SEASON THREE
Every episode our team will work to provide you with visual and video aids to help you better understand comparisons and what we’re talking about.
Below are some resources surrounding what we discussed about Fontaine So Far that may be helpful to better understand this week’s lore:
Our first look into the Hydro nation came in July 2023 with the ‘Overture Teaser: The Final Feast’ trailer. We’d recommend going back and watching it just to see if there are parts that stand out different for you now.
Watch on YouTube: Overture Teaser: The Final Feast
Version 4.0 gave us our first Fontaine Archon Quest, and it did not disappoint! We see our first trial, meet a whole new cast of characters, and learn about the Fontaine curse. What’s a nation in Teyvat if they don’t have a curse, amiright?
Watch on YouTube: Version 4.0 “As Light Rain Falls Without Reason” Trailer
The second Archon Quest of Fontaine came out in version 4.1, and it went deep. Deep in the ocean, that is. We dive into the Fortress of Meropide and meet the Duke. We certainly enjoyed following that man around prison. Someone please rescue us from Cyno’s dad jokes.
Watch on YouTube: Version 4.1 “To the Stars Shining in the Depths” Trailer
Feens asked what we thought of when we first saw Fontaine. Al mentioned the White Cliffs of Dover in England and Bee thought the Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. At least we assume he meant the Canadian side since, as Feens pointed out, the New York side isn’t as much fun (she’s a native New Yorker so we’ll take her word for it).
What does that first look at Fontaine remind you of?
Al brings us through the architecture of Fontaine and we discuss Art Nouveau versus Art Deco.
A great way to remember the difference between the two – if you’re a LOTR fan – is that Art Nouveau is for elves and Art Deco for dwarves. For non-LOTR, Art Nouveau is like some Paris Metro station signs and Art Deco is the iconic style of the Empire State Building in NYC.
Have you seen Disney’s ‘Hercules’? Bee & Tif, yet again, have never seen the movie – much to Al & Feens’ dismay. Take a listen to the Oscar & Golden Globe nominated song mentioned in this episode.
Watch on YouTube: Hercules: Go The Distance | Sing-Along | Disney
Of all the new animals we have in Fontaine, none are as regal and majestic as good girl Baguette. If you missed this primped poodle, you can find her at the lower level of the Romaritime Harbor with Etienne where you first entered Fontaine.
Fontaine’s answer to Sumeru’s Aranaras are the Melusines, but without the ten-hour odyssey. Many of the Melusines have jobs around the nation, including running the Aquabus. The Aquabus is ferry-like transportation mechanism that helps you get around the nation before you’ve opened all the waypoints.
Let’s be honest, the best gift we received during the first Archon Quest was Detective Paimon. When she pops up with those detective glasses and mustache, we all laughed ourselves silly. Fingers crossed we get more Detective Paimon in the future!
The Oratrice Mecanique d’Analyse Cardinale. Say that ten times fast, we dare you. Or better yet, join Feens in the Tiktok trend using Neuvillette’s voice line.
The Oratrice, located at the Opera Epiclese, was created by Focalors and converts people’s belief in justice into Indemnitium, a power source used in the Court of Fontaine.
One of the most amusing parts of our introduction to Navia is meeting her two henchmen, I mean assistants. We loving dubbed them the Blues Brothers. Below is where the reference was born way back in the 1970’s.
Watch on YouTube: Blues Brothers: Soul Man – SNL
We also got to meet some Men in Black over by buried Henri. This reference goes back to alien conspiracies that the US government was hiding alien activity. But more notable is the comedic movie franchise based on the lore.
Watch on YouTube: Men In Black (1997)
As mentioned above, our Men in Black show up in the ‘Truly Mouthwatering!’ World Quest with Henri. If you haven’t stumbled on this sand-buried weirdo, take a walk on the shores north of Poisson.
