Everwinter Without Mercy
Last updated 2026-09-10
In a place where life ought to fall into slumber, glowing light and monumental legacies pierce through the ice, rising tall and defiant amidst the snowland...
Expose yourself to its will — for those who strive to transcend must never seek survival in the shadow of pity.
Everwinter Without Mercy is the first act in the Chapter VII chapter of the Archon Quests.
Quests
- Into the Wind, Into the Frigid North
- Gunfire in the Silent Lands
- Great Deeds on the Tundra
- Silence Alone is Disfavored
Summary
- Into the Wind, Into the Frigid North
The Traveler and Paimon prepare to go to Snezhnaya, where the Tsaritsa has been gathering the Gnoses and the supposed final stop on the journey which the Traveler's Sibling asked them to undertake. Columbina interrupts, having been informed of their impending departure through Luonnotar, and arranges a farewell party for them at The Flagship. She also relays a message from Sandrone, who had already departed for Snezhnograd, telling them not to cause trouble for her in Snezhnaya.
After the party, the Traveler and Paimon head into Snezhnaya. Paimon quickly begins feeling unwell but brushes off the Traveler's concerns, believing it to be the result of the extreme cold. As they attempt to cross a bridge to take shelter in a nearby cabin, a powerful gust of wind pushes the Traveler off the bridge and separates them. As the Traveler traverses a wrecked train which led back up the cliff, they encounter an ancient device called the Eye of Graeae, who acknowledges them as a Descender. It offers to help them find Paimon in exchange for assisting it later on, which the Traveler accepts. With Graeae's help, the Traveler uses "Fab-Vision" to make their way out of the cavern.
Upon reaching the cabin, Graeae senses two lifeforms inside. One is Paimon, asleep and covered by a blanket. The other is Pierro, Director of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, although neither the Traveler nor Graeae are aware of his identity. The Traveler recognizes him as Khaenri'ahn by his star-shaped pupils but, instead of introducing himself or answering their questions, he directs them to focus on Paimon's health and leaves, promising to meet again in the future.
After Paimon awakens, she reveals the man's identity and remarks that he seemed to know her, though she has no memories of him. Seeing that Paimon's health has failed to improve, the Traveler proposes leaving Snezhnaya until she recovers. Graeae advises against it and suggests using the train the Traveler found them in to head to the nearest town instead. The train is operational; Graeae's knowledge of present-day Snezhnaya less so. The train tracks connecting them to the next nearest town have long fallen into disrepair, and the train nosedives off a cliff. Fortuitously, not only do they and the train come out unscathed, they find that they have landed in walking distance of the town and make their way in.
- Gunfire in the Silent Lands
In the town of Sretomorozsk, the Traveler and Paimon fail to find lodgings; all businesses have closed and the civilians are just barely making ends meet themselves. A hunter named Alyosha informs them about Snezhnaya's current situation: The Tsaritsa has implemented Project Stuzha, a plan to lower energy consumption across Snezhnaya in order to redirect it for crucial research, and the shortage of Kresnik Kristall means many people have been unable to heat their stoves. He brings them to witness the distribution of Kresnik Kristall for themselves, and they arrive just in time to witness a near altercation over the shortages which is mediated by Shishkin.
Alyosha decides to let Paimon stay in his home, as he tends to travel and therefore does not use the house much. However, to see a doctor, they need to head to Snezhnograd — and aside from receiving Kresnik Kristall deliveries, the train station has been closed due to the energy shortage. As for the issue of waiting for a train ride, the Traveler offers their crashed but operational train. With their transportation method decided, the two decide to get to the real source of Sretomorozsk's energy shortage: Shishkin, whom he suspects has been taking a large portion of the Kristall allocated to the townspeople for himself. The Traveler, Alyosha, and his hunting dog Tugarin head out to find evidence.
