#genshin at least is like. Not hiding the fact that it's a game that exists purely to make money

[forgetful-storyteller]

Okay but. What is tgcs long term goal. Because I'm really starting to think they don't have one,, everything they do seems to be building them up to a point where no one wants to play sky anymore?? Everything they do feels like massive self sabotage? It just feels too stupid on their part for it to be a coincidence and yet. It probably is. And sky is going to keep succeeding as a game because no matter what happens and no matter what they do, people only talk about it for a few days and then go back to playing like normal. It's like they know that no one will actually do anything to stop them,, they know no amount of people will stop playing "just because" of whatever the reason of the week is. They can just keep getting worse and worse and worse

[dazais-guardian-angel]

Flying Too Close To the Moon (a Baizhu character analysis)

Over a year ago now, in February of 2023, Genshin Impact's twitter account posted about a certain green-haired doctor from Liyue with a snake, announcing that he was at long last going to become playable. *narrator voice* Little did I know at that point just how much my life was going to be ruined changed by this man, something I never could have fathomed in all my time of playing before.

Today, by the time of Baizhu's birthday, almost a year since his release, he has never left my team and is one of my ultimate comfort characters... and at the same time, paradoxically, fills me with such intense feelings of dread, if I ever think just a little too hard about him for a little too long.

This is my experience with him.

From the beginning, I wasn't one of the people who had been anxiously awaiting for Baizhu's release. I'd always been curious about him, and thought he was beautiful (but lol who in this game isn't?), but there was practically nothing to know, and he appeared so little, so not being an existing fan, I didn't think much about him compared to other more prominent characters. With that first drip marketing, however, I was suddenly instantly intrigued:

"Regrettably, Baizhu cannot save all his patients — himself, for example. Herbalist Gui has mentioned that Baizhu's physical condition is extremely poor, and he often has to go back to his residence to rest after seeing patients. Even so, his smile never falters while in front of people. When Gui asked him about this, he replied, "If the doctor looks sick himself, how can his patients face their illnesses with confidence?" Day after day, Baizhu heals his patients. His ever-present smile hides the numerous bitter medicines he takes and the pain he suffers alone."

What's this, Baizhu is a doctor who is also sick himself? He has a chronic illness?? Finally I have a disabled character in a video game I can play as and relate to??? Not to mention the DELICIOUS angst potential the (absolutely devastating) last sentence held. Unfortunately, because my lazy ass rarely ever talks to npcs outside of quests, I was completely unaware of this very important little fact about Baizhu, learned via Herbalist Gui that had been in the game since literally 1.0, but to say that I was excited upon finally learning it now was an understatement. This changed everything, turning a character I had previously only had a passing interest in into someone I felt like I might be able to connect with, and a character I could truly call my own. Previously, my favorite Genshin character was Zhongli — he was my very first limited 5* and I started the game pretty much because I was interested in him lol — but just from this short summary alone, I had a strong feeling that Baizhu had the potential to surpass him, and become my new favorite.

My initial impressions from everything we knew about Baizhu pre-release (for how little that was) were that he was a kind, selfless doctor who didn't want others to see his weakness, but in secret was striving for immortality in order to save his own life from his severe illness. Qiqi seemed to be someone he observes to further his research in gaining said immortality, but his love and care for her still feels sincere, although he can never properly convey this in words because, to me at least, he's keeping himself at a distance from her and others so as to not hurt them too much if he passed away. Baizhu tearing out Qiqi's journal entry about him being a good person so that she doesn't dwell on and remember such things about him seemed to support this, as well.

Upon release, we also had Dainsleif's lines about Baizhu in his collected miscellany video, which made me emotional as well: Dain, someone who is cursed with and suffers daily from immortality that he never asked for, respects Baizhu's desire for immortality himself, because for him it would be freedom from the pain and suffering he already experiences, seemingly. Most people want immortality for selfish reasons, but for Baizhu, I thought, it's out of a desire to save his very life, and in turn save more people as a doctor in the future. It's human, understandable, and the mark of an incredibly caring and altruistic person, and Baizhu wanting to heal himself is something to be sympathized with, especially if you can relate to his pain.

