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Hello! I'm Neri, your favourite clockwork candle friend¹.I'm a Sal Vindagnyr lore enthusiast, and I wanted to have a place to keep all of my headcanons and reference texts organised, so I've started compiling a little database full of all sorts of pre-dragon Dragonspine-related lore things. Anything official versus anything from my little brain will be clearly marked (as you'll see below), so you can avoid that stuff if it's not your speed. I hope to go through everything and cite sources properly, but if you see anything that's not done properly or you think I've missed something, please let me know! I love learning, and I especially love learning about my favourite area in my favourite game to read flavour text in. I realise that even the way I phrase things might be doing some gap-filling on HoYoverse's behalf because Dragonspine was a moderately early-game area (and thus not as well-planned or communicated as other places—think of the yaksha name system² as an example), but I'm doing my best to draw clear lines between probably-intended assumptions to my own personal fanfiction.Included with some of the more important item texts are other languages as I (an English-speaker) can find them. If anyone can help me source transcriptions in other languages and/or do direct translations of another language-version, I would be most grateful.I should note that I am British and write using British English spellings and grammar except quotations and/or the game mechanic artifact(s). In all other instances, I will use artefact(s).

Key

Still within my threshold.

This panel warns you that the page or section you're reading is unfinished or is missing citations. Usually it will state why or how, and what can be done to help change that.

This text is inferred directly from Genshin Impact flavour text¹ and/or quest dialogue. This text is headcanon², and will usually have plenty of notes attached to justify why I think this. This text refers to another page because it mentioned a character, place, item, etc. that has a page of its own. This text refers to something that doesn't have a page here, and links elsewhere outside of this site (usually the Genshin Impact Fandom Wiki).All fonts used are from the DM family (DM Sans, DM Serif Text, DM Mono). All three of them are available for free on Carrd, and they're free to download and use on Google Fonts.

[1] ↑ This text shows you exactly where I got this information from. If it's from a specific text, the page to it will be linked here; if it's from dialogue, where, when and to whom it occurs will be noted down, along with a transcription of the relevant quote.

[2] ↑ This text shows you my justification for the headcanon I have (unless it happens that I don't have any or I don't know how to phrase it), as well as any sources and analysis that would be required in order to reach the same conclusion. Sometimes alternative readings will also be provided here.

Credits

Transcriptions and flavour text will either be done by myself or taken from the Genshin Impact Fandom Wiki and double-checked in my own game. Records of scenes from the story will be transcribed by me from a video that's linked directly to where you can see the transcription.Most images will be from the Genshin Impact Fandom Wiki because I'm not able to play with decent-looking graphics settings, nor access the same quality of files as they can.

[1] ↑ Use the link to my name to find my Sal Vindagnyr Twitter, where you can see live updates to this site and contact me freely (provided Muskrat hasn't made changes that would prevent any of this).
Otherwise, feel free to say hi on Discord (@neriful).

[2] ↑ Because the yakshas' names aren't the same from language-to-language, and they appeared as names with no faces before they appeared in-game at all, it's possible that their names were decided before it was known which was which. Two characters use the Latin feminine suffix -ias (Indarias and Menogias) and the other three use the masculine suffix -us (Alatus, Bosacius and Bonanus), but Menogias and Bonanus present in the opposite genders that their names would imply. This has lead to a theory that the translation team were given their elements and that there were two women amongst them, but no further instructions on how they should be named. Things like these with 'early-game' lore being translated in questionable ways are not uncommon.For another example, Rhinedottir was given he/him pronouns before her gender was confirmed (all instances of he/him being changed to they/them in later updates, then she/her once the conformation occurred). Arlecchio suffered a similar fate, though she didn't get the they/them crossover section that Rhinedottir did. All this to say that if you don't think Rhinedottir and Arlecchino at the very least have she/he pronouns, I don't know what you're still doing here.
What was my point?
Oh, the Yakshas. Oops.

