Hot Take: The first half of Nod-Krai was Messy and Underwhelming. There's a lot of mismatches in Spotlight, a lack of Local immersion/presence, and the points of Conflict were weak.
**Warning:** *this is a gonna take an open mind and I'm aware that some people are averse to criticism, regardless of whether its constructive or otherwise. I'm going at this as gently and constructively as I can, but I will be scathing for certain bits I feel less forgivable than others.*
I will also be calling Traveller and Co. the Hero's Party here for short.
\---
Before we start, here are the major points that I have issues with and their part/prominence in the story:
1. Varka and the Northern Expedition
2. Faction delivery and Impressions of the Locals.
3. Unused Factionalism and the underutilization of the Moon Marrows as a point of Conflict
4. Character saturation, pacing, and spacing
5. Confusion about the Palestar Edict
\---
**TL;DR:**
\-> Why no Knights?
\-> The FMS should have been like the Na'vi, where were the Light Bringers when the ̶W̶e̶s̶t̶f̶o̶l̶d̶- Nasha Town fell? Also, not enough NPC representatives in general.
\-> The Moon Marrow should have been fought over more by the factions instead of becoming best friends on day 1.
\-> Nefer backstory took up too much time, Khaenria'h exposition could have been better placed and more gradual than being shoved entirely and alongside Nefer's limelight. Dainsleif is there for god's sake.
\-> The Tsaritsa is inept or the writers are.
(And do better EN Localizers. If the mistranslation rumors are true, then shame on Hoyo for letting something so big slide for months. Now some people think they rewrote the story or just made it up along the way depending on crowd reaction)
\---
Anways, without further ado:
\---
**Varka and the Northern Expedition**
Varka's been hyped up for years. Nearly 6 in fact, and the whole reason for his absence was for a mission to the North, and Varka's been absent from Mondstadt for at least 5 years. (A Lantern Rite constitutes 1 in game year passing).
Varka is presumably going to take a back seat after the Northern Expedition, so you'd at least think they would be more prominent here in Nod-Krai. I expected to be greeted by veteran Knights part of the expedition upon arrival, even as NPCs. There is practically no Favonius presence till you actually meet Varka, and even then, Albedo and Durin are the only other knights shown for a long while. I feel like instead of the Curatorium being so deeply involved, the Knights of Favonius should have been you intermediaries and the ones providing diplomatic channels and economic backing between you and Nod-Krai, and this wouldn't even take much away from Nefer anyways since she would work side-by-side as the informant. Hell, it was Varka who invited you in the first place. It wouldn't have taken anything away from Aino and Ineffa since they would be very present later anyways.
Then there's the goal which has shifted from 'I came here for the Moon' to 'Actually, there was a mysterious threat I wasn't sure about but my gut feeling tells me to go there, yknow. Pretty nice coincidence its here in Nod-Krai right where ya needed us right?'.
Without proper explanation, it just makes it feel like the whole Knights of Favonius presence in Nod-Krai feel like an ass pull made to join the Hero's party and it diminishes the presence, purpose, and significance of the Northern Expedition in the first place.
In the very least, they could have made a backstory/flashback where Alice showed him visions related to Rerir, Khaenria'h, and the Moon Marrows and that Alice put him on the path to Nod-Krai in order to move the KoF in a position to vie for the Moon Marrows and eventually oppose Rerir.
\---
**Faction delivery and Impressions of the Locals**
Again, the lack of presence from the KoF doesn't help, but what hurt this point the most is the complete lack of presence of the FMS (as a whole, Lauma and her two moon do NOT represent all of them), the lack of a unified direction of the LB and what the writers were gonna do with them even before Rerir was dealt with. Its also unbelievable how they're no where to be found when Nasha Town was burning. They should have been there especially when Flins said he would rally them, yet in the primary population center, they were no where to be found. I know they're off to fight the Wild Hunt, but Nasha Town is their HQ, the home of the people they protect, you'd think they'd at least have a garrison there to help keep the peace, right?
