The Deaconess of the Favonius Church and a shining starlet adored by all. Although the concept of a starlet is rather novel in a city of bards, the people of Mondstadt love Barbara nonetheless. "I owe everything to the city's spirit of freedom" — Barbara, regarding her popularity.
—Description from the Official Website[1]
Personality
Every citizen of Mondstadt adores Barbara. However, she learned the word "idol" from a magazine.
—In-game character attributes and profile page text
The Deaconess of the Church of Favonius, Barbara. She's hardworking, bright, charismatic, and optimistic, yet may be clumsy sometimes. The sight of the Idol of Mondstadt makes everyone have something of a "second wind" and become motivated.
Even after being a successful figure in Mondstadt, she feels doubt and feels disillusioned whenever thinking of the duration of one's smile on other's faces after hearing her song. Her desire for fame and recognition changed into the desire to help others in times of need. Though depressed, she cheers herself back up, not letting herself be down or depressed for 30 seconds.
She feels inferior to her "big sister" Jean, thinking everything she's done is of inferior nature to the Acting Grand Master and strives to do something that surpasses Jean's deeds at least once. She's the deaconess of the church, meaning she safeguards religious artifacts and worships Barbatos, although obliviously unaware that she has met him.
Appearance
Barbara uses the medium female model. She has ash blonde hair, gray-blue eyes, and fair skin.
Official Introduction
I just want to see Barbara to make my day a bit brighter!"
—The usual excuse of those accused by the nuns of loitering around the cathedral doors.[2]
▌Deaconess of the Knights of Favonius · Barbara
"The best magic is diligence."
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Barbara, the Deaconess of the Knights of Favonius, is a shining starlet beloved by the people of Mondstadt.
Her Hydro power is the best remedy for a wound, just like her soothing singing and dancing is solace to a weary heart.
The people of Mondstadt all think Barbara has some kind of magical power that can heal both the wounds and the heart, but only Barbara herself knows that the secret of such magic is diligence.
Character Stories
Character Details
Barbara is the Deaconess of the Church of Favonius, as well as the shining idol of Mondstadt.
"The sight of Barbara makes all my problems disappear." This is quite a common saying among the citizens of Mondstadt.
In fact, Barbara can do much more than just put people in a better mood: Her healing powers extend to flesh wounds and other physical ailments.
Barbara is known to have access to miraculous healing powers through her Hydro Vision.
However, Barbara herself knows that hard work is the most miraculous magic of all.
Character Story 1
Friendship Lv. 2
Every citizen of Mondstadt adores Barbara.
However, this has not always been the case. At first, Barbara's songs sounded strange to the citizens of Mondstadt, and many struggled to see the appeal.
This was because for the longest time, the folk songs of bards were the only popular songs known in Mondstadt.
Fortunately, Mondstadt stayed true to its reputation as the City of Freedom, and the people ultimately embraced the new while continuing to cherish the old.
People accepted Barbara's songs, and over time her positive energy rubbed off on them. Soon, they could be heard humming her tunes all around Mondstadt.
"Albert, would you stop please! You're completely out of tune!"
Character Story 2
Friendship Lv. 3
Barbara's feelings on her own success are mixed.
To the extent that an idol's duty is to make everyone adore her, she has done a fantastic job.
There is no doubting that she has made the right choice.
However, an idol is also expected to spread joy and relieve people's spiritual fatigue... Has she really accomplished that?
She sang for blind Glory, encouraging her to believe that her lover would one day return. She sang, too, for sick Anna, promising her that her illness would one day be cured.
Yet, the smiles on their faces never last long after the songs end.
This has led Barbara to become somewhat disillusioned and doubtful.
Character Story 3
Friendship Lv. 4
Barbara has always been a bright and optimistic girl since she was young. Though at times she can be a bit clumsy and mess things up, she always bounces right back and has another go.
Barbara is the complete opposite of her sister, who is seen by all as the pride of her family.
Unlike Barbara, her sister has always been the very definition of success in all aspects.
Initially, all Barbara had ever wanted was to surpass her sister in at least one thing, even if only once.
However, be it swordplay, her grades, or anything else, she was never able to compare.
Even for someone as optimistic as her, she found herself to be upset and down.
"Hard work is the most miraculous magic. But when even that doesn't work... what then?"
Character Story 4
Friendship Lv. 5
Barbara has never once considered giving up.
