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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Inazuma Archon Quest: Omnipresence Over Mortals
Perpetua perennis impervia
Perpetual, perennial, impervious
Perpetual, perennial, impervious
"In the secluded land of the immortal Shogun, the Bakufu rules eternal.
But what do mortals see of the eternity chased after by their god?"
—Dainsleif
The third leg of the Traveler and Paimon's journey takes them across the sea into the isolationist archipelago of Inazuma, where it has been a few years since Baal, the Electro Archon and goddess of lightning and eternity known to her people as the Raiden Shogun, imposed a couple of repressive decrees, one cutting off Inazuma from contact with the outside world, the other mandating a mass confiscation of Visions, crystalline devices that give people throughout Teyvat the ability to use the elements. In a bid to seek an audience with her, they strike an alliance with the Yashiro Commission, the civilian-affairs arm of the Tri-Commission, the nation's political body answering to the Shogun. However, after their first audience resulted in them becoming fugitives for being perceived as a threat to her pursuit of eternity, they were forced to seek refuge with an armed resistance from the autonomous Watatsumi Island to the west, where they discover a conspiracy between corrupt elements within the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, respectively the military and financial arms of the Tri-Commission, and the Fatui led by Signora and Scaramouche, the sixth-ranking Harbinger. After a run-in with the latter, the Traveler is recruited by Yae Miko, the Shogun's good friend and head shrine maiden, to convince the Shogun into revoking the decrees, which they do so by provoking Kujou Sara, a high-ranking Tenryou general, into open revolt, defeating Signora, and besting the Shogun in a duel to convince her of the power of the people. In the process, they discover that the Shogun is a bionic puppet following directives from Ei/Beelzebul, the true Electro Archon who has sealed herself away in despair following the death of her twin sister and predecessor Makoto/Baal during the destruction of Khaenri'ah half a millennium ago, and help her come to terms with her grief and become a better ruler.
Afterwards, the Traveler returns to Liyue to investigate The Chasm, a large mine, where they run into Dainsleif anew, with whom they learn of their sibling's plan to reverse the curse of corrosive immortality imposed by Celestia upon surviving Khaenri'ahns such as Dainsleif, who is skeptical of their methods, especially after seeing the negative effects their plan had on his countrymen, including the hilichurls, a race of horribly malformed survivors of Khaenri'ah.
Prologue: Autumn Winds, Scarlet Leaves
Released: v1.6 "Midsummer Island Adventure" (June 9, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Atsuko is skeptical of the Traveler's chances of reaching Inazuma, given that she nearly died escaping her homeland, describing on the one hand its oppressive politics, with the Kanjou Commission, one-third of the Tri-Commission, the governing body of Inazuma, strictly enforcing the Sakoku Decree and its strictures on traffic in and out of Inazuma, to say nothing of the unrest brought about by the Vision Hunt Decree and the iron fist with which the Tenryou Commission, the peacekeeping arm, enforces it, and on the other hand a violent storm surrounding the islands. Fortunately for her, she was rescued by the Crux Fleet, a renowned fleet of seafarers, and recommends that they try to convince its captain Beidou to let them join her next journey. In the meantime, their flagship, the Alcor, can be seen anchored off the coast of Guyun Stone Forest.
Aboard the Alcor, they are greeted by Beidou, who has already heard of their feats from Ningguang, and introduces them to Kaedehara Kazuha, a young man from Inazuma and part-time crew member and resident poet. She also mistakes the Traveler as entrant for the Crux Clash, an invitational fighting tournament hosted by the Fleet, with the prize being a masterless Vision currently held by Kazuha, who theorizes that Visions that lost their power after their holders' deaths can be rekindled when held by a strong person. When the Traveler admits that they are less interested in the Vision than in merely getting to Inazuma, Beidou offers them so as their reward.
At the arena at the southwestern island of the Stone Forest, the Traveler and Paimon investigate their opposition, and are relieved that they are hardly a challenge. Zhuhan, the woman in charge of registrations, recognizes the Traveler and begins speaking of their feats, which pique the interest of the other entrants. After proving that they accomplished their feats without a Vision, the Traveler is registered to compete.
When asked by Paimon why he is so attached to the Vision, Kazuha explains that it once belonged to an old friend and mentor who yearned to witness the Electro Archon's fabled sword technique, Musou no Hitotachi, for which he joined the rebellion against the Vision Hunt Decree and directly challenged the Raiden Shogun to a duel. By the time Kazuha arrived at Tenshukaku, the Shogun's palace, his friend has fallen, seemingly through that same technique he yearned to see, and in a spur of the moment he stole his friend's Vision.
Afterwards, the trio return to the arena, where they learn that the Crux Clash was canceled due to the theft, that Beidou has been summoned by Ningguang to explain herself after word of the commotion reached the Millelith, and that the Traveler is declared winner by disqualification, earning them the right to join the Alcor's upcoming journey to Inazuma. Given the inclement weather around Inazuma that seems to embody the Shogun's isolationism, Kazuha tells the Traveler and Paimon that preparing the Alcor for the next journey may take some time; in the meantime, he will train himself in Liyue in the hopes of reawakening his friend's Vision, before advising them to prepare themselves for a far more arduous journey than braving the storms: that within the Inazuman archipelago itself.
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
A Path Through the Storm
On the outskirts of Liyue Harbor, the Traveler, still stunned over the discovery that their sibling has become leader of the Abyss Order, tries to process everything they just witnessed. Their sibling's words about them learning the truth in the course of their journeys still fresh in their mind, they resolve to continue the search for the goddess who separated them from their sibling and demand answers from her, starting with Inazuma. Given that nation's isolationism, they decide to consult Atsuko, an expatriate frequenting the harbor at Chihu Rock.Atsuko is skeptical of the Traveler's chances of reaching Inazuma, given that she nearly died escaping her homeland, describing on the one hand its oppressive politics, with the Kanjou Commission, one-third of the Tri-Commission, the governing body of Inazuma, strictly enforcing the Sakoku Decree and its strictures on traffic in and out of Inazuma, to say nothing of the unrest brought about by the Vision Hunt Decree and the iron fist with which the Tenryou Commission, the peacekeeping arm, enforces it, and on the other hand a violent storm surrounding the islands. Fortunately for her, she was rescued by the Crux Fleet, a renowned fleet of seafarers, and recommends that they try to convince its captain Beidou to let them join her next journey. In the meantime, their flagship, the Alcor, can be seen anchored off the coast of Guyun Stone Forest.
Aboard the Alcor, they are greeted by Beidou, who has already heard of their feats from Ningguang, and introduces them to Kaedehara Kazuha, a young man from Inazuma and part-time crew member and resident poet. She also mistakes the Traveler as entrant for the Crux Clash, an invitational fighting tournament hosted by the Fleet, with the prize being a masterless Vision currently held by Kazuha, who theorizes that Visions that lost their power after their holders' deaths can be rekindled when held by a strong person. When the Traveler admits that they are less interested in the Vision than in merely getting to Inazuma, Beidou offers them so as their reward.
At the arena at the southwestern island of the Stone Forest, the Traveler and Paimon investigate their opposition, and are relieved that they are hardly a challenge. Zhuhan, the woman in charge of registrations, recognizes the Traveler and begins speaking of their feats, which pique the interest of the other entrants. After proving that they accomplished their feats without a Vision, the Traveler is registered to compete.
The Crux Clash
Even without using their elemental powers, the Traveler makes short work of the competition, much to Beidou's excitement, though Kazuha also notes the restraint with which they fought. After the Traveler wins their semifinal match, Kazuha invites them to talk in private at the southeastern island. There, besides filling the Traveler in on the speedy nature of their final opponent, Kazuha reveals that, having been blessed since childhood with a strong affinity for nature, he has intuited their ability to use elemental powers without Visions, as well as their seemingly alien nature, and asks them to show the extent of their power by fighting off some slimes. Afterwards, Kazuha explains that he is interested in the nature of Visions and the factors that influence the gods to hand them out to select humans, such as himself, as well as questioning the rationale of the Vision Hunt Decree, wondering why, assuming The Seven are responsible for providing Visions, the Electro Archon is now taking them back.Follow the Wind
The trio return to the arena, only for the final match to be postponed after the Traveler's supposed opponent seemingly turned tail. Worse still, they and Beidou discover that the masterless Vision had been stolen. Using Kazuha's attunement to nature, the trio track down the thief at Guili Plains, a Treasure Hoarder named "Fei the Flyer" who was also supposed to be the Traveler's final opponent. After beating Fei to submission, confiscating the Vision, and letting him go empty-handed, Kazuha reveals that he expected the theft all along, intending to observe whether or not Fei can prove himself worthy of the Vision. The Traveler also tries to activate it, to no avail, meaning Kazuha will keep the Vision for himself.When asked by Paimon why he is so attached to the Vision, Kazuha explains that it once belonged to an old friend and mentor who yearned to witness the Electro Archon's fabled sword technique, Musou no Hitotachi, for which he joined the rebellion against the Vision Hunt Decree and directly challenged the Raiden Shogun to a duel. By the time Kazuha arrived at Tenshukaku, the Shogun's palace, his friend has fallen, seemingly through that same technique he yearned to see, and in a spur of the moment he stole his friend's Vision.
Afterwards, the trio return to the arena, where they learn that the Crux Clash was canceled due to the theft, that Beidou has been summoned by Ningguang to explain herself after word of the commotion reached the Millelith, and that the Traveler is declared winner by disqualification, earning them the right to join the Alcor's upcoming journey to Inazuma. Given the inclement weather around Inazuma that seems to embody the Shogun's isolationism, Kazuha tells the Traveler and Paimon that preparing the Alcor for the next journey may take some time; in the meantime, he will train himself in Liyue in the hopes of reawakening his friend's Vision, before advising them to prepare themselves for a far more arduous journey than braving the storms: that within the Inazuman archipelago itself.