Lauma of all people was the main stabilizing presence there when really, she should have been back in Hiisi island defending her people. In the least they could have made a moral dillema wherein she's forced to choose helping the people she has a duty to first, or the people in front of her in Nasha Town. Its a case of the writers feeling like every character needs to be present in the Hero's party 24/7
Also, the FMS having no warfighting capability makes little sense in the broader context of their home, a wild land with a wild hunt. I thought they'd at least be like the Na'vi from Avatar, pacifist in nature, but with spines. They also don't act like religious zealots... Just... Idiots. Like Children. The Whole FMS were infantilized and they felt like a kindergarten overseen by Lauma. I don't like headcannons, alright, but I swear the image of the FMS in my head was so much cooler...
The loss of the Moon Marrow should have also been taken as well the Crusaders losing the true cross to Saladin after the Hattin. They should have been more fierce in their beliefs, been more resistant to change, and active in chasing Columbina so they could have a goddess to worship again. It would have made Lauma so much more impressive, strong, and compelling as a character when she tames and reforms the FMS, yet by the end of it... They just kinda accept the new status quo after one explanation. These guys have literally been worshipping the Moon the same way for centuries... That's not how people react to having their entire belief system uprooted.
\---
**Unused Factionalism and the underutilization of the Moon Marrows as a point of Conflict**
The Nod-Krai trailer introduced the major factions from the get go, the Frost Moon Scions, the Lightbringers, the Knights of Favonius, and the Fatui, all presumably part for the 'Race for the Moon', alongside the first big bad, the Wild Hunt.
Yet...
This factionalism, the feeling of a nation divided, or the feeling of a race for the moon isn't really there, the Conflict. For all the intertwined interests in Nod-Krai, it doesn't really feel like a race. There's hardly any urgency urgent about the danger up until that point, which is opposite to what Varka said about his mission before and after 6.2. Really, the Moon Marrow could have been something all parties should have been fighting over, and for multiple reasons.
To the KoF, it is the key that Varka thinks is what they need (to deny the enemy or use themselves) to face the threat that Varka vaguely alluded to. It would have given them a strong reason at least to be missing from Mondstadt for 5 years.
For the FMS, the Moon Marrow is essentially their true cross and an unbelievably sacred object. It should have been an item steeped in reverence and superstition and would have better reinforced them as religious zealots that need reforming than what Lauma just tells you they. In reality... They just don't feel like anything. Its loss should have made the Traveler face extreme suspicion and criticism, the first conflict, and Lauma would actually be given a good first challenge to her desire to reform the FMS.
To the Fatui, it should have been the most important thing to obtain for, the, uhm-
*\*checks notes\**
# Experimental Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau
And not something Sandrone should have just brushed off.
This disunity would have made the impending threat of Rerir so much more compelling. There is a big bad, a sinner, yet you see the threat coming from a mile away. Everyone is friends or are neutral by the time he makes moves, and this sucks because by the default, the nature of the story means that the Hero's company always wins, and its expected here too, especially with such a stacked cast, and the presence of the mages pretty much eliminated any need to feel danger.
Alice > Rerir
*Yes. Fight me.*
And also, Sandrone and Arle are even helping out, so why even bother? The impact of his presence wasn't his role as a Villain... It was his use to drop more Khaenria'h lore and backstory... The fact that he actually feels this weak storywise even as the main Villain is a serious issue.
\---
**Character saturation, spacing, and pacing**
Why are there so many characters in one place all the time. Why is there a need for every important character to be in one place like its a Fairy Tail episode. Natlan, the region criticized by some for feeling like a power rangers episode, handles character presence spacing better than Nod-Krai did.
Everyone is Nefer and Lauma are always around like its a Hero's party when it makes little sense. The Curatorium of Secret's attendance is so good you start to wonder how Nefer manages to stay on top of things.
Flins is excusable because he isn't the commander in Chief of the Lightbringers, but Lauma is the chief religious and executive authority of the FMS (due to her influence at least). There really isn't a need for her to be so present or accompany us like a babysitter. We can do (most of)this ourselves.
And I love Nefer, I really, really do, but don't you think she was in the limelight too long? Some of her duties in introducing us to Nod-Krai, really, really should have been handled by the KoF, and the entire Khaenria'h lore dump was done almost exclusively through her. Dainsleif felt like an afterthought and was shoehorned because it would have broken the pattern of Dainsleif appearing whenever Khaenria'h is involved, yet he did nothing except aurafarming and kill-stealing Rerir in the end. Plus there was him acting out of character like he didn't brutally kill his teacher over and over again in Natlan, or before when he said he would never forgive the Sinners...
