The Nations of Teyvat -> Natlan (Heroes of Natlan | Tribes)
Natlan

Natlan is the nation of Fire and War located at the southwestern edge of Teyvat. Compared to the other Archon-states, it is a confederation of six tribes with unique cultures, bound together by their allegiance to the Pyro Archon, Mavuika. The people are known for their peaceful coexistence with the Saurians, an assortment of draconic creatures, as well as their martial culture, honed by centuries of fighting Abyssal creatures. The tribes regularly convene at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame for the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flames, a tournament that pits the best fighters from the six tribes against each other for the right to join the Night Warden Wars against the Abyss.
- Animal Motif: Each tribe is associated with a Saurian who live close to their territories and are even part of many families. This is further emphasized through the playable members of each tribe having each Saurian’s unique traversal abilities present in their kits in some capacity.
- The Children of the Echoes are associated with Tepetlisaurs, large, shelled creatures who can burrow beneath the ground and use this ability to easily climb up cliffsides.
- The Scions of the Canopy are associated with Yumkasaurs, bipedal creatures who can use a grapple to swing through the air, launch themselves to nearby grapple points, and grab explosive fruits to launch at enemies or obstacles.
- The People of the Springs are associated with Koholasaurs, shark-like creatures capable of swimming at great speeds and riding spirit waves.
- The Flower-Feather Clan are associated with Qucusaurs, winged Saurians that soar through the air for prolonged periods of time and use upwards drafts to soar higher.
- The Masters of the Night-Wind are associated with the stealthy and bat-like Iktomisaurs, who can levitate and see hidden secrets.
- The Collective of Plenty are associated with Tatankasaurs, horned bull-like Saurians that can charge through obstacles.
- The Apocalypse Brings Out the Best in People: Despite the constant threat of the Abyss, the people are cheerful, vibrant, and strongly bound by their loyalty to their Archon.
- Applied Phlebotinum: Natlan has its own unique energy known as Phlogiston, which is a unique form of fire. While in Natlan, the party gains a Phlogiston Gauge that can be consumed once the Nightsoul Gauges of playable Natlanese characters or the innate gauges of indwelt Saurians run out.
- Backup from Otherworld: In Act V, as Mavuika and the Traveler battle their way through the Night Kingdom in the final counterattack against the Abyss, the souls of recently fallen and long-deceased Natlanese rise to fight, assist and cheer on their journey towards the Final Boss. Notable examples include Atea offering a hand during a clash with Rifthounds, Mallko and Vichama, reunited and working together to escort the Traveler safely through a particularly corrosive path, and Chuychu arriving with five Saurians for the Traveler to indwell. Additionally, completing the Nanatzcayan Tribal Chronicles and Ochkanatlan world quests before Act V will have the real Nechca, Bona and Cocouik appear and lend their support.
- Bare Midriffs Are Feminine: Many of the featured female characters in the Ignition teaser
have their stomach area exposed to varying extents, while the males have their torso fully covered. As of Version 5.8, the penultimate update of the Natlan cycle, 6 out of 8 playable Natlan female characters have their midriffs bared. Played straight with most female NPCs but zigzagged with the male NPCs. - Braids of Action: Most of Natlan's playable characters (except Mavuika, Ororon and Iansan) and many NPCs with classically "African" hair sport at least one braid in their hair, and are all either Heroes of Natlan or otherwise seasoned fighters.
- Breaking Old Trends: Natlan is the first Nation to...
- ...have a main theme with vocals.
- ...to have its native element story-locked behind the Archon Quest.
- ...have multiple Reputation systems, divided among the six tribes, with the closest analogue to the centralized Reputation of past regions being the Gifts from the Speaker's Chamber, which gives rewards depending on the number of tribes with which players have reached the maximum Reputation Level of four.
- ...have an Archon Quest Interlude set between the numbered Acts, specifically focusing on the rehabilitation of the Flower-Feather Clan, which was hit the hardest by the massive Abyssal attack of Act IV.
- ...not have a Harbinger getting the Gnosis by the end of the Archon Quest.
- Call a Rabbit a "Smeerp": That New World staple of corn or maize is present but is called grainfruit. Weirdly enough, actual corn can be seen in boxes as decoration.
- Close-Knit Community: There's a reason Natlan has Tribal Chronicles instead of Story Quests (with the exception of Mavuika). Compared to other nations, neighbours have a larger presence in the lives of its residents, and there are numerous times where playable characters and their fellow tribe members are shown looking out for each other both in game and in character stories, no matter how insignificant they would otherwise seem to outsiders. For example, in v5.5's Tournament of Glory in Bloom, when a Tepetlisaur Whelp falls ill due to war injuries, all the tribal chiefs visit him and agree to revive a long forgotten tournament to produce the rare ingredient required for his treatment, and so many signed up to participate that there was even a protest to add more latecomers. That being said, the event revealed that this wasn't always the case, as during the previous Bloomflower Trials, the tribes used to argue and fight with each other over the Sacred Flame Crystals.
- Color-Coded Characters: The six tribes are coded in six colors, corresponding with the elements and the Saurians they're connected with, and it's generally easy to identify the tribe that NPCs and some playable characters belong to by looking at the main colour of their clothing. The Children of Echoes wear orange, yellow or brown, the Scions of the Canopy dress in green, the Flower-Feather Clan is red, the Collective of Plenty are purple, the People of the Springs wear deep blue, dark blue and turquoise and the Masters of the Night-Wind wear pale blue and indigo with occasional purple accessories.
- Cool Big Sis: Not just spiritually, but Natlan has a quite a large number of "older sister"-characters, not only as playable, but also as non-playable characters. The player can encounter older sisters (often with their younger sibling) throughout all kinds of quests in Natlan. Older brothers on the other hand are very rare, and one of those is a middle child with an older sister himself. Even Mavuika, the Pyro Archon, is an older sister, and is referred to as a "Big-Sister Figure" for the entire nation in her profile.
- Cosmic Flaw:
- Natlan's problems with the Abyss is rooted in the First Descender creating a massive breach to the Abyss during their war against the dragons, resulting in the pollution of its ley lines. The people and the Pyro Archons have since been tasked with keeping watch over it on behalf of all of Teyvat, with such systems as the Ode of Resurrection and the Night Kingdom put into place by the Shade of Death to give them a better fighting chance.
- Dottore and Scaramouche's claims that Teyvat's skies are fake are proven true when Mavuika's final attack on the Abyss during the fourth act of the Natlan Archon Quest punches a hole in the sky, briefly revealing the shards of a shattered moon before the hole closes up again. Still, the damage has been seemingly done, as this moon remains faintly visible in the sky after the quest's conclusion.
- Cosmic Motifs: Natlan's solar motifs, that are inspired from the Aztec sun stone
, can be found everywhere, from the emblem, to the sun-shaped cases that local Visions come in and most prominently, surrounding Mavuika. - Crapsaccharine World: Beneath the vibrancy of Natlan's bright and lively overworld lurks the constant threat of the Abyss, which Mavuika estimates will overtake the land in less than a year, culminating in a large-scale attack during the fourth act of the Natlan Archon Quest that left thousands dead. Still, its people carry on with their lives, rebuilding as soon as the Abyss is driven back even as they prepare for the next conflict.
- Culture Chop Suey: Compared to previous nations where the inspirations for most characters are mainly derived from a single culture with minor elements of others at most, it is common for Natlanese characters to have elements of several cultures, such as Mavuika, whose name is Maori in origin, wears clothing inspired by depictions of an Aztec deity and came from the tribe whose residents mainly have Quechua names (Scions of the Canopy). This can be partially Justified by how Natlan consists of six autonomous tribes, each with their own unique culture, that share a greater national identity as a result of living in relative harmony and intermingling over the course of their existence. The Flower Feather Clan especially is a tribe that descended from outcasts and those who otherwise had nowhere else to go.
- Death Is Cheap: Zig-Zagged. The Ode of Resurrection allows bearers of Ancient Names to be revived whenever they die during the Night Warden Wars, albeit on the condition that at least one such name-bearer should return victorious, lest the Names fade into obscurity, and with them their stories and their ability to be passed onto succeeding generations. During the second act of the Natlan Archon Quest, the first major sign that things are seriously wrong is when the Ode failed to resurrect Kachina after she died on her first sortie despite her four other companions, including Chasca and Iansan, emerging victorious, forcing Mavuika to put the Pilgrimages, and in turn the Night Warden Wars, on hold until the reason is determined and Kachina is rescued from the Night Kingdom.
- Dragon Tamer: The people of Natlan live alongside Saurians, who serve as companions, co-workers, fellow combatants, or even family members.
- Eldritch Location: The Mare Jivari, an ash-black desert in Natlan where "the wind does not blow". It's said that if a traveler dies there, their soul cannot be collected by the winds and brought home. The "Iktomi Spiritseeking Scrolls" event revealed that it was the site of the last stand of Tenoch and one of the Heroes of the Cataclysm (Sanhaj) 500 years ago which turned it into the wasteland it is today. Between 20 - 30 years prior, there was a sudden surge in claims of a mountain-sized monster roaming the area, and then the entire region inexplicably...vanished into thin air.
- Elemental Nation: Beyond Natlan's association with Pyro, each tribe is also loosely associated with six out of seven elements by way of their affiliated Saurians, though Vision bearers do not necessarily wield the same elements as those associated with their tribes.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Natlan draws inspiration from the indigenous and Afro-Latin cultures along the Pacific Ring of Fire (excluding China and Japan, from which Liyue and Inazuma, respectively, are already loosely inspired). The structure of their religious institution and mythological/historical legacy is prominently influenced by Pre-Columbian Civilizations such as Aztec, Maya and Inca/Andean culture while Ancient Names are Swahili in origin. Among specific tribes and individuals, cultural elements have been taken all the way from Sub-Saharan Africa, Southwest Native Americans to Oceania and parts of maritime Southeast Asia, specifically Java and Bali in Indonesia and the Philippines.
- Feather Motif: Ancient Names are carved on feather-shaped obsidian about the size of a dagger.
- The Federation: Compared to the other Archon-states, Natlan's government is devolved among the six tribes, each with their own culture and strong local governments, bound only by their allegiance to the Pyro Archon. This is alluded to during the Tlalocan Tribal Chronicle, when Allpa reveals that not even Mavuika has the final say on tribal affairs. The six tribes are in good relationship to one another, so it's common for tribesmen to form friendships with people from other tribes.
- Forever War: The reason for Natlan's reputation as the "Nation of War" is that they have been fighting on the frontline of Abyssal encroachment for millennia. They have the means to strike back against the Abyss in the form of the Night Warden Wars, but no way to stop the Abyssal attacks for good until the events of the Natlan story arc.
- Gameplay and Story Integration: As Natlan is divided into six tribes, Natlan's reputation system is also divided by tribe.
- Gameplay and Story Segregation: At the end of Act II, talking to Mavuika will have her reveal that the reason Natlanese haven't been encountered in other Nations is due to their long war with the Abyss making them reliant on the protection of the Wayob to survive its corruption, with most who leave the country suffering memory loss and emotional disarray due to said protection not extending beyond Natlan's borders. However, aside from losing access to Phlogiston and in turn any means of extending their "Nightsoul States", you can explore the other nations as any Natlan character with no problems whatsoever. Of course, this stops being an issue once Capitano managed to restore the leyline connection, allowing Natlanese to finally leave Natlan without lasting consequences.
- Gratuitous Foreign Language: Any vocals in Natlan's soundtracks (such as the Ode to Resurrection) and Ancient Names are in Swahili.
- Hidden Elf Village: Prior to v5.0, Natlan was notable for lack of onscreen NPCs originating from there, especially when even Inazumans appeared while the Sakoku Decree was in effect. This is lampshaded in v4.6's "Specially-Shaped Saurian Search" event, where the Traveler can note that they have not met any Natlanese. The Natlan Archon Quest reveals that it is not isolationist against outsiders (unlike Inazuma) as they are free to enter and leave, with Furina and Navia stating that the nation is a fairly popular vacation spot that's welcoming towards outsiders, and Mavuika reveals that her people suffer from Abyss-induced mental problems without the protection of the Wayob, who cannot extend their protection beyond Natlan's borders without expending energy they need to fight against the Abyss (and in the case of Bennett, it also seemingly manifests as supernatural bad luck). After the completion of the Natlan Archon Quest, various Natlanese start showing up in other nations since they're no longer bound by said restrictions and are now free to travel.
- History Repeats: Heroes from the different tribes coming together to fight against a nation-spanning threat is a reoccurring thread in Natlan, from Xbalanque and his party establishing human reign in Natlan , the Scarlet-Eyed Youth and his team fighting Och-kan, Tenoch summoning heroes to fight in the Cataclysm, to the modern Heroes of Natlan fighting against The Abyss once and for all.
- Hot-Blooded: NPC dialogue mentions the youth from Natlan being very energetic, but not barbarians. They are referred to as being "forged for battle from birth", and the generic human enemies that dot the region are warriors who challenge the Traveler for the chance to test themselves in battle. Downplayed by the people in the cities and villages; they can be rambunctious but they mainly like street graffiti and showing off their trinkets to others.
- Irony: Despite Natlan being the region associated with Pyro, there are no playable Natlanese Pyro characters other than their Archon, Mavuika (contrasting previous nations having other playable characters sharing their element with the resident Archon); the only character seen with a Pyro Vision in a Natlan-style casing is Atea, who is a generic NPC. For extra irony, the only Natlan character in a technical sense who actually does have a Pyro Vision is none other than Bennett, who lives in Mondstadt, as he is revealed to be of Natlanese descent in 5.8
- Lava Pit: As fitting the Nation of Pyro that has the active Great Volcano of Tollan, you can find these underground and swim in them when indwelling a Koholasaur or even fish, Convection, Schmonvection is in full force.
- Light/Darkness Juxtaposition: The bright, vibrant and colourful sun-themed land of Natlan (which even has sun shaped Vision cases) contrasts with the aptly-named Night Kingdom.
- Low Culture, High Tech: The humans of Natlan learnt how to utilise Phlogiston from the dragon Waxaklahun Ubah Kan, and went on to develop their own Magitek that would use it as the main power source. However, even Xilonen, the Gadgeteer Genius of modern Natlan who created several playable characters' Magitek, cannot hold a candle to the feats achieved by the dragon civilisation, which include an entire Underground City in the volcano with an Artificial Outdoors Display.
- Magitek: Aside from record players and turntables, Natlan is also one of the few nations to have firearms, such as the cannons carried by elite Sauroform Tribal Warriors as well as Ifa having a revolver. The Tlalocan Tribal Chronicles even demonstrates working Phlogiston-powered Jet Packs planned for mass-production.
- Meaningful Name:
- Natlan is possibly derived from Aztlán
, said to be the ancestral home of seven tribes of Nahua (Aztec) people. - Ancient Names run on this trope, with each Ancient Name being a Swahili word that fits with its name-bearer.
- Natlan is possibly derived from Aztlán
- Minored in Ass-Kicking: Justified, given that Natlan is at constant war with the Abyss and suffer attacks from them fairly regularly. Whether their job is as a warrior or a shopkeeper, chances are that any Natlanese is capable of holding their own in a fight so that they're always ready to defend their tribes.
- Music for Courage: As fitting for the Nation of War, the regional soundtrack features several Song of Courage, especially the Ode of Resurrection which is used as a regional Leitmotif.Opening verse of "Natlan"
: Shambulia! Beba Silaha
Pigana mpaka mwishowe
Kwa nchi yetu tutaunguza damu yoyote
Rudi kwa pambaja ya duniaTranslation - Our Giants Are Bigger: Another of Natlan's unique traits is the existence of giants that are easily twice the size of the average human, such as Tupac and Biram. They may be inspired by the Aztec Quinametzin
, the "humans" of the world ruled by the third sun from the myth of the Five Suns
who were punished for not revering the gods. - Passing the Torch: The entirety of Natlan's stories and worldbuilding revolves around this, sometimes literally. Ancient Names, the Flamelord's Blessing and the throne of the Pyro Archon along with legends of heroes past honouring their feats and sacrifices are passed down through generations to inspire and support the neverending fight against the Abyss.
- Planet of Hats: Each of the six Natlan tribes have their specialisation. The Scions of Canopy are the messengers/couriers, Masters of Night-Wind is the Tribe of Priests, Children of Echoes are the miners and blacksmiths, Flower-Feather Clan is the airborne cavalry, People of the Springs are the explorers and tour guides, and the Collective of Plenty are farmers.
- Proud Warrior Race: Naturally, as citizens of the nation of war, the people of Natlan incorporate combat in their way of life. In the manga, Venti mentions that "warriors of every tribe would perform rites of combat and celebrate victories in (Murata's) name."
- Religious and Mythological Theme Naming:
- Each of the tribes are named after a place in Aztec Mythology.
