Chapter Text
Monstat is most commonly called the city of freedom. As most lands it gets its name from a story. Now the story most commonly told, isn’t very true. For it to be one told in the word of truth, it would need to be told by someone who was there but there is only one person alive who was there.
Now he is the main focus of many stories, most are bent by the people so the stories can feel more personal and in touch with the deity of the land. The real story, well that’s a lot more complicated because everyone has different views on what had happened.
Old Monstat was in chains, acasted by their very own ruler, Decarabian, the god of storms. He was scared of what was beyond the walls and made everyone face the consequences.
A bard, young in age fought against his rein, he made a resistance. This bard met a young wisp along the way, he would come to name this wisp ‘Venti’ with his symbolism with the wind. The tiny wind wisp was fascinated by the bard’s determination, and followed him in his journey to end a tyrant.
There was almost the entire town in the resistance, so as the main story goes, they defeated a god that day.
The young bard sighed, "Venti, my friend! We did it" the bard made a silent chuckle. Breathing heavily because of the battle. The tiny wind wisp followed the bard everywhere but the wisp had a shocked look on its face.
“What is it–” suddenly the bard was caught off guard, an arrow thrown straight to him. The arrow pierced straight through his body. “O-oh” the bard stuttered because of the pain.
“Heh, guess I may not get to see the freedom” the young bard said “b-but promise me Venti, that you will ensure their f-freedom” he then let out a sigh and closed his eyes.
That day things changed, a wisp let out a cry. The wisp did not want to see his friend die so with all of his power he saved the image of the bard in his mind, to make sure he never forgot his message of freedom.
What most people don’t pay attention to, is all who died, many died as well that day. The young bard died, but with a wish for freedom he said in his last dying breath to the wind wisp. The bard said this seeing the amount of persistence the wind wisp had due to the fact it had not yet been in the hands of Decarabian. Who was in control of all of the others.
The very same wish the bard said in his last breath, this would be a turning point. The heavens took account of the wisp, noticing that it was a creation of Istaroth, the god of time, a shade of the primordial one. So with that the name ‘Venti’ would be used as a name for a character instead. Celestia gifted the newly anemo archon the name ‘Barbatos’.
He was as thankful as one could be but that did not mean he liked the name. No, in fact he found it annoying. He found it as if he was controlling his people just as Decarabian did. Of course over the years he had gotten used to the name.
He still always felt as if the name ‘Barbatos’ was in more control of him than any other part of him but he had to be thankful to the heavens.
The new god did many things in the start, he calmed down Andrius, he made an alliance with the geo archon, and he cut a mountain in half just because he felt like it. The people weren’t too keen on a new god though, at first they rejected him. Though as ‘time’ passed by the people started to warm up to him. As well as him doing what his people asked.
The reign of Decarabian came as no shock to Morax but the arrival of a new anemo god did. I should be more specific, the arrival of Barbatos was a shock to Morax. He pondered why celestia chose him of all?
He did know one thing, if the heavens personally selected the archon then there must’ve been a reason to do so. Morax needed to meet the newly anemo god personally. Maybe they could form a contract.
Morax thought if the heavens selected him and he managed to defeat decarabian he must be powerful. Morax knew that he couldn’t let this new god waltz all over everywhere and had to form an alliance. With that the geo god went to Monstat.
The new god felt someone powerful come by his land and he felt worried. Venti knew he couldn’t just fight a god, he wasn’t a fighter. Venti was an observer. He couldn’t fight. He didn’t want to.
Venti decided it was in his best nature to figure out who or what came into his new nation. He was shocked but also worried when he found out it was the geo god. Venti had heard stories.
“Hm” the geo god pondered when he saw the face of the new god. “So this is celestia’s choice?” said Morax, looking slightly confused but also wondering if there was more to him.
“Um” Venti said “why are– why are you in my land” he responded to his own question with a look growing more and more worried each and every time you stare at it.
“A contract” the geo god stated “it was in my best nature to see who celestia made worthy to handpick a god” he said “I mean to make another god during a war for the choosing of gods?” whilst saying this the god was picking at every last detail to see what the heavens were planning.
“I’m not much of a god” the anemo god said
“But you carry the power of the divine?” saying this as if it was a harsh statement trying to prove something “you don’t seem to be a human turned god, no you seem like someone who was always destined to be one.
Venti felt a little embarrassed by this but nonetheless he needed to get back to the scenario at point “what did you come here for again?” he paused slightly but not enough to get a response back “yes a contract, right?”
“Yes” a pause for air “I came to invite you into an alliance.” “Something to make sure the most useful to celestia come out on top in this war” the god said.
