Genshin_Impact
The Heavenly Principle's Four Shades finally revealed!
Discussion
After all those years, we finally got all of their true forms
And yet no Tsaritsa.
I swear to the Archons if Phanes get revealed before her LMAO.
Imagine if she's Stellaron Hunter hacker-sized instead of the expectated Empress of Belobog.
she uses a step stool to climb onto her throne
Welcome back HSR Cerydra
And she’s not even here yet 😆😅
Miyabi hears a challenger approaching
Imagine they tease her as the ruler of Belobog... and then it turns out it's Koleda.
Thats some levels of Mihoyo fandom that im down for it
Her right hand Harbinger is Ben Biggest.
I hope that's the case, cuz that would be so fucking funny
The funniest thing would be if she ended up being a Bronie expy like Silver Wolf and we finally get there and she's like "hey".
Archon with the size of Belobog heater.
theyre building the hype for sure. Remember Raiden Shogun and how everyone’s jaw dropped the moment they saw the booba sword? yea that hype
Let them cook 🗿
Look at Ronova’s wings!
Homa symbols! Homa symbols everywhere!
Sourcewater of Neuvillette has the DNA motif like Naberius
Yes and her hair reminds me of Furina/ Focalors which is cool
In a sense, Furina is her granddaughter, considering that Focalors was the first Oceanid born from Egeria's tears.
makes sense as now both neuvillete and Naberius are god of life
Neuvi only has a portion of Naberius's authority not the whole thing
I mean it is what it is. Authority of life originally belonged to hydro dragon after all
Ashikai right now making a video lol
death is form of sacrifice/offering
The fucking statue in Inazuma!!!!!
To think it was right there for years. I still remember people debating that it didn't look like Raiden.
That *resurfaced only last month.
I've been thinking lately that Genshin is basically a tale of cultivation. Vision holders are basically cultivators. Vision holders cultivate experience by reading manuals and must break through by sacrificing materials and wealth. Vision holders can 'ascend to Celestia and become gods' is basically the cultivator ascension process. Celestia is the Heavenly Realm, Teyvat is the Mortal Realm, and the Abyss is the Demonic Realm. While some assume visions are handed to those who showed worth to gods, in reality it is those who've attained enlightenment.
Raiden Shogun was sacrificing visions, the ambition to challenge the heavens/gain immortality, to the shade of death it seems. Perhaps to avoid the heavenly tribulation (cursed nails in this case) from the Heavenly Realm (Celestia).
*edit
It resurfaced last month but in 2.x there were some theories about the statue being someone else. I remember one theory using the statue not looking like Raiden as her not being the "true" electro archon.
Yeah, sorry, the theory has been around for a long time (since Raiden second archon quest). It was assumed to be Istaroth at the time (as that was the only shade we had named at the time, came up in Enkanomiya, and Istaroth was involved with the planted tree).
But, yeah, it resurfaced recently last month.
Obviously I didn't realize Raiden was honoring Ronova, but it's actually crazy how so many people are now realizing that Raiden's actions made some sense.
I've been saying the same thing since her release because I really do think she's one of the more misunderstood characters in Genshin. People hate her ass, which probably speaks to the quality of Inazuma's writing tbh.
It's not like I'm theorizing or whatnot, I'm just relaying her official reasons in the story
I can't believe Hoyo made me play a cultivation manhua
Wings of Ronova.
Face of Istaroth.
Hood of Naberius.
??? of Asmoday.
Raiden defo commissioned the statue well, seeing as it represents the shades in totality, thus being a Statue of the Heavenly Principles in letter and spirit.
✍️🔥🔥🔥
Holy hell I forgot about that statue. Is it actually ronovas statue ? Why tf is it there ?
That's gotta be the statue built by Ei right? Was really bothered that it was left unaddressed during the Inazuma AQ and people were thinking it was Yae or the Welkin lady lol.
Things falling into pieces years later is crazy.