Act I: The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia
Released: v2.0 "The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia" (July 21, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
After several days, the Alcor arrives at the port town of Ritou, on the western end of Narukami, easternmost of the Inazuman archipelago and seat of the Shogunate. There Beidou is met by Thoma, a local business partner, to whom she entrusts the duo, as she needed to immediately leave Inazuma given that one of her crew members, Kazuha, is a wanted man.
Christopher/Kurisu, the Fontainean head of the Association and good friend of Thoma, complains that the Kanjou Commission has been bleeding foreign traders dry with absurd rules, the latest of which involved paying their taxes through rare Crystal Marrow ores; worse still, the increase in demand drove up its price from the one vendor who still sells them, so he asks the Traveler to negotiate with the latter. However, Werner, the aforementioned vendor, saw through Kurisu's attempt and reject them, so Thoma concocts a plan to bribe him with flowers, fruits, and other goods unique to his native Mondstadt, as well as Liyue, where he attended a Lantern Rite prior to traveling to Inazuma. Moved by nostalgia, Werner confesses to being trapped in a ring of corrupt Kanjou officers led by Keijirou, who buy the Marrows from the traders, then gives them for to sell back for exorbitant prices, with the officers taking the lion's share of the profit. The Traveler then tails Keijirou, who they see on the beach to the south bury a ledger containing his transactions with Werner; upon retrieving it, Werner asks the Traveler to submit it to Kurisu in his stead, still too ashamed of having betrayed the Association to face them again.
The duo arrive at the Association's office just in time to catch Keijirou demanding payment from Kurisu, and present evidence of his corruption before everyone present. Keijirou then tries to buy the traders' silence with spare Marrows, but Harrison from Mondstadt causes a ruckus which caught the attention of Katsuie, a senior Kanjou officer, who threatens to arrest the merchants. Thoma intervenes by presenting Katsuie an ornate fan; recognizing to whom it belonged, he and Keijirou are forced to retreat lest they run afoul of its owner.
The matter with the Association resolved, Thoma reveals to the Traveler that he is an attendant to the Kamisato Clan, the ruling family of the Yashiro Commission, the third arm of the Tri-Commission responsible for civilian affairs, specifically to Ayaka, younger sister of the Commissioner, Ayato. Having heard of the Traveler's exploits, she asked him to recruit them to help end the Vision Hunt Decree. Though the Traveler declines the request, Thoma invites them at Komore Teahouse in the capital, Inazuma City to the southeast, and hands them an invitation letter. After he left, Paimon realizes that he seemingly forgot to help smuggle them out of Ritou, which the Traveler intuits may be his way of testing their resolve.
Later that night, the Traveler and Paimon meet the woman. Introducing herself as Hiiragi Chisato, daughter of Shinsuke, she agrees to help them escape Ritou in exchange for helping her send a letter to Kujou Kamaji, her secret lover and youngest son of Takayuki, head of the Tenryou Commission, who her father forbids her from meeting, warning them that Shinsuke is under orders from an arrogant-sounding woman to keep the Traveler held up in Ritou.
The following day, the Traveler, having just communed with the Statue of the Seven behind the Hiiragi Estate, and thus earned the power of Electro, is hired by Chisato to help her escort a shipment of goods bound for Inazuma City and then Watatsumi Island, on the other end of the archipelago, alongside other Kanjou officers, including Shinnojou. After fending off bandits, the convoy reaches the village of Konda, midway between Ritou and the City, where Chisato parts ways with the convoy and returns to Ritou, wishing the Traveler luck in their journey and reminding them to bring the letter to Kamaji, to the dismay of Shinnojou, who has a secret crush on her.
Thoma then leads the Traveler and Paimon to the Kamisato Estate, the headquarters of the Yashiro Commission located on the easternmost corner of Narukami, next to Mount Yougou, the holiest mountain on the island. There Thoma introduces the Traveler to Ayaka, who, talking behind a folding screen, asks for the Traveler's help with convincing the Raiden Shogun to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree due to the suffering it wrought upon the people. As the Traveler still refuses to lend a hand, Ayaka proposes a compromise which they accept, wherein she will help arrange their audience with the Shogun in exchange for them meeting three men whose Visions had been taken recently.
Later that day, the Traveler and Paimon reconvene with Ayaka and Thoma at Komore Teahouse, where she fills them in on otherwise confidential information. After describing the Raiden Shogun as an awe-inspiring if reclusive and single-minded deity, Ayaka reveals that, apart from the Yashiro Commission, there is a more militant resistance to the Vision Hunt Decree at Watatsumi led by the Sangonomiya Clan, though she suspects some other agenda given centuries-old tensions between the Shogunate and Watatsumi predating the Decree, and that every attempt by her Commission to have the Decree abolished has so far been vetoed by the other two, leading her to suspect that they may have a hand in the Shogun's decisions. Until a more organized resistance to the Decree can be established, all the Commission can do for now is minimize its human cost by offering sanctuary to Vision holders or crafting counterfeits; however, one such craftsman, Masakatsu, has been arrested by the Tenryou Commission, so Ayaka asks the Traveler to rescue him without drawing unwanted attention to her Commission, promising them with a backup from Naganohara Fireworks at Hanamizaka.
There, the Traveler and Paimon chance upon a Vision confiscation; before they could intervene, a young woman restrains them and reveals that the Vision is a counterfeit. The woman introduces herself as Naganohara Yoimiya, proprietress of the family-run business, who also owes Masakatsu for saving her Vision and, having learned of his arrest, happily joins the jailbreak.
Inside the City's police station, Yoimiya temporarily splits from the Traveler and Paimon while preparing something. Upon reuniting, the trio witness Masakatsu being tortured by a some Tenryou officers, who are then severely reprimanded by an imposing woman, who Yoimiya recognizes as Kujou Sara, adopted daughter of Takayuki and a prominent general of the Tenryou Commisssion. However, Yoimiya accidentally alerts Sara to her presence, and orders her men to investigate, forcing her to distract the police with a volley of fireworks while she, the Traveler, and Paimon free Masakatsu. They are caught in the act by Sara, who nevertheless allows them to set Masakatsu free for the time being, out of consideration for his state.
After parting ways with Yoimiya and Masakatsu, the Traveler and Paimon return to Komore Teahouse to report the good news to Ayaka and Thoma. While Ayaka wonders if Sara deemed Masakatsu not enough a threat so as to allow him to escape, Thoma informs the Traveler that they can rest easy for a few days, as the Tenryou Commission is busy with preparations for some kind of ceremony in a few days. After enjoying a hot pot game to celebrate their success, the group adjourns while waiting for the Tenryou Commission and the Raiden Shogun's next move.
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Setting Sail
Days after the Traveler and Paimon won the right to join the Crux Fleet's journey to Inazuma, they are informed by Sea Drake, sailor of the Alcor, that she is now outfitted for the journey. At the Liyue Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne says her farewell, even as she promises them that somehow she will be waiting for them at the Guild's Inazuma branch.After several days, the Alcor arrives at the port town of Ritou, on the western end of Narukami, easternmost of the Inazuman archipelago and seat of the Shogunate. There Beidou is met by Thoma, a local business partner, to whom she entrusts the duo, as she needed to immediately leave Inazuma given that one of her crew members, Kazuha, is a wanted man.
Confessions of an Outlander
After the Alcor set sail anew, Thoma helps the Traveler work their way through the strictures of the Kanjou Commission, which handles Inazuma's economic and foreign affairs, by producing an entry permit and negotiating down their processing fee. After learning from the Traveler that they and Paimon intend to have an audience with the Raiden Shogun, Thoma agrees to help them, albeit in exchange for helping the International Trade Association, a support group for foreign traders.Christopher/Kurisu, the Fontainean head of the Association and good friend of Thoma, complains that the Kanjou Commission has been bleeding foreign traders dry with absurd rules, the latest of which involved paying their taxes through rare Crystal Marrow ores; worse still, the increase in demand drove up its price from the one vendor who still sells them, so he asks the Traveler to negotiate with the latter. However, Werner, the aforementioned vendor, saw through Kurisu's attempt and reject them, so Thoma concocts a plan to bribe him with flowers, fruits, and other goods unique to his native Mondstadt, as well as Liyue, where he attended a Lantern Rite prior to traveling to Inazuma. Moved by nostalgia, Werner confesses to being trapped in a ring of corrupt Kanjou officers led by Keijirou, who buy the Marrows from the traders, then gives them for to sell back for exorbitant prices, with the officers taking the lion's share of the profit. The Traveler then tails Keijirou, who they see on the beach to the south bury a ledger containing his transactions with Werner; upon retrieving it, Werner asks the Traveler to submit it to Kurisu in his stead, still too ashamed of having betrayed the Association to face them again.
The duo arrive at the Association's office just in time to catch Keijirou demanding payment from Kurisu, and present evidence of his corruption before everyone present. Keijirou then tries to buy the traders' silence with spare Marrows, but Harrison from Mondstadt causes a ruckus which caught the attention of Katsuie, a senior Kanjou officer, who threatens to arrest the merchants. Thoma intervenes by presenting Katsuie an ornate fan; recognizing to whom it belonged, he and Keijirou are forced to retreat lest they run afoul of its owner.
The matter with the Association resolved, Thoma reveals to the Traveler that he is an attendant to the Kamisato Clan, the ruling family of the Yashiro Commission, the third arm of the Tri-Commission responsible for civilian affairs, specifically to Ayaka, younger sister of the Commissioner, Ayato. Having heard of the Traveler's exploits, she asked him to recruit them to help end the Vision Hunt Decree. Though the Traveler declines the request, Thoma invites them at Komore Teahouse in the capital, Inazuma City to the southeast, and hands them an invitation letter. After he left, Paimon realizes that he seemingly forgot to help smuggle them out of Ritou, which the Traveler intuits may be his way of testing their resolve.