Characters

Major Historical Figures

• Imunlaukr
• The Princess
• Varuch
• Ukko

Other Characters

Still within my threshold.

Some of the following information is missing sources, but markdown should still be present. This isn't particularly high priority because it references what occurred after Sal Vindagnyr had already fallen. Because of the Princess' dreams depicting Durin, I feel obligated to at least mention what's relevant beyond the obvious.

Albedo

Albedo is the chief alchemist of the Knights of Favonius, conducting his research on Dragonspine Mountain, partially because of the connection he has to his brother¹, Durin, whose final resting spot was its foot. It's likely he is somewhat aware of what occurred to the people of Sal Vindagnyr, but it's far from his highest priority in research; he's more focused on those that are alive on the mountain than those that are dead (and even then, most of his research is regarding his brother's affect on the lifeforms that make their lives there²).

Durin

Durin was a dragon created by Rhinedottir in Khaenri'ah, whose brothers are Albedo and Subject Two.Subject Two was abandoned in Durin's stomach after having been deemed a failure³.500 years ago, during the cataclysm, Durin expressed his wish to visit Mondstadt, thanking his mother for giving him the wings to do this⁴. After flying there, he was met with both the snowstorms of Vindagnyr, and the red skies and blackened land that came about because of the cataclysm. His monsterous size and sudden appearance prompted Barbatos to send Dvalin to kill him⁵. Dvalin pierced Durin's neck with its teeth⁶, sending the larger dragon tumbling down to what's now known as Wyrmrest Valley⁷. His corrosive blood affected the lifeforms around it, making them more powerful⁸, and in some cases, corrupted.At some point, Subject Two managed to escape Durin's stomach and used his blood to mutate a cryo whopperflower for his own purposes⁹, turning it into a fellflower.

Dvalin

Dvalin is the anemo elemental dragon, and long-time friend of Barbatos.Dvalin fought Durin during the catactylsm and emerged both victorious and injured¹⁰. Durin's venom seeped into its body over time, its distress from this (as well as the Abyss Order's promises) turning it against its own people¹¹.

Rhinedottir

Rhinedottir was mother to Albedo, Durin and Subject Two.It is unclear how much she knows about Dragonspine and Sal Vindagnyr, but it's likely she was the one who told Albedo that Durin was resting there, seeing that Albedo was only created after the cataclysm, and was directed to Mondstadt by her alone. It is also possible that Albedo figured it out himself, seeing that he was only directed to Mondstadt in order to find her friend and fellow Hexenzirkel member Alice. At the very least, we know that she knows that Durin went to Mondstadt⁴, only to never return⁶.

Subject Two, also known as Primordial Albedo

Subject Two was created by Rhinedottir in Khaenri'ah as a first attempt to create the current Albedo. He is brothers with Albedo and Durin, and created a fellflower.Subject Two was abandoned in Durin's stomach after having been deemed a failure³.
At some point, Subject Two managed to escape Durin's stomach, and used his blood to mutate a cryo whopperflower for his own purposes⁹, turning it into a fellflower.

[1] ↑ I remember reading this somewhere amongst official text/dialogue but I can't find it anymore. I want to say it's from the event where Festering Desire is introduced, but I can't be sure. Please contact me if you manage to find it, or if you have any leads.

[2] ↑ I remember reading this somewhere amongst official text/dialogue but I can't find it anymore. I want to say it's from the event where Festering Desire is introduced, but I can't be sure. Please contact me if you manage to find it, or if you have any leads.

[3] ↑ Event: Shadows Amidst Snowstorms (cutscene) | Albedo: ...Master's failed specimen in the dragon's belly...
I believe there's a better quote for me to cite for this, but I'm not sure where it is.

[4] ↑ Item: Festering Desire | This is a memory, a memory that a child named Durin had of his mother... / "Thank you, Mother, thank you." / "You gave me wings to soar and a mighty form." / "Mother, I wish to go to a land of lovely songs," ...

