Alain Guillotin

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Alain Guillotin was a historical figure from the cataclysm around 400–500 years ago. He was a member of the Narzissenkreuz Institute before its disbandment, a researcher of the Institute of Natural Philosophy, a Marechaussee Hunter, and the Founding Director the Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering. Towards the end of his life, he created Sandrone — who would become a Fatui Harbinger — and Pulonia, her attendant.

Profile

Alain was noted to be a very rigid and serious person, who only seemed to care about his research. He was known as a child prodigy, and became a researcher at the Institute of Natural Philosophy at a much younger age than his own research assistant, Carter Scherbius. However, he was very close to his sister, Mary-Ann Guillotin, as well as Jakob, Rene, and Carter.

Alain's primary research focus was Khaenri'ah machines such as Ruin Graders, but he also researched technology from the era of King Deshret.

He was raised in the Narzissenkreuz Institute until the Vice Director departed for battle during the cataclysm. Later, Alain and Mary-Ann were adopted by Emanuel Guillotin under the request of Basil Elton.^[6] His friendship with Rene de Petrichor and Jakob Ingold lasted for years, until the two led a failed procedure on his assistant, Carter Scherbius, during their time in the Institute of Natural Philosophy, causing a rift between them.^[10]

Alain later joined the Marechaussee Phantom alongside Mary-Ann. The two were one day assigned to capture the members of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo, when Narzissenkreuz and Jakob's schemes had caught the attention of the Court of Fontaine.^[11] A clash broke out within the remains of Elynas between the siblings and the leaders of the Ordo, Narzissenkreuz, which presumably killed Mary-Ann.^[12]

Appearance

In the flashback of Neuvillette's memories, Alain is wearing the uniform of the Marechaussee Phantom.^[13] From the design phase and up to the time that the majority of Sandrone's education was completed, he allowed his hair to grow out and kept it in a ponytail. After at least his completion of Pulonia, he had the back cut short instead.

Quests and Events

Archon Quests

• Song of the Welkin Moon
  • Act VIII: True Moon
    • Descending Moon (cutscene)

Story Quests

• Diluvies Chapter (Neuvillette)
  • Act I: The Remains of the Past Day
    • In a New Light (cutscene)

Events

• Sunny Summer Fontinalia (Event)
  • Sunny Summer Fontinalia
    • Act II: Those We Have Lost
      • Those We Have Lost

Story

Alain was raised in the Narzissenkreuz Institute until its Vice Director died during the cataclysm, and the Institute was disbanded. At the request of Basil Elton, Alain was taken in by Emanuel Guillotin, together with Mary-Ann.^[6] He enrolled into the Institute of Natural Philosophy in pursuit of mechanical research, where he was highly revered as a child prodigy, but also envied for his talents.^[14] Following Rene and Jakob's return, he recommended them to the director of Institute, leading to a temporary collaboration between the three on Alain's project.^[15][16] During their time in the Institute, the three, along with Mary-Ann, also developed a close relationship to Alain's sickly assistant, Carter Scherbius.^[17][18]

In time, however, Alain discovered that Jakob and Rene had secretly been conducting experiments using Elynas' remains and had even experimented on Carter in an attempt to save his life, a procedure which caused his body to begin rapidly deteriorating. Carter's subsequent death led Alain to completely sever his relationship with the two.^[10][19]

The Guillotin siblings later became members of the Marechaussee Phantom. After the tragedy with Carter and joining the Marechausee Phantom, Alain, inspired by Carter's idea of a "thinking Kamera",^[17] created a mechanical assistant prototype and named it Seymour, tasking to always accompany and protect Mary-Ann.^[7][20]