Another interesting character we meet in Fontaine is Clorinde. While there’s definitely more to her story coming in the future, for now we’re just in awe of the strength of her shirt buttons. They might be the hardest working clothing items in all of Teyvat. And that says a lot considering Yelan’s magic jacket.
One of the most dramatic reveals and satisfying revenge stories is when Vacher is faced with all of his victims in the Fountain of Lucine. He received a better punishment than the palace of marmalade could have ever given him.
Watch on YouTube: Vacher ending cutscene || Genshin Impact || Fontaine
When Childe goes all Foul Legacy after hearing his verdict, Neuvillette puts a swift stop to his tantrum in one hit.
Feens was enamored with the fact that Childe was strong enough to get a scratch on Neuvy, while Bee was impressed with Neuvillette’s quick beat down. What was your take-away from their 5 second tussle?
Watch on YouTube: Childe vs Neuvillette Fight Fontaine Cinematic Genshin Impact
Let them eat cake!
Note to self, never accept any cake when in Palais Mermonia. It might just land you in prison for 45 days. Neuvillette decided to give us a criminal record for real instead of forging documents to get us into the Fortress of Meropide.
If you learned anything from this episode, it’s that the ladies of Tales of Teyvat are BIG fans of Wriothesley and his BIG booty. But what makes this new heartthrob even more attractive? His voice. Much thanks to his english voice actor Joe Zieja. *swoon*
Not to be outdone by 4.0’s ending, the end of the 4.1 Archon Quest was FULL DRAMA. This cutscene is everything. The small hints dropped to who knows what and the intense slide through the closing doors, this cutscene is worth another watch or twenty.
Watch on YouTube: CUTSCENE – Wriothesley, Clorinde and Neuvillette Stop the Primordial Sea Water
And just when you thought it was over, we get a glimpse into Childe’s escape where he encounters a giant narwhal. Let the speculations run rampant!
Watch on YouTube: Tartaglia Meets Whale Cutscene Animation | Archon Quest Part 4 Vision Ending | Genshin Impact 4.1
Bee takes us through the World Quest where we learn the origin of our new furry friends. Who would have thought that something so cute would be born of festering wounds. C’est la vie, as the French would say.
Watch on YouTube: Elynas – “Father” of the Melusines
While we don’t go into the third Archon Quest of Fontaine, we had to discuss the trailer that was released just as we recorded this episode. Feens’ brings us thru her theory and points out the interesting fins on Skirk’s back.
Watch on YouTube: Version 4.2 “Masquerade of the Guilty” Trailer
A great walkthrough of the 4.2 trailer was done by YouTuber CatWithBlueHat. Tif recommends checking it out but warns that it’s full of theories that may or may not end up being in the new release.
Watch on YouTube: 10 Things You Missed in 4.2 Fontaine Trailer “Masquerade of the Guilty” (Genshin Impact)
Al talks about the lost island of Atlantis and how it is an allegory on the hubris of nations and the Athens Plato was witnessing at the time. It served as a warning to his contemporaries of the dangers to democracy in play.
Read more about Atlantis and the truth behind the myth at The Collector.
We forgot to mention in the episode, but if you like Wriothesley’s booty as much as we do… artist Shajjung offers free animated Discord emojis.
Ko-fi Shop: Genshin Cake/Booba [Discord Emoji] – WRIOTHESLEY added!
@talesoftif you know #fontaine has got some good croissants in those cafes. #genshinimpact #genshin #genshinmemes #neuvillette #neuvillettegenshinimpact ♬ croissant – Ldn
Would anyone like a croissant?
Follow @talesoftif for more fun Genshin TikToks.
Artist Spotlight
There are so many talented & creative people in the Genshin community, and we’d like to spread some love to a wonderful artist – Ichigo Warano! We love the detail-oriented clustered look of their work. All their pieces tell a story far beyond what you see at first glance.
See more work from Ichigo Warano on X/Twitter and Instagram.
Artwork posted with permission of the artist.