[5.1] ↑ Book: Breeze Admist the Forest, Vol. 2 | ... During the most difficult of times, Durin, the corrupted dragon of immeasurable power, began attacking Mondstadt. / The prayers of Mondstadt's people awoke the Anemo Archon, and his will summoned forth the Wind Dragon Dvalin. As the last defender of Mondstadt, Dvalin battled Durin with all his might.[5.2] ↑ Item: Skyward Blade | Mondstadt was once threatened by the shadow dragon Durin. / ... / Hearing the people's cry for help, the Anemo Archon descended and awoke Dvalin.[5.3] ↑ Item: Skyward Pride | Awoken from his sylvan slumber by the cries of Durin's victims, / The Anemo Archon came forth and summoned his faithful servant to his side. / For life and for freedom, the Archon and the Wind Dragon rode the wind to face their foe.[5.4] ↑ Item: Skyward Spine | The Anemo Archon was awakened by the sound of their agony, and his heart was pierced by their despair. / So he summoned Dvalin to his side, and shrouding themselves in storm, they pierced through the poisoned skies.[5.5] ↑ Item: Skyward Atlas | When Barbatos stood against the shadowy wings of the evil dragon Durin, / He sang to the thousand winds and called upon the Wind Dragon.[5.6] ↑ Story: Archon Quest Prologue, Act II: That Green Fellow (Listen to the bard's performance) | ... As a vile dragon approached Mondstadt in lone stand, / ... / Of the people's agony the bard soon sang. / The soaring dragon heeded his grave calls, / ... / Blood of venom sent the sky dragon into slumber, ...

[6.1] ↑ Item: Dragonspine Spear | ... And that bejeweled, lovely dragon, like a tender lover, / Had now pierced his neck through with its sharp fangs.[6.2] ↑ Item: Skyward Blade | Eventually, Dvalin's blessed fangs pierced through the throat of Durin.[6.3] ↑ Item: Skyward Pride | In a battle that ripped clouds from the skies, Dvalin spread his six blessed wings wide, / Severing the sky and tearing through Durin's iron scales with the force of a colossal blade. / As the conflict plunged the world into darkness, the Wind Dragon struck out with his claws, like swords forged of wind. / They pierced deep into Durin's dark, corrupt flesh. / The battle shook the heavens, even the sun quaked with fear. / Finally, Dvalin tore out Durin's throat with his teeth, and the evil dragon fell from the sky.[6.4] ↑ Item: Skyward Spine | The great dragon plunged in with a cry, tearing a swathe through the noxious nimbus the shadow dragon had created. / Following his wings came a great, swift whirlwind that destroyed those venomous clouds.
Dvalin seized the poisonous dragon in his mighty claws, ascending to heights that even clouds could not fathom. / The poisonous rain had scattered as the clouds had been left behind, and the burning skies became the dragons' battleground. / At last the wind dragon's razor fangs pierced his foe's throat, and his great claws tore out its corrupted heart.

[7] ↑ Site: 1.2 event page, Wyrmrest Valley's description | The final resting place of the black dragon. The life force exuding from the dragon's  core^[sic] has dyed the steep valley's silvery snow in scarlet red.I'm 90% sure there's a better source for this somewhere, but I don't really want to go searching for it because it's something that's generally common knowledge. If you know where to find something nice and concrete, please let me know.

[8] ↑ I remember reading this somewhere amongst official text/dialogue but I can't find it anymore. I want to say it's from the event where Festering Desire is introduced, but I can't be sure. Please contact me if you manage to find it, or if you have any leads.

[9] ↑ Event: Shadows Amidst Snowstorms, Act III | Albedo: ... Then, he found a plant with mimicry capabilities and transformed it using dragon blood and alchemy.
I believe there's a better quote for me to cite for this, but I'm not sure where it is.