When the Court of Fontaine officially declared the Narzissenkreuz Ordo a threat,^[11] the director of the Institute of Natural Philosophy, Dwight Lasker, entrusted Alain's adoptive father Emanuel to investigate the Ordo.^[16][21] Emanuel was eventually dissolved by the leader of the Ordo, Narzissenkreuz.^[22] From victims' memories, Narzissenkreuz learned that Alain had introduced simple logic trees for clockwork meka to execute commands. Narzissenkreuz thought that "with the right organ, consciousness can be transplanted." Seymour utilized a "virtual neural network"^[15] for "thinking, security and surveillance applications,"^[17] which caught the Narzissenkreuz's attention. However, Jakob got emotional because he does not wish to oppose the Guillotin siblings.^[11]

Narzissenkreuz used the "Book of Revealing" to show Alain the calculated destruction after the cataclysm and the impending apocalypse, attempted to persuade Alain to join their plan to save human civilization. Narzissenkreuz proposed lending Alain's strength, making him a part of Narzissenkreuz. However, Alain refused Narzissenkreuz, saying, "it seems that there's no going back." and left.^[23] Narzissenkreuz felt displeased by Alain's refusal but still provided a place for him and Mary-Ann's future.^[11]

Narzissenkreuz rallied the members of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo and led them to Elynas' remnants to carry out their orders. Alongside Narzissenkreuz and Jakob, the entire Ordo engaged in a large-scale battle against the Marechaussee Hunters, which included Alain, Mary-Ann, and Seymour with their clockwork meka. During the battle, an explosion was triggered by someone (likely Jakob, who was later confirmed to have damaged Seymour), which greatly damaged Seymour and likely led to Mary-Ann's death. The outcome of the battle was the defeat of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo. Narzissenkreuz was defeated by Alain and "[fell] into the chasm that dissolves all things." At the last moment, Rene's consciousness told Alain that he "will surely return to save all souls."^[24] Jakob managed to survive the incident and survives to the present day.^[12]

Sometime after leaving the Marechaussee Phantom, Alain established the Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering.^[20] He named the Suppression Specialist Mek after Carter to commemorate him.^[25][26]

According to legend, Alain retired from the Fontaine Research Institute in his old age and isolated himself in his workshop, focusing on nothing but his research. However, none of it was ever published and from the traces left behind in his workshop, it can only be inferred that something was built.^[20]

The object of this research turned out to be what could arguably be considered his greatest and most advanced creation: a puppet containing an emotional core capable of learning and fashioned in the likeness of Mary-Ann. Activating her on his 65th birthday, he would spend time teaching her to be her own person and watched over her as she exceeded his expectations over time, later giving her his final creation, Pulonia, as an assistant. Over time, they would become colleagues in his work. Before Alain passed away, he asked Sandrone to destroy all of his notes and manuscripts to avoid theft,^[9] and perhaps, potential abuse of his work. Sandrone agreed to do so, though she read them all beforehand, since she did not want his work to go to waste. He returned to the ruins of the former Narzissenkreuz Institute orphanage, where he would lie down for his final rest.^[27]

This world is beautiful, more beautiful than you or I can imagine. So go. Do what you want to do, and seek out your own desires, my child. Just remember, your life belongs to you.

—Alain's last words, to Sandrone^[28]

Sandrone apparently had Alain's body moved and arranged for a casket burial not far from the Narzissenkreuz Institute, and attended the small funeral. Heavy rain that did not clear up that day until midnight accompanied the ceremony, hinting that Neuvillette may have been in attendance, or at least knew Alain was being buried that day.^[9]

Legacy

Here lies
Alain Guillotin
Founding Director of the Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering
White Cavalier of Protection
Lord-Artificer

May the waters protect his soul
May he be troubled by suffering no more
May the waters guide his soul
Safely across to the other shore

"Regrettably, there's nothing more to say."

