I love Mondstadt sm, and it's not because it is the "home region", but because it is a mysterious and sometimes even creepy region when you dig a little bit further
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I love Mondstadt sm, and it's not because it is the "home region", but because it is a mysterious and sometimes even creepy region when you dig a little bit further

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Diluc is as he has always been. Different. His emotions overwhelm him and everyone else.
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Red hair - long, straight, rarely messy. He takes good care of his appearance, painfully aware of how damaging it would be to his reputation if he appeared unkempt. Diluc doesn’t want to create any more reason to dig into his past. His skin is pale but scarred. Wiry, raised scars form webs along the skin of his arms and back, stretching with the firm muscle. There are burns, frostburns, but - most noticeably - circular scars surrounding veins from injections. Master Diluc is far from the height rumours mention - standing at 5'10 rather than the 6'0 the more infatuated individuals imagine him to be. He is lithe, muscular but otherwise less strong than the average claymore user. Unsurprising, given his nightly duties leave little time for such trivial things as rest and nourishment. Despite his lack of time, the Darknight hero somehow finds the time to stay clean-shaven. However, his hair does not receive an equivalent level of care, uncut for the last year.
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Those who do not know the bartender well describe him as quiet, and nothing else. Diluc is careful to share his personality only with those who can be trusted to keep their mouths shut. Even those only know him as cold, blunt, awkward Diluc, unaware that what they see and discuss is nothing but the mask held in front of people to protect them from ever looking further. In truth, Diluc is anxious, averse to loud noises and sudden movements unless fuelled by adrenaline and holding his claymore. His social skills have rotted and withered away in a cruel caricature of the relationships he once had before fleeing Mondstadt. Despite this, he is honest, loyal, and would be considered humorous if he was not plagued by anxiety and trauma that buries all emotions six feet underground, next to the casket that holds his beloved father.
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Following Ursa the Drake's attack - which resulted in the traumatic patricide fuelled by mercy causes - he found himself possessed by rage after the community of knights he had trusted for so many years betrayed him in preference of their reputation. When Kaeya admitted to being a spy - therefore severing the trust Diluc had with his only remaining family member. Diluc ran from Mondstadt, unable to face the pity of the knights who had stepped away from what was right. He sought to bring justice to those who killed his father. For two years, Diluc fought in Schneznaya, using only Crepus’s delusion (with nobody to mourn him, Diluc was free to place his life on the line to achieve justice). The death toll racked up with impressive haste - reaching a level where the harbingers were dispatched to prevent any further bloodshed on the side of the fatui. Aside from the obvious reasons for intervention - The Doctor took a particular interest, individuals with immunity to the effects of delusions were not yet documented. Diluc was apprehended. For weeks, he underwent cruel torture, experiments, until Dottore deemed him appropriately punished, dropping a (still bleeding) Diluc on the borders of Schneznaya, with strict orders that if he was ever seen in Schneznaya again, Dottore would not be so merciful as to let him go.
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Safely returned to Mondstadt, Diluc busies himself with work, trying hard not to think of the things that happened to him. Haunted by his actions, (namely, what he was forced to do in Dottore's chambers), he turns to vigilantism, repeatedly throwing his life on the line to repent for his sins, not leaving any time to recuperate - that is a luxury only given to those deserving of healing. He believes he deserved everything Dottore did to him, that the pain he faced was punishment for thinking himself righteous enough to deliver justice onto the fatui. Despite living in the city of freedom, Diluc is chained by his guilt, and will be forever trapped on the ground until he can accept that perhaps, he is worth more than whoever finds themselves trapped under the heavy, metallic weight of his claymore.
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So, this is how I see diluc, the storyline you'll most likely see referenced throughout my writing
me: *casually talking about my favorite genshin characters and breifly mention diluc lore*
my friend (has been playing genshin for longer btw): WHAT DO YOU MEAN DILUC WENT ON A MURDER SPREE??????
So I was playing and I realized something with Diluc skin, I didn't see it being pointed out before but I doubt I'm the first, anyway
On the upper right back and shoulder, there are rips?? Even when it's been stated he had it fixed and modified??
So he purposely kept the rips, and it isn't a dainty rip either, going through that metal-like material on the back too, so the blow that dealt it wasn't by any means weak. Does this mean he has a scar in that shape under?? Does he keep the rip due to some reminder?? Was this the blow that got him near death and got him to go back to Mond?? WILL THEY BRING THIS UP IN HIDDEN STRIFE????
speculations concerning genshin lore I thought keeping me awake at night
sharing because why not; mostly Khaenri'ahn stuff and a lot of Pierro
-why did the unnamed red-haired man in venti's quest cutscene turn on Venti sometime after Decaribian's fall? Is the red-haired man or Ragnvindr during the rebellion of Vennessa his descendant?