This part in particular from his demo was so powerful to me: the defiance of his fate, of his death, and the display of his continued strength of will and resolve, and even skill in battle, no matter how physically weak he may be. Though he still has his doubts and his guilt, here he says "I will not die, I will beat the odds, and no one can decide my fate for me, nor can they shake my resolve."

All of this only made me love him more and more. I was hoping we would get to see his insecurities and fears about his condition and his possible fate, and that he would learn to allow himself to be cared for by those who loved him — to realize at least a little bit more that he will never be a burden on others, because the guilt over such things is all too real for someone with a disability or chronic illness. His non-spoiler voice lines were so comforting and hopeful, and I wanted his story to be hopeful as well, without going as far as to magically cure him like what unfortunately happened with Collei.

That was what I wanted. More or less, that was what I expected, especially with the copious other examples of the "overworked character learns they need to take a break and feel supported by the traveler" storyline in Genshin insert the waifu baizhu (waifzhu?) jokes here.

And then, I played Baizhu's story quest.

.....No image in the world can fully sum up exactly how I felt after that, but, well, I think Paimon here is the closest I can get.

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember standing there, at the bottom of the steps leading up to the pharmacy where the end of the quest left me, not knowing how to feel. Feeling completely numb. Feeling like I'd just gotten punched in the gut a million times over. Feeling sick. Call me overdramatic, too overly attached to fiction, whatever, but no words can possibly convey just how much the revelations about Baizhu in his quest fucked me up. I did not feel good for quite a few days after playing it, as it haunted me, as I turned it over and over again in my mind. Not just the information given itself, but how it was given; the entire tone of it all. At some point I was finally able to make myself cry, and it was only then that I felt at least marginally better. But I'd be lying if I said that I've ever truly and fully processed and let sunk in everything to do with Baizhu, even a year later.... and I doubt that I ever will.

Don't get me wrong: Baizhu's story quest is without a doubt one of the best story quests in the game so far, and that's not at all bias speaking. It's short, to the point, uses npcs effectively and in a way that helps develop the main character instead of taking all the spotlight over them, and it leaves setup for more story in the future. For a Baizhu fan, it's the best quality one could ask for. It's the most we've ever learned about him, the most screentime he's ever had, and it emotionally and tenderly shows exactly what kind of person he is, and why he is the way he is, and does the things he does.

It's also absolutely horrific, and to this day I'm still not entirely certain exactly what message the writers wanted the player to take away from it by the end.

The quest introduces us to a boy and his father, Ayu and Jialiang, the latter of whom Baizhu wishes to treat, partly as a personal favor to his late master and to said master's other past disciple, the mother of the family, Jiangli. Through Baizhu's handling of their case, and talking to Hu Tao, we learn that Baizhu is not only obsessed with attaining immortality, but that he supposedly uses less-than-reputable methods to heal patients, methods that he keeps tightly under wraps. This, along with all the strange research he does that seemingly has nothing to do with the medical field, has given him a suspicious reputation — the game subtly lampshading the fandom seeing him as nothing more than a sketchy snake doctor ever since the beginning — but no one has ever been able to dig deep enough to find any proof that he has any ulterior motives, not even Yelan; thus, the ultimate consensus is that he truly must be nothing more than a kind and benevolent doctor who has his patients' best interests at heart, no matter what else he's doing in the background. Upon Baizhu treating Jialiang for the first time, however, we’re directly confronted with this secret, dubious healing method he uses, and what exactly it means for Baizhu, as with all the masters that came before him.

To say my stomach dropped here would be an understatement, because I knew exactly what this meant. And sure enough, not a few minutes later in the quest, we get the dreaded truth:

Baizhu’s poor physical condition is not from natural causes; rather, he is as weak as he is because he’s made himself that way. Changsheng is a former adeptus he made a contract with, that allows the host to transfer some of their own life force from themselves to someone else, using Changsheng as the conduit. The contract is meant to strengthen the body of the host and extend their lifespan, however these advantages effects are outweighed by Baizhu, and all his predecessors before him, repeatedly giving away their life force to heal others, causing them to become frail and inevitably die young. The contract has always been used in this way, and all of its prior users all met the same untimely end; Baizhu is at no less risk of that.... which is why he wants to become immortal, so he can continue to heal people with the forbidden arte without fear of death.

