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[THE NATION OF MONDSTADT]
(General Overview)
One of the Seven Nations of Teyvat that worships the Anemo Archon Barbatos, a title now held firmly by Artoria.
The nation was once mostly a pastoral agrarian nation until Artoria took the reigns of Grandmaster and rolled in the reforms which slowly transformed it into a burgeoning power within Teyvat.
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[Brief History of Mondstadt]
(Around the time of the Funerary Year)
The earliest recorded civilization to had been established within the area that is now present day country of Mondstadt was the Kingdom of Sal Vindagnyr, a once thriving civilization established upon a large bountiful green mountain they once called as Vindagnyr (present day Dragonspine before it was snow covered).
The civilization thrived for countless years, there was even a time where Celestia itself was moored above the City. However, about approximately 6000 years ago, for some unknown reason, one of the several Celestial Nails under the control of the Heavenly Principles known as the Skyfrost Nail was casted down into the mountain kingdom covering it with ice and snow, killing the once verdant environment and most of its inhabitants.
Imunlaukr, an outlander who once inhabited the now desolated kingdom, was one of the few, if not the only recorded survivor. He would become disillusioned with Celestia's action and would subsequent leave the area. His descendents would go on to establish the Imunlaukr Clan, one of the founding clans of Mondstadt.
(Old Mondstadt Period)
Thousands of years ago, two civilizations were established on two different locations of what is now modern day Mondstadt.
An ancient civilization was founded in the Windwail Highland area amd were known for the creation of the Cecilia Garden, where its people grew Cecilia flowers in greenhouses.
Another ancient civilization was built at Starsnatch Cliff whose people established the Sommernachtgarten. When the civilization fell, the Sommernachtgarten was buried underground and became Midsummer Courtyard Domain.
Sometime afterwards, two gods would emerge from the region and would do battle to claim dominance. They were Boreas, known as the King of the North Wind, and Decarabian, the Lord of the Storms and Towers.
Boreas established a foothold in an area that would later become Wolvendom, while Decarabian established a city named (Old) Mondstadt, in the area now known as Stormterror's Lair. His territory would later expand conquering the areas of Brightcrown Mountains and Windwail Highlands.
Throughout the next hundreds of years, the two gods would repeatedly clash against one another. Boreas through his elemental abilities would cover the land in snow and frost, while Decarabian erected a storm wall around his city to protect his dominion from his rival's blizzards.
(The Archon War and the Age of Kings)
More than 3700 years ago, Seven Divine seats in Celestia opened up, causing the gods from all over Teyvat to become embroiled in a bloody battle royal to determine who gets to sit upon one of these seven thrones.
As nations and gods burn all across Teyvat, the situation up north in what would later become the modern day nation of Mondstadt was mostly dominated by the long standing feud between Boreas and Decarabian. This period of conflict and long standing stalemate between the two rivaled gods was known as the Age of Kings.
The war between the two formidable deities turned the entire land into a desolated wasteland of frost and snow, while Decarbian's people back in old Mondstadt began seeing their god as a tyrant due their long term 'imprisonment' behind the storm walls.
It was during this time, that an entire clan would escape from Decarbian's city and venture out into the snowy wilderness wherein they would meet a small Wind Spirit who would guide them in establishing their first settlement around the area now known as the Thousand Winds Temple. That clan would later be know as the Gunnhildr Clan.
The small Wind Spirit would then later met and befriend a Nameless Bard who was one of the citizens who served under Decarabian. Together, along with their allies, the two would enact a rebellion that would eventually topple the ancient god and his tyrannical regime.
Around the same time, Boreas had chosen to give up his physical form after seeing how much his powers had cause great suffering throughout the land. His spirit however remained.
With the two long rivals now gone, the Wind Spirit, was declared by Celestia as the winner and was given one of the Seven Divine Seats. He was given the authority of the element of Anemo, encased inside a relic named a gnosis, causing the Wind Spirit to ascend, thus becoming The Anemo Archon Barbatos who then took the form of his friend the Nameless Bard who unfortunately died during the rebellion.
Barbatos would then led the survivors from Decarabian's city and established a new settlement upon the shores of Cider Lake. The entire area that was once ravaged by the feud between Boreas and Decarabian would fall under his authority, establishing the Nation of Mondstadt with the clans Gunnhildr, Lawrence and Imunlaukr serving as the prominent pillars of this newly born nation.
Using his divinely ordained powers over the wind, Barbatos would transform the once desolated icy wasteland into a verdant and fertile landscape. After a years of supervising his domain, Barbatos would depart and would go into one of his long deep slumbers.
(The Aristocratic Period)
Before Barbatos departed, he blessed each of the clan whose lineages were derived from great heroes of old. With his blessings, these clans would rise to prominence and positions of power, and would led the newly born nation into a new era. Among these clans, the most prominent were the Lawrence Clan, the Gunnhildr Clan, and the Imunlaukr Clan.
Venerare, who was the leader of the Lawrence Clan at the time, was the one to commission the first giant Statue of Barbatos in front of the Favonius Cathedral to commemorate their Archon's descent. Beneath the statue was an inscription written by the leaders of each of the clans, pledging their lives to the defense of Mondstadt.
It is worth mentioning that during this time, the people of Mondstadt worshipped both Barbatos and Istaroth . However, at some point, the worship of Istaroth was seemingly forgotten by the people of Mondstadt.
During these first decades of the Aristocracy's rule many of the festivals and customs practiced today in Mondstadt were enacted, initially for the betterment of the common folk. Such activities and festivities included:
- Hunting, a regular hobby of the aristocracy in which they worked alongside the common people and shared the spoils.
- Ludi Harpastum, a 15-day festival which celebrates the blessings of wine, song, and flight Barbatos bestowed upon the people of Mondstadt.
- Windblume, a festival that celebrates the Thousand Winds. The Thousand Winds was initially a title given to Istaroth but was later associated to that of Barbatos.
- Weinlesefest, an annual festival that celebrates the return of the Anemo Archon when the west wind blows every fall during the harvest season.
After hundreds of years of rule, some of the clans became corrupted with greed and power. Prominent among these clans was the Lawrence Clan who unfortunately became the foremost clan in Mondstadt and would eventually become the main rulers of the city and the nation. As the years go by, they grew increasingly corrupted and fell into degeneracy, eventually becoming tyrants themselves who enslaved and tormented the common people while viewing themselves as overlords and kings.
Not all clans however, followed the path of the Lawrence Clan. The Gunnhildr Clan, maintained their honor and dignity, and continued the old ways of their heroic ancestors.