Her determination and resilience even surprised her father, Seamus Pegg, the Cardinal of Daybreak.
Barbara only allows herself to be depressed for 30 seconds.
After that, she forces herself to brighten up, no matter what.
"I'm not so good in combat, so I'll be sure to support those who are."
Under her father's counsel, Barbara became a healer.
She is as radiant as the sick and injured are pained.
Her desire to be recognized gradually transformed into a simple desire to help others.
Character Story 5
Friendship Lv. 6
"Thank you" are the two words that Barbara hears most often.
When she feels lost, she will suddenly find that there is someone wanting to hold her hand.
"Thanks for being here with me. I feel so much better."
To Barbara, the greatest reward is seeing the smiles on people's faces.
Therefore, whenever she is massaging her swollen calves or drinking tea to care for her sore throat, Barbara recalls all those who have been kind to her.
"It's the encouragement I receive from others that keeps me going."
Just maybe, the smiles she receives are proof that her songs really can heal people.
Her ambition to surpass her sister and become the most popular person in all of Mondstadt hasn't been abandoned by Barbara, it is simply buried deep inside her heart.
"If only I excelled more, perhaps I could be of help to Jean."
This is what she believes.
"Okay... Barbara, go!"
Alice's Idol Magazine
Friendship Lv. 4
"...Idol?"
The first time that Barbara heard this strange word, she was visibly confused.
"But... aren't The Seven the ones that people are supposed to worship?"
"Yes, but not exclusively..." replied Alice, an elder of the Hexenzirkel, as she groomed the young girl for stardom. "Read this, it contains everything you will need to know."
"Idol Magazine" was the name of the assigned reading material. Barbara had no idea what world this magazine had come from, but by reading it she found out that there was indeed such thing as an "idol," and that it mainly involved working hard at getting everyone to like you.
She also discovered that an outstanding idol is capable of not just bringing joy to themselves, but also bringing spiritual healing to others through the power of song and dance.
Barbara set about learning one new song after another, dancing to the beat as she went. Finally, she found happiness, and she found it in the smiling faces of others.
Some time later, when Alice anxiously relayed to Barbara that plans for "Teyvat Idols!" were falling through, Barbara was starting to make a name for herself through her performances in Mondstadt.
"Hmm... Well, if I'm the only one left... I guess you can leave it to me to define what it really means to be an idol!"
Driven by this ever so slightly selfish ambition to spread joy and healing to others, Barbara is slyly swotting up on new tunes behind the scenes to this very day.
Vision
Friendship Lv. 6
The story of how Barbara obtained her Vision is hardly the typical tale of high-stakes heroism.
She had just joined the church and was looking after a little boy with a high and persisting fever.
Nothing Barbara could think of would console the boy and bring an end to his relentless tears.
Someone remarked that while the boy had already taken his medicine, there was no way to cure the pain of missing one's family.
Another suggested that Barbara sing a song for the boy to raise his spirits.
Barbara had never sung a song in her life up until this point, but how could she shy away from it in a moment like this?
"Never having sung before is no reason to abandon a child in their time of need," Barbara thought to herself.
And so, Barbara took the boy in her arms and sang him a song: a lullaby, the only song she knew.
It was an unceremonious beginning to her singing career. After quickly realizing that she barely knew any of the words, she had to resort to humming the tune instead.
Nevertheless, her voice began to soothe the child, and so she kept singing. She sang the same song, over and over again, until her throat was dry and her voice was hoarse. Finally, the boy fell asleep. Exhausted, Barbara lay down by the wall and fell straight asleep herself.
Early the next morning, Barbara awoke to discover that the boy's fever had come down. Perhaps it was because she had sung for him, or perhaps it had something to do with the Vision which had mysteriously appeared next to her hand at some point during the night.
Barbara was not preoccupied with the Vision, however. It was the sight of the boy smiling once again that filled her heart with joy.
Barbara received her Vision for the simple but beautiful wish that took hold in her heart that night: A dream of healing the sick through the power of song.