Ritou Escape Plan
Realizing that they needed a permit to be able to leave Ritou, the Traveler and Paimon plead their case to the headquarters of the Kanjou Commission, located in the estate of its ruling family, the Hiiragi, where they chance upon Shinsuke, clan patriarch and Kanjou Commissioner. Despite his seeming pleasantness, the Traveler grows suspicious of his unrealistic request to deliver hundreds of letters, especially after they see a young woman behind Shinsuke directing them to simply accede to his demands. Afterwards, the duo are presented a perfumed letter from the woman through Shinnojou, a Kanjou footsoldier, asking them to meet her by nightfall.Later that night, the Traveler and Paimon meet the woman. Introducing herself as Hiiragi Chisato, daughter of Shinsuke, she agrees to help them escape Ritou in exchange for helping her send a letter to Kujou Kamaji, her secret lover and youngest son of Takayuki, head of the Tenryou Commission, who her father forbids her from meeting, warning them that Shinsuke is under orders from an arrogant-sounding woman to keep the Traveler held up in Ritou.
The following day, the Traveler, having just communed with the Statue of the Seven behind the Hiiragi Estate, and thus earned the power of Electro, is hired by Chisato to help her escort a shipment of goods bound for Inazuma City and then Watatsumi Island, on the other end of the archipelago, alongside other Kanjou officers, including Shinnojou. After fending off bandits, the convoy reaches the village of Konda, midway between Ritou and the City, where Chisato parts ways with the convoy and returns to Ritou, wishing the Traveler luck in their journey and reminding them to bring the letter to Kamaji, to the dismay of Shinnojou, who has a secret crush on her.
Three Wishes
At Komore Teahouse, the Traveler and Paimon present Thoma's letter to waitress Kozue, allowing them to enter and leave as they please. Inside, after pulling a prank on them by talking through Taroumaru, a retired ninken, or attack dog of the Yashiro Commission, and owner of the Teahouse, Thoma apologizes for having led them around, admitting it was a test of their resolve to meet the Shogun. Before they meet Ayaka, he first leads the Traveler to the Statue of the Omnipresent God, still under construction on the footsteps of Tenshukaku and inlaid with confiscated Visions, with Thoma speculating that the Vision Hunt Decree was meant to prevent anyone from challenging the Shogun's pursuit of eternity. Upon touching the statue, the Traveler hears the aspirations of the Visions' former holders in their head.Thoma then leads the Traveler and Paimon to the Kamisato Estate, the headquarters of the Yashiro Commission located on the easternmost corner of Narukami, next to Mount Yougou, the holiest mountain on the island. There Thoma introduces the Traveler to Ayaka, who, talking behind a folding screen, asks for the Traveler's help with convincing the Raiden Shogun to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree due to the suffering it wrought upon the people. As the Traveler still refuses to lend a hand, Ayaka proposes a compromise which they accept, wherein she will help arrange their audience with the Shogun in exchange for them meeting three men whose Visions had been taken recently.
The Meaning of Meaningless Waiting
The first man, Tejima, contemplates leaving Konda after thirty years defending it from Treasure Hoarders, with his adoptive parents, Mahiru and Kenjirou, wondering if his mind changed after losing his Vision. Upon learning from Tejima that he has trouble remembering why he stayed at Konda, the Traveler helps him find a diary which points them to a nearby shrine, from which they and Paimon unearth a box containing a letter revealing that he is in Konda to wait for his lover. His memory partially restored, Tejima chooses to stay, despite not knowing whether she will return after all.To Treat the Well-Meaning Well
The second man is a Tenryou samurai, to Paimon's confusion considering they are the ones enforcing the Vision Hunt Decree. At Hanamizaka, a suburb of Inazuma City, they see some men accusing a samurai of withholding food rations. Said samurai, Kurosawa Kyounosuke, used to be a Vision holder before reports of poor performance cost him his Vision, causing him to forget his habit of giving monthly rations to the poor of the City. Upon learning that Treasure Hoarders have recently ransacked Kyounosuke's house, the Traveler finds and stops them, who then offer them a box they pilfered in exchange for their freedom, which they discover contains nothing but reminders of outstanding debts from Tsukumomono Groceries. From its proprietress, Aoi, the Traveler learns that Kyounosuke used to draw from his salary to buy the food he donates, and once his debt began racking up, he promised to sell her his his heirloom sword despite her reluctance. After promising her that the Yashiro Commission will cover his debt, the Traveler returns to Kyounosuke, who is troubled at having to drive off the protesters with his sword, and tells him the whole story, which only causes him more emotional turmoil.A Swordmaster's Path Is Paved With Broken Blades
The third and final man, Domon, is a swordmaster of the Meikyou Shisui school in Hanamizaka, whose disciples Junya and Nanako fear has become possessed by an evil spirit ever since his Vision was taken, and thus hired shrine maidens from the Grand Narukami Shrine to perform an exorcism later that night. The duo then chance upon Anzai, a senior of Domon back when they were disciples before he bested him and their master to prove himself worthy of becoming the latter's successor, who is concerned for Domon's wellbeing despite his lingering resentment. Contrary to Junya and Nanako's fears, Inagi Hotomi, who has been assigned to their case, diagnoses that Domon is not possessed; nevertheless, Yae Miko, the Guuji, or head priestess, of the Shrine, has taken an interest, and invites them to the Shrine atop Mount Yougou. There, the Traveler meets Miko, who corroborates Hotomi's diagnosis, claiming Domon is experiencing overwhelming guilt over realizing that he achieved his dream at the expense of others', his situation reminding her of a friend. Anzai, having tailed the group, calls out Domon for self-pity, and encourages him to instead entrust his ambition to his disciples, allowing Domon to find peace. After Domon, Junya, Nanako, and Anzai leave, Miko speaks to the Traveler, cryptically referring to them as a wind of hope for Inazuma, and asks them not to disappoint her.A Flower Blossoms in a Prison
Having fulfilled Ayaka's requests, the Traveler and Paimon report back to her, who now appears to them in person as a sign that they have earned her trust, explaining that she sent her errands for the Traveler was meant to help them understand the suffering of the people. Convinced, the Traveler accepts her request to help abolish the Vision Hunt Decree.Later that day, the Traveler and Paimon reconvene with Ayaka and Thoma at Komore Teahouse, where she fills them in on otherwise confidential information. After describing the Raiden Shogun as an awe-inspiring if reclusive and single-minded deity, Ayaka reveals that, apart from the Yashiro Commission, there is a more militant resistance to the Vision Hunt Decree at Watatsumi led by the Sangonomiya Clan, though she suspects some other agenda given centuries-old tensions between the Shogunate and Watatsumi predating the Decree, and that every attempt by her Commission to have the Decree abolished has so far been vetoed by the other two, leading her to suspect that they may have a hand in the Shogun's decisions. Until a more organized resistance to the Decree can be established, all the Commission can do for now is minimize its human cost by offering sanctuary to Vision holders or crafting counterfeits; however, one such craftsman, Masakatsu, has been arrested by the Tenryou Commission, so Ayaka asks the Traveler to rescue him without drawing unwanted attention to her Commission, promising them with a backup from Naganohara Fireworks at Hanamizaka.
There, the Traveler and Paimon chance upon a Vision confiscation; before they could intervene, a young woman restrains them and reveals that the Vision is a counterfeit. The woman introduces herself as Naganohara Yoimiya, proprietress of the family-run business, who also owes Masakatsu for saving her Vision and, having learned of his arrest, happily joins the jailbreak.
Inside the City's police station, Yoimiya temporarily splits from the Traveler and Paimon while preparing something. Upon reuniting, the trio witness Masakatsu being tortured by a some Tenryou officers, who are then severely reprimanded by an imposing woman, who Yoimiya recognizes as Kujou Sara, adopted daughter of Takayuki and a prominent general of the Tenryou Commisssion. However, Yoimiya accidentally alerts Sara to her presence, and orders her men to investigate, forcing her to distract the police with a volley of fireworks while she, the Traveler, and Paimon free Masakatsu. They are caught in the act by Sara, who nevertheless allows them to set Masakatsu free for the time being, out of consideration for his state.
After parting ways with Yoimiya and Masakatsu, the Traveler and Paimon return to Komore Teahouse to report the good news to Ayaka and Thoma. While Ayaka wonders if Sara deemed Masakatsu not enough a threat so as to allow him to escape, Thoma informs the Traveler that they can rest easy for a few days, as the Tenryou Commission is busy with preparations for some kind of ceremony in a few days. After enjoying a hot pot game to celebrate their success, the group adjourns while waiting for the Tenryou Commission and the Raiden Shogun's next move.
Act II: Stillness, the Sublimation of Shadow
Released: v2.0 "The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia" (July 21, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Additional Prerequisite Quests: "The Whispers of the Crane and the White Rabbit" (Grus Nivis [Ayaka] Story, Act I); "Dreamlike Timelessness" (Carassius Auratus [Yoimiya] Story, Act I)
Before the Statue of the Omnipresent God, the Traveler and Paimon see Thoma bound by Shogunate troops, as well as the Raiden Shogun, the Electro Archon and fearsome ruler of Inazuma, taking Thoma's Vision. Before she could inlay it on the Statue, the Traveler wrests it away and knocks out the guards. Their act of defiance catches the Shogun's attention, who declares them and their ability to use elements without a Vision a threat to her pursuit of eternity. She then drags the Traveler into an alternate dimension and engages them in a duel, where, inexplicably, her tone changes from hostility to curiosity.
Despite the Traveler's best efforts, they are no match for the Shogun, and return to the real world unconscious, the Shogun seemingly returning to her hostile state; before she can deal the coup de grâce, Thoma breaks free of his fetters and throws a spear at her, forcing her to deflect it with a shockwave that sends the unconscious Traveler flying, with Thoma catching them and fleeing with them and Paimon in tow. While the soldiers are confused as to what happened, the Shogun orders a manhunt.