The aristocracy continued their downward spiral into hedonism and degeneracy as time progresses. Things got so bad that some members of the aristocracy started to employ various methods to control the people or to keep them ignorant from the reality of the situation happening within Mondstadt.
Anyone who poses a threat to their reign were either enslaved and used for labor or entertainment (namely thrown into the Gladiatorial Arena which the nobility had erected from the ruins of the once sacred Temple of the Thousand Winds). Knowledge of the past was suppressed, and cultural and historical relics that would point towards the truth were either taken down or destroyed. Such was the fate that had befallen the First Giant Statue of Barbatos in front of Mondstadt's Cathedral, it was torn down and a monument celebrating the glory of the Aristocracy was erected in its place.
The Starlit Knights, the knightly order at the time, served the aristocracy and upheld its degeneracy, becoming their overlords' brutal enforcers, causing untold misery and oppression towards the common folk.
The Royal Mages of Mondstadt, the once hailed Paramounts of Arcane sorcery, no longer instilled virtue in the nobles, and instead helped them keep the people ignorant. The Church also used their influence to justify the aristocracy's actions and keep the commoners from realizing the truth, which eventually led to a schism within the Holy Institution.
It was during the height of this turmoil about one thousand years ago, that a monster would appear in Mondstadt and would start to terrorize and eat countless numbers of its people. That monster was Ursa the Drake, a rouge dragon that took advantage of the growing unrest of Mondstadt for its own benefit.
Ursa would burn villages and towns to the ground while feeding on the unfortunate villagers. The Aristocracy didn't have much of a thought to this creature as long as it didn't terrorize the capital city.
Ursa would continue his killing spree all across Mondstadt, sparing only the city and some major settlements. It was during this time that the monster came across the wandering tribe of Muratans, a split nomadic group from Natlan's elusive seventh tribe.
Ursa would hound the tribe into starvation until the entire group found refuge inside the walls of the City of Mondstadt, wherein they would instead be enslaved by the Aristocracy and be used for manual labor, sports and even pleasure. One of the members of that tribe was a young woman named Vennessa.
(Vennessa's Rebellion and the Rebirth of Mondstadt)
Approximately 1000 years ago, after the celebration of that year's Ludi Harpastum, Barbatos who was in slumber for thousands of years had finally risen, awoken by the cries of his oppressed people.
He would then take up the disguise of a simple traveling bard and witnessed the extent of the damage the Aristocracy had inflicted upon Mondstadt.
Barbatos would then later guide a female gladiatorial slave named Vennessa who had earned the ire of one of the members of the Lawrence Clan. In a duel (orchestrated by the Lawrence Clan) that would decide the fate of her people, Vennessa fought Ursa the Drake outside the walls of the City of Mondstadt, in front of its citizenry. With the help of Barbatos, Vennessa would prevail, and Ursa was banished from Mondstadt.
Vennessa's victory over the rouge dragon ignited the fires of rebellion all across the lands of Mondstadt. People from every walks of life who had been oppressed and abuse by the Aristocracy took up arms and clashed against the Starlit Knights and other supporters of the ruling regime. A notable figure at that time who stood alongside Vennessa was a former knight who served the Aristocracy named Ragnvindr.
Barbatos also went out of his way to help further fan the flames of the rebellion albeit mischievously. Around some time during the rebellion, Barbatos secretly forged a fake contract between the Aristocracy and the Geo Archon Morax which stated the Aristocracy's willingness to sell the entirety of Mondstadt, along with its people and armies to Liyue. This document was 'discovered' by the people and was dubbed as the Treachery against the Wind and caused most of the troops that supported the Aristocracy to switch side and turn their blades against their former masters.
That document was later debunked by Historians to be fake, though they didn't know it was Barbatos himself who forged it, much tothe annoyance of Morax.
With most of Mondstadt now against them, the Aristocracy quickly lost their fire and were swifly defeated by the rebel forces led by Vennessa during one final battle around the gates of Mondstadt itself. When the dust settled, the amber-haired leader of the rebellion stood tall amongst the remnants of the Aristocracy's last bastion.
Mondstadt, after so many centuries, was once again Free.
After the rebellion was won, most of the Aristocratic clans led by the Lawrence Clan, including those who had collaborated with them, such as the royal mages and the Starlit Knights were exiled from Mondstadt. However, those noble houses who proved themselves uncorrupted, such as the Gunnhildr Clan, who were the first to support Vennessa's cause, were allowed to remain.
After the rebellion, Vennessa establishes the Knights of Favonius, with herself as its first Dandelion Knight and Grandmaster. She then restored the Church of Favonius and most of the other institutions stomped out during the Aristocracy's reign.
Some other personalities such as the knight Ragnvindr, would then convert one of the Aristocracy's symbol of decadence, the Large Indoor Boathouse into the Mondstadt's Library, the largest Library in the North.
After many years, the monument honoring the Aristocracy was turndown, and Barbatos' Statue was once again rebuilt infront of Mondstadt's Cathedral, although the original inscriptions at the base of the original statue was forever lost.
Years after Vennessa's rebellion, the first three seats of the Four Winds of Mondstadt were established, with Boreas as Wolf of the North, Dvalin as Dragon of the East and Vennessa as the Lion of the South.
Later during the end of her life, Vennessa ascended into Celestia at Windrise, becoming the Falcon of the West. A large great Oak tree grew from the spot where she ascended which still stands today. Subsequently, the position of Lion of the South became a hereditary office, handed down from one grandmaster to another.
(The Cataclysm)
Around 500 years ago, Mondstadt was enjoying a relatively peaceful era of peace. The Grandmaster at the time was Arundolyn, dubbed the Lion of Light, with his second in command being the exceptionally skilled knight and his close childhood friend Rostam, the Wolf Pup.
Rostam gained the title of Wolf Pup when he was 27 years old. Unlike the typical chivalrous knights, Rostam preferred doing dirty works in the shadows, without restraints of being a knight, so that his friend Arundolyn could remain a model knight. He was the shadow, while Arundolyn was the light.
Sometime when he was around 29 years old, Rostam met and fell in love with a young talented woman named Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter, who was a gifted practitioner of pyromancy. The two fell madly in love with one another, unfortunately, Rosalyn had to leave Mondstadt in order to pursue her studies in the Sumeru Akademiya, though not before Rostam promised her that he will marry her once she finished her studies.
Just a few short years later, darkness once again spread across Teyvat.
The Kingdom of Khaenri'ah, a kingdom located deep inside Teyvat and was founded by humans, through the sheer hubris and folly of those in charge, unleashed the might of the Abyss across the world.
