Barbeloth

Astromancer Barbeloth Trismegistus, also known by her codename "B," is a master hydromancer, visionary, and teacher to Mona. She is also a member of the Hexenzirkel.^[5]

Profile

The name "Megistus" (meaning "great") is a suffixal identifier and functional surname of mages under Barbeloth's tutelage.^[6] Barbeloth was already once known as Barbeloth Megistus, but renamed herself "Trismegistus" (meaning "thrice as great") to distinguish herself from her students. According to Mona, Barbeloth is a visionary;^[7] someone so skilled at astrology that she can read the fortunes of entire nations, Teyvat and the world itself. Mona's greatest wish is to overtake Barbeloth in hydromancy and become known as the world's greatest astrologer.

Barbeloth is also the friend and rival of Alice,^[8] a famous adventurer and powerful mage. Barbeloth main object of study and talent(s) lie in astrology, whilst Alice is well-versed in a variety of magical fields.

Though Barbeloth initially did not understand what Alice saw in Andersdotter, she later grew to respect her and realized that her acuity for the world's operating principles could sometimes surpass that of astrology.^[9]

Appearance

Barbeloth's physical appearance is that of an elderly woman with short gray hair, blue eyes and blue eyeshadow, wearing blue, black and gold witch attire with exposed shoulders, fit with golden Hexenzirkel-themed decorations similar to Alice and Nicole. She also has blue-painted nails with yellow stars painted on top. She wears large, golden hoop earrings, a V-shaped necklace with a Hexenzirkel-styled orb and a large, blue, black and gold witch hat atop her head.^[10]

A statue within Constellation Metropole in Simulanka and an illustration in Lunar Arcanum XVII: The Star both portray her younger self as a tall woman with short light-colored hair, cut just above her collar and brow. She is portrayed wearing blue witch attire, with a large tipped hat and flowing layered robes that reach to her feet. Her clothing is decorated with various golden patterns and star motifs with a singular golden star in the center of her robe, befitting of her skills in astrology.

Like most Hexenzirkel mages, Barbeloth is also shown in the form of a Dodoco in certain instances, with the tail covered in a dark blue hue and lighter colored star patterns. Unlike her physical appearance and her portrayals within Simulanka and the Lunar Arcanum, her Dodoco form is seen wearing a large and round dark blue cap atop it's head, decorated with golden patterns and a singular blue feather as apposed to her standard witch hat.^[11]

Story

Fifty years before the game's start, Barbeloth made a pact with Alice, which resulted in Alice taking possession of Barbeloth's diary. The diary has since been entrusted to Klee and was accidentally read by Mona.^[8]

At some point in the past, Barbeloth was involved with the creation of Simulanka alongside Alice and Andersdotter, and became its Goddess of Prophecy.^[12] When Andersdotter wished to have her Durin live among the people of Teyvat, Barbeloth warned her that her Durin would suffer the same fate as Rhinedottir's Durin, but Andersdotter was unconvinced. Barbeloth later realized what Alice saw in her and respected her, and her astrology would be required in order to allow her Durin to live a free life.

Barbeloth would later oversee the second half of the trial during The Game Before the Gate when the Traveler and Albedo were tested by Alice. After the Ascended King and Sublimated Queen were defeated by the pair, Barbeloth congratulated them and had Alice wrap up the trial before leaving.^[11]

Barbeloth later sent three letters to Mona, asking her to head to a gate in Sumeru, then performing the Sign of Truth ritual. Mona and the Traveler went to the underground gate leading to Khaenri'ah, where she performed the ritual, which caused Tenebrous Mimesis to surround them. After killing them, Mona opened the third letter with the Traveler's encouragement, where it was revealed that it was a prank and began bragging, which caused the two to discard the letter and return to Mondstadt.^[13]

Paimon requested Barbeloth to read her fortune. However, after attempting to do so, Barbeloth hesitated to reveal what she had seen, and in a serious tone, questioned whether Paimon truly wished to know her own fate, then fell silent without giving an answer.^[14]

After Andersdotter's Durin managed to reject his original's fate, Barbeloth attended a meeting with him and Alice. She asked him to stand in front of her teacup and examined him, discovering that his fate no longer existed among the stars, remarking that Anya had achieved what almost no one else could. Durin asked her what she meant by that, though she declined to explain, simply stating that he was a very lucky person. The Traveler then asked her the same, but she no longer responded, having left the meeting.^[15]

Quests and Events

Archon Quests

• Song of the Welkin Moon
  • Act VI: Melting Moonlight in the Morning Mist
    • The Night the Moon Returns Home
  • Act VII: A Traveler on a Winter's Night
    • Where Our Space and Time Intersect
• Interlude Chapter
  • Act IV: Paralogism
    • The Gardener

