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glassvertebrae · 3 days ago

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~Nod Krai Character Design Breakdown~

Pt. 1

○ Lauma, Flins, Nefer, Jahoda ○

Okay, let's start this off by saying I haven't made a post like this before so I am at the end of the day not completely knowledgeable on everything fashion related, if I'm wrong about something feel free to correct me (nicely), and this is all my opinion. Now let's start!

Lauma - Under the light of the pale moon stands a lone figure, her eyes set on the sky above - refusing to look anywhere else.

Laumé are fairy like spirts known to protect forests. Essentially, they are guardians, which I am sure will play a big part in her role later on. They are creatures that exist outside the mortal realm, having descended from the skies, which only makes her in-game ties to the moon all the more important. One of the reasons I'm sure they chose to introduce her not on the land of Teyvat - but its water.

Laumés traits are typically: loving children and the moon, protecting those in need, being beautiful, living near bodies of water, fertility, singing, having forms they can shift into (goat, dog, half human/half horse), and hating men.

Details:

Her ties to the moon go even further when she has a waxing/waning cresent embedded into her clothes and hair multiple times, ensuring you can't deny her ties to it even if you didn't know her lore.

The flowers and patterns in her dress remind you of her ties to nature - but so do her antlers. Now I think it's a neat detail they grow in her other form, making it seem like while she isn't necessarily hiding what she is, she isn't telling you every detail about it either like we see with her hiding that mark on her forehead. However, it's the fact a woman has antlers at all that bugs me. If Laumés had ties in being able to switch between genders, I'd be more forgiving about it, alas that isn't the case. It does what it's supposed to and makes her seem more fae like (alongside her pointed ears), but this could have easily been done with giving her doe ears.

That detail at the bottom of the front of her dress works well to convey Laumés often only had one eye along with the fact that one of her own is covered. <- And it gives her a softer, sweeter feel because characters with long bangs usually use them to hide away under their hair.

Her "heels." Honestly, it cracks me up. Hoyo had to insert those in. She would have been just fine barefoot, and what they did instead gives me the same vibes as the Winx girls in their Enchantix forms. If they were really set on giving her heels, they could have gone with hoof ones instead, and they would have tied into her character much better.

And I have already seen people accusing her of gooner bait, so that shall be addressed too. Out of all the women being released in Nod Krai, she should be the one who gets away with this THE MOST. For starters Laumés are often depicted bare with big breasts and stone nipples. They own their sexuallity (this also ties back to fertility). Though I think it's important to think about the fact that yes, she's a character in a freezing environment, she's not human. We don't know if she can get cold. (I HC the fur in her other form keeps her warm even if she isn't technically dawning it).

Her design evokes a soft motherly figure, thoughts of nymphs dancing to an unearthly tune ethereal, nature, and of course fawns. I am betting she'll have a cutscene saving either the Traveler or something of even greater importance.

Overall, I like this design and think it sets out to say what it needs to for this character.

Kyryll Chudomirovich Flins - A light keeper who roams through a graveyard in the dead of night with only a single blue flame to keep him company.

A solen man who keeps what dares to lurk in the dark away. His design is at least based on two things. The will-oʻ-the-wisp and Flins, a god of death from Cronecken fer Sassen by Konthrad Bothe (1492), which explains the undertaker vibes. We will go into both.

Wisps: Flickering lights known to mislead travelers due to their inkling for trickery (German). In folklore, they reveal hidden paths or lead you to a different direction that may or may not lead you to treasure (Danes/Sweden/Latvians). They are typically found in graveyards, bogs, etc. It is also notable that the Latin name for them is ignis fatuus so he could have a relationship with either Sandrone or Columbina.

Flins: “The deity was called Flins because it was believed to reside on a rocky outcrop and appeared as a deceased figure wearing a long cloak, holding a staff with a burning torch, and having a lion resting on its left shoulder. The lion was believed to resurrect worshippers when they died " (Bothe). He isn't considered a real god people worship, something I can see playing into how people perceive Kyryll.

Plus, his name comes from a Greek kryios ruler.