This would already be a Lot as it is. Trading away one's life force to save another isn't exactly a brand new trope, but the idea of a doctor doing it over and over again to save lives when all else fails, even to the detriment of their own body.... It's the ultimate act of selflessness, of kindness, of sacrifice. It's touching. It's laudable. It's devastating, to a degree one can't even imagine.

Because Baizhu doesn't just stop there, as we find out at the end of the quest.

How do you expect me to read this—

and additionally this—

and also this...

...and not have it occupy my mind 24/7, sending me in a downward never-ending spiral of existential horror, for all of eternity?? just like Baizhu himself—

While it's heavily implied that all the contract users prior to Baizhu only ("only") used it one-way, to give their own life force to others, Baizhu has taken it a step further, and also been using Changsheng to transfer his patients' diseases and illnesses onto himself. This likely is a more effective way of "curing" some of them entirely, instead of simply delaying their symptoms' worsening with more life force, although he cannot take on the worst of them/terminal illnesses of course. But he has taken on so, so many, so many diseases and so many symptoms, all compounding and blending together to the point that Jiangli, another doctor just as skilled as Baizhu, cannot even distinguish them all or recognize some of them, that he might as well be terminal. Not only does Baizhu do this for the sake of his patients, but he's also using his body as a human petri dish, testing different diseases and poisons on himself to see how they interact with each other, both to create more effective medicines and understand the mechanisms of the human body better, and to perhaps find the secret to immortality.

This reveal at the end of the quest is presented as an awe-inspiring, poignant twist, that's meant to make you see Baizhu in a brand-new light. The animated cutscene is tear-jerking, bittersweet, yet beautiful, as we finally come to understand the full scope of just who Doctor Baizhu is, just how truly pure and selfless he is, and just how much he has sacrificed, and plans to sacrifice forevermore. Many people who weren't fans of Baizhu or were neutral on him had their minds completely changed upon this bombshell being dropped, it rightfully clearing away any and all misunderstandings about him somehow being a bad person, and fostering newfound respect for him. That's the best word to use for how the game portrays all this: respectable. Baizhu's situation is tragic, but his actions are nevertheless shown and seen as beautiful, and admirable. His self-sacrifice is to be praised, and honored, because he is doing it for the good of so many others, because his heart is just that big, and that caring. It's bittersweet, but Baizhu is determined, and we should respect his resolve.

But should we really?

Yelan would disagree, I believe. Which is ironic, considering that in her own story quest, Baizhu transfers poison into himself from Uncle Tian with her there, and she is none the wiser.

Just... really stop and think about the implications of what Baizhu is doing to himself, and the life he lives. Try to imagine it, how it would feel, to be inundated with that many diseases and toxins, to the point that all of your internal organs are diseased; to the point that you have every symptom imaginable, sometimes all at once. Now, take that, and imagine living that kind of hell with it progressively worsening, for all of eternity, as Baizhu wants to do.

You can't fathom it. To say that it's beyond human comprehension is an understatement. And yet, that is Baizhu's reality, every single day, and if he has his way, for the rest of time.

This is not okay.

What truly frightens me about Baizhu, is how.... empty he feels. He is kind, gentle, nurturing, and a bit flamboyant and mischievous at times, but he has essentially no personality traits or life outside of "being a doctor". All of his voicelines involve him giving health advice, or looking after us or others, or discussing the troubles he encounters in the medical field, or his hobbies, which involve... making medicine. While there's nothing wrong per se with a doctor truly enjoying their job — it's what makes Baizhu such a good caretaker, after all — their life and personality never revolves entirely around that. People have their own lives outside of their professions, that don't involve said professions, even the most enthusiastic and genuine of workers. But Baizhu..... doesn't have anything else. For Baizhu, being a doctor is all that he is.