Countless abyssal monsters ravage all corners of Teyvat, sparring no one in its wake. Mondstadt, at first was sparred due to its distance from Khaenri'ah, and Arundolyn together with Rostam took more than half of the Knights of Favonius Forces (about 4000 knights strong) and marched towards Khaenri'ah, hoping to aid in the defense of Teyvat. Unfortunately, the his actions would later haunt him and the rest of Mondstadt for while he was away, the Abyss would start its invasion of Mondstadt led by the Abyssal Dragon Durin, a creation of one of the Five Khaenri'an Sinners who were one of the architects of the disaster, the Mad Alchemist Gold otherwise known as Rhinedottir.
The remaining 2000 members of the Knightsof Favonius left behind in Mondstadt rallied in a desperate gamble to stop the invading forces. They met the forces of the Abyss at Dadaupa Gorge wherein the Knights of Favonius made a heroic stand. However, Durin and his abyssal forces were too strong and the Knights were cut down to the point that only 200 of them remained.
When all hope was lost, the Anemo Archon Barbatos arrived with the Dvalin and turned the tide of battle, in favor of Mondstadt. During the subsequent fight, with the help of Barbatos, Dvalin was able to kill Durin and hurled his remains towards Dragonspine. The Abyss retreated and Mondstadt was saved.
Dvalin, injured from the battle retreated to his lair in the ruins of Old Mondstadt, unaware of the miniscule abyssal corruption inflicted upon him by Durin before his death. The remaining 200 knights buried their fallen comrades in an area which would later become as the Forgotten Sword Cemetery. Barbatos then flew off towards Khaenri'ah, alongside five other Archons in order to aid Celestia in stopping the abyss.
After the a long grueling battle, the forces of Celestia and the Archons led by Heavenly Principles was able to overcome the Abyss, however, the Heavenly Principles was gravely injured and Fiveof the Seven Archons were killed. For their hubris, the Shades placed a cursed upon the Khaenri'ans, both the guilty and innocent, turning them into monsters and immortals condemned to forever wander the world without the touch of death.
The Expedition of the Knights of Favonius led by Arundolyn ended up being the worst disaster in the Order's history. Only 100 men out of the 4000 strong force survived. Rostam was killed and the Grandmaster Arundolyn himself was driven mad by grief by the sight of his dear friend and comrades being slaughtered in the middle of the battle.
The remaining survivors would then find Arundolyn near the gates of Khaenri'ah, broken while clutching the body of Rostam. The remaining knights would then bury the remains of their comrades just outside of Khaenri'ah and would take their weary and grief-stricken grandmaster back to Mondstadt.
(Post Cataclysm until the Present)
Months after the end of the Cataclysm, Arundolyn, who had now slightly regain his sanity, along with the 300 remaining Knights of Favonius members, sought out to rebuild Mondstadt and their depleted Order in the wake of the Cataclysm.
Unfortunately, after only a few months, Arundolyn suddenly quit being the Grandmaster and a knight, and left the Order for good. The trauma that he had just witnessed was too much for him to bare. An unnamed successor would then take the mantle of Grandmaster and would continue the slow rehabilitation of the Knights and Mondstadt, which in reality would take almost a century to achieve.
After a century of rebuilding under several Grandmasters, Mondstadt was able to regain a sense of normalcy, yet so much was lost after the Cataclysm.
The Knights of Favonius would try and fail multiple times to rebuild and reorganize their shattered Order. Discipline and morale were low, and recruitment was slow. Throughout the next centuries, weak, and sometimes incompetent individuals would led the Order, taking on the mantle of Grandmaster. These individual would further stir the now crumbling Order into further ruin. Throughout the centuries that would follow since the end of the Cataclysm, The Knights of Favonius became a laughing stock in the eyes of the other military organization outside of Mondstadt such as the Milileth and the Corps of the Thirty. Though some virtuous grandmasters did indeed tried their best to stop the rot within the Order and to rebuild it, none were ever successful.
This particular period in the history of the Order was known by many in Mondstadt as the Time of Shame.
Around 200 years before the present, a Lochfolk from Fontaine had arrived in Mondstadt and made Springvale her home with her identity hidden from most of the townsfolk. She would then occasionally bless the waters of the town turning them into a pure refreshing dew that was best use in making wine and fruit juices. For her contribution, people of Springvale would call her the Spring Fairy.
Around 495 years after the Cataclysm, the reigning Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius, Jericho, one of the few outstanding grandmasters since the time of Arundolyn, would mysteriously die from 'old age' after holding the mantle of leadership for almost 40 years, the longest reign ever recorded in the Order's history. One of his two students, a man named Randolf Gunnhildr, would be chosen as the next Grandmaster, over Jericho's preferred student Frederica Gunnhildr.
Randolf was a very disturbed individual even before he joined the Order. He was part of the Gunnhildr Clan, although his bloodline is already far from that of the main branch of the clan. He was ambitious even as a child, and would go on to murder his own parents due to some selfish and petty reasons.
It turned out that Randolf was actually the one who caused the death of his old mentor, for he poisoned Jericho using a sublte and deadly concoction imported from Sumeru, after the Old Master had found out about Randolf's numerous shady dealings with several local gangs of treasure hoarders and bandits all across Mondstadt.
Randolf would then go on to leeched out of the Order, using its resources to enrich himself and degrading the Knights by turning some of them into his personal body guards. Those who opposed him were shamefully disgraced and kicked out of the Order. Those who unfortunately would earn his personal ire would simply 'vanished' either by accident or due to some unfortunate events. Such cruelty can be seen when Randolf ordered the assassination of Frederica's husband Seamus Pegg as a sort of petty revenge against Frederica for previously not accepting his marriage proposal towards her.
Randolf's reigned for almost 7 years, and during that time the membership of the Knights of Favonius had plummeted from the 5000 strong established by the late Grandmaster Jericho down to just about 2000, with many disillusioned knights quiting the Order, unable to look at the blatant corruption of Randolf's regime.
Being Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius wasn't enough for Randolf. He wanted more, he wanted the riches, fame and glory of the Gunnhildr Clan all to himself, a delusional thought that he had nurtured since he was a child.
To achieve this, he would then plot to eliminate Frederica and her two daughters in order to acquire the status of Head of the Gunnhildr Clan, as well as the riches of the said clan. He carefully observed Frederica's movements and coordinated with a notorious bandit group hiding in the hills of Starfell Valley to spy on her. His plan was set in motion when Frederica took her daughters with her to a planned trip to Springvale, with only a few household staff accompanying her.