Story Quests

• Draco Rubedo Chapter (Durin)
  • Act I: The Magic Known as Storytelling
    • A Prophecy From the Past (as "Seer-Witch")
    • Interlude: A Moment's Rest (2) (as "Seer-Witch")
    • Revelation Beneath the Stars (as "Seer-Witch")
    • Interlude: A Moment's Rest (4) (as "Seer-Witch")
    • The Solution of Fate

World Quests

• Witch's Homework
  • Of Untested Insight
    • A Dry Well Doth Not Reflect the Stars
  • The Role of a Guide...?
    • Witch's Homework: The Role of a Guide...?
  • Of Various Foes
    • Proof of Strength (flashback, Dodoco form)
• Witch's Revelation
  • Revelations by Chance
  • Witch's Revelation: Warden's Instruction
  • Witch's Revelation: Great Youkai's Instruction
  • Witch's Revelation: Duty's Instruction
  • Witch's Revelation: Instruction Beyond Dreams
  • Witch's Revelation: Instruction of Curious Form
  • Witch's Revelation: Special Blend's Instruction
  • Witch's Revelation: Voyaging Instruction

Events

• Windblume's Breath
  • Windblume Festival
    • Part III: Joy Above the Clouds
• Summertide Scales and Tales
  • Page III: Until the End of the World (as "B")
  • Appendix: Afterword (Summertide Scales and Tales) (flashback, as "B")
• Homeward, He Who Caught the Wind/A Chat Over Fine Drinks

Character Mentions

Character Stories

Character	Stories
Durin	Character Story 4 Character Story 5
Mona	As Barbeloth: Character Story 1 Character Story 5 Vision As "That old hag": Character Story 4
Nicole	Character Details Character Story 5
Varka	Character Story 4

Character Voice-Overs

Character	Voice-Overs
Mona	About the Vision: Disdain  Media:VO_Mona About the Vision - Disdain.ogg Media:VO ZH_Mona About the Vision - Disdain.ogg Media:VO JA_Mona About the Vision - Disdain.ogg Media:VO KO_Mona About the Vision - Disdain.ogg When I first received my Vision, the elderly woman that gave it to me, she put on this air and said "May your heart of truth be with you." And yet this thing does nothing for my hydromancy, all it does is get me wet. About the Vision: Value  Media:VO_Mona About the Vision - Value.ogg Media:VO ZH_Mona About the Vision - Value.ogg Media:VO JA_Mona About the Vision - Value.ogg Media:VO KO_Mona About the Vision - Value.ogg That said, a Vision doesn't hurt to have as a little accessory. It is, after all, the one useful study tool that miserly old lady ever gave me, in a rare act of generosity. About Albedo  Media:VO_Mona About Albedo.ogg Media:VO ZH_Mona About Albedo.ogg Media:VO JA_Mona About Albedo.ogg Media:VO KO_Mona About Albedo.ogg Albedo? Ah... I envy his ability to solely focus on his research without getting bogged down in mundane worldly affairs. What a wonderful life! If that batty old lady hadn't had one too many screws loose, perhaps that's the life I'd be living by now myself... About Klee  Media:VO_Mona About Klee.ogg Media:VO ZH_Mona About Klee.ogg Media:VO JA_Mona About Klee.ogg Media:VO KO_Mona About Klee.ogg Ah yes, Alice's daughter. She's in the custody of the Knights of Favonius, and Albedo looks after her too. She's blessed to have Trifolium as her constellation, which represents good luck. I'm slightly envious... *smirk* Although, if I'd been blessed with good luck, I suppose I never would have had the great honor of running into that old woman, would I... More About Mona: III  Media:VO_Mona More About Mona - 03.ogg Media:VO ZH_Mona More About Mona - 03.ogg Media:VO JA_Mona More About Mona - 03.ogg Media:VO KO_Mona More About Mona - 03.ogg You want me to explain how astrology works? I'm not sure you'd understand even if I told you. But since you ask... The method I use is called hydromancy. The art of inferring fate from the illusory reflection of the stars on the water's surface. The inverted reflection in the water is an image of the heavens from within which the truth of our world can be observed. ...It is the one and only success story of that old lady's research endeavors. More About Mona: IV  Media:VO_Mona More About Mona - 04.ogg Media:VO ZH_Mona More About Mona - 04.ogg Media:VO JA_Mona More About Mona - 04.ogg Media:VO KO_Mona More About Mona - 04.ogg Mona Megistus, the Astrologist — we came up with that name together, the old lady and me. She said it had a nice ring to it... But then she started calling me 'Meg' for short, which is obviously unnecessary, because clearly 'Mona' is already suffice for a shorter name— No! You are NOT allowed to call me that, it's embarrassing! Gah! I knew I shouldn't have told you!
Nicole	About Mona  Media:VO_Nicole About Mona.ogg Media:VO ZH_Nicole About Mona.ogg Media:VO JA_Nicole About Mona.ogg Media:VO KO_Nicole About Mona.ogg So, for some strange reason, Mona and Barbie are still refusing to meet face to face, and their only contact is through letters? Well, I suppose it's understandable. It wasn't until after Rhinedottir turned twenty that I actually met her in person. Alice said it wasn't convenient for Khaenri'ahns to come and go, so she brought letters back and forth instead. Favorite Food  Media:VO_Nicole Favorite Food.ogg Media:VO ZH_Nicole Favorite Food.ogg Media:VO JA_Nicole Favorite Food.ogg Media:VO KO_Nicole Favorite Food.ogg I'm not really picky about food. But, I love hot peppers, green onions, and garlic — the stronger the flavor, the better. Not necessarily because of the taste itself, though. When you don't have to open your mouth to speak, you don't have to worry about the spice burning your throat. So, when Alice, Barbie, and I had a spicy food-eating contest, I won. Even with tears streaming down my face, and feeling like my lips were on fire, I won. Sore throat, bad breath... Hehe, doesn't mean a thing to me. Of course, I did brush my teeth and wash out my mouth afterwards.
Varka	About Barbeloth  Media:VO_Varka About Barbeloth.ogg Media:VO ZH_Varka About Barbeloth.ogg Media:VO JA_Varka About Barbeloth.ogg Media:VO KO_Varka About Barbeloth.ogg I once glimpsed a reflection of the future in Barbeloth's Scryglass. She said it was a vision that fate itself was trying to show me... But did fate also foresee that I would try to change it? And did it predict the way things would finally turn out? Hmph... My answer is that there's no need to dwell on it. Overthinking things will only slow my sword. Whatever fate shows me, I'll still do whatever I believe is right.

