara to reproduce instead of merely reincarnating.
Dan Feng used the latter property of the Transmutation Arcanum to try and resurrect Baiheng. According to Jingliu in “Clouds Leave No Trace”:
“[Imbibitor Lunae] you couldn’t accept that Baiheng was gone. Instead of leaving her to eternal rest, you decided to… You made a mistake that can never be undone.”
Yingxing, on the other hand,had strong feelingshe kept from Baiheng until her death. He even made a flagon for her, which was supposed to be part of the Passerby of Wandering Cloud relic set.
His contribution to Baiheng’s resurrection was Shuhu’s remains. “The Dragon Returns Home” and “Clouds Leave No Trace” confirmed that Shuhu’s remains were used with Baiheng’s in the Transmutation Arcanum. Yinxing said of Baiheng and his punishment:
“Why… why is it that only the abominations can return time and time again…? Why does someone like her have to be buried, burned to ash, and eventually forgotten…? Why!?”
3Bailu Was Reincarnated from Baiheng’s Remains
Bailu was born from Dan Feng and Yingxing’s crime alongside a draconic abomination that wrought destruction on the Luofu. Though she had draconic features expected of High Elders, she did not have their prophetic dreams and powers, or Baiheng’s memories.
Dan Feng’s High Elder powers instead went to Dan Heng, and knowledge of the Transmutation Arcanum was lost after his forced reincarnation. Bailu instead gainedpowers of the Abundance, presumably from Shuhu’s corpse. Only some of Baiheng’s physical traits and memories remain within Bailu, who recovered the ability to dream after visiting the Astral Express.
2Jing Yuan Is The Only Quintet Member Who Remembers Everything
Jing Yuan survived relatively unharmed because of his non-participation in the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae. He did not become mara-struck like Jingliu or Yingxing, or reincarnate like Dan Feng and Baiheng.
For this reason, Jing Yuan is the most aware of the “price” for the Quintet’s crimes. In return for being unscathed, he carries the burden of carrying the Quintet’s memories and history. Centuries of carrying this responsibilitymatured the generaland strengthened his resolve to protect his people.
1Every Member Is A Playable 5-Star Unit
Even though Bailu and Dan Heng, or his Imbibitor Lunae form, are not originally part of the Quintet, they are playable incarnations. As such, this makes every member of the High Cloud Quintet playable party members.
Except for Dan Heng’s original form, every member is alsoa five-star character. Jing Yuan and Jingliu’s playstyles are accurate to their pre-disbandment reputation. Blade learned to fight under Jingliu after Baiheng’s death. Bailu, meanwhile, was born with the Abundance and is a support character.