Nothing is more subtly chilling than this joke Changsheng makes (that gets reinforced by Paimon later), where she calls Baizhu her "mannequin" — and especially the way that Baizhu doesn't comment on it at all, merely continuing to look like a guilty child getting scolded for being reckless. Because a mannequin is an eerily accurate description of Baizhu: he is not a person of his own, but merely a vessel for her power. "Baizhu" does not exist outside of his role as a healer; he has no other life, no other aspirations, no other joys and things to care about, nothing. Even though he's a pillar in Liyue Harbor that is beloved by the community, especially by the children, he's also in a sense practically a ghost: he is never seen outside of taking care of people in some way, because he never lets anyone see him at his sickest, and he has no sense of self outside of that role as a doctor. He is distanced from everyone, almost as though he was already immortal.... he could die at any time, frighteningly easily, and to him, no one would notice or care. As depressing as it is, even Qiqi, a literal zombie, is more alive and has a much more fulfilling life at this point than Baizhu does.

Many of Baizhu's voicelines are dripping with casual self-deprecation, and others with extreme hypocrisy, where he will express frustration and disappointment at others not being diligent in taking care of themselves, completely oblivious to his own extreme levels of self-harm and self-sacrifice. Of course, as mentioned earlier, feelings of inadequacy and being a burden are tragically not unusual for someone with significant health problems, but it goes far, far beyond this for Baizhu, before he was ever ill — all the way back to his childhood. Baizhu's hometown was struck by a plague when he was young, from which he was seemingly one of the only survivors, and his obsession with wanting to save each and every life he comes across that needs saving, no matter the cost to himself, is likely born from the trauma and extreme survivor's guilt that the event instilled in him. It was during this plague that he encountered his former master, and in training under and being influenced by him, he adopted these harmful mentalities (through no fault of his or his master, to be clear), without ever being given any other way to cope with his pain, other than to do everything in his power to never let anyone else die ever again.

Again, Yanfei sums it up best.

The true tragedy of Baizhu is that, although he wholeheartedly agrees with his late master's sentiment, and truly believes that he himself is headed down a different path from his predecessors, at the end of the day, he is no different from them, nor is his chosen path any different from theirs. As he states, those with the most altruistic and purest of hearts are the ones seduced by the contract, and he, too, has fallen victim to Changsheng's siren song: the allure of reaching beyond human means to prevent death. He believes he has found the solution to the conundrum of saving both the world at large and the one doing the saving, but he's merely fallen into the trap just like all the others: even if he doesn't die, he is still sacrificing himself, cursing himself to a fate unimaginably worse than death itself. After all, as he says, the contract can't erase pain from the world entirely, but merely transfer it from one place to another, and Baizhu is living proof of that. If his master could see what he's doing, he most definitely would be heartbroken at the "answer" Baizhu has found, because a life isn't saved if it's merely surviving, and not living.

All of this began from Baizhu, selfless and benevolent as he is, wishing to save a snake. Changsheng is a dear friend, a being so closely intertwined with his very soul, and his closest connection to his late master, and yet she is also the very thing that's killing him, and will inevitably be his doom, in whichever way that comes. Baizhu being who he is means he will never abandon her, and Changsheng will never leave him as well, her worry over the fate of her host overwhelmed by her fear of death and her desire to live on, which is how the contract has persisted for six generations. It is a toxic bond, and yet their care for each other is too great, both parties accepting the misery that awaits them. Changsheng knows that any of the cycles could be her last, but cannot help but seek out new ones in order to continue living — and Baizhu intends to make that "last" be a reality, by living forever, to make sure that Changsheng will also never die, but also that no one else can take on the contract after him. He wants his cake and to eat it too, wishing to save anyone and everyone — and he fully believes that he can. He believes that he is headed towards the light of the moon, escaping the flames of the sun.

But the moon is still ever-so-far away regardless. Perhaps even impossible to reach, if Teyvat's sky truly is fake. No matter where he aims, even if he isn't burned, Baizhu is destined to fall eventually, if he keeps going the way he is. Many people have tried to warn him, to convince him that immortality isn't what he deserves, to convince him of how much he's loved... but Baizhu is too stubborn; too, ironically, selfish in his selflessness. He insists he has everything under control, that he won't let himself die... but how can anyone believe that, when all the signs suggest that he's already on death's door? And even if he does get his wish, and be granted immortality, will he truly be content like he thinks he will, endlessly suffering with only Changsheng by his side?