Namecard
| Barbara: Flow | |
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Obtain: Reward for reaching Friendship Level 10 with Barbara Description: When Barbara sings, her melodic voice flows like the tender healing of a clear spring. |
Constellation
| Crater | |
|---|---|
 | Meaning: Cup |
Quests and Events
Archon Quests
Story Quests
Hangout Events
Events
- Invitation of Windblume
- Part II: Missive of Cloud and Fog
- Part III: Realm of Fog and Wind
- Midsummer Island Adventure
- Of Ballads and Brews
Web Events
- Traveler's Picture Book/2021-07-03
- Side by Side We Venture
- An Unforgettable Journey
- Taking Pictures and Recounting Good Times
- Canvas of Starlight Memories
- Discover Teyvat
Character Trials
Domain Levels
Events
- Battlefront: Misty Dungeon
- Misty Dungeon: Realm of Light
- Misty Dungeon: Realm of Sand
- Misty Dungeon: Realm of Water
- Triumphant Frenzy
- Endless Forms Most Martial
Test Run Events
- Ganyu, Xingqiu — 2021-01-12
- Xiao, Diona, Beidou, Xinyan — 2021-02-03
- Keqing, Ningguang, Bennett — 2021-02-17
- Kaedehara Kazuha, Rosaria, Bennett, Razor — 2021-06-29
- Kamisato Ayaka, Yanfei, Chongyun, Ningguang — 2021-07-21
- Raiden Shogun, Kujou Sara, Sucrose — 2021-09-01
- Itto, Gorou — 2021-12-14
- Shenhe, Xiao, Yun Jin, Ningguang, Chongyun — 2022-01-05
- Zhongli, Ganyu, Xingqiu, Beidou, Yanfei — 2022-01-25
- Yae Miko, Fischl, Diona, Thoma — 2022-02-16
- Raiden Shogun, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Bennett, Xinyan, Kujou Sara — 2022-03-08
- Kamisato Ayaka, Razor, Rosaria, Sayu — 2022-04-19
- Yelan, Xiao, Yanfei — 2022-05-31
- Arataki Itto, Kuki Shinobu, Chongyun, Gorou — 2022-06-21
- Kaedehara Kazuha, Klee, Shikanoin Heizou, Ningguang, Thoma — 2022-07-13
- Tighnari, Zhongli, Collei, Diona, Fischl — 2022-08-24
- Ganyu, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Dori, Sucrose, Xingqiu — 2022-09-09
- Cyno, Venti, Candace, Kuki Shinobu, Sayu — 2022-09-28
- Nilou, Albedo, Beidou — 2022-10-14
- Nahida, Yoimiya, Razor, Bennett — 2022-11-02
- Yae Miko, Tartaglia, Layla, Thoma, Shikanoin Heizou — 2022-11-18
- Wanderer, Arataki Itto, Faruzan, Gorou, Yanfei — 2022-12-07
- Raiden Shogun, Kamisato Ayato, Rosaria, Sayu, Kujou Sara — 2022-12-27
- Alhaitham, Xiao, Yaoyao, Yun Jin, Xinyan — 2023-01-18
- Dehya, Cyno, Bennett — 2023-03-01
- Kamisato Ayaka, Shenhe, Mika, Sucrose, Diona — 2023-03-21
- Nahida, Nilou, Kuki Shinobu, Dori, Layla — 2023-04-12
- Baizhu, Ganyu, Kaveh, Candace, Fischl — 2023-05-02
- Yoimiya, Yae Miko, Kirara, Yun Jin, Chongyun — 2023-05-24
- Alhaitham, Kaedehara Kazuha, Yaoyao, Shikanoin Heizou — 2023-06-13
- Zhongli, Tartaglia, Freminet, Sayu — 2023-09-05
- Furina, Baizhu, Charlotte, Beidou — 2023-11-08
- Cyno, Kamisato Ayato, Kirara, Kuki Shinobu — 2023-11-28
- Navia, Kamisato Ayaka, Sucrose, Rosaria, Candace — 2023-12-20
- Raiden Shogun, Yoimiya, Chevreuse, Kujou Sara, Bennett — 2024-01-09
- Xianyun, Nahida, Gaming, Faruzan — 2024-01-31
- Arlecchino, Lyney, Freminet — 2024-04-24
- Wanderer, Baizhu, Layla, Faruzan, Beidou — 2024-05-14
- Clorinde, Alhaitham, Sethos, Bennett, Thoma — 2024-06-05
- Navia, Nilou, Kirara, Kaveh, Ningguang — 2024-07-17
- Kinich, Raiden Shogun, Thoma, Kujou Sara, Chevreuse — 2024-09-17
- Nahida, Hu Tao, Sethos, Xingqiu, Kuki Shinobu — 2024-10-29
- Yumemizuki Mizuki, Sigewinne, Gorou, Sayu — 2025-02-12
Character Mentions
Character Stories
| Character | Stories |
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Character Voice-Overs
| Character | Voice-Overs |
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- My Wish... (2021-07-05)
- My Secret Tip... (2022-07-05)
- The Power of an Idol... (2023-07-05)
- A Song... (2024-07-05)
Trivia
- The tune that Barbara hums in her idle in English, Chinese, and Japanese appears in other media pertaining to her. (The Korean version has a different tune entirely.) All appearances so far, including in Barbara's idles, appear to be in C major.