Their carriage and wagon carts were ambushed, the household servants killed, and Frederica died after being overpowered by the bandit leader, all the while protecting her daughters. Her last act of maternal love that she rarely showed towards them.
The plan was supposed to succeed until an unexpected event occured. One that would not only put an end to Randolf's schemes but would also send ripples across Mondstadt.
For at exactly 500 years after the Cataclysm, a mysterious person, an all powerful goddess from another world, suddenly found herself in one of the cliffs overlooking Starfell Valley. Her arrival and her subsequent encounter with the orphaned Gunnhildr children would set in motion a series of events that would drag Mondstadt out of its quagmire and usher in the long awaited rebirth of the nation.
Mondstadt's First and Greatest Golden Age had finally began.
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[Geography and Demographics]
The entire country of Mondstadt is divided into several regions, the Five most prominent are:
A).Brightcrown Mountains
- Area to the northwest that contains Old Mondstadt/Storm Terror's Lair
- The area also contains a secluded section of a forest near Brightcrown Canyon known as Boar Habitat, named after the unusually large number of wild boars living in the said area.
B). Galesong Hill
- Area composing the central plains of Mondstadt which contains Windrise, Falcon Coast, Dadaupa Gorge, Cape Oath and Musk Reef.
- The Dadaupa Gorge is home to three important Hilichurl tribes: the Meaty tribe, the Sleeper tribe, and the Eclipse tribe.
- Within Dadaupa Gorge also lies the Forgotten Sword Cemetery, a place that witnessed the battle against the monsters of Khaenri'ah, centuries ago.
C). Starfell Valley
- It is considered the most diverse region of Mondstadt, spreading far from the tip of Stormbearer Point to the ends of the Whispering Woods. It is also home to the capital City of Mondstadt in Cider Lake.
- The Thousand Winds Temple, was the original settlement of the Gunnhildr Clan after they fled from Decarbian's City, is located in this area. Later on its history, the temple was turned into an ancient amphitheater that has been used as an arena back in the Aristocratic Period, where slaves were made to fight each other for the satisfaction of the old nobles.
D). Windwail Highland
- This region is home to the idyllic town of Springvale and the chief winery of Mondstadt, Dawn Winery. It also spans far across the wolf-ruled Wolvendom.
- One of Mondstadt's main roads use for trade passed along the Drunkard Gorge, located between Daw Winery and Wolvendom. It was once a busy hub for merchantile trade until the area got ignored and monsters began roaming the area. Under Artoria's reign, one of the newly erected Knights of Favonius' forts was erected along this route, named Fort Ragnvindr in honor of the Ragnvindr Clan that controls most of the area. The bulk of the Third Company is stationed in this Fort, and are tasked to guard the area which once more became a busy trade route going in and out of the City of Mondstadt.
E). Dragonspine
- Also historically known as Vindagnyr, it is a vast mountain, engulfed with ancient ruins and snow-capped areas, and also containing the remains of deceased feral dragon Durin.
- Due to its extreme cold, Dragonspine is also one of the most dangerous places in Mondstadt. However, the Fourth Company, the Reconnaissance Company, made this area their new home, with their newly established Fort named the Outriders' Hall situated at the foot of the mountain. The dangerous provided excellent training grounds for aspiring recruits who directly applied to the company or pulled from the Tenth.
According to the latest nationalcensus ordered by Artoria during her third yearas Grandmaster, Mondstadt as a whole had a population of roughly 12,000,000, distributed along numerous country towns and villages.
The Largest settlements are the Capital City of Mondstadt which houses around 500,000 within its walls and surrounding outlying areas, and Dornman Port, the main seafaring town of the nation, with a population of 150,000.
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[THE KNIGHTS OF FAVONIUS]
The Knights of Favonius is the Order of Knights that protects Mondstadt, founded by Vennessa with the help of Barbatos 1,000 years ago during the end of Mondstadt's Aristocracy to prevent aristocrats from ruling the land, as Barbatos originally intended.
They served as both the governing and military authority of Mondstadt and works closely with the Church of Favonius in matters pertaining the state.
Their leader held the title of Grandmaster and is look upon as the de facto leader of Mondstadt.
The current reigning Grandmaster is Artoria Pendragon 'Gunnhildr'
(Brief History of the Order)
The Order was established by the Muratan Slave, Vennessa, who led a rebellion against the Aristocracy (led by the Lawrence Clan) that twisted Mondstadt a thousand years ago.
The power and scope of the Order gradually weakened after the Cataclysm, when most of its members were killed after defending Mondstadt from invasions coming from the Abyss and Durin. With only 300 members left after the invasion, Arundolyn, the Grandmaster at the time, tried to rebuild the Order from the ground up. He was partially successful until he decided to retire prematurely due to the immense grief he had experienced after losing his best friend and most of his men from the Cataclysm.
His successors continued the slow revitalizion of the Order that often ended up ineffective multiple times during the subsequent 500 years.
(The Reformation and Rebirth of the Order)
Upon Artoria's ascension as Grandmaster, she dished out swiping reforms to revitalize the Order. Those reforms and edicts enacted in the first few months of her reign were informally called by both citizens and historians alike as theArtorian Reformation, a sort of rebirth of the Order established by Vennessa.
With reformations enacted by Artoria in full swing, the Knights of Favonius began to experience their greatest Golden Age, unrivalled in its one thousand years of history. Many of the disillusioned members who quit during Randolf's reign suddenly went back and were accepted graciously by Artoria herself.
Through her efforts, droves of young aspirants from all over Mondstadt, both young men and women, began voicing their intentions to join the ranks of the Order.
In a span of only five years since her reign began, the Knights of Favonius boasted a membership of around 7650 fully fledge active Knights, 3000+ squires, and about 900 employed staffs and workers for the various offices of the Order, as compared to the measly 2000 at the end of Randolf's reign.
Grandmaster Artoria divided the entire Order into Ten Companies, and created other specialized subdivisions within the Order, each with distinct functions and jurisdictions.
Details of her ground breaking reforms and as well as a general overview the current structure, core discipline, and ethics concerning the three virtues of knighthood: modesty, honesty, and self-control, were all written and published on a book officially called as The Knights of Favonius Handbook, though some of the more die-hard members of the Order had began to call it The Codex Artorias, much to the surprise and horror of their Grandmaster who compared it to some prominent gig from a famous tabletop game she played when she was younger.
Each member of the Knights of Favonius is given a copy of The Knights of Favonius Handbook/ The Codex Artorias which is now on its second edition.
(Organizational Structure)
1). Grandmaster: Artoria Pendragon 'Gunnhildr'
2). Favonius Council
- Advisory body of the Order made up of all the Captains and Directors of the different companies and offices within the Order.
