Archon Quests: Prologue | Chapter I | Chapter II | Chapter III | Chapter IV | Interludes
Character Stories: Mondstadt | Liyue | Inazuma | Sumeru | Snezhnaya
World Stories: Mondstadt | Liyue | Inazuma | Sumeru | Miscellaneous
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Liyue Archon Quest: Farewell, Archaic Lord
Ruat caelum fiat pactum
Let the contract be made, though the heavens fall
Let the contract be made, though the heavens fall
"The God of Contracts, senselessly slaughtered as his people watched on in horror.
In the end, he will sign the contract to end all contracts."
—Dainsleif
The second leg of the Traveler and Paimon's journey across Teyvat leads them to Liyue, a mountainous land governed by Morax, the Geo Archon and god of earth and contracts, better known to his people as Rex Lapis. After they were named suspects in the Archon's apparent death during that year's Rite of Descension, where he would descend to pass judgment on his people's fortunes for the year, they briefly sought refuge with the adepti, a race of godlike beings occupying the nation's secluded corners, then struck an unusual partnership with Tartaglia, eleventh-ranking of the the Harbingers, the highest officers of the Fatui, then arranged a meeting with the Qixing, a group of seven businessmen who serve as Liyue's de facto rulers, and finally fought off a Fatui plot to take over Liyue involving Tartaglia and orchestrated by Signora, the eighth-ranking Harbinger also responsible for their activities in Mondstadt. In the end, they discover that the crisis was orchestrated by a still-living Rex Lapis, meant to test his people's readiness to move on without him.
Afterwards, upon returning to Mondstadt, they meet Dainsleif, an enigmatic man who helps them investigate the Abyss Order's plot to overthrow Teyvat to avenge the destruction of the technologically advanced nation of Khaenri'ah half a millennium ago at the hands of Celestia, the realm of the gods ruling over the Archons themselves, only to discover that their sibling has become the Order's leader.
Act I: Of the Land Amidst Monoliths
Released: v1.0 "Welcome to Teyvat" (September 28, 2020)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 23
Excitement quickly turns to horror, however, when the great dragon Rex Lapis seemingly drops dead from the sky. The Millelith, Liyue's law enforcement body, ordered a lockdown on Yiyan Temple and hold suspect any who come too close to the corpse. Fearing for their safety, the Traveler and Paimon try to escape, only to accidentally alert the Millelith. Just then, a man in gray defeats the Millelith and spirits them away to safety.
To the Traveler and Paimon's shock, the man introduces himself as Childe, a Harbinger of the Fatui. Reassuring them that he is not as malicious as Signora, he suggests that they seek sanctuary at the local branch of Snezhnaya-based Northland Bank. There, he offers to help the Traveler clear their name by giving them a "Sigil of Permission" to present to the adepti, the godlike followers of Rex Lapis who he appointed to watch over Liyue and currently living in Jueyun Karst to the northwest, so they can have an audience with them and hopefully convince them to vouch for their innocence.
Minimum Adventure Rank: 23
Rite of Descension
At Venti's suggestion, the Traveler and Paimon head south to Liyue to witness the Rite of Descension, during which Rex Lapis would appear to pass his judgment on the fortunes of his people for the coming year. After a long trek, which includes obtaining the power of Geo through communing with the Statue of the Seven at Dihua Marsh, they finally arrive at Liyue Harbor, a prosperous city of merchants and traders. From the locals, they learn that while Liyue is ruled by Rex Lapis, its daily governance is overseen by the Qixing, a group of seven influential businessmen, of which Ningguang, holder of the title of "Tianquan" and reputedly the wealthiest woman in all of Liyue, is scheduled to preside this year's Rite, held at Yiyan Temple at Yujing Terrace, the northwestern district of the Harbor.Excitement quickly turns to horror, however, when the great dragon Rex Lapis seemingly drops dead from the sky. The Millelith, Liyue's law enforcement body, ordered a lockdown on Yiyan Temple and hold suspect any who come too close to the corpse. Fearing for their safety, the Traveler and Paimon try to escape, only to accidentally alert the Millelith. Just then, a man in gray defeats the Millelith and spirits them away to safety.
To the Traveler and Paimon's shock, the man introduces himself as Childe, a Harbinger of the Fatui. Reassuring them that he is not as malicious as Signora, he suggests that they seek sanctuary at the local branch of Snezhnaya-based Northland Bank. There, he offers to help the Traveler clear their name by giving them a "Sigil of Permission" to present to the adepti, the godlike followers of Rex Lapis who he appointed to watch over Liyue and currently living in Jueyun Karst to the northwest, so they can have an audience with them and hopefully convince them to vouch for their innocence.