Between the unaltered reports at the train station and a hidden tunnel which the Kristall had been stored in, Alyosha and the Traveler gather enough proof to have Shishkin publicly arrested. The man attempts to garner sympathy with a made-up story but is quickly shut down by Alyosha, who accuses him and the mayor of being in cahoots. Alyosha is promptly vindicated by a report of another Kristall stash found in the mayor's house, and the Fatui representative in the area, Polonsky, has both Shishkin and the mayor arrested to face judgement in Snezhnograd. Polonsky then alludes to Rokot, an organization at odds with the Fatui, saying that Alyosha has the makings to be a member.
Alyosha makes a detour to deliver some Kristall to an elderly lady beset by dementia; they bonded over their common connection to the abandoned town of Alatyr some time ago, and now that she has memory problems, he continues looking after her whenever he is in town. They return to his house and discuss the Traveler's purpose for coming to Snezhnaya. Soon, Alyosha realizes just who the Traveler is, and is awed to be in their presence. He informs them that the Tsaritsa and her Druzhna have gone east to slay the monster responsible for the snowstorms. Nonetheless, they decide to head to Snezhnograd first and convince Polonsky — who was likely not innocent in the Kristall smuggling operation himself — to help get their train onto the tracks. As the train departs, strange objects begin to manifest on the train, alarming everyone.
The next thing they know, they have been sucked into the Shadow Realm, a mysterious realm without wind, light, or elemental energy. As they search for a way to escape, they reunite with the Eye of Graeae, which provides the Traveler with a new outfit and weapons to fight with inside the Shadow Realm. They just barely manage to escape before the Shadow Realm bubble sinks back down, and they rest at Rankova Zorya while Graeae upgrades the train before they make their way to Snezhnograd.
- Great Deeds on the Tundra
The train takes the group to Snezhnograd, where Alyosha gives the Traveler a quick rundown on the local fae and places in town. As he goes to fetch a doctor for Paimon, he sends them to Podvorye Restaurant for lodging. Inside, the Traveler and Paimon discuss their next course of action, seeing that they want to know the Tsaritsa's plans, but have no idea how to approach the topic without talking to a Fatuus, so they decide to find Tartaglia in Glupov. Alyosha then comes in with Luneva, who checks on Paimon. She attributes the illness to a cold and gives her some medicine, telling them to contact her if her condition worsens. Alyosha tells the Traveler that if they need him or Luneva, they should head to the Hunter Trade Station in Zolnyy to reach him.
The Traveler heads to Glupov, only to be stopped by Yuzhanin as he asks for a permit or invitation. They tell him they're looking for Childe, and while Yuzhanin is unimpressed, unaware of the Traveler's identity, Sandrone arrives and takes over, interrupting her tea time. Since she can't bring them in the fortress, she tells them to meet her at Torchlight Books. She reveals that Childe became a "councilor" after Capitano made him as such, though the details of the letter weren't revealed until the Natlan events concluded. She also has a disdain of politics in the Veche, but had to participate as she had to speak for the subordinates under her command. Sandrone questions them as to why they went to look for Childe instead of her, and the Traveler admits they didn't want to disrespect the rules. Before she could say anything else, Zverev informs her of an ongoing situation in Svetloledovka and the Traveler decides to accompany her. Sandrone tasks Zverev to watch Paimon in their absence as they head out to deal with the situation.
At the mine, Sandrone heads off to make repairs while the Traveler goes to rescue the trapped miners. Before they enter, a young woman stops them, telling them to leave. The Traveler clarifies that they're with Sandrone, and the woman introduces herself as Odette. They head underground and discover the monster, driving it off. The miners escape, while the Traveler felt an unusual power and draws from it, creating the Exaiphanes Blade. The monsters return as the cavern begins collapsing, but both the Traveler and Odette are able to escape. Sandrone also finished up the repairs, and they return to Snezhnograd, though she notices their new sword.
The trio catch up with Childe, who had been exhausted with all the work thrust on him. The Traveler questions Project Stuzha, alarming Odette as she felt that the Traveler was openly criticizing the Harbingers by not opposing the motion. While both agree that there are flaws in the plan, they still have to support the people they represent. Odette then asks how the Traveler is acquainted with the two, and Childe reluctantly tells her that the Traveler played a large role in resolving situations across Teyvat, including dueling Signora before the throne. Upon hearing this, Odette becomes dismayed and leaves under the pretense of a practice rehearsal, though Tartaglia reassures the Traveler that she and Signora hadn't been on good terms. The Traveler tells them of their encounter with Pierro before both leave to handle their duties.