[10] ↑ Item: Skyward Blade | Durin fell, but Dvalin was poisoned by Durin's tainted blood. / Unable to bear the pain, Dvalin fell unconscious.

[11] ↑ Item: Skyward Harp | Eons after the winds sang and the vicious battle ended, Dvalin awoke from his long slumber. / But gone was his master, and instead he was met by the poisonous whispers of the Abyss Order. / Unseen pain. Unheard torture. / An all-engulfing sorrow crushed the poisoned Dvalin's spirit. / Dvalin turned on what he vowed to protect, / And accursed the one to whom he had sworn loyalty: / "Indifferent is Barbatos to my pain! A careless friend is he!" / "Curse you, Barbatos, cruelest of the Archons!"

Imunlaukr

An outlander of Sal Vindagnyr and one of two survivors of its fall.Carried the epithet Icebreakerᵃ and was described as the ice-breaking outlanderᵇ.Of note, he was the namesake of the Imunlaukr clan; it's possible he was not a memberᶜ.Pictured right: Imunlaukr as featured on the Genius Invokation Card, Blizzard Strayer →
There are no surviving images of Imunlaukr in existence from what we know, suggesting that it's possibly an interpretation of what he may have looked like based on his decendants (of whom we have no records available) made by Calx or another artist commissioned by the copyright holders of Genius Invokation. It may be based on surviving images of Imunlaukr to which we don't have access.There is no evidence that points toward Imunlaukr being alive today, seeing as he was never turned into a hilichurlᵈ and he is explicitly an outlander, so any immortality curse similar to Khaenri'ah's would not applyᵉ.

Bonds

Historical Figures

The Princess

Imunlaukr and the Princess of Sal Vindagnyr had an extremely positive relationship through-and-through, and the princess admired him¹.
The Princess entrusted him not only with some of her physical possessions (Snow-Tombed Starsilver² and Snowswept Memory³), but also her fate⁴. It may be that he was the last person to see her alive⁵, and her dying wish was to see him again⁶.

Varuch

There is very little evidence of any relationship between Imunlaukr and Varuch at all. It's likely they were amicable as he seemed to have no issues with him speaking with his daughter. It's possible that there was something beyond that, but there's simply no way to know with the information we have now.

Ukko

We know very little about Imunlaukr and Ukko's relationship before Sal Vindagnyr fell because Ukko wrote about him in a generally non-partisan way.
In his final words, Ukko was not so kind to Imunlaukr, believing erroneously that he had abandoned the princess⁷. We do not know of Imunlaukr's thoughts on him at the time, nor if Ukko had believed him suspicious beforehand.

Imunlaukr Clan

It's ultimately unclear if Imunlaukr himself was a member of his eponymous clan or not and arguments can be made in both directions. What is clear is that the clan and its traditions ultimately stem from the beliefs that Imunlaukr held after the fall of Sal Vindagnyr.Not only did they perform 'sacrificial ceremonies⁸' in which they would 'enact duels between brave warriors stained black with blood⁸', they believed that fighting was not to be used to gain power but instead to entertain the gods⁹, reflecting the words he spoke upon his final return to Sal Vindagnyr¹⁰. They fought without any other motivation, dying young and without care for if they were to return home or not¹¹. Once Barbatos founded Mondstadt City, the clan left their pointless self-sacrifice behind to fight for the city, nation and other clans of the time¹².