-who is Childe's master aka Skirk? Is she potentially of Khaenri'ahn descent or even a Royal Guard? Based on Childe's description of how strong she is, (it is stated she could literally beat him with one hand) I hope she becomes playable one day (plus points if she'll have purple eyes or white hair).
-who the fck is diluc's mom and why is she not named/ mentioned in any of the lore concerning diluc; are his parents divorced/ annulled? even his dad never talked about her.
-is Pierro and Kaeya somewhat blood-related? If so, is that how crps get a delusion?
-did he get that from taking in his son/grandson/nephew knowing the boy he's taking under his wing would betray him and his nation sometime in the future? Does Pierro have connections (as a fatui harbinger) to Crps beforehand?
-Did crps work for him and was high in the ranks to earn such recognition from the most powerful Harbinger to the point he was used him either as a pawn/ puppet to his schemes? Did he also warn Crps he'll die and he just accepted that because it was part of their agreement?
-was the underground organization Diluc potentially had people of Khaenri'ahn descent? stated in character story 4 that "The network was made up of volunteers, and many of its members had willingly given up their prior positions and reputations to join. Some had even abandoned their names"
-could these mean those of high-ranking guards/ royalties of the past like in Khaenri'ah used this as an opportunity to pursue their own goals and ideas in secrecy considering this is confirmed to be a third party and simply observes the events unfold on two sides of a spectrum? It is also underground, and KHAENRI'AH WAS AN UNDERGROUND NATION. (does dain know about the existence of this place??)
-Arlecchino established an orphanage (House of The Hearth) so was she an orphan before or even poor/homeless before being taken in by the Fatui? Since most of these orphans end up becoming fatui recruits are they used to help aid the Fatui's manpower?

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okay so Diluc's age has always absolutely befumbled me right so for a while I had done the math and thought he was around 26 or 27, given his position, social status, & his general demeanor and attitude (a lot of that could be attributed to trauma honestly) and I was browsing the wiki and ????? right so he was 18 when he left the knights/Crepus died, therefore his position as cavalry captain would've been nullified at that point, SO. in the "former personnel" bit of the page on the knights of favonius on the wiki it has Diluc's little bar thing and under "last active" it says 4 years ago. MY QUESTION IS HOW. If he left the knights at 18, went to snezhnaya on his fatui spree, and came back, that whole chunk of time took four years? no layover type period whatsoever? no like come back and chill out then start up the whole darknight hero thing? just goin constantly? my point is there is no way that is a 22 year old there is simply no way other than being just batshit crazy and everyone ignores it bc of how calm and collected he usually is. this man is an enigma. hes constantly busy with the winery and darknight hero shit and literally everything WHEN DOES HE SLEEP.
Hidden Strife Event: Dawn Winery Letters
A Letter With Rough Handwriting:
Diluc,
Jean wrote to me lately with shocking news. If I don't miss my guess, she wrote to you too. Her sentiments are those of the Knights as a whole
Crepus was a good man, and I thought very well of him. It grieves me greatly to know that he met with such a fate.
As for the defeat of the drake, the honors for that accomplishment should go to your father. I do not accept Eroch's theft of the credit for that deed, which was bought with your father's sacrifice.
Stolen credit will not be accepted within the Knights of Favonius under any circumstances. I will not permit it.
I have already given Jean the authority to punish Eroch with all necessary severity. The Knights will inform you of the results.
I've heard that you've been taking some time off outdoors and may not be easy to reach, so there is no guarantee that my letter will reach you. As such, I'll stop here for now.
If this does reach you, then I wish you good health and safety in your travels. Contact us if you need anything.
I hope that falcon of yours will help put this letter in your hands. I mean, I don't write in person very often, you know?
These may seem like pointless words to you right now, but remember: even the greatest of disasters must come to an end.
Mondstadt waits for your return, and if you're willing, the Knights will always welcome you. (If you're not, forget I said anything, yeah?)
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A Tidily Written Letter:
To the heir of the Ragnvindr Clan,
I apologize for sending this letter without notice. You may not remember me, but we've met a few times.
We've met near the square, when I sat at the table adjacent to yours at the Good Hunter, and I've seen you in your tavern...
You were always busy with a great many things, especially back when you were much chattier than you are now. You spoke cheerfully and often with your brother and friends then.
It's probably no surprise that you did not notice me then. But I've always had my eye on you, child.
I recall with crystal clarity how my little Klee once made a complete mess of your vineyard while she was trying to catch Crystalflies there...
But you didn't get angry. In fact, you personally escorted Klee back and even gave her a few bottles of fresh grape juice.
Now I think that might jog your memory, yes?
Klee recently told me that she "hasn't seen that strange man with the red hair in aaages," so I decided to look into it out of curiosity.
My deepest condolences regarding your father.