Also, Columbina was found way too soon. I dunno what to do with her to be honest. Her role was flexible, but I feel like she started interacting with the cast way too soon.
\---
**Confusion about the Palestar Edict**
The whole bit with Columbia and the Palestar edict was also slightly confusing because it was such a compelling order with the Tsaritsa directly backing it, so wouldn't Arle and Sandrone opposing Dottore be insubordination? The level of autonomy the Tsaritsa's allowed just creates confusion on what the point of this was all in first place. The Fatui are wasting resources fighting themselves and Tsaritsa has never undone the rule to let the Harbinger have at each other.
Dottore's trying to become a god, yet also forcing the false sky open and is probably the first capability the Tsaritsa needs to fight heavenly principles beyond the false sky.
I think it would make sense if in Sneznhaya both Arle and Sandrone would be reprimanded with Arle going back to the Hearth to protect her children in case Pulcinella lobbies for something drastic while Sandrone's funds get cut short, and without the kuuvahki experimental design bureau, a big portion of her warfighting capacity is lost so the Traveller will have to be alone for a bit in Sneznhaya.
\---
In total, there was a big limelight mismatch and I feel like if Genshin had addresses they points, it would have made the first feel so much more compelling whilst keeping the playable character's original personalities, eliminating the need to create new characters, models, and assets, as well as sort out the actual pace of the exposition.
The weak presence of the locals and the lack of interaction with the otherwise mystic setting makes it hard to appreciate the land the same way many did with Sumeru.
Fontaine's Pacing and addition of story elements/characters was great. The points of conflict were something you feel could not be resolved with brute force and their time-bomb problem with the Flood was handled better than Rerir regaining power.
Natlan had a rather large cast, but balanced it better than Nod-Krai. The immersion with the locals and setting/exploration was also just so much better with both named characters and NPCs taking up their appropriate tasks instead of everything being done by one or two playable characters.
I will also be calling Traveller and Co. the Hero's Party here for short.
\---
Before we start, here are the major points that I have issues with and their part/prominence in the story:
1. Varka and the Northern Expedition
2. Faction delivery and Impressions of the Locals.
3. Unused Factionalism and the underutilization of the Moon Marrows as a point of Conflict
4. Character saturation, pacing, and spacing
5. Confusion about the Palestar Edict
\---
**TL;DR:**
\-> Why no Knights?
\-> The FMS should have been like the Na'vi, where were the Light Bringers when the ̶W̶e̶s̶t̶f̶o̶l̶d̶- Nasha Town fell? Also, not enough NPC representatives in general.
\-> The Moon Marrow should have been fought over more by the factions instead of becoming best friends on day 1.
\-> Nefer backstory took up too much time, Khaenria'h exposition could have been better placed and more gradual than being shoved entirely and alongside Nefer's limelight. Dainsleif is there for god's sake.
\-> The Tsaritsa is inept or the writers are.
(And do better EN Localizers. If the mistranslation rumors are true, then shame on Hoyo for letting something so big slide for months. Now some people think they rewrote the story or just made it up along the way depending on crowd reaction)
\---
Anways, without further ado:
\---
**Varka and the Northern Expedition**
Varka's been hyped up for years. Nearly 6 in fact, and the whole reason for his absence was for a mission to the North, and Varka's been absent from Mondstadt for at least 5 years. (A Lantern Rite constitutes 1 in game year passing).
Varka is presumably going to take a back seat after the Northern Expedition, so you'd at least think they would be more prominent here in Nod-Krai. I expected to be greeted by veteran Knights part of the expedition upon arrival, even as NPCs. There is practically no Favonius presence till you actually meet Varka, and even then, Albedo and Durin are the only other knights shown for a long while. I feel like instead of the Curatorium being so deeply involved, the Knights of Favonius should have been you intermediaries and the ones providing diplomatic channels and economic backing between you and Nod-Krai, and this wouldn't even take much away from Nefer anyways since she would work side-by-side as the informant. Hell, it was Varka who invited you in the first place. It wouldn't have taken anything away from Aino and Ineffa since they would be very present later anyways.
