The Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, also known as the Cryo Archon, is one of the two overarching antagonists (alongside the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles) of the 2020 action role-playing fantasy video game Genshin Impact.
The Tsaritsa was the supreme ruler of the technologically-advanced nation Snezhnaya who sent her fanatical followers in the Fatui across the nations of the continent Teyvat to serve as diplomats, although in reality the Fatui worked as miscreants who spied on the other nations and sowed chaos at the Cryo Archon's behest.
During the time in which the Traveler emerged as a hero on Teyvat, the Tsaritsa tasked her Fatui servants with obtaining the Gnoses of the other Archons through any means necessary. Although her motives remain unclear, the Tsaritsa seemed to want to bring about peace and usher in a new world.
It was said that the Tsaritsa was once a young maiden with a kind and gentle soul who embodied love until the cataclysm that destroyed the nation Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago deeply affected her, leaving her a cold and bitter person with no love left for her people.
History[]
The Cryo Archon referred to as the Tsaritsa by her people was not an original member of the Seven Archons that each presided over an element and a nation on the continent Teyvat. Rather, she gained her position as the Cryo Archon after the death of her predecessor. She was the ruler of Snezhnaya, a technologically-advanced nation with a frigid climate, and was regarded as a compassionate and kind-hearted God. However, the Tsaritsa's attitude changed after the destruction of the subterranean nation Khaenri'ah at the hands of the Gods. The Cryo Archon's love for her people dwindled until she became a cold-hearted woman solely dedicated to rebelling against the divine and creating a new era of peace through war.
She formed the Fatui, a militaristic religious group comprised of her fanatical followers, and tasked them with sowing discord in the nations of the other Archons.
Well over a century after the cataclysm, the Tsaritsa was introduced to a nameless wanderer who had been recruited by the Jester. The wanderer was an artificial puppet/clone created and then abandoned by the Electro Archon and God of Eternity Beelzebul. Because the wanderer possessed the constitution of a god, the Tsaritsa placed him in charge of a company of Fatui and tasked him with exploring the Abyss. After spending a long time in the Abyss, the wanderer returned and presented his findings. For his efforts, the Cryo Archon promoted him to the ranks of the Harbingers and entitled him "Scaramouche" a.k.a. "The Balladeer."
The Tsaritsa personally attended the investiture of the Eleventh Fatui Harbinger Tartaglia, watching on sternly from her throne as Pierro pinned an Electro Delusion on the newest addition to the Fatui Harbingers.
Collecting the Gnoses[]
Five hundred years after the destruction of Khaenri'ah, the Tsaritsa commanded her Fatui Harbingers to bring her the Gnoses of the other active Archons. The first Gnosis to fall into the possession of the Tsaritsa was the one belonging to her former friend the God of Freedom. The Eighth Fatui Harbinger La Signora ambushed Barbatos and a heroic outlander known as the Traveler outside the Favonius Cathedral in the City of Mondstadt and took the Gnosis by force. It was the Cryo Archon's instruction that the Anemo Archon's Gnosis be taken by force rather than by other means due to the animosity she felt towards him.
The Tsaritsa then entered into a contract with the Geo Archon Morax that would require him to hand over his Gnosis in exchange for a confidential bargaining chip. Upon the fulfilment of the contract, the Gnosis was collected by Signora and Tartaglia and presented to the Tsaritsa in Zapolyarny Palace.
Later, the Gnosis of the Electro Archon Beelzebul was given to the Balladeer by her best friend Yae Miko in exchange for the life of the Traveler, who was at the Balladeer's mercy. Rather than returning it to the Tsaritsa however, the Balladeer decided to keep the Gnosis for himself in the hopes that he would be able to use it to attain true godhood. As an indirect result of the Balladeer's betrayal, La Signora was killed by the Raiden Shogun after a duel with the Traveler and the plots of the Fatui in Inazuma failed.
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 Villains
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Houkai  Primordial One Seven Sovereigns Mondstadt Liyue Inazuma Sumeru Fontaine Snezhnaya Khaenri'ah The Abyss Others | ||
 Aeons Antimatter Legion Denizens of Abundance Interastral Peace Corporation The Swarm The Family Stellaron Hunters Annihilation Gangs Disciples of Sanctus Medicus Other Factions Other Villains | ||
 Vision Corporation Red Fang Gang Ethereals Mountain Lions Gang | ||