(The Ten Companies of the Knights of Favonius)
A). The First Company
- The First Battle Company composed mostly of the best and most experienced knights of the Order, earning it the nickname the Veterans' Company.
- It is one of the Four Battle Companies of the Order, and one of the Four Companies stationed in the City of Mondstadt.
- Its current strength is at around 800 members.
- Captain: Hemlock
- Lieutenant: Varka (provisional)
B). The Second Company
- The Second Battle Company assigned alongside the First Company to protect the City of Mondstadt.
- The Second Company is also in charge of patroling the immediate suburban areas around the City of Mondstadt.
- Current Strength: 1000 members
- Captain: Note
C). The Third Company
- The Third Battle Company of the Order and the first to be stationed outside of the City.
- Their main base of Fort Ragnvindr which is situated along the entrance of Drunkard Gorge, and are tasked to guard and patrol important trade route that passes along the area.
- They are also tasked in patroling Springvale and Wolvendom
- Current Strength: 1000 members
- Captain: Skeiron
D). The Fourth Company
- Otherwise known as the Reconnaissance Company, the Fourth Company is the first specialized company of the Order.
- They often go into the wilderness of Mondstadt to perform reconnaissance and keep an eye on any approaching enemies or strange phenomena. They had also mastered espionage and had established a reliable spy network not only across Mondstadt but also outside of its borders.
- The best scouts of the company are inducted to its elite subunit known as the Outriders, which numbered around 200 members.
- Their main base, the Outriders' Hall, is found at the foot of Dragonspine, with the area serving as the company's training grounds.
- Current Strength: 700 members
- Captain: Zhencha Yuan
E). The Fifth Company
- Known as the Fourth Battle Company of the Order, the Fifth Company was tasked to guard and defend Galesong Hill and to keep the Hilichurl tribes from Dadaupa Gorge from causing any trouble.
- Their base is called the Eagle's Fort which is situated on the highlands of Cape Oath, giving them a strategic lookout to their domain.
- They have one of the largest number of Knights, due to the scope of their area numbering at around 1400 members.
- Captain: Bastian
- Lieutenant: Lohen
F). The Sixth Company
- The Logistics and Supply Company which manages the provisions, the armories, transports, record keeping, resource management and other necessary activities that involved the necessary material supplies of the entire Order.
- They are one of the four Companies stationed in the City of Mondstadt, and were the ones most involve on trade and economy.
- Though they are primarily stationed in the capital city, the Sixth Company has other offices and supply depots around Mondstadt with their second largest being at Dorman Port.
- Current Strength: 750
- Captain: Hertha
G). The Seventh Company
- The Fifth and the Last of the Battle Companies.
- The Seventh is also known as the Dorman Company after being assigned by Artoria to guard the busy port city and trading hub of Dorman Port, as well as its surrounding region. Their base main base is the Dorman Fort located just outside of the city.
The Seventh Company is famed for using combined arms battle doctrine, applying a balance usage of range and melee weapons. Recently, some of the members of the company had been pitching a proposal to create Mondstadt's first Naval Company to better guard the coast and sealines of Mondstadt.
- The Seventh Company allocated about 300 of its knights to guard the border of Mondstadt and Liyue next to the Stonegate at a small Fort known as the Gale Fort,
- Current Strength: 1100
- Captain: Gertrude
- Lieutenant: Phonia
H). The Eight Company
- The Eight Company is one of the four companies stationed around the city of Mondstadt.
- They are the most diverse and specialized of all the companies for they deal with Research, Investigation, Magic and Alchemy. Because of this diversity, the Company was divided into two sub-companies or Departments, each specializing on two of the four main specialty tenants of the company: The Investigation and Alchemy Department, and The Magic and Research Department
- Because of its unique structure, the Company has two lieutenants instead of one, each heading the two respective Departments and answering to the overall company captain.
Alchemists and mages of the Order are usually assigned to this company. The Company will also sometimes assign mages and alchemists from their ranks to temporarily aid the other companies for support. This might last for a couple of weeks to even months or years depending on the assignment.
- They have a research building adjacent to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters where they conduct most of their scientific and alchemical experiments.
- Current Strength: 700 (350 members per each Department)
- Captain: Muscovado
- Lieutenants: Aria (The Magic and Research Department), and Sienna (The Investigation and Alchemy Department)
I). The Ninth Company
- The Ninth Company is the Cavalry Company of the Knights of Favonius and are responsible for the breeding and maintaining the War Horses and stables of the Order, as well as applying some brand new vehicular concepts (in conjunction to the Eight's Magic and Research Department) for the betterment of the Order and Mondstadt as a whole.
- The Ninth Company is the mailed fist of the Order, Mondstadt's quick response unit.
- The Company is divided into 7 cavalry regiments, each containing about 100 mounted Knights (with the exception of the First Cavalry Regiment that has 200 mounted Knights) and are assigned to a specific region of Mondstadt.
- The premier regiment of the Company, the First Cavalry Regiment, is stationed within the City of Mondstadt itself.
- Current Strength: 800
- Captain: Jonathan (current Quartermaster of the Knights of Favonius)
J). The Tenth Company
- Also known as the Reserved Company, is by far the largest of the Ten Companies of the Knights of Favonius, and is the Company tasked to train the new recruits of the Order. This is the Company wherein all other Companies get their knights from.
- The Company only has around 300 full fledge Knights known as Instructors, who train the majority of the recruits known as Squires. Official Training usually takes around 2 years, as Squires are taught the basics of Knighthood, combat and other essential disciplines such as science and basic health skills.
- Squires are usually grouped into Squire Brigades of around 100 members each and are rotated to each of the Nine other Companies for a duration of two months per company in order to gain valuable experience and to give them an idea on which of the Companies will they be joining in once they graduated.
- Their main base of operation is found in Starfell Valley, specifically around the area surrounding Starfell Lake, which is their main training grounds. Their encampment is located just near the Gunnhildr Estate which is situated within the borders of the Whispering Woods overlooking Cider Lake. A contingent of 20 Instructors with one Squire Brigade is usually tasked to guard the entire perimeter of the Gunnhildr Estate.
- Current Strength: 3300 (300 Instructors and 30 Full Squire Brigades)
- Captain: Heinrich (Chief Instructor)
(Auxiliary Departments of The Knights of Favonius)
A). Office of the Secretary
- This office was established by Artoria in order to help her govern matters concerning the Order and Mondstadt as a whole.
- Its primary duty is to assist the Grandmaster in policy making, internal operations, public information and coordination between the Companies and other offices of the Knights of Favonius.
