Deep Gallery’s Echoing Song
Following her master’s guidance, the girl ventured northward, traversing the freezing wastelands and the corridor of fractured mirrors at the edge of the frozen sea.
After slaying countless monsters that wandered the ruins, finally, before the withered husk of a silver tree, she caught a glimpse of treasure concealed beneath drifting snow.
That was when the silver moonlight had yet to be shattered in the fires of war, when the divine prophecies of the heavens still extended over the land.
The youth who had ventured deep into the earth's bowels met the first angel, inquiring about the most forbidden origins of the world.
The dawn-daughter trembled at these profane words, not knowing how this mortal had uncovered such a closely-kept secret,
But her visitor laid bare his origins before her, offering dreams of beauty that had never yet graced her gentle songs.
In an instant, the fetters laid upon her by the enthroned ruler broke apart like a spider’s web; for the first time, she discovered what it meant to serve herself,
And to the one she loved, poured out all the unspeakable secrets of the most forbidden knowledge of creation.
Jillian
The youth broke a curse placed on her (maybe more metaphorically than literally) when she saw him & fell in love. Truly kind of a Snow White thing — and maybe this relates to the The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies somehow.
This is the second descender asking the first angel what happened to Nibelung, basically. And promising knowledge from beyond the skies in return.
”Alas that your ruler would dare to defile such noble beings."
"Even bloodthirsty demons, delighters in torture, would be taken aback by such cruelty."
"O dawn-maiden who has never known love, let me stand as the enemy to your laws."
"For all the beings imprisoned by your ruler, you should raise your eyes to the stars."
"Let me be your sword, your shield, your guide, your unpardonable conspirator in rebellion.”
Then did she, most exalted of the angels, bend down and kiss his forehead, as countless icy blooms unfurled on the frigid silver tree.
Yet this moment of betrayal did not go without its witness, for at that very moment, the Welkin Moon peered down through clouds’ divide. Though now arose within it an ever more audacious longing…
Jillian
This sounds a lot like it’s about the Second Who Came and the Seelie who fell in love with him. And then the Welkin Moon was a witness. I wonder what this “audacious longing” is all about.
I know the moon sisters were supposed to love the morning stars, so maybe she also fell in love with the second descender? Or maybe she was just jealous that the first angel was able to break free and rebel.
Deep Gallery’s Distant Pact
Following her master’s guidance, the girl ventured northward, traversing the freezing wastelands and the corridor of fractured mirrors at the edge of the frozen sea.
After slaying countless monsters that wandered the ruins, finally, among the Abyssal remnants, she caught a glimpse of treasure concealed beneath drifting snow.
Yet she was not the first outsider to set foot here, for long before the scions of the far north had woven their sweet dream of descent,
A traveler, whose sentient will traversed the cosmos, once made a vow of reunion with a dragonlord yet to fall into darkness.
Like a scribe adrift in the desolate void, this passerby was duty bound never to commune with the primordial civilizations about them.
As their undying body slumbered away within a distant celestial mechanism, their mind drifted through an expanse of boundless emptiness.
Charting countless peoples and civilizations fated to perish, pondering the ultimate truths of the cosmos in that eternal darkness.
Until a faint glimmer pierced her awareness, jolting the traveler from tenfold millennia of meditation.
It came from an unremarkable little world at the edge of the spiral arm — and from the primeval dragon that had been born with it.
Though death would one day bring an endless night, and the sun it gazed upon was but a fleeting ember,
This will, bound to its planetary crust, shone more brilliantly than all the civilizations the traveler had ever seen.
Unable to suppress the wonder and sorrow welling within them, she delivered a solemn decree to its ruler:
Jillian
“She”?
This might be Alice.
”I have seen the lightless end, tearing through star clusters like a spindle among silken threads."
"I have seen how the cold tide of chaos drowns out all songs, casting good and evil alike vanish into silence."
"And yet, my kind, gentle king, you still refuse to abandon your people?”
"Forsake this world, fated for ruin, and journey with me beyond the stars."
