Istoria
Last updated 2026-09-03
Istoria is an open-world NPC located at the Memory Core, Pillar Hall Central Zone, Temple of Space after finishing the World Quest Series A Long Day in the Mountains.
Location
Profile
Istoria is a philosopher of the unified civilization who lived during the war of funerary flame, when Nibelung returned to Teyvat under the influence of the Abyss. He describes his era as a "mortal paradise," when the angels still gave humanity the answers to the practical issues.[1] His teacher, Aristocles, taught him that "the mind prevails over matter."[2] One of Istoria's students was Aberaku, who later went to Delphi Pytho and created the Dainichi Mikoshi.[3]
Istoria was among the first to be uplifted to the Temple of Space to be preserved as a living memory.[4] He spent centuries trapped in the Apathic Interval, abandoning his pursuit of truth and longing for his loved ones, before finally arriving at the temple.[5] There, he exchanged knowledge with other Uplifted, amassing extensive insight into history and lost civilizations.[6]
Appearance
Istoria is a tall, fair-skinned man with long brown hair. He wears a toga made of layers of white and dark blue fabric. The toga is adorned with golden details and is held in place by a strap around his torso. Istoria also wears black and gold sandals and a laurel wreath.
Quests and Events
World Quests
Story
When Raumhilda and Dex arrived, Istoria got to know them and engaged in philosophical discussions with Raumhilda.[2] Witnessing the suffering of the temple's people under Melanta’s rule, she resolved to confront him by herself. To do so, she sacrificed her memories to create the Path to the Heavens. Although Istoria pleaded with her not to do this, he ultimately allowed it, later viewing this as an act of cowardice.[7]
During the World Quest Series A Long Day in the Mountains, Istoria is the first Uplifted encountered by the Traveler and Paimon upon arriving in the Temple of Space. He asks for their help in freeing the temple from Melanta’s tyranny. After the Traveler liberates all of the areas, it's time to face Melanta in the Cage of Suchness. Once again, Istoria offers to give up his memories but the Traveler and Zeitlind convince him that his knowledge is too valuable. Ultimately, Zeitlind constructs the Path to the Heavens in his stead.[7]
After the Traveler defeats Melanta and frees the Temple of Space of his influence, Istoria implores Dex to remember the kindness the temple's inhabitants have shown him, when he grows up.[7]
Dialogue
- Istoria: What is it, (Traveler)?
Tell me about this place.
- Istoria: This is the Temple of Space.
- Istoria: The gods had meant for it to be an exhibition hall for the conservation of fallen civilizations...
- Istoria: But the sisters of that one great god... had other ideas. And so they put whatever they thought interesting in here, willy-nilly.
- Istoria: This is why the collection here can appear rather eclectic.
- Tell me about your era.
- Istoria: My era?
- Istoria: You mean the "mortal paradise" that I do not even dare imagine in my post-hoc recollections...
- Istoria: From Hyperborea in the north to Lang-Gan in the south, Delphi, and this place, what used to be Arcadia...
- Istoria: What do you want to know? What we ate, what we thought, or what we made?
- Istoria: It's not that I do not wish to tell you everything, one by one. It's just that once you hear me out, you'll probably think us merely children of some intellect.
- Istoria: We ate the same things you do. We were able to think about matters far removed from reality only because the priests and angels always gave us the answers to the practical issues.
- Istoria: We created playthings, mere trifles, that amused us, because nothing we made would match the exalted means the heavens had already bestowed upon us.
- Istoria: It's like we were children doing something that pleased our parents.
- Istoria: A fellow named Bosch drew a piece called "The Mortal Paradise" based on what I told him. He captured the feeling exactly — the very feeling.
- Tell me about the secrets that have been buried by time.
- Istoria: Where do I begin? You have to be more specific — that'd also help me recall.
- Istoria: Or perhaps there's a subject you have questions or are curious about.
- Istoria: Like the relationship between mass and energy, or the definition of certain cosmic laws in bounded sectors...
- I'll see you around, Istoria.
- Istoria: Yes, see you around. And I mean that literally of course, since I'll always be here.
Trivia
- Istoria may be a reference to the Greek philosopher Plato. Plato's given name was apocryphally stated in some ancient sources to be "Aristocles," the name stated in game to be Istoria's teacher.
Etymology
- Istoria (Greek: ἱστορία) is a Greek word meaning "history" or "story," fitting for a philosopher who preserves the memory of a lost civilization.
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Istoria |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 伊斯托利亚 Yīsītuōlìyà |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 伊斯托利亞 Yīsītuōlìyà |
| Japanese | イストリア Isutoria |
| Korean | 이스토리아 Iseutoria |
| Spanish | Istoria |
| French | Istoria |
| Russian | Историй Istoriy |
| Thai | Istoria |
| Vietnamese | Istoria |
| German | Istoria |
| Indonesian | Istoria |
| Portuguese | Istoria |
| Turkish | Istoria |
| Italian | Istoria |
Change History
References
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Istoria
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 World Quest, A Long Day in the Mountains: Chapter 1 - Paradise, Part 1c: Long Live Life
- ↑ World Quest, A Long Day in the Mountains: Chapter 1 - Paradise, Part 1a: Counterfeit Classics
- ↑ World Quest, A Long Day in the Mountains: Prologue - Magic Mountain: The Wind Has Ceased
- ↑ World Quest, A Long Day in the Mountains: Chapter 2 - Hell: Lion's Celerity
- ↑ World Quest, A Long Day in the Mountains: Chapter 1 - Paradise, Part 1b: Unofficial Chronicle of the Desert Pavilion
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 World Quest, A Long Day in the Mountains: Chapter 3 - Judgment: The Final Judgment