“We– well then I guess I accept your offer” he sighed in relief because of how much the god was known for his bloodshed to gods. One of the only reasons he accepted though was because he didn’t want to die.
“Great” the geo god said, satisfied with this interaction and then went back heading for his land.
The Archon war ended, and the only reason he survived was from the contract he made with the geo archon, Morax. His people still continued to live in freedom after that so the heavens decided he should sleep.
Venti would awake from time to time, each time to see Monstat in danger. One of the last straws for him was when his country was in tyranny by the rich. Venti didn’t agree with the imprisonment of his children’s freedom, he started an uprising.
He met a slave named Vanessa, and they became friends.
"Hm, monstat has changed.. it is not free as it must be" Venti muttered to himself, knowing and hoping he could fix this. Regretting his past actions in ensuring Monstat's everlasting freedom.
Venti then looked at the sleeping Vanessa, hoping that she would be able to sway the course of history. Venti saw something in her that he only saw once before in a certain bard.
Venti knew from somewhere that Vanessa would become a hero he was certain as if it was a gut instinct built into him. Venti trusted in her a trust that would ensure Monstat's people's freedom for centuries after.
Venti looked at Vanessa and silently whispered, "Child of Monstat, you will do great things." he took a slight pause "I know you will make it out, and I know you can build a foundation of something great" with that Venti finished his speech.
"Mhm? Did someone say something?" Vanessa silently whispered. She looked around for a second but saw nothing other than the faint sound of the wind passing by. With that she smiled and drifted back to sleep.
Venti asked Vanessa about saving herself, or saving others in need. It was a test and she passed, with that Venti waited until the right moment to reveal himself as Barbatos and put an end to the Lawrence clan’s reign. Of course there were still problems with Monstat and by that Venti worked on fixing them.
Vanessa created The Knights Of Favonius, to protect Monstat from harm's way, and to prevent any rule of tyranny in the future. Then as mortals do Vanessa died but she ascended to the ‘great’ place of celestia and became an eagle.
Venti went to ‘sleep’ in the knowledge that his nation, his children, would be safe. He awoke again sensing great danger, one of a creation, made by the nation that had been slowly forming. This nation was a godless one, one that was slowly rivaling in power to Celestia.
It was a dragon, a massive dragon, yes Barbatos had a dragon but could it really rival in strength to the “beast” of a dragon? Venti knew he had to call upon Dvalin so that he could try and defeat the ‘god-like’ creature. So with that he tried to call his Dragon but—.
Venti was failing just a bit, the heavens were calling him to the godless nation, but he refused. He had to save his people, he could not just let them die from Durin. So he resisted celestia and instead fought the dragon, he knew that whatever would happen to him because of this couldn’t be that bad.
He was wrong, he was very, very wrong.
“Dvalin?” Venti called out but there was no sound to be heard. “Please are you there, anywhere?” he said anxiously. Oh no he thought to himself, was the wind failing him? Was his power blocked out?
Venti tried calling Dvalin with his powers again and again but nothing was working. Venti knew something was very wrong but he didn’t know what exactly it was, that meant he couldn’t fix the problem.
Suddenly he heard a loud voice in his head say ‘go to the godless nation’. It was repeating over and over again in his mind it was the voice of celestia, the heavenly principles.
Was this a punishment? He tried his best to ignore it. He didn’t need to pay attention to it. All he had to do was defeat Durin with Dvalin. He knew a way to get Dvalin without magic.
Venti started to play a tune. It was a tune that could call a certain dragon out. When Dvalin started to hear the tune he followed it to find his lord.
Suddenly in front of Venti, Dvalin appeared. “Barbatos, why is it that you call upon me?” said the dragon speaking to Venti who was in his archon from.
“Ah, Dvalin you are here” said Venti “I call you because I need your help in assisting Monstat.” he paused for a second “there is another dragon attacking the city and I need your help in defeating it.”
“Of course” said the dragon in his usual raspy dragon voice.
With that Venti ignored the heavens as Monstat was in need and he could not just ignore his people like that. There was a dragon attacking his children. He couldn’t let anyone die.
—
Venti could see it all. He saw it. He saw all of it. He didn’t want this. Would celestia really go that far? When Venti was done slaying Durin with Dvalin he was hurt.
He said that he couldn’t fight like this but of course like everything was with Barbatos, it wasn’t his choice. So all he could do was feel like he wasn’t in control of his own body.
He could hear the screams and “help me” of countless children and families. This was not what he was thinking, this was the last straw for him. This was the last push on a break of revenge.