- Meztli and Tlalocan derived from Ilhuicatl-Meztli, also called Ilhuicatl-Tlalocan, the first of the Thirteen Heavens.
- Huitztlan is derived from Ilhuicatl-Huitztlan, the fourth of the Thirteen Heavens.
- Nanatzcayan is derived from Ilhuicatl-Nanatzcayan, the eighth of the Thirteen Heavens.
- Mictlan is named after the Underworld.
- Teteocan is named after Ilhuicatl-Teteocan, the twelfth of the Thirteen Heavens
- Other than Mavuika, many featured characters from Natlan such as Iansan, Kachina and Kinich are also named after spiritual entities from the cultures that they are inspired from.
- Each of the tribes are named after a place in Aztec Mythology.
- Rainbow Motif: As an Elemental Nation, the people of Natlan are dressed vibrantly in all colours of the rainbow. One way to interpret Act IV's title The Rainbow Destined to Burn is that it's referring to all of Natlan being "engulfed in the flames of war" as people laid down their lives to fight back during the Abyss invasion. One can also line up the splash arts of the Natlanese playable cast to form a pleasing rainbow
gradient. - Rescued from the Underworld: Several attempts occur over the course of the Traveler's adventures in Natlan, with varying results.
- In the Archon Quest itself, the Ode to Resurrection fails to revive Kachina after the latest bout of the Night Warden Wars, prompting Mualani, Chasca, Iansan, the Traveler and Paimon to venture into the Night Kingdom to retrieve her as she rightfully should have returned. The rescue party itself ends up getting stuck after the entrance becomes sealed shut as the Abyss tries to block their escape. Fortunately, Mavuika simply smashed the ceiling of the Night Kingdom and everyone came back safe and sound. Unfortunately, Vichama had no such luck even when he risked his life to reconstruct Malko's Ancient Name through the Spiritseeker Stone, it had simply been too long, though he did succeed in briefly piecing together Malko's spirit which contributed to Kachina's rescue.
- In the Nanatzcayan Tribal Chronicles, Tlazolli has a Near Villian Victory from reviving her daughter in the body of the orphan she had taken in, but Xilonen managed to destroy the Ancient Name that Tlazolli had constructed for Nechca and purify the summoning grounds, which enabled Nechca's spirit to set Nepecha free as well.
- Sacred Flames: The essential function of the majority of Natlan's traditions is to keep the fire that's keeping the Abyss at bay going so that they can continue going about their lives with minimal disruption. It is literally The Flame of Life of Natlan which fallen warriors of the Night Warden Wars will step through when they get resurrected.
- Shrine to the Fallen: Act IV concludes with a shot at a makeshift shrine where candles have been lit and flowers laid in remembrance of the fallen. You can approach the shrine to read the names of the deceased. Three of them were overworld NPCs that will no longer appear (Batz, Tillhua, and Hunza) and another two are more familiar names, Vichama and Chuychu. Afterwards, a permanent memorial is erected in memory of everyone who died in Act IV, that also prominently commemorates Il Capitano as a major player in the efforts at finally ending Natlan's Forever War.
- Stance System: The playable Natlan characters can enter their Nightsoul State by either using their Elemental Skill or via Phlogiston Transmission. While in that state, their entire combat system changes: most of them replace their weapons for completely different kinds of weapons, their Normal Attacks all change to new Normal Attacks and they lose the ability to use Charged Attacks. The first notable exception is Kachina, who can still perform her usual Normal Attacks and her Charged Attack as long as she doesn't ride her Turbo Twirly. The second (and more) notable exception, is Ororon, who doesn't enter his Nightsoul State via his Elemental Skill, but by holding the jump button, and he stays in that state only very briefly, and it doesn't change his attacks whatsoever. While Mualani and Xilonen can prematurely end their Nightsoul State by pressing the Elemental Skill button, Kachina and Kinich cannot.
- Strength Equals Worthiness: As expected of a Proud Warrior Race, Natlan's culture looks highly upon those who have achieved feats in both friendly competition and battle. Kachina's Heroic Self-Deprecation can be partially attributed to her tribespeople looking down on her for losing in all her prior attempts in the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flames, and when she finally wins in the Archon Quest, she is sent to fight in the Night Warden Wars despite her young age and lack of experience, and almost predictably ends up dying, if only temporarily.
- Sufficiently Advanced Bamboo Technology: At first glance, Natlan looks like a traditionalist, tribal society compared to the technologically advanced Fontaine and Snezhnaya. However, the Children of Echoes has the vibrantly graffitied wooden Stage Tepetl, which is outfitted with pyrotechnics that periodically blast flames from the side and a wooden turntable (that they call "Dance-Off Stage") for breakdancing sessions, while Xochicuicatl Records in Meztli territory sells portable record players that use what appears to be vinyl discs.
- Super Mode: The unique factor of Natlan’s playable cast is the “Nightsoul State” they enter with their Elemental Skills, which not only grants them enhanced combat capabilities, but allows them to traverse the overworld with much greater ease while active by mimicking the abilities of the Saurians.
- Survivor's Guilt: Extremely prevalent in Natlan where people are often endangered by Abyssal attacks. At best they may express regret at not being stronger/quicker to prevent more casualties, at worst they will be stuck grieving over the loss of loved ones and comrades.
- Team Spirit: It's a repeated axiom in Natlan that "No one fights alone", and of course, it's easier to take down Abyssal forces in numbers. When Kachina resigns herself to competing alone during the team segment of the Pilgramage of the Return of the Sacred Flames, Mualani steps up to be her teammate and asks Kinich to take over as leader for her initial team instead because of this very reason.
- Tournament Arc: Act I of the Archon Quest deals with the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flames, a tournament frequently held to determine who gets to fight in the Night Warden Wars against the Abyss as well as who gets to become Pyro Archon.
- The Underworld: The Night Kingdom is Natlan's substitute for the Ley Lines that are found elsewhere in Teyvat, housing the slowly fading spirits of the deceased. While it is possible to go there physically while alive, a World Quest has the Traveler falling down a 700m (765.5 yd) deep rift to reach it.
- Victorious Chorus: Provided that the rest of their expedition party survives the Night Warden Wars and returns to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, heroes that fall in battle during the Night Warden Wars will be revived and welcomed back by their countrymen singing the Ode of Resurrection. This particular segment of the Ode also plays during climatic moments in the Archon Quests, such as when the six chosen heroes of Natlan finally convene after a long day of brutal fighting against the Abyss
, and Mavuika is finally able to empower herself and launch her ultimate counterattack
with their combined efforts.Hadithi yaendelea
Heshima warithi vizazi
Ushujaa waangaza mbingu na ardhi
Mara tena ashida Natlan
Milele tuwangoje, na tutawaimbia
Rudini ndugu, rudini mashujaa
Mara ya tena mwangani!Translation - Walking Shirtless Scene: Zigzagged with the male characters, NPCs included. Both revealed playable male characters and many male NPCs have their torsos fully covered, though some wear a shrug that doesn't cover their pecs while others (particularly in the Meztli tribe/ People of the Springs) play the trope straight.
- War Is Glorious: Because the consequences of Abyssal attacks can be devastating, being able to fight back naturally helps one earn prestige, with the Pilgrimages and the Night Warden Wars serving as motivation for the people to become stronger and contribute to the defense of the nation. It helps that their enemies are inhuman monsters from the Abyss rather than other humans, and that the Ode of Resurrection exists to save warriors who would've otherwise died.
- The darker side to this glorification of heroic deeds and battle experience is that people either expect high standards for the hero or put them on a pedestal for the cause at the expense of others.
- Kongamato the Mountain King is a revered cultural symbol for the Scions of the Canopy due to being Burkina's companion during the Cataclysm. Even with Abyssal corruption driving him to several madness-induced deadly rampages, one of which took the life of Burkina, the tribe has opted to keep him in an induced coma for most of his artificially inflated existence. During the Huitztlan Tribal Chronicles, the current chief Wayna still insists on just doing the usual purification ceremony even when it is clear that it is increasingly unsustainable for the worsening situation, and Kongamato is revealed to be despairing over his hand in Burkina's death to the point of begging Kinich for an assisted suicide.
- Kachina's low self-esteem can be partially attributed to the pressure of not being able to serve in the Night Warden Wars and her tribe members looking down on her for her lack of experience and success in battle despite repeated reassurances that it's normal for her young age. Natlan also takes no issue with Child Soldiers and the very real possibility of them dying permanently in the event of a Total Party Kill.
- The darker side to this glorification of heroic deeds and battle experience is that people either expect high standards for the hero or put them on a pedestal for the cause at the expense of others.
- War Is Hell: Double Subverted. While the Natlanese's view of war skews closer to War Is Glorious, by the time The Abyss starts an all out invasion it becomes clear that this is what it actually is, with countless people dying in the battle, and even before then it is clear that Natlan barely has less than a year left before completely being destroyed by the Abyss.
- On an individual level, as expected of a people who are comprised of war veterans and survivors, mental health among the Natlanese can be abysmal especially those who have lost loved ones, and There Are No Therapists. Vichama had Survivor's Guilt and couldn't move on from mourning Malko's death for the five years since he passed, and the tragedy of Tlazolli and Nepecha was that they could have found what they lost in each other if someone from the Children of Echoes had simply checked in on Tlazolli, living far away from the tribe as a single mother as she was, more often and given the both of them some grief counselling.
- World of Badass: Practically every Natlanese citizen has some form of combat training and are capable of taking up arms if needed. Justified in that the nation deals with constant Abyss threats.
"Kiongozi" Mavuika / Haborym, the God of War / The Pyro Archon
Introduced: January 1, 2025 (v5.3 "Incandescent Ode of Resurrection" [first half])
Voiced by: Li Ye (Chinese), Mikako Komatsu (Japanese), Kim Na-yul (Korean), Katiana Sarkissian (English)

- The Ace: Within Natlan, since the Pyro Archons are all humans who obtained their titles by proving that they're the best warriors, Mavuika has earned a lot of admiration from her people. Her approachable personality and empathy allow her to form close connections and friendships with her "subjects", and young warriors and aspiring heroes see her as a role model to strive for. She also makes a habit of pursuing and excelling at various different skills and hobbies, such as painting, as a form of self-improvement. She attributes her success in essentially everything she pursues as having mastered self-improvement itself as a skill.
- All-Loving Heroine: Mavuika's capacity for kindness is near-infinite, as her voice lines indicate a willingness to understand her subjects on a personal level, and she is far less formal in conversation than expected of an archon. She also believes that gods should expand their horizons and know humans better instead of just staying confined to the heavens.
- Always Someone Better: As much of a Big Eater as she is, even Mavuika can't beat Varesa in that department.
- Amplifier Artifact: Her third and fifth Constellation upgrades, The Burning Sun and The Meaning of Truth, add three levels to, respectively, her Burst and Skill.
- And Then What?: Defied. Since she fully planned on dying at the close of the war with the Abyss, she admits to not having any idea what to do after. However, the Traveler's life as a adventurer inspires her to make expanding her horizons her new passion.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: She won her seat as the current Pyro Archon through battle. Twice, in fact, as she's the reborn winner of the Pilgrimage before the cataclysm 500 years ago. She also personally goes toe to toe with Il Capitano, the First of the Fatui Harbingers, and comes out on top by injuring him and forcing him to retreat in Chapter V Act II.
- Astonishingly Appropriate Appearance: Mavuika is the Pyro Archon and the color and style of her hair resembles flames. Her hair even ignites when she fights Capitano during Chapter V Act II.
- Bad "Bad Acting": Downplayed. During the performance to help Antu move on from his regrets, Mavuika ends up forgetting her lines and has to consult a note she made beforehand.
- Badass Biker: Mavuika's got the look of a leather clad biker and she has a Cool Bike called the Flamestrider to match. Doubling up on this, her skills use her bike as a weapon and conduit for elemental firepower.
- Beware the Nice Ones: She's infinitely approachable and friendly to those she meets, but that does not mean that she should be underestimated or pissed off. A pair of hecklers that attempted to belittle Kachina's character after the Incandescent Ode of Resurrection failed to revive her backed down as soon as she called them out on their slander; and Il Capitano learned how bad an idea fighting her is the hard way when he tried to seize the Pyro Gnosis by force, interrupting Mavuika's ritual to sacrifice her status as Pyro Archon to sustain the Sacred Flame, suffering a vicious-looking injury to his chest and being forced to retreat after his fight with her.
- BFS: Mavuika borrows the Earth Shaker claymore from Kinich when she confronts Il Capitano in Chapter V Act II. Her banner also runs concurrently with the 5★ claymore A Thousand Blazing Suns, which is built for her.
- Big Damn Heroes: When the Traveler and the others end up trapped and nearly overrun by the Abyss in the Night Kingdom, Mavuika (or rather a projection of her power) smashes through the barrier to the Night Kingdom and allows them to escape.
- Big Eater: Mavuika orders an entire table's worth of large dishes during her Story Quest and considers it merely breakfast, shocking even Paimon. That being said, not even she can match Varesa in this regard, only "breezing through" the regular difficulty of the Collective of Plenty's annual eating contest before getting trounced by the "Varesa Challenge".
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: If Xilonen's possibly-not-entirely-acting "Reason You Suck" Speech to her in "Tournament Of Glory in Bloom" is anything to go by, she is a downplayed example who really doesn't respect Xilonen's schedules and has a habit of dumping loads of work onto her with no prior notice.
- Born-Again Immortality: She reveals near the end of Act II that as part of her plan to beat back the Abyss and save Natlan, she placed her soul within Natlan's flames before falling in battle in order to be born again years later as the woman she is now.
- Breaking Old Trends:
- Unlike other Archons, whose hair tips have glowing highlights when using their power, Mavuika's entire hair bursts into flame.
- Mavuika is the first Archon to not be released within the x.0 to x.2 patch timeframe of her respective region, with Ororon and Chasca instead being set to release in v5.2, while Mavuika herself not becoming playable until the patch afterwards.
- Mavuika is temporarily playable during the v5.1 Archon Quest "A Fuel Named "Fate"" despite the game having no playable data of her until v5.3; this marks the first time a character is controllable by the player before the release of their drip marketing confirming their playable status.
- Because the Tribal Chronicle of the Scions of Canopy is already attributed to an earlier released 5★ character (Kinich) and Mavuika is the second 5★ from said tribe, she's the first Natlan 5★ character to have a traditional Story Quest instead of a Tribal Chronicle Quest, much like the 5★ characters before v5.0.
- Mavuika is the first character who doesn't rely on energy to use her burst. Instead, she uses "Fighting Spirit", which accumulate by consuming Nightsoul Points or dealing Normal attacks.
- Breather Episode: Her story quest, which proceeds after the conclusion of Natlan's main archon storyline, is this. Instead of some personal crisis, her story quest simply has the Traveler helping her organize a new tournament while investigating Xbalanque's impending return. Even what would usually be a final boss fight — her duel with Xbalanque in the spirit realm — is instead a cutscene, and a pretty awesome one at that.
- Bring It: When Capitano confronts her during Chapter V Act II, Mavuika tells him that they should let their blades do the talking and attacks him.
- Broke Your Arm Punching Out Cthulhu: She takes on Il Capitano, the First and strongest of the Harbingers, and while she ultimately wins, the fight clearly takes its toll on her. In order to keep the Sacred Flame going, Mavuika relinquishes her powers as the Pyro Archon, leaving her as an ordinary mortal. However, she was still a Vision wielder even before she became the Pyro Archon, and so she retains that and her fighting prowess. It's revealed that this is a temporary state of affairs and that part of her plans for defeating the Abyss involve having the power of the Six Heroes reignite her flame stronger than ever.
- Car Fu: She's able to incorporate her Flamestrider into her attacks via sideswipes and slamming it at enemies as well as doing burnouts for her Charged Attack.
- The Chains of Commanding: Mavuika's dedication to Natlan is ironclad, and she's steadfast in her role as leader. Her Ancient Name even means "Leader", and she never half-asses her duties and responsibilities. Still, chapter after chapter of Natlan's Archon Quest reveal that she's willing to give everything of herself in her role as Archon. It started with small things — like precious family mementos — to culminate in her willingness to give her own life in hopes of revitalising the Lord of the Night and preserving the Night Kingdom, and pay Ronova for using her power. Citlali, the Traveler, and even the Lord of the Night try to remind her that she deserves to enjoy the peaceful era she fought so hard for, but Mavuika insists that her responsibility as "Leader" is to ensure the future, not enjoy the present. It's only Capitano's intervention, and his Thanatos Gambit being of benefit to even himself that Mavuika relents on her attempted self-martyrdom and agrees to live.
- Character Select Forcing: In order for her to function optimally as a frontline DPS, Mavuika is best in a team with another Natlan character (ideally an off-field support character such as Xilonen or Citlali) since her Burst is mainly charged via consuming Nightsoul points. All other characters will charge it much less efficiently.