At Kannazuka, the Traveler and Paimon gather information from a pair of Shogunate soldiers talking about the Resistance being pushed back to Musoujin Gorge in Yashiori to the west, then a pair of travelers recalling a recent battle at Nazuchi Beach, the only land connection between both islands. There they rescue a Resistance soldier from Shogunate soldiers, who introduces himself as Teppei of the Gobius Platoon; after the Traveler expresses their intent to join the Resistance, he fills them in on the situation, wherein the Resistance is on the defensive due to Kujou Sara being sent to lead the Shogunate forces, only managing to hold the line through the strategic skills of the Resistance's leader, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and the courage of Gorou, her right-hand man and general. Upon learning that the Traveler can use elements without a Vision, Teppei wastes no time leading them to his camp.
At the Resistance camp at Fort Fujitou north of Musoujin Gorge, Teppei introduces the Traveler to Gorou, who recognizes them from reports of a foiled Vision confiscation that got the Raiden Shogun involved and a bounty notice he took from a Shogunate samurai concerning a blond-haired outlander and their "mysterious flying pet," to Paimon's annoyance, and happily welcomes them to the Sangonomiya Resistance.
With Teppei as guide, the Traveler acquaints themselves to the Resistance, picking herbs to use as medicine for Tokuda and Masashi, a couple of injured soldiers, and showing off their archery skills. The orientation is interrupted when a messenger reports a Shogunate attack. After repelling them, Teppei wonders whether there was a traitor in their midst, before the messenger clarifies that several walls have collapsed, which may have given the Shogunate forces an opening; to avoid such incidents in the future, Teppei asks the Traveler to help him repair the walls. Afterwards, Teppei, though relieved, expresses frustration over having to do logistical work when was looking forward to serving on the frontlines. Upon returning to Fort Fujitou, the Traveler and Teppei learn that Gorou has gone to intercept a massive Shogunate offensive personally led by Sara, which could not have come at a worse time, as Resistance morale is falling and it has been a while since Kokomi visited them to lift their spirits.
At Nazuchi Beach, Sara taunts the Resistance's failing efforts but also expresses frustration that Kokomi has so far stymied the Shogunate forces. Knowing that the Traveler has sought refuge with the Resistance, she offers Gorou a ceasefire in exchange for handing the Traveler, which he flatly refuses. Just then, the Traveler arrives to confront the Shogunate forces, which impresses Sara enough to challenge them to a combat by champion, with the Traveler easily defeating her champions.
The duel concluded, Sara launches an all-out attack on the Resistance. The Shogunate forces had an overwhelming upper hand, until the emergence of bubbles on the ground herald the arrival of a beautiful young lady, who has brought with her reinforcements from the Crux Fleet, including Kazuha, turning the tide of the battle and forcing Sara to stage a retreat.
The young lady introduces herself as Sangonomiya Kokomi, leader of the Resistance; having heard of the Traveler from Beidou and Kazuha, she is nevertheless surprised that they joined the Resistance, and extends them an invitation to Watatsumi Island, westernmost of the Inazuman archipelago and seat of the Resistance, where she also serves as head priestess, with Teppei volunteering to act as chaperone. Before leaving to attend to matters back home, she assures Gorou that, while she has yet to complete her plans, her mercenaries will help keep the Shogunate forces at bay for the time being. Afterwards, the Traveler spends the rest of the day reuniting with Beidou, who is impressed at their progress, and Kazuha, who is even more impressed that they survived the Raiden Shogun at all.
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Additional Prerequisite Quests: "The Whispers of the Crane and the White Rabbit" (Grus Nivis [Ayaka] Story, Act I); "Dreamlike Timelessness" (Carassius Auratus [Yoimiya] Story, Act I)
Amidst Stormy Judgment
Days after freeing Masakatsu, as well as getting acquainted with both Ayaka and Yoimiya, the Traveler and Paimon return to Komore Teahouse, only to find it empty save for Taroumaru frantically barking. Ayaka comes looking for Thoma, and when the Traveler tells her he is nowhere to be found, she begins to fear the worst, having heard rumors that Thoma had been arrested by the Tenryou Commission, his Vision to become the milestone hundredth confiscation. The Traveler holds back Ayaka from personally intervening lest she make the Yashiro Commission enemies of the Shogunate, and instead volunteers to go in her place as a stranger.Before the Statue of the Omnipresent God, the Traveler and Paimon see Thoma bound by Shogunate troops, as well as the Raiden Shogun, the Electro Archon and fearsome ruler of Inazuma, taking Thoma's Vision. Before she could inlay it on the Statue, the Traveler wrests it away and knocks out the guards. Their act of defiance catches the Shogun's attention, who declares them and their ability to use elements without a Vision a threat to her pursuit of eternity. She then drags the Traveler into an alternate dimension and engages them in a duel, where, inexplicably, her tone changes from hostility to curiosity.
Despite the Traveler's best efforts, they are no match for the Shogun, and return to the real world unconscious, the Shogun seemingly returning to her hostile state; before she can deal the coup de grâce, Thoma breaks free of his fetters and throws a spear at her, forcing her to deflect it with a shockwave that sends the unconscious Traveler flying, with Thoma catching them and fleeing with them and Paimon in tow. While the soldiers are confused as to what happened, the Shogun orders a manhunt.
In the Name of the Resistance
In a secluded corner of the City, Thoma informs he awakened Traveler that he will hide away in Komore Teahouse for the time being, and advises them to sail west to the twin islands of Kannazuka and Yashiori and seek sanctuary with the Sangonomiya Resistance; as there is little contact with the Resistance, he suggests that they gather intelligence along the way.At Kannazuka, the Traveler and Paimon gather information from a pair of Shogunate soldiers talking about the Resistance being pushed back to Musoujin Gorge in Yashiori to the west, then a pair of travelers recalling a recent battle at Nazuchi Beach, the only land connection between both islands. There they rescue a Resistance soldier from Shogunate soldiers, who introduces himself as Teppei of the Gobius Platoon; after the Traveler expresses their intent to join the Resistance, he fills them in on the situation, wherein the Resistance is on the defensive due to Kujou Sara being sent to lead the Shogunate forces, only managing to hold the line through the strategic skills of the Resistance's leader, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and the courage of Gorou, her right-hand man and general. Upon learning that the Traveler can use elements without a Vision, Teppei wastes no time leading them to his camp.
At the Resistance camp at Fort Fujitou north of Musoujin Gorge, Teppei introduces the Traveler to Gorou, who recognizes them from reports of a foiled Vision confiscation that got the Raiden Shogun involved and a bounty notice he took from a Shogunate samurai concerning a blond-haired outlander and their "mysterious flying pet," to Paimon's annoyance, and happily welcomes them to the Sangonomiya Resistance.
With Teppei as guide, the Traveler acquaints themselves to the Resistance, picking herbs to use as medicine for Tokuda and Masashi, a couple of injured soldiers, and showing off their archery skills. The orientation is interrupted when a messenger reports a Shogunate attack. After repelling them, Teppei wonders whether there was a traitor in their midst, before the messenger clarifies that several walls have collapsed, which may have given the Shogunate forces an opening; to avoid such incidents in the future, Teppei asks the Traveler to help him repair the walls. Afterwards, Teppei, though relieved, expresses frustration over having to do logistical work when was looking forward to serving on the frontlines. Upon returning to Fort Fujitou, the Traveler and Teppei learn that Gorou has gone to intercept a massive Shogunate offensive personally led by Sara, which could not have come at a worse time, as Resistance morale is falling and it has been a while since Kokomi visited them to lift their spirits.
At Nazuchi Beach, Sara taunts the Resistance's failing efforts but also expresses frustration that Kokomi has so far stymied the Shogunate forces. Knowing that the Traveler has sought refuge with the Resistance, she offers Gorou a ceasefire in exchange for handing the Traveler, which he flatly refuses. Just then, the Traveler arrives to confront the Shogunate forces, which impresses Sara enough to challenge them to a combat by champion, with the Traveler easily defeating her champions.
The duel concluded, Sara launches an all-out attack on the Resistance. The Shogunate forces had an overwhelming upper hand, until the emergence of bubbles on the ground herald the arrival of a beautiful young lady, who has brought with her reinforcements from the Crux Fleet, including Kazuha, turning the tide of the battle and forcing Sara to stage a retreat.
The young lady introduces herself as Sangonomiya Kokomi, leader of the Resistance; having heard of the Traveler from Beidou and Kazuha, she is nevertheless surprised that they joined the Resistance, and extends them an invitation to Watatsumi Island, westernmost of the Inazuman archipelago and seat of the Resistance, where she also serves as head priestess, with Teppei volunteering to act as chaperone. Before leaving to attend to matters back home, she assures Gorou that, while she has yet to complete her plans, her mercenaries will help keep the Shogunate forces at bay for the time being. Afterwards, the Traveler spends the rest of the day reuniting with Beidou, who is impressed at their progress, and Kazuha, who is even more impressed that they survived the Raiden Shogun at all.
Act III: Omnipresence Over Mortals
Released: v2.1 "Floating World Under the Moonlight" (September 1, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
World Effect: Unlocks La Signora as a weekly boss.
There, the duo meet Kokomi anew, who was discussing maintaining food supplies and expanding the Resistance's forces with an officer, and formally introduce themselves. When Teppei inquires about the latter point of discussion, Kokomi tells them that a short while ago, she received a letter from an anonymous benefactor promising badly needed reinforcements and supplies for the Resistance as long as they keep fighting the Shogunate, which she accepted despite her suspicions, even as she questions the rationality of the Vision Hunt Decree, the Tenryou Commission's zealous support thereof, and the Raiden Shogun's seeming indifference to the resulting strife.
Kokomi then appoints the Traveler as captain of Swordfish II, the Resistance's special operations unit, reassuring a bewildered Teppei that their wisdom, courage, and strength can lead them to victory, before handing them their appointment letter to the unit, who are currently dealing with kairagi on the southwest of the island. After the Traveler proves their worth by defeating them, the provisional leaders of Swordfish II cede their position to them, who then helps the unit clear out more monster and ronin camps throughout Watatsumi.