—Tombstone epitaph, authored by Sandrone^[29]

Alain invented the Arkhe system^[30] and founded the Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering. He is hailed as a genius and some of his inventions, notably the Clockwork Meka, are still being produced in Fontaine's factories in the present day.^[25] The large lifts in Romaritime Harbor and Lumidouce Harbor were built based on his designs.^[31]

According to legend, he invented a prototype machine that was capable of speech and thought to help his younger sister's work as a member of the Marechaussee Phantom. This inspired the engineers of Fontaine to develop artificial intelligence, although none has ever succeeded.^[20][32]

Character Mentions

Character Stories

Character	Stories
Sandrone	Character Details Character Story 1 Character Story 2 Character Story 3 Character Story 5 Pulonia Stellar Linchpin

Character Voice-Overs

Character	Voice-Overs
Sandrone	About Sandrone: Name  Media:VO_Sandrone About Sandrone - Name.ogg Media:VO ZH_Sandrone About Sandrone - Name.ogg Media:VO JA_Sandrone About Sandrone - Name.ogg Media:VO KO_Sandrone About Sandrone - Name.ogg What's wrong with calling me Sandrone? Huh...? My original name? Hah... So, you really want to know? Alright, alright... I can still remember when I first opened my eyes. Alain had just finished creating me. He called me "Marionette." I tried to repeat it, to say it out loud myself, but I noticed something... complicated in his expression. Only later did I come to understand what it was — a mixture of regret and guilt. He never called me that again. Anyway, after telling me the story of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo and his sister, Alain concluded by insisting that I was free to choose my own path in life. An important part of that, he said, was deciding on my own name. For my part, I told him I was perfectly fine with the one he'd given me. "Marionette Guillotin"... Pretty unique as names go, wouldn't you say? And yet, no doubt for different reasons, the Tsaritsa ended up making "Marionette" my title as a Harbinger. Heh... Perhaps that was simply another so-called "act of fate." Something to Share  Media:VO_Sandrone Something to Share.ogg Media:VO ZH_Sandrone Something to Share.ogg Media:VO JA_Sandrone Something to Share.ogg Media:VO KO_Sandrone Something to Share.ogg With Pulonia gone, life suddenly felt a lot more difficult to navigate. That's why I created Fagio — my "Facilitatrice Automatisee Generaliste Interactive et Omnitache." She can deal with a lot of trivial tasks that I'd rather not waste my time with — and she can fight. Huh? You think her full name's too long and... hard to understand? Is that not how all working machines get their names? Alain came up with Pulonia, which stands for "Prospective Undulation Localized Observing and Investigating Automaton." I thought everyone named things that way. So, you think it's hereditary...? Interesting Things  Media:VO_Sandrone Interesting Things.ogg Media:VO ZH_Sandrone Interesting Things.ogg Media:VO JA_Sandrone Interesting Things.ogg Media:VO KO_Sandrone Interesting Things.ogg Outside of my research, I sometimes like to ponder metaphysical questions. Just as people from every nation have their own beliefs about death. I often hear people talking about the "afterlife," "where souls go to rest," things like that... But from the time my core was damaged fighting Il Dottore, to the time the "Stellar Linchpin" activated Alain's legacy and reactivated me, my memory is blank — completely empty. Where do mechanical constructs, "puppets," go when they die? How are our "souls" defined? Do we even have souls? There are no answers, so I always turn back to my research. But knowledge is the cornerstone of the world. I believe that as these stones continue to stack, one day their height alone will allow me to reach the answers to my doubts. About Alain Guillotin  Media:VO_Sandrone About Alain Guillotin.ogg Media:VO ZH_Sandrone About Alain Guillotin.ogg Media:VO JA_Sandrone About Alain Guillotin.ogg Media:VO KO_Sandrone About Alain Guillotin.ogg After Alain died, I put up a tombstone for him. When he was alive, he said he wanted me to write his epitaph. So I did. It wasn't difficult — list out his deeds, then pick a quote that captures the way he thought. I went with, "Regrettably, there's nothing more to say." It was something he often said. You think it sounds fatalistic? Hah, maybe to those who didn't know him. But he always said it with a smile. It wasn't resignation — he wasn't giving up. Ironically, it was almost like an expression of contentment. Like solving a mathematical problem. Death is just a silent equals sign, and he's moved to the other side of the equation. More About Sandrone: III  Media:VO_Sandrone More About Sandrone - 03.ogg Media:VO ZH_Sandrone More About Sandrone - 03.ogg Media:VO JA_Sandrone More About Sandrone - 03.ogg Media:VO KO_Sandrone More About Sandrone - 03.ogg It never bothered me that Alain created me to look like his sister Mary-Ann — or that he named me "Marionette." The way I see it, these are simply the consequences of my birth. Does it bother you to look like your parents, or to bear their family name?

