Dragonspine is a frozen mountain range in the south of Mondstadt and the first major expansion to the map. The place which was once home to a thriving civilisation is now barren land is now covered in snow and Durin’s curse.
Players first visited the region in patch 1.2 and met the homunculus Chalk Prince Albedo and Church’s Nun Rosaria for the first time.
Celebrating Dragonspine’s first year of release Anniversary, here are some interesting facts about the region.
CONTENTS
- 1. Home to an ancient civilization which had regular conversations with Celestia
- 2. The Princess who knew the future and saw Black Dragon
- 3. Was not always covered in snow
- 4. The Last Survivor of Sal might have turned into a monster
- 5. Inspired from Alps Mountain
- 6. Durin’s Desire
- 7. Testing grounds for Snezhnaya and Wheather effects
- 8. Hidden Message
1. Home to an ancient civilization which had regular conversations with Celestia
Dragonspine was once home to a flourishing civilization. Long ago a group of refugees while trying to escape the land of snow, (possibly during the Archon War when Andrius had engulfed Mondstadt in blizzards), found the beautiful mountain. They erected a monument on its peak and established a civilization there, naming it Sal Vindagnyr. The civilisation was in direct contact with Celestia and received thier blessings and guidance.
To receive answers from Celestia, the people appointed a chief priest who, wearing a crown made of Irminsul branches, would head to the depths of the world to attain enlightenment.
You can find the whole lore of this in Frostbearer’s description.
2. The Princess who knew the future and saw Black Dragon
Some years before the fall of Sal Vindagnyr, the chief priest Varuch had a daughter, simply known as the “Princess”, who was born below the Irminsul tree (now Frostbearing Tree).
The Princess was born with a blessing, the power to see the future. She would often paint, and eventually started making frescoes; these frescoes contained depictions of what she foresaw. One day, she had a prophetic dream of a Black Dragon, Durin filling the land with a cloud of scarlet poison, and she took it as an omen of doom.
3. Was not always covered in snow
Dragonspine wasn’t always covered in snow. It was once a lush, green mountain when the refugees of Sal Vindagnyr first arrived.
It wasn’t until The Skyfrost Nail, a piece of Celestia, fell from the skies, shrouding the city with clouds and snowstorms. The nail further split into three pieces and further fragmented unit more pieces which froze the area where they landed. One of these pieces shattered the white tree. The Princess tried her best to revive the tree but it withered under the snowstorm and the princess died next to it.
Also Read: Interesting facts about Andrius the Wolf-King of North
4. The Last Survivor of Sal might have turned into a monster
Ukku was the last survivor of the ancient civilization. After burying the Princess he went to Starglow Cavern and made the ancient carvings you see there. He died hoping that the “newly established nation without gods” have what it takes to challenge the heavens.
Interestingly there is Frostarm Lawachurl with the same name on the mountain who you can find near the Peak of Vindagnyr domain.
5. Inspired from Alps Mountain
One of the main inspirations from Dragonspine’s outline design was the Matterhorn mountain of the Alps Mountain range.
Moreover back Back in January 2021, MiHoYo did a Genshin Impact Alps real-world event where ads and decorations were set up at the Val Thorens ski resort in the French Alps. It was part of the Enchanting Journey of Snow and Stars event and was designed to celebrate the Dragonspine area’s first anniversary.
Also Read: Interesting facts about Azhdaha, the ancient sealed Dragon King.
6. Durin’s Desire
Durin’s skull at Dragonspine faces towards the west-northwest, at the direction of Celestia. Roald the Adventurer wonders if Durin still “yearns for the celestial heights”
7. Testing grounds for Snezhnaya and Wheather effects
As mentioned in the “Behind the Scene” video, Dragonspine was an experimental ground for weather effects, snow simulation and laying the groundwork for designing and developing Snezhnaya.
8. Hidden Message
In Dragonspine you might have come across these powerless Ruin Guards which when clicking the interaction button pops a serial number. The number contains a hidden message which is “For the nation, we can’t forgo this skyborne power, but we failed”. It is believed that the message is from khaenri’ah who sent an expedition with Ruin Guards to contain Skyfrost Nail’s power but failed to do so,