An Impromptu Change of Plan
Atop Qingyun Peak at the center of Jueyun Karst, the Traveler and Paimon meet the stag-like Moon Carver, who recognizes the Sigil and asks of the Traveler their purpose, only to be interrupted by the Millelith; irritated, he commands the Traveler to drive them away. Once the Traveler relays the bad news, Moon Carver, outraged at the seeming incompetence of the Qixing, decides to convene his fellow adepti to discuss the future of Liyue, then commands the Traveler to relay his summons to Cloud Retainer at Mount Aocang to the northwest, Mountain Shaper at Mount Hulao to the southwest, and the Conqueror of Demons at Wangshu Inn far to the east, built atop a tall rock halfway down the road between Liyue and Mondstadt.Wangshu
NOTE: Runs concurrent with "Moulder of Mountains" and "Custodian of Clouds"
The Conqueror of Demons, who appears as a young man named Xiao, is a rather morose fellow who immediately makes himself scarce. Through a suggestion from Verr Goldet, proprietress of Wangshu Inn, the Traveler prepares a special serving of Almond Tofu to entice him. Unfortunately for them, Smiley Yanxiao, the Inn's resident chef, is scared to go to the kitchen, thinking it is being haunted by a ghost, so Verr asks the duo to head downstairs and humor the ghost of a little girl named Dusky Ming, who possesses a dormant Ruin Hunter as her idea of playing with the Traveler. Afterwards, the duo return to Yanxiao, reassuring him that Ming will leave him be for the time being, allowing him to return to the kitchen and cook an Almond Tofu to summon Xiao, to whom the duo relay the news of Rex Lapis's death, to his disbelief.Moulder of Mountains
NOTE: Runs concurrent with "Wangshu" and "Custodian of Clouds"
While climbing Mount Hulao, the Traveler and Paimon find a hiker who, mistaking them for emissaries of the adepti, begged them to save his brother who was encased in amber. Freeing him, however, invites the ire of the crane-like Mountain Shaper, displeased at them freeing a perceived thief. Upon seeing the Sigil, however, he lends an ear to the Traveler, lamenting the news of the Archon's passing.Custodian of Clouds
NOTE: Runs concurrent with "Wangshu" and "Moulder of Mountains"
Atop Mount Aocang, the Traveler and Paimon offer food to a stone table in the middle of a pond to summon the crane-like Cloud Retainer, who invites them to clear a domain to have an audience with her. Upon hearing of Rex Lapis's death, she swears vengeance on the Qixing, though the Traveler manages to calm her down by offering a contract of sorts through their food offering.Dust to Dust
Prerequisite: Complete "Wangshu", "Moulder of Mountains", and "Custodian of Clouds"
With the four adepti accounted for, the Traveler reports back to Childe, who in turn tells them that for some reason the Qixing are refusing to let anyone see the Exuvia, as the corpse of Rex Lapis is now called. When Paimon accidentally reveals that the Traveler is on a journey to meet the Archons, an amused Childe tells them that he can help them; in the meantime, however, they have to bide their time in Northland Bank while he finds one of his contacts. Act II: Farewell, Archaic Lord
Released: v1.0 "Welcome to Teyvat" (September 28, 2020)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 25
Minimum Adventure Rank: 25
An Organization Known as Wangsheng
Days later, the Traveler is informed by Ekaterina, receptionist at the Northland Bank, that Childe wants them to meet his contact at the Liuli Pavilion restaurant. There, Childe introduces them to Zhongli, a consultant for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, unto which is assigned preparations for Rex Lapis's Rite of Parting, or funeral for an adeptus, given that all the other adepti have been withdrawing from Liyue's affairs as of late. Despite his suspicions about Childe, Zhongli agrees to help, and joins the Traveler and Paimon in purchasing all the materials needed for the Rite.Moonfinger
First, the trio head to the Jade Mystery jewelry shop, where Zhongli tries to buy all three samples of Noctilucous Jade on display, and had to be restrained by Paimon, who reminded him of both the cost and the fact that they only needed one. Explaining that he wanted to test their purity by boiling them, he opts to cut samples of the stones. At Paimon's suggestion, the trio boil the samples at the cooking pot of the Meaty Tribe hilichurl camp at Dadaupa Gorge, all the while repelling hilichurls annoyed at them ruining their meal. Upon returning to Liyue Harbor, Zhongli buys the one with the purest quality, which its proprietor Shitou sells for half the price out of respect for Rex Lapis, who he credits with saving his family business from bankruptcy a couple centuries ago, upon hearing that it will be used for the Rite of Parting.Three Poignant Perfumes
Next on the shopping list are three perfumes created from flowers. Despite Zhongli lacking Mora, the currency of Teyvat, the merchant Bolai gives them Silk Flowers for free, also out of respect for the late Archon, before suggesting that they consult Ying'er, proprietress of the Scent of Spring shop and an experienced perfumer. Afterwards, the trio offer the perfumes to a Statue of the Seven north of the Harbor, which it seems to accept, which Zhongli explains may be related to tales of Rex Lapis taking many forms through the ages, including those of women.The Realm Within