History

Little is known of Imunlaukr before the fall of Sal Vindagnyr, including his origins. His name gives little to no indication as to from which nation he came, as the only other known entity with tales from the time with an Old Norse name was Nibelung¹³; the chronologically closest Norse names are Durin and Dvalin, both of whom are from different places¹⁴.At some point, it seems he arrived in Sal Vindagnyr (again, it not being entirely clear when) and befriended the princess. This is not recorded in any particular texts, though his status as an outlander and his apparent closeness with the princess leans towards this happening at some time.After the nail fell and Mondstadt started to freeze over, Imunlaukr planned to leave the mountain, and search for answers and solutions elsewhere¹⁵. Before he left, he drank bitter wine from a glass carved of ice¹⁶, and the princess pinned a flower to his chest³ and entrusted him with a greatsword of starsilver². On his journey, he witnessed a migratory falcon's feather fall to the earth as it flew to leave the snowy lands¹⁷. He expressed his belief that it will return with its friends and family once the ice has thawed on the mountain¹⁸.Eventually, Imunlaukr reached Old Mondstadt; the storms Decarabian cast around the city to keep Andrius out became a blizzard with the cold that had descended on the land. Even with the ice-breaking sword, he could not break through the barrier¹⁹. With no other choice but to die in the cold or head back to the mountain, he turned back and headed towards Sal Vindagnyr again²⁰.Upon returning, Imunlaukr saw the palace completely abandoned²¹. There was not a single survivor from what he could see; the scribe Ukko was the sole survivor but was cursed to become a cryo mitachurl before he got there²². Imunlaukr cursed out the gods, realising that they must take pleasure from the murder and strife of the people beneath them²³, and abandoned his beloved's sword in a hall of her paintings²⁴. His revelation and loss of purpose caused him to decide to lead the rest of his life with killing and bloodshed in a hopeless bid to entertain the gods¹⁰.

Name

Still within my threshold.

I can't find where the exact word ímunlaukr is used, so nothing is cited for that particular usage. If anyone has access to the passage/s I'm looking for, please contact me.

Imunlaukr's name likely comes from a kenning²⁵ used by skald²⁶ Eyvindr skáldaspillir Finnsson in Old Norse, ímunlaukr literally meaning 'battle leek', used to describe a sword; and Ullr ímunlauks, literally meaning 'Ullr (a god associated with glory²⁷) of the battle-leek', used to describe a warrior²⁸. For more information, read the full text with annotations here.

Additional Reading

All texts that feature directly Imunlaukr can be found below, not including instances of his eponymous clan.

[a.1] ↑ Item: Snowswept Memory | The heroism of the Icebreaker was forgotten, buried in the storms of the North.[a.2] ↑ Item: Icebreaker's Resolve (artifact)

[b] ↑ Story: Dragonspine's Glacial Secret, Ancient Carvings, below the Dragonspine Statue of the Seven (Ancient Palace) | "...its soul, and Starsilver its bones. But the one who could wield it, the ice-breaking outlander, Imunlau..." [written by Ukko, Sal Vindagnyr's final scribe]

[c.1] ↑ Item: Sacrificial Greatsword | This sword once belonged to the Imunlaukr clan, a clan of brave and gifted warriors who fought hard and died young.[c.2] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | [Imunlaukr] left the Starsilver originally meant to shatter snow and wind alike between the frescoes.Because the description of Sacrificial Greatsword mentions the clan but not Imunlaukr himself (whereas the sword he is recorded to have used mentions him explicitly), I read this to mean that he began the traditions taken on by his kin, but did not intend for his name to become that of a clan, let alone a part of general Mondstadtian history.

[d] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | Tainted black blood dripped from the blade of [Imunlaukr's] greatsword, / ... / Naught but ringing deathly echoes welcomed him.Black blood is used in many other texts to describe the blood of hilichurls (see references to the Bloodstained Knight). As a hilichurl, the act of using a sharp weapon to harm another hilichurl is completely unheard of (as far as I'm aware), and Imunlaukr came back to find Sal Vindagnyr completely empty. If this is the case, that means Ukko had already become a hilichurl/mitachurl and could not recognise him; if Imunlaukr was to become a hilichurl, it would've already happened.

