Traveler

Aether is right handed but Lumine is ambidextrous!!

Lumine uses her left hand for placing rocks and swirling anemo

But she holds and swings her sword with her right hand!!

But Aether uses his right hand for everything !

Skirk's Story Quest is marvelous. I may speak it with complete sanity and confidence, not under the influence of alcohol.

PS: Don't ask me how I made the screenshot in the Quest Domain. I used some external tool.

PS2: Extra credits for those who can read the Quenya line I added on top. I just find it very fitting to the theme :]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

First, don't tell us something really important. (Prior to the new AQ, what we'd heard about our arrival in Teyvat was we travelled as stars (initial scene with Paimon at the start of the game), that we tried to leave the world with wings and got stopped by an unknown god (intro cutscene), and that we were summoned to Khaenriah (iirc)). You know what none of these things mentioned? A spaceship. That would really have changed the character of the story from the very start of the game.

Second, pretend we actually told Paimon about a spaceship when we never did. (We all saw the explanation Traveler gave paimon. There was no spaceship. And this is something Paimon should have literally no concept of - surely we should have seen Traveler's explanation of what a spaceship even was).

Third, reveal you've been carrying a key around for the last 5 years that you never told us about, which is pretty plot significant.

Fourth, lampshade the fact that you completely forgot to even mention such a thing the entire time.

This is a master class in how not to do storytelling.

What happens if you don’t give Dereidyth the key thing? I gave it to her, and later I went back to the Travel Log to change it in the little menu thing, but the dialogue doesn’t change.

Is it the same thing in the actual cutscene too?

Because if you don’t give it to her, then it doesn’t make sense that your sibling shows up and says that Dereidyth gave it to them if she never even had it in the first place.

I know I'm probably not exactly near the end of the quest, but am i the only one that feels like Paimons really kicking Dereidyth while Shes down😭

(might have used that wrong, so I'll just explain what I mean)

It feels like every time Dereidyth is just being a normal human being, Paimons kind of constantly viewing her suspiciously and criticizing her for it. Like how she was LITERALLY STARVING and Paimon commented on how fast she ate. Or how when Shes blatantly flustered due to Traveler, Paimon immediately tries acting like a detective and asking why Shes acting strangely, when its FAIRLY OBVIOUS yet it was a threat somehow.

IDK, this isn't hate to the voice actor, Paimon sounds better than ever, my problems are more with the lines themself, but she just is acting so hypocritical and rude at times that its slightly irritating. Like how She was criticizing the guard for being nervous and audacious for wanting to challenge traveler to a fight. THE TRAVELER HAS FOUGHT GODS. WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT BE NERVOUS? It makes perfect sense for a warrior to challenge such a strong foe; you can only get stronger by challenging those above you?

I love every other part of the quest so far but that's really rubbing me the wrong way for some reason. Because she just feels less empathetic. Iansan at least makes sense to be paranoid; Shes a literal warrior. Paimon hasn't seen anything hostile or bad to this person and the traveler directly told her that they don't think at least at this point that Dereidyth has any bad intentions.

Spaces to add spoiler covering

Imo. This is the best Dainsleif quest we've had so far. While Paimon felt extremely immature and insensitive at times, i do think it added to the emotion of the quest. I Also particularly love how bittersweet yet cruel it is. Fun fact i learned; no matter what you do, Dereidyth will still end up with the key, and cause the fall of khaenri'ah. And will become a hilichurl, remembering the promise she made to traveler and waiting for the sibling to give the key to them. The only difference in the choice is whether you keep the item or not. To me personally at least, that's heartbreaking to see how unable to change fate traveler was here.

The touch added at the end where Iansan tries to comfort traveler by inviting them to a feast at the CoP to only be told. "Not right now." is honestly a really nice way to handle it to me at least. I'm not saying the travelers always happy, because they're NOT. But to show how deeply this affected them and to rebuff the invitation and give the silent treatment to Paimon as well is perfect.

The visuals in the quest were also surprisingly stunning, seeing how it looked 500 years ago with the sustainers cubes was honestly shocking yet cool. Especially with how its implied the sustainer was listening to the conversation and watching the siblings. (Since, there was a small portal made by TSoHP that only closed when the siblings looked at it)

Despite how I can already tell how people are going to hate on Dereidyth, I think I personally liked how she was done much more than Caribert, because I feel as if Dereidyth was a much more tragic situation.