Jillian
The Traveler answered a call from the Dragonlord — this was Nibelung looking for wisdom from beyond the world to save Teyvat, maybe? The Traveler warned him about the Abyss and invited him to travel with them, but he refused.
Yet thus did the proud dragon reply:
“O friend from a distant world, I thank you for imparting these truths from beyond the skies."
"But though in your eyes they may seem ignorant creatures, to me, they are the very meaning of this universe."
"If the tide of oblivion must come, then let my bones be the bulwark that shields this realm."
"Bear witness to the path I have chosen, for I shall lead my people onward to the stars.”
Jillian
This is where Nibelung got power from beyond the skies. It sounds like his corpse also became the false sky or something.
Also…he wanted to lead his people to the stars?
But when the traveler returned once more, the world they remembered was no longer the same.
The bones of the earth had been bound beneath fourfold shackles, and the soft white radiance of the sky had been split into seven immutable hues.
Like drifting smoke had the dragonlord vanished, and in its place, the Winged One reigned beneath the light of the three moons.
Jillian
”Fourfold shackles” are the Four Shades. The “soft white radiance of the sky … split into seven immutable hues” is the power of light split into seven elements. “The Winged One” is Phanes, and the three moons are obviously the three moon sisters.
I do think it’s interesting phrasing to say that the dragonlord vanished and the “Winged One” was left in its place. Almost like they were one and the same. Considering Phanes was born from a primordial egg, and Nibelung said his corpse would basically become a shell around Teyvat, it kinda fits.
Bewildered by the dragon’s unannounced departure, yet unwilling to disturb the world’s new ruler,
The traveler, defying the laws of their kin, quietly cast their mind into the world inside the shell.
Vesting their consciousness in the body of a youth, they walked among these primitive beings,
Listening to their fervent and ever-escalating debates in this city of gold…
Jillian
So it sounds like this traveler is the youth that the first angel fell in love with. Interesting that they’re both “defying the laws of their kin” in a way.
Important to note that the traveler’s body is asleep somewhere in the cosmos, while their consciousness is inside Teyvat. So all the times there have been hints about Teyvat being someone’s “dream” — that’s probably about this traveler, the second descender.
Deep Gallery’s Moment of Oblivion
Following her master’s guidance, the girl ventured northward, traversing the freezing wastelands and the corridor of fractured mirrors at the edge of the frozen sea.
After slaying countless monsters that wandered the ruins, finally, before the golden tower, she caught a glimpse of treasure concealed beneath drifting snow.
That was an era now lost to memory, when the city-state of the far north glittered like golden threads over the frozen wastelands,
And the furnaces of the deep galleries thundered day and night. Turning to forbidden methods, artisans forged countless demons upon the bones of giant beasts.
Having woven fallen frostmoon light into flawless flesh and blood, they fused it onto a form once frail and weak.
Such power to create was once the Master of the Firmament’s divine prerogative, yet it had been handed to mortals by the rebellious envoy,
Who dreamed that one day, these little creatures might create a perfect being to merge with the world.
Jillian
The Golden City is prospering, and the first angel is living in the deep galleries, where it sounds like alchemists are already practicing khemia using her power.
It makes sense, then, that the crafting bench has three moons on it. “Crafting” used to be something only Phanes could do, probably using the power of the three moon sisters. (Side note: three moon sisters + four shades = seven elements? Since there’s a mention of PECH at the crafting bench.)
The Master of the Firmament might be the original Sustainer of the World’s Borders or whatever — which is now Alice.
Within the deep galleries, which still all stood intact, the first angel whispered sweet dreams of the coming dawn to her companion:
“I see a time when the earthly nations will yearn no longer for heavenly mercy."
"The cities they build will rise up to the clouds, higher even than the throne and the stars."
"I see a future where humans will share the vast sky with the gods they once revered."
"There will be no more tears, sorrow, or death, for all will be complete.”
Yet in the end, such wild delusions and ambitions came tumbling down from the heavens, and with them deep blue crystal spikes.
The fairies shrieked as they turned into icy silver mist, and in the space of a single night, the splendor of the golden city was ruined by frost-laden winds.
