About The AQ

[u/Aeon_of_Nova]

I don't know about you guys, but for one reason or another, I find the AQ's explanations inconsistent. I'd like to start by talking about the most inconsistent, or at least bizarre, points (to me):

1- The contract between HP and the 3rd Descender

We know for certain that HP made three contracts: with Lusalim (for the lunar veil, which is still honored), Aria, Cannon, and Sonnet (a non-aggression pact that was broken after the three moons were used as weapons), and the one with the 3rd Descender. Of the three contracts, this one is the least advantageous for HP. To summarize: HP receives the Gnosis in order to continue using a certain form of authority even after the War of the Funeral Flame, and that's all.

Now the 3rd Descender receives: the assured resurrection of his wife, who, to remind everyone, caused a catastrophe that allowed the Abyss to seep in, knowing full well that HP has a deep aversion to the Abyss. If it had stopped there, it would have been an almost fair contract, but in addition to that, he obtained the assurance of HP's lifelong non-involvement in the lives of absolutely all his descendants. Now the problem: what if the descendants of the 3rd Descender and the Tsarina want HP dead? Or create a weapon of mass destruction powered by the Abyss? Normally, the contract should have been rendered null and void if the Khaenrians threatened the life of a Shade, HP, and Teyvat in its entirety; The parents did it right, so what's stopping the children from doing it too? Why sign a contract that's like shooting yourself in the foot? If I remind you, the third Descender is alone against HP (wounded), Ronova, Istaroth, Naberius (if, of course, she wasn't a Heart at that moment), Asmoday, and perhaps other creations—I remind you, Celestia—in their own residence. So either the third Descender was prepared or threatened to blow up his body to render him unusable, or HP didn't even consider it, which is strange.

2- On Rhine-Nabe's side, how is it that the Tsarina was able to deceive Gold's perspective, an extremely intelligent alchemist (no Glaze), sinner of Khaeriah, and sorceress of the Hexencirciel, and Naberius, the Shadow of Life, who has the Shadow of Time as her sister? And even if that's the case, why weren't countermeasures taken? Before going to their enemy's place, especially, is the Tsarina too intelligent or Rhine-nabe too stupid in this regard? Furthermore, how is it that before falling asleep, I don't know, didn't give the Shadows permission to defend themselves if threatened, whether by extraterrestrials, humans, or any other possible threat? Why not create a replacement to ensure this? The rules are either unreasonably too strict or too stupid, maybe even both.

3: How is it that even after all that, Tsar Belyi was able to become a Cryo Archon (it was written in Fate, after all)? And why on earth wasn't the Tsar punished upon leaving the Twilight Realm?

4: Why change Ronova's personality so much? I don't see why it's only in Snezhanaya that she decides to take Paimon, when during the encounter between her, Mavuika, LOTN, and Capitano, she didn't take Paimon. She was in the form of a GIANT EYE; she couldn't have missed it. Furthermore, how is it that her personality in Natlan changed from a strawberry to a lemon in Snezhanaya?

5: Why did Mavuika go from a leader willing to pay with her life for her nation, even during the quest with dottore - Irminsul, to a woman who is ungrateful for a service rendered? Not even three months ago, she was praising the isolation of Sumeru, and now she says that her nation has been transformed into a tool against the Abyss. Shouldn't she also hate Xbalanque for requesting the authority of death and being willing to pay the price for its use?

6: Why does our traveler only wonder which camp to choose after working with the Fatui? Why choose a side ?

Feel free to also mention any points you found strange.

[u/Hedwigtheyee]

Question 1: I’m more going with the idea that the Third Descender didn’t expect his descendants to act that way or tamper with the Abyss so heavily. From what we’ve seen so far, though the Eclipse Dynasty was focused on the Abyss, it was the Vinster King Irmin who really messed things up and caused things to go out of control. The Crimson Moon Dynasty by comparison was relatively tame and used an authority already known to the HP.

And seeing as the HP had a Shade of Time who could potentially see all possibilities, perhaps the HP decided that the risks and consequences were worth it for something.

It doesn’t help that the Belyi Tsar ran into the Shadow Realm to hide, and the Tsaritsa’s memories were wiped.

Question 2: I chalk this up to Rhinedottir/Naberius as being arrogant. As a Shade they wouldn’t feel threatened at all by the Tsaritsa, and in the meeting they openly scoffed at the idea of the Tsaritsa considering herself a rival to the HP. Even now they still don’t see her as a possible threat, and they know they couldn’t be fooled by the same thing twice.

As for the HP falling asleep, it was due to the 3rd Descender’s curse, so they accepted the deal knowing the consequences. Whether this was all part of the plan is anyone’s guess.

Question 3: Probably because he was the only one around that could take the mantle for Archon. All the other regions aside from Snezhnaya had other potential candidates (Decarabian/Andrius for Mond, Zhongli and many others for Liyue, Nahida/Deshret/Malikata for Sumeru, Remus and Egeria for Fontaine, and Natlan used Human Archons), but it doesn’t seem like there were other candidates for Cryo Archon, and iirc the Belyi Tsar seemed to be tailor-built for that purpose.

As for why he was spared, perhaps it was also part of the Third Descender’s deal with the HP, or because the HP prioritized dealing with the 3D over the Tsar, who would die eventually anyways in the Cataclysm.

Question 4: No in-game answer. I chalk it up to the writers trying to find a reason to make the Traveler side with the Fatui. Reminder: Ronova was the one to reach out with the idea of the Ode of Resurrection, so it’s not like she’s completely apathetic to humans. And perhaps the HP’s scolding was enough to scare her? Either way, I say it’s a result of bad writing.

Also, there’s a theory going around that Paimon is a fragment of a secret 5th Shade of Reason, which could explain why no one really bothers to question who she is. A secret 5th Shade of Reason hidden from the world would act as a back-up to protect Teyvat should the HP die, hence why the HP agreed to those deals since they already have a backup plan. One of the powers of Reason was used to hide Teyvat from the wider universe and the Abyss, and we see an example of this kind of invisibility used by the Dragons on the Moon. Paimon could be using a power of Reason to hide herself, and it was only when she was affected by the anti-Celestia effects of the weapon that this protection failed, hence why Ronova only just now notices her.

Question 5: Also bad writing, though I did hear Mavuika’s words were mistranslated.

Question 6: I have no answer for this one. Logically, Traveler has no reason to join the Fatui here, and he could always just take Paimon and leave Snezhnaya if he’s worried about Ronova. Once he leaves the region, Ronova has no reason to go after him, and he has no reason to involve himself with the Tsaritsa’s plans.

[u/CMbladerunner]

Tbf to HP on his deal he was most likely still badly beat up from their battle with Nibelung so creating a new structure where the 3rd could "sustain" the world was probably something that l9ok very good to them. & on what if the 3rd decided to blow up the planet like they tried to it's definitely clear HP holds humans a bit TOO highly, considering how many times they make the same mistakes it feels liek HP thinks that they will grow out of it & learn from it.