The Traveler approaches the Statue of the Seven in Sneznograd and resonates with Cryo, using the blade on the statue and empowering it. They then head to Zolnyy to meet up with Alyosha, where they plan to buy the supply of kristall. As they prepare to do so, they run into Odette, learning that the two are acquainted with each other. While the Traveler feels guilt over the events in Inazuma, Odette tells them that it's not a deal, as she heard what Signora had done in the nations. She also chimes in to help, using Fatui logistics to cover the costs and deliver the goods. With everything wrapped up, the Traveler decides to check on Paimon, and both Alyosha and Odette decide to come.
Returning to the restaurant, Sytin asks the Traveler for identity and they give their Adventurer's Handbook as proof. Inside, Paimon is introduced to Odette, and Alyosha speaks with the Traveler, asking if they got anything from the Harbingers. They did not, and they ask him if he could contact a member of the Rokot to see if they could bring any leads. Alyosha tells them he'll try to contact someone, telling them to meet him at The Korolevskiy Theater the following day.
- Silence Alone is Disfavored
Alyosha meets the Traveler and mentions having secured tickets and arranged something with the Rokot, which would have to wait until after the show. He invites them to stay and watch the Korolevskiy Troupe perform. The Traveler thanks him, and Alyosha leads the way inside, where Kulish performs a routine inspection per theater regulations. As they wait, the Traveler notices a silent, strong-looking Fatui figure nearby and wonders if he's watching for someone. Kulish clears them to proceed, and Alyosha asks the Traveler if everything is all right, to which the Traveler comments on the strict security around them. Alyosha explains that Snezhnaya’s business and political leaders often pass through, so tight security isn’t unusual, though he finds it strange to see a guard from the Fatui’s Armory Palace Special Assignments Battalion, Valeriy, stationed there, noting that he only appears when searching for a researcher named Mitya.
Inside, they take seats beside a grumpy older man, Chugunov, who scowls at them, irritated that they made noise while slipping in late. Alyosha points out the lead singer of the troupe, Vodyanitsa, mentioning that he plans to introduce her properly. Shortly after, Vodyanitsa begins her performance with a haunting and melancholic aria.
After the performance, Alyosha guides the Traveler toward the greenroom, where Vodyanitsa is expecting them. Upon entering, they find her furiously complaining about something, while Odette, also present, acknowledges the duo. Vodyanitsa teases Odette about having spoken highly of the Traveler before, which Odette swiftly denies. When asked why they've come, Alyosha claims the Traveler praised Vodyanitsa's performance and hopes for a chance to chat or get an autograph. Odette reminds him that greenroom visits like this violate the rules, but Vodyanitsa waves it off and freely offers an autograph and photo. Odette leaves them to it and exits the room.
Alyosha peeks out to make sure Odette has actually left, then locks the door for privacy. He turns to the Traveler and reveals that he’d written to the president on their behalf, and that the Traveler has now been officially approved to join the Rokot. He explains that Rokot intelligence is members only, so he offers them voluntary membership for their actions and character already align with the organization's goals. Both he and Vodyanitsa confirm their own membership, and Alyosha explains that members stay anonymous, rarely meet, and are free to work however and whenever they choose as long as it respects the organization's principles, with no restriction on Snezhnaya activity and an optional code of conduct. The Traveler agrees to join, then asks Vodyanitsa how the two of them know each other despite the secrecy. She explains that Alyosha's dog Tugarin took a liking to her backstage and later recognized her during a disguised mission, so they've quietly kept the coincidence to themselves since Alyosha mentions needing his theater job to make ends meet.