Afterwards, the duo report back to Kokomi, who informs them that Teppei had been transferred at his request to a strike team against the Shogunate Navy, then asks them to inspect the supply line between Yashori and Watatsumi via the Archon War-era ruins of Fort Mumei, where recently some supplies disappeared with no sign of armed conflict, though she allows them a few days' respite, during which they acquaint themselves with their new unit at Bourou. Days later, they reunite with Teppei, who happily informs them that, due to his performance in the battle against the Shogunate Navy, in part thanks to a weapon from the Resistance's new sponsor, he has been promoted captain of the newfangled Herring I unit, before having to leave on another mission.
Back at the Sangonomiya Shrine, the Traveler and Paimon find Kokomi and Gorou discussing reports of accelerated aging from some of their soldiers who have received weapons from their anonymous sponsor, in particular those noted for their ambition and animus towards the Vision Hunt Decree. To the Traveler's alarm, they identify one such weapon confiscated by Gorou as a Delusion, leading the other two to suspect that their sponsors are the Fatui. While Kokomi immediately orders all Delusions confiscated, as well as all affected soldiers brought Bourou for treatment, the Traveler remembers Teppei mentioning having used the mysterious sponsor's weapon, and rush to find him there.
When the duo find Teppei, he seems to have aged rapidly in the short time they are apart. He confesses that, after the Traveler was appointed captain of Swordfish II, he was approached by mysterious people who offered him a Vision-like weapon that grants him power. The Traveler explains that he was instead wielding a Delusion, which is noted to drain its user's life force in exchange for power. Teppei, realizing it was the reason he was weakening, laments that he has not received the favor of the gods after all, comforting the Traveler by telling them to pick up their Herring I uniforms once he is well. The Traveler, however, knows it is too late, and as he slowly expires, they vow vengeance on the Fatui.
Inside, the Traveler and Paimon saw stockpiles of Crystal Marrows; remembering how foreign traders in Ritou were being forced to pay taxes to the Kanjou Commission in the form of the Marrows, they suspect that the Commission is conspiring with the Fatui. In addition, they find notes revealing that the Fatui are also manipulating the Resistance into prolonging the war. In its depths, the Traveler confronts the leader, Scaramouche, who claims to be just following orders, angering the Traveler by mocking their concern for the victims of Delusions, claiming that life is worthless and the market for Delusions is booming with the Inazuman civil war. As the Traveler's fury reaches a boiling point, however, a dark haze envelops them, with Scaramouche telling them that Tatarigami is borne from the wrath of the old gods defeated during the Archon War, and is now feeding on their hatred. As the Traveler passes out, the last thing they see is a mysterious person approaching Scaramouche.
Miko then reveals that the Raiden Shogun seen in public is but an autonomous puppet, and the one they fought in the alternate dimension is the true Electro Archon, Ei, explaining that her idea of eternity and protecting herself from erosion is replacing her physical body with a construct built to govern Inazuma in her place, while she protects her spirit by confining herself in the Plane of Euthymia, a pocket dimension inside the Musou Isshin, the sacred sword the Shogun brandishes whenever she uses the Musou no Hitotachi. When the Traveler mentions that they have heard Zhongli/Morax mention erosion as one of the reasons for his abdication as Geo Archon, Miko contrasts it with what she believes is Ei's childish fear of loss. She then tells the Traveler that, in order to save Inazuma, they also have to save Ei from herself by taking advantage of her newfound interest in them.
At an abandoned shrine at the foot of Mount Yougou, Miko trains the Traveler for their second encounter through mechanisms replicating Ei's fighting style as Miko recalled them. When asked by Paimon why is she so familiar with Ei, Miko reveals that she is her friend and fox familiar, before expressing disappointment at Ei abruptly cutting off contact with her, as well as disagreement with her interpretation of their shared dream of Inazuma as "a nation to last for all eternity" to mean stasis, and vows to bring her back to her senses. After the Traveler clears her trials, Miko invites them back to the Shrine to rendezvous with another ally in their efforts to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree.
While waiting for their ally, the Traveler, Paimon, and Miko compare notes on everything they knew so far about the Vision Hunt Decree, concluding that the Fatui manipulated the Shogun into ratifying the Decree by pandering to her single-minded focus on Ei's pursuit of eternity, allowing them to foment unrest and create both a testing ground and a market for Delusions, with the collusion of both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, who in turn shut out the Yashiro Commission from the decision-making process. Thus, part of Miko's plan to have the Decree abolished is to provoke a high-ranking Tenryou officer into open revolt.
To the Traveler's surprise, said lynchpin to Miko's plan is Kujou Sara, who threatens to arrest them before Miko warns her that they are on holy ground and she will suffer no violence therein. The tension defused, Miko warns Sara that the Vision Hunt Decree is a Fatui plot to destablize Inazuma in collusion with the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions. When Sara expresses skepticism, claiming the Tri-Commission has always been loyal to the Shogun, and that she has been taught so by Takayuki, Miko asks her to wait three days while they gather evidence to the contrary, agreeing to Sara's condition that, should no evidence be forthcoming, she would have to apologize in public for slander and hand the Traveler over.
Returning to Komore Teahouse, the Traveler and Paimon reunite with Thoma and ask him to summon Ayaka. Once everyone is gathered, Ayaka is briefed onto the duo's suspicions, who intuits that the Tenryou Commission, Takayuki in particular, seemed to deliberately keep the Shogun unaware of the unrest. As the relevant documents are under lock and key by the Tenryou Commissioner, the Traveler, at Thoma's suggestion, distracts Tenryou forces with fireworks bought from Yoimiya set off at night near the Statue of the Omnipresent God and the Kujou Estate, the headquarters of the Tenryou Commission, while Sayu sneaks within and steals the documents.
Back at Komore Teahouse, Sayu presents the documents to Ayaka, Thoma, the Traveler, and Paimon, before leaving to resume her sleep. Ayaka opens a sealed document, which contains the Tenryou Commission's official report before the Shogun which bears nary a mention of the civil war, in addition to a secret correspondence with the Fatui. Ayaka asks the Traveler to hand them to Miko, hoping that she, an acquaintance of the Shogun, can convince the Archon to rethink her position.
Back at Inazuma City, the Traveler and Paimon catch up to Sara, who allows them to serve as witnesses, on the condition that they shall be arrested should they be found to be lying anew. With the Traveler agreeing to her terms, Sara storms the Kujou Estate and knocks out her comrades, forcing Takayuki out to scold her, from whom she demands answers. The Tenryou Commissioner does not deny working with the Fatui, who offered him a generous reward in exchange for upholding the Vision Hunt Decree, hoping their patronage could protect the Kujou Clan from rival subordinate clans clamoring to usurp their position of authority at the first opportunity; furthermore, he does not even see his actions as treasonous, assuring his adopted daughter that the Shogun can simply deal with the Fatui should they step out of line. None of his excuses sway the Traveler and Paimon, who accuse him of loyalty not so much to the Shogun herself as much as to her strength as a warrior, much less Sara, who, furious at his hypocrisy, storms off to report him to the Shogun, who he warns is currently meeting with Signora, who the Traveler recognizes as the arrogant-sounding woman Chisato warned them about earlier conspiring with Shinsuke to keep them held up in Ritou.
Despite using her Delusion, Signora is narrowly bested by the Traveler, much to her disbelief. The Raiden Shogun then walks towards them, ignoring the Traveler while she draws the Musou Isshin. Signora tries to invoke her diplomatic immunity and warns her against antagonizing Snezhnaya, before resorting to futilely attacking the Shogun, who slashes away at her until all that is left of the Harbinger are ashes, while the Traveler is allowed to leave Tenshukaku alive.
Inside the Plane, Ei dismisses the Traveler's concerns about the Vision Hunt Decree by claiming that she has been well-informed on matters pertaining to eternity, that the Fatui pose little threat to her in the present, and even warns them that too much ambition can be threat to eternity. Seeing that Ei is undeterred, the Traveler challenges her to a duel to force her to change her mind. After a short while, Ei unleashes a force embodying the Vision Hunt Decree, which the Traveler barely withstands until their omamori glows, revealing itself to be a conduit with which Miko can enter the Plane. While Ei is distracted, Miko tells the Traveler to channel the powers of the revived Visions, as well as the spirit of Teppei, to be able to fight Ei on even footing.
After a long struggle, the Traveler at last overcomes Ei, telling her that enough human willpower can even surpass the gods, a lesson they learned in Liyue, while Miko chastises her for failing to heed her people. While understanding their viewpoints, Ei defends her pursuit of eternity, remembering a time when her pursuit of progress in the past brought her nothing but the death of a loved one, as well as having watched in horror as another nation that pursued progress brought upon it the wrath of Celestia, driving her to forsake her past ideals in favor of building an unchanging Inazuma. As much as she sympathizes with Ei's plight, Miko warns her that said pursuit is unwittingly condemning Inazuma to decay, that sealing herself away is bringing as much harm to herself as it is to the people, and that she needed to listen to her people, evidenced by the dark skies above the Plane of Euthymia brightening the moment Miko appeared. Moved by the Traveler and Miko's words, Ei agrees to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree. This newfound liberation is evidenced with scenes of renewed life on the streets of Inazuma City; jubilation in Watatsumi; Tejima, Kyounosuke, and Domon sharing a drink; Thoma finally being able to come out of hiding; and Kokomi and Kazuha paying their respects to the dead, with the latter leaving his friend's Vision on a memorial marked with his sword.
Knowing the Traveler's time in Inazuma is coming to an end, Miko entertains the Traveler's questions about the nation. She reveals that the Raiden Shogun is but the latest in a line of autonomous puppets created by Ei, and that she also created a prototype which she originally planned to discard but eventually freed after sealing its powers, only for it to be discovered by the Fatui and developed into the Harbinger now known as Scaramouche. She is also surprised that the Traveler learned from Morax/Zhongli that Ei had a predecessor named Baal, who she personally knew as Makoto, twin sister of Ei, who used to serve as the former's body double before permanently taking her place as Electro Archon, as well as assuming the divine name "Beelzebul," after she died in a cataclysm five hundred years ago, which the Traveler intuits may be the same one that destroyed Khaenri'ah. And while she has no idea as to the whereabouts of the Traveler's sibling, she nevertheless promises to ask Ayato to mobilize the Shuumatsuban to help with the search.
