Vishap/Lore
Last updated 2026-02-01
Vishaps are a species of dragon-like creatures that once followed each of the Seven Sovereigns with their corresponding elements and were formerly the dominant race of the world. Over time, they will evolve into true Dragons.
From each vishap species, the Seven Sovereigns will be born anew, so long as they remain biologically pure.
They belonged to the Vishap Realm, also known as the Elemental Realm or the Light Realm.
Overview
The history of the vishaps outside of Natlan are not widely known, and only then, three of the seven original vishaps; Geo, Hydro and Pyro, are currently known in the present day.
Geo Vishaps
Little is known about the Geo Vishaps, though they are presumed to have resided in Liyue for thousands of years.
One particular vishap befriended the Geo Archon at the time, who gave him sight. This vishap was known as Azhdaha and while he helped humanity, he eventually began to suffer from erosion; he forgot Morax's face over time, and when humans began venturing into the Chasm to mine, overexploitation of its resources damaged the Ley Lines within, causing Azhdaha much suffering. Despite Morax's attempt to halt Azhdaha's erosion by sharing his powers, Azhdaha began attacking the very humans he swore to protect, forcing the Geo Archon to intervene. Given Azhdaha's formidable strength as an ancient elemental being, Morax and the adepti had difficulty subduing the crazed Azhdaha, in a battle that began in the Chasm and wrought a path of destruction north all the way to Nantianmen. However, with Azhdaha's remaining conscience willingly accepting his fate, they were eventually able to seal his eroded self in the Dragon-Queller at Nantianmen. The clashes of elemental energy during this battle also resulted in the creation of Dragonfall.
Azhdaha would later attempt to free himself after realizing his seal had weakened, but this was foiled through his benevolent self, Morax (now known as Zhongli) and the Traveler.
Hydro Vishaps
The Hydro Vishaps, also known as the Bathysmal Vishaps, lived in Enkanomiya. They are an intelligent and extremely adaptable race, capable of rapid evolution to survive in their environment. They are able to freely choose which genetic traits to pass on to their offspring, and can even spontaneously create new traits, including elemental affinities. This allows them to adapt within as little as one generation. For instance, if a heat-resistant vishap matures in a cold environment, its offspring will have high body fat, greater predilection towards sleep, and may express the Cryo element.[1] Some vishaps can even wield multiple elements.[2]
Prior to maturation, Bathysmal Vishaps can also choose which traits to "activate." For example, a vishap with both heat-resistant and cold-resistant traits can selectively express heat resistance if it matures in hot conditions, or cold resistance if it matures in cold conditions. One researcher remarked that they "had already stored a veritable armory within their bodies" before meeting the people of Enkanomiya.
Bathysmal Vishaps have their own methods of communicating with each other, but also demonstrate an astonishing ability to learn human language. Within four generations, their linguistic capabilities can match that of a 12-year-old human student. It was in fear of this potential that the Vishap Research Lab halted their experimentation.
They are very aggressive towards humans, possibly due to their past treatment in Enkanomiya. They are also, like all vishaps, elemental creatures of the Light Realm, making them fundamentally at odds with the Human Realm, which Gods and mortals inhabit, and the Void Realm. Some of these negotiated with Enjou in order to free their trapped brethren beneath Dainichi Mikoshi, though they were unaware that Enjou had no intent to help them.
The Bathysmal Vishaps obey and follow their Dragon Sovereigns, whom they see as the peak of their kind.[1] One such figure is the Hydro Dragon, who would've been born from their kind had it not been for their impure evolutions. Instead, the new Hydro Dragon was reborn as Neuvillette, who lost most of his memories and took on a human form.[3] Some Bathysmal Vishaps began venturing to the surface in recent years,[3] appearing in Fontaine. Before the tree in Erinnyes Forest is restored, one Primordial Bathysmal Vishap can be found residing at Loch Urania. Afterwards, another group of hatchlings appears in the same area; unlike the ones in Enkanomiya, these are not aggressive unless attacked. Currently, most Fontainians are not aware of their presence.[4]
A unique shapeshifting vishap called Pahsiv also settled in Fontaine, taking on the appearance of a Melusine.
Pyro Vishaps
The Pyro Vishaps lived in Natlantea, where they were ruled by Xiuhcoatl and the Thirteen Sovereign Lords. The vishaps slaughtered many angels in their territory under their leaders' orders.
Xiuhcoatl's empire would collapse after his brother, Kukulkan, gave the humans the ability to use phlogiston, resulting in many of the Sovereign Lords dying. Xbalanque would lead the humans into storming the Ancient Sacred Mountain, killing Xiuhcoatl and becoming the first Pyro Archon of the newly-formed nation of Natlan. He also formed an alliance with Kukulkan to prevent the Huitzilopochtli from activating, which would pose a threat to all of Teyvat if it was ever activated.
However, after the invasion and conquest by the Heavenly Principles, their dominance was overturned, to be replaced by humanity. The world's new ruler considered Natlan's phlogiston-rich soil part of the Holy Soil phenomenon,[5] something that benefited the expansion of the dragons[6] and hindered the capacity of humanity to farm.[7] As such, at some point, divine nails were cast down to disrupt this. Since dragons possess great adaptability via evolution,[8][9] the Pyro Vishaps of Natlan underwent significant changes to survive, losing their intelligence and becoming Saurians. Both Kukulkan and Och-Kan considered this a form of "devolution," as they had lost the wisdom and power of their ancestors.[10][5]
The now-devolved Pyro Vishaps no longer look like the other vishaps. Like the Bathysmal Vishaps, they too split into other elements outside of Pyro, and six subspecies of Saurians reside in Natlan; the Tepetlisaurus, Yumkasaurus, Koholasaurus, Qucusaurus, Iktomisaurus and Tatankasaurus.
Trivia
- Vishaps lose the ability to differentiate color as they evolve.[11]
Etymology
- Vishap is derived from the Armenian Վիշապ vishap, an indigenous name for dragons, specifically those from Armenian mythology. Armenian dragons are traditionally imagined to be serpentine creatures and metaphysical manifestations in the world with ties to elements, commonly water and related concepts such as rain, thunderstorms and fertility.[12]
Change History
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Book: The Byakuyakoku Collection, Vol. 4 - Bathysmal Vishap Experimental Records
- ↑ Adventurer Handbook: Bathysmal Vishap Herd
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Archive, Living Beings, Enemies and Monsters, Mystical Beasts: Bolteater Bathysmal Vishap Hatchling
- ↑ Point of Interest, Café Lutece Message Board: The topic of the lecture at Salon Caritat this week
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 World Quest, A Finale Emberforged, Part 1: An Omen of Annihilation and the Final Entreaty
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Eboshi
- ↑ Event Three Realms Gateway Offering Quest, Aphotic Diffusal: Three Realms Gateway Offering: The Eve
- ↑ Quest Item: Bathysmal Vishap Experimental Records
- ↑ World Quest, Lost Traveler in the Ashen Realm: Act III - The Tonatiuh Quivers, Part 2: Moment of Awakening
- ↑ Interactables: Notes Someone Left Behind
- ↑ Serenitea Pot, Special Dialogue: Neuvillette - Would you like to chat?
- ↑ Armenian Wikipedia: Վիշապ (գերբնական էակ) "Dragon (supernatural being)"
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