Next, the Traveler, Paimon, and Zhongli borrow the Cleansing Bell from Madame Ping, an elderly woman in Yujing Terrace, though Zhongli excuses himself from picking it up himself. Ping tells the duo that the Bell is actually in her teapot, itself a pocket dimension, and tasks them to retrieve it, with the Traveler deducing afterwards that she, too, must be an adeptus.Downtown
Childe arrives to pay for kites Zhongli commissioned, and also gives the Traveler fifty thousand mora to hire workers. He also offers the Traveler access to the Northland Bank's vault in exchange for information, only for the Traveler to decline the offer after bitter memories of Signora's attack in Mondstadt resurfaced.Guizhong
Finally, the Traveler, Paimon, and Zhongli head for Bubu Pharmacy to buy Everlasting Incense. Seemingly unaware of the news of the Archon's death, Qiqi, a child zombie and clerk, declines to sell them the Incense without prescription unless they help her hunt a "cocogoat" by repairing a Guizhong Ballista at Mount Tianheng to the west. After beating a gang of Treasure Hoarders, the trio realize there is no such thing as a cocogoat, and upon confronting Qiqi she remembers that she meant coconut milk. Baizhu, proprietor of the Pharmacy, offers to sell them the incense for three million mora, well beyond the Traveler's means, so they are forced to turn again to Childe, who supplies them the money, as well as coconut milk for Qiqi. While the Traveler and Paimon negotiate the price with Baizhu and Qiqi, Childe, who is outside the Pharmacy, is approached by Ekaterina, who informs him that the Exuvia has been located in the Golden House, the treasury and mint of Liyue to the southwest.Zhongli's Treat
Later that night, Zhongli invites the Traveler and Paimon at the fancy Third-Round Knockout restaurant to dine and listen to its resident storyteller, Iron Tongue Tian, who tells of stories about Ningguang shredding unneeded research papers and scattering them to the winds for the people of Liyue to gather and decipher. Just then, they are approached by a young woman named Ganyu, secretary of the Qixing, who extends the Traveler an invitation into the Jade Chamber, Ningguang's floating mansion. Zhongli then promises to meet the Traveler at Dihua Marsh afterwards. Act III: A New Star Approaches
Released: v1.1 "A New Star Approaches" (November 11, 2020)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 28
World Effects: Unlocks the "Enter the Golden House" Trounce Domain (Tartaglia/Childe as a weekly boss).
Upon ascending to the Jade Chamber through a device at Yuehai Pavilion, the office of the Qixing, the duo are greeted by Ningguang, who has heard of the Traveler's exploits in Mondstadt through correspondences with Jean and has been keeping tabs on them through Verr and the staff of Wangshu Inn. The Tianquan then fills them in on the tradition of Teyvat having seven Archons, a succession of gods dating back from seven survivors of a great war between the gods two thousand years ago, before singing praises of Rex Lapis's feats such as sealing away several defeated gods with a series of rock spears, the remnants of which form the Guyun Stone Forest off the coast of Liyue Harbor. When pressed as to why the Qixing would hide the Exuvia at the Golden House if they played no part in Rex Lapis's death, Ningguang defends their actions as a preemptive measure against an enemy within Liyue Harbor, which the Traveler intuits to be Childe and the Fatui.
Inside the Chamber, the duo notice a bulletin board of Ningguang's business dealings, which she allows them to inspect, before asking them to trust her. While Paimon is easily swayed, the Traveler, suspicious of her motives, errs on the side of Keqing, a stance Ningguang understands, musing that the Yuheng's bold proclamations about Liyue needing to learn to live beyond their Archon's aegis may be not so blasphemous given recent events. Nevertheless, lest they be accused of usurping Rex Lapis, rumors of which Ningguang suspects may have been spread by the Fatui, the Qixing decided to hold the Rite of Parting to buy time to consolidate their rule right under the Fatui's noses. Paimon then notices a report on the Fatui replicating Sigils of Permission, including the one in the Traveler's possession. Intuiting that Ningguang may have deliberately arranged the board such that the report would be conspicuous, the Traveler nevertheless decides to check out the marked location.
There, the trio gather Glaze Lilies growing in the wild as the last items required for the Rite of Parting, all the while discussing the contrast between Ningguang and Keqing, as well as the Fatui's designs for Liyue. Upon finding the flowers, Zhongli has the Traveler sing to them to help augment their fragrance. Unfortunately, the flowers conceal whopperflowers, plant-like creatures disguised as flowers to lure in unsuspecting prey. After making short work of them, Zhongli collects the flowers.
While collecting the Lilies, the trio chance upon Ganyu, who is less businesslike than in their earlier meeting. Not only does she apologize to the Traveler and Paimon for failing to tell them how to reach the Jade Chamber, but she also laments the passing of her old friend Rex Lapis, leaving Barbatos the last of the original Archons, knowing his passing is the beginning of the end of the contract between Liyue and the adepti. In the process, she reveals herself as a half-adeptus who has been watching Liyue ever since Rex Lapis, oldest of The Seven at over six thousand years old, began his reign thirty-seven centuries ago. She then gives the Traveler some Glaze Lilies she picked up, thanking them for helping her honor Rex Lapis.