Before they part ways, Miko suggests that they head to Sumeru, the land of scholars and contrasts between forest and desert west of Liyue, governed by the Lesser Lord Kusanali, the Dendro Archon and goddess of the woods and wisdom. Allowing the Traveler to keep the omamori, she hopes that they keep the lessons they learned in Inazuma to heart, that their ambition could be something that transcends heaven and earth.
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
World Effect: Unlocks La Signora as a weekly boss.
Sword, Fish, Resistance
Days after the battle at Nazuchi Beach, the Traveler and Paimon meet Teppei at a pier at the southwest of Yashiori, who helps them sail west to Watatsumi, an island of bluish grass and giant corals. After Teppei orients the duo to the village of Bourou to the southeast, which also served as the Resistance's training grounds, he then guides them westward to the Sangonomiya Shrine.There, the duo meet Kokomi anew, who was discussing maintaining food supplies and expanding the Resistance's forces with an officer, and formally introduce themselves. When Teppei inquires about the latter point of discussion, Kokomi tells them that a short while ago, she received a letter from an anonymous benefactor promising badly needed reinforcements and supplies for the Resistance as long as they keep fighting the Shogunate, which she accepted despite her suspicions, even as she questions the rationality of the Vision Hunt Decree, the Tenryou Commission's zealous support thereof, and the Raiden Shogun's seeming indifference to the resulting strife.
Kokomi then appoints the Traveler as captain of Swordfish II, the Resistance's special operations unit, reassuring a bewildered Teppei that their wisdom, courage, and strength can lead them to victory, before handing them their appointment letter to the unit, who are currently dealing with kairagi on the southwest of the island. After the Traveler proves their worth by defeating them, the provisional leaders of Swordfish II cede their position to them, who then helps the unit clear out more monster and ronin camps throughout Watatsumi.
Afterwards, the duo report back to Kokomi, who informs them that Teppei had been transferred at his request to a strike team against the Shogunate Navy, then asks them to inspect the supply line between Yashori and Watatsumi via the Archon War-era ruins of Fort Mumei, where recently some supplies disappeared with no sign of armed conflict, though she allows them a few days' respite, during which they acquaint themselves with their new unit at Bourou. Days later, they reunite with Teppei, who happily informs them that, due to his performance in the battle against the Shogunate Navy, in part thanks to a weapon from the Resistance's new sponsor, he has been promoted captain of the newfangled Herring I unit, before having to leave on another mission.
Those Who Yearn for the Gods' Gaze
Upon arrival at Fort Mumei, the Traveler and Paimon find three suspicious Electro Monuments that summon a Thunderhelm Lawachurl when activated, causing Paimon to note something wrong about the area after defeating it. Afterwards, the duo are approached by Teppei, looking worse for the wear, which he excuses as a cold he got while he was out at sea helping deliver supplies. He also confirms Paimon's suspicions about Yashiori, noting that parts of the island are affected with Tatarigami, a dangerous miasma he believes was the dying curse of Orobashi, the serpentine guardian deity of Watatsumi whose death at the hands of the Raiden Shogun centuries ago lay at the root of long-standing tensions between Watatsumi and the Shogunate, though he also explains that the current rebellion is against the Vision Hunt Decree. The short history lesson over, the Traveler and Paimon report back to Kokomi while asking Teppei to take a rest.Back at the Sangonomiya Shrine, the Traveler and Paimon find Kokomi and Gorou discussing reports of accelerated aging from some of their soldiers who have received weapons from their anonymous sponsor, in particular those noted for their ambition and animus towards the Vision Hunt Decree. To the Traveler's alarm, they identify one such weapon confiscated by Gorou as a Delusion, leading the other two to suspect that their sponsors are the Fatui. While Kokomi immediately orders all Delusions confiscated, as well as all affected soldiers brought Bourou for treatment, the Traveler remembers Teppei mentioning having used the mysterious sponsor's weapon, and rush to find him there.
When the duo find Teppei, he seems to have aged rapidly in the short time they are apart. He confesses that, after the Traveler was appointed captain of Swordfish II, he was approached by mysterious people who offered him a Vision-like weapon that grants him power. The Traveler explains that he was instead wielding a Delusion, which is noted to drain its user's life force in exchange for power. Teppei, realizing it was the reason he was weakening, laments that he has not received the favor of the gods after all, comforting the Traveler by telling them to pick up their Herring I uniforms once he is well. The Traveler, however, knows it is too late, and as he slowly expires, they vow vengeance on the Fatui.
Delusion
Shortly after Teppei's death, Kokomi and Gorou descend to Bourou and inform the Resistance camp of the ban on Delusions, noting that while most users showed loss of vitality at best, some, like Teppei, rapidly aged to death. Kokomi tasks Gorou with dealing with holdouts who refuse to hand over their Delusions, while she will head to the frontlines to address the situation. The Traveler, seething over Teppei's death, insists on going in her stead to confront the Fatui. Despite Kokomi's concern for their safety, suggesting that they wait for her to assemble a strike team, Gorou agrees with the Traveler, stating that the ban surely would have caught the Fatui's attention, hence they need to strike fast lest they escape. Kokomi, acceding to the Traveler's request, tells them that, given the strictures of the Sakoku Decree, the Fatui must have been manufacturing Delusions within Inazuma's borders and with local support, suspecting that they are based in a facility along the southwestern coast of Yashiori.Inside, the Traveler and Paimon saw stockpiles of Crystal Marrows; remembering how foreign traders in Ritou were being forced to pay taxes to the Kanjou Commission in the form of the Marrows, they suspect that the Commission is conspiring with the Fatui. In addition, they find notes revealing that the Fatui are also manipulating the Resistance into prolonging the war. In its depths, the Traveler confronts the leader, Scaramouche, who claims to be just following orders, angering the Traveler by mocking their concern for the victims of Delusions, claiming that life is worthless and the market for Delusions is booming with the Inazuman civil war. As the Traveler's fury reaches a boiling point, however, a dark haze envelops them, with Scaramouche telling them that Tatarigami is borne from the wrath of the old gods defeated during the Archon War, and is now feeding on their hatred. As the Traveler passes out, the last thing they see is a mysterious person approaching Scaramouche.
The Servant's Path
The next thing they know, the Traveler comes to at the Grand Narukami Shrine, nursed back to health by Yae Miko, who, in contrast to her refined attitude around the shrine maidens, is playful, sarcastic, and blunt in private. After joking that she intimidated Scaramouche into freeing the Traveler, she fills them in on what happened in the meantime, namely that Kokomi secured the facility and ordered an army-wide ban on Delusions, with Scaramouche no doubt wary of antagonizing Watatsumi anew.Miko then reveals that the Raiden Shogun seen in public is but an autonomous puppet, and the one they fought in the alternate dimension is the true Electro Archon, Ei, explaining that her idea of eternity and protecting herself from erosion is replacing her physical body with a construct built to govern Inazuma in her place, while she protects her spirit by confining herself in the Plane of Euthymia, a pocket dimension inside the Musou Isshin, the sacred sword the Shogun brandishes whenever she uses the Musou no Hitotachi. When the Traveler mentions that they have heard Zhongli/Morax mention erosion as one of the reasons for his abdication as Geo Archon, Miko contrasts it with what she believes is Ei's childish fear of loss. She then tells the Traveler that, in order to save Inazuma, they also have to save Ei from herself by taking advantage of her newfound interest in them.
At an abandoned shrine at the foot of Mount Yougou, Miko trains the Traveler for their second encounter through mechanisms replicating Ei's fighting style as Miko recalled them. When asked by Paimon why is she so familiar with Ei, Miko reveals that she is her friend and fox familiar, before expressing disappointment at Ei abruptly cutting off contact with her, as well as disagreement with her interpretation of their shared dream of Inazuma as "a nation to last for all eternity" to mean stasis, and vows to bring her back to her senses. After the Traveler clears her trials, Miko invites them back to the Shrine to rendezvous with another ally in their efforts to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree.
While waiting for their ally, the Traveler, Paimon, and Miko compare notes on everything they knew so far about the Vision Hunt Decree, concluding that the Fatui manipulated the Shogun into ratifying the Decree by pandering to her single-minded focus on Ei's pursuit of eternity, allowing them to foment unrest and create both a testing ground and a market for Delusions, with the collusion of both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, who in turn shut out the Yashiro Commission from the decision-making process. Thus, part of Miko's plan to have the Decree abolished is to provoke a high-ranking Tenryou officer into open revolt.
To the Traveler's surprise, said lynchpin to Miko's plan is Kujou Sara, who threatens to arrest them before Miko warns her that they are on holy ground and she will suffer no violence therein. The tension defused, Miko warns Sara that the Vision Hunt Decree is a Fatui plot to destablize Inazuma in collusion with the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions. When Sara expresses skepticism, claiming the Tri-Commission has always been loyal to the Shogun, and that she has been taught so by Takayuki, Miko asks her to wait three days while they gather evidence to the contrary, agreeing to Sara's condition that, should no evidence be forthcoming, she would have to apologize in public for slander and hand the Traveler over.
