Second Archon War: Informational, On the Elements 3 (Patreon)

Excerpt from Chapter 3 of On the Elements, by  Dr. Fatima Tabib

My greatest wish? It has always been to roam free and experience the whole world. Now I would add that wherever I go, it simply must be to share my music with you all! So come along with me, and let’s sing a song together as we raise our mugs in cheer! - Barbatos, Anemo Archon

If the Electro Archon is aloof and deific, then the Anemo Archon is charming and, well, a bit of a bum. From everything that has been reported, Venti Luft has the appearance of being a traveling and not especially prosperous musician, despite the Tone Deaf Bards’ multiple wins at Eurovision and their music’s widespread popularity the world over. But you don’t find the God of Freedom, or Angel of Freedom, as he seems to prefer, amidst the halls of the elite or a far-off sanctuary. You find him at a bar, a local park, or in a back alley somewhere.

On the surface, knowing the mind of Barbatos (and it is Barbatos, not Barbados, whatever his own church might tell you) should be easy. Venti’s discography is extensive and well-documented. He mingles with the common folk and speaks with them at length. He would appear to be a carefree and jovial young man (or woman, depending) with few thoughts aside from having a good time in his head.

But this is far from the case, as only a cursory study of Anemo Allogenes will tell us. Far from lighthearted and cheery, the path to an Anemo Vision has common characteristics, few of them as shallow as the facade Barbatos projects.

1. Loss of a loved one.

Universally, those who receive an Anemo Vision have experienced a profound tragedy that has deeply affected them. Frequently, this is the death of a loved one, whether a dear friend, a parent, or other relation. It can also be their sudden departure, such as a move to a distant place, or a divorce or termination of a relationship. In every case though, a melancholic air of sorrow permeates the Anemo Allogene.

Look to Sayu Nana, known as Tanuki. At a young age, she departed her childhood home of Seattle, Washington in the USA, and emigrated with her parents to Japan, resulting in the loss of all of her friends at a pivotal moment in her young life. Or the famed Gunter Schultz, who defected from East Germany to the West, leaving behind all of his friends and family. These individuals were deeply scarred by their loss.

Those who have spent time with Barbatos have commented on the same melancholic air that surrounds the Anemo Archon. What was this deeply personal loss in his past? It wasn’t his departure from his homeland to this world, as he had already established himself as the Archon in the land known as Mondstadt (see the many works attributed as Mondstadian in origin by The Tone Deaf Bards). It is only supposition, but it is widely believed by the clergy of the Church of Freedom that Venti lost someone near and dear to him during his ascension. Who this person was or how this came about is unknown, but some remarks by Venti indicate it was a young man, whose appearance Venti has taken on to honor his legacy.

2. Yearning for Freedom

Contrary to all appearances, Barbatos is not free. Indeed, he is perhaps more bound by strictures than any other Archon save for Morax, to the point that to say “god’s hands are tied” is a very apt statement. He is completely confined to a specific geographic area, as are all Archons, save for brief sojourns to other lands that cost him dearly. He also is unable to violate mortal will, as laid out in his Beerhouse Appeal before the Battle of Munich. How “violating mortal will” is defined seems to largely be up to Barbatos’ own moral compass, but it seems a very strict and demanding one.

Again, this is seen in the Anemo Allogene. Naomi Cohen is bound by the traditions and religion of conservative Judaism, something that comes into conflict with her own worldview frequently. She feels trapped by this, as seen often in her interactions with both Barbatos and others. The same goes for Faruzan, who was trapped by a misogynistic system under Saddam Hussain and yearned for a day when women would both be free and be recognized as scholarly peers with men.

3. A Heavy Burden

The last of the primary attributes is that they all have their own cross to bear, and it is often a cross they willingly pick up. Often, they could set aside their burden whenever they so choose to do so, but they do not. This is exemplified in Tanuki, who could have walked away from service to the Shogunate and the Shuumatsuban at any point, but instead remains one of their hardest working agents, both publicly and in secret. See again Naomi Cohen, who could have departed for Israel and hidden her homosexuality as so many chose throughout the ages, but instead continues to fight for the rights of minorities of both sexuality and ethnicity in Central Europe and beyond.

For Barbatos, this is subtler, but remarks he has made indicate that he could, in fact, give up his Throne as an Archon if he so chose to do so. That he could wander the world, wherever the wind takes him, avoiding his duties even more than he appears to do, and indulge his taste for the finer things in life. But he does not. He keeps a vigil, and the prosperity and happiness of his lands are manifestly obvious, even if his hand in these circumstances is not always so.

So, what can we learn from this? For one, it seems that Anemo Visions are given to mortals as a sort of balm, a respite from their typically self-inflicted misery and tragic loss (...)