Alyosha then asks Vodyanitsa what had her so worked up earlier, and she admits the interrogation with Chuganov didn’t go as planned. She had tried to pry information about the Iskra Manufacturing Plant, but he refused to engage, complaining instead that his seat wasn’t in his usual private box. Despite her best efforts to secure him a decent seat before the show, he gave nothing useful in return. Alyosha quickly fills the Traveler in: Chugunov was the grumpy older man they had run into earlier. Vodyanitsa vents about how Chugunov plays the kind family man in public while acting entitled behind closed doors. Alyosha calms her down and hands over the application form. With the Traveler now an official member after filling out the form, Vodyanitsa properly reveals that Chugunov is their current target, since reconnaissance confirmed illegal excess energy use at the plant, and they need solid evidence for the Snezhnograd Veche to shut it down and redirect its Kresnik Kristall. Since Chugunov won't talk, Vodyanitsa plans to meet Mitya, a renowned energy expert and regular theatergoer who keeps attending shows despite Valeriy actively hunting him, intending to "accidentally" leak the plant's violations so his credibility triggers an official investigation. She also claims that Mitya may know something about Project Stuzha. The Traveler agrees to help, with the plan being for him and Alyosha to sit nearby posing as ordinary diners while Vodyanitsa talks to Mitya.
At Podvorye Restaurant, Alyosha and the Traveler take a table near Vodyanitsa's. Mitya arrives, apologizing for running late and noting they only have twenty-five minutes to talk. The Traveler notices Mitya's scarf moving almost as if alive; Alyosha shrugs it off as one of Snezhnaya's many oddities that people rarely question. Vodyanitsa asks for his honest opinion as a fan, and Mitya praises her singing at length, only to slip up by naming pieces that weren't actually performed. Pressed, he admits his attention wandered during her set because Odette's dance in "Elegy of the Snow-Winged Goose" sparked a research idea, and he'd spent the whole show scribbling notes instead of watching. Vodyanitsa gets offended but quickly composes herself and redirects the conversation by criticizing theatergoers who attend just to flaunt status, naming the Iskra Manufacturing Plant's boss, Chugunov, specifically. Mitya agrees the man isn't as benevolent as he seems, confirming rumors of excess energy use and worker exploitation, and mentions that Pulcinella is now demanding strict tracking of every Kristall batch. When Vodyanitsa gently presses about Project Stuzha's ultimate goal, Mitya reveals that the Armory Palace needs an entirely new energy source drawn from Stellar Linchpins, a process burning through vast amounts of Kresnik Kristall with little progress, leaving the research team exhausted and nearly trance-like. He starts to explain what the energy is actually for, but his scarf suddenly chokes him silent before he can finish. Time runs out and Mitya leaves abruptly. Moments later, Valeriy arrives for a routine inspection, and Vodyanitsa realizes his exit was timed precisely to avoid the guard. The waiter then reveals that Mitya had already paid the bill and left a message acknowledging Vodyanitsa and her two friends, proof he'd known the Traveler and Alyosha were listening all along.
Back with Paimon, the Traveler learns she still feels weak, though her temperature has normalized. She describes a mysterious power that's been affecting her since arriving in Snezhnaya, seemingly coming from the direction of the Armory Palace. The Traveler connects this to Mitya's revelations about the new energy research, and they decide the next step is to attend a session of the Snezhnograd Veche to learn more about Project Stuzha. Two days later, Alyosha arranges visitor access and Vodyanitsa accompanies the Traveler to the assembly.
Outside the Veche, a reporter named Mironova tries to interview Vodyanitsa but gets brushed off. Undeterred, she follows them inside anyway, and the three take their seats just as Pulcinella begins delivering the energy statistics and declares that Project Stuzha will continue. Childe argues that Fatui families in remote areas receive fifteen percent less Kristall than Snezhnograd civilians and demands clearer allocation rules, while Pantalone counters that fairness is relative and that critics offer no practical solutions. Sandrone interrupts the tense debate and steers the discussion back toward data and regional statistics. Mironova spins the entire debate into an exaggerated tale for her article, using outlandish language to describe the assembly and even inventing a romantic angle between Vodyanitsa and the Traveler, which Vodyanitsa threatens to punish by revoking her interview privileges. When the vote comes, Project Stuzha passes with sixty-one percent support, narrower than before, and Chugunov, against expectation, votes against continuation. As they leave the assembly, Vodyanitsa explains that elites normally back the project since canceling it would force factories to absorb the Tsaritsa's unchanged energy demand, so Chugunov's sudden opposition suggests Lelek forced the change through threats or coercion, as he's done with others, all in an effort to bring Project Stuzha to an end. She also discusses Mitya's letter, confirming the plant's violations arrived just before the session, but the official investigation will take a week and hasn't reached the agenda yet.