The trio return to Liyue Harbor, only to find it in a lockdown due to a confrontation between the Qixing and the adepti, in addition to Ningguang ordering a crackdown on the Fatui. Learning that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is also under investigation due to his dealings with Childe, Zhongli leaves to settle matters there, while ordering the Traveler to find the Harbinger. Intuiting that he would try to find the Exuvia—and steal the Geo Gnosis—the Traveler and Paimon head to the Golden House.
After an arduous fight, the Traveler narrowly prevails. Tartaglia, reverting to normal due to the taxing nature of his transformation, is satisfied at the Traveler's performance and considers them an odd friend. Realizing that the Traveler did not have the Geo Gnosis, Tartaglia suspects that he was handed faulty intel by Signora, who is also overseeing the Fatui's operations in Liyue, and that Rex Lapis may have staged his death, the Exuvia being but a forgery. Thus, as a last resort, he uses the replicated Sigils of Permission to undo the fetters of Osial, a serpentine storm god among those sealed away by Rex Lapis at Guyun Stone Forest, to wreak havoc on Liyue Harbor and hopefully lure out Rex Lapis, escaping just in time as the old god wakes.
Despite their best efforts, Osial seemed invincible, even destroying the Ballistae. With few options left, Ningguang is forced to do the unthinkable: sacrifice the Jade Chamber, the culmination of her hard work, and drop it down onto Osial, casting it back to the depths of the ocean from whence it came, while the adepti help their mortal allies to safety.
Remembering Tartaglia's words that Rex Lapis may still be alive, the Traveler and Paimon seek Zhongli at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, who are then told that he is at Northland Bank. There they find Tartaglia arguing with Signora, complaining to the Traveler that both of them were played for fools by Zhongli and Signora, the latter of which is in no mood to fight the Traveler, who is barely holding back their urge to avenge her attack on them and Venti/Barbatos back at Mondstadt.
To the Traveler, Paimon, and Tartaglia's shock, Signora addresses Zhongli as Rex Lapis, revealing him to be the Geo Archon all this time, now contract-bound to hand over the Geo Gnosis to the Tsaritsa. Zhongli explains that, being the oldest of the living Archons, his fortitude has begun to erode, so to speak, and thus chose to willingly step down, but not before testing Liyue's readiness to grow out of his shadow; thus he brought Tartaglia, the adepti, and the Qixing together as unwitting participants of his final test, and is more than satisfied at the latter two's response. After Signora and Tartaglia go their separate ways, the Traveler asks Zhongli what the Cryo Archon offered him that was worth ceding his Gnosis, which he declines to answer per his contract, instead stating that he is merely fulfilling a "contract to end all contracts", and that the Traveler is better off figuring it out themselves.
Days later, the Traveler and Paimon attend the Rite of Parting at Yiyan Temple, where the Qixing quell rumors of Rex Lapis's assassination with their official story that he failed a series of divine trials and thus his soul was from his body and back to the divine realms. The absurdity of the story made the duo wonder if the Qixing have been made aware of the truth. Ningguang tells the mourners that centuries of prosperity under Rex Lapis have made the people of Liyue grow complacent, and that with his passing the people should now learn to stand up on their own. Keqing then thanks the Traveler for their assistance in defeating Osial, and offers them a generous reward, to which the Traveler simply asks that the Qixing put up missing posters for their sibling.
While the Rite is going on, the Traveler chances upon Zhongli/Morax watching what turned out to be a mock funeral for himself from a corner. Zhongli offers to take the duo for a treat afterwards, only to realize he has no Mora, since he was so used to manually generating them. Nevertheless, he claims to see value in other transactions than those of money, for which he is grateful to the Traveler.
Zhongli then tells the Traveler of their next destination, the isolationist archipelago of Inazuma to the southeast, governed by Baal, the Electro Archon and goddess of lightning and eternity better known to locals as the "Raiden Shogun." A year before, according to expatriates, she enacted a nationwide program of Vision confiscations lest they pose a threat to her reign, and Zhongli fears that, should news of his apparent death reach the shores of Inazuma, it may only further harden her resolve to impose her pursuit of eternity at all costs, even to the detriment of her people.
Before they part ways, Zhongli entertains more questions from the Traveler. Apart from finding the Qixing's official story about his apparent death absurd to the point of laughter, he reveals that he has already appeared to the adepti and the Qixing, through dreams, to inform them that he still lives. Regarding Childe/Tartaglia, word on the street has it that he is to blame for Osial's rampage, which Ningguang is exploiting to put diplomatic pressure on the Fatui. Furthermore, he expresses approval at Keqing's belief, and that among the responsibilities of the Qixing in the wake of his abdication as Geo Archon are producing Mora. Finally, he expresses confidence that the Traveler can find a way to enter Inazuma, one way or another.
Minimum Adventure Rank: 28
World Effects: Unlocks the "Enter the Golden House" Trounce Domain (Tartaglia/Childe as a weekly boss).