- Childhood Friends: She was from the same tribe as Burkina and one of her fond memories was competing over who'd get the more distinguished Ancient Name.
- Cleavage Window: Mavuika's bodysuit features a prominent open area on the chest that has a partially-undone zipper in the middle to show more of her large breasts, forming the shape of a star.
- Combat and Support: Mavuika curiously has a gameplay plan that lets her swap between roles while making them mutually exclusive. Her Skill allows her to be an on-field DPS, or an off-field attack support, and her passives cause other party members' Nightsoul Bursts to buff her attack, yet also makes her own Elemental Burst confer a party-wide attack buff. Thus, while, Mavuika may be encouraged to have all the buffs feed into her as a frontline unit, she's more than capable of hanging back to improve other units like a traditional Support Party Member.
- Company Cross-References: Mavuika appears to be a counterpart of Himeko from Honkai Impact 3rd and Honkai: Star Rail, being Fiery Redheads Playing with Fire with a large bladed weapon. As an added connection, there are two "Himeko"s in HI3rd. The first one is a historical captain from an anti-Honkai (akin to the Abyss) organization that infamously turned into the Herrscher of Fire (akin to an Abyssal god) and was put down by a fellow captain with ice powers, and the second one is Murata Himeko, a commander of an anti-Honkai platoon which the Player Character of HI3rd, known as the Captain, can direct as playable unit. Murata Himeko also made a Heroic Sacrifice to prevent the Herrscher of the Void from continuing her attack on Earth which was mourned by the Captain. In Genshin, Mavuika crosses swords with Il Capitano, but the Captain sacrifices himself in her stead to strengthen Natlan's protection against the Abyss.
- Contrasting Sequel Main Character:
- Among the Archons, she's most notably this with Furina, both being Archons with a penchant for showmanship, Furina being a famed performer and Mavuika serving as an announcer for the Pilgrimage, enjoying a good deal of admiration from their followers, and having a strand of Idiot Hair. While both are really humans, Furina was the human part of the real Hydro Archon which she left behind, tasked with maintaining a successful God Guise with only a curse of immortality and no Hydro abilities to work with, and had to keep her entire nation from finding out. Mavuika on the other hand is a human reincarnated from a previous Archon, who won the title of Pyro Archon in a previous Pilgrimage and was accordingly given the power over Pyro befitting her role but is otherwise still mortal, a fact that is well-known due to it being part of Natlan tradition. Additionally, while Furina's God Guise had her put up a haughty front that made her seem infallible and incapable of error due to the initial reception she got by acting humble which ironically makes her people doubt her even more and to outright distrust her as the stakes go increasingly high throughout the Fontaine Archon Quest, Mavuika is willing to take responsibility for any mistakes and strange occurrences, with the authority she exudes keeping people from doubting her, making her authority more genuine and thus her people are more inclined to listen to her.
- Mavuika is the Sun of Natlan, while Kusanali refers herself as the Moon. Both Archons underwent reincarnation and had to sacrifice the memories of the people they cherished in order to save their nations (and by extension Teyvat), but Mavuika committed Sentimental Sacrifice while Kusanali RetGoned her predecessor from Irminsul, leaving emptiness in both of their hearts.
- There is also a distinct contrast between her and the Raiden Shogun, her fellow warrior goddess.
- Mavuika's distinct mortality and reincarnation being very open to her populace, whereas Ei took on the role of her sister to keep up the illusion of immortality and eternity. Not only that, Mavuika has made her own presence very open to the public, whereas Ei resigned to isolating herself and leave all public matters to her puppet.
- Mavuika constantly seeks to improve herself through numerous hobbies, while the Electro Archon tried to keep her entire nation in stasis to execute her understanding of "eternity".
- Mavuika and the Shogun both outlived their sisters, but Mavuika's younger sister presumably lived out a relatively peaceful life after the Cataclysm while Ei's older sister Makoto was slain during the Cataclysm.
- Cool Big Sis: Appears to have been a loving and doting one to Hine in her previous life prior to her death and reincarnation.
- Cool Bike: She uses a streetfighter
-style all-terrain motorcycle known as the Flamestrider to travel and attack her foes, which has the mobility capabilities of all Natlan characters such as Driving Up a Wall, water, Lava Surfing and even Sky Surfing. The vehicle is meant to increase her efficiency in resolving Abyssal attacks, and has special effects so that Mavuika looks like she's riding a dragon. - Cool Helmet: When riding the Flamestrider, Mavuika puts on a sleek biker helmet.
- Cool Shades: Sports a pair of orange triangular shades made by Xilonen that complement her leather biker outfit.
- Cosmic Motifs: Her clothing, jewelry, hair, and eyes all have patterns resembling the rays of the sun. One can even combine this with her black leather suit to suggest that she is a "black sun" or an eclipse.
- Cowardice Callout: When two hecklers disparage Kachina after the failure to resurrect her, Mavuika gives them a brief "Reason You Suck" Speech for trying to worsen an already tense situation. They quickly back down, which prompts Mavuika to further call them out as being all-bark-no-bite.
- Cue the Sun: Invoked. She has obvious solar symbolism in her design and role as Natlan's Hope Bringer. At the height of the Abyss invasion, she quite literally drives back the darkness by soaring up into the sky radiating immense light, the metaphorical "dawn" after Natlan's Darkest Hour. And her defeating Gosoythoth and driving it back into the Night Kingdom restores the actual sun and daylight to Natlan.
- Damned by Faint Praise: Her voiceline for bad food is that the meal is "surprisingly edible" and "better than it looks."
- Dare to Be Badass: A driving philosophy of hers. Her "hobby" is self-improvement; not any pursuit in particular, but picking something she's not good at and getting better at it.
- Defeating the Undefeatable:
- With the Traveler's aid, she ends the Forever War in Natlan and permantently drives out the Abyss.
- In her Story Quest, she fights the first Pyro Archon Xbalanque and he admits she ever so slightly got the better of him, to the amazement of the other Natlanese that anyone could defeat a Living Legend like him.
- Deity of Human Origin: Unlike other Archons who are immortal Physical Gods, the Pyro Archon is instead a Position of Literal Power granted to whomever wins the Pilgrimage, meaning that they're ultimately mortals.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Mikako Komatsu sings the Japanese version of "Blazing Heart
." - The Dreaded: Mavuika is perhaps the one individual who Ajaw is scared of.
- Dump Stat: Because Mavuika's Burst does not use Energy, the Energy Recharge stat is completely useless to her, and she gains nothing when taking in Energy.
- Early-Bird Cameo: She is the star of the Ignition Teaser.
- Empowered Badass Normal: As per Natlan's unique traditions, she was previously a human who won a previous Pilgrimage in a landslide to earn her current position and power. And in spite of her human origins, she's more than capable of keeping up with Il Capitano, the first and strongest of the Fatui Harbingers, the top three of which are said to be on the level of Archons in terms of strength.
- Exotic Eye Designs: Her eyes are red with a golden sun pattern in them, matching her overall solar motif. Based on her Character Teaser of her younger years and her interactions with the incarnated Xbalanque, this is a shared trait of all Pyro Archons.
- Explosive Punch: She delivers one to Il Capitano after they break each other's weapons. Afterwards she launches two punches at Gosoythoth (the "Black Sun" heart of the Abyss), the first one super-empowered by power borrowed from the Shade of Death and strong enough to puncture the firmament in Act IV, and the second one which caused Gosoythoth to "unseal" itself and change forms into the Lord of Eroded Primal Fire.
- Fiery Redhead: Her red hair is capable of igniting into flames, and she chooses to "negotiate" with Il Capitano by fighting him, telling him to let their blades do the talking.
- Fiery Sensuality: Mavuika is an attractive woman wearing a tight black leather suit that makes her flame-like mane of hair pop (and said hair is even set ablaze when she's in combat). She also has a strong fiery personality as well.
- Fiery Stoic: She can be quite bombastic in battle, as shown in her Burst callout, but she is in control of her emotions rather than being a Hot-Blooded warrior through and through. A few times The Traveler asks how she feels about certain things (such as mourning the loss of lives in the war), and she replies how such things have no place in a battlefield, that they have to focus on the task at hand.
- Flaming Hair: When invoking her powers, her hair gets set ablaze in mostly golden flames. After she relinquishes her powers to keep the Sacred Flame burning, she laments how she never got to take a picture of her blazing hair.
- Fling a Light into the Future: In this case, she is the light, sent through the centuries right after the Cataclysm, to rally the heroes of the future and lead an assault against The Abyss that will save Natlan once and for all.
- The Fog of Ages: The ''Sunset'' animated short
implies that even with her recent reincarnation, she still suffered from slight erosion over the centuries of waiting and eventually forgot her purpose in "chasing the sunset", becoming so overwhelmed with doubt and exhaustion that she doesn't even recognize her own little sister when she decides to take a break. Hine's encouraging reminder fortunately reignited Mavuika's drive and she sets off again with renewed determination to carry all of Natlan's hopes and end the threat of the Abyss once and for all. - Fun with Homophones:
- The word for fire in Swahili is "moto". Look at what Mavuika rides.
- The word for Pyro Archon in Japanese is pronounced "En-jin", which sounds just like "engine".
- The Gadfly: Downplayed, as she's hardly malicious about it, but Paimon notes in Mavuika's Character Quest that she has a penchant for messing with people; she's shown to engage with playful banter with a few of her subjects, teases and grills Xilonen for avoiding her to skip out on work, and makes Iansan uncomfortable by calling her "coach", much to her own amusement. She also pokes fun at Paimon's Big Eater tendencies while treating her and the Traveler to breakfast, telling her to wake up from her "food coma" in three days to be in time for the Pilgrimage.
- God-Emperor: Played With due to the Pyro Archon being a Position of Literal Power inherited by humans, though she does take a much more active leadership role compared to other Archons who are either inactive for various reasons (Venti, Nahida) or let the human-led government run the nation in their place (Zhongli, Raiden Shogun, Furina).
- God of Fire: As the Pyro Archon, she possesses power over fire, able to create explosions, cover herself and her weapons in flames, and create or extinguish fire at will. However, this is subverted as Mavuika and all previous Pyro Archons are humans, not gods, according to Kachina.
- God of Light: She is the Pyro Archon, but that position doubles as God of the Sun. Not only she has a lot of sun motifs in her design, some of her Burst callout invokes Power of the Sun.
- Good Counterpart: Downplayed as Il Capitano is a Well-Intentioned Extremist Noble Demon who stops being antagonistic towards Mavuika after the early part of Act IV, but Mavuika has many similarities and contrasts with Capitano as powerful black-clad warriors and noble leaders for their respective groups who eventually declared a truce for the benefit of Natlan against the Abyss, and eventually find out that they were allied in the original war during the Cataclysm from 500 years ago, having experienced first hand the gruesome war that almost killed the nation.
- Mavuika had a Pyro Vision before gaining the throne of the Pyro Archon, while Capitano's Cryo powers are on full display during his fight against her.
- Despite sharing the same goal of saving Natlan from the Abyss, their methods to solve this issue are extreme opposites. Capitano originally wanted to use the Gnosis to repair the Ley Lines, but doing so would destroy the souls in the Night Kingdom and erase Natlan's history, destroying the minds of its people as a result, while Mavuika, who is aware of the consequences of Capitano's plan, refuses to use this and has a very risky alternative that takes a lot more time and resources, by using the powers of the Heroes of the Cataclysm to borrow power from Ronova, the Shade of Death, and apply the Ode of Resurrection for everyone during the biggest attack from the Abyss.
- While Capitano survived to modern times because of his immortality curse, Mavuika is a reincarnation of her original self after placing her soul in the Sacred Flame and dying in battle. In Act V, Mavuika attempts to commit Heroic Suicide to uphold her end of the deal with Ronova for borrowing her powers in Act IV, but Capitano saves her by sharing his immortality with the Lord of the Night while challenging the Shade over the "unreasonable" rules that she had imposed onto his nation.
- Mavuika's leather suit leaves her heart exposed, while Capitano's uniform covers his entire torso, though he has a heart-shaped metal centerpiece. Capitano has a mechanical heart that he used to collect the memories and souls of the deceased until he could release them back to Natlan's Ley Lines, while Mavuika has continuously sacrificed mementos of those she cared about (tangible memories), and her Character Story 5 states that their absence has left her heart empty.
- Hell-Bent for Leather: She is dressed in a black form-fitting leather bodysuit.
- Heroic Sacrifice: A roundabout example. In her original life 500 years ago, she burned herself alive in Natlan's flames to be reborn in present day, giving up ever seeing her family or friends again to save the future people of Natlan from the prophesied Abyssal crisis centuries later.
- Hidden Depths:
- One voiceline has her admit that while she's a good problem-solver for Natlan, due to the demands of her duty she hasn't been a very good friend or companion to many people. She's uncharacteristically hesitant when she makes this admission, and after making it tries to brush it off with a scoff and a statement that questioning her actions will only weaken her convictions.
- In Act V, she reveals that she's taken up painting in her scant spare time, much to the surprise and confusion of Paimon who thinks an artistic pursuit is out of character for her. Mavuika admits that it is and she's not a painter, which is why she does it; she enjoys practicing a skill and getting better at it.
- Hope Bringer: While the actual Ancient Name meaning "Hope" belongs to The Traveler, Mavuika still very much serves this role for her nation, as illustrated by her Image Song. As the Pyro Archon, her flames hold the meaning of a light in the dark, granting her people warmth and guidance through their struggles and into the future.When your faith is shaken
Trust in me
That dawn is breaking!
Head into the light
I'm here by your side
I never will let you go. - Hot Goddess: Both metaphorically and literally, as Mavuika's the drop-dead gorgeous Pyro Archon. Though ultimately subverted since she's human and not a god.
- Hypocritical Humour: She pokes fun at Paimon's Big Eater tendencies while treating her and the Traveler to breakfast in her Character Quest, only for her idea of "breakfast" to intimidate even Paimon.
- Identical Stranger: According to Kachina, Mavuika's striking resemblance to Natlan's Statue of the Seven is coincidental, since the statue depicts one of the previous Pyro Archons from the distant past. Subverted, as the statue does depict her, since Mavuika was the previous Pyro Archon from 500 years ago, who got reincarnated in the present time.
- I Did What I Had to Do: Defied. When Kinich starts suggesting sacrifices need to be made to avoid worse outcomes, Mavuika shuts him down and says she's never accepted the notion that victory can come about from embracing the Lesser of Two Evils. This is gradually played straight as it's revealed while Mavuika would never sacrifice anyone else, she has a worrying willingness to sacrifice things precious to her, including all of her personal time, her mental well-being, and even her own life should she deem it necessary for the good of Natlan.
- Idiot Hair: She has a strand of hair resembling a flicker of flame that stands up from the rest that makes her look like a torch when she lights up her hair. However, it's a subversion because she's no fool.
- Image Song: "Blazing Heart"
, sung by Chrissy Costanza in English. Doubles as a "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune in Japanese, sung by Mavuika's voice actress Mikako Komatsu. - Invocation:"Light of the blazing sun!"
"Wrath from the skies!"
"Pyroclastic surge!" - Irony: Mavuika's motorcycle, Flamestrider, is capable of replicating the unique exploration gimmicks of the Children of Echoes, People of the Springs, and Flower-Feather Clan, packaging three mobility tools in one character kit. Despite having origins from the Scions of the Canopy, utilizing their grapple hook techniques just so happens to be one of the few Natlan exploration techniques she cannot do.
- It's All My Fault: She is deeply regretful over what happened to Kachina and pays her family a visit with gifts to apologize, saying that the scars Kachina will have to bear from her ordeal are ultimately Mavuika's fault.
- Jack of All Trades: Her Flamestrider motorcycle can replicate the wall climbing, flying, and water surfing traversal mechanics seen in previous released Natlan characters, albeit unlike said characters, she cannot use Phlogiston if Flamestrider is used in these ways outside of simply driving on the ground.
- Jerkass to One: "Jerkass" is stretching it, but she is a lot more serious when dealing with Ajaw than anyone not affiliated with The Abyss.
- The Leader: It's even the meaning of her Ancient Name. Out of all the Archons that the Traveler encounter during the Archon Quests when they reach Natlan, Mavuika is the only one who is actively involved in the day-to-day processes of government administration at the time the Traveler meets her and regularly has almost informal face-to-face interactions with her people. She is charismatic, levelheaded and determined with a clear sense of direction and adequately communicates with her people, so it's no wonder that the Natlanese continue having faith in her even as the Abyss launches increasingly devastating attacks.
- Lightning Bruiser: As shown during her fight with Il Capitano, Mavuika is fast, hits like a battleship, and keeps fighting after taking several hard hits from the First Harbinger. Gameplay-wise, she has the fastest animations for the Claymore moveset of any characters up to that point and swings her weapon as if it's a regular sword though statistically she's a Glass Cannon.