In many of the stories I've been told, you are the model knight: proud, driven, a knight of noble character and lineage.
But I know that you're gentler than you appear. If you weren't, you wouldn't have treated Klee the way you did.
And since you helped my child out, I hope you won't mind if I treat you as if you were my own.
Therefore, I sincerely hope that you will leave the dark place that you are presently in, and that you will not wallow in grief and remorse.
Partings are most painful things, but they also encourage us to grow. A bird that has lost the roof over its head will fly further than others of its kind.
Go out and see the world. That's the best course of action I can envision. Only by feeling, observing, and listening can your heart be healed.
Parents all wish that they can accompany their children forever, and the skies, seas, and stars bear witness to that oath.
Everything that was your father now finds new life with you. That which you will experience in this world may have been things that your father experienced once upon a time.
I hope that the wind will bring you all manner of wondrous things in your journeys to come.
In any case, keep your chin up, young child.
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A Letter with Clear Handwriting:
Master,
Master Kaeya took leave and stayed at Dawn Winery for a few days.
In a rare turn of events he decided to stay in his original bedroom. He would pace about the grounds when idle, and even asked Adelinde to make him his favorite dishes.
Ah, it really does take me back.
I shall be honest with you, but I was quite surprised to hear Master Kaeya say that he wanted to stay for a few days.
We did not refuse him, however. We believe that even if you were here, you would not refuse him outright.
Dawn Winery has always been a more quiet location, perhaps because all who stay here are rather peaceable people
The house is made by those who live in it, and Master Kaeya's uncommon arrival did end up livening the place up significantly
I hope that you are doing well in your travels abroad. Everyone here at the winery misses you.
May you remain safe and in good health.
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A Letter with Elegant Handwriting:
Dear Diluc,
Welcome back to Mondstadt, Sir.
It has been some time since the incident. We discovered that Eroch had betrayed us, and he has been punished severely.
I hope that this news will put your mind at ease.
In other news, our people have discovered that the Abyss Order has stepped up its activities between Wolvendom and Stone Gate lately.
Also -- a mysterious individual that people are calling the "Darknight Hero" has suddenly started showing up out of nowhere all around Mondstadt City. He typically acts in the dead of night, and his intentions are currently unclear.
Please stay safe, and notify the Knights as soon as possible should you see anything suspicious. We will send support immediately.
Whether you are presently in our ranks or not, all faithful knights will remember your contributions to the Knights of Favonius.
May you remain in great health.
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A Neatly Written Letter:
Dear Mr. Diluc,
It is my pleasure to investigate the ley lines alongside you.
As you know, my focus is on alchemy, so my knowledge of the ley lines remains quite shallow, and I fear that I will only be able to share what little understanding I have.
According to many pre-existing documents, the ley lines can be seen as a medium for storing information. Under certain circumstances, they can record activities that occur in the area around them.
All this information goes through a recording and storage process. After a certain period of time, they may be released once again by the ley lines
If I may be so bold as to make a guess, there should be a method to activate the ley lines. Those who grasp such methods can control the times at which ley line information is recorded and released.
Judging from the runic symbols and some other clues, I surmise that there are particular members of the Abyss Order who may have a very small chance of being able to achieve this.
If you believe that this requires further investigation, these entities may serve as your point of entry.
I wrote a paper a few years ago in which I covered my brief foray into questions concerning the flow of ley lines and other topics. You will find a copy of this paper enclosed.
I hope that it can help to clear up some of your doubts
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A New Letter:
Dear Darknight Hero, the Knights of Favonius have stepped up the guard details throughout Mondstadt without making major movements. The Abyss Order will not have noticed.
I am scouting around Dragonspine. The monsters here are scattered and separated. Clearly, they haven't been assembled by the Abyss Order.
There are no signs of enemy activity in the south of Mondstadt either.
If you can confirm that the other locations are also free of monsters, we will be able to conclude that the Abyss Order has nothing to do with the recent ley line disorder
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A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (I)
To D:
A storm is brewing within the Knights of Favonius. Varka's inner circle is preparing to investigate Eroch and his henchmen, and it's looking increasingly likely that Eroch is about to get unseated from that high horse of his.
You might not be too pleased to see this letter of mine, but I mean to get this news to you as soon as possible
You don't have to reply.
A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (II)
To D:
Even I was a little surprised to hear that you'd decided to leave on a trip.
Jean wanted to write and try to dissuade you, but I advised her against it.
As for Varka, I don't think he knows about this. Otherwise, he'd have probably sat you down for a talk.
If you'd like to leave, do it now. The less the people know, the less the goodbyes you'll have to say. Leave at night, too, so things won't be too saddening.
Take care.
A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (III)
To D:
Some slightly bad news. Eroch won't be quite so difficult to bring down after all.