The lore potential and knowledge that the traveler and their sibling had their own spaceship which they ran by themselves, the sibling had memory loss in khaenri'ah which likely is related to, if not the reason for why they lost their descender status; they lost the will to rival the world when they forget their beloved sibling. As well adding to the fact that dainsleif helped the resurrection of new khaenri'ah which means it's likely for sure going to be its own map location in some way in the future. I do find it interesting that Istaroth somehow caused or influenced The twins running into Dereidyth from when Traveler in the future ran into the past Dereidyth. and either Traveler would give her the key, or cause The twin to give her the key, making fate cause the event regardless of travelers choice.

And that's not even to get into the fact that the only reason Dain's body is in good shape is because his brother gave him a ring to constantly reset his body. That could possibly be a key to bringing back Capitano? But i digress, the part that interests me more about that is the fact that its his BROTHER, one of the "Bad guys" that seem "evil" gave him the ring.. For no other reason? No drawbacks, no cost, just a gift to his brother who's fighting against him?

And the fact he also acknowledges that Surtalogi actually has a sense of chivalry and once TRIED To do the right thing only for his limbs to be severed truly makes me question if the abyss order and sinners really are...Evil? I mean, yeah, they work with the abyss and worship it, and Dain wants to kill them, but that just seems oddly...Honorable of Dains brother and Surtalogi. And with the twin's plan, they don't seem to want to destroy OR harm Teyvat. LOTN even agreed to let them do it causally and determined it would cause no harm to Natlan. Their goal doesn't seem as horrible now as it might have initially seemed.

Although I do find it interesting how LOTN had a condition that The Twin had to agree to, that they wouldn't tell Citlali? Not to bring up Cap again, but I'm not sure what else it could be except about him if their having a discussion about bringing the nation of Khaenri'ah and its people back through the Ley lines? The only other thing I could think of that could fill the condition would maybe to promise not to attack Natlan Again? But I doubt it because why wouldn't she just tell Citlali that?

Although I was disappointed how Dain actually wasn't playable in the quest and was only a call-in move. None the less, it was cool to see him attack! Maybe the moves he used will be incorporated with his actual kit?

Quest rating imo: 10/10. i honestly can say this is my favorite Natlan archon quest by FAR. The way how there was minor mistakes and slipups by each character felt so much more genuine and less flat, so to speak. If Citlali and the masters of the Nightwind just finished off the abyss, the loom of fate would have been completely pointless as they all would be gone. Paimon was going a bit over the top with Dereidyth. Iansans hesitation to wait for Mavuika truly would have cost everyone involved, both sides. Subtle character flaws really added to the feeling of the quest.

I can't find my aranara spoiler bad pic, have a banana instead

Spaceship, nuff said

Where is my sci fi assault rifles then?

All I'm gonna say is that I wanted to throw my pencil at a wall when drawing Chiori's and Yoimiya's hair 😔

Anyways I love drawing luscious lashes

Pings:

@IALDABAOTH1 @LinzerChiori @WhiteOwl6373 @CalicoTheKat @KittenLove1311

I know discussing the previous 3 Descenders’ and their lore is a recipe for a giant argument in this community, but I really wanted to share my take on the the timeline of when they each came to Teyvat, and who they all are. Please keep it chill in the comments though, if people start arguing I will personally go find Surtalogi so he can feed you to the All-Devouring Narwhal.

Let’s start where it all began, with good ol’ Phanes. The First Descender is, in my opinion, the one we know the most about. We know they created the false sky, defeated the dragons and drove out Nibelung, as well as created the modern elemental system from the light realm’s energies. They also founded the first civilization, created the angels, and was worshipped across Teyvat. The first major event after this was the Voyager’s arrival and the Angel’s rebellion.

I think the Voyager was the second Descender, as I believe most people do at this point. I’ll get into why I don’t think she was the third in a bit, as I have another candidate who I think makes much more sense. So she married the first Angel, started a rebellion, and probably founded Khaenri’Ah. I’m just going to assume she did until I get confirmation otherwise. She and Phanes fought and this war either ended, or was still going on by the time Nibelung brought the Abyss and Forbidden Knowledge to Teyvat. It’s important to note, this was likely how the Abyss entered Teyvat in the first place, because Phanes had been likely keeping it out until this point.

Well let’s just get straight to the big mystery. I think Nibelung was the 3rd Descender. I find it likely he returned to Teyvat during the war between Phanes and the Voyager, which I think would explain the correlation between that war, and the one Nibelung waged. Phanes and the Voyager, recognizing the bigger threat, would’ve worked together to defeat Nibelung and later create the Gnoses. And the Gnoses are exactly why I think Nibelung was the third descender.