I don't think the writers ever intended to glorify Baizhu's actions, or at least, I don't think it occurred to them that it could be read in that way. I do still mean it when I say he is one of the best-written characters in the game, because there is so much care given to him in his story quest and to his lore, even if, frustratingly and tragically, Hoyoverse as a whole doesn't seem to care about him at all. He's so fun to play as, and in isolation, it makes me very happy to have a canonically disabled playable character. But I'm also so, so haunted by him, and I think more people would be as well, if the game didn't gloss over the incredibly bleak reality of Baizhu and his symptoms due to the overall lighthearted tone of Genshin. I desperately need to see where they're going to take his arc, if they intend to at all, because there is so much potential for it, and right now it's very much up in the air. I don't want him to die, as I fear he's close to, but I need him to heal, and finally learn that he's done enough, and that he can finally, finally, stop. Stop torturing himself, and finally accept for himself all the love he's given others for so long now, and live. I want Baizhu to live more than anything, and not the way he is now, nor as a cursed immortal. I want him to live, and thrive, and truly, unapologetically, be himself (whoever that "Baizhu" is), and be happy.

He already has someone worth living for, right here, aside from Changsheng. He has a daughter, a family, who love him, not to mention an entire city, and and I dearly wish he could realize that. I wish he could know how comforting he is to me and so many others, and how important he is to us, not because of what he can do, but because of his beautiful heart. 💔

Happy Birthday, Baizhu. Thank you for being such an incredible healer on my team, and I hope we'll see you in Chenyu Vale one day :')💚

[mists-reading-nook]

Successor Reader AU: If Reader thinks they're and ordinary humans and promptly gets themselves settled down w/ a normal human life, how does Reader and/or Acolyte learn of the whole Successor stuff?

Does Creator just announce one day that "yeah I have a successor" but either mention who they are or fail to say so prompting a manhunt?

Does Creator show up at Reader's place and ask why they aren't doing Successor stuff, as those they failed to deliver any information to Reader?

Does Reader suddenly develop powers one day and choose between hiding them, revealing their powers only to close friends, or consult those who are pros at using powers for help?

How does Reader take advantage of meta knowledge if they have any? What about the fact that the God of another world, of a fictional media just casually kidnapped reader? Do they demand to be sent home because they had no say in this, or take the whole Successor title in full stride, or something inbetween?

Honestly,Reader just gets isekai'd and is now sitting on the throne of aCreator.

While the real creator is on vacation/retirement and just laughing at how easily the acolytes were fooled.

Or even better,reader has slight powers (cus creator wants to retire,and they want to retire NOW) in thier old world,but decides to hide them because they enjoy a peaceful life.

Oh hey,there's a portal in this alleyway.....

Ends up under the tree in windrise

....shit.

Honestly this could go so many ways. Either creator (essentially) kidnaps them,or they manufacture circumstances in readers old world to get them to tevyat. (Like making sure genshin is made,and making sure reader plays it. They may want retirement,but they aren't going to throw thier successor onto the throne without them knowing at least a little about tevyat)

Either way,reader is screwed. Also yes,lots of meta knowledge. Like game mechanics are absolutely abused. Artifacts? Yes. Wishing? Yes. Getting to control certain characters? Absolutely.

When they first meet creator (either through creator Kidnapping them or creator appearing in a dream or meeting them whey they first get to tevyat),reader is slightly pissed off. They want to go back home,and creator drops a bomb. They kinda-sorta erased readers existence from thier old world when they disappeared. And with that being said,creator can finally retire. (Reader begs for a vacation after like,a week)

[outivv]

Hii! I’d love to request a fluff fic with the prompt “I never thought I’d live to be here with you.” for Albedo… like, listen, ya know how everyone gives us angst with Albedo destroying Mond? How about we pull an uno reverse on Bedo and that never actually happens 🥺🥺🥺 I’m sad. Feel free to ignore this if you’re not vibing with this ofc—and pls drink some water!

Synopsis: the prompt “I never thought I’d live to be here with you” with albedo.

Warnings: none!

Game/ fandom: genshin impact

Character: albedo

Event: 1000 followers event! If you would like to request a prompt I’ll be doing the event for the remainder of June!