Vodyanitsa excuses herself as Childe and Sandrone approach the Traveler, and upon learning of their interest in Lelek, the two share what little the Fatui know: Lelek is a highly skilled professional known to infiltrate high-security locations and leave threatening letters behind, with investigations still torn between human and fae explanations. Using Odette as a reference point for the skill involved to execute past infiltrations, it leads Sandrone to a theory that Odette herself could be Lelek, since her father, a Fatuus, died in the early unnamed stages of what became Project Stuzha, and her mother, once a famous ballerina, broke her leg from grief and never danced again, leaving Odette to join the Fatui out of financial necessity under Capitano's policy, arranged by Signora on Arlecchino's advice. Childe then offers the Traveler his own ticket to Odette's upcoming rehearsal of the classic ballet "Spirit Seeker" at the Korolevskiy Theater, providing them the chance to confront Odette while accompanying his sister Tonia on his behalf.
Back with Paimon, she senses the mysterious power more clearly now but still feels too weak to join in on adventures. The two agree that the Traveler should get answers from Odette next, possibly uncovering the true purpose of Project Stuzha in the process.
Characters
43 Characters appear in this Act:
- Akvilina
- Alyosha
- Arapov
- Burtsev
- Cherkasskaya
- Chugunov
- Columbina
- Ermolov
- Eye of Graeae
- Gornova
- Guseva
- Khrapovitsky
- Kulish
- Likhachev
- Luneva
- Luonnotar
- Mironova
- Mitya
- Nefedov
- Obolensky
- Odette
- Paimon
- Pantalone
- Pevtsova
- Pierro
- Polonsky
- Pulcinella
- Repnina
- Ryabushinsky
- Sandrone
- Sharova
- Shishkin
- Sytin
- Tartaglia
- Tatishchev
- Traveler
- Tugarin
- Valeriy
- Vetrova
- Vodyanitsa
- Yuzhanin
- Zolotova
- Zverev
Achievements
There is 1 Achievement obtainable from Everwinter Without Mercy:
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Achievement | Category | Description | 
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Everwinter Without Mercy |  Wonders of the World
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Complete "Everwinter Without Mercy." | 10 |
Soundtracks
No Soundtracks match the category selection.
Gallery
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Everwinter Without Mercy | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 无神怜爱的雪国 Wú Shén Lián'ài de Xuěguó | Snow Country Without God’s Tender Love |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 無神憐愛的雪國 Wú Shén Lián'ài de Xuěguó | |
| Japanese | 神に愛されぬ雪国 Kami ni Aisarenu Yukiguni | Snow Country Not Loved by God |
| Korean | 신이 사랑하지 않은 설국 Sin-i Saranghaji Aneun Seolguk | Snow Country that God Doesn’t Love |
| Spanish | Frío eterno y cruel | Eternal and Cruel cold |
| French | L'impitoyable hiver éternel | The Ruthless Eternal Winter |
| Russian | Безжалостный мороз Bezzhalostnyy moroz | Merciless Frost |
| Thai | แดนหิมะที่เทวาไร้ปรานี | |
| Vietnamese | Đất Nước Của Tuyết Không Được Thần Thương Yêu | Land of Snow Unloved by God |
| German | Gottverlassenes Land des Schnees | Godforsaken Land of Snow |
| Indonesian | Negeri Salju Tanpa Kasih | Loveless Country of Snow |
| Portuguese | Inverno Sem Piedade | Winter Without Mercy |
| Turkish | Merhametsiz Ebedi Kış | Merciless Eternal Winter |
| Italian | Gelo spietato | Ruthless Ice |
Change History
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