[e] ↑ Even if it did, Ukko would've become immortal well before Imunlaukr did (seeing as he is the only survivor who was not an outlander). In my opinion, the fact that the only named cryo mitachurl in the game shares a name with the only survivor of Sal Vindagnyr's fall who was on the mountain when it happened is clear evidence that he did not survive as a human. Like, it's a weird detail otherwise, isn't it?

[f.1] ↑ Item: Snowswept Memory | The heroism of the Icebreaker was forgotten, buried in the storms of the North.[f.2] ↑ Item: Icebreaker's Resolve | Sealed in ice, that feather's color faded every step of the way — just like the hero's task.This may be in reference to his legacy, but it could also be in reference to the fact that his task became incompletable or something similar.[f.3] ↑ Item: Frozen Homeland's Demise | And even the most formidable hero will one day be forgotten.

[1] ↑ Item: Frost-Weaved Dignity | But not content with merely being protected, the maiden who painted left the [outlander] she admired these last instructions: ...

[2] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | The priest's daughter gave the Starsilver greatsword to the hero from another land...

[3] ↑ Item: Snowswept Memory | The maiden stood before a blank wall, and smiling, she pinned a small flower to the hero's breast.

[4.1] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver and Snowswept Memory | "This fourth fresco is prepared for you. Your likeness will forever remain on this wall." / "For the sake of that fresco, and for everyone's sake, I will pray for you, and wait for your return..." [said by the princess to Imunlaukr][4.2] ↑ Item: Frost-Weaved Dignity | "If fear or despair, both of which are within our nature, should crush you, or cause you to never return, then..." / "...Then please, live on. Do not accompany us unto our doom — to languish forgotten in the snow." [said by the princess to Imunlaukr][4.3] ↑ Item: Broken Rime's Echo | "Past the ice-sealed door, walking down the corridors to the depths," / "He will break off a branch of silver-white, and bring hope to the snowy land." / The maiden sang these songs to comfort her people, and she nursed her memories of him. / She believed that he would return to her, with genial springtime and unshakeable hope in his train.

[5.1] ↑ Places: Dragonspine's Glacial Secret, Ancient Carvings, on top of Starglow Cavern | "...attempted to heal the Leylines, but the tree had already withered. After burying the princess..." [written by Ukko, Sal Vindagnyr's final scribe][5.2] ↑ Places: Dragonspine's Glacial Secret, Ancient Carvings, northeast of the Frostbearing Tree | "...ended. There is no more need for records. Yet I regret nothing more than having been unable to watch her finish the fresco within that great hall..." [written by Ukko]Varuch and Ukko aren't mentioned at all in any texts that describe her grafting the shard of the tree (partially because Varuch may have already been dead and—if not—somewhere near the mountain's peak at the time).
I take the two texts above to mean that Ukko saw her before she began her painting, and then again only after she had passed away. The scene that plays out in the descriptions of much of the Blizzard Strayer artifacts are set between those two points (to be noted are Snowswept Memory and Frost-Weaved Dignity, as well as the Snow-Tombed Starsilver claymore).

[6] ↑ Item: Princess' Box | "Imunlaukr, I wish I could see you again..."

[7.1] ↑ Item: Scribe's Box | "I yearn for us to turn to dust carried by the wind so that we can find that outsider who abandoned the princess."[7.2] ↑ Item: Broken Rime's Echo | [Imunlaukr] would stand accused of flight by hateful words long ground to dust amid the snowstorms...

[8] ↑ Item: Sacrificial Greatsword | In sacrificial ceremonies, they would enact duels between brave warriors stained black with blood.Fun side note for those that are not aware: black blood is used in many, many Mondstadtian texts to describe the blood of creatures of the abyss, including hilichurls. This means that Imunlaukr's descendants may have tried to kill the only other survivor of the legend that serves as a framework of their beliefs. Poor Ukko.

[9] ↑ Item: Sacrificial Greatsword | In the eyes of the Imunlaukr clan, combat existed not for protection, for glory, or for gaining territory. / Rather, it was for the amusement of the gods, high up in the heavens, for whom little else could serve to entertain.