The Floating Palace
Accepting Ningguang's invitation to the Jade Chamber, the Traveler and Paimon scale Mount Tianheng to reach the Chamber, but to no avail. Remembering the Guizhong Ballista that Zhongli repaired earlier in a futile search for the "cocogoat," the duo head there, only to end up in a fight with the Millelith. The clash is halted by a young woman named Keqing, the Yuheng of the Qixing tasked with overseeing the land, who recognizes the Traveler and Paimon as Ningguang's guests, and explains that the Millelith had been sent to the Ballista following news of its repair. She tells the duo how to reach the Jade Chamber, even as she expresses her skepticism towards the Archons and hints at tensions between the Qixing and the adepti.Equilibrium
Before meeting Ningguang, Paimon suggests some ideas for a gift to her. Along the way, the duo rescue a merchant from Treasure Hoarders, who invites them to the Mingxing Jewelry shop and allow them to pick a gift for free.Upon ascending to the Jade Chamber through a device at Yuehai Pavilion, the office of the Qixing, the duo are greeted by Ningguang, who has heard of the Traveler's exploits in Mondstadt through correspondences with Jean and has been keeping tabs on them through Verr and the staff of Wangshu Inn. The Tianquan then fills them in on the tradition of Teyvat having seven Archons, a succession of gods dating back from seven survivors of a great war between the gods two thousand years ago, before singing praises of Rex Lapis's feats such as sealing away several defeated gods with a series of rock spears, the remnants of which form the Guyun Stone Forest off the coast of Liyue Harbor. When pressed as to why the Qixing would hide the Exuvia at the Golden House if they played no part in Rex Lapis's death, Ningguang defends their actions as a preemptive measure against an enemy within Liyue Harbor, which the Traveler intuits to be Childe and the Fatui.
Inside the Chamber, the duo notice a bulletin board of Ningguang's business dealings, which she allows them to inspect, before asking them to trust her. While Paimon is easily swayed, the Traveler, suspicious of her motives, errs on the side of Keqing, a stance Ningguang understands, musing that the Yuheng's bold proclamations about Liyue needing to learn to live beyond their Archon's aegis may be not so blasphemous given recent events. Nevertheless, lest they be accused of usurping Rex Lapis, rumors of which Ningguang suspects may have been spread by the Fatui, the Qixing decided to hold the Rite of Parting to buy time to consolidate their rule right under the Fatui's noses. Paimon then notices a report on the Fatui replicating Sigils of Permission, including the one in the Traveler's possession. Intuiting that Ningguang may have deliberately arranged the board such that the report would be conspicuous, the Traveler nevertheless decides to check out the marked location.
Solitary Fragrance
On a plateau south of Guili Plains, the Traveler and Paimon defeat some Fatui and confirm Ningguang's report that they are duplicating Sigils of Permission, which, according to Cloud Retainer in their earlier conversation, are used to channel divine energy. After deciding to keep an eye on Childe, the duo meet Zhongli at Dihua Marsh.There, the trio gather Glaze Lilies growing in the wild as the last items required for the Rite of Parting, all the while discussing the contrast between Ningguang and Keqing, as well as the Fatui's designs for Liyue. Upon finding the flowers, Zhongli has the Traveler sing to them to help augment their fragrance. Unfortunately, the flowers conceal whopperflowers, plant-like creatures disguised as flowers to lure in unsuspecting prey. After making short work of them, Zhongli collects the flowers.
While collecting the Lilies, the trio chance upon Ganyu, who is less businesslike than in their earlier meeting. Not only does she apologize to the Traveler and Paimon for failing to tell them how to reach the Jade Chamber, but she also laments the passing of her old friend Rex Lapis, leaving Barbatos the last of the original Archons, knowing his passing is the beginning of the end of the contract between Liyue and the adepti. In the process, she reveals herself as a half-adeptus who has been watching Liyue ever since Rex Lapis, oldest of The Seven at over six thousand years old, began his reign thirty-seven centuries ago. She then gives the Traveler some Glaze Lilies she picked up, thanking them for helping her honor Rex Lapis.
The trio return to Liyue Harbor, only to find it in a lockdown due to a confrontation between the Qixing and the adepti, in addition to Ningguang ordering a crackdown on the Fatui. Learning that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is also under investigation due to his dealings with Childe, Zhongli leaves to settle matters there, while ordering the Traveler to find the Harbinger. Intuiting that he would try to find the Exuvia—and steal the Geo Gnosis—the Traveler and Paimon head to the Golden House.
Heart of Glaze
There, the Traveler and Paimon find that the Millelith have already been defeated by Childe, who claims to have manipulated the Traveler into helping him locate the Exuvia. Unlike Signora, who prefers subterfuge, Childe, revealing himself as Tartaglia, eleventh-ranking of the Harbingers, would happily duel with the Traveler if they want to stop him. In the middle of their duel, Tartaglia distracts the Traveler while he sneaks onto the Exuvia to steal the Geo Gnosis, only to fail to do so. Suspecting that the Traveler may have already filched it, he uses his Delusion to transform into a more powerful form.After an arduous fight, the Traveler narrowly prevails. Tartaglia, reverting to normal due to the taxing nature of his transformation, is satisfied at the Traveler's performance and considers them an odd friend. Realizing that the Traveler did not have the Geo Gnosis, Tartaglia suspects that he was handed faulty intel by Signora, who is also overseeing the Fatui's operations in Liyue, and that Rex Lapis may have staged his death, the Exuvia being but a forgery. Thus, as a last resort, he uses the replicated Sigils of Permission to undo the fetters of Osial, a serpentine storm god among those sealed away by Rex Lapis at Guyun Stone Forest, to wreak havoc on Liyue Harbor and hopefully lure out Rex Lapis, escaping just in time as the old god wakes.