- Locked into Strangeness: In 5.0, even after she temporarily loses the ability to turn her entire hair to flames, the inner side of her locks retain a fiery glow.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Her line about the other Archons has her admit that the Traveler likely knows more about them than she does, presumably due to her being busy dealing with Natlan's troubles. Nonetheless, she does state that once affairs are settled she plans on reconnecting with them.
- Lost Technology: Downplayed. The Flamestrider is based on multitude of ancient dragon civilization-era devices and blueprints that Mavuika had salvaged before going to Xilonen to design the vehicle. However, though analyzing the ancient designs proved useful in the design phase, none of the components had been made to work together the way Mavuika needed which resulted in compatibility issues when trying to integrate all of them. The actual Flamestrider's success comes from modern smithing techniques, combining all they had learned from the experience to create a unified whole.
- Macross Missile Massacre: In her battle against Capitano in Chapter V Act II, she summons countless homing missiles made of elemental fire to chase after him.
- Male Gaze: In several cutscenes, the camera tends to linger on Mavuika's enormous bosom. This is also the case for her Burst animation.
- Mark of the Supernatural: Like most Archons, part of her hair glows. In her case, the inner side of her hair is bright yellow like flames.
- Mechanically Unusual Fighter: Unlike all other playable characters, Mavuika's Elemental Burst does not use Energy. Instead, she accumulates "Fighting Spirit" from other characters either consuming Nightsoul points or using normal attacks. Additionally, the UI for her Elemental Burst icon uses a unique coloration unlike other Pyro characters, with Mavuika's Burst icon using a yellow-orange color instead of red.
- Miles to Go Before I Sleep: She's had a long road to travel in her mission to defeat the Abyss once and for all and the stress has definitely worn her down. The Sunset animated short depicts her persisting as a spirit for 500 years so she can be reborn as this in a literal sense, with Mavuika stuck driving down a seemingly endless road until she reaches her goal.
- Ms. Fanservice: A beautiful red-haired Biker Babe clad in a form-fitting leather bodysuit which accentuates her very well-endowed figure? Nah, it can’t be. Oh, and the camera loves to focus on her wide open Cleavage Window, including during her Elemental Burst animation, which also features some noticeable breast jiggle.
- Mythical Motifs:
- Phoenixes. Her fiery red hair looks a bit like the plumes of a phoenix or firebird, and it even ignites during her fight with Capitano. There's also how she once lived 500 years ago and placed her soul in the Sacred Flame before dying in battle so she could be reincarnated in the future, much like a phoenix rising from the ashes after it dies.
- Xipe Totec is the Aztec god of life-death-rebirth, agriculture, vegetation, the east, spring, warfare, liberation and goldsmiths and silversmiths, known for flaying himself and wearing his skin. Similarly, Mavuika's attire is entirely made of leather, from the skintight bodysuit held together by the zipper that goes down her navel, her jacket, whose sleeves give the appearance of peeling off from her body at the wrist, and her gloves. She is also frequent patron of Natlan's Ultimate Blacksmith Xilonen's workshop, the latter who is named after Xipe's Distaff Counterpart.
- Never Gets Drunk: She once ended up beating Varka in a drinking contest, implying this. Venti also remarks that if the two were to get into a contest, they'd end up drinking Tete Island's entire supply of mead dry.
- Nice Girl:
- Mavuika is highly approachable and friendly to those who meet her off of the battlefield, vouching for Kachina's name when the Incandescent Ode of Resurrection fails to bring her Back from the Dead and hearing out Mualani's angry calling-out with an almost maternal level of patience and understanding. She even apologizes to the Traveler about the circumstances of their first meeting, admitting that she was wanting to give them the highest level of hospitality Natlan could offer prior to the crisis of Kachina's death. All that being said, she's still an Archon like the rest of the Seven, and she's not afraid to back up her words with fiery rage should push come to shove.
- Furthermore, it was not necessary for Mavuika to explain herself to Capitano, a Fatui Harbinger who first attempted to steal her Gnosis in broad daylight, and when he lost their fight and escaped, almost wiped out the memories of her people out of a misguided sense of righteousness, taking away time and effort that could have been spent preparing for the war. She still took the time to speak, find common ground with him and address his concerns during their next confrontation, which is how she ended up convincing him to lead his Fatui force to fight for Natlan instead.
- No-Sell: In gameplay, as a result of her Burst not using Energy, Mavuika is completely unaffected by gimmicks that drain or hinder Energy generation.
- Not So Above It All:
- After forfeiting her powers, which came with the awe-inspiring look of her hair becoming flame, Mavuika admits she regrets not getting a picture of herself with Flaming Hair when she could have.
- Mavuika starts acting quite a bit goofier and more light-hearted after the events of Chapter V Act V since the war with the Abyss is finally over.
- The "troubles" line of the Archon of War is that she's bummed her favorite board game has gotten discontinued.
- Pensieve Flashback: The conclusions of Act II and IV has Mavuika walking along a pathway of memories, recalling the hopes, determination and cherished moments with the people she cares about and even the past Pyro Archons, including a conversation between the first Archon Xbalanque and Ronova, the Shade of Death, implied to be using them as "fuel" to garner her own courage to face the challenges ahead.
- Playing with Fire: As the Pyro Archon, she can create and control flames at will, turning licks of flame into homing missiles, wrapping herself or her weapons in fire, and creating spontaneous explosions.
- Power Dyes Your Hair: Exaggerated. When using her Archon powers, her entire head bursts into bright yellow flames.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: When Kachina is unable to be revived by the Ode of Resurrection, Mavuika, after a moment of deep contemplation, is quick to shut down the resulting discourse by praising Kachina and her part in the Night Warden War, and takes full responsibility, vowing to investigate the matter and suspending the Pilgrimage until the matter is resolved. She also goes as far as to give the two hecklers who further incited things, a pair who lost to Kachina in the Pilgrimage and spitefully claimed she must have done something cowardly to lose the right to get revived, a concise "Reason You Suck" Speech over their Malicious Slander, and on how quickly they backed down when called out by her displayed their cowardice and how little they actually believed their own insults.
- Red and Black and Evil All Over: Inverted. Mavuika's hair and leather outfit are both red with the latter having black portions. However, she's a heroic Archon, leading her people to victory against the Abyss and being a friendly individual outside of combat.
- Reincarnation: The original Mavuika died 500 years ago in Natlan's supernatural flames. The current her is in fact her second life, reborn from those same flames as part of a scheme to be there to stop Natlan's prophesied destruction by the Abyss in present day.
- Religious and Mythological Theme Naming:
- Mavuika's name is derived from Mahuika, the Maori deity of fire. In the myth that she appears in, Mahuika is tricked into giving away all of her fingernails by the folklore hero Maui to obtain fire. Fittingly, as the current Pyro Archon and ruler of Natlan, she has metaphorically given away bits of herself (her memories and mementos of her loved ones) to keep the Sacred Flames alive.
- Her goetic name, Haborym, is an alternative name for the Ars Goetia demon Aym, known to be a strong demon who sets everything on fire, makes men witty in all ways, and provides real answers to important matters, reflecting Mavuika being an affable Reasonable Authority Figure to her people and to the Traveler.
- Her Constellation name refers to the Roman sun god of the same name.
- Renaissance Man: Outside her legendary martial and leadership abilities, Mavuika pursues an incredibly diverse number of hobbies out of a love for self-improvement, and excels at all of them. This ranges from every sport and game conceived of by Natlan's tribes, such as bungee jumping, surfing, and rock climbing, to being a puzzle enthusiast with a personally curated challenge catalogue. After finally defeating the Abyss, she rather fittingly takes up painting as her latest hobby, beginning by recreating the family portrait that she had sacrificed back in Act II.
- Screw Destiny: The Ignition trailer has her state near the end that she wishes to defy fate, continuing the theme of Teyvat’s nations seeking independence from Celestia.
- Sentimental Sacrifice: In Act II, Mavuika shows the Traveler, Paimon, Mualani, Iansan and Chasca a display room filled with mementos that she and the previous Archons had collected over the years from people of every tribe, as well as Tenoch's Talking Stick. In her own words, "physical items do a far better job of preserving those stories (of Natlan) than our own memory". Mavuika then shared stories about the former owners of the items with the Traveler and Paimon, culminating to her family portrait of her parents, younger sister Hine and two Yumkasaurus Whelps, which was her only tangible keepsake she has of them. She ends up burning them all to ensure the safe return of Kachina's rescue party from the Night Kingdom, and they come back to a now empty and dark room devoid of "memories". Iansan laments their loss as emergency fuel she wished that they could have avoided resorting to.
- Serious Business: Bike safety. Whenever Mavuika has someone ride the Flamestrider with her, she insists they don a helmet first and her story quest reveals she keeps at least three spare helmets around for just that purpose. Similarly, when discussing driving her bike fast (or at least fast by her standards), she mentions that she'd need to upgrade the Flamestrider with more safety features first.
- Sexy Backless Outfit: Mavuika's bodysuit has several exposed strips in the back that nearly reach down to her butt cheeks.
- Shout-Out: Mavuika being a Big Eater and her glowing hair, as well as her ability to fly and shoot energy blasts, could be seen as a reference to Dragon Ball Z (and has even been memed as such).
- Significant Birth Date: Mavuika's birthday, August 28, coincides with the date v5.0 (and thus Natlan) came out in 2024.
- Sliding Scale of Gameplay and Story Integration:
- As befitting the Archon leading the Nation of War, Mavuika's kit is tailored as such that not only can she buff her teammates' damage, she can also be built as a formidable main DPS to an even greater extent than the other Archons released thus far.
- As the Archon of Natlan, Mavuika works best when paired up with other Natlan characters since they can fuel her Burst much more efficiently than others.
- Mavuika is a major proponent of teamwork and people achieving more together than alone, with her saying "No one fights alone in Natlan" being low-grade Arc Words for the Archon Quest. Fittingly, her Elemental Burst is not fueled by energy, but by "Fighting Spirit" which comes from party members dealing Normal attacks and especially from her fellow Natlanese using Nightsoul abilities.
- Her skill can be used as off-field support striking enemies with blasts of fire while another party member fights, which is almost exactly how she aids the other Natlanese in the climax of Act IV of the Archon Quest. However, her direct combat abilities and movement skills all heavily involve her riding her Flamestrider, when story sequences show she's capable of flying under her own power and her fight scenes never have her so much as touch her bike.
- Stance System: Her Elemental Skill, "The Named Moment" has drastically different functions and "All-Fire Armaments" depending on whether the skill is tapped or held. For the former, it grants a party-wide "Ring of Searing Radiance" that attacks in conjunction with the active character, while the latter has Mavuika ride her Flamestrider, which grants her all the agility and Pyro damage a Magitek Cool Bike would allow. Thanks to this, Mavuika can serve both off-field and on-field roles depending on the player's needs.
- Statuesque Stunner: Mavuika is the tallest playable female character
, possessing a very generous bust and a Form-Fitting Wardrobe. - Stepford Smiler: The centuries of countering the Abyss has taken its toll on Mavuika, who has experienced loss after loss and sacrificed nearly her all. However, as not only a Proud Warrior Race Girl but also the War God that all of Natlan looks to for hope against the never-ending war, she cannot show that she's suffering from Heroic Fatigue, continuously disregarding her declining mental health for the sake of the greater good. As explained in her Character Story 5:''Mavuika always imagined her plan to fight against the Abyss as a lengthy journey, and herself as an adventurer carrying a full pack and marching toward her predetermined goal. Memory and love were the supplies she brought, and they would help see her through confusion and solitude.
(...) None knew how to get there, nor how far the journey would take her, but as her luggage grew ever lighter, the road stretched ever farther on with each step she took.
(...) Having traveled so far, it was only natural to not wish to show the fatigue or weakness in one's heart, and even she was no exception.
She could easily tell stories about her comrades or family with a smile, but rarely could she speak of the sadness sown in the river of time by those happy moments, nor could she take out her long-emptied haversack, point at it, and speak of how it reflected the current state of her heart.
She could not, she would not, and she did not need to.
So, in the end, she kept a suitable distance, just as she always has. - Strong Family Resemblance: She looks just like her mother but with a more noticeable Idiot Hair.
- Symbol Motif Clothing: Her attire repeatedly emphasizes her sun symbolism.
- Thanatos Gambit:
- Mavuika once lived 500 years ago but knowing that she would be needed to defeat the Abyss in the future, she placed her soul in within the Sacred Flame and then went off to die in battle. She would later end up reincarnating as a result.
- Mavuika's grand plan involves the six heroes enabling her to borrow power from Ronova, the Shade of Death, in order to throw back the Abyss when it launches a full-scale invasion of Natlan. However, Ronova's price for this power is that Mavuika will die soon. This ends up being subverted when Capitano takes her place as the "life" that needed to be paid, screwing over Ronova in the process since he's immortal via the Shade of Death's own curse.
- Universally Beloved Leader: Due to her being both a great warrior, a capable leader as well as her personal charisma, Mavuika is revered throughout Natlan and looked up to by everyone.
- War God: She's the ruler of Natlan and War is her secondary domain, having earned her position through her exemplary battle prowess. That said, she's technically a mortal, not a god.
- Weapon Specialization:
- For her duel with Capitano, Mavuika borrows Kinichi's Earth Shaker (4★), whose substat is Attack and whose passive, "Oath of Qhapaq Nan", boosts the wearer' Elemental Skill damage upon triggering a Pyro reaction, and works whether they're on the field or not. Being the Pyro Archon who can work as an on-field Damage Dealer via her Skill's held form or an off-field Pyro applier via it's tapped form, the "Earth Shaker" allows Mavuika to work effectively in both her preferred roles.
- Her banner runs concurrent with A Thousand Blazing Suns (5★), whose Ascension Stat is Crit Rate and whose passive, "Sunset Reignites The Dawn", grants the wielder the "Scorching Brilliance" effect when they use a Skill or Burst, boosting their ATK and Crit DMG for a set duration that increases when they deal Elemental Damage with their Normal or Charged attacks. This boost increases further if the wielder is in the Nightsoul State while becoming indefinite while the wielder is off-field. As Mavuika can enter her Nightsoul State via her Skill and Burst, this provides a large increase to the Damage Mavuika deals as either an on-fielder or an off-fielder that's further enhanced by default.
- What's Up, King Dude?: Mavuika stands out from the other Archons with just how close and approachable she can be to her people to the point where aside from showing deference to her position, her subjects don't treat her too differently from any other of their own. She's one of Atea's hot spring buddies and personally went looking for Xilonen to discuss the design of her Cool Shades. Furthermore, her people genuinely respect her as she is unlike how the other Archons have struggled in various ways because their people put them on a pedestal.
- Workaholic: Between ruling an entire nation split into six tribes, organising the yearly Pilgramages, and working on her plan to save Natlan, Mavuika is a much busier woman than her surprisingly carefree and friendly demeanour would suggest. It's to the point that when she finds herself with a bunch of free time in the days leading up to her and the Traveler's final attack against the Abyss, she decides to fill it by taking up painting, acknowledging that it's a hard skill to pick up but claiming that her idea of relaxing is practicing and improving on something.
- Wrecked Weapon: When she fights Il Capitano in Chapter V Act II, she and the Captain end up breaking each other's blades. It doesn't slow Mavuika down, as she afterwards delivers an Explosive Punch to him, severely injuring the Captain.
- Your Days Are Numbered: Due to borrowing power from Ronova, the Shade of Death, during Chapter V Act IV, Mavuika is fated to die soon as the price needing to be paid. Citlali implores for the Traveler to at least delay Mavuika's death, if not outright prevent it. Eventually subverted as Capitano sacrifices himself instead, taking Mavuika's place as the price of a life that Ronova required, his curse of immortality forcing her to give up on the death cost.
Entities from the Night Kingdom venerated by the people of Natlan.
- Animal Motif: Birds. Not only are the Ancient Names they give to warriors kept inside obsidian feather trinkets, but also their manifestations are vaguely bird-like.
- Dark Is Not Evil: They are venerated through deep black obsidian obelisks and live in the dark and spooky Night Kingdomnote , but they are against the Abyss and lead people to protect Natlan against it.
- Dub Name Change: They are called "Great Spirits" in the Chinese version.
- Hive Mind: The descriptions for the Wayob Manifestations say each Wayob is a collective consciousness.
- Recurring Element: As supernatural entities akin to gods, they fulfill a similar role to the Adepti, Aranara and Pari.
- Religious and Mythological Theme Naming: "Wayob" (singular, Way or Uay) are humans in Mayan mythology who transform in their sleep, usually an animal, comparable to the Aztec concept of the Nagual.
The Six Heroes of Natlan (Unmarked Spoilers!)