The traitorous envoy was stripped of both name and form, and from that moment onward, a curse fell upon her kin:
If they dared gaze into another’s eyes, and to one alone offer the love that was meant for all,
Then not only would their divine beauty crumble into the wind, but their minds would fall to dust,
Until from the fallen one’s remains a Seelie would rise, forever drifting in search of fading memories to consume.
Jillian
This is so similar to the fall of Sal Vindagnyr — a maiden sees a glimpse of the future, and Celestial nails fall from the sky and change the environment.
The original sin of the first angel probably wasn’t just that she fell in love with a human, it was this prophecy that resulted in a curse for all Seelies — they can’t look into another’s eyes.
That’s probably why Columbina covers her eyes, assuming she’s a Seelie. I also wonder if Deshret covered his eyes to protect Nabu Malikata, and if Malikata’s eyes are painted all over the place because that was the only way for him to ever see them.
Did Irmin cover one eye because he’s half-Seelie? Are “pureblood” Khaenri’ahns half-dragon, half-Seelie? Is the curse of the wilderness just an extension of this original curse?
This also kind of implies, to me, that their memories are just…out there floating around or something. I guess they’re “fading,” but they weren’t outright destroyed.
”Delusions and ambitions came tumbling down” — I think this is the city they were trying to build together. Maybe the celestial nails really were literally from their ambition. (Important to note: if this happened at the same time as the other celestial nails, that means Khaenri’ah was already being established. I think it’s odd that these two things would have been happening at the same time.) This could also be the lunar palace’s collapse.
Deep Gallery’s Banquet of Honor
Following her master’s guidance, the girl ventured northward, traversing the freezing wastelands and the corridor of fractured mirrors at the edge of the frozen sea.
Alone she walked through the ruins of the Spiral Abyss, intent on finding the traveler that the Swordmaster had spoken of…
Jillian
The ruins of the Spiral Abyss — is this part of the Golden City ruins?
I also just realized that we don’t know which traveler this girl is looking for, specifically. We barely even know when this is happening.
I think this girl is probably Skirk, looking for Alice perhaps? We know Alice stopped her from entering Teyvat, though, so she would have already met her. Unless this is somewhere at the edge of Teyvat before she’s come in.
That was a time when the silver moonlight still showed mercy upon the lands of the far north, and the envoys of the heavens still looked down upon the dust and mud.
Having angered the envoys by questioning the progress of knowledge, the people of the Golden City now argued endlessly amongst themselves as for how to quell their wrath.
The priests accused each other of sacrilege, of defiling the love, prosperity, and wisdom of the gods.
Amongst themselves, they sought to identify the chief culprit — for it was their intention that the one responsible for corrupting the people’s minds would likewise be the one to appease the divine envoys.
Yet all of a sudden, a voice was heard…
Jillian
These are the priests mentioned in the “Prayers” artifacts. Wherever there is an Irminsul tree to pray to, there are priests — and from that set, we know that there are piles of crowns of Irminsul branches left beneath the trees from past priests who went to pray. We also know they used to make “sacrifices,” although we don’t really know what kind.
”If sin comes from the pursuit of knowledge, then ignorance is the true doctrine; if from rebellion, then only the lamb is truly righteous."
"If sin must be atoned for with blood, then how could it stem from humanity? If the laws are perfect and flawless, why fear the act of inquiry?”
It was merely a boy of humble birth who, having somehow slipped past the watchful guards, had stepped into the chamber where the priests had convened.
All of their scholarly accusations he refuted in turn, their charges of heresy turned into naught but angry, speechless glares.
In that silent chamber, the chief priest who wore the white-branched crown finally dismissed the guards who had rushed in.
Jillian
This boy is the traveler from beyond the skies. I’m not sure I entirely understand what he’s implying here.
Or…what if this boy is Surtalogi? (Although this is probably way too early to be him.)
”O heretical speaker — if, as your eloquent words would suggest, you truly hold that grievous sin is but the delusion of mere mortals…"
"…Then let you be the one to drink from this cup of burning wrath. Go to the blue-silver tree and plead your case before the very envoys who have cast their judgment upon us.”
