"Descender" is a term used by various figures in Genshin Impact, such as the Fatui, for outlanders who come from outside the world of Teyvat. Historical figures and documents suggest that the epithet of "Descender" is used only for those who prove capable of transcending Teyvat's "laws," and is not a blanket term for all external beings.
The Traveler is known as the Fourth Descender, and Lesser Lord Kusanali presumes that the Heavenly Principles is the First.[1]
Overview[]
The origins of the term "Descender" are unclear, but it may stem from Khaenri'ahn parlance given that it is used by the Eleven Fatui Harbingers[1] (co-founded by Pierro, a former Khaenri'ahn royal mage),[2] and independently by Rene based on his research on various ancient nations, including Khaenri'ah.[3] Very few people in Teyvat know the term or whom it encompasses; for example, Nahida, an Archon with a direct connection to Irminsul, first learned about it from The Doctor as part of his information trade for the Dendro Gnosis.[1]
Because Descenders come from outside Teyvat, they are not bound to the world's laws and are unaffected by circumstances that affect beings from this world. Furthermore, information and memories about them will not be recorded in Irminsul, which only collects information about Teyvat.[1] Conversely, their memories are not changed when Irminsul is tampered with, when that normally affects not only people's memories, but also non-sentient items such as books, and even in-game descriptions such as Character Stories. For example, the Traveler remembers Greater Lord Rukkhadevata after all traces of her existence were erased from Irminsul and thus, from history and memory itself.[4] They also remember Scaramouche after he removes his names from Irminsul, while Nahida and Paimon both forget him.[2][5]
Rene's research with the Narzissenkreuz Ordo, largely derived from ancient Khaenri'ahn, Remurian, and Sumeru sources, led to his conclusion that Descenders have "wills that can rival an entire world," and not all who come from outside of Teyvat are necessarily Descenders.[3] Similarly, the allegedly Khaenri'ahn Perinheri claims that the Khaenri'ah awaited the "arrival of beings who could transcend the gods" from among those who came from "outside this world," but that such a person never appeared during Perinheri's time.
Following the revelation that the Third Descender's remains were used to make the Gnoses, which can enhance elemental abilities, Paimon and the Traveler speculate that an inherent affinity for elemental power may be a shared trait among Descenders.[6] The Heavenly Principles, meanwhile, was able to take the Seven Sovereigns' elemental Authorities for itself.[7]
After learning about the concept of Descenders, the Fontainian-born Rene aspired to become one in order to become powerful enough to save Fontainians from the impending prophecy of Fontaine. However, his attempts failed twice,[8][9] and the Traveler's intervention in Fontaine is what ultimately averts the prophecy.[10] Based on current knowledge, there is no evidence that people born in Teyvat can become Descenders.
Known Descenders[]
- First Descender: Heavenly Principles (unconfirmed)[1]
- Second Descender: Second Who Came (candidate)[11]
- Third Descender: Unknown (deceased)[6]
- Fourth Descender: Traveler[1]
Possible Descenders[]
Several historical figures who have come from outside Teyvat have been mentioned via books and in-game descriptions, but have not been definitely confirmed as one of the other three Descenders.
Lesser Lord Kusanali theorizes that the Heavenly Principles is the First Descender.[1] The Primordial One mentioned in Before Sun and Moon matches Apep's description of the Heavenly Principles[12] and Neuvillette's description of the "First Usurper."[13] This entity came from outside of Teyvat, took power from the Seven Sovereigns, suppressed the old order, and established the world in its current state.[11] An unknown amount of time ago, the Heavenly Principles and "one who came after"[14] used the Third Descender's remains to create the Gnoses.[6]
Before Sun and Moon also mentions the Second Who Came, or the "second throne of the heavens," who was the next entity to come from beyond this world. They waged war against the Heavenly Principles, which wreaked massive destruction throughout the world and caused Enkanomiya to sink underwater. However, the book's author surmises the Second Who Came lost, attributing the Enkanomiyans' inability to return to the surface to the Heavenly Principles's power.[11]
Other External Beings[]
Little is known about beings external to Teyvat, and because information about Descenders was initially conflated with information about all outlanders, the following information is extrapolated from known examples of non-Descender outlanders.
Unlike Descenders, "regular" outlanders cannot change Teyvat's fate and cannot transcend the gods, specifically the Heavenly Principles and Celestia. Khaenri'ahns may have developed a method for distinguishing Descenders from ordinary outlanders,[15] but depending on the circumstances surrounding the Traveler's sibling, this method may be fallible.[16][Note 1]
Notably, the Traveler's sibling is not presently considered a Descender.[1] 500 years ago, they were touted as the one who would "bring new strength and hope to Khaenri'ah," but things went awry and resulted in the cataclysm, which ultimately doomed the kingdom.[16] Furthermore, their travels throughout Teyvat following the fall of Khaenri'ah have been recorded in Irminsul, leading Nahida to conclude that they originate from Teyvat; the Traveler suspects that either their memories are wrong, or "this world" has done something to their sibling.[1] Scaramouche later divulges that Khaenri'ah might be the reason why records of the Sibling exist in Irminsul.[2]
The All-Devouring Narwhal was brought to Teyvat by Surtalogi as a pet and eventually became a vehicle for the prophecy of Fontaine in the present day. Its consumption of the Primordial Sea's waters and subsequent defeat at the Traveler and Neuvillette's hands caused the prophesied flood, although the predicted dissolution of all Fontainians was averted due to Neuvillette's intervention.[17][18]
While Aloy is technically from another world and her Collected Miscellany calls her the first outlander Alice has seen "in centuries,"[19] as a collaboration character, she has not been integrated into the Genshin Impact storyline.