Tribes
Saurian Companions
Tepetlisauri
Ayo
A Tepetlisaur whelp who serves as Kachina's companion.- Children Are Innocent: Ayo is a precious Tepetlisaur, yet he is targeted by tribemembers who were jealous over Kachina getting an ancient name.
- Doting Grandparent: Implied by the fact that Ayo is established to be very fond of his grandparents, Hnaska and Cetan. When they are Killed Offscreen during Act IV, Ayo enters a state of depression to the point of not eating anything, only perking up when he is given Draught of Lucidity under suspicion of being affected by Abyssal Corruption. He even is quick to run up to their souls who choose to remain with him until they fade away.
"Little One"
A Tepetlisaur Whelp whom the Traveler and Paimon meet and befriend upon first stepping into Natlan.- Artificial Stupidity: Its pathfinding isn't the most advanced, which becomes pretty apparent during the Treasures and Collectors World Quest, where it gets stuck on objects with ease.
- Delightful Dragon: As a Tepetlisaur Whelp, it's incredibly adorable and chubby.
- Deuteragonist: Several World Quests in Natlan focus on the adventures and life of Little One.
- Dishing Out Dirt: Tepetlisauri are Geo Saurians by nature, and they have the ability to move fast underground or inside walls. Little One follows you by moving underground to keep up with you, since Tepetlisauri walk very slowly.
- Early-Bird Cameo: It was first introduced in the Lil' Buddy Natlan preview teaser
. - Hello, [Insert Name Here]: Much like with the Wanderer, you get to decide what this Saurian's name is. As an Easter Egg, there are a few names that will elicit a special response from the Whelp and Paimon. For example, if you name it Godzilla or any other Kaiju, the Whelp lets out a roar and Paimon remarks that it's a powerful name. If you name it Hash Brown (which is what Paimon initially wanted to call it), Paimon will call you out on it after the Whelp suddenly likes the name after it showed it didn't like Paimon calling it that. Trying to name it Paimon will result in Paimon shutting the name down right away, not wanting another Paimon.
- Home Base: By interacting with the golden pillars at the waterfall near the Scions of the Canopy, you can teleport to the vale where you originally found your Saurian. After tidying up the place, the vale serves as a base and nest for your Saurian, and items you obtained with it from numerous World Quests can be found here as well. You can also directly interact with your Saurian as well, similar to Paimon in your Tea Pot.
- Iconic Outfit: It has a red scarf with yellow patterns wrapped around its tail to further distinguish it from other Tepetlisaur Whelps. The scarf originally served as an improvised bandage for its tail injury.
- It Can Think: It's an intelligent creature who more or less understands Paimon and the Traveler, it has an understanding of their intent, and it is capable of solving puzzles and sensing the Applied Phlebotinum that the Traveler is looking for. Its inner thoughts reveal that it thinks in short, simple words, and that it is aware of the name the Traveler has given to it, despite not being able to comprehend human language.(Quake, big rock, sleep. [Insert name], strong!)
- Locked into Strangeness: Even after removing the Flamelord's Blessing from it, "Little One" still has the red mark on its horn. Downplayed in that it is stated to be radiating nowhere near as much energy now.
- Mark of the Beast: Your Tepetlisaur Whelp has a red mark on its forehead that is known as the Flamelord's Blessing, and therefore people like Munqa deem it to be too dangerous in the future. The Traveler and the "Little One" have to undergo a dangerous ritual in order for the latter to be accepted.
- Put on a Bus:
- In Natlan's Archon Quest, if you have already made the Little One your companion, it will stay at the Children of Echoes to play with Kachina's companion, Ayo, a fellow Tepetlisaur Whelp. This explains its absence during the Archon Quest.
- Upon completing all of its related World Quests as well as any sidequests it shows up in, Little One will decide to leave the Traveler and Paimon's side to go on a journey by itself after taking a picture and saying its goodbyes.
- Sensor Character: It is able to detect the Applied Phlebotinum in Natlan.
- Switching P.O.V.: During "Revelations from the Past", you can switch back and forth to the Tepetlisaur Whelp's POV and control it in order to solve certain puzzles. There is also a section where the Traveler & Paimon and your Tepetlisaur have to split in order to pass the test. As the Tepeltisaur Whelp, you have to fell pillars of crystals in order to create paths to reach the goal.
- Team Pet: This Tepetlisaur Whelp is the Traveler's and Paimon's little pet who travels with them across the nation of Natlan. Unlike other Saurians, you can't dive into its body in order to make use of its Phlogiston. Although in Natlan, Saurians are seen more as "companions" than "pets", and Paimon and the Traveler treat it more like an adopted child.
- Undying Loyalty: It's incredibly devoted to the Traveler and Paimon to the point that when given a chance to effectively become the new Pyro Sovereign at the cost of turning the world into Phlogiston, it refuses since it involves putting its most important people in harm. Even when the Traveler and Paimon's own feelings towards it are put into question, "Little One" considers it irrelevant because it's love for them is greater.
- Uniformity Exception: The only things that separate the “Little One” from other Tepetlisaur Whelps is the Flamelord’s Blessing mark on their head as well as the red scarf on their tail.
- With Great Power Comes Great Insanity: This Saurian has a blessing that is established to grant him great power. However, it is also stated that Saurians with this power are either killed by it or become hostile due to being overwhelmed into insanity. Part of the journey with this Saurian is to subvert this trope for him.
Yumkasauri
Strange Yumkasaurus
An enigmatic Yumkasaurus found in a corner of Tectipac Peak guarding a Luxurious Chest. During their attempt to claim the treasure for themselves, the Traveler and Paimon discover there to be more to the Saurian's story than meets the eye.
- Big Eater: Any amount of food placed before it, particularly meat items, is almost immediately gone. The Traveler jokes that it could very well rival Paimon in this trope.
- Con Artist: The Yumkasaurus's master was a former courier from the Scions of the Canopy who used the information he possessed to cheat countless people, earning him great infamy. Fleeing to avoid punishment and later dying from an illness, he tricked his Saurian companion into guarding an empty chest with a note inside in the hopes that other people would keep it fed after he was gone. The Traveler and Paimon consider this to have been very irresponsible on the master's part while Wayna points out that it also makes the Yumkasaurus another victim of its owner's manipulations, proving the latter to have been an unrepentant scoundrel to his core and undeserving of any sympathy.
- Food as Bribe: Subverted. Despite being given two servings of food, it refuses to move out of the Traveler and Paimon's way so they can have the chest. After it falls asleep and the two realize it's just blocking the way to scam people into giving it food, they have the Little One dig around it and grab the chest for them instead.
- Hated by All: The Yumkasaurus's master was a pariah among the Scions of the Canopy, who became so after cheating many people out their Mora.
- I Will Wait for You: Speaking to the Yumkasaurus while indwelling a Saurian reveals it to be waiting for its master to return, unaware that they're now dead.
- Karmic Death: The Yumkasaurus's former master claims in his note that the illness he's dying from is a punishment delivered unto him by the Wayob for all his crimes.
- Mirror Character: It shares a few parallels with Neko from Inazuma, both being animal companions who endlessly wait for their masters' return unaware that they've long since died.
- No Name Given: The name of its former master is never revealed at any point, not even on the note they left behind. Also invoked by Wayna, who knows their identity but chooses to withhold it due to how despicable they were.
- Pet the Dog: ZigZagged. The Yumkasaurus's former master cared enough about it to have devised a way to keep it fed before his illness finally claimed his life. Wayna however retorts that this means he never changed his ways even when at death's door as he was willing to deceive his own Saurian companion, but decides to have people regularly check up on the Yumkasaurus's well-being as it is still a child of the tribe.
- Posthumous Character: The Yumkasaurus's former master died some time before the Traveler and Paimon's arrival in Natlan.
Qucusauri
Antu
A Qucusaur that contracted a similar illness to Milray in the distant past, prompting his owner Nampole to revive the Bloomflower Trials to procure Sacred Flame Crystals for his treatment. However, a miscommunication caused all the Tribes to fight over Crystals, scaring the young Saurian off and causing him to develop a fervent hatred of the Crystals under the assumption that they held a power that corrupts humans. Having succumbed to his illness in the end, his spirit lingers out of regret of his illness being the cause of the conflict.
- Berserk Button: After the Bloomflower Trials fell apart, Sacred Flame Crystals became this to Antu, who would snatch and try smashing any someone tauntingly showed off to Nampole.
- Immortal Immaturity: Justified by having died young and been asleep since his death. Antu, like when he was alive, enjoys playing with Saurians that were a similar age to he was when he was alive, and he wholly believes that Sacred Flame Crystals are evil objects capable of corrupting humans, still unable to understand the nuances of the situation. It's rather telling that the solution Ifa cooks up to help him move on from his regrets is to organise what's essentially a children's play where the ghostly Saurian has to swoop in to save the day with the "Spell of Unity".
- Poor Communication Kills: Due to his impression of what happened with the Bloomflower Trials when he was alive, Antu sees Sacred Flame Crystals as evil, corruptive objects and ends up letting this slip when Milray contracts the same illness he did, making the young Tepetlisaur reluctant to be treated by them.
- Together in Death: After the group successfully eases Antu of his regrets, he reunites with Nampole as he finally moves onto the Night Kingdom.
Cacucu
A juvenile Qucusaurus who is Ifa's assistant at his clinic. See more info about him here (under Ifa's folder).
Coya, Chimpu and Chime
The Qucusaurs that raised Chasca before she was adopted into the Flower-Feather Clan. Chimpu is Chasca's adoptive mother, Coya is her adoptive sister, and Chime is Coya's daughter. Their nests are located between Ochkanatlan and the Flower-Feather Clan.- Alliterative Family: Their names start with the letter C, just like Chasca's and her human family.
- The Baby of the Bunch: Chime is the only Qucusaur chick among them.
- Back for the Finale: If you completed Chasca's Tribal Chronicle before doing Act V of Natlan's Archon Quest, Coya will show up alongside Chasca to give her support to the Traveler before they enter the Night Kingdom with Mavuika.
- Bigotry Exception: Since Chasca was raised with Coya, Chasca is the only human (possibly) that Coya likes.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Thankfully it doesn't come to that, but Chime encourages Coya to strike against Allpa despite Allpa holding her hostage. As a warrior herself, she's willing to risk Allpa killing her to avoid being a burden to the others.
- I Want Grandkids: Lately, Chimpu has been pushing Chasca to "build a nest of her own" and that "maybe it's time to expand [Chasca's] family even further," something the Traveler evidently finds amusing.
- Mama Bear: Coya is fiercely protective of her chick Chime, going so far as to uncharacteristically attack humans when Chime is captured. Subverted when Allpa takes Chime hostage, as Coya quickly realizes complying with Allpa will just get them all killed and she has to act, though she apologizes to Chime for putting her at risk in the process.
- Required Secondary Powers: Qucusaurs channel a fiery form of Pholgiston as a means of flight and have a corresponding resistance to high temperatures. This comes in handy when Chasca is close to an exploding relic and Coya darts in front of her, tanking the explosion to save her sister.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Chasca notes that Coya always disliked humans, protesting when Chimpu decided it was time for Chasca to enter human society and having a falling out with Chasca over her hesitation when Coya proposed that she and Chasca live together out in the wild. Despite this, the fact that she's outright attacking them surprises Chasca, noting that her dislike never drove her that far. As it turns out, it's because the humans she was attacking attacked her home and kidnapped her daughter.
- Uniformity Exception: Coya is covered in scars and Chimpu has lighter and paler feathers.
Iktomisauri
"Tlapo" Tlapopoctiztetl née Claw
An extraordinarily large Iktomisaurus which has lived for over 200 years within the Mictlan Tribe. It serves as a highly respectable Elder of the tribe and has guided several generations of chiefs throughout the years. Whenever a major event affecting all of Natlan is occuring, Tlapo appoints the person who has to weave a special scroll to record said event. In the past, Tlapo was the Saurian companion of the legendary great shaman Huitzilin.
- The Chooser of the One: It chooses the person who has the duty to record the major events of Natlan. The Chosen One will then weave a special scroll with special colors to fulfill said duty. Normally, Tlapo chooses someone within its tribe, but the Traveler is the first exception. Except that this is all a ruse; every scroll woven in the past two hundred years has been done by Citlali, and Tlapo knows this. The Saurian elder has actually just been trying to find friends for Citlali to connect with.
- Friend to All Children: If the Traveler talks to Tlapo while indwelling a Saurian, Tlapo senses that the "Saurian" is special and lacks any animosity. It permits it to stay within the tribe, but it asks the "Saurian" to be careful with the Iktomisaurus Chicks.
- Given Name Reveal: Citlali is the only person to greet the Iktomisaurus Elder as "Claw", which was his name when he was Huitzilin's companion.
- Large and in Charge: It's significantly larger than normal adult Iktomisaurus, and it serves as an Elder within the Masters of the Night-Wind. Naturally, it has command over other Iktomisauri within the tribe.
- Uniformity Exception: To showcase its advanced age and authority, it's much bigger than other Iktomisauri and has brighter markings on its body.
Tribe Unknown
Mausau
- And I Must Scream: Averted; when possessed by Xbalanque he says that Mausau is experiencing a long dream.
- Badasses Wear Bandanas: A boy with a bandana tied around his head who has a desire to become a champion of the Pilgrimage and served as a temporary vessel for Xbalanque.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Manages to keep on the same wavelength as Ororon in an incredibly odd conversation about what vegetable he'd be, deciding he wants to be an Onion-man. Iansan is utterly baffled by Ororon and Mausau both.
- Cosmic Motifs: His clothes are covered in stylized sun patterns not unlike Mavuika's.
- Curtains Match the Window: Has both red hair and dark red eyes.
- Eyes Are Mental: His eyes return from golden suns to a dull red after Xbalanque stops possessing him.
- Jumped at the Call: After learning everything he did while possessed by Xbalanque, Mausau decides to train so he can become a real contender in the next Pilgrimage.
- Non-Standard Character Design: His child NPC model has sharp eyes in contrast of other child NPCs who have wide, round eyes.
- Red Is Heroic: The temporary vessel of the first hero of Natlan, Xbalanque, who has bright red hair.
- Reincarnation: Implied. Given Hine's comments about souls being reincarnated multiple times over the generations, Mausau's clothes covered in sun and fire motifs being his own choice rather than Xbalanque's, and Xbalanque's possession of him apparently curing untreatable maladies he suffered from, there is an implication it was not by chance that Xbalanque possessed him, but rather he is Xbalanque's current reincarnated life.
- Sickly Child Grew Up Strong: Discussed. Mavuika's quest ends with him seemingly being cured of his maladies thanks to Xbalanque's possession, and wishing to become a champion of the Pilgrimage himself.
- Symbiotic Possession: Mausau reveals that he was previously sickly, though Xbalanque's possession has made it feel like his body is filled with power from head to toe.
- Tattoo as Character Type: He has various tattoos on his body to reflect he was born and raised in Natlan.
Historical Figures
Be it a legendary warrior or the unsung heroes that few remember, with their blood, sweat and tears, the Natlanese have always strived to forge their own destiny. All of their stories shall be told, and even the tiniest of sparks will not go unnoticed.Dragons
The last remaining of the thirteen, K'uhul Ajaw, can be found in Kinich's folder in Genshin Impact: Heroes of Natlan.
- Ambiguous Robots: The Thirteen are supposedly artificial-intelligence networks, yet several massive skeletal remains can be found where some of them are implied to have fallen in battle and are said to have eaten food, having a taste for quenepa berries.
- Higher-Tech Species: Even as humans learnt how to use Phlogiston from Waxaklahun Ubah Kan, their current technological feats are at best an imitation of what the dragons already built, from Humongous Mechas in the shape of dragons, to a "ladder that climbed up to the firmament" and even a Fantastic Nuke that would turn every living being in Natlan into Phlogiston. Och-Kan knew that humanity would have no chance against the dragons should they return to their prime, and hence made it his goal to ensure that Saurians would be subjugated to humanity.
- Humans are Insects: Many of the Thirteen dismissed humanity as a weak and primitive species, with some suggesting that they should be periodically culled, while others felt that they were so insignificant that they were not worthy of even the effort.
- Might Makes Right: In general the dragons held this attitude as corruption took hold of Xiuhcoatl and "took violence for the rule of law". When faced with the possibility (and eventual reality) of humans overthrowing them, a number of the Thirteen felt that it was simply their fault that they had stagnated too long.CL-02 "Jade Maiden" Ix Je'lal K'ua'l Ka': If the day ever comes when humans truly imperil our kind, it would but prove that our kind have indeed grown too weak. And in their decline, they would deserve only to kneel before their subjugators and accept destined destruction, for there would be no need, nor possibility, to seek an alternative. The strong endure, the weak perish — that is the eternal truth of this world. Do not forget it.