And so, the previously unknown youth ventured forth into the deepest recesses of the earth, seeking answers from the first angel…
Jillian
So the first angel is an Irminsul tree, now. Are all Irminsul trees places where Seelies were buried or something? (Makes sense since trees represent knowledge, and humans’ knowledge comes from the envoys, who are also the Seelies.)
I think the princess of Sal Vindagnyr was born beneath an Irminsul tree, and we know that one started to grow in the place she was buried, so that would definitely make her at least Seelie-adjacent.
Also I’m curious about this “cup of burning wrath.” The sacrifices the priests made were just…sending someone to the tree to drink something out of a cup? Is it the wine that makes you lose your memories? Are they offering memories to the angels?
Deep Gallery’s Lost Crown
Following her master’s guidance, the girl ventured northward, traversing the freezing wastelands and the corridor of fractured mirrors at the edge of the frozen sea.
After slaying countless monsters that wandered the ruins, finally, through a tattered veil, she caught a glimpse of treasure concealed beneath drifting snow.
Jillian
I guess it’s also possible that this “corridor of fractured mirrors” is literally a corrider of fractured mirrors in the deep galleries, and not shards of ice on the sea like I previously thought.
It was an age when the unknowing masses still bowed to the sky’s decrees, when the dawn star’s court still hung high above the clouds.
Magnificent, noble creations descended from the light itself, and the mortals — unseeing of their true visages — called them angels.
Their pale silver wings shimmered like moonlit flames; their heads were adorned with crowns of sevenfold radiance, wrought of earthen bones and the stars of the sky.
Their names embodied the love promised to all creatures by the heavenly gods, or else a mandate to rule over the nations of the earth.
”With all your heart, soul, and might, you shall love all the beings of this earth."
"You shall love as morning dew longs for the dawn, as seeds long for a steady wind.”
They were the most loyal servants in the heavenly court, flawless arbiters of justice.
Weaving a veil for the Lord of the Firmament, delivering sacred revelations to all realms.
Such was the duty invested upon them at the moment of their creation, or so it should have been…
Jillian
So the false sky is not Nibelung’s corpse; it’s a veil woven by the envoys.
==Until the first angel met an unnamed youth beneath the silver tree of the far north,
And in those star-like pupils, saw a reflection of herself she had never yet known.==
It was a love unbound by law, a freedom the skies would never permit.
With a strange flutter in her heart, the eternal star-crown forged in love's name suddenly fractured;
And casting it into the snow beneath the silver tree, the dawn-maiden made her fateful vow:
“Come now, come… Let us carve out new laws with the bones of the past, and nourish in blood the barren north."
"Let us build a city and a tower that soars up to the clouds, that the people of the earth need weep bitter tears no longer."
"I cast this useless crown into the dust, that all earthly nations may stand free of its shackles.”
Jillian
The unnamed youth had star-like pupils, like the people of Khaenri’ah — that means they’re not descendents of dragons, but descendents of stars?
”The eternal star-crown forged in love’s name” — this was her “shackle.” The mention of it fracturing obviously makes me think of the gnoses, but I don’t know if I think that’s where they came from. Why would the first angel have the thing that became the gnoses, and not Phanes?
I do think this crown is the treasure that the girl in the story finds when looking for the traveler. There is also a part of me that thinks Phanes is the first angel, since they are known as the first descender. That’s unlikely, though.
I do wonder where in the story this is happening, and what happens after this. Is this the first moment she fell in love? Is this a repeating cycle? The moon sisters were said to love the stars — does that mean Seelies are fated to love descenders?
Did they build the Golden City? (Reminding me of the City of the Moon Maiden also.) If they did, then this timeline is even loopier.
With the descenders, I also can’t help but think about the battlepass story:
Once, there was a glorious kingdom established among the heavens. From that kingdom came a crowned heir, tasked with seeking out the Genesis Pearl from the Kingdom of Darkness. The first crowned heir began her journey of seeking the pearl. But she was deceived, and the memory of her noble origins faded. She now believed that she was the queen of the Kingdom of Darkness. But take heart, a second crowned heir had already taken up the path where the first had stumbled. This is the story of your journey, of your tale to be told.