- Current Secretary: Melisa Minci
B). Office of the Seneschal
- The Knights of Favonius help manage the Church of Favonius, the institution that deals with the spiritual well-being of the people of Mondstadt.
- The Office of the Seneschal was established by Artoria as a means to help connect the two institutions which are the pillars of Mondstadt. They offer spiritual guidance and ethics to the Order.
- The Current Seneschal is Cardinal Theron who is also the current head of the Church of Favonius.
C). The Medical Corps
- Before Artoria's arrival, there was no dedicated Medical department within the Order. There was an infirmary within the Headquarters manned by a few nurses and doctors but that was it.
- After the Reformation, The Medical Corps of the Knights of Favonius was formally established. The Order recruited several hundred Health Care workers from doctors to sanitation experts to served the Order and the nation.
- This Office was tasked for not only ensuring the health of the Order but of the country of Mondstadt as a whole. Each of the Companies have a dedicated Team of Healthcare personels who's number would depend on the size of the Company (usually 7 Doctors and 28 nurses per company with a size of 700 to 800 Knights).
- The Medical Corp also assigned permanent medical clinics with active staff in each of the settlements (may they be towns or villages) around the different regions of Mondstadt.
- The Grandmaster had also given the Corps the tasked of erecting hospitals all around the country in coordination with the Office of Public Works.
- Selected members of the Medical Corps are usually sent oversees to Liyue, Sumeru, Fontaine and Snezhnaya in order to study and learn additional medical knowledge and to find ways integrate them to the current medical and health situation of Mondstadt.
- Current Medical Director: Dorothea
D). The Office of Public Works
- The newest office established within the Knights of Favonius, and once an offshoot of the Sixth Company.
- The sudden surge of construction projects brought about by Artoria's reforms and the growing Mondstadt economy was once manage by the Sixth Company but due to the high influx of construction work and repair, it was decided that a separate body is be created in order to tackle the growing labor demands.
- The Office employs an sizable army of engineers, architects and construction workers which help build and repair roads and other important buildings all across Mondstadt.
- This office works closely and in tandem with its parent organization, the Sixth Company.
- Current Director: Ludwig Goth
E). The Office of Trade and Finance
- The main office that manages the economy, trade, taxation and treasury of Mondstadt.
Once a part of the Office of the Secretary, it separated and became an independent entity of its own a few months before the inauguration of the Wind Wheel Bank.
- They are responsible for policy making involving the finances of Mondstadt as well as making trade deals and agreements with various other entities either within or outside of Mondstadt.
- The Current Director is Crepus Ragnvindr, who also serves as the Governor of the Wind Wheel Bank.
F). The Office of Education
- For centuries, Mondstadt has a basic system of public education that would occasionally vary depending across towns and villages. People would learn basic language, maths and science that would help them in their future jobs. Wealthier individuals can hire tutors instead of going to the local primary school.
- Artoria, seeing a need for a more robust educational system, created the Office of Education which now serves as the governing body in all of Mondstadt in matters concerning education.
- Modelled after a highly modified version of the Sumeru Akademiya education system, the Office now offers free education to all children within Mondstadt as well as to any adults who are willing to learn.
- Basic education is encourage starting at the age of six or seven is divided into two levels: Primary level (4 years) and Secondary level (4 years).
- The Current Director is Nestor, a former VahumanaHerbad (senior researcher of high prestige) and friend of the current Spantamad Sage, Cyrus. Nestor had been exiled from the Sumeru Akademiya three years ago due to a dispute against the then Rtawahist Sage Azar (the now current Grand Sage) over ethics and was subsequently falsely charged with tampering important Akasha data. Nestor then decided to return to his mother's home country of Mondstadt wherein he spent most of his early childhood before being taken by his father to Sumeru. Nestor was then offered a job as the Deputy Head Librarian of the Mondstadt's Library after Melisa Minci took the position of Secretary of the Grandmaster. He was the one who eventually created the current Mondstadt educational system based on highly modified version of the educational system used in Sumeru. For his contribution, he was appointed Director of the Office of Education by Artoria herself. His current mission, as ordered by the Artoria herself, is to build schools all across the country of Mondstadt in order to raise the literacy rate of the nation.
(The Knights of Favonius Anthem)
During her first year as Grandmaster, Artoria wrote down a song that would best represent the spirit of the Knights of Favonius.
She wrote down the lyrics of the song during one peaceful afternoon after visiting the Mondstadt's Library and reading about the history of the Order. Inspired by the deeds and valor of notable Grandmasters before her such as Vennessa, Arundolyn and Jericho, Artoria penned the words that came from her heart, words that speaks about the unity and essence of the Order.
She wrote the lyrics of the song in two languages. The first one using the Old traditional language of Mondstadt (the sounded explicitly German) and the other one using the Common Tongue, the language use throughout all of Teyvat (the language is very much similar to English).
The song was later shown to the captains of the Order and they immediately took a liking to it, so much so that they began memorizing the song by heart. The song would quickly spread amongst the growing ranks of the Order, and was quickly adapted as the Order's First Official Anthem.
The Following are the Lyrics of the Song:
Liebling komm und tanz mit mir in dieser Nacht,
(Darling, come and dance with me in this night,)
denn wir ziehn für Mondstadt gar bald in die Schlacht.
(for soon we will go into battle for Mondstadt.)
Morgen ruft das Schwert mich fort, morgen braucht's Mut.
(Tomorrow the sword will call me away, tomorrow we will need courage.)
Doch die Freiheit ein heiliges Gut!
(But freedom is a sacred treasure!)
Liebling komm und tanz mit mir unter dem Mond.
(Darling, come and dance with me under the moon.)
Nord-und Südwind-Löwenzahn unser Kampf lohnt
(North and south wind dandelions our fight)
Gegen Tyrannei und Macht lass Lieder wehn
(Let songs blow against tyranny and power)
Unser Blut wird neuen Frieden sähen!
(Our blood will sow new peace!)
Als die Kinder des Windes, wurd' frei geboren
(As children of the wind, we were born free)
Keinem Herrn sie zum Dienst, wir erkoren!
(We chose to serve no master!)
Wenn tyrannische Fesseln, endlich ziehen
(When tyrannical chains finally leave)
Für die Freiheit und Recht kämpfen wir.
(For freedom and justice we fight.)