- Precursors: Saurians are the descendants of dragons, who were forced into losing their intelligence to adapt to the new environment the Heavenly Principles created while reshaping Teyvat into a planet fit for humanity.
- Pride Before a Fall: A number of the Thirteen Sovereign Rulers met their end at the hands of humans because they never imagined that such a puny species could best them.
- Robotic Reveal: The Thirteen are in fact not real dragons, but Phlogiston-based artificial intelligence networks created by Xiuhcoatl.
- Suicide Mission: Xiuhcoatl planned to eradicate the Abyss by turning all living beings within Natlan into Phlogiston. The dragons consented to the idea, despite the fact it would kill them.
- We ARE Struggling Together: The decline of the dragon civilisation was accelerated in part by their in-fighting. While the Thirteen were arguing whether or how to exterminate humanity, Waxaklahun Ubah Kan was secretly teaching humans how to use phlogiston and experimenting on Och-Kan.
Miscellaneous tropes for specific Lords
- Token Good Teammate: The Eighth Lord, "Priestess of Floral Candles and Skyborne Feathers" Ix Ajkotz'i'j Iq'ismal Waxak. was the only of the Dragonlord shown to be more sympathetic towards humans, even raising Lianca, the founder of the Flower-Feather Clan as her beloved daughter.
- To a certain extent, this also applies to The First Lord, "Valiant One" Aj Nimalaj Chuq'ab Hun, since he voted against the decision to execute The Eighth Lord, as well as not considering Lianca following Xbalanque to be an unforgivable traitorous act. Additionally, while all the other Sovereign Lords (except for The Eighth Lord) look down on humans as weak and pathetic, The First Lord does respect some humans like Xbalanque, who he considers to be a formidable opponent that is worthy of facing him in combat.
- Tsundere: The Second Lord "Jade Maiden" Ix Je'lal K'ua'l Ka' was described as having a surly temperment by the Eighth Lord. Upon receiving the latter's request to forge a bow for her human daughter, the Second Lord flew into a rage, saying that she would have given her Tongue Trauma had she been anyone else (except the Pyro Sovereign) and left. Jade Maiden would later secretly arrange for the bow, Chain Breaker, which had been made with the jade that she had treasured and horded, to be delivered to the Priestess with an attached note claiming that it was a "shoddy piece made with worthless scrap made by a common dragon craftsman in her territory (that) had absolutely nothing to do with her".
- Worthy Opponent: This is how The First Lord views Xbalanque.
"Chronicler of the End Times" Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon Ch'ule-L
The ninth of the Dragonlords and the ruler of Chichen Uctokah before it was destroyed and Ochkanatlan was built in its place.- Death Seeker: She's been trapped in a statue for thousands of years and she's only got 30 more years left before her soul vanishes for good. But since she cannot destroy herself, she asks the Traveler to find her fragmented heart, restore it and dig it out, so that her soul can be released.
- Face Death with Dignity: She would rather die by the hands of the Chosen of the Dragons (the Traveler) than have her soul "rot" till the end while being stuck in a statue for the next 30 years. That's why she wants her soul released from the statue, so that she can pass on in peace.
- I Cannot Self-Terminate: Being stuck in a statue, she is unable to destroy herself. She asks the Traveler to end her life by their hands, so that she can Face Death with Dignity. The only other being that could have granted her wish is fellow Dragonlord K'uhul Ajaw.
- Malicious Misnaming: She's very proud of her Overly Long Name that's been given to her. That's why she's very offended by Paimon shortening her name to "Ixlel" who doesn't bother to remember "Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon Ch'ule-L". The Traveler can take on Ixlel's side by scolding Paimon and calling her "Mini Pie" (or "Pai" in other languages).
- Overly Long Name: It's not too long, but it's still long enough that Paimon has to shorten it to "Ixlel".
- Sealed Evil in a Can: The Dragonlord has been trapped inside a statue for millennia thanks to Och-Kan. Since destruction is the only path the dragons know, she cannot co-exist peacefully with humanity and she would rather die now than spend thirty more years inside a statue.
- Voluntary Shapeshifter: It's implied in her dialogue that she could take the form of a mortal if she were not stuck inside a statue. She'd rather greet the Traveler in her dragon form or her mortal form. One of the artisans Och-Kan left to die down there described seeing her as a human woman.
- Walking Spoiler: She only appears in one quest, and it's about her wanting to die and have her death wish fulfilled.
"Mirror of the Dawning Morn" Ix Raq'lapuj Chue'q Buluk Ch'ule-L
- Big Bad Wannabe: For all her arrogance and skill in manipulation, she proves less of a threat when confronted. Her entire predicament is because Lianca easily saw her attempt to manipulate her and used it to trap her. And when she successfully manages to possess Ineffa, the most she accomplishes is killing a pair of Fatui grunts before Ineffa reasserts control and smashes her core to keep her from harming the Traveler and Paimon. The only reason she even ends up being the quests' Final Boss is because the surviving Fatui decide to use his dragon relic to revive her just to see what would happen, before she's beaten again once Ineffa awakens and earns a Moon Wheel.
- Jerkass: She makes Ajaw look downright cuddly. While arguably just as cruel and vindictive, Ajaw at least has people to (hilariously) rein him in and is at least shown to have some standards, such as a dislike of poachers. Raq'lapuj on the other hand has neither of these, which only serves to highlight her cruelty and Omnicidal Maniac tendencies.
- Manipulative Bitch: She posed as the Eight Dragonlord, known for her closeness and benevolence towards humanity, in order to Lure Ineffa to her prison so she can attempt a Split-Personality Takeover. It's revealed that she also tried to trick Lianca into erasing the half of her that wanted to seek out a new home and forgo vengeance, though this was much less successful.
- Palette Swap: Her boss fight is a darker-colored Secret Source Automaton: Configuration Device.
- Voices Are Mental: When she takes over Ineffa, she speaks with her voice.
Other
Kukulkan
A Dragon who stole Phlogiston from the Dragons and taught humans how to use it.
- Abusive Parents: He wasn't exactly a great father to Och-Kan, viewing him more as a way to achieve a better world than actual family. His idea of raising a child was to throw him to the vishaps and see what happened.
- The Anticipator: In Moment of Awakening, the "Little One" and the Traveler meet the Dragon Sage in person through Och-Kan's final memory, where he greets them directly, saying that he had been expecting them for some time.
- Archnemesis Dad: Och-Kan is his son, who betrayed him thanks to his terrible upbringing. By the modern day, they've both become rather unscrupulous.
- "Back to Camera" Pose: When "Little One" (and the Traveler through its eyes) meet him in person, he spends much of the conversation looking at the mural in front of him, leaving his guests to stare at the back of his head and his Phlogiston-powered stone wings.
- Cincinnatus: He effectively became the Regent of all Dragonkind, but ultimately chose to give up power in pursuit of a peaceful world.
- Didn't See That Coming:
- He created Och-Kan for the sole purpose of having a human-dragon hybrid who would slay the corrupted Pyro Sovereign and bring dragons into a new age, but didn't expect Xbalanque to kill-steal and establish humanity's dominance in Natlan.
- He was caught off guard by the "Little One" decision to ultimately stop the Huitzilopochtli and save the Traveller to defeat the Primeval Source Dragon Merch, effectively making his plan obsolete in the end. Even then, he was completely locked out of Natlan's recent happenings meaning his plan was ultimately no longer needed, especially since Kukulkan was effectively a ghost by this point, clinging to one last plan that was pretty much useless and had no benefit to anyone in the end.
- Draconic Humanoid: Among Teyvat's ancient dragons, his appearance retains some draconic elements from the era of the Sovereigns, such as his dragon's head, brown scales and a snake-like lower body that ends in a feathered tail while also being human-sized with human-like arms and hand-shaped talons.
- Fire Stolen from the Gods: His title as the Sage of the Stolen Flame and his efforts to teach humanity how to use phlogiston behind the backs of his draconic brethren are meant to be evocative of this trope—just replace "fire" with "highly versatile form of fire that can carry information" and "gods" with "highly advanced dragon civilization led by a borderline-deific dragon", and there you go.
- Humanshifting: Intrigued by humanity's potential, he wore human disguises to live among and conduct experiments on them. He suggests to "Little One" and the Traveler that he had already met them under a different appearance using the souls of the humans that his son ate as masks. It's heavily implied that the NPCs that the Traveler met previously (Legba, Titu and especially Quest Giver Manqu) over the course of the World Quests were all actually the Dragon Sage posing as them as Legba and Titu appear in Och-Kan's memories that were formed ten years after the Cataclysm, and Manqu was the name of the Masterful Craftman from the Scarlet-Eyed Youth's band of heroes. In "A Finale Emberforged", he finally confirms it by taking on the forms of Manqu and Bona in front of "Little One", though "Little One" finds the use of the latter's form distasteful.
- I Have Many Names: Explicitly says so, though the two names we ultimately do know are Waxaklahun Ubah Kan and Kukulkan.
- Locked Out of the Loop: He never truly realized about the Abyss of Natlan being completely purged, with only the remains that hadn’t got cleansed left to be purged by the Traveller, nor he realize about the Captain giving his immortality away to Yohualtecuhtin, effectively stabilizing the Night Kingdom for good. Making his entire plan obsolete the moment that Natlan actually succeeded in defeating the Abyss with the Traveller help, never realizing that the person that he had asked to help him for is immune to the Abyss and can easily purify it due to their power and their nature as the Fourth Descender.
- Manipulative Bastard: Much of Natlan's history and the events of the World Quests with "Little One" can be traced back to his schemes to (unsuccessfully) replace his older brother with his hybrid son, and then when he lost faith in humanity, get someone else to decide whether or not to activate Huitzilopochtli and turn everyone into Phlogiston, lying to both his fellow dragons and humans in the process to steer them into the direction he wanted them to go.
- Meaningful Name: In Yucatec Mayan language, Waxaklahun means "eighteen", Ubah means "His Head" (His Majesty/Highness), Kan means "snake". Other He is the royal younger brother of the Pyro Sovereign, who Humanshifted numerous times.
- Mythical Motifs: In addition to being based on Kukulkan, him stealing Phlogiston from the Dragons and teaching it to humans gives him parallels to Maui, who in Polynesian folklore is often credited with giving humans fire after stealing it from the gods (ironically, the god in question is Mahuika, the basis for the current Pyro Archon).
- Religious and Mythological Theme Naming: Waxaklahun Ubah Kan is the Classical Period name for Kukulkan, one of the Mayan Feathered Serpent gods.
- Time Abyss: He's one of the surviving ancient dragons from the era of the dragon civiliation, and may be even the first dragon that Xiuhcoatl created from the Primal Flame. He fought in the war alongside the original Sovereigns against the Primordial One when they started colonising Teyvat for humanity, so he was already at a significant age by the time he met Xbalanque. He's still alive and actively scheming to use "Little One" and the Traveler for his ends, but he finally disappears once Huitzilopochtli fully deactivates.
- Took a Level in Cynic: By his own admission, his tremendous faith in the tribes of Natlan to defeat the Abyss once and for all has expired, believing that they cling too heavily to the Pyro Archon and the Ancient Names. Apparently he either wasn't aware of Mavuika's plan to actually finish the job, didn't believe it could succeed, or, if you've already defeated Gosoythoth by the time "Little One" finally meets him in the finale of the world quest series, doesn't believe it would be enough to purge the Abyss permanently. However, he comes to realize he may have actually still believed in Natlan's people deep down when "Little One" refuses to activate Huitzilopochtli.
- We Can Rule Together: He offered Och-Kan one last chance to reconcile and activate Huitzilopochtli together to create a new world. Naturally, his son refused.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: He intends (with the aid of "Little One") to use Huitzilopochtli, which is basically an ancient draconic superweapon, to completely and utterly annihilate the Abyss in Natlan and render it a place the Abyss can never again invade, at the cost of converting all life in Natlan into Phlogiston-based life forms (or worse, annihilating them outright), even if Gosoythoth has already been defeated at that point. When "Little One" ultimately deactivates the device, Kukulkan tries his best to convince him to change his mind, but ultimately gives up and comes to realize that perhaps he sabotaged himself by sending "Little One" to the Traveller (instead of raising them in the Sacred City himself) because deep down he still believed in the people of Natlan, both human and dragon alike.
Humans
Ochkanatlan
Och-Kan, Lord of Cinder City / "Coco" Cocouik / Dragon of the City of Flowing Ash

- We cannot trust any power mightier than humanity, nor place our hope in their beneficence. No mighty being of such a kind and gentle nature has ever existed save for that person, one who would never commit appalling evils. I myself am no exception...
The half-man, half-dragon ruler of Ochkanatlan who was once a companion of Xbalanque. He became reviled as a tyrant and was eventually defeated by the Scarlet-Eyed Hero. He is the son of Waxaklahun Ubah Kan and nephew of the Pyro Sovereign Xiuhcoatl.
- Animal Eyes: His eyes turned into reptile eyes as he aged.
- Antagonistic Offspring: He betrayed his father, Waxaklahun Ubah Kan, because he knew the dragon was only interested in humanity's potential in helping dragons move forward from losing their intelligence and the in-fighting instead of truly caring about humanity's development (as evidenced by his own creation), and devoted himself to Xbalanque and his wrapped perception of his ideals.
- Bad Boss: Sent several artisans to their deaths, very slow ones, in the Old Core of Chu'ulel to keep the secrets of the area and the Secret Source Automatons hidden.
- Boomerang Bigot: Persecuted Saurians despite being a half-dragon himself. During the war with the dragons, his zeal for hurting dragons unnerved even his allies. As he became more draconic, he sought to outright enslave himself in service of humanity, though only for his vision of what he thought was best.
- Connected All Along: After he was overthrown, he separated his mind and body to "protect" Ochkanatlan's people. The purple rampaging dragon in the ruins is his body, while the manifestation of his mind is none other than Cocouik.
- The Creon: Sort of. Och-Kan was very devoted to Xbalanque, believing that only he was the only one who deserved to be a god, refuting any attempts by others to have him take the role. In fact, he was so devoted it turned him into a tyrannical zealot. Though while he never became Pyro Archon, in the absence of Xbalanque, he still became the one who held the most power.
- Death from Above: During Vaulting the Wall of Morning Mist, Och-Kan's draconic body will fire fireballs at the Traveler as they navigate Ashflow Street, before a segment where Cocouik, his own mind, has to defend himself from them while shooting down the dragon.
- Deceptive Disciple: He allowed Ixlel to teach him everything she knew while secretly planning to strip her down to her core components and used this new knowledge to further justify his Saurian bigotry.
- Dragons Are Demonic: His body is the purple dragon that had been haunting, attacking and eating adventurers in Ochkanatlan for thousands of years. It's also notable that the more evil he became, the more draconic he became as well.
- Dramatic Unmask: The Scarlet-Eyed Youth tore his mask from his face as they fought, revealing his true appearance for all to see.
- Dub Name Change: Cocouik's Chinese name is 绿松石 (pinyin LǜSōngShí), the technical name of the turquoise gem. This also doubles as a Meaningful Name as turquoise was/is a culturally significant gem in Aztec and several Southwest Native American ethnic groups (such as Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Pueblo) even more so than gold.
- Egopolis: Och-Kan, tyrant of Ochkanatlan.
- Evil Former Friend: He eventually turned on his former allies as he was consumed by paranoia and attempted to consolidate his authority as the sole ruler of his empire.
- Evil Makes You Ugly: The more depraved he grew with time, the more dragon-like he became. By the time he was overthrown, he was said to be bleeding fire.
- Evil Sounds Deep: His parting words to the Traveler in Act V reveals that his human voice had a baritone that could have sounded demonic with the right words.
- Foreshadowing: When Bona talks about the various myths about Och-Kan's death, Cocouik becomes noticeably distressed when she suggests the Dragon is his ghost. Turns out the Dragon and Cocouik are both parts of Och-Kan.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: He was once a prisoner of the dragons, and in time ascended to be the tyrant of his own empire named after himself.
- The Fundamentalist: He had a fanatic belief towards Xbalanque as the only god that Natlan should worship, and subsequently banned worship of the Night Kingdom. He also ironically went against his god's wish for harmonious co-existence among human and Saurian by enslaving the Saurians because he hated all dragons, including himself.
- Half-Human Hybrid: It's unknown whether he was conceived biologically or Born of Magic, but Waxaklahun Ubah Kan created him to have a draconic body and human soul to become the next Pyro Sovereign.
- Hellfire: He was known to utilize fire called "Turnfire" to kill any who opposed him. Turnfire caused a burning sensation in those it afflicted, specifically behind them. This would cause them to turn around, triggering the fire to consume them and burn them to ash.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Och-Kan's extreme self-loathing meant he was perfectly willing to sacrifice himself for the future of humanity. The only issue was his visions for that future weren't exactly great.