This might’ve been a message to him saying ‘don’t mess with celestia’ but all he could see was ‘don’t mess with celestia when they know’. All he knows is that celestia is different than before. His creator couldn’t have chosen this.
Celestia controlled him. It wasn’t his choice. He brutally slaughtered thousands, it may have not been by his wishes, but it was by his own hand. Venti would forever live with the knowledge and sight of that day, the day he would live to spire a hatred against celestia.
Venti was one of the oldest archons, he knew of what had happened before, but he knew a bit of what was to come due to being a part of time.
He saw the goddess of love, he saw her rebelling and failing because she didn’t have enough divine power. He wouldn’t let that happen. There was only one thing powerful enough to store devine power, the gnosis. They would help in ending celestia’s rein over teyvat, and freedom could happen.
Wind reached Sneznaya’s cold, icy front. A welcome perhaps? Well nothing mind that, the cryo archon felt the gentle wind of freedom and knew that it was the anemo archon.
Why would he come here? Does he know? Did Celestia send him? The Tsarist pondered over these questions, asking herself every scenario but the current. Suddenly she heard light footsteps walking near her and turned to look around.
It was the god of freedom, Barbatos. “Hello” she said with the cold look of ice in her eyes. “Why are you here?” she said in a questioning tone, not one of curiosity, but one of a weary kind.
“Hm, I’m not that scary am I?” he responded in a playful-serious tone of voice.
“No, but I do question why you are here.” a cold and harsh-tone, one not to be played for a fool's errand. “Why would the anemo archon come all the way to Sheznya?” again using the same tone of voice as before, but sounding more and more ready to fight.
“Many reasons, but there is one reason as to why I came” he said no longer in a playful attitude, but in a tone that sounds thousands of years old. “I know, and I want to help”.
“Know what?” the cryo archon said in a tone acting confused but one who has acted for a long time could clearly sense the worry and dread. She was wondering if it was too late and celestia already knew.
“I’m not with Celestia ''he said with a hint of doubt that perhaps the cryo archon wouldn’t understand. Could he really convince one of cold nature to side with someone who has a long growing past with celestia?
“Hm,” the younger god said, questioning and thinking almost as hard as the previous god of wisdom might’ve once done. “State everything you know” she said in a cold and harsh tone.
“Ah, I realize you might not believe me” he started “but do believe me, I mean no harm.” The god mentally prepped for the next line, “I need you to find a way to take the gnosis.” The cryo archon looked a bit surprised after this and Barbatos could feel the growing trust.
“You can’t defeat celestia without divine power” he said. “Celestia lies, the gnosis doesn't store power” Barbatos said that knowing the territory he was getting into was a bit risky “the gnosis is a tracking device”.
“What?” said the Tsaritsa not knowing if she really meant for that sound to come out of her mouth. She had a shocked and puzzled look on her face. She didn’t know what to believe anymore, was this just a trick by the principles?
“You are confused, I see. Please trust me, celestia has done wrong in everything” he said “I don’t even know if this is the once kind celestia I once knew. I’m getting ahead of myself– anyways um what I wanted to say was that I will help convince the archons to lend their gnosis” said the anemo archon.
The Tsaritsa was listening. “I do warn you, you cannot let or have any trace of celestia knowledge about this. Even me talking and being here right now is risky and puts both of us in danger” he stated, still trying his best to convince the cold but passionate leader.
“I need a minute to think this over– but I understand” she said. “We will need to figure out a plan, devise a plan so celestia doesn’t know” saying this, still being cautious and careful as ever.
“I have a bit of one” said the god of freedom “but you will need to wait a while, because the way I got this information isn’t allowed” this phrase definitely piqued her interests.
“Isn’t allowed? What do you mean by that?” she said with a concerned look in her eyes. Barbatos just looked away like he was staring for something– no staring for someone. “Barbatos, can you tell me what you mean by that?”
“I can’t ok? But all I can tell you is if you wish to succeed you need the gnosis, I’ll do my best to soothe over some of the gods. Some may not be so willing though” he said with a dark look one could only best describe as the death of a world.
“You will need to fabricate everything, the heavens cannot know what you are planning. I am giving you advice on mistakes you could make” he accompanied this sentence with a pleading look.
“I’ll take your advice” she said, “but I already have a plan of my own.” “The advice you provide though, it seems you already know my plan don’t you?” She said this to him with an amount of understanding.
“I do. I was just giving advice you will need to know” the anemo god said “I will go now, see you again.” Then when Venti said that the cryo god smiled and Venti left.