Sarah Burgess

Anastasya: Frostcrown Revival Tsaritsa of All Snezhnaya #GenshinImpact #Anastasya About the Tsaritsa's past... Anastasya is a spirit born of frost. Her days spent in Monomakh's service at the court of the Pale Star were as gentle and beautiful as the auroras of Snezhnaya. Yet like the aurora itself, they too would eventually fade one morning, slipping forever beyond her reach. After being resurrected by the Heavenly Principles, Anastasya wandered through the wind and snow for centuries, searching for the past she had lost and seeking to unravel the mysteries of this cruel world. She came to understand with painful clarity that even her own emotions and feelings were nothing more than tools that could be manipulated at will. And so, once she could confirm that the person she used to be had at least truly understood and felt love deeply, she stopped searching. For that was enough. About the Tsaritsa's present... She trusts neither her memories nor her own feelings. Yet that doubt would strip a ruler of the decisiveness she must possess. She has every reason to resent for what she had suffered, should every reason to settle the debts of past grudges. Yet that rage would strip a ruler of the reason they must possess. And so, she casts aside her past and chooses to live only in the present. Anastasya never takes her eyes off the sword hanging over them all. Someone has to do it. Someone must do it. For the sake of Snezhnaya and the entire world, she must always make the best decisions in the name of the Pale Star. Her decisions are sometimes cold, sometimes harsh. Yet those among her people who still choose to draw close to her can always see through to the gentle warmth beneath. About the Tsaritsa's future... Checkmate is not where the game ends. She knows that against the Heavenly Principles, even our "King" is just another ordinary piece on the board. Should the day come when a "sacrifice" becomes a necessary move... "I have taken my place on the board. Triumph or ruin, I shall see it through."

#GenshinImpact #Anastasya "... I still recall the first time I played chess against Her Majesty — in the pauses between her moves, my mind would wander... 'My liege, my cold and austere Tsaritsa, why do your eyes always conceal such profound and inescapable sorrow?'" — "Witch J" Ioanna Ivanovna, in her memoirs penned during her later years ◆Name: Anastasya ◆Title: Frostcrown Revival ◆Tsaritsa of All Snezhnaya ◆ Gnosis: Cryo ◆Constellation: Autocratrix Anastasis

#GenshinImpact #Alyosha "Some ailments cannot be cured by goodwill alone — we all know that, living on this land as we do. But his passion really can melt the snow that has settled in people's hearts." — Odette ◆ Name: Alyosha ◆ Title: Swift-Striding Hound ◆ Winter Hunter ◆ Vision: Electro ◆ Constellation: Canis Borzoides

Sandrone: Mirrored Analysis The Seventh of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers #GenshinImpact #Sandrone "Today, we gather here with heavy hearts to mourn our friend... "... Though the world took so much from her throughout her life, she chose to save it nevertheless. And even though she gave so much to those she called her friends, we have no choice but to bid farewell to her in this way... "May she rest in peace in her homeland, where she shall lie reunited with those she had loved and lost... "May we meet again one day, in another land, at her tea party."

#GenshinImpact #Sandrone "This world is beautiful, more beautiful than you or I can imagine. So go. Do what you want to do, and seek out your own desires, my child. Just remember, your life belongs to you." — Alain Guillotin's last words "You would always say nasty things and act indifferent... But I've always known you to be brave, kind, and strong... You will always be my best friend." — Columbina, bidding farewell to Sandrone's remains ◆ Name: Sandrone ◆ Title: Mirrored Analysis ◆ The Seventh of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers ◆ Stellar Linchpin: Cryo ◆ Constellation: Narcissorolegium