This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard a story about a moon maiden either being used for her power or kept in Teyvat out of “love.”
What we know
Possible timeline
- The traveler answered a call from Nibelung & gave him information about Teyvat’s future, then promised to return later
- When the traveler returned, Nibelung was gone, Phanes was in his place, and the power of light was split up into the seven elements
- Reminds me a lot of Imunlaukr and Sal Vindagnyr
- The traveler decided to descend into Teyvat to see what was going on — at this point, the Golden City is already built & priests pray to the envoys of the heavens for knowledge
- The traveler, disguised as a young boy, goes to visit “the first angel” beneath an Irminsul tree in the Golden City
- The first angel falls in love with the traveler, and the “eternal star-crown” shackling her fractures into pieces — their union is witnessed by the Welkin Moon
- For 30 days, the first angel and the traveler use the envoy’s power to teach humans khemia before everything goes to shit
- My theory for this: it took 30 days for something to happen because the moon sisters change places every month
- The first angel & the traveler are cursed and separated from each other, losing their memories — all envoys are now cursed to lose their memories and become Seelies if they look into anyone’s eyes
Places
- The Golden City
- The girl in the story is wandering through the ruins of this city that used to be in the far north
- These should be the same ruins Ajax found
- I imagine this would have Seelie-style architecture
- The Golden Tower
- Within the Golden City
- The Spiral Abyss ruins
- I’m not sure if this means the Spiral Abyss was the Golden City or if it was just in the Spiral Abyss
- The Deep Galleries
- Has “furnaces” for the Golden City
- This is where the “first angel” (in the form of an Irminsul tree) was — I’m picturing something like a standard domain
- The silver tree
- Described as a “withered husk” by the time the girl in the story is looking for it
- Somewhere in the Deep Galleries
- The Spiral Arm
- Teyvat is described as being somewhere on “the edge of the Spiral Arm”
- The Dawn Star’s court
- Used to be above the clouds
- Because it’s described as “used to be” I don’t think this necessarily is the Celestia we see today — maybe that’s just part of it & the rest is gone now
- The freezing wastelands
- To get to the ruins of the Golden City, the girl has to go through “the freezing wastelands and the corridor of fractured mirrors at the edge of the frozen sea”
- I assume the “fractured mirrors” are just shards of broken ice floating on the sea
People
- The girl
- Taught by her master, she is traversing the freezing wastelands to find “the traveler” at the first angel’s silver tree
- The Swordmaster
- The girl’s master
- The first angel
- Also called the “dawn maiden” & related titles a few times
- Also called “the rebellious envoy” or “the traitorous envoy”
- This is the Seelie who fell in love with a human
- Seems like she became the first Irminsul tree somewhere in the Deep Galleries
- The unknown youth
- Lived in the Golden City
- Disagreed with the priests there and was called a heretic
- Was sent to the first angel’s tree to “to drink from this cup of burning wrath” and pray to the envoys
- The priests
- Priests of the Golden City
- Wore crowns of white branches (mentioned in the “Prayers” circlets)
- The envoys / Seelies
- Seelies are envoys from Celestia who looked into the eyes of another / fell in love with someone & were cursed to lose their form and memories as a result
- The Winged One
- Phanes
- Also called “the enthroned ruler” and “Master of the Firmament”
- The Welkin Moon
- One of the three moon sisters
- Witnessed the love between the first angel & the human
- The Dragonlord
- Was born with Teyvat
- Made a pact with the Traveler
- His bones became a “bulwark” for Teyvat — the false sky?
- Was already gone by the time the Traveler returned to Teyvat
- The Traveler
- In this story, the Traveler is someone from outside Teyvat who is meant to be a witness, not interfering with anything
- The Traveler made a pact with the Dragonlord to return, but by the time they came back, Phanes had already taken over
- The Traveler couldn’t re-enter the world (I think?) so they are asleep somewhere outside Teyvat and projected their consciousness into a human form
- The girl is looking for them