- Hero-Worshipper: After Xbalanque rescued him from his imprisonment by the dragons, he became completely devoted to him to the point of even declaring that he is the only god who should be worshipped.
- Hidden Backup Prince: As it turned out, Waxaklahun Ubah Kan created Och-Kan so that he could do a Klingon Promotion on his older brother, the Pryo Sovereign, although that never came to pass.
- Hope Bringer: Entirely averted, despite his best attempts. Och-Kan's core belief was in the power of hope and humanity's ability. He never lost hope that they would eventually gain full independence, nor did he lose hope that the people would eventually come to realize that he was a Well-Intentioned Extremist who was simply doing what was right. In reality, his beliefs were horribly misguided and he was universally feared and reviled by all. Abandoning his path proved to be the correct choice for human development, and history did not forgive him despite his motives but instead condemned him as a tyrant for his actions. He hoped Ochkanatlan would become a beacon of hope, but it instead became a feared location that none dared visit.
- Humanity Is Superior: He believed that humans were a superior species and should carve out their place in the universe on their own, without the assistance of any other being like the Wayob and especially the descendants of dragons.
- Hypocrite:
- He refers to Ixlel as a demonic entity whose refusal to help him shows her true wicked nature... after shoving her, who only ever tried to help him, into one of the most horrible fates imaginable.
- He despises dragons, including himself, and believes he should sacrifice himself for the future of his people. However, he's only willing to do so for what he believes is best for them, and violently suppresses them when they object.
- Kicking My Own Butt: At the climax of the World Quest, Cocouik, Och-Kan's mind starts shooting Abyss-purifying energy beams at the Dragon of the City of Flowing Ash, Och-Kan's body and soul, and even explosively takes the latter down straight into the Night Kingdom.
- Killer Rabbit: Past sins aside, Cocouik's cute and tiny appearance hides a terrifying ability as an Abyss-purifying Kill Sat that not only shoots down the Dragon of the City of Flowing Ash, but also bore through the earth so deeply that it left a massive hole that rivals the depths of the Chasm.
- Malevolent Masked Man: In life he wore a mosaic mask to hide his draconic features and wore it until he was overthrown as a tyrant.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Despite his previous crimes against them, he was still horrified that his body would be weaponized against his own people.
- My Greatest Failure: He greatly regretted being unable to save Bona.
- Never My Fault: Played With, while he does accept he's sinned, he's very quick to blame his father for everything he's done wrong. While it wouldn't be incorrect, as Waxaklahun Ubah Kan was the one who turned him into the Fell Dragon, he does conveniently ignore all the actual crimes he committed against his people entirely of his own accord.
- Pensieve Flashback: Och-Kan invites the Traveler to look into his memories where they learn that Waxaklahun Ubah Kan was not only his father and had secretly arranged for the Traveler and "Little One" to go through the events of almost of all Natlan's World Quests for his own agenda, but also somehow managed to address "Little One" directly across time and space.
- Purple Is Impure: The Dragon of the City of Flowing Ash is an evil dragon corroded by the Abyss, the end result of Och-Kan's descent into madness and villainy. Hence, it's a purple Palette Swap of the Goldflame Qucusaur Tyrant.
- Religious and Mythological Theme Naming: Och-Kan is the Vision Serpent
from Maya mythology. - Ridiculously Cute Critter: Aw, the little chirping blue round guardian spirit with large yellow Tareme Eyes that accompanies the Traveler's party in exploring Ochkanatlan was Natlan's most infamous tyrant all along!
- Suddenly Speaking: After responding only in chirps for most of the Ochkanatlan World Quests, Cocouik reveals his true identity as Och-Kan to the Traveler when they have a final confrontation with his body, thanking them for reuniting his mind with his body and soul. If the Ochkanatlan world quests are completed before starting Act V, he will appear alongside Bona in the Night Kingdom with a chirp, and then suddenly give some encouraging parting words to the Traveler in a manly Baritone of Strength.
- Tragic Bigot: It's not hard to see why he'd come to hate dragons so much when they treated him so badly his entire life.
- Uniformity Exception: The model of his draconic body is a recoloured purple version of the Goldflame Qucusaur Tyrant. This may be justified by the fact that they both struggled with the Flamelord's Blessing.
- Upgraded Boss: He fights similarly to the Goldflame Qucusaur Tyrant but with a Void Ward and a few additional attacks.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Even by human standards, the younger Och-Kan was noted to be far more empathetic than those around him, while also caring for the vishaps he was raised with. Being treated like an experiment by his father and the other dragons pushed him over the edge.
- Vocal Dissonance: His parting words to the Traveler in Act V are spoken with his human voice, which was a Baritone of Strength... all the while still as Cocouik.
- With Great Power Comes Great Insanity: He was one of the few to be bestowed the Flamelord's Blessing. It allowed him to perform most of his feats, but it also appeared to take a bit of a toll on his mind towards the end of his life, even affecting his memories.
"Malipo" Yupanqui, Firethief
The legendary hero of the Scions of the Canopy, who first became part of Xbalanque's and Och-Kan's party in slaying the Pyro Sovereign, then ended up rebelling against Och-Kan towards the end of his life.- Fighting Your Friend: Yupanqui had been Xbalanque's and Och-Kan's comrade since before the establishment of Archons in Natlan, and witnessed both the ascension of Xbalanque and Och-Kan's rise as a tyrant. He was initially quite reluctant to turn against Och-Kan as he was getting old and he was his sole surviving friend despite being against what he was doing, but the Scarlet-Eyed Youth made a personal visit and ignited the spark of rebellion in him.
- Kill It with Fire: He was carrying the Turnfire he stole from Och-Kan with him and used it to single-handedly wipe out Och-Kan's army, but he heard his former friend calling out to him. Turning around, he was burnt to death.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Yupanqui shares his name with several Sapa Incas of the Incan kingdoms.
- Old Soldier: He was noted to still be a particularly effective warrior in his old age. He managed to destroy Och-Kan's entire army on his own.
"Vuka" Lianca, Umoja Uenuku, Baraka Ixquieh and Uwezo Ahpub
The people who helped Xbalanque slay the Pyro Sovereign and later held important positions in Ochkanatlan, with Lianca, Ixquieh and Ahpub becoming chiefs of the Flower-Feather Clan, Children of Echoes and the Collective of Plenty respectively.In General
- Founder of the Kingdom: Lianca founded the Flower-Feather Clan, while Ixquieh founded the Children of Echoes.
Tropes applying to Lianca
- Defiant to the End: Rather than allow herself to give Och-Kan the satisfaction of seeing her fall, she killed herself with her own arrow so she would die standing up.
- Died Standing Up: After having her bones broken fighting Och-Kan's army, she nailed herself to her bow to prevent her bending the knee to Och-Kan.
- Interspecies Adoption: Lianca was taken in by one of the dragon civilisation's sovereign rulers as her daughter.
- Offing the Offspring: She killed her son in battle. Granted, he was a piece of shit who turned Och-Kan against her for no known reason, so nobody's mourning him.
- Rebellious Princess: Lianca's mother officially designated her as a dragon princess despite her human origins. When she joined Xbalanque's party and started killing dragons alongside him, her mother simply accepted that she and Lianca had chosen to go on separate paths.
Tropes applying to Uenuku
- Interspecies Romance: The folktales of the Meztli claim that Uenuku fell in love with his Oceanid companion Hineila (or Ianeira), although the veracity cannot be confirmed.
Tropes applying to Ahpub and Ixquieh
- Accidental Murder: Ahpub accidentally pierced Ixquieh's throat when they had their final falling out and she bled out in his arms.
- Brains and Brawn: Ixquieh was the Brains with her unparelleled expertise in forging, while Ahpub tended to solve issues with his strength.
- Brother–Sister Team: Ahpub and Ixquieh were a pair of fraternal twins.
- Tag Team Twins: Page one of the Ring of Yaxche's description details how the twin heroes took down a Dragonlord. Ahpub shot it down with a Blow Gun, while Ixquieh forged an imitation gem to trick it into thinking that a Depowering elixir was a salve from its fellow Dragonlord to heal its wounds, and then it was Buried Alive amidst the mountains.
- Driven to Suicide: Present-day understanding of the circumstances of their death believe that Ixquieh committed suicide while forcing her twin brother to do the same in an act of Honor-Related Abuse so that he would not turn out like Och-Kan. According to the Ring of Yaxche however, it was Ahpub who chose to kill himself out of remorse and regret for killing Ixquieh.
- House Fire: Ixquieh's workshop burnt down when she died, destroying many of her manuscripts and writings with it. It can be inferred that Ahpub was the one who set the fire, possibly to avoid Och-Kan from benefitting from Ixquieh's work.
- Polar Opposite Twins: Ahpub had "an explosive temperament", while Ixquieh was "calm (and) unflappable". Owing to their respective tribes (Collective of Plenty and Children of Echoes respectively), they also had a Yellow/Purple Contrast (although Ixquieh's clothing is shown to be brown in flashbacks).
- Revenge: The twins lost their parents because of the Dragonlord, so their heroics in the Ring of Yaxche were their payback. Later in their lives, Ahpub was the only one among the first Six Heroes who still harboured resentment towards dragonkind, leading him to lay sige to the Children of Echoes and confront Ixquieh when she refused to stop protecting the Tepetlisauri in her territory, accusing her of forgetting their old-blood vengence. This would tragically lead to Ixquieh's Accidental Murder.
The Scarlet-Eyed Youth, Sakkuk, Atawallpa, Waskar and the Masterful Craftsman
The rebels that rose up in opposition to Och-Kan's rule and successfully overthrew him.- Angsty Surviving Twin: Atawallpa's "tormented wails wracked his throat hoarse" when his younger twin brother Waskar was slain in battle.
- Love Triangle: The Masterful Craftsman fell quickly for Sakkuk the night they first met, while she already had feelings for the Scarlet-Eyed Hero. Ultimately it didn't matter whether any feelings were reciprocated, as Sakkuk ended up outliving both men by a long shot.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed:
- Sakkuk is named after the Mayan queen of Palenque Sak K'uk'
, who was also the mother of the king that Pacal is named after. - Atawallpa and Waskar are the Quechua names of two half-brother Sapa
Incas
who unlike the closeness of the Genshin characters, caused a civil war over a power struggle for the throne.
- Sakkuk is named after the Mayan queen of Palenque Sak K'uk'
- No Name Given: The Scarlet-Eyed Youth is only ever referred to as such, even as someone who ascended to become the second Pyro Archon. He invoked this, asking Sakkuk to erase his name from history to inspire future generations to follow in his stead. Sakkuk was said to have also done the same to the Masterful Craftsman, although his name can be found in a Recordkeeping Secret Source Sentinel in Ashflow Street, Ochkanatlan: Manqu.
- The Smurfette Principle: Sakkuk was the only woman among the six rebels.
Post-Ochkanatlan
Bona
A female adventurer from the Flower-Feather Clan who found Cocouik.
- Dead All Along: She appears in the present to the Traveler and Paimon seemingly alive. In actuality, this Bona was just a memory projected by Och-Kan. The real Bona has been dead for hundreds of years.
- Deuteragonist: Alongside Cocouik, she is one of the focuses of the Lost Traveler in the Ashen Realm world quest.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: Due to being a person from hundreds of years ago, she doesn’t know what the Adventurer’s Guild is when Paimon brings it up.
- Suddenly Voiced: If the Ochkanatlan world quest is completed before starting Act V, her appearance in the Act as a resident of the Night Kingdom alongside Cocouik has her fully voiced.
Hine
- A Form You Are Comfortable With: Implied. She lived well into her adulthood, but when her soul appears to Mavuika in the Night Realm, she appears as a child, as that's the appearance Mavuika would recognize.
- Maternally Challenged: In her final conversation with Mavuika in the Night Kingdom, she says that she never married or had children, spending her life focused on her architect work in an effort to help as many people as she could.
- Non-Standard Character Design: Rather than having green clothing like the rest of Huitztlan, she had orange clothing.
- Posthumous Character: She lived 500 years ago, so she's long dead by now. She's only ever seen in flashbacks until her soul manifests to speak with Mavuika one last time in the Night Kingdom.
- Religious and Mythological Theme Naming: She is named after Hine-nui-te-pō, the Maori goddess of the night, who is sometimes considered to be sister of Mahuika.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Like her sister she has reddish-orange hair with yellow tips that resemble flames.
- Tragic Keepsake: Hine created an origami frog that she used as a bookmark just before she found out about Mavuika's Thanatos Gambit. She left it in the book where, 500 years later, it would find its way to a reincarnated Mavuika.
Burkina, Menilek, Sanhaj Kompore, Sundjatta, Tenoch, Tupac and Wanjiru
- See their page here
Huitzilin
- Voiced by: Liu Shisi (Chinese), Kushima Sayu (Japanese)
- Always Someone Better: Citlali was this to her.
- Childhood Friends: Huitzilin befriended Citlali before they had both matured into adults.
- Defeat Means Friendship: A flipped version where Huitzilin's frequent attempts surpass Citlali led them to become more familiar with each other, and Citlali gave up resisting her visits after the former started bringing food and wine to share.
- Foil: To Citlali. The latter's extended life means that she avoids forming human connections as she feared her friends would only ever become memories. Huitzilin, on the other hand, forged multiple connections to create colorful memories, with her disciples, her tribe, and even tried to do so with Citlali. She even used memories as the basis of the "maze of colors" spell that she used during the Battle of Seven Colors.
- The Maze: The spell she used during the Battle of Seven Colors is this, creating a maze inside a space made out of people's memories of the connections they've made with other people. Her idea was that, since most Abyss don't have memories of those connections (or don't value them), they'll get stuck within the maze. Those who do value the memories and connections they've made, however, such as the warriors from her tribe, as well as the Traveler and Citlali, should be able to escape the maze with no issue.
- Meaningful Name: Her name comes from the Nahuatl word for hummingbird.
- The Power of Friendship: Her masterpiece of shamanic magic, which she used as the basis both for The Maze described above, and for the crafting of the sacred scrolls which became her tribe's standard for their most important historical events, was to derive "Color" from memories, specifically those of strong bonds.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Downplayed. While Citlali's policy on forming personal relationships is one of the main reasons she's a hermit, Huitzilin making a condition for passing her school of shamanism beating Citlali, later downgraded to surviving long enough, served to worsen this by causing her students and their successors to see her as The Dreaded and start spreading rumours that extended this reputation to the rest of the tribe. Considering their friendship, backed up by a flashback between them and Citlali's conversation with an echo of her memory, it's hard to say if she intended for this to happen.
Quenin
A Qucusaurus Warrior: Heartstar Hammer in Ochkanatlan who is the subject of the Twisted Extension World Quest. Once a member of the Ochkanatlan Adventure Team, he's one of the few survivors left, prowling the area and doing his best to clear out Abyssal enemies. However, "Quenin" is really a Tenebrous Mimiflora who took the appearance of the late warrior.
- Alas, Poor Villain: While a Tenebrous Mimiflora mimicking a dead man, he truly believed he was a warrior who wanted to do his best to keep people safe, and the revelation that he is the very thing he so despises utterly shatters him. Even with this reveal, he still refers to the Traveler as though they were his friend as he dies.
- Becoming the Mask: He mimicked the appearance of the real Quenin, but also ended up taking on his memories and personality until he too became a warrior whose duty was to defeat the Abyss and keep the people of Natlan safe. It's implied he even started writing in Quenin's diary.
- Dead All Along: The real Quenin had long since died by the time his corpse is a found under the rubble.
- Discovering Your Own Dead Body: Sorta. Quenin was Dead All Along but the one who finds his body isn't himself but someone who effectively became him.
- Driven to Madness: Learning the real Quenin was Dead All Along, and that he is nothing more than a fake, destroy what little sanity he had left.
- Glamour Failure: Surprisingly averted. Even when the jig is up and his identity as a Mimiflora is revealed, his disguise continues to be a perfect replica of Quenin in his dying moments rather than reverting to the solid purple hue other Mimiflora sport.
- Killed Off for Real: Quenin is revealed to be a Tenebrous Mimiflora and killed by the Traveler at the end of the Twisted Extension quest.
- Irony: As he himself points out, he desired to protect those who came to Ochkanatlan, was disgusted with the deceit of the Mimiflora, the mimicking of his "friends" and wanted nothing more than their extermination. He himself was a Tenebrous Mimiflora mimicking a member of the Ochkanatlan Adventure Team, and being Driven to Madness leads him to attack the person he was trying to keep safe.
- Laughing Mad: His laughter during the World Quest shows he isn't quite stable. When he realises he's a fake, his speech degrades into nothing but mad laughter as he attacks the Traveler.
- Madness Mantra: He was plagued with visions of the real Quenin's corpse and began constantly writing about something beneath the waterfall.