The Grand Master's order to investigate has certainly dealt him a major blow, but I wouldn't call the problem "pulled up by the roots" yet.
The matter's been handed over to Jean's jurisdiction. She'll take care of this, I believe. Eroch is an obstacle in her path, in any case.
Just sit tight and wait for the good news.
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A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (IV)
To D:
Recently, a group of businessmen returned to Mondstadt. Word is that the reason for their return is a downturn in business.
According to my observations, their employees are regulars at Angel's Share. These people can also be found out in the more dangerous parts of the wilds around the city.
Now, a few of them were a little careless and even dropped some pages of their notes on the ground. I took the liberty of returning these sheets to the Angel's Share. You know, out of the goodness of my heart.
I think they might have something to do with you, seeing as how they were there. I also noticed that their notes were written in code. Information brokers, perhaps? Or some kind of secret organization?
Whatever the case, it took quite a lot of effort to see those blurred words with only one eye, you know? Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret.
A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (V)
To D:
I didn't try to hide it from you on purpose, you know. But I suppose you found out all the same, huh?
I mean, not everyone who wears an eyepatch must be blind, right? Don't people also wear an eyepatch if they have a scar over their right eye?
The long-awaited good news is finally here.
Now, I'm going to bring a glass of wine when I go to watch Eroch pack his things and leave on his last day (good riddance, by the way). That should be fun, eh?
I know you're not the type to do that sort of thing, but I am, so allow me.
A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (VI)
To D:
Oh, my! No sooner did you get back than a mysterious character started popping up.
I hear he's called the Darknight Hero. He has repeatedly fought off Treasure Hoarders and monsters in the Mondstadt Area -- and he's even attacked Abyss Order strongholds.
So far, it seems like he is on Mondstadt's side, but the Knights of Favonius could never permit the existence of a vigilante.
I get the feeling that the two of you would get along nicely. Why don't you find an opportunity to get to know him and give him some sage advice? You know, just so he doesn't get caught by the Knights?
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A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (VII)
To D:
Per standard procedure, the Knights of Favonius needs to take a statement from all relevant parties.
Recently, the Knights of Favonius have received reports from a number of eye-witnesses claiming to have seen the Darknight Hero in the vicinity of the Dawn Winery.
The Grand Master has assigned the Cavalry Company to this mission. As such, I will be paying you a visit in three days.
He seems to think that our relationship can be improved if we are forced to talk in person.
Don't worry, though. My lips are sealed. This will be nothing more than a formality. Anyway, three days' notice should be enough for you, I presume?
A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (VIII)
To D:
The appearance of the Darknight Hero has indeed bought the Knights of Favonius some valuable time during the Abyss Order's last attack.
This helped Jean convince the Knights of Favonius to stop focusing on trying to stop him.
This will decrease the limits on the Darknight Hero's actions, but this doesn't necessarily mean that his situation will necessarily improve.
Objects with too honed an edge tend to be damaged more easily. You, I'm sure, are aware of the great dangers that come with acting alone.
That said, I would advise against such a course of action.
A Letter in Beautiful Handwriting (IX)
To D:
I heard that the Dawn Winery did not suffer any damage. Likewise the Knights of Favonius only sustained minor injuries, and will recover quickly.
However, an employee of a local merchant has gone missing, and their last known location just so happens to align with the Abyss Order's area of activity
The Knights have dispatched people to go to the rescue.
Do be aware that the Abyss Order has become more dangerous as of late, even going so far as to organize multi-pronged offensives.
Perhaps the Darknight Hero and the Knights of Favonius should team up. That might guarantee that things will go off without a hitch, hmm?
Hidden Strife Event Letters: Albedo's Lab
Letter Addressed to Mr. Albedo
Dear Albedo,
Thank you for the detailed explanation. I have read your paper and found it both enriching and easy to understand. It is a rare and well-written document indeed.
I have written the relevant information down in hopes that it will be put to good use in the future.
Guarding against danger is a very important skill. I will continue to keep watching over the Abyss Order, and use force against them where necessary.
Letter Addressed to Ms. Alice
Dear Ms. Alice,
I must admit that when I read the opening lines of this letter, I was not expecting it to have been written by you.
It seems that I may have indeed failed to notice you despite your presence nearby. My apologies for that.
Regarding Klee, I have heard that you are an extremely powerful witch, so I suspect that Klee would have been just fine even sans my presence.
Even so, you sent me this letter, for which I am thankful.
As you have said, traveling is my best option at present. I will go out and experience all that the world has to offer, just as you have suggested.
My father's will shall find continuation through me.
Klee is welcome to stay at Dawn Winery as a guest during my absence. Adelinde will prepare sufficient snacks and grape juice for such occasions. And if you don't mind, you are also welcome to drop by.
I hope that you and Klee stay in good health.