Vorwärts, Herrschaft kommt und geht, mit den Fluten der Zeit
(Forward, rule comes and goes, with the tides of time)
Ewig wird es sein, Mondstadt, an Windes Seit'
(Eternal it will be, Mondstadt, at the wind's side)
Liebling, komm und tanz' mit mir, den letzten Tanz
(Darling, come and dance with me the last dance)
Bis der Falke fliegt, im Morgenglanz
(Until the falcon flies, in the morning shine)
Bis der Falke fliegt, im Morgenglanz
(Until the falcon flies, in the morning shine)
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[Life in Mondstadt]
Mondstadt generally has a casual, laid-back atmosphere, but with its people experiencingna growing sense of nationalistic pride thanks the economic miracle that has been happening for the past 5 years.
Minimum wage was standardized and enforced in the past 2 years as befitting the growing economy of Mondstadt. Each average workers plying for low level jobs now earned roughly 2600 Mora per Hour (20,800 Mora in an average 8 hour work day) while high level jobs such as being a Knight would usually land someone with around 600,000 mora per month.
There has been little socioeconomic stratification within Mondstadt's society ever since the dissolution of the aristocracy 1000 years ago, although certain families such as the Ragnvindr Clan enjoy a good reputation due to their long lineages and notable contributions to Mondstadt. Yet, none can be compared to the status of the Main Branch of Gunnhildr Clan, who almost all citizens see as their country's de facto Royal Family.
Though they knew from the lessons of the past that people can get easily corrupted by power, the citizens of Mondstadt saw their Grandmaster and her family very differently compared to other entities such as the Lawrence Clan.
They couldn't explain it, but everyone could help themselves to be amazed and in awe in the presence of their beloved and honored Grandmaster and her children. It was as if they were not just looking at the leading house of the nation, but also it's very heart and soul.
Though they now have numerous burgeoning industries in the country, alcohol still plays a key role in Mondstadt both socially and economically. As a result, Mondstadt has a large drinking culture, which in turn has led to a relatively high amount of alcoholics. Even the Grandmaster herself enjoys a glass of premium Dandelion Wine and Apple Wine from time to time during her down time (secretly of course).
Agriculture is a big deal in Mondstadt. The gentle climate and fertile lands of the region allowed crops to flourish.
Vast fields of wheat and other cereals can be seen when traveling throughout the Windwail Highlands, considered to be the Breadbasket of Mondstadt.
Fresh fruits such as sunsettias and apples are abundant, as well as grapes for making wine. Of the wineries in Mondstadt, the Dawn Winery is one of the oldest and most influential, with over a thousand years of history. The Gunnhildr Apple Orchards meanwhile is the number one sources of premium grade apples throughout the land, with its most renowned Golden Delicious being exported as far as Nod-Krai, coveted by food enthusiasts for its level of juiceness and sweetness.
Large herds of farm animals such as cattles, sheeps and pigs are raised on several high profiled farms around the region surrounding Dorman Port. It is said that the quality of meat and dairy products of this area rivaled those found in the pastural meadows of Fontaine.
Trade and commerce are on the rise around Mondstadt particularly around the Capital City and in Dorman Port.
The various economic reforms implemented by Artoria not only protected small industries but also groomed them into becoming powerful business in their own rights. Glasswaremanufacturingshops can be seen popping out around Dorman Port and Mondstadt City, with quality and designs that made them coveted by merchants all across Teyvat. Metalworks and industrialized smithing is also on the rise, with some creating intricate machinery parts for devices from Fontaine. Some factories and workshops, especially around Mondstadt City, had been tapped by the Eight Company to help them in their research about generating electricity by harnessing the power of the wind (a project that Artoria herself had tasked Captain Muscovado to spearhead).
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[THE STATUE OF THE SEVEN]
Monumental stone statues that watch over the whole of Teyvat. Legends say they were sculpted in the images of The Seven who sustain this world. Travelers would pray for the statue's protection should they come across one, while it silently anticipates the arrival of a noble soul…
Statues of The Seven are structures found around all of Teyvat. Each region has Statues that depict the region's current Archon, dressed in their respective regalia and holding an object whose shape roughly matches the shape of the region's Vision.
These monuments, not only depict the ruling god of the respective region but also act as anchoring point through which the said god can exerts his or her authority over the land.
Upon her ascension into the Archon Throne, Artoria was able to exert her will across the lands of Mondstadt through the Anemo Statues scattered all across the land. However, her ascension also brought about a new problem. The Statues that once depicted Barbatos (now her son Venti) began transforming in one single night after her ascension, molding their shape and appearance to better represent Mondstadt's new sovereign god.
When she saw what they had become, she was utterly amazed. The Statues now sports her very likeness with wings unfurled stretching outwards on each side. The right arm was grabbing as replica of what appears to be a sheathed Excalibur while the left hand holds a pulsing orb of Anemo.
What surprised her the most was that the statues, her statues, now sported real authentic clothing; a toga of blue and white with golden highlights that draped over her immaculate form! There is even a perpetually shining halo hovering over the back of the head, further giving it an air of divine mystique!
She had already saw that small statue that Cardinal Theron had sculpted back in that secret small chapel inside the Mondstadt Cathedral, and honestly it now pales in comparison to the divine work of art that now dotted the lands across Mondstadt.
Artoria however, also felt a surged of dread after thinking of the possible implications that would occur if anyone saw these newly re-forged statues. There would be questions, questions that she doesn't even want to address. Hence, over the course of the entire night, Artoria flew across Mondstadt, placing a strong and complex illusionary spell upon each of the statues which would hide their new forms and would make them appear normal in the eyes of the people.
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[TELEPORT WAYPOINTS]
Though Artoria already knew of their purpose, most of the citizens of Mondstadt, probably even the whole of Teyvat, view the Teleport Waypoints as a sort of Ancient Gimmicks or markers left by the gods all across the seven nations. Most people don't even know their purpose and function.
Though she rarely use any of them, Artoria can use these mysterious device to instantly teleport from one region of her country to another. She theorized that only gods and vision wielders (barring the Traveler who has yet to appear) can fully utilized these mysterious structures.
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[GUNNHILDR FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS]
1). Artoria Pendragon 'Gunnhildr'
- Aside from knitting, Artoria had also developed a hobby of collecting and tasting various wine and alcohol from different parts of Teyvat. She would often store expensive bottles that she purchased using her (near infinite) Mora in an exclusive underground basement underneath her home, complete with spells to prevent her children, particularly Bennett and Venti from accidentally wondering inside (she even made an adjacent room filled with candies and other sweets as a diversionary tactic just in case her little trouble makers accidentally step foot in her secret private domain).
- Artoria had also been practicing and honing her magecraft and spell casting skills for the past 3 years inside Avalon. Weaving spells that can basically accounted as Nukes by modern Earth standards.