Turning Point
The Traveler and Paimon travel back to the Jade Chamber, now flying to Liyue Harbor to intercept Osial, where, faced with a common enemy, the Qixing and the adepti set aside their differences and fight off the storm god. Using Guizhong Ballistae crafted by Cloud Retainer and outfitted onto the Chamber, she, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver man them while Keqing, aided by the Millelith, and the Traveler, empowered by Xiao, Ganyu, and Madame Ping, fight off hordes of Fatui sent to destroy the Ballistae.Despite their best efforts, Osial seemed invincible, even destroying the Ballistae. With few options left, Ningguang is forced to do the unthinkable: sacrifice the Jade Chamber, the culmination of her hard work, and drop it down onto Osial, casting it back to the depths of the ocean from whence it came, while the adepti help their mortal allies to safety.
The Fond Farewell
As the storm dies down, the adepti and the Qixing discuss the fate of Liyue in the wake of Rex Lapis's passing. Madame Ping intercedes on behalf of the Qixing by noting how, under their governance, Liyue grew in wealth and prosperity through the centuries, while Ningguang states that thirty-seven centuries under Rex Lapis's rule was enough time for Liyue to thrive and eventually grow out of his shadow, and asks the adepti to treat the Qixing as equals also contract-bound to Rex Lapis to watch over the people, a notion seconded by the Traveler and Paimon, recalling how, during their time in Mondstadt, Barbatos intervened between the people and Dvalin to repair their strained relationship. Moved by their words, the adepti agree to cede governance of Liyue to the Qixing for the time being.Remembering Tartaglia's words that Rex Lapis may still be alive, the Traveler and Paimon seek Zhongli at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, who are then told that he is at Northland Bank. There they find Tartaglia arguing with Signora, complaining to the Traveler that both of them were played for fools by Zhongli and Signora, the latter of which is in no mood to fight the Traveler, who is barely holding back their urge to avenge her attack on them and Venti/Barbatos back at Mondstadt.
To the Traveler, Paimon, and Tartaglia's shock, Signora addresses Zhongli as Rex Lapis, revealing him to be the Geo Archon all this time, now contract-bound to hand over the Geo Gnosis to the Tsaritsa. Zhongli explains that, being the oldest of the living Archons, his fortitude has begun to erode, so to speak, and thus chose to willingly step down, but not before testing Liyue's readiness to grow out of his shadow; thus he brought Tartaglia, the adepti, and the Qixing together as unwitting participants of his final test, and is more than satisfied at the latter two's response. After Signora and Tartaglia go their separate ways, the Traveler asks Zhongli what the Cryo Archon offered him that was worth ceding his Gnosis, which he declines to answer per his contract, instead stating that he is merely fulfilling a "contract to end all contracts", and that the Traveler is better off figuring it out themselves.
Days later, the Traveler and Paimon attend the Rite of Parting at Yiyan Temple, where the Qixing quell rumors of Rex Lapis's assassination with their official story that he failed a series of divine trials and thus his soul was from his body and back to the divine realms. The absurdity of the story made the duo wonder if the Qixing have been made aware of the truth. Ningguang tells the mourners that centuries of prosperity under Rex Lapis have made the people of Liyue grow complacent, and that with his passing the people should now learn to stand up on their own. Keqing then thanks the Traveler for their assistance in defeating Osial, and offers them a generous reward, to which the Traveler simply asks that the Qixing put up missing posters for their sibling.
While the Rite is going on, the Traveler chances upon Zhongli/Morax watching what turned out to be a mock funeral for himself from a corner. Zhongli offers to take the duo for a treat afterwards, only to realize he has no Mora, since he was so used to manually generating them. Nevertheless, he claims to see value in other transactions than those of money, for which he is grateful to the Traveler.
Zhongli then tells the Traveler of their next destination, the isolationist archipelago of Inazuma to the southeast, governed by Baal, the Electro Archon and goddess of lightning and eternity better known to locals as the "Raiden Shogun." A year before, according to expatriates, she enacted a nationwide program of Vision confiscations lest they pose a threat to her reign, and Zhongli fears that, should news of his apparent death reach the shores of Inazuma, it may only further harden her resolve to impose her pursuit of eternity at all costs, even to the detriment of her people.
Before they part ways, Zhongli entertains more questions from the Traveler. Apart from finding the Qixing's official story about his apparent death absurd to the point of laughter, he reveals that he has already appeared to the adepti and the Qixing, through dreams, to inform them that he still lives. Regarding Childe/Tartaglia, word on the street has it that he is to blame for Osial's rampage, which Ningguang is exploiting to put diplomatic pressure on the Fatui. Furthermore, he expresses approval at Keqing's belief, and that among the responsibilities of the Qixing in the wake of his abdication as Geo Archon are producing Mora. Finally, he expresses confidence that the Traveler can find a way to enter Inazuma, one way or another.