Prune: Childlike Dreams Cherished The Littlest "Witch Hunter," Guided by Precocious Reason #GenshinImpact #Prune Recently, you might have run into a special visitor with a rather defiant look on the streets of Mondstadt. This little Hunter is in the middle of the most important phase of her life, the "hunting phase." Possessing insight and wisdom far beyond her years, she calmly observes and analyzes all around her, as though she has long discerned the fundamental laws that govern the world. This young lady, bearing the heavy weight of her fate upon her shoulders, has pursued her quarry all the way from distant Nod-Krai. Sworn to seek justice from the legendary "monstrous lord" Alice, she carries a worn book filled with her notes on witches and countless battle strategies. Clearly, she has been preparing for the upcoming clash for quite some time, and marching toward it with a steady, heroic resolve no less. When Prune first arrived in Mondstadt, she spent a night plastering the city with dozens of "writs of retribution" targeting Alice. So sharp was the prose, and so raw her indignation, that anyone caught in the crosshairs would have been rightly and thoroughly shamed. However, in this city-state filled with the winds of freedom, it seemed no one took her "declaration of revenge" seriously. Some thoughtful Mondstadters even put up Good Hunter's daily discount coupons alongside her posters, lest this Hunter from afar be too hungry to carry out her vengeance. "Drats. Even turning the public against her hasn't worked. Don't tell me she's right and... I'll actually have to..." Just as she was sinking into self-doubt, staring at the discount coupons, a little girl in red burst into view. "Come on, Prune," she said, beaming, "Let's go on a biiiiig adventure together!" Was she really waiting for her prey to appear? Or had she, without realizing it, already fallen into a trap of tenderness the Great Witch had carefully laid for her — a trap called "returning to the innocence of childhood"?

#GenshinImpact #Prune "Dear Klee: Mommy knows that Big Brother Albedo's busy with research, Big Brother Mini Durin's busy studying, and Uncle Varka's being watched closely by Acting Grand Master Jean, so none of them can spend all day playing with you... But don't worry! There's a big sister named Prune who's heard some things Mommy said and is now heading to Mondstadt. She always says complicated stuff, sure. But she's just like you — at the perfect age to have carefree fun. Mommy just knows you two will become great friends!" — Alice, in a letter to Klee ◆ Name: Prune ◆ Title: Childlike Dreams Cherished ◆ The Littlest "Witch Hunter," Guided by Precocious Reason ◆ Vision: Anemo ◆ Constellation: Turris Venefica

Lohen: Sharpened Arrowhead Vice Captain of the Knights of Favonius Ranged Company #GenshinImpact #Lohen Although Lohen is the vice captain of the ranged company, he rarely uses his bow. Those who travel with him for the first time are always struck by this: while his teammates are still forming up in the rear with crossbows and muskets, the young knight — who should be taking cover — has already charged past the line, spear in hand, meeting the most dangerous enemies head-on. Knights who asked the members of the ranged company why Lohen did this usually received two answers: As long as he stands on the front line, no enemy can get close, and everyone else can confidently provide fire support. And when he charges forward, no enemy can hold their position — he becomes the sharpest arrow in the entire company. When asked, Lohen himself gave a simple answer: "Most of the time, stabbing with my spear is faster and more accurate than firing an arrow." To Lohen, there is no such thing as a superior weapon or tactic — only what works best. If the situation calls for a hidden shot, he uses a bow. If it calls for a direct strike, he takes up his spear. Though nothing quite compares to the feel of a spear tip piercing through armor, efficiency always comes first. Ambushes, poison, surprise attacks, infiltration... So long as they secure victory, he makes full use of them all. It's just that when he needs to strike from the shadows, he tends not to leave any witnesses. Because of this, the image most people have of him is a fleeting figure on the battlefield — rushing forward with weapon in hand, swift and unrelenting. Like an arrow or a bullet tearing through the air, only deadlier, and far harder to evade.

#GenshinImpact #Lohen "...I am well aware of your decision and the misgivings of our many colleagues. Having such a knight join the expedition would indeed cover various shortcomings our force suffers from. The only question is: How am I supposed to keep an eye on both of you at the same time?" — From Seamus Pegg's reply to Varka on the expedition's eve ◆ Name: Lohen ◆ Title: Sharpened Arrowhead ◆ Vice Captain of the Knights of Favonius Ranged Company ◆ Vision: Cryo ◆ Constellation: Lepus Miles

#GenshinImpact #Nicole ..."Editor of Magical Memory Bubbles,""Staunch Supporter of Squirrels," "A Super-Creative Who Needs Only Think to Get Things Done"... "Alice? Why are the titles on the spell formula getting longer and longer?" — Thus did a voiceless mage protest, albeit in vain. ◆ Name: Nicole ◆ Title: Clamor Within ◆ The Silent "Mage," the Voiceless "Angel" ◆ Vision: Pyro ◆ Constellation: Reliquiarium