The next thing to know is if the name of the statue (Omnipresent God/Thousand-Armed and Hundred-Eyed God) refers to Ronova or Ei
Definitely Ronova given the shades are the only omnipresent beings in teyvat
Ei was after Eternity right? What is more Eternal other than Death? 💀 Or maybe she was giving an offering to Ronova, after what happened to almost everyone in her life
Maybe Ei wanted to obtain the power of death to curse all the residents of Inazuma and make them immortal, which would fit with her theme of "eternity".
Exactly the same as the wing on the statue of the omnipresent god in inazuma. Hmm..
Asmoday was missing during the meeting, paimon's never gonna beat the allegations
New “master” aka the Traveler
In the official Spanish subtitle, they translated "master" as the feminine maestra. Since I play as Lumine, it seemed normal at first, but then I started wondering what the original Chinese line actually said.
She wasn’t there because she was spying on the traveler during this most recent archon quest
I'm now 50% convinced asmoday is paimon
I think she’s a part of Asmoday, or at least a remnant of what Asmoday used to be. Genshin has definitely used this trope in the past with characters like Nahida
Damn, that art goes hard. I can see them ripping our hearts to shreds with this
"I remember that artwork of grownup Paimon" opens link OH MY GOD
So its similar to that one Natlan quest?
The one with that dragon remnant helping us fight itself?
50/50, as the Genshin gods intended
that's what I've been thinking while watching the whole thing
and it's not helping that Ronova's appearance looks so much like the adult Paimon fanart I've seen somewhere
what if Paimon is the heavenly principles? all 4 shades share some similarity with paimon
Hoyoverse really decided to drop major lore on a random-ass Tuesday.
They really love to do that
it's Wednesday in asia
Is it a special Wednesday?
No, just a random ass day lmao
nah lol
For you, the day Hoyoverse graced you with lore was the most important day of your life.
But for Hoyoverse? It was tuesday.
Random ass Wednesday in asia
Venti been more SUS after this(Istaroth VA is same with Venti in JP and EN, probably CN too?)
Same VA in CN and KR too!
Subtle foreshadowing
It would be really funny if its actually just pure coincidence
one language having va overlap can be just a coincidence, if every language have it the same then it's safe to say that this is intentional.
It’s not coincidence but we already know that Istaroth and Venti are linked, so it isn’t necessarily the bard being SUS (this time).
I'm so glad Erika managed to get back for this
Same! I was so happy when I noticed her name in the video's caption. Also, I bet she's known about this for a while since I assume the video was prepared in advance. It must have been difficult for her to not say anything!
One of Venti's official titles is "god of time" the same way Zhongli is "god of contracts"
The fact that in every language venti shares a VA with Istaroth the "ruler of time" means its not a coincidence!
"Seeds of stories. Brought by the wind. Cultivated by time."
Wait a sec, now this is sus because Paimon said the same thing 'unconsciously' during the Lantern Rite dinner.
We first heard of it once we reached the nameless island in Mondstadt too. Actually a name of an achievement.
But it's also an old saying in Mondstadt so Paimon just probably just knows it.
Not god of time, but a branch of the thousand winds.
The thousand winds of time is the title of Istaroth
wait where did you get this title for venti?
hes the god of freedom tho
He's originally a wind spirit, and in Teyvat, the Wind is Time.
mondstadt is the city of freedom and freedom is the virtue venti prizes above all but it isnt his official title or anything. he's the god of wind and time
Not really. Mondstadt used to pray to Anemo Archon and the God of Time. They were not considered as the same entity.
Idk how he still can be even more sus day after day lol.
Somewhere in the distance we can hear Ashikai typing update to their Venti is time god part 2 video with lighting speed.
He's my favorite character so I can't wait for the insane, mind blowing, earth shattering lore they're gonna start dropping for him
Venti is a wind sprite of the thousand winds. The thousand winds is another title of istaroth. Venti is either a part of her or born from her.