Proof of Guilt
After Sara left, the Traveler, Paimon, and Miko immediately begin work by heading down to Chinju Forest and awakening Sayu, a sleepy young ninja of the Shuumatsuban, the Yashiro Commission's intelligence agency, to accompany the Traveler back to Inazuma City and ask the Yashiro Commission to help them through the inner workings of the Tri-Commission.Returning to Komore Teahouse, the Traveler and Paimon reunite with Thoma and ask him to summon Ayaka. Once everyone is gathered, Ayaka is briefed onto the duo's suspicions, who intuits that the Tenryou Commission, Takayuki in particular, seemed to deliberately keep the Shogun unaware of the unrest. As the relevant documents are under lock and key by the Tenryou Commissioner, the Traveler, at Thoma's suggestion, distracts Tenryou forces with fireworks bought from Yoimiya set off at night near the Statue of the Omnipresent God and the Kujou Estate, the headquarters of the Tenryou Commission, while Sayu sneaks within and steals the documents.
Back at Komore Teahouse, Sayu presents the documents to Ayaka, Thoma, the Traveler, and Paimon, before leaving to resume her sleep. Ayaka opens a sealed document, which contains the Tenryou Commission's official report before the Shogun which bears nary a mention of the civil war, in addition to a secret correspondence with the Fatui. Ayaka asks the Traveler to hand them to Miko, hoping that she, an acquaintance of the Shogun, can convince the Archon to rethink her position.
Blind Loyalty, Reckless Courage
Back at the Grand Narukami Shrine, the Traveler hands Sara the documents, whose veracity she confirms, and her confusion over the report's omission of any reference to the unrest gives way to disgust upon reading the correspondence, deeming her father's actions a grave insult to the casualties of the conflict. After Sara storms off, the Traveler and Paimon decide to follow her, hoping the ensuing chaos would draw out the Shogun, but not before Miko suggests that they replicate the circumstances of their first encounter with Ei, and hands them an omamori, a lucky charm.Back at Inazuma City, the Traveler and Paimon catch up to Sara, who allows them to serve as witnesses, on the condition that they shall be arrested should they be found to be lying anew. With the Traveler agreeing to her terms, Sara storms the Kujou Estate and knocks out her comrades, forcing Takayuki out to scold her, from whom she demands answers. The Tenryou Commissioner does not deny working with the Fatui, who offered him a generous reward in exchange for upholding the Vision Hunt Decree, hoping their patronage could protect the Kujou Clan from rival subordinate clans clamoring to usurp their position of authority at the first opportunity; furthermore, he does not even see his actions as treasonous, assuring his adopted daughter that the Shogun can simply deal with the Fatui should they step out of line. None of his excuses sway the Traveler and Paimon, who accuse him of loyalty not so much to the Shogun herself as much as to her strength as a warrior, much less Sara, who, furious at his hypocrisy, storms off to report him to the Shogun, who he warns is currently meeting with Signora, who the Traveler recognizes as the arrogant-sounding woman Chisato warned them about earlier conspiring with Shinsuke to keep them held up in Ritou.
Duel Before the Throne
Inside Tenshukaku, where they find several guards knocked out by Sara, the Traveler and Paimon find her lying defeated before Signora, who is being chastised by the Raiden Shogun for defeating her, to which the Harbinger replies that she merely punished Sara for interrupting their conversation. While the Traveler accuses Signora before the Shogun of stirring unrest in Inazuma, to say nothing of her crimes in Mondstadt and Liyue, Signora casually denies their charges, even reminding them that they are a fugitive; the Traveler, fed up with her arrogance, responds by challenging her to a duel to the death in the presence of the Raiden Shogun.Despite using her Delusion, Signora is narrowly bested by the Traveler, much to her disbelief. The Raiden Shogun then walks towards them, ignoring the Traveler while she draws the Musou Isshin. Signora tries to invoke her diplomatic immunity and warns her against antagonizing Snezhnaya, before resorting to futilely attacking the Shogun, who slashes away at her until all that is left of the Harbinger are ashes, while the Traveler is allowed to leave Tenshukaku alive.
The Omnipresent God
As the Traveler and Paimon leave Tenshukaku, however, the former suffers a headache, while the latter is still shocked at Signora's death. Their relief at encountering the Sangonomiya Resistance and Kazuha proved brief when the Shogun's seal appears behind the Traveler, from which she emerges to attack the rebels with the Musou no Hitotachi. As Kazuha blocks her attack, his late friend's Vision comes to life, allowing him him to deflect the attack before he is knocked away. Inspired by his defiance, the Resistance soldiers charge, the confiscated Visions glowing with new life from the Statue of the Omnipresent God, but the Traveler, knowing they stand little chance before the Shogun, charges ahead, anticipating the Plane of Euthymia to open up and allow them to face Ei anew.Inside the Plane, Ei dismisses the Traveler's concerns about the Vision Hunt Decree by claiming that she has been well-informed on matters pertaining to eternity, that the Fatui pose little threat to her in the present, and even warns them that too much ambition can be threat to eternity. Seeing that Ei is undeterred, the Traveler challenges her to a duel to force her to change her mind. After a short while, Ei unleashes a force embodying the Vision Hunt Decree, which the Traveler barely withstands until their omamori glows, revealing itself to be a conduit with which Miko can enter the Plane. While Ei is distracted, Miko tells the Traveler to channel the powers of the revived Visions, as well as the spirit of Teppei, to be able to fight Ei on even footing.
After a long struggle, the Traveler at last overcomes Ei, telling her that enough human willpower can even surpass the gods, a lesson they learned in Liyue, while Miko chastises her for failing to heed her people. While understanding their viewpoints, Ei defends her pursuit of eternity, remembering a time when her pursuit of progress in the past brought her nothing but the death of a loved one, as well as having watched in horror as another nation that pursued progress brought upon it the wrath of Celestia, driving her to forsake her past ideals in favor of building an unchanging Inazuma. As much as she sympathizes with Ei's plight, Miko warns her that said pursuit is unwittingly condemning Inazuma to decay, that sealing herself away is bringing as much harm to herself as it is to the people, and that she needed to listen to her people, evidenced by the dark skies above the Plane of Euthymia brightening the moment Miko appeared. Moved by the Traveler and Miko's words, Ei agrees to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree. This newfound liberation is evidenced with scenes of renewed life on the streets of Inazuma City; jubilation in Watatsumi; Tejima, Kyounosuke, and Domon sharing a drink; Thoma finally being able to come out of hiding; and Kokomi and Kazuha paying their respects to the dead, with the latter leaving his friend's Vision on a memorial marked with his sword.
Wishes
In the aftermath, the Traveler and Paimon return to the Grand Narukami Shrine to report back to Miko. Contrary to Paimon's assumptions, Miko reveals that she already handed the Electro Gnosis to Scaramouche in exchange for the Traveler's safety back in Yashiori, having in turn received it from Ei when she felt she no longer needed it after creating her puppet body, as well as to signify severing her ties with Celestia.Knowing the Traveler's time in Inazuma is coming to an end, Miko entertains the Traveler's questions about the nation. She reveals that the Raiden Shogun is but the latest in a line of autonomous puppets created by Ei, and that she also created a prototype which she originally planned to discard but eventually freed after sealing its powers, only for it to be discovered by the Fatui and developed into the Harbinger now known as Scaramouche. She is also surprised that the Traveler learned from Morax/Zhongli that Ei had a predecessor named Baal, who she personally knew as Makoto, twin sister of Ei, who used to serve as the former's body double before permanently taking her place as Electro Archon, as well as assuming the divine name "Beelzebul," after she died in a cataclysm five hundred years ago, which the Traveler intuits may be the same one that destroyed Khaenri'ah. And while she has no idea as to the whereabouts of the Traveler's sibling, she nevertheless promises to ask Ayato to mobilize the Shuumatsuban to help with the search.
Before they part ways, Miko suggests that they head to Sumeru, the land of scholars and contrasts between forest and desert west of Liyue, governed by the Lesser Lord Kusanali, the Dendro Archon and goddess of the woods and wisdom. Allowing the Traveler to keep the omamori, she hopes that they keep the lessons they learned in Inazuma to heart, that their ambition could be something that transcends heaven and earth.
The Traveler's Tale, Part II
Act IV: Requiem of the Echoing Depths
Released: v2.6 "Zephyr of the Violet Garden" (March 30, 2022)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Additional Prerequisite Quest: "The Heavenly Stone's Debris" ("The Chasm Delvers" [World Quest series], Part IV)
At the mouth of The Chasm, the Traveler and Paimon rendezvous with Yuehui, who informs them that recently his mining team saw some hilichurls descending into The Chasm, seemingly in a hypnotic trance and never to return. Despite Paimon's reservations, the Traveler, suspecting the hand of the Abyss Order—and their sibling—agrees to help investigate.
Further down The Chasm, the Traveler and Paimon marvel at the sight of a tower seemingly hanging upside down, before running into Dainsleif anew, who explains that he was hot on the trail of another Abyss Herald, only to be misdirected into The Chasm due to the Heralds' ability to manipulate the portals, such as the time he was led into Stormterror's Lair when he chased after the Traveler's sibling the last time he and the Traveler were together. When asked about his identity, he confirms that he is "Twilight Sword", former captain of the Kharenri'ahn royal guard, and that he used to travel with their sibling before parting ways for reasons he is averse to disclose at the moment. Suspecting that the Abyss Order had their designs on The Chasm, Dainsleif agrees to the Traveler's suggestion that they join his investigation.
Just then, a group of Black Serpent Knights attack them. After repelling them, Dainsleif explains that the Knights used to be his subordinates, but have since succumbed to their curse and became little more than pawns of the Abyss Order, though one such Knight did not attack them; when it disappeared upon being noticed, Dainsleif wonders if it somehow recognized him even after half a millennium.
At the entrance into the inverted tower, which he believes may originate from a civilization predating Khaenri'ah, Dainsleif disables its seal, and after defeating more Black Serpent Knights, the trio realize that they are not so much under the thrall of the Order as they are guarding hilichurls who entered The Chasm to die in peace. More Black Serpent Knights then appear, though the trio decline to fight them, even as Dainsleif suspects that their leader, who he saw earlier, is Halfdan, a young royal guard who he last saw following his orders to evacuate their countrymen during the destruction of their homeland, intuiting that he is still following orders long after his mental degradation.