- Palette Swap: He's a Qucusaurus Warrior: Heartstar Hammer but has purple highlights in some places to show he's not quite normal. This was actually a feature of the original Quenin, as his corpse has the exact same purple highlights.
- Token Heroic Orc: He's the only helpful Tenebrous Mimiflora the Traveler encounters.
- Tomato in the Mirror: He is forced to confront the fact that he isn't a human at all, but an Abyssal monster taking the form of one.
- You Are What You Hate: He finds the actions of the Tenebrous Mimiflora sickening and wants nothing more than to purge Ochkanatlan of their presence. Little did he know, he was one himself.
- Deceased Parents Are the Best: A flashback reveals that Aroni and Macani showered their newborn son with love, and they ultimately gave everything to save him from the Abyss.
- Fling a Light into the Future: Macani names the group "Tecpatl's Flintblades" with the idea that they would be the spark that ignites future embers that grow into powerful flames. Unwittingly performed literally as their the teams' sacrifice consumed portions of their nightsouls and reduced them to Asha, who later stumble across Bennett when he visits Tenochtzitoc."...this land had no shortage of heroes, and so what he wanted to do was forge a path for future generations to take, allowing embers of the future to grow and shine..."
- Heroic Sacrifice: The entire team perished attempting to protect Aroni and her infant son, but were slaughtered by abyssal beasts. In death, they offered a sacrificial prayer to the gods and offered everything in exchange for the baby's survival. Their souls were transformed into Asha Monetoos, losing their memories in the process.
- Meaningful Rename: It's implied that Bennett's original name was Natlanese for "Lucky Star", as his parents repeatedly refer to him by the longform. However, upon learning the name he was given by the Mondstadt adventurers who would become his adoptive fathers, we learn Bennett is Natlanese for "Blessed" and they show their approval by referring to him as such directly.
- Morphic Resonance: In their Monetoo forms, the group retained some of the accessories they wore in life.
- Mystical White Hair: Bennett inherited his white hair from his mother, Aroni, who hailed from the Masters of the Nightwind. She demonstrated the tribe's mystical aptitude in leading the sacrificial prayer that saved her infant son's life.
- One Last Job: Aroni's pregnancy meant that she and Macani would soon retire to raise their child, so Anja suggests one "final farewell trip" to commemorate their team before they break up.
- Quitting to Get Married: Or rather, quitting to start a family. Aroni and Macani had intended to quit going on adventures, in order to focus on raising their son. Tragically, this one last journey with their friends ended with their deaths.
- Retirony: The group's final journey had been intended as a send-off for the team, as Aroni and Macani had decided to settle down with their newborn son. Instead, they were pulled into an abyssal realm and slaughtered, leaving Bennett an orphan.
- Sentimental Photo Album: Aroni chronicled their adventures through journal entries and Kamera photos; one of which the group finds in an abandoned cave in what would become the Guiztli Ridge adventure ride. This habit carries over to her as an Asha, where she follows the group and takes her own photos of them, though of much poorer quality than her former standards.
- So Proud of You: They tell Bennett that they're proud he became an adventurer.
- True Companions: The group formed extremely close bonds, with Macani eventually marrying Aroni. Anja and Chaco were their dearest friends, and did not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for Bennett's sake.
Time Unknown
Imara
Nampole's brother and a former chief of the Flower-Feather Clan from centuries ago.
- All for Nothing: As Citlali notes and confirms after the group witnesses Nampole's past, Sacred Flame Crystals aren't actually capable of enhancing a human's abilities. In other words, he basically lost his brother, their Saurian companion, and ruined relations between his Tribe and all the others for a bunch of useless rocks.
- Cain and Abel: The Cain to Nampole's Abel. While at first he seemed to share his brother's desire to cure Antu, his motives quickly start to change when Nampole offhandedly mentions that the Sacred Flame Crystals can allegedly give humans greater power. Once the Trials started, he became obsessed with hoarding as many of them as he could, having his tribe engage in several dirty tactics and even severely harming those from other tribes. And while this’d initially could mark him as a Well-Intentioned Extremist, him deciding to add the Crystals they set aside to cure Antu to his collection after the Saurian runs away in horror of his actions and making no efforts to track him down makes it clear that he ultimately only cares for his own power. This all causes Nampole to leave the Flower-Feather Clan in disgust.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Is the closest the event has to an antagonist, with his hunger for power being the cause of Antu's trauma and guilt that followed him into his death.
- Kick the Dog: It becomes abundantly clear how corrupted he's been by the prospect of greater power when he reveals that instead of trying to find Antu when he ran away, he took the Sacred Flame Crystals they set aside for his treatment to continue his research into them, effectively leaving the young Saurian for dead.
Kuntur, Unloved of the Sun
A folkloric hero from the Masters of the Night-Wind that was cast out of his tribe. His supposed origins are told in The Tale of Qoyllor and Ukuku and his own personal The Tale of Kuntur.
- All the Other Reindeer: He wasn't well liked by his tribe, not even the Saurians wanted anything to do with him before he gained the recognition of an Iktomisaurus.
- Half-Human Hybrid: His father was human while his mother was a daughter of the Sun, which makes Kuntur the Sun's grandson and possibly Semi-Divine.
- Shrouded in Myth: Due to the folkloric nature of his story which doesn't quite fit into Teyvat's established setting and the lack of supporting evidence, it is unclear whether Kuntur was an actual historical figure with an exaggerated narrative or simply a fairytale hero. Given that the Pyro Archons are known as "Suns" and shamans of the Night-Wind are referred to as "stars", it is possible that it is simply an allegory for a more mundane truth in the same way Nahida wove a fairytale from the Wanderer's past.
- Sins of Our Fathers: The entire reason why he was cast out of his tribe is supposedly because his father withheld his mother's star fragments, which would have enabled her to go home to her star, and tricked her into settling down with him in Natlan, and the Sun's Divine Punishment was extended to him.
The Muratans
A long lost Anemo tribe from what would become the Mare Jivari that left and ended up in Mondstadt. The Muratan Vennessa can be found in Genshin Impact: Mondstadt.
- Dub Name Change: They are called the "Munata people" in Chinese, also containing the Chinese name for "Natlan", "Nata".
- Odd Name Out: Unlike the other tribes of Natlan, they aren't named after a location in Aztec Mythology, instead being named after Murata, one of the Pyro Archons, though it could be Early-Installment Weirdness given that the manga was released five years before Natlan.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: There is no evidence of their existence in modern day Mondstadt, or modern Natlan itself, so what happened to them is unknown. It's implied that the Mare Jivari has something to do with it.
Nampole
Ifa's ancestor and a Saurian vet from the distant past, who advocated for the revival of the Bloomflower Trials to gather Sacred Flame Crystals to cure his Saurian companion, Antu. Unfortunately, his desire to save his companion had unintended consequences.- The Atoner: While he was already a Saurian vet when he was alive, him spending the rest of his days caring for Saurians and having his descendants continue this tradition was his way of atoning for the discord he brought upon the Tribes and and the guilt Antu felt for so much chaos being caused in the name of curing him.
- Hero with Bad Publicity: Due to being having been the one to revive the Bloomflower Trials in the first place, many from other Tribes falsely believed that it was a ploy by both him and his brother, and that his subsequently going around and begging for help curing Antu was part of another scheme. Some settled for simply refusing his requests for Sacred Flame Crystals to cure Antu with, but others went as far as to taunt, attack and even mocking wave their Crystals in his face.
- Together in Death: Is there to greet Antu when the young Qucusaur is freed of his regrets and moves on to the Night Kingdom.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: This is why Ifa's family dedication to Saurian caretaking is "Medicine born of guilt". While discussing with his brother Imara how to use Sacred Flame Crystals to cure Antu, their Saurian companion, he offhandedly mentions that some records suggest that the Crystals can grant warriors greater power. This was an unsubstantiated claim with shaky evidence at best, but Imara took this completely at face value and so went out of his way to hoard as many of them as possible to research and unlock their secrets, an obsession that spread across the rest of the tribes and prompted more violence and arguments between them. This caused Antu, horrified by everyone turning against each other, to run away in spite of his illness, with Nampole soon following in disgust of his brother's actions. Due to the rest of the Tribes assuming that Nampole was in on his brother schemes, he was unable to procure any crystals to cure Antu with, not at all helped by the young Saurians' trauma giving him a fervent hatred of the crystals that made him try to destroy any he saw on sight. The fact that he caused so much violence and all but guaranteed that Antu would die feeling immense guilt because of a few words to the wrong person utterly shattered Nampole, prompting him to dedicate the rest of his days caring for Saurians and ensuring his descendants would continue the tradition to atone.
Sauroform Tribal Warriors
Skilled warriors hailing from Natlan's various tribes. They are the guardians of their respective realms, but also won't pass up an opportunity to spar with you.
- Blood Knight: Many of them have a high aggro detection radius rivaling that of the Eremites, reflecting how they're often itching for a fight against a Worthy Opponent. The Daily Commission "Hey! Calm Down!" even claims that their battlelust if unsatiated can make them so volatile that they become a danger to regular civilians unless dealt with accordingly.
- Evil Poacher: Several of them operate as Saurian poachers in either sidequests or story trailers.
- Gameplay and Story Segregation: It's said that most members of the People of the Springs know how to swim, but Meztli-aligned Sauroform Tribal Warriors are just as susceptible to the Super Drowning Skills that affect most enemies in this game (more so, even, given that many such Meztli warriors can be found on destructible platforms floating on water).
- Had to Be Sharp: Their training involves focusing more on mastering things like adaptation and skills rather than just typical strength and speed in order to better survive Natlan's wild and unpredictable environments. This is reflected in them possessing a relatively large aggro-range than most regular human enemies. Even when they're relaxing, it is much harder to sneak by them due to their sharpened senses.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Rather than dissolving upon defeat like Hilichurls or Fatui soldiers, Sauroform Tribal Warriors disappear into smoke like the Treasure Hoarders do, albeit without an obvious smoke bomb animation.
- Master-Apprentice Chain: The flavor text for the Sentry's Wooden Whistle states that all warriors start out acquiring the skills of combat by learning under the tutelage of those who have already done so.
- Mirror Character: They have a few similarities to the Eremites, such as having weaker generic-looking units modelled after NPCs and more advanced units who wear headpieces covering their eyes.
- Non-Standard Character Design: The low-ranking warriors share identical models with standard NPCs, but the Saurian-Crowned ones have unique designs.
- Power Tattoo: Warriors from the Masters of the Night-Wind can draw upon the power contained within their body paint to various extents to obtain more power in combat. Said paint is said to have evolved from the practice of Phlogiston Engraving, and that it takes years to fully master wielding it.
- Weak, but Skilled: Unlike warriors from other tribes, those from the Masters of the Night-Wind are said to compensate for their lack of conventional strength with that obtained through Spiritspeaking, which involves a larger focus on mental training, willpower, and special graffiti painted on their bodies.
- Forged Sand Warriors: Interrogators, Shieldbrakers, and Javeliners are warriors from the Children of Echoes.
- Swiftstep Warriors: Seekers, Storm Scouts, and Armed Couriers are warriors from the Scions of the Canopy.
- Flowing Blade Warriors: Skirmishers, Grease-Saws, and Harpoon-Throwers are warriors from the People of the Springs.
- Winged Warriors: Feathershedders, Skymasters, and Skysoarers are warriors from the Flower-Feather Clan.
- Spiritspeaker Warriors: Contemplators, Psychokinetics, and Determinators are warriors from the Masters of the Night-Wind.
- Ferocious Warriors: Human Rams, Wrestlers, and Grapplers are warriors from the Collective of Plenty.
- Bare-Fisted Monk: Skirmishers, Skysoarers and Grapplers fight using nothing but martial arts.
- BFS: Armed Couriers and Contemplators wield claymores.
- Carry a Big Stick: Interrogators, Shieldbreakers, Seekers, Skymasters, Determinators, and Wrestlers all wield clubs and warhammers.
- Grappling-Hook Pistol: Swiftstep warriors and Human Rams are issued special grappling hooks for easier movement through the Canopy.
- Mooks: They're the weakest and lowest-ranking members, usually accompanying the higher class members.
- Mundane Utility: Interrogators have been reported to also use their clubs to smash rocks open in search of gemstones when not fighting.
- Tepetilisaurus Warriors: Shard Striker and Rockbreaker Blade;
- Yumkasaurus Warriors: Whirling Leaves and Flowing Skyfire;
- Koholasaurus Warriors: Waveshuttler and Reefsplitter;
- Qucusaurus Warriors: Heartstar Hammer and Blazing Sky;
- Iktomisaurus Warriors: Icy Tidebearer and Cryocrystal Cannon;
- Tatankasaurus Warriors: Skybreaker and Spiritlight Chaser.
- BFG: Flowing Skyfires, Reefsplitters, and Cryocrystal Cannons use large cannon-like weapons.
- Brats with Slingshots: Waveshuttlers, Blazing Skies, and Spiritlight Chasers use large slingshot-like weapons.
- Carry a Big Stick: Shard Strikers, Heartstar Hammers, and Skybreakers wield large battle hammers.
- Elite Mooks: Downplayed. They're technically counted as Common Enemies, but are the strongest amongst the tribal warriors' ranks, possessing monstrous amounts of HP and are capable of inflicting serious damage.
- MacGyvering: The Whirling Leaves and Flowing Skyfires are noted to have integrated their grappling hooks into the more advanced weapons they now wield.
- Saw Blades of Death: Rockbreaker Blades, Whirling Leaves, and Icy Tidebearers wield large chainsaw-like weapons.
Sappho Amidst the Waves and Rilai
Two individual Local Legends found in different parts of Natlan.
- Berserk Button: Neither of them take too kindly to you attacking them while they're in the middle of playing a song.
- Boss in Mook's Clothing: Both of them are extremely dangerous versions of regular Natlan warriors.
- Boss Subtitles: "Waterborne Lutenist" for Sappho and "Frozen Collar" for Rilai.
- Flash Step: Rilai is capable of teleporting away from the player when they attack her. She'll also sometimes leave behind an explosive Pyro barrel when she does this, which will very likely oneshot one of the player's party members if it explodes in their face.
- Musical Assassin: They're both found playing instruments apparently working on their latest songs for each other according to the notebooks behind them, but are also extremely formidable fighters.
- Savage Setpiece: Unlike other Local Legends, neither of them will attack you unless attacked first.
- Shout-Out: Rilai could be seen as one to Rylai from Dota 2, having a very similar name and also being a Cryo user who can deliver devastating burst damage.
- SNK Boss:
- Sappho is a Local Legend variant of the Koholasaurus Warrior: Waveshuttler, possessing monstrous strength and HP far surpassing that of regular ones.
- Rilai is a Local Legend variant of the Iktomisaurus Warrior: Cryocrystal Cannon, who in addition to having huge stats has upgraded versions of the regular one's attacks.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Both will call you out for attacking them while they're in the middle of playing their music.
Wayward Hermetic Spiritspeaker
A priestess from the Masters of the Night-Wind who lives in solitude, away from her tribe inside a cavern underneath Tezcatepetonco Range in midwestern Natlan. Her Spiritspeaking powers surpass those of ordinary priests and shamans.
- All Your Powers Combined: Her powerset is essentially a composite of those used by the Spiritspeaker Warriors, the Iktomisaurus Warriors, the Iktomisaurs, Rilai, and the Spirit of the Fallen Dawnstar.
- Boss Subtitles: "Sequestered Priestess".
- Breaking Old Trends: She is the first human World Boss to be introduced in the game.
- Early-Bird Cameo: In Version 5.2's "Iktomi Spiritseeking Scrolls" event, Ororon asks Citlali if she was worried about disturbing a shaman living past the wall of the cave they're in, with Citlali hurriedly going along with it and claiming that they'd be in a lot of trouble if they made too much of a racket. Come Version 5.3, the wall they indicated would open up to reveal the entrance to the Hermetic Spiritspeaker's boss arena.
- The Hermit: As mentioned in her name, she secluded herself to try and control the enormous power bestowed upon her by the Masters of the Night-Wind's Wayob. She's long since succeeded, although she's developed a habit of staying in solitude as a result. This has also inadvertently earned her the reputation of being a loner and a recluse by her fellow tribe members.
- An Ice Person: The majority of her attacks deal Cryo damage.
- Kill It with Fire: Pyro attacks tend to do best against her clones.
- King Mook: To the Sauroform Tribal Warriors, more specifically the Mictlan-aligned Spiritspeaker and Iktomisaurus Warriors.
- Master of Illusion: She summons numerous Cryo clones of herself to attack her opponents from multiple angles. Destroying them all will stun her temporarily. Ororon and Citlali can use their charged attacks to briefly freeze the clones.
- Strength Equals Worthiness: She is said to be willing to teach those seeking her guidance, but only if they can pass a series of colourfully woven trials of her own design.