Gallery

Young Alain on the far left with Mary-Ann on his left side

Mural during Welkin Moon's Homecoming

Alain's final resting place

Videos

Cutscene Animation - "Variables in the World" - Genshin Impact

"The Final Gift" Animated Short - Genshin Impact

Character Teaser - "Sandrone- First Light of Dawn" - Genshin Impact

Character Trailer - "Sandrone- To New Beginnings" - Genshin Impact

Story Teaser- What Reflects Itself in Mirror-Water - Genshin Impact

Trivia

• Alain's birthday is sometime around when the Frost Moon can be the closest to Teyvat.^{[33][Note 1]} It is likely to be January 13th, the same as Sandrone's, since she was created on his birthday and does not seem to have chosen another birthday of her own despite him telling her she could.
• According to Jakob and Fell Dragon's Monocle's story, Alain took on the role of the "hero" while playing a role-playing game at the Narzissenkreuz Institute.
• Alain once gave his friends identical pocket watches as a gift.
  • Inside Rene's watch was a photo of them from their childhood. Before Rene dissolved himself, he left the watch behind, which was later found by the Traveler.
  • Jakob's watch was used as the cornerstone for constructing the body of Narzissenkreuz after Rene's experiment failed.
  • Mary-Ann's watch was worn on the chest of the humanoid Oceanid Ann.
  • In the artifact set Nymph's Dream, Alain is associated with the Timepiece Nymph's Constancy, which is the original form of the pocket watches Alain gifted to his friends.
• In Ann's Story, there is a Hydro Mimic Mallard from the Narzissenkreuz Adventure Team named Al, whose name is derived from Alain.
• Alain didn't like drinking tea and preferred coffee, which seems to be where Sandrone picked up her coffee habit from.^[9][34]
• Alain engineered a mechanical piano, but he also knew how to play. He owned a collection of classical music.^[35]
• The detail of Alain creating Seymour is likely inspired by Alan Turing, who invented the Turing machine and is known as the Father of Artificial Intelligence.
• The English version of "The Final Gift" posted on YouTube originally had Alain calling Marionette "Sandrone" when introducing Pulonia to her, but this was a translation error, as the other languages did not do this. The post was later updated with a corrected video with the name omitted.
• Alain's philosophical and intellectual character is likely to be inspired by the world-renowned physicist and polymath Albert Einstein. This is substantiated by one of Alain many quotes, "A quiet, humble life is a surer path to happiness than the blind pursuit of endless perfection." seen within the tea party event with Neuvillette and The Marionette. This quote is strikingly similar to Albert Einsteins 1922 quote: "A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness."
• Alain Guillotin is mentioned in the description of the following Furnishing:
  • Model Meka: "Age of Progress"

Etymology

• Alain's surname, Guillotin, is derived from French doctor Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who fought for using more humane methods of execution. This ultimately led to the development and usage of the guillotine, which came to be associated with him after he spoke in favor of it before France's National Assembly.
  • The given name Alain is also the French form of "Alan".
  • While Alain Guillotin's founding of a research institute focused on kinetic energy may be a nod to how guillotines operate, ironically, the real-life Guillotin was not involved in the guillotine's development and was not an inventor at all.

Notes

Other Languages

Change History

References