Each Gnosis holds the power of a specific element, and Nibelung, being a creature made out of pure, unsplit light, born right alongside Teyvat would almost certainly wield all 7 elements. He was the sovereign of sovereigns, dragon king of dragon kings, it’s reasonable to assume he controlled all seven elements. And whether he was still made up of pure light energy or the elements, it doesn’t matter, because Phanes could’ve refracted that light anyway. I imagine the creation of the Gnoses came along some sort of deal between the two remaining Descenders, something that would give the Voyager permission to have Khaenri’Ah exist as an independent nation, possibly on the condition that they ward of the abyss and whatnot, but that’s pure speculation.

So yeah, that’s who I think all of the descenders are and why. But I’m not done yet, oh no I’m not. You see, it’s assumed the 3rd Descender died when the gnoses were created. But you can remove parts of a being and it can continue to live and think. And Phanes wouldn’t have wanted any abyss juice in their gnoses, but just how much of Nibelung was uncorrupted and salvageable by the time he was defeated? How much dragon flesh was left to make those tiny gnoses? And what about that Seven-Shifting Serpent mentioned in Skirk’s trailer? And how would Skirk know about the Gnoses in the first place…

Yes, I’m proposing Nibelung is still alive baby!!! Alive, fully abyssal, and wanting revenge. Yeah, this is absolutely a crack theory, but it’s the one I’m choosing to believe because I love it, although that’s not the point. Let me explain how this would work; After the creation of the Gnoses from what was salvageable of his form, the rest of Nibelung was left to fester in the abyss. Alone and incomplete. Missing the parts of himself that were used to make the gnoses, likely the last uncorrupted pieces remaining. And this brings me to the battle pass cutscene, and something @/Vxeov pointed out in Skirk’s official introduction.

^second paragraph thingie (Serpents Seven-Shifting was the translation of the Seven-Shifting Serpent in the Chinese drip marketing)

So in Chinese, the ‘Serpent’s Seven-Shifting’ refers to the process of a snake turning into a dragon. And we follow this line of thought that Nibelung has lost parts of himself, SEVEN to be exact, one for each gnosis/element, what if he was devolved back into a ‘Snake’. AND THERE’S PRECEDENT FOR THE DEEVOLUTION OF DRAGONS TOO, KUKULKAN TALKED ABOUT IT IN SOME HIDDEN NOTES IN THE VOLCANO!!!

First part is a report by an unnamed researcher, the second part is Kukulkan’s comments. Also, these notes are hidden along with a very easily missable luxurious chest, contact me on my mw if you want to know where these are.

It can be inferred that the dragons of Natlan regressed into the Saurians of today, and the Flamelord’s blessing was taken advantage of by Kukulkan and led to the events of the Little One quest. The point here is that devolution is a concept that has a precedent in Genshin, and we all know they love teasing these big lore reveals in the world quests.

Now there’s Skirk and the Battle Pass cutscene. To me, the battle pass cutscene is an allegory for the central plot of genshin, the princess is the abyss sibling, the prince is the traveler, and the snake represents the abyss by which the sibling had been enthralled (Founding the abyss order and Khaenri’Ah shenanigans). Snake = Weakened abyssal Nibelung in this theory. And Skirk, who’s trained in the abyss and wields ‘Serpent’s Subtley’ also knows a LOT about the gnoses. But who could’ve told her? Nibelung probably, or maybe Surtalogi but where would HE heard it from? And how Skirk’s element as described as the Seven Shifting Serpent: Cryo. Almost like there’s more elemental variations? And well, Nibelung had all the elements as I’ve established. He also could’ve manipulated Khaenri’Ah into causing the cataclysm because Celestia Haters stick together, but that’s a whole different branch of this theory, and this post is already long enough. So drop a comment down below, and remember, I have the whale on standby /s.

I may make a follow-up post to this if any info in 5.7 supports this theory. And if it completely debunks it, eh, at least I tried. I’ll try and link that here if it ends up happening.

(Click to enlarge, and I recommend you enlarge it to see the details)

I reposted a lot of artworks here recently, didn't I? Well, this time, it's the real deal. The following essay is 100%, without doubt, my genuine thoughts. Please read it, just, please.