The Traveler's Tale, Part I
Act IV: We Will Be Reunited
[Prelude]
Released: v1.3 "All That Glitters" (February 3, 2021)Minimum Adventure Rank: 28 (36 before v2.0)
Bough Keeper: Dainsleif
At the Mondstadt Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne informs the Traveler of a newly-arrived mysterious man with blond hair and an eyepatch who. Because he declined the Guild's invitation, Katheryne saw it best to let the Traveler get in touch with him in their place. After asking around the City, the Traveler and Paimon find the man in the second floor of Angel's Share, who entertains their company after the Traveler reveals they are wandering Teyvat in search of their sibling.Introducing himself as Dainsleif, the man accepts the Traveler's invitation to a commission, in exchange for a mere five hundred Mora and answering three questions: whether Venti, the Traveler, or everyone in Mondstadt was responsible for resolving the Stormterror crisis; whether the adepti, the Qixing, or everyone are now responsible for defending Liyue in the wake of Rex Lapis's passing; and whether those who wield Visions, those who don't, or neither are more important in the eyes of the gods. Depending on the Traveler's answers, Dainsleif notes their similarity or otherwise to a former traveling companion of his.
Dainsleif explains that he is searching for an Abyss Herald, a higher-ranking agent of the Abyss Order commanding Abyss Mages, who he believes may have specific orders to avoid the Traveler, hence their lack of engagements with them to date. Having learned of the Order's activity from the Temple of the Falcon, the trio clear it up, only to realize that the Herald has already left. Given that the Order tried to manipulate Dvalin, Dainsleif theorizes that the Herald may be after Boreas in Wolvendom.
At Wolvendom, Dainsleif notes the Order's presence by their bonfires which power their magic. After defeating Abyss Mages and their hilichurl lackeys, the trio conclude that neither has the Herald visited it, leading Dainsleif to conclude that even it does not want to run afoul of the Wolf of the North. Instead, he invites the Traveler and Paimon to Stormterror's Lair.
There, Dainsleif recalls a time before Dvalin made his roost in the ruins of Old Mondstadt, which Paimon notes was centuries ago. Noting that the Order would be interested in the light actuators that control the seal of the Lair, the Traveler returns to them and defeats more Abyss Mages and their hilichurl lackeys which congregate around the actuators.
To Paimon's disappointment, the Herald is still nowhere in sight, though Dainsleif reassures them that someday they will encounter it, recalling his own adventures before his companion stopped traveling. Before parting ways with Dainsleif, the Traveler felt a familiar sensation from a cliff overlooking the Lair, which Dainsleif notes was one of his destinations long ago. At the clifftop, the Traveler sees a dandelion flower that made them remember their sibling. Dainsleif suggests that the Traveler be more patient in searching for their sibling, before promising to meet them in the future.
We Will Be Reunited
Released: v1.4 "Invitation of Windblume" (March 17, 2021)Minimum Adventure Rank: 28 (36 before v2.0)
Additional Prerequisite Quest: "The Meaning of Lupical" (Lupus Minor [Razor] Story Quest, Act I)
Involuntary Sacrifice
In the Liyue Adventurers' Guild, the Traveler and Paimon chance upon Ganyu and Lan discussing a large-scale Treasure Hoarder heist on an Abyss Order lair, a coalition of both the Mondstadt and Liyue branches which has even recruited the renowned "Grand Thief" from Fontaine, the nation ruled by the Hydro Archon. With the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Millelith too busy to crack down on the Hoarders, but Ganyu deeming anything involving the Order too dangerous to ignore, she posted a commission to the Guild, which the Traveler accepts.In the depths of the lair, located at the northern slopes of Mount Aocang, the Traveler and Paimon find a man they suspect is the Grand Thief, seemingly praying to an upside-down Statue of the Seven emitting dark energy. Realizing that he is dead, the duo try to escape, only to be halted by an Abyss Herald, who the Traveler recognizes from Dainsleif's description, who in turn the Herald deems a constant threat to the Order's schemes. After being defeated, the Herald seems to recognize the Traveler and escapes.
A Herald Without Adherents
Outside the lair, the Traveler and Paimon run into Dainsleif. Having learned of what the duo saw in the lair, Dainsleif saw an opportunity to continue chasing after the Herald, as well as investigate the matter of the inverted Statue. After defeating some Mages excavating a Ruin Guard east of Jueyun Karst, Dainsleif notes that the Order has been active in the area as of late, scouring for Ruin machines in search of something, and suggests spying on them.After defeating another group of Abyss Mages and their hilichurl lackeys excavating a Ruin Hunter, Dainsleif reveals to the Traveler and Paimon that both the Abyss Order and the Ruin machines are survivors of Khaenri'ah, an ancient nation destroyed in a cataclysm five hundred years ago, which seems to stir up some memories from the Traveler—namely, their first memory of Teyvat was being awakened from within a meteorite by their sibling, who told them that Khaenri'ah has fallen and Teyvat is being plunged into chaos, only to be stopped by a goddess from fleeing. Thus Dainsleif concludes that the Traveler must have been asleep for half a millennium, while Paimon intuits that their habit of collecting books was as much a way to learn about Khaenri'ah as much as finding their sibling. Because little information of it remains in the present, Dainsleif agrees to inform them about Khaenri'ah, a nation which prospered without the need for gods, destroyed by them long ago for perceived pride.
