What happened 500 years ago in Genshin Impact?
Around 500 years ago in Genshin Impact, Teyvat experienced a devastating period known as the Cataclysm, during which the subterranean nation of Khaenri’ah was obliterated by Celestia in response to its forbidden alchemy. This catastrophe marked the close of the Archon War as several deities perished and unleashed Abyssal forces upon the land. The Traveler’s twin sibling was drawn into these events, only to be sealed away by the Unknown God for five centuries.
Today, the echoes of that ancient calamity still resonate through Dragonspine’s peaks, hidden Abyss Order outposts, and in the quests that guide players toward Teyvat’s hidden truths.
The Cataclysm and Khaenri’ah’s Fall
The Cataclys, also called the Fall of Khaenri’ah, the Dark Calamity, or the Calamity of Darkness, was precipitated by Celestia’s wrath against a nation that dared to master the forbidden Art of Khemia, an alchemical practice capable of creating life itself. Scholars believe Khaenri’ah’s underground construction and lack of divine oversight allowed its sages to experiment unchecked, ultimately drawing Celestia’s ire.
When the calamity struck, shadowy monsters led by Rhinedottir’s creations, including the dark dragon Durin, emerged from the Abyss to devastate Mondstadt and the surrounding regions before their rampage was quelled. Celestia’s punishment fully obliterated the Eclipse Dynasty and sank Khaenri’ah into ruin, leaving survivors cursed with immortality, figures like Dainsleif destined to wander Teyvat in search of redemption.
The End of the Archon War
The Cataclysm coincided with the final chapter of the Archon War, an age-long conflict among gods that had shaped Teyvat for millennia. By 500 years ago, five of the original Seven Archons, Cryo, Dendro, Electro, Hydro, and Pyro, had already fallen, leaving only Barbatos (Anemo) and Morax (Geo) as the last deities standing when the world was plunged into chaos. Their passing redefined the elemental and political landscapes of their respective nations, paving the way for the rise of modern-day Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, and beyond.
Arrival of the Traveler’s Sibling
At the very moment of Khaenri’ah’s destruction, the Traveler’s twin sibling descended into Teyvat, summoned by Celestia’s “Sky” to aid in King Irmin’s ritual.. Their participation in that fateful ceremony, intended to harness Abyssal power, appears to have triggered the Cataclysm itself, though the precise mechanism remains a mystery.
After witnessing the nation’s annihilation, the sibling was confronted and sealed by the Unknown God, remaining entombed in Celestia’s grasp for the next 500 years until awakening alongside the Traveler in Mondstadt’s dandelion fields.
Lasting Impact on Teyvat
In the present day, relics of the Cataclysm scar the landscape: Dragonspine’s icy spires still bear the marks of Durin’s final stand, while underground ruins teem with Ruin Machines, automatons born from Khaenri’ah’s desperate ingenuity. The Abyss Order, formed by bitter survivors and denizens of the fallen kingdom, operates in the shadows, plotting vengeance against Celestia and the Seven Archons.
Registers like Irminsul preserve the only firsthand accounts of those ancient days, while quests such as “Requiem to Silence” and encounters with Dainsleif peel back layers of history and hint at Celestia’s deeper motives. Even now, fan theories speculate about the Cataclysm’s cosmic implications, suggesting its truths may ultimately reshape the very destiny of Teyvat.
