The Four Shades, also called the Shining Shades, are four gods who serve directly as envoys or emissaries under the Heavenly Principles. They were created by the Heavenly Principles after it descended to Teyvat and battled against the Seven Sovereigns.[1]
Overview[]
Though little is known about them, they are implied to be more powerful than the Seven Archons, with Istaroth named as a "higher power" compared to the late Electro Archon.[2] According to Yohualtecuhtin, the Shades do not like to be mentioned by name by any living being, even including by the Seven, and instead prefer to remain in the shadows as Shades.[3]
Members[]
Istaroth[]
Istaroth is the Ruler of Time,[1] also known by myriad names including the "thousand winds" and "Kairos." She was worshiped in Mondstadt alongside Barbatos,[4] and in Enkanomiya[1] before the state religion of the Sunchildren was imposed. Time and Wind are known to be deeply connected, with variations of a similar saying arising in Mondstadt, "seeds of stories, brought by the wind and cultivated by time." Both are hinted to be connected to erosion in the description of Sacrificial Fragments. In the present day, Istaroth has been forgotten to have ever been a deity of Mondstadt.
When Enkanomiya fell into the depths of the ocean, Istaroth responded to the people's pleas for help. However, the Heavenly Principles and the other three Shades were unable to hear them.[1]
Istaroth was likely involved in Raiden Makoto's plan to create the Sacred Sakura, which involved creating a stable time loop that planted the Sacred Sakura in the past while inside Makoto's realm of consciousness, a place where "time was moving forward and backward at the same time."[2]
Ronova[]
Ronova is the Ruler of Death.[5] She helped Natlan establish its rules and gave guidance to Yohualtecuhtin, the Lord of the Night, in creating the Night Kingdom out of an expression of love and act of reparation. However, these actions were considered to be overstepping her authority as a Shade and displeased the Heavenly Principles.[3]
Unnamed Shade[]
One unnamed Shade, speculated to be the Ruler of Life (unofficial name), had the duty to create life[6] and was responsible for helping the Heavenly Principles create animals, plants, and humans.[1] She is described as the envoy of Celestia.[6] Following the deposition of the Primordial Sea's first heart, the Hydro Dragon, she created Egeria to function as the Primordial Sea's new heart.[6]
Trivia[]
- The Heavenly Principles and its Shades' attributes have been speculated to align with the five Artifact types: life (the unnamed Shade), death (Ronova), time (Istaroth), void,[Note 1] and reason.[Note 2]
- The Unknown God has been theorized to be one of the four Shades, specifically the Ruler of Void (unofficial name), based on her self-introduction as the "sustainer of heavenly principles" and her resemblance to the Herrscher of the Void from Honkai Impact 3rd, another HoYoverse game.
Other Languages[]
Four Shades
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Four Shades |
Shining Shades
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Shining Shades |
Change History[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Book: The Byakuyakoku Collection, Vol. 2 - Before Sun and Moon
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Story Quest, Raiden Shogun, Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act II - Transient Dreams, Part 3: Radiant Sakura
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 1: Beneath the Secret Source
- ↑ World Quest: Time and Wind
- ↑ Archon Quest Beneath the Secret Source in Chapter V: Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wind Glider: Wings of Merciful, Wrathful Waters
Notes[]
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