Details:

The lantern. Another name for wisps is Friar's Lantern shown with well...what he's holding. Duh. Because of this, though, I am betting he'll be another catalyst user, and so they don't have to animate his long hair/ jacket with agile motions. Clipping hazard! It also adds to an eery feel, suggesting Flins isn't human at all.

His shaggy hair. Yes, yes, Hoyo loves their rat tails, but I think this actually works for him. You have to remember he works in a lighthouse all by himself and isn't likely to have anyone to help him cut his hair for him. It being a little messy suggests Flins cuts his own hair, adding to the idea of him being isolated from everyone else in Nod Krai.

His golden, lifeless eyes. A very common color for genshin characters, yes, but just from look at them, you can tell he has seen something far beyond our imagination. Besides Childe, he's the only male without a light in his eyes. And the bags under them imply whatever he was doing in the graveyard is a repeated offense.

He has a very symmetrical outfit that covers him completely (much like Neuvillette, who I've seen him being compared to). Symmetry is often used in characters who are noble, calm, and controlled, which we see well in the teaser.

I wish they also put something relating to the lion on God!Flins shoulder in his design, too, but maybe they'll make a reference to that in a constellation instead.

Warning leaks!!! I have seen mention of him being able to turn into a crow, and if that does turn out to be canon, I would have really liked to see some feathers in his design. Maybe in a brooch to fit the aesthetic? It is possible they're somewhere on his 3D model, too, and we just couldn't see it in the trailer.

A character who blends into the shadows with only a vision and lantern, making him stand out; lives in isolation for the sake of helping light others way; and reaks of death. The chains he's wearing and heavy collar on his jacket implying a could imply he's tied down by something Flins can't escape from on his own.

His is my favorite design shown so far for this region, but I am a biased bitch because I want to fuck him.

Nefer - A storyteller known far and wide beyond the golden shores of her homeland all the way to even the ever pearlescent Nod Krai.

Now, this next part is entirely speculation on my part and isn't based on any real-life mythology, but the games.

I believe Nefer is a descendent of one of the seven pillars during Deshret's reign. She reaks of non-human aspects all over her design, and a lot of storytellers in games or myths have lived long lives, giving them the chance to have a basis for the tales they share. As for which pillar I believe she sires from? The Crocodile King - A commander.

But once she's playable, I'm sure there will be something else going on with Nefer.

Details:

Let's get this out of the way first. She's a walking stereotype with white skin. I'm afraid Hoyo won't learn no matter how much we boycott. As for what this says for her character: She's clearly from Sumeru, meaning we have another character who lives outside of her homeland, allowing for interesting connections to the people around her now and from her past. This will be utilized in an event one day. But it also makes her outfit stand out all the more and for all the wrong reasons. You're telling me someone from a humid/hot climate is rocking a mini skirt with her back exposed isn't freezing her ass off? Just no.

The repeated use of triangles is a not so subtle nudge towards her being from the desert, but it also allows the other more geometric aspects to blend in from her headpiece to Nefer's shoes -which we all know are heels. Or, a reach, it could be a reference to the Nile Delta, and the upper case version of the letter delta is a triangle.

Her bob cut gives a nice sassy feel!

Nefer's color pallet reminds me of a snake, partly also because of her fangs and slit pupils. Saying this, I wish she had scales of some sort on her legs since they're that determined to show them off.

Wadjet eye. The god themselves is often depicted with a cobra symbol once again tying into her snake theme. As for the eye itself, it derives from the mythical conflict between Horus and Set where set pulls Horus' eye out only for it to restore itself.

Headress - the elf like golden ears also imply she isn't entirely human while giving a nod to Nemes (Egyptian headress), a symbol of power, status, and religious significance. They were often worn by Pharoahs and dieties.

A humble storyteller willing to admit another far surpasses her own abilities, unafraid to call people out, and has left her homeland for reasons unknown to us. She will the one to introduce us to the actual history of this region through her tales and not what Irminsul would want us to believe is the truth.

I think her design is very sleek and helps combine the aesthetics of Sumeru's desert people with a more modern vibe given the signs of inspo with tech wear. I just wish it would fit the climate and tell us more about how she's a storyteller.

