The Origin and Types of Genshin Snowland Fae

In the frozen northern lands of Teyvat, the story of Snezhnaya's Snowland Fae is like a treasure buried deep within the permafrost, its imprints of former glory preserved despite the erosion of wind and snow. Born of a forbidden genesis, this race once witnessed the brilliance of the Golden City, endured the cataclysm of the falling Celestial Nails, and ultimately, through the turning of eras, drifted into silence. Yet, they have always influenced Snezhnaya's fate in hidden ways.

Genshin Impact - Origin of the Fae

The origin of the Fae began with the ancient northern people's questioning of "evolution." In antiquity, the inhabitants of this land, through their search for the world's profound wisdom, angered the angels of Heaven. Just as the priests were gripped with anxiety, a commoner youth, harboring the consciousness of a star traveler, stepped forward. With extraordinary insight, he persuaded the erudite scholars, and even before the most revered "first angel," he candidly revealed his origins and sang of an unfinished dream. This actually caused the angel to break free from the shackles of Heaven, giving rise to the ambition to share the skies with mortals.

This rebellious love birthed a miracle—the angel bestowed the power of creation upon mortals. The artisans, using forbidden arts, forged the "Fae," spinning flawless flesh and blood with the light of the frost moon. Thus, the Snowland Fae were born. The angel and the youth together built the Golden City and towering structures that filled the wasteland. The roar of the furnaces and the songs of the Fae together composed the peak movement of the northern civilization. In that era, the Fae were not only witnesses to civilization but also active participants in the Golden Age. Their very existence was a transgression against the order of Heaven.

However, glory is seldom everlasting. The Heavenly Principles' punishment descended with the Celestial Nail. This divine weapon, possessing both destructive and purifying power, fell from the heavens. The glorious golden tower crumbled, and the prosperous city-state instantly turned to ruins. Amidst the shrieks, the Fae turned into silvery-white ice mist. The "first angel" was stripped of its name and form, leaving only a few survivors who were far from the epicenter to huddle and struggle for life in the wind and snow. After the Golden City's dream shattered, the surviving Fae came under the rule of the first Cryo Archon. This deity, revered as the "Winter Tsar" and "Lord of all Fae," incorporated the Fae nobility into the royal court, establishing a ruling order that spanned the northern lands.

The reign of the Winter Tsar marked a second golden age for the Fae. They lived alongside human sages within the labyrinthine palaces of Zapolyarny Palace, participated in the monarch's "grand vision," and even made state decisions during court banquets. In that era, the Snezhnayan court was dominated by the Fae, with only a few mortal families recognized by the deity able to join their ranks, such as the warrior clan bearing the Nightingale crest, which once defended the palace alongside the Fae. But this glory came to an end with the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah. The Winter Tsar, swayed by the poisonous counsel of the "mad monk" Rotwang, coveted the power of the Welkin Moon, leading to the failed development of Nod-Krai. Ultimately, the Tsar perished in the black waves of the Abyss.

Following the fall of the first Cryo Archon and the ascension of the Tsaritsa, the fate of the Fae took a sharp downturn. The new deity placed greater trust in human strength. The Fatui gradually replaced the Fae nobility as the core of power. The once-prominent court nobles faded into legend, and the faith in the Winter Tsar nearly vanished. Today, most of the Fae hide in borderlands like Nod-Krai, continuing their bloodlines in the crevices of history.

Genshin Impact - Types of Fae

The fae themselves comprise numerous races, with six common types found on the Snezhnayan tundra. Thanks to the eclectic genetic engineering of the Golden City Hyperborea in the past, they modified other races as well as themselves. According to A Brief History of the Pale Starborn, among the known larger categories are the Volkodlak, water imps, and the Vila. Within the Volkodlak clans, there are many further classifications, including bovine-like forms, lupine-like forms, and various retainer clans.

Lantern Fae: Flins

Flins does not belong to any of the previously mentioned fae races. According to his character anecdote, he is a Lantern Fae, a noble among the fae, belonging to the Azure Flame. An officially released Flins lantern plush from Genshin Impact distinctively showcases his original form.

After experiencing the upheavals in Snezhnaya, Flins fell into a deep slumber within the Endless Night Mausoleum. He was later awakened by a Lightkeeper due to certain circumstances, coinciding with a time when Abyssal monsters were running rampant. Despite his diminished power, he was moved by the courage of the human warriors. He joined them in burying the deceased and guarding the frontiers, becoming a living witness connecting the fae's past and present.

Snowland Fae Girl: Linnea

Information regarding Linnea is currently quite limited. It is known that she is a Changeling, likely belonging to the Frost Fae race, and her original form may be bird-like. More detailed information awaits further official reveals.

From forbidden creations of the Golden City to esteemed nobles of the royal court, from survivors in the blizzards to watchers of the borderlands, the history of Snezhnaya's Fae has long been intertwined with the fate of Snezhnaya itself. They have witnessed the rise and fall of three civilizations, carrying within them both defiance against Heaven and a tenacious will to survive.

Even in their current decline, they remain a crucial key to deciphering Snezhnaya's secrets. Upon this perpetually frozen land, the frost and snow conceal not only ruins but also the millennia-spanning glory and lament of a race.

That concludes all currently known information about the Snowland Fae. I believe all travelers are excited to see if more characters with Fae heritage appear in the future. Remember to keep following our articles and the site's merchandise updates. See you next time!