In the heart of the tower, the trio find an inverted pool of water which Dainsleif believes is the source of the force weakening the Khaenri'ahns' curse, albeit not permanently. As Paimon notices a strange device the Traveler believes might be one of the Order's contraptions, they notice Halfdan again, who turns and walks away, as if asking Dainsleif, the Traveler, and Paimon to follow him.
As the Traveler touches the Inteyvat, they have a vision of their sibling, having just offered the flower, talking with an Abyss Herald about how their vendetta against Celestia blinded them to their original goal of restoring their homeland and ridding themselves of their curse, however slim the chances, and thus planted a device in the tower as part of their plan. Commendable though it seemed, Dainsleif scoffs at the plan, claiming the Khaenri'ahns' curse can only be removed by the gods, and that trying to force it out will only bring even more suffering. He then warns the Traveler against being too emotionally invested lest they wallow in hypocrisy like the Order, though he retracts it upon realizing that the Traveler is already invested in the matter of their sibling. The Traveler, however, affirms that they are willing to believe him for the time being, as they disagree with their sibling's methods, and that nobody has the right to force their choices on others, let alone the hilichurls who chose to die in peace. Dainsleif is impressed at how much the Traveler has grown since they were last together at Mount Aocang, and in turn decides to also be honest with them, revealing that he also plans to stop the Abyss Order from dishonoring the final wishes of Halfdan and their former comrades-in-arms.
On the way out, a bright light flashes from the tower, and the Abyss Herald Dainsleif has been chasing appears before the trio, who rues having accidentally sent Dainsleif into The Chasm, thus jeopardizing the Order's plan to amplify the cleansing effects of the waters within and save the hilichurls, one Dainsleif ridicules for reasons he already gave the Traveler. After defeating him, Dainsleif urges the Traveler to follow him into the inverted tower and destroy the device.
After the Traveler destroys the devices and fends off Abyss Mages sent to protect them, they, Paimon, and Dainsleif return to the inverted tower to find that the device has stopped, but Halfdan has already breathed his last protecting his countrymen. As the trio turn back, the soul of Halfdan emerges from his corpse, and he and his former commander salute each other for the final time. Though Halfdan rues his failure to protect their homeland and their people, Dainsleif thanks him for faithfully following his final orders and reassures him that they no longer need to revive Khaenri'ah so long as he remains. Satisfied, the soul of Halfdan passes on.
Afterwards, noticing that Dainsleif is still feeling unwell from the effects of the device, Paimon suggests that he take a break. Though he declines, stating that the Abyss Order's plan is still ongoing despite the recent setback, he appreciates the Traveler promising to help him keep an eye on the Order's activities, even as he advises them to know which side they are on the next time they meet.
Once Dainsleif left, Paimon remembers that they are in The Chasm on behalf of Yuehui. Upon returning to the surface, the duo report back to him and assure him that the hilichurls are entering The Chasm to retire from their daily lives, with Yuehui in turn assuring the Traveler that they will never interfere with these hilichurls.
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Additional Prerequisite Quest: "The Heavenly Stone's Debris" ("The Chasm Delvers" [World Quest series], Part IV)
In the Depths, an Unexpected Reunion
In the Liyue Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne informs the Traveler that somehow she drew a fortune slip at the Grand Narukami Shrine that informs her that the Traveler is about to reunite with someone they know. Assuming that she meant their sibling, the Traveler asks Katheryne for any related commission; she presents them one from Yuehui, who is part of the first mining team allowed into The Chasm, which has recently reopened after years of being sealed off.At the mouth of The Chasm, the Traveler and Paimon rendezvous with Yuehui, who informs them that recently his mining team saw some hilichurls descending into The Chasm, seemingly in a hypnotic trance and never to return. Despite Paimon's reservations, the Traveler, suspecting the hand of the Abyss Order—and their sibling—agrees to help investigate.
Further down The Chasm, the Traveler and Paimon marvel at the sight of a tower seemingly hanging upside down, before running into Dainsleif anew, who explains that he was hot on the trail of another Abyss Herald, only to be misdirected into The Chasm due to the Heralds' ability to manipulate the portals, such as the time he was led into Stormterror's Lair when he chased after the Traveler's sibling the last time he and the Traveler were together. When asked about his identity, he confirms that he is "Twilight Sword", former captain of the Kharenri'ahn royal guard, and that he used to travel with their sibling before parting ways for reasons he is averse to disclose at the moment. Suspecting that the Abyss Order had their designs on The Chasm, Dainsleif agrees to the Traveler's suggestion that they join his investigation.
The Grave of the Guarded
In another part of The Chasm, the Traveler, Paimon, and Dainsleif come across a path of hilichurls, at which point the Traveler explains to Dainsleif that they are on a commission to investigate hilichurl activity. In turn, Dainsleif explains that the environment in The Chasm helps weaken the curse of immortality upon the people of Khaenri'ah, such as himself, revealing that the hilichurls are also such survivors, who wear masks to conceal their visages made hideous by their curse, which slowly erode their body and soul until they become little more than empty husks; thus, it makes sense that they head to The Chasm where they can borrow some reprieve in their final moments.Just then, a group of Black Serpent Knights attack them. After repelling them, Dainsleif explains that the Knights used to be his subordinates, but have since succumbed to their curse and became little more than pawns of the Abyss Order, though one such Knight did not attack them; when it disappeared upon being noticed, Dainsleif wonders if it somehow recognized him even after half a millennium.
At the entrance into the inverted tower, which he believes may originate from a civilization predating Khaenri'ah, Dainsleif disables its seal, and after defeating more Black Serpent Knights, the trio realize that they are not so much under the thrall of the Order as they are guarding hilichurls who entered The Chasm to die in peace. More Black Serpent Knights then appear, though the trio decline to fight them, even as Dainsleif suspects that their leader, who he saw earlier, is Halfdan, a young royal guard who he last saw following his orders to evacuate their countrymen during the destruction of their homeland, intuiting that he is still following orders long after his mental degradation.
In the heart of the tower, the trio find an inverted pool of water which Dainsleif believes is the source of the force weakening the Khaenri'ahns' curse, albeit not permanently. As Paimon notices a strange device the Traveler believes might be one of the Order's contraptions, they notice Halfdan again, who turns and walks away, as if asking Dainsleif, the Traveler, and Paimon to follow him.
Memories of Inteyvat
En route, the trio notice more evidence of hilichurl activity, leading to a camp of hilichurls, dead and dying alike. As they investigate, the Traveler and Paimon begin to feel sorry for these hilichurls, a stark contrast to the rowdier lot they are used to fighting outside. The Traveler then recognizes a flower before a dead hilichurl, which Dainsleif explains is an "Inteyvat", a flower which once grew in Khaenri'ah and wilts after a couple weeks but petrifies if taken out of the nation.As the Traveler touches the Inteyvat, they have a vision of their sibling, having just offered the flower, talking with an Abyss Herald about how their vendetta against Celestia blinded them to their original goal of restoring their homeland and ridding themselves of their curse, however slim the chances, and thus planted a device in the tower as part of their plan. Commendable though it seemed, Dainsleif scoffs at the plan, claiming the Khaenri'ahns' curse can only be removed by the gods, and that trying to force it out will only bring even more suffering. He then warns the Traveler against being too emotionally invested lest they wallow in hypocrisy like the Order, though he retracts it upon realizing that the Traveler is already invested in the matter of their sibling. The Traveler, however, affirms that they are willing to believe him for the time being, as they disagree with their sibling's methods, and that nobody has the right to force their choices on others, let alone the hilichurls who chose to die in peace. Dainsleif is impressed at how much the Traveler has grown since they were last together at Mount Aocang, and in turn decides to also be honest with them, revealing that he also plans to stop the Abyss Order from dishonoring the final wishes of Halfdan and their former comrades-in-arms.
On the way out, a bright light flashes from the tower, and the Abyss Herald Dainsleif has been chasing appears before the trio, who rues having accidentally sent Dainsleif into The Chasm, thus jeopardizing the Order's plan to amplify the cleansing effects of the waters within and save the hilichurls, one Dainsleif ridicules for reasons he already gave the Traveler. After defeating him, Dainsleif urges the Traveler to follow him into the inverted tower and destroy the device.
The Black Serpent Knights' Glory
The trio reach the inverted tower just in time to witness the Order's device activate, causing immense pain to the dying hilichurls, the Knights, and Dainsleif. Before Dainsleif could ask the Traveler to stop the device, Halfdan lunges towards it to block its light with his body, leaving his former commander impressed at his resilience, as the light would have otherwise turned him to ash. The trio then see the Abyss Lector who was conducting the ritual and is upset at the interference. Despite defeating him, the device will not stop, so the Traveler offers to take Halfdan's place and contain the light, though Dainsleif suggests that they instead cross through four portals around the device and destroy similar devices powering it.After the Traveler destroys the devices and fends off Abyss Mages sent to protect them, they, Paimon, and Dainsleif return to the inverted tower to find that the device has stopped, but Halfdan has already breathed his last protecting his countrymen. As the trio turn back, the soul of Halfdan emerges from his corpse, and he and his former commander salute each other for the final time. Though Halfdan rues his failure to protect their homeland and their people, Dainsleif thanks him for faithfully following his final orders and reassures him that they no longer need to revive Khaenri'ah so long as he remains. Satisfied, the soul of Halfdan passes on.
Afterwards, noticing that Dainsleif is still feeling unwell from the effects of the device, Paimon suggests that he take a break. Though he declines, stating that the Abyss Order's plan is still ongoing despite the recent setback, he appreciates the Traveler promising to help him keep an eye on the Order's activities, even as he advises them to know which side they are on the next time they meet.
Once Dainsleif left, Paimon remembers that they are in The Chasm on behalf of Yuehui. Upon returning to the surface, the duo report back to him and assure him that the hilichurls are entering The Chasm to retire from their daily lives, with Yuehui in turn assuring the Traveler that they will never interfere with these hilichurls.