Then there's the goal which has shifted from 'I came here for the Moon' to 'Actually, there was a mysterious threat I wasn't sure about but my gut feeling tells me to go there, yknow. Pretty nice coincidence its here in Nod-Krai right where ya needed us right?'.
Without proper explanation, it just makes it feel like the whole Knights of Favonius presence in Nod-Krai feel like an ass pull made to join the Hero's party and it diminishes the presence, purpose, and significance of the Northern Expedition in the first place.
In the very least, they could have made a backstory/flashback where Alice showed him visions related to Rerir, Khaenria'h, and the Moon Marrows and that Alice put him on the path to Nod-Krai in order to move the KoF in a position to vie for the Moon Marrows and eventually oppose Rerir.
\---
**Faction delivery and Impressions of the Locals**
Again, the lack of presence from the KoF doesn't help, but what hurt this point the most is the complete lack of presence of the FMS (as a whole, Lauma and her two moon do NOT represent all of them), the lack of a unified direction of the LB and what the writers were gonna do with them even before Rerir was dealt with. Its also unbelievable how they're no where to be found when Nasha Town was burning. They should have been there especially when Flins said he would rally them, yet in the primary population center, they were no where to be found. I know they're off to fight the Wild Hunt, but Nasha Town is their HQ, the home of the people they protect, you'd think they'd at least have a garrison there to help keep the peace, right?
Lauma of all people was the main stabilizing presence there when really, she should have been back in Hiisi island defending her people. In the least they could have made a moral dillema wherein she's forced to choose helping the people she has a duty to first, or the people in front of her in Nasha Town. Its a case of the writers feeling like every character needs to be present in the Hero's party 24/7
Also, the FMS having no warfighting capability makes little sense in the broader context of their home, a wild land with a wild hunt. I thought they'd at least be like the Na'vi from Avatar, pacifist in nature, but with spines. They also don't act like religious zealots... Just... Idiots. Like Children. The Whole FMS were infantilized and they felt like a kindergarten overseen by Lauma. I don't like headcannons, alright, but I swear the image of the FMS in my head was so much cooler...
The loss of the Moon Marrow should have also been taken as well the Crusaders losing the true cross to Saladin after the Hattin. They should have been more fierce in their beliefs, been more resistant to change, and active in chasing Columbina so they could have a goddess to worship again. It would have made Lauma so much more impressive, strong, and compelling as a character when she tames and reforms the FMS, yet by the end of it... They just kinda accept the new status quo after one explanation. These guys have literally been worshipping the Moon the same way for centuries... That's not how people react to having their entire belief system uprooted.
\---
**Unused Factionalism and the underutilization of the Moon Marrows as a point of Conflict**
The Nod-Krai trailer introduced the major factions from the get go, the Frost Moon Scions, the Lightbringers, the Knights of Favonius, and the Fatui, all presumably part for the 'Race for the Moon', alongside the first big bad, the Wild Hunt.
Yet...
This factionalism, the feeling of a nation divided, or the feeling of a race for the moon isn't really there, the Conflict. For all the intertwined interests in Nod-Krai, it doesn't really feel like a race. There's hardly any urgency urgent about the danger up until that point, which is opposite to what Varka said about his mission before and after 6.2. Really, the Moon Marrow could have been something all parties should have been fighting over, and for multiple reasons.
To the KoF, it is the key that Varka thinks is what they need (to deny the enemy or use themselves) to face the threat that Varka vaguely alluded to. It would have given them a strong reason at least to be missing from Mondstadt for 5 years.
For the FMS, the Moon Marrow is essentially their true cross and an unbelievably sacred object. It should have been an item steeped in reverence and superstition and would have better reinforced them as religious zealots that need reforming than what Lauma just tells you they. In reality... They just don't feel like anything. Its loss should have made the Traveler face extreme suspicion and criticism, the first conflict, and Lauma would actually be given a good first challenge to her desire to reform the FMS.
To the Fatui, it should have been the most important thing to obtain for, the, uhm-
*\*checks notes\**
# Experimental Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau
And not something Sandrone should have just brushed off.
