False Sky

The false sky (also referred to as the firmament) is a physical barrier that envelops the planet of Teyvat. It was created by the Heavenly Principles, based upon the research of the dragon Lusalim,^[1] for the purpose of separating the world from the sea of stars,^[2] and to hide it from the rest of the universe.^[3] Its true nature is obscured from the inside by a visual projection of an ordinary sky.^[4] Proof of the existence of the false sky has appeared on several occasions in the form of ruptures referred to as "split-sky phenomena."

Theory

Before being proven by split-sky phenomena, some had theorized about the existence of the false sky. The Khaenri'ahns believed that the Sign of Apaosha reflected a "reality" beyond Teyvat's skies,^[5] and King Deshret recalled that Nabu Malikata described the night sky to be "adorned with three bright moons," reiterating that the number of moons should be three and suggesting that the single moon visible in Teyvat's sky is an illusion.^[6] Mona also remarked that she was taught to talk about the "false sky" during her astrological readings, implying that her teacher, Barbeloth, is aware of its existence.^[7]

In the book Before Sun and Moon, Phanes is described to have separated the "microcosm of the world," Teyvat, from the larger using their own "eggshell." This so-called eggshell became the false sky of Teyvat, closing it off from the cosmos. It is implied that Phanes did this out of love for humanity, but some consider it to be more like a cage. For instance, in the book Springs of Hidden Jade, Zibai, an alleged daughter of the primordial shade Istaroth, describes feeling "trapped within the shell of the starry sky." The Hydro Dragon Sovereign Neuvillette also references the idea of the world being imprisoned in an eggshell, though he advises the Traveler to not be afraid of "bleak desolation and poverty outside the prison."^[8]

The false sky has also been described as an "inverted image"^[9] and a "reflection upon the water's surface" — that which is an illusion but "nonetheless hides the truth within itself."^[10] This suggests that Teyvat's sky, while fake, does reflect some aspects of the true sky beyond.

In the game, the false sky is first mentioned by Scaramouche in the Unreconciled Stars event, in which he claims that the sky and the stars are a "gigantic hoax" and a "lie."^[7] Nahida later learns about this theory from Dottore in exchange for her Dendro Gnosis. According to Dottore, the false sky is "the secret hidden by Irminsul concerning the 'truth' of this world."^[11]

Alice, the "Sustainer of the World's Borders,"^[12] once remarked that she is going "to get busy" as Teyvat's borders had grown fragile over the past two years.^[13] This statement aligns with the archive description of the All-Devouring Narwhal, which suggests that Teyvat may be protected and isolated from the larger universe by borders created by a "higher power," and that the universe has been "constantly trying to infiltrate Teyvat."^[14] After Dottore's defeat, Nicole noted that "the disruption caused by [a crisis at the world's borders] has made Teyvat easier to detect from the outside universe."^[3]

The technology to create the False Sky was implied by Columbina to have been developed by Dragon researcher Lusalim, who was attempting to create a similar "lunar veil" to hide the Frost Moon from entities who might try to locate the source of the messages transmitted by Project Moongazer. Lusalim developed a "moon veil generator" for this purpose, but it exploded when the Heavenly Principles collided with it. In a bargain to spare the remaining research facilities so that Project Moongazer could be continued, Lusalim was forced to give up the lunar veil technology to the Heavenly Principles.^[15][16]

Split-Sky Phenomena

Skirk's Arrival

The first known instance of a split-sky phenomenon was created by Surtalogi to allow Skirk to enter Teyvat. While her descent to Teyvat was witnessed by Teyvat's inhabitants, it's unknown if they observed the rift itself.^[17]

The Abyssal Invasion of Natlan

During the Abyssal invasion of Natlan, the Pyro Archon Mavuika channeled power from the six modern incarnations of the heroes who had fought alongside her during the cataclysm, along with Ronova's power, to banish the entity responsible for the invasion. The sheer force of her strike was substantial enough to break through Teyvat's skies, revealing the space beyond and the remains of the Eternal Moon, Aria.^[18]

Most people paid little attention to this phenomenon, with Mavuika later telling the Traveler that it warranted further investigation, as these celestial occurrences had not been observed in any other nation. She speculated that the Heavenly Principles wished to keep this matter secret, hoping that it would not lead to too much trouble for her. Consequently, she decided to describe it to the public as an "astronomical anomaly," saying she believed most Natlanese would accept this.^[4]

The phenomenon closed shortly afterward, but the fragments are still faintly visible from Natlan, just to the north of the Great Volcano of Tollan. This can only be seen within Natlan,^[19] as the fragments fade out of view as the player approaches Sumeru or Nod-Krai. Notably, "stars" can appear in front of the fragments, indicating that the area in question may have been damaged or attenuated by the blast, allowing the fragments to show through it.

