The world of Teyvat is built upon the ruins of a far more advanced civilization and shaped by
cycles of divine conflict. Long before the current era, a powerful civilization, likely known as the
Unified Civilization or the nation of Khaenri'ah, thrived without the need for gods. This era ended
in a cataclysm known as the "cataclysm" 500 years ago, when the gods of Celestia—the divine
realm that rules Teyvat—destroyed it, corrupting its people and littering the land with monstrous
creatures. This event is the root of much of the world's current strife, and its secrets are guarded
by the ruling Archons under the stern gaze of the heavenly principles enforced by Celestia. The
world is now divided among seven nations, each ruled by an Archon who embodies an
elemental ideal and grants their people Visions, which are conduits for elemental power.
The central narrative follows the Traveler, a celestial being who journeyed across worlds with
their twin sibling until they were separated by a mysterious deity known as the Sustainer of
Heavenly Principles upon arriving in Teyvat. The Traveler awakens and embarks on a journey
across the seven nations to find their lost twin, accompanied by a cheerful but amnesiac guide
named Paimon. Their quest quickly entangles them in the deep-seated conflicts and secrets of
each nation, from freeing Mondstadt from the tyranny of a dragon to challenging the Vision Hunt
Decree in Inazuma. Throughout their journey, they learn that their sibling has already traveled
this path and has seemingly aligned with the Abyss Order, a sinister organization born from the
remnants of Khaenri'ah that seeks to overthrow the divine order of Celestia.
Beneath the surface of elemental conflicts and national politics lies a deeper, more metaphysical
mystery concerning the nature of Teyvat itself. Prophecies, forbidden knowledge, and the
phenomenon of "Teyvat's sky being a lie" suggest that the entire world may be an elaborate
construct or a prison, maintained by the gods of Celestia to contain a greater threat or hide a
profound truth. The Fatui organization and its enigmatic leader, the Tsaritsa, seek to gather the
Gnoses (the divine sources of the Archons' power) to ultimately rebel against Celestia itself,
placing them in direct opposition to both the Archons and the Abyss Order, albeit for different
reasons. The Traveler is thus caught in a three-way war between the established order of the
gods, the vengeful chaos of the Abyss, and the revolutionary ambition of the Fatui, all while
uncovering the unsettling truth about the world's fabricated reality.