I thought so too though Venti has always been sus lol
So we have Xerneas, Yveltal, Dialga and Palkia
And Yveltal is the reasonable one of group
Cut Xerneas some slack, she somehow got Necrozma'd despite not even being in the same gen.
This wouldn't have happened to her if she hadn't confused Rest with Geomancy.
i love how ronova acts like the anxious responsible sister of the group, they somehow made the god of death the most human of the group. istaroth acts like a certain chill alcoholic, naberius/gold are two nerdy girls sharing the same body and asmoday.......well check out paimon using cubes in liyue AQ and her TCG cards
the pokemon fan in me loves how spot on this is
Man, brings me back. Some of my favorite legendaries.
Shade of time has a nice crown. Looks a little familiar…
Istaroth shares the same VA as Venti in all languages. Venti is also known as the god of time and wind. The worshippers of time used to have a great city in Mond before it got yeeted to form the Golden Archapeligo. Venti doesn't have a part 2 story quest.
Someone got some explaining to do.
Last week it was the Lord Ravagers from HSR
Now they have dropped Lore/Models for the Shades...
What's next, the Prophets of Exaltists for ZZZ?
The lore implication for ZZZ would be more like more info on the legendary void hunters they showed awhile back, or the people behind the plots surrounding Hollow Zero
Now when is someone gonna beat the shit out of Asmoday like Phainon tried to vs Zephyro
If I had a nickel for every time Genshin decided to randomly drop the most bomb ass lore with 0 buildup or foreshadowing whatsoever, I’d have a lotta nickels
"Oh, do you like leaks? Drown"
Hoyoverse, probably.
Literally out of nowhere! this is hype!
Ronova and Ei both have the eye background and the vision statue...
Hu Tao's eyes and Homa as well as Arle's.... everything all over Ronova. Hu Tao being about death seems incidental, Arle's Crimson Moon on the other hand....
I don't think it's incidental really for Hu tao. Remember, games like this plan the plot before releasing, and it's more or less rough plan of the plot depending on company, and hoyo keeps having little details connect everywhere in my experience. Hu Tao keeps returning and having relevant motifs to the point it does not seem coincidental. If it was coincidental, she wouldn't be brought up so often either. Not to mention she is literally Zhongli's boss, no shit she is relevant
Even the fact that we got her in the amazing lantern rite quest and her story was like it was there, all the same year when we met ronova with mavuika in AQ
Istaroth resembles Robin from HSR lmao
And surprisingly enough she resembles Celenova too
Damn Istaroth is moonlighting on HSR
I love how Furina, who was made by Egeria, who was made by Naberius
Has resemblances to Naberius prior to Rhinedottir merging with Naberius
All their hairstyles are similar to Paimon. Asmoday has switched sides and has a new master. Paimon.
Day 0 theory just got more real, just like venti looking more sus due to sharing VAs with istaroth in all languages, damn, 5 years and I still get chills and hype as if it was the first day
asmodays hair is literally paimons
So Ronova is the statue in Inazuma.
Which is somehow philosophical. Its the statue of the god of eternity and death is indeed the only true form of eternity.
Yup
Damn Neuvillette plans to take on all of them?!
And the chances of Paimon being Asmoday just shot up!
Damn Neuvillette plans to take on all of them?!
in a fight right?
Let me solo Ronova
now pls reveal the remaining Sinners and Hexenzirkel.
Next year lol
Hexenzirkel could be this year still but Sinners might be next year
We are technically getting Alice and another one this year, and we also got Rhine
the other one is most likely Nicole, considering she was the one talking in Nod-Krai PV Teaser.
Did they explicitly say that the unknown God= Shade of space? Or did I miss that
Edit: sheeeit looks like I have to pay more attention, my bad dawg.