Following the defeat of the Abyss, Mavuika informed the Traveler of additional intel she had obtained about the fragments viewed through the phenomenon: they are relics of Secret Source technology referred to as "Ancient Moon's Remnants," and Dottore is involved in a project involving them.^[20]

The Heretic of the False Moon

Another split-sky phenomenon manifested when Dottore became the Heretic of the False Moon. Using the power of the Moon Marrows, he was able to create a huge rift in the false sky, allowing him to call down attacks from the Frost Moon. However, Nicole took advantage of this rift to channel her power through Varka and Arlecchino in order to pull the Frost Moon down through it. Dottore closed the rift in an attempt to prevent this, but the Frost Moon's momentum was too great and broke through the false sky, fulfilling the plan orchestrated by Sandrone to bring Columbina back to Teyvat.^[21] As with the Natlan phenomenon, the rift subsequently closed itself, but the Frost Moon remained within the false sky. The people of Teyvat noted the moon's changed appearance, as the Frost Moon had replaced the false one. This change can be observed by the player both in-game and in the Login Menu.^[3]

The Shadowmoon

The White Horse Adeptus and patron Angel of Lang-Gan, Zibai, was overwhelmed and killed when she delayed the Celestial Nail sent by the Heavenly Principles to destroy the nation in the aftermath of the War of Funerary Flame. Istaroth intervened and split her soul into three parts and stored them within the Three Deadly Selves that Zibai had prepared beforehand, which, when reunited, could restore Zibai to life. In order to preserve Taiguang, her Heavenly Soul, it was placed within the first of the Three Deadly Selves, Ziju, who was kept within the false moon's reflection, also referred to as the shadowmoon.

After the defeat of Dottore, the Frost Moon resided within the false sky, and the shadowmoon became invisible. However, the shadowmoon could become temporarily visible when it passed in front of the Frost Moon, causing an eclipse, a highly unusual phenomenon on Teyvat. In a conversation with the Traveler, Zhongli informed them that the shadowmoon was disintegrating with the Frost Moon's return superceding it, and speculated that wishes made by the people of Teyvat hastened this disintegration, and its weakening would allow Ziju to be freed. This meant that the next Lantern Rite, which was to start in a few days and which included a tradition of the city's people making wishes, would likely trigger the shadowmoon's collapse, but the thousands of years of imprisonment had caused the soul and shadowmoon to merge: the destruction of the false moon would in turn destroy Ziju and make Zibai's resurrection impossible, unless it could be merged with the two other Deadly Selves upon being released from the shadowmoon.^[22] Zhongli and the Traveler successfully reunited Zibai's Three Deadly Selves on the night of Lantern Rite and brought about her resurrection. The shadowmoon disintegrated moments later.^[23]

Trivia

• The idea of a fabricated world with a sky that reflects the world beyond is strikingly similar to the story of Simulanka, a storybook world created by Hexenzirkel members Alice, Barbeloth, and Andersdotter.
  • When Mona scried the stars, she discovered that fate in Simulanka was directly based on Teyvat, and stated that Simulanka's creator made it "inside a mirror, or a lake, and this world is the reflection."^[24]
• There have been major inconsistencies in the portrayal of the false sky's size and appearance. In "Star Odyssey" Animated Short - Genshin Impact, the false sky is shown tightly enclosed around the planet near its atmosphere—there are also several ocassions where clouds are depicted as projections on the false sky, similarly implying it is situated at atmospheric heights. This conflicts with the Frost Moon's current status of having been dragged inside of the false sky, both on account of its size, and its current orbit around the planet, which is shown as being at a much further distance away than the false sky itself was depicted in Star Odyssey. Whether this is an intentional discrepency or an oversight is unknown. Additionally, the color of the sea of stars beyond the false sky is inconsistent, being depicted as red-tinted in Star Odyssey and The Abyssal Invasion of Natlan, but blue-tinted in the Heretic of the False Moon battle.

Gallery

"Star Odyssey" Animated Short - Genshin Impact

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