[10] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | "You who dwell in the heavens, you must wish for naught but to watch our ashen suffering here below." / "In that case, then let me help you pass the time with a song of iron and blood." / ... / Then, [Imunlaukr] descended the mountain to search for a land full of war and strife — a place he might paint red with blood.

[11] ↑ Item: Sacrificial Greatsword | Monsters and outlaws, they fought them all the same, with no regard for whether, this time, they would return to their beloveds afterwards. / For none of that mattered. What mattered was to roar, loud and clear, in the heat of bloody battle. That was duty fulfilled.

[12] ↑ Item: Sacrificial Greatsword | For their fight was one without end, and without hope of victory. / And yet, as the snow slowly melted and Mondstadt began to take shape, gradually they realized: They had found something to fight for at last.

[13] ↑ I should note that Nibelung is in German, but the name exists in Old Norse as Niflungr.

[14] ↑ It's possible that names from Norse mythology are used specifically for those who stand against Celestia (Alberich, Durin, Nibelung, and Rhinedottir all being linked to either Khaenri'ah or fought directly against the Heavenly Principles), the name therefore representing his actions towards the end of his legends (being that he takes the same logic that lead to the founding of Khaenri'ah but went in the other direction, bending to the gods' whims and attempting to entertain them [perhaps due to feeling like the act of living has lost purpose after his revelation that the gods do not care]), but it doesn't answer any questions as to where he's from (because Khaenri'ah was founded well after he must've died; see Item: Scribe's Box).

[15.1] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | The outlander destined to wield this sword to shatter ice and snow alike was far afield, chasing answers.[15.2] ↑ Item: Frost-Weaved Dignity | And he would set out on an unending pursuit, towards the land of snow and profundity.Please forgive my lack of links in the paragraph below.
There's a popular misconception that the 'land of snow and profundity' mentioned is in fact Sal Vindagnyr/Dragonspine, but this is untrue. The divine nail caused all of Mondstadt to become just as cold and frigid as Dragonspine is now, but Barbatos managed to melt it when he founded the City of Mondstadt (he was unable to do the same for the mountain because it's where the nail that caused it is housed). It describes the place to where he's headed as a land of profundity because he was searching for a god from whom to get answers: namely Decarabian. Without this interpretation, it wouldn't make any sense; the line before it describes Imunlaukr avoiding the princess's eyes, and if he had already gone elsewhere in order to go back to Dragonspine, it would be impossible for him to see her at all.
I accept that '...he turned away from the maiden's wet eyes' can be read as something more metaphorical, but from where would he have gotten the glass of bitter wine mentioned earlier in the line if he wasn't in Sal Vindagnyr? He was unable to enter Old Mondstadt because of the stormy prison that kept Andrius out and its citizens in, and there are no records of any other civilisations at the time.

[16] ↑ Item: Frost-Weaved Dignity | A cup carved out of ice that is as chilly and biting as winter. Its former master would drink an unfreezable liquor from it. // For the outlander who once searched for hope in midwinter on another's behalf, / Even the glass he drank from was carved out of ice. // ... // Taking another swig of bitter wine to steel himself for the journey, ...

[17] ↑ Item: Icebreaker's Resolve | A feather of a bird of prey that did not originally belong in the winter chill. It is cold to the touch. / And when you do touch it, it is as if you can hear cries in the snowstorm, unbowed but bereft of hope. // With no nest or shelter, the bird faced the storms proudly. / This feather has been assailed with coalescing ice and snow, leaving it coated in pearls of frost.

[18] ↑ Item: Icebreaker's Resolve | "I believe that the lively birds will follow you, and return to the gardens of the summer palace, now green once more." / "Those who have been chased away by the chilling tide, and those children who have lost their homes, they will return with you to the home of their dreams." [said by Imunlaukr to a passing bird]

[19] ↑ Item: Frozen Homeland's Demise | As the hero reached the top of the wall of wind and ice, the night was descending and the snowstorm was howling. / Neither sun- nor moon-light could pierce this white wind easily.It doesn't directly mention him using the sword, but he isn't described as trying and the traveller cannot do the same in-game with the winds around Stormterror's Lair.