Gallery

Barbeloth in Lunar Arcanum XVII: The Star

Barbeloth as a Dodoco as seen in Paralogism

Barbeloth on mural from Paralogism

The Statue of the Goddess of Prophecy at Constellation Metropole, depicting Barbeloth's younger appearance

Barbeloth's appearance from "Another Prologue" animated short

Videos

Story Teaser- The Mages' Tea Party - Genshin Impact

Version 5.6 "Paralogism" Trailer - Genshin Impact -NewVersion -Trailer -GenshinImpact -Paralogism-2

Version "Luna III" "A Nocturne of the Far North" Trailer - Genshin Impact

Character Trailer - "Durin- A Story Born for This" - Genshin Impact

"Another Prologue" Animated Short - Genshin Impact

Version "Luna VIII" "Sunny Summer Fontinalia" Trailer - Genshin Impact

Trivia

• Barbeloth has a fondness for picking out hats, and helped Alice pick Klee's hat.^[16]
• Barbeloth wrote Vol. 2 of The Little Witch and the Undying Fire.^[17]
• According to Mona, Barbeloth currently appears to be an elderly woman. She was at least a young adult at the time of Simulanka's creation.
• Barbeloth is at least several centuries old by the time of the Traveler's journey in Teyvat, as it is revealed in The Solution of Fate that Andersdotter passed away some time after the Cataclysm.
• As the Seer-Witch, upon reading Paimon's fortune, she remained quiet.
• Barbeloth is mentioned in the descriptions of the following 2 Furnishings:
  • Window to Prophecy
  • Gate of Stars

Aliases and Titles

• Barbeloth is known by these aliases:
  • Astromancer Barbeloth Trismegistus^{[6][Note 1]}
  • B (Hexenzirkel codename)
  • Goddess of Prophecy (in Simulanka)^[12]
  • Seer-Witch
  • Old Hag Megistus^[18]
  • Barbie (by Alice, Klee, Andersdotter, Albedo and I. Ivanovna N.)^[19]

Etymology

• "Barbeloth" may stem from the Gnostic aeon Barbēlō, a supreme, androgynous entity in Gnosticism known as God's first thought, being His "feminine aspect" and the Mother-Father of the aeons.
  • Barbēlō is also called "Barbeloth" in many historic texts and is thought to be a corruption of the original name.
• "Trismegistus" is derived from Hermes Trismegistus (Ancient Greek: Ἑρμῆς ὁ Τρισμέγιστος "Hermes the Thrice-Greatest"), a legendary figure associated with the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth and considered the father of Egyptian alchemy.
• According to Mona, the name "Astromancer Barbeloth Trismegistus", in plain speech, means "the thrice-as-great scholar of the stars."^[6]
  • Mona also confirms that Barbeloth's old surname "Megistus" generally means "great."^[6]

Notes

Other Languages

Change History

References