Pronouns for reader: gender neutral/ not mentioned

A/n: hello! Thank you for participating in the event, I am so sorry I didn’t get to your request until now I got caught up in a few other things! But I’m here now! I was lowkey worried that no one would request with the prompts, so this is honestly a huge relief! I both hate yet love the angst with albedo destroying mondstadt because the whole idea of that feels more like foreshadowing than anything, but all the fics are super good! I really enjoyed writing this (mostly cause I just like writing for albedo) and I hope you enjoy reading it! Remember to take care of yourself!

The sun rose and the destroyed experiment lay on the ground. The experiment was out of control, having no way to control it properly you had to destroy it. It almost cost you your life, but if you didn’t do it it the price could’ve been detrimental.

Albedo was slightly shaken up, and was disappointed, though he was scared. Scared that he could’ve costed people their lives. Scared that one of those lives could’ve been you. He watched as you grabbed blankets, for the harsh cold of dragonspine was getting worse by the minute.

You wrapped a warm fluffy blanket around the alchemist, he had a distant look in his eyes, and you could tell that the gears in his head were turning vigorously. You cupped his cheek and asked, “are you alright? I know that could’ve been... bad to say the least, but at least were safe now?” Your eyes hopeful and full of pity. You took pity on the man in front of you, he knew how dangerous alchemy could, but couldn’t be helped when it came to witnessing it’s beauty at the same time.

“I’m fine... are you alright?” He said his hand gripping onto the blanket around his shoulders. His cheeks were dusted with pink, though it was probably just the cold. “I’m fine thank you.” You said smiling and stroking his cheek with your thumb. He sunk his face further into the blanket, a futile attempt to hide his face, and an excuse to not look you in the eyes. He was almost embarrassed by the results of the experiment. Embarrassed that he let it get like that, it was because of his carelessness that it came to this...

You noticed how he was shying away from you and so you spoke up, “hey? Are you sure you’re alright?” Your eyes full of worry. You put a hand on his shoulder and another on his back to rub soothing circles. Albedo was rarely touchy, but he couldn’t help but melt at your soothing touch. He sighed and said “I just... I never imagined I’d live to be here with you.” He spoke in a moment of love and adoration. He never imagined he’d exist with you, let alone be alive.

You felt both pity, yet an odd fondness for the man before you, and pulled him into a warm hug. “I’m glad to be here with you.” He said his face buried in your shoulder, as he gripped onto your shirt. He clearly didn’t want you to leave, and you smiled at that fact. “I’m glad to be here with you too.”

[nex-ture]

Hi! My name is Clover and if it’s okay, I’d like a matchup from Genshin impact~ I use any pronouns and being paired with any character over 18 is fine! I’m an infp who never really grew out of their dramatic theatre kid phase. I actually still do theatre too, but I mainly stick to opera. I also sew/draw/write poetry a lot! Basically any creative hobby I’ve at the very least TRIED, lol.

I’m very well mannered and polite when you first meet me, since I’m a huge people pleaser. I’m initially pretty reserved as well, since I fear coming off as overbearing. Plus, most of the time I feel like people wouldn’t care about my life. Trivial manners are easier to discuss. Also, I have a very low social battery, which I hide pretty well (I have to for my job lol) but I’m definitely not the type to go make friends for fun. In fact, I have very few friends in general, which is how I typically prefer it. Once you get to know me, you’ll see that I’m passionate, and loyal to a fault. I would do anything for the people I care about, and I’ve been told I give really good advice/comfort. I tend to be pretty blunt with my friends as well, with both my humor and telling them what I think, and I’m normally the decision maker within the group.

Despite me being a caretaker, it’s hard for me to accept that same care back. Like I said earlier, I have a hard time believing anyone could care about me, so I try not to be a burden or make myself difficult as to not scare anyone off. Being wanted is a BIG deal for me. If I feel unwanted in a situation, most of the time I’ll just leave as to save myself the hurt and not bother the other person. I need to know that they mot only dont mind my presence and ideas and singing, but that they actively enjoy them, and enjoy being around me rather than just tolerate it. I’m also very vain/insecure, and I tend to project myself as more confident than I am in order to counteract that.