[20] ↑ Item: Broken Rime's Echo | But in the end, the hero who stepped out into the snow would not return in time.

[21] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | But when he returned to the great hall of that mountain country, / Naught but ringing deathly echoes welcomed him. / "So even here, there is nothing left for me to protect..."

[22] ↑ Creature: Ukko, the cryo mitachurlIf Ukko was still human when Imunlaukr returned, there is no doubt in my mind that he would recognise him.

[23] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | "You who dwell in the heavens, you must wish for naught but to watch our ashen suffering here below."

[24] ↑ Item: Snow-Tombed Starsilver | The outlander left the Starsilver originally meant to shatter snow and wind alike between the frescoes.This is also where it and its forging diagram is found today.

[25] ↑ A kenning is a concise and metaphorical compound word (comprising of two other words, like snowball) used in the poetry of Old Germanic traditions (usually Old English and Old Norse).

[26] ↑ A skald is someone who composes skaldic poems. Skaldic poetry (as opposed to Eddic poetry) is especially flowery, usually written to honour royalty. Generally, they require a baseline knowledge of Norse mythology, as kennings used can be in reference to mythological events and figures.

[27] ↑ Ullr himself was most often associated with skiing and other snowsports, but the reconstructed Proto-Germanic word for glory (wulþuz) seems to be linked to it. If it doesn't use this interpretation, then I genuinely have no idea why Ullr in specific was chosen; if anyone can correct me, please contact me. See Ullr's Wikipedia page for more information.

[28] ↑ Eyv Lv 8, translated by Russell Poole (2012); accessed Nov 11 23 via Site: Skaldic Project | Kennings // Ullr ímunlauks. / 'Ullr of the battle-leek.' = WARRIOR / the battle-leek. → SWORD / Ullr of the SWORD → WARRIOR

The Princess of Sal Vindagnyr

A major character in Sal Vindagnyr's history.She was a sign of hope to the people of Sal Vindagnyrᵃ, described as having beauty and skill as eternal and pure as the moonlight because of her blessing of prophecyᵇ.Pictured right: An illustration on the walls of the mural room →
Because this is where the Snow-Tombed Starsilver is found, it's implied that the princess painted everything found within using her ability to see the future. This particular fresco was painted by the princess herself, but the other might not have been; they seem to be depicting the past rather than the future. The fresco seems to depict the nail falling and cold winds belowing in, but it could be interpreted differently.The princess died while attempting to graft a branch from the Irminsul treeᶜ which had shattered when the divine nail fellᵈ.

Bonds

Imunlaukr

The Princess of Sal Vindagnyr and Imunlaukr had an extremely positive relationship through-and-through, and the princess admired him¹.
She entrusted Imunlaukr not only with some of her physical possessions (Snow-Tombed Starsilver² and Snowswept Memory³), but also her fate⁴. It may be that he was the last person to see her alive⁵, and her dying wish was to see him again⁶.

Varuch

We don't know precisely what the Princess of Sal Vindagnyr and Varuch's relationship was like, but the princess was Varuch's daughter⁷.
They seemed to mutually rely on each other: Varuch expressed his hope for a positive outcome of his daughter's painting⁸, and the princess found herself apologising to her father for not completing the task with which she was entrusted before her death⁹.

Ukko

The Princess of Sal Vindagnyr and Ukko seem to have had a normal relationship, Ukko having cared a lot for her¹⁰ and the princess expressing embarrassment that he saw her family at their worst¹¹.
We don't know if Ukko's apparent distrust for Imunlaukr affected the princess' thoughts on Ukko.

History

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