En route to another excavation site at Tianqiu Valley, Dainsleif reveals that the name "Ruin Guard" was but a modern nickname for "Field Tillers," autonomous war machines of Khaenri'ah, who have since wandered aimlessly following its fall. After defeating Abyss Mages excavating another Ruin Guard, the trio find a talisman containing a message, which Dainsleif translates to reveal an operation called "Loom of Fate," wherein the Order turns various gods into mechanized tools of revenge against Celestia, starting with Osial—a situation the Traveler compares to that with Dvalin—through attaching the defiled Statue to its limbs and finding the eye of the very first Field Tiller, the prototype of all Ruin Guards, as its core. Realizing that the defiled Statue bears the likeness of Barbatos, the Traveler returns to Mondstadt to glean for more information.
Dishonorable Trial
At the footsteps of the Favonius Cathedral, Dainsleif tells the Traveler and Paimon to ask the nuns around for clues by themselves, on the condition that they never talk about the defiled Statue lest the Church act rashly and jeopardize their mission. Inside, the duo find Barbara, who does confirm that there was a Statue of Barbatos that disappeared long ago. She also mentions the "Tyrant's Final Fury," a year-long series of incidents wherein anyone entering Old Mondstadt were greeted with a rain of fireballs believed to be the final curse of Decarabian despite the Church's skepticism over such tales given that as he was a storm god. Rosaria then arrives to alert Barbara of the Abyss Order attacking Wolvendom, presumably to go after Boreas, with Jean already in on the case. The Traveler and Paimon reunite with Dainsleif and head to Wolvendom.There, Dainsleif once again has the Traveler and Paimon go after Boreas by themselves, stating that he desires no interaction with the Wolf of the North, a god who willingly submitted himself to The Seven, cryptically warning the Traveler against being either overly trusting or suspicious of the gods lest they repeat his past mistakes, noting that the Order's vendetta against Celestia is already bringing harm to the Archon-states. Upon meeting Jean, the Traveler volunteers to meet Boreas while she returns to the City to gather reinforcements.
In the shrine of Boreas, the duo see Razor trying to save the Wolf of the North from being captured by the Abyss Herald. After the Traveler helps Razor drive it back, Paimon intuits that the Order lured Razor into a trial by combat while they secretly try to corrupt Boreas. While the Wolf does not recognize the name "Field Tiller," he does recount an incident centuries ago when he fought off a machine that can spin and launch fireballs. Intuiting that Boreas was describing the first Field Tiller, they report back to Dainsleif.
A Soul Set Apart
The Traveler, Paimon, and Dainsleif then begin piecing together clues that indicate that, after being defeated by Boreas, the first Field Tiller retreated into Old Mondstadt, where it kept firing missiles for a year which the people of Mondstadt mistook for Decarabian's curse. Having identified the Field Tiller to be the dormant Ruin Guard atop the tower in the middle of Stormterror's Lair, Dainsleif extracts the core with his arcane magic, deciding to keep the core to himself and suggesting that the Traveler destroy the defiled Statue of Barbatos back at the foot of Mount Aocang.Inside the lair, the trio confront the Abyss Herald anew. Realizing that he is no match for the Traveler, the Herald tries to retreat, only to be caught by Dainsleif. Before he could deal the finishing blow, however, he is stopped by a shockwave from someone's sword.
To the Traveler's shock, they discover that the leader of the Abyss Order is none other than their long-lost sibling, who is aghast at the Traveler's association with Dainsleif, their former traveling companion turned sworn enemy, and former "Twilight Sword," leader of the royal guard of Khaenri'ah, who not only failed to prevent the fall of his country half a millennium ago, but was also cursed with immortality and forced to watch his countrymen turn into the monsters of the Abyss. Despite the Traveler's pleas, their sibling declines their offer to return home, not until after they "engulf the thrones" and "go to war with destiny," telling them that soon enough the Traveler, too, will come around to the truths they just learned. The sibling and the Abyss Herald then retreat through a portal, with Dainsleif in hot pursuit, but the Traveler is unable to follow them.
Stunned from the revelations, the Traveler and Paimon try to recall as many details of their encounter as possible, from the Traveler's sibling being the leader of one of their fiercest enemies, to their plan to seemingly wreak havoc across Teyvat and its seven Archon-states, to Dainsleif seemingly fighting his own countrymen. With little clues at present, the Traveler decides to simply continue their journeys, this time towards Inazuma, and hope for the best.