Yes. Unknown God was literally shown with space shade part
they said the shade of space "tore the twin travelers apart" or smth like this
The red cubes Asmoday razed Khaenri'ah with were the same she used to smush Aether and Lumine.
You can also see them in Rukkhadevata's memory of Irminsul, far in the unsky.
yes they said. when the lady in the start said shade, it showed the unknown god later to be revealed in the video named asmoday
Peeps already know Asmo's name since launch since her game files revealed her name.
maybe so but this is the first time its been outright confirmed in official media and not leaked through datamining
Yep, back even in version 1.0 Asmoday's name was leaked and it was just assumed to be just a beta name, not final, but damn 5 years later and looks like it's canon now
Yeah, Asmoday is the Unknown Goddess aka the Shade of Space(now missing Paimon probably????)
Still calling it. She either a god who turn kid or evil fairy. Aka bravery default
or She's the heavenly principle herself lol
If you look at each design of the shade, Paimon definitely has one design incorporated from each of them except for the top right shade
RIGHT I was looking at the shades and it looks like Paimon was a mix of everyone to me too
She's probably a chibified version who lost her powers, like Guoba, or Little Ica from HSR.
Renova's statement "Does she love her new master than herself" is giving too many Theory and Paimon is one of them so it can be a possible option. Or if not there is a bigger threat that controls her.
I wouldn't like it if it turns out there's a bigger threat™️ that Asmoday is serving that we don't know about.
Suddenly rethinking my 6.x pull plan
I didn’t have any plans after Skirk and just wanted to see how it goes and then they just drop THIS
Unlikely they'll all be in 6.x, I'd love to be proven wrong
I wonder if any of them will be playable one day..
I wonder that too. Something tells me they may all eventually become future boss fights, but playable? Not so sure. Would LOVE to be wrong though
They fit the bread and butter waifu look, they are gonna be playable.
Holy shit my goat Ronova
They the shade of space as Asmoday too.
Everyones all excited for this lore drop, meanwhile theres me, perpetually several updates behind (started playing during inazuma, currently at end of Sumuru) and have no idea what the Four Shades even are
Most of the teyvat lore is hidden in small text in world quests, weapons and artifacts descriptions also have some details.
The way this game is designed, you'll miss out on most hidden lore if you play over a longer time without engaging in community, like few of the older events being directly related to the story
If you have done the Enkanomiya main world quest (the one with Enjou), you'll get the book "Before Sun and Moon". This was the first major lore drop about the Heavenly Principles and including the Shades.
Basically (not really spoilers as it's not directly related to the quest, but spoiler tagged anyways if you really want to go in blind) Teyvat was originally ruled over by the dragons. The Primordial One is a being who came from outside Teyvat, he created the Four Shades, and then they waged war with the dragons and won, taking over Teyvat.
Paimon is asmoday
This was an insane lore drop
I'm basically the guy "WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT" meme
Mhy dropped this on a random Wednesday
Finally we can shut the fuck up on which God it is that was shown in that Raiden animation<3
i really like istaroth design but people seem to dislike it
it just really speak of god of time design
so sustainer is a shade?
yes shade of space
Asmoday is "missing" and has a new "master"
Glance at floating melon
Asmoday = Emergency food
we merge/consume with paimon at the end of the game + 7 elements + our own power to fight the heavenly principles and shades
see yall in a few years
I don't think the Traveler would ever do that to paimon, even if she was the one who split the siblings.
I think the Traveler would try to get the shades on their side.
dont worry, if she does merge w us, she'll always be living rent free in our mind like how life shade's in rhinnedottir's mind still
how about we explore that planet later
how about we explore that planet later
how about we explore that planet later
Rhinnedottir and the Traveler have very different morals.
we still get to keep the emergency food, we up
God or rather heavenly principles please no. I dont want paimon in my head.
!remindme 3 years
And say our own catchphrase:
THIS TRULY WAS...THE IMPACT OF OUR GENSHIN!!!!!
