[Genshin Impact] Xiao Chasm Quest

 If you haven’t completed or reached this archon quest, don’t read ahead or at least beware of spoilers

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At this point being an endgame player (having completed all of the archon quests up to this point) I was lucky enough to be there for the quest event, with the domains and stuff which was really fun, mainly because with a set of limits but also getting to try out different characters (5-starss!!) which I always love because like.. I have my fair collection of 5 stars but some of them I just want so bad but can’t seem to get…. I’ve missed like three Xiao banners and it’s driving me mad.

Itto and Xiao interacting is a scenario that I’d never expected but I love because they’re both some of my favourite characters, and despite Itto being a little annoying at times (which is like a mood killer but in a good way) but him and Paimon bickering was pretty funny. 

Seeing the trailers and teasers and buildup for this archon quest was amazing, the cutscenes are so pretty and also really cute,, It’s nice to see the Yakshas being happy because istg.. I feel so bad for them, but Bonanus is so pretty, I wish she wasn’t dead lmao

This quest made me have mixed feelings about Yelan, who I was pretty excited for from her trailer and seeing her in general (she’s super cool) although I kind of wish she had a little bit of a different personality because I feel like it’s becoming a trope T.T In the archon quest she was a little questionable although I guess I understand why, but goddamnit why would you speak to Xiao like that :’(

Realistically I knew that they weren’t going to kill off Xiao in this quest because he’s a playable character as well as a very popular character and all that, despite all of the death flags that they were pointing our and ESPECIALLY that ending cutscene, had me in literal tears and it sounds so ridiculous to say that but like T.T I was screaming at my screen lol

But to be honest if Xiao had actually died in the quest I’d be heartbroken but I’d accept it, for a mortal death is bad but for someone who has been living thousands of years suffering death is a pretty nice escape from that pain– Considering his ingame death voicelines, and the fact in his quest that he was willing to sacrifice himself as his final will, although Yelan out of survivor’s guilt went off on him about it, I’d accept that an honourable death is a sigh of relief compared to centuries of absolute pain. Xiao has a knack for balancing on the line of death, and in this quest it’s not even his first time lol. He keeps getting saved by archons, I bet Baal is next in some weird situation.

Xiao in Inazuma though… Now i want that… Seeing characters from other nations visit is really fun, I need more T.T Especially the Irodori festival, I did not go into the quest expecting Venti or Xingqiu to appear but I’m so glad they did hhh

Anyway… No getting side tracked. 

Xiao was definitely different in that quest, he was a lot less… Emo? I guess?? Probably because he was tired or something, because he was very willing (at least compared to how he normally is) to be helped, also him sleeping for like a day… I took advantage of that just to try and crush him under Zhongli’s pillar (I’m so sorry Xiao) and taking selfies with him… Poor guy was just trying to sleep, but to be fair I’d sleep for like a day or two straight too if I’d been awake fighting demons for like thousands of years so sleep well lol

Before the quest I’d liked the Yakshas as characters but with the little information about them I couldn’t get really attached but now… There’s a lot of care put into their story and It makes their deaths a lot more heavy and emotional. Bosacius calling them his brothers and sisters just broke my heart :(( I wish they didn’t die lmao they’re so cool :’< 

At the end of the quest, when you talk to Xiao alone, the description of him, the mixture of emotions, I swear that broke me. This whole quest broke me and tore me up and shredded me into little pieces, aaaaaaugh

I hope that we can get more quests like this for other characters too– We had story quests for characters like Tartaglia and Hu Tao but I really want a quest like that where we get to learn more about their past, and maybe see another side of them, like the Xiao quest. I’m looking forward to the next archon quest, with Sumeru being so near, I’m really invested. 

Speaking of story quests– Deep down I’m hoping that Venti will get an act II of his story quest since the other archons have theirs :’) I’d do anything for that T.T Just give me Venti content…… For one of the main characters and with loads of screen time, I wish they explored Venti’s character even more, more than just about Decarabian and Dvalin and stuff, I wanna know what he’s been up to for all these years lol

It’s almost midnight so I’m gonna have to go to sleep, this concludes today’s Genshin rant.