- Artoria by far is considered the most beautiful woman in all of Mondstadt and she is UTTERLY UNAWARE of the countless surged of love letters and marriage proposals that constantly arrives in her doorsteps or office. This is due to the actions of her household staff led by Elspeth and the Knights of Favonius members, particularly her Inner Circle who were OVERLY protective towards their beloved and revered Grandmaster. Captain Yuan had even set up a secret spy network dedicated in intercepting such letters. Each letter is carefully read by Melisa and Theron, and those admirers they deemed too troublesome, are then paid a little visit by either Hemlock or Crepus with an eager squad of knights behind them. All letters are then subsequently burn to ash.
2). Jean Pendragon Gunnhildr
- Jean has a pet tortoise she named Sir Kay (much to the utter amusement of Artoria).
- Although she appears tough and strick for her age, she is easily mesmerized by romance novels which were unfortunately introduced by her dear best friend Lisa.
3). Barbara Pendragon Gunnhildr
- Barbara at a very young age began asking about the identity of this Anemo Archon Barbatos fellow that she kept hearing from the household maids especially when her Mama passes by. When she she finally asked them the question, they only told her that the Anemo Archon is a sort of powerful lady, and a goddess that watches over Mondstadt. This however infuriated little Barbara who in her innocent naive mind, always believed that her Mama is the BEST Lady there is and it was her Mama's job to watch over Mondstadt! She then began shouting how much she HATED the Anemo Archon, much to the total heart break of Artoria who just arrived back from work. It later took Artoria almost a day just to coax her little daughter out of her misguided thought process, telling her that the Anemo Archon LOVES her so much and is a sort of office worker that always aid her Mama in her job. This awkward explanation somewhat calmed the little princess and had inadvertently planted the seeds of Faith in Barbara's young heart.
- When Barbara asked Artoria what would be the best way to give thanks to the Anemo Archon, her mother told her to just be a good little girl. Artoria, also told her that giving hugs and cuddles to her Mama also count as giving thanks to the Archon, which Barbara naively complied much to the utter delight of Artoria.
Barbara, unlike her sibling loves spicy things.
4). Bennett Pendragon Gunnhildr
- Benny HATED Chilliswith a passion. He once mistook them as something yummy after seeing his sister Barbara munching on them with gusto (much to the sheer horror of the maids who witnessed the act). When Barbara gave him a piece, the chili literally burned inside Benny's mouth. Miraculously through sheer luck, a passing maid carrying a jug of cold water happend to pass by the kitchen while Benny was screaming that his mouth was on fire. Bennett then drank the entire jug empty which saved him. Since then Benny avoided eating anything that has chilli or anything remotely spicy. Barbara, in rare bouts of mischief, would then use a chilli to force her brother Benny to do her bidding.
5. Venti Pendragon Gunnhildr
- Artoria noticed early on that her youngest son Venti had a weird fascination to green colored scarfs and caps. Venti would often approach his Mama with puppy eyes just to get her to knit him a new set of green colored scarfs/mufflers or have her buy him a new batch a cute little green cap with a Cecilia flower design embroided into it. Venti has an entire cabinet filled with nothing but a collection of green caps and scarfs arranged meticulously in a uniformed order. When Artoria asked him why he has this sort of fixation, the little boy just straight up told his Mama that they gave him 'super saber-fighting powers'. Venti also started to become fixated with balloons particularly the flying machines from Fontaine. Artoria would order varying toy models from the Court of Fontaine just to satisfy her adorable little son's weird love for these flying machines.
- Venti would often be seen watching his big sister Jean or Varka during their trainings. He would be seen scribbling and doodling cutely in his little green notepad. Later, he would be seen in his room twirling and trying to imitate his big sister's movement with his trusty wooden toy sword he named as Xcalibur 1.0, adding his own little flare by doing some strange poses or leaping widly side to side.
(Sneak Peek: Many Years Later)
There are many noteworthy individuals from the Land of Freedom that are true masters of fighting. As Fontaine's Champion Duelest, one such individual that I would personally regard as my greatest rival is the enegma known as Venti Pendragon Gunnhildr, or as the Steambird Newspaper called him, La merveille turquoise (The Teal Wonder).
I first met my honored rival about a year ago after he came over to the Court of Fontaine to purchase some mechanical parts for his mechanical blimp. He got lost in the Vasari Passage and stumbled upon an impromptu dueling challenge announced by the undefeated duelest Monsieur Connard Tetu known as the Saber of Beryl. I was supposed to be the one to challenge him, but when I arrived with Lady Furina in tow, I saw Monsieur Tetu's face already buried in a small crater in the cobbled stone street.
It was then that I saw him. At first, I thought he was some sort of beautiful but uncultured and unruly young Lady wielding a dark green baseball bat. His face was immaculate and I already saw several young men in the crowd already swooning over him.
When he saw me, he immediately swung his bat towards my direction and immediately challenged me in a duel stating that I had the bearings of a 'proper saber'. I honored his wish and immediately accepted his challenge, with Lady Furina's permission of course.
What followed was what the Steambird and other several media houses would later describe as the Duel of the Century. That battle was one of the few instances that I had went all out with me using both my sword and pistol. Yet, no matter how much I slash, no matter how much I fired my gun, my rival would always to block them with his bat which he wields similar to that of a sword. I was so in tune with our fight that I forgot the large crowd of spectators slowly converging around the area. The duel lasted for minutes, until Lady Furina stepped and announced that the entire contest was a draw.
A draw, yet when when I looked at my rival, he was barely even sweating while I was almost out of breath.
It was also then that Lady Furina recognized the identity of my mysterious rival, announcing to the crowd that he was actually the famed swordsman from Mondstadt, the Wind Dancer, Venti Pendragon Gunnhildr, the youngest son of the Legendary Grandmaster, Artoria Pendragon Gunnhildr!
His mother's name was known all across Teyvat and I even saw Lady Furina herself shifting nervously around Venti, trying to see if no harm occured to the Lioness's child.
Afterwards (and a couple of few drinks later), me and my rival became fast friends. I toured him around the Court of Fontaine while we exchange dueling tips. From then on, both of us would regularly visit each other's homeland as guest, doing spars and for my part, occasionally, fending off some perverted suitors that would try to woe over my rival, though his older sister Lady Bellatrix is more potent in scarring off those miscreants compared to I.
Clorinde, Fontaine's Champion Duelest
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The Lioness of Mondstadt
Volume One: The Land of Freedom and New Beginnings
(Main Cover)
(Alternate Cover)
Volume Two: The Land of Monoliths and Contracts
(Main Cover ver. 1)
(Main Cover ver. 2)
(Alternate Cover)
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