As you may find out, I frequently search for Genshin arts, to the point that I have created a collection of several thousands of Venti arts on my PC. I have seen so many arts that nowadays whenever I see something drawn, I just say, "Okay, that's decent, but still can be refined" "Cute enough, but lacking actual technique". More or less, I am a cynic, a faultfinder that had long his truest fire at the bottom of his heart quenched.

Then... This came to find me.

No, it can't be real. This is absurd, no! How could I just stumble across such an art, an MASTERPIECE, on a random day at a random corner on the internet? The lighting is blissful, Venti and Lumine's posture are of the utmost elegance, and beyond them, the details. I repeat, details! From a fan's creation of an anime-style game! Oh my Archon! The grass, flora unique to Mondstadt, rock, animal, apple, trunk, and so continues, every stroke of paintbrush has to be done with delicacy when the artist was trying to recreate the game — fuck it. The graphics of the actual game are garbage compared to this. I actually have compressed the image to half of its original size so that I could upload it to Fandom's server. The artist was trying to create a reality, or I dare say, something beyond reality. I am not making a joke when I say that this picture brings me the petrichor of Mondstadt soil in the afternoon, with the soothing breeze and melody brought by the Greatest Bard of the Mortal Realm by my side. That is how surreally good this artwork is.

I do not study fine arts in the college. My words or aesthetic view might be of no value in the eyes of those who are more professional than me. Regardless, I find no problem in putting this picture in the museum. If it's in the Louvre, I will call it a chef d'œuvre alongside paintings of Eugène Delacroix. If it's in the Rijksmuseum, I will compare it with De Nachtwacht without getting cringed. But wouldn't it be an overstatement when I compare this artwork posted on the internet to the magna opera created by the finest minds of history? Yes, and I do not think those museums will even consider putting this into their collections.

But as a matter of fact, I do not mind the hyperbole at all. You see, there is a clear line that divides an ordinary good work and a true master's work. Upon seeing the former, I just smile or nod with a moderate appreciation, then the critic side of me comes back and urges me to the next piece of mediocrity. Upon seeing the latter, however, I come to a halt, tremble, look at it fixedly with wide-open eyes, be so overwhelmed by the sublime artistry that I cannot suppress my urge to salute. Van Gogh's The Starry Night can bring me the awe, and so can this artwork with Venti and Lumine. (With Dainsleif at the background, looking like a phantom. Did you notice him at first glance?)

Yet I stayed oblivious to it and the artist behind it for over four years. The number of works from their hand almost reaches 200, yet their miracle remained a secret to me until this day. Maybe I am just too stupid. Maybe there are already a hundred thousand people who have seen their artworks. But I must not be the only dummy here, right?

Therefore I feel obliged to introduce this artist to you, with one selection from their portfolio, which happens to have Venti. You can find the stupendous artist named lulu8930430 or ルルー on:

Pixiv: https://www.pixiv.net/users/9544086

X (former Twitter): https://x.com/lulu8930430

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lulu8930430

This is vxeov speaking. Check them out, spread the joy!

I think this just swap who dies? But maybe this actually get traveler killed, Since idk if they could beat scara at that point, and I doubt anything changes with Yae tho, I doubt she'd care enough about the gnosis to not trade it anyway. So Ig that just makes either Scara die instead, or Travler dies, and either way Siggy lives and The Fatui get the Elctro gnosis quicker, and CWOE is still sealed, witch means shes still around for the other nations and probs just continues as she was going from nation to nation gnosis hunting, I imagine if Scara dies then the story is largely unchanged.

So a few days ago i downloaded genshin impact and got a few good characters but i only have 8 characters in the game and didn't explore the WHOLE place yet.

I am found in the europe servers and if you find someone called moon light that's me! (and you can just call me paper)

Ihave only unlock mondstat and liyue

does the travelers actions (up to natlan) have any real weight?

What I mean is, Since teyvats history is already preordained(mostly. Unless you loophole it), that means all the things that traveler "Helps with"

...

Well, they would have ended the same REGARDLESS of them?

Especially if you believe loop theory.

Sure, minor lives could be changed, but its not going to be earthshattering?

Dvalin WOULD have been taken care of regardless; as that's fate.

Liyue would have been defended perfectly well; as that's fate.

Raiden would have eventually stopped the decree; as that's fate

So what's the point for the traveler to have done any of that if it didn't really matter? The only things so far where it openly defied fate would be Fontaine (although they didn't know it) and (presumably) natlan?

Yuuki Aoi (Mao Mao) and Seto Asami (Shisui) also the fact Seto-San Voiced Ajita in Honkai Impact 3rd with Yuuki-san voicing Rita as well