Nicole: Clamor Within The Silent "Mage," the Voiceless "Angel" #GenshinImpact #Nicole Many of the stories Nicole envisions begin with a phrase as old as stories themselves: "Long, long ago..." Perhaps, for some authors, "long ago" is less the threshold of a tale than a refuge from all further questioning. For once a story is consigned to unreachable distance, all the people and events bound up within it may as well have faded into obscurity, leaving no path by which the present might truly follow them back. And yet, in Nicole's thoughts, those stories of "long ago" endure still. Long ago, the lights of many nations filigreed the earth in gleaming gold. Long ago, the daughters of heaven wandered in carefree grace betwixt divine courts and mortal cities. Long ago, the sovereign of ages past, who had descended into deepest darkness, had not yet brought disaster back to his homeland. Long ago, the three radiant moons that hung aloft in the night heavens were still three... The years brook no pause, the wheel spinning onward all the same. Within a cycle emptied of hope, the spark of paradise perished alongside the lives annihilated. Servitors once loyal to their ruler turned traitor for the sake of the lives that had been fashioned. The black dragonlord returned from beyond the stars. The moonlit chariot of the heavens shattered like crystal... The story had not reached its end. Rather, it was those who had once read it, and those who had once listened to its telling, who had long since taken their leave. The angel who once longed to write laughter into the world lost all that had once made laughter possible. In the end, she even lost the voice with which she laughed, and could speak no more. Thus, it seemed that the story Nicole kept within her would never properly find its beginning. She could only go on cradling her many "long agos," roaming the world and watching as all things passed, changed, and were remade by time. That remained so until the day she met a tiny mage in an enormous hat, its extravagant brim tipped up with such pride it seemed almost ready to brush the sky. Compared with the hat she wears now, however, it was still a fair few sizes smaller. The little witch tucked herself down at Nicole's side and listened intently as one story after another unfolded, not stirring until she had finished her drink and emptied her bag of biscuits. "So you really are an angel? And all those stories were real, too?" "Then yay, that works! I'm a mage, and you're an angel, so we match perfectly." The merry little mage stretched out a hand to the angel who had come so far, all the way from those distant "long agos," and warmly invited her along. "Want to join my Hexenzirkel? I only just came up with the name, but it has a real ring to it, don't you think?" "It's going to be the funnest, awesomest, best club in all of Teyvat — I promise!" "..." No answer came from the angel. None could. But the little mage did not wait for one. She caught the angel's hand in both of her own and slipped the last piece of candy into her palm. "There. Now our mages' pact is made." Nicole had no thought of joining then, nor could she have guessed what this little gathering called the "Hexenzirkel" would one day grow into. But at the very least... It did sound like a place with happiness enough to spare.

Linnea Advisor for the Adventurers' Guild #GenshinImpact #Linnea Children born into this world often begin by seeing themselves at its very center. The realization of the rift between themselves and the world often marks the end of childhood. But what if that child is an inhuman creature living in human society? For her, the path to adulthood must be far more bitter. Sure, this is Nod-Krai, a paradise for the eccentric and monstrous. The children of the Conch Gang only cast out adults who've come of age, and the clients of the Adventurers' Guild couldn't care less who takes on their commissions. But true hardship is born of the self. Even the children of Nasha Town will grow up eventually. One day, they will succumb to the world's definition of who they are, tracing paths that were carved long before they arrived, through an illusory forest of endless possibilities. Henceforth, the vast expanse of "what could have been" withers into "what is." But for Linnea, such a choice is out of reach. And no one by her side can offer an answer to the one question that matters most. Fortunately, this world is vast. There are seven nations on the continent of Teyvat, six common types of fae on the tundra of Snezhnaya. Even the light itself may scatter into seven hues. But what lies beyond? Atop the peaks where clouds take wing, and beneath the reaches of the crashing waves, countless lives dwell in ecosystems and domains unknown to humankind — strange, beautiful, uncatalogued. They belong to no compendium and fit into no established category. And that which defies classification holds within it the breath of infinite possibility. And so, Linnea sets out on her adventure. As long as she keeps moving, perhaps she could traverse every possible path before fate has the chance to catch up. This is Linnea's unique way of connecting with the world.

#GenshinImpact #Linnea "I was under the impression that the wicked mischief of changelings had long since become legend with the end of fae rule. That is, until I met that lively Lady Adventurer after a performance one day... She brought me the most wondrous voices from different corners of the world. Unlike those stuffy old folks in the tundra, she's far more interesting!" — Vodyanitsa, Prima Soprano of the Korolevskiy Troupe ◆ Name: Linnea ◆ Title: Augur of Wonders ◆ Advisor for the Adventurers' Guild ◆ Moon Wheel: Geo ◆ Constellation: Alcyon