Trivia[]
- Other powerful individuals have exhibited qualities shared by Descenders and outlanders, but their origins currently remain unclear:
- Alice is an "unaging,"[20][Note 2] nigh-omnipotent witch capable of traveling to, and bringing back mementos from, other worlds.[21][22] She also narrates Aloy and Wanderer's Collected Miscellanies in Dainsleif's place; Aloy does not come from this world and Wanderer erased himself from Irminsul, suggesting that Dainsleif cannot comment on their abilities but Alice can.
- Alice's Descender-like qualities may be related to her duty of guarding Teyvat's "borders."[23] It also allows her to "see this world and everything that lives in it from a lot of different perspectives" and also grants her "special privileges," which she mentions in the context of Teyvat's "rules" but does not elaborate on.[24]
- Nicole Reeyn, another member of the Hexenzirkel like Alice, is far older than the hundreds-of-years-old Barbeloth and appears to be immune to changes in Irminsul, or at least aware that changes to Irminsul were made.[25]
- Alice is an "unaging,"[20][Note 2] nigh-omnipotent witch capable of traveling to, and bringing back mementos from, other worlds.[21][22] She also narrates Aloy and Wanderer's Collected Miscellanies in Dainsleif's place; Aloy does not come from this world and Wanderer erased himself from Irminsul, suggesting that Dainsleif cannot comment on their abilities but Alice can.
Notes[]
- ↑ Chlothar's words to the Traveler's sibling and the conferment of a royal title on them have been interpreted to mean that Khaenri'ahns believed them to be a long-awaited Descender.
- ↑ Given that Venti narrated his encounter with Alice and Klee as if it were a two-line story, it is unclear if Venti meant "unaging" in a literal sense or if he used the word for illustrative purposes.
Other Languages[]
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Descender | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 降临者 Jiànglín-zhě | Descender |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 降臨者 Jiànglín-zhě | |
| Japanese | 降臨者 Kourin-sha | Descender |
| Korean | 강림자 Gangrimja | Descender |
| Spanish | (DescendidoDescendido/ | Descended One |
| French | (DescendeurDescendeur/ | Descender |
| Russian | (СошедшийСошедший/ (Soshedshiy/ | Descended One |
| Thai | ผู้มาเยือน Phu Ma Yuean | Visitor |
| Vietnamese | Kẻ Đổ Bộ | Outlander |
| German | Ankömmling | Incomer |
| Indonesian | Descender | — |
| Portuguese | (DescidoDescido/ | Descended One |
| Turkish | Gökten Gelen | One Who Came From The Skies |
| Italian | Discendente | Descendant |
Change History[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Archon Quest, Chapter III, Act V - Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises, Part 5: A Toast to Victory
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Archon Quest, Interlude Chapter, Act III - Inversion of Genesis, Part 1: The Night-Bird Falls at the Curtain's Call
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Interactable, The Narzissenkreuz Ordo: Notes #1
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter III, Act V - Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises, Part 4: Where the Boat of Consciousness Lies
- ↑ Archon Quest, Interlude Chapter, Act III - Inversion of Genesis, Part 3: The Kabukimono's Finale
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Archon Quest, Chapter IV, Act V - Masquerade of the Guilty, Part 6: Finale
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter IV, Act IV - Cataclysm's Quickening, Part 4: Calamitous Tread
- ↑ Quest Item: Enigmatic Page (IX)
- ↑ Interactable: Log
- ↑ World Quest, In the Wake of Narcissus: Act III - Waking from the Great Dream: Waking from the Great Dream
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Book: The Byakuyakoku Collection, Vol. 2 - Before Sun and Moon
- ↑ Story Quest, Nahida, Sapientia Oromasdis Chapter: Act II - Homecoming, Part 2: What Shape Does the Self Hold
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter IV, Act IV - Cataclysm's Quickening, Part 4: Calamitous Tread
Neuvillette: They say that when the First Usurper arrived on Teyvat, they seized a part of the dragons' power. Today, that stolen power is the basis of the Archons' Authorities. - ↑ Neuvillette's Character Story: Vision
- ↑ Book: Perinheri (I)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Archon Quest, Chapter III, Act VI - Caribert, Part 4: Portended Fate
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter IV, Act V - Masquerade of the Guilty, Part 5: The Opera of Noirceur and Blancheur
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter IV, Act V - Masquerade of the Guilty, Part 3: Hunters, Prophets
- ↑ YouTube: Collected Miscellany - "Aloy: Mystical Glow of Frost"
- ↑ Event Summertime Odyssey Quest: I - The Golden Apple Vacation Returns!, Part 1: The Golden Apple Vacation Returns!
- ↑ Barbara's Character Story: Alice's Idol Magazine
- ↑ World Quest, The Chasm Delvers: The Heavenly Stone's Debris (Zhiqiong quotes Alice's reference to the Rubicon.)
- ↑ Wind Glider: Wings of Feasting
- ↑ YouTube: Collected Miscellany - "Wanderer: Any Way the Wind Blows"
- ↑ Archon Quest, Interlude Chapter, Act III - Inversion of Genesis, Part 4: As Though Morning Dew
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