Jahoda - Nimble and spry, she moves through the streets of Nod Krai like a bat flying above the unaware heads of the people. Unseen, free, and high in the thrill of another successful steal.

Bats have an undoubtedly bad reputation from being seen as pests to disease ridden creatures, much like thieves. Both are seen as bad omens the moment they're spotted in an environment to the point their very existence being in a story says something about where you're going be it a cave or....a new region.

Lore wise? I can't say much. Her eyes seem more like a design choice than a hint to something deeper, so we shall move on.

Details:

Her prosthetic! A very important detail about her I'm sure they will write in as being made by Aino. It is highly likely that this was cut off either due to an accident or as a form of punishment for stealing. Either way, it is full of personality! It's covered in drawings to help show her more childish side, matches her other sleeve so her design is coherent while still being asymmetrical, and could hint towards her being able to shoot something out of the blue disc on her palm.

We already know I don't approve of tiny clothes in cold environments, but if nothing else does, get the point across: She's a thief. This allows for ease of mobility. However, so would slighlty baggy clothes where she could hide her steals in big pockets in her PROPER PANTS!!! If nothing else, I'll take the fact she isn't wearing heels as a win.

The red cloth on her left arm could suggest it's a motif of a thieves guild she's associated with.

The constant use of red and blue. It's on her hat, her belt, her necklace, and her compass. It's cohesive, but it could suggest she's in two different factions. Especially with the compass being pointed at both North and South/ the plus and minus symbols on her buttons.

The glasses could be a good way to keep the snow out of her eyes as she sneaks around! It's something that's actually practical, shows she has a rose tinted worldview (I bet she asks Nefer to share romance stories a lot), and gives her a cute charm.

If they are really that dedicated to keeping her in that outfit, they should have given her some fur. It would would work well on her hat, scarf, and boots while fitting in well with the design she already has.

The X's all over her design embody the values of rebellion and individuality.

She's playful, stands out to the point it could get her in trouble, possibly has a bad past we will learn about, and is a bit of a diva. She will undoubtedly grow into a better thief during the story when she actually has something driving her beyond a nice headpiece.

It's not my most hated design this patch, but not my favorite either. If nothing else, it tells you who and what she is with a single look. I can't help thinking she would look better in ZZZ, though, and not a fantasy game.

#self reblog

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glassvertebrae · 4 days ago

Text

~Nod Krai Character Design Breakdown~

Pt. 1

○ Lauma, Flins, Nefer, Jahoda ○

Lauma - Under the light of the pale moon stands a lone figure, her eyes set on the sky above - refusing to look anywhere else.

Details:

Her ties to the moon go even further when she has a waxing/waning cresent embedded into her clothes and hair multiple times, ensuring you can't deny her ties to it even if you didn't know her lore.

Overall, I like this design and think it sets out to say what it needs to for this character.

Kyryll Chudomirovich Flins - A light keeper who roams through a graveyard in the dead of night with only a single blue flame to keep him company.

Plus, his name comes from a Greek kryios ruler.

Details:

I wish they also put something relating to the lion on God!Flins shoulder in his design, too, but maybe they'll make a reference to that in a constellation instead.

His is my favorite design shown so far for this region, but I am a biased bitch because I want to fuck him.

Nefer - A storyteller known far and wide beyond the golden shores of her homeland all the way to even the ever pearlescent Nod Krai.

Now, this next part is entirely speculation on my part and isn't based on any real-life mythology, but the games.

But once she's playable, I'm sure there will be something else going on with Nefer.

Details:

Her bob cut gives a nice sassy feel!

Jahoda - Nimble and spry, she moves through the streets of Nod Krai like a bat flying above the unaware heads of the people. Unseen, free, and high in the thrill of another successful steal.

Lore wise? I can't say much. Her eyes seem more like a design choice than a hint to something deeper, so we shall move on.

Details:

The red cloth on her left arm could suggest it's a motif of a thieves guild she's associated with.

The X's all over her design embody the values of rebellion and individuality.

#jahoda #lauma #kryrll #Flins #nefer #nod krai #genshin impact #hoyoverse #design analysis #/royalthreads #divider by stranger graphics

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