- The tune appears on the music staff on Barbara's wish art. However, the lowest note is likely missing a ledger line. In addition, the highest note (C-flat, the enharmonic equivalent of B) does not appear in any other version of the tune; all other versions use B-flat or C. Due to the presence of the flat, it is likely that the highest note on the staff is intended to be B-flat.
- The assets for the staff and the notes, including the joined sixteenth and eighth notes and the highest note with a flat, are reused in all three parts of Barbara: Flow, but without denoting any tune.
- The tune is featured throughout the Version 1.4 "Invitation of Windblume" Trailer as well as the music when Barbara is shown in the final cinematic of Invitation of Windblume, "Floral Breeze" - Scenes from Windblume Festival (0:52 to 0:59).
- Notably, the tune in the trailer and cinematic has a minor seventh between the last two notes like in the Chinese version of Barbara's idle, instead of an octave like in the English version of Barbara's idle, with the exception of the final tune at the end of the first half of the trailer, which ends with an octave like the English version. (The Japanese version of Barbara's idle does not finish the tune.)
- The rhythm in the trailer and cinematic has swung notes like in the English version of Barbara's idle, instead of straight notes like in the Chinese version of Barbara's idle.
- The tune appears on the music staff on Barbara's wish art. However, the lowest note is likely missing a ledger line. In addition, the highest note (C-flat, the enharmonic equivalent of B) does not appear in any other version of the tune; all other versions use B-flat or C. Due to the presence of the flat, it is likely that the highest note on the staff is intended to be B-flat.
- Barbara is currently the only four-star character that has a close-up cut-in when using her Elemental Burst, much like five-star characters.
- Barbara's favorite food is spicy dried fish, while her least favorite foods are anything bitter.
- Barbara's love for spicy food is renowned throughout Mondstadt — though, according to Vile, Jueyun Chilis from Liyue would be spicy enough to make even her cry.
- Barbara shares her English voice actress, Laura Stahl, with Xinyan.
- Other similarities they share are a love for spicy food, as well as being musicians who have amassed their own fanbases despite performing songs that defied their countries' traditional forms of music.
- Barbara shares her Korean voice actress, Yun A-yeong, with Xiangling.
- Barbara was one of the first two characters to get a themed outfit, the other being Jean.
- Barbara is mentioned in the descriptions of the following 4 Furnishings:
Etymology
- The given name Barbara is derived from the Latin word barbarus, meaning "foreign, strange." The Latin word barbara pertains to "a wild, savage, cruel, barbarous, shameless, or immodest woman."
- Her name may also allude to Saint Barbara.
- Barbara's constellation, Crater, is Latin for "cup." More specifically, it is the Latin spelling of the Greek krater, a type of large cup or vase that was used to dilute wine with water.
Other Languages
Character Title: Shining Idol
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Shining Idol | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 闪耀偶像 Shǎnyào Ǒuxiàng | Shining Idol |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 閃耀偶像 Shǎnyào Ǒuxiàng | |
| Japanese | キラキラアイドル Kira-kira Aidoru | Sparkling Idol |
| Korean | 빛나는 아이돌 Binnaneun Aidol | Shining Idol |
| Spanish | La Ídolo Radiante | The Radiant Idol |
| French | Star de la chanson | Singing Star |
| Russian | Сияющая звёздочка Siyayushchaya zvyozdochka | Shining Starlet |
| Thai | ดาราจรัสแสง Dara Charat Saeng | Shining Star |
| Vietnamese | Thần Tượng Tỏa Sáng | Shining Idol |
| German | Leuchtender Star | Shining Star |
| Indonesian | Shining Idol | — |
| Portuguese | Ídolo Radiante | Radiant Idol |
| Turkish | Işıltılı İdol | |
| Italian | Idol sfavillante | Glittering Idol |
References
- ↑ Genshin Impact Official Website: Barbara
- ↑ Facebook: Barbara's Introduction
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