This disunity would have made the impending threat of Rerir so much more compelling. There is a big bad, a sinner, yet you see the threat coming from a mile away. Everyone is friends or are neutral by the time he makes moves, and this sucks because by the default, the nature of the story means that the Hero's company always wins, and its expected here too, especially with such a stacked cast, and the presence of the mages pretty much eliminated any need to feel danger.
Alice > Rerir
*Yes. Fight me.*
And also, Sandrone and Arle are even helping out, so why even bother? The impact of his presence wasn't his role as a Villain... It was his use to drop more Khaenria'h lore and backstory... The fact that he actually feels this weak storywise even as the main Villain is a serious issue.
\---
**Character saturation, spacing, and pacing**
Why are there so many characters in one place all the time. Why is there a need for every important character to be in one place like its a Fairy Tail episode. Natlan, the region criticized by some for feeling like a power rangers episode, handles character presence spacing better than Nod-Krai did.
Everyone is Nefer and Lauma are always around like its a Hero's party when it makes little sense. The Curatorium of Secret's attendance is so good you start to wonder how Nefer manages to stay on top of things.
Flins is excusable because he isn't the commander in Chief of the Lightbringers, but Lauma is the chief religious and executive authority of the FMS (due to her influence at least). There really isn't a need for her to be so present or accompany us like a babysitter. We can do (most of)this ourselves.
And I love Nefer, I really, really do, but don't you think she was in the limelight too long? Some of her duties in introducing us to Nod-Krai, really, really should have been handled by the KoF, and the entire Khaenria'h lore dump was done almost exclusively through her. Dainsleif felt like an afterthought and was shoehorned because it would have broken the pattern of Dainsleif appearing whenever Khaenria'h is involved, yet he did nothing except aurafarming and kill-stealing Rerir in the end. Plus there was him acting out of character like he didn't brutally kill his teacher over and over again in Natlan, or before when he said he would never forgive the Sinners...
Also, Columbina was found way too soon. I dunno what to do with her to be honest. Her role was flexible, but I feel like she started interacting with the cast way too soon.
\---
**Confusion about the Palestar Edict**
The whole bit with Columbia and the Palestar edict was also slightly confusing because it was such a compelling order with the Tsaritsa directly backing it, so wouldn't Arle and Sandrone opposing Dottore be insubordination? The level of autonomy the Tsaritsa's allowed just creates confusion on what the point of this was all in first place. The Fatui are wasting resources fighting themselves and Tsaritsa has never undone the rule to let the Harbinger have at each other.
Dottore's trying to become a god, yet also forcing the false sky open and is probably the first capability the Tsaritsa needs to fight heavenly principles beyond the false sky.
I think it would make sense if in Sneznhaya both Arle and Sandrone would be reprimanded with Arle going back to the Hearth to protect her children in case Pulcinella lobbies for something drastic while Sandrone's funds get cut short, and without the kuuvahki experimental design bureau, a big portion of her warfighting capacity is lost so the Traveller will have to be alone for a bit in Sneznhaya.
\---
In total, there was a big limelight mismatch and I feel like if Genshin had addresses they points, it would have made the first feel so much more compelling whilst keeping the playable character's original personalities, eliminating the need to create new characters, models, and assets, as well as sort out the actual pace of the exposition.
The weak presence of the locals and the lack of interaction with the otherwise mystic setting makes it hard to appreciate the land the same way many did with Sumeru.
Fontaine's Pacing and addition of story elements/characters was great. The points of conflict were something you feel could not be resolved with brute force and their time-bomb problem with the Flood was handled better than Rerir regaining power.
Natlan had a rather large cast, but balanced it better than Nod-Krai. The immersion with the locals and setting/exploration was also just so much better with both named characters and NPCs taking up their appropriate tasks instead of everything being done by one or two playable characters.
Commentaires
Hope he gets redeemed in the 2nd half and be cool like everyone else.
I think this is the reason why they added that "Teyvat is easier to detect from the outside" side plot to keep Alice & co occupied with sustaining the borders.
There’s no need for everyone to be involved all the time as if they’re jobless, this just creates endless dialogue in quests, which is why each arc ends up being so long.
before varka went to nod krai, or after some time he visited natlan, he sent most of the knights back to dornmant port, the little rest of them are stationed at favonius keep, not nasha town. also have you met varka in the new map?