This also implies Paimon's adult form is a MILF
that's enough give me your phone
"To Paimon, Traveler is her entire world"
This line almost made me cry
Who would've thought a day 0 crackpot theory is actually gonna be true lmao
If its true imma pull a game theory here and i think asmoday is tasked by HP to watch over the traveler moves after their captures as paimon to make sure they dont do anything the hp wont like
I wonder what DEF thinks about this
ER and EM are both worried
ATK has never been concerned, though.
Healing Bonus on the other hand was never even considered, poor lads always left out
She's not happy, cause that flat chested DEF is rolling over 4 times in her grave
HoW aBoUt We ExPlOrE tHe ArEa AhEaD oF uS lAtEr
Or more like "this is a problem where solving it would require us to violate the rules... guess who isn't subject to the rules? We can make use of THEM as our proxy and if they are unaware of their mission and just stumble their way to it, then at no point will we have violated the rules"
Like the Heavenly Principles watch over and safeguard the rules but allow their stretching and bending if needs be.
Like the Traveler, unbeknownst to them, is currently carrying out the Will of the Heavenly Principles and/or the Shades in Teyvat. Paimon as a guide may be unwitting too, most of her memory erased, but still some drive or instinct to "guide" the traveler to where they need to be.
How is it even a crackpot theory. It was always clear that Paimon is very special and important. Her cape is literally made out of abyss matter and she's a completely unique creature that no one knows anything about. We're also supposed to believe that her and Traveler's, another super important character, paths not only just conveniently crossed, but she also started following them? Yeah, right.
Ain't no way anybody figured that out, she's just a harmless little floating fairy. /s
People been having their tin-foil hats on for this one since 1.0 baby it's time to get COOKIN'
inb4 it's a red herring
Paimon looked a lot like a chibi version of the woman that the twins faced to be fair haha. So it was a massively popular theory.
Paimon is also the name of a demon in real-world mythology. Just like the Archons and the Shades. Hoyo rarely does coincidences and are usually very purposefully with their naming conventions
In addition:
Paimon is said to be the demon most loyal to Lucifer.
Lucifer is also called "the light-bringer".
Back then, scientists believe that there is a medium in space that carries light, basically the "bringer of light". This medium is called luminiferous aether.
And what are Lumine and Aether known for? That's right, the ferrous weapon known as Dull Blade. It's all coming together.
They also have six wings.
And arguably, the Abyss twin can be seen as the fruit of forbidden knowledge. After all, their presence was what allowed khaenri'ah to get the Abyss energy, and by extension, the Sinners. The battle pass has a snake on it and in its animation.
The triquetra she has on the front of her clothes is also similar to the ones on the Shades as well.
That would explain Paimon's own "space" she goes to when you exit the menu screen....
There's a dialog option with the traveller about that. She goes to the same place that your weapon goes to when it vanishes.
I'm still betting on Paimon being more related to Istaorth, because unless they pull some C-Moon type shit to explain the associations between Paimon and time I won't buy it.
I mean now that venti istaroth connection is confirmed (sama va) i doubt they'll do another thing with her
I'm sorry but I'm pretty sure the venti/istaroth connection has been canonically confirmed since day 1. Istaroth has the 1000winds..venti is one of her 1000 winds.. kinda already connected them does it not? Lol
It's really the crown that throws me off. Istaroth has the same color scheme and floating crown above Paimon's head. Except the floating melon has only one ring, and Istaroth has many.
Also: Shade of Space
Guess who's the only one in Teyvat that can use the teleporters? It's probably not the Traveler's control over the Elements... but something else.
Just needs a story event where we lose Paimon and try to use a teleporter just for those to no longer work.
"Let's explore the area ahead of us later"
She literally forces us to stay in a space determined by herself, with the border marked with a red and black border on the map.
Oh my god
Floating melon is the old master.
(my head canon is that Paimon is Phanes since she shares elements with all the shades and also has crowns)