What else… oh, I really like animals, and I’ve recently managed to befriend the gang of stray cats that live in my neighborhood, so now I get to feed them every night lol. My favorite thing to do with a person is just sit in a room and EXIST with them, and I love it when people infodump about something they’re really excited about. I also love video games, and even if I lose, I just like playing for fun. I’m also a hopeless romantic, and I daydream alllll the time.

Thank you so much, and congrats on hitting 400!

Dear Clover,

Everythings been hectic as of lately. I've been touring around Teyvat for 2 months now, I miss hanging out with you but the tours almost done. Last stop is Inazuma, turns out I got special permission to perform there for some Oni kids birthday. Usually I don't do private concerts but he's paying a good deal of money. As soon as this concerts over I'll be sure to come home and see you. Until the fay we see eachother again I hope you take care and have fun

Love, Xinyan

[yostresswritinggirl]

hi!! i can't send asks from my side blog (dandelion-dreams) but i was on reddit looking at genshin theories and i saw this theory about paimon maybe being from khaenri'ah and being the unknown god that separates the twins. and it made me think about how we basically don't know anything about paimon and other characters have commented about never seeing something like paimon before so that's a little sus. i was curious to see what you thought about these theories?

Yo, actually this one I've known about for quite some time now and my opinions on this may actually replicate the theories you've read about.

The existence of Paimon had always been questionable and I really think she's related to either of those, honestly. First of all, in-game features of Paimon are frequently mentioned meta a lot of times, the most recent one being Rosalia (who commented on her ability to appear and disappear out of thin air).

And then the different symbolisms and shared themes. Mihoyo likes subtlety and hiding things in plain sight, more so they value logos/symbols a lot in their games:

- Paimon in demonology is named after one of the nine kings of hell. More so, Mihoyo patterns their named archons after "72 Demons named in the Ars Goetia (a mysterious Grimoire on Demonology found in the 17th century)." Barbatos, Rex Lapis/Morax, AND Paimon are included. This could hint on higher power for our companion.

- Paimon's shirt also has an odd symbol of treyarch, a symbol you see in the game on a very specific location. You can ALSO see this symbol behind the lines on the opening scene of the game. In the domains, specifically behind the tree you loot. I've also seen official art of the tree where five floating symbols similar to Paimon's headpiece floats over it.

- The Unknown God and Paimon also share the black star symbolism, counterpart to that of the siblings.

- Paimon's neck piece or weird scarf also has such abyssal designs on it I've never seen on others. Someone made a point about this but I kind of forgot.

- Paimon in several in-game lines had been called out for being overly observant of the traveller (by Albedo). Had also hinted that she doesn't need any kind of additional power (If you pick the line for Paimon when talking to Sucrose about Albedo), and even being seen as 'overly defensive' when justifying the stars when Scaramouche talked about the fake sky.

- With that in mind, meeting Paimon was also a questionable occurrence for someone who knows how to fly. How'd she even end up in a lake? It's already stated that Paimon doesn't KNOW how to swim so during animations when you swim, she ends up floating above the water. Could she not have done this during that time? It could be hinted that it was intentional for the purpose of meeting the traveler, and/or she had seemingly fallen from the sky, with the only known floating piece of land being Celestia.

- EDIT: I forgot to mention ahahaha that Paimon wear a HALO. However! This halo is actually not connected in the back, this usually corresponds to a broken halo which means different things: Such as falling from grace, self-destruction, and all that shenanigans.

Khaenri'ah is still quite a topic that's very hard to discuss because of its vagueness. But if by chance that Kaeya, owner of the eyes that resemble that of the Unknown God, then the possibility of Paimon being related to Khaenri'ah is much more convincing than I thought it would be.

Overall, I am a firm believer of the 'Paimon is sus' side of Genshin. However I have yet to delve into whether Honkai can give more details about it, as only my brother had dived into Honkai Impact. But the dummy skims through dialogue so fast he might be useless anyways.

Sorry this took a while, I was out in the beach doing beach stuff hehe, I hope my words were useful at least aaaaa

Second edit: I'd like to reiterate a point that I've seen and that was the fact that both Venti's Wind Sprite form and Paimon were called/recognized as an Elf in the game. Could it be that Paimon is instead a sprite of some kind too? The existence of Elves in a game like Genshin is quite confusing tho and that rare occurrence of similarity feels like a major ploy than anything.